The Kingdom of Heaven in Lancaster, Ohio

When Jesus sent out his disciples to cast out unclean spirits and cure every disease and sickness, he also told them to proclaim the good news, "The kingdom of heaven has come near!" (Matthew 10:7)  This must have been a strange thing for the disciples to announce, especially when they were surrounded at every turn with illness, heartache, and despair. How can you announce that heaven is near when there is so much brokenness and pain around us?

Sometimes, ministry can be very draining. It's hard to keep up. There are so many needs in our congregation, on our block, and in our local community that we sometimes don't know where to begin. It can be easy for us to experience the condition of what golfers refer to as "paralysis by analysis." We can focus so much on the mountain of needs around us, that we can easily "freeze up."

And yes, we do need to take breaks from ministry now and then. The disciples had those moments with Jesus where they would spend time with him on the mountain, away from the crowds. So taking care of ourselves and spending some time away are absolutely necessary when serving in a busy ministry environment.

Imagine the surprise of the disciples when miraculous things began to happen as they offered God's healing and love to the people around them. In Luke's Gospel, we learn that the disciples were filled with joy after they returned from their ministry of healing. They couldn't believe what God was able to do through them simply because they stepped out in faith. Even with so many needs and ministry demands around them, they were able to see how the Kingdom of Heaven was coming near.

Yesterday during our mid-week church gathering, a member of the church told me that a large drug bust was taking place here in our city. The police had closed down a road in order to shut down a meth lab that had been operating. The drug problem in our community is well known and stories like this are not uncommon. Addiction is a powerful force that can tear apart families and ruin lives.

I was on my way out the door of the building when this church member shared this news with me. Ironically, I was leaving to attend a community event sponsored by the Fairfield County ADAMH staff in which a young lady was about to share her inspiring testimony about overcoming her drug problem. The event was being held at the downtown outdoor band shelter which included a free picnic for the community. A crowd had gathered. Some people were drawn to the event because of the smell of the grilled  hot dogs and some came out of curiosity.

The young woman spoke about how she got caught up in drugs and how people in her family and community have been helping her to overcome her addiction. She now attends college and she wants to work in a field where she can give back by helping others who are struggling with drugs.  She said, "Every day, I thank God for all of my blessings and for helping me experience healing." Everyone applauded her and thanked her for her testimony.

The front page headline of our local newspaper this morning is about yesterday's drug bust here in our city. I just wish that more people knew that around the same time yesterday just a few blocks away, a young woman offered a story of hope in overcoming her drug problem.

The Kingdom of Heaven came near yesterday, right here in Lancaster, Ohio.

Dave's Deep Thoughts - Fireworks in Small Town America

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.

Robert Frost said he chose the road less traveled.

I say, just give me a road without crazy people.

 

I travel the same roads I traveled as a child.

Back in the day, they were much more rural.

Not so much, anymore.

 

One road that I need to travel almost daily has changed drastically in 30 years.

Restaurants and businesses now crowd out the once scenic view.

Now I am all for progress, but I wasn't quite ready for what unfolded this past summer.

 

A few years ago, a storefront opened along this stretch of now busy road.

You might think it was a business that offered products necessary to everyday living......

food, medical services,  home supplies......

Oh no.

 

We got a fireworks store.

 

That's right,  we got a 4th of July, Happy New Year fireworks store.

All the locals  wondered why the community needed a store

that sold products that were used once, maybe twice a year

when we were desperately deprived of a Burger King.

 

Back in the day, a local entrepreneur would

put up a tent for a couple of weeks at the end of June,

sell fireworks, make his profit, and then leave Dodge

 

Oh no,

we got a large store that sells fireworks.

Oddly enough, these fireworks aren't available to local residents as

sale of any explosive much bigger than a sparkler is not legal in our state.

But since we are located next to a state line,

out of staters can come and frequent our fireworks store,

 

Most of us who travel the road daily thought it was silly.

Little did we know, we were just at the beginning of silly,

and soon headed towards a cliff called crazy.

 

Across the street, a second businessman opened ANOTHER fireworks store.

And that's when the fight started.

Fireworks guy #1 placed a big advertisement on a billboard

telling motorists to turn left rather than right.

 

Fireworks guy #2 responded like any upstanding American would,

by placing a gigantic inflatable gorilla on his side of the road.

Nothing says "God Bless America" like an oversized flag-waving inflatable King Kong.

 

Game on.

We were in the midst of a fireworks war.

 

Not to be outdone,

Fireworks guy #1  placed a Miss Statue of Liberty on his side of the road

with an beacon of light directing traffic to turn left.

GIve me your tired, your poor, and oh yes.....I'll take three Roman Candles.

 

Fireworks guy #2 remained undaunted.

Knowing that he lived in the land of the free,

he did what any upstanding capitalist would do......

he put Uncle Sam on the side of the road.

Not one Uncle Sam, not two uncle Sams,

but THREE Uncle Sams asking not what my country could do for me,

but what I could do for my country.

Apparently, the correct answer to that question

was to buy illegal explosives on his side of the road.

 

Fireworks guy #1 was obviously not amused.

The tri-fold Uncle Sams ploy

was akin to a double dog dare you swear.

And so, Fireworks Guy #1 went for the jugular.

He decided to use the triple dog swear of commercial advertising.......

the inflatable arm flailing guy

This was most tempting to this civic minded proud American.

If anything was going to move me to honor America,

it would be a 20 foot piece of latex flailing wildly,

and tempting me to purchase illegal fireworks with a falsified driver's license.

All to the strains of  Stars and Stripes Forever,

 

Fireworks Guy #2 was not amused.

He put all three Uncle Sams out on the night shift.

 I drove by the next night,

and Uncle Sams  1, 2, and 3 were each illuminated with a floodlight

carrying the banner for freedom and contraband munitions in the pouring rain.
As I pondered the patriotism of these fine young citizens,

I was overcome by what young patriots would do for their country

and for a paycheck in a stalled economy.

 

In thirty brief years,

the road less traveled has changed from cornfields to crazyville.

 

Much has changed in our country, and in our world the last thirty years.

And most who have witnessed this evolution,

would likely agree that while there have been tremendous advancements

achieved for the betterment of humanity

in fields such as medicine, technology, and the sciences,

there is a noticeable decline in our country's moral and ethical compass.

 

Drugs flow freely through all areas of our society,

murders and acts of terrorism unto our own are commonplace

reverence for God and His statutes

has in great part been replaced by a spiritualism

that places human freedom before holy submission.

 

Those that call Him Lord are left with a tremendous challenge....

to follow Him in a culture where love for God has grown cold.

 

The encouragement for disciples remains the same as it did 2000 years ago.

Jesus told us this is how it would be in the last days.

 

We can't get the cornfields back.

But we can choose to drive by the craziness on a road less traveled.

 

And so I did, and what was just up the street.......

a guy dressed as a cow telling me to eat more chicken,

 

Keep your eyes fixed on Him,

and just keep on driving.......

In the end, you'll be glad you did.

 

But all these things are merely the beginning of birthpangs.

Then they will deliver you to tribulation,  and will kill you,

and you will be hated by all nations, on account of My name.

ANd at that time, many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another.

And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.

And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved..

 

                                    spoken by Jesus     Matthew 24: 8-13

Sunday Worship Scriptures Commentary (September 22)

Sunday, September 22 – “Are You Ready to Grow in Your Prayer Life?

I Thessalonians 5:12-22

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Thessalonica which was located approximately 200 miles north of Athens, Greece. In this scripture reading, Paul closes his letter by offering several easy to remember commands that will help their church to be vital and filled with joy.

Many of the Thessalonians were from a pagan background. Paul is teaching them a new way to live. This doesn’t happen over night!

Verses 16-22 are put together in such a way that will help the Thessalonians to remember them. This list helps us to experience joy in the midst of the challenges that may come our way.

Which of these items on the list (verses 16-22) do you need to give more focus? What does it mean to pray without ceasing?

Luke 6:12-19

The Gospel writer, Luke tells us how Jesus spent the night in prayer before choosing twelve people to be his disciples.

Verse 12 – Jesus spends the whole night on the mountain and prays. Jesus modeled a life of prayer. He prayed before making decisions. Think of his prayer in the garden before he went to the cross. Think of this prayer in our Gospel reading before he chose the twelve disciples.

Jesus’ Prayer Life – He would have prayed the common Jewish prayers of his day which included a form of what we know today as the Lord’s Prayer.

Printed Prayers from The Book of Common Prayer – For guidance, for getting sleep, for anniversaries, for peace, for the President & Governmental Leaders, for travel, for the homeless, for young people, etc.

Spontaneous Prayers - Address God, offer the prayer need/praise/request, and conclude with “Amen.” (Addressing God and closing the prayer may include words/metaphors that describe God’s nature.)

The Lord’s Prayer – When you pray this prayer pause at different clauses and add your personal prayers.

The Psalms – Use these to also pause at different parts of the Psalm to offer your unique prayer requests/praises.

New Commitments to Follow Jesus Christ!

   

     For our first Sunday of our "Committed to Christ" sermon series, 29 people made first time commitments to follow Jesus Christ! Another 256 of us renewed our commitment to follow Christ! Praise God!

     Lord, thank you for this past Sunday in which many people in our church made a commitment to be followers of Jesus Christ. Some, have made a first time commitment to follow you. They may be excited and nervous at the same time as they begin this new journey of faith. Bless them and remind them that they are not alone. You promise to always be with them and you provide a community of faith to support and surround them as they live out their commitment to you. 

     And Lord, thank you for the many people who made a re-commitment to follow you. As we continue to explore how to stay in a strong relationship with you during the remaining six weeks of our "Committed To Christ" focus, bless our church that we might be the faithful community you are calling us to be. Amen.

     Our "Committed to Christ" journey over the next six Sundays:

September
22 - Prayer
29 - Bible Reading

October
6 - Weekly Worship
13 - Witnessing
20 - Financial Giving
27 - Serving

Sermon (September 15) - "Almost Persuaded"

    

     Almost. It’s a sad word in anybody’s dictionary. It keeps company with expressions like “if only” and if you’re from the South, “near ‘bout.”

     Almost is a word that speaks of missed opportunities and fumbled chances.

     Tim KcKee was edged out for first place in the Olympic 400 meter race by two-thousandths of a second. He almost won a gold medal.

     Christian author, Max Lucado offers these sad statements that revolve around “almost.”

     “He almost got it together.” “We were almost able to work it out.” “He almost made it to the big leagues.”

     In our Acts scripture reading, we are introduced to an “almost” kind of guy, King Agrippa who was one of Herod’s sons and the Roman procurator of Judea who was the puppet king the Romans allowed to sit on the throne.

     The Apostle Paul has been spreading the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman Empire and here in our Acts scripture reading, he is nearing the end of his ministry. He is on trial before King Agrippa.

     Since Paul was a Roman citizen, he would eventually appeal to Caesar and be sent to Rome where he would be martyred; but first, Paul was granted his request for a private audience with Agrippa.

     Paul appealed to something that both he and Agrippa agreed upon – the Jewish prophets. And Paul used this appeal as an opportunity to invite Agrippa to follow Jesus. Paul’s purpose wasn’t to refute the charges against him but simply give a testimony to the faith that drove him.

     Now, when I think of Paul, I think of someone who was very, very convincing when he spoke and shared about his faith.  He helped many, many people become followers of Jesus Christ throughout his ministry.

     Even as a prisoner in chains, he shared his faith with King Agrippa.  And it sounds like King Agrippa is a little surprised by what Paul is telling him because he responds by asking him, “Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?”

     Paul, known for his quick wit and ability to think on his feet responds, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am – except for these chains.”

     And this is where the conversation ends. Agrippa wasn’t fully persuaded to become a follower of Jesus.

     Over the next several weeks, we’re going to focus on the topic, “What does it mean to be fully committed to Jesus Christ?” We’re going to talk about the importance of prayer, reading the Bible, attending weekly worship, witnessing, offering our gifts, and serving.

     If I had to list the foundational components in being a committed follower of Jesus, these six things would definitely be at the top of the list. It’s hard to imagine being a follower of Jesus without making these six things a priority in our lives. In fact, these are so vitally important, that we are giving out a daily devotional book for each family to read over the next seven weeks. Our Sunday School classes and small groups are focusing on these six things and we’re all invited to be part of one of these classes and groups.

     But before we even begin to focus on these six things, let’s first ask ourselves where we are in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

     I have shared with you about how I made a recommitment of my life to Jesus Christ when I was in college.  That new commitment to Christ had such an impact on my life, that it changed everything for me.

     It gave me hope because I was going through a low point of my life. It gave me comfort because I knew that with Christ in my life, I wasn’t alone anymore. It gave me assurance because I knew that nothing could ever separate me from God’s love.

     Because of this positive change in my life, I wanted to share my faith with others. One of the people I shared my faith with was a friend I knew in college. On Mondays before class, he would tell me about how he drank too much over the weekend.

     During our conversations, I told him about my new commitment to Christ and I invited him to a bible study. He came to those bible studies and I could tell that God was working on him.  Even though he continued to drink on weekends, he started asking me questions about the bible and faith. I would ask him if he wanted to make a commitment to follow Christ, and he kept telling me that he wasn’t ready for that, but at least he kept attending the bible study.

     One day, he totally surprised me by saying, “I want you to know that I finally invited Jesus Christ into my life. I’m going to put him first in everything I do.” And I could tell that he meant what he said. He stopped his heavy drinking on the weekends and he started going to church. He began reading the bible every morning and he was constantly asking me questions about the Christian faith.

     He ended up becoming a pastor and he now serves a church in Illinois.  We still keep in touch through facebook.  Making a commitment to Jesus Christ is where it all begins.

     The Sacrament of Baptism is a symbol of our commitment to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Sarah Mikesell made this commitment last month when she was baptized during our annual youth mudpit event held on the grounds of our Crossroads facility.

     Being baptized in a mudpit is a little unconventional but it is a powerful symbol of how Christ can cleanse us from the mud and the sin of our lives and make us clean. I’m sure there was some mud in the Jordan River when many people were baptized by John the Baptist.

     We have a homemade recording of Sarah’s baptism along with some pictures of that special day that I would like to show you now. Let’s watch as Sarah makes this formal commitment to be a follower of Jesus Christ by being baptized.

     My favorite part of Sarah’s baptism was when all the youth placed their hands on her as we prayed for God to strengthen her in her new commitment to follow Jesus Christ. When we make a commitment or a recommitment to follow Jesus Christ, we become part of a community of people who will pray for us and encourage us along the way.

     Those of you who follow golf, you might know the name of Rik Massengale who was a tour pro during the 70s and early 80s. Rik admits that hearly in his career, golf was his god. This not only caused him inner turmoil, but it also created marriage problems.

     His wife decided to file for divorce. But before the divorce was finalized, they had a long talk. They decided to attend the Tour Bible Study. The guest speaker happened to be Billy Graham, who was playing in the pro-am of the Kemper Open that year.

     Billy Graham made a statement that really stuck with Rik that day. He said, “Christianity is not a religion; it is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” Rik had grown up in church and assumed that being a Christian just meant attending church. He was honest enough to admit that he didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

     Through the guidance of a friend, Rik found out how he could begin this new relationship with Christ. He and his wife both made a commitment to put Christ first in their marriage.

     Rik says, “I didn’t experience an overnight change, but over the next six to eight months, I realized that God was making significant changes in my life.” Rick went on to serve as the director of College Golf Fellowship, a Christian ministry to college golfers and coaches.

     When we make a commitment to follow Jesus Christ, like Rik, we might not experience an overnight change, but over time, we will find that we are becoming more like him.

     In our Galatians scripture reading, we find the Fruit of the Spirit which consists of these wonderful character traits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Over time, this is what the Holy Spirit can do in our lives. By making a commitment to Christ, we become more like Christ.

     I am excited about what a difference Jesus Christ can make in our lives. I am also excited about what Christ is going to do in our lives and in our church over these next several weeks.

     At this time, I invite you to take out the commitment card for this Sunday that is found in your bulletin.

      As you look at this card, you will notice several commitment options.  Let’s take a look at those.

·       Here are some options if you decide to not make a commitment to Jesus Christ at this point. No, today, I am not ready to make a commitment.

·       No, but maybe someday.

·       And here are a couple of options if you have or want to make a commitment to Jesus Christ. Yes, beginning today, I want to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

·       A second option is Yes, I am already a follower of Christ but I want to be an even more devoted follower of Him.

     If you choose yes as one of the options, notice the paragraph that describes what that commitment entails. Let me read it:

     “Jesus is my guiding light, my compass, my lighthouse. I will ask the Lord for that ‘peace that passes all understanding.’ I will strive for my speech and behavior to please the Lord. I will strive for my attitudes, values, and thoughts to please the Lord. I will be passionate about the Lord as the priority of my life. I will strive to be able to explain clearly what I believe and why. I look forward to having a constant awareness of the Lord’s presence. I will strive for others to see Christ in my life, words, and actions. At each major decision of my life, I will ask, ‘What would Jesus have me do?’ I will invite the Lord to be at the center of all of my relationships. I will allow Christ to love others through me, even those who are different from me.

     I want to give us a couple of minutes to be in quiet and choose the option that best fits you today. I’m going to fill out my card and sign it and I invite you to do so as well. Just take a minute or two. I’ll give you enough time.

     When you’ve completed your card, we are invited to place our completed commitment cards in one of the covenant baskets nearest you. There are baskets down front here and there are baskets up in the balcony.

     I want you to know that we will give these cards utmost care. We’ll have somebody who is very trustworthy collect the cards just so that we can be aware of the commitments that are being made today.

     I think we’re ready. May God bless you during this sacred time of commitment.

Sunday Worship Preview - September 29

Sunday, September 29 - (9:00, & 10:30 Services) & Wednesday, October 2  (6:30 pm Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)

Sermon - "Have You Read It for Yourself?"

Features - 19th Sunday After Pentecost & Third Grader Bible Presentation; & 3rd Sunday of Church-Wide 40 Day "Committed to Christ" Focus

Scripture - II Timothy 3:10-17 & Matthew 7:24-29

Theme - If we want to be committed to Christ,there are six vital areas in which we need to give our time and focus. Each of these areas will help us to become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. One of these areas is in our commitment to reading the Bible.

Welcome Our Newest Church Member, Chris, the Butterfly!

Meet the newest addition to our church family who was born today in the church display case by the parlor. I have named him/her "Chris" for "Chrysalis." A big thanks to Lowell & Judy Karcher who put this butterfly display together for our church family to enjoy. There are more butterflies to be born.

Chris reminds us of the new life that we can have in Jesus Christ. God invites us to live into a spiritual Chrysalis transformation where become more and more like Christ.