Grieving and Rejoicing

After an emotional day Sunday saying goodbye to so many good friends at the Sesser and Valier churches, I had a wonderful Monday today. Don’t misunderstand me, there were several aggravations with internet issues both at home and at church, and I was also frustrated with the chore of changing banks. However, the wonderful part came from the new people I met who have an association with the Beulah Church. It reminds me that every church (I have yet to find an exception) has a faithful remnant of people who love the Lord and long to see his will accomplished. Unfortunately, there are often problems in the local church; people who must control; people who must have their way; people who seek power over God’s will…BUT there is always that faithful remnant who prayerfully seeks God’s will and meaningful ways to serve others…in every church. So, leaving a group of faithful people who love the Lord becomes a doable thing because you soon find there is another group of faithful people who love the Lord waiting for you at the next church. You grieve and then you rejoice…God is good; all the time!

Chaos & Order

Out of chaos comes order. I’ve worked harder this past week than I have in a long time and I’ve come to the conclusion that moving is of the devil! To reinforce my thought, this past week has been (or at least seems to have been) the hottest week in recent history. Add to that, the air conditioner was broken in the parsonage we moved into until Wednesday morning and there are boxes everywhere…it’s been a moving week to remember! However, all is now well as our television service was connected on Friday and on Saturday our internet service was connected (so I am online and blogging again). It is amazing what one misses without news or entertainment…or rather, what one realizes without those distractions pulling us away from God. Tonight I find myself preparing to say goodbye tomorrow to some of the greatest people God ever gathered in a church…so I might minister at a new church with more of the greatest people in the world. This is my tension: painfully leaving old friends with a joyful anticipation of meeting new friends…believing that out of chaos comes order…again.

Gossip

Last night at prayer meeting I was going to show a video clip…but then thought it over and decided not to. Some people do not have my witty, cutting-edge (warped) sense of humor (actually there are very few others who do!). It’s really cute and by no means would I ever imply that our prayer meetings, or any I have ever attended at any church I have ever been a part of are like this, but there are times when it’s a fine line between prayer and gossip. I am sure that years from now you’ll remember this clip and it might even curtail any urges to gossip…until that day, enjoy…this really is funny and as they say, I’m a short-timer! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyDchpbFJh4

We All Change...Eventually!

So we are constantly speaking of change in the church, to many people’s dismay. The end of my tenure here is just another example of the change we must face…like it or not. Oh, I know we like to be comfortable and the absence of change seems so comfortable to us, but the fact is we are constantly evolving (yeah, I know many church folk don’t like that word). Sometimes the change comes ever so slowly, nevertheless we are changing, or at least we better be! I’ve said it over and over; we cannot do church like we did it in the fifties or sixties…at least we cannot and still expect to attract people who were not alive in the fifties or sixties! Below is a link to a video that drives the point home. As you watch it, reflect upon what it’s really saying and consider those changes we ought to consider and those we ought to embrace…after all, even grocery stores change! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLQfhxDld7E

Our Driving Force

What is it that drives you? The acceptance of your peers? The love of another? Perhaps it is success in raising your family or in your career. One thing for sure, we all have a driving force behind us…there is something we long to achieve. If I understand Paul correctly, the same reason Jesus took hold of us should be what now drives us.
"…but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12b-14 NIV)
Paul goes on to say that each of us who have matured in the faith should hold that same view. Do you look to the future? Now days, too many of us seem fixed on present problems and issues. It also seems that too many of us are “resting on the past instead of straining toward what is ahead.” Something tells me that our resting in the past or fretting over the present would displease our Savior, after all, he paid a high price for our salvation…too high to squander our time. I cannot believe he would like to see us do anything less than “press on toward the goal.” So, what is it that drives you?

Moving Forward in God's Will

Okay, so I promise this time to get on the ball and post regularly…until next week when we move! No, really I promise to try really hard. This has been an emotional weekend for the Quick’s. Each church had a “farewell” time for us, but I still have two Sundays to go! It is during these times that I am reminded that we all need to take a cue from Paul. Read the Acts of the Apostles and you will soon understand Paul’s dilemma. He had friends all over the Mediterranean Region that he has ministered to and stayed with, yet there were many others in the world who had never heard of the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Worse yet, some worshipped pagan gods. What was Paul to do? Should he spend his life in one spot, content with being a pastor to a few, or did God truly call him to be a missionary to the gentiles? Our situation is very different, but the question is really the same: are we about what God wants done, or what we want to do? I am convinced that God has a plan for each of us; people for us to reach; ministry to perform…but unless we seek God’s face and God’s will, we will spend our resources and time doing what we think is best.

Daydreamin'

Just when I think I have recovered from the news of moving I find myself at Annual Conference and there, printed in black and white, is a list of nre appointments…and yeah, there staring at me is the fact I am no longer appointed to Sesser & Valier, but instead to Beulah UMC. It was a reality check of sorts for me. I am excited about the prospects of ministry in a new setting and what God will do, but I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to people who have become like family to me. So today I find myself moping around packing some items and doing a lot of reminiscing. It was during this time of reflection that God showed me that reminiscing is Biblical. How often do we hear someone in the Bible reflect upon Abraham? And how often do we hear of God’s faithfulness to a previous generation? It would seem that folks in the Bible spend a fair amount of time reviewing the past…so it’s okay for me to do it too! I also realize there comes a time when God calls us to move forward…so in the next 2 weeks, if I seem caught up in the past…give me some space…I’ve got a big journey ahead of me and I am just trying to get ready (mentally)! Please keep Jill and me in your prayers as we prepare for change.

AC: The Beginning of the End!

We will be wrapping up Annual Conference here in Peoria this afternoon, and I wanted to blog this morning to say that I forgot to mention yesterday that you could go to the conference website (http://www.igrc.org/) for the Morning Manna and other audio files from conference. Now I also want to encourage you to go there and listen to Bishop Palmer’s sermon from last night’s ordination service. The Spirit was upon him and the congregation in a powerful way as he challenged both lay and clergy to rise to the crown that sets above us. Telling the laity to get their hands into the work of ministry and challenging the clergy to “love the ones you’re with” he called us all to make a difference in our communities and our world for the cause of Christ. Powerful stuff…it will be well worth your time! Keep us in your prayers as we wrap things up this afternoon, and God willing, I will see you Sunday.

AC: Near the End of Day 3

We’ve completed another Spirit-filled day here at Annual Conference in Peoria. And while I felt the anointing several times today, we struggled with issues today that I question...finances, inclusiveness, and systemic issues of the Church. Please realize I believe each of these are important issues and they are worthy of our time, but I wonder if we at times approach them without the faith and assurance we are told to have. In Matthew 6:26-34 Jesus tells us, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Again, I realize these are important issues, but it seems to me we run around shouting, “How will we pay for…, How do we make people happy…, How do we organize…” when we should really be asking how we as the Church can keep the main thing the main thing! Right now, I must go, ordination service tonight.

AC: End of Day 2

Greetings from Peoria again, we’ve had another great day. Rather than tell you all about it, let me encourage you to go to www.igrc.org. There on the conference website you can listen to Bishop Palmer, Dr. Christine Pohl, and others as they addressed the conference. I would especially commend to you the “Morning Manna,” which is Bishop Palmer’s message from the morning worship service…excellent! I also want to tell you about the John Wesley Fellowship of Illinois’ luncheon. In the midst of annual news of decline in our conference, it is refreshing to hear of church after church in our conference that has had 20, 25, 50, and 79 professions of faith this past year! This was truly a celebration service and it was evident that the Holy Spirit is active all around our conference. Rev. Randall Reese, superintendent of the Embarras River District, was our keynote speaker and the anointing was obvious. Thank you, Cache River District members, for your prayers on Thursday morning…they were successful! I know no one is signed up, but consider praying for us again tomorrow.

AC: End of Day 1

Greetings from Peoria! This has been a great day…weather-wise and conference-wise. This has been a day in the Holy Spirit. The great thing about conferences is that we can become so immersed in God that we can sense His presence in a powerful way and if God takes hold of us, we will be changed by His power and might so that we will then be a part of God’s plan to “turn the world upside down” (Acts 17:6 NKJV). Let me be clear, I love the conferencing, the fellowship, but it’s not the conference that has a plan to turn the world upside down, nor does the conference have the power to do so…it is God. God’s plan; God’s power. And unless we realize the true source of our power, and seek that source, we will spend our time at conferences becoming discouraged and frustrated wondering why it’s always business as usual. I believe God wants from us one thing: extraordinary business. To move in the Spirit’s anointing in such a way as to glorify the Almighty with every breath. That is my prayer for you and for myself as I prepare for bed and day two at Annual Conference.

God is Good; Even When It's Raining!

Good morning from soggy downtown Peoria! Austin and I came up yesterday as I attended the third session of the Congregational Development Leadership Institute. We had a good class and dismissed just in time for me to walk downtown, searching for supper and to get wet (I have such a great parking spot that I hate to move my car!). I am not sure, but I believe it has rained all night. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to a great day. We will finish our class…topic today is conflict in the church…and it is a blessing for me to hear of others who have/are experiencing conflict in their church while I have not. God is good (with apologies to those who are in conflict riddled churches)! I am also looking forward to seeing old friends that I have not seen for a year this afternoon and this evening. Email and cell phones are great, but, there is nothing that compares to a time of face to face fellowship with former classmates and colleagues. Well, I need to find breakfast someplace and get to class by 8:00am. I pray your day turns out as good as mine is sure to be! I’ll keep you updated from Annual Conference as I find the time. Blessings.