Americans: My Faith Isn't the Only Way to Heaven

Have you read this story yet?

The AP is reporting that most Americans don't believe that their religion is the only way to get to heaven.

Here's an excerpt:

America remains a nation of believers, but a new survey finds most Americans don't feel their religion is the only way to eternal life — even if their faith tradition teaches otherwise.
The findings, revealed Monday in a survey of 35,000 adults, can either be taken as a positive sign of growing religious tolerance, or disturbing evidence that Americans dismiss or don't know fundamental teachings of their own faiths.

Among the more startling numbers in the survey, conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57 percent of evangelical church attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching.
In all, 70 percent of Americans with a religious affiliation shared that view, and 68 percent said there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their own religion.

"The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep," said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion.
"There's a growing pluralistic impulse toward tolerance and that is having theological consequences," he said.

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This is so disturbing and reflects a complete ignorance of one of the clearest teachings in the Bible.

In John 14: 5,6 we read:

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I just finished a meeting with one of our ministry leaders. In our meeting we discussed the importance of a strong discipleship program as a part of our ministry.

I'm convicted that we must do more to give our people a strong foundation of biblical knowledge.

This article is confirmation that more churches should do the same.

Random Act of Kindness

Last week, the staff of Christ's Church and the people in their community were faced with a difficult morning commute due to the closure of a major thoroughfare--which is also the road on which the church is located.

(I served at Christ's Church before coming to Journey Christian Church this month.)

The staff of Christ's Church noticed that the people who were trying to navigate the detour were stressed out and tempers were hot as the asphalt on which they were driving . . . or should I say "sitting", so they decided to do something kind for the commuters.

Here's what one of the staff members reported about the situation:

The road closure has made Greenland Road a virtual parking lot each morning. All week long we have been driving past frustrated, aggravated, unhappy and late travelers trying to make their way to work. Even the most patient of people has been tested! In light of what we have been learning throughout the Fruit of the Spirit series, we thought it would be a great idea to simply share a little joy, peace, kindness and goodness with our Greenland Road neighbors.

It was great to see our neighbors laughing and smiling as we simply offered a word of encouragement and a free bite to eat while they sat patiently in traffic. Hopefully we made someone’s day a little better and a little brighter.

What a great example and a reminder to all of us of what a church can do when it is committed to making it's community a better place for everyone.

What Is an Elder's Most Important Job?

Last winter, on behalf of the Christian Standard, I conducted a survey for Elders to bring some more clarity to what Elders actually do.

The article I wrote based on the results of that survey are in this week's edition of the Christian Standard. I was fascinated by what the survey revealed.

Here's a sample of my article:

Who is an elder supposed to be?

The Bible makes it clear in such passages as 1 Timothy 3:2-7. But the Bible is not as clear about what an elder is supposed to do.

I know, I know . . . the Bible teaches that an elder is a shepherd of Christ's church (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2), but what exactly does shepherding look like in a 21st-century congregation? A shepherd's job description is clear when you're standing in a field, holding a staff, surrounded by sheep, but it's not so clear when you're standing in an auditorium, holding a congregational meeting, surrounded by people.

Finish The Article

Joe and Sue Sutherland

Joe and Sue Sutherland are not just my friends, they're also my mentors.

I've been blessed to know them for about five years. When I lived in Orlando we'd meet at least once a month for ministry mentoring. During those sessions I learned so much about ministry, people, life, and family. Joe and Sue are incredibly wise, humble, and faithful.

I was so excited to read this week's edition of Buzz in the Christian Standard.

The article details the work that the Sutherlands are leading in Central Florida.

Here's an excerpt:

(Joe) Sutherland takes no salary, so after initial start-up costs for a keyboard, computer, and projector, most of the church’s money has been poured back into ministry. “We started by giving 60 percent of our offerings and now we give away 80 percent,” Sutherland says. Community Christian averages 132 in worship each Sunday morning—more than 20 percent of High Vista’s total residents. These attendees include several new believers. “Our youngest baptism has been 60 and the oldest has been 88,” Sutherland says. “I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks!”

Here's a link to the rest of the article: Senior Moment

After reading this article you'll know why Joe and Sue aren't just my mentors, they're also two of my heroes.

One more thing . . . this was my first Sunday preaching at Journey Christian Church. Guess who was sitting in the auditorium about half-way back in the middle during the first service? That's right: Joe and Sue Sutherland.

My mentors.

My heroes.

My friends.

Of Empty Moving Trucks and a Full Pantry

Well, we are finally in Greeley and starting to get moved in.

Our trip out here was an experience that we'll never forget . . . for really good reasons.

It was great to see family and friends on our journey to Journey and to have uninterrupted time with my kids.

We arrived at our home in Greeley to move in on Saturday morning and we were met by about 30 people from the church. In two hours they unloaded both moving trucks, set up 4 beds, set up 2 tables, set up one basketball goal, unloaded both of our vehicles, cleaned both trucks, delivered fresh flowers to our house, delivered food for the crowd, and returned both moving trucks to the rental companies.

It was an amazing demonstration of service, love, and acceptance.

We were truly overwhelmed.

And then on Sunday they gave us a "pounding."

Now, I know that many of my minister friends have received a "good pounding" from a church at some time or another, but this was really a "good pounding."

The "pounding" we received was the gift of a pound of something for our pantry.

For three hours people came to the church with bags full of food for me and my family. We were able to speak with everyone and be blessed as we met our new church family. Afterwards we had to set up five extra shelves in the garage to hold all of the food we received.

It was such an amazing blessings that filled--not only our pantry--but our hearts as well.

Travelling to Colorado

Well, we're on the road and on our way to Greeley, Colorado.

As I write this I'm at my sister's house in Houston, Texas as we visit with my sister and her family for a few days before heading on to Greeley.

We loaded the moving van on Friday and pulled out of Jacksonville on Saturday with our 4 kids and two pets evenly distributed between two moving trucks loaded with all of our earthly possessions.

I'm driving the 26 ft Penske my daughter has named, "Penny." "Penny" is towing our Toyota.

My wife is driving the 24ft Budget truck we rented the moment we realized that "Penny" was as full as our garage. My daughter named the Budget truck, "Bubba." "Bubba" is towing our van.

We are quite a sight to see tooling down the highway at 66 governor-restricted miles per hour.

It's been a grand adventure so far.

Our first attempt at fueling "Penny" and "Bubba" was a 45-minute fiasco that almost ended our marriage. :)

We quickly learned that the only place to fuel two diesel moving trucks with vehicles in tow is a truck stop with plenty of room to turn around and not a convenience store that has only one diesel fuel pump which just happens to be blocked by a tanker truck.

We learned that when I use my Discover card to pay for the 66 gallons of $4.70 per gallon diesel fuel it takes to keep the two trucks carrying the Chambers moving show down the road it will trigger a security warning that will result in purchases on my Discover being denied until I call "customer service" to get resolution.

We learned that not every hotel that describes itself as "Pet-friendly" really is and that not all of those hotels that are willing to accept our pets have parking lots big enough to handle "Penny" and "Bubba."

We learned that the switch my youngest daughter hit with her foot on the dashboard of my wife's truck controls overdrive and when overdrive is engaged on a moving truck the result is that the truck will be unable to drive over 55 mph for two long hours in Louisiana until it is finally switched off.

We've also learned that we are blessed.

Actually, we already knew this; we've just been reminded of this fact for the past few days.

We've been blessed with some amazing family and friends who have helped us out in so many ways during this transition time.

We've been blessed with the opportunity to begin a ministry with an incredible group of people at a church in a community with amazing potential.

We've been blessed with the chance to live in Colorado . . . minutes from the Rocky mountains. Colorado!

And we've been blessed with a great family.

I love my family more than words can express. My wife and kids make life and ministry so much fun. Moving is never fun, but I've thoroughly enjoyed this time with my wife and kids. We are enjoying days of uninterrupted time together . . . and I will cherish this time forever.

We are on an adventure of faith with God leading the way and . . . trust me . . . it doesn't get any better than that!

Well . . . on second thought . . . cheaper gas and more parking spaces at pet-friendly hotels would make it just a little better. :)