10-10-10 Sunday, 6:02 am Springfield, 54 degrees.
Last night Audrey and I attended the “Stand Up For Marriage” hosted by Yakov Smirnov at the Juanita Hammons Auditorium. It was a great event and did not finish until after 10:30. I will be working today on shortened sleep, and I will be completely relying on God’s strength, wisdom and power throughout the morning.
John 4:34-38
I preached from this chapter a few weeks ago during the passionate worship sermon, lifting up Jesus’ answer to the Samaritan woman’s question about worship. Today I am focusing on Jesus’ words to his disciples “look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting.” (verse 35) Four verses later it says “Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony… and many more believed because of His word.” (39 and 41).
My goal in this morning’s message is to wrap up the series on Fruitful Living, and to empower hearers to multiply the kingdom through their fruitfulness that results in seeds being planted. Lord, here in Oct of 2010 I know that the fields are white, ready for the harvest. I know that time is shorter than any of us can know. Use me this morning, and each of my remaining days to be at work in your fields, and with your servants at work in your fields to increase the harvest of souls for eternity.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
October 8, 2010
10-8-10 Friday, 6:29 am Springfield, 54 degrees, clear.
We arrived home from Alton at 9:15 p.m., after a fruitful trip to the Honduras summit. We made good connections and my presentation went well on financing capital projects with a portion of the capital campaign. I met the guy who painted the white shutters and windows I was unable to paint on the education building in Diez, and we had lunch with the woman from COR who led the leadership training for Sunday School teachers, and who picked the curriculum. As we left, Audrey and I had a nice conversation with Bishop Palmer.
Today my calendar is open as I had thought I might need to be at the Honduras Summit today also. I will use today to write my sermon, and to catch up on preparations for the HCI weekend. There are also several people I need to follow up with a phone call or email. First, I will begin with the daily reading from The One Year Bible, and pray.
Jeremiah 10 – 11:23
Verses 6: “Lord, there is no one like you! For you are great, and your name is full of power.” This verse is one upon which to meditate. A contemporary Christian song builds upon this verse, and I am reminded that God is full of power, and nothing on earth, no person or power is greater than God. Jeremiah made fun of wooden idols, man-made images of gods. In my generation, there is fear of nuclear power, the awe of computer power and government surveillance, etc. This verse will be my meditation today, and my source of strength for the day.
As I have briefly caught up on the news, I realize that a small plane crashed and burst into flames at the downtown (small) airport here in Springfield, killing one woman, injuring the pilot and one passenger; and in the middle of the night there was a fatal crash on I 44 involving a semi and a car. Both of these fatalities remind me of the frailty of life, especially as I piloted a small plane with two passengers around Springfield last week, and drove home on 44 last night. Thank you Lord for your power, for the mystery of your will, and the opportunity to serve you today, October 8.
We arrived home from Alton at 9:15 p.m., after a fruitful trip to the Honduras summit. We made good connections and my presentation went well on financing capital projects with a portion of the capital campaign. I met the guy who painted the white shutters and windows I was unable to paint on the education building in Diez, and we had lunch with the woman from COR who led the leadership training for Sunday School teachers, and who picked the curriculum. As we left, Audrey and I had a nice conversation with Bishop Palmer.
Today my calendar is open as I had thought I might need to be at the Honduras Summit today also. I will use today to write my sermon, and to catch up on preparations for the HCI weekend. There are also several people I need to follow up with a phone call or email. First, I will begin with the daily reading from The One Year Bible, and pray.
Jeremiah 10 – 11:23
Verses 6: “Lord, there is no one like you! For you are great, and your name is full of power.” This verse is one upon which to meditate. A contemporary Christian song builds upon this verse, and I am reminded that God is full of power, and nothing on earth, no person or power is greater than God. Jeremiah made fun of wooden idols, man-made images of gods. In my generation, there is fear of nuclear power, the awe of computer power and government surveillance, etc. This verse will be my meditation today, and my source of strength for the day.
As I have briefly caught up on the news, I realize that a small plane crashed and burst into flames at the downtown (small) airport here in Springfield, killing one woman, injuring the pilot and one passenger; and in the middle of the night there was a fatal crash on I 44 involving a semi and a car. Both of these fatalities remind me of the frailty of life, especially as I piloted a small plane with two passengers around Springfield last week, and drove home on 44 last night. Thank you Lord for your power, for the mystery of your will, and the opportunity to serve you today, October 8.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
October 6, 2010
10-6-10 Wednesday, 5:54 am Springfield; 41 degrees, clear
Yesterday I did not journal, as I had an early breakfast. The rest of the day was filled with fruitful meetings with staff and leaders. I did manage to get a workout in, running the second half of a 2.7 mile run at a 9:10 pace – quicker than I have been doing lately. My plantar faciatious has flared up painfully this morning, and I am looking forward to getting the custom orthodics that will hopefully be the answer. Last night before falling asleep I had meaningful time of prayer, as my desire has been to pray in the evening, an examination and reflection of the day.
Today at noon Audrey and I drive to Alton, Ill. To participate in the National Honduras Summit. I will make a presentation tomorrow at a breakout group about how we have allocated a percentage of capital funds campaigns to fund capital projects. I will prepare my handout and organize my presentation following devotions. I will also work on my sermon here at home before I head out to 8:45 prayer with Bob and Tim.
Col 2:8-23
Reading verses 8 and 9 in Greek Interlinear: “Beware lest anyone of you there being taken captive through philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world and not according to Christ; because in Him dwells all the fullness of the godhead bodily.” Wow! These two verses, and the concept of being taken captive by Christ, in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily fills my imagination. I have been meditating, chewing on this reality as it comes to me through this scripture in a new and fresh way.
Guide me Lord as I willing go forward as your captive, free in your grace, and guarding against the vain philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition.
I am yours, fill me, send me, use me in your work today.
Yesterday I did not journal, as I had an early breakfast. The rest of the day was filled with fruitful meetings with staff and leaders. I did manage to get a workout in, running the second half of a 2.7 mile run at a 9:10 pace – quicker than I have been doing lately. My plantar faciatious has flared up painfully this morning, and I am looking forward to getting the custom orthodics that will hopefully be the answer. Last night before falling asleep I had meaningful time of prayer, as my desire has been to pray in the evening, an examination and reflection of the day.
Today at noon Audrey and I drive to Alton, Ill. To participate in the National Honduras Summit. I will make a presentation tomorrow at a breakout group about how we have allocated a percentage of capital funds campaigns to fund capital projects. I will prepare my handout and organize my presentation following devotions. I will also work on my sermon here at home before I head out to 8:45 prayer with Bob and Tim.
Col 2:8-23
Reading verses 8 and 9 in Greek Interlinear: “Beware lest anyone of you there being taken captive through philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world and not according to Christ; because in Him dwells all the fullness of the godhead bodily.” Wow! These two verses, and the concept of being taken captive by Christ, in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily fills my imagination. I have been meditating, chewing on this reality as it comes to me through this scripture in a new and fresh way.
Guide me Lord as I willing go forward as your captive, free in your grace, and guarding against the vain philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition.
I am yours, fill me, send me, use me in your work today.
Monday, October 4, 2010
October 4, 2010
10-4-10 Monday, 6:52 am Springfield, 36 degrees, clear and cold. First frost (light) of the season!
Last night Audrey and I attended the Steven Curtis Chapman “Family Night” with Jerry, Bev, Steve and Rochelle. The Chapmans have a wonderful ministry, with their two sons on the verge of touring with their own band, and Mary Beth speaking about the death of their daughter Maria and the book she has written. It was good to be in the audience last night.
This morning I need to go to the office and get an email out to the participants in the Wesley leadership experience tomorrow night. I snored a lot last night, keeping Audrey up, and so as she catches up on Zzzs I will ride the motorcycle to the church, and then out on a little morning ride in the crisp fall air.
Jeremiah 2:31-4:18
The prophet, speaking for God, uses many metaphors of Israel being like a prostitute, or an adulterous wife, leaving the God of her youth in search of something else. He promises that Egypt will fail her, just as Assyria did.
4:3 “This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: ‘Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the
Lord, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of your sins.’” As I read this, I pictured Wesley or Asbury using this as a text for a fiery sermon. I do not preach “fiery sermons”, but speak in more of a teaching mode.
Guide me Holy Lord as I seek to be obedient and faithful to your word and your leading in every way, all the time. Guard me from complacency, and from pleasing people, speaking words they always want to hear. Use me as your pastor, shepherd, and faithful, obedient servant.
Last night Audrey and I attended the Steven Curtis Chapman “Family Night” with Jerry, Bev, Steve and Rochelle. The Chapmans have a wonderful ministry, with their two sons on the verge of touring with their own band, and Mary Beth speaking about the death of their daughter Maria and the book she has written. It was good to be in the audience last night.
This morning I need to go to the office and get an email out to the participants in the Wesley leadership experience tomorrow night. I snored a lot last night, keeping Audrey up, and so as she catches up on Zzzs I will ride the motorcycle to the church, and then out on a little morning ride in the crisp fall air.
Jeremiah 2:31-4:18
The prophet, speaking for God, uses many metaphors of Israel being like a prostitute, or an adulterous wife, leaving the God of her youth in search of something else. He promises that Egypt will fail her, just as Assyria did.
4:3 “This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: ‘Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the
Lord, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of your sins.’” As I read this, I pictured Wesley or Asbury using this as a text for a fiery sermon. I do not preach “fiery sermons”, but speak in more of a teaching mode.
Guide me Holy Lord as I seek to be obedient and faithful to your word and your leading in every way, all the time. Guard me from complacency, and from pleasing people, speaking words they always want to hear. Use me as your pastor, shepherd, and faithful, obedient servant.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
October 3, 2010
10-3-10 Sunday, 4:41 am Springfield, 42 degrees.
I can see Jupiter and Uranus in the west, and the waning harvest moon in the east. I have lighted the pilot for the gas fireplace, and it is warming up the living room. For the first time this season, as I was outside on the deck I could see my breath as it vaporized.
This morning I will preach on generosity. I will spend the next hour and a half in final preparation of my mind, heart, and spirit. Guide me Lord as I seek to be your conduit of grace, your messenger of good news, and your agent transformation in my generation.
II Cor 8-9
Paul writes these two chapters about generosity, especially in connection with the offering he is gathering for the poor in Jerusalem. He worked on this offering for over 10 years, from 46 AD until 57 AD when the delegation from the gentile churches brought the gift. Guide me Lord as I seek to be your agent of generosity.
I can see Jupiter and Uranus in the west, and the waning harvest moon in the east. I have lighted the pilot for the gas fireplace, and it is warming up the living room. For the first time this season, as I was outside on the deck I could see my breath as it vaporized.
This morning I will preach on generosity. I will spend the next hour and a half in final preparation of my mind, heart, and spirit. Guide me Lord as I seek to be your conduit of grace, your messenger of good news, and your agent transformation in my generation.
II Cor 8-9
Paul writes these two chapters about generosity, especially in connection with the offering he is gathering for the poor in Jerusalem. He worked on this offering for over 10 years, from 46 AD until 57 AD when the delegation from the gentile churches brought the gift. Guide me Lord as I seek to be your agent of generosity.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
October 2, 2010
10-2-10 Saturday, 2:35 pm Grayrock Dr., 61 degrees, partly sunny.
I had a great flight this morning around the Springfield vicinity with Bob and Norma. We flew over the area in which they grew up and met as high school sweethearts. We flew over Table Rock Lake, which was just being formed when they got married. It was one of the most delightful sightseeing flights I have taken. This afternoon I have a wedding, and I just watched the Today Show wedding from Thursday, with my friend Steve Cox officiating. He did a great job under lots of pressure.
Before flying this morning I read Philippians 3:5-21 in which Paul describes his background. If anyone could trust pedigree and works righteous it would be Paul. But he says that although he once thought these things were important, he now considers them all dung, refuse, worthless compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus as his Lord. Help me Lord to communicate this truth in my generation, as I treasure the gift of salvation through faith.
I had a great flight this morning around the Springfield vicinity with Bob and Norma. We flew over the area in which they grew up and met as high school sweethearts. We flew over Table Rock Lake, which was just being formed when they got married. It was one of the most delightful sightseeing flights I have taken. This afternoon I have a wedding, and I just watched the Today Show wedding from Thursday, with my friend Steve Cox officiating. He did a great job under lots of pressure.
Before flying this morning I read Philippians 3:5-21 in which Paul describes his background. If anyone could trust pedigree and works righteous it would be Paul. But he says that although he once thought these things were important, he now considers them all dung, refuse, worthless compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus as his Lord. Help me Lord to communicate this truth in my generation, as I treasure the gift of salvation through faith.
Friday, October 1, 2010
October 1, 2010
10-1-10 Friday, 7:00 am Springfield, 46 degrees, clear.
September is over, October has just begun! I enjoy the passing of the months and the changing of the seasons. Tonight I will take the airplane flying after the wedding rehearsal and get a bird’s eye view of the evening over Springfield. Today I have a graveside funeral service at 1:00 for a Wesley member who was active until she went to a nursing home several years ago.
Exciting news: Last night I finally got my new cell phone, a Droid X to sync contacts and calendar with my Palm data base. Over 1000 contacts and my calendar are now on my Droid. I have been carrying both phones, like a pair of 6 shooters one on each hip. Now I must check the details of my calendar, and perhaps add the “notes” for my contacts, but I am very pleased to have gotten the sync to work.
Philippians 2:19-3:4
In verses 19-24 Paul tells the recipients that he is preparing to send Timothy to them. He states that other people (he could send) “are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” This continues the theme he followed earlier in the chapter about self-emptying, and warnings against self-centeredness. In verse 22 the Greek word dokimen is translated “proven worth” referring to Timothy. This is a word I desire to have continually applied to me – that Bruce Baxter has dokimen, proven worth in the work of the gospel, in the servant leadership of the church.
I am continuing to read Wigger’s biography of Asbury, who proved his worth to the cause of Christ. I am currently reading about the events of 1784, the Christmas conference, the role of Coke in ordaining Asbury, etc. The Methodist movement in America had about 9,000 participants in 1780, and about 60,000 by 1790. Asbury was always looking for men of proven worth, as are we today as the church continues to need unselfish, spirit-filled, compassionate, visionary servant leaders as pastors. As I lead this very large church called Wesley, I constantly am aware of creating a culture of call, which will result in many individuals hearing God’s call to pastoral vocation.
In verses 25-30 he tells the Philippians that he is presently going to send to them Epaphroditus, who was sick and almost died, and has been very helpful and supportive of Paul. From this paragraph I remember again how important individuals are in the work of ministry. Parkcrest Baptist church, almost next door to Wesley has this on their church sign “never underestimate the value of one soul.” Reading Paul’s letters, I am so aware of this truth.
Guide me today Lord as I serve you with joy, and seek to encourage, comfort, and present your gospel through my life on this first day of October in the Ozarks.
September is over, October has just begun! I enjoy the passing of the months and the changing of the seasons. Tonight I will take the airplane flying after the wedding rehearsal and get a bird’s eye view of the evening over Springfield. Today I have a graveside funeral service at 1:00 for a Wesley member who was active until she went to a nursing home several years ago.
Exciting news: Last night I finally got my new cell phone, a Droid X to sync contacts and calendar with my Palm data base. Over 1000 contacts and my calendar are now on my Droid. I have been carrying both phones, like a pair of 6 shooters one on each hip. Now I must check the details of my calendar, and perhaps add the “notes” for my contacts, but I am very pleased to have gotten the sync to work.
Philippians 2:19-3:4
In verses 19-24 Paul tells the recipients that he is preparing to send Timothy to them. He states that other people (he could send) “are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” This continues the theme he followed earlier in the chapter about self-emptying, and warnings against self-centeredness. In verse 22 the Greek word dokimen is translated “proven worth” referring to Timothy. This is a word I desire to have continually applied to me – that Bruce Baxter has dokimen, proven worth in the work of the gospel, in the servant leadership of the church.
I am continuing to read Wigger’s biography of Asbury, who proved his worth to the cause of Christ. I am currently reading about the events of 1784, the Christmas conference, the role of Coke in ordaining Asbury, etc. The Methodist movement in America had about 9,000 participants in 1780, and about 60,000 by 1790. Asbury was always looking for men of proven worth, as are we today as the church continues to need unselfish, spirit-filled, compassionate, visionary servant leaders as pastors. As I lead this very large church called Wesley, I constantly am aware of creating a culture of call, which will result in many individuals hearing God’s call to pastoral vocation.
In verses 25-30 he tells the Philippians that he is presently going to send to them Epaphroditus, who was sick and almost died, and has been very helpful and supportive of Paul. From this paragraph I remember again how important individuals are in the work of ministry. Parkcrest Baptist church, almost next door to Wesley has this on their church sign “never underestimate the value of one soul.” Reading Paul’s letters, I am so aware of this truth.
Guide me today Lord as I serve you with joy, and seek to encourage, comfort, and present your gospel through my life on this first day of October in the Ozarks.
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