I'm excited for church today. It's always interesting when a church begins something new or charts a different course. Planning, strategy, process and understanding all come in to play. A knowledge of who you are, where you've been and where you want to go; and more importantly, where God would have you to go.

This is vision-casting.

And it's critical.

A church fails without a clear purpose.
A church fails when it loses it's purpose.
A church fails when the people disengage from the purpose
A church fails when leadership improperly presents the purpose.

If we have learned anything as society moves forward through 2018, from the transition that culture has made in recent decades, is that for as much as they church has gained through great vision, they have lost their impact from a lack of great vision. So while it's an exciting time for the church, the current state of our culture tells us that it's an incredibly critical time for the church.

Time moves too fast for us to be inefficient.
People are too valuable for us to be ineffective.

On this #effectiveSunday, pray for the church; that we would not only have a clear purpose and great vision, but that it would be presented in such a way to increase engagement, rather than disengagement. Pray for a spirit of unity within the body of Christ as we take intentional steps forward to what God has called. Pray for the church that are in trouble; suffering from a loss of vision and engagement. Pray that their hearts would be ignited and that their minds would be able to dream again. Pray for wisdom and discernment amidst the pastors and church leadership; that they would be hear and respond to the voice of God directing them in the ways in which they should lead their congregation and best impact their community and the world at-large.

Effective to greater degrees.
Efficient at increased levels.
Grateful for the history.
Honored to be writing the future.
For the glory of God.

- PNC

As I was writing Friday's post on hostile environments, I couldn't help but consider that conflict and tension doesn't exist solely in the obvious places around the globe and for missionaries. We pray for pastors daily, because we know they are not immune.

And we pray for community, because we do know very well, that on a daily basis, we encounter people and personalities that are filled with emotion, tension and differences that work against us and the relationships that we have with those around us.

Whether it be at work.... uh, we'll leave that one alone; or at home... yeah, not their either. Um... in the marketplace, in our neighborhood, even as we gather as a body of believers?

Is there anywhere we can go where there is not the possibility of conflict? No. No, there is not. Not anywhere.

For even as we find our quiet place and time with God, in His Word and in prayer, there is conflict. The conviction of the Holy Spirit is alive and well. The powerful, yet delicate hand of God has yet to find rest.

He is always at work. Always moving. And wherever there is movement, there will be struggle, conflict and wear. So, then maintaining and enduring quality relationships in community begins and ends with the quality of our relationship with God.

God help us, this #communitySaturday. Pray that He would give us grace as we correct and move in the ways and places He would have for us to go in our own lives. Pray for the conflict and problems that needs to be resolved in our relationships, whether with family or with friends, both within the four walls of the church and outside them. May God give us wisdom with the words we use and the time and place and people with which we use them. Pray that He would continue to lead, guide and direct our steps that He may all the more glorified in our lives, homes and communities.

One day at time
One conversation at time
One life at a time.
One decision at a time.
For Christ and His cause.

- PNC

Let's just state the obvious, for the record.

Hostility is stressful.

Even in light of the revelation that we are not of this world; that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against princes and powers of this dark age, the struggle is real. And difficult. And risky.

Every nation and society has it's own battles and struggles. Hostility comes in all forms; whether through political agendas or doctrinal differences or the disconnect between good and evil and gradations that exist whereby we justify actions and attitudes.

And at the face of it... is an actual face.

A surreal reminder that for all the fear and frustration of both past and future encounters is a person. Made in the image of God; created for a divine plan and purpose. It be easy to say that such a true is easy to maintain, but it's not... hence, calling it a surreal reminder.

This makes understanding and trusting for that matter, the sovereign hand of God difficult at times, as we remember that while we are to reflect Christ, we are also in the presence of evil. Last days indeed.

On this #missionsFriday, pray for those missionaries who are in difficult places of hostility and conflict. While sharing the Gospel has it challenges, pray for those whose circumstances are compounded by tragedy of evil, war, and oppression. May God strengthen them anew and afresh. May their be a spiritual connection and attraction to the presence of God through their willingness to go to the dark and desolate places. Pray to the end, that evil would be defeated and that lives would be saved and transformed for the glory of God.

Unwilling that any should perish,
But that all would come to repentance
Through Jesus Christ
For the glory of God.

- PNC

I wish one day, that this would never happen again. But, we are all human. Including our pastors. And sadly another one has fallen... and hard. The hard part is outrageous, but fallen is fallen. And while this is a journey that I wouldn't wish upon any congregation, the difficulty of this particular matter, (which I am only aware of thanks to social media posts from a friend), is that this pastor's moral failure has resulted in legal consequences and worse, destroyed lives and families.

Like I said... in a word; outrageous.

As we near completing the three year mark on this project of prayer, there have been moments of overlap and repetition. I know, I've stated before, my attempts to take great care to keep such instances to a minimum, but I wanted to reiterate my intention. Because while this post could very well be saved for next week, on a day that we pray specifically for pastors, I felt the immediacy of writing this today, as the church leadership and staff are dealing with the finality of this failure and the process that it has entailed.

How do they heal as a church?
How do they heal as a community of believers attempting to impact their community?
How do they recover their standing, as the spotlight has been placed on this horrible situation?
How do they and especially, those directly affected, keep the faith after this ordeal?

I know, some of you are reading this wondering what the specifics are and all of that. And once again, I'm approaching this as it's not my story to tell in detail, especially given I don't have that many. But furthermore, I've tried to be very intentional on this site with regards to practicing discernment. I hope you can appreciate the balancing act I've attempted to walk in breaking down concepts while leaving a certain sense of vagueness in play. Sorry, but that's how things work sometimes.

But I know this. Hearts are broken and minds are befuddled. Emotions are rampant, faith is discouraged and no doubt, trust has been nothing short of shattered not into pieces, but shards. You understand the difference into how they are handled.

In another word... delicately.

Not just anyone can handle them. Not just any method will work in handling them.

So, once again, join me in prayer, on this #deaconThursday. Pray for the leadership of this church as they deal with this incredibly complex and overwhelmingly difficult set of circumstances. May God give them wisdom in the decisions they face in the days to come. Pray for a spirit of grace and compassion as they guide this church through the various stages of processing such a horrendous event. Pray for healing over this congregation. Pray for a move of the Holy Spirit over this church and community; that in the midst of pain and agony, even in the most unthinkable of circumstances, that the testimonies that will result from this test and the ministries that will come forth from this mess, will accomplish more with greater effectiveness for the kingdom of God than if nothing had happened at all. Even if we all agree, we'd rather not have this situation happen at all.

But for the grace of God
Where would any of us be.
Forgiven and redeemed.
And needing it more than once.
God help us all.

- PNC

I heard this phrase earlier today and it immediately resonated. There's so much going, I don't know where to begin.

The conversation was political nature and the man who spoke the phrase was talking about the history of America and what is essentially, the brilliance of the founding fathers and how they set-up government and the importance and thoroughness of the Constitution and so forth.

And yet, we miss so much... both from an educational and understanding perspective, as well as a reverence and awe for what has been established. Switch gears...

And the same is true for Christianity and Scripture. The stories of those who have gone before; the wisdom, perspective and relevance that it gives us today is beyond belief. And Scripture. The Word of God is useful for instruction in righteousness, and profitable for doctrine, reproof and correction. Not lacking anything, it is complete unto itself.

And yet our level of reference and education of such spiritual matters could always exist on a higher plane than our current reality... both for ourselves and instilling such framework into the generation that comes behind us.

Once again... preaching to myself. It requires our life of faith and our understanding of the things of God to have its' proper place and influence in our lives to be in order.

On this #youthPastorWednesday, pray that God would help to keep and increase a reverence education for the things of God. Pray that pastors would never lose the sense of wonder and awe. Furthermore, pray that the Word would lead them in matters of doctrine and righteous living. May the Holy Spirit bring reproof and correction when needed; and quickly before irreparable damage is done and lives are destroyed. Pray that God would give them wisdom as they lead this next generation; not to fear man or what he may do, but God and what He has done and the destiny that He has ordained that we should walk in it.

Standing in awe of the Lord,
Our Holy God
To whom all praise is do.
For His glory alone.

- PNC

I couldn't help put wonder... just how far over one's head do pastors get. Ministry. Family. Professionally. Financially.

There's a scene in the TV show, The West Wing, where the press secretary is asked regarding a situation, if she (and the administration) if the water was over their head. She replied, no... it's right at our head.

So, what prompted this train of thought? Well, another caller into the Dave Ramsey show.

This one will leave you scratching your head.

The wife calls... roughly 20 grand under water on their car.  Owes $48k, it's worth 18-20k.  Ouch.
But there's good news... they make 150k a year.
Then the rest of the story. 287 grand in consumer debt, not including the mortgage. The husbands truck, a motorcycle and credit cards.

I was kinda bummed to be listening to the show rather than watching it on YouTube, as I imagine the look on Dave's face expressed the internal equivalent of falling out of his chair!

I don't like to think of pastors finding themselves in near impossible situations; holes really, from which they are figuring a way to climb out. But then I consider my own life. Situations that I knew better than to place myself in. Circumstances that I knew were detrimental to my health, whether physically, mentally, financially or spiritually. We've all done it. Even Dave jokes about having done stupid with zeros attached.

Safeguards. Accountability. Common sense. Prayer. Healthy relationships. Proper understanding and perspective. A lack of any or all of the aforementioned leaves the door open for decisions to be made and compromises to occur that set us on a path that does not lead to good outcomes.

And by the time we wake up... yeah, the water is at our head and dangerously close to going over.

This is not a good place to be. Whether in ministry or the marketplace. Single or married. 15 grand, 150 grand or 150 million in annual income. Firm foundations are found at every height. Therefore a loss from that footing spells trouble. Every. Single. Time.

On this #associatePastorTuesday, pray for those are who trouble. Whether the water is still rising or near going over, pray that God would come quickly to their aid and grant them a moment of clarity. For those who have already had that moment, pray that God would give them wisdom to know how to proceed and the strength to begin taking the necessary steps back to safety. Pray for protection over their families and ministries. May God lead them and show the way back to the path that they have stepped off.

For the testimony is great because of the test.
And the power of the ministry is a result of the mess.
For the glory of God alone.

- PNC

So, I got thinking about leadership, and in particular on this whole topic of moving when God moves. I know how much in my life, both in general and in faith, that I get it wrong. Leaders make me stand in amazement.

It's not that they never get it wrong. The Bible is replete with stories of great leadership who royally messed up and missed the move of God. And yet, it continues to bother me how we have moved away from being able to extend grace. There is no grace for those who have fallen; there is however, a rush to judgement and destruction.

Which, do we need to be reminded, is a job responsibility best left to God.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm hard enough on myself when I mess things up. At times, being a man of faith makes things "worse" because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit. A broken and contrite heart is what God cares about and looks for as a sign for wanting to make a course correction in our lives.

But all too often, we look at the mistakes and failures of our leadership and rather than offer them opportunity to make a course correction, we kick them off the course altogether. That may not be their ultimate fate.. grace will make its' appearance and restoration may be offered. For less extreme matters, eventually life and ministry moves on and continues to advance. Civil discourse over our disagreements has given way to corporate destruction. And by that, I'm not talking about the dissolution of corporations, but the "mob rule" mentality that seems to permeate so much of our culture and society to the point that it occurs within the church, not nearly as often, but certainly more than it should.

So, on this #seniorPastorMonday, pray that senior pastors would indeed, have an increased awareness of the voice of God and the prompting of the Holy Spirit as they lead and move. But more importantly, pray for a covering over their lives and ministries for when they miss the mark. May there be an extension of grace as matters arise and are resolved. Pray that the church culture would not be so quick to rush to judgement and worse, the propensity to bring to ruin leaders who fail or leaders we think deserve to fail.

May we be people of grace
As God has extended grace to His people.
Even to those who fail and with Him we disagree.
For we have all been that person to God.

- PNC

I trust you had an awesome experience this morning during your church service, whether in person or online. We started a new series this morning, on the movement of God. And what a powerful message as well as a time of worship.

Though, as typical my mind was thinking while I was worshiping. While singing the song I Just Wanna Be Where You Are, I recalled the story of the prodigal. While it's a powerful story of God's grace and longing for relationship to be restored with humanity that has gone a far off into the distance, I found myself asking...

What if the son never leaves?

What happens if he doesn't walk away. He stays close to his father, under his leadership, helping to accomplish the goals and dreams of the family. What if he stays and continues to work alongside his brother?

What if, instead of walking away to pursue and live his own life, he steps out and goes into the world to do even greater things than his father had done... for what father doesn't want their child to go above and beyond whatever it is that they have achieved?

It's a very unhealthy relationship that a father wouldn't want his child to accomplish and experience less than he had achieved. God has great and greater things in store for us!

Having said that, it's hard to be effective for the kingdom of God if we are not where God is. As pastor stated this morning... if only we could come to grips with the fact that God is always moving. Thus the work is never done and every time we do not follow in the direction He is going, our ability to be effective and efficient is hindered and both the church as an institution and the people of God as a community fall behind.

On this #effectiveSunday, let's pray for an increased sensitivity to the still, small whisper of God and the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit. Pray that we not find ourselves in such a state that we miss the voice and prompting to the degree that drastic measures and circumstances are in order to bring us to our senses, such as the prodigal experienced. Pray God would accomplish the miraculous in the lives of those who desire a greater spiritual acuity to the things of God. May the hardness and harshness of the world and the church for that matter, not take a toll on our hearts, minds and spirits that we dismiss God's moving in our lives and on our behalf. May the church be greater today than it was yesterday, because we recognized God's moving and followed accordingly.

To be where He is
Both in this life
And in the life to come.
For the glory of God
And the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

So I was finally able to make it out to a men's breakfast this morning at our new home church and I was so glad that I was able to go. The conversation was good; breakfast was really good... and the devotional: challenging.

The guy that led the devo is a missionary in a very dangerous part of the world right now... serving in what is known as the 10/40 window. He talked about evangelism, using as a launch point, the story of the Good Samaritan. As a part of the discussion, one of the questions posed, is that why do we sometimes find it difficult to converse with people in like manner as the church leaders passed over the man that was robbed?

Likewise, we know the Samaritan was moved with compassion, but what prompted that compassion? And as we pray for community, it comes back to relationships. Which was a part of the conversation in our devotional.

Church leadership doesn't have the same relationships that the everyday, neighborhood, workplace Christian has. And the Good Samaritan was actually the outcast of society in that day. And we know nothing of who the man was that was robbed and left for dead. His position and status in the world could range from the upper echelon of society to a "nobody".

Is it possible though, that the Samaritan had compassion becomes something within him connected to the hurting man? The relationship didn't exist, but I think somewhere, he understood.

At our table, I shared the story of the man who fell into a hole and a doctor walked by and dropped a prescription. Another walked by and did something else. Then a friend walked by. And jumps in the hole. The guy asks, are you crazy now we're both in here? Friend says, yeah, but I've been here before... and I know the way out.

As we engage community while living in a broken culture, what's not to connect with people, but to share how we too were once lost, but found our way out of the mess of sin into the presence of Christ.

Is not the story of the Good Samaritan also the Good News of the Gospel? Christ has paid the price to heal our wounds.

On this #communitySaturday, pray that God would help to engage and relate with the lost and broken in our world. Whether that be in the nicest neighborhood in town or the run-down side street by the tracks, pray that God would help us in our conversations, to look for opportunities where we might share our story, of grace and compassion having been extended to us. May we not fear how it looks or sounds or whatever might cause us to hesitate; but that we would speak the truth in love about our broken state and eternal redemption. Pray the truth of the Gospel of Christ would advance, in this dark and lost humanity that is desperately searching for answers to the evil that wages war in this world.

One redemption at a time
May many come to the saving grace of the cross
As they come in contact to those who've already received it.
For the glory of God.

- PNC

Somebody posted some wise advice regarding the application of certain principles and in the course of the online conversation, comments revolved around removing the spiritual aspect.

I understand the reasoning for this... sometimes things get over-spiritualized, more than they should be or the spiritual aspect dominates so much of the conversation or point of view that it's hard to see the value or validity of the matter on it's own merit.

So, the advice someone posted, was quite a simple analogy and slightly profound, but it highlights the reality that not everyone will agree on everything. All to easily, people get offended over the parts they don't like rather than heeding these words...  "chew the meat and spit out whatever you think are bones."

I replied, that that was a good analogy, except for the bones keep the meat where it belongs!

#spiritualtruthsmatter
 
Ministry isn't easy. And it's not the ministry itself that makes it difficult... it's people! I know. I'm a person. But this is why. It's 2018. We don't like being told what to do. We don't like being told that change is necessary. We certainly don't like the thought of doing things differently from the world; God forbid the world considers anything unlike itself weird.

Who wants to give up their guilty pleasures for a season?
Who wants to live with the consequences of their immoral actions, behaviors and attitudes?
Who wants to respond the voice of God and the conviction of the Holy Spirit?

We are witnessing an ever-increasing time of  "that works for you, but it's not for me" mindset.

God. The most dissed and dismissed Father in the history of humanity. Yet He still stands on the porch of heaven, awaiting for the sight of His prodigal, still a long way off.

On this #missionsFriday, pray God would encourage those in missions, reaching the lost and spreading the Gospel of peace, love and hope; salvation and redemption. Pray God would break the mindset of one "not needing" relationship with Almighty God. Pray for breakthrough, in the attitudes and perception that hinder people from having a true understanding of who God is; what Christ did and why it matters today. Pray for revelation; that spiritual truth would be made known and applied to lives.

That we would live forever changed.
From glory to glory.
For God's glory alone.

- PNC

I got to thinking about the verse in 1 Samuel, about obedience being better than sacrifice. And while obedience can be a difficult path to walk, usually because it seems counter-intuitive, there is honor in true sacrifice. It's amazing the blessing that results when both obedience and true sacrifice come together in unison.

Where is the honor in true sacrifice? Well, the story of Cain & Able come to mind. God favored one over the other. And with good reason, as the their story tells us.

I don't know exactly how this fits.

I think sometimes we think we are making greater sacrifices in life than we truly are. I think it's possible we miss certain blessings because we don't follow in greater obedience to sacrifice the things which we feel we are being led or directed to give up. I wonder at times of all honor is lost in the sacrifice because we are not walking in obedience of any kind, but true defiance.

Is it possible the imbalance of these two dynamics creates incredible stress and frustration in our lives? I'd be surprised if it didn't.
Is it possible the conflict of these two decisions restrict or limit God's ability to move, direct and respond to our prayers and our faith? Quite possible.

I really hate preaching to myself, but here it is...

Make the hard, and honorable sacrifices.
Walk in the difficult places of obedience.
For who knows the nature and greatness of the blessings that await.
But God alone.

Pray this #deaconThursday, for those struggling with these elements of faith. Pray they would walk and live in complete obedience. Pray that their sacrifice would be found honorable before the Lord. May the following the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the instruction of the Lord in the decisions and matters of life that need clarity where there is confusion. Pray God would be bring order to the circumstances that are best described as chaos. Pray the blessings of heaven would be poured out, beyond the limits of the imagination.

For God is great.
And it's Him alone that we serve
Not because of what He gives us,
But because of what He has already done for us.

- PNC

I found myself hearing another conversation on values today. Perhaps it was a similar conversation to one I heard a few weeks ago. But it revolved around kids and today's education system and the battle that exists between the two. And it is a battle.

As great as the political agenda is among us, how much thought and emphasis do we give to the eternal agenda? Not nearly enough... not nearly enough.

Lives hang in the balance... of all ages, of all races, of all ideologies and backgrounds and experiences.

There's the value system that is set by God.
And there's the system set by man.

One is fixed.
One is fluid.

In an age and time when people want to be grounded, have something that is sure and assured, in which they can place their trust and confidence... to rely upon for all times and seasons; and then people walk around in disgust and disbelief with a quay-sera sera attitude.

DeGarmo & Key sang a song titled War With The World. As I consider the values that the believer holds fast to through prayer and understanding of the Word in comparison to the agendas and philosophies being presented by society and the battle couldn't be anymore clear. It has permeated our leadership as a culture. It is influencing our youth. It is creeping into the ministry of the church.

So, on this #youthPastorWednesday, pray for the leadership of today's generation. Pray that they would be men and women strong in the faith, strong in the Word, full of conviction, truth and the Holy Spirit. Pray that they would help to instill Godly values and Biblical principles; that this generation would be a counter-culture to a world that has turned themselves upside down. Pray that they would be a voice of clarity in a society that has filled their hearts and minds with confusion.

Lord we need your help.
Creator of this world,
That you have set us apart from.
For your glory alone.

- PNC

We all have issues. We all have problems.
We are all surrounded by issues. We are all barraged by problems.

And while I'm not certain of just how often it is a conscious choice, there does seem to be a tendency, or at least a temptation, to be superficial.

People ask how we're doing and we respond with fine or good when we are far from fine and life is far from good. Sarcastically, you wouldn't to respond with "wouldn't you like to know". Secretly, we're really wishing we could share what was really going on.

Other times, we honestly don't know. It requires digging deep. Into our emotions. Into our thoughts. Into our hearts. Deep into prayer. Deep into conversation. And if we are getting wise counsel and wisdom, even deeper into prayer after that.

Man, that's a ton of work. Maybe it is easier to just keep it within us. Between us and God. In our heart. In our own prayer. We don't make the connections with people and relationships that we wish we could because of what...

Well, fear. Mostly. Probably.

Like so many other areas of life, relationships begin and end with intentionality. Or a lack thereof.
And if everyday people... those not in formal, leadership roles struggle in dealing with matters that are underneath the surface, how much more for those in leadership; to be willing to bring life to the surface in hopes of a greater, more fulfilled and satisfactory life.

Pray, this #associatePastorTuesday, that no matter what is going on in life or ministry, that leaders would allows themselves to be honest and real. Pray for a grace about their lives, as they deal with their own lives and struggles as well as work to help others that come to them through the ministry. Pray for wisdom as they search their hearts, minds, souls, as well as the face of God through prayer and the Word to find solutions. May there be an emphasis on living life with intention, purpose and clarity, both on a personal level and at a ministry level. Pray they would neither live nor operate from a place of fear, even if that is what sets in as honesty creates a clear picture of the problem at hand.

For how can honest and effective solutions be found,
If problems are not fully exposed
In the grace, safety and love of the spirit of God.
For His glory.

- PNC

Forgive me in advance...

I'm still reflecting on the loss of this pastor from the southern tip of Illinois. The lady who presented the news and prayer request to a social media group, offered the information, that one of their current plans being discussed was offering Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.

What's crazy about sudden, life-changing events such as these, is that you can't help but wonder, what else was in the works? What other matters was He seeking the face of God regarding? What other dreams and plans was God planting in His heart? What relationships and conversations were in various stages of development?

I don't know about you, but such circumstances would drive me nuts. Probably because I'm always thinking or dreaming of I would like to be able to do or accomplish in the next weeks, months and years. Which I guess should be all the more motivation to live life fulfilling the plans and purposes that God has called us to, as well as that which He has specifically placed in our hearts and not lose a day dragging our feet on the matter.

Easier said than done and once again, yes, I'm preaching to myself. You don't struggle with this, do you?

On this #seniorPastorMonday, let's pray, that God would help Pastors to pursue and fulfill the plans and dreams that God has placed within them. Pray that they would be wise stewards of their time, as well as their resources and relationships. May God give them discernment as to who they should surround themselves to achieve those goals and work the ministry. Pray that regret and frustration would not hold them back or frustrate them; but that they would motivated all the more to seek the face of God and advance the Gospel of Christ.

May they not live life unfinished,
But completed.
Having done well, as a servant of the Most High God.
For His glory and honor alone.
For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

I trust you've had a wonderful Mother's Day.

I was a little thrown off in writing yesterday's post, that between that and the holiday, my direction for today was well... nowhere to be found. So I trust that you've had a great day and made the most of it.

Which leads us to this matter of hindrances.

There's all sorts of reasons for a lack or shortage of effectiveness and efficiency in ministry. Sometimes it's a matter of discipline. Other times it's a matter of resources. Perhaps fear. The list, if not endless, will certainly take more time to write than it will for you to read.

But as I reflected on the timing of this church's tragic loss of their pastor and today's celebration of motherhood, the conflict and tension between effectiveness and ineffectiveness is strong.

Indeed, losses sustained that are beyond our control play a huge role. Especially when that loss is through people parting from this life or simply parting ways. On this mother's day, strained relationships, likewise contribute greatly in the health, accomplishment and success that one enjoys.  Bad decisions and poor choices haunt us all, laced with words we'd rather not have said, sentiments we'd rather have not shared and attitudes and actions that we'd been better off to not display.

We're desirous for people to be true to themselves while asking them to conform anytime and everytime there is an offense, whether real or perceived. Does this not lay the groundwork for greater hypocrisy? A hindrance that is perhaps close to the top of that list we didn't delve into at great length. How can the church and it's ministry be effective if we allow the hindrances in our lives to affect our response to God's working in our lives and the Holy Spirits' drawing us into greater things for the advancement of the kingdom of God?

I'm listening to the Benjamin Gate softly as I write this and the song Hands just played.

On this Mother's Day of an #effectiveSunday, will you make these words your prayer?

Jesus I feel you near me   *  Your hands giving life to my body
Your spirit healing me  *  Holding my heart in sweet security
God I need your grace  *  Let your spirit rescue me
God I need your love  *  Let your grace shine through me
Jesus You fill the space in me  *  Sealing these dreams in shapes of purity  *  Freeing my heart to deep eternity
God I need your grace  * Let your spirit rescue me
God I need your love  * Let your grace shine through me
God I seek your face  *  Let your spirit rescue me
God I need your love  *  Let your grace shine through me

Let it be so; unhindered.
For the glory of God
And the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

I can't believe in just a matter of weeks, this project will begin year number four. We've prayed over many things as they relate to community. Much emphasis and time has been given to the churches' and believers' impact on community. In recent weeks, we've prayed over community in terms of the family unit.

And sadly, I write this in need of prayer over the community of the local church.

Thanks to the influence of social media, some tragic news out of Southern Illinois came across my newsfeed. A 68 year old Baptist pastor was in car accident while en route to meet up with some members of the church. One of the church members responded to my inquiry; and while authorities haven't released details, his vehicle was found in a ditch-creek.

So, while many will be stepping into a church service tomorrow to celebrate the amazing life and influence of Mothers, one small community will be morning the loss of their Senior Pastor. I'm at a loss.

I've been a part of some great churches over the years. And they have been blessed with some incredible pastors, and staff; people of God and of the Word. High quality leaders and people who are dedicated and devoted to powerful and impactful ministry.

I don't know that one is ever prepared. Never emotionally at least. But I'm hoping and praying that systems and processes, plans and people are in place; that while the church grieves, ministry will not come to halt.

On this #communitySaturday, would you keep the people of United Missionary Baptist before the Lord. Pray that God would bring comfort and peace to this community and the community of believers. Pray for his wife and family during this time of mourning. Pray that the days and weeks to come would demonstrate the impact of his life, as many more come and come back to God as a result of his ministry and the relationships that he built and the effort that he put forth. Pray for the leadership of this church, and the decisions that need to be made as the church moves forward in its mission and ministries. May God grant them wisdom and discernment; bring clarity and direction in a time of mourning and grief.  Pray the love of God would be felt as a life is celebrated; not because of his greatness, but the greatness of the God He served with his life.

For we mourn with those who mourn,
And grieve with those who grieve,
But not as those without hope.
For in Christ, is eternal glory.
And that, of God our Father.

- PNC

I'm not sure if it's mildly amusing or incredibly frustrating, the things that we allow to stand in the way of our making progress in life. And worse, making progress in our faith.

Reasoning and rationalizing up the wazoo. Justified and amplified, over-analyzed and over-reacted. Slip-ups, trip-ups, hang-ups and mess-ups... and all they do is keep us down; sometimes to the point of not ever wanting to get back up.

We hold up the work that God desires to accomplish in our lives
We miss the prompting of the Holy Spirit
We ignore the conviction that comes from the truth established in His Word

Sadly, we listen all to well to the words spoken by President Bartlet from the show, The West Wing.

"Just stand there in your wrongness and be wrong and get used to it."

We say wrong. We do wrong. We live wrong. Let me replace that with I.
I don't know about you... I do all the aforementioned.

The things we allow to bog down our lives... the fail in comparison to that which bogs down our faith. Sometimes you can't help that it carries over. Other times you can. And all too often, even in ministry, we allow ourselves to exist in that state longer than what is healthy and necessary before allowing God to do His work.

It doesn't matter of one is in the stage of salvation or the process of sanctification, life happens to us all. And not enough faith is impacting life.

On this #missionsFriday, pray for those in missions, who themselves are struggling with the battles and frustrations of life. Pray for those who are in difficult and trying times and trials of the Refiner's fire. May God strengthen and quicken them, body, mind and soul to endure and persevere. Pray for their conversations; that eyes would be opened, minds would understand and hearts would receive, that while we are fallen in sin, we can rise up in Christ.

May God's work be completed
And His Word fulfilled.
For the cause of Jesus Christ
And the advancement of the Good News.
For the glory of God.

- PNC

It doesn't take much some days, to realize just how much you have to admire the skills of those who daily deal with the stress, frustration and planning that goes into coordination and logistics.

Life truly throws us off our game. It's so easy at times to look at a problem or circumstance and simply, do this, adjust that, change this and remove that and we're good. And other times, it's a chess game. The ability to see three, six and nine steps ahead has its' advantages while simultaneously presenting its' disadvantages...

... for it creates the opportunity to feel defeated and frustrated very early in the game. And about the time you think you are making progress, something falls through. Seemingly, almost always.

It is not for the faint of heart, nor the weak-minded.

Are there times we oversimplify life? Yes.
Are there times that life really is just "that simple"? Absolutely.
For the rest of life...

Well, to some He gave to be preachers and teachers and apostles... and the gift of administration.

It's amazing the correlation of effectiveness, efficiency and accomplishment that transpires in churches and ministries, when the pastor or leadership finds one who has been blessed with the skill-set of administration, that not only handles the responsibilities with proficiency, but also with excellence. It's a wonderful gift.

On this #deaconThursday, pray for those churches who are struggling; where that role and responsibility is perhaps not yet filled, or not operating at the level that is should. May God give them wisdom in the problems and challenges they face and that God open doors filled with solutions. Pray God would strengthen the efforts and capacities of churches who are doing well in this area of church operation. Perhaps God would open doors for them to lead and help other churches that are struggling; to share wisdom, experience and best practices.

For the learning process in life is ever done,
Nor the journey of faith ever complete.
Even for the most practical of matters.
For the glory of God.

- PNC

It's Teacher Appreciation Week... which naturally got me thinking. Dangerous, I know, right?

I've been blessed with some great teachers. As have you. And probably a handful that we didn't appreciate quite so much. But not just the teachers that we had in the school system.

I miss the days of Sunday school. I don't remember elaborate children's ministry programs on Sunday morning. For nursery and toddler aged kids, if I recall yes. But grade school kids... seems like we were in the main sanctuary for service. But Sunday school before service, that was cool.

It's amazing what's instilled, especially in those smaller class settings, when you are learning and studying Bible stories and Biblical principles. Small groups today. Small class yesterday. Same concept.

So much education. So much information. So much opportunity for access and acquisition of information. Facts and opinions; twisted frameworks and flawed perceptions. As life gets more complex and the issues of life become more complicated, we need the truth of God's Word to cut clear and quick to the heart of humanity and it's sinful nature.

There's a reason it's not popular. It's because it's not comfortable!
But what is uncomfortable is often what is necessary for growth and maturity.
And that truth doesn't disappear, nor diminish when transitioning from childhood to adulthood. In fact, if anything, that process increases in both complexity and frequency.

On this #youthPastorWednesday, pray that teachers and pastors of students would continue to teach and declare the truth of God's Word as well as the nature of His character. May they not only know the works of God, but also know His ways; that they would be able to trust God, even when they can't trace Him. Pray that God would help pastors and teachers and grant them wisdom and discernment as they navigate these increasingly difficult issues of life and the conversations involved. Pray the power of the Holy Spirit would bring clarity to the chaos and confusion, as they minister to lead and guide the next generation into all truth.

One day at a time.
One life at a time.
One lesson at a time.
For the glory of God.

- PNC

Something got me thinking about teamwork in the past 24 hours or so. And not just teamwork... but team conflict. Does anyone else think that church staff is utopia? Not that they aren't doing serious work and have difficult conversations and agonizing decisions and everything else. Surely, it is eternal work and full of complexities.

But does it seem like it would be great? Exciting, dynamic, jovial. It'd be naive to think that someone, somewhere has something, that in a workplace, even one centered in ministry and the institution of the church, would create an annoyance, a problem, a source of conflict and tension.

I don't think anyone wants to believe that happens, but we've all worked enough jobs with hundreds and thousands of personalities, to know that the church office can't possibly be immune to such an environment.

So why aren't I writing this for two days from now, regarding deacons, administration and staff? Well, I could. And should. Perhaps I'll copy and paste! But for now, I understand that even within leadership ranks, conflicts regarding decisions, circumstances and personalities arise with just as much frustration and frequency as they do with non-leadership staff.

So, on this #associatePastorTuesday, pray for a spirit of unity and strength among pastoral teams. Pray for grace in the midst of difficulty, understanding in the midst of communication and clarity in the midst of chaos. May their be a resolve in the purpose of the work and ministry to which they have been called. May they fulfill their duties and responsibilities with honor and integrity, working as unto the Lord, for indeed as they serve the people of God and the world who desperately is in need of Him, they are doing just that.

For the glory of God
For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC