NewFPC

Kids Say the Darndest Things

2010-07-14T21:03:00.001-05:00

At that time Jesus said, "I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." Matthew 11:25 NIV

“Kids Say the Darndest Things” was an important segment of the Art Linkletter House Party on radio and television from 1945 until 1970. Bill Cosby hosted a TV show by the same name from 1998 until 2000. Both men exploited the innocence and lack of inhibition of 4 to 7 year old children to coax some really funny comments. My wife taught preschool for several years. She used to keep a journal of funny comments, although she never had to encourage any of them. During the final program for parents at the end of the school year she would share some of those comments. One that I’ve never forgotten was when Lillie Ann invited A.J. to go to McDonald’s for lunch because her dad had “catched him a job.”

I’ve heard that grandchildren are the reward for not killing your own kids. We now have eight rewards and I love them all. A couple of years ago I was sitting in the stands during one of Jack’s first T-ball practices. He fouled off one pitch straight up in the air. When it came down it struck him on the top of his batting helmet. His only comment was, “Hmmm. I guess that’s why they make you wear these hats.” Not long after that he was in church participating in the Junior Sermon. The youth leader asked the group, “What do you have to do to get into Heaven?” Jack raised his hand and when called upon stated, “Well, of course, first you have to die.” As you can imagine, all the “concrete-thinking” adults in the worship service that day thought that was pretty funny…but wasn’t that just what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3 "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." We must die to our old self-centered ways and be reborn of water and the Spirit.

Earlier this year Ella and her mom were getting ready for bed and talking about what they needed to pray for. After going through an extensive list, Jennie suggested that they should pray to have Jesus live in their hearts. Ella responded, “Mom, if Jesus were to live in my heart, He would stick out all over.” Jennie assured her that “sticking out all over” is exactly what Jesus wants to do. After all, didn’t He say “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if I stick out all over (actually, if you love one another).” John 13:35 NIV

Kids do say the darndest things, but listen carefully. What sounds like a “concrete thought” may end up carrying an abstract message. Remember the words of Jesus, “I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”

Anyone want to teach the preschool Sunday School class this summer?

Springtime in Kentucky

2010-07-14T20:51:00.003-05:00

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 1 Peter 1:1-2 NIV

“What a wondrous time is spring, when all the trees are budding;
The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming.
That's how it is with God's love;
Once you've experienced it, you want to sing, "It's fresh like spring";
You want to pass it on.” Kurt Kaiser, 1969

Don’t you love the beauty of the Kentucky springtime? It’s almost as if God has taken the drab canvas of winter and splattered it with a million colors. First the crocus, forsythia, and pear trees; then the redbuds, jonquils, and dogwoods; and now the azaleas, tulips, irises, roses, and hundreds of other flowers.

My wife loves to play in the dirt, especially when it comes to caring for flowers and shrubs. Over the years she has learned which plants need more shade and which ones need more sun; which ones need more water and which ones don’t need soaking; which ones need more acid soil and which ones do better when the pH is higher; and on and on. She has also learned which ones need pruning or dividing in order to live and grow.

The new growth and colors in the spring remind me of the rebirth that we Christians should pray for daily. Each day we need the Holy Spirit to trim away more of our self-centeredness in order for us to become more Christ-centered. This is the process of Sanctification of which Peter spoke – dying a bit more each day to self in order to be reborn more Christlike. It’s the process of maturing as a Christian. Through our practices of prayer, study, worship, and Christian action the Holy Spirit is able to prune, shape, and mold us into the image of Jesus. Of course, we’ll never get there in this life, but we’re called to walk the path.

This process of pruning to become more Christlike is obviously not pain free, but necessary if we are to bear the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. So as we enjoy the beautiful Kentucky springtime, let it remind us that we too are to be reborn, not only each spring, but each and every day a little more in the likeness of our Lord and Savior Jesus.

Pass it on.

A Taste of Easter

2010-07-14T20:40:00.002-05:00

Have the long winter and the cold March rains put a damper on your Lenten excitement? If so, try a dose of this little tune about Mary's first Easter morning written by Gloria Gaither and performed by Sandi Patty and Louisville's own Larnelle Harris. The video is from a Gaither Homecoming at the Kennedy Center in 1999. If you're still not excited about Easter after you listen to this, you'd better check your pulse. The late Vestal and Howard Goodman seemed to enjoy it.

A Tribute to Richard

2010-07-09T21:59:00.012-05:00

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV)"

And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain. My friend, I’ll say it clear. I’ll state my case of which I’m certain. I’ve lived a life that’s full. I’ve traveled each and every highway. And more, much more than this, I did it my way.” These lyrics were written in 1968 by Paul Anka for a French tune “Comme d’habitude.” The song “My Way” is often quoted as being the most remade song in history, but its real popularity came from recordings by “Old Blue Eyes,” Frank Sinatra and “The King,” Elvis Presley. I doubt that Paul Anka ever met Richard, but this song should have been dedicated to him.

Richard was a cantankerous fellow. For him there were only two ways to do anything – his way and the wrong way. There was only one appropriate route from his apartment to the post office. He refused to have his mail delivered, choosing instead to have someone drive him to the post office 3 or 4 times each week. He also had routines for doing his banking and for shopping at his chosen market, pharmacy, and restaurant. During the 2009 ice storm, he had to move from his apartment to the Red Cross shelter. Trying to be helpful, I went to a pharmacy and bought him some over-the-counter antacid tablets, since he chewed up several each day. He promptly informed me that I had bought the wrong brand and I would need to go to his pharmacy and get the right brand. It wasn’t that Richard didn’t appreciate assistance; it just always boiled down to the two ways to do anything.

Cantankerous, yes, but devoted. He was devoted to his God and to his church family. When he was healthy, he rarely missed Sunday School or Worship Services. In Sunday School class, you could always anticipate that Richard would have an answer or an opinion, and he was always happy to share them. He was also devoted to his wife. When Louise’s health began to fail, Richard was always at her side. He gave real meaning to the vow “For better or worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness or in health.” Richard was a writer. He wrote about his life experiences and about his daily walk with Jesus. As with his opinions, he liked to share his writings with others. At his funeral, Lon shared an excerpt from one of Richard’s writings about the Body of Christ. He wrote, “We are all like beautiful musical instruments, beautiful but worthless. Worthless until we are played by the Great Musician.” There is no doubt that Richard was played by the Great Musician. In the symphony of life, I tend to picture him as a bassoon, much like the Grandfather in Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf.”

As with the death of anyone in our church family, Richard’s death will leave a hole, much more than just an empty seat on Sunday mornings. We have lost a sound in our orchestra. We thank God, however, for the lessons He taught us through the life of Richard Dunham: devotion to God, family, and church; journaling our life experiences; not being timid in sharing our love for Jesus; and, of course, patience.

“Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again too few to mention. I did what I had to do, and saw it through without exemption. I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway. And more, much more than this, I did it my way.” Father, we thank you for sharing Richard with us and for showing us how, through Jesus, Your way can become our way. Oh, and if you don’t already know by now, he likes the “Extra Strength Antacid Tablets” from RiteAid.

Facebook vs. City Cafe

2010-07-09T21:27:00.008-05:00

"All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth." Colossians 1:6 NIV

I grew up in Madisonville. Most of my relatives, however, have lived in the South – south Hopkins County, that is. In fact, both sets of grandparents, two aunts and uncles, and two cousins all live or lived in greater Mortons Gap. In the 50’s and 60’s, my grandmother Lottie and her sister Mary owned and operated the City Café in downtown Mortons Gap. Their chef was a lady named Florence who could cook anything as long as it could be fried in lard. Of course this was before the age of cholesterol enlightenment. I always liked to go to the City Café. From the hamburgers and fries to the chocolate and coconut cream pies with mile-high meringue (that sat in a three-level glass display case on the counter), it was my favorite place to eat.

When I was younger, we would go to the City Café on Friday nights after visiting Claude’s Barbershop for my bi-weekly flat top. If there weren’t too many patrons in the café, I would put ashtrays (once again, before enlightenment) under the back legs of one of the pinball machines. By flattening out the surface, I could play all night for a nickel. Tommy, the pinball wizard, really didn’t have much on me.

As I grew up, I found that the City Café was a great place to learn what was going on. At lunch, L&N train crews, local business people, miners from White City Mine, and many town folk would gather for one of Florence’s famous hot plate lunches. You could always find out who had been sick, whose kids were going where to college, which families were planning weddings, who had joined which church, and who might need a little help. There was the essence of a caring community right there in the City Café at noon.

Sadly, the City Café is a thing of the past. A lot of community building, beyond that occurring in church worship services and social events, now often comes from electronic communication such as e-mail and social networking websites. Recent studies have shown that both Facebook and Twitter are fairly popular with adults, while MySpace is more popular with kids. Most churches now have websites, blog sites, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, and YouTube accounts. Even Pope Benedict XVI is encouraging Roman Catholic priests to use the “rich menu of options” of the internet to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now, don’t get me wrong. My training is in engineering and I still have some slide rules around. I could probably even find an old pocket protector if I look in the desk drawers. I’m really a geek at heart, but I still miss the smiles, handshakes, and face-to-face communication of the City Café. I also miss the warm chocolate pie with a slice of butter on top and a glass of cold milk.

I can't imagine that it's too important to God "how" we spread the Gospel of Jesus and "how" we care for one another, as long as we "just do it." After all, He posted the first blog over 3400 years ago on a couple of tablets (not iPads) held by Moses. That blog is still the best guide for our lives today. By the way, you can follow FPC on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Blogger.

See ya in church and catch ya in cyberspace.

Another Lap

2010-02-08T20:45:00.005-06:00

Since childhood I've been attracted to all things mechanical, especially automobiles (or "motorcars" as our British friends call them). My first car was a used 1962 Corvair. I got mine before Ralph Nader decided he needed to protect us from them. It was light green with tan vinyl upholstery. The Corvair provided me with my first opportunity to tune and care for an automobile. It had fancy wheel covers, a tachometer on the dashboard, and a green 6 ball for a gearshift knob. Of course it had dual glasspack mufflers so it sounded pretty bad, but with only 102 horsepower its bark was much worse than its bite. In 1967, with my Corvair as a trade-in and with money saved from working every summer and Christmas break, I was able to buy my first new car - an Oldsmobile 442. With over 360 hp, its bite was substantially larger.

I've often dreamed of driving a Formula 1 race car. How cool would it be to fly through the streets of Monaco in a McLaren-Mercedes revving at 18,000 rpm? I've always thought that the life of an F1 driver like Juan Fangio, Graham Hill, Ayrton Senna, and Michael Schumacher would be glamorous and exciting.

With the arrival of a new year and a new decade, God has reminded me that my life is a bit like a Formula 1 road race. The faster I drive, the faster each lap (and each year) goes by. I sometimes seem to be going so fast that the scenery along the course is just a blur. The faces of those standing alongside the track are all but indistinguishable. My grandmother knew what she was talking about when she told me that the older you get, the faster each year goes by.

This month I have felt God asking me to trade my McLaren-Mercedes for something much slower, maybe even a bus so others can go with me. I think He wants me to look into the faces along the course and to even take some of the side roads off the track. He has shown me that the faster I go, the more difficult it is to follow the last half of Jesus' commandment - to love our neighbors as ourselves. I think He's trying to tell me that this "love" of which Jesus speaks is much more than just the passive opposite of "dislike." I need to do a better job of actively sharing His love with those in my community. My prayer for 2010 is to have a lighter accelerator foot and better vision so that I can recognize those daily opportunities to share the love of Jesus, and the courage from the Holy Spirit to stop and share rather than just race on by. Any riders?

An ex-Michael Schumacher wannabe

Two Shepherds’ First Christmas

2010-02-08T20:37:00.007-06:00

Overheard on a hill overlooking Bethlehem, 0 BC

"Woof! Woof!"

"What is it Lassie girl? Another wolf, or has one of those not-ready-for-Mensa sheep wandered off again? Whoa!! Wake up Sam! Look at the size of that star! It seems to be lighting up the whole city, but especially that old stable. What are all those lights flying toward us? Goodness gracious! It's a herd of angels! Sam, did you forget to take that wandering sheep back to Mr. Schmidt's flock?"

"Fear not: for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people."

"Fear not, my foot! I may have to change my undies."

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

"A Savior, which is Christ the Lord? Whatta ya think that means, Sam? Maybe a leader like David who can smack down all the lions and gladiators in the coliseum and help us send these Romans packing? Or could He truly be the Anointed One, the Messiah, sent by God to rule the whole world?"

"And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

"Well, I guess that explains the big star."

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

"Sam, I'm still not sure what to make of all this, but I think we should check it out. Get your staff and let's go pay our respect to this little "Soul Man". Lassie, you watch the sheep. Hurry Sam!"

"Hold on Dave, I'm coming."

The Gift

2010-02-08T20:21:00.005-06:00

As I was considering a new post for this Advent season, I began to think about Lon's Advent sermon series on "The Wonder of a New Baby." I also sought some guidance from my best friend (my wife, of course). She suggested a blurb about "The Gift." We have three wonderful children who have three wonderful spouses. They have now gifted us with eight wonderful grandchildren. As I think back on the births of our children and grandchildren I can still recall the wonder and awe as I held those little bundles of cells who, in only nine months or so, had become perfect little beings.

I suspect that Mary and Joseph must have had those same feelings, but maybe a bit more "wonder" (if that's possible) about what Jesus' life would be like. Gabriel told Mary that her son was to be named Jesus and that He would be great and called the Son of the Most High. She was told that Jesus would be given the throne of his father David and that He would reign over the house of Jacob forever and ever. Gabriel didn't mention anything about a cross. As I consider Mary's thoughts, I think about the haunting lyrics of the Christmas song, "Mary, Did You Know?" by Mark Lowry. I expect that Mary was told only what God wanted her to know in order for her to lovingly raise Jesus as her own.

While in residency here in the late 1980's, we had the pleasure of meeting Greg and Diana Botkin. Greg was also in the residency program and they had children as well. As busy as they were, they took the time to home-school their children. Diana is an accomplished artist and provided much of the family's income with her paintings. While they were here, she won several awards and was commissioned by Mead Johnson to do some Enfamil art work. Both Greg and Diana are devout Christians and much of her work has Christian themes. As I considered the idea of "The Gift" associated with "The Wonder of a New Baby," I remembered a piece that Diana had done in charcoal some 20 years ago. To me, it speaks volumes about a God who loves us so much, and wants so much for us to love Him, that He came into the world He created, and in the only fashion possible reconciled our debt for sin and justified us once again into a right relationship with Him. She called it "Behold the Lamb of God Who Takes Away the Sin of the World". To me it is "The Gift."

Thanks Giving

2009-12-25T18:56:00.003-06:00

"I will praise God's name with song and glorify Him with Thanksgiving." [Psalm 69:30 NIV]

Thanksgiving Day is rapidly approaching. You know, that Thursday before the busiest shopping weekend of the year. As I ponder all that I have to be thankful for, I am reminded that many of my blessings are associated with FPC. Here's a "Thanks Giving" list of just a few things that come to mind:

for the freedom to worship openly and without the threat of persecution by our government or others,
for all those who have come and gone before us; those who for 175 years have worshipped here, prayed here, and worked here, and now worship elsewhere or dance at the feet of Jesus,
for both our Pastors, Lon and Rob, who teach us, nurture us, and challenge us to continue growing in grace,
for our prison ministry, led by RevPete, where being "free in the Spirit" has real meaning,
for our wonderful musicians, led by Mike and Ann, who bless us with their voices and instruments,
for a caring staff, Dawn, Suzanne, and Darrell, whose ministry is the "business" of our church,
for all those who volunteer to lead our worship, teach our classes, serve on our Session and church committees, lead our youth groups, prepare our meals and snacks, and give of themselves in any other way to make FPC an active part of Christ's Church,
for those who give unselfishly and anonymously to keep our facilities attractive, functional, clean, and comfortable (warm in winter and cool in summer, not vice versa),
for the joy of having been the host of the Madisonville Great Banquet for over 25 years and having witnessed the changes in lives that Jesus has wrought through it,
and, of course, for that "paid in full" stamp on the charge ticket for my sins; paid for by my risen savior, Jesus, whose earthly birth we'll celebrate next month, but whose spiritual birth we celebrate anew in our lives each and every day.

So, before you head out to the shopping malls on Friday, enjoy Thanksgiving Day with your family, and during your "Thanks Giving" prayer, remember the blessings we share at FPC.

Feeding the 5000

2009-10-31T08:05:00.002-05:00

The year is 30 AD. The location is Galilee, around the Sea of Galilee (or Sea of Tiberias, or Lake Gennesaret - depending on where you live). A young journalist, Matthew Matthews from TV Station WWJD is traveling with an itinerant carpenter/prophet, Jesus of Nazareth. "Matt the Mouth", as he's known is reporting on the teaching and activity of Jesus with this new micro-blogging communication tool called "Twitter". He's been tweeting reports fairly regularly and they're beginning to get really interesting. Lets join him now and see what this Nazarene carpenter is up to. Click the link below and remember to read the tweets from the bottom up. "Jesus Feeds the 5000"

Pilgrim’s Progress Redux

2009-10-31T08:01:00.001-05:00

An Adventurous Journey

Lisa and I just returned from a 3,464-mile journey to Moab, Utah. We met relatives in Kansas, experienced the joy of a leaking air mattress while camping, and saw some incredible scenery. During a four-mile hike in Arches National Park, we tried to imitate houseflies in clinging to a rock "wall" to avoid sliding into a muddy pool of deep water. With teamwork, we were successful. The journey involved a lot of driving. Lisa and I had the time to read about another great and adventurous journey. We read to each other "Pilgrim's Progress."

The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come is a Christian allegory written by John Bunyan and published in February, 1678. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of English literature, has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print. John Bunyan wrote the book while in prison for preaching outside of the approval of the state sanctioned Church of England. Three years after its publication (1681), it was reprinted in colonial America, and was widely read in the Puritan colonies. Many of our ancestors had at least two books; the Bible and Pilgrim's Progress. The story, though old, is still meaningful and deep, as it explains some of our growth process as we journey in our Christian "walk." The main character's name is Christian, although he was previously known as Graceless.

The allegory shows how we face temptations, trials, grace and growth as we progress from accepting Jesus as Savior to being glorified in heaven. Christian journeys from his hometown called the City of Destruction (the world in which we live) to the Celestial City (Heaven). He meets people who are wishy-washy, who talk the talk but don't walk the walk, and who are strongly opposed to religion. He also meets folks who are full of truth, encouragers, and helpers. He is just like us.

Lisa and I are going to lead a Sunday school class through the book. If any of you tried to read Pilgrim's Progress many years ago, take heart. We will use a version in modern English. We will go slowly enough to read the story and tie it together with the appropriate scripture. So, if you are not actively involved with a class, we would like to encourage you to consider journeying with us, and a man named Christian, as we grow with him. Our class is for young adults, but aren't we all young at heart? We are going to begin our journey on October 18. The journey will be fun, instructive, and will have some challenges. With good teamwork, it will be great. We hope you will join us!

Mike Ladd

The Best is Yet to Come

2009-08-16T20:58:00.001-05:00

Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." John 2:7-10 NIV

This was Jesus' first miracle, performed only three days after he was baptized by John. For years, this water/wine thing has provided fodder for theological arguments. Did the 150 gallons of wine that Jesus made contain real ethanol and if so, was the wine 1% alcohol, 6% alcohol, or 10-15% alcohol like the wines of today. We do know that Paul admonished the church in Ephesus, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." Ephesians 5:18 NIV

I think that when we dwell on the "proof" of the story, we miss the real message. In the wedding celebration, Jesus acknowledges that God created humans as social beings. We are meant to live in community with one another. As the saying goes, when we share our lives with one another sorrows are divided and joys are multiplied. Another part of the message is that Jesus desires to fill every corner of our lives. There is no request too small or too large for Him to fill. Whether we ask Him for a few extra gallons of wine, or for peace during a job interview, or for healing from metastatic cancer, He wants to provide what we need.

Finally, I believe that the most important part of the message is the promise that the best is yet to come. Those who remained at the wedding celebration after the first batch of wine was gone were rewarded with the best wine of the party. Many of you have heard the story of the woman who asked to be buried with a fork. As a child, she learned that whenever her mother or grandmothers told her to keep her fork after a meal, it meant that dessert was on the way, and for her dessert was the best part of the meal. Our lives in this world are not always easy or pleasant. In John 16:33 Jesus says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." The author of the letter to the Hebrews alludes to life in this world as a long race. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" Hebrews 12:1 NIV. "Perseverance" is the key. It's not important who wins the race, but that we all finish. This perseverance comes from living in Christian community and from relying on Jesus to provide all we need. Then, as we cross the finish line, we can claim as Paul, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Keep your fork!

Sonblock

2009-08-11T20:12:00.001-05:00

Recently I was blessed to be able to relax at a beach in South Carolina for a week. I've heard that God lives in the mountains, but vacations at the beach. Rob Bell says that our world is "drenched with God." Nowhere is this more evident than in the awesomeness of oceans and beaches. I love the beach, but while there I recognized that I had graduated to the "grandparent tagalong class." In watching all the young families I realized that, like the Gospel, the beach is new to every generation.

The fact that "God has no grandchildren" has never been more evident than it is today. The American Religious Identification Survey 2008 published in March 2009 revealed that the American population continues to self-identify itself as predominantly Christian, but Americans are slowly becoming less Christian. 86% of Americans identified themselves as Christians in 1990 and 76% in 2008. The historic mainline churches and denominations have experienced the steepest declines, while the numbers of non-denominational Christians have been trending upward, particularly since 2001. Membership in the Presbyterian Church (USA) fell by 69,381 in 2008, continuing a trend that began in the mid-1960's. The 2008 decline was the largest numerical and percentage net membership loss since Presbyterian reunion in 1983. The challenge to Christianity in the US does not come from other religions, but rather from a rejection of all forms of organized religion. One out of every five Americans failed to indicate a religious identity in 2008. The "Nones" have grown from 8.2% in 1990 to 15.0% in 2008. One sign of the lack of attachment to religion is that 27% of Americans do not expect a religious funeral at their death.

Why do we now have generations of folks who have never tasted abundant living through Jesus? I submit that it is because we "grandparents" have abdicated our responsibility to make the Gospel relevant to our children and therefore our grandchildren as well. So what can we do? As General Assembly Stated Clerk Grady Parsons says, "Presbyterians can be evangelists." Mother Teresa taught us to bring people to Jesus "one by one." The Great Banquet teaches us to "make a friend, be a friend, and then bring your friend to Christ, remembering to talk to Jesus about your friend before you talk to your friend about Jesus." Jesus died for all of us. There are no "throw away" people or generations. It's time to remove our "Sonblock" and to allow the Holy Spirit to empower our evangelism. Remember what happened on the day of Pentecost? Since the devil loves pew sitters, it's time to leave the comfort of our sanctuaries on Sundays and Wednesdays and to take the Gospel and the love of Jesus back to the streets. Can you feel that wind blowing in from the ocean?

Anyone for fishin'?

Fathers’ Day

2009-08-10T22:10:00.004-05:00

As I was thinking about a blurb to post for Fathers' Day, I heard a still, small voice ask, "What about Joseph?" Joseph of Nazareth was a father after my own heart... a father much like my own. He was a blue collar worker who loved and cared for his family. The scriptures don't tell us much about Joseph. Matthew says his father was named Jacob. Luke says his father was Heli. What we do know about Joseph is that he "did right by his family." When Mary, his betrothed, turned up pregnant, Joseph didn't walk away. Instead he was obedient to the angel who came to him in a dream. He took Mary as his wife and raised Jesus with the love of a biological father. When Herod the Great began murdering Jewish babies, Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt for safety.

We know that Joseph was an artisan with wood, iron, and stone...a carpenter. As a loving father he taught Jesus his trade, realizing that Jesus would not be remembered as a carpenter. We know that Joseph recognized the importance of education. When Jesus was 12, Mary and Joseph took Him to the temple in Jerusalem to sit at the feet of the rabbis and learn the scriptures. On the journey back to Nazareth, when they realized that Jesus wasn't with them, Mary and Joseph returned to the temple to find 12 year old Jesus teaching the rabbis. The scriptures don't tell us any more about Joseph after this event. Many Bible scholars feel that Joseph died before Jesus' ministry began. Joseph was an obedient, loving father. What else is there to know?

Most of you have read the advice from Robert Fulghum in his book "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." If you haven't, you should so click the link. With all due respect to Mr. Fulghum however, these are lessons I learned from my father (and mother) well before kindergarten. My dad also taught me several other important lessons, such as:

• No matter what you do, be the best you can be; but remember there will always be a faster gun, so practice humility.

• If you play, play to win and don't leave anything on the field; but if you lose, lose graciously.

• The three greatest gifts a father can give his children are a living example of a faithful, obedient Christian; a visible love for, and devotion to their mother; and lots of happy memories.

This is the second Fathers' Day since my dad went to be with his heavenly Father. I still miss him, but am grateful that he, like Joseph, did right by his family. I pray that my children and grandchildren will be able to say the same.

Happy Fathers' Day

Pentecost

2009-08-10T21:40:00.002-05:00

Having celebrated Pentecost Sunday for over 50 years, I felt it was time that I learned what the word really means. Come to find out, in the Greek of the New Testament, Pentecost means "fifty". That doesn't seem so special, does it? The birthday of the Church came seven weeks after the Resurrection (50 days if you count Resurrection Sunday as day 1). It was therefore ten days following Ascension Thursday.

It is interesting that the day of Pentecost was already a Jewish celebration. It represents the fifty days after the Exodus when Yahweh gave Moses the Ten Commandments. It also represents the festival of Shavuot, a Jewish harvest celebration. It is little wonder then that there were Jews from so many countries worshipping and celebrating in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit arrived. It is also clear why the twelve disciples and other apostles began to preach the Gospel of Jesus in so many different languages. Initially the festival-goers thought the disciples were drunk, but Peter explained that being drunk at 9:00 am is rare for even the ragtag group of disciples. He then convicted them with the charge, "All Israel, then, know this, "There is no longer room for doubt - God made Him Master and Messiah, this Jesus whom you killed on a cross."

That day about three thousand took Peter at his word, claimed Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and were baptized. Not a bad start for the Church. It does cause one to ponder, however, if we are allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through us. Are we speaking the language of the "lost", offering the love and salvation of Jesus in their language, or are we too busy with "church speak" to recognize that our message is falling on deaf ears? Be still and listen. Do you hear the Wind?

Happy Birthday!

I Believe

2009-08-10T21:37:00.002-05:00

Thursday, May 21st is not only the date for our Girlfriend's Unlimited "Hike in the Park," it's also the day when the church celebrates Jesus' ascension, forty days (there's that number again) following His resurrection. The Gospel writers don't tell us a lot about these six weeks. Matthew and Mark mention Jesus' Great Commission and how we as followers of Jesus will perform greater miracles than He did. Luke tells us that the ascension occurred outside Jerusalem in Bethany. John tells us a bit more. He mentions Jesus appearing to the disciples at least three times - once immediately following the resurrection with Thomas absent, once a week later with Thomas present, and then on the beach of the Sea of Tiberias. It's during this visit that Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. With each of the three affirmative answers Peter is told "Feed my sheep." Jesus was apparently preparing Peter for the persecution and torture that he would have to endure.

Can you imagine what those six weeks would have been like? Everything Jesus foretold had come to pass. His disciples had to realize by now that Jesus was truly God incarnate. They had spent the last three years with the One True God and yet may not have appreciated that totally until now. What would they have asked Him? What would you have asked Him?

Jesus told Thomas, "You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believe." That's us, but I suspect there's a little of Thomas in many of us. Frederick Buechner, a Presbyterian theologian, once said "Doubt is the ants-in-the-pants of faith. It keeps faith alive and moving." So, with the father of the boy with the convulsing spirit I too pray "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief."

Jesus in the Temple, 12 AD

2009-08-10T21:22:00.004-05:00

"Good morning Rabbi Matthew."

"Good morning class."

"GOOD MORNING RABBI THOMAS."

"OK class, who knows the 7^th plague on Pharaoh's Egypt?"

"Yes, you in the back row."

"Hailstorm, sir."

"Correct."

"How old was Methuselah?"

"Yes, you again in the back row."

"969, sir."

"Correct again."

"What was the width of Noah's ark?"

"No one else knows. OK, you in the back row."

"Approximately 75 feet, sir."

"What's a foot?"

"12 inches, sir."

"What's an inch?"

"Never mind sir. 50 cubits."

"Correct."

"OK, final question for today. How tall was Goliath?"

"Please, someone else must know this one. No? OK, you again in the back row."

"9 feet, 6 inches, sir."

"I know, I know. A foot is 2/3 cubit."

"What is your name, son?"

"Jesus, sir."

"How is it you know the scriptures so well?"

"It's not just that I know the Word, sir. Actually, I am the Word."

"You are the Word? Who calls you that?"

"My Father, sir."

"Joseph the carpenter from Nazareth?"

"No, sir. My Heavenly Father."

"Yahweh Himself calls you the Word?"

"Yes, sir."

"Does Yahweh have any other names for you?"

"Yes, sir. As a matter of fact He also calls me the Way, the Door, the Light, the Truth, and the Life, among others."

"Hmmmmm."

"Jesus! There you are!"

"Mom, what are you doing here?

"Jesus, we've been looking all over for you. Your dad and I have been worried sick. We left Jerusalem three days ago and thought you were in our group."

"I'm sorry, mom. I've been here in the temple tending to my Heavenly Father's business."

"Come, son. It's time to go home."

"OK, mom. I'm ready now."

"Rabbi Matthew, what do you make of all this?"

"I don't know, Rabbi Thomas."

"Well, what do you think we should do?"

"I think..... that we should ask Joseph and Mary if we can sponsor Jesus on the new show "Who Wants to Win a Million Denarii?" The temple could use a little work."

"Good idea!"

X-ing Out the Competition

2008-12-12T16:00:00.005-06:00

I guess it's easier for some folks to try to X-out the rights of nonbelievers, rather than love those who would take the "X" out of Xmas. Check this out, especially the last paragraph. Are we sending out the right message? Comments?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/05/atheists.christmas/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Blogosphere

2008-11-27T19:50:00.002-06:00

Man, this blogosphere is way cool. I feel like I'm on the "Soaring" ride at Mouse World. Look, your can see Lon out on Lake PeeWee and Rob playing disk golf. There's the FPC building with the hole in the roof. I believe that's Joe mowing the church lawn. Whatta ya think?