From The Hill

Quote: #27

2010-08-07T07:54:00.002-04:00

"...if we think we are usually good, then God is usually irrelevant." - Edward Welch

Happy 4th

2010-07-04T11:50:00.000-04:00

Blessings,
PB

Prayer About Weekness

2010-06-25T07:09:00.002-04:00

I came across this prayer today...it was posted by Scotty Smith five days after the sermon I preach on from the same text:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Dear heavenly Father, as I meditate on these words of Paul, I vacillate between feelings of anger and relief. For as a young follower of Jesus, I wasn’t taught to delight in weakness, rather to despise weakness… to deny weakness… to demonize weakness… to de-throne weakness. That’s why I totally understand Martin Luther’s statement that “bad theology is the worst taskmaster of all.” For I’ve suffered much under the merciless whip of several gospel distortions.

It was all about “the victorious Christian life”—overcoming and not underachieving… kind of like having a Type-A personality on spiritual steroids. I didn’t think in terms of sufficient grace, I wanted replacement grace—getting rid of anything unpleasant in my life.

Thank you, Father, for rescuing me from this and other misrepresentations of life in Christ. Thank you for the godly men and women you’ve brought into my life over the years—the humble and courageous servants of Jesus who’ve help me understand the true riches of the gospel and the way of the cross. Increase their tribe, Lord, increase their tribe.

Father, I know I’m not to be defined by my weakness and brokenness, but I realize more than ever, that’s where Jesus meets me. I have no ability to change my heart. I very much want your power to rest on me… I very much need for your power to rest on me. I am desperate for all the sufficient grace you will give me.

As you continue to humble and gentle my heart, greatly increase my compassion towards others in their weakness and brokenness. Forgive my irritation, impatience and avoidance of people whose need is much greater than my supply.

What a wonderful, merciful Savior you are, Jesus. Indeed, it was because you embraced the weakness of the cross that I can gladly boast in the weaknesses of my life and the more-than-sufficient supply of your grace. What a most profound, liberating and hope-filled paradox. So very Amen, I pray, in your holy and loving name.

What Is the Gospel?

2010-06-14T07:16:00.001-04:00

What is the Gospel? from Southern Seminary on Vimeo.

The Gospel for Believers.

2010-02-28T18:00:00.002-05:00

B. B. Warfield on why the gospel is needed for believers:

There is nothing in us or done by us, at any stage of our earthly development, because of which we are acceptable to God. We must always be accepted for Christ’s sake, or we cannot ever be accepted at all. This is not true of us only when we believe. It is just as true after we have believed. It will continue to be true as long as we live. Our need of Christ does not cease with our believing; nor does the nature of our relation to Him or to God through Him ever alter, no matter what our attainments in Christian graces or our achievements in behavior may be. It is always on His “blood and righteousness” alone that we can rest.

Blessings,
P. B.

Too Good Not to Share.

2010-02-22T12:27:00.004-05:00

I am reading the book for which this little add was made. The thought behind it is too good not to share...even if you don't decide to read the book for which it was made.

DugDownDeep_Carnahan.mov from Covenant Life Church on Vimeo.

Blessings,
PB

Why So Much Cross Talk?

2010-02-18T11:29:00.003-05:00

As written by Chris Tomlinson:

At the cross…

…We see God’s sovereignty—reigning with absolute control over humanity’s greatest sin.

…We see God’s purpose—making known the mystery of His will prepared before time.

…We see God’s plan—to unite all things, on heaven and on earth, in Him.

…We see God’s judgment—requiring recompense for guilt.

…We see God’s holiness—demanding the perfect sacrifice.

…We see God’s power—crushing the Son of God according to the purpose of His will.

…We see God’s wrath—punishing the wretchedness of sin.

…We see God’s sorrow—wailing as only a forsaken son can.

…We see God’s mystery—the Son, as God, separated from the Father, committing His Spirit to God.

…We see God’s compassion—pleading to the Father to forgive the ignorant.

…We see God’s gift—His one and only Son, bruised and broken on our behalf.

…We see God’s mercy—making unrighteous sinners righteous.

…We see God’s love—Christ dying for sinners.

…We see God’s rescue operation—delivering us from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of His Son.

…We see God’s proposal—pledging Himself to His bride forever.

…We see God’s revelation—the Word of God speaking His last so He might speak on behalf of many.

…We see God’s victory—disarming His enemies, putting them to shame, and triumphing over them.

…We see God’s glory—the name of the Father being magnified for the sake of all peoples.

Blessings,
PB

Three Worthy Morning Prayers.

2010-02-04T11:48:00.002-05:00

Paul Tripp suggests these three prayers for starting out a day:

1) "God, I'm a man in desperate need of help today,"

2) "I pray that in your grace you would send your helpers my way,"

3) "Lord, please give me he humility to receive help when it comes."

Blessings,
PB

Sanctity of Human Life.

2010-01-22T19:31:00.000-05:00

99 Balloons from Igniter Media on Vimeo.

All Praise To The Name

2010-01-15T06:49:00.000-05:00

Shai Linne with "Spread His Fame." from Grace EV Free on Vimeo.

Watch The Whole Thing

2009-10-15T15:50:00.000-04:00

Catalyst 2009 Compassion Moment from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Quote: #26

2009-06-17T06:52:00.000-04:00

“Oh to behold the glory of Christ. Herein would I live, here on would I dwell, in thought and affection, until all thing here below become as dead and deformed things, no longer in anyway calling out for my affectionate embrace.” – John Owen

I Just Read This...

2009-04-18T07:28:00.004-04:00

I just read this and it really spoke to me: "...my life began changing when I stopped setting goals for where I wanted to be and started setting goals for who I wanted to be...There is no downside to making growth your goal." - John Maxwell

Stolen From Mark Batterson

2009-04-12T07:49:00.002-04:00

Not a single word of this is mine...I ripped it off from Mark Batterson:

This thought keeps going through my mind today: I am Barabbas.

Imagine what that Friday must have been like for him. He was sitting in a jail cell awaiting his execution. He knew it was the last day of his life. It was the end. There was no hope. Then he hears the crowd chanting his name and the next thing he knows he's a free man. The charges are dropped. His life that was almost over starts over. And a sinless man named Jesus literally takes his place. He expected to die. He deserved to die. But his execution, in the sovereign plan of God, was scheduled on the same day Jesus was arrested.

If ever there was a picture of II Corinthians 5:21 this is it: "God made him who knew no sin to become sin for us."

I am Barabbas.

It Has Been More Than A Month

2009-03-08T17:38:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted anything in over a month now, and I don't have anything to say right now. But I wanted to mention that I am currently looking at how to best use this forum in the area of leadership development within the Hilltop community.

In the meantime here is a short video that never gets old.

Blessings,
PB

John 8:10 & 11, (with Paraphrase)

2009-02-04T09:18:00.005-05:00

"Jesus stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.'" John 8: 10 & 11

Paraphrase:

"You are absolutely guilty,

unconditionally forgiven,

now go,

live in that truth everyday,

for the rest of your life."

Blessings,
PB

Can I Handle The Truth?

2009-02-03T18:48:00.001-05:00

Please link to this post by Anne Jackson.

Please watch the video.

Please watch it, in its entirety.

Please watch it, in one sitting.

If you do, you will see the horrors of poverty, the resilient love of a child, and the hope that results when people respond to God's call to be grace givers. It is very hard to watch. But let me ask it again...please link to, and please watch this video in it's entirety. Our temptation when faced with this kind of truth is to back away from, and ignore it.

Even though I have asked God to grow me in the area of active compassion; I still want to run away and turn a blind eye to the vast need that is present in this world: this world that I live in, this world that I call my Father's world. Sadly there are times when I can't handle the truth, about the condition of the world. In fact there are times when I would rather not be aware of the truth. The ugly truth about my willingness to ignore a hard truth, is that took me three attempts to watch this video. I am not okay with that. I am not okay with the skill that I have developed that enables me to so easily turn a blind eye to truths that make me uncomfortable. So, today I start praying a new prayer over my life. I pray that God will make of me someone who will face the truth. Because as long as I continue to allow myself to live blind to these kinds of truths, I will never be the kind of grace giver that my Father would have me be.

PB

Jr. High Basketball: "I Love This Game!"

2009-02-03T09:48:00.001-05:00

Basketball season at Faith Christian School is just about over. And thought their record isn't what you might hope for, 1 & whatever. Still for me, it has been their best season ever, the best ever because this year Kyle (my kid) played on the team. It was wonderful to watch him giving his best every time he was on the court, and then cheering for his teammates when on the bench. I can't be prouder of how he played, or of how he conducted himself from the bench this year.

The only negative to the whole season has been the absence of relatives. Because unfortunately, all of Kyle's relatives live in New York, Georgia, Florida or Texas. All of which are too far away to attend a game in Maryland. I would have loved it if just once, Kyle would have heard the voice of a grandparent, an aunt or an uncle shouting his name with encouragement and pride from the sidelines as he made a rebound, or stole a pass; he would have loved it as well. Few things feel as good as having the people you most love, on your side, and championing your efforts.

It was that negative, that so clearly framed for me what turned out to be a wonderfully positive, and visible demonstration of an important truth. The church really is a family. If you have been in church for any amount of time you have heard this spoken of in one way or another. As a pastor, I have spoken of this myself on any number of occasions. But it came alive, I mean really alive for me at a Jr. High basketball game this season. It became alive for me when I heard voices in the crowd shouting for my son by name. Voices that did not belong to myself, or to my wife. These shouting voices combined Kyle's name with other words like, "nice job," "great," "get it," and "don't worry about it." At times it almost seemed as if Kyle had a fan club of his own.

Yes tt would have been great if one of Kyle's grandparents had the chance to attend a game this season. Sadly, that wasn't possible. Still, Kyle did have fans, fans other than the ones that drove him home. These fans happen to be are a part of the same church, but more importantly they really are a part of the same family. "I Love This Game," is a slogan of the NBA. But for me, it is true of Jr. High basketball at Faith Christian School; because it was there that the family of God rallied around and cheered for my son.

Blessings,
PB

Quote: #25

2009-01-28T09:11:00.000-05:00

"I should spend way less time focusing on being “right” and way more time on being faithful."
- Perry Noble

If You Only Read Two Books This Year

2009-01-24T06:46:00.001-05:00

If you only read two books this year let me suggest the following:

Good News About Injustice: A Witness Of Courage In A Hurting World,
by Gary A Haugen

Wish I had read this one, nine years ago.

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed By A Relentless God,
By Francis Chan

Filled with more thought provoking lines than any book I've read in years.

Blessings,
PB

Fan For A Day

2009-01-22T10:41:00.005-05:00

It took $41 to secure the efforts of Carolina Panther fan, Beau Leonard, to be a Raven fan for the AFC Championship game this past Sunday. The $41 went to our Compassion CSP in Wolmera, Ethiopia. The cheers from Beau went to Flaco and the boys.

Maybe we should have let the Reuschlein's win the auction.

Blessings,
PB

A Picture and a Verse

2009-01-21T08:20:00.004-05:00

1 Timothy 2:1-3 "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior."

Blessings,
PB

Hilltop Reads...Day One Hundred Forty Two: A Very Brave Prayer.

2009-01-21T07:03:00.005-05:00

"The Lord judges the peoples..."

With this being true, I am impressed that David had the guts to continue with these words:

"...judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me." Psalm 7:8

May God help us grow in integrity, so that we might be able to pray this prayer with confidence.

or

Maybe we should pray it right now, allowing God to expose our lack of integrity. In order that we might repent and be changed into men and women of extreme integrity.

Blessings,
PB

Sharing My Cookie

2009-01-20T15:21:00.007-05:00

In the past I have been informed that, when I am fortunate enough to receive some cookies, it would be polite for me to share those cookies with others. It just so happens that I was fortunate enough to be given a cookie this past Sunday, and so in the interest of politeness here it is:

Blessings,
PB

Kudos To The Founders

2009-01-20T10:53:00.006-05:00

It seems to me that every time we experience the peaceful transfer of power, we all win. Isn't it great that at least for today, we can all win...Yes We Can! Kudos to the founders.

Blessings,
PB

Quote: #24

2009-01-17T06:48:00.002-05:00

"The church wants to protect Jesus' image rather than proclaim the real and living Christ. We want to protect him from the appearance of doing things that wouldn't fit into today's church culture."
- Rick McKinnley

Peculiar: Part 2

2009-01-13T06:43:00.021-05:00

Honestly there are plenty of ways to be peculiar. All you have to do, is get one of those giant deli pickles and commit yourself to walking around with it for a week pretending that it is a cigar. Kermit the Frog once said/sang, "It's not easy being green," strangeness unfortunately is not like being green. Strangeness is natural. Just do what comes natural and someone, somewhere will think you are weird. Rightly so, all of us have some inbred peculiarities, ALL OF US (some more than others.) But not all of our peculiarities point to God. Indeed many don't, but then again, some do. Some are so incomprehensible that they elicit a confused look, a scratch of the head and a wondering thought that asks, "Why does that guy do that thing he does?" So, as promised here is my list of ways that I would like to be peculiar or difficult to understand:

WAYS THAT I DO WANT TO BE PECULIAR
or
(Please Lord help me grow up and be strange like this.)

I would like to have a genuine love for my neighbor. The one who doesn't mow his yard and has been know to leave a toilet; yes a real live porcelain commode; in it for weeks at a time. A love that would be willing to occasionally and joyfully mow his yard and clean up after him because Christ loves him and I do as well.
In the face of economic turmoil and financial disaster, I would like to be the kind of guy who steps it up in the area of generosity.
I want to reflexively forgive the people who would be happy if my life ended in public failure
I would like to have a compassion that will not allow me to turn a blind eye to the needs of those who are oppressed and taken advantage of in this world; especially those who are different from me in every way.
I would like to be honest even when that honesty results in people being disappointed with me.
I want to be able to trust that God is completely good, loving and caring even when nothing goes my way.
If for some reason I do grow more peculiar in these ways, I pray that I can be humble in the process. I have been prideful of lesser things.

The truth is that right now there is little about my life that would cause anyone, any confusion. The way that I live and react to most life situations is entirely understandable. So, if I find my life more frequently and more dramatically marked in the above ways; enough so that it causes even a few people to look and shake their heads in lack of understanding...well, I'm OK with that.

Blessings,
PB

Peculiar: Part 1

2009-01-10T10:47:00.008-05:00

I would like to paraphrase something I read in "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Speaking of those who follow Christ Francis said; "Something is wrong when our lives make sense to the world." Which got me thinking about the King James rendition of 1 Peter 2:9; "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a PECULIAR people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." Which has me thinking of ways that I; as one who claims to follow Christ; can be peculiar or not make any sense to the world. It is not difficult to systematize the different ways in which I can be peculiar, because they easily fall into one of two categories. First, there are ways that I would rather not be peculiar and then there are the ways that would like to think that I am, or that I am becoming, peculiar.

WAYS THAT I DO NOT WANT TO BE PECULIAR
or
(Dear God in heaven I hope that these are not the things about my
life that people who don't follow you find incomprehensible.)

A dogged condemnation of all rated R movies...accept those that have the words: the, passion, of, the, and Christ in them.
A fear of all number sixes and a love for all number sevens.
The only jokes I tell end with the words Bill and or Hillary Clinton.
When excited I end my sentences with a gutteral "a" sound.
I don't play cards. But I do play UNO and ROOK.
I am not looking forward to 9/9/2009 or 10/10/2010 or 11/11/2011 or 12/12/2012, because something bad might happen on those days.
I am looking forward to 9/9/2009 and 10/10/2010 and 11/11/2011 and 12/12/2012 because something good might happen on one of those days.
I am working on a article entitled, "9 Reasons Why Jesus will Return in 2009," and a revision entitled, "10 Reasons Why Jesus will Return in 2010."
I have an underground pantry filled with food and guns so that I will be able to eat and defend my food against the hungry looting hordes that might attack me and my family when the United States is finally judged by God the way it deserves to be judged by God.
I am a pentecostal (and I am a pentecostal) who is saddened by the evangelistic potential that was wasted on Billy Graham because as far as I know, he hasn't been baptized with the Holy Ghost and doesn't speak in tongues.

These are just a few of the things that I hope don't mark me as being peculiar. Next time we will look at a list of ways that I HOPE my life is not easy for the world to comprehend.

Blessings,
PB

Quote: #23

2009-01-06T11:41:00.002-05:00

"Our puny works do not entitle us to barter with God. Everything depends on God's good pleasure"
- Brennan Manning

Leaning In.

2009-01-05T07:17:00.012-05:00

I am not sure when I fist heard God's reaction to our sin and need described as "leaning in." But I do know that it spoke to me then, and that it speaks to me still. I love it that God chose to lean into our lives rather than shrinking back from them or turning His back on them. I also know that I want to be like that. In the face of difficulty, I want to be the kind of guy who leans in to help rather than the kind of guy who shrinks back in fear or turns his back in disgust.

And when it comes to my personal life I want to be the kind of guy who leans in and does hard things so that good things result. So, this year...this New Year...I am thinking in terms of "leaning in" rather than in terms of resolution (I've never been much of a resolution guy anyway.) To me resolutions have always had a delusional-wishful-who-do-you-think-you're-kidding feel to them. While "leaning in," speaks of a settled posture that has a feeling of momentum to it. If you lean in far enough you end up with only two options: 1. Fall flat of your face, or 2. Move in the direction you're leaning, and no one wants to fall flat on their face.

This year I want to "lean in" more than I ever have before. Here are a few places that I am looking to lean in 2009:

In towards God
In towards my wife
In towards my son
In towards greater generosity
In towards accountable ministry
In towards forgiveness
In towards improved health

My hope is that I will lean far enough in each of these directions to either fall on my face (I would rather fall on my face than do nothing) or to get moving. I have some specific thoughts about how I am going to lean in each of these directions.

I am going to plan. I have done a lot of thinking, planning, and a little journaling while not working on the blog.
I am going to publicize my intentions. That is why I have written these things down: for me to review, and for both of you who read this to hold me accountable if you want...but please be nice! (In fact I might blog about each of these individually sometime later...or I may not. I'm not going to place myself on the record as leaning that way yet.)
I am going to pray. After all, I'll never "lean in" the way I want to "lean in," without "leaning on" God the way I need to "lean on" God.

Let's all lean into the New Year.

Blessings,
PB

FYI

2008-12-28T08:51:00.000-05:00

FYI - this site has not been abandoned...I'll be back with the new year.

Blessings,
PB

The Sunday Shout-Out: A Week Late and a Dollar Short, Edition.

2008-12-14T14:10:00.006-05:00

Sandy and I were introduced to the ladies tea the same weekend that we were introduced to First/Hilltop Assembly of God. The weekend that we interviewed for the youth ministry position here was the same week as the tea. It was held in October back then, and I think was called the Friendship Tea. I remember that Sandy sat at the table of Gail Muhl and I made some kind of salad that had fruit in it back in the kitchen with Pastor Pete. Before then I did not know that you could put fruit in a salad. I also did not know that sandwich and cucumber could be used in the same sentence much less the same dish. Anyway, Sandy and I were both impressed and I guess that the powers that be were satisfied enough with our interview that they invite us back. It's twelve years later; we are still here and the tea (Christmas Tea now) is still a big deal, a really big deal, a really, really big deal. It never fails to impress me how quickly the sanctuary is transformed into a tea room. The detail, creativity and beauty of the individual tables, still continue to impress me. But what is most impressive is the all hands on deck mentality to putting the tea on that makes it the memorable event that it is. Not to mention the $9,500 that you helped raise for our Compassion CSP tin Ethiopia hrough the event. It is just one of the things that makes me proud of being a little part of what God is doing a Hilltop Assembly. So, if you had any part in last weeks tea this shout-out is for you even if it is a week late and a dollar short.

Blessings,
PB

Ducks In Rows

2008-12-05T07:17:00.004-05:00

I just read something that made me ask myself some questions:

Am really I doing the things that God has called me to do?
Am I participating with His vision for my life?
Am I looking for the day-to-day opportunities that God gives me to "show forth His glory" through my obedience?
Have I done anything this week in response to Gods active call on my life that I was not already doing last week, last month or last year for that matter?

Or...

Am I fiddling while Rome burns?
Am I arranging deck chairs while the Titanic sinks?
Am I just getting my ducks in line?

I ask these questions because, "Getting your ducks in a row is not nearly as powerful as actually doing something with your duck." - Seth Goddin

Blessings,
PB

Quote: #22

2008-11-29T08:10:00.001-05:00

"Abraham was asking God for just one child - just one - and God asked Abraham to count the stars." - Shiferaw, President of Compassion International, East Africa.

Black Friday

2008-11-28T12:07:00.003-05:00

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory." John 1: 17

Today we begin our celebration of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ by collectively spending tons of cash and going millions and millions of additional dollars in debt. Today alone we in the United States we will spend enough money on Gameboys, Legos and Barbi dolls to provide THE ENTIRE WORLD with sanitary and safe drinking water. In long Island we broke down some doors and trampled a Wal-Mart employee to death, in our pursuit to get the deals before our neighbor gets them. Lord forgive us and heal us...it is a black Friday indeed.

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child." Luke 2

"...yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight."

Until all our Christmases are Light,
PB

Say Thanks

2008-11-26T08:06:00.002-05:00

I stole this from a pastor in North Carolina:

In honor of Thanksgiving week, I’m issuing a challenge.

1. Pick someone in your life (the first person who comes to mind is probably the correct choice) who has blessed you-whether they know it or not.

2. Send a letter or email telling them thanks.

3. Be specific in what you thank them for. Specificity is more meaningful than profundity. You don’t have to write outstanding prose. But if you chronicle in detail some ways they’ve blessed your life, they’ll savor every word.

4. If possible, do it before the sun goes down tonight.

Your words of gratitude may turn someone’s entire week-month-year around. You’d be surprised.

There’s got to be more to Thanksgiving than putting on 3 ½ pounds. Go be thankful today.

Blessings,PB

Quotes: #19, #20 & #21

2008-11-21T07:15:00.001-05:00

“…you have to stop loving and pursuing Christ in order to sin.” - Francis Chan

“We like finding refuge in what we already have rather than in what we hope God will provide.” - Francis Chan

“Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” - Francis Chan

A Worthy Prayer From An Old Book

2008-11-19T12:44:00.002-05:00

O Majesty unspeakable, my soul desires to behold You. I cry to You from the dust.

Yet when I inquire after You Your name it is secret. You are hidden in the light which no man can approach unto. What You are cannot be thought or uttered, for Your glory is ineffable.

Still, prophet and psalmist, apostle and saint have encouraged me to believe that I may in some measure know You. Therefore, I pray, whatever of Yourself You have been pleased to disclose, help me to search out as treasure more precious than rubies or the merchandise of fine gold: for with You shall I live when the stars of the twilight are no more and the heavens have vanished away and only You remain. Amen

- A. W. Tozer

Left To Ourselves

2008-11-17T11:30:00.001-05:00

While rereading a book I read over twenty years ago I came across the following statement:

"Left to ourselves we tend immediately to reduce God to manageable terms. We want to get Him were we can use Him, or at least know where He is when we need Him. We want a God we can in some measure control."

This statement can't be more true. But why? Why do we "...IMMEDIATELY...reduce God to manageable terms?" I am coming to believe that we do this for the simple reason that we want a relationship with God that is absent the fear of God. But it doesn't work that way. Psalm 111:10 states that, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Where there is no "fear of the Lord," there is no relationship with the Lord.

These days the church seems to be getting this wrong; completely wrong. Take a popular christian t-shirt slogan, for example: "No God, Know Fear...Know God, No Fear." Even though I understand the though behind the saying, it still cannot be more wrong. If you have to make a formula out of this fear concept (which is probably an unwise thing to attempt) you would need to write like this: "No God, No Fear...Know God, Know Fear." Remember that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." A relationship with the Lord is founded upon a right-placed fear of the Lord, which not to be read, terror of the Lord. A fear that is wrongly-placed is an illusion...a jumping at shadows. Jesus Himself said, "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!." Luke 12: 4 & 5 But then He immediately tells us that the even the hairs on our heads are numbered and calls us to, "Fear not, you are of...value." So I that it's fair to say that to Know God is to Know Fear...rightly-placed fear, that is.

It also seems that without a right-placed fear of the Lord, it is difficult to be used by the Lord. Many of the people who were used by the Lord in the Bible seem to have have had healthy a fear of Him:

Moses removed his shoes in the presence of God.
Isaiah cried out, "Woe is me! For I am lost."
Peter declared, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."
And when confronted by Christ, Paul fell blind off of his transportation.

What we fear controls us. When we fear financial ruin, that fear can gain hold of our decision making processes and lead down roads that lack integrity. When we fear relational conflict we can compromise our personal convictions in an attempt to keep the waters smooth. When we fear change we surrender control of our potential future to the comfort of a known present.

All fear paralyzes...even the fear of the Lord. And to be paralyzed is to in some way be handicapped. Still the fear of the Lord is a healthy thing and I believe that we should do whatever it takes to more fully develop a healthy fear of the Lord. Embracing the healthy and paralyzing handicaps that accompany it.

But what is handicapped by our right-placed fear of the Lord?

Our ability to sin without conviction is handicapped by the fear of the Lord.
Our capacity to hate our neighbor is handicapped by the fear of the Lord.
Our tendency to judge the world harshly and ourselves graciously is handicapped by the fear of the Lord.
Our demand for more is handicapped by the fear of the Lord.
Our propensity to shade the truth is handicapped by the fear of the Lord. Etc., etc., etc.

Indeed the fear of the Lord is a healthy, even a needful thing for those of us who claim to be followers of the Lord God Almighty.

So, may the Lord forgive us for reducing who He is in our lives,. May He forgive us of our attempts to manage who He really is. And may He create in us a genuine and right-placed FEAR OF THE LORD. Then at least we will have - the beginnings of wisdom.

Blessings,
PB

The Sunday Shout-Out: November 9th, Edition

2008-11-09T16:22:00.003-05:00

Today we would like to shout-out someone who has made a few things happen around Hilltop lately. A few weeks ago we held our annual business meeting and just prior to the meeting we ate some food together and there can be little doubt that the pre-meeting eating had something to do with the 7pm sharp quorum that we were able to pull together. Today we had the after church not-so-pot-luck-dinner, Williamsburg style. What a great idea that was...good grief that was some good grub. But these things would not have happened or at least they would not have happened with as much thought and skill as they did without the leadership of Lois Rush and those who brainstormed and organized with her. Did you notice the little pumpkins/gourdes and other stuff centerpeices? That's what I'm talking about when I say thought and skill. So Lois, today we shout you out, thanks for making these things happen.

Blessings,
PB

Are You Kidding Me?

2008-11-09T16:01:00.003-05:00

Baltimore Ravens...two weeks...78 Points...are these really our guys?

Blessings,
PB

If You Sponsor

2008-11-07T07:28:00.003-05:00

I know the sound is bad but if you sponsor a Compassion child or if you are considering sponsoring one; you have to watch this as many times as it takes to get the full picture. The girls name is Mariolvis and she is answering a few questions.

Blessings,
PB

The Ravens

2008-11-05T12:40:00.000-05:00

When was the last time the Ravens outscored the entire league? Could these really be the last days?

Blessings,
PB

Attitudinal Cues

2008-11-05T06:57:00.004-05:00

Whether the election turned our way or not last night I believe that it is important that we turn to the word of God for our attitudinal cues. There will be no end to opinions expressed today, from party leaders to union leaders, from the winners to the losers, from NPR to Clear Channel, from Democrats to Republicans...today will be filled with gloating and sulking, with joy and sadness, with victory taking and excuse making, and with pride and with anger. So where does a believer turn to find appropriate attitudinal cues? The word of God that 's where, and there are plenty of passages that would inform our attitudes today as well as every other day. Here is just a few of them:

Romans 13:1 & 7 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no other authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God...Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed."

1 Timothy 2:1 "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,"

Still "proud to be an American!"

Blessings,
PB

Quote: #18

2008-11-04T13:37:00.000-05:00

"More important than how we vote on November 4th, is how we live on November 3rd and November 5th. We vote everyday with our lives. We vote with our feet, our hands, our lips and our wallets. Ultimate change does not happen one day every four years." - Shane Claiborne

Election Day Prayer

2008-11-04T08:14:00.006-05:00

Lord:

We thank you for our right to vote.
We thank you for the right that our neighbor has to vote - even if his/her cast ballot will be much different than ours.
We pray that today's voting will proceed with integrity.
We pray that polling locations will be marked with peace.
We pray that voters will find a deep reserve of patience and graciousness as they wait in line to cast their vote.
We pray that Christ followers will each cast their vote with hope and trust.
We pray for wisdom so that we do not magnify the weakness; real and perceived; of the candidates that we don't vote for.
We pray for wisdom so that we do not exaggerate the strengths; real and perceived; of the candidate of our choice.
We pray that we will have the grace to trust You more than our nation, our political system or our preference.
We pray that there will be sufficient support for those needing assistance at every polling location across this country.
May we not feel proud in victory...You are victor!
May we not feel despair in defeat...You are not defeated!
May love prevail across our nation this day!

Blessings,
PB

The Sunday Shout-Out: November 2nd, Edition

2008-11-02T13:46:00.001-05:00

How do you show appreciation to someone who would rather not receive it. After all you can't shout-out the person, who did the thing for that person in need. Today's shout-out is directed towards a person who has worked tirelessly to make sure that as an organization...Hilltop Assembly faithfully stewards the financial resources that God supplies us with. Though she would probably rather that we keep it quite...today we shout Nancy Long out anyway. It would be a sin not to express our thanks for all that she does around here...and though we won't mention it all, she does far more than just help with the finances.

Blessings,
PB

Three Prayers to Pray...

2008-10-27T08:20:00.003-04:00

Craig Groeschel offers the following prayers for us to pray:

1. Stretch Me:

In many ways, comfort is the enemy of faith.
You have more in you than you realize, only by being stretched will your kingdom potential be realized..
God has put more in you than anyone else sees.
Ask God to Stretch you...only then can you grow.

2. Ruin Me:

Let the working of a loving God break you and ruin you for His glory.
Let yourself be ruined by the brokenness that is all around you...let it hurt you...let it grow in you...let it bother you.
Let yourself be wrecked by the hurt in the lives of the people that you know.
Ask God to Ruin you...only then will you care to help.

3. Heal Me:

You have some wounds that God wants to heal.
We need to admit that there are ways in which we are sick and in need.
Our spiritual sicknesses hinder the full working of God in our lives.
Ask God to Heal you...only then will you remember that all glory belongs to God.

Blessings,
PB

The Sunday Shout-Out: October 25th, Edition

2008-10-26T17:18:00.007-04:00

It was great to be able to have our annual business meeting Wednesday...so today we shout-out the quorum. If you were there consider yourself appreciated. Business meetings don't usually inspire shout of hallelujah but still they are necessary and important. So, for those of you who were able to attend we would like to thank you for being faithful to Hilltop. But if you were not able to attend the meeting for some reason or another, here is a little heads up...our next business meeting is October 21, 2009.

Blessings,
PB

Quotes: #16 & #17

2008-10-26T09:33:00.001-04:00

"We need people who are more afraid of missing opportunities than making mistakes. People who are more afraid of lifelong regrets than temporary failure. People who dare dream the unthinkable and attempt the impossible." - Mark Batterson

"The difference between where you are and where God wants you to be may be the painful decision you refuse to make." - Craig Groeschel

From The General Superintendent.

2008-10-24T17:16:00.004-04:00

This video as posted by the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God and concerns the upcoming election:

Blessings,
PB

Hilltop Reads...Day Fifty-Four: As was said of Moses!

2008-10-24T08:10:00.002-04:00

"Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him." Exodus 40:16

As was said of Moses, may it be said of us.

Blessings,
PB

Quote: #15

2008-10-23T06:27:00.000-04:00

"Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries."

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

CSP '08 Final Accounting

2008-10-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Here are the final numbers for the Child Survival Project '08 weekend.

11 Malaria nets provided
25 Child Sponsorships
$6,253.19 total cash raised for the Wolmera CSP.
Scores of joyful volunteers.
Priceless.

Blessings,
PB

Questions That I Am Asking Myself.

2008-10-21T07:33:00.003-04:00

Here are few of the questions that are keeping me up at night:

Am I dreaming of or attempting anything that will require God's help to accomplish?
Am I truly being faithful with the opportunities that God has and is giving me?
Am I turning a blind eye to anything that I shouldn't be?
Am I using my time wisely?
Am I laughing enough?

I hope to elaborate on each of these questions sometime in the near future. In the mean time maybe one of them will keep you up with me as well.

Blessings,
PB

Hilltop Reads...Day Forty-Seven: Do!

2008-10-17T07:18:00.004-04:00

As we read it is always a good thing to ask ourselves if what we are reading requires action from us, "Is there something in this passage that I should obey?"

Former chaplain of the United States Senate, Peter Marshall proffered this thought for our consideration:

"I wonder what would happen if we all agreed to read one of the Gospels until we came to a place that told us to do something, then went out to do it, and only after we had done it, began reading again? There are aspects of the Gospel that are puzzling and difficult to understand. But our problems are nit centered around the things we don't understand, but rather in the things we do understand, the things we could not possibly misunderstand. Our problem is not so much that we don't know what we should do. We know perfectly well, but we don't want to do it."

You might even want to read that again just to make sure you hear what is being said. As you are reading the Bible, make sure that you are engaging with what you are reading. Then ask for the willingness, ability and grace to do the things that it requires you to do.

Blessings,
PB

Quote: #14

2008-10-16T07:55:00.000-04:00

"Worse than being born blind would be to be able to see but not have any vision." - Helen Keler

Slacker

2008-10-15T14:12:00.000-04:00

I just realized that I've been slacking when it comes to the posts here...I'll see if I can't step it up a bit in the weeks to come.

Blessings,
PB

A Prayer Audit? Redux.

2008-10-06T17:15:00.002-04:00

Here is two minutes and eight seconds of Francis Chan's thoughts concerning Proverbs 30:7-9:

By-the-way I am still waiting to see if I will be making this a prayer of mine.

Blessings,
PB

Seeing Only What You Want To See.

2008-10-03T08:40:00.008-04:00

For the record, I did not watch the VP debate last night (forgive me if you need to.) But, as I have been perusing the comments of the pundits it has become clear to me that it is difficult for people to get past what they believe when evaluating a candidate’s performance. This is what I mean; as a result of my perusal-ing I have been able to decipher who won last night's debate and here it is: without question Sen. Biden won the debate, AND what is more, Gov. Palin clearly won the debate. There can be no questioning the reliability of my conclusion; after all, multiple witnesses and statistical polls have established them. If you consider only the polls it wasn’t even close: one poll has Sen. Biden winning a victory by a generous 18%. Which I have to say is a clear indicator that Gov. Palin was simply out of her league last night. But wait…another poll has Gov. Palin victorious by a mind-blowing 41%. So, clearly she knocked Biden out. So far, every "conservative/Republican”-website/pundit that I have read has Palin victorious, whereas every "liberal/Democratic"-website/pundit that I have read has Biden sitting in the victors seat. Conclusion = people generally see what they want to see.

Now, I have no direct comment related to the above observation, but I do have a related comment…

…if we are not very careful, we will do exactly the same thing when we read our Bible. Because it is possible to read it, and only read what we already believe...it is possible to open our Bible and see in it, only the things that we want to see. Which means it is possible for us to read the entire Bible and find only affirmation and never find correction. But the bible does both...it affirms and it corrects. So, as you are reading through your Bible this year, I challenge you to make room for affirmation and for correction.

If you are only seeing the things that you want to see...beware...the Bible is bigger than that.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16 & 17

Blessings,
PB

A Prayer Audit?

2008-09-25T15:29:00.006-04:00

I read something the other day that introduced me to the idea of a prayer audit. The thought prompting the audit was this: "...there is a gap between how I pray/how the church prays and biblical prayers." The observation being, it's possible to boil down most of contemporary church/Christian praying to two basic types which account for 80-90% of prayers prayed in the western church (I have no idea how that percentage was derived.) The two types of prayer being:

Lord, please keep me from every illness, discomfort and disease now. Heal me, no matter how trivial my inconvenience is.
Lord, I want more comfort. Smooth out every situation in my life so that I face no adversity.

But in Matthew 16, Jesus predicts His own death and calls Peter's desire for this not to happen to be of the satanic origin. How do we, or more to the point, how do I reconcile my obsession with everything smooth and comfortable with the command of Jesus to "take up my cross (an instrument of death) and follow Him/Jesus?" Jesus' life was hardly a life of comfort, enjoyment and freedom from harm. Why then do I have no room for difficulty in mine? Maybe it is time for me to audit my prayer life.

Is there anything of a, not my will but Thine quality to the bulk of my prayers? Do I pray for the strength to stand in the face of hardship even as I request deliverance? Is my worship salted with a, though He slay me yet will I trust Him commitment? Have I ever made Proverbs 30:7-9 my prayer?

"Two things I ask of You; deny them not to me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty NOR RICHES; but give me ONLY my daily bread, LEST I BE FULL and DENY YOU and say, 'Who is the Lord?' or lest I be poor and steal and dishonor the name of my God." Proverbs 30:7-9 (emphasis mine)

If I haven't made Proverbs 30:7-9 my prayer, why not, and am I willing to consider making it mine today?

A prayer audit...think about it.

Blessings,
PB

Hilltop Reads...Day Twenty Two: Elihu

2008-09-22T08:00:00.003-04:00

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that Elihu should have shut his mouth after his first five words ("I am young in years") in our reading for today?

Blessings,
PB

The Sunday Shout-Out: September 21st, Edition.

2008-09-21T12:09:00.003-04:00

Trying to Shout-Out Michelle Nelson is a little bit like trying to catch a cloud and pin it down (thank you Sound of Music.) But with Michelle it is not as if there is nothing solid to shout-out. Rather it’s that there is so much to shout-out one hardly knows where to begin and what to include. I think that we will put it like this…today we shout-out Michelle Nelson for reasons including the following: praying, serving, loving, leading, decorating, facilitating, teaching, mentoring, cooking (especially that baking thing with the cake with that frosting that she does every now and then,) visiting, worshiping and yes even paying attention to sermons. There are few people at Hilltop (if there are any) who have not been personally blessed by the gift that God has given to us here at Hilltop in Michelle Nelson...and for all of that...and for much, much more...we Shout her Out!

Blessings,
PB

Quote: #13

2008-09-13T08:50:00.001-04:00

"Try this on for size. The one who holds the aces holds your heart. The one who formed you pulls for you. Untrumpable power stoked by unstoppable love. 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31)." - Max Lucado & the Apostle Paul

Houston and Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T11:02:00.004-04:00

I spent some good years as a child in Houston, TX... and my family is still there...so if you think about it, I would love for you whisper a prayer for them and for all of their neighbors (next-door and extended alike) as they face hurricane Ike sometime in the next 24 hours.

Blessings and Thanks,
PB

Quote: #12

2008-09-11T09:53:00.000-04:00

"If I read 'God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that when John Newton believed he should have everlasting life,' I should say, perhaps, there is some other John Newton; but 'whosoever' means this John Newton and the other John Newton, and everybody else, whatever his name may be." - John Newton, writer of the hymn Amazing Grace.

Hilltop Reads...Day Eleven: A Tip

2008-09-11T07:30:00.002-04:00

The book of Job is largely a series of conversations...make sure that as you read you don't lose track of who is doing the talking at any given point. Especially when you read it as we are (a bit at a time) it will help you in your understanding of what is taking place.

Blessings,
PB

Hilltop Reads...Day Ten: This Can Really Be Done!

2008-09-10T07:53:00.002-04:00

Reading through the entire Bible in just one year can really be done...by everyone. I just finished today's reading, and without rushing it I was finished in under seven minutes. Read on...you CAN DO IT!

Blessings,
PB

Hilltop Reads...Day Nine: Play-By-Play

2008-09-09T07:58:00.002-04:00

Job 1

vs. 1: "He was a man of perfect integrity"...I pray that the same can be said about me.
vs. 3: ...what do you do with 3,000 camels?
vs. 3: "Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east"...I wonder who the greatest man in the west was?
vs. 20 & 21: ...Job's immediate response to crisis and loss was to worship...I would love to be that kind of guy!
vs. 22: "Throughout all of this Job did not sin or blame God for anything"...now there's a testimony for you.

Job 2

vs. 2 (and vs. 7 in chapter 1): ...I can't stand how Satan responds to God.
vs. 7 & 8: ...OUCH!!
vs. 9: ...What kind of wife will tell her husband to drop his integrity?
vs. 11 - 13: ...if only his friends would have kept their mouth shut. (If you haven't read Job before or are unfamiliar with the story...you will find out what I mean by that comment beginning with tomorrows reading.)

Matthew 7

vs. 1 & 2: ...if I want to receive harsh treatment all I have to do is treat others harshly.
vs. 5: ...my first response to the sin of others, should be an evaluation of my own. This will keep me both pure and humble.
vs. 12: ..."The Golden Rule" is still genius!
vs. 17 & 18: ...what kind of fruit am I producing? What does that say about the kind of tree I am or am becoming?
vs. 21 - 23: ...God's will is for me to know and love Him first...the stuff I do for Him comes after that.
vs. 29: ...His authority came from WAY more than His words...it was the Man who astonished the crowds!

Blessings,

Tiger Being Tiger

2008-09-09T07:03:00.002-04:00

Don't believe it? Watch this one!

Blessings,
PB

Fantasy Football

2008-09-08T14:46:00.006-04:00

If confession really is good for the soul, then here is mine: my team was the Cincinnati Bengals of Fantasy Football yesterday. I know it is only one week, but my team is shaping up to be the one you can wait to get play against (for the second year in a row)...I hate that!!!!

Blessings,
PB

The Sunday Shout-Out: Monday Afternoon Edition.

2008-09-08T13:10:00.000-04:00

My internet provider is out at home so I was unable to get to this yesterday...anyway here it goes. Today we give a "manly" and "hearty" shout-out to Tom Rush. "Manly," because he has pretty much by himself re-energized our ministry to men here at Hilltop. Without his impetus we would not have had the breakfasts that we have had this year; and some of us might not have the few extra pounds that we are carrying around because of them (though we have only ourselves to blame for that.) "Hearty" because of the facility work that he spearheads for us around here. If it were not for Tom (and Lois...we know that this is a team effort) keeping his eye on our facility as he does then our facility would simply not be in as good of repair as it is. Tom is the kind of guy who sees things that need to be done and then goes off and does the things that need to be done. Those are the kind of people who make Hilltop a better place. Tom...for the blessing that you are to the Hilltop family, we Shout-You-Out.

Blessings,
PB

You HAVE To Read This!

2008-09-05T12:30:00.001-04:00

The Church – the greatest force on Earth
by Rick Warren

The Church is the most magnificent concept ever created. It has survived persistent abuse, horrifying persecution, and widespread neglect. Yet despite its faults (due to our sinfulness), it is still God’s chosen instrument of blessing and has been for 2,000 years.

The Church will last for eternity, and because it is God’s instrument for ministry here on Earth, it is truly the greatest force on the face of the Earth. That’s why I believe tackling the world’s biggest problems – the giants of spiritual lostness, egocentric leadership, poverty, disease, and ignorance – can only be done through the Church.

The Church has eight distinct advantages over the efforts of business and government:

1. The Church provides for the largest participation.
Most people have no idea how many Christians there are in the world: More than 2 billion people claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. That’s one third of the world’s population! The Church has about a billion more people than the entire nation of China.

For example, about 100 million people in the United States went to church this past weekend. That’s more people than will attend sporting events in the United States throughout this year. The Church is the largest force for good in the world. Nothing else even comes close.

2. The Church provides for the widest distribution.
The Church is everywhere in the world. There are villages that have little else, but they do have a church. You could visit millions of village around the world that don’t have a school, a clinic, a hospital, a fire department, or a post office. They don’t have any businesses. But they do have a church. The Church is more widely spread – more widely distributed – than any business franchise in the world.

Consider this: The Red Cross noted that 90 percent of the meals they served to victims of Hurricane Katrina were actually cooked by Southern Baptist churches. Many churches were able to jump into action faster than the government agencies or the Red Cross. Why? The Church is literally everywhere, and Christians who could provide help to the Gulf Coast communicated with Christians in need of help so relief could be sent immediately.

3. The Church provides the longest continuation.
The Church has been around for 2,000 years. We’re not a fly-by-night operation. The Church has a track record that spans centuries: Malicious leaders have tried to destroy it, hostile groups have persecuted it, and skeptics have scoffed at it. Nevertheless, God’s Church is bigger now than ever before in history.

Why? Because it’s the Church that Jesus established, and it is indestructible. The Bible calls the Church an unshakable kingdom. In Matthew 16, Jesus says, “I will build my Church and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” All the powers of hell – in other words, no hurricane, no earthquake, no tsunami, no famine, no pandemic, no army will ever conquer the Church established by Jesus Christ.

4. The Church provides the fastest expansion.
Did you know that every day 60,000 new people come to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? By the end of today, thousands of new churches will be started throughout the world, and that will happen tomorrow and the next day and the next.

In one country that is closed to traditional Christian missions, more than 60,000 house churches have been started in one province by the work of lay people, no different from the people who fill your church sanctuary every weekend.

Why is fast expansion important? If you’ve got a problem that’s growing at a rapid rate, then you need a solution that will grow even more rapidly. For instance, HIV/AIDS is growing at an incredibly fast rate in the world. Yet thank God the Church is outgrowing the disease, so more and more believers can help minister to those with HIV/AIDS.

If we’re going to tackle global giants like poverty, disease, or illiteracy, then we must be part of something that’s growing faster than the problem. The Church is doing just that!

5. The Church provides the highest motivation.
Why do any of us do what we do in ministry? It’s not to make money, not to make a name for ourselves and not for duty to our nation. We do it out of love. Jesus stated it as the Great Commandment: “Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.” We wouldn’t do the hard work required to tackle these global giants for money, for fame, or for anything else. It just wouldn’t be worth it; we’d quit before the end.

We’re motivated to keep at the hard work of ministry because we love God, and our love for God compels us to love other people. It is love that never gives up; it is love that keeps moving forward despite the appearance of impossible odds; and it is love that outlasts any problem.

6. The Church provides the strongest authorization.
God authorized the Church to take on global giants, such as spiritual lostness, egocentric leadership, poverty, disease, and ignorance. With God’s authorization, the outcome is guaranteed to be successful.

When you know that God has authorized you to do something, you don’t worry about failure because God doesn’t sponsor flops. If God says we’re going to do it, it’s going to happen. It is inevitable. In fact, the Bible teaches that God will give us his power to complete the task. This is God’s way - ordinary people empowered by his Spirit.

7. The Church provides the simplest administration.
The Church is organized in such a way that we can network faster and with less bureaucracy than most governmental agencies or even well-meaning charities. For instance, the organizational structure at Saddleback, which is based on the New Testament model, holds that every member is a minister. Each person in our church family is encouraged to use his or her own S.H.A.P.E. (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences) to do what God has called him or her to do. There is no bureaucracy or hierarchy. There isn’t a single committee, and the process doesn’t require a long list of approvals.

The old wineskin of command and control won’t work well in the 21st century. The organization of the future is the “network.” And there’s no better worldwide network than the Church, where every member is a minister and empowered to do what God wants done.

Consider it this way – tens of millions of Christians in millions of small groups that are part of churches around the world can take on the global giants with no other authority than that given from Jesus Christ. In other words, we have God’s permission and we have God’s command to do it. There is no need to seek permission from anyone else.

8. The Church provides for God’s conclusion.
Since we believe the Bible is God’s Word, we already know the end of history. Jesus said in Matthew 24: “The good news about God’s Kingdom will be preached in all the world to every nation, and then the end will come.” It is inevitable and unavoidable.

When you consider these eight advantages, think about the exponential explosion of ministry when millions upon millions of small groups in millions upon millions of churches organize in such a way that each person can do their part in attacking global giants.

What do you think could happen if God’s people prayed against these global giants, prepared for action against these giants, and then moved through faith to tackle these giants?

We may look at these problems and think, “These are too big! How could we possibly solve them?”

But with God, nothing is impossible – and if we all work together as his Church, we’ll see these giants falls just as Goliath fell when faced with David’s obedience to God.

Blessings,

Hilltop Reads...Day Four: A Tip

2008-09-04T09:54:00.005-04:00

Here is something that I believe is a Bible reading/studying necessity: never read or study your Bible without a notebook and pen/pencil by your side.

There are at least two reasons for this:

When your read or study the Bible you will almost always have thoughts occur to you about the other things that need your attention; such as: the groceries you need to get for dinner, a deadline that you forgot, an appointment that you are not prepared for, a TV show that you want to "Tivo," etc. But if you have a notebook handy, you can write these things down and continue your reading without the fear that you will forget them.
When you read or study your Bible you will often come across a verse that speaks meaningfully to you or that you have difficulty understanding. But if you have a notebook handy you will be able to write the passage down so that you will have a record of how God spoke to you or of the question(s) that you would like to further pursue.

Blessings,
PB

Hilltop Reads...Day Two: Play-By-Play

2008-09-02T07:18:00.003-04:00

Genesis 4

vs. 5: ...it is possible to disrespect God with the offering that I bring...I don't want to be that kind of worshiper.
vs. 8: ...don't get mad when God blesses someone else.
vs. 13: ...this is punishment for murdering his brother in a jealous rage...it sounds like Cain is whining to me.

Genesis 5

...man those guys lived a long time!

Genesis 6

vs. 8: ...love the feeling of hope in this verse.
vs. 9: ...it IS possible to live a godly life in an ungodly world.
vs. 13 - 21: ...I would love to know what was going through Noah's mind as God was speaking these things to him.

Matthew 2

vs. 3: ...if the king isn't happy...ain't nobody happy.
vs. 16: ...again...if the king isn't happy...
vs. 23: ...that is now the three "fulfills" in just twenty-three verses (15, 17, 23)...maybe Matthew is trying to say something.

Blessings,
PB

Hilltop Reads...Day One!

2008-09-01T09:01:00.002-04:00

I just finished reading today's passages (Genesis 1, 2 & 3; Matthew 1;) in a little less than eleven minutes. When I came upon God's creation of Eve as a companion for Adam I became very grateful for Sandy; the one whom He created as a companion for me...I hope she is grateful for me as well. Happy reading everyone.

Blessings,
PB

The Sunday Shout-Out: August 31st, Edition.

2008-08-31T17:08:00.003-04:00

Today we shout-out Greg Hudgins...for reasons too numerous to delineate here. Suffice to say that when it comes servanthood he is "The Real Thing," and we are never more like Jesus than when we serve. After all Jesus stated that he did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Greg...we shout you out!

Blessings,
PB

Lessons from Guapinol

2008-08-29T11:02:00.005-04:00

Guapinol (pronounced gua as in guava, pea as in yucky little round green things, and knoll as in grassy and Dallas) is a very small shrimping village on the southwest coast of Honduras…to me it represents both the dramatic need and the great hope of much of Honduras.

I’ve learned a lot over the last six years of traveling to Honduras and I thought that I would pass some of the lessons on to you. Here we go:

Dollars don’t equal joy…
The poor are less owned by what they have than are the wealthy…
Don’t pack your clothes until it is too late to have church…
Pastor Oscar (head of the Concillio) is a man of God…
Sister Reyna can cook…
Functional sound systems have nothing to do with God honoring worship, still it is very nice to have one…
I can sweat…
People are people…
I’m not the only one who can sweat…
You grow most when you are outside of your comfort zone…OK, so I stole that one from Nathan Barnes…
Old cars never die – they just get shipped down to Honduras…
God will use anyone who is available and who will be faithful…
I should have paid attention in 6th and 9th grade Spanish…
Bano (spelled B - A - N with a ~ over it - O) is an important Spanish word to know…
God gives traveling mercies…
Our prosperity and comfort sometimes prevents us from fully comprehending the work of God in the body of Christ (more on this in a future post if I can remember to do it)…
When they say “Don’t drink the water,” they MEAN IT…
Our support of the Concillio truly is a good and a noble thing…

Blessings,
PB

International Speaker!

2008-08-27T08:21:00.005-04:00

Here is a look at our very own international speaker Nathan Barnes. You can't tell but these are live pictures of him growing while he is out (way out) of his comfort zone.

Blessings,
PB

Quote: #11

2008-08-25T16:51:00.002-04:00

"We must never soften the clear teachings of the law of God. The Christian faith is not a methodology to help wild, disobedient swingers do whatever they want and still feel good about themselves." - Steve Brown

"Awesome" and "Small Group" = The Same Thing.

2008-08-25T15:30:00.007-04:00

I just had a quick conversation with Kyle that went exactly like this:

Kyle: "We have small group tonight don't we?"
Me: "Yes."
Kyle: "We are going aren't we?"
Me: "Yes."
Kyle: "Awesome."

I hope that the though of your small group elicits similar thoughts and emotions, after all God has created us to "live our lives together." That is to live our lives in relationship with other Christ followers. The summer schedule is often murder for church continuity and that includes small groups. So now that summer is over...or almost over...we still have the issue of Labor Day. Let me encourage you to make every effort to make it to your groups next gathering and don't let anything keep you from it. After all not only is there a blessing there for you but you might be bringing someone's blessing along with you, that's just the way it works; you bless those who bless you you. That's why it is both a privilege and a joy to be a part of the body of Christ. Getting to go to small group truly is; in the worlds of my son; "awesome." Because it is there that I can find a group of people who love me and my family AND who are rooting for me as I pursue God.

Blessings,
PB

The Sunday Shout-Out: August 24th, Edition.

2008-08-24T13:43:00.005-04:00

Hey Mike...YES YOU...MIKE DAVIS...today we shout you out! We want you to know that we are fully aware that you have been doing some stuff around Hilltop the last few months (and before that as well.) We would like to make it clear that we have seen you re-building the sound booth, making props for K.i.D.s. church (including stuff for VBS), we know about you constructing an Ethiopian style hut for the 4H fair and the Child Survival Project. Oh, yeah and there was that time that you were seen up on the roof of our facility securing gutters that had separated themselves from the roof. Your service is noticed and appreciated. You just aren't going to get away with things like that without being noticed. Mike...we thank God for you.

Blessings,
PB

We Are Back

2008-08-23T11:01:00.002-04:00

Nathan and I are back from Honduras...
We had an enjoyable and I believe fruitful trip...
I'll be hitting the blog again sometime soon...
Thanks for praying for us!!!

Blessings,
PB

These Guys are Good

2008-08-16T17:31:00.002-04:00

Ping Pong is an Olympic sport you know.

Blessings,
PB

Prayer Request

2008-08-14T09:05:00.002-04:00

Nathan Barns and I are going to Honduras next week, Monday to Friday. It is always a blessing for me to be with the pastors there and to witness how Hilltop is helping to empower them as they lift high the light of Christ in Honduras. It is especially fun to do so with someone who has not been there yet, so this trip with Nathan should be a blast. Please pray for us: that we will be a blessing and that we will have God's favor as well as His anointing as we minister to the pastors there.

Blessings,
PB

From The Shlog

2008-08-12T15:08:00.001-04:00

Here it is straight from the Shlog:

08.12.08 A Little Goes A Long Way

I don’t play music or speak outside anymore. Especially not at anything called a festival. This is because the only reason I tour anymore is to release kids from poverty, to ask the audience to sponsor a child through Compassion International. And, truth is, folks have a hard time paying attention to one guy with a guitar strumming and talking in the Summer heat...especially when there’s no shade...and there usually isn’t...and there’s funnel cake in the air. If I can only play for Compassion’s kids ten times a month (we limit my schedule to that) then I choose to do the gigs held in ideal listening environments: air-conditioned churches and colleges mostly, sans sun and funnel cakes.

So, you understand, don’t you, why I said “no” to Joan when she asked me to come play and speak at her church’s festival at three in the afternoon in the middle of a dirt field at an “ag center” without shade trees?...(READ MORE)

Blessings,
PB

Kingdom Come

2008-08-12T14:01:00.004-04:00

Shaun sang a wonderful song Saturday afternoon...this is the only place that I have been able to find it...enjoy.

Blessings,
PB

Facebook

2008-08-12T11:29:00.012-04:00

I'm up on Facebook now...not sure I'm going stay on top of it...not sure if I care...but then again maybe I will. Anyway I'm up on it. So if you want to, go ahead and add me as a friend. I can be found under the following alias................Brian Smith.

Blessings,
PB

The Sunday Shout-Out: It Couldn't Be Done, Edition!

2008-08-10T17:46:00.009-04:00

I'm pretty sure that what happened yesterday with the "Child Survival Project '08," didn't happen. I think it must have been a dream. The reason why I think it didn't happen is because it simply couldn't be done.

And here's why:

We didn't have enough time to pull it off...the planning for this started in March.
We didn't know what we were doing.
We didn't know anybody who knew how to put together an outdoor festival.
We are in Carroll County Maryland...do you know of anyone who holds a Christian music festival in Carroll (the Middle of nowhere, Maryland) County? Neither do we.
We didn't have adequate financial resources.
We didn't know someone who knew someone who could help us pull one of these things off.
We know that if any of our efforts started trending towards success that Murphy's law would be close by, to guide us back onto the road to failure...Murphy doesn't go on vacations does he?
It was the first day of Olympic coverage and semi-local-boy Michael Phelps was on TV.
Did I mention the time thing?
We thought that it might be nice to have a nationally known Christian musician...

...We had no cash for one...

...They don't come for just traveling money do they?

We are not aware of any lanky, sarcastic, humble and sincere guys that might come out here for no cash are we?

Oh, well this whole concert thing won't ever work anyway.

And if I remember right...I think that this is why we ditched the whole "Child Survival Project '08" anyway.

So you see...yesterday didn't happen, after all how could it have? Still I have to admit that it was a very pleasant dream and if I remember it right, the dream included a large group of very hard working volunteers and a couple of pastors who couldn't be any prouder than they were. Like I said...it was a very pleasant dream. Who knows maybe with enough time and a few bucks in the bank; we might just be able to do something a little like the dream I had last night; sometime in the next two or three years.

So for those of you who were there working your hearts out in my dream...WE SHOUT YOU OUT!

Blessings,
PB

Hilltop On Shaun Groves Blog This Tuesday.

2008-08-10T17:33:00.005-04:00

Well it looks like Shaun Groves is going to tell our story on his blog Tuesday...I don't think that you want to miss it.

Go here and read the first and last paragraph of todays blog to see what I'm talking about.

Blessings,
PB

The Carroll County Times.

2008-08-08T15:53:00.003-04:00

There are two Child Survival Project '098 related articles in today's Carroll County Times here are the links:

Compassion International aims to fight poverty

Group changed Ugandan's life

Blessings,
PB

Check This Out

2008-08-08T08:23:00.004-04:00

Check this out! It was posted on Compassion's web site Monday.

Blessings,
PB

Quote: #10

2008-08-05T08:08:00.002-04:00

"The very first of the Ten Commandments is to "have no other gods before me." So, according to the Bible, the primary way to define sin is not just the doing of bad things, but the making of good things into ultimate things." - Timothy Keller

The Sunday Shout-Out: August 3rd, Edition.

2008-08-03T14:54:00.010-04:00

This is what has recently been said about Lisa Reuschlein: "Anytime something needs to be done with food, the call goes to Lisa. This includes: the Christmas Tea, the Compassion Sunday - International Buffet, snacks for VBS, and concessions for the Child Survival Project '08, you name it, if it has to do with food Lisa is either in charge or in the mix." I (PB) even think she had a hand in the food that happened this past weekend at the men's fellowship-outing-gathering-retreat-thing (if I'm wrong in this assertion please let me know and I'll retract the previous line.) But we shout her out for much, much more than simply her grand ability to serve up the calories. Because, when it comes to servant hood Lisa has the goods. She is always open, frequently joyful and exceptionally easy to work with, Lisa seems to thrive in service situations. While working with others appears to brings out the best in her - you just can't say that about everyone. A preacher once said, "You are never more like Jesus that when you serve." Lisa...we see Jesus in you! This shout is for you.

Blessings,
PB

Quote: #9

2008-07-31T11:03:00.001-04:00

"To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it." - G. K. Chesterton

Re: The Coolest Toy Ever!

2008-07-28T07:58:00.001-04:00

TASTY!

The Sunday Shout-Out: July 27th, Edition.

2008-07-27T08:23:00.026-04:00

Today we Shout-Out the people below who came in and cleaned up around the church yesterday. We also want to Shout-Out the crew from the Manchester area small group who came in Friday night and cleaned the carpets in the administrative offices as well as the sink and nasty coffee pot in office #110.

Blessings,
PB

The Coolest Toy Ever!

2008-07-24T20:06:00.002-04:00

I just got the coolest toy ever: an i-ROAST2 coffee bean roaster. I burned the first batch and I think that our house might smell until sometime next Tuesday morning (just a guess.) But the second batch looks GOOD! I can't wait to grind 'em and then drink 'em. Here are the before and after pictures of my green and then formerly green coffee beans from Ethiopia's Yirga Cheffe region. These pictures are from the second batch. The first batch looked something like what I imagine charcoal gravel would look like - if you made gravel out of very small bits of charcoal.

Here is an old coffee documentary for you.

Blessings,

Index of Leading Indicators.

2008-07-22T13:34:00.000-04:00

The "Index of Leading Indicators" is an American economic index intended to estimate future economic activity. It is a helpful tool that economists use to help them chart financial policy in governmental as well in business arenas. That is all that I have to say about that, after all I am about as far from an economist as Mt. Everest is from the Grand Canyon.

But I have been thinking about leading indicators anyway, because there are leading indicators in church and ministry life as well. And I would like to share with you the reasons for my thinking about these things.

#1: I heard a very well known ministry leader make the following statement not too long ago. "The months of July and August are basically throw away months in a church calendar." The contention was that because of summer vacations and the back to school focus that grabs families during these months, it is basically impossible for a local congregation to make any kind of real advancement. This conclusion was based upon well over forty years in active, successful full time ministry in the local church context. The leading indicators of summertime family activities had led him to this conclusion.

#2: I recently had a discussion with a ministry leader whose ministry has experienced an unusually high level of personnel turnover. Though unavoidable, turnover is almost never welcome and, leading indicators would say, an obstacle to a ministry's smooth operation.

While I understand the value and, yes, even the wisdom present in leading indicators I also recognize that they are still only indicators; knowing that they are not declarations of the way things have to be and are not even necessarily true indicators of the way things presently are. The "U.S. Index of Leading Indicators" has itself incorrectly forecasted at least five recessions that did not occur over the last fifty years.

So, I choose to be mildly optimistic for at least two reasons. The first being what we just considered; indicators are not in and of themselves facts. Reason two: God is bigger than indicators. History is filled with story after story of God trumping indicators. Therefore I can pray with confidence in, "...the God who gives life to the dead (now there is a leading indicator if there ever was one) and calls things that are not as though they were." Romans 4:17

My conclusion is that with God in the mix it surely must be possible for a church to grow in every way that growth can be measured in both July and August, not to mention September - June. And that if He so chooses, even ministries that are experiencing great times of transition can experience an increase in both quality and effectiveness in the mission that God has called them to fulfill.

Finally, I would encourage all of us to respect rather than reject the leading indicators in our lives. Work hard and pray hard that the negative pictures they may paint do not come to fruition and that any blessing they may indicate is on the horizon does indeed flesh out in the end. But reverence, worship and trust God above and beyond all indicators, because only He is fully reliable.

Blessings,
PB

Quote: #8

2008-07-21T10:11:00.003-04:00

"Think how we feel when we see someone we love ravaged by unwise actions or relationships. Do we respond with benign tolerance as we might toward strangers? Far from it...Anger isn't the opposite of love. Hate is, and the final form of hate is indifference...God's wrath is not a cranky explosion, but His settled opposition to the cancer...which is eating out the insides of the human race He loves with His whole being." - Becky Pippert