Joy Equipping

Our quest for happiness

Sep 102010

Part 2 in the "As Each Part Does Its Work" series of columns first published in Maranatha News.

We were drinking tea in a friend's kitchen when she said to me, "You know, when we bought this house, I thought my life was finally perfect. I have a great family, a good job, more possessions than I ever dreamed of having, this wonderful house…. So—I don’t understand—why am I still not happy?"

We all dream of being happy. But what, exactly, is happiness?

Most of us have said we’d be happy if we just had some more money, better health, a spouse, a child, a better job, more time…and the list goes on. Except, the truth is, even when we get whatever we thought would make us happy, we realize there’s just one more thing, and then one more…. Why else would well-to-do people keep working 24/7 and never take time to enjoy what they have? Why do drop-dead gorgeous people go to any lengths to add to their beauty? Why do corporate workers seek promotion after promotion, never saying, “Good enough. I'll stay here where I’m comfortable.” And then there’s the compulsion to find the perfect match, and the marriage-go-round, with its constant lure of greener pastures and easy divorce. The truth is, it’s extremely rare for people to say they’re content with what they have….

Read the rest of "As Each Part Does Its Work" column 2 as a pdf

What Does It Mean to Be Part of the Body of Christ?

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Aug 292010

From March, 2007 until September, 2010, I wrote a column called "As Each Part Does Its Work" for Maranatha News. I will be posting those columns in order here.

Column one.

It had been a busy day and I was tired, so I was flipping through the channels. I stopped at a documentary about Stephen Hawking.

In case you aren’t familiar with him, Stephen Hawking is a British scientist who has challenged existing scientific beliefs, postulated numerous new theories, and been compared to Albert Einstein. But Hawking has Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease), a disease which destroys the nerves of the spinal cord. Although his mind remains fully active, the connections from mind to limbs have been slowly eaten away until he can barely do anything for himself. Even to speak, he must use a state-of-the-art machine that allows him to make words by blinking to indicate letters. A mechanical voice then speaks. One reply may take him as long as eight minutes.

I can only imagine the frustration this man must feel—trapped, as it were, in a body that is totally alien to him. Through no fault of his own, he is completely dependent on others to care for him—forced to lead a slow-motion life which, to someone with his whip-like understanding, must drive him to anguish and anger.

But as I watched the documentary, God whispered to me, "That's a picture of Christ.”

Read the rest of "As Each Part Does Its Work" column 1 as a pdf

Good Guys, Bad Guys, and a Longing for the Kingdom

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Feb 182010

"How to Live Like a Christian in a World Under Satan’s Domination." This was the topic I had chosen to address in my adult Sunday school class. Since the topic was difficult, and I wasn’t sure I had the formula myself, I decided to be “creative” and divide the class into two teams—the “Good Guys” (God’s side) and the “Bad Guys” (Satan’s side). Each team had to come up with a battle plan.

The “Good Guys’ chose loving one another as their strategy. They included practical ideas such as “praying for one another, mentoring new believers, holding each other accountable, and friendship evangelism.”

The “Bad Guys” strategy was to keep believers from doing what God wants. So their list included “causing divisions through arguments, encouraging power struggles, encouraging people to think of their own needs, making church leaders look foolish and the church irrelevant, etc.”

The exercise was revealing. We concluded that, with a few exceptions, the “Bad Guys” are winning the battle here in North America. The thought made us uneasy, yet we were also genuinely puzzled as to how we could make a difference.

Today, I feel that same uncertainty. I know Christ has put me here to tell others about him, but the task is too immense for me to tackle alone….

Read the entire article " Good Guys, Bad Guys, and a Longing for the Kingdom" as a pdf file.

(This is the 4th article in a series of 4 called "21st Century Pilgrim" articles. They were first published in the Canadian Baptist in 1994.)

Read the rest of this 4-part series:

"But What About Those Gates of Hell?" as a pdf. 1st in the series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"Mary or Martha, Which One Am I?" – 2nd in the series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"What Should We Do About Those Lost Sheep, Lord?" 3rd in the series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

What Should We Do About Those Lost Sheep, Lord?

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Feb 092010

There are churches around the world where people are coming to Christ literally by the hundreds—over 800 baptisms per year.

I thought I was doing okay having led a few people to Christ in my lifetime. But hundreds, Lord?

Those churches must be doing something right. Most growth in North America is from people changing churches.

Of course, we are always happy when someone does accept Christ. Only…we don’t seem to plan for it very well.

My mind drifts back twenty years to a tiny church plant. The pastor decided we should use Evangelism Explosion. So we memorized verses and wrote out our testimonies (which felt kind of weird), and learned a plan for presenting Christ to people.

It was scary, and some people thought it was too much by rote, but it worked. Our baby church had people coming to Christ right, left, and center.

Exciting things happened. For example, one night our trainer, my partner Ken, and I knocked on the door of a house. We had no idea who lived there. A couple in their early forties came to the door. When they discovered we were from a church, they said they already had company, but would we please come back the next night?

Our trainer became ill, but Ken and I decided to go anyway….

Read the rest of "What Should We Do About Those Lost Sheep, Lord?" as a pdf.

(This article is the 3rd in a series called "21st Century Pilgrim" which was first published in the Canadian Baptist in 1994.)

Read the rest of this series:

"But What About Those Gates of Hell?" as a pdf. 1st in the series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"Mary or Martha, Which One Am I?" – 2nd in a series of the "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"Good Guys, Bad Guys, and a Longing for the Kingdom" 4th in the series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

Mary of Martha – Which One Am I?

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Nov 072009

It's frightening to realize, after years of functioning as a "good" Christian, that you have neglected the very God you thought you were serving. But that is precisely the position I'm in. Even though I have always wanted God’s best for me. Even though I have sought to please him and to tell others about him. Even though I can think of no worthwhile reason for living unless it is to serve him.

As I reminisce over the past and look to the future, I realize that I have missed the most critical element. I do not really know him—certainly not the way I should after all these years.

Strange. If you had asked me who I identify with in the story of Mary and Martha, I would have immediately voted for Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, rather than Martha, scurrying around to provide what he hadn’t requested. But now I realize that I have actually been Martha. While devoting many hours to doing things for God and for his church, I have neglected to spend time with him.

Oh, I’ve read my Bible, believed it, studied it, memorized it, taught it. I’ve prayed for God’s blessings and help in planning and carrying out the work I’ve done for him. I’ve prayed, believing, for needs. I’ve told others about God—even had the privilege of leading people to him and helping them grow.

But I have not often spent quality time with him. I have not been Mary. Worse, I’ve taken him for granted—assumed that he understood why I was too busy to take time to idly sit with him. After all, I had lessons to prepare, newsletters to get out, meetings to plan….Time for him later, when my work here is done. Later, when we’re in Heaven together. When there isn’t so much to do….

Read the rest of Mary or Martha, Which One Am I?"as a pdf.

(This article is the 2nd of 4 articles in the "21st Century Pilgrim series, which was published first in the Canadian Baptist in 1994.)

Read the rest of this 4-part series:

"But What About Those Gates of Hell?" as a pdf. 1st in the series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"What Should We Do About Those Lost Sheep, Lord?" 3rd in the series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"Good Guys, Bad Guys, and a Longing for the Kingdom" 4th in the series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

The Magic of Small Groups

Small Groups 1 Response »

May 032009

"Pastor," I said. "I don't believe this church will develop either in numbers or spiritual maturity unless there is a small group ministry."

He agreed with me. From his recent reading he had decided small groups were needed. "But," he continued with disarming honesty, "I don't really know how."

I believe a lot of pastors and leaders are in the same position. An abundance of evidence shows that those churches who are using small groups effectively are growing in both converts and committed believers. But it is very hard to take the first step, particularly if you yourself have never been involved in a vital support group.

I'm not talking about the Bible study where one person (often the pastor) does all the talking, a few people pray long prayers covering a number of requests, you sing a hymn and go home. I'm talking about small groups of people who become involved in one another's lives.

"I don't need to go to a church," someone said to me recently. "I get enough in my own living room watching the service on T.V." Or what about this statement? "I am blessed by the services at my church. I get everything I need from them." Both of these people have watched a service. Both may have learned more about the Bible or about God and felt spiritually uplifted. But both are missing the point.

The church is not the building. We know that. But neither is it the service on Sunday. The church is the people. Individuals. Those you instinctively like and those you have grown to dislike. Those whose theology you agree with and those you believe to be misinformed. Those who are up front leading the singing or teaching Sunday school and those who sneak out the second the service is over so no one will ask them to become involved…."

Read the rest of The Magic of Small Groups as a pdf.

Prayer-Walking

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May 022009

At a seminar, I heard someone talking about something his church was doing in their community. A number of people would walk (or drive) through a specific area and pray for the people in each of the houses. They called it prayer walking. And they talked excitedly about seeing positive results.

Imagine if every home in my community was prayed for specifically on a regular basis? What a difference that could make in the lives of those people!

Well I decided I could do that! And now, in my neighbourhood, I know that is happening—because I have been prayer walking in front of every home for the last five years!…

Read the rest of the article "Prayer Walking" by Les D. Lindquist as a pdf.

Reengineering the Church

Church 2 Responses »

May 022009

For over 25 years, I have been very involved as a lay leader in the church. For most of those years, I have worked for IBM in various professional and management capacities.

I have often been struck with the parallels between what I am doing in the business world and the needs of the church. In many ways, the cell church movement is all about the reengineering of the church….

Read the rest of this article "Reengineering the Church" by Les Lindquist as a pdf.

I Cried in Church Today Again

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May 022009

"Les, you seem so restless these days. What’s up?”

This question from the chairman of the board of Deacons came at the end of another long meeting. Since I’d been a deacon from the age of 23, I was used to being frustrated by the slow progress made in church meetings. But lately I’d been feeling more frustrated than usual. It seemed as if we never got to anything really meaningful. Or if we did, it was always at the end of the evening when everyone was tired and anxious to get home. I didn’t really know how to answer.

I simply said, “I don’t know. It just seems there must be more to it.”

A puzzled look appeared on Alan’s face.

I tried to explain. “More to being a Christian, I mean. I’m so tired of meetings where nothing ever seems to be accomplished. Nothing that matters, at least.”

“I guess I don’t understand,” Alan replied. “I think we’re doing great. We’ve got a new building. The church is growing. Great people. Good services. The church is sure meeting my needs.”

I went home that night more frustrated than ever. I’d been a Christian since the age of three, an active layman since I was 18. I was now forty-two. Was this part of the mid-life crisis they talked about? Did I have needs the church wasn’t meeting, or was there something wrong with me?

Read "I Cried in Church Today"

But What About Those Gates of Hell?

Church 1 Response »

May 012009

For over forty years, the church has been the center of my spiritual life. My parents took me there when I was young, and since I became a teen, I have gone by choice. All right, part of that was because I had to walk past this boy's house, and if he saw me going by, he hurried to get ready and come, too. But, for various reasons, I have attended church nearly every Sunday for forty years.

But why do I say, "attended church"? If asked, I would say that the church is not something I can "attend." The church is the people who gather together to worship God. The church is you and me. I know that, but it’s never been important to me to differentiate. Now I find myself talking about 'going to church' and wondering, what do I mean? The building? The service on Sunday? I’m not sure. In some ways, the word 'church' is nebulous to me—no distinct boundaries or meaning. Is that good or bad? I wonder what Jesus meant when He used the word in the first place….

Read the rest of N. J. Lindquist's article "But What About Those Gates of Hell?" as a pdf. 1st in a series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

Read the rest of this 4-part series:

"Mary or Martha, Which One Am I?" – 2nd in a series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"What Should We Do About Those Lost Sheep, Lord?" 3rd in a series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"Good Guys, Bad Guys, and a Longing for the Kingdom" 4th in a series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

Older Entries

Joy Equipping

Our quest for happiness

What Does It Mean to Be Part of the Body of Christ?

Good Guys, Bad Guys, and a Longing for the Kingdom

Read the rest of this 4-part series:

What Should We Do About Those Lost Sheep, Lord?

Read the rest of this series:

Mary of Martha – Which One Am I?

Read the rest of this 4-part series:

The Magic of Small Groups

Prayer-Walking

Reengineering the Church

I Cried in Church Today Again

But What About Those Gates of Hell?

Read the rest of this 4-part series:

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