Author: Wick

Recently in a pastoral resourcing day provided by our conference, we spent time some listening to a talk by Andy Stanley. His focus was on “Systems” within churches, and how some are very conducive to ministry and leadership/discipleship/etc., but some actually impede these areas. I thought much of his talk was also very appropriate to the home, and being a parent who pays attention to what “systems” exist in our families.

Toward the beginning of his talk, Stanley said “Talks don’t create behaviors, systems create behaviors.” Not sure this is true 100% of the time, believing in the Holy Spirit to work through words becoming flesh, etc. There are exceptions. But it’s an important reminder that setting up a pattern for disciples to be developed is much more affective than simply saying “let’s make disciples” from the pulpit.

Another quote worth noting came from one of our fellow pastors that day. Pastor Doug Newton said, “We live in a system that does not lead people to follow.” That can also be a true statement. We live in a world that is not set up to encourage “followers”.

Usually the focus is either on becoming such a great leader that tons of people follow you, or energy and excitement levels are diminished to the point where following simply happens as a passive experience. We live in a world that emphasizes the loud, powerful, and entertaining or attractive. And a world where the majority of the general public finds themselves living each day without much thought toward the patterns and systems they find themselves participating in.

How often are we involved in actively following? In purposefully following, and calling others to a participatory experience of following Jesus Christ.

I believe our churches can be such a place. A place where being labeled a “follower” is an okay thing. Where not everyone needs to be a “leader”, even though they may be encouraging others to follow them as they follow Christ.

That same day, some good questions were encouraged to be discussed:

– What values and behaviors are the current systems (in our home and/or church) communicating and promoting? How might God call these to change?

– What are we accidentally rewarding, emphasizing, or undervaluing…and then get upset when it is seen in those we lead/parent?

Matthew 6:25-29 “25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, ^F54 or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? ^F55 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.”

It’s not easy. Especially if you can see, hear, read, listen, etc. You don’t have to watch tv, or read a paper or website for very long to find a reason someone else wants us to worry. We are a people whose fearful resources are being competed for on a daily basis. So many causes, arenas, events, products, organizations, etc. want our attention. How is our attention easily obtained? Generate fear or worry.

And so it happens. Constantly. Even to the point where things like “Saturday Night Live” and other comedic sources poke fun at it. But in the midst of the poking, it continues to grip our lives.

It is into this world, we are called and sent as people of Christ…to exist differently. The words of Christ in Matthew chapter 6 are not a wise fiscal plan. They don’t account for all the needs, and don’t spell out details of how someone can honor God with their resources both now, and the tomorrows to come.

But in the midst of a world filled with legitimate concerns and a daily torrent of concerns we’re being sold….we are called to “consider the lilies” as a way of following Christ. How are we doing, Church?

I get a flood of church advertising in my mailbox on a weekly basis. Always a new seminar, technology, or event happening “near you!!” that promises to rescue my ministry from whatever panic-button issue they want me to believe I’m struggling with. Churches make the news on a regular basis for actions and words that don’t reflect the heart of Christ, always with a martyr-like defense justifying them in their “holy crusade”.

Do people who follow Christ care? Definitely. We see passion, emotion, and a dramatic distaste for injustice and the brokenness of creation. But it is not a care that draws us to fortify, protect, and further our “crusades”. It is a care that draws us to give sacrificially, to speak for the mute, to show love in the face of hate, mercy in the face of un-forgiveness, and life in the face of death.

And to live….free from worry. To observe how the lilies exist….free. God will finish what He began. Our moments are not the beginning, or the end. We continue the work of Christ, and we do so with every fiber of our being…but not to the sacrifice of the message He lived.

This year’s Frostbite had the theme “Choose to Live”. Our speaker, Pastor Drew Brandt, brought 4 powerful messages to the table:

1. God has a plan for your life, and desires that we CHOOSE to seek and follow His Will.

2. Our relationships are important, and who we CHOOSE to spend our life with, and how we CHOOSE to offer ourselves in purity to them is VERY important.

3. God has already given us a clear calling, and desires that we CHOOSE in that calling as a part of CHOOSING our career as well.

4. Overall, the most important choice we will make reflects the choice made by Peter when responding to Christ’s question in Luke 9:20 – “Who do you say I am?” Our life is a response to that question….who does your life say Jesus Christ is?

Overall, it was a great weekend. Great time in “retreat” with about 150 teens and leaders. A stack of response forms reveals God was at work in many lives, and we continue to pray as that transformation becomes flesh in their everyday living.

Learned valuable lessons:

1. Boys cabins and girls cabins have always been that way. Don’t change it. 🙂

2. Some people actually DO try and sneak into a Christian retreat. It seems several did. Still not upset about this, but wondering still how to respond in a way that loves the people who paid and got upset others evaded payment.

3. Teens who drive themselves need to be given strict “you’re still a teenager, and need to stay on grounds” boundaries.

4. If I want a leader in every cabin, and to make sure every cabin is being actively cared for….I need to communicate/facilitate that. Our volunteers are stinkin’ awesome. 🙂

…and a few more. But again…incredible weekend, great worship with both the PJ Summers Band, and Greenville FM’s youth worship band. Incredible volunteers and workers really stepped up when needed, God was worshiped, and teenagers continue to tug at my heart for Jesus. 🙂

I’m in the right place.