roybauer

…With a Whip or With Love and a Gentle Spirit.

// May 18th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Uncategorized

In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul encourages his fellows believers to stay the course, and lets them know that things are hard and will continue to be so, for those who follow Christ. In the last couple verses of Chapter 4, he lets them know that he is going to deal with the arrogance that is rising up in the church. He ends the chapter by asking them, “What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?” Paul then goes on in Chapter 5, “It is actually reported that there is sexually immorality among you…”

Now, put yourself in the place of the men reading the letter. They know what is going on. They knew immorality and  arrogance was going on in that congregation. So, when Paul asks whether they’d like to be approached with a whip or a gentle, loving spirit, which do you think they preferred?

When I was in Jericho a couple of years ago –which for those of you who don’t know, Jericho is Palestinian territory, not Israeli—I met a lady who had a ministry to the Palestinian people. During our conversation, she told me some stories of ministries trying to reach out to the Muslims and how successful or unsuccessful they had been. The lady I met with has a ministry that feeds the people; she meets them where they are. She said, “Roy, ‘shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit’.”

That was the first time I had really put any thought into “how” I should respond to people who didn’t believe the way I do, especially those who have opposed Christianity for any length of time. I saw someone, in this lady in Jericho, who was living out Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” I began to understand that we are to love people first, and out of that love, we will be in a position to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to them.

If you look back through the Bible, God always had compassion on people, even when –or especially when— we didn’t deserve it. For example:

1. Noah: When God sent the flood to destroy the world, He did so out of pain, and only because He had to. “The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.” (Genesis 6:6)
2. Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed: Read this story in Genesis and you’ll find nothing but a loving God who showed mercy time and time again to an entire city that didn’t deserve it. Abraham actually negotiated with God to save the city if 10 people could be found that were righteous. And in the end, only three made it out alive.
3. Moses: Just the fact that God gave the whiny, I’d-rather-be-a-slave-again, Israelites a chance to enter the promise land is compassion enough.
4. Jonah: He was upset because God didn’t destroy Nineveh. In fact, the reason he fled to Tarshish to begin with was because he knew God would have mercy on them. “That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” (Jonah 4:1b)
5. Jesus: One phrase should sum up His compassion, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Is it any wonder that those who are compassionate towards others, are the ones who have the most influence in people’s lives. When was the last time you responded kindly to someone yelling at you and telling you that what you were doing was wrong and ignorant? Then why do we, at least some of us, think that sharing our faith with others is any different?

It is out of love that we have the ability to share our faith with others. When Hindus or Muslims or Atheists or Mormons or (fill in the blank) see the love of Christ in us, we will be in a position to share our faith with them. But that opportunity comes out of a relationship we build. We must first love people because they are people, and for no other reason. False sincerity or compassion is easy to spot. If we aren’t genuinely interested in others, it will be obvious.

We must make sure that we talk with people, whether or not they are Christian, in love and with a gentle spirit.

royb

Getting Political…Sometimes You Have To

// April 29th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Uncategorized

I am going to give you my frustrated opinion on what is going on in the world. Call me naive. Call me crazy. Call me whatever you want. This is what I see, what I have to say about it and why.

I know, supposedly (different polls show different things), President Obama is doing a great job, but I don’t see it. The economy is on the rebound, but really has been for awhile. Look back through history and you will see that it always does. No matter who was elected president the economy was going to pick back up, that is what it does. But in order to be elected, President Obama, and everyone trying to get him into office, had to convince the world that we are headed to hell in a hand basket, economically speaking. Going back to last fall, we as a nation, were duped into believing this “savior” would save us from…what?

Since taking office, President Obama has …”overturned George W. Bush’s restriction on embryonic stem cell research”, removed the “conscience clause” that allows medical professional the grounds to refuse medical services (abortion, abortion-pill, etc…) based on faith or conscience and removed the abortion restriction on U.S. (tax payer funded) money given to foreign medical services, allowing them to perform abortions (President Bush had a restriction in place that wouldn’t allow foreign entities to receive US money if they performed abortions). President Obama was in the paper recently because, before he would step in front of a microphone and cameras, he had all of the crosses and Christian symbols removed (from camera view) from a church where he was giving a press conference. Also, to my knowledge, they (Obamas) haven’t been to church since last fall. If you remember correctly, the papers made a big deal about where he’d be attending Easter service (apparently they hadn’t been to a local church since arriving nearly 3 months earlier).

Obviously the world doesn’t revolve around the abortion issue or gay marriage. But these issues are a part of what this world does revolve around: God and his will for us as humans and more importantly, as believers.

When you see what laws and bills our current president is in support of, it is scary. As a parent, I have a real problem with a leader who doesn’t even support the rights of an innocent child. As a believer, I have a huge problem with a president who doesn’t have the balls to stand up for himself when it comes to gay marriage or civil unions.

I have friends, who I know love God with all of their heart, who were and still are in full support of President Obama, knowing full well what he’s doing to the social agenda in America. They say, “well, you can’t legislate morality.” Like crap you can’t. In fact, the government has to, if they didn’t anarchy would rule. The government absolutely has to set what morals and values this country stands for or anything and everything would be legal and there would be no peace. If our president, the supposed leader of America, doesn’t even hold the simple values of Christianity, don’t expect the country to prosper because of him.

And the funny thing about it? People are happy as school kids and think the the savior of the world is here. To me, that is the sad part and that is what this post is about. Read these two comments from a message board:

Person 1: “God is [in charge].He let’s Satan have his way for awhile but God is in charge and despite people like you Obama is not.”

Person 2: “Ok, I’ll buy that. Well, the “God’s in charge” part. God’s in charge and he’s got Obama running things. I’m good.”

To give you perspective, read 1 Samuel chapter 8. Seriously, right now if possible.

Okay, I’ll assume you did it and we can continue.

The Israelites wanted a leader, not caring whether or not it was the right thing for them. They wanted what they wanted, so that the leader could “lead us”. Meaning: fight their battles, think for them so they didn’t have to do anything. They wanted to be like the other nations, prosperous and worldly—politically correct—not biblically correct. And they got just what they wanted and were as happy as they could be. I mean they were beside themselves, for a time.

I talk to a lot of people, some who are happy with the current administration, some who are ecstatic with the current administration, some who are disgusted with the current administration, and some who are down-right scared to death of what the future holds with current administration, socially.

My only concern is this: have we seriously become a nation, like Israel, who only cares about what other “nations” thought and not what God thought?

If you aren’t a Christian, then this article isn’t for you and you didn’t understand any of it anyway. But if you claim, like I do, to be a believer in Christ Jesus, than you need to pay attention to what is going on. Someone, whether it is Obama, Bush or whoever is next, can’t ignore God and really think that as long as the economy is good that everything is alright.

If President Obama is a “born-again” believer in Christ then he needs to stop being such a pansy and start living the life he proclaims to have. If he isn’t a believer, then join me in prayer for his and his family’s salvation.

royb

Book Reviews: Experiencing the Spirit and The Treasure Principle

// April 9th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Experiencing the Spirit:

Serve God as never before

The first Christians “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) shaking the gates of hell even in the face of severe persecution. The result: People all around “were filled with wonder and amazement” (Acts 3:10).What can give Christians today the same impact?
God’s Holy Spirit is ready to answer that for us in an awesome way, as Henry Blackaby and his son Mel Blackaby make clear in Experiencing the Spirit. You’ll see how the proof of the Spirit’s presence is our awareness of God’s personal assignments for us, plus our supernatural enablement to carry out those assignments. You’ll find essential clarification on the difference between natural talents and spiritual gifts. You’ll explore the dynamics of being filled with the Spirit through intimate relationship with Him, committed obedience, and radical departure from sin.
Instead of considering what you can do for God with your abilities and talents, you’ll be encouraged here to seek what God wants to do through you supernaturally by His Spirit, empowering you beyond your personal competence and capacities. Release the Holy Spirit’s work at the very core of your experience of the Christian life.

You can purchase this book at Random House

Dr. Henry Blackaby has devoted his life to the ministry. A multi-faceted talent, he has served as a music director, senior pastor, college president, missionary, and later as an executive in Southern Baptist Convention. Blackaby is the author of more than a dozen books with more than one million copies sold, including the best-selling Experiencing God. As the President of Blackaby Ministries, he is a vibrant speaker and the father of Dr. Melvin Blackaby. Melvin serves as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Jonesboro in Georgia, where he lives with his wife, Gina, and their three children.

The Treasure Principle

Flip-Flop Your Concept of Giving!
Bestselling author Randy Alcorn introduced readers to a revolution in material freedom and radical generosity with the release of the original The Treasure Principle in 2001. Now the revision to the compact, perennial bestseller includes a provocative new concluding chapter depicting God asking a believer questions about his stewardship over material resources. Readers are moved from the realms of thoughtful Bible exposition into the highly personal arena of everyday life. Because when Jesus told His followers to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” He intended that they discover an astounding secret: how joyful giving brings God maximum glory and His children maximum pleasure. Discover a joy more precious than gold!
Story Behind the Book
After years of writing and teaching on the theme “God owns everything,” in 1990 Randy Alcorn was sued by an abortion clinic (for peaceful, nonviolent intervention for the unborn). Suddenly he had to resign as a pastor and was restricted to making minimum wage. Legally unable to own anything, Randy gave all his book royalties to missions work and need-meeting ministries. He and his family have experienced the reality of The Treasure Principle—that God really does own everything, takes care of us, and graciously puts assets into our hands that we might have the joy and privilege of investing in what will last for eternity.

You can purchase this book at Random House

Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM). Prior to 1990, when he started EPM, he served as a pastor for fourteen years. He has spoken around the world and has taught on the adjunct faculties of Multnomah Bible College and Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Randy is the best-selling author of twenty-seven books (over three million in print), including the novels Deadline, Dominion, and Deception as well as Lord Foulgrin’s Letters, the Gold Medallion winner Safely Home, and Wait Until Then.

Also, I do have a copy of each book for someone to win. Just write a reply stating why you’d like to have one of these books and I’ll pick one to receive a free copy.

royb

Using Original Songs at Your Church

// March 19th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I read a post this morning at The Worship Community and it had some very good advice on introducing original songs to your praise team. I don’t know how many churches sing songs that are generated out of their praise team or out of their own worship times, but I would encourage you, as a worship leader or praise team member, to begin looking for music that is coming up out of your church. My church, CWOC, has a few songs that are original to us and they are some of the most powerful songs that we can sing. There is something to be said about being able to look at the name at the bottom of the song and realize the writer is standing there beside you.

The reason is because, when a song is an original to your church, you are able to not only hear the heart of the one writing it, but you can also see it. The article, Tips for Introducing Original Songs, gives some excellent advice on how to begin using songs that are coming out of your church. It not only gives advice on how to introduce the song itself, but also how to tweak it and allow the song to become everything God wants it to be.

Read the article, and then begin cultivating an atmosphere where the musicians at your church are encouraged to share their heart through lyrics and music.

royb

Do You Ever Get Nostalgic?

// March 16th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Uncategorized

Heidi and I were looking through some old pictures the other day and found some pictures of us on a cruise we took about 6 years ago. We hadn’t looked at those pictures since right after the trip. And that got me to thinking…It’s good to look back sometimes at where you’ve been and what you’ve done, especially in this “so-called” recession we are in.

We all need a fresh perspective sometimes. It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day life, and problems it brings, and forget that we’ve actually had a pretty good life so far. We tend to forget the great Christmases and vacations and family reunions. We forget the time we were at Epcot and laughed so hard we couldn’t breathe. Or the walk we took in Central Park right after it snowed. Or how about when she fell off a rock ledge into the Pacific Ocean and I jumped into save her. Or when our 3-year old helped serve food to impoverished kids in Peru? Or how about when our 2-year coined the phrase, “boob stickers.”

Take some time this week and reminisce. Look through some old photo albums or files on your computer. Take time to look back at all of the fun you’ve had and it will help take the sting out of what you may be facing now. Most likely, five years from now you’ll look back and wonder why you were so stressed about it.

Change your perspective and see what happens.

royb

Writing a Song? Yeah, Right.

// March 3rd, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Uncategorized

For years now I have written down words to songs that I want to write, and a couple of years ago I even put a few to music. But after recording them and listening to them played back, I realized they weren’t any good. However, now I seem to have words that I feel would be fantastic and a melody that I think would be fantastic, but I am not sure how to put the two together. And I don’t know if I’m the right one to do it. I feel like I would mess up something that has potential.

Maybe it’s because music and lyrics mean so much to me, but I think of worship songs as something holy unto themselves. Mighty to Save, for instance, is a song that literally makes me think, “Wow, our God is powerful and He CAN do all things.” Amazing Grace brings out images of God’s loving arms; loving us when we had no business being loved. A friend of mine (Thomas Franks) wrote a song titled, King Of The Earth, and the bridge has these lyrics:

Every people every tribe
Hear their voices as they cry
You are the Savior of all time
Only You can touch their lives
So reach down Your hand on high
Flood the nations with Your light
Lord shine

Every time we play this song it brings tears to my eyes. I can picture the whole world being flooded with the light of Christ and souls being changed everywhere. To me, writing songs like this is incomprehensible. Because it goes beyond just words, it reaches into your insides and touches you in a way that isn’t possible. I’ve watched as God used a song to melt grown men and women. I’ve seen, as you probably have too, people respond to music in a way that words alone could never do.

I know it isn’t my responsibility, or ability, to make songs powerful on a soul changing level. But if I do ever write a real song I want it to be everything God needs it to be in order to reach people. I don’t want to just write to be writing, or play to be playing. I need there to be meaning to the things that I do or why do them?

But at the same time, I know there are thousands upon thousands of song writers in this world, most of which will never have a song heard by anyone other than themselves. I know very, very few people ever have their songs reach multitudes. But I am just crazy enough to think that if God gives me words and a melody to a song then He intends it to be heard. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

royb

Book Review: The Echo Within

// February 23rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Let me ask you a question: Do you know what your calling is? In his book, The Echo Within, Robert Benson takes us on a personal journey to discover not only what our calling is, but who to listen to in order to find it.

You know how some people are afraid to be the real “them” around others? They don’t feel like they can be themselves because someone may judge them and think differently about them. Well, Robert Benson doesn’t have those fears. He lays it all on the line and I really appreciate him for that. I’ve never read any of his other books but I feel like, after reading just this one, I know a part of him. He writes out of personal experience and it is that personal experience that we can all relate to in one fashion or another.

His frankness and semi-sarcastic style resonated with me and will with you, I believe, as well. The Echo Within is a glimpse into the head of someone giving you advice on a very difficult subject. He lays it out plainly for all to see, that we were created with a voice inside of us, an echo, that guides us and gives us direction. He walks us through learning how to distinguish that “echo” and how to know whether it is from God or not. He gives examples from his own “calling discovery” to help us understand how this process works.

In the end, The Echo Within, will leave you with a better understanding of yourself and confidence that we all were created by God to hear His voice, and because of that, we can find our calling, that Echo Within.

You can buy this book at Amazon.com

You can also leave a comment telling me a time in which you know you heard the voice of God. I’ll pick one lucky commentor to win a free copy of The Echo Within.

Author Bio:

Robert Benson has written more than a dozen books about the discovery of the sacred in the midst of our ordinary lives, including Between the Dreaming and the Coming True, Home By Another Way, and Digging In. His work has been critically acclaimed in a wide range of publications from The New York Times and USA Today to Spirituality & Health and The Benedictine Review. He is an alumnus of The Upper Room’s Academy for Spiritual Formation and was recently named a Living Spiritual Teacher by SpiritualityandPractice.com. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Amazing Grace: Just the Black Notes

// February 12th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Uncategorized

I saw an incredible video this morning. This video moved me beyond words, and that’s hard to do. To keep an audience of that size in awe for that long shows the anointing this man has, the magnitude of the song, and the power of God’s Amazing Grace. Watch it and you’ll never sing this song the same way again.

Thanks to a fellow worshiper for recommending this video.

royb

It’s About the Heart

// February 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Relevant Faith, Uncategorized, Worship

Worship teams, if they aren’t careful, will miss the forest for the trees. What do I mean? They will let the production of worship keep them from missing the importance of worship. We, as churches, will work so hard to get the “sound” just right and get so frustrated when the sound is “off a little bit” that we let it ruin the whole reason we were there to begin with, Jesus and lifting up His name.  I’ve let frustrations with not being able to hear the worship leader or thinking the drums are too loud distract me to the point that my worship of the King was dealt a serious blow. Now, I know how important it is for everyone on stage to be able to hear each other. But you know what? Sometimes it is just off. Sometimes we have to let the outside distractions be just that, outside. We have to strive for excellence, but we can’t allow that quest for excellence to be a detriment to our ability to worship our Savior. It’s okay if some singers are louder than others. It’s okay if the drums or the bass is a little too loud. It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay….

I had the privilege of going to a Hispanic church on Friday night. I say privilege because I was blessed to be there. Someone I consider a friend is the pastor and I hadn’t been to visit his church in a number of years. From the moment the service started, there wasn’t a word of English spoken and it was great. Why? because I was able to see God move even though I was outside of my comfort zone. I understand enough Spanish to get the gist of the songs and the sermon, but I by no means speak Spanish. What did I hear? The bass was too loud, there were no words to any of the songs (not on the screen or in a book), the Pastor couldn’t be heard while praying because the keyboard player was too loud and the singers were off key sometimes. And you know what? It was perfect. I looked around and saw people worshiping God with everything they had. I heard the guy next to me singing every word because he apparently had been there so many times he had them memorized. I watched the keyboard player lead worship with a warm and inviting smile that came from a heart overflowing with love for God. I heard a wonderful sound being lifted up to God despite things that could distract people like me. Don’t get me wrong, the musicians and singers were very talented and the worship was great, but if they had been playing at most of our churches, we’d have spent more time trying to fix the “sound” then we did actually worshipping.

We all need to get out of our comfort zone sometimes. We need a healthy dose of reality. Our normal church home can become a box that we get trapped in. If you feel yourself starting to get frustrated with worship, go to a worship service at a homeless shelter. If you have forgotten how to minister to people who aren’t like you, volunteer at a soup kitchen for a night. If you don’t feel like you are making a difference in someone’s life, begin mentoring a child or work with people at an assisted living facility.

David strived for excellence in worship. He used only trained and skilled musicians. He handmade instruments for them to use. But he never forgot what was most important. How do I know? Because despite all of his years of musical training, David still danced in his underwear before God and all of his people.

Luke 6:45 says, “…For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” I also believe that it is out of the overflow of our heart that we worship.

What is in your heart?

Kutless: One Of My New Favorites

// January 21st, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized, Worship

I know they’ve been out for years, but Kutless has become one of my favorite worship bands to listen to. On their cd Strong Tower, they took existing worship songs and redid them in a new way; a way that for me, works great. I could listen to their version of Take Me In over and over.

If you’ve been on the market for something different, try Kutlesss. Some of their songs are a little hard, but some aren’t. They also have some awesome acoustical songs on there.

This video is Strong Tower, enjoy.

Try it, you may like it.

royb