Reflections From Sunday Evening

We were talking about miracles today.  We do not make miracles happen.  We cannot earn or deserve a miracle, or any favor of God for that matter.  But we can nurture our relationship with Jesus Christ and live life in expanding grace.  Then do this.
Receive from God what God desires to give rather than being limited to what we may ask.
Read Acts 3 and look at the story of the beggar who had an encounter with Peter and John.  He asked for money.  That had become the way he thought of getting his minimal needs met.  He looked at Peter and John expecting to get something from them.  Once again his expectations were for a coin or for supper.  But then he heard a great truth.  "Silver and gold I do not have but what I have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth walk."  A miracle followed.
He asked for and expected a coin but he received the possibility for a livelihood.
He asked for and expected supper but he got physically healed.
He asked for and expected something to see him through the day but he got included in the people of God and took his intended place in worship.
He asked for what he had come to expect.  He received what God desired to give.  A miracle.
Expand your vision.  Deepen your relationship with Jesus.  Nurture a sense of expectancy.  Discover what it is to receive from God what God desires to give rather than be limited to what you can ask.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Could I share an insight into pastoral ministry.  For the most part pastors are known as "preachers".  Most people see pastors in preaching mode more than any other.  But pastoral ministry is actually a life and death matter.  Pastor's are with people at the greatest times of joy.  They are there for births, baptisms and various steps in life.  We celebrate life.
On the other hand pastoral ministry is life and death.  We are present when people pass from here to eternity.
I am thinking of this today because I just learned that a friend of mine, Rev. Dave Hampson, passed away last evening after a lengthy battle with cancer.  I met Dave through Aldersgate Renewal Ministry.  We shared on the board together.  We encouraged one another when we taught workshops.  We shared conversations.  We would see one another once a year but I often thought of Dave.  He was in Kansas City one year and stayed with us.  He was one of the kindest and most dedicated Christians I know.
His passing causes me to think of the great privilege we pastors have of being with people in life and death.  With Dave there is a sense of loss as I continue to pray for Cathy and his family, but there is also a certain hope of heaven.  What an amazing gift of faith the Lord provides!
So I take a few moments today to think about my friend and some of the laughter we shared.  I think about the call of pastor and the awesome privilege of sharing life with a congregation.  I think of how impossible this task would be without the people of God who support, pray and encourage on a daily basis.  It is an awesome thing to share life as a pastor with the Church - the people of God.
It's still been a great day.  I hope you've had a great day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

After a couple of weeks off it was good to get back to church this weekend.  We had a great and engaged group of people in worship.  This is my favorite place to share in fellowship and worship the Lord!
We were able to visit Woods Chapel UMC while off and that was a good experience.  It seemed like I knew as many people there as here at home.  Last week we spent time in Branson.  It ended up a family gathering as we all joined up for a couple of days.  I would say it was totally relaxing and got me all rested up but Cindy is a great planner and kept me moving most of the time!  It was totally fun.
I will admit that "vacation" is a little hard for me.  I take a few days to wind down so I am not thinking about what I "need" to be doing all the time.  I find it difficult to stop the tapes that run through my mind and just take it easy.
I wonder why this is.  Then I think about growing up.  We lived on a farm.  Dad farmed and milked cows.  In those days farmers never got a day off.  (much less a vacation)  The cows came to be milked each morning and evening.  If you were tired you worked anyway.  If you were sick you worked anyway.  If you wanted to go somewhere to do something you milked anyway.  It was constant.  It was a way of life.  (No wonder dad decided to get into insurance and real estate!)
I guess there was a work ethic that was ingrained in me from an early age.  Certainly nothing wrong with that.
But as I continue this life of faith I keep running into Jesus.  He worked and spent himself in service to others.  But he also took the disciples and withdrew from time to time.  That is a good example.
Through the years I have picked up some good advice.  One is "when you get tired rest."  That seems pretty obvious but how many times have I violated that obvious principle?
Rick Warren instructs anyone who seeks to avoid burnout to "divert daily (whatever relaxes you), withdraw weekly (Sabbath), and abandon annually (disconnect).
That makes good sense.  I'm still on the learning curve with these things but as I think about it I had a really good time these past two weeks.  I may try this again one of these days.
It's been a great day.  I hope you've had a great day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Today Cindy and I had the opportunity to worship at Woods Chapel United Methodist Church in Lee's Summit.  Woods Chapel was the first church I was aware of to take Radical Hospitality to heart.  They developed a hospitality program that has been an inspiration to churches throughout our conference.  It was nice to see them in action today.
It is also nice to do a little comparison.  We have learned from others and in turn become a motivation for still more churches to practice Radical Hospitality.
This is a first line.  A person makes the decision to come to church at Platte Woods.  They drive onto the property. (one of these days it will be very inviting rather than feeling like a construction zone!) Parking lot greeters make people feel welcome and comfortable finding the best place to park.  A visitor is directed toward the front door where they are greeted and made to feel at home.  Once inside people are shown where their children go for Sunday School or other activities.  Basic information is provided.  People are welcomed to the sanctuary.
This may be done as a program.  Then the true radical hospitality begins.  This is where the real test for a congregation enters the picture.  Everyone becomes part of the Hospitality Team.  Everyone is responsible for making guests feel welcome and wanted.  People introduce themselves and give an opportunity for guests to share their names.  Before the day is over a person has a great church experience and is closer to Jesus than before the came.
It is an exciting time to be the Church.
It's been a great day.  I hope you've had a great day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Thanks to Jamie Grayson and Keith Cash for sharing their hearts today in worship.  We were able to model conversation and communication around the issue of racism.  I found it refreshing to have such an encouraging conversation in light of the current realities in our nation.  You may access the message through our website - www.plattewoodschurch.org and go to messages.
On another note...
This has been an eventful fall and summer.  I had the privilege of representing you at General, Annual and Jurisdictional Conferences.  Some good things happen and some things leave us in on-going struggle.  But we do know that God will prevail.  Consider it a blessing to be able to walk with God through some of the most interesting and challenging times we have known.
I finished teaching a course on theology this week where I worked with 15 local pastors in the Course of Study program at St. Paul School of Theology.  As always this was a joy.
On another note...
We pray for one another.  Please pray for Rev. Ginger Pudenz as she is scheduled for surgery this Tuesday.  We anticipate a great result and Ginger will be back in the middle of things in a few days.  Pray.
On another note...
Today begins a few days off for Cindy and me.  I do find it hard to slow things down but am looking forward to a couple of weeks at a different pace.  In the meantime everything is in good hands.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

Back from Jurisdictional Conference where the Rev. Robert (Bob) Farr was elected bishop.  Bob is a native of Missouri and has served effectively in our conference for many years.  Many of us have watched his development as a disciple of Jesus and leader in the Church.  It was a double joy when we learned that Bishop Farr has been assigned to serve the Missouri Conference.  This is a bit of an unprecedented move but illustrates how many of us believe God's hand was truly in the process.  We welcome Bishop Farr who begins his new chapter of ministry among us September 1.
Jurisdictional Conference is an interesting thing.  For nearly two days it seems like we are a divided, stalemated Church.  Then things begin to develop and the next thing you know everything is new and onward we go!
I hope to learn a lesson from the Church as I survey the divisions in our nation and even our church.  Some people in our various denominations get the idea that things are so divided up that we will not be able to continue in ministry together.
Many in our country look at the divisions of the day and get a feeling that we may not get out of this one.
These are difficult times.  But we have been through difficult times before.  What could preachers have been preaching, people thinking and Christians doing during the days around the Civil War?
Maybe we could go back deeper in Church History and consider some of the huge differences among Christians that literally took hundreds of years to work through.
We do live in urgent times.  We live in a time that calls for faithful action.  But we are also a people of history.  Patience is a fruit of the Spirit.  I would not encourage anyone to postpone action but to also realize that patience is trusting God.
We pray.  We participate.  We engage.  We trust.  God is still at work.  God will move in history and in our lives.
On another note...
Another shooting today...
God, in your mercy.
Next weekend we will have a conversation about racism and violence.  Two members of our congregation, Jamie Grayson and Keith Cash, will share.  I will also include insights from  law enforcement people in our congregation.  I believe this will be a significant conversation and we will be drawn a bit deeper into the Kingdom of God because of it.
It's been a troubling, yet good day.
Steve

Reflections From Sunday Evening

It's been a difficult week in America.  We have been stunned by the impossible to understand killings in Louisiana, Minnesota and Dallas.  I have already written my thoughts on these events so will not pursue that today.
We are also aware that our nation is not the only nation suffering huge division and violence.  In Iraq a suicide bomber strikes a busy shopping area and over 200 are killed and injured.  We do not even notice the violence taking place in the Old City of Jerusalem.  God, in your mercy.
But let me skip past this.  Today as we came to prayer in worship I was thinking about these issues and then thought about the unlimited possibilities that will be unleashed in 500 kids this week when we have Vacation Bible School.  Maybe my generation has failed but that is no reason to give up.  Our church (and churches all over the world) have an opportunity to sow seeds in young lives that may grow to fruition.  When we share the story of Jesus with a 5 year old we may be planting a seed in one who will become a leader who changes the world.  We may begin to ignite the passion in a fifth grader that will propel them into a difference making life.  With people all over the country giving of themselves to build up faith in the next generation we may see this thing turn around.
We have the opportunity to give, serve and love in ways that will be life-changing.  God will touch lives and empower new ministries and mission.
Anticipate a great week!
On another note...
This week United Methodists will be gathering in various places to elect bishops and make assignments of bishops for the next four years.  I will be with others in our jurisdiction gathering in Wichita where we will elect 3 new bishops and also find out who will be assigned to lead the United Methodist Church in Missouri.  Pray for us as we engage in this work.
So I'm doing "political" stuff.  Many of you are teaching children.  Everyone is going about life and living their faith.  It all matters.
It's been a good day.  I hope you've had a good day too.
steve