Forward Together!

Well, our second Sunday went OK, I thought.

Our special music was late, and we started 5 minutes late. Using the powerpoint slides during the service has received several positive comments, but one froze up on me. I also was drawn into a long distance "silent" conversation with a cute blonde (Stephanie, of course!)...But, it happened to be in the middle of a song, and I forgot to switch the slide! The first clue was when everyone stopped singing:) Overall, though, I believe the pictures, backgrounds, and eventually video are an important step and ministry for our worship.

My favorite comments are the questions of "How is he changing the slides from up there!?!" Here's my secret: I have a remote.

The installation service went over well, and we received positive comments regarding its importance. Along with the sermon, our focus was on going forward together.

The Scripture text was Matthew 28:16-20.

I quoted the Blood, Toil, Sweat, and Tears speech of Winston Churchill where he ends, "Let us go forward together united in strength." Sharing how that speech set the tone of England's struggle and eventual victory over Germany, it became our standard: Let Us Go Forward Together!

I then shared some strengths and challenges that Winchester First UMC has/is facing. But in these, the reminder was that our focus is not on what we have/don't have, do/don't do, or who we are/aren't; rather, our focus should be on Christ Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.

From the Matthew text, three themes popped out: Worship, Purpose, and Making Disciples.

The automatic response of the disciple is to worship. Just like if we hit our thumbs with a hammer, and we share some choice word...so, too, in the presence of Jesus, his followers worship.

From worship flows our purpose: Without our adoration of Christ, our mission and purpose of making disciples makes no sense. Thus, the purposeful and missional church will always be the worshiping church!

Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. And remember? Disciples worship! So our aim is to bring all of Winchester, Indiana into worship of God through Jesus Christ! John Piper begins his book, "Let the Nations Be Glad" with this statement, "Missions exists because Worship doesn't." This small, somewhat paradoxical statement was pivotal to my first theological development, and I still find it to be the most meaningful statement of our purpose to date.

So full circle, we fix our eyes on Jesus in worship as we invite others to worship beside us and with us. United in Christ we, too, like England will have victory over the forces of Addiction, Poverty, Hatred, Greed, Depression, even the very gates of Hell. But, we must go together fixing our eyes on Jesus.

The sermon ended with the call, "Let us go forward together!"

Real Change

Seth Godin's blog has an interesting article about making real change. No not pennies and nickels, but real, lasting, change that impacts your and/or others' lives.

One of his main points: Real change offends those who are against change at all costs.

Way too often, he argues we settle for "good enough." I was amazed to here a business/marketing guru saying this...I thought it was just a church thing!

What change is needed? Are we willing to pay the short term price for the long term gain?

Are we willing to be bold and courageous as we step out and do something new and different...not for the sake of new...but because it's the right thing to do?

Thanks, Seth. Great post.

8 Years!

Stephanie and I celebrated our eighth anniversary last night. We went out to dinner...things were a little different this time around though. Two noisy kids, heartburn, and fixing a vacuum were a part of the night.

Time changes things, yet this woman is still the love of my life.

I thank God for a wonderful wife, mom, and friend. I pray for many more years together like the eight we have had.

"Here I Am!"

Today's Scripture was Isaiah 6:1-8, the call of Isaiah.

The sermon was entitled "Here I Am!" It had three turns.

Here I am. I'm the new pastor, this is my family, and here we are! I shared a few details about who I am. I then spoke of my call to ministry.

Here I am. Isaiah's response to God was "Here I am, send me." This text shows us a great example of the Mysterium Tremendum, the Holy "otherness" of God. When we truly experience God, it is live changing and life altering. In the midst of Isaiah's experience with God, he receives a call to ministry. He responds positively. Here I am. Send me. He joins God's mission to reconcile this world.

Here I am. God has a mission of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 shares with us that God has called us to task to share the message of Reconciliation: Forgiveness and being made new in and through Christ. God still calls today: Isaiah said, "Here I am. Send me." Where are you? God is calling. Are you ready to respond to God? God is calling. Are you ready to say...

Here I am. Send me.

I thought the service went well, and I was pleasantly surprised that I felt totally comfortable and at home. My prayer is that every Sunday that we are present, we would experience this AWESOME God, and fall deeper in love with our Savior, Redeemer, Creator, and Friend. Stephanie and I look forward to years of new experiences and great ministry serving alongside the people of Winchester First UMC.

Of Death and Resurrection

I just finished my first funeral in Winchester. The lady was a pillar of the church and women's groups for years. Only four days into this, many people commented, "What a way to start off!"

It was nice to hear the empathy. It is sometimes difficult in a new place to say the right things...or especially for me to NOT say the wrong things:) The people here are hospitable and have been very nice to us so far.

Being an associate pastor for four years, I have done several funerals for people outside the church, so I was actually OK with doing a funeral of someone I didn't know. In fact, as I have been reflecting on the circumstances, I thought "What better way to start a ministry...Celebrating a saint's victory through Christ over death!"

I am reminded of our communion liturgy: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again!

Indeed, we get so caught up in "stuff" at the church. Today was a day when "stuff" doesn't matter. We grieve the loss of a friend. We comfort a family grieving. We celebrate this saint being embraced safe in the arms of Jesus for all of eternity.

Brothers and Sisters, Christ had died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again! This is our hope and our faith. Christ has died. In his death and suffering, our sin, our shame, our guilt die on the that ugly wooden torture device called the Cross. In Christ's rising, we too share in the victory over death and the resurrection of the dead.

Yet, not all is right. All the junk of life: hurts, hunger, poverty, hatreds, murder, jealousy, sickness, and death remain. Yet, Christ is coming again. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. Eden restored. And there will be no more tears...and the Lamb will be our light.

Yes, it was a great start to an appointment. Let's celebrate! A saint has overcome.

Kingdom Signs

One of my favorite blogs is written by a pastor in New Zealand. His church is doing a fun project entitled "Kingdom Signs."

The point of the project is for 5 lay persons to write blogs about how they see God working and moving in their daily lives. I couldn't think of a cooler or more important project for a church to undertake.

Why?

Only when we are able to see, appreciate, and communicate God's presence in our daily lives, do we begin to really see and hear God at work. It's a spiritual discipline of listening to God speak to us. It's an intentional looking for God. It's a provocative questioning of God's will and movement in our own lives.

I am struck by the profundity of this simple project. I wonder what that would look like in my life? What does it look like in yours? Where is God present, active, and moving in your life?

Once we recognize God around us, I believe that we become more open to sharing our faith in relevant and relational ways. Few care about theological propositions; however, when one can share about what God has done and is doing in their heart and life, the conversation becomes a sharing of life story...Something natural, organic, and non-confrontational.

The Kingdom Signs are all around! Thanks, Steve, for the brilliant idea and reminder of a spiritual discipline too important to ignore!

Back Online

I'm finally back online. During our move, we were so busy getting the house unpacked, we forgot to get our internet back online.

It's also nice to be back in a routine. Yesterday was my first official day of work at Winchester First UMC. It was great to unpack my office (only part way, Doug...just like you said!). Doing a visit and having my books on shelves really made it all feel right.

Everyone has been welcoming and hospitable. Our first day here, we received lunch and cookies! Thanks everyone! From neighbor visits to checking in on us to make sure we're doing OK, we've felt the love and care of our new community.

I'm looking forward to our first Sunday. We're back online!