A United Methodist Pastor's Theological Reflections

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory (nikos) through our Lord Jesus Christ." - I Corinthians 15:57


Friday, December 31, 2010

A New Year's Bible Verse - New Creation


In the daily office readings for today, the epistle reading includes this verse which is so appropriate for New Year's Eve day.

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! - II Corinthians 5:17

The context of this verse is to help the Corinthians Christians (and us) see that the resurrection of Jesus Christ has inaugurated a new world and a new way for us to look at the world. Just as new life through Jesus' resurrection has birthed a new world, we too are invited to participate in this new world by allowing Jesus' resurrection life to transform us into a new creation.

Notice that Paul's use of the phrase, "new creation," is to reinforce that this transformation isn't just about "me and Jesus" but about the larger perspective of God's desire to rescue and redeem the whole world. Yes, it's about me and Jesus, but it's also about ecosystems, politics, countries, trees, landscapes, pets, communities, families, and all of creation.

As we begin a new year, remember that through Jesus' resurrection, we are to live as God's new creation.


Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Bowl Games, Sauerkraut, & John Wesley's Covenant Prayer


This is the time when our attention is turned toward New Year's festivities and hope for a year filled with peace, joy and good health.

The early 18th century Methodists under the leadership of John Wesley, often participated in a covenant renewal service as a way of dedicating themselves to Jesus Christ for the new year. Wesley would also use this service when visiting his Methodist Societies throughout the year.

One of the prayers from that service is known as "A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition" which my church will be using this Sunday in worship since this will be the first Sunday of the new year. I know of a pastor who prays this prayer every day as a way of offering himself to God for the new day. This might be a good practice for many of us as well.

Earlier this week, my wife asked me, "You are going to use the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer this upcoming Sunday aren't you?"

You know you're a United Methodist when you would ask such a specific question as this!

Happy New Year!

A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition:

I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low by thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

End of the World (May 21, 2011) - A Rebuttal from a Biblical Christian


The ultra conservative Christian radio ministry, "Family Radio" has a large billboard along a highway near where I live that proclaims that God's judgment day will ocurr on May 21, 2011.

THE END OF THE WORLD IS ALMOST HERE!
HOLY GOD WILL BRING JUDGMENT DAY ON
MAY 21, 2011

This radio ministry espouses that judgment day will be a time when the world will end and true believers will be raptured into heaven. This kind of message kind of puts a damper on our "Happy New Year" greetings as we approach the new year.

Well, just in case there are some motorists who see this sign and equate this message with Christians and churches in general, let me set the record straight and say that this is a very isolated group of Christians who proclaim such a thing. Yes, there are a number of Christians and churches who have made such speculations with an assortment of specific dates, but as far as I know, this May 21, 2011 is pretty much confined to "Family Radio."

So much to say in this rebuttal of such a claim but let me offer the following thoughts from a bible believing Christian who reads and interprets the bible in a much different (and I believe a more theologically grounded perspective)
  • First of all (and most importantly) the overall biblical theme that the good creator God who created the earth and will one day redeem and reclaim it through a special act of God's grace (the second coming of Jesus) is totally absent in this group's pronouncement. Instead, they have opted for a view that the world that God created will be destroyed. For a biblical view, check out Revelation 21 where we are told that heaven and earth will finally be united and there will be no more suffering or death. Or just check out the Lord's Prayer where we pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven." The whole mission of the church is to offer the healing love of God through Jesus Christ to the world.
  • Secondly, when Jesus returns, we will not be "snatched away" into heaven as rapture theology espouses. This is a misreading of metaphors used by Paul in I Thessalonians 4. From a 1st century historical perspective, the image is that when Jesus reappears, believers will welcome the newly arrived king. The first readers of this epistle would have associated what Paul was saying with how a Roman citizen would welcome the Roman Emperor who had left Rome to visit one of his Roman colonies. They would have met him from a distance and then would have personally escorted him into their city. If you believe in bullet point #1 above, then this second bullet point makes perfectly good sense from a biblical perspective.
  • Thirdly, "Family Radio" has taken a creative biblical literary device of describing time from God's point of view (1 day = 1,000 years) and has turned it into a very literal and wooden interpretation. Using the Noah and the Ark story in the Book of Genesis, and this literal use of a poetic way of describing time, they have arrived at the date of May 21, 2011.

Having offered this rebuttal, I'll end on a positive note. It's always a good thing to anticipate Christ's second coming. But instead of focusing on a specific date that is centered around a theology that is void of fundamental doctrines (ie. God's good creation of the world and desire to redeem it), instead we should live in such a way that anticipates the way God has always intended his creation to be; a place of peace, harmony, justice, love, and joy. Of course, this happens as we depend on the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit as we feed the poor, care for the sick, find shelter for the homeless, and offer a welcome to those who feel outside of God's fold.

My advice? If you should drive down the highway and notice a large billboard with the date of May 21, 2011, pray "The Lord's Prayer." And when you get to the part that says, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven," invite God to strengthen you to use each day to offer the healing love of God through Jesus Christ in our community and world.

...including May 21, 2011.

Sunday Worship Preview - January 2

January 2 - (8:15 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Traditional Services & 9:45 A.M. Praise Service) & Wednesday, January 5 (6:30 P.M. Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)

Sermon - "Reaching for the Star"

Features - Epiphany Sunday & Holy Communion

Scripture - Isaiah 60:1-6 & Matthew 2:1-12

Theme - The wisemen offer us important things that we need to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ in this New Year.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Sunday Worship Preview - December 26 (10 A.M. Only)


December 26 - (10 A.M. Only) & Wednesday, December 29 (6:30 P.M. Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)

Sermon - "A Service of Lessons & Carols"

Features - Christmas Season & Special Children's Message

Scripture - Isaiah 9:2, 6-7; Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:26-35, 38; Luke 2:1-7; Luke 2:8-16; & Matthew 2:1-11

Theme - As we continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in this Christmas Seasons (12 Days of Christmas) we will participate in a service of lessons and carols. Developed in 1880 by an Anglican Bishop, the service incorporates elements of worship that have been used over the centuries in celebration of the nativity.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmast Prayer


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Eternal God, by the birth of Jesus Christ you gave yourself to the world. Grant that, being born in our hearts, he may save us from all our sins, and restore within us the image and likeness of our Creator, to whom be everlasting praise and glory, world without end. Amen.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Sermon (December 19) - "God Signs"

He wanted to go home badly. It had been two months since he had been admitted to a hospital in Columbus and all he could think about was getting home again. He was stuck in this institutional setting for the foreseeable future and he was willing to do anything to convince the workers at the hospital that they should release him, even though he wasn’t any better.

A nervous breakdown is what sent him to this place away from home. He had been shaving one morning and all of these unresolved feelings from his past began to overwhelm him. And all of the sudden, he quit shaving. He called for his wife, and when she came to the bathroom, she found him sitting on the bathroom floor and he told her, “Something is wrong with me. I don’t even remember how to shave.”

And now he was in a hospital far away from home and in denial that he even needed any help. He was desperately looking for a sign from God.

On an extremely cold January evening about fifteen years ago, I was in the family room of our home in Toledo when Penny and I heard a knock on our front door. Penny was surprised to open the door and find one of the youth of our church standing on our front step shivering and not wearing any coat. She invited him in and I said, “Terry, what are doing out on a cold night like this?”

His lips were quivering as he told me, “I need to talk with you.” I could hardly understand him – that’s how cold he was. Penny, noticing what was going on said, “I’ll make some hot tea for him.”
While we waited for the water to boil, he tried to share with me why he had walked a mile and a half on a windy and single digit January night without any coat to see me. And even when he started to warm up, I still couldn’t understand what he was trying to say to me.

He was very confused and mixed up inside. He was now living with his mother and step-father, both very nice people and members of my church. His father was living in California and Terry and his father didn’t get along at all and that’s why he was now living with his mom and step-dad in Toledo.

But things weren’t working out for Terry in his new home either. He wouldn’t go to his classes at the High School and he was very unhappy and confused.

He spent a good two hours at our home getting warm that cold night. And I talked to him about God’s infinite love and concern for him. I talked about how God was present for him and wanted to help him deal with his problems. But I could tell that I wasn’t getting through to him. He was pretty mixed up inside.

Around midnight, I took him to his house and we must have talked for another hour in his driveway because he just didn’t want to get out of the car. And again, I reiterated how much God loved him and cared about him. I could sense that he felt very distant from God and I just wanted him to know that God was there for him.

Have you ever felt separated from God’s love? Disconnected? Confused where you wander aimlessly?

Nothing pains me more as a pastor then when I see people fall away from their relationship with God and with the church.

I remember a stretch of time when I felt disconnected from God. I really didn’t want to pray. And when you face those times of disconnection, it’s really easy to gradually fall away from the spiritual support system that is so essential for you and me in our faith journey.

And by a spiritual support system, I mean weekly worship, having a daily quiet time with God, and being involved with a group of Christians that support you in your relationship with God. Sometimes, the circumstances of life can lead us to fall away from God.

Maybe you have felt like George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, from the Christmas Classic, It’s a Wonderful Life when George is facing a terrible time in his life. He was going to be sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit, and so he prays for God to help him.

Let’s watch a clip from this movie where George Bailey prays to God for help.

Can you relate to George Bailey? Do you ever feel like life is just beating you down?

The prophet Isaiah was living during a time when the people of Judah who made up the southern kingdom were being threatened by outside armies. In fact, these armies were laying siege on their capital of Jerusalem.

It was a scary time for the people of God. They were in desperate need of God’s saving hand.
And unfortunately, the people of Judah were led by a King who wasn’t turning to God for strength and help. And when you have a leader who is disconnected from God, it’s really hard on the people because they are looking for spiritual leadership. And in this situation they weren’t getting any godly leadership.

King Ahaz is in panic mode. Things look bleak for the people of Judah.

Until the prophet Isaiah arrives on the scene with a sign from God.

This morning, I want us to think about God signs. God signs are vitally important to each of us as we face doubts and struggles in life. Without God signs, we would be left to despair and hopelessness.

By looking at this scripture from the seventh chapter of Isaiah, which is probably one of the most important Old Testament scriptures as it relates to the foretelling of the future birth of Jesus Christ, we are able to discover and become much more aware of the importance of God signs in our lives.

What are God signs?

Let’s look at this text from Isaiah and learn more about God signs.

The first thing we see in this text is that God signs are meant for everyone and not just for a select few.

King Ahaz was one of the worst kings of Judah and yet God sent him a sign. You know, sometimes we think that God only sends signs to people who are deeply religious people. God doesn’t discriminate. God offers signs to everyone. The question is are we looking for those signs and are we open to those signs that God sends our way.

I love how this text in Isaiah says how the Lord spoke to King Ahaz directly. The Lord tells Ahaz, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be as deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” Here you have this open invitation for King Ahaz to ask the Lord for whatever he wants to help in this very threatening time for the people of Judah, and yet he refuses to receive a sign from the Lord.
Sometimes, we can get so set in our ways, that we too can refuse God’s obvious signs. Sometimes we can sink so much into despair, that even when God shouts, our ears are closed.

One of the most incredible things about Christmas is how the news of Christ’s birth came to people you would never expect. The first people who found out about Christ’s birth were shepherds of all people! Shepherds weren’t known for their devotion to God. They were considered the outsiders because of their occupation. And yet, God’s announcement of Christ’s birth first came to them.

God’s signs come to each of us. Nobody is left out. God’s grace is offered to each of us. That’s not only good news for us to know that God sends us signs, it’s also good news for us to know that God is always reaching out to the people around us.

Some of us can probably think of people who do not yet know the Lord and we would give anything for them to know God in a personal way. This text reminds us to not give up hope on anybody. Keep praying; keep reaching out to them with the love of Christ. God’s signs are for everyone.

A second thing about God’s signs is this: God’s signs might come in a way that we least expect them. This is an important point about God’s signs. Sometimes, we look for the dramatic sign from God or the earth shattering sign from God.

But in this text from Isaiah, the sign is in a future child. The Gospel writer Matthew shows us that this child is Jesus Christ. But people were not looking for God’s sign to be a child. People were looking for a more dramatic sign from God.

Most bible scholars on this Isaiah text believe that this passage about a young woman who will bear a son, also refers to a child who would be born during King Ahaz’s reign. Some scholars say that Isaiah is referring to a future son of King Ahaz while other scholars would say that the son is a future son of the prophet Isaiah. But they would all agree that Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy.

Christmas reminds us to not look for God’s sign by only focusing on the spectacular and the dramatic, but to look for God’s sign where you might least expect it. Even if that sign from God just so happens to be bundled up in some old rags and nestled in some straw.

As we near the celebration of Christmas, I invite us to not miss those signs that God is placing all around us. We just might miss those signs like so many people did 2,000 years ago.

A song that I listen to from time to time has this wonderful line from the chorus. It says,
“Freedom has a scent. Like the top of a new born baby's head.”

I love that line because the scent of a new born baby’s head is something that you never forget. It was this scent that became confirmation of God’s sign to Mary.

I spent last week with my family in Pennsylvania and stayed at my brother’s newly remodeled home. He had done most of the remodeling work and when I first arrived he took me on a tour of the house, pointing out all of the little nuances that he added to make it feel like home.

The most striking feature of the house is a new stone fire place that is situated in the main room of the house. The stones that make up the fire place are from the fields of our family farm. And like the tiny window that my brother took from our family’s old barn to use as an interior window for his study, the stones of the new fire place are a constant reminder of the land and the farm that were a big part of our childhood.

As my brother was showing me his new fireplace, he asked me if I could see the shape of a cross that he had asked the stone mason to incorporate as part of the fireplace design. It took me a few seconds, and then I could see it.

If you look at the picture of the fireplace and specifically at the chimney, you can see the shape of a cross leaning to the right. It’s subtle enough that you can easily miss it if you’re not paying attention to the details. One of the reasons my brother remodeled his home is because he wanted a bigger home to host large gatherings for meals and fellowship. He incorporated these subtle God signs into the design of his home to help people who visit his home to experience the presence of God.

God’s signs. They come to everyone. And these signs sometime come in a way that we least expect. Who knows what signs God will send our way next?

He was desperately looking for a sign from God. He had now been in this Columbus area hospital for several weeks and all he wanted was to get back home. To be back with his wife. To be back in his own home. But the doctors said he wasn’t ready to go home. He would need to stay for the foreseeable future, they told him, in order to deal with those unresolved issues from his past. He didn’t want to hear that. And he was still in denial that he needed this kind of intensive help.

And then one day, a very good friend of his went to see him at the hospital. After they chatted a bit, this friend said, “I have something for you that I want you to have.” And he handed him a little cross that fit into the palm of his hand. And he said, “Now you know how much this cross means to me. This cross is a sign for me of how Jesus Christ came into my life a few years ago and literally changed my life. And you know how I have carried this cross in my pocket every day, ever since that day that I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. You know what a difference Christ has made in my life, in my work, and in my marriage. I want you to keep this cross as a sign of Christ’s love for you and how He will give you the strength to stay in this hospital until the doctors feel that you are ready to come home.”

That little conversation brought tears to their eyes.

He thought a lot about what his friend said to him after they prayed and said goodbye to each other that day, but he still felt distant from God. “God, give me a sign. Give me a sign.” He prayed.

And then one day, he was walking by a piano in the patient lobby of the hospital, when he noticed an open hymn book on the piano stand. He looked closer and he noticed that it was opened to the hymn, “Amazing Grace.”

And for some strange reason, his eyes latched onto the last phrase of the third verse of that hymn which says, “And grace will lead me home.”

It was at that precise moment when he read those words that he knew that he had stumbled upon a sign from God. He thought about the cross that his friend had given him and then he thought about that phrase, “and grace will lead me home” and that’s when he finally decided to quit resisting and to start trusting.

He ended up getting out of that hospital a couple of months later after much needed emotional healing. And I can’t even begin to tell you the number of people that he has inspired since that several month stay in the hospital, including me.

God’s sign to him was a good friend’s cross, and a little phrase out of an opened hymn book in the lobby of a hospital.

During these days leading up to the big Christmas celebration, let’s be open for the signs that God has for each one of us. Even the signs that we least expect.

One final thought about God’s signs. Not only are God’s signs meant for everyone and that they might come to us in a way that we least expect. Number three – God’s signs always lead us to God’s presence.

Isaiah tells King Ahaz that a “young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.”

Matthew, in telling the wonderful Christmas story from the context of Isaiah’s prophecy, adds an editorial comment, just in case people like you and me might not know the literal meaning of Hebrew names. Matthew tells us that the Hebrew word, “Emmanuel” means, “God with us.”
Notice that Matthew tells us that Mary’s baby is to have two names; “Jesus” which literally means “God saves” and “Emmanuel” which means “God with us.”

It’s interesting that after the Christmas story, Jesus is never referred to as Emmanuel even though this is another name for him. Throughout the Gospel, it’s always Jesus, but never Emmanuel, that is, until the very last verse of his gospel. It’s so subtle that we can easily miss it.
As Jesus gives the disciples the Great Commission to go into the world and continue the ministry that he had started, Jesus then says, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” There’s that name again. Emmanuel. God who will always be with you.

And this is really good news especially if you feel like you’re out in the cold and trying to find your way home. This Christmas, may we allow the many God signs that are all around us to lead us home, to that place where we can know with assurance that God is our Emmanuel.
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Sunday, December 19, 2010

Christmas Eve Worship Preview - December 24

December 24 - (5:30 P.M., 8 P.M., & 11 P.M.)

Sermon - "The Christmas Story According to St. John"

Features - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Scripture - Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-4; & John 1:1-14

Theme - John’s Gospel does not include the Christmas story like Matthew and Luke, but it does offer a much larger context of the coming of Jesus into the world. John tells us that Jesus is the light of the world and offers us the invitation to be born again and become children of God.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

4th Sunday of Advent Prayer - (Week of December 19)





Collect of the Day: Fourth Sunday of Advent

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Dave's Deep Thoughts

Here's Pastor Dave McDowell's weekly devotional that he sends out to members of his church. Dave is my brother and serves as the Music Minister at Stewartstown UMC in PA.


Sometimes there is a fox in the hen house,
but lately there has been a squirrel on the road.

My drive to work takes me on a back country road.

It's not unusual for me to see wild life as I drive.....
deer, foxes, and yes..... squirrels.

During the last few weeks,
it seems that there has been one squirrel
who thinks he is going to collect some nuts for winter on the asphalt.

That was my first clue
that he wasn't the brightest bulb on the porch.

Recently, as I reach a certain stretch in the road,
there he is,
scurrying around trying to find his nuts
where nuts simply couldn't be found.

Now it isn't like he doesn't see me coming.
My car is visible from a quarter mile away.

As I get closer to the furry tyke,
he eventually figures out that nuts lose their value
if one has been run over by a car.

I'll give him credit for that much intelligence.

What I can't give him credit for,
is his decision making skills.

I ponder what is going on in that little furry noggin....

This is what he is doing as I get closer and closer..

go right,
no, go left,
no right,
no, no left
go right,
no, maybe left

The good Lord
has given this little creature
every skill to avoid being
turned into road kill...

reflexes, speed, agility

but what the little tyke doesn't have
is a brain,
at least a brain big enough to figure out
that ONE turn will get him to safety.

Now it's not just squirrels that have this problem,
put chipmunks and rabbits in the dunce corner as well.

Quite frankly,
it's hard to feel sorry for them.

But consider the turtle.

A sure sign of summer for me
is to see a turtle on the road,
warming itself.

When my hard shelled little friend sees me coming,
what does he do.....

Gotta go,
gotta get moving....
Let's get going.....
oh boy.....
this just isn't happening fast enough.....

You see the good Lord gave this guy a brain,
what he didn't give him
was speed.

It's hard for me not to feel sorry
for my slow footed friends.

And so what happens to squirrels and turtles.....
they all die..

People are like squirrels and turtles,
each gifted with certain attributes,
each lacking other abilities.

Think of a woman with maternal instincts unable to conceive,
while an ill-prepared teen girls finds herself pregnant.....

Or how about a person with a master's degree
who can speak 5 languages,
and finds himself in a homeless shelter.

Or a frumpy unimpressive looking lady,
who opens her mouth at a singing contest
and wows the world?

We are all different,
and we experience different life circumstances.

It is easy to measure out our compassion to others
based on performance.

It is easy to bestow mercy upon others
based on production.

It is easy to offer grace to others
if we understand the inability.

But God so loved the WORLD
that he sent His son.

He sent his son for all the slow motion
turtle type people in the world,

He sent his son for all the squirrel mortals
that don't know how to make up their minds.

He sent his son for everyone,
knowing in advance that he wouldn't get
the same response from everyone.

But He still did it.
Because every squirrel, every turtle matters.

That is the story of Christmas.
So the next time you approach
a squirrel or turtle in your life,
don't press down on the accelerator......

Slow down.

Take time to let that person know,
that they matter,
matter to you, and matter to God.

Who knows,
in doing so,
you might just find yourself
closer to the heart of God.

For God so loved the world,
that he gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him,
shall not perish,
but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

How the BCS Helps the Church to Celebrate Christmas

Leave it to college football to help Christians to reclaim the Season of Christmas. I'll get to that in a moment.

Many people believe that the twelves days of Christmas refer to the twelve days leading up to Christmas day. This is understandable in a culture that associates the month of December with the Christmas Season rather than the Advent Season.

The Advent Season is a time to help us prepare not only for the coming celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but to also anticipate his second coming when he will appear in all of his glory and all of creation will be renewed by a special act of God's grace. This is the ultimate hope of the Christian faith - for the world to be made new by our loving creator God.

Unfortunately, we have used the Advent Season as a pre-Christmas celebration, collapsing the Advent and Christmas Seasons together. It's no wonder that we no longer are interested or have the energy to celebrate Christmas beyond New Year's Day.

The Christmas Season lasts from Christmas Eve to twelve days later, January 6 which is Epiphany, the day we celebrate when the Wise Men brought gifts to Jesus to honor him as king. Imagine in our culture today, trying to extend the Christmas celebration an extra twelve days after using up our energy for all of the shopping and parties in the month of December. The church calendar reminds us that the Christmas celebration continues through January 6 and it helps us to not cut short our observance of the coming of Jesus Christ into the world.

In the old days when the college football season ended on New Year's Day, the end of the college football season coincided with the melancholy of what we thought was the end of the Christmas celebration. January 2 was a downer day, indeed. But because of the new BCS system, there are big games on January 3, 4, and the really big game on January 10.

So here's my question - Do you think the post January 1 bowl games can help the church recapture the twelve days of Christmas? Should the media begin to tout the Ohio State/Arkansas game as the Tenth Day of Christmas bowl game?

Forget about political correctness of not focusing on one religious holiday over the other. If Christians would become patient enough to wait to say "Merry Christmas" until the actual Season of Christmas, not only would most people be a little more accepting of this holiday greeting, but it would help the church to reclaim the real Christmas Season.

Thank you college football and the BCS system for reminding the church to celebrate the Christmas Season for a full twelve days. Now, if you could only put together a bowl playoff system during the Twelve Days of Christmas to determine the true champion on January 6, that would be a win-win for both of us.
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Sunday, December 12, 2010

Sunday Worship Preview - December 19

December 19 - (8:15 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Traditional Services & 9:45 A.M. Praise Service) & Wednesday, December 22 (6:30 P.M. Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)

Sermon - "God Signs"

Features - 4th Sunday of Advent & Advent Candle Lighting

Scripture - Isaiah 7:10-16 & Matthew 1:18-25

Theme - The prophet Isaiah reminds us that the sign of Christmas is that a young woman will bear a son and his name shall be called Immanuel. What are the signs God offers to us today to help us know that we are not alone and that God is with us? As we draw closer to the celebration of Christmas, look for the God signs that are all around us that are pointing us to the hope and promise of the coming of Jesus Christ into the world.
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Friday, December 10, 2010

3rd Sunday of Advent Prayer (Week of December 12)





Collect of the Day: Third Sunday of Advent

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Dave's Deep Thoughts


Here's Pastor Dave McDowell's weekly devotional that he sends out to members of his church. Dave is my brother and serves as the Music Minister at Stewartstown UMC in PA.


Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays,
probably because I love food.

This Thanksgiving was going to be special,
as I was to meet my nephew's fiancee,
Since they were traveling from the west coast,
it would be the first time that most of my family
would meet her.

I had heard much about her.
A bright young lady,
studying veterinary sciences,
and rather attractive to boot.
I was looking forward to meeting her.

It all sounded good until my nephew
told me in a phone conversation prior to their trip east .....

Uncle David,
I hate to tell you this,
but she did her undergrad work at _ _ _ _

I can't even print it.

It is my school's arch rival from across town,
and it is a four letter word.

I gasped.

And you're marrying her? I said
kiddingly.

Yeah, she's makes fun of your school
all the time.

I knew then that Thanksgiving was going to be unusual,
a meal where us and them are both invited

Any time us and them gather,
it's uncomfortable at best,
probably like the first Thanksgiving.

I would think that between the
Pilgrims and Indians first Thanksgiving,
there had to be a little bit of an
us and them vibe as they gathered
at the table....
two very different peoples
sitting down to table.

I'm sure Miles Standish
wasn't extremely comfortable
sharing the creamed corn with the Indian's cousin Larry.

And so I came to Thanksgiving,
knowing that us would meet them.

I vowed to be the most gracious us
that them ever met.
I would not talk about her school,
I wouldn't wear any of my school paraphernalia.
I would focus on the things that bring us together.

All was fine for the first 15 minutes,
polite conversation,
asking all the getting to know you questions.

I think it started with the passing of the cranberry sauce......

Out of the blue, the fiancee said to me....
Isn't your school where the football players cheat??

I almost gagged on my sweet potatoes.
Everyone around me chuckled.

This them was a pistol,
and she was fully loaded.
My family awaited my response.

I think it was just one person that cheated.
Would you pass the stuffing please? I said changing the subject.

But them would have no part of the subject changing.

But didn't the whole team get punished for cheating? them continued.
She was going for the jugular,
and I hadn't even received the gravy yet.

Yes they did, I said politely,
while gnawing out my frustrations on my turkey,

Doesn't that make you feel
less about the education that you received there?

Them was mashing me
more than the potatoes.

Finally I couldn't take it anymore,
I stood up and ripped off my shirt
revealing my us tee shirt.

I'd rather be an us on probation
then a them not on probation! I snapped.

The room was dripping in silence

Then them looked over at her fiancee, my nephew, and said,

I think I am going to really like your family.
Then she looked at me and winked.

I winked back and said
May I have the Waldorf salad please?

It's easy to live in a world of us and them

Western culture versus middle eastern culture.
Rich versus poor.
Educated versus uneducated.
Old versus young.

Name your us and you will find a them.

We talk about seeking unity in the church,
while the reality is we already have our unity in Christ.
All we need to do is to claim it.

But I think the Lord went beyond that.
He saw all people as us.
He wept for the entire city of Jerusalem.
He spent far more time on the streets then in the temple
embracing people from all walks of life.

He understood that if he treated everyone as an us,
it opened the door for everyone to become an us.

For God so loved the world
is the most memorized and quoted scripture.
As far as I can see
the world is everybody.

Who in your world is a them
that needs to be seen as an us,
so that they indeed can become an us.

Give it a try,
I suggest starting with the cranberry sauce.
Who knows,
you might just make it to the pumpkin pie.....

He came for a witness,
that he might bear witness of the light,
that ALL might believe through Him.

John 1:7


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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Elizabeth Edwards & Advent Hope

The heartbreaking news of Elizabeth Edward's death leads us to once again join the Psalmist in crying out to God.

"Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness. But I, O Lord, cry out to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you." - Psalm 88:11-13

I have a wonderful small book that I often take with me for hospital visits. It's a book filled with verses from various Psalms and brief prayers that connect with the themes of those Psalms. There are Psalms of thanksgiving when there has been healing from illness. There are Psalms of guidance and direction when the way doesn't seem clear. There are Psalms of hope when we are sensing despair. There are Psalms for use before a surgery as well as after a surgery. And there are Psalms for times when life support is withdrawn.

The Book of Psalms is the ultimate prayer book in the bible. This June, I'll be preaching a sermon series on how the Psalms can serve as a wonderful prayer guide in our faith journey. The series is called, "Expressions of the Heart."

While the Psalms (and the bible in general) do not address the question, "Why does God allow bad things to happen," at least directly, they do provide a tremendous word of hope in helping us respond to times of sickness, grief, sorrow, and pain. The Book of Job does give us the opportunity to wrestle with the question of why God allows bad things to happen but it never gives us the complete answer to that question.

Even though the bible doesn't give easy answers when facing times of loss and sadness, it does offer us an incredible word of hope which is a word we often hear in this Season of Advent. And the word of hope consists of the following:
  1. God created this world and called it good.
  2. Even though we sinned and there is brokenness, pain, and death in God' creation, God is on a mission to rescue the world.
  3. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ was the launching of God's rescue of the world. Jesus' resurrection in the middle of history is the signpost of a future time when all of God's creation will experience complete healing and wholeness by a special act of God's grace. This will be a time when all righteousness will be fulfilled.
  4. In the meantime, the Holy Spirit empowers us (specifically the church) to continue to carry forth what God has already begun through Jesus' death and resurrection.

Whenever we cry out with the Psalmists during times of sadness and pain, it's important for us to remember all of the points above but especially #3. While #3 doesn't give us an easy answer as to why bad things happen, it does remind us that there will come a time when everything will be made right.

Unlike some religions/philosophies, Christianity embraces a linear view of history in which we are moving toward a future time when justice, righteousness, and love will one day fill all of God's creation the way it was always meant to be. If we ever doubt this to be true, which many of the Psalmists remind us that it is OK to do since life can be really difficult, it's important to hear from people like Mary who we will hear this Sunday for the 3rd Sunday of Advent.

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior...He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever." - Luke 1:46-47, 54-55

Mary proclaimed these words because she knew that the baby in her womb was going to be the means by which God would fulfill his covenant in reclaiming and rescuing the world. Mary knew that this was a significant part of God's salvation plan for the world to fulfill the covenant that had been made centuries earlier with Abraham and Israel.

The Christian faith offers this tremendous word of hope - A day is coming when sin and death will be defeated once and for all. This is at the heart of our Advent hope. This is the hope we can embrace especially upon hearing the news that a very courageous and faith filled woman has just passed away from cancer.


Monday, December 6, 2010

Happy St. Nicholas Day! (December 6)


James Kiefer, who writes about Christian saints shares this information about today's saint (December 6) - St. Nicholas, 4th Century.

Nicholas was a native of the western part of what is now Asiatic Turkey Anatolian Plateau). He became Bishop of Myra in the fourth century, and there are many stories of his love for God and for his neighbor.

The best-known story involves a man with three unmarried daughters, and not enough money to provide them with suitable dowries. This meant that they could not marry, and were likely to end up as prostitutes. Nicholas walked by the man's house on three successive nights, and each time threw a bag of gold in through a window (or, when the story came to be told in colder climates, down the chimney). Thus, the daughters were saved from a life of shame, and all got married and lived happily ever after.

Because of this and similar stories, Nicholas became a symbol of anonymous gift-giving. Hence, if we give a gift to someone today without saying whom it is from, it can be called "a present from Saint Nicholas (or Santa Claus)." Some parents explain this to their children and invite the child to join them in wrapping a toy (either something purchased for that purpose, at least partly with the child's allowance, or else a toy that the child has outgrown but that is still serviceable) or an outgrown but not shabby item of the child's clothing, or a package of food, and then going along to donate it to a suitable shelter that will give it to someone who will welcome it. This gift is then called "a present from Santa," so that the child understands that this is another name for an anonymous gift given to someone whom we do not know, but whom we love anyway because God does. (Presents within the family can be "From Santa" or "From Santa and...")

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Sermon (December 5) - "'Tis the Season Before the Season"

Based on our Gospel reading this morning, I definitely would not want John the Baptist to serve as one of our worship greeters on Sunday morning.

Our worship greeters say appropriate things like, “It’s great to see you today.” “Good morning.” “Welcome to First Church.” Or “It’s nice to see you.”

Instead of these welcoming phrases, John the Baptist greets people with, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

“John – how can I say this in a nice way? You’re going to need to work on your people skills if you want to continue to be one of our ushers on Sunday morning. We have a training event next month. You might want to sign up for it.”

Can you imagine if one of our greeters would say something like that to somebody entering our church for worship?

“Did that person just call me a snake? Must be having a bad day, I guess!”

If this text from Matthew’s Gospel reading this morning got your attention, then Matthew did his job well in introducing us to this wild and radical prophet of God, who we know today as John the Baptist.

We don’t find John baptizing people in a local synagogue. No. We find him standing in the wilderness, the middle of nowhere, and yet people from all around the region are coming to him to hear his preaching and to be baptized.

Baptism. Why would people go out of their way to be baptized? Why would they even think about driving past a dozen synagogues in order to be baptized out in the middle of nowhere by this eclectic and wild man named John?

“Who is he anyway? Has this guy been through the district’s Lay Speaking course or met with the district committee on ordained ministry? Somebody better check out this guy’s credentials.”

Matthew gives us a hint as to why people came from all over the place to be baptized by John. He tells us that they were baptized in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Honest to God. These people were longing for this opportunity to confess their sins and begin anew with God.

Isn’t that great? We are given every indication in this text to believe that these people came to John with the right motives and with the right attitudes. They wanted to get right with God.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year for you and me to get right with God. That’s why the church calendar sets aside these four significant weeks called the season of Advent. To give us the opportunity to get right with God so that when Christmas day comes, we will be able to receive the gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ in all of His fullness.

The season of Advent is a wonderful gift to the church. There are important reasons why the season of Advent is a gift to the church.

First of all – it heightens the suspense.

I officiate for several weddings here at First Church. And for each wedding rehearsal, we have the bridal party practice lining up in the order that they will be coming down the aisle.

And I always tell the bride and the person who will be escorting her down the long middle aisle (usually her father, but not always) to wait behind our sanctuary wall until the very last possible second, to give some suspense as the people wait eagerly to see the bride for the first time in her beautiful dress.

And just at the right time, she appears, and immediately begins processing down the middle aisle. And if everything goes well, the mothers are crying, the fathers are sweating, and the people are nervously awaiting the big moment to arrive. That’s what we’re after! The big build up. The heightened anticipation.

Advent is a time for us to wait expectantly for Jesus Christ to appear in all of His glory. Just like at a wedding, there are signs before the service that something wonderful is about to happen - the seating of the mothers, the lighting of the unity candles, the procession of the groomsmen – and you know that it’s only a few moments before you will see the bride coming down the aisle.
And guess what? After that long suspense – before you know it – the service is over!

We tend to appreciate gifts more as we allow the suspense to build to that special moment.
If we bypass the season of Advent, we end up limiting that special moment when we celebrate the One who is to come into the world, Jesus Christ.

A second gift Advent gives us is an opportunity for us to get right with God. Notice how the people in Matthew’s text were hungering for the opportunity to confess their sins and be baptized. There was a hunger to get right with God. There was a hunger to begin again.

And notice that this is before Jesus Christ has even started his public ministry. It would be getting the cart before the horse if we would skip the season of Advent and rush to Christmas, without having first prepared our hearts and our minds for Jesus Christ to be born in us.

Or think of it this way. If Jesus Christ would say to you this morning that he will be coming to your house to be your guest this Friday, would you end up changing your plans for this week? Would you change some of your priorities? Would you do things a little differently this week if you knew that Jesus would be coming to your house in just a few days?

The season of Advent is a time for us to reconsider our plans leading up to Christmas Day and the Christmas Season. It’s a time to rethink our priorities. And we might decide to do things a little differently in these weeks leading up to December 25. Why? Because we know that this special day in which we celebrate Christ’s birth is coming and we want to have our hearts ready to receive Him by faith.

That’s what the people were doing in our scripture reading this morning. They were coming to John the Baptist, to prepare themselves for God’s coming kingdom.

And I don’t know if you want to call it a 6th sense that John had, or if it was even more obvious than that – but when John the Baptist saw some of the religious leaders of his day showing up to be baptized, John ends up pulling them aside.

And this is why he calls them “brood of vipers.”

You see, not only was John the Baptist the worship greeter, he was also the preacher.

John was calling into question their motive in coming for baptism.

And this leads us to the third reason why we spend four weeks in preparation for the Christmas season. God wants us to bear good fruit. John reminds the Pharisee and Sadducee leaders that baptism and repentance mean nothing to God, unless it leads us to bear fruit.

John is calling for the religious leaders to have a faith that is alive and fresh and new.

And out of all these reasons for having Advent, this one really hits me the hardest. If John’s purpose was to wake me up this morning, then he did a great job, because now I’m awake.
John the Baptist is telling us that our faith is to be so much more than simply going through religious motions that have no bearing on how we live Monday through Saturday. John says - that’s not faith. Faith is bearing the fruit of obedience in our daily living. Faith is living out what we profess on Sunday morning.

Our scripture this morning is a wake up call for those of us who have been part of the church for any length of time. John is saying to us, “When you participate in these religious services, come with an attitude that your life will be radically altered.”

Every year, the season of Advent is a time for us to become more conscientious of what we do on Sunday mornings so that it connects with our everyday living.

I was reading about a guy named Dennis, who lives in Katy, Texas, and how he needed some same-day dry cleaning before he left on a trip. He remembered one store with a huge sign, “One Hour Dry Cleaners” which was located on the other side of town.

Since he needed his clothes dry cleaned right away, he made the drive across town. After he filled out the tag, he told the clerk, “I’ll be back in an hour.” And she said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t get this back to you until Thursday.” Dennis said, “But your sign says, ‘One Hour Dry Cleaners.’”
“I know,” she said. “But that’s just the name of the store.”

Those of us who carry the name Christian, but fail to act like the one whose name we bear throughout the week, are like those religious leaders who came for the ritual as long as it didn’t change their way of living.

Advent is a time of the church year to heighten the suspense of the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. It’s a season that helps us to get right with God. And it’s a season that reminds us to bear good fruit.

Penny and I were walking through one of the anchor stores at a mall on a Sunday afternoon during the fall season when it occurred to me that there were Christmas decorations all over that store. There were Christmas trees, greenery, ornaments, and wreaths everywhere throughout this department store. I mean, what’s next? Some church will probably decide to celebrate Christmas in July, or something crazy like that!

Usually I take this early Christmas stuff all in stride, but this time, it hit me the wrong way. Do we really want to bypass the gifts of the Advent Season, just so that we can celebrate a hollow Season of Christmas?

I said to Penny that they might as well leave the decorations up throughout the year. Just have Christmas sales throughout the year. Or maybe mix the Easter decorations with the Christmas decorations and the stores could call it Eastmas shopping year round.

And as I walked through that store on that beautiful sunny October day, all I could think about was, “You know, I’m not ready for Christmas. I’m not ready to rejoice in the Savior’s birth in the middle of October. God is still working on me. I need Advent!”

I need the season of Advent to heighten my anticipation about what God is going to do next. I need the season of Advent to be a season of repentance and preparation for the coming of the Messiah to our dark and broken world. I need the season of Advent to get my heart right with God.

He attended a men’s retreat weekend over twenty years ago, not because he wanted to, but because he was coerced by his wife. He had attended church – maybe not regularly, but on occasion he would come.

He went to this retreat dragging his feet. “Why did I agree to go on this weekend? Just think of what you could be doing, if you weren’t stuck at this men’s retreat.”

But he was there to stay. The first night didn’t go so well. It was kind of slow. They were asked to practice the spiritual discipline of silence, and so from Friday evening of the retreat until breakfast the next morning, they were encouraged to not speak out-loud, but to use that time to be in silent prayer with God.

To his surprise, that silence was needed. God began to work on him and he began to think about things that were out of order in his life. He started to feel God’s presence again. He hadn’t felt this way in quite a while, because he had gotten so busy with life and work. You know how that goes.

And as the weekend progressed, he started to feel not only God’s presence, but God’s love through Jesus Christ. He was able to connect with the other men on the retreat who were just ordinary men like he was, but who could also sense that God was up to something that weekend. Something powerful. Something wonderful. Something life changing.

By the end of that retreat, he had made a decision to allow Jesus Christ to be number one in his life, in his marriage, and in the life of his family.

When he came home from the retreat, his wife asked him how things went, not knowing what a loaded question that was. To her surprise, his face gleamed with excitement as he shared how he had been able to reconnect with God in a powerful way.

He told her that he wanted them to work together as a couple in having Jesus Christ to be first in their marriage and in their family. Worship took on a whole new meaning for him. He began to see his job as a way to serve God and others. He got more involved in the life of his church. He asked how much they had been giving financially to the church and when his wife told him, he was appalled. He said, “We’re going to start tithing our money immediately. Let’s do the math and begin giving that amount.” When faith has an impact on our bank account, usually that means true transformation is taking place.

That men’s retreat became that significant period of time that he needed to receive Jesus Christ into his life in a new and fresh way. That weekend retreat became for him, his Advent – his time in which he set aside time to allow God to work on his heart. The light of his faith, which had just been a flicker of light before that weekend retreat, had all of the sudden lit up in such a way that it ended up transforming his life.

This past summer, some of us didn’t have electricity for several hours. I think the church was down for about six hours. And when it got dark, I can’t tell you the number of times that I went to flick on a light switch, expecting there to be light, and of course nothing happened.

And after every time I reached for a light switch during that power outage, I was reminded of how much I take light for granted. I just expect it to magically be there. So we lit candles, used the flashlight, and spent the remaining time waiting patiently for the power to come back on. And when it finally came back on, I was that much more appreciative of the precious gift of light.

This past week during my young adult bible study, I asked them since many of them have young children, “Are your children getting pretty excited for Christmas?”

Thinking that they would say something about toys and presents, one set of parents said how their son is really into Christmas lights. All he wants to do is to see the Christmas lights on people’s homes.

In these remaining three weeks of this season called Advent, let’s focus on the light of Christmas – let’s take our bibles, find some space during our daily routine, and maybe hang on to the sermon outline found in the bulletin that lists our weekly scripture readings for this month, and allow the suspense of this season to build, and to use these weeks as a time to get right with God, and to bear fruit in our homes, in our jobs, and in our daily living.

Let’s face it. John the Baptist would have made a lousy Sunday greeter. But that’s what you get when you have a wild man in the middle of the wilderness shouting, “Prepare the way of the Lord.”

Let’s pray: Lord God, the second advent candle is lit and we can’t wait for the celebration of your Son’s birth. We want you today. We want you now. The light of the Advent Season is getting brighter, and yet, we also need more time to get our hearts right with you. Take our broken lives and prepare them for your coming. This we pray in the name of the one who is to come, Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
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Sunday, December 5, 2010

Sunday Worship Preview - December 12

December 12 - (8:15 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Traditional Services & 9:45 A.M. Praise Service) & Wednesday, December 15 (6:30 P.M. Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)

Sermon - "'Joy!"

Features - 3rd Sunday of Advent & Advent Candle Lighting

Scripture - Isaiah 35:1-18 & Luke 1:46b-55

Theme - The 3rd Sunday of Advent includes the lighting of a pink candle which reminds us that even in this season of confession, preparation, and contemplation, the fast approaching celebration of Jesus' birth offers us great joy. The Magnificat is also traditionally read on this Sunday of Advent which is Mary's joyful prayer that in her womb is the Savior of the world.
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Saturday, December 4, 2010

2nd Sunday of Advent Prayer


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Collect of the Day: Second Sunday of Advent

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Men's Prayer Breakfast Devotional Summary - December


Our men's monthly prayer breakfast met this morning and here's a summary of the devotions that were shared.

• Matthew 1:18-23
• Name was to be Jesus.
• Baby names. Anyone here named after a specific family member? The idea is that your name will remind you as well as other family members of that loved one.
• Interesting thoughts about Jesus’ name:
1) In Hebrew, “Jesus” is pronounced “Joshua.” Reminded people of Joshua of OT when he led them into the Promised Land. Good memories. God’s salvation! Joshua means “God saves.”
2) V. 23. Jesus shall also be known as Immanuel which means “God is with us.” The name doesn’t appear anywhere else throughout the gospel until….
Matthew 28:19-20
Subtle but creative!
• This Season:
1) Say the name, “Jesus” during this Advent Season and picture Joshua leading the people into the Promised Land. Think of how Jesus led us into the Promised Land through his life, death, and resurrection.
2) Say the name, “Immanuel” during this Advent Season. Take comfort in knowing that you’re never alone. God is always with us!
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Friday, December 3, 2010

Bible Study Summary - Upcoming Sunday's Scriptures


Here at Lancaster First UMC, I am privileged to be part of two weekly bible study groups that study the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday worship services.

2nd Sunday of Advent
Matthew 3:1-12
• Road, water, fire, axe are the 4 symbols in this reading.
• Context of verse 3
A rumor that a king is on his way, but there’s a problem. There’s no road for him to get here!
A messenger begins shouting to begin building a road, right away!
This message was first mentioned in OT – Isaiah 40. The king will bring comfort, hope, and healing after their exile. This raises the question of when the exile ended. Exile was still happening in the 1st century A.D. even though they were living in the Promised Land. Rome was in charge!
• Big problem – The people weren’t ready! But John the Baptist did his job and the people came from every direction to get ready.
• John helped them get ready by being baptized. This wasn’t about them personally, but about getting ready for the coming of the King. Instead of crossing the river for the first time, they would cross it again (through baptism in the Jordan) to prepare to enter into the Promised Land and this time knowing that the King was coming.
• Getting ready isn’t easy. Need to rid ourselves of pride and be humble and seek God with all our hearts. This is how you build a highway.
• How do you know that you’re ready? Are you bearing good fruit? Alternative is a bonfire!
• Looking ahead to Jesus’ arrival. The coming of the King didn’t look like what they were preparing for. Jesus would offer his very life on the cross.
• In what ways can we build a highway during this Advent Season so we’re ready for Christmas?
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Thursday, December 2, 2010

Christmas Breaks Out in a Shopping Mall


Oh how I wish I had this for September's "In Concert with God" sermon series especially when the focus was on how classical music can help us appreciate the beauty and magnificence of God. A big thanks to members of my church who sent me this video.



Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Dave's Deep Thoughts


Here's Pastor Dave McDowell's weekly devotional that he sends out to members of his church. Dave is my brother and serves as the Music Minister at Stewartstown UMC in PA.

Call it tradition,
call it a return to childhood......
just don't call me late for dinner.

Every Sunday evening
I make it a ritual to come home from work
and make a toastie cheese
along with a bowl of tomato soup.

It's a nice way to unwind
after a long day of rehearsals and worship.
It also brings back memories
of one of my favorite school lunches
back in the day.

There is something comforting
in remembering the good things
in our past.

When I was an immature 3rd grader,
I remember running
(we will call it walking really fast
to appease my 3rd grade teacher)
to the cafeteria on toastie cheese day.

Later, when I was a mature 11th grader,
I realized that butting into line
was the quickest way to get my toastie cheese.

Now that I am a very mature adult,
I realize that butting and running are not necessary,
because I have my own kitchen,
and because as an adult,
I have more than 25 minutes to eat.

This precious Sunday evening ritual
went by the wayside
during the 13 months of construction
when I did not have a kitchen.

Once in a while during those 387 days,
I would heat up a bowl of tomato soup in the microwave,
but tomato soup just isn't tomato soup
without a toastie cheese.

This week,
my new kitchen became functional.
With the knowledge that my stove actually worked again,
I ran home from work
(okay, maybe not as mature as I thought......)
salivating at the thought of hearing
the toastie cheese grill on the stovetop.

It has been said that absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Although I think that saying was intended to describe personal relationships,
I find it equally true regarding my relationship with toastie cheese,
my stove, and my refrigerator......

As I restarted my ritual,
I had a new found appreciation for the refrigerator
as I pulled out the tub of margarine.
I was giddy as I reached for a butter knife that wasn't made of plastic.
My heart lept for joy
as I felt heat emanating from the stove top.
Euphoria set in as water flowed out of the spighot
to rinse my utensils.

I was overwhelmed with a profound sense of gratitude
as I reclaimed the very basics of household living.

Just when I didn't think I could feel more grateful,
I heard it.
It was a sound I hadn't heard for months......
that precious sound of an ice cube
slowly falling into the ice maker.

It almost brought me to tears.

My lip began to quiver as I pondered my options...

should I crush it
or perhaps cube it??

It is human nature to take things for granted,
particularly things that are common for us,
but not so in places of poverty.

I had the means to rebuild my home.
But what about earthquake victims in Haiti and Chile this year?
What about innocent people displaced during military revolts in Africa?
What about the person within miles of my home,
who has become homeless because of a job loss,
an injury, an illness, or the lack of a family support system?

The week after Thanksgiving,
I continue to give thanks,
and am humbled by why the Lord
gave me this life to live as compared to those who live in far greater need.

As I savored the moments in my virginal kitchen,
I realized that answer is that I am not the owner,
I am merely the steward.
And this steward has decided
that this kitchen, this home,
will always be open to both the friends that I know,
and the friends that I don't know.

May each of us,
have our own toastie cheese moment of enlightenment.

Oh yes,
while having this moment ,
I burned my toastie cheese.
Man I hate that!

To whom much has been given,
much shall be required.
Luke 12:48b
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Monday, November 29, 2010

1st Sunday of Advent Prayer


Collect of the Day: First Sunday of Advent


Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Quote of the Week


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"She's like a magician who puts the rabbit in the hat but when she pulls it out, she is still surprised that she pulled a rabbit from the hat."

- Songwriter, Bono describing the creativity of Director Julie Taymor in putting together the musical, "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark."


Two TVs - One Happy Family

This past week, Penny and I hosted the family for Thanksgiving from Wednesday through Saturday. There were twelve of us of all ages and political leanings.

The tv in one of the rooms was reserved for FOX news watchers while another tv was available for CNN watchers. It was a great compromise!

Yes, there was some good natured ribbing between the blue supporters and the red supporters, but mostly, we simply enjoyed catching up with each other and sharing in some great meals. After watching the painful negative ads from the recent mid-term elections, I'm thinking that both political parties need to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal together.

All you need for peace and harmony are two tvs, great food, football, and the game, "Taboo," but most importantly, a prayer before each meal in which God is invited to be present in every conversation.

A belated Thanksgiving to the Nikos reading community!

Sunday Worship Preview - December 5

December 5 - (8:15 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Traditional Services & 9:45 A.M. Praise Service) & Wednesday, December 8 (6:30 P.M. Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)

Sermon - "'Tis the Season before the Season"

Features - 2nd Sunday of Advent & Advent Candle Lighting

Scripture - Isaiah 11:1-10 & Matthew 3:1-12

Theme - The season of Advent is often overlooked in our rush to celebrate the Christmas season. What is the purpose of the Advent season and what is God calling us to do during these four weeks to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ into the world?

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

A Conversation about Ministry with Young Adults


Yesterday, I had lunch with a lay member of a church who has a passion for ministering to young adults, particularly twenty year olds. He just turned 50 and it was exciting for me to see just how important this ministry is for him.

Here are some gems that I received from our conversation regarding reaching young adults through the church:
  • First of all, his passion was very evident, partly because he has two daughters who are now in their 20's and he knows how important it is for the church to include this vital generation.
  • Here's an example of a ministry that would probably work: Have a coffee hangout time for twenty year olds with some music and conversation on a Friday evening. On Saturday morning, offer an opportunity to be involved in a hands on ministry outreach in the community.
  • This relates to the above point, but don't simply focus on invitations to Sunday morning worship. Help young adults to gather in more casual settings with outreach offerings.
  • Be open to hosting "spontaneous" gatherings of young adults. We need to be flexible and look for those opportunities. My friend shared how some friends of his daughter were in town visiting and they invited them to their house for dinner and conversation.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sermon (November 21) "Qualities of a Good Leader"

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

I finally completed my Annual Church Conference forms! And that’s a good thing since our Church Conference meeting was held this past Monday!

One of the forms I get to help complete year in and year is a Nominations form for the upcoming year. We have 140 program and administrative positions that are listed on our Nominations form.

And of those 140 total positions, from August through October, the Nominations Committee needed to fill 45 of those positions. 45 positions. I am pleased to announce that we did it! This past Monday evening, our congregation approved those 45 names who will help lead us in ministry for the upcoming year.


In addition to our administrative and program leaders, there are many other ways that people provide leadership throughout the church. Leadership is a vital part of any church. I strongly believe that the church will only go as far as the leadership of the church, under the authority and direction of the Lord Jesus, will take them.

I was in a meeting with our Bishop a few years ago and a lay person who was also at the meeting was complaining about the poor pastoral leadership at her church. And she said, “Bishop, you need to do something about this.” Referring to the poor leadership of her pastor.

And the Bishop responded that his goal is to equip the pastors of the Conference to be the best possible leaders that they can be. And then he asked us this question: What are the three most important qualities that a church needs in a pastor? He answered his own question. He said the first most important quality is leadership. The second most important quality is leadership. And the third most important quality is leadership. Leadership. Leadership. Leadership.

About 600 years before the birth of Christ, the Lord spoke through the prophet Jeremiah of just how important it is for God’s people to have strong leaders. The Lord said, “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them.”

This just goes to show how much God cares for His people. And then the Lord says through the prophet Jeremiah, “I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.”

The Lord wants to call forth leaders for the purpose of caring for all of His people, especially for those, who for whatever reasons, are outside of the sheep fold.

What are the qualities of a good leader in God’s eyes? These qualities come from Colossians chapter 1, verses 11-20.

A good leader knows where his or her strength is found. A good leader knows where his or her strength is found.

The Apostle Paul writes in verse 11, “May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his (meaning Christ’s) glorious power.” Isn’t it great to know that to be a good leader has nothing to do with our strength but it has everything to do with relying on God’s strength?

Today is Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the church year before we begin the Season of Advent which prepares us for Christ’s birth.

Christ the King Sunday is a day to celebrate Christ’s glorious reign over all the earth. It’s a day to remember that Jesus Christ wants to reign in our lives, have supreme control over our lives, and give us the strength that we need to accomplish whatever He wants to accomplish through us.

When I was in college, I attended a revival at a nearby United Methodist Church. I can’t even remember the name of the guest preacher but he was an awesome speaker. And he described a time in his life which has always stuck with me even to this day about the importance of relying on God’s strength for ministry.

He said how he was pastoring a church and he couldn’t get it to grow. He said that even though he would put in 70 hours a week by visiting the sick, going door to door in the community to invite people to church, work on his sermons, and attend church meetings, the church just didn’t grow.

He was reaching a point of burn-out in his ministry and ready to call it quits. But one day, he felt the Lord calling him to use a different strategy. During his personal devotions one morning, he felt the Lord telling him to quit relying on his own strength to grow the church, and to start relying on Christ's strength through prayer.

The next day, he went into the church office like he normally did, and told his church secretary to call every denominational committee and community board and inform them that he was resigning as of that day.

He then proceeded to walk into his pastor’s study and throw away all of the paper work that was cluttering his desk. And then he walked over to the middle of his office floor, sat down on the carpet, and spent the rest of his morning in prayer.

This went on for the next several days and the people in his church began to wonder if their pastor was OK. But over a period of time something wonderful began to happen. The church gradually began to grow. The church began to grow because this pastor and soon after, the majority of the congregation, began to make prayer and dependence on God, their first priority in everything they did.

If nothing else, Christ the King Sunday, has a way of knocking us to our knees to the point where we realize that it’s not our strength or our busyness, but it’s God’s strength working through us that makes all things possible.

The second quality of a good leader. A good leader is patient. Paul writes in our Colossians scripture to endure everything with patience.

Do you know why patience is so important for a leader? It’s because leaders are in the people business. If you think about it, any healthy relationship involves patience.

One of my favorite all time TV shows is Greene Acres. Poor Mr. Douglass. He had to exercise his patience everyday with some of those townspeople. He had to deal with Mr. Haney who would try to sell him anything under the sun. And then there was Eb, the bizarre hired hand. Fred & Doris Ziffel, his crazy neighbors who were also the proud parents of Arnold the Pig. And last but not least, his wife Lisa, who wasn’t always with it, if you know what I mean.

What always amazed me about this show was in how Mr. Douglass was able to show patience. Watch this scene when Mr. Douglass tries to explain to Lisa about their fuse box.

(Green Acres Clip)

I came across these five points to help leaders in having patience in working with people so that we can endure with patience.

Number one - We are patient when we remain positive under pressure. Have you ever been in a meeting or a conversation and things turned negative and sour? When we remain hopeful, even though problems come our way, others see that positive attitude and it can make all the difference in the world.

Second, in order to endure with patience, we need to be sensitive to people. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves, Jesus tells us.

Third, we endure with patience by controlling what we say. When we speak, it should be to build others up and not to tear them down.

Fourth, we endure with patience by being peacemakers. The scriptures consistently tell us to refrain from quarrels and arguments that get in the way of our main mission of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with a lost and hurting world.

And fifth, we endure with patience by being a people of prayer. Prayer is probably the best way to have more patience in our lives. Prayer is how we hand our problems over to God.
And then there’s this third quality of a good leader found in our Colossians’ text. A good leader is filled with joyful thanksgiving. Paul writes in verses 11 & 12 for us to joyfully give thanks to the Father.

Notice how I am able to weave Thanksgiving into this sermon.

Good leaders and good shepherds are people who are constantly aware of the blessings that are all around us. Their faith doesn’t become dull and boring. Their lives are filled with expectation about what God is going to do next.

“I wish I had never read Huckleberry Finn,” a man once told its author, Mark Twain. With a scowl, the great humorist asked the reason for such a remark. “So that I could have the pleasure again of reading it for the first time” came the reply.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said about the stars, that if the constellations appeared only once in a thousand years, imagine what an exciting event it would be. But because they’re there every night, we barely give them a look.

Rev. William Secker once said, “The Lord Jesus spreads a large table every day.” Really, if you think about it, that spread of food that graces our tables on Thanksgiving Day represents a very small portion of the many blessings that God has poured out upon us.

One of the qualities of being a good leader is to keep a thanksgiving spirit fresh in our lives.
Panera Bread is a restaurant that is known for their fresh breads. Their philosophy is to always have fresh bread for their customers. No bakery would ever try to advertise by saying that they offer “unfresh bread.”

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus says, “Give us this day, our daily bread.” Not our weekly bread. Not our monthly bread. But our daily bread. Sometimes, we as Christians, forget that Jesus wants to give us fresh bread each day. It’s this fresh bread that leads us to be filled with joyful thanksgiving on a daily basis.

And I just don’t mean white, wheat, asiago, or rye bread. I’m talking about spiritual bread that feeds our souls, that inspires us in our faith, that gives us energy to spread the good news of Jesus Christ wherever we go.

Christians who are filled with joyful thanksgiving are those who are filled with passion, energy, and an anticipation of what God is going to do next.

Rev. Dick Lyndon became Senior Pastor of Goshen First United Methodist Church, in Goshen, Indiana, in 1991. Goshen First United Methodist Church was a declining downtown church which had very little vision for the future.

Through Dick’s inspirational leadership and through the renewed life and energy among the congregation, new discipling groups and Bible Studies were started along with a midweek ministry that offered a meal and small group opportunities, and the congregation also added a new facility to reach a rapidly growing unchurched population on the growing west side of the city.

This church, which had been in steady decline, has been reaching all ages with the message of Jesus Christ’s love.

Not only did Dick’s leadership have an impact upon this church, his influence and expertise has had a national impact on churches across the country. In 1995, there were less than ten multi-site congregations in the country, but as of 2003, there were more than 1,200 churches that elected to reach people in multiple sites.

Dick Lyndon’s high energy pastoral leadership has had a tremendous impact upon my life. I got to know Dick in 1997 when I visited his church in Goshen, Indiana and came away inspired and excited about the new life that was being breathed into this congregation. Dick and I talked on the phone and would e-mail back and forth about ministry ideas and what he thought would work and not work at the church I was serving in Toledo at the time. But even more than his helpful thoughts and ideas, his high energy for the sake of the Gospel is what has meant the most to me.

In 2004, after a six week illness, Dick Lyndon passed away at the age of 62.

I knew Dick Lyndon to be a person of joyful thanksgiving. Someone who was truly a great shepherd. Someone who cared about God’s sheep, both in the fold and outside of the fold. Someone who was filled with passion, energy, and an anticipation of what God would do next.
God is looking for good leaders. Leaders who have these three qualities. 1) They draw their strength from Jesus Christ, who is the King of Kings and the Lord of lords. 2) They know how to be patient and build people up. And number 3) They are filled with joyful thanksgiving. They are inspiring to be around. They have a vision for the future.

There are others that I could have lifted up who have served as positive leaders in the church and I’m sure that you can do the same. But here’s what I want to have us think about before I close this sermon. To various degrees, God is calling each one of us to serve as caring shepherds for people who are inside or who are feeling outside of God’s fold. That’s the focus of our Jeremiah scripture this morning.

Now, you might not think of yourself as one of the many leaders in the church or as one of the shepherds that God has called to serve in and through the church, but really, we’re all called to have a part in being God’s shepherds.

Or let me put it this way. Anytime that you are involved in a ministry that involves making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our community and world, then you are a leader in the church. The question is what kind of leaders are we? Do we have the qualities of a leader that we have been looking at this morning?

Are we relying on God’s strength and not our own? Are we a people of patience which we need when we are in relationship with other people? And are we leaders who offer joyful thanksgiving and have a positive expectation of what God is going to do in and through us?

I mentioned earlier that our Nominations form lists 140 positions which include serving on our Church Council to serving on our Board of Trustees, to Finance, to Staff/Parish, to Worship as well as several other committees and program areas. If you will be serving in one of those 140 positions in the coming year, if you’re able, I invite you to stand and remain standing as I pray this prayer.

And I invite all of us to bow our heads as I lead in this prayer for all of our leaders here at First Church:

Lord Jesus, on this Christ the King Sunday, you invite us to be leaders and shepherds for the people in our church and community. Raise up within our own congregation more leaders and shepherds who have a heart for reaching people. And for those new shepherds and leaders who you are calling in this moment, may they remember to always draw their strength from you, may they remember to be patient and seek ways to affirm people and build them up, and may they inspire others through joyful and thankful living. We pray this in your name, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. Amen.
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