Bluetooth

Sunday morning retuning: In our 10:45 Engage service, Ken Young shared about his recent mission trip to Germany.  He was posed a probing question which he repeated for us. “What is your motivation?”  It is a good question for us to ask ourselves who are endeavoring to walk a step behind Jesus.

I was talking with a friend last week about hearing and listening.  As is my custom during most of my normal workday, I had my Bluetooth earpiece in and connected or paired to my phone.  My friend was talking about some encouragement he had shared with a young believer without realizing that a few of her friends standing with her were not believers.  He commented that they got to hear it, whether they were listening or not. 

There was something about what he said that made me recall those times when I was able to provide counsel or encouragement to someone while simultaneously having the experience of God giving me what needed to be said.  I told him it reminded me of times when I was talking on my Bluetooth and others around me did not realize it.  I began to ponder the similarities of Bluetooth with our connection to Jesus.

So we are on the same page, allow me to offer a simple explanation of Bluetooth.  It is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security.  Our connection with Jesus is wireless.  It allows us to exchange data or information over short distances, and long ones as well.  Both Jesus and we are fixed at times and mobile at others.  We are thus networked with Jesus personally with the highest level of security imaginable.

One of the reasons I like to use this technology is because it allows me to communicate with my hands free, just like with Jesus.  It gives me immediate access by keeping me connected, even when no information is being exchanged, or the connection in otherwise idle.  I am always connected, or paired as they say it with Bluetooth. 

There are some other interesting parallels.  Others do not know when I am connected and listening to someone, just like with Jesus, although there should always be at least the evidence of a possible connection.  One of the key things here is that others never know when I may be receiving information through Bluetooth, and likewise with Jesus.

Again, like last week, I am not advocating acquiring or using this tool, though I think it is immensely helpful, but rather that here is another perspective on our listening to Jesus.  It gives us fresh insight into how marvelous this access we have to Jesus really is.  It reminds us how easy it is for us to take it for granted.  It should encourage us to make the most of the ability to hear from Jesus by actually listening to Him, even when there may be other voices calling for our attention.

Jesus, we want to stay connected to You always.  We want to hear Your voice and obey what You are calling us to do.   In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Hearing and Listening

Sunday morning retuning: We continue our journey through Luke as we learn what it means to walk “One Step Behind Jesus”.  The challenge from Sunday was to have our outside match our inside.  This can most readily be accomplished as we allow Jesus to change us from the inside out.

As I sit here listening to the first rehearsal of the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra, for which my oldest son is a bassoonist, a thought occurs to me that I had last week while talking to friend.  The thought was the distinction between hearing and listening.  There is a difference.

My first inclination is to go to Webster to delineate between these two related concepts, but I feel inclined to draw from our common experience instead.  Think about a time when someone was talking to you and something they said required some sort of response.  When your mumbled, “Uh-huh!” failed to suffice, you were caught.  Hearing that is, when you should have been listening.

You know what I am talking about now, don’t you?  You could hear the sounds of being uttered, but  you were simply not engaged mentally or otherwise in what was happening.  But I think more than just inattention there is something else at work here at times compounding the issue even further.

This came to my attention a couple months ago in a different context.  My aforementioned oldest son had purchased a fine pair of over-the-ear headphones.  I had long scoffed at what kind of difference high-quality earphones could really make.  After listening to just a few examples of contrasting repertoire, I was a believer.  So much so that I went out and bought my own set, albeit a different brand. 

I began listening to some of the repertoire we do on Sunday mornings and suddenly discerned nuances I had entirely missed before having a better listening tool.  It was in that moment that this epiphany first happened.  You can hear something and miss parts of it altogether, even when you thought you understood it initially.

Please understand the point is not to drive you to go out and buy better headphones, although I am not going to dissuade you from doing that.  Rather, the more important lesson is that when Jesus is speaking, we need to do more than hear what He says, we need to listen.  Jesus point this way several times, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”  [Matthew 11:14]

It seems obvious that anyone who has ears to hear, will hear right?  If so, then why would Jesus go to the trouble of saying this?  Not everyone with ears hears.  And not everyone who hears, really hears, or listens as I am purporting. 

I was trying to do this even in the midst of our concert Saturday night, and our worship Sunday morning, as I helped one son put his shoes on today, and talk to another about the challenges of high school.  The Father is always speaking, even at times you might not think He would, and probably especially then.  We must listen.

So as the orchestra plays on, I ask you, are you listening, not to them, but the voice of the One who redeemed your soul?  There are things He wants to say to you today, starting with His great love for you, and continuing with His great purposes for your redeemed life!  I am listening.  Join me.

Jesus, we want to not only hear Your voice, we want to listen to what You are saying.  Give us ears to hear, and then the courage to obey.   In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ, 

Pastor Timothy

Declaring

Sunday morning retuning: We are back in Luke as we continue to learn what it means to walk “One Step Behind Jesus”. We must confess our sins, be in the word, be filled with the Spirit and telling others what God has done.  This all flows supernaturally out of our relationship with Jesus.  How’s the flow in you? 

Do you know where this picture was taken?

This is the area from which we will declare the praises of the One who has delivered us from darkness and into His wonderful light.  Between our old and new sanctuaries is this area that creates the impression of an amphitheater.  Angled slightly off of 90 degrees from East Market it will be the place where we make our music Saturday night.  Though there will be a stage and musicians in front of it, this is the view the audience will have.  Inward.

In a sense, this is where our praise begins.  But that is not the perspective I am most interested in.  Rather, it the just the opposite. 

Do you recognize this perspective?  This is what the musicians will see as we present our concert on the lawn.  It is East Market Street.  Outward.  This is where our praise must drive us.

Once we were not a people, but now we are the people of God.  Once we had not received mercy, but now we have.  Is all this just for our good, or our enjoyment alone?  May it never be for us alone O God.  Rather, it is this Good News that we have been given, and what we must declare.  I Peter 2:9

To declare is to say something strongly and with confidence.  To make something clear, you see that right in the word itself.  And what are we making clear?  God’s praise.  He is worthy of it all, so we must be faithful to declare it.  Will you do this?  Will you declare His praise?

We are doing this outside to model where our praise must go.  Not just ring in our ears and hearts for us to enjoy, but for the world outside that sanctuary to know what we have been shown, the glory of our God.  We are asking for glory so that we can share that glory with others.

This weekend we could still use some help setting up a tent, tables and chairs, prepping food, serving, and cleaning up.  We will be arriving at Noon and be here until after 8 pm.  I hope you can come and be a part of this exciting event, but even if not, find a way to declare His praise.

Jesus, we have been praying showing us Your glory because we want to declare Your glory.  Would You please show it to us Saturday and then help us to declare it every day?  We are crying out for more of You, not only for our good, but for the good of those who have yet to hear. In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Show Us Christ

Sunday morning retuning: Celebrating God’s Glorious Gift of Marriage Sunday with our mass renewal ceremony was so neat!  To see about 120 couples renew their commitment to each other was very encouraging.  I pray for those who were watching that whether single, married, divorced or widowed, they were able to hear God speak to them about His design for this sacred covenant.

Last Wednesday and Thursday I gathered in the sanctuary with the Engage and Transcend bands respectively to lay down their portions of the upcoming North-Mar Worship CD “Show Us Your Glory”.  It was a lot of hard work to prepare and execute our different responsibilities, but things went very well.  Thank you for praying. 

I asked each of the bands to pray through those two nights that we would know God’s glory in our midst as we made music, and I believe we did.  I was especially aware of this at one particular moment.  As we prepare to begin our fall preaching series by taking up again our “One Step Behind Jesus” journey through Luke, it is especially fitting that we consider the song which caused me to become so aware of God’s glory.

It is called “Show Us Christ”. Although the entire song is a beautiful prayer for God to reveal His glory through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, the chorus really drives this home.  It says, “Show Us Christ/show us Christ/O God reveal Your glory/through the preaching of Your Word/until every heart confesses Christ is Lord.”  It focuses particularly on preaching as a means by which God reveals His glory.

I hope this is not a new thought to you, but if it is that’s OK.  The point of preaching, as I have heard it said, is not information, but transformation.  Another story I have heard tells of a statement etched into the pulpit of a church somewhere which echoes the cry of every earnest heart, “We would see Jesus?” which in itself is a paraphrase from John 12:21.

One of our female voices was singing the lead on this and so I was free to pray without the distraction of having to sing.  Though this is a simple song, it is powerful in its simple plea.  As she sang I felt God’s presence, and not just for us in those moments, but for people who would be challenged to echo this prayer and see preaching accordingly, as a way for God to reveal His glory through Christ.

As we enter this series this fall that is my prayer.  You can hear the full song at this link Show Us Christ.  Listen, and pray, and let’s expect God to answer, this Sunday and every Sunday, as His Word is preached.

Jesus, we want to see You and in You the glory of the Father.  Use preaching this Sunday and every Sunday as a way to do that.  We want to see Your glory.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy