Balance

Do you ever get the sense that God came through for you just to shut you up?

While listening to Sunday’s message, I began to feel this way. I was feeling burnt out and engaged in emotional reasoning, much like Elijah in his journey to Horeb that we explored from 1 Kings 19.

I could tell a lot of stories in my life that all end in the phrase, “But then the money didn’t work out for that.”  At least twice in the past three years I’ve started saving up to buy a motorcycle, but then an appliance broke down that I couldn’t fix on my own, or a medical visit produced extra bills I hadn’t expected. In my small press publishing days I would reach deals to split the cost of a joint print run or collaborate on a project, but then I came through on my half of the job and my partner didn’t.

I was having another predicament just like this one on Sunday, and trying not to meditate on how once again the money wasn’t working out, when suddenly my wife had to take a phone call and left the service. When she returned, it seemed she had landed an unexpected new job that would pay enough to get us through the current scrape. Just like that, without fanfare or foreshadowing.

Well, that broke up my whole train of negative thought. And that feat, in itself, was better for me than the financial windfall. In Psalm 34:9-10 it states, “Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” As this verse describes, God constantly shows us his faithfulness, rekindles our trust in Him and reminds to get out of the solitude of our own thoughts, as He did with Elijah in 1 Kings 19.

As we heard on Sunday, symptoms of burnout include undervaluing both our own worth and our work, overstating our own problems and abdicating our own dreams.  And there’s a four-point plan right in Elijah’s encounter with God after the storm that gets us back on track: rest and refresh, let go of our own frustrations, focus once again on God and not ourselves, and resume serving others.

We can get into emotional reasoning during isolation and burnout, and our minds start making a case for whatever maudlin self-delusion of the moment seems to feel true, rather than what faith and a clear mind would show us actually is true. And it doesn’t even take long to get into this rut –when I’ve studied this passage before it’s always amuses me how Elijah gets this low so soon after prevailing in the test of fire and routing the prophets of Baal. And shortly after he laments to the Lord all in earnest that “I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life,” (1 Kings 19:14), the Lord responds, “I have reserved unto Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him,” (1 Kings 19:18). 

Nothing like a little injection of factual truth to disrupt Elijah's stewing and ruminating. And this week, I can relate.

If you, too, find yourself in the same frame of mind as Elijah is in this portion of scripture-- because many of us will sooner or later -- I challenge you to get quiet for a minute. Instead of complaining, open your ears to hear what God is may be trying to tell you over your own noise.

Written by: Chad Halcom

Edited by: Tamara Sturdivant

The Bottom Line

Most of us are familiar with the story of David and Goliath. David was a young, unassuming shepherd boy, and Goliath was a strong, intimidating fighter. As the story goes, David was remarkably empowered by the Lord to defeat Goliath, which resulted in an Israelite victory over the Philistines. While I have always loved this story and viewed it as a great testament to God’s power and David’s trust in Him, I was inspired this Sunday to view it in a new light. Beyond revealing God’s power and David’s boldness, this story illustrates the relationship that God has with humanity; a covenant relationship that was established long before David’s time.

Throughout the Old Testament, as the Israelites struggle to maintain their faith, God continuously reminds them of a promise. As He states over and over again, “If you will be my people, I will be your God.” In the context of David and Goliath, it’s so cool to see this promise come to fruition. As David steps out in faith and does as the Lord asks, collecting stones and preparing to fight Goliath (1 Samuel 17:40), God saves the Israelites from the Philistine army. Not to mention, He allows David to directly participate in the defeat of Goliath. How cool is that?

While there is much to be said about God’s unwavering commitment to humanity, we must not forget our side of the covenant relationship. In order to reap the reward of God’s favor, we must do our part. In the story of David and Goliath, David had to make a choice to pursue God’s will. Unlike the other Israelites who tried to come against Goliath with their own strength and tactics, David looked upward. As he was being taunted by Goliath, he declared, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied,”  (1 Samuel 17:46). As this statement illustrates, David was not self-seeking. He was not fearful of the obstacles in his way, nor was he prideful. Rather, he was confident in the Lord. He knew that in order to overcome the battle, he needed to place his trust in God and follow Him, no matter what that meant.

David’s attitude throughout this portion of scripture is something I admire greatly. Whether times are rough or going smoothly, it’s my natural inclination to desire control. The reality is, however, I NEED God to help me overcome the challenges I face. I NEED God to guide me in my decisions. I NEED God in order to be the best version of myself. I NEED God to fulfill my purpose in life. The good news is, God’s part of the covenant is a guarantee. He has already promised to fulfill my every need. It is up to me, however, to accept this promise by aligning my life to His perfect will.

This week, I challenge you to examine yourself in relation to this story. Are you like David, actively seeking God’s will? Or do you relate more to the others, seeking to overcome the challenges of life through your own strength? Let us make decisions that uphold our end of the covenant with God. Let us live “the bottom line.” 

Written by: Tamara Sturdivant

Edited by: De Ann Sturdivant

Next Generation Celebration

  

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

Disclaimer: Today’s blog post is brought to you by one extremely proud pastor’s wife so there will be lots of exclamation points.

 How exciting was it to celebrate NextGen Sunday?! (For those of you in my crowd – the 30somethings and up –  NextGen means “Next Generation.”)

When I first stepped foot through the doors of Freedom Christian (then Warren Assembly of God) in 1991, I was very young. My youth played out before the entire church as I dated the pastor’s son.  I eventually married him – I was still pretty young then, I might add. We entered youth ministry when we were fairly young, as well. When we accepted the lead pastorate here at Freedom, we were considered relatively young, by church leadership standards.

You probably noticed the theme in that last paragraph: Young. What I’ve always loved about Freedom Christian, from my earliest memories of it, was that I never once felt “looked down on” because I was young. Our church has consistently embraced the children, teens and young adults of our church – not as the “Church of tomorrow,” but as the Church. Today. Period.

Aaron and I strive to continue to foster that atmosphere by empowering young leaders and providing important places for them to serve and minister without requiring hurdles and hoops to jump over and through before they “attain the elusive goal of maturity and theological prowess required to serve.”

Adults of Freedom Christian, hats off to you for valuing the importance of young people by allowing them to do important things! You’re nailing that first part of 1 Timothy 4:12 – you’re not looking down on the youth of our church simply because they haven’t lived as long as us!

But equally as important, to the younger crowd (Glo Kids, Remix Youth Ministries, The U): You are nailing the second part of the verse. You’re setting an example in your speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. That was obvious on Sunday.

All youth and young adult-led worship! The choir number that included Glo Kids and Remix Youth! The Glo University Team which included the BGMC Leadership and Worship Teams! (Which is made up of elementary school kids, you guys! They take time out of their schedules and commit to leading these teams with excellence!) Remix University – you’re using your gifts and talents to further the Kingdom of God! And the young adults that are part of The U are integrally involved in ministry leadership positions all throughout Freedom! (Exclamation points!!!!)

What really struck me was the Remix Class of 2016 – wow! Yes, scholastic accolades were a part of the day, but each person is clearly making a difference in the Kingdom of God, in the lives of Pastor Tyler and Nicole – and everyone you encounter! You’ve lived out your youth as shining examples of what God is doing in and through you. The way you’re walking your faith is making it impossible for anyone to look down on you because you’re young!

Finally, I know I speak on behalf of the pastoral leadership of Freedom (myself and Pastor Aaron, Pastor Travis and Anna Buerky, Pastor Larry and Jenny Clair, Pastor Chris and Jenelle Kelly, Pastor Tyler and Nicole Ryals and Pastor Cal and Denise Szalach) when I say, we cheer on the children, teens and young adults and we need you to partner alongside of the older generations to do the work of The Church!

And I trust that the people of Freedom Christian – young, old and everyone in between – will continue to live out 1 Timothy 4:12 – each and every word.

Written by: Jaime Hlavin

Edited by: Jenelle Kelly

Taking the Plunge

Several years ago, when I was a courts and crime reporter at a different company, a colorful and worldly older gentleman sitting with me at the back of a courtroom tried to impart some advice. A man goes into his old age, he said, with three big regrets: his first wife divorcing him, his second wife not divorcing him (I did say he was a worldly man), and one big chance he never took.

Lots of guys have at least one life story about the missed opportunity to invest in a startup company that would later be worth billions, or the girl they couldn’t work up the nerve to ask on a date, a career change that would have paid less but could be much more personally rewarding, or the chance to make a kind gesture that would have been embarrassing or awkward but at the same time really helpful to someone. And we all have the stories we tell ourselves for years to come about why it was infinitely wiser to play it safe and take no risks. And when we tell ourselves that story, about not taking that chance, we aren’t convincing anyone.

Although I had to heavily filter advice from the man I spoke with years ago, I could not completely dismiss all that he said. And this point came back to me in a bit purer form in last Sunday’s message. David in the Psalms says to God that “in your book were written every one of… the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them,” (Psalm 139:16). That implies that God has a plan or a story written for each of us from the beginning, and we can’t always see it when we’re living it out. Abraham didn’t know there would be a nation of Israel, Isaiah didn’t know how important a Nazarene woman and a Roman census would be, and we don’t know what our great-grandchildren will need the Lord to have put into the world to inspire and motivate them – but we all still have our own purpose to fulfill. This can mean taking a big plunge, to take a challenge where we can’t guarantee we’ll succeed. Not because it’s what the wisest man we know might do in our position, but because it’s what we’re made to do, and the reason God even has us in this position.

This is unsafe stuff. But take some security in the fact that all the Lord asks of us is a willing heart – not necessarily to have all the details worked out when we act. But fortunately, there are several practical steps we can take to prepare. So let’s be sure to:

1.         Tap into your destiny. How does someone do that? Prayer is a start. The God who made you has a wonderful plan for your life, as the old salvation message tracts used to say, and he’s not shy about discussing it with you (at least, what you need to know).

2.          Do your homework. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail, the adage goes, and planning is not unfaithfulness. Your plan should be spirit controlled, but in the planning phase we often learn God’s timing.

3.         Accept the possibility of failure. I opened a small press label in 2002 to publish inspirational stories in graphic novel format. In its five years in business it was a pretty unmitigated disaster, and I was crushed to close it. But the skills and relationships I gained through it still prosper me today. I’m better for having tried it, and God measures success differently.

4.          Be willing to take the plunge even without all the answers. If you knew all the ramifications of what you’re going to do, then you might have put your faith in a pretty small thing. But God rewards even mere modicums of faith; his word says so.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him,” (Hebrews 11:6). I pray your faith will challenge you now and then, for there’s little reward without risk.

Written by: Chad Halcom

Edited by: Brigit Edwards