Dear Worshipers,
That is the term I use for this busy week leading up to a major production. If you combine the time each person will sacrifice at rehearsal this week it will literally be in the hundreds of hours. Think of what you could do if someone gave you a few hundred hours to work on something. Think of what you could produce if you had 300 hours of concentrated effort to put into a project. Anyone could accomplish something of worth in that amount of time, if focused on a profitable outcome, right? Not without the Lord.
We are focusing on producing this week. Oh, certainly we are talking about the Christmas musical, but I am talking about much more. I am talking about the greatest product of the week which is not what the Lord will do through us but what He wants to do in us. We want to work on all these details so that we can communicate the wonderful message of Jesus clearly and convincingly, but even then, apart from Him it is all for naught. So let us pray for what we desire for Him to do in others, but ponder what He is doing is us.
Remember Jesus’ words in John 15:5b “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Apart from the Lord we can do nothing. A lot of talent, a lot of time, a lot of nothing apart from Him. I do not want to waste this week or it’s efforts, so I commit right now in the midst of everything I have to do and delegate to hold to the instruction in the first part of this verse.
Remaining. That is not so easy to do. I hit the snooze button a few too many times this morning and did not have the time to spend with the Lord that I desire. Remaining is hard to do without time. This is a busy week, but if I do not find the time to remain in Jesus’ how can I hope to bear the fruit He desires. The same is true for you.
I know that I have many of you out at rehearsal several times this production week, but without some time spent with Jesus’ you too will be hard pressed to produce what He desires. And what it is that He desires to produce in you? If you take a few minutes to consider this I think I know He will show you. You remember the list: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Patience is my focus this week. What is yours?
Of course, we are trusting God to do something miraculous through us this Sunday afternoon and evening. I trust Him for His revelation of Himself to all of us, and that some will respond by turning to Him for the first time, understanding the greatness of our God, and their need of the Savior whose name is Jesus. But I also trust Him to do something in us-in me, in you. I am honestly probably more excited about that because I know that the greatest blessing of this musical is for those who are producing it, because the Lord is using that process to produce something in us we probably were not thinking about when we signed on.
Merry Christmas and Happy Producing!
Jesus, produce in me the fruit that will please Your name. I love You and bless You even as I rest and remain in You. I can do nothing apart from You. Have Your way in me.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
God’s Hand
Dear Worshippers,
I am already beginning to see the signs that God has His hand on us in this upcoming endeavor of the Christmas drama and musical. A few indications:
• All 800 invitations are gone. If one of every four evokes a response that could easily fill the sanctuary once. Praise the Lord!
• As were concluding our work of recruiting orchestra members, an oboe player who has played in the past called to ask if we still needed her. She mentioned what a blessing the musical has been in years past and hoped she could still be involved. We said yes. She mentioned that her daughter has played flute here and shared her blessing. And yes, the only other part I was really hoping to cover was Flute 2. Thank You, Lord.
• A Choir member emailed me and mentioned that she had slow pitch with a family member when she invited them to the musical. They responded with interest which was a miracle itself. Coming would be an even greater one. Is God still in the miracle business?
• When our narrator had to back out a couple of weeks ago, God already had waiting in the wings a young woman who has done radio voice-overs who has a flair for the dramatic. She is 90-95% memorized as of Sunday.
• From lights to set, from drama to media, from to choir to orchestra, from invitations to response cards everything is coming together very nicely, thanks be to God!
We need to be diligent in prayer these next 12 days. God is going to reveal Himself through this work. People are going to respond. Eternity will be different for some. The Enemy of our souls does not like that one bit.
Pray for God’s enabling through these final days of prep. Pray for health for everyone involved, and please do not forget me. Pray for those who are inviting and being invited that the Lord would be in those connections softening and drawing hearts to Himself. I am so excited. Thanks for taking part in this, even if only in praying with us.
Jesus, we can see Your hand in the details of the musical. Help us remain steadfast in prayer through the completion of this work that we may be blessed to look back and identify Your fingerprints all over this endeavor. We need you Lord. Have Your way in us.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
I am already beginning to see the signs that God has His hand on us in this upcoming endeavor of the Christmas drama and musical. A few indications:
• All 800 invitations are gone. If one of every four evokes a response that could easily fill the sanctuary once. Praise the Lord!
• As were concluding our work of recruiting orchestra members, an oboe player who has played in the past called to ask if we still needed her. She mentioned what a blessing the musical has been in years past and hoped she could still be involved. We said yes. She mentioned that her daughter has played flute here and shared her blessing. And yes, the only other part I was really hoping to cover was Flute 2. Thank You, Lord.
• A Choir member emailed me and mentioned that she had slow pitch with a family member when she invited them to the musical. They responded with interest which was a miracle itself. Coming would be an even greater one. Is God still in the miracle business?
• When our narrator had to back out a couple of weeks ago, God already had waiting in the wings a young woman who has done radio voice-overs who has a flair for the dramatic. She is 90-95% memorized as of Sunday.
• From lights to set, from drama to media, from to choir to orchestra, from invitations to response cards everything is coming together very nicely, thanks be to God!
We need to be diligent in prayer these next 12 days. God is going to reveal Himself through this work. People are going to respond. Eternity will be different for some. The Enemy of our souls does not like that one bit.
Pray for God’s enabling through these final days of prep. Pray for health for everyone involved, and please do not forget me. Pray for those who are inviting and being invited that the Lord would be in those connections softening and drawing hearts to Himself. I am so excited. Thanks for taking part in this, even if only in praying with us.
Jesus, we can see Your hand in the details of the musical. Help us remain steadfast in prayer through the completion of this work that we may be blessed to look back and identify Your fingerprints all over this endeavor. We need you Lord. Have Your way in us.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
It’s Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas
Dear Worshippers,
Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week? I begin making preparations for Christmas productions in August or September, but every year it seems to come at me faster and faster. Does anyone else ever experience anything like that?
The fact that it’s beginning to sound and look like Christmas fills our hearts with a flood of emotions: excitement over the celebration of the birth of our Lord, mingled in with expectations, obligations, and over commitments. Underneath or behind all that is the real meaning of Christmas. The meaning that causes us to rejoice. It’s a lovely time, but also a hectic time.
The reality is that 3 weeks from Sunday our Christmas production will occur. Only a little over 3 weeks remain for you to invite someone to attend. They will hear the story of Christ’s birth woven together with a contemporary parallel that will bring the mystery of the Incarnation down to an accessible level. It’s a ready made “slow pitch.”
We have even written and provided the invitations for you. The only thing left for you to do is invite. But many people will not even do that. Why? Fear or rejection. Fear of the unknown. Fear.
Don’t be afraid! There is likely someone in your life that is desperate to hear that Jesus is not just the name of that baby in the manger, but also the name that holds the answers to the deepest longings in their souls. Don’t keep that powerful truth to yourself.
Take an invitation and write a simple note inside. For example, “This is an annual event in our church when we remember what all the fuss is really about this time of year. Will you take an hour out of your schedule to come with me [us] and enjoy some while thinking about that? I would be honored if you would join us for this. I’ll even pick you up! Let me know.”
Obviously, you should personalize your note, but you get the idea. Make it a personal invitation. Reach out with the love of Christ to those people maybe only you can reach. You will not be sorry.
Jesus, we know You are the reason for the this upcoming celebration, but many do not. Give us the courage to reach out to them with Your love so they too will realize there is no name like Yours.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week? I begin making preparations for Christmas productions in August or September, but every year it seems to come at me faster and faster. Does anyone else ever experience anything like that?
The fact that it’s beginning to sound and look like Christmas fills our hearts with a flood of emotions: excitement over the celebration of the birth of our Lord, mingled in with expectations, obligations, and over commitments. Underneath or behind all that is the real meaning of Christmas. The meaning that causes us to rejoice. It’s a lovely time, but also a hectic time.
The reality is that 3 weeks from Sunday our Christmas production will occur. Only a little over 3 weeks remain for you to invite someone to attend. They will hear the story of Christ’s birth woven together with a contemporary parallel that will bring the mystery of the Incarnation down to an accessible level. It’s a ready made “slow pitch.”
We have even written and provided the invitations for you. The only thing left for you to do is invite. But many people will not even do that. Why? Fear or rejection. Fear of the unknown. Fear.
Don’t be afraid! There is likely someone in your life that is desperate to hear that Jesus is not just the name of that baby in the manger, but also the name that holds the answers to the deepest longings in their souls. Don’t keep that powerful truth to yourself.
Take an invitation and write a simple note inside. For example, “This is an annual event in our church when we remember what all the fuss is really about this time of year. Will you take an hour out of your schedule to come with me [us] and enjoy some while thinking about that? I would be honored if you would join us for this. I’ll even pick you up! Let me know.”
Obviously, you should personalize your note, but you get the idea. Make it a personal invitation. Reach out with the love of Christ to those people maybe only you can reach. You will not be sorry.
Jesus, we know You are the reason for the this upcoming celebration, but many do not. Give us the courage to reach out to them with Your love so they too will realize there is no name like Yours.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Fear Not
Dear Worshippers,
This has always been one of my favorite commands in Scripture. What Pastor Myron preached on Sunday solidified its place for me even more so! Did you catch how many times that command appears? I think God wanted us to hear it!
Countless times over my years of ministry I have said something like, “If we could simply grasp and live out one truth it would revolutionize our impact on the world around us.” That is certainly true of this simple statement.
The AdventureTruth was stated like this: His courage is mine. What an encouragement! Maybe you need to be reminded of that today. Maybe you need to remind someone else.
The song I sang at the end of the service captured this encouragement very well. [Praise You in This Storm by Casting Crowns, video follows short commercial, “Wait for it”] Particularly powerful to me was that little line, “I barely hear you whisper through the rain, ‘I’m with you”’. Jesus is saying to each of us He is with us. Let us take courage from that for whatever we face. Let us find His certainty in the midst of our uncertainty.
That’s what I did as we prepared for the launch of this new format. Believing that Jesus was asking us to step out of the boat and come to him, we resolved to follow him, no matter the sacrifice. The services Sunday were a blessing to me and I hope to you as well. I found myself thinking about Jesus, rather than music. I want to keep going there. Will you go with me?
In this adventure that is the life of faith in Jesus, we should learn very early on that we must keep our eyes on Jesus, looking to the place where He is calling us to go. When we get our eyes off Him, when we become distracted by anything else, we begin to sink. Like my 8 year old son Isaac wrote as Pastor Myron preached, “We sink in our fear.”
Jesus, help us fix our eyes on You and draw from You the courage we need to face the storms of this life. There is no uncertainty we can not endure when we feel your fingernails clasped around our forearm. We reach out to You in the certainty that you will grab a hold of us and never let go. Thank you Lord.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
This has always been one of my favorite commands in Scripture. What Pastor Myron preached on Sunday solidified its place for me even more so! Did you catch how many times that command appears? I think God wanted us to hear it!
Countless times over my years of ministry I have said something like, “If we could simply grasp and live out one truth it would revolutionize our impact on the world around us.” That is certainly true of this simple statement.
The AdventureTruth was stated like this: His courage is mine. What an encouragement! Maybe you need to be reminded of that today. Maybe you need to remind someone else.
The song I sang at the end of the service captured this encouragement very well. [Praise You in This Storm by Casting Crowns, video follows short commercial, “Wait for it”] Particularly powerful to me was that little line, “I barely hear you whisper through the rain, ‘I’m with you”’. Jesus is saying to each of us He is with us. Let us take courage from that for whatever we face. Let us find His certainty in the midst of our uncertainty.
That’s what I did as we prepared for the launch of this new format. Believing that Jesus was asking us to step out of the boat and come to him, we resolved to follow him, no matter the sacrifice. The services Sunday were a blessing to me and I hope to you as well. I found myself thinking about Jesus, rather than music. I want to keep going there. Will you go with me?
In this adventure that is the life of faith in Jesus, we should learn very early on that we must keep our eyes on Jesus, looking to the place where He is calling us to go. When we get our eyes off Him, when we become distracted by anything else, we begin to sink. Like my 8 year old son Isaac wrote as Pastor Myron preached, “We sink in our fear.”
Jesus, help us fix our eyes on You and draw from You the courage we need to face the storms of this life. There is no uncertainty we can not endure when we feel your fingernails clasped around our forearm. We reach out to You in the certainty that you will grab a hold of us and never let go. Thank you Lord.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Love Increasing and Overflowing
Dear Worshippers,
I am really excited about this Sunday and I hope you are too. It truly marks the beginning of a significant chapter in the history of our church. The willingness of the folks in our worship ministry to love and serve the church through our increase of labor is a huge part of this being a transition that will be beneficial to the church.
And there will be an increase in our labors, a song or two more each week and extra material for the choir will not be easy. I hope you are ready for this and are preparing yourself to take on the work. Your attitude will be critical as you approach your part of that work. I want to encourage you to be praying about your attitude that your continued involvement in this ministry would flow out of a heart of love for the Lord and His Bride.
I want to encourage you to pray for the church through this transition as well. The enemy would like nothing more than to continue to make our services a source of frustration and confusion for as many worshippers as possible. We must pray that he will not have his way in that…
I was so encouraged by the Scripture that Pastor Myron shared on Sunday. I Thessalonians 3:12, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” There are three directions that love is flowing in this verse and I think it is important to catch this as we move forward together.
First is the last one mentioned, “as ours [love] does for you”. We must have a love for the Bride. As leaders, those called to stand before God’s church and lead them, we must first example that love to the church. How are you doing in that? Is your first thought, when you stop to think about North-Mar, loving?
Next is the “for each other”. We must love each other. That’s how the world will know we belong to Christ. We are getting better at this all the time as we allow the Spirit to influence our every word, thought and deed. When you think of your brothers and sisters in the Lord, are your first thoughts loving?
Finally comes the “everyone else”. And this is the part that got me most excited Sunday. Sure, we are supposed to love the Lord and His Bride that is what is motivating this transition. Sure, we are supposed to love each other, that is what has spurred us to take on this additional labor, love for our brothers and sisters. But how does the “everyone else” factor in to Sunday morning?
Our Sunday morning experience should be a great, collective example of what we are doing all week long individually. Loving God, His people, and “everyone else”. The everyone else is a huge part of the Great Commission and if we will embrace it we will have a greater impact on the world around us.
Please pray with me that our love would increase and overflow, a demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit in us.
Jesus, make our love increase and overflow to each other and to everyone else. Make North-Mar a place marked by Your love, for Your glory and the good of everyone who comes into contact with Your church.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
I am really excited about this Sunday and I hope you are too. It truly marks the beginning of a significant chapter in the history of our church. The willingness of the folks in our worship ministry to love and serve the church through our increase of labor is a huge part of this being a transition that will be beneficial to the church.
And there will be an increase in our labors, a song or two more each week and extra material for the choir will not be easy. I hope you are ready for this and are preparing yourself to take on the work. Your attitude will be critical as you approach your part of that work. I want to encourage you to be praying about your attitude that your continued involvement in this ministry would flow out of a heart of love for the Lord and His Bride.
I want to encourage you to pray for the church through this transition as well. The enemy would like nothing more than to continue to make our services a source of frustration and confusion for as many worshippers as possible. We must pray that he will not have his way in that…
I was so encouraged by the Scripture that Pastor Myron shared on Sunday. I Thessalonians 3:12, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” There are three directions that love is flowing in this verse and I think it is important to catch this as we move forward together.
First is the last one mentioned, “as ours [love] does for you”. We must have a love for the Bride. As leaders, those called to stand before God’s church and lead them, we must first example that love to the church. How are you doing in that? Is your first thought, when you stop to think about North-Mar, loving?
Next is the “for each other”. We must love each other. That’s how the world will know we belong to Christ. We are getting better at this all the time as we allow the Spirit to influence our every word, thought and deed. When you think of your brothers and sisters in the Lord, are your first thoughts loving?
Finally comes the “everyone else”. And this is the part that got me most excited Sunday. Sure, we are supposed to love the Lord and His Bride that is what is motivating this transition. Sure, we are supposed to love each other, that is what has spurred us to take on this additional labor, love for our brothers and sisters. But how does the “everyone else” factor in to Sunday morning?
Our Sunday morning experience should be a great, collective example of what we are doing all week long individually. Loving God, His people, and “everyone else”. The everyone else is a huge part of the Great Commission and if we will embrace it we will have a greater impact on the world around us.
Please pray with me that our love would increase and overflow, a demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit in us.
Jesus, make our love increase and overflow to each other and to everyone else. Make North-Mar a place marked by Your love, for Your glory and the good of everyone who comes into contact with Your church.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Prayer: Our First Work
Dear Worshippers,
I so appreciated Pastor Praxl’s message Sunday on this Core Value of the Alliance and our church. If you were not present you can hear it here. [You can also view the powerpoint and follow along on the outline, both posted online.]
I was very encouraged by his perspective on prayer, and practicing it together in the service was a great opportunity for private/corporate worship. As I was praying about my Tunings today, the Lord brought this three-fold prayer back to mind: others, self, God’s will, and reminded me that this is what must be my first work when it comes to planning, preparing, and producing our services each weekend. I want to offer my perspective on this as another example of how to get yourself to a place where you do not worry about anything, because you are praying about everything.
Pray for others: Some are excited about what God is doing in the music of our services. I pray God will give them patience as we continue to seek the Lord. Others are struggling with the changes in the sound of our services. I pray God will give us wisdom as we seek to discern how best to help them engage in worship.
Pray for yourself: I have a longing for freedom to follow hard after God. I need to temper this with sensitivity to the particular make-up of North-Mar Church. I want to demonstrate the gentleness God has recently shown me as I lead this diverse group of people.
Pray for God's will: God desires to soak His church. He wants us to leave talking about Him, not the music. He wants our hearts to be surrendered to Him. What that looks like is coming into clearer view with each passing day.
I want to encourage you to pray with me. I have no interest in tickling people’s ears, but I do want to serve them using music that gives them opportunity to express their praise to God. With the wide-range of backgrounds and ages in our services, this is no easy task. You can quickly see why prayer must be the first work. I appreciate your labors with me in this regard probably more so than any other.
Let’s make prayer our first response, not our last resort.
Jesus, teach us to pray before we do anything else. Teach us to pray while we do it. Teach us to when we are finished. We can only accomplish anything if we are connected to you.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
I so appreciated Pastor Praxl’s message Sunday on this Core Value of the Alliance and our church. If you were not present you can hear it here. [You can also view the powerpoint and follow along on the outline, both posted online.]
I was very encouraged by his perspective on prayer, and practicing it together in the service was a great opportunity for private/corporate worship. As I was praying about my Tunings today, the Lord brought this three-fold prayer back to mind: others, self, God’s will, and reminded me that this is what must be my first work when it comes to planning, preparing, and producing our services each weekend. I want to offer my perspective on this as another example of how to get yourself to a place where you do not worry about anything, because you are praying about everything.
Pray for others: Some are excited about what God is doing in the music of our services. I pray God will give them patience as we continue to seek the Lord. Others are struggling with the changes in the sound of our services. I pray God will give us wisdom as we seek to discern how best to help them engage in worship.
Pray for yourself: I have a longing for freedom to follow hard after God. I need to temper this with sensitivity to the particular make-up of North-Mar Church. I want to demonstrate the gentleness God has recently shown me as I lead this diverse group of people.
Pray for God's will: God desires to soak His church. He wants us to leave talking about Him, not the music. He wants our hearts to be surrendered to Him. What that looks like is coming into clearer view with each passing day.
I want to encourage you to pray with me. I have no interest in tickling people’s ears, but I do want to serve them using music that gives them opportunity to express their praise to God. With the wide-range of backgrounds and ages in our services, this is no easy task. You can quickly see why prayer must be the first work. I appreciate your labors with me in this regard probably more so than any other.
Let’s make prayer our first response, not our last resort.
Jesus, teach us to pray before we do anything else. Teach us to pray while we do it. Teach us to when we are finished. We can only accomplish anything if we are connected to you.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
His Compassion Compels Me
Dear Worshippers,
Compassion - a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
Compels - to force or drive, esp. to a course of action
This spring I began to learn some lessons about gentleness. I am not going to pretend that I have learned them well, or that I have finished learning them. I am a work in progress.
When I think about compassion, it’s kind of difficult for me to get beyond the other common word contained within it: passion. Passion - any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling. I feel like I am a passionate person. Maybe it is the artist in me but often my emotions are just below the surface and it does not take much for them to boil up within me to the point of overflow, driving me at times to a course of action. I am thankful for this, because I believe it the way God made me.
However, as He is remaking me I realize my need for compassion. I feel strongly about the things I feel strongly about, if you know what I mean. I want to feel strongly about the things God feels strongly about. Primarily by this I mean the misfortunes of those around me, particularly there spiritual misfortune, but certainly not limited to that.
As I think about being compelled, I would have to admit that more often that not it is my passions that compel me more than my compassion. I want this to change. I want to I want my reactions and responses to be characterized by compassion.
I know that this will require a fairly radical shift in the way I think. I know this will not be easy. I know that it will be an adventure. I know Jesus will help me.
So how about you? Is your pole baited with a worm as you go out fishing every day? Is your tongue filled the words of God, or with your words? Are you fishing, or are you just stirring the water with an empty hook? What changes will you have to allow Jesus to make to make you a better fisher of men?
For me, it’s gentle compassion. For you, it might be boldness. For others, willingness. Whatever it is, let Jesus do it in you and may His compassion compel you.
Jesus, I want your compassion to be what compels me. Make be passionate about the things You are passionate about, then fill my tongue with your words because there are some people in my life that need to hear.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
Compassion - a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
Compels - to force or drive, esp. to a course of action
This spring I began to learn some lessons about gentleness. I am not going to pretend that I have learned them well, or that I have finished learning them. I am a work in progress.
When I think about compassion, it’s kind of difficult for me to get beyond the other common word contained within it: passion. Passion - any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling. I feel like I am a passionate person. Maybe it is the artist in me but often my emotions are just below the surface and it does not take much for them to boil up within me to the point of overflow, driving me at times to a course of action. I am thankful for this, because I believe it the way God made me.
However, as He is remaking me I realize my need for compassion. I feel strongly about the things I feel strongly about, if you know what I mean. I want to feel strongly about the things God feels strongly about. Primarily by this I mean the misfortunes of those around me, particularly there spiritual misfortune, but certainly not limited to that.
As I think about being compelled, I would have to admit that more often that not it is my passions that compel me more than my compassion. I want this to change. I want to I want my reactions and responses to be characterized by compassion.
I know that this will require a fairly radical shift in the way I think. I know this will not be easy. I know that it will be an adventure. I know Jesus will help me.
So how about you? Is your pole baited with a worm as you go out fishing every day? Is your tongue filled the words of God, or with your words? Are you fishing, or are you just stirring the water with an empty hook? What changes will you have to allow Jesus to make to make you a better fisher of men?
For me, it’s gentle compassion. For you, it might be boldness. For others, willingness. Whatever it is, let Jesus do it in you and may His compassion compel you.
Jesus, I want your compassion to be what compels me. Make be passionate about the things You are passionate about, then fill my tongue with your words because there are some people in my life that need to hear.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
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