15th May, 2008
Casting Pearls
When seeking to help another, one must exercise care to do what would be appreciated and beneficial. Mentoring is just what is being related to here. Casting the pearls or the “holy”things of God, sacred if you must, should not be cast out to those that cannot and will not understand them.
“Do not give that which is holy (the sacred thing) to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before hogs, lest they trample upon them with their feet and turn and tear you in pieces. ” (Matthew 7:6, AMP)
Mentoring was never intended to just throw out knowledge that has been learned from God into the atmosphere where it can be trampled under foot. The process of mentoring is for the growth of individuals that tend to generation to generation. If someone cannot value what you have to teach, then do not give them the depth nor the riches of mentoring. They will use the teaching to manifest their own selfish interests and in turn could very well mentor someone deceitfully. Of course, we must teach and preach the Word in all areas that are open to us but be careful not to just throw out such depth that the unholy or carnally minded can use the precious promises of the Word to their own advantage.
Mentor those who wish to learn and apply what they have learned into the lives of others. In turn they also will pour into others and so on. The Word of the Lord is what brings change to the lives of the hearers. But if the ears are clogged with jealousies and doubt then what has been sown will fall on stony ground.
Best
Dennis
All Scriptures used in this blog post are from The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Posted at 10:23 pm | Comment (0)
12th May, 2008
Where Are The Mentors?
Where are all the young ministers that have scope and gumption to work in the harvest fields of the 21st Century? I suppose one could say that they are out to pasture and not very interested in what they see or hear today. Maybe though, there are not any mentors willing to teach them the “steps” of ministry. Could it be that the mentors today have no idea on how to approach this modern society with its complexities and social injustices? Is the Church going through “mentor” withdrawals? Could this be the reason so many blogs are seeking the response to questions that center around what the Church should be and is not today?
It seems to me that when I look across the horizon of Church growth there is not the established line of growth that has been written down in the rolls. There is quite the opposite. A mass shrinkage of “pearls” and “jewels” that could be polished and cut into gems fro the King!
The vertical scope is not changed. It is the Church looking up to Him and Him looking down to us. The Church is worshiping in the manner of “performance” and “pleasure” and the Lord is seeking truth and spirit. Somehow the horizontal has been pitted with competitive approaches and attitudes which has blinded the scope of evangelism in America and her Churches.
That is why we need mentors to return to simply mentoring! Learning and teaching how to reach this complex society. The “human” being today has the basic physiological make up and psychological attributes as always but now with added intricacies. More emotion and certainly wanting more than a shallow answer to life’s myths and uncertainties. For example, they want to know who Jesus is not who started this “Church” building program or denomination. They could care less about that! It getting to know who He is and what He is all about. You know what? That takes mentoring and nurturing to bring someone along that path. There are so many choices in society today that it is like churches can be compared to restaurants! Which style and which decoration could be inviting the next guest?
Good Bible truths and some rockin’ acoustical music with a little added salsa just may be the flavor for you! However, do not forget that mentoring is not about anything else but teaching the truth about who Jesus is and designing an attitude with gratitude that Christ does care. More to come….
Just a thought
Dennis
Posted at 9:22 pm | Comment (0)
11th March, 2008
Looking For An Answer In Church?
Positively, there are some new and upcoming young pastors that are recently retooling the way the “Church” locally should be presented to the community where it serves. Last month when I was in Maryland, a pastor contacted me and wanted to know how to take the church he is pastoring outside the walls. I have certainly taken it to heart to explain that process to him. Actually, throughout the United States there is a move to “change” the approach and methodology of application in presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so enthused to see this come about. For years I personally have been praying for this “moving” outside the walls of the church and bringing Christ’s love in real application and with a life-giving force of care and compassion. Pastors and teachers must approach this modern generation with a “word”, “teaching” and “message” that has action to it and brings relational building blocks to the person listening. I mean one can stare at the television and see nothing and hear nothing. I wonder how many people in church today just stare and see nothing and listen and hear nothing? The utterances must be applicable to the situation of the times and render an answer that will bring comfort to the hurting heart. People are disillusioned by what they have seen and heard in church for the past several years. Pastors and teachers should be bold in their communication skills and presentations using media and education. It is about truth not clouded and translucent verbiage that has pride and fear at its roots. God’s plan is rich with integrity whose foundation is secure for everyone to walk upon in equality of love and service. Lets keep praying for these young warriors, who will take the Church to the level of true religion in today’s 21st century. Lets pray for them to be adopted by spiritual “Fathers” that will guide and teach them truth along the way.
My Heart To Yours
Dennis
Posted at 12:11 am | Comment (0)
17th February, 2008
Back To The Blog World
Well here I sit at my “blogging” machine, wondering just what direction to take in 2008 for all you blogsters (word not yet in dictionaries) out there in blog space! I really desire to be radical, more that I have been! I probably will write stuff that will offend the ordinary and hopefully encourage the relationally courageous. Those that really desire to see change in the world of religion and traditional realms.
I mean I can write and tell you how many I had in my “outside, without walls (literally), church today. O.K. I will: 218! So did that do anything for you? Probably not! It never does for me when I read church statistics. I really think that “normal” church is boring and packed full of pastoral worship and religious design. Sort of like a “cool” glass of milk that looks so refreshing, but when tasted it is really curdled and sour!
A friend of mine, ( a really cool dude) is starting a church in Charlotte, NC. This person has no presumptions of religion just a hope to see change in a lost heart. If I was in Charlotte I would attend his church. He meets in a restaurant. How cool is that? That kind of radical action get my blood flowing in a good way. His church is entitled The Salt Mine Church and it is rockin’ with love and great Bible teaching.
I hope that you catch what I am writing! Go to churches that have radical purpose and get out of those mausoleums that make no noise for the mouse to hear! They are just tombs that entertain the dead above ground!
Peace
Dennis
Posted at 10:00 pm | Comment (1)
22nd January, 2008
Rain, Rain Go Away
It’s raining here and we need it but I wish we could do without it! This really makes me think of life as it rolls by and takes us for a long ride. There are things that happen in life that I really wish it would go away. As mentioned before, with a deep sigh, we need the lessons that life teaches us. If you think you have the bull by the horns you have better look to make sure it’s not a measly little calf that you have ( I know calves do not have horns)! These lessons in life throw me for loop and when I land it really hurts! How about you? But when I get up I really appreciate the ride I had been on! I learned to be stronger and more courageous! The Word mentions the fall of a righteous man:
Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning. (Proverbs 9:9 AMP)
For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity. (Proverbs 24:16 AMP)
The [consistently] righteous man knows and cares for the rights of the poor, but the wicked man has no interest in such knowledge. (Proverbs 29:7 AMP)
Where this comes into practice for me, at least, is a progression of principles:
- Instruction is needed to live this life holy and upright before God.
- Trials come and tribulation can be excessive but you should never give up on life dreams.
- Having a concern for life and for the outcome of others will give you knowledge that cannot be found in a classroom.
It is still raining out, but I have decided to learn from it and not run from getting wet!
Peace
Dennis
All scriptures used in this blog article are The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Posted at 10:42 pm | Comment (0)