Hello my name is church

Stumbled across this article that I thought those of us in the church would be interested in:

Hello my name is church,

I'm sure you've heard a lot about me. I have no shortage of critics. Perhaps you have heard that I am...

Boring
Shallow
Cheap
A waste of time

You've heard that I am full of:

Hypocrites
Clowns
Greedy people
The self-righteous

Maybe you have visited me before and discovered:

Horrible music
Passionless singing
Dry preaching
Rude congregants

Maybe you needed me and I was:

Too busy
Too "righteous"
Too broke
Too blind

Maybe you joined me and found I was:

Distant
Demanding
Dull
Preoccupied

Maybe you tried to serve in me but were caught off guard by:

Business meetings
Committees
Teams
Bureaucracy

Maybe you left and were surprised that nobody:

Called
Cared
Noticed
Invited you back

Perhaps your experience has driven you to:

Speak negatively of me
Swear to never come back to me
Proclaim that no one needs me
Believe you're better off without me

If this is true, I have something to say to you:

I'm sorry
I was wrong
I blew it
I made a huge mistake

But remember, I never said my name was:

Perfect
Flawless
Complete
Arrived

My name is church. I welcome the:

Hypocrite
Dry
Self-righteous
Shallow

I welcome the

Sincere
Passionate
Forgiving
Selfless

I cannot shut my doors to the people who make you:

Angry
Uncomfortable
Impatient
Self-conscious

But I would remind you that we couldn't always worship in the same room. In the Old Testament there was a division between the:

Gentile
Jew
Man
Woman

In order for us to all worship in the same room Christ was:

Shamed
Beaten
Killed
Resurrected

Which is far worse than being:

Bored
Uncomfortable
Embarrassed
Ignored

So why not come back to church and let all of these messed up people:

Challenge you
Sharpen you
Strengthen you
Humble you

I can't promise you that the people will be great. This is church. It's not:

Heaven
Paradise
Beulah Land
The Celestial city

Come back.

God wants you here.
The body needs you here.
The world needs your witness here.
You belong here.

Hello, my name is church.

I miss you.
I love you.
I'm sorry.
Can't wait to see you.

Follow The Unappreciated Pastor on Facebook: www.facebook.com/unappreciated.pastor

I found the article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-unappreciated-pastor/hello-my-name-is-church_b_4124322.html

The Truth behind Fear

     To put it simple the truth is, fear is good for you. "What..?!" How? I'm glad you asked. We know the Bible say the "fear" of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But will fearing to witness to others stop me from going to heaven? No, unless you let fear consume you and you never do as Christ instructs us to do. Now, let me tell you about some men of God that admitted to being fearful. Moses, Jonah, Jeremiah and Paul just to name a few.

     We all know the story of Moses, the man that God chose to be the voice for Israelite's. We know how he pleaded with God saying that he was not an eloquent speaker. You Should also be familiar with Jonah and his fear to go witness to the Ninevite's. His fear was so great that it caused him to try to run from God. Jeremiah may not be on the forefront of your mind but he too wrestled mentally with wanting to minister the word of God. When he was called the first thing he said to God was "Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child." Lastly remember Paul, the man that worked for Rome before God met him and "opened his eyes." In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul admits that when he came to speak the word to the Corinthians he had "fear and much trembling." 

     All these men, though they never met have one thing in common. That is the Power of God to aide them in delivering "His" message. In fact if you read their stories you will see that God speaks to each of them.  I also noticed that when God wanted to deliver the nations he physically came down to give instructions. He came down to speak to Moses in the burning bush. He also came down to speak to the disciples and to Paul. We can rest assured that we too have God's support when we go to witness "His" word.

     I know I veered off a little bit from the subject matter but I did so, so that you could see that "Greater is he that is within me than he that is in the world." But for many that concept is still hard to grasp, so I will say it this way. If you were in a helicopter or on a high hill watching a babbling crowd headed towards a ravine. Would you say anything or hope that they somehow notice it before its too late? I'm sure that love will cause you to speak out even if it was to say "STOP...!" That one word may be enough to save someone's life who in return will see the danger ahead and tell the next guy who then tells the next and so on.

     Believe it or not that is how God works. If you tell someone loud enough to the point of belief they will be moved/compelled to tell someone else. This causes a wonderful chain reaction of God filled converts because of one voice, and it started with Christ. If Christ lives in you, you should yearn as Christ did for the lost. I will leave you with is final word; 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (NIV) 
     I pray that this touches your heart and has helped you see that fear is natural, but instead of ignoring God as Jonah did let your love for the lost cause you to speak boldly as Paul did. Even if it is with fear and trembling. ~ Be Blessed.
  

Using your testimony for Gods purpose.

     Today, Virgel Braswell, stressed the importance of sharing your testimony and passing on your experiences with God. After repeating his message again and again it got me thinking how significant it really is as a tool to witness to others.I realize that the significance is not in how glamorous or boring your testimony sounds. The core of your testimony is that Christ saved you. Many people feel that they don't have a testimony because they were not strung out on drugs, committed murder or lost in the world in a whirlwind of sin. But the truth of the matter is we all were in a whirlwind of sin until we met Christ.
     Despite that simple truth many still say in their heart's that *Doug still has a stronger and more motivational testimony. Since Doug was once a gang banger, drug dealer/user and because of a gun fight he was accused of murder and did time in the pen. While there he found God because of a jailhouse witness program that came to minister to them. When he got out he joined that church and has been serving on the front lines of the street ministry team, preach the word to those who are headed down the same road he was on.
     Wow, you look at this and think I cant compete with that...! But the truth is there are more average Joe's than there are thug criminals. You can reach more people on your level by telling your simple truth. People want to know that they can relate to someone. Again many people are just like you and have never seen a needle or held a gun. But they have sinned and are in need of a savior, that's where your testimony has room to minister.

     To help you better see how filthy you once were, compare your old life with Gods law, the ten commandments. Have you ever been angry with your brother for no reason, that is murder in Gods eye. Have you ever looked upon a woman/man to lust after them? Well that's adultery by His standards. Have you ever taken anything that did not belong to you (regardless of the value), or lied to a friend to spare their feelings? When you look at where you were and reconsider your testimony you may have been a murderer, adulterer, liar and blasphemer.
     Furthermore God said that if at anytime you violate any of them you are guilty of them all. That is why we need a savior. Tell your testimony through the eyes of God and people will see that they need a savior because they are average Joe's just like me and you. Use your testimony in conjunction with Gods law they are powerful together, so use them..!

*(fictional character I created for the purpose of demonstration)

S.O.S. "The Christian Test"

     A person does not become a Christian to flee from his hardships in life. In fact becoming a Christian will cause hardships to come into your life, so that you may be refined. A person becomes a christian because they realize that they have offended the one true God and is in need of a savior. The bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It also teaches us that the word of God is written upon the hearts of every person. This is evident when you check your conscience (con = with; science = knowledge).
     I want you to search you own heart to see if you have become a Christian for the right reason. When you walked down that isle to the foot of Gods throne to surrender your life were you remorseful about the sins that you had committed? Did you do it knowing that you sinned against a holy and righteous God, or were you just trying to run from the consequences of sin? Time does not erase sin, nor does "good deeds", so when you came to Christ did you repent and turn from the things that were displeasing in his site?
     By your own admission of you being a Christian, are you living up to what it means to be one? A Christian is first remorseful and accepts that he/she is a sinner in need of a savior. He/she does not try to justify their sins or try to erase them with "good deeds". He/she accepts Christ as Lord of his/her life and clings to the things of God with dear life. If you truly believe that Christ has saved you, these things would not be a problem.
     For instance, if you were out at sea then some how you fell overboard, when someone throws you a life preserver would you just look at it believing that it would save you but never put it on? "No..!" You would cling to it knowing that without it you would eventually drown. Because, when you truly believe in something your actions reflect that belief. In the case of the life preserver, if you believe it will save your life you show it by putting it on.
     The same holds true as a Christian, if you believe that Christ will save your live you have to show it as he did. Christ did not come to earth to have a good time among those that he created. Instead he came to share the truth to those that were perishing. His desire is for every man to be saved, But with out the truth they will drown in their sins. We therefore must do as he did and go into the world to share his message. For we know that no man seeks after God, but upon every mans heart the truth is written. We therefore have to shine the light upon that truth to help bring them out of darkness.
     Lastly if you truly are a Christian you can not watch a man drown and not try to save him. Think about all the men and women that we pass in the grocery stores, malls, local pharmacy and even in our own neighborhoods that we never take the time to speak to because of fear. Are you going to sit back and truly watch them drown or are you going to extend a life preserver? Its not as hard as you think, because God has already given us an inside man, their conscience. I encourage you to click on the "Way of the Master" link (left side of the screen under "Resources") and find out how to better witness to the lost. ~ Be Blessed.

our work

As cultural opposition toward Christianity grows, what is its effect on your evangelism at work? Are you more faithful or more fearful?

You could hardly be blamed for being more fearful. The rapid advance of social liberalism and human resources policies promoting workplace “tolerance” only exacerbate the two fears we commonly cite for not sharing the gospel with our co-workers: fear of social harm and fear of career repercussions, like job loss or career stalls.

Evangelism has always been hard. If there is anything new about our challenges today, it’s how emboldened the opposition seems to be. Non-Christians used to say “To each his own.” Now they are just as likely to accuse us of stupidity (“Seriously, you don’t believe in evolution?”) or hateful bigotry (“How dare you say homosexuality is a sin?”). Employers increasingly do rigorous social media background checks before making hiring and promotion decisions. How long before companies who are fearful of workplace harassment and discrimination pass over the more visible Christian for someone who makes fewer waves?

In spite of all this, I am so grateful for the brothers who feared God more than man and shared the gospel with me. My own faith is the fruit of workplace evangelism.

LOST, AND FOUND IN THE WORKPLACE

Twelve years ago, I was a researcher at a mid-sized consulting firm in Washington, DC. I was a self-confident, self-sufficient, professionally-prospering Hindu. You wouldn’t have assumed I was spiritually uncertain. Frankly, I didn’t know I was spiritually uncertain. What I was not was a guy who was actively seeking Christ.

Enter my Christian colleague Hunter. Well-known and well-liked around the office, Hunter was a high-performing sales guy with a range of interests. Someone told me, “He’s a Christian, ya’ know.” Neither one of us knew for sure what that meant, but both of us believed it was relevant enough to add a knowing, “Huh.”

I did know Hunter didn’t fit the mold of a Christian that I had mentally constructed. Christians were nice, old-fashioned, hypocritical, one-note tunes. Hunter wasn’t that. So I started watching him.

We became friends. We spent time together and talked about a range of topics—The Simpsons, Lord of the Rings, Christ, Krishna, coffee, work. While the Lord used Hunter to pursue me, I never felt like a project, just a friend. As only God can do, he providentially arranged for Hunter to be there at the same time that God orchestrated a spiritual crisis in my life. And he gave Hunter the wisdom and boldness to speak truth into my life when I needed it most.

BEHAVIORS OF A WORKPLACE EVANGELIST

While young in the faith himself at the time, there is much about Hunter’s example that any believer can apply in a workplace setting.

1. Put Christ on the Table
First, put Christ on the table. Because it can be rare to meet Christians in the workplace, it is essential that people in your office know that you are a follower of Christ. That way you can make yourself available to weaker believers and an example to non-believers. It was a non-Christian colleague who told me about Hunter’s faith. Obviously we should not do this obnoxiously or irresponsibly, but by recounting your weekend, describing a Bible study that you are in, or sharing how you pray for others, people will soon know.

2. Work with Excellence
Second, work with excellence. When you put Christ on the table, expect to be studied by your peers as I studied Hunter. Work in a way that reflects the creativity, purpose, and goodness of God. Demonstrate faithfulness and integrity. Work “without grumbling or complaining” (Phil. 2:14). Submit to those in authority, and serve humbly.
This in itself isn’t evangelism, but the content of our lives at work should reinforce, not undermine, the content of the gospel message we share.

3. Love your Peers
Third, love your peers. Invest in friendships with non-Christians in your workplace, not perfunctorily as “projects,” but lovingly as those made in God’s image. Don’t underestimate the importance of trust. Consider that it was a year and a half after Hunter and I met that we studied the Bible together and God gave me ears for the gospel.
Use your lunch break strategically. As you’re able, make generous use of hospitality, where you can share your life with a colleague away from the office and the usual chit-chat and office banter.

4. Prepare to Evangelize
Fourth, prepare to evangelize. As silly as this may sound, be sure you know how to easily explain the gospel. Practice if you need to.
When the Lord provides an opportunity, you don’t want your inner voice screaming at you for being unclear—you want your mind free to listen to your colleague and what they are struggling to understand. After all, it is the gospel that saves, not our quick wit and strong grasp of apologetics. I praise God for Hunter’s clarity, boldness, and trust in power of the gospel.

5. Pray
Fifth, pray. Pray for your colleagues regularly. Pray for good opportunities to share the gospel. Pray that you would grow in boldness. Pray that God would be big and man would be small—we’re all guilty of getting the two mixed up.

And invite brothers and sisters in your church to pray as well. Hunter later told me that his men’s Bible study group was praying for me from the moment I asked him about his Christian faith.

A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS

As workplaces grow more hostile to Christianity, these basic practices will be all the more essential. The Lord has been kind to answer my many prayers for good opportunities and the words to speak. Being known as a Christian, living out my faith professionally and interpersonally, and loving my colleagues more as God’s image-bearers has gained me opportunities to speak openly of my faith. And, in his amazing grace, God has chosen to use me to bring a colleague to faith.

We should expect the Lord to answer our prayers and grant us opportunities to speak of Christ, so pray for boldness. And be willing to spend your relational capital. God has put you where you are for a purpose.

Ashok Nachnani is an elder at First Baptist Church in Durham, NC, and a strategy executive at a multinational energy management company.

http://www.9marks.org/blog/evangelism-workplace

I came across this article via challies.com and right away knew that I had to share because this is exactly what we've been talking about in our study.

As children of a wonderful God we are to be good stewards of the things that God gives/blesses us with. Including but not limited to our life, money, time, house, children, our worldly possessions and even the very air we breath. So last week I asked the following question as a survey to some friends, family and co-workers. I would like for you to reply to the question before you read the replies, so that you can answer honestly with out any outside influences.

If you were given 1 million (tax free) dollars, and two options as to what you were to do with it, which would you choose?

These are the options: (1) Since you have a job you could give it away to a group of below poverty families, chosen by the person who gave you the money. In return you get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped someone worse off than you. Or (2) You can keep the money and do as you see fit, (pay off student loans, old debts, buy a house, etc..). These are your options think about it as if the money is sitting right in front of you right now. How would you reply to that question? Please send me a return message with your “honest” answer..! Thanks.

Again before you proceed, if you have not done so, go to the comments section and leave your honest answer before reading any further. Don't worry there is no right or wrong answer, this is just a good time for you to search you heart.

I have a few replies that I would like to share but first I want to share my honest reply. I would honestly take the money and do as "I" saw fit. Remember that it was "given to me." It would not matter the source from which it came because I know that, "My Father knows the things "I" need before I ask, and that the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the just." (Matthew 6:8, Proverbs 13:22). Now that it belongs to me I would therefore "first" give $100k to the church that encouraged me to be the man of God that I am, Canaan Worship Center of KCMO. Then take care of my home, because again the bible says (in 1 Timothy 5:8) that a person that does not take care of their relatives, especially the members of their household has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. So I would be sure to take care of my family then those that were less fortunate than myself that God leads me to help, may it be a random person on the street or a charitable organization.

Now that you know my heart, I will share a few replies of some others.:

Before any of the options, I would give first to the Lord (all if it is HIS anyway), then help out those less fortunate than me.

I would choose #2  and buy a house and buy my daughter a house and the rest I would choose to give to who I want—like salvation army –the food kitchen, big brothers……

I would pay off everything, make sure my family was ok and then go from there. I do know that God is who gives us what we have. I would hope I would do what is right with what He allotted me.

 I would keep some and give some away is my honest answer.  It would not be an all or nothing either way.

#2 for me…. My first option is to take care of home, then church, then help others if needed…

My honest answer is neither.

I would give it to my church for missions projects

Well, at first I thought about myself.  Then God put it on my heart to reply with option number 1.  Part of being blessed is blessing someone else.  See as stated in the scenario below, I already have a job. Although I would like to pay off my debt, I could not help but think of the unfortunate.  So, I would help those in poverty rather than help myself.  There is so much more joy in that.

Regarding your question, I would say that it would matter to me who this fictitious person or institution is - giving away the 1 million.
Say it was some kind of settlement or government refund of some sort.  In that case I would be much more inclined to use it up for personal/family use (pay off bills, better car, kids’ college, etc). Then I would give some away (to missionaries, Christian charities, etc.)
If the gift was from say, a wealthy Christian person, I would revert the priorities more. I would be more willing & ready to give a greater amount of it away to worthy causes, more aligned to the giver’s wishes. 

~ The whole point of this is for you so see yourself and know your heart. The bible tells us that we are to prepare and be ready for his return, and knowing your heart is the best place to start. (Matthew 5:8 & 24:44). Be Blessed..!