What do you pray for?

Dan, a friend and ministry partner, gave a devo today that inspired me. He read from 2 Thess. 3:1.

"Finally, brothers,pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith." 

This verse was so powerful to me because it's not normally what I pray for. I pray along the lines of sentimentality, not spiritual reality. I pray for my comfort, my ease, my life, not for the Word of the Lord to speed ahead. I pray for God intervene in people's lives, not for my own deliverance from those who would oppose God and His purposes. I wonder if my prayers are often cold and weak because I am too preoccupied with how to get God to do my bidding rather than a passion that God's mission would go forward and that those who would stand in the way of that would be thwarted? Why do I only pray that for those involved with missions? 


Here's today's prayer points: (by the way, thanks to Gordon for so succinctly and diligently summing up the world's missionary affairs into 4 or 5 points!)

• Praise God for the growing Christian church in many parts of Asia. Pray that the church will be strong and unified. Pray that the name of Jesus will be known, glorified and worshipped among all peoples in Asia especially in heavily Islamic and/or Buddhist countries.
• Pray for native believers who risk their lives, property, and social standing in order to follow Christ. Pray for their endurance and protection.
• Pray that the light of Jesus in the Gospel would open the eyes of those darkened by the hold of Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
• Pray that God will use schools and churches in nations like South Korea, Philippines, Japan, and Thailand to train, equip and send missionaries and tentmakers to serve in other nations. 
• Pray for boldness and creativity as Christian workers go into closed countries (particularly in Central Asia, the Middle East, and parts of China).
• Pray for the physical safety and health of Christian workers that serve in very isolated and dangerous locations under harsh conditions. Pray also for their spiritual protection as many of them live and work in very oppressive and restrictive locations.

Integrity - Confronting Idols | The Lausanne Global Conversation

Integrity - Confronting Idols | The Lausanne Global Conversation

One of my favorite OT scholars, Chris Wright, had a timely and convicting word at last week's Lausanne Congress. Pay attention to his warning against an idolatry of power and pride, greed, and wealth and success. This is a word to church leaders especially. I was particularly convicted by Wright's warning against putting confidence in our own knowledge and appearance of knowledge.

"Before we go out to the world, we must come back to the Lord." Oh, Lord, bring your church to repentance.

Maybe I'm just an animal hater...

But you gotta admit that this post on the CNN Belief blog is just plain ridiculous. Is it me or does this make a mockery of the sacred act that is prayer? It has some cuteness value for sure, but maybe that's the problem. Something as spiritual and powerful as prayer is reduced to an 'awww....isn't that so cute?"It's left to the realm of entertainment and warm fuzzies rather than the incredibly dignifying, almost divine privilege that God has given to his chief creation to make the spiritual a present reality. A dog taking a praying posture is no more prayer than my 9-month old son chewing an action figure toy is cannibalism.

Regardless of what you think about the spirituality and souls of animals (or lack thereof), what such a videospot does is to reduce the dignity of man in that prayer is an expression of what it means to be made in the image of God. We have the communicative, relational, and creative ability to talk with God, invoke His presence, and to believe God's promised future, thus praying it into reality. No animal has that privilege or commission. Only we get to pray (there are some serious implications to this in that what does that make us if we don't pray?) Animals don't pray. They just get provided for.

Let's remember that prayer is a sacred and dignifying act - reserved for image-bearers, and let's express that dignity today by praying.

Day 23-26 - Prayer for Missions

This week our prayer theme is CF Mission. We began the week praying for our local partnerships, and then moved to praying for CF missionaries - both domestic and abroad. Yesterday, Ed Evans gave a powerful devotion about praying, and it was a needed refocusing. We subsequently prayed for missionaries. Today, our theme was praying for Africa. As you pray for the worldwide church, keep in mind that the church is booming in places outside N. America. So much so that it's tough to say that the N. American church is still the theological center of the global church. As you pray, would you consider what it means to pray humbly, not from a position that says we know how to do church and they don't, but rather humbly asking for unity, partnership, and mutual learning and edification?


Prayer Points for Africa:

• Praise God for the growing Christian church in many parts of Africa. Pray that the church will be strong and unified. Pray that the name of Jesus will be known, glorified and worshipped among all peoples in Africa.
• Pray that the church in Africa will be strategic in reaching the nations with both a strong proclamation of the gospel message and through providing effective acts of mercy.
• Praise God for the Third Lausanne Congress for World Evangelism recently held in South Africa. Pray for unity in the church worldwide and that the call for Christian leaders to humility, integrity and simplicity would have far reaching impact in every nation.
• Praise God for many church leaders that are being trained throughout Africa. Pray that schools like Scott Theological College in Kenya will continue to have a vision and the resources to train and equip the next generation of missional church leaders.
• Pray for many Christian ministries in Africa, like Jubilee Centre, that serve and care for the least of these – widows, orphans, refugees, victims of war and those affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty. Pray that the God of all Comfort will provide safety, shelter, education, daily needs and human dignity in the midst of suffering.

We also have a list of specific prayer requests for our CF missionaries that's available if you'd like.

Day 22: Prayer for CF's Mission

Today marks the beginning of praying for CF's mission - both local and not so local. Would you join us in praying for our partnerships, our missionaries, and the work that God would have for us?

Prayer Points:

• Praise God that He is working among the refugee community and immigrant communities. Praise God that he has a heart and concern for the sojourner.
• Thank God for the partnerships that have formed over the years with World Relief and Westwood Apartments. 
• Pray for the ministry of World Relief - pray that God would open up financial resources and human resources to meet the needs of the refugees being resettled in DuPage county.
• Pray for the refugee resettlement team - that a passion to care for the sojourner in our midst would be contagious.
• Pray that the Thanksgiving Dinner with World Relief would develop good friendships and that all those attending and serving would experience the joy of the Lord.
• Pray for the Neighborhood Resource Center at Westwood apartments. Pray that our partnership with them would lead Chris and Lulu (directors) to come to know the Lord and many families would be touched. 
• Pray for the Christmas store - that our church would have the opportunity to minister to families in a dignifying way. Pray for volunteers and an outpouring of generosity (especially for the college students who have stepped up to lead).
• Pray for our afterschool boys’ club that meets Fridays. Pray that these young men would receive encouragement and experience the love of Jesus through our ministry.

Day 19 - Prayer for an overlooked group

Today we prayed for a part of our church family that is often overlooked - single parents. Kevin shared a real-life illustration of why we need to pray for single moms and dads. I can't imagine doing all the things that Sarah does (and that I add to it) with only ONE of us. It makes me really appreciate and love Sarah's strength in that she has held the fort down on more than one occasion when I have traveled. What would it be to know that there was no reprieve? That you had to be bread-winner, nurturer, discipliner, father, mother, and individual all on your own? This is why we prayed for our single parents today. Praise God that he is a restorer of families and the upholder of the widow and the orphan.


Prayer Points:

• Pray for the single parents of CF that they would be given wisdom and courage as they raise their children alone or jointly with an ex-spouse, especially if the ex is of a different religion or lives by a different moral standard.
• Pray for these parents as they face their loneliness; that their hearts and lives may be filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit.
• Pray that they might find fellowship and support here at CF and be enabled to use their gifts to help and encourage others.
• Pray also for the parents of blended families and the unique stress on the marriage as these couples raise their children and step-children together.
• Pray that our men’ s ministry be especially sensitive to providing male support and friendship to young boys in our church who grow up without a dad in the home.
• Pray also for those at CF who have adopted children or who are in the process of doing so.

Update from Lausanne

Dr. Michael Oh published the full length of this article on his blog. What an incredible story!

On the second night of theThird Lausanne Congress taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, an 18 year-old girl from North Korea shared her story.

She was born into a wealthy family, her father an assistant to the North Korean leader, Kim Jong II. Eventually her father’s political fortunes shifted, and after being politically persecuted by the North Korean government, he, his wife, and his daughter escaped to China.

In China a relative brought her family to church where her parents came to know Jesus Christ. A few months later, however, her pregnant mother died from Leukemia. Her father started to study the Bible with missionaries and eventually the Lord gave him a strong desire to become a missionary to North Korea. But in 2001 he was reported as a Christian, was arrested by the Chinese police, and was returned to North Korea. Forced to leave his daughter behind in China, he spent three years in prison. During this time the girl shared that it only "made my father’s faith stronger” and that he “cried out to God more desperately rather than complain or blame Him."

After three years he was able to return to China where he was briefly reunited with his daughter. Soon after, however, he gathered Bibles having resolved to return to North Korea to share Christ among that hopeless people. He was given the opportunity to go to South Korea, but he turned them down. 

In 2006 he was discovered by the North Korean government and was arrested. There has since been no word from him. In all probability he has been shot to death publicly for treason.

In 2007 this girl, who at the time was not a Christian, was given the opportunity to go to South Korea. While still in China waiting at the Korean Consulate in Beijing to go to South Korea, she saw Jesus in a dream. Jesus, with tears in his eyes, called her by name and said, "How much longer are you going to keep me waiting? Walk with me. Yes, you lost your earthly father, but I am your heavenly Father and whatever has happened to you is because I love you."

She knelt and prayed to God for the first time and realized that “God my Father loves and cares for me so very much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for me.” She prayed, “God here I am. I just lay down everything and give you my heart, my soul, my mind, and my strength. Please use me as you will.”

Now God has given her a great love for North Korea. She shared that, "Just as my father was used there for God’s kingdom, I now desire to be obedient to God. I want to bring the love of Jesus to North Korea."

She closed with the following words:

I look back over my short life and see God’s hand everywhere. Six years in North Korea, 11 years in China, and a time of being in South Korea. Everything that I experienced and love, I want to give it all to God and use my life for His kingdom. I hope to honor my father and bring glory to my heavenly Father by serving God with my whole heart.

I believe God’s heart cries out for the lost people of North Korea.  I humbly ask you, my brothers and sisters, to have the same heart of God.  Please pray that the same light of God’s grace and mercy that reached my father and my mother and now me will one day come down upon the people of North Korea… my people.

Day 18: Praying for Students and Youth

I love how our prayer themes seem to be right in line with what is going on in the church. I wish I could say that it was totally intentional, but I'll let the Spirit take credit for that. Last night, I had the privilege of being with 6 friends who are youth pastors in the area. These are guys and gals whom I respect and love. We brought our groups together over a five-month process to talk about caring for the poor, and it culminated in a partnership with Compassion International called One Meal One Day. It was a neat thing to see 130 students together, worshiping God, and sharing stories about what God did in raising awareness and caring for hungry children. With this picture of students coming together to worship and serve God, we met this morning to pray. Seth gave a straightforward challenge that students can be an example for the rest of the church, and he challenged us to pray that way.


Prayer Points:

• Thank God for the many ways He is working in the lives of students to make them pure, holy and blameless by the blood of Jesus.
• Thank God for the countless men and women who serve the students of our church week-in and week-out.
• Pray that God would guard his saints from the lies, manipulation, temptations, and destructive ways of the world - that our students would be INFLUENCERS instead of being influenced.
• Pray that God would raise up more godly men and women to mentor and disciple students.
• Pray for the youth who have forgotten their first love and walked away from the church - that they would return.
• Pray that passion and boldness would grow in the hearts of youth as they seek to serve and follow Jesus.

Lessons on Love

Some recent Bible studies, musings, conversations, and prayer have stirred up some thoughts and ideas about why love is so important in the Christian life. I'll try and summarize (and chronicle) as best I can.

It all started with a small phrase in Galatians 5:6. At the end of his exhortation that the Galatians should refrain from submitting under and trusting in the law, Paul tucks in this short phrase, "only faith working through love."Faith working through love. Have you ever stopped to think for a moment that love and faith are related? That somehow faith motivates love?

The concept could be quite radical and remind us of the functional centrality of the Gospel to motivate and empower our love for others. There's two ways that faith and love are related.

1. Love is the expression of the rich life with God that faith secures. The whole of the Law and its commandments is summarized in loving God and loving others. This is the clearest expression of a life that is righteous (pleasing to God). How can such a relationship with God possibly take place? Faith in Jesus. Paul is clear over and over again that faith in Christ is the only way we can be made righteous. Follow my logic here: if love is the clearest sign of a relationship that is right with God and faith is the means by which that relationship is made right, it follows then that the clearest expression of faith in God is love.

2. What would enable someone to love another person freely and lavishly? Faith. Faith that no matter how the object of one's love should respond/reciprocate, we are loved infinitely and immeasurably more than anyone on this earth could reciprocate. Faith in the love of God for us (as demonstrated in Jesus) enables us to love others freely because we don't need their approval of our love nor do we need them to reciprocate to us. We're not loving them in order that they might love us back (and thus fulfill our own need). We're loving them because we have been extravagantly loved on. We have the security and identity that comes from being truly loved. Faith in Christ stirs and motivates this kind of loving others.

A recent conversation brought all this to a stunning realization. As I've been praying for the last 18 days, I've realized that more than God answering and working through my list on how the world needs to be different, he's been changing ME! Now I've always heard that phrase, "Prayer doesn't just change our situations; it changes us," but I always thought that was for people who didn't pray much (or at least in a way that believed their situations could change). However, I'm realizing how true this is. My heart is changing even as my vision is still coming into view. God wants all of me on the mat so that he can show me his heart and with enough time together, infect me with his interests and his desires. As a friend and I were sharing, we both realized that one of the biggest effects in both of our lives was an increased heart for people and their needs. I've been experiencing more of an urgency to communicate the Gospel to people in a relevant, compelling way. I've been having more of a burden to see God work and breakthrough in people's lives. In short, my love for people has increased.

Here's the startling thing: out of all the things God could be imparting to me as a result of spending focused time in prayer it's a deeper love for people. Just how much DOES God love people? If having his heart means having a deeper love for people, I just can't fathom how much God indeed loves mankind. It's startling and nothing less than liberating. Let me bring it full circle - my faith in the love of God for me and for people expresses itself in love for people and God because that's who God is. Faith in God results in love for God and the people whom he loves!

So when I am not loving people, what does that say about my faith? It's a hard diagnostic, but one that we must consider.

Day 16 & 17

Sorry, folks, I didn't get around to posting yesterday's prayer points. The entire staff went up to a Pastor's Appreciation Brunch, and we were gone for a good portion of the day. I've been learning some key lessons about prayer and especially about the love of God lately, but I'll have to save that for a later post. 


Here are the prayer points:


Day 16: Sexual Purity

• Pray for those who are struggling with various forms of sexual sin; that they might be set free from bondage by the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Pray for the healing of those who have been sexually abused in their past and struggle with the consequences of that abuse; that they may be able to forgive their perpetrators.
• Pray for those in our church who are secretly involved in pornography, or sexual affairs (heterosexual or homosexual); that they may come to repentance and take the steps necessary for change.
• Pray that our children may be taught that sex within marriage is a wonderful gift of God and that it can be celebrated and deepen the unity of the relationship.
• Pray for those couples who are living together - that they might see the goodness of God’s plan for marriage.
• Pray that men and women in CF with treat each other with respect as brothers and sisters, and not see one another as objects of lust or fantasy.
• Pray that we will be consumed with an overwhelming desire for God so as to please Him in thoughts and actions.

Day 17: Community Groups

• Pray that the Lord continues to gives CF a vision for Biblical community.
• Pray that the Lord continues to help us as a church see the significance of our relationships with one another.
• Pray for the 50+ Community Group leaders who regularly open their homes and their lives as they share the gospel - that they would have endurance, wisdom, and compassions to care for people.
• Pray that the Lord gives all the Community Group leaders a renewed passion to follow Jesus in all they do.
• Pray for the newly established Community Group Leadership Team that will help further the growth of Community Groups and Community Group leaders at CF.
• Pray that the Lord continues to draw people to himself through all the Community Groups and for spiritual transformation.

Day 15: A Sweet Presence

Confession: I did not want to pray this morning. I did not want to pray last night. I was plain tired, and an array of voices were creeping into my head. "You deserve a break." "One day's not going to do anything." "Your prayers aren't really accomplishing anything anyway." "Your family needs you." 


So many doubts and questions! 1 Sam 12:23 was a great reminder to me. "Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by not praying for you." Then I remembered some friends who are going through a heartbreaking situation. How could I sin against God and not remember them in prayer today? So I got up, went to church, and prayed. This morning was a breath of fresh air. How beautiful it was to be with others in prayer, to sense the passion rise, as the urgency overtook us, and the Spirit of God fueled what needed to be said! God showed up and reminded us that the work of prayer does matter...but maybe more for us than the situations we bring forth. Thank you, God, for grace this morning to break through my sleepiness, and to pray!


We're praying for Families and Marriages:

• Pray that parents of any age child will be faithful to pray for and encourage our children’s understanding of the gospel, and that we might move toward them with love and forgiveness if there are unreconciled issues from the past.
• Pray that children of any age parent will render them honor and respect, and move toward them with love and forgiveness if there are unreconciled issues from the past.
• Pray for the salvation of any family member who does not know Jesus.
• Pray for our marriages that they may reflect the steadfastness and faithfulness of our covenant-keeping God:
• That wives may deeply respect and submit to their husbands.
• That husbands may deeply love their wives and not be embittered against them.
• Pray that we will see struggling marriages reconciled and healed, and that CF will become a “no divorce zone.”
• Pray that our married couples see that marriage is more about making us holy than making us happy; that it is God’s great laboratory for our sanctification.

Day 14: Partnership in Churches

Sunday's prayer points were for unity and partnership with area churches. Interestingly, CF was being a partial answer to its own prayers as Dave McDowell was guest preaching at a church down in Romeoville. The pastor actually had our 40-day prayer guide and mentioned it to his congregation as he introduced Dave! It seems that this movement is affecting more than just us!


Prayer points:

• Thank God for the many Bible believing/gospel centered churches in our area that are equipping the saints and reaching the lost.
• Pray that God gives us an awareness of how we can partner with churches as we serve those in need in the community.
• Pray that God would continue to give the Church a spirit of being like-minded, with the same love, in one spirit and purpose for God's glory. 
• Pray that God would reveal those areas of our hearts where judgment and bitter feelings towards other churches hold us captive in sin.  May we confess those sins and seek ways of reconciliation so others may see the gospel at work in the life of the Church.
• Pray that God grants us His wisdom and direction towards unity among the local church.  And that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may look to God's Word for direction as He provides creative ways to serve together. 

Next week, I get to preach at West Alliance Church in Warrenville for a friend who's at the Lausanne Congress. I am grateful that CF is so generous that it sees as part of its mission to support and serve other area churches. It's a real blessing.

Using Facebook to pray

I was reminded that creativity can go a long way in helping us to pray without ceasing. For example, a friend of mine prays for his wife every time he opens a door. He prays for his kids every time he washes his hands (or sanitizes).

I decided to add my own touch. You ever notice on FB how random friends (and their profile pics) will show up in your friends box? Why not take the time to pray for the four to six pictures that show up each time you log in? This way you can be a true friend. Just a thought.

So as I'm logging in, I'll stop to pray for Krystyn, William, Joe, DD, Connie, and Dustin. Six people I've just done battle for. 

What creative things do you employ to pray for people without ceasing? Share your best practices!

Day 12 - Prayer for the Community

Kevin gave a great devo today from 1 Kings 17. He noted how God was already working in the life of the widow of Zeraphath (who was outside the covenant people). Elijah went to her, and after meeting her needs, she exclaimed, "now I know that you are a man of God and that the words coming out of you are surely from God." What a beautiful expression of how we must respond to God's initiative! As well, what a powerful observation Kevin made that God not only met the needs of the widow and her son, but the prophet as well.


Let's pray that CF becomes a church with that kind of prophetic ministry.

• Praise God that he is already at work in our local communities (neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, parks, stores, restaurants, etc). 
• Pray that God gives us a greater awareness of where he is at work and a vision/obedience to participate.
• Pray for God to give us the strength and humility to love all people like he loves us.
• Many families in the community are struggling to put food on the table - Ask God to provide for them. 
• Local schools are in great need of people to help mentor/tutor young people - Ask God to raise up an army of mentors.
• Ask God to show you how you could use the resources and abilities he has given you to bless others around you who are in need.

Beware of Gospel Substitutes

Funny how the gospel can become so 'elementary' to us. For most of my Christian walk, I thought that the gospel was the propositional truths that made up Christianity (and it certainly is). I therefore assumed that the gospel was to be memorized, put into a script, and then shared with non-believers. After all, the gospel was for non-believers to come to know Jesus. Over the last 5+ years, God has been renovating my heart and relationship with him as I've come to understand that the gospel is for me today as much as it is for the one who's never heard. There are still so many places in my heart that do not believe the gospel. There are so many habits and actions that operate out of functional denial of the gospel. As it is true for my own life, so I find it true of my own church. There are still so many places in our church that do not function as an expression of the gospel, but rather out of something else.

I taught a class at CF in which we talked about a true response to the gospel, and how we must by all means continue to fight to believe and hold onto the gospel. That said, there are subtle substitutes that can creep in and replace our dependency on the gospel. Here are a few.

                                      i.     Formalism. "I participate in the regular meetings and ministries of the church, so I feel like my life is under control. I'm always in church, but it really has little impact on my heart or on how I live. I may become judgmental and impatient with those who do not have the same commitment as I do."

                                     ii.     Legalism. "I live by the rules—rules I create for myself and rules I create for others. I feel good if I can keep my own rules, and I become arrogant and full of contempt when others don't meet the standards I set for them. There is no joy in my life because there is no grace to be celebrated. I have earned all the favor I have received."

                                    iii.     Mysticism. "I am engaged in the incessant pursuit of an emotional experience with God. I live for the moments when I feel close to him, and I often struggle with discouragement when I don't feel that way. I may change groups often, too, looking for one that will give me what I'm looking for."

                                   iv.     Activism. "I recognize the missional nature of Christianity and am passionately involved in fixing this broken world. But at the end of the day, my life is more of a defense of what's right than a joyful pursuit of Christ. My faith is about being involved in the right Christian causes."

                                    v.     Biblicism. "I know my Bible inside and out, but I do not let it master me. I have reduced the gospel to a mastery of biblical content and theology, so I am intolerant and critical of those with lesser knowledge."

                                   vi.     Therapism. "I talk a lot about the hurting people in our congregation, and how Christ is the only answer for their hurt. Yet even without realizing it, I have made Christ more Therapist than Savior. I view hurt as a greater problem than sin—and I subtly shift my greatest need from my moral failure to my unmet needs."

                                  vii.     Social-ism. "The deep fellowship and friendships I find at my church have become their own idol. The body of Christ has replaced Christ himself, and the gospel is reduced to a network of fulfilling Christian relationships.”

If the gospel were to jump off the pages of our doctrinal statements and into the core of our community: its practices, its values, its rule of engagement - and into our lives, what would that church look like?

Let's pray to that end:

• Remember how you came to know God through hearing the gospel. Take some time to thank God for that work.
• The gospel is good news for the world.  Pray that the gospel will continue to reach those who have yet to hear and believe. 
• Pray that the younger generation of our church would hear and respond to the gospel. 
• Pray that the church would be united by a common passion for the gospel - that every area of our church’s life and ministry would be influenced by the gospel of grace. 
• Pray that God would stir up a hunger to grow in the knowledge of the gospel. 
• Pray that the forgiveness we have received through Christ would cause us to forgive others and broken relationships might be restored.

Day 10 - Boldness and Compassion to Engage the Culture

One fourth of the way there! I can't believe it's been ten days, but God has been truly gracious to me as I've been learning how to pray. There's so much that I've learned, but a scary thought came to me this morning as I made my way to church. I was so tired this morning, and as I noted to myself that 1/4 of the morning prayer was over, I wondered whether or not our prayers were really making a difference. "Does prayer really work?" I asked myself. Does it really make a difference? The truth of the matter is that this endeavor to pray has exposed the weakness of my faith. Jesus had a word for it - oligopistoi - 'little faith'. It's so humbling to think that while my lips proclaim such faith, my life is not dependent upon it. I walk by sight (or ingenuity or willpower), not faith. At the end of this short reflection, I found myself desperate that God should work in such a way as to demonstrate his power not as a result of us manipulating him through prayer, but rather as a result of his sovereign will.


Specifically, I prayed that in the context of mobilizing our church to engage the culture and striving for relevance.


Prayer points:

• Spend some moments reflecting on the truth of God’s Word, and how God has revealed his will for our lives.
• Pray that God’s glory would shine into the dark places of our culture.
• Pray that God would move our church outside of our comfort zone and give us boldness to stand for God’s truth in our culture.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit might give us creativity and a sense of urgency to engage our culture in relevant and God-honoring ways. 
• Pray that God would give us compassion to consider others more significant than ourselves. Confess those times when we’ve passed judgment on others in pride and/or condemnation.
• Pray that our church might become a welcoming and loving place for those on the fringe of our culture.
• Pray that the Gospel might create a culture of grace and transparency at CF.

Day 9 - Pay Attention!

Today's prayer theme is for the elders and pastors of your church. Pastor Dave gave a poignant devo from Acts 20:28. The phrase of the day was 'pay attention'. Elders are to be overseers of the flock of God, and they are to pay attention to themselves (their doctrine, their families, their walks with God) as well as the flocks over which God has set them. Let's pray that God would give much grace and discernment to our elders and pastors that they might be diligent to pay attention.


Prayer Points:

• Thank God for the pastors and elders God has added to our church.
• Our elders and pastors will “pay attention” to themselves – walk with God, marriage, family, witness, purity.
• Our elders and pastors will “pay attention” to the flock at CF – prayer, teaching, counsel, mentoring, availability.
• As a congregation we will be faithful in our prayers and support of our elders and pastors – realize that this is not their job, but a calling for which they will be held accountable.
• That God will select from among us additional elders to lead the flock.
• That God will guide us in our selection of a new Community Kids Director.
• Pronounce a blessing on our elders and pastors: Elders- Ed Evans, Tom Jones, Jeff Johnson, Dave McDowell, Bob O’Connor, Gordon Spahr, Herman Valdez, John Wilson; Pastoral Staff- Bill Gillette (worship), Mitchel Lee (teaching), Dave McDowell (lead), Kevin Sampson (community groups), Gordon Spahr (executive).

Day 8 - A New Weekly Theme and Praying for a Spirit of Generosity

What a good way to begin the week even though I woke up feeling weary and spiritually lethargic. When I sat with the people of God and began to pray that lethargy was left behind. There's something about joining our hearts and voices together that creates a real sense of unity and purpose. But I am realizing as I write this that the discipline of personal prayer is still one that I must learn.


Here's today's prayer points:

• Spend a few moments considering all the ways that God has been generous with you. Thank him and praise him.
• Thank God for the ways in which he has been generous to our church.
• Pray that in response to the Gospel God would make our church generous to those within it.
• Pray that in response to the Gospel God would make our church generous to those outside of it.
• Pray that God would make our church aware of needs and give us courage and focus to respond in generosity.

Day 7 - Sunday Prayer Meeting

Being Sunday, I wasn't sure who would show up for the 8 am prayer time. Personally, I found it more difficult to wake up later than the previous days. It's amazing how relatively quickly the body can be disciplined and trained. 


The morning prayer time was powerful as we filled a half room. Even more, praying together for a passion for purity and holiness caused in me a real sense of anticipation and excitement about worshiping together with the people of God. I wanted God to do something so amazing and spectacular.


During the worship service, I found myself repeating the same prayer over and over, asking God to move in his church. I was becoming desperate, longing for God to move because I recognized that only He could break through our spiritual haze. Only God can stir up longings for other-worldly things, and I committed to myself that if nothing else, I would become a pastor who prayed that the church would wake up. It was a very reflective worship experience. Would that every time we come together as the people of God that we would expect God to do something great.


Here's today's prayer points:

• Spend some time meditating on the purity of God. What does this mean? Respond in prayer.
• Spend some time considering the holiness of God. What does this mean?
• As you consider God’s purity and holiness, confess the areas of your life that do not reflect God’s purity and holiness.
• Pray that God’s purity and holiness would invade different areas of our world (schools, homes, workplaces, etc.)
• Pray that God would give you passion for his purity and holiness. 
• Pray that the people in your life would pursue purity and holiness.

Day 6 of 40 Days...

Today's prayer theme is Repentance for Sin. The morning devo talked about repentance being the first and most significant factor in revival. Revival always starts with a hatred of sin and a deep contrition. The cross enables us to repent because we don't have to fear condemnation when we come to the light. We can come to God because He has forgiven us in Christ. We don't need to make excuses, explanations, or entreaties. We can call sin what it is, and confess it to the Lord.

Prayer Points:

• Ask the Lord to search your heart for any hidden or unresolved sin. Confess those sins to the Lord with no excuses.
• Pray for power to say NO to sin. Pray for freedom from sinful attitudes or habits.
• Pray that God would continue to purify us as a church by bringing sin into the light.
• Claim the promise of God to forgive us when we confess our sins.
• Thank God for the power and effectiveness of the cross to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

How the Recession will affect Halloween 2010

CNN posted an article today about the most popular Halloween costumes for 2010. It seems that MTV is dictating yet another area of our pop culture. One part of the article particularly troubled me.

"Halloween enthusiasts are planning to spend considerably more than they did last year, according to the National Retail Federation's 2010 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.

Americans will spend $66.28 on costumes, candy and decorations, up 18% from last year. Total spending for the holiday is expected to reach $5.8 billion.

This year, 40.1% of respondents are planning to wear a costume, the highest percentage in the NRF survey's history, and up from 33.4% last year (11.5% will put costumes on their pets as well).

"Halloween has become our national party and even though the economy has been challenged it's an easy escape," Spirit Halloween's Silverstein said."

5.8 billion dollars on dressing up. 5.8 billion... If, according to CNN's stats, the average American spends $66.28 on Halloween-related stuff, it would equate to being able to feed one child for five months through Compassion International. One night of frolicking and amusement equals five MONTHS of life for a child.

I find it absolutely unbelievable that despite charitable giving being down across the nation (blamed on the economic downturn), many in our country will still find a way to party and to indulge. More people will dress up and spend money to do so than before the recession? I guess it just goes to show that people will find a way to do what they want, and spend the money to do it. God help our nation...

I think I'm in love

Today marked Day 5 of our 40-day Prayer Gathering, and this day was particularly special for me because my wife was able to join me. Thanks to my in-laws for being home to be with the kids! We arose early in the morning and were the first to arrive at church. Our morning conversation was just simple, but splendid. It was a wonderful thing to arrive at church together and have her beside me. I was really reminded that we are in this pastoral ministry together. She's my partner and friend - she really is a wonderful help-mate!


Not only was she wonderful company, she looked cuter than any person has the right to look at 5:30 in the morning. But here's the part that won me over. As we sat and prayed together, I could clearly make out in the murmurings of her prayers such a sweet spirit. As this mother offered prayers for her children with tears, as she asked God to move in the hearts of wayward cousins, as she pled with God to save her new friend that she had met a few weeks ago...I was absolutely enamored. I want to pray that sweetly and sincerely. I want to know what it is to love God that way. I wanted to know this woman. Wait, I do! She's mine, and I am hers! On our way home, we stopped by Starbucks, grabbed two hot drinks, and just sat for a little bit talking about our week, and where we were in life. It was simply wonderful. I think I'm in love...


On to today's prayer requests:

• Pray for the Lord to send out more laborers into the harvest.
• Pray that lost family members, friends, and neighbors would come to repentance and faith in Jesus.
• Pray for the advancement of God’s kingdom and the restoration of a lost world.
• Pray for the wayward, back-slidden, and prodigals to return home.
• Pray that your heart would grow more burdened for the lost, that you would share the Lord’s heart for those who do not know him.
• Pray for boldness and compassion to share the Gospel with those around you.

Oh that God would reap a harvest of souls in our lifetimes! That the lost would be found and the lame healed! This song was in my head all morning. The pics are random, but the music and lyrics capture well what this morning was about.

Pastors and Cost

Eugene Cho had an interesting and sobering post in his blog today. I've reposted it below.

death by ministry?

Several years ago, I spent several hours/week doing research (and meeting with other pastors) about pastoral health and vitality for my denomination.

I chose to spend some time doing that for selfish reasons. I was and am still learning how to take better care of myself in ministry (as evidenced by the scary picture above) – while completely acknowledging that sometimes, it’s not supposed to feel right. We all know that work…well…is supposed to belaborious. And those in ministry know that ministry in itself is difficult. There’s no way to get around it but…

What I learned was pretty shocking and heartbreaking but one of the conclusions I came to was that as ministry leaders, pastors and other pursuers of God’s work, it helps to understand some of the challenges ahead and to be proactive rather than reactive.

Yesterday, I posted Part I of this post entitled, Why is Being a Pastor so Unhealthy. The reasons are complex and I’ll acknowledge that when one looks for “doom and gloom,” you’ll find some discouraging things. I can focus an entry purely on the joys and blessings of pastoral ministry and feel confident I can write a compelling piece. But these statistics (and stories that many of us are aware of) and our personal stories are hard to ignore.

Here’s a summary of what I learned:

There are varying reports from different sources but I believe most will agree that the ministerial profession (life as pastors) is now considered one of the most dangerous or unhealthiest professions. It’s usually rated last or second to last. Read this from a local Northwest minister, Mark, on a comment on anearlier post:

“At the first church I served we had an insurance agent who was a member of the congregation. When I went to see him about some auto insurance needs, he said “Hey, wanna see something that will scare the crap out of you?”…He pulled out a form that had various professions rated for their risk of giving life insurance policies too…Anyway, to make a lengthening story shorter, he showed me that clergy members were in the same category as Deep Sea Welders and Loggers as the second highest risk group to give life insurance policies to. We were behind crab fishermen but ahead of munitions workers.

It was a little disturbing to know that statistically I was gonna die due to my profession before someone who builds explosives. This was back in 1994 the statistics may be better (or worse) now.”

If you don’t believe the above comment, read some of these statistics:

48% of them think their work is hazardous to their family’s well being. Another 45.5% will experience burnout or depression that will make them leave their jobs. And 70% say their self-esteem is lower now than when they started their position. They have the 2nd highest divorce rate among professions. Who are they? They are pastors. Here are some more overwhelming statistics from this article.

• 80% of pastors say they have insufficient time with spouse and that ministry has a negative effect on their family.
• 40% report a serious conflict with a parishioner once a month.
• 33% say that being in ministry is an outright hazard to their family.
• 75% report they’ve had significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry.
• 58% of pastors indicate that their spouse needs to work either part time or full time to supplement the family income.
• 56% of pastors’ wives say they have no close friends.
• Pastors who work fewer than 50 hrs/week are 35% more likely to be terminated.
• 40% of pastors considered leaving the pastorate in the past three months.

Feeling dizzy? Take a breath. Here’s some more statistics:

• Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.
• Fifty percent of pastors’ marriages will end in divorce.
• Eighty percent of pastors and eighty-four percent of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors.
• Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.
• Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
• Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression.
• Almost forty percent polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry.
• Seventy percent said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons. [compiled by Darrin Patrick]

While I love being a pastor and even more, being called to be a pastor, I want folks to know how incredibly difficult it is at times to handle the complexities and stress of being a minister. Finally, at the of 39, I feel more at peace at how to create boundaries, love my church, better care for my wife and children, support my fellow staff, handle criticism, etc. but there are times, I feel overwhelmed. I’ve been having occasional visitors from a blog started by and for pastors’ wives [couldn't find one for pastors' husbands]. Some of their comments have been difficult to read because they hit so close to home. I will not post a link to their blog here  but here are but two comments:

“Oh, and the financial part is tough. We live on poverty level. I don’t know how we are going to pay all the bills sometimes, much less buy groceries. The Lord always comes through, though, and on a really tough week, someone in the church will anonymously give us a gift. We have no in between at our church. It’s either people trying to help us out, (it’s all there what we make each week – in black and white) or it’s people that have this attitude - ‘Pastors are supposed to suffer and sacrifice. It’s part of the job.’ Has anyone else noticed that mentality? I don’t know where it comes from, and it is one of my biggest pet peeves. Pastors aren’t supposed to drive nice cars, have nice houses, or buy new clothes. And we are always supposed to be worried about making ends meet I wonder if it is just half of my church that thinks that way.”

Here’s the second comment:

“Today my son approached my husband and randomly said “I guess you’re going back to church now.” And he wasn’t going anywhere! During seminary, he would walk around the house saying “Bye bye Daddy. Bye bye daddy!” So sad, but very true. It’s definitely a calling, isn’t it? I told my husband the other day: “In my classes that I took to prepare me to be a minister’s wife, they told me over and over again ‘it is the loneliest job in the world,’ but I never realized it until we were in the role…

While I feel solid support from my staff, my elder board, and the church as a whole, I know that many of my peers do not feel this way.

Simply, pastors are often underpaid, underappreciated, and at times, undermined.

There is strain on their marriages and families. Two other incredibly real factors that add complexities to the ministerial calling are:

• the cultural complexity and dynamic of the 21st century and
• the nebulous but real nature of the spiritual realm & battle.

The reality is that being a pastor is not just merely a job nor should it be one. Ministry is a calling. It’s both amazing and difficult. While it isn’t my desire to over dramatize the significance of ministry, I do believe that the Evil One seeks to impede and harm the work that is to take place through ministers and pastors.

As for the “cultural complexity of the 21st century,” I think this quote captures my sentiment:

“My viewpoint tends to be more organizational, so my take on being a pastor is that it is an impossible job. Here you are asked to be the lead preacher and teacher, available for counseling sessions, leading a staff of people that can span such responsibilities as missions and janitorial, serving as the public face for your organization in the community, networking with other leaders at Christian conferences and denominational gatherings. That’s a lot of hats! … Let’s finally consider the financial issues. I don’t believe pastors are paid very well, so that’s obviously a downer. And if you are paid well, and sometimes even if you aren’t, that has its own issues, for congregants can quite easily feel they own you, since they’re paying your way. What other organizations is the person at top in such an awkward financial relationship with his or her co-workers and clients?” [h/t Lee H]

My point is very simple:

Please care, pray, and love your pastors (and church staff) in your churches.

Seriously, give them a nice pay raise, more time off, regular opportunities to get away for even a day retreat to pray, buy them some dinner certificates, honor their spouses, love their children, pray for them, and regularly share your appreciation and affirmation.

Now, I know that this can easily be intended to perpetuate the victim language or mentality, but it’s a two-way street. Churches must seek to honor and care for its pastors and staff and build healthy structures to ensure such care. Similarly, pastors and their families must make choices to be holistically healthy! We must rest, Sabbath, enjoy God, love the Scriptures not simply for the sake of sermon preparations, be in deep friendships and community, exercise, work on your jump shot, continue to be a reader and learner, love and honor our spouses, nurture our children, laugh and have fun, eat healthy and drink good refreshments [use your imagination here], examine and repent of any possible addictions, and [add your contribution here].

We need to lean on God; stop our self-sufficiency and repent of the idolatry to please all those around us. Easier said than done but it needs to begin somewhere. Why not now?

Some good news:

Despite the intense nature of pastoral ministry, it is also immensely fulfilling. Huh? It makes total sense to me. According to a recent survey, the top five professions are clergy, physical therapists, firefighters, education administrators, and painters/sculptors:

Clergy ranked by far the most satisfied and the most generally happy of 198 occupations. Eighty-seven percent of clergy said they were “very satisfied” with their work, compared with an average 47 percent for all workers. Sixty-seven percent reported being “very happy,” compared with an average 33 percent for all workers.Jackson Carroll, Williams professor emeritus of religion and society at Duke Divinity School, found similarly high satisfaction when he studied Protestant and Catholic clergy, despite relatively modest salaries and long hours.“

They look at their occupation as a calling,” Carroll said. “A pastor does get called on to enter into some of the deepest moments of a person’s life, celebrating a birth and sitting with people at times of illness or death. There’s a lot of fulfillment.” [read the entire article]

So, while pastoral ministry is at times exhausting, draining, depressing, and overwhelming, it’s also meaningful and fulfilling.

May God grant you grace, courage, and strength.

God bless you pastors. God bless your spouses and your children. May you bless your flock and may you be blessed by them. And together, may you bless the Lord as you seek to bless His creation.

* Please pass this on to pastors but especially to those who sit on boards, groups, and committees that help to care for the pastors and leaders of their churches.

If you're not in the habit already, would you begin to pray for your pastor? Here are a couple ways you can do that:

1. Sunday morning - Pray that your pastor would preach with unction (see my earlier post on this). Pray that he would believe the Gospel in his preaching - not trying to preach for people's approval, but out of his identity in Christ. Pray for words to be given him and power to be demonstrated (1 Cor 2).

2. Monday morning - Pray that the Spirit would guard the mind and heart of your pastor especially after preaching and a full day of ministry. Mondays can be the toughest day especially after your pastor has put himself out there. Ask that God would guard him from sin.

3. Tuesday morning - Pray that your pastor would reconnect with his wife and family. Pray that there would be sweet reconnection and refreshment to begin the week of ministry.

4. Wednesday morning - Pray for your pastor's time in the Word. Pray that his study of the Word would be diligent and faithful. Ask God to protect him from error, and also that he would grow from his study.

5. Thursday morning - Pray that your pastor would have supernatural energy to continue to serve people, remain faithful, and to experience sharpening and revitalization.

6. Friday morning - Pray again for your pastor's family. Pray that they would have some sort of a weekend to reconnect. Pray that your pastor would be fully present with the family, not just there physically, but emotionally and spiritually able to engage his wife and children.

7. Saturday morning - Pray for REST. Pray that your pastor would experience Sabbath and also that God would continue to soften his heart and give him boldness for the message he is about to preach.

I wonder if God's people started praying for their pastors instead of just paying their pastors (and sometimes not even that), how would the stats change? How would the church change? How would your own life change?