Rob Prince's Blog, page 64

Come Lord Jesus — when the time is right

There are times when I can relate to John the Revelator. ��Oh, I can���t relate to being��an eyewitness to Jesus feeding��5,000��hungry men��with a boy���s lunch or seeing��Jesus��on the cross. ��Neither can I put myself in his shoes when all his fellow disciples had been martyred and he was exiled to Patmos��(my Kansas friends think being in Flint is like being ���exiled��� to Patmos, but they are wrong. ��I like it here). And I surely have never seen the visions of heaven and glory that he describes in the Revelation. ��So how��are John and I alike?

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Well, we both have a brother��(like John and James my brother and I would��fight a little when we��were younger). ��I can��appreciate��John���s��convenient placement in God���s Holy Word how he outran��Peter to the��empty��tomb (see John 21:4). ��I���ve been known to trash talk on occasion��too. ��But I can really��relate to��John���s��heart���s longing and cry��in the next to last verse��in��the Bible when��he��simply writes, ���Come, Lord Jesus.��� ��There are times this week when I have said that too.

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As you know I deal with some��chronic��pain issues (Shameless plug alert: ��If you haven���t read my book,��Chronic Pain, or given it��to��someone who��also battles��chronic��pain��type of��junk, what are you waiting for?��But I digress���). ��Lately,��I���ve been a little more headachy than normal��and a little more aware of my frailties. ��I don���t know why. ��I think our lovely Michigan weather has something to do with it. ��Adding to my prayer list as you know��there��have been a��boatload��of��troubles��(more like a ���fleet of cargo ships load of troubles���)��in the news this week:��riots in Baltimore;��the��Supreme Court���s hearing arguments in the same sex marriage debate;��Iranian aggression in the Strait of Hormuz; ISIS murderous assault on Christians��and others;��and an earthquake in Nepal.��Like you,��I have friends��who��are facing surgeries and doctors��have used��the word ���cancer��� to describe��some��of��their��ailments. Others have troubles in their homes. ��Sin has��wreaked��havoc in the lives of so many people.������All of these things have left��me saying��like John the Revelator, ���Come Lord Jesus!�������In fact, the sooner the better, please come.

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I���m so ready for��Jesus��to make all things new. ��With John I look forward to the vision that he saw and described in Revelation 21:��

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I saw the Holy City, the��new��Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.����And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ���Look! God���s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.�������He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death��� or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.��� ��(Revelation 21:2-4)

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Doesn���t that sound good? ��Please, please come! ��Even as��I write these words there is a big part of me that is glad that Jesus hasn���t answered John���s��or my prayer to come��just yet.��While I long to be in the place with no ���mourning, crying or pain,�����I have loved ones that don���t know Jesus. ��I have friends that if Jesus were to come right now��would��not��be��ready for��His return. ��So I���m torn,��but not so��torn. ��I want Him to return for my sake. ��I want��Him to delay for their sake.����So if it means that��our��loved ones��will find Jesus��as he delays His return, then my prayer is ���take your time Lord Jesus, take your time.���

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It seems that Jesus takes serious what He inspired Peter to write:�����not wanting anyone to��perish, but everyone to come to repentance�����(2 Peter 3:9). ��So I should take it serious too. As we wait His return,��I have determined to do everything��I can to see ���everyone come to repentance.��� ��As long as I have breath��in spite of headaches and riots and earthquakes and living in a post-Christian America,��I want to work,��pray,��invite��and share a cool cup of water with all who are thirsty. ��I want to make a difference for Jesus until He comes! ��So like John I say, ���Come Lord Jesus whenever the time is right.��� ��

My Not-so-proud Baptism Moments

This Sunday is another baptism Sunday at Central Church! Hooray! I love baptisms; although, I must confess to a few less-than-stellar baptism moments in my ministerial career.

In one church, we didn’t have a baptistery, so we borrowed a nearby church for an afternoon baptism service. The baptistery-blessed congregation graciously allowed the use of their facility and didn’t charge us a penny. I only wish the fine folks had informed us that their baptistery heater didn’t work. What’s the old saying about getting what you pay for? I discovered that day that it is very difficult to say: “I baptize thee” when your teeth won’t stop chattering.

In my last church, before I arrived they had the opposite happen. The heater for the baptistery also broke, but it went into overdrive. The water was so hot they almost had preacher soup (also known as “David Busic Bisque”)!

As you know, I am not the brawniest pastor in the ecclesiastical world. That fact, coupled with a slippery fiberglass baptismal tank bottom, resulted in both the baptizee (a rather large man) and the baptizer (me) go underwater. Moreover, during our attempt to stand up, we both nearly went down for a “second blessing.” There is no truth to the rumor that the organist started a heavenly rendition of “Splish Splash I was taking a bath” as we exited the baptistery.

On another occasion, I was baptizing a rather tall gentleman and did not correctly calculate the distance between the tall man’s head and the back of the baptismal tank. Geometry was not my specialty. As you might have guessed, when baptizing the lengthy fellow, I clunked his head on the tank. After the service, when I embarrassingly told his girlfriend about the mishap, she replied: “Good! I hope he has amnesia. I’ll tell him we’re engaged!” Memory loss had nothing to do with the fact that they are now happily married. At least, I don’t think it did. Hmm?!

Once immediately before dunking a lady, she turned to me with terror in her eyes and whispered that she was deathly afraid of water and that “she just couldn’t do it.” (This was years before the near drowning and “head thumping” episodes, so tales of my baptizing skills did not factor into her apprehension). At that moment, I was glad our church doesn’t measure the amount of water needed to qualify for a baptism (We’ll dunk, pour water, or toss a few sprinkles in the general direction of the baptized). I poured a handful of water over her head, and everybody was happy and blessed.

Remembering these stories brought a smile to my face. Remembering my baptism brought a deep sense of joy. Baptism is something in which all believers should participate. Baptism is a really big deal in the life of the Christian. It is making a huge statement: I am a believer! It symbolizes our new life in Christ and declares that our sins have been washed away! Of course the most compelling argument to be baptized is that Jesus commanded us to do it. Which pretty much settles the question of whether a believer should be baptized or not.

So believer, be baptized. And one other bit of advice: If you have yet to “climb into the water,” before you do inquire if the pastor has correctly calculated the distance between your head and the back of the baptismal tank. You can thank me later.

The Parable of the Farmer and his Barn

Once upon a time there was a farmer who had a huge field. In the spring as farmers normally do, he planted the field with many seeds. He anticipated a mighty harvest. While the farmer waited for his crops to grow, he decided that instead of twiddling his thumbs and counting days on the calendar until harvest time, he would use his time wisely and renovate his barn to store his soon coming crops.

Meanwhile the crops grew.

The farmer hired an architectural firm whose building plans were magnificent and he quickly took out a massive loan and hired a builder to complete the project for what he believed would be one of the finest barns in the land.

Meanwhile, the crops continued to grow and grow.

When the barn was completed, it was all the farmer dreamed it would be. The barn had enough storage facilities to hold the produce from his field and even the crops from his neighbor���s field should their barns not be adequate. On top of that, the barn was equipped with flat screen TVs running announcements for future events in the barn; and there were plenty of restroom facilities for anyone who might visit the barn; there were signs everywhere so no one would get lost while in the barn. It was a very impressive barn.

Meanwhile, the crops were ready for harvest.

The farmer was so impressed with his newly refurbished barn that he began to give tours. Some other farmers noticed his beautiful barn and they were a bit jealous. But the farmer told them, it is not good to be jealous���just be thankful for your own barn. ���Not everyone can have a big and beautiful barn like my barn,��� he smugly told them.

Meanwhile, no one was harvesting the crops.

A few people from the city inquired on whether he would rent out his barn for receptions, weddings and special occasions. ���Of course,��� the farmer said with pride. All the necessary contracts were signed so that the barn could be used for receptions and parties and all sorts of things. He started giving hayrides to families and youth groups and inviting children in for afterschool enrichment program on the importance of the harvest. The former farmer, now tour guide and wedding coordinator, was quite busy��� in fact nearly every weekend there was some function going on at the magnificent barn.

Meanwhile, the crops rotted on the vine.

The barn was busy, it just wasn���t doing what it was designed to do and the harvest was never brought in.

The Point: Having a nice barn is great, but it is not the goal. Keeping the barn full of activities is ok, but it is not the goal. The goal is all about the harvest. Let���s be concerned with the harvest.

He who has an ear let him hear.

Ten Lessons from a cold and snowy day

1) Snowmen make lousy friends. While snowmen rarely talk about themselves and appear to be good listeners, they simply aren’t paying attention. Snowmen frequently give the “cold shoulder” and at the first sign of trouble, when things “get a little hot,” they disappear. (I am not even going to discuss what poor role models snowmen are with the whole “corn cob pipe” thing).

2) Managing slippery roads without snow tires and marriage counseling sessions are similar. I feel the frequent need in both cases to shout from the top of my lungs: ���Get a grip!���

3) Shoveling snow from one’s driveway and preaching sermons are similar. Both require a lot of work and will be mostly forgotten in a few months (Months? Who am I kidding? I���ve preached a few stinkers I���ve wanted to forget before I got to the church foyer).

4) Salt melts snow but it doesn���t melt cauliflower. As a child I secretly hoped that sprinkling salt on my veggies would magically make them disappear and melt away. It never happened. Neither does salt melt away bad memories, hurtful words, or a guilty past. For those things, allow the Holy Spirit to work deep within your heart. In case you are wondering, as an adult I���ve discovered to eliminate cauliflower it takes three words: working garbage disposal.

5) You can’t control how cold it is outside. But you can control the warmth of your heart. Don’t get distracted by the things you can’t control. Focus on what you can. Keep your heart warm and close to the flame of God���s love.

6) Nothing stops our Senior Adult���s game day. Our policy is when Carmen-Ainsworth schools are closed we have no activities at the church. That rule does not apply to our Senior Adults��� Game Day. Telling an 85 year old she can���t play Skip-bo, takes a battalion of marines and full body armor for protection. I have neither. Play on, grandma, play on!

7) Snowball fights are a lot like church fights. A lot of stuff goes flying through the air, and usually someone goes home crying. Let’s avoid anything that ends in the word “fight.”

8) To get a city snowplow to come down your street follow these four easy steps:

1. Clear all snow from your driveway (either by shovel or snow blower),

2. Return to your warm house

3. Remove all of your winter outerwear

4. Sit down in front of a fire with a cup of warm cocoa and a good book.

Within minutes the plow will roar down your street pushing snow back onto your driveway, filling your entrance with now harden chunks of snow and ice.

9) A cold church with a working furnace is a very bad thing. I want to be a part of a church that is on fire for the Lord. A church that warms ice-cold souls and turns lukewarm disciples into white-hot sparks of God���s transformative love!

10) Snowflakes are individual and small but when they stick together they can make a really big difference. That���s a lot like the church too. On our own we can accomplish a little for Christ, but together we can accomplish so much! Let���s keep sticking together!

Super Bowl Thoughts

Maybe you���ve heard that this Sunday a football game is going to be played. The Super Bowl was so named by the late owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, Lamar Hunt, after his daughter���s toy ���super ball.��� I guess the world can be thankful she liked hard, rubber bouncy balls instead of some other toy or the big game might have been called the ���Easy Bake Oven��� Bowl. That title does not have the same pizzazz as the ���Super Bowl.���

I like the name ���Super Bowl��� and I like the roman numerals that are used to describe them. This year���s game is XLIX. I say let���s use roman numerals more often. I was born in MCMLXIII, which makes me LI years old. I have II children and Karla and I have been married for XXVI years. In case you were wondering, last Sunday���s worship attendance at Central church was MDV. Using roman numerals is a little confusing but we���d get used to it.

IX years ago, Super Bowl XL was played in that extra large winter destination wonderland known as Detroit, this year���s game is being played in Glendale, Arizona. Apparently fans would rather attend the Super Bowl in a warm city like Glendale where the average temperature is LXXII as opposed to Detroit where the average February temperature is XXXV? Weird.

This year most of us will not be sitting in warm and cozy University of Phoenix Stadium (By the way, did anyone notice that the University of Phoenix doesn���t have a football team, but does have a football stadium? No jokes about the similarities between the University of Phoenix and recent history of the University of Michigan, please). Most of us will be watching from the warm and cozy comforts of our home. Sadly this reminds me of an old joke. Question: What do you call 47 millionaires watching the Super Bowl? Answer: The Detroit Lions. My response every year of my life to that joke: Maybe next year!

Not everyone will be turning in for the football game on Sunday. Some folks will watch the Pre-game festivities. Others will view the game for the commercials. (30 seconds of airtime during the game is 4 million bucks. In case you are not doing the math at home, if my sermons generated the same revenue this Sunday���s message would be worth 240 million dollars. Even my mama wouldn���t think my sermons are worth that much). Still others will tune into the big half-time show. A few years back the artist formerly known as ���The artist formerly known as Prince��� was singing at half time. Let the record show that while we share a name (quite honestly I���m not sure if ���Prince��� is his first, last or middle name), we are not related. Truth be told, unlike Prince I have never partied like its 1999. My boys tell me that most of my partying is more like its 1937. In any event, neither Prince will be singing at this year���s game.

All this to say, ready or not our yearly cultural phenomenon is about to happen.

Long before a properly inflated football is teed up this Sunday something far more important will happen: We will gather for worship. More than praising big, burley football players, we will be praising the Lord. More than sharing chips, dips and party favorites, we will be sharing in the Lord���s Supper. More than a simple gathering of friends, we will be meeting with the Holy One. And if someone who doesn���t know Christ decides to follow Jesus this Sunday (in church or somewhere else), that decision will be the greatest moment of the day. The Bible doesn���t mention anyone in heaven cheering when a touchdown is scored, but does say ���there will be more rejoicing in heaven when one sinner repents��� (Luke 15:7). I���m praying that that this Sunday there will be raucous applauds in heaven long before Tom Brady and Russell Wilson take the field.

Ready to Welcome 2015!

(Here is “The 2014 Prince Christmas letter” that we are sending across the country to our “snail mail” friends. I thought you might enjoy it too!)

We did a lot of Welcoming in 2014 (some events we welcomed with open arms and some… not so much). Our Welcome list included the following:

Welcome back. We survived the worst winter in Michigan history. Our arrival to “the Mitten” and “worst winter ever” is merely coincidental… we hope.

Welcome home. Rob’s mom went to be with Jesus in February. We miss her!

Welcome to the real world. Alex graduated from MidAmerica Nazarene University with a degree in business. Well done, Alex!

Welcome to the Family. Blaire and Alex were married in May in Leavenworth, Kansas. We couldn’t have picked a better daughter-in-law even if we tried!

Welcome to the Good Life. Ben’s year included Olivet Nazarene University’s ultimate Frisbee team, a summer barista job at Starbucks while also working at a golf course. For Ben, free coffee and free golf equals “the perfect summer.”

Welcome Mat Ready. We moved into our new home in Grand Blanc in March. There are spare rooms waiting for occupants! Come and visit!

Welcome Doctor. Three strokes and a fall down a staircase for Karla’s mom and a few brief hospital stays for Karla’s dad whose Alzheimer’s is progressing has made us very much aware of the Flint medical community.

Welcome to the Pines of Burton. In November, Karla’s parents, after living with us for six months, moved into this memory care facility nearby.

Welcome Buyers. The selling of Karla’s folk’s rental homes, farm and most of their stuff has made Karla an expert of the roads between Flint and Hillsdale and an advocate of not getting old. It’s a lot of work!

Welcome to the Publishing World. Rob’s book, Chronic Pain: Finding Hope in the Midst of Suffering, was released in April. His publisher announced a financial crisis in the fall. Hopefully these two facts were a fluky and wild happenstance.

Welcome to Central Church! New vision, mission and staff at Flint Central have made for a full and crazy church year! Our prayer: “In Flint as it is in heaven!”

We will be excited to welcome in a new year in 2015!

We trust that you and your family are doing great and

we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

You’re Welcome!

Rob and Karla Prince

Grand Blanc, Michigan

My Twitter-worthy but Not-so-Deep Theological Ponderings of the Christmas Season (complete with hashtags)

1. Do Pentecostal snowmen ever pray for a fiery revival? #ifyoucantstandtheheatgetoutofthesanctuary

2. Would Buddy the Elf have told King Herod “you sit on a throne of lies”? #fakesanta #cottonheadedninnymoggins #crazyking

3. If a careless worshipper spills candle wax on a pew cushion during the Christmas Eve Service will the perpetrator be placed on Santa’s “Naughty List”? #janitorsarenthappyeither

4. Couldn’t a contestant on the Wheel of Fortune buy a vowel for Myrrh? #PatIdliketobuyavowel

5. If one has nine Christmas trees in their house (and I do), can that house be declared a National Forest by the Department of Natural Resources? #toomanytrees

6. Would “wee little man” Zaccheaus have been upset if someone mistook him for an elf? #notfromthenorthpole

7. Would a perfect Christmas gift for Moses have been an iPad since he broke his tablets? #Mosesbutterfingers

8. Can a five point Calvinist “re-gift” unwanted Christmas presents or do they live by the motto: “Once your gift… always your gift”? #oncesavedalwayssaved

9. Isn’t a “Hanging of the Greens” service a little too violent? I don’t think the Halls like the idea of getting decked, either. #noexecutions #nofighting

10. Would P.F. Bresee (founder of the CoTN) have allowed Dancer and Prancer to become members of the Church of the Nazarene? #nodancing

On a much more serious note, in your theological musing this Christmas season I hope you reflect on the glorious words of John 1, when the apostle wrote:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) #bestnewsever #nojoke

Opening Day of Deer Season, Orange Hats and Doing God’s Will

November 15th is Saturday. A Michigan holiday known as “the opening of firearm deer season,” and all the hunters in the crowd said, “Kaboom!” The roads heading north (where there are more deer than people) will soon be filled with men and women ready to locate a majestic, beautiful trophy buck and shoot it dead.

I have gone hunting a few times. Never shot a deer. My participation in the November 15th deer experience (Can I really call it “hunting” if I never planned on killing anything more than time?) was more about hanging out with my fellow hunters. I went more for the coffee before the “hunt” and the stories of “the one that got away” after the “hunt.” (Please note: My non-lethal deer “hunting” is not because I am a card caring member of PETA and think there are some moral issues with shooting a deer. Some of my best friends love hunting. Love eating venison. Love the thrill of being in the woods on the hunt. Love the camaraderie of deer camp. I have no problem with any of that—I’m just not a hunter and venison makes me puke.)

Usually a friend would loan me the necessary hunting items: a gun; a bullet to keep in my pocket like Barney Fife; and an orange hat. When I protested that orange is not my color, I was informed that state law required every human in the woods to wear orange. The thinking is that a deer would not be caught dead wearing orange; hence if a trigger-happy hunter saw something moving and it wasn’t wearing orange, it must be a deer or a fashion conscious raccoon.

There was one occasion when out in the woods, wearing my stylish orange stocking cap and singing a happy little tune in between bites of a snicker’s bar (I can only I assume), a deaf and blind deer walked within a few feet of me. I could hear her coming through the woods, so I sang a little louder (My singing has been known to send humans running for cover.), undeterred she kept rambling in my direction. With my heart beating as if I had just completed a marathon, I had a decision: Would I live and let live? Or would I do my best Uncle Si of Duck Dynasty impersonation and “Hey! Boom! Done! Over! Know what I mean, Jack?”

I put down my chocolate bar and Bible, located my gun (it was on the ground covered with candy wrappers), loaded my bullet, wrapped by finger around the trigger and…

I couldn’t do it.

Even though the whole purpose for me sitting in the woods while wearing a dopey orange hat was to shoot such animals, when the time came, I just couldn’t do it. Remember: venison makes me sick and I think it would have ruined the deer’s day to join me for dinner too. I just couldn’t do it. I took my finger off the trigger and let her continue on her oblivious stroll through the woods.

I think there are plenty of times we have the goal within our sight, our finger is on the trigger, but for whatever reason we can’t pull it. Unfortunately, this happens in things that matter a whole lot more than a freezer full of venison.

We know we need to start exercising or start attending church or start tithing or start eating better or start consistently reading the Bible or improve our marriage or ask forgiveness from a friend or offer encouragement to a lonely person, but we just can’t seem to “pull the trigger.”

In most cases, this is not a decision that we even have to pray: “Is this God’s will?”

Of course, it’s God’s will to live healthier;

Of course it’s God’s will to reconcile relationships;

Of course it’s God’s will to make improvements in our Christian disciplines.

The question isn’t “does God want me to do it?” but rather “am I willing to do it?”

Am I willing to step out and do what I know God wants me to do?

Am I willing to see the goal and move forward in faith?

Am I willing to “pull the trigger” and start doing what God wants me to do?

The Bible says: I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. (Philippians 3:14-16. The Message). Like Paul let’s determine to stay focused on the goal and when opportunities to move forward and improve our walk with God arise, pray that we will “pull the trigger” and do what we know is God’s best!

More Good News: Doing God’s best choice does not require the wearing of an orange hat! Kaboom!

The Church of the Nazarene (USA/Canada): A Big Tent or Little Camps

I’ve heard it (even taught it) that the Church of the Nazarene is a Big Tent. Historically I think the idea that the Church of the Nazarene is a Big Tent came from our earliest days when in a big tent at Pilot Point, Texas three groups laid aside some minor differences they may have had and joined together so that the message of holiness might be proclaimed throughout the U.S.A. and world. The Big Tent mentality was illustrated in a quote of P.F. Bresee (but St. Augustine said it first): “In essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; and in all things charity.” So differences over the second coming of Jesus and the minutia of holiness were laid aside for the greater good of reaching our world and making Christ-like disciples.

Fast forward 106 years and the question is: Is the Church of the Nazarene still a Big Tent or have we become little campsites on the same campground (some might say, “Forget being on the same campground are we even in the same universe)?

It appears that it’s the ladder. We have gone to our own camps. We still want to talk about “holiness” (we are still on the same campgrounds– although what exactly “holiness” is and how ”holiness” is expressed is vastly different among our people). Our differences over essentials and non-essentials have seemly caused the Nazarenes to circle around their particular issues in their own little camps. It would seem that Augustine’s (sorry Dr. Bresee) quote to be accurate for today’s Nazarenes should be modified as: In essentials unity; in non-essentials—there are no non-essentials; and in all things (if you agree with me about the essentials and non-existent non-essentials) charity. The quote doesn’t have the same beautiful simplicity; nor does have the heart of holiness, but that’s where the Church of the Nazarene finds herself.

There are several reasons for the disintegration into our differing camps. American politics, the ease of disseminating differing viewpoints via the Internet, the angst in the American culture, the lack of Nazarene based (or even Wesleyan based) education in the majority of Nazarene clergy, an influx of fundamentalism, an ecclesiastical identity crisis over several theological and social issues, and the recent Nazarene Publishing House debacle are only some of the factors. These and other influences have sent Nazarenes to their own little camps, circling the wagons around their ideas and notions and looking with a suspicious eye at anyone who disagrees with them. The Big Tent has been un-pitched.

Here’s the problem: When we had laid aside our differences; when we were concerned about proclaiming holiness; when our focus was on reaching the world and making Christ-like disciples; when we were a Big Tent (in other words) the Church of the Nazarene was growing. People were finding Jesus and holiness was being proclaimed. It doesn’t take a statistical genius to look at the flattened and now declining membership numbers in USA/Canada to conclude that when we started heading to our own little camps and casting stones at those in other camps that’s when our decline began. We may have a mission statement that reads: “To make Christ-like Disciples in the nations” but in the USA/Canada it seems our mission statement has become: “To make the rest of the church think like we think and if they don’t think like we think to make them out to be friends with the devil.” Again, its not a catchy slogan but that seems to be where we are and why we have lost our way.

So what is the solution? We’ve got to leave our individual camps and join the Big Tent again. Let’s get back to Augustine (and Bresee). Refocus on the essentials; quit making non-essentials essential; and remember charity. Holiness is all about love. Love presumably includes loving individuals and leaders with whom you may have a disagreement. Love includes loving those in society who disagree and loving those in the church with whom we disagree. Love is the door to the Big Tent.

Big Tent people love one another.

Big Tent people don’t get caught up in the minutia.

Big Tent people recognize that if we aren’t together we will never win the world for Christ.

Big Tent people understand that the message of holiness in this unholy culture is vital.

Big Tent people are holiness people.

Let’s get back in the Big Tent.

Five Words on the Death of the Nazarene Publishing House

1) Sadness

I am saddened for the hard working people who work at the publishing house. It was 29 years ago (the same year the Royals won the World Series) that I started working as a “Cleanliness-is-next-to-Godliness Enforcement Engineer” (janitor) at NPH. During my first two years of seminary I scrubbed floors, toilets and any other grime that stood in the way of the scriptural holiness being placed on a printed page. Even as a janitor I thought that I was playing a role in the mission of the church. I have no doubt that those employees who will no longer be working at 2923 Troost (whether they are an editor, phone operator or warehouse employee) feel the same. Working at NPH for me was more than a job; it was part of the mission of the church. I am sad that the dedicated employees of NPH are no longer able to serve in this capacity.

2) Reality

The reality is that it is tough to be in the publishing business these days. Newspapers are closing left and right. Publishing companies (some much larger than the Nazarene Publishing House) have merged with other companies or closed their doors. The General Superintendents’ pastoral letter on the NPH crisis correctly assessed the situation when it stated, “Recent years have been more financially difficult. Due to shifting cultural circumstances including changes in the church, NPH has found itself having to adapt to new paradigms in order to maintain financial stability and sustainability.” Everyone I know involved in the NPH demise freely admits that it was going to take a not quite “turning–the-water-into-wine” type of miracle but something close to save NPH. Jesus did not turn the debits into credits. The reality is—the publishing business is a tough gig.

3) Understanding

Leaders make decisions and sometimes those decisions are wrong. The General Superintendents stated in their letter:

In 2012, with the election of a new leader for NPH by the General Board, plans were laid for yet another change in paradigm for NPH, including the acquisition of a new business unit for NPH. This was done with the sincere hope that NPH would be set on new trajectory and ultimately be stronger. Simply put: it did not work. It was a miscalculation on many levels. While it was obvious that the business model for NPH needed to change, we now know that these decisions likely hastened the crisis.



I’ve made bad decisions, dumb decisions, and “not-thought-through-all-the-implications” decisions too. I don’t believe any of the decisions were made with malice or done to purposefully harm the church or NPH. I am no conspiracy theorist (I think Lee Harvey Oswald shot President Kennedy too). In other words, I believe the General Superintendents when they write: “we do not believe anyone has made intentional decisions to hurt the church.”

I just think that our leaders saw that the NPH ship was sinking; tried to save it; and what they tried didn’t work. I refuse to be a Monday Morning Quarterback with less than all of the facts and make judgments on people that I have respected for many years. Instead I wish to offer them grace and understanding.

4) Change

Obviously, our methods of communication, evangelism and making Christ-like disciples must change. While at the same time, our message is more important than ever! Our impure world needs the message of heart purity. Our increasingly unholy culture desperately needs a people proclaiming the message of Heart Holiness.

Just a quick survey of the largest churches in the USA indicates that in the past year the overwhelmingly majority had their attendance decline or at best remain virtually unchanged (sadly, the church I pastor included). With the demise of our publishing arm and with our “strongest” churches in decline, the time is now (actually the time was ten years ago) to recognize that what we’ve been doing isn’t working. We need to prayerfully, creatively, courageously, diligently test new methods and new strategies to reach our world. We must come up with new ways to educate, disciple and provide new voices for the holiness message.

The methods of former NPH leaders like M.A. Lunn, Bud Lunn, Bob Foster and even Hardy Weathers might not work today—but that does not mean that the message must also go away. Our world needs holiness more than ever! Purity in heart and life is vitally relevant in our increasingly impure world. We must change so the world will know that God calls us to be holy!

5) Hope

I still have hope! I believe God can do a new thing. In fact, if it is not us, then I believe God will raise up someone else to call people to live holy lives. I just want it to be us. And I am hopeful that it will be! We still have thousands of committed people that desperately want to see God spark a new wave of revival fires. I know many young people who are willing to give themselves to a genuine movement of God. I believe that God is up to something and is ready and able to answer the prayer that he taught us to pray: “on earth as it is in heaven.”

We are called to make Christ-like disciples in the nations—let’s creatively and courageously move forward to fulfill God’s purpose for the Church of the Nazarene!