We've Got Our Work Cut Out For Us!

Recently as I was doing research for an upcoming sermon series I ran across a statistic that would shock many Christians. A survey was conducted in Lawrence County of the percentage of people in church on Sunday mornings. Actually, it was an average of four consecutive Sunday mornings. Any guess on how many people in Lawrence County attend church in this great Christian nation we live in? Actually, that is one of my pet peeves, stating we live in a Christian nation. At best we are living in a post-Christian era, but most believers seem to be in denial. To say that 60% of the people in the United States are Christians is a gross error…at least in the way I think being Christian should be defined. For one to claim to be a Christian does not make it so…neither does attending a church service on special occasions or even weekly. Being Christian is being in a relationship with Jesus Christ…to surrender your life to Him…not being involved in religion or the member of a church. Today, at least in the US, many more people seek to worship at the altar of the almighty dollar than at the feet of Jesus Christ. Want proof? The survey I spoke of earlier reported that only 18% of the population of Lawrence County was in a church worshipping God on any given Sunday. Preposterous…sounds painfully accurate to me…and reveals the tremendous work we have before us.

Being the Body

Things are almost back to normal after our mission trip to the Pine Ridge Lakota Reservation in South Dakota…almost. Reflecting back on the trip, two things jump out at me. First the dreadful living conditions at the reservation. I know some of these conditions are self-inflicted…you can find those who simply do not care to expend any effort to better themselves. But I also know that some (and I got the impression that many at the rez) need help in order to build a better life for themselves and their children. As I saw the living conditions there and worked with the children, God repeatedly brought to my mind Micah 6:8, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” I will confess that I do not have the answers to the problems at Pine Ridge, and there are many, but if more people would strive to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God before these people, I believe it would make a tremendous difference in their present and future days. The second thing that jumped out at me was that when we set aside denominational and doctrinal differences we become the body of Christ. This is not to say those distinctions and interpretations are not important, but it’s only when we work together to further the Kingdom and stop squabbling about non-essential beliefs that we morph into the Body of Christ.

Tuesday at Oglala

Well, yesterday we had quite a day. We went to the Red Cloud School and museum…quite a place to visit and view Indian art and history. While we were there a storm hit with reported 50 mph winds, hail, and torrential rain. Left there after a time and went to VBS which garnered 130 kids! Another day of chaos, but the Spirit was there. While we were there the work crew finished ½ of the roof on the Re*Creation center between storms. However, with all that happened, the most interesting part of the day was in the evening worship service when Cecilia Spotted Bear shared her testimony and answered questions…wow, what a story! To come out of the traditional Indian religion and alcoholism to Christianity and to become one of the most respected Christians on the rez. For those who want to borrow, I purchased her book, “By the Grace of God.” In it she shares her testimony and explains the pipe and peyote religion of the Lakota’s. Keep us in your prayers as we continue to both work on the building here and reach out to the children in Pine Ridge…also on Wednesday we will visit Wounded Knee, the site of the Indian massacre in 1890 in which members of the 7^th Calvary tragically killed upwards of 300 Lakota Sioux men, women, & children.

Where is Our Hope?

Found out some disturbing facts about the Lakota reservation…85% unemployment rate…80% of the adult males are alcoholics…gangs are norm here for young adults…and most shocking, the adolescence suicide rate is seven time the national rate! It was reported to us last night that last year eleven youth in the surrounding area took their lives…how disturbing. To me all of these figures emphasize the need for Jesus Christ. I understand the desire for Native Americans to cling to their traditions. I also realize that the past and current efforts of the federal government have been counterproductive, at least for the Native Americans. This place (this rez and from what I understand many, many others) is a place of despair. Most here have no hope of a descent future, let alone a bright future. The answer for these people…for all peoples? “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you…” (1 Peter 1:3-4). Fact is this place is just a reflection of a larger hurting world where pouring money and regulations into a situation will not overcome the sins of the past nor offer hope for the future…only a new birth can do that…and that new birth comes only from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! That is why so many of us come here year round…to offer hope in a dead and dying world.

Here's the painting that greeted us on the wall of the entrance of the Oglala Re*Creation Center.

On the Rez...

Well, after a two day drive out here, we are on location in Oglala, SD on the Lakota Indian reservation. We are staying at the Oglala Re-Creation Center, an Assemblies of God facility that caters to the Christian community here in Oglala. Though I do not have any facts, this area’s standard of living looks just under that of Red Bird, KY. This is tribal territory and the tribal board is the government here, not the federal government. Needless to say, because of that, the standards for everything I have noticed is below that of any place else in the United States. We held VBS today at the Lakota Baptist Church in Pine Bluff today and started with 108 kids, most of whom were unchurched. Quite an experience! If it were not bad enough we were over crowed, the toilets stopped up and flooded the bathrooms. We ended up having to dismiss early, but all in all the Spirit was at work in a powerful way. Also, a work crew finally got all their supplies and started re-roofing the Re-Creation center where we are staying. Pray for us out here…pray for safety for the work crew…pray for more kids at VBS…pray for our traveling mercies…and pray for a plumber! Now that I have access I hope to post each day…Lord willing.

Trust & Obey

I spent most of yesterday getting a cabin ready at church camp…will have people staying in it for four camps this summer (praise God!), and then last night and some of today getting the bus and me ready for our trip to the reservation at Pine Ridge SD…leaving early on Saturday. So much yet to do…then this morning I received a text from a friend who referred me to the Upper Room for the devotional for today (June 10) and it reminded me of what I already knew…the God who created this earth and me, also created time and tasks. As long as He’s in control of my life, I will accomplish what He needs me to accomplish…nothing more, nothing less. Here’s the devotional:

The Clock is Ticking

Read Proverbs 3:1-8

I trust in you, O Lord . . . My times are in your hands. -Psalm 31:14-15 (NIV)

I seem to spend a great deal of my day fighting against the clock. There are always more things to be done than hours in the day to do them. Sleeping, nurturing my marriage, and taking time with each of my children can't be done quickly. And it seems that before I've blinked, another day has gone. Often the tasks don't seem worth the time they consume. Little time seems to be left to do the things I really want to do.

I never expected life to look like this. As a teenager and young adult, I prayed that I wouldn't be average. I wanted to be different and to change the world. I didn't expect life to involve rushing around washing socks.

How relieved I am, therefore, to discover that God can and does make the ordinary extraordinary. Day by day, as I follow God's paths -- as I trust and obey -- I become more content. I've seen that however mundane some tasks may seem, small acts can have greater impact than anyone could have imagined. Who knows, for instance, how my children might change the world for God? What I do know is that God goes ahead of me and walks beside me. God is not restricted or pressured by clocks or calendars, and my times are in God's hands.

Jenny Sanders (Hampshire, England)

Prayer
Dear Father God, help us to know your peace as we walk through the days you have ordained for us. Amen.

Thought for the day
When we obey in trust, God can use our small actions to accomplish much good.

Prayer Focus
Those who feel harried

Come, Holy Spirit!

Next Sunday is Pentecost…the birth of the Church. It is easy, at least for me, to imagine what might have happened to the church had the Holy Spirit not come. I can see the followers hiding in that upper room, not knowing what to do, scared and powerless, fearing retribution from both the Jewish and Roman leaders until all hope was lost and they simply faded away to become nothing more than a footnote in history. That is the state some of our churches today are in…lacking the power of God, content to be a memory. That is not what God has called us to be! I am certain that nowhere in Scripture can you interpret God’s will for the Church was to fail. Yet, we are failing…by every measure imaginable the church in the United States is failing to reach people, failing to impact lives, failing to witness to the risen Christ because we have failed to harness the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent the Spirit to us so that we might know truth (John 16:8) and have the power to reveal truth to others (Acts 1:8)! So why is the Church failing? I suppose the list is very long…far too long to explore here in any depth, but let me ask this question and you can formulate your own conclusion. Why are YOU failing? If the Church is failing, then the majority of us are failing…remember the Church is not brick and mortar, the Church is the people. So, why aren't YOU sharing the truth of Jesus Christ with power? We must own our failure if we are ever going to turn around a decline that seems unstoppable...realizing nothing is impossible for God (Luke 1:37)!

Lord of All!

I had intended to post this on Monday evening...just too tired! - I feel exhausted today. Much of last week I was at Peoria for Annual Conference…yesterday we had church followed by a greeter/usher workshop…today I had therapy (which I had ignored while in Peoria) and now I feel sore and exhausted. This may not be a short-term issue since tomorrow is church camp for Jill, Anna, & Bella (which means I will be tending to McKayla...pray for us!) and then on Saturday 20 of us will leave for Pine Ridge, South Dakota, for a week long mission trip on the reservation. Earlier today during my devotional time as I confessed this to God, my mind went to the familiar Isaiah 40:31, “But those who trust the LORD will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.” I needed to hear that, but then, as I read my Scripture readings for the day, it seems as if God wanted to make sure I got it (he knows me all too well). Psalm 73:26 says, “My body and mind may fail (may?!?), but you are my strength and my choice forever.” Got it God! If you feel weary…battle worn and beaten…there is just one source for strength that will renew and sustain you, regardless of the road ahead. We call him Jesus…and he is Lord of all...even the tired!

Thursday at Peoria

What a wonderful day Thursday was here at Peoria. It started off with a dash to Wal-Mart at 6am…turns out that is a great time to go to Wal-Mart if one must...there were only two other shoppers in the store! Then at conference this morning Bishop Palmer challenged us with falling in love with the Word and His word. Directed primarily at clergy, we were reminded to thoroughly explore the Biblical text before we turn to commentaries in preparing a message…that is, allow the Holy Spirit to work in us thru the text. I also attended the Wesley Foundation luncheon where each year the evangelism awards are presented. Now, I must tell you (and I hope I have before) that I am extremely proud of Beulah and the evangelistic fervor here. Last year, if my memory serves me correctly, we had 11 professions of faith and while I didn’t really think we set any records, I was very proud of Beulah. However, today I was reminded that evangelism should be our passion, and must be if we are going to be the church God has called us to be. Bethany UMC in Peoria won the evangelism award for churches in our category (101 to 200 members) with 29 professions of faith. I don't know the size of Bethany, but that is at least a 15% increase! I want to congratulate Bethany and I praise God for their enthusiastic approach to reaching the lost. I also want to challenge everyone at Beulah, not to win any awards, but to be the Church. I am reminded of John Wesley's words: “We have nothing to do but save souls.”

Your Swimsuits are Where?

Greetings from Peoria! The trip was uneventful…of course we (that means I) forgot the bag with the girls swimsuits and tomorrow they will go to camp for the express purpose of swimming. Does anyone else see an early morning run to a Wal-Mart besides me? The clergy session today was uplifting. Mike Rayson opened the session with worship, leading us in music. Then the Rev. Dr. Myron McCoy, the current president of Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City Missouri, challenged the clergy in attendance to lead the church by example rather than trying to make our appointment a comfortable place to spend our days. Following worship we had the usual business to conduct. Eighteen candidates were approved for ordination on Friday, the largest class I can remember. The twenty-two clergy members retiring had amassed over 600 years of service between them with the average length of service being 27+ years. We concluded the session with a memorial service honoring the clergy members and family members of attending clergy who had passed away since last conference. Now, I realize it sounds pretty boring to many of you, but to renew several friendships and to see many who I only get to see once or twice a year is both a joy and blessing for me. Tomorrow we begin working on resolutions, electing lay and clergy members to General and Jurisdictional Conferences, and I am looking forward to hearing Bishop Palmer and retired Bishop Woodie White preach…of course that will be after the early morning run for swimsuits!