bretteubank.com http://www.bretteubank.com Most recent posts at bretteubank.com posterous.com Fri, 18 May 2012 17:32:03 -0700 Charles Spurgeon's Wife On Her Life After His Death http://www.bretteubank.com/charles-spurgeons-wife-on-her-life-after-his http://www.bretteubank.com/charles-spurgeons-wife-on-her-life-after-his
Many of you know of my father's ongoing battle with stage four lung cancer.  We are so grateful for the prayers and notes of encouragement that we have received.  As I was reading through Arnold Dallimore's excellent biography of Charles Spurgeon, I came across this passage taken from Susannah's (his wife) book entitled Ten Years After, which was an account, among other things, of her ministry of distributing Charles' books and sermons to ministers all over the world...a legacy that continues even today.  It was her attempt at describing her life without Charles, who had died 4 years before that book was published.  I pray that her perspective might be shared by Denise or me if God should call us home before the other.

I have travelled far now on life's journey, and having climbed one of the few remaining hills between earth and heaven, I stand awhile on this vantage ground and look back across the country through which the Lord had led me...

I can see two pilgrims treading the highway of life together, hand in hand--heart linked to heart.  True, they have had rivers to ford, mountains to cross, fierce enemies to fight and many dangers to go through.  But their Guide was watchful, their Deliverer unfailing, and of them it might truly be said, "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them and carried them all the days of old."

Mostly they went on their way singing; and for one of them at least, there was no greater joy than to tell others of the grace and glory of the blessed King to whose land he was hasting. And while he thus spoke, the power of the Lord was seen and the angels rejoiced over repenting sinners.

But at last they came to a place on the road where two ways met.  And here, amidst the terrors of a storm such as they had never before encountered, they parted company--the one being caught up to the invisible glory, and the other, battered and bruised by the awful tempest, henceforth toiling along the road--alone!

But the "goodness and mercy" which for so many years had followed the two travelers, did not leave the solitary one.  Rather did the tenderness of the Lord "lead on softly," and choose green pastures for the tired feet, and still waters for the solace and refreshment of His trembling child.

He gave, moreover, into her hands a solemn charge--to help fellow pilgrims along the road, therewith filling her life with blessed interest, and healing her own deep sorrow by giving her power to relieve and comfort others.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:14:34 -0700 Some Stirring Thoughts About The Church http://www.bretteubank.com/some-stirring-thoughts-about-the-church http://www.bretteubank.com/some-stirring-thoughts-about-the-church
Some stirring thoughts about the nature and purpose of the Church from one of my theological heroes, John Stott...

Some people construct a Christianity which consists entirely of a personal relationship to Jesus Christ and has virtually nothing to do with the church. Others make a grudging concession to the need for church membership, but add that they have given up the ecclesiastical institution as hopeless. Now it is understandable, even inevitable, that we are critical of many of the church's inherited structures and traditions. Every church in every place at every time is in need of reform and renewal. But we need to beware lest we despise the church of God, and are blind to his work in history. We may safely say that God has not abandoned his church, however displeased with it he may be. He is still building and refining it. And if God has not abandoned it, how can we? 

Insofar as the church is conformed to the world, and the two communities appear to the onlooker to be merely two versions of the same thing, the church is contradicting its true identity. No comment could be more hurtful to the Christian than the words, 'But you are no different from anybody else.' 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:25:10 -0700 Oh To Be Known By Jesus! http://www.bretteubank.com/oh-to-be-known-by-jesus http://www.bretteubank.com/oh-to-be-known-by-jesus What a thrilling thought to be known by Jesus - and not just from afar like an acquaintance but up close like a friend or spouse. But Jesus knows us even better than a friend or spouse because he knows EVERYTHING about us. He knows every fear that keeps us awake at night or distracted during the day. He knows every fantasy that sails across our mind and docks in the port of our heart. He knows every grace-robbing word we've stolen from others to keep for ourselves. And yet when Jesus is confronted by such knowledge, he doesn't run away from us saying as he goes (like Jerry Seinfeld to George Costanza), "Good luck with all that!" He pursues us, he welcomes us, he loves us and he changes us. The thought that my sin doesn't chase Jesus off is freedom, and the thought that Jesus chases my sin away is real love. He does not let me stay in my sin because he knows the harm it does to my soul. May we know the thrill of freedom and joy that comes from being known by Jesus and may such knowledge move us towards knowing one another, extending the love of Christ to others.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:22:43 -0800 the devilishness of pride http://www.bretteubank.com/the-devilishness-of-pride http://www.bretteubank.com/the-devilishness-of-pride When you think of sinful pride, what comes to mind?  I always think of it as self-reliance, depending upon myself to do what needs to be done.  I forget that the implication of that means separation from others.  Henry Fairlie in his book, The Seven Deadly Sins, reminded me of that separation in his chapter on pride.  He wrote:
...often in our Pride we do not realize how aloof we have become, and how cut off even from what in our own nature we should most deeply know and enjoy...The most widespread form that [pride] takes today is simply the retreat of people into their private lives.  As long as their society provides them with a reasonable degree of personal security and affluence, and the necessary means and opportunities to entertain themselves, it may be left to function and be managed as may be, no matter that it is still an unfit place for others to live in.  We at least have "made it," and having made it, need only to be left alone."
How sinisterly subtle, pride is and what we celebrate as rugged individualism is really nothing more than sinful pride.  Deliver me God, all the more, from the pride that refuses to see my neighbor. to love my neighbor. to serve my neighbor.  Help me see that pride for what it is and how it violates your shalom.  Thank you Jesus for violating yourself by taking on my sin - you who knew no sin - so that I may know and enjoy the shalom of God.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:26:00 -0800 A Prayer About Flabby Hearts and Love Handles http://www.bretteubank.com/a-prayer-about-flabby-hearts-and-love-handles http://www.bretteubank.com/a-prayer-about-flabby-hearts-and-love-handles

A marvelous devotional book came out last year from one of my spiritual mentors, Scotty Smith. Originally, he broadcast these as emails to his blog subscribers and then Baker Books had the good sense to publish 365 of them under the simple title, Everyday Prayers   Reading through these prayers again, especially as I begin my day, is a needed exercise in recalibrating my thinking and reorienting my heart around the truth of God's eternal and exhaustive love of me in His son Jesus.  May these prayers do the same for you.  Here is today's entry, which I thought particularly helpful to me at the beginning of the new year.

Dear Father, the health clubs and fitness centers are packed with postholiday traffic.  Yesterday I had to wait twenty minutes before I could even get onto my favorite elliptical machine.  Once again, scores of us seem ready to leave the sugar/butter/carbohydrate binge of the past six weeks for the purge of exercise and sweat.  This is a good thing, for stewardship of our physical hearts and bodies does have value, and it does bring you glory.
Yet, I've never been more aware that spiritual formation based on the "binge and purge" cycle simply doesn't work.  Our spiritual hearts need to be strengthened by the grace of the gospel daily, all year long.  We cannot afford periods of "cruise control," when we leave the banquet of your love for a buffet of comfort foods, fast foods, and junk foods.  Just like the physical hearts you've given us, our spiritual heart muscles will atrophy if we don't take care of them.
So I thank you for the "means of grace" - the good gifts you've freely given us to help us grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus.  Thank you for the Bible, your written Word, through which you reveal yourself and feed us with the riches of the gospel.  Thank you for prayer, meditation, and corporate worship, by which you meet and fellowship with us.  Thank you for the sacraments of baptism and Lord's Supper, these tangible expressions of your covenant love and grace.
Father, you won't love us more or less based on our use of these good gifts.  But we certainly demonstrate and deepen our love for you as we do so.  By the convicting work of your Holy spirit, let us be far more concerned about flabby, faceless hearts than bigger love handles.  Because you love us, don't let us get used to being spiritually lazy.  May we come to the point where we'd sooner avoid oxygen and water than the means of grace.  Certainly gospel sanity is to be preferred over personal vanity, all the time.  We offer our prayer in Jesus' loving and faithful name. Amen.

Scotty3

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:12:53 -0800 Feeding The Least of These http://www.bretteubank.com/feeding-the-least-of-these http://www.bretteubank.com/feeding-the-least-of-these What an incredible night of serving the "least of these" at Least of These Food Pantry tonight. Several Grace Hill Church folks (Heather Lowe, Barb Cortner, Mike Allen, and Debbie Wilson) joined me and Jackson and Anna Sloan and the more than 100 volunteers to assemble 750 Thanksgiving Baskets, which will be distributed Friday and Saturday. It was fun watching every single space of that food pantry get filled with bags and bags and bags of food. What I particularly loved about the evening is that Jackson and Anna Sloan were able to be the church even if they didn't understand it. The kids were so into it that not one time did they ask to eat or were bored. We started at 6 and didn't leave until almost 8. May Jesus be lifted up because of what was accomplished tonight.

Img_0274 Img_0275 Img_0276 Img_0278 Img_0271
See the full gallery on Posterous

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:54:38 -0800 Great Music For The Whole Family http://www.bretteubank.com/great-music-for-the-whole-family http://www.bretteubank.com/great-music-for-the-whole-family A sister church of Grace Hill just put out a brand new CD entitled, Forever/Home. In a word, it is excellent. According to the producers, they said it is a CD that the whole family can enjoy and will want listen to it over and over again. Seeing this is now the third time I've listened to it today, they are right on the money. Here is the link to listen to their bandcamp page where you can listen to the album in its entirety for free. http://crossingsongs.com/album/forever-home

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:42:18 -0800 The Need For Anger http://www.bretteubank.com/the-need-for-anger http://www.bretteubank.com/the-need-for-anger I was stirred by an article I read this morning on the essential-ness of anger from Paul David Tripp, a wonderful author and pastor in Philadelphia.  I confess I have not always known what to do with anger.  I generally have taken a pragmatic view towards anger believing that there isn't much that anger can accomplish except for bad things.  But that's not the Bible's position on anger and nor is it Tripp's position.  He writes:

In a fallen world, people of character and conscience will always be angry. Perhaps our problem regarding anger is not just that we are often angry for the wrong reasons, but that we are not angry often enough for the right reasons. Perhaps our problem is that the things that should make us angry and thereby move us to action just don't make us angry anymore. So we get used to political corruption. We get used to homelessness. We get used to the perverse morals of the entertainment industry. We get used to how many broken families are around us. We get used to the daily reports of suffering and disease that infect every continent on the globe. We get used to the fact that the church is often a place of compromise and division. We get used to our own complacency and hypocrisy. We get used to marital stresses and childhood rebellion. We get used to a world that has been broken by sin. Even pastors get lulled to sleep. Even with lives committed to ministry, we are all too easily satisfied. Things that should distress, concern, and upset us become the things we either no longer see or that we've become used to.

As I read through the article, I was both convicted and "angered" by my lack of anger at the sinful things in this world and in my heart that I have grown indifferent to.  As a Christian and a pastor that is committed to seeing the transforming power of the gospel change lives, I must continually ask for gospel sensitivity to the horror and pain of sin in my life and the lives of others.  If I become desensitized and lose my sense of anger at the way things are, I will be less inclined to pray, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:06:06 -0700 Middle Class In Spirit http://www.bretteubank.com/middle-class-in-spirit http://www.bretteubank.com/middle-class-in-spirit I made a presentation to our Presbytery yesterday about Grace Hill Church and some of the things that we are learning.  One of the things that we have learned about our city in the time that we have been in Springfield is that while we are a church-rich city, we are also a grace-poor city as well.  It's a condition that Time Keller refers to in his book, Generous Justice, as being "middle class in spirit."  He writes, "What if, however, you aren't poor in spirit?  That would mean you don't believe you are so sinful, morally bankrupt, and lost that only free grace can possibly save you.  You may find the classic Christian doctrines about humanity's deep sin and lostness to be too harsh.  On the contrary, you believe that God owes you some things--he ought to answer your prayers and to bless you for the many good things you've done.  Even though the Bible doesn't use the term, by inference we can say that you are "middle-class in spirit."  You feel that you've earned a certain standing with God through your hard work."  Jesus says in his Sermon on the mount, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:3)  He's saying that the spiritually poor, those who know that the only thing they bring to God is their need for him, are the only ones who can be part of the kingdom of God.  Only those who know their profound brokenness and spiritual neediness can understand and accept the salvation that God offers through Jesus Christ.  Are you poor in spirit or are you middle class in spirit?  Are you trusting in your own goodness before God?  If so, then join me in repenting of that goodness and run to Christ.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:39:57 -0700 Faced With My Identity http://www.bretteubank.com/faced-with-my-identity http://www.bretteubank.com/faced-with-my-identity While attending a mission conference at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Marshall, TX this past weekend, I heard about one woman's work with the local ARC (mentally handicapped) chapter.  At the end of her presentation she had 4 of her students who had been with her anywhere from 5 to 40 years stand up and share a couple of sentences about their experience with ARC.  I was struck by their innocence and inhibition as one young woman moved the podium out of the way (though it was taller than she was) so she could put the microphone right up to her mouth even though it was not needed.  As I listened I thought about a book I had read in seminary by the late Henri Nouwen.  The book was entitled, In The Name of Jesus and while it was a short book at 80 pages, it was deep in its content.  I thought I would give you a taste of what I saw at the mission conference and what Henri Nouwen experienced when he first moved to Toronto to begin working with a mentally handicapped community called L'Arche.

The first thing that struck me when I came to live in a house with mentally handicapped people was that their liking or disliking me had absolutely nothing to do with any of the many useful things I had done until then.  Since nobody could read my books, the books could not impress anyone, and since most of them never went to school, my twenty years at Notre Dame, Yale, and Harvard did not provide a significant introduction.  My considerable ecumenical experience proved even less valuable.  When I offered some meat to one of the assistants during dinner, one of the handicapped men said to me, "Don't give him meat. He doesn't eat meat.  He's Presbyterian."
Not being able to use any of the skills that had proved so practical in the past was a real source of anxiety.  I was suddenly faced with my naked, self, open for affirmations and rejections, hugs and punches, smiles and tears, all dependent simply on how I was perceived at the moment.  In a way, it seemed as though I was starting my life all over again.  Relationships, connections, reputations could no longer be counted on.
This experience was and, in many ways, is still the most important experience of my new life, because it forced me to rediscover my true identity.  These broken, wounded, and completely unpretentious people forced me to let go of my relevant self - the self that can do things, show things, prove things, build things - and forced me to reclaim that unadorned self in which I am completely vulnerable, open to receive and give love regardless of any accomplishments.
I am telling you all this because I am deeply convinced that the Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self. (pp.29-30)

This is deeply convicting because there is in me a deep desire to be relevant, to be noticed, to be appreciated.  I am grieved to admit it because I know it is antithetical to the gospel, which says that my identity is not found in my accomplishments, my relationships, my networks, but solely in Christ.  I am hidden in Christ, justified (made acceptable to God) by Him who saved me and gave me a new identity...his identity.  May I "boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor. 12:9)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:08:41 -0700 You never know when you will be an answer to someone's prayer request http://www.bretteubank.com/you-never-know-when-you-will-be-an-answer-to-5423 http://www.bretteubank.com/you-never-know-when-you-will-be-an-answer-to-5423
Thanks_hand_heart
This is just so good, I couldn't possibly keep from sharing this.  Let me start by saying finances for a new start-up church like ours are always tight, but particularly as we near the end of the three-year period for which we tried to raise funds for before coming to Springfield.  I knew going in that the possibility of not getting full paychecks were there, though I prayed that wouldn't happen.  This past Monday I knew that I was not going to get a paycheck for September until sometime late in October and not a full one at that.  So I prayed that God might put a desire in one of our many supporter's hearts to give a $1,000 gift to the church...nothing really special about that number as it wouldn't have alleviated that burden but it would definitely reduce it.  To my disappointment, no checks came.  Return trips on Tuesday and Wednesday to the mailbox yielded similar results.  I wasn't at the church on Thursday or Friday and so I wasn't able to check the mail until this morning.  I saw an envelope addressed to Grace Hill with handwriting that was very familiar to me.  I got excited.  As I opened it I wondered if God had answered my prayer after all.  I'm overjoyed to tell you that there was in fact a check for $1,000 and what's more, the envelope was postmarked...wait for it...Monday!  Turns out I had forgotten about a conversation that I had recently with a dear friend and former co-worker a couple weeks back.  One of the things he had asked was, "if there's anything we can do to help, let us know."  I simply responded that we did have some financial needs coming up.  With that, I didn't hear anything else from him and had forgotten about that conversation...but he didn't.  God used him to answer our prayers in a profound way.  Isn't it great to know that God uses us and sends us to be answers to other people's prayers!  Whether it's being a friend to someone who had been praying for a friend, or counseling someone who had been praying for counsel, it is thrilling to know that everything we do is ordained by God and is somehow accomplishing His will for your life and the lives of those around you.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:29:47 -0700 You never know when you will be an answer to someone's prayer request http://www.bretteubank.com/you-never-know-when-you-will-be-an-answer-to http://www.bretteubank.com/you-never-know-when-you-will-be-an-answer-to
Thanks_hand_heart
This is just so good, I couldn't possibly keep from sharing this.  Let me start by saying finances for a new start-up church like ours are always tight, but particularly as we near the end of the three-year period for which we tried to raise funds for before coming to Springfield.  I knew going in that the possibility of not getting full paychecks were there, though I prayed that wouldn't happen.  This past Monday I knew that I was not going to get a paycheck for September until sometime late in October and not a full one at that.  So I prayed that God might put a desire in one of our many supporter's hearts to give a $1,000 gift to the church...nothing really special about that number as it wouldn't have alleviated that burden but it would definitely reduce it.  To my disappointment, no checks came.  Return trips on Tuesday and Wednesday to the mailbox yielded similar results.  I wasn't at the church on Thursday or Friday and so I wasn't able to check the mail until this morning.  I saw an envelope addressed to Grace Hill with handwriting that was very familiar to me.  I got excited.  As I opened it I wondered if God had answered my prayer after all.  I'm overjoyed to tell you that there was in fact a check for $1,000 and what's more, the envelope was postmarked...wait for it...Monday!  Turns out I had forgotten about a conversation that I had recently with a dear friend and former co-worker a couple weeks back.  One of the things he had asked was, "if there's anything we can do to help, let us know."  I simply responded that we did have some financial needs coming up.  With that, I didn't hear anything else from him and had forgotten about that conversation...but he didn't.  God used him to answer our prayers in a profound way.  Isn't it great to know that God uses us and sends us to be answers to other people's prayers!  Whether it's being a friend to someone who had been praying for a friend, or counseling someone who had been praying for counsel, it is thrilling to know that everything we do is ordained by God and is somehow accomplishing His will for your life and the lives of those around you.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:55:49 -0700 Grace Hill Prayer Time Tonight http://www.bretteubank.com/grace-hill-prayer-time-tonight http://www.bretteubank.com/grace-hill-prayer-time-tonight tonight Grace Hill prays as a people for our people, our church and our city. Come to the church at 7 and pray like you mean it.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Wed, 14 Sep 2011 07:38:58 -0700 Grace Hill Update - Get It While It's Hot http://www.bretteubank.com/grace-hill-update-get-it-while-its-hot http://www.bretteubank.com/grace-hill-update-get-it-while-its-hot Stay informed with the latest Grace Hill Update which details our upcoming Equipping The Saints Workshop and monthly prayer gatherings. http://eepurl.com/fOliI

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:58:10 -0700 a good gospel interruption... http://www.bretteubank.com/a-good-gospel-interruption http://www.bretteubank.com/a-good-gospel-interruption Last Sunday after lunch, I decided to go back to the church to do a little clean up after our first worship service in our new building. Normally, I'm at home taking a nap on Sunday afternoon, but I wanted to get a little head start to my shortened work week. After I finished, I began to straighten my office as everything that hadn't found a home in the building yet was currently piled up on my desk. In the middle of that, I heard a knock on the door. I went outside and there was a young woman, hardly a day over 20, looking somewhat frantic. She began to tell me that she had run out of gas on her way back to Ozark from working at the Life Enhancement Center in Nixa, which happens to be just down the street from our house. Anyway, she wanted to use my phone to call her boyfriend to see if he could bring her some gas. Providentially, he didn't pick up, so I told her that I would be happy to take her to get some gas. We formed a quick bond as we begin to talk about our kids, she has two boys - her oldest was 2 and her youngest was 4 months old. We laughed about how stubborn and clueless our boys seemed to be. As I filled up her little 2 gallon gas can, she talked about how nice it was that I was willing to help her. She had had a pretty hard week. She had her purse stolen earlier in the week and now she had run out of gas. I told her how sorry I was and then I asked her if it would be okay if I could pay for a full tank of gas for her. It was more than she could take and she said, "I think I'm going to cry." Then she said, "No one has ever done anything that nice for me ever. My parents wouldn't have even filled my car up with gas." She continued to thank me in disbelief that I would help her like this. I think I was in such disbelief that this was the nicest thing someone had ever done for her. We continued to talk about her kids, and I told her that we were planning on doing some special events for families, so that moms and dads could have some along time while we entertain the kids for a few hours once a month. She thought that was a great idea and would be really welcomed. When her car was full she said, "I'm so glad that I ran out of gas where I did." I told her that many times God orchestrates our life and circumstances in such a way that we are reminded that he knows us, that he is personally involved in our lives, even if it doesn't feel like it. We exchanged contact information and I told her that I would email her about some upcoming events that she and her kids might be interested in. Still a little teary, she gave me a big and we parted ways. What an amazing privilege to have gotten to spend 15 minutes with Kailei and in that time share the love of Christ in a very tangible way - both in word, but more importantly, in deed. I pray that God will continue to draw Kailei and her boyfriend and their two kids to himself and that Grace Hill might have an opportunity to love on them. I'm always amazed at how often these opportunities come to me, if I would only but listen and respond...grateful that today was one of those days.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Sat, 20 Aug 2011 07:33:00 -0700 Christians should resemble a fruit-tree, not a Christmas tree! http://www.bretteubank.com/christian-should-resemble-a-fruit-tree-not-a http://www.bretteubank.com/christian-should-resemble-a-fruit-tree-not-a

I thought this quote on the fruit of the Spirit from the late John Stott was incredibly insightful. He writes, "The Christian should resemble a fruit-tree, not a Christmas tree! For the gaudy decorations of a Christmas tree are only *tied* one, whereas fruit *grows* on a fruit-tree. In other words, Christian holiness is not an artificial human accretion (growth process - I had to look that one up!), but a natural process of fruit-bearing by the power of the Holy Spirit." No wonder my attempts at trying to become more patient or kind or gentle seem to often fail. It's because I'm trying to tie them on to my life, like Christmas tree decorations. One "shake of the tree" and my decoration (patience, kindness, etc.) falls off. So, let us follow Paul's encouragement that "if we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Only the Spirit can truly give us a fruit-bearing life.

Fruit_and_xmas_tree

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:23:48 -0700 What To Do With A Compliment? http://www.bretteubank.com/what-to-do-with-a-compliment http://www.bretteubank.com/what-to-do-with-a-compliment How do you handle a compliment?  Moreover, how do you pay someone a compliment?  John Stott reflects on how the Apostle Paul handled that:

What should our attitude be to Christians who are doing well in some aspect of their discipleship?  Some people resort to congratulations:  'Well done!  I think you're marvellous.  I'm proud of you.'  Others are uncomfortable with this and see its incongruity.  It borders on flattery, promotes pride and robs God of his glory.  So, although they may thank God privately in their prayers, they say nothing to the person concerned.  They replace flattery with silence, which leaves him or her discouraged.  Is there a third way, which affirms people without spoiling them?  There is.  Paul exemplifies it in 2 Thessalonians 1.  He not only thanks God for the Thessalonians; he also tells them that he is doing so:  'we ought always to thank God for you ... we boast about you'.  If we follow his example, we will avoid both congratulations (which corrupts) and silence (which discourages).  Instead, we can affirm and encourage people in the most Christian of all ways:  'I thank God for you, brother or sister.  I thank him for the gifts he has given you, for his grace in your life, for what I see in you of the love and gentleness of Christ'.  This way affirms without flattering, and encourages without puffing up. (From "The Message of Thessalonians" (The Bible Speaks Today series: Leicester: IVP, 1991), p. 145.)

Why not thank God for someone today.  Let me start.  I thank God for you - for who you are in the gospel and how you enrich my life by your presence and ministry.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:31:48 -0700 30 Practical Ways For Living Missionally At Work http://www.bretteubank.com/30-practical-ways-for-living-missionally-at-w http://www.bretteubank.com/30-practical-ways-for-living-missionally-at-w

Many times it’s difficult to find practical ways to be a blessing in your workplace. Rapid pace, mounting deadlines, or co-worker conflict can often derail even the best of intentions to say and show the love of Jesus at work.

Recently, Josh Reeves posted some very practical ideas for blessing others in the workplace.  

1. Instead of eating lunch alone, intentionally eat with other co-workers and learn their story.

2. Get to work early so you can spend some time praying for your co-workers and the day ahead.

3. Make it a daily priority to speak or write encouragement when someone does good work.

4. Bring extra snacks when you make your lunch to give away to others.

5. Bring breakfast (donuts, burritos, cereal, etc.) once a month for everyone in your department.

6. Organize a running/walking group in the before or after work.

7. Have your missional community/small group bring lunch to your workplace once a month.

8. Create a regular time to invite coworkers over or out for drinks.

9. Make a list of your co-workers birthdays and find a way to bless everyone on their birthday.

10. Organize and throw office parties as appropriate to your job.

11. Make every effort to avoid gossip in the office. Be a voice of thanksgiving not complaining.

12. Find others that live near you and create a car pool.

13. Offer to throw a shower for a co-worker who is having a baby.

14. Offer to cover for a co-worker who needs off for something.

15. Start a regular lunch out with co-workers (don’t be selective on the invites).

16. Organize a weekly/monthly pot luck to make lunch a bit more exciting.

17. Ask someone who others typically ignore if you can grab them a soda/coffee while you’re out.

18. Be the first person to greet and welcome new people.

19. Make every effort to know the names of co-workers and clients along with their families.

20. Visit coworkers when they are in the hospital.

21. Bring sodas or work appropriate drinks to keep in your break room for coworkers to enjoy. Know what your co-workers like.

22. Go out of your way to talk to your janitors and cleaning people who most people overlook.

23. Find out your co-workers favorite music and make a playlist that includes as much as you can (if suitable for work).

24. Invite your co-workers in to the service projects you are already involved in.

25. Start/join a city league team with your co-workers.

26. Organize a weekly co-working group for local entrepreneurs at a local coffee shop.

27. Start a small business that will bless your community and create space for mission.

28. Work hard to reconcile co-workers who are fighting with one another.

29. Keep small candy, gum, or little snacks around to offer to others during a long day.

30. Lead the charge in organizing others to help co-workers in need.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:15:01 -0700 Grace Hill Update - August 3, 2011 http://www.bretteubank.com/grace-hill-update-august-3-2011 http://www.bretteubank.com/grace-hill-update-august-3-2011 Check out the latest update from Grace Hill Church. Make sure you look at the prayer update to see the latest with our building search. Some exciting stuff coming around the corner. http://eepurl.com/e5o5k

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank Wed, 27 Jul 2011 07:56:36 -0700 The Gospel And Wealth http://www.bretteubank.com/the-gospel-and-wealth http://www.bretteubank.com/the-gospel-and-wealth An Associated Press article that appeared in yesterday's Springfield News Leader revealed that the wealth gaps between whites and minorities are at their widest levels in a quarter-century and possible even beyond.  The article cited a study that The Pew Research Center conducted, which revealed that the median wealth of white U.S. households in 2009 was $113,149, compared with $6,325 for Hispanics and $5,677 for blacks.  No that's not a typo.  Those are the actual numbers.  That means whites have 20 times more wealth than blacks and 18 times more wealth than Hispanics.  Timothy Smeeding, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor who specializes in income inequality, stated that what's pushing the wealth of whites "is the rebound in the stock market and corporate savings, while younger Hispanics and African-Americans who bought homes in the last decade - because that was the American dream - are seeing big declines."  What does this all mean?  Roderick Harrison, who is a former chief of racial statistics at the Census Bureau, believes this pushes us back to being "two societies, separate and unequal."

As I process this article, I think I am more alarmed not at how little the median wealth for blacks and Hispanics is (though that is alarming) but how much the median wealth for whites are.  I am reminded of Jesus' pronouncement to the disciples having just witnessed a prominent, religious and rich young man reject the gospel, that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." (Luke 18:25)  According to Jesus, wealth can and does blind us to our need for the gospel as well as the needs of others.  After all, it is not the rich in spirit (or even the middle class in spirit)  that inherit the kingdom of God, but the poor in spirit.  The kingdom of God is for the spiritually needy...those who know they have no leg to stand on, nothing to bring to Jesus except for their need.  If I recognize my spiritual neediness and look to Jesus to cover that with the gospel, then I am more apt to see the physical neediness of others and look to cover their neediness with the gospel in very tangible and practical ways.  Lord, give me eyes to see and a heart that's free to love the needy around me even as you have done for me.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/976445/IMG_8912.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4afKZyz5KRIB bretteubank bretteubank