I was out of the church for quite some time. I enjoy the chaplaincy except for that one dirt-bag.
I'm in the church again, for just over a year and it's been great! Those in the church in Blomkest have been great! Those not in the church in Blomkest have become my issue.
One wants to do "the work of the Lord" but simply want Blomkest to look like Pleasant Valley... (A Monkey's reference)
One would like to help with the music... if the price is right!
One will do anything for the church.... if it's an emergency and the church can't get it done.
Great to have these people around.... would be better if they could bless us with their appearance rather than their pity!
I've been feeling a little strange in recent months. I really enjoy the Blomkest Baptist Church and those in it! Such a great heritage and fellowship! The surrounding area seems to really enjoy special occasions and unique services. We, unfortunately have a special service Saturday but it will bring in family and friends and a connection will be made. The fact is though, this connection is made in the name of rightness and faith.... Not in the name of pity and need.
So.............here's the deal...What came first.... the chicken or the egg? My guess is the chicken.... but this is the point..... IT DOESN'T MATTER! We now have chicken for the grill and eggs for breakfast! Life is good because God has provided!!!
"Has provided" is a simplified term for God's providence... (taking care of His people). And God will continue to do so!
Well Pastor Mark....?....maybe God is providing those in the community to help the church in times of need!? You know.... that is possible, right????
Indeed, I would say that is possible. If caught off guard and without the necessary supplies or resources.... But not when there have been months of no change and these helpers show up during crisis and never show their face during the year... Almost like the irritation of C/E Christians only a bit worse... I don't expect more from the C/E Christian.... at least they show up for Christmas and Easter...
It's one of two things going on here.... either we are being pitied because we are small and seem to not have the resources........or there are those who believe their "doing the work of the Lord" will be such a blessing that we will continue to allow them to simply help when needed but when real WORSHIP happens.... it will obviously be somewhere other than the BBC!
"We don't need no education..." Are the words of Pink Floyd....
"Pastor....! You're on a rant! Settle down and focus on the Lord!
No....not a rant but feeling abused and condescended toward right now. We are not good enough to share Sunday worship with but it seems we are to be eternally grateful for any appearance or friendship from those who could not care less if we are in town or not!
The important thing is what they do for us and not what the church can do for them....
ANNOUNCEMENT:..... We do not need your help if you are not part of the congregation! Support for your local church is essential but if we are not your local church.... don't pity us and if you want to help............Show up for worship and make us your place of worship!?
I know many pastors and they fall into a stereotypical character of soft and pliable and easy to walk over.... I am not that pastor..... That's why people in the BBC call me Mark...............
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
How Far is the Reach of God?
These days remind me of a comment in an article I read. "Are you a motivational speaker or are you changing lives?" The stats might tell otherwise but I'm thinking the two are too close to be able to separate.
I find it very interesting what just a few grains of salt can do to the taste of an apple...... unfortunately I found out.
Saw Peter Popoff on the TV at the Ft McCoy gym this morning. He's like that grain of salt on my apple.
"You are God's child" seems to be a phrase people like to hear.
Again it's been a while since I've blogged here but it has been busy. Many things have happened between January and now, well maybe just that things have piled up and I've had to take a break from here to connect with the rest of life.
I'm looking forward to this summer with the church youth group mostly because they always seem to have fun. I haven't had fun for quite some time but I'm trying.
One thing I do enjoy though is USAR Annual Training! I return from here though and have a hard time explaining what happened. It's either going real fast or unbelievably slow. The combination must act like a mind numbing potion that washes everything out.
We are C2 (command and control) for PRET Camp which is a two week physical fitness camp assisting soldiers in passing their Army Physical Fitness Test. It's a difficult two weeks. The meals are calorie conscious and the exercise is 3 times a day. The attitudes have been positive from the participants and that has really helped the camp run well. I walk the PT (physical training) field watching and encouraging as I am able. I walk the running course often with different troops. My specific "job" though is Chaplain and therefore I hold Chapel Service and Bible Studies throughout the two weeks. I enjoy the group I serve with, especially because of their support of my religious support to the troops. So.... the combination of those I work with and this being AT and......the constant reminder that I really truly am not your grandpa's preacher.....I am holding a 3 part series in my services..... "Why God Loves Rock and Roll!"
Not a typical theme for most but I've had a better turnout for this than most of my other services. It comes my thoughts about how far God's love and grace can ultimately reach. Obviously, it can reach through eternity to our hearts wherever we may be.
The God of my life, as I told those in attendance, is not afraid of Led Zeppelin or Metallica or any other band. I believe it's consistent with His character to use some good old Rock and Roll to reveal Himself. Tomorrow night we will look at a good Southern Rock band, The Atlanta Rhythm Section.
So, these tunes are rough.... and at times crude. Similarly our hearts are rough and at times crude. Too rough for God to care? Too crude for Jesus to go to the cross for us? And hopefully we open our eyes to the very fact that our rough and crude and sinful hearts is exactly why Jesus took the cross for us!
A young soldier renewed my hope for humanity in some ways. I asked, "Why do we like this music? - Why do we like some more than others?" And he said it's because it connects with how we feel! Now, I've sat in on so many counseling sessions they can't be counted. Have you ever heard the phrase.... "How does that make you feel?" and the answer generally starts.... "I don't know". And so we work at finding the emotions that describe how we feel. The doctors and counselors and teachers will have those cool charts with little faces that frown or smile and we are to point out the one that resembles our feelings! Just seems for me to be much easier to have a chart of music from which to choose! On the long list of music I think I would scan it quickly and point to "One" or "Hate Me" or even "Train, Train".
The music we listen to seems to identify, even to small detail the raw emotion of love, hate, jealousy, anger hope and all the other God given emotions we hold. From that point, the point of identifying our emotional position, we look to God's word to find the answer. The music does not teach us our ethics or morals or values. They simply put words to how we feel. Turning then to the Word of God we can more easily identify the promises and hope and care and concern our God has for us.
Compare "Broken" with how we feel when separated from the ones we love. Contrast "Broken" with God's ever present love and grace. I have called these concepts "Anti-thematic". Human (horizontal) description of our ills compared to God's compassion for humanity (vertical).
God loves rock and roll because it can extend His reach into the hearts of those who may never listen to His words of hope.
I find it very interesting what just a few grains of salt can do to the taste of an apple...... unfortunately I found out.
Saw Peter Popoff on the TV at the Ft McCoy gym this morning. He's like that grain of salt on my apple.
"You are God's child" seems to be a phrase people like to hear.
Again it's been a while since I've blogged here but it has been busy. Many things have happened between January and now, well maybe just that things have piled up and I've had to take a break from here to connect with the rest of life.
I'm looking forward to this summer with the church youth group mostly because they always seem to have fun. I haven't had fun for quite some time but I'm trying.
One thing I do enjoy though is USAR Annual Training! I return from here though and have a hard time explaining what happened. It's either going real fast or unbelievably slow. The combination must act like a mind numbing potion that washes everything out.
We are C2 (command and control) for PRET Camp which is a two week physical fitness camp assisting soldiers in passing their Army Physical Fitness Test. It's a difficult two weeks. The meals are calorie conscious and the exercise is 3 times a day. The attitudes have been positive from the participants and that has really helped the camp run well. I walk the PT (physical training) field watching and encouraging as I am able. I walk the running course often with different troops. My specific "job" though is Chaplain and therefore I hold Chapel Service and Bible Studies throughout the two weeks. I enjoy the group I serve with, especially because of their support of my religious support to the troops. So.... the combination of those I work with and this being AT and......the constant reminder that I really truly am not your grandpa's preacher.....I am holding a 3 part series in my services..... "Why God Loves Rock and Roll!"
Not a typical theme for most but I've had a better turnout for this than most of my other services. It comes my thoughts about how far God's love and grace can ultimately reach. Obviously, it can reach through eternity to our hearts wherever we may be.
The God of my life, as I told those in attendance, is not afraid of Led Zeppelin or Metallica or any other band. I believe it's consistent with His character to use some good old Rock and Roll to reveal Himself. Tomorrow night we will look at a good Southern Rock band, The Atlanta Rhythm Section.
So, these tunes are rough.... and at times crude. Similarly our hearts are rough and at times crude. Too rough for God to care? Too crude for Jesus to go to the cross for us? And hopefully we open our eyes to the very fact that our rough and crude and sinful hearts is exactly why Jesus took the cross for us!
A young soldier renewed my hope for humanity in some ways. I asked, "Why do we like this music? - Why do we like some more than others?" And he said it's because it connects with how we feel! Now, I've sat in on so many counseling sessions they can't be counted. Have you ever heard the phrase.... "How does that make you feel?" and the answer generally starts.... "I don't know". And so we work at finding the emotions that describe how we feel. The doctors and counselors and teachers will have those cool charts with little faces that frown or smile and we are to point out the one that resembles our feelings! Just seems for me to be much easier to have a chart of music from which to choose! On the long list of music I think I would scan it quickly and point to "One" or "Hate Me" or even "Train, Train".
The music we listen to seems to identify, even to small detail the raw emotion of love, hate, jealousy, anger hope and all the other God given emotions we hold. From that point, the point of identifying our emotional position, we look to God's word to find the answer. The music does not teach us our ethics or morals or values. They simply put words to how we feel. Turning then to the Word of God we can more easily identify the promises and hope and care and concern our God has for us.
Compare "Broken" with how we feel when separated from the ones we love. Contrast "Broken" with God's ever present love and grace. I have called these concepts "Anti-thematic". Human (horizontal) description of our ills compared to God's compassion for humanity (vertical).
God loves rock and roll because it can extend His reach into the hearts of those who may never listen to His words of hope.
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