7-31-11 Sunday, 5:28 am Springfield, 77 degrees, lightening.
I am looking forward to this morning of worship. Matt will be preaching in the 3 sanctuary services, I will be in those services, and I will be preaching in the gym service, attending it from start to finish. As we work on discerning a better way for Sunday morning’s schedule, we are experimenting with 2 preachers each Sunday, and will propose a shift in service times to take effect in January. Perhaps only the start time of one of the four services will be changed.
Romans 15
In verse 14 Paul expresses his confidence in the believers in Rome, that they are “full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.” This is the goal of apostles, prophets, pastors and teachers, i.e., the building up of the body of Christ until “we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)
Paul went on to say that his calling was “to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation…” (Verse 20). I was visiting with a pastor named Randy last week who is called to share Christ with “unreached peoples”, and is doing so, and training others to do so in powerful ways.
The mission of Wesley United Methodist Church in Springfield Missouri is “to develop more fruitful disciples of Jesus Christ who worship, care, and serve.” I am thankful to be a pastor of this faith community during these years. Guide me this morning Lord as I lead with faith and the presence of Your Spirit. Use me in unique and creative ways today, Creator of all things.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
July 29, 2011
7-29-11 Friday, 7:18 am Springfield, 76 degrees sunny
David and Danelle arrived last night, as did Audrey. They picked her up at the airport as she was returning from a week away in Baltimore and Lynchburg. In their journey to purchase their first home, they placed a contract on a house in O’Fallon yesterday (unseen yet by Danelle) and it was accepted! Now for the inspections, financing, etc. They will be visiting here until Sunday, and it is so good to see them. Audrey had a great time visiting with her brother’s family and the Rickets’.
Today I will be in and out of the office, with a wedding rehearsal tonight. I will be preaching the same sermon in the gym on our Lutheran roots as I preached last week in the three sanctuary services. Next week I will wrap up this series with a message on the Pentecostal/Charismatic roots, with the emphasis on experience and power in the believer’s life. I have a book by Clare Weakley entitled John Wesley - The Holy Spirit and Power which is her paraphrase of selected writings by Wesley on this topic.
Romans 14
This entire chapter contains instructions about how to live by faith and not judge other believers who have different practices, nor do things that would make other Christians stumble in their walk. The specific issues in Paul’s day were the honoring of special days, and the eating of meat that had been prepared in pagan temples. In verses 1-12 he instructs us not to judge others who are seeking to please God and in their practice they feel led to do or avoid certain things. “Each of us will be accountable to God.”(Verse 12) In verses 13-23 he emphasizes the impact of our choices on other believers, and the importance to live in such a way that someone whose faith is growing will not be confused by what you do in the freedom you experience in Christ. Paul was convinced that all meat is “clean”, and in verse 15 he says “If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love.”
The conclusion stated in verses 22-23 is vital: “The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve.” The content of this chapter led me to make the commitment as I turned 50 to abstain from beverage alcohol for two reasons – first, because of how it would impact other believers, those who struggle with addiction and those who are convinced it is sinful, and second because of the potential impairment to my availability at any time day or night to respond to a pastoral need. Up until the age of 50 I would have a glass of wine occasionally with my wife, and a beer now and then with my pastor buddies. I am convinced that my present approach is healthy, and this chapter of Romans has many practical implications for believers, especially as each person interprets God’s word, and applies it in their specific culture and context.
Guide me Holy Lord as I serve you in this present age, and look forward to the age to come!
David and Danelle arrived last night, as did Audrey. They picked her up at the airport as she was returning from a week away in Baltimore and Lynchburg. In their journey to purchase their first home, they placed a contract on a house in O’Fallon yesterday (unseen yet by Danelle) and it was accepted! Now for the inspections, financing, etc. They will be visiting here until Sunday, and it is so good to see them. Audrey had a great time visiting with her brother’s family and the Rickets’.
Today I will be in and out of the office, with a wedding rehearsal tonight. I will be preaching the same sermon in the gym on our Lutheran roots as I preached last week in the three sanctuary services. Next week I will wrap up this series with a message on the Pentecostal/Charismatic roots, with the emphasis on experience and power in the believer’s life. I have a book by Clare Weakley entitled John Wesley - The Holy Spirit and Power which is her paraphrase of selected writings by Wesley on this topic.
Romans 14
This entire chapter contains instructions about how to live by faith and not judge other believers who have different practices, nor do things that would make other Christians stumble in their walk. The specific issues in Paul’s day were the honoring of special days, and the eating of meat that had been prepared in pagan temples. In verses 1-12 he instructs us not to judge others who are seeking to please God and in their practice they feel led to do or avoid certain things. “Each of us will be accountable to God.”(Verse 12) In verses 13-23 he emphasizes the impact of our choices on other believers, and the importance to live in such a way that someone whose faith is growing will not be confused by what you do in the freedom you experience in Christ. Paul was convinced that all meat is “clean”, and in verse 15 he says “If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love.”
The conclusion stated in verses 22-23 is vital: “The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve.” The content of this chapter led me to make the commitment as I turned 50 to abstain from beverage alcohol for two reasons – first, because of how it would impact other believers, those who struggle with addiction and those who are convinced it is sinful, and second because of the potential impairment to my availability at any time day or night to respond to a pastoral need. Up until the age of 50 I would have a glass of wine occasionally with my wife, and a beer now and then with my pastor buddies. I am convinced that my present approach is healthy, and this chapter of Romans has many practical implications for believers, especially as each person interprets God’s word, and applies it in their specific culture and context.
Guide me Holy Lord as I serve you in this present age, and look forward to the age to come!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
July 28, 2011
7-28-11 Thursday, 5:12 am Springfield, 77 degrees (high yesterday 101).
I am enjoying this hot summer! Yesterday was a very full day of pastoral work, including the hiring of an additional fulltime staff, a precious visit with a family celebrating the birth of their third child (I got to hold the 17 hour-old baby!), correspondence in the afternoon, wedding planning, and the benefit dinner for Danny Smith which went very well, and in which were auctioned off 3 one-hour flights with me. The Cherokee 140 is now back on line, with the small intake manifold leak repaired. Audrey comes home today, and David and Danelle arrive with her tonight for a week-end visit. I will be doing some housecleaning today!
Romans 13
Verses 1-7 describe the subjection that every follower of Christ should observe in relationship to governing authorities, because “there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” The practical outworking of this is summarized in verse 7: “Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” It is one thing to read this section as a citizen of the United States, it is far different to read it as a citizen of a country where the government is directly opposed to Christianity, and the followers of Christ are persecuted, as they were for example in Nazi Germany.
Verses 8-14 contain many practical admonitions: “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another.” (8) “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.” (13) “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” (14)
Today, most Holy Lord, I put on the Lord Jesus Christ. May my actions, thoughts and plans be clothed in the love of Jesus as I make no provision for the flesh, and as I am in subjection to the governing authorities. Guard me from haughtiness and arrogance. Guide my reading, my thinking, my acting, my serving, my leading on this day which is a gift from You.
I am enjoying this hot summer! Yesterday was a very full day of pastoral work, including the hiring of an additional fulltime staff, a precious visit with a family celebrating the birth of their third child (I got to hold the 17 hour-old baby!), correspondence in the afternoon, wedding planning, and the benefit dinner for Danny Smith which went very well, and in which were auctioned off 3 one-hour flights with me. The Cherokee 140 is now back on line, with the small intake manifold leak repaired. Audrey comes home today, and David and Danelle arrive with her tonight for a week-end visit. I will be doing some housecleaning today!
Romans 13
Verses 1-7 describe the subjection that every follower of Christ should observe in relationship to governing authorities, because “there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” The practical outworking of this is summarized in verse 7: “Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” It is one thing to read this section as a citizen of the United States, it is far different to read it as a citizen of a country where the government is directly opposed to Christianity, and the followers of Christ are persecuted, as they were for example in Nazi Germany.
Verses 8-14 contain many practical admonitions: “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another.” (8) “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.” (13) “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” (14)
Today, most Holy Lord, I put on the Lord Jesus Christ. May my actions, thoughts and plans be clothed in the love of Jesus as I make no provision for the flesh, and as I am in subjection to the governing authorities. Guard me from haughtiness and arrogance. Guide my reading, my thinking, my acting, my serving, my leading on this day which is a gift from You.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
July 27, 2011
7-27-11 Wednesday, 6:30 am Springfield, 76 warm degrees.
The Equipping Church by Sue Mallory draws its theme from Ephesians 4:11-12: “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”
As staff we are studying this book, beginning this morning. Mallory has been a church staff person, and has consulted widely with other churches. We at Wesley are already moving in the directions she suggest, and her book will give us even more tangible examples and impetus.
Since the 1970s I have seen the role of pastors and teachers as being to “equip the saints for the work of ministry”, and all along I have recognized how hard it is to equip others and set them to doing the work of ministry, when pastors are spiritually gifted for the work of ministry. If pastors simply do the work of ministry, then 50 – 70 people are the maximum that can be effectively brought to the unity of the faith, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Eph 4:13)
Guide me today Lord in all my serving and equipping. Guard me from doing what I should be equipping others to do. Bless my family members who today are in Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Lynchburg, Virginia
The Equipping Church by Sue Mallory draws its theme from Ephesians 4:11-12: “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”
As staff we are studying this book, beginning this morning. Mallory has been a church staff person, and has consulted widely with other churches. We at Wesley are already moving in the directions she suggest, and her book will give us even more tangible examples and impetus.
Since the 1970s I have seen the role of pastors and teachers as being to “equip the saints for the work of ministry”, and all along I have recognized how hard it is to equip others and set them to doing the work of ministry, when pastors are spiritually gifted for the work of ministry. If pastors simply do the work of ministry, then 50 – 70 people are the maximum that can be effectively brought to the unity of the faith, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Eph 4:13)
Guide me today Lord in all my serving and equipping. Guard me from doing what I should be equipping others to do. Bless my family members who today are in Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Lynchburg, Virginia
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
July 26, 2011
7-26-11 Tuesday, 6:18 am Springfield, 75 muggy degrees
Yesterday I took my nephew fishing at Roaring River State Park. For the first time, I was skunked, no fish to take home from this trout stream. We had a good time, the cloud cover kept the temperature low, and we fished hard for 4 hours. Last evening I read from Bonhoeffer’s Ethics, posthumously compiled from his notes and scraps. I also viewed a documentary about his life, and continued reading the Metaxas biography. I desire to read again The Cost of Discipleship, and compare it to the book Steve Rakin is publishing on growing a mature faith. It has also occurred to me to compare Bonhoeffer and John Wesley on discipleship. I wonder if anyone has published such a comparison?
Today will be a regular day at the office, with staff prayer time, worship planning, administrative tasks, planning and scheduling. I will also read and prepare for the first chapters of The Equipping Church, which we will discuss in tomorrow’s staff meeting. I have a lunch at Millie’s around the topic of the Council of Churches, and their visioning process. I will bring up the topic of Mission Arlington. Tonight I will attend the Springfield Cardinal baseball game with one of our members who loves baseball and whose wife is also out of town.
Romans 12
This is one of my favorite chapters of the New Testament, which I memorized in 1979. Today I read it in light of the life of Bonhoeffer with great application: “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice…(verse 1) “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (verse 10) “Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not.” (verse 14) “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (verse 21) Bonhoeffer presented his body as a sacrifice, in life and in his execution, he wrote Life Together about the body of Christ living together in brotherly love, he blessed his persecutors, making friends with many of the prison guards, and he was not overcome by the evil of the Nazis, but overcame evil with good.
Currently we do not live in an era as conflicted as Germany in the 1930s and 40s. As I look out my window I see a peaceful subdivision on the outskirts of an exceptional city (Springfield) in a delightful area (the Ozarks). I also realize the reality of the unseen struggle between good and evil which can become visible on any given day (such as the killings in Norway last week).
Guide me Holy Lord as I present my body a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to You, which is my spiritual service of worship. Guard me from being conformed to this world, but let me be transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may prove what Your will is, that which is good, and acceptable and perfect. Amen!
Yesterday I took my nephew fishing at Roaring River State Park. For the first time, I was skunked, no fish to take home from this trout stream. We had a good time, the cloud cover kept the temperature low, and we fished hard for 4 hours. Last evening I read from Bonhoeffer’s Ethics, posthumously compiled from his notes and scraps. I also viewed a documentary about his life, and continued reading the Metaxas biography. I desire to read again The Cost of Discipleship, and compare it to the book Steve Rakin is publishing on growing a mature faith. It has also occurred to me to compare Bonhoeffer and John Wesley on discipleship. I wonder if anyone has published such a comparison?
Today will be a regular day at the office, with staff prayer time, worship planning, administrative tasks, planning and scheduling. I will also read and prepare for the first chapters of The Equipping Church, which we will discuss in tomorrow’s staff meeting. I have a lunch at Millie’s around the topic of the Council of Churches, and their visioning process. I will bring up the topic of Mission Arlington. Tonight I will attend the Springfield Cardinal baseball game with one of our members who loves baseball and whose wife is also out of town.
Romans 12
This is one of my favorite chapters of the New Testament, which I memorized in 1979. Today I read it in light of the life of Bonhoeffer with great application: “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice…(verse 1) “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (verse 10) “Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not.” (verse 14) “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (verse 21) Bonhoeffer presented his body as a sacrifice, in life and in his execution, he wrote Life Together about the body of Christ living together in brotherly love, he blessed his persecutors, making friends with many of the prison guards, and he was not overcome by the evil of the Nazis, but overcame evil with good.
Currently we do not live in an era as conflicted as Germany in the 1930s and 40s. As I look out my window I see a peaceful subdivision on the outskirts of an exceptional city (Springfield) in a delightful area (the Ozarks). I also realize the reality of the unseen struggle between good and evil which can become visible on any given day (such as the killings in Norway last week).
Guide me Holy Lord as I present my body a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to You, which is my spiritual service of worship. Guard me from being conformed to this world, but let me be transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may prove what Your will is, that which is good, and acceptable and perfect. Amen!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
July 24, 2011
7-24-11 Sunday, 5:34 am Springfield, 78 degrees, last quarter moon and morning star bright overhead.
I am looking forward to this morning. The house is quiet, and my heart is stilled before God. Due to the tragic 92 deaths in Norway at the hand of a 32 year-old I have been reading about the history and people of Norway. Its population (4.9 million) is about a million less than the population of Missouri. It officially remained neutral during WW I and II, but suffered much in both wars, being occupied for 5 years by the Nazis.
Last night at 10 o’clock I took a collect call from the Greene County jail. My homeless friend Skip has been there for a couple of weeks, and read me something he had written yesterday, about playing catch when he was a kid with another kid who turned out to be Satan. He has struggled with drugs, addictions, and crime all his life. I will write him today, and visit him on Friday evening.
As I was working on my sermon yesterday I developed a real excitement, a passion for the three applications – read your Bible, salvation by grace through faith, and love the church, risking all to reform it. My challenge today (as it was last week) is to cover the historical material and have enough time to develop the personal application points.
Ephesians 2:4-10
“For we are his workmanship (poema) created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Verse 10) This section of scripture (Eph 2:4-10) is packed with richness and meaning. It is not too long to be read at once, but even this 10th verse has so much in it that I could chew on it all day and not exhaust its spiritual substance.
Bonhoeffer, writing in Life Together comments on how much is too much scripture to be read. “Not only the young Christian but also the adult Christian will complain that the Scripture reading is often too long for him and that much therein he does not understand. To this it must be said that for the mature Christian every Scripture reading will be ‘too long,’ even the shortest one. What does this mean? The Scripture is a whole and every word, every sentence possesses such multiple relationships with the whole that it is impossible always to keep the whole in view when listening to details. It becomes apparent, therefore, that the whole of Scripture and hence every passage in it as well far surpasses our understanding. It is good for us to be daily reminded of this fact, which again points to Jesus Christ himself…”
Guide me Holy Lord today as I point to You, through the scripture, Luther, Bonhoeffer and my own life experiences. May your Holy Spirit be preparing hearers throughout the morning to experience You in a fresh, new way today.
I am looking forward to this morning. The house is quiet, and my heart is stilled before God. Due to the tragic 92 deaths in Norway at the hand of a 32 year-old I have been reading about the history and people of Norway. Its population (4.9 million) is about a million less than the population of Missouri. It officially remained neutral during WW I and II, but suffered much in both wars, being occupied for 5 years by the Nazis.
Last night at 10 o’clock I took a collect call from the Greene County jail. My homeless friend Skip has been there for a couple of weeks, and read me something he had written yesterday, about playing catch when he was a kid with another kid who turned out to be Satan. He has struggled with drugs, addictions, and crime all his life. I will write him today, and visit him on Friday evening.
As I was working on my sermon yesterday I developed a real excitement, a passion for the three applications – read your Bible, salvation by grace through faith, and love the church, risking all to reform it. My challenge today (as it was last week) is to cover the historical material and have enough time to develop the personal application points.
Ephesians 2:4-10
“For we are his workmanship (poema) created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Verse 10) This section of scripture (Eph 2:4-10) is packed with richness and meaning. It is not too long to be read at once, but even this 10th verse has so much in it that I could chew on it all day and not exhaust its spiritual substance.
Bonhoeffer, writing in Life Together comments on how much is too much scripture to be read. “Not only the young Christian but also the adult Christian will complain that the Scripture reading is often too long for him and that much therein he does not understand. To this it must be said that for the mature Christian every Scripture reading will be ‘too long,’ even the shortest one. What does this mean? The Scripture is a whole and every word, every sentence possesses such multiple relationships with the whole that it is impossible always to keep the whole in view when listening to details. It becomes apparent, therefore, that the whole of Scripture and hence every passage in it as well far surpasses our understanding. It is good for us to be daily reminded of this fact, which again points to Jesus Christ himself…”
Guide me Holy Lord today as I point to You, through the scripture, Luther, Bonhoeffer and my own life experiences. May your Holy Spirit be preparing hearers throughout the morning to experience You in a fresh, new way today.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
July 23, 2011
7-23-11 Saturday, 6:56 am Springfield, 78 degrees.
Romans 10
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart … that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (8-10)
This is one of the most basic and clear statements of how a person responds to God’s offer, by confessing and believing. It almost seems too simple, and has been minimized by some.
My message tomorrow reviews the contribution made by Martin Luther, including the primacy of the Bible, and the simple profound truth of salvation by grace through faith. The United Methodist Church, now 227 years old at times has strayed from these simple yet profound aspects. As a pastor I am glad to be preaching the simple and profound truths, with the goal of increasing the number and the fruitfulness of disciples of Jesus Christ in 2011 and beyond.
10:45 am – Home from early morning at Wesley.
I attended the United Methodist Men’s monthly breakfast and heard a great talk by Matt Kerner. He shared a little of his story and the details of reaching college-aged people with emphasis in “connect, grow, and worship” (three aspects of the “develop” in the Wesley mission statement). He defined four types of relationships college age students form: social (frequency), task oriented, spiritual (shared values) and meaningful (long duration). Our goal is to provide the context and encouragement for these relationships to by shaped around Christ, which transforms a person’s life forever.
Guide us Lord as we serve You in this generation, as Martin Luther did in his, John Wesley in his, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his. May my days and nights have a contemporary impact, and through writing and relationships impact generations to come.
Romans 10
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart … that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (8-10)
This is one of the most basic and clear statements of how a person responds to God’s offer, by confessing and believing. It almost seems too simple, and has been minimized by some.
My message tomorrow reviews the contribution made by Martin Luther, including the primacy of the Bible, and the simple profound truth of salvation by grace through faith. The United Methodist Church, now 227 years old at times has strayed from these simple yet profound aspects. As a pastor I am glad to be preaching the simple and profound truths, with the goal of increasing the number and the fruitfulness of disciples of Jesus Christ in 2011 and beyond.
10:45 am – Home from early morning at Wesley.
I attended the United Methodist Men’s monthly breakfast and heard a great talk by Matt Kerner. He shared a little of his story and the details of reaching college-aged people with emphasis in “connect, grow, and worship” (three aspects of the “develop” in the Wesley mission statement). He defined four types of relationships college age students form: social (frequency), task oriented, spiritual (shared values) and meaningful (long duration). Our goal is to provide the context and encouragement for these relationships to by shaped around Christ, which transforms a person’s life forever.
Guide us Lord as we serve You in this generation, as Martin Luther did in his, John Wesley in his, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his. May my days and nights have a contemporary impact, and through writing and relationships impact generations to come.
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