Reflections From Sunday Evening

In the midst of everything else that was taking place in church this weekend - Honduras Mission Trip breakfast, announcements about name tags, communion, worship, preaching, classes - the normal things done on a weekend. We also recognized graduates. Our high school seniors are busy finishing up school. They are preparing for graduation. They are having their graduation parties. They are anticipating their next steps in life. The next steps are really significant. Graduation is a great accomplishment but it does not mark a stopping point in life. Graduation is a step along the way. There is much more to come. I hope we make the connection between this attitude and the Christian life. We have Christian experiences. We may mark our baptism. Perhaps we are confirmed. Maybe we experience a sense of call. There may be a new, fresh insight. Each season and each day of our Christian life is fresh and new. There are new experiences that bring us encouragement and direction. Whatever the momentary experience may be we are not finished. When we become a Christian we do not check that off our "to do" list for spiritual things and go on about the business of life. We become new. We become a living, growing spiritual entity. Following Jesus takes us to new places regularly. Following Jesus leads us in an adventure of serving and loving God and others. It is a life that does not stop. We find a continuing flow of the Spirit into our lives that transforms and creates life day by day. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Today was one of those days that was simply a blessing. The highlight for me was our Confirmation service. I looked at those young people sitting on the first two rows and recognized them from Wednesday night activities, VBS, church and other activities. I have watched a number of these students grow up. These students were in pre-school when I came to Platte Woods. Now they stand before the church and say yes to Jesus Christ. Nothing better. I think of these young people and the challenges they face. I think of the world we live in. I also think of the challenges faced by those in my generation when I was confirmed in the faith in the 1960's. We had challenges as well. I have confidence in these young people. By the grace of God they will not only profess faith but grow in their faith. Some will hear a call from the Lord and possibly go into fulltime ministry. They will be the people who live their faith in the work place. They have the potential to make a difference and change the world. The focus of the message this weekend was "God will do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine." I will ask and imagine a great deal from this group. I will trust God to do even more than I dream. Could I remind you of the same expectation for our entire church? We left today with the challenge to expect God to do immeasurably more in our heart, life and church than we can ask or imagine. On another note... I thank Walter and the praise team one more time for all they did to make our recently completed message series a real joy. They have led our worship at all weekend services for 7 of the last 8 weekends! Much appreciation. It's been a great day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

There is a passage in the Book of Isaiah that we traditionally interpret as a reference to the Messiah, Jesus. There is a good chance the prophet had a contemporary figure in mind as well as a vision for the future. The description of the one to come is in the context of the "suffering servant" section in scripture. "...He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." (Isa. 53:2b) So often we think a leader must have the "right" appearance. In the Old Testament when the first king of Israel was being sought Saul was taller than the others and must have certainly "looked" the part. We continue to make judgments based on first impressions and outward appearance. Jesus gives us another perspective. Our depictions of Jesus probably speak more to our ideas than what Jesus actually looked like. There is something that makes us present Jesus in a manner other than a man in whom God dwells. There was nothing about him to attract us to him or cause us to desire him. Maybe not due to mere physical appearance but there is more to it than that. There is something about Jesus that strongly attracts us to him. There is something about Jesus that creates desire to know him. There is something about Jesus. Maybe it is the way he accepts us for who and what we are. Maybe it is how he seems to see something in us that we do not see in ourselves. Maybe it is his gracious acceptance. Maybe it is the way he challenges us to be more than we are. Maybe it is the way he forgives us. Maybe it is the way he believes in us. There is something about Jesus. The one the prophet saw as not being attractive or creating desire is the one who knows us, loves us, comes to be our God, our Savior, our Lord and our friend. There is really something about Jesus! It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

There are some things that make be say I wonder why? For instance, I wonder why James Shields outpitched Madison Baumgardner last night in the first week of the baseball season instead of doing so in last fall's World Series? Just wondering? I wonder why people have such a great experience on Easter and then forget to come to church the next week? Just wondering? I wonder why sports can be so captivating that I find myself watching the final round of the Master's Golf Tournament? Just wondering? I wonder why people who share the same faith in the same Lord come out on totally different sides of some issues? Just wondering? I wonder why some people think war makes sense? Just wondering? I wonder why some people who live in a great land of plenty go hungry? Just wondering? I wonder why some are exposed to the Gospel and it does not seem to make a difference in their life? Just wondering? I wonder why some people embrace the Gospel and change the world? Just wondering? I wonder why Walter Bryant has such tremendous musical talent and I cannot even play a cd player? Just wondering? I guess I could go on like this all day. Perhaps there are simply some things that we may always wonder about but never have a totally definitive answer. It really does come down to a matter of faith. I am very thankful that God has given me a "measure of faith" and through time has seemed to water it so it has matured. I am thankful for enough faith to keep me going when clarity is missing. So for the rest of the day I am going to think faith and take a break from wondering. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

What a weekend! There is nothing like Easter. The music was amazing. The services were energizing. It was a great joy to praise the Lord today. Many families were together for church. Surely the presence of the Lord was with us. The NCAA basketball tournament is winding down. That was some game last night when Wisconsin beat an undefeated Kentucky team. Monday nights championship promises to be a good one. While on the sports theme tomorrow is opening day for the Royals. It was just a few months ago they took us on an exciting ride through the playoffs into the World Series. There is a rumor that I may be at the "K" tomorrow when they raise the AL Championship flag. There is so much going on. It is spring. Wow. Of course not all the world is feeling the joy of spring. Christians in Iraq and Syria continue to face the most severe persecution. Students in Kenya lose their life because they are Christians. People we know (and perhaps ourselves) face struggles and fear. But there is a common denominator for all. Jesus is risen! He lives and because he lives we too shall live. Ours is a God who overcomes death. No persecution will ever have the last word. Death will never have the last word. God overcomes death. We find life in the resurrection of Jesus. We find joy in the resurrection. We find peace. I posed a question today. If you believed God overcomes death what difference would that make in how you live? Would you love a bit more? Would you serve more. Would you risk more for the kingdom of God? Jesus is risen. For us all. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

On this date (March 29) in 1978 Cindy woke me and said it was time to go to the hospital. I had been up late preparing for a Systematic Theology test. Off we went to Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We got there and I got Cindy checked in and turned over to a nurse. I disappeared. A few minutes later I joined her. She asked where I had been. I told her I went and threw up but now I was ready to go! It was a memorable day. Later that afternoon Bobby was born. We remember the significant events in life. That day changed our lives. We have been there as he grew through all the stages of life into adulthood. New life alters our life. I took that exam later in the week. Must have passed it since I ended up graduating. It is all pretty amazing. I think about how other significant events affect our lives. Life if full of decisions and experiences. They all merge together to make us who we are. I think of another event that happened long ago. Today we remembered Jesus' entry into the city and reminded everyone of the events that lay before him culminating at the Cross. And because of what Jesus has done our world has been forever changed. Hope has been woven into the "fabric of the universe (to quote a former bishop who had a great way with words and images). Because of what Jesus has done our lives are not what they might have been. When we include the dimension of personal faith in Christ we have something that forever changes us and that we can never forget. This week there are different times we are called to gather and remember. We have communion on Holy Thursday. We reflect on the Cross on Good Friday. And next week we witness the most amazing event of all time. Resurrection! It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

"You've Got a Friend", "How Sweet it is to be Loved by You" and a host of other songs from the 70's were featured in our message today. We even had a commercial break - "I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony." You probably remember that one. These were some of the songs from the 70's that contributed to our series today. We focused on happy, pleasant songs that brought back some good memories. At the same time we remembered some events of the times. Some of them were not so pleasant. my for st memory of terrorism was the Munich Olympics with the Israli hostages and killings. This was the time of Watergate. There was the Iran hostage matter. Some might say the worst of the decade was Disco music. But seriously, there were some troubles. But we sought to balance things with music. At that time there were other forces at work that were seeking to engage the culture for good, or should I say for God. The people of Platte Woods UMC were stepping out in faith to build a new sanctuary to help meet the needs of people. It was a great step of faith and through the years God has honored that faithfulness. We find ourselves at another point in time where there are many troubling issues and situations. But we are feeling a Spirit prompt to engage this culture with the Gospel. Megan Hayes shared her story of the dear friend who did not "associate church with Easter." There are many wonderful people all around us with similar thoughts. The mission field is right here. I believe the church that chooses to engage today's mission field with the Gospel will write history. May God give us power to go and write history. It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too. Steve