August 3, 2004

Dear Friends and Loved Ones,

            God bless you and overwhelm you with His love and mercy in the midst of the chaotic lifestyles many are leading today. May your ears be attuned to the voice of His Spirit within you and numb to much of the political barrage of words invading our space. We are citizens of heaven, but we are also commanded to seek the blessing of this great country where we live in exile. As stewards, we have the right and obligation to vote and therefore must be informed, but remember that the greatest information comes from the still small voice within as we fellowship with Him in constant communication. If you’re not conversing with Almighty God within, something is terribly wrong. If this is so, please get help.

            I volunteer to help if I can, but first read the first section of the booklet, “Doing Church God’s Way” or the earlier version on the website, “How To Start a House Church.” This deals with hearing the voice of Jesus. I would like to speak with you about it; however, here is my upcoming, God-willing, schedule:

            Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 4, to California for four days.

Sunday August 8, to Taiwan for two weeks. Son Mike has arranged some exciting activities relating to house churches, evangelistic opportunities, and speaking in a larger Chinese congregation. 

Three weeks in Southern California with a two day interruption to pick up a young apostle from prison.

West Coast trip scheduled around a Unity Conference in Auburn Washington where I will be speaking on September 18^th. We are considering stops in San Francisco, Salem Oregon, Vantage Washington, Spokane, Pocatello Idaho and back to Omaha Nebraska sometime around October 1^st. We will be traveling in a large van with plenty of room for any who would like to come along. Let me know if you’re interested.    

Last week at a conference in Osceola, Wisconsin, my friend Robert Fitts related the following parable, or metaphor the Lord gave him while teaching from Ephesians four. It was in regards to apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers equipping the saints for the work of ministry. The Lord said, “It’s like a car, Robert. Every car has two motors - a big one and a little one. The little one starts the big one and then stops. The little one can’t operate the car, only the big one can.”

Wow! This has been exploding in my spirit.

The big car is my life, my family, my fellowship, my church (one per city). In each of these entities, I need to drive the car or live the Christian life at the direction of our Master, with the big motor. The little motor can’t drive the car. The little motor just gets it started. The five-fold ministry can’t “minister the Christian life,” it can only get it started, do repair jobs, or make adjustments. Each of us in this five-fold category can drive with the big motor in our own lives, or spheres of responsibility, or brotherhood among the fellowships; but when working with others, we only help get the big motor started.

Parents are like the five-folders with their children. They run their little motors to help the children start their big motors. In every area of life, they help and then stop at the proper times. A vivid picture is watching them start and stop the little motor as the child begins walking.

Here are some other “images” that have come to my mind from this metaphor:

The evangelism and discipleship of many here in the inner city of Omaha is like the little motor starting some big motors, but they cough and sputter and smoke and chug and stop. The little motor kicks in again and grinds on and on. Sometimes the battery gets weak and the little motor needs a re-charged battery or a jump. These little motors often need encouragement, and support, and the knowledge that they are not alone.

I saw a house church where the little motor was quick to shut down when big motors started up. If they sputterered a bit, the little motor would kick in again and help them out. Eventually the big motor(s) gathered others in their homes to help them get started. I saw other kinds house churches where the little motors did like the following CEO of the American corporate church.

I saw one of the larger dynamic fellowships here in the Church of Omaha where huge crowds gather to worship and praise (the larger motor was running pretty well), and then the CEO got up and I heard the little motor whirring and spinning for a long long time. Then he prayed and sent the big motor(s) out to drive and serve, but only a few of them caught the spark and began roaring. When some of them had begun running during the whirring of the little motor, it was too much of a distraction and they had to shut down.

  Drive, brothers and sisters. Drive and enjoy the scenery and the trip. When the Lord uses you as one of the little motors, be very cooperative with Him and shut down when the big one starts.

I love you and bless you in Jesus’ name.

Please keep us in your prayers,