Answers

 
In last week's Friday Thought we had to be honest enough to acknowledge – we don't know everything.  While it's true that we serve a God who does, He's not going to share most of it with us.  Somehow knowing that God knows everything and I don't doesn't make the pain of what I don't know go away, does it?  We are left to wander through this life not knowing more than we know.  But, I was thinking about a few answers I do have.
 
Today I did a funeral for a man who lived his life without ears that work like ours do.  I know that a physical setback, although it may cause strife on this planet, doesn't hinder someone's entrance to heaven.  That's about faith in Christ.  I can answer questions about that.
 
I had a meeting last night about the future of the East Michigan Conference of the Free Methodist church.  I don't know about the direction, or the plans we are making, but I know the real need of our churches.  Somehow it's more spiritual than we would like to admit.  I can answer questions about that.
 
I've had a handful of very encouraging appointments this week.  God is on the move in those who will give Him the right of way.  Lives are being changed and homes are being rebuilt.  If someone wanted to know if God was moving at all – I can answer questions about that.
 
Sometimes people think that pastors are exempt from having wounded hearts, overloaded minds, and exhausted bodies.  They are supposed to have a direct line to God so that in any moment of weakness an angel comes and performs c.p.r. on their spirit instantly so they can be all things to all people.  Ya, I can answer questions about that too.
 
Everyone has opinions, but what do you know?  What do you know about God?  What do you know about you?  How does that knowledge impact your life?
 
Job 19:25
I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
 
Psalms 20:6
Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.
 
2 Timothy 1:12
…I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
 
Spend Your Life on What Lasts,
Pastor Dave

Questions

There are a lot of questions… more personally - I have a lot of questions.

In our moments of honesty we must crawl off our self made pedestal and recognize the fact that we really can’t fix the world’s problems with pat answers or rehearsed mantras.

I rest in the fact that I have a personal relationship the God who is not baffled by any problems or manmade messes, but He knows everything – I don’t.

I don’t understand why some people face repeated trials as if they were on a treadmill of dung, and others seem to breeze through life with a “good magnet” that attracts all the “fun stuff” of life to them.

I don’t understand why disease finds its home in children.

I don’t understand why the Government borrows money to bail out failed businesses so the failed business leaders can get a bonus for failing.

I don’t understand why some of us who know that God is calling us to more continue to attempt the impossible - going half-way with God.

I don’t know why God lets violent husbands hurt women and children. He’s God - He could teach abusers a lesson that the criminal system can’t imagine and would cause the ACLU to have a stroke.

Summary: I need to be honest about not knowing everything but having faith in a God who does. I think if our relationships included honesty about our limited condition and dependence on our unlimited God a lot of things would change.

This week-end encounter the One who does know everything…

Pastor Dave

Priorities...

The news last night and this morning is mostly about flight 1549 that went down in the Hudson River after a 3 minute journey on its way to Charlotte (I wonder if it left on time). Flight 1549 got cut short by a flock of birds.

This morning I sit in the safety of a warm living room smelling brewed coffee, talking with the Lord about the weekend and drawing application points from the news.

1. A jet that is capable of transporting people a mile in the air at 8 to10 times the speed of traffic was brought down by… well… the birds. Thrust, power, technology, g-forces, and top notch aerodynamics – all brought down by a bunch of feathers with wings.

It's really astounding how fragile life is. No matter how super strong we are the right microscopic virus can put us in the hospital. Hurricanes level mansions and shacks.

This shouldn't produce fear. This truth should bring about profound respect and awe.

The other side of eternity is closer than I think.

2. The pilot has been called a hero repeatedly. All indications are that he was very skillful and calm, even making sure everyone was off the plane before he got off. It is not my intent in any way, shape, or form to demote him, but I wish we were more careful with that title. Selflessness, expertise and training saved the lives of those on that plane. I'd love to meet this guy. Someone who saves lives is worth meeting. Someone who saves lives is worth meeting. Someone who saves lives is… There's a great spiritual application here – have you made it already?

3. At the bottom of the screen there are a bunch of cancellations of schools that keep scrolling by. The inauguration of President Elect Obama is a big story. I'm tired of hearing the words "bail out."

The other news stories are there, but they don't seem as big right now. About a year ago everything was about border control. A few months ago everything was about gas prices. The last few days everything has been about the weather.

A new headline is waiting around the corner of tomorrow and will impact us in a way that pushes current issues to the side. After a couple of days of saturation news about flight 1549 won't even be a thought.

I wish we could be more aware of what really lasts. If only we knew a story that would last longer than prices, corporate mismanagement, illegal aliens, and policy adjustments. If only…

4. The seat really can be a flotation device! So when they go through the memorized speech before your flight about oxygen masks, exits, and the cushion you're sitting on – it's really true!

Just because I may have heard something a bazillion times doesn't make it less true. I think next time I take a flight I might actually make eye contact with the person giving the preflight speech and listen.

Some things need to be stated because of their value not because of their novelty.

Oh… I think there's another good application there for a preacher too.

5. The stories of how people demonstrated control and care for others is really interesting. The co-pilot that gave the shirt off his back to someone who had been in the freezing water to keep them warm - the lady who hated flying that helped calm people down - the boats that hurried to pull people to safety….

People really do care about other people. I wonder what would happen in the church if people really went out of their way to rescue other people. What if the church responded quickly, effectively, and passionately because they believed that who they were reaching for really needed our hand.

6. There are photos of the plane "floating/sinking" with the passengers standing on the wings. I'm sure you've seen them. If not they are probably the front page of your paper today.

Our bubbles of privacy and personal space disappear when it really matters. The people who complained in their minds because the seats were too close or the person next to them took the mini arm rest were soon sardined on the wings of a jet temporarily turned raft. My guess is no one was whining about "personal space."

When it's a matter of life and death your priorities change.

I've learned a lot from the news this morning.

Warmth,

Pastor Dave

Growth Steps in 2009

This Wednesday night (1/14) we are going to start a new step of growth that will last for the next 7 weeks. One of the following is a class we are going to be teaching.

1. Making Paper Mache Ants.

This class will teach you about the God given role of ants and how to make a life size replica of this majestic creature.

2. Periodic Table Songs.

There are sixteen different tunes that we are going to learn to sing through the periodic table. We will learn the songs in 4 different languages: English, Swahili, Canadian, and German.

3. Life's Most Embarrassing Moment.

All class members will publically share their most embarrassing moment publically. We will then vote on the Most Embarrassing of them all. The winner gets a trophy and the joy of everyone else not making eye contact with them for at least a year.

4. MFMC

Who should we be? This class will lay a great foundation of a relationship with our church. We'll cover where we came from, what we believe, and where we are going.

Note: #4 is the only one we will be really doing.

Disclaimer: We have never, and will never offer classes 1 through 3.

Call: If you would like to learn more about this church, be reminded about what we are about, learn about the journey we are on, meet people who you haven't met, or build a relationship within the body. We'd love to have you join us.

Thought: For me 2009 is to include at least a couple adjustments in my ministry. One of those adjustments is to purposefully invest in spiritual growth. I would hope that we've been doing that, but I need to be deliberate about it. Other than a sermon on Sunday and class on Wednesday – how can I foster an atmosphere of growth steps with God? We're working on putting growth tools in people's hands and giving more opportunity for taking faith steps.

The "E" world is going to be a place of growth for us. Watch for new avenues of kingdom advancement through technology. For too long we have demanded growth through our tools and traditions, we will be looking at the possibility of using new avenues of growth.

The process is going to be clear. Where are you in your spiritual journey? By the end of the first quarter of the year I trust that a clear process will grow from our ministry that will help people not only identify honestly where they are, but call them to grow beyond that.

May 2009 Find You Closer to Christ,

Pastor Dave

2009 Fears

2009 Fears.

Pastors aren't supposed to be afraid. We have a direct line to God that renders all human emotions void… the negative ones anyway. It's one of the perks of being "super-spiritual." By the way, pastors are always happy and chipper too. Yep, no fear and always happy, makes you want to check out the profession doesn't it? Before you make any drastic moves, let me be honest with you this first Friday of 2009.

There are a few things I am afraid of –

1. I'm afraid there are a dozen hungry Ninjas living in my attic. When they get too hungry they are going to bust down the door, hit me repeatedly with nun chucks, kidnap my wife, take all my food, and steal my lawnmower.

2. I'm afraid people who have ADHD are all going to band together and take over the United States shipping the rest of us to a refugee camp in Iowa so they can rule the world.

3. I'm afraid some day they will discover that pie and pizza really aren't good for you.

4. I'm afraid one week someone will forward Friday Thoughts to my Bishop and he'll fire me and put non-removable duct tape on my hands and over my mouth.

5. I'm afraid the Bible is really true and we are really supposed to live like Christ.

6. I'm afraid we will have church 52 times in 2009 and not allow the God we worship to be the God we worship.

7. I'm afraid God has already blessed us according to our faith and He won't go beyond that until our faith in Him grows.

8. I'm afraid we'll settle for good enough, when it's not really anywhere near good enough.

9. I'm afraid that the best we can do for the culture is boycott or pass laws forcing them to agree with us. And if they don't we won't have anything to do with them.

10. I'm afraid of really crying out for a heavenly anointing because it won't fit in our expectations and if I was really what God wants me to be, if I said what we really need to hear, and if I lived what I'm really hungry for, too many people would get mad. I'm afraid people don't really want what God has for them. I'm afraid to not be in a growing church. I'm afraid 2009 and 2008 will be much of the same. I'm afraid that I'm most fearful about the wrong things, and I'm not fearful enough about squandering God's power.

So, I have fears. What are your fears for the New Year? Maybe if we are honest about them… Maybe if we prayed about them… Maybe if we…

Not Understanding What a Multi-Million Dollar Glass Ball In New York Has To Do With Anything, and Looking Forward to Us Being Touched By God This Sunday,

Pastor Dave