Good Afternoon!
Have you ever done something you didn't want to do? Yesterday, I did. You see, for a while now, my two kids have been annoyingly consistent in voicing their desire to get a new dog. Our beloved Charlee died almost one year ago. Over the last couple of months, the kids have felt a need to get another dog to be a companion to our other dog, Radar. I had many reasons for not wanting to get another dog, but I won't go into those here. Suffice it to say, I was able to effectively deflect the barrages of "Dad, please!" What I didn't know is that my children were created with an innate ability to effectively practice the ambush tactic, known to be effective in warfare. Between you and me, I think they got if from their mother (she was in on the whole thing!) : )
Anyway, while I was away at a staff retreat on Monday, the plan went into action. My wife thought it would be a good idea to take my children to the Humane Society..."just to look". Yeah, right. They knew what they were doing, they had done it before (when we got Charlee). I should have known. My love for my family blinded me. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The ambush was in full operation!
Without going into all of the details, we got the dog they fell in love with. A cute, 11-week old, Old English Sheepdog/Australian Shepherd mix. She is almost pure white. Since my children actually paid for her, they got the naming rights and named her...are you ready for this...Snowball. Original.
I must confess, she is a cute little dog and reminds all of us of some of the qualities that Charlee had. She is a little odd in her looks. One eye has a black patch around it while the other eye has pink around it. She looks like a little misfit. But, her story was heart-wrenching as well. In her 11 weeks of life, we are her 4th-5th family. She has been moved from one home to another. She is a bit timid and appeared at first to be depressed. Can't say I blame her. Lost, with no one place to call home. A misfit dog, not able to find a place that would accept her and help her fit in.
In the middle of the night, I remembered one of the reasons why I didn't want another dog, especially a puppy. She would wimper and cry. My son and I would take her out to the back yard so that she could go to the bathroom. One time it was for real, the other time was just a ruse. It takes a lot of time and investment to welcome someone new into the home. Thanks to the dogged determination of my children (pun intended), we now are a two dog family. Pray for me.
I liken this experience to the church. In many ways we want to keep the family as it is. It is comfortable that way. We know what we can depend on. We can get to know the people. Once we are a part of the family, it takes less investment on our part to keep it all going.
Then, all of a sudden, some misfit comes in with a history, a past, and even a present that makes us uncomfortable. They have been wandering from one place to the next, lost in their lives, with no place to call home. They have baggage. Their theology isn't sound. Their language isn't Christian. Their clothing isn't clean. Their body is a walking collage of different pictures and piercings. Their music isn't holy. They wear a hat in the sanctuary. They think they can even drink coffee while they worship. They don't know the rules. They don't know the way "it should be".
Maybe if we saw them outside of the church, it would be different. We'd be able to not engage them. We could walk right by them. Or, we could have a quick conversation, and go on our merry way...leaving them to their wanderings and us to our righteousness.
If they are in the church, we may feel a spiritual obligation to engage them - even if we don't want to. "Maybe another church would be a better fit?" we ask ourselves.
Maybe you don't think these things, but today more than ever, the Church needs to remember that there are billions of people lost and wandering. They are looking for a place to call home. If we are always focused on what it takes to be a member of the family of God (right doctrine, proper style of worship, keeping tradition for tradition's sake, going to meetings, etc.) then the homeless wanderer will never be able to fit in - because he/she is looking for a home, not an institution.
It takes time and investment when we welcome a new person to the family of God. It takes our patience. It takes walking with them at odd times and in uncomfortable places. It takes a willingness to see the world from their perspective. It takes an authentic love for them as God's children and the willingness to create opportunities for them to see Jesus and have a transforming experience with Him. It takes dogged faith in God to provide us the boldness, courage, and direction in reaching out. That faith is unrelenting and it will not rest until the mission is accomplished - making disciples in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord!
Are you willing to invest the time in those who are wandering and lost? Or, is it enough for you to pat them on the head, love on them a little, and send them on their way?
One will build the Kingdom. The other will be its demise.
"Almighty God, forgive me for my biases and prejudices of those who do not know You. Forgive me that my thoughts, my words, and my actions have not made it possible for wandering souls to find a pathway to You. Allow my life to reflect the fullness of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Give me a dogged faith to pursue the wandering soul and love him as you love him and serve her as you serve her. I want to invest my life and my faith in You, so that others may find a home in Your Body, the Church. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
A New Chapter
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
I pray that you have been able to experience the power of Christ in your life this week.
This week I have had the wonderful pleasure to delight in one of my daughter's accomplishments. My daughter is 9 years old and she loves to read and write. She has a very creative side to her. In late January of this year, some 6 1/2 months ago, she decided that she wanted to write a book. A lofty goal and one that, quite honestly, I thought was too lofty. My daughter has the habit of starting many things and not finishing them.
As with most goals, she started off strong and with great gusto. She would write a paragraph or two and have to read it aloud to the family. We encouraged her and recognized some latent talent that was starting to come out. After a while, she wasn't picking up the computer as often and the writing of the book was put on the shelf, so to speak. At least, that is what I thought.
From time to time, my daughter would start the project back up and focus on her book. Over the last month she has been really determined until earlier this week she looked up from the computer and said, "My book is done!" I was excited for her and proud of her, as she accomplished a very large goal.
When you think of a 9 year old writing a book, you may think, as I did, that the "book" would be only a few pages long. After printing it out today, her book is 39 pages (roughly)! Not only that, she has a "book cover" with pictures and title, along with 9 chapters, each with their own title. It is really impressive! I printed out the pages and formatted it in book form for her and when I brought it home she shouted, with giddiness in her voice, "My first published book!" How can you not smile?
So, to make it really official, I would like to be the first person to quote from my daughter's book, "Fighters: Newcomer", from the 6th chapter titled "The Grouping". (by the way, this book is about a pack of dogs as they establish their pack and the other packs they encounter) "'Snowfight, do you promise to train as hard as you can, and protect the pack even at the cost of your life?' Samuel asked. Snowfight replied firmly, 'Yes, I do.'" Samuel then asks another dog named Wolfmix, "'do you promise to train your apprentice to be a noble fighter and a dog I can trust?'...'Yes sir, I promise.'"
If that little snippet doesn't impress you, I don't know what will! If you'd like to read the book, I'd be happy to get you a copy. Let me know! I think Birdhouse Publishing has just been established : )
This is a great story, and even more fun to tell, but why did I share that particular quote? Why did it catch my eye?
Recently, the leadership of our church has been talking about what it is going to take to reach a generation of people that we struggle to reach. The question the wise leader above asks, can be a question for us as we strive to fully live behind our mission and vision. Do we promise to train hard (read our Bibles, pray hard, love well, meet together on a regular basis) and are we willing to protect the truth of the gospel, even at the cost of our lives? (we sacrifice our time, we sacrifice our agendas, we sacrifice our power and position, and yes, even sacrifice our lives)
Do we promise to train and equip others to become trustworthy disciples of Jesus Christ...no matter the cost? Are these promises we can make to God in order to keep the church pack strong and healthy?
I wonder, sometimes, if we know what it really takes to provide ministry that will impact our current and future generations. I am not saying that we compromise the message or water it down - the gospel does not change. Our approach to ministry changes. Our worship changes. Our communication changes. Our perspective changes. It is not that we are trying to write a completely different book. We are just needing to start a new chapter.
Are we up for it? These are things we need to explore...together. I look forward to the journey. If you have insights of what the church can do to reach the new generations of people, comment on this blog or email me - donbird@canonumc.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Precious Lord, we seek Your guidance and direction as we strive to tell others about your love and grace in new and exciting ways. We know that you have called us to protect the integrity of the church while at the same time making it relevant for the world we live in. Give us courage to see with Your eyes, love with Your heart, and proclaim with Your voice. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
I pray that you have been able to experience the power of Christ in your life this week.
This week I have had the wonderful pleasure to delight in one of my daughter's accomplishments. My daughter is 9 years old and she loves to read and write. She has a very creative side to her. In late January of this year, some 6 1/2 months ago, she decided that she wanted to write a book. A lofty goal and one that, quite honestly, I thought was too lofty. My daughter has the habit of starting many things and not finishing them.
As with most goals, she started off strong and with great gusto. She would write a paragraph or two and have to read it aloud to the family. We encouraged her and recognized some latent talent that was starting to come out. After a while, she wasn't picking up the computer as often and the writing of the book was put on the shelf, so to speak. At least, that is what I thought.
From time to time, my daughter would start the project back up and focus on her book. Over the last month she has been really determined until earlier this week she looked up from the computer and said, "My book is done!" I was excited for her and proud of her, as she accomplished a very large goal.
When you think of a 9 year old writing a book, you may think, as I did, that the "book" would be only a few pages long. After printing it out today, her book is 39 pages (roughly)! Not only that, she has a "book cover" with pictures and title, along with 9 chapters, each with their own title. It is really impressive! I printed out the pages and formatted it in book form for her and when I brought it home she shouted, with giddiness in her voice, "My first published book!" How can you not smile?
So, to make it really official, I would like to be the first person to quote from my daughter's book, "Fighters: Newcomer", from the 6th chapter titled "The Grouping". (by the way, this book is about a pack of dogs as they establish their pack and the other packs they encounter) "'Snowfight, do you promise to train as hard as you can, and protect the pack even at the cost of your life?' Samuel asked. Snowfight replied firmly, 'Yes, I do.'" Samuel then asks another dog named Wolfmix, "'do you promise to train your apprentice to be a noble fighter and a dog I can trust?'...'Yes sir, I promise.'"
If that little snippet doesn't impress you, I don't know what will! If you'd like to read the book, I'd be happy to get you a copy. Let me know! I think Birdhouse Publishing has just been established : )
This is a great story, and even more fun to tell, but why did I share that particular quote? Why did it catch my eye?
Recently, the leadership of our church has been talking about what it is going to take to reach a generation of people that we struggle to reach. The question the wise leader above asks, can be a question for us as we strive to fully live behind our mission and vision. Do we promise to train hard (read our Bibles, pray hard, love well, meet together on a regular basis) and are we willing to protect the truth of the gospel, even at the cost of our lives? (we sacrifice our time, we sacrifice our agendas, we sacrifice our power and position, and yes, even sacrifice our lives)
Do we promise to train and equip others to become trustworthy disciples of Jesus Christ...no matter the cost? Are these promises we can make to God in order to keep the church pack strong and healthy?
I wonder, sometimes, if we know what it really takes to provide ministry that will impact our current and future generations. I am not saying that we compromise the message or water it down - the gospel does not change. Our approach to ministry changes. Our worship changes. Our communication changes. Our perspective changes. It is not that we are trying to write a completely different book. We are just needing to start a new chapter.
Are we up for it? These are things we need to explore...together. I look forward to the journey. If you have insights of what the church can do to reach the new generations of people, comment on this blog or email me - donbird@canonumc.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Precious Lord, we seek Your guidance and direction as we strive to tell others about your love and grace in new and exciting ways. We know that you have called us to protect the integrity of the church while at the same time making it relevant for the world we live in. Give us courage to see with Your eyes, love with Your heart, and proclaim with Your voice. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Monday, July 26, 2010
Do You Have the Time?
Can you believe how time has flown this summer? I look back to my kids' last day of school and I cannot believe that we are now making arrangements for school shopping and that the new school year starts in 33 days. Our time this summer has been filled with conferences, vacation, and a multitude of wonderful ministry events here at the church.
I'm sure if you were to ask me a few times this summer if I had time to do something, I would have answered "No!" (rather emphatically) It seems that when I am in the midst of a busy time in my life, I feel I don't have the time to do anything else or add anything else to my plate. I am a person that needs my down time and my alone time and when I don't get it, I can quickly become overwhelmed.
As I reflect on this quick summer months, and in conjunction with my message in worship on Sunday, I realize that I have the same amount of time every day to do whatever it is that I need to get done. But, there are times that I don't manage myself very well when it comes to the time in my life.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr, the author of "Life's Little Instruction Book", said, "Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein."
It isn't that we don't have the time, it is what we do with the time that we have that can either make a difference in the world around us or create chaos in the world within us. So, as we quickly approach another school season and as I look at my calendar getting full by the minute, I hear God asking me to take another look at my time and decide how I am going to use it the best. Will I use it by running frivolously from one appointment and event to another, or will I invest it in making a difference in this world for the sake of Jesus Christ?
Do you have the time?
Creator of all time, You have blessed me with this life and with the gift of time. I want to walk so close to You that I see the opportunities You place within my path and I take the time to experience my time in a new way. I want the time I have been given on this earth to make a difference for the sake of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
I'm sure if you were to ask me a few times this summer if I had time to do something, I would have answered "No!" (rather emphatically) It seems that when I am in the midst of a busy time in my life, I feel I don't have the time to do anything else or add anything else to my plate. I am a person that needs my down time and my alone time and when I don't get it, I can quickly become overwhelmed.
As I reflect on this quick summer months, and in conjunction with my message in worship on Sunday, I realize that I have the same amount of time every day to do whatever it is that I need to get done. But, there are times that I don't manage myself very well when it comes to the time in my life.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr, the author of "Life's Little Instruction Book", said, "Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein."
It isn't that we don't have the time, it is what we do with the time that we have that can either make a difference in the world around us or create chaos in the world within us. So, as we quickly approach another school season and as I look at my calendar getting full by the minute, I hear God asking me to take another look at my time and decide how I am going to use it the best. Will I use it by running frivolously from one appointment and event to another, or will I invest it in making a difference in this world for the sake of Jesus Christ?
Do you have the time?
Creator of all time, You have blessed me with this life and with the gift of time. I want to walk so close to You that I see the opportunities You place within my path and I take the time to experience my time in a new way. I want the time I have been given on this earth to make a difference for the sake of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Days of Our Lives
Greetings!
It has been another amazing week at FUMC! Our Children and Family Ministry team has done an outstanding job with Vacation Bible School. We have 69 children enrolled and 72 active volunteers! I now understand the deep emotion of Paul when he said to the church in Corinth "Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There's no end to what has happened in you—it's beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives." (1 Corinthians 1:4-6, The Message)
That is the exact emotion that springs up in my heart when I think about YOU and the ministry you are called to provide in our community! Praise be to the Lord!
Lately, we have been talking a great deal about God's call on our lives to serve Him with our gifts and talents. Our church continues to respond in amazing ways. If you are still on the fence about whether you have the time or the gifts to serve, may the reflection below be a challenge and an encouragement to you today.
There is a story of an old mountaineer and his wife. They were sitting in front of the fireplace one evening just whiling away the time. After a long silence, the wife said: “Jed, I think it’s raining. Go outside and check, will ya?” The old mountaineer continued to gaze into the fire for a second, sighed, then said, “Aw Ma, why don’t we just call in the dog and see if he’s wet.”
Sounds like one of my responses. There are times that we have a tendency to get lazy, don’t we? We want to do only what we need to and that transfers over, quite frequently, to our spiritual lives. At least I know it has for me. I have to pray that God helps me overcome my desire to be lazy in my physical life because it tends to easily influence my spiritual life as well.
I am reminded of John Wesley, the Father of Methodism. He traveled 250,000 miles on horseback, averaging twenty miles a day for forty years. He preached 4,000 sermons, produced 400 books, and learned ten languages. At age 83, he was annoyed that he could not write more than fifteen hours a day without hurting his eyes. At age 86, he felt ashamed he could not preach more than twice a day. He complained in his diary that there was an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning.
In comparison to John Wesley, my life is rather calm. It is not that we need to add more to our lives and get as busy as we can. The blessing comes with how we spend our lives. Do we spend it on ourselves or in service to God? There is much to do for the Kingdom today — none of us should be bored! Let’s get up and do something for God today, and tomorrow, and throughout every season God’s blesses us with. There’s so much work to be done!! Will you join me?
God, You and You only have created every aspect of my life. You alone know the days of my life. Protect me from apathy and laziness. Challenge me to use my days and the time you grant me for Your purposes and for the building up of Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
It has been another amazing week at FUMC! Our Children and Family Ministry team has done an outstanding job with Vacation Bible School. We have 69 children enrolled and 72 active volunteers! I now understand the deep emotion of Paul when he said to the church in Corinth "Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There's no end to what has happened in you—it's beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives." (1 Corinthians 1:4-6, The Message)
That is the exact emotion that springs up in my heart when I think about YOU and the ministry you are called to provide in our community! Praise be to the Lord!
Lately, we have been talking a great deal about God's call on our lives to serve Him with our gifts and talents. Our church continues to respond in amazing ways. If you are still on the fence about whether you have the time or the gifts to serve, may the reflection below be a challenge and an encouragement to you today.
There is a story of an old mountaineer and his wife. They were sitting in front of the fireplace one evening just whiling away the time. After a long silence, the wife said: “Jed, I think it’s raining. Go outside and check, will ya?” The old mountaineer continued to gaze into the fire for a second, sighed, then said, “Aw Ma, why don’t we just call in the dog and see if he’s wet.”
Sounds like one of my responses. There are times that we have a tendency to get lazy, don’t we? We want to do only what we need to and that transfers over, quite frequently, to our spiritual lives. At least I know it has for me. I have to pray that God helps me overcome my desire to be lazy in my physical life because it tends to easily influence my spiritual life as well.
I am reminded of John Wesley, the Father of Methodism. He traveled 250,000 miles on horseback, averaging twenty miles a day for forty years. He preached 4,000 sermons, produced 400 books, and learned ten languages. At age 83, he was annoyed that he could not write more than fifteen hours a day without hurting his eyes. At age 86, he felt ashamed he could not preach more than twice a day. He complained in his diary that there was an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning.
In comparison to John Wesley, my life is rather calm. It is not that we need to add more to our lives and get as busy as we can. The blessing comes with how we spend our lives. Do we spend it on ourselves or in service to God? There is much to do for the Kingdom today — none of us should be bored! Let’s get up and do something for God today, and tomorrow, and throughout every season God’s blesses us with. There’s so much work to be done!! Will you join me?
God, You and You only have created every aspect of my life. You alone know the days of my life. Protect me from apathy and laziness. Challenge me to use my days and the time you grant me for Your purposes and for the building up of Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Simply Incredible
Hello Friends and Family,
What a week it has been, personally and professionally. As I type this blog, the church is a buzz with 100 people from Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming as our church is hosting The School of Christian Mission. The staff has been fantastic meeting to the needs of our guests. Servants have offered their time to greet all of our guests and help them find rooms in the church where their workshops are taking place. Some have put together copies of packets needed at the workshops, while others helped us make paper fans on the spur of the moment (it is HOT here!).
Even while all of this is going on, we have servants coming in and out of the church getting everything ready for Vacation Bible School starting on Sunday. I am extremely proud of our church for its willingness to take on such big projects in the name of our really big God. It fills my heart with joy to see the church serving and living out of its purpose. Praise be to God!
Now onto the personal side of my week. As many of you know, my dad had a major heart attack on Sunday after church. I got the news that he was being transported by ambulance when we were at the LIFE Group celebration. My family quickly got up to leave and, as we were leaving, I could hear Pastor Emily start a prayer for my dad. In that moment, I felt the love and support of this church and it took away any anxiety about what was to come. I was reminded in that simple act that my dad was in the arms of his Creator and there was no better place for him to be (whatever the outcome).
We got to the hospital emergency room and didn't know where to go. I had stopped by the security desk and I was so impressed with the man behind the glass. He knew who my father was and my sister (who was there with my mom) and he walked with us to the elevators and told us where we could find my family. His gentle, kind, and compassionate spirit put us at ease and I thanked God for putting that man in our path on Sunday. We entered the waiting room just as the doctor was coming out and he told us that he was amazed how my dad handled the heart attack. He told us that this was one of those attacks where you typically see the person clutch their chest and fall over dead.
To make a long story short, my dad exceeded all expectations. He was released from the hospital after two days and there is no major damage to his heart. He had a stint put in the artery that was 100% blocked, but other than that he is doing very well. The doctors kept saying how they were amazed and how there was no real explanation for it. However, I know the explanation - GOD'S GRACE and the prayers of His people.
I share these stories with you because this week has reminded me and solidified my belief that we are all ministers and called to God's work. Without the gifts and willingness of the servants who have filled our church this week, FUMC would not be able to host our Conference event or provide an opportunity for children to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ through VBS. Without the gifts of prayer and faithfulness, our family would not have felt the comfort and peace in our drive to Colorado Springs. Without the gift of compassion from a security officer, we would not have experienced the extended hand of God in our time of need at the hospital.
These all seem like simple acts - but they make incredible impact when we choose to allow God to use us and when we are willing to serve Him with our lives. Thank you for serving our Lord and making an impact on my life and the life of my family.
Gracious God and Loving Savior, by Your hand we are comforted. By Your Word we are put at ease. By Your love we are filled with strength. By the willing lives of those around us, You are made real in our lives. Thank you for those people in my life that love You, grow with You, and serve You. Remind me of the seeds they have sown in me when You call me to be Your hands, feet, and voice in this world. I thank you, Lord for being simply incredible! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
What a week it has been, personally and professionally. As I type this blog, the church is a buzz with 100 people from Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming as our church is hosting The School of Christian Mission. The staff has been fantastic meeting to the needs of our guests. Servants have offered their time to greet all of our guests and help them find rooms in the church where their workshops are taking place. Some have put together copies of packets needed at the workshops, while others helped us make paper fans on the spur of the moment (it is HOT here!).
Even while all of this is going on, we have servants coming in and out of the church getting everything ready for Vacation Bible School starting on Sunday. I am extremely proud of our church for its willingness to take on such big projects in the name of our really big God. It fills my heart with joy to see the church serving and living out of its purpose. Praise be to God!
Now onto the personal side of my week. As many of you know, my dad had a major heart attack on Sunday after church. I got the news that he was being transported by ambulance when we were at the LIFE Group celebration. My family quickly got up to leave and, as we were leaving, I could hear Pastor Emily start a prayer for my dad. In that moment, I felt the love and support of this church and it took away any anxiety about what was to come. I was reminded in that simple act that my dad was in the arms of his Creator and there was no better place for him to be (whatever the outcome).
We got to the hospital emergency room and didn't know where to go. I had stopped by the security desk and I was so impressed with the man behind the glass. He knew who my father was and my sister (who was there with my mom) and he walked with us to the elevators and told us where we could find my family. His gentle, kind, and compassionate spirit put us at ease and I thanked God for putting that man in our path on Sunday. We entered the waiting room just as the doctor was coming out and he told us that he was amazed how my dad handled the heart attack. He told us that this was one of those attacks where you typically see the person clutch their chest and fall over dead.
To make a long story short, my dad exceeded all expectations. He was released from the hospital after two days and there is no major damage to his heart. He had a stint put in the artery that was 100% blocked, but other than that he is doing very well. The doctors kept saying how they were amazed and how there was no real explanation for it. However, I know the explanation - GOD'S GRACE and the prayers of His people.
I share these stories with you because this week has reminded me and solidified my belief that we are all ministers and called to God's work. Without the gifts and willingness of the servants who have filled our church this week, FUMC would not be able to host our Conference event or provide an opportunity for children to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ through VBS. Without the gifts of prayer and faithfulness, our family would not have felt the comfort and peace in our drive to Colorado Springs. Without the gift of compassion from a security officer, we would not have experienced the extended hand of God in our time of need at the hospital.
These all seem like simple acts - but they make incredible impact when we choose to allow God to use us and when we are willing to serve Him with our lives. Thank you for serving our Lord and making an impact on my life and the life of my family.
Gracious God and Loving Savior, by Your hand we are comforted. By Your Word we are put at ease. By Your love we are filled with strength. By the willing lives of those around us, You are made real in our lives. Thank you for those people in my life that love You, grow with You, and serve You. Remind me of the seeds they have sown in me when You call me to be Your hands, feet, and voice in this world. I thank you, Lord for being simply incredible! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Thursday, July 8, 2010
What do you do with the lemons?
Good afternoon!
I pray all is well. I am finally back from vacation and we appreciate the prayers while we were gone. We had a wonderful time as a family, but it is always good to be home. However, I am struggling a bit getting back into a "normal" routine. When you have 11 days off, new habits start to form. It's all good, though!
I don't know how many of you enjoy comedy, but I really enjoy listening to and watching comedians perform their craft. I find it such a wonderful gift that God has created in these individuals to bring laughter and joy to the people around them. I especially enjoy improvisational comedy and am in awe of those who do it so brilliantly.
One of the things that makes for a good comic (in my view) is the ability to surprise you by looking at a situation or event differently. To do this, the delivery has to be perfect, but when done with perfection, it can have you rolling on the floor. As I was surfing the internet this week in search of something else, I came across the beginning of a well known phrase. See if you can finish it for me: "When life gives you lemons..."
I am sure that many of you finished the phrase with, "...make lemonade". I did the same. But, on this particular occasion, I was suprised by the comedic ending that was in front of me. The whole phrase said this: "When life gives you lemons, give them away and drink a Dr. Pepper!" I loved it! It had me laughing! Not only because it mentions Dr. Pepper as the ONLY soft drink that can effectively take away the sourness of life, but because I didn't expect it and it had me thinking of that phrase in a different way.
After laughing and making sure I printed out the quote to put on the wall in my office, I got to thinking of its deeper significance. I thought about the lemons in my life. The annoyances. The distractions. The sins. The open wounds. The scars. I wondered, "What do you do with the lemons?"
The old adage of "making lemonade" is still good advice. Take the difficult situations of life and difficult experiences and turn them into something good...something that honors God. We are reminded in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
But sometimes I think that the lemons in my life are too sour, too rotten to turn into lemonade. I think there isn't enough sugar in the world to make that lemonade taste good. What do I do with those kinds of lemons?
Luke 5:37-38 tells us, "And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins." 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a NEW creation, the old has GONE, and the new has COME!" (emphasis added)
There are times in which I need to discard completely the sour lemons in my life in order to experience the newness Christ wants to see in me. The new life cannot live with the old one, nor the old with the new. As the new adage says, I need to get rid of the lemons and "taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psalm 34:8)
So, do you have some lemons in your life? If so, you may be wondering what to do with them. You may be able to make them into lemonade, or you may have to discard them completely. But, one thing I know for sure, when you give them to God you won't have to worry about them any more!
Precious Lord, there are lemons in my life. I have been sour in my attitude, my thinking, my speaking, and my living. I have wounds that will not heal and a heart that tends to be acidic at times. Save me from the lemons in my life. Take them from me and create within me a new heart, a new mind, and a new life. Restore me and reconcile me to Your will and purpose so that I may share the sweetness of living life with You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
I pray all is well. I am finally back from vacation and we appreciate the prayers while we were gone. We had a wonderful time as a family, but it is always good to be home. However, I am struggling a bit getting back into a "normal" routine. When you have 11 days off, new habits start to form. It's all good, though!
I don't know how many of you enjoy comedy, but I really enjoy listening to and watching comedians perform their craft. I find it such a wonderful gift that God has created in these individuals to bring laughter and joy to the people around them. I especially enjoy improvisational comedy and am in awe of those who do it so brilliantly.
One of the things that makes for a good comic (in my view) is the ability to surprise you by looking at a situation or event differently. To do this, the delivery has to be perfect, but when done with perfection, it can have you rolling on the floor. As I was surfing the internet this week in search of something else, I came across the beginning of a well known phrase. See if you can finish it for me: "When life gives you lemons..."
I am sure that many of you finished the phrase with, "...make lemonade". I did the same. But, on this particular occasion, I was suprised by the comedic ending that was in front of me. The whole phrase said this: "When life gives you lemons, give them away and drink a Dr. Pepper!" I loved it! It had me laughing! Not only because it mentions Dr. Pepper as the ONLY soft drink that can effectively take away the sourness of life, but because I didn't expect it and it had me thinking of that phrase in a different way.
After laughing and making sure I printed out the quote to put on the wall in my office, I got to thinking of its deeper significance. I thought about the lemons in my life. The annoyances. The distractions. The sins. The open wounds. The scars. I wondered, "What do you do with the lemons?"
The old adage of "making lemonade" is still good advice. Take the difficult situations of life and difficult experiences and turn them into something good...something that honors God. We are reminded in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
But sometimes I think that the lemons in my life are too sour, too rotten to turn into lemonade. I think there isn't enough sugar in the world to make that lemonade taste good. What do I do with those kinds of lemons?
Luke 5:37-38 tells us, "And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins." 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a NEW creation, the old has GONE, and the new has COME!" (emphasis added)
There are times in which I need to discard completely the sour lemons in my life in order to experience the newness Christ wants to see in me. The new life cannot live with the old one, nor the old with the new. As the new adage says, I need to get rid of the lemons and "taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psalm 34:8)
So, do you have some lemons in your life? If so, you may be wondering what to do with them. You may be able to make them into lemonade, or you may have to discard them completely. But, one thing I know for sure, when you give them to God you won't have to worry about them any more!
Precious Lord, there are lemons in my life. I have been sour in my attitude, my thinking, my speaking, and my living. I have wounds that will not heal and a heart that tends to be acidic at times. Save me from the lemons in my life. Take them from me and create within me a new heart, a new mind, and a new life. Restore me and reconcile me to Your will and purpose so that I may share the sweetness of living life with You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord
Greetings in the joy and grace of our Lord!
I pray that you are all having a wonderful summer so far. My family is getting ready to go on vacation this week, so this is my last post for the month. I will be back at it again when I return to the office on July 6th.
As we get ready for our vacation, I am coming to realize that I need a vacation from the work that it takes to get out of town for a little while. I try to get ahead in my work at the church so that I don't have too much waiting for me upon my return. Mandy likes to make sure the house is really clean for our housesitter and so that we have a clean house when we get back. I need to make sure that the car is in good working order, that certain bills are paid before we leave, that our itinerary is set, and that we are able to pack "light" for our trip.
There is so much work to be done, I am taking a couple days off before we leave to try to accomplish everything and to try to unwind before I leave for vacation. Whether that is realistic or not, time will tell, but that is the plan.
It is amazing the preparations we need to make for the journeys we take. As I spend the next couple of days getting ready to leave for a week, the thought crosses my mind, "Am I this intentional with my spiritual journey?" "Do I put as much thought into being sure that I am prepared for my daily walk with God?"
Preparation is important to a vital Christian life. We are encouraged in 1 Peter 3:15 to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have." Like a good athlete or musician, if I am not practicing the basics of my faith, then I am not preparing myself for those times when my faith will be challenged and those times when others may ask where my faith is grounded.
If I am not praying, reading my Bible, going to church, being involved in worship and outreach, and giving myself fully to God, I will find that I am not adequately prepared for the detours, u-turns, and dead ends that creep into my life. When those obstacles get in my way I quickly become discouraged and it is hard to make my way out of the maze I find myself in.
However, when I make the conscious effort to actively engage God and His activity in my life, when I commit myself to practicing my faith and staying in love with God, I find that when those obstacles get in my way, I am prepared and I have the ability to overcome and find my way back to the One who is always willing to guide and lead me on my life journey. Besides that, I feel better equipped to share in whom my faith is grounded and in whom my hope is found - because I have a daily experience with Jesus in my life.
While I need to be prepared for my vacation, more importantly I need to be prepared for the most important journey of my life - my spiritual journey! What preparations do you need to make?
God of Life, You are my guide and my helper. Thank you for Your Son is the cornerstone of my faith. Thank you for walking with me and preparing me for the challenges that life brings. Reveal to me the areas of my life that are not fully grounded in Your grace. Destroy the obstacles that keep me from living my life with You and prepare within me a heart that is grounded in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
I pray that you are all having a wonderful summer so far. My family is getting ready to go on vacation this week, so this is my last post for the month. I will be back at it again when I return to the office on July 6th.
As we get ready for our vacation, I am coming to realize that I need a vacation from the work that it takes to get out of town for a little while. I try to get ahead in my work at the church so that I don't have too much waiting for me upon my return. Mandy likes to make sure the house is really clean for our housesitter and so that we have a clean house when we get back. I need to make sure that the car is in good working order, that certain bills are paid before we leave, that our itinerary is set, and that we are able to pack "light" for our trip.
There is so much work to be done, I am taking a couple days off before we leave to try to accomplish everything and to try to unwind before I leave for vacation. Whether that is realistic or not, time will tell, but that is the plan.
It is amazing the preparations we need to make for the journeys we take. As I spend the next couple of days getting ready to leave for a week, the thought crosses my mind, "Am I this intentional with my spiritual journey?" "Do I put as much thought into being sure that I am prepared for my daily walk with God?"
Preparation is important to a vital Christian life. We are encouraged in 1 Peter 3:15 to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have." Like a good athlete or musician, if I am not practicing the basics of my faith, then I am not preparing myself for those times when my faith will be challenged and those times when others may ask where my faith is grounded.
If I am not praying, reading my Bible, going to church, being involved in worship and outreach, and giving myself fully to God, I will find that I am not adequately prepared for the detours, u-turns, and dead ends that creep into my life. When those obstacles get in my way I quickly become discouraged and it is hard to make my way out of the maze I find myself in.
However, when I make the conscious effort to actively engage God and His activity in my life, when I commit myself to practicing my faith and staying in love with God, I find that when those obstacles get in my way, I am prepared and I have the ability to overcome and find my way back to the One who is always willing to guide and lead me on my life journey. Besides that, I feel better equipped to share in whom my faith is grounded and in whom my hope is found - because I have a daily experience with Jesus in my life.
While I need to be prepared for my vacation, more importantly I need to be prepared for the most important journey of my life - my spiritual journey! What preparations do you need to make?
God of Life, You are my guide and my helper. Thank you for Your Son is the cornerstone of my faith. Thank you for walking with me and preparing me for the challenges that life brings. Reveal to me the areas of my life that are not fully grounded in Your grace. Destroy the obstacles that keep me from living my life with You and prepare within me a heart that is grounded in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
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