Enjoy Your Hot Chocolate

Dear Worshippers,

Our second son Isaac has a sweet tooth. The other night after the Christmas musical as I watched him enjoy a cup of scalding hot chocolate, I marveled at his ability to enjoy it even though it was so hot. His eyes lit up with every sip. I realized that once again I could learn something from my children, this time Isaac teaching me to enjoy the simple things in life. [By the way, this is the same Isaac who said Sunday morning that what he is looking forward to about Christmas is a new Bible.]

A dear friend forwarded this story to me last week. Many of you may have read it before, but in this season that can be so easily overshadowed with materialism I wanted to share it with those of you who haven’t.

The Wisdom in Hot Chocolate
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired.
During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.
Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said:
“Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you’re drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups. And then you began eyeing each other’s cups.”
Now consider this:
Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups.
The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate!!

Enjoy your Christmas, whatever it is!

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

The Mystery of Christmas

Dear Worshippers,

A little over a week ago I was holding our six-month Aiden. He was looking at his newly discovered hands half wondering if they were connected to him. As he marveled in that possibility, I found myself surprised by an awakening to a different reality. It struck me in that moment that my Savior became helpless, like my little guy, because I was hopeless. Revelation and response, a life of worship. It is amazing that our Redeemer came as an infant! WOW!

As amazing as the incarnation is, Christ coming in the flesh, it is possibly surpassed by this. That God not only sent His Son, but graciously revealed that to us. That which was a mystery hidden since ages past, has now been revealed.

When I think of mystery, my first thought is, “I have got to solve this.” That is not at all what is going with the mystery of Christmas. God is not saying, “I sent my Son. Now, figure out why.” No, this is not a mystery that we have to solve, but one that has been revealed to us. John 1 explains that very well.

The Word Became Flesh
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. (NIV)

I am so thankful that God revealed and keeps revealing His mystery to us, because if He had not, I would never have figured it out. I probably would not have even tried, and if I had, I would have gotten tied up in the realities that did not make sense. Thank you Lord.

I want to encourage you to go through these last few days before Christmas with you eyes wide open. It is very easy to miss the things that God is trying to reveal to us, especially when our eyes are so fixed on the things of this world that we forget they are pointing to greater possibilities and realities way beyond them. I pray the Father would reveal the mystery of Christmas to you again, in some new, fresh way today.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Living the Call-Apart

Dear Worshippers,

Here is the text on my resignation as read on Sunday morning, December 7. 2008.

God’s Revealing

Our Worship Ministries exist
to nurture worship as a lifestyle
characterized by sincere responses to God’s self-revelations.

That is the vision the Lord gave for this ministry upon my arrival early in 2003. I have endeavored to live that before you and with you over the last nearly six years. The Lord has shown Himself on numerous occasions and we have responded together. What a privilege it has been to lead you in each of those moments.

These last few months the Lord has shown me something about Himself and His purposes for me. Those of you who have been reading my Tuesday Tunings know that I have been thinking about talents and investments. I said that if we make investments into our talents they become strengths. I challenged the readers to discover their talents and invest in them.

As I was talking and teaching about this, I was experiencing it as well. The Lord was leading me into some new and different challenge for me to serve with the talents He has given me and to grow further in the journey He has laid out for me. He began stirring within me a desire for some change, either internally or externally.

The Lord was cultivating in me a desire to be exceptional in the exercising of my talents for His glory. He began this work in me through a number of different circumstances, as He often does, but it took me a while to perceive what He was doing. I even denied it for a time, trying to ignore it or at least its implications, but once I was willing to open my eyes to see the hand of the Lord, I had to respond in obedience.

My Response

I have accepted the call to serve as the Pastor of Worship of North Mar Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Warren, Ohio. This letter serves as my resignation of my duties here effective January 15, 2009. Though sad about leaving Morgantown, I am excited about the prospects for ministry in a place I believe the Lord has prepared me for and prepared for me. I believe the next set of good works prepared in advance for me to do [Ephesians 2:10] are in another place.

As the Lord wills, I plan to begin in Ohio the beginning of February. I appreciate your prayers through this time of transition as I anticipate that it will not be easy to leave a place and a people that are so dear to me. Though not always easy, when the Lord shows Himself, His purposes and His ways we must then choose to respond. A life of worship is made up of many choices to respond in ways that allow the Lord to reveal Himself. I pray He has and will continue to enable me to make such choices to characterize my life.

In closing, I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve you and this body for the glory of Christ. I pray God’s clear leading as you move forward through this transition. I trust Him for kingdom advance through the church that sent me once, and now must release me again.

Thank you and may the Lord Jesus Christ continue to reveal Himself to you, and give you the grace, wisdom and courage to respond…in worship.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Advent: The Cost

Dear Worshippers,

We have now come to my favorite time in the church year, with possibly the exception of Easter. Advent is a time preceding Christmas when we anticipate the arrival of the Lord Jesus, both the remembrance of His first and the expectation of His second. This sense of anticipation is seen in the face of children as they wait to open those gifts under the tree.

As I spoke with Pastor Miller about his focus through this coming season he mentioned he will be focusing on Christ’s Second Advent. Then He asked if we could do something special on December 21, the last Sunday before Christmas. He would like to have all the children come up front and have Pastor Etris randomly ask them wait they are anticipating about Christmas. I am sure this will be a precious time as we hear their perspectives on “arrival”. The thing we probably will not hear is a sensitivity to the cost of those things which they are anticipating.

How often do we approach this season with a similar sense of expectation which is void of a deep sense of the sacrifice of our Lord to come? Our family tries to gather around our Advent wreath at home each night and read Scripture, sing and pray that we would be mindful of every aspect of our Lord’s coming in the flesh. One part of that is the cost to Him.

I do not know what the traditions or habits are for each of your families, but I want to offer you a resource I discovered recently. Below you will find a link that will take you to a pdf file from what I believe to be a trustworthy source. It examines through Scripture, a brief reading and a couple of questions the cost of this season, from the perspectives of many of the characters. I hope you will find it a useful tool as you prepare your hearts once again to worship the Christ this Christmas.

The Cost: Christmas Devotional

Though I have not read every word on every page, I recommend this resource to you and your families as a tool to aid you in your worship through this Advent season. I pray for you that your encounter with the Christ through this will heighten your anticipation of the coming of our Lord. Whether you use this tool or some other one, be sure to take some time during this busy season to stop and celebrate the One who has come in the flesh.

Merry Christmas to you! [I love being one of the first people to send that greeting every year.]

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Gratitude…Changes Everything

Dear Worshippers,

As I was preparing for our Thanksgiving Eve service last week, I watched again a video that will use to set the tone for the service. One of my most vivid memories in worship at our church came during one of these services a couple of years ago when Jack Clise gave this brief testimony, “I’m thankful that I’m six feet up instead of sic feet under.” Now that’s perspective.

It’s that kind of perspective that our opening video and time of quiet reflection will seek to cultivate. 2008 has been a very interesting year for most people. Frankly, it’s been a year where our gratitude levels might be low. But is there something beyond our circumstances to be grateful for? Of course there is. Watch how this video puts it. [This link takes you to a page that has a small-scale full-length preview (2.31) of the video on the site where I purchased it.]

Thanksgiving 08

Though you have seen the video, I hope you will come and worship with us tomorrow night.
The service is at 6:30. I hope you can join us as the elders lead us through a time of praise, thanksgiving and prayer. My prayer is that it will cultivate an “attitude of gratitude” within the hearts of everyone present.

As the video says, gratitude changes everything. If you can look at your current circumstance with gratitude, not because of it, but because God is right there with you in the middle of it, your countenance changes. Even if you can not see God, and do not feel that He is there, but believe that He is, gratitude can blossom. It brings to mind I Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I know you want to be in God’s will. Then give thanks…in everything, not because of everything. Little word, big difference.

Come and experience that difference with us Wednesday night. Share the video with someone who can’t be there. Exercise gratitude, this Thursday and beyond, and watch everything change, as you do.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Giving Thanks

Dear Worshippers,

I began to explore the idea of talents and gifts last week. I talked about how if we call certain things we have an aptitude for or are good at gifts, this implies there is a giver. I encouraged you to think of your abilities as talents, and told you this week we would begin to consider how we identify our talents.

As I reflected on this it occurred to me that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I am planning services now that will highlight this response to God is this most Christian of seasons. The world has not been able to crack the code on how to commercialize this one yet. Praise the Lord for that!

As you think about what talents you have been blessed with, one easy way to begin to identify them is to think about what you are most thankful to God for, and what others seem to thank God for about you. For example, I was talking with someone today who has the gift of encouragement. This person also has the ability or talent of listening well. This is a good match for someone with encouraging gifts. This person was listening to me and encouraging me as I shared some things with them. As the conversation wound down, I affirmed his encouragement as a gift from the Lord, and his use of it a blessing to me and a delight to the Lord.

It was not the first time I had told this person thanks for using that gift and talent, but they seemed surprised that I identified it. Actually, he has each time. I think it is genuine humility at work here, but I was surprised that this person seemed taken aback by my acknowledgement of their use of God’s gifting in them. I think many people are unaware of their gifting and talent.

Think about yourself for a minute. What are you thankful about when you evaluate your life? Are you thankful that you enjoy helping others? That you seem to have a knack for organizing? That people really enjoy being with you? That you are always thinking about how to include more people in what you are doing? Or any other number of talents.

Identifying your talent is the first step toward making it into a strength. Once you identify your talent, then you can begin to make investments in it and allow the Lord to make it into a strength. If you don’t, you are not being a good steward.

Often times we focus on what we are not good at, and work on these areas. There is profit in that discipline. But we might gain a higher return on our investment if we start with something that we are already good at or really enjoy doing.

Think on that these days and determine as you approach Thanksgiving what talent you are going to thank God for…and invest in through the end of the year.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Talents

Dear Worshippers,

One of the comments that most commonly comes out of people’s mouths when someone shares something musically at church is “She is so gifted.” The musical ability displayed is rightly attributed to the musician as a gift, which obviously implies there is a giver. For those of us who know Him, that would be Giver.

This terminology has bothered me for some time because I believe there is a more accurate way to describe the ability. I have also just recently realized another layer of meaning that causes me to be comfortable with a different terminology. I have said to some that I might just do my doctoral work in this area of understanding “gifting”, but I will try to limit my thoughts here to a few paragraphs.

First, I like to think of these abilities as talents. [This changes the comment to “She is so talented.”] I think the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) gives credence to this way of thinking because it so clearly shows several people being given something for a particular purpose, to put that talent to work. Though the same could be said for the spiritual gifts, I prefer to think of these as being imparted with the Spirit at redemption, whereas talents I believe are given by God to all.

Second, a talent undeveloped is as good as one never possessed. In the parable we see that the master takes it away from the one who did not put it to good use. How many people have undeveloped talent? The Lord has given them ability for His glory, but they do not use it accordingly.

I believe this helps differentiate between talent and gift in the minds of even the unbeliever. It is understood that a gift is meant to be enjoyed by the recipient. A talent on the other hand is meant to be employed.

With regard to the spiritual gifts, I believe you could employ your talent to exercise your gift. Do you follow me? I could use my musical talent to exercise the gift of leadership, or for my own purposes.

All this to say, we all have been given talent. Yours may not be as much musical as it is something else, like building or solving difficult problems or helping to include people in activities, or any other number of things. Here is why I am thinking about it these days?

I want to be exceptional in my gifting and deeply satisfied in my calling. [I want the same for each of you.] This will require that I know my gifts and my talents. I will employ them in both endeavors. If I do not know my talents, I can not invest in them and make them my strengths. More on that next week.

Until then…ask the Lord what your talents are and how you can begin to develop them for His glory.

In Christ,


Pastor Scott

Objectivity

Dear Worshippers,

I mentioned last week that I wanted to spend a little time thinking about talents and investments and strengths over the next few weeks. As we do, I think it is important to remember that this is a very important day in the history of our nation. If you have not already done so, take a few moments to pray for the outcome of today’s election that will most honor the Lord and bring people to [and back to] Him…

We have heard a lot about strengths and weaknesses over the last few weeks from our presidential candidates. So much so that most of us are pretty sick of it by now. I heard a very interesting poll last week. [I have heard my share of them as well.] This CNN poll asked viewers how they felt about this statement with regard to the elections: The media has lost all objectivity. The results were a little surprising to me. It indicated that 84% of the respondents agreed with that statement.

I was surprised at first because I expected people to be fairly generous and say that the media still had a little objectivity. But this result coincided with something I learned last week about objectivity. The reality is we tend to be more generous when we are considering our own ability to be objective than we are of others ability. That is, most of us view ourselves as more objective than others, or more capable of seeing things clearly. Think about that for a minute

Objectivity is hard to come by, but essential when trying to examine talents. This examination is critical when making choices about investments that will be made into those talents so they can be built into strengths. I am talking about how you spend your time in your desire to answer God’s call on your life.

How objective are you?

I have been spending a fair amount of time over the last few weeks trying to look objectively at myself and my call. It’s not easy, but it is essential. I want to be excellent in my gifting and deeply satisfied in my calling so I am doing some evaluation of my life and it’s activity. If you do not know what your talents are, how can you elect to invest in them for future development?

Make an investment in the future today. Go vote. And start asking the Lord for the ability to see yourself clearly, objectively.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Transformation

Dear Worshippers,

So as you keep listening for that “new thing” that God is revealing to you…do so from a posture prepared for transformation. I have been thinking a lot about change lately, particularly the change that God wants to produce in me as I continue to offer my life in service to Him. I want to be prepared for what the Lord wants to do in me.

You may have heard me say something like this before, “The Christian life is a life of transformation.” Obviously, we are ever being formed into the likeness of the Savior. This requires constant change from us. It is constant in that it is a process and not a single event. We see this contrast of single event and process in Hebrews 10 which speaks of Christ’s sacrifice once for all. In verse 14 the writer says, “by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” How cool is that? By His sacrifice we are made perfect forever [past, present and future position] and begin the process of being made holy [present experience].

This concept of sacrifice is clearly applied to our response to God’s mercy in Romans 12:1-2. Here we are urged “to offer [our] bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is [our] spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind[s].” This is a process, breaking from the world’s pattern of evil and corruption and entering into God’s pattern of holiness and perfection. Seem like too lofty a goal for you? Do you think this kind of process is reserved for the spiritual giants?

Allow me to offer one more “shining” example of this transformative process as described by Paul to the church at Corinth. You should remember that in his first letter he described this church as immature and unspiritual [3:1-4]. He what he had to say in his second letter [3:18], “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Yes, Jesus wants to shine through you. The songwriter of “Shine, Jesus Shine” voiced the beautiful prayer this way. “As we gaze on Your kingly brightness/so our faces display Your likeness./Ever changing from glory to glory/ mirrored here may our lives tell Your story/Shine on me/Shine on me.”

There is hope for you. It is found in the process of transformation as you yield to the work of the Holy Spirit. He will change you to be more and more and more like Jesus, to the glory of the Father. What an exciting propect!

But we can become comfortable, can’t we? Unwilling to enter into this process on a daily basis, we convince ourselves that we are satisfied with the glory we have received and reflected. But Jesus is calling us deeper.

I have been reflecting on what that means for me lately and over the next few weeks I plan to share that with you. I have been thinking much about talents and investments and strengths. Come with me on a journey that I pray will help you become excellent in your gifting and deeply satisfied in your calling. Sound good? It will cost you. But it’s worth it.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

To Reveal

Dear Worshippers,

Last week I challenged you to be listening because God is speaking. I hope that the Lord has spoken some things into your life over the last week that have greatly encouraged you. I trust that if you were listening He probably also spoke some things that in their application will require some changes in you life. In any event, what God spoke had purpose for God is not careless with His words, and does not waste them. In other words, when God speaks there is a reason, and the first part of that reason is to reveal Himself.

When God speaks, He is always showing us something about Himself, His purpose and His ways. When we hear these things, something happens inside of us. We are given the opportunity to respond. When God speaks He expects that something will happen.

This is in part because when God speaks He is revealing what He is about to do. Amos 3:7 says, “Indeed, the Lord does nothing without revealing His counsel to His servants the prophets.” Did you see that? NOTHING. Before God does anything He tells someone about it. This is in part to draw that person closer to Himself, but also often because He wants to use them to do it.

Are you beginning to see where this is going? As God speaks to you, He is revealing what He is about to do. His revealing it to you is an invitation to join Him in it. When you obey and do, you come to know God better. God does speak just to hear His voice, He speaks to accomplish something, and we know His word never returns void. Isaiah 55:11 “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

In Isaiah 43:19 we find this word form the Lord.

“See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.”

Here is my question for the week. What “new” thing is God speaking into your life? Your family? Our church? Will you listen and obey? Quiet yourself before Him in the next day and ask Him to speak that new thing to you. But be careful. Listening to God can be a very danger thing because His words will not return void. They will accomplish what He pleases, that which He has purposed. Make yourself available, then come and ask God to speak to you, to reveal Himself to you, and purpose to listen and obey. You will be changed.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

God Speaks

Dear Worshippers,

While I was in seminary, I worked through the Bible study “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God” by Henry Blackaby. It was a very formative period in my life as I continued to prepare to pursue God’s call on my life so I was really desirous of knowing His will and doing it.

Blackaby speaks of “Seven Realities” as foundational to experiencing God. The central one that profoundly impacted my life was this: “God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.” Pretty simple stuff, until your start living it.

You see, expecting God to speak Himself, His purposes and His ways into your life will transform the way you live. Suddenly everything takes on a whole new meaning. God was to show Himself to me. When He does, He expects me to respond. You have heard this kind of thing from me before, but here is my context for today.

I was having a conversation last night with my two oldest boys about God speaking. We were reading the passage where Samuel comes to Bethlehem to anoint a new king. The Scripture in I Samuel reads like a conversation is going on between God and Samuel. I asked my boys if Samuel actually heard God speaking or did he just imagine it? I asked if anyone else could hear, or just Samuel? I asked them if God still speaks today?

They did pretty well answering my questions, and I am certain you would as well. The real rub comes when we consider applying that truth. Will we cultivate such a relationship with God, like Samuel, that He can speak conversationally with us? When we hear, will we trust it is truly Him? When He does speak, will we obey?

God spoke to me recently. This doesn’t happen all the time, but especially when I really need His guidance. I poured my heart out and I believed He answered me. I am still working to understand what He revealed, but I am excited that He is showing me His purposes and His ways.

God is speaking to us. This is a critical time for our church. We must be listening to what the Spirit is revealing to us. We must be willing to respond with wisdom and courage.

God is speaking to you. Are you listening?

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

A Time of Transition

Dear Worshippers,

I want to encourage you to be praying as we seek the Lord and His will together in the coming weeks. I especially want to encourage you to pray for the Elders. They have a daunting task ahead of them and they need our prayerful support. But there is something else they will need as well, and I want to encourage you to prayerfully give this to them as well.

There will be a survey of the congregation that will seek to discern some things as we move forward: perceived strengths and weaknesses of our church, issues or concerns that should be addressed during this time of transition, characteristics of the pastor we should be looking for, and general perceptions of our congregation. They really need the perspective of everyone in the church. Every age group needs to respond. We need to pray and answer those questions when the opportunity arises. This will aid the process of discerning God’s will for our church. Please be ready to give it.

I am taking some time away next week. I will certainly be praying for the Elders, Pastor Miller, and our entire church. I want to encourage you to do the same. Let us seek the Lord during this time of transition with the expectation that He will reveal Himself to us through it, and give us the wisdom and courage to respond.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Bittersweet

Dear Worshippers,

Wikipedia puts it like this: “Bittersweet refers to a combination of the standard tastes of sweetness and bitterness, and is often used as a metaphor for experiences which have elements of both happiness and sadness.” That is an apt description of what transpired two days ago in our morning worship service, an experience which had elements of both happiness, remembering the lives and ministry of Rev. David and Mossie Goodin, and sadness, bidding them farewell.

In conversation following the service someone used this word and it really struck me. I had been dealing with all these thoughts and feelings without a way to encapsulate them. This really does the trick because though I am truly sad to say goodbye to these dear friends, I am also exciting for them and what the Lord has for our church in the future. This experience is bittersweet. Though mostly it is just bitter right now, I am trusting the Lord for the sweetness to be overpower in His time as the ministry of the next man begins to have an impact on us all.

As we bid Pastor David farewell we remember his ministry and service to the Lord. His impact on our church will linger as certainly as our fond memories of him will. We can honor that memory best by doing the things he taught us so well over these years.

Graciousness. I have to say that this is one of the main things I have learned from Pastor David. I have seen him deal graciously in some difficult situations. I have received his counsel to do the same because I had witnessed him do so. I have seen the Lord in him and through him in those moments.

Gentleness. One of the most powerful imagines in mind of Pastor David is of him bending down to look children in the eye as he talked with them. His concern for the smallest in our midst and his obvious love for them is something I endeavor to model. Again, Jesus has shown through in those moments as well.

Patience. I know of many situations where Pastor David exhibited patience that can only be explained by the presence of the Lord. Some of them, of which I am not at liberty to speak, cause me to simply shake my head in the awareness that I have not yet attained that level of longsuffering.

I am sure that you have fond memories of Pastor David and Mossie. As you reflect on them in these days, give praise to God, and purpose to have a similar impact on the people around you. That way, when it is your time to move on to your next assignment, whether in this world or the next, for those you have touched your departure will be bittersweet as well.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

He Wants Them Found

Dear Worshippers,

Last week I wrote about the theme from this years Missions Conference. It was at the top of the schedule that we printed and distributed for over a month. “Lost people matter to God. He wants them found. Luke 19:10.” Having set the stage with the first phrase last week, I want to consider the second together today. WARNING: Continuing reading may require a radical change in lifestyle. Read at your own risk!

God is really serious about this, that is finding lost people. Did you notice the way it is worded? It is no mistake. It does not say, “He wants to find them.” That would be ridiculous since He knows where they are. It also does not say, “He is somewhat interested in their being found.” That would understate His concern for them. For you see, He gave His Son to the world for this express purpose, “To seek and to save what was lost.” [Luke 19:10 NIV] That is why Jesus came. And that is the ministry that He has entrusted to our care.

Pastor David has a keen sense of the urgency of this ministry. As he articulated so eloquently in his “resignation sermon” and then again in his explanatory writing “YOU’RE DOING WHAT? …AND WHY?”, his heart is burdened with the plight of the lost. His church ministry has greatly insulated him from contact with them, and he felt a growing longing to identify with the lost and communicate the Gospel to those who have not heard.

I can certainly empathize with his comments. I was concerned about my ability to be engaged in this labor to the lost that should mark all our labors while going through the process of ordination. I asked my mentor about it. He allayed my concerns by responding that my calling was one of a shepherd and that accordingly I would spend much of my time caring for the sheep. That seemed sufficient at the time, but I have sensed a similar longing over the years. The embers of that fire have burned brightly at times, and flickered at others.

This past week hearing time and time again how God wants the lost found has fanned that flame again. Contributing to that has been the example our pastor is setting for us, leaving the comforts of the familiar for the potential discomforts of the unfamiliar. If we will follow his example, even in his departure, I believe this could be a remarkable moment for our church.

Jesus left his home in heaven to seek and save the lost. Pastor David is walking away from the “significant and treasured” pastorate he has enjoyed here in our midst to do the same. What will our response be to these examples? What will we do to partner with the Lord in seeing the lost found? What will we leave behind to embrace the favorable future that God has for us personally and corporately? Let us wrestle with those answers as we labor for the lost.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Lost People Matter to God

Dear Worshippers,

It is that time of year again and we have three missionaries who have traveled from around the world, literally, to be with us. As always they encourage our resolve to partner with them in every way to complete the mission the Lord Jesus has given us, “Go and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19-20 As always they are exhorting us to make missions personal, to consider our role in completing this task. But this year for me is a little different, and I think I know why.

It is this theme, Lost People Matter to God. Seems pretty obvious, and fairly innocuous, until the Holy Spirit gets involved. We are asking the questions, “Does he matter to God? Does she matter to us? Does she matter to you?” The answer all of us would give is an unqualified “YES!” The problem comes when we begin to evaluate how our lives demonstrate that reality, OR NOT.

Our missionary from Central Asia, Eric, challenged us Sunday morning to cover our 50 yards. He shared a story about rescue workers looking for a lost boy in the woods and each being responsible for 50 yards. I though of Jacob Allen’s rescue last fall in the West Virginia hills. I though of a few lost people who are in my “50 yards”.

Then he talked about carving out time to invest in the lost. He said if our schedule does not reflect a passion to reach the lost, we are not going to be very effective at it. I was challenged personally because I have some acquaintances that I am trying to reach, but I spend little time with them. I am not certain yet how that is going to change, but I believe it must. I am confident that I am setting an example for people to follow and if I am not reaching the lost, that example will indeed be followed, to the detriment of many more lost people.

There is another factor at work for me this year. There is another reality I am facing. There is another example I am looking to. That is Pastor David. I will explain what I mean by that next week, but until then, I hope you will try to make it out to some of the special meetings this week. But be warned, you better have your heart ready to be challenged. Join us as we live this Call

together.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Risk

Dear Worshippers,

Risk - exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance: It's not worth the risk. One might say that there is no real risk in a life of faith. After all, God is Sovereign and in control of circumstances. While this is true, that doesn’t mean that communicating the gospel is without risk.

I just received an email from one of the missionaries who will be with us at Missions Conference next week. He was asking about a few details regarding his ministry here. At the bottom was some information from a previous email. Here is part of that.

My family and I are working in a creative access situation, so we have several things we would like you to do in regards to our coming:

- Do not post our full names or anything related to our work on your church web site.

- Do not put info about us on the church bulletin board.

- Do not broadcast or podcast the talks that I will give.

- Do not put our full names on any signs outside the church (for example a sign on the street telling what is coming up the next week).

- Do not put our full names or work in any advertisements you may make in local papers or media.

You quickly get a sense of the gravity of his situation, the risk he is taking to proclaim the gospel. If you think of the definition above in this context I think you will see where I'm going

We require these precautions because if our name is given to the country we are in by a [person of another religion] who sees it on your signs or ads, the country will deny our visa and our work will stop. I know that you do not want that, so I ask you to strictly adhere to this list to protect what we and the C & MA are doing in these hard to reach places.

The Gospel is worth the risk. That is easy for me to say, but I think this missionary will say the same. In addition to that, every redeemed soul will testify to such.

What “risks” are you taking, or are you willing to take for the gospel? Talking with that friend about Jesus, taking a stand against unethical behavior at work, telling your boss you can not work on Sunday because you do not want to miss church anymore, etc. Put yourself under the voice of those who are taking some risks, and I GUARANTEE you will be challenged. Are you up for that? I am praying and believing you will be.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Mobilization

Dear Worshippers,

Mobilize - to assemble or marshal (armed forces, military reserves, or civilian persons of military age) into readiness for active service, or to marshal, bring together, prepare (power, force, wealth, etc.) for action, esp. of a vigorous nature: to mobilize one's energy.

People are mobilizing all over the place. The Democrats were doing it last week, and this week the Republicans will have their chance. It promises to be an interesting race with the new VP nominee, Sarah Palin. [What a beautiful name.] The WVU football team is doing their best to prepare for action, and they better with East Carolina doing the same, right Virginia Tech? It seems like people all over are focusing their energy on some task, or they?

Just because energy is being expended, does not mean that people are mobilized. Just because work is being done, does not necessarily prove mobilization has occurred. Just because people are active, does not mean they are prepared.

I am asking myself if our Worship Ministries are mobilized, in response to Pastor David’s sermon on that topic from Sunday. Let's Roll If you did not hear it, it should be available by Wednesday, September 3, at this link. Worship Team is serving every week, choir is about to start along with Children’s Music, and we are going to be promoting a special event to recruit for orchestra as well, but I am asking myself are we truly mobilized. Are we coming together for action, or just activity. Are we focusing our energy on a particular task, or just spinning our wheels? This can be answered more accurately by what we are accomplishing than by what we are doing, but the doing is usually easier to measure.

Pray with me and for me for these ministries we share. I want to be used of God to mobilize people to “Live the Call Together.” I want to see our extraordinary God working through ordinary me and you as He multiplies communities of Christ throughout the world, by starting right here. Isn’t that want you want? That’s what the Lord wants.

It won’t be easy. But every drop of sweat, every sacrifice will be worthwhile. Let’s put our shoulder to the plow and join God in His labors with a renewed vigor and focus that comes from the Holy Spirit. Let’s spend ourselves for Jesus. Let’s roll.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Be the Difference

Dear Worshippers,

Here we go again. Another fall has arrived, which means a new beginning for ministry in this community which revolves around the university calendar. And rightly so, a large part of our mission field just came back to us. But what will our ministry look like in this new season, and what role will you play in what God wants to do.

Benjamin Franklin has been attributed with this definition of insanity, which a friend reminded me of recently: “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” We will do many things the same as a church this fall. I am asking myself as I look at the ministries under my charge, “How will it be different?” I am also asking myself, and want to encourage you to do the same, “How will you be different?”

One thing we are doing the same, but differently, is our Annual Children’s Missions Musical. We had our camp a few weeks ago, with 31 kids involved. We poured spiritual and musical concepts over them five hours a day for five days. We have been doing this for years. What’s different is how we are going to employ that labor for the Kingdom.

Tomorrow evening, 8.27, at 6:30 in the sanctuary, parents and kids alike have been invited to come enjoy the musical, then a time of refreshments while they register for different children’s ministries. I want to encourage you to attend. You will be blessed. If you can not come, please pray for us. Our desire was to share this musical with as many unchurched people as possible, and we are hoping that a number will be present for this special event.

Then on Saturday, we are taking the musical outside the walls of our church and all the way to Fairmont. We will be sharing it as a part of a special “Go for the Gold Back to School Bash” sponsored by the Fairmont Alliance Church Saturday night. Pray for many in that community to come out. They have had as many as 150 kids in the past and have promoted well again.

This is just one example of trying to take something we have done and do it a little differently, with the hope that it will produce even greater results for the Kingdom. But I want to encourage you to consider what you will do differently. Is there an area where you have been relying on your own strength? A relationship that you have left Jesus out of? A circumstance that you have avoided taking to God?

The theme for the year at the school where my boys attend is “Be the Difference.” It is based on John 15.5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Remain in Jesus, and more than just doing something differently, be the difference.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Be the Difference

Dear Worshippers,

Here we go again. Another fall has arrived, which means a new beginning for ministry in this community which revolves around the university calendar. And rightly so, a large part of our mission field just came back to us. But what will our ministry look like in this new season, and what role will you play in what God wants to do.

Benjamin Franklin has been attributed with this definition of insanity, which a friend reminded me of recently: “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” We will do many things the same as a church this fall. I am asking myself as I look at the ministries under my charge, “How will it be different?” I am also asking myself, and want to encourage you to do the same, “How will you be different?”

One thing we are doing the same, but differently, is our Annual Children’s Missions Musical. We had our camp a few weeks ago, with 31 kids involved. We poured spiritual and musical concepts over them five hours a day for five days. We have been doing this for years. What’s different is how we are going to employ that labor for the Kingdom.

Tomorrow evening, 8.27, at 6:30 in the sanctuary, parents and kids alike have been invited to come enjoy the musical, then a time of refreshments while they register for different children’s ministries. I want to encourage you to attend. You will be blessed. If you can not come, please pray for us. Our desire was to share this musical with as many unchurched people as possible, and we are hoping that a number will be present for this special event.

Then on Saturday, we are taking the musical outside the walls of our church and all the way to Fairmont. We will be sharing it as a part of a special “Go for the Gold Back to School Bash” sponsored by the Fairmont Alliance Church Saturday night. Pray for many in that community to come out. They have had as many as 150 kids in the past and have promoted well again.

This is just one example of trying to take something we have done and do it a little differently, with the hope that it will produce even greater results for the Kingdom. But I want to encourage you to consider what you will do differently. Is there an area where you have been relying on your own strength? A relationship that you have left Jesus out of? A circumstance that you have avoided taking to God?

The theme for the year at the school where my boys attend is “Be the Difference.” It is based on John 15.5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Remain in Jesus, and more than just doing something differently, be the difference.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Be the Difference

Dear Worshippers,

Here we go again. Another fall has arrived, which means a new beginning for ministry in this community which revolves around the university calendar. And rightly so, a large part of our mission field just came back to us. But what will our ministry look like in this new season, and what role will you play in what God wants to do.

Benjamin Franklin has been attributed with this definition of insanity, which a friend reminded me of recently: “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” We will do many things the same as a church this fall. I am asking myself as I look at the ministries under my charge, “How will it be different?” I am also asking myself, and want to encourage you to do the same, “How will you be different?”

One thing we are doing the same, but differently, is our Annual Children’s Missions Musical. We had our camp a few weeks ago, with 31 kids involved. We poured spiritual and musical concepts over them five hours a day for five days. We have been doing this for years. What’s different is how we are going to employ that labor for the Kingdom.

Tomorrow evening, 8.27, at 6:30 in the sanctuary, parents and kids alike have been invited to come enjoy the musical, then a time of refreshments while they register for different children’s ministries. I want to encourage you to attend. You will be blessed. If you can not come, please pray for us. Our desire was to share this musical with as many unchurched people as possible, and we are hoping that a number will be present for this special event.

Then on Saturday, we are taking the musical outside the walls of our church and all the way to Fairmont. We will be sharing it as a part of a special “Go for the Gold Back to School Bash” sponsored by the Fairmont Alliance Church Saturday night. Pray for many in that community to come out. They have had as many as 150 kids in the past and have promoted well again.

This is just one example of trying to take something we have done and do it a little differently, with the hope that it will produce even greater results for the Kingdom. But I want to encourage you to consider what you will do differently. Is there an area where you have been relying on your own strength? A relationship that you have left Jesus out of? A circumstance that you have avoided taking to God?

The theme for the year at the school where my boys attend is “Be the Difference.” It is based on John 15.5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Remain in Jesus, and more than just doing something differently, be the difference.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Going for the Gold

Dear Worshippers,

Did you know the Olympics begin next Friday, 8-8-08 at 8:08:08 in the evening in Beijing? Many athletes will gather from all over the world to compete for the right to stand on top of the podium and claim the gold medal. Most of them will have trained for years, disciplining their entire lives to the pursuit of this goal, hoping for a few moments of glory and a place in history.

But before that, another exciting event begins: our annual Children’s Music Camp on Monday, 8-4-08 at 9:00 in the morning. Kids will gather from all over the area to prepare a musical to share which will declare the way to walk the golden streets of glory. Most of them will have done musicals before, but never one like this one, which will equip them with some very specific tools by which to share their faith in Christ.

You see, our musical this year is Hans Bronson’s Gold Medal Mission: A Kids Musical of Olympic Proportions. It will trace the coming to faith of the lead character and in so doing teach the kids to use the five colors of the Olympic rings to share their faith: black – sin, red – Jesus’ blood, blue – baptism, green – growth [prayer, Bible study, evangelism and fellowship], and gold – eternal reward. I can hardly wait to get started, except for the fact that there are still many details to care for before then.

I want to encourage you again to pray. I fully expect that there will be some kids who come next week who have never turned in faith to Christ. I know there are many others who need to grow in their faith. What a privilege to invest in the lives of these kids who have a life stretching before them that can be used to the glory of God.

I am very thankful also for a crew of support: Susan Floyd, my assistant director, Amy Davis, choreography, and Rich Kyer, drama, to name just a few key leaders. Pray for the each of these and me for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to be upon everything we do. Pray for the kids to receive that ministry. Pray for God to be glorified as we prepare this musical which will be used at two outreach events, one here and one in Fairmont.

I also want to encourage you to be “Going for the Gold”. Do not settle into this life, living comfortably looking forward to your reward. Instead, as Paul said, “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” [Phil. 3:14] Discipline yourself to serve faithfully introducing others to the Savior and the hope of heaven even while you anticipate your eternal reward.

Thanks for praying and “Living the Call Together.”

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Where Jesus Walked to the Cross

Dear Worshippers,

VBS week is upon us. We are taking a Holy Land Adventure to the Jerusalem Marketplace. We are walking in Jesus steps as we expose the kids to different aspects of Jewish life at the time of Christ. There will be children who decide to follow Jesus this week and you can play a role in that.

The last few weeks we have been considering the Core Values of the Alliance. We have been reminded that Holy Spirit empowerment is essential for us to accomplish anything. We have also been encouraged to engage in our primary work, prayer. So I want to encourage you to live out those realities in a very purposeful way.

In the opening night of VBS last night we shared Jesus with over 130 children. We need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to so this. Each teacher need that power, from song leaders to Bible teachers, games directors and craft coordinators, we want to introduce children to Christ, without the Holy Spirit we cannot do it. Here is where you come in.

Prayer. Please pray for every teacher and helper. From the registration desk to the final prayer, may each encounter show the love of the Savior. Pray for those who are serving Christ at VBS this week.

Please pray for the kids who are coming, and their families. Many of our church kids are there. Pray they will learn more of the Savior and be enabled to live in Him. Some other church kids are there as well. Pray that we would serve and love those kids and their families.Some unchurched kids are there as well. Pray that they would meet Jesus; not only them but their families as we serve and love them as well.

VBS is local missions. Pray that we would declare Christ well this week. Pray that we would disciple children in the faith. Pray that we will teach them to obey all Christ has commanded us. Pray that we will “Live the Call Together” and in so doing, do so.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Understanding Worship

Dear Worshippers,

I have been praying these last couple of weeks about Sunday School on July 20^th. I will be the teacher that morning for the combined class as we continue through a short course one our Core Values of worship. Pastor Andy Hawkins did a great job getting us started Sunday and I am looking forward to continuing the journey this weekend. I want you to join me in more ways than one.

First of all, pray with me. Worship can be such a divisive issue, and has been to some extent in our church as well. As we consider the transition that our pastoral change brings, there is some question as to what will happen with the direction of our corporate worship as well. This is a good time for us to expand our understanding and experience of corporate worship, and for that reason is a great time to consider these truths.

What I want to ask you to pray about with me is this: That this encounter with God through His word would broaden our concept of how we respond to God when we are together. We could approach this thinking that we are going to nail down what worship is and how we are going to do it, but rather what I am praying would happen is that each of us would embrace the opportunity to connect with God is a fresh way through our collective adoration.

Second, come. You each play a role in modeling worship in our services. You also play that role wherever and whenever the Lord leads you as a part of this body. Your presence in these classes will be instructive for you as a worshipper, but will also have a profound impact on your ability to lead as well, both during the class and afterward. The point here is transformation, not information.

My title above is a lofty goal, but it is also my call and my life’s pursuit. I am thankful to each of you who partner with me to nurture worship as a lifestyle. Will you continue to sincerely give yourselves over to God in response to His self-revelations? I am excited about what the future of our worship collectively will look like if we labor to this end. We will see the presence and power of the Almighty in remarkable ways. Pastor Jack Hayford put it this way, “Where worship is released, God’s presence comes to dwell, and where God’s presence abides, there will be power.”

I pray we understand that more and more as we experience the presence and power of God in our worship.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

A Vision…Fulfilled!?

Dear Worshippers,

What is vision? Pollster George Barna has defined vision as “a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God to His chosen servants.” He goes on to say that vision is “based on an accurate understanding of God, self and circumstances.” So that you so not think that the idea of “vision” is a term borrowed from the secular world, let me remind you of Proverbs 29:18, “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy.” [NLT] The words divine guidance here are translated vision in other versions, the point being prophetic revelation.

It was about seven or eight years ago when the Lord began to guide me into something that happened last Friday evening. While visiting some family on the eastern Florida coast I experienced a combined church musical that blessed me greatly. I did something like it the next two years in Florida, then each year since my return to Morgantown. As we concluded singing “In God We Trust” to the rain soaked crowd at the Amphitheater the fireworks began to go off. We were still singing and playing. It was amazing, choreographed better than I could have asked.

I saw something with my eyes that God have given me a clear mental image years before: a choir by the river singing His praises as the fireworks began. To inject our community’s celebration of America with God’s people singing of our trust in Him was the fulfillment of a vision. As the fireworks continued, I found a seat with my family and wept. God had fulfilled the vision that I had often spoken of publicly, at times I must admit with some doubt. We faced a lot of opposition over the years to this, but God had made a way. Hallelujah!

As I reflected over the weekend, I was reminded of more of the vision. I have often spoken of a 100 voice choir and a 50 piece orchestra. This year we were at about 40 and 30 respectively, and a talented bunch they were, but I am believing with a newfound conviction that God is not yet finished with this move. It is that newfound conviction that I want to encourage you with this week.

Pastor David began a new series on the Core Values of the Alliance. It will be his last. But God is saying something to me in these days, and I believe to our church. He has work for us to do. There is a preferable future ahead of us and He wants to give us a clear mental image of it. Not only corporately, but individually as well.

What role are you playing in making the knowledge/guidance/revelation/vision of God known? Are you telling others about the Sovereign One Who alone can choreograph fireworks to music? Has God put something on your heart that has been a long time coming? I encourage you today to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. [Phil 3:14] Now that’s a vision!

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Fire Works

Dear Worshippers,

As Pastor David has been taking us through this series on the Holy Spirit, I have often been led to the idea of fire. This past Sunday and the one to come are no exception. I thought that their serving as bookends for the July 4^th holiday it might be appropriate to speak into the work of the fire of God in the life of the believer. As anyone who has been aware of the process of sanctification can attest: fire works.

Oh, the work that fire does. The same fire works different way depending on your proximity to it. The fire is “unchanging” if you will, but works to change the area around it in various ways. Fire works in these ways which have significant spiritual corollaries: lighting, warming, and purifying.

The first thing that comes to mind for me is that fire lights. Wherever there is fire the darkness has to flee. I built with my boys while camping a couple of weeks ago. It was dark all around except near the fire. What things does the Spirit of God want to illumine in your life? Maybe there are places where darkness dwells, or maybe there is something that you have stuffed that He wants to remind you of so that you can deal with it.

This brings us to the next thing fire does, it warms. Have you ever been really cold, like to the bone, and drew close to a fire? The degree of heat, just like light, depends on your proximity. What does the Spirit want to warm in you? Maybe your heart has grown cold with disappointment or discouragement. Draw near to the fire of God, and let Him do His work in you, reviving you. Remember, you can warm up quickly if you get close enough.

If you get close enough you will experience get another thing that fire does, it purifies. For something that will not catch fire, flames have a way of separating the different parts. Think gold being refined. The “other” materials separate from the gold, purifying it. What does the Holy Spirit want to purify in you? Maybe some things are apart of your passions and desires that keep you from loving God with your whole heart. Let God’s refining fire make you holy, set apart for Him, ready to His will.

May the Fire of God work in you these days, and always.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott