Today was the Christmas program at Blomkest Baptist Church. I always enjoy the kinds as they go through the Christmas story in one way or another. It would have been good to have been there.
I kind of feel bad it has taken so long to get back to this writing. I would like to say life has just been too busy, which is true but the more exact reason I think is trying to find peace, and a bit of quiet in this life to put thoughts together.
We have been renovating a 105 year old farm house over the past year and a half and that takes a lot of energy. Combined with the kids and the church and the Army Reserve, when a bit of down time comes along I seem to like it to just be down time rather than shifting gears and pressing on.... at least most of the time.
So, I'm so very much looking forward to Christmas, I even had Pre-Advent messages because it is going to be a great Christmas. Then my name get placed into an Army Chaplain School and I miss two weeks of church life. Now, here is the issue.... My life is fairly good in every direction.
I enjoy the church very much. I am hoping for a few changes and maybe some new faces but it is a strong and Christ-centered congregation.
I enjoy the Chaplaincy and the Reserves very much also. It is becoming more demanding of my time and my energy which takes time and energy from the church but it reaches many people who are in crisis or need.
I enjoy my family. Being gone is something a family learns to deal with and mine has done well. I have a couple teenagers so things could be better but I am encouraged to enjoy my time at the church and the Reserves, and welcomed home every time I return.
I have a few friends, some closer than others and enjoy getting together when life allows, which is rare. They accomplish exactly what I expect from them, they make me smile. Each for a different reason but I smile when they are around and that makes life good.
There have been some who have asked me what I want for Christmas... That question always makes me laugh too. What I want I already have. My family and friends though they may not know it, I love them all. The question this year comes to me is "What do I want to keep for Christmas". In my mind, it makes life more pertinent, more fragile and helps to identify that which is most important. And probably most of all.... It identifies how I need to act to make my "Keeps" happen because if I don't act the right way, if I don't act with the right emotion or compassion or understanding.... all I have could be gone by next Christmas.
And the problem of humanity raises it's unregenerate head.......
I live a life of volunteerism... An all volunteer Army, people voluntarily attend church, my friends voluntarily choose to meet with me, and though my family is connected beyond this, we volunteer to love each other through whatever happens.
We have had cats who want to take up residence in our garage. It's out of the wind and there are many places to stay warm and safe. If I started chasing them, trying to get them to leave I would get exhausted and the cats would remain. One by one.... and sometimes two at a time.... we would talk to them with calmness and compassion.... they would come close and allow us to pick them up. We then would walk them to the barn where they should be and show them the food and water and stacks of hay that is theirs for the having.... They haven't returned to the garage. We continue to care for them in the barn.
Peace, Love, Hope and Faith and more are never meant to be what we receive from others but what we are to offer, to give generously to others to keep what we want and need in our lives.
If I can only change a small area of life of which I am involved then my efforts are worth the my energies. Together these efforts may change the world.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Taking Easter Beyond the Comfort Zone!
Ash Wednesday, 2014 and we held a service tonight at the BBC! Whether this is or isn't odd I'm not sure but I believe it was be a good evening!
Saw on Twitter yesterday a guy joking about it being "National Pancake Day". Just 30 seconds earlier I read that pancakes are a traditional meal during Shrovetide...the day and or week before Ash Wednesday....kind of explains it I suppose.
The service had a two fold purpose. First, we are opening our new ministry, The Legacy House for anyone who might be in need of clothing or furniture or kitchen and household supplies and we give these out for no charge! There will be some training and a short tour of the house too.
Second, we are seeking God's power and guidance through the Easter Season.
We are looking to the early church for their example of church growth and kit appears to be basic but not simple. Prayer, fasting and preaching the Gospel!
What bit comes down to is simple though.... seeking God's leading as we look to the future of the BBC! I have asked those in the congregation to commit to prayer and fasting through this season. I have asked them to pray through the time they would normally be doing something else and commit that time to seeking God's direction for the church.
42 days until Easter....the Resurrection Celebration and it is on my heart that God will reveal options for growth to those in contact with the BBC. We will carefully and prayerfully consider all options that come through this time of dedication to God's direction.
As I mentioned during the service this morning, if God can begin His church through the ragged but godly Apostles...he once again can grow and direct His church today! All they really knew was they were empowered to reach the lost and that the Spirit was with them! Today....are we in any different position? I say no! We are exactly in the same place they were when they moved forward with the mission before them! Ok, except for one thing.... they had seen the risen Lord which made the fire burn brightly and intensely in their hearts! Today, too many of the faithful have allowed this fire to burn down to warm ashes.... For a fire to burn it needs fuel, oxygen and heat! For the church to once again burn for Christ it also needs these three things!
FUEL - God's word! We preach the Word of God each week in the BBC! The fuel is there and is ready to be consumed! As a Bible believing and faithful community of Christ, we have the fuel and are ready to set our hearts ablaze!
OXYGEN - By oxygen I am associating the faithful at the BBC with the Apostles in that the oxygen we need to start the fire is the oxygen we receive by leaving the doors to the church and becoming involved with the community and those through the region and world! It really is the air that we breath and the interaction with those we contact that will feed this fire and bring glory to God!
HEAT - The heat I speak of is the heat found in the presence and following of the Holy Spirit. Only He can warm our hearts for the lost and confused in the world. Only the Spirit can turn our hearts in to a signal fire for the world to see and know that God is present and alive! The Spirit will provide the heat for our ministry and mission.
HOW????
Starting today we are committed to 42 days of fasting and prayer for the ministry and glory of God in the BBC! Today I need each person to take another step of faith and give 42 seconds or minutes or hours of prayer for the ministry of the BBC during this Easter season. Put your faith in action for the blessing of the church and the mission of the BBC! Take your faith from the routine to the miraculous during this Easter season by committing time and energy to prayers for the BBC! By Easter we will have clear vision for the BBC and a range of options available to allow us to become the feet and hands of Christ through the community, region and the world!!
From Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the world for Christ!
Saw on Twitter yesterday a guy joking about it being "National Pancake Day". Just 30 seconds earlier I read that pancakes are a traditional meal during Shrovetide...the day and or week before Ash Wednesday....kind of explains it I suppose.
The service had a two fold purpose. First, we are opening our new ministry, The Legacy House for anyone who might be in need of clothing or furniture or kitchen and household supplies and we give these out for no charge! There will be some training and a short tour of the house too.
Second, we are seeking God's power and guidance through the Easter Season.
We are looking to the early church for their example of church growth and kit appears to be basic but not simple. Prayer, fasting and preaching the Gospel!
What bit comes down to is simple though.... seeking God's leading as we look to the future of the BBC! I have asked those in the congregation to commit to prayer and fasting through this season. I have asked them to pray through the time they would normally be doing something else and commit that time to seeking God's direction for the church.
42 days until Easter....the Resurrection Celebration and it is on my heart that God will reveal options for growth to those in contact with the BBC. We will carefully and prayerfully consider all options that come through this time of dedication to God's direction.
As I mentioned during the service this morning, if God can begin His church through the ragged but godly Apostles...he once again can grow and direct His church today! All they really knew was they were empowered to reach the lost and that the Spirit was with them! Today....are we in any different position? I say no! We are exactly in the same place they were when they moved forward with the mission before them! Ok, except for one thing.... they had seen the risen Lord which made the fire burn brightly and intensely in their hearts! Today, too many of the faithful have allowed this fire to burn down to warm ashes.... For a fire to burn it needs fuel, oxygen and heat! For the church to once again burn for Christ it also needs these three things!
FUEL - God's word! We preach the Word of God each week in the BBC! The fuel is there and is ready to be consumed! As a Bible believing and faithful community of Christ, we have the fuel and are ready to set our hearts ablaze!
OXYGEN - By oxygen I am associating the faithful at the BBC with the Apostles in that the oxygen we need to start the fire is the oxygen we receive by leaving the doors to the church and becoming involved with the community and those through the region and world! It really is the air that we breath and the interaction with those we contact that will feed this fire and bring glory to God!
HEAT - The heat I speak of is the heat found in the presence and following of the Holy Spirit. Only He can warm our hearts for the lost and confused in the world. Only the Spirit can turn our hearts in to a signal fire for the world to see and know that God is present and alive! The Spirit will provide the heat for our ministry and mission.
HOW????
Starting today we are committed to 42 days of fasting and prayer for the ministry and glory of God in the BBC! Today I need each person to take another step of faith and give 42 seconds or minutes or hours of prayer for the ministry of the BBC during this Easter season. Put your faith in action for the blessing of the church and the mission of the BBC! Take your faith from the routine to the miraculous during this Easter season by committing time and energy to prayers for the BBC! By Easter we will have clear vision for the BBC and a range of options available to allow us to become the feet and hands of Christ through the community, region and the world!!
From Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the world for Christ!
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Updating the Church!
Sounds more challenging than it really is, I think!
Only certain things would be updated because you cannot really update the Gospel aside from helping people relate to it better in this modern society and culture. But the Gospel is the same and always will be....it's a world changing message every day!
There is a lot of advise on how to become a better at anything one might want to become better at in life. But being better at life itself comes from the self-help book we study each week in our church.
We are moving forward in our church and in the seasons! It will be about 18 degrees today and it feels like spring is just around the corner! The forecast is for temperatures in the low 30's next week with the possibility of rain! Not sure how others may think of the late winter rain but in my mind.... rain melt snow, reveals dirt which in turn the sun can warm and soon all is warm and sunny again!
As the seasons change and progress, so we here at the BBC-Legacy also are progressing. We are growing at least in our view of the horizon and we can see there are many tasks to be done! Our world view is changing from only encompassing small ideas and consistent ministries to understanding that with today's technology, and a heart for God, we can and will impact the world for Christ!
Though the Legacy House is open, we are holding a dedication service for this ministry on March 8th at 7pm here in Blomkest. The official grand opening with then be on the 15th of march. The possibilities and the way God is and will be using this small church is changing and growing!
The Code of the Samurai is a book I peruse often. It has some very good insights into the training and actions of the ancient Samurai. It speaks of conditioning your mind to "keep death in mind". The basis for this conditioning is that time is short. There are many obligations to our work and our families, and to God that we must continually be diligent in fulfilling! It states that with death in mind, we will work day and night to fulfill these obligations so as to not leave them undone!
As a Christian, there are so many tasks ad obligations we are called to accomplish before we are no longer able. We are motivated by God's grace and the assurance of our salvation to reach others as God's grace has reached us!
Let's allow the spring to rejuvenate our hearts and bodies as we are called to connect with the world for Christ!
Only certain things would be updated because you cannot really update the Gospel aside from helping people relate to it better in this modern society and culture. But the Gospel is the same and always will be....it's a world changing message every day!
There is a lot of advise on how to become a better at anything one might want to become better at in life. But being better at life itself comes from the self-help book we study each week in our church.
We are moving forward in our church and in the seasons! It will be about 18 degrees today and it feels like spring is just around the corner! The forecast is for temperatures in the low 30's next week with the possibility of rain! Not sure how others may think of the late winter rain but in my mind.... rain melt snow, reveals dirt which in turn the sun can warm and soon all is warm and sunny again!
As the seasons change and progress, so we here at the BBC-Legacy also are progressing. We are growing at least in our view of the horizon and we can see there are many tasks to be done! Our world view is changing from only encompassing small ideas and consistent ministries to understanding that with today's technology, and a heart for God, we can and will impact the world for Christ!
Though the Legacy House is open, we are holding a dedication service for this ministry on March 8th at 7pm here in Blomkest. The official grand opening with then be on the 15th of march. The possibilities and the way God is and will be using this small church is changing and growing!
The Code of the Samurai is a book I peruse often. It has some very good insights into the training and actions of the ancient Samurai. It speaks of conditioning your mind to "keep death in mind". The basis for this conditioning is that time is short. There are many obligations to our work and our families, and to God that we must continually be diligent in fulfilling! It states that with death in mind, we will work day and night to fulfill these obligations so as to not leave them undone!
As a Christian, there are so many tasks ad obligations we are called to accomplish before we are no longer able. We are motivated by God's grace and the assurance of our salvation to reach others as God's grace has reached us!
Let's allow the spring to rejuvenate our hearts and bodies as we are called to connect with the world for Christ!
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Enjoying a Moment of Christmas
Driving to the church before the sun comes up is always exciting. Julotta at 8 am is close enough to sunrise that the day starts with a special blessing. Great toe see everyone there this morning.
Also, there are very few vehicles on the road at that time.... more room for me!
A moment of Christmas is enjoyed with he anticipation of the New Year... Memories and hopes all in the same breath and filling the same moment.
January always seems empty and cold partly because of the tempo of Thanksgiving and Christmas. I guess a bit because of the weather but... it has been cold so far and is to be -20 by the beginning of next week again! Spring must be going to arrive about 24 February this year!!
So what are the changes or focus of the new year? There are always so many possibilities and so little time and really, desire for more energy to accomplish what we hope for too. 2014 can be great and can be filled with growth. And all the while, I sit in my house trying to remember the last time I wasn't running to the next place I needed to be. I can hear the two dogs snoring in the next room so I know it's a calm afternoon. The cats are sleeping somewhere too so there are no races happening either. I'll take this time to not think of the needs of tomorrow or the next day. I know this will impact a couple days down the road but maybe... that will help me separate the wheat from the chaff... the needs from the wants and the requirements from the options.
Not much to say other than Merry Christmas and I hope this day means to you what it was intended to mean. It's not just another day or another holiday....it's the birthday of Jesus, the Son of God whether you like it or believe it.
Enjoy and peace from 2013!
Also, there are very few vehicles on the road at that time.... more room for me!
A moment of Christmas is enjoyed with he anticipation of the New Year... Memories and hopes all in the same breath and filling the same moment.
January always seems empty and cold partly because of the tempo of Thanksgiving and Christmas. I guess a bit because of the weather but... it has been cold so far and is to be -20 by the beginning of next week again! Spring must be going to arrive about 24 February this year!!
So what are the changes or focus of the new year? There are always so many possibilities and so little time and really, desire for more energy to accomplish what we hope for too. 2014 can be great and can be filled with growth. And all the while, I sit in my house trying to remember the last time I wasn't running to the next place I needed to be. I can hear the two dogs snoring in the next room so I know it's a calm afternoon. The cats are sleeping somewhere too so there are no races happening either. I'll take this time to not think of the needs of tomorrow or the next day. I know this will impact a couple days down the road but maybe... that will help me separate the wheat from the chaff... the needs from the wants and the requirements from the options.
Not much to say other than Merry Christmas and I hope this day means to you what it was intended to mean. It's not just another day or another holiday....it's the birthday of Jesus, the Son of God whether you like it or believe it.
Enjoy and peace from 2013!
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Christmas Time is Here!
With Thanksgiving officially out of the way and Black Friday showing up... we can now focus on Christmas and all that stuff!
Now to get this season started, I am reminded of the personal side of Christmas.... no, more personal than that! Not simply is this a time of family and loved ones, and personal responsibility for whatever we want to focus upon, but it is a time of personal knowledge and understanding of the event we anticipate and engage with during this time. What this time of year, and Christmas specifically brings to us is a sense of "I know something about that!. In about a month we are going to be celebrating the birth of the Savior, Jesus! And, most of us know what it's like to see a baby or have a baby in our families or have possibly even been a baby at one time though from my experience, some people have never been children! While is a store or in a church or pretty much any public place we can find these little ones in strollers or in the arms of a parent or sibling! We see the aisles of baby food and diapers in the stores and during this time especially, we enter into the mega stores and see the seemingly endless acres of toy for all the good girls and boys! In other words, babies are not a great mystery to most of us. They are cute little boys and girls who sometimes smell wonderful and sometimes not so much! I remember my little ones learning to walk and run and to ride bikes! Now they're in high school, college and the Marines and having grandchildren for me!
During this time of year I believe we relate best to Jesus because we are looking, thinking of something we all seem to know very well for ourselves. Much of his life we do not know too much about and during his ministry we can understand but as he gets closer and closer to the cross, and ultimately dies on the cross and rises again, we lose that personal (I can relate) feeling and it seems to become more of a mystery and sometimes more difficult to understand or possibly even accept, unfortunately.
And there lies the innocent and perfect joy we can have during this season.... a baby is born and we know what that's like!
So, we begin the Christmas season with a personal connection with Jesus. So we feel the joy and love and excitement! What a great start to the Christmas season! Christmas music will officially be "acceptable" starting in the morning... well, at least for some of us who have had to hold off on playing it for the last couple months. Candy canes are in the stores and all the commercials on TV will somehow be telling us that this year... we can be special and loved by buying the perfect gift for the ones we love.
And hopefully we will see the irony and have a laugh because we celebrate this time because the perfect gift was given to this world and to all humanity in the manger in Bethlehem because of the love God has for us!
Maybe I can be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas!
Now to get this season started, I am reminded of the personal side of Christmas.... no, more personal than that! Not simply is this a time of family and loved ones, and personal responsibility for whatever we want to focus upon, but it is a time of personal knowledge and understanding of the event we anticipate and engage with during this time. What this time of year, and Christmas specifically brings to us is a sense of "I know something about that!. In about a month we are going to be celebrating the birth of the Savior, Jesus! And, most of us know what it's like to see a baby or have a baby in our families or have possibly even been a baby at one time though from my experience, some people have never been children! While is a store or in a church or pretty much any public place we can find these little ones in strollers or in the arms of a parent or sibling! We see the aisles of baby food and diapers in the stores and during this time especially, we enter into the mega stores and see the seemingly endless acres of toy for all the good girls and boys! In other words, babies are not a great mystery to most of us. They are cute little boys and girls who sometimes smell wonderful and sometimes not so much! I remember my little ones learning to walk and run and to ride bikes! Now they're in high school, college and the Marines and having grandchildren for me!
During this time of year I believe we relate best to Jesus because we are looking, thinking of something we all seem to know very well for ourselves. Much of his life we do not know too much about and during his ministry we can understand but as he gets closer and closer to the cross, and ultimately dies on the cross and rises again, we lose that personal (I can relate) feeling and it seems to become more of a mystery and sometimes more difficult to understand or possibly even accept, unfortunately.
And there lies the innocent and perfect joy we can have during this season.... a baby is born and we know what that's like!
So, we begin the Christmas season with a personal connection with Jesus. So we feel the joy and love and excitement! What a great start to the Christmas season! Christmas music will officially be "acceptable" starting in the morning... well, at least for some of us who have had to hold off on playing it for the last couple months. Candy canes are in the stores and all the commercials on TV will somehow be telling us that this year... we can be special and loved by buying the perfect gift for the ones we love.
And hopefully we will see the irony and have a laugh because we celebrate this time because the perfect gift was given to this world and to all humanity in the manger in Bethlehem because of the love God has for us!
Maybe I can be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas!
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