Sunday Recap

We had another good turnout Sunday.   We had 50 show up.  However, we were missing over 10-12 regulars.  When you are a small congregation, people missing from service has a way of deflating a good day. 

What is troubling is that we had such a good Sunday service last week and young families showed up.  The good news is that these young families want to learn about Jesus.  The bad news is that there were 67 people at our church which caused us to struggle to accomadate these people.  Plus, we found that we struggled to provide services to these young people such as kid’s ministry, kid’s Sunday school, and enough people to take care of the nursery. 

So, if you attend my church, or, if you attend another small church.  If it is possible, your pastor and church needs you.  The only way that we can provide services in a small, but growing church, is with our regular attendees.  Do not allow yourself to have the philosophy that the pastors will take care of everything.  Realize that God calls all to be involved in serving.  In a small church, everyone has to chip in and sacrifice.  Sacrifice may simply start with giving up every Sunday for God’s Kingdom.  Now, this does not mean vacations too.    

God has been sending us steady visitors.  Plus, it looks like some are hear to stay.  Praise the Lord! 

Pastor Jon has a good young adult group coming to our church too.  I am so happy. 

One of our newer Christians has been praying for God to send people to our church.  They have been coming.  Awesome!

We joined other churches at the Thanksgiving Community Service Sunday night.  This was a good experience.  It was good to mingle with other Christians and worship together.  Pastor Larry Burke of Golden Grove Wesleyan delivered a good sermon.  The choir, made up of different churches, sounded great! 

I believe that God is growing our church.  Likely, He is shaping all of us to be usable by Him for His purposes.  There is hope; we all have to hang in there and not lose sight of Jesus and His mission.

Can Churches and People be taught how to be Missional?

First of all, I want to clarify that I desire to be missional.  As a matter of fact, if I was looking for a church to attend with my family,  I would attend the missional church that is was capable of teaching the Word of God while striving to be missional.  In other words, there needs to be a good balance between missional and teaching God’s Word.  This means that one should not exist without the other.   

I am a Wesleyan pastor.  So if you are reading this article you should be aware that I am coming from a Wesleyan point of view.  Although, I do not claim that we Wesleyans have a lock on theology and are the only people who are right, I do, personally, feel more comfortable with the Wesleyan point of view.  Here is web site that you can see what we believe theologically compared to our Calvinist brothers. 

Anyway, theology between the camps is not really what I want to discuss.  I would rather hear both views  about whether or not we can teach churches and people to be missional or if we must be surrendered completely to Christ to be missional.  In other words, do we have to be full of the Spirit in such a way that we cannot help but be missional? 

1. From a Wesleyan theological point of view if we are Sanctified (Full of the Spirit and God’s love), do we need to be taught how to be missional?  If we have surrendered to Jesus Christ and asked HIm to come into our hearts so that He can be Lord of our life, and sought victory over our sinful nature, then He has filled us with the Spirit.  This would mean that we now have the nature of Christ in us and that our motives and desires have truly been changed.  If this is so, then we would instinctively know to be those who are sent to take the Gospel of Christ into the world. 
2. If we are Sanctified, then we have a natural love for God, others, and ourselves now.  This would mean that we are free from the bondage of selfishness so that we can give with great joy in our hearts to those who have needs.  We would not have to check the Sermon on the Mount because we would be living it.  It seems that if there are people and churches who are not living this way that there might be a spiritual problem.  If there is a spiritual problem, then are we really doing any good to teach people how to be missional? 
3. I hope this is wrong, but is the desire to be missional driven by the fact this type of Christ-living grows churches numerically and financially?  The danger in teaching others to be missional, and in people seeking to learn to be missional, is that we are only trying to appear to be something that we truly are not inwardly.  Again, if we have the nature of Christ now, then we are going to be missional because that is what we are now.  Why?  Because Jesus is. 
4.  To me, being missional is finding what upsets you in your community.  Once you find it, because of the love that you have for God and others, you will decide if it is something that only Jesus can fix.  If it is, then that is when His people spring into action.  If it is a church body, then they will all know what is expected of them if most are truly sold out to Jesus Christ. 
5. If we are not really Spirit led, of full of the Spirit, then when we seek to be missional can it just be classified as a social gospel?  Frankly, if we are not really surrendered to Christ, then we are merely taking part in community action that mirrors the governments purpose for community action. 

To my Wesleyan brothers and sisters: if you are trying to learn how to be missional, then have you forgotten your first love?  Our denomination was a movement first before it was a denomination.  When we were a movement, we were missional!  We were a movement because of our love for God and others.  We saw the world as a realm that needed delivered from the bondage of sin by our Savior.  Freedom was always at the forefront when it came to slavery and sin.  We helped to stop slavery, and for a while, we were used by the Holy Spirit to preach deliverance from sin ruling over us.  Now, we go to seminars and buy books to learn how to used by God.  It is time for us to surrender again to God’s will and seek to join Him in the work He is taking part in.  Yet, to see God’s work taking place would mean that we have to go out into the lowly places to help Him.  We can’t go until we love Him and others. 

One last word, I do not wish to say that we should not buy books and go to seminars.  My wish is that everyone would see that we must be sold-out to Christ to be truly missional.  I have been accused of being unteachable in the past because I was not gushing over reading books by those who are current.  Wow!  I do read some.  Yet, knowledge is knowledge.  But, love is what spurs us.

Sunday Recap

• Last week was Homecoming and we had 87.  We currently run around 45 on average.  I have pointed out that although 87 was a nice number most of those who were at our church attend their own churches.  So that means almost all of those who were visitors will not be back.  However, this week we had 67 in attendance!  Now I am getting a little more excited!  Some of these may be back! 
• Pastor Jon preached a great message about taking Christ out of Christmas.  Relax, he was not serious.  He reminded us of what we had to do to accomplish this.  First, we must ignore the historical fact that He came.  Secondly, we must ignore the fact that He is returning by continuing to live our lives thinking that we can put off living for Jesus until later.  Finally, Jon challenged us not share the Gospel with anyone; especially at this time of year when we are celebrating Advent.  Obviously, this was sarcasm and not serious instruction. 
• Here are some nice problems to have for a change: We don’t have a big enough nursery.  We don’t have enough help for our nursery.  We fixed up a nursery by faith and now small children have actually showed up.  Thank you Lord.  Seating in our small sanctuary is tight.  Some were in our overflow rooms today.  I feel overwhelmed and incapable of solving any of these issues.  This means that if these issues are solved it will be the Lord who did it. 
• Tonight’s service with the men dealt with the normalcy of discouragement.  God works through discouragement.  This is how He seems to mold and shape us into who He wants us to be.  Plus, we discussed that individual effort for God is disrespect for Him (Oswald Chambers).  Finally, we are to have one message as missionaries for Christ, Jesus takes away the sins of the world.  It is not about what He has done for us.  It is not about healing or finances.  Instead it is about salvation through His Sacrifice for us on the Cross (Oswald Chambers).  What message about Jesus are we sharing everyday? 
• Our choir began to prepare for Advent.  I know, some of you are thinking that this is too late.  Yet, things are slower in a smaller church.  However, that last statement may still not be an excuse. 
• Some of our newer people have been inviting people to come to church!  This is a huge deal. 
• Some of our newer people have been praying for more people to come to our church!  Listen, I can’t begin to say how important those types of prayers are.  Yet, I know how happy I am when I hear someone say, “I prayed for God to send another big crowd to our church today, and He did it!”  This is how faith is built in the person who prays this.  What is more, this is ownership in the mission of the church!!!  This is grabbing hold of responsibility and gladly doing what is humanly possible so that God will do what is Super humanly possible. 
• It seems like the Holy Spirit is at work.  Stay tuned!!  

Another minister illustrates the sacrifice of clergy and laity

I have been reading the Padre’s blog for a while now.  Today I came across this post that I think all ministers and laity should consider.  There is tremendous sacrifice and dependency that accompanies giving.  I was thinking about the possibility of preaching about this subject before Christmas at our church.  I generally preach about stewardship in January; and still may.

I think this article is good because it is not me saying it.  So if you know me you will understand that I am always uneasy about teaching or preaching this subject.  I would much rather someone else do it. 

Here is my struggle.  I love our people enough that I want them to know God’s power and will for giving freely.  Yet, I don’t want anyone to think that I am pushing them to do something that appears to benefit me or the church.  Giving benefits the giver for eternity while receiving benefits the recipient for the time being.  Yet, both are taken care of by God.  Both receive from God when people give.  

It is hard to really know the Lord if you do not take part in giving.  I know I may have a comment come in and tell me that I have a poor understanding of God’s love.  Well, I disagree.  God is a Giver.  Giving is the heart of God.  We are  to be imitators of Christ who freely gave.   

Now, everyone can see from this article what type of faith some of us live by.  I have had to live by faith in God first, and in God’s people being obedient second.  This is where the rubber meets the road as a Christian as far as I am concerned.  Faith in God who can supply our needs grows and matures us when we must rely upon Him.  Yet, many who are financially comfortable and don’t give much struggle to learn about God’s heart of giving and sacrifice. 

I will be writing soon about sacrifice too.  Because sacrifice is not just for the missionary or the third world person.  God calls us all to sacrifice.  I would invite you to meditate about sacrifice and giving during this time of the year that spend money upon those who already have it and neglect those who don’t. 

God bless.

Sunday Recap

This morning was our Homecoming service at Smith Chapel.  Here are some thoughts about our service today.

• We were not organized.  My fault period.  We are simply going to have to work on structuring our worship time while allowing the Holy Spirit opportunity to work.
• Technical difficulties too.
• It was a good time of fellowship after the service because we were able to enjoy the company of many who had attended our church in the past. 
• The food was great.  This is bad for me because I don’t lose weight as easy anymore. 
• Our special singer Bobby Massengale was outstanding.
• Our regular singers did great too. 
• Pastor Key challenged our church to look to impact the future while being thankful for the past. 

So, what do we, as a church, take away from our Homecoming service? 

• We had 87 people!  It is nice to see our church full. 
• Before we get too excited it is good to be reminded what Homecoming means.  These people won’t be back period!  They attend other churches.  So while we were, and continue to be, frustrated when our regular people don’t show up every Sunday, so were the churches that these people came from to worship with us today. 
• I fear that everyone feels as if we now can say that our year was successful because we had a decent turnout for Homecoming. 
• Homecoming was the most that we invited people to attend our church this year.  ?????  What if we pursued lost people like we pursued those who will not come back to our church until next year? 
• Our church can make it happen when we believe in the goal.  And, today it was Homecoming.
• Strange that Homecoming is our number one draw. 

An American Christian’s thoughts about our new President’s election

I am a Conservative.  I have been since President Carter’s failure in 1979 to deal appropriately with Iran for taking our embassy over and taking our people as hostages.  My political views do not match President Elect Obama’s.  Nevertheless, here are some of my thoughts about this historic election.

• He is my President now.  He deserves my respect and support and he has that now.  However, I reserve the right to disagree with his policies as many still do.  Again, I am an American, and President Elect Obama deserves honor and respect.
• I know that racism still exists in this world, and sadly always will because we are in a fallen world, but America has shown the world that racism can be overcome.  I have a side opinion about this too.  I hope that Americans will see that while this country enacted laws that helped to stop much of the racism, it should be understood that many Christians have helped too.  So if you are a Christian tonight and have been frustrated because an African-American has been elected, then you better allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you that you are sinning against God and His children.  Likewise, if you are someone that thought that Christians were part of the problem with racism, I have heard this from time to time, then be advised that many of us preach against this and teach that God loves everybody.  We rejoice that American seems a little more colored blind tonight.    
• President Elect Obama will likely be compassionate in dealing with those who struggle in poverty. 
• Juan Williams described a picture in his mind of the Obamas and their children enjoying the White House.  I too am excited for this family to enjoy this experience.  In a couple of months, they will be our First Family.  I pray that God will keep them safe, prosper them, bless them, and shine His face upon them. 
• Our nation is great!  I cannot imagine the amount of fear, shock, and awe, that may be going through Obama’s mind right now.  What an awesome responsibility!
• I wish that his grandmother could have seen this day.  I too was raised by mother and grandmother.  He has a commonality with me and many other Americans.  It will be good to have someone who does seem to have a connection with those of us who have not been so privileged in life.   
• As a Christian it is important to remember that our hope in Jesus Christ.  No matter who would have won this would not have changed.  So fear not.   
• The Obamas appear to be a good family and will hopefully be an example to our nation about the importance of married couples staying together and mothers and fathers loving their children. 

We must pray that God will unite our nation now and bring us closer to Him, each other, and our neighbors.  God bless America.

Sunday Recap

This morning I spoke about the Lord being near to us when we are in tough situations.  Isaiah 55 is part of a prophecy that the prophet gave to Israel about finding God during their captivity in Babylon.  His formula for finding God was for His people to seek and call the Lord, forsake their wicked lives that led to their trouble to begin with, and then they will be found and God will be found.  

The good news for the Jews during this time was that even though they would be taken from their land and homes, and even though the Temple would be destroyed and left behind, God would go with them.  He would not be in Babylon to condemn during their time of distress, but He would be there to bring them hope and help them to become like Him.

God continued to call on the Jews to be Holy.  It is interesting that when God allows hard times, He also expects that while we navigate those times that we strive to become Holy; no matter situations are faced. 

I also shared a story about the time that I was in Boys Scouts and another kid wanted to fight with me.  Well, he was bigger than I was so I told him that I did not want to fight.  He told me that he did.  While telling you the outcome of that fight will not help anything, telling you the point will.  Christians, we may not want to take part in spiritual warfare and we may not want to think about it.  But, whether or not we want to fight, Satan does.  We are in a fight whether we want to admit it or not. 

Our church is in the middle of a spiritual battle.  Too many things are happening at once.  However, this means that God is working at our church.  If you attend my church, or if you attend another church, you should know that attending because it is the right thing to do on Sunday morning will not due.  You must stand with your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Because whether or not you like it, we are in a fight together.

More Wal-Mart experiences

• Wal-Mart has 22 checkouts that require a clerk.  This is not counting self-check registers.   Most of these are not manned and when there is 4 or 500 people waiting they will have 10 open.  I think I have mentioned this before but nobody at Wal-Mart has fixed it.  Why must I race people to the register and then feel bad when they get out of the store before I do? 
• Has anyone ever noticed that people are set on entering through the exit doors of the store even when there is a mob of people coming out?  Today, I even looked up at the word exit while we were trying to get out and several were trying to get in.  Nevertheless, it did not matter.  Those people were looking down tapping their feet to hurry me out of the way. 
• I grow tired of people driving 30 mph through the parking lot and locking up their brakes because people are trying to go acrossed the lot.  Then some of these drivers will hold thier hands up with their mouths open and glaring eyes while flooring the gas after someone is finally out of thier way.  However, it is okay when I do it.  
• It is getting close to the holidays and now there are people volunteering for all sorts of causes.  If I don’t have any money, since we are carrying check cards now, or I am just broke, they ask me directly to give which then makes me feel like a heel when I don’t give.  First, there should be a large sign so that I can read it before I get to the volunteer.  Then I will be able to have money ready since I have had time to decide whether or not I am going to give.  This will keep people from having to plug up the entrance doors while people are digging for their money or explaining that they do not have money. 
• I have a bluetooth.  Yet, those who talk on them in the isles, I want to say to you, ”Please stop.”  You slow down to a crawl instead of a walk because you talking.  Then it is like you feel as if you are in 2 places at once.  I think you feel like you have slipped into a parallel world and nobody is around you because it is just you and the voice of the person you are talking to.   When this happens, you start hesitating because you are going down the wrong isle.  It is a stutter-stop motion.   This takes place while I am walking closely behind because you have slowed down the middle of the isle.  As you make the wrong turn into the isle that you did not intend to go into, you back up quickly and run into me.  You don’t say excuse me, but you continue on with your conversation and even laugh at the funny story your friend just told you on the phone.  Finally, you get to the place you are going and then I can walk at a normal pace to where I am going.  But then, I run into the friend you are talking to a couple of isles over.  Then the process starts all over again.  However, I reserve the right to do this very thing to you when I am talking on the phone; I think.       
• Sometimes people come into the parking lot and go the opposite way of the arrow that is painted on the blacktop.  Please don’t look at me like I am the one who is being ridiculous because I am trying to go home and am coming out the same direction as the arrow is pointing.  Plus, please don’t cut through the parking places that are vacant just so you can ignore all of the stop points in the lot and then beat me out to the highway.  But, it is okay when I do it though.