IJM's Global Prayer Gathering

I'm currently watching International Justice Mission's Global Prayer Gathering.  My wife, Erica, is there in Washington D.C. right now.  I want to write some thoughts here as I'm logged on to this conference.  

First of all, this makes me miss my wife, but I'm thankful for the technology that is allowing me to experience this with her hundreds of miles away!  It's not the same as being with her, but it's good to experience what God is teaching her.  I don't like it when I learn from God apart from her and then have to try to convey it to her at a later point...same with her learning apart from me and trying to pass it to me.

As many share from the field, I'm confronted with what I'm doing to bring oppressors to justice.  How am I protecting the poor and vulnerable in my world?  Yes, the broken justice systems need to be restored and rebuilt, but what am I personally doing?  

Here are a few quotes from this morning’s sessions.  Blair Burns said, "Broken public justice systems CAN be transformed. And so we will pray. Until it is finished we will pray." Patrick Stayton shared, "The good news is: systems are made up of people, and the hearts and minds of people can be changed." Jesse Rudy shared a story that exemplified Psalm 30:11.  

The Jesus Blueprint is coming...

I can't tell you how excited I am for this book to come out!  Dave Buehring, a mentor to me, is putting the finishing touches on "The Jesus Blueprint: Rediscovering His Original Plan for Changing the World" and is hoping to have it in our hands by July 31, 2012!  

Dave says, "The Jesus Blueprint is being written to help every follower of Jesus to actively engage in His disciple-making mandate (Mt.28:18-20)."


You'll be seeing more about this book, especially if you're in an Ironmen Group at North Way!

Spiritual Warfare...

Today I heard my Lead Pastor, Scott Stevens, say something that resonated deep with my experience as we built up to the Easter weekend.  He said, "I've never felt the weight of spiritual warfare like I did in the ten days leading up to Easter!"

In my new role, I had never really felt the weight of Easter like I did this past weekend.  All kinds of crazy stuff was happening the couple weeks before Easter.  Staff members were distracted by many things and were getting on each other's nerves.  Sickness in my house a few days before I had to preach Good Friday services.  Disagreements that blew up into full fledge arguments.  Team members taking conversations the wrong way and out of context.

If you think about it, Satan would not be doing his job if he didn't try to wreak havoc in the lives of those that were planning Easter services.  Steal.  Kill.  Destroy.  Divide.  His job description is to make Christian's lives miserable, and he will stop at nothing to hinder a person from hearing the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It only makes sense that we (the Church) would experience such spiritual warfare right before the most important day to our faith.

I expected the attack.  It doesn't make it easy, but it helps when I can recognize it ahead of time.  I was prepared this year.  One of the ways I prepared was to have a faithful time in God's word through a reading plan throughout Lent provided by YouVersion.  It was extremely helpful to have a focused plan that reminded me exactly what I was preparing for as I came towards Easter.

This kind of reading plan made me recognize that I should constantly be ready.  Ephesians 6:11-13 says, "¹¹ Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

post-Easter exhaustion...

Easter weekend was amazing!  The North Way teams work so hard to pull off Good Friday and Easter services!  Over the last three days, we have had sixteen services across four campuses!  To say the least, I'm exhausted.  I only preached twice on Good Friday, but I was in some sort of leadership role at all four Wexford Campus Easter services.  I can't even begin to tell you how amazing each service was!

I was amazed at the hundreds of volunteers that joined together in Hospitality, Kidz, Production, Worship and much more to make the Easter weekend possible.  I was blown away at their effort to come together for such an incredible serving opportunity.  This was a beautiful display of the church using their gifts and talents.  This was also an awesome sight to see so many people just jumping in to volunteer where needed!

I was so proud of our Wexford Campus staff as well!  Countless hours go into a weekend like this, and our staff worked tons of "overtime" to make this happen.  They served our guests with great dignity, and I am so blessed to be part of such a magnificent team.

Personally, I'm looking forward to a couple days off!  I need these days with my family.  When you're a pastor, Easter services take you away from family on a day when most families are brought together.  I will be spending the next two days focusing on my family...bike riding, special lunches and much more.

Easter was amazing!  I'm exhausted, but I'm excited to see what God will do with what came out of this weekend!

waves of loss...

Over the last 4 weeks, I have been a part of 5 memorial services!  A young woman, 25 years old.  My Uncle Bud.  My Chippewa Indians football coach.  A faithful servant leader.  A 57-year old pillar of faith and one of the founders of North Way Christian Community.

This has been an emotional month!  Our church family and my extended family has had quite the roller coaster of emotions to work through.  I personally have had some crazy ups and downs over these last 4 weeks...like speaking with a family about their loved one's memorial service one hour and then baptizing 46 people the next hour!  In this last month, I'm discovering the highs and lows of ministry in a new way.

I'm now preparing to preach on Good Friday.  These family's losses of their loved ones would probably feel similar to the wave of loss that the disciples of Jesus experienced when He was crucified before their very eyes.  They watched Him die.  They didn't understand what was going on and why it had to be this way.  I can only begin to imagine what they were feeling...the pain, the emptiness, the heartbreak, the questions, the doubt.

This Friday, I'm praying that I can fully capture and preach the wave of loss that is Good Friday.  I'm hoping to convey the weight of loss that all the world and heaven felt that day when Jesus died.  There has never been a greater loss.

Equally, there has never been more anticipation (Matthew 26-27)...

Baptism Memories...

Last night, I had the privilege to baptize 23 people out of the 46 people that were baptized!  It may go down as one of the most amazing church services I've ever been a part of.

10 of the 46 were a part of Harvest Bible Chapel, and it was a blast to have Pastor Jeff Miller in the other tub to baptize people from the church he leads!  Jeff's new church plant meets in a school auditorium, so he called North Way to see if he could borrow our baptism tub and a room to do baptisms.  Over coffee, I invited him to join us in our baptisms at our All Worship Night.  A friendship was born, and our two churches joined as one.

Each baptism was truly outstanding, but two will stick with me forever.  Carolyn's and Rachel's.

Carolyn had a tough time getting in the tub, and she made me promise to get her three men to ensure her safety.  As she sat in the tub as her story was read, she simply wept and whispered what I think was a prayer.  I don't know what she was praying, but as she came up out of the water, she threw both fists in the air as she continued to weep.  It was a beautiful picture of the length of God's reach regardless of age.

Rachel was wheeled out in her chair beside the baptism tub.  All in attendance prayed for God to heal her from the ravaging affects of cancer in her brain.  As we prayed, she agreed by crying out to Jesus to heal her.  Pastor Scott Stevens then took a clear glass of water and poured it over her beautiful face.  I watched as the water trickled down, and I simply couldn't contain myself any longer, and I turned away.  I wept.

There are many more memories I could share from last night's worship and baptism service.  Like Jane's hearing being restored as she worshipped.  Like Rob taking a huge leap of faith as an Ironman.  Like a father and son being baptized together.  Like a dad baptizing his two sons.  It was an amazing night that I will hopefully never forget!

Tassy Fils-aime and Ian Rosenberger

Haiti was ravaged by an earthquake in 2010.  Ian Rosenberger of "Survivor: Palau" was changed forever when he heard God tell him to go do what he could to help. When he got to Haiti, he made and kept an incredible promise to Tassy Fils-aime, a young Haitian man: To bring him to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh for a life-saving surgery that would treat a cancerous tumor on his jaw. With this incredible life-altering event, Ian says, "I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, now I do."

I'm excited for April 21/22, 2012 at North Way Christian Community, when Ian and Tassy will tell their story of how God changed their lives forever.  For more information on Ian Rosenberger and Tassy Fils-aime, please visit Team Tassy and watch this clip from WTAE Channel 4 news.

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday...

Boyz II Men's remake recording of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" was one of my favorite songs in high school. I would sing it constantly, and I even sang it in a quartet for choir. It was originally written in 1975, and it has great lyrics (minus one).

This song and these lyrics seem appropriate today as I say goodbye to my Uncle Bud. However, there is one lyric that I don't agree with in this song. "I thought we'd get to see forever but forever's gone away" is not true. I will see my Uncle Bud in heaven because he and I have put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ's work on the Cross. Jesus died for this world's sins. Jesus was buried. Jesus rose again on the third day. Jesus conquered sin and death, and anyone who believes in Him as Savior and Lord will never be separated from God. Their inheritance is heaven.

I will see Uncle Bud in "forever" along with my pap, gram and other uncles. So, yes...it is hard to say goodbye, but it's only for a short while in light of eternity!

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday (YouTube)
How do I say goodbye to what we had?
The good times that made us laugh
Outweigh the bad.
I thought we'd get to see forever
But forever's gone away
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

I don't know where this road
Is going to lead
All I know is where we've been
And what we've been through.
If we get to see tomorrow
I hope it's worth all the wait
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

And I'll take with me the memories
To be my sunshine after the rain
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.
And I'll take with me the memories
To be my sunshine after the rain
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

words of lasting impact

There was a huge storm in Pittsburgh last night.  The lightning was impressive.  Our power went out.  It was hailing.  The wind was charging.  The thunder was near and loud!  

I tweeted last night, "As a little boy, I remember my dad telling me that thunder was God bowling."  It was crazy that I remembered that after 30+ years, and something jumped out at me.  I continued in my tweet by saying, "Hey parents, stuff we say to our kids sticks with them for life!"  It is crazy that I was able to recall a fun thought from the deep recesses of my mind when I heard sound of thunder.  It was a conversation my dad had with me over 30 years ago.  I laid there awake last night thinking about what I'm saying and passing on to my kids.

What I say and how I say it has (and will have) a life-lasting impact on the #pinklife (my three daughters).    I can only hope that what they remember (along with the fun and funny stuff) will have an eternal impact.  I pray that God would give me teachable moments with my kids that lead to life-long memories of God's path on certain matters.  As a dad, I have the high calling, responsibility and opportunity to open my girls up to God's thoughts at crucial moments of life.  

This thunder thought has me thinking this morning that I should be more intentional and strategic about what I share with my daughters and how I share it.  I need to leverage the teachable moments of life for discipling my kids in the ways of God.  

room to improve...

I don't care what you do for a paycheck, there's always room to improve.  There is always room to grow.  This is why I'm spending 4 hours with several others to become a better preacher.  I'm attending this conference: http://www.preachbettersermons.com/

It's important to me that I don't become stale with my communication of God's Word.  It's important that I don't get in a stylistic rut.  I know that I have a certain comfortable style, but I don't want to be limited.  I don't want to ever bore people with the Bible.

It's been great hearing from guys like Jeff Henderson, Andy Stanley, Dr. Charles Stanley, Louie Giglio, Perry Noble, Jud Wilhite and more.  This has been very good.  Thanks to Preaching Rocket for making this Internet Conference free!

Uncle Bud

Yesterday, the world lost an amazing follower of Jesus Christ, husband, father, brother and uncle.  My Uncle Bud went home to be with Jesus, and he went out doing what he loved.  He was on a short-term mission trip to Nicaragua, and he was serving Jesus until the end.  I was told he wasn't feeling well, and he stayed back yesterday to rest and never woke up from his nap.

While I'm sad today with the rest of my extended family, it makes me very proud to be a part of such a profound legacy of following Jesus.  Uncle Bud was a great husband.  He was a great father.  He was pillar in his local church.  I remember growing up with him in the community of Beaver Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.  It seemed like my whole family was a part of this church, and Uncle Bud was always there with an incredible smile and infectious laugh.  He also had a combination of right and left hooks and uppercuts waiting for the Chevalier nephews and gigantic hugs for the Chevalier nieces.  Faithfully serving his family and church, he was an incredible example of how God can use people to be an inspiration of grace to others.

Uncle Bud had his unique way of making an impact on people.  My extended family is huge, and there isn't a month that goes past when I introduce myself by using my last name, and the person says something like, "Which Chevalier's boy are you? I know your Uncle ____."  Often times Uncle Bud would be that guy, and people had nothing but great things to say about him (along with crazy stories).  This is the kind of impact I want to have on the world around me.

As memories flood my mind this morning, I recount so many great times with my Uncle Bud.  I remember: serving days at Suncrest Camp, him greeting me at the back door of Beaver C&MA, the hunting cabin in Tionesta, listening to the Steelers game on the radio and many more.  One of the most profound memories was at one of our recent family reunions when he gave me a big hug, and he said, "I'm proud of you for the fine job you're doing with your family and your ministry."

I honor you, Uncle Bud!  Thank you for giving me and the next generations an example of what a godly man can look like in today's world.  Thank you for serving Jesus by serving your family, friends and people you didn't even know!  May I (along with the rest of the Chevalier family) carry this Gospel legacy on to the next generations.  I can't wait to see you again...

High Stress Needs High Sabbath

As a pastor, today is my Sabbath. I haven't had a day like this in three weeks. It's my fault, and I'm feeling the effects.

I switched my day off from Mondays to Fridays a few weeks ago, so this meant I worked two full weeks to switch those days, but then my new day off landed on a day when I had a wedding rehearsal and then a weekend retreat in the city (it was good, but it was an obligation). Fast forward to another good but hard work week full of strategic planning meetings, budget conversations and memorial service preparations. I could literally feel the stress mounting.

Today, I finally stopped! I'm beginning to experience the rhythm I'm designed for...it's a much desired tempo called Sabbath. Without it, I am highly stressed. With it, I find rest. I experience peace at a slower pace in God's presence and perspective.

God designed me (and you) for Sabbath rest. I rest differently than you, and you rest differently than me. God even modeled this rest for us in the creation account of Genesis 2:2. "On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work."

If God rested, then I (we) should too! It feels good, and it's right to be back into this unforced rhythm of grace (Matthew 11:28-30).

David's bold prayer...

For Lent, I'm reading through a series of Devotions and Scriptures assembled by Holy Bible: Mosaic through YouVersion (the most downloaded Bible App).  This plan has me reading through the New Living Translation of the Scriptures, and I came across something that is sticking with me, so I thought I'd share why it's sticking.

In the NLT, Psalm 51:12 is translated as follows:  "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you."  David's prayer is bold!  David's prayer has jostled my attention.  "Make me willing" is an interesting phrase, and I haven't done the study of the original language yet, but this translation has done enough to stop and make me think for a few days now.  Would I pray this?  Do I pray this?  Can you force someone into being willing?  Can God make someone willingly obedient?  Would God make us obey?  If He makes us, do we have a choice to be willing?  Why does David pray this way?

I won't have the time this morning to even scratch the surface of this one verse, but I'll offer this one thought for now.  There's so much depth to David's relationship with God that he chooses to pray this.  There's so much context to this prayer that we have to understand before we can pick only this verse to chew on.  David is desperate before God because of his recent past, and He's opening himself up before God.  He realizes he can't continue in life without God's forgiveness and God's guidance.

I could say so much more, but I don't have the time.  There are probably 15-20 sermons in just Psalm 51 alone!  I'll come back with some more thoughts after studying the full context of this passage and the original language of this text.

I don't want to be a poser!

Dr. Jay Passavant preached this weekend at North Way. He said two lines that jumped out at me this morning. He said, "I don't want to be a poser! I don't want to have an integrity gap."

He explained that the place where what you say and what you do meets is called integrity. Often there is a gap called hypocrisy between what we say and what we actually do. This is why North Way's teaching team decided to teach this series, The Christian Atheist. We wanted to close the gap of hypocrisy in our church and in our own lives. We want to be a church with integrity, and I want to be a man of integrity!

The problem is, each of us is a hypocrite! We say we follow Jesus, but our actions often tell otherwise. Our thoughts say different.

The first step in finding freedom in this area is to admit that we are all hypocrites, but we don't have to stay that way! We can all take steps towards integrity to close the gap of hypocrisy. We have to make the conscious choice to not be a poser. Once we choose that, we also have to commit to living that choice of integrity every day. The great thing about being the Church is that we are not alone...we have the Holy Spirit to guide us and other Christians to walk alongside us.

I'll be praying for you, and you can pray for me because I don't want to be a poser! Neither do you!

I can see clearly now...

I had a thought tonight that I've been tossing around.  As a pastor/teacher, I'm always trying to put thoughts into the most practical and memorable sayings.  Sometimes they land.  Sometimes they don't.  So, I thought I'd try to flesh it out here.

The string of ideas is that when I'm seeking clarity on some particular issue, there are several moving variables that affect or add to the ambiguity of any situation.  At sheer face value, maybe it's the people involved.  Maybe it's the external circumstances.  Maybe it's the timing.  If you go above the situation and take the spiritual temperature of what's going on, there is another layer of dynamics that come into play.  Maybe it's God's design.  Maybe it's the enemy orchestrating.  Maybe it's your flesh and desires initiating what's not supposed to be in existence.  There are so many possibilities in the spiritual realm that go unchecked or unseen.

So, how does one gain clarity in the midst of all these variables moving around them?  My thought tonight is: to see clearly, get on your face.  When you're literally on your face before God, your eyes are not on all the moving parts.  Your spiritual eyes are focused on God for clarity because your physical eyes are shut.  Your mouth is closed so you can listen.  Your nose is hurting at this point because it protrudes from your face, but that's beside the point!

The point is that we have to stop trying to gain clarity in our own strength and power!  To see clearly, we have to press into God to gain His clarity of vision.  Easier written than done, I know.  However, I can tell you that I've been practicing this the last few weeks, and I've seen God work in ways I surely can't take credit for.  I have an increased clarity ever since I got on my face to seek God.

Maybe you should give it a try!  Go ahead...no one's watching!  Get down on your knees, put your face to the floor, close your eyes, shut your mouth and seek God for His clarity in your circumstances.  Clearly watch what happens...

Honor Revival

Over the last few weeks I have been listening to the Code Orange Revival out of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC.  I only have a few more sermons to go in this 12-night revival.  Some of the top names in the Capital C Church spoke there earlier this year as Elevation Church kicked off 2012 (hence the 12 nights)!  Of course I've been challenged by every sermon.  Of course I will be stealing (OK, borrowing)  their illustrations.  However, there is one thing that is standing out to me as a God-thread in all of these messages of this revival.  The theme that has been weaving itself through each night (for me) is HONOR!

Steven Furtick is modeling for everyone listening what it means to honor another pastor/leader with his introduction of each of the speakers.  He has some very personal words of esteem for each of them.  You might expect that from the host pastor of this huge revival, but then something very interesting happens.  Each of these leaders returns the honor to Steven Furtick and his wife, Holly.  They shower him with amazing words of affection and encouragement for not only him but also Elevation Church.

I was blown away by this example of how to honor others, and I was challenged that I should always find ways to bless and encourage other pastors and leaders (all people, really) with my words.  I'm not talking about flattery.  I'm talking about thinking through my words and launching encouragement bombs (with detailed precision) in their direction.  I believe the Church has to get better at this, and I believe it starts with you and me.

Do you know your spiritual gift(s)?

The North Way Ironmen are finishing up a chapter in A Discipleship Journey called Purpose, Passion & Giftedness.  This chapter over this past month has encouraged and challenged us to consider what our spiritual gifts are and how to put them into practice.  I've watched the men in my group wrestle to discover what spiritual gift they have.  I'm beginning to see them get into serving roles to develop those spiritual gifts.  I'm also watching some hone in on and focus their calling as the utilize their gifts in serving and leading.  If all the Ironmen groups are doing what mine is doing, we're going to have a revolution of volunteerism and leadership at North Way!

Dave Buehring challenges us (when it comes to spiritual gifts) to do three things.
1)  Discover it - search the spiritual gifts, ask friends, ask spiritual leaders
2)  Develop it - serve your brains out, try new volunteer opportunities, explore the gift(s) through serving
3)  Deploy it - once you know it, focus on it and serve/lead/execute through the specific gift(s) mix.

tough decisions

Over the last few weeks, I have had several conversations with folks that are faced with tough decisions. One is trying to make a decision about a job opportunity that would cause a move across the country. Another is deciding if it's best to end a relationship. Another is hashing out a call to full-time vocational ministry. Another was faced with a decision to take a loved one off life support. Another is trying to make decisions while submitting to their authority and being responsible to lead a large part of the organization at the same time. All are very tough decisions. All have to be made.

Over the years I've learned four points of a decision-making grid. I pass all my decisions through this four-pronged filter:

1. I ask God and listen for His direction. (Prayer)
2. I search the Scriptures for similar situations and see how they might apply to my situation. (Bible reading)
3. I ask a godly mentor/leader what they would do. (Elder wisdom)
4. I ask a trusted and godly friend what they would do. (Peer advice)

Each point of this grid provides a perspective. God can use the alignment of all four to clarify the decision. I believe that when this grid is applied, I'm giving God four ways to speak to me.

family on mission...

Many Christians struggle with how to balance family, work and mission.  Let me expound, and then I'll turn you on to a blog post that Doug Melder passed onto me.

I constantly feel the tension of balancing my ministry along with my wife (her mission/passion) and the #pinklife (my three daughters).  I've always said that I will never sacrifice my family on the altar of ministry after seeing some pastors do just that.  I never want my daughters to walk away from Jesus or His Church because I'm a pastor.

I'm called first to be a follower of Jesus.  After that, I'm called to be a husband.  After that, I'm called to be a dad and then called to be a pastor.  This is who I am, and each facet of my calling demands my time.  So, how do I choose where to invest and when?  This is my calling. This is my tension.  This is my life.  As a leader of my family and ministry, am I allowed to (or should I) pull them into my calling?

I think this BLOG is a unique look at the combination of the facets of specific calling with the mission that Jesus demands of all His followers.  Is it possible that my specific calling is my family's specific calling?

You tell me.

If I had a million dollars...

This past weekend, we asked our church the hard question, "Do you believe in God but trust more in money?"  This will make a person squirm.  It's become so uncomfortable to talk about money in a worship service because it's a competitor for our souls.  Since we realized it's that way, we decided to lighten up the mood by pulling together a medley of popular songs about money at our Wexford Campus.

A lyric that jumped out at me was "If I had a million dollars, I'd be rich." from the band, Barenaked Ladies (I didn't mention the band's name in our service!).  This lyric continues to be in my mind because of the catchy melody, but it stuck in my heart because I don't have a million dollars.  However, I am rich, and if you're reading this right now, so are you.  Think about that...

I've learned over the last several years that I'm very rich (think globally here), and I need to leverage my blessings to be a blessing to others!  Scripture does not leave wiggle room to get out of that principle.  We're blessed to be a blessing.  If you had a million dollars, you have it to irrationally leverage it so others can see God because of your generosity.

Our culture teaches us to leverage our wealth for ourselves.  Scripture teaches us to leverage our wealth for others to inherit the kingdom of God.  I'm learning how to do the latter and enjoy the real life.

Because I just don't need a monkey!  Google the lyrics.