demons

Demons.  Figurative demons.  Those things that vex us and torment us and sometimes dominate us.  Everyone has a dark side.  People who act like they don't are dangerous.  Flee from them.  Perfect people are fake.  Period.

One person's demon is drink.  Another's is gambling.  One person battles with arrogance.  Another with temper.  One fights depression, one laziness, another abuses prescription drugs.  Someone is physically abusive to others, someone else has multiple affairs.  On and on the list goes.

What every your demons are, it is good to know which ones they are and where you find them.  It is good to know this so that you can stay away from them.  Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.  Your demons are your enemies.  Keep an eye on them.  Keep them in your sights.  Control them.  Fight them.  The moment you forget about them, or ignore them, trouble is on the horizon.

Use all the will power that you have.  Your participation is important.  But always remember that God is at hand to help as well.  When we are weak, then he is strong.  We may feel powerless, but God can help us make it through a difficult time.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

A psalm of lament

Today my middle daughter Jennifer left to join my wife and our oldest daughter, Allision in Florida..... a permanent move.


A psalm of lament when my wife and daughters moved away..........

Every time I think of you I am struck with sadness.
I can't stop the sobbing.
Load groaning from deep inside.

Don't leave me.
I don't want to be alone.
You that I love.... come back to me.

The pets hear the cries of a wounded animal.
They come to my aid.
I am inconsolable.

I can't share this with anyone.
Don't read this blog - don't speak to me of it.
It is too personal, it is too raw.

Finally the cries cease.
A quiet peace settles in.
Love hurts but God is there.

We will see each other as we can.
Distance does not reduce love.
Absence does make the heart grow fonder.

Back to work.
Back to my friends. 
I am not alone.

It is still a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

love and judgment

Love and judgment are mutually exclusive.  The moment we judge someone, we have stopped loving them.

Imagine that I am telling you about a friend of mine and about how wonderful they are.  Your heart is warmed by my description.  Then when you meet them, you see that they are covered with tattoos, piercings and are smoking. 

Your brain automatically recoils in judgment. 

What happened to how your heart was warmed by my description of them?  Our propensity to judge others pushes love right out of the way.

Had our hearts been only filled with love, we would have met the person and not have been surprised or affected by their appearance.

The next time that you catch yourself judging someone, stop yourself and think instead of loving them.  See them as a person.  See them as God sees them.  The moment that we do that, judgment leaves.

Love and judgment are mutually exclusive.  Which one do you want your life to be dominated by?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Angry

My post of Thursday last week was reposted on Facebook by six people.  The comments that they received included some very nice comments and some very angry ones.

So someone jumps on facebook and leaves a 30 second rant about something that they don't agree with.  The only person that Jesus ranted against was the Pharisees.  The Pharisees were those who judged others instead of loving them.  My comments were not a slippery slope. Jesus was much more grace filled than many of his followers today.  He would be quite surprised that many of his followers today are pointing so many fingers...........

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

quote from Lions Den Man

From the movie - A River Runs Through it.........

Each one of us here today will, at one time in our lives...look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question. “We are willing to help, Lord...but what, if anything, is needed? “It is true we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give...or more often than not, the part we have to give...is not wanted. And so it is those we live with and should know who elude us...but we can still love them. We can love completely...without complete understanding.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

perspective

I read this somewhere last week.......

Don't cry because a thing is over.
Smile because it happened.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

why I go to church

A friend wrote to me and said the following:

I don't want to know everyone's political opinions at church.  I don't want it forced on my child at church.  I want to come to church, to love God, to love my neighbors, and to put aside judgment.  I don't want my church to be about what I'm against or what you are against.

I could not have said it any better.......

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

right and wrong

We like to be right.  It is much more enjoyable than being wrong.  We all like to be right, but it is impossible for everyone to be right all the time.  We are such dualists.  We almost always measure a thing by whether or not we are for or against it.  Consequently, if we take that approach, some will be right and some will be wrong on any given topic.

A friend reminded me that life is not always about being right.  Sometimes life just must be lived.  Sometimes we have to just let a thing lie and live our lives.  We can't fix everything and I don't want to spend my life being angry about what I can't control.  Life is good, and it is too short to be dominated by negative unhappy thoughts.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Food for thought

Sometimes we have already made our mind up on a topic.  I invite you to hear me out on this one.  Please let this post be food for thought.

The Holy Bible has a great deal to say about the social issues of the day.  Some of what the Bible says about a social issue will support your personal stance, and some of it will not.  I am going to intentionally repeat that sentence.  Please read it again and let it settle in.  Some of what the Bible says about a social issue will support your personal stance and some of it will not.

From time to time, our nation is in an uproar over one social issue or another.  I certainly have my opinions on social issues and so do you.  There are many different kinds of people in God's family, and they don't all see things the same way.  Let me be clear - I was not called to the ministry of getting you to agree with me on social issues.  I was called to the ministry of Jesus Christ. 

What did Jesus say about social issues?  Homosexuality, capital punishment and gambling were all rampant in Jesus' day.  Yet, he does not address them.  I am not saying that he agreed or disagreed with any particular one, he certainly would have had his thoughts, which makes it all the more interesting that  He does not address them.   He refuses to separate people by whether or not they agree on a particular issue.  Jesus stays on mission.  I am your pastor.  I must stay on mission.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  Jesus had an amazing ability to bring diverse types of people together.

I don't understand or agree with everything that happens in this world, but that is not the point.  Inside my heart there is a deep desire to love God and follow Jesus in loving others.  I hope that is enough for you.  It was enough for Jesus and it is enough for me.

It's still a beautiful day  in God's world, be sure to see the good. 

those people

I have a friend who lives a long way away and I don't get to see him very often.  The last time he was in town we were talking and I used the phrase, "those people."

He called me on it.  Quite directly.

When we say "those people," we are creating a class, a separate group.  We are excluding or measuring or judging those people.  Not a good thing.

The other day someone asked me about a particular group of those people.  They asked what I thought about those people and what they should think about those people.  I was smart enough to remember a conversation I had with Pat Stark in which he reminded me of something that a preacher should know. 

The core of the Christian faith is to love.  Period.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  If we have everything, but have not love, we have nothing.

What should we think about those people?  We should love them.  The amazing love of God smashes through our discomfort and prejudices and insists that everyone is to be loved.  Remember, the only people that Jesus cast away were the Pharisees.  The Pharisees however, judged everyone and cast many people away. 

Unfortunately these days, too many Christians act like the Pharisees and too few act like Jesus.

Just love them and let God figure out the rest of it.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

procrastination

Don't put off until tomorrow what you need to do today.  A stitch in time, saves nine. 

Christopher Parker said, "procrastination is like a credit card.  It is a lot of fun until you get the bill."

I don't just believe in work hard, play hard.  In fact I am not sure I believe in that at all.  I would say however, work really hard and be sure to play as well. 

But I definitely do believe in work first, play second.  If a person will not do this, they will find nothing but pain in life as they continue to create situations of pressure and never actually get to find the enjoyment of life.

This is the true joy in life.  To work hard.  To bust it.  To get after it.  And then, after the work is done, to sit and enjoy.  To rest and celebrate.  Do your chores first, then go sit on the porch.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

sad - happy

Today I have some sad but happy news.  You know that my oldest daughter lives in Florida.  So does my wife, about 50% of the time.  [how weird is that?]  Well now my middle daughter has landed a job in Florida and will be moving there in a few weeks.

I am sad for me.  I don't want to be anymore lonely than I already am.  But I am very happy for her.  This is what she wanted and it is a great opportunity.  She will also be in close proximity to her mom and sister.

Let's chat about loneliness for a moment.  Being alone isn't always horrible.  When I am alone, I get to think.  When I am alone, I get to pray.  When I am alone, I get to work on things inside of me that I need to fix.  Most of us could use a little bit more time alone.  Solitude is an important spiritual discipline that is hard to grab onto in this fast paced world of computers and cell phones.

Sometimes in life we have to celebrate the joys for others and just keep working on our own stuff.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

baseball or football

The baseball season is half over.  I am always sad when the season ends.

Someone asked me the other day which I liked better, baseball or football.  Well when I was younger, I liked football better.  I loved watching it and I loved playing it.  I was actually a better football player than I ever was a baseball or softball player.

Today, things are different.  I still like football, but I love baseball season and I dread football season.  Why you might ask?

Remember, this life is all about me, right?

I can go to baseball games with my friends.  I cannot go to football games because they are on Sundays.  Even if it is a 3pm game, by the time I get there, I have missed most of the fun.

The other thing is this - baseball still respects Sunday church time.  The games don't start until 1:10 and no one tailgates before.  Football games start at noon and although we have an 8am service, very few members who are going to the game will attend at 8am.  So since I love the church and I am invested in the success of the church, I tend to see football as a competitor.

Now you know that I don't believe in guilt.  T
hose of you who are fortunate enough to go to the games, keep going, of course!  But, please remember that we do have an 8am service and you can wear your Chiefs gear to church anytime you want.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Windy Day

There was a big storm a few weeks ago.  Trees down, power lines down and this....... a steeple down.  Someone who is involved in missions at Woods Chapel thought that it would be nice for our church to offer a helping hand.  Even with insurance, a large deductible would be a burden and a surprise expense to most churches.  

With the permission of the missions director and the budget team leader, a check was cut for $500 to help this church. They are just up the road from us, and it could just as easily have been our steeple.

I had the pleasure of delivering the news about the check.  The people from the church that I spoke to were just overwhelmed with gratitude.  They were so so very thankful.  

"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."  Galatians 6:9-10

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Elders and Licensed Local Pastors

In the United Methodist Church, Elders are ordained clergy who have been to seminary.  Licensed Local Pastors are those who have been called by God, but instead of attending seminary they go through an extended educational training called "Course of Study."

Now with that explanation, here is the blog for today.

I spent a few days with some Licensed Local Pastors last week.  They were completely delightful human beings.  I was a bit surprised when some of them told me that they are routinely demeaned by Elders because they are ordained and have been to seminary and Licensed Local Pastors have not.

I hope that isn't true but if it is, let me say a few words to any Elders that would do that:  Shame.  Shame.  Shame.  Are your prayers better?  Is your heart purer?  Is your calling any different than someone who is only licensed?  If you would ever demean another pastor - STOP.  Stop it.

If we can't deliver grace to other pastors, how can we ever give it to our members?  Every one is in this ministry thing together.  There is no first class section.  God needs every person that is called.  In John Wesley's famous doctrine of the catholic spirit he asked a simple but profound question, Is your heart like mine?  Then give me your hand.

Elders, listen.  Local Pastors need our care and support.  There is no better than.  Period.  Share God's love, everywhere, and with everyone.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

wait your turn

The other day I stopped at Subway for a breakfast sandwich.  Mmmmm tasty.

An older woman got in line behind me and I made my way down the fixins line.  Arriving at the cashier, I was negotiating my payment, when a loud, older gentleman came in and started talking to the only employee there, who was helping me at the time.

He came right up behind me and talked right around me and through me.  He wanted a cup of coffee.  I found his behavior annoying...... and it is all about me, right?

I finished paying and took my time leaving the cashier area.  The cashier asked if I was ok.  Yes I said I was ok, but that lady in line over there is next.  Then I left.

I don't know if the employee helped the woman in line who had waited patiently or the man who was insistent on his coffee.  But please friends, get in line!  Wait your turn.  Your transaction may be small but wait your turn!  Would we cut in line at the grocery store in front of others simply because we wanted change for a $20.

Respecting others is so very important in this life.
And no, it is not about me.  That is why we wait in line.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Dr Phil

Decisions.  We all make them.  Some of ours are good and some of them are not so good.  One of the signs of bad decisions are bad outcomes.  It is usually, almost always true that a continued, regular habit of bad decisions is going to bring bad outcomes. 

People argue with Dr. Phil and he says of their behavior, "so how is that working for you?"  It is as if he knows that the outcome of a certain behavior is predictable.

What kind of decisions am I making?  You?  What results are you getting?  Usually if we want a different outcome in life, we need to make different and better decisions.  A better tomorrow awaits for those who make good decisions.  The outcome of good decisions is also predictable.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

comment from a friend

This came in by email from a reader and I thought it was insightful.......

I was thinking, last night, about your “tag line” – It’s a beautiful day in God’s world – be sure to see the good.  You said in one of your blogs a while back that some people aren’t really happy with that line.  Well – I LOVE it…  here is how I look at it…

There may be problems in my life – I may have worries – but I need to remember to look for the good…  Maybe it will be a beautiful sunset – or the smile of a friend – but even in our darkest hours – we’ll be happier if we look for the good…

It’s a beautiful day in God’s world – because GOD is IN the world – helping us – strengthening us and surrounding us with his love.  Sometimes the world may seem ugly – but God is still there – you just have to remember to look…

If I’m really upset or worried – I may drive along and completely miss the beauty of nature –

If I’m really focused on MY problems – I may totally miss the smile or support from a friend or family member…

And if I’m filled with negativity – I actually INCREASE the negativity in my life –

It may be storming in my city – but in other parts of the world – the sun is shining – the grass is growing – the wind is blowing – and the ocean waves are moving along.  The world is beautiful.  But we sometimes forget to see it.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

time to laugh

Ok, so I have grown fond of these bottles of carbonated water. 1 liter, berry flavor.   Jonnie Wells won't let me drink diet coke anymore, so I found these.  $.68 for a one liter bottle at Walmart.  HyVee has them too - look for the helpful smile in every isle if you get lost.

So I am in Walmart the other day and I buy 5 of these.  I had a cart, but guess what, the wheel was bumpy and noisy, so I ditched it.  But I did learn that five bottles is about all I can carry.  They are sliding in and out of my control.  Then the unthinkable happens.  One of them leaves the safety of my arm cradle and makes the floor.

Let's be clear about what happens next.  If you drop one of these just right, the top will in fact pop off and the carbonation will detonate. Think of mentos in a diet coke.  Explosion!   That bottle of water hit the floor in Walmart and shot about 25 feet across the floor, leaving a stream of water behind.

I was shocked.  I was surprised.  I was embarrassed.   I had to wait for an employee to come by so I could ask them to get a mop.  I stood guard.  I kept telling customers - go the other way, there is water on the floor.  I said to one guy - it wasn't me, it was the one armed man.

Next time, I am going to hold on to them tighter or just get a cart.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Ken Stabler

I have always been a Chiefs fan.  So naturally as a young man, I have hated people like Fred Biletnikoff and Ken Stabler.  They were the enemy.


Good people are Chiefs fans.  Bad people root for the Raiders.


Right?


Ken Stabler died on Wednesday last week after a six month bout with colon cancer.  He was 69.  During his life he raised and donated over $600,000 to the Ronald McDonald house charities.  Maybe not such a bad guy.


I hated him because he wore black and silver.  Today I want to tell you how dumb it is to hate people for any reason.  Life is short and our fellow humans beings deserve to be cared for. 


It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

ideas

What kind of ideas do you enjoy?  What kind do you seek out?  Only those that affirm what you already believe?  Or do you relish ideas that stretch you?


When we settle only for ideas that affirm what we already believe, we have stopped growing.  We have in our own mind, "arrived" as if there is such a thing.


Don't be afraid of ideas that stretch you.  That is how our hearts and minds get bigger.


It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

quote

"It has take me my entire life to learn that almost everything is none of my business."
                                                                   Richard Rohr


So, I don't have to fix everything.  I don't have to solve everything. I don't have to speak into everything.  I can, on occasion, just live my life and mind my own business.


It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

I'm ok

I met with a friend last night who was very concerned that I was ok.  "ok."  Well I was raised German Lutheran.  I am not used to people wondering if you are ok.  You just get up and go.  That is what you do.

But in case anyone wondered, yes my wife is on the road 2-3 weeks per month.  Yes we are taking on the Blue Springs Church. Yes, it is summertime and folks are on vacation.

I am ok.  All is well.  You know the old saying, when the going gets tough......

All is well.  Really it is.

It is a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

fears

Most fears are unfounded.  Most of what I am concerned about,  I will not even remember a week from now.

I am not suggesting that you should walk down dark alleys on purpose, but most of what we fear is imagined in our brains.  We have been hurt in the past and we expect to be hurt again.

Consider the amount of energy and tension that you allow to be created in your heart and mind over a particular thing.  How does it compare to the size of the issue?  What is the worst that can happen?  We worry too much.  We give too much power to our fears.

God is with us.  Who can be against us?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Born Again

"Born Again."  Here is a phrase that is quite Biblical.  Read John chapter 3.  It is also a phrase that Christians have used to hurt people, both non-Christians and fellow Christians as well.  Bad idea.  If you don't do your faith exactly as they think that you should, then you are not born again.  They are in, and you are out.  As if they are in charge of who is in and who is out.

Interesting thing about the notion of being born again though is this... to be born again, one must die to the old self.  One must give up the notion, that I am right, that I know and you don't.  To be born again is to be born of the Spirit.  My old opinions now must fade away.

Before we were born again, we judged others, we insisted on our way, and we were always right.  After we were born of the spirit, we stopped trying to be in control.  We accepted others where they are at.  We simply let God's love shine through us.

Die to self.  Born to God.  = Good stuff.

It is a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

see the good

Yikes.  Uh Oh. 

I had a new thought and I don't like it.

I have written for years with the tag line, "it's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good."  Here is my new thought...... that line, as challenging as it is to me and my way of thinking, carries with it an implication that somehow my opportunity each day is to look past circumstances and see the good.  It has occurred to me that a part of that thinking is very self consumed....

Oh, we have so many problems, God, help us to see the good.  Oh, I have an old car, I have an old knee, I have a whatever, my air conditioner is out.  God help me see the good.

Yikes.  When you think about the rest of the world, we have so much.  I have an old car?  Most people in the world would love to have my car.  I have a rusty truck?  Most people would want the truck and never see the rust.  I have a bad knee?  I also  have insurance, doctors and hospitals to take care of that knee anytime I actually decide to stop complaining about it and get it fixed.  My a/c is out?  Most people in the world would love to live in my home.

I am reminded of a quote from Jen Hatmaker's book Interrupted, we are "far too consumed with worthless things."  Let me go on, what an embarrassment for us to laugh about "first world problems."  What if we stop worrying about our worries anyway- most people in this world would love to have our problems.  What if we train our brains to look and see the issues of others and act to help them, and only give 30 minutes a day to worrying about our issues?  Now that would be seeing the good.

When we start thinking like this, maybe we will do all that we can to stop simply consuming, and actually make the world a better place for others.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

are you open to ideas that are different?

Are you open to ideas that are different than what is currently in your brain?  The Holy Spirit cannot change those who are unwilling to change.  We must open our minds if God would drag us out of our self-centered world views and help us see the world as he does.

Once upon a time a man had a conversation with an embryo. 

He said, “Hey, look at you.  All curled up in a ball with your eyes closed.  Wake up.  Shake it off.  The world outside is vast and intricate.  There are wheat fields and mountain passes and orchards in bloom.  At night there are millions of galaxies, and you don’t want to miss the beauty of sunlight or the joy of friends dancing at a wedding.”

Why little embryo do you stay cooped up in the dark with your eyes closed?”

The embryo answers:

There is no “other world”  I only know what I’ve experienced.  You must be hallucinating.

Are you open to ideas that are different than what is currently in your brain?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

July 4

I have many memories of the 4th of July as do most of you.  As a kid:  fireworks, swimming, and watermelon.  As an adult:  fireworks and being with friends.  It is a day to remember the blessings of being an American.

As a country, we have not always done the right thing.  But as a country, we have also done a lot of good.  I believe that the world is a better place because America is here. 

How wonderful it is to live in a land where you are able to disagree.  We are not the same as each other, and we are not forced to pretend that we are.  You may not agree with every politician or every decision, but I proudly declare today that we are very blessed to live here.  I would also remind myself and all of us that we have an obligation to give out of our abundance to care for others in the world.  God has not blessed us simply for us to consume the blessings. 

When we remember the starving people around the world and actually do something to help them, well, that is something to celebrate.  Happy 4th.  Happy life - for everyone in God's world.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Old Glory

Tomorrow is the 4th of July, which brought this to mind. For years I have gone on a camping and floating trip with some friends. A few years ago a new tradition was introduced. Close to day’s end, as things begin to settle down, we retire a flag that has served well but is ready to be destroyed in a dignified manner.  It is a ceremony.  One at a time we each take part of the flag and share words about those we know and don’t know who have served as patriots in and out of uniform. The pieces are laid on the fire and as it burns we close singing God Bless America then a moment of silence.  It is a good and powerful feeling. 

Happy Independence Day.  Thanks to those who have made this celebration possible.

Peace,

Lion’s Den Man

1992-Last of the Mohicans

One of my all-time favorite movies. Maybe because it is about a simpler view on life. Maybe because it displays pure love between souls, or because it shows a life based on integrity. Maybe all of the above and more. The scene near the end always hits me hard. A father and his son, and how the father feels for the son, and how he does what is needed for the son. He seeks to honor his son and avenge those who took his son’s life. All this, because it feels to be the right thing to do…..

It is a human movie with human themes and I can’t draw a comparison to God and the Son except to say that we, as a people, love vengeance and how it makes us feel whole….for the moment. But, God unconditionally loves us and needs none of that…..that is what makes life as a follower so very hard at times to do and understand.

Peace,

Lion’s Den Man

three steps

I often wonder what it would be like to be fully invested in life. To live freely.  What would I being doing differently. What thoughts would guide my days? It seems the older I get the more I think about this and the more I realize it is what I need.

Richard Rohr writes, “We become free as we let go of our three primary energy centers: our need for power and control, our need for safety and security, and our need for affection and esteem. “  

That’s a tall order but I couldn’t agree more.

Peace,

Lion’s Den Man

babies

Everyone loves babies.

Since my wife isn't around feeding me all the time, I have started frequenting Taco Night at Brew Top.  I watched this momma bird build the nest, then sit on the nest, and finally......... babies!!  First you could not see them, only hear them....... now, they are big and fat and I wonder how they all fit in the nest.

This picture reminds me of the nursery rhyme "there was an old woman who lived in a shoe, she had so  many children, that she didn't know what to do."  This mother bird must be very harried........ triplets........ loud, noisy, hungry triplets.  No wonder momma birds finally kick the babies out of the nest.

Keep your eyes open for the wonders of nature, the wonders of God's world.  They are all around you.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

my lucky day

Do you hate waiting in line?  Do you notice that you always pick the slow line?  I always seem to get behind the person who wants to write a check, or the person who is lonely and wants to talk to the checker, or the person who has picked up an item that does not have a price tag.  If you see me in the store, say hello, but never get in line behind me.  If you do, you will be sorry because I never choose the right line.

Well, the other day, I hit the jackpot.  Not only was there a line open with no waiting, there were three!!!  And the employees at Price Chopper all looked happy, as if they were glad to be there and glad to help me.  How delightful!

It was a great moment.  I had to take a photo of it.  May I remember moments like this the next time the line is 5 people deep at some store.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

fear or faith

There is an all church meeting tonight at 5pm in the main campus sanctuary.  And so the topic of today's blog.

Fear or faith.  We humans are faced with the decision every day.  Churches and organizations face similar decisions.

Having done my due diligence, do I step out into an opportunity, or do I shrink back?  Do I opt for safety or am I willing to stretch for the kingdom.

Ahh, the kingdom.  Let us make no mistake- the kingdom of God is never about our comfort or us having enough.  It is entirely, completely, 100% about us discomforting ourselves for the sake of the mission.

What might God ask of you?  What might God ask of your church?

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 5:9-10

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

another campus for Woods Chapel?

We announced in church on Sunday that the conference was asking us to take on another campus.  There will be a meeting on Sunday night June 28th at 5pm in the sanctuary to hear about this and ask any quesitons that you may have.  

Here is a Q&A sheet about the opportunity.

St. Peter UMC

Q&A Packet

St. Peter UMC in Blue Springs has closed, primarily due to lack of finances and a decline in attendance.  The Conference Office has asked our church to consider stepping in to help. 

St. Peter is located on the south end of Blue Springs, which is rapidly expanding.  Hundreds of homes have been built over the past few years, with plans for many more to built in the area.  The Conference Office wants to keep a Methodist presence along 7 Highway, as they know this is a prime mission field for the United Methodist Church. 

Rather than start a brand new Methodist church in the building, the Conference Office has asked Woods Chapel Church to start a third campus, thus creating Woods Chapel Church – Blue Springs Campus.  This strategy of asking growing, vibrant churches to create additional campuses has been successful in Missouri and in other states, and the Conference plans to continue this strategy in the future. 

1.    What does this mean in the near future? 

The St. Peter congregation, with advice from the Conference Office, voted to close their church but continue holding a heritage worship service each Sunday in their building until a new church is started in the building.  WCC will begin holding the heritage service on Sunday, June 28 and will continue this service each Sunday morning as long as attendance is approximately 20 or more and giving is regular.  If attendance dips below that threshold for several weeks in a row, or giving stops, we will look at discontinuing the service and asking the church attendees to attend one of our services at WCC.

2.    What does a heritage service look like?

WCC will provide a pre-recorded sermon.  We will provide musicians, a sound technician, and hospitality.  Services will have the same format as WCC 9:05 sanctuary worship.  The music at St. Peter has been contemporary using a piano and instruments, and this will continue.  The time of the service has not been determined.  Services at St. Peter were previously held at 10:00 am.

3.    How will we advertise the heritage service to the community?

We will not advertise this service to the community or invite others to join us.  This heritage service is strictly for the current St. Peter members who do not want to leave their church building and are waiting for a new church to be started there.  We are simply helping out during this time period and are not trying to grow the service.

4.    When will we officially start the new Woods Chapel Church – Blue Springs Campus?

The timetable is very tentative at this point.  The Conference Office has suggested the following:

·         Hold the heritage service for nine months to build trust with the attendees.

·         Appoint a campus pastor for the Blue Springs Campus with a tentative start date of January 2016.

·         Discontinue the heritage service in the summer of 2016.

·         Launch the new Woods Chapel Church – Blue Springs Campus in October 2016.

           

5.    Who owns the building, land, and assets now that St. Peter has closed?

All assets now belong to the Conference Office.  Transfer of ownership to WCC would take place effective January 1, 2016.

6.    What is the financial status?

The church does not have any money.  The total debt is $200,000.  A parsonage will be sold for approximately $150,000, leaving $50,000 of remaining debt.

7.    What is the size of the property?

The church owns approximately 6.8 acres.  In addition to the land the building sits on, the church owns the empty land behind the church and eight-tenths of an acre along 7 Highway to the south of the church. 

8.    What is the condition of the building?

The building is in great condition.  Paint and décor has been updated.  The church has a commercial kitchen, a large fellowship area, and a sanctuary which seats approximately 250.

9.    Who maintains the building and grounds during the heritage service period?

WCC staff and a team of WCC members will maintain the property, with service and maintenance bills being paid by the Conference Office until January 1, 2016. 

10.  Who pays the utility bills during the heritage service period?

The Conference Office will pay the utility bills until January 1, 2016.

11.  Who pays the speakers and musicians during the heritage service period?

The Conference Office will pay until January 1, 2016.

12.  Will an offering be received at heritage services?

Yes, an offering will be received, and the money will help pay for utility bills.

13.  Will there be any Sunday school classes or weekday programming at the building during the heritage service period?

No.  We will invite heritage service attendees to attend programming at WCC during the week.  We will provide a copy of our bulletin each Sunday so that they can hear about the various opportunities. We will not print any separate publications for the heritage service.

14.  Who will provide pastoral care for the heritage service attendees?

Pastoral care will be provided by our team at WCC.  The heritage service attendees will call the main WCC phone number for pastoral care. 

15.  Will the conference help with finances in 2016?

Yes, the conference will provide $300,000 for the new campus, with $125,000 the first year, $100,000 the second year, and $75, 000 the third year.  This grant is intended to be used for ministry and music staff, and facilities and maintenance costs.

16.  How will a campus pastor be chosen for Blue Springs?

The conference will work closely with WCC to determine the best fit for a campus pastor.  It may be a current pastor from WCC or a new appointee. 

17.  What is the role of the campus pastor from January until the new church launch?

Beginning immediately, the campus pastor would work to build interest at the main campus and make connections in the community.  This could be done at the main campus by inviting interested parties to cook outs, bible studies, social hours and such.  This could be done in the community by getting involved and known in the community via Rotary, Chamber and the local schools.

18.  What is the role of the campus pastor after the launch?

The campus pastor will be onsite most Sundays, leading the worship.  We envision this campus being a video venue, meaning the sermons will be brought by the Senior Pastor via video approximately three Sundays a month.  The campus pastor will preach 9-12 times per year at the satellite campus and several times a year at the main campus.  The campus pastor will provide pastoral care and officiate funerals, weddings, and baptisms. 

19.  What will happen during the summer of 2016?

The summer of 2016 will be a quiet period, meaning there will not be any worship services or programming at the Blue Springs campus.  This time will be used to make changes to the building so that it looks and feels like WCC. 

20.  What renovations will be needed?

The signage will need to be changed.  Minor façade changes may be made to give the building more curb appeal.  Interior decorating changes will be made to mimic the feel of WCC’s main campus. 

21.  What programming will there be for children and students after the launch?

Children’s Sunday school and nursery will be held each Sunday.  We are also exploring a parent’s day out.

22.  How will we invite people to the new church?

The first step will be identifying our current WCC attendees that live in the mission field around the Blue Springs campus.  We will gather this group together and gauge their interest in becoming missionaries in their own neighborhood by attending the new campus.  This ‘launch team’ will be crucial to the success of the new launch by inviting their neighbors and friends to the new church.  In addition to the campus pastor’s efforts to engrain him/herself in the community, we anticipate mailers, events, small groups, and missions efforts. 

23.  What recommendations have we received from the Conference Office for the new church launch?

a)    Choose the right campus pastor who is engaged with the community.

b)    Maintain communication with the main campus so that all campuses are working together for the common mission.

24.  When will we have to start paying apportionments for the new campus?

Apportionments would be paid beginning in 2020.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, don't be afraid of change, and don't be afraid of being stretched.  God is with us - be sure to see the good. 

I am normal

I don't tell people that I am a pastor.  Many people have no idea what to do with that knowledge and they start to act weird when they find out.  I love it when members introduce me as "their friend, Jeff."  I love it when months or years later, a person finds out that I am a pastor....... They got the chance to know me as a person, without the trappings of being a minister.  When I am introduced as someones pastor, I always follow up with, "but I am normal."

I am normal.  What does that mean?  It means that many people have a preconceived notion that pastors are going to guilt them or pressure them or act holier than thou.  I refuse to do these things.  I don't wear the ministry garb, I won't guilt you and I am certainly not holier than anyone else.

We are all on this journey together.  We are all the same.  Pastors are people too.  They are all normal, whether they know it or not.

Thanks for keeping me around to be your pastor, and thanks for allowing me to be normal.

It's a beautiful normal day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

so what

I don't want to minimize sin, but some people will never let a thing go.  They suffer for years over something that they have asked for forgiveness for many times- as though God might grant forgiveness if we keep pestering him.

You only have to ask for forgiveness once.

 A long time friend thanked me for something.  He said that at a time when he shared his deepest hurts, his biggest sins, I said, "so what."

What have you done?  What evil secrets are in your past?  Go to our Father, ask for forgiveness, then let them go.  You did a bad thing?  So what.  You are forgiven.

Accept the simple gift that God actually does forgive you and he separates us from our sins as far as the east is from the west.

God is good, all the time.  Bad things?  So what.  God is with us and God is for us.  If God is for us, then who can be against us?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Insecurities

Insecurities run rampant.  I don't like how I look so I dye my hair, I get hair implants, I have plastic surgery.  I can't wear the same outfit again.  I must have a new, fresh and flashy look at all times.  I must drive a cool car, I must be seen on the outside to be hip and together.

And on the inside, person after person that I meet is hiding behind a curtain of insecurity.  How sad.  How very very sad.  Oh, if you knew how much God loves you!  Oh, if you knew how beautiful he thinks you are!

We need to think less about what others think of us and more about what God thinks of us.  We are loved and accepted into the household of faith.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Charleston

I finally decided to write a few words on this topic...... it is such a painful one.

Nine people shot dead at a Methodist Church in Charleston.  Murdered.  Executed.  Why?  Because a very young man decided that he hated another race.

We shake our heads.  We take a deep breath and wonder who could do such a thing.  We pray for the families of the victims.  We pray for the family of the killer.  Although part of our brains does not want to do so, we pray for the shooter.  May God reach in and change his heart.

Hatred is ugly.  Very ugly.  May we all do everything that we can to eradicate it from our hearts and minds.  May God's love prevail.........

joy

Joy.  I received an email from a friend last week that reminded me that there is a joy in doing God's work.

We think joy is found when we do what we want.  That is a form of taking - sort of a "I will do what I want, and that will make me happy." 

There is a different kind of joy that comes when we do God's work.  When we give ourselves to him, believing that the greater joy comes when our priority is no longer what we want to do but what he wants. 

Not my will but thine be done.  Missing some joy in your life?  Ask God who you can touch for him today, get about doing it, and see if you don't find the joy rekindled.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Father's Day

Today is Father's Day.  Hip hip hooray!  It is a day to feel proud of my kids.  It is a day to be happy for the gift of having children.  My children are the best and I love them very much.  I want them to know that I am proud of them every single day of my life.

I was 38 years old when my dad told me for the first time that he loved me.  I want my kids to know that they are loved, every day, every moment of their lives.  Even if they are having a bad week or a difficult time with something, they are dearly loved.

May each of us understand that God feels the same way about us.  We don't always get it right, sometimes we get it wrong, but we are loved, dearly loved by our heavenly Father.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

spelling

Sometimes I think that I am not a very good speller.  Even with spell check, sometimes, I cannot figure out how to spell a word.  I thank God for every time that the word is fixed automatically by spell check.

Words I have trouble spelling.............restless, occasion, familiar, commitment.  On and on the list goes.  It is like I mis-learned them with I was in 3rd grade, and I have never learned to get the correct spelling inside of my brain.

I hope that you have words that you have trouble spelling.  It is a small reminder that we still have things to learn.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

words

I rarely post on facebook.  From time to time, I do read what others post. 

I would like to take a moment to remind readers of this blog that facebook is not private.  Even if someone is not your facebook friend, your posts and comments can easily be captured [copied or screenshot] by others and forwarded to anyone they wish.

I witness comments about people's pastors, about their churches, about other brothers and sisters that attend their church.  Sometimes the comments are nice, but sometimes they are not.

Dear friends, the tongue, whether words spoken or written, the tongue is a restless evil.  Most of the pain that is delivered in this life, comes from our mouths or our pens.  I beg you as fellow Christians to be very careful about what you say and what you write.  Nothing is private, for on the internet, all things done in private have ways of becoming known.

May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in the sight of our God.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

belief and practice

Some Christians insist that you believe it all, and believe it just right.  Their faith is rooted in doctrine and belief.  They want to make sure that others believe it, just as they do.

There is another way.  Other Christians live out their faith rooted not so much in belief, but in practice.  Not that doctrine is not important, but these are those who understand that we do not know it all.  We do not have all the answers, and what we think we know, we are often wrong about.  And so they practice.... they love others, they pray, they give thanks, they live a life of faith.

Belief or practice.  What is most prominent in your spiritual life?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

conditions

I talk to people all the time who want to do God's work, but on their own terms.  They want to follow Jesus, but they put conditions on many things.  This seems an acceptable thing to do for them, because we humans are so used to having it our way.

Jesus rejects our conditions.  He accepts nothing less than unconditional surrender.  If you dare to be used by God, you must deny your self, and follow him.  There are no excuses and there are no conditions. 

Do you want to listen to and for God's leading?  Then be prepared to be made uncomfortable.  It's all about unconditional surrender.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

showing love

"You can show your love for others by not wishing that they were better Christians."  St. Francis

What does that mean?
It means that it is not our job to make people better Christians, that is God's job.  It is our job to love and welcome.  Anytime we meet someone and their is an air of "you need to improve-" we are hurting them.

Yes we must sometimes tell that to employees and our children, but when we do it just because we think we are right and someone else is wrong, then wounds are inflicted.

Release others from your preconceived notions about who they are and what they are doing.  Love them and place them in the hands of our loving Father.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

refugee

I have a friend whose mom was a refugee from Vietnam, leaving with the "boat people" after the fall of Saigon in 1975.  In case you are good with math, yes, he is younger than I am.

I was emailing with one of my buds the other day and I was reminded of the old saying, "we are all refugees from something."

Maybe it is a difficult upbringing [me.]  Maybe it is insecurity [me.]  I have a friend who grew up homeless.  I know people that spend the rest of their lives trying to recover from a divorce, a death, or a hurt of some kind.

We are all refugees from something. 

The good news is that we refugees have a place to go.  Thank God for our friends, but mostly, thank God for God.  In him we can find comfort and hope, even when our past tries to drag us down.  We may all be refugees, but thanks to Jesus, we are going somewhere.  We are on a journey of learning to love and see the good in this life.

It is a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

to take

Children take things from each other.  "That is my toy!  Give it!"  Adults take things too.  We may not steal from each other, but we take things from God.

We grab on to a thing and hold onto it, insisting that we have a right to it.  It is mine!  Mine! 

What if instead of clinging to a thing, we gave it over to God.  What if we released it to Him?  Then and only then he could bless us by giving it back to us as he saw fit.  As long as we cling to a thing, it cannot be given to us by God.  The moment we release it to him, we allow him to show his generous love by giving that thing or any thing unto us.

To hold a thing is to watch it slip through our fingers.  To release a thing is to gain our proper place in life.  After all, we are stewards, not owners.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

friends

There are a few people in this world that are amazing.  I loved them from the moment I met them.  We have moved in and out of each other's lives over the years.  We have carried each other in difficult times.  We have celebrated the joys.

When we can't get together, it is still ok.  Nothing high maintenance here.  When we do get together, it is the best.

I am smiling.  That is an amazing friendship.  I hope you have people that just seem to keep filling you up.  Be sure to tell them thank you.

It is a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

you finally did it

You finally did it.  You pushed me over the edge.  Was it your comment after church?  Was it the comment that you posted on the blog?  Was it the email that you sent?  I don't know for sure, but I have had it.  After all the kindness that I have tried to show to you, I get this?  Really?  Well, I want you to know that I am not going to take this lying down.  I have already acted.  Yes, I did it. I snuck over to your house and kidnapped your pet rabbit.  You can have him back only if you apologize.

Hmmmm.  Did any of you wonder if I was mad at you?  Did any of you think I was really mad?  I am not mad at you.  I am not mad at anyone.

I have been thinking lately about how we collect things that aren't necessarily ours, like blame and guilt.  If you read the first four lines and wondered if I was talking about you, you have made my point.  We spend too much time thinking that something is wrong, that something is broken, and that something must be worried about.

Make your default something else.  Nothing is wrong!  All is well.  No one is mad at you.  And if they are, relax.  Don't let their unhappiness spoil the day.

But I am still going to hold your rabbit hostage until you say uncle.

It's a beautiful, joyful, guilt-free day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

enmity

An enmity was created.

He thought it was done to him out of spite. He thought the other was intentionally trying to hurt him.  But, the other person just thought they were doing their job.  They did not realize the hurt that was being delivered.

And so in response to one hurt, one misunderstood hurt, a lifetime of retaliation was unleashed.  One being surprised by the other at random times with strange looks, odd words and various forms of rejection.  They gathered their friends together and encouraged them to mount up in attack against the foe.  A lifetime of warfare ensued.

All of this was completely unnecessary.

How many times in our lives have we taken offense when no offense was intended?  How often have we let our pride get in the way instead of looking for a milder response?  Give the person that hurt you a little slack.  Maybe they are simply reacting to your reaction to them.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

my life

A friend asked me the other day about my life.  The value of my life and my greatest joys and accomplishments.  I think that they were surprised when I told them that the most important thing to me was that at my funeral my children stood up and said that I was a good Dad.

Yes, being a pastor is important and I have seen many wonderful things over the years.  But if I succeed with the church and fail as a father, what does that say about my life?

I love my children and I would take a bullet for them.  I love the church too, but if I were ever forced to choose, I  would have to stand with my family.  I wasn't always a pastor, and someday I  will stop being one.  But I will always be a father and a husband.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

spiritual

When something is truly spiritual, it does not need to be announced.  People will see it for what it is.

Imagine a person wearing a shirt that said, "I am spiritual."  It would be a bit off-putting.  If someone is spiritual, you can tell.  They don't need to tell you, you will just know.

If a church is experiencing a revival, you don't need a sign out front.  In short order, everyone in town will hear about it from those who are being revived.

It is far better for someone else to say something nice about you then for you to say something about yourself.  Self-promotion smells bad and leaves a bad taste in our mouths.

May we be those who waste no time and energy on self-promotion, but learn to focus our energy on being the kind of people that are living the Kingdom life. 

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

The All

We humans tend to gravitate to our own interests, only loving the parts of a thing that seem relevant to us.  I only care about my service, the 9:05 service.  I only care about education.  I only care about mission, my favorite mission to be sure.  I only care about Upwards.  I only care about landscape.

Is this healthy for a church?  Imagine a family where the Dad said, I only care about the lawn.  Where the Mom said I only care about the kitchen.  Where little Suzie said I only care about my bedroom.  Not a very healthy family is it?

At a church, each of us needs to be committed to the whole.  We need to be behind every department, every mission, every group.  They may not be our favorite, but they are all important, and they are all ours.  The church is not just my little corner.  The church is everything.  The church is all of it. 

There is a joy that comes to us when we start to support areas that we had not been involved with up to this point.  How can you celebrate each member of the body?  How can we support each person's interest?

We are in this together.  All of us.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

great churches

Great churches lift up the name of Jesus.  Great churches teach people to be in mission, to live outside of themselves, to do unto others.

Great churches do not shrink back from opportunity.  When given the chance to make a difference, great people and great churches do their due diligence, set aside their fears, and step into opportunity.

It is easy to lift up the name of Jesus.
It is harder to live outside of ourselves.
It is very very difficult to not want to pull the wagons in a circle when opportunity knocks.  Sometimes big things come along that scare us.  We like our comfort so much.  Don't be afraid.  You never hit the ball until you step into the box.

Your potential awaits.  Our potential awaits.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

persecution

On occasion I get asked why we don't talk much about the persecution of Christians around the globe.  Make no mistake, I am saddened, angered, enraged by what groups like isis does to Christians and others.

However, I do not know how to affect change in this matter.  I am not sticking my head in the sand, I just can't do anything about it.  I do not want to talk about it at church every Sunday.  That would give the sermons an angry, sad flavor that I don't want on the table.  We need to focus on being positive and loving others.  We need to focus on not being selfish and engaging the part of the world where we can make a difference.

On a side not, I have a friend that is very connected to the military who tells me that our drones and such are doing a very good job.  They are doing much more than we hear reported on the news.

So, this is the end of the post.  persecution is very bad.  We should pray for those who experience it.  We should also welcome them into our country as immigrants without complaint.

On to today, and the life that you can affect.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Woods Chapel

In response to a post the other day, a reader made a comment and asked a question.  They said:

"......Jeff, can you tell me if I'm picking up accurately on this. It still seems to me that although the folks who leave now and then can cause some concern, Woods Chapel is still such a vital church, that it appears to me that we have quite a few more people "coming" "seeing" "liking" and "staying" than we have leaving?" 

I would agree with the writer.  But of course I do love this place and the people who call this church home.  Although some people do not stay, Woods Chapel is a very vibrant place with lots of great and amazing people who are growing in grace and learning to live outside of themselves.

The traditional measurements for health in a church are attendance, membership and giving.  All three of these markers continue to improve for us, but there is another measurement that I think says a great deal about institutional health.  That is the degree to which a church and it's people are engaged in outward focused mission.

In mission locally.  In mission globally.  In mission at Westport, at the Ronald McDonald House, in the schools, in Russia, at Costco, at Taco Bell.  In mission, everywhere.  Yes friends, we are on a mission for God.  To the extent that a church stays engaged with it's call to be the hands and feet of Christ, the future is bright.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Ethiopia

I have a test for Christian theology.  All good theology works in Ethiopia.  What does that mean?  It means that many of the things that we talk about, that we are so sure about, are cultural.  They relate to Christianity only in our culture, and therefore, probably are not truly Christian ideas.

For example, those who teach that if you have enough faith, God will give you more stuff and money.  That will never fly in Ethiopia.  So to me, that means it is a heresy.  There is no guaranty that God will give you more stuff.  Ethiopians know this.

What about purpose in life?  Some believe that they will only find purpose when they find their right vocation.  Can people in Ethiopia yearn to be a pilot, a doctor, or an astronaut?  Yes, but their opportunities are so so much smaller.  Purpose has to be available to all.  It cannot be measured by our culture.  So to me the question of purpose is much simpler, and is measured in terms of how I treat people today, not by if I make it in the NFL.  That works in Ethiopia.

What are you thinking about that is cultural?  The purest form of Christianity is cross cultural.  It works everywhere.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Spiritual

Let me begin by saying that I am making a generalization today.  Yes there are some people that do really bad things.  There is some really bad music.  There are some things that I consider nonspiritual.  But we have divided up the world into the sacred and the secular, and we have thrown way too much out the window because it didn't pass our Christian smell test.

So, here I go... on a follow up from yesterday's post.  What is Christian?  What is secular?  What is spiritual?

Many great teachers over the centuries have taught that everything is spiritual.  All truth is God's truth, where ever you find it.

Christian isn't just what we find in Methodist circles.  Spiritual isn't just hymn singing.  Music moves us and speaks to us...  that is spiritual.  There is nothing wrong with listening to James Taylor music or reading Tom Clancy novels.  All of life is beautiful and is to be enjoyed and celebrated.

Imagine asking Jesus, "So Jesus, how is your spiritual life?"  he would laugh at us.  For Jesus, all of life was spiritual, all of it a gift.  It should be the same way for us as well.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

self help

I had a discussion with an old friend about "self-help" books.  They wondered if they were really "Christian."

Well I have a couple of thoughts here.  First, there is an old saying, "God helps those who help themselves."  It is not in the Bible, but it sure could be.   I believe it is a rule of life that those who sit around waiting to be rescued, rarely find what they are looking for.  On the other hand, those who get up and go after a thing, often find all sorts of help lined up for them, including the divine.

Another thought on this is this....... God never indicated that we should sit and do nothing.  God expects us to act, to have faith, to work and to do all we can to improve our lot and make the world a better place.  That is by definition - "self help."  If the church isn't in the business of motivating and encouraging people to make the most of themselves, that we have missed it.

Read the Bible.  But also read all the self help books you want.  Pray that God will use them make you a better, wiser, healthier person.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

When people leave

Sometimes people leave our church.  It is always difficult for me.  I have learned over the years that there are many reasons why people leave and most of them are not related to me personally.

They move to Texas.  They get busy with sports.  They become more conservative.  They don't like the emphasis on missions.  They want the pastor to wear a robe.  They don't like contemporary music.  On and on it goes.  They are all good reasons, if you need a reason.  If someone leaves, only they can decide if the reason is reason enough.

I always feel bad when it happens.  Those of you who stay, please understand.... we are not perfect.  I am not perfect.  We are going to continue to pursue missions.  We are going to continue to be outward focused.  We are going to continue to ask difficult questions and stretch our people.

I hope that all of you will stay with me on this journey.  And I pray that those who left will come back.  There are plenty of hugs to go around.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.