Category Archives: Uncategorized

I can’t do it anymore …

A truer statement has never been given, “I can’t do it anymore.” I never could do it. It should be a very obvious statement as well. I have at times fooled myself into thinking that maybe I could do it. Or at least maybe I could be a major factor. I was wrong. I was dead wrong. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can’t do it. 

I can’t build a church into what God desires. I can’t bring revival. I can’t move people’s hearts to real life change. I can’t do it. I am a complete and utter failure. 

Finally I am at the place where God can do it. Because either God breaks through in the power of His Holy Spirit or we are doomed.

In Luke 11:1 the disciples were with Jesus while he was praying. When he finished praying the disciples said, “Lord teach us to pray …” They didn’t ask him to teach them to preach, or to write, or to lead and they didn’t ask him to teach them how to strategize. Preaching, writing, leading and planning are all good and important things, but they had been with Jesus. They had heard and seen him pray. They had learned that prayer was the foundation and the most important thing to learn and to do. 

I can’t do it, but God can.

I am praying for a breakthrough. A breakthrough in my spirit, in my mind and in my heart. A breakthrough that can only be explained as “God showed up”.

I am praying for a breakthrough in my churches. A breakthrough in our sin, in our pride, in our traditions and in our plans. A breakthrough that can only be explained as “a God thing”. 

I can’t do it, but God can and He will.

There is a real sense of relief at the realization that I can’t do it but God can and will. There is also a real sense of fear as I wonder what God will do and what will change when He does it. There is also an incredible sense of excitement as I pray and anticipate what God is going to do. In the meantime I am going to pray and then pray some more. Samuel Chadwick is credited for saying that the greatest answer to prayer is more prayer.

I can’t do it, but God can and He will as I pray and then act on what He leads me into.

Have you realized you can’t? Will you join with me in praying for God to breakthrough?

Dennis

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Monday Morning Musings …

Yesterday was a wonderfully difficult day. Many a Sunday could be described in a similar manner. I loved the wonderful stuff and the difficult stuff was more on me than anyone else. As for my musings …

-One of the highlights of the day was having 5 people show up for a baptism class last evening. I am excited for our next baptism services.

-Another humbling and wonderful part of yesterday was standing near a middle schooler during the music part of our worship at the 10:30 church. He was so unashamedly worshipping while he sang that it both encouraged and humbled me. May that connecting with the Holy Spirit increase in our times of worship. 

-Once again we had some technical issues in both churches. It appears that we need to replace one of our projectors in my 10:30 church.

-I was battling myself throughout my preaching at both churches, but especially at my 9:00. That is not a rare thing but yesterday it was a real battle.

-I loved that a young student in my 9:00 church invited me to join him, and his family, for breakfast following the worship service. I thanked him for the invite but said that my 10:30 church was expecting me to show up and attempt to preach so I had to decline. I loved that he invited me.

-Yesterday was an emotional day. On Saturday our son and family who are missionaries in Africa left our place to begin traveling to share at a few churches and see some more family. The difficult part of that was that it likely was the last time that all of them will be with us for at least 3 more years. Some of them will be back with us for a brief time but not all of them together. The emotions of that seemed to hit me harder yesterday than it did on Saturday as they drove away. 

-Tonight we begin our Vacation Bible School at my 9:00 church. Praying for changed lives. Praying for all of our workers. Praying that the weather forecasts of rain 4 of the next 5 days is wrong.

-I loved hearing a little about each person’s journey of faith in the baptism class last evening. Learning about people’s story never gets old.

-The next couple of weeks will involve a lot of brainstorming and planning for this fall. God is up to great things in Canton. We have only just begun to see what God plans to do in us and through us. Buckle up churches, it is going to be an exciting ride! Image result for graphics on buckling up

-We had new people in our 10:30 church and their response seemed to be very positive. In one case they were actually planning on trying a different church yesterday but they ended up with us instead. One of them told me that they couldn’t believe what I was preaching on because they just had a discussion about that at home. God is moving.

-The attendance was good at both churches. We have had a very positive month of July at both churches spiritually and numerically.

-School begins in just over 2 weeks.

-Our house sure seems quiet and I have not had to wait in line to get into the bathroom. I sure loved the noise, the pile of shoes by the door and beauty of family we experienced over the past week and a half. I sat back in awe as I watched and listened to all of our children and grandkids. We are blessed beyond what we deserve. 

-Thought for the day: Change your prayer life and you will change your whole life.

Here’s hoping that you sense God’s presence in your life today.

Dennis

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I am Grateful …

Thoughts of gratitude have been overwhelming me the past several days. As a result I thought I would just start a thread of gratitude. I invite you to join. You can join by leaving a comment of what you are grateful for, or post what you are grateful for on your Facebook page, Twitter account, blog or any other social media that you frequent. Let’s embrace an attitude of gratitude and pass it on. Image result for graphics on gratitude

*I am grateful that my son, daughter in law and 5 grandkids made it here safely from Kenya last week. And that all of their luggage made it as well.

*I am grateful that all of my kids, kids in law and grandkids were able to be here together for the weekend. We total 18 now when we all get together. That was the first time in over 3 years.

*I am s grateful for my wife. We have been through a lot and are stronger in our marriage and love today than the day we exchanged vows in front of family and friends nearly 41 years ago.

*I am grateful for some difficult experiences in life. Some of them I would give anything not to have gone through, but I wouldn’t take anything for the lessons learned through them. 

*I am grateful for the freedom to worship openly.

*I am grateful for some great friends.

*I am grateful to have a grill. I love grilling. Everything just tastes better when it is grilled. Image result for graphics on grilling

*I am grateful for having been raised by parents who loved Jesus and lived it out at home and the community.

*I am grateful to have lived in so many different places with some many great memories.

*I am grateful that my 3 children love Jesus and are serving Him and that they all have spouses who love Jesus and still want to be with their mom and dad on occasion.

*I am grateful to be grandpa to 10 awesome grand kids.

*I am grateful for the health to do most things I desire to do. I may not be able to do that as well or quickly as I once did, but I still do nearly all the things I love.

*I am grateful that I am still growing in my relationship with Jesus.

*I am grateful that I still love being a pastor. Image result for graphics on pastors

*I am grateful for laughter. This past weekend I loved hearing my family laugh, a lot. We always have  great time when we get together.

*I am grateful … I could keep going for quite a while, but I will give you a chance.

Here’s hoping that you will take some time to think about the things for which you are grateful. I would love to read some of them in the comments. But it you don’t leave a comment think about it and share some with another person.

Dennis

 

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Monday Morning Musings …

I couldn’t do my musings this morning as we were saying goodbye to the 2nd of our 3 kids and family as they headed back home. What a glorious weekend and what an outstanding Sunday we experienced. I am overwhelmed today. As for my musings …

-They were all here. All 16 of them, which made 18 of us all together for the very first time. My wife and I, our 3 children, their wonderful spouses and our 10 awesome grandkids. On Wednesday we picked up my son and family as they returned to the states after serving as missionaries the last 3 years in Kenya. On Thursday afternoon our oldest daughter and family arrived to join the festivities. Then on Friday evening our youngest daughter and family arrived to complete the crew! It was awesome! The last time we were all together there were only 16 of us. Two of grandkids were born while our son and family were in Kenya. So there was a lot of catching up to do. There was a lot of hugging. There were more smiles than could be counted. There was raucous laughter erupting all over the house often. There were games to be played and stories to share. There were pictures to take and much food to be eaten. There were fierce hugs and some tears as we began to separate again. And it was amazing! 

-We experienced the hottest weather we have had since I moved here two and a half years ago. That limited the activities to the indoors.

-Both of my churches had good attendance and especially for late July in this type of heat.

-We had major technical problems at both churches. So frustrating.

-The spirit was good in my 9:00 church and it was outstanding in my 10:30 church.

-I preached with a shovel in my hand. (Maybe I will share why in another post. I like to keep them on their toes during the message.) 

-As part of my 10:30 church’s worship one of the kids from church presented a check to my son and daughter in law. The check was for a wonderful ministry called Kenya Kids Can. They feed 16,000 school children a day. My son and daughter in law worked in this ministry as one of their ministries in Kenya. The money came from the children during our Vacation Bible School. The check was for $540 and was just part of the offerings the children gave. The other part went to support a pastor’s child’s schooling in Kenya for the next year. It was a very special and moving moment in our worship. 

-Last week our church was broken into and someone damaged 3 doors and ruined our safe. The person was caught in the act by the local police while doing a routine patrol. The person did not get away with anything since they were caught in the act. Our safe held up, but it will need to be replaced. Last Monday was a very difficult day. My heart is breaking for the person who broke in and for their family. It made quite the splash in the news, not exactly the type of publicity we were looking for.

-Today is my 2nd grandson’s 16th birthday.

-Yesterday I shared some of what God has been pressing me on personally (see my post titled “My Monday Morning Wreck”) and how I believe He wants all of us to respond to the needs around us. We are seeking ways to go deeper (see the connection with the shovel) so that we can grow up and produce the fruit of changed lives and helping those most in need. God is really up to something special in our town.

Here’s hoping that you are seeing ways to make a difference in your community and that you are courageously stepping out to help people.

Dennis

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Tuesday’s Thoughts …

Sunday was an outstanding day and this week is going to be epic. Yesterday was one of the most difficult days I have ever had in my ministry. I was awakened Monday morning at 1:30 am with a phone call. Since then a couple of other emergencies have arisen and my thoughts and emotions are exhausted. As for my thoughts (they can’t be musings because it is Tuesday not Monday) … 

-My 10:30 church had our Vacation Bible School last week and the kids shared a few songs, there was a lesson shared and I got to share that the 50+ kids who attended brought in $900. They gave enough to cover the school costs for the next year for a girl we support in Africa and they will be sending a good amount to help with a program that feeds 16,000 students a day in Kenya. Some of the kids brought in money they have been saving and one boy had been saving coins since last year’s VBS. He brought in gallons of coins. One day when I took the coins in to the bank’s coin counter, the machine was overwhelmed and stopped working!

-Many of the kids who attended VBS were here Sunday and we had a few parents who don’t normally attend our church here as well. Our attendance was good as was the energy and spirit in the service.

-My 9:00 church had a nasty rain storm arrive about 25 minutes before our worship began. It was dark as night and raining very hard as the service started. An hour later it had stopped and the sun peeked out. Our attendance was down but we worshiped with passion anyway.

-The reason this week is going to be epic is because my son, daughter in law and 5 of my grandkids are arriving back in the states tomorrow after serving the past 3 years in Kenya! My wife and I will pick them up at the airport tomorrow along with their 21 pieces of luggage. We are taking a vehicle just for the luggage and then a minivan that has been loaned to our kids as well. We are very excited. 

-The greatest part of this week is that all of our kids and grandkids will be at our house this weekend. That will be 18 of us. We have added 2 since the crew went to serve in Africa. Someone is allowing us to use their RV while everyone is here to give us some extra sleeping space.

-My heart is breaking over a couple of the emergencies that have come our way in the past 36 hours. I was already planning to begin a new sermon series this Sunday that focuses on going deeper, praying harder and living authentically.

-Prayers are appreciated as my planned study time has been destroyed yesterday and today.

-This morning my wife and I went out for breakfast and one of our kids who comes with someone other than his family came into the restaurant with some of his family. He came straight to us and gave each of us a big hug. We talked with him and his family a little and reminded the family members that they are always welcome to come to church with him. That was a nice little bright spot.

-With everything that has taken place the past 2 days here and the past few weeks around the world I have been reminded of the phrase my Dad continued to share in his 44 years of ministry. “No matter what is happening, God is still God”. I have been saying “God is still God” over and over to myself and to a few others. I am grateful for this truth and for a Dad who continues to live this out. 

-I recently wrote this during one of my prayer times “My inaction is an indication that my prayers are empty words. If I prayer with the desire to be surrendered to Christ and to see Him move in my life then I must follow Him. Following requires action on my part.” I pray that inaction will never again be descriptive of my life.

Here’s hoping that you find a bright spot today. I am praying that you will recognize and live with the truth that God is still God echoing in your life.

Dennis

 

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My Monday Morning Wreck …

My wreck happened early Monday morning. It took place in the sanctuary of one of my churches. I am still reeling from the impact and have both physical and emotional evidence of the wreck. The impact occurred when I began praying around 5:30 am. 

The Lord came and wrecked my thoughts. He got a hold of me in a powerful way. He got my attention and it rocked me. I am still reeling and trying to wrap my mind and heart around all that He impressed upon me.

I am wrecked. And though I know it is a good thing it is still a painful thing. Maybe this is one of those “no pain, no gain” moments for me. God is working in me like never before. Shouldn’t I have this all figured out by now?

But what about you? The events of the past few months, and especially the past two weeks, have rocked our country. But what about you? Are you shook up? This is not about sides it is about life and a burden for hurting people.

I have had a growing burden for prayer the past few years. The heat was turned up several notches the last 2 and a half years. But the past few days have simply broken me. What about you? 

I have a sense that this is exactly where God has been trying to get me for a long time. Broken over my own lacking. Broken over the brokenness of our world. Broken over those who are hurting, including those who are angry. Anger is sometimes an expression of brokenness. I am broken over the passivity of so many of us who claim to be followers of Christ. I am broken over pastors who are having to leave the ministry. I am broken over the lack of impact that I am making in my community, compared to what God desires to do in me and through me. I am broken over my inadequacies in communicating the love of Christ to my hurting community. I am broken. What about you? 

In my prayer time Monday morning God really got a hold of me. He got a hold of me in way that I have never experienced before. It is humbling, exciting, frightening and even a little frustrating. I don’t know what is coming next. If I act on all that I am sensing/hearing from God what will happen? Did I mention that I am broken?

Very likely I will share much of how God wrecked me on Sunday July 24 in both of the churches that I pastor. When I do I will also be sharing what I am being guided toward and what I am convinced God is calling my churches into.

I realize that this post is a little scattered and seems to be moving in a few different directions, but it is how I am processing the impact that I experienced on Monday.

In the meantime, how are you doing? Are you hurting? Are you broken? What will you do now?

Dennis

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Monday Morning Musings …

The Monday after a few days of vacation, especially when I was gone on Sunday, are always an interesting mix of joy at being back at it again and wishing for a few more days away. I think my laptop is having trouble getting back into the routine as well. Maybe because I shut it off on Thursday morning when we left town and didn’t turn it back on until this morning. As for my musings … 

-We went to see and spend some time with my dad, stepmom, brother and sister in law, stepsister and her husband and a few other family members over the weekend. The trip is a little over 6 hours each way.

-It was a wonderful weekend.

-2 of my daughters and 5 of my grandkids joined us for this little family time. One of my daughters came to our place and we rode together with her 20 month old and 5 month old girls. They made traveling a lot more fun. My other daughter and her 3 kids, ages 9, 6 and 4 met us there. Needless to say we were never lacking energy (from the kids) or entertainment.

-My Dad had not met the 3 youngest members of the clan. That was fun to witness. My stepmom played piano at the request of the great grandkids and the 20 month old accompanied her and danced to the tunes. Now that is entertainment. 

-I was able to sit and worship with my Dad yesterday morning. I haven’t been able to do that very many times. He pastored for 44 years before he retired and I have been pastoring for 33 years. The last time he and I sat together in a service was at my son’s Ordination service 6 or 7 years ago.

-It sounds like things went very well here while I was gone. That gives me great joy. I was not concerned one bit and that enabled me to have a very relaxing and refreshing time away.

-It appears that the services went well at both of my churches and that the attendance was reasonable at both as well. I have already gotten 2 unsolicited praises about the message our new Assistant Pastor preached, 1 from each church.

-We are beginning Vacation Bible School at my 10:30 church tonight. The place looks incredible. The VBS is entitled “Cave Quest” and our whole building is decorated to look like caves. We have waterfalls, a boat, rocks everywhere, bats flying, and other critters watching from many of the walls. We also have several adults and some teens who are excited and ready for the students to arrive tonight. 

-My 9:00 church will begin their VBS in 3 weeks. People are furiously making plans and getting things ready.

-It is always interesting to me how visiting another church nearly always makes me miss my churches and people.

-It was different to sit through an entire worship service and not have any part in it.

-I also found that Sunday morning before worship begins is really long when I am not getting ready to preach. I got up 2 hours later than I normally do on a Sunday and still felt that there was a lot of time until church. How do you do that every week? That would take some getting used to for me.

-My son, daughter (in law) and 5 grandkids will arrive in the States in 9 days!!!! After 3 years in Kenya.

-It appears that we are going to have a weekend with all 18 of us together, my wife and I, our 3 children and our in law kids and 10 grandkids at our house for a couple of days. I am really pumped about that and wondering how my wife and I will contain our joy when it does take place. 

Here’s hoping that you find some joy in your day and that you pass it on. I need to go make sure the critters in the building are behaving.

Dennis

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Monday Morning Musings …

Yesterday had some great moments and some difficult ones as well. It was a holiday weekend Sunday with the usual assortment of people being gone and others filling in for everything to go well. As for my musings …

-There was a very good response to the message yesterday. Nearly 40 people made a declaration to use the freedom Christ has provided to “shake free” from anything that is holding them back from the life Christ has for them. And to share with someone what freedom in Christ can mean for them. 

-Our technical issues are getting much better at my 9:00 church thanks to the work and knowledge of our new Assistant Pastor. Way to go Pastor Matt.

-My 10:30 church is looking a lot like a journey through some caves. Makes sense because our Vacation Bible School begins in a week and it is entitled “Cave Quest”. The place is looking great and many people have been, and are still, putting in many hours on the decorating. I love how our people give so much of themselves to reach kids for Christ.

Image result for graphics of caves

-My 9:00 church is just beginning the preparation for Vacation Bible School later in the summer and people are responding to serve. One of the greatest results of VBS every year is the community that comes from the adults serving together for such a significant time.

-Attendance was way down at my 10:30 church. My 9:00 church almost had their normal attendance.

-We are now 16 days from hugging my son, daughter (in law) and 5 of my grandkids as they arrive back in the states for a brief visit after 3 years of ministry in Kenya.

-This week I get to spend some time with 2 of my daughters and 5 of my grandkids. We will also get to visit my dad and stepmom. This will be fun.

-Looking forward to a relaxing day today. Stuff to get done but no agenda. If they get done great, if they don’t get done great. 

-Had a great time of prayer this morning. Even on a holiday 3 other people joined me for our 5:30 to 6:30 am prayer on Mondays and Fridays.

-It feels like we are on the edge of something. It seems that we need to break through something and if we do then we will start experiencing a great move of God. It is time to keep pressing forward and to especially ramp up the passion and amount of our prayers. 

Here’s hoping that you are seeing God at work in your life.

Dennis

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Random thoughts …

Sometimes I seem to have too much going on in my head. Can you relate? Sometimes it is difficult to sort my thoughts into neat folders that I can store on the desktop in my mind. Does that ever happen with you? Sometimes I think it is helpful to unload some of the thoughts and see where they land. It is sort of a way to see what is left standing after shaking out my thoughts. The hope is that some of it will begin to stick together and become productive and some of it will be revealed as wasteful and I will discard it.

-Some days I forget that I have the experience that I have, that is code for I try to pretend that I am not as old as I really am. Other days I feel it strongly. Some days I am grateful for my experience and on days when I am being philosophical I wish I could go back and do some things from my less experienced days (younger) with the knowledge I have now. Has that thought ever occurred to you?

-Some days I remember that I used to have a lot of hair on my head. Somedays I forget that I don’t have it anymore, but then I walk past a mirror, or out in the sun, or see the look on other people’s face and I recognize I have more skin than hair covering my head these days. At one point my girls began to say that I was growing another face on the back of my head. Can you feel the love in their statement? 

-Some days I physically ache for people to recognize that they can have an exciting, growing, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. For them to realize that following Him impacts all areas of life not just stuff at church. For them to hunger for more of Jesus and His Word.

-Some days I think I could still dunk a basketball, then I get up out of my chair and realize I must been dreaming again. 

-Sometimes I have a love/dislike relationship with myself. It is not dangerous and I have always believed that it helps me do some honest evaluations of myself which motivates me to do better at some things, at least I hope that is what it does.

-Sometimes I wonder why they don’t make mouse-flavored cat food.

-Sometimes I get frustrated by my inability to communicate the love of Jesus better.

-Sometimes I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the family I have and wonder how it happened. I married way out of my league and fortunately my kids and grandkids have avoided many of the errors I made. Also I am very glad that my kids look like my wife and I am sure they are as well.

-Sometimes I have great ideas. I am still striving to act on those ideas more often and more quickly.

-Sometimes I long to be able to communicate in such a way that people would recognize how much more God would love to do in their lives, or the life our church. There is so much more that God would love to do through us to impact our community and world.

-Sometimes I have lousy ideas. Unfortunately I sometimes act on those ideas. I am glad that people are usually forgiving.

-Sometimes I come across some of my early sermons and I think, how did I not get voted out as Pastor? Fortunately most of the people I have pastored have been very forgiving. Or else they didn’t hear me very well. 

-Sometimes when someone says “Pastor I think you use too much humor or I am not sure you should say some of the stuff you say while you are preaching”, I want to respond with, “If you only knew how often I didn’t share things I thought of during the message you would thank me.”

-Sometimes …

Here’s hoping you don’t think less of me for sharing these random thoughts.

Dennis

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Why not?

Have you ever had a unique thought that just seemed to make sense but then you realized that as far as you know no one is doing it that way? What has been your next thought? Was it, “It must not be possible because no one else is doing it”? Was it, “It must not work because no one else is doing it that way”?

What if you turned those thoughts around and instead asked, “Why not?”

Isn’t it possible that no one has tried it the way you are thinking? Isn’t it possible that no one with your unique skills has tried it before?

Many years ago I sat in Lyle Schaller’s living room with a few others. We were there to interview him and ask his impressions of some discipleship ideas we were considering. I was part of a group in my denomination who were attempting to create a new approach to disciple making that would excite and inspire our people, and the churches they were attending, to do discipleship in whatever way would work for them.

While sitting and talking with Lyle Schaller that afternoon we listened as he shared from his years of research and experience. In the midst of our discussions Lyle made a statement that deeply impacted me and my ministry. He said the church is not really afraid of failure. He went on and said that the church’s hesitation to try new things was not from a fear of failure. That statement went against the traditional thinking of trying to bring change to a church. I asked why he thought the church wasn’t afraid of failure. His response was that the church was used to failure. That if a church tried something new and it failed then everything was likely to go back to the way it was before the new thing was attempted.

He went on to say that what the church (meaning those of us in the church) was afraid of in trying something new was success! Because if we tried something new and it worked, then that church would never be the same again. That, he said, is what frightens us and gives us pause about trying something new!

Wow!

I have found that Lyle Schaller was correct all those years ago and unfortunately that same thinking is still prevalent in most of our churches today.

In fact as I was reading, thinking and praying today I have come to the realization that I have been getting squeezed into that thinking in my own life and somewhat in my ministry. I have been struggling to pull the trigger on trying some things that I believe God is prodding me to do personally and I have been dragging my feet in leading my churches toward some change that is absolutely necessary.

I believe it is time to start stepping out in some fresh ways in my life and in my leadership. This afternoon as I have been processing all of the thoughts racing through my mind and all of the possibilities I keep coming back to this thought, “Why not?”

If I go for it and I bomb it will have been quite an experience and I am confident I will get many sermon illustrations from it. However, if I go for it and it works … I have a big smile on my face and tears in my eyes as I consider the possibilities. The same is true for my churches.

So, why not?

What is your why not? What is it that you have been sensing the thumb of God in your back to do? Why not give it a shot?

Should you pray about it, absolutely! But I am guessing that you have already done that and still not started. Why not? Should you consider the good, the bad and the possible ugly of going for it, certainly! Then consider this, why not?

Here’s hoping and praying that my courage holds and I go for it. Actually it is several “its”. Here’s hoping that you really ask “Why not?” and then consider going for whatever you are sensing from God.

If my going for it crashes and burns at least it will provide some warmth for a while and will likely attract some others to investigate what happened when they see the flames.

So, why not?

Dennis

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