“And it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the WHOLE church to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas-Judas called Barnabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren,” Acts 15:22.

Not too many ministry leaders kick up their heels in excitement at the thought of one more meeting. Now make that a church body’s annual conference/business meeting and most pastors will drop into a comatose-like state of existence.

Hey! Wake up!

Those Annual Conferences need you and you need them. It’s not just any old business; it’s about family business, God’s Family. It’s a reunion with a few “yawn” moments. It’s kind of like watching old Uncle Harry’s slides, while enjoying the family picnic. The great food makes them endurable.

“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders (my thought “outside the will of God”), making (my thought “pursue them”) the most of the opportunity (my thought – (“cranking up your summer ministry”),” Colossians 4:5

When the police are pursuing someone in the fast lane, they cannot afford to slow down. Now, I don’t know this from personal experience, mind you; it’s just common sense.

They purse for several reasons … enforce the law, bring correction, protect the public. If they’re going to do their job, in a responsible way, they need to ‘keep the pedal to the metal’. This is not a time for them to ‘slow down and smell the roses’. Rather, it’s a time when they need to dig down deep and implement their best techniques.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18.

Going green environmentally is the current ‘thing’. From a stewardship point of view, believers in Christ would agree. We want to be good stewards, not so much to save the planet, but to show our reverence for all our Creator has provided.

However, this is not the green I’m thinking about. I’m pondering the green of the church year’s Trinity season and the desire God has for His Church to grow, mature, and be fruitful!

"Render to all what is do them ... honor to whom honor," Romans 13:7.

May is a month of “Well Dones” We’ll be saying, “Well done, Mom … graduate … service men and women!” And rightly so, for whether we are remembering their past impact or current accomplishment, it is good to tell them. It is good to let them know that we thank God for them.

Everyone needs a little acknowledgement. It is true that boastfulness is repulsive. However, there is a way to boast of someone without going overboard. In fact, its absence can actually be demoralizing. In other words, we need to give credit where credit is due. There is a time and a place for it … Mother’s Day, Commencement Exercises, Memorial Day … May is definitely one of those times!

MAY the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ,” 2 Thessalonians 3:5.

I had never had a woman chase me before. No one had warned me. I ran fast, really fast. Now, after some years of experience, I wish I had run slower.

It was May Day. I had been told to take a basket of treats, place it on the doorstep of a specific house, ring the doorbell, and see what would happen.

Soon the door opened. A cute girl looked at the basket and then at me. Now comes the scary part, she said, “O, Michael, I am going to kiss you!”

What was she thinking? Kiss me? Not on your life. The race was on. Sadly, I out ran her. If only I could roll back time.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it,” Isaiah 55:10, 11.

Unless you are living in a flood-ravaged area, this is the time of year you welcome the old adage, “April showers bring May flowers.” You’re ready for winter to be over. You want to see something green and feel something warm.

“Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil,” Ephesians 6:11.

This past weekend, to the best of my memory, our pastor gave the best back-to-back messages I’ve heard. Like a bat in the Holy Spirit’s hand, he knocked two ‘Gosp-balls’ right out of the park. PTL! By faith, every listener had the opportunity to catch an Eternal Homerun.

Do you know what? This is probably one of the most dangerous times for him. Though Calvary and Resurrection Day tell us that Satan is defeated, he’s still lurking in the shadows.

When a ministry leader has accomplished a great task or has gone through an especially wearing time, Satan pounces. He knows when we are vulnerable. He lurks in the shadows of pride and weariness. When we rest on our laurels or rely on our own strength, he lunges to the attack.

“… They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” John 20:2b.

At first, the women were alarmed. However, in a few moments alarm would turn to an amazing joy. Their Lord had been raised. He was alive!

The resurrection is alarming and amazing.

In life and ministry we often accept ‘dead’ things. The women came in faithful devotion to take care of what they thought would be a ‘dead’ body. Though they had heard the prophetic resurrection statements of Christ, they had not expected to see them fulfillment. An empty tomb was an alarming site. Soon it was transformed into amazing experience of joy!

“And when they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” Acts 14:27

“Mike, you should have been there. It was great.” Those are words I hate to hear, when I have missed something. Even when someone recounts what happened, it’s just not the same as being there in person. This is especially true, when it comes to experiencing God at work. I want to be there.

That’s the way it should be when it comes to Missions. Every follower of Christ is called to be mission minded. The heart of God beats with a passion for the worldwide salvation of souls. Therefore, our hearts ought to have that same passionate beat.