The Prodigal’s Father

It dawns on me as I have seen many people in the world today go through many struggles and strife, that there are many who might be in a better position had they had parents like that of the prodigal son. If you are unfamiliar with this parable which Jesus shared with his followers, it revolves around a young man who was the son of a very wealthy man. In this story, the young man asks his father to give him his portion of the inheritance which had been set aside for him. The father did not object, and lovingly gave him the inheritance. The tragedy in the story is that the young son lived a lavish, extravagant life of excess, and when an economic crisis hit, he was found so bad off that he was eating amongst the pigs.

REMBRANDT The Return of the Prodigal Son (detail) c. 1669 Oil on canvas, The Hermitage, St. Petersburg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Knowing that even his father’s servants lived better than that, he determined within himself to return home and ask to be allowed to return, hoping that at the very least, he could fare as well as them. To his surprise and even his own elder brother, he was welcomed home with open arms, was cleaned up, given every privilege that he once had, just as if nothing had happened.

This is such a testament to forgiveness and restoration, that I wonder what it would be like to see this happen in the present day. It is true that many people leave home and make poor and even foolish decisions regarding money, investments and various other life choices. However, what might it look like, if parents looked beyond what went wrong, to what went right? It takes great humility to return home.

What I find amazing about this young man’s father is that unlike the brother, he does not condemn him for the errors of his ways. He does not chastise him, or turn him away, lauding his having his own affairs in order. Instead, he tearfully and graciously welcomes him, knowing that the family is incomplete so long as he was not there or well. This father did not permit the son to lower himself to the status of a servant. He restored him to his place as a son, placing a ring on his finger, clean clothes on his back, and preparing a feast to rejoice over his safe return.

I don’t propose to know what your life has been like in the midst of these last few years of economic downturn. However, I believe that there are people who fully know the fate of their families that have not fared so well, and are in a position to raise them up and restore them. If we believe that God is the kind of God who does this, and most often through people, what wondrous thing would it be to know that there are many more stories like this could be told?

QUESTION: Have you faced a situation like the prodigal son and wished that you had parents like his? Are you a parent who wishes that your prodigal child would return so that you could know the same joy? What’s your story?

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The Future of Worship

When it comes to worship, a whole litany of things come to mind when you think about it. So, you can just image the multitude of thoughts that might be conjured up when you hear the phrase, “the future of worship.” When Nathan Byrd tackles this very subject in his book The Future of Worship: Preparing the Church for a Tsunami of Change, you really get a sense that this is something very distinct and something quite major. 

Nathan painstakingly establishes the ground work for this very early on, to set the context for where he is going. If you are unfamiliar with Church, worship, or the four words he speaks of at the outset, you will become well versed in it by the time you are deeply entrenched in the meat of this book. You will definitely see how there has been a great misunderstanding of worship and the place of worship that has developed over the years.

As you go through each chapter of this book, you will see the transition that takes place in worship and music, as well as what God is desiring from us through both. There is no doubt that there has to be some change from what has been to what needs to be. Nathan Byrd shares great insight. If you’ve had the questions about why things are the way they are versus the way God intended, Nathan gives a perspective that cannot be ignored. If you’re wondering where things are going or need to go so that what God desires can become a reality, than this will give you some valuable points to make note of.

If you are a worship leader of any sort, be you a pastor, a psalmist, a youth instructor or even a lay-member of your local assembly, this book will absolutely be something that you can dive into and strengthen both your knowledge base as well as you connection to the purpose and place of worship.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this e-book free from the publisher through the Destiny Image Book Review Program. I was required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

QUESTION: What do you imagine the future of worship to look like?

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Succession And Retirement

Recently I had the privilege of hearing the great and wise Peter Wagner speak during a conference held during Passover. I know, you’re probably thinking this is a bit late to be telling someone about something that happened weeks ago, but bear with me. The reason I bring this up now is that I was looking back on some of what I shared last year and noticed that something he spoke about this year was right in line with what I shared this time last year. Part of Mr. Wagner’s message dealt with creative retirement versus reactive retirement. My topic last year was Retirement: Where Many Go to Die. I just want to share just a few points today that I took away from what he shared, that just adds so much more to what I was trying to get across this time last year.

Peter Wagner (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mr. Peter Wagner listed eight personal goals to accomplish as a Christian leader if you’d like to consider yourself as a person who finished well, with emphasis by me:

1. Cultivate a Mature Christian Character: Christian or not, I believe that this is one point where everyone can benefit. Having mature character goes a long way to establishing you as one who is dependable, trustworthy, and someone whom someone can model themselves after. As a leader or not, your legacy is clearly defined by what you model before others.
2. Manage Your Succession: One thing that keeps people from being seen as successful is that they don’t establish succession properly. Whether it’s not having one, or not having the right one, it can lead to trouble in the long run for whatever you have left as your legacy. You have to put great thought into the where’s, who’s, the why’s, the when’s and how’s of your succession.
3. Learn to Be Number 2: What I loved about this point from Peter Wagner is that he makes it known that if you establish someone to succeed you in your position, you have to let them be the leader. Once you’ve stepped away from your position, let the new sherriff run things. You can advise, but know your position.
4. Get Your Finances in Order: So many people aren’t comfortable when it comes to this point, but having a plan in place to handle your finances appropriately is essential, no matter who you are or what age you are. If you’re retiring, things have to be in order for things to go smoothly. Peter mentions that this includes honoring the next generation, which can be done by obtaining a good financial planner, a family attorney, and a tax attorney. 
5. Keep Learning: I’ve mentioned in other posts that to stop learning is likened to a slow death. No matter how old you get, keep on learning to keep on growing. There’s always something new. Technology is always changing. While some things may not seem so important to you, it could become the very thing that keeps you relevant to an ever evolving society. 
6. Make Time for People: I think this is one area that many people fail in also. Once you are out, you have the time available, make use of that time to help someone else avoid the pitfalls that you had to deal with so they dont have to repeat the errors. Live and enjoy good times with people.
7. Write Your Memoirs: Peter mentions that this is not something that is to be viewed as ego or pride. This is to be seen as intergenerational impartation. You can share with another generation all of the things that you might not be able to tell them in a single conversation. More importantly, don’t wait till the end of your life to record these things. Write early and often.
8. Plan Time for Leisure: The key to longevity is not wearing yourself out. Leisure keeps your strength, your mind, and your spirit renewed.

I’ve said it once before and I’ll say it again. I don’t intend on retiring as some would define retirement. However, a creative retirement might not be so far from something I’d consider, because in the end, your legacy is secured by what you do until it’s been successfully passed down.

QUESTION: How do you feel about your succession and retirement? What does that look like for you?

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Something Old or Something New

For many people all over, preparations are being made for weddings. It occurs to me, that as a Bride of Christ, we may actually have some concepts all wrong. As a born again believer in Christ, how often have you heard someone say that they are looking for the coming or awakening of the spirit of this Old Testament prophet or that one? I keep wondering if God is laughing or crying because we keep trying to reproduce or have the expectation that God is reintroducing in this age something that God established or ordained for a previous age.

The Bride, Leslie (Photo credit: Matthew T Rader)

Everywhere I look in scripture, I see a God who is always doing something new or presenting a new aspect of Himself to people in order that they might He might produce something new that has not previously been seen before. Isn’t it funny that we sing songs that say that we are in a new season or that God is up to something new, yet we keep having an expectation of something old? At the same time we are singing these songs, we sing songs about taking us back to yesterday or the old places where God already brought us from.

We are suppose to be spiritually, a people much like those in the television series and upcoming film Star Trek, “boldly going where none have gone before.” If this is who we are to be, then we have to have an expectation that what God will do in us and through us will far exceed that of anything that has previously been seen. How else will Jesus’ words manifest as truth when he said, “greater works than these shall you do, because I go to my father.”

It is an interesting tradition that when a bride is getting married, follows the tradition of having something old and something new. As the Bride of Christ, I think we are called to carry the memory of the old things as an encouragement of knowing that God has always shown Himself faithful to His people in times past, and will do likewise even now and in the days ahead. If we are to go from glory to glory, we cannot carry a mindset of looking for what has been, but look forward to what shall be. It is one thing to see the patterns and precepts, but we must still be looking to God to lead us to a greater and more glorious revealing of Himself and us.

QUESTION: Are you expecting something old or something new? 

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If One Nation Under God Becomes One Godless Nation

It is amazingly ironic that as this nation began preparations to commemorate the National Day of Prayer, the nation began hearing the release of reports regarding a push to silence men and women of God in the military from doing something that has been done, quite literally since the days when General George Washington served this country. It is also Ironic that this story is brought to us initially on May 1st, more commonly known as May Day; the words also ring of the state of a nation in danger.

God save us! (Photo credit: † Jimmy MacDonald †)

The very notion that soldiers of any rank or office may possibly face court-martials is astounding. From the foundations of the Declaration of Independence until now, we have been known throughout the world as One Nation Under God.

I remember in my youth, the daily ritual of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing our national anthem. These were the hallmarks of good citizenship. I knew from my days in The Boy Scouts of America that the sign of a good scout and member of society was centered on the pillars of servitude to God and Country. It was no different for my friends who after high school enlisted in the military just a couple years before Operation: Desert Shield and Operation: Desert Storm during The Persian Gulf War.

As we move closer to Memorial Day, I’m reminded that many of our nations en and women fought, bled and died to protect the freedoms that we hold dear, including our freedom to worship. If we forget the very foundations of this nation and the very constitution that both this nation’s military and president are honor bound to uphold and defend, what hope does this nation have in standing as the nation it fought to become. As one of this world’s youngest nations, it would be a sad commentary that it could not remain great simply because it turned it’s back on God.

It is said that to forget the past is to condemn yourself to repeat it. Look back at history to see what happened when Israel turned her back on God. Every single account shown in the bible reveals that things did not bode well for her. As a nation, she very closely came to being annihilated from existence during the Holocaust, but it was the faithfulness of the remnant and the many Christians who remembered God, that she still stands as God’s chosen. Let us remember that we are a blessed nation not only because of our relationship with Israel, but also the commitment that we as a nation made over 400 years ago when we dared to declare that we would be One Nation UNDER God, not One Godless Nation.

 

QUESTION: What do you think will become of this nation if we forget God?

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The Voice: How We Can Participate, How We Should Respond

Don Nori, Sr. has given us another great insight into an area of relationship with God in his book The Voice: How We Can Participate, How We Should Respond. I absolutely must say that this was one that I thoroughly enjoyed because much of what he shared in this book is not only what I have come to understand about my relationship with God, but I found myself acknowledging that it is where I am in life. This book literally walks you through the joys to be found in hearing from God, knowing your place in His plan to display, “on Earth as it is in Heaven.” Each chapter is fully focused on revealing how much God loves us and desires us to seek to hear Him clearly.   

Throughout this book you will find Don sharing how we can truly connect to God through prayer, praise, and worship; how we might have missteps in our pursuits when we do things amiss; and even points out how self can get in the way of both hearing God and ensuring that we do not mistakenly rob God of His glory.

I can assure you that there is not one chapter of this book that does not have one thing that you can take away in either inspiration or application to your own spiritual growth. If you consider yourself to be an intercessor or have a deep yearning to grow into one, then this is definitely something that you will find as most instrumental in helping you in that area.

If you’ve been longing for a deeper understanding of the richness to be gained by hearing, seeing, God’s Heart, loving and doing as God does, then get this book. I recommend this book for any one who leads a prayer group, any ministry leader or member, or anyone who wants to see someone they love grow in their faith.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this e-book free from the publisher through the Destiny Image Book Review Program. I was required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

QUESTION: Have you ever wondered if you were truly hearing God’s voice? What was the last time you did, and how did you respond to it?

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Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit

Anyone who has ever had the privilege of hearing the dynamic teachings of Francis Chan is well aware of his ability to challenge how you think about both doctrine and even the semantics of what we as Christians speak when we refer to the things of God and the Kingdom. In his book Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit, it is no different. Forgotten God is all about the third person of the Godhead, that so often indeed gets forgotten in both how Christians relate to and speak of God.

Cover of Forgotten God

What I like most about this “in-time” writing, is that it is something that will speak to the heart, the need, the power, and the purpose of the Spirit in the life of a believer. What I also like about this book is that he not only incorporates personal experience to highlight many of the points he brings out, he also includes some very gripping and powerful anecdotes of other people as capstones to every chapter.

You might be under the impression that given the subject matter that is being covered, it would be heavily chocked full of theological jargon; it’s not. Francis Chan cuts to the chase with common dialogue that anyone who has a heart for God will appreciate and be able to readily digest. It’s also something that can be read quickly.

This book is meant to be shared, so if you or someone you know have had questions that you have been unable to have addressed, as it relates to that of the Holy Spirit, you’ll want to read this book. I recommend this for anyone who has a small book club or church group.

QUESTION: What do you think the Church would look like if she fully recognized all of God?

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7 Hours: Recollection

Have you ever wondered about what you would do if you were given only seven hours to change something in your life? What would you go back and change? Would it make your life better? Would it make it worse? Would you find redemption or only bring yourself more agony? Seven authors set out to tell seven unique stories of seven people who were faced with such a choice. 7 Hours: Recollection is one of these seven stories, written by Tom Pawlik.

Cover image for 7 Hours: Recollection by Tom Pawlik

The main character in this story, named Adrian is faced with the challenge of trying to figure out exactly what he is suppose to be changing, when he has no idea why he is exactly where he is. If you haven’t read any of the books in this series, you might be compelled to read it in the order in which they come, but it’s not necessary. Each story is especially crafted to stands alone in their own right.

If you like books that thrills and suspense, action and mystery, this book is a must read. This book that has been released by Tyndale House Publishers has just enough realism in the science fiction to cause you to see yourself within the pages of this book and make you question what would you do if it happened to you.

QUESTION: What exactly would you do if you were given the option to change something in your life?

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If My People Pray

It almost seems incomprehensible that a tragedy could have so much morbid irony as what took place during Monday’s Boston Marathon. An event that is juxtaposed between the sites of Newtown, CT school shootings, and New York’s World Trade Towers that fell under a horrific terrorist plot;  one of the most iconic events in American history was marred when thousands were rocked by unsuspecting explosions near the finish line.  This home of Early American Historic moments like the Boston Tea Party spark memories of Great American Triumph through the American Revolution.

Pray For Boston (Photo credit: republicanconference)

Events like this most recent one only bring an awareness that no place is off limits when it comes to cowardly and senseless acts of violence. I don’t propose to know the answers why or have any way of making sense of this tragedy. What I do know is that the increasing number of horrifying events that are hitting the East Coast cannot be ignored. It’s hard not to consider what could be the next big thing to take place, especially in light of not knowing all of the reasons why or how behind what has just taken place. The thing you can be sure of is that people will be more watchful and guarded.

What I think would be great in light of all that has occurred this year is that it draws this country together to pray for one another, cover one another, and lift one another. Prayer has a way of comforting people in times of the unexplained. It has a way of stirring peace in the midst of chaos and hard times. If people take this time to cover one another and lift one another, it has the potential to illustrate love’s power to truly conquer all. While many who participated in this marathon had countless reasons why they were running, and there will no doubt be countless stories that can be told in light of what has happened, it would be great to know that a marathon of prayers pulled not only this community together, but also the entire nation.

This nation fought many hard fights to be free. Freedom to worship was one such reason this nation came to be a nation. So many are fighting that reality, forgetting that if we forget the freedoms we fought to obtain, we will undoubtedly be fighting harder battles ahead. It is my heartfelt prayer that we as a nation take this time to hold up not only Boston in prayer, but this entire nation. We’re only one third of the way through this year. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize of a country that is truly “One Nation Under God.” May we find ourselves in the midst of a better American Revolution.

QUESTION: What are your thoughts surrounding this recent event?

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Introducing Karen Palmer-Burt, author of Does It Take All That?

Reblogged from In Author's Words:

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"I was very impressed with the whole Outskirts Press publishing process. Everyone was very professional and attentive. I would not hesitate to use their services again."

Karen Palmer-Burt is a licensed Minister. She answered God's call twenty-six years ago, much like The Apostle Paul did on the Damascus Road. She has seen many miracles and received many healings during that time.

Read more… 126 more words

Karen Palmer - Burt is a dear friend of mine. She has valuable insight that cannot be missed. See for yourself.