Running On Empty

Have you ever run out of gas?  What happens?  What about this scenario?  The car begins to hop, skip, jump, spit, and sputter and finally it takes its last gasp of air and suddenly goes silent.  The gauges drop and the lights slowly burn out as the battery dies.  Sometimes you sit dazed confused because you really didn’t see it coming.  You where so focused on your plans or rush to get there, that you didn’t stop or slow down long enough to check the fuel gauge.  Other times, you simply shake your head in shame, because you knew better.  You knew the tank was low, you knew you needed to get some fuel, but you thought it was worth the risk.  Now, here you sit on a busy highway or perhaps on an old country road embarrassed, angry, and frustrated about what this stupid lack of judgment is going to mean.  You begin to grasp at straws.  Do I have a gas can in the trunk?  No!  Hmmm, I knew I should have put that emergency kit in the back.  Oh no, it’s starting to rain.  Oh, snap I don’t have an umbrella either.  Well let’s get my trusty cell phone out and call for some help.  Great , no signal!  Now, I can’t call for help and I can’t even let my appointment know I am going to be late.  Man oh, man….my appointment!  I’ll never make it in time.

So now, here you set.  Out of gas, no tank, no cell phone, it’s raining, no umbrella, and you’ve just missed an important appointment.  People were expecting you.  Perhaps, it was a job interview, a child’s little league game, a birthday party, or maybe you were just having coffee with a friend and you missed it because you didn’t stop to get gas.  Certainly, frustration and regret sets in.  The consequences of our choice may be small or it may be very costly.  While missing that little league game, may not a big deal to you, it could be a huge deal to the child.  What if you missed a job interview, while the interviewer could’ve been at home with a sick child or parent?  What if the birthday party you missed was someone’s 50^th and you were the only close friend that did not make it?  Oh, we can shake things off and assume that other people will do the same; the truth is our empty tank affects more than just us.

Are you running on empty?  Do you wake up day after day simply going through the motions?   Do you feel you are being pressed on all sides and it’s just a matter of time until the gas run’s out and everything comes to a halt?  Ever felt like you were just a fraud and sooner or later everyone’s going to find out about you, because things aren’t right or going well?  Perhaps, you’ve got that funny feeling down deep in your gut and are unsteady, because you know you are at your limit and cannot go any further alone.  Perhaps you have unpaid bills, made a bad career choice, dealing with substance abuse,  have a relationship problem, a sexual addiction, overworked, stressed out, or know things just aren’t right.  The tank is getting empty and about to run dry.  You may be reading this devotion and the reality is you are empty, there’s nothing left, you can go no further, and you’ve done all that you can do.

In 2 Kings ch. 4, there was a woman in a similar circumstance.   She had just lost her husband, she had no money, and the creditors where coming.  She went to Elisha the prophet to plead her case, because her husband was a man who loved the Lord.  Elisha asks her what property she had and her reply was, “a jar of oil.”  He then instructed her to get her son’s and all the empty vessels they could find and shut the doors and begin to fill the empty vessels from the full one she had.  They did so and the oil continued to flow from the full vessel until they ran out of empty vessels.   When they finished they had enough to pay off the creditors and to live on.

Oil in scripture represents many things.  It may represent consecration, cleansing, refreshing, a new work, emancipation, blessings, healing, etc.  Regardless it is always of merit and represents a form of purpose.  For the sake of this illustration, let’s look at the oil as a representation of Christ and our purpose in Him.  If you notice before the widow could be blessed, Elisha asks her a question.  He asked what she had.  Before she could receive she had to be willing to step up and take action.  Once she did as Elisha had instructed her life was changed completely.  Had she not have done as the prophet instructed she would have, most likely, found herself in a worse state than she was currently in.  She was running on empty, but in her obedience to truth she became blessed.  Now you may say, “At least she had something to start with; I don’t have a vessel of oil, I have nothing.”  You may be correct, but it’s a problem you can fix and move from emptiness to fullness.

Your emptiness is eating you up inside.  Christ once approached a Samaritan woman at a well and asked for drink of water.  She was taken back.  As a Jew, Christ was not expected to associate, let alone speak to a lowly Samaritan woman.

John 4: ^9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

^10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

^11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? ^12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

^13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, ^14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

The Samaritan woman was immediately intrigued and wanted to know more and engaged Christ to the point that he eventually confided to her that He indeed was the Messiah.  She saw that he had no vessel, nothing to draw water with.  It was not needed.  When she believed Christ, much like the widow woman, her vessel was filled, because Christ is the source of the living water.

Are you running on empty?  Rest in the assurance that regardless of your situation or current outlook you are not alone or empty.  Your fullness is found in the acceptance of Christ as Lord and in his promise and fulfillment of emptiness.  You see, Christ also left something empty.  That emptiness was found in the form of an empty tomb.  His death, burial, and resurrection are the evidence of His deity and Godship.  The empty tomb is the evidence that every prophecy and every promise ever made in scripture by or about Christ is absolute and true.  This makes the Bible an actual historical account and your road map to moving from feeling empty to experiencing the fullness that is found in a relationship with Christ.

Perhaps it’s time for acceptance of the reality and truth of the gospel of Christ, or perhaps it’s time for a true conversion and transformation through Him.  To begin, you need only act as the widow and take a simple step.  Your full vessel is your profession of belief in Christ and the repentance of sin.  Christ is right here and willing to fill your vessel completely.  You may say, “Well, that’s great but that doesn’t solve my problem.”  It may!  It may not, but regardless your acceptance of Christ as Lord will change your perspective and the focus of your life.  The widow and her sons took her full vessel and began to fill every empty vessel they could find from the full one she had.  When you accept Christ, you are given a full vessel.  If you take that vessel and do just as the widow and begin to focus on filling other empty vessels, I promise your perspective will change.  Your identity, who you are, and your fulfillment in life is not defined by your circumstances.  When you receive Christ and take the focus off of yourself, place it on Him, and focus on your ability to share Him with others (fill other vessels) your focus in life changes.

Galatians 2: ²⁰ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

There is nothing in this life that can beat you down or steal your victory when you allow His spirit to live within you.  The world is not going to be rosy.  We will have problems, have struggles, and we will still make dumb decisions and suffer consequences.  Yet with all this, you have hope because it is not what happens to the flesh that matters if I’m living by faith.  As you grow in your relationship and obedience to Christ the pain and suffering you have in this life will grow less and less.  You’ll make better choices and grow as an individual and when things do fall apart you know it’s not the end of the world, your tank is never empty!

Serving Christ by Serving You,

Bryan K. Taunton

Exec. Director Footwash Ministries

A Cry For Liberty

The Crisis, by Thomas Paine: Dec. 23rd 1776

"THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God."

Never would I consent to the need for politics in our Christianity but there is a need for Christianity in our politics.  For far too long we have stood back and waited for others to effect change in our nation.  Most have left it to someone else to take office, to lead, and to legislate.  While, I do not agree that we can legislate Christianity we can legislate our values.  We have tried creating influence in times past, but it’s been a frivolous effort.  Our idea to establish our agenda has been to picket, write letters, make calls, complain, point fingers to try and influence votes in our government.  We continue to support political agendas and political leaders who put their politics first.  It’s time now to take personal accountability and action.  We need strong people of Godly character to begin assimilating themselves into government. We need people who will fulfill their positions by listening to their constituents for the moral majority without harming the minority.

We cannot continue to idly sit back and wait for someone else to take action.  We need personal accountability and integrity which comes from an obedience and acceptance of Christ.  I am convinced that if we, “The People” do not wake up and accept the call to arms that is now going out, our nation will be lost.  We may find ourselves lost to a sea of godly pluralism, socialism, government securities and provisions, and social yes men.  Tolerance no longer means that we agree to disagree, respecting one another, and acknowledging one another.  No, today, tolerance means that we agree to disagree but I must also agree that your opinion, thought, or doctrine is just as valid as mine.  Opinions do matter but there is only one absolute truth on which all other rest!  That absolute truth begins with the acceptance of John 14:6 “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”

Anything that diverts from or doesn’t support this fundamental truth, points to the wrong direction.  We must change the support grid of this nation to support John 14:6.  Our success as individuals and as a nation falls flatly upon this verse.  We will tolerate other points of view but we will not acknowledge them as equally valid.  We will not punish those who do not acknowledge our viewpoint as valid.  Instead, we must love, lift up, and assist where and whenever we can.  Finding a way to turn this nation around can be found in this method.  To live, to love, and to serve is our greatest challenge.  Will you accept that challenge?  Are you ready to make a stand? Are you ready to be a person of action and not just talk?  I encourage you to get involved with your local government or party today and begin to instill a sincere Christ head leadership.  It’s going to take a lot of work.  You will face obstacles.  Every political party whether on a national or local level has it’s good-ol’-boy network.  We must move in a massive front into our political parties.  I don’t care if your democrat or republican, it’s time to do what is right.  Do what is right according to Biblical principles first and everything else will work itself out.  Do not compromise your personal integrity, realizing your integrity is measured against that of Christ.  Strive to fulfill that challenge!

Serving Christ by Serving You,

Bryan K. Taunton

Exec. Director FootWash Ministries

The Millennium Crunch

No, it’s not a new candy bar or ice cream flavor.  It’s the startling new attitude that we are facing in the “Millennium” generation of students rising today.  The Pew Research Center recently released a large survey about this generation entitled “Millennials, Confident, Connected, Open to Change.” [About PRC: a nonpartisan “fact tank” that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It does so by conducting public opinion polling and social science research, by analyzing news coverage, and by holding forums and briefings. It does not take positions on policy issues.]  For the purposes of this article, we will not look at everything in this survey but focus on the religious aspect in applications to what I would like to call the “Millennial Attitude” and the urgency to which our spiritual leaders must address this issue.  It’s Millennial Crunch time!

In the pages of the survey, they set out to compare the values, attitudes and behaviors of Millennials with those of today’s older adults. And, to the extent that they could, also compare them with older adults back when they were the age that Millennials are now.  It’s too easy because most readers don’t need a team of researchers to tell them that the typical 20-year-old, 45-year-old and 70-year-old are likely to be different from one another. People already know that.  It’s too difficult because, try as we might, we know we can never completely disentangle the multiple reasons that generations differ. At any given moment in time, age group differences can be the result of three overlapping processes: 1) Life cycle effects. Young people may be different from older people today, but they may well become more like them tomorrow, once they themselves age. 2) Period effects. Major events (wars; social movements; economic downturns; medical, scientific or technological breakthroughs) affect all age  groups simultaneously, but the degree of impact may differ according to where people are located in the life cycle. 3) Cohort effects. Period events and trends often leave a particularly deep impression on young adults because they are still developing their core values; these imprints stay with them as they move through their life cycle. ¹

The new generation of teens, and twenty somethings, who are speeding their way into the new millennium are more ethnically and racially diverse than their predecessors.  Typically, you will find them to be confident, self-expressive, open to change, and positive.  On the one hand, this is surprising given the economic & world turmoil into which they have been released.  On the other hand, this information is not so surprising because previous generations became closed off when faced with similar circumstances.  With the “Global” views of today and the advent of social media attitudes, times are changing.  This generation finds itself to most likely be the highest educated generation in American history, with the highest number who have served in the military, and who have radically reduced desires for religion.

This generation overwhelmingly embraces social media and rarely can be found without their personal PDA which is relied upon and almost viewed as a 5^th appendage.  This has spawned self expression on almost limitless levels.  Blogs, social sites, pages, tweets, flicker, text messaging, and more are used to the point that email is no longer considered main stream.  The Millennial Generation desires user friendly, instant information, and instant action.  Therefore, if information is not delivered in this manner, it will most likely be overlooked.

The Millennial Generation (MG) are increasingly less affiliated with a specific faith.  When compared to past generations at the same age, fewer are involved, attend, or claim a specific religion or faith.  “Fully one-in-four members of the millennial generation are unaffiliated with any particular faith.” ²  Of the MG'ers who do believe they maintain the tradition of their parents "and" grandparents in terms of life after death, God, heaven, and hell, the survey indicated that the pray less often.   On the other end of the spectrum, they are much more open socially and politically.  This would tend to indicate to the author that while MG’s hold many of the same spiritual values or traditions, these views do not necessarily have a great influence over their social or political decisions.  Though they may acknowledge religious practice or theology, they may not apply them effectively.  This is indicated by a greater acceptance of homosexuality, “Hollywood” values, evolution, and the Government- set morality standards. 

“Compared with their elders today, young people are much less likely to affiliate with any religious tradition or to identify themselves as part of a Christian denomination. Fully one-in-four adults under age 30 (25%) are unaffiliated, describing their religion as “atheist,” “agnostic” or “nothing in particular.” This compares with less than one-fifth of people in their 30s (19%), 15% of those in their 40s, 14% of those in their 50s and 10% or less among those 60 and older. About two-thirds of young people (68%) say they are members of a Christian denomination and 43% describe themselves as Protestants, compared with 81% of adults ages 30 and older who associate with Christian faiths and 53% who

are Protestants.” ³

Revealing statistics:

• 25% of people under age 30 classify themselves as atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular
• 68% of MG’s claim to be members of a faith denomination
• 18% of MG’s say they were raised in religion but are now unaffiliated
• 42% of MG’s subscribe to a Christian Protestant or Catholic faith following
• 18% of MG’s say they attend a worship service at least once a week.
• 45% of MG’s say that religion is very important to their lives

While some of these statistics differ slightly among the MG’ers to the previous Gen X’ers the trend remains the same.  From generation to generation, God, Christ, and religion are becoming less valuable to our lives.  The statistics above are alarming.  The most alarming to the author is that only 42% claim a Catholic/Protestant Christian faith.  While we may initially take comfort and say that 68% are affiliated we must realize there are faiths other than Christianity and many are classified as Christian by followers, i.e. Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, Orthodox, etc.

We must begin to develop strategies that MG’ers can and will identify with and that will cause them to apply what they receive in Christ to their daily living.  It is becoming increasingly alarming and revealing through life allowances, tolerances, lack of personal judgment, and refusal to draw lines, that while MG’ers may take part in occasional religious practice it is not necessarily pouring over into their daily living.  This is a statistic that is revealed when it is noted that only 45% of MG’ers say that religion is important to their lives but only 18% attend services regularly.  Both numbers are alarmingly low, but when only 18% of the whole is compared to the 45%, it is apparent that life application is sorely lacking.

At a glance it would appear that the MG’s see the global view and acceptance of the day and are gobbling it up like candy.  To fix the problem, it will take a total overhaul and change.  not the kind of change that is being held up today.  Rather, it is the opinion of this author that this trend will continue, provided ministerial leaders of various denominations cannot come to some type of universal agreement and strategy to create a unified front.  We need a multi-denominational pledge of unity, strategy, and application to develop a real working evangelistic movement to save this nation one person at a time.  I dream of a day when we see a real ministry summit to target this very idea and begin to go to work and create this unity.  Sadly, far too often pride and ego will not be set aside long enough to allow something of this nature to take place.  It’s not too late.  There is hope, but it will take the working hands of the most influential people in ministry today --or will it?  Quite frankly, it should start right in your own home town.  Honestly, we don’t need another program or campaign.  Though it would be wonderful to generate funding on a national basis and simply campaign for Christ, we can influence a culture by influencing individuals who transform cities, then states, then nations.  I encourage you to find a way today to unify your spiritual community and begin to transform your city.  Join me in prayer to see this happen before the next generation climbs even further into the abyss of sin and despair. 

II Chronicles 7:14 “if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.” nkj

The author Bryan Taunton is Executive Director of FootWash Ministries and is available for speaking upon request.

Serving Christ by serving You……..

The author recognizes these contributions:

¹This portion is partially excerpted from the preface of Pew Research Center report series that looks at the values, attitudes and experiences of America’s next generation: the Millennials.  Find out how today’s teens and twenty-somethings are reshaping the nation at:

www.pewresearch.org/millennials.

²Direct quote taken from ch. 9 pg 92 pr 1 pewresearch.or/millennials

³Direct quote taken from ch. 9 pg 93 pr 3 pewresearch.or/millennials

FootWash Ministries Introduces InSight Surveys

Have you ever spoken to a group and wondered what were they thinking?  Have you ever thought of or desired to ask your group a question but couldn’t because of the fear that they would not be honest?  Polling a group by the raised hand on sensitive issues may cause some to refuse to participate, embarrassment, and even hurt relationships.  Giving someone the privilege to answer a question with complete anonymity allows you the opportunity to get to the heart of an issue or probing question.

In 1987 only 1 million Americans owned cell phones.  Today over 250 million own mobile phones and the list is growing.  Presently mobile phone technology is growing at a rapid rate and social networking such as text messaging, twitter, facebook, and others is growing even faster.  Most mobile phones today offer one or more forms of social networking.   One statistic states that there are over 400 million text messages sent in America a day.  While not everyone uses text messaging the overwhelming number of today’s techno savvy adults and teenagers are text friendly.  This being said text post are accurate because the majority of people in your groups of people age 60 and under use a text messaging service.  Imagine as a Pastor, Evangelist, or Student leader being able to ask your group to take out their mobile phones and look at a graph on your overhead screen and see a question with various responses.  Simply ask them to text the adjacent number of their answer to CODE#.

Sample of a recent survey taken in a small group of 200 to 300 “Believers”. 

Notice 13% (there were no visitors at this Church that day) believed that Jesus was not the only way.

How could you use this information in a live poll of your group or congregation?  Do you think it might add a new twist or tool to your sermon or message?  Contact FootWash Ministries today and discuss your options and possibilities.  Each live Insight Survey can be designed specifically for you. and the results are completely anonymous and viewable simultaneously while voting is taking place live on your overhead screen.

•         Results are anonymous
•         Results are instantaneous
•         Survey is viewable live on screen while actual voting is taking place
•         Each phone can only submit one vote
•         Produces true analytic results

We will work with you one on one and develop the best strategy for your survey and create a survey that specifically meets your needs.

Click the link below and download the PDF and call and schedule your InSight Survey today.

Serving Christ by Serving You,

Bryan K. Taunton

Exec. Director FootWash Ministries

btaunton@FootWashMinistries.org

Evangelism Trends:

In a 2008 survey by LifeWay, they discovered of 1,684 adults who had not “attended a religious service in a church, synagogue or mosque, other than for a religious holiday or for a special event such as a wedding or funeral at any time in the past six months” revealed that only 49 percent would visit in person if they were looking for a church. By contrast, 83 percent of church switchers in an earlier survey said they made an in-person visit when they “actively searched for a new church.”

Significantly, more than half of un-churched people would follow a recommendation from family, friends, neighbors or colleagues if they were looking for a church, but 24 percent said they didn’t really see themselves using any of the usual ways of finding a church, as reported by Transworld News (http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=44244&cat=13) 

Now this is not a “recent” article or survey, but the trend has not changed.  The fact remains that if we are going to reach the un-churched, while the message stays the same we must change and update our methods.  In many ways the Church is trying to reach the world using methods that were developed some thirty plus years ago.  The world has moved forward in its development of social interaction and communication.  While, many churches today would fail the modern day litheness test, refusing to bend from old traditions to reach modern day society.  Persistently, we find that the Church is chasing trends rather than creating them.

People in society today confess the need for a faith in their lives but more and more are not looking at Christianity as their primary choice.  This is a growing disease in our society and is a direct result of faulty outreach and evangelism strategies.   Most churches today rely primarily upon active visitation as their source of evangelism.  Not that they are actively visiting people but that people who are actively visiting and looking for a church come to a service.  The sad fact is that, most often a visitation to a service is a result of a “believer” seeking a new place to worship.  People who are in the world and do not yet know Christ as Lord are not looking for a church.  Yet, we set back week after week and wait for our great worship service or the fantastic expoundings of the pastor to be the drawing card.  They may be a draw to a believer but remember, the lost person doesn’t care about what the pastor is saying on Sunday morning.  Now I’m not saying that no one ever comes to or visits your church because they aren’t looking for something i.e. Christ, but let’s be honest it is a rarity.

So what do we do?  Well, I’m not going to pretend to have all the answers and be able to present them in this blog.  There are volumes of books on the subject of which my feeble mind cannot even begin to compare.  But for starters let’s look at these things:

Christ said in Luke 14:23 “….Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

Here are a few ideas:

• Witness as Christ

a.        Non-offensive in truth

b.       Speak in love

c.        Serve then share! 

• Be real and genuine and be who you say you are
• Be a person of integrity
• Encourage members of your Church to share the gospel!
• Create non-evasive ways and strategies to share faith and invite members to your church

a.        A friend of mine has a great ministry called prayer stop.  It’s a great way to reach people by simply praying for them, allowing them to come to you rather than you making a quick gospel sales pitch.

b.       Create strategies to serve the needs of your friends, neighborhood, and community.

c.        Create events which are “World” inclusive that cause interaction with the Church.

• Disciple and teach your members and new believers to effectively defend and share their faith.
• Simply invite the lost to come and when I say this, often it takes more than an invitation in passing and must be repeated in love and not in nagging.
• Make use of social networking effectively {Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Tangle, You Tube,etc}
• Have a nice attractive website for your church

These are just a few quick ideas that come to mind.  I’m sure you will come up with better.  The main point is to make people feel comfortable with you when pointing out their uncomfortable position of not knowing Christ.  If your conversations become adversarial you will not make a connection.  You must make the connection first, and then encourage the individual in the ways of the gospel.  A pointing finger makes people look the wrong way, you need people to listen to the message you are sharing and most often it points back to self.  People will come to Christ and to Church more often if they feel comfortable, loved, and wanted.  Bottom line, if you want your church to grow, then you must effectively get outside the walls of your Church.

Great Skit from the skit guys on this subject click pick to watch.


Serving Christ by Serving You,

Bryan K. Taunton

Exec. Director FootWash Ministries

btaunton@footwashministries.org