We are exploring the meaning of Zion. Today I want us to remember that Zion is a place for singing. Isaiah 12:6 calls the people of Zion to sing for joy. I believe we do have reason to sing. in our lives we have many blessings that draw us to singing.
It was my birthday last week and I was at Summer Games University camp for the week. During that day I had "Happy Birthday" sung to me at least four times if not more. Several times by other pastors and adults at the camp. One time was by over 350 campers and staff, which is the largest crowd I have ever gathered for my birthday. (Actually Helen was giving the message in worship that morning at camp, so she had the mike and got our youth group together to lead the singing.) Birthdays are a wonderful time of singing.
However, we have more to sing about that just another year of life. I can look back over this past year and sing great songs about what God has done. God has been working in my family and church. I have seen God transform lives and renew relationships. I know I can sing for joy because of what God has done.
Isaiah reminds us that we do have reasons to sing because of the glorious things God has done. He also calls us to sing because of the strength, comfort and salvation God has given us.
What are your reasons to sing today?
Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Zion is...Sacred Space
As we approach the kick-off of EZ Worship at 9:30am August 16th, we are going to learn more about what Zion might represent. EZ stands for Experience Zion and so we need to know what we are looking forward to experiencing.
The first thing Zion represents is sacred space. Zion was and is a place where the presence of God lives. We all know God lives everywhere, but there are certain places God's presence is felt in a special way. I believe the difference is not in God or even the place, but when we enter a sacred place something inside us opens up to experience God more easily.
The church I grew up in, Marion FUMC, is a sacred place for me. No matter how long it has been since I have been in that building, once I am there it feels special. It feels like no other place.
The church I serve now, St. Paul's UMC, is also a sacred space. Not because of the quantity of time I have spent there, but the time there has been packed with experiences that are all new to me as a pastor.
What are your sacred places? Where do you sense the presence of God is near?
The first thing Zion represents is sacred space. Zion was and is a place where the presence of God lives. We all know God lives everywhere, but there are certain places God's presence is felt in a special way. I believe the difference is not in God or even the place, but when we enter a sacred place something inside us opens up to experience God more easily.
The church I grew up in, Marion FUMC, is a sacred place for me. No matter how long it has been since I have been in that building, once I am there it feels special. It feels like no other place.
The church I serve now, St. Paul's UMC, is also a sacred space. Not because of the quantity of time I have spent there, but the time there has been packed with experiences that are all new to me as a pastor.
What are your sacred places? Where do you sense the presence of God is near?
Monday, July 6, 2009
Lean on the Spirit
Yesterday for our service on the square with First Presbyterian Church we had a jazz group lead our music. They did a wonderful job and I have heard many positive comments about the music.
So in the jazz tradition of improvisation I decided to draw a scripture out of a basket of suggested scriptures from the congregation that had gathered. I was given one song to then get my thoughts together and deliver a message.
My plan was to work up a core message to then build that message around the scripture that was drawn. However, I felt that was not true to the scripture. I would be placing the message I wanted onto the scripture, so I was not able to do that.
My second plan then was to come up with a list of stories I could share depending on the scripture that was chosen. I had a healing story, temptation or sin stories, and stories about trust or faith. Somehow I missed stories about love, which the scripture chosen was Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
I had no time to really write down any notes, so I just asked the Holy Spirit to speak and I believe the Spirit was present.
I share all of that to say it really is tough to fully rely on God. I normally put in hours of preparation for each message I deliver and I do believe the Holy Spirit is at work in those hours of preparation. So to not have that preparation was difficult for me. I get some nerves each Sunday before preaching, but yesterday was a very nervous morning for me.
This reminds me not to be too quick to tell someone just to have faith. Sometimes there is not much more I am able to do, but I tell someone just to hang in there and God will do something. Being unprepared to deliver a message is a little different than telling someone to have faith the rent will show up. The consequences are not the same. There are more nerves and uneasiness if your life and the lives of your family will be effected.
Is there a better way to respond in those times of not knowing what will come? How can we look to the future knowing God will always be with us?
So in the jazz tradition of improvisation I decided to draw a scripture out of a basket of suggested scriptures from the congregation that had gathered. I was given one song to then get my thoughts together and deliver a message.
My plan was to work up a core message to then build that message around the scripture that was drawn. However, I felt that was not true to the scripture. I would be placing the message I wanted onto the scripture, so I was not able to do that.
My second plan then was to come up with a list of stories I could share depending on the scripture that was chosen. I had a healing story, temptation or sin stories, and stories about trust or faith. Somehow I missed stories about love, which the scripture chosen was Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
I had no time to really write down any notes, so I just asked the Holy Spirit to speak and I believe the Spirit was present.
I share all of that to say it really is tough to fully rely on God. I normally put in hours of preparation for each message I deliver and I do believe the Holy Spirit is at work in those hours of preparation. So to not have that preparation was difficult for me. I get some nerves each Sunday before preaching, but yesterday was a very nervous morning for me.
This reminds me not to be too quick to tell someone just to have faith. Sometimes there is not much more I am able to do, but I tell someone just to hang in there and God will do something. Being unprepared to deliver a message is a little different than telling someone to have faith the rent will show up. The consequences are not the same. There are more nerves and uneasiness if your life and the lives of your family will be effected.
Is there a better way to respond in those times of not knowing what will come? How can we look to the future knowing God will always be with us?
Monday, June 29, 2009
Yo Estoy Seguro
Yesterday at our Christmas in June I introduced for the Mission Team a Christmas Mission Project. We will be supporting a ministry in Puerto Rico called Yo Estoy Seguro, which translates to I Am Sure. This ministry serves children between the ages of 5-12 who have faced disaster in their lives. Some face natural disasters and need food, water and shelter. Others face social disasters like domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and lack of education. "I am sure" is the goal phrase as these children are offered self-confidence and hope in the midst of their situation.
Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, but there is still plenty of people in need in this country. Of the 3.8 million people, around 1.8 million live below the poverty level. Many of these are children and families.
My challenge to the congregation is that each family give an equal gift to Jesus as they give to their family. If you spend $500 on gifts for your family, then a gift of $500 to the Christmas mission would be a wonderful gift to Jesus.
I hope this challenge will encourage everyone to give a good gift to Jesus because we have more than most people in the world. Second, I hope it will encourage us to plan ahead and simplify our Christmas. We can decide to make Christmas less about the gifts we receive and more about changing the world.
I am sure that God has big plans for this Christmas. I am sure that the world will be different at December 25, 2009 because of the generosity of people around Williamsburg, Iowa.
Are you with me? Do you have questions?
Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, but there is still plenty of people in need in this country. Of the 3.8 million people, around 1.8 million live below the poverty level. Many of these are children and families.
My challenge to the congregation is that each family give an equal gift to Jesus as they give to their family. If you spend $500 on gifts for your family, then a gift of $500 to the Christmas mission would be a wonderful gift to Jesus.
I hope this challenge will encourage everyone to give a good gift to Jesus because we have more than most people in the world. Second, I hope it will encourage us to plan ahead and simplify our Christmas. We can decide to make Christmas less about the gifts we receive and more about changing the world.
I am sure that God has big plans for this Christmas. I am sure that the world will be different at December 25, 2009 because of the generosity of people around Williamsburg, Iowa.
Are you with me? Do you have questions?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Happy Anniversary!!!
Yesterday was the one year anniversary of our first service in our new church building. We do need to celebrate all that God has done in just one year in this new church home. I believe God has touched many individuals, but He has also strengthened our St. Paul's UMC Family. I know God has more to come! (Picture of Brinkman family with me because as chair of the building committee Mark and his family were very dedicated to seeing the building become a reality.)
Feel free to leave comments about any favorite memories in the new church from this past year.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Mission Trip '09
We got back Saturday from a wonderful mission trip to Crossville, Tennessee. We had 21 of us total and we spent three days doing work with different ministries. There were many memorable times both good and bad. I will not forget getting lost in St. Louis on the way down for 2 hours because of road closures. I will also remember Jamison locking me in the trailer and two of our vehicles being broken into and stuff stolen including 4 Bibles. Not ll of the trip was bad, there were good times as well. The devotions and talks with my small groups were wonderful. Seeing the youth reading their Bibles in free time was something I did not expect. Also supporting the ministries of different groups was a blessing.Specifically we helped House of Hope, which is a home that assists children involved in drug abuse. Not that they use drugs, but their parents use drugs and therefore mistreat or neglect their children. The stories we heard of how children were treated and seeing pictures of homes they were taken from would break any one's heart.We also served Bread of Life ministries which supports adults recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. It is also a homeless shelter for Crossville.Overall, I was excited about the ministries this community had to serve those in need. To be honest it can be difficult for someone to easily get assistance in Williamsburg. There are some resources, but they are not always easy to find. My hope is that as a community we can become aware of the needs of people in Williamsburg and Iowa County and bring together our efforts to serve those people. Crossville has done a good job of churches working together to create ministries to serve those in need. I hope we can do the same to care for those among us who need God's grace and love to show up in their lives.
Monday, June 8, 2009
My New Bible
In my video message yesterday I talked about the armor of God that we are called to use to continue to grow spiritually during the summer. One piece of that armor is the sword which is the Word of God, the Bible. The Bible is a center-piece of our spiritual lives and necessary for growth.
While at Annual Conference in Ames this weekend I bought a new Bible and got to use it this morning for my devotion time. It is the new Wesley Study Bible. It is a New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible with the commentary coming from a Wesleyan perspective. It also has sidebar sections which focus on key terms used by John and Charles Wesley to understand the workings of God. Also, one of the editors was one of my professors at seminary.
I am excited to use this new Bible. I am sure as I read it I will grow in my knowledge of God and in the ways John Wesley was moved by the Spirit in God's Word. I will also recommend this to other Wesleyans as we continue to stay true first to God's Word and second to our Wesleyan heritage.
While at Annual Conference in Ames this weekend I bought a new Bible and got to use it this morning for my devotion time. It is the new Wesley Study Bible. It is a New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible with the commentary coming from a Wesleyan perspective. It also has sidebar sections which focus on key terms used by John and Charles Wesley to understand the workings of God. Also, one of the editors was one of my professors at seminary.
I am excited to use this new Bible. I am sure as I read it I will grow in my knowledge of God and in the ways John Wesley was moved by the Spirit in God's Word. I will also recommend this to other Wesleyans as we continue to stay true first to God's Word and second to our Wesleyan heritage.
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