Power through Prayer 2

E. M. Bounds in his classic book Power through Prayer says, "What the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use--men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow on methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men--men of prayer."

Do you agree or disagree with Bounds' comments? Why?

Power through Prayer

How would you describe your prayer life? What kinds of things are central to your requests? Do you tend to pray primarily about your “wants” and things that have little eternal significance? Or is your prayer driven by the missional mindset of Christ to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:1-10)?

Do you pray specifically expecting God to answer? Or do you protect yourself from disappointment and pray in a manner that is so generalized you would never know if God had responded in some way to your prayer?

Would you describe your prayer life as powerful? Would you say that your prayer produces wonderful results?

James 5:16 says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

What does it mean to pray earnestly? What does it mean to be a righteous person? When you read this text how do you want to see God change you and the way you pray?

Tell me what you think.

Forest Home 2

Last week Joy, the kids, and I went to Forest Home in the San Bernardino Mountains. It was a great time to connect, worship, rest, and play.

In this picture Caleb is engaging in a little competitive "diving" - trying to score points for his team!

We also had some time with the Contreras family, who are always a blast to hang out with!

On the last night Joy and I had dinner with Stan and Angie White. Stan is the president and CEO of Forest Home. I enjoyed getting to know him and learning more about the history of the camp and their vision for serving churches and building the kingdom.

Forest Home

I'm taking Joy and the kids to central and southern California for a couple of days. We're going to stop off at San Luis Obispo on the way. We're going to look at Cal Poly, the mission, go to Pismo Beach, and then continue south for family camp at Forest Home.

I hope to come back with some fun stories to share.

Until then, grace and peace!

When God's Grace Shows Up

In Titus 2 Paul tells us what happens when God's grace - his love and power - invades our lives.

It prepares and empowers us to say no to sin of every kind. It trains and strengthens us so that we are the masters of our impulses and we are able to live healthy and holy lives filled with the joyful expectation that Christ Jesus - our great God and Savior - is coming again.

Christ Jesus laid down his life for ours so that he could set us free from the power and contamination of sin. Now we can be God's holy people excited and passionate about doing what is right!

What if we prayed?

On Tuesday during staff meeting we had an interesting conversation. I asked the staff what would happen if we were to grow - really grow - in our understanding and practice of prayer and dependence on God? How would our church be different?

The answers were interesting. Elsa said we would hear from God. Matt said it would change everything. There would be a sense of God at work. Tessa said we would have a greater sense of boldness and urgency in everything we do.

There have been times for me when so much of prayer has felt boring or like a long list of petty petitions about a lot of things that don't really matter.

I want to change. I want to be changed. I want to grow in my understanding and practice of prayer and dependence on God!

Strategic Planning

In his book Advanced Strategic Planning Aubrey Malphurs says that every church or organization has a corporate soul. Effective leaders seek to understand and tap into the core values that are the heartbeat of the church or organization.

Malphurs says that these core values are building blocks or DNA that explain why the church does what it does. And these values become the foundation on which the mission and vision are built.

As a single individual’s values explain what is most important for a person and what drives his/her behavior, a church's values explain the priorities of a church and what drives its behavior.

The Importance of Values:

Malphurs lists nine reasons why a church’s values are important.

1. “Values determine ministry distinctives”

Values define the culture of a church and the culture of the church is what makes it unique.

2. “Values dictate personal involvement”

The more an individual shares the values of a church, the more involved they will be. The less that a person shares the values of a church, the less involved they will be.

3. “Values communicate what is important”

A basic principle for people and organizations is that what is valued gets done. What isn’t valued is usually ignored.

4. “Values embrace good change”

This, of course assumes, that the organizational values of a church are good. If a church doesn’t have healthy defining values, it may resist change when God wants it to embrace change and grow.

When we have healthy values and we have clearly identified them, they help stir the decision-making process of defining good change.

5. “Values influence overall behavior”

What is truly valued gets done. If we say it’s a value, but we don’t really value it at a heart level, then it won't really drive our decisions and behavior.

6. “Values inspire people to action”

When a group of people share values it has a unifying and energizing effect that mobilizes a cooperative effort that results in greater impact.

7. “Values enhance credible leadership”

Leaders must articulate their values well if they hope to lead people in any kind of kingdom-building venture. If people do not know or respect the values of a leader, then the leader’s ability to influence others will be compromised.

8. “Values contribute to ministry success”

Malphurs says, “It is the organization’s ingrained understanding of its core values more than its technical skills that make its success possible.” (page 99)

9. “Values determine ministry mission and vision”

Malphurs says, “Just because a church decides that the Great Commission will be its mission does not mean that this will be the case. If the church does not value evangelism, then in reality it will have some other mission that aligns more closely with its values, whatever they may be. churches that are not evangelical or that do not value the Bible may have some other mission and vision based on what they do value.” (page 100)

Silver Spur

Today I drove up to Silver Spur Camp in Tuolumne. I'm having a good time connecting with some friends and hearing from God. Tonight we looked at Psalm 22 together. I miss my family and look forward to seeing them again on Wednesday.

Unity of the Spirit

Dear friend,

God wants us to understand that our assurance is based upon the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ and his, rather than our good works. He wants us to build our lives on the solid foundation of his word. He wants us to draw near him in prayer. He wants us to delight in him through worship - both personal and public worship. And he wants us to experience the kind of spiritual connection that helps us grow.

Unity of the Spirit is a humble and rich way of relating as the spiritual body of Christ on earth that creates an environment where people grow spiritually and the world is drawn irresistibly to him.

This Sunday morning we are going to talk about how we can practice, promote, and protect this kind of togetherness that can change our lives while pointing others to Christ in a powerful way. And if you are not currently involved in a 2:42 Group or one of our 2:42 Ministries like Advance Student Ministries, these are wonderful opportunities to build safe friendships where you can grow spiritually!

Warmly in Christ,

Pastor Gary
Ephesians 4:1-3

Turning 50!

Today I turned 50 and I am excited about the future!

Here are a few thoughts on my 50th birthday.

I used to admire people mostly for their gifts and intelligence. Now I admire men and women who finish well by following Christ and serving him for a life-time! Besides my parents there are several men who inspire me to want to be like them:

I admire:

• My father-in-law Vic: He is energetic. He gets things done. He loves to learn. He enjoys life whether hunting, playing his trumpet, fishing, reading, playing pool or golf, preaching, or writing notes to his family and friends!
• My uncle Jim: An evangelist who has invested his life in leading "forgotten people" to Christ whether serving poor African-American churches in east Arkansas, men in jail, truckers at truck-stops, or the aging in assisted living centers.
• Bud Hart: My pastor growing up, a faithful teacher of the word of God, patient and forgiving when wronged, energetic, lover of people, and always gracious!
• Paul Null: A man who has encouraged me, admonished me with great kindness and patience, challenges me to think about the true measure of success, and makes me laugh when I feel like blowing a fuse or telling someone off!
• Glennon Culwell: Faithful messenger of God's word and servant with the board of Next Generation Churches when most men are dead or waiting to die!

These are just a few men who have marked my life! Thanks!

I am grateful for:

• Every day I spend with Joy! My partner for life, best-friend, and wonderful mother of my children!
• Caleb: a heart tender for the Lord, loyal friend, scary smart, athlete, loves to excel, Razorback-fan, and funnier than many of you know!
• Casady: bright, eager to explore and learn new things, lover of animals, creative, witty, personable, fun, and makes a pretty darn good chocolate cake!
• Faith: a reader, adores all things beautiful, artistic, lover of people, friendly, compassionate, smart, and feistier than most people know!
• My parents, sister, in-laws (or as Joy's mom likes to say, my "in-loves"), uncles, aunts, cousins, and my friends spread out from coast to coast!
• Four people who said they wanted to surrender their lives to following Christ as their Lord and Savior this past Sunday!
• Good health!

I hate:

• Anything that looks or feels like quitting!
• Complacency about our spiritual lives or the status quo!

I am excited about:

• The future!

A few thoughts on aging:

• "You don't get old until you outlive your dreams!" ~I would like to think that I was the first one to say this. But my guess is that there are probably a few thousand people who said this before I did!
• "Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul." ~Samuel Ullman
• "In dog years, I'm dead." ~Author Unknown
• "A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams." ~John Barrymore
• "Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read." ~Francis Bacon
• "I don't believe one grows older. I think that what happens early on in life is that at a certain age one stands still and stagnates." ~T.S. Eliot
• "First you forget names, then you forget faces, then you forget to pull your zipper up, then you forget to pull your zipper down." ~Leo Rosenberg
• "None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm." ~Henry David Thoreau
• "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

May the Lord bless you and teach you to numbers your days and gain a heart of wisdom!

Warmly in Christ,

Gary