I have an assortment of odds and ends that I would like to share with you for this month’s Keith’ Komments. First, are thoughts from this year’s Southern Michigan Free Methodist Annual Conference. The really great news is that Superintendent Ramundo remains our superintendent for at least another 4 years (D.V.) And that Jean and I will continue to minister here at HFM for at least another year (D.V.). As I get older, I appreciate more and more stability and the fact that pastors (shepherds) can do a much better job if they have a chance to get to know the people they are serving before they are compelled to move along. I am so glad that the FM Church has recognized this as well and try really hard NOT to move pastors any more frequently than they must. Besides, I am just now beginning to understand some of the dynamics of how HFM operates and the quirks and intricacies of personalities.
Which brings me to my second point: Now that I have had a chance to get to know some of you rather well, I can see where there are some rough edges that really need to be polished before you are going to be able to be used effectively and powerfully for the Kingdom of God. Normally, I would allow grace to cover those quirks and intricacies (more likely cowardly or slothfully). But, since Superintendent Ramundo has given Pastors and Delegates a mandate to address such issues, I intend to do all I can to allow the Kingdom of God to be as effective as possible here at HFM. And that means that I will be compelled to confront some of you concerning those quirks and intricacies that are squelching Kingdom growth here at HFM.. Superintendent Ramundo’s mandate was stated as follows at Annual Conference:
To Pastors and Delegates: 1)- Be committed to dealing with individuals in your church who hinder wholesomeness and hamper hopefulness in the body by ignoring healthy process, undermining unity, wounding pastors, and often driving people away. And 2)- Get serious about Matthew 18:15-20.
In fact, one of my personal agenda’s mandated by Superintendent Ramundo at Annual Conference is to preach on Matthew 18:15-20 by the year’s end. Finally, if in fact, the Pastor’s Cabinet (Delegates) and myself are going to follow through with this mandate from Superintendent Ramundo, we MUST always keep in the front of our minds grace. If it were not for the grace of God, every one of us would need to be confronted about some issue in our lives that would “. . . hinder wholesomeness and hamper hopefulness in the body by ignoring healthy process, undermining unity, wounding pastors, and often driving people away”. And so, both I and the entire body of Christ here at HFM must NEVER forget the warning that the Apostle Paul gives when engaging in this kind of activity provided for us in Galatians 6:1-5. Here Pauls states:
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. (Gal 6:1-5) So, even though I may be confronting some of you between now and the end of the year about some issues that “. . . hinder wholesomeness and hamper hopefulness in the body by ignoring healthy process, undermining unity, wounding pastors, and often driving people away”, please know that NONE of this will be done because I enjoy confrontation or that I take great pleasure in pointing out how you are causing problems in the body. I hate confrontation. Remember, the idol I am trying to slay is the idol of your approval. For me to have to confront some of you militates against that idol. I want people to like me. And people do not like to be corrected or reproved. And yet God tells us that this is the job of EVERYONE who preaches God’s Word (see 2 Tim 3:16-4:5).
So pray for me as I am compelled to confront a few individuals and their actions which “. . . hinder wholesomeness and hamper hopefulness in the body by ignoring healthy process, undermining unity, wounding pastors, and often driving people away”. And pray also that Jody, Jean and I will have the much needed volunteers, energy, patience, sensitivities, grace, love and divine guidance to effectively minister at Family Camp.
Thanks for the encouragement and support so many of you give to Jean and me here at HFM. You have been incredibly gracious and forgiving with our flaws and shortcomings. We will endeavor to be the same with yours. Let us never forget, even though we might need to confront some of you, that grace must always abound or else we have lost focus of the grace Jesus has extended to each of us.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
June 2009
I wish I could do a Spockian mind meld with you right now. If I could, you
would know how anxious I am getting about the next two months. What’s up in the next two months you ask? Well, I’m glad you did because I would really like to share my heart about what is ahead for your pastor for June & July.
First up is VBS taking place here at HFM June 15-19 and then Family Camp follows July 11-19. Normally, I get pretty geeked up about doing children’s ministry. I love kids. They seem to tolerate me. For VBS, I get to share the Gospel message about 20 times in 5 days to around 70-80 kids, many who have never even opened a Bible, been to church or heard about Jesus dying on a cross or raising from the dead. And for Family Camp I get to share the Gospel to around 180-200 kids twice a day. Besides, I know how much of a priority children’s ministry is to Jesus (see: Matt 10:42; 11:25; 18:2-14; 19:13-14; 21:15-16; Mark 9:36-42; 10:13-16; Luke 9:47-48; 10:21; 17:2;18:16-17) and what kind of a blessing He gives to those who do children’s ministry. In fact, if you want to destroy the effectiveness of any church, simply discourage or diminish that church’s ministry to youth and especially children. In fact, since I have been involved in youth and/or children’s ministry full time for 23 years and part time for another 10 years I am convinced that a good, effective, children’s and youth pastor is much more valuable for church growth and vitality than the senior pastor. And that a church that finds an effective children’s or youth pastor should pay them more than the senior pastor.
Why do I say this? Simply because of the compelling statistics. Did you know
that if a person regularly attends church as a youth their likelihood of attending as an adult is exponentially higher? Did you know that 95% of adults who have made a decision for Christ, did so before they reached the age of 18? Did you know that most people’s character and value system is formed BEFORE they reach the age of 7? Did you know that the writer of Proverbs and Jesus knew all this and that is why children have such an intimate place in their hearts? So, if we as 21st century Christians, want to reflect the values of Jesus, and make the most of our mission to bring others to Jesus; we need to place a high priority on youth but especially children’s ministry.
I also am convinced that one of the main reasons why this church has been
blessed by God over the last decade, when a lot of other churches have struggled, is because this church has always had an interest and a priority in youth and children’s ministry.
So, back to my Spokian mind meld. Why am I so anxious? Because, with over
30 years’ experience in children’s ministry, I know what kind of a physical, emotional, and mental demand children’s ministry (that is done right) can have on its leaders when they don’t have enough help. And, to be quite honest with you, if we don’t get sufficient help, I’m not sure I am up to filling in all the gaps this year.
And now, to the point of this Keith’s Komments: The VBS and Family Camp
leadership could sure use your help. We could use your help with HFM VBS June 15-19 and then Family Camp July 11-19. Sure it will be demanding. Yes, kids can be noisy. I know you have other things you would like to do . . . so do I! But, if you could just understand how important these times are, you would invest in them.
Jean and my daughter Jody Saunders do a great job of simplifying ministry to
children. You basically learn how to do one thing per day and repeat it 3-5 times over. It doesn’t take a genius, and it doesn’t take a lot of time to learn. But, it does take an adult with a heart for kids and a heart that wants to see them come to a saving knowledge of who Jesus is and what He has done for them. We need everyone from adults who simply go with kids and offer crowd control and occasionally take a kids to the bathroom, to craft leaders and helpers, recreation leaders and helpers, and snack leaders and helpers.
Again, this is not rocket science. Last year for VBS and Family Camp, we had
7th graders who were able to pick up what needed to be done in about 10 minutes and were a great help the whole week of VBS and/or Family Camp. But, we (Jean, Jody and I) cannot do it without help.
Won’t you consider helping build the kingdom of God among the most receptive hearts in all of humanity . . . children. Please see myself (Pastor Keith) or Jean or Jody Saunders for answers to your questions, more information or to do us all a great service and sign up to help. Thanks for your prayerful consideration!
would know how anxious I am getting about the next two months. What’s up in the next two months you ask? Well, I’m glad you did because I would really like to share my heart about what is ahead for your pastor for June & July.
First up is VBS taking place here at HFM June 15-19 and then Family Camp follows July 11-19. Normally, I get pretty geeked up about doing children’s ministry. I love kids. They seem to tolerate me. For VBS, I get to share the Gospel message about 20 times in 5 days to around 70-80 kids, many who have never even opened a Bible, been to church or heard about Jesus dying on a cross or raising from the dead. And for Family Camp I get to share the Gospel to around 180-200 kids twice a day. Besides, I know how much of a priority children’s ministry is to Jesus (see: Matt 10:42; 11:25; 18:2-14; 19:13-14; 21:15-16; Mark 9:36-42; 10:13-16; Luke 9:47-48; 10:21; 17:2;18:16-17) and what kind of a blessing He gives to those who do children’s ministry. In fact, if you want to destroy the effectiveness of any church, simply discourage or diminish that church’s ministry to youth and especially children. In fact, since I have been involved in youth and/or children’s ministry full time for 23 years and part time for another 10 years I am convinced that a good, effective, children’s and youth pastor is much more valuable for church growth and vitality than the senior pastor. And that a church that finds an effective children’s or youth pastor should pay them more than the senior pastor.
Why do I say this? Simply because of the compelling statistics. Did you know
that if a person regularly attends church as a youth their likelihood of attending as an adult is exponentially higher? Did you know that 95% of adults who have made a decision for Christ, did so before they reached the age of 18? Did you know that most people’s character and value system is formed BEFORE they reach the age of 7? Did you know that the writer of Proverbs and Jesus knew all this and that is why children have such an intimate place in their hearts? So, if we as 21st century Christians, want to reflect the values of Jesus, and make the most of our mission to bring others to Jesus; we need to place a high priority on youth but especially children’s ministry.
I also am convinced that one of the main reasons why this church has been
blessed by God over the last decade, when a lot of other churches have struggled, is because this church has always had an interest and a priority in youth and children’s ministry.
So, back to my Spokian mind meld. Why am I so anxious? Because, with over
30 years’ experience in children’s ministry, I know what kind of a physical, emotional, and mental demand children’s ministry (that is done right) can have on its leaders when they don’t have enough help. And, to be quite honest with you, if we don’t get sufficient help, I’m not sure I am up to filling in all the gaps this year.
And now, to the point of this Keith’s Komments: The VBS and Family Camp
leadership could sure use your help. We could use your help with HFM VBS June 15-19 and then Family Camp July 11-19. Sure it will be demanding. Yes, kids can be noisy. I know you have other things you would like to do . . . so do I! But, if you could just understand how important these times are, you would invest in them.
Jean and my daughter Jody Saunders do a great job of simplifying ministry to
children. You basically learn how to do one thing per day and repeat it 3-5 times over. It doesn’t take a genius, and it doesn’t take a lot of time to learn. But, it does take an adult with a heart for kids and a heart that wants to see them come to a saving knowledge of who Jesus is and what He has done for them. We need everyone from adults who simply go with kids and offer crowd control and occasionally take a kids to the bathroom, to craft leaders and helpers, recreation leaders and helpers, and snack leaders and helpers.
Again, this is not rocket science. Last year for VBS and Family Camp, we had
7th graders who were able to pick up what needed to be done in about 10 minutes and were a great help the whole week of VBS and/or Family Camp. But, we (Jean, Jody and I) cannot do it without help.
Won’t you consider helping build the kingdom of God among the most receptive hearts in all of humanity . . . children. Please see myself (Pastor Keith) or Jean or Jody Saunders for answers to your questions, more information or to do us all a great service and sign up to help. Thanks for your prayerful consideration!
May 2009
You all continue to amaze me. If you will give me about 10 minutes of your time, I want to simply share some good news/bad news issues that are really close to my heart right now.
The good news is we continue to grow! The bad news is we have some issues now we didn’t have a year ago this time. Attendance April 19th (the week after Easter and traditionally one of the poorest attendance days for US churches) was 276 — and there really wasn’t anything special going on for either service or Sunday School! This is great that we are able to minister to so many. And the really exciting thing is that we continue to see new faces among the college students. Which means we must be having an impact on their lives.
I don’t know if you have thought about it or not, but what college students learn here at HFM will be shared all over the USA and even to parts of the world! And one of the really cool things I hear over and over as I talk with college students is that HFM is really blessed with a great number of really awesome adults who take an interest in their lives. All I can say is, “Thank you for all you do in this area and keep up the great work!”
We do have some growth issues I want to share with you with which you may or may not be able to help. First is a parking issue with the second service. We still have some parking spaces available but if we continue to see growth, they will be used up shortly. Anything you can do to car pool, walk to church, or (if you attend first service and Sunday School) possibly surrender your spot ASAP after Sunday School, we can use your parking spot for second service worship. We don’t want to diminish your worship experience here at HFM. So if you feel any of these accommodations are pressuring you to do that, please ignore this recommendation. But, it doesn’t hurt to let you know what our needs are and allow you to best work with meeting those needs.
Also, in regard to growth issues: Slowly but surely we are seeing growth in our
Wednesday night Youth and Kid’s Club meetings. We have already asked for a number of concessions from the adult Sunday School class that meets in the Fireside Room and from the adult Wednesday Evening Bible Study; but we may be forced to ask even further concessions to try and accommodate continued growth in these two areas of ministry.
We are pretty sure we are going to be able to make it through this school year with our present arrangements. But, after next school year begins to gear up, we may have to make some changes in order to try and accommodate growth in these areas as well.
I have been so pleased with the number of our faithful who have taken it upon themselves to go and pray with those who come to the altar on Sunday AM. Thanks so much! It is great to see you come-along-side of those who are reaching out to God in a special way. As your pastor I am really proud of the fact that you are concerned enough to do this.
Right now, we are holding the line in regard to our finances. Thanks so much for your faithfulness that has allowed us to continue on with ministry without reigning anyone in too severely. I am especially grateful for the number of past memorial contributions that have so blessed this church because (through the memorial money) we have been able to make many, much needed, improvements without putting stress on our Unified (annual) Budget. By the way, it is because of those memorial monies we were able to remodel the gym, the landscaping, as well as make improvements in the sanctuary and educational rooms.
I am also so very pleased with the way this congregation listens intently to Sunday morning messages. Not only is this a great encouragement for your pastor, but it is also a wonderful example and model for our visitors as to the proper posture and attitude of a congregation when God’s Word is being read, preached or expounded upon. Thanks so much for your God-honoring, careful listening to God’s Word.
Finally, thanks for the number of people who volunteer to do more jobs per week here at HFM than I can keep track of. Nearly every day I am blown away by the work that gets done by those who are never paid, never formally recognized, and do it cheerfully, and effectively. Without you ministry could never take place here at HFM.
To sum this all up . . . I am honored to be your pastor. Thanks!
The good news is we continue to grow! The bad news is we have some issues now we didn’t have a year ago this time. Attendance April 19th (the week after Easter and traditionally one of the poorest attendance days for US churches) was 276 — and there really wasn’t anything special going on for either service or Sunday School! This is great that we are able to minister to so many. And the really exciting thing is that we continue to see new faces among the college students. Which means we must be having an impact on their lives.
I don’t know if you have thought about it or not, but what college students learn here at HFM will be shared all over the USA and even to parts of the world! And one of the really cool things I hear over and over as I talk with college students is that HFM is really blessed with a great number of really awesome adults who take an interest in their lives. All I can say is, “Thank you for all you do in this area and keep up the great work!”
We do have some growth issues I want to share with you with which you may or may not be able to help. First is a parking issue with the second service. We still have some parking spaces available but if we continue to see growth, they will be used up shortly. Anything you can do to car pool, walk to church, or (if you attend first service and Sunday School) possibly surrender your spot ASAP after Sunday School, we can use your parking spot for second service worship. We don’t want to diminish your worship experience here at HFM. So if you feel any of these accommodations are pressuring you to do that, please ignore this recommendation. But, it doesn’t hurt to let you know what our needs are and allow you to best work with meeting those needs.
Also, in regard to growth issues: Slowly but surely we are seeing growth in our
Wednesday night Youth and Kid’s Club meetings. We have already asked for a number of concessions from the adult Sunday School class that meets in the Fireside Room and from the adult Wednesday Evening Bible Study; but we may be forced to ask even further concessions to try and accommodate continued growth in these two areas of ministry.
We are pretty sure we are going to be able to make it through this school year with our present arrangements. But, after next school year begins to gear up, we may have to make some changes in order to try and accommodate growth in these areas as well.
I have been so pleased with the number of our faithful who have taken it upon themselves to go and pray with those who come to the altar on Sunday AM. Thanks so much! It is great to see you come-along-side of those who are reaching out to God in a special way. As your pastor I am really proud of the fact that you are concerned enough to do this.
Right now, we are holding the line in regard to our finances. Thanks so much for your faithfulness that has allowed us to continue on with ministry without reigning anyone in too severely. I am especially grateful for the number of past memorial contributions that have so blessed this church because (through the memorial money) we have been able to make many, much needed, improvements without putting stress on our Unified (annual) Budget. By the way, it is because of those memorial monies we were able to remodel the gym, the landscaping, as well as make improvements in the sanctuary and educational rooms.
I am also so very pleased with the way this congregation listens intently to Sunday morning messages. Not only is this a great encouragement for your pastor, but it is also a wonderful example and model for our visitors as to the proper posture and attitude of a congregation when God’s Word is being read, preached or expounded upon. Thanks so much for your God-honoring, careful listening to God’s Word.
Finally, thanks for the number of people who volunteer to do more jobs per week here at HFM than I can keep track of. Nearly every day I am blown away by the work that gets done by those who are never paid, never formally recognized, and do it cheerfully, and effectively. Without you ministry could never take place here at HFM.
To sum this all up . . . I am honored to be your pastor. Thanks!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
April 2009
Your pastor has taken up wrestling. No, not the sport in which a recent Hillsdale High School student became a state champion. I mean wrestling with God. I have become more true to my status as a Christian which Paul says I am the New Israel (Romans 9:6).
If you recall the story of Jacob in Genesis 32, you will remember that Jacob wrestled with God in order to receive God’s blessing (32:26). Near the end of that wrestling match, the One Jacob was wrestling with said this, . . . "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." (Genesis 32:28)
Jacob had his name changed by the One with whom he was wrestling (and we know from Genesis 32:30 that that One who changed his name was God) because he had struggled and overcome.
Now, I don’t know about you, but Luke has really caused me to struggle or wrestle with God. Luke’s revelation of Jesus’ demands, commands and teaching is enough to make anyone believe they never were nor could they ever be a Christian. The very idea of Jesus saying what He does in Luke 6:17-49 seems downright impossible for any human being to achieve. But, I believe that Jesus purposely says what He does so that we have to wrestle with Him.
This started to really dawn on me when I noticed the number of times Jesus purposely taught or preached and never explained very complicated and hard parables. In fact, many times, Jesus says something (that on the surface seems nebulous or obtuse)and then walks away without ever offering an explanation: Matthew 13:13, 15; Mark 9:32; Luke 2:50; 8:10; 9:45; 18:34; John 8:27; 10:6; 12:16, 40; 16:18; 20:9). Why would He do that unless He was expecting His audience to wrestle with His sayings?
Ever since this began to dawn on me, I have endeavored more and more to wrestle with God. And if you have ever taken time to read the Bible, I’m sure you have discovered there are a whole lot of things with which we can wrestle.
Holy Week and Easter also has all sorts of issues with which one can wrestle with God. Why did Jesus have to suffer so? Where did Jesus go from His death on Good Friday until His resurrection on Easter morning? Why was Jesus so cautious about people hanging on to Him? Why did He not manifest Himself to all of Jerusalem? What kind of a body did Jesus really possess after His resurrection? How could the Romans and Jewish religious leaders be so stupid as to not listen to their own promotion of their own lies?
To be quite honest with you, I don’t have comprehensive answers for any of these questions. But, it doesn’t matter. As John states near the end of His Gospel, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31).
We really don’t need intellectually satisfying answers. The truth is, the more you study anything the more you realize that intellectually satisfying answers become more and more of an illusion. We just can never be that smart to understand EVERYTHING! So, we must come to a point of intellectual contentment. That we have wrestled with the Scriptures and find satisfaction and contentment in the truth that they reveal to us. For me, this means constantly asking, seeking and knocking (Matthew 7:7 — and wrestling) to find more satisfying answers. I have become what Paul said I would become. The new Jacob. The new Israel. The new one who struggles with God and has overcome. Praise God His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9) and that I can be involved in an eternity of struggling and never run out of thoughts that amaze me and cause me to worship Him (Romans 9:5; 11:36; 16:27; 2 Corinthians 11:32).
I hope you become a wrestler as well. One who wrestles with God. And in the process of wrestling with God you will discover intimate things about Him: His power, grace, mercy, wisdom, patience, peace, forgiveness and love. Happy Easter and happy wrestling!
If you recall the story of Jacob in Genesis 32, you will remember that Jacob wrestled with God in order to receive God’s blessing (32:26). Near the end of that wrestling match, the One Jacob was wrestling with said this, . . . "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." (Genesis 32:28)
Jacob had his name changed by the One with whom he was wrestling (and we know from Genesis 32:30 that that One who changed his name was God) because he had struggled and overcome.
Now, I don’t know about you, but Luke has really caused me to struggle or wrestle with God. Luke’s revelation of Jesus’ demands, commands and teaching is enough to make anyone believe they never were nor could they ever be a Christian. The very idea of Jesus saying what He does in Luke 6:17-49 seems downright impossible for any human being to achieve. But, I believe that Jesus purposely says what He does so that we have to wrestle with Him.
This started to really dawn on me when I noticed the number of times Jesus purposely taught or preached and never explained very complicated and hard parables. In fact, many times, Jesus says something (that on the surface seems nebulous or obtuse)and then walks away without ever offering an explanation: Matthew 13:13, 15; Mark 9:32; Luke 2:50; 8:10; 9:45; 18:34; John 8:27; 10:6; 12:16, 40; 16:18; 20:9). Why would He do that unless He was expecting His audience to wrestle with His sayings?
Ever since this began to dawn on me, I have endeavored more and more to wrestle with God. And if you have ever taken time to read the Bible, I’m sure you have discovered there are a whole lot of things with which we can wrestle.
Holy Week and Easter also has all sorts of issues with which one can wrestle with God. Why did Jesus have to suffer so? Where did Jesus go from His death on Good Friday until His resurrection on Easter morning? Why was Jesus so cautious about people hanging on to Him? Why did He not manifest Himself to all of Jerusalem? What kind of a body did Jesus really possess after His resurrection? How could the Romans and Jewish religious leaders be so stupid as to not listen to their own promotion of their own lies?
To be quite honest with you, I don’t have comprehensive answers for any of these questions. But, it doesn’t matter. As John states near the end of His Gospel, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31).
We really don’t need intellectually satisfying answers. The truth is, the more you study anything the more you realize that intellectually satisfying answers become more and more of an illusion. We just can never be that smart to understand EVERYTHING! So, we must come to a point of intellectual contentment. That we have wrestled with the Scriptures and find satisfaction and contentment in the truth that they reveal to us. For me, this means constantly asking, seeking and knocking (Matthew 7:7 — and wrestling) to find more satisfying answers. I have become what Paul said I would become. The new Jacob. The new Israel. The new one who struggles with God and has overcome. Praise God His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9) and that I can be involved in an eternity of struggling and never run out of thoughts that amaze me and cause me to worship Him (Romans 9:5; 11:36; 16:27; 2 Corinthians 11:32).
I hope you become a wrestler as well. One who wrestles with God. And in the process of wrestling with God you will discover intimate things about Him: His power, grace, mercy, wisdom, patience, peace, forgiveness and love. Happy Easter and happy wrestling!
March 2009
John Wesley once said . . . “each revival has built within it the seeds of its own destruction, because as Christians put into practice the virtues of hard work and thrift, they prosper, and as they prosper they see less a need of God, and as they see less a need of God they turn away from the very principles that led to their prosperity and the whole cycle must repeat itself.”
This is a wise insight. And it was the heart of my message for February 15th.
Just because you have become a Christian, your striving and moving on towards perfection is never over. Keep asking! Keep seeking! Keep knocking! Hunger and thirst for righteousness. Never be satisfied with where you are but be always content and satisfied with who you are in Christ and what Christ is for you.
There is one other thought that I would like for us to consider while John
Wesley’s quote is still fresh in our minds: As revival takes place in your own heart and mind, never forget the danger that comes afterwards.
You see your progress. You know you are moving on towards perfection. And
it is possible for you to suddenly become arrogant and confident of your own righteousness; and then, everything comes unglued
A good test to see if you are truly moving in a Spirit led direction, and not one in which the seeds of destruction will come to maturity, is to take inventory of your own life. Are you more gracious? Are you more forgiving? Does your life more and more reflect the fruit of God’s Spirit via such things as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?
This church is undergoing some really cool changes. If it were a little more
compressed, we could almost say a revival was taking place.
What is happening, you might be saying? People are reading their Bibles more. Giving is remaining steady and we are doing fine financially when nearly every church I talk to is having troubles. Our attendance is averaging nearly 260 now. We have a good number of new faces each week who are checking out what it means to accept Jesus as their Savior. The Official Board and Pastor’s Cabinet enjoy a unity and harmony that I have never experienced before in a church board. All in all, things are going really well. And this is where John Wesley’s quote is most significant.
Never forget that if we ever forget we are who we are by God’s grace and not by our own merit or doing, we can easily succumb to the disastrous results for which Wesley warned us.
Never forget that we enjoy present success, not because we are wiser, not because we have a nicer facility, not because we have an effective pastor, not because we are the cool place to be in town—we enjoy present success by the grace and mercy of God. It is God’s Spirit that moves people to come and attend our worship services. It is God’s Spirit that motivates people to give to our church. It is God’s Spirit that encourages people to read their Bibles, pray and practice the spiritual disciplines. So all that we are and ever hope to be, we owe it all to God.
Let’s not become another corporate casualty that John Wesley warned about.
Let us never forget Who has allowed us to enjoy our present success. We owe everything to Jesus. And if we remember that, and continue to give recognition and praise to God for our present success, and pray that God will keep us from destroying ourselves, then the seeds of our own destruction can remain unplanted, and not allowed to be watered, fertilized or harvested. AMEN!
This is a wise insight. And it was the heart of my message for February 15th.
Just because you have become a Christian, your striving and moving on towards perfection is never over. Keep asking! Keep seeking! Keep knocking! Hunger and thirst for righteousness. Never be satisfied with where you are but be always content and satisfied with who you are in Christ and what Christ is for you.
There is one other thought that I would like for us to consider while John
Wesley’s quote is still fresh in our minds: As revival takes place in your own heart and mind, never forget the danger that comes afterwards.
You see your progress. You know you are moving on towards perfection. And
it is possible for you to suddenly become arrogant and confident of your own righteousness; and then, everything comes unglued
A good test to see if you are truly moving in a Spirit led direction, and not one in which the seeds of destruction will come to maturity, is to take inventory of your own life. Are you more gracious? Are you more forgiving? Does your life more and more reflect the fruit of God’s Spirit via such things as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?
This church is undergoing some really cool changes. If it were a little more
compressed, we could almost say a revival was taking place.
What is happening, you might be saying? People are reading their Bibles more. Giving is remaining steady and we are doing fine financially when nearly every church I talk to is having troubles. Our attendance is averaging nearly 260 now. We have a good number of new faces each week who are checking out what it means to accept Jesus as their Savior. The Official Board and Pastor’s Cabinet enjoy a unity and harmony that I have never experienced before in a church board. All in all, things are going really well. And this is where John Wesley’s quote is most significant.
Never forget that if we ever forget we are who we are by God’s grace and not by our own merit or doing, we can easily succumb to the disastrous results for which Wesley warned us.
Never forget that we enjoy present success, not because we are wiser, not because we have a nicer facility, not because we have an effective pastor, not because we are the cool place to be in town—we enjoy present success by the grace and mercy of God. It is God’s Spirit that moves people to come and attend our worship services. It is God’s Spirit that motivates people to give to our church. It is God’s Spirit that encourages people to read their Bibles, pray and practice the spiritual disciplines. So all that we are and ever hope to be, we owe it all to God.
Let’s not become another corporate casualty that John Wesley warned about.
Let us never forget Who has allowed us to enjoy our present success. We owe everything to Jesus. And if we remember that, and continue to give recognition and praise to God for our present success, and pray that God will keep us from destroying ourselves, then the seeds of our own destruction can remain unplanted, and not allowed to be watered, fertilized or harvested. AMEN!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
February 2009
Have I told you all lately that I really appreciate being your pastor? I just want to say, “Thanks so much for your patience, support, encouragement, and faithfulness.” Not only do I get paid to do what I do, but I receive a great amount of encouragement and support as well. So, again, “THANKS!”
One of the things I am grateful for is the opportunity to take classes so I can have the opportunity to expand my thinking and possibly discover new ways of doing ministry more effectively or more Biblically. This past month, I was fortunate enough to take a class at the seminary where I was formally trained and this class called The Intentional Church, taught by Randy Pope, pastor of Perimeter Presbyterian Church just outside of Atlanta, GA, proved to be all and so much more than I anticipated and hoped. In fact, I have already informed the Pastor’s Cabinet that the model for discipleship that I was exposed to has given me a new hunger and a desire to try and discover how best topromote discipleship here at HFM.
One of the things that I have been embarrassed about, regarding my ministry here at HFM, was my inability to be able to clearly envision and/or verbally communicate God’s call for my mission and vision for this church. It has been very hard to confess to Superintendent Ramundo and my So. MI FMC accountability pastors my lack of a clear vision for my ministry here. I just was hesitant to “come up with one” on my own just to say I have one. But, it is also very hard to do ministry well without one. So I have been patiently waiting, praying and seeking God’s direction for my ministry here at HFM. Please don’t think that while I was waiting, I was doing nothing. I have been trying as best as I know how, to do the work of ministry here at HFM. But, I will have to confess, it has been very generic in focus and universal in scope.
But, now, for the first time since I was called to be your pastor, I believe God is beginning to formulate a ministry vision and mission for my call as your pastor. And, if you have ever been in a leadership position, you would know that this is very exciting for me.
So, what does this mean to you? First of all, you need to know that you will, more than likely, not see any change at all for at least 4-8 months. Even though the class has stimulated my thinking and allowed me to hear more clearly the Holy Spirit’s leading for my ministry at this church, I will not do anything until I have a chance to formulate a fairly comprehensive plan for doing ministry here at HFM. And then, none of this will be implemented until I have a chance to run it by Superintendent Ramundo, the Pastor’s cabinet and the Official Board to insure that they believe that my vision and mission is from God.
Ultimately, if I am in alignment with God’s plan and will for HFM, it will mean some changes in how we do small group ministry, what we require of our members, what it means to be a disciple of Jesus here at HFM, and the level of commitment required to be a leader at HFM. Probably the biggest thing that will change is that your pastor and leadership will have a clear and defined ministry agenda that we feel is unique and custom designed by God for this church. And that can mean nothing but good news for everyone here at HFM.
We will have to wait and see if what I am sensing right now is from God or just post-class high. After about 4 months of meditation, planning and review by your leadership, we will see. Please pray for your pastor, and your HFM leadership as together we seek God’s agenda for HFM. In the mean time, thanks again for your patience, encouragement and support. I want in the worst way for HFM to be a great church. I just appreciate your patience and encouragement while I try to hear from God how HE wants us to become a great church. Thanks!
One of the things I am grateful for is the opportunity to take classes so I can have the opportunity to expand my thinking and possibly discover new ways of doing ministry more effectively or more Biblically. This past month, I was fortunate enough to take a class at the seminary where I was formally trained and this class called The Intentional Church, taught by Randy Pope, pastor of Perimeter Presbyterian Church just outside of Atlanta, GA, proved to be all and so much more than I anticipated and hoped. In fact, I have already informed the Pastor’s Cabinet that the model for discipleship that I was exposed to has given me a new hunger and a desire to try and discover how best topromote discipleship here at HFM.
One of the things that I have been embarrassed about, regarding my ministry here at HFM, was my inability to be able to clearly envision and/or verbally communicate God’s call for my mission and vision for this church. It has been very hard to confess to Superintendent Ramundo and my So. MI FMC accountability pastors my lack of a clear vision for my ministry here. I just was hesitant to “come up with one” on my own just to say I have one. But, it is also very hard to do ministry well without one. So I have been patiently waiting, praying and seeking God’s direction for my ministry here at HFM. Please don’t think that while I was waiting, I was doing nothing. I have been trying as best as I know how, to do the work of ministry here at HFM. But, I will have to confess, it has been very generic in focus and universal in scope.
But, now, for the first time since I was called to be your pastor, I believe God is beginning to formulate a ministry vision and mission for my call as your pastor. And, if you have ever been in a leadership position, you would know that this is very exciting for me.
So, what does this mean to you? First of all, you need to know that you will, more than likely, not see any change at all for at least 4-8 months. Even though the class has stimulated my thinking and allowed me to hear more clearly the Holy Spirit’s leading for my ministry at this church, I will not do anything until I have a chance to formulate a fairly comprehensive plan for doing ministry here at HFM. And then, none of this will be implemented until I have a chance to run it by Superintendent Ramundo, the Pastor’s cabinet and the Official Board to insure that they believe that my vision and mission is from God.
Ultimately, if I am in alignment with God’s plan and will for HFM, it will mean some changes in how we do small group ministry, what we require of our members, what it means to be a disciple of Jesus here at HFM, and the level of commitment required to be a leader at HFM. Probably the biggest thing that will change is that your pastor and leadership will have a clear and defined ministry agenda that we feel is unique and custom designed by God for this church. And that can mean nothing but good news for everyone here at HFM.
We will have to wait and see if what I am sensing right now is from God or just post-class high. After about 4 months of meditation, planning and review by your leadership, we will see. Please pray for your pastor, and your HFM leadership as together we seek God’s agenda for HFM. In the mean time, thanks again for your patience, encouragement and support. I want in the worst way for HFM to be a great church. I just appreciate your patience and encouragement while I try to hear from God how HE wants us to become a great church. Thanks!
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