- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
I love mysteries. Very appealing to me are the mysteries that have many twists and turns that keep me guessing until the very end of the story. My favorite mysteries are the ones that a well thought plot. Lately I have been watching some British mysteries that are very well written. What I don’t like in a mystery is one that is not solvable. To get to the end of the story and not have it warped up causes me some internal pain. This past weekend I had to stay in town and work. There was a wedding and of course Sunday services. However a great mystery appeared in our household. Our son, Markus, was asked to preach at the church he and his wife attend. Phyllis left Saturday and was able to hear Markus preach. She brought back all the news and talked to me about the sermon. Talk about a mystery. Markus is not a talker and yet he preached. Right now I am tired and know that in a few minutes I will go to bed. But I go knowing that God blesses us all with many mysteries.
This week our older son had a birthday. It was a bittersweet day. He lives in
I am a part of a class on Wednesday nights in which I am attempting to get others to catch the vision that I have for this church. I did not realize when I thought of this idea that it would not be an easy task. One of the reasons that sharing a vision is difficult is because for me the vision starts and ends with God. I believe that each person has to put God first in their lives. My vision revolves around changed lives. Lives that are willing to give up their wants and wishes and move the kingdom forward. God must truly lead.
Recently I have been discovering that God is moving in our midst and I am excited about it. Sunday a woman came to worship and after the service shared her life story. It was a messy story. But in the midst of the mess she kept reminding me that God had led her to be in our midst. When I went home after the worship services I thanked God for sending her to be among us. Without going into her story I can say that she was in extreme pain and our Church will be able to help her find the Peace that only Jesus gives. My vision is to see more and more lives changed because of the wonderful grace and love that Jesus can give to us all.
Today is Monday and I never feel too good on this day. Usually I feel spent and am reflecting on what happened at church yesterday. Unfortunately I tend to see the mistakes and failures more than the successes. There is a song I could sing that states; “rainy days and Mondays always get me down.” My wife is always supportive and tells me to count my blessings. She is right. So I take her advice and by Monday night I am on a more godly track. I am so thankful that through the years I have learned to know myself in part. I have learned that Sunday’s activities always drain me emotionally and that it takes some time for to build up emotional strength again. Today, however, I am going to a workshop on leadership. I will spend the next couple of days learning more about how to lead. I enjoy learning so I am looking forward to gaining more knowledge that can sharpen my skills as a pastor. However, I know deep within myself that only God can give me the strength and wisdom that I need to minister effectively. So, today as I go to Springfield I am praying for my heart to be renewed and I am trusting God for that gift.
I am old enough to remember Bob Dylan singing ‘the times they are a changing.’ Perhaps this should be a theme song in the Church of Jesus Christ. I have been wrestling with how to reach those who do not have a relationship with Jesus. It seems that many of our old ways of doing business just are not working. It is no longer a good outreach to plan a program and ask others to come to it. The Church needs to go out into the world and touch people’s lives where they live. I am not sure how to do this exactly. But I am wrestling with it and asking God to use me in some small way to touch lives for Him. In fact I have started to pray daily that God will send people into my path that I can show God’s love. As I meet them (and I do) I am asking God to help me listen and learn and share God’s love in appropiate ways. The times are changing but God’s love remains the same. He loves the world and what a thought that is. It has touched my life and made a world of difference. I pray other lives will be touched by God’s love, too.
Today I got an email from a former member of our church. He now lives in the
Today I am trying to get my life back in order. I was gone a large part of last week. I went to a ‘boot camp.’ This ‘camp’ was about how to plant a new church. Our church is exploring the idea of a satillite campus. At this training I was given many new thoughts and stratigies for this exciting ministry to reach those who need God’s love and grace in their lives. Not only did I get help for developing a plan of ministry but I also got to know others who have a heart for reaching others to Christ. All of this has brought two responses from me. The first respone is thanks to God for His greatness that allowed me this experience. The second response is that I know more than ever I need more of God in my life. So, continue to pray for me. I can do nothing without Him.