Reflections From Sunday Evening

The 10:45 Traditional Service was the only one this weekend that recognized the author of the 1957 novel, "On the Road", as Jack Kerouac.  So it appears this is the service with the greatest literary knowledge.  The other services related more to "On the Road Again", by Willie Nelson.  Therefore, by and large, we are more musical than literary.  (Pretty unscientific survey)
The Kerouac novel was about his experience travelling across America.  His experience put a different slant on the American experience. 
Our experience makes a huge difference in how we understand and relate to life. 
Our experience makes a huge difference in how we understand and relate to God.
There was a idea that did not make the sermon this week.  Here goes.
Is your faith formed by your experience of God?
Or, is your faith formed by the God you experience?
These sound similar.  But think of it like this.  When faith is formed by our experience, experience actually determines our understanding of the nature and character of God.  Another way to put it is that our experience may create God according to how we experience life.
On the other hand when we experience God in the course of life we discover God is the one who meets us and forms us.  Personally this seems like a more biblical view.  We meet God in the day-to-day of life.  Our gracious God invites us into relationship and sustains us and changes us.
Something to ponder.
On another note...
This afternoon Cindy and I had the joy of sharing in the retirement celebration of Dr. Marty Kanne.  It was a joyful afternoon.  His accomplishments are legion.  Of course, I am most interested in his leadership of mission in Central America.  Well done.  Have a great retirement.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

College basketball tournament time is in full force.  Rather than plop down in front of a tv and watch the NCAA Tournament this week I have hung out at Municipal Auditorium and watched the small schools (NAIA) play game after game after game. 
Several things stand out about this tournament.  What I really notice is the lack of stoppages of play.  There are no TV timeouts.  They do not review plays all the time.  There was only one time in four days a review took too long and got people antsy.  Games on TV last over 2 hours.  The NAIA schedule calls for games to be played in one hour and forty-five minutes.  Fast paced. 
Let me go back to the review thing.  This is just my opinion but replay reviews kill NFL games.  They do the same for NCAA Basketball.  I know people want go get things right but really....Should a game really hinge on whether or not the ball went off some guys fingernail even though some other guy forced it out....Oh well, enough of my rant on these things that really don't make much difference.
Let me go back - again- to the review thing.  It struck me.  I am certainly glad God does not do instant replays of my life looking for something to overturn.  God's review is not "instant replay" but through the lens of Jesus.  So even when I am out of bounds Jesus puts me exactly where I should be.  God is not in the business of overturning His favor.  God is in the business of granting us His favor.
Please do not get the idea that God is always looking for some way to call foul on you.  God is always looking for ways to give you life. 
So enjoy the games and if you get tired of watching another long review think of these small school young men playing for fun...game after game after game.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

I was listening to a message by Len Sweet and he told the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. being invited back to Morehouse College, his alma mater, to teach a class.  It was 1961.  8 people enrolled in the class.  Years later they would meet and remember their time with Dr. King. 
In the course each student was required to write two papers.  Dr. King graded the papers and wrote comments on each.  Those papers would be practically priceless today.  Just a receipt signed by Martin Luther King, Jr. might sell for thousands of dollars or at the very least you would have it framed under glass.  But none of the students kept the papers.  None of them kept their class notes.  Their only record was they were registered for the class in 1961.  But they do have great memories.
Charles Wesley wrote the hymn, A Charge to Keep I Have.  It was published in 1762.  Verse two goes this way:  "To serve the present age, My calling to fulfill: Oh, may it all my pow'rs engage To do my Master's will!"
To serve the present age...
It is good to remember past experiences.  We grow from them.  It is good to have a vision for the future.  We grow into them.  But we serve the present age. 
This month we have been talking about "reaching out to others as God has (first) reached out to us, inviting people (real people; with names, faces, and personalities) to join us in following Jesus.
This is our call in the present age.  This is our mission in the present age.  This is our opportunity in the present age.
Fulfill your call.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Some days make you sit back and go "wow".  This weekend provoked that response in me.  We confirmed 37 this weekend.  People stood before God and the congregation and declared their faith in Jesus Christ.  We baptized 11 youth and 1 child this weekend.  People were added to the kingdom through the ministry of the church.  It was a reflection of what we are about.
There have been times when parents and family members have established the path that would lead their children to faith.  Friends, Sunday School teachers, Vacation Bible School leaders, camp counselors, trusted friends, teachers, coaches, Scout leaders, and a host of others have contributed to people saying yes to following Jesus.
Our emphasis has been on claiming the privilege of reaching out to others, as God has (first) reached out to us, and inviting people (real people, with names, faces, and personalities) to join us in following Jesus. 
We were given a taste of what that looks like this weekend.
Something tells me there is more to come. 
It's been a great day.  I hope you've had a great day to.
p.s. For those who came to the sanctuary service at 10:45 and either got re-located to the balcony or to the Worship Center, thank you.  You gave up your seat so family members could share in the confirmation of special people.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

"Just around the corner." 
You've heard and probably used that expression.  There are plenty of things "just around the corner." 
Spring Training has begun and teams are playing baseball so Opening Day and the baseball season is "just around the corner."
The college basketball regular season is drawing toward the end and that means the NCAA Tournament is "just around the corner."
Your next trip, vacation, cruise or get-a-way is "just around the corner."
What are some other things, or experiences that may be "just around the corner"?
Some are on the verge of a spiritual awakening and a new grasp of God through a relationship with Jesus Christ is "just around the corner."
Some are ready for a new experience of God and the answer to your prayer is "just around the corner."
There is a new job, a new adventure, a new relationship, a new perspective..."just around the corner."
You get the idea. 
Around the corner is reality.  Around the corner is your next experience.  Around the corner is the fruition of your hopes and dreams in the grace of God.
"Just around the corner" is a new time in the life of our church.  If I could see around the corner (like God can) I would tell you all about it.  But here is the element of faith.  I have a sense of God working but do not have all the details.  They are "just around the corner." 
My prayer for our church, our community, the Northland, the metro area, our state, nation and world is for an amazing spiritual awakening that will re-define our lives. 
I believe...God is working..."just around the corner.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

My insight of the day - The best thing about winter is you can't catch a summer cold.  But you sure can catch a winter one.  But like most of us who have been fighting off colds and flu this winter I am going in the right direction. 
This week I have some real suffering scheduled as I represent our conference Board of Ministry at an event in Orlando.  Maybe I can get out of a conference room long enough to enjoy some 80 degree weather.  I bet I do.
The purpose of the event is to develop a conference plan for clergy assessment.  I know it sounds really exciting, but it could be very helpful.
It makes me think about the idea of assessment.  The Leadership Council is initiating a strategic planning process.  We want to have the clearest idea possible of where God wants to take us in the next few years. (Vision)  Then we must chart the course to get there. (Path)
Another part of this will be assessing our ministries.  It is important, every few years, to make sure what we are doing is consistent with and furthering our mission.  (Leading people to follow Jesus.)
I will certainly be doing self-assessment as part of this.  We will all be taking a look at how we are doing with moving the church forward in serving the Lord.
I am encouraged by what I see in the life of our church.
Today we launched our new service.  Frankly, it reminded me of "church" when I was growing up and developing a life of faith. 
This "traditional" service truly complements our other services, especially praise and worship and modern worship. 
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Cindy and I had the opportunity to hear Bobby Watson with the K.C. Symphony this weekend.  The jazz performance got me thinking about some of the things that most intrigue and interest me about Kansas City.
Since I was starting with Bobby Watson and others the whole Kansas City jazz history is amazing.  The American Jazz Museum tells a great story of Kansas City history.  Music played such a role in our history.  Definitely worth looking at.
Kansas City Baseball is also interesting.  Of course we are currently cheering for the Royals but this is "only" their 50th year.  Before the Royals the "A's" played here for a few uneventful years.  But before that the Kansan City Monarchs ruled the city.  They were the standard of the Negro League in those days.  I believe they had only one losing season during their 40 years.  The Monarchs sent more Negro League players to the major leagues than any others.  The Negro League Museum (next to the Jazz Museum) tells the history of baseball in Kansas City but more importantly the social issues of the era and how these men contributed to our city.
Another intriguing part of Kansas City is crime.  It is just one of those things with me.  Kansas City's history of organized crime is a blight on us but significant none the less.  Think about the Union Station shootout.  Those  criminals did some really bad things.  But my, what stories surround their time in the city.
There is also some Methodist history associated with Kansas City.  The uniting conference of 1939 was held here.  That had real significance as the church merged  together 95 years after the split over slavery.  It was an historic time.
One other area of great interest...Kansas City BBQ.  Need I say more.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve