Reflections From Sunday Evening

This Thursday evening at 7:00 we will have a "Cornerstone Service". There is a steel beam that will become part of our new building waiting in the sanctuary. In our service this week we will invite everyone to write a verse or some wording on the beam. We are asking people to come and "leave your mark" on this project. We will have the beam (as well as one in the dining hall) out through next weekend. If you can't make it on Thursday take a moment after church this Saturday or between services next Sunday to write your message. I plan to write Jeremiah 29:11. (You can look it up if you do not already know what that verse says or come next week and I will preach on it). You may have a favorite verse to write down and pass on to the next generations. I hope everyone will choose to participate in this time to pray and anticipate God's next step. On another note... For the second weekend in a row it was extremely cold today. It seemed like a good idea to add a couple of inches of snow to be sure and discourage people from getting out today. Still we had a great day of worship. We celebrated a baptism. Blessings on Zach and Jennifer on Harper Grace's baptism. We sang and prayed. We heard the Word. Somebody was encouraged. Someone was blessed. Someone was challenged. Someone realized the love of the Lord. Somebody said "yes" to Jesus Christ and walked out into newness of life. That is what happens when the people of God gather. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

In Mark 10 Jesus asks three people the question: "What do you want me to do for you?" In the first case he is responding to James and John who come to him with a request. When the question was posed they replied that they wanted to each have a seat at Jesus right and left in the kingdom. Jesus' response: "You don't know what you are asking." The other occasion that comes later in the chapter is directed toward a blind man. When the question was posed the blind man replied "Rabbi, I want to see!" Then Jesus said, "Go. Your faith has healed you." The man was immediately healed. We could debate the merit of each request. We could analyze the request for power and how it was denied. But we could also talk about a request for personal help (healing) and how it was granted. Is the difference the matter of faith? Is the difference the object of the request? What do we not know about the stories? A bigger question might be what would we ask were Jesus to say to us; "What do you want me to do for you?" We might ask for some big spiritual thing like a spiritual "Great Awakening" that would change the face of the nation. Maybe we have a family request that God touch someone's heart. Would you be tempted to ask to win the lottery? Would there be a financial request? Is there a sin that seems to continually get the better of you that you would ask to be overcome? Would there be a justice issue that you would love to see resolved? I suppose this list could go on and on. Maybe the thing to do is have a conversation with Jesus and invite him to search your heart and change your heart. I have this feeling that when our heart is right and our desire is to honor God Jesus would love to look at you and ask, "What do you want me to do for you?" It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

If you are a New Year's resolution person you may have made a resolution that is consistent with a Google survey indicating the resolutions people are making for 2016. If you are in the Millennial Generation the top priority for this year is spending more time with loved ones. They also have a high financial resolution; To spend less and save more. If you are a Generation X person (age 35-44 in the younger level) the focus is on living healthier. At the upper level of Generation X (age 45-54) the main interest is on paying down debt. If you are a Baby Boomer (age 55-64)the main resolution is to lose weight. Boomers are also interested in "enjoying life to the fullest" but not too interested in the financial issues. Seniors (65 and up) place "enjoy life to the fullest" at the top of their resolution list. Perhaps you find yourself in one of these categories. I would also like to offer a word of encouragement for a spiritual resolution. As a matter of fact were we to resolve to commit to "following Jesus" this year we would discover that many other issues to fall in place. Christ followers live in fellowship, not solitary lives. It would be logical to be spending more time with loved ones and friends in the fellowship of Christ. Following Jesus could easily lead to greater self discipline (a fruit of the Spirit) which would lead to a healthier life. Following Jesus may or may not impact "losing weight" but it would surely lead to enjoying life to the fullest. In addition to all the above following Jesus leads to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Can you imagine a year like that? Here we go. Resolve to follow Jesus It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

We are drawing toward the end of 2015. From the perspective of many it might be just as well! However it is still important to look for new learnings and places of spiritual growth. One thing that helps keep me going is reading. Like most people there does not always seem to be enough time or energy to read everything I want to read. By the time I read the Scripture - I read the Bible through this year and will get a fresh Bible to start again on January 1 - the necessary reading for sermon preparation and other ministry matters and newspapers, magazines and miscellaneous articles there still needs to be some time for a few good books. This year I enjoyed two John Grisham novels - Grey Mountain and Rogue Lawyer. I am not sure if Grisham is writing at his best but certainly enjoyable reads for his fans. "Vanishing Grace" by Philip Yancey is certainly worth reading. We need reminders of the grace that make all things new. In the last few years I have enjoyed reading Wendell Berry. The rural setting and era resonates with people like me who grew up in rural America. "Nathan Coulter" was an enjoyable read this year. I always try to keep up with a new Leonard Sweet book. This year I read "From Tablet to Table". Sweet has a way of engaging this technological age with some reminders of how we stay in touch with the living God. Pema Chodron wrote a book and the title was intriguing enough to draw me in. "Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better." I probably will not stay with this author - totally out of my area - but when we get anxious about not living into the success expectation of our culture it is good to know there is a place for risky living. I read a book seeking a spiritual awakening in America. Dutch Sheets writes "An Appeal to Heaven". Certainly something to think about. Currently I am reading Tim Keller's "The Reason for God". A very good book to share with our skeptical friends. I am also starting a book my brother gave me for Christmas. John Ortberg's "All the Places to Go" has already got my attention. He is talking about the open doors God sets before us and the adventure that beckons. I am eager to keep reading and look for the next open door God will set before me (us) in 2016. Today has been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

It seems like the sun comes up later and goes down earlier these days. But that will begin to change tomorrow (December 21, 2015) That is the Winter Solstice. It will be the shortest day of the year. A few seconds do not seem to change much. It will still be dark in the morning and dark early in the evening. But we will have turned a corner. After December 21 the days will begin to get progressively longer. There will be a bit more light. That is very appropriate since we are in the season of lights. There are Christmas lights, candle lights, star lights, green lights, red lights, flashing lights, blinking lights but most importantly there is the light of Christ. With the light of Christ and the light shining a bit longer each day we find promise. We have the promise of God who comes to dwell with us. We have the promise of a Savior who will save us from our sins. We have the promise of a redeemed creation. We have the promise of peace, hope, joy and love. Wow. There is a lot going on. I hope you will take a moment this week to remember we have turned the corner. The days will be getting a bit longer, brighter and warmer. Of course before they get much warmer we can expect some cold and snow, but is never lasts. Spring is promised. The warmth of Christ will soon envelope us. Enjoy the week. Have a wonderful Christmas. Have joy in the midst of the on-going work of God in Jesus Christ. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day to. blessings, steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

This has been a good day. The Wesleyan Choir presented the Christmas cantata today. What a great job sharing the message of Christmas in a way that touched the hearts of many. Joy filled the air in the sanctuary today. Later I hit the stores with the family for some Christmas shopping. Maybe that was not the greatest part of the day but hanging out with everyone was really good. I keep thinking about the Church. This is a time of year when people in many different places in their spiritual lives come to church. There are some who are interested in pursuing the Christian faith. There are many who come to celebrate their faith. It is a joy to share with so many different people. I am excited to be part of a church that seeks to reach people in many places in their spiritual lives. Some churches tend to focus on one or two ministries while others expand their reach. The church should be about the work of assisting non-believers to become Christians; nominal Christians to become committed Christians; Committed Christians to become informed Christians; Informed Christians to become Engaged Christians and Engaged Christians to become mature Christians. It becomes a circle of faith development. I could pursue this further and cite examples of churches that focus in particular areas. My vision: Let's reach them all! I do have a real desire to encourage and assist people in coming to faith in Christ. But each area of ministry brings great joy. May the joy of Jesus fill your hearts as we continue to anticipate and prepare for Christmas. It's been a great day. Blessings. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

I wish. Have you ever sat in church and thought to yourself I wish...? I wish the preacher would hurry up and stop talking. (Probably won't come true.) I wish I had a million dollars. I wish I could find a meaningful way to serve Christ and the Church. I wish someone would call on... I wish the doctor's appointment had gone a different way. I wish I could go to that college. I wish that guy would ask me out. I wish no children would ever go to bed hungry. I wish there was an end to the war in .... I wish we would sing... I wish we had a great youth program (Oh yes, we do). I wish Christmas would hurry up and get here. I wish life would slow down. Your wish list could literally go on and on and on. Some of the wishes reflect childhood dreams. Some wishes reflect very grown up issues. Each wish holds the possibility of becoming more than a wish. Each wish may become a prayer. Think about your wishes and imagine how they would sound in your conversation with God. You can trust God in this. If your wish (your prayer) does not line up with God's best He might say something like "let's think about this wish." Are you sure? Do your really? What if we did this? There may be other wishes (prayers) where God would say I would love to! I've been waiting for you to ask! Feel free to come to church next week and think to yourself I wish... But you do not have to wait until then. Before you sleep today you can take a moment and say I wish. You can rise in the morning and begin your day with I wish. I cannot predict the outcomes but I do know God will be delighted to hear you. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day. steve