Prayer as a Calling!
Dear Friends in Christ,
This blog is a call for prayer. Debbie Upham, friend, friend of Christ, wife of Andy, mother of Ryan and Megan, lay speaker, passionate leader of youth, a shining star in a world of need, is in need. Debbie has been diagnosed with a treatment-resistant form of cancer, and without a dramatic change in the progression of the disease has been given a year. This blog is a call for prayer.
Rosemary and I met Debbie and Andy when we joined Fairview United Methodist Church in 1997. Breaths of fresh air, they were returning from leading a youth trip to Mexico. Debbie was in school finishing her veterinary degree. Andy was working as a counselor. Fast forward and Debbie is a vet working in Boonville. Andy is a counselor at Coyote Hills Christian Children's Home. Ryan and Megan are their two wonderful children. Faith is strong. Faith is being lived out in every facet of their lives. Debbie is forty. Debbie has cancer. This blog is a call to prayer.
Youth director. Admin Council. Admin Chair. Little Bethlehem. Sunday School. Disciple Bible Study. Wiseman. Shepherd. Christian Believer. Liturgist. Pulpit Supply. Vision Task Force. Planning Workshop. All in all, I have 14 pages of Google Desktop Search that mentions the Uphams. Faithful leaders. Faithful followers. Faithful Disciples. This blog is a call to prayer.
22 Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. 24 So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:22-25) This blog is a call to prayer.
13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. (James 5:13-16) This blog is a call to prayer.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Rick
See "Debbie Upham Updates" link to the right for Andy's reports on Debbie's progress.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Lay Speaking Ministries as a Calling
Lay Speaking Ministries as a Calling
Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching a group of certified lay speakers. What a joy! I heard incredible stories of calling, adult conversion, and the power of prayer in convicting those we love. And I heard masterful sermons. Those in the Methodist Church are blessed by gifted and generous laity. And we are blessed to be in a denomination that encourages us to serve.
We can thank Susanna Wesley for our heritage. With elders stretched thin, John Wesley left one of his societies unattended. In his absence, Thomas Maxfield chose to preach. Wesley, intending to cut short this “usurping practice,” was counseled otherwise by his mother: “Take care what you do with respect to that young man, for he is as surely called of God to preach, as are you.” (Collins, Kenneth J., A Real Christian, The life of John Wesley. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1999. Page 73)
One participant (lay speaker now a local licensed pastor) brought 12 of his parishioners to the lay speaking weekend. His story was a living metaphor of prevenient grace, God working in him, preparing him, readying him for his call long before he knew it. God is good.
Not all are called to be exhorters (provide pulpit supply). Lay Speaking Ministries now touches nearly every ministry of the church. But give thanks for those that are gifted and heed the call to serve churches. The district superintendent noted to me that there are more lay speakers serving churches in his district than retired elders and local licensed pastors combined. I just did a count. There are 19 churches in his district served by lay speakers.
For years, I tried to respond to what I thought was a call to ordained ministry. I could never become comfortable with it. My spouse’s counsel was, “Why turn a perfectly good lay preacher into a mediocre pastor?” What I have found was that my calling is clearly to lay ministry.
And I am blessed to be in a denomination that chooses to employ God’s gifts through the laity.
Blessings all,
Rick
Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching a group of certified lay speakers. What a joy! I heard incredible stories of calling, adult conversion, and the power of prayer in convicting those we love. And I heard masterful sermons. Those in the Methodist Church are blessed by gifted and generous laity. And we are blessed to be in a denomination that encourages us to serve.
We can thank Susanna Wesley for our heritage. With elders stretched thin, John Wesley left one of his societies unattended. In his absence, Thomas Maxfield chose to preach. Wesley, intending to cut short this “usurping practice,” was counseled otherwise by his mother: “Take care what you do with respect to that young man, for he is as surely called of God to preach, as are you.” (Collins, Kenneth J., A Real Christian, The life of John Wesley. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1999. Page 73)
One participant (lay speaker now a local licensed pastor) brought 12 of his parishioners to the lay speaking weekend. His story was a living metaphor of prevenient grace, God working in him, preparing him, readying him for his call long before he knew it. God is good.
Not all are called to be exhorters (provide pulpit supply). Lay Speaking Ministries now touches nearly every ministry of the church. But give thanks for those that are gifted and heed the call to serve churches. The district superintendent noted to me that there are more lay speakers serving churches in his district than retired elders and local licensed pastors combined. I just did a count. There are 19 churches in his district served by lay speakers.
For years, I tried to respond to what I thought was a call to ordained ministry. I could never become comfortable with it. My spouse’s counsel was, “Why turn a perfectly good lay preacher into a mediocre pastor?” What I have found was that my calling is clearly to lay ministry.
And I am blessed to be in a denomination that chooses to employ God’s gifts through the laity.
Blessings all,
Rick
Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter!
Easter!
What a day! Yesterday I noted that if we really believed this (the resurrection, the resurrection power of God in Jesus Christ) that every Sunday would be Easter. No, every day would be Easter!
But I’m glad every day is not Easter. Then every day would be every day. Without plains there cannot be mountains. Without Ordinary Time there would not be the exhilaration of Easter! Every day may not be Easter, but the joy of this one will carry me through many days more. "He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!"
Which reminds me, we stopped a G&D Steakhouse after the service and Angelo came by to sit with us. While there a Rotary friend, an active member of Forum Boulevard Christian, and his wife stopped by. We exchanged the Easter greeting (Indeed!). Angelo said, “Do you say that, too?” He then mimicked the greeting in Greek. It was beautiful. The syllables and sounds seemed to perfectly mirror one another and it was compact and succinct. In a way, just right. For a lay person with no Greek language background (I know about agape), I gained an appreciation of what Easter joy must have been to the first century Christians.
I hope your Easter was also joyous, a mountain-top experience. (Did I say that Smith Chapel UMC had a record crowd at our little church, or that we had two baptisms? God is great! He has raised us to new life!)
Blessings all,
Rick
What a day! Yesterday I noted that if we really believed this (the resurrection, the resurrection power of God in Jesus Christ) that every Sunday would be Easter. No, every day would be Easter!
But I’m glad every day is not Easter. Then every day would be every day. Without plains there cannot be mountains. Without Ordinary Time there would not be the exhilaration of Easter! Every day may not be Easter, but the joy of this one will carry me through many days more. "He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!"
Which reminds me, we stopped a G&D Steakhouse after the service and Angelo came by to sit with us. While there a Rotary friend, an active member of Forum Boulevard Christian, and his wife stopped by. We exchanged the Easter greeting (Indeed!). Angelo said, “Do you say that, too?” He then mimicked the greeting in Greek. It was beautiful. The syllables and sounds seemed to perfectly mirror one another and it was compact and succinct. In a way, just right. For a lay person with no Greek language background (I know about agape), I gained an appreciation of what Easter joy must have been to the first century Christians.
I hope your Easter was also joyous, a mountain-top experience. (Did I say that Smith Chapel UMC had a record crowd at our little church, or that we had two baptisms? God is great! He has raised us to new life!)
Blessings all,
Rick
Monday, March 17, 2008
Day 40. Living with Purpose
Day 40. Living With Purpose
I was about to wrap this up when I realized that Warren intends us to live with purpose from day 41 on! To quote the Yogi, “It isn’t over ‘til it’s over!”
Warren’s encouragement to be specific in our spiritual lives is good because most of us find our spiritual priorities squeezed out by other things. Yet, since most of us in this study are lay people, we need to set our priorities such that our physical and spiritual lives come together.
Some thoughts: I’m a Stephen Covey fan, and a big fan of his book, First Things First (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1994). Covey says that we need to balance our physical, social, mental and spiritual areas. His bottom line is that we need “to live, to love, to learn, and to leave a legacy. His one sentence (albeit run-on) life statement is “to live in moderation as if you just had heart attack, to talk of others as if they can over hear you, to consider the half-life of all knowledge as two years, and to live as if every 90 days your have a one-hour face-to-face to settle your accountability with your maker.” (Covey television interview)
To live means to provide home and hearth for ourselves and our families. What if we were to add that we wanted to do those things that lift one here and one abroad to a level where they can sustain themselves?
To love is our need for family and social interactions that make us alive and all that God intended. Worship, family and fellowship must have priorities here.
To learn is becoming a bigger task. I think that graduating high school seniors need to be prepared to educate and re-educate themselves at least three times in their life-time. And we cannot live a moral life without a moral foundation. A continual education in spiritual matters is called for. Part of discipleship: becoming like Christ.
To leave a legacy. We are not complete without service. “12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:12b-15)That was on Maunday Thursday (maunday is from the same root as command). Jesus told his disciples, “34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13: 34-35)
Integrating our awareness of spiritual purpose through Warren's book with Covey’s life areas seems life a good way to balance our lives with purpose.
What are you going to do on day 41?
Blessings,
Rick
I was about to wrap this up when I realized that Warren intends us to live with purpose from day 41 on! To quote the Yogi, “It isn’t over ‘til it’s over!”
Warren’s encouragement to be specific in our spiritual lives is good because most of us find our spiritual priorities squeezed out by other things. Yet, since most of us in this study are lay people, we need to set our priorities such that our physical and spiritual lives come together.
Some thoughts: I’m a Stephen Covey fan, and a big fan of his book, First Things First (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1994). Covey says that we need to balance our physical, social, mental and spiritual areas. His bottom line is that we need “to live, to love, to learn, and to leave a legacy. His one sentence (albeit run-on) life statement is “to live in moderation as if you just had heart attack, to talk of others as if they can over hear you, to consider the half-life of all knowledge as two years, and to live as if every 90 days your have a one-hour face-to-face to settle your accountability with your maker.” (Covey television interview)
To live means to provide home and hearth for ourselves and our families. What if we were to add that we wanted to do those things that lift one here and one abroad to a level where they can sustain themselves?
To love is our need for family and social interactions that make us alive and all that God intended. Worship, family and fellowship must have priorities here.
To learn is becoming a bigger task. I think that graduating high school seniors need to be prepared to educate and re-educate themselves at least three times in their life-time. And we cannot live a moral life without a moral foundation. A continual education in spiritual matters is called for. Part of discipleship: becoming like Christ.
To leave a legacy. We are not complete without service. “12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:12b-15)That was on Maunday Thursday (maunday is from the same root as command). Jesus told his disciples, “34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13: 34-35)
Integrating our awareness of spiritual purpose through Warren's book with Covey’s life areas seems life a good way to balance our lives with purpose.
What are you going to do on day 41?
Blessings,
Rick
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Day 39. Balancing Your Life
Day 39. Balancing Your Life
We’re getting to the end. Most of us know what our purposes are. Warren lays out the source of these purposes, the Great Commandments and the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. But there is a great divide between knowing and doing. Izzo (1) says that 70 percent of those who have life threatening medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or diabetes, all of which can be ameliorated by changing habits or diets choose not to.
The same problem occurs with spiritual conditions. We know, but we choose differently. Effective dieters use “weight watchers” to establish accountability to change physical habits; John Wesley developed similar groups, called classes, for spiritual accountability to watch over one another in love.
Wesley was so convinced of the need for these groups that he vowed never to preach without following up. “Without joining together those that are awakened and training them up in the ways of God was only begetting children for the murderer.” He continued, “How much preaching there has been of twenty years… but no regular [classes], no discipline, no order or connection. And the consequence is that nine in ten of the once-awakened are now faster asleep than ever.”
In Wesley’s classes, the members were accountable to one another “First to do no harm.” This is a separate but important discussion. I’ve always thought it important that Wesley chose it as first. Harm is many times irreparable. Harm is always sin. Harm damages or destroys relationships. Harm can be evil.
Wesley’s second general rule is to “Do good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and as far as possible to all…” Wesley’s third general rules is to “attend upon the ordinances of God.”
Wesley accountability groups covenant to comply with the latter two rules by acts of mercy, ie compassion and justice; and acts of piety, ie worship and devotion. We could easily map Wesley’s acts into Warren’s purposes. That would be where balance comes in.
Groups or spiritual partners could agree on specifics of the purposes, eg to always attend worship unless one is sick, to serve in a way that strengthens the community of faith, to pray and read Scripture daily, to serve at a food kitchen monthly, to invite someone to church at least monthly. Then the partners or groups would agree to pray for one another, to tell one another regularly how they are doing, and to advise one another how to do better when they fail.
Accountability is a key in moving from knowing to doing.
Forming accountability partnerships or groups is another of the choices we make… or not.
Blessings,
Rick
(1) Izzo, John, The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die. (San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Pulishers, Inc., 2008) page 116.
We’re getting to the end. Most of us know what our purposes are. Warren lays out the source of these purposes, the Great Commandments and the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. But there is a great divide between knowing and doing. Izzo (1) says that 70 percent of those who have life threatening medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or diabetes, all of which can be ameliorated by changing habits or diets choose not to.
The same problem occurs with spiritual conditions. We know, but we choose differently. Effective dieters use “weight watchers” to establish accountability to change physical habits; John Wesley developed similar groups, called classes, for spiritual accountability to watch over one another in love.
Wesley was so convinced of the need for these groups that he vowed never to preach without following up. “Without joining together those that are awakened and training them up in the ways of God was only begetting children for the murderer.” He continued, “How much preaching there has been of twenty years… but no regular [classes], no discipline, no order or connection. And the consequence is that nine in ten of the once-awakened are now faster asleep than ever.”
In Wesley’s classes, the members were accountable to one another “First to do no harm.” This is a separate but important discussion. I’ve always thought it important that Wesley chose it as first. Harm is many times irreparable. Harm is always sin. Harm damages or destroys relationships. Harm can be evil.
Wesley’s second general rule is to “Do good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and as far as possible to all…” Wesley’s third general rules is to “attend upon the ordinances of God.”
Wesley accountability groups covenant to comply with the latter two rules by acts of mercy, ie compassion and justice; and acts of piety, ie worship and devotion. We could easily map Wesley’s acts into Warren’s purposes. That would be where balance comes in.
Groups or spiritual partners could agree on specifics of the purposes, eg to always attend worship unless one is sick, to serve in a way that strengthens the community of faith, to pray and read Scripture daily, to serve at a food kitchen monthly, to invite someone to church at least monthly. Then the partners or groups would agree to pray for one another, to tell one another regularly how they are doing, and to advise one another how to do better when they fail.
Accountability is a key in moving from knowing to doing.
Forming accountability partnerships or groups is another of the choices we make… or not.
Blessings,
Rick
(1) Izzo, John, The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die. (San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Pulishers, Inc., 2008) page 116.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Day 38. Becoming a World-Class Christian
Day 38. Becoming a World-Class Christian
A word for the connected church: A connectional church like the United Methodist Church provides incredible opportunities for service and witness. It is a witness of incredible power in a world of need. Did you know, for example, that following the war in the Balkans, that UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) contracted with the United Nations to build 60,000 houses for those who had lost everything? Or, did you know, that following the terrible happenings in Rwanda and Burundi that the agency contracted to build a refugee camp for 800,000 people? That started with no infrastructure, no roads, no water, no sewers, no schools, no hospitals; just desperate and hurting people.
Or who is Louisiana or Mississippi when the Red Cross leaves? Who is Indonesia long after the emergency workers have left? The answer is UMCOR. And because the organizational costs are paid for by the annual contributions of Methodist churches, every (that’s every) red cent that is donated goes directly to agencies who are on site. Want to be a world-class Christian? Make your presence felt through UMCOR.
The connectional church has other resources as well. The Missouri Conference organizes dozens of VIM (Volunteers in Mission) trips, near, far, local, international. You can repair a tornado damaged church in the “Bootheel” or dig wells in Mozambique. Whether your church has an attendance of 10, or 100, or 1000, you can join with or organize a VIM trip and touch lives in the name of Jesus Christ.
Or you can be a World-Class Christian like Methodist layman Keith Jaspers and start one of the most incredible ministries in Christendom like Rainbow Network. (Click the link in the right hand panel to go to the Rainbow Network website.)
Finally, you can “glocalize.” Tom Friedman has declared the world is flat. Rev. Bob Roberts has written a new book, Glocalization: How Followers of Jesus Engage the New Flat Earth (Zondervon) in which he outlines that congregations of any size can engage in world-wide witness. A farmer who has well expertise can fly to the hinterland, find what is required, return, plan, resource, and then go do it! So likewise a nurse can spend a week or a month providing medical assistance as a witness to the love of Jesus Christ. Finding a need and filling it need not be just local, it can be global. We can “glocalize.”
World-class begins with spirit-class prayer then the inspiration to be a witness (in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1.8)).
Glocalize! Be connected!
Rick
A word for the connected church: A connectional church like the United Methodist Church provides incredible opportunities for service and witness. It is a witness of incredible power in a world of need. Did you know, for example, that following the war in the Balkans, that UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) contracted with the United Nations to build 60,000 houses for those who had lost everything? Or, did you know, that following the terrible happenings in Rwanda and Burundi that the agency contracted to build a refugee camp for 800,000 people? That started with no infrastructure, no roads, no water, no sewers, no schools, no hospitals; just desperate and hurting people.
Or who is Louisiana or Mississippi when the Red Cross leaves? Who is Indonesia long after the emergency workers have left? The answer is UMCOR. And because the organizational costs are paid for by the annual contributions of Methodist churches, every (that’s every) red cent that is donated goes directly to agencies who are on site. Want to be a world-class Christian? Make your presence felt through UMCOR.
The connectional church has other resources as well. The Missouri Conference organizes dozens of VIM (Volunteers in Mission) trips, near, far, local, international. You can repair a tornado damaged church in the “Bootheel” or dig wells in Mozambique. Whether your church has an attendance of 10, or 100, or 1000, you can join with or organize a VIM trip and touch lives in the name of Jesus Christ.
Or you can be a World-Class Christian like Methodist layman Keith Jaspers and start one of the most incredible ministries in Christendom like Rainbow Network. (Click the link in the right hand panel to go to the Rainbow Network website.)
Finally, you can “glocalize.” Tom Friedman has declared the world is flat. Rev. Bob Roberts has written a new book, Glocalization: How Followers of Jesus Engage the New Flat Earth (Zondervon) in which he outlines that congregations of any size can engage in world-wide witness. A farmer who has well expertise can fly to the hinterland, find what is required, return, plan, resource, and then go do it! So likewise a nurse can spend a week or a month providing medical assistance as a witness to the love of Jesus Christ. Finding a need and filling it need not be just local, it can be global. We can “glocalize.”
World-class begins with spirit-class prayer then the inspiration to be a witness (in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1.8)).
Glocalize! Be connected!
Rick
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Day 37. Sharing Your Life Message
Day 37. Sharing Your Life Message
Yesterday I started in the middle. Today I want to start at the end. Pray. Pray to learn to love lost people the way God does. Without that motivation, we will never prepare our message of life in a way that it can be shared.
Prayer for the power of the Holy Spirit to teach, convict, motivate for us to be witnesses. As Jesus told the disciples “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Prayer for the power of the Holy Spirit that convicts us to love the unchurched is the prerequisite to sharing our life message.
Pray for passion. Pray at the end; pray in the middle; pray to begin.
Rick
Yesterday I started in the middle. Today I want to start at the end. Pray. Pray to learn to love lost people the way God does. Without that motivation, we will never prepare our message of life in a way that it can be shared.
Prayer for the power of the Holy Spirit to teach, convict, motivate for us to be witnesses. As Jesus told the disciples “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Prayer for the power of the Holy Spirit that convicts us to love the unchurched is the prerequisite to sharing our life message.
Pray for passion. Pray at the end; pray in the middle; pray to begin.
Rick
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