An incredibly surreal moment transpired this past Thursday. And that's it felt reading the news on social media... I can't imagine the turmoil of emotions shared by this family. A friend;s father had suffered a heart attack and sadly, is no longer with us. He was a truck driver... and the news came from local law enforcement, who had discovered him in his truck. 

Every once in a while, I catch myself thinking about how I would handle the loss of one or both of my parents (I have a friend, who a number of years lost both of his parents, in the same car accident) As I travel many miles for work, I often wonder how my family would handle something happening to me. Neither is recommended, by the way... you could find yourself bummed out kinda quick.

I share this event though, as Scritpure brought it to mind yesterday to keep them in prayer.

Yesterday's verse of the day, courtesy of YouVersion, was Romans 8:26.

The Holy Spirit helps in our weakness; when we don't know how to pray as we should, the Spirit himself intercedes on our behalf, with groanings that can't be uttered.

What an amazing thought. 

Christ stands before God and pleads our case when we have nothing to stand on in asking for His grace and mercy.

Now, the Holy Spirit, intercedes for us as well... praying, not just as we should if we knew how, but praying with groanings that are far deeper than the depths for which we attempt dig, hoping to find words to explain and console us in the face of such tragedies. We all look to things and people and explanations for circumstances and situations that trouble us and are meant to derail and destroy us. In the end, only Christ completes. The loss, the heartbreak, the suffering, the infirmities... our strength, our rest, our peace can only be experienced to the depths we desire and beyond when we turn to the person of Jesus Christ.

What greater news to share on this #communitySaturday than that?

Pray this weekend, for this family... and for others, experiencing great loss and tragedy. May this be a time that they would seek the face of God and see the hand of God in their lives. Pray they would not retreat, but engage. For those who sruggling to find answers for questions they aren't even sure how to ask, may God bring revelation to hearts and minds; strength and resolve for those finding it difficult to carry on and move forward. Pray the peace of God would surpass all understanding.

Renewed in strength
Empowered my His might
For He is more than able
For those who call on the name of the Lord.

- PNC

For whatever reason (and I have a couple of ideas why), I spent a fair amount of time yesterday, thinking about my college days... and seriously, how times have changed. I look back on those days with mixed emotions. I'm thankful for what I learned, the experiences i had and the friendships I made. On the other hand, it could have been so much more. Had I been more disciplined in my studies for the first 3.5 years as I was in my final semester; had a disastrous relationship not consumed my freshman year; had I been more intentional in pursuing a career tract...

So much to reflect on... and I know God works all thing together for good; for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. However, as the comedian, Michael Jr. explains, God's working in our lives is like a GPS. He's not chewing us out, going 'hey, you missed your turn; where are you going' and the like. He takes us where we are, as we are... "recalculating".

Sometimes the road we choose has detours. There are road closures with sections under construction (or as was the case yesterday, STILL under construction) and times when life gets bumpy, disconcerting and all-around frustrating. 

I have a great appreciate for those in ministry on the college campus scene. There are so many foundational elements that are established as young people make the transition into adulthood, that if they don't "get it right"  as it were, will set the course for the remainder of their lives... a course that will only get increasing difficult to change, readjust and navigate as life continues. 

College is a great time of one's life. It is a crucial time in one's life. It's also a great time to draw close to God, to focus and seek His face and to allow Him to reveal Himself and His plan and purpose for one's life. Instead, it so easily get filled with others things; some of them important and necessary even. Yet so much of it, is not healthy, not beneficial, not constructive and conducive to the clarion call to which we should be prepared to receive.

So, pray with me, this #missionsFriday, for the mission field of the college campus; may this be a time that the miraculous working of God is revealed in hearts and minds. Pray for those in ministry reaching out; that God would grant them wisdom and discernment to speak into the lives of young people. May God give to them direction, in their studies and activities and more importantly, that they may watch for the calling that God desires for their lives.  May God make their ways straight, their purpose clear and their foundation strong; that whether they step into the marketplace or into ministry, the work of the Lord would continue from students into adulthood, dedicated unto the Lord and determined for His good works prepared in advance.

A strong foundation...
A clear calling...
A resolute response.
For the glory of God
For the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

Yes... I'm still thinking about this Senior Pastor and his announcement from Sunday morning. Really? Why... It was Sunday. We prayed over him on Monday. Today is Thursday. We hear news then move on? I'm sorry you are going through that... then it's back to what we have to take care, where we have to go, what's on the schedule, what's for dinner and who's coming to dinner?

I'm still somewhat in shock and awe, that nobody saw this coming. That nobody in the inner circle didn't suggest taking some personal time, taking a vacation or a sabbatical. Was there no close friend he could confide in, nobody on the deacon board who spoke up, sensing something was off? I don't know the answers to these questions, but when the preface to the confession of "not being okay" is that the church culture is such that it's okay to "not be okay", I'm at a loss as to how one arrives at jumping to the end and declaring 'game over', rather than a 'time out'.

That said... clearly he felt a clean break was necessary. Perhaps God will use this time to wipe the slate clean and start afresh in his ministry. Which isn't necessarily a bad deal. Often in Scripture, we see a clean break. A decisive walk-away moment. Whether it was the wisest decision to be made or a clear directive from God or Christ, Himself, there are times when the line is drawn and everything forward is new. Everything is different.

It's what Christ has done for each of us. Our lives, the moment we decide to follow Christ, the line is drawn. We are given a clean slate. It doesn't always feel that way as the spiritual battle continues between flesh and spirit, but it is truth. God makes all things new. We are made new creatures in Christ. Important or obscure, prominent or unknown, whatever our place in life was before; our identity is in Christ.

God lacks nothing. We are the ones who come up short. So whatever it is, that we have need off, God stores in abundance. There should be nothing in this life that we should look at and respond, God is unable to help.

It simply requires the acknowledgement of our need and that only He can resolve where we fall short. I'm believing God will accomplish the miraculous in this church and this circumstance, as well as the pastor and his family. That said, I can only imagine the difficulty that the leadership team, operations staff and remaining pastors are battling, as they not only sort through the "what's next" of the process, but also evaluate and reflect where things went wrong. Perhaps there's some things that need to be revamped, overhauled and even, start clean.

Pray, this #deaconThursday, for church administrators, decision-makers and advisors; that first and foremost they would seek the face of God for each and every decision and challenge they face. Pray for unity in their spirit, as to what they sense the direction God would have them choose. Pray for resolution to problems and conversations where conflict and tensions run high and hot. Even in the face of confusion with a seemingly lost sense of direction; may the Holy Spirit bring a peace and clarity to their hearts and their minds. May they receive from the Lord, that which they acknowledge they are in need off and may God hear their prayers and answer with abundance, for in Him are all things made new and we are made complete.

Clean before my Lord
With no trace of wrongs left to right.
For His glory and for His service.

- PNC

The extreme differences in Sunday mornings' events continue to process in my mind, as I think about pastors and ministry in general. I couldn't help but wonder... what finally gave way that this pastor recognized he was in trouble? Many comments on social were those of prayer and support and it's awesome to see people rally around that. There were comments of applaud and commendation.... that thankfully he caught it before there was a tragedy or failure and I agree.

However, I couldn't help but wonder... 14 years of ministry. Did nobody see this coming? Were there not signs that he was running thin? He said he felt like he was "leading on empty". It seems like something would have been amiss somewhere; that perhaps someone would have noticed he wasn't operating at the top of his game, as it were. Curiously, it makes one wonder how long he had felt like this, until coming to the conclusion that stepping back altogether, rather than for a season, was the best solution.

Contrast that, with the new youth pastor. I've heard it said, many times in fact, that a good indicator of a pastors tenure in ministry can be marked by two events... the success of their internship with a church and the success of their first pastoral position. Obviously, there's a lot more that goes into situations, and life happens along the way; I understand that. But certainly, if a good foundation for ministry is established by having a great internship experience and then gaining a good understanding of pastoral ministry,setting boundaries and putting in place solid disciplines in their lives, it will go a long way; regardless of what they encounter.

I understand the struggle is real, but it's necessary. Enter a friend, in the middle of these two. For about the same decade and half, give or take a few years, she's been working with at-risk youth. She posted on social media that someone suggested her taking a sabbatical. To which her reply, was... how? Even a weekend without bills and worries seems too much to ask for! To this, my heart sank. This is how it unfolds. Needing a time of respite, recognizing it and not knowing how to make it work to actually get it.

Will you join me, this #youthPastorWednesday? Pray for this pastor as well as my friend; that God would strengthen them anew and afresh. Pray God would help the find and establish balance in their lives; that ministry and the work they endeavor to accomplish would never so overwhelm them that the only break is through resignation. May God give them wisdom and discernment in their disciplines; and people who would speak encouragement and help provide tools that will be effective in their leadership. Pray God would gird them up... to bring rest and hope when needed; to bring clarity and direction when required. May they be surrounded with the support and love of body of Christ; ready to serve God in fulfilling the calling and purposes He has placed upon their lives. The next generation will be impacted greatly by the outcome.

Effective for the work of the Lord
With the stamina to endure, 
No matter what comes against them to destroy them.
For His glory.

- PNC

I don't think I've pulled a specific associate position to pray about prior to this morning, but a conversation over the weekend got me thinking yesterday, that perhaps I should write specifically.

I love music. I can't play anything, but I could listen all day. I remember the conversation I had with my Dad, during my teen years about why he listened to Classic Rock. My brother, a significant number of years older than I, grew up listening to the pioneer bands of Christian Rock... who laid the foundation for the mass appeal of the genre we know today, not to mention its acceptance within the church.

There's been a trend in some churches, for some worship bands to play secular music. Sometimes putting a Christian aspect on it, as it relates to the message or during offering, which I can understand to a point. Of course, some bands pull it off better than others.

The line in the conversatoin that bothered me, though, was the thinking that any music is okay to be used if it relates to that mornings' sermon. Covering Taylor Swift seems a little much and if a worship band covered a rap song, simply because it related... I'm having a hard time processing that one.

I understand the appeal for music that grabs attention though. Many a times, I've listened to sermons in my own church and either during service or upon exiting, I've thought of many great Christian bands who've recorded songs and lyrics would have been incredible tie-ins to integrate into the service. And not just newer stuff; but moreso, the stuff I grew up listening too... back in the days of opening the inserts and seeing Scripture references that the song writers used as inspiration for their music.

Perhaps that is why, even to this day, there seems to be a power and anointing when listening to those bands. The words feel relevant and timely because they were grounded in Scripture. There are many talented musicians across all genres, musically and lyrically. While putting a Christian spin on secular music is interesting to hear; one doesn't attend church to hear a Christian spin on a secular message.

The Church's message is the Gospel of Christ. It is truth. For the music that is used that would contradict that message seesms like dangerous territory to me. I can't help but wonder if it isn't more of a deterrent than it is a trendy attraction piece.

Pray, this #associatePastorTuesday, for worship leaders. May God guide and direct them, as the prepare to usher us in to the presence of God. Pray that God would use them as they lead worship... not to be the worship leader, but to be the lead worshiper. Pray for churches to find the balance, in that worship be God-focused rather performance-based. May there be an anointing upon them; a powerful compliment to the message of the Gospel that is to be brought forth for the changing of lives through the work of the Word.

Worship
As it's all about Him
Not so much, about us.

- PNC

I was torn yesterday between two ideas for today' #seniorPastorMonday. And as of yet, I haven't figured out how to combine the two, so one gets tabled for another time. That said... as I browsed the newsfeed for @BringMe70's Twitter page, one item in particular  caught my attention. Of course, churchleaders.com posted an article on the matter earlier today, but when I saw this news... clearly, the struggle is real and the purpose of Bring Me 70 is true.

Consider this the tale of two pastors.

Yesterday, one Senior Pastor, who, give or take a couple of weeks surpassed 24 years at the church he continues to lead. Basically starting from the ground up, the church has grown wide and in recent years, even deeper. To often we look at numbers in terms of growth, but not maturity. Crucial to their success are many factors, among the a consistent, stable vision;  a strong staff; a high level of integrity and a focus on discipleship of the congregation, regardless of age. Yesterday also happened to mark their 23rd anniversary of marriage.

Along with the momentus occassion, the church announced filling the position of youth pastor... interestingly, enough, with another young man also, soon to be engaged. This church has helped launch from their congregation, 7 or 8 now, families to start or take over struggling churches; the latest as recently as last weekend. A church that recognizes they are not perfect; yet continually strives for excellence will accomplish much; especially when they understand that in itself is a delicate balance.

Consider a second Senior Pastor. After 14 years of ministry, his service looked entirely different. On the surface, their church has done incredibly well. Started in 2003, the church ministers to 7,0000+ people, through multiple services every weekend, on multiple campuses.  In quite the contrast, his statement was entirely opposite.

Effective immediately, after 14 years, a senior Pastor stepped down from his leadership position of this mega-church. Quite succinctly, he informed his congration point blank:

"I'm tired. And I'm broken and I just need some rest."

My heart sank. Of course, churchleaders.com ended their article on this situation with a handful of other articles on burnout and ministry and how to get through the experience of it all, no matter how overwhelming the details may contribute to the problem. While there's a lot that can be done outside of prayer, none of it will be as effective as it could be, if it were covered in prayer.

Lots of what-ifs crossed my mind; as I tried to set aside the technical difficulties I've experienced in recent days and consider what transpired in a mega-church... that nobody was there to help this pastor work through his brokenness. To notice that he needed a break to get some rest. That nobody noticed that he was "leading on empty" to use his words.

There's a great concept, shared by the first senior Pastor and please hear my heart... i'm not advocating the "betterness" of one church over another; for obviously, taking care of pastors needs to be an integral part of any church ministry. But consider this...

The larger a church gets, the smaller a church needs to get. Pastors and congregations, staff and leadership teams need to be intentional in sharing life with each other; outside of scheduled service times, outside of office hours and outside of ministry events. To not take time build up the body of Christ and the leadership of the church with no specific agenda other than to be real and honest about life and its' struggles, then any church, larger or small, on any given Sunday could witness either extreme moment from the pulpit.

So, pray this #seniorPastorMonday, for this pastor and his family during this time. For the brokenness, and the weariness, may this be a time of healing and restoration for he and his family. May whatever priorities that fell out of balance be realigned, as they utilize this time to regroup and recharge. Pray for strength and wisdom for other pastors that are on the verge of experience the same. Pray for the congregations that are in the dark, as perhaps this church was; and pray for the church in the decisions ahead... may they be even more intentional in evaluting what led to yesterdays' announcement and work to implement processes and times that would prevent such situations in the future. Conversely, pray for pastors and churches that are doing well and strong. The devil would like nothing more than to destroy healthy churches, so pray for protection of leadership teams and congregations that are maturing. May their resolve to be intentional in their decisions regarding all aspects of ministry be fortified, as they continue to seek the face of God and live life together as they pursue and fulfill the calling God has placed upon them.

Rest for the weary;
Binding the brokenhearted;
Strength for those whose eyes are set on Him.
For His glory.

- PNC

Is it not utterly amazing how life unfolds; tragedy happens, then life continues and the distractions and struggles of life seemingly overshadow the tragedy. We don't live there (or at least we shouldn't), but major events have a way of changing who we are or at least our approach and perspective to such things.

So on this #effectiveSunday, that happens to double as the 15th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11, a few thoughts on approaching life and the struggles along the way.

Whatever it is you do, it's hard to do fully, let alone well when tired. It's further difficult, to get much done when the frustration is such that it's challenging to think creativity in order to find a method that works; different from what you've been trying that has you banging your head. against a wall... literally or figuratively.

The enemy of our souls would like nothing more. Distract, detour and derail to the point that we are frustrated about our degree of lost, causing us to not think properly; possibly getting more lost and becoming more frustrated... we find ourselves in round-a-bout of understanding, that we entered not realizing that all the entry points into the circle would be immediately blocked or hindered upon our entry.

It's a vicious cycle; one of which has given our spiritual enemy a great many laugh... much to the demise and restriction of life to many who have been bound by his stronghold in their lives.

Yet, Scripture tells us Christ gives rest to the weary.
And that the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Strengthened and re-energized by God. 

I know... it's can be hard to get a good nights sleep. But Dad's advice is warranted. Get some rest.
I know... it's difficult to retain His joy in our frustration. But God is also right. The cares of this life are fleeting and whatever you face; this too will pass. It may be a minor inconvenience. It may be a life-altering, perspective-changing event. God is with you always... even to the ends of the earth.

Join me, this solemn #effectiveSunday... as we remember and reflect on where we were 15 years ago, that no matter what comes against us; may we continue to keep our eyes focused on God. Pray for those who are weary, in need of rest and energy... may God watch over them and minister healing virtue to their body, soul and mind. May their be strengthening of the spirit; that people would indeed, experience and maintain the joy of the Lord. Pray strongholds be broken and people would be set free from that which has snared and entangled them. May that which was meant to detour, derail and destroy be used for the glory of God.

Victory in the end;
Despite tragedies along the way.
The Great Rescuer for all in need of saving.
We call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

- PNC

My plans to have this prayer post written in the past 24 hours has been thwarted... I finally had to break down and buy a new modem/router unit. After browsing Craigslist for past few months, today, it was not an option. I couldn't no longer wait and meet up with someone in an effort to save a few bucks.

I'm not one to over-spiritualize life events, for Scripture says it rains on the just and unjust, the righteous and the wicked. We all reach our breaking points of frustration with any number of circumstance... some of which are seriously problematic and others such as this... well, thanks for whoever created #firstworldproblems.

I'm pretty sure my modem has been on it's way out for the past couple of months, for those who have seen the prayers posted to social media with the disclaimer *sorry for the technical difficulties, causing this prayer to be posted late...

... that said, I had the idea for todays' #communitySaturday prayer a few days ago; which is when my laptop started seriously struggling to load pages and publish these prayers. I think Satan was having fun with me; or certainly laughing at my frustration level and the ensuing rise in blood pressure. Along with numerous calls to tech support, thinking the problem may have been on their end. I think I have a few new gray hairs added to the count as a result. Why might I think this was a part of spiritual attack?

Because he knows there is power in prayer. What's more; the thought of calling people to prayer. On top of that, the thought of sharing with people, that there is power in prayer.

The song talks about the sharing of one's faith and discussing with this around us what it means to be in right standing with God, to have a relationship with Jesus Christ as we place Him at the center of our lives. Based on verses from Romans 1 and 2 Corinthians talk about praying for one another and that the weapons of warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God...

That doesn't prevent the enemy from placing every kind of distraction and disruption into our lives to keep us from focusing the presence and person of Christ. In fact, I had to laugh as I reread the opening lyrics to this song...

"I've waited patiently for your reply..." Sounds like me and this silly internet connection! However, I take great comfort in the power of prayer. God is not absent, distant or preoccupied. Neither does prayer experience connection problems. The only way for people to know as such is the sharing of our experiences and what God has accomplished in and through our lives.

Pray this #communitySaturday, that for its' remainder, that the church would not diminish the power of prayer, nor neglect the opportunity to the difference God makes in the lives of those who call on Him. Pray this weekend will be a time that many will draw near to God and experience His promise that He will draw near to us. Pray that many will sense His power and presence in their midst. May the miraculous unfold in peoples lives as faith is shared and released; that God would hear from heaven and answer prayers.

May He be lifted up
As He works through those
Willing to be used by Him.

- PNC

It can't be denied. We all have biases. We come from different backgrounds. We've had different experiences. We engage in different conversations. We've had instilled in us, different principles and values. We've been raised by different personalities, lived in different neighborhoods... and if that weren't enough, we've been taught and mentored by those with all the aforementioned qualities.

Yet, each of us, remain unique. Created in the image of God, whether we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, or we denounce and deny the existence of God until someone has presented evidence that they deem acceptable. I point that only, because I found myself engaged in such a conversation, online recently. Stating he had "no faith", yet, every response, he felt was a catchphrase and that people of faith were delusional. Furthermore, he failed to see his responses were demeaning and at times, didn't answer the question you asked, yet your answers didn't meet his satisfaction... prompting him to tell you you hadn't answered his question either! It really was a round-robin commentary. It's funny, in retrospect; but not really all that funny, in light of eternity.

As if people of faith need to be more open-minded to other religions; yet, themselves, making serious assumptions about one's journey of faith; perhaps not knowing the truth... that nothing else satisfies the soul of man, except the relationship with God that was stolen by the serpent in the Garden, when he planted doubt in the mind of humanity with the same question that is the foundation to his strategy today.... "Did God really say that?"

Thus, in our educational ascension to the top of the kingdom of God's Creation we place ourselves as being like god in order to disprove God. The gentleman that witnessed to comedian Jeff Allen says it this way, as shared by Jeff in his testimony.

"You yourself, would have to be omniscient, to prove that God Himself, is not omniscient."

Wow. Satan truly has pulled a fast one on humanity, in his simple, yet far-reaching plan to separate Father God from His sons & daughters.

Consider this late, #missionsFriday the following...

Sin is a sinking ship; on which all of humanity travels. None of us knows at what point we will be in the water or succumbing to it. Only Christ has walked on the water. Faith or no faith, everyone cries to be rescued. Yet we are all on the same sinking ship. To whom will you call that will hear your plea to be saved? No religious figure has walked on water and called out to those who were on a vessel in the midst of trouble.  Christ alone saves.

It's not popular in 2016 and that's fine. The truth rarely goes over well with those who aren't prepared to hear it.

So, on this #missionsFriday post (and again, my apologies for the lateness) a simple, prayer to combat the enemy's simple strategy to destroy every soul. Pray God would open the hearts and minds of those who've yet to realize that an eternity awaits us all. As long as their is breath in your lungs, rather than water, we are free to choose... rescue by Christ or well... drowning. Pray an awakening and a preparedness, for God is not willing that any should perish, but all come to repentance through Christ.

Pray that many would, as was said, when the Holy Grail appeared on the big screen... "Choose wisely."

 - PNC

Every office is different. Different cultures, different dynamics... and it's obvious why. There's different people. For whatever reason, I contemplated yesterday, the difficulties of small churches offices and all they try to accomplish, sometime with only one or two people. Larger churches, of course, in greater numbers. Do they not experience conflict? Does one co-worker not get frustrated with another, as to how one goes about a particular task or project?

I always enjoy hearing about our church's staff meetings, particular when pastor shares a snippet of a conversation that was raised or a particular point of prayer that was emphasized. It's reassuring that to know that staff and operations are seeking the face of God corporately and working to get on the same page; operating in a spirit of unity. Surely, not everyone is saying "yes"

Then, of course, the music man in me had this great number from Petra, playing in my head for a good portion of the day. It seems all the more relevant, after reading last night of another pastor's reason for not always quoting or referencing Scripture in their sermons. If the Word of God isn't being preached, one must ask, what is?

All the more reason, we need to church leadership to hear, directly from the throne room of heaven. Would you join with me, in making this song our prayer?

May this #deaconThursday, be a day, to turn again, our eyes towards heaven. Pray for church leadership and operations needing direction. May they seek the face of God, even if and when it does take all night. Pray a willingness to stick it through difficult moments and challenging conversations. Pray for the Word of God to go forth, in power and purpose. Pray a return of the people of God, to be people of prayer... to find ourselves on our knees calling on God, in all circumstances, needing His wisdom, trusting in His plan and timing for our lives and that which He has called us to fulfill.

A desire to hear;
Directly from the Source.
For His purpose; For His Glory.

- PNC

We all work very hard, in this life.

For our time. For our resources. For our families. For our lifestyles.

Many sacrifices are made along the way and many of them are disconcerting to make as parents and difficult to understand as kids. As I considered thoughts about families and friends and circumstances that we go through, it's possible the two hardest lifestyles on a family are ones where there is an element of service to country and service to the kingdom of God.

Whether serving militarily, law enforcement and fire or in ministry, the sacrifices are huge. It's not that other professions aren't sacrificial and require huge time commitments... they do and that's fine. However, roles that require service such as these, take huge tolls on families.

Their roles can be difficult to explain to kids; the time away; the responsibilities that result last minute changes in plans; often to schedules that are already split in odd ways... the unknown factor of putting life in harms way, the feelings that someone else and their circumstance is more important than the family or kids... it can be a lot to process for kids. And dicey to navigate as a parent.

Then, there's the expectations placed upon the child; to live up to standards, sometimes unknowingly established as a result of a parents service, whether to the church or the community. There's just so many ways that this is difficult to navigate, for both parents and kids. And the results are obvious. Kids that grow up in church, wanting nothing to do with church; likewise, kids that grow up in homes where there's a badge and proceed to get in trouble with the law, themselves.

Circumstances such as these, raise the importance in the need for high-quality pastors and church leaders over our youth and teens; to aid in ministering in tough circumstances to home environments such as these.

Pray, this #youthPastorWednesday, for homes involving service to the church and community. Pray for a strength and encouragement in the special challenges presented in the relationships between parents and kids. May their be an understanding and a grace over the sacrifices that are made. Pray for a bond, fortified in prayer; that God keep and protect them by His mighty hand. May God guard hearts and minds; that all involved would remain close and focused on Him. Pray wisdom for pastors as they minister; especially in these circumstances... for the risk of the unknown, for the incredible time commitment and sacrifice that is made to fulfill these crucial responsbilities... may God accomplish the miraculous.

Whether in service to the Cross
Or in service to the Flag...
For the glory of God
Protection, by the blood of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

Being in the middle can be a difficult place.

Sure, there's an element of safety to it at times... such as traveling a multi-lane bridge or not wanting to fall out of bed. Otherwise, it can be... unnerving, depending on what's going happening.

When between warring parties...
When between opposing sides of the argument...
When between decisions taking different directions...
When involved in the process, but you are neither the decision-maker, nor the one affected by the outcome...

Let's not forget the obvious... one's place in the line-up of their siblings.

Associate Pastors play important roles in church operations and ministry. Their contributions are invaluable. Sure, the super-hero's of the movie are well-known, applauded and looked up to, but to each of them, there is a side-kick. An important, even critical relationship; that without it's existence, would result in a much different outcome... many of them, in fact. At a minimum, the dynamics and nature of how things unfolded in whatever circumstance was transpiring would shift, were the associates not in the picture.

Yet, as we've all witnessed, the main character and the associate have their differences, their disagreements and their fall-outs even. In reality, their relationship needs to be stable and healthy; an unshakable foundation that inspires confidence as the move forward as a team.

Pray, this #associatePastorTuesday, for the teams of pastors experiencing places of difficult. Whether in personal matters or ministry matters, pray for a calming in relationships and environments. Pray hostility and toxicity would flee and that the peace of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit would infiltrate the places in which they find themselves. May their be a grace extended by all parties, as they work through differences and seek to understand and find common ground. Pray for wisdom, insight and discernment as they talk out their perspectives and experiences. May the come together to seek the face of God.

May they accomplish more together,
Than they would working apart
For the power of a 3-strand cord
Used for the glory of God.

- PNC

No church is perfect. No church has ever been perfect. No church will ever be perfect.

No matter how much you love your church, there will be something; some aspect, some trait... will bug you, bother you, not set well at times or be a slight more disconcerting than you might expect.

That said, there are many signs and many blogs written about the noteworthy points of character and culture that lead one to the conclusion that they have stepped into a healthy church. As witnessed recently, the ability for a church to act and offer a haven for ministers that have experienced failure in their ministry is crucial.

We hear of pastors and ministry leaders experiencing failure, for any number of reasons and to devastating results. Families ripped apart; congregations split as though someone was slicing and dicing dinner preparations, churches close and communities suffer... reality is bleak, the struggle is real and the results can't be denied.

On the flip side... to allow a space for a pastor and his or her family to step into a congregation where they can be ministered to and receive healing... from the body of Christ, and from the Lord as He works anew and afresh in their hearts, lives and family members is pretty incredible. It's to be a time for the to God to do the miraculous in their lives, rather focusing on working through their lives.

It is a time of healing.
It is a time of restoration.
It is a time of renewal
It is a time of rejuvenation.
It is a time of preparation.

When the process is complete, there is a release. And that day is phenomenal. Friends experienced just such moment of release in recent days. Having been unanimously selected to step into a senior Pastoral position, after having served as missionaries in Europe and pastored several other churches previously, God is launching them again... to accomplish the work of the Gospel with a newfound level of experience and appreciate for the struggles they will encounter. Their fall and recovery has been no easy road, I'm certain. In fact, as I don't know the details, I can't begin to fathom. But I know God will use what the enemy meant to destroy their lives to minister grace and redemption to those who await in the community they are about to serve.

Join me, this #seniorPastorMonday, for my friends and many like them, as dawn rises on this new day; the new chapter in the lives and ministry. Pray for continued grace as they step back into the work God has called them. Pray God would do the miraculous in this community they move into; to be God's hand and feet extended, as they have received in this period of restoration. Pray for pastors and families experiencing failure or on the verge of discovering they are in this place... may the find a haven of healing and recovery as well, in a church that will love and support them, encourage and pray over them; and speak life and healing into their hearts and minds; that the truth of God's Word and the power of the Holy Spirit would accomplish the incredible.

Fulfilling the calling of God
His plans and purposes to bring Him glory.
Despite our failed efforts and attempts that reach devastating levels.
May God hear their cries and come quickly to their side.
From having holes to being made whole.

- PNC

I know I've recognized and realized this before and perhaps stated it on more than one occasion, so I'll present it this way... I was reminded once again last night, that part of knowing how to measure effectiveness and efficiency is knowing where, when and in whom to invest your time, energy and resources.

Nobody is a lost cause.
Not all things are worth skipping and avoiding.

There is however, a wisdom that comes with knowing what to do; what others should be doing and when its time for you to step in, engage and contribute. Equally important, is know when it's time for you to exit the circumstance and let someone else proceed, if it is something that should and will continue.

Whether it's a conversation or a project, it's impossible to be 100% on multiple things at the same time and expect to come out on top and at one's best, consistently, across the board. I'm not saying it can't be done; just that that's not reality for most people.

Thus, it becomes imperative as to who we spend our time with and what projects we devote our time.

It's a continual choice we all have to make, a constant consequence that each of us will deal with and a point of contention for which someone will comment.

What's funny is the cycle of the process. You will encounter this process with someone else, only later to experience someone taking it up with you. Often the frustrations we express with others are similar, if not identical, to those shared by others regarding ourselves. Funny how it works; not so much when it happens.

That said, we all need help. I'll admit, I need some. To my friends, who would enthusiastically agree, you can all get in line with me!  On that note...

Pray this #effectiveSunday, that God would grant wisdom to the people of the Body of Christ. May God give us insight, direction and guidance in our conversations and our actions; that we would wisely invest our time, talent and treasure... in projects and people for sure, but more importantly in the areas and arenas of life which God as divinely placed us to be used for His Glory. May we not be distracted, detoured and derailed by the concerns of life, the responsibilities of the workplace or the craziness and criticism of social media. Pray an awareness of the times forever  be on the forefront of our minds; our attention on God, as we seek His face in order that we may know His perfect will and the power and strength to engage in that calling.

Engaged in this world,
To be effective for His Glory.
For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

Is it just me or is crazy that September is here already!

And school is back in session. For us, it's after Labor Day, but watching all my friends post their pics of their kids 1st days back has been fun... especially the comparison pics. Utterly amazing, how life processes.

We watched the movie You've Got Mail the other day. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan have a great on-screen chemistry.

"Don't you just love New York in the fall? It makes me want to go buy school supplies. I would send you a newly-sharpened bouquet  of pencils, if I knew your name and address.

What a classic line. One I understand. I almost bought a box of crayons for myself this past week, when buying stuff for my oldest. At the very least, I opened a box to take a sniff... the surest, quickest way to recall the joys of childhood.

School somehow brings community together. Whether it's because it takes two trips to the store to find the erasers (true story) or navigating the the carpool lane, campus is a connection point... to speak into the lives of kids and parents as families. We all struggle, we all have struggles; life hits hard and we get hit hard unexpectedly in this life.

Conflict is evidence that love is a choice.
Resolution of conflict is evidence of which choice has been made.

Christ is love. Christ is a choice. In the midst of figuring out how to resolve the conflict and the chaos of life, choosing Christ and continuing to pursue Christ daily is evidence that one is values the hope, plans and purpose that is possible, rather than throwing in the towel to whatever comes against us.

What better time to learn that than as kids.
How much more, it needs to be reinforced to adults in difficult places.

Pray, this #communitySaturday, as people come together and school steps into swing, that God would do the miraculous. Pray for the revelation of Himself and His plans and purposes to be made in the hearts and lives and parents and children; teachers and administrators. May the ultimate lesson of life be learned; that God is love and loves every person; that He has made a way for relationship with Him. Despite life's chaos and conflicts, may we hold fast to the faith we profess; trusting God to accomplish His will in our lives.

To be used for His glory;
To influence our community.

- PNC

The prospect of how yesterday was going to go in terms of smoothness and ease did not look get yesterday morning as things got underway. As Dad and I exchanged a few texts, he encouraged me... as only Dad's can do sometimes, in their own fatherly way; "just stay focused."

Fast-forward to the end of the day...

"Lord, I have nothing for tomorrows' prayer. I got so focused on trying to get through this day, making sure everything got taken care of and trying my best to be quick and efficient."

Thanks for the encouragement Dad! It worked.

Then there's ministry... and missions.

Responsibilities of the day call for our attention and many of them at times, have little to do with our calling and purpose for what God has adorned us to accomplish for the kingdom of God.

And obviously, the struggle is real as roughly 500+ missionaries burn out from ministry in any given year.

Thankfully, God answered my prayer and helped me stay focused on my job yesterday.

Yet, it's easy to not recognize until later that the very nature of focus means other things are going to fall outside of that scope and therefore will be placed in a holding pattern until we can get to them. Hopefully, while they wait, they don't drop from our radar altogether.

There's certainly a balance to life, between the personal matters and kingdom masters.
A balance understood by the Apostle Paul.

Decisions he made regarding travels...
Decisions he made regarding associates...
Detours and delays causing prolonged periods of suffering...

Yet, he remained focused. On what ultimately mattered... eternity.
Reaching the lost and dying world with the Gospel of Christ.
Teaching the troubled and struggling church how to grow in the faith and knoweldge of Christ.

Pray, this #missionsFriday, for missionaries experiencing this difficult. Pray they would be strengthened and encouraged to continue to the pursuit of the lost and dying among them. Pray for wisdom in the decisions they face, both in personal matters and ministry matters. May the distractions fade and the things that would get in the way not dissuade them from fulfilling the purpose and calling of Jesus Christ. Pray for balance and health in their lives and families, that they would accomplish much for the glory and kingdom of God.

Singularly-focused.
For an audience of One.
For His glory

- PNC

ps: so, pretty early in day as things got moving, I got so caught up making sure I had one line item taken care of and understand, that I totally dropped the ball on the item immediately next on the list. Realized it about 90 minutes or so later. Focus and balance. No wonder life seems like a high-wire act at times!

Early this week, as we prayed, we talked about church takes works. Decisions need to be made. Conversations need to be had. Vision needs to be cast. Plans have to implemented. Church operations never rest... as Petra's, song Midnight Oil from the Unseen Power album, starts playing on Pandora. Nice.

However, as one of my best friends pointed out the other day, when your responsibilities to the ministries you are involved in, begin to actually feel like work... it should be a red flag; that perhaps it's time to back off. Keep in mind, this comes from one who has served on the deacon board and continues to serve his congregation in multiple areas of ministry. When it feels, after you've left work, that you now have to go to church because there are things that you are responsible for and expected roles to fulfill; the obligation of which becomes the driving point for your attending rather than to be in the presence of God with the body of Christ...

This is NOT how church is to exist.

There should not be a disdain towards the prospect of our activities on the church campus similar to that which we express at 5am, as we roll out of bed thinking or even speaking, "Man, I really don't want to go to work today."

It's not just deacons or support positions or church staff who may find themselves sharing this sentiment. On this #deaconThursday, pastors encounter this frustration as well. For pastors and staff on church payroll, ministry is their "job" and there can be responsibilities and meetings and decisions for which, the prospect of facing and having to engage in fails to thrill, excite and energize them to participate and resolve.

As many have commented to any number of notices on social media... the struggle is real.

On that note, pray this #deaconThursday, for those such as my friend, in positions where ministry is starting to take it's toll, feeling more like work, than worship and a chore more than service. May God strengthen and under-gird them anew and afresh. Pray for wisdom and direction, should decisions be made regarding their commitments and how to proceed; whether balance is to be restored by backing off responsibilities or re-prioritizing areas of ministry. May the Holy Spirit quicken them and give them peace; for the decisions and struggles they face outside of both work and ministry; for matters that weigh heavy on their hearts and minds. Whatever may be transpiring, may they return to the posture of casting their cares to Christ. Pray rejuvenation and a fresh move of the Spirit in their lives, as God brings about a clarity and focus of who they are and what He has planned for their lives, families as they seek His face and serve to do His Will.

Keeping burnout out at bay
Through the power of prayer.
Effective for His glory
And the advancement of the Gospel of Christ.

- PNC

I had this song stuck in my head for the most of the day,  yesterday and, of course, could help but think of the generation we are raising. So many internal, thought-provoking questions, in terms of who we are in light of eternity. It's so easy to get wrapped up in who were are and what is going on in the here and now and we miss the mark... not only in our relationship with God, but in our dealings with humanity.

Recognizing the human tendency for this, DC Talk reminds us to consider what matters...

What about love?
What about God?
What about holiness?
What about mercy, compassion and selflessness?

What are we teaching our kids; what are they noticing that is amiss in our lives, in our faith, in our walk with God and in our interactions with those around us... whether they be a part of the body of Christ or yet to come to the faith?

We need God's grace and forgiveness, for surely we all miss the mark. Even in this truthh, we try to make ourselves better or worse by assigning degrees of severity by which we have missed, but the bottom line is that we have all dropped the ball in life. The key is continue picking it up and continuing in life as God has called us and teaching the next generation to do the same.

Pray this #youthPastorWednesday, that we would recognize and teach our kids the same, that God has given each of us a second chance... to start all over again. Pray that as we take inventory of where we have missed on God and His plan for our lives, that there would be a covering of grace and conviction; for He is continually working on and in each of us. May we not lose heart in our frailty and failures, but trust in Him during the lessons of life; that they would be opportunities where our faith would be strengthened as we rely on Him. May we instill in the generations behind us, to focus on becoming people with hearts who are sensitive for the things of God.

Hearts that desire His presence
Minds that seek face.
Hands that fulfill His purpose
Feet that walk His calling.
All for His glory.

- PNC

I've been thinking a lot lately, about how people rise to positions and what unfolds as they handle responsibilities and progress through stages of their career, whether it be in the marketplace or in ministry. We all have our places and while our success in one area may be a barometer for success in another, it is not necessarily a guaranteed lock that such will be the case.

There's an old joke... those who can do, do; those who can't, teach.

We've all had or seen people who were good in their job, yet once they stepped up in position, something changed. Not always, but often. And much like in the marketplace, ministry can get dicey.

Good pastors can be not-so-great bosses.
Quality associates may break under increased responsibilities.
Great managers may struggle, if they were ever the owner.

Recognizing one's strength and weaknesses can be difficult to navigate. Correctly taking inventory of it in others can also be a challenge at times, as we go through the process of doing a day's work well. For times when tensions are raised; frustrations are realized and difficulty lies at the forefront of the matter, such elements can make a good day feel like a battle for the duration... for both parties.

Prolonged battles lead to fatigue. Fatigue leads to mistakes. Mistakes lead to greater frustration. And the battle cycles to a great level of prominence. Eventually this doesn't work out so well... a nerve-racking prospect in and of itself.

While nobody likes to consider that all is not well at church, between Monday and Friday, pray this #associatePastorTuesday, where truthfully, battles are cycling to greater degrees of frustration and difficulty. For tensions that are mounting; for conversations that are not going so smoothly; for decisions that are being delayed over wide-differences.... pray a covering of grace over these today. Pray cooler hearts and minds would prevail and the  calming of the Holy Spirit would permeate their environments. May God grant wisdom and direction in how things should proceed and matters be resolved. Pray a healing and restoration of relationship for those torn apart from having engaged in battle.

May what the enemy meant to divide
God would use to unite.
For a greater impact for the kingdom of God
And His glory.

- PNC

Pastor preached a great message yesterday.  In fact, I chuckled internally a few times towards the end, as once again he made a few statements that were in line with yesterday's prayer. The timing was uncanny.

That said, one of the biggest reasons pastors burn out from ministry results from a lack of friends. Many perspectives and mindsets contribute to this problem, on behalf of both pastors and congregations, but consider what Ecclesiates says on the matter. From the 12th verse of the chapter 4:

"Though one can be overpowered, two can defend themselves."

Long before technology and the days of modern warfare, having somebody's back wasn't a figure of speech, so much as it was a literal position of proximity to whomever you were with, who was engaged in battle with you against your attackers. Each of them took care of the others'180-degree view that was behind them, that they couldn't defend when embattled with what was directly in front of them.

They were each others' rear guard and as they moved together, had full 360-degree perspective of what and who was approaching in hopes of defeating and destroying them. Not having that person in your life, explains the enemies success in taking out pastors.

So, pray, this #seniorPastorMonday, for a strengthening of existing friendships in the lives of pastors. Pray for a closeness and a bond of brotherhood; that they are not alone, nor are they fighting life's battles alone. Pray for new friendships that need to be formed and established. May God bring people into the picture that will be true and loyal; lasting and loving; to come alongside, support and lift up before the throne of grace, pastors... friends needing the miraculous. Pray God would ordain paths to cross; that indeed two working together would get a greater return for their work.

Protection in God
Strength in numbers
Confident in His faithfulness
For the glory of God.

- PNC