Tecumseh Church of Christ

Ok - I blatantly and shamelessly borrowed (ok, stole) this from Tom's blog (Tom Haddox, our minister) It says so much more about the tyranny of relevance than I have seen anywhere else.

This quote is something floating around in the blogsphere. It really gets at the core of what a preacher is supposed to be doing. I don't know if I agree completely, but I do know that it makes you think. All too often, in the name of being perceived as being relevant, we water down and cater the message to the particular tastes, appetites, and wants of the audience. Isn't that sort of what Paul warned against in 2 Timothy 4:1-5 ? Anyway, here is the quote:

Some time ago, a man, a layperson in a large church in the Midwest, said to me, at the conclusion of my lecture on preaching, “The trouble with you preachers is that you just don’t speak my language. You don’t say anything that relates to my world.”He meant it as a damning criticism, I’m sure. I replied, in love, “Where in the world would you get the notion that I, or any of my pastoral sisters and brothers, would want to speak in your language or to your world? I don’t want to speak to your world. I want to rock your world! I want to give you a new language that you wouldn’t know without my preaching. I want to destroy your world and offer you another. I’m a prophet, for God’s sake.”

-William H. Willimon
In his essay “Pastors Who Are Preachers Who Are Prophets”Found in Preaching the Eighth Century Prophets pg 11ACU Press 2004

(by James Bailey, Southside Church of Christ, Lawrence, KS)

While looking at Wikipedia the other day I ran across this definition: A default, in computer science, refers to a setting or value automatically assigned to a computer program or device. And the idea sort of “hit” me that a good question might be, “What is your “default” when you come to worship? When you walk in the door what “setting” or “value” do you automatically assign to the whole experience of worship?

• Do you automatically “default” to the idea that what is needed is to “just get through” the hour? You know, find something else to do with your mind from theopening song until the final “Amen”.

• Does your “default” go automatically to the “I’m just here to observe everyone else” mode? Not necessarily the participant, more the “inspector” mentality. And not too easy to please.

• Or maybe you “default” to the “Cross-I’d-bear” position. “Oh, I could be doing so many other things, and this is so-o-o boring, but this is what is expected, so I’ll just do the “religiously expected thing” and endure.

• Still another “default” is the one where we come to the building, but we never make any effort toward becoming family. I don’t mind being part of the “called out” but don’t even think about me being part of the “called close” to the rest of these redeemed folks. Some would admit that they already know more about some of these folks than they really want to. Which leads to a new “default” which is, “if there is anything else I want to do, Hey it’s OK, because anything would have to be better than being here, and my absence sends a message.”

• Maybe you “default” to the position of “being above it all”, you know, God should be so proud to have me, that all that “brotherly love stuff” is for the commoners down below. So this would be a good time to work on next week’s schedule, take a nap, look at the floor, etc. I sincerely hope that your personal spiritual “default” is “what a beautiful day to be with the brethren” —folks just like you, with strengths and faults just like yours, whom Jesus loved enough to die for. And no memory of another brother or sister is going to detract from the need to love them with all my being. And we need to show it, shaking their hand, hugging their neck, giving them a big smile and joining in to sing songs of praise together with these, my brethren. It starts with enthusiastically being on time for each meeting, making each new comer feel at home, and personally getting involved by singing, praying along with the leader, following along, or taking notes on the sermon, and then staying long enough to meet someone you don’t know as well, each Sunday.

There is another definition of “Default”, it is, “Default may occur if the debtor is either unwilling or unable to pay their debt.” Since by God’s amazing grace our debt of sin has been paid at Calvary, do we dare default on the debt of love we owe Jesus, or share with our brethren?

Wow - it has been a while since I blogged here. I apologize for that. I find it a drag too to regularly check out a blog and find nothing new. I completely understand why it happens because, happily, blogging is not a priority in my life. I do come across lots of things that would be appropriate here, though, and I've found such an item now. I hope you find it of value. ---LEB

What kind of people can you expect to find at a congregation of the church of Christ? Pretty much the entire spectrum, as in any group.

You will find traditionalists...and those who prefer anything new over everything old.

You will find those who mistake our traditions for absolute truth, and get bent out of shape if they are not followed. And you'll find those who are a big smug at having been liberated from tradition.

You will find legalists and liberals....and a lot of people in between.

You will find happy people....and grouchy people. Friendly people....and unfriendly people. Loving people....and not so lovable people. People who are learning....and people who already know everything.

You'll find us to be like the little west Texas community that has a billboard at the edge of town which says, "The Home of 3,000 Friendly People----And A Few Old Soreheads."

You get the picture. We're a diverse group, coming from varied backgrounds, and at different stages of knowledge and spiritual growth.

We don't know everything. We don't do everything right. We don't always treat each other as we should. We haven't arrived----we're just on the journey.

You see, we were not brought together by any illusion of perfection or righteousness, just our recognition that we are sinners in need of the cleansing blood of Jesus. (Mark 2:17; Rom. 5:6-9; Eph. 1:7)

You won't have to look very far to find our failures.

But, bottom line, you will find people who love Jesus and love the Bible.

(borrowed from the Maui Church of Christ)

The problem with this world is that it doesn't fit. Oh, it will do for now, but it isn't tailor-made. We were made to live with God, but on earth we live by faith. We were made to live forever, but on this earth we live but for a moment...

We must trust God. We must trust not only that He does what is best but that He knows what is ahead. Ponder the words of Isaiah 57:1-2: "The good men perish: the godly die before their time and no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from the evil days ahead. For the godly who die shall rest in peace." My, what a thought. God is taking them away from the evil days ahead. Could death be God's grace? Could the funeral wreath be God's safety ring? As sad as the grave may be, could it be God's protection from the future? Trust in God, Jesus urges, and trust in me.

When people are tempted and still continue strong, they should be happy. After they have proved their faith, God will reward them with life forever. God promised this to all those who love Him. James 1:12 - The body that can be destroyed will clothe itself with that which can never be destroyed, and this body that dies will clothe itself with that which can never die. Death's power to hurt is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But we thank God He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 15:54, 56

We know that our body - the tent we live in here on earth - will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a house for us. It will not be a house made by human hands; instead, it will be a home in heaven that will last forever.1 Cor. 5:3

Stephen Edward “Stevo” Callis, age 47 of Galena, loving husband, dad, son, brother, and friend left this earth on March 21, 2007 to be with his Heavenly Father.

His family and friends, although sad to see him leave us, rejoice in his victory. He was a Godly man and knew that his eternal home was Heaven. Born June 19, 1959 in Garden City, Michigan, he owned and operated Callis Home Improvement Company, he believed in doing a task the right way the first time, he was a jack of all trades and a master of most.

Steve had a great love of life and everyone loved him for his friendliness and willingness to serve others. He enjoyed sailing, oil painting, pottery, wood burning, photography and videography. Dirt bikes, keyboards, vocal music and gardening were additional hobbies. Active member of Northgate Community Church.

Survived by his wife of 21 years; Louise Callis, Sons Eli, Evan both at home, parents: Bernie and Barbara (Baskins) Callis of Tipton, MI, brothers: Richard (Karen) Callis of Delaware, Matthew (Pam) Callis of Tipton, MI, Parents-in-law: Dewey and Millie Copley of West Jefferson.

Friends may call Sunday 4-8 p.m. at the DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, SR 3 at 61, Sunbury. Funeral services will be held Monday 2:00 p.m. at Northgate Community Church, with Pastor Bill Stephens officiating. Interment will follow in Galena Cemetery.

His family expresses special thanks to his family and friends for all their loving support during his illness.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Stephen Callis Memorial Fund, c/o 5th 3rd Bank at any local (Columbus) branch.

Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

From Way Of The Master:
(via Tom Haddox)

There is a popular campaign going around some churches. It's called "Silent Witness Week," where people wear a little button with three crosses on it, with the words "He Lives!" The quote from St. Francis of Assisi is used for the silent witness: "Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary." So, we hereby declare next week "Break the Silence Witness Week," with a slightly amended quote: "Preach the gospel at all times. Use words, they are necessary" (St. Francis of Assisi--corrected).

The above blurb came from an email newsletter that I subscribe to. It’s topic got me to thinking about how often we tend, as Christians, to just go about our daily lives without saying anything about Jesus to others around us. At a recent Men’s Life Group, it was commented on how we don’t seem to have a heart for the lost anymore. I think it may be more insidious than that. I think that it may be that we still have a heart for the lost, but have some how become convinced that faith can come into a person’s life almost by osmosis. (You know, that trick we used to try and pull as kids where we would sleep with our textbook under our pillow, hoping that its knowledge would get into our brain without the need for studying.) But faith by osmosis isn’t what the Bible teaches; “faith comes from hearing the message” (Romans 10:17, NIV).

But … it’s not my job to proclaim that message. I just have to live as a Christian; someone else will proclaim the message. Is that right?

Ron Hutchcraft tells of a time he was on a plane, returning from ministry in Belfast, Northern Ireland when he heard the fascinating story of a woman named Danielle. She had deep roots in Northern Ireland. We got to talking about the Titanic, which was built in Belfast. That's when she told me about her great-grandfather. He was a professional seaman - and he had been assigned to sail on the Titanic. But at the last minute, his orders were changed - to sail instead on the Carpathia, the ship that was first on the scene of the Titanic's sinking - actually the ship that rescued the survivors from the icy waters of the Atlantic.

This seaman could have died with two-thirds of the Titanic's passengers. But he was spared, he felt, so he could be a rescuer of people who otherwise might have died. So were you. You and I have been saved by Jesus - and then put in a position where we can rescue other people who may die if we don't get to them.

That's the message of 2 Corinthians 5, beginning with verse 18, "God, reconciled us to Himself through Christ" - praise God, we were saved from our deadly condition of being cut off from God. But then the Bible goes on to say, "He gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ (now here's some great news), not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation" (in other words, the message that can bring a person together with God).

So that's why you are where you are, doing what you do, knowing who you know - you're there to take those folks in one hand and Jesus in the other hand and bring them together! How are you doing? It's as if we're saying, "Jesus couldn't be here in person, but He put me here to tell you about Him." Your message isn't about your religion compared to their religion. It's about life's most important relationship! Remember, it's a message of reconciliation! A relationship we were created to have, but a relationship we don't have because we've run our own life. A relationship, though, that we can have because of what Jesus did, and a relationship you must choose. It's that simple, and it's life-or-death information ... eternal life-or-death.

It isn't so much that Jesus is asking you to go out on some witnessing raid of people you don't know. He wants you to do what you already do every day for eternity - by trying to take some of the people you're with all the time to heaven with you.

You may think there's someone more qualified, but you're the one who's there, and you're there by God's divine assignment. Don't miss the mission He put you there for! Jesus has placed you in the middle of some people whose eternity depends on them knowing Him, and you are holding their eternity in your hands!

Here's your assignment from heaven that is literally God's call to spiritual greatness - "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." So, someone cared enough to give us the life-saving message from Jesus . . . now it's our turn to deliver that life-or-death information to someone else. Someone you may very well see day after day . . . someone who is in that little part of the world to which you are Jesus Christ's primary ambassador!

God is counting on you to establish a caring relationship with the spiritually dying people in your world . . . to pray for, to look for natural opportunities to bring up your relationship with Jesus. You may feel inadequate--unqualified-but you're the rescuer God decided to put in their lives. And what God calls you to do, He qualifies you to do. It isn't up to you to persuade them to say yes to Jesus . . . it is up to you to present what Jesus did for them when He died for them on the cross. Without that information, the lost people you know have no chance of heaven.

So don't be content just to settle in on the rescue ship with others who have already been saved. The orders of our Captain in Jude 23 are to "snatch others from the fire and save them". And, as D. L. Moody said, "There is no greater honor than to be the instrument in God's hands to lead a person out of the kingdom of Satan and into the glorious light of heaven."

You have been saved from certain spiritual death . . . now don't just be content to enjoy a cruise on the rescue ship of Jesus. You've been spared to be a rescuer.

In the film Castaway, Tom Hanks plays Chuck Noland, a clock-conscious Federal Express manager who gets shipwrecked on a desert island. Completely cut off from other people and modern conveniences, he must learn the primitive skills of a caveman. He puts arduous effort into harpooning fish, making fire by rubbing sticks together, and opening a coconut to get its milk and sweet fruit. The movie is rich with insights on how difficult life can become for someone who is stranded in an isolated wilderness.

In the Bible, the wilderness is often the setting for the mighty work of God within the human heart. Jesus made a practice of withdrawing to the wilderness to pray and receive direction (Mark 1:35). In a similar setting, God fed the despondent prophet Elijah with heavenly food (1 Kings 19:1-10), and in the wilderness the Ethiopian pondered the gospel (Acts 8:26-40). After Paul’s conversion, he withdrew to the Arabian Desert and was taught by the Spirit (Gal. 1:15-18).

Do you find yourself in a "wilderness" experience, isolated from friends and family? If so, the Lord may want to teach you lessons of faith and endurance that you could never learn in a busy crowd.

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin
when suddenly his room filled with light and
God appeared. The Lord told the man he had
work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in
front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man
was to push against the rock with all his might.
So this the man did, day after day. For many years
he toiled from sunup to sundown, his shoulders set
squarely against the cold, massive surface of the
unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each
night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn
out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in
vain.

Since the man was showing discouragement, the
Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by
placing thoughts into the weary mind (he will do it
every time). "You have been pushing against that
rock for a long time and it hasn't moved.” Thus, he
gave the man the impression that the task was impossible
and that he was a failure. These thoughts
discouraged and disheartened the man.
Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in
your time, giving just the minimum effort, and that
will be good enough."

That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided
to make it a matter of prayer and to take his
troubled thoughts to The Lord.
"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in
Your Service, putting all my strength to do that
which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I
have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter.
What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend,
when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I
told you that your task was to push against the rock
with all of your strength, which you have done.
Never once did I mention to you that I expected you
to move it. Your task was to push. And now you
come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that
you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at
yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled - your
back shinny and brown. Your hands are calloused
from constant pressure and your legs have become
massive and hard. Through opposition you have
grown much, and your abilities now surpass that
which you used to have. True, you haven't moved
the rock but your calling was to be Obedient and to
Push and to exercise your Faith and Trust in My
Wisdom. That you have done. Now I, my friend,
will move the rock."

At times, when we hear a Word from God, we tend
to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants,
when actually what God wants is just simple Obedience
and Faith in Him. By all means, exercise the
Faith that moves mountains, but know that it is
still God who moves the mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong... just PUSH
When the job gets you down... just PUSH
When people don't do as you think they should... just PUSH
When you can't find the right work... just PUSH
When your money is "gone" and the bills are due... just PUSH
When people just don't understand you... just PUSH
P = Pray, U = Until, S = Something, H = Happens