God's Purpose for Doug Burr

Some years ago, I read George Barna's book The Power of Vision (click the link to buy the book) and began the process of seeking and understanding my own purpose. I say seeking, because it's not up to me to develop- rather it's up to me to discover what God designed me to do. Too often, we tell God what we want to do, but things never really work out when we go down that path!

The above Purpose Statement is the product of more than 10 years of listening and fine tuning (for a larger view, click on the picture itself). As you can see, my last revision was 11/03. At the moment, I'm fairly settled with this result, but certainly do not consider it the final document. If God shows me more, I'll change it as necessary.

You know, it's like the movie Toy Story. As long as Buzz Lightyear was trying to be a space hero, he was unhappy. But when he figured out he was made to make a child happy and started doing that, he was happy. There's a huge lesson in that for us all!

So what is your purpose? What did God design you to accomplish for His Kingdom? Notice I didn't ask what you want to do. You'll only find fulfillment in life if you follow the plan he's laid out for you. After all, you weren't made to accomplish what I was made to do. God made you as you are, just so you can do what he needs you to do.

When Silence Falls

I've been listening all morning (as I prepare Sunday's Service) to this new CD from Tim Huges. I like it a lot!

This link will take you to WorshipMusic.com where you can check out this and other CDs by Tim Hughes. I rarely buy from anywhere else anymore.

So check out WorshipMusic.com. Explore, buy something and get blessed!

Money-Back Guarantee

I'm about ready to offer a money-back guarantee at our corps on tithing:

If God doesn't bless you more than you give, you get your money back.

What do you think?

Self-Denial

This devotional thought is so good, I think I'll let it stand on its own:

A Fatal Moment

“Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- Jesus (Mark 14:38)

At times your spirit must demand supremacy over your flesh. Your spirit will know what your Lord wants you to do, but your flesh will cry out for its own fulfillment. There are times when sleep must be denied, even when you are exhausted, because it would be disastrous for you to rest at such a time. When the Lord commands you to “watch and pray,” it is crucial that you obey.

As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He knew that the pinnacle of His ministry was quickly approaching. He was aware that the legions of hell were marshaling their forces to defeat Him. If there were ever a critical time for His closest friends to be undergirding Him in prayer, this was it. Jesus told them that He was deeply distressed, even to the point of death. Surely they could have sensed the intensity in His voice and the urgency of His demeanor, and surely they could have found the strength to obey His request. Yet He found them asleep. No excuses. They had fallen asleep at the most pivotal moment in human history, not once but three times!

Jesus asks you to join Him in what He is doing. He may ask you to watch and pray for an hour. You may have to deny your physical needs and desires in order to pray with Him. You may have to leave the comfort of your bed or your home. You may even have to sacrifice your safety in order to be where Jesus is. Seek to bring every physical desire under the control of the Holy Spirit so that nothing will impede your accomplishing what Jesus asks of you.

- Experiencing God Day by Day (Henry T. & Richard Blackaby)

Resurrection Day!

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to see the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples he has been raised from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember, I have told you."

The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to find the disciples to give them the angel's message. And as they went, Jesus met them. "Greetings!" he said. And they ran to him, held his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there."

As the women were on their way into the city, some of the men who had been guarding the tomb went to the leading priests and told them what had happened. A meeting of all the religious leaders was called, and they decided to bribe the soldiers. They told the soldiers, "You must say, `Jesus' disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.' If the governor hears about it, we'll stand up for you and everything will be all right." So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them still doubted!

Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

- Matthew 28 (NLT)

The Knowing is in the Perceiving

As you know, I've been thinking about how our imagination intersects with God and the spiritual realm. I've also been thinking about El Roi (the God who sees) for my Easter sermon. Now with that in mind, watch what came up from the good ol' American Heritage Dictionary when I looked up the word "see:"

SEE 1. To perceive with the eye. 2.a. To apprehend as if with the eye. b. To detect by means analogous to use of the eye. 3. To have a mental image of; visualize. 4. To understand; comprehend. 5. To consider to be; regard. 6. To believe possible; imagine . . . To have the power to perceive with or as if with the eye.

Whoa! Now remember the comment from Jim Knaggs? "We are made in His imagination . . ." Double Whoa!

"The God who sees," means more than just watching like some disinterested Peeping Tom. Inherent in this meaning is that God knows us, understands us and cares about us. He knows every single hair on our heads (talk about unimportant)! God knows us because we exist deep in his imagination. We know God because he exists in ours (I'm not saying God exists because we imagine him). There is a connection and the knowing is in the perceiving.

I am beginning to understand a huge connection with our imagination and God (That's one of the reasons the book "Can You Hear me?" is so awesome and critical in this day). My mind is reeling with possibilities. By the way, the thinking process has only begun on this, so you just might hear about it again!

So Who is Tara Ayer?

Name: Tara Ayer

Age: 30

Home: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

TSA Background: I was a convert to TSA through an Alpha program that a coworker invited me to attend because I had some "questions" about Christianity. I eventually attended Sunday worship meetings regularly but never became very involved in Band, Songsters or anything like that. My involvement initially was with small groups and occasionally helping out with Sunday School. I attended, of course, The War College in Vancouver and through that became radically involved in developing and being a part of cell-based, authentic Christian community and missions. I have spent the past year at the Melfort Corps- Sasketchewan, Canada, involved in outreach ministry, preaching, leading small groups, attempting to disciple youth, that kind of thing.

Favorite Food: I love food. Period. But two of my favourites if I'm going out to eat are Sushi or Indian because I love both, but can't make either of them myself.

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Band/Song: Right out of Portland, Maine...Talitha and Acacia...they're my new favourite band!

Favorite Movie: ooh...it's tough to pick just one. It all depends on mood. Generally, I enjoy movies with good plot twists that keep you thinking like The Score, The Italian Job, Ocean's 11...I like a good heist type of flick.

Favorite Quote: Proverbs are always good for quotes.

Any Instrument?: Do you mean musical? Nope. I played the saxaphone in the high school band...but that was some time ago. I know 5 chords on the guitar, but music really isn't part of my gift mix.

A word about coming to Bangor: I'm pretty excited about the opportunity to come to Bangor, because I know that God is calling me there and He's up to something. When God is up to something, there's bound to be some twists, turns, growth and development- and I know that there's no better place to be than in the center of God's will. It also once again, never ceases to amaze me that when God calls, he also equips!

Intern Update

May is coming quickly! Before you know it, we'll have our War College Interns with us in Bangor and we can hardly wait! Things are changing daily, it seems, so I think now would be a good time to fill you all in on the latest.

First, I want to let you know that Tara Ayer will also be coming to Bangor for some mission and ministry. Tara (pronounced "Tar uh," NOT "Tair uh"), is a War College graduate from last year's "Death and Glory" session. She's a Canadian and has been working in Melfort, Canada (I'm not going to try to spell Sasketchewan!) since her internship last May. We're hoping Tara will be with us longer than the usual intern's 3 months. I'll be posting a blog on Tara in the next couple of days. By the way, we're still looking for a place for her to stay, so if anyone has any ideas . . .

Travis and Tara will arrive together in Bangor on May 15th or 16th. They will be flying into Boston and we will arrange to pick them up (of course, the walk would do them good, eh?). Aurora's Mom is going to drop her off on the 19th. Travis will be staying with us (in Jenn's room) and Aurora will be staying with the MacKay's (again, any ideas for Tara?). Then it's off to Youth Councils that weekend (20-22). They will all have some kind of testimony or responsibility helping with my interest session on deliverance.

If you want to get to know them a bit before they arrive, check out their blogs (listed to the left): Tara's is "Ayer up There." Aurora's is "Dayspring of God." Travis tells me his blog is still being developed, but you'll see it in my list as soon as it exists. Keeping a daily blog will be one of their assignments while in Bangor, so you will be able to keep up with their exploits!

That's it for now, so keep praying for Aurora, Travis and Tara- and their ministry in Bangor.

El Roi

Here begins a weekly blog (we'll see how weekly it actually becomes) about a different name of God. I'm reading a book by Ann Spangler: "Praying the Names of God." In it, she spends a week of study and devotional work on a name of God. So far, I like it and have gotten a lot out of it (in fact, I'm preaching this Resurrection Sonday on today's name).

El Roi (el raw EE): "The God who sees me."

This name is used only once in the Bible- Hagar uses it when she is running away from Sarai. God sends an angel to confront her attitude and sends her back. He gives her a great promise to hang onto, despite her coming troubles. In the process, she realizes that wherever she is, God is never too far away- he's always watching. And not just watching, he sees into the deep recesses of her heart. God really sees us!

Despite the fact that God has never failed me, each time I get in a tough situation, I act like this is the time he won't be there for me. What's that all about? He's not just watching, he cares! If God is concerned with even the tiniest of sparrows (Luke 12:6-7), how much more does he care for me (and you)?

1. There are hundreds of sparrows, thousands, millions,
They're two a penny, far too many there must be;
There are hundreds and thousands, millions of sparrows,
But God knows every one and God knows me.

2. There are hundreds of flowers, thousands, millions,
And flowers fair the meadows wear for all to see;
There are hundreds and thousands, millions of flowers,
But God knows every one and God knows me.

3. There are hundreds of planets, thousands, millions,
Way out in space each has a place by God's decree;
There are hundreds and thousands, millions of planets,
But God knows every one and God knows me.

4. There are hundreds of children, thousands, millions,
And yet their names are written on God's memory;
There are hundreds and thousands, millions of children,
But God knows every one and God knows me.

- John Gowans, Song Book of The Salvation Army.

I can trust God because I know he's watching. He's El Roi- the God who sees me.

Being in the Right Place at the Wrong Time

God gave Abram a promise. Abram believed God's word, but after a long time, he began to wonder if it was up to him to get the promise fulfilled. Abram's efforts begat Ishmael. Ishmael's decendents still fight to this day with their half-brothers, the Israelites (Arabs and Jews).

God fulfilled his promise to Abram in the way he planned (and in the time he planned). But that promise is constantly hindered by Abram's mistaken belief that it was up to him to help God along. He wanted to get to the promise before it was time. Today's struggles in the middle-east have their root in Abram's impatience.

What is God's promise to you? Are you willing to wait for him to fulfill it or are you planning on helping him because he's taking so long? Don't jump the gun. Have patience (it is a fruit of The Spirit)! God doesn't need your help and he's good for his word. Your efforts at trying to force God's hand will inevitably end up hindering the best of his plan for you.

Oh Lord, teach us patience (not now, in your timing)! Keep us from running out ahead of you, because if we get to the right place before it's the right time, you won't be there yet. And even though it is your desired destination for us, without you, that's a very bad place to be.

Jason Doesn't Live in Maine

Visit Foxtrot.com for your daily dose of Jason, et al. I do!

How "Real" is Our Imagination?

A few day ago a comment on one of my blogs got me thinking (again!):

"As your thoughts cause me to think of God's image, I'm drawn to a new imagination. It speaks of a dynamic process in which we are engaged. How about this? We are made in His imagination...a dynamic, living expression of His grace, unlimited and relevant in any culture, language or neighborhood. I'll have to pray about this..."

I have been wrestling with how "real" our imagination is via the "Spiritual Realm." Here's why:

When I cast out demons by telling them to "leave," they do so. But when a person imagining themselves with Jesus (a la the book "Can You Hear Me?"), tells a demon to "go" it also leaves- usually much easier and less stressful on the person. I see valid changes in that person's life afterwards. So that time of imagination, actually accomplishes something real in the Spiritual that affects our Physical (and Emotional) being.

I'm beginning to wonder if our imagination is a very "real" aspect of our spiritual self? The above thought of our being made in God's imagination, goes along with this right nicely! Could our imagination be spiritual reality (at least to some degree)?

Obviously, I could go way out to left field here, but that's why I work so hard on understanding these types of things- I want to get all the truth in it and toss the stuff that doesn't matter. No baby out with the bathwater here!

I've been meditating on this for some time now. Any thoughts from the rest of you?

Just Where he Needs me

TSA Songbook #706 Just Where he Needs me

What can I say to cheer a world of sorrow?
How bring back hope where men have sorely failed?
Just where I am I'll speak the word of comfort,
Tell how for me Christ's sacrifice availed.

Just where he needs me, my Lord has placed me,
Just where he needs me, there would I be!
And since he found me, by love he's bound me
To serve him joyfully.

What can I do to ease life's heavy burdens?
What can I do to help mankind in need?
Just where I am I'll share my neighbor's hardship,
Lighten his load, and prove a friend indeed.

What can I do to justify my living?
What can I be to make this life worthwhile?
I'll be a voice to call men to the Saviour,
Just where I am, and win my Father's smile.

- Miriam M. Richards

Right here. Right now.

I heard a great quote once: "Wherever you are, be there until you leave." But we have all kinds of things that interrupt our being where we are- like cell phones, alarm watches, etc. It seems we're always focused on the next thing.

But God must need me right here right now, because that's where I am. And I trust his placement. So what can I do to make my "now" more effective? The words of the above song give us a few great ideas!

Why are we always looking at the other side of the fence? The grass is only greener where you choose to fertilize it.

I Know that Voice

At this very moment, I'm in an strange place, spiritually. I am coping with a rather mundane issue that has risen from its rightful place of "not important" to one of dire emergency- at least to my leaders. I still see it as a pesky little gnat that is trying to take the wind out of my sails, so to speak. My heart is beating fast and the blood has drained out of my limbs (the old fight or flight syndrome) as I try to justify myself and figure out why this has escalated into such a crisis.

The issue is not worth repeating, but my experience in dealing with it might be. Perhaps as I think it through, I will come to some kind of understanding and get back to being at peace, which is certainly how I started my day.

I was told to do something. I did it, but I apparently didn't cross the T's nor dot the I's as was expected. I wasn't trying to be difficult, but somehow my efforts were taken that way. So some people have gone way out of their way to make sure I know I need to do what I did, the way they want it done (with a hand-slapping, mean-spirited email and written letter). Every detail that was asked for, was there. I was told it was not. So I look back and forth between the two papers and only see a formatting difference- literally nothing else. I don't get it.

I called and spoke with the author of the letter and got no further. No help, no understanding and I feel worse. I feel stupid, like I'm not smart enough to see my obvious short-coming. I'm beginning to wonder if this is a "you better know your place" kind of thing. "We do this to you because we can and you have to obey; it's as simple as that."

I don't want to believe this, but I honestly cannot see any other possibility right now. Am I too close? Do I need more cooling off time? I don't think so, because this has been playing out for the last month and I just got the most recent response!

How much time have I wasted on this issue? Why do we play these silly games at the great expense of people's valuable time?

- - - - - -

It's now a week later. I've done nothing further, but think and pray about the issue. I still don't understand, but I'm thinking maybe I should just drop it. I don't see any solution in sight and it's certainly not worth any more of my time.

Part of me wants to get all fired up again and stand up for myself. "I was wronged! Look at how you mistreated me!" But I have found these situations rarely come to that conclusion in "the others" eyes, no matter how hard I try to make my point known.

Yet there's something inside of me that seems to be saying: "There's something to be learned in this. Drop it and leave it to me."

I know that voice, so I will obey.

Wherever. Always.

Then Jacob woke up and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn't even aware of it."
- Genesis 28:16

I came across this verse in my reading this morning and it hit me that God was right there with me. I wasn't previously thinking about it, but he was there. Even though I wasn't consciously aware that he was with me, he was with me anyway.

God's presence with us is not dependent on us- whether we believe it, understand it or even if we're thinking about it. It's a fact.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified . . . for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
- Deuteronomy 31:6

I've heard it said: "Wherever you go, there you are." But I'd like to add, "and there he is."

Wherever. Always.

Meditate on that for a time and it could just settle you down, make you feel safe or just plain blow your mind!

Father, Son and . . . Mother?

Some cultures today are dealing with the definition of "family." What is a family? Who are the necessary players? In asking these questions, we have begun to add so much to the definition, it is almost unnecessary to have one at all- we have come to believe a family is whatever we want it to be at any given time.

Is it?

I believe God has presented himself as a family. We know The Father. We know The Son. But have you ever thought of The Holy Spirit as "The Mother?"

What is the role of the Holy Spirit? The comforter; one who comes alongside. Sound exactly like a mother's role to me! Now don't go and get all bent out of shape on me- some people get real upset when we talk about God as anything but male. But hey- I'm just following God's lead. Look:

Isaiah 66:13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you;
Matthew 23:37 how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings . . .

And besides, God isn't male or female! He's God and that implies something much bigger than we can ever fully understand. He just gives us these examples as ways to understand certain of his aspects. Of course he's our heavenly father, but he's also: the bread of life, a lion, a lamb, a gate . . . and our heavenly mother.

God created human beings in his image and made us male and female (Genesis 1:27) so we could better understand who he is. I think God has established what a family is: a father, a mother and offspring. He's modeled it in his very being and built it deep into our DNA.

Do you know him any better because of it?

In God's Image

We were made in God's image. Think about that for awhile.

In the beginning, "God." Elohim is the Hebrew word. Elohim is the plural of El or Eloah. Did you get that? Plural. God is three in one. And we were made in that image. We are not just singular or dual in nature, but plural. While we talk about our spiritual, physical or emotional aspects for clarity sake, we cannot be one without the others. We cannot forget one aspect nor realize the wholeness of our being if we neglect any of these three. We are a trinity as God is.

Psychology would have you understand how the emotional aspect intersects with the physical to better understand yourself. But working without all three pieces is like trying to put together a 600 piece jigsaw puzzle with 400 pieces. You cannot neglect the spiritual. Nor can you neglect any of the three for that matter- often we Christians speaks of our spiritual being as if it can be divorced from our emotional or physical being (note to self: watch that).

Although we will never fully grasp all of God, he chooses to present himself to us in ways we can understand- e.g. a father, a lion, a shepherd, etc. Those images help us handle a small part of who God is. But understanding some parts of who God is have traditionally given us trouble. Like our struggle to understand the trinity- how can God be one and yet three? But when we look at how we are one and yet three, I think it makes a lot of sense. After all, we were made in his image! The image of the trinity.

Think of it this way:

Jesus is the Physical side of God. Easy enough.
The Holy Spirit is the Spiritual side of God. Easy too.
The Father is the Emotional side of God. Whoa!

That opens up a huge area of thought, huh? The Father as the emotional/willful side of God!

Now while you can talk about each one separately (for clarity), you can't separate either of them from the whole. That's the nature of a trinity- three in one.

I've been thinking and meditating on this concept for some time now and I am still in awe. Just when I think I'm beginning to understand it a little better, another whole area opens up and it gets even bigger! The truth is: as you increase the radius of your knowledge, the circumference of your ignorance increases!

If you keep going with this thought process, Genesis 1:27 begs another blog- "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Hmmm. In his image, we were created male and female . . .

Maybe not

Culture is so interesting! Basically it tells us how to think and respond. So in a particular situation, our reponse will be boxed in by how we have been (silently) taught to respond. This is true even in our study of the Bible.

As people with a Western worldview (culture), we read the Bible and draw conclusions on its meaning, through the lens of our culture. We often come to a particular passage and kind of "bleep" over it, because we already know what happens and what it means. But in so doing, we often miss a whole plethora of other good things hidden under the surface words. We must mine deep to unearth new precious ores God has placed there for those willing to spend the time and effort to get to them. I find it sad when people stop the process and don't go deep enough to discover new things, because they already know what it says.

This discovery came to me when we went to Israel many years ago. It was a study trip, so evenings were often taken with classes and lectures. One of our teachers taught us about the biblical culture and how it changed much of the meaning of the story of the prodigal son. Well, not so much changed it, rather opened up whole new areas of understanding what was going on! I was amazed! I had never seen so much in that passage- mostly because I was already taught what it meant and didn't look any closer. Or look at it through the eyes of another culture.

When studying the Bible, we must be willing to drop what we think we know about the passage (at least temorarily) and go exploring with the Holy Spirit. If we open ourselves, he often leads us to hidden manna- life-giving truth that can change our lives. After all the "chewing," maybe we will find ourselves right back where we started. Maybe not. Oh how I love those "maybe nots!"

Don't let yourself get bogged down in your understanding of scripture. The longer you look, the more you will find!

Are we?

The Salvation Army is known for our social services.
The Salvation Army is known for our emergency disaster work.
The Salvation Army is known for our programs.
The Salvation Army is known for our fund-raising.
The Salvation Army is known for our brass bands.
The Salvation Army is known for our thrift stores.
The Salvation Army is known for our youth work.
The Salvation Army is known for our adult rehabilitation work.

But

Our name is not The Social Service Army.
Our name is not The Emergency Disaster Army.
Our name is not The Program Army.
Our name is not The Fund-raising Army.
Our name is not The Brass Band Army.
Our name is not The Thrift Store Army.
Our name is not The Youth Work Army.
Our name is not The Adult Rehabilitation Work Army.

All these things are fine and help us reach our mission, but they are not our primary purpose. Our name is "The Salvation Army." We are an Army of Salvation. Or at least we should be according to our name. Are we?

Are we accomplishing our mandate to win the world for Jesus? Only you can answer that question.

Do You Want What You Need?

What do you need today? Notice I didn't ask "what do you want today?" There is a difference! The biggest difference, is God promises to provide all our needs, but we usually have to learn how to control our wants (because we want too much).

I want a million bucks, but I might need no cash today. God could provide all I need without money at all (and usually does, in fact)!

I want some time for myself today to recharge, but God may choose to energize me by placing me in people's paths that need help. In using my giftedness to help them, I discover a powerful spiritual strengthening. I find it amazing how well and how often this works!

We think we know what we need. Yet how many times have you finally gotten what you so long desired, only to find it didn't satisfy? When you get what you need, do you find you really wanted it?

My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need. - Philippians 4:19 (ICB)

Lord teach me to control my wants. Teach me to want what you know I need.

Consider it Pure Joy?

An emerging butterfly fights and claws its way out of the cocoon; a hatching bird does the same with the egg. It's such a pitiful sight- watching those poor little things work so hard- that some have helped the tiny creatures with their struggles. But in so doing, a mighty lesson makes itself known: when not allowed to complete their struggles, the creatures die, because they are now not strong enough to live on their own.

There is certainly something to be said about the benefit of our own human struggles in life. Of course we should help each other, but we shouldn't try to shelter people from the very things that ultimately make them stronger.

This concept is true with our muscles. If you don't use them, you lose them (atrophy), but when we do use them, they get stronger. Could it be that God allows struggles in our lives because he knows they will make us able to handle more the next time?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
- James 1:2-4

Okay, so I understand what's going on in this verse, but I must admit I need work on the "Consider it pure joy" part!

So Close and yet so Far

We each get as close to God as we want to.

How close to God do you want to be?

I'd Like Your Help

I've been asked to do an interest session at Youth Councils this year on Deliverance (how cool is that?!). The theme is "Freedom," so why not deal with a kind of freedom we usually don't talk about? It's about time, I say!

Now while I'm seriously psyched about the opportunity, I'm also seriously challenged to make it a powerful session and not just another talk geared to tickle their ears. I'm not sure how to present the topic to this age group in roughly an hour and still make it effective. How can I give them real personal ministry tools for serious freedom in their lives and the lives of their friends, without making them all scared of demons and such. Or maybe worse- sending them out like the 7 sons of Sceva (Acts 19:14)? Certainly opposite ends of the spectrum!

That's where you come in. Can I get some comments to this post with suggestions and/or discernment? I'm posting this a day early to get a jump-start on the process.

Thanks in advance. I will keep you posted right here with the final direction I take and how it all goes that weekend.

It's up to You

Here's an interesting thought: In Old Testament days, God placed his Holy Spirit in certain individuals to accomplish special tasks. We have examples of God inhabiting leaders, prophets, kings, artisans, warriors, etc. With the Holy Spirit in them, they were able to accomplish what God called them to do.

Now, since New Testament days, God places his Holy Spirit in every Christian. I believe that means every Christian has a special task God wants them to accomplish. And by the Holy Spirit in them, they can accomplish what God calls them to do.

Of course, we also have examples of God's Spirit being in people who did not complete the work he set aside for them. I'm thinking of King Saul, who decided he was more concerned with his image among the people than doing what God wanted him to do. We see where that led him!

So what's it going to be with you? As a believer, God has placed his Holy Spirit in you for many reasons- one of which is to accomplish certain things for His Kingdom. Are you going to be an example like King David or King Saul?

It's up to you.

Why Call me Doug?

Speaking of calling me "Doug" . . . maybe this is a good time to let you in on why I prefer to be called Doug. It really is a deeply spiritual thing for me. The following article I wrote about 10 years ago should explain:

YOUR IDENTITY IS NOT IN YOUR UNIFORM

I sat preparing my heart for the worship service just ahead. This had been a wonderful conference on the Power of the Holy Spirit and in many ways God had blessed me. Most everyone was dressed casually- some even wore jeans, but I was very conspicuously dressed to the hilt in my uniform. It was Sunday after all. Some friends from my interdenominational Thursday morning prayer group were sitting next to me and in rows nearby. I was communing with God in the peace of His presence. All was well.

Frank, a pastor who had helped pray for me the last two nights, temporarily sat in the row before me. Turning and hanging his arm over the seat back, he addressed me. "I think God wants you to know that your identity is not in your uniform. Now, if that's not a word for you, then forget I said anything."

He left and waves of turbulence began crashing into my head. Whatever else, his words offended me. That morning, I had been so proud of my uniform! I felt like a Marine putting on his dress blues before an inspection. Every stitch in place. Every line of crease, razor sharp. Every button polished. Yes, this uniform represented my denomination, my doctrine, my calling and I had never honored it so highly. I was never more proud to be a Salvation Army officer. Now my high-flying spirituality was headed at an unearthly angle toward the earth. I braced for the impact, but I had already hit ground.

The destruction of the crash would last through the entire worship service. Time seemed to stop and hover over me as I watched everyone else experience what was obviously a deeply moving service. My rage grew as I wondered how these people could so cruelly ignore my pain. Yet, while I hated hearing those words, in some strange way I knew they were for me. My soul cried out, "What do you want of me Lord?" I wrestled throughout the longest service of my life. I wanted to bolt for the door, but knew that if I left, I might never settle the issue. I needed God and this group around me that in the last four days, had become my family. This was a communion service, so my thoughts turned to what was going on at the front of the chapel.

I'm one of those "throwbacks." I not only understand The Army's position on the sacraments, but I believe and practice it. I have never taken communion. In fact, when observing other Salvationists doing so in some united denominational service, I have become angry. "They just don't understand. How can we expect anyone to understand our doctrine, if we say one thing and do another? If our position is that outward signs are not necessary to salvation and we focus only on the necessary, then we should practice what we preach! All of life is a sacrament. God grants His grace to us in routine, daily living."

I know that's a simplistic explanation and The Army is not against communion. We are allowed to participate if we choose even though we don't offer it in our services. But the gist of my concern is, if I were to practice communion while telling my people that it's not necessary to their salvation, am I not being unfair to them?

Back in the worship service, I realized that I was extremely confused! Since God is not the author of confusion, I prayed against it. As I prayed, I settled down a bit, but I was still far from soaring in the clouds as I had been only moments before. Had God actually lifted me so high during this week only to dash me on the rocks as I was about to return home?

The communion liturgy was especially touching. I began to pray angrily to God and complain about His bringing me up in The Army; making me believe what I did and not letting me participate with this greater body of Christ in something so universal. For the first time in my life, I wanted to be a part of this ceremony. I wanted to blend in and not stand out like a sore thumb. And that's what I felt like. Never had I been so uncomfortable in my uniform. Was everybody watching me? Were they ridiculing me? I was sure they would not embrace me in their family so quickly if they only knew who I really was.

The woman pastor leading the liturgy caught my eye. She seemed to radiate God's love and compassion. Jesus was really using her! I found myself jealous of what she had, all the while being lifted into God's presence by her beatific countenance. How could I get out of here quickly without anyone noticing?

Finally, FINALLY the service was coming to a conclusion. As we stood to pray, I spotted Frank standing in the last row, way in the back. I grabbed my Bible and sped through the crowd that surely was watching my every move. "Can I talk to you about what you said?" I asked. "I'm having trouble sorting it all out, but I know God's in it somewhere."

In a back room, Frank gave his testimony about that same word which God had given him a few years before. He told me how, during a difficult time, God had informed him that his identity was not in his black robe. God wanted to cut through all the stuff that Frank thought defined who he was and strip him down to the basic relationship of Jesus and Frank. "Things" didn't matter to the deep connection Jesus wanted with him. His denomination, his church, his family, his calling for ministry- all of it meant little to the core of who he was in Jesus. The intimacy was not because of these things. Jesus simply loved Frank for who he was; as he was.

This made profound sense in my inner being and suddenly, I knew what God meant about my identity. Then the Holy Spirit dropped the real bomb: "I want you to take communion." I could not believe my spiritual ears! Yet, there was no doubt God had spoken to me. "Frank will lead you through this. I have chosen him for you. He will represent me."

Frank was still trying to explain things and I let him finish though I still have no clue what his final words were. I wasn't listening. I was desperately trying to understand why God was doing this to me. Finally I blurted out, "I know that God wants me to take communion. Will you lead me through this?"

"Let's go!" he said and started out the door to the front of the chapel. "If your friends are still here, they should be a part of this." The service was over, but still a few people were left praying and ministering to each other around the room. I was extremely shaky and nervous, but I knew my friends' participation would help. I also knew they would understand the impact my decision to follow this leading would make on me. Fortunately, they were still up front near our seats.

I had earlier explained my beliefs about communion to Frank. Though he had a hard time understanding why I had never taken communion, it was clear he understood me and my feelings about it all. I sensed an anointing on him for this moment and was drawn to him for support.

All the communion items had been cleared up and for a moment, my heart fell. Frank went to the same pastor who had led the earlier service and asked if she could get everything in place again. No problem. I felt relieved- if that were possible in my current state of mind! He asked her to start at the very beginning and include everything. I stood in full uniform, at the front of the chapel, shivering.

Everyone scurried about getting everything ready, including gathering my friends and a group of about eight people who would join me. I clenched my Bible tightly for comfort. I could not imagine what God was doing to me. Or why.

We gathered in a small circle with Frank on my left. I listened carefully, as if I had never heard those words. In fact, I must not have really heard them before, because somewhere in the middle, I heard words accredited to Jesus to the effect of: "you will not understand this, but I ask you to do this anyway." The concept clicked right into place for me. I sure didn't understand this!

When she was finished speaking, Frank went first. I watched him carefully, but when it came to me, my mind went blank. I looked at the bread she offered me, then looked at Frank for assistance.

"Just break off a piece," he said. I had trouble holding my Bible and breaking the bread, so Frank offered to hold my Bible for me. "No, this is my teddy bear," I stammered. I soon managed to get the bread free and placed it in my mouth with Frank's prompting. Earlier, they had dipped the bread in the juice, but at that moment, I vividly remembered the words of Christ: "unless you drink of this cup . . ." Somehow, I knew it was important for me to actually sip from this chalice and I was permitted to do so.

With my assignment completed, I stepped up to the communion altar. Kneeling, I placed my Bible on it and bowed my head to pray. I then spent the next few moments trying to make sure God recognized what I had just gone through. I could never again say I had never taken communion. I had lost something about myself and I wasn't sure I was too happy about it. In the middle of my diatribe, I remember saying to God: "I hope you realize what I've just done for you."

With those words, God stopped me dead in my tracks. "No," He said gently, "I did this for you!" In an instant, the full understanding of what communion is all about, came flooding into my soul. I was so embarrassed at my sentiments, yet so full of Jesus' gracious revelation. I began sobbing uncontrollably. During those moments I was swept up in God's tender embrace. I was totally loved and instantly intimate with the creator of the entire universe.

Naturally, it took some time for me to settle down. When I stopped, Frank knelt beside me and began to pray a blessing upon me. His words uplifted, but did not prepare me for the moment he started weeping as intensely as I had just done. His profound emotion was as contagious as a yawn and I rejoined the great chorus of release! As we wept together, God allowed me to realize that I needed someone to understand what had just happened to me. Frank was again the man God had chosen for me. We shared a deep bond of realization of what communion is all about; what Jesus wanted it to be for His followers. I realized that if I had done this all my life, I would never have been able to experience what had just happened to me. I would have "done communion" as part of the religious routine; nothing special.

I could never again say I had never taken communion. I had lost something about myself, but now it didn't matter. I was not defined by my uniform. I was not defined by my doctrine or calling. In fact, I was not defined by my family name. With Jesus, it was just "Doug."

God then had me tell this small group of my conversation with Him and how I knew deep in my heart He had done it all for me. Led by God in a prophetic act, I then laid my uniform tunic on the altar and placed my Bible on its folds. Finally, I was calm and at peace with my identity as a Salvationist; with all my identities. No longer would I allow a mere facade to direct the path of my relationship with my Lord.

Great celebration took place, as with joy, I embraced my new heartbrother, Frank. He began sobbing again as he tried to speak to me and I followed suit. God had knit us together for a very special revealing of His grace. Then there were hugs all around and I could barely let go of my dear prayer group friends. I knew they understood God had freed me from the tyranny of who I thought I had to be. It drew us even closer together in God's mercy and love.

That morning, the leaders of the conference had given each delegate a small slip of paper to write what God had done for them during the past week. After communion, it was to be placed in a basket as an offering to the Lord. The basket was gone, but I still had my paper. I wrote carefully; knowingly and placed my scrap on the altar, unfolded. If anyone had noticed, it read: "Jesus died for me."

We're all in this Together

The news is out. The #1 cause of leader failure is isolation. I got this news at our Officer's Retreat last week and it sparked an old issue I have with the way many officers relate to their people. When I was in Officer's Training, I remember debating endlessly on this issue. Do we put ourselves in a special place "above" them or do we put ourselves on a level with them? The answer is not as simple as it may sound, but I believe when all the dust settles, we must be with the people.

I mean, if God came down to be on the same playing field as mere humankind, how can we possibly pretend that we should be on some kind of higher level? So we're "ordained." Big deal. Many of our people are trained and/or authorized in their roles as well. Who's to say we should be any different, except that those with more responsibility are going to be held at a higher accountablility level? And when we live a life of separation from the people, we find ourselves in isolation . . . which we now know leads to leader failure.

I intentionally do things which break down the wall between me and my people ("my people" is a misnomer- they are God's people- I am just a hired hand and could never care for them like The Shepherd). For instance, it's quite funny to see people, who for years have called the officer by their rank, struggle with calling me "Doug." The best I can get from some of them is "Major Doug!"

I am no different than anyone else. I am a child of God, redeemed by his grace, that continually wrestles with sin and the same issues any other person wrestles with. The only difference is my role- and we all have our roles. No one role should be held up any higher than any other. We can't do it without all the roles; all the parts. My role is not any more important than (what we would usually consider) "the least" of roles. I absolutely hate it when I see officers (or other religious leaders) lord it over people, because they think they are in such an important place! Rubbish!

Well, they are getting their comeuppance- they are finding it "lonely at the top." That isolation is not what anyone in the Body of Christ should be dealing with. We're all in this together and the last thing I am is alone.

The Clay by Ron DiCianni

"Family of Israel, can't I do the same thing with you?" says the Lord. "You are like the clay in the potter's hands."
- Jeremiah 18:6 (ICB)

This is one of my all time favorite works by Ron DiCianni!

True Dat!

Maestro Kaplin learns the hard way that "Please play that part louder" is a phrase never to be spoken to the Trombone Section.

If it is Broke, Fix it!

We once had a special meeting for anyone who was interested in our corps schedule and mission. In this meeting, I listed our regularly scheduled events on a chalkboard beside an empty weekly calendar. I asked the people "if we could only hold 1 event a week, what would be the most important thing to put on our schedule and what day and time would we have it?" After some discussion, we decided our Worship service was most important. We then agreed on Sunday at 11:00 AM.

Then I asked "if we could only add 1 more event to our schedule, what would it be and where would it go?" Now we had a lot more discussion, but we ended up with Bible Study and we placed it Wednesday at 6:00 PM. I repeated that progression until we had effectively place all our events on our weekly schedule in order of their priority. It sure made us think (and changed our schedule around a bit too)!

Back then I agreed that our first priority should be the Worship Service. Now, I disagree. I believe that the most important event in a Christian's life should be a cell group. Yes, I place that above the Worship Service. Why? because of my comments yesterday- we don't really connect with each other at Sunday Services. We aren't getting to know each other; we aren't learning to care for each other or commit to each other; we aren't learning to work with each other on Sundays- as they are happening now. And if reaching community is a goal of the church, then we need to do something to make sure we get there. I believe that will happen when we get connected and committed to the people in a cell group. That may be radical thinking to some of you, but I'm willing to take any flack that might come with my position, because I've seen it work.

Now I'm not willing to toss our Worship Services completely. But we've got to admit it when the things we are "married to" aren't really working the way they should be. Why not change things?

William Booth was very quick to drop anything that wasn't working. While many say "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," I say "If it is broke, by all means fix it!"

Leave it or Fix it?

So it seems Christians are leaving the church. Not God, just what we have come to understand as "the church." What's going on? I think Charisma magazine missed it. People are leaving church, because they need to develop community with the body and it's not happening in the traditional church we know today. Think about it:

Every Sunday morning people walk in to a chapel, pick up a program, take the same seats they've sat in for the last (fill in the blank) years, sit by the same people, smile (maybe), then chat about the weather. The meeting starts- they ignore the announcements (keep chatting about the weather), sing a song (grumble about having to stand so long), think about lunch during the prayer, look at their watch and daydream through the message (and grumble about having to sit so long). Then as they leave, shake someone's hand, maybe offering a compliment or a criticism as they practically run to their car to get out of there! They go through the routine like lab rats, never missing a beat, because they've been so well conditioned. I bet they don't have a clue as to who that person is they've just sat next to for the last hour. I've seen it for years and I can put real faces to this example. Sound familiar? Why would anyone want to leave that?! Duh!

Church is not a building; we don't go to church. Church is not a service; we don't have church. Church is relationship; we experience community with the Body. As we turn our heart up toward God, we turn it out toward our Christian siblings. It's a corporate experience not an individual one. It's not about "me," it's about "we." And if that's not happening in a local fellowship, people will naturally long for the real thing. They will become dissatisfied and that alone will drive them out the back door.

Now I'm not advocating giving up meeting with the believers. I think it's necessary to remain in the Body. I am advocating change. We can't expect new results when we keep doing things the same way. Why does church have to be what it has become? It's certainly not what it was back in the New Testament days. So if it's not working today, why not change it so it does work? Isn't that better than just tossing it and losing all connection with the Body?

I believe church will look very different 10 years from now- at least those that are growing and filled with the Holy Spirit. It will look like a bunch of cell groups- small groups of people (cells) who meet together weekly (maybe not on a Sunday), encourage and disciple each other, eat together and really get to know each other. Oh yeah, they'll probably get together for some kind of celebration service (now and then), but that won't be their primary connection with "the church." Imagine how uplifting that would be; imagine how powerful!

If that's not happening in your congregation now, what are you doing to change that? Giving up and walking out the door won't fix it, nor will it meet your needs. I challenge you to start making real connections with those people you sit next to Sunday mornings. Why not even get together with them during the week and pray together?

Radical!

Assorted Miscellaneous Hodgepodge

I'm sitting in a hotel at Officer's Retreat in New Hampshire. No cable Internet, so I'm connected at somewhere around 24,000k with a wire stretched all the way across the room (and of course there's no outlet anywhere near the desk)! Grrr! Isn't it amazing how technology spoils you for the way we used to do things? I remember my first modem did a whopping 360k! So we'll see how long I last and if I can keep up my blogging for the next few days. Retreats usually schedule you pretty heavily as well.

After trekking all the way to our room last night, I noticed I left something in the car. It was then I realized they put us in a room all the way on the opposite side of the parking lot! Don't you hate it when that happens?! I sure got my exercise, because we had to park way out in the lot as well. Oh well, I guess I needed that. I do need to work on a couple of extra pounds that have snuck in on me lately (gotta stop it now, can't let it go too far and get out of control).

I have a prayer request for you today: my Dad, Brigadier Howard Burr, is going in the hospital to get a pace maker. He'll be there over night and will be on a mildly restrictive activity regimen for the next 3 months. He's very active, golfing and bowling every week, so I don't want to see him lose that. The whole concept came up on him quickly, after a recent visit to the doctor for something completely unrelated. I never would have thought he'd ever have problems with his heart- it's always been so "big!" The family will appreciate your prayer on his behalf.

It's snowing out today. We're expecting a major storm all across the eastern seaboard that started last night. We came to retreat a day early to avoid traveling in the worst of the storm. But that meant we had to travel late. We don't usually do that very well. Dark means it's time to go to bed, not drive 4 hours through the woods of Maine and New Hampshire! Anyway, you should see the beautiful (snow covered) mountain view out our window this morning! We're in the White Mountains and I understand the name.

I did some reading in Charisma magazine before bed last night. The issue before the current one has some interesting articles on how many people are leaving the church, but not Christianity. There were the typical both sides of the story, but I'm not sure anyone really understands what's going on. I want to blog more about that, so maybe I'll continue on this train of thought tomorrow. I hope I can get all my thoughts into the relatively short capsule of a daily blog!

Thanx for reading. God bless you all. Catch ya tomorrow!