Encouraging Words from Cary Schmidt » christian life

Here’s a VERY BIG Bag of Seed…

caryschmidt — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:47:47 +0000

Would you like to know about a completely free, biblically reliable resource that could help you and those you know to greatly grow in the Word of God? If so, keep reading! You’re gonna like this!

A few years ago we built preaching.lancasterbaptist.org and launched it, and it keeps getting better! Our media team works diligently to archive in multiple formats all of Pastor Chappell’s preaching, as well as special guest speakers such as this week’s revival meeting from Dr. John Goetsch.

Each sermon, shortly after it is preached, is placed in it’s own series and archived by date. Video and audio files are posted and downloadable to any device. And all of the material is also subscribe-able via iTunes podcasts and RSS feed. Imagine having all the messages of Lancaster Baptist Church automatically streamed to whatever your favorite viewing or listening device may be!

Also, every sermon is tagged and searchable by text, topic, title, keywords, etc. For instance, when you visit the site and enter a search for “Ephesians” you will discover more than 45 sermons—audio and video—from that single book of the Bible! Searching for the word “love” provides 36 sermons. You can imagine what a fantastic resource this could be if you are studying a particular text and topic.

Why blog about this? Because it’s a HUGE resource that we have actually said very little about. There are years and years worth of sermons and preaching series from Paul Chappell available at your finger tips—and ALL of them shareable, tweet-able, and useful in a myriad of ways!

So get to it. It’s free. It’s for you. And it’s about the power of the Word of God. Think of all the people you know, those who need Christ, or those who need encouragement, who may be helped because you shared or tweeted a link!

We are trying to hand you a very BIG bag of seed. What will you do with it? We pray that you will grab it and start planting! God’s Word NEVER returns void!

Happy harvest!

Repost: Ideas for Your Walk with God

caryschmidt — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:35:57 +0000

Does your devotional walk every become routine? Mechanical? Do you ever find yourself going through the motions, but rushing and not really enjoying personal fellowship with the Lord?

Each of us is responsible for developing our personal walk with God, and in doing so, I challenge you to keep it personal (be transparent before Him, He already knows you), keep it consistent (daily or close to it), and keep it fresh (do whatever you must do to keep from losing interest or falling into a boring routine.)

Along with those three suggestions, here is a quick list of 20 ideas that might help you break out of the mechanical and develop your walk with God in a new way:

1. Read the Bible in Places Where You Can Understand It—don’t be afraid to read another passage if you’re getting bogged down in a complex portion of the Bible.

2. Read Good Books about the Bible or Biblical Truths—lose yourself in a good book that contains a lot of scripture.

3. Use a Bible Software or Study Tools to Help You Understand—things like Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary of the Bible is free online. Take advantage of the insight of others.

4. Read the Bible from a Big Picture Perspective—read a whole book or lengthy passage, rather than just a short chapter.

5. Ask God to Teach You Something that You Need—expect Him to answer this prayer and speak to you.

6. Make a Record of the Things that God is Teaching You (Journal)—whether by hand or on computer, write down what God is teaching you.

7. Tell Someone Else Something that God Taught You (Godly Friends)—what a great use of social networking and a great conversation starter with a friend.

8. Talk to God Openly and Take Time to Listen to Him—don’t be afraid to sit quietly before the Lord and listen.

9. Literally Take a Walk with God and Talk to Him—walking will keep you awake and engaged.

10. Make a List of Prayer Requests and Record When They Are Answered—there’s something very special about looking back on all those answers.

11. Listen to Godly Music and Think about the Message—great Christian music will take your heart to a very special place with God.

12. Listen to Preaching or Teaching from Past Events—what a great use for an iPod.

13. Read Biographies of Great Christians—discover how others developed their lives for the Lord.

14. Spend Time with God in Places You Like—the beach? A park? If you enjoy being there, He will enjoy being there with you!

15. Include God on Other Activities of Life—God is with you all day, so He doesn’t mind if you talk to Him while you eat, fold laundry, exercise, or mow the lawn.

16. Give God the Time You Give to Some Other Form of Media—He’s vastly more enjoyable than Facebook, TV, cell phone, and video games all combined!

17. Give God Quiet, Uninterrupted, Unrushed Time—find moments when you aren’t in a hurry and give those to God.

18. Plan Specific Times to Spend More Time with God—have you ever set aside a larger chunk of time just for the Lord? Try a few hours or a half a day some time.

19. Write Out Scripture or Prayers/Letters to God—what a great way to place God’s Word into your heart and to record your walk with Him.

20. Don’t Quit if You Miss a Day—if you missed yesterday, that’s ok… God is still waiting to spend time with you today.

This is a short list, so help me out. What are some ways you have creatively developed your walk with God? Share them below…

He’s Never Even Dropped a Pizza!

caryschmidt — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:21:19 +0000

Earlier this week I was drying my hands in an airport restroom when I overheard a conversation between a father and his two-year-old son. Dad was handling diaper duty and he had placed his son on one of those flimsy, plastic changing tables that fold down in public restrooms. The boy, being at the size limit for one of those tables, was nervously feeling the inherent instability of this device—which was producing some crying and anxiety.

Through moans of uncertainty and nervousness the boy hesitatingly said, “Ohhhhh… me not like this…” his tones were long and drawn, and then he continued, “I gonna fall…”

Dad was doing his absolute best. First, he was hurrying! He didn’t want this to take any longer than necessary. Second, he was speaking comfort.

“C’mon buddy, I’ve got you. I’m right here. It’s ok!”

The boy groaned again, “No… I gonna fall…”

Then the Father replied, “Hey, I have never, ever dropped one of my children off of one of these these things! In fact I’ve never dropped one of my children at all! I’VE NEVER EVEN DROPPED A PIZZA!”

With that, the misery came to an end. He lifted the boy off of his temporary table of torture, buttoned him up, and lowered him to the floor. Standing upright again, the boy’s anxiety disappeared and childish security flooded back into his heart. He bounded ahead of his dad and on with the good life.

I couldn’t help but think of the times I’ve been placed into discomfort by the will of the Heavenly Father—some of those times when I felt I was on a very unstable “changing table.” (Not too sure I like that metaphor!)

In those times I want to moan and complain. In those times I feel unsafe and vulnerable. I wonder if God is about to drop me! I feel like everything in life is about to fall out from under me.

It’s then that I’m reminded—God doesn’t do that. He doesn’t drop us.

No matter where you are, if you have Jesus as your Saviour, you can be assured He is in control. He isn’t going to drop you. And he most certainly will use these trying times to change you! Trust Him today!

HE’S NEVER EVEN DROPPED A PIZZA!

“My times are in thy hand…” (Psalms 31:15)

“When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.” (Psalms 94:18)

No related posts.

Become More Rooted in Christ This Year

caryschmidt — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:01:03 +0000

Are you desiring to walk more faithfully and personally in the new year? This small idea might help…

Our theme at Lancaster Baptist this year is “Rooted in Christ.” One of the resources that we’re praying God will use to help families and friends is our daily devotional website and email. For the last couple of months we’ve planned a redesign and relaunch of this resource on January 1.

The Rooted in Christ daily devotional contains a short devotion from Pastor Paul Chappell, followed by an Old Testament scripture reading, a New Testament scripture reading, and a chapter of Proverbs each day. The scriptures are IN the email, so you could read through the entire Bible this year by simply reading the email!

There are some easy ways to be a part of the Rooted in Christ Daily Devotional:

First, you could subscribe via email at www.dailyintheword.com/today. You won’t receive junk email, but you will receive the daily devotional as a daily email.

Second, you could subscribe via RSS feed. If you don’t presently use RSS to read recurring content like blogs, it’s a great way to bring all the content of your choosing to one place on a regular basis.

Third, you could book mark www.dailyintheword.com/today in your browser.

Finally, I hope you’ll consider sharing this resource via Twitter, Facebook, or your own website or blog. Feel free to distribute, repost, announce, post in a church bulletin, or otherwise spread the link to the Rooted in Christ Devotional. We pray that tens of thousands of God’s people around the world will be blessed by this daily reminder to walk with Jesus.

Repost: Christmas From a 4-Year-Old

caryschmidt — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 17:27:39 +0000

A friend of mine who serves the Lord at the BBN Radio Network sent me this link to the Christmas story told by a four-year-old little girl. It blessed our family. It will captivate you from the first word! Merry Christmas!

This was recorded and is available on CD from Jeff Apthorp, Sound Amazing Studios. The little girl is Valerie Apthorp, Jeff’s daughter. She was four at the time and is now 18, preparing to be a missionary. Much thanks to Tim Young for sending this!

Tebow On Mic During the Chicago Game

caryschmidt — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:34:58 +0000

This past Sunday evening, I watched in awe as ESPN commentators literally fell speechless. Then they resorted to words like “magical” and phrases like, “something much bigger at play here” to try to describe what happened in the Denver game vs. Chicago. The Broncos came back to win a game that anyone would have called unwin-able.

Now, I don’t believe that God really cares who wins an NFL football game. But I do believe that God honors those that honor Him—and this video reveals that Tim Tebow really does have a real relationship with Christ and a genuine compassion for others. There’s no doubt in my mind that God has given Tebow a platform to exalt Christ—and He’s only enlarging that platform for His own glory.

This clip is a collection of clips of Tebow on mic during the game. It’s amazing, convicting, and well worth watching. It’s a life-lesson on Christlikeness, leadership, and many other scriptural character traits. If every Christian had this kind of personal relationship with Christ—the world would be radically different.

Enjoy the clip!

No related posts.

Whose Campaign is This?

caryschmidt — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:42:16 +0000

In an interview recently, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich made a statement that absolutely grabbed me. The statement requires a bit of background, so bear with me. (And the point of this post is not political—this is all leading to a more important point.)

Early in his bid for the Republical nomination, the Gingrich campaign seemed to hit bottom. News media reported that key players of his campaign staff were jumping ship quickly. Most people wrote him off. And yet, over the months, Gingrich stayed in the race and (as of this writing) continues to climb in the polls and to be considered a legitimate contender.

In reference to this moment when his campaign seemed to stall, Gingrich was talking about a fundamental difference he had with his campaign staff and key consultants. They had one type of campaign in mind and he had another. They wanted an aggressive, attack campaign made up of 30-second attack ads. He wanted a positive, solution-orientated campaign made up of 30-minute, inspiring speeches. Just one problem—he was the boss! And it finally came down to a decision to part ways. During the philosophical disagreement, he made this statement to his consultants:

“I would love to have you run MY campaign, but I’m not interested being the candidate for YOUR campaign.”

Whoa! The implications of that statement, when applied to Christian life and ministry, really struck me.

Many Christian leaders are not interested in running Christ’s “campaign”—they are more interested in using Him as the Candidate for their own campaign. The carnal church movement is doing just that. Having abandoned true Biblical discipleship—the “take up your cross” brand of Christianity, they use Christ as the poster-child for a much more man-centered, flesh-satisfying, moderate brand of Christianity. The incessant and insatiable pursuit of relevance, trendiness, and hip ministry; the never-ending thirst to “reinvent church”; the perpetual longing to “appeal” to seekers; and the unrelenting need to somehow mask the “less attractive” aspects of Christ and His ways—it all reveals a deep flaw in the foundation of this movement.

In Revelation chapters 1-3, Jesus makes it clear that He’s not interested in being the candidate for “our campaigns.” He isn’t interested in luke-warm Christianity or church-life where He is required to stand outside the door and knock. But He still calls us to run HIS campaign—to be laborers together with God and to work the work that He left us here to do, indeed, the work that He commissioned us to do. It’s His work, not ours. It’s His agenda, not ours. (Thy will, not my will.) And it should be done His way, not the way we feel is “most effective”, “most attractive”, or “most relevant” to the world. His way is already effective, attractive, and relevant—in transcendent ways—and it doesn’t need to be disguised or reinvented. It needs to be revived and obeyed!

On a more local level, the same could be said of staff members who work to support the vision of a Sr. Pastor. Are you running his “campaign”, or are you merely using him (or his flock) to facilitate your own agenda? We need a revival of team ministry—a renewal of godly leaders who are willing to unite themselves in service together towards a common vision, regardless of who gets the credit, or holds the “Sr.” position.

Time and time again I have been reminded that I’m not to be using Jesus or others as candidates for my own campaign or agenda. I would much rather be a part of something much bigger. I want to expend my life to do Christ’s work, His way—and on a human level, to support the biblical vision of a man I call “Pastor.” What a privilege to be a part of something so much more valuable and eternal than a political campaign. And what a joy to partner with other servant leaders for a cause larger than any one individual or personal agenda.

Don’t get caught up in running your own campaign and attaching Jesus to it.

Lose your life in His, and partner with others for His glory alone!

Lord, Thank you…

caryschmidt — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:09:03 +0000

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your love and for my salvation in Christ. My life and destiny would be utter, hopeless despair were it not for the cross of Jesus and your amazing grace! I thank you for redeeming me by the precious blood of Christ. Thank you for making me your child.

Thank you for your Word. It is the foundation of truth for everything that is blessed and good in my life. I have never regretted obeying it, but I have regretted not knowing it better. There is nothing better in life than opening its pages and hearing from you.

Thank you for my family. Not only did you allow me to grow up with godly and loving influences, you then blessed me with a wife and children who mean more to me than life. They convict me to become more like Jesus. Dana reminds me Jesus in her caring and loving servant’s heart. Lance reminds me of Jesus in his tenderness toward people and joyful nature. Larry reminds me of Jesus in his humor and his diligent, quiet intensity about things that are important. Haylee reminds me of Jesus in her kindness, sincerity, and desire for understanding. Thank you for allowing me to share life with them.

Thank you for my church and pastor. Thank you for a loving, growing church family led by a faithful, godly man who loves your truth and loves people. It is an awesome joy and privilege to be a part of Lancaster Baptist Church.

Thank you for cancer. One year ago today, chemo treatments had begun and life was quite uncomfortable and uncertain. Thank you for the unspeakable experience of walking with you through a deep valley, and for all the treasures of darkness found there. Thank you for allowing a trial to shape me in ways that nothing else could have.

Thank you for health. Today, cancer is in remission and health has returned. In both circumstances, You are GOOD—but I am grateful for the gift of more time to live for you. Only give me wisdom to use what’s left of my life to honor you. Thank you for a body that’s getting stronger, lungs that are healing, and energy with which to obey my calling.

Thank you for my calling. There is no greater joy than to help others understand your truth and walk in it—and then to see you bless them for it. As unworthy as I am, thank you for allowing me to teach the Word of God and serve Jesus with my life.

Thank you for meeting my needs (and wants.) You are exceedingly good, and you have sustained me every day in large and small ways. You have never left me needy or let me down in any way. I do not deserve the things you have blessed me with—both spiritually and physically—but I am grateful, and I desire to be a good steward.

Thank you for godly friends. You have filled my life with cherished relationships—a bit of Heaven on Earth. They serve with me, pray with me, encourage me, and sharpen me. They are spread out around the world, and in many cases, we don’t see each other very often—but they are blessed gifts from you that invest into my life in significant ways. I am grateful for each and every one, and I look forward to spending eternity together with them, thanking you!

Thank you for new life. It’s still awesome to see an unsaved soul choose to trust Christ as Saviour, and then to see the spiritual transformation that the Holy Spirit brings into a new heart. Thank you for allowing me to be a laborer together with you.

Thank you for the subtle stuff. Like an artistic, colorfully-woven tapestry, our lives are enmeshed in less conspicuous blessings that continually flow from your hand—things that we may hurry by and forget to notice. The color of autumn leaves, the sound of rain drops, the embrace of a loved one, the encouraging text message from a friend, the answered bed-time prayer, the quiet afternoon of reading, the music that lifts our lives toward you, the taste of our favorite foods, the millions of modern comforts and conveniences we experience every day, and the fellowship and delight that will garnish millions of Thanksgiving dinner tables today. What an artist you are to so graciously and marvelously create and weave all of this together for us to enjoy.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. A million times a million—Thank you.

“Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalms 106:1

End Note: Dear Reader—Thank you. God’s Word says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord, say so.” (Ps. 107:2) This Thanksgiving, I just wanted to sit down and write my prayer. To share it with you is just one way of obeying God.

But I do want to say thank you for stopping by this blog—whether this one time, or on a regular basis. I may or may not know you, but I’m grateful that you would allow me to have a moment of your time to direct your thoughts toward the Lord, or toward something that He’s been teaching me lately. I pray that, when you come to this blog, I am a good steward of your time.

And for those who come regularly, and then share a post with others—thank you for passing a long something that might encourage others. I am grateful that you would allow me to speak into your life and the lives of those you love.

Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

For Past Thanksgiving Posts:

Reasons I’m Thankful for Cancer

A Funny Reminder for Thanksgiving

Learning to Laugh with Each Other

When We’re Too Busy

caryschmidt — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 04:30:15 +0000

Life is busy. Honestly, in a given week or day, there is more stuff flowing at us (in the form of information and opportunities) than we can possibly comprehend, much less accept. Doing the right things in life means saying “no” to a lot more than you could ever say “yes” to. The challenge of the 21st century is saying “yes” to the right things, and accepting the built in limitations of the human condition. We just can’t do it all—though we often wish we could.

I’ve noticed something. Busyness is like a snowball. It’s size and magnitude grows simply by the motion of life, and it sort of sneaks up on you. We don’t realize we’re TOO busy until something starts to breakdown—and even then, we don’t always connect the symptoms with the real cause. For instance, fractured and stressed relationships sometimes have nothing to do with the heart or intent of the individuals, and everything to do with their schedules or level of fatigue.

Most everybody I know has a tendency to become too busy over time. And busyness is cyclical and seasonal—once you get everything back in balance, it seems it’s only a matter of time before your calendar is filled once again. Bad stuff happens when we get too busy and over-extended. Here’s a short list:

Our Walk with God Diminishes—it’s easy to negotiate this way— “I’m so busy doing things for God, that He will just have to understand why I don’t have much time to be with Him.” Somehow, I don’t think He’s holding a gun to our head either way. Yes, He desires that we serve Him with our lives. But He also desires that we walk with Him personally. Being too busy too walk with God is like poking a hole in your gas tank—you’re journey will be MUCH shorter for certain!

Our Physical Fatigue Increases—I know—DUH! Yet, I love the quote from Vince Lombardi: ““I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious” In fact, for a long time I had that quote hanging on my office wall. But I also love another quote from Lombardi: “Fatigue makes cowards of us all!” Funny that these both came from the same man, and they usually happen in that order! Sure—exhaust yourself in a good cause, but then catch up, rest, and restore. Don’t live in an extended state of fatigue unless you want to make some really bad decisions and have some very damaged relationships.

Our Relationships are Stretched—I really believe that the vast majority of marital/family stress and distress that Dana and I have ever experienced was more related to our schedules and fatigue than anything else. Now, before you get too “Utopian” on me—some stretching is simply unavoidable and even necessary—growth oriented. A young family, a growing ministry, and the regular pressures of a normal life bring with it a tension that stretches a marriage and forces needful growth on many levels. These are good things. Hard things, yes, but still very good and needful for long term strength and blessing.

But there is a line that can be crossed, and being TOO busy for TOO long only increases family frustration and emotional edginess exponentially. And it’s not only family relationships that are impacted. Co-laborers, friends, and ministry relationships can be hurt too. It’s simple. Being too busy means I’m mentally and emotionally “on thin ice”—edgy, tense, and stretched to my limits. It’s hard to have compassion, patience, and sensitivity towards people when my own emotional and spiritual “condition” is so fragile. Everybody pays when I’m too busy—especially those closest to me.

Our Health Suffers—When nearing the end of chemo, I asked my doctor what he would recommend I change about my life regarding the possible recurrence of cancer. While he couldn’t give me a “cause” or a “prevention,” he did say, “This cancer is an immune system illness. So do whatever it takes not to stress out your immune system. Eat well, rest properly, and recover when you’re sick.” Cancer taught me a lot, but one HUGE lesson was that I’m expendable in pretty much every area of my life, except to my wife and kids. The ministry doesn’t need me—I need the ministry. God’s work went along just perfectly without me. (Bummer.) Honestly, that wasn’t news, but it was a very real reminder that serving God is a privilege.

The other day my wife was asking me to “hurry” for some reason. I looked at her and jokingly said, “You’re stressing out my lymph nodes.” We both laughed. Simply put, nothing is more restorative to your health and productivity than rest, and nothing will enable you to have a long and fruitful family life and ministry more than being healthy—well rested and able to function optimally. It is possible to push yourself to a point where, for short-term gain, you ultimately cheat your family and ministry of long-term contribution.

Our Long-Term Viability is Threatened—We’ve all heard too many stories of people, who in short-term, low moments—moments of temptation, depletion, fatigue, or spiritual fog—made decisions that wrecked their family and ministry for the long term. Call it burn out, call it mid-life crisis, call is depression—there are a thousand causes and a thousand terms to describe or define conditions that bring us to poor decision-making. Over extending my life to get ahead for the short-term only threatens my effectiveness for the long-term. Some refer to this as “sustainable pace.” In other words, knowing that I must possibly faithfully run this race for forty more years, I’d better set a pace that will keep me running that long. You’ve heard it before—the Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. If you’re sprinting, you are not setting a sustainable pace, and it will eventually catch up with you—unless you are Superman. You are trading your long-term viability for short-term gain. Bad trade.

In my experience in life and ministry, the things worth doing take time—a lot of time—in other words, patience. Pushing myself to “get it all done now” is a dead end—there’s always more to do, and what was done “faster” wasn’t usually done well. Doing less and doing it well requires patience and persistence. Someone working more and faster than you may get more done this week, but working with sustainable pace will accomplish much more over time. It’s like the difference between a sparkler and a slow, deep-burning bed of coals. One is more impressive, but the other burns hotter for a lot longer.

Being too busy tends to feeds pride and ego—it feels valuable. Being rushed and in a constant state of urgency can be validating in our search for significance.

Being balanced feeds your heart for God, helps you nurture healthy relationships, and makes you stronger and more effective on every level of life.

Being too busy, you may get more done this week and people may applaud you for it. But being balanced, you will get more done in your life time, and God will applaud you for it.

Funny thing is—what I’ve said in 1,200 words, God said seventeen— “Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.” (Ecc. 4:6)

Now it’s your turn to choose. How will you live this year—busy or balanced?

Repost: 3 Reasons to Get Good Advice

caryschmidt — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:01:51 +0000

Isn’t it amazing how often people venture into major life-changing decisions without getting any outside, biblical advice. Why do we do this to ourselves?

Sometimes we fear that a counselor will have a private agenda and won’t counsel us honestly. At other times, we presume to know what our counselors will say, and rationalize it away without even talking to them. But the most common reason we don’t get advice is because we would rather not hear what we already know. Self deception is a scary thing—we would rather be wrong and fantasize that things will work out, than really build a good decision with plenty of outside, biblical advice.

God’s Word is clear—Proverbs 11:14, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”

God instructs us to bring in a multitude of counsellors on our decisions, but I find that many Christians sell godly counsel short—they don’t get the full picture of how valuable good advice can be. There are three huge dynamics in play when getting counsel. It’s not merely about getting a “yes” or “no” on a particular decision. It’s bigger than that, so let’s break it down:

1. Counsel helps define a right decision—this is the first and perhaps biggest aspect of getting advice—just determining whether a decision is right or not. I would never make a major decision in life without a team of people standing behind me saying, “Yes, that’s the right move!” It’s not about being unduly dependent upon others to make my decisions. It’s about having confirmation from the collective wisdom of a godly team of advisors.

2. Counsel helps to define the right process—we often miss this. It’s very easy to do the right thing the wrong way! Getting biblical advice is a great way to put a plan together. It’s not enough just to do the right thing—it needs to be done the right way, and a team of wise advisors will help craft a plan of attack that will give the right decision the right process.

3. Counsel helps to define the right timing—finally, it’s possible to do the right thing the right way, but at the wrong time! For instance, a young person might have found the right person and have the right plan for marriage, but the timing can be way off. Getting counsel is sometimes about waiting for God to prove the right time.

There’s nothing better than doing the right thing, the right way, at the right time! Getting godly, biblical counsel is about putting together this kind of decision. It’s a fail-safe way of finding and doing God’s will. Are you willing to hear what you don’t want to hear? Are you willing to define the right process? Are you willing to find the right time?

These three perspectives of counsel have proven helpful in our Senior High, College and Career, and Single Adult ministries. Perhaps they can be helpful if you counsel or teach others. Feel free to pass these concepts on to others as the Lord leads.

How to Pray for Your Pastor

caryschmidt — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:00:55 +0000

This is another recent challenge sent to me by Pastor Dick Hester—my friend. It was too great not to share. It’s a reminder of why and how we should all pray for our pastors. I hope these things will become a part of your regular prayers for your pastor. He challenges us in praying for our pastors in the following ways:

“Allow me to give some suggestions of things I pray for pastors and leaders:

I pray that they would love Jesus with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and that their ministry would never steal from them their first love, Jesus Christ.
I pray that they would love and serve their wife and family with glad hearts and that their family would have love for the ministry instead of resenting it for “stealing” their husband and daddy away.
I pray for a passion; for conviction and dedication to their calling and to Jesus Christ.
I pray that they will walk in confidence while kneeling in humility as gentle shepherds who care for their sheep.
I pray for encouragement in their faith and ministry, and against those who attack, slander, harm, or speak evil against them.
I pray that their teaching and preaching will be accurate, true, bold, convicting, encouraging, anointed, and Christ-centered.
I pray that God will guard them from burnout and depression.
I pray that they will never fall prey to envy, jealousy, insecurity, or comparison.
I pray for their holiness and purity, and against lust, affairs, love of money, and pride.
I pray for rest spiritually and physically, and that they know that it is not their ministry they are leading, but God’s.
I pray that they will finish better than they started.
I pray that they will take time to have fun, do things they enjoy, spend time with their wives and play with the kids, and get away often to find peace and solitude.
I pray for God to raise up people around them to assist them, serve them, honor them, encourage them, pray for them, admonish them, and protect them.
I pray that ministry, teaching, preaching, and leading will never become a chore for them, but that it would always be a joy and blessing to serve the Lord and His people with kindness and gladness, and that they would enjoy every aspect of leading, whether easy or hard, for the glory of God.

I pray these things for pastors or leaders. I hope all of us will pray them for one another.”

(Written by Pastor Dick Hester)

Are You a Builder or a Destroyer?

caryschmidt — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:51:14 +0000

Two profiles of Christian leaders are spotlighted, center-stage in this tale. Both would call themselves servants of God.

The Builder

One is a giant—in every imaginable way, a joyful, godly, spiritual giant of encouragement and mentorship—a builder. He has spent his life building. He builds everybody he comes into contact with. He loves, he gives, he encourages, he admonishes, he reproves, he exhorts, he emmulates and embodies the very spirit of Christ in a very joyful and practical way. He inspires others to live faithfully. He encourages them to serve Christ. He challenges them to remain faithful to God’s Word. He does it all with a smile, a warm heart, and a genuine love for Jesus and for people. His life is a vibrant testimony of the presence of the Holy Spirit and the likeness of Christ.

The older this builder grows, the more he is respected, honored, and the greater his influence becomes. He is a magnet drawing people into ministry for Christ. Everywhere he goes he attracts people to the Saviour. All over the world, people are serving the Saviour because of this builder. All over the world, people have been mentored, encouraged, helped, nurtured, and influenced by this treasure! He truly is a builder. He has built people. He has built the cause of Christ. He has built a life time of faithful and honorable service to Christ. And he is truly great.

The Destroyer

The other leader stands in stark contrast to the builder. He is a destroyer. He is contentious, and thrives on dividing, discouraging, and disparaging other Christian brothers. He has chosen to give his days in ministry to the sole function of inspecting others, finding fault, and magnifying it—the sole act of attacking other Christians.

Forgetting the power and providence of God, he has unethically slandered and hurt faithful Christians. Blind to his own pride, he has divided churches, attacked pastors, and acted with disregard toward many clear biblical principles. To discerning Christians, the carnal behavior of the destroyer is repulsive. He is a sower of discord—a man who claims to believe God’s Word, but directly dishonors it.

Unlike the builder, this man repels young servants of Christ. He discourages them. He dissuades them. He causes them to desire complete disassociation with his spirit and kind. Thus, with every misguided attack, his influence diminishes and the cause of Christ is damaged.

The builder and the destroyer stand in stark contrast to one another.

The builder will pass along a heritage, a legacy. He will end his life having invested into “gold, silver, and precious stones.” The destroyer will leave a trail of pain, hurt, and destruction. He will end his life regretting the “wood, hay, and stubble.”

So, you and I have a choice—today. Will you be a builder or a destroyer?

Will you be an encourager, a Christ-like lover of people, a believer in the next generation of spiritual leaders? Will you inspire and equip those coming behind you in life and ministry?

Or will you be a destroyer? Will you choose to take God’s commands about “reproof” and “contending for the faith” out of scriptural context and use them again fellow soldiers for carnal reasons?

Will you lift up yourself by hurting others or will you lift up Christ by building others?

A man recently said to me on the phone—”I’m trying to get out of the business of hurting people.” This was an interesting statement coming from a pastor who is called to be a shepherd.

Personally, I renounce dishonesty, craftiness, and the mishandling of God’s Word by destroyers. And I choose to embrace a life like the builder. I want to do everything I can to build others and pass on the heritage of my faith to the next generation of leaders who love Jesus.

Think about it for a moment:

Builders love people. Destroyers hurt people.
Builders draw people to Christ. Destroyers repel people from Him.
Builders are joyful and humble. Destroyers are arrogant and contentious.
Builders believe in others. Destroyers are skeptical of others.
Builders inspire people. Destroyers attack people.
Builders strengthen the next generation. Destroyers weaken them.
Builders love truth. Destroyers love the distortion of it.
Builders are spiritual. Destroyers are carnal.
Builders leave a legacy. Destroyers leave a stench.
Builders—gold, silver, precious stones. Destroyers—wood, hay, stubble.
Builders—like Jesus. Destroyers—most unlike Jesus.
Builders leave a heritage of faith. Destroyers leave a trail of hurt.

And one day, BOTH the builder and the destroyer will stand before Jesus and answer for how they stewarded their lives and influence.

So, choose wisely—today, and for the rest of your life. Be a builder. Be an encourager. Be a lover of people and a disciple-making mentor. May the ranks of the builders grow exponentially for God’s glory.

And most certainly, the ranks of the destroyers will diminish—for they are very good at devouring their own.

“But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” 1 Corinthians 11:16

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:14-16

On Becoming an Encourager…

caryschmidt — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:37:52 +0000

My friend and childhood pastor, Dick Hester recently sent me this challenge, and I wanted to share it here. I’m not nearly the encourager that I wish I was, or that I strive to be—but by the end of my life, I hope it can be said that I was an encourager. Pastor Hester is one of the greatest encouragers I’ve ever met, so I know his words below will challenge you to grow as an encourager:

“I think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew!” Ever feel that way? Difficult ministry situation, finances devastated by unexpected expenses, family member gravely ill. (Maybe not you, but a brother or sister in Christ.) You see stress on a colleague’s face, somebody has cancer, somebody’s son is on drugs.

When we encounter this, our first impulse may be to give advice, but better may be to give encouragement. The purpose of this letter is to help you to be an encourager. This is a reciprocal command given over and over in Scripture— “Encourage one another”. We may not feel we have the gift of encouragement, but we must do it! In Scripture I can name several great encouragers. Of course, the Holy Spirit is our greatest Example, as He comes alongside us as our Comforter. Then there’s Barnabas—three episodes are given in Acts of Barnabas being an encourager, along with the results of his encouragement.

On the Day of Pentecost 3,000 people came to faith in Jesus as Messiah. That is explosive growth, an immediate mega-church! New believers were seeing so many signs and miracles, nobody wanted to leave. The consequence was the Church had to house, feed, and care for these converts—it was overwhelming. Acts tells us all the early believers shared everything they had. Many sold houses and land, giving the money to the Apostles to distribute as needed. In the midst of all this, one who encouraged the early Church is singled out. His name was Joses, but after observing his life, the Apostles changed his name to Barnabas, “son of encouragement”. He sold his land and gave the money to help the needy. Later he is described as being “full of joy and the Holy Spirit”. That describes an encourager.

A second characteristic of this encourager is seen when he befriended and endorsed Paul. After his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul wanted to join the other Apostles in Jerusalem. But they did not trust him. They remembered his fierce persecution of Christians—as Saul—and were still afraid of him. It would be like an Adolph Hitler coming into a Jewish ghetto and saying, “I am converted. I am one of you.” Paul was left out, but Barnabas trusted him. I think it must have been discernment given by the Holy Spirit that assured Barnabas. He stepped up, using his own good standing with the Apostles, to convince them that Paul was a true believer. Later, Barnabas needed help with ministry in Antioch; he went and got Paul to help him there. After a year, they embarked on “Barnabas’ and Paul’s excellent adventure”. With John Mark as their helper and the Holy Spirit as their Guide, they planted churches all across Asia Minor. So Barnabas included Paul when he was left out. He commended him to the Apostles in Jerusalem, brought him into ministry in Antioch, and travelled with him on a missionary journey.

The third incident is found in Acts 15. Paul and Barnabas had a deep disagreement about taking John Mark on their next missionary journey, as he had deserted them on the first one. Later, Paul would send for Mark, but at this point it caused a split. Now, realize how close Paul and Barnabas were—they’d been through everything together: they’d travelled together for months; they’d preached and done miracles; they’d worshipped together; they had been threatened and stoned and had to run for their lives. But Barnabas gave up his best friend, Paul, in order to encourage John Mark. It was not done lightly or easily. He was an encourager filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Barnabas encouraged many, but perhaps especially Paul and John Mark. Look at the later ministries and writings of these two. We could say that by simply encouraging Paul and Mark, Barnabas indirectly influenced a significant portion of the writing of the New Testament.

How can we be encouragers? In Barnabas’ life we saw three standards: help the needy, include the “left out”, and believe in everyone’s potential. Barnabas’ biography makes me want to be an encourager. We all have that opportunity. Our lives, and those of others, mostly walk a tight line, juggling and balancing time, energy, and money. Often when the slightest thing goes wrong people lose their balance. They need encouragement. They may be thinking, “I’ve bitten off more than I can chew”. What can we do to encourage them, using the three standards of Barnabas? Let me suggest a few:

Give something— Barnabas had the ability to sell land and give money. Another way is to help provide transportation needs, or a meal, or babysitting; maybe just talk or listen. Often we can find our own solutions if someone will just listen.

We can write notes of encouragement. In fact, I save notes and emails of encouragement to me. What do you say when you write these notes? Just say, “I thought of you this morning, thank you for ____________ … you’re doing a good job”. A model to me is Howard Hendricks, who writes three notes of encouragement every day.

Spoken compliments—a sincere, simple compliment can lodge itself into a person’s heart and encourage long after we are gone. There are cases where we can say that we are in awe of a person, and that we know God will use them. Or to a person with limited abilities, that you appreciate the effort it takes for them to do something. The key is, don’t just think it, but SAY it.

Be a friend to one who is alone—especially a person from a different background, country, or culture. Make a point to engage them. Learn people’s names. They may be a server in a restaurant, or a person who changes light bulbs. Ask their names and thank them for their service. I heard of a college professor who asked this question on a test: What is the name of the cleaning man on the first floor of this building? It was a serious—for credit—question. Could you answer that type of question?

Pray and let people know that you’re praying for them. To people who are stressed, tell them you will pray for them regularly, or for a predetermined time. To the person whose family member is seriously ill, go to them and say, “I love you, I will be praying for you and your family.”

Finally, show up—at hospitals, hospices, funerals, weddings, birthdays. Go! Sometimes there is no substitute for showing up. It can change a person’s life! One act of encouragement can have a ripple effect. Who knows how far one word of encouragement will reach?

As you are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, consider whom you can encourage today. My prayer is that God will continually fill us with joy and the Holy Spirit. May the Lord make us encouragers!

(Written By Pastor Dick Hester)

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The Difference a Day Can Make!

caryschmidt — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:16:15 +0000

Hurricane Irene just churned her way up the East Coast leaving a swath of destruction and brokenness. My friend took the photo above and the one below—one day apart, and these photos struck me along with his statement, “What a difference a day can make!”

Have you ever had a day like the one in the top photo? Have you had a season when you felt like a hurricane was ripping through your life, out of control, and hiding any hope of sunlight and future? Some days it just seems like the sky is falling. Those are hopeless and seemingly helpless days. And during those times you wonder if life could ever return to some sense of normal. Storms can overwhelm and disorient your whole life.

But you know what? Hurricanes pass. Storms come to an end. The storm that kept you locked in midnight’s death grip can give way to a beautiful sunrise and a morning bike ride!

Hold on, trust God, and don’t make decisions you will regret when a new day comes. Claim God’s grace for one more day. Whatever you’re facing right now, take hope—the sun will return!

“…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalms 30:5

Repost: Spurgeon on Carnal Contention

caryschmidt — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 05:25:02 +0000

The Lord gave me a recent personal reminder of the damage that a carnal spirit, lies, slander, and envy can do through ungodly and hurtful communication—especially online. The following is an excerpt from C.H. Spurgeon that speaks powerfully to how we as Christians should invest our time, our efforts, and our words. May we live our lives and invest our time into things that glorify Christ and edify and encourage people. This quote has a powerful significance in this day of internet gossip carried out by carnal and undiscerning Christians. A friend shared this with me and I thought it might be useful to you.

“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.”

“Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance. The old schoolmen did a world of mischief by their incessant discussion of subjects of no practical importance; and our churches suffer much from petty wars over abstruse points and unimportant questions. After everything has been said that can be said, neither party is any the wiser, and therefore the discussion no more promotes knowledge than love, and it is foolish to sow in so barren a field.

“Questions upon points wherein Scripture is silent; upon mysteries which belong to God alone; upon prophecies of doubtful interpretation; and upon mere modes of observing human ceremonials, are all foolish, and wise men avoid them. Our business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions, but to avoid them altogether; and if we observe the apostle’s precept (Titus 3:8) to be careful to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and needless strivings.

“There are, however, some questions which are the reverse of foolish, which we must not avoid, but fairly and honestly meet, such as these: Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind? Am I walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Am I growing in grace? Does my conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Savior? Am I looking for the coming of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master? What more can I do for Jesus?

“Such enquiries as these urgently demand our attention; and if we have been at all given to caviling, let us now turn our critical abilities to a service so much more profitable. Let us be peace-makers, and endeavor to lead others both by our precept and example, to “avoid foolish questions.” —C.H. Spurgeon