Thanks to All But It's Time to Move On.

A week ago during Sunday morning's service, I had a very clear direction from the Lord that it was time to part ways with Western Oaks. We love the people of Western Oaks, and we will continue to maintain many strong friendships there. I wish the best for you. However, it became clear to me that some lay "leaders" at Western Oaks want to take the church in a different direction. My attempts at asking honest questions to those "leaders" were met with evasive answers and inquiries about what my real motives were -- even though I have clearly stated my motives.

I will conclude this blog with a few more posts. After that, there will be no more. I want you to read why I am leaving in my own words. I have already read or heard inaccurate comments. One woman sent me an e-mail saying that she would pray for me because she knew how unhappy I had been. To the contrary, I replied, I have never been unhappy; I was more accurately grieved by what I saw going on by our "leaders." If she persists in telling others at Western Oaks that I had been unhappy, then she will be a liar. I know that false statements like hers will be assumed by others to be true if an attempt is not made to set the record straight.

I have avoided posting for more than a week because we wanted to call our friends directly about our decision, rather than post it on the blog. That has been accomplished.

Again, I wish our many friends all God's best. I am grateful for the ways that God has used many of you to touch our lives over the years.
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A Response to the Executive Committee's Answers

As I reflected on yesterday's response from the executive committee, I was amazed to see how asking four straightforward questions could trigger a reaction that I'm being distrustful, accusatory and inappropriate. I have tried to seek honest answers to basic questions. We have been told from the pulpit that our leadership wants to answer all our questions. What happens when I do? I'm sent an e-mail that concludes with a response that I'm welcome to leave the church. Is it any surprise that others are reluctant to ask similar questions or voice identical concerns?

What amazed me the most about the response to my four questions was this: Not one of them received a direct answer. Let's take a look at each question and response.

1) Pastor Jeff said that he and Melodee have been living with deep hurt and stress for the last two years. As a member of the executive committee, in what specific ways have you personally helped them through this ordeal?

In Pastor Jeff's resignation announcement, he talked about "the deep hurt and stress that Melodee and I have lived with the past two years." These were his own words. Two of the roles of the executive committee, according to its own job description, are "providing consistent prayer support for the ... staff" and "providing encouragement ... for the pastoral ... staff." It is reasonable to ask the committee what they have been doing specifically for the last two years to help alleviate this pain.

They said that they "continue to pray for them," and I'm tremendously grateful for that. However, I must point out that nearly everyone at Western Oaks has been praying for Pastor Jeff and Melodee. Members of the executive committee, more than any other people at Western Oaks, were in a position to know more about Pastor Jeff's and Melodee's deep hurt and stress than the average person in the pew. They, therefore, bear the responsibility to put feet to their prayers. Instead, we are given a vague answer that they "have done things" for Pastor Jeff and Melodee. I am not claiming they haven't; I'd just like to know what they've done. It will help me understand the type of leadership that they have provided to this congregation.

Rather than elaborate on specific things they have done, the answer quickly shifts to finding fault with the question, calling it inappropriate. Contrary to their response, I have not implied that the committee has not done enough. They may have done many specific things. I will be delighted to learn if that's true. For now, I don't know what they've done for the last two years to help. Because this is part of the executive committee's responsibility, the people of Western Oaks deserve a direct answer. "And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required." (Luke 12:48)

2) What is your personal vision for Western Oaks, and in what ways does it differ from Pastor Jeff's?

When Pastor Jeff announced his resignation, he told the congregation that "it is clear to me that the direction Western Oaks is wanting to head is different than my vision." That is why I asked the committee this question. Do they, in fact, have a different vision for Western Oaks than Pastor Jeff? If they were in complete agreement with Pastor Jeff's vision and direction, to whom was Pastor Jeff referring? Because the executive committee has the responsibility to "provide spiritual oversight and guidance of church vision, strategy and core values," wouldn't the executive committee want to know who was advocating a vision for the church that was at odds from Pastor Jeff's and, presumably, theirs? These are crucial questions that deserve honest responses to the people of Western Oaks.

Instead, the executive committee referred me to the church Web site and did not directly answer whether any or all of them differed with Pastor Jeff about the vision and direction of Western Oaks. We are all left to wonder who disagreed with Pastor Jeff's vision and direction for Western Oaks, and what role that may have played in expediting his departure.

3) How was the discussion of a severance package initiated and by whom?

The answer from the executive committee was a long explanation of the steps that took place that led to a severance package, although the committee refuses in its answer to call it by that name. What's puzzling to me is that this process has already been explained to the church. They rehashed information that most of us knew while they missed or avoided the core of the question. I wasn't asking how the package was developed; I was asking how the package was initiated -- and by whom.

Did Pastor Jeff go to the committee first and say that it was time for him to move on but he needed some financial help from the church? Or did one or more members of the committee meet with Pastor Jeff and suggest that he needed to move on, and that they would secure financial assistance for him? If any committee member did this, then he needs to be honest with the people of Western Oaks and explain why. To not do so is to be less than honest with the church. All I want to hear from the committee is a clear answer about whether or not any one of them initiated the discussion of a severance package. Rather than give that answer, the committee's response said I either did not understand what happened, which I do, or that my character is distrustful and accusatory for asking the question.

4) Did you at any time suggest or tell Pastor Jeff that he should resign or step down? Were you present when another member of the executive committee did? If your answer is yes to either of these questions, please explain the reason why.

The committee's immediate response to this question is that it is an accusation. That is a completely false statement. If it were accusatory, it would have been worded like this: "Why did you suggest or tell Pastor Jeff that he should resign or step down?" My question was a straightforward request for information that required a yes-or-no response. If either question required a yes answer, then I asked for an explanation of that decision. For whatever reason, the committee could not be direct in its answer. I don't know why.

As I conclude this post, I also want to respond to the committee's comments about their meetings being completely closed to the members of Western Oaks. It was revealing that the committee's answer acknowledged that the church was not directly informed that this was the way the committee would run its meetings. Their answer said that "it was assumed that when the people voted on the function of this team it was understood that this was the way it needed to operate." However, even if that were the case, it does not fit the context of the following two incidents.

Less than a year ago, I had asked Pastor Jeff about attending a meeting of the executive committee. I honestly don't remember what triggered my interest, but I thought it would be a good idea. Pastor Jeff told me that the next meeting would not be ideal because he had one sensitive issue to discuss during part of the meeting. I was welcome to come another time, he said. He never mentioned that the meetings were closed to church members. As it turns out, I lost interest and never followed up for the next meeting.

Fast forward to last month. I called Bob Kaufmann a day or two after Pastor Jeff announced his resignation. I had already met with nearly 20 other members who had questions about how all this came about. The group decided that it would be less confrontational if one or two of us met with the executive committee. Bob told me that the executive committee was meeting that week, but I did not think I would have time to be prepared that soon. Knowing that the committee meets every other Wednesday, I asked Bob if it would be possible for the committee to have a special meeting the next week so I could address the members' concerns as soon as possible. Bob indicated that he would get back with me. At no time during that conversation did he say that the meetings were closed to church members. I reminded Bob of this conversation in a recent e-mail, but he did not respond.

If executive committee meetings were truly closed to the entire church, why did neither of these men mention it to me during these conversations. The answer is because they never were. Are there times when the committee needs to meet privately? I'm sure there are, and it would be appropriate to designate a time for a closed session near the end of a meeting. I believe that many church members would understand the need for that. If the executive committee truly desires to serve the people of Western Oaks, they could do so more effectively by opening their doors and allowing other members to be part of the process and to pray with them.

My greatest concern in their response to my questions is that it will have a chilling effect for anyone who wants to know how we came to a point where we could lose a senior pastor of 18 years. One person has already made a comment to me on three separate occasions that he wasn't sure what my motives were. The implication is that my real motives were ones that I hadn't revealed. I have told this person each time what my motives were, and my answer has always been the same. They are to seek answers about how this was allowed to happen and to ensure that we do not continue with the same culture that could cause the next senior pastor to be forced to move on.

If church members see that those who ask questions and express their concerns have their motives and integrity questioned, they will remain silent. If they see that those who ask questions and voice dissenting opinions are advised to go elsewhere, they will be reluctant to speak out. Perhaps that's the desired outcome.
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Exec Committee Responds to Four Questions

On Nov. 10, I e-mailed four of the members of the Executive Committee four questions that I hoped they would answer to shed light on how Western Oaks could reach a point where we would lose our senior pastor of 18 years. It was clear from Pastor Jeff's 17-minute resignation speech that this was something he did after enduring years of duress. He felt God's peace that it was time to leave this body of believers due to the actions of a critical few, whose vision for Western Oaks differed from his own. It saddened me to see his faithful ministry at Western Oaks end in this manner although he left with his integrity intact. I'm even more concerned about what this means for the future of Western Oaks. What will happen to the next senior pastor if he doesn't fall in line with the powers that be? The worst fate that could befall Western Oaks is that we would go through all of this again because we did not honestly deal with the circumstances that led to Pastor Jeff's forced departure. I share this with you so you know the context of the questions that follow.

With that background, here are the four questions that I asked. These questions, by the way, are not only mine. They represent the concerns of many people that I've spoken to, including the first meeting that nearly 20 of us had when we met later that same day that Pastor Jeff announced his resignation.

QUESTIONS FOR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Pastor Jeff said that he and Melodee have been living with deep hurt and stress for the last two years. As a member of the executive committee, in what specific ways have you personally helped them through this ordeal?

What is your personal vision for Western Oaks, and in what ways does it differ from Pastor Jeff's?

How was the discussion of a severance package initiated and by whom?

Did you at any time suggest or tell Pastor Jeff that he should resign or step down? Were you present when another member of the executive committee did? If your answer is yes to either of these questions, please explain the reason why.

Bob Kaufmann sent me an e-mail earlier today with a response to these questions. He copied his e-mail to two of the remaining four executive committee members as well as to Pastor Jeff Blevins and Pastor Ed Ingram. Later, I will post my thoughts about the following statement, but I believe it is important to let the committee's words first speak for themselves. Here is the complete and unedited response:

STATEMENT FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
When the Executive Committee was formed, Pastor Jeff insisted that everything discussed be kept confidential, that everyone be completely open regarding their walk with God and this congregation, and that we commit ourselves to pray for the congregation and share with one another what God was telling us about each other and the congregation. The nature of many of the tasks that the Executive Committee performs requires this type of confidentiality. Everyone agreed that this was correct and all have continued to this day to uphold this vow. This is why the meetings are closed, not because there is anything to hide, but because of the confidential nature of things discussed. Again, this was a rule initiated by Pastor Jeff, it was assumed that when people voted on the function of this team it was understood that this was the way it needed to operate.

Regarding your questions, the facts speak for themselves. About a year ago, Pastor Jeff was considering leaving the ministry. Today, he is excited about continuing in the ministry and where God may be calling him. Each member of the Executive Committee is sad and happy for Jeff at the same time. Sad, because someone who has pastored each of us may be leaving this area. Also sad, because he will not be apart of the Executive Committee and we will miss him and his presence. Happy, because when God calls someone to a ministry and that person follows, that person is blessed in a manner in which only God can bless him and those that he is ministering to are blessed by God through that person. Pastor Jeff has been a great pastor and has ministered to each of us personally on the Executive Committee in times of great need. He has been the voice and hand of Christ speaking to us during these times. He has done the same thing to members of all of our families and to many others. All of us (including P. Jeff) have shared our thoughts and dreams for ourselves, our families, and our congregation intimately with one another. We all have great respect, admiration, and concern for each other and would do nothing to hurt each other. It hurts us immensely that anyone would even think that any of us would do anything to hurt Pastor Jeff.

Regarding your question about vision: The vision, strategy, and purpose of Western Oaks Baptist Church are published on the website for all to see. The majority of this information was developed by Pastor Jeff and staff prior to the establishment of the Executive Committee. Part of the workings of the Executive Committee involved reviewing the vision, strategy, and purpose of Western Oaks during which all concurred that what was written was good and right for Western Oaks now and in the future and no one has ever discussed that they might or should change.

Regarding your question about a severance package: No one ever discussed a severance package. When we all agreed that God was calling Pastor Jeff to a new ministry, we began to discuss how to best handle this time of transition. We knew that Pastor Jeff and his family would have needs during this time and so would the congregation. We wanted Pastor Jeff to be able to pursue this calling as best as possible and we wanted the congregation to be able to go through the transition as best as possible. We contacted IBSA and others knowing, Godly individuals, and several methods by which to accomplish the aforementioned criteria were developed. Since all of the methods seemed to be fit the criteria, we allowed Pastor Jeff to pick that one which he felt best fit his needs. He picked one, but while we were discussing it, it became apparent that doing that method in the suggested manner would result in a very heavy tax load for 2006. If we delayed the lump sum payment into 2007, it would be much more beneficial to Jeff in regard to tax liability. We made these modifications which resulted in a increasing of the time and amount of support for Jeff even though they would cause more financial burden on the congregation. Why did we make the modifications? Because it was the right thing to do. This method of managing the time of transition was presented to the congregation. Each member had time to consider it, the implications for which they were binding themselves both financially and in service, and pray about it. The congregation overwhelmingly adopted the method. The manner in which you stated your question implies that you either don’t understand what occurred (the above has been presented to the congregation both verbally and in written fashion) or that you are distrustful and are accusing someone of doing something wrong. Again, these implications hurt each of us deeply as nothing could be farther from the truth.

Regarding what we have done personally for Pastor Jeff and Melodee: All the members of the Executive Committee have done things for Jeff and Melodee. We continue to pray for them and we keep in consistent contact with Jeff regarding their situation. Your question is inappropriate and it implies that you must think that not enough has been done and that the Executive Committee members should have done more.

Regarding the accusation of asking Jeff to step down: When Pastor Jeff was considering leaving the ministry, we prayed about this (could it be that God is calling Pastor Jeff to leave the ministry) and none of us believed that this was true. In fact, we heard God saying just the opposite. Being true to our vow, we shared this with Pastor Jeff and encouraged him in all manners consistent with what we had heard God saying. When Pastor Jeff shared with us that he felt God was calling him to a different ministry, we again prayed about that and God told us that this was correct. We shared this with Jeff and encouraged him in all manners consistent with what we heard God saying. The only thing one can infer from your questions is that you are either questioning Pastor Jeff’s and the Executive Committee members’ ability to hear from God or you think it must have been wrong to share with Pastor Jeff what God was telling us.

All of your questions, your blog, your recent actions, have an air of distrust and accusation in them. It seems that you believe that what Pastor Jeff, the Executive Committee, and the majority of the members of Western Oaks Baptist Church have heard from God is wrong. It seems that you believe that you hear God better and want to lead a group of people because of this. If that is what you hear God calling you to do, please go do it, as none of us on the Executive Committee would ever want to do anything to inhibit God’s calling of someone to ministry. But if it is not, it is now past time for you to stop doing what you are doing. If you want to be a part of this congregation, you need to stop being so distrustful and accusatory and begin starting to build up the congregation instead of tearing it down.

-- The Executive Team
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Claiming Authority That Was Not Entrusted to Them

I went to Western Oaks to attend the executive committee meeting tonight, even though I knew what the outcome was likely to be. I was told to leave. "Our meetings are closed," Bob Kaufmann, who leads this committee, said as soon as I walked into Pastor Jeff's office. Not even a "Good evening" or a "How are you tonight?"

Bob had found out earlier from another committee member that I planned to go. He sent me an e-mail at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning that included this line: "As you well know, these meetings are not open to the members of the congregation or anyone not on the Executive Team, as we discuss very confidential matters. There is no reason for you to come tonight."

Actually, I had never heard before that church members were not allowed to attend. Further, there were reasons for me to go. I first of all wanted to listen and observe what went on at an executive committee meeting so I could better understand how this group functioned. I had sent four committee members a list of four questions on Nov. 10, four days earlier, to understand their perspective on Pastor Jeff's forced departure after 18 years of faithful service to the Lord at Western Oaks. None of them replied to my questions; I had to call them a couple days later to confirm that they had received my e-mails.

I also had a question for committee members, based on Bob's e-mail. "When did the body of believers at Western Oaks give you the authority to hold closed meetings?" The truth, of course, is that we did not. They had claimed authority that was not entrusted to them by this body of believers. The answer that I was given was that they must discuss very confidential issues that can't be shared with the entire church. Bob even said that this was Pastor Jeff's idea because he said he needed to discuss things in confidence with the committee, and that they were merely following his recommendation. However, as we all know, Pastor Jeff is no longer here.

I can't even ask what specific issues are being addressed because it is, after all, confidential. I can only take their word that they are discussing things that the church shouldn't know, presumably for our own good. How can we know it's for our own good? Because the committee has decided it for us.

The people of Western Oaks would be better served if the executive committee was open and transparent in their discussions. Whether committee members comprehend this truth or not, this is what they are saying to each member: "You are not to be trusted with information that we decide is too sensitive." The New Testament, on the other hand, clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer. It is the responsibility of every Christ-follower at Western Oaks to seek the Spirit's leadership in all decision of our church. Sure, it can be messy when we're honest and open with the entire congregation. However, if you desire authentic and biblical unity to grow in a church, all believers must be kept fully informed so that they can seek the Lord's direction. A flower cannot grow in total darkness.

I'm sure no member of the executive committee sees this as a control issue, but that doesn't make it any less true. If you are comfortable with this level of control from one committee, be prepared for your next senior pastor to be someone who will not be truly led by the Spirit of God. He'll have to watch his back to make sure he's in lockstep with the key powerbrokers.

On this issue, I respectfully disagree with the direction that Bob and the other executive committee members are leading Western Oaks. They should be open and transparent in their discussions. It would be the better path to travel to bring healing. I was grateful that I and another member whom I invited were able to talk to the committee for almost 30 minutes before Bob told us it was time to leave so they could start their meeting. I then asked each committee member present if they agreed with Bob. Each verbally agreed, and we left. I was also assured that the committee would address the four questions that I asked and would respond. I will post those answers on this blog when I hear from them.

I want to conclude with two quotes from posts made today -- talk about perfect timing -- on the blog of Pastor Wade Burleson, a Southern Baptist minister from Oklahoma. His blog is called Grace and Truth to You, and you'll find it as one of the links in my list. His entire blog is well worth your time to read.

In one post, he quoted Dr. Albert McClellan, who worked for the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, on the topic of open meetings. "Christian ministries ... should desire to thrive on genuine integrity, full transparency and complete openness. Reputation should not be nearly as important to followers of Christ as integrity. Christ is the light of the world, and all things done in His name, including the spending of donated monies, debates about how to best fulfill our mission and purpose, and questions -- asked and answered -- that lead to greater organizational accountability should all happen in public forums."

Pastor Burleson also quoted Charles Marsh in his book "Wayward Christian Soldiers," on Christian dissent. "Evangelicals are quick to admonish unity when there is a whiff of disagreement in the air. Dissent must be quashed for the sake of harmonious ideals, which we consider spiritual virtues. But perhaps the situation only masks our swift retreat from the cost of discipleship, fueled by an inferiority complex, which plagues us."

Amen. May our own executive committee heed this godly wisdom.

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Six Prayer Requests from Pastor Jeff and Melodee

Even though it was the very first post on this blog, the entry from Oct. 31, in which people could share how the Lord used Pastor Jeff and Melodee to bless them, has remained one of the most viewed pages. With that in mind, I think it's important that we don't let the old adage -- "out of sight, out of mind" -- become true. To that end, I asked Pastor Jeff and Melodee to share prayer requests with the many people who have been checking out this blog.

So take a look at these six prayer requests and spend time this week praying for Pastor Jeff and Melodee in these areas. As long as the Lord leads me to continue this blog, I will keep you informed about prayer needs in their lives. Let's keep them in our prayers as they seek where the Lord will lead them next after their 18 years of faithful and productive service at Western Oaks.

1) Pastor Jeff will be in California from Nov. 14-18 at a conference sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board. At the conference, he'll learn more about the possibility of serving as a director of missions. Pray that he'll receive direction from the Lord about whether this is something he should continue to explore or if it's a door that should be shut. If you're not familiar with the term, a director of missions leads a regional association of Southern Baptist churches. Western Oaks, for example, is one of about two dozen churches that belong to the Capital City Baptist Association.

2) Melodee had some medical tests done yesterday. Pray that the results will be negative, and that the Lord will bring healing.

3) Their daughter, Noelle, and her husband, Gary, are in Turkey for two weeks as part of a church-based tour that includes traveling to the sites of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation. They will spend two days in Greece at the end of the trip. Pray for them to have a fruitful trip and for safe traveling.

4) Jeff asks for prayer for wisdom and direction as he seeks where the Lord wants him to serve.

5) Pray for Melodee to find the time in her busy schedule to find time to spend alone with the Lord to allow her to heal. She asks to be able to hear His plans for her that are good, and for her faith to grow as she listens to His voice.

6) During this transition, pray for Jeff to devote time to writing and for other personal projects.

In addition to praying for these requests, take a moment here to share a brief word of encouragement with them. Let them and others know that you are thinking about them and are praying for them. And remember, "the prayer of a righteous man [person] is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)
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A New System to Measure a Pastor's Performance

As we move forward at Western Oaks, it will be important that we find the best tools to help us develop a senior pastor with the right managerial mindset.

With that in mind, I found this “news article” reported by Lark News immensely useful. This revolutionary software may be just what we need to evaluate the next pastor so we can be certain he's on the right track. Perhaps someone can make a recommendation to the executive committee that we invest in this. Just click and study.
Pay-for-performance programs shake up churches
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What Jesus Doesn't Understand About Church

Jesus enjoyed great popularity in the early days of His public ministry. People couldn't get enough of Him. Thousands gathered to hear His words. They marveled at all He said and did. Eventually, though, He reached a turning point, which is recorded in John 6:66.

"From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him."

What you may not know is that archaeologists recently uncovered an ancient text that reveals a conversation that Jesus had with some of his disciples about this significant shift in His ministry. While it is unlikely that this record, translated below for The Message Bible, will make it into the canon of the sacred text, it does provide us with a fascinating historical perspective. Here it is:

Jesus was praying under a tree in the heat of the day when a familiar voice greeted Him.

"Jesus, we need to talk."

Jesus looked up to see Peter, with Matthew and John not far behind. "Sure, Pete, what's up?"

"It's about the people."

Jesus smiled. "What about them?"

"You haven't noticed?"

"Noticed what?" He opened a pouch with a few dried figs and offered it to Peter.

"Our numbers are down," Peter said, waving his hand to decline the morsels. "Way down."

"And this worries you?" Jesus inspected one of the figs and held the pouch out to the other men, shaking it. "Matt, John. They're really good."

"I really wish you wouldn't tempt me like that," Matthew said, shaking his head. John, however, quietly stepped forward to fish out a couple figs.

"Something's gotta be done," Peter said, trying to regain control. "Judas says our cash flow is really tight. We'll be lucky if we can afford to buy a single fish from the market to feed all of us."

"You do know I only need one."

"Yeah, right, but you haven't done that in a while. You need to do more of that fish-and-bread multiplying stuff. The crowds ate that up."

"They were hungry."

"I mean, they liked it. They thought it was cool. You do more of that flashy stuff to pull in the crowds, and our numbers are bound to go back up. Raise somebody else from the dead. That kind of thing."

"Numbers are important to you?" Jesus asked.

"How else can we tell how effective we are? Not long ago we had 5,000 men listening to us, but lately they've been dropping like flies. What I'm saying here is someone's gotta take responsibility for this loss, and since you're at the top and all ..."

"Perhaps it's the ones who left you should talk to."

"Oh, we have. And we found out some disturbing news."

"Really? What was that?"

"Some of 'em are sayin' your messages, well, they've gotten kinda dry."

Matthew chimed in. "And a bit depressing, too ... I mean, they say that. Not me. I wouldn't, y'know, say that."

Jesus turned to John. "And what do you think?"

John had been staring at the ground and shuffling his feet in the dirt. "I just want us all to get along. Can't things be the way they were when we were all so happy?"

Peter frowned. "We have to look forward. This ministry's in jeopardy if we don't make a course correction. Matt, tell Jesus what you've learned."

"Yes, certainly." Matthew pulled an abacus from beneath his garments. "I've been running the beads. It seems that giving is already down 54 percent. And the crowds are down by 64 percent compared to this time last month. My calculations indicate that we could well lose some of our biggest contributors if something doesn't change."

Jesus studied Matthew's abacus. "So what kind of course correction did you have in mind, Pete?"

Peter knelt beside Jesus, glad that He was finally starting to listen to reason. "You gotta do more stuff that gets people talking. They'll spread the word through the villages. That water to wine thing? Great stuff. Oh, and remember that time You walked on water?"

"That was the first time I ever did it. I was just getting My feet wet." Jesus laughed, but Peter didn't find this funny.

"Picture this. A big lakeside revival. We send you out on a boat, like a hundred yards out. Then we gather thousands of people around the shoreline, and you get out of the boat and walk straight to the shore on top of the water and start preaching. What an entrance!"

"So let me get this straight. You prefer that I have thousands of shallow followers, instead of a handful who are willing to follow Me wherever I send them?"

"Exactly!" Peter said. "Now we're gettin' somewhere!"

Jesus took a breath and placed His hand on Peter's shoulder. "I know you mean well, but I have a different path to travel. And when it's all done, even more people are going to leave me."

"But," Peter was struggling to find the right words, "that doesn't make any sense."

"It never has," Jesus assured him. "And it never will."

Clearly, this passage reveals that our Lord doesn't have a good grasp on what's important to the church today.
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God Gave Us a Choice; Western Oaks Answered

This is just one of my random reflections from all that transpired this past Sunday morning. God was so good and gracious to us because He gave us a choice. He gave us an opportunity to define ourselves as a local body of believers.

Our defining moment came when an amendment was made during the special business meeting following the service. The meeting's purpose was to vote on a proposed 6.5-month severance package for our senior pastor. One member courageously stood to make an amendment to add another three months to the package. It was fascinating to watch the discussion, the worry and the fretting about whether we could afford to extend the severance to a total equal to 9.5 months of salary and benefits. Can we really afford this? Will this affect when we can get a youth pastor?

To me, what it boiled down to was whether we would be a people known for our graciousness and generosity or for our worry about where the money would come from. By a vote of 25-77, we chose to worry about the money.

It's ironic because when we needed a top-of-the-line piano not too long ago, many people at Western Oaks reached into their pocketbooks to raise the cash. When we decided to remodel and expand our worship center soon after that, many people at Western Oaks pulled out their wallets and their checkbooks and ponied up. We have no problem raising the money for the stuff we want. I don't recall any hue and cry over whether we could really afford those things. We just buckled down and did it.

I believe God gave us that choice on Sunday morning to let us see who we are collectively. We defined ourselves in that vote.

Still, that's just my opinion. Perhaps some folks simply may have been caught off guard by the amendment and were hesitant to support it because they didn't believe they had enough information to make an informed decision. Maybe that was the case. I'd like to hear other viewpoints on this one. If you have a different take on it, let me hear from you. Scripture tells us that "As iron sharpens iron, so one man [person] sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17)

We did hear from a spokesman from the finance committee who acknowledged that whether it was 6.5 months or 9.5 months, they were prepared to borrow from the bank to make the final lump-sum payment in January. Knowing that, what harm could have existed by erring on the side of generosity? Wouldn't that have been a true reflection of a church that says it lives like Jesus loves?
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The Parable of the Stranger on the Interstate

A very influential pastor of a St. Louis megachurch was driving his brand new Toyota Camry on northbound I-55 to attend a "grow your church beyond your wildest dreams" conference in Chicago. He was behind schedule and traveling over the speed limit to make up for lost time. Somewhere around Springfield, he needed to change CDs to listen to a very important message about how to double your church attendance -- in five easy steps.

A certain man stranded along the interstate was trying to flag someone down for help. Sadly for him, the very influential pastor was too busy changing CDs to notice that his Camry was drifting onto the shoulder. He hit the stranger, sending the man flying into the ditch alongside the interstate.

The very influential pastor, realizing that he hit somebody, floored the gas pedal and adjusted the rearview mirror so he wouldn't have to see the broken and bloodied body. "Why was someone standing along the highway like that anyway?" he wondered. Certainly, there was nothing the very influential pastor could do for him. He wasn't a doctor or anything like that. Besides, this conference was important. It would help him reach more people for Christ -- and his church. So the very influential pastor told God how much he loved the stranger and asked the Lord to bless him.

The stranger, fortunately, was still alive. He struggled to stand up and ventured across the busy interstate to find help. No one stopped because they, too, had very important destinations to reach. The man staggered across the median and started to cross the southbound lanes to find help for his wounds.

It was about this time that a very important deacon from Chicago was navigating his sporty Acura to St. Louis for a weekend rally to help him better understand which neighbors and co-workers were most receptive to accepting the gospel and which ones were hopeless causes that should be ignored -- in five easy steps. All in his church were awed by the number of sinners that he convinced to pray the prayer of salvation, whether they wanted to believe or just get him out of their living rooms.

The very important deacon had set his cruise control at 72 mph and was daydreaming about his future conquests at the very time the stranger crossed the southbound lanes. The stranger was treated to a very close look at the silver Acura's sleek and sporty hood ornament before he took a short flight back to the median.

Under normal circumstances, the very important deacon might have reduced his speed, but he was sensible enough to know that the souls of millions of unsaved sinners outweighed the fate of one stranger, especially one he didn't even know. It would not be a strategically wise use of his time. Flipping his rearview mirror so it would be too dark to see the stranger in the median, the very important deacon prayed that the stranger would find God's will for his life -- if he should survive.

A few moments later, a telemarketer was on his way to work. He was glancing in his rearview mirror when he spied something -- or someone -- moving in the grassy median. He eased his 1983 Buick Regal with its cracked windshield to the side of the highway and took the stranger to the hospital where he received care for his injuries. Unfortunately, this made the telemarketer more than an hour late for work. His unforgiving boss fired him on the spot because his priorities were clearly out of sync.

The moral of this story is simple. As you move forward, pay no attention to your rearview mirror lest you be tempted to feel compassion for anyone hurt on the way to your very important destination.
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"I Thought We Got Rid of the Problem"

The pastor and associate pastor of a former church I attended got into a conflict. Church members were equally divided over who was right and who was wrong. One man resigned after a church vote narrowly supported the other minister; the one who was left was forced to resign not long after because the other minister's supporters continued to raise criticisms about him. Church leaders negotiated a severance package with him to secure his departure.

At a church business meeting a few weeks later, tensions were still high. One of the deacons stood and expressed his frustration that church members were still unable to get along.

"I thought we got rid of the problems," he said.


It was at that point that I realized the true problem with this church was not simply the pastors, it was all of God's people in that church. It's easier to blame others rather than look into your own heart.

It's time for the people of Western Oaks to realize that we are all to blame for what happened to Pastor Jeff and Melodee. Some were active in their desire to see him removed as senior pastor. I'm sure some of them believe that they were doing the right thing for the church. I'm sure they will even tell us they spent much time in prayer about it. Scripture, however, cautions all of us that praying about something doesn't mean we are necessarily in God's will. (Mark 12:40, Luke 18: 9-17, Matthew 6: 5-8)

Others will try to convince us that Pastor Jeff wasn't forced to conclude his ministry here. We only have to listen to our senior pastor's own words from last Sunday to refute that. He talked about "the deep hurt and stress that Melodee and I have lived with the past two years." He spoke about how "ministry has been victimized by a managerial mindset culture." He longed for the desire to live out his calling "to teach the Word of God without apology." This calling, he told us, "is not a calling that someone else can create for you or a committee determines for you." And he explained that "it is clear to me that the direction Western Oaks is wanting to head is different than my vision."

After enduring this kind of culture for several years, never complaining about it openly to the entire church, is it any wonder that Pastor Jeff reached a point where the Lord gave him a peace about leaving this body of believers? Even then, many of us watched for 17 minutes as this battered and broken servant of God struggled to explain his decision to us.

I have to ask myself that if the rest of us, the many who truly love and support Pastor Jeff and Melodee, not just with words but with actions, had been less complacent, perhaps we would have seen this coming and been part of a solution to prevent it. We can no longer be complacent. We can no longer allow others to second-guess the leadership of our senior pastor. We can no longer sit back and let certain committees or teams decide what they think is best for Western Oaks.

We have been the problem, and the first part of the solution is that we need to seek the Lord's forgiveness about what was allowed to happen to Pastor Jeff and Melodee. Some will say we need to move forward together and put the past behind us. Moving forward's fine, and I hope we do. We will not move forward as a church, however, if we do not repent of what we allowed to happen and vow to the Lord that we will commit ourselves to Him so it does not occur again. Remember these verses from II Chronicles 7:14-15.

"If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."

I urge all of us to pray for God's forgiveness now. Many of us were blind. Many of us were deaf. Many of us did not speak when we should have. It's time we say we don't want a church that's led by committees. We long for a church that's led by a man of God, who will help all of us learn to listen to God's voice. I fear if we do not repent, we will be doomed to repeat this cycle. Let's not allow that to happen. To paraphrase a comment from another pastor's blog, it's time to allow revival to "break the 'herd' mentality where Southern Baptists simply do what they are told to do, rather than listen to the Spirit of God as individuals in His kingdom."

Let us listen to His Spirit. Let us flood the altar this Sunday and ask the Lord to forgive us. Let us not, however, do it unless we really mean business with the Lord. Let us pray that the Lord gives us clarity on how we should deal with this injustice so that we can rightly relate to Him. If we do, our better days are truly ahead of us. I believe in my heart that the people of Western Oaks -- the average men, women and youth in the pews -- long to do what is right before the Lord. (Psalm 106:3, Proverbs 21:15, Micah 6:8)

Do I want Pastor Jeff to come back? You bet I do. And I'm praying to our all-powerful God that He will work a miracle in our hearts that will allow this to happen. Another part of me also recognizes that Pastor Jeff has had the opportunity to break free from the repressive spirits who have beat down upon him for several years. I'm sure it feels exhilarating to be liberated from that. It would take another miracle from the Lord to convince him that coming back was the right decision, even if real repentance and revival breaks out and many of God's people turn our hearts to Him.

More importantly, as we turn our hearts to God, let us make sure that the culture that led Pastor Jeff to conclude his ministry here does not claim the next pastor several years down the road. To change that culture, we need to be right with God, seek honest and transparent answers from our leaders in a loving yet firm manner, and follow the direction of God's Spirit so we will be productive in building His kingdom.

This is our defining moment. What will you choose?
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"A Chance That Maybe We'll Find Better Days"

I've heard the song "Better Days" by the Goo Goo Dolls many times. It always struck me as a great love song, but never really grabbed me.




One morning this week, I was driving to work when the song came on the radio. I had been contemplating all that has been going on at Western Oaks when the words of this song pierced me at a deeper level than ever before. The lyrics spoke to my hope for the future of Western Oaks. A future that I pray will be a reality if we are willing to make a serious commitment to the Lord that we will not allow what happened to Pastor Jeff to happen to another pastor. I was soon crying, laughing and praising God all at the same time in my car.

So listen to these words. Watch this video. Post a comment about how this speaks to you. What do you think it will take for Western Oaks to find better days?

And come back for Saturday's post. I want to share my thoughts about what I hope will happen when we gather together to worship our Lord on Sunday morning. Feel free to share your thoughts and prayers as well on that post. This is a forum for you to share how the Lord is leading your heart and mind about Western Oaks.

Don't forget to go to the previous post to share your comments on how the Lord has blessed you through the ministry of Pastor Jeff and Melodee.
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