Clif McKinley Dot Com

Rob Bell referenced Psalm 50 in a video and in book I just watched and read.   So yesterday morning I decided to read it and here are some of my observations.

This is the Psalm that says “God owns the cattle on a 1,000 hills.”  I have heard this passage quoted a million times.  Those quoting it are trying to say that God has wealth and He can provide.  That is absolutley true, but that is not what this passage is talking about.    That is not the point at all.

When God says that, He is making the point that if He had a need, like being hungry, He would need help from us, BECAUSE He owns the cattle on a 1,000 hills.  He goes on to say that he doesn’t NEED our sacrifices, but what He wants is TRUE THANKS.  What He wants is for us to keep our viws.  What He wants is for us to trust HIm in times of trouble so that He can rescue us.  Then we can give Him glory.

In verse 22 He says,we all need to ”REPENT” of what you ask?  Ignoring Him.  WOW!  How guilty are we of that.  Ignoring Him, trying to do it on our own, being self sufficent.

“You broke the bonds, And you loosened the chains

Carried the cross, Of all my shame, all my shame

You know I believe it, But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for”

Still Haven’t Found What I’m LookingFor – U2-The Joshua Tree

Many of you do not know a lot about me.  I tend to be a very measured and guarded person.  I don’t where my feelings on my sleeve.  Most people have to guess what I am thinking.  But I live most of my life very frustrated.  This is something God has placed inside of me, at least I believe that it is Him.  From the time I accepted the call of God and began walking the path of serving Him with my whole heart and life, I have had a desire to see the Church function as God intended.  I believe the local church is the hope of the world.  I believe local congregations can greatly impact the communities in which they are and bring about true revolution.  I believe with all my heart that Jesus did not die to start a religion, but a Spiritual Revolution!  I believe He stepped into human history to change things.

I have been frustrated for as long as I can remember because I don’t see this happening.  I see a lot of business as usual in the Church.  It is very easy to fall into comfortable patterns, to try and protect the bottom line, to play it safe.  But when I look at the life of Jesus, He never played it safe!  My goal is not to build a mega-church, but I am desperate to be apart of a church the is effective and makes an impact.  I live in the tension of what is and what I know should and could be.

I am keenly aware that I am not like most pastors.  I know I see the world and the church very differently than most of my peers.  I know I am very much out of place in the church culture of New England.  This only adds to my frustration.  I would fit in better at Lifechurch.tv or Newspring or Northpoint.  But God hasn’t seen fit to place me there, for now He has placed me here.  And I struggle to ministry as I feel God would have me to do it.

I have spent the last 7 years transitioning this church from a traditional church into a more culturally relevant and  community focused church.  A church that leads people to passionately love God, genuinely love one another, and practically love the world.  This has been a very hard road.   I have angered many, many have left the church.  For 7 year it has felt like 1 step forward and 2 steps back.  I’d like to think we are making progress but some days it doesn’t feel that way.  For as much progress as we have made I still feel we have so far to go.

It is such a challenge to move people to feel as I feel; see as I  see; and to want what I want.

The Bible tells us not to grow weary in well doing, but I have to admit, I’m feeling very weary.  So this me, pulling back the curtain a little, just being honest.  Please pray for me.

Thanks

The Beatles sang “You say you want a revolution; Well, you know; We all want to change the world.”  But that just isn’t true.  Most people are not interested in a revolution, most people don’t want to change the world, most people are content with the Status Quo.  But the reality is that the world needs a revolution!  Not of a political nature, not of an economic nature, but a SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION!

Webster’s defines Revolution as ” a sudden, complete or marked change in something.”  The church needs a revolution.  Martin Luther saw the church in his day headed in the wrong direction and nailed the 95 Thesis to the door of the Wittenberg Church.  According to a recent study, 6 out of the top 10 least churched states are in New England, and NH is second only to VT.  The church in New England needs a REVOLUTION!  This is the birth place of the American Revolution.  It was here that ordinary people rose up and said “Things need to change!”  It is time for us to do the same.

Jesus “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not previel against it.”  The victory is promised we just need to get in the fight.  No more business as usual, no more whatever happens happens, if we REALLY believe in the life changing message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we need to get to work.

The Revolution is Coming.  Are you ready?  Are you willing?  Are you able?

Let’s not wait for the world to change, let’s help Jesus bring the change to pass!

Every so often I have to stop and take stock of my spiritual development.  I have to ask myself the hard question, “How have I grown spiritually?”  If we don’t examine our growth every once in a while, we may find ourselves loosing ground and not even knowing it.  Am I becoming more like Jesus?  Or more like my old self?  It is always easier to see the faults and short comings in others but we are slow to look in the mirror.  God help all of us to stop, take stock, ask the hard questions, and make the necessary adjustments so that we can be more like Jesus.

Thoughts?

We are doing a message series in the Fall called Remember the 80’s and we need your help. Post a comment and tell us your favorite or what you consider an iconic 80’s song. We really want your feedback so please don’t be shy! We can’t wait to see what you post!

I was going through Acts 3 this morning and I was struck by something. In Acts 3 we read the account of Peter & John and the healing of a man who was sitting and begging at the Temple gates. Here is the thing, the crippled man had been there for YEARS. He was 40 years old and had been begging at the gate for YEARS. Jesus had walked by this man. Jesus had gone into the Temple this way, Jesus passed by this man and never healed him. How many times did Jesus pass by this guy? Think about that. Jesus say this man in pain and begging and left him that way. WHY? Because Jesus knew the impact that his healing would have at a later date. Jesus could have healed the man and it would have been a miracle. But by waiting the miracle had a MORE profound impact. Because Jesus passed him by, it allowed Peter & John to announce to Jerusalem that the power of Jesus was alive and well. As a result many were brought to faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus knows what we don’t know and He sees what we can’t see. So if we are in pain and going through a struggle, Jesus knows and He hasn’t forgotten us. He knows when bring that healing, relief, that change, etc we are praying for will have the greatest impact for the Kingdom of God. So hold on and know that if Jesus seems to have passed you by, it just means He is sending a Peter & John along later.

Seth Godin posted this on his blog and I found it very interesting, funny, and thought provoking, enjoy…

Making commercials for the web

v-1 “We can gather our thoughts, but the Lord gives the right answers”  We can try and firgure things out in our own wisdom, but the right answers to all of life’s questions are found in HIM

v-2″People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives” We have a way of justifying/rationalizing our actions, we like to view ourselves as always being in the right, but God know our real motives, we are not fooling Him.

v-3″Commit your work to the Lord, and hen your plans will succeed” Real success come from deep commitment, we must comitt & submit our plans to God and He will bring them to fruition.

v-9″We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” We can dream, we can scheme, but at the end of the day God has a plan and we need to trust Him.  He sets the course.

v-18″Pride goes before destruction, and  haughtiness before a fall” Pride, born out of ego or insecurity is destructive. hen are consumed with being recognized for our accomplishments, or boasting to gain recognition, we are on dangerous ground.  God gets the glory & He deserves the credit.  If you want to be seen by men, be careful what you wish for, you may end up being seen in a way you don’t want.  EMBARRASSING

v-32″It is better to be patient than powerful; it is better to have self control than to conquer a city” That says it plainly enough, patience & self control are fruits of the Spirit, not power and might.

v33″We might throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall” He is in Control, that is very comforting

I have had some folks come and share with me what God did for them Sunday and I want share some of them:

“God used the message Sunday to change my heart and I have to fix some relationships in my life”

“”Everyone I invited came and they all loved it and want to start coming every week”

“I found a church home”

“I didn’t know church could be this much fun”

“There are so many normal people here, I didn’t expect that, I feel like I could fit in”

“This is great so great, I love it here”

“I feel like I can be myself here, this is so cool”

“I’ve only been coming a few weeks and it has been a hard year for me, but the last few weeks have made a real difference, thank you for welcoming me”

These are some of the comments and emails I have received, so what have you heard?