Over the next several weeks this blog will focus on looking for a church in Arizona. Click here to read Faith in the Desert.
December 18 - Are You Ready?
How many times this will week will you ask someone if they are ready for Christmas? How many times will they ask you the same thing? I'm guessing quite a few times. We're making it simple in our house this year. With two grown children we've cut way back and told the kids that their "presence" is the only present we want. But it is hard for everyone to buy into that completely. What is Christmas without the presents? And the hustle and bustle? And the same old question - "are you ready"? Maybe the better question is "are you ready to really embrace Jesus and be a real disciple"? I think that's what God wants us to do. Think how great it would feel knowing you could make a difference in just one person's life by sharing your love of Jesus and see that manifested in the other person. Are you ready to do this? God is ready and will guide you along the way.
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December 13 - Not all Ho! Ho! Ho!
We don't see sad people in any of the Christmas ads on television. Of course not. Retail groups estimate that as much as 25% of total U.S. retail sales occur during the five weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. My dad owned a small clothing and general merchandise store in the small Minnesota town where I was raised. Those figures were true "way back then". So the advertisers do everything to get us in a good mood so we spend more. But then we experience the pain and discouragement that can come our way at any time or place. Here is some of the pain I have been aware of since Thanksgiving:
The death of a friend's wife;
The death of a church friend who could not overcome the serious depression she had battled for years;
The death and serious injury of four young college students. I can't imagine the grief these families are experiencing;
Job loss for two friends of mine;
The death of one of my daughter's grade school buddies, a victim of cancer at age 27
Death, depression, sickness and despair have an even more profound impact on people this time of year. If you know someone facing difficult times be a prayer warrior and ask God to provide healing or resolution. Be even more encouraging in your interractions with these people. Help them see light where there is darkness and hope where there is despair. It is a gift that they so desparately need.
December 1, 2011 - Ready for Christmas?
I sing in a barbershop chorus. We sang for our first Holiday party last night. We've been rehearsing Christmas music for several weeks. Singing Christmas carols in October is not a lot of fun. I get tired of the songs pretty quickly. But we need to do this to get ready for the many events we sing at during the Christmas season. So I'm ready for these events, but am I ready for Christmas? And I don't mean "present-ready" but "Christ-centered" ready. Too often we think everyone knows all about Christmas and Jesus' birth. But some people don't and many others have been hurt or disillusioned by church. Christmas Eve is not important to them. Our job as Christians is to reach out to those who don't know the love of Jesus or have been hurt by churches. We need to let them know that Jesus loves them and that knowing him offers the best hope of a joyful life. So this year do something different. Don't focus on the busy-ness and the latest toys and gadgets. Focus instead on how you can make a difference in the life of a person who does not know God's loving embrace. Through prayer and reading of the scripture God will reveal to you how you can help offer the gift of love this Christmas.
November 12, 2011 - Prayer Warrior
Jan Houser, our Director of Classic Worship, is a wonderful, spiritual woman. I used to sing with the choir. She still sends me the weekly reminders she mails out to the choir members. She always includes a reflection which inspires me. Today the message was most special. It is a message we need to hold close to our heart as we reach out to those who do not know Jesus:
God was on their side. God is on our side. Yesterday, 11/11/11 was Veteran’s Day. More and more it seems that we must be warriors and soldiers in Spirit and in prayer to defend our Christian faith. I never thought that would happen in my lifetime. Growing up in my little community, only a few people didn’t go to church. Church-going was expected and respected. We have our work cut out for us. Please don’t let your friends and colleagues miss out on JESUS. Pray that God will guide you to connect with those you can talk to in a natural, but passionate way, about your faith and the importance of worship.
November 4, 2011- A Winning Formula
Three of the guys in my singing group are Mormons. They are great fellows, committed to their family, and their church. I know a little about Mormons. I've learned more about their faith asking them questions. I know that several of their beliefs are much different than mainline Protestant churches. But the Mormon church is growing and mainline Protestant churches are not. In part it is because they do a tremendous job being missionaries and reaching out to the unchurched. They are having the conversations with those who do not know Jesus. We shy away from those conversations. We would do well by doing many of the things that our Mormon friends are doing to make a difference in the lives of those who do not know Jesus.
October 26, 2011- "Sorry, Too Busy"
It has been a busy month. My daughter was married and then we had to take a trip up north to help my mother-in-law move from her house to a condo. I got behind on all sorts of things including my little blog. So when someone asked me recently if I could do another task at church I was really tempted to say "sorry, too busy". It is easy to get overwhelmed when we have multiple demands on our time. But then I remind myself that nothing is more important than doing my part to help others discover how the love of Jesus can make a difference in their life. Can you help us out? I guess my response should be "I'm never too busy for Jesus."
Time for Jesus? - October 9, 2011
Do you have time for Jesus, or better yet do you have time to tell others about his love for them? Part of being a good steward is letting others know how your life is different because of him. It is easy to say "I don't have the time" or "I don't know what to say to others" or "I'm afraid I'll look foolish". God won't let you look foolish. The Holy Spirit will guide you as you have these conversations. This week, make time for Jesus. Tell a friend or neighbor how knowing him has made you a better person. It's time.
Let's Party! - October 3, 2011
Late again this week but I have a good excuse. My daughter got married on Saturday. That's her dancing with her cousin. It was a wonderful celebration for family and friends. Everyone was made welcome. There was laughter, dancing. It was fun! I think church should be the same way. Make people welcome, especially guests who arrive not knowing what to expect. Make it a joyous celebration. Dance in the aisles, clap your hands, have fun celebrating what Jesus means to us. So, the next time you are in a church, put your dancing shoes on and celebrate what God has done for you.
A Little Help - September 23, 2011
We Lutherans aren't real good about sharing our faith and witnessing to others who do not know Jesus. One reason is we are afraid someone will ask us a question about God or Jesus that we don't know the answer to. Quite frankly, most of us are biblicaly illiterate. So, what to do? Read The Story, God's story. This October we start an exciting venture when begin reading Max Lucado's biblical novel, The Story. In 31 weeks we will read about God's wonderful works and plans for his people that started several thousand years ago and continue to this day. I am hoping that reading the story will help us be better witnesses and encourage us to reach out to those who do not know Jesus. Sometimes, all we need is a little help.
I'm Sorry - September 15, 2011
Our current sermon series addresses forgiveness. Much of it has focused on how hard it is to forgive someone for a wrong they may have committed, or at least in our minds what they have committed. Jesus talked a lot about forgiveness. He asked God to forgive those who were killing him on the cross. We need to be willing to forgive and say I am sorry when we have hurt others. So does the church. Churches can be, and have been, unbelievably cruel to people. Those who have been hurt by experiences in churches often do not give church a second chance. This week as you encounter people, especially people who no longer attend worship, talk to them about your experience in a loving, caring church. Let them know that Jesus loves them. Tell them you are sorry that they are hurting and then pray that the Holy Spirit will touch their lives and that they can once again feel the loving embrace of Jesus.
September 12, 2011 - Better Late Than Never
Well, it is Monday, not Friday. So I am a little tardy posting this entry. But for me, better late then never has a deeper, more important meaning. I know Christians who found Jesus rather late in life. They know how Jesus loves them and cares about them. Some wish they had found him years before, thinking they wouldn't have made so many stupid mistakes. Perhaps, but I've know Jesus my whole lifetime and I've make plenty of them. What's important is not when we find Jesus but that we indeed find him. Our job as Christians is to encourage others help them find his as well. Indeed, that is the most important thing we can do as Christians. In Matthew 20 1:16 Jesus uses the parable of the workers in the field to remind us that everyone is equal in God's eye. This week take advantage of opportunities to let others know about the difference Jesus has made in your life. Never done that before? Don't worry. The Holy Spirit will guide you. After all, better late than never.
September 2 -Unexpected Result
I just read Don Piper's book 90 Minutes in Heaven. Piper died in a horrific auto accident and went to heaven, but through the prayers of another person was brought back to life. Most of the book dealt with Piper's agonizing recovery. He kept wondering why God brought him back to Earth. Being in Heaven was marvelous yet he was brought back to face over 30 surgeries and constant pain. And for what purpose? Ultimately, he found himself encountering many people who suffered similar injuries and treatment. He was able to tell them "I know what you are going through". He encouraged them when their life seemed hopeless. This unexpected result helped Piper understand God's purpose for him. While not as dramatic, we all have opportunities placed before us where we can encourage others facing despair and hopelessness. This week, ask God how you can provide comfort and encouragement to those you encounter. It may lead to unexpected results.
Previous Friday Thoughts
Tough Times - August 26, 2011
I have a friend who is going through some tough times - lots of stress at work and a relationship that isn't going well. I've tried to encourage him and have assured him I am praying for him. He knows the love of Jesus and is also praying that things turn around. But the pain remains. How many people do you know that are going through tough times? Do they know Jesus and feel his love or is this something foreign to them? If they don't, use this opportunity to be a witness and share with them how Jesus' love has made a difference in your life, especially when things weren't going so well. Everyone faces tough times. Jesus can help make those times more tolerable and can bring comfort in spite of the hurt and pain. This week be the disciple God wishes you to be.
August 19, 2011
I was on the Warren Krech show yesterday morning promoting our August 20 concert at The Vine, our outdoor pavilion. I've been on that show before but never to talk about a church activity. I was a little nervous beforehand wondering if I would say the right thing or sound stupid and embarrass myself, and our church. But Warren put me at ease right away and was really interested in this outdoor concert concept at a local church.
Of course God was there, too. He's always with us but I think he surrounds us a bit more when we are trying to tell others about our church and what we offer to those who maybe don't know Jesus or feel intimidated with "church". Whether we are on the radio or having a friendly chat with a neighbor, co-worker or friend about why we love Jesus and what he has done for us, God is there encouraging us and maybe giving us a gentle hug to let us know that he won't make us feel foolish. We are God's eyes, ears and feet on Earth. Why would he do nothing less than what a good father does for his children?
August 12, 2011
I drove out to the Allied Waste dump station on Thursday with an old mattress and box spring in my truck. I had never been there so I plugged in my route on my iPhone. As I got close and made my last left turn I noticed there was no sign to guide me like "Allied Waste - Turn Here." I got to the weigh station and there was a sign letting me know I had to weigh my truck. The woman in the building told me to go up a hill and dump my things in the first dumpsters on the right. I got there but it wasn't exactly clear where I should go to reach the dumpsters. There were no signs saying "turn in here to unload." But I finally figured it out. When I got back I was ready to pay but the woman said I had to drive my truck back on the scale. So I did that and finally left.
This whole thing was a new experience for me. I was in unfamiliar territory and didn't know the routine. And Allied Waste doesn't give a "first timer" much information to go on. If you go there all the time you know what to do but I was a little lost and anxious.
The experience reminded me of what it must be like for a first time guest to visit our church. We have someone that warmly greets them at the entrance but perhaps we don't anticipate what thoughts are going through the mind of our guest (Where's the nursery? I wonder if they have coffee? Where are the restrooms?). We can all make a first time guest more at ease by sharing a little information from the get go. Greeters for the day can help, but all of us need to be looking out for a new person or family and doing the things we need to do to make them feel comfortable. Remember, a guest is looking for something in their life. If they look lost, help them find what they are looking for. Sure, we want them to find Jesus but letting them know where they can get a cup of coffee is a good start.
August 5, 2011
It was great seeing some rain today. It has been a long dry spell. We haven't suffered like our brothers and sisters in Texas, but things are looking pretty sad. While it was raining I thought of the song "Don't Rain on My Parade," a tune from the 1964 Broadway Hit and 1968 movie "Funny Girl." It was one of Barbra Streisand's signature songs. One of the famous lines repeated in the song is the following: Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade.
I guess if you are someone wanting to break into show biz that would be an important line. To be successful you want to protect your interests and not have anything or anyone get in your way. Unfortunately, that line has also been a mantra of sorts by people in many churches. They feel comfortable with the way things are and don't want anything to interfere with a "winning formula". And if someone new enters the door they make it clear to the guest that "my way or the highway" reigns supreme. We believe differently at Our Savior's. Our Membership Covenant makes it clear that we are to be disciples and build the church by demonstrating Christ-like behavior in all we say and do. We stress the needs of others before our own needs and desires. This is tough business because it means that we try new things to encourage each other and most importantly those who do not know Jesus. Our own "parade" can be rained out, but what we create by modeling this behavior is so much more important than wet band uniforms and soggy cotton candy. This week think and pray about how God wants you to interact with those who do not know Jesus. Encourage them, listen to their story and share yours with them. If their lives are cloudy, rainy and full of despair, let them know how knowing Jesus offers the best hope of a joyful life.
July 29, 2011
Get Busy
One of my favorite movies is Shawshank Redemption. I find it to be a movie of great hope and inspiration. One of my favorite lines in the movie is when Andy and Red are sitting in the prison court yard and Andy tells Red "I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying."
Get busy. That's what the church needs to do because the reality is that Christianity is in bad shape in this country. Fewer and fewer people consider themselves to be Christian each time that question is asked in a national survey. Many of these people are not converting to other religions but are rejecting religion altogether.
At Our Savior's we are getting busy. We are looking at new ways to reach out into the community and make an impact on the lives of others. Our members are inviting friends and neighbors to church like they have never done before. We want to turn the ship around and help others see how knowing Jesus offers a person the best chance at having the life God wishes each of us to have.
Evangelicals Without Blowhards
How do you define evangelical? Lutherans have struggled with the term. For some, it conjures up images of televangelists speaking in not too kind of terms about the lost and forlorn. Here is a link to an interesting column by Nicholas Kristof in the July 31 New York Times. It is a good reminder that the religious and secular world can work together to bring hope to those who need the touch of Jesus. Evangelicals Without Blowhards
