Thoughts and Musings by Duke Lancaster

What are the signs of maturity as a Christian? Certainly this is over-simplified but I would define it as giving out more than you take in.

So many Christians require a tremendous amount of attention... the proverbial "black hole" of pastoring. Everyone, myself included, requires care and extra attention from time to time. Life takes it out of us all and it sometimes hurts and we must depend on others to pick up our slack and, with patience and compassion, nurse us back to health. But the object is to get back into the fight... not make a lifestyle out of spiritual intensive care.

Therefore... I judge Christian maturity, at least partially, by watching how someone handles adversity... and how much they give out in caring for others in relation to how much care they receive.

Posted by Duke at Thursday, March 29, 2007 | Permalink

I passed a church in the area this weekend and noticed their motto written below their church name. It said “A people practicing the presence”. It struck me just how inwardly focused this sounds. It’s certainly nothing wrong with be a people practicing the presence of God but the message that is sent out is that non-Christians are not welcome because they really aren’t into ‘practicing the presence’. It puts up a nearly impenetrable wall to those not in the ‘presence of God’ club.

The church in general is perceived by unbelievers as a Christian Social Club and in many cases it’s an accurate representation. I read recently that most unchurched people are pro-Jesus and anti-church… and the average unchurched person never connects Jesus to church in their mind… they see them as separate and generally unrelated. Jesus is into helping the poor and healing people and stuff like that… the church is often seen as the enemy of social justice… aligning itself unconditionally with odd bedfellows which make it seem like an intolerant, uncompassionate, warmongering political puppet.

We must figure out how to turn the church outward… the current buzz word is ‘missional’. We have to break out of the social club mode and work to make church accessible.

Posted by Duke at Tuesday, March 20, 2007 | Permalink

Latest sermon audio

Rest in Your Promise
Duke Lancaster
3/18/2007

Testimony of last weeks heart attack and healing

Also on video
Rest in Your Promise

Posted by Duke at Sunday, March 18, 2007 | Permalink

I had an exciting weekend but everything seems to have turned out alright. On Sunday morning I collapsed and was taken to River Oaks hospital where they diagnosed me as having a "Significant Cardiac Episode"... or heart attack. An EKG showed almost total blockage of a main artery (that's as technical as I know). I was then rushed to Baptist Hospital's Cardiac Center where they performed a heart cath and a hundred other things that left holes and hairless areas all over my body. The results after 3 days of tests were that there was no evidence of heart damage, or signs of heart attack... the doctor said "I am not a religious man but if I were I would say we had witnessed a miracle". All of my vitals are normal... cholesterol lower than average... blood pressure low average... so...
I don't know for sure what happened but I'm doing well, feeling fine ( a little sore from all the poking and prodding ) and back at home today.

Thank you to all who were praying... I do believe you made the difference...

Posted by Duke at Tuesday, March 13, 2007 | Permalink