Rainy Days and Mondays

I looked back at one of my journal entries today.

I’m in a melancholy mood. The words to an old song by a group, The Carpenters, keep floating through my head. The song, written by Paul Williams & Roger Nichols, is called “Rainy Days and Mondays.” The song has a refrain that goes, “Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.” Well, it’s not raining today so it must be the fact that it is a Monday that has affected my frame of mind.

As I said at the beginning, I was looking at a journal entry in which I wrote the following words, “Walls make you feel safe. Windows enable you to see through the walls, while remaining safe on the inside.” Throughout that journal entry I noted that walls pop up everywhere in our lives. There are walls that affect our careers, our ambitions, our relationships. Everything. The thing about walls is they allow us to remain safely tucked behind them, looking through the window, but never venturing out to face the challenges on the other side. This can be unhealthy.

In that journal entry I also noted that I was praying for God to move me from behind my wall of safety to a place where I could make a greater impact in my world for Christ. I actually wrote that I would be willing to pastor a church and lead a flock into uninhibited worship and dedicated service for the cause of Christ. Furthermore, I wrote that, at that time, I felt stifled in my service and smothered by my passivity. That was years ago (four, to be exact). What in the world did I pray that for? Now look at me! I’m a senior pastor.

Here are some words of wisdom for you: Watch what you pray for. You just might get it. Ha!

So, the words to this old song had been floating through my mind. The neat thing is, Ive found they provide a “spiritual vitamin” for a melancholy Monday:

Talkin' to myself and feelin' old
Sometimes I'd like to quit
Nothing ever seems to fit
Hangin' around
Nothing to do but frown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.

What I've got they used to call the blues
Nothin' is really wrong
Feelin' like I don't belong
Walkin' around
Some kind of lonely clown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.

Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you
Nice to know somebody loves me
Funny but it seems that it's the only thing to do
Run and find the one who loves me.

There! Did you catch it!? That last verse. It’s in these melancholy moments that “I always wind up here with you.” That would be “with Christ.” “Nice to know somebody loves me.” That would be God. “Run and find the one who loves me.” That would be Jesus. At least, this is the way I processed the words on a melancholy Monday.

So what’s the point? The first point is: dare to pray for God to move you beyond the walls that inhibit your life. If the walls are never torn down between you and your ambitions, you will never advance in your career. If the walls are never torn down between you and your relationships, you will never have good friends. If the walls are not torn down between you and your inhibitions, you will never step out in faith so that God can use you to make an impact within your spheres of influence.

The second point is, don’t waste rainy days and melancholy Mondays. Allow them to drive you to the savior. It is in these moments that we are apt to drop our guard and allow God to comfort us. It’s in these moments that we do some of our most passionate praying. It is in the quite reflection of these moments that our minds and hearts are receptive to the Lord’s leading. So let him tear down the walls and lead you along life's way. Amen? Amen.

Just some melancholy thoughts, on a rainless Monday, from the heart and mind of Victor

Mother

I cannot help but to think warm thoughts whenever I think of mothers. Adjectives such as loving, kind, patient, wise and discerning come to mind. Admittedly, it is sad and unfortunate that in our modern times we have anomalies to this image of motherhood. Our news is littered with horrendous stories of mothers who have behaved in manners that are godlessly disturbing. I realize that some of you reading this have not had the ideal mother and the thought of her conjures sad memories. I’m so sorry for that and welcome your email requests for prayer support in order to help you through it. However, let me also assure you, these anomalies are not the image that God intended for mothers.

I’m sure that others of you reading this have fond memories of your mothers. They certainly are unique creatures, aren’t they? mothers, I mean. They seem to posses this uncanny ability called intuition, which is based upon nothing tangible. Mothers can sometimes read your face and can tell when you are stretching the truth. Mothers can also have hunches and her hunch will oftentimes turn out to be right on target.

My thoughts of my mother are wonderful recollections. Thoughts of her laugh, images of her smile and the sound of her voice cause a flood of reminiscences to rush into my mind. I love my mother. If I had to sum her up in one word it would have to be the word “servant.” That woman served a husband and six children for many years. She's serve God even longer than that. She continues to advise me to this very day. I often tell the congregation how she preaches to me during our conversations. When I tell her, “Mom! I already know that. After all, I am a preacher. For goodness sake, I graduated from seminary!” It does not deter her. I simply have to wait until she finishes her 3 point sermon, say, “I love you.” And hand up the phone, while a smile plays at the corners of my mouth.

As I was saying, the years gone by are filled with memories of my mother’s service to others. Her service to others has been motivated by her service to our Lord. Even now, in her twilight years, she and my father open their home regularly to a bible study group. She doesn’t move as fast as she used to, nevertheless, the living and moving she does do is to the glory of God.

I attribute much of my desire to serve God’s people in ministry to the example of servanthood displayed by my mother. And it is, indeed, a privilege to serve. I didn’t say it was easy. I did not say that it was not sometimes frustrating, other times difficult and occasionally lonely. I said it was a privilege. When I walk into my office, I remind myself of this at least once a week. I call it "being grateful."

In case you didn’t know it, you too are called to be God’s servant. Servanthood is not just for godly mothers and seminary taught preachers. It is for every believer in the family of God. It is unfortunate that some of us get it wrong. Charles Finney once said concerning this sort:

“They all profess to be servants of God, and yet by observing the lives of many, it becomes manifest that instead of their being God's servants they are only trying to make God their servant. They are seeking to make God their friend, that they may make use of Him to serve their own turn.” Charles G. Finney

So, here is the bottom line. God has equipped each one of us so that we might be servants; not serving God in order to get, but serving Him because we have already been given. Christ gave himself for us. If there is any debt owed here, it is our owing him. Christ did not equip us with gifts to simply sit on them, but so that we might serve.

So, as you remember your mother (that is, God’s idea of a mother) remember the word servant. And when you remember the word servant, remember that you have not been saved to sit back and wait, you have been saved to serve in faith. Finally, once you remember that you have been saved to serve,…serve. And count it a privilege to do so.

Just some thoughts from the heart and mind of His servant, Victor.

"…`Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'”
Matt. 25:21

Tolerance

I must say that I am more than just a little bit disturbed by the headlines that top our news. Not just today’s news but the news, day after day.

Day after day the news just seems to get worse and worse. I’m not necessarily talking about the collapse of Wall Street and mortgage foreclosures. I’m talking about the ever disintegrating moral fabric that once carried more weight than the political correctness that now supersedes any and all moral convictions people used to have. In fact, I’m not sure that a significant portion of the politically correct even know what morality is anymore. It has been distorted by the voices insisting upon tolerance.

I used to like that word (tolerance). To me it used to mean patience, forbearance, and open-mindedness. Now, it has been twisted into something ugly. Now, tolerance means patience with all religious schools of thought except evangelical Christianity. Now, It means to show forbearance towards all except those who disagree with the popular opinions that are contrary to biblical moral values. It now means open-mindedness to all things except the concept of absolute truth (and the salvation offered through Jesus Christ).

In this year's Miss America pageant Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was asked how she defines marriage. She responded, marriage is a union between a woman and man. She is now being crucified by the gay community and advocates of tolerance (under the new definition of the word). Nevertheless, when asked if she had it to do over again, would she have answered differently. Her reply was, "No. There are some convictions that I cannot compromise." Isn't it amazing that everyone is entitled to an opinion except those who's convictions are shaped by the Word of God?

In 1997, the same month and year I began serving here in Northern Virginia, singer/songwriter Rich Mullins died in a horrible car crash in Chicago. Sometime before he died, he penned the following words:
If I stand, let me stand on the promise that you will bring me through.

If I can, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to you.

If I sing, let me sing for the joy that has borne in me these songs.

If I weep, let it be as a man who is longing for his home.”

The world seems to have gone crazy. Each passing day, it gets more and more difficult to stand strong. The depressing news causes us to weep. The onslaught of immorality causes us to long for our heavenly home. Nevertheless, while we await Christ's return, we must stand, sing and weep while continuing to hold up His standard...in spite of popular opinion.

So, stand strong. And, by the way, if you do happen to take a tumble, thank God that His grace is there to catch you. Not so that you will stay down and wallow in mediocrity. And not so that you can stay down and soak in compromise. But so that you will get back up and stand.

"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." Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)

From the heart and mind of Victor, to those who still believe, are still intolerant of sin and who are determined to stand strong.

Happy Ressurection Day!

It almost goes without saying that Resurrection Sunday is the most important day on the Christian calendar.

We celebrate the fact that our savior, Jesus, the son of the living God, rose up in victory and power. The Apostle Paul goes into significant detail in explaining the just how this impacts the believer:
1 Corinthians 15:14-20 (NLT) 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead...

May you not forget to stop and take a moment to consider the significance of this day. And when you do…when you reflect on its implication, you will be blessed.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Cover Your Face

When you think about it, prayer is pretty amazing.

To get some idea as to just how amazing it is, read something like Isaiah 40:

" Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?" (Isaiah 40:12-13 NLT)

After reading it, think about this: He is God, of whom all creation declares his glory. Yet He is so compassionate, so loving and so kind that he hears even the smallest prayer uttered in faith by a little child.

Sometimes when I walk into my office in the morning, I am overwhelmed by the need to spend some time in prayer. Yesterday was just such a morning. The urge hit me to pray. And so I did. Later, when I journaled, the words of my prayer crept into that journal. I decided to give you a rare peek into my journal and share it with you in this blog:

"Lord, I prayed covering my face from you this morning.
I prayed covering my face because your holiness is too great for me.
I prayed covering my face because my eyes cannot withstand your brightness.
I prayed covering my face because I needed to ask you for strength.
I prayed covering my face because I needed to ask you for wisdom.
I prayed covering my face because I needed to ask you for courage.
I prayed covering my face because your mercy is too brilliant for me.
I prayed covering my face because your grace is too overwhelming for me.
I prayed covering my face because I feel so unworthy in your presence.
I prayed covering my face because your presence is too magnificent for me to behold.

I prayed covering my face.

And now,...when I remove my hands from my face, let me be a little closer, a little wiser, a little stronger and a little bit more like you."

This was the prayer, on that Tuesday morning, from the heart and mind of Victor.

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18 NKJV)

Servant/Leader/Steward

I've noticed that successful churches seemed to be blessed to have a lot of dedicated servants and leaders. It does not have as much to do with the size of the church. It has everything to do with the attitude of those who serve and lead.

So here is a thought for those who serve and lead.

Have you ever considered the fact that Christ has graciously given gifts to men and women for the purpose of leading and serving. At least, that's what I conclude when mix Matthew 25 with Ephesians 4.

In Matthew 25 We find Jesus speaking to his disciples in parables. He tells the story of how a rich master gives talents (a denomination of money) to each of 3 servants. Upon his return he asks them one by one to report what they did with the talents he had given them. Two of the servants had done wisely with what had been entrusted to them, to which the master replies, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' (Matt. 25:21)

These servants to whom Jesus referred may be more aptly called stewards. Did you know that, as believers, we too might categorize ourselves as “stewards?” Now, a steward is described as a person who has been entrusted with the management of estates or affairs not his own. Take a closer look at this passage and you will notice that Paul more than implies the idea of stewardship.

Now, add to this the thought that God has graciously given gifts to his stewards: "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift" (Ephesians 4:7).

Ephesians chapter 4 is a great passage that expounds on this idea of being equipped to serve. A read through leads me to draw at least four conclusions: (1) Christ has given gifts according to his grace; (2) Christ has graciously given gifts for the purpose of leadership; (3) Christ has given gifts for the purpose of encouraging believers to service and, finally, (4) Christ has given gifts for the purpose of bringing the church into spiritual maturity. The bottom line is, Christ has sacrificed much in order to equip us to be responsible stewards and effective leaders/servants in the body of Christ.

With this in mind, we might say that, God, who is the giver of what is good and perfect, has given to men the means by which they can attend to his affairs. He has given us the “talents” to be used to manage His estate. And what are God’s “affairs?” What is His “estate?” I would like to suggest to you that at the top of the list is His church. God has “entrusted” those in leadership with the responsibility of caring for His church. Not the building…but the body.” God has declared us to be His servants, His stewards, so that we might serve in the body.

All too often we regard stewardship simply as a matter of our giving to God, but this aspect is secondary. Before we can give, we must possess, and before we possess we must receive. Therefore, stewardship is, in the first place, receiving God's good and bounteous gifts. Once received, these gifts are not to be used solely for our own good. They must also be used for the benefit of others and, ultimately, for the glory of God, the Giver.

“The steward needs an open hand to receive from God and then an active hand to give to God and to others.” (Murray J. Harris, Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 4.)

To state this in another and, perhaps, overly simplified way, “God gives; We get; We give.”

So, take the attitude of a servant. Open your hand and your heart to receive what God wants to give to you. And then give back to God by serving others.

Just some thoughts from the heart and mind of Victor (servant/leader/steward) Stanley

It's Not About The Man

Have you ever seen such fanfare as we have seen surrounding the inauguration of president Obama? Wow! Frankly, it would be just plan negligent to ignore the fact that history is being made right before our very eyes.

That the very mention of the name Obama can spark a plethora of emotion filled opinions is indisputable. In fact, a blog that I wrote after the election (see, “A Word About The Election” at http://www.victorstanley.blogspot.com/) sparked such a truckload passionate feedback from so many on both sides of the political fence that it left me a bit dumbfounded.

Thanks so much for your feedback. I did not expect that people would comment on my post. I was glad to see that some of you young people gave some serious thought to the political process. The right to vote is a privilege that should not be taken lightly. It has the ability to elect men and women who will leave an indelible mark on the moral fabric of our country. Please consider that during each election and choose wisely.

And now, like it or not, a new president is being inaugurated. May those of us who are believers in Jesus become more diligent in our prayers because both our country and our president will need them. Nevertheless, and though it might cause some of my readers a slight bit of discomfort, I would be dishonest if I did not admit that I am indeed moved by the historicity of the inauguration of this president. It’s not about the man. It’s about the moment.

I do somewhat recognize that it is very difficult for some to understand why, in spite of their political convictions (conservative, liberal or independent), so many are moved by this historical moment. Some of this is probably due to the fact that not all persons have shared the same life experiences growing up in America. It certainly seems that, given some of this country’s history, it has caused others to arrive at this moment and recognize its’ historical precedence. These experiences have caused many proud Americas to look beyond politics and become filled with wonder to see a person, an African American person, achieve what president Obama has. It’s not about the man. It’s about the moment.

Should our faith be shaken by this historic moment in American politics? No. Are we sometimes frustrated by politics? Yes. Are we, at times, disgusted with it? Most definitely. Is my faith shaken by it? No. That’s because my faith and convictions have been formed and shaped by God's word, not by anything that politicians and presidents have said or done. However, and in spite of having to navigate the minefield of American politics, I do greatly appreciate the fact that, for whatever reason, God has blessed me to be born and to live in this wonderful country of ours. I am, unabashedly, a proud American. And, given this historic moment, what a great time to be a proud American. It’s not about the man. It’s about the moment.

Over the years there have been many who have cheered as a rocket landed on the moon, wept as Kennedys fell, mourned as towers collapsed, and marched with King. They were significant experiences that will never be forgotten. However, and in spite of everything that we have lost, man still seems to hold on to hope. I think that is partly what so many see in the inauguration of this president. It’s not about the man. It was about the moment.

I heard it said a few weeks after the election that some were under the opinion that president elect Obama was the Anti-Christ. I doubt that very seriously. Let me assure you, I am not naïve enough to not recognize that our adversary, the Devil, continues to launch a relentless attack against the religious and moral convictions of God’s people. Furthermore, I certainly don’t know what the future holds for our government, its leaders and the decisions that they will make and how it will affect our country. I can only trust in God’s ability to use and keep us in the midst of it.

So, cast your worries and cares upon Jesus and don't miss this historical moment. Celebrate it. Besides, the way I look at it is, if Obama is the Anti-Christ, then, we would do well to head Romans 13:11: “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” In other words, the rapture (that moment when we believers will be caught up to be with our Lord) must be right around the corner. What a moment that will be. So, excuse me while I assume an attitude of praise. I want to be worshiping while I’m going up.

It is about the man (Jesus) and the moment.

Just some historical thoughts from the heart and mind of Victor.