The Rake

2009-12-01T08:41:00.000-08:00

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)

The Rake

2008-09-12T13:35:00.000-07:00

“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.

The Rake

2008-08-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

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.

The Rake

2008-06-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

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.

The Rake

2008-04-29T12:16:00.000-07:00

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.

The Rake

2008-04-03T07:21:00.001-07:00

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.

The Rake

2008-04-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

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!

The Rake - Pastor Jason Larson

2008-01-15T08:39:00.000-08:00

Can we function without the Holy Spirit?

I have seen good activity with UMCL’s Trustees about facilities, the Building Use Study about location and Finance Committee about money. I have seen good activity with Seney’s Ad Board. I can preach a funny, interesting and thought provoking sermon each Sunday (at least ½ of ‘em). We can have good discussions at Bible studies, smooth classes with children and fun with youth, but is any of it necessarily dependent on the Holy Spirit?

I believe God creates daily and Jesus continually saves, but what does the Holy Spirit do? I grew up United Methodist where the Spirit was not talked about much. This is a new journey for me. I am embracing the Holy Spirit in my life and finding that He is amazing with confidence that richly flows. After all, He IS God.

Paul writes in Romans (8:26) …the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. … we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. The Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings we cannot express in words.

By this, the Holy Spirit is our advocate and our guide. There is a guided purpose for all of us in the church and individually. Many people have been frustrated by this statement, asking, “So what is my purpose then?” The answer? Get in touch with the Holy Spirit and He’ll guide you. He’ll pray for you with groanings far greater than you can know.

So, can we function without the Holy Spirit? Yes, but then our lives lack purpose and power and the church lacks direction and strength. The Holy Spirit! If you lack a connection with Him… GET ONE!!

The Rake

2007-12-05T08:50:00.000-08:00

Dr. Vincent Synan, Dean of the Divinity School at Regent University and historian of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements said, “…the greatest spiritual forces in the founding of America were the Methodist circuit riders and the camp meetings that spread scriptural holiness all over these lands as Wesley told them to do so.” John Wesley founded the United Methodist movement.

I wonder why it surprises me that Synan calls Methodism the greatest spiritual force in the birth of the U.S.? I think it’s because we’ve became a self-centered institution. The UMC has become more about budgets and appearances than prayer and evangelism. Wesley once said, “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist ... But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect.”

We have forgotten the power of prayer and evangelism working together. I know that there is no way to bring back the 18th century, but we can re-ignite that passion of reaching those who no longer see the light.

I do not want United Methodism to exist as some indigestible, selfish institution. Many Pharisees got to that point also thousands of years ago. In fact, Jesus’ coming was to challenge that darkness. His birth was a light shining to guide ALL of God’s children through that egotistical gloom. Advent is a time to anticipate that light.

Now, we have already seen it – you and I – and we are following that light. Let’s open our doors to anticipate new people seeing Advent’s light, maybe for the first time (again). As our doors open, I can hardly think that “Dead Sect” would describe us. Merry Christmas!

The Rake

2007-11-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

“…prayer, prevailing prayer and prayer in a context of spiritual warfare, is a central part of the message the Spirit is giving to churches today. The rediscovery of spiritual warfare as the context for prevailing prayer has resulted in effectively positioning the Church for the other part of the Spirit’s message… evangelism.”- Ed Silvoso

What is spiritual warfare?

Remember those cheesy, combat movies in the 80’s, like Commando or Rambo: First Blood III? They always entailed a muscular actor, blazing two loud assault rifles, in plain view of the enemy, walking through a wall of bullets, with this tough look, no shirt and tan pectorals.

It may have been entertainment (or not), but not spiritual warfare. However, could you imagine the spiritual film titles, Confirmando or Disciple: First Blood III? I think the term warfare makes people think of needless violence. I’ve said spiritual warfare a lot and from what I’ve seen, people are uneasy with that term.

Warfare IS ugly (unless carrying two assault rifles beneath bronze pectorals), whether it’s humans fighting humans or believers fighting evil. Yet St. Paul says, “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. …take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish the flaming arrows of evil.”

Paul is referring to spiritual warfare. The term isn’t nice and it is happening. Church is to be full of Christian soldiers trained to battle the forces of evil and we have one very powerful weapon—prayer. Prayer for the city from the hearts of the faithful is dangerous to evil. Are we okay with being dangerous? Are we okay fighting spiritual warfare for our city? Now drop & gimme 20!

The Rake

2007-09-28T13:04:00.000-07:00

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you… a stranger and show you hospitality?…“the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” (Matt 25:37-40 NLT)

UMCL often receives calls from people needing help with bills, rent, car troubles, etc…. My first thoughts are not too holy.

“What, you spent too much on cigarettes and booze?” I think to myself, these people just need to toughen up and get jobs. Then I stop listening to that and begin listening to my heart.

You’re thinking, “Isn’t there some place else they can go to get help? Why they callin’ us?” They call us because we’re a church and that’s our job – to help others. “People take advantage of the church, right?”

Yes, when the church helps strangers she CAN get into precarious territory. I try to stick to Matthew 25 and since I have been in Le Mars I know (first-hand) that there ARE those who take advantage of the church.

This leads to another passage,
“Lo, I do send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, be ye therefore wise as the serpents, and simple as the doves. (Matt 10:16 YLT)

Good, this means that we are to help, just not ignorantly. Monday, a person called and needed help with rent. I prayed about it and God led me to call the landlord. I found out her spouse walked out and took all their money. The tenant was doing her best, but needed help. I am happy to say that UMCL Missions paid the rent, fulfilled Matthew 25 and gave relief to one in pain.

Wisdom tells me that if they are lying to the church then the sin is upon them, but if they are telling the truth and we assume they’re lying, then it’s upon us. The Rake is wise… but it leaves a bruise.

The Rake

2007-09-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

Years ago, after putting drainage tile in, I was bothered by a sink-hole. That meant I had problems. A wise old guy said, "No, no this is good. We see where the hole is and can start filling it." We were a pretty effective tile crew due to this.

It’s a different job, but there are also sinkholes in the Church in the form of competition. Competition is in our congregation and it will be followed by disunity. But do not let our hearts be troubled. UMCL is not the lone church in disunity and we can view this like a sinkhole.

It is revealed, we fill the hole and, in theory, we can be more confident than in ground that MAY still have hidden sinkholes. Sinkholes are a problem, but it is what we do about them that make us a better crew.

I have ideas on some fill work and I know you do, too. I need your help, but help or not I will take up this struggle. I am aware that I could possibly leave here making little or no difference. It is my job and God has called me to guide people in cooperation like Paul and Peter and guide them away from competition like Cain and Abel. I want to leave here knowing I did all I was led to do - accepted or not.

Everyone wants this to work out, from First to Calvary to every newcomer. UMCL is a symbol of Christian cooperation like Paul and Peter. Paul and Peter had different gifts. Peter was rough. Paul was scholarly. You'd think the two would not work out, but they were focused on the mission of Jesus Christ and thus were able to collaborate (like Mike and me). But Cain focused on only what HE brought to the table. He killed Abel out of competition so that his offering would be the best. Eliminate the competition and you win, right?

When banks compete, we win, but when Christians compete, Satan wins (and we all lose). We are aware of struggles of other congregations here in town. Some churches understand the goal of unity and others only think they do. I believe, in this town UMCL IS a symbol of Christian unity. Pastors are being fired, churches are choosing not to unify and progress is put on hold because of competition. We HAVE chosen to come together, so I’ll fight as hard as I can and God can give us many signs, but if we turn from unity then we become another example of Christians competing and another win for Satan. Let’s let Paul’s words hit us like stepping on the rake…

"So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” Romans 14:19

The Rake

2007-08-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

“…the world around us shifts and the Christian faith is only alive when it’s listening, morphing, innovating – letting go of whatever has gotten in the way of Jesus and embracing whatever will help us be the people God wants us to be.” The last ten years have shifted so much if I morph one more time I’m going to have a psychotic episode.

In August 1997 I lived in a house by myself. By January 2000 there were 8 of us. In 2002, I went from Holstein backhoe operator to Le Mars pastor and Sioux Falls seminary student. I started working with Tom Shinkle, but he moved 10 months later. In August of ’03, I worked with Dr. Allen Call (our organist’s late husband). Being one year old in ministry, working with a wise 41-year veteran was great, but it only lasted until March of 2004. Dr Call suddenly and sadly died of a stroke. He died around the same time my wife Jessica’s friend was murdered.

Jess and I were dumbfounded and then the building at First UMC became uninhabitable without a ¼ million-dollar repair. We worshipped in 3 different buildings in one year. I went from lead of a medium-sized church to Pastor Mike’s associate of this becoming-large church and finally lead of this becoming-large church. Lots of change, but I now see God’s wisdom in it.

I now see things that stood in my way of Jesus like love for a building, human approval, low self confidence and the desire to be super-pastor. I have been stretched to the shape of my obedience. I am more alive and less conquered. I am less about me and more about what God wants for His people through me – especially my wife and kids. I feel alive again because of, dare I say it, CHANGE – GOD’S CHANGE.

Bell, Rob, Velvet Elvis. Zondervan, Grand Rapids MI. 2005.