Reflections From Sunday Evening

When I was in high school I attended the N.A.I.A. basketball tournament for the first time.  It was either 1970 or 1971, I am not sure.  This is the small college tournament.  They played a tournament with a 32 team field in one week.  As time past I kept going to the games once a week most years.  Over time a group of us would take a day and watch the full 8 game round.  When our son, Bobby was in elementary school he made the trip.  I recall going to eat and him eating half a chicken and lasting until sometime late in the evening before he dozed off.
I always had this idea that it would be really neat to go to the entire tournament some day.  But it always seemed like there were things to do and I was glad to get one day at Municipal Auditorium.  Until this year.  I decided to take the time and go to the tournament.  So I have watched all or parts of 28 basketball games over the past four day.  There are three more to go with the semi-finals and finals this week.
I realize that this is not as much basketball as Buck and Betty Farmer watched over the 69 years they attended each game of the NAIA tournament.  I believe they were married in 1946.  In 1947 they went to the tournament and went to every game ( with one exception - When the tournament was moved to Tulsa for 8 years they drove home to watch the championship game on tv one year).
They have paid tribute to the Farmer's at this year's tournament.  Betty passed away about three years ago and Buck died this past fall.  Talk about a legacy!
I have a late start to try and catch up with them.  I think if I will go to all the games until I am 131 years old I will catch their record.  I better get a different goal.
There may be some other things to find in what the Farmer's did.
Loyalty.  Their loyalty to the small colleges and the game of basketball is great.  Maybe I can have a similar loyalty to the Church.  I'm off to a pretty good start with that.
Support.  They supported something they loved.  How may I continue to support those I love, people and groups?
Commitment.  69 years.  Wow.  What about a lifetime of commitment to Christ and His call?
Joy.  People were met.  Friendships were forged.  Basketball can provide some wonderful opportunities.  May each of us find true joy in worship, service and Christian growth.
One other thing about the NAIA tournament.  It was begun in 1937 by James Naismith, the "inventor" of basketball, Frank Cramer, a pioneer in athletic training products, and Emil Liston of Baker University.  Yes, a Baker man founded a basketball tournament that has been played for 80 years.
So that's it for my down week enjoying game after game of basketball.
It's been a great day.  I hope you've had a great day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

While preaching today I missed about 9 good opportunities to stop!  But I kept having something to say.  Oh well, I know I preached a short sermon sometime.
Part of what I wanted people to know was that Jacob Schneider was approved for commissioning this week.  He will be commissioned at this year's annual conference.  This is a significant step in the ordination process of the United Methodist Church.  Congratulations Jake.  Proud of you!
We continue our conversation about patience.  It did seem appropriate to put patience into action by leaving the parking lot without honking our horns at people.  Sounds like people did very well today.
It's funny how spring daylight savings time seems to effect the church like the Fourth of July Weekend!  It is generally one of our lower attendance weekends.  Even so we had a great weekend.  If you did not hear the new children's choir, "Good New Company" you missed the highlight of the year!  They were great.  Energetic, enthusiastic and brought the Gospel to the congregation.  Wow.  Looking forward to their next time in church.
Continuing these random thoughts...it is really basketball season now.  Shortly the NCAA tournament field will be announced.  We are kicking off three weeks of compelling sports.  Enjoy.  I have this thing for small college sports.  Hope to catch some games at the NAIA tournament.  Won't make it to Billings, Mt. for the Baker women's games in the national tournament.
Enough of that.
Let me offer one more reminder of our Lenten applications for the week.  Do no harm.  Do good.  Stay in love with God.
It's been a great day.  I hope you've had a great day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

I am so thankful for people who serve in the life of the church.  I tend to provide opportunities for people to do so.  For instance, today I failed to bring the questions we ask people when they make professions of faith.  Never thought of it until about time to bring Noah Barajas forward to make his profession of faith.  Thankfully I've done this enough to get the main thing.  Do you accept Jesus Christ and pledge your allegiance to his kingdom?  Noah did so and we celebrated his profession of faith today.  Thankful.
Before that I was able to kick over a cup of coffee that was under my seat.  Thankful for Bill noticing it and coming with paper towels to clean up.  Opportunity to serve.
I also realized that we had forgotten to bring the communion ritual and Jake took off to get it while the service was underway.  Another servant.  Oh well.  Nobody really knew we were scrambling around but together things went well.
I was able to top off the day when Cindy and I went to lunch.  The buffet was great.  Except when I got the biscuit and covered it with sour cream instead of gravy.  (Looked like gravy to me).  Thanks to a gracious waitress.  Second round worked better.
Such is the day.  We hit on all cylinders and we miss fire.  And when the day it done worship has touched the hearts of many; a person has committed their life to Jesus Christ, Holy Communion is celebrated and God's provision is deeply appreciated.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

I had lunch with Israel Kamudzandu.  Israel is the New Testament professor at Saint Paul School of Theology.  We were talking about the most important things in the Church.  He and I are of the same mind in believing that evangelism is central to our purpose.  If we are going to make a disciple of Jesus Christ we must evangelize.  If we are going to transform the world we must evangelize.
A couple things come to mind in this light.  We have a great new building.  We have provided excellent space for fellowship and opportunities to connect with people in the gathering space.  We have provided an up-to-date modern worship center  where we may worship and connect with God.  We have a great youth center where youth may be formed with a Christian identity.
With all that we must discover a new motivation to reach out to those who do not know Christ and are not connected to the faith and a faith community.  We call this evangelism.  We have good news to share and this is essential to our purpose.
In another context I think about the horrific shooting in Olathe.  There is much conversation about "hate crimes" and people who are "other".  We have more and more issues brought out into the open that demand our attention, conversation and action.
But I believe that we can make all sorts of laws and rules -- we can change structures and systems, and we definitely need to work in these areas - but until we change the human heart our efforts will fall short.
If a person has a "sinful" heart changing their environment will not make it good.  If a person has a racist heart (that would be an example of a sinful heart) and then that darkness gets further clouded with alcohol abuse some evil things will come forth.  We need to change hearts which change lives which promote the common good and overcome sin.
What I just described is the result of evangelism, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
There is much at stake.  What will we do?
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Remember.
I remember when...
I remember fondly....
I wish I did not remember...
I remember the time...
Do this in remembrance of me...
Remembering is an important part of faith and life.  This weekend Cindy and I did some "remembering."  On Saturday we drove to Baldwin City, Kansas and went to a basketball game at Baker University - just for fun.  We walked across the campus.  We remembered when we were there.  We remembered the people some of the buildings are named for.  We remembered where we spent so much of our time.  It was good remembering.
On Sunday we went to church at First UMC in Stillwell, Kansas.  I had never been to the church before but the pastor is a man I remember being one of the first clergy I met when I attended my first Missouri (West) Annual Conference.  Rob and Robin Winger have become friends through the years but we have not stayed in touch.  This fall we found ourselves among some other clergy friends (that go back a ways!) at a clergy gathering.  We spent a couple of days remembering.
It was good to visit with Rob and Robin.  It was good to remember.
He did share with the congregation that we were there and where we were serving.  After church two or three people came up to us and commented about Platte Woods.  Some remembered that was the first church we joined after we got married and moved to Kansas City.  Some remembered "Melody Farms" and how their parents were there in the beginning.  Some remembered the "new sanctuary".
There is much to remember.  On this "Presidents Day" perhaps you can take a couple of moments to remember.
Remember the people and the experiences that have positively contributed to you being who you are today.
Secondly remember that we are creating remembrances every day.  What will you remember?  What will you create to remember in your future?
In the next few days I think I'll give Rob Winger a call and figure out a time we can make a new remembrance.
Have a great day.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Today Pastor Jake began a sermon series on "How's Your Soul?"  That is an excellent question.  I recall several years ago arriving at a church meeting and saw a friend from another town.  It was not really planned but I asked her how her soul was.  She looked at me and expressed gratitude for the question and then said no one had ever asked her that before.  It did her soul good to share.
Many years ago in a study on prayer a long time member of the church found herself in the "prayer chair" which was part of the study.  We gathered around her and prayed.  She was visibly moved and looked at me and reported no one had ever prayed for her like that in her life.
What are some of the spiritual questions you wish someone would ask?  This month I hope everyone gives consideration to the question, "How's Your Soul?"
The early Methodists did not hesitate to deal with these spiritual essentials.  In their groups soul questions were basic.  And together they shared.  They probed into the hearts of one another.  They grew from the victories and were strengthened by the challenges.
How is your soul?  Take some time to look inside your soul.  Reflect on your spiritual life.  May it be well with your soul.  May you increase in loving God with all your heart, soul and mind.
On another note...
Today we announced that Rev. Dr. Nancy Liston will be appointed to serve as our pastor of Congregational Care beginning March 1.  Keep Nancy in your prayers during this time of transition in her life and in the life of Platte Woods.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections from Sunday Evening

Here are a couple of reflections from Super Sunday.
Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback ever.
The Patriots played and won an amazing game.
The Falcons did not "choke" - they just got beat.
With that said I think about the idea of "greatness".  We think of greatness in many categories.  The greatest baseball hitter of all time - the greatest pitcher.  What about basketball?  Lebron, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Michael?
Who is the greatest inventor of all time?
Who is the greatest businessman of all time?
Who is the greatest teacher you ever had?
These are questions that have no answers.  (Except the quarterback thing).
Greatness is determined by many factors and depends on perspective.
But then I think of Jesus talking to his disciples about greatness.  While grown men were debating who was the greatest Jesus pointed them to a little child.  While grown men were debating who was the greatest Jesus told them the servant was the greatest.  That whole "first shall be last and last shall be first" thing is worth reflection.
If you want to be great be a servant.  That is why we stress "servant leadership" among our staff.  It is in line with what Jesus taught.
We should all aspire to greatness.  But it is the greatness as Jesus taught it.
On another note...
This Sunday we will make an announcement regarding our Congregational Care position.  I hope you are in church to hear it.
On another note...
I have tried to catch a cold since Christmas and finally succeeded!  Hopefully cold meds and a little extra rest will help.  Take care of yourselves.
It's been a (somewhat) great day.  Have a great day yourself.
steve