If you are tired of 2008 and anxious for 2009 to start you will be frustrated to hear that the "official time keepers" have added one second to 2008. Read this article about it, "2009 to Arrive Not a Second Too Soon."
It reminds me that in the sermon Sunday I mentioned that I have a whole message on time. Here is a quick overview.
Time is a tool for God. God does not need time. In Genesis chapters one and two God created everything. That includes time. At Genesis 1:2 we find God reforming the creation into a format that we recognize today, though it is marred by sin at this time and was not at its initial re-forming. In Genesis, God made day and night, the sun moon and stars. These have been the basic tools for us to create a framework for time in our minds.
Interestingly, these tools tell us more than the date and time (roughly). They also tell us about the history of the universe. For instance, if the earth is rotating slower each year, how fast was it rotating one million years ago? Could it actually rotate that fast and hold together? How did faster rotation effect previous generations of living beings?
God is not ruled by time, but rules time. Time is a tool that he uses to accomplish his purposes. In Psalm 90 we are told to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Time is a tool that God is using in his redemptive plan to draw us to himself.
If you are not too brain dead on this Christmas break, think about how the relativity of time, the substance of time, gravity, and God's ability to be outside of it all fits together with the notion of God creating time with a purpose. It is a bit of a brain twister, but it gives us a glimpse of how big God is, and how his perception is so different from ours.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas Eve
We went to the Christmas eve service. It was fun and very relaxed. Thanks to Pat and Shree Harr for their work in preparing and leading the service. I may have some pictures of the kids that we can put on the screen on Sunday from tonight. We sang a lot of songs and had a great time eating together afterwards.
Have a Merry Christmas!!!
Have a Merry Christmas!!!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Bowls for the Hungry
Fred and I are working to make bowls that we think that we can sell for the purpose raising money for a local benevolence ministry. I like the creative process and it is becoming a fun hobby with a cool purpose. Here are a few bowls that are finished. I have about fifteen that are finished or in process. The others will turn out with different colors due to various types of clay and mixtures of glazing. Some are tan, red and shades of black and blue. Some are speckled.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Statistics Tell the Truth Sometimes
I am going to get honest with everyone and give you some numbers that disturbs me.
22 People did not open the e-mail newsletter I sent them in December (it hit their box and they deleted it).
5 People have e-mail addresses that no longer exist, but they have not changed their address in our system.
2 People have a mail box that is too full to receive an other messages.
1 Person has an ISP that blocks the newsletter from arriving in their box.
That means that 30 e-mail newsletter that I sent out mean t absolutely nothing!!!
Remember, that if I have you on the e-mail list, you will not get a newsletter in the mail.
What makes me even more discouraged is this, I can't get a report on how many of the paper newsletters are thrown in the trash without being read. If this is how bad the e-mail newsletters are treated, how bad are the snail-mail newsletters treated?
I really do try to give you information in the newsletter that I want you to know about. I want you to plan ahead and put God's business on your calender. I wish I could stop making announcements on Sunday mornings completely and trust people to read the bulletin and newsletter so that when we come to church we could just worship, pray and get serious with the Word. But, instead, I have to do the house keeping and give a bunch of announcements that are mostly forgotten because they are received verbally (they are in writing but people aren't reading them). Making announcements in church is a complete waste of time when they are all in the newsletter and bulletin. The only announcements should be emergencies or corrections.
Is there a song or something called, "This is My Christmas Wish"? Or is it "Christmas Prayer"? Whatever, this is one of mine.
22 People did not open the e-mail newsletter I sent them in December (it hit their box and they deleted it).
5 People have e-mail addresses that no longer exist, but they have not changed their address in our system.
2 People have a mail box that is too full to receive an other messages.
1 Person has an ISP that blocks the newsletter from arriving in their box.
That means that 30 e-mail newsletter that I sent out mean t absolutely nothing!!!
Remember, that if I have you on the e-mail list, you will not get a newsletter in the mail.
What makes me even more discouraged is this, I can't get a report on how many of the paper newsletters are thrown in the trash without being read. If this is how bad the e-mail newsletters are treated, how bad are the snail-mail newsletters treated?
I really do try to give you information in the newsletter that I want you to know about. I want you to plan ahead and put God's business on your calender. I wish I could stop making announcements on Sunday mornings completely and trust people to read the bulletin and newsletter so that when we come to church we could just worship, pray and get serious with the Word. But, instead, I have to do the house keeping and give a bunch of announcements that are mostly forgotten because they are received verbally (they are in writing but people aren't reading them). Making announcements in church is a complete waste of time when they are all in the newsletter and bulletin. The only announcements should be emergencies or corrections.
Is there a song or something called, "This is My Christmas Wish"? Or is it "Christmas Prayer"? Whatever, this is one of mine.
Prayer Need
Pray for Stephanie. She is at the Doctor's office right now and I am working from home with the kids. She seems to have strep throat. She can barely talk and has had a fever for over 24 hours. Pray that she gets better for Christmas. Today is Lib's birthday and it would be more fun for us all if Stephanie were well.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Weekend Rewind
Sunday was great. Last Sunday before Christmas. Everyone was exchanging cards and gifts and Santa even showed up to give Pastor a love pat before the offering!!!
We tried something different and sang only Christmas songs for worship. We found some really great contemporary versions of old songs. Plus we played a new song that Tony wrote for Christmas. I think a few people were confused. Tony wrote the last song we sang, all three verses and the chorus that says, Thank you Lord for Christmas..." I thought it went really well. Church needs to be a creative place and having some songs in our church that are original to our church has always been a dream of mine.
Had more network problems this weekend. Had to reboot the router on Monday morning to get it working. We will print up the handout for nest Sunday and give it out so you can study the Scriptures in the message for yourself.
We tried something different and sang only Christmas songs for worship. We found some really great contemporary versions of old songs. Plus we played a new song that Tony wrote for Christmas. I think a few people were confused. Tony wrote the last song we sang, all three verses and the chorus that says, Thank you Lord for Christmas..." I thought it went really well. Church needs to be a creative place and having some songs in our church that are original to our church has always been a dream of mine.
Had more network problems this weekend. Had to reboot the router on Monday morning to get it working. We will print up the handout for nest Sunday and give it out so you can study the Scriptures in the message for yourself.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Photo Directory
We are still taking photos for the directory. Meet with Pat in the Children's church room to get a new photo and fill out a new information card.
Sermon Outlines
I will have sermon outlines from last Sunday available this Sunday. Due to a network problem we did not have a handout. There are a lot of Scriptures in the handout and it would be worth having.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
2009 Missions Trip
We will begin planning meetings for the 2009 Africa missions trip in January. Currently I am planning on having those meetings on the second Wednesday night each month from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. We will meet every month till July and then the team will have a few extra meetings for planning and fun together.
In these first meetings we will be discussing cost, fund raising, passports, immunizations, the mission field in Africa, and the jobs that will be done. If you are interested in being on the team please make it to these wednesday night meetings. They are manditoory for team members once the team is set. The team will be set in March. Our goal is at least six team members but we can take many more.
In these first meetings we will be discussing cost, fund raising, passports, immunizations, the mission field in Africa, and the jobs that will be done. If you are interested in being on the team please make it to these wednesday night meetings. They are manditoory for team members once the team is set. The team will be set in March. Our goal is at least six team members but we can take many more.
Give It Up
January 1st is the start of our 15 days of prayer and fasting. I encourage you to give up something in your daily schedule and replace it with extra prayer time. If you fast food, then take the time you usually eat and pray. Your can fast TV, or media all together (catch up on the blog later), the evening news, a daily show you listen to or watch, World of Warcraft time, other computer game time, e-mail at home, Face book, or many other things. Two years I chose to fast my car in January and walk everywhere. Walking and praying is great. I live close to everything I need on a regular basis, but it is usually cold!
Here is the blog challenge. Let me know what you are fasting! Post a comment when you figure it out and I will get a notification that you posted. Let's get creative about fasting and allow our creativity to spill over to others. What the Lord leads you to fast may help others know how to fast.
Give it up!
Here is the blog challenge. Let me know what you are fasting! Post a comment when you figure it out and I will get a notification that you posted. Let's get creative about fasting and allow our creativity to spill over to others. What the Lord leads you to fast may help others know how to fast.
Give it up!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Christmas Eve Service
Christmas Eve Pat and Sheree Harr are leading a worship and prayer service at 6:00 p.m. The goal of the service is for the church family to get together for Christmas, especially those who are not meeting with family due to work, travel, or other reasons. It will be a casual service and you will be invited to participate.
After the service we will share a pot-luck dinner. There is a sign-up sheet in the foyer so that we know how many to set up for. Following dinner we will all need to pitch in and help clean up, but we will not be late since many have to travel on Christmas day and need individual family time with their children as well.
After the service we will share a pot-luck dinner. There is a sign-up sheet in the foyer so that we know how many to set up for. Following dinner we will all need to pitch in and help clean up, but we will not be late since many have to travel on Christmas day and need individual family time with their children as well.
Weekend Rewind
Sunday was weird. That is the way it goes when you are under the attack of the enemy. I spoke on the resurrection of believers and don't you know, I was sick. I felt horrible when I woke up, but was determined to preach this message. Then, at church the computer network would not work properly and I had no connection to a printer to print my notes. I spoke from my laptop, which is fine except it ties me to the podium so badly. Then, in the first service we had several power outages. They were very brief, but messed up our projector, sound, and monitors for the second service. We need the monitors so that everyone in the room can see the words to worship songs.
After all that, I think the Lord did his work. We had a nice prayer time at the end. Also, this series of messages has opened up all kinds of questions from the congregation. My e-mail box is really getting them. I love the questions. They are teachable moments. I guess when I am teaching by e-mail they could be called tech-able moments? lol!
We had a nice 50+ dinner and it was great to connect with friends and really take time to sit and talk together. The more often our church runs over 140 in attendance the more that is invaluable one on one time.
After lunch I started felling bad again. Went home, went to bed, and slept till Monday morning. Still a bit stiff on Monday, but much better Tuesday morning!!!
After all that, I think the Lord did his work. We had a nice prayer time at the end. Also, this series of messages has opened up all kinds of questions from the congregation. My e-mail box is really getting them. I love the questions. They are teachable moments. I guess when I am teaching by e-mail they could be called tech-able moments? lol!
We had a nice 50+ dinner and it was great to connect with friends and really take time to sit and talk together. The more often our church runs over 140 in attendance the more that is invaluable one on one time.
After lunch I started felling bad again. Went home, went to bed, and slept till Monday morning. Still a bit stiff on Monday, but much better Tuesday morning!!!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Devotional Thought
A few weeks ago I was reading Ezekiel and came across an amazing verse. It is always interesting to compare ancient passages to the situations of modern America. But get this one!
Ezekiel 33:30-32
30 "As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
I am always amazed at how many pop songs we as Americans can create about the romantic relationship. From the comical country of "She Thinks My Tractors Sexy," to the sick and twisted, "I Kissed A Girl and I Liked It," that sadly topped charts this summer, we are enamored with love songs.
So, where is this going? What if our preaching is entertaining to the masses, like the love songs that really mean nothing to us? Just another artful way to say the same old thing about love, sex and desire. The words don't mean anything anymore, it is just the way the sounds and music make us feel. What if our preaching is only intended to get people in the door and make them feel a certain way so that they might go to a Small Group where they will really hear the message and hopefully experience life change?
Ezekiel dealt with this. Many people stopped to hear his message, but it was only entertainment, and intellectual stimulation to the listeners. They had no intention of life change. God help me and help those that hear me speak! Allow my words to be from you, life changing words. Allow those who hear me to really hear you.
"We played the flute for you and you did not dance, we sang a dirge and you did not cry."
Ezekiel 33:30-32
30 "As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
I am always amazed at how many pop songs we as Americans can create about the romantic relationship. From the comical country of "She Thinks My Tractors Sexy," to the sick and twisted, "I Kissed A Girl and I Liked It," that sadly topped charts this summer, we are enamored with love songs.
So, where is this going? What if our preaching is entertaining to the masses, like the love songs that really mean nothing to us? Just another artful way to say the same old thing about love, sex and desire. The words don't mean anything anymore, it is just the way the sounds and music make us feel. What if our preaching is only intended to get people in the door and make them feel a certain way so that they might go to a Small Group where they will really hear the message and hopefully experience life change?
Ezekiel dealt with this. Many people stopped to hear his message, but it was only entertainment, and intellectual stimulation to the listeners. They had no intention of life change. God help me and help those that hear me speak! Allow my words to be from you, life changing words. Allow those who hear me to really hear you.
"We played the flute for you and you did not dance, we sang a dirge and you did not cry."
Jesus of Nazareth
Where is the World is Paul?
Been out of blog land fro a while. Here are my recent activities.
1. Nursing sick kids. Praise the Lord he is helping us out of this situation.
2. Making summer sausage. I made about 20 pounds of summer sausage in my spare time this week. Took some late nights grinding meat and stuffing casings and then hours of smoking meat. My coat still smells like spices and smoke from tending the fire for so long.
3. I have been studying extra for the sermon series "How Shall We Live...Then?" I am trying to put this together well and do the study work required for this series to become a book.
4. Trying to keep up with people in the church socially. In December everyone wants your time. I want to take time with them, but I get spread extremely thin every December. The time off at Christmas with just my family becomes extremely precious after all the stuff of December.
1. Nursing sick kids. Praise the Lord he is helping us out of this situation.
2. Making summer sausage. I made about 20 pounds of summer sausage in my spare time this week. Took some late nights grinding meat and stuffing casings and then hours of smoking meat. My coat still smells like spices and smoke from tending the fire for so long.
3. I have been studying extra for the sermon series "How Shall We Live...Then?" I am trying to put this together well and do the study work required for this series to become a book.
4. Trying to keep up with people in the church socially. In December everyone wants your time. I want to take time with them, but I get spread extremely thin every December. The time off at Christmas with just my family becomes extremely precious after all the stuff of December.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Countercultural
I am feeling more frequently than ever that true Christianity is becoming countercultural in America. As our cultures changes, and cultural values change, we become more and more like the aliens that the Bible says we are in this world.
This morning I was reading Ezekiel chapter two about his call to speak to the Israelites in exile in Babylon. Here are some striking words that don't seem to fit the mold of a respectable minister in America today. It does not fit the mold of the cardigan wearing reserved minister. Nor does it fit the mold of the modern blue jean wearing minister who spends more time on image, entertainment and style than content. Let me start be describing Ezekiel's target audience for ministry.
1. "I am sending you to a rebellious house." The word rebel, or rebellious, is used five times in the ten short verses of chapter two. Ezekiel was not sent to a nice place of ministry, but a place where no one wanted to hear his message. I remember being engulfed in theology in seminary. I took 12 graduate hours per semester along with my duties as a local youth pastor. One holiday I realized while visiting with cousins, aunts and uncles, that the subject that I was studying every day was totally irrelevant to them. For some the study is downright disgusting. If I were studying biology, education, politics, or getting a masters degree in business I would have been welcomed into the conversations with keen interest in my area of expertise. I still feel this very often today. In many ways we as Christians are being sent to a rebellious house.
2. "The people...are obstinate and stubborn..." The people that we are ministering to are often obstinate and stubborn. Occasionally that is true of Christians, not just those outside the family of God. How many times have we ministered to a person and then felt like we have failed because they have given up on serving the Lord!!!
Next let's see what kind of minister God was going to make Ezekiel.
1. Fearless. God tells Ezekiel twice, "do not be afraid of them." There is no need to be afraid of differing ideas, even if your idea becomes the minority in your area of influence.
2. Persistent. "You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen." If I am placed in a position to speak to people who I know have rejected and may continue to reject the message, should I keep sharing it? Yes. Be persistent.
3. Hardheaded. "But I will make you as unyielding and as hardened as they are." I love this one, and yet I need so much help with it! God wants to make you and I hardheaded. If our target audience is stubborn and hardheaded, then we will have to be equally stubborn. Then God says, "I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid..." When was the last time you asked God to make you hard headed? I am going to begin praying for hardheadedness today!
4. Angry. "...I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord upon me." I don't think Ezekiel was bitter in a hatred way toward people, but he felt the bitter sorrow of God, who longed for relationship with his people who were stubborn in rejecting him. That rejection made Ezekiel angry. It made him mad! Maybe we just are not mad enough about the sinfulness of our world any more. We need to have the Love of God in us always for the world. However, we have preached the message of love to a degree that we are no longer zealous about God's perfection and nature. If we really know God and want to be like Jesus, we need to be angry at the things that make him angry.
A more fearless, persistent, hardheaded, angry minister is perhaps what God is needing today.
This morning I was reading Ezekiel chapter two about his call to speak to the Israelites in exile in Babylon. Here are some striking words that don't seem to fit the mold of a respectable minister in America today. It does not fit the mold of the cardigan wearing reserved minister. Nor does it fit the mold of the modern blue jean wearing minister who spends more time on image, entertainment and style than content. Let me start be describing Ezekiel's target audience for ministry.
1. "I am sending you to a rebellious house." The word rebel, or rebellious, is used five times in the ten short verses of chapter two. Ezekiel was not sent to a nice place of ministry, but a place where no one wanted to hear his message. I remember being engulfed in theology in seminary. I took 12 graduate hours per semester along with my duties as a local youth pastor. One holiday I realized while visiting with cousins, aunts and uncles, that the subject that I was studying every day was totally irrelevant to them. For some the study is downright disgusting. If I were studying biology, education, politics, or getting a masters degree in business I would have been welcomed into the conversations with keen interest in my area of expertise. I still feel this very often today. In many ways we as Christians are being sent to a rebellious house.
2. "The people...are obstinate and stubborn..." The people that we are ministering to are often obstinate and stubborn. Occasionally that is true of Christians, not just those outside the family of God. How many times have we ministered to a person and then felt like we have failed because they have given up on serving the Lord!!!
Next let's see what kind of minister God was going to make Ezekiel.
1. Fearless. God tells Ezekiel twice, "do not be afraid of them." There is no need to be afraid of differing ideas, even if your idea becomes the minority in your area of influence.
2. Persistent. "You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen." If I am placed in a position to speak to people who I know have rejected and may continue to reject the message, should I keep sharing it? Yes. Be persistent.
3. Hardheaded. "But I will make you as unyielding and as hardened as they are." I love this one, and yet I need so much help with it! God wants to make you and I hardheaded. If our target audience is stubborn and hardheaded, then we will have to be equally stubborn. Then God says, "I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid..." When was the last time you asked God to make you hard headed? I am going to begin praying for hardheadedness today!
4. Angry. "...I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord upon me." I don't think Ezekiel was bitter in a hatred way toward people, but he felt the bitter sorrow of God, who longed for relationship with his people who were stubborn in rejecting him. That rejection made Ezekiel angry. It made him mad! Maybe we just are not mad enough about the sinfulness of our world any more. We need to have the Love of God in us always for the world. However, we have preached the message of love to a degree that we are no longer zealous about God's perfection and nature. If we really know God and want to be like Jesus, we need to be angry at the things that make him angry.
A more fearless, persistent, hardheaded, angry minister is perhaps what God is needing today.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Work Day, Fun Day
Today we put up the Christmas decorations in the church. It is always a fun day. Got it all done in one day that is great.
Tonight I am playing Risk with Lance and Kaler. He built this geeky table and put together these themed sets of game pieces so it is giant sized risk. Pretty creative.
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