Category: Devotionals
Do You Truly Love Me?

Do You Truly Love Me?

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When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him. A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him. He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. – John 21:15-17

Peter was Restored and Called to be a Pastor

With those words spoken beside the charcoal fire over a breakfast of fresh fish, Jesus called Peter out of his brokenness. Jesus also called Peter away from his career as a fisherman to become the first pastor of the first church. From that moment, Peter’s commitment to his friend, teacher, and Lord took him away from his boats on the sea of Galilee to a “pulpit” in Jerusalem. 

Peter oversaw the first business of the committed disciples in Jerusalem before the church was launched by the Holy Spirit. Peter preached the first message of the church. He stood boldly before the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem who had imprisoned him and threatened his life. Peter dealt with the first acts of church discipline. Peter was the bold, evangelistic, determined pastor of the first church and the Lord poured out His Spirit on that ministry.

Love Changed Peter’s Life

Above all else ONE THING transformed Peter’s life. LOVE changed Peter. He had seen the love of Jesus displayed on the cross. He had also been reminded that he loved Jesus! Peter would feed and tend the sheep of God’s flock, because he loved the Great Shepherd. 

A Harsh Warning from Jesus

If our lives, and especially our ministry, isn’t based on LOVE OF Jesus and LOVE FOR Jesus then our ministry will become weak, failing, and will eventually be taken from us. That may sound harsh, but hear this warning from the ascended Lord to the once wonderful church at Ephesus. Don’t forget that Ephesus had served as the base for much of Paul’s ministry in Asia (Rev. 2:1-7). 

But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Ministry, Faithfulness, and Doctrinal Purity aren’t Enough

Jesus recognized the hard-working ministry of the church. I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people.

Jesus celebrated their faithfulness. I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary.

And Jesus affirmed their purity of doctrine. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.

But wonderful ministries, faithful commitment, and purity of doctrine is not enough. Jesus desires our hearts. He loves us and values our love more than any sacrifice or service.

We are all susceptible to allowing our love and passion for Jesus to ebb away. We are busy. Life is filled with daily routines and regular challenges. It happens in our marriages. The passion of that “first-love” can easily fade over time if we don’t tend the flames of our relationships, and our spouse is physically right in front of our eyes. 

Let’s All Check Our Hearts

How is your passion for the lover of your soul? Jesus who died for me and granted me enteral life deserves my very best. Of course, he deserves the work of my hands, my faithfulness, and my mind. But he wants and deserves my whole heart. 

Remember, Repent, and Return

He offered the church at Ephesus and he offers us a second chance. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Begin by looking back. REMEMBER when your heart and soul burned with your love for Christ? Take time to reflect on those days. Then REPENT! Confess to Him that you have fallen. He promises that He will forgive. Then RETURN. This may seem impossible on your own, so ask for His help! 

Jesus, my heart has grown cold. I’ve fallen into the routine of life, and I’ve lost my first love. Help me in my weakness. Restore my passion for you and your Word. Help me where I can’t help myself. Make my heart tender and pliable once again. Fill me heart with love for you as I reflect on your love for me. Thank you for still loving me, even when I fail you.
Life’s Unwanted Detours

Life’s Unwanted Detours

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On the first 4700 miles of a 14k+ trip, Susan and I have faced several unwanted detours. These redirections have come in many ways, and each have had interesting outcomes. Though we may get frustrated, especially when the detour is caused by our own failure, we are continuing to learn the true meaning behind one of the most miss used passages of scripture. We are confident that, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Before I go any further, let me remind you of a couple truths from this text that are often ignored when it is quoted. First, the text does not teach that all things that happen to us are good. Certainly, rotten stuff comes our way. Sometimes, we face pain because of someone else’s sin. Sometimes, our pain is caused by our own sin or simple mistakes. Other times, we face pain and suffering simply due to circumstances that come from living in a fallen world.  What may be the most challenging for a believer is that sometimes our Heavenly Father not only allows but plans and orchestrates things that cause us to suffer  to discipline us and mature our faith (1 Peter 1, Heb. 12:3-6). Jesus assured His disciples that “in this world you will have trouble.” (John 6:33)

Second, Romans 8:28 does not promise that all things work together for good for everybody! The text is a promise made specifically to believers who meet two criteria. They must be His kids (called according to his purpose). And, they are actively pursuing a relationship with Him (those who love God). Susan and I can have confidence in God’s plan and purpose for us even in the unwanted detours of life because we know that we are His and we are seeking to follow His will because of our love for Him.

In just the past week, we have been challenged with at least four different types of challenging detours. Each could have cause great frustration and anxiety. In all but one case, we found that by keeping our focus on our Lord we have been able to walk in the peace and joy that only He provides. [I’ll confess that when the detour was caused by my own stupidity that I got frustrated for a short while.] Additionally, in EVERY case, the Lord has provided something through the detour that worked out much better for us than our original plan.

The Planned Detour 

Our plan included leaving Johnston Campground in Banff National Park on Monday morning and driving up through Jasper National Park. I’ve told many people that I believe this is the most beautiful and awe-inspiring stretch of road that we have every traveled – and we’ve travelled much of all 50 states and several Canadian provinces. Leaving Jasper, we planned to head North to the beginning of the famous Alaskan Highway beginning at Dawson Creek and travel the length of the ALCAN through Whitehorse, Yukon.

However, in Glacier National Park, we began to encounter a lot of smoke. Upon investigation, I learned that almost 100 wildfires were out of control in NE British Columbia. Those fires would be right along our route. Not wanting to deal with the smoke, we planned an unwanted detour to travel west from Jasper and get “behind” the fires. This would be a detour of several hundred miles but only added about 40 miles to our trip. 

Though we planned the detour, the short notice ended up causing some frustration that I’ll detail later. Besides, we’d miss a few of the iconic mile markers along the first few hundred miles of the Alaskan Highway. In spite of our frustrations, this unwanted detour took us to some incredible places that we’d have otherwised missed. We saw a lot of wildlife and enjoyed the scenery so much that we plan to retrace some of those miles on the way back down to the states. Along the way the Lord provided people and experiences that really blessed us each day.

Unplanned Detour – Caused by Me

This unwanted detour was caused by my mistake. After getting over the mountains west of Jasper, I began trying to plan for where we would camp that evening. We stopped off at the visitor center at the Mount Robson Provincial Park to get some information. It had a beautiful view and a lot of good information, but the service was a bit lacking and caused a little frustration.

I picked a couple providential park campgrounds that would be about the correct distance for our travel that day. I was using a booklet provided by the parks system that had a small inset map of each region. I picked a park that looked right along our route, headed NW out of Prince George. This is where I made my mistake! After traveling over 30 miles toward that campground, we got stopped in a construction zone. As I sat there, I reviewed my travel plan on the “big map” and found that I was going the WRONG WAY!

In fact, the way we were headed would take us directly back to the area of the fires near Dawson Creek. We had learned that smoke was no longer the only problem. The highway had been shut down in two locations with over 200 miles of highway closed. We had no other choice except to continue through the construction, get back in line, and travel back through the construction and back to Prince George. By now, we were tired and realized that my mistake had taken us over 60 miles out of the way with a two-hour delay.

By the end of the evening, we eventually found a campsite along the correct route. The Lord blessed us with one of the only sites left in the area. A fellow traveler from Texas met us in the campsite and help us find the spot! It was a beautiful site and provided just the rest we needed.

Unplanned Detour – Not Caused by Me 

Though this unplanned detour was caused by my mistake, some detours in my life have been created by other means. The birth, suffering, and death of our first-born daughter is one example of this kind of detour in our life. Though we were earnestly seeking the Lord, we ended up facing years of painful challenges. I started to write that they eventually ended at Katie’s graveside, but that would not be true. Though those years hold many great memories, they also created many scars. Even today, we periodically feel the sting of Katie’s suffering and her passing.

Leaving our campsite this morning, I knew I needed to get gas soon. The first two places we came to that were supposed to have fuel were closed. Such is the challenge of traveling in remote places. The problem was that I had planned on one of these two being open and we were about to be in trouble. Instead of panic, we prayed. There was one more place on the map that we hoped would have enough fuel to reach. If we took it easy on the accelerator, we might just make it. Our “Distance to Empty” indicator was showing under 20 miles when we pulled up to the above ground fuel tanks.

This wasn’t where we hoped to fill up and it wasn’t what we had hoped to pay for fuel. However, on this unwanted detour, the Lord provided again. While I was filling my tank, a young trucker walked up and told me about a wreck that had just happened a few miles down the road. He said that it could take hours to clear. He gave me some great advice on getting around the wreck that probably saved us at least an hour. The Lord worked through this unwanted detour to save us hours. If that wreck had been before the fuel pumps, well that would be a different story.

When I think of these kinds of unwanted detours, I can’t help but remember the life of Joseph in Genesis. He experienced several unwanted detours after the Lord gave him a great vision. From the pit, to a mansion, to prison, to the palace, none of the detours were a part of his plan, but they certainly were used for his good, for his family’s salvation, and for God’s greater purpose for mankind. 

Helpful Detour – Following Good Advice

The providential encounter with this trucker also provided and answer to a prayer that we had been lifting up the past few days. We were struggling with whether to include a trip all the way to the Artic Ocean that would include pulling our trailer over 1080 miles of gravel road. I love the idea of the challenge, but the main reason to go beyond a certain point would be just to be able to say that we had been there. Susan and I had been trying to decide and just were uncertain.

While visiting with the afore mentioned trucker, he told me he was from Tuk –the small indigenous village at the end of the road on the Artic Ocean. When I told him we would be camping on the Dempster Highway at the Tombstone Mountains, he answered our prayer. He let us know that the road was in worse shape than usual. There was planned construction this summer to deal with its conditions. He said the best part of the trip was the Tombstone Mountains and a certain distance beyond. Once you pass that area, the scenery just wasn’t worth it. He recommended we camp at Tombstone Provincial Park and leave our trailer there. We could then drive a couple hours beyond the park and enjoy the best of the road without the stress. This was already something I had specifically considered and prayed about.

Just a few hours later, the Lord intervened with another individual to meet our needs. When closing our trailer earlier this week, it became evident that a key component of our camper would not last the whole trip. I needed to repair a bracket that would require an experienced welder or metal fabricator. My backup plan was a fix I could do myself, but I was uncertain of its effectiveness. 

After leaving the trucker and making the detour he suggested, I found a welding shop that I had a peace about. He looked at my bracket and said he was willing but was unsure that he could do what I needed without removing the bracket from the trailer and I know that would be a long task and practically impossible with our schedules. When I told him my “plan b,” he said that was a great idea. He felt that would hold better than a weld on the thin metal. A few miles down the road, as I stopped in a big parking lot to take care of it, I found a couple other issues that I hadn’t seen. By me doing the repairs on my own, I was saved a LOT of issues that were on the near horizon. 

The Lord used two unwanted detours to work things out “for our good.” He provided great advice from a providential meeting with the trucker that came from one unwanted detour to provide an answer to prayer – a detour that would come from following the trucker’s advice. I am certain the Lord orchestrated these unwanted circumstances to provide the advice needed for tomorrow’s detour. As long as I take the advice, I’m certain we’ll find the “good things” God has for us down the road the next few days.

Trusting the Lord in the Detours

Every unwanted detour can be frustrating. Many can be downright painful. When we are faced with unwanted detours, whether we have a say in them or not, we have a couple directions we can take. We can get anxious, panic, get made at God, blame the cause of the detour, or blame others for our mistake (or sin) that caused the detour. If we take this route, we will never find peace and will be regularly frustrated throughout our journey on this earth. 

There is another route we can take. When faced with life’s unwanted detours we can take them to the Lord in prayer. We can turn to His Word for guidance. Scripture is filled with men and women who faced unwanted detours – some trusted God and some didn’t. Consider Job’s unfair life of suffering. Take a look at how David responded to the spear chunking of King Saul. Maybe even revisit the story of Joseph and see how God took horrible circumstances and used them for His glory.

This evening, I am grateful for the detours. The unwanted detours have provided new experiences. We’ve found new friends. We’ve learned a little more about ourselves and we’ve learned to lean on the Lord.

I think I’ll take the truckers advice. He knows the territory and he has been where we want to go. He knows the dangers and the beautiful blessings of the land. I also think I’ll continue to trust in the Lord, His word, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He’s been there. He knows the terrain of the blessings and even the sufferings. When life brings us to a detour, I’m certain that it will result in our good and His purposes – whether we initially like the detour or not.
A Great Adventure

A Great Adventure

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Susan keeps talking about how excited she is to be heading out on this “great adventure.” Only a couple days after her retirement from serving in the public school system as a special education teacher and school counselor, we set out on this four-month Sabbatical journey. It certainly seems like a great adventure is ahead.

40 Years of Adventure

As I look back, I feel like I’ve been on a “great adventure” from the time I surrendered to the Gospel ministry. Not long after that day over 40 years ago, I began looking for ways to serve in that call from God. A couple years later, Susan agreed to join me on this journey and what a great adventure it has been.

We had already committed to walk by faith, before the birth of our first daughter. That idea took on an entirely new meaning when Katie was born. With the addition of KariAnn to our family in May of 1991, we accepted the call to our first full-time pastoral role a few months later. Though the adventure into pastoral ministry had already begun in helping with two church plants and preaching regularly in a small rural church (about a dozen congregants).

Sabbatical Adventure

The Great Adventure we embarked on the evening of June 1st is no less of a step of faith than any others. We aren’t sure of what lies down the road and the Lord has only allowed us to have a few sparse plans in place. In some ways this journey seems familiar. In other ways it seems very different and a bit unnerving.

As I sit outside the camper in SW Montana on the 6th night of our journey, it still feels a little bit like our traditional camping vacations. It’s different in that we have intentionally moved slower, prayed more intentionally, and have a strong sense that the Lord has something special for us on this journey. We both our digging into God’s word as we seek His direction.

Grateful Hearts

Susan and I have a deep sense of gratitude that our church family in Watauga has allowed us to follow the Lord’s direction in this great adventure. The Lord has taught me the value of His local churches through experience and through His Word. As we love our Lord, we also love His bride. I believe that in following Him on this journey that He will take care of His church and continue to prepare me for the great adventures that lie ahead.

I don’t expect everything to work out perfectly. We’ve already made a few minor repairs to our camper which is to be expected with a 14 year-old unit. However, the Lord has also already blessed us with incredible scenery and the privilege to watch a lot of great wildlife in the first few days of the adventure.

Saddle Up, Let’s Ride

When Susan speaks of this adventure, I can’t help but reflect on the song from Steven Curtis Chapman from the early days of our ministry – The Great Adventure. The Great Adventure video was filmed in Grand Teton National Park where we spent our last three nights. Tomorrow, we head north to Glacier National Park and Sunday morning we plan to cross into Canada on the way to the Artic Ocean. We don’t know what lies down the road, but we do know that HE IS ALREADY THERE!

“Saddle up our horses
We’ve got a trail to blaze
Through the wild blue yonder of God’s Amazing grace
Let’s follow our leader into the Glorious unknown
This is the life like no other, whoa whoa
This is The Great Adventure.”
The First 20 Years

The First 20 Years

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Twenty years ago today, February 15, 2005, I step through the doors at 6124 Plum Street as the new pastor of First Baptist Watauga. It was late on a Tuesday morning. I had preached my last sermon at May First Baptist on the 13th and it seemed appropriate to begin my official first day exactly half way through the month.

The First Day

My first duty was to meet with the Transition Team that had helped the church through a difficult interim period (if my memory is correct that was Jimmy, Richard, and Tim). I only remember a few highlights from that first day. After meeting with those key leaders, I enjoyed dinner with my good friend Deron Biles and his family that evening. I asked Deron during dinner if there was a key person that I might visit that night outside of the leaders I’d already met. He suggested I get to know Dennis Serratt. So, I ended that first day with a wonderful day developing a new friendship with a special person who has become a partner in most every aspect of ministry.

Since that day, the Lord has taken us on a wonderful, sometimes, winding journey. Susan has suggested that my first official day was the 20th since that’s when I preached my first sermon as the “preacher” of my new church. I believe however that my calling is to pastor the church – not just preach! That’s why I consider Tuesday the 15th as the start of this new journey.

Many great memories come from those early days. I immediately got to work alongside a wonderful young man named Eric Costanzo. Jaye Biles had launched a choir in the interim and the Lord led her to be our worship leader for the first several years of my pastorate here. Miss Elaine, Zack, Kevin, PM, and many others have brought joy in the early years of this journey.

One story helps sum up this wonderful church family

Because I began this new role in the middle of February, Susan and the girls remained in May during the week to finish out the school year. Susan was teaching special education while Kari, Kelsey, and Libbie all attended school. I would stay at Watauga during the week and they would join me on weekends. Our oldest daughter, Katie, had passed away on July 1st the previous year. Her passing coupled with the dramatic change including moving to the city, a new home, and changing churches put tremendous stress on our family. 

In early April, I remember speaking with Susan about a difficult situation one of our girls was facing. I returned home early in the week to help them. During that time, the deacons for FBC Watauga called a meeting. I remember getting a phone call from the Deacon Chairman after late that evening that initially worried me. If you’re a pastor, you can imagine getting that call immediately following a deacon’s meeting while you were out of town – a meeting you had just missed and in the first couple months of your ministry at the church.

Thankfully, it wasn’t “that kind of call.” In fact, it was quite the opposite. I was told by the chairman that the deacons wanted me to take as much time as necessary over the next two months to care for my family. “Your family is most important. You’ve already accomplished more here that we expected in a year. Take care of your wife and girls during the week. We’ll see you on the weekend. Once school is over, you’ll be here full time.” I began to weep on the phone and had a hard time stopping when I got off. They loved me and loved my family. I was overwhelmed with gratitude.

God’s Healing

I had been greatly blessed by my deacons, church family, and the community of May, TX. It was uncomfortable to leave that all behind when the Lord called us to Watauga. The love shown by the deacon body of Watauga FBC in those early days was a wonderful comfort and encouragement as we began this new journey still grieving and trying to heal from our deep loss.

Onward

Tomorrow I begin the 21st year as the pastor at First Baptist Watauga. I rejoice in the Lord’s healing and help. I rejoice that I have the privilege of serving Him and pointing every day to the Great Shepherd of my soul and head of this church. What a privilege it is to serve such a great Lord alongside such wonderful people.

7 Pastoral Principles from the Church’s 1st Pastor

7 Pastoral Principles from the Church’s 1st Pastor

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7 Principles for shepherding the local church

Peter served the early church as its first pastor. He had followed Jesus, failed Jesus, and been restored by Jesus. When Peter penned his first epistle to the church, he gave instructions to his fellow elders that speaks to pastors in every generation. For Peter, these seven principles came out of his training from Jesus and his experience as a pastor in the early church. For us, they are preserved in God’s Word in 1 Peter 5:1-5.

I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 1 Pet. 5:1-5 CSB

Stewardship – (God’s flock)

First and foremost, the flock belongs to God. Every individual sheep is precious to Jesus who died for them. God has given the pastor the profound privilege of serving as His steward of His precious sheep. The Lord expects His undershepherds to love and care for His flock as He does. When a pastor understands this incredible privilege, he will also understand the incredible responsibility that is on his shoulders.

Proximity – (those among you)

Second, a pastor must live among the sheep. Jesus is the greatest example as He came in the flesh to live among us. Pastors are called to live among their people in order to serve and lead them. A pastor can preach from the pulpit, but he cannot be a shepherd unless he is with his people.

Oversight – (overseeing)

Third, the pastor must accept the responsibility to watch over the flock. This will require his diligent attention and sometimes administrative skills. Pastors are called to care for the church as administrators, visionaries, and leaders. Paul encouraged the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:28, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.”

Enthusiasm – (willingly)

Fourth, Peter commands pastors to serve their sheep willingly. Peter’s to obedience Jesus’ call to “shepherd His sheep” was grounded in the truth that Peter loved Jesus. A pastor’s greatest motivation for faithfully shepherding God’s flock should be his love for his Master. When the pastor loves the Lord, an enthusiastic love for the Lord’s flock will closely follow.

Generosity – (not from greed)

Fifth, a pastor should serve with a heart of generosity and not greed. Any man who serves the Lord’s flock “out of greed for money” is not a shepherd, but a hireling (John 10:11-13). A true shepherd surrendered to the call of God will sacrificially serve God’s flock. Paul warned against the false teachers who would serve for monetary gain (1 Tim. 6:1-10). 

Humility – (not lording it over them)

Sixth, Peter called pastors to serve with humility. Peter demanded that pastors lead with a servant’s heart “not lording it over those entrusted to you.” When a shepherd and his church are rightly serving the Lord, there will be no need for politics or power plays. Pastors will accomplish much more by serving their church with a gentle spirit than by demanding submission.

Exemplary – (being an example)

Seventh, pastors are called to be an example to their sheep. Peter found his example in the sufferings of Christ that he personally witnessed (1 Pet. 5:1). As a shepherd living among his sheep, the pastor must lead by example. The sheep will learn to follow their shepherd. When he serves, they will learn to serve. When he evangelizes, the sheep will evangelize. If the pastor expects the sheep to live a Christ-honoring life, he must do so in before their eyes.

God’s Eternal Reward

After admonishing his fellow elders, Peter encouraged them with a promise. “When the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:4).” Whatever the pastor may give up on this earth as he submits in service to the Lord’s the flock, he will regain in endless reward from the chief Shepherd. Peter begins his next paragraph with a reminder in verse six to “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time.”

Click the image for Pastor Dennis’ short study on this topic.
Pastoral Principles from the Church’s 1st Pastor

Pastoral Principles from the Church’s 1st Pastor

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Jesus fulfilled the promise of God from the Old Testament to provide a messianic shepherd to lead His people (Jer. 23:3-4; Ezek. 34:23-24). As the Good Shepherd, Jesus set out in His ministry to train shepherds for His church that arise following His ascension. He did this by example and through his teaching—even having the disciples practice under His direction (Matt. 10).

The New Testament uses the image of the shepherd to describe men called to lead the church.

Jesus Chose Peter

After His resurrection, He would need to leave someone in charge to serve as shepherd to the new church He was about to launch. Jesus chose Peter. The same brash Peter who said he’d never leave and then denied Him the morning of His resurrection. Peter who had seemingly chosen to go back to his old profession of fishing after things settled down in days following the resurrection.

In John 21, Jesus singled out Peter with an opportunity to affirm his love for Jesus three times–the same number of times he had previously denied him. Peter’s affirmation of love preceded a single command expressed three different ways: “feed my lambs,” “shepherd my sheep,” and “feed my sheep.” Jesus called Peter to leave behind his boats and nets to become a shepherd—a shepherd of Jesus’ flock. Jesus ended the discussion with a simple command, “Follow Me.”

Peter Led the Church

Peter obeyed. He followed Jesus away from the shores of Galilee into the role of a shepherd. His life changed forever as the church exploded onto the scene. Peter served in the key role as the lead pastor for the early church. He led the church in the selection of a new disciple (Acts 1:13-15). Peter stood and proclaimed the Gospel following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). He took the lead when serving with John as they faced imprisonment (Acts 3 and 4).

Peter was on the place of authority as the Holy Spirit poured out discipline on Ananias and Saphira (Acts 5). He represented all the apostles when he proclaimed, “We must obey God rather than people (Acts 5:29).” Peter led in receiving the Samaritans into the church (Acts 8:14). He dealt with Simon’s misunderstanding in Acts 8:20. The Lord used Peter to reach out to the Gentiles and encourage their acceptance into the church Acts 10 and 11. Even in Acts 15 when James is functioning as the lead pastor, Peter still had influence during the Jerusalem Council.

Peter Didn’t Disappoint

What Peter saw as he walked with Jesus, he modeled as he led the church. When he seemed bull-headed, he must have been listening and watching. When he failed miserably, broken and humbled by his own sin, Jesus restored Peter to a place of health and leadership. Given a second chance, Peter didn’t disappoint. He followed the example of the Good Shepherd as he obeyed. He led the early church through treacherous waters to see thousands saved and discipled.

The Privilege of Pastoral Ministry

Pastors are not expected to be perfect. They are expected to follow Jesus. Walk with Him and point your church to Him. Jesus has given all of us a second chance at life through His death and resurrection. Some of us have been called to follow Him as shepherds of His sheep. That is an incredible privilege and a great responsibility.

When Peter wrote his first epistle, he shared some of what he had learned with his fellow elders. We will look at those seven principles in part two of this blog.

Follow this link to watch Pastor Dennis’ study on this subject.
Father Forgive Them

Father Forgive Them

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This Good Friday service can be found here.

Jesus spoke seven times while hanging on the cross outside the gates of Jerusalem. The first of those seven sayings are found in Luke 23:34. “Father forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing.”

Who were “they”? Who was it Jesus had on His mind when He spoke these words to His heavenly Father. Though it is impossible to know the mind of Christ beyond what He has revealed in His word, I believe there are many of us on His mind.

The Tormentors

Jesus had just been nailed to the cross with spikes driven through His wrists and feet. In the previous hours, He had been stripped naked and publicly scourged to the point of exhaustion. He had a crown of thorns driving into His scalp with rods. His beard had been torn from His face as He was spat upon. Could Jesus have had these tormentors on His mind when He called out, “Father forgive them”?

The Materialists

All four Gospels tell us that a group of soldiers took His clothing. Then they gambled over His outer tunic by casting lots. With three men suffering above them and mourners gathered around them, these cold-hearted men focused on what they could gain in material goods. Like them, we often worry about material things in this world while men are dying and people are suffering all around us. Could Jesus have on His mind those who were too focused on this world to see what mattered for eternity when He cried, “Father forgive them”?

The Betrayers

Hours before His trusted disciple Judas consummated his betrayal of Christ with a kiss (Matt. 26:49). Judas had been the treasurer of Jesus’ band of twelve disciples. He had walked with the Lord for three years. Jesus invested precious time teaching Judas and caring for him. Yet, Judas chose to turn his back on His teacher for a small sum of money. Was Jesus thinking of Judas’ betrayal, or all of us who may eventually betray Him, when He spoke those first words on the cross?

The Deniers

Jesus had three most trusted followers – Peter, James, and John. The night before the cross Peter made the boldest promises of commitment. Regardless, it was Peter who denied ever knowing Jesus when Jesus was on trial (Luke 22:54-62). It had only been a few hours. Was Jesus thinking of Peter and all those who would deny knowing Him when they faced the threat of persecution? Jesus forgave Peter and restored Him in the days to come. Maybe it was those deniers for whom Jesus asked forgiveness, because we “don’t know what we are doing.”

The Unfaithful

Mark tells us that when the soldiers arrested Jesus to the garden all of His disciples disappeared. Mark 14:50, “Then they all deserted him and ran away.” Judas had already betrayed Him and Peter would soon fervently deny him. Additionally, all of the other disciples simply ran away at the time of Jesus’ greatest need. Only John would eventually appear at the foot of the cross where he stood alongside Mary (John 19:26-27). Was Jesus thinking of His close friends who fled when trouble came as He said, “Father forgive them”?

The Religious

In the verse following Jesus’ statement, we find the religious leaders scoffing. These men claimed religious superiority. They were supposedly followers of Jesus’ heavenly Father. They had memorized the sacred texts that would point to Jesus as the Messiah. Yet, their hearts were so hardened by religion they completely missed the Christ when He stood before them. Does Jesus look upon the religious with tears and cry out, “Father forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing”?

The Onlookers

In Luke 23:35, we also find the ambiguous group simply referred to as “the people stood watching.” These were the onlookers. They were not involved in Jesus’ crucifixion. They had not betrayed Him or denied Him, because they simply did not know Him. They were observing the spectacle with interest but had no “skin in the game.” Yet, what happened on the cross that afternoon would have a direct impact on their eternity. Like “the people” in verse 35, we stand gazing upon Christ on the cross and our eternity will be determined by what we do with His death.

The Two Criminals

The passage also has two other key figures – the criminals who died on either side of Christ. Those two men represent us all. Like us, they had committed “crimes” and deserved to die. God’s word makes clear that we all have sinned and our sin separates us from God “for the wages of sin is death.”

One of those criminals looked at Jesus and yelled insults at Him. The other looked to Jesus and asked for mercy. He confessed that he was a sinner and deserved to die. He recognized that Jesus had done nothing wrong. In that moment, he made a simple request, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus responded with what must have been the sweetest words that criminal ever heard, “Today I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Those Who are Forgiven

Jesus had all of us on His mind when He cried out, “Father forgive them because they do not know what they are doing.” He fulfilled His purpose on the cross crying out, “It is finished.” He died to complete His mission of atonement for your sin and my sin. He died for the tormentors, the materialistic, the betrayers, the unfaithful, the deniers, the religious, and the onlookers. He died for us all! He offers the gift of forgiveness for all of us.

We are left with a simple choice portrayed by the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus. We can insult Him with our unbelief. Or, we can accept who we are, our need for a savior, and trust Him with our soul. He has offered the gift of forgiveness. We now choose our response.

What will you choose?

What will you do with Jesus who is called the Christ?

Conquering Life’s Challenges

Conquering Life’s Challenges

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Caleb trusted the Lord to conquer life’s challenges. He was about forty years old when he first entered the Promised Land. He went on an assignment with Joshua and ten other leaders to check out the land that had been promised to Abraham.

Caleb’s Faith

The land was filled with abundance, especially compared to the desert in which they had been living. However, it was also filled with a great enemy and fortified cities. Caleb and Joshua saw an opportunity for God to fulfill His promises. The other ten spies saw only the obstacles. When they reported back to the rest of the nation, Caleb and Joshua’s minority report was not received well.

Forty Difficult Years

For the next forty years, Caleb was forced to wander in the desert. It was not even his fault. He had trusted God to keep His promise even when the faith of others faltered. Instead of losing faith, Caleb remained faithful.

Forty years later, Caleb and Joshua got to see the fulfillment of God’s promise to the nation of Israel. Fortified cities and great armies fell as God led them into the Promised Land. As the other tribes begin to settle in, Caleb continues to walk in faith.

God’s Promise Has No Expiration Date

At the age of 85, Caleb reflected on the land God had promised him 45 years earlier. That land remained unconquered. In fact, the three major cities in that area were inhabited by the decedents of giants. However, Caleb remained confident in the failing promises of God.

In Joshua 14, Caleb came to Joshua and confidently asked that he be allowed to take the land of the giants.

“Here I am today, eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then. Now give me this hill country the Lord promised me on that day, because you heard then that the Anakim are there, as well as large fortified cities. Perhaps the Lord will be with me and I will drive them out as the Lord promised.” Joshua 14:10-12

Trusting God to Overcome

Caleb refused to focus on the many obstacles. The giants, the fortified cities, even his advanced age could not prevent the Lord from fulfilling His promises. In fact, he kept his focus on the promises of God, knowing that the power of God could overcome his weaknesses.

We can chose to focus on our weakness or we can focus on His strength.

Caleb could have easily whined about his lost opportunities. The best part of his life was spent in the desert instead of the land the Lord had promised to him – and it was not even his fault. However, Caleb refused to wallow in regret. He chose to keep his eyes focused on the future the Lord had planned for him.

Bottom line: We can complain about the lost opportunities from our past or we can trust the promises of God and attack the challenges in front of us!
Katie, Rosie, and God’s Love

Katie, Rosie, and God’s Love

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Katie had been back on dialysis for months and her prognosis was not great when I got the call from my mom. She wanted to purchase Katie a puppy to be a companion during the difficult days ahead. I wasn’t sure that was a good idea and told her I’d talk to Susan about it. The next week mom showed up at our house with Rosie.

A Special Companion

61700795_10219276001594528_7682383512451678208_oKatie quickly fell in love with Rosie and they became best friends. During long hours on home dialysis, Rosie was always a faithful companion. She tolerated Mickey Mouse ears and doll dresses. She was a mixture of high energy when chasing a ball and calm comfort to her master. Rosie would sit with Katie, play with Katie, and sleep with Katie. She’s the first dog I ever let live in the house.

When Katie passed away, it took a while before Rosie stopped going into Katie’s room looking for her. Of course, Rosie was a part of our family and was loved by Katie’s sisters. She has also been a part of Katie that remained with us for another decade and a half. She survived a copperhead attack that left a scar on her nose, a bite from a huge rattlesnake, and a near drowning.

Rosie’s Last Days

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In recent months, we’ve known that Rosie was nearing the end of her life. She had mostly good days. However, she was having more difficulty getting up and down. As she aged, she lost her hearing and was developing cataracts.

Just last week I talked to the vet about bringing Rosie in for a wellness check and possibility of putting her to rest. Susan and I are preparing to take a summer vacation and we didn’t want Kari and Libbie to have to deal with things if Rosie passed while we were gone. When I got home that evening, Rosie was running around the back yard like a young pup. We decided that it wasn’t time to make that trip to the vet.

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Our Heartfelt Prayer

62238268_10219276001874535_3790148707022798848_oSusan and I simply prayed the Lord would take care of us as He has so many other times in our lives. We prayed that when it was time, she would pass easily. We prayed that we wouldn’t have to make the decision to put her down. We also prayed that the girls wouldn’t be left to deal with Rosie’s passing when we were gone.

The Lord answered all of our prayers the beginning of the next week. On Monday, I left Rosie outside with Koda and Bo on a beautiful sunny day. She always seemed to do best on the warm sunny days outdoors. At lunch she was busy barking at the neighbor’s dogs! When I came home from the office in the evening, she had passed away and it was clear she had only been gone for a short time. Susan and I loaded her little body in the truck and headed to May to put her to rest.

Another Chapter Closes

61996593_10219273370568754_5467972694748168192_nWhen Katie passed almost 15 years ago, we had Katie’s two favorite images etched on her stone – a panda bear and Rosie. We arrived right at sunset. The Lord had softened the ground by weeks of spring rains. It only took a few minutes and Rosie was laid to rest under her image near Katie’s body. As the sun set on June 3rd, another chapter in our lives was closed.

God’s Grace is Abundant

61940602_10219273370488752_9045583549264035840_nThroughout this chapter, we found more gentle reminders that the Lord is with us. The book is not finished on Katie’s impact on this world. The Lord is still using her life and memory to teach us and touch others. I am grateful for the Lord’s gentle reminders in large and small ways that He is with us and He loves us. His grace is enough. His timing is perfect. When the sun sets on my life, I’m confident He will be there still guiding and providing.
A Word that Must be Spoken

A Word that Must be Spoken

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We must proclaim the Good News as if lives depend on it. BECAUSE THEY DO!

A word not spoken or expressed in writing is not a word at all. It is only a thought. The words given to the church by Jesus, its founder, were intended to be spoken so His message could reach lost souls. “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

There is Hope Where the Gospel is Proclaimed

“Son of man, can these bones live?” This question was posed to Ezekiel by the Spirit of the Lord. Ezekiel responded that only the Lord knew the answer to that question. He was commanded to speak the word of the Lord to the bones saying, “I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.”

The spiritual condition of the North American church in recent years has caused many to prophesy its downfall. Many wonder if there is hope for these dry bones. Hope resides in the same place it did for Israel in Ezekiel’s vision – ultimately an outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord. History teaches us that there must be a proclaimer of the Word of the Lord. Someone who will declare the hope that only comes from God’s life-giving Spirit.

A Burden for Evangelism is Needed

It wasn’t so long ago that the heart of the American church was alive with the desire to proclaim the Gospel. James S. Stewart began his Yale lecture in 1951, “Today as never before there has been laid upon the heart and conscience of the Church the burden for evangelism.”* Though that heart for evangelism is needed more than ever, the Church in America today does not reflect the passion of which Stewart spoke.

The need for believers who would be faithful in proclaiming the Good News is as old as the news itself. While looking over the distressed throngs of people Jesus proclaimed, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.” The streets of every city are filled with people who need to hear the Gospel message. Disciples of Jesus must be “moved with compassion,” as He was in Matthew chapter nine, so they will enter the fields for the harvest.

The Clear Message Must be Proclaimed

The job is not a complicated one. Peter and John were clearly “uneducated and untrained men,” but they were greatly used by God to launch the church. They proclaimed a simple message. Jesus, who was crucified and raised from the dead, is the only “name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

Stewart proclaimed in the same lecture series, “The first axiom of effective evangelism is that the evangelist must be sure of his message. Any haziness or hesitation there is fatal.” Jesus must be the focus of any true Gospel presentation, because salvation cannot be found in any other name.

There are many plans for sharing the Gospel, but there is a great danger in over complicating the message. The best plan for telling others about Jesus is the simple one that you will use consistently.

The Apostle Paul gave us a simple formula for proclaiming the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.”

Speak the Words of Life

WORDS NOT SPOKEN WILL NEVER BE HEARD. There are many times we are better off not speaking. When it comes to the Good News WE MUST SPEAK. The dry bones need to hear a message of life. The Spirit of God can revive what looks dead. The promise of Jesus is true today. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

JESUS IS THE ONLY HOPE OF SALVATION. Our friends need to hear this crucial news from us.

* James S. Stewart, A Faith to Proclaim (NY: Scribner’s Sons, 1953).