Manifesto

While at the Billy Graham Training Center last week,all around me I saw the evidence of a life well-lived. Billy is in his 90's. Shea and Barrows, his ministry partners, are still around and the thing they share in common is life with character intact--as far as I can see. How?

One of the things they did in the early years that proved to be key to ministry integrity was the so-called "Modesto Manifesto." It was while in Modesto that they pledged to each other these four commitments. They had observed the bankrupt character of some other ministries and wanted to protect the same thing from happening to them.

Here's an abbreviation of the Manifesto:

1) We will never criticize, condemn or speak negatively about others.
2) We will be accountable, especially in finances, with integrity according to the highest standards.
3) We will tell the truth, be totally honest, especially in reporting statistics.
4) We will be exemplary in morals__careful to avoid the very appearance of any impropriety.

By the grace of God, they attempted to live by these and as a result they are leaving a legacy of strong character.

What is your Manifesto?

The Solution for Dull Worship

The reason the worship of God is insipid and dull is that our view of God has dulled into a pale resemblance of the Real. We have settled for bones, dust and artifacts. The hour of worship has become an hour at the museum. If we want to amp up the passion in worship then we must amp up our vision of the living God. This is the solution to dull worship.

Don't Let it Die with You

It's a sad sight to watch a great organization, a church, a ministry die simply because it was all centered around one person's gifts. Why does it happen? Many times it's because of insecure leadership:

• "No one can do it like me."
• "If I'm not there, it won't succeed." 
• "Greatness of this organization begins and ends with me." 

At the root of these is insecurity: "If they can do it without me, then why am I here?"

Of course, great leadership is needed and essential. An organization, church, ministry needs someone who leads courageously. But he/she needs to lead with a vision for the next generation--not just until you retire. God's kingdom is supposed to go on after you're off the scene. To have something die without you, means that you failed to pass it on.

So don't do it alone. Are you passing on what you know? Do you have an apprentice? Are you showing someone how to do what you can do well? Barnabas had Mark. Jesus had Peter, James, John. Moses had Joshua. Aquila had Apollos. Paul had Timothy.

They didn't let it die with them. You shouldn't either.

Kindergarten Principles Still Apply

I was re-reading excerpts from a fav book from years ago: "All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten." Great stuff. This isn't a complete list, but here are my top ten from Fulghum's list:

• Share everything. Play fair.
• Don’t hit people.
• Clean up your own mess.
• Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
• Wash your hands before you eat.
• Flush.
• Warm cookies and milk are good for you.
• Take a nap every afternoon.
• Hold hands and stick together.
• Be aware of wonder. 

Don't you wish more people put these into practice? Especially Christians?

I Was Born this Way

Poet Joanne Germanotta penned these words,
"I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way"

Of course, her stage name is Lady Gaga and the album went platinum the first week. Many relate to those words because we believe that whatever is instinctive, whatever is "natural" is good and shouldn't be altered or restricted. This is Gaga's message and it is the core of postmodern thought: Man is basically good and he/she should be accepted as is. "Accept me for what I am not for what you want me to be." This sounds good but it couldn't be further from the truth.

God's Word concerning Joanne Germanotta, Me, You and every "innocent" baby born is that we are all born as rebels of God (see Psalm 51.5). We aren't basically good. We're all born rebels and the only solution for the "way we were born" is to be born from above. This is no slam against Lady Gaga. It's universal.

The good news is that God the Father's DNA is powerful enough to restructure our DNA so that rebels become sons and daughters of God. Wow.

Supernatural Singing

Songs move us. My youngest brother Bryson proved it. When he was about a year old or less, we discovered that if we sang certain songs he would pucker up. I used to line up my buddies and I would sing a couple of lines and say, “Watch this.” Songs move us.

Songs go deeper than thought. They touch the heart. History reveals it. We know it’s true. That’s why the earliest military endeavors included songs and music as a part of war. They learned that when spirits were low and the outlook was bleak, a couple of drums and a flute could lift the spirits. Hope could be restored. It’s why virtually every nation and kingdom has a national anthem. It inspires pride and hope. Who hasn’t at some point in their life, gotten a lump in their throat when the flag passed by and they sang the Star Spangled Banner? It’s why High Schools have marching bands and smart marketing ads use music. Because songs move us.

But with Christians, it's even bigger than this. Songs as worship to God can actually change the atmosphere. A quick read of Acts 16 will prove it. Imagine Paul and Silas, beaten, bloody, chained up in a cell. And these cells didn't have A/C and a TV like ours today. They were dark, dank and gloomy places. But what did Paul and Silas decide to do at midnight? Sing and glorify God. I can imagine Paul saying to Silas, "Okay, Silas. We've prayed. We've prayed some more. We've talked and witnessed to these guards. What now? How about singing?" So they do and God hears their singing and the walls begin to shake and the chains fall off and soon revival breaks out! The head guard and his family are baptized. And so the church at Philippi grew as Jesus used a couple of guys singing praise in a jail cell! No, it's not magic and not everyone who is in a crisis can sing their way out. But before you say, "God doesn't do that anymore" don't discount it either. Praise still paves the way for God's supernatural intervention.

Are you in a prison of doubt? of discouragement? of temptation? of hopelessness? Ramp up the praise. Perhaps God will use that as an opportunity to break in and loose the chains on your soul.

Fruit that Remains

I planted two cherry trees two years ago. This year there was "fruit!" Well sort of. There was actually one cherry. That one cherry didn't ripen but fell to the ground still green. I'm disappointed but I'm not destroyed because I know something about trees and fruit: two years is not long enough to see whether a tree is going to bear fruit. It takes more patience than that. They tell me that it can take 5-7 years before a tree starts bearing! So, I'm not giving up...yet.

Jesus had hope for fruit from his followers too: "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." Their early ministry with Him, was "sort of" fruitful. There were glimpses of glory but there were other times when Jesus was exasperated with their progress. (Remember hearing Him say, "Have I been so long with you and yet..." Jn. 14.9). But later there was fruit that remained. In fact it's still remaining: a world-wide movement that is alive and well on every continent!

So don't give up! Fruit may yet come:

• from changing diapers and piles of laundry
• from prayer to find that someone to share life with 
• from a business venture that you love and are faithfully serving others with it
• from generosity you have sown into God's Kingdom
• from teaching God's Word to blank stares in your living room
• from hours of marriage counseling together
• from a 100+ resumes 

I'm not giving up on my dream of a cherry pie from my backyard...yet. Maybe it's not time for you to give up either.