Reflections From Sunday Evening

Maria Popova tweets "I love the idea of a 'theology of rest' amid our culture of compulsive productivity." Some days things strike us with greater clarity than others. Perhaps this is one of those days. I mentioned the good effects of a day off this week. Just a little rest contributes to a more positive spirit, renewed energy and peaceful outlook. It's amazing. The world is basically the same. The same challenging circumstances still exist. There are still decisions to make. I could go on and on. But rest aids perspective. I should know this. Years ago a mentor told me "when you get tired rest." That makes a lot of sense. Still we struggle. Ours is a culture of "compulsive productivity." We are judged by what we accomplish. We are evaluated on productivity. We can drive ourselves into non-productivity very easily. Leonard Sweet helps us see some of this in Church terms. We are gauged by ABC's. Attendance (which we have no control over), Buildings (as if they were the real mission which they are not), and Cash. The crazy thing about this is that there is never enough. There is always another person to reach for Christ. Attendance. There is always something to build or maintain. Building. There is never enough money, time or volunteers for a church that is alive and involved in mission. Cash. Sweet suggests a better evaluation would focus on MRI's. Mission, Relationships and Incarnation. I believe were we to do the MRI's well the ABC's would astound us. So with that said let's think about a "theology of rest." Certainly something to prayerfully consider. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Being intrigued by the Fixer Upper concept. I admit to being much more of an ESPN type than HGTV. However our series on Fixer Upper looks good. The idea behind the TV show sounds like a mission statement for the Church! They turn dilapidated but high potential homes into showcases. They work to revitalize whole neighborhoods. They help people who can't see a structures "beauty beyond the blemishes". They work to save homes that look hopeless. They are about renovating the imperfect. They reveal what a house was always intended to be. If we were to look at this from a faith perspective we would see the work of the Spirit in and through the Church. Jesus has a way of using us (the church) to turn dilapidated lives into showcases. The church has the potential to revitalize whole neighborhoods. Faith inspires people to look at their lives and see "beauty beyond the blemishes." The Lord saves those who feel hopeless. Our faith is about renovating the imperfect. Life in the church has a way of revealing to people what they were always intended to be. We have been created in the image of God. We have been created to be in relationship with the Living God. We are invited to the Abundant Life Jesus speaks of. It is all pretty amazing. We are on a renovation mission. You are invited to come along. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

We finished our Defining Moments series today. It was a good word that came to Jehoshaphat when enemy armies were moving against them. "Do not be afraid - do not be discouraged. The battle is not yours but God's." Read 2 Chronicles 20 and you will see what happened! Our take-away from the story went something like this. When things are happening in your life that cause you to feel afraid or discouraged look to the Lord. Fear has a tendency to lead to panic and most decisions made in "panic mode" do not go well. So turn to the Lord. It is His battle. Next time you face a fear or discouragement take your stand, move forward and sing a song. (Remember you need to read the story for this to make sense). Actually we are looking for the power of praise and worship to defeat fear and discouragement. It is amazing how God comes and moves in ways that lead us joyfully home. You may be in the midst of making a choice or decision that will turn out to be a defining moment in your life. My prayer is that it be the kind of moment that puts you (or keeps you) on track with God. Keep writing your story of God's power and presence in your life. On another note...it was hot at Kauffman Stadium but well worth it to see the Royals get another win. It was truly a day for baseball. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

This is a great day to be an American! Today is National Ice Cream Day! In keeping with the spirit of the day we passed out various types of ice cream to everyone as they left church today. It was just fun. We had the ice cream donated. I am grateful to our people who put this together (Jennifer, Debbie, Ann, Brian & Evelyn - as well as all your helpers). I appreciate those who put together the donation. We will be making a gift in kind to those who helped out. What we enjoyed today was a treat similar to what people (especially children) might receive from Harvesters or some other organization that serves people in need. I thought is was super to share in something that many in our community consider a great treat. It's great to be childlike and enjoy our ice cream. That is not all. We also celebrated a great week of Vacation Bible School. A representative group of our kids sang for us in worship. You had to see this week to appreciate it. I can tell you there were 450 kids singing, dancing, learning and having a wonderful time with the Lord this week but seeing the seats in the sanctuary filled with kids was amazing. There is no way to fully comprehend the lives that were touched this week. You saw the joy and fun but the Lord knows the hearts that were touched, the faith that took root and the way a young persons course of life was established. It has been a great week to be a kid at PWUMC! Today was a great day to be a kid at PWUMC. With childlike faith - trust in the goodness of Jesus Christ - we rejoice. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a great day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

This week is Vacation Bible School week at Platte Woods. VBS continues to be a timeless tradition for churches. I remember VBS weeks - yes more than one week of VBS. Those were summer days when we came to church each day for Bible stories, crafts, snacks and games. We ate homemade chocolate chip cookies that members made and brought to church. We drank red Kool Aid. We played games like Red Rover. We made things that supported the Bible story of the day or week. We learned stories in the Bible. When you put it all together we were experiencing God. We were kids but something was happening in our lives that would not go away. We still remember. The technology is much different. Flannel boards have given way to videos. The snacks are more healthy. The games are different. But the Bible stories are the same. The experience of God's love and grace continues. This week we anticipate more young lives being impacted by the Spirit of God. It promises to be a great week. Should be fun. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

The Independence Day holiday is drawing to a close. People will be heading home from a weekend get away. There may be one more cook-out but we are getting ready for a new week. Hopefully sometime during this weekend we have re-read the Preamble to the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence or some other historical document. Hopefully we have taken a moment to reflect on the precious gift of liberty and freedom that is such a part of the American experience. Maybe we have given thought to what we most appreciate about our nation. Perhaps we have reflected on the commitment of those who led the way. Our nation is filled with defining moments. There were the first stirrings in the hearts of men who saw a vision for a new nation. There were those who risked all they were and all they had for this proposition that all men are created equal. There was the defining moment when leaders pledged their "lives, possessions and fortunes" for the new nation. There have continued to be many defining moments along the way of the great experiment in democracy. With that said I invite you to also consider defining moments in your life, especially your Christian life. Do you recall the first stirrings of faith in your heart? What does your spiritual autobiography look like? Can you identify the moments in life when God seemed most close and clear? Are there seasons of life where God seemed distant. Can you identify choices and decisions that have turned out to be defining moments in your life of faith? As surely as our nation continues forward with new challenges and opportunities your life does the same. There will be other defining moments ahead in your life of faith. Be encouraged and anticipate your future in faith with joy. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Cindy and I are back home from a week in Seattle, Wa. It was a great time away. We saw the Royals win 2 out of 3 from the Mariners. Amazing how many KC fans show up for road games these days! I must admit the Seattle faithful did not seem overjoyed at chants of "Let's Go Royals." The weather was great. We saw the sights. It was simply good to rest up and re-charge. As always good to be home and getting ready to get back to business. I did have the opportunity to get to church this morning. I appreciate Keith Milburn inviting me to share at the Patriotic Service held at the flag pole this morning. It was a good time to remember heritage and celebrate the faith that makes us a "great" people. I also had the privilege of receiving Duane Whorten into membership today. It was a blessing. It was good to step in and have a part in services today. Thanks to our great staff and to Pastor Ginger for preaching this month while I do some other things. I look forward to starting a new message series next weekend and invite you to join in and find some "Defining Moments" in your life. It's been a good day. I trust you've had a good day too. steve