Reflecting on Renewal

Luke 5:16 (ESV) ¹⁶ But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Ahh, thanks I needed this. Have you said that before? I hope you have. My question is how often does the average pastor truly get away from the office and the church to be alone and pray? I would imagine that it is not nearly enough. I know so many folks that the only time they get out of the office is to make it to the hospital. I am not sure that is what Jesus intended ministry to be like. To be alone gives us a new perspective. We find that it is one of the very things that Jesus did over and over to keep his head in the ministry game. Ministry is tough. We have to be tough. And yet, like sandpaper on the skin, it will do more than irritate. I think it is necessary to step away so that we do not become too calloused. I share with you all to just take some time for reflection and renewal. It does not need to be much or even very long. Just go to a desolate place and pray. I believe that you will be renewed and will be blessed.

Relevance in Worship

I am one of those people who love to try new things. I like to go new places, try new restaurants and foods. Also I like to have new and inventive ideas for worship. This last Sunday was one such day.

First I want to say how awesome the people of Brushton UMC are in putting up with me. They have given me allowance to experiment, grow and heal. It is true that I owe them so very much. So let me tell you what happened last Sunday that truly opened my eyes.

It was one of those miserable January days in the NY North Country to say the least. The night before had brought us some snow and lots of freezing rain. My driveway was like a skating rink and the roads were icy. There was very little little travel going on and we knew that several cars were in the ditch. It was one of those days where I called several people and contemplated canceling the worship service. In the end, we called off Sunday School that morning and told people to use good judgement as to if they should try to make it in or not. When it came for worship we had only a small group, maybe a fifth of our normal attendance. But none of that was going to let any of us was going to let the weather or the attendance size get us down. In fact, I believe the intimate size of the group let to a very special movement of God.

I opened the service with a special Christmas number that I had done the week before. We continued with two congregational hymns and then had our offering. Normally we have communion on the first Sunday of the month but we decided to wait until next week for that. To continue, I did something that I had always wanted to do for many years. Of those present I asked for three different people to pick out three different sections or verses from the Bible. Then I asked for two minutes to read the verses and prepare. It was from those verses I would prepare a Gospel message for all of us there.

The first verse that was suggested was 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (ESV) ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies, ²¹ but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil. The second verse that was shared was from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, and lastly a short verse from James 1:17. I took only couple minutes as everyone was still looking up the verses for themselves and then I let the Holy Spirit lead me where He will.

There was no perfection to be found, neither was there an eloquence of words and structure. Instead there was something raw and beautiful. I do not recollect any exact words only that the theme that seemed to come out was from 1 Thes 5:16. This is the time for joy, this is the time for rejoicing. We have been through times of good and bad. There have been lots of seasons in our lives but what he gives us now is what is to be treasured and shared with the world around us. It is amazing that I can not remember most of what I said. So I leave it to the Holy Spirit to give meaning to the words spoken and the whole time of worship.

We concluded the service with the joys and prayers of the people. Not being able to speak for everyone, I got the overall feeling of being blessed. We sang our song of peace ("Shalom to You") and all went our way.

For some people this may not have been a big deal or something that was significant to them. For myself, I wanted to share how amazing God is. From the voices of a few came praise enough to fill the heavens. Praise God for His goodness! Even in midst of a few we find the relevance of worship.

The Adornment Apostacy

    The needles on the great white pine's needles glisten in the hint of sun from the recent coating that was left by the freezing rain. There is still a haze in the air from the left over mist of precipitation. This adornment is a beauty to me. Pure and natural just as it is supposed to be. Today is the day that Heidi and the girls spend decorating the house and the tree. Of course they think that I am like Scrooge or the Grinch as I tend to think the house looks fine just as it is. It takes some time as I let the colors of Christmas make their subtle change in my spirit. By the time Christmas day comes I do not want the decorations to come down.

   My thoughts and questions come from my recent post about Black Friday. I realize that much of our desire to decorate stems from the need for nostalgia. However, should my faith in Christ be triggered by such decor? Should the birth of Christ be more important to me than the salvation that is found in Him? How many of us are caught up in the adornment process and then forget the preparation and dressing of our hearts. By no means do I want to kill tradition, but rather I want for us to have a deeper desire for the things of God instead of man.

   It would seem that what was pagan has returned to it's original roots. So then how does the believer stand against the ways of the world in a time that is filled with Santa, elves, reindeer and presents? My first inclination would be to completely dismiss all of the excess and keep my celebration small. But then maybe then it is not in what we look like but in what we do. If we as Christians really want to be His followers then maybe we are to get past the personal adornment and instead give attention to personal reflection and servitude. After all wouldn't the greatest gift would be to adorn others with the Joy of Jesus Christ this Christmas? I pray you join me and you too can see the glisten of the beauty all around us.

Contemplating Christmas

Recently I joked on a facebook post that I had made it through Black Friday Shopping successfully. I made it into town and bought a 24oz coffee for the 23oz price. Thus my Black Friday shopping is now complete. Today is the 1st of December and I sit here in contemplation on Christmas. Each and every year we hear new stories of excited crowds full of zeal anticipating the deal that they are seeking. Each year, the pictures get worse, the stores open earlier and earlier, and the deals become more ridiculous. . . . My thought however is what if we had the zeal and excitement of Black Friday in the Church for Christmas? What if people were waiting at the doors on Sunday morning expecting God's truth to be shared? What if people knew that every time that they came to church, God was going to give to them a special blessing that would change their lives forever? What if the people that came were so excited about the opportunities and changes God gave them that they could not help but want to share the exciting news with their friends and neighbors? Those are a lot of "what ifs", but with Christ it still is possible, Be Blessed and be a Blessing!

Coffee with Mums

Great fall day to have coffee with the Mums.

Protect the Internet!

Voyageurs

A new adventure is looming. At this point I have ventured farther into the wilderness than I have ever done before. In some ways if I went much farther north I would fall off of the map. I think of the early voyageurs that came through this wilderness with only their canoes and their wits. Then, they sought wealth and opportunity. Today this new voyageur casts off to make connection, community and commitment. My prayer is be genuine and honest, giving of myself as my master gave Himself. I look forward to the journey. May it be blessed and may I be a blessing.