Dunellen Pres Notes

Yesterday I Saw a great sermon...

2012-02-02T06:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I saw a great sermon.

I was attending the funeral of a dearsaint, Karl Smith. He and his wife, Doris, had been members of our church, butquite some time ago joined a congregation in Warren.Still, both had continued to come to many services and functions at FirstPresbyterian, and remained close friends of the congregation.

Karl loved Jesus with all of his heart.

The last time I had seen him was at the funeralof another saint last Friday. Afterward, Karl and Doris thanked me forpreaching a message of salvation that morning. The next day he died of a suddenand massive heart attack.

Doris was on the phone with me minutes afterhis death, asking if I would come to their church and give a salvationmessage at his funeral. It was humbling for me to realize that the last sermonhe had ever heard had been the funeral message I had shared the day before.

My words were at Karl’s funeral were ok, butthe most powerful message of the morning was lived by Doris. At the end of theservice, as we sang "Because He Lives," she hobbled to the casket,supported by her cane. She placed on hand on the casket, lifted the other handtoward Heaven, with tears running down her cheeks and a radiant smile on herface, she sang with us...

"BecauseHe lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives."

It was one of the greatest sermons I eversaw.

JeffWildrick

Because He Lives

God sent His son, theycalled Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

Words: Bill & Gloria Gaither

The Story Behind Tim Tebow

2012-01-11T09:05:00.000-08:00

Got 30 seconds?

In 2010, this was one of the most controversial ads played during the Superbowl:

Believe it or not, this ad had pro-abortion groups up in arms. Before it was aired, a coalition of abortion rights groups petitioned CBS to reject the add, arguing that it was "divisive." The Women's Media Center equated the ad with "anti-abortion vitriol" that has led to the murder of doctors, and decried it as "anti choice." Afterward, having failed to censor CBS, the National Organization for Women even went so far as to claim that the ad promotes domestic violence!

What were they really up in arms about? The story behind the story - that Tim's mother had rejected doctor's advice to abort him, despite the likelihood that he would be born with irreversible damage due to medications taken to save her own life during pregnancy.

If you've read this far, I'd like to encourage you to devote another ten minutes of your life to hearing the full story, as told by Bob & Pam Tebow.

Tim Tebow isn't a superhero, and we need to guard against putting him on a pedestal. He's a human being with feet of clay, just like the rest of us. But he's also a great football player who is using that platform to share his story and tell the world about Jesus.

Please take some time today to pray for our brother in Christ.

Classic Humor

2011-12-26T07:53:00.000-08:00

Nothing spiritual or profound today. Just a great laugh from a classic comic. This is Jack Benny at his best. Enjoy!

He has the whole world in his hands

2011-12-20T10:48:00.000-08:00

How the world was changed by the birth of that one baby boy - Emmanuel, God-with-us, Jesus! And it continues to change as 20th and 21st century technology and commitment to missions has spread the good news in ways unprecedented until now. Perhaps we really are close to the day when Jesus will come again!

Check out this report from the Pew Forum on the size and distribution of the world's Christian population.

From the Executive Summary:
A comprehensive demographic study of more than 200 countries finds that there are 2.18 billion Christians of all ages around the world, representing nearly a third of the estimated 2010 global population of 6.9 billion. Christians are also geographically widespread – so far-flung, in fact, that no single continent or region can indisputably claim to be the center of global Christianity.
A century ago, this was not the case. In 1910, about two-thirds of the world’s Christians lived in Europe, where the bulk of Christians had been for a millennium, according to historical estimates by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. Today, only about a quarter of all Christians live in Europe (26%). A plurality – more than a third – now are in the Americas (37%). About one in every four Christians lives in sub-Saharan Africa (24%), and about one-in eight is found in Asia and the Pacific (13%).
Although Europe and the Americas still are home to a majority of the world’s Christians (63%), that share is much lower than it was in 1910 (93%). And the proportion of Europeans and Americans who are Christian has dropped
from 95% in 1910 to 76% in 2010 in Europe as a whole, and from 96% to 86% in the Americas as a whole.
Almost half (48%) of all Christians live in the 10 countries with the largest number of Christians. Three of the top 10 countries are in the Americas (the United States, Brazil and Mexico). Two are in Europe (Russia and Germany), two are in the Asia-Pacific region (the Philippines and China), and three are in sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia), reflecting Christianity’s global reach.
Although Christians comprise just under a third of the world’s people, they form a majority of the population in 158 countries and territories, about two-thirds of all the countries and territories in the world.

You can read the full report HERE.

May you and those you love have a merry and blessed Christmas.

2011-12-11T09:25:00.000-08:00

When an angel came to announce the birth of Jesus, he said “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” And Christmas continues to be a season with much rejoicing. Does this mean that everything is right in the world, or even in our lives? No. But, as Christ-followers we can still find joy in our…

1)Forgiven Past. The apostle Paul tells us that “Having been declared righteous, then, by faith, we have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1) All of us some things in my past we’re ashamed of. Isn’t it amazing that, through faith in Jesus, we can know that our sin account is completely clean before God?

2)Future Prospects. Paul continues, “We confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (Rom. 5:2) When Christ-followers look to the future, we see glory – the promise of eternal life in a new heaven and a new earth. It’s good to know that no matter how bad things are, better times are coming.

3)Present Pressures. Paul says, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Rom. 5:3-4) Meeting Jesus didn’t take away any of the problems in the shepherd’s lives. They still were poor, and were still governed by a brutal dictator. But they now had HOPE. When we live in hope, because we know we are justified, then our whole attitude to pressure changes. And as we abide under pressure, our perseverance yields strength and character.

This is what the Christian life is all about. The ability to rejoice in our present pressures, and in our future hope, because of the surety of our forgiven past. Rejoice!

Second Sunday of Advent - Peace

2011-12-04T14:40:00.000-08:00

This morning we lit the second candle on our Advent Wreath, which is the candle of “Peace.”

The word for peace in Hebrew (the language Jesus spoke) is Shalom, and it has a much deeper meaning than the way we use the word “peace” in English. While “peace” can simply mean that there is no fighting going on, Shalom implies wellness, wholeness, and harmony.

So, when we affirm that Jesus is the “Prince of Peace,” we are saying that he is the one who brings harmony and wholeness to our lives and to the world. Jesus came not just to pay the price for our sins (which he did), but to bring wellness to life; to bring harmony to our relationship with God. He addresses not just the consequences of our sin, but also our underlying mixed up, tattered, dissonance of our sin-sick lives.

This Advent, we wish Shalom for you and all those you love.

Bethlehemian Rhapsody

2011-12-02T20:15:00.000-08:00

"Bohemian Rhapsody" was one of the greatest rock anthems of the 70s. Now, with some new words, and a few puppets, it's being used to tell the greatest story ever told. Enjoy!

The Knots Prayer

2011-11-21T07:27:00.000-08:00

A friend sent this to me. I found this prayer so profound that I want to share it with you.

The Patience of God

2011-11-20T16:06:00.001-08:00

One of the greatest promises in the Bible is the promise of Christ’s return. Someday, Jesus will come back and gather his followers to spend eternity with him in Heaven. He will also, we are told, come to judge the world. The natural question is, “What is he waiting for?”

The Bible gives us the answer: The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act. 2 Peter 3:9

In other words, there’s still room in Heaven. God wants every seat filled. God wants your neighbor, your coworker, your family member to experience the love of Jesus, accept his forgiveness, find new life in Christ, and live forever with him in Heaven. Yes – even that neighbor!

And, God has a plan for getting them there… YOU! Why hasn’t Jesus returned yet? He’s waiting for you! What can we do to hasten his return? Share our faith in Jesus Christ with our lost and hurting world. And the world we’re talking about starts right at our doorstep.

Isn’t it amazing that God has entrusted us with such an important task? So, let’s get to it!

To be perfectly honest...

2011-11-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading To Be Perfectly Honest: One Man’s Year of (almost) Living Truthfully Could Change Your Life. No Lie. by Phil Callaway. If you're looking for something nice to put under the tree for a book love in your life (especially a guy), this one might be just the thing.

Of course, you have to believe that Phil Callaway is telling the truth to really enjoy this memoir about the year he accepted a challenge to go twelve months without telling any lies. Really. None. Not even little white ones! Imagine how it would affect your job if you were brutally honest – all the time. How about your marriage? Your friendships? Your church?

You’ll have to read the book to find out how successful Callaway was in his quest. Let me assure you, you’ll be glad you did. Callaway is a gifted humorist, and almost every page will bring a grin, a chuckle, or even an outright guffaw. But he’s also a very human man who is trying to figure out how to be a husband, writer, entertainer, and even a golfer, while living out his Christian faith.

At times the book is brutally honest, most remarkably when he shares his deeply personal struggle to avoid having an extramarital affair. His isn’t a simple statement that “I was tempted, but I triumphed because…” No, Callaway shines the light of honesty into some of the darkest parts of his soul as he shares his very real struggle to remain faithful to his wife. His candor, publishing all of this in a book that his wife and friends will read, is humbling. It’s also a good model of how Christians should deal with temptation – sharing the struggle with trusted friends, rather than trying to overcome it by our own strength of will.

And are there times when it’s better to stretch the truth? Callaway writes, “How honest should a person be when in church? Do I tell the pastor that the sermon was great, but it was like a pie it needed some shortening? Do I shake his hand and say, ‘Pastor, that sermon was… uh… timely’? Certainly I should stop telling Jerry Root, ‘I love your tie!’”

Phil Callaway is not a perfect guy. What’s cool is that he doesn’t pretend to be. He lays it all out there for us to see, but always with a wink and a nudge so that we don’t pity him, admire him, or despise him. We just like him, because he’s a regular guy, doing the best he can. Just like us – but a lot funnier!

To Be Perfectly Honest: One Man’s Year of (almost) Living Truthfully Could Change Your Life. No Lie.” by Phil Callaway. The title says it all.

The publisher, Multnomah Books, provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

To Serve our Neighbors

2011-11-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

In ancient Israel, the people asked what they had to do to please God. The prophet Micah answers:

“O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 (NLT)

To put it quite simply, service to others puts legs on our faith.

Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, got right down in the dirt and served the poor, outcasts, and sinners. It only stands to reason that if we are truly “Christ-followers,” we will follow his example by serving our neighbors in practical ways.

Wouldn't it be great if the first thing people think of when they think of First Presbyterian is “That’s the church that’s always helping people”? Who can you serve in the name of Jesus today?

Growing up

2011-10-31T16:46:00.000-07:00

“If you haven’t grown up by the time you’re 50, you don’t have to!” At least, that’s what someone’s status said on Facebook.

It’s tempting to think of how nice it would be to go back to the halcyon days of our childhood – a time with no stress and no worries. Of course, anyone who has raised children knows that this image of childhood is bunk. Being a kid is hard, and the problems kids face that seem insignificant to adults are monstrous at them. Our mistake is that we picture being kids again, but with all our adult knowledge, skill, and perspective. While staying a kid forever sounds good in fantasy, in reality it wouldn’t be so great at all.

So I wonder why there are so many believers who settle for being “Peter Pan Christians.” So many have never gotten beyond a Sunday School understanding of our faith, and are trying to use tools appropriate for spiritual children to wrestle with adult problems and needs.

Is your faith growing? Can you name at least one way that you’ve become more spiritually mature in the past year? Five years? Something you’ve learned? Some way you’ve come to know God better or love God more? Some way you’re living more faithfully or obediently in the grace of God?

Spiritual growth doesn’t happen by accident, and attending worship on Sunday mornings is simply not enough food to grow the spiritual soul. That’s why we try so hard to get everyone into a Growth Group – a place where you can wrestle with your faith, dig into the meat of God’s word. If Growth Groups aren’t your thing, I challenge you to develop a spiritual growth plan, and stick to it! Don’t know how? Give us a call. We’ll be glad to help.

Do You Believe in Miracles?

2011-10-12T18:45:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night I’ll be beginning a new Growth Group (Small Group) studying the book You Were Born for This: 7 Keys to a Life of Predictable Miracles. I mention this because when I was given a review copy of YWBFT, I was expecting to hate it.

The author, Bruce Wilkinson, is best known as the author of The Prayer of Jabez, and frankly, I found Jabez a bit thin. It was inspiring, but to this day I don’t think the biblical prayer says or even implies all that Wilkinson says it does.

So, I was pleasantly surprised to find that YWBFT is not only built on solid, biblical ground. It’s also a book that has completely challenged my understanding of how God works miracles in everyday life. It has really challenged my traditional reformed and Presbyterian comfort zone.

Wilkinson’s premise is that God uses everyday people to work miracles in the lives of people around them. If we want to be bearers of God’s miracles, we have to be aware of opportunities that God places in our path, open to being used when the opportunities arise, ready to give up our agenda to follow God’s agenda, and guided by the Holy Spirit so that whatever God does through us is to God’s greater glory.

The book is replete with stories of Wilkinson feeling a “nudge” from God when doing something very ordinary such as flying in an airplane, driving down the road, or walking down the sidewalk. His attention is drawn to a person he would otherwise overlook. Recognizing God’s prompting, he initiates a conversation with this friend or stranger, only to discover that they have been asking God to help them with a problem that Wilkinson is uniquely equipped to solve. In every case it is clear to both Wilkinson and the other party that God brought them together at this time and place to miraculously provide for that need.

This isn’t a book about lame people walking, empty vessels being filled with wine, or time standing still. It’s a book about how we can learn to be available to God to meet genuine human needs, in a way that can only be explained by saying “It’s a God thing.”

When Wilkinson suggested that we begin each day by praying for God to use us to do a miracle in someone’s life, it made me face my own reluctance to set aside my agenda for God’s agenda. I don’t want God to ask me to talk to a stranger. I don’t want to be delayed in reaching my destination to help someone on the side of the road. I don’t want to risk embarrassment or failure. So to ask God to use me today – not sometime, but today – requires me to demonstrate radical trust and genuine sacrifice. Perhaps the reason we see so few miracles is that so few of us are truly available to God.

So I’m leading a Growth Group, not only to teach this book, but to wrestle with my own faithfulness. I know I want God to use me. Now I just need to want it enough (and trust God enough) to actually be used!

An Idea Whose Time Will Never Come

2011-09-29T06:10:00.000-07:00

I was driving down the road, enjoying the wooded hillsides as the trees are just starting to show their fall color. Suddenly, I noticed the brake lights of the car in front of me flash on. In fact, all of the cars around me seemed to be slowing down. And then I saw it, off to the side of the road, a Police car.

You know the feeling. The adrenaline shoots into your system. Your heart starts pounding faster. Your right foot moves toward the brake pedal while your eyes quickly shift to the speedometer. “What is the speed limit here, anyway?” Off to the right is a sign: 45 mph. Your speed: 55 mph. “Oh no. Oh, please, don’t let him stop me…” (or something to that effect)

Fortunately for me, the flashing lights never appeared in my mirror. But as I continued toward home, I came up with a practical idea that I’m certain will never be used.

You see, I’m one of those people who actually try to obey the speed limit. The main reason I’ve never gotten a speeding ticket in 38 years of driving is that I rarely speed, and when I do, it’s even more rarely on purpose.

(Confession time: I get a perverse sense of satisfaction as I drive southbound into Dunellen on Washington Ave., tap my brakes to go from 40 to 25 mph, and imagine the frustration of the rapidly moving cars behind me as they are forced to slow down. I get an even greater and more perverse sense of satisfaction when one of them decides to zip past me on the right, only then to discover the Dunellen cop watching from down the road. I know, I preach grace and mercy, but sometimes justice can be sooooo satisfying – at least when it happens to someone else!)

Even though the signs say “Speed Limit,” we all treat them like they mean “Suggested Speed. Don’t let us catch you going more than five or ten miles per hour faster than this!”

So, here’s my idea. It’s simple, elegant, and can almost certainly be accomplished with existing technology: Install a chip in every car that receives a radio signal telling it the posted speed limit from transponders installed in every major highway. Then, program the chip such that it the car simply will not go faster than the posted speed limit!

Think of the benefits!

Reduced traffic accidents because nobody is speeding
Reduced fatalities from accidents, because they will happen at lower speeds
Increased fuel economy with an enormous saving to our nation’s fuel supply, thus reducing our dependence on foreign oil
No speeding tickets
Reduced insurance premiums

“Ah,” you say. “But your forgetting the liabilities! People sometimes need to exceed the posted limit in order to perform emergency maneuvers.” Easily solved. Design the car’s computer so that when you floor the gas it automatically overrides the speed restriction, but only for a limited time or distance.

“But what about the towns that rely on revenue from tickets?” Come on, you’re really clutching at straws.

And the cost? Even if we only did major highways, and phased in the chips over a period of years, the benefits would more than pay for themselves.

But as I said, it will never happen. Even you probably don’t want it to happen, do you? Most people wouldn’t. Why? Because most of us believe we have a right to speed. Even if we don’t do it often, we want to know that we could. I don’t want ANYONE else to control what I do in my car.

I’ve come to believe that our sinful nature is most dramatically displayed in the mundane things we do. Things like driving, where we know the law, but think of ourselves as just slightly above the law – where we’ll cross the line just enough that we figure we won’t get caught.

And we rationalize: “Everyone is going faster. I’m just going with the flow of traffic.” (Eve ate the fruit, why shouldn’t I? The other kids cheat on their tests, and I really need to pass this class. No one my age is a virgin – I feel like such a loser!)

One of my favorite definitions: RATIONALIZE = Rational Lies

Ultimately, sin is our innate desire to set ourselves above God. It’s demonstrated in our constant efforts to set ourselves to set ourselves above the authorities that God has placed over us.

Thanks be to God for his forgiveness, freely given in Christ Jesus.

As Christ-followers, we’re called to surrender our entire life to him. But sometimes, in order to surrender it all, we need to let go one piece at a time. So, today, let’s YIELD just a little more our lives to Christ’s control. “Jesus – take the wheel.”

Don't Give Up

2011-09-22T05:28:00.000-07:00

I try to start every day by reading God's Word and spending some time in prayer. While I confess that I don't always succeed in this goal, I can testify that the days I consciously begin in the presence of God are the best days in my life.

To help me get focused, I often read daily devotional guides that I receive by email. Two of my favorites are "The Upper Room," and "The Catch."

This morning's "Catch" knocked me off of my feet and onto my knees. I've copied it below, but better yet, I encourage you to go to John Fisher's website and sign up to get his free words of wisdom delivered to your inbox as well.

Blessings!
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Don’t give up

Posted on September 22, 2011 by jwfisch

“Don’t give up; please don’t give up.” Those were the words uttered in the mind of a dying man but never heard outside his head. And for 45 minutes, two flight attendants didn’t. They took turns administering CPR on the man’s heart and alternately breathing air into his lungs. 45 minutes of either futility or life support – no one knew. All they knew was, the man had had a heart attack and stopped breathing while on a flight, and the pilot had radioed the nearest airport, but it took 45 minutes to go through the whole landing procedure.

Forty-five minutes, sometimes sliding along the floor as the plane lurched upon impact. The landing was rough, but the women kept on. Sometimes tempted to quit, but never yielding. An emergency medical team met the plane in the airport, and with the proper machines, they were able to get a strong pulse and revive the man.

How do I know this? One of those flight attendants was my wife. It’s one of her most memorable moments as a flight attendant, her job when I met her. And as she and her co-worker came off the plane they were greeted by applause from the passengers who waited for them so they could show their appreciation. It was Marti’s fantasy come true. The only thing missing was the six o’clock news.

But the most remarkable thing about this story was what she found out later. She found out that the whole time they were keeping him alive, the man was semi-conscious. He could hear everything; he just couldn’t open his eyes or speak. And the whole time he kept thinking, “Don’t give up on me; please don’t give up.”

We all have spiritually resistant friends and relatives who appear, for all we know, to be spiritually dead. We might assume them to be in the category that Paul described as those who are not being saved, but are perishing. And yet how do we know for sure that they might not be only spiritually comatose – unable to speak, but still crying out from some place deep inside: “Don’t give up on me; please don’t give up.”

That’s why you never give up on anyone. Even the most resistant, obnoxious, foul-mouthed unbeliever might still be one who, deep down inside, is being saved. Don’t give up on them. Spiritually breathe for them. Right up until the very end, because you never know.

Connecting...

2011-09-12T17:59:00.000-07:00

This message continues a series of thoughts about our Vision Statement:
“A multicultural family, growing in faith, connecting people with Christ.”

“Connecting.” It always amazes me that I can be in a room full of people, and still feel alone. You would think that living in New Jersey, the most densely populated state, everyone would be overwhelmed with friends. But the truth is, we live in one of the most lonely cultures on earth. People, people, everywhere, and not a friend to be found.

The Bible says that one of the reasons we so often feel disconnected from people is because we’re also disconnected from God. Our disobedience, selfishness, and inward focus creates a barrier between us and God. It’s a problem we call “sin.” And, since God made you specifically in order to be in a relationship with you, that sin-separation leaves us feeling lost and alone.

The good news is that God is always eager and ready to bridge that gap with the love and forgiveness that comes through Jesus. There’s nothing God wants more than to get connected with you, share the joys and hurts of your life, love you with perfect love. What’s more, when we get our lives plugged into a personal relationship with God, we are also invited into a community of Christ-followers (called the Church) where we can experience and share God’s love with other folks like us – in other words, imperfect people, loving God, and trying to live that out with one another. More next week…!

IMPACT!

2011-09-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, September 18, I'll be starting a new teaching series called IMPACT!
Check out this short video for a sneak preview.

(Please forgive the unfortunate screen shot they used to start the video.

It looks like I'm showing off my clear braces!)

Ten Years since 9/11

2011-09-10T07:20:00.000-07:00

Nine years ago, on the 1st anniversary of the September 11 attacks, I was honored to have the following devotion published in "The Secret Place." The words still seem relevant today, as we prepare for the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

--------------------

SCRIPTURE: Luke 14:28-33

Thought for the day: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 (NRSV)

A year ago today, my wife and I watched, along with the rest of the nation, as terrorists destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Center, only twenty miles or so from our home. It was only later that we realized we had witnessed the deaths of two members of our congregation, along with thousands of others including those on the hijacked airliners and in the Pentegon. Not only people died on that day. Those towers were chosen because they represented the financial strength of our nation. Their destruction, accomplished with such ease and at so little cost, shook the sense of security that so many had placed in the things of this world.

As the towers crumbled, I remembered a Scripture chorus we sometimes sing in worship. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and they are saved.”

One year later, let’s remember that neither military might nor financial strength can make us secure – only the eternal refuge of our mighty God.

Prayer: Lord, as we remember the dead and comfort the living, help us to remember that you alone are our refuge and strength, through Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

I encourage you to use the comments section from this blog to post your prayer requests related to 9/11

A Satisfying Sequel

2011-08-05T18:08:00.000-07:00

What I've been reading...

I just finished reading Life Everlasting, by Robert Whitlow, which is the sequel to Life Support. Actually, to call this a sequel is a bit of an understatement. It’s more like “Volume Two.” Set in Santee, South Carolina, both books feature Alexia “Alex” Lindale, an up-and-coming divorce lawyer who finds her life, and her legal practice, dominated by her overbearing client, Rena Richardson.

We know, but Alex doesn’t, that Rena is slowly but surely going insane, and that she is guilty of trying to kill her husband, Baxter, by throwing him off a cliff. Throughout the first book, Baxter was lying in a coma, while Rena struggled to have life support removed before he might wake up and identify her as the attempted murderer she is. Working against her, unknowingly, was Ted Morgan, who is using music therapy to channel God’s healing power into Baxter’s paralyzed body. Ted, by the way, and Alex, are rapidly falling in love.

In Life Everlasting, Rena’s plans continue to unravel as Baxter begins to awaken. Alex tries to sort out her faith and her feelings for Ted. The police are closing in on the truth. And, a crime syndicate has its own reasons for wanting to cover up what really happened on the cliff.

I’ve got to say, while I enjoyed Life Support, I found Life Everlasting to be even more engaging. The characters have become far more complex and three-dimensional. The plot twists are more surprising, and the excitement continues to build throughout the story. The only disappointment is that the ending seems a bit contrived, as all the loose ends come together too quickly.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve not been much of a fan of Christian fiction, because too many authors put the religious content first and the story second. Whitlow successfully weaves faith into this legal thriller so that it become an integral part of the story, rather than an obligatory add on.

I recommend you read both books, in order. I’m glad I did. You can read more about it at www.christianbook.com.

The publisher, Thomas Nelson, provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Mexico Report

2011-08-03T07:09:00.000-07:00

My wonderful wife, Kathy, and my amazing daughter, Natalia, recently traveled with other members of our church on a mission trip to Mexico. Here's a letter they sent to family and friends describing their experience!

Dear Family and Friends,

Natalia and I had a wonderful time together in Mexico, and our church team, along with another church, built five two-room houses for five families in just four days!

The best part of the experience for me was being with Natalia. She is turning into an awesome teenager, a hard worker, and is great with children. She spoke with the kids in Spanish, played with them, carried them around, and just loved them. She helped with the Vacation Bible School (as did I) every day and hung out with the kids afterwards. She was just thriving--except when she got mad that the guys weren't letting the girls help to put on the roof!

Natalia and I shared a tent together, made shadow puppets at night, and helped each other get organized in the morning (mostly she helped me!). At night the whole group (about 70-75 men, women, teens, and children) sat around the campfire singing songs of worship and sharing stories and thoughts from the day.

The Lord blessed us with relatively cool weather during the day (no higher than 85 degrees--honestly). The sun was intense, but a cool breeze would stir from time to time. I learned how to lay a foundation, hammer nails almost as well as the guys, mix cement, and make and spread stucco. I had the joy of speaking with the widow whose house we were working on, and she shed tears of grief over the loss of her husband three years ago and tears of joy over receiving the addition to her house.

Let me explain that "our family" consisted of this widow and her two adult sons who still live with her, though they are in their thirties or forties. Their house is on the side of a hill in the town. They and a number of other families were relocated from the region of Chiapas (where they lived in what was essentially a drainage ditch that repeatedly flooded) to this impoverished neighborhood on the outskirts of Tijuana. They were given old pieces of scrap lumber and left to rebuild their houses and their lives.

Our family's first room contained two beds, a dining room table, a TV, a photo of the husband/father, and his ashes. It was quite cluttered with other dingy possessions, no windows, and a packed dirt-and-rock floor. The next room was quite small and had a rickety table, a propane stove, a few pots and pans, and a makeshift shelf for a few plates and cups. Every time it rained, water flooded into the kitchen and blew in through the shabby roof. Under the kitchen table, on the dirt floor, were two hens, a few chicks, and some eggs that hatched while we were there. The kids were fascinated to watch the chicks hatch, and then to hold them and watch them grow in the few days that we were there. (On the last day a few of our team members built a chicken coop for the chicks and hen, to protect them from the neighbors' dogs.) The family used these chickens for their eggs, for their meat, and would sell some for cash.

It was behind the kitchen that we build an 11' by 22' house/addition separated into two rooms with a cement foundation/floor. The new construction has glass windows and a door that locked. It had stucco walls and a tarred slanted roof. The family was planning to move their beds into those two rooms and create a true living room in their outer room. Our team also connected the old kitchen roof with the roof of the new addition in hopes that the kitchen would now stay dry during rainstorms.

The two sons have worked in construction and stuccoed three walls of their new home in the time that our team struggled to stucco one wall! The sons took pride in their work, and it looked very nice when they were done. They even had a friend come join them for a while. They also put an smooth, expert finish on the foundation floor, which we had left rather bumpy the day before. It was great that they could work alongside us and take ownership in the building of these rooms.

There were many tears flowing as we gathered together on Thursday afternoon to dedicate the house to the Lord and present the family with their keys and some small housewarming presents. Our prayer is that the Spirit of the living, loving God will shelter their hearts and lives as the new addition to their house shelters them.

Thank you for your financial support and prayers as we participated in this trip! God bless you always! Perhaps someday you will also be able to travel to another country (or impoverished parts of our country) and help those in need. Not only does it help those in need--it changes us!

Love,

Kathy (& Natalia)

P.S. It's not too late to donate to our trip support, as some funds are actually still needed to pay off our expenses. Please prayerfully consider donating if you haven't already. Just click HERE!

What I've been reading (continued)

2011-07-23T16:49:00.000-07:00

I love a hard-boiled detective story, and while The Corruptible by Mark Mynheir doesn’t rise to the top of the genre, it still provided a satisfying summer read.

Ray Quinn, private eye, used to be an Orlando homicide detective, but was forced to retire when he was shot, permanently damaging one of his legs. But he’s still got lots of friends on the force, and unlike most fictional private eyes, he prefers to work with the police instead of against them. When he is hired to find a computer hard drive that contains valuable information belonging to a rich client, it seems like he’s hit the jackpot. That is, until the guy who apparently stole the goods, an ex-cop and former friend of Ray’s, ends up murdered.

Ray, his apprentice Crevis (like a split in a rock), and former client and friend Pam, rapidly find their own lives in danger as they try to unravel a complicated plot of revenge, greed, and murder. In the first half of the book, tends to overdo the descriptive language typical of this genre: “He had a brown flattop haircut as tight as a boot brush and a chin cleft deep enough to hide a TV remote.”

And, although this is marketed as Christian fiction, the religious elements were integrated into the story fairly smoothly. I say “fairly” because there were a few times when the realities of writing about hardened underworld characters clashed with the author’s choice of language. For instance, at one point the head of a criminal motorcycle gang says, “That snitch put me in federal custody and stole twelve years of my life. He got almost everyone in this room some time in prison. I don’t think ‘miffed’ quite covers what I feel for that traitorous, no-good, filthy, lowlife narc cop piece of sewage.” Now, I applaud Mynheir’s decision not to use profanity in this book. But it would have been better to skip it than substitute this silly and unbelievable tirade.

Like all good detective stories, you probably won’t figure out “who done it” until moments before (or after) Ray Quinn solves the case. Then you’ll slap your forehead, because all the clues were there – you just missed them. The story was just good enough to keep me reading, but not so engaging that couldn’t put it down. And it did leave me wanting to find out happens next. All in all, a good read.

The publisher, Thomas Nelson, provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Finally, “Christian” fiction with a bite!

2011-07-20T19:00:00.000-07:00

I’ll admit it up front. Although I’m a pastor, I have never been much of a fan of “Christian Fiction.” All too often the characters are two-dimensional, the plot is linear and predictable, and the message is spiritually simplistic and heavy handed. Far too many authors feel that for it to be a Christian book, the gospel must be overtly explained and every moral question must be black and white. So, it was with some reluctance that I sat down to read Life Support by Robert Whitlow. Well, I’m happy to tell you that I was pleasantly surprised.

Life Support is a legal mystery that will grab your attention and keep you up most of the night. The question isn’t “Who done it?” We learn that in the first chapter. The question is, “Will she get away with it? And what will she do next?” But it’s even more complicated than that.

The heroine is Alexia “Alex” Lindale, a bright young divorce attorney with her eyes on a partnership at her law firm in the southern town of Santee. But soon the law becomes a matter of life and death as one man clings to life in intensive care, while his wife and father battle over who will decide whether, or when to remove life support. Greed, insanity, guilt, and fear drive Alex into an ever deepening web of deceit.

Meanwhile, Alex starts to fall in love with a local pastor who shares her love of classical music. The romance is realistic, tentative, and satisfying. Whitlow manages to write the pastor character as a real human being instead of the typical caricature of a saint, a buffoon, or a hypocrite found in so many other stories.

While there are clear Christian themes throughout the novel, Whitlow succeeds in weaving the spiritual with the temporal in a way that feels as natural as breathing. What pleased me most was Whitlow’s comfort with moral ambiguity. This isn’t to say that there’s no sense of right and wrong. It’s just that, as in the real world, we sometimes have to make judgments between shades of gray. Because Alex is such a well-written and sympathetic character, you can’t help rooting for her even when she is (unknowingly) working on behalf of a client who is up to no good – even murder!

Go ahead! Take the plunge! Life Support is a satisfying journey that will leave you asking, “I wonder if that could happen to me?” Check it out yourself on Christianbook.com.

The publisher, Thomas Nelson, provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Multicultural

2011-07-17T16:18:00.000-07:00

For the next few weeks I'll be writing some thoughts about our church's vision statement in our Sunday bulletin. I'll also share them here!

A Few Words about our Vision Statement:

It is our vision to be “A multicultural family, growing in faith, connecting people with Christ.”

“Multicultural.” On the surface, you might think this is about the fact that our church worships in two languages, Spanish and English. But culture is about much more than language.

Among our English speaking members, some hail from England, Italy, the Caribbean, and countries around the world. Our Spanish speaking members come from Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and more, and these individual countries differ as much as the many countries of Europe. Not only that, we have cultural differences based on our age, race, economics, and upbringing. Each of us brings unique gifts (and challenges) to the body.

It’s significant that God waited until a day when people from all over the world, with a cornucopia of languages, were in Jerusalem before he gave birth to the church with the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:5-11).

Being intentionally multicultural requires much shared sacrifice. It would certainly be easier to be in a church where everyone is “like us.” But, in God’s opinion, it’s our differences, woven together into one tapestry, that make His church beautiful.

A Cure for What Ails You

2011-07-15T17:16:00.000-07:00

Book Recommendation: Enemies of the Heart.

Reading Enemies of the Heart: Breaking Free from the Four Emotions That Control You, by Andy Stanley, is like sitting down and having a candid conversation with a long-time friend who knows all your secrets and is willing to tell you the truth. His conversational, self-effacing style of writing breaks down your defenses, while his keen insight into human nature and deep knowledge of the Bible provide answers to most of your questions before you even ask them.

Stanley’s premise is that most of us spend too much time worrying about how to change our behavior, while investing too little effort into changing the source of that behavior – our heart. When we find ourselves saying or doing something contrary to our beliefs, we might ask “Where did that come from? That’s not like me.” The answer, Stanley says, is that it’s exactly like you – the you that you usually keep bottled up inside. It comes from your heart.

Four emotions form the “heart” of his diagnosis, and surprisingly, they are all about debt. Guilt is the heart crying out “I owe you.” Anger is the heart accusing “You owe me.” Greed, which is endemic in our Western culture, says pompously “I owe me.” And finally, jealousy shakes its fist at the heavens and says “God owes me.”

In our sex-soaked culture I expected lust to be among the four key emotions. Anticipating this, Stanley explains that lust, at least lust for someone other than our spouse, is actually a manifestation of one of the other four problems. “Simply put, guilt, anger, greed, and jealousy weaken our resolve against sexual temptation.”

Of course, diagnosis is only half of a cure. Stanley goes on to describe spiritual habits he calls “Habits of happiness,” that each of us can develop that serve to disarm the power and begin the life-long process of healing our wayward hearts.

Andy Stanley is fast becoming one of my favorite authors when it comes to practical, Christian living. This book is remarkably practical, and easily accessible, while being spot-on theologically. I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever wondered why they do the things they do – and how to break those habits that control us.

The publisher, Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group, provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. Learn more about the book at Christianbook.com by clicking HERE.

For Thine is the Kingdom...

2011-06-12T14:54:00.001-07:00

“For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever, Amen.”

If you grew up in the Roman Catholic Church, you were probably surprised the first time you heard this last part of The Lord’s Prayer. And rightly so, because these final words are not actually part of the prayer that Jesus taught the disciples. Instead, they are a “doxology” that was added to the end of the prayer very early in the history of the Christian church.

A “doxology” is a hymn that gives praise to God. The doxology that most people are familiar with is the one we sing right after the offering, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…” (More on that some other time!)

This doxology on the end of the Lord’s Prayer sums up our response to God in light of what we have prayed. We prayed for God’s kingdom to come – and we affirm that God is indeed King. We prayed for help and sustenance. We affirm that God has the power to meet our needs. We prayed for forgiveness, and the forgiveness of others. We affirm that it is God who is glorified when we live out God’s grace – not just today, or even tomorrow, but forever!

Lead us not into temptation

2011-06-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Does God actually lead anyone into temptation? Wouldn’t that be like a police office waving you to go through a red light, then giving you a ticket? The Bible says, When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone (James 1:13), so that can’t be what this means.

Looking more closely, you’ll discover that the second phrase, “Deliver us from evil,” gives meaning to the first, “Lead us not into temptation.” What we are praying is for God to protect us from situations that are so tempting to us that we will likely succumb and fall into sin. We’re saying “Keep me away from places where I’m going to be tempted beyond my strength, and keep away from me people and spiritual powers who are evil and are likely to draw me into sin.”

Of course, we need to cooperate with God in this. If you struggle with alcohol abuse, don’t go into bars. If you struggle with drugs, stay away from people who use them. If you’re tempted by pornography, get a filter and have someone else set the password! If you tend to overspend, freeze your credit card in a block of ice so you really can only use it in emergencies. And, when tempted, remember to pray before you act.

God will always provide a way out – if we’ll only take it!

An extraordinary calling for ordinary guys

2011-05-31T10:12:00.000-07:00

I’ve just finished reading Average Joe: God’s Extraordinary Calling to Ordinary Men, by Troy Meeder. If you’re a man trying to figure out how your average life can have meaning, and how to find fulfillment without becoming a spiritual (or corporate) superstar, this wonderful little book will show you just how important “average” is to God’s plan. Meeder, who left a promising career in Human Resources to become the full-time Youth Pastor at a dynamic church, found his dreams of grandeur dashed when he was fired, and forced to take on a job as a landscaper to pay his family’s bills. When he was almost killed in a hole filled with sewage, God touched his heart and helped him to realign his priorities and see that “average” people in “average” jobs can still play a significant role in the Kingdom of God.

Each chapter in the book tells the life-story of an average person whom God used in extraordinary ways, weaving their story with stories from the Bible. Long on story, and light on scripture, this book would be a great, non-threatening way to introduce a group of average men to the gospel. There is a study guide included that can be used by individuals or groups.

The stories are inspiring, and the only criticism I would make is that Meeder sometimes fails to make a strong enough connection between the true-life stories and application for the reader. For instance, at the end of a chapter about a gardener who became one of Meeder’s mentors, he says, “A man can search the world over and never once meet a person like Jim.” But then, on the same page he observes, “There are Jims all around us. They work in the shadows of our everyday lives. Find them.” I was left wondering how I should do that.

Still, overall I found the book inspiring and worthwhile, and I’ve gained a new appreciation of how the aspirations of the world – even the aspiration to spiritual greatness – are a poor substitute for embracing God’s calling wherever I am, and however God will use me.

The publisher, Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group, provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. See a preview of this book HERE.

Give us this day our daily bread...

2011-05-16T13:39:00.001-07:00

“Give us this day our daily bread…”

Jesus told a story about a farmer who had an amazing harvest. He filled his barns and still didn’t have room for all the grain. He decided to build bigger barns, store the excess, and have security for years to come. Of course, he died that night.

The story implies that his existing barns were quite big enough to meet his needs. But instead of using his wealth for God’s kingdom, he placed his confidence in “stuff.” Too bad he forgot that God was the one who gave him a harvest, his “daily bread,” in the first place.

There’s nothing wrong with planning for the future. But when we ask God to give us our “daily” bread, we’re affirming that it is God who supplies all of our needs, day by day. As we are thankful for what we have today, we can trust God for our tomorrow. And when we have extra – let’s trust God and use it for his kingdom.

The Skin Map, by Stephen Lawhead

2011-05-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

The Skin Map, by Stephen Lawhead, explores what happens when a young man, Kit, discovers that he has a special ability to travel through time. Kit is a young professional living in modern day London with a boring job, a boring girlfriend, and an altogether neat and tidy boring life. That is, until he unexpectedly meets his great-grandfather and is whisked into a series of adventures as they travel through time and space in pursuit of “The Skin Map,” an ancient document that just may unlock the secrets of the universe.

The Skin Map is a fun read, with several interesting sub plots as various characters try to adapt to life in places as far flung as ancient Egypt, and 16^th century Austria. All of this, of course, as they flee a villain named Burleigh who seems to have a knack for always showing up at the worst possible time.

Unfortunately, The Skin Map is ultimately unsatisfying. The battle scenes are well written, but unrealistic. For instance, there is one scene in which Kit and his companions, battling for their lives and armed with swords and a gun, only use these weapons as clubs.

But the most unsatisfactory part of this book was the ending. As I neared the end of the book I kept wondering how Lawhead would bring all of the plot lines together. He didn’t! It just ends, as though he ran out of pages. This is billed as the first book in a series, but it would be more accurate to bill it as the first volume in a book.

On the other hand, it’s refreshing to find a book where many of the key characters make decisions based on their Christian beliefs, without being preachy or artificial. It’s just part of who they are. I enjoyed reading The Skin Map enough that I’ll look forward to the next book. But I hope that it will have a more satisfying ending than this.

The publisher provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®. See a preview of this book HERE.

From time to time I'll be posting reviews of books I've been reading. Some, like this, will be just for fun! Others will focus on biblical teaching, church life, or modern living. I hope you'll enjoy!

Thy Kingdom Come...

2011-05-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven…”

Hebrew poetry is based on creative repetition, and that’s what we see here. To pray “Thy Kingdom come,” is what it means to pray “Thy will be done…”, with the emphasis on the word “Thy.”

So often people will brag that “I did it my way.” To accept God as our king is to commit to saying “I’ll do it Thy way!”

Imagine what a great day it will be when God’s reign is complete, and his will is done on Earth as it is in Heaven! We bring that one step closer to reality whenever we let God’s will rule our own lives and families.

On the Death of Osama Bin Laden

2011-05-02T06:58:00.000-07:00

Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him. Proverbs 24:17-18 (NIV)

I presided over two funeral services following the destruction of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001 – two Christian men, loving fathers, devoted husbands and members of First Presbyterian Church of Dunellen who died in the attack. By God’s grace, another member of our church escaped the buildings before they collapsed. The pain of that terrible day still resonates deep within my soul.

And yet, I find myself strangely torn since the President announced last night that Osama Bin Laden is dead. I'm cautioned by the Word of God which warns us not to gloat when an enemy falls - even an enemy as evil as Osama Bin Laden.

On the one hand, I feel great relief. Justice has been done. A man who committed terrible atrocities against my friends, my nation, and even against humanity, has finally met his end.

I feel gratitude to the soldiers who risked their own lives to carry track Bin Laden and bring him down. For them, this was undoubtedly the culmination of years of training and preparation, and I admire the dedication and skill of these heroes. And, I appreciate President Obama for his leadership in this quest, and his appropriately somber speech last night announcing the news.

Of course there is worry. Who knows what retaliation the supporters of Al Qaeda are planning against Americans? The war is not over, and our nation’s youth are still placing their lives on the line on battlefields around the world.

But most surprisingly, I find myself wrestling with a sense of grief. I was, frankly, offended by Geraldo Rivera’s fist pumping and whooping as he announced the news. I’m disturbed by images of people singing “Hey hey, goodbye” in the streets. I’m glad that Bin Laden is no longer a threat. I’m pleased that justice has been done. But... I can’t bring myself to rejoice at the violent end of any human life – not even Osama Bin Laden’s.

Every human being is created in the image of God, and in every one of us that image is warped. Still, the Bible tells us that “[God] does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT) So, while God himself may have been guiding and protecting the Navy Seals who went into Pakistan to eliminate Bin Laden last night, I also wonder if God was weeping as they pulled the trigger and launched the bullet that ended his life.

I hope that as time goes on we will feel pride, relief, even gratitude that Osama Bin Laden is dead. But rather than gloat, let’s share God’s grief and dedicate ourselves to overcoming evil by doing good. (Romans 12:21) Remember, "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

Our salvation does not come through bullets or bombs, but only through the grace of Jesus Christ, who gave his own life so that we might live. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, who defeated the power of death by rising from the grave. "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)

May the peace of God be with you.

May 2, 2011

Hallowed be Thy Name

2011-04-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

Hallowed be Thy name… The word “hallowed” means holy, set apart. While calling God “Father” emphasises his personal love and tenderness, we are also reminded that God is GOD! God is not a silly grandfather, but the holy Lord of the universe. God welcomes us as God’s children, but we should always remember that this is a privilege, not a right. It’s a gift of God’s love.

This is also a good reminder that we should treat God’s name with honor in all of our speech, not only in prayer. Does your life demonstrate that you’re a child of the holy God?

Our Father...

2011-04-14T11:45:00.000-07:00

Our Father, which art in Heaven…

One of the most powerful images of God in the Bible is God the Father. The problem is that the word father has very different connotations for different people. For some, father brings to mind the smell of after-shave, or scratchy whiskers when being kissed goodnight; of being pushed on swings, having heart-to-heart talks, and knowing there was always someone strong who would be there if you got in trouble. For others, father is a distant figure, unapproachable, unpredictable, even frightening – “Just wait until your father gets home!” And if that’s what father means to you, trusting Father God may be a real challenge.

When praying the Lord’s Prayer, remember that we are not intended to judge God by the sins of our fathers. Rather, we learn what fatherhood is meant to be by looking at God! If you’re a dad, understand that the measure of your manhood is the degree to which you embody God’s character in your family. And, if you’re feeling lost and alone, remember that you have a father in Heaven who loves you.

The Lord's Prayer - Part 1

2011-04-11T17:31:00.000-07:00

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be writing some thoughts on the Lord's Prayer. Your feedback will be appreciated!

Almost every Sunday, as part of the Prayers of the People, we pray what has come to be known as “The Lord’s Prayer.” This is the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples when they came to him and requested, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). It is also found in Matthew 6. This prayer, directly from the mouth of Jesus, reminds us of several important truths about our relationship with God.

“Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name…”

The first thing you notice might be that most Christians pray this prayer in “old English” using “Thy” and “Thine.” This isn’t because we’re supposed to use fancy language when addressing God. Actually, it’s a reflection of the fact that many of us learned the Lord’s Prayer from the King James translation of the Bible (Now celebrating it’s 400th birthday). That’s the way that educated people talked back then! Thy, thou, and thine were used to address any person at the time – not just God.

A more modern translation of Jesus’ words puts it this way:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. Mat. 6:9 (NLT)

Which is exactly what it means!
Next – Our Father...

Crying babies

2011-04-07T14:17:00.000-07:00

When your baby is crying, should you pick her up, or let her cry herself to sleep?

You've been told that picking up the baby will spoil him, or teach him to manipulate you.

Let's see what Mr T has to say about it! (Seriously, this is my good friend Bryan Post, who is a great therapist who works with traumatized kids and their families. A funny video, with a valid teaching.)

Fasting Challenge

2011-03-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

For most of my life, I regarded fasting (Abstaining from something, usually food, for a certain period of time, for spiritual purposes) as something that only super-religious people did. For the rest of us, it was optional.

(Yes, that's right. Even though I'm a pastor, I've never actually considered myself among the "super religious.)

It's only recently that I've discovered that Jesus placed fasting on the same level as financial stewardship and prayer.

What would happen in our church if we cut out financial stewardship? Prayer? So why do we so seldom practice fasting, thus robbing ourselves of God’s blessings?

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18

This year, I'm inviting - even challenging - our church to join me in a four-week season of fasting as we prepare for Easter.

The good news is that fasting doesn't have to be "all or nothing." You can choose to fast for a day, for one meal a day, or just to fast from one particular kind of food for the next four weeks. It's really between you and God!

But I'm convinced of this: If you'll join me in this season of fasting, God will bless you, and our church, in ways we can only imagine.

Click HERE to download "A Guide to Fasting" I wrote to help you get started.

By the way, I'm fasting from sugar and caffeine throughout Lent, as well as some other partial fasts along the way. Please let me know if you're joining me, and how you're doing.

The "F Word"

2011-03-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

I really thought I was beyond being shocked by pop culture, but this week it happened again. I learned that two of the top 10 songs on the Billboard Pop Music chart have "the F word" in their title.

Now, I knew that this word has been used in lots of pop music for quite a while. My first memory of it was on the Woodstock album, with Country Joe and the Fish. But the "fish" cheer was, at the time, so unusual, so daring, so risqué that everyone who knew about it was talking about it. (If you don't know what I mean, I'll just say that the entire crowd at Woodstock, led by the band, was chanting a word, and the word wasn't "fish.") I'll confess now that my friends and I would play that cut of the Woodstock album over and over while wearing headphones in the library during study hall. Teenage rebellion!

Today, it wouldn't get a moment's notice.

My eyes began to be opened this summer when a song called "I Wan't to be a Billionaire" by Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars was at the top of the pop charts. It's a happy sounding ditty in which the artist daydreams about how great it would be to be a billionaire on the cover of Forbes magazine, singing "I want to be a billionaire, so freakin' bad..." Since I've got teenagers, I must have heard this song a hundred times on the radio, and although I don't agree with the idea that money will make you happy, I really like the music and would find myself singing along. That is, until I saw the video which hadn't been edited for broadcast. That's right - in the video the artist sings in a light, lilting voice, "I want to be a billionaire, so F*&%-ing bad..." I admit it. I was floored. More than that, I was deeply offended.

Why was I offended?

I felt I'd been deceived. A beautiful song on the radio led me to believe that it was ok for my kids to be listening to the same song on YouTube. Beware! Even if you're listening to what your kids are listening to on the radio, you may not be hearing what they're hearing with the same music on YouTube.
The song was ruined for me. Now, whenever I hear it, even the broadcast version, in my head I hear the vulgarity.
The word itself is offensive.

Which really brings me to my point. Why is "the F word" offensive? It's because "the F word" vulgarizes something that God made sacred.

It takes the act of love-making, a magnificent gift given by God to express love between a husband and wife, and turns it into a curse.
It reduces sexual love to something base, ordinary, and purely physical.
It takes the act that God uses to create new life, to create human beings in his own image, and makes drags it into the gutter.

When people use "the F word," it's almost always used as verbal violence. "F you!" Or, it takes something sacred and uses it for emphasis "No F-ing way!" It takes something beautiful and makes it a description of something ugly "He's so F-ed up." And, of course, even when it's used to describe actual sexual intercourse, it's almost never used to describe the loving, covenental relationship between a husband and wife.

While I don't like it, I kind of understand when people use "the excrement word" to express exasperation, anger, and emotions that are simply hard to express with polite language. What's distressing is that this and other "curse words" have become so prevalent in music, movies, and even daily life.

But "the F word" shows more than any other how far our society has moved away from God, and a God-centered view of the world, life, and human sexuality.

God's Word teaches us "You must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Colossians 3:8 (NIV)

Yes, it really matters.

CPR

2011-03-09T08:11:00.000-08:00

Today is Ash Wednesday, and throughout the world, Christians of many branches of Christ's church are observing this unique day in the Christian calendar. It is a day of penitence, and fasting. It is, quite frankly, a

rather gloomy day. In fact, all of Lent seems to be somehow depressing. Like most Christians, I prefer the celebratory times like Christmas and Easter.

So why do we have Lent? Why all of this emphasis on Sin, sacrifice, and suffering?

Because, every once in a while, all of us need some CPR to keep us from dying. But not the kind of CPR you may have learned from the Red Cross.

C = Confession. During these 40 days leading up to Easter, it's helpful to take some time to take an honest look at our lives. If you're like me (and you know you are), you'll find that you've made some serious mistakes over the past year. You've messed up. You've let people down. You've let God down.

Confession is simply the act of coming clean with God. "God, here are the things I did that I know were wrong. Here are the good things I didn't do, and I know I should."

P = Pardon. This is the best part! God promises that if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins. Actually, there is a bit of "Red Cross" here. It's the cross of Jesus Christ, stained red by his blood. Jesus paid the price for our sin when he died on the cross. So, if the act of confession made you feel like there was a terrible load on your shoulder, the fact of pardon should make you feel light as air!

It's like pulling up to a toll booth. You owe five dollars to go across a bridge. Problem is, you don't have five dollars, so you're stuck. But, when you get to the booth the toll collector says, "Go on through. The guy ahead of you paid your toll." Since someone else paid it, you don't have to. Jesus paid for our sins against God. How cool is that!

R = Re-creation. Not only does God forgive our past when we confess our sins, he also starts a life-long process of re-creating us - of helping us to become the person we were always meant to be.

When King David, in the Bible, confessed his sins of adultery and murder (pretty rough stuff, right?), he prayed, ""Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

A few years ago I was at a craft show and watched a potter, working at her wheel. I stood there for almost an hour, watching her work raw lumps of clay into beautiful pots. I was somewhat cruelly pleased at one point when a pot that she had about half finished collapsed into itself on the wheel, becoming once again an ugly lump of earth. Now, here's the point. What did she do with that faulty pot? Did she throw it away? No. She carefully pushed it all together, and began to refashion the clay. Same clay, new pot, re-formed, re-created to do her will.

How wonderful it is when we do allow the Lord to shape our lives. For as we confess, and are pardoned, and are re-shaped, we move from being tough, squat, ugly pots, full of lumps and impurities; to being pots of beauty and grace, which God is proud to use in places of highest honor in the heavenly kingdom.

Today, we have an opportunity to come clean before our Lord. Let's be honest in confession, rejoice in God's pardon, and open ourselves to re-creation, into new life with our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Power of Forgiveness

2011-03-06T09:44:00.000-08:00

If you live near Dunellen, you've probably heard about the knife fight last Sunday that involved youth from our town and Bound Brook. I wish every one of the kids could hear this man's story...

FORGIVEN

A Football Game Gives Hope

2011-03-02T16:59:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday my sermon was on "Loving Like Jesus Loves Me." This video shows an incredible true story in which the football team from a Christian high school does that. I was in tears. Thanks to the several members of First Presbyterian who sent me this link after hearing Sunday's message.

The story is below, but for the full impact, you've gotta watch the video.

Inmate Football

There was an unusual high school football game played in Grapevine, Texas. The game was between Grapevine Faith Academy and the Gainesville State School . Faith is a Christian school and Gainesville State School is located within a maximum security correction facility.

Gainesville State School has 14 players. They play every game on the road.. Their record was 0-8. They've only scored twice. Their 14 players are teenagers who have been convicted of crimes ranging from drugs to assault to robbery. Most had families who had disowned them. They wore outdated, used shoulder pads and helmets. Faith Academy was 7-2. They had 70 players, 11 coaches, and the latest equipment.

Chris Hogan, the head coach at Faith Academy , knew the Gainesville team would have no fans and it would be no contest, so he thought, "What if half of our fans and half of our cheerleaders, for one night only, cheered for the other team?" He sent out an email to the faithful asking them to do just that. "Here's the message I want you to send," Hogan wrote. "You're just as valuable as any other person on the planet."

Some folks were confused and thought he was nuts. One player said, "Coach, why are we doing this?" Hogan said, "Imagine you don't have a home life, no one to love you, no one pulling for you. Imagine that everyone pretty much had given up on you. Now, imagine what it would feel like and mean to you for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you."

The idea took root. On the night of the game, imagine the surprise of those 14 players when they took the field and there was a banner the cheerleaders had made for them to crash through. The visitors' stands were full. The cheerleaders were leading cheers for them. The fans were calling them by their names. Isaiah, the quarterback-middle linebacker said, "I never in my life thought I would hear parents cheering to tackle and hit their kid. Most of the time, when we come out, people are afraid of us. You can see it in their eyes, but these people are yelling for us. They knew our names."

Faith won the game, and after the game the teams gathered at the 50-yard line to pray. That's when Isaiah, the teenage convict-quarterback surprised everybody and asked if he could pray. he prayed, "Lord, I don't know what just happened so I don't know how or who to say thank you to, but I never knew there were so many people in the world who cared about us." On the way back to the bus, under guard, each one of the players was handed a burger, fries, a coke, candy, a Bible , and an encouraging letter from the players from Faith Academy .

What an incredible act of Christian witness and kindness and goodness that was. Proverbs 11:17 says, "Your own soul is nourished when you are kind." Proverbs 3:27 says, "Do not withhold good when it is in your power to act."

Be kind to someone this week. Be kind to every person you meet. You might be amazed at what God will do with asimple act of kindness.

Seasons of Doubt

2011-02-23T06:43:00.000-08:00

“God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." – Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

When you are in a season of doubt, you may feel very alone. You may feel as though God is far away, as if He can’t hear you, as if He has left you to your own devices, left you to find your own way out of a spiritual maze. Nothing could be further from the truth. God is always with you, always present, always working in your life. Keep seeking, keep knocking, keep asking, and you will find Him. When you do, you will realize that He was there all the time.

Now on Twitter

2011-02-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

I've finally bitten the bullet and started to "micro-blog" on Twitter. Actually, it's kind of fun. I'm trying to be sure that my Tweets are a mix of encouraging words, thought-provoking ideas, and updates about church and life. Please follow me @JeffWildrick, and Respond and Re-Tweet often!

Making Connections

2011-02-10T17:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, in Newark Airport, I was the only person in line at the food court and was enjoying joking around with the workers behind the counter at the Mexican restaurant. "You're very cheerful," one lady said. "Where are you going today that makes you so happy?" I told her that I was going to a pastor's meeting in Florida, whereupon she shared that her mother is a pastor and asked where my church is. When I said "Dunellen," she laughed and told me she lives in Plainfield. I asked if she goes to church and she said "No, I just moved here from California." I joked some more about how nice it was to find a friendly person working at the airport, and went to eat my lunch.

After finishing my Taco Salad, I realized that I'd left one thing undone, so I headed back to the counter with one of our "Relationship Principles" invitations and said "If you're free some Sunday, I'd sure love to have you come and be our guest." She was all smiles, and as I walked away I saw her showing the card to all of the other workers at her counter - reading it together.

Do you have your invite card with you today? How about slipping one or two in your pocket or purse. You never know what opportunity God will provide.

In the meantime, please pray for those who are seeing our invitation to church on Facebook. So far 168 people have "clicked through" from the ad to our special "Relationship Principles" page on the church website. http://dunellenpres.org/#/welcome/relationship-principles

Please pray that God will work to bring some of those folks to worship on Sunday, and that while they are with us they will begin or deepen a relationship with Jesus - the most important relationship of all.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T17:46:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas, and a happy and blessed new year!

Conviction in an Age of Compromise

2010-12-20T05:17:00.000-08:00

In January I'm going to be preaching a series of messages called "Conviction in an Age of Compromise: How to Live with Integrity when the Heat is On."

Today I read an interview with a Christian who went to war as a way of living out his faith. What he found there changed him, and led him to a life-changing decision. His story may change your life as well.

You may agree or disagree with the choices Josh made, but I hope you will be as moved as I was by a young man who had to decide what it means to be a disciple of the "Prince of Peace" when the cost is higher than most of us can imagine.

The Story of Josh Stieber

If you come across other stories of Christians who have had to put their faith on the line - or if you have one of your own - please pass them along.

Feliz Navidad,
Jeff

The True Christmas Spirit

2010-12-16T09:42:00.000-08:00

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when God’s people live together in harmony! Psalm 133:1 (TNIV)

We are entering a time of year that I think of as “family time.” In a few weeks Christmas will be upon us. With Christmas come Norman Rockwell images of a family around the tree, a proud mother smiling at her gathered children, Dad wearing a silly Santa hat, trees dragged through the snow, cookies on the table, and visions of sugar-plums dancing in heads.

The truth is that for most people the reality is somewhat different from the dream. In some families such gatherings never take place, and in some they are a time of stress, not joy. Christmas becomes a shop-fest with ever increasing pressure to “get done” before we crash and burn.

So where does this image come from?

Somewhere, deep in our souls, we know “how wonderful it is, how pleasant, when God’s people [including families] live together in harmony!” We may not know how to reach it, but oh, how we long for it! But this precious, fragrant anointing isn’t found around an overstuffed Christmas stocking.

You see, the problem with families is that we’re all made up of broken people. We’re full of hopes, but we’re full of hurts. Some of those hurts are even caused by the people we love.

It’s true of church families, too.

Broken people can’t be healed with Christmas carols or fancy new clothes. Broken people can be healed only by grace—the grace of God poured out in Jesus Christ. Grace allows us to forgive and to be forgiven. Forgiveness allows us to build intimate relationships that go beyond seasonal trimmings—within our families, within our churches, and with our neighbors.

God is calling us to be a grace-filled church. This year, during the “family season,” I’d like to encourage you to focus less on the symbolism of the season and more on the substance of God’s grace. Ask the Lord how you can be a vessel of grace in your family. Ask God how you can give and experience grace in your church.

May the grace of God fill our hearts and lives throughout this season, as we learn to live together in harmony.

Evangelicals and Gay Marriage

2010-12-16T09:41:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I've written here, and now I post an article written by someone else? Well, if I can't say it better myself, then let it be said by the one who says it best.

Below is a link to an article by our friend Ron Sider, president of Evangelicals for Social Action, as he considers the subject of "Gay Marriage." It is long - but well worth reading every word. Whatever you're thoughts until now, it's likely to challenge your thinking.

http://www.firstthings.com/article/2010/11/bearing-better-witness

Congratulations!

2010-11-24T19:04:00.000-08:00

Congratulations, Dunellen Destroyers Football Team.
Winners of the 2010 Blue Division Crown of the GMC!

Great going!

Talk Like a Pirate Day

2010-09-20T04:56:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, yesterday was “National Talk Like a Pirate Day.” It really was. And somewhere in the nation there were scores of people running around growling “Arrrrrrr, ye land lubber, Shiver me timbers,” and “Avast me hearties!”

Don’t believe me? Check out www.talklikeapirate.com!

I even did a little pirate talk in my home (much to my children’s embarrassment), but chose to refrain during Sunday worship.

I’m not sure that pirates even talked like pirates. Truth be told, they were rather ruthless and cruel human beings, despite their cult status in popular culture.

And I got to thinking…

Seems to me that we should have a national “Talk Like Jesus Day.” That doesn’t mean using a lot of “thee’s” and “thou’s” or using lots of God-talk such as “Praise the Lord,” “Glory to God,” and “Thank you, Jesus.” If you listen carefully, Jesus himself didn’t pepper all of his speech with religious language.

(And have you ever wondered why in the movies, Jesus always seems to speak with a British accent?)

Rather, on “Talk Like Jesus Day,” “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Eph 4:29

Come to think of it, sounds like a good plan for every day!

I’m in. How about you?

Florida Fires

2010-09-08T11:50:00.001-07:00

Everywhere I turn I’ve been encountering stories about the pastor in Florida who plans to burn a bunch of Korans on 9/11. A few thoughts come to mind:

1) As so many other Christian leaders have said, this is a decidedly un-Christlike act. Even if we accept the premise that Muslims are our enemies, we should follow the words of Jesus when he said, “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies^[9] and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Matt 5:43-45 (NIV). This teaching is reinforced by the Apostle Paul when he instructs believers to “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Romans 12:14 (NIV)

My belief is that Muslims are NOT our enemies. Some radical Islamists are, but most Muslims I’ve met are no more or less our enemies than the followers of any other religion. What most Muslims ARE is people who have been created by God, are loved by God, and who following a religious system that will ultimately lead them to a godless eternity. They are in desperate need of the grace of God, purchased through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and offered freely to all who will receive him as their savior and Lord.

So tell me, how many of these lost and hungry people will be attracted to the love and grace of Jesus by this angry and disrespectful act?

2) When anyone who is publically identified as a Christian does something cruel, hateful, evil, intolerant, or just plain wacky, the world will jump all over it. Seriously, how hard is it to get the press to cover all of the good, kind, compassionate, sacrificial, and loving ministries that are being carried out by Christians all over the globe? But let one misguided pastor send out a press release that he’s going to burn a bunch of Korans, and the news travels the globe in a heartbeat.

Pastor Jones may have ignited this controversy with his intent to burn the Korans, but the press could have simply ignored him. If they’d done so, American troops wouldn’t be facing increased danger, Christians around the world wouldn’t be fearful of violent repercussions, and this whole firestorm would have burned out in days. Instead, the press have acted as coconspirators, doing everything in their power to inflame the masses.

(Come on. If he’d threatened to burn a pile of flags, wouldn’t the people who are screaming in anger from the top of the mountaintops have been defending his rights of free speech? He’s wrong – dead wrong. But the crisis is only partly of his own making.)

Friends, we must never forget that the eyes of the world are upon us. Therefore, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Gal 6:9-10 (NIV)

3) As we approach the ninth anniversary of 9/11, let’s take a moment to honor the memory of our two church members who lost their lives in the twin towers – Kermit Anderson, and Al Kapplemann, and uphold their loved ones in our prayers.

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. Matt 5:9 (NLT)

Ask a different question

2010-08-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

Most people ask the question, "What do we have to do to make our church grow?" The answer most of us expect is to add something - more prayer, a better Sunday School, increased advertising, more small groups.

A better question is, "What's keeping our church from growing?"

Growth is the natural process of living things, and growth is God's will for his church. God doesn't desire that anyone should perish because they don't know Jesus Christ as their savior. So, if we're not growing, we need to ask, "what's blocking us?" Is it our attitude toward guests? Is it an inward focus? Is it that we're focusing so much on doing lots of good things that we're not really doing the best thing?

The answer may be that we need to stop adding, and start taking away some good things that are keeping us from doing the most important thing well.

I'd be interested in your answers to the question. Care to chime in?

General Assembly

2010-07-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

Presbyterians for Renewal has provided a pastoral letter regarding this week's General Assembly. I don't think I can say it better, so I'm copying it here.

Grace and Peace,
Jeff

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace from God our Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The 219th General Assembly is now adjourned. This Assembly faced an overwhelming amount of business. Like their predecessors throughout our history, commissioners responded faithfully and well in several decisions and faltered in others.

Throughout these ten days there has been much evidence of God's continuing grace and power. Now it is our turn, as Jesus' followers within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), to understand and respond appropriately to the Assembly actions that most directly impact our ministry and our witness, and to honor and serve Jesus Christ both in our congregations and in our communities.

If you were looking to this Assembly for a "win" you will be disappointed by some actions and elated by others.

This Assembly voted to change the wording of G-6.106b and, in so doing, change our ordination standards. This action gives us the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman and chastity in singleness as a standard of behavior for Deacons, Elders, and Ministers of the Word and Sacrament. While it is unfortunate that we must face this challenge again, face it we will in joyful obedience. When Assembly actions come before your presbytery, we urge you in the strongest possible terms to see to it your congregation is fully represented and your voice is clearly heard.

Proposals for non-geographic synod or presbytery structures that would allow congregations to maintain more rigorous standards for membership and leadership while remaining united in ministry within the PC(USA) failed, along with the request to form an additional non-geographic Korean presbytery. Clearly there is continuing misunderstanding of the term "inclusive" among Presbyterians. These conversations are far from over, however, and we are already initiating next steps.

The Assembly did not approve a potentially catastrophic action that would have granted local option for the solemnization of same-gender marriages to pastors and sessions in states where this is now legal. This action came to the Assembly as a request for Authoritative Interpretation. Had it passed, the decision by the Assembly would have taken effect immediately without the possibility of consideration in the presbyteries. We commend the Assembly for their action not only in defeating this attempt to circumvent the essential deliberative nature of our polity, but by reaffirming their convictions by an even stronger margin when a call was made to reconsider the initial vote.

Perhaps the most alarming action the Assembly took was to urge the Board of Pensions to extend benefits to the same-gender spouses and domestic partners of non-ordained church employees. If this request is implemented by the Board of Pensions, it will result in a projected 1% increase in pension and medical payments across the board. Please remember that the Assembly can only make this a request to the Board of Pensions. A request has also been made to the BOP for some form of relief of conscience.

No matter the outcome on any single vote, we who follow Jesus must remember that "wining" and "losing" are matters of the body politic, not the Body of Christ. For every "win" in a divided body, there are brothers and sisters who suffer loss, and the Scripture we love and affirm reminds us that, when one part of the body suffers, we all suffer. Jesus Christ has already attained the final "win." Conveying that truth in biblical faithfulness and missional justice is our central calling.

If you are looking for signs of hope and progress, you can find them. The Assembly:

corrected misguided language in the statement of the 218th General Assembly (2008) on the relationship between Christians and Muslims,

affirmed the continuing project to re-translate the Heidelberg Catechism in a healthy and exciting partnership with the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America,

improved 27 key sections of the proposed new Form of Government which will now be considered by the presbyteries,

took a reasoned stand in speaking to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, and

sent the full witness (majority and minority reports) of the Special Committee on Civil Unions and Christian Marriage to congregations and presbyteries for study.

If you are looking for an opportunity to be a clear and faithful witness for Jesus Christ, we have it!

Efforts to uphold biblical standards were once again defeated in part by the assertion that unity and health in the denomination will be achieved the moment we get past our current debates. To suggest that condoning gay sex among members and ordained leaders will bring unity and peace to the Body of Christ is like saying pre-marital sex will stabilize adolescent dating relationships or an extra-marital affair will help heal a broken marriage. It is a lie, and people on all sides of the issue know it. We are called to be witnesses to the transforming truth of Jesus Christ. Will we rise to the challenge with gentleness, determination, compassion, conviction, and abundant grace?

Voices that speak with authority including, but not limited to, advisory and advocacy groups, are not met with a substantive challenge when they mislead or misguide the thoughts and actions of commissioners. This happens at every level in our denomination, largely because many of us have opted to disengage from conversation and debate. We who are attempting to speak with the orthodox Church throughout history and the majority Church today are being perceived by some as a dwindling minority in the PC(USA) because we are staying away or staying silent when we have the God-given opportunity, the Christ-given commission, and the Spirit-given power to speak. Will we take these opportunities and be silent no more?

Now is not the time to lay low or even to consider leaving the PC(USA). This Assembly has forestalled many overtures and committee revisions that could have had devastating consequences in many of our congregations. Now is the time for truly evangelical voices to speak and lead us toward revival in the name and in the spirit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Oswald Chambers once wrote,

Thank God that he does give us difficult things to do. His salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires bravery, courage and holiness. It tests us for all we are worth... God's grace produces men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled, weaklings. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the worthy and excellent life of a disciple of Jesus Christ in the realities of life (and we add, of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)). And it is always necessary for us to make an effort to live a life of worth and excellence.

My Utmost for His Highest
devotional reading for July 7th

When the PFR General Assembly Team convened on July 1st, it was with these familiar words. As we close this letter, we commend them now to you:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

Presbyterians for Renewal is committed to helping you continue in biblically faithful, missionally minded leadership within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Look to us for continuing resources to understand, interpret, and navigate the opportunities we have before us, and to help build networks of faithful witness across the denomination in the strength and love of our Savior Jesus Christ.

presbyterians for renewal

Mobilizing leaders of congregations within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

to be biblically faithful and missionally minded

in their service to Jesus Christ

For information on the ministry that is PFR visit www.pfrenewal.org

Memorial Day

2010-05-30T04:30:00.000-07:00

This blog is actually written by my good friend, retired military chaplain John Groth. For the last several years of his military service he was stationed at Dover Air Force Base, which is where the remains of all soldiers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan are flown into the United States to be returned to their families. John's ministry was to care for those who cared for those remains.

Memorial Day - We'll talk about those who paid the last full measure and who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. As a chaplain who served in Dover's mortuary through eight years, I can see how it's tempting to describe our fallen heroes that way. Some would come to Dover without a visible mark on them, others would come back unrecognizable, but they all came having given their lives. They had paid it all and had no sacrifice left to make.

But . . . . . I think about the young Marine's wife struggling to raise a child now, the parents who grieve deeply having lost the race to the grave to their Army Specialist daughter, the ball turret gunner's son whose own son never got to crawl up into the lap of his grandfather, the daughter whose uncle must walk her down the aisle because her Air Force dad never did come home, the friend who longs for the Navy friend she lost in a terrorist attack on his ship. I remember Laura, an 84-year-old woman in the last church I served who had never been married. She said to me, "the only man I ever loved died when the prisoner-of-war ship he was on went down in the Pacific in '45." I think of the lifetimes of sacrifices and full measures people like this are making.

In Church on Sunday, I will not ask the Veterans to stand to be honored for their service. They surely deserve it, but this is not their holiday. Instead, I will ask to stand those whose have loved ones whose names are forever linked with places like Bataan, Normandy, Chosin, Cam My, Beirut, Fallujah, Baghdad, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Years ago, I watched a young woman reach out and touch the name of her father etched into a war memorial. I watched her crumple to the ground sobbing. This day is just as much for her and all like her who carried and will continue to carry the sacrifice through the years. This day is for those who, like her, continue to pay into the last full measure.

Last, and least of all, this day is for those of us who didn't lose a loved one, who don't have the memories, who are not feeling the sacrifice or paying the price - it is ours to honor those who have. Go online and look at rows of gravesites, go to a town square and find a war memorial, walk into a place of worship and find a framed list of names and note the ones with stars alongside, google "gold star mothers" and read the stories, watch a you-tube clip of a solemn twenty-one gun salute at a lonely gravesite, then find one who is still paying the price and feeling the sacrifice and tenderly, sacredly, thank them and honor their full measure!

Ch Lt Col (Retired) John W. Groth, USAF

Three cheers for Phil!

2010-04-12T09:34:00.001-07:00

Three cheers for Phil!

If you are a golf fan, you were probably riveted to the TV yesterday as Phil Mickelson strode up the hill to his third victory at “The Masters” golf tournament.

If you’re not a golf fan, you were probably still aware of the event because of the return of Tiger Woods. After a self-imposed exile from golf following the revelation of his numerous episodes of adultery, Tiger returned to the course determined to reestablish his reputation as the world’s greatest golfer.

Tiger did ok as far as his golfing, coming in a respectable fourth-place. But, to tell you the truth, he didn’t look happy. Apparently nothing short of victory on the golf course could satisfy. Maybe not even that.

On the other hand, Phil won the day – not only as a golfer, but as a husband and father.

You see, about a year ago, Phil’s wife, Amy, was diagnosed with breast cancer. His mother has been fighting the same disease as well. As a result, Phil Mickelson, arguably the world’s second-greatest golfer, also took a hiatus from the game. He stepped away from golf to care for his wife and children while she was undergoing chemotherapy. This weekend was his big return too.

Even on Saturday night, as he prepared for the final round of this major golf tournament, Phil placed fatherhood above golf. He was up until 1:00 in the morning in the emergency room with is daughter, who had fractured her wrist falling off a skateboard.

I found myself choking back tears yesterday afternoon. I’ve long been a fan of Phil, but when he won the tournament and ran to the sidelines to hug his wife – and held her and held her and held her, tears running down his cheeks and hers – I went from being a fan to being a raving fan.

God’s Word says “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.” Eph 5:25 (GW) I’m grateful that for a moment, at least, the cameras were turned on a champion who is doing just that, and pray that I may do the same.

Crucify

2010-03-25T12:13:00.000-07:00

I recently read about an experiment conducted on French TV. The subjects, believing they were contestants on a reality TV show, were instructed to administer shocks to a man seated in an electric chair, whenever the man in the chair made a mistake. Although there was no real electricity, the man in the chair (an actor) would shake, and writhe, and cry out in pain whenever a “shock” was given. The audience, also actors, would laugh and cheer. Remember, the subjects of the experiment had no idea that this was fake. They really believed they were giving electric shocks to another human being. (For details, see below.)

The object was to see how far the subjects would go. Would they really torture another human being? Would they take it even to the point of apparently causing that person’s death?

Eighty percent of the subjects administered the shocks, despite their victim’s screaming, some to the point that they believed they had caused the victim’s death.

Unbelievable?

The amazing thing about life on planet earth is not that people do cruel things to one another. As this experiment and many others like it prove, the savagery of human nature lies close beneath the surface. Just ask six-million Jews who suffered the Holocaust. Just ask millions of Iraqis who lived under Saddam. Just ask Jesus.

It took so little for the cries of the crowd to change from “Hosanna,” which means “save us,” to “Crucify him.” Jesus wasn’t surprised. He knew before he was even born. That’s why he came. To save us from our own sinful nature. To save us from ourselves.

I know that it’s fashionable to believe that people are basically good, but that our environment and upbringing draws us into sin. Rubbish! Since when has anyone had to teach a child to be selfish, defiant, or cruel? The truth is that we’re all born with a propensity to do evil. It’s only God’s grace that restrains us and the world from living it out. Those terrible moments of cruelty in human history (and there are so many) are glimpses of what life would be for all of us if God stepped back, turned away, and left us to our own devices.

But God didn’t do that. Jesus came to give us a better chance, to give us hope of a new life, and the promise of redemption for all eternity.

All of this reminds me that it’s not just other people who need Jesus. I need him too. “Lord, thank you for giving me hope of being a better man than I can possibly be on my own. Forgive me when my sinful nature breaks through into my thoughts and actions. Help me, every day, to become more and more like Jesus. Amen.”

NPR Story - Fake TV Show Tortures Man

Thought for Today

2010-01-25T07:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Vicky Patsourakis for this great quote:

“Vision is not enough; it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps; we must step up the stairs.”

-Václev Havel, first president of the Czech Republic.

Creating Raving Fans

2010-01-23T05:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I was shopping at Costco. Usually I try to go late in the afternoon - after all of the moms have left to pick up their kids from school. But yesterday our schedule just wouldn't cooperate (that will be another blog), and we ended up there about 1:30 in the afternoon.

Purchases in hand, I headed to the front of the store, where I encountered the longest lines I've ever seen in the store. Every register was open. Shoppers were backed up into the aisles of the store, baskets overflowing. My heart sank. I just hate waiting in line. Don't you?

And here's where something extraordinary happened. Out of the snack stand came a "Costco Lady," hair still in her sanitary net, carrying a tray. It was filled with tasty snacks, which she started handing out free to everyone in line.

She didn't say anything, but this is the message I received: "We're sorry that you're having to wait in line. We know it's an inconvenience to you, and we really value you as a shopper. We doing all we can to speed up the process, but in the meantime, we hope this little gift will make the wait more pleasant."

That's what I call extraordinary customer service! For the cost of $10 in snacks, they bought pounds of good will.

That's the same attitude that we need to bring to people in the church - especially our guests. "Thank you for being here. We know you could have made lots of other choices on how to spend your Sunday morning. We appreciate you, and we're going to do everything we can to make sure that you're greeted lovingly, treated with respect and care, seated in the best seats. God loves you, and so do we. Let us show you what that means."

How can we show the love of God to our guests (and our community) in practical ways?

Grace and Peace,
Jeff

Is "Slate" part of the Advent Conspiriacy?

2009-12-09T04:51:00.000-08:00

Our church has been taking part in a movement called "The Advent Conspiracy." It an attempt to recapture God's purpose for Christmas, and centers around four key concepts:

1) Worship Fully
2) Spend Less
3) Give More
4) Love All

Check out the details at www.adventconspiracy.org.

Meanwhile, I found this article on "Slate" that shares some of the same ideas from a secular perspective.
http://www.slate.com/id/2236567/pagenum/all/#p2

Yes - you can have a better Christmas this year!

A Little Shot of Christianity

2009-12-03T17:25:00.001-08:00

Despite loud protests from the kids, we’ve all received our flu vaccinations. Both kinds – H1N1 and seasonal flu. Fortunately, the kids got their H1N1 vaccinations nasally. Unfortunately, we got ours with the biggest doggone needle I’ve ever seen my doctor stick into a vial!

Isn’t it amazing how vaccinations work? They give you just a tiny bit of something bad, your body recognizes it as bad, and develops an immunity to the infection from that point forward. Pretty cool the way God made us.

On the other hand, I sometimes worry that well-meaning Christians do a similar job of inoculating unbelievers against the gospel of Jesus Christ.

All too often I’ve heard people sharing just the bad side of the gospel. “You’re a sinner. If you don’t surrender your life to Jesus, you’re going to Hell.” There’s some truth here, of course. All of us have sinned, and our sinful nature creates a barrier between us and God that we simply cannot penetrate on our own. Unfortunately, the unbeliever feels under assault, convinced that the heart of Christianity is guilt and shame. She feels belittled and manipulated. He leaves knowing that if that’s what Christianity is all about, he’d rather hang around with his pagan friends. They’re more fun, and they welcome him just the way he is. They’re inoculated against the gospel.

On the other hand, the opposite approach can be just as destructive. “Jesus loves you, and if you’ll just love him your life will go swell, you’ll be healthy, wealthy, and wise. It’s so easy, all you have to do is pray this little prayer, and you’re set for eternity!” Please. Jesus said that if we were not willing to give up everything we have to follow him, we can’t really be his disciples. So the unbeliever may pray a prayer, or may just think that Christians are a little bit too “other worldly” to be any worldly good. Inoculated, once again.

The truth of the gospel is tough love. Our sins are extreme. God’s love is infinite. Following Jesus doesn’t promise an easy life, but walking with Jesus makes even tough times worthwhile. He doesn’t promise a happy life, but he does promise abundant life. The way of discipleship is fraught with peril, but has eternal rewards.

Over the years I’ve learned that very few people are looking for easy answers. We all know that easy answers and a religion based on truisms won’t get you through when life gets tough. But people are looking for a relationship with a God who accepts them as they are, and believes in them enough to send his Son, Jesus, to give them another chance – a better chance – for this world and the next.

And the best way to introduce people to a real relationship with Jesus is to have a real relationship with people. An open, honest, relationship that lays it all on the line. Just like God did. Just like God does.

That gospel is the kind of infection our world desperately needs.

Marriage and Civil Unions

2009-11-20T06:42:00.000-08:00

Sometimes - well, ok, often - someone else says it better than I.

I highly recommend this editorial by the Most Reverend John J. Myers from today's Star Ledger.

http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2009/11/archbishop_john_j_myers_legisl.html

Jeff

Staying Fit

2009-11-11T08:13:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'll be honest. I hate to exercise. I've never understood what people mean when they say they broke "a good sweat." Yech! And a "good workout" is inevitably followed by sore muscles the following day.

But, while we were on vacation we had a chance to dance and play some organized pool games with the kids. I got talked into joining a "Pool Hokey-Pokey Dance Contest." You know the Hokey-Pokey? You put your right hand in, you put your right hand out... Now imagine a row of slightly overweight dads and moms doing that on the side of a swimming pool while their kids jeer them on. (Yes, I said "jeer.") Well, by the end of the "dance" I was winded. I mean, really winded - after the Hokey-Pokey! That's when I realized just how out of shape I've gotten. And I realized that if I keep on doing what I've been doing until now, I'm guaranteed the same results. So...

After six months (or more) of lethargy, on Monday I faithfully (if grudgingly) made my way to our basement, and plugged the new workout program I bought at Costco into our Wii.

This is a humiliating process! First of all, I had to dig my way past all of the exercise equipment and programs I've tried in the past. Some I've stuck with for a few weeks, some have lasted only one or two workouts. The best have kept my attention and commitment for a few months. Untold dollars worth of stuff testifying to countless failures in my attempt to start and maintain a regular physical fitness regime.

Then, if that wasn't enough, the first thing that this new program asked me to do was create an animated character to represent myself on screen. I had to scroll past three or four young and healthy looking versions before I finally hit upon a character that looked like an appropriately middle-aged, love-handled, squishy tummy me. At least I could dress my animated self in cool workout clothes.

Fortunately, the computerized coach didn't seem very discouraged at all. "Congratulations!" he said. "Looks like you're ready for a GREAT workout!" (Yeah, right.) I chose the lowest intensity setting.

As it turns out, my "20 minute workout" took about 35 minutes to complete. There's a learning curve on this thing, and I had to watch some of the instructional videos twice. On some of the exercises (particularly the running) I didn't quite manage to keep up the pace with my "coach," but he didn't seem to mind. He just kept encouraging me to rest if I needed to, but then get back in the race. "Push yourself a little, and do the best you can." Some of the exercises were just too easy. (I liked those, and wanted to do them again!).

At the end of the workout the "coach" gave me a "Well done," and then showed me my statistics. I'd burned 128 calories! What's better yet, the next day when I did the routine again, I burned 149! How cool is that!

Right now I'm committed to a 30 day program that promises to help me kick-start an ongoing habit of physical fitness. I understand that the first 30 days will be the hardest, and there will be lots of distractions along the way. I'll get busy. I'll feel tired. I'll feel bored. I just plain won't like getting sweaty. But I'm committed to this new routine anyway, because while I find the process difficult, I expect the results to be worth it. I expect to look better, feel better. And, I expect to be able to do the Hokey-Pokey without needing a fifteen minute rest period.

And that's the point, isn't it? I don't particularly like exercise, and it's really REALLY hard for me to get started. But the goal is worth the effort.

So, now that we've talked about my physical fitness, how's your spiritual fitness? The Apostle Paul says this about spiritual fitness in the Bible:

"Take the time and the trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit." 1Tim. 4:7b (Ph)

And how do you do that? By developing a "Spiritual fitness" routine. You've got to feed your soul with good spiritual food (that's a different blog), and stretch your spiritual muscles on a regular basis. You probably know what that takes already: Reading the Bible, spending time memorizing God's Word, worship, prayer, and even fasting.

Sometimes these spiritual habits feel really rewarding, right away. Other times - let's be honest here- they can feel like drudgery. But we need to keep with it, because it's worth it to reach the goal.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:13-14 (NIV)

If you're like me (and if you've read this far, I suspect you are), you may have tried and failed many times to start a daily habit of Bible reading, prayer, or a quiet time with God. Yes, even my "pastor's" bookshelves are lined with devotional guides that were started and never finished.

That's ok! God is the God of 2nd chances, and 9th chances, and 999th chances. If one routine didn't work, try another.

(For me, by the way, I subscribe to a daily devotional I get by email from www.upperroom.com, and another from www.scriptureunion.org. Both are free, and seeing that email in my inbox is a great reminder to start my day by spending a few minutes with God.)

A wise person once said to me, "Don't worry that you've fallen down. If you fall down six times, get up seven."

Ok, that 's bit confusing, but you get the point. If it's been a while since you've been to church, let this be the week you get back into worship. If that Bible on your desk is a little dusty, let today be the day that you pick it up and read a couple of paragraphs (I recommend starting with Luke, and then reading Acts).

It's likely to be hard getting started. But after a while you'll discover that you're changing. You're being transformed. You'll be feeling more joyful and fulfilled. What seemed difficult will be getting easier. You'll have a heightened sense of purpose and well being. You'll feel (and be) closer to God. How cool is that!

By the way, if you need a coach to encourage you, drop me an email. I'll be happy to pray for you and cheer you on. Sometimes it's hard to keep going on your own, and you need a friend to say, "Look how far you've come already. Let's get back in the game. Take it at your own pace, but challenge yourself along the way. Let's finish this together."

And do you know what the best part is? You'll never break a sweat!

Grace and Peace,

Jeff

Where your treasure is...

2009-10-24T10:33:00.001-07:00

This week I’ve been reflecting on Jesus’ statement that “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

What I’ve come to realize is that this truth works both ways!

If my heart is truly dedicated to God, then I’m going to want to put my treasure in God’s kingdom. The more my heart is dedicated to God and God’s purposes in the world, the more of my treasure I will want to invest in his purposes. And, God’s greatest purpose is to bring everyone to a saving belief in Jesus Christ. I’ve always known that.

But it turns out that the opposite is true too! The more that I invest my treasure in God’s work, the more my heart will be drawn to Christ and his kingdom.

For example, for the first many years of my life, I had no interest in the stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was nothing more than a bunch of numbers in the newspaper. And Costco was just a place I went to shop. But, a few years ago I went out and bought some stock in Costco. Suddenly, the fortunes of Costco began to matter to me. How were same store sales compared to last year? Were they growing or shrinking. Costco grabbed a part of my heart. Why? Because I’d invested a portion of my treasure there.

Do you want to become more passionate in your relationship with Christ and his Church? Then make some substantial investments in what God is doing here locally and around the world. And, the more your heart is drawn to Jesus, the more you’ll want to invest in reaching more people who need him.

I’ve never bought anything here on earth that’s lasted more than a few years. Just about everything I’ve put money into has pleased me for a while, then eventually lost my interest as something newer, flashier, faster, cooler came along. But every person who was lost but has now received eternal life in Jesus is going to be living with him – and me – forever in heaven. Wow! Now that’s treasure that can get my heart beating.

Where are you putting your treasure? What is the passion of your heart?

True joy will come to you when you make a decision to put them all in one place.

Grace and Peace,

Jeff

The Right Tool

2009-10-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

For years, I've taught that being a faithful and effective disciple of Jesus Christ requires that believers become "life-long learners." So, trying to be a "doer of the word" and not a teacher only, I recently enrolled in a pastoral coaching network with Nelson Searcy. Nelson is lead pastor at The Journey Church in New York City, and under his leadership that church has been remarkably successful at reaching unbelievers, leading them to faith, and nurturing disciples.

I told you that so that I can tell you this...

Today will be our third coaching call. And, according to the contract we signed, this is the time we can bail out at no cost if we don't believe the network is useful.

Much to my surprise, I went to my mailbox this morning and found a letter from Nelson. A letter of encouragement. A letter that said, in effect, I hope you're getting the tools you want out of our time together. I know it's a big commitment. I hope you'll stick with it.

The letter also contained a gift - a multipurpose tool (and a very nice one), with a reminder that most jobs in life are easier when you've got the right tools!

Well, the fact is that I'm getting a lot out of this network, and I was planning to stick with it anyway. But I'm impressed with how important a little gift made me feel. A token of appreciation. A note of encouragement. Maybe he's teaching by example.

Do we show that same kind of appreciation and encouragement to our friends and neighbors? To the leaders and others engaged in ministry in our church? Would we be willing to take on that kind of extra expense to catch an unbeliever's attention and share the gospel of Jesus Christ?

I hope this blog is an encouragement to you. My hope is that we can all encourage one another to deeper faith and more radical discipleship. Let me know what tools you need, and I'll try to pass them along.

Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— may he equip you with all you need for doing his will.
Heb 13:20-21 (NLT)

What would Jesus do?

2009-10-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

Someone just brought this video to my attention. As I watched, I found tears welling up in my eyes.

If you've got seven minutes to invest, please watch this video. Then, I'd appreciate your comments on how Christians can and should respond.

How Muslims are Treated in the USA

Grace and Peace,
Jeff

Prayer for our Attitudes

2009-10-04T07:04:00.000-07:00

Several folks have requested a copy of the prayer we prayed in church at the end of the "Lord, Change My Attitude" series. The foundation for this prayer came from the book, "Lord, Change My Attitude, Before It's Too Late," by James McDonald. I made some revisions to help it better fit our congregation.

Lord, I confess that I do not have the strength to follow you. My attitude is often anything but Christ-like. I invite you to fill me with your Spirit and give me the strength that I need for every difficult circumstance and person I encounter. I ask that your grace would help me put of all the sinful attitudes and put on righteous ones in their place.

Help me to put off complaining and replace it with thankfulness

To put off a covetous attitude and replace it with contentment

To replace a critical attitude with an attitude of love

To surrender my rebellious attitude and take on an attitude of submission.

I claim your promise that in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven.

I declare with gratitude that I trust you will change my attitudes, and that it’s definitely not too late! In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

The Basketball Gospel

2009-09-24T14:24:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not much of a sports fan. I'll watch the Super Bowl, but mostly because I enjoy the company and the ads. Usually I'll try to tune in for a few big golf tournaments. And I love taking our kids to see the Somerset Patriots, our local minor league baseball team.

In my mind, one of the dullest of all sports to watch on TV has to be basketball. Other than the occasional spectacular shot from mid court, it seems to me to be a constant blur of meaningless motion.

I may not be a fan of basketball, but I'm now a fan of David Robinson. If you missed his speech when he was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame, I'd like to encourage you to invest seven minutes of your life and watch it here.

David Robinson Hall of Fame Speech

Blessings!
Jeff

Yard Sale

2009-09-19T13:31:00.001-07:00

Today we had a yard sale – the great American exercise in cleaning all the old stuff that we once loved out of our closets, and trying to sell it for a dollar or less. To tell the truth, it was pretty discouraging as one car of “shoppers” after another stopped, looked, and left. And it feels pretty weird to see that “must have” toy of two or three years ago going for 25 cents!

Of course, it reminds me of Jesus words:

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matt 6:19-21 (NLT)

How do you store up treasures in heaven? You can’t take it with you. And even the best stuff on earth is going to look pretty shabby in heaven!

The only earthly things I know of that we can send ahead to heaven are human souls. For whenever we share the love of Jesus with someone and they accept his forgiveness and become his disciples, the citizenship of heaven goes up by one – and even the angels rejoice!

Maybe you’re not comfortable explaining the gospel and inviting someone to follow Jesus. But you can let someone know that there are good things happening in your church, and invite them to join you some Sunday and see for themselves. When you do, we promise to welcome these guests as though they are the most important people on earth. Because they are. And we pray that God will use what happens in church that day to touch their hearts and help them fall in love with Jesus.

By the way, at the end of the day we gave up on selling the stuff. Instead, we put a “Free” sign on just about everything that was left. Within minutes a young couple came along and gleefully helped themselves to the whole pile! We couldn’t be more pleased.

I imagine that’s how God feels. He paid. We receive the free gift of eternal life. All we have to do is accept it. He couldn’t be more pleased.

And that’s the gospel in a nutshell!

Eight Years Later

2009-09-11T05:18:00.000-07:00

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 (NRSV)

Eight years ago today, my wife and I watched, along with the rest of the nation, as terrorists destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Center, only twenty miles or so from our home. It was only later that we realized we had witnessed the deaths of two members of our congregation, along with thousands of others including those on the hijacked airliners and in the Pentegon. Not only people died on that day. Those towers were chosen because they represented the financial strength of our nation. Their destruction, accomplished with such ease and at so little cost, shook the sense of security that so many had placed in the things of this world.

As the towers crumbled, I remembered a Scripture chorus we sometimes sing in worship. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and they are saved.”

Eight years later, let’s remember that neither military might nor financial strength can make us secure – only the eternal refuge of our mighty God.

RIP Alvin Kapplemann and Kermit Anderson

Expected Guests

2009-09-09T12:43:00.000-07:00

Every guest who walks through the doors of First Presbyterian Church is a gift from God.

I’ve noticed that when we are expecting guests at our home, we go out of our way to make them welcome. Before their arrival there is a flurry of cleaning activity. Not that our home is usually dirty, but when guests are coming we want our home to look its best.

When guests arrive there’s a little ritual we go through. We greet them at the door, ask them if they’d like something to eat or drink, and show them to the most comfortable seat in the living room. To put it another way, we make sure they are greeted, treated, directed, and seated.

The entire time our guests are with us, we do our best to make them feel comfortable and appreciated. And, when it’s time for them to leave we thank them for coming, and (usually) invite them to come again.

At First Presbyterian, we’re expecting God to bring us guests. We want to be certain that God’s guests are treated equally well!

For most folks who haven’t been to church in a while, attending church for the first time can be a pretty intimidating experience. They don’t know where to park, what to wear, how to get into the building, how they’ll be received (“Will they be glad to see me, or will they make me feel guilty for having been away so long?”), what to do with their kids, where to sit, or what will be expected of them. Most church guests want to be a) appreciated and b) anonymous. Going to church for the first time, or the first time in a long time, is hard.

If you haven’t been to church in a while, I want you to know that we understand just how big a step showing up to church is. We’re eager to see you! We promise to appreciate you and treat you with genuine warmth and love. Please come soon, and be our guest!

If you’re a member or regular attender at First Presbyterian, will you join me as we make it one of our highest Sunday priorities to graciously and joyfully welcome every guest God sends our way? We want to be sure that every guest is: greeted with a smile and told, “We’re glad you’re here”; seated in the best seats in the house, where they’re welcomed with a smile; and treated as the precious gift from God that they are.