This Sunday is Celebration Sunday, and we have a great number of you who have sent in an RSVP. This is going to be a great day. We have already turned in our number to the caterer, but if you or a friend wish to attend please let us know. If we are expecting extra people we want to prepare as well as we can for each one.
The kids will start our worship time and the youth drama team will be ministering to us. I am very excited about the message for the day. Don't miss this Sunday!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Social Networking or Social Breakdown
I had a great conversation with a college student recently about social networking. We were talking about the difficulties of Facebook and Twitter. I think the points of our conversation are worth mentioning.
1. Social networking is skewed like a first date. Most people who have a cent of wisdom do not post the nasty horrible things in their lives. What you see on their page about vacation and expensive adventures and toys may not paint the whole picture of their life and success. Remember, Facebook is often a virtual reality, not reality.
2. Some posts are not worth posting. Some people I have observed have actually started posting road rage, anger at their kids, and other frustrations. I often find myself avoiding Facebook because I honestly just don't want to know about a persons most recent horrible decision or disgusting conversation. Sadly, the things that are least virtual on social networking are the most disturbing. Real wounds and hurts can come from virtual actions.
3. Facebook friends may not be real friends. As we talked an instance came up where a Facebook friend proved not to be friendly, even avoiding, in an actual opportunity to say hello in a retail store. How can we be Facebook friends and not friends in real life? That is a little weird.
4. Deleting Facebook friends creates a strange psychological component. In real life, you can't really delete people. You can avoid people who are dangerous or harmful, but the idea of deleting friends is a little morbid when you really think about it. What kind of cultural norms are we creating unintentionally when we delete people?
Now it is time to post my blog entry and link it to Facebook. What an irony! As people who love Jesus, let's redeem technology for good. Make the most of every opportunity, even on line.
Be careful little thumbs what you tweet.
Be careful little fingers what you post.
Be a blessing today.
1. Social networking is skewed like a first date. Most people who have a cent of wisdom do not post the nasty horrible things in their lives. What you see on their page about vacation and expensive adventures and toys may not paint the whole picture of their life and success. Remember, Facebook is often a virtual reality, not reality.
2. Some posts are not worth posting. Some people I have observed have actually started posting road rage, anger at their kids, and other frustrations. I often find myself avoiding Facebook because I honestly just don't want to know about a persons most recent horrible decision or disgusting conversation. Sadly, the things that are least virtual on social networking are the most disturbing. Real wounds and hurts can come from virtual actions.
3. Facebook friends may not be real friends. As we talked an instance came up where a Facebook friend proved not to be friendly, even avoiding, in an actual opportunity to say hello in a retail store. How can we be Facebook friends and not friends in real life? That is a little weird.
4. Deleting Facebook friends creates a strange psychological component. In real life, you can't really delete people. You can avoid people who are dangerous or harmful, but the idea of deleting friends is a little morbid when you really think about it. What kind of cultural norms are we creating unintentionally when we delete people?
Now it is time to post my blog entry and link it to Facebook. What an irony! As people who love Jesus, let's redeem technology for good. Make the most of every opportunity, even on line.
Be careful little thumbs what you tweet.
Be careful little fingers what you post.
Be a blessing today.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Invite
Now is the best time of year to invite someone to church. The week before Easter, Easter, and the week following are the most attended Sundays of the year. If you have been inviting a person to church, now is the time to invite them again. Let's shoot for another service with standing room only!
Also, remember that we will have three Easter morning worship times.
6:30 a.m. Sunrise Worship
8:30 a.m. Early Worship
10:15 a.m. Late Worship
Then, be ready for April 15th when we move our service time to 9:30 and 11:15 a.m.
Also, remember that we will have three Easter morning worship times.
6:30 a.m. Sunrise Worship
8:30 a.m. Early Worship
10:15 a.m. Late Worship
Then, be ready for April 15th when we move our service time to 9:30 and 11:15 a.m.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
New Service Times
We are changing our service times. After looking at the surveys that we received this month, we learned that most people in our church don't care what time services are. But they really do have a preference of attending the first or second service.
Our new service times will be starting April 15th. Everything is simply moving one hour later.
9:30 - First Service
11:15 - Second Service
This will allow us to hopefully gain a few people in the early service. Also, if we must go to a third service before we move into a new building, we will simply add 8:00 a.m. We may not need to do that, but we have the option.
Our new service times will be starting April 15th. Everything is simply moving one hour later.
9:30 - First Service
11:15 - Second Service
This will allow us to hopefully gain a few people in the early service. Also, if we must go to a third service before we move into a new building, we will simply add 8:00 a.m. We may not need to do that, but we have the option.
Forgiven
What is the Power of forgiveness?
A new FEELING – Guilt free
A new START – Getting to start over
A new PERSPECTIVE – Seeing my past differently
A new IDENTITY – I am a new creation in Jesus
A new DIRECTION - I have a new path for life
A new DESTINATION – On my way to Heaven.
A new GOAL – My goal is to please God not myself.
Don't miss the message this Sunday on Forgiveness.
A new FEELING – Guilt free
A new START – Getting to start over
A new PERSPECTIVE – Seeing my past differently
A new IDENTITY – I am a new creation in Jesus
A new DIRECTION - I have a new path for life
A new DESTINATION – On my way to Heaven.
A new GOAL – My goal is to please God not myself.
Don't miss the message this Sunday on Forgiveness.
Announcements!
I have a few important announcements.
1. We are taking our 50+ group to the Camp Meeting at the Lake of the Ozarks in May. Check the poster in the foyer of the church for info. If you have parents over 50, consider sending them to the camp meeting as a Mother's Day or Father's Day gift.
2. The newsletter is coming out next week. Keep your eyes peeled for it.
3. We are having our water baptismal service on April 15th at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Washington. Don't miss this celebration!
4. Celebration Sunday is April 1st at the Elk's Lodge. Service is at 10 a.m. and lunch for everyone follows. The RSVP for this event is in the bulletin.
Have a blessed day!
1. We are taking our 50+ group to the Camp Meeting at the Lake of the Ozarks in May. Check the poster in the foyer of the church for info. If you have parents over 50, consider sending them to the camp meeting as a Mother's Day or Father's Day gift.
2. The newsletter is coming out next week. Keep your eyes peeled for it.
3. We are having our water baptismal service on April 15th at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Washington. Don't miss this celebration!
4. Celebration Sunday is April 1st at the Elk's Lodge. Service is at 10 a.m. and lunch for everyone follows. The RSVP for this event is in the bulletin.
Have a blessed day!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
It Takes A While
Yesterday in our family devotions we read the story of Gideon's son, Abimelech. Abimemech was the son of Gideon's concubine. Gideon had several wives and 70 other sons. Gideon's numerous wives caused his family a great deal of trouble. Abimelech murdered all but one of his step-brothers and set himself up as a kind of king in his region.
The one brother that escaped the murder claimed that the town that he overtook would one day overtake him. Three years later the people of the area rebelled and there was a fight. In the fight Abimemech was killed when a woman in a tower dropped a stone on his head. The commentary from Judges 9 says, "Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them." NIV
What caught my attention was the three year period between the murder of the 69 brothers and the resulting death that was foretold in the curse of the escaping brother. Notice that "God repaid" the wickedness. I think that we often allow our own history to have as much memory as the 24 hour news cycle. We have lost the ability to understand the links between our own actions and consequences that follow. Because we can not make the connection, we can not see God's hand of warning of direction in our lives. We are too short sighted. Here are two thoughts.
First, what if getting the blessings of God takes a while. What if serving him for a month is not long enough for us to grow through out trouble and see the resulting blessing on the other side. What if your miracle takes three years? Will you stick it out with God, or give up just before the miracle arrives.
Second, what if God has forgiven you, but you are still struggling with the consequences of your previous life? I have seen many people pull the faith ejection seat when they face the consequences of their past. Don't pull that escape cord! Hang on and see how the Lord brings you through. Even if it takes a while, be faithful and stick with the Lord. He will see you through.
Remember, God is eternal. He does not see time like you and I see time. He has a different idea of what a long time really is.
The one brother that escaped the murder claimed that the town that he overtook would one day overtake him. Three years later the people of the area rebelled and there was a fight. In the fight Abimemech was killed when a woman in a tower dropped a stone on his head. The commentary from Judges 9 says, "Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them." NIV
What caught my attention was the three year period between the murder of the 69 brothers and the resulting death that was foretold in the curse of the escaping brother. Notice that "God repaid" the wickedness. I think that we often allow our own history to have as much memory as the 24 hour news cycle. We have lost the ability to understand the links between our own actions and consequences that follow. Because we can not make the connection, we can not see God's hand of warning of direction in our lives. We are too short sighted. Here are two thoughts.
First, what if getting the blessings of God takes a while. What if serving him for a month is not long enough for us to grow through out trouble and see the resulting blessing on the other side. What if your miracle takes three years? Will you stick it out with God, or give up just before the miracle arrives.
Second, what if God has forgiven you, but you are still struggling with the consequences of your previous life? I have seen many people pull the faith ejection seat when they face the consequences of their past. Don't pull that escape cord! Hang on and see how the Lord brings you through. Even if it takes a while, be faithful and stick with the Lord. He will see you through.
Remember, God is eternal. He does not see time like you and I see time. He has a different idea of what a long time really is.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Good Men
I am so proud of the group of men from our church who traveled to Branson, Missouri last week to help with tornado cleanup. The guys were extremely caring with people and had great manners at all times. We were able to really help a number of people.
In the future we will be a little more prepared. This was our second disaster response trip and we are learning on each trip how to do a better job. Also, on this trip it happened to be all men. We are not limited to taking men only.
I am just really proud of our people and the work they have done. Way to go!
In the future we will be a little more prepared. This was our second disaster response trip and we are learning on each trip how to do a better job. Also, on this trip it happened to be all men. We are not limited to taking men only.
I am just really proud of our people and the work they have done. Way to go!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Perspectives on Age #1
Joshua 13:1 says, "When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, the Lord said to him, "You are very old..."
Everybody wants to miraculously hear from God. Christians often seek with passion the experience of hearing from God. Often we wrongly seek his voice for the thrill of hearing him, rather than his voice to know his person and purpose. But, imagine that you are faithfully following the Lord and doing his will. You have been praying and seeking God and his word to you is, "You are very old..." God had more to say to Joshua, but those first few words that introduce the rest of the message would have stopped me in my tracks.
Why don't Christian's have testimonies more often that seem like reality checks? Is it that we only hear what we want to hear? I often think people imagine some things that they think are thoughts from God. Can we be honest and open enough in hearing from God that he can even tell us the bad news?
Finally, this little interchange between God and Joshua teaches me a lesson. I am God's little child always. However, God is practical enough to walk a man with child-like faith through the process of getting old. He helps us mature in many ways while protecting a Father to child relationship. I don't ever want to grow out of God, like kids grow out of clothes, I want to grow up in God.
Everybody wants to miraculously hear from God. Christians often seek with passion the experience of hearing from God. Often we wrongly seek his voice for the thrill of hearing him, rather than his voice to know his person and purpose. But, imagine that you are faithfully following the Lord and doing his will. You have been praying and seeking God and his word to you is, "You are very old..." God had more to say to Joshua, but those first few words that introduce the rest of the message would have stopped me in my tracks.
Why don't Christian's have testimonies more often that seem like reality checks? Is it that we only hear what we want to hear? I often think people imagine some things that they think are thoughts from God. Can we be honest and open enough in hearing from God that he can even tell us the bad news?
Finally, this little interchange between God and Joshua teaches me a lesson. I am God's little child always. However, God is practical enough to walk a man with child-like faith through the process of getting old. He helps us mature in many ways while protecting a Father to child relationship. I don't ever want to grow out of God, like kids grow out of clothes, I want to grow up in God.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Feeling Pumped by God's Word!
This morning I am studying for my future sermon series out of the book of Matthew. I am so blown away by the detail and organization of God's word! I can't wait to preach the next three sermon series that are coming from Matthew. This will be great, because God's word is great!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Day Off Blessings
The last two weeks were very busy and I missed my days off. Though I werestled with a sinus infection and flu, there was no time to take off. So, with the kids out of school, I finished the calls and visits that I needed to make on Monday by 11:00 a.m. and took the family hiking. Just getting out of town and outdoors was spiritual renewal! We found a great bluff to climb that overlooks the Missouri River bottom. We hiked just over two miles. When we got home i started the grill. No phone, no texting, no social media, just God and family.
Thursday was a snow day, Monday was a short sleve hiking day, last night was a thunder storm with hail, today it is freezing. Only in Missouri.
Thursday was a snow day, Monday was a short sleve hiking day, last night was a thunder storm with hail, today it is freezing. Only in Missouri.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
26 Degree Graveside
Today I did a graveside service at Jefferson Barracks for a vetran. It needed to be very short because it was so cold and snowy. I started with a Scripture of comfort about salvation, shared this message, then closed in prayer. I think that the Lord gave me a message for the day. Here it is.
Today we stand in a hall of warriors. There are many stories of bravery behind most of these stones that will never be told to human ears.
Standing in this hall of warriors I bring you a thought from the Scriptures.
2 Samuel 23:20-23
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
Today we stand like Benaiah in a hall of heroes.
We face the pit of the grave
We face the lion of loss.
We face them in snowy circumstances.
Who was the help of Benaiah, the great warrior? It was his God, who is also my God, Jehovah who sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. In this time of sudden loss, I encourage you to turn to him. He is the God who strengthens the hands and hearts of warriors.
Today we stand in a hall of warriors. There are many stories of bravery behind most of these stones that will never be told to human ears.
Standing in this hall of warriors I bring you a thought from the Scriptures.
2 Samuel 23:20-23
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
Today we stand like Benaiah in a hall of heroes.
We face the pit of the grave
We face the lion of loss.
We face them in snowy circumstances.
Who was the help of Benaiah, the great warrior? It was his God, who is also my God, Jehovah who sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. In this time of sudden loss, I encourage you to turn to him. He is the God who strengthens the hands and hearts of warriors.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
"I Will Rebuke the Devourer"
"I Will Rebuke the Devourer..." is the promise of Malachi 3:11 for those who tithe. The NIV says he, "...will prevent pests..." but either way it refers to God's protection of your field and your work.
My work is being a pastor. My field is the congregation. As a faithful tither I am challenged today to trust God to prevent pests in my field and keep my harvest of souls healthy in their relationship with Jesus Christ. I am trusting God to defend the church I lead from the pests and devourers of gossip, bad doctrine, sickness, discord and other pests that keep the family of God from health and an abundant harvest of souls who love Jesus. Our children, our teens, our college students and our new believers are the developing harvest in my field. The mature saints, Elders, Staff, and Small Group leaders are the workers in the field helping to raise up that harvest.
Stand on the promise for a tither. He said he will do it!
My work is being a pastor. My field is the congregation. As a faithful tither I am challenged today to trust God to prevent pests in my field and keep my harvest of souls healthy in their relationship with Jesus Christ. I am trusting God to defend the church I lead from the pests and devourers of gossip, bad doctrine, sickness, discord and other pests that keep the family of God from health and an abundant harvest of souls who love Jesus. Our children, our teens, our college students and our new believers are the developing harvest in my field. The mature saints, Elders, Staff, and Small Group leaders are the workers in the field helping to raise up that harvest.
Stand on the promise for a tither. He said he will do it!
A Neat Story
Did you know that Colonel Sanders of KFC was Christian? Here is a cool story with some encouraging conclusions from his story. This was sent to me from one of our church members.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Daniel Students
I want some Daniel students in our church. This week I am reading the book of Daniel in my devotions. This is how we are introduced to Daniel.
"...bring in some Israelites...young men without physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve..." Daniel 1:3-4
We are out to reach every student we can with the gospel of Jesus. Then, we must equip them to become the most excellent people that they can possibly be. This week I am focused on making our student ministries to youth and children more equipped to produce Daniel students.
My challenge to you is that you help Pastor John, Dylan, and me fight this fight. Fight for the youth ministry at our church. Push it to be excellent. Join in the work of making it excellent. I want students ministries to be fun, but fun is not the mark of success in ministry. It is only a very basic starting point. Building people who are excellent in Christian character, knowledge of God, and seriously striving to build their talents for service are the marks of excellence. We may not be perfect, but we can be excellent! We have young men and women with the raw materials to be Daniel students. Now we need to fight for their potential to be excellent.
"...bring in some Israelites...young men without physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve..." Daniel 1:3-4
We are out to reach every student we can with the gospel of Jesus. Then, we must equip them to become the most excellent people that they can possibly be. This week I am focused on making our student ministries to youth and children more equipped to produce Daniel students.
My challenge to you is that you help Pastor John, Dylan, and me fight this fight. Fight for the youth ministry at our church. Push it to be excellent. Join in the work of making it excellent. I want students ministries to be fun, but fun is not the mark of success in ministry. It is only a very basic starting point. Building people who are excellent in Christian character, knowledge of God, and seriously striving to build their talents for service are the marks of excellence. We may not be perfect, but we can be excellent! We have young men and women with the raw materials to be Daniel students. Now we need to fight for their potential to be excellent.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)