Fred Herzog, an experienced modern day apostle, gives an answer that may surprise you. I have know Fred for about 50 years. He’s got the goods and is worth listening to in this 42 second video.
What is Ordination?
Ethan Anderson’s Ordination July 19, 2020 10:15 AM at the Church of the Living Water
Hooray! Ethan will be ordained into the ministry at the Church of the Living Water, 3120 Park Avenue West, Muscatine, Iowa On July 19, 2020.
You are invited to come and participate in this celebration of Ethan’s life.
Define Ordination
Various churches or denominations view ordination in slightly different ways. The basic concept among all, however, is “approval for service.” It means “recognition by human authority of God’s calling on an individual’s life.”
More specifically, ordination is to “set into a specific church office, such as pastor or deacon of a congregation.”
Are There Legal Ramifications to Ordination?
Yes, in certain limited cases some ordained clergy can opt out of the social security system for conscience reasons.
What Benefits May Result from Ordination?
Ordination confers confidence upon an individual that he has met the standards or requirements of his church or denomination to serve. It also assures members of that same denomination or group that the individual has met the standard for ordination if he applies for a position with another church in that denomination.
Who Can be Ordained?
Each group sets its own standards or qualifications for ordination. For example, some groups ordain women for certain offices, others deny ordination for women.
At the Church of the Living Water we have a stringent set of standards and procedures for ordination. These were set into our by-laws and adopted on January 25, 1981.
IX. Ordination into the Five-Fold Ministry Offices
A. Application shall be made with the pastor of the church.
B. Testimony shall be given of the purpose and intent of the ministry to which the applicant believes he is being called.
C. Any applicant must have the qualities listed in I Timothy 3 and a proven ministry as recognized by the local church in order to enter one of the five-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11.
D. Any applicant who does not have the background or experiences which the Board of Directors believes to be a part of the ministry must take training for that purpose.
E Prayer and fasting shall he entered into by applicant(s) and the Board of Directors as a final confirmation before the ordination is granted.
F. All requirements must be met and the Board of Directors shall have a consensus that the applicant is called of God for his ministry.
G. A time shall be designated for the purpose of laying on of hands by the pastor and elders of the church during the ordination. And the applicant will at that time be duly ordained as a minister of our Lord Jesus Christ.
H. Every applicant who has been duly ordained shall receive certification of ordination in the name of the Church of the Living Water.
I. Any person duly ordained and operating in the ministry of clergy within the local church shall consider his house as a church parsonage. Upon request the Board of Directors shall specify at the beginning of each year that portion of salary to be designated as parsonage allowance for each minister not to exceed the fair rental value of each said property.
Our by-laws also contain a section on licensing of ministers and certification of missionaries and those in general Christian service.
Why is Ordination Important?
Every believer is called to serve and be a servant to others.
A problem arises, however, when an individual believes he is called by God to be a minister, but his life is so messed up or filled with sin that he is a bad example. Ordination is a safeguard in that it shows 1) God has called and 2) human authorities have confirmed that the individual has met certain life standards.
Again, you are invited to come and celebrate with Ethan, Bethany and the Church of the Living Water family.
Take Care What You Listen to
Jesus had a habit of dropping gems. Be not afraid! Take courage. Lo I Am with you. Gems that we love to hear . . . but easily dismiss.
Here’s a gem for today. Take care what you listen to Mark 4:24.
This week I felt pressure to mow a thistle patch before the thistles went to seed. I knew deep down that the thistles were too tall for our mower. But did I listen to my “early warning system,” aka the Holy Spirit?
No, I was listening to the pressure from the thistles as they began to bud. I could hear the thistles as they began to flower. And I knew I’d be in trouble, big trouble, if those thistles went to seed and spread their seeds all over our property.
So What did I do? I tried to mow in spite of that inner knowing. Consequently, I ended up breaking a belt on the mower. I repented for 2 days of lost time and $55 dollars of lost time and money.
Will I ever learn to take care what I listen to?
The stakes get higher as we mature and get into greater service. That is to say, To whom much is given much is required.
By your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Mark 4:24
We who have a big dipper–will receive a big earful from God. Those with a little dipper, will receive small doses from heaven.
Next comes a huge warning. For whoever has, to him shall more be given Mark 4:25. And he will have extra. And he who has little ears, will only receive a pint-sized download from heaven.
But watch out! No one is ever static. We are either growing or diminishing in our capacity.
Let’s apply this to faith. We are either exercising faith and getting stronger faith, or our “faith muscles” are getting flabby. And some will even lose what they now have.
Apply to joy. We are either growing in joy or going downhill in the joy department.
Apply this to finances, home relationships, willingness to serve, or hunger for God.
Or apply this to power before God. This week I spent time getting filled with the Holy Spirit by means of talking in tongues. The same day a lady called on the phone who had a terrible headache. By faith, I dealt with the headaches and the devil. (That was the need in her particular case.) She received partial deliverance. Enough deliverance to start coming to church services.
What are you listening to? How large a measuring cup are you using?
Changed by Love: The Untold Stories
Publisher’s note: On June 15th the US Supreme Court Defied God and Damaged Our Nation
The article below is timely in light of the fateful court ruling. Read the testimonies of LGBT people who have changed by the power of God and love of the church.
They call themselves “formers.” And Wednesday, they were on Capitol Hill telling a story the Left doesn’t want you to hear. “We exist,” Elizabeth Woning told NBC News. Surrounded by men and women who’ve walked out of the LGBT lifestyle, her message to Congress is: stop pretending change isn’t possible. Because this group knows better than anyone—it is.
So many of the House’s bills, Elizabeth pointed out, “are based on the premise that LGBTQ people only have one option, and that there are no other ways forward—when we know from our own lives that this is not true.” Wearing shirts that say “CHANGED,” the group hoped to persuade Congress that their Equality Act and therapy bans may actually be doing more harm to the community than good.
On Wednesday’s “Washington Watch,” Janet Boynes tried to explain why the Left is trying so hard to keep testimonies like theirs quiet. “We’re being silenced,” she insisted, “because we can debunk what they’re saying. They will not sit down and debate any of us that have come out of the life of homosexuality, because we can challenge their ideology. I am in the living example that change is possible through the power of God… We came here to tell our stories [believing that] they’ll impact many men and women and family members who have loved ones dealing with that issue of homosexuality, transgenderism…”
Boynes, who had a traumatic childhood, watched her dad abuse her mom—then became a victim of sexual assault herself. She says that’s when she started to associate men with “rape and abuse.” Despite knowing God, she says she met a woman who she felt safe with and started to have a sexual relationship with her. “I walked away from my faith,” she admits. “After that four or five years, I was empty.” She tried to fill the void with food, drugs, other women. “These are the things that I started medicating my pain with outside of God… I never dealt with the issues that propelled me to go into that life…”
Janet says, “There are Christians that walk away from their faith to go into the homosexual life. But the Bible says, ‘When I leave 100 sheep,’ God said, ‘I’ll leave that 99, and I’ll come after you. And God came after me.” She met a woman at the grocery store in the middle of the night who told her she was a Christian. “I told her I was a lesbian. She invited me to church. Two weeks later, I went to church and I have rededicated my heart to the Lord.” She wants people to know, “it was the church, the body of Christ, that assisted me in my journey of walking out of that life.”
She hopes Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) takes that to heart after their chance meeting outside the Capitol yesterday. Janet saw her across the grounds and stopped to talk to her. She handed Pelosi a book full of testimonies like hers. “I hope she takes the time to read it, because these bills they’re coming up with [are] to silence us… And as long as [we’re silenced], they’ll continue to make inroads…” And the next target, she warns, are kids.
Christians, she says, can’t afford to sit back. But in a world where they’re called “homophobes” or “haters,” some are shrinking back. “What would you say to them?” I asked her. “What should they do?” Love them, she said simply. “God never called them by their shame. He always called them by their name.” Let them know, “God is there for them. God loves them. And I believe that what He has done for me, He will continue to do for them and their families as well.”
Understanding “Brokenness” and “Surrender”
Apostle and pastor Sonny Misar offers keys to maturity int his 18 minute video. Every minute offers insight for those who yearn for God to use them.
The Iowa Blessing
I enjoy publishing stories of God’s blessings. At the Church of the Living Water we pray each Sunday morning for our leaders. Watch this music video for a few minutes. You will be inspired.
The Iowa Blessing: Worship Leaders from churches all over the state of Iowa came together to create a music video to show unity and share a message of hope.
3 Inspiring Stories from Iowa
These stories are published by the Family Leader Foundation based in Des Moines, Iowa. Greg Baker leads the Church segement of the Family Leader. Thanks to Greg Baker for publishing these events which show God as Chief Reconciler.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5.
1. Governor Reynolds and Mayor Cownie Join Prayer Vigil at Des Moines Police Department
Last night, we were blessed to help host a prayer event with Al Perez, Des Moines Metro pastors, and governing leaders just outside the Des Moines Police Department. Governor Kim Reynolds, Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, Chief Wingert and DMPD officers, and over 100 African-American, African, Hispanic, Asian, and white pastors from all across the Des Moines Metro joined together to pray for peace, justice, unity, and righteousness for our schools, city, state, and nation.
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| Pastors praying for Governor Reynolds | Pastors praying for Des Moines Police Officers |
2. God Answers Two Police Officers Prayers Through Two Hispanic Pastors
On Sunday night, an African-American Des Moines police officer and a white police officer prayed that the demonstration outside the Des Moines Police Department would remain peaceful. An hour later, right as time reached curfew, Pastors Ian Rojas and David Sixtos, who are part of the Church Ambassador Network, were able to negotiate an agreement between police and demonstrators. Both sides agreed to kneel for two minutes to honor George Floyd and others who have fallen to injustices. Following the kneeling, demonstrators left just a few minutes past curfew.
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| Des Moines police officers kneel with protestors |
3. Officers Kneel with Protestors and Pray Lord’s Prayer Together in Fort Dodge
Check out this video of Fort Dodge police kneeling with demonstrators and reciting the Lord’s Prayer together (link is to a Facebook video, you may need to log in to Facebook to view):
These past few days continue to illustrate the consequences of sin from not only this generation but many generations before us. A member of our team shared how these very racial issues we are facing today are largely the same issues he faced growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. They were not new then either. Since the beginning of time the enemy has used what the Bible calls factions and divisions against us. These factions ultimately keep prideful attention on ourselves, and off of our Creator. These very factions become the root of some of our deepest sins in history, American slavery, the Jewish holocaust, and the genocide in Rwanda as examples.
What an incredible God we serve! As we learned during the initial days of COVID 19, God has and will continue to use His Church. It is an honor to partner with you!
Greg
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Greg Baker
Executive Vice President, The Family Leader Foundation
Director, Church Ambassador Network
The Day I Cried
Our daughter Sarah Kirsten put together this short video about one of the dramatic events in the lives of the Anderson family. I think you will enjoy it and resonate with the hope it brings. God bless you.
You are Such a Good Listener
My daughter surprised me last week. “You are such a god listener!” she exclaimed.” Yes, a surprise. If she had said, “You never listen,” I may not have been so surprised.
Her accolade, of course, made me happy and want to become a better listener. I was all ears.
Our daughter continued, “People are troubled these days. They need someone to talk to.” Our daughter is sensitive and aware of people and their feelings. She suggested I give a “gift of presence” to people in the community by announcing that I will be available to listen to anyone who comes to the church sanctuary or calls during certain hours. (From my perspective, I’m already available. But then, not everybody knows this.)
So I kept listening. Our daughter explained her rational to me and to her brother Ethan, who serves as associate pastor in our church:
“I think this addresses a) that you’re offering a listening ear, which I think is what will most speak to people, and b) that you’re not offering answers, just your presence. These two things, presence and listening, are two of the most humanity-restoring things we can offer, and what you both are so good at giving to me.”
Here’s the blurb she wrote as we announced this to the world:
We’re here to listen, if you’d like to talk. In these uncertain times, we’re all under a tremendous amount of stress. You’re handling it very well! We’d like to come alongside you and listen to what’s on your heart. We don’t have all the answers, but we can offer a listening ear, and just be there with you for a moment in your day.
If you’d like to talk with Pastor Mark, he’ll be standing by his phone on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in the month of May. Here’s his number: 563-554-1401.
Do you think anyone would call?
Yes! A fellow named L called and talked almost 40 minutes, He asked for prayer for someone close to him and even sent a picture.
Later, I got to thinking, “Am I a good listener?”
I remembered a Pastor S who came earlier into my office and poured out his heart for nearly an hour.
I remembered R who sometimes calls or comes two or more times a week. He says he doesn’t have anyone else to talk to.
I thought of a woman with severe cancer who needs to talk and ask questions. She wants me to be her “cancer coach.”
Why Listen?
One time, years ago, I was planning to resign. An elder, Tom said, “Not now!” I’m so glad I listened.
Joab, an Israeli military general in the Bible, won an important battle because he listened to a wise woman (2 Samuel 20:17f).
Love listens. When we love people, we listen to them.
Many people are lonely and feel isolated. Nearly everyone wants someone to listen to them with empathy.
Part of the ordination ritual for priests in the Old Testament included sprinkling blood on the ear. It was called a “filling” or consecration and equipped the priest for service (Leviticus 8:22f). If we want to serve people, we need to hear them.
God has given us two ears and one mouth. This ought to be a clue about God’s will for our lives!
Two Caveats for Great Listeners
One, our chief concern is that folks learn to pour out their hearts into the “ears” of the Almighty. He’s the One Who cares the most. He’s the One Who gives results.
We always want to direct people to God. Yet, sometimes people just need to talk with someone with flesh and blood.
Second, a good listener need not listen to gossip and evil. Sometimes we need to cut people off or redirect a conversation.
Who is the Best Listener?
No doubt–God Himself! Give ear to my prayer, O God; And do not hide Yourself from my supplication (Psalm 55:1). The book of Psalms could be summarised as one great plea for God to listen.
So again, we want to direct people to God, to pour out their hearts to Him. And if we love people, we will listen to them.
Are you a good listener?
Darwin’s Road to Salvation Testimony
Heaven opened for Darwin as he drove to Muscatine, Iowa for the first time in 2000. Now, in 2020, he retells how Jesus organized a series of events that led to his salvation.
