I've just come from a meeting with some of the members of our church's Preaching Team. This group consists of individuals, both lay and clergy, who feel God's urging to speak publicly about their faith. The lay among them usually preach at our small chapel service each week, but occasionally are assigned to fill in at our larger services as well. We meet monthly to discuss the challenges of preaching and how we can be faithful to God through his church. Most of the time we address our mandate to help connect others to God through Jesus the Christ.
Today we talked about a lot of things. Because we don't follow an agenda we move from one topic to the next freely. Today we briefly discussed author Anne Rice's decision to "leave" Christianity but not Christ. We came to the consensus that she'd be very comfortable in our church. Then we circled back to how our church can be more effective in reaching people for God. We talked about how our society is so polarized; we talked about how the media loves to pit us against one another, and uses fear of the other to sell their wares to us.
Then it hit us. Perhaps the only "slogan" that we as a church need to share is this: Fear not. Do not fear. Don't be afraid. This is a theme that runs continually through the scriptures. God continually exhorts his people not to be afraid:
The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
"Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward. (Gen 15:1)
So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:31)
There are a lot more than these; this just gives you a beginning.
So we decided that whenever we preach, at least for a time, we are going to share this simple message with our people. "Don't be afraid." In the words of one of my favorite Veggie Tales songs: "God is bigger than the boogie man.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Signs
I've been back from a twenty four hour retreat for 5 hours and it seems like it was a week ago.
It was a great retreat -- a working retreat but still very good. "God things" were happening with the five of us who went to Tall Oaks and discussed how God was moving in our midst. We asked ourselves "Why did God call us together? Why now? We asked for vision and wisdom. We prayed, we worshiped, we prayed and we were bold enough to believe that God may just have given us a huge vision. We even paid for a domain name for something that might never come to be. We're going to continue to have the vision confirmed and refined and then we'll lay it out for the world. But first we're laying out our fleece for God. A sign... something that helps us to KNOW we're headed in the right direction.
We could easily ignore this; in fact our lives would be much easier if we did. There's nothing really in it for us except work and struggle, probably heartache and derision to boot. But there is so much potential for great things to happen too, great things that WE might not even see come completely to reality. So if we really do follow this vision and it all comes to pass, it's truly going to be a "God thing."
I've got to find some time in the next 48 hours to pray about all of this deeply. If there's anyone reading this, I ask that you would pray too. Whatever the sign might be, I hope it's a clear YES or NO. But God rarely works that way, so we'll probably continue to live in ambiguity for a long time. Perhaps assuredness of ones path only happens in hind sight.
It was a great retreat -- a working retreat but still very good. "God things" were happening with the five of us who went to Tall Oaks and discussed how God was moving in our midst. We asked ourselves "Why did God call us together? Why now? We asked for vision and wisdom. We prayed, we worshiped, we prayed and we were bold enough to believe that God may just have given us a huge vision. We even paid for a domain name for something that might never come to be. We're going to continue to have the vision confirmed and refined and then we'll lay it out for the world. But first we're laying out our fleece for God. A sign... something that helps us to KNOW we're headed in the right direction.
We could easily ignore this; in fact our lives would be much easier if we did. There's nothing really in it for us except work and struggle, probably heartache and derision to boot. But there is so much potential for great things to happen too, great things that WE might not even see come completely to reality. So if we really do follow this vision and it all comes to pass, it's truly going to be a "God thing."
I've got to find some time in the next 48 hours to pray about all of this deeply. If there's anyone reading this, I ask that you would pray too. Whatever the sign might be, I hope it's a clear YES or NO. But God rarely works that way, so we'll probably continue to live in ambiguity for a long time. Perhaps assuredness of ones path only happens in hind sight.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The business and busy-ness of life
Twenty minutes in the morning and twenty minutes in the evening for meditation really appeals to me. I get to both about .05% of the time. I get to one or the other probably 50% of the time
An hour of aerobic and or strengthening exercise a day six out of seven days. I've accomplished this maybe twice in recent years.
Eating fresh, healthy, nutritious food for every meal. I'm batting about .300 for that one --- not bad for baseball, not good for health.
Managing my money so that I save 10%, give 10% and spend the rest wisely. Never did that very well either.
So does this make me a failure at life? Some might say so. But here's what I think I get right most of the time.
I care for my family and they care for me.
A day doesn't go by when I am not moved by something. I feel deep sorrow at many of the tragedies of life. I am angered and grieved by how unkind we can be to one another (including my own behavior). I rejoice in little things; the beauty of the sky when it's almost but not quite dark; the sound of teenagers exploring the world in their conversations; the amazing way musical harmony can resonate within my soul.
There are things that I do that make the world a better place for someone -- even if it's just one person at a time. I will admit that I'm too self-centered, yet at the same time I know that there are sacrifices (small as they may be) that I make for others.
Who knows if, in the end, all of the good that happens in my life will outweigh the things that I do poorly or leave undone completely. I have faith that God loves us so completely that we have no worries about being supremely happy in the hereafter, no matter what. Whether we are happy in the now depends upon our willingness to do what we know is meaningful and uplifting for us. Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't. I think the struggle in life is to make today's experience as meaningful and uplifting as it is within my power to do.
And sometimes I allow the business and busy-ness of life to interfere with that.
Why do you suppose we do that to ourselves? Obligation? Fear? Inadequacy?
When I find out what it is for me, I hope I'm wise enough and strong enough to overcome it and make every day count.
An hour of aerobic and or strengthening exercise a day six out of seven days. I've accomplished this maybe twice in recent years.
Eating fresh, healthy, nutritious food for every meal. I'm batting about .300 for that one --- not bad for baseball, not good for health.
Managing my money so that I save 10%, give 10% and spend the rest wisely. Never did that very well either.
So does this make me a failure at life? Some might say so. But here's what I think I get right most of the time.
I care for my family and they care for me.
A day doesn't go by when I am not moved by something. I feel deep sorrow at many of the tragedies of life. I am angered and grieved by how unkind we can be to one another (including my own behavior). I rejoice in little things; the beauty of the sky when it's almost but not quite dark; the sound of teenagers exploring the world in their conversations; the amazing way musical harmony can resonate within my soul.
There are things that I do that make the world a better place for someone -- even if it's just one person at a time. I will admit that I'm too self-centered, yet at the same time I know that there are sacrifices (small as they may be) that I make for others.
Who knows if, in the end, all of the good that happens in my life will outweigh the things that I do poorly or leave undone completely. I have faith that God loves us so completely that we have no worries about being supremely happy in the hereafter, no matter what. Whether we are happy in the now depends upon our willingness to do what we know is meaningful and uplifting for us. Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't. I think the struggle in life is to make today's experience as meaningful and uplifting as it is within my power to do.
And sometimes I allow the business and busy-ness of life to interfere with that.
Why do you suppose we do that to ourselves? Obligation? Fear? Inadequacy?
When I find out what it is for me, I hope I'm wise enough and strong enough to overcome it and make every day count.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Letting Go
This week my granddaughter was supposed to go to her first church camp. When I asked her if she wanted to go, she seemed enthusiastic. Her brothers both did too. That was at the beginning of the summer. On the first day of camp, about an hour after she was supposed to be there, I received word from her father/my son that she didn't want to go and he had forgotten about it. Her mother told her she didn't have to go.
I know that at 13 it is difficult to go someplace new on your own, without a friend. Yet her aunt/my daughter was there, and my granddaughter knew it. She didn't say anything about not wanting to go ahead of time. It wasn't until the day that camp started that we first had any inkling that she didn't want to go.
Now that would be reason enough for me to be peeved. The fee was already paid and I know I won't be getting all of my money back. But that's not the reason I'm having such a hard time letting go of this.
This family does not participate in any religious institution. That's at least partly my fault, as I wasn't participating in any religious institution on any regular basis when my son was growing up. I've never pushed to get them to do so because I firmly believe that it is their choice. But I can't think of a better place to experience God than camp. And that's the only reason I wanted them to go.
But I particularly wanted her to go, because she desperately needs to know that she's ok without having to act like an 18 year old. And she missed that experience.
So I'm trying to let go, and hoping that perhaps I can persuade her for next year.
Letting go. It's tough.
I know that at 13 it is difficult to go someplace new on your own, without a friend. Yet her aunt/my daughter was there, and my granddaughter knew it. She didn't say anything about not wanting to go ahead of time. It wasn't until the day that camp started that we first had any inkling that she didn't want to go.
Now that would be reason enough for me to be peeved. The fee was already paid and I know I won't be getting all of my money back. But that's not the reason I'm having such a hard time letting go of this.
This family does not participate in any religious institution. That's at least partly my fault, as I wasn't participating in any religious institution on any regular basis when my son was growing up. I've never pushed to get them to do so because I firmly believe that it is their choice. But I can't think of a better place to experience God than camp. And that's the only reason I wanted them to go.
But I particularly wanted her to go, because she desperately needs to know that she's ok without having to act like an 18 year old. And she missed that experience.
So I'm trying to let go, and hoping that perhaps I can persuade her for next year.
Letting go. It's tough.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Two days in a row
I think the secret to life is doing something for the second time. Of course if it's a really good habit, it needs to happen a lot more than twice. But NOTHING becomes a habit if you do it once.
So today I did one thing a second time ... second consecutive day that is. I'm posting to my blog. I really enjoy taking the time to write down my thoughts and the little exhibitionist in me (she has lived with me for a very long time) loves thinking that someone else might actually read it and that it will lead to something in their lives becoming just a little bit better because of it. Doesn't even have to relate to what I wrote. I find that many times I read other people's writings and get sent off on a tangent that makes a difference to me.
So today I'm trying to establish this new habit. Nothing too profound to say right now. Except that doing something twice means I'm much more likely to do it a third time.
As proof of that I went to my aqua aerobics class this morning. I've been doing some sort of exercise at least 3 times a week (most weeks that is) for almost a year now. It's because I went the second time a year ago. I'm still striving to do something physical six days out of seven.This week it's been 5 out of 5. If I go tomorrow (which is the plan) I will have made it to that goal for the first time this year.
But I had to go the second time to make it happen.
So ---- maybe I will become a blog giant by this time next year!
Later,
Me and my little exhibitionist
So today I did one thing a second time ... second consecutive day that is. I'm posting to my blog. I really enjoy taking the time to write down my thoughts and the little exhibitionist in me (she has lived with me for a very long time) loves thinking that someone else might actually read it and that it will lead to something in their lives becoming just a little bit better because of it. Doesn't even have to relate to what I wrote. I find that many times I read other people's writings and get sent off on a tangent that makes a difference to me.
So today I'm trying to establish this new habit. Nothing too profound to say right now. Except that doing something twice means I'm much more likely to do it a third time.
As proof of that I went to my aqua aerobics class this morning. I've been doing some sort of exercise at least 3 times a week (most weeks that is) for almost a year now. It's because I went the second time a year ago. I'm still striving to do something physical six days out of seven.This week it's been 5 out of 5. If I go tomorrow (which is the plan) I will have made it to that goal for the first time this year.
But I had to go the second time to make it happen.
So ---- maybe I will become a blog giant by this time next year!
Later,
Me and my little exhibitionist
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Learn something new every day!
Today I learned that if you have a blog you should a) write in it more often than twice a year; and b) check it for spam comments. I never even considered that such a thing as a spam comment existed!
So now I must make the decision whether or not to continue to keep this page up or to just ditch it and be done with it. Kind of like a lot of things in life. Just because they seem like a good idea or opportunity doesn't mean that they are always right for you.
I was talking to someone about this blog a few months ago and she said "Just do it." Sounds familiar, right? Changing habits is a terribly difficult thing. This is not a habit. But I know that I can change if I really want to. I'm now in the habit of removing my makeup every night. (I am somewhat ashamed to say that for years I simply waited until the morning to wash.) That's not as big of a thing as writing down my thoughts every day, or getting regular exercise, but even exercise is more prevalent in my life than it used to be.
Right now our sermon series is based upon a book called "The Principle of the Path". The principle is simple and obvious: Direction, not intention, determines your destination. Duh! But knowing that a particular life path probably leads to an undesired outcome isn't always enough to make someone want to take it. It's because a life direction always has that possibility, regardless of how slim, that it might work out differently for me in my particular unique circumstances. Unlike heading north, south, east or west on a road, the direction one takes in life has exceptions to the rule. Everyone has heard of the successful millionaire who never finished high school. The fact that 99.9% of high school dropouts DON'T become millionaires isn't deterrent enough. Everyone knows a pack-a-day smoker who lived to be 90. Everyone knows someone who overeats and doesn't exercise and still seems to be vital and healthy. Everyone knows someone who is a free-spending person who always seems to get by financially. But the odds are way against us. Why do we think WE will be the exception.
I know that I suffer from exceptional thinking all of the time, using the excuse "God will find a way." God has found a way. He's given us the ability to receive a good education; great amounts of healthy, nutritious food; muscles and hearts built to be used; saving and generosity to keep our finances in a healthy balance. Most of us are not going to see a burning bush or hear a voice from heaven that says "Head that way!" We have to rely on our own experience and that of others.
So Jacque, if you're reading this, thanks for alerting me to the spam/porn responses to my meager blog entries. I'm going to make a concerted effort to make this a #1 priority .... writing down my thoughts for whoever wants to read them for whatever reasons. It's just my attempt to share my experiences so that someone might have a better idea what direction to take in their own lives. Sometimes a bad example can be a good example of what NOT to do!
Like not ignoring your blog.
So now I must make the decision whether or not to continue to keep this page up or to just ditch it and be done with it. Kind of like a lot of things in life. Just because they seem like a good idea or opportunity doesn't mean that they are always right for you.
I was talking to someone about this blog a few months ago and she said "Just do it." Sounds familiar, right? Changing habits is a terribly difficult thing. This is not a habit. But I know that I can change if I really want to. I'm now in the habit of removing my makeup every night. (I am somewhat ashamed to say that for years I simply waited until the morning to wash.) That's not as big of a thing as writing down my thoughts every day, or getting regular exercise, but even exercise is more prevalent in my life than it used to be.
Right now our sermon series is based upon a book called "The Principle of the Path". The principle is simple and obvious: Direction, not intention, determines your destination. Duh! But knowing that a particular life path probably leads to an undesired outcome isn't always enough to make someone want to take it. It's because a life direction always has that possibility, regardless of how slim, that it might work out differently for me in my particular unique circumstances. Unlike heading north, south, east or west on a road, the direction one takes in life has exceptions to the rule. Everyone has heard of the successful millionaire who never finished high school. The fact that 99.9% of high school dropouts DON'T become millionaires isn't deterrent enough. Everyone knows a pack-a-day smoker who lived to be 90. Everyone knows someone who overeats and doesn't exercise and still seems to be vital and healthy. Everyone knows someone who is a free-spending person who always seems to get by financially. But the odds are way against us. Why do we think WE will be the exception.
I know that I suffer from exceptional thinking all of the time, using the excuse "God will find a way." God has found a way. He's given us the ability to receive a good education; great amounts of healthy, nutritious food; muscles and hearts built to be used; saving and generosity to keep our finances in a healthy balance. Most of us are not going to see a burning bush or hear a voice from heaven that says "Head that way!" We have to rely on our own experience and that of others.
So Jacque, if you're reading this, thanks for alerting me to the spam/porn responses to my meager blog entries. I'm going to make a concerted effort to make this a #1 priority .... writing down my thoughts for whoever wants to read them for whatever reasons. It's just my attempt to share my experiences so that someone might have a better idea what direction to take in their own lives. Sometimes a bad example can be a good example of what NOT to do!
Like not ignoring your blog.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Easter and Celebrations
It's been an amazing 2 weeks here at Countryside. Easter morning was wonderful! There were 45 visitors that morning. If we see 5 in the coming weeks we'll be excited. Actually, one family told a great story about how they arrived at our door the second week. They said they got ready to go to church, not knowing where they might end up. When they got into the car, they looked at each other and said "Do we need to go anywhere else?" They directed their car to our doors and joined in the combined service celebration that was a great departure from anything we've ever done before. We clapped with the praise team and reveled to the organ. We "combined" but did not "blend" giving space for both types of musical expression, and we changed the order of service so that it was neither one or the other, but a wonderful stand-alone service of worship. Many asked that we do it on a regular basis; some once a month, some four times a year. But very few seemed to be upset about having to share "their" pew with someone else, and overall it was a great success.
Yet, I'm not sure whether we were all excited about the service because of the potential for getting closer to God, or whether we were just excited to see the church full and perhaps have the opportunity to meet those who we don't see often. Not that the latter is a bad thing -- doing mission together is much easier when we know who we're working with. But the idea that we need to know everyone who comes through the doors is a very limiting one. Even I as a pastor don't know everyone. There are Boy Scouts and Quilters and people who come through these doors all of the time that I don't know. Somehow though we have gotten the idea that if someone worships in this space on Sunday morning that we should be one big, happy family.
I think that's exactly what we are. My family of origin is a big (6 siblings, spouse, kids, kids of kids, etc.) happy family. We come together for family gatherings a couple of times a year. And yet I would daresay that even though we know each other in one sense, in everyday matters we probably really do NOT know one another. We communicate electronically from time to time, but that is not a substitute for really knowing one another in the way that we get to know co-workers or close friends or our immediate family. As we live our lives in separate places with separate careers and ways of looking at life, we are all playing our part in the world. Do we love each other any less because we are not together all of the time? I don't think so. I have a brother who is in need of a kidney, and if I am declared a match you know I will donate it. But I haven't been a part of his day-in and day-out life for more years than I want to admit. But I still love him.
Perhaps the analogy doesn't completely work. However, we should be no less loving and caring for those we don't see week in and week out than those at "our" service -- or for that matter, than for those at "our" church! There are many better opportunities for getting to know each other than worship, which is essentially God's time to communicate with the community through the community, not simply our time to communicate with one another. Yes, part of what we are here for is mutual support and accountability, but we don't have to be intimately acquainted to be supportive, and our closer sisters and brothers can keep us accountable.
I loved the combined service, but I love our individual services too. They meet a special need for those who enjoy a particular style of reaching out to God and having God touch us back. I count it a blessing that they ALL reach me! I believe God has called us to provide more than one way to worship, even though we could, at present, accommodate everyone under one roof at the same time. What do you think? If a church can provide different worship styles, should they? Or should they be good stewards and "bunch up" and either blend, combine or force one style or another?
Thoughts?
Yet, I'm not sure whether we were all excited about the service because of the potential for getting closer to God, or whether we were just excited to see the church full and perhaps have the opportunity to meet those who we don't see often. Not that the latter is a bad thing -- doing mission together is much easier when we know who we're working with. But the idea that we need to know everyone who comes through the doors is a very limiting one. Even I as a pastor don't know everyone. There are Boy Scouts and Quilters and people who come through these doors all of the time that I don't know. Somehow though we have gotten the idea that if someone worships in this space on Sunday morning that we should be one big, happy family.
I think that's exactly what we are. My family of origin is a big (6 siblings, spouse, kids, kids of kids, etc.) happy family. We come together for family gatherings a couple of times a year. And yet I would daresay that even though we know each other in one sense, in everyday matters we probably really do NOT know one another. We communicate electronically from time to time, but that is not a substitute for really knowing one another in the way that we get to know co-workers or close friends or our immediate family. As we live our lives in separate places with separate careers and ways of looking at life, we are all playing our part in the world. Do we love each other any less because we are not together all of the time? I don't think so. I have a brother who is in need of a kidney, and if I am declared a match you know I will donate it. But I haven't been a part of his day-in and day-out life for more years than I want to admit. But I still love him.
Perhaps the analogy doesn't completely work. However, we should be no less loving and caring for those we don't see week in and week out than those at "our" service -- or for that matter, than for those at "our" church! There are many better opportunities for getting to know each other than worship, which is essentially God's time to communicate with the community through the community, not simply our time to communicate with one another. Yes, part of what we are here for is mutual support and accountability, but we don't have to be intimately acquainted to be supportive, and our closer sisters and brothers can keep us accountable.
I loved the combined service, but I love our individual services too. They meet a special need for those who enjoy a particular style of reaching out to God and having God touch us back. I count it a blessing that they ALL reach me! I believe God has called us to provide more than one way to worship, even though we could, at present, accommodate everyone under one roof at the same time. What do you think? If a church can provide different worship styles, should they? Or should they be good stewards and "bunch up" and either blend, combine or force one style or another?
Thoughts?
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