"The One"

“The One”

A noted pastor and author was getting into his car one Sunday morning to lead services at his church when he saw his next door neighbor running across the lawn. The pastor asked what was up and was told that a pipe had burst and his house was flooding—could he help? The preacher made a quick call to an assistant, said, “You’re on today, I have an emergency!” and proceeded to help his friend. The pastor made Jesus look good by putting his faith into action.

One Sunday while serving in New Hampshire an usher came to me after our first service and reported that one of our young mothers was on her way to the hospital with a brain aneurysm. I found our associate, asked him to take charge of the later service and Karen and I hurried to be with the family. God answered prayer and miraculously healed this lady and, like Peter’s mother-in-law, she resumed serving soon afterwards.

Acts 8 tells of the ministry of Philip (part of the first group of seven deacons—see Acts 6:1-7) in Samaria where “When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.” (Verse 6) with the outcome of “…great joy in that city.” (Verse 8). In the midst of this great movement of God an angel told Philip to go to “…the desert road….” (Verse 26) and he obeyed. Why? There was one person who needed to hear the message of Christ: an Ethiopian official on his way home from worshiping in Jerusalem (Verse 27). At his invitation Philip “…told him the good news about Jesus.” (Verse 35). The man believed, was baptized and “…went on his way rejoicing.” (Verse 39). (Some church historians have suggested it was this man who introduced Christianity to Ethiopia.)

What do these three accounts have in common? That someone left the many to carry out (in Karen’s words) “Ministry of the Moment” to one in need and in each case God brought great outcomes to His glory. In Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) He shows how the shepherd left the flock to search for one and there was great rejoicing when he found it. Sometimes, then, it’s more important to be with and serve the one rather than a large group.

The gospel message may be preached to huge crowds but God still touches people one at a time (which is why it’s crucial to have trained counselors to speak individually to those who respond). So I must ask myself, “Who’s the one God wants me to reach out to?” With Philip may I be quick to obey.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Why Will They Come?"

“Why Will They Come?”

In 1989 Kevin Costner starred in “Field of Dreams”, a fantasy film depicting an Iowa farmer’s building a baseball diamond in a corn field. I saw the movie some years later and the thing I remember most is the saying, “If you build it he will come.” Since then this quote has cropped up in other contexts but is usually rendered, “If you build it they will come.”

When the first covered sports stadium, the Houston Astrodome, was opened in 1965 one of the Astro players observed at the end of the season, “This year they came to see the Dome. Next year they’ll come to see us. We’d better deliver.” So the novelty of a new stadium wears off quickly and the attraction becomes the team (or teams) which use it. So “If you build it they will come” has (in the words of our Manchester Associate Mike Conneally) a shelf life. “They” will come only if expectations of performance are met.

1 Kings 8 relates the account of the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem to the worship of God which had been constructed under King Solomon’s leadership. It was a beautiful building and the people came by the thousands. Within a generation, however, the nation had fallen into idolatry and the magnificent Temple became corrupted and a place of ritual rather than true worship. So “they” came for a time but the luster wore off and the structure was later destroyed by Babylon,

Today God’s people sometimes get the idea that a new building is the answer to the question of how a church grows. Initially new people may come, but as with the Astrodome it’s often out of curiosity rather than commitment. Statistics tell us that only a small percentage choose to attend a church based on a building but almost 2/3 do so when invited by someone they know. And they keep coming because of the chance to establish meaningful relationships, biblical preaching which provides help in answering life’s questions and knowing they’re loved and accepted unconditionally. In other words, they stay if we who make up the church deliver the goods in a way that meets them where (and as) they are.

Maybe the “why” question can be best answered by changing the quote to “If we build them up they will come.” Paul wrote to a church that had grown in faith and numbers, “…Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, emphasis added). It wasn’t a structure that drew people in (there were no church buildings then)—it was believers’ practicing their faith. May we do likewise!

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Need to Know"

“Need to Know”

In my work at the hospital I have access to patients’ records by using my personal password (which I’m required to change quarterly for security purposes). But the Health Insurance  Portability and Accountability Act (better known as HIPAA) guidelines state that I can view information only if I need to do so to perform my assigned duties. If I misuse this privilege I’m subject to consequences up to and including termination. So I’m constantly asking, “Do I need to know this?” If the answer is no I don’t look; if I’m not sure I consult with our Department Director.

My dentist and I were discussing HIPAA after a recent appointment and he told me of an incident in which a celebrity had died and the body brought to a hospital for an autopsy, A few days later the CEO called about a dozen physicians and some forty staff members to a meeting and fired them all on the spot! The reason? They had gone into the deceased’s chart when they weren’t involved in the case. This should make anyone think twice before allowing curiosity (or nosiness) to dictate one’s actions.

There are times God functions on a “need to know” basis. Even though “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness’” (2 Peter 1:3) we sometimes want to know more than He’s chosen to reveal to us. In his discussion with Job Zophar asks, “Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?” (Job 11:7). Obviously not. But we’re still prone to want to know what we don’t need to. For example, some try to predict the time of Christ’s return even though He said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36, emphasis added). If Jesus in His humanity didn’t know this how can any of us presume to know it? Or when John heard thunderous angelic voices and started to write he was told, “Keep secret what (was) said. Do not write it down.” (Revelation 10:4, NLT), Any speculation surrounding these words is pointless—if God wanted us to know them He’d have told us.

We must acknowledge that “There are secret things that belong to the Lord our God….” (Deuteronomy 29:29, NLT) which we don’t need to know. How much better to follow God’s counsel given to Joshua, “Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it (i.e. what we need to know), Only then will you succeed.” (Joshua 1:8. NLT). All I can say is Amen!

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Ministry of the Moment"

“Ministry of the Moment”

At a recent meeting of our church’s “Honor Bound” men’s group the leader asked the members to share experiences of unexpected opportunities to touch others’ lives. Several (including yours truly) did so, giving real life examples of what Karen calls “Ministry of the Moment”. These occasions may interrupt our plans but let’s remember Solomon’s words in Proverbs 16:9: “In (one’s) heart (one) plans (his or her) course, but the Lord determines (one’s) steps.” (My paraphrase: “God reserves the right to change our plans.”) The results of these unforeseen encounters bless both the helper and helpee.

Over the past several weeks Karen has practiced “ministry of the moment” in several ways. She stayed with a church lady afflicted with dementia so her sister/caregiver could attend a support group for those dealing with such circumstances. She also helped a member of our Sunday School class pack up her kitchen wares in preparation for a move. In another case she sat with a friend in the hospital’s surgical waiting area while her husband was undergoing a heart bypass procedure. Then she took a widowed friend from our small group to and from outpatient knee surgery and stayed with her at her home until a family member arrived. She also accompanied another widow to the ER for treatment. And when called upon she’s willing to prepare a dish for a funeral meal or other time of need. She’s certainly put into practice Paul’s admonition in Galatians 6:10 (Phillips): “Let’s then do good to all (people) as opportunity offers….” (I shudder to think of all the times I’ve blown chances to exercise “ministry of the moment”—for an example see my earlier article “Being a Friend”.)

Jesus was ready to minister in unanticipated ways when He healed a woman with an uncontrolled bleeding problem while on His way elsewhere (Matthew 9:18-26), talked to a Samaritan woman at a well (John 4) and raised a widow’s son to keep her from becoming destitute (Luke 7:11-17). He was never too busy to help those in need. And in so doing He gave dignity and blessing to those who were looked down upon by society (in these three cases women) and left us an example to follow.

We may not know what to do when “ministry of the moment” presents itself but God’s promised “…grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16). So when the opportunity knocks let’s open the door to bring a blessing (and at the same time be blessed).

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan