Reflections From Sunday Evening

Twenty-five years ago the movie Field of Dreams was released. There is a line in the movie that has become part of our normal conversation. We have also applied the phrase to church life. You have probably guessed the phrase. "If you build it they will come." Actually that phrase comes later in the movie. The original call to Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) was a little different. He heard the voice; "If you build it HE will come." We could have a nice discussion about the relationship between father and son and how the movie speaks to the matter. We could also apply this insight to church life. Never build a church based on the idea that simply constructing something will automatically attract people. It is really not about us. It is about HIM. Build it and He will come. In the movie the Field of Dreams opened a magical way for father and son to have an amazing experience. In church life He - Jesus comes among us. Jesus offers us an amazing experience. Later in the movie Ray's daughter reminds everyone that "build it and THEY will come." This is echoed by the James Earl Jones character. "Build it and they will come." (To say nothing of one great soliloquy !) Here is the connection. Build a life, a culture, an environment or a church where Jesus is invited in and totally welcome and HE will come among us. The Living Lord Jesus has such an impact that He will attract others to the life giving faith he inspires. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

"If you know the good you ought to do and don't do it, it is sin." That's a bit of a paraphrase of James 4:17. Today we put this in a little different light. Rather than "ought" the idea may be put in an affirming way. We might say "Do the good you know you could." The story came from a college class where the assignment was to observe a teacher in the classroom. Sometime into the class session the teacher stepped out of the room and when she did a group of students locked her out! I was there to "observe". That was my assignment. At that point I had some options regarding what to do. I could join them. Imagine the stories a group of sophomore boys would have if a college student helped them lock their teacher out of the room. A second option was to observe. That was what the assignment was. That was the expectation. Why not sit back and watch, just observe. I could then go write my paper. The other option was to open the door. I did what any of you would do. I opened the door. In reflecting on that experience I learn something. I am capable of doing the good I know I could. I am the first to admit that I have not always followed through with that. I have missed the mark. I have failed. But the capability is there. That is our message for the church today. As we look upon the world and see all the needs and injustices that seem so prevalent we have options. Will we join with those who create circumstances that oppress and harm others? Will we "observe" deciding that it is not my problem. Or will we be the people of God who open doors? Look for the door that God is opening. Look for the door to open this week. Do the good you know you could. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

In an hour we will gather in Memorial Hall for a "de-consecration" service. About 55 years ago the first sanctuary of Platte Woods Methodist Church was opened. For around 10 years this building served as the worship space for a growing congregation. When the current sanctuary was built the first sanctuary became "Memorial Hall". It has served the people of God well in a variety of ways through the years. The last few years has seen Memorial Hall used for worship services. We have conducted memorial services here. There have also been some weddings. Each week Memorial Hall has been used for Sunday School class meetings. Youth ministry has been conducted in Memorial Hall following some significant remodeling a few years past. Other uses include regular exercise classes. The space has been used as a voting precinct. We have hosted many meals in Memorial Hall. Staff meetings have been held in this space. There have been graduation parties and various kinds of receptions. Over the years Memorial Hall has become a great multi-purpose space. This evening we will gather and remember the great experiences in this place. A "de-consecration" does not negate anything that has taken place here. It simply says thank you for being a vehicle for ministry over many years. Buildings may be somewhat like life. We grow and develop during childhood. Changes take place during our teenage years. We move into young adulthood, middle age and maturity. Each stage of life builds on the former. Together a life is made. Memorial Hall has made a huge contribution to the development and growth of Platte Woods United Methodist Church. Many memories but even more anticipation of God's future. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

We had a blessed day at church today. Always good to join together for Mother's Day. Our game went well. Amazing how many women had the things we were asking for in their purse! This week I was with a group from our church at a conference in Atlanta. One session posed the question; "What would a great leader do?" Many insights. I put what I learned to practice. Evidently we need to replace a filter on our refrigerator. We noticed some water dripping from the refrigerator onto the floor. I ask, what would a great husband do? He would soak up the water (at least some of it) from the floor. Question 2; what would a great wife do? She would fix the problem! It was good to recognize women and especially mother's present in church today. Happy Mother's Day. On another note... As an off hand remark today I mentioned that 10 youth will be going to Honduras this summer. They will work with the poor and help with a construction project. They will contribute toward changing a life which in turn may change another, and another, and another. This is how we contribute toward changing the world! I mentioned that not everyone can go to Honduras but why not sponsor one of these youth? I actually had a family say we want to sponsor one and if you need it we will do two! That made my day. It's been a great day. I hope you've had a great day too. steve

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