Reflections From Sunday Evening

I have aspired to be an encourager of others in the spiritual life. Sometimes I have been able to see good fruit of attempts at encouragement. Far too often I have left people no better than where I met them.  I hope to do better.
Well, today I witnessed people serving Jesus and the church that I have encouraged.
Britton Fields is stepping into his call to preach with humility, confidence, and competence. It was a joy to be part of the PWUMC congregation and be blessed through Britton’s message.
I was further blessed at our Patriotic Service today. Some weeks ago I “encouraged” Mike Casey to be our speaker today. Frankly, it did not demand much arm twisting. I sensed the Holy Spirit leading and Mike embraced the opportunity.
Mike has been on our church staff for nearly 14 years. He makes sure our facility is in great shape. I cannot begin to list all Mike contributes to our ministry.
Mike is a veteran. He has served his nation. Today he shared his story as a person of faith.
Today I was greatly encouraged by some of those I hoped to encourage. Their encouragement of me far exceeds anything I have offered.
Let me encourage you to look for someone to encourage this week.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Do you remember learning something that is a basic reality?
When I was a little boy I was watching the Kansas City A’s play the Detroit Tigers. In those days few games were televised. It was much different from today. The A’s were the visiting team. It came to the top of the ninth inning. I was glued to the TV hoping for them to score enough to go ahead. But as usual, the A’s came up short. I realized they could not win the game but was confused when Detroit did not bat in the ninth. Don’t they play nine innings? Won’t they feel cheated if they don’t get their last at bat? Well, no. That is the rule of the game. If the home team leads after the visiting team bats in the ninth inning. Game over. I learned it. I remember it. It has not changed.
What is a basic truth about life (specifically the Christian life) you have learned?
How about...
God so loved the world.
Love God with all your heart.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Seek first the kingdom of God.
Give and it will be given unto you.
Show faith by deeds.
You could spend the next hours adding to the list.
These are all true. They were true before we learned them but once we discovered them we had something in our experience that will never leave us.
How are you doing practicing the true things you know?
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

A shout out to pastor Jacob Schneider and Keera. Jake made a great witness through preaching this weekend. He and Keera make their move to Ozark, Mo. this week where he will be their lead pastor. I will miss a Jake, as will many in our church, but those in his new setting will be blessed.
There was one particular remark Jake made this weekend that truly gets my attention. Among the many experiences enjoyed what stands out are the LIVES CHANGED.
This is why we do what we do. This is why people like Jake dedicate themselves to serving Christ and the Church. Changing lives.
When a person takes the step to follow Jesus, lives are changed.
When a person continues walking in Christian Discipleship, lives are changed.
When a person pursues a deepening, expanding, and growing relationship with Jesus, lives are changed.
Jake celebrates the lives changed over these 5 years. We can anticipate many more people experiencing new life through Jesus Christ in Jake’s ministry for years to come.
Why, even your life may be changed.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

It’s a good feeling to be picked. Tomorrow is the Major League Baseball draft. Many amateur baseball players are going to be picked by an organization and begin pursuing a dream.
The NFL (football) draft is much more popular but the end result is about the same. Some young people are picked and the dream continues.
This is how professional sports organizations fill out their rosters.
There is another way we are picked.  John 15:16 finds Jesus telling his disciples “ you did not choose me, but I chose you...”
You have been picked.
In this story no one has to wait nervously hoping they will get picked.
No one gets rejected.
No one gets forgotten.
Jesus picks all of us; you, me, all of us, to be his followers.
In sports some don’t like the team that picks them.
Some decide not to sign up at this time.
Some say no and go do something else.
But many say yes, and the dream moves forward.
You’ve been picked to know, love, and follow Jesus.
What will you do?
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

The big word today- “prosopagnosia”.
It is sometimes called “face blindness”. A person with this condition does not recognize faces. They use other techniques to recognize people. They may rely on a persons posture. It may be their voice. It could be how they walk. Rather than recognizing faces they look for other characteristics.
I wonder if there might be a sense of spiritual prosopagnosia?
Mary Magdalene did not recognize the risen Lord until he called her by name.
The two on the Road to Emmaus did not recognize the risen Lord until he broke bread and gave it to them.
The disciples in the boat did not recognize the risen Lord until the beloved disciple remembered and recognized.
The same disciples did not recognize the risen Lord until they experienced the miraculous catch of fish.
The same disciples did not recognize the risen Lord until they were invited to come and share breakfast.
At this point no one wonder WHO he was, they KNEW it was the Lord.
You may not see Jesus’ face but you may recognize the Lord. What are the characteristics of the Lord that you recognize? You need not wonder who. You know the one who knows you and loves you.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Renewal. An interesting scientific study relates to cell renewal. The cells our bodies consist of are constantly being renewed. Hair falls out and is replaced. (Well, until a certain age for some special people!)
You mat cut your finger and in a few days it heals and generally there is no sign of injury. Scars are another thing for another day.
You may have blood work done or perhaps donate blood, but you do not gradually run out. Renewal.
Our spirits are being renewed as well. We are being renewed daily - or even moment by moment. (2 Corinthians 4:16).
The Holy Spirit is constantly renewing.
Love is being renewed.
Grace is being renewed.
Mercy is being renewed.
Forgiveness is being renewed.
We need never grow stagnant in the spiritual life. God is constantly doing His work. What are we doing to recognize this renewing work of God in our lives?
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

This weekend Cindy and I went and saw Aretha Franklin’s documentary concert, “Amazing Grace”.
It consisted of footage of Aretha and the Southern California Gospel Choir during two nights in a Baptist church in 1972. For a number of reasons the footage was shot but not completed until recently. It features Aretha Franklin singing Gospel, which is where she started. It is amazing how many of our most popular performers started in church. ( Ever hear of Elvis?)
She put her heart and soul into the music. The church where the taping took place was energized.
It caught my attention when I saw young Mick Jagger engaged in the music from the audience.
Music.
Music is the doorway to faith for many.
Music is the return route to faith for many.
Music is the constant encouragement for many.
Music transcends practically everything.
Music fuels the soul.
Music.
On another note...Happy Mother’s Day to all of you.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve