A Reminder of What We Are Doing

I am going to try to blog once a week on Monday's. I am reposting this blog to remind me and those that are new to the blog, what exactly it is we are doing.

May God help us! Stay focused.

The Prayer:

Father God,

We praise you and glorify you because you are an awesome God who deserves the highest honor and praise. We come before you in the name of your wonderful Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We ask for your blessing for this blog, this project, and our lives. We seek to do your will and therefore be pleasing to you. We believe you have placed this blog and this project on are hearts. We don’t fully understand what you have in store for us, but we are willing to go and act by faith. Please bless the time spent in this project and this blog and let it minister to others as well as us. We think it could be life changing and give you permission to mess things up in our lives to make it work. We will do our best to plant the seeds and let you do the rest. Help our lives fit into your box and not the other way around. We love you and seek to serve you with a right heart.

In Jesus Name We Pray,

Amen

Go Without Going – It’s Just a Six Hour Commute:

See you go to this church, it’s a good church with good people who have big hearts and sincerely try to do this difficult thing we call being a Christian. And you get these job opportunities which really fit your family and seem to have the will of God written all over them. But there is a catch of course; they are six hours away in a strange place filled with mosquitoes and flying rolls. And you think this is good, God is moving us and there is a since of excitement, but wait a minute God, we really do love our church, trust the leadership, have good friends there and we don’t want to leave it.

Now keep the above paragraph in mind as we make a transition to Kim and mine’s favorite restaurant. A cozy Mexican place in Belton called Guichos which features good food, good service, and my wife’s requirement of all Mexican restaurants, white cheese dip. I am eating dinner with Kim having good conversation, centering on the upcoming move when out of the blue Kim makes this statement, “I don’t feel released from Evangel Temple, how can we go without going?” Okay, that’s odd question and six hours is quite a long and expensive commute on Sunday Mornings, but yet I knew in my spirit what she was saying. She continues on of course, she shares this idea, you know the kind the Holy Spirit plants inside of you, I don’t think we should look for a new church when we get down there she says. I am not saying we don’t go to church, we can visit, but I think we just take a year off and dedicate it to serving others. Now see I blame all of this on my Pastor, Jason St. John for preaching his sermon series on the Evangel Temple Mission Statement: Love God, Love Others, and Serve the World. His sermon had been stirring things in Kim. The answer to the odd question she posed earlier in her mind was to go to Sikeston as God was leading, but do it as members of ET on a mission to the land of mosquitoes and flying rolls. The mission involves serving others, at least one person, every day for a year and to blog about it.

Now that is a difficult concept to put your hands around. Okay maybe the concept, like the Gospel itself is simple, think of others first then act upon it in service. Simple concept, but when it comes to telling you what it is going to look like, now that’s a different story. We as many of you may know, we lead busy often hectic lives. We have full time jobs, family, church, and now with the addition of Arbonne to the family part time jobs. Kim in particular wants to complete in a day what the average person would complete in a week, and she is completing a dissertation and starting a new job currently. God, don’t you know we don’t have time for service. You see now we are getting somewhere, because God responds, make time – time for me and time for others and oh by the way, so that you’re accountable - write about it.

All right the best I can tell through prayer, overanalyzing, and trying my best to think like God would think, here is what I think it will look like. Since we don’t feel that God is asking us to quit our jobs, quit our family (though that thought becomes appealing when the boys are fighting), or even stop doing Arbonne then he probably wants us to start serving right where he has planted us. Serve the students and players that God gives us, serve those working under us through servant leadership, serve the people we work for, and of course serve our own family. More practically, on days that we have to work, find ways to serve the people we work with. It could be something as simple as asking the teacher next door to make copies for her on our plan period, you know the kind of thing that is simple yet extremely helpful. As we serve we will be building relationships. The relationship piece becomes as important as it opens so many doors for further ministry or to present the Gospel if the person we are serving does not know Christ. Jesus often met the need first before addressing the spiritual. On days that we are “Off” then we could schedule something to do as a family to bless and serve someone else. Not only do I think that the service should be where we are planted, but with the gifts that God has given us. For instance, if I tried to build something or fix something that would be stupid because I have zero handyman skills, but I do know football well and could help a young coach who is struggling with teaching a technique or understanding a concept. If I make him a better coach, then I have blessed him and served him.

That is also what we like about the Arbonne business and opportunity as there slogan says “pure, safe, and beneficial”. The company is built on quality products that are pure, safe, and beneficial but they are sold and distributed through relationships with a strong emphasis placed on people in your up line working hard to make sure that you succeed in the business. Okay, that’s it, the service needs to be pure (done with a right heart and without seeking reward), safe (such as not letting me attempt to build a deck), and most importantly beneficial (simply put, enhancing the lives of others) with the emphasis being on building relationships and attempting to help others be successful.


A Scriptural Base:

This bible study on servant hood is taken from http://www.acts17-11.com/

Servant hood

Phil 2:1-4 (Phi) Now if you have known anything of Christ's encouragement and of his reassuring love; if you have known something of the fellowship of his Spirit, and of compassion and deep sympathy, do make my joy complete--live together in harmony, live together in love, as though you had only one mind and spirit between you. Never act from motives of rivalry or personal vanity, but in humility think more of each other than you do of yourselves. None of you should think only of his own affairs, but consider other people's interests also.


Phil 2:3-4 (TEB) Don't do anything from selfish ambition, or from a cheap desire to boast; but be humble towards each other, never thinking you are better than others. And look out for each other's interests, not just for your own.


Phil 2:5-8 (Phi) Let your attitude to life be that of Christ Jesus himself. For he, who had always been God by nature, did not cling to his privileges as God's equal, but stripped himself of every advantage by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born a man. And, plainly seen as a human being, he humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience, to the point of death, and the death he died was that of a common criminal. That is why God has lifted him to the heights, and has given him the name beyond all names.


How To Get Ahead In The Kingdom Of God...


John 13:12-17 (NIV) When he [Jesus] had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.


Mat 20:27-28 (NEB) "...whoever wants to be great must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the willing slave of all--like the Son of Man; He did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give up his life as a ransom for many."


John 12:25-26 (NIV) "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."

Richard Foster: "In some ways we would prefer to hear Jesus' call to deny father and mother, houses and land for the sake of the gospel than his word to wash feet. Radical self-denial gives the feel of adventure. If we forsake all, we even have the chance at glorious martyrdom. But in service we must experience the many little deaths of going beyond ourselves. Service banishes us to the mundane, the ordinary, the trivial.
"In the Discipline of service there is also great liberty. Service allows us to say 'no!' to the world's games of promotion and authority. It abolishes our need and desire for a 'pecking order'."

Eph 5:21 (Jer) Give way to one another in obedience to Christ.

Oswald Chambers: "It is one thing to go on the lonely way with dignified heroism, but quite another thing if the line mapped out for you by God means being a door-mat under other people's feet."

Free To Serve


Rom 6:20-22 (Jer) When you were slaves to sin, you felt no obligation to righteousness, and what did you get from this? Nothing but experiences that now make you blush, since that sort of behavior ends in death. Now, however, you have been set free from sin, you have been made slaves of God, and you get a reward leading to your sanctification and ending in eternal life.


Rom 6:23 (Phi) Sin PAYS its servants: the wage is death. But God GIVES to those who serve him: his free gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Rom 7:6 (Jer) But now we are rid of the Law, freed by death from our imprisonment, free to serve in the new spiritual way and not the old way of a written law.


1 Pet 2:16 (NIV) Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.


Gal 5:13 (Jer) My brothers, you were called, as you know, to liberty; but be careful, or this liberty will provide an opening for self-indulgence. Serve one another, rather, in works of love.


Mat 24:45-47 (NIV) "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions."

Who's In Control

Mother Teresa: "I belong to Jesus. He must have the right to use me without consulting me."
1 Cor 6:19-20 (NIV) ...You are not your own; you were bought with a price...


Rom 14:8 (Jer) If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord.

Richard Foster: "A natural and understandable hesitancy accompanies any serious discussion of service. The hesitancy is prudent since it is wise to count the cost before plunging headlong into any Discipline. We experience a fear that comes out something like this: "If I do that, people will take advantage of me; they will walk all over me."
"Right here we must see the difference between choosing to serve and choosing to be a servant. When we chose to serve, we are still in charge. We decide whom we will serve and when we will serve. And if we are in charge, we will worry a great deal about anyone stepping on us, that is, taking charge over us. But when we choose to be a servant, we give up the right to be in charge. There is great freedom in this. If we voluntarily choose to be taken advantage of, then we cannot be manipulated. When we choose to be a servant, we surrender the right to decide when we will serve. We become available and vulnerable.
"Self-righteous service picks and chooses whom to serve. Sometimes the low and defenseless are served because that will ensure a humble image. True service is indiscriminate in its ministry. It has heard the command of Jesus...

Mark 9:35 (NIV) ..."If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."


Giving Up Your Rights


Luke 12:45-47 (NIV) "But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows."

Oswald Chambers: "Obstinacy and self-will will always stab Jesus Christ. It may hurt no one else, but it wounds His Spirit... Every time we stand on our rights and insist that this is what we intend to do, we... vex and grieve His Spirit."

Rom 12:1 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

"Love Slaves"

Richard Foster: "Consider the perspective of a slave. A slave sees all of life from the viewpoint of slavery. He does not see himself as possessing the same rights as free men and women. Please understand me, when this slavery is involuntary it is cruel and dehumanizing. When the slavery is freely chosen, however, everything is changed. Voluntary servitude is a great joy.

Phil 2:17 (NIV) But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

"The image of slavery may be difficult for us, but it was not hard for the apostle Paul. He frequently boasted of his slavery to Christ, making lavish use of the first-century concept of the "love slave" (that is, the slave who, out of love, has freely chosen to remain a slave). We do our best to soften Paul's language by translating the word "slave" as "servant." But whatever word we decide to use, let us be certain that we understand that Paul meant he had freely given up his rights."

Acts 20:24 (NIV) ...I consider my life worth nothing to me...

"Therefore, the fear that we will be taken advantage of and stepped on is justified. That is exactly what may happen. But who can hurt someone who has freely chosen to be stepped on? Thomas A. Kempis instructs us to be 'so subject that all men may go over thee and tread upon thee as upon mire of the street.'"

James 1:27 (Phi) Religion that is pure and genuine in the sight of God the Father will show itself by such things as visiting orphans and widows in their distress and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world.


Flesh Test! How Hard Is It To...?

Richard Foster: "Nothing disciplines the inordinate desires of the flesh like service, and nothing transforms the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness. The flesh whines against service but screams against hidden service. It strains and pulls for honor and recognition. It will devise subtle, religiously acceptable means to call attention to the service rendered. If we stoutly refuse to give in to this lust of the flesh, we crucify it. Every time we crucify the flesh, we crucify pride and arrogance."
Jesus, The Suffering Servant, Dives Into Humanity To Rescue A Few

Luke 4:18 (Jer) "The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free..."


Luke 22:27 (NIV) "For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves."


Luke 6:40 (NIV) "A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher."


Mark 10:42-45 (NIV) Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.


John 15:20 (NIV) "Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also."


Rom 15:1-3 (Wey) As for us who are strong, our duty is to bear with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not seek our own pleasure. Let each of us endeavor to please his fellow Christian, aiming at a blessing calculated to build him up. For even the Christ did not seek His own pleasure...


Rom 15:1-3 (Mof) We who are strong ought to bear the burdens that the weak make for themselves and us. We are not to please ourselves; each of us must please his neighbor, doing him good by building up his faith. Christ certainly did not please himself...


1 Pet 4:10-11 (NIV) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.


1 Cor 12:5 (NIV) There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
Dive In


Rom 12:9-13 (TEB) Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. Love one another warmly as brothers in Christ, and be eager to show respect for one another. Work hard, and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. Share your belongings with your needy brothers, and open your homes to strangers.


Gal 5:13 (RSV) ...But through love be servants of one another.


Gal 6:9-10 (Phi) Let us not grow tired of doing good, for, unless we throw in our hand, the ultimate harvest is assured. Let us then do good to all men as opportunity offers, especially to those who belong to the Christian household.


The Evangel Temple Mission:

Love God …. For us that means building a deeper and stronger relationship with Him

Love Others …. Starting with our family and then developing a heart for others like Christ

Serve the World …. Daily intentional service, where we are being planted, for one year to create a lifestyle of servitude.


The Plan:

Back to Kim’s question in the middle of our favorite Mexican Restaurant – Guichos – HOW DO YOU GO WITHOUT GOING?

Start Date: July 1 – This is the day that Kim’s contract begins. So we will find someone to serve on that date and then begin our blog.

Our Identity: Transplanted members of Evangel Temple supporting it with finances, prayer, and keeping in touch. Keeping up with what is going on by listening to podcast online.

Actual Move Date: TBD

What You Can Do To Help: Pray, then pray, and oh by the way pray. You can also give us suggestions on neat ways to serve or serving opportunities. A great way of encouraging us would be to leave comments on the blog and share with us how you are serving where you are planted.

How Long: 1 year of serving and blogging and then we will see what God wants at that point.

Balance

I am not quite sure where to start. I have been unable to be consistent with the blog as my life has been a whirlwind for the past couple of weeks. I will first start with an update. We are out of the RV and in our new house. Praise God for that. Football is under way and we start our season this Friday night at Fredericktown. May God bless our endeavors on the gridiron. School is going full blast and though I feel way behind, it is going well for me. Kim is in full swing with her new job and I believe she is making a powerful impact on the school culture by demanding Rigor, Relevance, and Relationship from her teachers. We have leased our house in Kansas City as of September 1. I think we have found a church. First Family of Cape Girardeau has planted a church in Sikeston and we have attended the past two Sundays. They have a new pastor who seems grounded and biblical, the worship is contemporary (though not ET), the people seem really friendly, the boys like it, and it just feels comfortable.

Service is a powerful thing. When others needs are put before your own, something happens that is hard to describe. Relationships are built, walls are broken down, needs are met, burden's eased, Christ love is demonstrated, people feel important and so much more than I can name. Bottom line is Service is powerful thing. I think it is why Jesus summed everything up in Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your mind, and all of your strength and then his second command was love your neighbor. When you give your heart to God, he changes it and your needs truly become secondary to doing the will of the Father which is demonstrated by serving and loving others. All your mind, I believe it is pleasing to God when we make up our mind to meet the needs of others. Serve with your strength or the strengths that God has given you. And then of course, it does not get any more plain that "love your neighbor". Guess what it is not about you or me, it is about Him!

When you serve, God looks out for you when you are in need of service. Many great friends have stepped up to the plate to help us over the pat couple of weeks but one in particular has given us a lesson in service. Brian Henson is a high school teacher and our new neighbor. He and his wife have been awesome the past couple of weeks. They have helped us numerous times, even mowing our yard. Why, simply because they knew we were busy and that we needed help. And they did it all while starting back to school themselves. Their service has made it possible to get done what we needed to get done this past week, made us feel welcomed in the neighborhood, and led us to visit their church where we plan to make our church home. Thank you Brian for such an awesome lesson in service and blessing.

As for our service, we have tried to do service as much as possible lately, but to be honest we have merely survived most of the time. Yet even in survival mode we have been continuing to do service. Opening school with 7th graders who have never switched classes and are new to Junior High is a giant service project in of itself. I have opened lockers, showed students how to get to class, and given them advice, advice, and more advice. I have also run players home, taken care of getting their shoulder pads lined up after the Jamboree so that they could get food and eat, and listened when players had something own their mind. Today in the lounge, I had lunch with a teacher who was struggling with her dads passing and ended up counseling her. I have provided numerous resources for the other coaches on the coaching staff and shared my experiences when helpful.

Kim's job is service in of itself. She is constantly helping teachers become better teachers. She is trying to find ways to make them more productive and to make their jobs easier. By holding them to higher standard and expectation she is serving them as well. I never saw Jesus let the disciples get comfortable or just go through the motions. The most memorable service over the past couple of weeks has been John who on Saturday helped a lady in a wheel chair who knocked over a display pick up what she had knocked down. He did it without been told and said, "well that was my service for the day". At least a 13 year who is usually wrapped up in his own world is thinking of service.

I need to wrap this up as I still have other things to get done tonight, but my prayer is that I get refocused on the service project and more consistent on posting this blog. My personal goal is balance. Balance between flesh and selfishness and a spirit led life and selflessness.

Since I am a teacher, I will leave you with an assignment Watch the following video, think about the assignment, and take the challenge.