Yesterday as I was reading in the Gospel of Matthew I saw something I don’t remember seeing before. Matthew opens and ends with the same truth about Jesus, that He is always with us. Matt 1:23, He is described as “Immanuel”, which means “God with us”. And then in Matt. 28:20, the final sentence of the book, Jesus declares “I’ll be with you until the end of the age”.
This jumped out at me with some force as I needed the reminder of Christ’s presence in my life – my plate is pretty full right now, with some complex issues that require more insight and direction than I’m capable of. Plus, beyond the usual flow of issues week to week, there are some big-ticket outreach opportunities that can be really fruitful but they need some good decisions and, again, I have just enough brains to be dangerous – I need God’s help and direction to get it right.
Jesus’ presence means He’s aware of what you and I are facing in our daily lives – He doesn’t just show up on weekends; He’s with us 24/7. He’s with you and me in all His power, wisdom, and compassion, and He promises to respond when we cry out to Him, when we ask for help, wisdom, direction, or strength. He still works miracles of deliverance and provision and healing. We aren’t abandoned or neglected.
Even though I’ve read many times through Matthew, I don’t remember noticing that little nugget before. Having the promise of His presence jump out from the scripture reminded me again the Bible is no ordinary book, but a living book, and often has a word for us right when we need it. It’s the instrument through which the Holy Spirit impacts, molds, corrects, and encourages our lives. Sunday I was laughing with a friend who’s grandchild had asked if she had read all the Bible – she responded yes, to which he asked “well, why are you reading it again?!” (implied – why not read something else now??)
We stress reading and studying and hearing the Bible regularly (one of our Three Vital Investments) because the Bible is like no other book and because it is the means through which God changes our lives.
Son Stephen
Stephen is in the midst of his Army ROTC training at Fort Lewis, WA, and will be there until July 15. If you want to drop him a card or send a box of Oreos, here’s the address:
CDT See, Stephen E.
Warrior Forge
4th Reg B Co 5 Plt
Box 339543
Ft Lewis, WA 98433-9543
Last week I ran into an old friend at Barnes and Nobles, who, in the midst of our conversation, mentioned how years ago she became a Christian at Vacation Bible School, and how that set the course for her life. And it’s that kind of story that keeps reminding me of the value of VBS. Last night was the finale for New Life’s 2009 VBS, with over 300 kids and volunteers gathered, rockin’ out the worship center in a final moment of joy.
I hope today all the volunteers can crash and relax and gradually tackle the mountain of laundry and mow the lawns, and do the neglected house chores, all of which were put on hold as part of the sacrifice by our volunteers so they could be here every night this week, serving Jesus.
There’s a sense for a lot of churches like New Life that a VBS program is kinda old school, but somehow New Life has embraced VBS in a big way and every year I’m blown away by the outpouring of planning and support and effort you all give it. The attention to details, the organization, the decorations and “movie set” quality of the stage and lobby – in so many ways VBS draws out the best in New Life and it’s noticed by lots of people. It shouts out “We will do this with excellence because we love Jesus and kids!” I know we’ll hear many stories soon of kids receiving Jesus and of families being impacted.
Thank you to everyone for the sacrifice of your time and energy. Thank you to Jenny and Tom Grow for serving as point leaders, giving months of attention to this one week (If Tom and Jenny are in charge, you are confident it will be done really well). And thanks to Laura Walters (Director of Children’s Ministry) and Valerie Irons (Assist. Director of Children’s Ministry) – you set the standards and cast the vision and we appreciate it all.
Jesus’ final command to His followers was to go everywhere and make disciples, baptizing them and TEACHING THEM TO OBEY all that He commanded. That’s the driving force behind our efforts to coordinate the weekly teaching diet at New Life (what we call the Big Idea*). By studying the same theme each week church-wide (Sunday messages, small group study, Studentlife and Kidslife), we are intentionally attempting to not only teach the truth of the Bible but also how to apply it to our lives - kids, students and adults, so that our lives are changed. The Bible wasn’t given to us to simply fill our heads with knowledge but to change how we live and think.
One of my favorite authors, J.I. Packer, describes life without knowledge of God:
“Knowing about God is crucially important for the living of our lives. As it would be cruel to an Amazonian tribesman to fly him to London, put him down without explanation in Trafalgar Square and leave him, as one who knew nothing of English or England, to fend for himself, so we are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about God, whose world it is and who runs it. The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place, and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business for those who do not know God. Disregard the study of God and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul”.
And it’s our duty as a church to give our best shot at teaching EVERYONE at New Life God’s truth. That’s what’s behind our current series in I Samuel. Please pray us as we develop the “Big Idea” series for the ‘09 - ‘10 ministry year.
And now for something different-
CHANGING A LIGHT BULB according to your church background:
(the answers to the question “How many church members does it take to change a light bulb?” )
Charismatic : Only 1
Hands are already in the air.
Pentecostal : 10
One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.
Presbyterians : None
Lights will go on and off at predestined times.
Roman Catholic: None - Candles only.
Baptists : At least 15.
One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and fried chicken.
Episcopalians: 3
One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks and one to talk about how much better the old one was.
Mormons : 5
One man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it.
Unitarians :
We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, you are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, 3-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.
Methodists : Undetermined
Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Bring a bulb of your choice to the Sunday lighting service and a covered dish to pass.
Nazarene : 6
One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy.
Lutherans : None
Lutherans don’t believe in change..
Amish :
What’s a light bulb?
Last week newspapers reported that an area youth pastor had been convicted of criminal sexual abuse after having inappropriate contact with a student - a minor - in his ministry. My heart just breaks for this situation, not only for the two families involved, but because of the high cost the entire church will have to pay for the misconduct of one staff person. The church is a central Illinois church, one that is fairly young and has been carrying out good ministry. While I don’t know their leaders personally, I’ve watched their ministry from the sidelines, rooting for them as they’ve grown and pressed forward. But now, assuming their situation will be like that of other churches I’ve known through the years, all their momentum and effectiveness will come to a screeching halt and they will have to work through many months of setback and pain. Whether it’s their children’s ministry or their small groups or Sunday services - everyone will pay a price for one person’s sin. Whatever events or outreaches or big plans the church had on the horizon - hours and hours of preparations and planning are now down the drain or at least put on hold. Instead of focusing on outreach and proclaiming the gospel, the leadership will be bogged down many, many hours of undoing the damage and trying to rebuild trust. Now the church has a cloud of suspicion over it and skeptics have fresh amunition for mocking our faith.
A few times each year we raise this issue with the staff at New Life and we review again how devastating it would be if one staff member were to get caught up in immorality. It’s horrible whenever ANY Christian gives in to sexual immorality but the impact is multiplied many times over when it is a pastor or a church staff member. We stress the need to keep our lives open and accountable with others. We insist on safeguards for the married staff such as never eating alone or traveling in the car alone with someone of the opposite sex other than your spouse. We have special software on our computers to track our usage. We want to be squeaky clean in all our dealings and relationships.
One article I’ve distributed to the staff is by Randy Alcorn, in which he compiles a list of all the ways it would cost him if he were to have an affair. He sat down and counted the cost to himself, a man in full time ministry, if he were to commit adultery. He considered the cost spiritually, relationally, financially, and so on, and created a list of over 30 distinct ways he would lose out. It’s very sobering when you tally up how much a moment of sin can cost you.
Two requests to all New Lifers: first, please pray for us who serve on staff - staff members are high on the devil’s hit list because of the extra damage that occurs when they fall. Pray for our protection and our purity. And secondly, go to Randy Alcorn’s website (see below), and consider creating your own list of the high cost of immorality - maybe it will serve as an added safeguard in your life.
http://www.epm.org/artman2/publish/sexual_purity/Deterring_Immorality_by_Counting_Its_Cost.shtml
Recent Comments