Reflections From Sunday Evening

Time to think thanks! Thanksgiving is the national holiday reminding us to be a thankful people. As with many holidays we tend to forget the real reason and simply enjoy time off. While we are at it we go ahead and kick off the biggest consumer period of the year.  But that is another story.
But back to thanks.
We can certainly give thanks for our freedoms enjoyed in our country.
We give thanks for another opportunity to see family.
We are thankful for faith.
Today I am thankful for the way many of you have inspired me.  I thank God for Dale Gay and the grace he shared as we celebrated his wife, Karen’s, life this week.
I am thankful for Bill Vandever and his family as they showed love and grace in June’s Celebration of life.
I am thankful for our church and the way you live the faith and serve so well.
I am thankful for my family and the anticipation of time together. (I will try to run a 5k Thursday!)
And there is much more to come. I want to get a head start on being thankful for all that God has in store.
So, join me in nurturing your gratitude.
It is time to think thanks.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day to.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Today we were thinking about generosity.  At the 10:45 Traditional service I invited our veterans to stand.  This being Veterans Day and 100 years since the end of WW1 it seemed like a good idea.  As several of our members stood we expressed our appreciation for their service.
What stood out to me was their living example of generosity.  Those who serve and have served understand giving of themselves for a greater cause.  They understand sacrifice.  They understand being committed to and serving others.  They get it!
Generosity is something that is being lived out in our lives day by day.  In the Church we are asked to live out our generous natures by supporting the mission and ministries of the church.  We give so others may be reached.  We give so others may be served.  We give so a greater good may be accomplished.
The illustration about the post-modern architecture with stairways that go nowhere and pillars that support nothing speaks to many in our culture who view life as meaningless and without direction.  We seek to counter that understanding of life by reaching people for Jesus Christ. 
A generous life with generous love, grace, time, energy, talents, and resources make a difference.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

I was able to take part in our blood drive today.  I've been donating for years and it is really not a big deal except for the difference made in the lives of people who need blood.  Then it is a big deal.  Anyway, after the 10:45 service I went down and donated.  I noticed a young man on the cot by me.  When we finished we were sitting together eating an Oreo (that is the best part of it) and struck up a conversation.  He told me this was the first time he had donated.  Way to go Ben!  He did great.
It made me think.  While experience is a great thing there is something special about beginning.  I give blood regularly and tend to forget the real reason we do this.  We give that others may live.  How can we relegate this to ho hum status?
Could we say something similar for living the Christian life.  Many of us have been doing this for years.  Do we take grace, forgiveness, mercy and all the other joyful blessings of a relationship with Jesus Christ for granted?  Does the faith become duty?  Does the faith become boring? 
With a first time blood donor there was a healthy sense of anxiety.  There was a little bit of "how am I supposed to feel?"  There was excitement about being able to give.  He was ready to talk about his experience. He told me about his dad giving.  It was pretty clear to me that his dad was the inspiration for him donating. 
Anyway, Ben reminded me to not take opportunities for granted.  Don't take your service for granted.  Don't take your faith for granted.
Thanks Ben.  You blessed me - and who knows who else - today.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

We pray with and for Tree of Life Synagogue. The shooting yesterday is yet another act of evil perpetrated against people. In this instance the violence was directed against people of faith. These are our Jewish brothers and sisters.
Many people in our congregation will personally call a Jewish friend today and express our care and prayers.  This is not something we voted on. This is not a mandate or a protest. This is people stepping out to express the love of Christ.
Our troubled times are wracked by senseless violence. Many insist stricter gun control laws are required. Maybe. Many insist we need to arm more people to defend our institutions. Maybe.  Frankly, I do not see a political solution. I see real people speaking love and grace. I see real people initiating grass roots movements that extend the Gospel and the Kingdom of God into the world. I see local churches, with people who love God and care for their friends, rising up and turning the tide.
I don’t know how. This is not a new program. This is offering our best to God and seeing the Lord’s hand extending in ways we cannot imagine. Wishful thinking? Maybe. But maybe not.
It has been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day to.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

This weekend my brother John and I had the opportunity to share in our home church, Trinity United Methodist in Appleton City, Mo.  I did a workshop on church health Friday evening and Saturday morning while John preached Saturday and Sunday.  I am sure the people there were blessed by the preaching and was thankful they were gracious during the workshop!
One is never sure what impact they are making but I certainly enjoyed being "back home" for a little bit.  Stayed Friday night with life-long friends. (thanks again Larry and Karla)  I looked around the table and it seemed like only yesterday we were lighting the candles for church, sitting in the balcony, getting baptized and confirmed together. 
Our memories may be larger than reality but they are truly our memories.
I came away from the weekend with a renewed commitment that God is able.  God is able to use any church - big or small - to reach the unreached in their mission field.  We were looking at a community of 1100 surrounded by another several hundred in the country.  Assuming around 60% of the population do NOT attend church (which is a percentage we are seeing in many places) there are hundreds of unchurched, unreached people in their mission field.  If a church in a rural community could make a difference in 5% of the unreached they would double their impact.  Pretty amazing.
Things do not usually work according to our formulas but the Holy Spirit does not seem that interested in our formulas. 
So, God is able.  God is able to use His people to reach others. 
Small church, big church, medium church, mega-church, God uses all sorts of churches to be a light in the world that makes a difference.
Be a difference maker.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

This was a week where the Church was alive. 
Thursday - Memorial service for Sue Calhoun.  It was a most meaningful time as we celebrated the life and faith of a dear friend and member of PWC.  Walter's Beatle's medley captured Sue's spirit. 
Saturday - We celebrated the marriage of Brandi Weymuth and Zach Corbett.  It was a joyful time to share with family and friends. 
Saturday - During the Saturday service 3 young people were baptized.  New life.
Sunday - The Youth Band led worship at 10:45 Modern Service.  This brings hope and encouragement to the church.
Sunday - Sign up for this weekends Ladies Retreat; Scout chili supper tickets; Flu shots as we partner with Ian's Rainbow Foundation to join Glen and Julie Moise in educating people about the flu.
Sunday - At a district and conference level, our new District Superintendent, Rev. Melissa Dodd was installed to her new ministry. 
I know there are many who worry about the church, but I have seen her alive and well this week.  And we anticipate even more coming.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Philippians 4:8
“...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable —if anything is excellent or praiseworthy —think about such things.”
Think about...
True. Jesus is the way, the TRUTH and the life.
Noble. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.
Right. Jesus is our RIGHTeousness
Pure. Jesus, without blemish or spot.
Lovely. He is altogether lovely.
Admirable. Jesus gives an example.
Excellent. Worthy is the lamb.
Praiseworthy. Jesus, worthy of our praise.
Something - Someone - to think about.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
steve