How did you end up in Montana? Part 1

"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

"When God calls us to a task, we think the best way is a straight-line from A to B.

God's doesn't do straight lines.

When He calls us, He often works in zig-zags."

Pastor Nick, Faith Center, Great Falls, MT

First sermon we heard when we arrived in Montana 6/21/15

I am constantly amazed how God works.  His Spirit goes with us.  He leads.  He comforts.  He opens and closes doors.  He speaks from the storm.  He speaks in a still small voice.  He uses the wicked.  He uses the good.

Through it all, God builds our faith.  

His servants often walk through the wilderness.  We feel the sting of the hot dry wind blowing sand in our faces.  We long for a sweet cold drink of the fountain of life.  Then, we go over one more steep hill feeling we can't go any further.  We don't want to go any further.  As we crest the hill, to our complete surprise, we see the oasis of grace before us.

Our landing in Montana is like that.

When we left Maine three years ago, we left a great group of people, a place we loved, and a solid church.  In earthly terms, it was foolish to leave.  Yet, somehow we knew that God wanted us to leave.  It was time to hand it over to someone else.  In fact, His Spirit told me, "Just as I have greatly blessed, I can take away.  If you don't leave, I will make you leave.  It is time."  For the health of Grace Bible Church, it was time for me to leave.

Through God's leading, we ended up on Seattle.  We knew it was a high risk/high reward kind of place because the church had a very mixed history.  As we prayed about it, I felt the Lord saying that He would go with us and allow us to meet the people we need to meet for the next half of my ministry career.  I had no idea what that meant, but we went to Seattle.

While in Seattle, we preached the gospel and tried to help people grow in grace.  We loved seeing people come to know Jesus better.  We loved seeing new people embrace Christ, and some of the long-time members come to a real and solid understanding of Jesus's grace and love for them.

Alas,  there were also parts we did not enjoy.  In the end, we ended up getting hammered by those who had driven this churches mixed history.  It was painful, but I praise God He counted us worthy to suffer for the gospel.

Even before we arrived in Seattle, I remember telling folks we never intended to go to Seattle.  For many, Seattle is their dream/ideal ministry.  For us, Montana was our dream/ideal.   

Why Montana?  Most pastors and leaders don't want to come to Montana unless it is for vacation (in the summer).

M.E. and I felt since before we were married that we strongly desired to live in Montana.  

I remember talking about it, and we both shared Montana would be our first choice of where we wanted to live.  It is not like we did not try.  About fifteen years ago, we interviewed at a discipleship center that wanted to start in Montana.  We felt this group of people weren't ready to go, which proved to be true.  Yet, as we prayed about it, I remember clearly hearing from the Spirit, "Not yet.  You will come back."

Every time we had an open call, we would look to Montana.  Yet, how do you find a call when you have no connections?  Perhaps we should have just moved earlier.  Yet, I think the Lord has led us and grown us as people away from Montana so we are now ready for this stage in ministry.

Would you join us in praying this is the case?  Pray for the Lord's favor to be upon us.  Pray for grace to reach new people with the gospel and pray for some mature believers (but not trouble-makers!) to join us as we begin a new church.

One month ago we left Seattle for Montana.  It was sad saying a temporary good-bye to good friends.  Yet, in less than a month, this place feels more like home than any place we have ever lived.  I bless the Lord today for all His benefits to us!

Tomorrow I will describe how the Lord brought us to this opportunity.  It is another story of His providential leading.  I will also leave you with a picture of our beautiful state.

The Heart of Worship Renewal

What is worship all about?  

I have found that in America there are two different schools of thought concerning how to answer this question.

The first group answers that worship is a "service unto God."  The object and goal of worship is to honor and glorify God.  As a result, worship is God-focused.  It is not about the worshipper, but the God who is worshipped.

The second group answers that worship is a "time to lay your burdens down and be encouraged."  The object and goal of worship for these folks is to provide excitement, emotional release, and a feeling of God's presence.  Here worship is about the worshipper having their needs met.

Anyone who has eyes to see can and should understand that I just set up a straw man argument.  I presented two views of worship that are easily torn down because both are not complete.  Who actually holds these views and articulates them this way?  The answer is virtually no one.  Yet, ... the proof of what we believe is not merely what we say, but also what we do.  While virtually no one would articulate either of these two extremes about worship, many churches and individuals act like they believe it!

How about a new definition?  One that provides a balance?

Worship is a time for individuals and the community of faith to meet with God.

Worship must be God-focused.  It also must be done in such a way to encourage and promote active engagement with God's presence.

Is such worship possible?  Of course it is!  It is also necessary for revival and renewal both individually and corporately.  Notice the following quote from a contemporary writer.

"This extra "glimpse of God" is what most of us crave.  With any experience of God's nearness comes all the blessings of God's divine nature: renewal, power to change, deliverance, comfort, joy, and peace.  It is no coincidence that these are the very things for which the world is longing and searching."
Sally Morgenthaler's Worship Evangelism: 

Inviting Unbelievers into the presence of God, 97-98

Are you in a worshipping community where you enter into the presence of God each week?  I find it interesting that many of us are not worshipping in such a place.  Instead, we rationalize that we are "not one of those worship junkies" who insist on feeling God's presence.  We are more mature.

I would challenge that if we do not find God's presence in worship and we are content with it, then we might not be as mature as we think!  

Why would I say such a thing?  Notice how scripture affirms a biblical desire for God.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?

Ps. 42:1-2

In other words, as people we were made to enjoy the presence of God.  When you get a taste of God's presence in Christ, it is addicting.  It is satisfying.  It is life.  Who does not want more life, peace, joy and love deep within their soul?

One of the greatest attractions of worship is when a community create a place where individuals can meet with God.  I know we can meet with God anywhere, but the time and space of worship together in community is often where we experience God's presence in a deep and real sense.  I believe such an experience can be felt and experienced even by non-believers.

My actual experience verifies this claim.  At my former church, Grace Bible Church in Maine, I often heard from visitors that they "felt" the presence of God while with us in worship.  This observation was made from believers and unbelievers,  first-time visitors and long-time attenders, and everything in between.  We were not a "large church" by the standards of worldly judgment, but God did work through and in our worship.

I also have experienced this phenomena in many other growing churches.  In fact, I could argue that such an experience of God's presence in worship is a mark of a growing and thriving church.

So, how do we move/grow a church so this experience of God's presence is felt even by unbelievers?

This is a tricky question.  God cannot be manipulated to "show up" like magic.  Yet, I think and I have experienced several traits of churches that have worship renewal.

First, these churches pray for this experience and presence.  They also come anticipating meeting with God.  These churches are filled with people who ask that the Lord's presence be known, and they are marked by a directed prayer ministry that asks the Lord to work through and in worship.  There is also an expectation that God will move and speak.

Second, these church have people who are called and gifted to lead worship.  These folks may not be the best musicians in the church, but they love to worship.  They have all the traits above, and they ask the Lord to work through them to touch hearts.

Please notice, I said gifted and called.  How do we tell this?  These folks have an inner call to lead worship, they have external call from a group to help them lead worship, and the Lord blesses their work by showing up!

The last mark of calling is the trickiest.  Who determines this?  Does someone's best friend get to say, "The Lord blessed your leading/playing today"?  Is it only the Elder's job to determine this?  Unfortunately/fortunately churches are often full of encouraging folks.  They encourage effort as much or more than results.  Could this skew the data in determining God's blessings on their work?

Of course it can!  The real and ultimate proof is God's presence being known to believers and un-believers, long-time members and first-time visitors.  Such proof cannot be ascertained in any given Sunday, but should be measured over the course of time.

What does this mean?  Finding, developing, and encouraging worship renewal is essential for a growing church.  As individuals we can pray.  As churches we can lovingly search for and encourage those who are blessed to help lead such renewal.  Is this easy?  No.  Is it fool-proof?  No.  Yet it is essential for worship evangelism and worship renewal to take place.

I would love thoughts and opinions on this topic.  As you can see, I am working through my thoughts, so help me grow by sharing yours!

Bless the Lord!

Bless the Lord, O my soul! Bless His Holy Name!

"Let him who walks in darkness and has no light

trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.

Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches!

Walk by the light of your fire; 

and by the torches that you have kindled!

This you have from my hand:

you shall lie down in torment."

Isaiah 50:10-11

This morning was the first cloudy morning in quite some time in Seattle.  It was also warm.  Today I had the privilege of sitting on my porch reading God's word, talking to Him in prayer, and watching the sun come up.  It was wonderful!

Today my heart is at peace and full of joy.  I am often asked what it is like to know God and to "feel" His presence.  Our faith is often hard to express and explain.  We worship a God who is everywhere, but who can't always be seen or felt.  Yet, there are times and place when we are walking in faith when He is so close and real that it is scary.

How do you explain this to someone who is not walking in faith?  I think it is impossible.  All we can do is testify that the Lord is good and He is worthy of our trust.

Today, I testify that the Lord was so kind and gracious to me.  He reaffirmed my birthright as His child.  He reaffirmed His unfailing love.  He will provide and I have followed His leading.  I trust Him because He is worthy of trust.

Today I testify that the Lord honors those who honor Him.  Seek to honor Him in all things!

You can hold to this promise.  It might not feel like it at the time, but it is true.  Often it seems like death to not trust in yourself (particularly if you are like me and you are someone who loves to trust in himself!).  No matter what, seek to honor God.  Follow His leading and His Word.  He will bring about His justice and His truth.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!  Bless His holy name!