You might want to read through my whole ranting before you click on any of the included links…
Here is the latest greatest controversy in the religion realm.
www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36196
www.DividedTheMovie.com.

Wow! Seriously? And we wonder why students are leaving the church in droves… Let’s be real… it’s not just teenagers. Adults and senior adults are leaving as well. This video is pretty typical of what is presented all the time in churches. There is much Truth (God’s Word) sewn throughout the video which causes people to believe there is validity to their research and opinions. There are many true and real statistics (and some that are not) which causes people to believe there is validity to their research and opinions. There is reference to history and past experiences which causes people to believe there is validity to their research and opinions. But it is full of agendas and "out of context" statements. Just like Sunday mornings. This generation is pulling back the curtain on the “great oz” of the institution and wants nothing to do with them. Yet many are still mesmerized by all the smoke & mirrors.

There are some great conclusions that are presented. I totally agree that the parents have the greatest impact on their own children. Parents cannot outsource or subcontract the raising and discipling of their kids to good people who they even trust. It just doesn’t work… if it does… it is only by the grace of God. It is Biblical that the parents are to teach their kids.

So, is the answer “worshipping together” on Sunday Mornings? Absolutely not! No! No! No! If the result of this documentary is to negate youth ministry/programs and promote family worship… they are still missing it.

I know this may sound arrogant… bitter… know it all… whatever… This is the world I lived in for most of my life. Serving as a youth minister for 15 years and now serving as a pastor to families… I have been there done that.

Of the list of videos on the www.DividedTheMovie.com site the most practical one is by Vodie Baucham (http://vimeo.com/28372823). I believe Vodie is spot on when he talks about the what the real issue is (31.5 mins into the video). He knows the parents have the greatest impact. He talks about importance of keeping the family together in worship. I think the editors used his video out of context to support their point of family worship.

Here is what I know and believe with all my heart. I will teach what I know. (Christ has redeemed me. I am forgiven. I live free of the Law but walk by the Spirit of God that lives inside of me and choose to obey the Law of Christ that reigns in me.) I then trust the Holy Spirit to reveal this to the men and women that choose to hang out with me… and not just on Sundays. It is not my responsibility to cause parents to “get it”. I pray that not only will I see more and more of this Truth every day, but my family and friends will see this truth as well. I pray that the Holy Spirit will cause them to believe it… I pray that they will trust the Holy Spirit to cause them to live it. When that occurs… the children are naturally taught on a day to day basis simply by watching their parents living it out and processing it as a family.

The Church has to wake up! We are absolutely in a battle and the tactic of the evil one is to consistently lie to us and keep us distracted. The institution and programs and videos like this are nothing more than distractions that emerge as light but lead to darkness. If it isn’t about the Biblical Jesus and what He has done for me and other believers… I’m really not interested.

Wayne Jacobsen stated it all very eloquently here… Read this!

http://www.story.house2house.com/2011/03/24/why-house-church-isnt-the-answer/

Trust me… you probably don’t want to waste your time on the above links (except Jacobsen’s)… as I did. Just stay focused on Jesus. He is what matters.
Right on Vodie… we have to stop focusing on changing the behavior of man and trust the Spirit of Truth will continue to save!

Rusty 

We have no rules at Leavener... just relationships!
Therefore we are free to change plans even this late notice for tomorrow!

My family just returned from the Seton Specialty Hospital to visit with Danita Ballew. Danita is the single mother of three teenage girls (Quinesha, Quinita & Daisha) that we helped at Christmas. They attended our Christmas party in December and received some pretty cool gifts. The Lord even provided the opportunity for them to receive a trip to Disney World together with their mother.

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that the trip hasn't happened yet and Danita is not doing well.

So tomorrow we have changed our plans. We are going to meet at Panera for a quick coffee and bagel at 10 AM. Then we will make our way over to the hospital. Please do not go into the hospital. There is a courtyard near the front of the hospital and it is directly below Danita's window. We will meet outside to sing and pray. We have already talked to personnel at the hospital about this. Dress appropriately (it is supposed to be 43 degrees, windy and raining).

Here is a Google Map for both Panera and the Hospital.

Isn't great to be the church? We are the body of Christ. Can't wait to hang out with you.

Rusty

Diane Phillips' life on earth ended this week. She absolutely deserves to be at her heavenly home with her eternal Father. Her last few years here on earth were hard fought in a battle with cancer. Throughout the physical struggle she never gave up. She lived life to the fullest in most everything she did. I had the honor of serving beside Diane during her 10 years of service at Northside Baptist Church. She loved the children, encouraged the parents and always supported her fellow employees. There was never a negative statement that came from Diane. She was loving, she was honest, she was direct, she was concerned, she was self-sacrificing, she was patient, she was faithful, she was a hard worker. I have incredible respect and love for Diane Phillips.

Diane served as the Director of Children's Ministry for a reason. She desired to teach children about Jesus. She consistently encouraged parents in their own faith walk so they could be prepared to teach their children. I learned much by watching Diane interact with people. I learned much by just watching her spirit minister to others. I am thankful for my friend. I will absolutely miss her but know that she will be there someday to welcome me home.

Diane... thanks for sharing your life with us. Welcome home my friend from a job perfectly done in Christ!

Rusty

I think it was about a year ago that I was imagining what it would be like to be a part of group or ministry that didn't make much human sense. Today... I'm sitting on my couch (that was for you Terry) and wondering what in the world is happening. Allow me to describe what has occurred over the last two months.

A few weeks ago I asked the Leavener Community what they needed from this ministry. The general response was that they didn't need much at all. They wanted to be able to hang out together, process the message of grace together and help others who needed to experience freedom in Christ and freedom in other areas of their lives. That is a great description of the people who meet together on Sunday Mornings at the Ward's House.

I then asked one of my friends, who is a local nurse, if she knew of any families that had some unique situations that Leavener could come along side and minister to them. She sent me two families to follow up with. Please understand, I cannot even begin to explain the fullness of their situations in this brief blog.

The first family is a single mom (37 years young) and three daughters (12,13 & 14). Each of the three girls are treated for asthma at a local children's hospital. The mom has stage 4 bone cancer and has already survived longer than the doctors predicted. In the past week, I was able to sit down over breakfast with the mom and hear their complete story. This is a very humble family that was not seeking any help. On Saturday, several of the Leavener ladies and their daughters took this family shopping and made a list of all the things they needed. Next Friday Night (Dec 14th), we are hosting a Christmas Party at Heartland Church at 7:00 PM. We will celebrate the life of this family and encourage them through their family issues. Rick Stump will be leading us in singing some Christmas Carols as well. You won't want to miss this party!

The second family I just connected with this week. I talked to the wife who was taking her husband to the hospital for the 8th time this year. Last year they discovered that he had liver cancer. In May of this year, he had multiple organ transplant. Since then, he's had 4 additional surgeries due to complications. It has been a rough year for the family. As I continued the conversation through tears, the wife told me that their 15 year old son has had an inoperable brain tumor for four years. The growth has currently stopped. I cannot even begin to describe the emotions that were exchanged during our phone conversation. When asked how we could help, the wife informed me they had family pictures taken over a year ago and they have never been ordered or purchased. Leavener is trying to work with photographer to get these pictures to the family. Please pray the photographer will release the digital rights to these pictures so the family can have these valuable images in plenty. This would be a request beyond the normal practice of this photographer. Leavener has currently placed an order to receive a minimal order of these pictures.

I sit here amazed at the ministry opportunities that God has brought our way. I cannot answer in human understanding how all this will be accomplished. I just trust the Lord will provide as He leads us to each opportunity.

Simply Amazed...

Rusty

Here it is... the big reveal... Come hang out for the first time with the Leavener community. Find out what the heartbeat of Leavener is all about. Let us know if you are interested by e-mailing to [email protected]. We'll be happy to make all the arrangements for you so you can be included in the group tickets and camp in the same area. The number of confirmations we receive will determine how we handle meal arrangements.

September 7-9, 2007
Good friends... Good fun... Good eats... Good hang time!!!!

Friday, September 7th
- 4:00 Depart from Indy (Carpool or drive individually)
- Change clocks one hour back - Central Time Zone
- 6:30 PM Arrive at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort
(199 miles from Kennedy's House)
- Cost = $30 Tent Site; $35-40 RV Site each night
-Jasper Inn (Double Room) - Cost = $75 each night

Saturday, September 8th
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast at Lake Rudolph!!!
- 10:00 AM - Holiday World opens
- Group Tickets = $25 each
- FREE Unlimited drinks all day!!!!
- 11:00 AM - Splashin Safari opens
- 5:00 PM - Splashin Safari closes
- 6:00 PM - Holiday World closes
- 7:30 PM - Food Fest at Lake Rudolph!!!
- 8:30 PM - Gathering at Lake Rudolph

Sunday, September 9th
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast at Lake Rudolph!!!
- 10:00 AM - Gathering at Lake Rudolph
- Noon - Check out time for Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort
LET US KNOW IF YOU WANNA COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE!!!!

Leavener... it's a change agent. If I have chosen to name this ministry Leavener, then I most likely embrace the opportunity for change. But at the same time I am a loyalist. (i.e., I have served Jesus at Northside for the past 18 years and I am even still a Dallas Cowboy fan post-Landry era). So, as much as I respect loyalty and commitment, I also look forward to change and being on the cutting edge. Oh yeah... I even carry a picture of Michelle and me from when we were in high school (25 years ago)... ask me... I'll show it to you... We have changed a little!

Some people have referred to this new adventure in ministry as the biggest change in my life. I cannot agree with that statement. It was about seven years ago that I learned the greatest change in my life occurred when I was eight years old. That means it took me 27 years to come to that conclusion. You may be thinking I am a slow learner. No, I was a loyalist who didn't want to change my mind. I was churning out my life and ministry but never reaching my desires. Nothing was ever good enough... including myself.

It was about seven years ago that I realized the change God made through His Son that caused me to be changed when I was eight years old. Get this... In Acts, Stephen was accused of proclaiming that Jesus will change the customs that came from Moses. Thank God for that change. You see, it was that very change in God's plan that allowed me as a child to die from the law and be free as a child of God. The problem is, I never understood that change until seven years ago. I was a freebird who lived my life under many restrictions and yet, never knew it! I repeatedly tried to be the best I could be and would always fall short of even my own expectations (not to mention many other's expectations). It was at that point of understanding that I no longer felt the pressure of what other people thought about me or the things I was doing. God's Spirit changed my heart and allowed this truth (Romans 2:28-29) to be discovered. I will never be the same. I have been changed.

I truly believe this misunderstanding of the truth that I lived under for 27 years is prevelant in today's church. It is the evil one's way of keeping children of God bound up and even non-believers wanting nothing to do with Jesus. It has been that way for a long time. Even Paul tells the church in Rome they don't have to be bound up and fearful. They have the ability to see God as their "Daddy". It doesn't get any better than that. Truth that changes lives. It absolutely has changed mine and I can't do anything but be loyal to that transformation.

I don't want to hear any comments about that picture... I've changed!

Rusty