Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Go Rest High on that Mountain

Dear Worshippers,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Spiritual Markers

Dear Worshippers,

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

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

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

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

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

O little flock in Fremont, God has been faithful.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Take the Plunge

Dear Worshippers,

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

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

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

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

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Overtly Christian

Dear Worshipers,

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Christ,

Pastor Scott