Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Posted on February 17, 2010 - by admin
REAL interviews with those outside of church
Everyday I receive in my mail another article or promo for a book or conference entitled “What the unchurched are thinking” or “How to connect to the unchurched”. I’ve finally decided to address these “studies”. Reason? Because I have a lifetime of experience in this area. Please keep reading. I’ve never read a book or went to a conference to “learn techniques” about unchurched people. I know them. It’s no surprise to me, as it was to Dr. Elmer Towns when he visited here and asked a crowd of 3500 people “how many of you never attended a church in your life before coming here?” and 80% responded that was their testimony. He was shocked, I wasn’t.
You see, I was raised in a non-Christian home far from the influence of religion until I met Jesus Christ at age 18. I know that world. When Jesus convicted me of my sins, chose me and called me, I discovered that befriending unchurched people was the most natural thing a Christian does. This trend of surveys, articles, and books on “connecting to the unchurched” is foreign to me. It’s also strange to all of my unchurched friends and they tell me so. What I’ve discovered is that when those raised in church set out to define the unchurched, they often miss the mark. First, they fail to clarify that there are two separate groups of “non-churched’. Often they are really referring to the “formerly churched” so they begin with faulty assumptions that have no relevance to the unchurched I live among. They make a mission of going after those who know church lingo, jargon, music, customs, and the rest. That group can spout off the names of preachers, religious books, and so on. They can tell you “what’s wrong with churches, pastors, religion and so on”. Church planters today go after them zealously and print invites like, “Are you tired of church, been turned off by church, try a different kind of church.” Its obvious that they after the “already reached before and strayed from church” to fill their seats.
The people I personally know have never been churched at all. They couldn’t name 3 preachers if offered a million dollar reward. They know of Billy Graham and Mother Teresa. Period. I know, because I’ve asked them over the past 2 years. 60 or more of them and besides me, that’s all they know. Now I’m talking about both successful, wealthy, educated, white collar friends along with struggling, blue collar workers all with one thing in common. They have zero experience with church. I do almost every breakfast, lunch, or trip with one or more of these. In time hundreds have come to Christ. I fished for 14 years with one Doctor before he came, I traveled the states for over 10 years with another. Some came over months, but not all.
As is well known, for years I leased a hunting preserve each season for 15 people and the only requirment to hunt on it was that the other 14 people had to have never been in a church in their entire life. Never! I connect better with these people than church people. For years I chartered a fishing boat and took strangers who had never been in a church in their lifetime in groups to fish. That’s how I can say I know these people. Now for the interviews. Over the past 2 years, I’ve asked each of these what keeps them from the Christian faith? The number one (#1) reason they don’t have faith in Christianity or go to church in every single case was exactly what Jesus it would be in John 17. They (my friends) see Christians as divided and judgmental (not of the world, but of other Christians).
To them, God can’t be the answer since His people are fragmented. WOW! Let me get specific. They ask simple but direct questions like, “Why didn’t Christians get behind Mike Huckabee when he ran for President? If we’re so “focused on the family” as we say, why do we throw our support to the least family focused candidate instead of Huckabee? Wow again! Or why do your book sections in Barnes & Nobles or other chains offer books with contrasting arguments of election, church styles of worship, and so on, if our faith is really “ONE”. Or why does a new hip employee disrespectfully call baptism “the God plunge” in an attempt to be cool, when their college history class says people actually were killed for being baptised. What’s wrong with the word “baptism” they ask. (This was from a college professor) You see, my friends are real and real relates to real. They aren’t looking for perfection, they look for agreement in the Christian world among Christians and they find little to none. We are a divided team in their eyes. Christians slandering larger churches, Church planters wasting hours at Starbucks sitting around tables with other Christians instead of working or dining with unchurched people, Christians criticising “t.v. evangelist”. And they ask “what’s with all these conferences”? Everytime they turn around another employee wants to go to another conference. In their world of business, they attend one a year and if really necessary two, but Christians are always in their huddles.
They despise the attacking of TBN from other Christians, the slander of Pat Robertson, the hatred spewed at the late Jerry Falwell from other “Christians”, and a host of other things all in that arena and they say it’s a turn off to them. They expect the world to attack Christians, they just can’t grasp why Christians bite and devour each other. In fact one tells me of his well meaning assistant giving him a popular Christian author’s book for Christmas. The writer was outstanding he says until he came to a disrespectful paragraph on the “pink haired” lady on televison. He said he actually tossed the book into his fireplace on Christmas eve at that moment. They’re tired of hearing us bash each other. They’re sick of the elbowing our way through Gods’ Kingdom over each other. In their worst moments they don’t attack and slander their competitors like “Christians” do. We take it to levels the devil himself is surprised of. When they go to a Superbowl event or something of like kind, they support the toothless guy in bad clothing holding a sign rooting for their team even if his style of support is different than theirs. They don’t criticize their own. Yet we “Christians” take every opportunity to tear down our own in the eyes of the “unchurched” world. One gentleman tells me that after losing a $53 million dollar deal that he and his office team were at a resturant and the competetor and his team walked in. He said, “I shook their hand and we knew it was just business. It hurt, but we don’t attack them. You “Christians” slander, judge and critique proudly without so much as a care about how little or petty it is”.
What did Jesus say? “Father make them one as we are one, so that the world may believe that you sent me.” He says this 3 times in this chapter. What He knows is exactly what my friends tell me. If we can’t tolerate each other, how can we expect the world to believe Jesus is God’s answer. These are the answers my friends gave, hope it helps as we do our mission.
Posted on January 20, 2010 - by admin
Life Lessons
My children would occasionally ask when I sat them down, “is this a life lesson”? I think they dreaded “life lessons”. Most of us do. Yet somehow, the older we get the more we’ve learned from our life experiences. Soren Kierkegaard, that 19th century philosopher, who looked like Conan O’brien with his 6 inch hair said, “We live life going forward but we understand it looking backward”. True. Have you ever said, “If I knew then, what I know now…” however if we hadn’t had the experience then, we wouldn’t know what we know now, so that’s moot. Here’s a few “Life Lessons” I think I’ve learned through the years.
1. Life is a Gift from God, enjoy it, experience it, & embrace the days with wonder.
2. Love is too big to keep for yourself, share it.
3. Choose carefully with whom & where you spend your time, energy, & skills.
4. Learn from the past but don’t live in it.
5. Life is too short to waste it & too long if you do.
6. Be Thankful. For the good & bad, the friends & enemies, the successes & failures.
7. Remember God. Our connection to our Creator is the connection that keeps us “alive”
Posted on December 1, 2009 - by admin
Worship Leaders
This is a shout out to “Worship Leaders”. Just a sincere thanks from a Pastors perspective. You help us have greater impact and you give opportunity for people to draw close to God. And what’s so great about this is, that you do this week in and week out. Like pastors, lawyers and others, I know you’re disrespected at times. I’ve heard the old “devil landed in the choir loft” comment too many times to count. I know people without a clue ask “what do you do all week’? I appreciate the time you’ve sacrificed and the talent you bring to the experience. I’m aware that it took years to develop your skills and your heart is still in development. It’s not just a song I applaud. It’s the life, the devotion, the authenticity, and the support of the pastor and church. Sometimes when I’ve crashed and burned in preaching, it’s refreshing to hear someone say, “The music was awesome today”. And after you’ve heard my sermon for the third time each weekend, I’m amazed that you still laugh at the jokes or listen to each point as if it’s the first time you’ve heard it. Many times I’m tempted to point you out and say, “and on bass here we have….and on keyboard is….” because you bring it so well, so often. Thank you. I might not enter His gates with thanksgiving or His courts with praise without your reminder each week. For any worship leader or team member reading this who hasn’t felt understood or appreciated, let me speak for one pastor. We need you. We want you. You are a very important part of the team. Here’s a life lesson I learned long ago, “The people, circumstances, or things that draw us closer to God are our friends”.
Posted on November 21, 2009 - by admin
My Mothers Last Words to Me
As a pastor I’ve heard the “last words” of many, but my own mothers last words to me are treasured. The week between the death of Princess Dianna of Wales (August 31, 1997), and the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta (September 5, 1997) my mother died of cancer. While my sister Sonja and I witnessed the exact “moment” she left this world, my mothers last words to me came in a hand-written letter 11 months earlier. Oddly at that time ,she didn’t even know she had cancer and she expected to live a long life. When she handed me the letter she said, “Bill, I hope you never have to read this. But take this in case you ever need it”. She said she felt strongly impressed to write it in the event of her death in the far future, in case I needed the information inside. She said she’d prayed over this for several weeks feeling God divinely directed her to write this for me. She said, oneday I may need real answers about our home, my childhood, things I suspected and couldn’t understand, and other matters. I took her letter, put it away, and never suspected she’d be dead within a year. Today I know she really was divinely directed. 10 years passed before I opened that letter. One day in 2007, I was in a place in my life with serious questions. I sat quietly in my study, opened her letter and noticed it was 13 hand-written pages. I carefully read each word. Like peeling layers of an onion, each page brought both tears and relief. For the first time in my life, things made perfect sense. I gained understanding and found freedom I didn’t know existed. I never acknowledged before that day how deep I’d buried hurts and things affecting my early life. I’ve always picked up, moved on, and mastered the art of leaving the past in the past. My strength is to “never look back”. It’s a survival instinct. I won’t reveal the contents of her letter because its personal, but I will tell you that if her intent was to set me free, it worked. Today I see people in need of the healing that a parent could provide and I only wish for them a “letter” like I recieved. It was the greatest gift she ever gave me. So here’s my advice. If you have a chance to pass on a blessing to someone you love, a healing to bring, an understanding that opens up their life for a better future, do it. Write it out and put it in their hands. Its worth the time it takes to do this. Especially for them.
Posted on November 15, 2009 - by admin
It’s a Girl!!
“It’s a Girl!”
Those are words that I’ve never heard in a delivery room referring to a Purvis child. We have boys. Can’t help it. Don’t regret it. It’s just that way. I identify well with those Bible characters who had boy after boy.
Last Wednesday all of that changed. My middle son Brent and his wife Carrie placed in my arms a little new born girl named Emme Reese Purvis. I had no words except, “Wow.” I have many nieces all of whom we see at Christmas, Thanksgivings and throughout the year, that I love and they love their “Uncle Bill”. Maybe God was preparing us for this with them.
Now we have 2 grandchildren, Prince Beau (6 mo.) and Princess Emme. If having a thankful heart pleases God, then we’re there for sure. God has been good to us.
More pictures of Emme can be viewed at www.emmereesepurvis.weebly.com.
Posted on November 8, 2009 - by admin
No One Gets to Determine YOUR Destiny
I’ve seen it lately and it’s encouraging. People that others had written off, discarded, had no faith in, and profiled as limited in their potential. You know them. Somewhere in life they made mistakes or were labeled as “less than” and they actually believed they were. They expected to lose, to be last, to be near the bottom and thats where they were for awhile. Then something happened. God Himself took a personal interest in their life journey and provided miracle after miracle in their behalf. Today they are far from where they once were. My wife and I recently had that conversation about 4 or 5 people we knew personally who have lived these things out. I don’t use the word “amazing” often. I find it overused for things that don’t “amaze” me, but in these people, “amazing” is the proper description. What it tells me is the No One Gets to Determine YOUR Destiny! No ONE! God has a destiny for each of us and the only one who can destroy it is ourself. We can do stupid things and never learn from them, or live under the belief that a one time failure makes us unable to recover, or we can humble ourselves under the hand of God and HE can exalt to our destiny. No One Gets to Determine YOUR Destiny! It is God who sets up one and takes down another. Promotion doesn’t come from the east nor the west but from the LORD. In each case of those others had written off, I rejoice in their deliverance and promotion. It reminds me of a God of Love and gives Hope that we are still able to reach our destiny. There’s a song with the lyrics, “Oh no He never let go, through the calm and through the storm, Oh no He never let go of me”. That’s what my friends are singing today. I’m thankful too.
Posted on October 23, 2009 - by admin
Social networks are “in”. Myspace, Facebook, Twitter & others connect us in a beneficial way or consume time & life. Intextication is a term for those who facebook or twitter while driving or at work or when they could be talking “live” to family or friends. Rehabs for texting are a future profession. Like anything, balance is essential. The greater advancements in technology the busier we become. I began “twitter” after I preached against it. Someone challenged me to try it. I’ve since repented for my overkill. I’m still learning the basics of following people, re-tweeting, and other 101 things about it. Actually, I forget to do it so much that someone texts me almost every day and says “Tweet” right now, so I meet their need. In spite of the ways to communicate to others, I am more interested in things that I need communicated to me. I have to hear the voice of my creator daily or I feel really out of sync. I have to hear the voice of my wife of almost 30 years every day and the voices of my children daily, though 2 of them live a distance from me. Last month I spent 2 days in a mountain cabin intentionally designed with no sign of life around. No phone service, no t.v., no internet, just the sounds of leaves falling, squirrels & birds and my loud movement on wooden floors, decks, & with kitchen cabinets. It was very good for the soul. I think I heard more in my spirit, dreamed more in my heart, and smiled more at the promises I knew were meant for me from God than I had ever seen before. God is good. On my way home as I stopped off at a mall & noticed the busyness of lives doing trivial things, heard conversations of noise and even met 3 total strangers and had lunch. One of them was motivated by hate. He looked older than his years. One had no direction in life and had given up. One was successful in material things but kept asking me about contentment and where I get mine from. Their phones kept going off, Mr. “motivated by hate” had energy and kept texting while talking. The rich man followed me to the parking lot and we exchanged contact numbers. I missed the quietness of where I’d been by now. I evaluated everything on my trip home now. I decided that I’d “tweet” to connect to people who need that. I know some “Preach on Twitter”, some talk about their lunch or dinner, some “vent” and all of those are o.k. Social networks are healthy I think for many people. I would recommend some quiet places for introspection from time to time. Sometimes you can hear the whispers of your Creator better that way. Just got a call, they want me to “tweet” something 4 the day @Bill_Purvis twitter.
Posted on October 6, 2009 - by admin
Apology Accepted
He drove a distance up to Georgia to see me face to face. He was broken. Much more than the last time we’d met. His attitude was humble, he selected his words carefully, and he was relieved to rid himself of the weight he’d carried for over 10 years. We’d been friends and for almost 10 years our fellowship had been broken fellowship. I always loved him, always wished him success and honest to God, not once did I ever desire anything but the best for him. I learned long ago that behind the curtains of stuff like this is the evil one. He wept, he reminded me of many of the laughs we’d had in times past. We laughed again now. When leaving he said, “I’ve rid myself of bitterness, opened heaven in my life and done what I should have done a long time ago”. I pray that God will bless him beyond myself, seriously. You see, I remember one time driving all the way to Mississippi one night to apologize to someone that I needed to make things right with. At that time, I had not yet met the wife I’d marry, had the anointing I enjoy, found the favor of God or His peace that I live with today. Looking back, I’m sure that if I’d not made that drive that night, none of these blessings in my life would have ever happened either. Thankfully the person I apologized to, accepted mine that night also. I remember how I felt driving home that night. I floated in praise to God for the release He’d given me. I watched my friend depart this way when he left my office and I’m certain his trip home was better than his trip up here. 10 years is a long time for someone to live with that junk. 10 minutes is too long if you want to please God. Don’t let the devil steal your future. God has grace and blessings waiting to be delivered to us when we aren’t too proud to humble ourselves and do what we know is right.
Posted on September 25, 2009 - by admin
One Pastors View
From where I speak each week I have a different perspective of church, saints and sinners. Sure I’ve heard some critics of church but most are similar to sports fans questioning each call of the coach and critical of those actually playing the game. Its easy to fall into that unproductive routine. From my perspective its different. Here’s my view from just last weekend. A little girl whose father passed away was brought to me by her mother. She wanted me to show her a verse for comfort since daddy can’t do that anymore. Behind her stood a young couple, married only a few months and the wife’s facing a life-threatening disease. They are scared beyond words. Our prayer time began and I asked the church to pray for a mother, whose son serving our country, was killed in Afghanistan last week. She wanted to sit in the church he enjoyed and had attended while he was here at Ft. Benning. As I stood to speak, to my left was a dear couple whose young son had been murdered and the trial is about to begin. I saw a man whose wife was smiling widely because her husband who’d vowed never to go to church, was back today after his first visit last week. And there’s a precious gentlemen of Jewish origin who always sits up front because of his hearing problems and physical limitations. He had been a child who’d survived the German Holocaust. I saw families visiting for the first time to see a loved one baptized, couples looking for guidance to a better marriage, and the list goes on and on. What I am saying is that behind every life is a story. I’ve read a few of the books of critics trying to correct the church with their opinion of how they’d do it if they were on the field. Problem is that they’re in the stands and it’s easy to be an expert in that seat. Every person in a seat represented someone that needs God in their particular situation. That’s one Pastors view. I don’t think I’ll ever get lose that perspective and I pray that I won’t.
Posted on September 19, 2009 - by admin
Life Is Good
This is the slogan of one of my wife’s favorite products. She has the ball caps, the sweatshirts, the stickers, and the attitude to go with it. Each time she walks in from working out wearing the shirt or cap, I’m reminded again of my blessings. God has been good to me. He has shown His favor in every area of my life; family, finances, health, friends, and the list goes on and on. Years ago the church sang a song called, “Count your blessings”. One verse said, “count your blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what the LORD has done” David said it this way in Psalms 139:17-18, “How precious are your thoughts toward me, How vast is the sum of them, If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand…” Life is good because God is good. Count your blessings today, I bet you can’t count that high!