TThings have been really crazy in Herrick. I think that I can safely say that we are "settled." Summer is nearly officially upon us, and that means more programs for the kids(baseball, basketball camp, 2 vacations) VBS, and a new contemporary worship service for the church on Sunday evenings. Two infants to take care of, a new and exciting job for Rachel(working in ER at Pana Hospital. Oh by the way, Rachel is also back in school full time, going through Indiana State University, working towards her BSN, eventually going to become a nurse practicioner. On top of all this, I broke my ankle today! So, I do not know how I am going to get anything done now! Lots of prayer, that's what I need. More to come later.
Chris
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
HULU
If you haven't heard of Hulu, you need to check it out. Mark Wonderlin told me about it last night. It has every episode from those two channels, including episodes that have been canceled. I've been watching He-Man today! He-Man is the best cartoon ever, straight out of 1984! You should all check it out! Thanks Mark
Friday, February 20, 2009
A night with the Wonderlins
Rae and I spent the evening with Mark and Steph Wonderlin. We had dinner together, and then saw "Taken" @ Orpheum in Hillsboro. The movie was excellent, and the company was even better. The Wonderlins are exceptional people, and we are so glad to call them friends. Thanks guys!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Crossroads
The days in which we live are interesting and intriguing. I find myself moving from a sense of God’s Spirit moving to wondering why He isn’t moving like I thought He would. I’ve had this feeling many times in the past 12 years of ministry. Many times I’ve walked to the edge of the Jordan, only to stare at the land of promise and turn back. I’ve eaten more dust than any Arabian in the desert.
Some have turned back because of fear. We are afraid of losing control. Afraid to let God take over. Afraid to take God at His Word. Afraid of a few on the fringe of excess who scare us off from the genuine experience of the Holy Spirit and fullness. Afraid of what our peers might think if we stop eating the dust of mediocrity and compromise. Afraid of the enemy who always struts, but the gates of hell cannot prevail against God’s church.
Some turn back because of sin; the sin that so easily besets us. The sin we aren’t willing to let go of. The sin that we refuse to confess and judge. While we are willing to claim 1 John 1:9 and ask God to forgive us, we are unwilling to judge that sin and put it away.
Others turn back because they don’t know if crossing the river is the "Christian" thing to do. They are more concerned with traditions and appearances of religion than true Christianity. Some are bound by their experiences and blind to God’s promises.
Some dear souls are waiting for a feeling, when they just need a filling. They want God to sweep over them with a moment of emotional ecstasy that will carry them across the river in bliss and blessings.
A few report that there are giants in the land we seek to enter. They see with eyes of flesh rather than the eyes of faith. Yes, revival and renewal brings a new set of problems, but it’s better than eating dust.
Many want to know, "Will it cost me money to cross over?" Rather than being obedient to the Scriptures, they steal from God and then wonder why God cannot lead them to a new level of obedience and blessing. You’ll never cross the river if you don’t invest yourself and your substance in building the bridge of faith.
So where do we go from here? We can eat dust like our ancestors. We can be a good church with great programs, excellent staff, a strong prayer ministry, new buildings – and miss God. We can wander around from program to program, event to event, Sunday to Sunday and never experience the fullness of all we have in Christ Jesus.
We can look around and wait for some other folks to cross over and send back messengers to tell us what it is like. We can listen to those who say, "Why cross over; don’t we have it better than most?" We can sit down and meditate on our past and praise ourselves for all we’ve done. These are options – but not really.
The only real option is to cross over. I may never live to see revival in America, but I can have a revival in my own heart. I may never pastor a church where the majority are walking in the Spirit, but that doesn’t mean I can’t walk in the Spirit. I can choose to be a part of the remnant, the kindling wood, the Gideon’s crowd that is stronger than any might imagine.
I’ve decided I’m moving on. I’ve already packed my tent, my feet are in the water and I’m ready to go. I really don’t care who is behind me, or even with me. I’m going. I’m tired of waiting on people who will never view Canaan as an option. I’m weary of trying to talk people into five star living instead of Motel 6 Christianity. I won’t waste another day worrying if you will approve of me crossing over. I will not turn back and eat dust for fear that the carnal might be offended. Let those who want a nice, quiet religion, that doesn’t disturb the status quo, join a funeral home. I don’t believe that God intends for me to spend my life attempting to please the carnal who will never be pleased. I’m going to cross over.
Jesus was a Shepherd in his heart, a Shep-herd to people who wanted to know and love God. Jesus loved sinners, but He never backed off on the Pharisees. He knew their hearts. The Pharisees have a large gene pool. They are in every church. They seek to tie the hands of the pastor, they rain on every fire from heaven and rally people to themselves instead of to the Cross. They are, in reality, goats, not sheep. Too many sheep let goats run their lives, run the church and run off the Holy Spirit. This shepherd has every intention, as long as he lives, to kick every goat he sees – as far as he can. The Lord is calling us to cross over. He won’t wait until we are ready - He’s ready right now. The train is leaving the station. The plane is pulling away from the gate. The boat is leaving the dock. The sheep who are wanting to walk with the Good Shepherd are crossing the river. The meter is running. Time is wasting. When it’s all over, which side of the river are you going to be buried on? It’s your choice – and you have to make it now.
Some have turned back because of fear. We are afraid of losing control. Afraid to let God take over. Afraid to take God at His Word. Afraid of a few on the fringe of excess who scare us off from the genuine experience of the Holy Spirit and fullness. Afraid of what our peers might think if we stop eating the dust of mediocrity and compromise. Afraid of the enemy who always struts, but the gates of hell cannot prevail against God’s church.
Some turn back because of sin; the sin that so easily besets us. The sin we aren’t willing to let go of. The sin that we refuse to confess and judge. While we are willing to claim 1 John 1:9 and ask God to forgive us, we are unwilling to judge that sin and put it away.
Others turn back because they don’t know if crossing the river is the "Christian" thing to do. They are more concerned with traditions and appearances of religion than true Christianity. Some are bound by their experiences and blind to God’s promises.
Some dear souls are waiting for a feeling, when they just need a filling. They want God to sweep over them with a moment of emotional ecstasy that will carry them across the river in bliss and blessings.
A few report that there are giants in the land we seek to enter. They see with eyes of flesh rather than the eyes of faith. Yes, revival and renewal brings a new set of problems, but it’s better than eating dust.
Many want to know, "Will it cost me money to cross over?" Rather than being obedient to the Scriptures, they steal from God and then wonder why God cannot lead them to a new level of obedience and blessing. You’ll never cross the river if you don’t invest yourself and your substance in building the bridge of faith.
So where do we go from here? We can eat dust like our ancestors. We can be a good church with great programs, excellent staff, a strong prayer ministry, new buildings – and miss God. We can wander around from program to program, event to event, Sunday to Sunday and never experience the fullness of all we have in Christ Jesus.
We can look around and wait for some other folks to cross over and send back messengers to tell us what it is like. We can listen to those who say, "Why cross over; don’t we have it better than most?" We can sit down and meditate on our past and praise ourselves for all we’ve done. These are options – but not really.
The only real option is to cross over. I may never live to see revival in America, but I can have a revival in my own heart. I may never pastor a church where the majority are walking in the Spirit, but that doesn’t mean I can’t walk in the Spirit. I can choose to be a part of the remnant, the kindling wood, the Gideon’s crowd that is stronger than any might imagine.
I’ve decided I’m moving on. I’ve already packed my tent, my feet are in the water and I’m ready to go. I really don’t care who is behind me, or even with me. I’m going. I’m tired of waiting on people who will never view Canaan as an option. I’m weary of trying to talk people into five star living instead of Motel 6 Christianity. I won’t waste another day worrying if you will approve of me crossing over. I will not turn back and eat dust for fear that the carnal might be offended. Let those who want a nice, quiet religion, that doesn’t disturb the status quo, join a funeral home. I don’t believe that God intends for me to spend my life attempting to please the carnal who will never be pleased. I’m going to cross over.
Jesus was a Shepherd in his heart, a Shep-herd to people who wanted to know and love God. Jesus loved sinners, but He never backed off on the Pharisees. He knew their hearts. The Pharisees have a large gene pool. They are in every church. They seek to tie the hands of the pastor, they rain on every fire from heaven and rally people to themselves instead of to the Cross. They are, in reality, goats, not sheep. Too many sheep let goats run their lives, run the church and run off the Holy Spirit. This shepherd has every intention, as long as he lives, to kick every goat he sees – as far as he can. The Lord is calling us to cross over. He won’t wait until we are ready - He’s ready right now. The train is leaving the station. The plane is pulling away from the gate. The boat is leaving the dock. The sheep who are wanting to walk with the Good Shepherd are crossing the river. The meter is running. Time is wasting. When it’s all over, which side of the river are you going to be buried on? It’s your choice – and you have to make it now.
A SENSE OF LOSS
It has been a very hectic and at times troubling two years for Rachel and I. Our marriage is strong, and our love for each other remains as it has always been. When we returned from Peoria, we felt betrayed, discouraged, and very very lost. Rachel seemed to bounce back very quickly as she immersed herself in nursing, being a mom, and expecting Abby! It has taken me quite a bit longer. Rachel has always followed my lead, and she wandered through this process with me. Jeff, I found your blog the other day, and in doing so, I also found the Laughlin's, the Schwaab's, the Cress's, the Fentons, Matt and Audrey's, the Wonderlin's, Heath and Lindsey's, and a host of others. I began to read about all of your lives, and what's been happening with the kids, and all of the hilarious married stuff we all go through. I began to feel a great sense of loss. Not that we've lost you as friends. Each and every one of you have prayed for us, fellowshipped with us, loved on us, invited us into your lives. The sense of loss comes from having missed so much of your lives. Missing quality couples time, or having our babies play together. Missing all those great stories as they happened, and not reading them until a year later. Now, we are still in Litchfield, but in ministry in Herrick. We miss you guys terribly. I felt so lost in terms of ministry, and Lonnie kept telling me it was a tent-making season.(which it was) Rachel hung by me, and we became distant with all of you. For that, I am profoundly sorry. Jenny, I tearfully read your posts, lovingly describing your new experiences with Tug, and Sam, and also your declarations of love for your great husband, and I was moved. I read all of your comments to each other, and realized what a close knit group....really a family....that you all had become. We have missed the boat. What rich and wonderful lives you all live, and live it together! I'm sorry we haven't been a part of that. I'm desperatly sorry. We need you guys. We have stories to share, and tears to shed. We have prayer requests and praise reports! WE JUST WANT TO SHARE LIFE with you. We are hoping for another chance. We love you all.
Chris and Rachel
Chris and Rachel
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Blazing a new trail- December 2008
One week we were there, and the next week we weren't! That's what we've heard from so many of you, and it's true! I was contacted by the Herrick Christian Church two weeks before Thanksgiving(2008), and asked to come and candidate for their senior minister position. After speaking there for two weeks, and many meetings with their elder board, I was asked to take over as Senior pastor. I'm sure many of you are wondering where Herrick is at. It's smack dab in the middle of Pana, Shelvyville, Effingham, Vandalia. It takes us about 25 minutes to get to each of those places. We currently live in Litchfield on Martin Street, but that will be changing very soon, at least we hope. The church is in the process of purchasing a home(parsonage) for us. When we came to Herrick, the church's attendance was 30, and now it's 70. This has very little to do with me, and more so that a full time minister in now there. Things are going very well though. Rachel is leading worship! We have fallen in love with the people of Herrick. They are good people with hearts after God! They have taken good care of us, and we are blessed. We miss all of you! We miss Sunday night dinners at Justin and Jody's! We miss seeing you there, eating the great food, and sharing great fellowship. We have bible study on Sunday nights, so we have not been able to attend those dinners. Rae and I just wanted to let you know what's going on. Lord Bless you!
Our Eventful Weekend!
Rachel got a "tickle" in her throat on Thursday February 12, which turned into full blown pnuemonia, and bronchitis by Sunday afternoon. After a fruitless, and giant waste of time visit to St Francis in Litchfield, I took Rae(kicking and screaming) to St Johns in Springfield, where we have been the last two day. We spent our time at Childrens Hospital. Baby Noah is completly fine, and is on schedule for delivery sometime in the next few weeks. It was quite funny to watch Abigail manuever warily around her mother on Monday. Rachel was hooked up to IV's and Abby was not having any of it, which made Rae a bit sad. We are now home, but Rae has quite a ways to go for recovery. She is still having some issues breathing and coughing up both her lungs.
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