Thanks to my pastors
Great post here by Thom Rainer that makes me want to thank Dr. W.O. Vaught and Gary Turner (both in heaven), Scott Duvall, Roger MacDonald, Sonny Tucker, and Shawn Barnard for being great pastors to me for God’s glory.
Each of these remarkable men were used by the Lord at key, formative times in my life. I’m so humbled every day to see hints of their ministry in mine.
Serving God as His people’s pastor in a specific local church is one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences a person can ever be called to. Each of these has served long and well. I pray for their protection and longevity, their purity and their passion.
I’ve now been a pastor for just eight years. I’m so grateful for the people of two great churches that I’ve been able to serve. But I’m more grateful for the sustaining God who supplies the wisdom, grace, patience and power to continue. We serve because He lives.
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Notes from Refuel 2011: Stephen Furtick
Mark 5.
It’s important to be honest before God’s people and not stand before them constantly presenting an unblemished life.
Jairus and bleeding woman. Someone else’s miracle can be your discouragement. Imagine Jairus’ heart. Jesus went with him! And now his daughter was dead! Have you ever had a dream or vision that has died in process?
Others are celebrating, but you are mourning. What you hoped would happen has not happened. It’s gone from bad to worse. We like Jairus say, “Why bother?”
Mark 5.36 “Ignoring what they said…” best verse. Sometimes walking in radical faith means practicing selective hearing. Are we going to listen to them or listen to Jesus?
“Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Jesus said to a man whose daughter had just died… Some of you are trying to figure out something that God tells you to “just believe.” Don’t apply human logic to divine promises.
The reason God isn’t moving in your situation is because He is above your situation.
5.40 “but they laughed at Him” I hope someone is laughing at your vision! And then he “put them all out.” Be courageous enough to get rid of the laughers and doubters.
“Hey Jairus, He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it!” (Philippians 1.6)
Is it possible that God let something die in your life to show the world that He has something better in mind that will display His power and glory?!
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Notes from Refuel 2011: Ed Stetzer
Idolatry… Identity… Conversion.
“… you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thess 1:9-10)
We have been transferred from darkness to the kingdom of light. (Colossians)
The Gospel is not “you do” but “Jesus did.”
Idols are the gods of the illegitimate rebellion. Other people’s idols are easier to spot than our own. Not all idols are carved stones of primitive people. “Put to death then… Which is idolatry.” we exchange the truth of God for and worship something created rather than the Creator.
Be careful that the attendance of the church doesn’t become the idolatry of your heart. You will sacrifice yourself on the altar of your idolatry. Stop chasing after the idolatry of ministry success. When idolatry drives us, idolatry dominates us. Get over your man crush on Mark Driscoll and pastor the church God has given you.
Unjustified fears and worries. You can’t have fear of the future and faith in God at the same time. Too many are afraid of the churches God has called them to lead.
Can you as a minister say, “I’m not afraid of telling the truth. I’m not afraid of making the hard decisions.”
Acts 17.30 the worship of idols is “ignorance”
Conferences like these can encourage idolatry. It can become ministry pornography. An unrealistic picture of the ministry you’re never gonna have that distracts you from the real, wonderful thing that He’s given you.
Worship of God. It redirects our loyalties and reorders our priorities. I would say that idolatry is worship of anything other than God.
We are like East TN during the Civil War. They seceded from TN when TN seceded from the Union. We are the rebellion against the rebellion. Turned to God from idols. We are rebelling against the rebellion.
Too many have been received vaccinations in lukewarm Gospel presentations, churches that has insulated them against the real thing.
It’s easier to look like a godly pastor rather than to be a godly pastor.
Conversion causes us to be rebel with a new hope.
If everyone in the world is bowing toward idols and we’re not, then we stand out. When He returns, do you want to be forced to your knees or on your knees?
1 John 5.21, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”
Recognize your own propensity to idolatry.
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These Pretzels…
It’s one of my favorite episodes of Seinfeld. Every time I hear someone say something with the same cadence of “these pretzels are making me thirsty,” I get it stuck in my head for days.
Recently I gave in to the obsession. Watch the results.
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A heart like mine
Miranda Lambert has a hit song on the country charts right now called A Heart Like Mine. It’s an excellent example of spiritual rationalization and selfishness.
Here are the lyrics (I’ve included a video link below):
I ain’t the kind you take home to mama
I ain’t the kind to wear no ring
Somehow I always get stronger
When I’m on my second drinkEven though I hate to admit it
Sometimes I smoke cigarettes
Christian folks say I should quit it
I just smile and say “God blessâ€â€˜Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine
And I bet we’d get along just fine
He could calm a storm and heal the blind
And I bet He’d understand a heart like mineDaddy cried when he saw my tattoo
Said he’d love me anyway
My brother got the brains of the family
So I thought I’d learn to sing‘Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine
And I bet we’d get along just fine
He could calm a storm and heal the blind
And I bet He’d understand a heart like mineI’ll fly away
From it all one day
I’ll fly awayThese are the days that I will remember
When my name’s called on the roll
He’ll meet me with two long-stemmed glasses
Make a toast to me coming home‘Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine
And I bet we’d get along just fine
He could calm a storm and heal the blind
And I bet He’d understand a heart like mineOh, yes He would
Miranda, Jesus does understand your heart. And that’s why He has lovingly offered you His. Your heart… my heart… all our hearts are hardened by sinfulness and selfishness.
In fact, our hearts are the problem, Miranda. You wouldn’t want a surgeon to use a dirty scalpel on you during surgery. Neither can you appeal to your heart as a defense against allowing God to change your life.
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” (1 John 5:21)
“Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. ‘All of you listen,’ he said, ‘and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.’ And then he added, ‘It is what comes from inside that defiles you… For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.’” (Mark 7:14-15, 20-23)
One thing I think you’ve got right, Miranda, is that Jesus would love to spend time with you. And yes, He understands. He made you, and He loves you. But as catchy as your song is melodically, let’s not allow ourselves to elevate our own hearts above God’s.
It’s not our heart and its concerns that matter. It’s His heart. Rather than “a heart like mine,” let’s hope for a heart like His.
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From bin Laden to baptism
It’s been an eventful week…
On Sunday night, May 1, 2011, President Barrack Obama announced to the nation and world what social media had begun to viralize as news just hours before – that Usama bin Laden was dead. As we now know, he had been killed days earlier on a secret mission by a Navy SEALS unit.
The announcement sent Twitter and Facebook smoking with traffic. The internet was humming with the news as world citizens either celebrated or pontificated on his death.
It didn’t take long for American-flag-waving citizens to gather outside the White House, at Ground Zero or in bars around the country. Emotions ranged from extreme jubilation to quiet reflection on how so many could celebrate someone’s death.
As a pastor, I wrestled with the implications of it all, as did many other Christians. Some of the best articles I’ve seen on a biblical response to Osama’s death this past week were written by John Piper and Michael Kelley (Michael’s entry also links some other thoughtful responses).
I think Proverbs 28:28 has been proven true in the aftermath of 9/11:
When the wicked rise, people hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase.
In the ongoing war on terror, every country has had to “turtle.” The world has lost its innocence in the last 10 years due to the manifest hatred of radical Islam. Goodbye Happy Days. Hello TSA.
The shocking news of Osama’s death replaced tornados and floods as headliners this week – even though recovery, funerals and grief are so prominent in our nation as a result.
And so the week began.
Today I celebrated the spiritual birth of a new believer. He had come to the U.S. for a special educational program that only lasted two weeks. While here, he was assigned a language partner who goes to our church and shared with him the hope that all peoples can have through a love relationship with Jesus Christ. He believed and surrendered control of his life in faith to follow Christ.
Because he leaves in the wee hours of Sunday, I was contacted by a student to ask if we could baptize him. We readily agreed to do that, and this afternoon, in our portable tub, a small crowd gathered to celebrate new life and obedience.
What a week. Osama bin Laden’s death brought closure in so many different ways. But his death cannot give hope. As the student today was immersed in baptism, I celebrated what the death of Christ made possible for all who believe. Hope. Life. Full and eternal.
How was your week?
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Spain Mission trip
On June 23, all of us – Jeff, Carolyn, Sam and Adelyn – will board a plane in Roanoke with a team from our church. Our destination is San Sebastian, Spain, where we will be working there to minister to the Basque people.
The Basque are one of our world’s “unreached people groups.” Less than 2% of the 2.5 million people in this group have a relationship with Jesus Christ by faith. The region is predominantly Catholic, but mainly in name and ancient history. (Source: The Joshua Project)
We’re in process of raising the money for our trip (estimated to be about $1600/person, so $6400 for the family). If you’re open to giving to help us, please click the button below, and the money will be given directly to Northstar Church with a memo for the Noble’s Spain trip.
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Review: Wrestling Prayer
Christians struggle to know God because they live prayerless lives. They fail in representing His heart to the nations because they have failed in this critical area of relationship. Prayer defines our experience with God. If we don’t pray, we can’t claim to know the heart of the Father.
Eric & Leslie Ludy’s book Wrestling Prayer was recommended to me by one of the collegians in our church. It’s been a significant addition to my understanding of prayer, and it’s also going to be a continuing shaper of my prayer life as I continue to meditate on some of the thoughts that are shared in it.
A few words to describe the book: Inspirational. Deeply challenging.
It will indeed help you “recalibrate your version of Christianity to the Almighty’s standard.” (Ludy)
I really do look forward to an enriched prayer life due to it’s encouragement. I readily recommend it to anyone looking for a powerful provocation for prayer.
A few notes. It’s definitely an imaginative book. It uses passionate imagery and language to make its case. If you’re looking for a good study on prayer, this is not it. Its theology is a little stunted since it relies so heavily on moving imagery, challenge, great quotes, experience and anecdotes.
It takes great liberties with scripture – using mainly allegory rather than sound interpretation to make its points. I don’t contest many of their conclusions, but I detest how people want to make a sound point but then twist scriptural analogy to do so. They could have made equally sound points without sticking to the story of David and his Mighty Men.
Any analogy, when forced, breaks down. In their effort to glorify David’s mighty men and compare them to the disciples of Jesus in this book-long analogy, they neglect to observe that the mighty men may not have actually been godly men. They were loyal to David, but they may not have been loyal to God.
In fact, Joab, who is David’s right hand man (and held up as a continuing example in Wrestling Prayer, expressly defies David’s orders on at least three different instances, committing murder. His offense is so eggregious that one of David’s last wishes was for his son Solomon to kill him, “Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.†(1 Kings 2:6)
I still recommend the book, but read it with discernment. Don’t miss the powerful and compelling arguments that are presented. If received with humility, they will be useful for a prayer transformation in your life.
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Hearing what you want to hear
We have selective auditory capacity. We literally choose to hear only what we want to hear. It works visually as well.
Proof positive? I can call my kids to come do a chore, and they claim (after I storm into their presence irritatedly) that they never heard me. However, if it’s time to eat or go somewhere fun, they show up before I finish saying, “Let’s go.” In the same way, our son can walk by discarded dirty clothes on the floor for a week without being able to see them.
Sounds like normal kids and teens, doesn’t it?
It’s unfortunate that we perpetuate our selectivity into “maturity.” If someone speaks truth to us that we don’t want to hear or consider its implications, we “turn a deaf ear.” We conveniently “overlook” significant issues that might make us uncomfortable.
The reverse is also true. We voraciously consume flattery. We love to hear from others anything that might make us feel good, smart, funny or good-looking. I hear less and less of the latter…
It’s a problem that’s been around a long time. In the New Testament letter of 2 Timothy, chapter 4, verse 3, its’ recorded:
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
Hearing what we want to hear is a contagious disease that inflates our egos. With this perverse selection of unreality, we can truly not discern truth after a time. We construct a play world with ourselves at the center, and only what lifts us up reaches our ear drums.
The age-old adage for news reporters is a good guide here:
“Consider the source.”
For instance, if someone with extremely poor vision, wearing coke-bottle-lens glasses bragged to you about your looks… while looking slightly off into the distance… you would probably discount their compliment. And wisely so.
It’s the same for whatever else you’re allowing into your selection. Consider the source. Is what you want to hear coming from someone you would trust with your life? Are those whose compliments you dine on truly speaking significance into your life? Or do they turn around and utter the same banalities to the next person they want to impress?
The good news? There is Some One who will always speak truth into your life in a way that will benefit and bless you – even if it’s not what you initially want to hear.
What you want to hear only matters if it comes from the right source.
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Invite someone to your church for Easter
We’re so excited about the opportunity and joy of proclaiming Christ’s resurrection tomorrow! Are you?!
Did you know that studies have shown that almost 80% of people would come to church if they received a personal invitation?
However, according to this article last year, less than 1/3 of Christians are regularly inviting people.
Consider this statement from an article titled:
Invite a Friend to Church for Easter – Probably Not
It’s not that we don’t want unchurched people to come to church. We do. If asked, most of us will say we are for it. But, we don’t want to be the ones to do it. We don’t actually want to ask someone to come to church with us. We’re afraid to invite someone to church. Which likely means we’re also afraid to share our faith and tell them about Jesus.
That’s problematic considering that surveys regularly report that somewhere between 80% and 90% of all new Christians first came to church because they were personally invited by a friend or relative.
To put that in perspective, advertising such as direct mail regularly accounts for less than 2% of all new people. A pastor’s invitation is around 6%. Evangelism programs like the Alpha Project weigh in at about 6% as well.All of which means that the personal invitation of a friend or family member is the single most effective way of getting someone to come to church, let alone introducing them to the Christian faith.
Sadly, only a third of all Christians feel up to doing that. The rest seem willing to leave it to the pastor or a direct mail advertising blitz. (Source)
It’s not too late. Pick up the phone. Go across the street. Send a personal email. At the very least, post something on Facebook.
He is Risen! Your friends and our world wait to see credible, joyful evidence in our lives!
I know many of you will be traveling, and it will be hard to invite a friend to church when you will not be present. But that simply means…Â there’s another Sunday coming! Invite them to Jesus. Invite them into His presence with others. That’s church.
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About
Notes from the Trail
The Personal Blog of Jeff Noble
Info: From the misty hills of Virginia, "Notes from the Trail" seeks to encourage you on your journey. Written by a graphic designer-pastor, this blog is a blend of humor, insight, and faith discovery.
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