I found this on Tim Steven's blig. It is too good to pass up.
Dearest Career Church Hopper:
I met you again on Wednesday, the same person smiling at me through a different face, telling me that you've been shopping for churches for months now, and that darn it, you "just can't find one (you) like." The music's too rocky at this one, you said; the preacher too funny at that one. The latest one might make the cut, though: you'd had the pastor and his wife over the previous evening for a little "dinner audition" -- your words, not mine -- and he said things that made you feel good and comfortable, things that you already agree with, so you're thinking about sticking around. At the very least, you could get your teaching from this church and your worship from that one.
I'm sure we'll run into each other again, but before we do, I'd like to suggest some things you could perhaps think about before you move on to the next church, as I'm sure you will, whether this weekend or next year:
Christ didn't bleed for the Church so you could treat your search for one like an episode of Survivor, deciding who to vote off the island this week.
The Church was not commissioned by Christ to meet your needs. You ARE the Church, and you've been commissioned to meet the needs of the world. Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her (Eph 5:25).
Quit treating his bride like a Jesus buffet where you can pick and choose what you like, hedging your bets against the pain and sacrifice of making a commitment.
Per scripture's instructions to use your gifts in service to the Body of Christ -- and its lack of instruction to search for a church that scratches you where you itch -- you might want to consider what the Church you're visiting needs from you, rather than the other way around.
If you only want to hear things you already know and agree with, save your Sundays and talk to yourself in the bathroom mirror.
Sincerely,
The Preacher's Wife
Monday
"The Cost of the Call"
I remember Fushia Pickett telling a story concerning the cost of the call. Someone came to her in a prayer line and asked her to pray for them that God would put a double portion of what was in her on them. She then replied " I am going to pray that God puts you through twice as much hell as I have been through, to which the person quickly ran away. Your call is realized through the process of time and preparation. Through much difficulty, testing and trials...
The greatest the preparation the greater the potential of the call. In fact when you start you must start with the end in mind. You must determine that you will finish before you start. Habakkuk says write the vision down and make it plain. Why?
1. If you don't make it plain then no one can run with you. If it is not clear to you... Resources and relationships that God has assigned to help you will not be released to you till it is written in your heart what you are to do and be.
2. If you have not written in your heart, the devil will try to erase it through testing and trials. Where purpose is not known abuse is inevitable. It would be like using a fork to brush your teeth, or using a hammer to comb your hair. When you don't know your identity, you will let those close to you define who you are and what you are to do. Labels and stereotypes are nothing more than false identity. Sin is the result of mistaken identity. If you don't define who you are, they will.
3. Resolve is necessary to becoming everything you are to be. If you don't start with a photograph of your potential then you will get sidetracked. You will waste your time, energy and resources. You will let people talk you out of what God said.
4. The attack against you is not because of what you are doing, it is the result of who you claim to be. When the religious leaders wanted to stone Jesus, He said, when I performed the miracles you didn't stone me, but now that I declare who I am...
The attack comes as a result of you knowing who you are and what you are to do.
Here is some of the cost of the call:
1. Betrayal of those close to you. The attack validates what God put in you. Wherever the enemy attacks, God has spoken greatness over you.
2. Loneliness as the result of isolation. The moment God speaks of your future potential, people will attack you and identify you by who you are presently. Don't share your dreams with people that can't help you.
3. Jealousy. People hate another persons success, even family members will hate your dream because they don't know who they are. They will become obsessed with your failure.
4. Ridicule and misunderstanding, people will laugh at you because of their own securities. I have found that if I surround myself with bigger people than me, they pull me up to their level. If people are ridiculing you, they are smaller than you.
5. Rejection, Jesus was rejected, Joseph was rejected, Gideon, Jepthath, Moses, David... Rejection from men is broken by the affirmation of your heavenly father. He will point you out of the crowd and separate you saying this is my son... Why? Because God's acceptance of you is not based on performance but identity as a son or daughter. If your call is genuine, you will be rejected.
6. Testing, Testing, Testing... God will first make a boast of you concerning greatness. He will give you a 24 by 24 word while you are still a 5 by 8 person. He calls you a prince while you are still a trick (Jacob), a rock (Peter) while you are still water (Simon). God will then put you through a series of test to validate the potential He put in you. If a company makes a 2009 car that they say goes from 0-60 in thirty seconds, they don't put it on the car lot with a price tag, they first put it through a series of test to validate the claims they make on it. The test is the very indicator that greatness is coming out, and the greater the test...
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
The greatest the preparation the greater the potential of the call. In fact when you start you must start with the end in mind. You must determine that you will finish before you start. Habakkuk says write the vision down and make it plain. Why?
1. If you don't make it plain then no one can run with you. If it is not clear to you... Resources and relationships that God has assigned to help you will not be released to you till it is written in your heart what you are to do and be.
2. If you have not written in your heart, the devil will try to erase it through testing and trials. Where purpose is not known abuse is inevitable. It would be like using a fork to brush your teeth, or using a hammer to comb your hair. When you don't know your identity, you will let those close to you define who you are and what you are to do. Labels and stereotypes are nothing more than false identity. Sin is the result of mistaken identity. If you don't define who you are, they will.
3. Resolve is necessary to becoming everything you are to be. If you don't start with a photograph of your potential then you will get sidetracked. You will waste your time, energy and resources. You will let people talk you out of what God said.
4. The attack against you is not because of what you are doing, it is the result of who you claim to be. When the religious leaders wanted to stone Jesus, He said, when I performed the miracles you didn't stone me, but now that I declare who I am...
The attack comes as a result of you knowing who you are and what you are to do.
Here is some of the cost of the call:
1. Betrayal of those close to you. The attack validates what God put in you. Wherever the enemy attacks, God has spoken greatness over you.
2. Loneliness as the result of isolation. The moment God speaks of your future potential, people will attack you and identify you by who you are presently. Don't share your dreams with people that can't help you.
3. Jealousy. People hate another persons success, even family members will hate your dream because they don't know who they are. They will become obsessed with your failure.
4. Ridicule and misunderstanding, people will laugh at you because of their own securities. I have found that if I surround myself with bigger people than me, they pull me up to their level. If people are ridiculing you, they are smaller than you.
5. Rejection, Jesus was rejected, Joseph was rejected, Gideon, Jepthath, Moses, David... Rejection from men is broken by the affirmation of your heavenly father. He will point you out of the crowd and separate you saying this is my son... Why? Because God's acceptance of you is not based on performance but identity as a son or daughter. If your call is genuine, you will be rejected.
6. Testing, Testing, Testing... God will first make a boast of you concerning greatness. He will give you a 24 by 24 word while you are still a 5 by 8 person. He calls you a prince while you are still a trick (Jacob), a rock (Peter) while you are still water (Simon). God will then put you through a series of test to validate the potential He put in you. If a company makes a 2009 car that they say goes from 0-60 in thirty seconds, they don't put it on the car lot with a price tag, they first put it through a series of test to validate the claims they make on it. The test is the very indicator that greatness is coming out, and the greater the test...
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Friday
"Get Ready For a Momentum Shift"
I was ecstatic last night when the Celtics beat the Lakers. I have been a Boston Celtics fan since I was a kid. There was a point in the game when Paul Pierce got hurt so bad that they had to carry him off the court and take him to the lockeroom in a wheelchair. Here is two things I felt God spoke to me:
1) He was hurt by his own team member. It is not usually those on another team that hurt us. It is those who are a part of our inner circle. The reason it happened is because Perkins was in the wrong place. People who hurt us are out of place so they put their pain and frustration on us. It also tells us that when the enemy attacks us it is because we are in the right place.
2) The Lakers had the momentum in their favor when Pierce was injured. Amazingly Pierce came back on the court and Boston garden went nuts. Instantly the momentum shifted towards the Boston Celtics. Many of you have been hurt but you are about to make a comeback and when you do everything is going to shift in your favor. You are about to dominate the enemy. People are going to receive strength from your comeback. Your setback is a set up for a step up into your comeback!
3) When Pierce made his comeback, the Lakers lost confidence while the Celtics gained confidence. I want to declare to you that the enemy is losing confidence. You are about to take over!
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
PS - I predict the Celtics will win in 5 games.
Tommorrow I will deal with the topic conversations with the enemy.
1) He was hurt by his own team member. It is not usually those on another team that hurt us. It is those who are a part of our inner circle. The reason it happened is because Perkins was in the wrong place. People who hurt us are out of place so they put their pain and frustration on us. It also tells us that when the enemy attacks us it is because we are in the right place.
2) The Lakers had the momentum in their favor when Pierce was injured. Amazingly Pierce came back on the court and Boston garden went nuts. Instantly the momentum shifted towards the Boston Celtics. Many of you have been hurt but you are about to make a comeback and when you do everything is going to shift in your favor. You are about to dominate the enemy. People are going to receive strength from your comeback. Your setback is a set up for a step up into your comeback!
3) When Pierce made his comeback, the Lakers lost confidence while the Celtics gained confidence. I want to declare to you that the enemy is losing confidence. You are about to take over!
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
PS - I predict the Celtics will win in 5 games.
Tommorrow I will deal with the topic conversations with the enemy.
Thursday
"Family Matters"
Matt 12:48-13:1
48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."
NKJV
Mark 10:29-31
29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time -- houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions -- and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
NKJV
Why is it that the devil often attacks us through those closest to us? David even said it was him who used to break bread and fellowship with me who has betrayed me. Betrayal often starts with those who are closest to you in proximity. As we look throughout scripture we see many examples of betrayal from family members.
* Miriam and Moses (questions his authority).
* Aaron and Moses, leads people into sin and rebellion in Moses absence (While on a prayer retreat).
* Cain kills Abel because he is jealous of him, jealousy stills kills in the Church today, one of the test you will have to pass is those who are close to you being promoted while you are still in process. Can you celebrate their ascension? Or will you be like John who said after his ministry was decreasing and Jesus was increasing, are you the one or is there another?
* The relationship between Jesus and John had changed, and now he is in prison, he is offended because Jesus didn't come to see him. Jesus said blessed is the man who is not offended by me. In other words, I am about my father's business, you should be secure in our relationship.
* David is questioned by his brother Eliab, what are you doing here? Go back to those few sheep. I have learned that the place that your family attacks you is the place they are bitter. Eliab did not know who he was, he had a mistaken identity. Why is it that when we accept a call that they refused, they hate us for it. The reality is they hate you for what they never responded to.
* David wasn't even invited to the ordination service. Most theologians believe it was because he was conceived in sin (Psalms 51).
* Joseph's brother's said here comes the dreamer... They attempted to sabotage his dream and destiny when in fact they accelerated Joseph ahead of them. Joseph later sad what you did to me sent me before you. Any time there is a attack against you, there is an ascension.
* Jephthah (Judges 11) The bible tells us that he was the son of a harlot. His brothers drove him out and labeled him as a bastard child. The later came to him and asked him to lead them into battle and God gave him a great victory! God will cause those who have persecuted you to promote you!
* Jesus brothers rejected him and often questioned him. Here is something that has bothered me. How come you never here of Joseph after the age of twelve. Scripture never tells us what happened to Joseph. I am inclined to believe that if he died scripture would have mentioned it. Could it be that Joseph struggled with the fact that Jesus was not his offspring? Could the persecution he received from the hometown (Jesus borne of a virgin) have forced him out of the picture. Could this have been the first example of a fathers abandonment?
*Job's wife cursed him and told him to curse God. What if Job had listened, he would have not received the call to double blessing (inheritance).
* Many times we see favoritism in the family. The funny thing is the one left out usually got the blessing.
Jesus tells us that in the last days mothers and fathers will persecute their children... Family members will turn on those who have responded to the call.
Jesus also tells us that:
* Those who will be more committed to the Kingdom (heavenly citizenship), they will receive a hundred times more in this life and the life to come. This is only the second time in scripture where the hundred fold blessing is mentioned.
* Kingdom relationships are of higher priority than earthly relationships. In fact the earthly family was derived from the heavenly family.
Eph 3:14-16
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Family was God's idea).
NKJV
* I have never seen anyone great who did not first face and overcome conflict in the family, never.
Why should I receive Christ's call?
* Because he was nailed to the cross. Are your family members willing to be crucified?
* I will stand before God and give an account, you will not stand before your family and they will not stand with you.
* If you have been marked by your family, it is because God has marked you for greatness. The sibling that receives the greatest persecution received the greatest promise.
How do you respond?
1. Ignore your critics, love them but ignore their criticism.
2. Focus on the prize (desired end)
3. Pray for them that they will discover who they are.
4. Kill them with kindness, a soft answer turns away wrath.
5. Recognize if they did it to you, then God has a purpose (promotion) in it.
6. Recognize it is only a test.
7. Put the Kingdom of God first and foremost.
8. Know that your destiny is not in their hands.
9. Forgive and go forward.
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."
NKJV
Mark 10:29-31
29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time -- houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions -- and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
NKJV
Why is it that the devil often attacks us through those closest to us? David even said it was him who used to break bread and fellowship with me who has betrayed me. Betrayal often starts with those who are closest to you in proximity. As we look throughout scripture we see many examples of betrayal from family members.
* Miriam and Moses (questions his authority).
* Aaron and Moses, leads people into sin and rebellion in Moses absence (While on a prayer retreat).
* Cain kills Abel because he is jealous of him, jealousy stills kills in the Church today, one of the test you will have to pass is those who are close to you being promoted while you are still in process. Can you celebrate their ascension? Or will you be like John who said after his ministry was decreasing and Jesus was increasing, are you the one or is there another?
* The relationship between Jesus and John had changed, and now he is in prison, he is offended because Jesus didn't come to see him. Jesus said blessed is the man who is not offended by me. In other words, I am about my father's business, you should be secure in our relationship.
* David is questioned by his brother Eliab, what are you doing here? Go back to those few sheep. I have learned that the place that your family attacks you is the place they are bitter. Eliab did not know who he was, he had a mistaken identity. Why is it that when we accept a call that they refused, they hate us for it. The reality is they hate you for what they never responded to.
* David wasn't even invited to the ordination service. Most theologians believe it was because he was conceived in sin (Psalms 51).
* Joseph's brother's said here comes the dreamer... They attempted to sabotage his dream and destiny when in fact they accelerated Joseph ahead of them. Joseph later sad what you did to me sent me before you. Any time there is a attack against you, there is an ascension.
* Jephthah (Judges 11) The bible tells us that he was the son of a harlot. His brothers drove him out and labeled him as a bastard child. The later came to him and asked him to lead them into battle and God gave him a great victory! God will cause those who have persecuted you to promote you!
* Jesus brothers rejected him and often questioned him. Here is something that has bothered me. How come you never here of Joseph after the age of twelve. Scripture never tells us what happened to Joseph. I am inclined to believe that if he died scripture would have mentioned it. Could it be that Joseph struggled with the fact that Jesus was not his offspring? Could the persecution he received from the hometown (Jesus borne of a virgin) have forced him out of the picture. Could this have been the first example of a fathers abandonment?
*Job's wife cursed him and told him to curse God. What if Job had listened, he would have not received the call to double blessing (inheritance).
* Many times we see favoritism in the family. The funny thing is the one left out usually got the blessing.
Jesus tells us that in the last days mothers and fathers will persecute their children... Family members will turn on those who have responded to the call.
Jesus also tells us that:
* Those who will be more committed to the Kingdom (heavenly citizenship), they will receive a hundred times more in this life and the life to come. This is only the second time in scripture where the hundred fold blessing is mentioned.
* Kingdom relationships are of higher priority than earthly relationships. In fact the earthly family was derived from the heavenly family.
Eph 3:14-16
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Family was God's idea).
NKJV
* I have never seen anyone great who did not first face and overcome conflict in the family, never.
Why should I receive Christ's call?
* Because he was nailed to the cross. Are your family members willing to be crucified?
* I will stand before God and give an account, you will not stand before your family and they will not stand with you.
* If you have been marked by your family, it is because God has marked you for greatness. The sibling that receives the greatest persecution received the greatest promise.
How do you respond?
1. Ignore your critics, love them but ignore their criticism.
2. Focus on the prize (desired end)
3. Pray for them that they will discover who they are.
4. Kill them with kindness, a soft answer turns away wrath.
5. Recognize if they did it to you, then God has a purpose (promotion) in it.
6. Recognize it is only a test.
7. Put the Kingdom of God first and foremost.
8. Know that your destiny is not in their hands.
9. Forgive and go forward.
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Wednesday
"Accepting the Call"
Return to Home
Luke 14:25-33
Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it -- 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
NKJV
This is one of my favorite text in the entire bible. Jesus is transitioning the disciples from following him, to being willing to die for Him. The relationship is about to change, and the requirements of following are about to be raised. Notice Jesus does not focus on the benefits of following Him, but rather the costs of following. Here are some things I noticed.
* In ministry there will always come a point of separation from those who are close to you because they do not understand the commitment to your call.
* You will face the test of family and friends, Jesus family told Jesus to go to the passover before His time and when it was His time, they questioned Him. His brothers did not believe in Him.
* Throughout the bible great men had to pass the test of the opinion of the family. Why? Because most family members are too familiar with you to see the greatness in you. They will many times misunderstand and misrepresent your call.
* I really struggled with Jesus saying that you had to hate your mother... to follow Him. He is not referring to the English word for hate, He is saying you must be more committed to me than even your mother.
* Why is it that the critics that try to talk you out of your call, are the ones that most of the time do not know their call. Maybe misery loves company.
* Jesus goes on to say that if you are not commit ed to the call, you are salt that is no good. In other words when you listen to the critics who want you to stay the same as them, you lose your uniqueness and ability to impact.
* Not everyone will agree with your call and commitment. The true test is can anyone talk you out of it? If they can, you are not ready.
* before you respond to the call, count the cost, lest you are not able to finish. There is something very negative about those who do not finish. Can you go the whole way with me? (Jesus)
* One of the ways you know you are really anointed is the odds are stacked against you.
* Who is your voice for God's will, is it people or is it God?
* You must be convinced that God spoke to you before you can commit.
Here is a final question to ask yourself. Is the person trying to talk you out of accepting the call life worth emulating. Do you want the kind of life they have. Usually not!
We see a transition from a call to follow to a call to die with Christ. Are you willing to die for Him/ Are you willing to ignore family, and those close to you when they try to talk you out of it? Tomorrow I will share a story of how my parents tried to keep me from doing what God called me to do. I knew I was supposed to serve my Pastor but they said he was brainwashing me.
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Luke 14:25-33
Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it -- 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
NKJV
This is one of my favorite text in the entire bible. Jesus is transitioning the disciples from following him, to being willing to die for Him. The relationship is about to change, and the requirements of following are about to be raised. Notice Jesus does not focus on the benefits of following Him, but rather the costs of following. Here are some things I noticed.
* In ministry there will always come a point of separation from those who are close to you because they do not understand the commitment to your call.
* You will face the test of family and friends, Jesus family told Jesus to go to the passover before His time and when it was His time, they questioned Him. His brothers did not believe in Him.
* Throughout the bible great men had to pass the test of the opinion of the family. Why? Because most family members are too familiar with you to see the greatness in you. They will many times misunderstand and misrepresent your call.
* I really struggled with Jesus saying that you had to hate your mother... to follow Him. He is not referring to the English word for hate, He is saying you must be more committed to me than even your mother.
* Why is it that the critics that try to talk you out of your call, are the ones that most of the time do not know their call. Maybe misery loves company.
* Jesus goes on to say that if you are not commit ed to the call, you are salt that is no good. In other words when you listen to the critics who want you to stay the same as them, you lose your uniqueness and ability to impact.
* Not everyone will agree with your call and commitment. The true test is can anyone talk you out of it? If they can, you are not ready.
* before you respond to the call, count the cost, lest you are not able to finish. There is something very negative about those who do not finish. Can you go the whole way with me? (Jesus)
* One of the ways you know you are really anointed is the odds are stacked against you.
* Who is your voice for God's will, is it people or is it God?
* You must be convinced that God spoke to you before you can commit.
Here is a final question to ask yourself. Is the person trying to talk you out of accepting the call life worth emulating. Do you want the kind of life they have. Usually not!
We see a transition from a call to follow to a call to die with Christ. Are you willing to die for Him/ Are you willing to ignore family, and those close to you when they try to talk you out of it? Tomorrow I will share a story of how my parents tried to keep me from doing what God called me to do. I knew I was supposed to serve my Pastor but they said he was brainwashing me.
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Guest Blogger "Steven Furtick"
This is a great blogg by Steven Furtick.
This blog is not based on any current situation in my life. I actually wrote it after a conversation with a friend about something he was going through. Honest.)
Mark this:
People will turn on you.
They just will. You’re not the exception. I’m a young man, but I’ve lived long enough to see:
Children turn on their natural parents, who loved them an did an above average job raising them
Staff members turn on their pastors…and yank half the donor base out from under the church in the process
Pastors turn on their congregations, committing unthinkable acts of immorality and deceit
Husbands turn on faithful wives of 24 years because the girl at the office made him feel young, funny, and relatively attractive.
I probably haven’t lived long enough to speak exhaustively on
What to do when someone turns on you just yet.
But I think I can suggest a few things not to do.
1. Don’t fancy yourself a martyr. Yes, betrayal hurts. But Jesus was betrayed by the bum who managed His money and murdered by the people that He came to save. That puts “poor poor me” in perspective.
2. Don’t punish the loyal people in your life by becoming a stone cold, arm’s length, “I’ll never let anyone hurt me like that again, the world is out to get me” leader. That’s not fair. Paranoia is not a road to recovery. It’s a sure fire recipe for eventual collapse.
3. Don’t miss the blessing in betrayal. Because of betrayal, Joseph saved a nation. Because of betrayal, Jesus saved the world. If you walk in integrity and process your pain Biblically, your biggest betrayal could be the delivery system for your greatest blessing.
This post turned out to be a bit of a downer. Sorry!
I’ll make it up to you with a verse that has helped me through every time someone has turned on me:
Isaiah 54:17
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.
I will deal with this more tommorow.
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
This blog is not based on any current situation in my life. I actually wrote it after a conversation with a friend about something he was going through. Honest.)
Mark this:
People will turn on you.
They just will. You’re not the exception. I’m a young man, but I’ve lived long enough to see:
Children turn on their natural parents, who loved them an did an above average job raising them
Staff members turn on their pastors…and yank half the donor base out from under the church in the process
Pastors turn on their congregations, committing unthinkable acts of immorality and deceit
Husbands turn on faithful wives of 24 years because the girl at the office made him feel young, funny, and relatively attractive.
I probably haven’t lived long enough to speak exhaustively on
What to do when someone turns on you just yet.
But I think I can suggest a few things not to do.
1. Don’t fancy yourself a martyr. Yes, betrayal hurts. But Jesus was betrayed by the bum who managed His money and murdered by the people that He came to save. That puts “poor poor me” in perspective.
2. Don’t punish the loyal people in your life by becoming a stone cold, arm’s length, “I’ll never let anyone hurt me like that again, the world is out to get me” leader. That’s not fair. Paranoia is not a road to recovery. It’s a sure fire recipe for eventual collapse.
3. Don’t miss the blessing in betrayal. Because of betrayal, Joseph saved a nation. Because of betrayal, Jesus saved the world. If you walk in integrity and process your pain Biblically, your biggest betrayal could be the delivery system for your greatest blessing.
This post turned out to be a bit of a downer. Sorry!
I’ll make it up to you with a verse that has helped me through every time someone has turned on me:
Isaiah 54:17
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.
I will deal with this more tommorow.
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Monday
"The Predictable Church"
I heard Ed Young give a great statement today concerning communicating the gospel. He said "The more predictable you are, the less you connect with your audience". Man, that is awesome and true. Most of our Church services in America are so predictable that if the congregants stayed home, they would be able to predict the flow of the service by their watch. If we keep doing every Church service the same way, our services become boring, powerless and non impacting. Is it possible that our people are sleep walking through Church, that we could do our services with our eyes closed.
As I have mentioned before, the word entertain means to captivate and keep your audiences attention. If we do not connect we will not we will not make a impact. I am presently reading a great book called "Pop Goes The Church". The author states that there are three elements to a successful service, 1. Relevant Topic 2. Cultural Theme 3. Biblical Truth.
It is not changing the message but packaging it in such a way that when a person leaves they never forget the message, it becomes a part of them. It is the art of learning to engage your culture. I will deal with this more tomorrow.
What Are Some Ways You Can Make Church Less Predictable?
As I have mentioned before, the word entertain means to captivate and keep your audiences attention. If we do not connect we will not we will not make a impact. I am presently reading a great book called "Pop Goes The Church". The author states that there are three elements to a successful service, 1. Relevant Topic 2. Cultural Theme 3. Biblical Truth.
It is not changing the message but packaging it in such a way that when a person leaves they never forget the message, it becomes a part of them. It is the art of learning to engage your culture. I will deal with this more tomorrow.
What Are Some Ways You Can Make Church Less Predictable?
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