Class Presentation

I'm currently taking a class at Trinity School For Ministry. Trinity is a conservative Anglican seminary right here in Ambridge. The class I'm taking is an intermediate course in New Testament Greek (the original language of the NT). Each one in the class has to do a presentation on a selected passage of Scripture once during the semester. My day was today.

I chose Ephesians 2.4-5 as my passage to analyze. As I was researching and preparing for my 15 minute talk, I realized something important. Strenuous biblical research is difficult and sometimes very tedious, but the payoff is always well worth the effort.

Eph. 2.4-5 brings a sharp change in the chapter's flow of thought. Verses 1-3 emphasize humanity's utter depravity apart from God and how by our nature we are "children of wrath." Verse 4 breaks in with what God has done in Christ. Because he is rich in mercy and great in love, he made us alive together with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses and sins. We are saved precisely because of his grace. This mercy, love, and grace are all completely undeserved. God chose to make us spiritually alive in the midst of our sinful deadness.

Really good stuff. By the way, you don't need to know Greek to be able to understand the Bible or to study it deeply. While God doesn't expect us to learn biblical languages, he does desire that we be diligent students of his word. Let me encourage you right where you are to study God's life-giving Scriptures with all of your heart. You'll never regret any effort you put into it.

Concert Pics

Just got some pics from the concert this past Saturday. Special thanks again to Annasay and The Violet Burning! If you'd like to see more, you can check them out here.

Mark Batterson At Catalyst Group

I'm a part of something called the Allison Park Catalyst Group. This is a gathering of pastors, youth pastors, and ministry leaders from the Pittsburgh area associated with the Allison Park network of churches (BTW ACC is the 2nd of 6 churches planted by APC). We gather every month for worship, encouragement, fellowship, discussion, and last but not least...food :)

The guest speaker for today's meeting was Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC. NCC currently has 7 weekend services in 3 locations , two of which are movie theaters. Their larger vision is to meet in movie theaters in metro stops throughout the DC area. About 70% of his church attenders are single 20 somethings.

Mark shared and awesome, thought provoking talk with us about 5 challenges ministry leaders face. Real brief, here are a couple of notes from his talk:

The Identity Challenge
Pastors must work hard to find their identity in Christ because the ministry is so all encompassing.
We can minister because we have to or we can minister because we have to. Either we are preaching because we can't hold it in, or we are preaching because we are scheduled.
There is a fine line between building Thy kingdom and building my kingdom.
There are no limitations when you stay humble and keep your motives right.

The Family Challenge
Your family is more important than your ministry. If you don't set boundaries, your calendar will control you.

The Criticism Challenge
Quoted Erwin McManus: "Don't let an arrow pierce your heart unless it has first passed through the filter of Scripture."
Pleasing God has to be the #1 priority.
He also said, "If you're not offending some Pharisees you may be offending Jesus."

The Creativity Challenge
In the Bible, God did not give us an order of service for church. Could it be because that would stifle creativity?
The most important truths should be communicated in the most unforgettable ways.

The Growth Challenge
The key to church growth is personal growth. Leaders are readers. Find a way to keep growing.

Great stuff. It was really refreshing to hear from someone so real, honest, and passionate. Mark has also written a great book called "In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars" which is well worth the read.

Tuesday Connections

Today I had the privilege of meeting Ambridge Police Chief, Mark Romutis. Mary Niewola (Director of Ambridge Network of Hope ) and I met with Chief Romutis this morning. We had a great time listening to his innovative and heartfelt plans to bring positive change in the community. We were also able to share our heart with him about ACC's desire to see positive community transformation on a spiritual as well as social level. It was truly an honor to meet someone so dedicated to the restoration of Ambridge and committed to the safety and well-being of its residents. Ambridge is incredibly blessed to have an amazing police chief leading the way in law enforcement!

Also, later I had the privilege of meeting Bea Patterson, Director of the Ambridge Area Chamber of Commerce. Bea is helping us get oriented for our participation in the Ambridge Nationality Days festival this May. Nationality Days is the largest annual festival in Beaver County. Really looking forward to this chance to get outside the four walls of the church!

Ambridge is privileged to have such great, committed leaders!

Concert

We had an awesome time Saturday hosting bands, Annasay from Pittsburgh and The Violet Burning from LA. Both did an amazing job. It was also great chance for us to connect with people in the community.

Toward the end of the show, Michael Pritzl, guitarist and lead singer of The Violet Burning gave a good talk about how important it is to not limit ministry to being on the stage in a church. He shared about how we minister to Jesus every time we reach out to people in need whether visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for the poor, etc.

All in all... amazing night.

Special thanks to The Violets: Michael, Black Cherry, and Lenny. You guys are great.

Life Control

Have you ever felt like your schedule was ruling you rather than the other way around? Have you ever felt like life was just pulling you along with it? I've recently been thinking about the importance of making the most of every moment and being a good steward of the time God has given me on this earth.

Many of us have great ambitions and goals that we believe we were created for. I've also noticed that some of our greatest dreams will never become a reality until they are pursued intentionally. Our dreams are vital, and we need them, but dreams that are never acted upon become nothing more than a nice thought. Intentionally pursuing our dreams requires an aggressive approach to time management.

At the end of my life I don't want to have to look back in regret thinking about what could have been and should have been. I don't want to have to wonder what could have been if I'd only... or spent more time doing... or didn't do... so much. I think that an aggressive approach to time management is a demonstration of our committment to God's purpose and destiny for our lives.

When it comes to working productively in areas of leadership, I'm learning that each of us should look at our schedules and note the things that only we can do and delegate the rest. This will free us up to spend the best time on the most important things. I'm not advocating that we should avoid doing things in our job description though :) For an excellent discussion on time management and self-leadership check out Jeff's post here.

Here's a good verse for thought "Be careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Eph. 5.15-16

Time management is about honoring God by making the most of every moment he's given us. I'm certainly not an expert, but I know that if we don't control our lives, they will control us. Let's take control of our time and plunge head first into God's dreams for our lives.

Carefulness

While reading this morning I came across a very stirring theme in Deuteronomy. Through Moses, God repeatedly exhorts the Israelites to carefulness in their walk before God. In Deut. 4, as they are preparing to enter the promised land he says,

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live." v.9

"Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol..." v.15b-16

"Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you... For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. v.23-24

"So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you..." 5.32

We can never underestimate the importance of carefulness in our walk with God. The enemy of our souls never takes a break. He is constantly looking to take us down through temptations, discouragement, suffering, or any other way he can. The bad news is that he doesn't play fair. He'll hit you when and where you're weak like he did to king David (2 Sam. 11).

The good news is that we can resist him and gain victory every time. "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith, because you know that your brothers around the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5.8-9

By being self-controlled and alert (i.e. careful) we can stand strong and remain faithful in the face of temptation and trial. So many times, because the Israelites weren't careful, they fell into worshipping other gods. Like a man driving down the road who ends up in a ditch because he was careless. Nobody wants to fall into a ditch. King David didn't want to become an adulterer and a murderer. Nobody really wants to destroy their lives and hurt the people closest to them. Carelessness is costly. How much could have been avoided by being careful?

Could some of the greatest failures in life ultimately be the result of a lack of carefulness?

ACC To Host The Violet Burning

Very excited to welcome back The Violet Burning this year! Last July we were privileged to have them for the first time.

All the way from Los Angeles, The Violet Burning is an independent Christian rock band with intensity and real passion. We're glad to have them back in Ambridge on their Spring tour. Their music is great (and loud) and they are always amazing live.

They will be with us on Saturday, March 24. Doors open at 7pm and showtime is at 8pm. All ages are welcome and admission is free of charge. Pittsburgh local band Annasay will be opening for them.

If you'd like to attend or would like more info send me an email at mjsantistevan@gmail.com. or click here for directions.

Pharisee Rebukes

As I was reading in Matthew this morning, I re-noticed something that I tend to overlook. Jesus really lays into the Pharisees! The entire chapter of Matt. 23 is devoted to harshly rebuking the Pharisees. What I find interesting is the difference between the way Jesus treats religious people and the way he treats irreligious people. It seems like he treats people like Zacchaeus, Mary Magdelene, and the demonized Gaderene a lot differently. Note his use of language to the Pharisees:

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces." v.13
"Woe to you, blind guides" v.16
"You blind men!" v.19
"You are like whitewashed tombs" v.27
"You snakes! You brood of vipers!" v.33

Though I've read this before, I was caught off guard. Jesus was very adamant about these guys. We typically tend to view Jesus as the cool, collected, storm calmer and forget that he has a very intense, passionate side about him.

I think what he is getting at here is that hypocrisy is the enemy of true faith. Jesus found a lot more genuineness in the sinners than in the religious leaders. The sinners had nothing to hide. They weren't trying to fake anyone out.

Is it possible that some sinners are closer to a relationship with God than some of the most religious people we know?

A Favorite Re-Read

Just finished a long overdue re-read of a favorite book of mine by Henri Nouwen, In The Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership. One of several books I like to re-read periodically from time to time. The late Henri Nouwen is one of my favorite authors. He was a Catholic priest who also taught at Harvard, Yale, and Notre Dame. He wrote a lot of amazing things about Christian spirituality. The most fascinating thing about his life is that, in his later years, he followed the call of God to move from Harvard to be the pastor of a mentally handicapped community in Toronto.

In In the Name of Jesus, His main focus is on giving insight for ministry to the spiritual leaders of the 21st Century. Much of it has to do with temptations for ministers and the disciplines to overcome them.

He first addresses the temptation to be relevant. By this he does not mean relating the Gospel to our culture, but the temptation to idolize on our own accomplishments when people desperately need to be loved.

He writes, "The question is not: How many people take you seriously? How much are you going to accomplish? Can you show some results? But: Are you in love with Jesus?" This combats a minister's constant pressure to depend on his own abilities and accomplishments, when the world desperately needs someone who is intimately connected with the heart of God. He speaks of contemplative prayer as the remedy for this. "Through contemplative prayer we can keep ourselves from being pulled from one urgent issue to another and from becoming strangers to our own heart and God's heart... Contemplative prayer deepens in us the knowledge that we are already free, that we have already found a place to dwell, that we already belong to God, even though everything and everyone around us keep suggesting the opposite." He goes on to say,

"It is not enough for the priests and ministers of the future to be moral people, well trained, eager to help their fellow humans, and able to respond creatively to the burning issues of their time. All of that is very valuable and important, but it is not the heart of Christian leadership. The central question is, Are the leaders of the future truly men and women of God, people with an ardent desire to dwell in God's presence, to listen to God's voice, to look at God's beauty, to touch God's incarnate Word, to taste fully of God's infinite goodness."

The second temptation of ministers that he talks about is the temptation to be spectacular. The disciplines of confession and forgiveness are the remedy for this temptation. He writes, "Confession and forgiveness are the concrete forms in which we sinful people love one another."

The last temptation he deals with is the temptation to be powerful. He talks about the maturity of being led by God to places you would rather not go. He writes, "Here we touch the most important quality of Christian leadership in the future. It is not a leadership of power and control, but a leadership of powerlessness and humility in which the suffering servant of God, Jesus Christ, is made manifest." He emphasizes that this is not to be confused with a psychologically weak leadership in which leaders are passive victims "of the manipulations of their milieu". "...I am speaking of a leadership in which power is constantly abandoned in favor of love. It is a true spiritual leadership. Powerlessness and humility in the spiritual life do not refer to people who have no spine and who let everyone else make decisions for them. The refer to people who are so deeply in love with Jesus that they are ready to follow him wherever he guides them, always trusting that, with him, they will find life and find it abundantly."

I feel like I've just re-typed the entire book, yet I've only scratched the surface. There is so much more I could say, but I'll stop there. I really didn't do justice to it. I really recommend this book for anyone in leadership. It's a quick read, about 107 pgs. It can be read in an hour and a half.

Other good books by Nouwen that I'd recommend:
The Way of the Heart
The Return of the Prodigal Son
Clowning in Rome

Good Family Times

Had a great time this past Saturday celebrating my Father-in-Law's birthday in Columbus, OH. Jess and I love visiting and we always take every opportunity we can to make it out there. Nothing like downing as much pizza as you can followed by some rich chocolate cake :)

Jess and I are blessed with incredible family relationships on both sides. Life is better when you have awesome family members to share it with. Visiting family in Columbus is always a great time.

Ambridge Network of Hope

I'm very excited about partnering with Network of Hope to reach people in the greater Ambridge Area. The mission of NOH is to promote lasting change in individuals, families, and communities. This Sunday, our NOH pioneer for Ambridge, Mary Niewola, will be giving a presentation introducing NOH to our congregation. Looking forward to collaborating with NOH to see lives changed for God's Kingdom :)

New Website Up and Running

I'm pleased to announce that our new church website is finally up and running! You can check it out by clicking here. Special thanks to Jesse Wisinski, our graphic designer for the awesome work.

Book: In a Pit With a Lion On a Snowy Day

I just finished reading Mark Batterson's book "In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars". I really enjoyed the book and wanted to share some its highlights for me.

The book's idea is based on the biblical character Benaiah. Samuel 23.20-21 tells of how he was a valiant warrior who killed two of Moab's mightiest warriors, encountered a lion on a snowy day which he followed into a pit and killed, and with a club killed an Egyptian warrior who had a spear. In time Benaiah became King David's bodyguard, and eventually the commander of Israel's entire army.

The book talks about 7 skills needed to live as a "lion chaser" in life. These are:
Overcoming Adversity
Defying Odds
Unlearning Fears
Embracing Uncertainty
Calculating Risks
Seizing Opportunities
Looking Foolish

A main theme of the book was that in the long run you will regret the most the things you could have and should have done in life but never had the courage to do. Mark writes,

"Spiritual maturity is seeing and seizing God-ordained opportunities. Think of every opportunity as God's gift to you. What you do with those opportunities is your gift to God. I'm absolutely convinced that our greatest regrets in life will be missed opportunities."

He talks about how God sees everything from an omnidimensional perspective. Sometimes, our greatest challenges in life can prove to be God's way of refining us and making us into who he wants us to become. If Benaiah had ran from the lion, no one would have thought less of him, but he also probably wouldn't have become the commander of Israel's army. Maybe unfavorable circumstances are opportunities that God wants to use to form us into the people he wants us to become.

Another good thing he says is, "One of the most paralyzing mistakes we make is thinking that our problems somehow disqualify us from being used by God. Let me just say it like it is: If you don't have any problems, you don't have any potential. Here's why. You ability to help others heal is limited to where you have been wounded... the more problems you have, the more potential you have."

Here's a few more quotes for thought:

"No problem equals no miracle"

"If you're willing to risk everything, there's nothing God can't do in you and through you."

"Most God-ordained dreams die because we aren't willing to do something that seems illogical."

"The greatest risk is taking no risk."

"There is no such thing as risk free faith."

Of lion chasers: "Their fear of missing out is greater than their fear of messing up."

"Lion chasers don't let what they can't do keep them from doing what they can."

"More often than not, the only thing between you and your dream is a rational excuse."

Over all, great book in my opinion. I certainly recommend it to anyone who wants to live the life God created them to live.

Drugs, a Bullet, and Jesus

Just finished having lunch with my friend, Pastor Brian Bolt from Pittsburgh City Outreach. Brian has one of the most amazing testimonies I have every heard. God radically saved him from a life of drug abuse and is using him powerfully to proclaim the Gospel. He actually still has a bullet lodged in his head somewhere! I had a great time hearing about his heart for inner city people. On March 31, 2006, he and his wife Angie planted Pittsburgh City Outreach in Lawrenceville. In addition to pastoring, Brian also directs a men’s recovery home for recovering drug addicts. They are seeing God do amazing things. I love Brian’s heart for evangelism. It’s infectious. It’s so true that your greatest scars can become your greatest ministry. Each one of us has the capacity to reach certain kinds of people because of the different experiences we have gone through in life. It’s amazing that God can take the junk from each of our pasts and use it powerfully for his glory.