1-28-10

I heard a Bible verse in staff meeting this past week that spoke to my condition. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:13-14 (NIV).
This is such a fine “one thing.” We could all sit in a circle, and I imagine everyone one of us could describe what it means in our circumstance, this very day, to let go of something in the past and press on toward the goal for which God has called us.
If I let go of what lies behind that probably means I need to forgive someone. More often than not that someone is myself. Can I let that thing go and trust that God is big enough to handle the situation? And if I press on toward the prize to which God has called me, that will pretty much color how I do what I do today. And that seems to give me less to let go of tomorrow.
Paul knew what he was talking about. Those are word we can live by.

Pastor Chuck

1-22-10

Thanks for the thoughtful comments on last week’s article on Haiti. Both Drew and Jeff made excellent observations about how to keep from being immobilized by the immensity of a tragedy. Drew, who has been on site in a Rwandan refugee camp, counseled on the value of managing one’s news sources. Jeff spoke of the value of keeping the subject alive in a faith community so our ambitions to act don’t “flee to Tarsus.” Read their comments if you get a chance.
2 Corinthians 8 is a wonderful chapter for reflection during this season of great need. “Excel in this grace of giving,” says the Apostle Paul (v.7). How do we do that? That’s exactly what Paul, Jeff and Drew are inviting us to engage. Good news: I don’t think we can miss on this one. Whenever and however we engage the grace of giving, we’re probably moving towards excelling in that very thing.
For example, thanks for the $2200+ our congregation gave last Sunday for Haiti relief. Let’s continue to encourage one another to discover what it means to excel in the grace of giving as a lifestyle.
The Lord is with us,
CO

Death Life Mourning Joy Crying Laughing Pain Health

The extent of the tragedy in Haiti is beyond imagination. Understandably, we can’t help but wonder how God can let such things happen. Here are some thoughts that help sustain me in such times.
• There is a difference between heaven and earth. We live in a world of death, mourning, crying and pain (Rev. 21:4). Of course there is also life, joy, laughing and health. We want to believe that the latter are normal. However, the very hard fact is that as long as we are on this earth we will have tears. Yes we will. Now what?
• We put our hope in the One Who is bigger than this life. We tend to think of tragedy in terms of a human life span. When we really believe that the best comes after this life on our tear-stained planet, our view of tragedy takes a significant shift. But what about those who are suffering right now?
• “Religion that God... accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” James 1:27. What do we do? We love our neighbors who suffer. Notice that James assumes tears will always be at hand. Widows and orphans are the living reminders of loss. For tell-it-like-it-is James, the evidence of God’s love is not the absence of tragedy, but the action of people.
• God’s love isn’t hypothetical. The love that emerges in a tragedy matches the loss. It doesn’t compensate for the loss, but it is as real. How great the tragedy. How great the love. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. That is real life.

11-25-09 Site adjusted

Blogoramians,

I understand some of you have had trouble posting comments. With the help of technosavvy Drew, we may have cleared some of the obstacles. Give it a whirl if you would like.

Tomorrow is the wonderful day of giving thanks. I love the opening words (and actually, all the rest of the words) of Lincoln's proclamation establishing Thanksgiving day,

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. "

Way to go, Abe. Can you tell these words were written in the depths of the Civil War which was rending Lincoln's heart? Most amazing.

His steadfast love endures forever.

May our hearts be softened and sensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

CO

11-06-09 Mustard Seed Faith

Jesus' disciples asked Him to increase their faith, and Jesus replied that faith no bigger than a mustard seed would do. I noticed that the ensuing stories (Ten Lepers, Persistent Widow, Pharisee and Tax Collector, Little Children, Blind Beggar, Zacchaeus, Talents) all look like mustard seed faith to me. I don't think that is a coincidence - not because Jesus backed up the principle with a bunch of illustrations - but because mustard seed faith is what we have.

My little mustard seed of faith and Jesus -- That's enough. This thought has been very helpful for me as I engage circumstances that are so much bigger than I am. It helps me overcome my apprehension that I don't have enough faith.

What is "enough" anyway? Am I such a great judge of when my faith has finally grown to acceptable proportions? Ahh... no.

Do I have a mustard seed size faith? Yes. Jesus can work with that.

Our Lord is with us,
CO

10-28-09 The faith to pray

I'm quite taken with the parable of the persistent widow these days (Luke 18:1ff.). Jesus tells us that He shares this parable so that we will persist in prayer. In the parable He observes that even if an unjust, unloving, godless judge is pestered long enough, that judge might eventually give in and grease the squeaky wheel. Then Jesus concludes with this somewhat enigmatic line, "But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Jesus is reminding us that God is the opposite of an ornery, uncaring, unfair judge. The opposite.

He is fair.
He is caring.
He is, above all others, godly.
He is not ignoring a single prayer.

He is the perfect one to Whom we make our appeal. Am I relying upon that?

Is God finding that faith on earth in me?

I think so. Just a mustard seed's worth, but that is enough. I will persevere in prayer.

CO

10-7-09

Thanks for the feedback from Vicki regarding “Who are the people you are called to reach?” I appreciate her ready response to reach her family. I liked her named ministry of sharing the love of God, the grace of Christ and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

I also heard from another person (not a post) that his ministry is quiet and “small.” I so much appreciate that observation. When we talk about someone finding his or her ministry niche or identifying the people he or she is called to reach, we tend to use examples of high profile ministers. This makes sense because their example is visible, hence known, to many. That is a helpful communication method. However, it is counterproductive in that high profile ministers are sort of ministry freaks. They are odd because the other 99.9% of us are doing the low profile, quiet, miniscule ministry.

The low profile, quiet, miniscule ministry sounds to me like just what God had in mind for most of the body of Christ. It is also not-so-miniscule. Here are some thoughts submitted by another person (also not a post) that is an outstanding illustration of the need to reach people, and the significance of quiet, low profile, miniscule ministry. Read on, it will be worth your while:

”This month we, as a church, are focusing on missions. With that in mind, I feel led to issue a challenge to all of us to also be attentive to the ‘mission field’ that is our own church family. During the past week, I had a conversation with a few other church members which reminded me of a question we discussed in Sunday School. “What do you think heaven will be like?” FOR ME, HEAVEN WILL BE A PLACE WHERE I BELONG; A PLACE WHERE I WILL TRULY BE KNOWN.I recognize many of your faces as I’ve seen you around the church. I’m sure many of you recognize my face. I know pieces of some of your stories. I’ve shared pieces of my history with some of you. However, I really know very few of you and very few of you know me. Although our tendency is to hang out with those who are already within our circle of friends, my challenge to all of us is to step out of our comfort zone. Look around and really notice people. Speak to someone who is not already in that “circle.” Encourage someone. If someone is not at church, give them a call and let them know they were missed. There are hurting, disconnected people right here in our congregation. Let’s make our entire church family feel like they belong. Let’s make an effort to really get to know each other.”

Thank you for contributing those thoughts. They are right on. Comments welcome, as always.

The Lord is with us,
CO