Missions and Mercy

Dear Worshippers,

This weekend the choir will resume their ministry to our congregation as they sing the prayer "Hear Our Praises". Some of the text of this wonderful anthem says, “May our homes be filled with dancing, may our streets be filled with joy. May injustice bow to Jesus as the people turn to pray.” I stopped during our read-through of this last week and challenged the choir with this vision…

Wouldn’t it be a blessing if people across the nation instead of reading about football players or partying running rampant in our city, they could read about dancing filling our homes, joy filling the streets, injustice bowing to Jesus, BECAUSE GOD’S PEOPLE TURNED TO PRAY? What a demonstration of the mercy of God! As we heard on Sunday morning in the video from Gabon, missions and mercy go hand in hand. [Check it out at this link: Alliance Video, then under “Confronting Aids” click the “Watch Video” link]

Isn't that the mode of missions, showing and proclaiming the mercy of God? While we can use language that communicates the truth, we must also live lives that confirm our words. When we truly love others, we will reach out to them with the love of Jesus, extending hope and healing in Jesus to souls torn apart by sin.

The text of the anthem continues, “From the mountain to the valley, hear our praises rise to You; From the heavens to the nations hear our singing fill the air…Hallelujah!” What appropriate words for a bunch of mountaineers to sing. Let our praise rise to You, then echo to the nations. Give glory to God and let others know of Him. That is what Jesus taught in Matthew 5:12, 16b “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Start out praising God for who He is and what He has done, then let your deeds echo the praise of your lips through acts of mercy.

Both lips and lives saying, Hallelujah, praise You, Lord!

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Break Up Your Unplowed Ground

Dear Worshippers,

A new season, is about to begin. No, I am not talking about the football season which we hope will see our Mountaineer football team crowned the national champions. I am referring to the fall, and the start-up of a cadre of ministries at church, including my favorite-choir.

I mention this because I am about to talk about plowing, sowing and reaping, and I want you to understand that I am aware we are entering harvest time as far as farmers are concerned, even while I talk about the beginning of the process. I am talking about the beginning because that is where we find ourselves in this community that revolves in great measure around the schedule of West Virginia University. In the fall, there is much excitement in Morgantown, but not all of it is centered around the university.

The verse that came to mind as I prayed about my word to you for this week was Hosea 10:12. To keep you from having to tear open the sticky pages from your Bible, at least for the moment, let me share it with you here from the NIV. “Sow for yourselves righteousness,/reap the fruit of unfailing love,/and break up your unplowed ground;/for it is time to seek the LORD,/until he comes/and showers righteousness on you.” I hope that last line is the desire of your soul as it is mine, to see the Lord shower His righteousness down upon us, the city which is home to the number #1 party school in the nation.

That shower will be the result of our cultivating lives of righteousness, loyal to our God. Cultivating is a part of the vision of our worship ministries, though we use the word nurture. Remember the vision, “Our Worship Ministries exist to nurture worship as a lifestyle characterized by sincere responses to God’s self-revelations.” This is all about growth: plowing, sowing, and reaping.

It is the first part that I want you to think about as we enter this new season. Where is some plowing necessary for you? Is there some area that you have left untended for a while? Though resting a field is a good practice, I hope you are willing to do the work that Lord has for you and in you in the days ahead.

Did you notice how this passage starts and ends with righteousness? This is all about the Lord and His mercy. In the chapter surrounding this verse, God is warning the nation of Israel to do some hard work and change their ways, or face the consequences. The Christian life is a life of change and transformation, though sometimes we are guilty of becoming far too comfortable. Part of the note on this verse from the NIV Study Bible says, “Be no longer unproductive, but repentant, making a radical new beginning and becoming productive and fruitful”. Receive that word from the Lord and break up your unplowed ground in this new season.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

They’re Back

Dear Worshippers,

If you have driven anywhere near Morgantown in the last few days you are aware of one thing for certain. The students are back. You have probably sat in traffic where for the last three months you were whizzing along. I want to encourage you with a particular perspective as those students clog the arteries of our otherwise sleepy little berg.

Each student has come to study at WVU with a particular objective. Some have come for a degree, others have come for a good time, if they get a degree, fine. Some are studying chemistry, others are trying to find it in a relationship. Some have come to learn how to teach, others already think that have everything figured out. MANY OF THEM NEED JESUS! I DID!

In the fall of 1990, I entered West Virginia University as a student in the College of Creative Arts. Little did I, know that God was going to draw me to Himself very creatively through a number of my classmates. I was pursing a Bachelors Degree in Music. Little did I know, God was already using that love to draw me to Himself, who would become my First Love. God was orchestrating my life, absolutely no pun intended, to bring me to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and I did not have a clue.

How many students have arrived in Morgantown as lost as I was? Everyone of them loved by the Father and gently being draw to Him. Many will miss His leading, but a few will follow. Will you pray for them?

Some of them are future pastors. Others are missionaries. Most will be faithful followers who remember their coming to (or back to) Jesus while they were at WVU. Don’t you want to be a part of that? Prepare yourself for the part God would have you play by praying. And in your prayers listen. God may just ask you to do something that will be a little outside of your comfort zone, but will put you in a place where you can touch a student, or a number of them, with His love.

I want to also encourage you to pray for our College Church. This is the primary vehicle of our reach into the WVU student population. Pastor Smith is laboring with his leadership team to provide a place for students to belong and become more like Jesus. Please pray for them as they communicate the Gospel to as many students as they can.

Yes, they’re back, and the streets are clogged. Clogged with opportunity. The opportunity is yours to pray for them while you are sitting in that traffic, and pray for yourself to help them find their way to the Savior.

What would He have you do?

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Splash Kingdom

Dear Worshippers,

We are hosting our first ever Children’s Musical Camp at church this week. Thirty-six kids from Kindergarten through 6^th grade have come out for a week of fun in the Son. We are learning at entire dramatic musical in one week with our dress rehearsal on Friday at 11:30. We are having a great time learning, laughing and loving.

Most of these kids have already accepted Christ, but this life saving musical gives them the opportunity to confirm that decision, and be trained to share that faith with others as we learn the ABC’s of salvation through a course called “Lifesaving 101” in the body of the musical. The kids will have an opportunity to share the musical on a couple of occasions when they can invite friends, family, neighbors, classmates, etc. to come and hear…and believe.

Pastor Tony challenged parents at VBS to make certain their children are in spiritual environments, places and experiences that will train them to be like Christ. That’s exactly what this camp is, and what so many other things we do at church in general and our worship ministries in particular are. I hope you are keeping yourselves in spiritual environments that are encouragements to your faith. I hope you are looking forward to some in the next few weeks.

Pray for us as we labor for the Lord, that His name may be exalted and His kingdom advanced. Thank you.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Go Rest High on that Mountain

Dear Worshippers,

I learned a beautiful song last week. You probably expect that in my worship planning, preparation, and leadership I learn a lot of songs, and I do. But I learn songs for a number of other reasons. Many of them are very pragmatic, but some are also recreational. The learning of this particular song unfortunately had a very specific purpose. I was asked to sing for the memorial service of a man who was a friend of my family. He was only 42 years old.

He had lived a troubled life, the last few years having faced a very difficult bout with cancer that began in his jaw and spread into his brain. He endured surgeries and other treatment which only served to prolong the inevitable. In the last few weeks, he finally surrendered his life to Christ, following a decision his daughter had made maybe only months before.

That same daughter selected this wonderful song sung by Vince Gill. I sang this with my sister and father, to a man whose soul was finally at rest after so much struggle. Maybe the words will be of comfort to you or someone else who has lost loved one.

I know your life
On earth was troubled
And only you could know the pain
You weren't afraid to face the devil
You were no stranger to the rain

Go rest high on that mountain
Son, you work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and Son

Oh, how we cried the day you left us
We gathered round your grave to grieve
I wish I could see the angels faces
When they hear your sweet voice sing

Go rest high on that mountain
Son, you work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and Son

As believer’s this is the rest and the eternal occupation that awaits us. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, wrote Paul. [2 Corinthians 5:8] This is what one is Christ is looking forward to.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Spiritual Markers

Dear Worshippers,

This Sunday marks the 75^th anniversary for Fremont Alliance Church in Fremont, NE. This is the church I served right out of seminary. This church gave me the opportunity to come back to the Alliance after receiving my Master of Church Music from The Southern Baptists Theological Seminary. This community of faith is still very dear to us, and as they mark 75 years of ministry this week, they will be remembering their heritage of faith and faithful ministry in their little burg in eastern Nebraska. Though we will not be with them in body we will be with them in spirit.

Remembering, and placing spiritual markers along that journey that God uses to create those memories is an important exercise. I am reminded of the Israelites and the pile of stones they set up after crossing the Jordan. I am reminded of the words of Moses that must have been echoing in their ears that day, echoing because he was no more. Words that are recorded for us in Deuteronomy 6:4-10.

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

They remind us that we are to remember, and regularly, what God has commanded. We must also remember what God has done. He has delivered us through trials and tribulations. Delivered us from tempests. Sheltered us from storms. Never left us, nor forsaken us, even when we did not remember.

Take a few moments and remember what God has done for you. Tell somebody else. Leave a little spiritual marker to remind yourself and those who will follow you that God is faithful.

O little flock in Fremont, God has been faithful.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Take the Plunge

Dear Worshippers,

Last night we encouraged 117 children to “make a splash with Jesus”, to “jump, jump, jump right into the love of the Lord” as we began VBS 2007. I was a little weary after the flurry of activity to get ready for the first night. It was then that the Holy Spirit reminded me of the eternal value of every ounce of that energy poured out for Him. Encouraging those little ones to dive entirely into Jesus is something I am willing to give everything I have to. And I want you to have a part in that.

Will you pray? Pray for the ones who are hearing the gospel for the first time, that they would receive it. Pray for those who are hearing it again that it would be an encouragement to their walk with Jesus. Pray for the parents who will be around through the week and for the closing program on Sunday that they will open their lives to Jesus AND realize the opportunity to partner with the church all year long to teach Christ to their children.

What an opportunity for them! What an opportunity for you! Then as you hear of the ways God moved this week you will know you were a part of that.

Thanks for living the Call with me this week…through prayer!

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Overtly Christian

Dear Worshipers,

There are a lot of things I would rather not be called. “Overtly Christian” is not one of them. To put it another way. Of all the things someone might be inclined to call me, I would welcome that moniker.

When the article at the top of the page last week was titled “Choir claims discrimination”, I have to admit I wondered just how accurately the reporter would tell my version of the on-going saga with our local “Celebration of America”. I was very impressed with the representation. My view was expressed clearly and concisely, the second being entirely the responsibility of the reporter.

In a nutshell, I claimed that we were forbidden to participate in the local celebration of July 4^th because, as had been said to me, “your program is too overtly Christian.” I remember the statement in some measure due to it’s redundancy, but even more so for the clarity of it. No minced words here, nor any detectable malice mind. The “Celebration of America” chair claimed it was simply an issue of time. [If that were the case, why would the work need to be reviewed as it was?]

All that to say, I think there was clear discrimination. In our country, with the freedoms that so many have fought to protect, I find this unacceptable. And I am not alone. With my voice echoes a number of others who share my view. With Paul and many others I say “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Romans 1:16

I think of Jesus words, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26 I do not want to be guilty of such an indictment. I want to stand and say that I am a follower of Christ, in every arena, in every moment, in every way I can as God gives me strength.

I do not want Jesus to be ashamed of me. I want Jesus to say of me when I finish my course, “Thank you for being overtly Christian.” Openly, clearly, obviously, blatantly, visibly, explicitly Christian. Don’t you?

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Living God’s Plan in God’s Love

Dear Worshippers,

Last week I did not give reference for Jeremiah 29:11, Sorry about that. “I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Some of you may have immediately known where that reference was. If you did not, I want to encourage you to memorize it. You will need it at some point, whether you are looking for the grace to suffer, as Pastor Andy put it Sunday, or know someone else who is.

I was already privileged to know this when I asked my ordination mentor years ago what he and his wife had done to raise their three boys to know and love and serve the Lord. As a young father, I wanted to know the secret of raising my sons the same way. I wanted to do everything I could to instill those desires in my boys. What he said to me reminded me of this verse from Jeremiah.

“God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” I think I was expecting something a little more complex, or at least something with a few more steps to follow. But the beauty of this was the simplicity. What a wonderful thing to know that God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

I bless my boys at night when I put them to bed. I often will speak this truth over them with my hand placed on their little, or not so little, head. I remind them of it at other times too, when things are going great and God’s plan for their lives seems to be coming into slightly clearer focus, and when things are going poorly and they are struggling to see God at all.

The real challenge I think was what he added after that. He said that although he and his wife never had a detailed plan for raising their boys, they always endeavored to live this simple premise before them. Do you hear what I am saying? It is more than speaking it, it is living it that really makes the difference!

Some of you have heard me say, “You teach what you know, you reproduce what you are.” I can teach my boys these truths, but they I will only reproduce them in their lives in I live them myself. Here is my point.

There is someone watching you. Someone who is going to emulate some facets of your life. Parents you know this to be true. Keep working at being. For those of you who are not parents, there are people watching your godly example too. Live in a way that shows them that you KNOW God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. I am certain you will be pleased with the results in your life…and theirs.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

The Last Word

Dear Worshippers,

I wrote to you last week encouraging you to think about heaven. Part of the point of that was to encourage you along the lines of the old adage, “Begin with the end in mind.” If you do not know where you are going, you are probably going to have a hard time finding your way there, and will probably end up wherever the road leads you.

This can be a frightening thought when you look at the road many people are traveling. It may not always seem a wonderful prospect when we look down the path a bit even though we are walking along the way with Jesus. Our course is not promised to be easy, even though His yoke is. [Matthew 11:29-30]

The solace we find is that the final word the Lord speaks to us is mercy. I was reading in Jeremiah today when I was reminded of this. Jeremiah lays down so very strong words of judgment to the people of Jerusalem as he speaks for the Lord, but it is balanced with God’s desire for mercy.

I am speaking specifically of Jeremiah 33:26. [This year I am reading The Message, by Peterson] After comparing His covenant with Jacob and David with the functioning of the sky and earth, God says, “The last word is, I will have mercy on them.”

Have you ever been in an argument? You know, you go back and forth trying to state your case. Sometimes things can get pretty heated. Most of us want the last word, because we would simply like to win by silencing our adversary. I like how Bill O’Reilly [of The OReilly Factor] will say, “I’m going to give you the last word”, then lets his guest make a final comment, to which Bill often adds one of his own. It is his show after, so he gets the last word, ultimately.

And that’s the case with our God as well. You may be facing a difficult time, or one may be headed your way. You may find yourself in an argument that just will not seem to quit. Maybe your situation at work is awkward or uncomfortable. Maybe you are ready for the end of a particular circumstance.

Know this. The same One who said, “I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” is saying, “I will have mercy on them.” That’s the last word.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Heaven

Dear Worshipers,

When was the last time you thought about heaven? I believe it was Randy Alcorn who rightly asked, "Why do we spend so little time thinking about where will spend so much of forever?" Heaven was brought into a much clearer focus for me last week through a couple different experiences. Thank You, Jesus.

I received a call last Tuesday that a family friend was in the hospital after falling and hitting his head. This is complicated by the fact that he has had cancer in his jaw, and currently has a tumor in his brain. They have been through a lot in the last two years. As I spoke with his wife I shared words of hope and prayed for healing, but remain uncertain as to whether this friend is truly ready for heaven. I left the hospital thanking the Lord that in heaven there will be no more pain.

On Friday, I shared that Good News with a woman named Sherry. She had come to the church looking for help. She was at the end of herself, literally in tears. Living in this world had taken its toll on her, and she was ready for heaven. As we talked I discerned that Sherry was homeless, hopeless, and helpless. Not anymore.

I asked her a few questions to discern her spiritual position. 1. If anything were to happen to you and you were to stand before God and he asked you, “Why should I allow you into my heaven?” what would you say? She answered with the common “works righteousness”, ‘I tried to do the right thing’. I followed that up with 2. Would you like to know how you can be certain you will enter heaven? She responded, “Absolutely”.

After explaining to her that her sin had separated her from God and that only Jesus could bring the chasm, she repented, turned to Christ, and I believe was gloriously redeemed. I say that because her countenance changed. Her tears were now ones of joy. She was ready for heaven.

I heard a wonderful testimony just this morning of another change of countenance. A friend whose mother had struggled with life for some time finally went to be with the Lord. In her final moments, they said “her entire facial expression changed.” In my friends’ words, “she went from struggling for breath, to relaxing, safe in His arms.” Even for the believer, the transition from earth to heaven can be fearful. But it need not be, as these words remind us. The reward the Lord has in store for those in Christ is unfathomable.

Think of heaven today. And live like its real, and your ultimate reward. Thank you, Jesus.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Growing

Dear Worshippers,

Have you noticed over the last few weeks that everything has greened up? I was away for a week leading up to Memorial Day and when I returned it was like God had turned on the green. Leaves were bursting forth from the large tree behind my house providing a lovely covering, along with all the other trees in my yard. It was wonderful to return from Florida to all this green

But weeds were also growing. It had been almost two weeks since I had mowed my lawn and done some weeding, and it showed. My yard was in desperate need of some attention. There were weeds in my landscaping beds and steps going down around the house. Weeds, weeds everywhere. Some maintenance was needed.

How about in your life? Have you come through the winter and spring to find your spirit bursting with life? Are the weeds choking out the growth God is bringing? Maybe God is doing a wonderful thing in your life, and at the same time something is choking out that wonderful thing. Some maintenance is needed.

Where do you go to do maintenance on your soul? God's Word.

I was reminded of it's importance in the growth of our relationship to God last week. We must read it, for it uncovers to us the areas of our soul that need attention. It shows us where we need to grow, and what needs weeded out. But the challenge for us is to read it as more than a maintenance manual.

We must look to God’s Word as a way to discover God, not like a self-help book.

The difference is that of reading the Bible to learn how to lead a successful life and reading it to discover the God who has revealed Himself. I hope you are doing the latter.

Are you reading the Bible? I certainly hope so. If you are reading it, what is your perspective on it. I hope you are reading it to discover God, and not just to help yourself. If you are reading it to discover God, you will help yourself. You will do some weeding. You will grow.

When people look at you, I pray they will see the life of Christ growing every day. I pray the same for myself.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

A Taste of Heaven

Dear Worshipers,

Last week, I had a chance to travel to heaven by way of Orlando, Florida, and trust me it had nothing to do with the Magic Kingdom. Certainly, the times of corporate worship were wonderful as I expected them to be. Yes, we reconnected with some old friends and were encouraged greatly along the way. We met the Lord in His Living Word and heard Him speak words of vision and passion to our hearts. All these I was expecting. But there was one element I was really not prepared for, and it was this glimpse into heaven on and through the faces of the diverse group of people we are as The Alliance.

The face of Council was diverse, from the speakers to the worship team participants. It was the probably the most culturally diverse Council ever, with regard to representation from the delegates. The comment was made that almost 1/3 of our Alliance church in America are ethnic, making us probably the most multiracial denomination in the States. You could see it.
On Tuesday morning, one group after another were brought to the stage...

A Vietnamese delegation representing the 1 million+ Alliance believers in Vietnam, the largest national Alliance Church in the world, even though our missionaries where flown out on helicopters in the 1970's leaving behind a church of around 125,000.

Ten Portuguese-speaking churches have just joined our Alliance family in America with maybe a hundred more to follow.

Two couples were honored who had served 50 years in ministry! WOW! What an example! I cried as I prayed, "Lord, help me to run the race marked out for me".

Through the week we heard from a number of missionaries, some who after having studied and lived in the U.S. returned to their countries of origin or followed God’s call to yet another place of service. Each one told the story of God’s love crossing cultures and numerous other barriers. One stated the Call this way, “It’s not about crossing the seas, but about seeing the cross.”

Seeing the cross. Communicating it’s love and power to those around me. I was challenged and encouraged. Thank you for praying. Continue to pray as I and our other delegates discern what the Lord would have us do with all that He put on our hearts last week.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

General Council

Dear Worshipers,

I am sending this out a little early this week because Tuesday morning I will be on my way to Orlando, Florida for the bi-annual convocation of the Alliance family. I will be traveling with Pastor Tony and Kathy Etris, our Church Administrator Gloria Mackey, and my lovely wife Sarah Leigh. Pastor Andy Hawkins and Pastor David and Mossie Goodin have preceded us and will also be at this grand event. And that it is.

How I wish all of you could go! Really! This is an incredible event in the life the Alliance, not only because this is the first time it has ever been two years between gatherings, but simply because of the people it brings together and who they represent. Thousands of churches across America will send delegates, and many of our Alliance mission fields will be represented. In addition to them, many others from the Alliance family worldwide will be present.

It is grand not only because of the people gathered, but also for the purpose. We will conduct business that will guide the Alliance in the next two years. We will celebrate the amazing things God is doing all around the world through us. We will reconnect with old friends and make new ones. We will worship the Lord.

That's right, we will have many opportunities to worship corporately, and of all the experiences of General Council I wish you could experience that. From the opening night right, through the Communion and Healing Service, and to the climax of the Missions Rally, it is an unforgettable week of worship because of the way the Lord will reveal Himself. I pray each delegate will respond sincerely. I pray I will be prepared to do so.

Please pray for us as we head to Council and especially for the first-time delegates, of which Pastor Tony and Kathy are two of almost 1,000 new delegates. Pray that each of us, new and old alike, would capture the vision of this movement and return home with a renewed vigor to live the call while encouraging others to do the same. Pray for the moving of the Holy Spirit in our midst like unto the days of the birth of this great, extraordinary work of God of which we are all a small, ordinary part.

Thank you for your prayers. May God bless you this week as you live the call right where you are. We will endeavor to the same.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Summer Plans

Dear Worshipers,

If your family is anything like ours you have already begun to make some plans for the upcoming summer season. No doubt those plans probably include some traveling, maybe to see family or to get away from them, to visit an exotic or exciting destination, or simply some time to escape to a quiet place. Vacation means something slightly different to everyone, but to each of us it means a break from the usual. Here is where I want to encourage you today.

Our vacation plans begin sometime after July 4^th. The reason for this is the upcoming musical where we will combine forces with several other area churches. It is a terribly exciting time to see God at work in us collectively, and particularly as we link arms with folks who serve the Lord in their own unique ways the rest of the time. This endeavor really began to gain some momentum last year as Pierpont Nazarene hosted us. This year we will be at Drummond Chapel, or Suncrest United Methodist Church as it is now called, for our “church” performance. I hope you will consider joining us.

But I am really interested in encouraging you in totally different regard. I want to encourage you NOT to take a vacation from God this summer. When you take a break from everything else, DO NOT take a break from Him. Rather, I want to encourage you to think of how God can be a BIG part of your vacation.

You do not have to go on a short-term mission trip to do this. Maybe for you, it could actually be a time when you begin a new spiritual discipline, or strengthen one that has been waning. Maybe your vacation could be a time to break away from some things that have been holding you back from deeper intimacy with God, and to dive into the deeper life He has for you in Christ Jesus. Whether it is taking something on or putting something off, I want to encourage you now as you make your plans for vacation to INCLUDE GOD IN THOSE PLANS.

For those of you with families and younger children, think about venturing into some new area during vacation. Maybe you could visit a historical place and talk about the importance of knowing the past. Maybe you could visit a place that has been significant to you in your spiritual growth and explain that to the little ones. Again, think about God and His commands when you make your plans for the scripture tells us, “Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again.” Deuteronomy 6:7b

Let us make some good plans this summer, that will help us live God’s plans for life!

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

A Pilgrim’s Prayer

Dear Worshipers,

We are only a few weeks away from beginning work on another combined work with community churches. We will celebrate America, honor our heroes, and exalt Jesus Christ. I am delighted to be a Suncrest United Methodist Church this year where my good friend Lya Stroupe is the Music Director. What a joy to work with her and others who love the Lord, and want to find ways to express that together. I am really looking forward to being at the Drummond Chapel campus of Suncrest UMC with their folks and many from other churches on the afternoon of July 1^st.

I am also looking forward to being in some public venue on July 4^th. And that is the matter of prayer that I bring before you again. I have been on a pilgrimage over the last several years to see our perspective on America being shared in a public venue. It has taken me through some turbulent waters, and I have learned a lot about the faithfulness of our God along the way. This year is no exception.

I have been in contact with the Chairman of the Celebration of America Committee for months. We have dialogued at length about the possibility of sharing a musical as a part of the community celebration. He has heard the work we are planning to share this year and has reviewed it with officials of BOPARC. We are being told again what we have been told before: that our Christian message is not appropriate for this setting particular because of the references to Jesus Christ.

Here is where things get difficult. I believe we have a right to freedom speak our views in the public forum that has been created on July 4^th. There are others who do not share this view. They need to be convinced otherwise.

This is what I am asking you to do. PRAY. Ask the Lord Jesus to give us a platform to declare His mercy over our community. Ask Him to open the necessary hearts and doors to ensure that can happen. Ask Him to change this situation.

He can do it. I am believing that He wants to do it. Will you believe that with me and go before Him with me until He does it, or changes my heart?

Thank you for partnering with me. Let us build His kingdom and not our own. Let us decrease so He may increase. Let us trust Him to move in these days and give us favor.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Unholy Satisfaction

Dear Worshipers,

I mentioned in our “tuning” from last week that I hoped to be able to write of Breakthrough this week. I am glad to say that I can. Our Tuesday morning Concert of Prayer was a wonderful time of being before the Lord. Our District Superintendent gave glory to God for the miraculous healing in his body, and also in his soul. It was a very powerful time as God broke through to many of the delegates, including me. As I sat there during one session of prayer when we had been encouraged to let the Holy Spirit speak, God did just that in a surprising way.

Our Director of Church Planting, Todd Sovine, had led the night before in an inspiring service about being “a Spirit-empowered church multiplication movement in which every church is strategically involved.” I wish you could have been there as we saw God’s hand at work all across our District creating partnerships and opening doors for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a stirring experience with a great personal challenge.

It the midst of one of the prayers I believe he prayed that God would give us an unholy satisfaction. I think he meant a holy dissatisfaction. I have to admit I was guilty of wrestling with those words and getting caught up there for just a minute. I thought about them after the service and then again the next morning. Little did I know what God was going to say to me through what I perceived to be a few apparently misspoken words.

As we journeyed through the Concert of Prayer, I asked the Holy Spirit to speak to me. I am confident He illumined that I have an unholy satisfaction with regard to our corporate worship. I believe He was saying to me that I have become content or satisfied with less that what He desires to do in our midst, including the greatest of His works which is to magnify Christ. I believe I have become satisfied with the work of man at least at times, instead of pursuing the work of God. I repented and asked Him to continue to speak to me about this. I would appreciate your prayers as I wrestle with this before the Lord.

I also want to encourage you to do your own wrestling. Ask the Spirit is you have any degree of unholy satisfaction. Is there any area of your life where you have become content with your relationship with or service to God and have stopped pursuing more of Him? Is there any way that you have become satisfied with anything less than all Christ has to offer to the children of God? If so repent, and ask God to speak His fullness into your life.

We will be satisfied with nothing less than the holiness of Christ, in position and practice! That is just a part of living the call together. Let’s do it!

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

BREAKTHROUGH 2007

Dear Worshipers,

Our theme for District Conference again this year is Breakthrough. Our District Superintendent has tried to prepare our district family for this by sending us a wonderful book, Prayer on Fire by Fred Hartley, asking us to read that book and spend some time over the last six weeks to pray and even fast. I have submitted and have been preparing myself for what the Lord will do during these days of our District and Prayer Conference. Now I want to ask you to help.

Will you please pray for our conference this week?

Let me give you a simple list to pray that you may invite the Holy Spirit to magnify Jesus Christ in our midst to the glory of God the Father. I will write it so that you can pray it as you read. Prayer concepts borrowed from Fred Hartley’s book.

• Father God, Send your flaming presence into our District Conference today. Take the dry tinder of the inner lives of these pastors and leaders and show Yourself to be the God who answers by fire. (I Kings 18:24)
• Father, help these delegates to receive this week by faith the infilling of Your Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. Saturate every area of their lives, every cell of their bodies with You holy presence. Take control of them-spirit, soul, and body. (Ephesians 5:18)
• Father, You don’t force Your presence on any of us. You are far too gracious for that. Instead You send Your Holy Spirit to give wisdom into Who You are in principle and revelation into Who You are in reality. Come on our District Conference so that we might have a desire to know You better and better and better. (Ephesians 1:17)
  

Thanks for your prayers. I pray next week I will be able to write of some wonderful breakthroughs in response to them.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Ordained

Dear Worshipers,

We are looking forward to hosting the Ordination service of our upcoming District and Prayer Conference for the Central District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance next Wednesday. It will the highlight of the week for our church to enjoy this special privilege. The conference will consume the week for our professional staff so I do not foresee a tunings coming your way next week. With that in mind I wanted to toss some thoughts your way about Ordination.

When I think of this word within the context of our worship ministries I think of Psalms 8:2. “From the lips of children and infants You [God] have ordained praise.” This is the foundational verse for our Children’s Music Ministry. This is the verse that I use to reinforce to the kids the musical and spiritual principles that we learn and web in a life of praise. God has established that infants and children will give him praise. He has laid a foundation for the praise of His name to be uttered from the lips of young people.

The word for ordain here is the same word that is often used in the Old Testament for foundation, and particularly is used in reference to the foundations of the earth and the foundations of the Temple. Both of these communicate strength and substance. We read this word in Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.” [NASB] There is a permanence to them, or at least one that is relative to the age in which they serve the purposes of God.

It is this concept of a permanent designation for a set purpose that is most often conveyed in the New Testament word that is translated ordained. As we see in Hebrews 5:1, “For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.” [NASB] That is the concept of the word ordain that will be employed next week as our worship ministries provide support for this special service. There will be ten men who will be ordained, permanently designated for the set purpose of communicating “things pertaining to God”.

I want to encourage you to come to this service if you can. You will not soon forget this moment that God ordains this men for service in the Kingdom of Christ. It will be a reminder of God’s ordained purpose in the present order of things.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Alive Forever, Amen!

Dear Worshipers,

I spoke with Kara Brown just after the close of the service on Sunday and she relayed how much she loved that closing song. I know there were several of you involved who found it to be your favorite in the musical, and others who heard for the first time Sunday who would say the same. I have to admit there is an infectious attraction to something about the song, but I want to assert it is much more that the pulsating rhythm, driving text, and energetic arrangement.

It struck me as we were singing through this in Saturday’s rehearsal. The draw of the piece is the joy of life eternal if proclaims, “He’s alive forever, Amen!” And resultantly, “I’m alive forever, Amen!” We know that Jesus is alive, but when we consider that we are alive forever BECAUSE HE IS, oh, what joy!

It is honestly a little difficult at best for us to grasp eternal life. But we believe. It is a comfort that we will live forever, even though we may die. It is a comfort when all is well, but the true depth of peace that it proclaims is best known when we have to stare death in the face. It is one thing to sing these words, it is another thing altogether to live them.

No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final death, Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand.
‘Til He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

It is yet another thing to grieve the loss of one who has lived them. One who has lived this truth, “In Christ alone my hope is found.” Though we mourn the loss of one we loved, we are consumed with the overwhelming joy that what he believed in his heart is now realized in his experience. And we do not grieve as those who have no hope [I Thessalonians 4:13], for our hope too is in the Lord.

As certainly as Jesus died, and lived again, so do those who are in Christ. We sang Amen at the close of the Good Friday service, and we sang it all the more heartily at the close of the Easter Sunday Morning service. We assent to the finality of death, but acclaim the eternity of life in Christ. Though we may say amen, so be it, when one we love departs from our presence, we will also say amen as they enter the presence of our Lord.

For those in Christ, like Him, are “Alive Forever, Amen!”

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Along the Way with Jesus

Dear Worshipers,

Over the course of the last several weeks Pastor David has been taking us through a wonderful series titled "Along the Way with Jesus". I love that title. That is exactly the path that I want to take. I want my tombstone to read in effect "He walked along the way with Jesus." Don't you? It happens one day at a time.

This week we will have the opportunity to do just that. To walk along the way with Jesus. Through the course of this week we will have our normal Holy Week services, but we have also added a few so that we can step with Jesus as opposed to skipping along.

One first step is a little one with the children in mind and will be on Wednesday night at 6:30 P.M. as we have our annual Egg Hunt at the pavilion of Krepps Park. As usual it will feature the Resurrection Eggs from Family Life which beautifully portray the whole message of Easter in 12 powerful egg-encapsulated symbols. Pray for good weather, a good turnout, and a good message from Pastor Tony.

Our next step takes us into Holy Week and we remember Maundy Thursday. The word "Maundy" comes from the Latin for 'command' (mandatum). It refers to the command given by Jesus at the Last Supper, that his disciples should love one another. In this 7:00 P.M. service we will focus on the service our Lord demonstrated as foot washing is modeled and communion is shared. We will sing a hymn and go out, just as Jesus and His disciples did.

The next step will be on Friday as we take time to reflect on the cross. Beginning at 7:00 P.M. we will share in a service the will provide the opportunity to come to the altar and meditate on the significance of the cross, and the implications on our living. We will leave with "Amen" ringing in our ears, as we confess the needfulness of this dreadful, wonderful moment in time.

Saturday takes us back to Krepps, but on the upper side near the street. We will meet thirty minutes prior to sunset, or around 7:30 P.M. We will take a few steps in the disciples sandals as we try to imagine what it must have felt like to see their dreams die with their Lord. We will pray and wait as the darkness descends, just as they must have been doing.

Sunday will find us at Krepps again as we begin our celebration of the Resurrection at 7:00 A.M. Pastor Drew will bring the message from the Lord. Come and celebrate! Christ is risen!!

We head back to the sanctuary for the 10:30 service. Jesus, No Other King will feature choir and orchestra, as well as narrators, Thomas and Kara Brown. You will not want to miss this glorious celebration that retraces the steps of Jesus through His earthly ministry culminating in that final week.
We finish our journey on Sunday night as we celebrate the newness of life in Christ through the ordinance of baptism. If you have never been to baptism service, or have not been to one lately, come and see the changed lives. Witness the next steps of faith for several who are diligently following in Christ's footsteps, and be encouraged in your walk "along the way with Jesus".

It will be a busy week. Please pray for me and all those involved in the services. Please pray that many people come to celebrate Jesus with us. PLEASE PRAY! And then invite someone to walk along the way with Jesus WITH YOU!!

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Hosanna: Save Now, Lord!

Dear Worshipers,

Palm Sunday is upon us. I trust that you have been making some preparations to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord as Easter fast approaches, even if only in your heart. I want to take a few moments to encourage in a particular way along that path.

Hosanna, an ancient term having Jewish and Christian liturgical uses, means “Save now, Lord!” Hosanna was a Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise. We see it in Psalm 118:25, “O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success.” This followed by 118:26, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” One can quickly see that as the people accompanied Jesus into Jerusalem during his triumphal entry, they were looking for a blessed redeemer, someone to save them. Their words are recorded Matthew 21:9b.

I was thinking this morning on what must have been on the minds of those who were shouting their hosannas to Jesus that day, and pondering the corollary to what is on our minds. You will recall that the nation of Israel had been occupied by the powers of Rome for years, and were looking for a deliverer. Of course to the Hebrew mind the best deliverer would be the Messiah. The heart-cry of the Jewish nation was, “O, that Messiah would come and save us!”

How often when we look at the response of the masses on Palm Sunday as contrasted with Good Friday are we amazed at the transformation? I have often thought that we would likely have been swept along by the crowd as were so many casual observers. But even today I realized there is another layer to this.

The Jewish people seemed so aware of the deliverance they needed, they were blind to the one Jesus was determined to accomplish. They wanted freedom from Rome. Jesus wanted to give them FREEDOM. How often do we want freedom from ______ [insert your favorite object of scorn and/or displeasure], when actually what we need is FREEDOM?

Christian, I am not talking about freedom from the curse of sin. You have been granted that through Jesus blood, and your acceptance of that finished work on your behalf. I am speaking of the oft inexperienced freedom that is life IN Christ. This is the life which realizes that taking up a cross is not a chastisement, but a honor. That to be crucified with Christ is not a punishment, but a delight. That there is no real life apart from Christ.

As you shout, “Hosanna” this Sunday, cry out to the One who desires to save you: From wants, as He delivers your needs. From disciplines, as He makes them delights. From yourself, as He gives you Himself.

Hosanna! Save us, Lord!

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Revelation and Response: Lord, Have Mercy

Dear Worshipers,

First of all, to my regular readers, have mercy on me if you will. I had every intention on getting these tunings out a week ago, but the Lord took me into other pursuits last Tuesday and away from them. I like the discipline of writing regularly, and from the comments I have received from a number of you, you enjoy reading them regularly as well. To God be the glory for all the tuning in the past in advance for that which His voice will invite today.

Pastor David in his annual report published in January put the words of this simple prayer before us. A couple of weeks ago he expanded on it a bit in his Thursday thoughts. In our weekly meeting he shared that he will likely develop this into a sermon series. It has been on his heart a lot lately, so it has been on mine too. In the midst of that meeting it occurred to me [the Holy Spirit revealed to me] how this concise prayer gives us both elements of worship that we have been examining lately-revelation and response.

You see, in the very act of calling out to Him, “Lord”, there is the acknowledgement of His position over us. Immediately, we are confessing that we exist to serve Him, His purposes, and His ways. Though some will call Him Lord using it simply as a title (Matthew 7:21-23), we choose to submit to His kingly authority. He has revealed Himself to us as Lord, and we have chosen to recognize that.

That recognition is only the beginning of our response. When we see God rightly for who He is, we can then and only then see ourselves rightly. When we catch a even a glimpse of Him in His sinless perfection, we immediately will be aware of our sinful imperfection. What does one say who realizes he is guilty and deserves punishment: “Have mercy. Do not treat me as my sins necessitate.” When we have a good understanding of God, and ourselves in light of Him, our first response after adoration will be confession. Lord, have mercy on me for…

But these are not the only times we call out for mercy. When facing a very difficult situation the Psalmist cried out for God’s mercy, “Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.” (123:3) When the father of a demon-possessed man came to Jesus asking for healing and deliverance he asked, “Lord have mercy on my son…” (Matthew 17:15) And there are any other number of situations that have probably already occurred to you [the Holy Spirit revealed them to you] as you have been reading. Maybe they are in your life, or the life of someone dear to you. Cry out to the Lord now for mercy. And then keep doing it through the rest of your life as you “tune {your}heart to sing {His} grace.”

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Revelation and Response: NT Example

Dear Worshipers,

Last week I gave you an example of revelation and response from the Old Testament. God revealed Himself to the prophet Isaiah, and Isaiah responded from Isaiah 6. This week I want to give you an example from the New Testament that will hopefully be a helpful illustration of this summation of worship. Let us walk a while down the road to Emmaus where the Master revealed Himself to a couple of His servants.

You remember this amazing account of Jesus walking along with two of His followers after His resurrection. (Luke 24:13-31) It is almost humorous to read this account knowing this is Jesus, but these disciples did not realize that for the longest time because “God kept them from recognizing him.” (24:16) Now there is an interesting truth. God began to slowly reveal who Jesus was to these two who thought they knew Him. How often have we experienced a greater revealing of Jesus as we spent time with Him?

It is noteworthy that Jesus used the Scriptures to reveal Himself to these two. “Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining what the Scriptures said about Himself.” (24:27) And He is still doing that today. As we come to the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit reveals who Jesus is.

The disciples response, before the revelation was completed, is worth considering. They invited Jesus to spend even more time with them. This is how we feel too when we have had a sweet time of relating to our Lord, coming to know Him better. We want to spend more time. Our quiet time often feels too short because we just want to linger there with Jesus. That must have been how Cleophas and his friend must have felt. Certainly, it was the hospitable thing to do in their culture, but I am confident there was more behind that as we see evidenced later.

Do you see it already? Jesus revealed Himself, even though slowly, and the disciples responded. Just this much is a clear exampling of this pattern, but in the remaining verses there is much more.

The next section is of particular interest as Jesus takes the loaf of bread, asks Gods blessing on it, broke it and gave it to them. “Suddenly, their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” (24:31a) Then interestingly, Jesus disappeared. Even so, this did not deter the immediate response of these two. Within the hour, they were on their way back to Jerusalem through the dark of night to tell the others. It could not wait. Revelation and Response.

But it does not even end there. As the Scripture records, even as they were telling the disciples about their encounter, Jesus appeared to all of them gathered. Their response to this revelation, “the whole group was terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost.” (24:37) Jesus quickly reassured them he was no ghost, encouraging them to touch Him.

And Jesus wants to a similar thing in our lives today. He wants to reveal Himself to us and He wants us to respond. He wants to be with us as we walk down the road with another friend. He wants to be with us as we entertain guests, and share meals together. He wants wants to be with us as we gather with others to consider the truth of who He is. He wants to calm our fears with His presence. He wants to erase our doubt. Revelation and Response. Do you see it? If you do, how will you respond.

Jesus wants to reveal Himself to you today. He wants you to respond to Him in faith. But Jesus also wants to reveal Himself through you. May the Spirit of God open your eyes to see Him at work around you, for then you will be better prepared to enter into the process of revelation and response.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Revelation and Response: OT Example

Dear Worshipers,

Over the last several weeks we have been looking at different aspects of the vision statement of the Worship Ministry we share. I want to spend this week and next giving you a couple of Biblical examples of this summation of worship. Next week we will consider the way Jesus revealed Himself to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and the way they responded. This week we look into the Old Testament as God revealed Himself to the prophet Isaiah and Isaiah’s response.

Isaiah 6:1-8 has always been one of my favorite passages of Scripture. The prophet receives and answers God’s call in this passage. He catches a glimpse of heavenly worship and then responds in worship himself. The way this transpires is instructive for us as we consider this pattern of revelation and response. I have preached an entire message on these verses and there is much material here, but I will focus this brief look into it here with these words-revelation and response.

The first several verses show us several things about the nature of God. He is high and lifted up. He is holy, holy, holy. He is the Lord God Almighty. His glory fills the whole earth. He is worthy of worship. It is interesting for us to note that the Lord reveals Himself to the prophet in the context of the Temple, THE place of corporate worship in the OT.

When Isaiah saw God, he immediately responded, “I am undone!” He realized that in comparison to the holy wholeness of God he was as good as disintegrated. Actually, he probably expected to die. This is a key for us, because too often we approach God too casually.

But the revelation continues. God shows that though He is the powerful One who reigns on high, He has a purification and purpose for Isaiah. God reveals that He has something for Isaiah to do. God is looking for someone to go on His behalf.

Isaiah responds again. Before he even knows what will be asked of him he replies, “Here am I. Send me!” I suppose after what he had seen, to respond with such sacrifice is not surprising, but it is note that this was a total commitment of self.

Do you see it here? God reveals Himself. Isaiah responds. God reveals His purposes and His ways. Isaiah responds again.

The Life Application Bible commentary offers these words: “Our daily frustrations, society’s pressures, and our shortcomings narrow our view of God. We need the Bible’s view of God as high and lifted up to empower us to deal with our problems and concerns. God’s moral perfection, properly seen, will purify us from sin, cleanse our mind of our problems, and enable us to worship and serve.” We God reveals Himself to us, we are ready to respond.

Let us give Him every opportunity to reveal Himself…especially when we gather together.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

We Respond

Dear Worshipers,

We Respond

This is the last week we will be looking into the vision statement. I know that we have been at this for a while now, but I want to spend a couple more weeks looking at our vision statement.

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

This week I want to consider how we respond to God. Henry Blackaby in his Bible study Experiencing God makes this statement, "What you do next after the Spirit of God speaks to you through His Word is crucial.” What you do next says a lot about what you believe about God.

There are significant revelations, moments when God is unmistakably speaking. Think about Moses and his long discussion with God in Exodus 3 and 4, and its consequences. [He had to speak through Aaron.] When we respond with a lack of faith, we suffer the consequences of our disobedience.

There are also many more less significant revelations, the everyday ones. How we respond to them prepares us to respond to the others. When we respond in traffic, at school, at work or at home with reverent obedience, it prepares us for the next time.

As concerned as I am that you will respond to God in those life-changing moments like the one Moses had, I am honestly more interested in helping you cultivate a life of response, made up of many smaller responses. I had a good friend say years ago, a faithful life is made up of many acts of faithfulness. I want to help you nurture that kind of life.

Here is my challenge for you today. When God reveals Himself to you, respond. Maybe it will be in an opportunity to die to self [Galatians 2:20], maybe to serve others [John 13:14-17]. Maybe you will actually have to speak of His worth in some simple way [Hebrews 13:15]. Maybe it will be offering a reason for the hope you have in Christ Jesus [1 Peter 3:15]. Maybe it will be to respond to some unkindness kindly [Matthew 5:39].

Only the Lord knows how He will reveal Himself to you today, but you can purpose right now to respond in reverent obedience. As you do, your experience of worship will heighten, and your life of worship will strengthen. My prayer for you is that your life would be characterized by sincere responses to every revelation of God. May our collective efforts bring glory to His matchless name.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

God Reveals Himself

Dear Worshipers,

I know that we have been at this for a while now, but I want to spend a couple more weeks looking at our vision statement.

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

This week I want to consider how God reveals Himself to us. Henry Blackaby in his Bible study Experiencing God stated this as one of the Seven Realities of Experiencing God: "God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church, to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways." The other six realities are just as life-changing as this one, but I will let you discover them on your own. [If you are interested in knowing and doing the will of God and are looking for a resource to train you in this, you have just found it.]

God reveals Himself. We do not discover God. Like rounding a corner and finding Him setting there. He puts Himself in our path and leads us around the corner. Then He gives us eyes to see Him. Otherwise, we simply would not. The Holy Spirit is the person who does this. When he does it, He is revealing the Truth to us. The Truth is a person: Jesus Christ.

Any believer would agree that God reveals Himself to us through the Bible and prayer. How many times have you been reading or meditating on a passage of Scripture and it was as though the light had been turned on in the dark room of your mind exposing things that you previously had not noticed? God speaks to us and shows us Who He is as we read and pray. But God also often uses circumstances and the church, or other believers, to help confirm what He is saying.

In John 5:17 Jesus gave us an example of God using our circumstances to speak to us. He said, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” In verse 20 Jesus tells us that the Father would let the Son (Jesus) know what He was doing. The Father took the initiative and revealed to Jesus what He was doing. That revelation is an invitation to join the Father in what He was already doing. God does the same with us.

He starts doing something around us, in us, through us, etc. He reveals that activity through our circumstances. That revelation is His invitation to join Him. We respond with obedience or disobedience. As Blackaby says, two words that should never go together in a Christians vocabulary are “No Lord.” Unfortunately, though we may not speak those words, sometimes our response SHOUTS them.

The fact that God speaks through the Church is born out beautifully in I Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 which form our concept of the Church as the body of Christ, and Jesus as the Head. This is a picture of how we are mutually interdependent. We all need each other to function as intended. God has intended for the church to function as a unit, not just individual parts. Blackaby says, “As I function in relationship to the church, I depend on others in the church to help me understand God’s will…Apart from the body, you cannot fully know God’s will for your relationship to the body.” If you have ever walked through a period of rebellion in your life, where the church was not an important part of your life, you know this to be true. If you have never experienced the peace of having God’s will for your life confirmed by a number of other believers, then you may still have yet to understand this vital truth.

My prayer for all of us is that we would ever be open to the speaking of the Holy Spirit, through all these vehicles. They will be in agreement when God is revealing Himself. Then the crisis of belief occurs. Will I obey what God has revealed…or not?

Next week...

Our responses to God's self-revelations. When God reveals Himself, His purposes and His ways, what we do next is crucial. We will consider that a little further next week.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Quiet Time Repertoire

Repertoire - the entire stock of skills, techniques, or devices used in a
particular field or occupation: a musician's repertoire.

Dear Worshipers,

Over the last few weeks we have been looking at the vision statement of our Worship Ministries. We looked at some different perspectives on worship as a lifestyle and the character of our responses to God. We also considered how corporate worship prepares us for our life of worship. Today I want to consider our private worship prepares us for our life of worship, but first let us remind ourselves of our vision.

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

I am borrowing a list from a book I have been reading, worship-a way of life by Patrick Kavanaugh. He takes care to develop the role of the Bible and prayer in our private worship. He states that the key to quality in this discipline is consistency. He takes a pretty hard line saying that if something is important to you, you make time for it. I would agree. I have struggled at different times in my walk with Christ to prioritize time with God, but have always found a way to make it work. It has always required sacrifice and flexibility on my part, but I believe that is part of the sanctifying process.

After outlining some key aspects to these previous pillars (Bible and Prayer), he offers a list with suggestions to help develop Worship as a part of the quiet time. This is his list: speaking praise to God (Psalm 71:8), singing songs to God (Ephesians 5:19), singing spontaneous praise to God (Psalm 96:1), physical activity (Psalm 95:6), adoration Psalm 46:10), communion with God (Luke 22:15), meditating on the Word (Psalm 199:97), and waiting on God (Psalm 27:14). [pp. 184-187] This is quite a list!

Before you become overwhelmed with this list, remember that they are suggested things to ADD to your quiet time repertoire. Kavanaugh, an orchestra conductor, used the analogy of a concert pianist adding to their repertoire to illustrate the approach. These artists have a list of pieces that they have at their disposal to use at any time they have the opportunity to play. Beyond this list, they add one piece at a time so as to diversify and compliment their repertoire. Remember the definition of repertoire above.

As you desire to continue to grow in your worship lifestyle, one essential component will be to develop your quiet time repertoire of worship. This will enable and empower your worship as you go through the “noisy” time of your day. It will give you an expression of worship for every setting quiet or noisy, essential repertoire for the life of worship.


In Christ,

Pastor Scott