God Showed Up on November 23, 2008

The following was from notes I took about Sunday, November 23, 2008.

It was the Sunday before Thanksgiving and I lived in a small town in Kentucky called Greensburg. We were to have our annual Thanksgiving potluck and all the normal things you do on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

This Sunday was different.

We had put a dear saint, Eula Lobb, on the Memorial Roll of the Church of the Nazarene and were giving the certificate to her daughter and son-in-law Rev. Bob & Donna Hudson. They came up from Louisiana, where he pastored at the time, to be there for the special service.

We were having a "note burning" as the church had finally got out of debt (for the first time in its history). Our church treasurer brought the note and the president of the bank that we had our mortgage with was present too.

We thanked God for His faithfulness in the life of our dear sister in Christ: Eula Lobb. We thanked God for His faithfulness to His church and His ministry through our church as he provided through the sacrificial giving of individuals in our church family and the sale of some recently purchased property. For the first time since the founding of the church we were to be debt free.

God moved in the worship service. As He was worshiped, His presence filled the sanctuary. Thanks be to God.

Sunday night was a continuation of worship and praise. What a blessing it was as the course of the worship time was altered by people "interrupting" to praise God for answered prayer, special blessings, divine provision, God's faithfulness, and much more. Praise was sung, testified to, and Jesus was celebrated!

We thanked God. I preached briefly about remembering all that God has done in our lives; specifically in our spiritual lives (He does much more than bless us with material things). I preached from one verse found in Exodus 20:24 "In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you." (ESV)

That He did in the evening service. As people testified to the grace and glory of our God, He blessed us with His presence. Some people sought after the Lord. Some were hungry for more of Jesus in their lives!

We then participated in the Supper that the Lord instituted and remembered the sacrifice Jesus made for the world on the cross. Jesus said about it: "As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me."

That we did, and again, God blessed where His name was remembered!

Praise the Lord! Thank You Father!

Signs You Might be a Tele-Evangelist

You might be a tele-evangelist if...

1) You have face cramps from excessive smiling when around people.

2) You write books like: "Your  Best Life Now" or "8 Steps to Create the Life You  Want." (You think everyone has the potential to be a tele-evangelist.)

3) You 'slay' people at your services and say it is "in the Spirit." Also, part of your 'ministry' pay roll goes toward 'catchers' for your worship services.

4) You spent more than $10,000 for a commode.

5) Your last name is Popoff, Van Impe, or Dollar.

6) You have predicted the exact date of Jesus return at least two different times and still cannot understand why God keeps changing His mind.

7) You have been involved in sexual misconduct, drug addictions, financial fraud/embezzlement, or blatant deception but still have "your ministry."

8) You own more than one mansion and at least five BMWs, Mercedes, or Rolls-Royces.

9) The top of your prayer request list consists of new jets.

10) You wear more jewelry than Mr. T and all white suits. (For female evangelists: You wear more make up on your face than what is used to paint the local water tower and have extravagant hair.)

What might you add?

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When Did Holiness Theology Shift to Calvinism?

The world around us is spiritually fallen and thus bent away from God's will and intent. At different times this strikes us vividly because of events that impact everyone. 

It seems that recently many Christians are being swayed by events taking place around us to believe that the Church of Christ is somehow responsible for these things. Holiness churches have long rejected racism, violence against others, and non-biblical sexual ethics. The troubling reality is that even within a holiness denomination, there are people who have traded off their spiritual and biblical heritage in the face of a rapidly changing world. 

Let me explain a little further.

The idea of people sinning every day is an idea promoted by a sinning theology based on some tenets of Calvinism. Though not all "Calvinists" believe in perpetual sinning in the life of the believer, many articulate this theology by saying things like: "I sin every day in thought, word, and deed." Their belief in the idea that once you are saved you will always be saved lends to the idea that salvation, once received, is irrevocable. The problem then is that many who have an initial experience continue in their sin declaring: "I'm just a sinner saved by grace." Their primary identity, thus, continues to be in their sin.

Righteousness ceases to be a relational dynamic and is a once-for-all religious transaction. Holy lifestyle, character, and personal integrity are diminished as they make the unbiblical claim that their past, present, and future sins are all forgiven. Thus you can identify as a lying Christian. You can maintain your identity as an adulterous Christian. A bitter Christian is acceptable.

E.P. Ellyson said: "The Bible offers no compromise with sin; its only offer is salvation from sin, and this results in holiness." (from "Bible Holiness" Beacon Hill Press. 1952.)

Holiness theology is not only Arminian, but distinctly Biblical in emphasizing the fullness of God's work in the life of the believer. Not only does the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross provide for our forgiveness, but Jesus' resurrection serves to provide power over sinful acts and indwelling sin.

Haldor Lillenas, a holiness song writer, penned the words of "Glorious Freedom"...

"[verse 1] 

Once I was bound by sin’s galling fetters,

Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain;

But I received a glorious freedom,

When Jesus broke my fetters in twain.

[chorus]

Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom,

No more in chains of sin I repine!

Jesus the glorious Emancipator,

Now and forever He shall be mine.

[verse 2]

Freedom from all the carnal affections,

Freedom from envy, hatred and strife;

Freedom from vain and worldly ambitions,

Freedom from all that saddened my life.

[verse 3]

Freedom from pride and all sinful follies,

Freedom from love and glitter of gold;

Freedom from evil, temper, and anger,

Glorious freedom, rapture untold.

[verse 4]

Freedom from fear with all of its torments,

Freedom from care with all of its pain;

Freedom in Christ, my blessed Redeemer,

He who has rent my fetters in twain."

Lyrics like these along with sermons, denominational publications, and articles in the "Preacher's Magazine" or "Herald of Holiness" emphasized the reality of victory over sin (both as an act and a nature). It was Good News that people who had been bound by sin through addiction, worldly affinity, or lifestyle developed a hunger for as they witnessed people radically transformed through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Those early holiness people were convinced that God's Spirit could forgive and cleanse anyone! They were convinced that through the atonement sin could be cleansed completely! Testimonies in holiness churches were about victory found in Jesus. They were testimonies about Jesus changing our values, our desires, and even our will to match His own! This was not a theory, this was living out the promises found in Scripture.

The Good News we shared with the broken world around us was that Jesus had not covered up our sin to give us a presentable life, but had actually made provision for holy living in this life! 

That still is Good News for those who are lost and bound in sin today! You need not live that way. You need not gravitate toward sin any longer! God can and will sanctify you entirely! Thus, your whole spirit and soul and body can be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fast forward to the present hour. Holiness theology is impotent when given only lip service. Too many pulpits have been led astray by worldly philosophies. 

Today there are those who contend that our identity is bound to inclinations or desires that, if acted upon, are sinful. They see this as fully compatible with not only the Christian life, but also a holy life. Specifically this is true concerning acts of homosexuality. This is an affront to the fullness of the blessing and the work of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit! Thus you have people who say they are "gay Christians." (This is acceptable, they claim, as long as you keep the desire at bay by refusing to act upon it.) 

They stand in Romans 7 by denying the full liberty and freedom found in Jesus Christ. The Fallen nature that twists God's intended plan for human sexuality is allowed to continue to be a driving force in their very identity... even qualifying their faith in Christ by adding the adjective of "gay" before "Christian." The implication is simply that the full work of the Holy Spirit cannot entirely redeem their identity.

Good News remains: sin, in any form, does not have to define you! As a child of God it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me! He makes all things new! You need not identify any longer with inclinations that if acted upon would lead you into sin. 

So what do you do if you have this problem? Repent and then consecrate your heart completely to God! He both forgives and cleanses! 

Today there are those who contend that we must claim to be racist. A quick historical overview of the holiness movement would find that God's people always reject the evil of racism! Sin cannot have any part of our hearts! Racism can have no place in the heart fully consecrated to God. When God's Spirit fills a heart, it does not abide with sin, but cleanses it!

Good News remains: sin, in any form, does not have to define you! As a child of God it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me! He makes all things new! You need not give into racism or identify with it any longer. 

So what do you do if you have this problem? Repent and then consecrate your heart completely to God! He both forgives and cleanses!

We are not sinners with a holy varnish. Yes, we once were dead in our trespasses and sin, but, through Jesus the Christ, we have been made alive! May we return to the message of full salvation that cleanses from all unrighteousness and delivers fully from the effects of sin and its marring of the image of God in each of us!

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So You Want to Make a Difference?

You graduate from Bible College, Seminary, or quickly find that you are still woefully unprepared for what ministry looks like "on the field." There were no classes on how to handle disputes among mothers in the nursery, how to minister during a pandemic, or how to balance home life and ministerial life. That is not to discredit formal education, but after our classes have been taken and our diplomas have been received we recognize the task ahead is greater than our education.

You find that most of the information that you have relentlessly worked to store away for future use is undeniably limited in light of the scope of ministry!

I now sit a few year from my last undergraduate and seminary courses. If I may, though unworthy, I would like to offer some advice for the journey ahead.

1) Your family is your first mission field. Too many children of pastors have left Christ and His Church who were raised in a pastor's home. This is a tragedy. In fact, Paul says this is disqualifying for being an overseer in the church. This is significant. How can you disciple people in the church when you cannot disciple people that you live with every day? Your spouse needs time with you. Your children need time and direction from you. Do not rob them of God's call on your life.

If you ignore this, your years following your last assignment will contain heart ache and regret. Find a retired preacher and ask him or her what they regret most about their life. They will often mention that they did not spend enough energy on discipling their own family.

2) Be a person of the Bible. People are starving for God's Word in a world that is Biblically illiterate! Preachers have resorted to therapeutic sermons, theological treatises, or ideological agendas. Preachers are looking more like rock stars or Hollywood elite and sounding more like a psychologist with a clerical collar. Many pulpits are filled by people who have been shaped and formed by cultural ideologies and philosophies. 

The people in our pews are hungry for something with real power. We (preachers) will not be able to offer that until we are regularly saturating in the Word of God.

People obviously haven't received what they need from sociology and psychology. They haven't received it from the false prophets called tele-evangelists (not all of tv-evangelists are false prophets... just most of them). They haven't received what their souls yearns for from the hyper-cool church leaders either! But they will receive what their hearts and lives desperately need through the faithful proclamation of God's Word!

Be Biblical. Read God's Word over and over. Live it, breathe it, and speak it.

3) Keep the fire burning. Don't get bogged down in the politics, administration, academics, worship-wars, or other "rabbit trails" that always lead away from Christ if they receive the focus. Some have built their whole ministry around manipulation and control through church politics. Some have built their whole ministry around their theological IQ. Some have built their whole ministry around their exciting style of worship. Some have focused on their creativity and "cutting edge" style. Ministries that focus on temporal things have temporary effects... not eternal. 

A word that many of our holiness pioneer pastors used was unction. It is a KJV word that is often translated anointing. The anointing had to do with the evident presence of the Holy Spirit. The prophet Jeremiah in the Old Testament said there was a fire in his heart that felt like it was shut up in his bones and he could not keep it in! When we lose this fire, we have lost more than we realize.

John Wesley said in a letter to Alexander Mather, August 6, 1777: “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen, such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth.” 

4) Fight for the souls of the lost. Spiritual warfare is not easy. It is wearisome, stressful, disappointing at time, and exhausting. But while there are many costs involved, the harvest is well worth the effort. Going to visit the drunk who had been down to the altar the week before is discouraging to say the least; but do not give up! Fight for the souls of the lost.

Step away from managing the healthy sheep in the fold for a moment to step onto the uncomfortable ground beyond the gates of the sheep fold to find the sheep lost in the thicket of sinfulness. Put your calendar of programs and events down long enough to see the spiritually blind reaching out for someone to point them to Christ. Set aside the tongue of eloquent speech for one of honesty and integrity (although eloquence and integrity are not necessarily mutually exclusive).

The Great Commission is about seeing those who were lost come to know the saving and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit and become disciples! Anything less is an investment in the temporary. 

5) Find men and women who are living today that are radically & absolutely sold out to Christ and get close to them. There will always be those who sound off on social media as experts who have consistently been unfruitful. Do not follow their lead. There are those with robust extroverted personalities. Do not follow their example. 

Just about anyone can get a book published (even if they have to pay for it). Any preacher that has enough money can be heard on the radio and television. Any ministry can establish its own website... but can you find those people who are pursuing Christ with all that is within them? Gravitate toward those who are obviously filled with the Spirit of God!

6) Commit to be faithful. Nurture a resolve. Ministry is long and can be wearisome at times. That is why the apostle Paul warned us not to grow weary in well doing. Choose at the outset that you will not quit. Resolve that you will not give up. Set your eyes on Jesus and "stay on the firing line."

You will find that there is something to be said for remaining faithful to your calling. This is not a fly by night ordination, but a journey to which you have committed. Regardless of the difficulty ahead... I will be faithful.

7) Commit to be fruitful. I am absolutely convinced that anyone can and should be fruitful in the work of the Kingdom. If we are not, then we have to place the blame somewhere. Is it the Gospel message? Is it the impotence of the Holy Spirit? Is it that God is not quite as mighty to save as we thought? Of course not! Maybe it is the congregation to which we have been called? Maybe it is our lack of financial resources? Maybe it is the fact that I am bi-vocational? Maybe because I'm not extroverted?

Too many started the journey convinced they were going to make a difference only to later be resolved to the idea that it is okay not to be fruitful. It is not okay to be unfruitful.

8)   Read preachers that God has used in significant ways throughout history. Read those who are no longer here on Earth, but have made a difference in the world for eternity's sake! Read people like John Wesley, Charles Finney, Martin Luther, Hannah Whitall Smith, Dwight L. Moody, A.M. Mills, J.A. Wood, E.M. Bounds, Leonard Ravenhill, Phoebe Palmer, Samuel Logan Brengle, Saint Augustine, Andrew Murray, Hudson Talyor, Charles Spurgeon, Jonathon Edwards, Corrie ten Boom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, J.B. Chapman, C.S. Lewis, Richard S Taylor, and others. (This list is not exhaustive or in any specific order... other than the way they happen to come to mind.)

We are often caught up in our contemporary historical moment. It becomes difficult for us to operate, preach, and minister in the broader context of history and time. Too many preachers are urged forward by the current fad which will soon pass, along with their significance unless they jump to the next wave (fad). There is a reason that these men and women are still read today. Invest your time on something that has had long term impact rather than something hot off the press with a fancy cover.

9)  Passionately love the people entrusted to your care. It is no small thing to have the responsibility of pastoring a group of people. Do not diminish this responsibility even with a "small church" as there are too many "pastors" who are looking for their next step up. Care for those that you worship with week in and week out. Love for your church will help them see past your flaws as a pastor to your heart.  

10) Pray. More than a pastoral prayer or before a meal. Pray. Become a man/woman of prayer. May your voice be one heard regularly in heaven. May your petition and praise echo in the throne room of grace. May Satan shake when your knees hit the floor. May the gates of Hell fall back in retreat when your heart bows to seek the King of kings.

God's Word says we ought always to pray and to pray without ceasing and that we must! But we have traded off deep intimate times with God for prayer while driving down the road, prayer while standing in line at Wal-Mart, and prayer laying in bed waiting for sleep to overtake us. This prayer is good and important, but cannot take the place of retreating from all the distractions of the world and closing the door of the closet to spend powerful, life-changing, attitude changing, will conforming time with the Savior.

Pray for revival. Pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Pray for the lost. Pray for the hurting. Pray for your church. Pray for yourself. Pray for you family. Pray in thanksgiving seeking to remember every answer to prayer.

Pray when you have no more words due to the emotional pain you are experiencing. Shed tears of godly sorrow for those who are unrepentant. Groan in heart ache as you pray for situations and circumstances to which you do not even fully understand the problem. But whatever you do... pray. 


As you fulfill the calling God has on your life may your journey be blessed with the recognition of the Holy Spirit's constant presence, power, and direction.

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Good Things that came from the Coronavirus...

Certainly 2020 is a year for the history books. A virus first discovered in China has spread over the world and left many in fear, brought economies to their knees, given political pundits talking points, and left millions feeling isolated. Many have died as a direct result of this disease and many others are suffering economically and with mental health during this time. Many people are also struggling spiritually during this time.

Much could be said about the pandemic, but I am thinking today about how God might be using this terrible thing to bring about some good!

1. The Washington Post recently relayed information from a Pew Research poll that ultimately said about one in four Americans say the coronavirus has "deepened their religious faith." To be fair that includes any religion questioned, but could it be that people are turning to God during this time? Could it be that people are recognizing that the government cannot save them; that the church institution cannot save them. Could there be a dawning awareness that mirrors the people of God in the time of King Asa found in 2 Chronicles 15:3-4 "For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, [4] but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them." Are we on the verge of a great awakening?

2. Change. In the matter of a few days there were a host of churches that transitioned from no online or social media presence to starting up new pages, purchasing technology, and more. They scrambled quickly to be able to minister to their faithful congregants, but were surprised by the reality that others were watching too! I am praying that many Christians and churches will realize that we need not wait to be forced to change, but under the direction of the Holy Spirit we can begin to operate in a way that anticipates sharing the Gospel with more people than ever before. Can we be proactive as the Holy Spirit guides us rather than dragged into the future kicking and screaming as we reactive to what we must do to survive? 

3. Uncomfortable? Woe to them that are at ease in Zion! The relative comfort and ease of life for the church in North America has become our greatest enemy. We have become lax and slothful about our mission. The Bible calls us to be zealous for good works. Our fervor has died down to a respectable luke-warmness in many places. The upheaval and discomfort of circumstances has forced us to rely more heavily upon the Lord in many ways. There are simply no modern blueprints for how to deal with a pandemic in Western Civilization. It might be time to seek the Lord! Discomfort has always been a catalyst for positive change.

4. Compassion. What a great opportunity to exhibit your love for your neighbor. Many people and their church families are doing just that. Giving, sharing, and sacrificing for others is in the DNA of those who have been born of the Spirit, but it is often neglected and forgotten. The adversity of a dreaded disease and the economic impact has called the church to the forefront of what it ought to be doing: caring for those around us! It is good to see the love of Christ exhibited by His people!

5. Vitality of smaller churches. For a long time large churches have been viewed as superior in the church culture of today. In many ways we are finding that the shut down and quarantine time have had more of an impact on larger churches than smaller ones. Typically smaller churches have much lower overhead (staff costs, vehicles, and large facilities). Smaller churches are able to adapt and change more quickly than their larger, more cumbersome, sister churches. I like small churches. Larger churches are prevented from returning to worship as quickly and easily as smaller churches due to the larger number of congregants and limited space. Some smaller churches are able to quickly adapt and prepare for the "new normal" of social distancing and family worship to which larger churches are not always accustomed.

6. What is really important? We've all had to begin to reevaluate what we really believe is important. Many questions have arisen during this time that bring our values into the light to for examination. What things really are important to me? Our pursuit of fame, wealth, and power have to be reassessed in light of the reality that life is fragile. There are some things that our government cannot save us from. There are illnesses that doctors cannot cure. This life is temporary and we are forced to evaluate our priorities in light of eternity.

7. So much for the Prosperity Gospel. There has been something of a earth shattering awakening for those who are in the prosperity Gospel club. It just does not add up Biblically or practically. Experience is a merciless teacher. This false doctrine, which has been promoted for way too long will probably limp on into the future, but at least it has once again been exposed as fraudulent theology. As long as there are people in the church who are focused on things of this world there will be false theologies unfortunately. Thankfully there may be a few less patrons of the prosperity Gospel after the coronavirus pandemic.

8. It really is essential for us to be together in one place! The overwhelming response of Christians is that we desperately need times of corporate worship, prayer, and fellowship. Obviously it is not about the building, but there is something Biblical and imperative about our gathering together. When the church gathers for worship, we mirror Heaven. Many of us have been guilty of viewing the times of corporate worship as nonessential long before the coronavirus came on the scene. I am so thankful that during this time we have been blessed with technology to help us endure. I think we have found that virtual church, while a temporary alternative, is simply no comparison to gathering with God's people. There is no doubt about it: corporate worship is a Biblical command and an essential component to our spiritual life! Sometimes you do not realize how important something is until you cannot take part for a while. Absence has certainly made my heart grow fonder!


So what do you think? Are there some good things that you believe have come out of the coronavirus pandemic?



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Some things I long for...

1. Real Conversion. Not just that people would go to church or do some nice things, but that they would encounter a risen Christ. That people would come to know the Son of God who bled and died to take away the sins of the world. That such an encounter would redeem their past, transform their present, and give purpose and real hope to their future.

2. That people would not be baptized into a lukewarm faith that has grown at ease in Zion and is riddled with complacency; but that they would be baptized with water and fire! That a holy zeal would overtake the church. That we would refuse to accept a form of Godliness but not the power (anyone can have a form, but only the Spirit gives the power). That we would grow tired of church services where people are not keenly aware of God's presence.

3. That people would wrestle and ultimately crucify the flesh with its lusts and desires so that they would no longer live, but only Christ within them! O that people would receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit's cleansing work in their heart to rid them (and really deliver them) from a desire for the things of this world! That their whole heart, soul, mind, & all their strength would be devoted to their love of Christ!

4. Send a great revival in my soul! May my love for Jesus eclipse all other loves in my life. May my love of neighbor be a compelling force for action in my life. May my spirit be stirred whenever I think of Jesus. May my desire for holiness be greater than my desire for this world.

5. May the glory of God descend on His people again. May we encounter God as Moses did on the mountain in the wilderness! May our churches shake as the Holy Spirit blows through our lives radically forming us into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

6. May the Church dictate to culture the Way again! Help us to stop looking to the entertainment industry, the politicians, or the celebrities for us to take our cues. Let the church look again to Christ (His Way, His Holiness, His Standard) as our example. Let us be His Body again.

7. May the church be marked by purity and power again. Not political power, financial power, or technological power, but power to live a holy life. Power to minister effectively in a culture and time that is increasingly difficult and even detrimental to holy living. Power to overcome. Power to stand against compromise and liberalism. May the church be undefiled by the worldly desires and shifting moral landscape. May the Bride be ready when the groom returns!

Even so, come Lord Jesus!


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"We're All Winners"

I've participated in or at least been a spectator in enough church leagues to get a sickening feeling from that phrase. We especially do it in children's church leagues.

I'm sure the idea in promoting the "no one loses" mentality is full of good intentions, but what is it that they say about good intentions? ("Good intentions pave the way to [the bad place].")

I think it actually cripples our children. We are actually harming our kids by trying to prevent them from ever "losing." Failure is a natural part of life. Some of the things you attempt in life will end in failure. Therefore, the sooner you learn to deal with failure the sooner you will be able to use failure to improve or better your life. That's right, I think that an appropriate response to failure can actually better your life.

Don't we want kids to be able to cope with failure in life? Or do we want them to face the surprise of failure for the first time as an adult?

Everyone will fail at things in life. You will compete for things and lose in life. You will sometimes be at the bottom 3 percentile of the activity you are participating in. What are you going to do then? Have a nervous breakdown because in the T-Ball league at church you were a winner even though you never made it to first base? Are you going to fly into a rage because in the church basketball league you were not considered an "all-star" even though you never learned how to dribble?

Failure may not be the most enjoyable thing in the world but I think it does a few positive things in life that we all need!

(1) It keeps you humble. Nothing helps you to get a big juicy bite of 'humble pie' like failure. The bigger the crowd watching your failure, the bigger the piece of pie! Ever met someone so high on themselves that you wished they would fail? (That's not a Christian feeling.) Failure has the uncanny ability to bring you down to earth. There's nothing worse than observing someone doing a really bad job at something, but feeling like they are great!

(2) It reminds you of your shortcomings. Failure is a sober reminder of your inadequacies. Failure resounds with the words: "You are the weakest link... goodbye." It can bring to the forefront some of the places in your life you are the weakest for your observation... as well as the observation of others. Failure can help you to realize that you are not cut out to sing a special at church because you cannot sing. Failure helps you to see that you cannot play football in High School when you are a runt. No one can be the master of everything.

(3) It helps you better understand yourself. Generally speaking, we tend to be blind to our weaknesses. Sometimes we are blind to our greatest weaknesses. Failure brings those to the surface not only so that you can see them, but so that you can assimilate that information into a better understanding of who you are. In order to understand who I am, who God has called me to be, and what His call on my life will mean in the ministry; I must have an understanding of my strengths and my weaknesses.

(4) It serves as a learning experience. Not only do I learn about myself, but I will also learn about others. Sometimes you will learn who your real friends are. Failure tends to drive away the fickle. People want to be around successful individuals, not individuals that fail. People want to be around individuals that can help them, not individuals that they will have to help. You learn the nature of those close to you when you fail. How will they respond? How will the react? You can also learn a great deal about your own character. Are you a sore loser? Are you arrogant? etc.

(5) It makes you appreciate others. Failure may just be the greatest tool in helping us to realize we need others. (Remember I am speaking from a Christian perspective so the 'others' I am referring to are the church.) There are no Lone Rangers in the kingdom of Heaven! There are not really any rogue Christians that masquerade outside the body of Christ. So when I fail and my brothers and sisters are used by God to catch me, I realize how much I need them and I appreciate them more.

(6) It gives you direction in life. Failure is like a "Dead End" road sign. It lets you know you're heading in the wrong direction or going in the right direction but by the wrong means. For example, if people 'boo' you at church when you sing the special you should take that in one of two ways... either I am not gifted with the ability to sing or I have not practiced this song nearly enough. (I'd lean toward the 'not gifted to sing' just to be on the safe side for the rest of us.) Failure can be like that road block that is saying "cliff ahead, turn back, this is not the direction your life needs to be going!" Hey, do us all a favor and listen to failure!

So, let's be honest with our children. Let's just be honest as Christians and not tell our kids: "Everyone is a winner."

That's not true. Frankly, some of us are just "out and out losers" when it comes to certain things. Let's use failure as a learning tool and not something to try and hide from everyone!

...but, that's just my opinion!

What do you think?


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