Okay, 2010 is going to be quite a year for UMCL. Things are happening and talks are taking place that may cause many of us to smile, frown, cheer, sigh, scratch our heads, argue, agree and even do things that are not exactly Christ-like. Boy, it is a good thing God gives us grace. Whatever happens in the upcoming year, I want us to keep one thing in mind…
The greatest gift God has ever given is… the electric blanket! Oh it keeps us sooo warm in the wint - wait that’s not right. Our most precious gift is GRACE! We have been given grace through baby Jesus. Why did God do that? The easy answer is because God loves us. A more complex answer is so that we REST IN GRACE. We work so hard and run so fast in order to make certain that our shacks are going to be finished. We fear that we will run out of energy, time sprays all over so we feel there’s no more left and our money does the same. See, if I’m at the center or you are, these shacks fall. God must be at the center so that TEMPLES are built and CITIES are saved through us.
Mary and Joseph did not trek across Israel and Egypt to deliver and protect a baby so that the world will toil in vain. They knew they were part of a thing far greater than themselves. They knew they were part of liberating the world BY GRACE!! You know what, so are we. Let us tap into the GRACE that gives the peace that passes all understanding.
If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It's useless to rise early & go to bed late & work your worried fingers to the bone. Do you know God enjoys giving rest to those He loves? Psalm 127:1-2 (Msg)
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Rake
“Our sanctuary is no place for video cameras, projectors and computer graphics, let alone spending $65-thousand on ‘em! If we needed that stuff we’d be a television studio,” protested Douglas as he stood amidst the church council meeting.
He was a 47-year member, tithed a rather large income and never in his life has he seen such wasteful behavior in the church. Douglas does not push his personal preference or agenda on the church, but in this case it was too much. He voted against the $65-thousand project because he can’t stand “all that techno-crap.” He gathered friends to oppose it and tried to convince many younger members it was unwise. When the church conference vote came in, Douglas was defeated severely. Eighty-eight percent approved the addition. In fact, despite their long-term fundraising plans, the church received the full amount within a week.
Carrie, one of those “hip-happening younger members that connects with the youth” approached Douglas smiling. She said, “Wow, we already got the project paid for. You see Douglas, people in this church know it’s the 21st century and they know if we’re going to reach this generation it’s time we start acting like 21st century Christians. I am sorry Doug, but your ways of doing church just don’t fit here anymore.” Carrie’s words made Douglas think of a passage he always kept in mind regarding the church…
2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
(Ephesians 4:2-3)
What would Carrie say if she found out that Douglas contributed the entire $65-thousand? Remember, the church is open for all ages, nations and races… even those we sometimes disagree with.
He was a 47-year member, tithed a rather large income and never in his life has he seen such wasteful behavior in the church. Douglas does not push his personal preference or agenda on the church, but in this case it was too much. He voted against the $65-thousand project because he can’t stand “all that techno-crap.” He gathered friends to oppose it and tried to convince many younger members it was unwise. When the church conference vote came in, Douglas was defeated severely. Eighty-eight percent approved the addition. In fact, despite their long-term fundraising plans, the church received the full amount within a week.
Carrie, one of those “hip-happening younger members that connects with the youth” approached Douglas smiling. She said, “Wow, we already got the project paid for. You see Douglas, people in this church know it’s the 21st century and they know if we’re going to reach this generation it’s time we start acting like 21st century Christians. I am sorry Doug, but your ways of doing church just don’t fit here anymore.” Carrie’s words made Douglas think of a passage he always kept in mind regarding the church…
2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
(Ephesians 4:2-3)
What would Carrie say if she found out that Douglas contributed the entire $65-thousand? Remember, the church is open for all ages, nations and races… even those we sometimes disagree with.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The Rake
I’ve been thwapped by a rake of understanding love better.
I’ll illustrate this by those who deliver fun birthday cakes or pretty flowers. Man, whatta job!! Think about it. They did not have to bake the cake, or plant, pick, and trim the flowers, yet they are the deliverers of such happiness.
It’s like saying, “Kids, Grampa and Gramma are taking us to DISNEY WORLD!” Delivering that news is so great because the work of travel plans, accommodations and finances have already been done. I get to deliver the good news. Hmmm, let’s see.
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. (1 John 4: 7, 11-12 NLT)
Love is just like the delivered birthday cakes and flowers. Even though we hear and say, “I give my love to ______,” we are not the bakers or gardeners of love.
When you see it through the eyes of 1 John 4:11-12, you see that we are not creators, but deliverers of love. God’s love is brought to full expression in us. I can see now that the pressure to come up with love is not on me. God has taken care of that. We need to be in conversation with God to know the love He is giving us to deliver. In essence, delivering love is an act of obedience and often filled with joy. Imagine, God creates love for your kids and you get to deliver it? Or perhaps God has partnered with you to bring love to your spouse? And like those delivery people, we must take great care of that love. Deliverers would not fling the cake in the van or stuff the flowers under the seat. So, take care of God’s precious cargo and make sure His love is delivered through you.
I’ll illustrate this by those who deliver fun birthday cakes or pretty flowers. Man, whatta job!! Think about it. They did not have to bake the cake, or plant, pick, and trim the flowers, yet they are the deliverers of such happiness.
It’s like saying, “Kids, Grampa and Gramma are taking us to DISNEY WORLD!” Delivering that news is so great because the work of travel plans, accommodations and finances have already been done. I get to deliver the good news. Hmmm, let’s see.
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. (1 John 4: 7, 11-12 NLT)
Love is just like the delivered birthday cakes and flowers. Even though we hear and say, “I give my love to ______,” we are not the bakers or gardeners of love.
When you see it through the eyes of 1 John 4:11-12, you see that we are not creators, but deliverers of love. God’s love is brought to full expression in us. I can see now that the pressure to come up with love is not on me. God has taken care of that. We need to be in conversation with God to know the love He is giving us to deliver. In essence, delivering love is an act of obedience and often filled with joy. Imagine, God creates love for your kids and you get to deliver it? Or perhaps God has partnered with you to bring love to your spouse? And like those delivery people, we must take great care of that love. Deliverers would not fling the cake in the van or stuff the flowers under the seat. So, take care of God’s precious cargo and make sure His love is delivered through you.
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Rake
UMCL has been making strides into the next several years as a church for the city. We have so much work to do and so much congregation building to do. LET’S GET BUSY!!! - but it’s summer.
Summer has typically been this church’s time of rest. Every summer UMCL stops, sits down and says, “We’ll pick it up this fall.” Other than VBS we have not too much going on.
I know some pastors fight the summer shut down, but nobody embraces that time of rest more than I. Rest is so important.
At a time when my body and soul say rest, but my mind shouts, “GO!” We’ll rest when we’re dead,” these words in Hebrews hit me like stepping on a garden rake…
“So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest.” (Hebrews 4:9-11 NLT)
Do you get that voice in your head driving you to keep working, keep going and keep striving for growth? Unfortunately, the more I drive harder the more I grow (around the waist). Stress mounts, fatigue sets in and bad habits appear when a person or people push past the point of rest. All work and no play makes UMCL a dull bride (I made it up).
A summer’s rest gives the people, staff and leaders of UMCL, a well-needed and earned rest. We will do our best to keep moving forward. but remember, “For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest.” Phew, it does feel good to take a breather for a minute.
Summer has typically been this church’s time of rest. Every summer UMCL stops, sits down and says, “We’ll pick it up this fall.” Other than VBS we have not too much going on.
I know some pastors fight the summer shut down, but nobody embraces that time of rest more than I. Rest is so important.
At a time when my body and soul say rest, but my mind shouts, “GO!” We’ll rest when we’re dead,” these words in Hebrews hit me like stepping on a garden rake…
“So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest.” (Hebrews 4:9-11 NLT)
Do you get that voice in your head driving you to keep working, keep going and keep striving for growth? Unfortunately, the more I drive harder the more I grow (around the waist). Stress mounts, fatigue sets in and bad habits appear when a person or people push past the point of rest. All work and no play makes UMCL a dull bride (I made it up).
A summer’s rest gives the people, staff and leaders of UMCL, a well-needed and earned rest. We will do our best to keep moving forward. but remember, “For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest.” Phew, it does feel good to take a breather for a minute.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The Rake
My dad told me a story about two big, strong guys getting into a fight "a hundred years ago." My dad was on the side of (call him) Joe and the other guy was Tony. Joe was big and tough and told Tony to meet him at the fairgrounds. Everyone on my dad's side knew that this was going to be a pretty big fight. But the other guy, Tony, did something so unpredictable and confident that it shocked everyone. Tony brought a baseball bat with him to the fight. Joe, of course, said, "Yeah, you bring a baseball bat to fight me, that's hardly fair."
Tony shook his head, looked at Joe, tossed the bat to the warm summer gravel at Joe's feet and said, "The bat is for you. You're gonna need it." Then Tony commenced to beating the tar out of Joe, who wound up on his back with an unused bat in his hand and a look of disbelief. Now, to me, that is confidence.
David had that same confidence against Goliath. Moses was confident as he took on Pharoah. Noah looked crazy, but he had God on his side. Jesus never once flinched against the high priests. Confidence is what we know when we know God is in the fight with us. We are so dangerous to evil because we are on God's side.
Imagine the Church, strong in the Lord, throwing a bat before Satan saying, "Here, you're gonna need this to fight us." I have been thwapped by the rake so much about this lately that it hurts NOT to share it. Hey, be open to the rake wherever God places it in your path and remember, "...with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles (2 Chronicles 32:8)." Now that rake is better than any bat.
Tony shook his head, looked at Joe, tossed the bat to the warm summer gravel at Joe's feet and said, "The bat is for you. You're gonna need it." Then Tony commenced to beating the tar out of Joe, who wound up on his back with an unused bat in his hand and a look of disbelief. Now, to me, that is confidence.
David had that same confidence against Goliath. Moses was confident as he took on Pharoah. Noah looked crazy, but he had God on his side. Jesus never once flinched against the high priests. Confidence is what we know when we know God is in the fight with us. We are so dangerous to evil because we are on God's side.
Imagine the Church, strong in the Lord, throwing a bat before Satan saying, "Here, you're gonna need this to fight us." I have been thwapped by the rake so much about this lately that it hurts NOT to share it. Hey, be open to the rake wherever God places it in your path and remember, "...with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles (2 Chronicles 32:8)." Now that rake is better than any bat.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
The Rake
We can’t please everybody all the time. That’s not in the Bible, but we should reopen the canon and slip it in there. Humans are difficult to appease. What makes one happy enrages another. So what’s the solution? In Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down, Marva Dawn gave me some new insight.
Acts 15:28 says, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us….” This passage is about the apostles writing to Antioch, a culture that placed human desires over God’s. They wrote that they’ve consulted the Holy Spirit first and will send help according to what He wants, not the populous of Antioch.
Democracy relies on popular vote. Ya know, 48% say yes and 52% no. This is majority-rules and that’s how it is, but should that be the way in Church?
Anyone who has ever spent much time in the Church knows that we are called to be different. We are called to be Uniquely Christian. Sometimes though, we lose sight of that and fall into our democratic culture. The U.S. IS a government by the people and for the people, but the church should not be. She IS a church by God and for God.
So, when two sides argue in the church and choose democracy there will always be a loser. However, if they listen together to the Holy Spirit, then the church becomes faithfully united to God’s desire.
Dawn says it really well, “We have let the democracy of the culture around us prevent the Church from being its own culture – a genuine Christ following community.”
The solution: all sides consulting the Holy Spirit before themselves by PRAYING. Man this prayer thing is HUGE.
Acts 15:28 says, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us….” This passage is about the apostles writing to Antioch, a culture that placed human desires over God’s. They wrote that they’ve consulted the Holy Spirit first and will send help according to what He wants, not the populous of Antioch.
Democracy relies on popular vote. Ya know, 48% say yes and 52% no. This is majority-rules and that’s how it is, but should that be the way in Church?
Anyone who has ever spent much time in the Church knows that we are called to be different. We are called to be Uniquely Christian. Sometimes though, we lose sight of that and fall into our democratic culture. The U.S. IS a government by the people and for the people, but the church should not be. She IS a church by God and for God.
So, when two sides argue in the church and choose democracy there will always be a loser. However, if they listen together to the Holy Spirit, then the church becomes faithfully united to God’s desire.
Dawn says it really well, “We have let the democracy of the culture around us prevent the Church from being its own culture – a genuine Christ following community.”
The solution: all sides consulting the Holy Spirit before themselves by PRAYING. Man this prayer thing is HUGE.
The Rake
Let’s play I Spy? I Spy (with my little eye) God’s grace in Genesis 3:21-24. Can you find it?
21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the tree of life.
It’s hard to spy God’s grace here. No wonder, with terms like, “banished, not allowed, and drove out.” Adam and Eve were blissfully naked, ate God forbidden fruit, saw their nudity as embarrassing, God was disappointed and they were kicked out. Okay, so where do we spy God’s grace in that?
In verse 21, God made them clothing. They disobeyed God’s command, shifted the blame and tried to hide the evidence. It’s obvious God was disappointed and possibly even hurt and yet God makes them clothes? I can just imagine what I would tell Adam and Eve, “See, I told you not to eat that fruit. I know you feel awkward being naked. That is why I told you to stay away from that tree. Hey, don’t whine to me. I don’t know where you’re going to get something larger than a fig leaf.” With His grace God provided for them even after they utterly disobeyed Him. Psalm 103:8 says, “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. It’s easy to see God’s punishment in this passage, yet in the midst of God’s anger, we spy grace. Praise God for His abounding GRACE!
21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the tree of life.
It’s hard to spy God’s grace here. No wonder, with terms like, “banished, not allowed, and drove out.” Adam and Eve were blissfully naked, ate God forbidden fruit, saw their nudity as embarrassing, God was disappointed and they were kicked out. Okay, so where do we spy God’s grace in that?
In verse 21, God made them clothing. They disobeyed God’s command, shifted the blame and tried to hide the evidence. It’s obvious God was disappointed and possibly even hurt and yet God makes them clothes? I can just imagine what I would tell Adam and Eve, “See, I told you not to eat that fruit. I know you feel awkward being naked. That is why I told you to stay away from that tree. Hey, don’t whine to me. I don’t know where you’re going to get something larger than a fig leaf.” With His grace God provided for them even after they utterly disobeyed Him. Psalm 103:8 says, “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. It’s easy to see God’s punishment in this passage, yet in the midst of God’s anger, we spy grace. Praise God for His abounding GRACE!
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