Excited

I got a couple new books this week.  I thought it would be a good idea to read from this author since he will be leading the Doctoral program I intend to start later in the year.  I just picked a couple titles from the long list he's written.  One was recommended to me and one that I… I just picked because I couldn't get the one I really wanted.

I write this on Thursday night (which is troublesome for the literalist and the "friday thought" thing) because I have a funeral to attend in the morning and it is my intent to spend most of my evening in that "other book."  It turns out that the one I "just picked" is the closest book I have see in years to communicating my heart for the church and pastoral ministry.  As I thumb through it, it makes my heart race!

It also turns out that it is on the very word that I have been preparing to preach on for over two weeks now.

I'll give you a hint to the key to your call and mine.  I'll tip my hand.  Brace yourself.  It's all about following Christ.

Yawn.

We are good at believing in; we love knowing about; we will even dabble in talking about Christ.  But following is rare.  At least Biblical following is.  Maybe it's time for us to be honest about it.  If we don't have the fruit of Christ it's safe to assume we are not following too close.

I think we've misunderstood what that means.  I think I'm going to spend some time getting into that topic.  It'll be a good book only to the degree that it draws me to the Word.  I'll let you know what I find out.

Excited,

Pastor Dave

Politics!

I almost couldn't believe my ears.  I heard a Democrat say that the national unemployment rate was coming down.  A Republican followed the point with the claim that the number was inaccurate because it didn't account for those who have given up on finding a job.  The Republicans said the Democrats hid the real numbers.

Two days later.  The Republican Governor of Michigan shared the news that the unemployment rate of the State was coming down.  The news story was followed by a Democrat saying that the numbers aren't accurate because they didn't account for those who have given up on finding a job.  They said they hid the real numbers.

I remember conversations a lot like that when I was in Mrs. Black's 3rd grade classroom.  The issue wasn't unemployment but the basic tone was the same (for the record it was my friend Spike's fault - I remember).

Is anyone getting tired of this?  My trust-o-meter is running low.  Talk shows, editorials, blogs, debates, comments on blogs, and even conversations are including more visceral anger and insults to having a differing view.

At the risk of sounding arrogant as a pastor I would like to proclaim that there is hope for our Nation and it is not in the election of a Congressman, Senator, or President.  The answer is not in adding another law or reforming an existing one.  We will not fix this Nation by choosing the right side and defeating the wrong side.  And it will not be found in hunting down and killing every enemy we can find.

God has woven the answer for the nations into the fabric of the churches of the nations.  When they stop being self centered and self seeking, when they find the heart of priorities that are eternal, when they throw programs aside and minister to souls, when they hold the call of Christ higher than the traditions of man, when they let the Spirit of God empower them to be the men and women of God in work places and schools, when they quit fighting with each other and carry the cross they've been given, when they quit shopping for the perfect church and give themselves to servanthood, when they spend their life being the Church rather than going to church - then we will be in a healthy condition to help elect leaders to direct a nation.

Until then, I'm afraid we're just adding to the noise,

Praying For the Church,

Pastor Dave

I'm Grinning

As I sit in my office at home and look out the window at the trees I find myself singing, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" - on January the 13th.  I wonder, if Winter starts a month and a half late does that mean it has to last a month and a half longer?  I'd be o.k. if it didn't.

There's something about this day, and the few inches of snow that fell overnight, that hums a tune of newness.  It kind of feels like a New Years Day.  I'm smiling.

Let me share with you a few things I'm grinning about this morning.

1.  I had an appointment with my Neurologist yesterday that went very well.  On the way out he told his receptionist that if I needed him she was to remember that I was on the "short list" and he wanted to know about it right away.  He said, "You're a good guy, I wanna take good care of you."  That made me feel good.

2.  I used my snowblower this morning.  That always makes me smile.

3.  Leah and I were at a wonderful church near Toledo last Sunday.  It was exciting to feel the atmosphere of God's presence there.  I left knowing that God is moving in many ways and in many places.  I'm glad that I have a church family that I miss when I'm not there.  Today I'm looking forward to Sunday and the atmosphere that the Holy Spirit brings to our church through the wonderful people that gather to worship and grow.

4.  Jesus is not a politician.  I've been listening to some of the political news and trying to make sense of some things this week.  I can't.  Inherent within elected office is the need to exaggerate self and discredit opponents.  There is a constant finger on the pulse of compromise to attempt to please as many people as possible and still be able to represent the label you claim. Jesus would have made a terrible politician.  I don't think he'd care about interest rates when there are more people in slavery now than at any time in history.  There are more people persecuted for faith now than in any time in history.  Jesus doesn't need my vote.  That makes me smile.

5.  A friend Skyped me this morning to talk.  It still cracks me up that we can have video chats.  Encouragement comes in many forms.  Seeing a friend's smile that lives a long way away is one of them.

6.  I am learning about courage as I study and meditate on the topic for this sermon series.  I'm grinning about that because only God would ask you to be something, show you what it looks like to be that, give you the ability to live it, and love you as if the whole thing was your idea.

It's Friday, it snowed, it's God's Kingdom, and I'm just grinning,

Pastor Dave