Rob Prince's Blog, page 12

All Alone in a Crowd of 76,416 (and sin has nothing to do with it)

My sons and I will be at the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Detroit Lions football game tomorrow at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Alex and Ben will be wearing Chiefs’ shirts. I will be wearing the Honolulu Blue and Silver of the Detroit Lions (I have failed as a father. Two sons. Zero Lions’ fans. But I digress.). We will be at the game along with 76,416 others in the stadium. Probably 76,415 will be cheering for the Chiefs. Hopefully, there will be two or three other Lions’ fans representing the Motor City Kitties.  

If you are not a football aficionado, I will remind you that that Chiefs won the Super Bowl last year. In fact, the Chiefs have been in the AFC championship game for the last five years, and have won two Super Bowls. The Detroit Lions, on the other hand, have never been to a Super Bowl; have won exactly one playoff game in my lifetime (you read that correctly. ONE!); and despite greater expectations for upcoming season, the Lions are not predicted to win this game.

If watching the game on TV, in a sea of red jerseys, look for a guy in the nosebleed section in the north end zone wearing blue with his hands over his ears. Arrowhead Stadium has the Guinness World record for the loudest stadium, when Chiefs’ fans’ screaming one time hit 142.2 decibels. I tend to get migraines with a little extra noise in the sanctuary. It could be a long night. If ever I felt all alone in a big crowd, Thursday might be my night. 

Sometimes one can feel like you’re wearing blue in a stadium filled with red.

Recently, a church leader wrote the following on social media: “Loneliness and isolation is (sic) the result of solitude without Jesus.” I get what he was trying to say– “you are never alone with Jesus.” It’s the “Just Jesus and me on the Jericho road” theme of the old hymn. He’s not wrong about Jesus always being with us. Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you always.” Jesus meant it. Moreover, personal sin can lead us to a lonely place as we isolate ourselves from God. My problem is with the mistaken notion that loneliness is always the result of a lack of connection to Jesus. Loneliness might have nothing to do with one’s standing with Jesus. 

Biblical heroes like David, Jeremiah and Paul all had bouts of loneliness and it wasn’t the result of a lack of faith in God almighty. Feelings of loneliness can be the result of grief, friendship changes, mental health issues, singleness, chronic pain, even the lonely servant of the Lord. None of those examples are necessarily a lack of faith and to suggest otherwise, only heaps needless guilt onto the lonely sufferer.

A remedy for loneliness is rarely a simple answer. It involves some or all of the following: acknowledging one’s situation; allowing God’s word to penetrate the soul; being proactive in cultivating Christian friendships; having fellow Christians perceptive to one’s circumstance; and ultimately allowing God to be one’s provision. 

Paul words to the Corinthian church are the beginning of the remedy: 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

In other words, the remedy for loneliness is not “just Jesus and me on the Jericho road.” It’s Jesus and me and you and other believers too on every road of life. Rueben Welch said, “It isn’t Jesus and me, it’s Jesus and we.”* It’s being comforted by God, then passing that blessed comfort onto others. When loneliness attacks, in its finest hour, the family of God moves into action. When God’s people circle the wagons of love around an individual, loneliness’ grip begins to lessen. 

Hopefully, there will be some kind-hearted Chief’s fans sitting nearby that will have compassion on this lonely Lions’ fan too. 

*Welch, We really do need each other, p. 73. 

Ready

Last Sunday, in my sermon I spoke of how we have this life to determine our eternal accommodations. Like I often say in funerals, there are no make-up exams, no do-overs and (if you are a golfer) no mulligans.  My friend, John Faulconbridge, was in the service.

Less than 24 hours later, John had a massive heart attack; shortly after John was, like the Salvation Army would say, “promoted to Glory.” That euphemism for our passing is appropriate for my friend, John. He was a West Point graduate, a very proud veteran, and most importantly a follower of Jesus.

John’s funeral service is tomorrow at the church. His burial will be at a later time at the Oklahoma Veteran’s Cemetery. John just recently took the buy-out General Motors offered their salaried employees. He and Becky had plenty of plans for these years. He was 67 years old.

When I was younger, 67 years old seemed very far away and very old. It doesn’t now. It seems young(ish). I want to put the adverb “only” in front of the number “67.” People are supposed to live a lot longer than 67 years these days. My brother-in-law ran a marathon for his 70th birthday. 70 is the new 50. 

Whenever someone passes away suddenly, I am shocked once more into the reality of our need to be ready. No one is guaranteed any days. We all have an expiration date, but unlike milk jugs we don’t know when that date is. My point: Be ready. This week was a familiar, yet stark reminder. 

Part of my job as pastor (or as my friend Steve Hack refers to me, “shepherd”) is to do all I can to make sure that the flock is ready for the greener pastures in Glory. It’s remembering that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). We still need to accept that invitation. It’s free. It’s available to all. But we need to accept and then live into this calling of following Jesus. This sounds a little too transactional: Say a prayer; Get your fire insurance; and bingo, you’re good to go. I don’t mean it that way. Being ready is about encountering Jesus, then formed by Jesus to be a part of the mission of Jesus in the world. John lived into that Jesus calling. There may not be a West Point to be in the Lord’s Army, but John answered the call and wholeheartedly served Jesus.  

As a Shepherd/pastor, I hope to always have the same confidence about the departed loved one as I will have tomorrow when I step behind the pulpit to officiate John’s funeral. He loved Jesus and wanted to serve Him. John was ready for his unknown and unexpected expiration date. I hope you are too.

Central Park: You “gotta” Play With Them

40 years ago (has it been 40 years? Yikes!), when I was a summer intern from Olivet Nazarene University at the Alanson Church of the Nazarene in Northern Michigan, Pastor John Carr, told me, “You’ve got to play with them to pray with them.” He meant that a pastor (or any believer) has to earn the right (via showing that one cares) before people will trust you to talk to them about spiritual matters.

He was right, of course. He’s more right now. (Can one be “more right”?). There may have been a time when cold calling on people by knocking on their front door; spewing out the Four Spiritual Laws or the Romans Road or some other evangelism plan; led to people trusting in Jesus. It might have worked then, not now. Knock on a stranger’s door these days, and you might be greeted with a Glock 44 instead of a crock of honey and crackers. 

These days you need to “play” with them first.

This was proven last Friday as we opened Central Park. Our neighbors nearly outnumbered Central folks with the arrival of the first official day of the park. Kids were sliding on the slides; swinging on the swings; and seeing how fast the merry-go-round could move. Several of the parents talked to me about our church; thanked us for building the park and talked about their intention to “try the church out.” 

You’ve got to play with them (literally). I told one neighbor one of our key commitments at Central Church is “to be the best neighbor.” His response, “You are!” Of course, that’s what we want to hear. 

It’s not 1990. In 2023, people want to know you care. They are more suspicious than ever. Many have been hurt before in their religious experiences. They have seen and heard of too many faith based organizations that have broken the trust of those they were so-called serving. The news of Christians is not always positive. 

The way to combat such thinking is to show folks a deeply religious experience can be different. Caring for the spirit, soul and body seems like a positively wonderful Christian thing to do. Paul wrote (in the verse all good Nazarene’s have memorized): May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23). 

That’s exactly what Central Park is hoping to accomplish! Through our efforts to care for the spirit, soul and bodies of our neighbors, we will have opportunity to share with them the sanctifying and peace infusing work of God!

Preaching isn’t always Easy

Every year, since my Bad Axe preaching early years, I get away for four or five days for reading, research and prayer as I plan out the following year’s sermon calendar. I have found that I need a map for my upcoming preaching calendar to be balanced and well thought; and I need to seek the Lord and study to accomplish that goal.

I take this responsibility extremely serious. I believe Paul was writing to me (along with Timothy) when he wrote: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2). Paul’s instruction to Titus applies to my pastoral responsibility too: Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives (Titus 3:14). Moreover, I hope to accomplish what Solomon spoke of in Proverbs 9: Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning (Proverbs 9:9). 

Here’s your pastoring 101 lesson: Preaching isn’t easy in the 20th century. I suppose that’s why so many pastors are throwing in the towel, and why young women and men aren’t heeding the call as eagerly as they once were. It’s hard. People are more fearful, angry and can be downright mean. The divisiveness in our country is rampant (election years are the worst, by the way). Sometimes it seeps into the church. People often want their way, their message, and their agenda preached. Paul’s stand in Galatians 1:10 is mine too. He wrote: Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. In the end, the preacher is responsible for what is proclaimed from the platform. Andy Stanley correctly stated, “The cross is our invitation to live for the approval of One, not everyone.” Jesus must be preached and He is to whom preachers must answer. 

I’m thankful for the time to get away and listen to the Lord. I’m looking forward to a great year of preaching in 2024!

The 21st Century Needs Discipleaders (yes, that’s a new term)

“Everything rises and falls with discipleship,” I wrote in response to John Maxwell’s old teaching that “Everything rises and falls with leadership.” Making disciples is what Jesus calls us to do (See Matthew 28:20) — not build churches, platforms, big budgets or ministries. Make Disciples. Period. But that doesn’t mean, John Maxwell was totally wrong. Leadership does matter. We need disciple making leaders. To that end, I have created a new term “Discipleaders.” The word placement is important. It’s not leaders making disciples, but disciple-makers with leadership qualities is the need for the 21st century. 

What does a Discipleader look like?

A Discipleader is a person first committed to growing spiritually themselves. You can’t teach what you “ain’t” got. Discipleaders are seeking God for themselves, then teach from the overflow. As such, a Discipleader is prayerful, in the Word, a seeker holiness in heart and life and generous. 

A Discipleader is on the lookout for those who also want to grow in the Lord. Young Christians need to be invited to be mentored and discipled. Not all are ready, not all have the desire. Discipleaders are looking for those longing to be taught the ways of Jesus.

A Discipleader is patient. By definition new believers are not immersed in the ways of Christ. They potentially make mistakes, fail, and sin. A discipleader doesn’t quit on people very easily. Discipleaders are persistent.

A Discipleader is humble. It’s learning from the initial, rookie discipleaders, as Jesus reminded them, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35).

A Discipleader is relevant. They are moldable. They are not static but look for new ways to teach age old truths. Not always will the disciples-in-training be younger than the discipleader, but frequently they will be. A discipleleader must stay somewhat current (admittedly, I am a fuddy-duddy, and my use of the word “fuddy-duddy” proves it). 

A Discipleader can communicate truth in love. It’s the “John 1:14 Model.” Jesus was full of grace and full of truth. Truth means I’m going to be honest no matter what. Grace means I’m going to love you no matter what. 

A Discipleader duplicates her/himself. A church with one discipleader may grow a little. A church full of discipleleaders will grow exponentially. 

A Discipleader cares about one number and it has nothing to do with attendance and budgets (Jesus didn’t tell us to get hung up on those things). Its baptisms. Discipleaders are baptizing folks and then following up with a discipleship path that leads to more discipleaders.

Are you a Discipleader?

Have American Christians Missed the Boat?

Forgive my nautical lingo (I just returned from an Alaskan Cruise), but have Christians in America missed the boat?  Not “missed the boat” regarding heretical tangents (although a case could be made that in some corners of “evangelicalism” – even the name itself—has turned heretical). Have we blown off-course (again the nautical language) regarding our main emphasis?  

It was John Maxwell, the leadership guru of the 80’s and 90’s, who famously said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”  Maxwell made the point to thousands of pastors and church leaders (and made himself wealthy) by touting this message in multiple books and even more conferences. But was he right? Is leadership the determining factor for the rise or fall of the church and in effect Christianity in USA/Canada?

From the title of this blog, you can probably guess my response. The rise and fall of the church in the last century was determined not by leadership, but by another “ship”: Disciple-ship. Sadly, that “ship” hit the icebergs of consumerism, church growth strategies and, not a little bit of pride and arrogance. 

Jesus gave us our sailing orders. He commissioned the church (see Matthew 28:20) to make disciples. Not make leaders. Not build churches. Not even to “make” Christians (that’s His territory). Our mission is to make disciples. We are to teach people to obey all the things of Christ and to baptized them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That’s it. 

Name your pet peeve about the modern church: Too Materialistic? Too Nationalistic? Too Political? Too Misogynistic? Too Racist? Not Biblical enough? Not committed. Not loyal. Not caring or compassionate? Bottom line: Not Christ-like.

All of those ills are remedied not by leadership alone, but by discipleship. We haven’t taught people how to be disciples of Jesus Christ. We have (you guessed it) missed the boat.

The big question: Is it too late to get on board the disciple-ship? With Christ as the Commander-in-Chief (see what I did there), it’s never too late. The church must take an inventory and recognize its current reality. We have done an extremely poor job in discipling people. If nothing else, Covid exposed this. The massive decline in church attendance; lukewarm churches; those feeling the need to “deconstruct” their faith; the disconnect many experience in the church; young adults leaving and not returning to church; pastors quitting at a record pace; the politicization of the church (and many other ills) are not the result of poor leadership (although admittedly we’ve had poor leadership too), but the result of leaders not emphasizing discipleship.

Years ago, Willow Creek church did a study of their people and determined that their church was a mile wide and a millimeter deep. Seeker sensitive worship experience built a crowd, but not many disciples. (Reminder: Jesus didn’t commission us to build a crowd). The church in America has the same malaise—seeker sensitive or not. The ship is sinking because we didn’t follow the orders. We built crowds, churches, programs and platforms—just not many disciples.

What’s needed? A return to the basics. Emphasis on the age old Christian practices: Prayer, Bible reading/teaching, fasting, and the fellowship of the believers (see Acts 2:42). It’s confessing we’ve blown it (not a difficult assessment given our current reality) and praying that the ship hasn’t already sailed– leaving us high and dry. 

The Christian fleet needs Leader-ship, Fellow-ship, Partner-ship, Friend-ship, Steward-ship and Wor-ship but without the flagship of Disciple-ship, we’re sunk. 

The Order of the Perpetually Pessimistic, Pickle-sucking, Poo-poo-ers of anything Praiseworthy and Positive

Following the hail storm in Davison last week, apparently, there was a roof leak unbeknownst to Dr. Steve and Marilyn Anthony (former District Superintendent on the Eastern Michigan District). They woke up Saturday morning to a laundry room full of a caved-in ceiling. The repair/restoration crew took out more ceiling yesterday. 

File this under: What a bummer. Thankfully, son-in-law, Ryan and other friends helped them and the mess was cleaned up. A roofing company has already patched the holes and inside repairs will be forthcoming. 

Why share the Anthony’s woes?

There are plenty of Christians who think the sky is falling too and I’m not talking about storm damage. They watch their news channel choice and doom and gloom follow. I’m not a marketing guy, but if the TV networks are the indicator, bad news sells. Convince the audience that trouble is coming, viewership rises. During Covid it was the nightly count of deaths and hospitalizations. If a storm is a remote possibility, it’s nonstop coverage. As the heatwave continues in the southwest, we are led to believe the earth will self-destruct in five seconds. With election season coming, more mud will be slung in 30-second advertisements than at a tractor pull competition. Ugh!

We Christians are not ignorant of troubled times. We need not put our heads in the sand, but neither should we think the sky is falling. Christians know the score: Jesus wins. The gospel is the GOOD NEWS. We need to be GOOD NEWS people. The Bible tells us 365 times (a curious number) to not fear. Which may have led the Apostle Paul to write from a Roman prison (arguably a very fearful place) Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Can one be filled with joy and peace and overflow with a hope powered by the Holy Spirit AND think the sky is falling every time they watch the news or listen to their favorite talk show host?  I don’t know how. Christians, we are to be ambassadors of the Good News of Jesus Christ not be of the Order of the Perpetually Pessimistic, Pickle-sucking, Poo-poo-ers of anything Praiseworthy and Positive (I just made up that “order” but I’ve known several people who are over-qualified be president of the group).

Are there problems in the world? Sure. Should we work to solve them? Of course. Can we join in the many voices from all political spectrums and stations of life bemoaning everything in the world?  Why would we want to do that?  

You might clean up a mess every now and then (aka… Pastor Steve and Marilyn’s laundry room) but even that should not rob us of our joy. In another letter from prison Paul wrote:  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4) The sky isn’t falling when the Son (see what I did there?) has risen! Rejoice, my brothers and sisters, REJOICE! 

Planting Trees We Will NOT Climb and Building Slides We Will Go Down

In Central Church’s generosity initiative, IMAGINE, one of the phrases used when talking about building Central Park (but really the whole point of the generosity endeavor) was “we are planting trees we will not climb.” It was another way of saying, “We are sacrificially giving today so the church of tomorrow will be strong.” 

Maybe we are “Planting trees we will not climb,” but there are “slides I will go down.”  

The snail-like playground installers are constructing the Central Park play-scape (one of our IMAGINE priorities). They started in September of 2021 (No, they started a week and a half ago—it only seems like 2021). Each day I drive by to see the progress and every time I think, “I coulda swore (of course I don’t swear) that I saw workers yesterday.” When you are talking about playground safety, we want the installers to take their time and do it right. I shouldn’t make fun.

Assuming they get the project done before I retire (in 2028 or so), I can’t wait to go down the slide. It won’t be the maiden voyage down the slide. Some neighborhood kids will do that when they should be in bed with sugar plumbs dancing in their heads– that’s Christmas lingo, but, at the current rate, the playground construction may still be ongoing in December (making more fun of the slow progress. Sorry). 

To be fair, the very able construction crew informed us that it would look like nothing is getting done as they were pouring cement and prepping the area. It takes time to build a quality play-scape. A 10AM “Start time” and three-hour lunch “hour” may also play a role (I can’t help myself).

Be that as it may, I look forward to going down the slide. As I do, I’ll be IMAGING a future of boys and girls from our church; the Boys & Girls Club of Flint that use our facility; the children from the Fenton Lawn School across from the park; and the kids from the neighborhood swinging, sliding and having fun in Central Park. I hope moms bring their kids. I hope those children with handicaps (yes, there will be some handicap accessible areas) will likewise have fun. I hope the old, barely used softball field, will now be a center of activity. 

Jesus would go to the areas where the people were congregating. He would teach, heal and bless. My prayer is Central Park is a similar place. A place filled with laughter and joy! Church and community gathering together—I can’t wait. You can be sure, I will squeal a loud “Yipppeeeee,” as I zip down the slide. I look forward to seeing all of God’s children doing the same! Remember it was Jesus who said, “Let the children come to me, and do not forbid them” (Matthew 19:14). I hope Central Park embodies that sentiment. 

Now, get out of my way, I might go try out a not-yet-completed slide! As all good Nazarenes are aware: Only feet first sliding– no backsliding!

Campmeetings Are Still Worth It

The argument can be made that the Church of the Nazarene was born out of campmeetings in the 19th century, yet more and more we seem to be getting out of the campmeeting business. Camps have been sold and campmeetings are not as popular as they once were in many (not all) corners. 

Some district superintendents can’t wait to put the nail in the coffin of their campgrounds. I get it. Campgrounds can be a major headache for those in leadership. Insurance companies don’t like campgrounds. There is a liability around every tree and body of water. They can be expensive. A worry. A bother. I get all of that. 

Campmeetings are still worth it.

This isn’t the pining of an old guy remember the good ol’ days (well maybe there is a bit of that). 

I had a few “firsts” at Water’s Edge Camp on the Eastern Michigan District (it was just called “the campgrounds,” back in the day). The first time I held a girl’s hand that wasn’t my mom or sister. (I ended up throwing that girl in the lake). The first time a girl “broke up” with me (Throwing her in the lake may or may not have played a role her decision). My first job that wasn’t mowing a neighbor’s lawn (I washed dishes in the kitchen) and my first real pay check. All of these things happened on those grounds.

Much more importantly, on those sacred grounds I was baptized in the “girls’” lake. Boys and girls swam in different lakes in those days. FYI, the “girls’” lake was not a great lake. Lots of weeds. No cool dock like the “boys’” lake. There were rusty swing sets nearby. Hand-me-downs from someplace, no doubt. Clearly, “gender equality” was not a discussion in those days. 

I felt called to full time ministry on those grounds also by the girls’ lake. It was at an all teen “afterglow” campfire in which the only teens in attendance were the soon-to-be-seventh graders who didn’t know the “all-teen afterglow” wasn’t a cool thing to attend. Upperclassmen didn’t show up that night, but God did. It was on that evening that I first sensed a call to a life of full time ministry. Those were the biggie events for me, but there were plenty of other times of drawing near to the Lord on those grounds too.   

Times have changed since I was tooling around the campgrounds on my black, banana seat bike-o-saurus. What hasn’t changed is that Water’s Edge is still holy ground. It’s family camp week. Be in prayer for Dr. Scott Daniels and Dr. David Busic (Have two current General Superintendents ever been on the same campmeeting docket at any camp before this week?). Dr. Tim Gaines is the morning Bible teacher (again not too shabby).

Pray for all the happenings at this week’s family camp. People still encounter God on that campground. I’m glad the Eastern Michigan District still values what happens on Burkhart Road in Cohoctah Township. God will be there. Speaking. Moving. Saving. Sanctifying. Calling.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you Pensions and Benefits Church of the Nazarene, USA!

Big news recently came out of P&B office in Lenexa and my response is six words: “Thank you! Thank You! Thank You!!”

To say that the Church of the Nazarene’s old, old retirement plan was a joke—would be a laughable understatement if it weren’t so true. Those in the old retirement plan barely get enough to buy a daily cup of coffee. I pastored several years under the old plan, but not long enough to be “grandfathered” into it. I get zippo for those years of service. Yippee! (Please read that “Yippee” sarcastically). One Nazarene retiree told me of his whopping $133.93/a month payout. Another retired pastor told me he receives $283 for 36 years of service. Yippee (please read that “Yippee” sarcastically too). 

Most of pastors in the Church of the Nazarene are in the current 403(b) plan which gives a whopping max payment from the denomination of $450 (that’s if the church paid its budgets and pastor contributed $250 of their money). When I tell people this news, usually they say, “the church puts $450 into your retirement account each month? Not bad.” 

“No. Each year.” 

Generally, the follow-up response is “Ugh… glad I’m not a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene.”

But that’s changing. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. (You can read the article detailing the new plan by Kevin Gilmore, the director of Pensions and Benefits, here).

Beginning in 2024, the new max payout is $2500 a year (that’s a 50% match of the “local” contribution. The “local contribution” is pastor’s and church’s contribution combined). This is HUGE—especially for young pastors. It will help old timers like me in these final years as we head into the home stretch of retirement. But for young pastors in their 20s, 30s and even 40s, it’s a really big change and can make a big difference in their retirement planning. 

Here’s how it works: if the “local” contribution is $5000. For example, if the church contributes $2500 and the pastor contributes $2500, then the denomination tosses in $2500. So the pastor’s $2500 investment in their retirement, turns into a $7500 contribution. Over the course of 36 years of service to the church, the pastor will be far, far ahead of my friend who receives $283 a month. Yippee (that “yippee” is for real!).

It’s a no brainer. Pastors, churches and the denomination in cooperation can now make a meaningful effort to prepare for the pastor’s retirement. I hope each church looks into how they might supplement their pastor’s retirement and that every pastor also contributes to take advantage of this new change.

The only string attached is for local churches to pay their P&B budget. Even this is an improvement. The P&B office will look at a five-year average, in case a church has an off year and is unable to pay in full the P&B budget. Also there is no string attached to payment of the church’s educational budget. The new plan is simpler, more generous and hopefully will not leave our Nazarene retirees living below the poverty line. 

Again to Kevin Gilmore, the P&B staff, the General Superintendents or to whomever made this decision: Thank you! Thank you! Thank You!