Pastor Marc Adams and Wesley Free Methodist Church

I'm excited for a friend of mine, the brother that I never had.  Pastor Marc Adams will assume the senior pastorate of Wesley Free Methodist Church in Anderson, Indiana in early July.  I've known him for over 20 years; we were college roommates and ministered together across the country during the summer of '91.

In the name of Jesus I bless Marc, his wife, Annette, and the Wesley Church with great spiritual, numerical and financial growth for the advancement of the Kingdom of God!

Wesley Free Methodist Church

• 3017 West 8th Street
• Anderson, Indiana 46011-1903
• 
  

Losing Our Leaders

Today I received a thoughtful email from a reader who enjoyed my post on the late Kenneth E. Jones.  It got me to thinking.  I lament the fact that, in our inevitable change as time continues, the Church of God (Anderson) is losing her statesmen.  As we as a church group age we are exposed to the larger evangelical world around us; that's not necessarily a bad thing.  However, there is something to be said for leaders (elected or informal) who helped us craft our identity.  Kenneth E. Jones was one of them.  I fear that with the passing of Arlo Newell we may have seen the last of our statesmen in one respect.

Though fallible men D. S. Warner, the Byers brothers, E. E. Byrum, F. G. Smith, H. M. Riggle, C. E. Brown (pictured right) and W. Dale Oldham, etc. gave us something.  They gave us cohesion; they gave us a common heritage and identity.  Today we're more apt to look to Francis Chan than a national leader (again, elected or informal).    As the years pass we leave our Church of God subculture and amalgamate into the larger evangelical world.  We lose something.

I'm not arguing that we didn't need to leave behind some of the teachings of influential leaders of old; I'm simply saying that we lose our story as we grow.  Again, it's inevitable.  But let's at least acknowledge the passing.

It reminds me of an event that happened some years ago as I searched for F. G. Smith's grave at Maplewood Cemetery.  It took a bit of doing; his grave was, frankly, forgettable and nondescript.  I had an epiphany as I stood there and looked at the ground.  The Anderson campground was bustling with folks there for the annual National Convention.  I was standing—alone—at the graveside of a man who, at his zenith, was the most powerful leader in the Church of God.   The message hit me: Life goes on.

I'm not saying authoritarian leadership or the church-historical method of interpreting the books of Daniel and Revelation are preferable.  But I am here to acknowledge the passing of our sense of purpose and mission. 

Bless Your Church Property

Have you ever blessed your church property, the land dedicated to the worship of God?

In the name of Jesus...

I bless this place with the manifest Presence of the Holy Spirit.

I bless this place with grace and freedom from legalism.

I bless this place with the Holy Spirit's love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith/faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I bless this place with unity and a feeling of goodwill and caring.

I bless this place with the fear and knowledge of Yahweh.

I bless this place with irresistible human drawing-power where people seek God's Face.

I bless this place with holy signs, wonders and healings.

I bless this place to be the area where people have their deepest needs met.

I bless this place with freedom in Christ, free from the evil one and his unclean servants with their devices, schemes & assignments.

Maurice Berquist, a late minister in the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) wrote a book called The Miracle and Power of Blessing. I don't agree with all of Berk's views or theological framework but it is a provocative read. You can read it for free online at this location.

Boyce W. Blackwelder on Justification by Faith

The late Reverend Doctor Boyce Watson Blackwelder (1913—1976) of Concord, North Carolina, remains one of the greatest scholars the Church of God (Anderson) has ever known.  Blackwelder wrote the influential Light from the Greek New Testament and translated the Letters of Paul.  He wrote a book on the apostle, himself, entitled, Toward Understanding Paul as well as Pauline commentaries.  He also penned The Four Gospels: An Exegetical Translation.  Blackwelder was responsible for translating Colossians for the New King James Version and served as an adviser on other passages of the NKJV.

In his work, Toward Understanding Romans, Blackwelder translates Romans 3.21-25a, 26b:

But now God's kind of righteousness stands manifested apart from law [of any kind], although it is attested by the Law and the Prophets.  Indeed God's kind of righteousness is through faith in Jesus Christ.  It is effective for all who are trusting [in him].  There is no distinction, for the whole race has sinned, and [man] continues to fall short of God's standard.  The permanent principle of justification operates freely by the gift of his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God openly set forth as the means of expiation by his blood, to be appropriated through faith...even while declaring righteous the person who places trust in Jesus.

You will never be declared "Not Guilty" of sins based on how good you are.  You aren't good at all compared to God's holiness.  Rather, you are declared "Not Guilty" by trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Maurice Berquist and The Miracle and Power of Blessing

Have you ever blessed someone in Jesus' name?  Yes, you've probably heard that a Christian is supposed to be a blessing to others.  But have you ever intentionally, consciously blessed someone?  Blessed his health?  His finances?  His spiritual state?  His family?

To bless means to give a gift.  In verbally blessing another you are connecting him to the power of God.  To bless a person is to use your Christian authority in Jesus' name (that is to say, you are under Jesus' authority and, so, you are authorized to use his authority) and direct the grace of God to him.  You can bless a congregation, even an inanimate object like a building or an abstraction like your job.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. (Romans 12:14 ESV)

 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? And his name--by faith in his name--has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. (Acts 3:12,16 ESV)

The late Church of God minister, Maurice Berquist (1923—1993), wrote a fascinating book entitled The Miracle and Power of Blessing.  You can read it online for free by going to this link.  You don't have to agree with all of the points, illustrations or conclusions of Berk to, well, be blessed by the book.

I bless you in the name of Jesus in order that you might bless others.

 I'd love to build up a great church based on blessing!  Love!  Joy!  Peace!  The presence of the Holy Spirit!  Salvation!  Sanctification! Healing!  Blessing!

You Don't Have to be Smart to be Holy

And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
(Isaiah 35:8 ESV)

Isaiah 41

I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. (Isaiah 41:18 ESV)

Do What Amanda Thatcher Teaches (at Her Grandmother's Funeral)

Ben Witherington: Why He is a Wesleyan

When Max Gaulke Wrote to Me

During my time at Mid-America Bible College (now Mid-America Christian University) I wrote a small article for the January 1991 edition of the Reformation Witness.  I was surprised (read: "shocked") when Dr. Max R. Gaulke, the founder of my alma mater, wrote me an encouraging note after he read my article.  

I still have the note; here is a scan of it.  Click on the note to expand the letter:

The Scriptural reference Gaulke included is as follows...

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)