At a recent conference that I attended, one of the presenters asked the question, “What if your church closed its’ doors, would there be an outcry?” The idea being that the church is either making a difference, and the community sees the value they are adding, so much so that they actually speak out when it is gone. Or the church simply disappears and no on even notices, or cares.

This coming Saturday Daybreak will be serving our special needs community in a ministry that we call Respite. Parents of children with special need a rest, period. There are many parents who are on the go, protecting their children who may lack inhibition to danger, or their metabolism is extremely high and are constantly moving, or because of their medical condition they are constantly having to perform various medical procedures. We truly have a love for these families and especially the children.

But to be honest, for those who are involved and dedicated to this ministry, if we had to stop it for some reason, there would be an outcry. I believe the children themselves would cry out because a special group of people who genuinely loved them were no longer there. Their parents would cry out because a true need in their life, is now gone.

We have lost two of our precious ones since the conception of the ministry, at it still breaks our heart to even remember these children. Some have moved away to distant states, and we miss them as well. If you want to be apart of something that will cause others to cry out – be apart of Respite at Daybreak.

David is the Bible is a man that I really respect. Besides being a musician, fierce warrior, he was also a great leader. While he was running from Saul people from all over the countryside joined his band of misfits. He had a magnetic personality and leadership style. I believe that one of the characteristics of being a magnetic leader is transparency. David, in many ways, wore his heart on his sleeve. David wrote psalms, poems, songs, etc.. as expressions of love for his God, and his spiritual journey.

Some time ago, as I was studying the Bible, my heart was heavy and I wrote my own form of a psalm. Sometimes it helps just to put something down on paper. Before you read it, just know that I do not think that what I have written is “Scripture” – it is just something that I hope helps you today.

A Psalm to the Lord

My sin keeps me up at night,

it robs me of sleep and it haunts my thoughts

that should be focused on you and your purpose.

My sin remains as long as I desire it

and returns when my focus is not on you.

My enemies return and my heart pounds

and I look to my sin for relief

instead of you as my fortress and wisdom.

It is a broken crutch.

Lord cleanse me and forgive me.

I know your presence and companionship.

Your plan is far better than my sin – please take it away.

I thought it was gone, but here it is again.

Keep my ways pure and my path straight.

It is my desire to follow You.

Amen.

As a church staff we have recently read Mark Driscol’s book Radical Reformission and we are currently in the middle of Rob Bell’s book Velvet Elvis. In both of their books, chapter six seems to be their most radical chapters. For Driscol it is his acceptance and even encouragement to drink alcohol, specifically beer. For Bell, he seeks to show that heaven and hell will eventually be real places when Christians live this life in such a way to bring it about. Plus there are many other heretical statements peppered throughout the book. Bell also has a high respect for Jewish Rabbis and their traditions, but little respect and value for the Bible. Driscol on the other has a very high respect for Scripture and holds to orthodox concepts such as inerrancy and infallibility.

Is there a difference? You bet. I may not agree with Driscol’s view on alcohol, but I have heard him speak and heard his heart (and doctrine) and have absolutely no hesitation in standing beside him in order to reach our world for Christ. I have recently come to understand that if we cut off other brothers and sisters who are Christians, just because we disagree with them on a peripheral issue, it is analogous to cutting off our arm. As churches we end up hopping around, handicapped, bleeding, and we wonder why the world says, “no thank you.”

Bell on the other hand, by his teachings completely undermines Christianity by encouraging people to consider concepts about Christ that are foolish and ungrounded (see Genesis 3). We must show his book and such discussions for what they are – liberal theology that kills churches and changes the definition of the gospel from what Jesus and the disciples clearly taught.

Both argue for church culture to change, both say they desire to see people saved – but one is a serpent and one is a saint. Bottom line — foundational doctrine is very important. Without a solid foundation, trampolines (with springs) collapse. (see Bells introduction).

Yesterday was the “car load” special at the Frederick County Fair. So Kimberly and I took the crew to see the animals, ride rides, and to have some much needed “family” time. It was a blast!

I usually take Fridays off from work and try spend the whole day doing something with my family. But recently, I confess, Fridays have become crowded with other stuff.

You have to guard your time, and make sure that those precious moments spent with your family don’t slip through your fingers. I don’t want to be one of those guys who gained the world, but lost what was most important to him.

There are two main ways to reach people for Christ. One is to focus on the outward appearance of a person, and expect them to change how they look. Another way would be to focus on the inside first.

A person who disciples by focusing on the outside, wants their disciple to immediately change how they dress, how they fashion their hair, their make-up, etc… One of two things can happen. Either they will change their appearance and look “Christian,” or they reject Christianity all together. The concern is really not their spiritual walk; many disciple makers simply don’t like diversity in their church.

They feel all Christians should look, sound, act, dress, and worship like they do. There is, however, a problem with this mentality – the person may change on the outside but there is little change on the inside. I believe that Jesus talked about this type of disciple making when he said to the Pharisees, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” Matthew 23:15 When a person only focuses on the outside, you get a shallow disciple.

There is another option available to us. A disciple maker could look past the weird dress, colorful makeup, and course comments and instead focus on the heart. Jesus called people to holiness, repentance, love of neighbors, etc… The problem with this process is that it takes time and there will be moments where your disciple does things that embarrass you. But as you love them, the change comes from the inside out. They will slowly begin to make decisions about dress, behavior, etc. on their own without having to be told. Their discipleship will be heartfelt and authentic, not shallow and hypocritical.

Currently, our youth ministry is exploding and there is subtle pressure to focus on outwards things. There are some that wants us to focus on certain outward “things” immediately because it makes them feel uncomfortable. We are having tons of kids coming, and they don’t look like “us.” I say, “Praise the Lord!” In order for us to have a true impact on their lives we have to love them for who they are right now, and disciple them into whom they will become. Authentic and real discipleship takes a while. Lasting change doesn’t happen overnight.