Rob Prince's Blog, page 4

An After the Sermon conversation

Not everyone likes the preacher’s sermon. I get it. Sometimes the preacher is having a bad day. Not every sermon is a homerun. Sometimes it’s a strikeout. Sometimes the listener is having a bad day too. It happens.

My last sermon may or may not have been a strikeout (if you were present on Sunday or watched online you can be the judge or be the umpire– to keep my “strikeout” metaphor straight). One first time (probably last time) guest took serious umbrage with what I said.  Serious umbrage!

“You must apologize for not preaching the Gospel!” he said.

“I will not apologize for preaching about grace,” I retorted. If you weren’t in church last Sunday… shame on you. Just kidding there is plenty of grace (see the next two sentences). If you were absent, the recap is we started a new series called “SOLA.” It is a series that looks at the Five Pillars of Protestantism beginning with Sola Gracia or Grace Alone.

Suffice it to say the dude didn’t like the sermon on grace.

He stated that it is baptism that saves us. I again reiterated that it is Jesus who saves. Just Jesus. He didn’t like that answer either. He interjected a passage from James saying that our good works also saves us.

“It’s baptism and good works that save,” according to this man as he jumped from obscure scripture to obscure scripture to emphasize his beliefs.

I might have further upset him a little more when I told him we don’t “cherry pick” obscure verses to support our beliefs instead we believe in “plenary inspiration” meaning the “whole of scripture” is inspired. Furthermore, I reiterated again, the Bible is clear– it is Jesus who saves. Just Jesus. I said, “in fact, if you really want to know more, please join us in two weeks when the sermon will be on “Solus Christus” (Christ Alone).

I don’t think he will return.

Not everyone agrees with us theologically. We can’t change who we are (I don’t want to change who we are. I like us. Still there’s a piece of me that’s sad whenever someone exits for whatever reason. (FYI… just prior to that conversation, still after the 11AM service, I led a young man, also the first time in our church, to the Lord. Chalk it up to: You win some and you lose some.).

Pastoring is crazy these days. It’s extra crazy during election years. Ask anyone in a helping profession (police officers, nurses, teachers, social workers, and pastors), they will tell you there is an angered entitlement and victimized brashness that wasn’t present in past generations. It is much harder (thank you social media with its gossip and lies) to pastor than it was when I began 36 years ago. Life is different. Yet, people still need Jesus. That hasn’t changed.

Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ has been my life’s calling. That passion is just as strong today (in fact stronger) as it was when I first sensed God speaking to me as a seventh grader sitting by a teen “afterglow” campfire at Water’s Edge Camp.

It is also a privilege and a joy to be a pastor. But it’s not for the faint of heart. Jesus didn’t say pastoring or life, for that matter, would be easy. He said He would be with us.

He has been.

He will be.

He is! 

The Church of the Nazarene Looks a lot like Heaven. Here’s Why that’s Even Better Than You Think:

There are 195 countries in the world (according the United Nations) and the Church of the Nazarene is in over 160 of them. The Church of the Nazarene is in more countries than McDonalds (164 vs 120). For some ecclesiastical context, the United Methodist Church is in 138 countries. The Free Methodists and Southern Baptists are each in just over 100 countries. The Wesleyans are in 90. The Missionary Church is in 110 countries. The “Global” Methodists are in just eight. So the Church of the Nazarene is more “missionary” than the Missionary church and far more “global” than the Global Methodist Church. 

An argument can be made that other than the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of the Nazarene is the most globally minded and equally represented church in the world (the Roman Catholics have been doing things a tad bit longer than the 116 year old Nazarenes). There are more African Nazarenes (927,961) than North American Nazarenes (577,282). Next year, for the first time in Church of the Nazarene history, there may be over 1 million Nazarenes on one continent (Africa, not North America). 

According to the 2023 General Secretary’s report, there are 30,747 churches around the globe (McDonald’s has a beat with its 45,000+ restaurants in the world). There are 30,000+ elders, deacons and licensed ministers. Moreover, there are 482 missionaries from 60 world areas serving in 83 areas. Every Sunday the message of Jesus is proclaimed in Nazarene churches in 192 different languages (Honesty Alert #1: I didn’t even know there were 192 different languages, let alone that there are Nazarene services in these different dialects). Besides the languages you might expect (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Haitian), there are Nazarene worship services in Bengali (134,164), Tsonga (121,784), Chichewa (84,942); Tok Pisin (64,714) and Amharic (48,356). (Honesty Alert #2: Not only have I never heard of these languages, I never would have guessed that thousands of Nazarenes speaking in these various tongues are worshipping every single week). It makes one long for heaven where  there will be  “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9). 

All to say, the Church of the Nazarene looks a lot like heaven and, on the earth, is in the best position to have a global impact. Better than many of our sister denominations. We have “boots on the ground” all over the world. If disaster strikes, the Church of the Nazarene is already there (thank you Nazarene Compassionate Ministries). If  travelling in another country, know there are like-minded brothers and sisters ready to help should problems arise. But most of all, in all those places and in all those languages Jesus is being preached! 

Jesus said to be my witnesses “to the ends of the earth,” and the Church of the Nazarene is attempting to fulfill that mission. Praise the Lord!

She Ain’t Dead Yet: Reports of the Death of the Church of the Nazarene are Greatly Exaggerated

Mark Twain may or may not have once said, “the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” The same can be said for the Church of the Nazarene.

The extremes in the Church of the Nazarene like to point to conflict or trouble and conclude with the pronouncement, “…and that’s why the Church of the Nazarene is dying.” When some elders lost their credentials because of disagreements with the Manual regarding human sexuality, the cries from our brothers and sisters on the left were, “…and that’s why the Church of the Nazarene is dying.”  When those on the far right, like to point out the splinters in some ministers’ eyes (while missing the planks in their own) they frequently conclude, “…and that’s why the Church of the Nazarene is dying.” When a few folks on the far right, besmirched some General Superintendent candidates they perceived as “liberal” with social media gossip, rumors and flat out lies at the last General Assembly, sensible yet discouraged people on all sides cried, “…and that’s why the Church of the Nazarene is dying.” 

Like Mark Twain, the rumors of the Church of the Nazarene’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. 

One could get the impression that there are a lot of problems in the Church of the Nazarene. (Honesty alert: I’ve been accused of being a “Negative Nelly”). The church has struggled especially in Europe and USA/Canada. At times, I’ve pointed out troubling statistics. Conversely, Africa is booming with the Gospel message. I’ve been told the World Evangelism Fund (WEF) giving is up my a million dollars. Wow! Last week, I wrote how USA/Canada may have (it’s a rumor at this point) the first year of growth in 19 years. A few of my apparent fellow Negative Nellies following the aforementioned blog wondered if the growth was simply sheep stealing from the United Methodists. Of course, there is no way to know where the growth came from across North America, but I have a hunch that its more than sheep changing pastures. I’m optimistic. I think there is something better happening.

Case in point, last week I spent a day and a half with some of the best of the best in the USA/Canada Church of the Nazarene. Dr. David Graves is leading an effort to improve Nazarene preaching. The Preaching Collaborative is an effort (funded by a Lily grant) to promote evangelistic, Biblical preaching. I am a facilitator in this effort. Most of the groups across the country gathered last week in Estes Park, Colorado. There were meetings, seminars and, it was a Nazarene event after all, food and gatherings around tables. 

I looked around the room and saw old ministers like me, but also young dynamic ministers like Galen Ryman of Chicago First Church, Nate Smith of The Table in Joliet, Colton Townley of The Crossings in Colorado, and Philip Modlin of Amplify in North Carolina (just to name a few) and I thought, the Church of the Nazarene is in very good hands. Speakers included Derwin Grey, Elise Snowden (another young Nazarene preacher who knocked it out of the park) and Dawie De Koker (Kevin Myers and Dr. Stan Reeder also spoke, but I left early to make it back to Central Church’s final  Spiritual Renewal week service). There were 175ish of us gathered. I’m sure there were a few stinkers in the crowd (present author excluded, please), but I couldn’t point them out. I was encouraged and believe the best days for the Church of the Nazarene are still ahead as we proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Don’t get too focused on what is perceived to be wrong in the Church of the Nazarene. I’m not suggesting putting one’s head in the sand. Of course, there are areas on all sides in which the church can improve. The Church of the Nazarene isn’t perfect (author included). Still let the main focus be the task at hand. Listening, learning and loving people in one’s local setting in an effort to share the Good News of Jesus. Jesus still changes things. The Church of the Nazarene is still in a position (maybe better than ever) to proclaim this Good News. Win the Lost.  Make disciples. Fulfill the mission.

She ain’t dead yet! 

Nazarene Worship Attendance In USA/Canada Grew In 2024 for the First Time in Nearly 20 years

Was 2023 the rock bottom year for the attendance for the Church of the Nazarene in USA/Canada? The worship attendance numbers for 2024 have not been released but the rumor is that for the first time in nearly 20 years, the USA/Canada region experienced worship attendance growth. It true, praise the Lord!

Following the massive attendance cliff following Covid, the church is starting to rebound. No doubt, this is happening in part because of the “cycle of resurgence” initiative started under regional director, Dr. Stan Reeder. The plan was bathed in prayer (always a good place to start). This year churches were to bless their community. Leading people to Jesus is next year’s focus. Finally it’s discipling people in the ways of Christ who will, in turn, bless their communities and the resurgent cycle begins. Some churches have stepped up their efforts to get into their communities and have already been leading people to Jesus and discipling them. Progress is happening. The church where I am privileged to pastor saw modest growth in 2024. Again, Praise the Lord!

“Butts in seats” (sorry for my crassness) is not synonymous with spiritual renewal. Taylor Swift can fill a stadium at 200 bucks a pop (or more), yet no one confuses the gathering with revival. Still, increased worship attendance is a sign of something (usually) good. When the Holy Spirit is moving in a church, it encourages those on the inside to invite outsiders so they too might experience what God is doing. In other words, the slight attendance growth should not be seen as the end (See: the 80s Church Growth Movement) but the beginning of a call to do the hard work of disciple-making.

“Counting people because people count” is not a compelling reason for filling a church. This isn’t Church Growth Movement 2.0. Jesus’ “church growth method” was not very effective. He went from 5,000+ at a free fish and bread event to John and a few women at Golgotha. Even after rising from the dead, there were only 120 in the meeting place on Pentecost. Not exactly, a booming, write-all-about-it, sign-a-book-contract evangelism explosion.

Jesus didn’t call us to fill a church. He called his followers to make disciples. That’s it. That’s the plan. Make disciples. Some will follow. Some will not. In fact, most will not (See Jesus statement on the “narrow road and only a few find it”). Even Jesus couldn’t convince some folks to follow Him (see Luke 9). Honestly, He didn’t seemed to obsessed about those who walked away. He didn’t chase after them. He didn’t beg them to reconsider. He simply invited someone else to follow. There’s always someone else who needs to hear the Good News. There is always someone else that is lonely and tired. Continuing to offer invitations and discipling the willing ones is the Jesus strategy. It seems to be working now too. 

Was 2023 the rock bottom year for attendance?  I hope so. If USA/Canada continues to repeat the cycle: bless our communities; tell folks about Jesus and make disciples, then continued growth could happen. Fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) is the ticket out of the attendance basement.

Can Dying Nazarene Churches be Resurrected?

Last week, my wife’s (Karla) mom’s funeral dinner was held in the former fellowship hall of the Nazarene church in her small hometown. Karla’s dad practically built that fellowship hall. Her folks gave plenty of money to see that it was constructed. Before moving in with us, Karla’s parents had been members at that church for 70+ years. Like her parents, the church is dead.  

The Nazarene church has been closed for a few years. The building was sold to another church group. The old fellowship hall is now the sanctuary. The old sanctuary is the children’s area. Upon walking in the door, instead of seeing alabaster boxes, missionary reading books and dusty plastic flowers, there is a coffee shop. The space has been completely changed. By all appearances the church group meeting in the former Nazarene building is doing great. 

Which begs the question: Why is that church thriving when the Nazarene church died?

There are a number of reasons, but here is my outside observer’s perspective:

1. Sacred Cows. Old Nazarene buildings are a pastures for sacred cows. They are everywhere. Aunt Suzie’s memorial money bought the pulpit, we can’t get rid of that. Uncle Charlie bought the pews. They’ve got to stay. Sister Bertha has overseen the missionary reading book table for 40 years, you can’t move it. On and on the sacred cows graze. 

2. Leadership. The current pastor of the new church grew up in that little town. His grandmother was Karla’s recess playground monitor. His grandpa worked with Karla’s dad in the machine shop. He had a stake in the community. None of the Nazarene pastors had that kind of community connection.

3. Reputation. The Nazarene church had been on that location for decades. People in the town knew the church (for good or bad). In a small town, everyone knows everyone’s business. There was a “been there, tried that” mindset.

4. People. If my in-laws are a representative of the people (and maybe they weren’t), they were old school Nazarenes. Good, godly people, but stuck in the mindset of this is “how we’ve always done things.” “A coffee shop when walking through the front doors?  Over my dead body!” I could hear one of them say. 

What if, every few years, Nazarene churches had an evaluation on existing properties, leadership, and community involvement. There could be a survey of neighbors regarding the church to determine an outsider’s perspective. A “secret shopper” could come with unbiased eyes to locate blind spots regarding furnishings, building usage, service effectiveness and church friendliness (every church thinks they are friendly to outsiders, most are not). The results of these tools could then lay the ground work for necessary changes. 

What if district monies were set aside to help cover costs for updating worship spaces, providing new signage and the elimination of out-of-date methods and mindsets. What if pastors were required to be involved in the community activities outside of the church at some level? What if church members evaluated the health of the church and took drastic measures (if necessary) to see the church remade and resurrected (easier said than done).

Many of the 4400+ Nazarene churches in USA/Canada are on life support. Add ten or twenty years to everyone sitting in the pews and estimate who will still be around. Many churches will die. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Karla’s home church proves it is not too late. Changed can come. Re-birth is possible. Even in a small town, new life can emerge. Every church doesn’t need a coffeeshop, but every church needs people and leadership willing to take a “whatever-it-takes,” Jesus first mindset. Without such a commitment, the church is already dead (they just don’t know it). 

Dying Nazarene churches can be resurrected. In fact, they must be, if the denomination is going to survive.

Who is to Blame for the Declining Worship Attendance in the Church of the Nazarene?

If John Maxwell’s maxim was correct that everything rises and falls with leadership, than what leadership role is to blame for the USA/Canada Church of the Nazarene falling attendance? The six General Superintendents? The 78 District Superintendents? The 11,003 elders in USA/Canada? All of the church boards and Sunday School Superintendents across the country? You? Me?

Yes.

We are to blame. All the people who call themselves Nazarenes could look in the mirror and ask, “what more could I do?”

We can talk about broken systems and less than qualified people in various roles. I have had church leaders lie in my presence; be enraged for no reason; display a lack of holiness and the opposite of every aspect of the fruit of the spirit. I can name leaders who’s record would indicate that they have no business being in a leadership role, but they are. I’ve seen church politics, nepotism and the tit for tat happenings for years. You have your stories of bad leaders too. Still, we must all accept some responsibility for declining numbers.

Of course, it is harder to pastor these days. Yes, social media stinks. Our culture is circling the drain. There is an angst than has never existed. A recent poll says most young people have left the church because of church hypocrisy. You can read the survey here.  We know the survey is true, even casual observers have seen hypocrisy in the church. It’s harder to reach people these days. Who doesn’t know that? It does not negate this overwhelming truth: people still need Jesus. 

Are we doing everything we can to help people find Jesus? Are we working as if the King were coming tomorrow? Are we? Am I?

HONESTY ALERT: I can work harder. I can try more. I can pray more. I can and I must. You can too. This isn’t a guilt trip. It’s reality. People need Jesus. Lots of people need Jesus. The road is wide that leads to destruction (Jesus’ words, not mine). While we are doing more important things (that was sarcasm), people are dying without Him. There is nothing more important than people discovering Jesus. Nothing.

Past generations took evangelism seriously. We are not universalists (everyone makes it to heaven) but if our attitudes towards the lost and dying around us is an indicator we might as well be. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. You know the verses. They are still true. 

Who is to blame for the lack of evangelism? We are. We all are. Don’t complain about the denomination, the GSs, the DSs or pastors. Take a plate of cookies to a neighbor and begin the long hard work of earning the right to share the good news of Jesus Christ!  Don’t be hypocritical. Live out a real, authentic faith, then invite friends to dinner or coffee and eventually church.

It’s not the pastor’s job alone to be an evangelist. It’s all of our job. What are we doing about our friends, neighbors and family members who are walking on the wide road. Past generations worked hard to get those folks on a different path, the narrow road. 

What are we going to do about it?

A Life to Imitate: Mary Lane (my mother-in-law)

My mother-in-law, Mary, is like a cat. The “nine lives” part (not the eating Meow Mix or using kitty litter part). Unfortunately, she is nearing the end of life #9. She hasn’t eaten or drank anything since Sunday. This isn’t a new happening. Three weeks ago she went a month without speaking and full week with no food or water (I didn’t think that was possible, but she did it). On that occasion, three different hospice nurses told us she wouldn’t live more than a day or two, then after a week in that condition, like a nine-life cat, she snapped out of it. 

I walked into the room, not expecting any response, and said, “Hi Mary! How are you doing?” 

She replied, “Oh OK.”

Wait. What? 

The last week and a half she’s been eating and drinking. She still was not talking much but she’d acknowledge our presence. We took her for ice cream one day. But that all stopped on Sunday. We are back to where we were three weeks ago. No eating. No drinking. Mostly out of it. 

Karla has beautifully cared for her folks nearly the entire time we’ve been back in Michigan. Upon moving here in the fall of 2013, we realized that her parents shouldn’t be alone. They moved in with us in the spring of 2014 (Karla’s dad had Alzheimer’s and her mom has dementia). That CRAZY TIME (all caps intended) lasted about seven months. Then they lived in a few different assisted living facilities. Arling was “promoted to glory” in January of 2018. Unless, my cat-like mother-in-law exhibits another life, Mary’s will join him in short order.  

No one in Flint has ever seen the “real” Mary. Back at the Reading Church of the Nazarene, she was Sunday School Superintendent, played the piano, sang “specials” and served as the Church Board Secretary. She and Arling were the pillars of that little church. 

They were a pastor’s dream. It’s no wonder one of their daughters is a Nazarene pastor’s wife (the best one in my slightly biased opinion) and Karla’s sister, Marla, is a faithful follower too. (You read that correctly. It’s Marla Kay and Karla May. HEALTH ALERT: No comment on their rhyming names or I might be next when the roll is called up yonder). 

It’s hard to grieve too deeply over Mary’s impending passing. Mary is ready for heaven. She hasn’t been herself for years. Karla has been saying “good bye” to her mom bit by painful bit. That’s the bad news of dementia, the good news of the Gospel is that Mary’s faith will soon be sight. John the Revelator said “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). Imagine that! She will be so much better off in heaven.

There’s a part of me that is jealous. Eternal life with Jesus sounds so good! I understand what Paul meant when he said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Life here on earth is great and we have plenty of work to do, but heaven? Oh wow… even better. Mary is almost home. 

If Arling and Mary could talk they’d wouldn’t have many regrets and only praise for Jesus. No doubt their advice to the rest of us: Live lives in a manner to hear the Master’s words “Well done my good and faithful servant.” Arling and Mary lived such lives. Let’s do that too.

An Education (especially from a Nazarene college) is Not the Enemy of the Holy Spirit.

The Church of the Nazarene has always valued education. The three core values of the Church of the Nazarene are Christian, Holiness and Missional. According to the Nazarene website, “missional” is defined as: 

Our mission begins in worship, ministers to the world in evangelism and compassion, encourages believers toward Christian maturity through discipleship, and prepares women and men for Christian service through Christian higher education. (bold lettering mine).

All the founding groups of the Church of the Nazarene had institutions of higher learning. Today there are 50 Nazarene colleges, universities and seminaries in 120 world areas. 50,000 students annually attend a Nazarene college. The Nazarene institution with the largest enrollment* is Korean Nazarene University with an enrollment of 4,610 students; followed by Point Loma (4424); Trevecca (3801); Olivet (3608) and South Asia Bible college (3151). In 2023, Nazarenes gave $14,864,372 in support of its educational institutions. Higher education is part of the Nazarene DNA. 

The church where I am privileged to pastor has 26 students currently enrolled in Nazarene colleges (23 at Olivet or ONU+; and one each at Trevecca, Northwest, and Point Loma). We have many Nazarene college alums that attend. Olivet Nazarene University’s President, Dr. Gregg Chenoweth, grew up at Flint Central. The family center is named after his parents. Between apportionments and scholarships, Flint Central gave ONU $90,000+ and has over $400,000 in scholarship endowments for Olivet. Higher education is part of Flint Central’s DNA too. 

In full disclosure (if it’s not obvious): it’s part of my family’s DNA too. When I was deciding upon a college, my dad (who was not educated at a Nazarene institution) offered to pay for my education at any college as long as “Nazarene” was in the name of the school. All my siblings, spouses and I (except for my wife) attended a Nazarene college. All of my parents grandkids and most of their spouses did too. Moreover, some of the most godly people I have known have been taught or teach at a Nazarene institution. 

Why the educational lesson on Nazarene education?  There seems to be a growing distrust toward the educational institutions festering in some corners of the Nazarene universe. Not surprisingly, there is also an overall distrust of the educational system in the United States. A quick google search will reveal any number of articles addressing the declining trust in the educational system. The Gallop organization states that confidence in higher education is down 36%. You can read the article here.  It is not a giant leap to think the suspicions of Nazarene institutions are a reflection of the surrounding distrustful culture.

The suspicions of the Nazarene universities and scholars was evident in some discussions at last year’s General Assembly. Eastern Nazarene College recent closure had some constituents expressing a perception that the school had lost its commitment to traditional values. Various social media posts (even from notable corners) hint at the notion that an education (Nazarene or otherwise) fosters a coldness or less receptivity to the working of the Holy Spirit. Such posts are then followed by “likes” with various stories of educated acquaintances who walked away from faith, as if this never happens among those without an education.

Education at a Nazarene institution is not the enemy of the Holy Spirit. Clearly, not all the institutions are the same. Not all the college presidents, professors and programs are the same. While I haven’t met many of the aforementioned leaders and teachers at all 50 institutions, the leaders I know are outstanding, committed and godly. Nazarenes can have a sanctified confidence in the love these scholars have for Jesus Christ, the church and their students. Instead of frustration and suspicion, Nazarenes worldwide should have gratitude. Instead of listening to the talking points on a news channel or social media rumors, Nazarenes should be listening to the Lord in prayer. Instead of casting stones, Nazarene should be encouraging student enrollment and financially supporting Nazarene schools.

The mission of the Church of the Nazarene is enhanced by an educated laity and clergy. Education is not to be feared, but welcomed. Let’s not fall prey to rumors and innuendos of a supposed lack of spirituality in the educated. Instead, let’s educate ourselves in the working of God and determine to spread the Good News of Jesus in through our learning and service. 

*Enrollment figures are from 2021 and are the latest figures on the Nazarene website

BEE-ware of the Following

My house has a BEE problem. Not a BEE-smattering, a BEE-hemoth BEE problem. We noticed very active BEE-havior on the outside of our house.  Knowing the BEES don’t BEE-long there, we did what the commercials say to do. We yelled, “Raid!!”

It didn’t work. The BEE-hive continued to BEE-siege our abode.

An acquaintance had BEE-friended “a guy” who could help our BEE-maddening BEE-devilment which had BEE-fallen upon our house. Not to BEE-Labor or BEE-little the tiny bumblers’ existence, but I do want them BEE-scorched. The guy BEE-dabbled some mystery substance (I call it “Bye-Bye-BEE–BEE”) into our siding where the BEE activity was buzzing. It worked. Well sort of…

The BEE bustle outside our house ended. The BEE activity inside our house had just BEE-gun.

Our basement storage room has BEE-come the Arlington National Cemetery of the BEE world. We’ve had hundreds and hundreds of dead and dying BEES make a BEE-line into our house. Hundreds of them!  If you don’t BEE-lieve me, my wet-dry vac is full of BEE-leaguered BEES. Just when I think I have sucked up the last BEE-tattered BEE another BEE-thumped BEE-zer shows up. 

My guess is that the BEE doctors are BEE-wildered. The BEE pastors are BEE-ing overworked at the BEE-hest of the BEE-reaved offering to BEE-stow BEE-lessings for their BEE-loveds. The BEE legal BEE-gels are BEE-quething goods to the BEE-thorned. The BEES are probably making scary, BEE-rated movies about my house: The Silence of the BEES and BEEtleJuice 3 to name two.

Where the BEES are entering our BEE-utiful home is a BEE-witching mystery. Maybe it’s none of my BEE-swax. I’m getting a BEE-numbed BEE-cause of their BEE-dazzled BEE-havior.

BEE-ware, dear BEES I want to say. BEE Careful. BEE anywhere but here. Death BEE-sets all who enter. Sadly, my BEE lingo is limited to a few buzz words. 

If this report has BEE-gotten BEE-musement from you, here’s the stinger: my BEE-loved is not BEE-holden to this BEE-settling circumstance. She has BEE-lligerently threatened to pack her BEE-longings and move somewhere BEE-tween BEE-verton, Michigan and BEE-thesda, Maryland until this BEE-fuddlement has BEE-come no more. Obviously, I’m BEE-twixt and BEE-draggled by the BEE-swarming as I BEE-seech and BEE-hoove them to BEE gone.

Those BEES are baffling.  

These BEs are not: 

BE strong and Courageous (Joshua 1:9)
BE joyful in hope (Romans 12:12)
BE completely humble and gentle (Ephesians 4:2)
BE kind and compassionate (Ephesian 4:32)
BE generous and willing to share. (1 Timothy 6:18)
BE faithful (Revelation 2:10)
BE holy, because I am holy. (Leviticus 11:44)
BE patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. (James 5:8)
BE still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)

Be assured, no matter what trouble is buzzing around you these days, God is in control. He is on the throne. You are still the BEE’S knees to Him! 

Is USA/Canada Church of the Nazarene like the Rich in the Story of the Widow’s Mite?

“My Two Cents” is this blog’s title, and “two cents” is also the annual per capita giving for some Nazarene districts (not individual donors, mind you, per capita average for the entire district). Dominican Republic Oriental; Congo Virunga and Equatorial Guinea are three such examples. There are many districts in the world regions where per capita giving is one dollar or less. In comparison, the highest region’s per capita giving is USA/Canada ($1189.76). The Oregon Pacific District has the highest per capita giving of any district on the USA/Canada region at $1,847.17.

In no way, am I suggesting that “under-a-dollar districts” aren’t pulling their missional weight. In fact, it’s just the opposite. These districts may be a real time example of Jesus’ story of the widow’s mite in Mark 12. Mark writes: 

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”  Mark 12:41-44

If the “under-a-dollar” districts are examples of the widow’s mite, is the USA/Canada church like the rich people throwing in large amounts into the pot? Like in Mark 12, it could very well be there are districts in Africa (the African per capita giving is $13.35) which give a higher percentage of their income than church members in the United States. 

Jesus said in another place: When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required (Luke 12:48). In light of those words, the USA/Canada church should not be impressed in the massive disparity in per capita giving between regions or how the USA/Canada region pays the lions’ share of the World Evangelism Fund (94-95%). Instead, those in USA/Canada might want to address ways to be more generous than they currently are.

Here is one way for the USA/Canada church to do better: Monetary forecasters suggest that the greatest wealth transfer in history is taking place now; as the Silent Generation and aging baby boomers pass off their wealth to the next generation.  Members in those “under-a-dollar districts” have no transferable wealth and are relying on those in the west “to whom much has been given” to be generous even in their passings. If USA/Canada Nazarenes took such a faithful approach in their estate planning, imagine how much more good could be done in the name of Jesus in the coming years.  Tithing a portion of one’s will could be a game changer across at home and abroad.

Recently, the church where I pastor received word that a deceased parishioner has generously given more than a tithe of their estate to the church. The will stated the church will receive 15% of the estate. The deceased member would not be considered wealthy by many standards. Still, this faithful parishioner was generous even in his passing. A few years ago, another faithful member with no family (besides her church family) gave the church 40% of her estate. If all Nazarene’s followed these examples, the blessing could be felt around the world!

Again, it’s my two cents, but I contend that Nazarenes in USA/Canada can (and must) do better for the global proclamation of the Gospel as their coins are tossed into the World Evangelism Pot . To whom much is given, much will be required.