Forward to the Dawn

I ran across this in today's sermon preparation:

Luke 9:61-62
Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."

Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Here are William Barclay's thoughts on this passage...

[Jesus'] words to the third man state a truth which no one can deny. No ploughman ever ploughed a straight furrow looking back over his shoulder. There are some whose hearts are in the past. They walk forever looking backwards and thinking wistfully of the good old days.

Watkinson, the great preacher, tells how once at the seaside, when he was with his little grandson, he met an old minister. The old man was very disgruntled and, to add to all his troubles, he had a slight touch of sunstroke. The little boy had been listening but had not picked it up quite correctly; and when they left the grumbling complaints of the old man, he turned to Watkinson and said, “Granddad, I hope you never suffer from a sunset!”

The Christian marches on, not to the sunset, but to the dawn. The watchword of the kingdom is not, “Backwards!” but “Forwards!” To this man Jesus did not say either, “Follow!” or “Return!” he said, “I accept no lukewarm service,” and left the man to make his own decision.

Need I say more?

By the way, you can listen to my weekly sermons and find out where I'm preaching by clicking on the following links:

Weekly Sermons
Preaching Schedule

Forward to the dawn!
Lon Alderman
www.AcornMinistries.com

Plow Now, by Lon Alderman

Today's Build UP is inspired by my friend Mark Sturgell. His blog post today really hit me between the eyes. You can check out his post through this link:

The Intersection of Purpose and Now

Mark teaches...

Time is linear. We have no control over time. Each of us has 24 hours in each day. That will not change. There is no such thing as time management. We have the moment – this moment - to work with. We have Now. That’s all we own, all we are given true stewardship over. We cannot travel into the past or the future, even for a moment. This one is all we have.

My purpose is to build up the body of Christ, the Church. I do this by encouraging and equipping church leaders. Today, after reading Mark's blog, I realized that the most purposeful use of my "now" was to construct a Build UP. So...

I opened up my blog page and started keyboarding. The next thing I knew the blog was written! My hope is that you will be encouraged by this post. If you are, then my purpose is achieved!

Proverbs 20:4
A sluggard does not plow in season;
so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.

Plow now!
Lon
www.AcornMinistries.com

Adventure III, by Lon Alderman

Every real adventure I've experienced contains a portion that is very difficult. Whether it's a tough hill to climb, running out of water in the desert, capsizing the canoe, or an injury, every adventure carries with it a significant challenge. Frankly, that's why we go! There's something awesome about surviving one of these challenges! And, they make the best stories!

Paul writes of the persecutions and challenges he and other disciples have endured (see 2Corinthians 4:8-9). He goes on to explain that there is a purpose being served in this suffering.

2Corinthians 4:10b
...so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Every real faith walk contains portions that are very difficult. Whether it's enduring a tough church meeting, a search process for a key church leader, personal or family illness, the loss of a job, or the death of a friend, every faith walk carries with it significant challenges.

When we face these challenges leaning on God, it is God that gets us through them. It is, therefore, appropriate that God gets the credit for our "survival". And, these adventures make the best stories!

As you face today's adventure, lean fully upon God. He will get you through and in the process Jesus will be revealed!

Have a great adventure!
Lon

Adventure II, by Lon Alderman

Most churches have lost their sense of adventure! Instead of striding forward into the fray, our primary effort has become more defensive, leaning more toward fortification.

Should we really stay in the temporary safety of the "fort"?

Or, should we boldly risk a "charge"?

Luke 14:25-27 (The Message)
One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, "Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one's own self!—can't be my disciple. Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple.

Oswald Chambers
This verse teaches us that the only men and women our Lord will use in His building enterprises are those who love Him personally, passionately, and with great devotion— those who have a love for Him that goes far beyond any of the closest relationships on earth. The conditions are strict, but they are glorious.

That's an incredibly poignant statement for the Church, particularly since "letting go" is not very culturally acceptable these days. Rather, we hear the church responding to the challenges in the world with statements like: "save for a rainy day" and "batten down the hatches"! Many churches are taking up defensive positions, and hoping to out last the the tough times, just when action is needed most!

The New Oxford American Dictionary on "adventure":
Ad - denoting motion or direction
Venture - dare to do something or go somewhere that may be dangerous or unpleasant

In order to be disciples of Jesus we must move! In order to be disciples of Jesus we must "dare to do something or go somewhere that may be dangerous or unpleasant"! Jesus demands that we let it all go and follow Him!

Discipleship is an adventure!
Lon

Adventure Lost, by Lon Alderman

I read this prayer on my friend Bill Dahlberg's facebook page:

"O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

This prayer smacks of adventure to me. Going where we haven't gone before and not knowing what will happen is a formula for adventure. It is also the stuff that makes many people nervous these days!

This country was "settled" by people heading (west) where few (like them) had gone before. For the most part, however, we have grown uncomfortable with the unknown since those adventurous days.

Today, we excel at subduing our world into tidy little boxes. We move away from the unknown preferring the predictable. We settle for private rather than run the risk of public. We schedule and organize. We develop habits and rituals. And we slowly develop safe, unchanging, comfortable cocoons around ourselves.

Then someone suggests a change and people come unglued!

It would be good to remember Who it is that calls us and the adventure that commonly accompanies His call.

Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Luke 14:33
...any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Lifter or Leaner

Are you a lifter or a leaner?
Submitted by Pastor Jason Woolever
[originally posted on July 10, 2007]

1Thessalonians 5:11
"...encourage one another and build each other up..."

Check out this old poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox:

There are two kinds of people on earth today,
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.
Not the good and the bad, for 'tis well understood
That the good are half-bad and the bad are half-good.
No! The two kinds of people on earth I mean
Are the people who lift and the people who lean.

Are you a person who lifts the loads of others with your attitude, words, and actions? Or are you the type who makes people's loads feel heavier than they were before you entered the room? What would your family/co-workers say?


To read more from Pastor Jason, check out his blog at:
http://post-methodist.blogspot.com

"Fruit", by Lon Alderman

John 15:5
[Jesus said] "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

I've always struggled with this passage, because I know a lot of good fruitful people that are "apart" from Jesus. The world is full of generous, kind, hospitable, and gracious people that don't have any kind of a relationship with Jesus. How can they bear fruit apart from Jesus?

What is "fruit"?

John 15:8
This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

William Barclay wrote:
God is glorified, when we bear much fruit and show ourselves to be disciples of Jesus. The greatest glory of the Christian life is that by our life and conduct we can bring glory to God.

According to Barclay, when we bear "much fruit" we demonstrate to the world that we are Jesus' disciples. Showing ourselves to be Christ's disciples brings glory to God. What we do, our fruit, can be tested by whether it shows us to be disciples of Jesus.

It's not enough to just do good things. Fruit is behaving in a way that shows that we are disciples of Jesus Christ. Fruit is a life that brings glory to God.

Bear much fruit!
Lon
www.AcornMinistries.com

Benefit Concert - Acorn Ministries

I'd love to have you join us for our Fourth Annual Benefit Concert! The concert will be held on April 4th at 7:00pm in the First United Methodist Church in Pontiac (IL)!

The funds that are raised are used to support me in my Acorn Ministries work! This is my only fund raising event of the year!

Here are some helpful links:

To order a CD of the concert: ORDER A CD

To learn more about the concert: CONCERT INFORMATION

To make a tax-deductible donation: MAKE A DONATION

Thank you!
Lon

LIfting Exercises, by Lon Alderman

1Thessalonians 5:12-13 (The Message)
And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

------------

If you hadn't heard, church leadership is challenging! The demands and expectations of the job are off the charts! Once upon a time being a church leader was a high status and low stress occupation. Not anymore! I think it is pretty safe to say that the opposite is true today!

One of the cool things on our church calendars is the "Pastor Appreciation" month! I've actually communicated with the guy that started this movement! (BTW, please pray for Jerry!) What I'd love to see is for this cool month of celebrating our church leaders to spill out into the rest of the calendar. Toward that end, I've started compiling a resource of different ways to encourage church leaders. Here's the link: Lifting Exercises

Please consider telling me about the ways you lift your leaders and I'll share them with our fellow "Lifters"!

Happy lifting!
Lon

Which half?, by Lon Alderman

Matthew 14:28-30
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

-------

Peter was doing it! He was walking on water! However, in the midst of this miracle, Peter gets distracted. His focus on Jesus is broken as Peter concentrates on his surroundings. Granted, Peter is in the midst of a storm, but he was in the storm when he first stepped out of the boat. Something changed! Now his eyes are on the storm, not Jesus. And he begins to sink!

It is at these times in our life when we see the glass half empty. We focus on the negatives of our surroundings. We concentrate on the storms and not on Jesus. Selfishness fills our heart and we start to sink!

There is another way to view the glass, and that is to see it half full. This is attained when we focus on Jesus in the midst of the storm. With our eyes on Christ we see His amazing blessings and His perfect provision right there in the middle of the storm! Gratitude fills our heart and we walk on water!

Matthew 14:31-33
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Keep your eyes on the Son of God!
Lon

www.AcornMinistries.com

Out of the Mouth, by Lon Alderman

Proverbs 10:11 (The Message)
The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well,
but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.

What flows from our mouths? Are we a source of life or abuse?

Our mouths can speak the words that bring encouragement to anyone we meet. Out of our mouth we can build up and give life to our neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family. Even in the most dire storms in life we can deliver the silver-lining with the words we choose. We always have the option!

Our mouths can speak the words that destroy anyone we meet. Out of our mouth we can tear down and rip to shreds our neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family. Even in the most wonderful sunny day we can deliver the dark storm cloud with the words we choose. We always have the option!

The choice of words is ours: "deep, life-giving" or "dark cave of abuse".

What will come out of your mouth, today?

Lon

Please check out the all-new Acorn Ministries website! Check out all of the great resources and learn more about my ministry. Check it out at: www.AcornMinistries.com

In Your Hands, by Lon Alderman

Joshua 24:15
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Two boys were walking through the woods and discovered a small bird with a broken wing. The boys caught the bird and decided to use it to play a trick on one of their neighbors. As the boys made their way to the neighbors house with the bird held tightly in one of the boys hands, they made up their plan.

Upon arriving at the old man's house the boy holding the bird explained to his neighbor that he had a bird in his hands and he wanted him to guess if it was alive or dead. If the man had said that the bird was dead, then the boy would open his hands and show the man that he was wrong. However, if the man said that the bird was alive, then the boy would gently push the life out of the bird with his hands and show the man that he was wrong by displaying the dead bird. The boys were very excited because they planned to prove the old man to be wrong no matter which way the man answered.

The man was slow to answer which made the boys excitement turn to impatience. Finally, the boy holding the bird shouted out, "What's your answer old man?"

The man slowly responded, "The answer is in your hands."

Choose well!
Lon

The Perfect Storm, by Lon Alderman

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

The movie "Perfect Storm" is a dramatic portrayal of a violent and destructive natural phenomenon. A "perfect storm" is defined as:

• a particularly violent storm arising from a rare combination of adverse meteorological factors.
• a particularly bad or critical state of affairs, arising from a number of negative and unpredictable factors : the past two years have been a perfect storm for the travel industry.
  

Again, "God works through all things for the good of those who love Him..."

The challenge for us is to understand that sometimes we have to go through difficulty in order to become the men and women God desires us to be. The "storms" in our life are perfectly designed for the good of those they affect, particularly those that love God.

For example, until I had been fired from a job I had almost no empathy for people going through that crisis. Now that I've experienced being fired I have regular opportunities to encourage people as they work through this painful process.

When we find ourselves in a one of the storms of life, try to keep in mind that the storm is perfectly capable of producing "good" results in us. God is, in fact, at work for our good rain and shine!

What storms are brewing in your life?
Lon

I Had Forgotten, by Lon Alderman

Galatians 3:26-29
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Today, I was having a wonderful discussion with a dear friend and colleague over breakfast. In the midst of our effort to solve all the problems that effect the Church, we were interrupted by the restaurant owner. He shouted for us to draw our attention to the large screen television which showed pictures of the preparations being made for today's inauguration of President Barack Obama. This was an unusual thing for the owner to do. Actually, I'd never heard him speak until today. But that wasn't what upset me...

Before his words had finished settling onto the flour of this small diner an over-fed man in his sixties let go with a politically and racially charged remark! I couldn't believe he had said it! I don't know this man, but I can tell you a great deal about him as a result of his attempt at humor! This was so unsettling to me because I guess I had forgotten just how divided we are in this world by such things as political party and the color of a person's skin.

Lord Jesus, heal this land. Heal it from its divisions of gender, political affiliation, wealth, and race. Keep my mind sharpened to the need for healing, because I had forgotten...

In God we trust,
Lon

Seasons, by Lon Alderman

Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...

You may have noticed that my blog has been a bit, what shall I say, dormant. I believe that you deserve an explanation, but I'll give you two. First, I have been using up much of my creativity in the development of my brand new website for Acorn Ministries. I'm thrilled about the progress; however, this effort has taken me "away" from my blogging ministry.

Second, this has been a season in which I've invested in my family. God blessed our socks off with a gift from my parents of two weeks free lodging in Florida! It was awesome!

It's been a wonderful season, but I do realize that I've not been very encouraging during it. If I'm ever absent again, please visit the blog (Daily Build UP!) where you can find over 300 encouraging messages! You can also find posts on particular subjects by clicking on a "topic" from the right-hand column (scroll down a bit to find these).

May God bless you richly in 2009!
Lon

Time Part II, by Rachel Smith

My youngest son's best friend lives across the street. Every time he has even 5 minutes free he wants to run and see him. My practical mind says you really need at least a free hour to make a real play date. But the boys don't seem to care. Even a few minutes here and there help solidify their relationship.

Maybe I should learn from his example. God doesn't seem to care if my time with Him is a solid hour or five minutes here and there. Just that I run to see Him with full enthusiasm and commitment.

Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Time Part I, by Rachel Smith

Do you have a minute?

I mean really, just one?

If you are like 90% of Americans the answer is no. In our fast paced culture we rarely find time to squeeze in an extra trip to the bathroom or a coffee break.

We cringe at those words, "Do you have a minute" We focus on the predicted outcome. We have already decided this other person is going to request something that will take much more than a minute to accomplish. And in our over booked lives we feel exhausted to fit in one more persons "do you have a minute" request. So in your head you scream, "NO! I DO NOT HAVE A MINUTE AND IF I DID, I WOULD ______" But you smile, tilt your head and reluctantly say “sure" all the while formulating a way out of the request that has yet to be uttered.

Do we respond the same when God calls? Or are we coming up with a reason for not having the time?

Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Believe II, by Rachel Smith

God believes in the power of one.

In an earlier post I asked you if you believe in the ability of one person to make a difference in this world.

Jesus makes the biggest impact in the world and calls us to partner with Him in this work.

We are to be his disciples, his students. We are to learn from his teachings. If Jesus, being fully man and fully God, took the time as one person to touch the lives of those around Him, shouldn’t we do the same?

The impact to the kingdom is huge. And it all starts with one person. You.

Whose life will you impact today?

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Do you believe?, by Rachel Smith

Do you believe?

It's getting to be that time of year where people ask this question. Do you believe? In what? In whom?

My question is similar, do you believe in the power of one?

Well do you?

Does one person make a difference? In a world where things sometimes seem so large and overwhelming can one person have an impact? I have read wonderful stories of that one person who voted and turned the election. Or the one person who took the time with a child to nurture and care. But, can you actually affirm your life in the power of one?

God does. He believes in the power of one.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Breaking Out - Leadership, by Lon Alderman

Acts 10:27-29
Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection...

Peter took the message of Jesus to the Gentiles. This act, which defied Jewish law, breached the "siege-wall" surrounding the Hebrews. Previously, the early Christ-followers held the Gospel of Jesus within the Jewish community. Peter went where no Jew had gone. He took the message of Christ outside the faith community. He led!

Acts 13:46-47
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
" 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"

The breach in the siege-wall created by Peter's leadership became a pathway for Paul. Paul stepped through the breach and took the message of Christ to the Gentiles with tremendous zeal. Paul led, too!

Breaking out of the self-siege requires sustained, courageous, and zealous leadership.

Break out!
Lon