To celebrate the new Bible study on Invitation to the Psalms, I decided that I would reflect on the Psalms in the Wednesday services. I am starting with the 23rd Psalm one of the most well known psalm. I am going to take the Psalm verse by verse using various translations and paraphrases. I started with the Tanakh from the Jewish Study Bible.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing." v. 1 TNK
Take time to reflect on these two ideas. The Lord is my shepherd. What does that mean to you. A shepherd is responsible for keeping those who one is in charge of safe and alive. The shepherd is the one responsible. If we believe that God is our shepherd are we willing to allow God to care for us. OR do we insist on taking charge of everything in our lives. I wonder in my life how often I say I want God to be in charge or at least central to my life, yet I will often try to do everything on my own without allowing God to be at least a partner.
The second idea and I believe ties directly with the first is that I lack nothing. In the Monday class on 30 days to live, we watched a video called Empty. The young man who did the video spoke of trying to find some way of filling a void that he felt in his life, an emptiness. He spoke of trying to do that with success, work, sex, drugs, etc. and found that even when it felt full it never lasted. It was not until he was willing to surrender to God that he was able to fill that void. The lesson included the idea that there are three things that separate us from a healthy relationship with God and those were bitterness, busyness, and burnout. I would add that if we are trying to fill our lives with anything else but God we will find ourselves feeling empty. We are not missing anything. God has given us everything we need. Not saying that having things aren't nice but they are not necessary. Do we truly believe that we lack nothing.
This first verse of the 23rd Psalm speaks to me about what is important in my life especially during difficult times. Remembering the God is my shepherd and that I lack nothing.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tuesday musings
I have been working on my sermon and have it mostly researched. Now I need to write it and work on it. I keep having dreams about what I am supposed to say and what the Spirit is directing me to focus on. There are some things that I am excited about coming up. The first is the new bible study on the Psalms. I believe that it will be a great way to slow down my life and spend time reflecting on praying the Psalms. The other is working slowly and surely on the upcoming sermon series on family and the Bread of Life. I have the outlines done for both series and between keeping up with day to day events will be developing those themes.
As I am doing this, I also am looking at ways that we can continue to improve on our worship experiences. There have been some feedback which I greatly appreciate. Some will be incorporated and all will be appreciated. I believe that the Spirit is at work in the church. I need to be open to where it is leading me and us.
As we continue to work on these issues it is important that we continue to work on ways of being clearer about our communication. I especially need to make sure that I am clear so that it will prevent problems. My prayer is that we will continue to do so as a church as well. Part of helping with that is trying to celebrate more of what we have been doing. Not for our glory but for the glory of God. For what we do we do not do for ourselves but for the Kingdom.
As I am doing this, I also am looking at ways that we can continue to improve on our worship experiences. There have been some feedback which I greatly appreciate. Some will be incorporated and all will be appreciated. I believe that the Spirit is at work in the church. I need to be open to where it is leading me and us.
As we continue to work on these issues it is important that we continue to work on ways of being clearer about our communication. I especially need to make sure that I am clear so that it will prevent problems. My prayer is that we will continue to do so as a church as well. Part of helping with that is trying to celebrate more of what we have been doing. Not for our glory but for the glory of God. For what we do we do not do for ourselves but for the Kingdom.
Monday, June 1, 2009
What a week
I am the proud grandpa of my fifth grand child. My son and daughter-in-law gave birth to their third daughter Makenzie Grace on Wednesday of last week. Nancy and I have been busy with the other two grand daughters taking care of them and helping out where we could. Mom and daughter are doing fine.
This Sunday was also Pentecost Sunday. I had been contemplating what we can do to revamp our services. I wanted to work with the Praise Band to make the contemporary service more free flowing. Sunday was the first of those services. As with anything, there were some issues that need to be fine tuned but overall I believe the service went well. We will be working on this service throughout the summer. What we will likely do is continue this format from now on. For those who attended, feel free to give feedback as to ways that we might continue to develop this service.
I reflected on the "nevertheless" God. It was Peter Storey not Paul Storely who wrote about his time as the bishop of the United Methodist Church in South Africa. I was struck about what he had to say about the presence of the Holy Spirit in times that seem to defy whether or not God is present. Sometimes we want to have the manifest physical presence of the Spirit like what we read in Acts. What is hard is when difficult times are with us, to see what God is doing. The message to me is that even in hope unseen "nevertheless" God is there. We need to remain open to allowing the Spirit to become part of us and to continue to feed the Spirit through prayer, scripture, worship and sacraments, and with covenant groups.
This Sunday was also Pentecost Sunday. I had been contemplating what we can do to revamp our services. I wanted to work with the Praise Band to make the contemporary service more free flowing. Sunday was the first of those services. As with anything, there were some issues that need to be fine tuned but overall I believe the service went well. We will be working on this service throughout the summer. What we will likely do is continue this format from now on. For those who attended, feel free to give feedback as to ways that we might continue to develop this service.
I reflected on the "nevertheless" God. It was Peter Storey not Paul Storely who wrote about his time as the bishop of the United Methodist Church in South Africa. I was struck about what he had to say about the presence of the Holy Spirit in times that seem to defy whether or not God is present. Sometimes we want to have the manifest physical presence of the Spirit like what we read in Acts. What is hard is when difficult times are with us, to see what God is doing. The message to me is that even in hope unseen "nevertheless" God is there. We need to remain open to allowing the Spirit to become part of us and to continue to feed the Spirit through prayer, scripture, worship and sacraments, and with covenant groups.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
It has been quite awhile since I blogged. There seems to be a lot going on in my life, ministry, and in the church both local and at the state level. I am still waiting to see if I will be a grandpa for the 5th time. Hopefully by tomorrow. Tonight will be with the other two grand daughters.
Pentecost is next Sunday. I have been thinking and reflecting on some of the ways that we are worshipping at our church and with consultation have decided to take a look at changing some of the structure of the services. Currently we offer three services. Two on Sunday, the first is more contemporary and the second is traditional which means more liturgical. We also offer a Wednesday communion service so that we have communion every week that I am around. One way I have been contemplating changing the sermon is to plan at least one month and actually I have three months of sermon ideas and questions to reflect on. What I hope will happen is that people will read the scripture for that day and reflect and answer the questions that I have included. Then when they come to the service, we can reflect together what they have learned and what I may offer. I feel that this Sunday is the time we can look at this as the disciples found themselves thinking beyond what was and moving forward to what God wants. So here are the scriptures for June and the questions to reflect on:
Over the next month the following are the scriptures that will be the focus of the service. I am asking that you read them and reflect on some of the questions that are proposed so that you may be prepared for the service.
June 7th: John 3:1-17
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believed in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
When you read this verse what strikes you the most? Do you feel loved by God? John 3:17-18 continues about judgment. Do you feel assured of your salvation? Hoe do you see hope in these times? What does it mean to you to be born with new life?
June 14th: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13
“for the Lord does not see as mortals see, they look on the outward appearances, but the Lord looks on the heart. (16:7b)”
This is the story of the choosing David as the new king of Israel. How does this story speak to your understanding of leadership today? How do you make judgments of others? Samuel was afraid to go to Bethlehem but he went anyway. Are there times in your life you felt the call of God but were afraid to act on it?
June 21st: 1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49
This is the story of David and Goliath. In your life have there been situations that seem gigantic and overwhelming? What were some of the ways that you tried to handle those times? Did you feel that you were able to strategize your way around the situations? What learning’s have you kept to face such times again?
June 28th: Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15; 2:23-24 often found in the apocrypha.
13-15 “because God did not make death and he does not delight in the death of the living. For he created all things so that they might exist; the generative forces of the world are wholesome, and there is not destructive poison in them, for the dominion of Hades is not on earth. For righteousness is immortal.
23-24: for God created us for incorruption, and made us in the image of his own eternity, but through the devil’s envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his company experience it.”
To better understand these verses, read Wisdom of Solomon 1:1-2:24 in its entirety. There are those that say that the 10th commandment about coveting your neighbor’s wife and possessions covers almost the entire 10 commandments. Envy is often seen as one of the seven deadly sins. The author is also portraying two views of existence. What do you believe about our life? Is it accidental; short and there is nothing else? Should we just live it up to escape the despair? What outcomes might you imagine with such narcissist view? Or do you believe we are created for a purpose not by chance and that death is not the final answer? Is creation truly wholesome and that injustice foreign to creation?
I hope to summarize after each service what was talked about. This could also be something that could be used for small group discussions and even in families. I will be doing a sermon series on families starting in July. Stay tuned.
Pentecost is next Sunday. I have been thinking and reflecting on some of the ways that we are worshipping at our church and with consultation have decided to take a look at changing some of the structure of the services. Currently we offer three services. Two on Sunday, the first is more contemporary and the second is traditional which means more liturgical. We also offer a Wednesday communion service so that we have communion every week that I am around. One way I have been contemplating changing the sermon is to plan at least one month and actually I have three months of sermon ideas and questions to reflect on. What I hope will happen is that people will read the scripture for that day and reflect and answer the questions that I have included. Then when they come to the service, we can reflect together what they have learned and what I may offer. I feel that this Sunday is the time we can look at this as the disciples found themselves thinking beyond what was and moving forward to what God wants. So here are the scriptures for June and the questions to reflect on:
Over the next month the following are the scriptures that will be the focus of the service. I am asking that you read them and reflect on some of the questions that are proposed so that you may be prepared for the service.
June 7th: John 3:1-17
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believed in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
When you read this verse what strikes you the most? Do you feel loved by God? John 3:17-18 continues about judgment. Do you feel assured of your salvation? Hoe do you see hope in these times? What does it mean to you to be born with new life?
June 14th: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13
“for the Lord does not see as mortals see, they look on the outward appearances, but the Lord looks on the heart. (16:7b)”
This is the story of the choosing David as the new king of Israel. How does this story speak to your understanding of leadership today? How do you make judgments of others? Samuel was afraid to go to Bethlehem but he went anyway. Are there times in your life you felt the call of God but were afraid to act on it?
June 21st: 1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49
This is the story of David and Goliath. In your life have there been situations that seem gigantic and overwhelming? What were some of the ways that you tried to handle those times? Did you feel that you were able to strategize your way around the situations? What learning’s have you kept to face such times again?
June 28th: Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15; 2:23-24 often found in the apocrypha.
13-15 “because God did not make death and he does not delight in the death of the living. For he created all things so that they might exist; the generative forces of the world are wholesome, and there is not destructive poison in them, for the dominion of Hades is not on earth. For righteousness is immortal.
23-24: for God created us for incorruption, and made us in the image of his own eternity, but through the devil’s envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his company experience it.”
To better understand these verses, read Wisdom of Solomon 1:1-2:24 in its entirety. There are those that say that the 10th commandment about coveting your neighbor’s wife and possessions covers almost the entire 10 commandments. Envy is often seen as one of the seven deadly sins. The author is also portraying two views of existence. What do you believe about our life? Is it accidental; short and there is nothing else? Should we just live it up to escape the despair? What outcomes might you imagine with such narcissist view? Or do you believe we are created for a purpose not by chance and that death is not the final answer? Is creation truly wholesome and that injustice foreign to creation?
I hope to summarize after each service what was talked about. This could also be something that could be used for small group discussions and even in families. I will be doing a sermon series on families starting in July. Stay tuned.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
I have been absent from writing for the past week. I have been concerned about my daughter-in-law's health. Also it has been a busy time planning for worship, workshops for this weekend and for Monday. It seems that I have forgotten to take time to center myself. So tonight prior to the workshop I am spending time reflecting and praying and writing.
Part of the workshop will be dealing with Christian small group leaders. It is ironic that part of the workshop deals with living one's spiritual discipline and being held accountable to doing so. I know that I need to take the time and not allow excuses or other activities to interfere with this time. So no TV and I will be signing off on this rambling.
I hope to spend time tomorrow reflecting on my continued thoughts on families and relationships.
Part of the workshop will be dealing with Christian small group leaders. It is ironic that part of the workshop deals with living one's spiritual discipline and being held accountable to doing so. I know that I need to take the time and not allow excuses or other activities to interfere with this time. So no TV and I will be signing off on this rambling.
I hope to spend time tomorrow reflecting on my continued thoughts on families and relationships.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Just a short note. Tomorrow I will begin to focus on Sunday and my sermon. I have been so caught up in this sermon series that is forming in my thoughts and dreams dealing with families and ways that we can build relationships and strengthen our spiritual lives as well. I have posted on facebook about getting some info about the challenges that families face today. I have already received some excellent thoughts. I will be asking church members this Sunday and next to do the same.
For those who read this, if you want to post a comment I would look forward to your input. I will also be posting the sermon notes after the sermon is completed here with a tie-in on facebook. We may be looking at some future time doing a podcast but right now lack the equipment and experts to do so. Stay tuned. We may post to our conference web site.
I believe that this can be an important time for us to reflect on the importance of families. And what better time to begin to bring this up than on Mother's Day this Sunday.
I hope that this day and this weekend is a special one especially for all women who have been important in our lives. take a moment to remember them and not just one day but appreciate them everyday.
For those who read this, if you want to post a comment I would look forward to your input. I will also be posting the sermon notes after the sermon is completed here with a tie-in on facebook. We may be looking at some future time doing a podcast but right now lack the equipment and experts to do so. Stay tuned. We may post to our conference web site.
I believe that this can be an important time for us to reflect on the importance of families. And what better time to begin to bring this up than on Mother's Day this Sunday.
I hope that this day and this weekend is a special one especially for all women who have been important in our lives. take a moment to remember them and not just one day but appreciate them everyday.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Families
I am on vacation but have been contemplating several ideas that have been striking to me. I have been thinking about a sermon series that I am proposing to do about straightening families. The sermon series will focus on the challenges that families face and how can we respond as family members and as members of the church. I will be asking for input as to what the greatest challenges you feel we face today as a family whether your own or what you see in our world. As I research this, I have come across some interesting quotes from some unusual places. There is one I want to share from you from Michael Medved, author of Right Turns and radio talk show host.
"Americans spend an average of 29 hours a week watching television- which means in a typical life span we devote 13 uninterrupted years to our TV sets! The biggest problem with mass media isn't low quality-it's high quantity. Cutting down just an hour a day would provide extra years of life--for music and family, exercise and reading, conversation and coffee."
What was interesting about where I read this quote was on a Starbucks coffee. Low quality versus high quantity. We talk about the lack of time we have to enjoy our family and to spend time with our children. What struck me was what would our children be if the first 13 years of life were 24/7 in front of a television. Can you imagine what they would learn about the world that we live in and would it be really the world we live in. I also think about what would it be like if we would just cut out one hour a week of TV. Would the world end, would the economy falter because of the lack of exposure to advertisements for things that we don't need?
Give me your input and let us reflect on ways that we can strengthen our relationships with each other.
"Americans spend an average of 29 hours a week watching television- which means in a typical life span we devote 13 uninterrupted years to our TV sets! The biggest problem with mass media isn't low quality-it's high quantity. Cutting down just an hour a day would provide extra years of life--for music and family, exercise and reading, conversation and coffee."
What was interesting about where I read this quote was on a Starbucks coffee. Low quality versus high quantity. We talk about the lack of time we have to enjoy our family and to spend time with our children. What struck me was what would our children be if the first 13 years of life were 24/7 in front of a television. Can you imagine what they would learn about the world that we live in and would it be really the world we live in. I also think about what would it be like if we would just cut out one hour a week of TV. Would the world end, would the economy falter because of the lack of exposure to advertisements for things that we don't need?
Give me your input and let us reflect on ways that we can strengthen our relationships with each other.
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