Rob Prince's Blog, page 38

N.B.A. (Not Basketball Affiliated) Bible Verses and Church Lingo (Basketball style)

With the re-starting of professional sports in America, sports talk will be back in our conversations. Here are a few examples of Bible Verses that are NOT about the NBA and some church lingo from the basketball world tossed in—at no extra “charge.” (The puns don’t get any better. Read at your own risk).

There is no truth that the following Bible verses are basketball related.

Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors. (1 Chronicles 11:9).

Not the headline in the San Francisco Chronicle following a great game by Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense (Acts 26:1)

Paul George, Chris Paul or (for you KU and Celtic fans) Paul Pierce is not the “Paul” referenced in this verse.

Calmness can lay great offenses to rest. (Ecclesiastes 10:4).

Former NBA Commissioner David Stern did not quote this verse when instituting the NBA shot clock.

He has blocked my way so I cannot pass (Job 19:8)

This is not about the defensive skills of Dennis Rodman or Michael Jordan.

Those were just plain dumb…

Sadly, the follow offering of Church Lingo (Basketball style) is not much better:

3-Pointer: The traditional sermon

Free throw: The no-cost blankets provided by the woman’s auxiliary to the local nursing home.

Dunk: What happens to the bread during communion by intinction

Riding the bench: When anticipating the band’s long praise and worship set, the worshipper chooses to sing sitting down

Fast Break: The quick exit from church when the sermon is too long and the local diner has a Fried Chicken special.

Redshirt: What the preacher wears on Pentecost

Power Forward: The opening comments of the sermon on Pentecost

Hack-a-Shaq: Deconstruction of the parsonage

Rebound: A preacher’s successful transition following a bad joke

Double dribble: When two babies spit up during Baby Dedication Day

Layup: Who’s preaching when the pastor is out sick

Sixth man: Following five unsuccessful and unqualified male pastoral candidates, instead of interviewing a qualified female candidate, the church board wants to interview this guy.

Pick and Roll: What a hungry worship-leading guitarist has with him when the service begins.

One-and-Done: The results of a bad youth pastor’s sermon in “big church.” (Not about Central’s youth pastors–they are awesome preachers, if you didn’t know).

Swish: The noise made when the reader quickly hits delete after realizing that these church and basketball lingo terms were just plain silly and it’s time to….

Enjoy your day.

Don’t worry about Covid-19.

Turn off your news channel.

Take a break from Social Media.

Love others.

Love Jesus.

Have Fun.

Smile.

Ready to throw in the towel… read this.

From conversation in the past few weeks:

Health care workers: This is the scariest time in my career, I am thinking about doing something else.

Police: This is the most disheartening time in my career, I am thinking about doing something else.

Teachers: This is the most uncertain time in my career, I am thinking about doing something else.

Store Clerks, restaurant servers, trash collectors, postal workers: This is the most nervous time on my job, I am thinking about doing something else.

Pastors: This is the most discouraging time in my vocational life, I am praying that God leads me somewhere else.

Small business owners: This is the most difficult time for my business, I am thinking of closing (or not re-opening) the doors.

Churches: This is the most polarizing time since the protestant reformation, we are on the verge of a church split.

The list could go on and on in these uncertain times.

Erma Bombeck wrote a book years ago with the title: The Grass is Always Greener over the Septic Tank. I think her point was simply just because the grass in the next place seems greener (or maybe the grass where you are standing looks brown), don’t be fooled. Not all green grass is the result of something good.

Paul’s advice to the troubled and on the verge of disintegrating church at Corinth are good words for us who are contemplating throwing in the towel and walking away:

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.  Do everything in love.

I Corinthians 16:13-14

In other words, you are not alone. Hang in there. Trust Jesus! Love everyone!

Culture vs. Jesus (in less than 200 words)

Culture says:

If you have said something wrong. I hate you.

If you have done something wrong. I hate you.

If you have voted wrong. I hate you.

If you are wearing a mask. I hate you.

If you are not wearing a mask. I hate you.

If you support BLM. I hate you.

If you support the police. I hate you.

Democrat? I hate you.

Republican? I hate you.

Fox News junkie? I hate you.

CNN? I hate you.

Millennial? I hate you.

Boomer? I hate you.

Support women’s rights? I hate you.

Don’t care about babies? I hate you.

Don’t care about LBGTQ+? I hate you.

Don’t know what the “+” stands for? I hate you.

Think marriage is exclusive between a man and a woman? I hate you.

Think the Bible is a fairy tale? I hate you.

Think the Bible is a guide for these troubling times? I hate you.

Have you sinned, made mistakes and got hang-ups? I hate you.

Can’t overlook my sins, mistakes and hang-ups? I hate you.

Jesus says:

Love one another (John 13:34)

That is all.

Can Holiness Cure Covid-19?

The short answer is “No.” The most holy person on the planet is just as vulnerable as the most unholy person on the planet if exposed to the coronavirus. Viruses (like all other diseases and ailments) are no respecter of persons. I heard that one preacher in an attempt to assure his flock of their well-being within the walls of his church said, “You’ll be safe from the coronavirus in church, the devil don’t come in here.” Trust me, I’ve been pastored churches for 30 years, the devil has reeked plenty of havoc in churches long before anyone ever heard of Covid-19. Holiness does not prevent, slow or in any way effect the physical complications of coronavirus.

Sadly, physical symptoms and negative test results are not the only outcome of the disease. Like a magnifying glass, our global pandemic has exposed the ugliness and prevalence of sin too. The perfect storm of the disease, legitimate and illegitimate fears of sickness and uncertain futures, the negative effects of stay-at-home orders and isolation, the endless 24-hour lopsided news channels, a presidential election year coupled with the politicization of practically everything, the hatred and racist ugliness that is all too prevalent in our society, and the vileness of social media has led to a sinful angst that would rival any period in U.S. history. With the average shopper carrying not only a credit card but also a video camera in their phone, we are given an endless array of nutcases’ angry rants and vicious attacks in Costco, Target, Wal-Mart and Trader Joe’s. The anger is not limited to public places. Police, pastors, teachers and anyone in authority across the country are getting eaten up and spit out on-line by an angry, fearful populace. Spewing hate while hiding behind a computer or angry outbursts in public have sadly become the norm. We have a problem in America and its not simply the rising number of Covid-19 cases. We have a massive sin problem.

Holiness is what our world needs. “Be holy as I am holy” was not simply God’s demand for the wilderness wandering children of Israel, it is what is needed today. Paul’s urging to not be “conformed to the pattern of this world” in Romans 12 is more needed now than ever. Holiness as expressed in the Fruit of the Spirit must be our standard.

Every Christian should put their attitudes and actions through a “Fruit of the Spirit colander.” It’s asking oneself, “Are my actions, attitudes, words and on-line posts loving, joyful, peace producing, display patience, exhibit kindness and goodness, faithful, gentle, and do they show a whole lot of self-control (Oxymoron alert: Facebook and Self-Control can not be used in the same sentence)? If our words, actions, and on-line posts don’t display the Fruit of the Spirit then they are not of God. (Re-read that last sentence. Memorize it. It’s important and true).

Can holiness cure Covid-19? No. But if more Christians expressed and lived out a Christ-like, Fruit of the Spirit displaying brand of holiness, the world would see the attractiveness of Jesus. When Christians display the same anger, hatred and fears (when Christians are conformed to the pattern of this world, in other words), there is no reason for the unbelieving world to notice. My fellow believers, our world needs holiness more now than ever. It’s up to us to live holy lives. Paul’s words to the church at Colossae are still needed and true:  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12).

Five Dangers for Online Only Worshipers: How On-Line Only Church Can Destroy Faith

Disclaimer: This is not an “anti-on-line worship” article. The pandemic has caused plenty of extremely faithful people to stay home and participate in only on-line worship. Neither is this an anti-governmental control, “give me liberty or give me death” piece. The following is an attempt to present the dangers of an only on-line worship experience. Read on:

Five Dangers for Online Only Worshipers

1.Minimizing local church involvement damages one’s faith.

Yes, there are better on-line worship experiences than what your home church produces. Yes, there are better singers, better preachers (Obviously, this refers to those who do NOT attend Flint Central Church. Snicker. Snicker), and more tech savvy churches than the one you attend. Your church may be low tech (formerly no tech), your praise team may sing off key, your preacher rambles, and there’s many other reasons to not watch your church service (There are reports that 40% of stay-at-home church people are NOT viewing their local church’s livestream). Faith destruction begins by turning away from your local church.

What is missed in your local connection? Prayer requests regarding people you know. Your pastor bringing the Bible to life for your local context. Singers you know and regularly see praising Jesus. The local church is the body of Christ in your context. There is no substitute. Simply watching another service from somewhere else, will diminish the draw and participation in your local body. A lack of local connection damages your faith.

2 A lack of local church connection leads to a lack of interest in the local needs.

People need to associate with one another. The on-line worshipper must find ways to connect to their local body of believers before a disengagement and disinterest sets in. If one doesn’t know the needs and pray for the needs, the next step is “doesn’t care about the needs.” The cliché as it relates to in-person worship experience should be, “Absence doesn’t make the heart grow fonder, absence makes the only on-line-worshipper’s eyes, mind and life wander.”

Taking the initiative to stay connected to the local body means calling, texting or sending notes not simply one’s stay-at-home friends in the local body but to the tired, lonely and fall-through-the-cracks people as the Lord brings them to mind. It takes an effort to stay connected to the whole body, but it’s essential for one’s faith.

3. Overexposure to media (social and otherwise) damages one’s faith.

Look around. See those who were formerly zealous for the Lord, who are now inspired by their favorite on-line influencers. Now they are zealous for political parties, social movements and a brand of Christianity where Jesus is a condiment to one’s faith and not the center of one’s faith.

Turn off the TV and stay off your phone. Tithe (at a minimum) your media engagement with time in God’s word. For every hour spent viewing media, spend (at least 6 minutes) in the Bible. It’s not a lot, but it’s a start.

4. Speaking of tithing, continue to give to one’s local church.

A bank statement is a spiritual document. Where one invests their money that is where their heart is (didn’t someone famous in the Bible state this same concept?) The first sign of faithlessness is a lack of commitment financially to the local church.

5. On-line only worshippers miss the opportunity to serve.

Faithfulness and discipleship must involve active service. Stay-at-home orders and only on-line viewing leads to being a spectator rather than an active participant in faith. Spectators may cheer, but they are not where the action is or in the game. Spectator faith leads to no faith.

Don’t be a spectator only. Serve your neighborhood. Take cookies to a neighbor. Give a note to your local mail carrier. Pray for ways to serve in your context. Staying-at-home worship minus service is a sure way to fade from your faith.

On-line worship may be our current reality, but don’t allow it to diminish your faith.

What postponing General Assembly means (One guy’s initial two cents)

Postponing the 2021 General Assembly means that…

The Church of the Nazarene will save money. General Assemblies (GA) are not cheap. Bringing in delegates (not all international delegates pay their own way here— the World Evangelism Fund does) is an expensive endeavor. In the last several General Assemblies there have been resolutions (supported by most if not all of General Superintendents) to move GA to every five years– mostly as a cost saving measure. The pandemic has accomplished what a vote on the assembly floor could not.

More international delegates will be able to attend in 2023 than if the GA were next year. GAs are worthless if half the delegates or more cannot get VISA’s to travel into the US. (Which begs the question, “Can’t we find a more internationally welcoming place where all the delegates can attend?” If WEF dollars are picking up the tab on their travel and room and board anyway, isn’t there another venue that we could have greater participation from ALL of our delegates?)

Dr. Graves gets two less years to serve on the BGS. I love Dr. Graves. I will miss his leadership. We will be voting on two General Superintendents in 2023 (Dr. Duarte is also retiring, I’ll miss him too).

Having GA and NYC in the same year will create some cost and logistic issues for parents and churches. Will NYC be changed to a different year? If so, will some students miss out on attending an NYC? If so, that is really too bad. NYC has done more good in the CotN than we realize. We need to continue to prioritize our youth and families if we are going to be the church we need to be in the 21st century. The GA move to 2023 probably means M-23 (if there was going to be an M-23) is also DOA.

Nazarenes can’t drink for two more years. if you believe that the ban on social drinking will be lifted in 2023, you’ll need to wait. I know, I’m stirring the pot now… forgive me. (FYI… I will not be in favor of such a move—I’ve written on that subject in the past. You can read it https://robprinceblog.com/2019/05/13/will-the-church-of-the-nazarene-split-over-social-drinking/).

Our statement on racism can’t be strengthened for two more years too (yes, it needs to be strengthened!). There are other needed resolutions that will also have to wait. UGH!

And most of all, postponing our 2021 General Assembly means we won’t get to see so many of our friends from far and wide for two long years. We are a family and we need to be together.

Our leaders did the right thing in postponing the 2021 General Assembly, now let all of us who love the Church of the Nazarene do the right thing and pray for our leaders as they give prayerful guidance during these strange and curious days!

The Lack of Listening— One (of many) Tragedies of 2020

There is an old story (maybe it’s true, maybe not), that Franklin Roosevelt became tired of the insincere conversation that accompanied many of the White House receptions. One night he decided to see if anyone was paying any attention to what was being said. As he shook hands with guests filing through a receiving line, he smiled and said, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” No one noticed. They just gave the usual protocol answers, “O how nice!” or “Keep up the good work,” and “Great!” Until finally, one foreign diplomat was listening. FDR said his usual, “I killed my grandmother this morning,” and the man leaned in and said, “She probably had it coming.” Whether that story is true or apocryphal, listening has become rarer in the last 85 years.

Listening seems to be a lost art. There is a lot of talking, a lot of noise, but not a lot of listening. James reminds us that we should be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:25). More times than not these days, people have flipped James words and are very quick to become angry, quick to let others know it, and very slow to listen. Wanting to be heard, but not hearing is one of the great tragic outcomes in our social media driven society.

But we need to listen.

Listening leads to understanding (“Wow, I see how your situation can be terrible”).

Understanding leads to empathy (“It makes me sick that you’ve had to endure this”).

Empathy leads to compassion (“We’ve got to do something about it”).

Compassion leads to action (“Let’s go!”).

Action leads to change (“The world is a better place.”)

All change begins with listening. Good doctors, counsellors, teachers, pastors, politicians, spouses and parents are good listeners. Hearing is the essential first step toward help and healing.

There once was a husband who was having trouble communicating with his wife. He thought for sure the old woman was losing her hearing. On a mission to prove his point, he conducted a personal hearing test. While she sat on the other side of the room with her back to him, he quietly asked, “Can you hear me?” There was no response. He then moved a little closer and asked the same question. “Can you hear me?” Again, no response. Closer. Same question. Still nothing. The guy got right next to her and asked the very same question, “Honey, can you hear me now?” He was shocked by her response, because with a twinge of irritation she screamed, “FOR THE FOURTH TIME YES, I HEAR YOU!!!”

The problem hearer was him. How many people in our social media driven times need to discover this same lesson? Could it be that some of the problems in our homes, churches and nation are the result of folks wanting to be heard but not listening? Someone very famous has said, “He who has ears let him hear.”

Pandemic + Social Unrest + Election Year Posturing = Too Much

Too much hurting, not enough helping.

Too much division, not enough devotion.

Too much corruption, not enough justice.

Too much murmuring, not enough mercy.

Too much hostility, not enough humility.

Too much excusing shortcomings, not enough confessing sins.

Too much blaming, not enough blooming.

Too much shaming, not enough sharing.

Too much judgement, not enough joy.

Too much discord, not enough discovery.

Too much lying, not enough learning.

Too much force, not enough forgiveness.

Too much anger, not enough peace.

Too much “me first” not enough the “first shall be last.”

Too much excusing the past, not enough empathizing with the present realities.

Too much arguing over fault, not enough admission of failures.

Too much “I’m right, you’re wrong,” not enough “I’m listening.”

Too much passive aggressiveness, not enough patient gentleness.

Too much Facebook, not enough face time with the Lord.

Too much running of mouths, not enough walking in the other’s shoes.

Too much looking out for number one, not enough looking up to the Holy One.

Too much Zoom, not enough face to face.

Too much tearing apart, not enough building up.

Too much favorite news channel, not enough favorite Bible verses.

Too much platform building, not enough bridge building.

Too much brokenness, not enough togetherness.

Too much loneliness, not enough large-heartedness.

Too much “you’re my enemy,” not enough “we are family.”

Too much racism, not enough recognizing the multicolored children of God.

Too much wasted time, not enough redeeming the moment.

Too much venom, not enough vision.

Too much fear, not enough faith.

Too much opinionating, not enough facts.

Too much pontificating, not enough prayer.

Too much choosing sides, not enough choosing the Savior.

Too much hate, not enough hope.

The last three months have been too much!

Re-Opening Reminders

This Sunday, June 21, is Central Church’s first public service since March 8. As a public service announcement I give you these re-opening reminders:

1. No PJs. You’ve gotten used to rolling out of bed, grabbing a pop tart and watching Karla recite the announcements. Sorry. There’s no dress code at Central Church, but a rule of thumb: if you slept in it the night before, you probably shouldn’t wear it to church (if only Wal-Mart had the same rule).

2. There’s no coffee. This is disappointing for you who come to Central Church only to drink our tasty Maxwell House Original Blend in your Sunday School class room. Sorry. It’s BYOBC (Bring your own Bad Coffee).

3. Social distancing means you have to disobey Paul’s admonition when he said to “greet one another with a holy kiss.” No holy kisses or holy hugs or holy handshakes. Holy elbow bumps, holy air high fives and the Holy Spirit are all welcome.

4. Our hand sanitizer machines are automatic. They are foamy. And to be honest, they are a bit stinky. Get too much on you and you won’t have to worry about social distancing— people will socially distance from you, but your hands will be clean.

5. No valet parking. You’ll have to park that sweet ride of yours on your own. Remember it’s like coloring, stay within the lines.

6. Cafe? Closed. Drinking fountains? Closed (bottle water available). Lobby? Closed (please catch up with friends outside). Altars? Open!

7. Masks are encouraged— not Robin, Green Hornet or Lone Ranger masks (that kinda defeats the purpose). If you forget yours, we’ve got you covered (literally). Everyone says masks are the best way to protect your neighbor, but if you’d just can’t cover up that pretty smile (for whatever reason) that’s fine. Please enter the East or South Doors (we are saving our West Doors, west restrooms and west side of the sanctuary for masks wearers only). Remember to be the safest— Go West, young man, go west!

8. The service times are 9AM and 11:15AM. These times allow us to clean, clean, clean between services. We want to have the cleanest church in America. It’s so clean you can eat the communion wafers off the floor (but we don’t recommend that).

9. Lastly, please pray. Pray for our services; for those folks who can’t get back together with us just yet; for those sick or grieving; for our country; for our leaders; that God would send a mighty revival to our land; for justice and mercy would be available to all people; and pray, pray, pray that God’s will would be done and His Kingdom come in Flint as it is in heaven!

See you Sunday! Did I say I am excited to see you? I am.

Hey Pastor… Conversations from the last few weeks

Hey pastor….

“Why haven’t you said more about racism?”

“You talk too much about racism.”

“Why didn’t you pray for George Floyd’s family?”

“Why don’t you say more about all the good cops out there?”

“You are opening the church too soon.”

“Are you fearful? Is that why you haven’t opened the church yet?”

“This quarantine is killing me; my depression is worse than ever.”

“I love the quarantine. I’m making more on unemployment than I was working,”

“If you make me wear a mask, I’m not coming to church.”

“If people aren’t wearing masks, I’m not coming to church.”

“I like watching the service in my PJ and sipping on my Folgers, I’m not coming back to church.”

“If you don’t have the nursery open, I’m not coming to church.”

“I won’t be back in church until my kids have been vaccinated for the virus.”

“Why doesn’t the denomination say more about racism? I’m considering leaving the church.”

“Too many in the denomination are supporting the ______ (fill in the political party—I’ve heard from both sides). I’m considering leaving the church.”

“You don’t preach enough about _______ (fill in the blank to whatever societal ill is out there). I’m leaving the church.”

But I’ve also had these conversations, which I like much, much better.

They have gone like this:

Hey pastor…

“Thanks for trying.”

“We appreciate the hard work of everyone at the church.”

“Let’s talk.”

“I’m with you!”

…and the words that I like to hear most of all,

“Hey, Pastor… I’m praying for you.”