Relentless

Sunday morning retuning: We were reminded of the forgiveness Jesus offers to “50” and “500” sinners.  (See Luke 7:36-50)  We have been forgiven much, but do we love much?

As I sat on my couch last night listening to the wind howl outside one word came to mind: relentless.  This “super”-storm sounded different than most other in that the wind did not seem to stop or let up.  It sounded like the blower that inflates our boys waterslide each summer, constantly blowing, just MUCH BIGGER!

That got me thinking about what God might want to be speaking to me through this.  [Do you do that?  When a thought comes to mind, take it back to God and ask what He is saying, that it.]  Don’t get me wrong, I do not do that all the time, but when I do, it’s always good.

I felt first of all…no wait, let me tell you something else about this concept before I give you my first impression.  I did a quick word study of relentless and learned it only appears in the NIV 84 one time, where it refers to God’s enemies.  In The Message, it is used a number of times and most often refers to God’s righteous anger.  Only in Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the Temple is it used to describe His love.  Yet, that is the sense that comes to mind for me when I think of this word.

Now for my thoughts.  I though about David, you know the “man after God’s own heart”, that is, who pursued God’s heart.  He passionately went after God, yet not without fail.  Just like us.  In response to His relentless love for us, we should love and pursue God relentlessly, without any sign of slowing or stopping.  How often we fail.  I think of the line sand Sunday from Shine into Our Night, “We’ve seen Your glory Lord, but looked away.”  Why do we do that?

We asked forgiveness on Sunday for “our obsession with creating a life of constant pleasure.”  How true.  Instead of creating a life filled with the Glory of our Creator, we strive to fill it with creature comforts.  How do we get our eyes off of ourselves and onto Him and his purposes?  We pray, relentlessly.

How do we pray?  Here’s an idea.  Open Up the Heavens.  Can you feel their passion as they sing?  [Worship team members, singers and players alike, we could take some notes from their facial expression and their engagement in singing their praise.]

This kind of prayer will broaden your perspective.  It will get your eyes off of the struggles and problems right before you.  It will remind you of how lofty and great is the hope we have in Christ.  What we see before us is not all there this, but only a shadow.  The grave was not the end for our Master and will not be the end for us either.  This song reminds of that in typical progressive bluegrass fashion.  [When she shared this with me Sarah was wondering when we might do this at NMC.  I replied, “When we have a banjo player.”]

Jesus, help us be relentless in our pursuit of You.  Have mercy on those who are caught in the relentless pounding of Hurricane Sandy.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.  

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Tired of the Negativity?

Sunday morning retuning: Two weeks from today we will cast our ballots? Are you prepared and well-informed?  There are some resources at the North-Mar Church website that can help.  

If I see one more negative add I think I am going to scream!  I understand what one CNN analyst said when he quoted some statistic about the effectiveness of negative adds to influence voters, but I would really like it if they candidates could spend more time, AND MONEY, telling me how they are the better choice based one what they will do.

And what they say they will do should be what influences our votes in a couple weeks, but not because of it’s impact on our pocket books so much as our conscience.  We must discern where the candidates stand on issues of morality and let this information influence us above all else.  The economy, foreign policy and any other number of issues are important, but less important than those of morality.

Even still, as I was reminded this morning, our hope is not in the future president of our country, but in Jesus, our Messiah.  Our greatest responsibility is not even to vote, though I plead with all of you to do so, but in living out our hope in lives bent to his purposes. 

Romney said something in the debates last night that sounded presidential, something about believing in America, the great hope of the world.  Jesus Himself is the great hope, and America can be an expression of that, but we have forgotten in many ways many of the truths this nation was founded upon, because many believers have failed to live up to the light we have.

I saw this video a few weeks ago, and considered showing it in our services, but decided against it after conferring with Pastor Myron.  I think it has a positive message to it, one that I would much rather see repeated on my television screen, even if I do not agree with every single thought portrayed and image used.  It reminds of the promises we are hearing these days then takes a turn you do not expect.  I pray it will encourage you to be a positive voice, in these next two weeks, and beyond…

Jesus, help us to be a positive influence upon the world around us, even as we look to you as the source of all Hope.  Shine Your light into our darkness, until Your glory fills our eyes.  

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

What’s Your Vise?

Sunday morning retuning: Are you living a life of repentance?  The analogy from Sunday of a vise really grabbed a hold of me.  Sorry for the shameless pun.  It will be difficult to live a life of where you have turned away from your something until you have identified it.  Have you?

I grew up with a clear mental picture of the purpose of a vise.  My dad always had, and does to this day, a small vise on his workbench in the basement.  I remember as a kid putting things in it, cracking them down super tight and smashing them with a hammer.  Even when I would try to bend them back, they were never the same.  They were marked by the pounding and the grip of the vise itself.

If I were to ask you what your “vice” is [notice the different spelling] you would likely think of a fault, a negative character trait, a defect, an infirmity, or merely a bad habit that marks or plagues your Christian life.   I find it ineteresting that these two words, vise and vice have very different but associated meanings.  Sorry but I really like words and their meanings so you will have to bear with me.  I had never considered these two before.

Let me make this a little less academic and a lot more personal.  We are studying the concept of margin as a staff.  Our text is a book of that title, Margin, by Richard Swenson.  [There is a sample at the link.] He defines margin as “the space between our load and our limits.”  I liken the concept to the margins of a book.  Does you life have some space, like the margins of a book, or is it jammed full like the page of a book that has words going all the way to the edges so that you have to move your fingers to see them all?  If you are feeling like you do not have any, take solace if you can in the fact that what you are feeling is a societal epidemic.

Pastor Scott asked us a great question today, he has a gift at that you know.  “If you think back, when did margin start becoming a problem for you?”  As I pondered this, I could not remember when I first noticed it gone.  Only when I became aware of the concept several years ago, did I realize it had been crowded out at all.  This led me to the conclusion that at least in my thinking, margin-less living was fairly ingrained.  I confess that it is a vise for me, squeezing the life out of me, unless I am conscious of it, and war against it, or turn from it, which I routinely try to do.

Before you think, what’s the big deal with that, you have to understand that it effects not only the way I think, but by default every decision I make, every word I speak, every thing I do, unless I consciously choose to live a life of repentance.  Do you see where I am going?

Living with margin is my vise, or more truly one of them, but it might not be yours.  What is?  Once you have identified it, you have a much better chance of turning from it successfully.  I pray you will today, for God’s glory and your good.

Jesus, help me and my friends live lives of repentance.  Thank You for Your light which shines the way, and Your strength which enables us to walk it, one step behind You.  

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Resting...Resting

Sunday morning retuning: I was retuning Sunday.  For the first time in a long time, I was not in any church service of any kind.  I actually did not feel like being anywhere either.  My family was all at church and the house was quiet.  Weird!  Helped me realize how much I really enjoy getting together with that quirky bunch of folks called the church...  

"It is advised that at least one week be taken off of school or work.  Gradually increase your activity each day."  Funny how mandatory rest can seem on one hand like a week of vacation, and on another like a prison sentence.  I guess it's really all about perspective, right?  Well, that's what I am working on today it appears.

And there is a difference between active rest and passive rest  The former I suppose is filled with purposefulness and meaning, the later seems devoid of true significance.  I know I need the rest, but there are other things I would like to do.  I feel like I am waffling back and forth between the two.  Maybe blogging about it is my way of being passively active?

As I was reflecting on resting this morning, the text of a wonderful, old hymn came to mind, "Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting."  That link will take you to the text and the original, or at least widely recognized tune for this great text.  Though the entire hymn is rich with imagery of the experience of resting in Jesus, I really love the line in the 3rd stanza which speaks of His love which "Compasseth me round with blessings, Thine is love indeed."  My experience of His love for me flows directly out of my simple trust in Him.

I came across a newer version of this old hymn about ten years ago, and it included those words, but I could not find one today for you to listen to that did.  I like this version by the Shelly Moore Band best of the ones I heard because the tempo helps me imagine resting better than many others.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  Jesus, I am Resting, Resting


Let me leave you with a question.  Are you resting today in the joy of what Jesus is?  If not, what's stopping you?  Pain, obligations, responsibilities, commitments, friendships, family, work, debt, plans, dreams, etc.  Determine today to find out the greatness of His loving heart.

Jesus, help me and my friends to rest in you today.  Whether we are active or passive, draw us close to You.  Whether we are working or waiting, teach us to rest. 

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Stopping the Flow

Sunday morning retuning:  So what was your fill in the blank?  “Jesus, I’m in pain with ________.  Help me!”  Continue to invite Him to do so.  He loves you!!

We were listening to something as a staff earlier today that really had an impact on me. So much so that I wanted to share it with you, believing full well it will have an impact on some of you as well.  Here it is:

Spiritual disciplines are more rightly viewed as anything that stops the natural flow of sin in your life.

When I have thought of spiritual disciplines, I have always thought in terms of prayer, bible reading/memorizing, worship, etc.  Not only that, but I have thought of them in terms of making me a better, stronger Christ-follower, not in terms of stopping the flow on sin.  And so I have often struggled with what I understood were the excepted norms of spiritual disciplines without the ability to understand part of why.

I have talked for years about worship being a way of life, or a lifestyle.  Worship is not something we do as much as a they way we do it.  When we worship Christ as a way of living, everything we do is bent in this direction.  I have often quoted 17^th century monk Brother Lawrence who was responsible for the wisdom of The Practice of the Presence of God and I believe was a cook in a monastery said something like “I slice carrots to the glory of God.”

That phrase has resonated with me across the years but I have seldom heard someone echo it.  This idea of stopping the flow of sin in our lives, could just as certainly be stated as directly the flow of our lives to praise.  You see, that is what God has called us to in Christ, living our lives “in a manner worthy of the gospel”. [Phil 1:27]  In this way, anything that stops the flow of sin, or starts the flow of praise, can be viewed as a spiritual discipline, in my humble estimation.

Do you see where I am going with this?  Tonight, when I kick the soccer ball around with 7-year old Josiah, that can be a spiritual discipline as I demonstrate the love of the Father to my son, and stop of the flow of potentially otherwise self-centeredness.  Don’t mistake what I am saying, I could do that, or ANY other thing for that matter, in a way that does not glorify God, or stop the flow of sin, but I will make the conscious choice, I will discipline my mind, to show Christ to my son in that moment.

What will you do today to stop the flow of sin in your life?  Read the Bible, play soccer, or something else.  May God bless your increased awareness of Him as you do.

Jesus, help me and my friends know you better as we stop the natural flow of sin in our lives and live in a manner worthy of the gospel.

In Christ,

                      
Pastor Timothy

Humble Obedience

Sunday morning retuning: Our guest missionary, Evan Evans, brought a strong challenge Sunday about a theology of risk. Is God stirring you to be more extreme in some area of your walk with Him? Are you trusting Him to give you the courage you need to face that risk? He’s able!

For well over a year now we have been talking about discipleship in terms of loving Jesus, growing together and serving our world. These phrases are simple yet powerful reminders of what Christ calls us to as we walk a step behind Him. I want to unpack one aspect of the first of those statements for a couple minutes. 

We explain loving Jesus in this way. We love Jesus through a lifestyle of worship, prayer and humble obedience. On first blush those first words are pretty obvious. Worship is fitting for the One who saved my soul. Prayer is crucial to nurture my faith and my relationship with the Lover of my soul. But humble obedience, that seems a little more nebulous to me. Humility is not very appealing to be honest, and obedience, well…I will sing to Jesus (only a slim dimension of my worship), and pray when things get tough ( if not at other times), but obey? This came home to me recently.

I was praying for one of my boys who had recently struggled with obeying. Not only, doing the thing, but with his attitude in it. Ever happen to you? Come on now. As I was praying fro my son, my Father spoke to me. He gently reminded me that he had recently told me to do something that I have failed to do.

Last Sunday, as Pastor Myron preached, a situation came to mind. I felt like God was telling me I should lead my family to trust God for His direction and provision by having us pray about something specifically with regard to a need we have. Nine days have passed and I have yet to bring that up. We have prayed together on numerous times since then, but I have forgotten to lead them. And the impression I had was that we should not just pray once, but pray until He did something. I did not intentional disobey, but neither did I intentionally obey. I am going to do that today.

How about you? As you grow in your love for Jesus, what is He asking of you that you need to humbly obey. You will find yourself loving Him more even as you express your love through obedience. I pray you will do it today.

Jesus, give me the courage to humbly obey what you are asking me to do. I love you and I want to show you through my humble obedience.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Show, Don’t Tell

Sunday morning retuning: Are you crying out to the Father? He wants His kingdom to come and His will to be done in you as it is in heaven. Are you aligning yourself to those purposes in prayer? If not, why not? Do it today! Right now!!

My son Samuel recently competed in a writing competition. I was there to help and was able to take in some of the orientation for the students. I was surprised at one point to hear something said matter-of-factly that I had honestly never heard before.

The teacher behind the podium said, “And remember of course” as if everyone knew this next statement, “to show, don’t tell”. I must admit. For a moment it sounded like she was speaking in another language. You know that feeling of having to go back in your mind and replay the recording so you can use the context to discern what was just spoken. Then I realized the words she said and was only slightly less confused. I had to think about this.

I am not really sure what she said for the next few minutes as I thought about what she must have meant by this phrase and it occurred to me that this made great sense as a writing technique. I had some clarity in my own mind, but wanted more. So where did I turn, you guessed it, the internet.

Google “Show, don’t’ tell” and a lot of things come up. I liked what I found at this link if you are interested in more. I have come to learn that it means to use dialogue an sensory language to bring your reader into the experience of what you are communicating. Be descriptive and specific, not vague. This is challenging to anyone who writes, including people who blog, say weekly. 

These next few weeks we are going to be looking at our discipleship process at North-Mar: loving Jesus, growing together, serving our world. As you read those words, you may be tempted to think, as I am sometimes, that you have that figured out. You know how to do those three. Give me something else. But allow me to caution you.

The proof in the pudding of what kind of discple you are may be measured well in the context of “Show, Don’t Tell”. You have heard it said, “I would rather see a sermon than to hear one any day.” The truth that drives that statement is that people want to see our faith in action, to be draw into it, not just hear about it.

So as you hear those truths these next three weeks, ask yourself, “How can I show what kind of disciple I am, rather than telling people?” I know I will be. See you Sunday.

Jesus, help me to be a disciple who is faithful to show my faith and not just talk about it. Help me to be a doer of the word and not simply one who hears then speaks it. All that You may be glorified.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Kingdom Assignment

Sunday morning retuning: We have been given an assignment. The Holy Spirit it our teach. The kingdom is our classroom. What will be learn?

We were reminded Sunday, from the parable of the talents [Matthew 25:14-30], of our responsibility to use what the Lord has entrusted to our care for Him. Seems like an obvious and reasonable mandate. God has given us everything we have, so we should use it to complete His command, not only to cater to our comforts.

The elders have been praying for some time about the way this assignment would unfold in the life of our church as this experiment takes place. 50 people with 50 $100 bills. What might God do as more than just those 50 and their families talk to God about being a steward of this gift? Before I left the sanctuary Sunday I had heard a few stories of what God had done already. This is going to be quite and adventure.

I felt compelled last week to take the song that we have sung for baptisms and reorient it to this season. I feel very strongly that some people are going to be changed by this, never the same again. I want to ask you to join me praying for all those folks.

But that’s not all. I am praying for myself in this season, and I want to encourage you to do the same. You see, I do not think I have a comprehensive understanding of this stewardship thing. Actually, I know I do not. And I am equally confident you don not either. How can I be so sure, you ask? Because this side of glory, none of us arrive.

This part of the journey for us as a church is go deepen this understanding. The exciting thing is that this is not just an intellectual exercise, but instead and experiential one. May the Lord use it in our individual lives and the life of our church to take us to a new place in our understanding of not just stewardship, but the kingdom as well. Lord, be glorified.

Jesus, help us to see the things you have given as managers not owners. This changes everything. We want Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Shine

Sunday morning retuning: Pretty simple challenge Sunday. Right from the words of Jesus. Why is it so difficult for us to obey it?

As our international worker was finishing the sermon Sunday this song popped into my head. I did a quick search on Rhapsody hoping to download it and play it at the end of the service but I ran out of time. I could only remember the chorus:

Shine
Make 'em wonder what you've got
Make 'em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored
Shine
Let it shine before all men
Let'em see good works, and then
Let 'em glorify the Lord

Later when I had some time I tracked this down. The song is “Shine” by the Newsboys. Here is a youtube link to them performing this live in Houston last year I think. And here are the words for the verses. They will make you think a bit. I had to think to understand a few of them, and still trying to understand a few more.

Dull as dirt
You can't assert the kind of light
That might persuade
A strict dictator to retire
Fire the army
Teach the poor origami
The truth is in
The proof is when
You hear your heart stop asking,
"What's my motivation?"

And try as you may, there isn't a way
To explain the kind of change
That would make an Eskimo renounce fur
That would make a vegetarian barbecue hamster
Unless you can trace this about-face
To a certain sign... (Chorus)

Out of the shaker and onto the plate
It isn't Karma
It sure ain't fate
That would make a Deadhead sell his van
That would make a schizophrenic turn in his crayons
Oprah freaks
And science seeks a rationale
That shall excuse
This strange behavior

When you let it shine
You will inspire
The kind of entire turnaround
That would make a bouncer take ballet
(even bouncers who aren't happy)
But out of the glare
With nowhere to turn
You ain't gonna learn it on "What's My Line?" (Chorus)

That chorus is based on Matthew 5:14-16. If you are being challenged to shine, read and meditate on that. It will be beneficial to you I am sure.

I am tempted to say more. But I will resist that temptation, for I think you have heard enough for a Tuesday afternoon.

Jesus, You are the Light of the world (John 8:12). And you have made us the light to the world. (Matthew 5:14) Help us to shine.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Jesus Is My Life

Sunday morning retuning: The message of hope Sunday was so clear. Maybe you have not yet decided to plunge in. I encourage you to do so now. The water is more than fine.

So we have begun to sing a song from the fall recording project titled, “All I Have Is Christ”. I have been looking forward to using it in our worship gatherings because the text of it is so solid. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with it, I have included a link here so you can hear it. [This is a version with an animation of obvious missonal flair, very appropriate to lead us to Sunday and our Missions Impact Weekend.]

While the verses are theologically rich, and some might say complex, the chorus is just the opposite with regard to complexity that is. It simply says, “Hallelujah! All I have is Christ. Hallelujah! Jesus is my life”. Notice is does not say, “Bummer, all I have is Christ,” as if that were some kind of disappointment. On the contrary, it is a joyful exclamation, one that it does our souls well to ponder.

That being said it is the last line that Jesus is bringing to life for me these days. “Jesus is my life.” On the one side, many a weary soul has uttered these words in desperation yet with rest and peace. There have been times when I have lipped those words, and others when I have shouted them. But what Jesus is showing me in these days while we are learning to sing and live this song is another layer. One that I would never have claimed to have figured out, but that I honestly felt I knew a little better than He is revealing to me.

You see, I am selfish. I want what I want and I want it now. Let me rephrase that more accurately. I know what I want to do, and I do not want to bother with distractions. Before you conclude that I am the worst pastor ever, hear me out.

I have realized through a number of circumstances over the last couple of weeks since we have begun to sing this wonderful song that Jesus is my life. I know, I may not be helping my case but follow my thinking. I have know for sometime and really agree with Paul when he wrote to the Galatians that, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” [2:20] But what has been happening over the last couple weeks is God has been giving me little opportunities to demonstrate that.

For example, instead of doing what I was planning on doing, God has given me opportunities to serve others in simple ways. He has also given me opportunities to show value to others, thinking more highly of them than myself. For me, this requires dying. Sometimes I do well, others not so well. That other line from the song suddenly becomes so clear, the one about living so all might see, “the strength to follow [His] commands could never come from me.

Jesus is my life. No arguments from me on that. and yet there are times when a battle for my life, my way, my will, rages within me. But I praise the Lord He is helping me see it so that I can overcome it in His strength. Jesus is my life. Hallelujah!

Jesus, You are my life. Help me to die a thousand deaths so that I can experience moreso every day that blazing and glorious reality. “And let my song forever be my only boast is You.”

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Withdrawing

Sunday morning retuning: Tomorrow is the big day. Are you making plans? How will you respond to the challenge/encouragement?

Present tense of “withdrew.” Present and future activity for North-Mar Church. That is, if we will take up the challenge issued Sunday.

That’s an unusual word. It is the word that captured my eye last week as I prepared for the service. It captured it again on Sunday. “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” [Luke 5:16, emphasis mine]

I am so thankful that the Father did not put parameters on that for us. I am so grateful that Jesus did not include a timeline on this. I am so appreciative that the Spirit guides us into what withdrawing looks like for us, even as we follow one step behind Jesus. And if we are going to follow a step behind, it sounds like we are going to need to withdraw. Don’t you agree?

Last week in my Tunings I closed with a quick encouragement that God is unfolding plans for each of us who have responded to His call and returned to Him. In his letter to the exiles in Babylon, Jeremiah used these words to encourage the exiles that God would unfold His plan for them as well. The very next phrase is encouraging to all who have ever had the inclination, under the Holy Spirit’s influence, to, well, withdraw.

That is what He is talking about. The prophet said it this way. “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” [Jeremiah 29:12-13] I want to implore You to take God at His word.

Call on Him. Come to Him. Pray to Him. Why? Because He has promised to listen to you. The God of the universe, the Lord of the Ages, listening to you, to me. WOW! I believe it. But that’s not all. We will find God, see Him active and present in our lives, recognize Him, when we seek with all our hearts.

I confess I do not know exactly what that means, but I do not think that is the important part. I think it is simply important that we seek the best way we know how. And now we know that includes withdrawing. So let’s do it, and prepare to find God in the process. How exciting! Won’t you join me?

Jesus, show me how to withdraw. Help me know what that looks like for me tomorrow. Thank You for Your grace in my life that leads me along day by day. Help me to fix my eyes on You as I withdraw…

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Beginning…Again

I am not typically one of those people who makes New Year’s resolutions. And that’s not because I dislike change. One of the interesting aspects of my personality is that I not only embrace change, I actually seek it out to some extent. For example, those of you who know me best know that I would rather try every restaurant in town before making a return visit to any one restaurant in particular.

That being said, I still find that there are some things that I have wanted to change for some time, but honestly have just not found the inspiration required to make the change. I set goals and accomplish some projects that are important because of the relative sense of urgency attached to them. Others that may be equally important, or maybe even more so, lack that same sense of urgency.

So if I am not going to make a resolution, but there are things that I would like to see change, what should I do? I have decided to take them to Jesus and ask Him for the inspiration and resolve to make those changes. The turn of the year seems as good a time to do that as any, so I think I will begin…again.

There are a couple of things for me that immediately come to mind that I would like to change. No one is going to make those changes for me. I need to make some decisions and modify some behaviors if I want to bring them about, but I know I can not do it on my own. I have prayed before at this time of year something like, “Jesus, make me more like you this year, so that when I turn the corner into next year I can look back and see how much I have changed.” In some seasons I have succeeded in that, but more often that I care to admit I have not. I need His help to see change begin…again.

So what are those areas in your life that you would like to see change? That you know Jesus would like to help you change? Not sure? Allow me encourage you to take a few minutes in the next couple days and ask Him. You may be surprised at what He says! Even if you are not surprised, rest assured He has your best interests in mind, for He knows the plans He has for you. [Jeremiah 29:11]

Take some time, and begin…again.

Jesus, I want to be more like You. Help me to begin that process again as this New Year begins. May it result in my becoming more like You over the next 12 months.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Building Up

Sunday morning retuning: I pray God has your attention. He has a plan and a purpose for your life. Are you living it? Could He say He is well pleased with you?

Last week we had a guest columnist. I spoke with a few conductors who are going to help with the Christmas musical orchestra. I met with a guy who is helping to guide us through some facility upgrades in the sanctuary. I rehearsed with a soloist for this Sunday’s service and am looking forward to sharing the choir anthem with her. I am planning on having someone led for me on a Sunday morning in few weeks. The Christmas musical is quickly approaching as well as a couple other special services. I am aware of my need of a little creative support and a lot of help over the next eight weeks or so.

All of this has me thinking again of equipping.

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13

Equipping is done so the body will be built up. The point of the building up is that we all reach unity in faith and knowledge, and ultimately maturity. To think that each of us has a part in that is very exciting to me.

So what is your part? Are you a choir member, bass player, actor, painter, tech, carpenter, intercessor, etc.? Are you fulfilling your role? Have you been equipped to do so? Is there more that you could be doing? [There is always more that could be done, but are you doing what God wants you to do.]

Here is a list of some things that are emerging. Maybe you have some talents and/or passions to express for the good of the church.

Contributing authors – I believe some of you have some things to share that would make great Tuesday Tunings. I am officially excepting submissions.
Christmas Eve – I am praying about some creative expressions for that evening. I welcome ideas.
Creative Team – Like our worship team that meets weekly to prepare to lead our people, I am considering compiling a group of people to plan and express talents in worship for the glory of our Lord. Interested?
Intercessors – I would love to see a group of people praying during each of the presentations of the musical on December 11. Would you be available to pray for us as we present?
??? – Maybe there is something else that we need to be doing to allow God to declare His glory in our midst. I welcome those thoughts.

I look forward to hearing from many of your in response to these needs. I am trusting God to continue to move in our midst as we faithfully stay one step behind Jesus. What an exciting time to be a part of the family of worshippers who call North-Mar Church home! I am glad I am here and that you are too!

Jesus, equip us for the building up of Your Bride.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Prayer, and a Call to Prayer

Sunday morning retuning: What kind of fruit are you bearing? May the Spirit help each of us bear fresh fruit from today, not stale fruit from yesterday. All for the glory of our Redeemer.

Over the weekend I asked John Grundy, worship team/choir member to contribute an article for TT. This is what he offers us today. As an elder who has begun issuing a call to prayer to all who have ears to hear, I am not surprised at what he has put before us. Thanks for the good word, John.

[6b] all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant—
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isaiah 56)

God brings joy in prayer! Prayer is an active and vital part of walking just one step behind Jesus. Prayer allows us to have communion, or fellowship, with God. Prayer allows us to praise Him, to honor Him, to give Him the glory that is His due. “Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” [James 5:13(b)]

We are to also bring our requests to our Lord through prayer. Phil 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Most of us are adept at this, and for many asking God for things is the sole purpose of prayer. Notice that we are to present our requests “with thanksgiving”. Be cautious. God is not the Make a Wish Foundation. Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Prayer, even when we are asking God for something, must be done in the context of praise and adoration, not selfishness or pride.

Prayer is often linked to fasting. (e.g., Ps. 35:13) Fasting involves sacrifice, which we do not enjoy. Yet we wonder why our prayers are often ineffective. There is a link in scripture between prayer coupled with sacrifice, and God’s answer. Phil 3:10, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” We want to see God’s power, but we are not so anxious to sacrifice or suffer in order to see His power. Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” After his baby was struck ill, David fasted, prayed and wept, hoping that God would be gracious to him and spare the child. (II Sam 12:22)

Prayer also permits us the privilege of interceding on behalf of others. 1 Tim 2:1 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.” It is a great privilege to be able to intercede before the throne of the living God on behalf of one we love. We trust in His grace as we bring others before Him in prayer.

We say we believe that nothing is accomplished without prayer. Yet, do we pray? Many of us are comfortable in our personal lives. Certainly things at North Mar Church are more comfortable than they have been in recent memory. But our Lord has not called us to be comfortable. In fact, it is dangerous to be comfortable and to assume that state will continue indefinitely. (See the Parable of the Rich Fool, Luke 12:13-21)

The Word of our Lord clearly commands us to pray. I invite each of us to climb out of our comfort zones, and pray. Pray individually, and join us in corporate prayer.

On Sunday mornings, come to the prayer room. After the choir is dismissed, after the praise team leaves the platform, make your way back to the prayer room and join others there praying for God to move in our midst, to do what He desires and only He can do, to intercede on behalf of our brothers and sisters and those who have not yet come to be Jesus followers, to pray for our pastors and elders and others who God has called to be shepherds at North Mar Church, to praise Him and give Him glory and honor and thanks.

God will bring joy into a life cultivated with prayer. Come join us.

John Grundy

Jesus, make us a people of prayer.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

How’s Your Memory?

Sunday morning retuning: Remember who you are. Remind yourself of this regularly. You are a child of the King, if you have indeed resigned yourself to this marvelous truth. May the Spirit you remind you often of His plans and purposes for you, but first of all His love for you.

How often we believe and allow our minds to be shaped by the things that speak to ourselves when we are simply repeating what others have said, what we imagined they have said, or worse yet, what the enemy has caused us to believe they have said? Should we not be more apt to believe the things that God, our Maker, has said? Unfortunately, too often, and not often enough respectively.

I read this quote in the book Humility by C. J. Mahaney we are reading as a staff then shared it on Facebook a few weeks ago.

‎"Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?" Martin Lloyd-Jones in Spiritual Depression

Something Pastor Myron said near the end of his message reminded me of this statement and I wanted to mention in this context as well.

So what’s the difference between listening and talking when you are doing it all? I think what Lloyd-Jones is trying to say is that we need to be active in this and not passive. Do not just listen to what you might easily believe, but rather work to diligently remind yourself of the things that you might even struggle to believe at times.

So how’s you memory? Do you more often remember the truth of what God has said about and remind yourself of those things or believe the lies you have listened to for far too long? Here are some things God has said about you…

I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3b

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1b

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Jesus, help us to remember and embrace all you have said to us. Help us to remind ourselves often of these truths so we may come to really believe them and live from that position for your glory.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Enough

Sunday morning retuning: Our big idea from Sunday’s message was one that can easily seem too familiar. “Jesus is all I need.” I already know that you might be tempted to say. But as I have reflected on that the last couple of days some other things have come to mind. Read on…

You see this is another simple statement with huge ramifications. There is on the one side the indisputable reality of it. Jesus really is all that I need. You have heard if said, “If I have the whole world but not Jesus, then I have nothing. But if I have nothing in the world but Jesus, I have everything.” Jesus is all I need. Let’s call this the positional dimension. That is, my position is that Jesus is all I need.

Then there is what I will call the experiential dimension. In my living, or experience, can the same be said. Though Jesus remains all that I need positional, I sometimes live, experientially, like this is not the case. That is, sometimes I live like Jesus [and this other thing that is really important to me at the moment] is [are] all I need.

I would rather that were not the case. I want my experience and my desire to line up with my position, but it does not always work that way. I wonder if you are willing to be honest and admit the same is true of you.

I am tempted at this point to develop a treatise on the flesh and why we have this internal struggle, but I would like for you to wrestle with some of the things I have been wrestling with this the last couple of days. Names withheld for anonymity and application.

We say, “Jesus is all I need”, but what do we say then…
…to the little girl whose daddy just told her mom he is leaving and not coming back.
…to that family who to a person is more excited about their vacation than they have been about anything in a long time.
…to the “30 something” wife who has recently been attending church without her husband because of his recent illness, and may be doing so for the rest of her life.
…to the one who believes yet has nagging doubts and fears
…to the young man addicted to pornography sitting there in church Sunday morning feeling even more defeated than ever.

Needless to say, what we say to them will not be q quick fix. Rather we need to love them and live with them through this. And that may take a long time, but I believe as never before that Jesus is and will be enough, even all they need.

Jesus, all of You is more than enough for all of me, for every thirst and every need. You satisfy us with Your love and all we have in You is more than enough. [Chorus from “Enough” by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio, choir anthem for this Sunday]

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Was the Choir THAT Good?

Sunday morning retuning: Only Jesus can save me! Yet how often am I guilty of trying to save myself. Let us be quick to marvel the cross, and trust in Christ’s finished work there to allow Him to completely to identify with all I face as I try to live surrendered to God.

I received this in a text two weeks ago Sunday. It was in reference to the anthem the choir presented in our services that morning. The short answer in my hear t is “No!” the choir was not that good. God was!

There was clapping and a standing ovation at the end. I understand the standing happened spontaneously part way through the song. Though I can not know people’s hearts, I want to believe they were responding to the way the Lord was revealing Himself in those moments.

Did the choir sound good? Sure. Was the duet well done? Absolutely. Was it a great song to begin with? You bet. But the underlying issue was simply that God choose to show Himself to us in a very clear way in those moments.

God is always present with us. He told us He would never leave us or forsake us. [Deuteronomy 31:6] He told us He would inhabit the praises of His people. [Psalm 22:3] We know He is always with us.

But there are times when we are more aware of His presence. When God revealed Himself at Sinai. [ Exodus 19:18-20] When Solomon dedicated the Temple. [2 Chronicles 7:1] When the Spirit was given at Pentecost. [Acts 2:1-4]

I pray there will be more times when we are clearly aware of the unmistakable, life-changing presence of our God. I firmly believe there will be. But even when we are not as aware collectively of His presence, may we still believe that His power is at work in our midst.

Jesus is only a step ahead of us, though at times we are tempted to go astray and other times we simply doubt He is really there. Stay close and expect to sense Him at every turn in the road, both individually and corporately. I know I am.

Jesus, cause us to be overwhelmed by Your presence sometimes, and in the other times give us faith to trust You are equally present. Our eyes are on You.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

So That

Sunday morning retuning: I trust in You. Four little words we sang on Sunday, one big implication. This is a life altering statement. No matter what comes your way, keep believing that “Nothing is impossible for [God].”

No, I did not mean to say, “So what”. Occasionally words from the Scripture jump off the page at me. I hope you have had this experience. If not, keep reading and praying for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and you will.

We are studying humility as a staff in our weekly gathering. Today’s material took us to 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. The second part of verse nine is what drew my particular attention, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

I have read these verses before. I probably have even heard sermons preached from them, but the Holy Spirit really got my attention with those two words, “so that”. I will not speak for you but I confess that I want, I need Christ’s power. Oh, that it would rest on me, as the Amplified Bible puts it, “pitch a tent and dwell” on me. I want His power, His presence, His person.

So…how can I ensure that? By boasting all the more in my weaknesses. Does it seem as simple to you as it did to me this morning? If I will boast in my weaknesses, Christ’s power WILL rest on me. That’s what the Scripture says, right? Simple, right? Not really.

Why? Because that rails against my flesh. Cover up my weaknesses, ignore or deny my weaknesses, despise my weaknesses more likely. But boast in my weaknesses. Are you kidding me Paul. No, you are not. OK. Now I have a decision to make.

Do I want Christ’s power to rest on me? Absolutely. Then I MUST boast in my weaknesses. Lord, I am weak, frail, selfish, arrogant, mean, disrespectful, controlling, etc. Christ, may Your power rest on me to make me a useful servant to the glory of Your name.

Jesus, thank You for Your grace. I believe it is sufficient for me. I will boast in my weaknesses because I am desperate for Your power to rest on me.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

One Step Behind Jesus – The Life

Sunday morning retuning: And so our journey with Jesus through the book of Luke begins. I want to encourage you to keep your eyes open for Jesus. It may very well surprise you where He shows up. Expect to see Him everyday.

I sat in my study several times last week looking forward to starting the next part of our journey together with Jesus as a church family. I am excited to see how He will show Himself to us and where He will lead us. I hope you are too.

I also sat in my study several times last week looking forward to traveling to District Conference. It is an annual event for the leadership of our District of Alliance churches to get together to celebrate what God is doing, pray and talk about the future, and do some business as well. I generally look forward to it, but especially so this year. Why? Because it is in West Virginia.

As I sat thinking on Friday about these two converging realities, something struck me and actually brought me to tears. Staying a step behind Jesus is not always easy and often requires a willingness in us to lay something down or walk away from something. It occurred to me that staying a step behind Jesus for me and my family has meant leaving the state we love so much.

If you do not know me very well, let me tell you that I love West Virginia. I do not think I can explain the sacrifice in a way that can truly explain it, but suffice it to say that we left family and friends, and the church where I met the Lord in addition to a place that is dear to us to come and serve North-Mar. But here is what I really want you to hear. Though I LOVE West Virginia, I love Jesus MORE!

In that moment I was overcome by a rush of emotion. I really must love Jesus to leave my home state, family and church to serve here. And I do. And I believe that you too want to be willing to leave whatever is necessary for you to stay one step behind Jesus. But it is not always easy.

I want to encourage you to resolve that you will stay one step behind Him in the weeks and months ahead of us. It is important to do that now because as He shows Himself to us, we will have the opportunity to adjust the direction of our life to His call. Let’s do it.

Jesus, help us to commit to staying close to you. Then Spirit give us the grace to do it. We love You Jesus and we want to stay one step behind You, but we confess we can only do it if you help us.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

One Step Behind Jesus – The Series

Sunday morning retuning: Jesus Christ is beautiful. Set you heart on Him until the day when you finally see Him face to face and behold His beauty with unveiled eyes.


For several months now several of us have been looking forward to this Sunday. Our fall preaching series, One Step Behind Jesus, begins this week as we walk through an entire gospel together. There are several things that will signal this beginning on Sunday.

• A new bulletin cover with a cool graphic of Jesus just ahead…
• The next installment in our series of CD’s laden with music for the series (This was so much fun to create as a gift to our church family!)
• A new sermon intro video to set-up the series each week (Just saw the unscored rough cut of this and it is awesome!)
• A new preaching series that will enable us to look at a complete gospel together as an entire church

I have had my hands on most of these things at some level and am really excited to share them with our church family. Though it is often the case, I can hardly wait until Sunday!

Fall is a season when the business of summer gives way to the routines of the new season. What will mark this season for you? Will you find yourself drawing closer to Jesus, or slowly fading away? What routines are you putting in place to ensure that you are one step behind Him as we turn into a new year and on into the spring? What old routines will you renew? In short, how will you cultivate your relationship with Jesus Christ in this next season?

Jesus, thank you for your willingness to stay just one step ahead of us. Your patience with us is amazing and certainly undeserved. Help us to stay close to You Lord.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy