Pan Dulce

More Resources Available Online

Mil Gracias! A thousand thanks to Cheryl Jones and Matt Searcy for making the Universal Discipleship Pattern available online on this blog in PDF format. Yesterday I announced the availability of a downloadable PDF copy of the UDP available at no cost for individuals, churches, ministries, and BCFS staff who are interested in a tool to develop Christ-likeness after the 1st century pattern. Simply look at the right hand side of this blog below the pictures and click on Universal Discipleship Pattern to download your copy.

In the spirit of Christmas I am thrilled to announce to my circle of readers that the 2007 Advent Guide produced by Scott Collins and his team is now available online. You will find a PDF format that can be downloaded and used in preparation for Advent. The Guide is an excellent tool written by Buckner staff that can be used in your family, your Sunday School class, Bible Study Group, and Church to celebrate the four weeks of Advent. The 2007 Advent Guide is a multinational, multicultural tool to help us celebrate the Christ child in light of our work with children. We had so many requests that we ran out of copies and could not receive additional orders and fulfill them by the first Sunday of Advent. The creation of the Advent Guide was a creative effort to serve churches and friends of Buckner across the nation and around the world. We had request from over 40 state and several countries. To ensure that everyone has access to the guide, it is now available online. Go to www.buckner.org and click on the link for the Buckner 2007 Advent Guide and download your copy today.

Jesus said it is better to give than to receive so I want to also invite you to look at the 2007 Buckner Gift Catalog at www.buckner.org on the front page to consider ways you might invest into the life of a child or family that is looking for hope. Look through the catalog and see if you find an opportunity to give.

Advent is a time for expecting Jesus to come as a child to bring peace. Advent is a time when we celebrate the Imago Dei, the image of God, the Icon of God, through the coming of his son into the world. My prayer during this time of the year is that we might see the likeness of Christ, and as Dr. George Mason so eloquently preached www.wilshire.com , in people who demonstrate Christ-likeness in the everyday experiences of life. As we see Christ-likeness, we will see Christ. As we see Jesus followers bring good news to the poor, bring sight to the blind, bring freedom for prisoners, bring liberty to the oppressed, and care for orphans and widows in their time of distress, we will see the presence of Jesus. My hope is that during this time of celebrating Advent that we might enjoy multiple sightings of the Christ child in those around us. Let the celebration begin!

Christlikeness Sermon Available Online

Dr. George Mason, Senior Pastor at Wilshire Baptist Church of Dallas www.wilshirebc.org has graciously allowed me to post his sermon manuscript on this blog. You can find it under sermons on the left hand side of this page entitled "Christlikeness." I hope it blesses you as much as it blessed me. Thanks Bro. George!

Universal Discipleship Pattern Available Online

In the early 1990’s I served as a young church starter/founding pastor in El Paso, Texas. I was invited to the first national meeting of Baptists CAMEO (Contemporary Approaches to Ministry, Evangelism, and Organization) pastors in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Through some divine interventions I found myself on a plane to Albuquerque with several pastors and leaders from Dallas. Erwin McManus, former director of evangelism of the Dallas Baptist Association, encouraged me to participate in this meeting. Jim Walters, Associate pastor at Casa View Baptist Church in Dallas invited me to go since he had an extra ticket. I did not see myself as a CAMEO pastor but the Lord had other designs for that trip.

One of the first people I met was Dr. Thom Wolf, pastor of The Church on Brady in East Los Angeles, now called Mosaic in Los Angeles, California. Thom and I immediately connected. Over time I made trips to California to attend mission conferences with my leadership team from El Paso. The Church on Brady became the leading church in the SBC to deploy church members overseas in global missions.

One of the key teachings I learned from Bro. Thom was the Universal Discipleship Pattern. I asked Bro. Thom if he would allow me to write modules for it to use among new believers and leaders at Pueblo Nuevo Community Church in El Paso. We began to field test the pattern and writing modules for discipleship. Later, in my assignment at Baptist University of the Americas, I used the UDP as a required text and experience for a course I developed entitled “Contextual Leadership Development.” My thought was that Christian leaders really don’t lead until they learn how to follow Jesus. In that experience they learn to lead themselves after the pattern of Christ. Through that experience they gain credibility to lead others to imitate Christ as well.

Here is what I hope you hear from me today:  Throughout my 32 years of preaching and 14 years as a pastor, I have yet to encounter a more useful and effective tool for helping Jesus followers develop Christ-likeness. The UDP is an integration of biblical teaching that reflects the 1st century pattern of Christ-likeness. You can see Dr. Wolf’s original and current versions of this model at www.drthomwolf.com as well as other helpful material.

For the first time in about 13 years of using this pattern as a pastor and professor, I am uploading the modules for you to use with those in your circle of influence. I have permission from Bro. Thom to use this material copyrighted by him. This material is available to you at no cost to reproduce and use in your bible study group, ministry, church, or among those you seek to disciple.

The UDP Modules are not professionally published so you may find errors. As a pastor I developed supporting modules from Bro. Thom’s work to disciple new believers. As a professor, I saw the life change in my students. You can find the PDF version of the UDP on the right hand side of this blog below my pics. Please send me any feedback you have on the UDP once you have used it. If you need a “Key” for the modules contact Cheryl Jones at cjones@buckner.org and we will email a copy to you.

Pattern of the Imago Dei

So what was the 1st century pattern of teaching that Paul used to replicate the Imago Dei, the image of Christ, the Icon of the living God in followers of Christ? Thom Wolf has made this question the topic of his dissertation at Andrews University. The literature is overwhelming on this topic. Sociologists, cultural anthropologists, philosophers, business professionals and adherents to other faiths have all written and struggled with one compelling question: What is the best way to live life on the planet.

In the 1st century Paul used a pattern of teaching. Look at this sampling of evidence for this body of teaching:

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. Romans 6:17

Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. Philippians 3:17

Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to teach you these things?
2 Thessalonians 2:5

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you, yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. 2 Thessalonians 3:6

What you have heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:13

There are more verses on this subject I could cite but as you can see Paul developed a pattern of teaching toward personal life transformation and also commended this pattern in example and in content to replicate the image of God in us through the life of Jesus Christ. You can find more information about this pattern at www.drthomwolf.com as well as other insightful tools and teaching.

The pattern is to build lives on the rock which is Christ, to turn from other gods and worship the one true and living God, to walk worthy of the name of Christ, to allow the Word and Spirit to indwell us so that it affects all our relationships in life, to be prepared for spiritual warfare, and to provide a witness for the hope that is in us. In the next day or so I plan to post the pattern called the Universal Disciple Pattern on this blog. You will be able to download and make your own copy to use.

My personal goal is to live according to the first century pattern as I serve in my role as president of BCFS. This is the Christ-likeness that I hope children see in us.

Replicating the Imago Dei

Yesterday I reflected on Dr. George Mason’s message on “Christ-likeness.” I want to carry further this thought since it connects to our Human Development Strategy for BCFS. BCFS is a social service ministry designed to care for orphans, children and families at risk. We protect, provide pathways to independence, and provide services to build healthy families. However, we do this ministry from a Christian perspective within a framework of historic Baptist distinctives and beliefs.

Dr. George Mason, pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas creatively linked the imago dei, the image of God, through the etymology of “image” to a key idea. Image in New Testament Greek is “eikon” or its English transliteration “icon.” He said when we find ourselves in Christ we respond to God’s grace. It is like clicking on the “Icon” on your desktop. Now I know that every analogy breaks down at some point so I won’t be tempted to overdo the illustration. But don’t miss this. Clicking on the Icon of God, Christ the Savior takes us into a whole new world with a wide array of new possibilities that we did not know existed. Christ brings us from darkness into God’s wonderful light.

The apostle Paul taught that this icon was to be replicated in us…Christ in you, the hope of glory. So how is the icon replicated? Thomas A. Wolf developed the Universal Disciple Pattern in 1994 to bring this effort into focus. He starts by asking one simple question: How did the Apostle Paul arrive in a city to preach the gospel, gather new believers, instruct them in the faith, leave sometimes only after a few days and at most a few years, only later to write letters to those churches in those cities comprising 48% of the New Testament? The answer? He had a pattern.

What is the pattern? 1 Corinthians 4:16-17 says “Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.”

Did you see that? How did I miss this verse through 32 years of preaching and two graduate theological degrees? Paul had a pattern of teaching that matched his way of life in Christ. He taught this body of teaching everywhere. He taught in every church! He also sent a living illustration of the teaching, the way of life in Christ through Timothy.

When was the last time you saw Christ-likeness embodied in a real person you know? Dr. Mason, would say, when you see Christ-likeness, you see Christ. BCFS is not your ordinary social service agency. We are a Christian social service ministry. We do our work in Christ-likeness. That is our goal. When we show up for work each day we embody the Icon of God, Christ in us. We introduce children and families to a whole new world of possibility. We share love with them. We go to the least and the last and we do the love of Christ among them. Ultimately, our goal is to replicate the image of God in them too. We intend for children to find the Prince of Peace, the everlasting God, and the Shepherd of their souls. We want the children and families to be found by Christ and in Christ. More about the Universal Discipleship Pattern tomorrow.

A Whole New World Opened Up

Yesterday my family and I visited Wilshire Baptist Church and heard Dr. George Mason preach on the topic of “Christ-likeness.” Dr. Mason framed the sermon as the last message in this church year. It was a thought-provoking message with several potential trails to blaze. Let me share one of them with you.

For some time, I have been writing and researching the concept of the image of God, the imago dei, and have connected it to discipleship, mentoring, human development, and leadership development. Bro. George opened that concept up to me even further by using the Greek language to shed light on the meaning of the word. He said that the Greek word for “image” is eikon (transliterated from the Greek). Eikon, of course, is our English word “Icon.” He then made the connection of icons we have on our desktop. When desktop icons are double-clicked, stated Dr. Mason, “a whole new world of possibilities open up to you such as word processing, graphics, databases, and so on.” He went on to say when we find our relationship with Christ and in Christ, a whole new world opens up to us that existed all along but we did not know and could not know it existed. I am sure you can get a copy of Bro. George’s message online at www.wilshirebc.org and look under “Worship and Sermons.” It is a rather intriguing message to consider.

My journey to Buckner is much like double clicking on an Icon on the desktop of the Kingdom of God. Following Christ in his mission over the past year has opened up a whole new world to me. Meeting BCFS staff in Texas, the USA, and around the world has been one of great joys and blessings over the last eleven months. Learning about Buckner’s work and life transforming efforts in the lives of children all around the world has opened up new possibilities for the Kingdom that I did not know existed.

Dr. Mason reminded us yesterday that the last Sunday in the church year also ushers in the first Sunday of the new church year and the celebration of Advent and the coming of Christ into the world. It is this time of the year we have an opportunity to get to know who Jesus is as a child, as the Savior, as a man on mission to redeem us for God’s purpose and pleasure.

Let’s rediscover Christ and his mission as we look forward to celebrating Christmas. Let’s respond to a whole new world that Christ wants to open up for us during this season. As Redeemer, Jesus is working in the lives of children around the world. He is mending lives, caring for orphans, listening to the heart and hopes of children at risk in neighborhoods and communities very close to us and in distant places as well. Christ is the image of God, the icon of God. As we serve him today in the lives of children around us, we see Christ as work. As Dr. Mason so eloquently stated “when we see Christ, we see God.” My prayer for you today is that Jesus of the Advent will open up a whole new world to you in the days ahead.

Thanksgiving is a Clue

Yesterday, David Kihneman spoke at our Monday Morning Devotional about the history of Thanksgiving. He did a great job recounting the celebration of this holiday from the very first Thanksgiving in the continental USA on April 30, 1598. 

There’s more to the story. Juan de Onate was the Spanish Officer who led an expedition from Mexico City north to “discover” lands and wealth to the north. He and his band of soldiers traveled north through the Chihuahuan desert and almost lost their lives. They had few provisions and very little water. When they nearly gave up and conceded to dehydration and starvation they stumbled onto the Rio Grande River just south of El Paso, Texas. They crossed the River and came upon the Manso Indians, a friendly group of people who provided food to the band of explorers. General Onate and his men were grateful because the River and the Manso Indians saved their lives. They were grateful to God too. Onate ordered a Thanksgiving Ceremony where he claimed the land on the El Paso side of the River for the Crown of Spain and the Catholic Church in the name of Mary the Mother of God. Three hundred Indians were Baptized and a feast of fish and wild game followed. The Spaniard soldiers spent the day giving thanks to God for sparing their lives and for leading them to the El Paso/Juarez area on the banks of the Rio Grande. Those of us from El Paso know that this is the first Thanksgiving celebrated in the continental United States, 25 years before Plymouth Rock.

Whatever date you choose to trace the day of Thanksgiving is not as important as the fact that we are thankful. In 1 Corinthians 4:17, Paul says “For this reason, I am sending you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.”

Paul had a pattern of teaching that he taught everywhere in every church. Timothy was a living example of Paul’s teaching. One of the foundational teachings of this pattern was the focus on the Word and Spirit. Paul taught that we should be full of the Spirit and that the Word of Christ should dwell richly in us. He used the Word and Spirit interchangeably to describe a key characteristic in a believer’s life. Paul taught that Word and Spirit should permeate every relationship we have and that the Word and Spirit were conveyed through TSTS: Teaching, Singing, Thanking, and Submitting (Ephesians 5:16-21).

Giving thanks is a clue that we are full of the Spirit and the Word. Being grateful builds character and is a clue that we know we are blessed. This year I am thankful for my wife Belinda and our three boys: Joshua, David, and Thomas. I am thankful that we have transitioned to Dallas. I am thankful for my new Buckner family. I am thankful for the privilege of serving along side a professional and passionate group of servants. I am thankful for the privilege of waking up everyday and thinking about how we will touch the life of a child, a mother, and orphan who waits for us to do something on their behalf. Take time this Thanksgiving to count the blessings God has sent you. I am going to take a break from blogging to rest and celebrate Thanksgiving this week. I will resume blogging on Monday, November 26, 2007. See ya then!

Ministry in the Tri-State Area

This past weekend I visited one of my favorite places on the planet: El Paso, Texas. El Paso has a special place in my heart because Belinda and I planted a church here and our three boys were born in this city. I love the history, the desert, the mountains, the Rio Grande River, and the close proximity to Mexico. The Tri-State area is at the corner of Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico. Jerry Ramirez, Church Mobilization Coordinator for West Texas and New Mexico and Felipe Garza, Vice President, Ministry and Missions Group accompanied me on this trip. We met for dinner with John Roman, Pastor of Pueblo Nuevo Community Church in El Paso.

After dinner we took Jerry to Scenic View in the Franklin Mountains, foothills of the Rockies, to see the night lights of Juarez, El Paso, and Sunland Park New Mexico. Juarez is Mexico’s fifth largest city with close to 2 million residents. El Paso’s population is approaching 800,000 and is the fifth largest city in Texas with approximately 80% of the population with Hispanic heritage. El Paso/Juarez is the largest Borderplex in the world. It is a beautiful sight to see at night. The winding Rio Grande River, the East Side of El Paso, the city lights that hug the mountain and the 300 light-bulb star that sits on the side of Franklin Mountains are a magnificent sight to take in.

One of our goals was for Jerry to meet John Roman and to visit about new possibilities for KidsHope USA in El Paso. Another objective of this trip was to visit Sierra Vista Community Church in Las Cruces www.sierravistacommunitychurch.com , about 45 miles north of El Paso. Ruben Ortega is the founding pastor. Sunday, November 18, 2007 is the 10th anniversary of Sierra Vista and Ruben invited me to be the guest preacher. Years ago when Belinda and I started Pueblo Nuevo Community Church, Ruben, his wife Gayla, and a two other couples visited Pueblo Nuevo to get some encouragement and some ideas about starting a church in Las Cruces. Over the years the Lord has richly blessed Sierra Vista with a wide array of ministries including work in international missions.

Ruben graciously invited me to speak on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of this new church and has encouraged me to introduce the ministry of Buckner Children and Family Services. This is our second visit to New Mexico aimed at laying the foundation for future ministry in this state. We began to consider the resources we have in personnel in the El Paso/Juarez/Las Cruces area such as Mario Garcia, Missions Group Coordinator for the El Paso-Juarez area. Mario has arranged for over 100 groups to visit the border in 2008. Jorge Zapata Border Ministries Coordinator and Dexton Shores, Director of Border and Mexico Missions provide a broad reach along the 2,000 U.S. – Mexico Border.

My challenge to the church on Sunday morning was to “Do Something.” I challenged them to consider a shoe drive, a shoes mission trip, KidsHope USA, financial contributions, short term mission trips, and a host of other community impact initiatives. The needs seem overwhelming for this southern New Mexico community but Sierra Vista Community Church is poised to begin making a difference this year. Please consider how your youth group or church can make a positive difference in the Tri-State area.

One Year Later

Today I am attending the fall retreat for the board of trustees of Buckner International in McAllen, Texas. The Rio Grande Children’s Home is the host of our meeting this weekend. The RGCH is one of three residential campuses of Buckner Children and Family Services. Lynette Guy Ranton, board chair, has led the board with excellence. I look forward to this meeting since it sets the pattern for our work in 2008.

One year ago I was driving from the campus of Baptist University of the Americas in San Antonio to Camp Buckner near Marble Falls to meet the board of trustees for the first time. I was nervous and yet I had a sense of confidence of the calling I was responding to in my new assignment as President of Buckner Children and Family Services, Inc.  Dr. Ken Hall introduced me to the board and then provided a time for questions and answers by the board of trustees. From the “get-go” the trustees asked me about my calling, my vision, and my journey to Buckner. After the 3rd or 4th question I began to relax and really enjoy the moment.

Over the past year I have had the opportunity to meet and work with some of the trustees in meetings and on vision trips. They are an outstanding group of leaders who are passionate about serving children and pursuing missions in Texas, the USA, and the world.

It is hard to believe it has been a year. My first year has been full of adjustments, challenges, learning, and comprehending the scope of the ministry of Buckner International. One word describes what I have learned about this expansive ministry…Incredible! I am grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside Dr. Ken Hall. He really is an extraordinary leader and visionary. I am thankful for inheriting such an awesome group of leaders on my team like Felipe Garza, Vice President of Ministry and Missions; Randy Daniels, Vice President of Global Initiatives; Victor Upton, Vice President of Missions Resource; Melissa Opheim, Director of Strategic Planning and Research; and Cheryl Jones, my executive assistant.

Michelle Harris, Director of the BCFS Residential and Transition Care Network and JoAnn Cole, Director of the Foster Care and Adoption Network were among the five leaders that comprised my leadership team in January 2007. My leadership team has made this an outstanding year. I could not have expected to receive a warmer welcome from these seasoned professionals. Greg Eubanks, Henry Jackson, Barbara Sharp, Judy Morgan, Tommy Speed, Scott Waller, Monica Salinas have done a great job leading their teams and providing input in our reorganization efforts and our growth plans. Our staff in Guatemala, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Russia rolled out the red carpet with a warm reception for me. I have come to realize that we have an awesome team and a bright future. George McCain and the Missions Support Team, Jackie Belt and Andrew Knight of Humanitarian Aid continue to do a great job providing crucial support to deliver needed aid.

I am sure I have left several folks off my thanksgiving list. Suffice it to say the Lord has been good to me by blessing me with the privilege of knowing you and serving together.

Giving is a Spiritual Discipline

These words rolled off of the lips of Belinda Branstetter as part of her testimony for why she is a Development Officer at Buckner Foundation. I don’t think she was trying to make a statement or preach a sermon but she did! This conviction seemed to come from the core of who she is as a follower of Christ rather than an expected perspective from a development professional. The statement was profound and stunning.

I immediately wrote down what she said because it resonated with me. I recently completed a study on spiritual disciplines that are practiced resulting in spiritual formation.

Here are some excerpts from a paper I wrote on this subject: Several authors make the case for practicing the disciplines of Bible intake, prayer, worship, evangelism, serving, stewardship, fasting, silence, solitude (Whitney, 1994 and Willard, 1988), journaling (Whitney 1994 and Hybels 1988), frugality, chastity, secrecy, sacrifice, study, celebration, service, fellowship, confession, and submission (Willard).

Willard struck me with several powerful statements related to the disciplines. First he said that the disciplines for the Christian life help us replace the habits of sin embedded in the body. How can I engage God’s purpose for my life if I do not engage his life in mine? Second, Willard said that the easy yoke of Christ is bound up with the disciplines. He stated that it is hard to live wrong based on Proverbs 13:15 (Willard).

Belinda’s comment on stewardship is supported by several authors in the literature regarding spiritual disciplines and spiritual formation as I have pointed out above. Since stewardship or giving is a spiritual discipline, it stands to reason that Christians moving toward replicating the Imago Dei in their lives will have a habit of giving. This is a striking thought to consider on the eve of Thanksgiving week.

I really appreciate Dr. Hall’s transparency when talking about he and Linda’s habit of giving (See www.bucknerprez.typepad.com entitled “Philanthropy and Buckner” on November 12, 2007. Belinda (my wife) and I have also become donors of the Buckner ministry as well as other causes because we believe in them. We have established a habit of giving that began with our parents helping us fill out our offering envelopes stuffed with coins as children. We are building that same practice in our boys as well. We are teaching them that God loves the cheerful giver.

If you don’t have the habit of giving and have not built this discipline into your life, start giving regularly in your church and then seek out ways to invest your resources in other causes that advance the mission of Jesus, like Buckner. There is something about giving that forms the image of Christ in you. The image of Christ in you generates generosity. We begin to imitate the father who did not even spare his own son but freely gives us all things. If you want to share your blessings with children blessed through Buckner go to our website at www.buckner.org and look for the link for giving.