Thursday, August 28, 2008

Crazy

Transition of schedules. Computers crashing. Kids getting surgery. Our life has been crazy!

Stephanie has a great new job, for which we are very thankful and happy! She is enjoying it as the new YMCA PreSchool Coordinator. She is busy with 3-4-5 yr. olds running around everywhere...and a 1.5 and 3 yr. old at home! Oi vey!

The motherboard on my office desktop went out, and due to "office administration" it is taking me a while to replace it. Long story short, I hate faxes, faxing, and everything related to telephones. I hope to soon have a new computer. I've already missed one appointment because of it...errr.

Lastly, Isaiah had surgery this last Tuesday. He got along great, and has some great war scars to tell his grandkids about someday...though I doubt he'll show them off...;)

Life is crazy sometimes, but still, we say, "God is good." This Sunday we're singing "Be Thou My Vision," and I think it's quite apt as we've had some deaths and hospitalizations this week. Through it all, we must keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith.

With our eyes on Jesus, we see our goal, our hope, and our life...and nothing can overtake us.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Priorities

What to do first.

I think that is one of the hardest questions any leader must answer. In any organization, there are at least 20 important and worthwhile things that need to be done. A good leader and smooth running organization are able to discern the levels of priority.

The real challenge is helping the various groups within an organization to buy into the priority list. Each group has its own #1. In a church, the office staff say, "We need new office software and equipment!" The trustees say, "We need to fix that wall." Finance says, "We need to pay off our debts!" Each are correct, yet the trick is to balance them all in such an order that the organization comes out better.

Monday, August 11, 2008

The Voice of Truth

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 17:40-51
Scripture: Matthew 14:22-32
Sermon: The Voice of Truth

Two stories of fear and faith. In one an army shakes in fear at a giant. In another the waves are buffeting the small boat while something (someone) is coming toward them walking on the water! Yet in the midst of both stories, two persons step out in faith. A little boy stands up to the giant, while Pete gets out of the boat to try this water walking thing.

There are many, many fears. Nearly 20% of USAmericans have an anxiety disorder of some sort. While many of us have fears, some even have phobias, or paralyzing fears that keep them from living life. From the fear of bald people to the fear of mother-in-laws or the fear of paper, there are some very irrational fears. Our challenge is to put fear in perspective.

Peter often gets a bad rap...even in this story. However, I think it's undeserved. Afterall, he's the only one who actually got out of the boat. Everyone else stayed in...Sure he sank in the water, but he didn't let fear get the best of him. He simply asked Jesus to call him out on the water. Peter had the right perspective: If Christ is with me, I can do it!

Yes, he sank. But, in this, we see the distinctive message of our faith: Jesus saves. The book of Isaiah says, "What other God does good for his people?" Our God doesn't want servants to do for him. God doesn't need our worship. God doesn't need our work or our stuff. God is working FOR US! The story of faith within the Biblical text is one of God trying and trying again to show his abundant love and mercy to humanity. In the face of fear, when the waves are looking pretty threatening and the giants are laughing at us, we can remain steadfast knowing that Jesus will save us if we but call on him. Peter cries out, "Lord, save me!" And Jesus grabbed him by the hand and pulled him up.

The Voice of Truth (concept taken from a Casting Crowns song) says:
Don't be afraid.
I'm here!
Don't take your eyes off me.
Grab onto me...

What's your Giant? What's your Wave?

What's laughing at you? What are you really afraid of? Death? Finances? Being alone? Being found out for who you really are/aren't?

What's holding you back? What's keeping you in the boat? What giant is out there keeping you on the sidelines, paralyzed in fear?

Listen!
The Voice of Truth says, "DO NOT BE AFRRAID!"

Listen!
The Voice of Truth says, "GOD LOVES YOU. GOD IS WITH YOU. GOD WILL CARRY YOU THROUGH."

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Satisfied

Scripture Text: Matthew 14:13-21
Sermon: "Satisfied"

This text tells the story of the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5000. A miracle that we too often take for granted in a land of abundant food. Yet, there is something here for all of us...

This story isn't just a story about Jesus meeting the physical hungers of the world. It is also about Jesus meeting the spiritual hungers of the world...about Jesus meeting our spiritual needs.

A miracle of the story is that Jesus can satisfy our souls, transforming us, multiplying the bread in our lives. Despite the turmoil of life and beyond the lack of resources around us, Jesus is able to abundantly meet our needs.

The Table of our Lord is a place where we can eat and be satisfied. For we not only eat bread, but the bread and wine are multiplied in our lives, and if we let them, they burst forth into abundance...

Where are you going to get filled?
Are you satisfied?
Come and eat at the Table of the Lord!