10

Jump Start # 2259

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2259

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

I’ve been working all day on shepherding material. I head to Texas to talk to a group of elders, shepherds, who want to improve and do their work better. I have put together a massive notebook of articles and have a series of lessons that I have developed to share with each one of them. When I do things like this, I like to put an attractive cover on the front. I found a picture of a sheep. That’s what shepherds are interested in, sheep. It’s not budgets, painting the church building, or so many of the little things that side track us from the main duty, shepherding.

 

So, the cover picture I chose for their notebook is of a sheep. He’s standing on a rock. He’s standing on a rock that is perched between two other rocks. The rocks are obviously high up in the sky. It looks very dangerous. I wouldn’t stand where that sheep was standing. I wonder if the picture was photoshopped. Just looking at that picture creates all kinds of questions, such as, How did you get up there? And, don’t you realize it’s dangerous being there? And, how am I supposed to get you down?

 

I chose that picture because so often that’s us. We get ourselves in the worst jams and the shepherds just shake their heads wondering how and why we did that. They are left with a bigger problem, how are they going to get us down safely. Oh, the things we do. I’ve been reading a book about situations that elders face. It’s the very thing that keeps them up all night, which has become the title of the book. I don’t know if someone made up these situations or if they are real, but they are just like my picture of the sheep standing on a rock high up in the sky.

 

This is where our verse comes in. We have a responsibility towards those who have entrusted their lives in protecting us. They are trying to keep us safe, and there we are climbing up on dangerous rocks. They are trying to keep us all together, and there we go chasing the latest religious fad. I sure hope when this life is over that the Lord doesn’t say to me, “Roger, you caused those good shepherds of mine to lose sleep because of what you were doing. What were you doing up on that rock? You have no business being up there.”

 

Our verse reveals two special ways that we show our love, appreciation for our shepherds. This isn’t hard, but we make it that way.

 

First, obey them. They know what they are talking about. Their very qualifications put them in a special place spiritually. They are experienced, talented and knowledgeable. They know what they are talking about. They didn’t get where they are by climbing up on dangerous rocks. Oh, we think we know better. We don’t. We think we will be ok. We won’t be. They beg us to come to services, but we fight them. They beg us to read God’s word, but we don’t. They encourage us to forgive, but we’d rather hold grudges and be bitter. And, we wake up one day, standing on a rock high in the sky. Our kids don’t know Jesus. Our marriage is a mess. Our finances are a disaster. We are worried about everything and anything. We are stressed, troubled and scared. And, please don’t mention death. Maybe it will just go away and miss us. And, why are we this way? We’ve climbed high up on dangerous rocks rather than following our shepherds. We haven’t obeyed them.

 

Worse, some have had the gall to back-talk God’s leaders. Had they been with David in that cave with King Saul, they would have hurled a spear at the king. David wouldn’t do it. He had ever reason to, but he respected the anointed position of God. We’ve forgotten that. Shepherds are an anointed position of God. Our complaining, criticizing, and blaming them hasn’t made us better. And, worse, we haven’t found a better and more Biblical way of pleasing God than what they are doing. It’s time to climb off that rock and start listening to the very men that are trying to get you to Heaven.

 

Second, our passage tells us to submit to them. Submit, most believe that only belongs to wives. How wrong they are. We are all to submit and here in our passage, we are to submit to the leaders. What’s the difference between obey and submit? Is he repeating himself? No. Submit takes place on the inside and obey on the outside. A person may obey without submitting. That happens just about every night in homes. The kids want to stay up and the parents tell them it’s time for bed. They go, but not happily. They obey, but it’s not what they want to do. The word submit means to bend your will. It means I go along with you. Rather than dig my heels in and demand you go with me, I choose to go with you. From submission comes obedience.

 

Now, this is how it works with shepherds. They have something special that they feel I need and that will help me spiritually. I don’t see it. I don’t want to go. But when I consider who and why they are doing this, I change my tune. I go along with them. I submit and then I obey. And, what happens is that I find my life not dangerously high up on some rock. I am safe. I am strong. I am growing. That’s what happens when I listen to my shepherds.

 

Now, submission is unknown in our culture today. You never hear that word in weddings anymore. And, our times are all about me doing just what I want and that’s it. No team player. No listening to others. My way and always my way. And, do you know where that puts you? Yep. Standing on a rock, dangerously high up in the sky. And, it’s from there, I feel that my life is falling apart. And, I ought to feel that way because sheep are not supposed to be mountain climbing. We are not mountain goats, we are sheep.

 

In all my years working with brethren, I’ve never heard of a church disciplining someone because they were not submitting to the leaders. Never heard that. I expect one reason we don’t do that is because there wouldn’t be many of us left. We come and go as we please, giving no thought to the wonderful work, the many prayers and the sleepless nights that our shepherds have trying to keep us off the rocks. They warn us about rocks. They teach us about the wonderful green pastures that will nourish us. They tell horror stories of those long ago who fell climbing those rocks. But what do we do? We go ahead and climb them. Then we cry for help. Our marriage is falling apart. Our kids are marrying pagans. They find out that we have been drinking, when we should have been praying. We have been to the ballgames but we couldn’t make it to services. Our lives are empty, shallow and without purpose. Why? Because we would rather climb dangerous rocks than listen to spiritual leaders who know how to be saved.

 

Our verse ends with a warning. Don’t cause grief for the leaders. If you do, this will be unprofitable for you. What is meant by that? More than anything else, God’s going get you for being in places you shouldn’t be. You ignore God’s leaders and you’ll get it.

 

Sheep standing on dangerous rocks. When will we ever learn?

 

Roger

 

09

Jump Start # 2258

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2258

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

My wife and I both love books. I lean toward historical, biographical and religious books. For her, it’s children’s books. We have a mountain of grandchildren now and so we have been collecting all kinds of children’s books. She gives children’s books away as presents. I used to read nearly every night to my kids when they were little. One series of books that I have been introduced to recently is the Lama, Lama books. The titles all rhyme and the story features lamas. The book this season was “Lama, Lama, holiday drama.” The lama kids were caught up in all sorts of holiday drama.

 

I wish there was another version of that book. I’d like to see, “Lama, lama, church drama,” because there certainly seems to be a lot of that going around these days. Hurt feelings. Misunderstandings. Mad at one another. Walking away from others without talking. Suspicion. Accusing. Blaming innocent people for things others have done.

 

It’s the getting everyone along and fitting in and taken care of that can be some of the greatest challenges for a church. What you do for one, isn’t the right thing for the other. With some, you nearly have to bust a board over their head to get their attention. For others, slightly raising your voice and they go into orbit and are ready to quit. Lama, lama, all this church drama!

 

Our verse helps today. What we say matters. How we say things matter. Believing you can say anything, no matter how cruel or hurtful it may be, and then hide behind, “Well, I just told him the truth” isn’t good. No. You did more than that. You nearly killed him. The passage today says, death is in the power of the tongue. You can kill someone’s hope, spirit and enthusiasm with the very choice of words you use. You killed them. Our verse also says “life is in the power of the tongue.” Hope, optimism, life, chance, encouragement, love, forgiveness—those are all within reach with the proper words.

 

Here are a few things I’ve learned:

 

First, some people are just going to say anything. They are going to speak their minds. No filters. No consideration of the circumstances or the location. No thought to how those words may be received. Out it comes and once they have spoken what they want, they are done. People can ask the most personal, none-of-your-business questions. They can rip you up one side and then down the other. They can be insensitive, indifferent and uncaring to you and your family. People say things that they shouldn’t. That hasn’t changed with time. That’s not new to this generation and it didn’t die with the last generation. Our verse reminds us that some speak the words of death. Why? Who knows. Should they? No. But, they are going to do it anyway. Few, understand that what comes out of our heart is something that we will be judged for. We can’t destroy someone with our words and expect that God doesn’t notice. How we treat one another is a reflection of how God will treat us. You can’t be right with God and wrong with your fellow man, especially your brother or sister in Christ.

 

People are going to say things. They are going to tell you what they think you need to do. They are going to tell you where you ought to eat, vacation, buy a house, kind of pet you need to have and all sorts of things. When you do something that wasn’t on their list, you’ll hear about it. They will tell you what a mistake you made. They will tell you horror stories about others who made dumb choices, as they believe you have. Some will drop will verbal bombs that are just powerful enough to ruin your day. Mean things. Hateful things. Cruel things. Little comments, just loud enough for you to hear. They hurt. They create drama. How do I know these things? I’ve had missiles launched my direction for a long time. Stuff about my preaching, my family, where I live, how I dress, what I read, what I ought to be doing. The list is a mile long. It’s enough to stay in bed, with the covers pulled over your head. It’s all it takes for a first class drama.

 

Second, you have to let things go. That’s the secret. In a perfect world, folks wouldn’t say things that they shouldn’t. But this world isn’t perfect. Things will be said. Now, once they are out there, then it becomes my choice as to what I do with it. Do I build drama and make a big mess of these things? Do I fire more hurtful words back? Do I tell my little circle of friends how I am being mistreated? Do I throw logs upon the fires of drama? Or, like Jesus when things were said to Him, do I not reply back. I know the truth. God knows the truth. I can feel compelled to tell others and defend myself, or I can just let it go. That’s hard. Our blood boils when someone says mean things about us. We feel that we have to get even, get back or at least do something. It’s at that point that the curtain rises and the drama begins. We can sing the Disney Frozen song, “Let it go,” but we certainly have a hard time actually doing that. We store those words in our hearts. We remember. We distance ourselves from “those people.” And, the drama builds. We watch them with a critical eye. One wrong step and we have them. Our radar gun is always pointed at them. If there are get togethers, we find out in advance if our drama queens are going to be there. If so, we won’t. And, the drama continues.

 

How do you kill church drama? Don’t be a part of it. People will say things they shouldn’t. Let it go. Don’t hold it against them. Don’t be so critical and stop expecting everyone else to be perfect, you are not. Kill the drama. Realize drama may sell books, make great plots for TV shows, but it’s no way for Christians to act. Love all. Forgive all. Include all. Help all.

 

And, finally, we must watch what we say. You don’t have to express your opinion upon everything you see. You do not have to attend every argument that you are invited to. Someone walks in Sunday morning with pink hair. Keep a lid on your thoughts. Here comes someone late, again. Be careful. Here comes someone that the fashion police would arrest. Don’t say it!

 

Solomon says there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. This doesn’t mean turning a blind eye to sinful and wrong things. But even there, help, don’t destroy. Encourage. But so much of the drama comes from commenting on who is dating who and who is sitting where and who is wearing what.

 

Somehow all the lamas work out their problems by the end of the book. They do, every time. Sure wish we could work out all of our drama by the end of services. Maybe we could, if we really worked at it.

 

Roger

 

08

Jump Start # 2257

Posted on January 8, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2257

1 Corinthians 7:1 “Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.”

 

Those who have looked deeply into 1 Corinthians, understand that much of this letter is answers to questions that the Corinthians had asked Paul. Those questions are marked by the expression, “now concerning.” Our verse is the first of a series. It begins, “Now concerning the things about which you wrote”. But others followed:

 

  • Now concerning virgins (7:25)
  • Now concerning things sacrificed to idols (8:1)
  • Now concerning spiritual gifts (12:1)
  • Now concerning the collection for the saints (16:1)

 

It is great that these brethren felt comfortable asking Paul these questions. There are some lessons we learn from this:

 

First, people will always have questions. Often fitting the Scriptures into our lives isn’t a smooth or easy fit. There are conflicts, questions and situations. I have found that kids will ask anything in a Bible class, but often adults are reserved. Some will wait until the class is over and then ask the teacher in private. We all come to the Scriptures with a background, past, issues and baggage. Working through all of those things to fully understand what God says often presents challenges and questions. There’s nothing wrong with asking questions.

 

Second, we ought to create an atmosphere and a trust where people can freely ask questions. Some, like to be silly. They use every opportunity they can to show off, be cute and bring laugher to a room. It doesn’t take too much of that to then conclude that person just isn’t serious. People in fear do not ask questions. Far too many do not know what is going on within the congregation that they belong to. Communication is limited and asking questions is not allowed. Silence is soon replaced with suspicion.

 

Third, the questions that the Corinthians asked were of a practical manner. They were wanting to know how to live as God directed. Theories, ideas and principles are important, but of a greater importance is how to I live the message that God has revealed. How does one parent the way that God wants? This concern brings questions. We want to get it right and when we are not sure, we want to learn better.

 

Fourth, although we have no living apostles today, we have their words to help us. But sometimes, we want someone to tell us details. Just tell me what to do, is what many expect. Could this be why older women were to teach younger women? There may have been questions and who better to ask than someone who has already traveled ahead of you.

 

Fifth, some practical answers fall into the realm of judgment and there isn’t a specific answer or a specific right or wrong. For instance, someone asks you, how much should I give on Sunday? We show them guidelines. We talk about principles of faith. We explain the importance of money in the kingdom. We remind them of the great things being done with the money. We take them to Bible classes and sermons about giving. But, that’s not what they are looking for. They want you to tell them a specific dollar amount to give. Should I give $100 or $300? What you and I might do, given the exact circumstances, may not be what this person would do. And, who ever has the exact same circumstances? So, guidelines are given. But in doing this, we must be careful that we are not putting ourselves in the place of making that decision for them. We are not the standard. We are not the bottom line.

 

Sixth, some answers are complicated. Have you noticed that in Corinthians? The question about idols, chapter eight, is answered in 13 verses. The spiritual gift question consumes three chapters. Paul does more than give a simple answer. He explains. It’s the idea of giving someone a fish or teaching them how to fish for themselves. Explaining things will help in the long run. They help us. So, this tells us that with some questions, we must not be in a hurry. Walking out the front door of the church building, in a hurry to get to a place to eat, probably isn’t the best setting to answer questions. Understand this and find the proper setting to give the question a real explanation.

 

Seventh, some questions are not going to be answered directly by the Bible. When I was a kid, we had this black magic 8 ball. You’d ask some question and turn it over and there was the answer. It wasn’t really answering that question. A series of the same answers kept coming up over and over. As kids, we didn’t know that. So, should you move? There are principles that need to be considered, but trying to find a definite Yes or No, isn’t going to be found in the Bible. We are to walk by faith and not by sight. Sight walking has definite answers for every step. No faith is necessary. It’s all there. Faith walking means making decisions, trusting God and walking with the principles He has given us.

 

Eighth, the Corinthians took their questions to an inspired apostle. They didn’t ask pagan neighbors. They didn’t Google answers. They knew who would know. They asked Paul. Do you know who to ask? Do you know who would know what the Bible says? Could you ask that person?

 

Finally, how we live is not up in the air and everyone and anyone has their own thoughts. God has designed righteous living. This is where He wants us to be. It doesn’t change with time. Culture doesn’t reshape it. Popular opinion doesn’t affect it. Our lives are to glorify God and our lives are to reflect righteousness. From that standpoint, and with Scriptures in hand, we are able to map out a life that pleases the Lord.

 

Questions…what do you do with them?

 

Roger

 

07

Jump Start # 2256

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2256

Matthew 25:33 “and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.”

Our verse today comes from the chapter of Matthew that gives us three pictures of the coming Jesus and three images and principles about the judgment. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins illustrates that they did not know when the groom was returning and the need to be ready at all times. The parable of the talents illustrates that the judgment is based upon what we have done with what the Master has given us. And, in the final picture, how we have treated others is the focal point of that principle. It is here that we find our verse today. The separating of the sheep and the goats.

 

The sheep represent the righteous, those going to Heaven. The goats are those who are not going to Heaven. There is a separation that takes place at judgment. Here, we live and move among each other. But on the other side, it’s all sheep or it’s all goats.

 

That’s fairly simple to see. Sheep and goats are not the same. They don’t look the same, nor do they act the same. Goats are more aggressive and more independent than sheep. Goats are used for their milk, sheep are used for their wool.

 

But within this is an interesting thought, as we become Christians, we change from goats to sheep. Our nature changes. The principles that made us goat-like are replaced with the qualities that make us sheep-like. Jesus warned about wolves who went about in sheep clothing. I wonder, if it is possible for some to pass themselves off as sheep, yet they remain as goats.

 

How does one change from being a goat to a sheep?

 

First, there are limits to parables and illustrations. Goats are goats and sheep are sheep. I expect there has been some cross breeding through the years, but beyond that an animal that is born a goat will remain a goat the rest of it’s life. There is no changing. This is how this illustration is limited. Because we can change. We can please God. We can become a part of His family. We, indeed, can be part of God’s kingdom, God’s flock. The goats can become sheep. And, more than that, when it’s time for separation, at the judgment, the now, new sheep, can be included with God’s people.

 

Second, all of us have been goats at one time. We are not goats and sheep by nature, but rather by choice. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All have been disobedient. There is none that is righteous, Romans tells us. Independent. Stubborn. Not listening. That’s goats and that’s been us. The image of a Billy goat digging his heels in while some boy is trying to pull him, or a Billy goat charging someone with his horns is the stuff of cartoons, but is typical of the nature of goats.

 

Third, the transformation from goats to sheep takes place when Christ fills our hearts. Isaiah gives us the picture of a lion and lamb resting together, or a lion eating straw like an ox, the natures of those animals changed. Isaiah wasn’t talking about the zoo. He was referring to us. This is what happens when the rule of the Messiah touches our hearts. We are changed. We make better choices. We live righteously. We become holy and the people of God.

 

The point is that we change. We have changed from the inside out. We are no longer the way we once were. Aggressive, mean, selfish, independent—that’s the way goats live. We now live for Christ. We become followers. We control our emotions and spirit. We are patient and forgiving. We don’t bully, push nor demand our way. We trust the shepherd and now are in need of a shepherd. We’ve become disciples of Jesus.

 

This is the interesting aspect of this goat to sheep change. Some have become Christians but they haven’t changed much at all. They are merely goats who are going to church on Sunday. Outside the church house, they are still aggressive, independent, stubborn and not following the Shepherd. They become a constant burden in the congregation, because they will not forgive. They are impatient with others. You’d never know that they are a Christian other than where you would find them on Sunday. Just as a wolf in sheep clothing is wrong, so is a goat who thinks that he is a sheep. He must stop being “goat-like” and put on the attributes of being a sheep.

 

Finally, in the end, the Lord knows who are the sheep and who are the wolves and the goats that are mixed in the flock. We can often fool others, but we’ll never fool the Lord. He knows all and He sees all.

 

We once were goats, but now we are sheep. Fascinating concept. A true transformation. We ought to look different. Sheep are upbeat, confident and trusting, they are Heaven Bound. Goats are just goats. They don’t want to follow the Shepherd. They don’t know nor do they trust the voice of the Shepherd. It’s their loss. Come judgment, the sheep and the goats will be separated. The sheep will be with the Lord, the goats won’t.

 

Are you working on being more sheep-like in your nature?

 

Roger

 

04

Jump Start # 2255

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2255

Revelation 3:2 “Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.”

 

When we read the N.T. there are some powerful congregations that were doing well. Jerusalem, where it started, was growing fast. Antioch, was the shinning light for all to follow. But there were other congregations that were not doing so well. Corinth was plagued with all kinds of moral and doctrinal problems. It would have been an elder’s nightmare. Ephesus became loveless. And, Sardis, where our verse is connected with, was dead.

 

Have you ever noticed that dead things do not need much attention. You don’t have to mow a yard that has dead grass. Dead plants do not need to be watered. Dead pets do not need to be fed nor walked. A dead tree never grows any taller. And a lifeless, dead church doesn’t add any value to one’s spiritual life. It’s easy to kill things. Just ignore them. Don’t water your plants and in time they will die. Don’t feed your pets and eventually they will die. And, with a congregation, doing nothing positive, encouraging or Biblical will lead to death.

 

Our verse is written to the members of Sardis. It’s the plea for them to do something. It begins by waking up. They were asleep at the wheel of life. They had no idea where they were, nor, where they were going. It’s time to water the plant. It’s about to die. There was still a bit of hope. God says, “strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die.” If you do nothing, everything will be dead. A ghost town. An abandoned work. There was still hope, but they had to get at it.

 

We have been looking at a mini series connected to the start of the year. This is the time of resolutions, goals, plans and dreams. We’ve looked at: “What can I do to help myself.” Yesterday, our thoughts focused upon, “What can I do to help my family.” Finally, today, we look at “What can I do to help my congregation?”

 

First, understand, that those in leadership roles, the shepherds and the preachers, are often the stopping blocks of all ideas. Too often they are content with nothing and nothing is what they always get. Attempts to do things can be perceived by some as a power shift and you being a Martin Luther, the reformer, who is attempting to nail your complaints to the church door. Things didn’t work out too well for Luther. And, often, it may not work out well for you.

 

Being open and putting all the cards on the table is the honest thing to do. It takes away what may be perceived as a threat to their position. Let them know what you would like to do and why. Be transparent and not evasive. Your ideas may be shot down. If so, don’t give up. That’s not the only thing you can do. Some are jealous of other places and fear all change leads to becoming progressive and walking away from the Bible. Because of that, some would as soon stay in the 1970’s and steer clear of all technology and modern ways to promote God’s word. Fear, jealousy and a touch of laziness is all that is necessary to make up a whole batch of nothingness. And, nothingness leads to death.

 

Second, all of us can practice hospitality. Now that doesn’t have to cost a zillion nor does it mean putting yourself out for weeks. Clean the house up a bit. Buy some food. Invite a couple of families over. Have fun. Play some games. Sing some songs. Get to know each other. Some rarely get invited. Some believe that no one would come, even before they do the inviting. Give it a try. Togetherness outside the church building connects hearts, builds friendships and is something everyone enjoys. Now, there are some dos and don’ts when you have folks over. Don’t gossip. Don’t turn the conversation negative. Don’t talk about how dead the church is or how out of touch the elders are. Those things may be true, but your intentions are to strengthen what remains. Encourage. Make it a good night. If you can’t cook, order pizza. You don’t have to repaint the house before you can do this.

 

Third, have a Bible study in your home. Invite a few families and study something exciting and special. There are some great videos that can be used as a background to get your study going. Strength comes from our faith. Faith building is something that you can do.

 

I’ve had folks complain about how pitiful the Bible classes are in the congregations that they attend. Cry about it. Complain about it. Or, do something about it. Have your own class in your home. Make it challenging. There are many good books that you could use as a book club.

 

Fourth, so, the church building looks like a bomb went off. Dirty. Cluttered. Dusty. You can complain. You can point those things out. Or, you can get over there on a Saturday with your cleaning supplies and give the place a real spit shine. Toss papers. Clean the place top to bottom. In Spring, get over there and pull weeds. We have a couple of different folks that do that to our place. Nothing is ever said. They come, pull weeds, plant flowers, and leave. I notice. It makes us look nice. And, that’s the way you must do it. Don’t be giving the treasurer a bill for your time and your supplies. Don’t toot your horn about how nice the place looks now. It may be that no one even notices, but you will, and so will the Lord.

 

Fifth, when you hear of good ideas, share them with the preacher and elders. Now, they may do nothing. They may feel jealous and threatened. But, the manner you present these may be the beginning of some needed life. Rather than saying, “Here’s what you need to be doing,” include yourself. “Can we do this, and I help you?” I love ideas from other people and places. None of us have the complete market on all ideas. Share the Jump Starts with others.

 

Six, always pray. Pray for the congregation. Pray for the preacher and shepherds. Pray for the teachers. Pray for growth. Pray for strength and faith. Pray for yourself and your attitude.

 

Sardis was dead. Any hope of changing the place had to come from within, from among themselves. No one else was going to be their savior. Too busy. Too tired. Too indifferent. That’s all it takes to turn off the lights and close shop for good. Strengthen what remains.

 

Some of our readers are blessed to worship in large congregations that are very busy and active. Do not coast because of that. Don’t just enjoy the ride. Be a part of what they are. Other readers are in small struggling congregations. For some, the outlook is bleak. I hope these words touch your hearts and instead of waiting for the preacher or someone to rise up and change things, you can see that you can be doing things now.

 

Strengthen what remains…

 

Roger