"For God so loved God that he sent his son..."

Several years ago I was riding in the car with a friend when the Michael W. Smith song, "Above All," came on the radio.  Smitty sang with his typical rasp the well known lyrics, "Like a rose, trampled on the ground, You thought of me, Above All."

My friend let out an annoyed grunt prompting me to ask, "What's wrong?"

"That song is just so theologically inept," my John Piper loving friend exclaimed in disgust.

"How so?" I naively inquired.

"He thought of me, above all?  Really, Leighton? You think Jesus thought of us above all?  He thought of Himself!  He thought of HIS OWN GLORY," he passionately proclaimed like only a fellow preacher could.  "God does what he does for his own glory, not for us. It is all about Him and His glory. That song was probably written by Joel Osteen or something!"

"What do you really think about it," I quipped?  About that time we arrived at our destination (a very good mexican restaurant) and the topic quickly changed to chips and salsa...also created for God's glory, no doubt!

Since then I have thought about that conversation every time I hear those emotionally charged lyrics of the Smitster on KLTY.  And I get the point my friend was making.  I've read the book Desiring God by John Piper and I know the reasoning behind such comments, but do I agree?  Did God really think of Himself above all?  Was it really about God getting all the glory and man getting none of it?

Sometimes I wonder if in our desire to express a truth about God we tend toward overstating a point to the neglect of another valid point.  In other words, does this have to be an 'either/or' premise?  Could it be that God's glory is best made known through his sharing of glory with those He chose to create in His own image?  Is His Glory diminished in any way by giving us some of it?  After all, Jesus himself said, "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:22)

This appears to be a 'both/and' principle.  God is BOTH loving us above all AND being glorified above all.  In fact, one might say he humbled himself so as to be exalted.  We are being crowned with glory (Ps. 8:5), but we in turn lay our crowns at His feet.  There is not a contradiction here.  Not when we accept the upside down reality of God's Kingdom, where the last really are the first and those putting others above themselves are the ones ultimately exalted above the rest.

I get as disgusted with the doctrinal illiteracy of our modern society as the next self-righteous blogger, but we must be careful not the ride the pendulum to the other extreme by downplaying the biblical teachings of God's incarnational humility and genuine love lavished on the world.  Those expressions do not in any way diminish His glory, in fact they demonstrate it.  Moreover, these expressions of divine humility and love teach us the narrow path that leads to our own exaltation (1 Peter 5:6; James 4:10; Matt. 23:12).

The adventure continues at Culleoka...

Just a few years ago when we moved to Princeton I was finishing an 18-month interim at The Oaks in Grand Prairie.  Through a neighbor I learned of an older struggling rural church just around the corner from our new home; Culleoka Baptist Church (CBC).  I agreed to preach for them for a few weeks as they sought to secure a pastor, but a few weeks turned into a few months and a few months turned into a few years…and oh what an adventure!  We have made some wonderful friends and seen God work in some amazing ways.  When we started I could not have ever imagined what was in store for us at this country congregation.  I have learned so much about depending on God and waiting on Him to provide for His Church...and now when I say "His Church" I really mean "HIS Church."

Upon beginning at CBC I discovered that they had been through a bad split and had not had a long-term pastor for quite sometime.  The first Sunday I preached there were about 15 adults, with the median age being around 65.  Without getting into too many details, there were some major trust issues, conflicting power struggles and serious financial woes.   The treasurer at that time estimated that they would have had to shut the doors and sell the building within a month or two if things did not turn around.

Considering my work demands, the pursuit of my DMin, and the time restraints of being a husband and father of four, the very idea of attempting to lead a fellowship through a turbulent time was unthinkable.  I suspect that is why things unfolded in the manner that they did.  Never did I sit down and decide, “I think I’m going to lead this church through this difficult time.”  I do not believe I would have ever taken that step because it would have been too much of a demand on my family.  However, I could commit to preach for the church when I was available.  So, that is all I agreed to do…and that is what I continue to do.

So, what about leading?!  Who is in charge?  Has anyone committed to “pastoring” the church and leading through this time?  Not really, no.  At least no one has officially stepped forward and said, “I will lead this church!”  Yet, the church has grown by 40%, renovated its dilapidated building, started a children’s and youth ministry, hired four part time ministers, a building manager and a nursery worker, started several ministries to reach the surrounding community, and there’s still money in the bank to do more ministry.  So, who did all that if there is no established leader?  God did.  He is the HEAD of this church and that is not just something we SAY, it is something we’ve SEEN.

He found us a great youth minister.  He found us a great children’s worker.  He sent us money. He gave us, not one but two, digital signs (free of charge).  He found us a nursery worker. He sent us great worship leaders.  He sent us workers with the vision for reaching our community.  He has done it all.  I know it wasn’t me.  I was too busy working at the BGCT, getting a doctorate and raising four kids.  Like everyone else at this church, I had to depend on God and what do you know!?  He is a better at leading His church than any of us!  Go figure!

Had I been confronted with the decision to help lead this church through a turn around I would have run the other way and God knew it.  He had to take whatever weak gifts I could bring to the table and teach me to trust Him with HIS Church.  What a journey.  I am really looking forward to seeing what else He has in store for this sweet and growing fellowship of believers in Culleoka Texas!

Making your teaching effective...

I'm preparing for a seminar I'm leading soon and thought I would share some of the points here:

• Make an Impression:  What is the one thing you want the students to get?  Do everything, from illustrations, object lessons, and visual aids, to reinforce the main thing.  If they leave with one "take away" you have succeeded.  

• Make it Applicable:  How will this change their lives?  What should the student DO with this information?  Help them apply the truth into their everyday lives.  Let them see it modeled in your own life.  If they do one thing as a result of this lesson, you have succeeded.

• Make it Stick: If the first two steps don't seem to be working keep repeating them until you see change. Repetition is often necessary to get a truth to sink in and affect change.  Use new methods, illustrations and techniques as needed but stick to the same key point until it sticks.

• Make it Theirs: Make it their message.  Give them opportunity to teach it, live it and experience it.  Be creative.                                                (adapted in part from "Think Orange" by Joiner pg. 150)

Words of Wisdom from A.W. Tozer

I love AW Tozer's writings.  I believe his views (like mine) changed over his ministry, but one thing I really respect about him his is clear love for God.  It is infectious.  He is one of the few 'non-Calvinistic' writers who put as much emphasis on God's attributes as Calvinists do (as did many of the non-calvinistic scholars of old).

He may have issues with the soteriological conclusions of Calvinism, but he doesn't fall into the soft peddling, people pleasing, feel good, ear tickling non-sense either.    Tozer is a good example of a balanced, scholarly, pastor who clearly loved God and had a gift to communicate it.

Here is a quote from a biography of Tozer that still brings conviction and challenge:

I was preparing to go to Nyack College. Before I left there was one burning question I had in mind, and I went to Dr. Tozer and said, "Could you give me some advice concerning the problem of Calvinism versus Arminianism?" 

And I'll never forget the advice he gave me. At the time I thought it was rather inconclusive and not too helpful. But I listened carefully. He said, "My son, when you get to college you're going to find that all of the boys will be gathered in a room discussing and arguing over Arminianism and Calvinism night after night after night. I'll tell you what to do, Cliff. Go to your room and meet God. At the end of four years you'll be way down the line and they'll still be where they started, because greater minds than yours have wrestled with this problem and have not come up with satisfactory conclusions. Instead, learn to know God."   - Cliff Westergren

Now, I'm going to pray...

Why I am Pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry Degree

I serve as the director of Youth Evangelism for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.  In this role I have the wonderful privilege of overseeing a statewide student leadership training camp called Super Summer.  I oversee six weeklong sessions of Super Summer on four different Baptist Universities with approximately 4,000 participants each summer.  Also, I promote and oversee annual youth rallies held around the state, known as the Youth Evangelism Conference, Hot Hearts and Ignite.  Additionally, my family and I attend a small rural church near our home in Princeton, Texas, where I have recently begun preaching on a regular basis.  

I believe the relationship of the Doctor of Ministry Program to my current ministry will benefit me in three distinct areas.  First, I purposely did not choose a specialization because I desire to expand my knowledge in many different areas of ministry.  This is not because I don't desire to remain focused on my current role in youth ministry, but instead because I feel that having a broader exposure to ministry opens more doors and opportunities for growth.  After all, youth ministry involves many different aspects of growth and spiritual development, especially from the perspective of a statewide denominational position.  I believe this program can help expand my horizons in the various fields of ministry, assisting me as I influence other ministers and potential ministry students.  

Secondly, I have learned that I am a better person when I am being challenged to grow and learn.  I see my spiritual development as directly related to how much I am challenged educationally.  When I am learning, I am growing both in my ministry and in my personal development.

Thirdly, broadening my knowledge base and exposure to ideas can only serve to improve my ministry.  Education has a way of sparking new and creative ideas.  I believe the Doctorate of Ministry program can serve as a catalyst to help me see shortcomings in my current ministry setting as well as potential areas of growth.

Personal Growth Goals

First, I would like to more effectively develop my gifts.  God has given me an ability to teach and communicate His word, but I desire to become a better communicator.  It is very easy to allow a gift to grow stagnant and to become less effective.  Education, mentoring, and group interaction can help stimulate and challenge my gifts, while also strengthening areas of weakness.

I also want to be challenged as leader and minister of the Gospel.  I believe God has given me the ability to lead others.  However, leadership and team building is a skill that must be developed.  My goal is to become a more effective leader and team builder in my ministry setting.  In my current ministry I have the ability to influence many youth leaders and students.  I don’t take that position of influence lightly and I believe this program will only enhance my abilities to lead and effect positive change.   

I would also like to expand and approve my knowledge and awareness of ministry resources. I can be a better teacher, guide, mentor, and author of student curriculum if I have a greater knowledge in all areas and specializations of ministry and personal development.  I see my current role as a facilitator of resources and ideas; thus, the more exposure I have to new thoughts, creative methods, and services the better equipped I will be to do my job.

Because of these goals, I will be drawn to seminars that are focused on developing my communication abilities, leadership skills, and expanding my ministry horizons.  In this first trimester, I have enrolled in a team-building course for that very reason. I will also be interested in courses involving ministry to teenagers.  As one who oversees ministries directed to students I feel I have much to learn in that area of ministry. 

Building a Team

INTRODUCTION

Since 2003 I have served as the Youth Evangelism Director at the Baptist General Convention of Texas. In this role, I oversee and manage a statewide leadership camp called, Super Summer. In the last 7 years, the Lord has grown Super Summer from four to six sessions with close to four thousand youth and adult leaders in attendance each summer. Five summers ago we started a ministry called Super Summer Global, which has come to see over 800 students trained in missions and sent to some of the most unreached people groups in the world. We continue to be amazed to see how God uses the ministries of The Youth Evangelism Conference, See You At The Pole, Hot Hearts, Church Under The Tree, and City Reach to impact the world. I am humbled to be a very small part of all that God is doing in and through this work.

     These ministries would not exist if not for the numerous staff and volunteers working together to coordinate, plan, and oversee implementation. This effort is most efficiently and effectively accomplished through the utilization of quality teams.  This paper will discuss five key principles of team building that are currently being implemented to ensure the success and productivity of the aforementioned ministries.

Two-Fold Aim

     Stanley Ott teaches that healthy ministry teams have a two-fold purpose. The first is to minister to the team members and the second is to accomplish the given task. For successful team building, one principle cannot be separated from the other. Well-trained and equipped team members are more effective at accomplishing a given task.[1]

     The difference between a committee and a real team is demonstrated by this two-fold purpose. A committee is task oriented and does little to nurture, develop, and train its members. On the other hand, a team’s first priority is to the discipleship of the people. Once that principle is established, the team is equipped and ready to focus its attention on the task at hand.

     The ministries I direct at the BGCT are heavily task driven, thus it is very easy to lose focus on people in order to accomplish the workload. However, this course has been a good reminder that when people are properly developed the tasks are completed more effectively. As a practical first step to focus on building up the members of our teams I have implemented some team building activities, discussion times, and follow up personal contact with individuals.

Common Goals

     Keeping the purpose and goals of any given team in the forefront is essential for success. As mentioned, I am using team-building activities to get our staff to engage with each other and interact with our common goals. Brian Coles book Quick Team-Building Activities for Busy Managers provided some very practical suggestions that have proven to be helpful in this regard.[2]

     Working with an established ministry like Super Summer has the benefit of having an already established goal; however, even well established goals can get lost in the details. Intentionally setting aside time on a regular basis to discuss our goals and address obstacles is essential. As the team leader, this is my responsibility and I am now more diligent in keeping our goals in front of our team.

Trust

     Being able to depend on other’s work, competence, and integrity is paramount for team effectiveness.  Another way of speaking about trust involves what Katzenback and Smith call, “Mutual Accountability.”[3] For this to be established in any team there must be a means to measure success.

     This is one of the strongest aspects of our current ministry team. We have regular evaluations and tools to measure the effectiveness of every position within our organization. If a team member is not holding up his or her weight it is very obvious and the appropriate processes are already in place to address these types of concerns. I better understand the value in continuing to highlight this principle within our teams. 

Communication

     Most know the three rules of real estate are, “location, location, location.” In the same way, if successful team building had to be summarized into one all encompassing law it would have to be, “communication, communication, communication.”  In every assigned text this principle was thoroughly emphasized, and rightly so. When communication breaks down in any relationship it is doomed to fail, regardless of its other strengths. 

     Therefore, the aforementioned activities, discussions, and personal contacts being implemented within our ministry teams have the primary purpose of promoting open and honest communication. This serves all the other principles of team building. People are equipped, trained, and nurtured by communication. Tasks are completed more effectively through communication. Common goals are made known through good communication. Trust and accountability is established in a team with quality communication.

CONCLUSION

     Team building must first be about ministry to those on the team and then proper attention can be given to the task at hand.  Common goals and trust are foundational elements, but all is for not without quality communication.  With these elements now being emphasized in our ministry teams I look forward to evaluating the effects. 

---

            [1]Standley R. Ott. Transform Your Church with Ministry Teams (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 2004) 

     [2]Brian Cole Miller. Quick Team-Building Activities for

Busy Managers: 50 Exercises That Get Results in Just 15

Minutes (New York City: Amacom, 2003), 34.

            [3] Jon R. Katzenbach and Douglas K. Smith.  The Wisdom of Teams, Creating the High-Performance Organization (New York, NY: HarperBusiness Essentials, 1994), 24.

"I became a Christian and all I got was this lousy t-shirt"

Reading this book by Vince Antonucci and loving it! Few books make me laugh out loud but the people here at Starbucks must think I've had one too many cafe lattes this morning with my outbursts.

As a recovering church brat myself it is really refreshing to read the perspective of believers who come to faith much later in life. So far I've only read Vince's testimony and some of his perceptions of "Christianity" (mostly derived from Ned Flanders on The Simpsons). Despite our very different upbringing and life experiences it is amazing to see how I have come to many of the same conclusions about religion and the western world's "Christian" experience.

I absolutely loved the story of his first encounter with "the church." He writes,

"Walking through the front door of that church building was like passing through a portal to a different world. So much was unfamiliar. For the first time I heard about "propitiation," "puppet ministry," and "potluck suppers." I stood for "fellowship," knelt for prayer, and sat on a hard wooden bench (which they called a "pew"). I saw more polyester in one morning than I had my entire life. I experience church snack time, which consisted of little pieces of cracker and small plastic shot glasses of grape juice. A man explained that we would be singing hymns 11, 52, 17, and 63. I almost yelled out, 'Bingo!'"

HA! You know, I think it would do all Christian's well to try to put themselves in the shoes of those who visit our church services. Sometimes I think they must think we are all nuts!

Vince continues to drive home the major theme of his book,

"But it's now seventeen years later. I've gotten married. I have two kids. I've gained a few pounds. And I've gone from having never walked into a church to having seventeen years worth of Sundays in church buildings. And with all that experience (not to mention a few extra pounds) under my belt, I can tell you that there is something very familiar about most of the Christians I've met. Unfortunately, it's not that they remind me of the people who populate the pages of Scripture. Instead, they remind me of a little girl named Emily. Little Emily looks cute in her souvenir shirt that proclaims, 'My parents went to Florida and all I got was this lousy T-shirt.' But there's something sad about it too. She missed the journey. She didn't get to take part in the adventure. While others broke out of their dull routine, Emily missed the excitement of doing something different. She didn't get to play in the waves or hug Mickey. She didn't get to experience the joy...As I've gone to church and met Christians and lived as one myself, I've realized something. We are Emily. When I read about the lives of the first Christians in the pages of the New Testament I see people who actually went 'on vacation to Florida,' who truly experienced the ups and downs of the trip. But when I look around at Christians today, I see people who just wear a T-shirt for an adventure they've missed out on. We're missing the journey. We're stuck in the same dull routine. We're missing out on the joy and fear and laughter and doubt and mystery and confusion of following Jesus, of taking great risks for God, of praying dangerous prayers, even of being spiritually attacked...Is this all there is?"

I'm looking forward to reading more...

"Extra-Biblical" Communication with God

I’ve had several questions regarding my posts about hearing God’s voice that I want to take some time to respond to. Here is the most recent sent to me through facebook.

“I am in Seminary and am currently studying how people hear God or listen to God. I read your blog on this issue and agreed with much of what you said. You are a gifted communicator. In my studying I came across another blog talking about a similar topic and was wondering what you thought. The link is:

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2007/2021_The_Morning_IHeard_the_Voice_of_God/
In this article Piper talks about the danger of the extra-biblical revelation of God and I am still trying to get my head around all of this. If possible would you mind letting me know what you think about what he is saying. I would really appreciate it.”

This is a great question and I really enjoyed reading Piper’s article and the article he comments on. Differing perspectives on this subject are really interesting to me. I have much respect for John Piper and his warnings but I think I would have to ask him some specific questions to fully understand his view on this topic. For example, I would like to know if Piper believes that God can and does speak “outside” of scripture or “extra-biblically” (i.e. “The money is not yours” as referenced to in his article…by the way, when I say “outside” of scripture I don’t mean “contradictory to scripture”…though that would be an interesting discussion in itself when you consider that Abraham was told by God to murder his own son while scripture clearly teaches us not to murder…but that is for a another much more controversial discussion)

Piper seems to affirm the possibility of the professor’s “extra-biblical” conversation when he says,

“What makes me sad about the article is not that it isn’t true or didn’t happen,” but then he goes on to rebuke the article as giving “the impression that extra-biblical communication with God is surpassingly wonderful and faith-deepening. All the while… communication of the living God…through the Bible everyday is passed over in silence.”

Piper also seems to give the Professor the benefit of the doubt writing,

  “I am sure this professor of theology did not mean it this way, but what he actually said was, ‘For years I’ve taught that God still speaks, but I couldn’t testify to it personally.’ Surely he does not mean what he seems to imply—that only when one hears an extra-biblical voice like, “The money is not yours,” can you testify personally that God still speaks. Surely he does not mean to belittle the voice of God in the Bible which speaks this very day with power and truth and wisdom and glory and joy and hope and wonder and helpfulness ten thousand times more decisively than anything we can hear outside the Bible.”

While I agree with Piper’s rebuke of the implication that God’s revelation through scripture is somehow less than extra-biblical revelations I think he might be missing the point of the professor’s comments. It seems to me that the professor is merely expressing the unique joy and satisfaction of hearing God’s voice addressing him personally and specific to his circumstance. For example, it is great to know that we are loved by God because we read it in John 3:16, but isn’t it a sweet experience to hear His voice in our soul tell us personally that he loves us?

Now, must those two experiences; (1) the reading of the words “God so loves the world” and (2) personally hearing the Spirit’s voice within us say, “I love you,” be mutually exclusive and unrelated? Of course not! I can read John 3:16, or some other passage about God’s love, and it can be a catalyst by which I hear the Spirit’s inward voice expressing his love for me personally. That personal voice from the Spirit is sweet and wonderful as compared to merely reading words on a page. It seems to me that Piper is affirming that sweet pleasure in the first half of his article, which I greatly enjoyed reading.

Piper goes on to say,

“I grieve at what is being communicated here. The great need of our time is for people to experience the living reality of God by hearing his word personally and transformingly in Scripture. Something is incredibly wrong when the words we hear outside Scripture are more powerful and more affecting to us than the inspired word of God.”

Again, I don’t disagree with Piper’s warning here, but what Piper doesn’t address in this article is the very unique and specific circumstances of life that scripture doesn’t necessarily address. The professors situation is a great example of God speaking and working with his child in a specific time and place. Does God only address us through the pages of scripture even in such circumstances?

When tempted to sin scripture can make our decisions very clear cut, but when you are faced with a choice to go to this town or that town…buy this thing or that thing…give to this ministry or that ministry what passage and verse do you turn to? If you are ONLY listening through the pages of scripture could you miss the Spirit’s prompting about a very specific matter in your life?

Jesus said to his disciples,

"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” (Jn. 16:12-15)

Now, some might argue that only the appointed disciples had the privileges of this personal councilor and guide to truth, but I believe we all have this Spirit residing within us to teach us “much more” than even what the incarnate Word taught while here on earth. It is the Spirit who brings the scripture’s alive in our hearts, but I believe God is big enough to speak to us even when our bibles are closed. As Piper warns, the scripture revelation should never take a back seat, but I don’t believe we should limit Him to those means either. {which, as I said, I don't necessarily believe Piper was doing}

OBJECTION: But what about the immature believers that will start to say, “God told me to do this or that…” and it’s some off the wall unbiblical thing they are teaching? Doesn’t that prove that “extra-biblical” communication is dangerous and should be discouraged?

ANSWER: No, it proves they are immature and like to put words in God’s mouth. The scripture teaches us to test the spirits to see if they are from God because there will be false spirits and false teachers, but these things should not keep us from experiencing God's guidance in the here and now of our lives. It shouldn’t keep us from the joy of walking with a Spirit you cannot confine and systematize. Like the wind, “you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going." Following Him may be a little risky at times and may even make you look like a fool to the religious establishments of the day, but there is nothing unbiblical or even “extra-biblical” about that; is there?