Ministers Article for Church Newsletter

Are you remembering to pray for First Christian Church as we consider the journey God is leading us towards?  I have asked the Elders to begin brainstorming with me about ways the congregation can begin working together to prayerfully develop an understanding of what is next in the life of our church.  There are many things we must do before the picture of what that future may look like comes into focus.

 One area I believe God is calling us to work on is the way we treat each other as the body of Christ present in this church.  Church should be a place where people feel safe and know that they are not going to be treated badly.  Unfortunately we know this is not often the case with most churches.  But we are told in all four of the gospels that “Jesus replied: “‘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.”  With that in mind I will be encouraging the leaders of our church (Elders and Board) to begin summarizing what they believe are the expected congregational behaviors that we should find within the church? 

I would like to give an example of an Expected Behavior Covenant that Dr. Bill Tenny-Brittian has helped a church develop as he consulted with their congregation. 

 Discipleship Behaviors

1. We will treat each other with respect and compassion, speaking honestly and taking the time to listen to one another.
2. We will joyfully accept and embrace all people into our midst, practicing generosity of our time, our abilities, our financial gifts and our prayers for each other.
3. We will pursue agreement through honest interaction and then speak well of resulting decisions by the church and its leaders to build trust in fulfilling the united mission of the congregation.
4. We will practice peacemaking by following the teaching of Matthew 18:15-17.
5. We will be faithful in regular worship attendance, small group bible study and prayer, growing in spirit and grace, so that we experience the life transforming movement of God’s Spirit within us.
6. Leaders will model these behaviors of discipleship, being of one heart and soul, by continuing to grow in spirit and grace, inspiring others to come alongside.

As we look at creating our own covenant it make look similar or be radically different than this example.  Developing such a covenant within our church would be a first step in our journey towards being a transformational church that makes our vision and mission not only words on paper but something that is lived out as members of this church and the body of Christ. 

 Blessings and Peace to you!

 David Machon

Rob Bell

Guess I will jump in the boat.  Curious about what people are thinking.  I have just started the book and don't have any conclusions yet but I do feel he is asking rational questions. 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20110414/us_time/08599206508000

Prayer - Teresa of Avila

This prayer by Teresa of Avila was shared with me as I finish out my second week of vacation, retreat and caring for myself.  Often when we think about being the hands and feet of Christ we immediately think of doing, moving and serving.  But as I read this prayer I was reminded again that being the hands and feet of Christ also involves caring for yourself, resting and at times stepping away from things even if it is something you love and have passion for.  Your body will not do much for Christ if it is tired, worn out and lacks rest.  With renewed energy I look forward to returning to service for Christ on Monday.  I can’t wait to see what He has in store for me next.  

  

Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

Christ Has No Body

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Seeking feedback for January 30 Sermon

Martha Grace Reece posed the following questions in her book "Unbinding Your Heart" and I presented them to my congregation  on January 16 requesting they ask someone these questions.  Now I am asking others to do the same as I prepare for my January 30th sermon on listening.  Are we hearing what the people say?  Are we listening? 

1. ¨ What pops into your mind when you hear the word church?"

2. ¨ Has anyone ever invited you to their church?  What did you think when they asked you?  Did you go?  How did it feel?  If you didn’t go, why not?" 

3. ¨ Have you ever had a sense of God or Jesus communicating with you?  What was it like?"

4.  ¨ If you had one question you could ask God and knew you would get an answer, what would it be?"

see more Hacked IRL - Truth in Sarcasm

I pray often for those who preach that God hates gays.  I have seen them in person and on the Internet and will confess I get angry when I see them but in the end I pray for them.  What greater tools of loving my neighbors do I have except my prayers and faith in God.  I do not see confronting them as a solution. 

I do see this billboard as a way to counteract thier expressions of hate and let others know there are Christians who do not agree with their point of view.  A friend shared with me once that when they heard a hate group was going to be protesting a military funeral in their community they went in beforehand and using sidewalk chalk wrote out scriptures about love and loving each other at the location they knew the protestors would be located.  That is a way of expressing my love for someone I do not agree with, without getting confrontational which in their case would not work anyway. 

We need to continue counteracting this talk of God hating anyone in ways that do not give the haters more power.  We just have to be creative and seek guidance from God who will lead us.     

Seeing Jesus in others

This is an update from a Youth Specialties blog that caught my attention recently. It made me think about how I would have reacted to the same situation. I am guessing that I would have been in the same shoes of the guy watching this story unfold before him. My prayer for myself and all who read this is that Christ can be seen in you in such a simple way as is demonstrated in this story.

David

"Yesterday, just after the 3rd general session, my wife and I were walking around the exhibit hall checking out some of the vendors tables. After sometime we decided to head back up to the room and hang out for a bit before we went out for the afternoon. As we were walking out of the exhibit hall there was a man with a case on his back and no shoes on his feet! I had remembered seeing him on the street the day before… I’m pretty sure he was homeless! As I walked by him I noticed that he was trying to get into the food area that is just outside the exhibit hall… the thought had crossed my mind to offer to buy him a meal, but I chickened out! Actually, I felt pretty much like a “coward”! As he walked into the food area a security guard stopped him and started to escort him out, even before he could even get close enough to look at the food! My heart began to ache for this man! Tears started to swell up in my eyes… not sure if that was because I felt bad for him or because

I have become extremely convicted this weekend to have a passion and a burden for the lost! Nevertheless, I still did not muster up the courage to offer this man ANYTHING! I intentionally slowed down so as to let the man and the security guard walk by me, just so I could see what happened! I’m glad I did, because I saw something that convicted yet blessed me all together! As they got to the stairs a young man, probably in his early 20’s, came RUNNING by me and stopped the man! The security guard was obviously annoyed… I’m not sure what he said to the man, but after about 30 seconds he took off his shoes and laid them at this mans feet!! remember… this man was barefoot! After he took off his shoes and gave them to this man he simply walked away! The homeless man just stood there, with the security guard poking him and telling him to move on, and slowly put this young mans shoes on his feet and then left. I want this young man to know how much he ministered to me and that I saw Jesus in him!! What he did for that man and for the Kingdom of Christ was SERIOUS RIDICULOUS!"

Spontaneous Song for Those Facing Impossible Situations

In his Blog post Spontaneous Song for Those Facing Impossible Situations Bob Kauflin shares a wonderful song that he "spontaneously wrote" during a worship service at the Soverign Grace Pastors Conference. At a time when we are celebrating the Christmas season many people find themselves feeling lonely and or depressed for a number of reasons. When I find myself in this mood I often pray from Psalm 62:1-2 to remind myself that God is present and he is my security. But I found the lyrics from this song to be meaningful and would work well as a prayer in itself during this Christmas season and beyond. So here is Bob Kauflin's lyrics, I share them with you as a gift for Christmas and hope you experience God's presence through the gifts this gentleman shares. Merry Christmas.

I am the God of the impossible
I make rivers flow through deserts of sand
I am working in your situation
In ways you would not understand

I am the God of the immeasurable
The riches of my grace you can’t conceive
I’ve poured them on you through Jesus, my Son
They’re yours if you only believe

‘Cause there is nothing
There is nothing
That’s too hard for me

I am the God of the unsearchable
You cannot know the mystery of my ways
But with perfect wisdom and perfect mercy
I work them out for my praise

I am the God of the impossible
And although you can’t see a way through
I’m using your circumstances
To do my work in you

For there is nothing
There is nothing
Too hard for me to do
‘Cause I’m working in you
And I will have my way
For the glory of my name
‘Cause there is nothing,
There is nothing that’s too hard for me to do

And you will see one day
That I did this for you
So that you might know
I am the God of the impossible
So that you might know I amThe God of the immeasurable
What you cannot conceive now
What you can’t believe now
I’ve assured you
Through the giving of my Son
For you, for youIs there nothing good that I wouldn’t do
For you?

I am the God of the impossible
Just look at where you are tonightI brought you near to myself
And I will always do,I will always do
What’s right.