I was with the American Baptists at their annual regional gathering Thursday and Friday of last week. It’s always a fun time, especially when I’m able to connect with a few pastors whom I’ve seen over the years and who’ve bought books I’ve recommended. At least one, James Conley, from rural Delta, Colorado, has actually put some of the ideas into practice! (And, he reads this blog on most days, so, hi, James, it was good to visit with you!)

They meet in a different place every year, and this year we were at Central Baptist in the Denver Five Points district, “The Historic Heart of Denver’s African-American Community,” according to a nearby sign. The church building itself was lovely, and their people who worked with us during the Gathering couldn’t have been nicer.

That said, what struck me was that there were four congregations within 50 yards of the intersection of California and 25th streets: Central Baptist, upper left in the picture, our host; Absolute Word Church, using the old sanctuary of Central Baptist, upper right in the picture and on the backside of Central Baptist; Agape Christian Church, lower left; and a map, lower right, showing the locations of Central Baptist, Agape Christian, and Kingdom of Glory Christian Center, across the parking lot from Central Baptist.

I said four churches within 50 yards of that intersection. About 150 yards from the intersection, behind Central Baptist, is a city park where the homeless seem to gather, maybe 50 or more people, mostly white, by the way, the days I was there. Hence signs at the entrances to Central Baptist, too small to be seen in the picture:

No Trespassing

There wasn’t a No Trespassing sign at the Denver Public Library facility also sharing the parking lot with Central Baptist. In fact, it appeared that a lot of homeless were using the computers.

I’ve titled this blog “Observations” for a reason. These are just things I saw. All four churches might be doing all they can for the needy in their vicinity. If I were a leader in one of those churches, I don’t know specifically what I would be doing or encouraging our people to do. But what I saw in the few hours I was there seemed a bit incongruous.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25.34 – 40, ESV)

Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. (James 1.27, MSG)

I saw something new in Mark’s account of the Triumphal Entry:

Now, as they were approaching Jerusalem, they arrived at the place of the stables near Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead and said to them, “As soon as you enter the village ahead, you will find a donkey’s colt tethered there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it to me. And if anyone asks, ‘Why are you taking it?’ tell them, ‘The master needs it and will send it back to you soon.’” (Mark 11.1 – 3, Passion Translation)

Bruce Simmons, the Passion translator, wrote a note mentioning that this is the only place in the Gospels where Jesus needs something:

Only once in the Gospels do we see Jesus ever needing anything. In this case he needed a donkey. More than one commentator has seen a picture here of how the Lord “needs” every believer to be his representative in the world. (Passion Translation note on Mark 11.3)

It reminds me that the only thing Jesus declared a shortage of was people:

When he saw the vast crowds of people, Jesus’ heart was deeply moved with compassion, because they seemed weary and helpless, like wandering sheep without a shepherd. He turned to his disciples and said, “The harvest is huge and ripe! But there are not enough harvesters to bring it all in.” (Matthew 9.36, 37, Passion Translation)

Back to the donkey. Pressed into service, do you think anyone noticed the donkey? It wasn’t his job to be noticed! It was his job to display Jesus. 

And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. (Jeremiah 45.5, ESV)

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John the Baptist as quoted in John 3.30, ESV)

I recently had lunch with a friend who was bemoaning the fact that some of the men in his small group seem to have trouble getting into the discipline (and joy) of daily time with God. It’s an ongoing challenge to those of us who give ourselves to discipling people. The skill isn’t hard, but starting is hard.

I’ve suggested a number of reasons, including Matthew Kelly’s observation that maybe people don’t want transformation, and therefore, they avoid spending time in the Word.

But it could be that the men honestly feel like they don’t have time. “I’m working so hard at work…I’ve got three kids at home…life is just crazy right now…when it smooths out, then I’ll have time to spend with God. Some day I’ll do it. Some day I’ll have more time.

I’m reminded of (and challenged by) by S.D. Gordon’s often-quoted observation:

The great people of the earth today are the people who pray! I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor those who explain prayer; but I mean those who actually take the time to pray. They have not time. It must be taken from something else. That something else is important, very important and pressing, but still, less important and pressing than prayer. There are people who put prayer first, and group the other items in life’s schedule around and after prayer. (emphasis mine)

And there’s the issue: we find time to do what we think is important.

And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD. (Proverbs 8.32 – 35, ESV)

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2.1 – 5, ESV)

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1.35, ESV)

I’m always fascinated by the story of the blind man in Mark 10 (also Luke 18).

When he heard that Jesus from Nazareth was passing by, he began to shout “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me now in my affliction. Heal me!” Those in the crowd were indignant and scolded him for making so much of a disturbance, but he kept shouting with all his might, “Son of David, have mercy on me now and heal me!” (Mark 10.47, 48, Passion Translation)

This time I noticed the ruckus that he made. “He began to shout…” and he was scolded “for making so much of a disturbance, but he kept shouting with all his might…”

Now Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to do something very important! But he stopped.

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him to come to me.” So they went to the blind man and said, “Have courage! Get up! Jesus is calling for you!” So he threw off his beggars’ cloak, jumped up, and made his way to Jesus. Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The man replied, “My Master, please, let me see again!” Jesus responded, “Your faith heals you. Go in peace, with your sight restored.” All at once, the man’s eyes opened and he could see again, and he began at once to follow Jesus, walking down the road with him. (Mark 10.49 – 52, Passion Translation)

What do I want so badly that I’m willing to make a little noise either literally or metaphorically? Do I cry out for the lost or straying people in my life? Am I begging for more influence? For men to invest time in so they can become disciple-makers? Or do I think I have everything I need already?

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! (1 Chronicles 4.10, NIV)

We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged. (2 Corinthians 10.15, ESV)

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. (Revelation 3.17, ESV)

I have written several blogs on older people still actively following Jesus and ministering to others, in short, people who are finishing well. The stories are worth a review if you want to be inspired:

• Frank and Sally Dennis  
• Barbara Jaboor 
• Sam Hershey 
• Phyllis Stanley 
• Skip Gray 

My friend Ray Bandi (someone else who is finishing well!) asked how someone I had discipled years ago was doing. I had to say, “He didn’t finish as well as I would have wanted.” This happens, and Jesus was clear on that score:

The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. (Mark 4.19, NIV)

Ray responded, quoting his mentor, well-known Navigator, the late Leroy Eims:

It is hard to make it over the long-haul. Someone once asked LeRoy, “How do you make it over the long-haul?” LeRoy answered, “Make it over the short-haul.” It takes a lot of daily decisions.

The writer of Hebrews was clear:

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3.13 – 15, ESV)

The Apostle Paul finished well, but not all of his men did:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. (2 Timothy 4.7, 10)

A better title would be “For better or for worse.”

I met Tom and Jan Falconer last weekend at Spring Canyon near Buena Vista, Colorado. Tom is a high energy, joyful guy, retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, a staff missionary with Officers’ Christian Fellowship. But that’s not what impressed me.

After the first meeting, I saw him helping his wife into her wheelchair. To get her out of the chair in which she was sitting and transfer her into her wheelchair, he stands in front of her, she puts her arms around his neck, and he helps her to a standing position. At that point, before the transfer, there’s a pause…a pause for them to embrace, for him to whisper in her ear, in other words, PDA! (public display of affection).

I asked him later what her illness was. He replied, “She has MS. She’s been in that wheelchair for 30 years.” When I said how much I admired the way I saw them relate to each other, he responded,

It’s the way God has chosen for us to do ministry.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. (Ephesians 5.25, ESV)

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Peter 4.19, NIV)

We were just at Spring Canyon, the conference center near Buena Vista, Colorado, owned by Officers’ Christian Fellowship. Our room had a picture of a guardian angel. Not this one! Feminine, gentle…

The one in our room looked like this:

I like the image of a warrior standing guard! That’s what a guardian angel would do.

See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 18.10, ESV)

Angels are mighty beings. Ever wonder why the first words spoken by an angel when encountering people are, “Fear not!”

There is spiritual warfare, and angels are part of it.

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26.52, 53, ESV)

I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude…Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia… (Daniel 10.5, 6, 12, 13, ESV)

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6.12, ESV)

Before I quit talking about The Navigators 2:7 Series, an extraordinary disciple-making tool celebrating its 50th anniversary in February, please let me tell you one more story.

We were in Montgomery, AL, in the late 1970s, and I was teaching an adult Sunday School class attended by Albert and Linda. Albert was a draftsman, drawing bridges for the state of Alabama, very shy. He would hardly speak up in the Sunday School classes, but he and Linda seemed eager to learn. Once, when I saw them during the week, I encouraged them to be in class Sunday because I was going to teach something important. They said they were sorry, but they had planned to be at the lake that weekend…but they showed up!

So when we started a 2:7 group, Albert and Linda were among the 15 or so folks (large for a 2:7 group) who began. It was a 2-year program, six courses (it’s only three now), and when we got to Book 6, there were only three people besides us: Albert, Linda, and one other man. Some Navigator-trained friends moved to town, and we invited them to participate in Book 6, just so we’d have a decent-sized group.

It came down to the last meeting, and by course four or so, we were rotating leadership of part of each week’s lesson among the participants. So at the appropriate time, I said, “Well, Albert, I believe it’s your turn to lead tonight.” And Albert (shy, remember?) replied, “Yes, and if you would shut up, I could get to it!” I was ecstatic.

Later, Albert’s church launched a new-members’ orientation program, and Albert developed a significant part of it: the discipleship skills portion to include daily time with God and scripture memory. You couldn’t join that church unless you had been “Albertized.”

Folks, that’s what ministry is about: ordinary people training ordinary people and releasing them to train others, and 2:7 is one of the better tools. Some of you reading this blog have 2:7 experience as leaders and/or participants. Please add a confirming comment. And any of you can come to the conference in February in Dallas. I’d love to see you there.

Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2.7, NIV)

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4.13, NIV)

Continuing the theme of leadership transition, we moved to Alabama in 1977 and stayed there until 1984. Then we returned in 2001 for five years. During that second visit, when I was serving on church staff as Minister of Discipleship, leading, essentially, a Navigator ministry, everyone said, “You’ve got to meet David Shropshire! He’s a Navigator.” 

So I met David, about my age, came around The Navigators about the same time I did while serving in the Air Force in Denver in the early 1970s. David continues as a disciple-maker today, investing in the lives of a number of men. We had a wonderful five years together, meeting frequently for mutual encouragement.

But this blog is about something I just learned when he called me earlier this week. He was one of the very early participants in The Navigators 2:7 Series, whose 50th anniversary we are celebrating next year. In fact, he and his wife, Patsy, were in the first promotional video! And he also told me this as an aside:

When we moved to Alabama in 1985 [right after June and I left] the church asked me to lead an existing 2:7 group. It was started by some Air Force officer.

I said, “Yes! That was me! We started a group, went through several books and then moved to Colorado.”

So when God moved us out, he moved the Shropshires in! The Air Force only thinks it’s in control of assignments!

Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. …They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila… (Acts 18.18, 19, NIV)

Do your best to come to me quickly…Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. (2 Timothy 4.9 – 12, NIV)

Yesterday, I mentioned Clemson’s 50th anniversary of the ministry of The Navigators. Today, I want to think about another 50th anniversary. In February, we’ll be celebrating the anniversary of The Navigators’ 2:7 Series, that I’ve written about before. The event is open to all–you’re welcome to join us!

I didn’t participate in 1970–tomorrow, I’ll introduce you to someone who did!–but we started using the material in a small church in Omaha in the fall of 1976, beginning Book 1 with 12 people. It was a 6-book series, and the number of people from that first group that went on to Book 2 was exactly 0.

What to do? No question…find another group and start again. So we had 9 people beginning Book 1 in January 1977. We did Books 1 and 2, and in June, we moved to Montgomery, AL. End of story? Hardly. Two of the folks in that group, a father/son team, owned the Dale Carnegie franchise in Omaha. They were not only committed disciples of Jesus, but they were also leaders. After we left, they kept 2:7 going, and within a year or two, every person in that church had been through Book 1.

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2.1, 2, NIV)

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2.6, 7, NIV, the title verse of the 2:7 series)

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians 3.5 – 7, NIV)