Seeing Clearly

Sunday morning retuning: Remember our Big Idea from Sunday?  “We believe because Jesus has opened our eyes!”  Thank You Jesus for helping me to see clearly!

And Jesus wants to do more that just reveal Himself to us.  He wants to show us His purposes and His ways as well.  I had a recent opportunity to experience this.

I had asked those of you who receive this inspiration via email to pray for me last Thursday.  I was planning on spending some extended time before the Lord to seek His plans for the transition before our worship team ministry.  I thank you for praying because not was I able to spend the time, I really was encouraged to see some things become clear to me that previously had not been.  Specifically, I was trusting the Lord to reveal a new structure involving two bands consisting of a number of people who had auditioned the two weeks prior.  And I believe He did.

I found myself sitting in a local nature preserve praying and asking for clarity of the vision God had been giving over the last couple of years.  I sat on a bench and looked out at all the trees before me.  It made me think of all the people who serve on our worship teams.  Sometimes it is hard to see the individual in the midst of what we do collectively, but the auditions helped musically speaking, and now I needed God to show me how to assign the right people to these two new bands.  I needed to see the trees that made up the forest and appreciate the unique contribution each makes.  What I needed was essentially the opposite of the old saying “see the forest for the trees” or trying to make out a pattern in a mass of details.

I needed to “see the trees in the forest”.  In the midst of the broad picture, I needed to discern the details, the role each person could or should make.  I believe I was able to do that.  I sat with all the evaluations from the auditions and four years of getting to know our church and these people, and a clear mental picture of how these teams might be constructed, right down to primary and alternate members of each, began to emerge.  What I had thought, prayed and dreamed about for a long time, slowly began to take a definite shape before my very eyes.  Almost as though someone else’s hand was drawing it.  You think?

I look forward to explaining that picture this weekend to as many who can make a quick meeting on Sunday between the two Engage services.  Pray as we continue to transition to a new day in our worship, as a ministry and a church, all the while with our overarching prayer being “Show Us Your Glory!”

Jesus, thank You for helping us to see clearly!  Not only the glory of the Father in the hour we first believed, but the marvel of His plans as we continue to walk along one step behind You.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Where You Stay, I’ll Stay

Sunday morning retuning: Have you prayed Luke 10:2 yet?  As you ask the Lord for harvesters, are you prepared to be one?  Can you see the fields before you?

I was reading this morning from Jeremiah 42-44 and was reminded of our commitment Sunday morning.  In verse one some leaders came to Jeremiah and asked him to pray that God would show them, “where [we] should go and what [we] should do.”  I thought of our words, “where You go I’ll go, where You stay, I’ll stay” from the song, I Will Follow, by Chris Tomlin.

There are some things that are more easily said than done, and over the years I have had the opportunity to encourage God’s people to sing any number of them.  They are often words that voice the commitment our hearts have made to the One who has redeemed us, and they are lofty.  For instance, from later in that chorus, “Whom You love, I’ll love [that’s everybody by the way, even your enemies], How You serve, I’ll serve [He washed His disciples feet remember?], If this life I lose, [whoa, wait just a minute], I will follow You.”

Those words from Jeremiah reminded of those words we sang Sunday.  Only problem is, when Jeremiah came back from his answer from God, they denied, and did what they wanted to anyway.  How often have we been guilty of that?  Telling God we want his leading, when all we really want is His blessing.

Although our willingness to follow may seem most obvious in our going, I want you to consider for a moment or two how staying can be equally as telling.  Take for instance the illustration of a harvest.  Now I know the scripture about one plants, another waters, and then others about those who reaps, but consider this.  What if God wants you to plant, water and reap?  That takes some patience.  Farmers are not generally very nomadic.  Actually, quite the contrary.  But farming is hard work.

Are you working in your field?  Take field to mean every possible use, and ponder that.  If not, get busy, or wait, depending on where you might be in the process.  Wherever you are, make sure you are one step behind Jesus, even if He is sitting down, and has been for awhile.

Sometime God wants you to stay.  There are consequences to not following, even if it means staying.  Consider God’s indictment upon the leaders in Jeremiah 44:10-11.  Let us humble ourselves, fear God, and walk in His ways.

Jesus, we want to follow You.  Help us humble ourselves daily.  Help us to have a healthy fear of You.  By Your Spirit’s power, help us to walk in Your ways and stay close to You, whether You are moving or not.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

A Taste of Heaven Here

Sunday morning retuning: Pastor Myron laid out our Next Steps as we endeavor to walk one step behind Jesus.  How exciting to think of how God is going to use us in these next three years!  I pray you will be a part of this, as we see God changing lives here and around the world.

As we celebrated Communion a little differently Sunday the choir sang “Behold the Lamb (A Communion Hymn)”. There was a line in it that really hit me, as often does when I am trying to pay attention to the love and truth we declare.  It was this part of the fourth and final stanza.

As we share in His suffering 
We proclaim Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of heaven 
Around the table of the King.

It was those words “we’ll join in the feast of heaven”.  We get to join in the feast of heaven.  Wow!  I have enjoyed some great meals in my day, but that one is going to be the one that even the best have only foreshadowed.  Besides I really like eating.

But Heaven was already on my mind.  As I was planning the services for this weekend I felt led to schedule “When You Move”, a song we have learned in the last year.  There is a great line in the chorus of that song that says, “For when you move our lives are changed, we know a taste of heaven here.”  A taste of heaven here.  I want that.

It makes me think of times when Sarah is making mashed potatoes and she asks me to taste them.  Every time I do, they are delicious, and I want to scoop out another spoonful because that taste has left me longing for more.  You know want I am talking about right?

So I was in the kitchen cooking up some eggs this morning (you are sensing the strong food theme here I hope), and I was thinking of heaven because I had been listening to Steven Curtis Chapman’s song See.  He wrote this after loosing his adopted little girl.  If you listen to nothing else today, please listen to this.  One day we will see.

I asked my son Josiah, “Do you think heaven will be better than this?”  He responded immediately, “Yes!”  That childlike faith blessed me and challenged me again with the question. “Why do we not think of it more often?”  I can hardly wait to see it, and the One who made the way for me to be there.  How about you?

Jesus, we cry out for more of You.  Come and move in our midst that we might be changed and know a taste of heaven.  Show us Your glory.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

All Things New

Sunday morning retuning: Following Jesus id demanding?  Did you know Jesus has some expectations of you?  We saw a few in Luke 9:51-62 on Sunday:  mercy and commitment.  Remember the story of William Borden?  “No reserves.  No retreat.  No regrets.”  Jesus help us live this way.

A few months ago I shared some thoughts about Communion in our Inspire Service.  They came to mind as I was preparing for this weekend.  In our Engage services we are going to celebrate Communion a little differently.  It will be new.

My thoughts revolved around the verse in the Bible’s ending book.  In Revelation 21 I was struck by verse 5, "He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'"  Note that he says, "all things new," and not "all new things."  There is some continuity implied.  In other words, He is not making from nothing things that are all new, though He is perfectly capable of doing that, like at the beginning, but rather here at the end is making existing things new. 

It implies that He will not be starting over, but rather will take what is here, existent, and remaking it in such a way that it will actually be new.  I am not talking about something used that you buy on Amazon that says “Like New”.  Oh no!  He is making all things…NEW!  I do not understand it, but I believe it will be.  I can not fathom what that will look like or feel like, but I believe it is true.

And that is really our hope, isn’t it?  An “all-new” you, not a “like new” you.  I need to be remade to be able to really enjoy all that God promises us in this New Heaven and New Earth.  I love thinking about that.  I hope you do to, but enough on that for now…on to Sunday.

I mention it because I want to encourage you to pray.  Anytime there is something new, leaders have to try to communicate clearer so as to reduce misunderstanding and confusion.  We will celebrate Communion in the body of the singing, about 15-20 minutes into the service as opposed to the end.  The young children will be dismissed and instruction will be given.  Then the choir will sing to provide time for reflection as is our custom.  We will then sing and respond, then approach the Word. 

I am excited about our encounter and want to ask you to join me as we pray through this and other new things, like our shift in paradigm for worship bands.  Jesus is on the move and we want to stay one step behind Him, in all things…old and new.

Jesus, we long for the all when you will make all things new, including us.  Give us a taste of that in our lives today, and help us to look forward to more tomorrow and every day afterwards.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Rescued

Sunday morning retuning:  So what is God calling you to do as you are going?  Great challenge from missionary to Japan, Rev. Alan Kropp on Sunday.  What was God saying to you?

I was planning for this weekends services last week as the images from the Boston Marathon and the explosion in Texas rattled through my mind.  Pastor Paul Armitage sent a link to a video that helps to put a proper perspective on all those things.  I have decided to use it this Sunday morning in our Engage services and I want to share it with you here. 

Rescued

Powerful, right?  What a beautiful reminder of the work of Christ in each of our lives and the lives of every person on the planet.  In the face of the greatest atrocities known to man when can stand knowing the rescue that is possible in the greatest of all men, the Son of Man, Son of God, Jesus.  What a comfort!

But how many do not know Him and all He offers?  How many women will go to sleep tonight in Trumbull County not sure where rescue is going to come from for her and her children in the midst of their struggle?  How many addicts will run themselves ragged to get that next high, only to come down again?  How many children will go to sleep tonight not certain of when or what they will eat tomorrow?  How many men will look to another relationship/toy/bottle for the fulfillment they long for?

Will you pray with me that we continue to become a community of faith that offers that rescue, not only for souls, but for people?  Jesus is the Great Rescuer, and there are many yet to hear.  Will you pray for more workers for the harvest field…and then pick up your implement and get to work in yours?  May Sunday morning become a place where more and more people are rescued, and may we become a church that partners with the rescued and the Rescuer to complete that work in their lives.

We all need it.  Just like this song we will sing Sunday says so well.

Rescue

Jesus, we need You to come to our rescue.  There is nowhere else we can go that will provide what our souls are longing for and can only find in You.  Help us to be a people and a place that propogate “rescue”.  There are many who need to hear.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

This is Not How Things Should Be

Sunday morning retuning:  How is the surrendering going today?  If you heard the voice of God on Sunday, then you must respond.  Remember to surrender your self-importance, today and everyday, so you may be free to humbly depend on the Lord.

That was the first thing that came to mind as I watched the news coverage following the Boston Bombing yesterday.  As I watched the images of the explosions followed by people scurrying for safety, I could not get out of my mind that this is not right.  There were people who verbalized this thought, but they meant it in a different way.  “The Boston Marathon is supposed to be about the charities benefitted”, “A day of celebration for the city of Boston”, etc.  But I was not thinking about charities and cities, but instead the benefit that is waiting for those who are longing for the heavenly celebration.

You see, this [that is the world as we currently experience it with all its pain and tears] is not what God designed, nor what He will redesign.  Instead we experience each and every day some degree of the tension that exists in a selfish existence.  Not sure if anyone else will take of them, people strive to care for themselves and their interests.  It started in the Garden of Eden and continues to this day.

A much better existence is waiting for us.  This is not all there is, though we are often guilty of living like it is.  If you hear what I am saying, then I have two questions which I encourage you to ponder.  1.) What are you doing to prepare for heaven?  And 2.) What are you doing to help prepare others for heaven?

If you think that others, including unbelievers, are not grappling with the big questions of life, God, and eternity, think again.  I was reminded of that as I watched this clip from a major league baseball player yesterday, with the last name of none other than Revere, Pray for Boston.  Indeed, pray for the people of Boston and the many lives impacted yesterday, but don’t stop there. 

Do you see the big picture?  Prepare yourself for heaven today, and help prepare someone else as well.

Can you see yourself finishing your race?  Picture yourself coming up on that Great Finish Line surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. [Hebrews 12:1-2]  They are encouraging you to press on.  But as you give that last push to finish strong, will you stop and help another who seems close but is dazed and confused and not sure which way to go?  There were some very encouraging images in the midst of the chaos yesterday, everyday people serving in extraordinary ways surrounded by terrible circumstances. 

Will you help someone today by pointing out the Finish Line, and maybe even helping them across?  Be warned: It’s messy and potential dangerous, but well worth the risk. 

Jesus, help us fix our eyes on You.  Laying aside our self-importance, give us eyes to see the people around us who need help.  Keep our eyes on You even as we do.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Resurrection Power

Sunday morning retuning:  What a glorious Easter Sunday morning!  Thanks to all who participated/served.  Thank You Jesus for giving us something to celebrate!

I spoke briefly with a couple of folks who recommitted to following Jesus at the close of the services Sunday.  I encouraged them to take it one step at a time and walk in the power of the resurrection which Jesus makes available to all who desire to take Him up on His near-ridiculous offer of freedom from the penalty of sin.  I want to be counted among the few who do.  Do you?

I read these words this morning and wanted to share them with you as you continue to bask in the glory revealed when we were last together in His Presence.

Since the day that Jesus first appeared on the scene, we have developed vast theological systems, organized world-wide churches, filled libraries with brilliant Christological scholarship , engaged in earth-shattering controversies and embarked on crusades, reforms, and renewals.  Yet there are still precious few if us with sufficient folly to make the made exchange of everything for Christ; only a remnant with the confidence to risk everything on the gospel of grace; only a minority a minority who stagger about with the delirious joy of the man who found the buried treasure.*

These words really struck me when I read them, especially so since we just encountered Jesus in such a powerful way just a couple days ago.  Nothing wrong with the first part of the list, but the latter is essential.  Does this kind of requisite folly, confidence and joy characterize your life today?  I know I want it to characterize mine. 

*If you would like to know where this quote came from because you just have to read more, let me know and I will forward a link on to you, but it may not be until next week.

Jesus, fill me/us with sufficient folly, confidence and joy to risk everything on this gospel of grace.  Help us to know how to walk in it today, for Your glory and our good.  In Jesus name.  Amen. 

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Just Visiting

Sunday morning retuning:  I was not at North-Mar on Sunday but I have heard good reports of what God was up to.  Wherever you were, what was God saying to you?  Are you acting on that or sitting on it?  If you have heard the voice of God, you must respond.

I am going to take my own advice.  I was visiting another church while on vacation Sunday.  I like to do this for a number of reasons and want to encourage you to do the same when you are away from you home church.  One reason is the fresh perspective I often walk away with coupled with a marveling at the diversity within the body of Christ.  It always makes me thankful for my church and its unique role in completing the Great Commission.

This weekend I visited a church in Morgantown, West Virginia that I have worked with in the past and so I have many dear friends there.  Not the least of which is their Head Pastor, Rev. Kevin Cain.  He began a new sermon series Sunday and used a video that God used in conjunction with the Scripture to really stir my heart.  I want to share that video and some thoughts with you.

The series is called “Will You Be A Trader?”  Not to be confused with Traitor.  You will understand better if you watch the video.  Please take 2 ½ minutes and read it.  I am certain you will be glad you did.

He spent the next while using Scripture to unpack this idea and look particularly at the first of four basic concepts contained in this video.  The notes in the youtube link spell those out like this.

A Trader is a new kind of missionary, not defined by geography, but by a resolve to:

1. Choose Daily
2. Hate Injustice
3. Work as Worship
4. Act Swiftly

www.rightnow.org

From Luke 20:20-26 came the challenge.  Pastor Kevin put it this way, “Will I trade that which is selfish, temporal and Caesars for that which is selfless, eternal and God’s?” BAM!  What a question!  “How will you live out your existence?”  “We can not receive salvation and shift into auto-pilot!” 

So much resonated with me.  So much was akin to things God has been challenging me about personally and pastorally.  I wonder what God might want to say to you today?  You know you are just visiting here, right?  There is an eternal abode waiting for you.  Are you living like this is all there is, or like the best is yet to come? 

Jesus, help me to trade that which is selfish and temporal for that which is selfless and eternal that the glory of the Father may be seen in me!  

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Why Am I Here? [Part Two]

Sunday morning retuning:  As we looked into Jesus’ transfiguration Sunday, the application question was “Is my life reflecting His glory?” Ask yourself that again today…and everyday.  May Jesus be seen in each of us.

As I was answering the above question in part one of this Tunings last week, I was thinking about the second part of the answer which I put before you today.  I am thinking about it in terms of a line we sang on Sunday from the Brooke Fraser song Hosanna.  “Show me how to love like you have loved me.”  [One great line from one of the best bridges I have ever sung Heal my heart and make it clean/Open up my eyes to the things unseen/Show me how to love like you have loved me//Break my heart from what breaks yours/Everything I am for your kingdoms cause/As I walk from earth into/Eternity].

For several years now I have had this little phrase as a note on my calendar appointment “Preparing for my day”.  God, whether I get anything else done today, I want to make sure that I spend time loving you and loving other people-because that’s what life is all about.  I don’t want to waste this day.  Now, before you think to highly of me, I don’t at this most days, and I fail at it often even when I do, but let that not take away from the principle at work.  I am trying to train myself to love…

Not as easy as it may seem, although I am certain you are already aware of that.  And just why is that?  I am equally certain our answers would be different yet much that same.  Jesus knew this so he taught this as the second part to the Greatest Commandment in Matthew 22:37-38, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” [emphasis mine]

I have been learning this lesson in a variety of ways over the past couple of years, and the phrase that Jesus keeps saying to me, when I am quiet enough to hear His voice, is “Give yourself away.”  He has the right to speak these words over my life because He modeled this perfectly for me, and in response I have surrendered my life to Him for His purposes. [again, “everything I am for Your Kingdoms cause” from Hosanna above]

So as we walk through this week when we remember that Jesus gave Himself away when He laid down his life on Good Friday, only to demonstrate victory over sin and death on Easter Sunday, I want to encourage you to respond to His gift of love with one of your own.  I do not know what that will look like exactly, other than a lot like Jesus, and then and there you will be reflecting His glory, the glory of the One who Overcame!

Jesus, help us to love others as You have first loved us.  Holy Week is a great reminder of that.  Open my eyes to see it anew today! In Jesus name. Amen.  

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Why Am I Here? Part 1

Sunday morning retuning:  How are you responding to the reality of who Jesus is today?  Answer that question please before you read any further.  Thank you.

Ever have the experience of entering room and asking find yourself asking why did I walk in here?  This occurred to me a few times in rapid succession the other day and I quickly realized that I was preoccupied, or otherwise mentally distracted.  Why do I have such a difficult time of staying focused, at least at times?

Does this ever happen to you?  I knew precisely the purpose of my journey when I started out, but how easily a distraction has seized my mind.  It was frustrating and best and at least mildly disturbing.  In the midst of that epiphany, a deeper more profound one arose.

It was ne that brought this question to mind.  “How often does this experience characterize my walk with, and worship of, Jesus Christ?”  Upon yielding my life to Him and changing the course of said living, I quickly realized the point of this existence was, and continues to be, to ascribe glory to His worth.  How easily I am distracted from this singular pursuit that should inform every other lesser one?

Let’s put it in Scriptural terms.  Jesus taught the greatest thing is to “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” [Matthew 22:37]  Locally, we at NMC, have been putting that in terms of “loving Jesus”, through a lifestyle of worship, prayer and humble obedience.

I described this purpose recently by quoting pastor and author James MacDonald from his book Vertical Church. 

The highest and most powerful human experience is to express our love to the most worthy object of that affection. In the elevation of Christ’s worthiness, our greatest joy is discovered.  The greatest sin, then, is directing that adoration elsewhere, not only because it insults God, but also because it insulates our hearts from the delight we were created to revel in.  TO fail at worship is the greatest failure a human is capable of with the gravest and most immediate of consequences.  But when a believing community amplifies worship as their ultimate priority, they are shaped by that adoration into the most powerful human force possible.

That is why we are here!  It is easy to forget, isn’t it?  And that is why our worship ministry is here, to love Jesus and His Church by helping them worship with unashamed adoration.  Julia Ciferno introduced a new song called Rooftops Sunday which helps us sing out why we are here.  In it we sing, “Here I am, I stand with heart wide open to the One, the Son, the Everlasting God.”  Learn it and sing it with me as we declare together this Sunday and beyond why we are here!

Jesus, help us to love You as we live lives wide open to You and Your glory.  When we forget and get distracted, remind us quickly of the purpose of our lives, to give You glory! In Jesus name. Amen.  

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Praying for a Community in Mourning

Sunday morning retuning:  How quickly we forget God’s sufficiency?  He gave us His Son, so will surely give us all things.  Suffering from Spiritual Amnesia?  Remember Jesus alone provides.

While we were worshipping the Lord at North-Mar on Sunday, just south of our little burg of Warren, Ohio, six families were weeping having lost a son or daughter.  I have to admit that when I heard about it later that day I was sad to hear that these young people had lost their lives, but it did not grip my heart.  Forgive me, Lord.  As I heard people mentioning that it had become national news, CNN was the first I heard had covered the story, I realized I needed to pay more attention to this tragedy.

I googled and found a couple local articles and began to read.  That’s when it really hit me.  This could have been my son.  In the list of young people I saw the names of two fourteen year-old victims, eighth grade students in Warren.  My oldest son is in the eight grade.  The gravity of this accident began to sink in.

We spoke about this during our normal Tuesday morning meetings as a staff and learned that a partner in ministry with us who is deeply embedded in the community where many of these young people lived is ministering to their families.  It became immediately apparent that I needed to ask you to pray and that we could do so with profound clarity.

I texted this brother and received a quick reply back from him.  We need to pray for God to provide financially and spiritually.  There is a need for assistance in covering funeral expenses.  (What a terrible thing to have to do at such an awful time.  A fund has been set up for donations.)  There is also a need for peace this world can not give. [John 14:27]  I assured my brother we would pray so please join me, and let us together trust that God will somehow bring some good out of this seemingly senseless heartbreak.

One of things I reflected on as we prayed was how often as we are worshipping God, enjoying His unmerited goodness to us, they are others who are weeping for any number of reasons.  We have hope, and we must not keep it to ourselves.  People around us are lonely, hurting and dying.  I am trying to take from this episode the sobering reminder of the reality of death.

Here in Warren, there is a community just beginning to come to terms with a great and unexpected loss.  Friends far away, please pray for us to do what we can when we can over these next few days and weeks.  Friends near, pray for our neighbors who are grieving, dazed and confused, and then act as the Spirit leads.

Jesus, tears are falling, hearts are breaking, how we need to hear from You.  Spirit, bring comfort and peace in the midst of this tragedy and draw hearts to the Father as You bring the comfort only You afford.  

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Any Questions?

Sunday morning retuning:  We have given the Kingdom Assignment to Growth Groups this year!  Be praying for them that they may advance God’s kingdom through their assignment!!

A couple weeks ago I began to explain the transition that our worship team ministry will be going through this summer as we go from a full-fledged rotational basis to two set teams with subs filling in as needed.  I have had some good feedback from a few of you, some questions and a little fear.  Let me put the latter to rest by explaining myself a little more.

I mentioned “open auditions”.  It is my intent for everyone interested in serving on our teams to “audition”, this includes current members.  This will give me an opportunity to assess ability and recruit the teams based on this assessment.  My intent at this point is to put a CD together with two new songs so it is a level playing field and have everyone play some portions of this two songs in a quick 10-12 minute slot for which people will sign up.  This is consistent with my desire to welcome new players onto our teams.  Once invited to serve on a team, another audition will be unlikely, unless playing ability merits it.  At that point, only prospective members would need to audition.

Of course, not everyone who auditions will make one of the two teams.  Those who are capable of serving, based on the audition assessment, who do not make a team would be asked to become part of a group of people who would be called on by team members to fill in for them on weeks they are unavailable.  Even though team members will be expected to play their two weeks on as often as possible, things happen that will make this difficult or even impossible at times.  This pool of substitutes are no less important than team members to the ministry, and as such will have access to the website so they can continue to prepare and maybe have opportunity to join a team in the next cycle.

I am not certain as the length of commitment long-term, though I will be asking for an initial commitment through the end of 2013.  At that point, I intend on evaluating teams and giving people opportunity to recommit or not, occasionally asking people to step away to make room for developing other players.  I am hoping these on/off ramps will give people the flexibility to be involved as their life/family schedule permits.  I have spoken with a couple of larger church that use a 6-month cycle, so that is what I have in mind tentatively, though I want to remain flexible to the right length for our setting.

I hope that clarifies a bit more of the details of how this may work.  If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask or share them.  I value your input and the contribution each of you makes to what we doing together as we serve Christ and His church here at North-Mar.

Jesus, as we find our way through the details of a new way to do worship ministry, help us hear You clearly, and walk in faith and confidence that You are leading us.  

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

What’s Next?

Sunday morning retuning: God is on the move at North-Mar Church.  If you were present in the services Sunday I am certain you caught several glimpses of things only explainable as the work of God.  Especially those two powerful LifeChange stories. I can hardly wait for what is next.

What’s Next?  Pastor Myron began to answer that question Sunday for us a church family in terms of 1. Maintaining and Improving our Current Facility, 2. Local Outreach and 3. Global Missions.  These are our top three priorities as we stand firm (Gal 5:1) after our mortgage is paid off this summer.

You must know that just as the Elders have been praying about these matters of the last year and more, so I too have been praying and looking to God for an answer to this same question as it impacts the future of our worship ministries.  I want to take a few minutes to paint a picture of how God has been leading me through this process.

Throughout my entire ministry life I have practiced the model of rotational worship teams that we use now at North-Mar.  Over the last couple of years I have begun to struggle more and more with the limitations of our current model and have considered alternatives.  I have spoken with churches larger than us to see what they have learned that could benefit us.  I have tried to carefully consider the unique implications of the local body we serve, and from whom we are drawn out to lead.

All of these influences have led me to a conclusion.  It is time for a change.  It has been difficult to come to a place where I am ready to step away from some values that have guided me, but I am trying to be careful and not allow them to be a yoke that holds us back, and in some ways they have been.

In short, I am planning on having open auditions for our worship team ministry from which I hope to form two teams which will play two weekends a month.  Beyond this there will likely be other musicians/singers who will be on a sub list to fill in as needed on those two set teams.  We will interview a couple times a year to accept/decline continued involvement on the two teams, presenting on/off ramps for people going through different seasons of life.

I believe this will benefit us in multiple ways.  Chemistry is something we have lacked because our teams our truly rotational.  This model addresses that.  It also ups the ante for those who are serving.  Coming prepared for your teams night is important and knowing when you are on helps.  Individuals will be responsible for filling their own vacancies so there is fewer 11^th hour calls from me/Tammy.

They are some logistics to work through and a myriad of questions to answer and I trust I will have the opportunity to do that before auditions in late April/early May.  I hope to form teams by June so they can both prepare for the Fall recording which I am hoping to do in-studio.  Please pray as we transition and endeavor to stay one step behind Jesus.

Jesus, we want to stay close to You and help our church family enjoy Your glory.  Guide us as we look to You for what is next in this journey for our worship teams.  

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Fat Tuesday

Sunday morning retuning: Pastor Myron and Sharon shared details and the impetus for their recent Pastoral Care trip to three of our international worker/missionary families.  While I appreciated the colorful stories and the glimpse into those lives, what really struck me was the Scripture.  May “increasing and overflowing love” mark our lives.

We are entering a particularly religious period of the year beginning tomorrow.  I use the word religious carefully there, mind you.  Many are enjoying today as much as they can because they intend on entering into a season of self-denial tomorrow.  Thus the folks in New Orleans celebrating Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday.  Many in evangelicalism are not familiar with it, but I am speaking of Lent.  (For those wanting more info, you could start here.)

In short, it is the season of the Church Year beginning on Ash Wednesday and continuing through Holy Saturday, the day before Easter.  For many this is a season of self-denial, prayer, fasting and giving as we prepare for Easter by going through a period of mourning and reflection on the nature of Christ’s sacrifice.  I encourage you to make some preparations for Easter as well even if giving up red meat is not one of them.

This is a good idea.  Welcoming into the regular cycle of life, something that disturbs or interrupts our habits, the mindless minutia.  Taking some things away to make room for remembrance.  But more so than giving something up, which may be necessary, I want to encourage you to shift your focus, to refocus on Christ in these days.

Like the ashes, sometimes from the burned remains of last years Palm Sunday branches, which will mark the foreheads of many worshippers tomorrow, may our lives be marked by a careful remembering of the passion of the Christ.  And what will be that mark, that distinctive characteristic in your life?  I am praying mine will be love.

A few years ago, I came across a simple prayer that pops up as a note when I look at the task “Preparing for My Day” on my calendar.  I do not look at it regularly, but when I do it reminds me of this the greatest commandment which Jesus taught.  I do not pray it religiously either, but maybe that could help.

God, whether I get anything else done today, I want to make sure that I spend time loving You and loving other people--because that's what life is all about.  I don't want to waste this day.

That is my prayer on this Fat Tuesday, this day of indulgences, to be more loving.  I have a feeling I will be even more thankful for His sacrifice that ever if I am able to maintain this focus.  I know I need a lot of help.  How will you observe Lent?

Jesus, help me to soberly reflect on how to best prepare for Easter.  I will begin today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.  

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Surprised by Glory

Sunday morning retuning: Pastor Paul Armitage reminded us from Micah 6:8 what the Lord requires of us.  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.  Those words are still ringing in my ears today, and I pray God will work them out in my living.  How about you?

So now I have been challenging you to pray for God to “Show Us Your Glory” and encouraging you to think about how to prepare for that  and what it looks like in your life.  Here is another illustration and encouragement as you walk along a step behind Jesus.  

Last week during choir, God revealed His glory to me.  We were dutifully rehearsing a song when the Lord decided to overwhelm me with a sense of His presence, surprising me with His glory.  I could barely finish directly the song, then had to a minute (which felt like an hour) when it finished to compose myself before I could even speak.

When I did I encouraged the choir members to linger in those moments when they occur.  My temptation was to press on, but the Lord stopped me and then used my experience to instruct me, and I hope my friends as well, that it is good to enjoy the God’s glory when it settles down on us.  A couple of disclaimers:  1) I had done nothing unusual to prepare for or deserve this encounter, but 2) I had prayed for His glory to be revealed.  God does what He wants, when He wants, how He wants, that’s part of the privilege of being God after all.

Here is a link to the song.  It’s a great song, but I find it interesting that I had sung it several times before God hit me with the text  the way He did last week, and has not since.  Jesus Died My Soul to Save   The text can be seen as you scroll down through the link, take a look especially at the use of the words swallowed and aches.

Another practical example...Earlier that day, last Wednesday morning, I was walking into the church the moment the skies opened and dumped a deluge on me.  Suffice it to say I was surprised to get drenched in a matter of seconds, but what really surprised me was the response of people who saw me as I entered the building.  

I felt like Moses having just come down from the presence of God’s glory on Sinai.  It was like people did not want to look at me, but it was because I was wet of course.  It was like they wanted me to cover up the evidence of my encounter saying essentially, “Go get yourself dried off”.  It gave me the perspective of being marked by an encounter.  I was surprised to get wet, much the same way we are at times surprised by God’s glory.

Allow me to encourage you to seek the glory of God’s presence, then to allow yourself to linger in His presence when it settles upon you, however and whenever it does.  Then go away, on, forward allowing your life to be marked by His glory.  

Jesus, show me Your glory.  Help me to live expecting You to do that at any moment.  When You do, help me linger there.  When I do, help me to walk away marked by Your glory.  Do the same for my family of faith, for our good and Your glory.  in Jesus’ name.  Amen.  

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy