Those of us who live in Southeast Michigan have become painfully aware of what it means to be "downsized." But a a recent study indicates that Christianity is downsizing in America, which has a tremendous impact on how we will seek to fulfill our God-given mission.

According to the 2008 American Reglious Identification Survey released this month, America is a less Christian nation than it was 20 years ago, and Christianity is not losing out to other religions, but primarily to a rejection of religion altogether. So many Americans claim no religion at all (15%, up from 8% in 1990), that this category now outranks every other major U.S. religious group except Catholics and Baptists. Co-researcher, Barry Kosmin concludes, "These people aren't secularized. They're not thinking about religion and rejecting it; they're not thinking about it at all."

I find evidence of this in the fact that worship attendance locally has not increased in churches, despite the fact that we are facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. It used to be: "Build it and they will come." It is not that way any longer.

This has a profound impact on Christianity and the mission of the church. We need to emphasize, intentionalize and creatively "GO and make disciples," instead of "open the doors and make disciples of those who show up." Christianity in this country needs a powerful anointing of the Holy Spirit to boldly live like Jesus and lift up Jesus.

Let's pray for this!

My personal walk with God involved doing a dumb thing today. I was reminded that the center verse of the Bible is Psalm 118:8, which reads, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man."

So, I was facing some challenging issues related to the church budgeting. As odd as it may seem, in some ways, I enjoy this sort of challenge. Perhaps it is because it is like a puzzle that needs to be figured out. Only this time, the puzzle pieces weren't coming together. Guess what I realized? I was trusting more in man (myself) to figure it out, than I was trusting in the Lord. As I said, that was a dumb thing.

It's time to put that issue in God's hands...and leave it there!

It is strange how easily life can get out of focus. You can be a Bible-believing, faith-filled follower of Jesus. Then you get hit with a curve-ball, a series of challenges, mishaps, or hard times. Then out of no where comes higher levels of anxiety, concern, worry, even fear. It's like one forgets or thinks or acts like Jesus is no longer in charge...or He's too busy with other more important things...or He doesn't care...or we're all on our own. Am I the only one who experiences these spiritually out of focus moments?

Praise God that He puts life back into focus...that He reminds us of the unseen reality that Jesus is in reality still on the throne of the universe orchestrating His grand master plan, working all things together for the advancement of His plan in this world...and in our lives!

Praise God for putting my life...and your life in focus!

Is the cup half full or half empty? It's the proverbial litmus test of an optomist versus a pessimist. But it becomes a reminder during these days of economic turmoil, buyouts, bailouts and bankrupcies.

The reminder is this: Jesus hasn't left the throne of the universe. Nor has He fallen asleep on the job. Nor has He let a few details go unnoticed. Nor is He disinterested in the well-being of His people during this crisis.

No, the cup is half full. Jesus is ruling all things for the advancement of His Kingdom toward His coming climactic return...AND He's got His people in the palm of His hand throughout it all.

Whew!... I needed that reminder. Did you?

Two funeral homes. Each one unique.

Bob was a life long Christian, a gentleman among gentlemen, respected and loved. His wife passed away a few years ago. They did not have any children. His only brother died when they were kids. There are no remaining relatives. But the funeral home was packed with people, whose lives were touched by this man of God.

Then there was Maddison. She lived as full a life as a 10 year could. Her faith blossomed and matured in ways far beyond her years. Cancer could ravage her body. But the Spirit of God energized her soul and used her brief years to impact scores of people.

Two funeral homes. Each one unique.

But by God's amazing grace in Jesus, the destination ended in the same place. Jesus paid a price for Bob and Maddison to be with God in glory forever. The Spirit of God brought them to faith in Jesus. And their lives were not wasted. Rather, the Spirit used each of them in unique ways to His glory. Now, they rest from their labors. Now, there earthly illness has ended. Now, the eternal party has begun.

This is what happened when death hit these Christian homes: It got defeated by Jesus!

Michigan's unemployment rate of 11.6% is the highest in the nation. Business pundits make it sound like General Motors will undergo some kind of brankrupcy. The recession is impacting a wide variety of sectors. So, what benefit is there is all this downsizing?

One thing that comes to mind is that people are being forced to think through what really is a need and what is actually a want. During the previous economic boom times, our financial counseling with people at St. Matthew revealed a rather consistant belief that cable television, for example, is a necessity, even if one can't pay other bills. People were talking about not being able to afford school tuition increases, while, for example, spending winter break at Disney.

So, one benefit of the recession, job losses, wage freezes, etc. is that it is forcing a reevaluation of what really is a need. This rethinking of priorities is a very good thing.

My hope and prayer is that as Christians do this reassessment, they remember the FIRST Commandment (Ex.20:3) and seek FIRST the kingdom of God (Mt.6:33)!

People talk about "giving up something for Lent." Tonight in worship I was reminded how that parallels the holy habit of fasting, which is abstaining from something (often food) for a spiritual purpose. My experience with this has led me to encourage Christians to utilize this spiritual practice.

A Biblical fast is not for the purpose of weight loss or to somehow twist God’s arms to get your prayers answered your way or to earn God’s favor. Rather, the Biblical purposes for fasting include:
• As an outward expression of inner personal repentance.
i. Biblical examples of such personal fasting: 1 Kings 21:27; Ps.35:13;
ii. Biblical examples of such communal fasting: Ezra 9:5; Hen.9:1-2; Joel 2:12,15; James 3:5.
• As a time for intensified prayer outwardly expressing self-renunciation and dependence on God.
i. Biblical examples of such personal fasting: before journey for a safe trip, Ezra 8:21-23; in seeking the Lord’s guidance in earthly matters, Judges 20:26-28 and 2 Chron.20:3; in ominous times, Esther 4:3,16; in casting out demons, Mt.17:21; when faced with temptation, Mt.4:2; for someone in danger, Dan.6:18; 2 Sam.12:16; Ps.35:13
ii. Biblical examples of such communal fasting: in selecting church leaders, Acts 14:23; when commissioning church leaders for a task, Acts 13:2-3; for communal guilt, Ezra 9:5; 1 Sam.7:6; Neh.9:1-2; Dan.9:3; Joel 1:14; for nation at war, Judges 20:6; 2 Sam.1:12; 2 Chron.20:3-4; for nation when oppressed, Neh.1:4
• As a time for intensified meditation expressing self-discipline and submission to God.
i. Before and in conjunction with studying the Bible/listening to God’s Word, Ex.34:28; Dt.9:9; Dan.10:2f; Jer.36:6
ii. To aid remembrance of key spiritual events: Fall of Jerusalem, Zech.8:19; on Good Friday, which is similar to the Old Testament Day of Atonement, Lev.16:29031; 23:27-32; Num.29:7); prior to Easter, which is similar to the fast prior to Purim, Esther 9:31; prior to taking the Lord’s Supper as a safeguard against taking it lightly and to emphasize the spiritual need over the physical needs.
• As an outward expression of inner mourning and grief (1 Sam.31:13; 2 Sam.1:12).
• To aid in self-control, as an outward expressing in subduing the body of inwardly subduing the sinful nature (Lk.21:34; 1 Cor.9:27).

Have you ever been in a spiritual desert? Has your once vibrant spiritual life given way to that which feels as old and stale as 3 week old bread? Has the thrill of becoming a Christian, the thirst for the Bible, the can’t-wait approach to worship dissipated? Recently, I found myself in one of those places for an extended period of time. In the past, my spiritual dry spells were short-lived, faith-testing and faith-building experiences, where it seemed that God was teaching me to trust His truths, even if I did feel like it or even if there was no outward evidence for it. But recently, I found myself in a prolonged spiritual desert.

Now by God’s calling, I am kind of like a spiritual doctor. So, I thought: "Physician heal thyself. Do a self-examination. God hasn’t left me. If there is anyone who has drifted in this relationship, it must be me." Well, as I undertook this self-diagnosis of my spiritual staleness, I began to realize that others might benefit from what God was teaching me. In fact, I began to realize that these God-given insights were useful not only for stale Christians like me, but also those who are checking out Christianity for the first time…or for the first time in a long time. So, over the course of the Sundays between here and Easter we’re sharing a series of messages called “Back to Basics.” We are considering the fundamental truths that God can use to kindle or rekindle a meaningful relationship with Him, whether you are checking out Jesus or longing for a spiritual oasis in the desert.

This weekend the message is about being a "know-it-all," how that is a hindrance to spiritual development, and how God helps us overcome it.

Recently, I've been reading a cutting edge book on the subject of church planning and visioning, called "Church Unique" by Will Mancini. He makes numerous striking observations, one of which is something to this effect: Classic strategic planning no longer works well because it is based on the assumption of a stable environment, in which the conditions that exist today will exist tomorrow.

Yet, the fact is that stability is no longer a given. Today I heard of another member who lost his job amidst the economic turmoil. We used to live in a Judeo-Christian dominated culture. We now live in an increasingly secular culture, where moral absolutes are a thing of the past and where Judeo-Christian ethics are increasingly viewed as fanatical right-wing positions. We used to live in an environment where people flocked to church in a crisis. But that didn't really happen on 9/11 and it sure isn't happening with today's economic crisis. We used to "build it and they will come." Now, we can "build it and people drive by."

So, what do we do? God help us learn how to be Christians and a church like the early Christians, who thrived as a persecuted minority because they were compelled by the Spirit to live for and proclaim a risen-from-the-dead Jesus!

That perspective will change how we plan as individuals and as a church.

This week the Associate Pastor Call Committee made a trip to St. Louis to interview potentially qualified candidates. In our setting, the task of the Call Committee is to present qualified candidates to the Voters. Then, the Voters prayerfully discern the one to receive a Divine Call.

While reflecting on this, something struck me. The Voters task is not to pick the most qualified candidate with the assumption that the most qualified candidate is, of course, the one that the Holy Spirit must want us to have. Rather, the Voters task is to humbly and prayerfully discern whom the Spirit wants to have on our team, which may or may not be the most qualified candidate. The issue is not: Who is the most qualified? But, Whom does the Spirit want on our team?

That is not an insignificant nuance. That is at the core of what makes this a Divine Call, not a human hire.

My wife has a saying, "Things are looking right for a miracle." It's a line that she brings out when challenges mount and normal solutions seem inadequate. It's a line that might be translated: "Time to pray."

There are seasons when the need for more intense prayer are greater than others. I don't know about you, but I'm in one of those seasons...and I believe that our congregation is facing one of those seasons.

For that reason, I'm glad that Lent is close. Lent is a natural time to focus on God. It is a natural time to focus on our not deserving God. It is a natural time to cry out to God. It is a natural time to pray.

Won't you join me?