Tag Archives: Religion and Spirituality

I Don’t Get Called “The Young Pastor” Anymore

Posted on August 21, 2025 | 3 comments

This Sunday will be my 30th anniversary as pastor of FBC O’Fallon, IL. I was considered so young then. Funny how quickly things change. But I’ve learned some great lessons by serving this long at my church. Here are a few of them.
You can trust God with your future. Following God’s path is best. Romans 12:2 tells us that God’s will is “good, pleasing and perfect” and I know that to be true from experience. I’m so glad I trusted God with my future as a young man. As a not so young man, I see that God has always been trustworthy.
Relationships are a great part of the journey. Paul mentions his friends and co-workers with such warmth in his letters. I’ve walked with people through their joys and their sorrows over the past decades. These connections with people are what I remember and appreciate. I love that God has allowed imperfect me and imperfect others to connect on our pilgrimage to follow the perfect Savior.
Change is part of life and ministry. Many things have changed over the years, and that is inevitable and okay. While change can be hard, stagnation can be toxic. I’m so thankful that God is always changing our perspectives and styles. And I’m glad leisure suits are a thing of the past.
The greatest things never change. The gospel is still the same. Prioritizing it needs to always be the mission of the church. Loving God and loving others still matters most. Serving is still more important than being served. The truth of God’s word is still the message that needs to be preached.
No, I don’t get called “The Young Pastor” anymore. But I do still get the great privilege of being called “Pastor”. I’m looking forward to all God wants to do in me, with me and through me in the years ahead. And I’m so thankful for the past 30 years!

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1,000 Years From Now

Posted on August 27, 2024 | Leave a comment

I’m 64 years old so I figure I’ve lived almost a third of my lifetime by now. Too optimistic about how long I’ll live? You’re probably right. But regardless of my optimism, I’m not anticipating that my life will last another 1,000 years. How about you?

If we can agree that our lifespan is shorter than the next millennium, why would we care about what happens that far in the future? Why think ahead like that? Why not just live for the moment? After all, that seems to be the way many live. Even many Christians seem to live with little thought to eternity.

God has a better plan. You can live with eternity in mind. You can live with the recognition that life is short and eternity is coming. We live in the here and now, of course. But wise are the people who live life now with their future in mind. If you know Jesus as your Savior, God has promised you eternal life and something greater beyond this lifetime. Live with that truth firmly planted in you, and your life here will be all the richer.

Here are some reasons to live with eternity in mind.

Living with eternity in mind changes your perspective. If we just live for the moment we are unprepared for the future. I knew some guys in my summertime construction jobs who spent their weekly paycheck on the first day. They spent it like there was no tomorrow. They needed to change their perspective about finances. They had to learn to discipline themselves, save ahead, make plans and think long term. Those who learned to plan for the full week and beyond were much more successful in their financial endeavors.

Many Christians live as though there is no tomorrow. They never consider that one day they will stand before the Lord to give an account of their use of his gifts, blessings and provisions. The perspective change of long range thinking helps us to make the most of the opportunities God places before us. We are less likely to squander our lives on silly things and more likely to find spiritual success. Having the right perspective goes a long way towards living an effective spiritual life.

Living with eternity in mind changes your priorities. Gold will just be pavement in heaven. A handful of gravel and asphalt isn’t worth much here, and a handful of gold isn’t worth much in eternity. When we lose sight of eternity we can find ourselves valuing the wrong things.

In eternity, what we did to honor the Lord and his work will still matter. In eternity, how we used the gifts and opportunities he provided us will still matter. In eternity, the way we loved God and loved others will still matter. Living with eternity in mind can help us value the things God values and prioritize the things God has prioritized.

Living with eternity in mind changes your purpose. Too many have wasted their lives. They have lived for self or pleasure or possessions. How sad to waste the one earthly life given by the Lord himself. How sad to never consider why God put us on this planet.

Living for eternity can remind us that we are made for a purpose and a plan. God made us to know Him as Savior and Lord. God saved us to live a life of impact and mission. When we stand before Jesus we will want to know that we have lived out the mission He gave to us. We will want to know that we have obeyed and followed him. We will rejoice that God has accomplished his purposes through us and used us to make a difference in eternity. What a special joy it will be to know that God used our witness, our testimony and our example to help others come to know Him. What a joy it will be to know God has used us in his eternal work.

    Live in the present tense, but always keep one eye on eternity. Remember that God made you for something more than this lifetime. Be active and productive and focused in this present age; in this one lifetime that God gives you now. But never lose sight of the fact that God made and remade you for something more.

    Be sure to live your life thinking about 1,000 years from now!

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    Lessons from a Coach: Have Fun

    Posted on June 25, 2024 | 1 comment

    Playing sports was a big part of my adolescence and early adult years. It was a means of building friendships, gaining self discipline and learning teamwork. Over the years, I had many different coaches, each with their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Here is the story of a lesson I learned from one of my coaches and how it applies to life and ministry.

    Coach Lynne Sweet was my High School baseball coach and English teacher in the small town of Macon, IL., population 1,177. Coach Sweet was something of a hippie (ask your parents) and among the most unique and unconventional teachers and coaches I’ve known. He was also incredibly successful in his short coaching career. Little Macon High School was second in the IHSA baseball playoffs in 1971, before separate classifications for schools, beating schools that were massively larger. In the mid to late 1970’s, our school won more than 50 consecutive conference baseball games. Many of my fellow athletes played college sports, and graduate Brian Snitker managed the 2021 World Champion Atlanta Braves.

    The secret to the success of Coach Sweet was built on two things. He taught the fundamentals of the sport well and he made baseball fun. Learning the fundamentals is important in every sport and Coach Sweet taught the fundamentals well. He encouraged former players to come to our practices when they were in town and Brian Snitker (playing minor league baseball then) and others passed on what they had learned. Assistant coach Saunches played Minor League baseball just a few years earlier and knew the game well. The importance of playing the game the right way was an important part of the success. But it wasn’t the only part.

    One thing that made Sweet different- and successful- was that he made baseball fun. We had fun in practices and games and learned that this sport was best played when it was most enjoyed. Coach Sweet knew that tension was detrimental to baseball performance. He knew that a relaxed, loose approach tended to be the most effective approach. We all wanted to win, but we found that enjoying baseball helped us towards that end. Baseball, we learned, was a game and games are to be enjoyed!

    The Christian life is meant to be enjoyed. Did you know that? Joy is a big part of the God’s plan for believers. Paul certainly had plenty of difficulties and problems. But he also exuded joy in the middle of those difficulties. Do you remember Acts 16 where Paul and Silas are imprisoned for their faith, but singing in their prison cell? Joy in salvation is normal. Joy in ministry is to be the natural condition. But many live as though the Christian life is to be tolerated rather than enjoyed. Don’t let that be you.

    I remind my fellow pastors and missionaries, teachers and deacons, to have fun in ministry. Even though you will face challenges and difficulties in our fallen world, remember the joy of the Lord. Never lose sight of the privilege of pointing others to Jesus and helping others grow in faith. Don’t forget the joy that is ours in Christ. We are forgiven, set free and given purpose. These are great things and should lead us to rejoice in God’s work. And, you will find that living a life of joy in Christ is not just fun, but more effective. The joyful Christian life is also a contagious life.

    Once in a while, I see athletes who looks like they have forgotten how much fun sports can be. Maybe their coaches or parents never taught them to enjoy the game; making it tense instead of enjoyable. Too bad.

    Once in a while, I see ministry leaders who looks like they have forgotten how awesome it is to serve King Jesus. Maybe they never had someone remind them of how amazing grace is or how much joy comes in living for others instead of yourself. Maybe they have been beaten down by circumstances and others and live in tension instead of joy. Too bad.

    So let Coach Munton coach you up just a bit today. Enjoy Christ. Laugh a little. Count your blessings. Remember to rejoice. Serve the Lord with gladness. And, in honor of my old hippie baseball coach, I say to you– have some fun!

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    Say Yes

    Posted on June 20, 2024 | Leave a comment

    Acts 10:14 records a shocking juxtaposition of words from the apostle Peter. “No, Lord!”

    I wish Peter was the only to say no to the Lord. But I’m afraid I join a long list of followers of Jesus who have sometimes called him Lord, and told him no.

    The christian life is all about saying yes to Jesus.We say yes to him in salvation by turning from sin and placing our faith in his death and resurrection. We say yet to him in discipleship by following where he leads and doing what he says.

    Recently, I watched as dozens of missionaries were commissioned and sent out by the International Mission Board. They said yes to the Lord’s call on their lives and were going all over the world to tell others about Jesus. It was moving and encouraging and convicting.

    Here are some suggestions about how you can stop saying “No, Lord” and start saying yes to Jesus.

    Remember the damage of saying no. There are sometimes difficulties connected with saying yes to the Lord. He may call you to do hard things in hard places at hard times. Saying yes to him may lead to difficult climbs up steep, narrow paths. But don’t forget that there are also difficulties with saying no to the Lord. A no means you miss God’s best for your life. A no means you are following a lesser authority for your future. A no means you are disobeying the one who loves you, died for you and calls you. A no means you are living an inconsistent life and wasting the opportunities, giftedness and talents God has given you. Saying yes to God can lead to difficulties. Saying no to God can lead to disaster.

    See the joy of a life of saying yes to Jesus. While saying yes to the Lord can result in difficulties, it also leads to blessings. Don’t make an easy life your goal. Make your goal an obedient, purposeful and significant life. Saying yes to the Lord is where you will find contentment and joy. It is where your life leaves an impact. I’ve seen so many committed followers of Christ who have faced adversity for the cause of Christ but tell us it was worth it; that pleasing the Lord is the better way to live. They found the joy of God’s will.

    Answer yes before you know the question. Don’t wait to see what God wants before deciding to obey him. Decide to obey him and then see what he wants. Say yes to the Lord before you even know the question. Do this because you know God wants what is best. Do this because you know you can trust God. Do this because God’s way is better than yours. When we want to know what God wants before we decide, we are running our lives. When we say yes before we know what he wants, we are letting God run our lives.

    Many have joined Peter in saying “No, Lord”. Many have lived as though Jesus is merely an advisor rather than Lord. But God had a better plan for Peter and he has a better plan for you. He calls you to follow, obey and trust.

    Say yes!

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    A Man I Never Knew

    Posted on October 24, 2023 | 2 comments

    I walked out of my office and into the church parking lot recently just as an older couple was pulling in to visit our church bookstore. As the husband rolled down the window, I recognized him as the son of an old pastor, long since departed to glory. That old pastor had been the pastor of my grandparents in their older years and, before his death, had told me some about my grandparents’ lives and faith.

    My grandfather died when I was just three years old. My earliest childhood memory is of him sitting in a chair in his home. I don’t remember anything else about him; just seeing him, an old man sitting in a chair. I never had any meaningful conversations, don’t remember playing with him or giving him a hug or any of the other things grandpas do with their grandchildren. I’ve always wished I had known him.

    So, I was delighted to hear this pastor’s son tell me about visiting with my grandfather. The man told me that my grandparents’ house was near his boyhood school. On good weather days, my grandfather-to-be would sit out on the porch and the two would talk. The man told me about my grandfather’s sense of humor and kind disposition. How I loved hearing these stories about this man I never knew.

    My grandfather came to Christ as a middle aged man. His life was dramatically changed by the power of the gospel. A life of drink and profanity, of pain and loss, of frustration and anger was changed by the forgiveness and purpose found in his new life in Christ.

    While I know many stories about my grandfather, I never knew him. My father told me about the dramatic changes in my grandfather. My mother told me about his kindness to her when she entered the family. Relatives have told me about his actions and antics. But I never knew him. And this makes me look forward to heaven all the more.

    There are many things about heaven that I look forward to. I want to bow in worship before the Lord Jesus who died for me and to see his hands and head that were scarred as payment for my sins. I want to see that beautiful, bright and massive new Jerusalem described in Revelation 21. I want to meet all the heroes of faith described in the 11th chapter of Hebrews. And there are so many friends and family I want to see again; those who have gone before me.

    But I also look forward to seeing a man I never knew. I want to spend time with the man who sits in that chair in my childhood memory. I want to talk to the man whose conversion changed the trajectory of my family.

    However you picture heaven, it is greater than that, I’m sure. The wonders and responsibilities and discoveries that will be ours are beyond our ability to fully grasp yet. But I was reminded in the church parking lot of great things still to come. I want to urge you to give your life to Christ as your own Savior and Lord. I want to encourage you to be sure that you know Jesus personally and that you have experienced his mercy and grace. I want you to be sure that heaven will be your home one day.

    And then, let’s plan to meet and talk a bit there in heaven. I’ll introduce you to my grandfather.

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    Don’t Wait

    Posted on August 24, 2023 | Leave a comment

    “I’m not a procrastinator!” That is my new go to saying whenever my wife notes something I need to do. Instead of waiting (and then forgetting), I’m trying to be more helpful by getting right to the task at hand.

    The reason for saying “I’m not a procrastinator” is because, well… for much of my life I’ve had a tendency to procrastinate. “I’ll get to it later– probably.” “Now isn’t a convenient time.” “Maybe the rapture will occur and I won’t even have to do this hard thing!”

    There are, of course, some items that need to be pondered. We should be patient where patience is needed. But some things shouldn’t be put off. Some items need more immediate attention. Some things are better dealt with sooner than later.

    Here are three things that ought not be waited on. Instead, these areas of life need our willingness to say “No more putting this off. I’m not a procrastinator!”

    Don’t wait on things that are important. Instead of having that devotional time where you dig into God’s word and spend time in prayer, you can put it off until later. You think it might be more convenient at another time or that you just aren’t quite awake enough yet. But important things need to be done. Time in God’s word is too important to forget. Praying matters too much to be relegated to the vague hope of a better time. Important things need to be prioritized. Important things need to tended to.

    What you do with your time gives you a pretty good clue about what is really important to you. Putting things off suggests that maybe those items aren’t as important to you as you think. Instead, make sure to prioritize those things that matter most. Prioritize your devotional life. Prioritize time with your family. Prioritize church attendance. Don’t wait on things that are important.

    Don’t wait on things that are urgent. Some foods have a shelf life. You eat them within that time frame or they spoil. Some issues of life have a shelf life. An opportunity to share the gospel with a questioning friend may never come again. It is too urgent to put off. A chance to minister to a dying family member can’t be relegated to another day. It is too urgent to put off.

    You can’t prepare for that Sunday morning Bible study on Sunday afternoon. And, if you want to give your best to the class, you will want to begin your preparation long before late Saturday night. Time is always moving forward and that provides an urgency to seize the opportunities that come today knowing that tomorrow is almost here.

    Don’t wait on things that are difficult. One reason we procrastinate is because we know the task that needs to be done is hard. We often put off dealing with problems or having hard conversations or engaging in necessary confrontations because those things can be so challenging. But putting those things off doesn’t make them go away. Sometimes our unwillingness to deal with them in a timely fashion only makes those problems harder.

    I’m trying to learn not to put things off just because they are hard. Instead, I generally find it better to do the hard things first before moving on to simpler tasks. God asks some hard things of us. Hard doesn’t mean wrong. Sharing the gospel with others isn’t always easy, but don’t put it off when the opportunity comes. Serving in a ministry isn’t always easy, but don’t wait when the Lord prompts you to volunteer.

    Maybe you struggle with putting things off just like I do. Maybe you too find yourself hoping the Lord returns so that you don’t have to something you would rather not do. But, you know what? Even should the Lord return while you are doing that hard thing it will be great that he finds you being faithful to what you need to do.

    After all, you aren’t a procrastinator!

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    Lessons on Empathy

    Posted on June 21, 2023 | 3 comments

    I don’t empathize easily. Seeing the perspective of others doesn’t seem to come to me very naturally. I seldom think deeply about the needs or problems of others until I face those same needs or problems myself. It is uncommon for me to consider the point of view of others without going through those circumstances. Having noticed this weakness in myself, I marvel at those who empathize well.

    Romans 12:15 tells us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” Isn’t this a powerful verse? This is empathy in action. We rejoice with others in their victories and achievements and successes and we are joyful for their joy. We weep with others in their pain and hurt and loss and we are sorrowful for their sorrow. We connect with others through our empathy with their joy and their sadness.

    Maybe, like me, you struggle with empathizing with others. Here are some suggetions I’ve made to myself about how to do this better. Maybe these will help you as well.

    1. Recognize your own self centeredness. I don’t have any problem noticing my own needs. I’ve got that down pat. We tend to see things through the lens of our own lives and can forget that others have joy and pain as well. Knowing your own tendency to forget about the needs of others is half of the battle. Choosing to die to self is hard. Choosing to love others as you love yourself is difficult. Perhaps the hardest part of empathizing with others is remembering to think of others and not just yourself.

    2. Learn from your own history. My mother has been a widow now for more than a decade. I seldom thought about how hard it must be to lose one’s spouse until it happened in my own family. Watching her grief and loneliness made those emotions much more personal. I am much more apt to empathize with those who have gone through this pain now than I was before the death of my father. God wants to use your pain to help you see the pain in others. The pain in your own history can help you consider that others are going through pain as well.

    3. Put yourself in others’ shoes. One of the reasons we struggle to sympathize is because we don’t see the perspective of others. When you learn to consider the circumstances others face, you can begin to understand them better. How would I feel if I were in their position? What would I need should I be in that setting. These things help us to understand, relate and empathize.

    4. Listen well to others. Could it be that part of my struggle with empathy comes from my lack of really listening to others? How often I’ve listened to the stories of others just long enough to tell them how my stories are similar and far more interesting! The better you become at listening– truly hearing others– the better you will be able to rejoice and weep with them. Listening is one of the greatest acts of empathy we can perform.

    I hope you will join me in learning to “rejoice with those who rejoice” and “weep with those how weep”. We will be far more effective in truly helping others when we learn to be more faithful in empathizing with them.

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    I Don’t Go to Church

    Posted on September 5, 2022 | 2 comments

    One of the recent trends among those professing faith in Jesus as Savior is an increasing number who aren’t active in a local church. While this has been trending for some time, it seems to have increased during this time of pandemic isolation and cultural hostility to faith.

    Two reasons for not being active in a local church seem to be most prominent. One reason believers give for not attending church is, “I can worship God on my own.” A second reason is some version of, “The church has so many problems.”

    Do you know what? There is truth in both of these statements. Each of these reasons given have some points worth examining more fully.

    “I can worship God on my own.” We can and should worship the Lord at times and places other than Sunday mornings in a church building. There is power in worshipping the Lord in the beauty of the outdoors and in other settings. Believers should marvel at God’s design of the heavens as did the Psalmist. We do well to see worship as an activity we engage in at any time and place. And, worship can be intensely personal and private.

    Need we make this an “either/or” proposition? Can’t we worship the Lord both privately and publicly? Ought not we consider doing both? Aren’t we able to worship God both at the beach and in the auditorium? Might we better see this as a “both/and” proposition?

    “The church has so many problems.” It is true that the church has problems. This is a point worth the church’s attention. The problem, of course, is that the church is made up of people and all people are fallen, sinful and broken. But, churches have sometimes masked their fallen nature, excused sinful behavior and allowed harmful attitudes and activities in their midst. Though we profess Jesus as Lord, we sometimes fail to live that out well and fall into the very hypocritical behavior Jesus criticized so harshly.

    Does the imperfect nature of the local church mean we should trash the institution itself? Ought we neglect the church because it has hypocrisy even though Jesus must have known this when he instituted it? Do we paint with brushes so broad that the improprieties of one church justifies us painting the whole with the worst of motives and, therefore, unworthy of our attendance? An important question to ask is, “Might the local church be both imperfect and valuable?”

    I am reminded of God’s word in Hebrews 10:23-4 which speaks to believers who might have these same doubts about being active in a local church. These are God’s words to us and not just the words of the pastor or a parent or a fellow Christian. This is God’s instruction to us, reminding us of the value and the importance of attending and participating in a local church.

    “And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23-4

    I want to encourage you to listen to God’s reminder to “not neglect to gather together”, even though many have made that their “habit”. The culture, even the Christian culture, says the local church is unimportant and unnecessary. But God’s word says otherwise and that is important to recognize.

    Maybe you will consider these things and reexamine the role of the church in your life. Maybe you will see God’s design and plan for you and the church. So, I’m attending my local church this week and I hope you will too!

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    The Church Still Matters

    Posted on July 29, 2021 | 2 comments

    I’ve never seen the idea of the church so marginalized in all my lifetime. The secular world mocks the church and the Christian world devalues the church. The local church is seen, even by believers, as unnecessary and antiquated and optional.

    You can kind of understand the issues perhaps. After all, churches are filled with imperfect people. Churches often have a well earned reputation for being argumentative. They frequently get side tracked by secondary issues. They sometimes lose sight of their purpose. Critics can accurately point out all the problems, failures and imperfections of the church.

    But, with all of that said, the church still matters. There is great inherent value in the work of the local church. There is value and purpose and potential in this institution. Here are three reasons why the church still matters.

    1. God made the church. If the church was man’s idea, we might rightfully ignore it. But it isn’t. God formed the church and he did it for his own reasons. He knew that the church would be made up of imperfect people. He knew every pastor and every small group leader would be “frail as dust and feeble as frail”. But he formed it anyway. We ought not easily turn our backs on something God created.

    And, I note that God’s word admonishes us that we ought not be in the habit of “neglecting to gather together”. (See Hebrews 10:24-25) This isn’t the word of your pastor or your grandmother. God is the one who calls us to gather. God’s command is reason enough to connect with an imperfect church filled with imperfect people.

    We might not understand why God formed the church, but we can’t escape the fact that he did. We may not see the value of the local church, but God apparently can. We need to remember this important truth: the church is a God idea.

    2. We need each other. I don’t think every Christian believes that. I think many believe they can be just fine on their own- no need for fellowship or accountability or encouragement from other believers. But the longer I live, the more I see the importance of other believers in my life.

    Don’t underestimate the enemy. He loves to divide and conquer. He wants you to be spiritually isolated. He knows the Bible says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another”. (Prov. 27:17) He tells you that you don’t need anyone else because he wants you to be vulnerable and ineffective.

    But, the Spirit of the Living God reminds you of the value of other believers. We disciple others and are discipled by others. We benefit from the wisdom and zeal and encouragement that comes from worshiping and learning with others. Never have believers needed each other as we do now!

    3. We are stronger together. I had a friend who lost his little finger in an accident. He told me how amazed he was at how much grip strength he lost just from that tiny digit.

    The church is described as the body of Christ. We all have different gifts and backgrounds and personalities and perspectives. But, we function best when we work together. We are stronger in missions, evangelism, discipleship and worship when we are connected.

    The church separated is weak and ineffective. The church connected is powerful beyond the sum of her parts. The church can prevail against the very gates of hell. You will benefit from others and others will benefit from you. You need the church and the church needs you.

    Don’t underestimate the importance of a healthy connection to a local church. God will use this institution made up of imperfect sinners who have found the perfect Savior to impact you and your world. Find a church, plug in fully and participate actively.

    The church still matters.

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    Revival Still Matters

    Posted on July 28, 2021 | Leave a comment

    Perhaps the greatest need of our day is revival. I’m not talking about a series of revival meetings, though that might be needed as well. I’m talking about a genuine revival in the lives of Christians that brings spiritual renewal, vibrancy and power. What a difference it would make in our day if revival was stirring in individuals and churches and beyond!

    I’ve experienced touches of revival in my own life and church and it whets my appetite for more. Christian, wouldn’t you like a fresh touch from God in your own life, your own church and your own ministry? Wouldn’t you like to see a move of God that changes the hearts of believers and impacts beyond to our culture?

    Here are three reasons why revival still matters.

    1. We tend to drift from God. I’m not much of a sailor, but I do know that drifting doesn’t take any special effort at all. It is easy to drift from the shore. And, it is easy to drift from God. We get busy, distracted or preoccupied and drift away. We get rebellious, sinful or selfish and move away from God. It is easy to do and can happen with us hardly noticing.

    Note that we drift from God, not towards God. Getting closer to the Lord involves intentionality. Drifting away from God can happen without any recognition or premeditation at all.

    In revival, believers come back into right relationship with the Lord. In revival, there is a recognition of our sloth or sin or self-centeredness. We need revival because we tend to forget about what matters most. We tend to lose sight of God’s perspective. We tend to grow stale in our religious activities. Revival draws us back to a close, intimate relationship with the Lord.

    2. Revival brings new life, joy and effectiveness. Getting right with God is not to our detriment. Though there is sorrow in recognizing our sin, repentance doesn’t result in our loss. Revival involves the recognition of judgment but it leads us to restoration. Revival is in our best interest and leads us to the fruit of the Spirit and the joy and peace that comes with walking with the Lord. Though revival can start with pain, it leads to healing and purpose.

    Many Christians have come to see the Christian life as drudgery. They see faith as good, but boring. They think of obedience as right, but tedious. Revival corrects that wrong thinking. It reminds us of the joy of our salvation. It gives us new meaning and purpose as we see God’s glory and goodness. Revival leads us to new effectiveness and enthusiasm. Revival is what our soul is longing for!

    3. Revival impacts our churches, communities and culture. One of the reasons we need revival so much is because of the impact revived Christians have on those around them. When churches are revived, they are more effective and focused. The revived church is more committed to evangelism and discipleship and fellowship. But, revival has an impact beyond that.

    We often decry the state of our culture, and rightly so. Our culture is increasingly coarse and crude and rebellious to the truth of God. But revival has an impact on the surrounding culture. Revived Christians and churches can be used by God to bring a spiritual awakening to the culture at large. It can open the eyes of the lost to the realities of sin and the priorities of faith. It can cause the lost world to see their need for the Lord. Often, revival has even resulted in large scale recognition of the need for biblical morality in the culture at large.

    Perhaps you have recognized your own need for revival. Will you join me and others in praying for revival in our lives and churches in this generation? Ask the Lord to send revival to your own life and to change you where you need changing. Be willing to repent of any wrong activity, attitude or motive. Join with others in praying for a sweeping revival in our generation.

    Revival still matters!

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