A wise old saint once posed a curious scenario. They said, “Imagine you live in a place where you get to be present with all of your ancestors. The past generations who have died are all alive, and you live in continual fellowship with them. And now, imagine God is not there.”

What he was hoping to accomplish is for people to see what they are longing for in life and death. Most people are interested in eternity because of who they will spend time with there. What they fail to miss is that eternity is about God. We get to spend time with him.

My fear as a Church leader is that some people have made their hope in heaven all about people. They misunderstand the nature of our everlasting home. The byproduct is that they are not too excited about worship here on earth. They would much rather spend their time on a family outing than in worship because that is where their heart lies.

For those who long for God and live to praise his name, heaven is about reaching the goal of our faith. Heaven is a place where we finally get to be in the presence of God and worship him completely.

Sure, I hope and pray my family is there with me. That is why I share my faith with them now. That is why I point to the God I love as the center of all I believe. I want them to see the glory of the Lord and long to be with him too. Then in heaven, we can worship together with the author and perfector of our faith.

It is a mistake to place our joy for eternity in the hands of your family. The blessing of heaven is that we finally get to spend time with the God whom we have been longing to see.

Those who no longer attend Church are quick to point out its flaws and place blame.  I have heard everything from “the Church hurt me,” to “they are all hypocrites,” to “I am no longer a part because of what was said to me there.” 

I wholeheartedly agree that some bad things have happened in the Church. However, I also have to spend a few minutes clarifying the issue. First, there is no such thing as a “Church in general.” There is no unspecific group of no-named people who cluster together with equal parts forming a whole.  No, the Church is a group of individuals that form a contributing community. 

Usually, when I hear statements about “the Church,” I want to clarify who it was that hurt you.  Most likely, it was one person, a couple of people, or a tiny group.  It is extremely rare that people have problems with everyone in the community of believers.  It is always a few individuals who caused the problem. 

Here is the harsh truth: it is easy to walk away from the Church and blame the whole group for your current situation.  The hard work is to handle the issue constructively. 

It is tough to confront the sins of another person.  When you point out their flaws and failures, they are rarely happy about it.  It is even more complicated when they refuse to listen, and you have to go to the leaders and talk through the difficulties.  It will be ugly and messy and will push the limits of your faith in God along with your trust in people. 

It is incredibly challenging when you might have to forgive someone.  After confronting them, they may see their mistake, and they might need forgiveness.  That would mean trusting God in a whole new way. 

To confront and then forgive is unnerving.  To be confronted and then ask for forgiveness is humbling.  To deal with the seen and unseen issues is a path few are willing to walk.  It is tough and painful to live in a right relationship with God and others.  It is much less complex to walk away and blame those left behind.  Remaining a part of the group will push and grow you in every way.  Unfortunately, resistance is what it takes to build muscle both physically and spiritually. 

Most of my life could be described with a “but” statement.  People say things like, “I enjoy his preaching, but he is not very good with people.” Others have said, “I like his personality, but I don’t like his leadership.” The list of possibilities is long: “He is a good father, but …  He is a good husband, but …  He is a good Christian, but ….” 

There are things people love about me, and then some clarifying statement always follows it.  In other words, I have my act together in one area of life, but another area needs drastic improvement. 

One of my new goals in life is to slowly change my “but” comments to “and” before I die.  I want people to say things about me that include the word “and.” Something like, “I enjoyed his preaching, and he lived what he preached.” Possibly, “He was a nice guy, and he was there for you when you needed him.” I want people to say nice things and then want to add to it and not clarify. 

This means pushing myself every day to improve in the facets of my life where I have shortcomings.  That leads me to do things that seem unnatural and uncomfortable.  I also realize it requires me to fail repeatedly until I get it right.  The changes are not always immediate and are taking a lifetime to take hold.  One day I hope to be the kind of person God desires, and that means making an effort to change my “buts” to “ands.”

The followers of Jesus should be full of confidence and have a heart that shows no signs of backing down in the face of difficulties.

The Apostle Paul said it this way to believers in the city of Philippi, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).  He believed that if he was alive, then his life had purpose and meaning in the mission of Jesus.  If he died, he was going to be in heaven with Jesus.  He was not afraid to live or die because of his faith. 

Paul also writes to Timothy and reminds him that believers are filled with the Holy Spirit and then adds this line. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) When someone becomes a believer, they are then given the Spirit, and it is to fill us with power to live and speak for Jesus. 

Whatever situation a believer finds themselves in, they are not at a loss.  In this life, they have the power and presence of God with them wherever they go, and should tragedy befall them; they have the hope of eternity.  It is a no-lose situation. 

The other night I watched a group of basketball players walking into a ballgame, and someone said, “Look at that swagger.” The word means exceedingly confident, often expressed in their gait.  It can border on arrogance, but that is not required.  My immediate thought was, “We need some Christians with a little swagger.” People willing to hold their heads high not because they are great but because they trust a great God.  The victory is secured, the hope is eternal, and the joy is complete. 

There are times when the plea is for humility and a servant’s heart.  Other times there is a need for a bit of swagger.  I don’t know what you need to hear, but I guess you could use a shot of confidence to make it through the week.  Hang tough, God will take care of you, and there is nothing to fear.  You are already on the winning team.  If that doesn’t give you a little extra swagger, nothing will. 

This Sunday is Father’s Day, and it is a little special for me.  This is the last one that my youngest will be living at home.  This reality has me reflecting on the lessons I have learned while raising four boys over the previous 23 years.

1. God makes each one of us unique.  Each of my boys is a unique individual.  We tried to raise them alike, but they all turned out so different. 
2. All my advice is highly questionable.  I know what worked for my boys and me, but there are few universal principles because every kid is unique.  (Remember that when you give advice!)
3. Sports loses its appeal.  My boys were all good athletes.  But everything they were told about it was half-truths to total lies.  Scholarships are a scam, and the trophies you win mean extraordinarily little in the course of a lifetime.  Plan your life accordingly. 
4. The joy of brotherly love.  Nothing makes their mom and me happier than watching our boys connect with each other.  We pray it lasts a lifetime.    
5. Family time is precious.  Enjoy every minute of it.  Put the phone down.  Listen.  Talk.  This life is but a mist, and the years a child lives at home seem like a few hours.  Slow down and savor the moments your family is together.
6. Give children room to fail … and succeed.  It is hard to watch someone you love make a fool of themselves, fail or come up short.  Those are ways we genuinely grow.  Back off and stop helicoptering your kids, and let them learn some lessons the hard way.
7. Build lasting friendships first.  Everyone is telling young people about dating and sex, but what they really need is close friends who will stay with them over a lifetime.  Cultivate your kid’s friendships far more than relationships with the opposite sex. 
8. The ultimate joy of faith.  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth (and no more incredible pain than when they are not).
9. It’s tough when they leave home, but you will both be ready.  I have shed a few tears with each child as we dropped them off at college.  They were a mixture of sadness and joy. 
10. Adult children are fun too.  I enjoy sharing funny texts with my boys.  We watch games together when we are able.  Now we talk about adult things, and I still enjoy every minute I get with them, and I am sure this Father’s Day will be no exception.  

These are just some of the things I have learned along the way.  Perhaps you have some lessons about parenting you would like to share, especially as we head into Father’s Day.  Please comment and let everyone know.  We are all in this together. 

The higher the number, the greater the chance of success. 

Make a huge number of sales calls, and you will make a large number of sales.  Ask enough people on a date, and you are bound to meet Mr. or Mrs. Right.  Spend enough hours on the water, and you are bound to catch some fish.  Write enough songs and the greater the chance that people will love one and it will become a hit. 

It applies to almost every arena of life.  This includes your spiritual life. 

Listen to enough sermons, and one will touch you in a way you never expected.  Teach enough lessons, and one will impact someone else in a deep and meaningful way.  Share your faith or invite enough people to Church, and someone will respond positively.  Read your Bible repeatedly, and some of it will begin to stick in your brain and change you. 

The problem for most people is not that they are doing something wrong.  The issue is that they are not doing it enough. 

The Green Bay Packers are my football team. 

I refer to the team as “my team,” and I talk about “our draft picks” and “our management.” I proudly wear their shirt when they are winning, along with displaying other paraphernalia around my house. 

Let me also be 100% honest here.  I have only attended one game in person in my entire life.  Also, I only watch games when it is convenient.  If there is a chance to go fishing or hunting, attend Church events or participate in a family activity, I don’t mind missing it. 

I also do not own any shares in the team.  I donate no money to the Packers team or any of the causes they support.  I don’t volunteer at anything they do, and I doubt I ever would.  I do not serve them or with them in any way. 

They are my team; by that, I mean that I own some Packers stuff and cheer them on whenever it doesn’t interfere with something else I want to do. I’m a fan, not a fanatic. 

I wonder what people mean when they say, “That’s my Church.”

One interesting development in my years as a Pastor is visiting people in their homes.  In the early years, people wanted to invite my wife and me into their homes and share their lives with us.  Now, we rarely receive a request to enter someone’s home, and when we do, it is never on the spur of the moment.

I know the biggest reason for this change is the desire to keep things hidden.  If we come into your home on short notice, then we will see how people really live.  Things might be a mess, items might be out in the open the family doesn’t want me to see, and there has not been time to adequately prep everyone on what to say and do.   

Let me be completely honest:  Everyone (and by that, I mean every single human being) has something they are trying to hide in some area of their life.  It can be the remnants of past failures and poor lifestyle choices.  It can also be the current struggles and messes they are dealing with daily. But unfortunately, there are parts of our lives we keep for only a select few, and even then, we rarely talk about it. 

One struggle is for the followers of Jesus to bring their issues into the light.  Sin and shame only grow in the darkness.  The longer the past is undealt with, the heavier the burden becomes.  Current struggles do not go away by tucking them in the closet when people visit.  The only way to rid ourselves of our problems is to bring them out and address them. 

First, we need to be honest with ourselves and admit what we are hiding.  Then we must take it to God and confess our struggles to him.  Then we might have to go to some trusted friends to help us overcome the pain we feel and forge a new way forward.  Finally, we need to keep the lights on and not allow the darkness to return. 

One of our most prominent instincts is to hide our past failures and current struggles.  Unfortunately, that is not the path to a better future.  Only by dealing with the things we are trying to keep hidden will they finally be removed from our lives.  The dirt swept under the rug is still there, and it is time to deal with it. 

They said, “I am going to quit because I just don’t feel like doing it anymore.” I knew they meant they were no longer emotionally invested in the project, and it felt like work. The fun was gone, the feelings of excitement were absent, no one noticed their effort anymore, and the job had become routine. 

I knew exactly what they were saying because I feel it every Monday morning.  As a Pastor, I am on an emotional high on Sunday.  There is the sermon, dealing with people, programs to pull off, and a full day of exciting work.  Monday morning, I am emotionally drained and do not want to sit down and start working on another sermon.  Each Monday morning, I think about quitting the ministry and going to do something else.  Instead, I get up, pack my bag, and head to the office. 

The Lord’s work is usually done by people who get up and do the right thing without fanfare.  They serve, lead, pray, worship, and share their faith when they are emotionally drained, not feeling the love, and would rather quit. 

It’s Monday, and there are very few of us who jump out of bed ready to take on the world.  There are even fewer who are prepared to take on projects for God today.  My simple encouragement is to keep doing the right thing.  Take one foot, put it in front of the other, and go where you need to go.  Take one hand, put it to work, and then raise the other and do what needs to be done. 

Even great work is rarely filled with joy all the time.  Some days are a grind.  The people who make an impact on this world are those who keep doing the right thing even when they do not feel like it. 

When I first entered the full-time vocational ministry, most people regularly attended Church gatherings. Numerous Churches offered gatherings on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening.  It was not uncommon for a person to be in the Church building four to five times a week.  They were there for all three worship celebrations, once for some committee meeting and another time for choir practice or some special event. 

With time, most Church leaders and Christians recognized this overkill.  A family could barely do anything besides attend worship, and pastors were exhausted trying to preach and teach each week repeatedly.

Slowly Churches began to drop meetings from their schedule.  I immediately quit doing Sunday night and changed Wednesday night to a small group instead of worship.  Eventually, my mantra became simply: “Attend one, serve one and grow one.” Each person was encouraged to attend a worship program once a week, serve somewhere once each week, and be a part of a group that helps them grow spiritually once a week.  I still believe this and use the exact phrase I have been telling people for years. 

The interesting transition has been with the people.  I used to say it to get people away from the Church building.  Some people wanted to be at Church every night.  They knew no non-Christians, often neglected relationships, and learned more Bible than they would ever obey. 

Now the opposite is true.  I use the same expression to get people to see the need for a Christian community in their lives.    Every Christian needs to take time each week for worship.  They need to drop everything and focus their attention on the praise and worship of God.  Every Christian needs a place where they can serve in the name of Jesus.  I believe the Church is still the best way to do this.  There you can use the resources of the community of faith to do almost anything in the name of Jesus.  Finally, I genuinely believe that every Christian needs to spend time growing in their faith.  This happens through sermons, lessons, and various teachings, but it also happens best with other people.  Each person needs someone to connect with them to show them their issues and offer grace with instruction. 

After all these years, the need for the community of Christ-followers we call the Church still exists.  Every believer needs to spend time with this community, but not too much.  It is a delicate balance.  I have watched the pendulum swing through the years, and it will probably turn back again one day.  For this time in history, Church attendance is still a part of the journey of faith like nothing else. As a Pastor, I am here to lead others to it, encourage it for everyone, and defend it to anyone who thinks it is unnecessary. 

We all need the Church, and I hope each of you can find a place to “attend one, serve one and grow one.”