A Shepherd Bonds with a Lamb

The nature of early, emotional connections to others is important, especially for the future development of sheep. The bonding and attachment provides the working template for all subsequent relationships within the body. A solid and healthy attachment with a primary caregiver appears to be associated with a high probability of healthy relationships with other people. Poor attachment from the Shepherds or primary caregivers appears to be associated with a host of emotional and developing behavioral problems down the road.

Bonding with the members is the process of forming an attachment. Just as bonding is the term used with gluing one object to another. Bonding is our emotional glue to become connected to another. Bonding, therefore, involves a set of behaviors that will help lead to an emotional attachment.

One major item to remember is, shepherding must come at the right time in the lives of the body. If we’re late, then it becomes a major “Cause and Effect” issue, primarily the cause that causes the effect. Effects could become hazardous.

An emotionally and physically healthy Shepherd will be drawn to the Body of Christ. The Shepherds will feel a physical longing to smell, cuddle, rock, coo, and gaze into the eyes of the loving lambs. In turn the lambs will respond by snuggling, babbling, smiling, and clinging to the Shepherds. This reciprocal, positive feedback loop…this maternal-lamb “dance” is where attachment begins.

Ok, here is the real measure of Shepherding: In sound byte version Acts 20:28 says, ”Keep the wolves out and keep the sheep safe.” Shepherds do not allow the “Bewitchers” around the Sheep (Galatians 3:1ff.). Titus 1:10-11 reminds us to keep the rebel forces, babblers and deceivers away.

Shepherds will be on call 24/7 everyday of the week. We must allow the Spiritual virtues of I Timothy 3:1-8 to be upon the Shepherds. This is the call of God upon us!

Don Parker
Stephenville, Texas

Under Cover Boss

Series: If I Was CEO of the Church for a Day...


Perhaps you have seen the CBS hit show titled “Under Cover Boss”. This reality show captures the every-day experiences of workers doing what they do best while in the presence of the individual who controls the company they work for. I have enjoyed watching these segments because without fail, the top executive who goes undercover as the "everyday Joe" is moved by what he experiences. A CEO of a massive corporation is given the opportunity to work side-by-side with an individual whose exercise of responsibility is vital to the efficiency and productivity of their respective company. Each CEO learns to appreciate the people that make their company so successful. Part of the show is usually humorous because the CEO attempts a task which they cannot perform well. It’s a humbling experience for the person accustomed to being in charge and having so much control.

The underlying factor with the show is there are so many intricacies to making a business productive and successful. So many people play an important role. Ultimately, the performance of employees can be a reflection of the management and ultimately the leadership of the CEO. But, in some cases, there are employees that may not be a good fit for the company and its important to identify these individuals and help them grow to be positive, productive people.

I think the church has similarities. God has dictated the structure for church leadership. Ultimately, Christ is the head of the church with elders providing guidance and wisdom in sheparding the flock. They are responsible for the direction of the church and ensuring its members are spiritually, emotionally and physically cared for. It is also important for all of our members to work diligently to make sure the church is a healthy body of believers striving to serve our Father and expand His kingdom. Just like the large corporations, everyone has a role. It may not be an exciting, ‘glorious’ position, but nonetheless, important. As members of the body of Christ, we each have a role. Sometimes it may be behind-the-scenes or right up front on stage. As a worker for the Lord we ought to appreciate everyone’s contribution and their talents. Rather than getting caught up in the details and drama our humanness brings, we should be humble and truly appreciate those who help make our church family function.

Romans 12:2-5……For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

So, if I were the CEO of the church, I would ask the members to “step in the shoes” of other members just for a short while to understand their contributions and APPRECIATE them more! Of course, sound leadership and good judgment are essential to the health of a church, but respect, appreciation and tolerance for each other help make this “company” run!

Thankfully, I am not the CEO as I am certain to not be qualified or worthy of the position. Praise God for Jesus, our CEO (Complete Eternal Offering)!

Father, forgive me for not recognizing the service of others to your kingdom. Please help me to appreciate your church body as functioning parts that comprise a whole. Thank you for sending your Son to be our leader and for the men you choose to help guide us. Thank you for each individual who serves to expand your kingdom.

In Jesus Name,

Michelle Tittor
Grapevine, Texas

If I Was CEO...Oh Oh!!

Series: If I Was CEO of the Church Tomorrow…

This week’s theme asks “if I had a ‘cosmic wand’, how would I wave it?” My disclaimer is that my idealism is somewhat subjective and I realize that “Mic’s World” may not be how God intended to “do church.” I like what William Abraham says about tracking renewal movements across America’s history and how sometimes these movements impose different purposes and agendas, making an ecclesial chaos. That is how I would define people who try to act as a “CEO” of a church…chaotic.

In the last supper Jesus invites his disciples to have a meal with him. The narrative begins with Jesus serving his closest friends (and enemy) and a challenge to his followers to embody the incarnation, remember the mission, and live like a people who hope for a new creation. After the meal it will seem that the Way of Jesus (the church) will crumble and fall into chaos. Chaos brings about selfishness and agendas, often embracing a leadership quality that is “looking out for the best of their flock” (Luke 22:9-51) or “financial greed” (Luke 16:8-9; 22:4-6). I am grateful that God quickly reminds us of our intent, accepts our inequities, and pours out the Spirit (Acts 2ff). So my understanding of Church somewhat exemplifies the table experience and a model of the Trinity.

God as Trinity provides a broad but firm foundation of what the model of Church is. The Trinity functions as living within diverse circumstances but in unity. I’m not recommending a relativistic claim (“can’t we all just get along”) of unity, but a commitment to reclaim a communal identity that reflects Trinity, which learns to authentically be unified in our current plural context. The criterion for success is not effective programs, functional committees, and consumer approval of a product.

As “CEO,” I recommend the following (as I wave my cosmic wand):

Christian Virtues when going to the Table: God calls us to reflect on our selves before sitting down at suppertime. Virtues (i.e. morals, ethics, intellectualism, wisdom, etc.) create a powerful communal immunity that attacks and defends against congregational disease.

Love the World as Much as the Church: We need to invite the mistreated to the Table. Richard Hays says that the church, being the transformed image of Christ, becomes a living metaphor for the power of God. This witness to the world must exemplify God’s love.

Koinonia (Trinity/Communal living): The Table is about the person across from you. As Henry Nouwen suggests, the only God that can save is a suffering God. In the same sense, no person can lead a church except the one who is crushed by its inequities. We cannot do the “Me Only” church. Our entire understanding of church leans towards encountering Trinity.

My last thought: Since I advocate for looking out for the interest of others. My final recommendation is firing me.

My prayer is a statement by Brother Barton Stone:

All…should agree to reform their lives, to be holy, humble, and obedient to all God’s commandments- if they would agree to cease from their unhallowed debates and striving one against the other, and to unite as one to promote godliness and brotherly love in the earth.

Mic Biesboer

Stephenville, Texas

Works Cited:

Abraham, William J. The Ecumenical Future., 2004, 176.
Hays, Richard B. The moral vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New
Creation, 1996, 304.
Nouwen, Henri. The Wounded Healer, 1979, 73.
Stone, Barton. Christian Messenger, 14 (May 1844), 4-5

Way Beyond the Lemonade Stand

Series: If I Was CEO of the Church for a Day...

Part of me has always wanted to own my own business. You could be your own boss, set your own hours, get things done that you thought would be best for you, your family, your customers, your world. But at the same time, being the CEO has a lot of responsibility. How can three little letters hold such tremendous weight?

I have had some ideas of starting a business here or there, but will they work? I don’t know. I guess that’s why I’ve never tried. They may be grand ideas inside my head, but what about when I transition from idea to reality? I’m just not sure. Maybe I don’t think I can handle that opportunity responsibly. Maybe “being in charge” scares me. But in my head, it’s a grand plan.

It probably started back when I was a child and tried to set up lemonade stands to make money. Or I’d mow lawns as I grew older to try to raise money for this and that. But inevitably, I’d get tired of carrying through with my “business” and move on to play with friends. I’m not sure I ever finished the job to the standard to which I had started with in my head.

In a similar vein, how many times do we think about running the church? If I could make the decisions, I’d put brown carpet down instead of red. If I could make the decisions, I’d use “Songs of Faith and Praise” rather than “Praise for the Lord.” I would have luncheons every Sunday. I would make sure that one gentleman never led another prayer – I mean, he prays for 15 minutes. I really like that song leader, but I’m not too big on that one. I think we should do more of this and less of that…

You’ve heard all those arguments and more. More than likely, if you are like me, you’ve probably at least thought them if not said them. And I know you’ve probably heard someone else say something of the sort because I have. In retrospect, I more than likely should have kept my mouth closed. But more than likely, I probably didn’t.

We are definitely quick to judge as to how we would do things, but we shouldn’t be. I grew up with a grandfather and a dad both of whom served as elders. Though I don’t envy the task, I try to live my life so that if God called me to serve in that capacity I would and could. I look up to elders, but I know they aren’t perfect – and they should not be held to that standard either. Most groups of elders are doing what they can to better the church and strive to follow Christ and God’s Word.

Hopefully, they are not trying to take over the church, but to preserve it. We all have grand plans in our heads about the future of our lives, families and of course how things ought to be done around the church. We may think we have the answers, but more than likely our solutions are flawed by human limitations of one kind or another. We let our own ideas and pride step in the way of the God who has already mapped out the mission statement and the plans for execution to make the church what it is, and what it always will be – no matter how much we try to mess it up.

I thank God that He knew enough not to put a human in charge. He gave His Son as our ransom and as the head of the Church. I praise Him for not putting me at the head of the church.
I also hope He helps me to not try to take over, but to lead in such a way that is good for Him and His kingdom. Afterall, the church is much more important than a cardboard box with 25 cent cup of lemonade sitting on it.

A price much greater was paid. And a CEO much better than I would ever be not only suffered that price, but He still serves as the head of the church.

Joey Roberts
Stephenville, Texas

I Like How You Said That

Series: If I Was CEO of the Church for a Day

I’ve never had a pristine view of the church. I have never been one of those idealists who thought we would one day get out of bed and, like the Essene Jews in Jesus’ day, say “Aha! We have arrived at perfection. We made it! Now the Lord can come!” No. I’m a realist. Even the notion of restoration, as noble as it is, has always struck me as more of a journey than a destination. But, I do believe we are called to mature in our Christian walk. The call to “grow up” in Jesus is sprinkled liberally across the Scriptures. In fact the Word says there is a distinct difference between childhood and adulthood in the Spirit. I’ve often wondered how much blessing would be distributed throughout our faith communities if we could just be spiritual adults in how we speak to one another and carry on dialogue about kingdom matters. The unfortunate truth is we sometimes throw maturation to the curb in our zeal to discern the will of God for a given situation. After 26 years of ministry I have circled the church house block at least twice. As painful as it is to say, I’ve seen my fair share of conversations, letters and meetings that forgot about the presence of the Lord and the fraternity of brotherhood. I’ve seen people chewed up and spit out as less than human because of fear, personality clashes, unbridled arrogance and, as strange as it sounds, all of it in the interest of the kingdom of God. How’s that for irony?

James chapter three is as current today as it was when the ink was drying. The people who first read this brief letter from James were in danger of canabilizing themselves. Fixation on convictions and sacred traditions had evolved into a war of words making congregations battle zones devoid of grace, mercy and the Spirit of the Lord (James 4:1-6). In the interest of seeing their opinions (they would probably say convictions, or perhaps truth) honored they resorted to unethical tactics to get what they wanted. If it meant running over the other guy, group, etceteras…so be it. Winning wasn’t everything. It was the only thing! I've often wondered how the house churches responded when the bearer of the letter got to chapter three. Did they look around? Did they apply it to themselves? (You and I know it’s always the other party that needs to do the self-reflection…right?) Their problem in a nutshell? They had reached rock bottom in their downward spiral. The lived with a smug justification of their disdain for each other and their deteriorating speech ethic. James drops a series of rhetorical questions in 3:9-12:
9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Grapes vines don’t produce figs and fountains produce one kind of water. But…humans? We can have it both ways!

So, who is wise? James says wisdom is revealed by behavior. Wisdom and righteousness aren’t simply a matter of connecting the right intellectual dots. Its’ more. A lot more. James says,
13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Am I a wise person? Do I display the gentleness of wisdom in my dealings with other people? The wisdom from above is first…then…and…. Is that how I roll?

I don’t believe we will ever see a time in the kingdom when we will ring the bell of perfection on all fronts. We are human. We are fragile. We are susceptible to seductions of all kinds. But, I do believe we can do a better job of holding a healthy vision of what spiritual adulthood looks like in front of our respective communities, especially where dialogue is concerned. As we move in and out of foyer chats and meetings, or as we feel concern about “where the church is going” or what "those elders are up to now” or as we marshall arguments for a perspective on some issue, it might be helpful for us to consider the following:
• Remember that we are “in Christ”.
• Remember that we are talking with other people who are made in God’s image and who are "in Christ”. They're family!
• Work with the assumption that the other party is doing their best to discover the meaning and intent of the Word on any given subject. Same as you…right?
• Resist the temptation to label people. He/she is your brother/sister. Stick with that one.
• Ask questions that help all concerned toward understanding.
• And, watch your tone and body language. Remember! As apples of gold in settings of silver so is a word rightly spoken.
• And read James 3 before you get there!

Who among us is wise?

Father, you are perfect in wisdom. Your servant James says that we can ask for wisdom and you will give it to us. May we ask for such. And, may we ask for it with right motives so that we may present to you the fruit of righteousness in every conversation we have for your name’s sake. Thank you for the gift of speech and for opportunities to talk with other brothers and sisters about who you are and how we can serve you in the gentleness of wisdom. Amen

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas

NAME – COMMA - TITLE

Series: If I Was CEO of the Church for a Day...

Ashleigh Feuerbacher, President and CEO.

WOW! I have always wanted to see what that title would look like behind my long and difficult to spell name. We learn early on to respect “titles” of people around us. President, Teacher, Minister, Manager, etc….

Today, you have earned a new title. Spell your name out, add a comma, and place a President and CEO behind it. We all are the CEO of our spiritual investments. As I considered this idea I realized that being appointed as CEO requires one to manage, organize and lead efforts to one central objective. Let’s break down Wikipedia’s definition.

The responsibility of the chief executive officer is to align the company, internally and externally, with his or her strategic vision. The core duty of a CEO is to facilitate business outside of the company while guiding employees and other executive officers towards a central objective.

We all have to take our Christian walk and manage it. We must align internally and be true to the values that God has set for us. Business outside is our responsibility. So we are to further the kingdom of God by getting out and sharing the Good News. All this is to be completed so that we are strong in our faith, leading others to Christ and reaching the central objective of making it to Heaven.

The size and sector of the company will dictate the secondary responsibilities. A CEO must have a balance of internal and external initiatives to build a sustainable company.
• For corporations, the chief executive officer primarily coordinates external initiatives at a high level. As there are many other c-level executives (e.g. marketing, information, technical, financial etc.), seldom do corporate CEOs have low-level functions.

Our managing responsibilities are self reflective. We must produce fruits with our position as a Christian so that we can present the results to our Board of Directors, (Our Heavenly Father). The best form of marketing is word of mouth. As Christians that is something that can work to our advantage. Sharing information is not foreign to us. As the CEO of my spiritual future I must share information with others. I could do this by example, with my mouth or by using technology. Since technology is always changing, people receive information in so many ways. Meeting the needs of the sector will always be a challenge to Christians, but we must welcome and embrace it.

So, as we take on this title CEO and realize that the fruits of our business “Church” are up to us, what changes will we see? Do we need changes? Should we set a goal? What are we doing right? What are we doing wrong ? Do we need evaluations? Do we need meetings? Do we need reports? Do we need objectives? The list goes on of “tools” that are used to monitor individual efforts.

I would ask everyone to take a minute, sit back and go back to the basics. If I am going to put CEO behind my name, I want to make sure I am worthy of being HIRED. I believe that if we truly take on the role of CEO of our own spiritual walk, we will see the fruits of our efforts. I need to make sure that my heart is right. I need to make sure that I am ready to lead others because I am strong in my Christian walk. I need to make sure that I am doing what I need to do, before I begin telling and directing others. So, if I were CEO of the church today, I would first ask everyone to look internally and evaluate. I believe that if you unite a group of believers that are confident in their walk, we can have a business that will run itself.

This Southern Girl loves a big, fancy title. I want to achieve success in all areas of my life. I now realize that if I want my church family to succeed, I need to fully earn the title CEO, of my own spiritual future. It is a self-evaluation that I should start with!

Dear Heavenly Father –
Thank you for the blessings of this life. Thank you for the special blessings you shower on us and those around us. Please help me and my brothers & sisters in Christ to complete a self evaluation and choose to be a leader for You. Give us the strength to work through the daily business so that we can reach our end goal, heaven. We ask this in your son’s name…
Amen.

Ashleigh Feuerbacher
Stephenville, Texas

Stay'n Sweet While We Meet

Series: If I Was CEO of the Church for a Day

Recently, we had a guest preacher who addressed in his humble, yet convicted way the challenges of our call to “unity.” He spoke of Euodia and Syntyche, those sisters in Christ in the church at Phillipi who were on the “outs” with each other.

That it was common knowledge to everyone in that church can be assumed, since Paul wrote openly about it, urging the brothers to “help these women to agree with each other in the Lord.” One important thing to notice in this passage is the affirmation Paul gave these women, in saying how they had worked alongside him in the work of the Lord! He saw them as an important part of the work of the Church, and too valuable to be "written off" because they quarreled and had differences.

This speaker went on to establish the premise that, though we may have our differences in the body, we have a common ground to come together, stay together, and work effectively in the Lord. He used examples from the writings to the Ephesians, Corinthians, and Romans to illustrate this.

In 2 Peter 1:3-11, we find a significant list of traits we are to desire to possess in our lives in order that we, as part of God's body, may be effective and productive in the world. Among those traits I find self-control, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. These all indicate a forgiving, compassionate spirit that helps me see beyond the petty, peripheral differences we humans have, and look at the bigger picture of what our God designed us to do and be in His earth.

Just like the wonderful physical organ, the liver, which most often rebuilds itself when damaged and is restored (by the power of the Creator!) to be an effectual, functioning organ, the church--the body of Christ--should certainly do the same, since we read how significant the Church is in Ephesians 3:10: “His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms…”

Our witness, as the Church, should be one that works together in love, encouragement, forgiveness and “long-suffering-ness,” and healing so that we are an effective, productive “organ” for the Lord, reflecting His intent for us!

Lord of heaven and earth, our Designer, Maker and wonderful loving heavenly Father,
In Your precious son, Jesus Christ’s Name, please help us to have His Spirit in us as we relate to one another in Your Body. Please help us, Lord, to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ you forgave us! Amen.

Jan McCoy
Merkel, Texas