Here's what I'm hoping...

Now that Sandy has made its mark... floods, fires, a blizzard, black-outs, 8 million people w/o power, food, water, subways shutdown, 19,500 flights canceled, a rising death toll, property damage estimated at over $20 BILLION, an impact on 20 states and Washington DC ... I keep thinking what a Divine opportunity this disaster has made available to The Church.

It's as simple as this: sooner or later, something was bound to drive America to its knees. Something would surely grind our billion wheels to a halt. Is this that, or a dry run?

Our God is a jealous God. We cannot continue in our sinful ways and expect no consequences. After all, we will reap as we have sown. We haven't been very wise. 

We've turned our back on our Creator (remember the Democratic Convention where God was booed?). 

We've formally declared our independence in writing and have foolishly excused ourselves from any dependence upon God. 

Our ridiculous affluence, including our nonsensical decisions to build expensive homes and resorts on the coast, are just the tip of the iceberg. 

The murder of 4500 babies every day make Hitler's extermination camps look like a picnic compared to our Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision which legalized abortions. 

Our government's slobbering love affair with same sex marriages, even though a close examination of history reveals how every nation that has ever failed embraced homosexuality just before its bitter end.

Has God removed His hand of blessing as a result of these and many other sins? Though I do NOT believe God is punishing us for things already forgiven and forgotten as a result of the crucifixion (it's called Grace), I am 100% on board with the idea we will reap as we have sown. We have NOT remained blessable.

So, here's what I'm hoping...

I hope Christians will sow money into the Salvation Army. This organization can do much more with money than you can. So, give. Eighty-seven cents out of every dollar goes directly toward helping people.

I hope Churches WEST of the Mississippi will head East to minister to those who've lost everything, and I hope wealthy Christians will cover the cost of their outreach.

I hope Christians in the 30 States that were NOT touched by Sandy will send teams to the 20 States that WERE impacted so that the rebuilding process can begin. Who better to assist those who are hurting than those who are Followers of Jesus? 

I hope communities nationwide will wake-up and begin to educate their citizens regarding the importance of disaster readiness. By the way, for some REAL training and expertise, I recommend everyone contact the Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) in Austin, Texas where 115 churches (and growing) are working together to train their Members in disaster relief. These guys are GREAT and other communities outside of Texas are now availing themselves of this resource, too.

Grace to us all in the days ahead.

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work

Along came Sandy!

It's Tuesday, October 30th, 2012. Last night, 

the history-making hurricane called "Sandy" made landfall with 80 to 94 mph sustained winds. She killed at least 17 people in seven states, cut power to more than 7.4 million homes and businesses from the Carolinas to Ohio, and caused scares at two nuclear power plants while stopping the presidential campaign juggernaut stone cold.

Bad as Sandy was, she could've been worse. MUCH worse.

While Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, experience reveals he ALWAYS overplays his hand. The approach of this "FrankenStorm" 

caused millions of Jesus-loving Intercessors to pray and make declarations against the Spirits of 

Death, Destruction and Chaos while releasing the Peace of Christ, Divine Order, Unity and angelic protection over 60 million of our fellow citizens. We should keep praying for those now experiencing blizzards as well as for the safety of those engaged in the process of getting things back to normal, from Governors to Mayors to Electricians and tradesmen. 

Multitudes had no jobs to return to this morning, perhaps no physical workplace even existed for them to go to at all. Besides, they had no 

transportation system to help them get there. Instead, millions sat at home, in the dark, in the cold, with their kids, wondering what to do next. 

Pray for them. 

They are legion.

Sure, on a natural level, lots of people are left with lots of clean-up to do. Yes, lots of people lost lots of stuff. But while at least 17 people died as a direct result of Sandy, many more than that might have been killed and injured in gang-related shootings, drive-by's, muggings, abortions, murders and suicides, rapes, car and construction accidents, had Sandy NOT made landfall.

My declaration at this point is that Jesus is the Lord over all that devastation. I pray that The Body of Christ would rally and reach out to those who are dazed and confused by the upper-cut punch just delivered. 

I pray the Followers of Jesus would have a calming effect on the people with whom they connect, and that they would actively seek to connect; I pray for those DivineAppointments. 

I pray for Wisdom over all who are charged with restoring their communities, for the repairmen, even those now driving that direction from 

other states. 

Let us declare an outpouring of Peace, Harmony, Unity, Love and Brotherhood would overcome those states who are now recovering. 

Let us pray against crime, looting, thieves, price-gouging, home invasion, and speak confusion over all who plan such crimes.

Let us declare total restoration over all that destruction, redemption and resurrection over that which looks irreparable. We walk by faith, not by sight. 

Let us declare a Spirit of Generosity would overcome multitudes who will sow financially into the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and other relief 

organizations. 

Let us pray the Holy Spirit would urge multitudes of victims to answer the question, "What possible good could come of this situation?" while guiding them to find the answer lies in knowing Jesus, the answer to every problem known to man.

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work

Prospering during Adversity



"The second son he named Ephraim and said, 'It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.'" - Genesis 41:52

During his time as Prime Minister over Egypt, Joseph revealed some profound truths gained from his experiences during years of adversity. He named his first son, Manasseh for, he said, "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household," (Gen. 41:51). His second son was named Ephraim because, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."

Notice how Joseph acknowledged God who "made me forget" and "made me fruitful" when he could have, just as easily, said "God who allowed my life to be filled with pain and sorrow."

Let's bear in mind, Jesus, who said He came as our example, also went through tribulation. He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, He was betrayed by His friends, He was tortured and crucified. But "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God," (Hebrews 12:2). Even He, during His agonizing death, exclaimed, " “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).

Whenever God takes us through the Land of Affliction, He will do two things during those trials: 1) He will bring such healing that we will be able to forget the pain, and 2) He will make us fruitful from the painful experiences.

In my own life, diagnosed with a painful, incurable spinal disease (from which I was healed), having experienced divorce, betrayal, bankruptcy, there came a time when I actually entertained the thought of suicide. Instead, I pressed in closer to Jesus through prayer, continually studying His Word, and fellowship with others whose lives I admired and chose to emulate. By doing so, Jesus became real to me - as real as anyone I've ever known. Together, ever since I've known Him - choosing to know Him rather than knowing mere manmade Religion - many lives have been touched, restored, and saved through my ministry. 

You see, God does not waste our afflictions if we allow Him the freedom to complete the work He began in us. In addition, Satan - who comes to Steal, Kill and Destroy - ALWAYS overplays his hand. God gives you beauty for ashes and resurrects things thought long-dead. His desire is to create virtue that remains during the times of testing so that He can bring us into the place of fruitfulness in the very area of our testing. He never promised to keep us from entering the Valley of Affliction, but He has promised to make us fruitful in the midst and because of them. He is the God who turns the Valley of Achor (trouble) into a door of hope (Hosea 2:15).

We must be mindful of this truth: Fruit does not grow on the mountain tops; it grows in the valleys. 
In the wise words of Rahm Emanuel, now Mayor of Chicago, "Never let a serious crisis go to waste." My interpretation of that snappy remark? Grow where you're planted. Whatever you're going through, go THROUGH it - don't let yourself stay there. After all, many people became millionaires during the Great Depression. Look for opportunities to grow - spiritually, emotionally and financially - and to help others.

If you, or someone you know, are in the Valley of Affliction, now is the time to press into Jesus. When the time comes to bring you out of this valley, He will heal your memories and bring fruit from this experience, just as He did with Joseph.

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work 

Are you a retired Christian?

If so, this message is for YOU!

Retirement, American -Style

According to an article in USNews.com, "Retirement can be a difficult transition. Retirement can be a diffilcult transition if you are not prepared for it. Many people who were near retirement age were forced to retire during the recent downturn. The loss of income coupled with the large losses in their retirement account caused a lot of heartburn. In this case, it is more conservative to take up part-time work to bring in some extra income. Even a little income will greatly reduce the withdrawal rate from your retirement accounts. If a retiree had been forced to withdraw from his or her retirement account during the recent downturn, that portion of the retirement fund would have missed out on the recovery. Taking up a part-time job or freelance work could help delay the withdrawal until the stock market recovers."

As one who does a great deal of ministry in nursing homes, I can attest, many individuals seem to be, literally, "put out to pasture,” the next big event many are looking forward to being their own funeral. That's sad. It does NOT have to be that way.

My neighbor is well into his 80's. Every summer, for three months, he and his wife in her late 70's, head to Colorado to clear hiking trails at national parks. Until this year, they'd always camped outside the whole time. This year, they used a camping trailer.

What sissies, huh?

As Followers of Jesus, I don't believe we should EVER embrace a retirement mindset. All we have to do is examine the Scriptures and we will see there are NO BIBLICAL EXAMPLES of anyone retiring. In ministry, I don't see myself EVER retiring - not when there's a Kingdom to advance and so many hurting souls to touch. If those who are “in the Light” retire to a life of non-productivity, the ever-darkening world will grow even dimmer than it is.

"They shall still bear fruit in old age,” (Ps 92:12-15)

A goal for many people in life is a restful, well-earned retirement. Sleeping late, doing whatever, whenever. Some folks spend years saving and planning for the time in which they retire. They look forward to the free time to do whatever interests them and checking off the proverbial "Bucket List."

In light of my many experiences with elderly Saints, I think it's wise to examine the concept of "retirement" and ask ourselves if it's even applicable to the Kingdom of God?

Frankly, I think it's a mistake for a Follower of Jesus - of any age - to EVER attempt to get comfortable while we're walking this planet. We aren't from around here; we don't belong. We are aliens; sojourners. We're citizens of Heaven, just passin' through.

We may retire from our jobs, what about our service in the church? Granted, physical infirmities may sometimes be a hindrance, but is such a valid reason for retiring from our Kingdom purpose?

I am only 52 at this writing, however, I DO know what it's like to experience physical limitations. In my late 20s and my 30s, I suffered terribly from an “incurable” spinal disease from which Jesus healed me. I was 50 lbs. heavier than I am today, always in pain with a low-grade fever, and I walked with a cane. I also “slept” sitting up in my living room recliner. During that time, I felt illegitimate. I was useless. I'd been very active in my church and was always able to do things I wanted. Suddenly, all my energy was being used on things like washing clothes and getting my mail. I finally decided, since the devil was going to torment me all night and keep me in so much pain I couldn't sleep, I was going to intercede for people and situations I heard about. One of these was the fall of the Iron Curtain. Imagine my thrill when itactually came down! Point is, though Satan had planned to bring me down, God used that experience to train me to pray and showed me the power thereof, experientially.

I recall, many years ago, a man named Bob who was in his late 70's when we met. He was in a wheelchair but would spend his evenings randomly calling people from the phone book, introducing himself and asking if he could pray for them. That guy had a million wonderful testimonies. What an inspiration! He could have sat around watching TV but he CHOSE to serve his King instead. I used to do that same sort of ministry myself and, yes, I have amazing testimonies, too. Try it!

In Psalms 92:12-15, we find a description of the righteous in which they are described as palm trees and cedar trees flourishing in the house and courts of God. Note in particular verse 14: "They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing."

Does this passage describe many elderly people you know? This verse certainly suggests there is a place of service for the elderly in work of God. They are able to "bear fruit" and remain"fresh and flourishing", despite their old age.

Let's name names!

That God can and does use the elderly should be rather apparent, especially when we consider His use of older people in Scripture.

For starters, there's Moses and Aaron, men chosen to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage at the ages of 80 and 83 (Ex 7:7) when they were already past the normal life span, according to Psalms 90:10 which Moses wrote.

Then, there's Joshua and Caleb. Joshua was given the charge of leading the conquest of Canaan,during the last thirty years of his life. Incidentally, he lived until he was 110,(Josh 24:29). Caleb, too, was very much involved in the conquest, and he was in his eighties, (Josh 14:6-11)

Then, there was Daniel, who served God from the days of his youth, for over 70 years, (Dan 1:21). He was well over eighty when he served as one of three governors over the kingdom of Babylon, (Dan 6:1-3), was thrown into the lions' den, (Dan 6:4-27), prospered during the reigns of Darius and Cyrus the Persian, (Dan 6:28) and received a series of visions, (Dan 8-12).

Zacharius and Elizabeth were an old couple who produced a child, John the Baptist, when they were “both well advanced in years," (Lk 1:7). Yet, he was serving in the temple, and she gave birth to John.

Simeon and Anna were two elderly people who bore witness to the Christ child when presented to the temple to be circumcised, (Lk 2:25-38).

Anna herself was at least 84, and had been serving God "with fastings and prayers night and day" most of her life.

“Paul, the aged” is how the apostle Paul refers to himself in Philemon 9. Yet, we know at this point in his life, he was busy writing what would become a major part of what we refer to as the New Testament, even while in prison. He was traveling, visiting, encouraging churches, being stoned and beaten, evn when he was released from prison.

There are many other examples of how God used those in their "golden years" to serve Him. Do you see why they're considered “golden”? These examples certainly illustrate how the elderly can "still bear fruit in old age".

What about today?

Let's consider God's use of older people in The Church today.

Didn't God not design the local church to be overseen by “elders” (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5-9)? Now, I realize not all "elders" are old people. In fact, Paul told Timothy - himself an elder - to "despise not your youth." A spiritual elder need not be elderly, but mature in the things of God. Nevertheless, in most instances, with age comes wisdom and experience and, typically, elders are older, considered to be people capable of teaching and leading the flock, who were to serve as overseers and examples of God's flock? (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Wonder why so many older people – even ministers - seem to retire from active service in the church, around age 65, which is rather young compared to the examples we saw!

If they don't feel qualified to serve, why not spend a few years growing and developing the necessary qualifications (if possible),and then serve? They certainly have the time! The average age of seminarians these days is, actually, getting older. Unfortunately, there simply are less and less people attending. Many who want to enter ministry prepare themselves in just a couple of years. Why can't older folks do the same?

I can't say enough about the need for older Christian women to rise up in the Church! In Titus 2:3-5, Paul commanded older women to be "teachers of good things," especially to teach the younger women how to love their husbands, love their children, be good wives and homemakers. Sadly, many women stop teaching when they reach the age where they should be teaching!

To those who don't feel qualified to teach, again, prepare yourself! The call to serve God is actually a call to PREPARE.Commit yourselves to study and learning God's word, and in a short time you, will be more than prepared. Combine that with your years of experience raising kids, handling finances, running businesses, gardening , sowing, etc., and you could be a Satan's worst nightmare!

Additional services you can provide

Hospitality and benevolence: many elderly are financially secure, able to do what many younger families cannot.

Edification and evangelism: with so much time on their hands, why not use it to study with others? Even the most handicapped can do things like send cards, make phone calls, spend time in prayer and fasting (Lk 2:37; 1 Tim 5:5).

I read about an invalid in Soviet Russia who spent her days translating Billy Graham's books into Russian, slowly pecking on a manual typewriter under her blankets. She was ignored by the KGB because she was crippled, yet, she was their worst enemy. She died when her mission was completed.

What else does Scripture admonish the elderly to do?

"To declare the that the Lord is upright; He is my rock,and there is no unrighteousness in Him,"(Psalms 92:15)

“To proclaim God's strength to the next generation,” (Psalms 71:17-18)

“To recount God's mighty works to the next generation,” (Psalms 78:1-8).

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

God desires to use people of all ages who are willing to prepare themselves to be of service to Him and who are willing to present themselves in service to Him. Just be available!

We may retire from secular jobs, but not from our service to the Lord! Certainly physical infirmities may limit what we can do, but only death can stop us from doing what we can!

Is the problem really one of physical infirmities, or spiritual laziness? Folks, we can't stop the aging process but we can be renewed inwardly daily! (2 Cor 4:16)

Though our youth-oriented culture may not seem to appreciate the wisdom and experience of the elderly and our society is too quick to put the elderly "out to pasture,” I contend God – who looks ONLy at the heart – sees the older Saints as a mighty army on bivouac, awaiting its marching orders. If that's you,m this message is the directive you've been waiting for.

It's YOUR move!

I believe the righteous can and should "still bear fruit in old age". I hope this lesson will encourage the elderly to re-examine their usefulness to the Lord and His church.

Let the attitude of "Paul, the aged" be your attitude as well.

If you would like to facilitate a 7-week Bible Study in a Nursing Home in your community, send me an eMail with the word “OLD” in your Subject Bar and I'll walk you through the steps I took, personally, to do that in four Nursing Homes in my area so far. Write miketummillo@me.com and leave your name and phone number.

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work

The Grace Growers in your life

Many Followers of Christ are under the misconception that, because they trusted in Jesus, life should somehow be a bowl of cherries. The truth is, though the storms of life will persist, as one empowered by the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead (Rom 8;11), you will find yourself amazed at how trouble rolls off your back like water off a duck. 

So, why do the fiery darts continue to fly in our lives? Why does a business fail? Why does a daughter get pregnant ay 16 or a son get imprisoned for manufacturing drugs? Why does a coworker make you crazy or a spouse get under your skin?

2 Peter 3:18 encourages us to "...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Think about it: this verse is admonishing us to grow, to mature. In what area? In the grace Jesus offers us and, subsequently, in your knowledge of Him as you experience that grace. 

So, how do we grow? Through exercise and experiences. Through development. Through trials and tests. Through failures as well as successes. Through constant use and abuse.

Time after time, we are awed when powerful Christians share their testimonies of mountain-moving faith. We might find ourselves wishing we, too, had testimonies to share, forgetting they don't come without tests. Rest assured, the tests WILL come! The Jesus you will come to know better as you press into that relationship in the midst of turmoil is the same Jesus 1 Peter 3:18 is pushing us to get to know better. 

Are YOU growing in your knowledge of Him? After all, He is knowable. You can have a deep relationship, or you can have Religion. Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. He's a father to the fatherless and a husband to the husbandless. He will never leave you or forsake you, an anchor that holds when your ship is being tossed. 

How do we get to know Jesus? By spending TIME with Him. Whether it's the study of Him through the Scripture or that 2-way conversation we call "prayer," don't allow the stuff of life to distract you from investing time in that critical relationship. Also, watch for signs of Him speaking to you through the loving actions of others, not to mention the way He might choose to make a life-altering point through movies, billboards and t-shirts.

Is there someone, or some THING, that pushes all the buttons necessary to get you hot and bothered? We can allow that person or situation to get the best of us every time, or we can CHOOSE to break that cycle, embrace those moments, lean into Jesus, and learn as Paul did when he prayed three times to have his "thorn in the flesh" removed, "My grace is sufficient for you." See, it's not about having the thorns in our flesh removed; it's about us GROWING, despite those thorns, by experiencing His grace. 

When it comes to dealing with others, remember, people are never our problem; the problem is the problem, but our problems are also the solution to growing in His grace and in our knowledge of Him. So, how can they be that bad? How else can we best experience Him in our lives? When I look back at the darkest moments of my life, I can do so with fondness because, during those troubled times, I stuck to Jesus like glue. Not only did He help me through them, but I cam to know Him, trust Him and love Him.

Satan ALWAYS shoots himself in the foot. All his efforts to destroy me only resulted in a more passionate faith in Christ and a deeper love for my fellow man!

God is so much more concerned with our character than our comfort. If you're going through something difficult at this moment, it's a great time to ask "Lord, where are you in this? What are you trying to teach me?" Seek Him in the midst of it rather than simply seeking a way out of whatever you're being confronted with. You'll find the words of Scripture are true: "It came to pass."

God's grace to you!

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work

ACCOUNTABILITY

Are you accountable? In this nation of ours, Independence seems to be our mantra. It's the American Way! Problem with that is it's crept into our spiritual lives as well and we have become foolishly independent of God in the process.

I was well into my 30's when the concept of making myself accountable to others ever even crossed my mind. Where I went, who I was with, when I left or how much I spent... that was all MY business and nobody else's. "I'm my own man," I reasoned. As Sinatra would say, "I did it my way!"

Frankly, that mindset did not serve me well.

The Father has since taught me the advantage of allowing others access into my life. When I read about how a young, handsome Billy Graham operated with his ministry team, how Pastor Chuck Swindoll gives all his elders a copy of his itinerary every day and how Dr. James Dobson explained how he always takes his wife with him if there's another woman he needs to go to lunch with and, if that's not possible, he has that meeting at a busy restaurant on the beaten path and invites anyone he knows over and introduces the lady he's meeting with, thereby eliminating any possibilities for gossip to start with - these stories and others aided me in establishing my own boundaries for living. "Hedges," I call them.

They've served me well; in my marriage, my ministry, my finances... every aspect of my life.

For example, when I correspond with a woman by eMail, my wife gets CC'd from me. She has complete access to my computer and cell phone. When I am making an online purchase, she gets CC'd on those, too. For example, I just bought a new motor for our freezer and, when I received a confirmation, I CC'd her. If anything ever happened to me, she's in the loop. Basically, every aspect of my life is duplicated by sharing them with my wife.

What does that do for our relationship? It has increased the depth of trust and, subsequently, the depth of our intimacy. It brings peace and confidence.

When I travel. I tell her when I'm leaving and I call her when I'm headed home. She does the same with me. In this ever-darkening world, implementing such communications displays nothing but wisdom. In warfare, keeping the lines of communication open is paramount. In disaster situations, being able to communicate with the outside world is what every victim strives for. Well, as citizens of earth, we're engaged in a war - a spiritual war. It behooves us to do everything in our power to master our communication skills. 

In our church, though two of us have check-signing privileges/responsibilities, no checks are written without the unanimous agreement of all who have sown into the church. That level of accountability has served us well for over 9 years tens of thousands of dollars have gone to provide support to needy people all over the world.

In relationships, whether it's a married couple, a parent to a child, or an Employer to the staff, I recommend Gary Chapman's "Love Languages" books. Unless we're speaking the other individual's language, we may as well be speaking Chinese to a Frenchman. 

For your own good, stay in touch with one another. Whether you're across the country or across the room. Make yourself accountable. Get good at this... whether it's eMail, your calendar, the places you go on the web, the way you spend your money, it's a life-changer!

One final thought: Accountability works well with businesses and churches, groups and teams of all kinds. Worth considering!

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work

This is for all Christians with a child or relative - someone you love - who is in bondage to drugs, alcohol, porn, overeating... anything that has become an idol in their lives.

Greater is He who is IN YOU than he who is in the world (that is, Satan, roaming about like a roaring lion, seeking anyone he may devour). Even if your loved one is in jail, God STILL has  a plan for them and He is NOT wringing His hands over their future. His plan is for good and not evil all the days of their life.

Give thanks at all times. Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. What can Satan do with Christians who are praising God in the midst of turmoil? I'd move on down the road, wouldn't you? So, go on... make him CRAZY! Resist the devil and he will flee. He will grow weary of the Name above all names if you'll use it unceasingly on your loved one's behalf. It's called "intercession" and means "to stand in the gap."

You will declare a thing and it will come to pass. So, declare that person FREE from the bondages of addiction. Death and life are in the power of your tongue! Pray aloud and with EXPECTATION, regardless of what you see (or don't see)! Remember, if a wild hog got loose in your home, what would you do? Kick him out, kill it... but he has no right to be there. You can NOT co-exist under the same roof! So, call those things that are NOT as though they ARE! If your loved one is addicted, call him or her FREE! Those who the Son sets free are free indeed! Pray without ceasing, until you see the fruit of a changed life. 

Are you in it to win it, for the duration? Do you REALLY "have their back"? Are YOU a gap-stander, or a by-stander?

Make that intercession and make it regularly, in faith, believing God's Word is true and that He DOES hear your prayers. Again, don't be blinded by anything you see or hear from them or about them. This is between YOU and the Father.

Let's give 'em Heaven!

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work

Satan's Weapons of Mass 

DISTRACTION!

I recently heard that, when we take our eyes off the road for just 5 seconds while driving, it's the equivalent of driving the length of a football field WITH OUR EYES CLOSED! No wonder so many are reminding us to stop texting when we drive.

We must NOT allow ourselves to become distracted! As I was watching the news this morning, I started thinking about how many stories are being beaten like a dead horse, every day, over and over. Recently, it's been Big Bird and the attack on our consulate in Libya. There's the meningitis outbreak, California fuel costs and Sandusky's life sentencing. Folks, there are some REALLY critical things taking place right now in your world and these stories are NOT them. Certainly, E.T. and EXTRA are NOT going to cover these critical things either. In my opinion, we are being told ONLY what the powers-that-be feel we the people REALLY need to know and nothing more. 

So, we persist in allowing ourselves to ingest this drug of distraction, and tend to know more about The Voice, The View and X-Factor than we do anything that REALLY has an impact on our lives. I'm not talking about issues such as crime, poverty, wars and the economy. Yes, these are important, but in an effort to maintain our Kingdom focus, shouldn't we be a bit more discerning about life's distractions when they present themselves? 

Here are a few distractions to consider...

1. Pleasure: All flesh seeks after its own comfort. As long as we travel this journey wrapped in our earth suits, we are at a grave disadvantage. Pleasures? I'm not talking about vacations and dining out, though anything in excess isn't good. In every case, it's our lust for pleasure - the appeasement of our carnal nature - that is tearing families apart and crushing The Church as we lose focus on that which matters. Galatians 5:16 says, "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

2.  Pride: Not only are we inclined to try and keep up with the Joneses, but we get mighty puffed-up once we surpass them and gleefully proclaim, “Look what I have done!” I can think of two leaders in Scripture who had similar thoughts (see Daniel 4:28-33 and Acts 12:19-23). "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall," (Proverbs 16:18). 

3.  Procrastination: Too often, we put things off when the time to act is upon us. For example, I KNEW I needed a new filter for our ice-maker, but I dragged my feet. When the ice-maker recently stopped working, it cost nearly $200 for a repairman to tell me it was the filter and sell me a new one. DUH! It's called the Book of ACTS, not REACTS or MIGHT ACT SOMEDAY. Just do it!

4. People: Not everyone is going to like you all the time. WARNING: Do NOT embrace a Man-Pleasing Spirit. Galatians 1:10 reads: "...do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." Acts 5:29 declares: "We must obey God rather than men."

5: Performance: One of the greatest problems with success is we often begin to believe our own press, as if we are the ones responsible for that success (EX: Obama's killing of Osama). We can be so focused on HOW we're doing, we can forget for WHOM we are doing it and WHY, hopefully, all for the glory of God! (1 Cor. 10:31)

6: Problems: A problem should not be seen as God’s punishment. God is more concerned with our character than our comfort and will use "all things" to His glory. Start seeing things as David did, not seeing the lion and the bear as a problem, but as his preparation for fighting a Goliath one day. Problems are actually part of our training, too. (I Samuel 17:33-37). Personally, I see "Problems" as Satan's ministry to The Church.

7: Power: Power can be a distraction when we use it to run over people rather than lead them! Meekness has been defined as "power under control." "God did NOT give us the Spirit of timidity…but of power, LOVE and self discipline," (II Timothy 1:7). Power without love always leads to legalism and domination. God gives no man the right to dominate any other man. Jesus has given us power and authority, not for domination but to advance His Kingdom.

If it's worldly and takes your mind off that which is of God, resist it and it will flee! May the grace of God aid you in resisting those distractions presented before you. You were born for such a time as this. It's so like the devil to do everything he can to obscure your Kingdom vision!

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work

SUICIDE and The Church Part 2

In a town the size of mine - about 16,000 - can a few suicides within a 90-day period be considered an epidemic? I'd say so. 

Quite a few Christians contacted me after those tragedies  occurred over a decade ago, people struggling with the in's and out's of suicide and its effect on one's eternal reward, among other concerns. These contacts included the wife of one of the first suicide victims. As a certified Workplace Chaplain, I receive various ministerial and counseling materials in the mail and one article presented some jarring statistics about suicide and its effects on those left behind.

For instance, a brochure I received said there are 30,000 suicides in America each year, leaving 118,000 survivors per year. There are currently 4.5 MILLION survivors living in the US alone. There are 750,000 emergency room treatments per year as a result of suicide attempts. One-third of all Jr. High and High School kids are considering suicide. 24to 30 kids die by suicide daily. every 2 minutes, someone in the US attempts suicide; every 18 minutes, someone succeeds. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death in young people 15 to 24 years old. Suicide rates increase with age, the highest rate being found among white American males 65 and over.

Eighty-percent of those Christians left behind wind up changing their churches or stop attending services all together. I can recall, as a youth, a woman in our church whose husband passed away and how, even as a kid, I noticed how rarely the widow engaged in any conversations with other church members before or after services. Eventually, she was gone. 

There's a great deal of ignorance in the Church - a feeling of inadequacy - that keeps the average person from stepping up and comforting those left behind. fact is, they want to talk. They NEED to. Some are mad at God or mad at the church. They're confused. Their loved one wasn't killed; they CHOSE death without apparent consideration of the feelings and needs of those they'd soon be leaving behind. Those who grieve contend with the same stages of grief as those facing other kinds of death only with greater intensity and in a cycle that generally continues about a full year.

Those who actually see the dead body require counseling and prayer in an effort to "stop the movie' they see re-playing in their minds as they instinctively try and come up with a different ending. They often wrestle with guilt, feelings of failure, anger, even rejection...and its often so devastating that it shuts down the normal coping mechanisms, resulting in frightening "What's wrong with me?" feelings.

Sadly, it's very common that a survivor's friends and family reject them. Long-term friendships, needed now more than ever, are often severed. Some will avoid, and even blame, the survivor, openly or with subtle accusations. Immediate family members sometimes turn on and blame each other and entire family structures may change and may never be reconciled.

Unresolved grief can lead to health issues and some survivors who suffer from what's called "graphic issues" (they were unfortunate enough to have actually seen the dead body, often in a horrible state), become suicidal themselves. Nightmares, loss of sleep, the movie plays over and over, day and night. 

Good support groups are necessary. There's an elephant in the living room that we cannot - MUST NOT - dance around. According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders, the level of stress resulting from suicide is rated at the level of Catastrophe, equivalent to that of a concentration camp experience! 

Often, suicide is seen as being undesirable, even "dirty." It's seen as a cowardly way out by many.

We must encourage the survivors among us to reclaim their lives! Suicide is not a permanent thing. Like every trauma, it becomes a thing of the past with each passing second. We must not "build a camp there," as one preacher said. After all, as the Good Book says, "It came to pass."

Healing is a process and we must allow it to run its course. In supporting roles, we must not let the survivors endure this process all alone. Survivors cannot make the ending change by re-living the moment. Though one cannot erase their memories, they can certainly dilute them, diminishing their debilitating impact. How? By filling their calendar with service towards others and by reading positive, uplifting, encouraging literature. Work a crossword puzzle. Volunteer. Mind your input... sad movies are a no-no!

We may never know the answer to all the 'WHY?' questions and we must accept that as fact. The truth is - and this is from those who have been there - one day you will look back at the progress you've made and you'll stand amazed. the day you were thrust into this nightmare, you became victims. You had no say in the matter. No choice. To remain a victim IS a choice.

We're human BE-ings, not human DO-ings. You must learn to BE a Survivor, not merely TRY to survive while feeling like the living dead yourself. As one Survivor said, "You can do this. It's a hrd battle, but life is hard, so what's new? Hard doesn't mean impossible."

Please share this message with others. Someone you know may know, or may soon know, someone who's experienced a suicide.

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work

SUICIDE and The Church Part 1

A decade ago, several suicides occurred right here in my own hometown of about 16,000 people. Another happened out-of-town, the day after a wedding I officiated when a local new bride's father took his life the day after her wedding. I wrote the following article and it a slight variation was published in the local paper. The response was tremendous and I received the gratitude of quite few people. I updated the article so it's written from today, looking back.

The first suicide involved a friend of mine who was, among other things, the leader of a Christian Business Fellowship which I attended. He was a lawyer with a terrific wife, two young kids, very prominent in his church, coached little league baseball. As one can imagine, speculations abound - everything from possible chemical imbalances to unfair, unfounded comments which...well, small town gossip can be so mean-spirited.

There was a Christian couple who was consoling her. Shockingly, in just a matter of weeks after the suicide, the man from that consoling couple took his life, too. 

These local suicides also had Christians from various camps wondering and discussing what happens after a Christian commits suicide. Some eMails I've received on this subject have included words like "unsettling", "confused" and "disturbing." Since we are the Body of Christ, "a body fitly joined," as Scripture declares, when something happens here, it's happening there. If it hasn't hit your community square in the face just yet, chances are it will.

I'm reminded of the theme song from the TV series "M.A.S.H." It was called "Suicide is painless."

No, it's not. It hurts a lot.

It hurt me.

Personally, I was raised believing that a Christian who killed themselves received a quick ticket to Hell. The concept being that, since murderers would burn in Hell, what was suicide but self-murder with absolutely no time for repentance?

Apparently, "Thou shalt not kill" referred even to the killing of oneself. This concept now strikes me as quite silly, for all sins... murder, suicide, gossip, slander, rage, infidelity... are all forgivable by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. By and large, that's pretty standard Christian fare, right? To say otherwise is to imply that the crucifixion had no effect on some particular sins. As my own relationship with God has developed, I am now convinced that, as the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, "Nothing can separate us from the love of God." The Greek word for 'nothing' can best be defined as... well, NOTHING! God's love is simply greater than that.

I found a half dozen cases of suicide in the Bible and the Good Book does not appear to condemn the act. The most notorious accounts were those of King Saul (1 Sam. 31:2-5) and Judas Iscariot (Matt. 27:3-5). Others are Abimelech (Judges 9:50-54), who actually ordered his armor-bearer to kill him, Samson (Judges 16:23-31), Ahithophel (2 Sam. 17:23), and Zimri (1 Kings 16:15-20). Even Elijah despaired of his own life (1 Kings 18:40; 19:4) and Job's wife told him he'd be better off killing himself (Job 2:7-9).

Far as I can tell, none of these people who went through with it were explicitly condemned for taking his own life.

Most people who take their own lives are not usually cool and rational about it. I doubt many set out to flout the will of God. I've read that 500,000 Americans attempt suicide annually! I must believe that they are not so much choosing death as they are stumbling down into it from a steep slope of despair. Every 17 minutes someone in America commits suicide. This is the third-leading cause of death among people 15 to 25 years old, college students for the greater part. Even more tragically, among children between 5 and 14 years of age, suicide is the sixth most common cause of death.

Something's VERY wrong.

People are hurting everywhere. we know this because, after all, hurting people are hurting people everywhere we turn. People need help. Maybe someone you know of, someone who puts up a pretty good front at work or even at Church, or even in your home, needs something more than a handshake or a pat on the back.

Love, after all, is spelled T-I-M-E.

So, give someone your attention today. Ask "How are you?" and pause, look them in the eye and await their response. Say their names in conversation and drop them an encouraging eMail. Every one of us is a potential lifesaver. As life guards are taught to handle drowning victims, let them kick and scream and thrash about, but let's all try and be there when they decide they just can't swim another stroke.

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work