Reflections From Sunday Evening

To be the best you gotta beat the best. We will hear that around town all week as our Chiefs prepare to host the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game and a trip to the Super Bowl.  The Pats have a goofy run of excellence. They have been the best for over a decade. Tom Brady has been in like a zillion Super Bowls.  The best.
So along comes this 23 year old, Patrick Mahomes. This Chiefs team has become something we are not accustomed to seeing. They are crazy good on offense. Could there be a changing of the guard? Could Mahomes become a generational talent? Could the Chiefs establish an unprecedented run of success?
Could be. To be the best you gotta beat the best.
Clearly the future looks bright for our guys. This week will be fun. The Chiefs have many big games in their future.
Sports are so much fun. But they are not the most important thing in life. We believe our faith in Jesus is most important. And to be the best...
Disciple
Parent
Child
Student
Employee
Employer
(Keep making your list)
To be the best we SURRENDER.
We surrender our life to Christ and discover we are our “ best” when in Christ.
It’s been a great day. I hope you’ve had a great day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

The year is off to a good start. People seemed to be in a good mood this weekend. There was well wishing. Happy New Year. The fellowship was a joy to behold. It was the church alive.
The church alive is engaged in worship. This was evident today. Singing praise, prayers, scripture, and communion. Hearts were touched by thr Living Lord. Worship.
The church alive serves. We were reminded of the number of people who served over 270 meals at 44 locations on Christmas morning. That is but one of the service engagements we shared in.
The church alive learns together. There are on-going classes. There are new groups being formed. There are new classes kicking off. There are new groups waiting to emerge.
The church alive is generous. $30,000 + was given Christmas Eve. We get to give all of it away to help others. People are generous with time and energy. The church alive excels in the practice of generosity.
The churc alive realizes we primarily exist for those who are not yer here. We invite people to come hear the Good News. The church alive reproduces faith in unbelievers, hopeful believers, and fully engaged believers.
This is a picture of the church alive. I saw her today.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Once again things have turned the corner. Everything is looking up. The sun is higher. The days get longer. We just passed the shortest day of the year.
It is appropriate to celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus our Savior, around the Winter Solstice. Light comes. Light lingers longer. Light becomes brighter. The cold and dark of winter will give way to the freshness of spring. Before you know it summer will come then the cycle will start again.
There is a spiritual rhythm to this. When one feels discouraged and confused Jesus comes and brings light. Jesus has a way of extending his grace in life changing ways.
So here we go. Things are looking up. The days grow longer. The cold of winter is yielding to the warmth of spring and summer. And we wrap it all together by celebrating the birth of Christ.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

The Christmas cantata is a highlight of our year. Once again Walter Bryant, the Wesleyan Choir, and all those who share their talents provided a true worship experience. This year the Good News Company added to the joy. Thank you all!
We listen and hear the music of patriarchs and prophets. We hear the music of the Psalms. People of faith rejoice with music when we celebrate life. There is music at weddings. There is music at celebrations of death and resurrection. There is music in worship week after week.
Music.
Did the shepherds sing a tune after the visit of the angels?
Did Mary sing to her new born son?
Was there music at the many celebrations we read of in the life of Jesus?
The Book of Revelation seems to have music resounding in heaven.
The music of heaven comes to earth.
Chances are you will play a cd or some medium of your favorite music tomorrow. Music is part of life. Music is at the heart of faith.
We heard the song of Christ today. And we will keep hearing the song of faith. I pray the songs of our Savior ring in your heart always.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

A cold does not usually shut me down...except today. I realize preachers need to be able to talk and that was iffy today. So thanks to Jacob and Nancy for taking my responsibilities today.
It was not a wasted morning. I was at church in Atlanta and then joined Platte Woods on-line.
In early days in ministry we would record sermons on cassette tapes. We were doing that here a decade ago. At one church I was on radio. Those preachers who pioneered church on television were visionary. This media stuff seems to be here to stay.
Now churches are going live-stream, on demand, and podcast. To fail to leap into the digital age would be like having great radio when everyone is watching TV. We do not want to be an analogue church in a high def, digital age.
So I watched on-line this morning. The picture was great as was the sound. But of course, it was not like being there. The human touch is not displaced by technology. But technology is a wonderful asset for communicating the Gospel.
It’s been a (I could say so so day) but by grace even today has been a good day.  I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

The theme this month is Technicolor Christmas. Basically we are moving from the black and white world of tules based religion ( law) to the vivid colors of grace and Spirit.
We talked about moving from gray, drab, colorless living to God’s vivid colors.
Anyway, on the way out of church today a person who was with us for the first time stopped to share with me. For years she had been colorblind until a procedure changed everything. She could see colors!
God graciously sends people our way to bring joy, grace, peace, and color - vivid, living, brilliant color.
It’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

We got home from church before the snow got heavy and the roads got bad.  Today made me think about our attitudes toward worship. When we gather we can expect some new insight or idea. Perhaps we feel inspired in our faith. Certainly we love the fellowship with one another.  We keep coming back to gather together.
Days like today tell us to use caution and good judgment about getting out. We live stream our services for days like this. We appreciate church and opportunities to worship the Lord.
There are places in the world that experience challenges to worship other than blizzard conditions. Some people must walk long distances to get to their place of worship. They are generally not challenged by snow but rather stifling heat.
Some people literally risk their lives to gather for Christian worship. That is far past our capacity to grasp.  We are thankful.
But  people keep walking to church. People keep risking. Snow melts and we come back strong. The people of faith are very resilient!
I am watching it snow. I pray for others who are not warm and safe this evening. I thank God for those who inspire.
All things considered...it’s been a good day. I hope you’ve had a good day too.
Steve