We love you, O LORD, our strength. We lift the persecuted church up to you right now.

May they remember that the LORD is their rock, their fortress and their deliverer. May they remember that their God is their rock, in whom they take refuge. He is their shield and the horn of their salvation, their stronghold. May they call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and be saved from their enemies.

The cords of death entangle them; the torrents of destruction are overwhelming them. The cords of the grave are coiled around them; the snares of death are confronting them. In their distress may they call to the LORD; may they cry to their God for help. From your temple hear their voices; may their cries come before you, into your ears.

May the earth tremble and quake, and the foundations of the mountains shake; may they tremble because you’re angry. May smoke rises from your nostrils; consuming fire comes from your mouth, burning coals blaze out of it. May you part the heavens and come down; dark clouds under your feet. Mount the cherubim and fly; soar on the wings of the wind.

May you make darkness your covering, your canopy around you--the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of your presence clouds advance, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. May you thunder from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounding.  May you shoot your arrows and scatter [the enemies], great bolts of lightning and route them. May the valleys of the sea be exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

May you reach down from on high and take hold of the persecuted church; draw them out of deep waters. May you rescue them from their powerful enemy, from their foes, who are too strong for them. Their enemies confront them in the day of their disaster, but the LORD is their support. May you bring them out into a spacious place; rescue them because you delight in them.

May it be so, O Lord. May it be so. 

Amen & amen.


* Based on Psalm 18:1-19

a prayer for boldness in evangelism

Sovereign Lord, you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.

You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, David: "'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?”

Indeed, there are those here in Indianapolis who are antagonistic toward your holy servant Jesus, those who either reject His deity and saving power, or who are simply indifferent.

These people are in our families, schools, workplaces and communities. They are all around us.

But how can they call on Jesus to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! Our feet!

Now, Lord, consider their threats, rejections and indifference toward Jesus and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so we can speak the word of God boldly.

Stretch out your hand to heal the spiritually-hardened hearts among us through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

We thank you in advance for the mighty work that you’re going to do in us and in the hearts of those who do not yet believe. Thank you, thank you, thank you that you are going to use us to reach people for Jesus.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

a back to school prayer

FOR ADULTS INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS

Heavenly Father, we come before you, our Creator, our Sustainer and our Redeemer. We lift these men and women before you and ask that you bless their efforts in the coming school year.

Lord, please remind them that:

·         Children are a reward from the Lord to their parents, thus they are of great value (Ps 127:3).

·         Jesus Himself said "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

·         Whatever responsibilities they have, that they work at it with all their heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. It is the Lord Christ they are serving (Col 3:23).

Heavenly Father, please empower these men and women to do all that they can do to be a blessing to the children in their schools. Fill them with your Holy Spirit and give them wisdom, patience, perseverance and an uncommon love. May they be the epitome of a godly influence at all times, in all ways, and in all circumstances.

Now to Him who can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory, in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

FOR CHILDREN (AND ADULTS) GOING TO SCHOOL

Heavenly Father, we come before you yet again, this time with those who are returning to school with the goal of learning as much as they can.

Lord…

·         May they remember that you knitted them together in their mother’s womb (Ps 139:13). May the knowledge that you created them remind them of how special, unique and loved they are.

·         May they remember that you will never leave them or forsake them (Heb 13:5). May that promise fill them with confidence and assurance for the coming year.

·         May they remember that if they go up to the heavens, you are there. If they make their beds in the depths, you are there. If they rise on the wings of the dawn, if they settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide them and your right hand will hold them fast (Ps 139:8-10). May your promise to guide them and lead them be of great comfort.

·         May they remember that it’s important to learn as much as they can, and to graduate.

·         May they remember that what happens at school is preparing them to be responsible men and women.

Heavenly Father, please empower these children (and adults) to be eager to learn—may they be like sponges, soaking up information that will help them in adulthood. May they be attentive and good listeners, and may they be respectful and appreciative of those who are teaching them.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen (Rev 1:5-6).

immigration: one christian's response

1.       I believe immigration is a very complex and divisive topic.

2.       I believe the Bible does not have a passage that lays out the details of an immigration policy for the United States here in the 21^st century.

3.       I believe all human beings—including immigrants, both legal and illegal—are made in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27).

4.       I believe we should love our neighbor as ourselves, and that includes immigrants (Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:29-27 and Leviticus 19:33).

5.       I believe racism is repulsive and a sin (Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:29-27 and Leviticus 19:33).

6.       I believe we in the United States need to remember that we’re all immigrants or descendants of immigrants.

7.       I believe immigrants need to hear the Gospel like anyone else (Matthew 28:19-20).

8.       I believe government and the Church of Jesus Christ have different callings and purposes and we should be careful not to get them confused (Romans 13:1-7, Mark 12:28-31).

9.       I believe most illegal immigrants are here to better themselves and their families, not to hurt the United States.

10.   I believe migrating to another country is a privilege, not a right.

11.   I believe countries have the right to place restrictions on and limit immigration, especially in the interest of national security (Romans 13:1-7).

12.   I believe laws are made to be obeyed and those who break the law should be punished—illegal immigrants are not being punished as required by law (Romans 13:1-7).

13.   I believe countries have the right to secure their borders--It is their duty to protect the safety of their own citizens (Romans 13:1-7).

14.   I believe it is virtually impossible to prevent all illegal immigrants from crossing the border and to make those who have overstayed their visas return to their countries of origin.

15.   I believe “rewarding” illegal behavior with no negative consequences will spur more illegal behavior in the future.

16.   I believe deporting or punishing all illegal immigrants (an estimated 11 million people) is an impossible task, not to mention an expensive and messy one.

17.   I believe children of illegal immigrants, while undocumented, should not have to pay for the unlawful behavior of their parents (Ezekiel 18:19-20).

18.   I believe separating parents from their children should be avoided whenever possible in the name of mercy (Luke 6:36).

19.   I believe the United States needs to reform its immigration policy in an effort to protect the best interests of the country, especially in the areas of sovereignty and security. Secondarily, this policy should be fair, merciful and enforceable.

20.   I believe we should strongly encourage and motivate immigrants to learn English, but making it the country’s official language is unnecessary and without precedent.

a prayer for rain

Father, you know all things and you know that our region, our state and our city is facing a serious drought. Without rain our supply of drinking water is dangerously low; our crops, plants, flowers and trees are slowly dying; and there is a constant threat of fires.

If we have brought this drought upon ourselves because of sin we humbly ask for your forgiveness.  We repent in sackcloth and ashes and hereby make a commitment to be faithful to you, the King of Kings, to you, the Lord of Lords. May the gracious and forgiving God of all things cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Kings 8:35-36).

In the powerful and wonderful name of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…

• We ask that you, in your mercy, open the storehouse of your bounty and send us much-needed rain (Deut 28:12).
• We ask that you, in your mercy, bestow rain on the earth and send water upon the countryside (Job 5:10).
• We ask that you, in your mercy, say to the rain, “Be a mighty downpour” (Job 37:6).
• We ask that you, in your mercy, cut a channel for the torrents of rain and a path for the thunderstorm (Job 38:25).
• We ask that you, in your mercy, send rain from heaven so that it will water the earth and the land bud and flourish (Isaiah 55:10).
• We ask that you, in your mercy, give us abundant showers to refresh us (Ps 68:8).

Amen and amen. Let it be.

i love...

...coffee, scrambled eggs, bacon and toast in the morning

grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup at lunch

juicy cheeseburger with all the fixings and fries for dinner

anything chocolate for dessert

but her smile—the one that lights up a room—oh, her smile

to die for!

 

...football, hockey and occasionally baseball

gladiator, braveheart, to kill a mockingbird and anything bourne

johnny carson, jimmy stewart, bruce willis and russell crowe

Scripture, a tale of two cities and anything by Andy Stanley

but her giggle—the one that tickles me down to my soul—oh, her giggle

to die for!

...the purr of a kitten

the cocking of a crow

the mournful wail of a distant train whistle

the chirping of birds and rushing water

but the way she makes me laugh—like nobody else—oh, the way she makes me laugh

to die for!

...sunrise, sunset and everything in between

night sky in all its glory

woods and fields, fields and woods

walking, walking, walking 

but the way she calls me by name—spoken or written—oh, the way she calls me by name

to die for!

her—after all these years--her

to die for!

oblivious to the obvious

I went for a walk with my dog Charlie this morning and we saw five deer. Well, I saw five deer. Charlie was oblivious to them.

You see, despite being no more than 20 yards or so in front of us, Charlie never saw the does. That’s because he was doing, well, what he always seems to be doing: sniffing the ground like there’s no tomorrow.

Yes, he seemed to smell them once we reached the spot where they had crossed our path, and while it was no doubt a thrill for him, I can’t help wondering if it would have been more exciting had he actually seen the darn things.

Unfortunately, what happened to Charlie sometimes happens to us humans: we miss the obvious because we’re too busy to notice.

Me? I’ve missed the obvious fact that not taking time off has burned me out and contributed to a downward spiral in my mood. Even though I know intellectually it was foolish, I kept doing it. Pushing, pushing and pushing some more. So much to do and so little time. No time to take time off.

Wrong.

What about you? Are you too busy to notice the obvious in your life? What are you missing at home? Work? School? Everywhere else?

Are there warning signs right in front of you, but ones you’re oblivious to? (I know, I know, if we’re oblivious to things then, well, we haven’t seen them and aren’t even aware we’ve missed them.)

But here’s a thought: For the next few days, keep your head up and your eyes and ears open. Who or what needs your attention?

Maybe, just maybe you’ll find that you’re missing something obvious. Just ask Charlie.

remember and reflect

I was nervous and, if I am honest, more than a little scared.

You see, I was speaking at a national conference of my peers in San Diego. Before the day was over I would fear and worry like never before, like the rest of the country.

It was Tuesday, September 11, 2001. 

Do you remember what happened that day? I hope so.

Do not get me wrong: It is not that I want us to suffer from the painful memories of that horrible day all over again—well, I kind of do—but so that we will not forget. As in ever.

You see, I am convinced it is incredibly important for us to remember the gut-wrenching memories of planes flying into buildings, people jumping to their deaths and buildings crumbling to dust before our very eyes.

Why? For the sake of those who perished that day. For the sake of those who were injured that day. For the sake of those who were heroes that day. And for the sake of us, our children and our grandchildren.

We simply must remember and pause to reflect.

Otherwise 9/11 may become like Pearl Harbor Day (December 7, 1941), a day of infamy that many Americans largely ignore here in the 21st century. Was it a horrible and historically-significant day in the history of our country? Absolutely—it was an attack on American soil that killed almost 2,400 people, gutted our Pacific fleet and precipitated a full-fledged war with Japan.

Even though it happened only 70 years ago, do Americans remember and reflect on it? Sadly, few of us do. I, for one, am ashamed because of my track record of indifference. I urge you to join with me and many others to make sure the same thing does not happen with 9/11.

Almost 3,000 people lost their lives that day, and scores more were injured. First-responders displayed unprecedented courage. We went to war in Afghanistan. The American way of life has not been the same since.

Like Pearl Harbor, September 11, 2001 was a day of infamy for this nation—future generations will surely examine it closely because of its significance.

Yet remembering what happened on a national scale is not good enough—I believe there is merit in our remembering more personal things from that day.

For instance, where were you when you heard? What were you doing? Do you remember how you felt? For many of us—perhaps even most of us—those details are still fresh in our minds.

I remember being scared, worried and even angry. How was my family back home? Will there be more attacks in the days and weeks to come? Is this the end of the United States as we know it?

Will remembering be painful? Absolutely, especially if it combines a recollection of both the events themselves and our personal circumstances as things unfolded. Personalizing the day can be both powerful and cathartic.

For the sake of those who perished that day. For the sake of those who were injured that day. For the sake of those who were heroes that day. And for the sake of us, our children and our grandchildren.

We simply must remember and pause to reflect.


Three ways to remember and reflect:

1. Read your local newspaper and/or watch television for 9/11 specials and news coverage.
2. Go to a local remembrance ceremony.
3. Go online to 911memorial.org and look at the day’s timeline of events.

endowed by their creator

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.--that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.1









Declaration of Independence, http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html.

day 4: words of wisdom from jethro

Editor’s note: This is the fourth of five articles written during a period of ministry burnout in July 2007.

“What you are doing is not good.”

As I wrestle with the question of, “How in the world did I end up like this?” (burned out), the answer is painfully obvious: I am working too much. Put another way: I am not getting enough rest.

Jethro is right when he tells his son-in-law, Moses, that “what he is “doing is not good…The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (Ex 18:17-18). A few verses earlier we find out the Moses is doing his best impersonation of a workaholic, going at it “morning till evening” (v 13).

And here I am, thousands of years later, making the same mistakes by ministering with little or no break. It is a good bet that Jethro would agree that only taking three vacation days in three and a half years of ministry are the actions of a madman. And working seven days a week, month after month will eventually end in a core meltdown.

Like the cliché says, it does not take a brain surgeon to figure this out. For goodness sakes, even Jethro Bodine knows that “What I am doing is not good.”

Oh how I wish I could say with a straight face, “Well, unlike Moses, no one warned me about what would happen.” First and foremost, there is my wife who, bless her heart, has refrained (thus far) from saying, “I told you so.” And there is an elder and good friend who has warned me several times about the dangerous path I have been pursuing.

As a result, the only reasonable defense is stupidity. Of course, one can also muster up the old reliable, “But there’s so much to do and too little time” argument. And let us not overlook perhaps the most overused defense of all: “It won’t happen to me.”

Well, guess what, it did happen to me.

Because of that, it is time to take a cue from the Apostle Paul: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13-14).

While these verses may be pulled out of context, the application for this 21^st century burnout is to figure out how to solve the problem, not dwell on it. Not surprisingly, this preacher thinks there are three key points. Frankly, each of them is a “Well, duh!” because of how obvious they are.

1.  Focus on priorities

Since preaching and teaching are my primary areas of giftedness, and since that is what the church needs the most, these are the “must-dos.” Any other duties above and beyond these essentials are “nice-to-haves” but cannot be allowed to negatively impact these priorities. “No” will have to become an important new word in my vocabulary.

2. Take time off

That is, use all vacation days allotted and take at least one—and sometimes, gasp, two—days off each week. Moses needed to have his workaholic ways challenged and so does this preacher. Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint, so only those who pace themselves will survive.

3. Educate the elders

The men responsible for oversight of the church need to know about these important decisions. If they are not supportive and in agreement, especially with the above priorities, there may be problems.

How in the world did I end up like this? By working too much and not getting enough rest.

How do I get myself out of this mess? By doing just as my fellow workaholic does, as recorded in Ex 18:24: “Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said."


When Jethro speaks, people listen, including this preacher.

we remember

“Courage is contagious.

When a brave man takes a stand,

the spines of others are often stiffened."

Billy Graham

the pond

It was a busy day at the pond.

A robin entertained me for several minutes by flying back and forth from the tree in front of me to the pond on my right. And when I say back and forth, I mean back and forth. As in over and over again.

It would fly a foot or two off the ground in a straight line to the pond. Then, a minute or two later, it would return the same way it came. Only now it would have a piece of grass or a twig in its beak.

Yep. It’s nest-building time.

Getting dizzy from all the back and forth, I walked over to the pond where I spotted a huge snapping turtle. Being the big kid that I am, I picked up a small branch and reached out and tapped it on the shell a few times.

I now had its full attention.

The snapper prepared to defend itself by raising its tail and backside in the air and crouching down in the front, its jaws preparing to snip my fingers off if I get too close.

Knowing that it would snap if provoked again, I gently waved the branch in front of it and, sure enough, the turtle lurched forward with its mouth wide open. An air ball all the way.

I knew it was coming—I mean, I knew it was coming, but I still nearly jumped out of my tennies. This guy meant business.

Now a little shaken up, I decided to back away and leave it alone. As I turned around to make my escape, a squirrel stood on its hind legs next to a tree.

Staring at me. I stared back.

We didn’t have to speak—I knew what the squirrel was thinking: “What kind of idiot are you, messing around with a snapping turtle?!”

Being the gentleman that I am, I decided not to respond and merely kept on walking.

Meanwhile, the robin diligently continued its construction project, the snapper stewed quietly as it returned to the safety of the pond, and the squirrel shook its head in disbelief at the dumb human.

That would be me.

day 3: do the math

Editor’s note: This is the third of five articles written during a period of ministry burnout in July 2007.

One million and six. That is how many times I figure I have asked God to take away the thorn in my flesh: migraines. It could be less, but is likely more. One million and six. 

The Apostle Paul was not nearly so persistent; he only asked the Lord for relief of his thorn in the flesh three times (2 Cor 12:8). According to my PC’s calculator, which is rarely wrong, that means I have pleaded with God one million and three more times than my esteemed colleague.

God’s response to Paul is short and sweet: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).

Could it be that the Lord has responded in a similar way to my pleadings but it has fallen on deaf ears? Could it be that my persistence in this matter has been a waste of time?

Like a knight searching for the Holy Grail, I have sought relief from six physicians, including three headache specialists. Together, they have prescribed literally dozens of medications in order to somehow justify my deductible and co-pays.

The number of current meds taken is seven. The good news is that seven is God’s number. The bad news is the headaches have not stopped.

Is God’s “grace” “sufficient for” me as it was for the Apostle? Or did Paul sneak off for a physical and an old fashioned blood-letting from his good friend Dr. Luke? 

Not willing to accept responsibility for harassing the Creator of the universe on this topic of migraines, it is time to change the subject and evaluate Paul’s situation as described in 2 Corinthians. It turns out that his “thorn” was provided by none other than Satan (v 8). And why did God allow the Apostle to be tormented by whatever this “thorn” was? “To keep” him “from becoming conceited” (v 7).

Intrigued by the potential positive effects of trouble and hardship brought about by Satan, here are some observations made from other parts of Scripture:

• In 1 Cor 5:5 Paul instructs the Corinthian believers to hand an immoral man “over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.”
• In 1 Tim 1:20, the Apostle says that he has “handed” two men “over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”
• In Job 1:10-12 it appears as if Satan is allowed to mess with Job in order to prove that the latter will not “curse” the Lord when tragedy strikes him and his family.
• In Job 42:5 the result of all of Job’s troubles is a better relationship with God.

Thus, day three of my “vacation” brings seven nagging questions. Here they are, as well as my best effort at answers:

1. “Is God’s grace sufficient for me as it was for Paul?”
Answer: I believe that it is, although I am not convinced that it prevents me from seeking medical help.

2. “Has God already answered my plea for migraine relief after one million and six requests and am I guilty of not listening?"

Answer: After one million and six requests, it appears as if the Lord has no intention of removing headaches from my life. Because of that, my ongoing prayer should probably change to asking for help to persevere vs. taking the headaches away.

3. “Are my headaches due to some kind of satanic attack?”

Answer: I have no idea and have no way of knowing.

4. “Are my headaches meant to keep me from becoming conceited?”

Answer: Perhaps.

5. “Are my headaches meant to destroy my sinful nature?”

Answer: Perhaps, but let’s speed it up, okay?

6. “Are my headaches meant to prove that I will not blame God for my troubles?”

Answer: Perhaps, and praise God that it has not happened yet, nor do I intend to let it happen in the future.

7. “Are my headaches meant to draw me closer to God?”

Answer: Perhaps. While their purpose (if they even have a purpose) is unknown, they do have the effect of driving me to my knees in prayer. And that’s a good thing.

As I reflect on day three and do the math, maybe I do hear the voice of God on this subject: “Somebody call a whambulance because Chris has a headache.”

Translated, it is time to quit whining. 

day 2: lessons from a sugar maple

Editor’s note: This is the second of five articles written during a period of ministry burnout in July 2007.

Day two of my forced vacation begins just like the first. Coffee, a little breakfast, a headache and a long nap to let the migraine medicine kick in.

Around noon, now headache-free, I drive to a nearby park. Since I am an outdoors kind of guy, seeking God’s face and spiritual renewal seems most likely to occur in the midst of nature.

Unfortunately, time-tested spiritual rituals of long walks in the woods and sitting beside a creek reading Scripture are of little value today. Not only does the Spirit of God not descend upon me like a dove, spiders and mosquitoes do. Discouraged, I leave the woods with all its critters and eventually come across a picnic table.

On a whim, I climb on top of the table and lay on my back, staring up at the branches of a nearby sugar maple. Does the sight of a fat, middle-aged man lying on a picnic table look silly? You bet it does. But do I care if someone is watching? Heck no.

“Laugh all you want, pal. I’m depressed and seeking God’s face. Now bug off.”

A tree is a tree, right? Maybe, maybe not. The bark on this sugar maple is as gnarly and scarred as I have ever seen. It is covered with deep gashes and grooves that zigzag back and forth and every which way.

“What a mess,” I think. “What a hard life it must have had.”

It is at that precise moment that God’s Word comes bubbling to the surface: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3).

This sugar maple has obviously faced many trials. Not only does its bark look like a pock-marked battlefield, but there are dead branches everywhere. This thing has led a hard life. It is a miracle it has lasted as long as it has.

Yet despite the trials that it has endured, it is enormous, one of the largest trees in the area. And based on my brief observation, it serves as a refuge for squirrels, birds and locusts. The fact that there are three picnic tables—three—under it is a testament to the abundance of shade that it provides.

In short, despite its difficult past this sugar maple tree has more than survived: It is of great value. Despite its many scars, it has somehow persevered. And maybe, just maybe, it is of more value because of what it has endured over its lifetime.

Could it be that my current trial of headaches and depression, while causing a great deal of pain and suffering now, will make me sturdier for the future? Could it be that something good will come of the scars that are tearing me apart right now?

My prayer for today is a simple one, Lord: I want to be like this tree. I want to pass this test and persevere.

day 1: bird droppings

Editor’s note: This is the first of five articles written during a period of ministry burnout in July 2007.

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”

That is it. Nothing more, nothing less. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”

And so day one of my week-long vacation begins. Desperately needing rest and spiritual renewal, the backyard is an inviting place to start. Getting reacquainted with my Creator seems more likely in a lawn chair next to a cornfield rather than a Lazy Boy with a remote control within reach.

So here I am in the great outdoors, ready to seek the Lord and find out where oh where has my energy and positive attitude gone? What is the deal with the almost daily headaches? And then there is the depression, the straw that broke the camel’s back. Are the headaches causing the depression or is the depression causing the headaches?

While the amateur doctor in me really wants to know the root cause of these health problems, the bottom line is it does not really matter. Only one thing matters this week, and one thing only: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”

It is surprisingly cool in the shade and everything I need is in the grass at my side: My favorite Bible, a glass of ice, a bottle of water and sunglasses. Oh, and then there is the Sudoku book in case Scripture and the presence of the Lord are not enough.

It becomes clear early on that the theme of day one is that of birds: Just a few minutes into seeking God’s face a bird poops on my arm. Looking up, the culprit is nowhere to be found. When healthy, this dastardly act would spark anger (righteous anger, of course). However, being mentally, physically and spiritually exhausted, the only emotion that comes is amusement.

Determined not to be sidetracked, I wipe the stuff off my arm and begin looking up all the cross references for Matt 6:33, the key verse of the week. While many verses and passages are encouraging, none seem to meet the cry of my heart.

Then bird number two enters the picture: A hawk soars effortlessly overhead, not once flapping its wings. Like a sailboat on a windy day it uses the wind and uses it well. Who needs to flap when God provides all the energy that is needed?

At that moment I instantly know what God wants to communicate to me. Hawks make me think of eagles and eagles make me think of a passage in Isaiah 40.

Isa 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

Isa 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Isa 40:30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

Isa 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (v 29). There it is in a nutshell: I am currently “weary” and “weak” and desperately in need of “strength.” Now, more than ever, my mission is to “hope in the LORD” (v 31).

It is clear that in terms of ministry I need to be more like that hawk. Yes, he flaps his wings in order to become airborne, but once there he relies on the wind that God provides to propel him. By relying on the wind vs. his wing power the hawk can fly for great distances. I, too, want to fly great distances for the Lord in terms of ministry.

Perhaps I have been guilty of doing too much flapping and not enough soaring. Maybe that is why I find myself in this position of weariness and weakness. Maybe that is why I am in such urgent need of spiritual renewal.

While reflecting on this insight, I am reminded of my three areas of God’s giftedness: Preaching, teaching and writing. In order to soar more and flap less, it is important to focus primarily on these areas at the expense of others. While ministry in a small church like mine requires a diverse skill set, using one’s spiritual gifts is of utmost importance.

But then there is the challenge of flapping less and soaring more when doing these three activities. How, exactly, does that work? While it almost certainly means more quiet time with the Lord vs. sitting in front of a computer screen, does it not also logically mean that less ministry is done? Could it be that while quantity may suffer quality and effectiveness actually goes up? Is that what it means to soar like a hawk in ministry?

In addition to much-needed strengthening, there is also much to learn over the next several days. The key to success in both areas is the same as before: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness."

Fornately, the rest of the verse goes like this: "And all these things will be given to you as well.”

be wary of bible teachers who...

Claim to have the power to heal and/or miraculous powers.

While the Lord can certainly empower humans to do miraculous things as He did in Bible times, it wasn’t prevalent back then and we shouldn’t expect it to be here in the 21^st century either. I’m of the opinion that it’s wise to have a healthy skepticism of such claims.

Talk a lot about donating money to their ministries and use phrases like “sow a seed.”

There’s nothing wrong with ministries asking for money, but if it’s a frequent topic our spiritual antennas should go up. The sad reality is there are people who are in ministry for the primary purpose of financial gain. Be discerning and use the Lord’s money wisely.

Frequently use phrases like, “God told me.”

While this may be a harmless phrase (i.e., “God told me, using such-and-such verse, to do such-and-such thing” or “God told me via a prompting of the Holy Spirit”), it could be an effort to convince hearers that the communicator has some kind of special connection with God. The result can be undeserved attention and credibility.

Never talk about sin.

While not every sermon or teaching time needs to mention sin, if it’s a rarity we should be cautious. After all, the basis of the Christian faith is that Christ died on a cross for our sins. Oops: There’s that word. The good news of Jesus Christ is only good news if sin is a reality. And it is. Therefore, it needs to be mentioned from the pulpit at least time-to-time. If not, well, I’m thinking it’s time to find yourself another Bible teacher.

Claim that God wants us to be healthy and wealthy.

While God does want the best for us, the reality is we live in a sin-stained world that includes pain, suffering and financial hardship. The Bible never promises believers in the one-true God health and wealth. Those who claim it does are either misinformed or not being honest with the text. Remember Jesus’ words? “Pick up your cross and follow me.” That doesn’t exactly sound like the easy life.

Advocate the worship or exaltation of anyone other than God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

This is a clear indication that you should plug up your ears and run for the hills. Only the triune God of the Bible is worthy of our worship and adoration. And that includes Mary, the mother of Jesus, who, despite being a godly woman, was nonetheless still a woman. Thus, she was a sinner—and unworthy of worship—like everyone else. Let’s save our adoration for the only one who is worthy of it: The Lord our God. 

Consider anything other than the Protestant Bible as authoritative.

Only the Christian Bible is God-breathed and thus reliable. Whatever is not from God’s Word may indeed be valid and of benefit, but there’s no guarantee. If a communicator believes that something other than the Bible is spiritually-authoritative, my advice is to get out of town.  

Say that rule-keeping and severe bodily discipline is necessary for the Christian life.

Legalism and treating our physical bodies in harsh ways have no place in Christendom. We’re saved and kept saved by the grace of God, not through following a list of do’s and don’ts. Likewise, self-abasement is of no value in the spiritual realm. Once we choose to follow the Lord our obligation is to love Him and other people. There’s no mention of harsh treatment of the body. Find another Bible teacher and fast.

Claim to have secret knowledge and/or had a vision.

There is no secret knowledge when it comes to the Christian faith. The Lord has revealed what He wanted to reveal to us in the pages of Scripture. And while God can certainly appear to people via a vision, it was rare in Bible times and it should be considered equally rare here in the 21^st century. Personally, I’d steer well clear of people like this.

Live extravagant lives with an abundance of wealth and possessions.

While the Lord has certainly blessed some Christians with wealth and many possessions, those who spend an inordinate amount of money on themselves vs. sharing it with others in need should expect to have some doubters. Count me among them, especially if those communicators are described elsewhere in this list.

Are personally immoral and/or teach no moral restraints.

Immorality in one’s personal life is a sure sign that the communicator has a sin problem, and a destructive one at that. If that’s the case, use extreme caution since the person’s relationship with God is impeded. And if the person actually teaches that believers can sin because our sins are forgiven, well, do you really need to be convinced to move on?

Are obsessed with end-time prophecy.

This one may surprise you or make you question whether you should be wary of me. The fact is there are many godly men and women who “specialize” in the area of prophecy and are worth listening to. That said, in my experience people who are obsessed with it are often out of balance when it comes to the Christian life. That is, in their fervent pursuit of their particular viewpoint they sometimes neglect other important parts of the Christian life (i.e., personal holiness, evangelism, discipleship). Worse still, I’ve met a few who have adopted bizarre and borderline heretical viewpoints, and crashed and burned when it comes to the faith. All I’m saying is be very cautious with so-called “experts” on prophecy. And please don’t send me hate mail.