Guest Bloggers

In just a few days I am scheduled to take some time off for vacation. And, if the Lord is willing, I plan to do a lot of reading, running and relaxing.

I want to thank the choice people of CrossPoint for allowing me to take this much needed break. My spiritual and physical batteries need recreating, recharging, and reenergizing, and this time of the year is the best time for me to take a break with my family.

In order to keep the JUSTONEMORE.INFO blog running smoothly, I have invited four different friends to post blogs in my absence.

The first writer is Mandi Logan. She is the zeal behind the wheel in CrossPoint’s respite ministry. Her passion for children with special needs is what makes her such a great educator in the Trussville School System. Mandi is a reader, and I have found readers to also be good writers. She will encourage you with her insights.

After Mandi’s stint, I have asked our Student Minister, Jason Motte to do some guest blogging. You will have to put on your thinking caps with Jason. He is a sharp thinker, and I know his blog will challenge you. I like Jason’s desire to disciple our students. You will see what I am talking about when you read what he writes.

Next is my good friend, Dr. John Thweatt, pastor of FBC Pell City. Allow me to state in advance, I am not responsible for what he writes. John loves the Lord. He is a great father and husband. His church dearly loves him, but the guy is as crazy as a road lizard. Prepare yourself, his blogs will be different.

Finally, I have asked my blog master, Vaughn Harris to fill in for me. Vaughn is a cutting edge thinker. The guy has a major passion for souls to be saved and for lives to be changed. I love his heart. I love his zeal. His enthusiasm is contagious. I know you will like to read what is on his mind.

Mandi Logan, Jason Motte, John Thweatt and Vaughn Harris are all first string players on God’s team. I am impressed with the lineup the Lord led me to select. My greatest concern is returning to town with many of you requesting more from these people than from me. Their blogs with bless you.

And finally, please pray for my family and me, since we will be covering a lot of road during our time off. I look forward to CONNECTING with you when we return home.

Fellowship

What is the first word that comes to your mind when you think of church? I am sure many of you would say worship or discipleship or evangelism. And, I agree with those responses.

Another word that comes to my mind when I think of church is fellowship. I am convinced that fellowship is a vital key to true church health. When we read in Acts 2, we discover the first century church was “devoted to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship.”

Last Sunday evening the staff and I had the privilege of fellowshipping with many of CrossPoint’s deacons. We met on the back veranda, located outside the new education wing. By the way, that is a great place for a fellowship if you are looking for one.


John Coon and his cook team provided burgers, ribs, salad and beans. And, as you would expect, the meal was superb.


Ron NeSmith and his Deacon Leadership Team did a great job organizing the evening.


Although the food was over the top, it was the fellowship that meant the most to me. I enjoyed spending time with these servants of the church. We ate a lot of food. We told some great stories. We bonded in fellowship. Yet most of all, we prayed. We did not just pray once, we prayed twice.


Ron asked me to share a few words before we dismissed. During my remarks I shared with the men how Dutch Reform Pastors would say to their congregations, “When you pray me full, I will preach you full.” I asked the men to continue to pray me full so that I may continue to preach CrossPoint full. After that, we concluded with prayer.

It was then the real fellowship began. Ron asked the men if they had anything they wanted to say. Several of the men wanted to know when we would do something like this again. Then Ken Johnson shared his heart with the group about his daughter-in-law’s battle with breast cancer. One of the deacons said, “Let’s gather and pray for Ken and his family.” Before you knew it, someone placed a chair in the center of the patio, and we gathered to pray.

It was a great evening last Sunday night. I thoroughly enjoy it whenever I can gather with our deacons for fellowship. Just about one month from today we will gather as a church at Camp Coleman for our annual picnic and outdoor baptism. I hear tickets go on sale on July 8. We have scheduled this year’s picnic from 3 to 7 PM in order to try to beat the heat. By the way, in case you are wondering, we have asked John Coon to cook the meal. Mmm, my taste buds are already in overdrive.

I have already made plans to be there on July 29 because I enjoy fellowshipping with you so much with you. I trust you will be there also.

The Loudest Voice

What is the loudest voice in your life? What voice do you listen to above all others?

All of us have a voice in our life; all of us have some kind of message ringing in our ears. Of all the messages we hear, which is the loudest?

Some voices we hear are imagined. Other voices we hear are real. Some of us listen to recordings we play over and over again.

There are those of us who constantly hear the messages of our parents playing back in our heads. That can either be good or bad, depending on the voices that were ringing in their heads.

Some of us hear criticism playing over and over again. Perhaps it was the expression of a teacher, coach or a peer who humiliated us and we cannot get that message out of our head.

Other people listen to those they are trying to impress. They hear the voice of a spouse or a boss that is always asking, “What have you done for me, lately?”

There are some who pay attention to the voice of fear. Listening to this signal cripples many from realizing their true value in Christ.

A few people listen to their own voice. Obviously this voice, like all other human voices, is influenced by our sinful nature.

I do not know what the loudest voice is in your life. It may be one of the aforementioned voices I have previously discussed or it may be another voice you hear that I have not mentioned.

My mentor taught me to listen to the Lord’s voice above all others. He taught me to listen for God. As a result of that lesson I often ask the Lord to help me distinguish His voice above all others. I do not know what the loudest voice is in your life but I do know what voice you should be hearing above all others. The loudest voice in your life should the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Speaking of voices, Isaiah records:

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
Isaiah 30:21

The Lord wants us to listen to His voice above all others so that we can know the way in which He wants us to go. He wants us to hear His voice. He wants us to follow His voice. He wants to guide us in His truth.

Jesus spoke of hearing His voice this way:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27

I don’t know what voice you hear above all others. I don’t know if that voice is a voice of criticism. I don’t know if the voice you hear over and over again is one that constantly overestimates your situation or underestimates your abilities. However, there is a voice I do know that will instruct you, encourage you, teach you and love you. That voice is the voice of the Lord.
Determine today to listen to the voice of the Lord. Learn to hear His voice above all others. Quit listening to the voice of the past, your own voice recording or the voice of others. Decide today to listen for the Lord’s voice. If you listen, you will hear Him.

I am Praying for You

The practice of praying for each CrossPointer by name, out loud, is one of the most gratifying disciplines I have added to my daily routine in a long time. Yes, praying for you is a burden. Paradoxically, the prayer routine is also refreshing.

Praying for each member of CrossPoint is changing the way I lead this church. It is also changing the way I lead our staff.

The more I pray for you, the more God works on me. Here are a few examples of the way God is working on me.

The more I pray for you, the less I try to do for God what God wants to do for you.

To state it another way, the more I pray for you the more I let God do what He wants to do, and, hopefully, the less I get in his way. (See yesterday’s blog about doing for God what God wants to do for me or you).

The more I pray for you, the more I pray for you.

Pardon my redundancy, but it is true. The more I pray for you, the more time I spend praying for you. Praying for you by name, specifically, each day is a contagious discipline. I suppose you could say prayer is contagious.

The more I pray for you, the greater my burden is for you.

Pastors are always burdened for their sheep. The more I pray for you, however, the deeper my burden grows. That burden, I believe, augments my preaching for you each week. That burden compels me to be more faithful to the Scripture each Sunday.

The more I pray for you, the better I know you.

I know that sounds strange, but there is an intimacy that the Lord develops through prayer. For example, I saw a CrossPointer the other day in public. We exchanged quick greetings to one another and then went our own way. Soon after walking away from them, I prayed for them, their spouse and their children. I think it was a natural result of praying for them on a consistent basis.

One of our Bible study leaders showed me how he has made a prayer card for every member of His Bible study class, so that they can pray for one another. He has also added our staff to their list. He told me he did this because he was following our staff’s example. If you are not doing so already, I challenge all of our Bible study leaders to piece together a simple prayer list for their class which includes the name of the members on their roll. Distribute the list and ask your class to begin praying for one another. Give me a report as soon as you see the first results of your prayer.

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your pastor. Moreover, thank you for the privilege of allowing me to pray for you.

A Weekend with My Father

A few months ago my brothers, Chuck and Rhett, started working with me to put together a father/son weekend with my father, Bob. Many of you know all these three of these men. For those who do know them, I promise to start praying for you. For those of you who do not know them, you are blessed. (There goes my commitment to stop chiding others! I can’t help it. I spent the weekend with the king of chiders.)

Seriously, sixty days ago we started planning this trip with my Dad. We tried to make the trip in early May, but our plans fell through due to our busy schedules. Then we settled on June 21 – 23, we stuck to it, and I am so glad we did.

We left Birmingham very early Thursday morning and made our way to Highlands, North Carolina. Part of our trip included checking out a new cabin my oldest brother and his family are building in the area.

Although our trip was quick, it was full of activity. More than activity, I think the best part of the outing included our conversation. Actually, that’s all we did was talk, mixed in with some sightseeing.

The highlight of the excursion was when my oldest brother put my father in his place much like my father used to do with us when we were kids. Dad was complaining about something not being right and Chuck said, “You go in there and sit down on that sofa and do not speak until you are spoken to you. Do you hear me?” Rhett and I lost it. It was too much to handle, because it sounded just like my father from times past.

Another, more serious interaction, included how the four of us talked about our walk with Christ. All four of us are committed to four different kingdom enterprises in Birmingham. Dad is a member of Valleydale. Chuck and his family are members at Shades Mountain. Rhett and his clan are committed to Shades Crest. And I have made a lifelong commitment to CrossPoint.

As a pastor, I was particularly encouraged to hear of their commitment to tithing. We spent the better part of one afternoon talking the mission of each church and how each man supports his pastor. I admitted to them my struggle with CrossPoint’s pastor and how he and I rarely got along or could ever see eye to eye. They got a real kick out of that!

Chuck’s cabin builder commented to us how much he wished he could make a trip like that with his father and brothers. He told us how lucky we were to be able to share this moment. Then he added, “I can’t do that now that my father is dead.” I am so glad I heard Gary make that comment. Even though I realized the purpose of our trip, his comment gave our expedition more meaning.

We enjoyed another highlight on our way home Saturday. While driving through Atlanta, Dad commented how neat it would be to find the old house we lived in when I was born. Two minutes later we took an exit to Decatur[Georgia] and we were on the way to find the house. My sister got involved with the adventure when we called her for possible directions. After thirty minutes of driving in circles we almost gave up. Then we reminded each other that we were not are quitters. After renewing our resolve, my phone rang from Indiana, and it was my sister. Her daughter, Dallas, Googled directions for us and we were two blocks away from the house.

It was fun seeing the old place. It was even better listening to my dad talk about memories we shared. I do not remember living there, but I felt an immediate affinity with the place listening to their comments.

From that part of the trip we discussed the different places we lived. Once again, it was good to hear Dad share his memories. By the time we arrived in Birmingham, we were all thankful for the way the Lord made Birmingham home for our family.

In the last few years I have made a concentrated effort to slow down, laugh and enjoy moments like these. I have to admit it did not matter where we went as three sons and a father the best part was that we were together.

If your father or mother and brothers or sisters are still alive, and able, I suggest you make plans to spend a quick weekend together. Even though I was exhausted from all the driving and sightseeing, the fellowship with my father and brothers was energizing.

The next time the three of us take a special get-a-way with dad it will include his grandsons. Now that will be a trip worth writing about.

Doing God’s Job

For those of you who do not know, CrossPoint’s staff meets every Tuesday morning. Steve Parr, CrossPoint’s Executive Pastor, leads the meeting, which is divided into three segments. The first segment includes praying over the needs of the church as communicated through the Communication Cards, reviewing the calendar of events and assigning guests contacts. The second third of the meeting includes week-to-week administrative items in addition to staff reports. The last third of the meeting is left for me to lead in discussion of specific topics.

The topics I discuss in staff meeting are divided into a four-week cycle. The first Tuesday of the month is “Big Staff Day”. This is the day every paid employee of CrossPoint meets to ensure we are all on the same page. The second Tuesday of the month, we examine CrossPoint’s vision. The third Tuesday of the month, we evaluate CrossPoint’s process. The fourth Tuesday of the month, we discuss a book or a specific topic of study. And, we use the fifth Tuesdays that roll around each quarter to catch up on other issues.

Since yesterday was the third Tuesday of the month I facilitated the staff in a discussion about our process. The result of that discussion was eye-opening.

While concluding our process evaluation, I reminded the staff that their job as the leaders of CrossPoint is basically two-fold. (Let me add, these two items are not in order of importance. They both carry equal weight.) First, the staff members must recruit and develop leaders. Additionally, the staff members must ask God to provide the leaders necessary to recruit and develop. In short, we talked about developing the leaders God provides.

Where we went next was spiritually enlightening.

While discussing the balance between recruiting and developing leaders and asking God to provide leaders, I commented that sometimes we do for God what God wants to do for us.

This observation came to me a few weeks ago while praying for the members of CrossPoint by name each morning. While working through my particular list that day I weighed in my mind how much I try to make something happen in our church instead of asking God to do it. Another way of saying the same thing would be to ask how often or in what areas of life do we take the place of the Holy Spirit.

Jason Motte, our Student Minister, asked me for an example. I jumped quickly on an example of a family who recently joined CrossPoint. Last fall I dropped them a few notes in the mail. I even approached them in the hallway, and asked when they planned to join. When they did not respond to either effort, I quietly placed that desire in God’s hands. In short, I turned the matter over to God. A few months later, without my prompting, they approached me about joining.

I could site several other examples where I have tried to do something for God that God wanted to do for me.

How often do you take the place of the Holy Spirit? In what areas of your life do you take over for the Holy Spirit? In what ways do you do for God what He wants to do for you?

I think many of us get in God’s way by doing for ourselves what God wants to do for us. And I think the way we do that is by doing things for God without first asking God to do them.

There are many sentences in the bible that teach me to call on God to do things rather than me doing those things in my own strength. Listed below are three such examples:

“If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:14

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
Jeremiah 33:3

“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:8

I am not sure what I wrote for you today is sensible. I am blindly trusting God to use this blog to prompt you to think more seriously about allowing God to do things for you that most of the time He allows us to do for ourselves because we do not ask Him.

One more thought and I am done.

Let me add, whenever we do things for ourselves or in our own strength, they will always fall short of what God can do for us. Sure, we may be able to accomplish some things on our own for God. But just imagine what God could do for us in His own strength.

I think today I will ask God to do some things for me I typically try to do in my own strength.

Giving, Praying & Fasting

I firmly believe the Lord Jesus wants CrossPoint to be a giving, praying and fasting church. The more I study the Sermon on the Mount, the more convinced I am that giving, praying and fasting are three disciplines every Christ follower must continue practice.

Speaking of praying, I returned to the Puritan prayer I read for you at the close of my message yesterday morning. I provide this profound prayer for you to use in your daily time alone with the Lord this week:

The Valley of Vision

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.

Putting the Prosperity Gospel in its Rightful Place

Tim Tidwell, a loyal CrossPointer and a servant to the CrossPoint staff sent me the following YouTube video clip. The clip contains some powerful words from John Piper pertaining to the absurdity of the prosperity gospel. As Piper often does, he speaks with clarity in nailing the teaching of this false gospel. If you listen closely, Piper’s words were recorded here in Birmingham for a UCF gathering.

Click here to hear some real truth about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am nauseated by the messages of prosperity propagated on the television. And what scares me largely is that many people believe what they see on television is the church and what they hear from the preachers is the gospel.

Tell me what you think.

News from my Neighborhood

A CrossPointer asked me how our neighborhood goose was doing the other day. Of course, I was clueless. “Sure,” he said, “you’ve got a goose in your lake with an arrow through its head.” Now that sparked my interest enough to do some research. As a result of my efforts I found this video on the web.

I have not yet seen the goose personally, but I am keeping my eye out for him. We have geese in our lake year round. I think some of the Canadian Geese love the weather so much in Alabama they decided to relocate. Either that or they got tired of the long trip back home.

I will keep you posted of any other newsbreaks.

(Ha! I know what some of you are asking, “Ryan is this really newsworthy?” And my answer to that question is: “Yes. It’s more of a special interest story, which far exceeds the latest peccadilloes of Paris Hilton.”)

Amazing Advertisement

A devoted reader of my blog sent me this advertisement. After viewing it, I was skeptical. So, I went to www.snopes.com to check out its veracity. It is true.

Read on.

There are no computer graphics or digital tricks in the film. Everything you see really happened in real time exactly as you see it.

The film took 606 takes. On the first 605 takes, something, usually very minor, didn't work. They would then have to set the whole thing up again. The crew spent weeks shooting night and day. By the time it was over, they were ready to change professions.

The film cost six million dollars and took three months to complete including full engineering of the sequence. In addition, it is two minutes long so every time Honda airs the film on British television, they're shelling out enough dough to keep any one of us in clover for a lifetime.

However, it is fast becoming the most downloaded advertisement in Internet history. Honda executives figure the ad will soon pay for itself simply in 'free viewings' (Honda isn't paying a dime to have you watch this commercial!).

When the ad was pitched to senior executives, they signed off on it immediately without any hesitation - including the costs.

There are only six hand-made Honda Accords in the world. To the horror of Honda engineers, the filmmakers disassembled two of them to make the film. Everything you see in the film (aside from the walls, floor, ramp, and complete Honda Accord) is parts from those two cars.

The voiceover is Garrison Keillor. When the ad was shown to Honda executives, they liked it and commented on how amazing computer graphics have gotten. They fell off their chairs when they found out it was for real.

Oh, and about those funky windshield wipers. On the new Accords, the windshield wipers have water sensors and are designed to start doing their thing automatically as soon as they become wet.

Live, Laugh, Love

On the way to Berea, Kentucky, I stayed over in Knoxville, Tennessee, to spend time with my favorite uncle and aunt, Luke and Vivian Henley. I always take pleasure in my visits with Uncle Luke and Aunt Vivian.

They live in a house they built 20 years ago on my grandparent’s old farm. Every visit I catch up on so many memories. Most of my stays include visiting on their front porch, which wraps around two sides of the house and overlooks the farm.

Uncle Luke and I seldom talk about anything new. We customarily rehash old stories, revisit fond recollections, and retell the same jokes. No one else enjoys our conversation, but we certainly like each other’s company.

In addition to our well-worn tales, we also converse about God and His kingdom. Uncle Luke and I are made from the same form—we get teary-eyed every time we approach God’s grace in conversation. This visit we choked up over the “Amazing Grace” video I placed on my blog on May 25—The Story of Amazing Grace.

Another reason I enjoy being around Uncle Luke and Aunt Vivian is due to their contagious love for life. They love the Lord. They are firmly committed to Christ, through the First Baptist Church of Powell, Tennessee. They love family. Their neighbors are their kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. They also love to laugh. It does not take much to get them laughing and joking with their guests.

Perhaps a more precise summary for their love of life is noted in a framed quote hanging in their house. The quote is from Allison Chambers Coxey. It reads,

Live like every moment is a treasured gift from God
Laugh till the sound of it fills the heavens with joy
Love without reason or rhyme—but because you are loved.

That’s good stuff. It’s simple. It’s profound. It’s exact.

I am thankful for my visits with Uncle Luke and Aunt Vivian. Moreover, I am thankful they are my aunt and uncle.

Greetings from Berea, Kentucky

I have been super busy since last Sunday afternoon. Thus, I have not been able to spend time keeping up with my blog.

It’s 9:30 PM Tuesday, June 12, and I have finally settled into my hotel room in Berea, KY. For those of you who do not know, CrossPoint is constructing (actually deconstructing and then constructing) a new building for Pilot Knob Baptist Church.

There are many CrossPointers participating on this trip. The best time of the day is when we all return to the hotel after super. Check out what was waiting on me when I entered my room. I knew something was up when Melissa Freeman told me they reserved the honeymoon suite particularly for me.

I guess you can see the surprise on my face. Start praying now for John Coon, Charlie Jones, Rodney Meeks, Danny Freeman and Jason Hatley. Better yet, please begin praying for their wives. Something is not right with those guys.

Speaking of surprises, I met a new CrossPointer today at lunch. I do not recall her name. She was a very nice woman. Play close attention to her hat. She told me she found it at a garage sale.

Do any of you recognize her? Do any of you know her name? If so, let me know so we can get her a nametag.

I hope to post some construction pictures as soon as I receive some this week. Please continue to pray for us. Our plans took a detour Tuesday when we discovered we would have to demolish the exterior walls of an existing building that we thought would remain in place.

What is Newsworthy?

I turned on the television last Thursday night to catch up on the events of the day. And what did I find?

A national “news channel” wanted me to know Paris Hilton was released from jail after serving only a few days of her sentence. The channel also informed me that Larry Birkhead and Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, Dannielynn were finally arriving in Southern California. Charlie Sheen was the next big story. Apparently it is newsworthy that Sheen is featured on a new 9-11 conspiracy film. Finally, I was teased with a rivalry between news CNN broadcasters Anderson Cooper and Larry King.

Why on earth would a major news network be telling me all this?

Confused by the national news coverage, I turned next to local news. The local news team enlightened of an exchange of blows on the state senate floor. Alabama Senator Charles Bishop, R- Jasper punched Lowell Barron, D- Fyffe. There was actual video of the sucker punch, with commentary provided by state senators from both sides of the aisle.

Now that is news!

I say let them duke it out and the last party standing wins. Perhaps that way our state senate would accomplish more of the state’s business.

Fatigued with both the national and local “news”, I watched a few minutes of the NBA Basketball Championship Finals. The problem with the NBA is that it is no longer entertaining. So, I returned the national “news channel” for one more shot of information. In doing so, I was informed of some of the trivial events from Thursday. In 60 seconds I was informed a Senate immigration bill is dead, Putin and Bush discussed missile defense systems at the G8 summit, state education proficiency levels dropped, and finally, retailers posted modest gains.

Come on, is that really newsworthy? Who is interested in immigration? Who cares about missile defense? State education levels are failing? Big deal! We experienced modest financial gains? Who cares? I am glad they devoted only 60 seconds to this kind of information. How boring? (Please note that my tongue is placed firmly in my cheek!)

Give me some real news. What did Paris eat her first night in jail? What did Dannielynn’s nursery look like? What did Charlie Sheen know about 9-11, and when did he know it? Did King and Cooper duke it out like Bishop and Fyffe? (Again, tongue in cheek.)

The line of distinction between news and entertainment has been blurred.

Edward R. Murrow was a distinguished and renowned figure in the history of radio and television. Five decades ago Murrow made an eerie prediction about the line of demarcation between news and entertainment. The following is a brief excerpt from a speech he gave to the Radio-Television News Directors Association and Foundation in Chicago on October 15, 1958:

Our history will be what we make it. And if there are any historians about fifty or a hundred years from now, and there should be preserved the kinescopes for one week of all three networks, they will there find recorded in black and white, or color, evidence of decadence, escapism and insulation from the realities of the world in which we live. I invite your attention to the television schedules of all networks between the hours of 8 and 11 p.m., Eastern Time. Here you will find only fleeting and spasmodic reference to the fact that this nation is in mortal danger. There are, it is true, occasional informative programs presented in that intellectual ghetto on Sunday afternoons. But during the daily peak viewing periods, television in the main insulates us from the realities of the world in which we live. If this state of affairs continues, we may alter an advertising slogan to read: LOOK NOW, PAY LATER.

Murrow was a prophet calling out in the wilderness. Murrow was a man ahead of his time. His words of warning in 1958 are now reality.

Treating current events like entertainment is dangerous. Treating entertainment as news is equally scandalous. What once was news now is amusement, and what once was entertainment now is news. The line of distinction is no longer clear. And what is more troubling is that the general public does not know how to distinguish between the two. Or worse, the consumer demands to be entertained with their news.
I am curious to read your remarks.

I Need Prayer

This week I am reading John Piper’s book, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry. I like Piper because he writes with exceptional clarity. He gets to the point, and his points get to me.

Chapter 8, “Brothers, Let us Pray”, begins with a timely quote from A.C. Dixon:

When we depend upon organizations,
we get what organizations can do;
when we depend upon education,
we get what education can do;
when we depend upon man,
we get what man can do;
but when we depend upon prayer,
we get what God can do.

I need prayer. Actually, I need God, and prayer leads me to God. The more I pray the more I depend on God. The converse is true. The less I pray the more I depend on others or myself. Thus, I am back to my original statement, I need prayer.

Chapter 9, “Brothers, Beware of Sacred Substitutes”, ends with a quote from A.A. Baron:

O brother, pray; in spite of Satan, pray; spend hours in prayer; rather neglect friends than not pray; rather fast and lose breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper—and sleep too—than not pray. And we must not talk about prayer, we must pray in right earnest. The Lord is near. He comes softly while the virgins slumber.

I find it comical how I can substitute so many other things for prayer. There are times I rush my prayer so that I can move on to something else—something more important. There is nothing as important as prayer. Nothing can substitute for prayer.

Just the other morning I was rushing through my time alone with God so I could study for Sunday’s message. Thankfully the Holy Spirit reminded me that my sermon study could wait. Then a quote from a seminary friend came to mind: “Ryan, you and I should spend more time talking to God about our people than we do talking to our people about God.” So I prayed more.
I need prayer. What about you? Do you need prayer?

Praying Fervently

What can take the place of prayer? Can anything take the place of prayer? Is there anything more important than prayer? If something is greater than the work of prayer, then what is it?

I am convinced that nothing—not ministry, not worship, not fellowship, not discipleship, not even evangelism—can take the place of prayer.

Jesus said,

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
John 14:12-14

And what is the “greater work” to which Jesus is referring? Is it ability to heal the sick? Is it power to raise the dead? Is it walking on water? I believe prayer is the “greater work”. If prayer is not the “greater work” then why does Jesus address the subject of prayer in the next sentence after mentioning the “greater work”?

I believe prayer is the “great work” to which Jesus is referring for two other reasons.

The first reason I believe prayer is the “greater work” is based on what Jesus said at the end of His first statement. Jesus said, “Because I am going to the Father.” Jesus “going to the Father” is the culmination of His redemptive work. After His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus ascended back to heaven where He returned to His place of authority and glory. He did so because He completed the assignment His Father had given Him. As a result He finalized the plan and process of salvation. Completing the redemptive plan authorized Jesus the right to do the greater work through His people.

The second reason I believe prayer is the “greater work” is due to a simple phrase Jesus repeats twice. In the first instance Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in my name, THIS WILL I DO, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Again, in the next sentence, Jesus says, “If you ask me anything in my name, I WILL DO IT” (emphasis added). Thus, Jesus emphasizes that prayer is something HE answers. Jesus responds to prayer. Note He does not say, “It will be done”, which is void of personal involvement. Instead, Jesus says, “this will I do” and “I will do it”, which corresponds to His direct involvement.

The more I devote myself to prayer, fervent prayer, the more I realize prayer is the greater work. And so, that is why I say nothing can take the place of prayer. Prayer is the birthplace of ministry. Prayer is the fuel for worship. Prayer is the key discipleship. Prayer is the impetus for evangelism. It is in prayer the battle is either won or lost.

The more I devote myself to prayer the more I desire to pray. Or, to state it another way, the more passionately I pray the more passion I have to pray. Prayer is the greater work, I am convinced. It is also the fuel that ignites the greater work.

As many of you know, I recently asked the staff of CrossPoint to join me in a prayer adventure. The prayer adventure includes praying for each member of CrossPoint by name. I gave the staff a church roll through which they were instructed to pray. When we pray, we mention you specifically by name. When we pray, we pray for God’s will in your life. When we pray, we wait on the Holy Spirit to tell us how to pray for you.

At first I asked the staff to pray through the list once a week. After six weeks of taking the prayer challenge, I realize it now takes me on average three weeks to pray for every family of our family of faith by name. Praying for you is the greater work, and it is also the most difficult work.

The adventure in praying for you became difficult last week. Because of the burden that comes from prayer I decided to take a day or two off in order to relieve some of the load the Lord placed on my heart. I must be honest with you, praying for you is taxing. I have learned the more I pray for someone, the more I desire God’s best for them. And sometimes I am more concerned for the person I praying for than they seem to be for themselves. That is when praying for someone gets complicated.

Praying for other people does something else to you: it increases your sensitivity to the working of the Holy Spirit. My spiritual intuition escalates the more I pray. In recent days I have noted a stronger tendency to look for the Holy Spirit working around me. Prayer is connecting with God’s Holy Spirit.

Prayer is an amazing adventure. At times prayer can be spiritually empowering; at other times it can be emotionally fatiguing. And so, that is why I say nothing can take the place of prayer.

When was the last time you prayed, prayed fervently?

Father’s Day Shopping?

For those of you looking for a good Father’s Day book, may I suggest Alan Williams’ book Walk On: Life from the End of the Bench. CrossPointer, Woodie Eubanks loaned me his autographed copy to read. It is an autobiographical account of Alan’s four-year attempt to walk on as a basketball player at Wake Forest University.

As compared to the book I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, this was a very easy-to-read book (one of those written on a third grade level). The athletes in your life would enjoy reading through the highs and the lows of a walk on athlete.

Williams includes many timely stories and quotes throughout his tome. The following quote from basketball legend John Wooden gives great insight into true success:

I always tried to make clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior. Until that is done, we are on an aimless course that runs in circles and goes nowhere.

Extraordinary words from man who won ten NCAA Basketball Championships.

Another highlight of the book concerns Williams’ relationship with his father. For those of you who read the book I will not give away the details, but Williams does something memorable toward the end of his collegiate career to recognize his father on national television. What makes it memorable is that Williams was a benchwarmer and a walk on and yet he still got his father TV time on ESPN.

Williams’ father would often leave his son timely notes of encouragement before or after great accomplishments. Hours before his first game at Wake Forest, Williams found an envelope from his father with an index card in it, which read,

“Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will succeed.”
Proverbs 9:16
“Success is where preparation meets opportunity.”

Williams’ book is about preparation. It is about discipline and determination. And, it is about success. Be careful when reading it, however, the success mentioned in this book cannot be measured in worldly terms. It is about another world’s version, the only kind of success that truly lasts.

Again, for those looking for a nice Father’s Day gift, I suggest Walk On. I also suggest you give a copy for any coach or athlete you know.

Good Reading

I have read several good books lately. One of the books was loaned to me by CrossPointer, Judy Johnson. The title is The New York City Noon Prayer Meeting: A Simple Prayer Gathering that Changed the World by Talbot W. Chambers.

Although a bit difficult to read at times, I encourage anyone who is interested in prayer to pick up a copy. The difficulty in reading is due in large part to the eloquent use of the English language. That is a sad commentary, isn’t it? That is, in the sense that is difficult reading because the language is so eloquent. It is a sad commentary in the way we use and abuse the English language today.

Speaking of our use and abuse of the English language, it is my understanding that the average New York Times Best Sellers are written on a third grade reading level. What does that say about us as readers?

Back to The New York City Noon Prayer Meeting.

The Foreword by Dutch Streets explains the impact of this prayer meeting:

One of the great wells in America’s godly past is New York City’s Fulton Street Noon Prayer Meetings in 1858, under the leadership of Jeremiah Lanphier. It was remarkable in its scope and influence, touching cities from beyond the Mississippi River all the way across the Atlantic to England. Only God knows for certain the fullness of its impact, but it is generally accepted that it sparked a revival that touched the entire nation and other parts of the world.

The Introduction reveals more detail into Lanphier’s burden for the city of New York. As a detail of great symbolism, the author noted that the location of the Fulton Street Noon Prayer Meetings was in the exact same vicinity where the World Trade Centers recently stood before 9-11.

Lanphier’s plan was very simple. He asked businessmen to come over their lunch hour to pray. On the first day, for the first thirty minutes he sat alone praying. Then six men showed up. But God was already there doing His work. Two weeks later there were over 40 people present! Soon every church and public meeting hall in New York City was filled with noonday prayer meetings. Thousands of New Yorkers were meeting daily at noon to pray. And what was the result? One astonishing result was over 150,000 new believers.

Soon people from the world over were writing prayer letters to Lanipher regarding their salvation or the salvation of a family member. One particular letter stood out in my reading of the book:

From a Little Girl.
Savannah, Ga., August 28, 1858.
Dear Sir:
I am a litter girl, and scarcely know how to write to a perfect stranger on so important a subject. But oh! I want to be a Christian so much;…I saw a notice in a New York paper the other day, that God’s people would pray for any one who sent on their request to you at the Fulton Street Prayer Meeting; so I thought that I would write, and ask their prayers in my behalf. Perhaps God, in his great mercy, may see fit to answer your prayers, and make an angel of [me].

With salvation on my mind so much lately, I was taken back by the humility of the writer. Someone requesting prayer for their own salvation would be considered an oddity in today’s church.

Yet there is more.

For a Church in Texas.
Dear Sir:

In the name, and for the honour and glory our blessed Jesus of Nazareth, we humbly and earnestly beseech an interest in those prayers which have been so signally blessed heretofore for others, in behalf of both preacher and people of our little Church in Texana. We long to see the stately steppings of Immanuel in our midst.

Y’rs in the love of a crucified Redeemer.

In summary, there are many things I took away from the book as positive. Perhaps greatest of these was the outright dependence in God’s Sovereignty the people expressed in their prayers and in their request.

If you want to be challenged to pray, then I suggest you pick up a copy today. After reading The New York City Noon Prayer Meeting my prayer for CrossPoint is to find a deeper dependence on the Sovereign One in the saving of many souls and in the awareness of the crucified Redeemer’s “stately steppings in our midst”.

I Feel So Small

How many of you watched the dedication of the Billy Graham Library Thursday evening on TBN? I watched it, and I am so glad I did.

Former Presidents Carter, Clinton and Bush were invited guest speakers. Witney Phipps and Ricky Skaggs were invited singers. The Governor of North Carolina and the Mayor of Charlotte were gracious in their welcoming remarks. In his frail and feeble condition, Billy addressed the congregation by thanking everyone, by name, for their participation. The ceremony concluded with his two dear friends George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows leading the congregation in “How Great Thou Art.” It was an event full of pomp and circumstance. Yet it was also a ceremony of inspiration.

There were more than a few noteworthy moments.

It was magnanimous of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to invite former Presidents Bush, Carter and Clinton. Watching them react to the ceremony while sitting on the rostrum with Dr. Graham and his son, Franklin, was interesting television. By appearances only, each man looked outwardly humbled to share the stage with Billy Graham.

Is it just me, or do not most of our former presidents carry an air of humility about them? I think they do. I wonder if it has to do with the consequence of serving as the leader of the free world. Or, it may just be me. Do any of you recognize this quality in our retired presidents? I realize also it may have something to do with the way I esteem the office. Remember, only 43 men have been elected president in our nation’s brief history. Presidents of the United States are in elite company.

Before singing, Ricky Skaggs said of Billy Graham, “This is not what one man has done for Jesus Christ, but what Jesus Christ has done for one man.”

Patrick L. McCrory, the Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, shared revealing story from his life while observing Dr. Graham. In 1996 McCrory and the governor of North Carolina joined Dr. Graham in riding a golf cart into the Bank of America stadium for a crusade. As they entered the stadium thousands stood to their feet to welcome Billy Graham. The mayor said he and the governor were doing what politicians do, waving to the crowd. In stark contrast, he said Graham leaned over and whispered, “I’m embarrassed. This isn’t about me; it is about the message.” President Clinton observed how Billy Graham ministered to him personally. “When he prays with you in the Oval Office or upstairs in the White House, you feel he’s praying for you, not the president,” said Clinton.

The line of the day came toward the end of the ceremony when Billy Graham addressed the audience: “I feel like I’ve been attending my own funeral. I know they all meant it. I feel so small.”

Later, while commenting on the new library, Graham said, “There’s too much Billy Graham. My whole life I have lived to please the Lord and honor him, not to please me.”

Billy Graham is known as America’s pastor. Some of called him the greatest evangelist to ever live. He’s preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to 210 million people in 185 countries on six different continents. Millions have been born again into God’s family because of his witness. Of all that can be said of Dr. Graham, to say he is a humble man is understatement.

For those of you who watched it, what did you think of the ceremony?

Three Disciplines I Cannot Live Without

Yesterday morning I spent a considerable amount of time in personal prayer and devotion. I try to spend some time alone with God each day, and I try to keep that time separate from my normal routine of developing messages. Wednesday morning, however, was different in that I did not worry about the time or my schedule. I followed the Lord’s leading while I prayed, read Scripture, meditated, journalized my thoughts, and studied specific passages for my own personal devotion throughout the morning. As a result, I was able to enjoy a great time of fellowship and worship all the while feasting with the Lord during that time of solitude.

I was so glad I devoted that time to pray and study. I thank CrossPoint for giving me the kind of schedule that can be devoted to what the Apostles called prayer and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4). I believe “prayer and ministry of the word” are inseparable. A pastor cannot be effective in one area while forsaking the other. As your pastor, I trust you know how seriously I accept the role as your spiritual leader.

While enjoying my time alone with the Lord I wondered out loud if I would give myself to moments like these even if I were not called to vocational ministry. My answer was quick and definite—yes. The Lord reminded me I learned the secret of time alone with Him long before I heard His call to ministry. Somewhere between my late high school and early college days I learned the secret of an intimate devotional life. And, I am convinced, it was through the discipline of a quiet time I was able to hear God’s voice with distinct clarity when He called me to preach.

Today I spent a moment or two reflecting back on my journal entries from Wednesday morning. Without consciously knowing it, I focused on three ingredients necessary for a personal and fulfilling devotional life with the Lord. I list these three items for your consideration. Although I have listed these items in order, each deserves equal attention.

First, I must devote myself to fervent prayer.

I admit that I DO NOT and CAN NOT pray enough. Prayer is a spiritual discipline that requires much time and effort. The more time and effort I put into prayer, the better I know the Lord and His will for my life.

There is a sentence in the Old Testament that teaches me something about the secret of prayer. It reads,

Before they call I will answer;
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
Isaiah 65:24

The verse suggests there is something the Lord intends for me to experience in prayer that I will not experience in anything else.

Next, I must relentlessly study the Word of God.

I know God’s Word better today than I did when I was in high school. Yet I desperately need to know it in greater depth and detail to continue on the path the Lord wants me to go.

I am reminded of the admonition of Paul to Timothy, when he recorded, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Part of doing my best to present myself to God includes diligent study of the Bible. Diligent study takes time and concentration. It also requires me to conform to what the Bible says rather than trying to have the Bible conform to me.

Finally, I must align myself with God’s Holy Spirit.

Each morning I must be filled with the Spirit in order to be controlled by God. The best way for me to do that is to admit my weaknesses and revel in them before the Lord. Someone once said, “No man can glorify Christ and himself at the same time.” That statement rings with truth, doesn’t it? I admit my weaknesses, foibles, follies and sins before the Lord so that I can align my life with His will.

The Lord instructed Jeremiah, “Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

I know my job requires me to develop these and other spiritual disciplines. I would be negligent if I did not perfect the skills of my trade. Yet I am convinced I was on this path to deeper spiritual growth well before I was called into vocational ministry.

So, why do I spend time alone with the Lord? I am so thankful my motivation has little to do with my job (although it sure does benefit me in my profession). I am thankful I learned the secret of spending time alone with God because it makes me yearn more for the Lord.

Like many of you I have continued to read through my Bible following the CrossPoint Bible reading plan for 2007. I, therefore, do not think it was an accident that our Bible reading for the Wednesday included Psalm 63, which part of it reads,

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
Psalm 63:1-4

And so, that is how I concluded my personal time alone with the Lord.What about you? What kind of personal and private time do you spend with the Lord?