For a little pastor humor:
One Sunday after his service, the rural pastor decided to unwind by taking a drive in the country. Before he knew it, he was going down the country lanes at over 60 miles per hour.
As luck would have it, the sheriff had his radar set up and soon had the pastor pulled over. As the sheriff approached him, the pastor said in his most innocent-sounding voice, "You won't really give me a ticket, will you? I'm just a poor country preacher."
The sheriff looked him in the eyes for a minute, pulled out his ticket book and said, "I sure know that Reverend. I was just at your service."
--Vic Rohret,
Naches, Wash.,
in Ecunet [database online],
meeting name: Eculaugh,
filename: A000000s.MSG, #1073.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
As I am sitting at my desk, I received the latest Power Mail from Serving Strong. I have been working on sermons dealing with Why Church. But I was struck by what Scott had to say about what we say to ourselves. Last Sunday I talked about serving but one of the quotes that I did not use was that we are what we think. Actually I stated we are what we think and do. Certainly how we treat others can be a reflection on how we treat ourselves. Jesus stated from Leviticus 19:8 you are to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love comes from above. When we do not take time to realize we are loved, we struggle with being able to love (in agape way) others.
Here is the article:
The Well and Tap
A Faucet
"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4.23)
We each talk to ourselves. It's true. All day long we are telling ourselves things. You're probably doing it right now.
So what are you saying to yourself? Is it uplifting? Are you an encouragement to yourself? Are you ministering to yourself? Are you treating yourself the way God would treat one of His own children?
I hope you are. Because the truth is, the wellspring of our lives flows from our hearts. Dirty water in the well = dirty water at the tap. We aren't serving strong when we put ourselves down, or tell ourselves lies. Ouch!
This week, I challenge you to record what you tell yourself through out the day. Are you guarding your heart from the inside out? Are you dwelling on Whose you are? Or are you tearing yourself down?
Here is the article:
The Well and Tap
A Faucet
"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4.23)
We each talk to ourselves. It's true. All day long we are telling ourselves things. You're probably doing it right now.
So what are you saying to yourself? Is it uplifting? Are you an encouragement to yourself? Are you ministering to yourself? Are you treating yourself the way God would treat one of His own children?
I hope you are. Because the truth is, the wellspring of our lives flows from our hearts. Dirty water in the well = dirty water at the tap. We aren't serving strong when we put ourselves down, or tell ourselves lies. Ouch!
This week, I challenge you to record what you tell yourself through out the day. Are you guarding your heart from the inside out? Are you dwelling on Whose you are? Or are you tearing yourself down?
Thursday, September 23, 2010
As I am sitting here writing, I can hear the gentle rain out my office window. This area can get some interesting storms. Apparently 10 miles from Ainsworth last night, the city of Basset received hail the size of soft balls. It destroyed crops, windows in the school, and damaged many vehicles. All we got was fog and some drizzle. One can never know what is going to be the weather in Nebraska or how close one will be from mild conditions to severe. My prayers are for those who suffered damage and losses but also thanksgiving that no one was injured that I am aware of.
Today I am also preparing my sermon for Sunday. I will be continuing to preach on Why church: Service. The scripture is 1 Timothy 6:6-19. Actually the idea from Homiletics was money matters. The famous line in this passage is that the love of money is the root of all evil. I actually read the sermon John Wesley did on The Dangers of Riches Sermon 87 based on 1 Timothy 6:9 that states,"They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful desires, which drown men in destruction and perdition." Certainly there is some truth that there is danger for those who base who they are and what they are on acquiring money and possessions. Sometimes even using this as a means to control even the church. The key is that it is the love of money not money itself that leads to evil.
What I am going to preach on is not about money but is found in the verses 17-19. "As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides use with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. (NRSV)"
I believe that church helps us become involved in service for God. There is quote from the Wesley Study Bible regarding good works, "For Wesley we cannot stay in faith unless our faith leads to hope for the world and to love for others and for the whole creation that God loves. Good works are expressions of our faith. They emanate from our new being in Christ, just as a good tree bears good fruit. The Wesleyan spiritual disciplines exist so that we "may take hold of the life that really is life" (1 Tim 6:19) by manifesting our faith through good works. (1466)"
As a church, we are most able to act out the faith we have in community and with people. Service in the name of Christ, I believe is demanded of all of us. So why church to reach out to others in service and to make disciples of the Jesus Christ.
Today I am also preparing my sermon for Sunday. I will be continuing to preach on Why church: Service. The scripture is 1 Timothy 6:6-19. Actually the idea from Homiletics was money matters. The famous line in this passage is that the love of money is the root of all evil. I actually read the sermon John Wesley did on The Dangers of Riches Sermon 87 based on 1 Timothy 6:9 that states,"They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful desires, which drown men in destruction and perdition." Certainly there is some truth that there is danger for those who base who they are and what they are on acquiring money and possessions. Sometimes even using this as a means to control even the church. The key is that it is the love of money not money itself that leads to evil.
What I am going to preach on is not about money but is found in the verses 17-19. "As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides use with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. (NRSV)"
I believe that church helps us become involved in service for God. There is quote from the Wesley Study Bible regarding good works, "For Wesley we cannot stay in faith unless our faith leads to hope for the world and to love for others and for the whole creation that God loves. Good works are expressions of our faith. They emanate from our new being in Christ, just as a good tree bears good fruit. The Wesleyan spiritual disciplines exist so that we "may take hold of the life that really is life" (1 Tim 6:19) by manifesting our faith through good works. (1466)"
As a church, we are most able to act out the faith we have in community and with people. Service in the name of Christ, I believe is demanded of all of us. So why church to reach out to others in service and to make disciples of the Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Wednesday
How time flies. It is hard to believe that a week has gone by and I have not written anything. This time of year is busy with the start of the fall schedules, bible studies, funerals, and meetings. As I was trying to get caught up, I came across this article that I want to share. Our attitude does influence a lot of what we can do and what we are willing to do.
Share:
*
*
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PowerMail (by Serving Strong)
A minute just for you because you help others
Issue #204
Find us on Facebook View our profile on LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter
Just One More House
via Concrete Forms House Under Construction
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more relaxed life with his wife and extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to cheap workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you." The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
So it is with us. We build our lives a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. But we cannot go back. We are all carpenters. Your attitude and the choices you make today build the "house" you live in tomorrow.
I talk to many ministry leaders who so deeply desire to finish strong. This requires a day-by-day commitment. I challenge you to make that commitment all week long. As you embark on this week's challenge, here are some scriptures that speak to attitude and deed:
Colossians 3.17 (Whatever you do...)
Philippians 2.5 (Your attitude...)
Ephesians 4.23 (The attitude of your minds...)
RELATED BLOG POST:
Attitude Reflects Leadership
What are some barriers that keep us from putting our whole heart into what we do?
Let's talk some more about this. Here's where you'll find me:
Facebook: Find us on Facebook or on Twitter: Follow us on Twitter or Email Me.
Have a God-filled week!
Want A Life Coach?
If you're serious about investing in a one-on-one coaching benefit (or group coaching for your staff), contact Scott for more information. Now's the best time. Sessions are by phone so there are no travel or lodging expenses. Serving Strong fees are below what many life coaches charge for the same benefit.
Visit the coaching website for more information.
From The Blog
Spirit Marriage Parenting
Finances Physical LIfe Balance
Conflict Ministry General
Books
Quick Links
Covenant Eyes
Free Downloads
What is life coaching?
What is JourneyJolt?
365 Club on Facebook
Who is Scott Couchenour?
End Notes
Serving Strong PowerMail has been named an All Star for 2008 and 2009 by Constant Contact. This prestigious award is granted to companies who communicate regularly with their subscribers and who are clearly interested in hearing from them. Serving Strong maintains sound permission-based email marketing and list management best practices. Be assured Serving Strong will continue to do what's necessary to uphold this honor.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe look helpful and will add value to my subscribers, whether I have personally read them or not. As with all suggested materials, be diligent to assess for yourself whether or not something is right for you.
image credit
Confirm that you like this.
Click the "Like" button.
Every Tuesday I receive this Power Mail in my mailbox. Scott has a way of helping me pause and think about a variety of things in my life. I have shared other thoughts and reflections that he has had in the past.
Share:
*
*
*
*
PowerMail (by Serving Strong)
A minute just for you because you help others
Issue #204
Find us on Facebook View our profile on LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter
Just One More House
via Concrete Forms House Under Construction
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more relaxed life with his wife and extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to cheap workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you." The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
So it is with us. We build our lives a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. But we cannot go back. We are all carpenters. Your attitude and the choices you make today build the "house" you live in tomorrow.
I talk to many ministry leaders who so deeply desire to finish strong. This requires a day-by-day commitment. I challenge you to make that commitment all week long. As you embark on this week's challenge, here are some scriptures that speak to attitude and deed:
Colossians 3.17 (Whatever you do...)
Philippians 2.5 (Your attitude...)
Ephesians 4.23 (The attitude of your minds...)
RELATED BLOG POST:
Attitude Reflects Leadership
What are some barriers that keep us from putting our whole heart into what we do?
Let's talk some more about this. Here's where you'll find me:
Facebook: Find us on Facebook or on Twitter: Follow us on Twitter or Email Me.
Have a God-filled week!
Want A Life Coach?
If you're serious about investing in a one-on-one coaching benefit (or group coaching for your staff), contact Scott for more information. Now's the best time. Sessions are by phone so there are no travel or lodging expenses. Serving Strong fees are below what many life coaches charge for the same benefit.
Visit the coaching website for more information.
From The Blog
Spirit Marriage Parenting
Finances Physical LIfe Balance
Conflict Ministry General
Books
Quick Links
Covenant Eyes
Free Downloads
What is life coaching?
What is JourneyJolt?
365 Club on Facebook
Who is Scott Couchenour?
End Notes
Serving Strong PowerMail has been named an All Star for 2008 and 2009 by Constant Contact. This prestigious award is granted to companies who communicate regularly with their subscribers and who are clearly interested in hearing from them. Serving Strong maintains sound permission-based email marketing and list management best practices. Be assured Serving Strong will continue to do what's necessary to uphold this honor.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe look helpful and will add value to my subscribers, whether I have personally read them or not. As with all suggested materials, be diligent to assess for yourself whether or not something is right for you.
image credit
Confirm that you like this.
Click the "Like" button.
Every Tuesday I receive this Power Mail in my mailbox. Scott has a way of helping me pause and think about a variety of things in my life. I have shared other thoughts and reflections that he has had in the past.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wednesday
Sometimes it seems that time gets away. After spending 9 hours driving to attend a meeting of 5 hours, it does take away time to do other activities. Today I am working with the sermon series on Why Church and doing visits as well as confirmation class tonight. As I was reading in Homiletics, I came across some illustrations about being real and the importance of being real to one another. The focus of the sermon is going to be on a church's willingness to be honest and to accept others and our need to be around people who are journeying to santification.
Any way here are the illustrations. I was struck about the idea of the differnce between ethics and virtue and agree that if we are able to teach our children to strive toward being virtuous that we would not need a list of rules to live by. Also the poem speaks about what we choose to follow is much like choosing what we swallow. I immediately thought about our addiction to fast food that is full of fat with little substance. Also the need for instant gratification.
Why church real people
It’s common, in businesses or professions, to have something called a “code of ethics.” Usually, it focuses on specific behaviors: do’s and don’ts.
“You are allowed to receive a gift from a client of no more than $25 in value.”
“It is not permitted for a supervisor to engage in a romantic relationship with a subordinate, unless the subordinate is first transferred to another division.”
“If a salesperson completes a contract with a customer who was first contacted by another salesperson, the commission goes to the first salesperson.”
These are examples taken from corporate ethics policies. These lists of rules are quite different from virtue or morality.
There’s only one problem with this approach. Not everyone, in society at large, agrees on what the rules ought to be — such as whether it’s always wrong to tell a lie. If it means closing the deal ... getting the candidate elected ... preserving the company’s public image ... keeping one’s spouse from learning about the affair ... it’s complicated, don’t you know?
No, it isn’t complicated. Ethics can sometimes be complicated. Morality — virtue — is simple. It’s a matter of character, of integrity, of trust.
Virtue — not ethics — is what we teach in the church. In doing so, we intend to raise up boys and girls, men and women, who don’t have to consult a policy to know how to do good.
Belonging May Not Be All It’s Often Believed to Be
Belonging
Is a human longing.
It once secured us to
Our mothers
And later
Moves us toward others.
Aloneness can be such a fear
That we become less cautious
About who we are near.
Who we choose to follow
Is akin to deciding
What to swallow.
—David A. Reinstein, LCSW, associatedcontent.com/article/2818984/odd_man_out_being_different_can_be.html. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
A full-of-herself religious woman was deeply shocked when the new neighbors called on Sunday morning and asked to borrow her lawn mower.
“The very idea of cutting grass on Sunday,” she ranted to her husband. “Shameful! Certainly, they can’t have it. Tell them our lawn mower is broken.”
Any way here are the illustrations. I was struck about the idea of the differnce between ethics and virtue and agree that if we are able to teach our children to strive toward being virtuous that we would not need a list of rules to live by. Also the poem speaks about what we choose to follow is much like choosing what we swallow. I immediately thought about our addiction to fast food that is full of fat with little substance. Also the need for instant gratification.
Why church real people
It’s common, in businesses or professions, to have something called a “code of ethics.” Usually, it focuses on specific behaviors: do’s and don’ts.
“You are allowed to receive a gift from a client of no more than $25 in value.”
“It is not permitted for a supervisor to engage in a romantic relationship with a subordinate, unless the subordinate is first transferred to another division.”
“If a salesperson completes a contract with a customer who was first contacted by another salesperson, the commission goes to the first salesperson.”
These are examples taken from corporate ethics policies. These lists of rules are quite different from virtue or morality.
There’s only one problem with this approach. Not everyone, in society at large, agrees on what the rules ought to be — such as whether it’s always wrong to tell a lie. If it means closing the deal ... getting the candidate elected ... preserving the company’s public image ... keeping one’s spouse from learning about the affair ... it’s complicated, don’t you know?
No, it isn’t complicated. Ethics can sometimes be complicated. Morality — virtue — is simple. It’s a matter of character, of integrity, of trust.
Virtue — not ethics — is what we teach in the church. In doing so, we intend to raise up boys and girls, men and women, who don’t have to consult a policy to know how to do good.
Belonging May Not Be All It’s Often Believed to Be
Belonging
Is a human longing.
It once secured us to
Our mothers
And later
Moves us toward others.
Aloneness can be such a fear
That we become less cautious
About who we are near.
Who we choose to follow
Is akin to deciding
What to swallow.
—David A. Reinstein, LCSW, associatedcontent.com/article/2818984/odd_man_out_being_different_can_be.html. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
A full-of-herself religious woman was deeply shocked when the new neighbors called on Sunday morning and asked to borrow her lawn mower.
“The very idea of cutting grass on Sunday,” she ranted to her husband. “Shameful! Certainly, they can’t have it. Tell them our lawn mower is broken.”
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Saturday
I am finalizing my sermon on Why Church: Community. As I was at the office, I had some time to spare and began to explore some of the literature that was out in the Narthex. As I was doing this, I came across Alive Now the Jan/Feb 2010 issue which was on shaping community. Sometimes when I have ideas about where I am being led by God regarding the sermon, He can surprise me with something new to reflect on. Unfortunately, I don't have unlimited time. So I am going to share some of what was in the literature that was about community that struck me with some truth. Another aside is that today is Patriot Day remembering 9/11. I would hope that every day is patriot day but this needs to be a day of prayer and remembrance of those whose lives were lost and those lives who were forever changed.
Here are some quotes:
"What passes for community [in the modern world] is, 'You stay out of my life, and in exchange for that I'll stay out of your life, and we'll call that community." Will Willimon
"We might define true community as that place where the person you least want to live with lives!" Parker Palmer
"We consider a person who takes no interest in the state not as harmless, but as useless." Pericles
"We are being asked to become transforming agents within human society rather than revolutionary ones acting outside it." Esther de Waal.
May this day be one of remembrance, prayer, and one of remembering community in a nation of individualism.
Here are some quotes:
"What passes for community [in the modern world] is, 'You stay out of my life, and in exchange for that I'll stay out of your life, and we'll call that community." Will Willimon
"We might define true community as that place where the person you least want to live with lives!" Parker Palmer
"We consider a person who takes no interest in the state not as harmless, but as useless." Pericles
"We are being asked to become transforming agents within human society rather than revolutionary ones acting outside it." Esther de Waal.
May this day be one of remembrance, prayer, and one of remembering community in a nation of individualism.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Friday
I am writing this on a cool cloudy Friday. After having near record degree heat we now have what seems to be the beginning of fall. There are some trees that are even beginning to have their leaves change. I am planning on getting some pictures for a calendar that I am going to make that will be titled the Middle of Nowhere.
Sunday is coming and I am looking forward to my sermon series on Why Church. As I was reflecting on the material and the scripture, one thing struck me. I had some conversations with a number of people who lament that we are not reaching a certain age group. Certainly this is what Re-Think Church is about. As I was thinking about this lament, I remember reading a book Good to Great. In that book, the focus was on what made companies great. One common aspect of that was that the companies that were great focused not on trying to be everything to everyone but instead focused on what they did well and put their energy into that. I am also reading Mike Slaughter's book Unthink Church. He also points out the same issue and certainly in his book Change the World discusses how he was able to take a church that appeared to be dying and put the energy in what they could do with what they had.
I have been thinking about this and about to what extent do we take our resources to try to meet the needs of everyone. Rather it may be more fruitful to focus on what we do well and put our resources, time, and energy into that. Jesus did not try to please everyone. He was not interested in building a large congregation and in fact if judged by his followers as he was crucified would appear to be a failure in church development. Instead he focused on what he did well which was loving his Father and his disciples and reaching out to those no one else wanted to claim.
Maybe church should be more like that. I believe if we are faithful to what God calls us to do we will have a plentiful harvest.
Sunday is coming and I am looking forward to my sermon series on Why Church. As I was reflecting on the material and the scripture, one thing struck me. I had some conversations with a number of people who lament that we are not reaching a certain age group. Certainly this is what Re-Think Church is about. As I was thinking about this lament, I remember reading a book Good to Great. In that book, the focus was on what made companies great. One common aspect of that was that the companies that were great focused not on trying to be everything to everyone but instead focused on what they did well and put their energy into that. I am also reading Mike Slaughter's book Unthink Church. He also points out the same issue and certainly in his book Change the World discusses how he was able to take a church that appeared to be dying and put the energy in what they could do with what they had.
I have been thinking about this and about to what extent do we take our resources to try to meet the needs of everyone. Rather it may be more fruitful to focus on what we do well and put our resources, time, and energy into that. Jesus did not try to please everyone. He was not interested in building a large congregation and in fact if judged by his followers as he was crucified would appear to be a failure in church development. Instead he focused on what he did well which was loving his Father and his disciples and reaching out to those no one else wanted to claim.
Maybe church should be more like that. I believe if we are faithful to what God calls us to do we will have a plentiful harvest.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Thursday
I often find myself working on two to three sermons at the same time. I try to focus on where I hear God calling and find that I become distracted by off shoots of other thoughts and ideas. I have felt the call to talk about why church is important and that whenever possible one should surround themselves with committed Christians. As I do that, I find myself reflecting on a world that seems only committed to themselves and what they can get for themselves. It seems that somewhere we have lost our way in church, in our world, and even within ourselves. We seem so concerned about me, myself, and I that caring for others has become secondary.
There have been plenty of issues that have been reported in the news that seems to support this idea whether it be politics, business, or even churches. I remember times when people would disagree but would still have respect for those of a differing point of view. Today that common decency seems to be antiquated. Everyone wants to have the spotlight shown on them and they do this by any means possible, whether burning the Qu'ran or protesting at soldiers funerals, or calling people's ideas stupid without ever expressing something that could be an alternative. Greed seems to be the bottom line of many businesses and the witness of the current economic situation certainly points to that.
So where can we find our way back to thinking about the common good of all people? If there is any hope to be found, I believe it will need to come from people who truly live according to the values, principles, and actions that Jesus taught. If we as a church becomes so caught up in trying to be the spotlight of ourselves than we can become like the Pharisees of the gospel stories. It is not about how great we are, but how great God is. Maybe the time has come that the church take on a more prophetic voice of Christ, caring for others, sharing and loving God and our neighbor. So maybe that is where we are called to be. As Paul says in Romans 12:9-21.
Romans 12:9-21 (New Living Translation)
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection,[a] and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.[b] 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”[c]
says the Lord.
20 Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”[d]
21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
I especially like don't think you know it all. I certainly don't and know that I need the Lord in my life. I also believe that we can live in harmony with others without giving up my beliefs and values. I am willing to share my love of Christ but I do that not just with words but in the ways I try to live my life.
There have been plenty of issues that have been reported in the news that seems to support this idea whether it be politics, business, or even churches. I remember times when people would disagree but would still have respect for those of a differing point of view. Today that common decency seems to be antiquated. Everyone wants to have the spotlight shown on them and they do this by any means possible, whether burning the Qu'ran or protesting at soldiers funerals, or calling people's ideas stupid without ever expressing something that could be an alternative. Greed seems to be the bottom line of many businesses and the witness of the current economic situation certainly points to that.
So where can we find our way back to thinking about the common good of all people? If there is any hope to be found, I believe it will need to come from people who truly live according to the values, principles, and actions that Jesus taught. If we as a church becomes so caught up in trying to be the spotlight of ourselves than we can become like the Pharisees of the gospel stories. It is not about how great we are, but how great God is. Maybe the time has come that the church take on a more prophetic voice of Christ, caring for others, sharing and loving God and our neighbor. So maybe that is where we are called to be. As Paul says in Romans 12:9-21.
Romans 12:9-21 (New Living Translation)
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection,[a] and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.[b] 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”[c]
says the Lord.
20 Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”[d]
21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
I especially like don't think you know it all. I certainly don't and know that I need the Lord in my life. I also believe that we can live in harmony with others without giving up my beliefs and values. I am willing to share my love of Christ but I do that not just with words but in the ways I try to live my life.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Why Church
I am going to be doing a sermon series on Why Church. The focus is going to be on why do we choose to go to church or not go to church as the case may be. I will be using the lectionary and the ideas came from suggestions from Homiletics. The first sermon will focus on Luke 15:1-10. The topics we will be covering are community, real people, money matters, and mentors. With all the effort with the Re-Think church, I thought it might be important to discuss church not just the building but also the people.
What struck me as I am preparing for this Sunday was the context of the scripture of the lost sheep and the lost coin. The preface was the grumblings from the Pharisees that Jesus was eating and inviting to eat with him sinners and tax collectors. For one was not to associate with sinners because that would make you impure and a sinner yourself. As I was contemplating this, I was struck by how I felt when I was young about the church and the hypocrisy of the people that went to church. I felt in my self-righteousness that I was better than that. What is interesting is that recent surveys that is often the number one reason young adults do not go to church. Little has changed in 40 years and it seems that this was an issue even in Jesus' time. For I came to the realization that I was the Pharisee of this story and as much a hypocrite as those I accused. If I sat in judgment of others I needed to sit in judgment regarding my own self.
Needless to say, when I had that insight, I decided that maybe church was a place to help me grow in ways that I did not have to continue with my self-righteousness but instead focus on getting right with God. I don't believe I would have done that without being surrounded by loving, caring, committed Christians who were also growing in their faith. I did not find it in a book, on TV, or even today on the Internet.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Wednesday
The more that I spend time in my ministry the more I realize what changes have occurred. As I am reflecting on the sermon, I began to spend time wondering about the cost of being a disciple as well as the cost of being a church. We tend to focus so much on how we are to reach the people of the 21st century that sometimes I wonder if we are neglecting the gospel. I firmly believe that we are to present the gospel in ways of reaching the people of today but at the same time we need to be careful not to lose the message that has inspired Christians for centuries.
I love technology, obviously as I am writing a blog, I have a face book page, I have used multi-media in services. Sometimes I wonder if, no matter how important these technological advances are, there is a cost. At the same time I am amazed since I have come to Ainsworth what it means to use media as a means of reaching those who are unable for whatever reasons to come to church. Our late service is broadcast on the local radio station KBRB and at the same time streamed live on their web site www.kbrbradio.com. My best friend can now listen to the service in Lincoln Nebraska some 200 miles away as can others throughout the world. He and I spend time then through the Internet discussing the sermon and the scripture. It is a great opportunity for he and I to chat about our faith.
The use of media has been around a long time with televangelists. The concern I have is that we are called to be the body of Christ and to have time to be together. Modern technology, social networking, and sometimes even worship itself can over emphasize the individual salvation without looking at the continuing work or sanctification. Using technology to reach people is a wonderful tool but it is a means to end and never should be the end in itself.
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