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Fatherless

I started reading, “It’s Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men” by S. Truett Cathy

Chapter One shares these disturbing facts about fatherlessness in the United States:

The Results of Fatherlessness:

The United States is the world’s leader in fatherless homes. The results of our actions, according to the Father’s Manifesto:

  • 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes
  • 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes (I personally see the results of this daily).
  • 80% of rapists motivated with displaced angers come from fatherless homes.
  • 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes
  • 85% of youth in prison grew up in fatherless homes
  • 75% of all adolescent patients in drug treatment centers come from fatherless homes (I personally see this manifest itself in adult males, daily)

Children from Fatherless Homes are:

  • 5 times more likely to commit suicide
  • 32 times more likely to run away
  • 20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders
  • 14 times more likely to commit rape
  • 9 times more likely to drop out of school
  • 10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances
  • 9 times more likely to end up in a state-operated institution
  • 20 times more likely to end up in prison

When we hear or read ‘fatherless’ homes, we tend to assume that there is no father figure in the home, however Truett Cathy points out that many, “children all around us are growing up without strong positive guidance from their parents, who are busy, distracted, absent, or who choose to be buddies instead of parents to their children.” Some fatherless homes are homes with a disengaged father living in them. So, whether the father has left the home or is simply disengaged and still living in the home; a father’s choices and actions make a huge impact on his children.

Truett Cathy makes the following point, “Don’t be too concerned that your children don’t listen to you. But be very concerned that they see everything you do.” Mr. Cathy’s story is one of a disengaged father, but he had a Sunday School teacher that came along and provided a positive, father-like influence in his life that made a huge impact in his life.

In what ways do you as a dad need to engage your children in a positive, Biblical way to impact their future? Do you know of any children that have a disengaged or an absent father in their life that you can influence in a positive, Biblical way as a father-like mentor?

 

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Jesus Heals the 10 Lepers…the Story Continued

Luke 17:11-17 (NLT) Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?

If this story took place in modern Christianity, the story would continue something like this…

Then Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” The Samaritan replied, “My Lord, don’t you know….?”

  • The second leper was upset by the style music you were humming
  • The third leper did not like the “disreputable” friends you like to hangout with
  • The fourth leper felt like the other lepers were excluding him
  • The fifth leper didn’t like the color of the rug you were standing on when you healed him
  • The sixth leper didn’t like the way you healed him, and thought he could probably heal people better
  • The seventh leper didn’t think you were dressed like a proper priest
  • The eighth leper thought you were asking WAY too much of him after healing him from leprosy
  • The ninth leper thought it was too far of a distance to travel to come back and worship you
  • The tenth leper said he may come back and thank you when it’s convenient, but you know, he has a lot going on right now

…three of the lepers stayed home and continued living life the way that was most convenient for them and the other 6 lepers went and joined another church where they could complain about the methods Jesus was using to heal people of their leprosy.

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The Two Faces of Leadership

Leadership Face One

Many of us have heard it taught that God ordains leaders and places them in their positions of authority and influence. I believe this.

A paraphrased look at the three most popular passages that we get this teaching from is…. Daniel 4:17, it tells us that, “the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses, even the lowliest of men.” Romans 13:1 tells us that those in positions of authority have been placed there by God; and finally 1 Peter 2:13-14 tells us to respect all human authority…kings…heads of state…or officials….he has appointed.

This is one face of leadership.

As Andy Stanley shared at the Catalyst Conference several years ago. Leadership is a stewardship, it is temporary and leaders will be held accountable for the influence God has entrusted to us.

If God ordains one to a position of leadership, that leader should steward that influence well. Andy presented three truths as to how we can steward our influence as leaders well: 1) Diligence – As Colossians 3:23 instructs us, we should work at whatever we do (or are called to do) with all our hearts. 2) Fearlessness – The final statement given to us in Colossians 3:23 is this, as for the Lord and not for men. A leader can only lead well when his concern for disobeying God is greater than his fear of disappointing people. 3) Humility – God placed us in the positions that he has placed us in; therefore we have no reason and no room to be arrogant or prideful in our leading.

This part of leadership is what everyone talks about. But, what about the second part of leadership? The part that is implied but unspoken? The part that most overlook and never talk about?

Leadership’s Second Face

I know several people that have a history of leadership, but for some reason they are struggling to get hired as a pastor or a youth pastor or as a manager or in some other leadership capacity that they’ve served as in the past. They want to be leaders again, but the door is not opening.

I also know several people that have never been leaders that would probably chew off their right arm (or left, if they are right handed) to be placed in a leadership position. Several of the people I can place in this category have a misconception about leadership and it’s requirements. They see what they perceive as the “perks” of leadership, but they have no idea about the struggles, the pain and the difficulties that come with the position. They think a leadership title of director, pastor or manager will change their life. For some, it’s an issue of power and control. They fail to understand that Being bossy doesn’t make someone a boss.

If it is true that God appoints people to their position of leadership then it must also be true that God does not appoint some people into positions of leadership. This is another face of leadership. It’s a truth we don’t point out much.

But, it is healthy to point it out. People need to know that it is okay to serve in support roles. To be the associate or the assistant or even a volunteer. We glorify the leadership position too much, so much so that people want the glorification of the position. They think it will provide them more perks or more rights, whereas the truth of leadership remains that in positions of leadership our rights decrease while our responsibilities increase.

If one loves the organization that God has placed them in and they truly want the best for that organization, they will serve and support wherever the need is. Someone that’s out for their own glory, power, prestige and/or position will hinder the organization by attempting to force themselves into a position God did not appoint them to, or they will hijack progress by refusing to cooperate fully within the role God has placed them in. Colossians 3:23 and 1 Corinthians 10:31 applies to people filling support roles as much as it applies to those God has placed in leadership positions. With every verse that we are told that God appoints people to positions of leadership, we also get as much instruction (or more) to follow those leaders and to follow them well.

If I am not serving in a leadership position, does that mean God will never appoint me to a leadership position? No, but but there is the possibility that he might not. The question should be, “Am I willing to serve in whatever role God has for me?” If you are not in a leadership position and you are trying to get back into a leadership position or you are trying to obtain a leadership position for the first time, here are some ideas that may be of help to you:

  • Pray – Make your requests and desires known to God while you wait
  • Prepare – Everyone influences someone. Prepare for the possibility of assuming a future leadership position by developing your leadership skills with those God has allowed you to have influence over (family, children, etc.) How do you communicate to them? How do you develop them? Work on those skills.
  • Properly Support – Along the lines of preparing to be in a leadership position, how you support those in leadership positions go a long way to how you develop into a stronger leader. John Maxwell has a great article on “Leading from the Middle of the Pack” that gives great insight into this.
  • Patience and Flexibility – God places people into positions. If it is his desire for you to be there, he will place you there. God gave Joseph a dream that he would one day be in a leadership position, but it took him approximately 22 years to see that dream come to pass. But, what if God does not have a position for you? Remain flexible and fulfill your support role to the glory of God.
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Monday Rewind

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Sermon Series: Life. Money. Hope.

Sermon Title: “Money Talks”

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21; Genesis 4:1-7

The Biblical truths in week 1’s  sermon must be grasped in order to fully apply the rest of the messages we will hear from Dave Ramsey in the next three weeks.

  1. The way we manage money COMMUNICATES our inward value system
  • Jesus, has a perfect record as a financial adviser
  • Matthew 6:19 – Jesus advises that the foolish way to invest our money is on earthly things. Everything on earth has an expiration date; it breaks down, devalues and you can’t take it with you to Heaven.
  • Matthew 6:20 – Jesus advises that the wisest way to invest our money is in heavenly things; in advancing the Kingdom of God through the gospel. Heavenly things are eternal and will never expire

A. Our financial investments communicate what’s most IMPORTANT to us

Matthew 6:21“Wherever your treasure (money) is (Earthly Investments or Heavenly Investments), there the desires of your heart (what’s important to you) will also be.”

  • (Gen 4:1-2) Adam and Eve are blessed by God with two sons, Cain and Abel
  • (Gen 4:2) Cain and Abel both grew up and took on jobs; Cain and farmer and Abel a shepherd
  • (Gen 4:3-4) At harvest (payday) both Cain & Abel brought a gift (offering) to the Lord out of the product of their labors (paycheck)
  • Gen 4:3) Cain brought SOME of his crops to the Lord as an offering
  • Gen 4:4) Abel brought the FIRST and the BEST of his flock as an offering

Cain’s gift of just some of his crops as an offering to the Lord reveals that he put little thought and little heart into his gift

People who just give some of their resources back to God don’t have a GIVING problem; they have a WORSHIP problem.

  • The root of every sin is a worship problem.

Abel’s offering was an offering rooted in his worship of God. It required effort and a lot of thought.

  • Abel’s offering of the first and the best of his flock required great faith on Abel’s part. He did not know what the rest of his flock would produce after his offering; this required total reliance on God.
  • When we tithe and give God the first and the best of the resources he has blessed us with, we should do so in worship of God and in faith, trusting that he will provide everything we need with the remaining 90%

Hebrews 11:4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did [read rest of verse]

  • TITHING has nothing to do with rules and everything to do with FAITH
  • Notice: God did not take issue with how Cain & Abel used their remaining resources, it was the offering that he accepted or rejected because it was this offering that revealed the condition of their heart and the condition of their worship.
  • Cain did not have a giving problem…he had a worship problem
  • If you are not giving God your first and your best, you don’t have a giving problem…you have a worship problem, too.

(Gen. 4:4-7) “Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you.” – When we are out of line in our worship of God it opens us up to being controlled and overtaken by other sin.

  • Cain was eventually overtaken and controlled by sin; he murdered his brother Abel.
  • Cain’s sin began when he worshiped the creation of God over God, who created all things.
  • Our sin begins with the same improper worship of God.

Practical Take-Home Truths:

  1. Earthly INVESTMENTS will not survive; heavenly investments last FOREVER
  2. An HONEST inventory of how I manage my money will reveal what I value most in life
  3. God deserves my FIRST and my BEST not just SOME and the REST
  4. Giving my first and best involves: WORSHIP, FAITH and OBEDIENCE
  5. My mismanagement of God’s resources is not a GIVING problem; it’s a WORSHIP problem
  6. My giving PROTECTS my heart from being overtaken by sin

 

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Exciting News!!!

This Friday we close on a house in Grovetown!!! For over three years we’ve been praying for and looking for the right house in the Grovetown area, so we can be in the city where God has called us to serve in ministry through New Passion Church. Several weeks ago, I started specifically praying that God would bless us with a home in a specific neighborhood for two reasons: 1) Our kids are growing and our 1,100 sq. ft. home was closing in on us – I am not complaining about the house we are leaving, God blessed us with it as well and it served its purpose. We are blessed to have a roof over our head! 2) For ministry – The house gives me a larger office for New Passion meetings and work, it allows us to host families for dinner and New Passion events and it puts us in a strategic area for other ministry purposes. Gavin already has several friends in the neighborhood and it will be great to connect more with their parents and others in the area.

The funny thing is, we weren’t even really looking for this house. Nicki got an email alert for another house that hit the market in our price range, but we were told it immediately had an offer on it, so we found this one by God’s leading 🙂 Funny thing is, the other house went back on the market immediately after we signed our contract on this house which is a much better home.

How you can pray for us:

The loan has been approved, but it has been sent off to Atlanta as a part of the Georgia Dream program. The loan processor said this process can take up to 7 days which will land us right on our closing date. We are praying that everything is sent back before Friday so there are no issues.

This week will be busy as we pack and get ready to move this coming weekend.

I’m excited to be a true part of the area God has called us to serve in. I can’t wait to be neighbors with our people!