Is This For Me?

After the visit to Wheeling, Tom and I started to get together more often. He now became much more than a fellow Allstate agent. We became partners in pursuit of what we experienced at the Wheeling Vineyard. Tom was attending an Episcopal church and I was church hopping. We both were deeply touched by the Holy Spirit at Todd's farewell to the Vineyard. The Pittsburgh culture was not at all like the Wheeling crowd. It isn't that way today either. The folks from the panhandle of West Virginia were no match socia-economically with Pittsburgh suburbia. Their lives were simpler than the yuppie like atmosphere of the North Hills area. It was difficult for me to see a Vineyard in Pittsburgh because of the cultural swing. Most of the folks that I knew were white collar businessmen. Wheeling folks were steelworkers, coal miners, and tradesman for the most part.
The simplicity of the area seemed to have an affect on the culture of the Wheeling Vineyard. It was more laid back and very comfortable. The people in Wheeling didn't seem as self sufficient. There didn't seem to be the economic striving that was prevalent in the Pittsburgh culture.

I prayed daily about the possibility of a planting a Vineyard Church in Pittsburgh. There was nothing like it anywhere in the area. I had reservations about such an endeavor because I was so deeply ingrained in my business. I didn't even know how to start a church. I was desparate for the type of community that I witnessed in Wheeling. My heart was willing but I had no idea how a Vineyard would be received. Most of the folks that I knew were from the involvement that I had in my kids sports and school activities. Everybody seemed to be plugged in and involved in some denominational church.

So here I am. My wonderful early days in West Virginia were fifteen years behind me. The collapse of Northfold was about 10 years behind me and I yearned to be a part of something like the Vineyard. I had to either look for a place of kindred spirit or seriously consider seeking out those interested in a church planting adventure. My thoughts were centered on building something. In retrospect, I can see the good intentions but back then I could not see the cultural divide between suburban Pittsburgh and Wheeling, West Virginia. The people of Pittsburgh approached things differently. I was about to learn this the hard way.

Next up.........

My Toe Is In The Water

What's Missing?

I have seen a lot of religious fervor over the years and yet so much of it is so un-appealing to the average Joe. I have ask myself many times, What's missing? There appears to be a distinct separation between what is quote "religious" and everyday life. That makes religion very abnormal to most people and it should be. Doesn't institutional religion seem a bit off base when you consider that God is the author of man's life? I have come to this conclusion in my heart, the Lord is not interested in our religion. God is Holy for sure but men are religious by nature. Men push. God draws. Religion is what we peddle. Real life is what draws us closer to Him. We just don't get it for the most part. Many of us think that religious duties bring us closer to the Lord but I beg to differ. So what's missing?

I really think that we may be looking in all the wrong places to find God and to our dismay all we find is religion. How boring and discouraging is that? Where is God then? I can tell you this much. The Lord is found in the heart of man. The Bible says that Jesus is the light of man.

John: Chapter 1

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

I am therefore ready to conclude that Jesus is the sustaining light of the human race and along with that He was the the only one holy enough to reconcile us to our rightful standing with the Father. Here's the deal though. Religion has made this process of reconciliation a lifetime process of religious duty and not a personal relationship with God's life giving Son. Religion can't get past the death and the resurrection and therefore religion is always making us pay for something already accomplished.

So what's missing? I really believe that most of us are in the dark because of religion and never experience a life style of daily walking with the Lord and with our brothers and sisters. It's awkward for most of us to share our life with Jesus to others because most of us don't know what a life with Jesus is really like. We are constantly trying to get people to go to a building on Sunday to find the answers to life and you know what? Jesus cannot be confined to that kind of a religious box. It is too confining and too formal and too rigid. The Lord is the center of man's life and not the center of man's religion.

If you talk to people enough and hear them out you will hear and see a lot of God's image in their heart. The real connection starts to come when we recognize that we are all a part of this wonderful creation and that God is the the giver of life and that He enjoys much of what we are and have done with the gifts and talents that He has given us. What's missing? Forget about religion. Acknowledge Him! Look at the many blessings that you live with right now. See him in your life. He gave you all that you have. Acknowledge this with others and soon His wonderful presence will surround you and in dwell you. He is a Father in waiting and not a relgious monument.

His Powerful Presence

I can't remember what year exactly, but it was in the late nineteen eighties that I experienced a most wonderful event at the the Wheeling Vineyard. Todd had worked on his first church plant for about five years by now and the Wheeling Vineyard had grown to around 400 people that met on Sunday at the Wheeling Day School gymnasium. I had no idea what was about to happen with my next visit but it was an amazing day to say the least.

I often helped Allstate in recruiting agents by allowing new candidates to visit my office to learn about the fundamentals of starting your own business. One fellow came to my office one day named Tom. We got along great and soon began to realize that we both knew the Lord and both had similar experiences coming to Christ in the early 1970's. Tom and I would meet regularly after he started with Allstate and it turned out to be more for fellowship than business. Tom yearned for the same things that I had on my heart and it just so happened that He and I made the trip together to the Wheeling Vineyard on this special day. I wanted Tom to experience the worship and the laid back feeling of the church. My friend John played in the worship band and so I felt right at home there.

It just so happened that the day that Tom and I chose to visit was Todd's farewell to the Wheeling Vineyard. The minute that we walked into the gymnasium you could feel something. There was a presence that is difficult to describe. It didn't take long to figure it all out because the worship was long and intense with tears being shed by so many and then folks one by one would go up front and tell stories about how Todd came and loved them and encouraged them and that he would never be forgotten. Such raw emotion was hard to watch without having it affect you down deep inside. My buddy Tom was sitting right beside me and he kept gripping his chair seat tightly while tears were running down his face. He had never been there before but what he was witnessing was clearly touching him deeply. Testimony after testimony giving glory to the Lord and thanking Him for sending Todd. It was more than emotion, however. There was a powerful presence there. It was as if an invisible maestro of this great orchestra was leading the chorus. The Lord was there. It was the most powerful outpouring that I had felt since I came to Jesus back at Windfall.

Todd finally spoke. He brought his family to the front with him and said his goodbyes. He encouraged them all to fight the good fight and to continue on with what the Lord started in Wheeling. It was real life drama. These were young people devoted to the Lord and to their young apostle. After the service Tom had to call his wife. He was visibly shaken. He was crying and he couldn't stop shivering with joy and laughter. We rode home together wondering what all that meant. What were we to do now? How do we continue?

Next up........

Is this for me?

Political Campaign is Cranking Up!

This presidential election was pretty boring about a month ago but a lot has happened since the announcement of Sarah Palin as John McCain's vice presidential candidate. I saw on television last night that McCain-Palin are now ahead in the polls. I have to admit that Sarah Palin is much more interesting to me than John McCain. It seems a lot more like an Obama-Palin race now. Barok and Sarah are certainly personality dynamos. It's amazing how much charisma and charm affect the political soul. It almost disregards the issues and replaces them with who is currently winning the personality contest. I suppose that we are left up to trying to figure out which campaign is the campaign of substance. This is where I have the greatest difficulty. I'm just not sold out on the fact that any President elected can bring sweeping reform.

The polls indicate that we are divided right down the middle again just like the George Bush election. I guess that the swing votes will come from who the independents like. This announcement of Sarah Palin has really made this thing much more fun to watch. Sarah has strong roots in the Lord and so it is good to see her in the race. I'm not sure that she even thought this was possible when she became Governor of Alaska.

The Righteous Monarchy

After watching over 50 years of political pundancy I would have to conclude that there is no man made form of government that can govern without corruption, dishonesty, and personal gain. We are just too flawed to expect anything else. Watching the Obama-McCain campaigns is starting to grate on me because no matter who becomes president they rarely fulfill any promises. The reason in part for that is that we are a government of checks and balances. That means that no matter what we enact the other side is skeptical and critical leaving a large portion of the population confused. The check and balance type of government is the two party charade that we hide behind called conservatism and liberalism or more commonly known as Republican and Democrats. It is by far the best of the worst governing bodies in the world. The single most important issue for every American is the freedom that we enjoy and our country so far has done well to preserve. Some of that freedom is on shaky ground at the moment and if we ever lose that part of our heritage then I am sure that we will self-destruct with our own corruption.

Having said all that I yearn for the government of God on this earth. I'm tired of having everything being up for debate. I want someone to say this is how it's going to be and that will be the final answer. That kind of governing can only occur if the person governing is 100% perfect. Do you get the picture? Jesus Christ is the King of kings so say the scripture and some day we who know him will reign with him and under His authority. We won't have to check and balance anymore because He is the Alpha and Omega of all truth. What a relief!

I'm looking forward to His government.

The Righteous Monarchy

The Birth of the Wheeling Vineyard

While I was pursuing my career in insurance my friend John was sharing community with some of the old gang down in West Virginia. I would visit occasionally and during one visit I found that John and Marilyn were making frequent visits to Wheeling. The arrival of young Todd Hunter from the Anaheim Vineyard was starting to develop into something. Todd was around 21 years old when he arrived. He got a job at a McDonald's and began to spread the word. When his fellow workers would ask him why he moved from California to little old Wheeling Todd would promptly reply, "The Lord sent me here to start a church". Todd really didn't have the look of a pastor. He would often wear clothes that gave you a clear indicator of where he came from. He wore real colorful surfing shirts that clearly defined him as west coast.

Todd began evangelizing the Wheeling area's young people. He started one small group of new believers and after a short period time he would start another. Young people were coming to Christ through his ministry and along with the new believers came an up beat style of Christian rockin' roll. The groups continued to grow because the Lord was in charge of this mission for sure. When the Lord speaks clearly and we obey then great things will happen. I was watching this from afar and my heart began to soar with excitement because it reminded me so much of my beginnings. Now that I look back I can see the difference between Todd and I. He was plugged into and commissioned by a body of believers. This had to give him great assurance of his mission as he traveled 3000 miles to a city completely unknown to him.

The Wheeling Vineyard grew against all odds. The area was depressed because the steel mills went down. Wheeling certainly didn't fit the demographics for the optimum church plant. There was one ingredient that made it all work and to His glory it was because the Lord himself prompted Todd to move to Wheeling. The Wheeling Vineyard surely smacks in the face of our business like approach to church planting. The Wheeling Vineyard grew into many small groups in a short period of time without meeting in a central location. The power behind the growth was ignited by a powerful move of the Holy Spirit. It was exciting to watch it grow. I truly envied what was happening there because a lot of my old gang eventually became part of the church.

I was so encouraged to see this happening in Wheeling and yet I saw no such thing developing in Pittsburgh. I was very much entrenched in my business but I continued to visit Wheeling on occasion. I saw what Todd was doing and it was miraculous. I knew what he was experiencing because it happened to me on a smaller scale in Follansbee. It gave me hope that God was still moving. I continued to practice my early morning sermons and journal before every work day. I still yearned for a rekindling of the fire that once moved me.

Next up....

His Powerful Presence.....