I am a fan of the interwebs (that's what we call the internet in our household). It is great for staying connected with friends and family who live far away, doing research, getting up-to-the-minute news (especially sports scores) and tons of other positive things. But there is certainly a negative side to the interwebs as well. There is a lot of bad information out there as well as unwholesome content. People use the interwebs to stalk and prey upon others. Many waste hours upon hours playing games or doing other useless things (you know if I'm talking to you!).
I ran across a news story today on CNN. You can check it out here. It is about a couple in South Korea who became obsessed with an online virtual world to the point that it caused them to neglect their infant who subsequently died of malnutrition. Can you imagine?! They became so wrapped up in their fantasy world that they couldn't function in the real world and properly care for their child. How messed up is that?!
Now, I know probably all of us are nowhere near to that extreme with our usage of the interwebs, but most of us (who are reading this blog, anyways!) probably spend more time than we should in front of a computer screen and not enough time face-to-face with people we care about. So, let's resolve to use the interwebs for good and in moderation and never give up the practice of real-life relationships!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Sermon Series - Please Vote!
I like to preach in sermon series. For those of you who attend BUMC, this is fairly obvious. For those of you who don't and aren't familiar with the sermon series, it means that I preach a number of sermons in a row on the same topic. Currently, I am preaching a three-week series about Spiritual Gifts. The various topics/titles are "Given by God for a Purpose," "Identifying Them," and "Using Them." Some previous sermon series from the last year have included the book of Ephesians, Characters of Christmas, Mission: Possible, Doing What Jesus Did, This We Believe, Stories from the Start, and He Lives.
Part of what I like about sermon series is that they necessitate some intentionality and prior planning on my part. You can't just "wing it" when doing a series of sermons on the same topic. In many ways, the planning and implementation of these series has become a spiritual discipline for me - one that I think is bearing fruit in my own life and in the life of our congregation.
I have my sermon topics planned through Easter Sunday and would like to begin looking toward the later part of spring into summer for worship and sermon planning. And I would love some help from you Bethpage folks! I have created a poll on this blog for you to vote for what you would like for the next sermon series to be. Now, I'm not promising I will do whatever gets the most votes. I have to do what I feel like God is leading me to do. But I certainly have faith in God's ability and propensity to lead me through what the congregation is desiring and needs. So, if you are a BUMC person, please take a moment to look at the poll in the column to the right and vote for what you think the next sermon series should be. These are your options:
The Beatitudes
Seven Deadly Sins
The Smallest Books in the Bible
The Will of God
The Lord's Prayer
Old Testament Royalty
ReThink Church
Part of what I like about sermon series is that they necessitate some intentionality and prior planning on my part. You can't just "wing it" when doing a series of sermons on the same topic. In many ways, the planning and implementation of these series has become a spiritual discipline for me - one that I think is bearing fruit in my own life and in the life of our congregation.
I have my sermon topics planned through Easter Sunday and would like to begin looking toward the later part of spring into summer for worship and sermon planning. And I would love some help from you Bethpage folks! I have created a poll on this blog for you to vote for what you would like for the next sermon series to be. Now, I'm not promising I will do whatever gets the most votes. I have to do what I feel like God is leading me to do. But I certainly have faith in God's ability and propensity to lead me through what the congregation is desiring and needs. So, if you are a BUMC person, please take a moment to look at the poll in the column to the right and vote for what you think the next sermon series should be. These are your options:
The Beatitudes
Seven Deadly Sins
The Smallest Books in the Bible
The Will of God
The Lord's Prayer
Old Testament Royalty
ReThink Church
Friday, March 5, 2010
$2 A Day
As I was looking through the latest edition of Interpreter magazine, which is published six times per year by United Methodist Communications, I was reminded once again on one of the pages that "more than half the world's population lives on less than $2 a day." Can you imagine? Trying to live on less than $2 per day? It's hard enough for me to eat a meal for less than $2!
Now, I know that most of the folks who live on less than $2 per day live in a society and culture much different than mine with very different standards and costs of living, but still, there is something wrong when over 3 billion (yes, that's with a "b") people live on less money per day than is probably in the cushions of my couch.
I am left wondering what God thinks of this situation. I would imagine that it breaks God's heart for those folks, and that God is probably not too happy with those of us who have enough to help but don't. God is probably even less happy with those of us who have plenty but don't think we do and aren't thankful and grateful for it. What are we, as Christians, supposed to think about this? How should we respond and react? What are we called to do?
In many ways, this issue is much bigger than any single one of us, but that doesn't mean that every single one of us can't make a difference in the life of someone else. How will we help those who live on less than $2 per day? Do we even really know that they are there?
Now, I know that most of the folks who live on less than $2 per day live in a society and culture much different than mine with very different standards and costs of living, but still, there is something wrong when over 3 billion (yes, that's with a "b") people live on less money per day than is probably in the cushions of my couch.
I am left wondering what God thinks of this situation. I would imagine that it breaks God's heart for those folks, and that God is probably not too happy with those of us who have enough to help but don't. God is probably even less happy with those of us who have plenty but don't think we do and aren't thankful and grateful for it. What are we, as Christians, supposed to think about this? How should we respond and react? What are we called to do?
In many ways, this issue is much bigger than any single one of us, but that doesn't mean that every single one of us can't make a difference in the life of someone else. How will we help those who live on less than $2 per day? Do we even really know that they are there?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Getting Out of the Way
An important lesson that I've had to learn as a pastor and leader - and that I need to be reminded of often - is that sometimes the best thing I can do is simply to get out of the way. Personally, I have a tendancy to be a little bit of a control-freak and hold things close to the vest, and that is not always (or probably even usually) the best way to lead. I have to work on letting other people lead and take responsibility as well as allowing God to work through situations without my interference.
This morning, I was reminded of my need to get out of the way. My original plan for the day was to spend most of it visiting some of our homebound members. However, the daughter of one of our church members is pregnant and in the hospital in Nashville with pre-eclampsia and is in a situation fairly similar to Nancy's when Becca was born. My first instinct was that I needed to drop my original plans and go down there and be with the family. But, Nancy said she wanted to go instead. This, then, presented an issue: with Becca, how can Nancy go to the hospital while I am working? Nancy suggested that she take Becca with her, but we decided that wasn't a very good option (even though Becca probably wouldn't be on a wing of contagious people - the hospital is still not the best place for her these days). We tried calling someone to keep her, but that didn't work. Then we realized that I could take Becca on some of my visits! And the folks we visited together were absolutely thrilled!
This morning I was reminded that being a pastor doesn't (and shouldn't) mean that I am the one doing all the ministry. I didn't need to be the one to go to the hospital. Nancy will do a much better job than I would at providing pastoral care and identifying with the family during this difficult time. Becca was able to bring much more joy into the lives of some of our homebound members than I am able to bring on my own. Even at the WOW meeting last night, different people were given different jobs and tasks to help make this ministry come to fruition. That is how ministry should work: all of us doing our part that God has gifted us for and given us the grace to do. Let's hope I can continue to manage to get out of the way and let the work of God's ministry happen!
This morning, I was reminded of my need to get out of the way. My original plan for the day was to spend most of it visiting some of our homebound members. However, the daughter of one of our church members is pregnant and in the hospital in Nashville with pre-eclampsia and is in a situation fairly similar to Nancy's when Becca was born. My first instinct was that I needed to drop my original plans and go down there and be with the family. But, Nancy said she wanted to go instead. This, then, presented an issue: with Becca, how can Nancy go to the hospital while I am working? Nancy suggested that she take Becca with her, but we decided that wasn't a very good option (even though Becca probably wouldn't be on a wing of contagious people - the hospital is still not the best place for her these days). We tried calling someone to keep her, but that didn't work. Then we realized that I could take Becca on some of my visits! And the folks we visited together were absolutely thrilled!
This morning I was reminded that being a pastor doesn't (and shouldn't) mean that I am the one doing all the ministry. I didn't need to be the one to go to the hospital. Nancy will do a much better job than I would at providing pastoral care and identifying with the family during this difficult time. Becca was able to bring much more joy into the lives of some of our homebound members than I am able to bring on my own. Even at the WOW meeting last night, different people were given different jobs and tasks to help make this ministry come to fruition. That is how ministry should work: all of us doing our part that God has gifted us for and given us the grace to do. Let's hope I can continue to manage to get out of the way and let the work of God's ministry happen!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
WOW!
We had a planning meeting for WOW this evening, and I am really getting exciting for it. WOW is a ministry on Wednesday evenings that BUMC did several years ago that was very successful. It stood for Way Out Wednesdays, and we tossed around some ideas of updating what it stands for, but for now we are just sticking with WOW.
We had a really great group of folks at the meeting tonight, and I think everything is going to come together and this will be a fantastic ministry for our church and community. We're going to have a free meal (donations accepted, but we want everyone to be able to come regardless of their ability to pay); games, lessons, and activities for the children; youth group; and studies for adults. It will be a community event open to everyone with something for all ages each and every week!
In The United Methodist Church, we currently have an initiative going by the name of "ReThink Church." The purpose of it is to get us to think about church in terms of more than just a worship service and Sunday School, and I think WOW will do just that. We will be providing a great service to the community with a fun place for children and youth to spend their free time, we will be doing outreach through a free meal and hopefully some other things like a food pantry and clothing closet, we will be offering meaningful ways for people to grow in their faith, and we will be looking beyond our church membership to see what we can do for our community and the world. I think that's more what Jesus had in mind when he started this entire movement some 2000 years ago!
We had a really great group of folks at the meeting tonight, and I think everything is going to come together and this will be a fantastic ministry for our church and community. We're going to have a free meal (donations accepted, but we want everyone to be able to come regardless of their ability to pay); games, lessons, and activities for the children; youth group; and studies for adults. It will be a community event open to everyone with something for all ages each and every week!
In The United Methodist Church, we currently have an initiative going by the name of "ReThink Church." The purpose of it is to get us to think about church in terms of more than just a worship service and Sunday School, and I think WOW will do just that. We will be providing a great service to the community with a fun place for children and youth to spend their free time, we will be doing outreach through a free meal and hopefully some other things like a food pantry and clothing closet, we will be offering meaningful ways for people to grow in their faith, and we will be looking beyond our church membership to see what we can do for our community and the world. I think that's more what Jesus had in mind when he started this entire movement some 2000 years ago!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
A Sign
We have a big sign out in front of Bethpage United Methodist Church. And I mean big - 12 feet wide and the top is probably at least 15 feet off the ground, if not more. It is an LED sign with red lights, so it lights up the road and serves as a beacon in the night. Well, this sign has been a constant thorn in our side at BUMC. It only works well intermittently and for short amounts of time. This last time it quit working, it was stuck on a rotation of three things: our church name, our worship times, and a Bible reference to Colossians 3:17. Could have been much worse. It could have said, "VBS this week each night at 6:00" or "Christmas Eve Service at 5:00" or "Clothing Give-away on Monday" or any other number of time-sensitive or season-specific items.
The sign had been stuck on this rotation for months. There was a communication issue between the computer in the office and the sign outside. Wow - how many sermons could I get out of that one! Anyways, we got a new computer a few months ago and weren't able to install the software on it because it was running Windows 7 and the software was designed for Windows XP. I spent the better portion of this afternoon on the phone with the sign company figuring out how to get this thing working again. We did some workarounds and installations on the computer and thought we had everything in place, but then the computer still couldn't connect to the sign. Turns out, one of the wires had come loose. So, I had to run to the house to get some tools, but got that taken care of, and voila, it worked. Houston, we have liftoff!
I was able to communicate with the sign and change the messages on it. We are working hard to launch a new Wednesday evening ministry (or are we re-launching an old one???) after Easter. So, I put that up as one of the items: "WOW is coming back! April 21st at 5:45pm"
I was so excited that I had been able to fix the sign! I sent out e-mails to the Trustees and to our Admnistrative Assistant and Communications Chair. A church member stopped by and I told him. A few folks called on their way home from work to let me know they had seen it. I was feeling good, excited even...and it was about a silly sign.
As I reflect back on what I was feeling, I realized that I don't often feel a sense of accomplishment anymore. When I was growing up and in school, I felt it all the time. I would get a good grade on a test, turn in an assignment, or finish a group project and get a sense of accomplishment. I would score a goal at soccer practice, hit an ace on the tennis court, or answer a difficult question correctly for the quick recall team and get a sense of accomplishment. I would memorize and recite a Bible verse at our children's ministry at church, clean my room, beat a video game, or build something out of Legos and get a sense of accomplishment. That rarely happens anymore. I no longer have schoolwork or play on a team. I don't play video games very often. I do clean, but that has definitely lost some of its appeal. I often don't feel like I'm accomplishing much.
Part of the deal, I suppose, with pastoral ministry is that so much of my work is not about concrete, measurable, easily-defined tasks (like fixing a sign). It has much more to do with caring for people and fostering their growth as disciples, with leading a church toward a common mission and vision, with developing ever-changing systems that enable and empower ministry, with learning and growing in the faith myself, and with proclaiming and living the Good News of Jesus Christ. These are processes that are never really finished. As I look back over my time as a pastor, I can see positive changes that have occurred in our church and in people's lives, but the work is never done. And when the work is never done, I guess it is hard for me to feel that sense of accomplishment.
So, today, it was really great to have something challenging and concrete that I was able to do and feel like I accomplished something. I hope that in your life, work, and ministry, you are able to find ways to feel that same sense of accomplishment. I think we all need that kind of encouragement in our lives.
The sign had been stuck on this rotation for months. There was a communication issue between the computer in the office and the sign outside. Wow - how many sermons could I get out of that one! Anyways, we got a new computer a few months ago and weren't able to install the software on it because it was running Windows 7 and the software was designed for Windows XP. I spent the better portion of this afternoon on the phone with the sign company figuring out how to get this thing working again. We did some workarounds and installations on the computer and thought we had everything in place, but then the computer still couldn't connect to the sign. Turns out, one of the wires had come loose. So, I had to run to the house to get some tools, but got that taken care of, and voila, it worked. Houston, we have liftoff!
I was able to communicate with the sign and change the messages on it. We are working hard to launch a new Wednesday evening ministry (or are we re-launching an old one???) after Easter. So, I put that up as one of the items: "WOW is coming back! April 21st at 5:45pm"
I was so excited that I had been able to fix the sign! I sent out e-mails to the Trustees and to our Admnistrative Assistant and Communications Chair. A church member stopped by and I told him. A few folks called on their way home from work to let me know they had seen it. I was feeling good, excited even...and it was about a silly sign.
As I reflect back on what I was feeling, I realized that I don't often feel a sense of accomplishment anymore. When I was growing up and in school, I felt it all the time. I would get a good grade on a test, turn in an assignment, or finish a group project and get a sense of accomplishment. I would score a goal at soccer practice, hit an ace on the tennis court, or answer a difficult question correctly for the quick recall team and get a sense of accomplishment. I would memorize and recite a Bible verse at our children's ministry at church, clean my room, beat a video game, or build something out of Legos and get a sense of accomplishment. That rarely happens anymore. I no longer have schoolwork or play on a team. I don't play video games very often. I do clean, but that has definitely lost some of its appeal. I often don't feel like I'm accomplishing much.
Part of the deal, I suppose, with pastoral ministry is that so much of my work is not about concrete, measurable, easily-defined tasks (like fixing a sign). It has much more to do with caring for people and fostering their growth as disciples, with leading a church toward a common mission and vision, with developing ever-changing systems that enable and empower ministry, with learning and growing in the faith myself, and with proclaiming and living the Good News of Jesus Christ. These are processes that are never really finished. As I look back over my time as a pastor, I can see positive changes that have occurred in our church and in people's lives, but the work is never done. And when the work is never done, I guess it is hard for me to feel that sense of accomplishment.
So, today, it was really great to have something challenging and concrete that I was able to do and feel like I accomplished something. I hope that in your life, work, and ministry, you are able to find ways to feel that same sense of accomplishment. I think we all need that kind of encouragement in our lives.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Spiritual Gifts
During Lent this year, our church is studying the topic of Spiritual Gifts. I am preaching a sermon series on the subject using 1 Corinthians 12 as my scripture text, and we have 3 small groups organized that are working through the book "Serving from the Heart" together. So, I thought I would outline a few basic thoughts on spiritual gifts here. Warning: for those of you who were in church on Sunday, this may sound pretty familiar!
1) Spiritual gifts are gifts given to us graciously and lovingly by God. This means that we haven't done anything to earn or deserve them. They are a free gift. This also means that we don't get to choose which gift(s) we get. God does not present us with a list and say, "Pick whichever ones you want." No, God (in God's infinite wisdom and kindness) chooses which gift(s) will be best for us. So, we should never be jealous of someone else's gift, but thankful because God chose the perfect gift(s) for us.
2) Spiritual gifts are spiritual in nature. This means that they are different than our natural talents and abilities. They have nothing to do with our genetic material or even with how we have been raised and nurtured. They are given by the Spirit of God. When the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us, we are changed: we repent from our sins, we are renewed in the image of God, the process of sanctification begins in our lives, and we are gifted by our Creator.
3) Spiritual gifts are different for different people. There are a variety of gifts and ways to use them, but they all come from one God. Some people have one gifts; others have many. Some are very strong - even miraculous or supernatural - in the exercise or display of their gift(s) and some are not. But God is the source of all our gifts, and everyone who believes in Jesus Christ and has the Holy Spirit in their hearts has at least one spiritual gift!
4) Spiritual gifts are given to us for a reason. God gives them to us not for our own benefit or glory. They are given to us for God's glory and "for the common good" (1 Corinthians 12:7). We are to use what God has given to us to benefit others, to make the world a better place, to expand the Reign of God, to love our neighbors, and for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Next Sunday, we will seek to identify and discover what each of our individual spiritual gifts are - I'm excited and hope you are too!
1) Spiritual gifts are gifts given to us graciously and lovingly by God. This means that we haven't done anything to earn or deserve them. They are a free gift. This also means that we don't get to choose which gift(s) we get. God does not present us with a list and say, "Pick whichever ones you want." No, God (in God's infinite wisdom and kindness) chooses which gift(s) will be best for us. So, we should never be jealous of someone else's gift, but thankful because God chose the perfect gift(s) for us.
2) Spiritual gifts are spiritual in nature. This means that they are different than our natural talents and abilities. They have nothing to do with our genetic material or even with how we have been raised and nurtured. They are given by the Spirit of God. When the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us, we are changed: we repent from our sins, we are renewed in the image of God, the process of sanctification begins in our lives, and we are gifted by our Creator.
3) Spiritual gifts are different for different people. There are a variety of gifts and ways to use them, but they all come from one God. Some people have one gifts; others have many. Some are very strong - even miraculous or supernatural - in the exercise or display of their gift(s) and some are not. But God is the source of all our gifts, and everyone who believes in Jesus Christ and has the Holy Spirit in their hearts has at least one spiritual gift!
4) Spiritual gifts are given to us for a reason. God gives them to us not for our own benefit or glory. They are given to us for God's glory and "for the common good" (1 Corinthians 12:7). We are to use what God has given to us to benefit others, to make the world a better place, to expand the Reign of God, to love our neighbors, and for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Next Sunday, we will seek to identify and discover what each of our individual spiritual gifts are - I'm excited and hope you are too!
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