6-30-11 Thursday, 7:01 am Springfield, 72, muggy, high heading for upper 90s today.
I enjoy the summer! On Monday I hauled dirt and created a level spot for the large wading pool in the backyard. Today I will have some time to work on the yard and garden and to get some exercise. We are at the last day of the first half of the year. Many people around me are commenting on how fast time goes by. I am very conscious of the rapid advance of “father time” and desire to maximize the days given to me by God to walk this earthly life.
II Kings 17
The 10 northern tribes are finally hauled off into Assyrian captivity, never to return. This chapter summarizes their sins, and the reason God allowed their enemies to overrun their capitol city and decimate the people. They had failed to honor God, to obey him, to follow his ways. They worshipped the “sex and religion” gods of the neighboring people. It is interesting that in this generation, almost three millennium later, the “worship” of sex and sex goddesses is still one of the critical enemies of a life of following Jesus. When will humans learn that God has revealed himself in holiness and has a plan for the salvation of all people from darkness and bondage? The darkness continues to spread, and the people of God are called to carry his light to all nations. Thank you Lord for the light, guide us as we carry it forward today, living in the light as you are in the light!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
June 28, 2011
6-28-11 Tuesday, 6:31 am Springfield, Cox Surgery Center, Cloudy, with rain overnight.
I am here with Bethany as she is prepped for a manipulation of her foot, which requires anesthesia. It has been almost ten days since I have journalled/blogged. I spent a week at Camp Galilee with youth from Wesley and from across Missouri. I was a cabin counselor for senior high boys. The week was very well organized and very fruitful. The schedule was full. I did not get adequate sleep, and my deficit grew daily. God provided what I needed, and I was able to finish strong, with enough energy to participate in the Patriotic Pageant on Saturday night, lead 4 worship services on Sunday, attend the Sunday afternoon Pageant, and host a game night at our house Sunday evening.
Today I will be working with our coach/consultant Doug Anderson around the HCI prescriptions. I am looking forward to the progress we will make today. It is interesting to have been out of the office for a week, and to come back to a packed schedule. Thus, I will be working on emails, etc. as Bethany has this procedure done this morning.
II Kings 13
This is a continuation of kings coming into power, mostly not serving God, going to war, winning or losing. It almost gets tedious and repetitive with all the successive, brief accounts of these kings. I am continually amazed that kings would choose to serve gods other than Yahweh. It seems so foolish, but at the time might have had some appeal.
Lord, guard my heart from ever deviating from devotion to you and your perfect will. I desire to serve and please you in every way, every day until I cross the river into eternity.
I am here with Bethany as she is prepped for a manipulation of her foot, which requires anesthesia. It has been almost ten days since I have journalled/blogged. I spent a week at Camp Galilee with youth from Wesley and from across Missouri. I was a cabin counselor for senior high boys. The week was very well organized and very fruitful. The schedule was full. I did not get adequate sleep, and my deficit grew daily. God provided what I needed, and I was able to finish strong, with enough energy to participate in the Patriotic Pageant on Saturday night, lead 4 worship services on Sunday, attend the Sunday afternoon Pageant, and host a game night at our house Sunday evening.
Today I will be working with our coach/consultant Doug Anderson around the HCI prescriptions. I am looking forward to the progress we will make today. It is interesting to have been out of the office for a week, and to come back to a packed schedule. Thus, I will be working on emails, etc. as Bethany has this procedure done this morning.
II Kings 13
This is a continuation of kings coming into power, mostly not serving God, going to war, winning or losing. It almost gets tedious and repetitive with all the successive, brief accounts of these kings. I am continually amazed that kings would choose to serve gods other than Yahweh. It seems so foolish, but at the time might have had some appeal.
Lord, guard my heart from ever deviating from devotion to you and your perfect will. I desire to serve and please you in every way, every day until I cross the river into eternity.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
June 19, 2011
6-19-11 Sunday, 5:09 am Springfield, 66 degrees clear.
A thunderstorm rolled through about 3:30 this morning with a little rain, a little lightening, a little wind. Now the air is cooler. Today I head to camp Galilee for six days of being a camp counselor for senior high boys. I am looking forward to this experience and all the ways God will use this time and place to accomplish His purposes in many lives, including mine. This morning I will bring the message of how much God loves His people, and everybody is included in this love. I will use the metaphor of the vineyard, and from the Space Shuttle program, the care that NASA provides for its astronauts.
Romans 11 – Israel’s rejection is not final
In my sermon this morning I will stress how precious Israel is in the sight of God. They are his special people, “the planting of the Lord”. They have been disobedient, and God has raised up gentiles (which includes me and most everybody I know) to be grafted into the stump of Jesse. It is well within God’s power to graft back into the root the branches of Israel, once cut off. “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” … For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.” (verses 33-36)
Guide me today, most holy Lord as I seek to teach from your word about how special are the people whom you have called, and planted, and cultivated to be your vineyard, your oaks, your body. May those who gather to worship at 8:15, 9:30, 10:30 and 11:00 sense your power and your love. May those who join today, and are baptized today experience the body of Christ at its best.
A thunderstorm rolled through about 3:30 this morning with a little rain, a little lightening, a little wind. Now the air is cooler. Today I head to camp Galilee for six days of being a camp counselor for senior high boys. I am looking forward to this experience and all the ways God will use this time and place to accomplish His purposes in many lives, including mine. This morning I will bring the message of how much God loves His people, and everybody is included in this love. I will use the metaphor of the vineyard, and from the Space Shuttle program, the care that NASA provides for its astronauts.
Romans 11 – Israel’s rejection is not final
In my sermon this morning I will stress how precious Israel is in the sight of God. They are his special people, “the planting of the Lord”. They have been disobedient, and God has raised up gentiles (which includes me and most everybody I know) to be grafted into the stump of Jesse. It is well within God’s power to graft back into the root the branches of Israel, once cut off. “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” … For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.” (verses 33-36)
Guide me today, most holy Lord as I seek to teach from your word about how special are the people whom you have called, and planted, and cultivated to be your vineyard, your oaks, your body. May those who gather to worship at 8:15, 9:30, 10:30 and 11:00 sense your power and your love. May those who join today, and are baptized today experience the body of Christ at its best.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
June 18, 2011
6-18-11 Saturday, 8:01 am Springfield – 72 degrees
This is my one morning this week to have quiet reflection with prayer and scripture before I launch into the day. As I prepare to be a camp counselor at Galilee beginning tomorrow afternoon, I am thankful for the structure of camp and the means of discipleship and spiritual growth it affords. It is always hard to be away from the church for a week, and it is good to develop the deeper relationships afforded by the camp setting.
Isaiah 5:1-7 “A song of my beloved concerning His vineyard.”
Isaiah 27:2-6 also makes reference to the vineyard of which the Lord is its keeper. He waters it (with the Word), he guards it night and day. Verse 6: “In the days to come Judah will take root, Israel will blossom and sprout; and they will fill the whole world with fruit.” This verse points me toward part four of my series – God’s plan to bless the whole world with the fruit of his chosen people.
I have identified as one of the major themes of Isaiah, the special relationship God has for his people. In the next hour I will research this theme and develop the context for tomorrow’s message “How much does a Father love?” The people of Israel were/are very special to God, and the church of Jesus Christ is in that same relationship. Guide me Lord as I work today on preparing for preaching, teaching and counseling camp. Thank you for this beautiful June day in Missouri.
This is my one morning this week to have quiet reflection with prayer and scripture before I launch into the day. As I prepare to be a camp counselor at Galilee beginning tomorrow afternoon, I am thankful for the structure of camp and the means of discipleship and spiritual growth it affords. It is always hard to be away from the church for a week, and it is good to develop the deeper relationships afforded by the camp setting.
Isaiah 5:1-7 “A song of my beloved concerning His vineyard.”
Isaiah 27:2-6 also makes reference to the vineyard of which the Lord is its keeper. He waters it (with the Word), he guards it night and day. Verse 6: “In the days to come Judah will take root, Israel will blossom and sprout; and they will fill the whole world with fruit.” This verse points me toward part four of my series – God’s plan to bless the whole world with the fruit of his chosen people.
I have identified as one of the major themes of Isaiah, the special relationship God has for his people. In the next hour I will research this theme and develop the context for tomorrow’s message “How much does a Father love?” The people of Israel were/are very special to God, and the church of Jesus Christ is in that same relationship. Guide me Lord as I work today on preparing for preaching, teaching and counseling camp. Thank you for this beautiful June day in Missouri.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
June 16, 2011
6-16-11 Thursday, 5:13 am Springfield, 66 degrees, clear, full moon and morning star lighting the sky.
I awoke to an incessant beeping coming from the laundry room where the keypad for our security system is installed. The system status report stated that “the battery is not fully charged”. It will be quiet now for 4 hours. After 6 ½ hours of sleep, my battery is not fully charged, but I am up and eager to study, write, pray and work.
Steve and I returned at 5:15 pm yesterday from our four-day motorcycle trip through Missouri, Kansas and Colorado. We had nothing to do but ride. Travelling 1,969.2 miles in four days was challenging and rewarding. I hope to write up a trip log recording all the towns we stopped in and the things we saw and did. I found the song “Standing on the Promises” repeating in my mind often during the repetitive hours of riding. I also was thinking a lot about discipleship, the processes that churches use, and how I might work to improve those processes. At Wesley, we have a task force which meets tonight that has been addressing the discipleship process for about 2 years now. My conversation with Steve Rankin (who has written a book on discipleship) last week was most helpful and has motivated me to apply more energy to this area of church life. I could see partnering with Steve, and perhaps Bishop Wilke to make a wider implementation of solid discipleship processes across the United Methodist connection. One insight I had from our recent ride is that “you have to be out front to lead”, as I was the trailing bike on the ride, and with no voice communication, I discovered that on a trip like this, a person can only lead from being out front. I think this is true also of discipleship, and one can only lead from being a growing disciple, in all the aspects of following Christ.
Scripture: (from the One Year Bible) Acts 10:24-48
Peter accepts the invitation from the messengers from Cornelius, the centurion, who came to find him in Joppa. He has just had a vision of unclean animals being lowered down from heaven on a sheet. Reaching Ceasarea Peter finds a group of relatives and close friends assembled with Cornelius, waiting for Peter. Peter begins by stating “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.” (verse 28) Peter hears about the vision Cornelius had while praying (verses 30-33) and concludes “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him. (verses 34-35 NASB)
On the fourth Sunday of June, the message I preach from Isaiah will be on the theme of God desiring to share the good news to the world through the people of Israel. This incident recorded in Acts 10 is a great illustration of how this was accomplished through the disciples of Jesus, even as they were all Jewish. Peter needed this vision from God and the powerful events with Cornelius to fully get it. It would then be the apostle Paul whose ministry would be primarily to the gentiles, and with the blessing of Peter and the other disciples.
Also, in August I will address the contribution made by the Pentecostal and Charismatic branch of the church during my series on “The Christian Family Tree”. This event, with its experience of God’s direct leading and speaking to Peter and Cornelius illustrates the emphasis of Pentecostal folks today.
Lord, I desire to be led by your Holy Spirit today and every day to take your Word to all people. You have given me ideas and inspiration. I ask that today as I work at the church office on sermon prep and Bible study planning, you would guide my thoughts and actions to expand your kingdom on earth through the life of Wesley United Methodist Church.
I awoke to an incessant beeping coming from the laundry room where the keypad for our security system is installed. The system status report stated that “the battery is not fully charged”. It will be quiet now for 4 hours. After 6 ½ hours of sleep, my battery is not fully charged, but I am up and eager to study, write, pray and work.
Steve and I returned at 5:15 pm yesterday from our four-day motorcycle trip through Missouri, Kansas and Colorado. We had nothing to do but ride. Travelling 1,969.2 miles in four days was challenging and rewarding. I hope to write up a trip log recording all the towns we stopped in and the things we saw and did. I found the song “Standing on the Promises” repeating in my mind often during the repetitive hours of riding. I also was thinking a lot about discipleship, the processes that churches use, and how I might work to improve those processes. At Wesley, we have a task force which meets tonight that has been addressing the discipleship process for about 2 years now. My conversation with Steve Rankin (who has written a book on discipleship) last week was most helpful and has motivated me to apply more energy to this area of church life. I could see partnering with Steve, and perhaps Bishop Wilke to make a wider implementation of solid discipleship processes across the United Methodist connection. One insight I had from our recent ride is that “you have to be out front to lead”, as I was the trailing bike on the ride, and with no voice communication, I discovered that on a trip like this, a person can only lead from being out front. I think this is true also of discipleship, and one can only lead from being a growing disciple, in all the aspects of following Christ.
Scripture: (from the One Year Bible) Acts 10:24-48
Peter accepts the invitation from the messengers from Cornelius, the centurion, who came to find him in Joppa. He has just had a vision of unclean animals being lowered down from heaven on a sheet. Reaching Ceasarea Peter finds a group of relatives and close friends assembled with Cornelius, waiting for Peter. Peter begins by stating “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.” (verse 28) Peter hears about the vision Cornelius had while praying (verses 30-33) and concludes “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him. (verses 34-35 NASB)
On the fourth Sunday of June, the message I preach from Isaiah will be on the theme of God desiring to share the good news to the world through the people of Israel. This incident recorded in Acts 10 is a great illustration of how this was accomplished through the disciples of Jesus, even as they were all Jewish. Peter needed this vision from God and the powerful events with Cornelius to fully get it. It would then be the apostle Paul whose ministry would be primarily to the gentiles, and with the blessing of Peter and the other disciples.
Also, in August I will address the contribution made by the Pentecostal and Charismatic branch of the church during my series on “The Christian Family Tree”. This event, with its experience of God’s direct leading and speaking to Peter and Cornelius illustrates the emphasis of Pentecostal folks today.
Lord, I desire to be led by your Holy Spirit today and every day to take your Word to all people. You have given me ideas and inspiration. I ask that today as I work at the church office on sermon prep and Bible study planning, you would guide my thoughts and actions to expand your kingdom on earth through the life of Wesley United Methodist Church.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
June 12, 2011
6-12-11 Sunday, 5:06 am Springfield, 66 degrees.
Finally a morning that is a little cooler. Today Steve and I leave for our motorcycle trip after church. We will reach Concordia, Kansas for dinner at his mom’s house, and on Monday spend the night in Walden, Colorado. From there we will head south through Pueblo to Garden City, and then on Wednesday the long drive across Kansas and back to Springfield in time for me to teach the Isaiah Bible Study. I am looking forward to this long, hard ride and all that goes with it.
Isaiah 52
The rulers of the people howl in captivity. God heard their cry long ago in Egypt. Now in Babylon all day long His name is despised. Verse 6: “Therefore my people shall know my name; therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here am I.” God revealing Himself to His people as the great I am. It is so easy for followers of God to get discouraged when circumstances do not proceed in a favorable fashion. National defeat, personal loss, natural disasters all contribute to the illusion that God either is powerless or has abandoned us.
There was about 50 years in which the Assyrian power waned, and the leaders of Judah developed a false sense of security even as they strayed from directly following God. When the Babylonians finally hauled them off into captivity, there was incredible anguish and confusion. This must have been some of the feelings of the German people after the horrible defeat of World War I and the strict imposition of the treaty of Versailles. Currently here in the U.S.A. we are in a period of relative security; however the economic downturn, unemployment and the crisis in the housing market are making for tough times across the country.
Verse 7: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘your God reigns.” I will be in the mountains of Colorado tomorrow, and today I have the privilege of announcing peace, the good news that “our God reigns”.
Holy God, You reign in Zion, in all the earth and throughout the universe. In my life, Lord, be glorified today. May the words of my mouth, my understanding compassion, my pastoral presence affirm your reign in my life, your presence in the faith community, and your hope for the future as your kingdom comes, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen!
Finally a morning that is a little cooler. Today Steve and I leave for our motorcycle trip after church. We will reach Concordia, Kansas for dinner at his mom’s house, and on Monday spend the night in Walden, Colorado. From there we will head south through Pueblo to Garden City, and then on Wednesday the long drive across Kansas and back to Springfield in time for me to teach the Isaiah Bible Study. I am looking forward to this long, hard ride and all that goes with it.
Isaiah 52
The rulers of the people howl in captivity. God heard their cry long ago in Egypt. Now in Babylon all day long His name is despised. Verse 6: “Therefore my people shall know my name; therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here am I.” God revealing Himself to His people as the great I am. It is so easy for followers of God to get discouraged when circumstances do not proceed in a favorable fashion. National defeat, personal loss, natural disasters all contribute to the illusion that God either is powerless or has abandoned us.
There was about 50 years in which the Assyrian power waned, and the leaders of Judah developed a false sense of security even as they strayed from directly following God. When the Babylonians finally hauled them off into captivity, there was incredible anguish and confusion. This must have been some of the feelings of the German people after the horrible defeat of World War I and the strict imposition of the treaty of Versailles. Currently here in the U.S.A. we are in a period of relative security; however the economic downturn, unemployment and the crisis in the housing market are making for tough times across the country.
Verse 7: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘your God reigns.” I will be in the mountains of Colorado tomorrow, and today I have the privilege of announcing peace, the good news that “our God reigns”.
Holy God, You reign in Zion, in all the earth and throughout the universe. In my life, Lord, be glorified today. May the words of my mouth, my understanding compassion, my pastoral presence affirm your reign in my life, your presence in the faith community, and your hope for the future as your kingdom comes, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
June 11, 2011
6-11-11 Saturday, 6:35 am Springfield, 71 degrees
The weather has been very consistent these last few days, with the morning low around 71, and the afternoon high around 91. As Steve and I plan to leave on our 4-day trip tomorrow afternoon, it appears that the weather will be favorable for our ride through Kansas and Colorado. This morning we will meet for breakfast and final planning. Yesterday I made good progress in the role of pastor, working with focus and purpose all day. I had a great conversation with Steve Rankin, (Chaplain at SMU in Dallas) about the process of discipleship in a congregation, and the book which he has written along with the pilot program developing at Lover’s Lane UMC in Dallas. I proposed that we might use his book for our spring life group series.
Isaiah 53
“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” This chapter begins with these two questions, and then throughout its 12 verses describes the suffering servant: nothing noteworthy about his appearance (verse 2); despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. (verse 3) Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases (verse 4). But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. (verse 5) And all we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way. And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (verse 6)
Here in this one chapter there is such a richness of prophecy concerning Jesus. Reading and copying these verses reminds me of how in his day the religious people did not recognize who Jesus was, they disregarded him, rejected him, hurt him, and finally killed him. Now, 2000 years later, I am a beneficiary of his suffering and privileged to share the good news that he has died for me and for everyone who by grace through faith recognizes that He is the son of God.
Guide me today, most precious Lord, as I live a servant life, following in your footsteps. Not my will, but your will be done in my life, and through me that others will know the reality of your salvation, and the sweet eternal fellowship of your love.
The weather has been very consistent these last few days, with the morning low around 71, and the afternoon high around 91. As Steve and I plan to leave on our 4-day trip tomorrow afternoon, it appears that the weather will be favorable for our ride through Kansas and Colorado. This morning we will meet for breakfast and final planning. Yesterday I made good progress in the role of pastor, working with focus and purpose all day. I had a great conversation with Steve Rankin, (Chaplain at SMU in Dallas) about the process of discipleship in a congregation, and the book which he has written along with the pilot program developing at Lover’s Lane UMC in Dallas. I proposed that we might use his book for our spring life group series.
Isaiah 53
“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” This chapter begins with these two questions, and then throughout its 12 verses describes the suffering servant: nothing noteworthy about his appearance (verse 2); despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. (verse 3) Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases (verse 4). But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. (verse 5) And all we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way. And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (verse 6)
Here in this one chapter there is such a richness of prophecy concerning Jesus. Reading and copying these verses reminds me of how in his day the religious people did not recognize who Jesus was, they disregarded him, rejected him, hurt him, and finally killed him. Now, 2000 years later, I am a beneficiary of his suffering and privileged to share the good news that he has died for me and for everyone who by grace through faith recognizes that He is the son of God.
Guide me today, most precious Lord, as I live a servant life, following in your footsteps. Not my will, but your will be done in my life, and through me that others will know the reality of your salvation, and the sweet eternal fellowship of your love.
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