Monthly Archives: February 2010

Ministry

DOWNSIZING YOUR THINGS TO DO LIST

There is a fasinating story about three people and three different outcomes of compassion.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ …..Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:30 – 37

Wow, what a commentary of our culture.

Why is it that some care enough to change the world and others just are too “busy” to help?

It seems that we want to help… but we  just can’t because….

We have NO HEART – Some people just are so selfish that they have absolutely no compassion (THEY ARE HEARTLESS)

We have NO REWARD – We don’t help others because no one else will notice or we are not on tv.

We have NO ROOM –   We can’t help anyone else because we have too many worries and cares.

..Here is maybe a pretty good idea – Have a Not-to-Do List

Jesus wants you to enjoy a “rich…satisfying life,” without getting bogged down by things that don’t add value or meaning.  – “Clutter isn’t only what you can see; it’s what you can’t see. It perpetuates your overloaded schedule, endless commitments and overwhelming fears. A cluttered mind means over-thinking, over-reacting, over-analyzing, over-worrying, and over-committing.” So:
De-clutter your life by giving yourself permission to have a not-to-do list: Not to feel guilty for saying no to something that may be good, but not right for you. Not to worry about how well-adjusted your kids will be as adults.  Not to feel over-responsible for everybody else’s well-being. Not to answer the phone after a certain time each night. Not to say yes just because you’ve been invited. Not to schedule busy activities on Sundays and family days. Not to buy something just because it’s on sale. Not to think you have to make a meal requiring more than three ingredients, do laundry, clean the house, and spend quality time with your family all on the same day. Not to ruminate over your own, or other people’s mistakes. Not to compare yourself with other people.

Maybe cutting some things you “have to do” off our list will give us more time for things we “want to do.” and what God want’ us “to do.”

Hey America, the more you give yourself permission not to do, the more you free yourself to live a centered, abundant life – THAT WAY YOU MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE LEFT OVER TO GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN BEATEN UP BY OTHERS BY LIFE OR BUY THEMSELVES.

Downsizing is the thing to do these days.

Steve

lead pastor PFA

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family

Happy 75th Dad

Today’s my dad’s birthday, and so before I start my regular routine of trying to call him and leaving voice-mails.

:-), I just wanted to put this out here where I know he’ll see it:

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today’s post then  is a tribute to my dad.  Here are a few things I appreciate about him:      First of all,  I am proud to be your son.   Again and again, I meet people who know you,  who’ve spent time with you,  worked with you, and without fail, they tell me you are a man of integrity.

I appreciate the fact that you’ve made an intentional effort to express your love to all of us, even if you  sometimes have a hard time putting it  into words.   I appreciate the way you love and honor my mom.    Thank you.   You taught me to look a person in the eye when talking to him and the value of a firm foundation in a family.   You and mom gave me a rich spiritual heritage that has already show up in my children.    Well, that’s it for now.  Love, your son.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.  Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!”  Psalm 127:3-5

Love you dad. You are the best.



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church family, Ministry

LIFE CYCLES

I have been studying the life cycles of a church lately.

What an amazing journey a local church goes through and wise is the leader who knows how to navigate through the

critical cycles they are experiencing.

Here are the life cycles of a church according to Mark Driscoll lead pastor of Mars Hill Church (Seattle).

Gestation

In this phase, God calls a leader (or leaders) to begin a new church and begins to clarify the specifics of their vision. An initial core of people is gathered, a meeting location is secured, some ministries begin to form, and funding is acquired.

Birth

In this season, the church goes from being a concept to a reality, opens itself up to invite in the greater community, and focuses its attention on evangelism, growth, and implementation of new systems and leaders.

Infancy

In this season, the attendance settles into a somewhat stabilized pattern, longer-range planning begins, new programs are added, and administrative structures grow to prepare for numerical growth and evolving vision.

Adolescence

In this season, church attendees begin rising up into positions of greater leadership, church government begins to form, and church attendance and financial giving begin to increase.

Maturity

In this season, additional staff is added, the church gains confidence that it now has sufficient stability to exist indefinitely, church government and leadership are solidified, church attendance and giving become strong, and the church is now independent and able to self-govern and self-finance. It is also common for churches in this season to purchase their own facility.

Parenting

In this season, which ideally would be during the first year of the plant, the church is ready to reproduce itself by giving leadership and monies for the purpose of starting another gestation phase and repeating the church planting cycle. This results in the birth of a new congregation, likely in connection with other church planting churches networking together for the cause of church planting. The unique element here is that the church(es) sponsoring the new church plant have a vested interest in praying for and holding accountable the new work since they have directly sacrificed for it.

Grandparenting

In this season, a church has planted enough churches that it begins to see third and fourth generation church plants birthed.

Death

In this season, a church is unhealthy and does not see conversion growth or attract young leaders. It thus faces a critical decision between two options. One, the church can deny its impending death, which may be many years out, sell off its assets such as land to prolong its death, redefine its mission to defend its death, and simply hold on as it slowly and painfully dies, often rewriting the best years of its history so as to feel significant and successful. Or two, the church can embrace its impending death as an opportunity to resurrect.

Resurrection

In this season, a church knows it is dying, or at least that it is not as healthy and fruitful as it should be, and humbly decides to shut down its organization and replant the church. This can be done by bringing a new entrepreneurial pastor to start over with the assets and with the freedom to kill programs, prune problem people, and decide whether to upgrade the facility, which is usually suffering from deferred maintenance, or sell it to use the money for a more strategic facility.

This can also be done by giving the facility and assets to a church planter or a growing church, which requires the dying church to be more concerned about the name of Jesus than its own name, and the Kingdom over its church. Those churches that have this humility and wisdom should be cheered as model churches for the majority of American churches that have plateaued or are declining and need to have a vision for a faithful and fruitful future.

Someone told me the other day a great quote;  “it is easier to birth a baby than it is to resurrect the dead.”

I love the birth of a new baby and who among us isn’t thrilled by a resurrection?

A new start brings a smile to God’s heart.

Steve Lummer  (lead pastor Prescott First Assembly)

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Ministry

WHO WAS THE REAL GLADIATOR?

I just love the impact of some people that change history by their acts of courage.

The brave actions of one man ended the gruesome Coliseum games in ancient Rome for good. For his peaceful protest against barbarianism, Telemachus paid with his life. During the reign of the Roman Empire, Romans attended gladiatorial games at the Coliseum for entertainment. There gladiators would fight criminals, prisoners and vicious animals until death.

Telemachus was a monk. Telemachus was a little simple man who enjoyed living in the out back of beyond, places full of the wonders of God’s creation, a hermit. He was quite content and had no reason to want to do anything else, his life was devoted to prayer. But one day, he felt that God was telling him to go to Rome. He hated Rome. He enjoyed his monastic lifestyle, absent of the hustle and bustle of city life. But God needed him in Rome. So Telemachus left his reclusive lifestyle to obey God.

He entered the streets of Rome on January 1, 404 AD. Immediately, he was overwhelmed by the artwork and monumental architecture, and was also disgusted by the way man worshipped himself in that city.

He got caught up in a crowd of people and was almost involuntarily led into the Colosseum. As he sat in the there, he was shocked by the spectacle of bloodletting and sadism that was meant to entertain the masses. Humans massacring and butchering one another. He could not believe what he saw. As soon as the violence started, he stood up and screamed out, “In the name of Christ, stop this!” His voice carried well in the acoustic masterpiece. Everybody heard him. He ran down the stairs and into the center of the arena, all along repeating his plea, “In the name of Christ, stop this!” People laughed. Someone yelled from the stands, “Kill him! Run him through!” A gladiator threw him out of his way and then sent a spear right through Telemachus. The stadium fell silent. Telemachus, doubled over with the spear in his gut, blood spilling on the ground, dying, said one last time, “In the name of Christ, stop this!” A small old man, lifeless, blood soaked – dead – at the foot of a gladiator. His selfless act changing the course of history.

Silence. Then one man stood and walked out. Then another, and another, until the thousands and thousands of people in the Colosseum had left. But this was not the end. Although there were other factors, the death of Telemachus solidified the opposition to the gladiatorial battles. Emperor Honorius was so moved by Telemachus’ actions, he issued an edict, banning the gruesome gladiatorial battles. The Colosseum had witnessed it’s last fight. Telemachus was designated as a saint for his heroic stance for humanity and truth.

He had done more for God as well as humanity  in those few minutes – impacting the lives of many than he had achieved all those years living in a cave out the back of beyond. It’s time for us too, to get out of our caves and yell to this world – IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, STOP THIS!!!

Steve

-Lead Pastor  Prescott First Assembly

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church family, Ministry

RED – part 2 Living A Faith That Bleeds

Acting out of mercy.giving a cup of cold clean water to a thirsty child, visiting an orphange, giving hope to someone suffering from theri dismantled dreams – these are things that are at the top of God’s “Things To Do List.”

When we see our things to do list turn into God’s things to do list we might be amazed at the difference we can make..

Here is the outline for todays message entitled RED – Living A Faith That Bleeds. part 2

Red
Living a Faith That Bleeds part 2
Pastor Steve Lummer

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  Matthew 11:28-30 (message)

Does my “things to do list” match God’s things to do list?

God’s list became Oskar Schindler’s list and he saved 1200 human beings from death in the gas chambers of Nazi Germany.

There are fewer than four thousand Jews left alive in Poland today. There are more than six thousand descendants of the Schindler Jews.

“Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire”  ( from the movie)

How can we get more of a glimpse of God’s list and let it become our list our priorities and our mission?

MAKING GOD’S LIST MY LIST
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Matthew 28 (message)

WALK with me.

WORK with me.

WATCH how I do it.

How to I live a faith that Bleeds Jesus?


Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  Matthew 11
1.  LISTING THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (niv)

2. KNOWING THAT NEUTRALITY GIVES ADVANTAGE TO THE ENEMY.
Luke 11:23 – “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters. (niv)

3. THINK OUTSIDE OUR SELF.
Matthew 10:39 – Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

There are so many others that could benefit from our loving, living bleeding faith if we would just get God’s list and do something with it.


I love this story a friend of mine told me after he had visited Disney World in Orlando Florida.

He said, ‘I saw a sight I’ll never forget,’ he said. He and his family were in Cinderella’s castle. Suddenly all the children rushed to one side…Cinderella had entered. She stood waist-deep in kids, each wanting to be touched. Kenny turned toward the other side of the castle. It was now vacant, except for a boy; his age was hard to determine because of the disfigurement of his body…FROM A TERRIBLE BURN he stood watching…longing to be in the middle of the kids reaching for Cinderella.
Can’t you feel his fear; fear of yet another rejection? Fear of being…mocked again? Don’t you wish Cinderella would go to him? Guess what? She did! She walked across the floor, knelt at eye level with the stunned little boy and placed a kiss on his cheek. ‘
“It reminds me of another story. The names are different, but isn’t the story the same? Rather than a princess of Disney, it’s the Prince of Peace. Rather than a boy in a castle, it’s a thief on a cross. In both cases a gift was given. In both cases love was shared. In both cases the lovely one performed a gesture beyond words. But Jesus did more than Cinderella. Cinderella gave only a kiss. When she stood to leave she took her beauty with her. The boy was still deformed. What if Cinderella had done what Jesus did? What if she assumed His state? What if she had somehow given her beauty and taken on his disfigurement?” That’s what Jesus did – for you!

Let God teach us how to make his list our list while we still have time to learn it live it and bleed it.

Steve ( lead pastor PFA)

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Arizona, family, Life experiences

Primo’s hot dog stand serves 1,000 customers, 4 at a time

Just had to blog about this little hot dog shop in Flagstaff called Primos.

The sign inside says; Serves 1000 customers 4 at a time.

Caleb took  me to this amazing little classic in Flag.

Primo’s is just a short walk from NAU campus and really cannot be missed due to the fact the building is painted bright yellow and stands out along the sidewalk from the building next to it. As you may have guessed from the limited seating, Primo’s is very small.  You literally walk into the building and the counter is the first thing you see.

Primo’s is Primo!

located at 113 S. San Francisco Street in Flag. – go there

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Books I'm Reading, Life experiences, Ministry

HE SEES DROPS LIKE STARS

Six of us from Prescott attended Rob Bell’s “Drops Like Stars” event last night in Tempe . The tour is basically a two-hour multimedia sermon focusing mostly on the concept of suffering.

The presentation by Bell spoke of how  suffering connects us in a way that health and wealth and money cannot.
His two-hour presentation covers four major issues:

1. The Art of Disruption, or how we are very good at making plans on how our life is supposed to go, but never does. (when insulators are removed form how we assume life should be)
2. The Art of Honesty, or how pain has a knack for bringing out our truest selves.
3. The Art of Elimination, or what can you let go of? Rob used a bar of soap to illiustrate howw an artist will eliminate to create ( very cool illustration)


4. The Art of Possession, which is not the same thing as ownership.
“You can possess something and not own it – and you can own something and not possess it.”

He says, – “We plot. We plan. We assume things are going to go a certain way. And when they don’t, we find ourselves in a new place—a place we haven’t been before, a place we never would have imagined on our own.
It is the difficult and the unexpected, and maybe even the tragic, that opens us up and frees us to see things in new ways.
Many of the most significant moments in our lives come not because it all went right but because it all fell apart.
Suffering does that. It hurts, but it also creates.”

I loved every moment and every lesson and every story of his talk. Bell’s message is on point. His delivery is conversational. He’s funny. He understands people.

One of his true gifts is his ability to teach and present. He engages the audience in so many ways, not just through his content (although that is a wonderful start), he does so through his rhythm and timing, through his body language, through the tone of his voice. He is so amazingly talented, not just in his interpretation of scripture and spirituality, but also in engaging his audience in the challenge of his words.

One of my favorite Illustrations and audience participation tools he used was wilt a 3×5 card. He ask us to right the words I know how you feel with our none writing hand. After we had the words written on the card he ask some human suffering questions like, “How many of you have been directly effected by cancer” – “how many of you have been betrayed?” – “How many of you have had a stack of bills and you did not how you were going to pay them?” – with each question he had us make eye contact with someone who had the same type of  experience we had and trade cards with them.

Also, it was really cool that our bunch got to hang and meet Rob after the event.

Side note; If you ever get an opportunity to visit an event at the Tempe Center for the Arts you will find it as an amazing creative work of architecture

What a great night.

Quotes of the night:

” What every artist must learn, is that even the  failed pieces are essential.”

“This too will shape me.”

“We are brothers from other mothers and sisters from other misters.”

Steve  (lead pastor – Discovery Church

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaED1WWPzhA

 

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church family, Just sayin', leadership, Ministry

AGING OR SAGING?

I woke up early this morning thinking about an old friend who is living in a assisted care home today.
Harvey Smith used to say, “I’m not aging …I’m Saging.”
Harvey and his wife Jean came to my church in Lake Saint Louis Missouri on my birthday in 1995 and they have been a gift ever since.
I can’t stop thinking about this guy and his amazing zest for life. He is a wizz at making you feel like there is more to do and more to accomplish.
Harvey would on more than one occasion say, “Steve, we never run out of vision ….we just run out of time.”

That statement reminds me of a great quote I read by Michael Jordan;
“Even when I’m old and gray, I won’t be able to play it, but I’ll still love the game.”

And another great said it this way; ” Let us not dread old age. Let us grow old graciously since the Lord Himself is with us in fullness of grace. …CH Spurgeon

A challenge to us Baby Boomers

I am 51 years old—. I am surrounded by 78 million boomers, ages 43 to 61. Over 10,000 turn sixty every day. If you read the research, we are a self-centered generation.

* Likes: working from home, anti-aging supplements, climate control
* Dislikes: wrinkles, Millennial sleeping habits, Social Security, insecurity
* Hobbies: low-impact sports, uberparenting, wining and dining
* Hangouts: farmer’s markets, tailgate parties, backyards
* Resources: $2.1 trillion
* We are over weight and soft.

What will it mean to get old to the and still be a fully devoted follower of Christ as a baby boomer in America? It will mean a radical break with the mindset of our peers. Especially a break with the typical consumer dream of retirement. Ralph Winter was the founder of the U. S. Center for World Missions and is in his early eighties, traveling, speaking, and writing wrote an article titled “The Retirement Booby Trap” almost 25 years ago when he was about 60. In it he said,

“Most men don’t die of old age, they die of retirement. I read somewhere that half the men retiring in the state of New York die within two years. Save your life and you’ll lose it. Just like other drugs, other psychological addictions, retirement is a virulent disease, not a blessing. . . . Where in the Bible do they see that? Did Moses retire? Did Paul retire? Peter? John? Do military officers retire in the middle of a war?”

Millions of Christian men and women are finishing their formal careers in their fifties and sixties, and for most of them there will be a good twenty years before their physical and mental powers fail. What will it mean to live those final years for the glory of God? How will we live them in such a way as to show that Christ is our highest Treasure?

King David said it way before Michael Jordan did when he said;
Even when I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me live to tell the people of this age what your strength has accomplished, to tell about your power to all who will come. Psalm 71:18

I guess David is saying is that it is his desire to make God look great to the younger generation.

Harvey Smith has sure done that for me and I hope to visit him this June when I visit friends in Missouri.

Thank you Harvey for every encourging word and your unending zeal.

Steve  (lead pastor Prescott First Assembly)

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