Pantano Christian Church

We were very fortunate to get access to the Spiritual Life Survey and over 500 Pantano folks took it.  We got the results back and a team of our staff and elders are reviewing about 150 pages of data.  We’ll share some of the results at our Leadership Community at the E. Tucson Campus this Sunday (8/30) from 3:30 to 5:30pm.  Any leader or interested person is welcome to join us in Coop Court.

Over 800 churches have used this same survey and what we’ve discovered is something that’s really nothing new.  The Bible still is the most powerful tool God uses to bring about change in our lives.  God’s Word is powerful.

In Hebrews 4:12 we are reminded this: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God’s Word is like a sword that, if we allow it, cuts deep into us.  It challenges our rationalizations and excuses.  It is a mirror that confronts us with not only our attitudes and actions, but it looks into our hearts to address our motives.

God’s Word is so much more than an old book.  It is alive because when we read and study it, God’s Spirit is also active.  The Spirit and the Word work together to call us to live differently, guide us to follow God’s ways and help us see the truth and apply it in very specific ways.  The Bible helps us understand God, ourselves and our world better.

I try to make time each morning to read.  I don’t approach it in a legalistic way.  Yes, I do miss a morning or two in a normal week.  But I really like my time in the Word.  I keep a notebook by my reading chair so I can write down thoughts that God brings to me as I read.  Right now I’m reading Proverbs.  I think I’m going to read the Samuels and Kings next.  Sometimes I read just a few verses and stop to reflect on what they mean to me and how I apply them.  Sometimes I read more until I come to something that applies to me.  And sometimes, I read and don’t see a direct application, but often (yes, I do mean often) I find that the very thing I read I end up using to help someone else in a conversation later that day.  Many times I’ve thought to myself; “If I hadn’t read what I read, God could not have used me in the way he used me.”

It is a powerful thing to read God’s Word.  In fact, at times, it is plain dangerous to read God’s Word because God shows up big time and gets in our face.

There’s one other reason why God’s Word is powerful.  Sometimes I let my circumstances or what people think or what I think about myself to get the best of me.  Many times, God, through his Word, reminds me of my true identity and my true condition in Him.  I am a child who is loved no matter what is going on in and around me.

Together, encountering God through His Word,

Glen

The challenge for the church of every age has been whether to escape the world or engage the world.  By “world” I mean the part of life not under the Lordship of Jesus.  Some Christians will do all they can to escape the world.  It sounds spiritual.  Too few choose to engage the world.  Of course we don’t want to follow the world’s ways as we’ve committed to following the way of Jesus.  But we are called to be light and salt in the world to make a difference.  That’s the heart of engagement.  It is not compromise.

This whole issue hit me three times this past week.  I was talking with a church leader and he said his church was not very welcoming to non-church types as many members of his church have adopted a lifestyle to avoid the world and public systems at all costs.  People who were of the world would feel unwelcomed.

Then someone gave me a DVD to watch regarding the problem of pornography.  The speaker gave a passionate plea to throw out our TV’s because of the sexual images shown.  He failed to ask them to throw out their computers too.  Of course Jesus gave the real solution – gouge out an eye that causes you to sin (Yes, it was hyperbole – Matthew 5:29).  We can use self-control and discretion without hiding in a holy huddle.

Then I got an advertisement for a new Christian social networking site similar to Facebook.  The ad says it provides a way so the “world” or the public can’t interact with the church’s fellowship.  It promises to protect the church from the outside world.  Are you kidding?  Is that what Jesus would do today?  Would he go to a Christian “Facebook” to avoid the world?  I think he would rather have conversations that the non-believing world could join.

Listen to some of his last words he spoke to his disciples.  They are relevant to us today.  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. (John 17:15-28 – NIV)

Did you catch his point?  We are not of the world, meaning we don’t share the world’s values, goals and systems.  But we are not to escape the world.  In fact, Jesus has sent us into the world.  Yes, we need to be aware of the schemes of the evil one who runs wild in the world.  Yes, we are to seek holiness (“sanctify”) while engaging the world.

We need to be wise and careful about the Christian parallel universes we build to separate us from the world.  I really don’t like “Christian Days” at sporting events or amusement parks or Christian only sports leagues.  We need to go where the world is, not escape it.  May our first reaction not be to join a Christian activity or event so we don’t have to engage with the world, but may we obey Jesus who sends us into the world so the world can see what it means to follow Jesus.

Together to make the world different by engaging it,

Glen

I had a great conversation with a woman in our church who is engaging a deeper walk with Jesus.  I suggested she start reading the Gospels and she started with Matthew.  She got to Matthew chapter 7 where Jesus says “Do not judge” and we began a discussion of this teaching.

When I read the whole context (vv. 1-5) I would paraphrase Jesus as saying – “Don’t be hyper-critical toward others and don’t look for any and every flaw you can find.  Remember, for every flaw you can find in someone else, you can find a bigger one in your own life.  Deal with your own stuff first.”

God has been speaking to me big time about this.  A few years ago some folks hurt me.  I realized this week I’m still carrying the hurt around.  It hit me that for any flaws I can find in them, mine are many and glaring too.  I thought about the day we all are will be around the throne of heaven.  I doubt that any of us will be looking for or remembering the flaws in each other.  Let’s start now and bring a bit of heaven to earth.  I’m ready to move on.

Then Jesus says (vs. 6) “Do not give to dogs what is sacred; do not throw pearls to pigs.” Where did that come from?  In context it makes perfect sense.  Again let me indulge with my paraphrase – “Don’t be hyper-critical, but also don’t be stupid and throw out healthy and godly discernment of what’s right and wrong.”

While we are not to be hyper-critical and go looking for flaws in others, neither are we to deny or rationalize others’ bad behavior.  We are not to pretend that someone who is sinning or acting in a way contrary to Jesus is “okay.”  We are to call a spade a spade and we are to seek and speak the truth.  To identify that someone is wrong and hurting someone else is not being judgmental if in fact they are sinning and hurting someone.  When Jesus saw the religious leaders being hypocritical, he called them on it.

Here’s the catch.  How do I make sure I’m seeing sin and maintain good discernment but not fall into a judgmental or hyper-critical spirit?  There’s a fine line between judgment and discernment.  Well Jesus anticipated that challenge too.  In vv. 7-12 he gives us two great guidelines.  First, pray!  Ask, seek and knock for wisdom to know discernment and avoid judgment.  And second, “do to others what you would have them do to you.” If I’m wrong, sinning or hurting someone, I want to know it.  I would want others to speak the truth in love.  But I don’t want them to nit pick my weaknesses.  What I want (truth in love) is what I choose to give to others.

Wow, Jesus nails it again.  I want to follow Jesus, the one who is NOT hyper-critical of me, but also calls me on my junk.  As we follow, may we become like him.

Together, becoming like Jesus to make the world different,

Glen

When we first moved to Ukraine the phone system was an ancient mechanical system (not digital) and there were no cell phones.  So you would pick up the phone and often it was dead.  Or you would call and while you dialed the correct number you would often get someone else.  When you connected you would have to yell so the other person could hear you or ask them to repeat because you couldn’t hear.  We often we received wrong calls.  One of the first things I had to learn in Russian was “You have the wrong number” (literally the phrase was “You got got here in error”) which I used often.  And then many Ukrainians didn’t even have phones.  Making connections was a huge challenge.

It can also be challenging to make connections in a large church like ours.  Large churches provide great quality and quantity of programs and opportunities.  But finding out what’s available and getting connecting can be a mystery.  We have been working hard on this.  Here are some ways you can connect – some you may know about and others that you may have been unaware.  Check these out:

Pantano Community Forums

Click here and you’ll find some great sites to connect with others in our church.  You’ll see there are forums that serve as “classifieds” for jobs, buying, selling and trading.   There are community forums for Elements, Men, MOPs and life development classes.  There are prayer and questions forums.  Check it out and more will be added.

PCC Community Fair – Sat. August 22 (10am – 2pm)

We’ll have a blast at our community fair.  It’s a great way to get connected to life groups (you can actually talk to folks about joining a life group and get your questions answered) and find out about service, learning and growing opportunities.  We’ll have live bands, lunch and snacks can be purchased and games for the kids and students.  Lots of the stuff will be inside air conditioning.  Click here to check it out.

Fall Pathway Handbook

Our new Fall Pathway Handbooks will be available this weekend.  Pick one or more up, and take them with you and give them away.  You’ll see a new look and new graphics that help you find your way.  There are some great new life groups, classes, conferences and events coming up.  Take some time to check it out!

Together to make a difference;

Glen