Discipline is something that I believe many people in today’s world lack. In generations past, more emphasis was put on being disciplined. Especially in my “X generation,” discipline is an afterthought. Not to say that there are not people my age that are highly disciplined, but I think there are fewer people that adhere to the kind of strict standards that used to be upheld in this country. Obviously the moral state of our nation has affected the very thought pattern of Americans today. Thus, we have a greater number of less committed and disciplined people expecting the same results that their parents may have achieved.

Personally, growing up in today’s culture, I have found myself only being disciplined in areas that I enjoy. I think that may run true with the many of the people my age, as well.

It is actually easy to be committed to something that you already have a desire to do. Everything else in life becomes the challenge, which can be seventy-five percent of the things we do. How easy is it to eat only food that is good for you? Or how many of us would like to be able to spend the majority of our time with family and friends instead of work? It is much easier to sit in front of the television than it is to run a mile. There is some amount of discipline needed for each of these examples. If we are willing to be disciplined, we will see the results. You will be healthy. You will be able to provide for your family. You will feel better.

For the last few years I have had the desire to be in better shape physically, but I told myself that I was not going to get there by jogging. I do not particularly enjoy that activity. Conversely, I never got in better shape. Basically, that is the best way to be in good cardiovascular shape, but I was not disciplined enough to commit to doing that.

So, I decided that jogging three times a week would be my discipline for this course. I needed to be in better shape, and that is the way to do it, if physically possible. At times, it was in question whether or not it was physically possible. I have persevered for the most part, though.

Running truly is a discipline in every since of the word. I felt as though I was punishing myself the first couple of weeks. It showed me that I really needed to be doing this. I was able to be fairly consistent with running three times a week. It was a good time for me to spend some one on one time with God, as well.

As I ran, I truly began to feel better, especially after the first couple of weeks. I had more energy, and it helped me in other areas of my life as well. As I became more discipline in that, other things became easier to be committed to, such as spending my time with the Lord every morning. That has become dramatically better since I began running.

Not only was my physical body getting in better shape, but through that discipline, spiritually I was growing, as well. I think as we can begin to be more disciplined in one area of our lives, then other areas become easier to deal with.

God really opened my eyes to the importance of being disciplined in every area of my life, not just things I enjoyed. Getting to that point, is not an easy row to hoe, so to speak, but it is necessary in order to become the kind of disciple that Jesus wants. The fact that the root of the word ‘discipline’ is ‘disciple’ should be a clue for all Christians. In order to be a true disciple one cannot skirt the need to be committed to the cause. I cannot half-heartedly follow Christ, and then call myself a disciple. Then I would be the only one saying that. Others will see if we are disciplined, and therefore the will see if we are worthy of being called disciples. I have seen the importance of that through this assignment.

We can and need to ask God’s help in being disciplined, but when all is said and done, it is up to us to take the first step and the next and the next. Sure God will help us, but He will not make us be disciplined. That will never make a disciple. Instead you would have a slave. We have to be a willing bond slave of Christ in order to be a disciple. When that happens, His yoke, which is light, will be upon us. Does it take discipline to carry the yoke of Christ? Of course. He does not go around throwing His yoke on anyone. Just to those that are willing to come to Him. And I believe that means more than just when we are saved. There needs to be a relationship. Real lasting relationships must have commitment. Through that commitment, we will find His yoke and His rest. (Matthew 11:29-30)

I can say I am more disciplined now than before this assignment. I can also say that I have much room for improvement. As we read in the Bible, Christ is coming for a church without spot or wrinkle. That will take some serious discipline on all of our parts. God sees our hearts. He knows whether we have the desire to be changed or not. And He will honor that. If we have that desire, then we must do something about it. Becoming more disciplined as not only as a person but a Christian is vitally important.

I will continue to run. Run for my health and run for Jesus Christ. Each will take my total commitment. Half-heartedness will not produce results for either one. I’m looking for results.

My personal experience with church discipline is fairly limited. First of all, I have hardly ever seen it done. Secondly, I do not believe that it is done in the correct manner when it is done.

The church has never personally disciplined me in a formal manner. By the grace of God, I don’t think I’ve done anything to warrant it anymore than most of the sinners in the church. Most of the time self-discipline and the conviction of the Holy Spirit have gotten me to change any wrong direction I was heading.

As far as me disciplining others, I haven’t been in the place to do that until recently. I’m definitely having a learning experience with the 6 to 11 year old Sunday school class Jenny and I are teaching. A couple of the children are testing my resolve, to say the least. I realize I need to be absolutely careful in how I deal with the children that tend to be troublesome. As I let the Holy Spirit lead me, I can help shape these kids in the image of Jesus Christ.

The main church discipline experience that I want to share about happened in the town I grew up in. I know the church and people who were involved, but I did not attend the church on regular basis. From time to time, our family would visit the church.

This church has been in my hometown for probably over a hundred years. I’m not even sure when it was planted. Unfortunately, just like many other churches that have been around that long it was a stale, dry place spiritually speaking. As long as I can remember there were about 20 to 30 people that attended the church. Many of the twenty-some people are still same ones since our family moved there 20 years ago. (Man, I’m getting old.) You could probably count on one hand the number of people that had been saved in that church during that time, as well.

For many years this church had the same pastor, and the members really liked him, his family, and his style of preaching. The church and pastor did not believe anything heretical or blasphemous. The fire had just long since departed. The pastor’s preaching didn’t really bring the Holy Spirit’s conviction on the congregation very often.

A couple years before I left home for college, the pastor moved away from my hometown. This, of course, brought on the search for a new pastor. The next pastor was appointed like many large denominations sometimes do. He was brought in from some other town to fill the opening. This started the trouble.

As far as I know, the new pastor didn’t preach anything heretical or blasphemous, either. His style was not to the liking of the long-standing leadership of the church, though. This pastor had the habit of preaching on uncomfortable subjects such as “hell” and “the need to repent from our sins.” Maybe his most unforgivable habit was his tendency to put his foot up on the altar while preaching. Uh oh. That didn’t go over too well with the faithful few of this church.

Issues such as these spurred on talk between the members of the church and how they didn’t appreciate his tone or actions. As gossip often does within the church, the unhappy talk spread through the small church very quickly. Soon enough talk of ousting the new pastor began to surface among the congregation. The sentiment to “get rid” of the pastor grew especially as the elderly members continued to discuss their dislike of his tactics.

During this time, I had at least one opportunity that comes to mind, to visit the church while he was there. I didn’t find anything necessarily disdaining about they way he preached the gospel or carried himself. He was, on the other hand, most assuredly different than the prior much loved pastor.

I think this was the key to the reaction of many of the churchgoers. They were set in their ways, and were not comfortable with this change. I believe this really reveals the heart of that congregation at that time. When we are following God, we have to be ready for anything, and many times what comes along in our walk with Him may not be the thing we were looking for. But it is exactly what He wants for us. Maybe this was God’s wake up call for them, or possibly He was testing them. Who knows but God Himself, if He was again reaching out to this church that had strayed from their first love. God is the only one that can answer that at this point.

The elders of the church had their way, and the replacement pastor was sent on his way. Maybe he could of done some things differently – tried to reach out a little more to where congregation was. Maybe he could’ve tried to change his approach, his style – his method. Maybe he wasn’t sensitive enough to the needs of the church, and therefore shut the door on the possibility of reaching those people. Maybe he could’ve just tried harder to fit in. Or maybe he was doing what God called him to do – bring the Word with conviction and authority. I’m more inclined to think the latter.

Of course, as humans, there are always going to be issues in our lives that can be changed for the better. I’m sure he could have refined some things to better reach that church. When all is said and done, though, he, as a vessel of God to speak God’s truth must do so without reservation.

Thankfully that church now has pastors that bring God’s word without reservation, and they are not being run out of town. God is still calling that church to be a lighthouse to that community.

Many of America’s churches are in this state of mind. And something needs to be done. Something needs to reach to the core of these congregations and change them. That something is the Fire of God. As we are led by the Holy Spirit to speak the truth in boldness, things will happen – because it is God making the decisions and not us.

My life has been forever changed through this experience. I will never be able to look at the lost the same. Praise God.

Unfortunately, evangelism is not one of my strongest gifts as a Christian. So, this assignment gave me the most worry out of any that we’ve been give thus far. I can’t say that I was really fearful, but at the same time I didn’t know where I would get an opportunity to witness to someone “cold turkey” so to speak. I’ve only had a few opportunities to share about Jesus to people I don’t know. So, I am still a novice in every since of the word. With God’s help I will be able to grow a lot more in this area. Truly, in my weakness, His strength will shine. I still have much to learn about being an effective evangelist.

Having a burden for the lost – I can truthfully say that this has been seriously lacking in much of my Christian walk. Within the last three years it has become more prevalent, though. God is continually changing my heart and how I pray for those who don’t know Jesus. I’m thankful for that. But this “assignment” has brought a definite breakthrough.

I had the opportunity to go a juvenile detention center this past weekend with my father-in-law to minister in music and preaching. When I think back, my first thought is “Wow.” Some of the boys there looked like they should still be in elementary school playing kickball or something. To say the least, it was an eye opener.

The place was run much like a military institution, but with less freedom. The boys all had shaved heads and wore plain t-shirts with shorts or sweatpants. They were required to walk with their hands behind their backs at all times. You didn’t see any joking around or goofing off that you are accustomed to seeing with boys that age.

My father-in-law and I had come with a local Korean church that visits the detention center a few times a year. The Korean ladies had brought a feast with them for the boys to eat after the ministry time. I believe that was part of the reason 65 boys showed up for this voluntary activity.

As we began to set up our equipment, I found out that the battery in my guitar was dead. This was not the greatest thing that could happen, but I was determined to praise God wholeheartedly with or without the sound of my guitar. At the same time, I had never played with the lady who was going to be playing the keyboard. Also, she did not know three of the four songs I was going to do. We went over the songs, and it was pretty rough. We were ready to praise the Lord, though.

Once we started singing and playing, God’s anointing really came down. It didn’t seem like we had never played together before. The boys really got into singing the songs, to my surprise, and it was a great encouragement to me. The whole praise and worship time was awesome. And I got a new battery half way through.

After praise and worship my father-in-law preached to the boys about coming out of their tomb like Lazarus. He emphasized the need to remove the “stones of sin” from their life so that they could come out of their “tomb” when Jesus calls their name. I could see that this powerful word from the Lord was reaching many of these guys. As he finished the message, he gave an altar call for anyone who wanted to receive Jesus Christ as his Savior. Around twenty boys came forward to receive Jesus! Awesome!

I was given the opportunity to share following that. I shared with them some of my testimony, and some of the struggles I faced as a teenager. I challenged them to live for Christ now and not waste their opportunity to live for Him in the present. I told them not to think they cannot do something for God just because they are young.

At the end, a couple of guys came up to talk to me. One of the guys told me he could relate with my testimony, and told me that he didn’t really know what the truth was. I encouraged him to read the Bible on a daily basis and by reading God’s Word he would be able to know the truth. I asked him if he would like me to pray with him, and he said yes. That was really great to be able to pray with him. Another boy asked me about the songs I played, and said he wanted his mom to get him CDs with those songs. Through all this, God was really showing me His heart for these boys. I didn’t see them as delinquents, but as real people that God truly loved. I really began to feel God’s heart for the lost as never before.

The guys at the center were truly blessed by us coming and taking the time to share God’s love with them. Right before we left, one of the boys thanked us all for coming. It was evident that he was really grateful that we had come.

I’m looking forward to going back. God has a special place in his heart for people just like these boys in the juvenile detention center. And he has made a special place in my heart, as well. Only through God’s love are we able to reach out and love those who seem so unlovable. I see that working in my life now, more than any other time.

I know God has a plan to use me in a greater way to evangelize the lost. That is what we are called to do as Christians. These last few days I feel closer to God than ever before. Because now my heart is closer to God’s heart more than ever before. Truly, God does not wish that anyone should perish, but all come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) As God’s love through me for others grows, I see how inadequate my love is. Our love can be so tainted. Any emotion or deterrence can change the way we think of someone from moment to moment. Only through God’s love, can we reach the world, and change it for His glory.

Thank You, God, for continuing to change my heart. And thank You for first loving me.

Growing up in a Christian home was an incredible blessing. I think many times people who grew up in a similar situation believe they do not have much of a testimony. I believe that whether you were saved from the drug infested ghetto, or if you were born in the baptistery, God’s saving grace is still just as amazing.

In my short lifetime, I have observed that those who were saved at young age and in a Christian home many times receive a lot of grace after they accept Christ. There is a temptation to become very lackadaisical in your walk with Jesus, if that is all you’ve ever known. This will lead to many Christians falling away. At the same time, I would not choose any other way to grow up. I am the one who needs to change, not the circumstances.

I’ve had discussions with my friends who had similar upbringings, and we would talk about having a pretty boring testimony compared to the drug addict who received Christ in a miraculous way. I believe both types of testimonies are vital to reaching the most people. A testimony similar to mine is an encouragement to young people and those that live relatively good lives. You do not need to stray down the wide path that leads to hell, first, in order for Jesus to save you. On the other hand, those that have been miraculously saved from their deviant lifestyle can reach out to the spiritually destitute that may think there is no way God could love them and change them.

As I said, I was blessed to have God-fearing parents and grandparents. I truly thank God for that. My conversion starts with my father’s personal revival. I was born in Kirksville, Missouri, where my dad was a professor at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State). Around 1981, Dad knew that God was calling him out of teaching to go back home (West Virginia) and start something new both spiritually and physically. In 1982 the year I started kindergarten, we moved to West Virginia.

Part of God moving our family to West Virginia, was for my parents to start a Christian camp. That happened in 1985. The camp was a free 3-day camp in July for 8 to 12 year olds. That included me. One evening of the camp Stuart Farley, a local pastor, spoke about the salvation message. I remember knowing that I need Jesus to come in to my life to save me, but I was a bit of a scaredy cat. I told my self I would go if someone else got up first. Praise God! Someone else went forward! Who knows what would have happened if he had not gotten up! I prayed the sinner’s prayer at the make shift altar overlooking the valley on our farm. (Beautiful place to be saved, by the way.) Everyone congratulated me afterwards, and it was great. That was just the beginning of a wonderful relationship.

My life before Christ was pretty uneventful. I had not had much time to get in to a whole lot of trouble. I was a pretty well behaved child. You can ask my parents. Sure, I had my disobedient streaks and temper tantrums from time to time, but all in all I was not so bad. Nonetheless, I still needed Jesus to save me just as much as anyone else. “All we like sheep have gone astray…” Isaiah 53:6. Even though I had not gone as far astray as some would, still, astray is astray. And I was headed to hell with the drug addict until I met Jesus and he changed my life.

After I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I definitely had I desire to know him more. Our family read the One Year Bible together, and I really enjoyed that. I also began to read the Bible on my own. Life with Jesus was not peaches and cream all of the time. I still sinned like a lot of boys, but I knew I needed God’s forgiveness for the things I had done.

When I was ten years old, my family when to a revival meeting in Charleston, West Virginia. The church had a separate meeting for the children, and that night’s message was on receiving the Holy Spirit. At that point I was not real familiar with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but I knew it was something I needed. They gave the altar call, and this time I didn’t wait for anyone else. I was baptized with the Holy Spirit that night, and I still didn’t understand it all. But I knew it was good.

Unfortunately, my understanding of the Holy Spirit did not grow for quite some time. Attending a fundamental Christian school did not help that part of my relationship with God. The Christian school was a good experience for me. I learned a lot during this time. It could have been better, though. As I got older my relationship with God suffered. Trying to be “cool,” and fitting in with my friends became a problem.

Through God’s grace, I never fell in to drinking, smoking, drugs, or sex, but at the same time, I was far away from God. On my senior trip we went to a Christian camp and I rededicated my life to Jesus at service there. The speaker gave everyone a stick and challenged everyone to throw it in to the fire, symbolizing burning up those things in our life that are not pleasing to God.

From that point on, my relationship began to grow again with God. He showed me much grace and mercy during my high school years. At college, I found the solid Christian friends that I didn’t have in high school. I got back in to having my personal time with God. Before my senior year, I felt God calling me to be involved with missions. At the start of the semester, our school had a missions conference, and one of the speakers challenged us to give two years of our lives to missions. I stood before God and told Him I was willing to do that.

During this time I was getting to know my future wife. I found out her father was the vice president of a missions organization. (Coincidence? I think not!) I later met with Dr. James Lee, and knew that God was calling me to work with him. I ended up working almost exactly two years with the missions organization. God grew me in leaps in bounds thanks to Him using Dr. Lee to mentor me. I learned a lot about the Holy Spirit during this time, and that relationship was rekindled.

Within the last three years, God has really grown me in the area of worship, especially. I now lead worship, whereas, three years ago that would have never happened. I know that this is only because of God working in and through me and nothing else. Praise Him for that.

Life definitely has its struggles, and God uses them all for His glory. God brought my wife Jenny and I through her thyroid cancer. People my age shouldn’t have to worry about that, right? But God is good, and He was in complete control throughout the situation. And she is healed! Praise the Lord!

God is continually teaching me new things. He is opening my eyes more and more to my place in His kingdom work. I can’t thank Him enough for the things He has done in my life, the people He has brought in my life, and the great things to come. His grace, mercy, and love never cease to amaze me. He is the reason I live. Praise His name forever!

(Assignment from River of Life Mission Training Center)

What have been the three most important leadership experiences of your life? Describe each one.

1. Assistant Director – Psalm 23 Camp

Relationships: I worked with junior high, high school, college, and adults during this time.  Most of the time I was with junior high and high school students.

Conflicts: There weren’t too many.  Generally speaking some of the kids would do stuff they weren’t supposed, and I would have to intervene.  One particular group comes to mind.  It was a church youth groups from the Northeast, and most of the kids used really obscene language as well as having bad attitudes.  I wasn’t much older than them at the time, but I had to confront the situation.  I had to let them know that their behavior wasn’t acceptable at our camp.  I also tried to be the best example I could be while around them, too.  Some other situations were similar.  It was a conflict because I was more of a peer to the campers.

Responsibility/Authority: I directed work projects on and off site.  I also ran the recreational activities for the camp.  I was in charge of taking groups rafting every Friday, an all day event.  I was also responsible for selling drinks, snacks, and clothing at the camp store.  I helped with miscellaneous tasks wherever needed.

Roles: Most of the time I had a “friend” role.  I had fun with campers while leading them.  At times I had to take a “father” role: telling people what to do or what not to do.  Even giving counsel in some situations.  Sometimes I had a “foreman” role with the work projects.

Experience: It was a very good experience.  I was able to interact with a lot of different people from different areas of the county.  I learned a lot about dealing with people during that time, amongst other things.

2. Youth Worker – Tri County A/G

Relationships: While in this leadership role the main relationships I formed were with the youth pastors.  I also spent time with the youth.  God had me learning more from the pastors during this time, and I didn’t have as much interaction with the students.

Conflicts: The most significant conflict that I encountered during this time was with the first youth pastor.  He was having a difficult time at the church, and at one point he told me he was going to leave after being there for just a few months.  This was told in confidence, and I knew nothing about his feeling until that point, other than knowing he was struggling.  I knew in my spirit that it wasn’t time for him to leave that church.  I didn’t say anything, but I prayed.  He changed his mind and was there for a few more months.  When he did leave, it was the right timing for him to move on.

Responsibility/Authority: During the first youth pastor’s tenure I was his “right hand” man as he called me.  We both came to the church around the same time, so we connected.  I helped him in whatever way I could with technical things, ideas, and he even gave me the opportunity to speak to the youth group a couple of times.  During this time I also started getting involved in worship on a larger scale.  With the second youth pastor I mainly helped him with technical things.  I ran power point presentations for him, and helped set up and tear down equipment.  Jenny and I also headed up the junior high cell groups that separated from the main service twice a month.

Role: For the most part I was a “friend” to the youth pastors, and to some of the youth.  I also was involved in a lot of “servant” leadership, helping wherever it was needed.

Experience: This was also a good experience.  I learned how to do some things in youth ministry, and also how not to do some things.  It was a very substantial growth period in my life.

3. Youth Leader – River of Life Ministries

Relationships: I’ve been developing relationships with kids from elementary up through college age.

Conflicts: The conflict in this situation is within myself.  On the one hand I love doing the youth ministry, and on the other I’m strapped for time.  So, it becomes a question of whom we can minister to, and when we can do it.   Some sacrifices have to be made, obviously, and I can’t reach everybody.  The best part of it is that God knows my heart on this issue.  So, get me out of this secular job, Lord, and let’s go!

Responsibility/Authority: I lead worship, minister to the youth, and pray for them, while being a good example of Jesus Christ for them.  Having an expanded role in youth ministry has been, by far, the biggest responsibility of any of my leadership positions.

Role: This role has been most like a “pastor”, although I’ve never called myself that.  I prefer “under shepherd” as my dad says when talking about his sheep dog.  I’ve also had a “friend” role with the older youth.

Experience: I’m still going through this experience, but it has been great.  I think every experience can obviously have good come out of it.  It is all in how I look at it.  So, no matter what could possibly happen in the future with this, it can still be very good for me and those around me.

Ten statements about the nature and function of leadership

1. Leadership is understanding those following you.
2. Leadership is taking a stand when no one else will.
3. Leadership is forgetting self, and remembering others.
4. Leadership is not backing down from a challenge.
5. Leadership is speaking truth with conviction.
6. Leadership is listening.
7. Leadership is celebrating with those that succeed.
8. Leadership is picking up those that fail.
9. Leadership is knowing when to start, and when to finish.
10. Leadership is about bringing others to where you are and beyond.

Ten statements about the nature and function of a Christian

1. A Christian is Christ-like.
2. A Christian is a servant of God.
3. A Christian is a priest of God.
4. A Christian is more than a conqueror.
5. A Christian is humble before man and God.
6. A Christian is one who tells others about Christ.
7. A Christian is one who praises and worships God.
8. A Christian is creative because God is.
9. A Christian is globally minded.
10. A Christian is hungry for more of God’s presence.

A Christian leader is one who will forget himself, and tell others about Jesus Christ.

Three greatest strengths as a leader
1. Keeping calm under pressure
2. Creativity
3. Availability

Three greatest weaknesses as a leader (ouch)
1. Boldness
2. Discipline
3. Pride

Are leaders born?  Or are leaders made?  Explain.

Both.  As we talked about in the first class, God can clearly give someone a gift of leadership.  For the most part, though, we are made into leaders.  Even those who have a gift, have to be made to a certain extent.  In every aspect of our life, we can always learn more.  The same goes for leadership.  Some may just have to learn more than others.  I am being made in to one, and I don’t even remember telling God that I wanted to be one.  That is what’s great, though.  I know it is His plan and not my own.  Praise God!