The Cure for Disappointment

Ever been disappointed? Sure you have…I suppose we all have. When someone doesn’t do what we want, it’s frustrating. When God doesn’t do what we want, it can be hard…sometimes very hard. But faith is the conviction that God knows (much) more than we do about a situation, circumstances, or this life and He will get us through it. Faith doesn’t suggest there we will not face struggles…just that God will get us through it (in one piece). In Isaiah 43 God gives us assurances that we are His and He will not abandon us no matter what we are going through. So why the disappointment? I am reminded of the story of a bachelor who went to a pet store in search of a singing parakeet. His house was much too quiet and the owner had just the bird for him. The next day he came home from work, delighted because his house was filled with music. He went to the cage to feed the bird and for the first time noticed the parakeet had only one leg. Feeling cheated by the store owner he called to complain about the bird’s missing limb. “What did you want,” the store owner said, “a bird that can sing, or a bird that can dance?” The next time you’re wrestling with disappointment, ask yourself what you really want.

Hereeeeeeee's Jesus!

Okay, so I’m the new guy here in Lawrence County, but I have found that church folk are the same all over the world…well, at least all over Southern IL. We (church folk) have a tendency to turn our interests inward and focus on ourselves and by doing so we (hopefully unintentionally) shut out the world…the same world that Christ calls us to be witnesses to (Acts 1:8). What’s that about? Is it fear…perhaps it’s apathy…maybe it’s that comfort thing…or just plain laziness! It is likely a combination of things and you may have your own excuse, but I call it sin. Yeah, it is sinful to become so wrapped up in our own church activities and comfort that we neglect the great commission…isn’t Satan clever? I know we have a need to nurture one’s self, and others, but that doesn’t negate our calling. Christ calls us to introduce others to him…to be his witnesses and like it or not we are, whether we intend to be or not. What does your witness say? You’ve probably seen this, it’s been all around the net, but it might just deserve another look. Steve Harvey introducing Jesus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCd_ANIKys. How would you introduce Him?

The Power of Surrender

We are studying The Book of the Acts of the Apostles here at Beulah, and I am again reminded of God’s will and plan for the church of the first century and the church of today. It is interesting to see how God ‘scattered’ the believers, not to punish or disillusion them, but in order to exponentially spread the Word. It reminds me that God may still work in very much the same way today, in our midst. It also causes me to wonder what might be accomplished in our world today if we were not so insistent upon having our will instead of following God’s will. Think about this just a moment…what might have happened if Philip was content with waiting on tables (Acts 6:2-5, 8:4-8, 8:26ff)? What if Ananias had said no instead of obeying (Acts 9:11)? What if Saul had run for the hills after he regained his sight (Acts 9: 18-20)? These are just a few examples from a long, long list of people in Acts who surrendered their will for God's will. Now, what about you? How might other’s lives be affected (not to mention your own) by your total surrender to the will of God? Remember, God still needs human hands to accomplish what can only be called miraculous.

All IS Well!

God has spoken to me again…he often does and I’m sure I didn’t hear him before cause I was just too busy to notice! With all my ranting about the distractions we face and those mean folks who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, I realized (by God’s grace) that they are just a miniscule minority. There are plenty of folks who are about the Lord’s business. Specifically, this week I’ve encountered two groups. One I am very familiar with: Sesser FUMC is holding its summer Vacation Bible School. I know of the effort and time that has been put into the program in the past and I can readily assume that much or more has been invested this year. To see some of the pictures from VBS click on this link: http://www.sesserfirstumc.org/VBS2009.dsp. I have also been introduced to a new group of folks and it sounds like they are doing a wonderful work for children here in Lawrence County (and I understand this is being replicated in neighboring counties). It’s called Kid’s Shopping Day and as I understand it, volunteers will ‘build’ a store at a local church and stock the shelves and then they have a shopping day for school kids whose families are struggling, helping with clothing and supplies just in time for the start of the school year. Praise God for the many, many folks who in their own special way are trying to be Jesus to someone!

Why Can't We Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing?

So, here I sit and my frustration level is rising…again! There is something disconcerting about this monster we call the Church. Let me first say that I love the Church...I would go so far to say that the Church is a necessary institution in our world, BUT (seems like there is always a ‘but’ doesn’t it?). But, this beast we call the Church takes so much of our energy and time just to maintain that, at least at times, it distracts us from our true calling: making disciples for Jesus Christ. I have been asked to participate in mentor training and clergy sexual conduct training this fall (both of these are required at least every four years even though some believe mindless, time-consuming meetings are the eighth deadly sin)…I have started receiving information and forms for our charge conference (these are our annual business meetings) and I've already begun preparing for the season of Advent. Now, let me say that all of these are necessary items that can be a good experience for both clergy and the Church, but these seem to be maintenance items (yes, even Advent!) rather than disciple making items. It is no wonder people (even some pastors) feel helplessly overwhelmed in carrying out the mission of the Church. Now that I've got that off my chest, I will confess I don’t have the answer…BUT, if we must have meetings, couldn’t they encourage as well as inform those participating (remember Forged in the Fire)?

Mean Christians Suck Too!

The following blog was recommended to me by a fellow pastor, and while it grieves me to read some of these things, I have witnessed the same behavior before by church folk. Let me know what you think after reading…right now I gotta go listen to “I Will Rise” for a couple of hours!
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=108107598009&h=5E2p3&u=wrV7e&ref=nf

Busy Monday

Music is that gift from God that touches the soul. Regardless of how bad my day is going, there are songs that can calm my soul and give me the assurance of a better tomorrow. Likewise, when I am having a great day, there are songs that remind me that a much better future lies in store for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. Today I had an okay day for a Monday…just really busy since I was absent last week at camp…it seems it’s always like that. Today I visited a man who had surgery this morning, saw two other parishioners and then attended a visitation this evening. In all of my running around the area today it seems that little was accomplished…so it’s to the music. I personally think Chris Tomlin is one of the most gifted musicians of our day, and “I Will Rise” one of his best works. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf7t3P9ISrE ...I pray it makes your day better than it was before…regardless of how good it was!