What Can I Give...?

Dear Worshipers,

What can I give….?. If you are like me, the last week has been consumed to some extent with the contemplating, locating, selecting, purchasing and wrapping of an assortment of gifts. Most an expression of love for someone in your life. Many a reminder of the great love-gift your share in the person of Jesus Christ. Some a gift for the Lord Himself, a token of your gratitude for His abundance.

And that is where I would like to linger for just a few moments with you today. What are you giving to the Lord this Christmas season? I am not even talking about financial contributions to a love offering at church, or other year-end worthy causes. I am not talking about giving of any of your resources, no matter the worthiness of the cause. I am referring to giving of yourself. Giving your heart with all your heart. Here is how the Lord brought this revelation to me today.

A few weeks back, I decided to use a child solo in the Christmas Eve service. I prayed about who should sing this song. A week or so ago, I felt the Lord leading me to have Samuel sing it. I approached him with the idea, and he immediately said yes. [Samuel actually enjoys singing.] In the days that followed, he began to have second thoughts, really stemming more from his growing tiredness from all the holiday festivities than anything else.

With time however, he slowly began to be more firm in his unwillingness to sing. It grew to the point that I was beginning to think of asking someone else, simply because I wanted it to be offered as a gift to the Lord, with no compulsion or reluctance. But I really felt that the Lord was in this whole situation. Then, this morning.

I put the CD on again on the way to school. Samuel opened the book and began to sing along. At the end, he asked if we could hear it again. My heart leaped at the apparent change of heart. At the end of the second time, he looked up and said, “I do want to sing this song Dad.” I was so blessed, I almost cried right there. Big surprise.

What the Lord showed me in that moment of sheer joy, was something of His heart. When we surrender to what our Father wishes, it is a blessing to Him that is possibly impossible for us to understand. When my son said he would do what I asked, I was so blessed. The real blessing was that he had wrestled through his feelings and uncertainty and had come to the place of surrender. He will sing with his whole heart on Christmas Eve. I will be blessed. But so will he.

See, that is one of the amazing things about God’s will. It brings Him glory, while at the same time being for our good. Samuel will be blessed, in and through his obedience to God and to me. So where is the lesson for you.
What has God been leading you to do or say to which you have said, “No”? Or maybe you first said “Yes”, but are living more like “No” right now. Give Him your heart in this matter, and in everything, and watch the blessing that will flow from that place of surrender.

You may feel like you do not have much to offer the King. But to the extent that this you feel that way, you have been deceived; either by yourself, or the enemy of your soul. After all, you have your heart, the core of all that you are, and that is of inestimable value to God. I think Christina Rosetti put it nicely when she said:

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him; give my heart.

In comparison to the riches of heaven, even the wealthiest of us have little. We are “poor” as she puts it. Yet, we can give to Jesus what we only have one of, our heart. Give Him your heart this Christmas. After all, He gave you His everything.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Time to Tune

Dear Worshipers,

Time to tune. We have worked for months preparing for this weekend. We have rehearsed phrases, diction, breathing, entrances, cut-offs, dynamics, tempos, transitions, etc. The time has finally come when all that remains to be done is…tune.

We have scheduled and signed-up. Recruited and rearranged. Prayed and paused. Called and cajoled. Rehearsed and reviewed. The time has almost come to…tune.

We have sent invitations, put up banners, stuck roadside signs around town. We have spoken about the musical to family and friends, co-workers and classmates, neighbors and well…you name it. We have done what could, or what we were willing to do to let others know. This is a special night at our church. Now about all that is left to do is…tune.

The preparation has been lengthy, tiring, productive, sacrificial, blessed, fun, ______ [fill in the blank] Somewhere in the midst of it you asked yourself, “Is this really worth it. This is a lot of time to commit. I have a lot to do at this time of the year. I am not certain I will say, “yes!” to Pastor Scott next year.” But let us keep in mind I am not the One asking the question, I am just bearing it to you. If you listen closely I believe you will hear the One who asked telling you it is worth it, for the return will only be fully known in eternity.

The same could be said of every commitment in your life, ultimately all expressions of your ultimate commitment of your entire life to Jesus. The parallels struck me during some quiet time this morning. Though the musical is upon us, this is simultaneously a season of preparation for other big events in your life, other moments of ministry that the Lord is grooming you for that you may not even be able to dream of just yet.

I think of the Markle’s. Pastor David mentioned in his prayer on Sunday that the Lord is instructing their hearts through these difficult days as they wait to hear the diagnosis for little Eli. He is teaching them His love in a way that neither they nor we would ever choose, but that is best according to His plan for their lives. Let us pray they will see His great mercy and love clearly as they walk this path.

You may be facing something difficult, or wonderful that the Lord is using to prepare you for what lies ahead. Hear is my point. We have been preparing for the musical, and are about to tune to share it. We do not know exactly how God will use it but we offer it with hearts of love for His enjoyment and employment, that he may delight in it and use it to make Himself know. God is preparing you for something. When the time comes, tune your heart and give Him praise, then trust Him to use you as well.

Let us be every ready to tune our hearts to sing His grace. Sometimes you will have advance notice, like a few months. Most of the time however you will have only a few moments, so you had better stay in tune the best you can.

I am here to help you tune should you need some assistance. I don’t have perfect pitch, but I know Someone who does. He delights in tuning the hearts that are truly His.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

I Adore You

Dear Worshipers,

Come, Let Us Adore Him. That is my call to you in this season. Though a familiar phrase to all of us I pray it will ring with freshness in your ear and then your heart as we go through advent and into the Christmas season.

Many of our Christmas carols give us wonderful opportunity to sing of the story of the coming of the Christ. They let us proclaim that to each other and to send the greatest story ever told to those who have not yet heard it. But many of them do not give us much opportunity to sing to the Lord.

Adeste Fidelis [O Come All Ye Faithful] is no different. Though it has a passing line sung directly to Jesus, many of the lines are encouragements to come and adore Him, sung to the faithful, the angels, even the “citizens of heav’n above”. This is all good, but it leaves the joyful feeling a little incomplete. Paul Baloche, the writer of “Offering” which we sang this past Sunday, adds “O Jesus, we adore You” after the final chorus to give the worshiper a chance to respond to all that admonishment. I love that.

You may remember a chorus that I introduced to the church last Christmas titled “I Adore You”. [Check out worshipideas.com for a pdf of the song] The intent was the same as Baloche’s added chorus above, to give the worshiper the chance to sing to Jesus. As I was singing through this jus today, I encountered the Lord in a fresh way. One of the lines says, “Jesus, I was made to love You.” The Spirit quickened my conscience with that truth, and I worshipped the Lord, as I was made to do.

The challenge for me in that moment was the realization that I have many things on my agenda that I have to do. But I must be careful to be certain that I take the time to do the thing I was created to do. Even to allow all those things to be expressions of service to the Savior whom I love. If they are not, something must change, either my attitude or my agenda.

As you make your way through the busy holiday season, make certain you are taking time to adore Him. After all, that is what you were made to do. Come, let us adore Him.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Give Thanks

Dear Worshipers,

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136.1 (NIV)

Sometimes it is easy to be thankful. Everything’s going your way. Finances are in order. Family is getting along. Friends are helpful, happy and healthy. Fears are stilled. It is easy in those moments to give thanks to the Lord, primary because you can see His goodness so clearly.

Other times you might find yourself having a difficult time being thankful. Checkbook is out of balance. Children are fighting. Companions are sad and sick. Concerns are looming. In these moments it can be very difficult to thank the Lord, primarily because you might not be able to see His goodness as clearly, if at all.

But let us always remember the last part of the verse. His love endures forever. It may look differently at times, but it endures. It may seem near sometimes and far away at others, but it still endures. It never fails. Forever is a really long time.

I was clinging to this last week as I drove with Sarah to Charleston to see my father-in-law. Having been transferred there from Beckley where they had started angioplasty, he had experienced a heart attack and in surgery undergoing a quadruple bypass. As I drove down I-79 we prayed, some together, some separately. All the while we were trusting in God’s enduring love. We hoped we would arrive to find that he had come through surgery beautifully, that he had not bled though he had been on blood thinners just days before, that the Lord was going to give him a little more time with us here.

Chances of all that happening were not great. A few doctors at WVU told him last spring they would not do the surgery because they felt as though he could not survive it. We hoped for the best, but feared the worst.

While we drove, I was thanking God for His faithful love. Thanking Him that no matter what happened I knew it was the best. Thanking him that we were close enough to get there quickly. Thanking Him for the times I had shared with Sarah’s dad. I praise God that I was able to see His goodness even in the uncertainty of the situation.

I praise God that all we prayed for He gave us. Sarah’s father came through “beautifully”, the doctors words. He did not bleed. Praise the Lord! That we would have a chance to talk to him even later that day, and then the next. He is not out of the words yet, still on a ventilator, but yes I am thanking God for His love, the expression of His goodness to our family in these days.

Next time you face some uncertainty, maybe later today. Thank God. Thank God right now that when that time comes you are confident His love will be faithful. Thank God for the way you are experiencing that today.

Let us give thanks to the Lord, for He certainly is good. His faithful love endures forever.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Worship and the Word

Dear Ministry Team Members

Below I hope you will find Part 1 of a series of articles about Worship and the Word. THough I have note received them all I enjoyed this very much. I think you will see why as you read. My concept of corporate worship, actually worship in general, is revelationand response. This is a good beginning at defining that more clearly.

If you like it there is information as to how to subscribe to the weekly newsletter yourself. I get this every week and always find it thought provoking. I trust you will as well.

In Christ,
Pastor Scott

From: Worship Matters [mailto:Worship_Matters@crosswalkmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 10:26 AMTo: worship@cmachurch.netSubject: Mail FilterCrosswalk - Worship Matters: Worship and the Word, Part 1, November 15, 2005

Worship and the Word, Part 1
Craig Cabaniss
This week we begin a guest series by my friend, Craig Cabaniss, a pastor from San Diego, based on an outstanding message he gave at the recent Sovereign Grace Ministries worship conference. - Bob Kauflin

As a Christian father, one of my goals is to foster in each of my children the heart of a worshiper. Some time ago I experienced what I thought was a breakthrough in this area. While at work in my upstairs office, I overheard my 3-year-old son break into spontaneous, enthusiastic singing. "Hallelujah, hallelujah!" he repeated in a zealous, toddler melody. I paused in my work, inwardly rejoicing over my success as a parent.

As Christopher ascended the stairs, and the refrain grew in volume and intensity, I began imagining him one day writing songs and leading congregations in worship, all the while crediting his godly father's training and example. It was one of those triumphant moments a father treasures. Then he reached the top of the stairs, just as his song reached its stunning crescendo:

"Hallelujah...to... MEEEEEE!"

Stunning, indeed. Did I mention he was 3?

The truth is, we are all prone to worship ourselves - we're just more subtle about it. We are so inclined toward self-centeredness that, on our own, we could never stumble into selfless, God-focused worship. It's true - we are able to worship God only to the extent that God reveals Himself to us. Without revelation, we could not know who God is or what He is like. We could not know how to worship or what brings Him glory. My son's hallelujahs were misdirected because His worship wasn't based on revelation.

At its most basic, worship is simply man's response to God's revelation. New Testament scholar Ralph Martin writes, "The distinctive genius of corporate worship is the two-beat rhythm of revelation and response." Authentic Christian worship must be anchored in the Word of God.

Over the next few weeks, we will explore this theme as it is found in Psalm 19. In this psalm David meditates upon the wonders of God's written revelation. We will look at characteristics of Scripture and how they should inform our worship.

Before David proclaims the wonders of the Word, however, he considers God's self-revelation through a different means - the created world.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.

Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving His chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

We all know that God reveals Himself through the handiwork of creation. Who hasn't been provoked to worship by a snow-topped mountain or star-lit night? Here the psalmist is provoked to worship by the beauty and mystery of the sun and sky.

God provides His creation as revelation to all men everywhere. The beauty of the world has always provoked men to consider a transcendent Maker. But the revelation of nature isn't enough. An unbeliever can watch a sunset and discover a Supreme Being of beauty, power, and creativity, but nature doesn't reveal man's need for a savior or Christ's sacrifice for sin. That kind of revelation comes only through Scripture.

In His Word, God speaks clearly and specifically. He reveals Himself and His will for man. That's why keeping the Bible at the heart of worship is so important-it keeps our hallelujahs pointed in the right direction.

Supplication

Dear Worshipers,

Prayer. It continues to be on the front of my mind for a number of reasons. Not the least of the things keeping it there is the sermon series Pastor David is taking us through, To Be Like Jesus.

This week we turn from the preconditions of holiness to the practice of it. We begin this part of the discussion with SUPPLICATION. In our weekly meeting today, Pastor David shared with me this thought. “All spiritual disciplines are prayers. All prayers are supplications.” While he will be expanding this in Sunday, let me give you my version.

All of our life lived out before the Lord must be done in an attitude of prayer, bathed with prayer, marked by prayer. (I Thessalonians 5:17, Luke 18:1) I have always considered our corporate worship prayer, and you may have noticed me saying things like, “As we continue in an attitude of prayer…” as we have gone from prayer to a song. But if all of our life is to be one grand act of worship (prayer) made up of a million smaller acts of worship (prayer) then of course the corporate or combined, congregated worship of the church is prayer.

Maybe you can wrap your heart around that pretty easily, but check out the next phrase. “All of our prayers are supplications.” Whether is a prayer of adoration (worship), which I have already done a scant definition of, or a prayer of intercession, thanksgiving, confession, etc., it is ultimately supplication. Why? Because in praying we are portraying our reliance on One Who is above us Who has absolute authority to grant our request or plea, i.e. glorify Your Name.

As I said, Pastor David will flesh it out much more eloquently on Sunday, but here is a place to start for you as you consider supplication. I know you are praying. The invitation to pray even more is one the way, from Pastor David this week, and from me early in the New Year. Get ready.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Reaching Out

Dear Worshipers,

Now that we are officially past Halloween, are you beginning to think about Christmas? Does the thought paralyze you with the list of things that need to be done between now and then? Don’t worry I have not forgotten about Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays in the entire year which I will address in a subsequent issue, but I want to think about the true nature of Christmas for just a few moments today.

What is the true nature of Christmas? We all know the story, but what was the point of it? Jesus incarnation. He became one of us. There was no other way to save us. For us to tell the story of Christmas best, we must live it first. We must incarnate with people, being willing to walk with them in the difficult times. This requires us to reach beyond ourselves.

Reaching out. How good are you at that? Is it easy for you to reach beyond yourself and identify with, and then help meet the needs of others? Or is difficult for you to even think about engaging in such an activity?

If it is difficult for you to even imagine reaching beyond yourself there could be a number of reasons. Maybe you are just too busy. Maybe you are too self-focused. Maybe you are not doing what the Lord created you to do. Whatever the circumstance I want you to realize that a change is necessary.

As we quickly approach the Christmas season, I want to challenge you again as I did a month ago. What are you going to do that will be a true reaching beyond yourself? You had better begin planning, or at least clearing some time in your schedule for the Lord when He provides the opportunity. Invite someone to the Christmas musical, or the Christmas Eve service. Visit someone in the nursing home. Have some neighbors over to just sit and talk. Call up an old friend who has been on your mind lately. Reach out, and be prepared for what God will do through you.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Before They Call, I Will Answer

Dear Children of the King,
I have been challenging us with the concept of prayer lately. The Lord has really put this on my heart. Prayer as intimate fellowship with my Father. Prayer for the church, for Pastor David, for you.

I read an article in the latest edition of Alliance Life about getting ourselves outside of the “box” of naturalism. God is supernatural, and our faith living must show that. We need to get our Bibles, our prayers, and our lives “out” of the box the author insisted. I could not agree more.

Robert Stetter sent me the following piece recently. I opened it up and began to read, and the Spirit struck me to the core. At one point I was so convicted I had to stop and ask the Lord to forgive me for having so little faith, for living in the box. I want to pray with the attitude of the little girl, and I am certain you do to. Let us get outside of the box and call on the Lord, then we too can experience the answers He has already given. (Isaiah 65:24)

Isaiah 65:24

This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa ..

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in
spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a
crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the
baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).

We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the
equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One
student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that
the baby would be wrapped in.

Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle.
She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the
bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). "And it is
our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no
good crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no
good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and
there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and
sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts.
Your job is to keep the baby warm."

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of
the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the
youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the
tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm
enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, ! and that the baby could so easily die
if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister,
crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual
blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed,
"send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby
will be dead, so please send it this afternoon."

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And
while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so
she'll know You really love her?"

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could
I honestly say, "Amen". I just did not believe that God could do
this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so.
But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God
could answer this particular prayer would be by send! ing me a parcel from
homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time,
and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone
did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived
on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching
in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my
front door.

By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda,
was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes.
I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage
children.

Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot.
We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly.
Excitement was mounting.

Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.
From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys.
Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the
knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little
bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would
make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in
again, I felt the ... could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it
out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I
had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed
forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly
too!"

Rummaging down to th! e bottom of the box, she pulled out the small,
beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never
doubted!

Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly to
that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed
up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's
prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one
of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in
answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."
"Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24).

This awesome prayer takes less than a minute. When you receive
this, say the prayer, that's all you have to do. No strings
attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on.

Prayer is! one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no
cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another Father, I ask
you to bless my friends reading this right now. I am asking You to
minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain,
give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting,
release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is
tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and
strength as they learn submission to Your leading. Where there is
spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by
drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear,
reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Where there is a
sin blocking them, reveal it, and break its hold over my friend's life.

Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and
friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them discernment
to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have
in You to defeat it. I ask you to do these things in Jesus'
name.

P.S. Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both.
Passing this on to one not considered a friend is something Christ would do. "Do
not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you're not willing to move your
feet."

I hope this was as encouraging and challenging to you as it was to me.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

The Greater Work

Dear Worship Ministry Members,

Worship. A way of life. That is the undercurrent of this ministry we share. Our living. It either validates or invalidates our Sunday morning praises. Actually, it does both depending on which moment is in question.

Prayer. An act of worship. Though that may not be the definition of what prayer is, it certainly is an act of worship. Accordingly, it is an integral part of the ministry that we share. We pray to begin rehearsal, we pray before we depart. Sometimes we pray in the middle of rehearsal. But are we praying as the scripture teaches us, “without ceasing”? [I Thessalonians 5:17] Is prayer a way of life? Are we experiencing a constant communion with our Lord?

The Lord placed a burden for prayer on my heart early this year. As a result I intensified my pastoral prayer. Many of you have responded to my inquiries and have given me an item or area to agree with you in prayer. That is always the way I have discussed it, agreeing. By saying that I am implying that you are already praying about that need, and that I am desiring to join you in that earnest plea. I believe you are praying for the things that you have asked me to pray for. Some of you have been praying for these things for years. I am about to ask you to agree with me in prayer as well.

Don’t stop reading because you are intimidated by this. I am not asking for the commitment yet. I simply want you to know what I see the Lord developing and at least part of the timeline for all this.

This is a long-term commitment, but it has been a long-term development as well. Shortly after I arrived in Morgantown I began to ponder who would serve as prayer partners and how that would function. I prayed and waited, waited and prayed. It seemed so long in coming when in my previous pastorates I developed some sort of prayer circle around me fairly quickly. I thought coming “home” would make that even quicker. The Lord had different plans.

I formulated a list of people, and before I felt lead to ask them, the list began to change. Things changed in my relationships with people, people changed, I changed. Then as we entered the fall, Pastor David began to talk about his current sermon series with me. Not only did I begin to get excited because of the content of the series, but God began to show me that His time was unfolding for the prayer ministry he had placed on my heart throughout my pastoral ministry.

Though I have been praying about it for a couple of years, today I sent out a plea to a group of men who I have asked to serve in a core group called the Inner Circle. Without going into the details of the commitment I have asked them to make, know that I will be calling on them to pray over a prayer card for me, my family, and this ministry daily.

Beyond this core group, I desire to enlist the labors of a larger team. I desire this for two reasons: 1) More people praying will change more people [at least all those involved] and 2) It spends the joy of the victories won across broader group. It is this group that will be open to all interested in partnering with us in prayer for the worship life of our entire church.

I will give you more details in the weeks ahead, but I wanted to alert you to this developing prayer ministry opportunity. Pastor David has encouraged us to be working on drafting a solemn covenant. I pray you would begin to consider including on-going prayer for you own life of worship and the worship life of our entire church somehow, somewhere in that covenant. Or at least understand that praying for this ministry we share will be a part of your involvement in it as you trust the Lord to transform you through it.

I pray that through this journey we will all become more like Jesus and that part of that change would be to have a better understanding of prayer. Oswald Chambers describes prayer like this.

Prayer does not equip us for the greater works-prayer is the greater work….When you labor at prayer, from God’s perspective there are always results. (My Utmost for His Highest, October 17, “The Key of the Greater Work”)

May God heighten our sense of anticipated results as we being to draw closer to Him in prayer.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

EXTREME

Dear Worship Ministry Members,

Allow me to remind you of our vision statement. Our Worship Ministries exist to nurture worship as a lifestyle characterized by sincere responses to God’s self-revelations. God reveals Himself, and we respond. That is the essence of worship. We want to nurture that not as isolated acts, but as a way of life.

There are a couple of phrases running through my head as I write. “Our God is extreme” is the first one. It comes from the new curriculum that we are using in our musical disciple-making endeavor that is our Children’s Music Ministry. The song by the same title ass some questions of the listener and then affirms some truths about God. It is solid song scripturally (say that three times fast) and the kids really love singing it. This makes it a joy to teach and share. Oh, the delight of knowing we are instilling these kinds of truths into the hearts and minds of these children! If your soul is stirred, speak to me. We may have a place of ministry for you.

As wonderful and powerful as that phrase is, that revelation if you will, there is another that is searing my conscience. It is the closing line of the song, repeated several times. “He deserves extreme devotion.” This one is a little more difficult to sing, and I do not mean because of the way it is written musically. It is more difficult because it communicates our only appropriate response to God.

Though not everyone will do it, it is a simple thing to state the fact. “Our God is extreme.” Extremely powerful, extremely gracious, extremely loving, etc. It is an entirely different thing to say that this truth has an implication on the way I live, and yet another to say I will according to it.

The key word in these phrases is extreme. That is defined as “far beyond a norm in quantity or amount or degree; to an utmost degree.” Those of you that have been reading My Utmost for His Highest probably can begin to see where I am going with this. Certainly God consists of all good far beyond the norm in quantity, amount and degree. His love is extreme. Simply consider the cross.

With that revelation in mind, what should be our response? Extreme devotion. What is devotion? It can be defined as selfless affection and dedication. So, our response to God should be selfless affection and dedication far beyond the norm in quantity or amount or degree. Our utmost for His Highest. Our best for His Glory. Does that describe your relationship to Christ? Or better yet, is that what others would say, especially those closest to you, to describe your relationship with your Lord.

Are you living a life of obedience to Christ? If not what is keeping you? Do you know there is more to the Christian life than you have understood and experienced? Do you long for something more? What should you do?

Oswald Chambers put it like this.

It is not study that brings understanding to you, but obedience. Even the
smallest bit of obedience opens heaven, and the deepest truths of God
immediately become yours. Yet God will never reveal more truth about
Himself to you, until you have obeyed what you know already. (My Utmost
for His Highest, October 10, “How Will I Know?”)

Be encouraged. If you feel like you have almost grasped something of God, obey what you know, and trust to meet God in your obedience. Jesus is waiting to draw you closer than you ever thought possible. Trust me, you will be extremely satisfied with all he has to offer, but first you must offer all you have.

Let us encourage each other in this obedience that Christ may be formed in us.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

In Christ

Dear Disciples of the Lord,

I am really excited to be entering into this next season as a church family. As Pastor David challenges us to live the call together, I can only begin to imagine the transformation that may take place in our midst. Maybe it did not sound to you like the continuation of Missions Conference, but it was.

This call that Jesus has issued is one that requires all of us. This is more of a command than an invitation. We must come with abandon to Him, offering Him all that we are. We must hold nothing back.

Ultimately, this is not about doing, but about being. As Pastor David and I talked about this series today he affirmed that. Jesus is calling us to be, not to do. It just so happens that our doing flows out of our being, so some different doings will probably result. This call is about relationship more than responsibilities.

I asked you last week to begin thinking of what you will do to be a blessing to others in the upcoming Christmas season. Please know that I am assuming that your activity will flow out of your relationship to Christ. But maybe as you think about doing, there is something in the way. Something that keeps you from answering the call with a resounding, “Yes!” Something that keeps you from Jesus.

Oswald Chambers slammed me again yesterday when he said the following.

Your duty in service and ministry is to see that there is nothing between Jesus
and yourself. Is there anything between you and Jesus even now? If
there is, you must get through it, not by ignoring it as an irritation, or by
going up and over it, but by facing it and getting through it into the presence
of Jesus Christ. Then that very problem itself, and all that you have been
through in connection with it, will glorify Jesus Christ in a way that you will
never know until you see Him face to face. (My Utmost for His Highest, October
3, “The Place of Ministry”)

So what is that thing between you and Jesus? What is that thing that you must get through to get into the presence of Jesus? You place of ministry is IN JESUS. By that I mean you must find your way through that irritation or that mountain and into Jesus before you can really serve Him well.

That is part of what I mean each time I sign off. It is my desire to remain in Christ. For apart from that abiding, I am not useful to Him, or anyone else for that matter. Therefore, let us learn over these next few months how to live in Christ. The call, and our sharing it together, will flow supernaturally from there.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Ministry Notes
♪ Thanks to those who attended last weeks reading. That was a good time together. Thank you Susan Callahan for coordinating for us. Next social is set for Friday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m. Watch for details.

Come, let us adore Him.

Dear Musicians of the Master,

Come, let us adore Him. That is my call for you to join us for the latest collaborative endeavor between our choir and orchestra, the Christmas musical of the same title. Please plan on attending the reading session this Friday with dinner preceding at 6:00 p.m in the Great Room. There is a unique twist on what we are doing this year. Come and be one of the first to find out what that is.

But the call reaches beyond participation in a Christmas musical, for that is just one of the many ways we will live the call together in the coming season. Begin thinking now of what you will do to be a blessing to others, particularly those that probably will not bless you. That is, who will you bless that you do not expect a blessing from in return?

Maybe it means spending some time at a nursing home during the season. Maybe it means volunteering in a soup kitchen or another helps oriented ministry. It could be a myriad of different service opportunities during the Christmas season. I want to encourage you to find a way to look someone in the eyes and wish them a “Merry Christmas”. It will require the sacrifice of some of those precious hours between the carving of the turkey on Thanksgiving and the gathering of the torn wrappings of presents on Christmas day, but it will be worth it. And it just my pay eternal dividends.

You see, though the one you bless, maybe the little or least among people, may not even be able to say thank you or commend you in any way, there is one who ultimately will. Jesus said, “Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me--you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40 (The Message) He says that because He cares for them to the point that incarnated, or become one of them, and we should too. When we care for them, we are adoring Him. Did you get that? When we care for them we are adoring Him. They are His creation, made in His image, marred as it may be by sin, and they are precious to Him.

So begin thinking now what you will do. If you do not plan it, it probably will not happen. Let’s make the expression of our adoration of the Christ this coming Christmas season dwarf the communication of a musical in all its grandeur. And may He be pleased as we live the call together.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Ministry Notes
♪ Reminder of the Christmas musical “ Dinner and a Musical” this Friday at 6:00. Chic-Fil-A and some Christmas cheer. Come one come all. Please RSVP by Wednesday, September 28 if you are planning on attending. Thanks to the many who have already responded.

The Call Resonates Within Me

Dear Musicians of the Master,

Living the Call Together. That is the theme of this week at church. It is the theme of our annual Missions Conference. It the new brand or theme of The Alliance.

It resonates with me. First of all that is because it requires us to think of our entire lives. We must evaluate if we are living for the Lord and His call alone, or if other things are vying for our allegiance, and our resources. We must closely examine where we are with regard to allowing our relationship with Christ to be reflected in every aspect of our living. Our Christianity can not be a Sunday thing. If it is, it is not true Christianity. Christianity is a way of life. We must live it.

It resonates with me because it is the Lord who is calling. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21 Sending me. No. He was referring to the spiritual giants of the faith. He was speaking to those people who have their lives in order. He did not mean for me to be sent. If you think that way, think again. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have been called. Called to live our lives for His glory. Called to go, and as we are going, to teach all nations. Obviously, we can not each teach all the nations, so…

We do this thing TOGETHER. That really resonates with me. I can not do this alone. Even though I know the Lord is with me, and am committed to labor until I die or He returns to take me home, I take great encouragement from this. Why? Because I know that even though this task it to great for me to accomplish by myself, if I live the call alongside all the disciples of Jesus from the past, present and future, we will, by His Spirit’s enabling, finish it.

I hope that resonates with you. As a musician, this is a term you are probably familiar with. To resonate is to cause to resound. When something is resonate it carries well, and communicates clearly. In speaking of acoustics, it would be the intensification and prolongation of sound, especially of a musical tone, produced by sympathetic vibration. I hope that as you consider this new slogan, that the Spirit causes something in your soul to resonate, or that it evokes a feeling of shared emotion or belief. I believe we share the beliefs I have outlines above. The only problem is that we must live them.

Let us labor to live the call together.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Determinedly Demolish Some Things

Dear Servants of the Most High,

My humble apologies for another late entry into the journal of our collective journey to have our hearts tuned to God’s tonal system. I thought yesterday that I would just wait until next week to send something to you, but then God spoke to me in such a way this morning that I felt led to share it with you. He retuned me, again.

If you have been reading Chambers’ then you read this quote this morning so please excuse the repetition. He was speaking of our need to “determinedly demolish some things” in the light of 2 Corinthians 10:5. […casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…] Chambers said this.

It is only when God has transformed our nature and we have entered into
the experience of sanctification that the fight begins. The warfare is not
against sin; we can never fight against sin-Jesus Christ conquered that in
His redemption of us. The conflict is waged over turning our natural life
into a spiritual life.

Oh what joy fills my soul with the thought that I do not have to fight against sin. Yet on the heels of that rapture comes the realization that I have to battle into to see my natural life transformed into a spiritual life. Praise God that because of what Jesus has accomplished the innocence that we have before Him can be turned into holy character. Good news for a bunch of characters like us.

That is really the rub when we think about answering the call as well. We have heard Jesus calling and have turned in faith to find forgiveness of sin and newness of life. The reality is that the call also includes “training everyone [we] meet, far and near, in this way of life.” (Matthew 28:19a) We have already said yes to the call by offering our life to God and accepting His. Now we must allow that transaction to accomplish all God intended, to raise up a corps of the redeemed who wrestle together to complete the commission He has given.

Let us live. Let us live the call. Let us live the call together.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

“Prayer changes me and I change things.”

Oswald Chambers was a man who walked with the Lord. In a series of lectures and devotionals he delivered almost 90 years ago he set forth a series of Christian truths that will challenge any reader. Some of those thoughts have been collected and put in a devotional book that has become the best-selling devotional book of all time. It title, My Utmost for His Highest. [The translation of that in his own words, my best for His glory.

Every day when I read Chamber’s words the Holy Spirit quickens my heart with His truth. I have been thinking and talking a fair amount about prayer lately. You may be thinking it is because I want to see some things change. While that is true there is a deeper motivation behind my thinking. Chamber’s gets at it in what he had to say in the entry dated August 28, “The Purpose of Prayer”.

To say that “prayer changes things” is not as close to the truth as saying,
“Prayer changes me and I change things.” God has established things so
that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at
things. Prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one
of working miracles in a person’s inner nature.

By the way that is exactly what sanctification is, a miracle on your inner nature. And it is that process that I want to encourage to enter into with all your heart. I am asking everyone in the Worship Ministries to read this little devotional one day at a time that we may develop a like-mindedness over this next season as we determine to live our best for God’s glory.

I implore you to include this text into your daily devotions. I am praying God will have His way in us as we live these truths.

I have some copies of this in the choir room if you need one. They are only $4 each.

IN CHRIST,

Pastor Scott

Living the Call Together

And we’re off…

With the start-up of choir last week, the fall seems to have begun in earnest for our Worship Ministries. The WVU students having arrived back in town to begin classes and public school starting later this week will continue to increase our awareness of that reality. As we enter a new season, I have one question for you, “How will you live the call?”

We are going to be affirming our desire to “live the call together” in many ways over the next few weeks as we head into Missions Conference 2005. There will be signs around the church indicating that help is wanted, with an encouragement to “apply within”. What areas of ministry will you be applying yourself to? I hope this is a season when you will be singing in the choir or playing in the orchestra, but more importantly, I hope you are applying yourself internally “to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.” (Philippians 3:14)

We all have a part to play in completing the grand task that Jesus has given us, His Church, to do. We should all be praying and giving and going and sending. There are expressions of each of those that we can all do. May the ministry of worship we share be a tool in the hands of the Holy Spirit as He stirs first our hearts to be involved, and then the hearts of all who hear it.

I you have yielded your heart to Jesus as your Savior, then let Him continue the sanctifying work He has begun. Bow to Him everyday and ask Him how He wants to use you to advance His kingdom. There may be a heart yet today that is ready to yield to him if you will but speak the words the Lord has for you to say. You have heard the call, now live it.

IN CHRIST,

Pastor Scott

Hit Your Knees and Move On

WOW! What do mean today is Wednesday? Where did Tuesday go? Every have a day like that. Sorry about not getting to this yesterdaybut I was swamped.

On Sunday Pastor Drew challenged us to live a guilt-free life. In my conversation with him befreohand, he mentioned that his title at one point was “Hit Your Knees and Move On”. I like that idea. But as a worship pastor that probably does not surprise you. Oh the joy of hiding in His holiness.

But as I mentioned Sunday, maybe you are hiding from Him. There is no need no need to. That guilt you are dealing with over some situation can be left at the foot of the cross. Jesus has already paid it ALL. Give it to Him. Do it right now. Right where you are kneel down and confess that sin and the guilt you have carried and let Jesus take it.

That kind of confession needs to be a part of our regular time with God. Often I pray, “Holy Spirit, reveal to me any areas of unconfessed sin.” Then I confess those to God, and thank Him for His forgiveness. It this a part of your time with God? Do you regularly spend time with God? It is essential to the life of the Christian to humble ourselves before our God on a regular basis.

The psalmist says “Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.” Do not harden your heart. Humble yourself before your God.

When was the last time you were on your knees before Him? We will likely have that opportunity Sunday, so why not prepare yourself this week.

IN CHRIST,

Pastor Scott

Join Me In Prayer

Prayer. It was the focus of VBS a couple of weeks ago. It has been much on my mind as we prepare to enter a new season of ministry together. I have been doing it, and I want to ask you to do the same.

In his message Sunday morning Pastor Hawkins took us to John 17. In this passage, Jesus is praying. He prays first for Himself, then His disciples, and finally for all believers. That expanding circle is a good model for us.

You must know that I pray for myself. I often echo Pastor Tony’s quote of that old hymn text in his message a couple of weeks ago, “It’s me, it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.” I need prayer, and I certainly would entreat your prayers for me and my family.

I also pray for you. This is the second level of prayer as found in John 17. You must know that I view you as disciples entrusted to my care, and that I hold you in my heart. I do that in a corporate sense, but also individually as the Lord impresses needs on my heart. For all of you that have submitted requests to me, please know that I am praying and agreeing with you about the matters you have mentioned. I have seen some answers and am trusting God for more.

Finally, I am praying for the whole church, and then even beyond our local body. I pray for our role in completing Christ’s commission to be fulfilled. I pray that we would be able to partner even with local churches to demonstrate the unity of the body. But these days, that unity for our body is one of my primary prayers. I echo Jesus as I pray, “Make us one.” (John 17:21) I am praying for unity, that we would have a singleness of heart as we glorify the Lord together.

What are you praying for? When you pray for our Worship Ministries, what do you ask the Lord for? When you pray for our church, what is your heart cry? I am asking that God would make us one.

Will you join me?

IN CHRIST,

Pastor Scott

Committed to the Call

Are you Committed…to the Call?

I am certain we will be encouraged tonight as we listen to the Continentals Singers affirm that they are committed to God’s call on their lives. I am certain our spirits will be lifted up as we see a bunch of young people who have given up their summer to serve the Lord. I am confident we will be blessed with the realization that there exist those who will stand in a public place and declare their allegiance to Christ. I know we will enjoy the opportunity to attend a concert where Christ is exalted and His kingdom advanced.

But exactly where will all that leave us? Nowhere, if we do not simultaneously affirm that we are committed to the call.

Whether you can attend tonight’s concert ministry or not I want to ask you to pray about your commitment to the call of the Lord Jesus upon your life. I am not referring to a call to ministry that someone who serves vocationally has heard, but the call to advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ wherever you find yourself, at work, at school, or at play.

This morning in staff meeting we had a stimulating discussion. Pastor Miller asked us what concerns us as we go about our pastoral ministry. He wanted us to articulate in which areas where we are concerned for the church. Several shared very valid concerns, but ultimately in my mind they centered on a commitment to the call. As a church, as individuals, how committed are we to the call, to finishing the work that Jesus gave us to do that we might hasten His return.

Far too often I fear we are not as committed as we should be. Do not mistake my words. We are committed, but to what. Too many things vie for our commitment and attention, our resources and our energies. So many that I think it is often very difficult for us to hear the call, to hear the voice of the One who said of His sheep, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 The problem is not even hearing the call, but following.

What are you not doing that you are confident God would have you do, or that you are certain Jesus has told you to do?

Let us respond in obedience to the call…committed.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Waiting and Working

I am back from vacation. What a wonderful time I had with my family relaxing. I so needed that time to be refreshed and rejuvenated. I hope that many of you are finding a way to do that as well this summer. A busy season of ministry is just before us.

As much as I enjoyed the rest of my vacation, it was really only a foretaste of the rest that has been promised to us in Christ. I am really looking for the eternal light and divine embrace that will be ours in the mansions of the Lord, as you are as well I am sure. Let us labor on together that many more may share that longing with us.

We have labor to do here until we receive our inheritance, and I hope you are not going weary in well-doing. Plans are emerging for the fall for choir, worship team and orchestra. We will be spending some time together in the classic Oswald Chambers devotional My Utmost for His Highest. More on that later. We will also be learning a musical based on that famous work which I believe will help us better understand how we are to live the call on our own and together.

I am excited about what the Lord has in store for us as we come to a place of abandon in our relationship with Christ. That is not a word we use very often today, but an understanding and practice of it are essential for any who long to give their very best for God’s glory, their utmost for His Highest. That is exactly what we are about in our worship ministries at the Alliance and I look forward to the unity God will foster as we focus on these concepts on a daily basis.

IN CHRIST,

Pastor Scott