Category Archives: Connection

Posted on

Nehemiah & COVID-19

The Prayers of Nehemiah

Nehemiah’s 1st Prayer – Nehemiah 1:4-11

Insights

  1. Nehemiah’s report of his response to the broken walls and burned gates in Jerusalem was not a quick prayer and done! Note his words; “…I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of Heaven.” (v.4b ESV)
  2. There are seasons of prayer that time and energy is required. Not just for the sake of praying, but rather events are so deeply impactful that time and energy is required because an answer is needed. Feel the weight of this prayer; “….let your ear be attentive and your eyes open…” (v.6a ESV). In others words the weight of the report about Jerusalem was so heavy that Nehemiah wanted to make sure that God was paying attention.
  3. Nehemiah confesses national sin of the people but specifically states “…I and my father’s house have sinned…” (v.6b ESV). Jerusalem was experiencing national shame and disgrace because of disobedience before God. 
  4. Notice that Nehemiah prays from a position of Biblical record and just emotional panic. He makes the record of God’s command with Moses part of his prayer vv.8-10a. “God you said…….Now hear my prayer as your servant” This is praying from a position of strength.

Observations

  1. Jerusalem’s dilemma is a lot like the COVID disruption that we are experiencing. It was sudden, thorough and traumatizing. Interestingly enough the range of emotions among faith leaders is exhaustion, stress, compassion fatigue, anger, discouragement. Behind closed doors you can hear the cries of stunned faith leaders and congregants.
  2. As of this writing we are 16 weeks into our national pandemic. We have faced reality this is more than a few days of distraction; we are faced with a disruption of our national norms. How would you summarize your prayers? Are they in a biblical context? Are we praying from a position our sacred traditions and methodologies?
  3. Because we are experiencing layered disruption on top of disruption at some point the weight of the burden will bring us all to repentance individually and nationally. It is not always about the sin we commit rather it is the sin of our silence of making Christ fully known.
  4. Our prayer today is much like Moses standing on the shore of the Red Sea. Trembling he holds up the staff of God and declares “MOVE FORWARD”! We are currently gripped in the fear of “what-if” scenarios. Stand and declare that I am moving forward into an uncertain future with the confidence that Hell’s Gates will not ever prevail against the Church.

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. 

Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

Posted on

Nehemiah & COVID-19

The Prayers of Nehemiah

Nehemiah’s 2nd Prayer – Nehemiah 2:4

Then the King said to me, ‘What are you requesting?’ So, I prayed to the God of Heaven. Nehemiah 2:4 ESV.

Insights

  1. Nehemiah finds himself before the King performing his tasks as cupbearer. His countenance was such the King noticed how he appeared, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.” Nehemiah 2:2.
  2. Nehemiah responds with words of honor in a moment of being afraid, “Let the King live forever…” v.3 He then describes the heaviness of his heart because the city of his home, the graves of his ancestry were in ruins and the gates were burned. A national crisis such as captivity will crush your heart and spirit.
  3. The King asks a question, “What are you requesting?” So, I prayed to the God of Heaven.” Since this book is a first-hand account of Nehemiah, he does not tell us exactly what he prayed and the details of what he was feeling in this moment.
  4. Nehemiah requests to return to Judah to rebuild the city.
  5. This conversation continues with the King desiring to know how long you will be gone and when will you return. Nehemiah obviously, provides a response and also offers a request for building materials the ability to travel through other regions safely. The conclusion, “And the King granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.”

Observations

  1. This is the shortest of Nehemiah’s prayers in that his countenance was being called out by the King. In a split-second Nehemiah prayed. The magnitude of this reference can only be understood in the context of days of prayer and fasting that previously had occurred in Chapter one.
  2. Nehemiah’s response should be viewed in the fact he had already wrestled with Judah’s sin that put the nation in this position in the first place. Yet, he was willing to be used to restore and rebuild the city. No small request! As you read Nehemiah’s prayer in chapter one we realize that repentance must come before empowerment.
  3. A concise response can only be offered when a thorough evaluation and honest appraisal of responsibility is dealt with. The political debate is not my motivation, we are all in this moment of crisis no matter how we got here. I am not declaring that COVID is a response of divine judgement because of national sin. However, I am declaring this intersection of historical events should at the very least cause us to pause and evaluate the trajectory of what we have called Christianity.
  4. The song “The Heart of Worship” dates back to the late 1990’s that came out of a season of apathy in the Soul Survivor church of Watford, England. Matt Redmon was the Praise and Worship director. Reminding his church family to be producers in worship, not just consumers, the pastor, Mike Pilavachi, asked, “When you come through the doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?” In the midst of awkward silence with no instruments and sound systems, over the coming weeks the church began to find their voice of worship. The song, The Heart of Worship, came out of this awkward moment and has now gone global. 
  5. Could we include “Discipleship” into this time of national reflection? As we come out from our global pandemic, our goal as a faith community is not be “FIRST” in terms of returning back 100% to what we had prior. Our prayer should focus more upon our gospel mandate of reaching the lost, discipling the saved – “rinse/repeat!”
  6. We are at a cross-roads moment of BIG “C” vs. little “c” – Kingdom of God vs. local church! Reopening our churches and businesses is proving to be far more difficult than imagined. Pastor’s emotionally are a mix of moderate optimism and discouragement and anger. You do not get a trophy for being 1st to reopen 100%.
  7. Do not build massive movements without massive impact.

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. 

Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

Posted on

Nehemiah & COVID-19

The Prayers of Nehemiah

Background Commentary

The book of Nehemiah can be divided into four segments:

  1. Nehemiah 1-3: Upon hearing of Jerusalem’s plight Nehemiah confesses his people’s sin and then requests permission from King Artaxerxes to rebuild and repair Jerusalem.
    1. Learning About the wall – 1:1-3
    1. Lamenting Over The Wall – 1:4-11
    1. The Request 2:1-10
    1. The Review 2:11-20
    1. The Repairs 3:1-32
  2. Nehemiah 4-6: The enemies threaten the rebuilding of Jerusalem – Nehemiah’s plan
    1. The Trouble 4:1-6:14
    1. The Triumph 6:15-19
  3. Nehemiah 7-10: Census; Reading God’s Words
    1. The City of God 7:1-3
    1. The People of God 7:4-65
    1. The Word of God 8:1-12
    1. The Festival of God 8:13-18
    1. The Confession to God 9:1-38
    1. The Vow to God – 10:1-39
  4. Nehemiah 11:1-36: People return; Priests and Levites return; Walls dedicated; Reform
    1. The Resettling of the cities 11:1-36
    1. The Priests and Levites return 12:1-26
    1. The rejoicing of the people 12:27-47
    1. The Reforms of Nehemiah 13:1-31

Observations & Application

  1. The Book is by the name sake of the book, Nehemiah. This is a 1st person narration of events not a narrative being told as a story. This book is not really about Nehemiah so much as it is about the people of God, their sin, restoration, and reform.
  2. COVID-19 is a 1st person narrative for all of us – we are experiencing this together. The emotional psychological toll is real and quite heavy. This started out as a simple distraction and now has turned into a very serious disruption of everything we have held as important and meaningful. 
  3. Nehemiah was moved to prayer and weeping for days. Not because of what they had and lost it, rather their sins were great, and Nehemiah understood the Biblical record of what was agreed upon and how they failed in national obedience.
  4. COVID-19 has been sudden and shocking as we are living through this disruption of our sacred norms. So that I am not misunderstood, I am not calling COVID-19 our national punishment for sins committed. I am saying this season is thrust upon us and should be used to evaluate its impact upon how we have performed church and what must change moving forward. I believe we should repent where needed. Pre-COVID the reality was that faithful attendance was 1.7x per month. That is hardly making a real difference for time and eternity. The axiom is true; What gets reported gets rewarded! Is it time to reevaluate what is being measured and counted as success? 
  5. Nehemiah will teach us thoughts of managing a crisis and coming through this season spiritually stronger and prepared. We will examine Nehemiah’s prayers and what they teach about responding to a national crisis.

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. 

Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

Posted on

Sabbath Rest Resists Exhaustion

Conviction In An Age of Compromise

“This what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15). Did you know that you are allowed to rest?

The weekly data of church leaders during our national pandemic has revealed that exhaustion, depression, and discouragement has crept into the hearts and minds of our spiritual leaders. PRAY for them – this is not the time to criticize! Leaders have acknowledged they are working harder now than pre-COVID. We must confess that we have worshipped at the altar of technology believing it has brought convenience, simplification, and made life over-all easier. Technology has caused our lives to become ragged, frazzled, and dissatisfied. This has resulted in emotional exhaustion, psychologically overworked, and spiritually malnourished. 

The answer is to over-come this nonsense by living in the four movements of Sabbath rest. Formation only occurs in repetition. So, this exercise is not a one and done exercise. It is a lifestyle that must be enforced no matter what happens around us. Consider these four Sabbath movements.

  1. Resist Work – Simply stated – STOP WORKING! Sabbath rest is when you stop acting as if you are god and open yourself to the comprehension that God is God.
  2. Resting & Restoration – It is not until you stop your work and allow Christ the Shepherd to do His work of restoration in us. Your soul is rarely nourished through entertainment. Stop acting like you are on a mission. Rest your mind, emotions, will, body, and intellectual thirst.
  3. Remember Your Identity – It is too easy to distort our identity in the workplace. One of the unique features of the DISC Profile Assessment is that it shows you three graphs: who you are at work, home, and your true self. It is not until you truly rest that that you realize you need God more now than ever. He alone is transcendent. Think about the Apostle John’s transition from being a Son of Thunder to a lover of Christ with his head on the chest of Jesus. His identity shifted.
  4. Reveling in God’s Goodness – John Ortberg suggested that we need to arrange our life so that sin no longer looks good to us. We tend to fall into a trap that our faith is only about self-denial. At some point we need to feast in the goodness of God

Sabbath cannot save your soul, but it may very well save your life! (Swoboda – Subversive Sabbath).

Marriage Retreat Online

Have you been shut-up in your home too long? Are you attempting to figure out who this other adult is in the house? Oh, that is my spouse! The pandemic quarantine has put a lot of stress on marriages and family relationships.

We are offering married couples an opportunity to participate in a unique online Marriage Retreat. The primary material will be the Birkman Questionnaire.  This tool is based upon the Psalmist words; “…we are fearfully and wonderfully made.” You will be able to see God’s unique design and creation in you and how this applies in your marriage relationship.

Key Features:

  • Each person will receive a 30+ page Birkman Report
  • Soul Conversations Exercise
  • Six Dates With Your Mates
  • Six one-hour Zoom meetings
  • Cost: $124.99/person (Each Mate will take the Birkman Questionnaire – $249.98/Couple) CLICK on this link to receive a SAMPLE report (John Q Public) before you purchase. LIMITED SEATING. Once you purchase the Questionnaire a Birkman Link will be sent to your inbox to respond to all of the questions.
  • Registration/Purchase Deadline: September 13th
  • 1st meeting September 17th 7:00pm
  • Unlimited personal emails and questions

This Marriage Retreat moves beyond theory and dives into God’s Design for you and your mate.

 

FREE GIFT

Mini-Marriage Retreat – PART #1

Mini Marriage Retreat – PART #2

Posted on

Resist Idolatry Through Godly Worship

Conviction In An Age of Compromise

Author G.K. Beale stated once that we resemble what we revere, either for ruin or restoration. Jonah 2:8 echoes this thought by saying those who worship worthless idols forfeit the mercy that could be theirs. Early church historical documents report that idols are the fruit of a disordered life where we allow an inordinate and immoderate setting of our minds upon other things beyond our devotion to Christ.

1 John 2:15-17 constructs the idea of Heart Idols and Cultural Idols. A Heart Idol would be things that we elevate to pseudo divinity in our hearts. Cultural Idols are things in the world that seizes our affection and devotion.

The real problem with deception is that you do not know you are being deceived. It feels right to you. Idols function like spiritual forgeries that imitate Godly character but actually it distorts that character. The study of theology is not for seminarians but everyday worshippers. We need to know the God of the Bible so that we can identify idols that attempt to lure us away from true worship. DISTORTION and DESTRUCTION should be of concern to every Christ follower. Christianity is not just thinking differently but behaving differently (Romans 1:21). Romans 1:18 is perhaps a splash of cold water needed today; “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”

How do we respond to idolatry the correct way? Philip wrote in 1985 in his book, Church; Why Bother stating that the church exists primarily not to provide entertainment or build self-esteem or to facilitate friendships but to worship God; if it fails in that it fails. The ultimate goal of worship he suggests is get worshippers in touch with God. God is not interested solely in our behavior. Moralism suggests that behavior is foremost. Secularism thinks that character traits are foremost. But God wants our hearts!Psalm 139:23-24 states; “Search me God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive ways in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting.” True Christian worship is one of the primary arenas in which we participate in the practices that shape who we are. When we seek the Kingdom of God first of all, love him with our whole heart, and prize our loyalty to him, a watching world will be compelled to ask about the difference they see in our lives. The power of true worship is greater than all of the forces arrayed against us at this moment of history. True worship outlasted the Reich in the 1930’s and it will outlast COVID-19.

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. 

Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

Posted on

Reawakening of The Church

Conviction in an Age of Compromise

In a New York Times article 2015 entitled, The Googling of God by Davidowitz gave some interesting Google Search stats. Porn searches were up 83% that year and heroin searches were up 32%. “Love thy neighbor” was the top search with the word neighbor in the search phrase. This was followed by a very close second place phrase, “neighbor porn.” The top phrase with God in it was “God of War” a video game.

It feels that 2020 is the apex of a difficult decade 2011-2020. The church that Jesus founded on the basis of compassion and grace has at times failed to resemble its founder. We all cringe at celebrity Pastor failures, scandal’s in the church, abuses, political hijacking of the church, indifference to human suffering have honestly caused people to leave the church. There is one data point that is shocking – faithful church attendance is measured by those who attend 1.7x in 30 days. That is touching the church twice in 30 days – large gathering or small group. Really!

In the sermon on The Mount Jesus stated “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” (Matthew 5:13). Malachi 2:3 is a bit more graphic, “Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; I will smear on your faces the dung from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it.” Ouch!

The Church Is Still The Bride of Christ

Jesus does not view the church simply through a doctrinal, moral, ethical, or sociological lens; He views it through a covenantal lens. Author and speaker Frank Viola states; In Genesis 1-2, the Bible opens with a woman and a man. In Revelation 21-22, the Bible closes with a woman and man. The opens with a wedding, and it ends with a wedding, it opens with marriage and ends with marriage….The Bible is essentially a love story.”[1] Notice the wedding metaphor in Exodus 6:6-7 when Moses spoke to the children of Israel leading them into their destiny; I will take you out; I will rescue you; I will redeem you; I will take you to me.

Fast forward from Exodus to Christ’s ministry in the New Testament. John 2:20 reports the Temple had been under construction for 46 years and according to Rabbinical report there was no building as spectacular as the Temple. Yet part of the scandal of Jesus’ ministry was that he called this beautiful monument a den of robbers and He cleansed it with a whip and over-turning the money changers tables. The difference of perspective is still lost today. The Rabbi’s failed to see the Glory of God had left – Jesus’ observation was a worship center that was nothing more than a religious program void of substance.

Because of the blood of Jesus Christ and our being united with Him we have become the temple of God. That quite honestly is an outrageous claim! Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 this very fact. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” The Incarnation meant that God was with us. Through the death of Christ on the cross, we have become that place where God dwells. The church is the temple of God, embodying the presence of God on earth. The question is can others see this reality in us? God is not interested in dominating a domain. He is interested in partnering with people. The tangible presence of Christ is manifested through us!In spite of the avalanche of trouble, change, and the irreverence, the church is still standing and walking with a limp but walking nonetheless! At this intersection of history what does it look like to love God and love our neighbor? I believe it looks like worship, sabbath rest, and insatiable spiritual hunger. Practice hospitality, give honor, love enemies, sacrifice, and celebrate God’s goodness together!

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. 

Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

[1] Frank Viola, From Eternity To Here: Discovering The Ageless Purpose of God (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2009), 25.

Posted on

Online Ministry Tensions

Summer is Concluding – COVID Remains

As summer comes to a close, the pandemic continues to grip the United States, forcing pastors to consider what it means to lead online or hybrid church services into the fall of 2020. At the top of the list of concerns for the leaders is how to do Kids and Student ministry. One half of ministry leaders are struggling with this area of church work. Additionally, 44% of spiritual leaders are struggling with how to conduct a hybrid church format. Add another layer of disruption to this conversation 35% of spiritual leaders are facing burnout.

I personally can relate to these statistics. I have had my dark days recently that has swept over me like a flood. This season of history has been a very real disruption. Many ministers have felt like they did not sign up to all of sudden become a digital pastor. So, I think a lot of spiritual leaders are being forced into positions where they either have theological reservation or a lack of practical skill. They’re being forced to operate out of a weakness and against their preferences and convictions. And that gets draining!

Personal branding and efforts to have large audiences is not where many efforts are being focused. I feel like many leaders just want to love on their attendees and make sure they are OK! Yet we are faced with the notion that faith runs the risk of diminishing in some Christians. We do not want that to happen, but it will! All the more that our prayer ministry efforts are to increase, not decrease. This is a spiritual battling!

Could it be there is a theological reexamination that is taking place in people’s thinking? It is difficult to live in a James chapter one frame of mind – “Count it all joy…” I have engaged many conversations with people who are angry, confused, discouraged, and disillusioned. Loss of jobs and relationships that are being strained. Do not be over-whelmed or discouraged. I do not believe that struggling with God is not a sign of losing faith. It’s a sign of deepening faith. Wrestling with God is a gift and leads to further maturity. I think with skillful leadership, this can be a sign of growth, but it is hard work to continually revisit that week after week and live through it.

Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. 

Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com

Posted on

Conviction In an Age of Compromise

Theological Declaration of Barmen

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Jesus luminary of the last century. His faithfulness to Jesus Christ at a time the church in Germany was failing has stood the test of time. Author Gaylon Barker writing about this period of history suggests that Hitler did not want to just control Germany politically; he wanted to control the hearts and souls of the citizens. Assuming this is correct, Germany was in both a spiritual battle as well as a political battle at the same time. This would eventually lead to the darkest period of human history with the extermination of more than six million Jews.

Apathy allowed the take-over of the German Evangelical Church. Once Hitler gained control of the church by means of weak clergy they sought to modify the Bible by removing the Old Testament, revise the liturgies, and remove all non-believing ministers who did not support the Aryan movement.

In a 1934 Synod the Confessing Church was born. Bonhoeffer signed the Declaration of Barmen     – a manifesto that declared the church was to be loyal to Christ and not the State. This document was written by Karl Barth and Early Church Theologian. From this meager beginning an underground seminary was born to equip ministers and laity to stand against the power of Nazism. Seminary life would consist of prayer, Scripture study, Confession, and daily living together. This small beginning believed in the millennial reign of Christ, not the reign of the Reich.

A young historian named, Wilhelm Niesel heard about this seminary and left Berlin to see for himself what was going on in Finkenwalde, Germany. Questioning the intensity of such discipleship training Bonhoeffer took Niesel on a rowboat journey to Oder Sound. On top of a hill from the shoreline you could see and hear the German airfield with military flights leaving to destroy population centers. Bonhoeffer stated to his guest, “This must be stronger than that! The Reich is dead – the gospel of Christ and Bonhoeffer’s passion still lives.Knowing that whatever is measured is rewarded – the real question is what value are we willing to place upon discipleship in the face of our national pandemic?

Posted on

Church Building Vs Home/Community

Facility-centric has become the dominate model for Gospel Ministry

One thing this crisis has revealed is how facility-centric the dominant model of ministry has been for generations in the Western Church. Take away our buildings, and we’re all a little lost. One trend developing before our eyes is the home as the new center of life. In the last six months, work, food preparation, entertainment, school, and shopping are now more home-based than ever.  And for 6 months, that’s been true of church.

Not everything will shift in the direction of the home. How long will the current shift last is anyone’s guess? However, there is no denying a shift has occurred. Leadership responsibility is to understand a shift has occurred therefore, new methods and directions of operations must be added to maintain audience and effective communication of our Gospel message.

So that we do not miss the 900lb elephant in the room, let’s remind ourselves of the church’s mandate; “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 NIV. If I am hearing this mandate correctly I hear a Christ-centric focus.

Our national quarantine has accelerated marital problems that were brewing in the home and a new phenomenon – appropriate end-of-live celebrations has been radically altered to 10-15 people in a service while live-streaming the ceremony. This has left a hollow feeling in people’s soul. Add to this list, parents who are very stressed over their children’s education – virtual Vs. classroom. Human connections that is Christ-centric is needed for meaningful impact. Keeping Christ in our focus is more crucial now than ever.The national snapshot of the Kingdom of God is that only 50% of churches has reopened with some precautions at week #17. Many churches will not reopen until January 2021. This is everyone’s concern. There is no trophy for being 1st to fully recover pre-pandemic attendance numbers. Christ-centric focus recognizes the intense pain and difficulties by engaging people in the moment of their difficulty. This ministry focus will look and sound different but will be effective. WHY? The human element is still the focus of why we exist.