A beautiful day is dawning in the Ozarks! It is 62 degrees and the birds are having lively conversations in the dark. Following this time of devotional reading and prayer I will begin my day at the Council of Churches office in a meeting with the Easter Sunrise committee. I will then work in my office on the weekend service, including the bulletin and message. Yesterday was packed with meetings from 7:30 am through 8:00 pm. Through the noon hour I participated in an online preaching seminar hosted by a new coaching group called “Preaching Rocket”. It contained good content from Andy Stanley, Jeff Foxworthy and others. Last night I consulted with the leaders of a church in Joplin concerning their need for visioning and long range planning.
Acts 28
This last chapter of the book of Acts chronicles Paul’s travels under arrest from Jerusalem to Rome, and ends abruptly after his two years of house arrest in Rome. This journey includes details of the sailing ships employed by the Romans, the decisions about weather, the shipwreck on Malta, and the message Paul preached to the Jewish leaders at Rome. Among the last verses of this historical book are Paul’s quoting of Isaiah 6:9-10 “Go to this people and say, You will keep on hearing, but will not understand… for the heart of the people has become dull…lest they should see with their eyes …and understand with their heart and return, and I should heal them.” (Acts 28:26-27) This prophecy is also true about people in every generation, including this present age.
The last paragraph of Acts: “And he stayed 2 full years in his own rented quarters, and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.” Paul pursued the purpose God had given him, and this closing statement reveals that he accomplished his mission. Paul was a faithful servant of Christ, and inspires me to fully pursue God’s purposes in my life, right up to the end. Paul did not retire. Paul did not save up. Paul’s reward is eternal, his life was well lived.
Most holy living God, today in the Ozarks of Missouri I will live a faithful, purposeful life as a pastor and servant leader. Guide my steps, my actions, my thoughts and words as I live for you today.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
March 14, 2012
Today is Pi day! 3.1416… is the mathematical number that is used to calculate the area of a circle (Pi times radius squared). I have heard of classes that are asking students to bring pie to school today, 3/14 to celebrate. It is an interesting concept. I have just reviewed an article on circles which took me back to my 9th grade geometry class. The mathematical concepts associated with circles are not regularly part of my thought process, except for today!
Yesterday a record high was tied here in Springfield with the temperature reaching 82 degrees. I ran three miles in the late afternoon, and it felt like early summer. I accompanied our confirmation class to a radio station and a Christian bookstore last evening and enjoyed the conversation and opportunity to become better acquainted. Today we will have executive staff meeting and executive leadership team meeting. Tonight I will meet with a couple planning their wedding and perhaps visit the Green Room for their 8 pm worship service.
Acts 26 Paul’s defense before Agrippa
Paul recounts his story to Agrippa and Festus. Festus interrupts him and states that his much learning has driven him mad. Agrippa’s response is more accepting, stating to Paul “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian” (Verse 28). Paul says that his desire is that everyone who hears him may become as he is, except for the chains of imprisonment. Agrippa’s conclusion is that if Paul had not appealed to Caesar he could have been set free.
This chapter reminds me of the opportunities to witness to my faith and experience in Jesus Christ. It will be incredible to some, and it will tug at the hearts of others. Like seeds that are scattered, some will find good soil and bear a hundred fold increase. Guide me today most holy Lord as I serve you with joy and with diligent attention to your calling and your purposes.
Yesterday a record high was tied here in Springfield with the temperature reaching 82 degrees. I ran three miles in the late afternoon, and it felt like early summer. I accompanied our confirmation class to a radio station and a Christian bookstore last evening and enjoyed the conversation and opportunity to become better acquainted. Today we will have executive staff meeting and executive leadership team meeting. Tonight I will meet with a couple planning their wedding and perhaps visit the Green Room for their 8 pm worship service.
Acts 26 Paul’s defense before Agrippa
Paul recounts his story to Agrippa and Festus. Festus interrupts him and states that his much learning has driven him mad. Agrippa’s response is more accepting, stating to Paul “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian” (Verse 28). Paul says that his desire is that everyone who hears him may become as he is, except for the chains of imprisonment. Agrippa’s conclusion is that if Paul had not appealed to Caesar he could have been set free.
This chapter reminds me of the opportunities to witness to my faith and experience in Jesus Christ. It will be incredible to some, and it will tug at the hearts of others. Like seeds that are scattered, some will find good soil and bear a hundred fold increase. Guide me today most holy Lord as I serve you with joy and with diligent attention to your calling and your purposes.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
March 13, 2012
Yesterday I rode the Concours to Cassville, caught 3 trout in Roaring River State Park, and returned home by curvy back roads. I cooked the fish for dinner and then Audrey and I attended the concert by the Kickapoo vocal music department. I am rested and ready for this week of work. The high today will be near 80 during this unusually warm middle week of March.
I am reading 15 Characteristics of Effective Pastors by Mannoia and Walkemeyer. Yesterday I started the section on spiritual formation and appreciated their metaphor of digging ditches. The authors propose that pursuing spiritual disciplines is similar to digging ditches, and it is God that provides the water, as He did in II Kings chapter 3. For me, this early morning time of writing, reflecting, reading scripture, praying is one of the ditches through which God’s refreshment flows.
Acts 25
The continuing saga of Paul’s legal entanglement as Festus takes over for Felix, and desires to do the Jews a favor. When no legitimate charges can be proven, Festus offers Paul the opportunity to be tried in Jerusalem, and he appeals to Caesar, which is his right as a Roman citizen. King Agrippa also gets involved with Festus, and desires to hear Paul, which will be described in the next chapter.
This chapter of Holy Scriptures reminds me that life is complicated, and the winds of political favor and civic processes meander hither and yon. As the details of Paul’s involvement are important, so the details of each one of our lives are important and significant. It is important to note how Paul was clear about his decision to appeal to Caesar, which resulted in his being taken to Rome (where he was able to speak and teach about Christ).
Guide me in the details of this life you have called me to live in Springfield Missouri. May my every thought, action, problem, solution, and every encounter with another soul be to your glory and honor, most precious Lord.
I am reading 15 Characteristics of Effective Pastors by Mannoia and Walkemeyer. Yesterday I started the section on spiritual formation and appreciated their metaphor of digging ditches. The authors propose that pursuing spiritual disciplines is similar to digging ditches, and it is God that provides the water, as He did in II Kings chapter 3. For me, this early morning time of writing, reflecting, reading scripture, praying is one of the ditches through which God’s refreshment flows.
Acts 25
The continuing saga of Paul’s legal entanglement as Festus takes over for Felix, and desires to do the Jews a favor. When no legitimate charges can be proven, Festus offers Paul the opportunity to be tried in Jerusalem, and he appeals to Caesar, which is his right as a Roman citizen. King Agrippa also gets involved with Festus, and desires to hear Paul, which will be described in the next chapter.
This chapter of Holy Scriptures reminds me that life is complicated, and the winds of political favor and civic processes meander hither and yon. As the details of Paul’s involvement are important, so the details of each one of our lives are important and significant. It is important to note how Paul was clear about his decision to appeal to Caesar, which resulted in his being taken to Rome (where he was able to speak and teach about Christ).
Guide me in the details of this life you have called me to live in Springfield Missouri. May my every thought, action, problem, solution, and every encounter with another soul be to your glory and honor, most precious Lord.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
March 11, 2012
To save daylight, we spring forward today, and it feels like 4:45 am. This is one of the more difficult Sundays of the year physically because of the time change. Audrey and I went to bed early and I feel adequately rested and ready for the day. This morning I am preaching about God’s healing power and the church’s call to go and heal.
Luke 8
In verses 43-48 is recorded the account of the woman with the 12-year hemorrhage healed when she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. Earlier in the chapter Jesus explains to his disciples the parable of the seeds on differing soils. I am struck by verses 15: “But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.”
Guide me today most Holy Lord as I preach your word to many people. I ask you for many who will hear the word, and hold it fast in honest and good hearts, and with patient endurance will bear fruit. May my life be good soil, fruitful with patient endurance! Amen
Luke 8
In verses 43-48 is recorded the account of the woman with the 12-year hemorrhage healed when she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. Earlier in the chapter Jesus explains to his disciples the parable of the seeds on differing soils. I am struck by verses 15: “But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.”
Guide me today most Holy Lord as I preach your word to many people. I ask you for many who will hear the word, and hold it fast in honest and good hearts, and with patient endurance will bear fruit. May my life be good soil, fruitful with patient endurance! Amen
Saturday, March 10, 2012
March 10, 2012
Today we celebrate the awards ceremony for Upward. There will be exciting testimony from a Christian BMX team. I will lead the opening and the closing. The team will offer a prayer of salvation for all present. I had an interesting thought overnight about the offering of a prayer of salvation – Sometimes there is criticism for those whose main ministry is measured by the number of such prayers. How does this figure into the spiritual life of a believer? Essentially, this is the point of justifying grace, when God’s prevenient grace bears fruit and the individual accepts what God has done, applying the sacrifice of the cross to one’s sinful self. This prayer of salvation is the beginning of new life in Christ, and through it the Holy Spirit begins to work in new and different ways, God’s sanctifying grace. This is basic doctrine with a Wesleyan understanding, but I have a new appreciation of it after the insight gained through the night.
Acts 23
Paul speaks to the Jewish Council in Jerusalem. Recognizing that it is composed of both Pharisees and Sadducees he states “I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” This threw the council into an uproar because the Pharisees believe in the resurrection, and angels and spirits, but the Sadducees do not. The Roman commander ordered his troops to go into this confusion and remove Paul. That night the Lord stood at Paul’s side and said: “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
The Jews formed a conspiracy, planning to kill Paul, but Paul’s nephew overheard the plot and warned him. The commander believed the nephew’s report, and made arrangements to have Paul taken by night under guard to Caesarea, to Felix the governor with a letter describing the situation. The governor decided to hear Paul’s case after his accusers arrived, and he was kept in Herod’s Praetorium.
This chapter reminds me of the courage and commitment that Paul, and innumerable others have demonstrated in their witness to Christ as Lord, through all types of opposition. I am inspired by this, as I serve Christ in a quieter setting, with less outright opposition, but invisible inner opposition. Tomorrow I will preach the gospel to 1,000 people who gather at Wesley, and I will announce the wonderful healing power of faith in the God who heals. Guide me most holy Lord as I live into the message you are raising up in and through me.
Acts 23
Paul speaks to the Jewish Council in Jerusalem. Recognizing that it is composed of both Pharisees and Sadducees he states “I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” This threw the council into an uproar because the Pharisees believe in the resurrection, and angels and spirits, but the Sadducees do not. The Roman commander ordered his troops to go into this confusion and remove Paul. That night the Lord stood at Paul’s side and said: “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
The Jews formed a conspiracy, planning to kill Paul, but Paul’s nephew overheard the plot and warned him. The commander believed the nephew’s report, and made arrangements to have Paul taken by night under guard to Caesarea, to Felix the governor with a letter describing the situation. The governor decided to hear Paul’s case after his accusers arrived, and he was kept in Herod’s Praetorium.
This chapter reminds me of the courage and commitment that Paul, and innumerable others have demonstrated in their witness to Christ as Lord, through all types of opposition. I am inspired by this, as I serve Christ in a quieter setting, with less outright opposition, but invisible inner opposition. Tomorrow I will preach the gospel to 1,000 people who gather at Wesley, and I will announce the wonderful healing power of faith in the God who heals. Guide me most holy Lord as I live into the message you are raising up in and through me.
Friday, March 9, 2012
March 9, 2012
Time change this weekend! At 5:46 am the sky is starting to lighten in the east with its pre-dawn indicators. The birds are starting to sing. On Sunday morning, this will be 6:46, and the sun will not have cleared the horizon before I will be on the way to church. Today I will be at the office early and working on the message for this weekend. I will be on the Concours.
Yesterday morning I shared the grief of a wife as she said goodbye to her husband. They had been together since the fourth grade. He was diagnosed one year ago with a brain tumor, and had struggled with it valiantly. He died at 7:30, and the mortician came for his body at the nursing home around 10. In the evening I visited the home of a couple whose baby will be baptized on Sunday, with the joy and hope of a young life unfolding.
Acts 22
Paul in Jerusalem addresses the mob. He tells his story, of being brought up in the Jewish faith, studying under Gamaliel, and persecuting people of “The Way”. He recounted his conversion on the road to Damascus, and his calling to take the good news to the Gentiles. The crowd reacted violently to this statement, and the Roman soldiers took him away. They were preparing to scourge him when he stated he was a Roman citizen which gave him certain rights. The next day he was brought down before the chief priests and all the Council.
Down through history clarion voices have spoken bravely and have been met with violence. The apostle Paul is perhaps the best example of faithful witness and courageous messenger. As I read this chapter this morning I am remembering various people,through the years, who have encountered entrenched systems intolerant of a new Way. I live in an era and in a country where there is much tolerance. There is such abundance of basic needs that there is malaise and indifference, with obesity and boredom two of the major problems of the day. In my mid fifties, with 30 years of pastoral experience, I desire to daily seek God’s face, observe what He is doing in the world, and spend my energy advancing His Kingdom.
Yesterday I viewed a You Tube video that has had 36 million viewers in 3 days. It is called Kony 2012, and is a 29 minute film by Invisible Children designed to bring to public attention the horrors inflicted by Joseph Kony over the last 20 years in the Sudan and neighboring African countries. He forces children to murder their parents, and then takes the boys into his army and makes the girls sex slaves. These are the invisible children that are the subject of this film. The producer’s goal is to call upon the world to capture Joseph Kony and bring him to justice. It has “gone viral” so quickly with such magnitude. President Obama has complemented the effort. Next week I preach on the topic of rescue and I will refer to this issue.
Guide me today, most holy Lord as I serve you with joy and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Use my energy, gifts, vision, experience and setting to further your Kingdom in this generation.
Yesterday morning I shared the grief of a wife as she said goodbye to her husband. They had been together since the fourth grade. He was diagnosed one year ago with a brain tumor, and had struggled with it valiantly. He died at 7:30, and the mortician came for his body at the nursing home around 10. In the evening I visited the home of a couple whose baby will be baptized on Sunday, with the joy and hope of a young life unfolding.
Acts 22
Paul in Jerusalem addresses the mob. He tells his story, of being brought up in the Jewish faith, studying under Gamaliel, and persecuting people of “The Way”. He recounted his conversion on the road to Damascus, and his calling to take the good news to the Gentiles. The crowd reacted violently to this statement, and the Roman soldiers took him away. They were preparing to scourge him when he stated he was a Roman citizen which gave him certain rights. The next day he was brought down before the chief priests and all the Council.
Down through history clarion voices have spoken bravely and have been met with violence. The apostle Paul is perhaps the best example of faithful witness and courageous messenger. As I read this chapter this morning I am remembering various people,through the years, who have encountered entrenched systems intolerant of a new Way. I live in an era and in a country where there is much tolerance. There is such abundance of basic needs that there is malaise and indifference, with obesity and boredom two of the major problems of the day. In my mid fifties, with 30 years of pastoral experience, I desire to daily seek God’s face, observe what He is doing in the world, and spend my energy advancing His Kingdom.
Yesterday I viewed a You Tube video that has had 36 million viewers in 3 days. It is called Kony 2012, and is a 29 minute film by Invisible Children designed to bring to public attention the horrors inflicted by Joseph Kony over the last 20 years in the Sudan and neighboring African countries. He forces children to murder their parents, and then takes the boys into his army and makes the girls sex slaves. These are the invisible children that are the subject of this film. The producer’s goal is to call upon the world to capture Joseph Kony and bring him to justice. It has “gone viral” so quickly with such magnitude. President Obama has complemented the effort. Next week I preach on the topic of rescue and I will refer to this issue.
Guide me today, most holy Lord as I serve you with joy and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Use my energy, gifts, vision, experience and setting to further your Kingdom in this generation.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
March 4, 2012
It is 5:30 am and I just heard an owl as I stepped onto the deck to welcome the morning. This is the first owl I have heard since living here. I also saw a neighbor parking his car, having returned home from somewhere. I am looking forward to leading worship at Wesley today, preaching about Jesus feeding the 5,000 and inviting our participation as he feeds us and sends us.
Yesterday I worked at church, visited a family grieving the death of their son and preparing for his funeral tomorrow, helped a marginalized couple with bus tickets and a ride to Cox hospital to visit her mother, worked on my sermon and then Audrey and I shared the evening meal with a long time friend and his wife who recently took disability leave from pastoring due to early onset dementia. Back home it was more work on the sermon before bedtime, as Audrey practiced the piano preparing for worship.
John 21:4-14
For the third time, Jesus appears to his disciples. They have gone north to Galilee, per his instructions. He appeared to them in Jerusalem on Easter Sunday evening when they were gathered in a room with locked doors. Thomas was not present. Then He appeared to them again the following Sunday evening, and Thomas believed. On this occasion, Peter and 6 other disciples have been fishing all night with nets, and have caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach, unrecognized by the disciples in the boat. He tells them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, and doing so it is filled with fish. They recognize Jesus and come to shore, where He has a charcoal fire with fish and bread on it. He asks them to bring some of the fish they have just caught.
I am expecting Jesus to be present this morning as we gather for worship. His presence will comfort some, challenge some, heal some, be unrecognized by some. I will preach and teach about how he fed 5,000 and how he fed his disciples, and the call he issues to each of us to follow.
Yesterday I worked at church, visited a family grieving the death of their son and preparing for his funeral tomorrow, helped a marginalized couple with bus tickets and a ride to Cox hospital to visit her mother, worked on my sermon and then Audrey and I shared the evening meal with a long time friend and his wife who recently took disability leave from pastoring due to early onset dementia. Back home it was more work on the sermon before bedtime, as Audrey practiced the piano preparing for worship.
John 21:4-14
For the third time, Jesus appears to his disciples. They have gone north to Galilee, per his instructions. He appeared to them in Jerusalem on Easter Sunday evening when they were gathered in a room with locked doors. Thomas was not present. Then He appeared to them again the following Sunday evening, and Thomas believed. On this occasion, Peter and 6 other disciples have been fishing all night with nets, and have caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach, unrecognized by the disciples in the boat. He tells them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, and doing so it is filled with fish. They recognize Jesus and come to shore, where He has a charcoal fire with fish and bread on it. He asks them to bring some of the fish they have just caught.
I am expecting Jesus to be present this morning as we gather for worship. His presence will comfort some, challenge some, heal some, be unrecognized by some. I will preach and teach about how he fed 5,000 and how he fed his disciples, and the call he issues to each of us to follow.
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