Why Am I Here? [Part Two]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Why Am I Here? Part 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Praying for a Community in Mourning

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Any Questions?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy