The Basics

"We've turned the page, for a new day has dawned, we've re-arranged what is right and what's wrong. Somehow we've drifted so far from the truth that we cant get back home. Where are the virtues that once gave us light, where are the morals that governed our lives? Someday we all will awake and look back just to find what we've lost. We need to get back to the basics of life, a heart that is pure and a love that is blind. A faith that is fervently grounded in Christ, the hope that endures for all times, these are the basics, we need to get back to the basics of life. The newest rage is to reason it out, just meditate and you can overcome every doubt. After all man is a God, they say, God is no longer alive. But I still believe in the old rugged cross and I still believe there is hope for the lost, and I know the Rock of all ages will stand through changes of time. We need to get back to the basics of life, a heart that is pure and a love that is blind, a faith that is fervently grounded in Christ, the hope that endures for all times. These are the basics, we need to get back to the basics of life. We've let the darkness invade us too long, we've got to turn the tide. Oh and we need the passion that burned long ago to come and open our eyes. There's no room for compromise. We need to get back to the basics of life, heart that is pure and a love that is blind." - BASICS OF LIFE- 4-HIM

How many of you remember this song? If you were a Christian back in the late 80's early 90's you may remember the group 4-Him. To make a long story short, this is exactly what has been happening to me the past couple of weeks. No new strategies, no new methods, no innovative ideas, no Kingdom focused-Purpose driven-Next Generation anything! Just pure, unadulterated basic, fundamental reading of God's Word! Allow me to break it down for you really quick. When I was praying about taking a sabbatical in the first place, my intentions were to rest and seek ideas and wisdom from other successful pastor's and leaders as to what their church is doing different to enhance significant growth in their respective congregations. However, these past couple of weeks have not been the case at all. What the Lord is showing me has absolutely NOTHING to do with methods, ideas, creativity or innovations of ministry. Though I believe being innovative is important, it's not the answer. Though I believe that multi-media and ministry can mix very well together, it's not the answer. Though I believe that having a great administrative and projection team is excellent to have, it's not the answer. Though I have seen other Senior Pastor's lead their congregations as CEO's of a "Corporations", that too is not the answer. The answer is NOT found in the ideas of man but through the Word of God! Can we get back to the "basics" of God's Word? What is going to grow a strong church is more than a strong leadership or more than strong ideas. The Word of God builds a healthy church, thus builds strong leaders and in turn becomes the "Master Blue Print" of innovation and methods. I want to challenge you to do something as was mentioned to me by Pastor Joe Perez from Phoenix, AZ as he said, "Sammy, the closer you are to the Creator, the more creative you'll become." May those words ring true. May God's Word be our guide as holiness becomes our response! Methods, creativity and innovations of church growth will become evident to us when God's Word becomes embedded in us! Let us get back to the basics of life. Until Next Time- Pastor Sammy