Just Something Small

Every church began somehow and somewhere and that somehow was probably birthed out of passion and that somewhere was probably not elaborate. As I travel the country I have found myself asking the same question, " I wonder how this church started?" It is humbling for me to realize that all churches started small at some point. It is very rare for a church to start out large. I have a question to ask, when did we start undervaluing small things? The scriptures admonish us to ...despise not the day of small things. I think that we many times forget the impact of what small things can accomplish. The scripture likens faith that moves God to faith that is the size of a mustard seed. We always seem to pray for more faith, but I believe God is wanting us to use the faith that we all ready possess. Their is a predominate feeling in us to immediately think that we are not good enough, or what we have is not elaborate enough, but we must understand that their is power in something small. A mighty oak tree begins as a tiny seed. Even human life begins when the seed of a man unites with the egg of a woman. Some of the most powerful moments in my life have not happened with the stage lights turned on, but they have happened in very intimate and humble settings when it appeared that no one would even realize what is going on. It reminds me of Jesus' birth. It started as a humble and modest beginning, but you can not underestmate something that seemed to be so insignificant to so many! When I look at the process of life transformation we tend to define ourselves by the large events in life. These large events become markers that we look either back or forward to, but I have learned that the big events do not define character nearly as much as the day to day small things do. The big moment loses it's impact if the small details are not properly put in place. If there is something that you have held off doing because you thought it was small and insignificant, I encourage you to start, because what may start out small could potentially change the course of your life forever. Young men and women, I encourage you to step out in faith and begin that bible study at the coffee shop, it may seem small, but there is no telling how God will use that to change a life. If we sit around and wait for something big, then we will miss out on the power of what is small. So, in a day when the prevailing message is to go out and do something BIG for God, let me encourage you to start today by going out and doing something small.

Organic

The term 'megachurch' has been made popular over the last 15 years as people strive to pursue reaching the masses. Now the term megachurch is not big enough to define the realms that some churches have moved into and we have moved into the age of the 'gigachurch' which means a church that is running over 10,000 people. It is interesting to see how popular the megachurch has become, you can hardly drive into a community without noticing at least 1 church that is large and prominent in a community. When you drive into metropolitan areas it has become common place for large churches to line the street corners, especially in the southern states. Yet in the midst of all of this 'growth', the question that continually plagues my mind is, How has culture changed with all of these churches progressing and expanding?'



I have discovered that all growth is not equal. The scriptures says that you will be known by your fruit. American culture has in many ways judged that scripture by one marker, which is numerical growth. Although I believe that this is a vital part of growth, it would be foolish for us to think that all growth is numerical. When my sons go to the doctor for a check up their height and weight is just one small part of the physical check up. But, to ensure that they are growing properly, the doctor will check many different markers. Which leads me to the thought that has been stirring in my mind.



Has the church settled for growth which is not organic? Organic means that there are no synthetic materials or additives given to aid growth. Everything that Jesus did while on this earth was to promote organic or natural growth. You can not disciple in a microwave. It would do us far better to realize that we are all on a journey of exploration to reach growth in Christ. Most churches that I talk to that are growing, will not base their growth on a program or any one specific thing that they are doing. It does not surprise me to notice that most churches that are growing do not even have numerical growth as the main focal point, but rather they realize that numerical growth is a byproduct of getting the church healthy! If we numerically grow while unhealthy, we will reproduce what is unhealthy in the body. When we determine to see organic growth, we celebrate the diversity that lives within the body of Christ. One size does not fit all, but all the pieces put together make a whole body. Each individual part is significant to the success of the body. The fruit that we should be pursuing is not programmed or managed growth, but natural and organic growth. Programmed growth tends to focus on pushing people into a mold, whereas organic growth tends to work on the heart of a man to change who he is in his most natural state. If we want people to stand on their own and find their personal place in Christ, we must allow individuality in the body of Christ. God, help us pursue organic growth in your body!

An Unprecedented Oppurtunity

I have been particularly interested in all of the financial crises that is going on. Not only was I a financial representative for the company, Nationwide Insurance and Financial Services, but I also feel the pain of rising gas prices with every fill up. Living on the road in an economy such as the one in which we live is very eye opening. Questions rise on everyones minds such as, What is going to happen in the financial markets? What is going to happen with the upcoming election? How is all of this mess going to affect me individually?

We are living in some extremely serious times which has everyones attention. This crises has moved beyond the elite of Washington and it has quickly filtered from Wall Street to Main Street. I have been traveling to churches of all sizes and I have seen how this crises has affected our churches. I believe with all of my heart that it is time for the church to arise and be the voice of reason in the mess that we find ourselves in. What concerns me is that our tendancy will be to react to the crises as opposed to lead during the crises. We can spend all of our time talking about how difficult times are, or we can understand that there has never been a better day for the church. I have had a few people tell me that this must be a horrible time to be a missionary in the midst of all of these crises going on and my answer to that is that there has never been a better time to be a missionary and a church planter. People are so hungry for answers to lifes questions. For so long people have had things that have been consistent in their lives and now in just a few short months what they have relied on for years is now gone. They are looking for something constant that they can build their lives on!

A scripture comes to mind as we face unprecdented times. 2 Corinthians 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.KJV We find that in a moment of crises the Macedonian church was defined. Their was hardship and deep financial issues, yet out of the crises that the Macedonian church was facing, generosity was produced. I believe that the crises that we are facing now will define the church. Their is a tendancy, because of the fear of the unknown, to hold onto our resources and cautiously go into maintenance mode, but I do not believe that is a biblical pattern. If there has ever been an hour for the church to prove their reliance upon the Word of God and on giving, then this is it. I pray that this crises finds the church on their knees in prayer more, and more willing to let go of our tendancy to control and realize that what we need is to release God's resources.

I refuse to look at this hour as a depressing moment that will bring the church's mission to a halt, but I rather believe that we are in a defining moment of unprecedented oppurtunity that will position the church for endtime harvest! God, give us passionate men and women that understand that today is the greatest hour for the church.

Connections

I have been thinking a lot recently about how interconnected people are in this world. It seems on my travels acrossed the country that although the world is large in so many ways, it is getting smaller. There is a thought that we are only a few people removed from anyone else in the world and I tend to agree with this thought. One interesting part of the human psyche is our desire to be connected in one form or another to others. Over the last few months I have become a part of the world of facebook. It is amazing how connected each of us are when we begin to use these connections to link up with others that we never dreamed possible. A prevalent thought that rings in our minds so frequently is, " If I just knew the right people, then I would get my break." I have learned the power of networking and I realize that in many aspects of life the power of who you know is vitally important to success. Something that I have asked myself while thinking about networking and connections is are we out of balance in our thinking? It seems that many of us are consumed with Who we know, rather than Who Knows us. Though this seems similar, it is drastically different. Paul proclaimed, that I may know him.... Yet in Jeremiah 1:5 God said, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. KJV I would argue that life is not as much about our pursuit of knowing others, as much as it is about our pursuit of Him who knows us! Before God formed us, He Knew Us! What a powerful thought. Therefore, it is my connection to Him that opens up the door to the nations. It is God that ordains us as a prophet to the nations, not others. Our connection to Him, is the ticket to purpose in this life.

Observations along Interstate 94

This morning my family and I left the Detroit Metro Area to head out to the Northwest side of Chicago in McHenry County. I received the news this last Thursday evening that my grandfather, who pastors a church in McHenry, passed away. While on our way to Chicago we traveled Interstate 94 headed west to Chicago. I wouldn't say that their is anything exceptionally exciting about I94 except for the fact that it gives you a lot of time to think. When I think about the life of my grandfather, Nolan Hilderbrand, a lot of thoughts come to my mind. When someone passess away you always think of a few things that characterize that individual which always seems to stand out in your mind. So, because of that, I would like to share a few things that have stood out in my mind about my grandfather.

Faithful - If there is anything that I can say it is that my grandfather had an understanding of what commitment actually means. He has been married to my grandmother for 50 some years and has always been a faithful husband and provider for her. He lived in Chicago, working to support his family and the Lord called him to pastor a small church in McHenry, IL just outside of Chicago. He has faithfully served this wonderful congregation through the joyful times, as well as the painful times, yet he has never given up on what he felt God had called for him to do. In the day that we live when over 50% of marriages end in divorce, I can honestly say that my grandfather was an example of what being a faithful husband is.

Informed - One thing that anybody that knew my grandfather would say is that he was the most informed man on any situation you could imagine. He liked to dig for information and was very unimpressed with the flashiness and glitz, but he would dig to find out any information that he could on any situation. If you needed advice on a situation, he always had information that made you wonder, Where did he hear that from? I think this curiosity that he had is probably the same gene that I received that displays itself as a thirst for knowledge. The day that we quit learning is the day that we start falling behind. It is so easy to stick with what is comfortable to us, but there has to be a constant push to strive to grow to be all that we can be. It is not so that we can boast in how wonderful we are, but when we quit growing and learning, we lose the ability to serve others to our maximum potential! Growing and hungering for knowledge is therefore less about us and our desires, but it is more about others!

Godly - My grandfather was a man that desired God. As I already mentioned, he was not into the instant gratification that has unfortunately worked it's way into the church world as well as the secular. He realized that there was something to be said about being consistent and diligent. He studiously would retreat to his study at the house to prepare for his messages, always desiring to bring something much deeper than personality to the pulpit, but he desired to bring the Word with him. I am honored to have had Nolan Hilderbrand as my grandfather and I pray that the lessons that he exampled with his life will spill over into the lives of those that have had the privilege to know him.

All of these observations should make us think about our own lives. As much as we do not like to think about it, death will happen to us all. For the Bible tells us, there is a time and season for all things. What will be said about me when I die? How can I begin to live out what I want to be known for today? I have learned something in life and that is, you must take the time today to be what you want to become. You will never be known for what you desire to be, but you will be known for what you are? What have you done today that will make an eternal impact? In this world that we live it is so easy to be caught up in the temporal that we forget the eternal. I challenge you to do something today that you have been wanting to do, but have put it off due to a numerous host of excuses. Pick up the phone and call. Send that email. Say the kind word to your spouse. Hug your children one more time. Take the time to go on that date with your spouse.

Life Without Power

This last week I have been witness to the effects of Hurricane Ike while in the state of Ohio. On sunday afternoon of this last week a powerful windstorm blew through the state at an unprecedented 80-90 mph. This destructive force uprooted trees, ripped vinyl siding off of homes, and stripped shingles off of roofs. One of the most profound things that this storm did was that it knocked the power out on almost half of the state of Ohio.

On Monday morning of this last week I desired a cup of coffee before I took on the day. The only problem is that there was no power because it had been knocked out by the windstorm. I knew immediately that this storm affected more than just the electricity in Columbus, but it affected the physche of everyone's mind. I went to McDonald's and waited in line for almost an hour for my cup of coffee. People had lost their patience and tempers immediately began to flare. I realized instantly how routine plays such a profound role in our mindset. Electricity affects so many obvious things in our lives, but the interesting thing is the unseen hidden things that we take for granted that electricity affects.

I am somewhat rambling today, because this has been an interesting week needless to say. Things are finally getting back to normal again as electricity is coming on one house at a time. I can't help but think of all that we take for granted when we live under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit as being the comforter. The amount of peace that we have when we live under the power of God's presence is easily taken for granted. When I even briefly consider trying to live without the power of God's presence I could never imagine what life would be like. God's presence affects every aspect of my life, from the way that I treat relationships, my work philosophy, my stewardship. The easiest way to describe life without His presence would be to live life by going through the motions. Their is a substance that His presence gives to life that makes life worth living! Today, encourage yourself to not take his Presence for granted, but appreciate what He allows us to experience!

Element's of a Christ Follower

I read a book by Jentezen Franklin on Fasting that truly inspired me in a forceful way. Whenever you can read a book on fasting that will inspire you it automatically becomes a treasure to hold on to. I want to share a simple thought out of the book which impacted me and add a few thoughts of my own to it.

In Matthew chapter 6 Jesus was speaking to his followers and unapologeticly began to list three things that he assumed every Christ follower would be doing.

1. Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms.... The first assumption that Jesus made was that his followers would be givers. There is nothing that I know that will release the power of God on something like giving. For the church to become what God wants them to be it is going to have to move into a dimension of releasing the resources that God has blessed us with. Notice who gave us the resources to begin with, God! If he has given them to us, then truly He can provide in times of need. I have heard a lot about the thought that possibly we are at a saturation point of giving in the church, but I do not believe that is true. I believe that people will give if they believe in the cause! Resources always follow vision, they do not precede it. Instead of focusing on saturation levels, lets focus on a greater vision! The assumption of Christ was that if you truly wanted to be a follower, you were going to be a giver! The call of God has always been to take up the cross and follow him. It is impossible to pick up a cross without first releasing things in your life! I have learned that the more I give, whether financially, or with my life, the greater the anointing that I walk in, for it becomes an issue of surrender.

2. Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest... It was understood that those who followed Christ would understand the value of prayer. Prayer is the language of the soul. Prayer is nothing more than talking to God. How can we call ourselves followers of Him, without having a relationship with Him? How can we have a relationship with Him if we do not communicate with Him? We must be sensitive to the voice of the spirit if we are going to lead in the 21st century. The only way that the church will be viable in the world that we live in is if we are filled with spiritual potential and unction! We must be led by the Spirit. The way to be led by the Spirit is to spend time in His presence! When we spend time in His presence, His voice becomes very clear!

3. Mathew 6:16 Moreover, when ye fast.... Christ understood that there were certain things that could only be broken by the disicipline of fasting. Jesus exclaimed, This kind cometh out by much prayer and fasting! The disicpline of fasting is in many respects a lost art in our day and age. We live in such a consumeristic mentality that everything revolves around what we want and what makes us feel good. When we learn the discipline of fasting, we are acting out the prayer that John made when he said, more of you and less of me. Spiritual Authority flows through the discipline of fasting. The voice of God is much clearer when we have spent time fasting! Their are deeper dimensions that we can walk in when we learn to value those things that He valued!

Solomon spoke of the strength of a three fold cord not easily being broken. I believe when we couple the three elements that I have spoken of, giving, praying, and fasting, it will create a cord in the believer's life that will not easily be broken down. It will bind a church together that will make it a force that must be dealt with!