This is one of those mornings in which I was awake at 3:00, and tossed and turned until 4:00 when I got up. Today is odd in that it is my sabbath, and I will be working, with our HCI coach Doug Anderson – 4:30 meeting, dinner, 7:00 meeting. I need to go to the office and get the board of ordained ministry packet to review sermon and worship tapes submitted by candidates for the ordained ministry. I have some flexible time through the day. I will begin with scripture and prayer, and then plan my day.
Matthew 20
Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven using a parable of a landowner who hired men to work. The first group he hired early, to work for a denarius (the equivalent of a day’s wages). He went out to hire men again at 9, at noon and at 3 pm and hired additional men. He went out at the 11th hour (5 pm) and finding men unemployed he asked why, to which they replied “because no one hired us”, and he employed them to work in his vineyard. At the end of the day he settled up, starting with the last ones hired to whom he paid a denarius. When the ones hired early in the day were paid a denarius they grumbled at the landlord, saying they had borne the burden during the scorching heat of the day. The landowner responded “is your eye envious because I am generous?” (Verse 15, 16) Jesus concluded this teaching by saying “thus the last shall be first, and the first last.”
This parable is hard to swallow for people who have been serving God all their lives. It reminds me of the parable of the prodigal son. The generosity of God can result in the envy and ill will of people who are religious or legalistic. There is joy in doing God’s will, in walking with Him throughout one’s life. The true servant of God is always looking to include more people in the kingdom and in the work of God. The vision of Wesley is to reach those who are spiritually asleep in our mission field. God is generous, and the sons and daughters of God must extend that generosity to all, especially those who are included later in the day.
Guide me today Lord as I labor in your vineyard. Increase my generosity as an extension of your character, living in me.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
January 29, 2012
My message today is designed to provide hope and assurance that God works all things together for good for those who love God, that God is present always, and that God’s love will prevail. I feel a great weight of responsibility for this message, as it is critical for a confident walk with God. I saw the group Jars of Clay in concert on Monday night at First UMC, Richardson. They take their name from Paul’s writings in II Cor 4:16-18:
Having stated that “we have this treasure in clay jars” the Apostle Paul wrote from his prison cell – “We do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” God’s presence shines through the cracks of our broken lives.
Inspire my words, fill my mind with Your thoughts, guide me countenance that it may reflect Your glory today, most holy, present, prevailing Lord.
Having stated that “we have this treasure in clay jars” the Apostle Paul wrote from his prison cell – “We do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” God’s presence shines through the cracks of our broken lives.
Inspire my words, fill my mind with Your thoughts, guide me countenance that it may reflect Your glory today, most holy, present, prevailing Lord.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
January 28, 2012
The sun is just rising on a seasonably cold morning. My heart is warm as I begin this day with gratitude to God for my marriage, my ministry and my life. Twenty nine years ago today we were in Omaha, preparing to be married. Audrey and I went out last night to celebrate with dinner and a double feature at the movies. We paid twice and saw two movies – Man on a Ledge and Red Tails. We enjoyed them both.
Today I will prepare for the next several days. In addition to worship tomorrow, I will lead a session of igniting leaders at 4:30 preceded by the first Staff Parish meeting of the year. Both of these will be assisted by Doug Anderson our HCI coach. On Monday he will help us with our Sunday Morning task force and the first meeting of the Building Study Committee. Today I will also prepare for the Board of Ordained Ministry interviews coming up this week. I have written materials and video worship sermons submitted by candidates to review. I will run today and get to bed early.
Revelation 21-22
It is so exciting for me to read the last two chapters of the Bible. The apostle John writes about his vision of the new heaven and the new earth, and the holy city, New Jerusalem coming down. The angel showed him “the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit…” (Rev 22:1-2)
As I wrap us this sermon series on the questions of Why, my goal is to inspire and to instill hope in the hearers that indeed the love of God prevails. Hope is such a key ingredient for this human life. “Hope gives us the courage to confront our circumstances, and the capacity to surmount them.” (Dr. Jerome Groopman in The Anatomy of Hope, quoted by Hamilton, p. 97) Without hope, life is fruitless. Without hope, people jump off buildings, ruin their marriages, get high on drugs. There are two kinds of hope – hope for this life, and hope for eternity.
The writer of Revelation, John the Apostle, is writing during a time in which Christians were being fiercely persecuted, tortured, fed to the lions, burned to death. To be a Christian was not to anticipate a healthy, respectable prosperous life in the here and now. So the book of Revelation was a tool to inspire followers of Christ to hold on, to preserver, and to anticipate heaven with the hope that God triumphs over evil and people who have trusted in Christ for salvation will have their good deeds rewarded.
Guide me holy Lord as I preach and teach and inspire in the next few days. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness!
Today I will prepare for the next several days. In addition to worship tomorrow, I will lead a session of igniting leaders at 4:30 preceded by the first Staff Parish meeting of the year. Both of these will be assisted by Doug Anderson our HCI coach. On Monday he will help us with our Sunday Morning task force and the first meeting of the Building Study Committee. Today I will also prepare for the Board of Ordained Ministry interviews coming up this week. I have written materials and video worship sermons submitted by candidates to review. I will run today and get to bed early.
Revelation 21-22
It is so exciting for me to read the last two chapters of the Bible. The apostle John writes about his vision of the new heaven and the new earth, and the holy city, New Jerusalem coming down. The angel showed him “the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit…” (Rev 22:1-2)
As I wrap us this sermon series on the questions of Why, my goal is to inspire and to instill hope in the hearers that indeed the love of God prevails. Hope is such a key ingredient for this human life. “Hope gives us the courage to confront our circumstances, and the capacity to surmount them.” (Dr. Jerome Groopman in The Anatomy of Hope, quoted by Hamilton, p. 97) Without hope, life is fruitless. Without hope, people jump off buildings, ruin their marriages, get high on drugs. There are two kinds of hope – hope for this life, and hope for eternity.
The writer of Revelation, John the Apostle, is writing during a time in which Christians were being fiercely persecuted, tortured, fed to the lions, burned to death. To be a Christian was not to anticipate a healthy, respectable prosperous life in the here and now. So the book of Revelation was a tool to inspire followers of Christ to hold on, to preserver, and to anticipate heaven with the hope that God triumphs over evil and people who have trusted in Christ for salvation will have their good deeds rewarded.
Guide me holy Lord as I preach and teach and inspire in the next few days. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness!
Friday, January 27, 2012
January 27, 2012
This morning I return to a more normal routine, most Holy Lord. I have the privilege and the time to think and write an inspiring sermon about Your love never failing. The congregation called Wesley in Springfield is a great expression of your body. There is ample opportunity to pursue your will and purposes through the pastoral office into which You have placed me. Guide me this morning as I read scripture, meditate and seek Your face. Thank you for the opportunity to return to my roots in Richardson, Texas. Guide me as I provide a healthy, spiritual context for the five year-olds of today and tomorrow.
It is good to be back home. The Large Church event in Dallas was well worth attending. I should summarize what I gleaned. Here is a flow of consciousness, to be organized later: Gratitude is so important for the next gift! We need to get out of the church business. Returning to a church I belonged to 52 years ago, experiencing its fruitfulness reminded me of children and future. The church doesn’t need a mission, the church is the mission. Aiming at Christian Maturity – defining what a mature disciple is and designing the pathway. Inspire hearers through preaching. Taking care of the balance of work and family is so important. Paying attention to the seasons of a long pastorate – I can do some thinking and writing in this area. The culture of an organization is so important – it involves the people but is so much more. Relationships endure over time – Steve Rankin, Mark Stamm, Steve Wood (Mt. Pisgah), Bob Farr, Jon Spalding. What I had hoped to glean: specific, technical aspects of pastoring the large church – for me that would be staffing, conflict, fruitful growth, stewardship. As I review this paragraph, I conclude that I got what I needed, and the way it came was not in technical solutions, but in overall experience. In conversation I also gained some insights on possible next steps for a particular situation at Wesley.
Romans 8 (Scripture for Sunday’s sermon)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” (Verse 1) This is a powerful statement of comfort and promise for the lives of Jesus’ disciples. I have been blessed by this statement since 1974 when I first experienced real forgiveness, and the shedding of guilt and condemnation. This is a step that every victorious child of God must experience and live. Otherwise life is a burden weighed down by guilt.
On Sunday my goal is to provide hope and substance to the question – “Will God’s love prevail?” I will conclude with the powerful affirmation of verses 38 and 39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Amen! Hallelujah! Preach it! Teach it! Live it!
It is good to be back home. The Large Church event in Dallas was well worth attending. I should summarize what I gleaned. Here is a flow of consciousness, to be organized later: Gratitude is so important for the next gift! We need to get out of the church business. Returning to a church I belonged to 52 years ago, experiencing its fruitfulness reminded me of children and future. The church doesn’t need a mission, the church is the mission. Aiming at Christian Maturity – defining what a mature disciple is and designing the pathway. Inspire hearers through preaching. Taking care of the balance of work and family is so important. Paying attention to the seasons of a long pastorate – I can do some thinking and writing in this area. The culture of an organization is so important – it involves the people but is so much more. Relationships endure over time – Steve Rankin, Mark Stamm, Steve Wood (Mt. Pisgah), Bob Farr, Jon Spalding. What I had hoped to glean: specific, technical aspects of pastoring the large church – for me that would be staffing, conflict, fruitful growth, stewardship. As I review this paragraph, I conclude that I got what I needed, and the way it came was not in technical solutions, but in overall experience. In conversation I also gained some insights on possible next steps for a particular situation at Wesley.
Romans 8 (Scripture for Sunday’s sermon)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” (Verse 1) This is a powerful statement of comfort and promise for the lives of Jesus’ disciples. I have been blessed by this statement since 1974 when I first experienced real forgiveness, and the shedding of guilt and condemnation. This is a step that every victorious child of God must experience and live. Otherwise life is a burden weighed down by guilt.
On Sunday my goal is to provide hope and substance to the question – “Will God’s love prevail?” I will conclude with the powerful affirmation of verses 38 and 39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Amen! Hallelujah! Preach it! Teach it! Live it!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
January 26, 2012
Good sessions and conversations yesterday here at the “Large Church Initiative” in Richardson, Texas. I was a preparatory member of the host church from 1960-1962. The speakers, worship services, and informal meal conversations have all been fruitful. I will read scripture, pray and write then work out. We depart today, so I will pack up, head to breakfast and then pick up John and Josh for the last two sessions before we drive back to Springfield.
Matthew 19
As Jesus was teaching and healing in the region of Judea beyond the Jordan, Pharisees tested him with the question “is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” Jesus reviews Genesis with them and concludes “what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Verse 6) As the Pharisees pushed him on this point and referred to Moses’ command to issue a certificate of divorce, Jesus responded that this was because the people were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed divorce, and he added that from the beginning it was not so. Jesus then states “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery.” (Verse 9) This is a strong and hard statement. I believe that its application involves the motivation for divorce and the situation. Newt Gingrich divorced his second wife to marry his mistress of 8 years. This is a clear case of violating the command of Jesus. For many people, who find themselves divorced, I do not think that this is a blanket condemnation of remarriage.
Jesus blesses little children who are brought to him, even though his disciples try to run interference. He says “let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” He laid his hands on them and then departed. Given that I attended this church in Richardson from ages 4-6, I was a little child right here. I was blessed by the church and those who loved Jesus as they served in children’s ministries. There are many children at Wesley, and many babies being born. I want to always be blessing children and leading them to Jesus.
Verses 16-30 involve Jesus’ interaction with a man who wants to have eternal life. It turns out he is a young man who owns many possessions, and when Jesus tells him to sell all he has and give the proceeds to the poor, the man went away grieving. Jesus turned to his disciples and said “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Peter pointed out that the disciples had left everything to follow him, and Jesus affirmed them stating that “you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” (Verses 28b-30)
Lord, be my guide today as I am a steward of your Gospel message. Use me to bless children, to encourage strong and healthy marriages, and to live the example of wise stewardship of possessions. Bless my adult children as they pursue your will in their lives. Bless my dear wife of 29 years as she lives for you and blesses many.
Matthew 19
As Jesus was teaching and healing in the region of Judea beyond the Jordan, Pharisees tested him with the question “is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” Jesus reviews Genesis with them and concludes “what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Verse 6) As the Pharisees pushed him on this point and referred to Moses’ command to issue a certificate of divorce, Jesus responded that this was because the people were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed divorce, and he added that from the beginning it was not so. Jesus then states “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery.” (Verse 9) This is a strong and hard statement. I believe that its application involves the motivation for divorce and the situation. Newt Gingrich divorced his second wife to marry his mistress of 8 years. This is a clear case of violating the command of Jesus. For many people, who find themselves divorced, I do not think that this is a blanket condemnation of remarriage.
Jesus blesses little children who are brought to him, even though his disciples try to run interference. He says “let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” He laid his hands on them and then departed. Given that I attended this church in Richardson from ages 4-6, I was a little child right here. I was blessed by the church and those who loved Jesus as they served in children’s ministries. There are many children at Wesley, and many babies being born. I want to always be blessing children and leading them to Jesus.
Verses 16-30 involve Jesus’ interaction with a man who wants to have eternal life. It turns out he is a young man who owns many possessions, and when Jesus tells him to sell all he has and give the proceeds to the poor, the man went away grieving. Jesus turned to his disciples and said “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Peter pointed out that the disciples had left everything to follow him, and Jesus affirmed them stating that “you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” (Verses 28b-30)
Lord, be my guide today as I am a steward of your Gospel message. Use me to bless children, to encourage strong and healthy marriages, and to live the example of wise stewardship of possessions. Bless my adult children as they pursue your will in their lives. Bless my dear wife of 29 years as she lives for you and blesses many.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
January 25, 2012
86 years ago today my mother was born in Los Angeles. She died at the age of 82 of COPD, and her remains are in a mausoleum next to my father’s remains. Before realizing today’s date, I was picturing her in her final weeks as she attended my father’s funeral, and then suffered through her last days of nursing home care, being transported from St. Louis to Springfield, and then the end. I am reading Billy Graham’s Nearing Home and am gaining much from his insights.
This “Large Church Initiative” conference is going well. Yesterday we heard Michael Slaughter from Ginghamsburg and Clayton Oliphint from the host church describe their ministries. I had a brief word with Slaughter afterwards about our use of his resources for “Change the World.” In the morning I drove to the SMU campus and attended Morning Prayers with Communion led by Steve Rankin. There I met Mark Stamm, who was a classmate in Seminary at Asbury in 1980. He teaches worship at Perkins Seminary, and has published on the sacraments. Steve and I went to breakfast where we discussed his recently published book Aiming at Maturity. We also caught up on our families and ministries.
I ate lunch with three Canadian pastors, and had great conversation about the impact of the union in 1925 which eliminated the Methodist church and created the United Church of Canada. We talked about its structure, governance, deployment of pastors, etc. I had dinner with the pastor of Mt. Pisgah UMC in Atlanta, with whom I have also served on the Asbury Alumni Council.
Matthew 18
This chapter of the Gospel includes teaching about true greatness, using a child as an example. Jesus says that whoever becomes humble like a child will be great in the kingdom of heaven. He continues to warn against causing anyone to stumble, which leads him into discussing God’s attention to lost sheep (which should also be our attention!)
In verses 15-20 Jesus teaches what to do if someone in the church sins against you. I often apply this formula, and I think it is the healthiest way to deal with conflict and wrongdoing. Jesus tells us that if someone sins against us, we should go directly and privately to that person and “point out the fault.” If the person listens to you, you have “regained that one.” If the person will not listen to you, take two or three with you, and if they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, excommunicate that one. There is much wisdom and practical application in this paragraph.
This chapter concludes with Jesus responding to Peter’s question about forgiveness. He tells Peter to forgive seven times seven (or in other versions 77 times.) Repeated forgiveness is the pattern, and Jesus illustrates this with the parable of the unforgiving servant.
Guide me today Lord as I attend the conference, listen to good speakers, worship you, fellowship with other church leaders and pursue the pathway to fruitfulness through humble service.
This “Large Church Initiative” conference is going well. Yesterday we heard Michael Slaughter from Ginghamsburg and Clayton Oliphint from the host church describe their ministries. I had a brief word with Slaughter afterwards about our use of his resources for “Change the World.” In the morning I drove to the SMU campus and attended Morning Prayers with Communion led by Steve Rankin. There I met Mark Stamm, who was a classmate in Seminary at Asbury in 1980. He teaches worship at Perkins Seminary, and has published on the sacraments. Steve and I went to breakfast where we discussed his recently published book Aiming at Maturity. We also caught up on our families and ministries.
I ate lunch with three Canadian pastors, and had great conversation about the impact of the union in 1925 which eliminated the Methodist church and created the United Church of Canada. We talked about its structure, governance, deployment of pastors, etc. I had dinner with the pastor of Mt. Pisgah UMC in Atlanta, with whom I have also served on the Asbury Alumni Council.
Matthew 18
This chapter of the Gospel includes teaching about true greatness, using a child as an example. Jesus says that whoever becomes humble like a child will be great in the kingdom of heaven. He continues to warn against causing anyone to stumble, which leads him into discussing God’s attention to lost sheep (which should also be our attention!)
In verses 15-20 Jesus teaches what to do if someone in the church sins against you. I often apply this formula, and I think it is the healthiest way to deal with conflict and wrongdoing. Jesus tells us that if someone sins against us, we should go directly and privately to that person and “point out the fault.” If the person listens to you, you have “regained that one.” If the person will not listen to you, take two or three with you, and if they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, excommunicate that one. There is much wisdom and practical application in this paragraph.
This chapter concludes with Jesus responding to Peter’s question about forgiveness. He tells Peter to forgive seven times seven (or in other versions 77 times.) Repeated forgiveness is the pattern, and Jesus illustrates this with the parable of the unforgiving servant.
Guide me today Lord as I attend the conference, listen to good speakers, worship you, fellowship with other church leaders and pursue the pathway to fruitfulness through humble service.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
January 24, 2012
This morning I will attend chapel at 8:00 in the Perkins chapel on the SMU campus and then breakfast with Steve Rankin. The remainder of the day will be spent with this Large Church Initiative seminar. I have scheduled a break in the afternoon. Last night we heard 3 bands in concert, Jars of Clay capping the night. We left at 9:25, with apparently much more to come.
Matthew 17
Jesus leads Peter, James and John up a high mountain. He was transfigured and spoke with Moses and Elijah. God spoke from a bright cloud saying “this is my son, the beloved, with him I am well pleased, listen to him.” Peter had been offering to build three dwellings there. After the voice spoke, Jesus was alone, and told the three not to disclose this to anyone until after “the son of man has been raised from the dead.”
I love this account of the transfiguration. It is a unique occurrence, taking the disciples completely by surprise. It was not repeated. They wanted to do something. Jesus apparently simply wanted them to experience it, which validated his ministry with the giver of the law and the greatest prophet, and the voice from heaven.
Guide me today, most holy Lord as I walk through the hours and take in everything you have for me today. You are God, I am your servant.
Matthew 17
Jesus leads Peter, James and John up a high mountain. He was transfigured and spoke with Moses and Elijah. God spoke from a bright cloud saying “this is my son, the beloved, with him I am well pleased, listen to him.” Peter had been offering to build three dwellings there. After the voice spoke, Jesus was alone, and told the three not to disclose this to anyone until after “the son of man has been raised from the dead.”
I love this account of the transfiguration. It is a unique occurrence, taking the disciples completely by surprise. It was not repeated. They wanted to do something. Jesus apparently simply wanted them to experience it, which validated his ministry with the giver of the law and the greatest prophet, and the voice from heaven.
Guide me today, most holy Lord as I walk through the hours and take in everything you have for me today. You are God, I am your servant.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)