Jun 2008
Why wait?
Monday 06/23/2008
Last week
I had the privilege of being a part of our Student
Ministry missions trip to New Orleans. Let me start
by saying how blessed I was (and am) by our students.
They did a great job of loving, growing and serving.
You, too, should feel blessed and proud (in a good
way) of how well they did. They were a great
representation of Christ and our church.
As I reflect on this trip, I have one consistent thought: why wait? Why do we have to wait to go some place else to serve the community? Why do we have to wait for a natural disaster to happen to serve the community? Why do we have to wait to go on a missions trip to share the love of Jesus Christ with others? Why do we have to wait for certain conditions to be in place to “do missions”?
The more I think about the question, the more I come up with one consistent answer: we don’t have to.
We live in a community where people need hope. They need hope in a physical sense – giving us opportunities to serve hands on. They need hope in a spiritual sense – giving us opportunities to share the Gospel message. They need to experience, feel, and receive the love of Jesus Christ.
And they need it now.
Why wait? We don’t have to. We shouldn’t. We Won’t.
Be praying and asking God how you can be “on mission” with Him right here, right now.
See you on Sunday!
As I reflect on this trip, I have one consistent thought: why wait? Why do we have to wait to go some place else to serve the community? Why do we have to wait for a natural disaster to happen to serve the community? Why do we have to wait to go on a missions trip to share the love of Jesus Christ with others? Why do we have to wait for certain conditions to be in place to “do missions”?
The more I think about the question, the more I come up with one consistent answer: we don’t have to.
We live in a community where people need hope. They need hope in a physical sense – giving us opportunities to serve hands on. They need hope in a spiritual sense – giving us opportunities to share the Gospel message. They need to experience, feel, and receive the love of Jesus Christ.
And they need it now.
Why wait? We don’t have to. We shouldn’t. We Won’t.
Be praying and asking God how you can be “on mission” with Him right here, right now.
See you on Sunday!
Change
Wednesday 06/18/2008
Change is
often the one constant that most of us don’t like.
It’s been said that “The most damaging phrase in the
language is: ‘It's always been done that way.’”
(Grace Hopper) Some define insanity as “doing the
same thing over and over but expecting different
results.”
This Summer – the Summer of Family – is change. It’s different. It pushes most of us out of our comfort zone. But it’s important to change.
God never changes, but the world He created does. God’s Word never changes, but its application in our individual lives does. God’s love for people never changes either, but we must always be looking for new ways to express that love to others.
Jesus Himself understood this when He said, “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new wine, but says, “The old is good.” (Luke 5:37-39, NRSV)
In fact the entire Christ-following experience is about change. Isn’t that what Paul meant when He wrote, “What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” (1 Corinthians 5:17)
A huge part of being a Christ-follower is to change. To change (and grow) in our walk with Christ. To change (and grow)in our influence with those around us. To change (and grow) our methods to reach NEW people with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
As the Summer continues and the Fall comes upon us we are all going to have to let God change us. God desires to use us in a new and fresh way to impact our community, but we must be open to change.
Trust me, I don’t like change either; but I must embrace it so that I might grow in Christ.
I find solace in this: “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.” (Ecclesastes 1:9)
See you on Sunday!
This Summer – the Summer of Family – is change. It’s different. It pushes most of us out of our comfort zone. But it’s important to change.
God never changes, but the world He created does. God’s Word never changes, but its application in our individual lives does. God’s love for people never changes either, but we must always be looking for new ways to express that love to others.
Jesus Himself understood this when He said, “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new wine, but says, “The old is good.” (Luke 5:37-39, NRSV)
In fact the entire Christ-following experience is about change. Isn’t that what Paul meant when He wrote, “What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” (1 Corinthians 5:17)
A huge part of being a Christ-follower is to change. To change (and grow) in our walk with Christ. To change (and grow)in our influence with those around us. To change (and grow) our methods to reach NEW people with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
As the Summer continues and the Fall comes upon us we are all going to have to let God change us. God desires to use us in a new and fresh way to impact our community, but we must be open to change.
Trust me, I don’t like change either; but I must embrace it so that I might grow in Christ.
I find solace in this: “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.” (Ecclesastes 1:9)
See you on Sunday!
On Mission with God
Tuesday 06/10/2008
“…you
will receive power and will tell people about me
everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
This coming Saturday, our student ministry embarks on the great adventure of being on mission with God as they head out to New Orleans. They will be spending a week in the still-recovering city giving hope to those in desperate need. Hope through hammers and paint brushes to physically rebuild that community; and hope through the message of Jesus Christ to spiritually strengthen and renew the area.
We are so blessed to be a part of a church that takes the Great Commission seriously. Between our local outreaches, this national trip, and our international efforts, we are living proof of Acts 1:8.
But “going” is not our only responsibility. You might not be going on this trip to New Orleans, or you may not be able to be downtown during the week to reach out to our community. But you can pray. Throughout the book of Acts, you see those who participate in the missional effort of the church through prayer.
I want to challenge you this week to pray for the students as they travel. Pray that God would give them open doors to open hearts. Pray that the people would receive the hope and love that is found in Jesus Christ. Pray that our church would be a living expression of God’s grace to those we cncounter.
But I also want to challenge you to remember this: you don’t have to leave this area to be a missionary. We live in a lost and needy community. Think of this: the next time you are in Publix and you are standing in line – if there are four people in front of you, three behind you, one running the register, and one bagging the items, then YOU are the ONLY ONE going to church.
Be on mission with God and remember the words of St. Francis Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
See you Sunday!
This coming Saturday, our student ministry embarks on the great adventure of being on mission with God as they head out to New Orleans. They will be spending a week in the still-recovering city giving hope to those in desperate need. Hope through hammers and paint brushes to physically rebuild that community; and hope through the message of Jesus Christ to spiritually strengthen and renew the area.
We are so blessed to be a part of a church that takes the Great Commission seriously. Between our local outreaches, this national trip, and our international efforts, we are living proof of Acts 1:8.
But “going” is not our only responsibility. You might not be going on this trip to New Orleans, or you may not be able to be downtown during the week to reach out to our community. But you can pray. Throughout the book of Acts, you see those who participate in the missional effort of the church through prayer.
I want to challenge you this week to pray for the students as they travel. Pray that God would give them open doors to open hearts. Pray that the people would receive the hope and love that is found in Jesus Christ. Pray that our church would be a living expression of God’s grace to those we cncounter.
But I also want to challenge you to remember this: you don’t have to leave this area to be a missionary. We live in a lost and needy community. Think of this: the next time you are in Publix and you are standing in line – if there are four people in front of you, three behind you, one running the register, and one bagging the items, then YOU are the ONLY ONE going to church.
Be on mission with God and remember the words of St. Francis Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
See you Sunday!
The Quest for the Keys to Joy
Monday 06/02/2008
“We are
writing these things so that our joy will be
complete.” (1 John 1:4)
Yesterday began a journey – a search – a QUEST to seek out the KEYS to JOY so that we can experience the Joy-filled life. It was a great start to our expedition in discovering what John wrote to us so that “our joy will be complete.”
I want to encourage you to join us over the next few weeks so that we can arrive at the destination – experiencing joy – together. We are going to look at the keys to being joy-filled while examining John’s writing and measuring it against our lives.
I especially want you to begin to INVITE someone to join you on Sunday, June 29. We are going to be looking at “what you believe” and how that contributes to our JOY. If know anyone who needs to hear a message of joy – and life – then June 29 is a day you’ll want to bring them.
Thank You.
It’s not very often that you get to celebrate anniversaries of great faithfulness of service to the Lord and to His Church, but we are blessed to get that opportunity a second time this year.
June marks the 30-year anniversary of Glenda Davis – our awesome church secretary. I can’t imagine all that she has endured through the years by working with different pastors – well, I guess, yes I can imagine it, since I’m one of those she’s enduring.
Glenda does so much to help me – and our church – that only Heaven knows the full extent of her impact on the Kingdom. No one has made our transition easier than she, with all of her knowledge and wisdom. We are blessed to have her be a part of our ministry team.
For all of that, I can only say, “Thank you.”
Be sure to thank the Lord for Glenda and let her know how much you appreciate all she does for us.
See you on Sunday!
Yesterday began a journey – a search – a QUEST to seek out the KEYS to JOY so that we can experience the Joy-filled life. It was a great start to our expedition in discovering what John wrote to us so that “our joy will be complete.”
I want to encourage you to join us over the next few weeks so that we can arrive at the destination – experiencing joy – together. We are going to look at the keys to being joy-filled while examining John’s writing and measuring it against our lives.
I especially want you to begin to INVITE someone to join you on Sunday, June 29. We are going to be looking at “what you believe” and how that contributes to our JOY. If know anyone who needs to hear a message of joy – and life – then June 29 is a day you’ll want to bring them.
Thank You.
It’s not very often that you get to celebrate anniversaries of great faithfulness of service to the Lord and to His Church, but we are blessed to get that opportunity a second time this year.
June marks the 30-year anniversary of Glenda Davis – our awesome church secretary. I can’t imagine all that she has endured through the years by working with different pastors – well, I guess, yes I can imagine it, since I’m one of those she’s enduring.
Glenda does so much to help me – and our church – that only Heaven knows the full extent of her impact on the Kingdom. No one has made our transition easier than she, with all of her knowledge and wisdom. We are blessed to have her be a part of our ministry team.
For all of that, I can only say, “Thank you.”
Be sure to thank the Lord for Glenda and let her know how much you appreciate all she does for us.
See you on Sunday!
