What Jesus' Call Means to Me- Part 2

The call continued to Austin, Texas in the spring of 2001.  I received an unexpected call from a friend in a Houston church who asked, "Would you be interested in making a move to Austin?"  Jan & I had never moved.  That would certainly be an adventure.  Shortly, I received a call from Pastor Rod Minor who wanted to meet and talk about the work at Anderson Mill Baptist Church.  I was very excited about a fresh opportunity to serve.  The call was at work again.

(Yes, there are lots of details that get us to this point, but this is a blog, not a book!)

What does Jesus' call mean to me today?  In a word- relationships. What wonderful relationships we have in Austin.  Austin continues to be a great place to give your best.  My prayer is that each of us would invest in people whatever is necessary to make disciples that honor Christ.  In our lesson this week in Mark 2, Jesus issues the call to follow Him, serve others, and tell others how to discover and accept the call.

What Jesus' Call Means to Me

It was in the summer of 1994 that I began to sense God's call on my life to give Him all.  I had given Him, I thought,  my best, but I discovered that giving my all IS the Best.  I began to see God close the chapter in my life that had been a great chapter for 18 years.  Jan & I were blessed by a family business in the petroleum distribution arena.  Time for a change- a new adventure.  God had me serving in churches for years in every capacity imaginable.  So why change?  The Call!  God had fresh ideas for me.  Ideas He had set in motion while I was a student at Texas A & M.  It was there that I learned to love the Lord with all my heart.  In general, the Lord had be in an intense learning environment of work, the Bible, and ministry.  It was during this time I received the best Biblical training imaginable- one-on-one.  God placed me in the path of Arthur "Prof" Smith.  For the next 22 years I learned about life from God's perspective as Prof taught me to love God and serve people.  

The call to a paid position with a church in 1994 was a new idea for Jan & me in, but God was at work.  The Call was to leave the corporate world and serve Him in a new place with a new income and new relationships.  After a series of events and lots of prayer, Jan & I accepted the call to enter the adventure of a church staff family for the next 6 1/2 years in Santa Fe, Texas

For me, Jesus' call meant change. 

What’s the right size for me?

As a follow up to the last posting, I would like to ask these questions: “What’s the right (optimum) size church for me?”, “What’s the right size ABF class for me?”, or “What is the right size small group for me?” Often things fit because they are the right size for us. Things feel good, comfortable and we just fit well. I find myself asking some other questions about these same subjects: “Has my class size changed since this time last year?” or “Has my church sized changed since last year?” or “Has my small group size changes since this time last year?” Really, the question should be, “Have I become comfortable with the size or my class, group or church?”

Thoughts like these are only good for me and my situation, but they are deadly for the next generation or even those who will come next year. My goal for 2010 is to help create an environment that will impact my community. If you are interested in seeing our church go forward in 2010, will you join together and create an environment for motion, growing and maturity? I’m making necessary adjustments to my comfort zone that will include more people, more touch points, and, more relationships. I’m praying that people will come to our church, classes and groups because they were invited by us and not because they drove by and saw the church.

(The picture above is a Pizza Hut delivery car stopped in front of McDoanlds. The driver was outside his comfort zone as he purchased a "Happy Meal" for one of his children.)

“We’re looking for a smaller church.”

I have heard this from many who have moved from larger, sometimes, “mega” church locations. “Looking for a smaller church” may not be true. What most mean when they say this, “I’m looking for relationship.” As leaders in ABF, ministry or administration, we must constantly be looking for sticking points- places that people pause at and begin to build relationships. Some come for programs. Some come for productions. Some come for convenience. All, however, stay because of relationships. There are challenges to every attender, member and guest of Anderson Mill Baptist Church: to find friends, deepen relationships and invite others to join your sphere of relationships.

One danger needs to be avoided, whether the church is large or small. Look around the church. Do you know everybody, or at least most people? If you do, perhaps we’ve overlooked the Great Commission. In the coming year, purpose to invite new people to join you for worship and Bible study each week. Ask them to consider Jesus as their Savior. My prayer is for our ABF classes to be filled with more unfamiliar faces than members. To have more new faces than comfortable faces.
You do not have because you do not ask. James 4:2

Read Through the Bible This Next Year

In a recent ABF lesson from Psalm 119, we were challenged to read the Bible more, read it intentionally and if necessary use a plan. But read the Bible. I am challenging each of you to join Jan & me in reading the Bible through in 2010. You 'll discover interesting facts such as these:
What kind of man was Boaz before he married?
(Ans: Ruthless)
Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
(Ans: Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.)
Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
(Ans: Pharaoh’s daughter. She went to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.)

We were challenged to begin this discipline several years ago while on vacation. Several saints in our path have read the Bible though dozens of times. Though just reading won’t bring a changed life for some, it will provide us the tools the Holy Spirit can use to challenge us in every area of our life. Begin 2010 reading more than you have done in the past. If you need a plan, let me know. There are several which just might give the “push” you need.

Explore The Bible- Mark

Holiday Withdrawal Syndrome

Jan & I spent a great two weeks in Colorado this September. We camped most of time and so we saw some pretty wonderful things. One morning at the base of Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs, I was enjoying the Word and some coffee as the sun was coming up. I heard an all too familiar sound coming through the grass. I kept silent and motionless so I wouldn't disturb the flock of 25-30 young turkey hens passing through the area. They talked to one another, traveled with one another and foraged with one another. They were together and for a very important reason-safety. They chose to be together, support one another and share their discoveries with one another. Whether in good times, uncertain times or bad times, they were together.

The holidays can trigger memories of our past that may tempt us to withdraw from our friends and church family. The unexpected loss of a key family member or the break-up of a relationship, or the stress of finances can lead us away from the crowd and into a lonely place. "No body cares, calls or comes to check on me," can become our lonesome dirge for the holidays, if we chose so. This holiday season, chose life! Run to your friends and church buddies. Be the first to reach out to others who you may see as having "withdrawal symptoms." Turkeys don't let turkeys be lonely for the holidays. Stay safe.

NOTE: The picture above is of one of the turkeys that came within 15 feet of me that morning.