Tim Harlow

ONE HUNDRED

I was reading and hit this verse and the “one hundred” part jumped out at me.

“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed… Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew, and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” (Mark 4:3)

How can a crop produce one hundred times from one seed?

Jesus explains it a few verses later.

“This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29)

When I think about this church, I have seen this happen so many times over. It’s so true. The seed grows and sprouts “although I don’t know how.”

All the books I read on leadership and church growth and all of that, they are good – but the bottom line is I DON’T KNOW HOW. It’s all God. The harvest happens, because someone planted and someone watered and now they are here at Parkview. It’s quite an unbelievable privilege for all of us.

But there is a sense of giving up in this, isn’t there? Paul tells us that when we sow generously, we will reap generously. Jesus tells us that the seed has to die.

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12: 24)

There is a death. A dying, a giving up, that has to happen. But when it does, the harvest is one hundred times more.

And in case this is starting to hit close to home, especially as we are talking about money and tithing and all of that in this current sermon series. Let me just remind you of another “one Hundred” passage…

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29)

And when we give up on this earth, we will receive a hundred times back on this earth and in the age to come.

I "don’t know how." Except that God runs the universe and he’s supernatural. And it’s true in my life for sure.

God Bless You,

Tim

Saving in any economy

I'm going to talk about saving in this sermon this weekend. In some ways, it's very hard to think about how we can do anything but survive in this economy. But this economy is here because we forgot how to live within our mean! 

 The average American spends more than they earn. 85% don't have $250 left at the end of the month. For some that happened because of things that were out of their control. I understand that. But I think we'd all agree that most of America has been living beyond their means for a long time now and it's just caught up with us.

 I ran across this great article from Dave Ramsey who is one of the best at helping us figure out how to get control again. I'm using this article, entitled "THE SECRET TO SAVING MONEY," and i just want to share it with you today. 

The Secret to Saving Money By Dave Ramsey 

"Saving money is not a matter of math. You will not save money when you get that next raise. You will not save money when that car is paid off. You will not save money when the kids are grown. You will only save money when it becomes an emotional priority. We all know we need to save, but most people don’t save like they know they need to save. Why? Because they have competing goals. The goal to save isn’t a high enough priority to delay that purchase of the pizza, DVD player, new computer, or china cabinet. So we purchase, buy, consume all our dollars away or, worse yet, go into debt to buy these things. That debt means monthly payments that control our paychecks and make us say things like, “We just don’t make enough to save any money!” Wrong, wrong, wrong! We DO make enough to save money; we just aren’t willing to quit spoiling ourselves with our little projects or pleasures to have enough left to save. I don’t care what you make - you can save money. It just has to become a big enough priority to you. If a doctor told you that your child was dying and could only be saved with a $15,000 operation that your insurance would not cover and could only be performed 9 months from today, could you save $15,000? Yes! Of course you could! You would sell things, you would stop any spending that wasn’t required to survive, and you would take two extra jobs. For that short 9 months, you would become a saving madman (or madwoman). You would give up virtually anything to accomplish that $15,000 goal. SAVING WOULD BECOME A PRIORITY. ` The secret to saving? FOCUSED EMOTION. The secret to saving money is to make it a priority, and that is done ONLY when you get some healthy anger or fear and then focus that emotion on your personal decisions. Harnessing that emotion will make you move yourself to the top of your creditor list. Then ask yourself, “Which bill is the most important? After tithing, who should I pay first this month?” The answer is YOU! Until you pay God first, then yourself, then everyone and everything else, you will never save money. So whether you are saving for college tuition, a trip to the family reunion, new school clothes for little Bobby or Sally, or anything else, start saving NOW! It’s never too late!"

Proverbs 21:20 says, "Wise people live in wealth and luxury, but stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it."

It's time to make some changes, America. 

Tim

The World Series Starts Tonight

Anybody know who's playing?

Exactly.

It was supposed to be Chicago and Chicago, and then the city was going to be in this big mess with everyone hating each other. But now we can return to football, elections, the economy (what's left), and all of the other important stuff in the world.

Really aren't we goofy?

It's the Tampa Bay Rays vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. My prediction is now Tampa.  Last night I posted that it would be Philly and they actually won because of my prediction.  But now i've been informed that Tampa Bay dropped "devil" from their name and are no longer the Devil Rays. (Thanks Jim)  So since they got rid of the devil - they will win.

(I still hope you all now I'm kidding, I eat deviled ham and love deviled eggs:)

This really only serves to confirm my point, that I don't even know the right name of one of the teams.

What is really important? Baseball was such a big deal a few weeks ago, now we don't care. The things we were thinking about buying a few weeks ago don't matter, because the economy changed. It's just amazing to me how fast things change.

Only one thing doesn't.

Ps. 102:25

"In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end. The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you."

Tim

It's a Three-Letter Word - GOD'S

(Come on, that’s funny. VP candidate Joe Biden reference if you haven’t been paying attention…) I went for a run with my wife through the Forest Preserve today. It’s one of our favorite places to be, and fall is one of our favorite times to be there. It reminds me that there is a lot in my life that is important and special, that isn’t tied to the stock market. We’re all concerned about the economy and (as Biden said) our jobs. I don’t know if yours is a three letter word or a four letter word – but you get my point☺ But when I see the leaves turning and smell the fresh air I realize that there is a Creator running things and I need to spend more time being thankful for what I do have. I get to run on two legs that still work. I get to run with the most beautiful woman in the forest. I get to trust in a God that is able to create all of this beauty on earth and has created another place for me to spend eternity that will put this to shame. When I realize that it’s all –GODS – it really puts me at ease. When Jesus tells me that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without the Heavenly Father knowing (Mt. 10:29)– it makes me realize that everything is under his control. Mt 6

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I couldn’t find a lilly – but this shot of the burning bushes in my backyard are close. IT’S ALL GODS.

The Shack

I promised I would give a few comments on my opinion of the book. First of all, I can’t stand people who sit around and poke at other people’s stuff. I have enough of that myself. I think Jesus’ rough translation of the whole sawdust in your neighbor’s eye would be “Go poke yourself. Then you can poke everyone else.” There are a million blogs and articles pro and con on the new bestseller “The Shack.”

I do have some theological issues. But not enough for me to tell you not to read it. The book is helping people find God and Jesus said, “If they aren’t against us – they are for us.” Mark 9:40

It’s a FICTION book. It’s a rough read, because of the story line, which I won’t give away. The fictional account is of God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit inviting this guy back to the place where his worst nightmare happened to show him how much God loves him.

The subtle problem is a bit of a disdain for scripture by the guy (Mack). “God’s voice had been reduced to paper… Nobody wanted God in a box, just in a book. Especially an expensive one bound in gilt edges, or was it guilt edges?” (pg 65) And the “God” character tends to downplay the importance of a lot of events recorded in scripture. That is my biggest concern. The Holy Spirit character is weird to me, but then again the concept of the Holy Spirit is the hardest part of the Trinity to understand.

Here are some sites that are pro and some that are con in regards to this book.

For: LifeStream Wayne Jacobsen – edited The Shack WordPress Professor John Stackhouse (author)

Against: LeadingtheWay Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D. (author) Crosswalk Chuck Colson (author)

You can take what you want. But I would always encourage you to find things out for yourself. If you are interested, read it. Be careful about anything you read, but don’t let someone else figure out your relationship to God. God’s word is the foundation. If it’s Max Lucado or William Paul Young or C.S. Lewis or Tim Harlow (if I ever write a book), measure it against the Word and ask God to teach you through it.

God talked through a Donkey once…

Tim

Valhalla - "Heaven"

I got to play golf in Louisville with one of my mentors (Bob Russell) and some other preacher buddies. Bob took us to Valhalla, which was the site of the recent victory of the USA in the Ryder Cup. If you don’t follow golf, one of the biggest golfing events is the Ryder Cup held every two years. It’s kind of like the Olympics in that USA plays Europe (which is basically everybody else). We’ve lost the last three in a row and five out of the last six. So when our boys won a couple of weeks ago (without Tiger), it was a very big deal.

Valhalla is one of the great golf courses in the country. The name is the Nordic name for Heaven. Playing it sometimes feels more like Nifleheim (Norse for Hell), but I played pretty well and it was a great time.

When we came to the 18th tee, there was a plaque.
It had started raining by this time but I couldn’t help but stop and get a picture

He Surrounds Us With His Favor

Psalm 5 ¹¹ But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. ¹² For surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield.

Just a quick word of hope and joy for you today. I was reading this morning and I think with the economy and the election, everyone is just a little on edge. The Psalmist assures us in God’s word that he will surround us with his favor. That doesn’t mean our stocks will stay up while the Dow goes down. It doesn’t mean we won’t have trouble in this world. What it DOES mean is that we don’t have to worry. God is in control. We should be glad and sing for joy no matter what the world throws at us.

Matthew 6 ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Tim

Becca is 16!

My baby turned 16 yesterday. That is really hard for me to process. She should still be my baby (and she will always be my baby).

We threw her a surprise party, which was quite a bit more difficult since we did it for the other two, and she was looking for it. But we got her. We lied a little bit and told her that her sisters couldn’t come in. But Rachel and Lauren were both able to be here and a bunch of her friends, and she was definitely surprised.

Proverbs 103:13 says, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.”

I think that the older I get and the more time I have as a father (21 years now), the more I understand this verse. You can tell by the look on my face (click on the picture and it will get bigger) that nothing gives me more joy than my children. Surprising my daughter with something that she loves, is what I enjoy more than doing something for myself. It’s the nature of fatherhood.

“So the LORD has compassion.”

Jesus said that God is able to be a much better father than we ever could be.

So take a look at my face, and whether you had a good earthly father or not – let that be your picture of God. Happy to surprise you. Loving to give you good things. Wanting nothing but the best for your life.

So the Lord…

And don't miss the scripture over my head.

Tim

Learning

I spent a couple of days this week at a conference on Multi-Site put on by the Leadership Network and some churches that are doing it effectively. The host church, Seacoast, was a little smaller than us when they launched their first satellite location. They now have 12 sites and they are twice our size even though their largest auditorium is smaller than ours.

It’s definitely an effective way to reach more people, and it’s probably a lot closer to Jesus’ idea of “going” into the world than the way we’ve done it where everyone has to “come” to us.

And in case you didn’t know, we had 449 back for the second week at Lockport. That is unprecedented! Normally, you will drop off 30-50% in your second week after the initial week buzz. We dropped 1%. God’s hand is on this. I don’t know where we will shake out, but it is truly remarkable. Please keep this in your prayers. It’s a new day of ministry.

Now I’m spending some time with my “Stinkling” buddies, working on some sermon planning and ministry ideas. Greg, Ben, and Eddie are a lot smarter than me, and all of them have tried a lot of different approaches to ministry at their churches. If you are a part of Parkview, you have no idea how much of the good stuff that happens here is because I’m smart enough to know I’m not that smart, and I surround myself with great people.

Tim