Kindling Ministries, Ron Allen's Blog

Telos postponed till spring 2012

Telos Event with Bishop Todd Hunter at Heartland Church

http://www.telosevents.com/  Telos, living with the end in mind.

Nov. 11-12, 2011

         Friday, 7pm, Journey Inward. "What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now… As obedient children,   let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness… Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God" (1 Peter     1:3-4, 14, 18).

         Saturday, 9am, Journey Outward. "Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to   bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them     down, not cut them out" (Colossians 4:5-6).

         Saturday, 2pm, Journey Onward. "Christ has set us free to live a free life… It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy yourfreedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom" (Galatians 5:1,    13-14). 

Nov. 13

         Sunday, 10am, Instructive Eucharist, how do we experience the ancient foundations of early church liturgy in the convergent church today.

No registration fee, but preregistration is requested so that we may be able to graciously host this event with appropriate resources.  A love offering will be taken. Books by Todd will be available for purchase.

 

Kindling Ministries Workshop

 

Kindling Ministries, training consultation for pastors and church planters will gather on Saturday, September 24 from 9am to noon at Heartland Church. We will be meeting on the fourth Saturday of the month through winter and into spring. We will focus on inspiration and instruction to equip ministers to see their ministries advance in church growth and development. We will address the practical issues of starting where you are, with what you have and growing from the inside out, and the bottom up. Topics include removing the obstacles, building teams, multiplying groups and community impact. If you plan on attending an email would be helpful to make sure we have enough handouts for everyone. Please RSVP to Pastor Ron at ron@heartlandfw.org

 

Planted, not Buried

Rom 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raisedChrist from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” 

John 12:24 "The truth is this. A kernal of wheat must be planted in soil. Unless it germinates it will be alone--a single seed. But its transformation will produce many new kernels--a plentiful harvest of new lives.” 

The difference between being planted and being buried is the expectation of what is going to happen next. Destruction and decay, or development and increase.

You may feel like you are being buried, but the truth is you are being planted.

A seed must be planted to germinate and grow, and mature and be fruitful.

Eph 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to His resurrection power that works in us.”

I am not facing the end, but a new beginning.

I Cor 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

You face big challenges when you have a big destiny. Gen. 50:20, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

Burial is permanent, planting is temporary.

No matter what is happening to you, you can do the right thing. That’s the difference between being planted and being buried.

Came to pass, not to stay, I am anointed, equipped, well able, I am more than a conqueror.

The new shoot of life from the seed just wiggles through the dirt.

Don’t get discouraged, the very thing the enemy sends to harm us, God allows to promote us. 

Bitterness, self-pity, condemnation, shame, will all cancel out faith.

What are you expecting a new beginning or an untimely end.

No matter what comes it is not a surprise to God

James 5:7, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waitsfor the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.”

The farmer knows. He does not guess or hope. He does his part and God does the rest.

James 5:11 “We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we see how the Lord's plan finally ended in good, for he is full of tenderness and mercy.”

Job got double for his trouble. 

I’ll never get out debt. I’ll never get well, I’ll always be single, this child will never be any different…. Have unshakeable confidence, you are planted, not buried.

Like Job, expect to come out on the other side better. Increase.

Don’t concentrate on your problems, concentrate on your God. No difficulty can defeat you. No person can keep you from your destiny.

Numbers 10:35, “Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Rise up, O Lord! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.” 

What are you letting arise?

Psalms 34:3,4 “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

 

Stand Up

Free Hugs

Forgiveness is Foundational

Matt. 6:9ff "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." If we hold on to an offense it will eventually turn into hate. Then, we are in real trouble. 

Three Reasons to Forgive.

1.  Because God has forgiven me. Col. 3:13 "Be ready to forgive, never hold a grudge. Remember God forgave you, so you must forgive others." God will never ask me to forgive others more than He has forgiven me. 

2.  Because resentment doesn't work. Job 5:2 "To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do." It's not what has been done to us that is determinative, but how we respond to what has been done.

3.  Because I'll need forgiveness in the future. Mark 11:25 When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive you your sins too." Refusing to forgive burns the very bridge I need to cross over to get into the Kingdom of God.

How do I get over a hurt?

1.  Never retaliate. Prov. 20:22 "Don't take it on yourself to repay a wrong. Trust the Lord and He will make it right."  

2.  Deal with it quickly. Eph. 4:28 "Don sin by nursing your grudge. Don't let the sun go down with you still angry. Get over it quickly."

3.  Forgive whether on not people apologize. Eph. 4:32 "Forgive each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ."

God allows us to be hurt to teach us how to respond like Jesus. 

Luke 6:27-28,35 "Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you.Pray for those who mistreat you. You will have great reward."

Finish the hurt, feed the healing.

 

Leadership Qualities

What are common characteristics of those whose lives and ministries seem to bear much Kingdom of God fruit?

1.  Visioning capacity. Can you see what God is doing next in such a way as to clearly articulate the bull's eye of what God wants us to do next?

2.  Self motivating. Are you energized to step into the possibilities that God has placed before you with daily engagement and long term commitment?

3.  Team building. Can you share the tasks with others as to release them to partner with you building on one another's strengths?

4.  Kingdom inclusive. Do you reach beyond your own little huddle of friends to touch others with the gospel of hope, love, and care?

5.  Marriage partnership. Are you and your spouse in agreement about vision, values, priorities, and tasks?

6.  Restoring relationships. Have you ever rebuilt a broken relationship? Are you willing to live in peace with others as much as it lies within your power to do so?

7.  Committed to grow. Are you a learner? Do you desire to advance? Are you teachable? Are you willing to risk?

8.  Value community. Do you truly need others? Do you love others? Do you honor and prefer others above yourself?

9.  Coach others to fruitfulness. Can you recognize others gifts and strengths and release them to their place on the team? Are you committed to see others succeed?

10. A person of faith. Are you able to exercise a consistent faith in God's ability to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can think or ask? 

 

A Mark of Maturity

Galatians 6:1,2  “Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

There are some Christians who have the uncanny ability to turn on their brother or sister at the very time support and encouragement are most needed. John Wimber used to say, “The army of God is the only army in the world that shoots it’s own wounded.” We need to heed the counsel of scripture when a member of the Body of Christ sins.

Matthew 11:28-30  “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The Pharisees imposed burdens, Jesus came lifting burdens. Are we lifting burdens or imposing them?

In Galatians 6, Paul is telling the church that when a saint sins, their job is not to punish and be vindictive, but to forgive, heal, and restore.

It was the church’s responsibility corporately to be redemptive in their ministry to the fallen.

While the sin is undefined and unexpected, it was not habitual, but an unexpected moral failure. So the church had an assignment to proactively redemptively help. This was not a license for the saint to be a busybody or validate their nosiness. But the concern was that the sinner not be overwhelmed by guilt and lost forever, or not be so intimidated by the power of sin as not to deal with it. The church is to help the fallen do what they cannot do by themselves.

The word “restore” means to mend a net or to set broken bones for healing to begin. It is in the present imperative tense. This means it is a mandate, and it is an ongoing process. It is the same word used in Ephesians 4:12 as the word “equip.” It clearly means creating a climate for repentance, forgiveness, healing, and restoration. 

Restoration is to be carried out in a spirit of gentleness. This means the church must be careful not to cause further injury. This is not because we are to be soft on sin, but because we are to rescue the sinner. It’s the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

We are not guaranteed a sin free life as saints. 1 John 1, makes that clear. But we are promised grace for the trial and cleansing for the repentant. That is also why Paul gives a warning to the those who are restoring to be careful. No one is ever as vulnerable to the evil one as when they think they are above sinning themselves. Spiritual pride opens the door to failure. Those who are “spiritual,” are those who walk in humility, obedience, and love before God and before other saints. They say, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” They are willing to give the same grace to others, that God has extended to them. 

Matthew 7:1-5  “Do not judge so you will not be judged. For by the standard you judge, you will be judged, and the measure you use, will be the measure you receive. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own eye.? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye,” while there is a beam in your own? You hypocrite, first remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck in your brother’s eye.”

Judging is a boomerang. What goes around, comes around. It’s the law of sowing and reaping. Let’s live life on God’s terms. God’s way is the best way. We are free to choose any way we want. But we are not free to avoid the consequences of what we chose. If we have made bad choices and we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. May the church always be a safe haven for the fallen and be proven in maturity by our ability to restore the fallen.

 

 

 

Counseling Youth, Book review by Carolyn Allen

Josh McDowell’s Handbook on Counseling Youth, (Thomas Nelson, 1996) is a book co-authored by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler.  McDowell and Hostetler have developed this resource of the fifty major issues facing today’s youth for pastors, parents, teachers and youth workers.  The authors address these fifty issues, knowing many teens find themselves in struggles and crises that are difficult even for adults.  Those who care for these troubled youth have frustrations and fears about how and what to communicate to these young people.  They truly want to help them face the challenges of life with emotional caring and compassion with a sound foundation of biblical absolutes.  Josh McDowell’s Handbook on Counseling Youth is a resource written to offer this kind of help for both the young person and the ones caring for him.  McDowell and Hostetler offer this book to concerned adults who feel ill equipped and in over their heads to help the teens who come to them.  This resource is not intended to take the place of nor delay the counsel of a trained counselor or crisis intervention if needed.  The authors recognized the need for a work specifically targeting issues facing today’s youth and providing information and support for those who care for them.

Before addressing the major issues facing today’s youth, McDowell and Hostetler lay some foundations for Christian counseling.  Although there has been a growing acceptance of and interest in Christian counseling, problems still arise between the church and psychology, primarily due to one of two extremes: (1) Some highly respected Christian voices attack attempts to introduce psychological theories and counseling techniques into the church.  They say Jesus is the answer…one just needs to trust Him, pray more and everything will be ok.  Some say we don’t need to understand our feelings; that God just calls us to know and obey His will.  (2) Others take the opposite approach.  They say the only thing people need is to get in touch with their past and it will work out.  Deliverance is found in support groups and 12-step groups.  They couch their ideas in Christian language, but their approach is indistinguishable from that of a non-Christian.

 McDowell and Hostetler say there is truth in both positions and justifiable fears behind the criticisms.  Jesus is the answer, obedience to God’s will is a key issue; on the other hand, understanding one’s past is often revealing and healing and crises do often require help from other caring people – sometimes professionals.  Dr. Gary R. Collins is quoted on this issue by the authors:  “According to the Bible, Christians are to teach all that Christ commanded and taught us” (p. 6).  Jesus taught about issues relating to theology and to relationships.  These issues bring people to counseling today.  Continuing with the quote, Collins says “When Jesus dealt with (such) people he frequently listened to the inquirers and accepted them before stimulating them to think or act differently.  At times he told people what to do but he also led people to resolve their problems by skillful and divinely guided questioning” (p. 6).

 Even among Christians who acknowledge the place of counseling in the church, there is debate about true biblical counseling.  McDowell and Hostetler are not trying to prove, reprove or improve differing views on true biblical counseling, but do communicate several assumptions that underlie the content and recommendations in this book.  These assumptions are based on the principles and teachings of the Bible, which they believe to be the authoritative, infallible Word of God.  Their assumptions are:  (1) God is love and God is truth, (2) Though not all crises or problems are spiritual (in their cause origin their correction), they are interrelated with a person’s spiritual beliefs and spiritual state, (3) A crucial (and integrating) factor in achieving healing and wholeness is a personal relationship with Christ, (4) Healthy relationships are the linchpins of mental, emotional, and spiritual health, (5) Healing of the mind, emotions, and spirit is possible, (6) The goal of biblical counseling is not happiness, but Christlikeness, and (7) Healing and wholeness will not come without sound biblical teaching and obedience to the Word and will of God.

 William Backus, Ph. D is quoted as saying, “The major premise of Christian counseling is that truth makes people free when they believe it and obey it” (page 7).  Dr. Larry Crabb says, “Wholeness cannot be achieved apart from Jesus Christ” (page 7).  McDowell and Hostetler state that “more important than techniques, however, will be a thorough and constant reliance upon the Holy Spirit of God” (page 7).   The usefulness of this resource book is definitely connected to a fundamental belief in the foundational principles taught in the Word of God.

 Some qualifications for ministering specifically to youth include:   (1) empathy, (2) warmth, (3) genuineness, (4) a humble spirit, (5) emotional stability, (6) relationship with Jesus Christ, (7) reliance on the Holy Spirit, and (8) a knowledge of fundamental biblical teachings.

 Many would say, if asked, that the goal of them receiving counseling is to be happy.  The authors state, however, that the object of ministering to youth is “not happiness but wholeness” (page 12).  Wholeness would include spiritual wholeness, emotional wholeness and relational wholeness. 

 Dr. Gary R. Collins identifies five basic techniques of ministering to youth:  (1) attending, (2) listening, (3) responding by reflecting, questioning, confronting, informing and supporting and encouraging, (4) teaching, and (5) filtering.

 In counseling youth, one must be aware of his or her limitations and obligations.  The involvement of the youth’s parents is usually crucial.  The goal of the counselor should be to bridge any gap between parent and child as soon as possible.  The issue of confidentiality may arise.  Never promise to not tell anyone until you hear the whole story.  There may be legal requirements to report any sexual abuse or illegal behavior.  The counselor should be aware of some risks involved in working with youth: manipulation, dependence, and countertransference.  Never counsel anyone behind closed door - meet in public places, set clear limits regarding your involvement, limit interaction with members of the opposite sex to group settings, make your obligations and limitations clear.  One should also know if and when it is time to make a referral and be aware of behavioral, emotional and physical signs that would warrant such a call. 

 After laying a foundation for counseling youth and how to offer Christian counseling the authors address the fifty major issues facing today’s youth in nine major categories:  emotional issues, relational issues, family issues, sexual issues, abuse, disorders, addictions, educational issues and vocational issues.   

 At the beginning of each chapter the authors present a synopsis with an overview of the contents of that chapter.  This allows for quick location of specific topics and helps provided.  There is (1) an opening case study, (2) an overview of the problem and its prevalence among youth, (3) the primary causes and effects of the problem according to experts in that particular field, (4) a biblical perspective of the problem, (5) the response a parent or worker may be able to take in preventing or addressing the issue and (6) a listing of further resources, including Scripture, recommended for further reading.  The responses (5) recommend a six-step response utilizing the acrostic “LEADER” (Listen, Empathize, Affirm, Direct, Enlist and Refer).  Many highly regarded professionals such as William Backus, Ph.D., Dr. Gary R. Collins, Dr. Larry Crabb, Frank Minirth, M.D., Paul Meier, M.D., and Dr. G. Keith Olson are quoted in their area of expertise.

 This resource book, Josh McDowell’s Handbook on Counseling Youth, (Thomas Nelson, 1996), is designed in such a manner it is easy to find a specific issue, identify its causes and effects, review a biblical perspective of the issue and form some truthful and helpful responses to the youth concerning the issue.