Be the Difference

Dear Worshippers,

Here we go again. Another fall has arrived, which means a new beginning for ministry in this community which revolves around the university calendar. And rightly so, a large part of our mission field just came back to us. But what will our ministry look like in this new season, and what role will you play in what God wants to do.

Benjamin Franklin has been attributed with this definition of insanity, which a friend reminded me of recently: “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” We will do many things the same as a church this fall. I am asking myself as I look at the ministries under my charge, “How will it be different?” I am also asking myself, and want to encourage you to do the same, “How will you be different?”

One thing we are doing the same, but differently, is our Annual Children’s Missions Musical. We had our camp a few weeks ago, with 31 kids involved. We poured spiritual and musical concepts over them five hours a day for five days. We have been doing this for years. What’s different is how we are going to employ that labor for the Kingdom.

Tomorrow evening, 8.27, at 6:30 in the sanctuary, parents and kids alike have been invited to come enjoy the musical, then a time of refreshments while they register for different children’s ministries. I want to encourage you to attend. You will be blessed. If you can not come, please pray for us. Our desire was to share this musical with as many unchurched people as possible, and we are hoping that a number will be present for this special event.

Then on Saturday, we are taking the musical outside the walls of our church and all the way to Fairmont. We will be sharing it as a part of a special “Go for the Gold Back to School Bash” sponsored by the Fairmont Alliance Church Saturday night. Pray for many in that community to come out. They have had as many as 150 kids in the past and have promoted well again.

This is just one example of trying to take something we have done and do it a little differently, with the hope that it will produce even greater results for the Kingdom. But I want to encourage you to consider what you will do differently. Is there an area where you have been relying on your own strength? A relationship that you have left Jesus out of? A circumstance that you have avoided taking to God?

The theme for the year at the school where my boys attend is “Be the Difference.” It is based on John 15.5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Remain in Jesus, and more than just doing something differently, be the difference.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Be the Difference

Dear Worshippers,

Here we go again. Another fall has arrived, which means a new beginning for ministry in this community which revolves around the university calendar. And rightly so, a large part of our mission field just came back to us. But what will our ministry look like in this new season, and what role will you play in what God wants to do.

Benjamin Franklin has been attributed with this definition of insanity, which a friend reminded me of recently: “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” We will do many things the same as a church this fall. I am asking myself as I look at the ministries under my charge, “How will it be different?” I am also asking myself, and want to encourage you to do the same, “How will you be different?”

One thing we are doing the same, but differently, is our Annual Children’s Missions Musical. We had our camp a few weeks ago, with 31 kids involved. We poured spiritual and musical concepts over them five hours a day for five days. We have been doing this for years. What’s different is how we are going to employ that labor for the Kingdom.

Tomorrow evening, 8.27, at 6:30 in the sanctuary, parents and kids alike have been invited to come enjoy the musical, then a time of refreshments while they register for different children’s ministries. I want to encourage you to attend. You will be blessed. If you can not come, please pray for us. Our desire was to share this musical with as many unchurched people as possible, and we are hoping that a number will be present for this special event.

Then on Saturday, we are taking the musical outside the walls of our church and all the way to Fairmont. We will be sharing it as a part of a special “Go for the Gold Back to School Bash” sponsored by the Fairmont Alliance Church Saturday night. Pray for many in that community to come out. They have had as many as 150 kids in the past and have promoted well again.

This is just one example of trying to take something we have done and do it a little differently, with the hope that it will produce even greater results for the Kingdom. But I want to encourage you to consider what you will do differently. Is there an area where you have been relying on your own strength? A relationship that you have left Jesus out of? A circumstance that you have avoided taking to God?

The theme for the year at the school where my boys attend is “Be the Difference.” It is based on John 15.5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Remain in Jesus, and more than just doing something differently, be the difference.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Be the Difference

Dear Worshippers,

Here we go again. Another fall has arrived, which means a new beginning for ministry in this community which revolves around the university calendar. And rightly so, a large part of our mission field just came back to us. But what will our ministry look like in this new season, and what role will you play in what God wants to do.

Benjamin Franklin has been attributed with this definition of insanity, which a friend reminded me of recently: “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” We will do many things the same as a church this fall. I am asking myself as I look at the ministries under my charge, “How will it be different?” I am also asking myself, and want to encourage you to do the same, “How will you be different?”

One thing we are doing the same, but differently, is our Annual Children’s Missions Musical. We had our camp a few weeks ago, with 31 kids involved. We poured spiritual and musical concepts over them five hours a day for five days. We have been doing this for years. What’s different is how we are going to employ that labor for the Kingdom.

Tomorrow evening, 8.27, at 6:30 in the sanctuary, parents and kids alike have been invited to come enjoy the musical, then a time of refreshments while they register for different children’s ministries. I want to encourage you to attend. You will be blessed. If you can not come, please pray for us. Our desire was to share this musical with as many unchurched people as possible, and we are hoping that a number will be present for this special event.

Then on Saturday, we are taking the musical outside the walls of our church and all the way to Fairmont. We will be sharing it as a part of a special “Go for the Gold Back to School Bash” sponsored by the Fairmont Alliance Church Saturday night. Pray for many in that community to come out. They have had as many as 150 kids in the past and have promoted well again.

This is just one example of trying to take something we have done and do it a little differently, with the hope that it will produce even greater results for the Kingdom. But I want to encourage you to consider what you will do differently. Is there an area where you have been relying on your own strength? A relationship that you have left Jesus out of? A circumstance that you have avoided taking to God?

The theme for the year at the school where my boys attend is “Be the Difference.” It is based on John 15.5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Remain in Jesus, and more than just doing something differently, be the difference.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Going for the Gold

Dear Worshippers,

Did you know the Olympics begin next Friday, 8-8-08 at 8:08:08 in the evening in Beijing? Many athletes will gather from all over the world to compete for the right to stand on top of the podium and claim the gold medal. Most of them will have trained for years, disciplining their entire lives to the pursuit of this goal, hoping for a few moments of glory and a place in history.

But before that, another exciting event begins: our annual Children’s Music Camp on Monday, 8-4-08 at 9:00 in the morning. Kids will gather from all over the area to prepare a musical to share which will declare the way to walk the golden streets of glory. Most of them will have done musicals before, but never one like this one, which will equip them with some very specific tools by which to share their faith in Christ.

You see, our musical this year is Hans Bronson’s Gold Medal Mission: A Kids Musical of Olympic Proportions. It will trace the coming to faith of the lead character and in so doing teach the kids to use the five colors of the Olympic rings to share their faith: black – sin, red – Jesus’ blood, blue – baptism, green – growth [prayer, Bible study, evangelism and fellowship], and gold – eternal reward. I can hardly wait to get started, except for the fact that there are still many details to care for before then.

I want to encourage you again to pray. I fully expect that there will be some kids who come next week who have never turned in faith to Christ. I know there are many others who need to grow in their faith. What a privilege to invest in the lives of these kids who have a life stretching before them that can be used to the glory of God.

I am very thankful also for a crew of support: Susan Floyd, my assistant director, Amy Davis, choreography, and Rich Kyer, drama, to name just a few key leaders. Pray for the each of these and me for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to be upon everything we do. Pray for the kids to receive that ministry. Pray for God to be glorified as we prepare this musical which will be used at two outreach events, one here and one in Fairmont.

I also want to encourage you to be “Going for the Gold”. Do not settle into this life, living comfortably looking forward to your reward. Instead, as Paul said, “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” [Phil. 3:14] Discipline yourself to serve faithfully introducing others to the Savior and the hope of heaven even while you anticipate your eternal reward.

Thanks for praying and “Living the Call Together.”

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Where Jesus Walked to the Cross

Dear Worshippers,

VBS week is upon us. We are taking a Holy Land Adventure to the Jerusalem Marketplace. We are walking in Jesus steps as we expose the kids to different aspects of Jewish life at the time of Christ. There will be children who decide to follow Jesus this week and you can play a role in that.

The last few weeks we have been considering the Core Values of the Alliance. We have been reminded that Holy Spirit empowerment is essential for us to accomplish anything. We have also been encouraged to engage in our primary work, prayer. So I want to encourage you to live out those realities in a very purposeful way.

In the opening night of VBS last night we shared Jesus with over 130 children. We need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to so this. Each teacher need that power, from song leaders to Bible teachers, games directors and craft coordinators, we want to introduce children to Christ, without the Holy Spirit we cannot do it. Here is where you come in.

Prayer. Please pray for every teacher and helper. From the registration desk to the final prayer, may each encounter show the love of the Savior. Pray for those who are serving Christ at VBS this week.

Please pray for the kids who are coming, and their families. Many of our church kids are there. Pray they will learn more of the Savior and be enabled to live in Him. Some other church kids are there as well. Pray that we would serve and love those kids and their families.Some unchurched kids are there as well. Pray that they would meet Jesus; not only them but their families as we serve and love them as well.

VBS is local missions. Pray that we would declare Christ well this week. Pray that we would disciple children in the faith. Pray that we will teach them to obey all Christ has commanded us. Pray that we will “Live the Call Together” and in so doing, do so.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Understanding Worship

Dear Worshippers,

I have been praying these last couple of weeks about Sunday School on July 20^th. I will be the teacher that morning for the combined class as we continue through a short course one our Core Values of worship. Pastor Andy Hawkins did a great job getting us started Sunday and I am looking forward to continuing the journey this weekend. I want you to join me in more ways than one.

First of all, pray with me. Worship can be such a divisive issue, and has been to some extent in our church as well. As we consider the transition that our pastoral change brings, there is some question as to what will happen with the direction of our corporate worship as well. This is a good time for us to expand our understanding and experience of corporate worship, and for that reason is a great time to consider these truths.

What I want to ask you to pray about with me is this: That this encounter with God through His word would broaden our concept of how we respond to God when we are together. We could approach this thinking that we are going to nail down what worship is and how we are going to do it, but rather what I am praying would happen is that each of us would embrace the opportunity to connect with God is a fresh way through our collective adoration.

Second, come. You each play a role in modeling worship in our services. You also play that role wherever and whenever the Lord leads you as a part of this body. Your presence in these classes will be instructive for you as a worshipper, but will also have a profound impact on your ability to lead as well, both during the class and afterward. The point here is transformation, not information.

My title above is a lofty goal, but it is also my call and my life’s pursuit. I am thankful to each of you who partner with me to nurture worship as a lifestyle. Will you continue to sincerely give yourselves over to God in response to His self-revelations? I am excited about what the future of our worship collectively will look like if we labor to this end. We will see the presence and power of the Almighty in remarkable ways. Pastor Jack Hayford put it this way, “Where worship is released, God’s presence comes to dwell, and where God’s presence abides, there will be power.”

I pray we understand that more and more as we experience the presence and power of God in our worship.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

A Vision…Fulfilled!?

Dear Worshippers,

What is vision? Pollster George Barna has defined vision as “a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God to His chosen servants.” He goes on to say that vision is “based on an accurate understanding of God, self and circumstances.” So that you so not think that the idea of “vision” is a term borrowed from the secular world, let me remind you of Proverbs 29:18, “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy.” [NLT] The words divine guidance here are translated vision in other versions, the point being prophetic revelation.

It was about seven or eight years ago when the Lord began to guide me into something that happened last Friday evening. While visiting some family on the eastern Florida coast I experienced a combined church musical that blessed me greatly. I did something like it the next two years in Florida, then each year since my return to Morgantown. As we concluded singing “In God We Trust” to the rain soaked crowd at the Amphitheater the fireworks began to go off. We were still singing and playing. It was amazing, choreographed better than I could have asked.

I saw something with my eyes that God have given me a clear mental image years before: a choir by the river singing His praises as the fireworks began. To inject our community’s celebration of America with God’s people singing of our trust in Him was the fulfillment of a vision. As the fireworks continued, I found a seat with my family and wept. God had fulfilled the vision that I had often spoken of publicly, at times I must admit with some doubt. We faced a lot of opposition over the years to this, but God had made a way. Hallelujah!

As I reflected over the weekend, I was reminded of more of the vision. I have often spoken of a 100 voice choir and a 50 piece orchestra. This year we were at about 40 and 30 respectively, and a talented bunch they were, but I am believing with a newfound conviction that God is not yet finished with this move. It is that newfound conviction that I want to encourage you with this week.

Pastor David began a new series on the Core Values of the Alliance. It will be his last. But God is saying something to me in these days, and I believe to our church. He has work for us to do. There is a preferable future ahead of us and He wants to give us a clear mental image of it. Not only corporately, but individually as well.

What role are you playing in making the knowledge/guidance/revelation/vision of God known? Are you telling others about the Sovereign One Who alone can choreograph fireworks to music? Has God put something on your heart that has been a long time coming? I encourage you today to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. [Phil 3:14] Now that’s a vision!

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Fire Works

Dear Worshippers,

As Pastor David has been taking us through this series on the Holy Spirit, I have often been led to the idea of fire. This past Sunday and the one to come are no exception. I thought that their serving as bookends for the July 4^th holiday it might be appropriate to speak into the work of the fire of God in the life of the believer. As anyone who has been aware of the process of sanctification can attest: fire works.

Oh, the work that fire does. The same fire works different way depending on your proximity to it. The fire is “unchanging” if you will, but works to change the area around it in various ways. Fire works in these ways which have significant spiritual corollaries: lighting, warming, and purifying.

The first thing that comes to mind for me is that fire lights. Wherever there is fire the darkness has to flee. I built with my boys while camping a couple of weeks ago. It was dark all around except near the fire. What things does the Spirit of God want to illumine in your life? Maybe there are places where darkness dwells, or maybe there is something that you have stuffed that He wants to remind you of so that you can deal with it.

This brings us to the next thing fire does, it warms. Have you ever been really cold, like to the bone, and drew close to a fire? The degree of heat, just like light, depends on your proximity. What does the Spirit want to warm in you? Maybe your heart has grown cold with disappointment or discouragement. Draw near to the fire of God, and let Him do His work in you, reviving you. Remember, you can warm up quickly if you get close enough.

If you get close enough you will experience get another thing that fire does, it purifies. For something that will not catch fire, flames have a way of separating the different parts. Think gold being refined. The “other” materials separate from the gold, purifying it. What does the Holy Spirit want to purify in you? Maybe some things are apart of your passions and desires that keep you from loving God with your whole heart. Let God’s refining fire make you holy, set apart for Him, ready to His will.

May the Fire of God work in you these days, and always.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Changes

Dear Worshippers,

Earlier this year I made a comment to the choir as I was evaluating my life and this ministry we share. I said something like, “Having been here five years, looking five years into the future I do not desire to be doing the exact same things in the exact same ways.” While it could be interpreted simply as a longing for any sort of change, it was really a cry to experience the deeper life in Christ in an ever-increasing measure. With Pastor David’s resignation on Sunday I am all but assured of doing some things differently five years from now, but I hope the deeper longing to be realized through those changes.

I am determining in these days to embrace what God wants to do in me and our church. I am willing to change, to be, to do whatever He wants that I might more effectively live the Call. That’s what Pastor David is modeling for us in his own way through this transition, and that’s what I believe God is calling each of us to do in the weeks and months ahead.

So what about you? As you deal with all the feelings that you have in response to this revelation are you determined to do so in a way that will glorify the Lord. Are you willing to change to be more like Christ? As I have said many times before, the Christian life is ultimately a life of change. No Scripture captures that better than Romans 12:1-2.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Did you see the change words in there? Transformed and renewing. If there is anything that we must be careful to do in these days of transition as a church, we must be willing to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This starts with a clear view of God’s mercy and ends with a clear understanding of His will.

Embrace the change that awaits us as the Lord leads in these exciting days.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

The Holy Spirit

Dear Worshippers,

Thank you for your expressions of kindness and prayers as we have become a family of six since my last entry. John Aiden and mom are both doing well. Aiden comes from the A in A.W. Tozer and John is a special name to us for a number of reasons. You can ask me sometime if you are curious. Tozer was a man anointed by God’s Spirit for a powerful ministry that is still shaping lives today. That is my prayer for Aiden as we are going to call him by that name, but it is also my prayer for each of us.

I hope that you are as excited about Pastor David’s current series as I am. What a wonderful question: “Is Jesus is You?” Pastor has been laying out the scripture to help us accurately answer that question. I hope you can declare an emphatic, “YES! Jesus is in me!”

I was talking with Kyle Linscheid about this series. Teaching and preaching on the practical daily ministry of the Spirit are not common in today’s church. Some churches teach a fiery encounter with Him that manifests in miraculous ways, while most neglect Him all together. Some talk about Him as a force, referring to Him as it. Not so in our church.

We are so blessed to be a part of a movement that still talks about and teaches about the role of the Holy Spirit in the daily life of the believer. From it’s very inception, the Alliance has been a group of people interested in the “deeper life”, a life marked by the presence of Christ. “Is Jesus in You?” points us right back to that foundation, while also asking us about His filling TODAY!

I have so enjoyed Pastor David’s series thus far, but I am also looking forward to the balance of it, beginning this Sunday. How does the Spirit lead us? How do we learn to sense the prompting of the Spirit? How do we discern His will for our lives, both today and in the future? Come Sunday expecting to be empowered to answer that question with even greater conviction. I know I will be.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

History is His-Story

Dear Worshippers,

I trust that you enjoyed the ministry of Woody and Charlotte Stemple this past weekend as much as I did. I have always enjoyed their stories of God working in their lives. I was personally very challenged and encouraged by what they shared on this occasion. This was particularly true of Charlotte’s message Sunday morning and the way God is telling His story through her.

You will remember that she exhorted us to have “A Kingdom Perspective” in several key areas of our life. While each resonated with me, it was the section of “Everyday Living” that really struck a chord. She spoke of Christ’s ministry mentioning that much of it happened on the way to other places.

This reminded me of someone who was shared that the “Go…” in Matthew 28:19 [The Great Commission] might be translated “As you are going…” This really brings an entirely different perspective to the work that has been entrusted to us, the Church. As we are going, or living, we are to make disciples.

We are often guilty of thinking of the Great Commission as something “Great” Christians do. We would do better to see it as an “Everyday” Commission which “Everyday” or ordinary Christians do. I think we relegate the missionary work to the people featured in those wonderful books on the Alliance Women’s table by the water fountain in the foyer at church.

Instead, it is God’s desire to have each of His children involved in the task of declaring the Good News. After all, as Peter puts it [I Peter 2:9] that’s why we have been “called out of darkness and into his wonderful light.” We are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God”. As we develop this perspective, we very quickly see that God has a great purpose for our lives that will deliver us from the rampant me-ism that pervades our culture, into a countercultural He-ism. This really is about lifestyle, which is foundational to my call, helping people live lives that bring glory to God.

We are in a place to do that when we begin to see that history, the unfolding of time in our lives, is really His-story. Last week I had the privilege of sharing this message with the elementary and middle school students at Trinity Christian School. You may have seen the article in Saturday’s Dominion Post about a historical portrayal program I wrote for Samuel’s 3^rd grade call that we performed in chapel on Friday. I give praise to the Lord for the anointing that was on it.

One mom came up to me afterwards to confirm this. She said that her daughter had been asking how to discern God’s leading for her life. She asked, “How do I know God’s purpose for me?” After she told me how she instructed her daughter this mom went on to ask me if I had any counsel for her. My answer in short was to develop her daughter’s awareness of and dependence on the Holy Spirit. More on that next week.

Suffice it to say, we each need to discover God’s purpose for our living and commit ourselves to it entirely. I hope you are daily discovering the joy of God’s story being told through you. It is the greatest story ever told, and you have a part to play in it.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

With Liberty and Justice for ALL

Dear Worshippers,

We are about to begin our preparations for the annual community patriotic musical. This will be our fifth year and God has worked so beautifully through this project. I hope that each of you will consider being a part of this exciting ministry opportunity. Seeing God working through this diverse group is a wonderful taste of heaven.

Having already begun my score study, I wanted to share a line with you from this year’s work that really struck me. In a section which acknowledges the civil unrest and the great struggle of living out our belief that we are all created equal there is this line. “If there is not liberty and justice for all – then there’s not liberty and justice for any.” That is a very powerful word.

It challenges us not to become complacent because things seem to be going well for us. It exhorts us to look around and not only identify but address the needs of others for the glory of God. It shakes us from our apathy encouraging us to work for a better tomorrow, as we long for God’s ultimate “tomorrow”.

There is an element of social justice here from which the evangelical church often shies away. The mainline churches are better about this often than we are, but may be guilty of making it their “gospel”. There is a balance here that adequately reflects the concern of Christ for the soul and the body. May we strive for that balance.

That is a by-product of a project like the patriotic musical. Though it does little to actually put systems in place to promote “liberty and justice for all”, it encourages believers in every walk of life, to pursue those values even as we look forward to God establishing them in the new heaven and earth. Working together with like-minded believers who practice their faith a little differently is a positively powerful experience. I hope you will simply ask God if this year the time is right for you to play your part in demonstrating the unity we have in Christ.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Nahum 1:7

Dear Worshippers,

About 15 years ago a dear friend quoted this verse to me when I shared with him that my father was in the hospital with some yet to be determined cardiac issue. It came to mind again last week in the midst of another similar episode. Most of you probably know by now that my dad had a heart attack last week. He had some damage to his heart and is currently waiting on bypass surgery. I want to thank you for your prayers for him and my family. I truly could sense the lifting of the Spirit as many of you prayed for my dad and mom, me and our family.

I remember having a conversation last week which centered around this verse. I was assuring myself and those around me in that hospital room that God is good and He does all things well. For the believer, we find our refuge in Him when trouble comes at us. This verse affirms that trust.

In case you do not know what Nahum 1:7 says it is this, “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him…” When we place our trust in Him He cares for us. Through the trouble. Did you see that? It does not say, a refuge from times of trouble. You know it well, we face troubling times. But God is always there with us, showing His goodness to those with eyes to see. It is not always so easy to see though…

I was pretty composed through most of the day of Thursday. When I prayed with our family around dad’s hospital bed that night I broke down. I broke down again on the phone with a family friend as I relayed the news. I tried later to understand why I would cry at those times. I still don’t have an answer, but it did occur to me that though I do not understand the circumstances, through my tears I could still clearly see the goodness of our God. Even though I was struggling with the thought of possibly losing my dad, I was truly overwhelmed with how good God was to us, and continues to be.

I pray I will maintain that perspective as we wait on the surgery to be scheduled, and for all that will follow. Thank you for your prayers for my family. They are much appreciated.

Next week…With Liberty and Justice for All.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Be Filled with the Spirit

Dear Worshippers,

I ended last week talking about the empowerment necessary to complete the task Jesus has given us to do. That empowerment comes from the Holy Spirit. As Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses…”.

I am certain there is much confusion on what being filled with the Spirit means and looks like, because I have talked with many believers. No where else have I read a more simple and succinct explanation on how to go about being filled than the following description written by A.W. Tozer. I trust you will find it very helpful as you consider the filling of the Spirit.

“How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit”

A. W. Tozer

(Christian Publications, Inc. booklet, no date)

• Before you are filled with the Holy Spirit you must be sure that you can be filled. Satan as opposed the doctrine

of the Spirit-filled life about as bitterly as any other doctrine there is.

• You must be sure that it is God’s will for you; that it is part of the total plan, that it is included and embraced within the work of Christ in redemption. (Whenever I use the neutral pronoun “it” I am talking about the gift.)

• You must, I say, be satisfied that this is nothing added or extra. The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people.

• You must be satisfied that it is not abnormal.

• You must be satisfied…that there is nothing about the Holy Spirit queer or strange or eerie…. He is only the essence of Jesus imparted to believers.

• You must be sure of all this to the point of conviction…. You are convinced that in the blood of Jesus when He died on the cross there was included, as a purchase of that blood, your right to a full, Spirit-filled life.

• Before you can be filled with the Spirit you must desire to be filled…. Do you want to be possessed by Him?... Are you sure that you want your personality to be taken over by One who will expect obedience to the written and living

Word?... I ask you if you desire to have your personality taken over by One who stands in sharp opposition to the world’s easy ways?

Here is how to receive:

• First, present your body to Him (Rom. 12:1-2)

• Second, ask (Luke 11:9-11)

• Third, Acts 5:32 tells us God gives His Holy Spirit to them that obey Him. Are you ready to obey and do what you are asked to do?

• Fourth, have faith (Gal.3:2). We receive Him by faith as we receive the Lord in salvation by faith. He comes as a gift of God to us in power. First He comes in some degree and measure when we are converted, otherwise we couldn’t be

converted. Without Him we couldn’t be born again, because we are born of the Spirit…. I am talking about His coming and possessing the full body and mind and life and heart, taking the whole personality over, gently, but directly and

bluntly, and making it His, so that we may become a habitation of God through the Spirit.

I trust you will find this helpful as you to seek to “be filled with the Spirit”.

Next week…With Liberty and Justice for All.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Stay On Mission

Dear Worshippers,

I mentioned last week two challenges that were affirmed in my heart over and over again at District Conference the week before. I would like to take the next couple of weeks passing them along to you. I hope they will stir your heart in some measure as they surely stirred mine.

The first was, in my words, Stay on Mission. This seems pretty straightforward. Do what you are supposed to do and do not be distracted by a myriad of other passions and pursuits you could cultivate. Our mission is clear. “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19-20. That’s the mission part, but how do we stay on it.

You know the old adage that goes something like, “If you aim at nothing, you will certainly hit it.” That is part of what comes to mind here for me when I think about staying on mission. I have to have the completion of the mission ever before me if I am going to be a part of helping fulfill it. So I ask myself some questions.

How is this mission before me? Am I praying about it? Am I giving of my resources [time, treasure, talent] to see it completed? Do my thoughts and passions reflect that the completion of the Great Commission is at the front of my mind, or even on it at all? Does the plight of the lost concern me, or does the sheer size of the task of finding them paralyze me?

I want to encourage you to take a few minutes and answer these questions. Make it a matter of prayer. I intend to.

Although it is essential to consider my personal investment, it is not enough to be committed to the task. I must be empowered for it as well. One of the saying we have used in the past few years to describe ourselves begins like this. Ordinary people. Empowered by an extraordinary God. Consider with me the source of that empowerment as we take a look at the other challenge I received at District Conference.

Next week…Be Filled With the Spirit.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Overwhelmed

Dear Worshippers,

Last week I wrote to inform you that I would be at District Conference in Ohio and to ask for prayer for myself and the other delegates particularly as we would elect a new District Superintendent (D.S.) . I write today to thank you for those prayers and to attempt to give you a sense of the way God answered them.

Every year, District Conference is a wonderful time of doing business for the district, but also reconnecting to peers and especially to the Lord. While every conference is a blessing this one was exceptional. Though I suspect my recent reading of Tozer had something to do with it, my awareness of the presence of God throughout the conference was very keen. Frankly, it was overwhelming.

Monday night we heard of God at work through our church plants. God is moving irrespective of culture, geography, economics or any other “limiting” factor. He has given us power and is making us witnesses for Him. We learned at the close of the night that our current D.S. is going to be planting a church after July 31^st when he finishes his term.

We had a three hour concert of prayer Tuesday morning that was a sweet time with the Lord and our District family as the D.S. intertwined some things he has gleaned over his years. The afternoon was business conducted smoothly and that evening the service centered around having a passion for the lost, brought to focus through the message of the D.S. It concluded with a powerful time of seemingly-spontaneous prayer.

We had a seminar on “peacemaking” Wednesday, which was good, but the highlight was the ordination service that evening. Always a solemn time of celebration for those who have completed their preparation, this was especially so. A great message from our Vice President of Church Ministries for the C&MA climaxed with the laying on of hands for ordination which followed the most stirring rendition of “I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel” that I have ever heard. I found myself weeping and shouting and raising my hands in worship, which I figure is no big surprise to anyone.

Thursday concluded conference with the mission’s hour, election of our new D.S., and the closing service of communion and healing. In the missions hours we commissioned 16 new missionaries who are going out from our District in the next year. 16! To hear their stories of surrender was inspiring. We elected our new D.S. who then went on to lead us in one of the most moving services of communion I have ever experienced.

It was an amazing week. I found myself overwhelmed on numerous occasions. Let me boil it down into two challenges I received in a variety of ways that I now pass along to you: 1. Stay on mission, 2. Be filled with the Spirit.

It is imperative that we keep reminding ourselves why Jesus has not yet come back – we are not finished with the commission He gave us. The only way we can finish well is to keep ourselves under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Commit with me to pray for that for yourself and our church.

Next week…More about these imperatives, OR a new direction.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Spiritual Authority

Dear Worshippers,

I am at District Conference this week in Dover, Ohio. It is an annual gathering of the pastors, other official workers, and numerous lay representatives from the Central District of the C&MA, comprised of nearly 90 churches in eastern Ohio and the entire state of West Virginia. We conduct business for the District as well as enjoying several times of corporate worship and prayer and hearing from God’s Word. It is a very enriching time and I thank the church for sending me and the other staff members to represent you.

Probably the most significant act of business next week will be to elect a new District Superintendent, who serves essentially as the pastor of the pastors in our district while providing numerous other avenues of leadership. Our current D.S. Gordon Meier has served for 9 or 10 years and I believe has been in the District Office for around 18 years. Our District has been richly blessed by His Christ-like, faithful service. We truly thank God for this man, and his lovely wife and helpmate, Barb.

This time of transition is a crucial one in the history of our district and the advance of the Kingdom through the Alliance in this region. We have benefited from Gordon’s leadership and long for the next anointed leader to exercise his role of spiritual authority with similar excellence and humility. We as a local church will be blessed through this new leader. You will be blessed. To that end I want to entreat your prayers.

We have had a nominating committee working on this for months. They will bring a recommendation to us. Pray for the delegates of conference that like them, we will hear of the voice of the Lord and confirm the selection by election of our new D.S. or to otherwise discover together the will of the Lord.

When I was reflecting on this process last week, the faith of the centurion in his encounter with Jesus came to mind. He understood chains of command and the blessings of following them. He affirmed Jesus authority over sickness and the life of his servant at the very least. You will remember the account:

The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 8:8-12

In the days ahead, and stretching on for years, may we know the blessing of serving under one who has such a clear understanding of the authority of our Christ. Pray with our staff as we go to participate in the process of his selection. And pray for our families back home and our safe return on Thursday. Thank you.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Worship is… Humility

Dear Worshippers,

We complete our journey through the core values of our worship this week with the twelfth and final value, Humility. As I keep saying, you may be surprised that none of the things the Elders have adopted as core values of our worship are necessarily music-oriented. Actually none of them deal with elements at all, but rather with the essentials of worship. They are more the why than the what of worship, if you will.

Humility. It has been defined as a modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc. Though it is listed last, it is certainly not the least of the values. One might say that for any true worship to occur, humility is a prerequisite. While I would agreed with that, we offer it here at the end because it is so important to not only start from this position in worship, but to maintain this position. A position of submission, meekness, unworthiness. When we consider God, we should assume such a position. With this in mind we offer that worship is… Humility. There are any number of Scriptures that speak to this value, but here are the ones we have adopted for inclusion in the philosophical document:

…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

But Samuel replied:
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams. I Samuel 15:22

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

The first passage here is from the dedication of the Temple which Solomon built. It is outlining how the people of God can return to Him if they walk away. It is instruction for both lifestyle and for the gathering of worship. It makes me think of the song “The Heart of Worship” by Matt Redman. “I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You. I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it, when it’s all about You Jesus.” This takes humility. It is humbling to acknowledge that even our worship can become something that is not at “all about” God, which it is supposed to be.

If our worship is to be all about God, where better to look for an example of how to live that way that to the person of Jesus Christ. The Philippians passage, believed by some to be a hymn that was known by the early church, clearly portrays the humble attitude of Jesus, and exhorts us to have the same. If He had such an estimation of the Father, we should as well.

The I Samuel passage affirms this as well by teaching that God wants more than just the outward trappings of worship, he wants the heart. A heart that is willing to obey and to heed the voice of God is a heart that is rightly positioned to worship. God is certainly interested in right responses to His glory, but He wants those responses to generate from deep within heart of the worshipper so that worship is not so much a series of actions as a way of life, like in the final scripture.

A worship lifestyle is pictured here: not only in the first two statements, but especially in the final one. “Walk humbly with your God.” Did you notice that this is a short list of things that Micah says “the Lord require[s] of you”? This is not optional. In order to do this we must have a proper understanding of Who He is, and who we are in the light of Him. This implies not only knowing, but ongoing relationship – walking with Him. And how are we supposed to walk? Humbly. Humility should mark our relationship to God, our living with Him, and this demonstrated through every act of worship, but especially when we gather.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Worship is… Acknowledging the Universal Church

Dear Worshippers,

We continue our journey through the core values of our worship this week with the eleventh value, Acknowledging the Universal Church. As I keep saying, you may be surprised that none of the things the Elders have adopted as core values of our worship are necessarily music-oriented. Actually none of them deal with elements at all, but rather with the essentials of worship. They are more the why than the what of worship, if you will.

When we gather to worship we join our praise with the church across all generations and all continents. This perspective is important as it helps us to understand that the kingdom of our God is much larger than our local expression of such. The Nicene Creed, written in the 4^th century A.D. puts it this way: “We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.” What catholic means in this context is the true Christian Church of all times and all places. With this definition in mind we offer that worship is… Acknowledging the Universal Church. There are any number of Scriptures that speak to this value, but here are the ones we have adopted for inclusion in the philosophical document:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings. Romans 16:16

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb." Revelation 7:9-10

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Notice how the first passage says “to him be glory in the church…throughout all generations.” It does not say churches, but singular church. There is one church throughout all generations. This is very significant as we gather for worship. We are joining many who have gone before and will come after us.

This next verse acknowledges that there are many local expressions of the church. We are one body with different gatherings. When we come together we should remember there are others doing the same thing all over the world. Our love for the other churches should be obvious.

The “great multitude” here is the church triumphant. Their group is made up of people from every nation, tribe, people and language. They are unified in their praise of our God as they stand before His throne in heaven. Gathered from across time and space, we will worship with them eternally.

The “great cloud of witnesses” again acknowledges those who have gone before. For the writer of Hebrews, that was a particular group. For us, that group would include the writer of Hebrews, his audience, and all those who have been counted in that number since then. One day we too will be counted in that cloud by those who come after us.

The song that come to mind is “When the Saints Go Marching In”. My grandmother used to sing that. I can vaguely remember her playing the accordion and belting out “Oh, Lord, I want to be in that number…when the saints go marching in.” What a privilege to in faith accept the redeeming work of Christ and turn from our sin, thus enabling us to be counted in that number, who, across time and space will worship Jesus, the head of the church.

Stay tuned…NEXT WEEK…Worship is…Humility.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Worship is… Recognizing the Priesthood and Ministry of all Believers

Dear Worshippers,

We continue our journey through the core values of our worship this week with the tenth value, Recognizing the Priesthood and Ministry of all Believers. As I keep saying, you may be surprised that none of the things the Elders have adopted as core values of our worship are necessarily music-oriented. Actually none of them deal with elements at all, but rather with the essentials of worship. They are more the why than the what of worship, if you will.

Contrary to those who prefer churches where worship feels more like a performance by those on stage, we desire to be a worshipping body, with each person engaged in the drama that is corporate worship. Danish philosopher–theologian Sǿren Kierkegaard spoke of worship as a drama and criticized the noninvolvement of many in his own church. He “insisted that in true worship the members of the congregation are the actors, the ministers and [other worship leaders] are “prompters” and God is the audience.”*

In the most earnest sense, God is the critical theatergoer, who looks on to see the lines that are spoken and how they are listened to…The speaker is then the prompter, and the listener stands openly before God. The listener, if I may say so, is the actor, who in all truth acts before God.

With this drama in mind we offer that worship is… Recognizing the priesthood and ministry of all believers. There are any number of Scriptures that speak to this value, but here are the ones we have adopted for inclusion in the philosophical document:

Love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:31

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. I Peter 2:9

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men."(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:7-16

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. I Corinthians 14:26

This follows the previous value, engaging the whole person, intentionally. We are commanded to love the Lord, and part of the way that finds expression is to love others. As we declare our praises together, our preference for one another is one of the most significant things that can communicate the love of God. In our services of blended worship, traditional and contemporary are brought together in an attempt to give every worshipper a voice for their praise. While you may not like one song, there likely will be something else that you will. In that moment you have the opportunity to embrace God’s heart by preferring others, instead of yourself.

Each of us brings something unique to the life and ministry of our church, and accordingly to the worship service. God’s desire is that we would each find our place in that body of believers and use our talents and gifts to minister to Him and to others. We each have a role to play in this drama as the kingdom of priests that will bless the Lord and His people as we discover and exercise those abilities while pursuing unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.” [Ephesians, see above]

One of the best examples of this ministry in corporate worship is when we pray in small groups. This gives an opportunity for each worshipper to make a unique contribution to the experience. While not everyone will desire to pray, some will. The requests that are shared also give some the opportunity to express, gifts of mercy or helps. Others may speak wisdom into a situation in conversation after the service has concluded and we are enjoying “The Fellowship of Faith”.

“That the church may be strengthened.” That is how the last passage ends. The point of the priesthood and ministry of all believers is this. Let us listen to the “prompters” and each of us strive to find our role in the great drama of worship that plays out every time we gather. May God be pleased with our “performance.”

Stay tuned…NEXT WEEK…Worship is…Acknowledging the Universal Church.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

*Don Hustad, Jubilate II, p. 315

Worship is… Engaging the Whole Person

Dear Worshippers,

We continue our journey through the core values of our worship this week with the ninth value, Engaging the whole person. As I keep saying, you may be surprised that none of the things the Elders have adopted as core values of our worship are necessarily music-oriented. Actually none of them deal with elements at all, but rather with the essentials of worship. They are more the why than the what of worship, if you will.

When you even begin to consider the why of worship all you have to do is consider the beauty of God which we focused on last week. Worship is the epitome of other-centeredness, partly because it should consume the entire worshipper in the act of adoration. Archbishop William Temple said it this way.

Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by his holiness; the nourishment of mind with his truth; the purifying of imagination by his beauty; the opening of the heart to his love; the surrender of the will to his purpose-and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for …self-centeredness.

The way we are choosing to put it is, worship is… engaging the whole person. There are any number of Scriptures that speak to this value, but here are the ones we have adopted for inclusion in the philosophical document:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30

So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? I Corinthians 14:15-16

There is more to a person than what can be seen, but the intentions of those unseen things, heart, soul, mind, conscience, imagination, will are demonstrated through that which is seen, the body. When we worship, scripture clearly shows that both the seen and the unseen parts are to be engaged or active.

So what about the unseen portion in particular. In contemporary thought, the soul of a person is often regarded as the combination of the intellect, the emotions and the will. These are to be engaged in worship as we can see in the first passage, but what about the spirit. As Paul shows us in the second passage, there is something else at work here.

Worship is more than singing songs, and praying prayers, it is engaging the spirit. Worship really begins in the spirit of a person, as they are invigorated and brought to life by God’s Holy Spirit. This is made clear in the lack of understanding mentioned by Paul. Not everyone understands this aspect of worship. I am not talking about tongues in particular, but the activity of the Spirit in general. It simply will not be understood apart from the work of the Spirit in the spirit of a person. [This distinction is not easily understood, but clearly spoken of in Job 7:11, Isaiah 26:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and Hebrews 4:12.]

Let us worship God with our spirit, soul and body.

Stay tuned…NEXT WEEK…Worship is…Recognizing the priesthood and ministry of all believers.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott