Where is this level of devotion today?

Yesterday, while I was studying my Bible in order to teach my students, I learned about a particular faithful Christian named Epaphras. Epaphras was one of the founding members of the church in the city called Colosse (to whom Paul's letter to the Colossians was written).

Colosse was located on a major trade route from the East to the West, therefore it had a steady influx of traders, merchants and travelers from the East. And of course, just like today when people from other cultures come to a new area, they bring with them all of their beliefs, philosophies, schools of thought, and practices, which in this case would have been a lot of Eastern thought like Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. Added to this was the original Gentile (pagan) background and heritage with all it's teachings. Plus there was also a large Jewish community that lived there. Add all of these things together and throw some elements from Gnosticism, and what you get is a city that is fertile ground for every form of religious speculation, heresy, and false teaching imaginable.

And this brings me to the point of this post. The Church in Colosse was facing a major crisis, a crisis of Ideas. The church was beginning to be invaded by all these false ways of thinking; they were beginning to be deceived and taken captive by hollow and empty philosophies of men, rather than holding fast to the truth of God. Therefore, one man named Epaphras, took it upon himself to travel to find the Apostle Paul who could hopefully help the church in this time of crisis. This journey that Epaphras set out on was a 1,300 mile journey from Colosse to Rome where Paul was in prison... 1,300 miles!! That's the distance from Lake Erie in Northern Ohio to Miami, FL. And remember this was the ancient days... he didn't have any planes, buses, or even cars. He either walked or rode a horse or camel or something; either way that was one large journey! Why in the world would he do that??

1) Epaphras undoubtedly loved the church of Jesus Christ! Can there be any doubt about this? A man who was willing to sacrifice so much and put himself to such inconvenience... a man so desperate for help from the great Apostle Paul.

2) Epaphras also understood very well the dangers of false teaching to the church. Only someone who was extremely discerning about a situation would go to such lengths to solve the problem. Epaphras was one man who understood well just how important right belief is, and just how dangerous wrong belief is.

As I studied this, I thought about it... Where is this level of devotion and dedication today in the church? We have a hard time getting in a car and driving 5 minutes down the street to come to church to worship. Or we act like it's a big deal to get up at 9am on Sunday morning inorder to worship the Lord who has saved us. If someone mentions a mission trip or service opportunity, we frantically begin searching our brains for some lame excuse of why we can't participate. We will allow anything and everything to come before church. I'm not a legalist, but some of the things that we will allow to keep us from worship and service with the Lord's church does communicate something about the dedication and love in our hearts for our Lord and Savior.

You know, in all serious... (myself included) we really should be utterly ashamed of the laziness and lack of devotion that is so rampant today in the modern church. And for many of us, it's not a laziness toward other things, b/c we're the busiest generation to ever lived. No, then it becomes a matter of proiorities. How different the church would be if more people were like Epaphras! How much greater glory for the Kingdom of God and the spread of the Gospel could there be, if we had just a handful of people like Epaphras! May God break our hearts over our own lack of dedication and devotion to Him... and may He give us hearts that will put Him as the chief priority in our lives.

Why I don't think I could ever pastor my Home Church.

*click image for larger view*

Something that I have often considered in the past was eventually returning to the church that I was brought up in and being it's pastor (years from now). Maybe it's because for several years while I was in Bible college and Seminary, while still attending my home church, I had such a burden for it. I had a tremendous burden to see it prosper and be used of God to greatly glorify His name and His Kingdom in a greater way than ever before. I knew it's people and I saw the tremendous potential that it had. I believe I even had a vision of what the church could be one day.

But as I sit this morning and comtemplate that scenario, I don't think I could ever pastor my home church. And it's not because the people know me too well or because I had a horrible reputation while I was there or left on bad terms or anything like that. No, the reason I don't think I could ever pastor my home church is because it would mean pastoring my own family... my Dad, my siblings, my aunts and uncles, and so on and so forth. And it's not because I don't think they would listen to me or because they don't respect me. On the contrary, I have a very good relationship with just about all my kin, and I believe they do respect me... they've told me before how proud they are of me, and I've had deep, meaningful conversations with many of them.

No, the reason I don't think I could ever pastor my home church is because, I wouldn't want to pastor my own family. I'm learning more and more that ministry is a very, very lonely life. Whether it's wrong or right, the fact of the matter of is, a pastor just can't be as transparent, vulnerable, and open with the things on his heart as he might need to be or want to be with the people in his congregation and town. Too many times, it comes back to haunt you or harm you. He can't share the struggles that he faces; he can't always voice his deep concerns or frustrations. No, in our culture, he's the pastor and everyone holds him to a much higher standard than the rest of the people. Of course, the Bible says that we're all supposed to be striving for the high standard of Christlikeness, but it seems like people expect pastors to have already arrived, and if he fails to live up to it perfectly, then he needs to be sent on his way!

No, my family are some of the very few people in my life that I can be completely open and honest with, be just as vulnerable as anything, and be just as forth coming as I need to be, and I know they will listen to me, be there for me, and continue to love me anyway. At home where I was raised with my closest family members, I'm not Pastor Travis... I'm just Travis. We all probably have people like that in our lives... and I believe that we all need people like that, even us pastors.

A Tribute to One Amazing Mom: My Wife

When so many of her peers are studying for finals and looking forward to the ending of another semester, my wife has a calling that is without end.

When so many of her peers are partying and enjoying days of limited responsibility, my wife has one of highest callings of responsibility known to man.

When so many of her peers are off traveling to exotic places and experiencing new things, my wife is the consistent bedrock of our home, that makes for a happy and secure refuge.

When so many of her peers are being recognized for their outstanding achievements with robes and tassels, my wife is content with the favor and smile of God and the gratitude of two very grateful men in her life…

What does my wife do? She is a Christian Mother!

This post this week is to say thank you to my beautiful wife…
Thank you, Sweetheart for making this house a home… a place that is always warm and inviting and enjoyable.

Thank you, Sweetheart for all the care, nurture, protection, and training you give to our son… an absolutely vital and loving foundation that will serve him well all the days of his life.

Thank you, Sweetheart for the way that you tirelessly keep our home well-organized and clean… a place that is peaceful, relaxing, and always open to friends.

Thank you, Sweetheart for all the sacrifices that you have made in order to be here with me in Northern Ohio in order to be obedient to the call of God on our lives.

To: My Dearest Wife:
Let no one ever despise your youth for you are an amazing mother! I know I cannot give you everything you deserve, or always understand you in the ways you would like me to, but I can promise that I will love you all the seasons of my life and be thankful for the joys of sharing this life with you. Ever how many children the good Lord decides to give us, I am absolutely positive that one day all of them will gladly rise up and call you blessed! Truly, charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

Oh Lord, Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

From your loving husband,
Travis

Technology Is Sometimes A Great Blessing

I know it's been a good while since I've posted a blog. I guess it's because I do so much writing in my calling to the ministry like, writing several Bible lessons a week, newsletters, important letters, devotionals, etc... so much so that to sit down and do more in my spare time is sometimes not exactly what I want to do. But this morning, I'm in the mood to do it.

I've just finished listening to one of the great Bible teachers of our day, Dr. John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church. He has a international radio ministry called "Grace to You." Now, I can't get his particular program on any radio station around here, but I can go online and listen to the current one or any archived program I want to. And what is so cool is that it hasn't been that long ago when that was not possible. I mean how many believers in Christ would have loved to be discipled and taught by one of the greatest Bible teachers of our time, but couldn't because the technology was simply not there. Not too many years ago, the only people who would have been blessed by his exposition of God's word would have been the ones sitting in his church week after week. But now, believers all over the world can benefit from it with simply a computer and an internet connection. I know there are some who are very suspicious about technology and who are very afraid of the evil that it might bring. But just as any technology can be used for great evil, it can also be used for great good as well. So, I praise God and thank Him for such advancements.

If you would like to listen to Dr. MacArthur, just go to...
www.gty.org and click on the "broadcasts" tab, or just go to...
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/grace_to_you/