So, Why Do I Care?
Hey Friends,
Have you ever wondered why you care about certain things? I watch many people in the church who have many different passions. Each thinks the burden they carry is the most important issue facing the church today. Many have looked at me with wide-eyed disbelief when they realized that I didn’t care about their passion to the level that they did. To be sure, their issues were of great importance to the Lord and to His Kingdom, they just were not my top priority. We all have them, so why are they different?
I think the Lord uses our burden to direct us and to motivate us. Often I have asked the question of why it bothers me that so many churches are not growing? Over 90% of all churches in America are not growing and that causes me to lose sleep. The church I pastor is growing; shouldn’t that be enough? Why does the topic stay on my mind? What is the Lord trying to do in me, or with me?
I look at the state of the saints in America and say, “Somebody should do something!” But, who am I? Why would the Lord use me? There are others that are better qualified and more gifted than me and yet they are not bothered by the situation like I am. I remember once asking John Yarbrough why no one was screaming at the S.B.C. about the dire state of the churches. He said, “No one cares.” How sad and horrible!
Well, I am going to try to make a difference. That is why God saved me and why He placed the burden on my heart. The starting of KALEO is to care for, resource, and encourage the CALLED. Please pray for me as I seek God’s leading in following the burden the He has given me.
What burden has HE placed in you? What difference does He want to make with you? If He will use me, then He will also use you! No difference – just a different burden. God saved you for a reason and He has a purpose for you. Where is your heart leading you?
Yours to count on,
Pastor
11 Comments
Since coming to FP the Lord has put what I care about in overdrive and consequently why I am loosing sleep tonight or should I say this morning as it is after midnight, I am working because God is speaking.I have become aware that others do not share the passion for the particular burden I have and that’s ok because I now know that we all have a specific burden to carry and Jesus equips us for each.Mine is to look to Him. I had a vision a few years back… Jesus was standing in the midst of His army, with His feet firmly planted. He was larger than Mt.Everest and all His army were at His feet kicking up all kinds of dust in preperation. I couldn’t see them they were to small, but I knew that they were preparing. I was standing a little elevated as if on a hill looking down, watching and I got caught in His gaze and He comunicated that He was the General and He was directing all of this and that victory was ensured; but my job was to look to Him. Now is the season for me to begin. I carry the burden for people who can not see The Word in Spirit and Truth. We all are professors of the same Word so why are we so seemingly divided in perception? I know there are others out there on the wall seeing the same thing and who’s mission is exhortation to the saints I just, personally or in person,have not met any yet. I have come to understand the importance of accountability and eating bread with those who Seek Jesus’ face on their face. We have to help each other stay the course when there are those among us who seek to distract or derail our necesity.And we need the protection of a Pastor who cares that we are resourced and staying on track and has the ability to know the differance.A congregation and leadership that can shelter us when the enemy repeatedly tries to steal what we have been given and called to do, which is serve the saints. Pouring out what Jesus freely gives by way of grace gifts for the edifying of the bride. I have been given the consuming passion to write it all down, others do it through music, and still others teach with their voice. But the purpose is the same, edification and watching on the wall in readiness to blow the shofar. Pastor what I am seeing in the called is that it’s time and I have absolutely zero doubt that He will accomplish what He’s started in all of us who have heard His voice and stand at the ready.
What is KALEO?
Hi Betty, it is the greek word for “called”. It took me a moment when Pastor first mentioned it as well. If you have a concordance and a KJ translation the sciptures containing this word are both eye-opening and confirming empowerment to draw closer to the Lord.
My burden is helping lung cancer patients and using the chemotherapy rooms to help save lives, i.e. providing the gospel to cancer patients and their loved ones during a very difficult time. Who better to be burdened with this than me? Having lost my husband and both parents to this disease, I’ve dealt with all the issues–medical/physical, emotional, and spiritual and I’m a survivor thanks to God’s grace and love.
My calling is two-fold . . . is that possible? It must be. My passion from early childhood has been music. But as an adult my ministry has been youth. I felt God’s call to youth work, felt his burden on my heart nearly 30 years ago. He hasn’t taken that burden yet. God has given me the ability to remember how it felt to be a teen, and a heart to hear what they are saying and care about all the little things that are happening in their lives. My best friend has a heart for the homeless, the addicts, the physically/mentally challenged. We have had numerous discussions about how God builds us with different passions. The main thing that brought me to Faith Promise as my church home was that when I moved to Knoxville 7 years ago, I began attending one of the old, traditional larger churches in West Knoxville area, went to their youth pastor and shared my calling and desire to work with their youth. He told me that they really had all the youth workers they needed and he just didn’t have anything I could help with. I knew at that moment I was in the wrong place. I came to Faith Promise to visit with a friend, stayed because of the music and the people and felt I had come home, and within 6 weeks was singing with the choir and attending youth camp with a cabin of high school girls I had never met til that week, but there was a place for me to do what God equipped me to do, and that camp was SO amazing. I love the fact that you as our pastor and the rest of the staff at Faith Promise are so strong on each of us finding our ministry and serving there. I’ll never forget one of the first sermons I heard you preach, Chris, where you said you didn’t believe in “pew potatoes”. I think the fact that so many of us are involved in the different ministries at FPC is a big reason we are growing like we are. My passions are easily fulfilled at Faith Promise and for that I thank you as our leader!
Very inspiring…have notice that several have linked their facebook status to this blog today.
My burden is helping students to reach their fullest potential in life and more specifically i guess you could say in the burden that God has placed in them…wow had never thought about it that way. Im going to think about this for a little while.
Thanks Pastor!
Great question. I felt like my burden was behind the scenes promotions. At our old church, I helped with the Web site and with multimedia aspects and loved it. But now I feel a calling toward missions — both locally and abroad. But like the point that was discussed last week, it’s easy to make a decision and difficult to follow through. More walk, less talk! That’s what I’m keeping in my head.
Josh- I love it! More walk, less talk. That abut sums it up, doesn’t it?
) God likely has their heart set on something different!
My passion and calling is leading worship and I am so thankful (like these others) to be involved in a church that nurtures and encourages people to serve in the areas of their gifting. I, too, look at people who don’t want to fall on their knees at every song and think, “What is wrong with them? Don’t they know how important worship of our God is?” It’s funny to think of
I am sooooo glad the body is made up of various parts!
Ishare in your burden pastor,its scarry to think that 90percent or our churches are dead.I used to do more to invite the lost to church,I need to invite more thanks for the kick in the pants.I believe that we were all created with different spiritual gifts and pasions,but we all have the same purpose to use those gifts,pasions,and talants to reach the lost and increase Gods kingdom!Thanks pastor for your heart and pasion,love ya.
If you are going to carry a burden you have to have discipline. I remember getting chores to do from my dad and while I worked I thought of short cuts, ways to create a better system that would be easier and faster but they never worked. I have a burden to teach discipleship and change but that means I have to be an example. I have to be disciplined. Its no fun being disciplined. I guess that is the burden.
I can relate pastor,its scary to know that 90% of churches are dead or dying today.My passion is to afflict the comforted,I got saved 9 years ago God rescued me from a life of drug dealing and drug using,(after hitting rock bottom of course).The greatest work God has done and is still doing in my life is when I serve Him by serving others.I am passionate about motivating others to get up and serve,I can’t understand how someone can claim to be a Christ follower and not serve Him.I believe that God created us with different spiritual gifts,passions,and talents,but everyones purpose is the same.To use those gifts we have to reach the lost and increase Gods kingdom.Of course I’m not perfect I used to do a better job about inviting lost people to church,thanks for the kick in the pants Pastor.Thanks Pastor for your passion and your heart for God and for us!