Some things that make a Senior Pastor feel great...
An associate who preaches the Word in a meaningful and effective way for an August series. Thanks Jacob Schneider!
An associate pastor who takes a huge step forward in development of Care Ministries that is including more people than we could have dreamed. Thank you Nancy Liston!
An administrative staff that keeps the church running day after day in a most gracious way. Thank you Lori Bogart!
A Director of Student Ministries who got in the baptismal and baptized his first convert today. Blessings Henry and thank you Britton Fields!
I hope you get the idea. Person after person in our church steps up and serves. Laity volunteer and touch people's hearts. Our staff is the greatest. They continually find new ways to relate Christ to others.
But here are others who make a Senior Pastor feel great. August was a time for "down time". We even got clear out of town for a week. Cindy is a great encourager. She got me away from things for a bit and took me on hikes over mountains among other things. We took walks. We went to ballgames. We also celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary. Thanks Cindy Breon!
I am also thankful to our kids and their spouses who joined us in Colorado and have spent other days with us. Thanks kids!
So hopefully you can see some of the things that make a Senior Pastor feel great. I encourage you to think about those in your life who have a similar effect on you.
It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too.
steve
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Reflections From Sunday Evening
Been off for a couple of weeks and much has happened. Charlottesville has been on my mind each day. I was in the mountains without connectivity when I first got a hint of what happened. In the following days I read up on the events and also read many different opinions. Frankly I don't have much to add but after reflecting thought it would be good to share a few things.
White supremacy, white nationalism, racism and violence are wrong. These things are referred to as evil, wicked and something to be condemned. But the worst word to describe these things is sin. Let me try to illustrate.
A year or so ago I realized that the altitude in the Colorado mountains affects me negatively. In preparation for our recent trip to Georgetown, Colorado I checked with an over the counter pharmacy. They told me some things that would treat the symptoms of altitude sickness. Ibuprofen for headache and something else for upset stomach - it was motion sickness stuff -. They would treat symptoms but the doctor gave me a prescription that is meant to address the problem. It worked pretty well. I did not miss a meal on our trip!
I share that to lead to my witness regarding the ugly head of racism that is rising up yet again. White supremacy and nationalism and racism are manifestations of sin. We may condemn racist activity but until we find repentance we only work on the symptom.
I write as an Orthodox Christian who knows the redeeming power of faith in Jesus Christ. I understand our human nature to be fallen from God's original intent and therefore deeply marred by sin. I see our human efforts at self-redemption as fruitless. But I do know the power of Jesus Christ to change lives. Jesus speaks to the root of our issues, not merely the symptoms.
Even as I have thought about this I have an increasing appreciation for my progressive friends who are fearlessly leading the way to resist evil and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. (That is right out of our baptism liturgy) Protesting injustice and evil (I should say sin) moves us in the right direction.
I see an opportunity for Christians to come together and make a common witness to the Gospel. Call attention to the issues. Trust in Christ to change lives. Be hopeful.
On another matter...
Cindy and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary Saturday. Wow. I am so grateful for the life God has been making all these years. What joy.
On another matter...
Don't look directly at the sun tomorrow.
On another matter...
It was good to be in church this morning and worship from the congregation. Jake blessed us with his preaching and Nancy truly ministered through prayer and serving.
On another matter...
Peter Babalian... We celebrated Peter's 90 years of life yesterday. He will be missed but his witness lives on.
It's been a great day. I trust you've had a great day as well.
steve
White supremacy, white nationalism, racism and violence are wrong. These things are referred to as evil, wicked and something to be condemned. But the worst word to describe these things is sin. Let me try to illustrate.
A year or so ago I realized that the altitude in the Colorado mountains affects me negatively. In preparation for our recent trip to Georgetown, Colorado I checked with an over the counter pharmacy. They told me some things that would treat the symptoms of altitude sickness. Ibuprofen for headache and something else for upset stomach - it was motion sickness stuff -. They would treat symptoms but the doctor gave me a prescription that is meant to address the problem. It worked pretty well. I did not miss a meal on our trip!
I share that to lead to my witness regarding the ugly head of racism that is rising up yet again. White supremacy and nationalism and racism are manifestations of sin. We may condemn racist activity but until we find repentance we only work on the symptom.
I write as an Orthodox Christian who knows the redeeming power of faith in Jesus Christ. I understand our human nature to be fallen from God's original intent and therefore deeply marred by sin. I see our human efforts at self-redemption as fruitless. But I do know the power of Jesus Christ to change lives. Jesus speaks to the root of our issues, not merely the symptoms.
Even as I have thought about this I have an increasing appreciation for my progressive friends who are fearlessly leading the way to resist evil and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. (That is right out of our baptism liturgy) Protesting injustice and evil (I should say sin) moves us in the right direction.
I see an opportunity for Christians to come together and make a common witness to the Gospel. Call attention to the issues. Trust in Christ to change lives. Be hopeful.
On another matter...
Cindy and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary Saturday. Wow. I am so grateful for the life God has been making all these years. What joy.
On another matter...
Don't look directly at the sun tomorrow.
On another matter...
It was good to be in church this morning and worship from the congregation. Jake blessed us with his preaching and Nancy truly ministered through prayer and serving.
On another matter...
Peter Babalian... We celebrated Peter's 90 years of life yesterday. He will be missed but his witness lives on.
It's been a great day. I trust you've had a great day as well.
steve
Sunday, August 6, 2017
Reflections From Sunday Evening
When I began preaching a number of years ago I was in seminary and preaching at a little church on Sunday's. I don't remember how I prepared but have some remembrance of putting the finishing touches on a sermon outline on Saturday night.
Sometime after finishing seminary I heard someone teach, or read something, that persuaded me to make Thursday my sermon writing day. To this day the majority of the sermons I write are done on Thursday.
A few years ago there was another step in preaching development. The seeds were sown when I was a district superintendent and one of our district's preachers always worked a week ahead. She would be writing the sermon she would preach in two weeks was able to stay ahead in her preparation.
When I read an Andy Stanley book on preaching and listened to him I gave serious thought to working ahead. Since we preach series it lends itself to developing a series outline and writing the sermons at least two or maybe three weeks ahead.
I told you that to tell you this. Cindy and I are getting ready for a few days off and I am going to try to get away from the norm. Our church is blessed with good communicators. Pastor Jacob will be preaching this month while I take the time to get ready for our fall series.
Advance preparation. That is actually a good idea whether you are talking about preaching or anything else you do. Teachers practice advance preparation. Coaches practice advance preparation. Business managers practice advance preparation.
There are other ways we do advance preparation. When we devote our lives to prayer and searching the scriptures we are practicing advance preparation for the new thing God is planning.
We may do this on a daily basis. What would it be like to begin your day with prayer and conclude your prayers with "God, I look for what you want to offer me this day." You have just prepared yourself for the new work of grace God has in store.
Get prepared. God is moving in your life.
blessings,
steve
Sometime after finishing seminary I heard someone teach, or read something, that persuaded me to make Thursday my sermon writing day. To this day the majority of the sermons I write are done on Thursday.
A few years ago there was another step in preaching development. The seeds were sown when I was a district superintendent and one of our district's preachers always worked a week ahead. She would be writing the sermon she would preach in two weeks was able to stay ahead in her preparation.
When I read an Andy Stanley book on preaching and listened to him I gave serious thought to working ahead. Since we preach series it lends itself to developing a series outline and writing the sermons at least two or maybe three weeks ahead.
I told you that to tell you this. Cindy and I are getting ready for a few days off and I am going to try to get away from the norm. Our church is blessed with good communicators. Pastor Jacob will be preaching this month while I take the time to get ready for our fall series.
Advance preparation. That is actually a good idea whether you are talking about preaching or anything else you do. Teachers practice advance preparation. Coaches practice advance preparation. Business managers practice advance preparation.
There are other ways we do advance preparation. When we devote our lives to prayer and searching the scriptures we are practicing advance preparation for the new thing God is planning.
We may do this on a daily basis. What would it be like to begin your day with prayer and conclude your prayers with "God, I look for what you want to offer me this day." You have just prepared yourself for the new work of grace God has in store.
Get prepared. God is moving in your life.
blessings,
steve
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