Growing In Grace

Social Media and the Church Part 5

2012-01-25T07:48:00.000-08:00

5. Public and Private Conversations

Over the past ten years, especially with the under 22 crowd, self revelation on social media and the web has exploded. What many of us would never think of putting out into public is now very, very public. Twitter, Facebook and Youtube have given a voice to those willing to share and bare it all. Private conversations have become very public. The media has turned what used to be proper news programs into a sad caricature of it's former proud self. What used to be news is now just gossip dressed up with clever intros and discussions of some well thought of writer or commentator. Shame, decency and privacy seem to be disappearing from the mortal souls of some. Not all, but many feel it their God given right and duty to put it all out there. No judgement here, just highlighting a trend.

For the pastor, the Christian and the church, there must be a distinction between public and private. What we choose to put out there is up to us. Managing many different outlets for our social media lives can become confusing. There are some great products to bridge the gap between all of them, like hootsuite. But for the most part, it's up to us to determine what we want to share with others.

Is it appropriate for our camp counselors to put picture of them out partying and drinking in college, when they are facebook friends with the kids they counseled at camp? Yes, they should not be drinking in the first place. An awareness of who is watching and being influenced by us must be one of the main priorities as we discover our guides for sharing. Being a free country, and the internet is still free (not for long), it's up to every individual human being to decide what they share.

The Christian Guide For Sharing on Facebook, Twitter and everything else....

1. Be honest about your hopes, dreams and life
2. If you are living a double life, it doesn't matter what you post, people will know.
3. Share your daily faith experiences
4. Share relevant scripture passages
5. Share prayer requests
6. Lift up friends and others
7. Don't get too political, judgmental or rude- our message is one of faith, hope and love, not division.
8. Post as if you were telling the whole church on Sunday morning, because basically you are!
9. Don't be a creepy social media stalker
10. Glorify God in all things
11. Humor in good taste is always appreciated
12. Ask others for advice.
13. Seek others opinions if you are struggling
14. Friend your pastor on Facebook, have them follow you on twitter (it keeps you honest)
15. Share your life story, especially about your family.
Finally, a healthy Christian in their heart knows what to post.

I hope that helps us better understand public and private conversations. With the drive for more and more self revelation, my comfort zone will continued to be pushed. Just make sure that in all you do and say that you lift high the name of Jesus Christ.

Go in peace and go with God.

Social Media and the Church Part 4

2012-01-19T08:58:00.000-08:00

4. Proper Use of Social Media (safety)

We all have a personal identity (social security number, credit identity, etc) and social identity (facebook, twitter, etc). Those who have kids are very aware of their children and teens social identities because they have heard from the media how easily a hacker or predator can swoop in and convince good kids to do unsafe things.

Being safe online, whether it be making sure your credit is frozen so no one can steal your identity, or making sure you rotate passwords with email, Facebook, Twitter, Itunes, Amazon, Xbox Gamertags, Blogs or any other "accounts" you have out there is something that many of us forget to do.

Did you know that if you are playing Xbox live you can talk to millions of people all over the world because you might be playing a similar game online. I learned this from my nephews recently. As we played some games over Christmas I was stunned to hear language from others that was less than kind (you can mute them). I was also stunned at the realization that children and teens could have online, live discussions through headsets or even with the Xbox Connect (live video chat) with zero parental knowledge.

Social media and the way we connect will continue to evolve over time. There will always be new things coming and the way we as parents monitor the influences in the lives of children will need to change as well. There is no need to unplug your kids Xbox or other game system as of yet.
We will always need to renew our desire and passion for teaching kids and adults smart and healthy was of using social media.

You never really know who is at the other end of the line because anonymity is foundational to the online life for some.

Where does the church fit into this conversation?

We need to remain that light in the darkness and help people who have been scammed or hacked to walk with them through the process of healing and dealing with these issues.
The church must continue to provide a standard of leadership by which we do not judge others, but help identity healthy ways for us to use social media to share the gospel, help people connect and make a difference in this world.

Safety for many things in our lives is a big concern. With vigilance, a willingness to learn and lead in this area, we can better protect our kids, teens and ourselves from the dangers of the online life. Just like your regular life, there are similar people who push our buttons and attempt to drag us in the wrong direction.

Please keep your life whole. Do not fracture your life into many different worlds of work, church, online, personal, social, etc. Be yourself and be honest with others.

Go in peace and go with God.

Social Media and the Church Part 3

2012-01-18T10:53:00.000-08:00

3. Types of Tweeters or Twits

I've been on Twitter for less than a year. I have once opposed the micro posting, micro bogging, 140 character discussions with hashtags that seemed to give anyone and everyone a voice on anything and everything.
After using Twitter, I realized the error of my early thoughts.

There is a main Twitter feed of who you follow and then a list of what's trending. Twitter uses hashtags # to begin a group conversation about and event or issue. You can search specific issues or events to see what people are saying. For our Annual Conference last year the hashtag was #moumc or #moumc11

When using Twitter beware and know that there are different types of folks on Twitter. There are many lists on the web about types of people who tweet, so I am borrowing a few and placing them here.

1. The guy or gal (teens) that don't realize they have an open status and post terribly inappropriate stuff.
2. The business guy that has his Twitter set to send out tweets every 30 seconds (turns out to be noise, so no one really listens)
3. The political right and left tweeters
4. The company Tweets (usually promoted)
5. Christian tweeters (not all of them follow back- #fail)
6. Social Media giant tweeters (people who get this stuff)
7. Politicians (none do this well)
8. The unrelenting slam humorists (best to follow)
9. Actors (most are not funny or say anything interesting)
10. Singers/musicians/bands (usually fun to follow)
11. Local businesses
12. Local people who you will never meet but since you live in the KC area, so why not follow
13. New Organizations- favs WSJ, Washington Post, Huffington Post
14. Overseas guys and gals (you will never meet these either, but they live in england, etc and it's cool to see what they have going on)
15. Pastors- Sadly, most pastors do not have a clue about Twitter or even Twitter etiquette- follow back, at least your own church members, geez)
16. People who retweet but don't actually tweet
17. Inspirational/Philosophical Tweeters
18. Quote Tweeters- quote random things ALL THE TIME.
19. Writers, Bloggers, Authors- good to follow them- good insights, interesting stuff
20. The ____ Daily Is Out People- who write something every day, which you can take or leave
21. Fake Tweeters- Spambots- not a real person, just a program trying to get you to buy stuff
22. The buy my stuff because it's a good deal
23. The buy my friends stuff, because I get a cut
24. The guy who has nothing else to do but sit around tweeting
25. Non-profit/issue oriented/church accounts- Not bad to see what other people are doing

I hope those make sense. Not an exhaustive list, but maybe that provides some insight on how Twitter can be a very cool way to connect or a colossal waste of time, just like Facebook.

Oh yeah, feel free to follow me on Twitter @umvickers

Go in peace and go with God.

Social Media and the Church Part 2

2012-01-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

Not Your Teens Facebook Anymore-

Some of you know that in the beginning, the only users that could actually access Facebook were students. You had to have the .edu at the end of your email address or you could not sign up. It started with college students, then high school students and so forth.

Then a few years ago Facebook opened up to the world and many Gen Xers and Gen Yers not in college jumped on. It was fun to connect with my camp counselors and the youth in our church. A bunch of my high school, college and seminary friends were immediately on and quickly found each other. Users jumped from several million to the hundreds of millions. Everyone was talking about Facebook. And it was still cool.

Then the high school and college students started to notice a disturbing trend- their parents were joining Facebook, and now their grandparents. And for most teens this was no big deal. They didn't have anything to hide and were not posting anything too offensive. But for the others, the statements came like "Facebook was cool until my mom got on it", or "there are too many old people (me included- I guess I'm old) on Facebook". Some some of the younger generations ditched Facebook (not completely) and moved to Twitter. The only reason I'm on Twitter now is because some of our youth said I "needed" to be on Twitter if I was going to connect with the next generation.
And the other outlets are instagram, the path and tons of other places I have no connection to but I hear are the next great thing in social media.

Facebook is still hugely popular with new users every day. It may not be as cool as it once was, but it is still an amazing place to connect, share and build relationships. It's virtual yes, but there is a whole world out there of social media that is helping build brands, churches, messages, ideas and to some extent, helping change the world.

We might not be able to reach the next generation like we once could through Facebook, but with 700 million active users in a world of 7 billion, that is a lot of people, especially in the US, that are on Facebook.

Go in peace and go with God.

Social Media and the Church

2012-01-09T08:32:00.000-08:00

With the growth of Facebook and Twitter over the past few years, the church at some point and time needs to be mindful of the relevance and opportunities presented with such outlets for their evangelism, ministry and mission.

So over the next few weeks I will be writing about Social Media in regard to a few things:
1. What are Twitter and Facebook?
2. Not your Teen's Facebook Anymore
3. Types of Tweeters or Twits
4. Proper use of Social Media (safety)
5. Public and Private Conversations
6. Pastoral Use of Social Media
7. It's All About Connecting.

1. What Are Twitter and Facebook?

They are both web platforms for connecting with others.

Twitter has followers
Facebook has friends.

If you have never used either program Facebook- 700 million users, Twitter- 70 million active users, I would encourage you to jump on and sign up for either one today.

Facebook is like your own mini-website where you can share pictures, videos and status updates on your "wall". Your wall is where you post stuff, and where others (depending on your settings) your friends can post stuff as well. There is also a stream of who you follow and you can see the vids, pics and status updates live of your friends. It's a great way for friends, new and distant to connect. You can check in and see how people are doing, and find out their interests, etc. Our church has a facebook page which is a place where we share what is upcoming in ministry and messages.

The Pros of using Facebook include: connecting, sharing, conversation, family connections, church updates, etc.
The Cons- Be careful who your kids friend on facebook. Watch out for old flames wanting to "reconnect" with you, especially if you are married! Many divorces happen because cheating started on facebook. Finally, life is meant to be lived, get off the web and live!

Those are just a few about facebook.

Now twitter.

Twitter is basically people sharing their thoughts, ideas, humor, etc 140 characters or less with whomever follows them. Twitter is about who follows you and who you follow. Most twitter accounts have less than 100 followers, but follow 100's. There are churches, pastors, entrepreneurs, leaders, teachers, businesses, celebrities, politics, newspapers, media outlets, etc on twitter. You can make lists to follow specific groups on twitter. A few months ago I was pretty anti-twitter. But once I jumped on, I found that I can follow people all over the world, and usually will receive news updates on twitter more quickly than tv, radio or even the web. I personally enjoy the humor on twitter, especially during this campaign season.

I hope that helps in better understanding Facebook and Twitter. My explanation is not exhaustive, but maybe you might be able to seen the benefit for the church and the world. It's all about connecting, and for a church that says "We Make Disciples by Connecting People to God and Neighbor", we should as Christians and as the church, try and share that message everywhere we can.

Go in peace and go with God.

The Suburban Dream- When Helping Hurts

2012-01-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

Over the next few weeks we will discuss homelessness and poverty in Lee's Summit, Kansas City and Missouri. Some of us struggle to understand the problems behind poverty because we assume all conditions are the same. We also assume everyone has the same gifts, abilities and chances as we did. We have a tendency to become very judgmental toward those who are in a perpetual cycle of dependence.
What would it take to break the cycle of dependence? What would it take to move someone from poverty and homelessness to someone with a home, a job and finding their way again?

A few things must be named as we proceed to help us better understand the journey we must take to change the lives of others. Change begins with us.

2400 sq ft home √
3 car garage √
Mini van and SUV (maybe a truck) √
Perfectly manicured lawn √
2.5 kids √
Two income home √
Frequent Kids Sporting events √
Frequent the Farmers Market √
Frequent Costco/Sams √
Always tired √
Always running √
Eat meals on the way somewhere with kids √
Credit score not where is should be √
Too much debt √
Gave 2.4% of our income to charity √
Maybe attend church, maybe not √
Overworked √

Maybe this describes us, maybe it doesn't. Many have written and spoken on trading the Kingdom of God for what we believe will fulfill us (insert earthly dreams here).

Wealth does not bring happiness, usually it brings more headaches and problems. What are we working toward? Step off the hamster wheel, and walk away from the rat race.

If you are looking for a second chance at life or just need some rest, join us in worship this week as we begin to radically change the our walk with Christ.

New Sermon Series this January 2012

2012-01-01T05:33:00.000-08:00

When Helping Hurts

In our new, original sermon series, we pull from the work of Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, who have written extensively on poverty in the United States and the world. Over three weeks, we will discover why Jesus came to earth, what being homeless and hungry can do to your spirit and how we can all move beyond crisis missions to transformation, life change activities. Over the past few years, Grace has moved toward becoming a missional incarnational church. We go out and go deep. If you are looking for life change and have a passion to help change the lives of others, join us.

Jan 8- Why Jesus Came to Earth
Jan 15- A World Without Hope
Jan 22- Moving Beyond Crisis Mission

Tis The Season At Grace

2011-12-08T10:37:00.001-08:00

Upcoming Events at Grace

2011-12-08T10:35:00.000-08:00

Here is a big list for the Grace church family.

Upcoming Events @ Grace

December 11-

Traditional Worship @ 815 am Message- “Mary, the Mother of Jesus”

Christmas Cantata “Wings of Joy” @ 915 am service

Contemporary Worship @ 1030 am Message- “Mary, the Mother of Jesus”

Preschool Christmas Program @ 4 pm

Children’s Christmas Program @ 6 pm

December 18-

Traditional Worship @ 815 am

Contemporary Worship @ 915 am and 1030 am

Message- “Waiting for the Day”

December 24- Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Services

Message- “The Arrival”

5 pm- Candlelight Communion Service with our Choir and Praise Team. Pastor Jeremy preaching.

7 pm- Candlelight Communion Service with our Praise Team. Pastor Hubert preaching.

11 pm- Candlelight Communion Service with Pastor Jeremy preaching.

*Open Communion for all.

December 25-

One service at 10 am

Serve Others This Christmas

Sonshine Preschool American Red Cross Blanket Drive

Please drop off a blanket in the lobby to help those in need.

Langsford Boys Home

We are collecting Pillows, Pillow Cases, Socks and T-Shirts (M-XL) for the Boys home. Please drop them off under the big Christmas Tree in the Gym.

ReStart on Dec 24th

Please check the ReStart table for items needed and serving needs. We will be serving dinner at ReStart on Christmas Eve.

Ushers For Christmas Eve

We need ushers and greeters for all three services on Christmas Eve. Please email Debbie if you are willing to handout bulletins or greet guests at the door.

A Desperate Plea- Stop Changing Things

2011-10-18T08:03:00.000-07:00

We are pretty loyal to the places we shop, the restaurants we frequent and to the denomination I choose to serve in. Brand loyalty is a big deal in the corporate world. Once you have a loyal customer or consumer, you have to do a lot to push them away. When humans find something we enjoy or like, we stick with it. Even though change is in the very nature of creation, many of us like consistency. I've heard stories of people driving hours to get their favorite Bar-B-Q. Living in the Kansas City area, I am not surprised by that passion. Brand loyalty goes beyond just agreeing to repurchase items from the same company. Real brand loyalty drives people to share their experiences and invite others to be apart of their positive experience with the brand.
On the other side of that are the negative reactions that people have to certain brands. Few people will share positive experiences (unless they are way over the top experiences) because we expect a positive experience with the things we like. But, if you have a bad experience somewhere, you are more than likely to tell others about it. No matter how many good experiences you've had, we will tell others "don't go to that restaurant, the service is awful".
One of my all time favorite places to eat is Wendy's. I love their burgers. For me, they are almost as good as a "gourmet" burger. For fast food, I choose Wendy's. We did not have a Wendy's in my hometown, so going to Wendy's was a big deal. The toasted buns, the square, juicy hamburgers-Dave Thomas naming the company after his daughter. The frosties are amazing. The chili is awesome (I mean really, who else serves chili all year long?). And the fries. That is what I remember from my first few experiences at Wendy's (the burgers, fries, frosty, chili).
Since then, I have been a die hard, loyal customer. Even during the bogus food scares in California (of which most don't remember). I had chili the day some lady accused them of putting something disgusting in the chili, and the day afterward too. Why? I am loyal.
Lately though, my brand loyalty has been strained. Why?
Change.
I never thought I would be someone who would gripe about change. Most of us have a "roll with the punches" attitude, but a few things have me not as fired up to go to Wendy's these days. Here are the things that have changed, or I miss at Wendy's.

5. The buffet from many years ago, where did those go?
4. What happened to Frescatta Sandwiches- those were amazing!
3. Baked potatoes with cheese/bacon- gone.
2. The pickles now taste exactly like the ones from Five Guys
1. They changed their fries ;0(

Those are just a few small things, but they add up to a few big things. I now have to go elsewhere to get fries because the "new" sea salt fries are not my favorite anymore. They are not dippable in the chili or frosty. I love them less, which in Biblical Jesus terms is pretty bad.
See, I am a nut about Wendy's.

Hopefully by now you realize I am not just talking about Wendy's. Change is life. How we react and deal with those changes reveals the content and character of our hearts. I'm sure that the changes in our lives are sometimes purposeful. When we better understand the changes around us, we more easily accept them and sometimes become champions for change.

When change comes without warning, almost with an aggressive, haphazard or fumbled delivery, we shy away from the change. Sometimes we end up on the other side against the change. Most people in this world are reasonable, and if spoken to in a manner of respect and love, they will hear out why changes are being made. They are may not agree with the changes, but they will go along with them because they were respected enough to be considered.

The #1 reason most people will walk into a new church is not because of word of mouth, or they thought the website was cool. Most of them are in a time of transition and they are seeking a place to experience God. They are motivated to go. They haven't been coerced or made to come, they made a choice to try and change their lives. And what do many of us do with the gift of someone new? Not enough.

I pray for you during your times of transition and times of change. Some changes are blessings, some seem like the end of days. Let the changes in your life be purposeful and filled with meaning. Help others to move through their times of change as well.

Oh yeah, hey Wendy's, please bring back your old fries. I know they were ranked 3rd on the list of America's favorite fries. It's ok to be in third place. McDonald's and Five Guys are just better. After 41 years you changed to be like someone else. Be yourself. Be unique. I still love Wendy's, but I love them a bit less these days.

Go in peace and go with God!

What Google, Facebook and Twitter Can teach the Church....and Apple

2011-09-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

People are searching for answers.
People want to be connected.
People want to be heard.
I Want and Need Answers
Three of the most successful companies over the past tens years have addressed those wants and needs.
When Google came along there were other search engines. The creators of Google did not like the way those search engines "page ranked" things. So they designed a new way to rank pages. It was intuitive. It made sense. It worked. So when searching for answers to your questions, you would find them in the top ten hits. Not only that, they have continued to improve upon their early success by making Google better. Right now we have more knowledge available to us than ever before in the history of the world. The most famous library you might have never heard of was the library in Alexandria. It contained what was reported to be "all of the world's knowledge". Sadly, it was sacked and burned. Knowledge lost. Today, you don't need to go to a library. The answers to your questions are available online. Just search enough and you will find it! When people are searching for answers, most of them turn to Google. I know I do.
I Want to Be Connected
Facebook is a revolutionary way to connect with your friends, acquaintances and family. Originally offered to students, now the whole world can join in. Over 700 million people are now on Facebook. Wow. Lots of people are now connected through Facebook. Remember how difficulty it used to be to know how your high school friends were doing? I do. I had lost touch with a few of my friends, and I'm 37. It's nice to see how highschool, college and seminary friends are doing. I may not personally communicate with them for months, but I can check their status and see how they are doing and what they are up too. Very cool stuff. Most people are on Facebook in the U.S. They are connecting. And as Facebook adds new features, soon we will be connecting not just through chat, but through video as well.
I Want To Be Heard
I was not a big fan of Twitter until a few months ago. I didn't want to Tweet or be a Twit. I didn't want to be a follower either. Twitter is basically a newsfeed of 140 characters or less of people sharing information, blogs, ideas, quotes, conversations, pics and a bunch of other stuff with people that "follow" them. The more people you follow, the faster your news feeds goes. It amazing how quickly good and bad information can be shared. Many people follow celebrities or news organizations. Imagine the front page of Yahoo, the Huffington post or the Wall Street Journal reposting links to their articles. You are just a few clicks away from information you are interested in. The real genius of Twitter is posting to followers. People follow you and when you post something whatever you said or shared is placed in their newsfeed. Hundred, thousands or millions of people will see what you said in an instant!
I had two conversations that changed my mind about Twitter. First, a mom of a high school student said that I needed to be on Twitter. I'm a pastor and I like to stay connected to our congregation, and in my opinion, very few were on Twitter so what was the point? Well, the high school students were all using Twitter. They next conversation was with two friends who were using Twitter to follow live events that were not being broadcast. After going back and forth for a while, I decided to make the leap. I jumped on Twitter and currently follow 1000+ people and have 600+ followers. So I am listening to others, and some are listening to me.

Fifty years ago the church filled all three of those roles. People who were looking for answers could find them (or at least be pointed in the right direction) in church. People looking for connection and relationship could find them in the church. People wanting to be heard could be heard in the church.
Our world has changed. Has the church? Do we still have a chance to fulfill those vital needs? Has our season in the United States gone?
Those questions will not be answered by me here. I'm not sure if there is answer. And if there is, many of us might not like it.
The "Death Tsunami" that is approaching the Mainline denominations quickly. Many are in decline. Less and less "attend" church. Some churches are doing well, and by some I mean a handful in each city or state.
I love the church. No, I don't love a building, but the body of Christ. As a pastor I need to love God and love neighbor. A few pastors I know don't really enjoy their jobs. In fact, one was reported to say, "I don't like these people." If you don't like people and you don't find joy in laboring for the Lord, what in the world are you doing trying to lead a church?

What role can we fill? Who are we called to be in the next twenty years? Shall we just hold on to what we have, take care of our own and just die gracefully?

I pray not. If the "church" is to survive and thrive, we need to do a few things.
1- Help people find answers to their deepest spiritual questions- not tell them the answer, but help them find a path to the One who has the answers. The Bible is a wonderful guidebook!
2. Help people connect- not just in a church building, but with each other outside the walls, maybe, dare a I say, in a completely different model of church known as house churches.
3. Let people be heard. Listening is something that some of us don't do well. Listen to God and listen to your neighbor.

It's time the church moved beyond just sharing the love of God with their neighbors who attend church on Sunday. There is a vast ocean of people who never encountered a "Christian" that helped them find God. The soul moving experience of Jesus Christ in your life should inspire us to share His message and help those in need.

Oh yeah, the Apple thing. Apple is an innovative, visionary company that does most everything (except apple tv) with excellence. Do your best at reaching God and neighbor. Don't say it's good enough. Do everything you can to make a positive difference for Christ wherever you are and wherever you go.
Dont' be like the world, be a light in the darkness for the world.

Go in peace and go with God.

A World Without Borders

2011-08-02T21:38:00.000-07:00

My son will grow up in a world without borders. It's true. There will be no borders. Many people, maybe not many, have discussed this topic for a few years. Recently, it has become more of a relevant topic. This past week the word came out that there will be no more borders in the whole wide world. Who announced this? It was announced in the Wall Street Journal. Why would they announce it? Because the Borders I speak of are not borders around countries, or fences between neighbors, it's the Borders book store. They closed a bunch of stores, tried to keep a few open, but alas, they are all closing.

We shop, well shopped, at Borders. It was a great store. It was the only retail bookstore chain in Lee's Summit. We purchased lots of books there (we like to read). We also purchased many Christmas gifts there, as they always have the coolest stuff for kids. We don't have a kindle, except on a laptop. We do have an I-pad, of which we have downloaded a few books. I hear that the reason they are closing is competition from Amazon, ebooks, etc. Maybe that's true. Barnes and Noble are still making it though, or are they?

My son will never enter a Borders bookstore. Borders has been around since 1970. And now they will all be gone soon. I started thinking about many of the things I grew up with that have since closed. Remember Polaroid Cameras? They closed in 2002 after 60 yrs in business. Arthur Anderson, a huge consulting and accounting firm opened in 1913, then closed in 2002. How about Tower Records? They had a 60 year run. Now closed forever. And you might not believe this one, but Olan Mills closed in 2008 after a 70 year run. Yes, the people who did church directories no longer are trading stock.
Anyone remember TG&Y? Opened in 1935, closed in 2001. My sister worked there. GM almost closed, if it weren't for the Federal Government. Lots of other companies closed during the latest recession 2007-2011.

Lots of things change. Lots of things end. What will my son see go by the wayside in his lifetime?
The United Methodist Church has been declining at a rate of 500,000 members every 10 years. We were founded in 1968, and with the average age of an organization being 60-70 years, will we come to an end around 2030? What would a world look like without the United Methodist Church? What would my son's life look like without the United Methodist Church?

We are a church that has a dual focus- making disciples for Jesus Christ and social justice/missions. Known to us as personal piety and social holiness. There is lots of talk about measures of vitality and fruitfulness by tracking worship attendance, professions of faith, baptisms and people serving in mission. Those are great indicators, but just tracking stuff will not turn the ship. I don't have all the answers, but I do know one thing.
If the church (every church and pastor) doesn't begin to take seriously the call of Christ to love their neighbors, there will be no United Methodist Church for my son when he graduates from college in 22 years.

As for Grace, we continue to grow and reach out. Our attendance, professions of faith, baptisms and people deployed in mission are all going up and we are doing very well. Keep it up Grace.

And although I am sad that Borders is closing because I enjoyed going there, but something else will come in and I will find somewhere else to buy books. Let's make sure there is a United Methodist Church that is making disciples and serving those in need for the next 100 years! Not because we enjoy going there, but because lives are being eternally changed!
Go in peace and go with God.

Reflections on Being Lukewarm

2011-07-21T21:39:00.001-07:00

In Revelation God says "because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth". The passage goes on to explain that many of us comfort ourselves with worldly wealth and power. We insulate ourselves from the world. We ignore those who are in need. And as we do that, we ourselves become the people in need. We are in need of God because we have strayed and become...you guessed it, lukewarm.
Lukewarm Christians will do the mere minimum to keep their relationship with God. Maybe God to church, maybe give a bit in the offering plate, maybe even volunteer. But prayer, Bible study, a missional life, leading ministries, treating others with kindness, seeking God daily in humble adoration, not even close.
To be hot means we are on fire for God. Fire means passion on the Holy Spirit. We are enthusiastic about our relationship with God. Are you enthusiastic about your faith, the church, ministry, serving, sharing your faith or loving God? If not, you might be lukewarm.

How do we stop being lukewarm? Take a step toward God.
A famous person once said "the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." If you want a deep and amazing faith, a great relationship with God, then it's time to take some steps toward God.
Easy steps:
1. Read your Bible. Not to finish it, but so it finishes you.
2. Pray. The prayer does not have to end when you say amen.
3. Strive to attend church weekly. Take notes during the sermon and pray over the Scriptures you hear.
4. Volunteer- Sunday school, VBS, Greeter, usher or any else to help the church.
5. Serve- Restart, Lee's Summit Social Services, Langsford Boys Home

Five easy steps toward God.
The tougher steps include:
1. Share your faith
2. Invite others to church
3. Lead a ministry
4. Tithe
5. Love God and Love Your Neighbor- no really, love!

There are many other steps, but these are just a few that help point us in the right direction of growing in Grace and learning passion in the Lord.

Go in peace and go with God.

We Are All In This Together

2011-06-06T04:37:00.000-07:00

My beautiful and amazing wife often remarks that "we are all in this together". It's a good phrase to remember during the tough days. When driving to work and the traffic slows, it's the man or woman who cuts through traffic, the person that is only out for themselves that doesn't understand that we are all in this together. The rude, the mean, the arrogant and the selfish does not bring us together.
In a deeply broken and sinful world, humility and thinking more highly of others is often absent. The example of Jesus through service, compassion and love shows us one of many paths we daily walk.
It's a new week and we have a chance to live into a life of service, or go back to our selfish ways. Check your bank account, your calendar and your relationships- is there selfishness or God honoring service?
A life focused on Jesus does what is right, not what is popular. It's easy to speak or write these words, it's much more difficult to live into them.
So let's think about a few things.
If you can recycle in your community, then remember, we are all in this together.
When you see a single mom struggling with her kids, please remember, we are all in this together.
If someone else needs that promotion at work, help them get it, and not because they will do something for you, but because it's the right thing to do- we are all in this together.
Some people get this- like firefighters, the police, EMT's, nurses, docs and many, many others.
Do you get it? Does our church get it?
If more of us got it, there would be less homeless, hungry, death, suffering, pain, hurt, struggle, anger, divorce, hatred...
We are all in this together.
I pray and hope that phrase sparks us to action. We are one body, one faith, one church, one people and with one God of all.
We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord.
We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord.

We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord.

And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.

And they'll know we are Christians by our love
By our love
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.
Go in peace and go with God

Missouri United Methodist Clergy

2011-05-31T08:50:00.000-07:00

Missouri United Methodist Clergy,

Every four years we hold General and Jurisdiction Conference elections. Annual Conference last year was one of the best I have ever attended and it just feels like significant progress has been made in making disciples for Jesus Christ. Whether it be the HCI, PLD or something else, I feel a spirit of connection, mutual accountability and concern for each other. There are many excellent options for the elections this year on both the clergy and laity sides.

In years past clergy have sometimes self-nominated, been put on lists, ran as groups, ran in groups and worked to see their friends and those they thought well of elected. It's no different this year. There are several lists floating around out there. It is my hope and prayer that our elections this year not detract from the spirit of unity and fruitfulness that we have shared these past few years.

So I offer all the lists that I have seen thus far, in the open for everyone to see. I sadly must admit I do not know all the clergy on these lists. You may not either. Maybe it will inspire us to truly conference together, not just with our friends, but all our colleagues. If any of you know of other lists, please send them and I will add them as soon as possible. Feel free to share this note with anyone you like. God bless and see you all soon.

Centrist List

For General

Bob Farr

Cody Collier

Steve Breon

Ron Watts

Lynn Dyke

Robin Roderick

Emmanuel Cleaver III

For Jurisdiction

Bruce Baxter

David Bennett

Robyn Miller

Kendall Waller

Jeremy Vickers

Londia Granger Wright

Sandy Nenadal

Matt Miofsky

Sherry Habben

Rob Barringer

Sandy Schaller

Progressive List

Emmanuel Cleaver, III

Cody Collier

Amy Gearhart

Sally Haynes

Matt Miofsky

Carl Schenck

Yolanda Villa

Women's List
Jill Sander-Chali
Nora Jones
Amy Gearhart
Robin Roderick
Chris Dumas
Lydia Istomina
Sally Haynes
Yolanda Villa

Young Clergy List

Laura Blevins

Andy Bryan

Emmanuel Cleaver III

Buck Cueni-Smith

Eric Huffman

Geovanna Huffman

Nora Jones

Michelle Mclendon McGhee

Matt Miofsky

Angela Olsen

Rebecca Peak

Jill Sander-Chali

Jeremy Vickers

Chris Williams

Joplin Response- Way to go Grace!

2011-05-27T13:29:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to everyone at Grace who has donated items for the Joplin relief. Currently we have received over 500 diapers, 2880 bottles of water, 100+ health kits, 300+ kid kits and hundreds of other items. We will continue to receive items over the next few weeks and we have already sent two shipments down to Joplin. If you would consider a mission trip this summer down to Joplin, please contact Grace asap. God bless you all and God bless the people of Joplin.
Go in peace and go with God.

Joplin Tornado Relief Response

2011-05-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

Here is what we are currently collecting to send down next week.

NOT Bottled Water at this time here
NOT Clothing at this time
Small Shampoo
Deodorant
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Batteries
*Wet Wipes (adult and child)
*Diapers
Gallon Ziploc Bags
Towels
Washcloths
*adult socks
*plastic forks, spoons and knives
*sunscreen
Fun Kits for kids- Coloring Books, Crayons, Card Games, Bubbles, Play Dough

*Immediate needs

Trucks Loads of Items can go to

Woods Chapel United Methodist Church

4725 NE Lakewood Way, Lee's Summit, MO 64064

For Clothing Drop off-

Abundant Life Baptist

414 Southwest Persels Road
Lee's Summit, MO 64081-2803
(816) 554-8181

Every organization in the Kansas City area is doing their part. We are doing ours. Please drop these items off during the following hours. Go in peace and go with God.

This week
Tuesday- 9-12 pm
Wednesday- 9-2 pm and 6-8 pm
Thursday- 9-2 pm
Sunday- 7:30 am to 12 pm.

Week of May 30th
Tues- 9-2 pm
Wed- 9-2 pm
Thur- 9-2 pm

Grace UMC, Lee's Summit - Response to Joplin Damage

2011-05-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

Many of you have already requested information on how to help those in Joplin who experienced a devastating tornado on Sunday. Grace is working on putting together a plan of action and it will be sent to everyone in the next few days. Here are some initial steps you might take-

1. Pray for all of those who lost loved ones, who lost their homes, churches, schools and hospitals. The path of destruction is wide and has cut deep. We believe currently that the district office and two UM churches had major damage.

2. Consider making a donation the American Red Cross or UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)

3. Consider bringing up items to fill some Red Cross Comfort Kits

Some of the items you can donate are:

Gallon Ziploc bags, small shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, washcloth, kleenex, shaving items, batteries, bottled water, wet wipes, diapers. Drop them off in the church lobby or main office

4. Start praying about future mission trips to Joplin in August and September. Cleaning up will be a long process.

5. Do not attempt to drive down to Joplin to view the damage or try and help. They are requesting certain groups come down and the Red Cross and City are contacting them personally. Do not go to Joplin, please.

6. Pray about opening your home to anyone who might need to relocate for a few months.

7. You may also donate to the relief efforts through Grace by marking "Joplin relief" on your check on envelope.

The size of this event is so vast, that we are partnering with Woods Chapel UMC to provide assistance to Joplin. Look for updates on the church webpage, the church facebook page, Pastor Jeremy's blog, and through direct emails from the church account. All church wide mission efforts to Joplin are being coordinated through the church office in consultation with Pastor Jeremy and our Mission Chair Carmen Kynard.

Thank you and please pray for all those who are suffering.

I am a United Methodist Pastor

2011-05-04T07:05:00.000-07:00

I am a United Methodist Pastor. I do not delight or rejoice in the suffering or death of others. My humanness may pull me away from my calling, but I seek, struggle and fight to stand firm on my faith in Jesus Christ. The faith community I come from is inclusive of those seeking to fulfill their call from God. Our focus on serving the needs of the poor is paramount to our service in Christ. Our focus of sharing the good news in word and deed is built into the structure of the denomination. We help people, wherever they may be, connect with God and begin or continue their journey of faith. We are not flashy, we do not seek the spotlight and rarely do we comment on the political realm, only if it serves and is connected to our purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission and Great Commandment.
I am not a manager of a building. I would rather be in the community than in a committee meeting.
I continue to grow in God's grace daily, desperately seeking direction and a better understanding of God's will. My daily prayers focus on my wife, unborn child, my family, my friends, our Bishop, our cabinet, my clergy colleagues, the church I serve, the churches in our community and world, those who are suffering, those who are far from God, the community I serve and many, many more.
The Lord's Prayer is never far from my lips and thoughts.
The Apostle's Creed informs my beliefs.
I am part of a connectional systems that encourages clergy to connect.
We struggle with fruitfulness and competition and yet we continue to conference together.
We have an Open Communion table.
The churches of the United Methodist Church are mission stations.
Every Sunday is a mini-Easter for us.
From time to time, we move to other churches to serve wherever we are sent.
We mourn with those who mourn, we rejoice with those who rejoice.
We do no harm, we do good and we stay in love with God.
I am a United Methodist Pastor.

Passover and Maundy Thursday 2011

2011-04-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

Today is Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday. It's the time in the life of the Christian church when we come together and share in Holy Communion as Jesus did with his disciples in the Upper Room. Many believe He was celebrating Passover with his disciples. Recent reports have questioned if it was Thursday or Wednesday. Whichever, he gathered and broke bread with them. Passover was and is a celebration for the Jewish people. While under slavery in Egypt, God sent plagues against the Pharaoh and his people. One of the plagues, which prompted him to free the slaves, was death of the firstborn. The Israelites marked their doors so that the plague would pass them over.
It prompted them to be freed. Hence, Passover.
As Jesus celebrated Passover, he instituted something new. Communion. This is my body, this is my blood.
Today we Christians gather and prayerfully consider the Last Supper. At the meal it's revealed one will betray Jesus. Another will deny Him.
Our hearts stir today and our souls respond to God's calling. Where will you be this evening? At home watching the Office? In church? Working?

Go in peace and go with God.

Maundy Thursday April 21st, 2011 @ 7 pm

2011-04-20T07:42:00.000-07:00

Reflections from the Kitchen: The Three Mary’s

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

Laura Kramer

Mary Magdalene

Linda Morrow

Mary, the wife of Clopas

Jerri Carroll

Simon the Zealot

Tom Morrow

Join us this year as we celebrate Maundy-Thursday with a brand new original drama. We move from the Upper Room to the kitchen where they women are preparing the Passover Meal for Jesus and His Disciples. They all three reflect on the discussions overheard at the Last Supper. Imagine sitting and listening to the conversations and watching the events unfold for Jesus and the Twelve. Open your hearts, minds and souls to God this day.

We finish by celebrating Holy Communion together.

We have an open table and everyone is welcome.

There's a Spirit in the Air

2011-03-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

There is a song in the United Methodist Hymnal that I really like, but we don't sing it very much. In fact, I have only heard a few times. What I really like about it is the words. Here is verse 5.

"When a stranger's not alone, when the homeless find a home, praise the love that Christ revealed, living, working in our world."

Amen!

Verse 6-
"May the Spirit fill our praise, guide our thoughts and change our ways; God in Christ has come to stay. Live tomorrow's life today!"

Amen. Hallelujah!

Those are some good words to hear. Excellent words. Beautiful words.

Let your faith today be one of hope, love and joy. May your words, thoughts and deeds reflect the Grace and Love God has given us all.

Go in peace and go with God.

United Methodist Pastor Fired for Not Believing In Hell

2011-03-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

Alright, so that is not entirely what happened. If you look at the secular press you do not hear the whole story, which does not surprise any of us. The United Methodist News Service shared a full picture of what happened to a pastor who challenged traditional views on hell. And the blogpost on hell was another in a series of controversial statements and views from a student pastor.
You can find the full story HERE
I have no problem with people learning, discussing and sharing. It's good to talk about heaven and hell, especially when less and less people even think about the afterlife. The problem I do have is when one's beliefs are forced upon others in a way that does not allow for discussion. The really sad thing is that many on both sides of the hell discussion as of recent were making comments about Rob Bell's book (Love Wins) way before it was published! They had not even read the book. Is hell real? Yes. Will people end up there? Yes. Do I want to be there? NO!
There are many people right now who are revitalizing a discussion of heaven and hell. Several pastor friends are preaching on these topics. Check out Eric Huffman's sermons at Revolution. Good stuff.
To be completely honest, I don't think about hell too much. I think we should all be more focused on what we do here and now. Love God. Love your neighbor. And by no means ever think you are "good soil" or have everything figured out. We don't.
And I am tired of people promoting themselves instead of the Gospel. I'm also tired of people speaking poorly of UMC when they are trying to become part of it?!?
I love the UMC. Yes we have our struggles, but we are one of, if not the best places to help a hurting and broken world find their way to God.
Go in peace and go with God.

Worry, Worry, Worry

2011-03-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

A few scriptures we shared on Sunday in our "We Believe, but Still Worry" sermon.

Remember- FEAR- False Evidence Appearing Real

Fight Worry with Trust, Prayer, Focus and Direction

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:25-27

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Oh yeah, and God delivers better than the Pizza guy!!! Put your faith in God, not the Pizza guy ;0)

Go in peace and go with God.

Confirmation Class- Mission Project

2011-03-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

Grace UMC in Lee's Summit
PARENTS NIGHT OUT
Confirmation Babysitting
Only $10
5 pm to 9 pm
Babies to 9 years old
They are raising money for socks for the homeless.

Ash Wednesday 2011

2011-03-09T14:23:00.000-08:00

Today is Ash Wednesday. Christians all over the world begin their 40 day journey toward Easter. Known as Lent, this journey is marked by fasting and prayer. For some it's marked by penance. The Palm Leaves from last Palm Sunday have been burned to create ashes. Those ashes mixed with oils will be placed on our foreheads in the shape of a cross. This is to remind us of our mortality, and also seal our Lenten commitment.
The big question we hear is, "What are you giving up for Lent?"
Or, "what are you taking on for Lent?"
For me this year, I heard a good friend ask us all-
"What does God want you to do this year for Lent?"
Ponder that with me as we begin this prayerful time of fasting and penance.
Go in peace and go with God.

Crazy Love- Session 1 Follow Up (Tuesday Night Men's Group)

2011-03-02T08:13:00.000-08:00

Last night we discussed the first part of the book. There were several reflections I thought I would lift up for those unable to attend.

1. pg. 22- The "problem isn't the fact that we're lukewarm, halfhearted, or stagnant Christians. The crux of it all is why we are this way, and it is because we have an inaccurate view of God." emphasis added by me ;0)

2. pg. 29- "Most of us know that we are supposed to love and fear God; that we are supposed to read our Bible and pray so that we can get to know Him better; that we are supposed to worship Him with our lives. But actually living it out is challenging." again, emphasis mine

3. pg 31- "A lot of people say that whatever you believe about God is fine, so long as you are sincere. But that is comparable to describing your friend in one instance as a three-hundred pound sumo wrestler and in another as a five foot two, ninety pound gymnast. No matter how sincere you are in your explanations, both descriptions of your friend simply cannot be true." em

4. pg 33- "Can you worship a God who isn't obligated to explain His actions to you?"

We talked about a bunch of other stuff, but those were the things that I wanted to share again. See you next week.

Here is the sign up list-
March 8th- Chapters 2-3 - Dave and Ric
March 15th- NO CLASS SPRING BREAK!
March 22nd- Chapters 4-5 - Sean and Jeremey
March 29th- Chapters 6-7 - Denny and Tom
April 5th- Chapters 8-9 - Joe and James
April 12th- Chapter 10, Notes and Conversation - Kramer and Russ

Crazy Love- Foreword, Preface, Chapter 1

2011-03-01T14:31:00.001-08:00

Hey guys, we begin our study this week and I thought I would post the video for you.

New Sermon Series: The Christian Atheist

2011-02-28T20:38:00.001-08:00

Watching and listening

2011-02-22T13:13:00.000-08:00

For the last few days I have been listening. I have spoken less in the last two days than in a while. I'm out of the office this week, but still working. Here is what I have witnessed.
A dad waiting for his wife and two daughters to join him. He was preparing a place for the them to sit and eat lunch. He put out chairs, small table, etc. He worked for about thirty minutes. Then, when the family arrived his wife was not impressed. She and the girls left, then came back later. She then jumped on her cellphone and ignored her kids and husband for the next hour.
An older couple sat down to eat and read. After a few minutes, their food ended up on the floor as the wife had balanced the food on too small a table. No fuss. No screaming. No anger. Just a smile and a clean up.
Some birds joined us as we all ate lunch. Some fed the birds, others didn't. Sadly, a few children chased the birds around relentlessly. One parent came over and said "Leave those poor creatures alone". Other parents were no where to be found and the poor creatures were chased and chased all while trying to grab a chip or fry from the ground.
I encourage you to be in the moment. Do not neglect your relationships. Go in peace and go with God.

Upcoming Sermon Series- The Christian Atheist: Doubtful Belief

2011-02-21T10:47:00.000-08:00

As we approach Lent this year, Grace UMC is gearing up for a brand new sermon series entitled "The Christian Atheist: Doubtful Belief". The series is being greatly informed by several recent books, namely-
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel
They Like Jesus but Not the Church by Dan Kimball
Lent is a time of fasting and deep spiritual growth for many of us. We usually give something up and take something on. For many years I have seen people waver in their walk with Christ, me included. Struggles include, but are not limited to, prayer, forgiveness, worry, giving and trusting God. Over 40 days we will join together as we attempt to open our hearts, minds and souls to God. Join us on this new journey as we ponder some very difficult questions and topics. Here are the some of our informing Scriptures and the sermon titles.

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:16 (NIV)

Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 1:11 (American Standard)

March 9- Ash Wednesday

Christian Atheism- Believing in God but living as if He Doesn’t Exist

March 13

We Believe, but struggle with Prayer

March 20

We Believe, but refuse to Forgive

March 27

We Believe, but still Worry

April 3

We Believe, but don’t think God is Fair

April 10

In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash

April 17- Palm Sunday

We Believe, but are Lukewarm

April 21- Maundy- Thursday

Confusion and Betrayal

April 22- Good Friday

Crazy Love

April 24^th- Easter

Belief without a Doubt

Go in peace and go with God.

2011-02-19T11:49:00.000-08:00

Grace UMC from Jeremy Vickers on Vimeo.

Who Stole My Dreams?- Sermon From Sunday

2011-02-08T08:38:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I mentioned a few things that deeply impacted some. I thought I would share a few of them here for those of you who missed worship.

The picture here is a Lamborghini that for many years as a teenager I dreamed of owning. Of course, dreams change, life goes on. What I asked on Sunday was for us to look at our blessings and carry those with us daily, instead of walking around as if we need more or don't have enough. God will always provide. It might not be the lottery or a Lamborghini, but God is with us. Cherish the blessings and carry them daily.
When we do not feel spiritually full when try and fill it with the things of this world. How many times have you prayed to win the lottery because you would do good things with it, even though right now you are not living up to your potential with what you already have...yikes!
Pray for the things of God, not of the world.
And the three questions again were-

What am I doing right now in my life that requires faith?
If I stopped believing in God today what in my life would be different?

Did anyone you encounter this day realize you are Christian?

Go in peace and go with God.

Faith- Some questions

2011-02-04T07:56:00.000-08:00

I just finished an excellent book that had two big aha's statements for me. They were-
What am I doing right now in my life that requires faith?
If I stopped believing in God today what in my life would be different?
Faith in God cannot be proven like a science experiment. Faith in God is only evidenced by how much we love. Faith is dead if it does not move to action. As I ponder those two questions, as you might, some harsh realities must be faced. We live in the wealthiest country on earth. Much of what we do in life centers on safety and being comfortable. It's when we are forced from our bubbles of safety and comfort that we move to a place of necessary faith. Is your faith necessary to our daily life? I pray and hope that it is because if not, well, the alternative would be, well, you know.
Ponder with me for a few moments how life should reflect who God has called us to be and what impact that has on daily life.
You get up. Get ready for work. Eat breakfast since it's the most important meal of the day. You drive to work or school. You arrive and start working or schooling ;0). In all of that, where was God invited in to your life?
You toil away at work/school and after eight or nine, maybe even twelve hours you head home. You are greeted by a loving family and spend the next few hours vegging in front of the tv, spending time helping the kids with homework and you then stress about money and bills. Where is God?
Maybe you prayed a few times. Maybe you even read the Bible to the kids. Did anyone you encounter this day realize you are Christian? How would they know?
Sundays are big days for Christians. If we make it to church we start the day off right, unless of course we have the normal big fight on the way to church in the car.
At least on Sundays I am good person. I go to church. I maybe pray a few times. I hear Bible passages quoted. Being a Christian is more than Sundays. My faith needs to be more than one day a week. So friends, let us put our faith into action. Let us live a Christians every day. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. Matthew 5:16

Egypt- Perspective from a friend

2011-02-01T07:41:00.000-08:00

The following article was published by Peter Miano in the Society for Biblical Studies newsletter. I know many people are trying to understand what is going on in Egypt. I was on a trip with Peter throughout Turkey. I trust his views as being unbiased and straight forward. I usually do not comment on the politics of the US, but when things happen like this in other countries, the church can't be silent. Remember, 60% of the country is under 30, 90% of those do not have a job. People in Egypt live on less than $2 a day. If you were wondering about what is going on in Egypt, here is some good perspective.

Newsletter: Vol. 10. Iss. 2

February 2011

Don't Know Much About History
Peter J. Miano

I just got back to our base in Bethlehem after having spent most of January with two programs in Cairo. Our third program in Egypt since November was in progress when the popular uprising against the Egyptian government broke out. I happened to have been in Tahrir Square-ground zero of the uprising-when the first protests broke out and I watched for about four hours that first day (I returned that night and the next night too).

As I approached Tahrir Square, my first indication that something was awry was the absence of car traffic-unheard of in Cairo. There were a lot of special police on hand, but, from a bridge at about 12:30 PM on 25 January, I spotted only about two dozen protesters. Although calls for demonstrations had been circulating by word of mouth and especially via Facebook, Twitter and sms, no one really expected anything like what would transpire. When I say "no one," I mean no one in anyone's government (U.S. and Egyptian governments included), no one in the so-called "opposition" movements (neither the Muslim Brotherhood nor Nobel Laureate Dr. el Baradei), and, perhaps, not even the organizers themselves. The ominous overthrow of the Tunisian government a week earlier might have telegraphed a domino effect of sorts, but it was not well understood in establishment circles, especially in Egypt and the United States. The spontaneity and seeming suddenness of the uprising reminded me of the first and second Palestinian Intifadas, but the parallels end there. Even one of my Egyptian colleagues was surprised and incredulous when I informed him on the evening of Day One, "Today is the first day of the revolution."

In Egypt, public dissent is carefully regulated and the organizers had received permits to demonstrate in advance. The demonstrations were scheduled for a national holiday called "Police Day." But the police on hand were not the usual and ubiquitous traffic and tourist police. In a walk around Tahrir Square, I easily observed at least 1,000 special police, dressed in black, wearing full riot gear and at least 40 armored police vehicles mounted with water canon. At that point, they were controlling spectators, not protesters. In addition, there were hundreds of plain clothed security personnel making sure that spectators did not stray into the ranks of the protestors.

As the small crowd of protestors, now numbering about 100 entered Tahrir Square, they were managed adeptly by the special police. Undeterred, they changed course, which they seemed to do in a disciplined and directed manner. As they became more confident, they provoked a stiffer police response and when the police pushed on the protesters, their numbers were joined by those who had been spectators. Outnumbered by police at first, the numbers of the protestors swelled to 10-15,000 by mid afternoon and now the police were badly outnumbered. Moreover, the protestors themselves were obviously well organized as groups of new protestors appeared from a different angle almost as soon as the police pushed another group back, causing the police to fall back and regroup repeatedly. Still, however, there was an air of civility among the protesters and professionalism and discipline among the police-a sharp contrast to what I had observed in previous clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers during the two Palestinian uprisings. It was easy to observe the tentativeness of the police, who although well trained and equipped, may have been unprepared to meet such determination among their compatriot protesters. Demonstrators shouted slogans such as, "No, No Mubarak," "We are all Egyptians," and "Not Mubarak, not his sons," indicating that their objective is nothing short of complete regime change. This may have seemed like a long shot on Day One, but on Day Six, it is a distinct possibility.

Facebook was one of the primary ways in which the organizers of the protests circulated word of the event, garnering 90,000 visitors to their Facebook site in a matter of hours in advance of the demonstrations. Cell phones were another tool at their disposal. Along with other networking tools, Facebook and Twitter were shut down by the end of the first afternoon and text messaging was severely disrupted in an effort by the regime to suppress the uprising. By the end of Day Two mobile phone service was shut down and all internet access was blocked.

Egyptian dissent is by no means new. Rather, widespread discontent has been systematically suppressed by the Mubarak regime for 30 years, with the full complicity of his U.S. patron. The Egyptian government has ruled by emergency laws since the assassination of Anwar Sadat 30 years ago. These laws give the government the authority to arrest and hold indefinitely any Egyptian without charge or trial-a tactic employed by the British in Palestine, Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Israel even today. It is also a tactic employed by the U.S. Torture is often used to extract information.

While 25 January 2011 was marked in advance as a "Day of Change," the precipitating moment of the uprising was the parliamentary elections of 28 November 2010. The dubious result of this election was the complete removal of any opposition in the Egyptian parliament-incredible even for a land of miracles! Egyptians were disgusted by that result, incredulous even on Egyptian standards. That was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. Egyptians are out of patience.

The Facebook page used to rally supporters of the new protests is called, "Kefaya," which in Egyptian Arabic means "enough." The stated objectives of the protests are enough of torture, enough of government corruption, enough of unemployment, enough manipulation of elections and enough of the current regime headed by Hosni Mubarak. After the first two days in which the protesters were overwhelmingly young, their ranks are now filled with people of all ages, but the core is well educated, underemployed Egyptians, both men and women. While some of the demonstrators are religious-mosques and churches have been staging grounds for protests-the protestors are distinctly not "Islamists." After observing the protests for seven hours on Day One and Two, it was obvious that there was hardly a bearded man among the protesters indicating that fundamentalism is not a significant factor here. Further, there is no obvious sign that the protesters affiliate with any established political party. No banners or signs indicated political party affiliation. Universally, however, the protesters are fed up with the ruling National Democratic Party.

The protest movement is called variously kefaya or 6 April Youth Movement. Neither of these movements coalesced within established party structures. The traditional opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been officially outlawed in Egypt for 30 years did not anticipate the energy of this uprising and is a minor player. More telling, a leading opponent of the government, Dr. Mohammad el Baradei, the Nobel Laureate and former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, was napping at his home in Vienna when the uprising began. He returned from there to join the protests, but was placed under house arrest almost immediately. All traditional opposition groups are now trying to insert themselves into the protest mix, but they are an afterthought to the protesters. This is a broad, popular response to years of ineffective leadership, including that of the traditional opposition parties.

Another obvious and distinguishing characteristic of the protests is that there is no sign of anti Americanism. On the contrary, American ideals of democracy seem to provide some of the inspiration for the protests. If there are any negative aspersions on the United States, it is focused on the failure of the current U.S. administration, like all of its predecessors, to stand on the side of democracy. The U.S. is widely and correctly regarded as the Mubarak regime's primary patron. It is not possible that the U.S. was ignorant for the past thirty years of the corruption, the torture, the ineffectiveness and the suspension of civil liberties. Notwithstanding the saturation of the American public with media messages that we are despised in this neck of the woods, I see no evidence of this in Egypt-or anywhere else for that matter. Moreover, our travelers don't see any either. Egyptians may be frustrated that America is not really the America they dream about, but they are not anti American.

After several days of standard US rhetoric, there seems to be a slight shift indicating that the U.S. wants to distance itself from the Mubarak regime that it supported for 30 years. In light of the many times that the US has opted to support powerful regimes, instead of promoting democracy (South Africa, Iran, Algeria, Iraq), I can't help being cynical about US posturing and pretensions to promote democracy now.

Over the last two days, official administration comments have morphed from confident assertions of trust in the Egyptian government to tentative suggestions that the regime might want to reconsider its ways and introduce needed reforms. Have we forgotten that the U.S. propped up this corrupt, ineffective regime for 30 years? In all of its rhetoric and pretensions to promote democracy, does this administration really not remember that it, like its predecessors, actually discourages democratic reform and habitually sides with authoritarian, corrupt regimes (e.g., Egypt, Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, to name but a few) as long as they are dutifully subservient to the U.S? Even now, as Mohammaed El Baradei seems to be emerging as a leader of the protest movement and possible successor to Mubarak, the conversation in Washington seems to be, "Is he acceptable to us?"

These past few days, after witnessing the outbreak of the uprising in Egypt against 30 years of a dictatorial regime and after listening to the limp wristed rhetoric emanating from the U.S. State Department, I am reminded of the opening lyrics of Sam Cooke's 1958 tune: Don't know much about history. Not only did the U.S. apparently underestimate the significance of the revolt in Tunisia a week earlier that resulted in the over through of that country's leader, ten days later, the State Department seems to have forgotten that it even happened. Short term memory loss? I don't think so. More like habitual suppression of inconvenient realities. When Hillary Clinton expressed her confidence in Egypt's stable government on day two of the uprising, had she forgotten that Iran under the Shah was also considered stable by the U.S. even up to the even of the Iranian revolution?

On Day Six, no one knows which direction Egypt will go. The Tunisian model is a distinct possibility, but so also in the Iranian model-broad dissatisfaction with an obviously manipulated election was firmly suppressed there in the Spring of 2010. I doubt strongly that there will be a Tienanmen Square style crackdown on the protesters, but this cannot be ruled out. The Mubarak regime may be positioning itself for abdication. The special forces are no longer on the streets. A vice president has been appointed for the first time in 30 years and Mubarak's wife and two sons have already left for London. One thing I do know is that this would be a great time for the U.S. to exercise a little change we can believe in.

Blame vs. Me

2011-01-31T08:01:00.000-08:00

It's easy to blame others for our problems. This week we are talking about hopes and dreams. Just because I hope or pray that something will happen does not mean God will deliver it. My hopes and dreams must be connected to God's purpose. Never is that more evident than in discerning the call of God on our hearts. A mature Christian will not blame others for where they are in life. Blaming people or groups of people for our problems only makes us bitter and angry. The first place a Christian must look is to God, then inside. What is the state of my soul? If I don't like where I am in life spiritually or vocationally, have I done everything I can to change it? The answer for most of us is a resounding, no, we have not. We may think we have, but we have not. How do I know this? Because I have been there too. Yes, I too have worked diligently (or so I thought), but in reality did not. Think about the baseball player who in their mind is the best player ever but never practices. Was he cheated? Probably not. True gifts shine through. No matter who or what seems to be against you, those gifts will shine through! If you feel you have others to blame or maybe you have been wronged, stop. Take a moment and look to God. What is God's plan in this situation. There is not some huge conspiracy against you. Listen. Pray. Discern.
If you want to be a great preacher, then you need to work on it.
If you want to be a writer, then write.
If you want to be a pro baseball player, start practicing.
Nothing comes easy. Even though in many instances people who are successful look like they just arrived, it was preceded by years and years of hard work. Friends, stop blaming others and start living.
Go in peace and go with God.

Hope

2011-01-19T10:55:00.000-08:00

Even though today was not what you might have expected, there is hope. There are many days that do not go as orchestrated. Expectations are created and then when not met, we find disappointment. In that, there are two ways to go. Misery or hope. If you are disappointed with life and see nothing changing, you can just keep going down a spiral of shame and sadness. Going it alone will lead to that, if you let it. But there are people around us who care. Some days it might not seem like it, but they do. We should not shut people out because we are angry or upset. And blaming others gets us no where. So, we turn to the God of faith, hope and love. We find faith when we take a leap.
We find love that is freely given if we can receive.
And there is hope that today I can make a difference. There is hope in salvation. There is hope in the kindness of a stranger. There is hope, sitting right next to us saying, "You can make it, I'm here."
If you know someone who is struggling, don't ignore them. Be there for them. Be the light. Help them find their path. Give them space, but let them know you are here and there is hope.
Go in peace and go with God.

Martin Luther King Jr Week in Lee's Summit

2011-01-06T09:19:00.000-08:00

Dr. Martin Luther King’s message of service will be the focus of a week of activities scheduled for the 14th Annual Celebration in Lee’s Summit. “Celebrating the Dream through Service” is the theme of communitywide activities that will begin on January 8 and conclude on January 17 with dancing, singing and inspirational messages.
The community is urged to get involved with the “Week of Service” opportunities January 8 - 17. Among those opportunities for involvement:

preparing meals for the residents of Cabrini House and Langsford Home
participating in the blood drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. January 17 at Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church, 1815 NE Independence Avenue, Lee’s Summit
providing gently used clothing and household items for the First Baptist Church of Lee’s Summit’s “FREE” Garage Sale to be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on January 15 at the church located at 2 NE Douglas St., Lee’s Summit
donating to Lee’s Summit Social Services and One Good Meal using a coupon gift card available at the register of Hy-Vee stores in Lee’s Summit
helping the families of Hope House by donating to the Blessed to be a Blessing Ministry of New Generation Christian Center to purchase gift cards; call 623-9900 for information. Also, New Generation and New Beginnings Christian Church will have a joint church service on Sunday, January 16, beginning at 4 p.m. at 601 NW Libby Lane.

Project Warmth barrels will be at City facilities and throughout the community for the community to donate coats, hearing aids and eye glasses. Stay up-to-date on service projects and opportunities for participation at cityofls.net, click “Main” site and select “Volunteer.”
The week of activities culminates with everyone convening for the citywide Celebration on January 17 in the Pavilion at John Knox Village, 520 NW Murray Road, Lee’s Summit. The celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. with a preshow featuring the Lee’s Summit West High School Jazz Band and cultural exhibits by local students.
The 14th Annual Celebration features performances by music, dance, and vocal groups as well as a slide show of volunteer activities in the City throughout the year.
Reverend Dr. Tom Haley will be the keynote speaker. Rev. Dr. Haley is associate minister of Community Christian Church on the Plaza and was the former senior pastor of Lee’s Summit Christian Church for 25 years. NBC Action News Weekend Anchor Cynthia Newsome will be the mistress of ceremonies and Lee’s Summit Mayor Randall Rhoads will welcome guests to the celebration. There will be a presentation of the flags by the Lee’s Summit High School Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard and the performance of the national anthem by Lee’s Summit North High School.
The celebration will feature performances by:

Kiddie Kollege
Men of Note choir
Nartan Academy of Dance
New Generation Mass Movement of Praise

Emmanuel Ngomsi, Ph.D. is the chairperson of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration that is sponsored by the City of Lee’s Summit’s Human Relations Commission.
For more information, call (816) 969-1000 or visit the City’s Web site: cityofls.net.

New Year, New Relationships- Ring Out the Old, Ring in the New

2011-01-04T08:43:00.000-08:00

There is a great poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson that many of us may not know, but we know one of the phrases. The poem is called "Ring Out, Wild Bells". The line we know is "ring out the old and ring in the new". I just wanted to share his poem with you. It was published about 1850 but still feels timely today.

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

The flying cloud, the frosty light;

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,

For those that here we see no more,

Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

And ancient forms of party strife;

Ring in the nobler modes of life,

With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,

The faithless coldness of the times;

Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,

But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

The civic slander and the spite;

Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,

Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,

The larger heart, the kindlier hand;

Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be.

It is a new year and a time for resolutions, pledges and promises. Some stick, some don't. Over this past year some relationships have ended, others have grown. New friends will be made this year, but do not dwell on the one's lost. I hope and pray that you are on the path God has for you. If not, take a step in the direction of the one who loves, gives and saves. Go in peace and go with God.

Genuine Faith

2010-12-23T20:45:00.000-08:00

Genuine faith is made up of thoughts, words and deeds focused on serving God and our neighbor. Love God. Love your neighbor. Genuine faith is connected to God through prayer, service, worship, discipleship, ministry and a whole host of other things. We call those spiritual disciplines. An often noted phrase to Christians lacking in faith is to "fake it till you make it". Not a big fan of that phrase. There is some truth in it though. Some of us don't work on our faith. We ignore God's precepts or calls and then when things go awry, we go back to God. We kind of live by the seat of our pants. We put stuff off until the very last minute. A friend told me a story of a poor pastor (not financially poor) who would get up early on Sunday mornings to write his sermons. He was a huge procrastinator. He would say he was most inspired when he was up against the wall. And if he didn't have anything come to him that morning, then God would just have to help him out. Well eventually it caught up to him. He overslept and well, he stumbled through a mess of a sermon and sadly, God did not help Him out that day. Or did he? Some times we put off our faith so much that when we go to find it again, it's gone. And it's tough to get it back. There is a practice out there of some pastors to purchase sermons and preach them nearly word for word. If not word for word, more like 75%. Again, not a big fan of that either. Why? Plagiarism. If I passed off the work of someone else for my own in school I would probably be kicked out. In your walk of faith are you relying on the good works of others, people in your family, your children, your husband or wife, or someone else to carry you? It's good to have someone walk with us, but when we allow others to do the heavy lifting in our spiritual walk then we are lying to ourselves. Our faith needs to be genuine and honest. It's needs to be something that helps others. It should be dynamic and growing. Yes we have tough days, but friends, our relationships with Jesus Christ is the light in our life. Then we become the light. Be a light in the darkness. Shine brightly every where you go. If your faith is genuine then you are already shining.
Go in peace and go with God.

Your Christmas Wish

2010-12-16T09:14:00.000-08:00

What is your Christmas wish this year? We all have hopes and dreams and at Christmas time many of us give them over to God. Maybe it's that time of year and we feel more open to speak to God. Maybe we have no other answer than to give it to God.
This year many people are praying for a job. Others are praying for a home. Still others are praying for direction. How can we all help those in need?
Do something. A few years ago we shared a simple, yet profound, sermon series with several churches. It was called "Do Something". In it, we asked members of our congregations to go out and do something. We asked people to help those in need (mission), invite people to church (evangelism) and grow in their faith (worship/discipleship).
I have lots of dreams and hopes for people in my life. Too many to share here. But if I could ask for one thing it would be that all of us go do something for someone else.
I know many are focused on what we might get for Christmas. I hear that Apple products like I-pods, I-Phones and I-Pads are at the top of many lists.
We have a statement we like to share at Grace every now and then and I would ask you maybe read it to help us remember why we are really here.

It's Not About Me,
It's About God.
It's Not About Us,
It's About Them.
It's Not About Here,
It's About There.
It's Not About My Needs,
It's About Their Needs,
It's Not about Now,
It's about Eternity.

Go in peace and go with God.

Restart

2010-11-29T10:15:00.000-08:00

As many of you know we help out with Restart every month. Restart is an inner city homeless ministry in downtown Kansas City. We serve a meal once a month there and have for over ten years. If you were in church yesterday you heard there was a massive jump in homeless in Kansas City this past few years. For the last few years we have heard there were 7,700 homeless in Kansas City. That numbered swelled to over 13,000 this past year. There are many in need of help.
This Christmas is our next Saturday to serve. Thank you to all of you who signed up to bring stuff and deliver. This year is a bit different as we are not serving the food. They have plenty of volunteers to serve, but we still need to deliver the food which includes: Ham, Stuffing, Sweet Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Rolls, Desserts and Relishes. We will not be preparing the food up here like usual. We are asking people to bring prepared items to the church for deliver. We also have a list of items for the 150 adults, 25 children and 7 teens staying at the shelter.
$3-5 McDonalds or Burger King giftcards
Small Bible or Devotional Book
Packaged candy or cookies
Thermal Socks and underwear
Rain Poncho
$5 phone card
$ bus day pass
Crossword or Suduko book and pencil
Notebook and pen
Scarf and stocking cap
Warm gloves
Soap and Lotion
Travel Mug
Plastic container with lid
Small gift for boy or girl

Please prayerfully consider making a difference for someone in need this Christmas. Thank you for helping with the Lee's Summit Social Services Toy Drive this year. Grace spent nearly $10,000 to give 300 families a wonderful Christmas morning. We can do more. Pray. Open your heart. How can we help those in need this year?
Drop your items off at church any time before Christmas Day.
Bring your food up by 10 am for deliver. We still need some helpers. Sign up to help!!!

Thanks.
Go in peace and go with God.

How We Speak and Act

2010-11-11T08:40:00.000-08:00

How we speak about others says more about us than them. Every word we speak reveals a little bit more about the state of our soul. How we treat others also show where your heart is and what is really going on in your spiritual life. In 1 John 2, we see this addressed-

⁹ Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. ¹⁰ Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. ¹¹ But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

Do you live in the light? Do you hate your brother or sister in Christ? I know we sometimes become frustrated with people, but c'mon, I do not understand the level of hated some have for fellow Christians or pastors. Yes there are disagreements, but sadly I sometimes feel that Christians are our own worst enemy. We don't need the prince of darkness working against us, we are doing fine on our own.

So I implore you and I pray that you will choose to walk in the light. Be a light in the darkness for all that you encounter. Let God's grace flow through your words, thoughts and deeds freely. Let us fill heaven with songs of joy and praise! Let your light shine!!!
Go in peace and go with God.

"Election Season" - It's That Time Again

2010-10-29T15:20:00.000-07:00

Well friends and neighbors, it's that time again. The leaves are falling, the air is cooling and the time change is coming. We fall back next week November 7th at 2 am. It's Fall. A simply beautiful season. And of course, every two years during our fall festivals and merry making it becomes "Election Season". Now most of like Fall, in fact, some would say Fall is their favorite season. But "Election Season" has it's cheering section as well, but many do not like what comes with "Election Season". The negative ads, the blizzard of newspaper ads, mailings, just the whole bunch of it. This year if you add it all together, over 1 billion dollars will be spent on the election- that's both sides, with all groups added in. Over 1 billion. A few years ago the Supreme Court equated money as free speech. So people are speaking with their money.
I wish that that 1 billion could be spent on something more productive or helpful, but I don't think that will ever happen.

Now, many of you know as a pastor I try and stay pretty neutral with politics, not wanting people to feel that their church is telling them how to vote, because I would never, ever want the impression to be given by me or any other pastor. We can all gripe about the negative ads and all the other stuff that comes with the "Election Season", just as much as we all gripe when the fifth snow storms drops the white stuff on our streets are not clean.

But let me say this-

Recently Jill and I had a chance to spend a few days in Washington DC. A conference I was scheduled to go to was canceled, and since the tickets were purchased, we just changed the destination. So for five days we wandered around DC. We rode the Metro, visited the museums, the monuments, churches, the stores and restaurants. It was a great few days in our nation's Capital. What really struck me was all the religious and faith-filled language from the past leaders of our country.

In the Lincoln Memorial is inscribed his second inaugural address- part of it says

Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has his own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" If we shall suppose that American Slavery is one of those offences which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope--fervently do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether"
With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.

Those were the days.

I know many call for more civility and make claims of giving their vote to the one person who stops this or that, but let's be honest. It all begins with how each and every one of us conducts ourselves in this world. Be a light in the darkness. Understand that people you disagree with might just read from the same Bible that you do. Just because we disagree does not mean we should be disagreeable. Remember these words- "faith, hope and love"?

What was the greatest of the three?

Love.

Go in peace and go with God.

Celebrate Recovery

2010-10-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

Grace UMC here in Lee's Summit launched a Celebrate Recovery program two weeks ago. Here is the info-

Celebrate Recovery

Sunday Nights 4-6 pm in the Chapel

The purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to fellowship and celebrate God’s healing power in our lives through the eight recovery principles found in the Beatitudes and Christ-centered 12 Steps. This experience allows us to be changed. We open the door by sharing our experiences, victories and hopes with one another. As we progress through the principles and the steps, we discover our personal, loving and forgiving Higher Power – Jesus Christ.

Celebrate Recovery Small Groups WILL

· Provide you a safe place to share your experiences, victories, and hopes with others who are going through a Christ-centered recovery.

· Provide you with a leader who has gone through a similar hurt, hang-up, or habit who will facilitate the group as it focuses on a particular principle each week.

· Provide you with the opportunity to find an accountability partner or sponsor to encourage you to attend other recovery meetings held throughout the week.

Celebrate Recovery Small Groups WILL NOT

· Attempt to offer any professional clinical advice. Our leaders are not counselors.

· Allow its members to attempt to “fix: one another.

Go in peace and go with God.

Pro Deo Youth Center

2010-10-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

I met with one of the Executive Directors of Pro Deo Youth Center today and thought I would share about it. From their website- Pro Deo has been called by many a "teen refuge". Pro Deo is an intentional community which exists to co-journey with young adults to encourage character development empowering them to reach personal goals to positively influence their generation.

They are making a difference with teens in our community. They have several things going on right now-

Homework help- Mon-Fri

Life group/Mentoring

Family dinner on Tuesday nights

Leadership Development

Thursday night hangout

Fun Fridays

They serve weekly 40 kids a meal and reach between 150-200 teens. Kylie Ewing was a youth director at Grace my first year here. She is an amazing Christian who has a passion for helping those in need. She and her husband Andy are the directors of this ministry. They are doing something profound. They are seeking to reach teens that other don't reach so well. If you would like to help, they are a non-profit (tax deductible if you give), please contact them or me. Send money to:

Pro Deo Youth Center

PO Box 6742

Lee's Summit, MO 64064

Pray for them as they continue to reach out and help those in great need. They are an example to all Christians of what missional focus and sacrifice are all about for the next generation. Please prayerfully consider helping them today!

Go in peace and go with God.

Methodists See Clues For Growth In Thriving Churches

2010-09-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

Recently and article in USA today listed four reasons for church growth in Methodist Churches. The story begins by explaining that the UMC commissioned a study to discover what growing churches are doing that makes them so successful. The study yielded these results:
1. Small groups and programs, such as Bible study and activities geared toward youth.
2. Active lay leadership
3. Inspirational pastors who have served lengthy tenures at churches.
4. A mix of traditional and contemporary worship services.
I read the article the day it came out and have been pondering for a few days and here are my views, which in no way represent the church I serve, the district, conference or the UMC.
The first thing that struck me was an often heard Latin phrase that some of us pastors kid about- "post hoc ergo propter hoc". It basically means, before it, therefore because of it. It's a logical fallacy. Temporal succession does not always imply a causal relation. There is your Latin lesson for the day ;0)
It's a way of saying that you can trace outcomes to the sources. In other words, if I look at a bunch of successful churches I can hopefully determine a pattern for why they are all successful. For me I look at the study, knowing the questions they asked because I filled out the survey, as more wide than deep. One of my favorite logical fallacies I lift up is this- All successful churches have preschools so therefore, to be successful you need a preschool.
Cause? Effect?
I see the list of four things and I then read the comments section of the article on USA today and agree with them more than the article. They basically say that we a majoring in minors. Small groups, lay leadership, inspirational pastors and a mix of traditional and contemporary worship services lead to success?!?
What about God honoring worship?
What about missions?
Did they all pursue a vision from God? (oh wait, we all try to do that)
What about the fact that most growing churches are in suburban affluent areas?
Every church was once a small church. Many small churches were once large. What I want to know is what were the steps these churches took to reach their communities for Christ. Sadly, there is no four point plan for church growth. There are not twelve keys to successful churches. One of our largest and most successful church's here in Missouri only does contemporary worship.
People will sell hundreds and thousands of books about church growth, and some of them are absolutely amazing reads and will deeply help pastors and laity discover several paths to growth.
What about the preschool factor ;0) (kidding!)
The worst we can do is try and copy successful churches so we can be successful.
The best we can do is honor God in Jesus Christ through out thoughts, words and deeds. Shine brightly. Bloom where you are planted. Love God with your heart, soul, strength and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. Go therefore and make disciples...
We are a light in the darkness...aren't we?
Go in peace and go with God.

A Bit of Grace

2010-09-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite Bible passages can be found in the letter to the church in Ephesus.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourself, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do". Ephesians 2:8-10
Grace means: unmerited favor, kindness, mercy, unconditional love, esteem, beauty and a bunch of other words.
We are called to receive God's grace and to share God's grace. The Christian, not just pastors, are to share the love of God and speak as if we are speaking the very words of God. Our thoughts, words and deeds should be free of anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, did I mention anger, and many other unholy attributes. There are tough days out there. During those tough days I hope and pray that you are not swayed by the winds of sin. They come and go, temptations come and go, but the Word of God is forever. Stand with Him and continually work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Do not allow others to dictate your mood or attitude. Open your heart, soul and mind to the one who provides the path of salvation. And please remember to offer God's grace to others as you would have them offer it to you.
Go in peace and go with God.

Take a Risk

2010-08-31T08:54:00.000-07:00

Are you playing it safe? Do the choices you make daily reflect fear and worry instead of hope and joy? There are phrases out there that we use that keep us from moving forward. One of them is: "you have to go along to get along." Another, "to change the system you need to be part of the system". Or another favorite of mine, "change the system from the inside out". This kind of thinking leads us to not take risks. Some of us avoid risks at all costs. I was once lectured by another pastor that I should take more risks. Funny story, he himself was not taking any risks. Maybe risk for one person looks different than another. It may not be smart to take risks. Wise thinking would tell you not to take risks. For me, part of taking a risk is linked to sacrifice. To move forward with integrity I have to take risks. Playing it safe does not always get you in the end zone. Think about the fans at the end of a game that see the quarterback kneel down three times and run out the clock. Do we cheer for that? How about the coach that doesn't trust his quarterback and hands the ball off three times in the red zone, only to try and kick a field goal?!? Cheer for that? Without great risk there is usually no reward.
Lots of people talk about WWJD- what would Jesus do? I'm not sure I can guess what he would do in all situations, but I do know that he took risks.
He took a risk when He constantly challenged the Pharisees.
He took a risk when He preached the Sermon on the Mount.
He took a risk when He reveled that He was the Messiah.
His life was full of risk. Is yours?
Friends, please consider today why you are doing certain things. Are you taking the least path of resistance, or are you taking risks in the name of Jesus Christ?
Go in peace and go with God.

Fine Line

2010-08-23T14:25:00.000-07:00

There is a fine line between holiness and self-righteousness. There really is. In the time of Jesus he encountered several religious leaders that were more focused on fame, celebrity and power than serving God. Here is a small passage from Matthew 23

"²"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. ³So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

⁵"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'

¹³"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

¹⁵"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

¹⁶"Woe to you, blind guides!

Self-righteousness leads to pride.

Holiness leads to love.

The fine line is where your heart is focused. If your heart wholly focused on God, then you walk the path of holiness, denying the self.

If your heart treasures things of the world more than God, then you walk the path of this world, a path of self-righteousness.

Which path do you walk? The fine line that divides it is not always easily seen. Be aware of where you are walking and why.

And it might be good to better understand what a phylactery is before you skip over the fine line.

Go in peace and go with God.

What Are You For?

2010-08-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

It's easy to figure out what people are against. Just talk to someone and they will tell you. Negative gripes, mean spirited words, and opinions have been elevated into some sort of high art form that is lauded as something unique, gifted and important. Here is a secret. Anyone can tear something down. Anyone can gripe. It does not take a Ph.D to speak poorly of others. We are called to build each other up, not tear each other down. I value your opinion, and I hope you value the opinions of others. Our opinion is not the only view. It is truly sad to see God loving people take disagreement to a new level of accusations and using the Bible or parables to speak poorly of others. Watch the news and you will see it happens too much. Jesus said,"for whoever is not against us is for us". In others words, treat everyone as if they are your friend unless they give you cause not too.
Please remember that most people do not have bad intentions. In fact, most people have good intentions. Look at your own life. Can someone tell more of what you are against, or more of what you are for?
So what do you stand for? Righteousness, goodness, faithfulness, peace, joy, hope, faith or love?
Go in peace and go with God

The ABC's of Ministry

2010-08-17T09:02:00.000-07:00

During seminary the term ABC's of ministry bounced around a few of our classes. The ABC's stand for
Attendance
Building
Cash
Many churches gauge how they are doing in the world by checking the stats and comparing with other churches. When we reduce the body of Christ to those three things we really miss the point. Yes those are a few indicators or where we are, but by no means do those things tell the whole story. If there is a business of the church it is the business of making disciples. New disciples. Sadly it's rare in the church today. Most of our churches are just recycling or reconnecting people who have fallen away. Now I am all for reconnecting and recycling. But we have a larger calling. There are Unchristian, non-churched, never been to church, never heard the Gospel story, far from God, lost and miserable people out there in the world today. We assume everyone in our communities have heard about Jesus. They probably have because of Christmas and maybe Easter. But what have they heard? If we allow the media to explain and share our message through the lens of the edges and extremes of the Christian church, then shame on us. The next two generations are turned off by the church. They are not coming as fast as other generations. Is this a crisis? Should we focus all our time, resources and energy and figuring out why the next few generations (X, Y) really don't like the church much? Should we read all the latest books and talk and talk and talk.....?
Or is there a different path? A simple way?
New church start pastors are told they need to make 10 contacts a day with new people to get a church up and running. Ten new people a day! Wow.
If you are sitting in church every week and looking at the attendance listed on the back of your bulletins, but do nothing to increase that number personally, have you missed the point?
If you look at the giving every week and have not moved your giving up in the past few years, have you missed the point?
Are you more focused on your current building or the new building than who might be coming to the building, have you missed the point?
I pray every day for the Body of Christ. I pray every day that God will continue to bless us, guide us and lead us down the path He has placed before us.
Go therefore and make disciples of ALL nations (people). It doesn't just say our friends and family. All. Everyone. Anyone. Who will you share the Gospel with today?
Go in peace and go with God.

The Heat Is On

2010-08-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

This past two weeks have been the longest stretch of hot temps that I have ever experienced. I remember one stretch when I was in high school one summer in July, but every day I walk outside and it just feels like a furnace. I know electric bills are going through the roof as air conditioners are running almost non-stop. Cooling stations are opening up, the libraries are packed, as are the pools.
In life the heat sometimes gets turned up as well. Whether it's work life, school life, married life, kid life, church life or whatever, the heat is sometimes on. How do we deal when the pressure is building and steam is coming out our ears? Do we blow up? Do we attack? Do we accuse?
I've seen and experienced both sides of a blow up. It's been awhile since I have been the one blowing up (many, many years thank the Lord). But I have experienced people blowing up. The thing about a blow up is...what's next? Sometimes the blow ups are so big that there is no chance of repairing a relationship. It can be years before best friends talk again after a blow up. So here is my suggestion today- find a place to cool down before you blow up. You can feel the pressure building and yet, you do nothing to stop it. Try and go to a place, a person, a church, a pastor, a counselor, a friend, your spouse to help you cool down. Some people say it's good to get it out, to vent...usually those people are the ones venting and blowing up. Talk stuff out. Work it out. And if you want to get all religious, Jesus only blew up a few times and well, he was the Son of God, so what it our excuse?
Go in peace and go with God.

Ingredients that Work

2010-08-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

I like to make salsa. Every year we make our own salsa from ingredients mostly from our garden. There is no better salsa than fresh homemade salsa. We continue to fine tune the recipe. We don't have it written down, so we have to remember every year how to make it. So this year I knew there was something missing in my first few tries at salsa. It just didn't taste right. I had ripe tomatoes ;0), onions, cilantro, salt, lime juice, vinegar, minced garlic, green and red peppers and a jalapeno. It tasted good, but nothing like last year. What was missing? It took a few tries but I finally figured it out....(dramatic pause for religious discussion)

This happens in my faith life as well. I will reach a certain point of growth and then forget how I got to where I am. It's a bit frustrating to have new learnings forgotten. How easily we forget what God has done for us.

Being a Christian and living out the Christian life takes a few things too. I will not give you the recipe, but some of the ingredients include - Jesus Christ, prayer, the Word/Bible, service and you get the picture.

Back to my salsa story. So one thing I had added the previous two years were green chilies from a can. Mild of course. And it makes a world of difference. It just seemed like that one ingredient kept being taken from my memory. So we are back to making great salsa after several weeks of confusion. So what is missing in your life of faith? Church? Service? Ministry? Prayer?

Go in peace and go with God.

Let's Think About It This Way

2010-08-07T05:58:00.000-07:00

Does your daily life mirror the life of Christ? In my last post I talked about spiritual disciplines and reflected on a friends journey and my own journey. A spiritual discipline is like having a good habit. It's something that is ingrained in your daily life. It's like your daily cup of coffee. You never go without. So from morning to night what jumps out at you that screams "I am a Christian"? Anything? Something? Nothing? It's tough to be known as a disciple is absolutely nothing in your life points to Jesus Christ. Leonard Sweet in his book "Jesus Manifesto" says, "Jesus isn't a cause. He is a real and living person who can be known, loved, experienced, enthroned, and embodied". Whoa. You mean I can't just be a CINO (Christian in name only)?!? I have to be someone who makes disciples of all nations, loves God, loves my neighbor, declares that the kingdom of God is at hand, helps those who are in need, builds up (not tear down) the body of Christ and I have to be the light of Christ. Tall order. Big shoes, or sandals. Be filled with God, not the world. Let love, not: anger, hate, malice, confusion, frustration, power, authority, the world; be your guide.
Go in peace and go with God.

Personal Spiritual Disciplines

2010-08-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine is starting a new journey of faith this month and it centers around his desire to grow deeper and unplug. You can follow his journey here. I have talked on numerous occasions about how important it is to grow deeper with God daily. Some of the things I emphasize are:
Daily Prayer
The Lord's Prayer
The Apostles Creed
Daily Bible Reading.
For me, my daily life for numerous years has included prayer and Bible study. It is a discipline. Every day starts with the Lord's prayer and every day for me ends with the Lord's prayer.
Here it is-
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Try and type that from memory to see if you know it well.
I also daily pray for those in need, my family and friend, other churches, other pastors, hospitals, candidates for ministry, our Bishop, our cabinet and a bunch of other stuff and people. Prayer is central to my relationship with Christ.
So, that is part of my story. I hope your story is full of prayer.
Go in peace and go with God.

Destinations: Everyone Is Going Somewhere- New Sermon Series

2010-08-03T21:28:00.000-07:00

In a few weeks we will begin a new sermon series at Grace. It's all about our final destination and how we live it every day. The Christian is a lot of things and one of those things is story. The story of Christ, your story, our story, the story of God's people are intersect and make one big story. Story is about a beginning, a middle and an end. Over the next few weeks we will be talking about how the story started and where we are all going. As Methodists we have a deep tradition and history of living out the journey of salvation. Salvation for us is not about a one time emotional and spiritual event. It's about growing and living into God's grace, love and mercy every day. As we grow, the full and whole love of God fills our hearts. We know people who are unsure of their final destination. Some of us might be unsure of our future as well. Come join us as we begin a new conversation about salvation, faith and our story.
Go in peace and go with God.

Fellowship- Heartland South Picnic

2010-07-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the opportunity to hang out with a bunch of good people at the Heartland South Picnic at Powell Gardens. If you have not been to Powell yet this year, please go. It's in great shape and check out the artwork around the main building. If you live in Lee's Summit, you might recognize the artist.
Anyway, last night I sat with several pastors new to the district. It's exciting to enjoy fellowship with people you know from elsewhere that are now serving in the same area. It's also good to see friends that you don't often have a chance to see every month. I hope and pray the district continues to provide spaces and places where we can meet informally and enjoy a meal and time together. The music provided by Woods Chapel was great, as was the food. Thanks to all who attended and to those who were unable to be there, you were missed.
Remember to spend time with good friends. We all seem so busy that it's nice to take a few moments and be in fellowship. And thanks to Cody and Sharon.
Go in peace and go with God.

This Is the Day

2010-07-27T11:01:00.000-07:00

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

This is the day, This is the day,
That the Lord has made, that the Lord hath made.
Let us rejoice, let us rejoice
And be glad in it and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord hath made.
United Methodist Hymnal #657

Go in peace and go with God.

VBS 2010

2010-07-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

Vacation Bible School kicked off last night and what a night it was for the kids and adults. We are using Group's Sailing the High Seas curriculum. The set is amazing. The leaders are great. And the kids are having an absolute blast! It's so good to see all the kids again in VBS. I don't get to interact much with children and youth except for Summer Camp and VBS. It's a true joy to share and experience the Word of God with them and hang out during Bible time. Thank you to Geoff, Carla, Rocky, Barb, Toni and Robin Thanks to the youth, the parents and all the other leaders that I didn't mention. You are all great!!!! Thanks much for all you do.
Go in peace and go with God.

Jude Martinez Update

2010-07-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

Today I thought I would repost a note from Sara (Jude's mom) from his caringbridge site. This entry should bring smiles, tears and joy. There are good people in the world and when we ask in faith, it is received.
----

Good morning Friends and Family!

Jude is doing fabulous! This has been the best stay yet - probably because I know it's our last!!! Jude has continued to drink enough on his own that he is only connected to his IV pole while he's getting his chemo. Usually if he wasn't drinking enough then he'd had fluids continually running whenever he's not getting meds to make sure he stays hydrated. But since he's doing so good he is free most of the day - which allows him to bounce around the room like a monkey. Yesterday him and I were racing through the hall with him on the tricycle. I remember a time when I'd see other kids doing that outside our room and wishing Jude felt that good. I am just so grateful for where we're at in treatment. God is awesome!

I wanted to share with you a really neat thing that happened to us. It's no secret that Jude loves superheros, especially Batman. And since we've had nothing but time on our hands here at the hospital Jude has really developed a love for Legos and building the sets (he's actually very impressive to watch - he can build things all by himself by following the directions). Well he's gotten all sorts of Lego sets - all except for one - Batman. The reason is because Batman Legos, either individual pieces or complete sets, are a collectors item since they are extremely hard to come by. Apparently what happened is Marvel was bought by Disney during Lego's production of the Batman series which caused Lego to have to stop producing the sets mid-way through. This caused the price of these sets to skyrocket! Sets were starting in the $300's! And of course what Lego set do you think Jude wanted most of all???? You guessed it. Now, like most other parents of a kid with cancer I'll give him most anything he wants - but I haven't lost my mind completely so there is no way I'm spending $300+ on Legos that will probably eventually be sucked into the vacuum. But then again I think I got asked for Batman Lego's everyday (multiple times a day) for the past couple of weeks - maybe even the past month or two! I've said to him "Jude I don't think there are anymore" and he replied "yes there are, just go to Lego.com". (how he knows '.com" is a wonder to me) - but he's a smart little guy - I can't get anything past him. I finally told him that he's going to have to ask Santa for them and that Santa might not even be able to make them anymore (and Santa was going to write back of course and say sorry it's not possible). He was so desperate he was including the request in his prayers at night. And one night he wished on The Wishing Star (like in the movie The Princess and the Frog) for Batman Legos - I mean C'MON!!!!!

So my wonderful, wonderful mother-in-law got to work. For those of you who don't have the absolute pleasure of knowing my mother-in-law, Mary, you have to know that she gets things done. I love her for many reasons - and this is one of them. And I know that she would also want me to include that it's not her, but Heavenly Father who allows it to happen - which I believe also, but He definitely uses her as a tool in the equation! She must have a good 'in' with Him :) haha.

So Mary tries contacting Lego and they respond saying there are none to be had and the lady she talked to said that if she had any in her own personal stash she would give them to us but she doesn't even have them. That's when she explained the whole Disney buying Marvel, etc. So then Mary emailed as many other companies she could. Finally ONE company came to the rescue! It's a company that sells on Amazon, and who I'd seen before when I was checking out the crazy prices for myself on Amazon. They sent Jude a box that was labeled "Open me at the hospital", so we did just that. Clint and I knew they were Legos but surely thought they wouldn't be Batman ones. So Wed when we were leaving for the hospital Jude made sure that we had that box! Usually when we park in the garage I leave most of our stuff in the car and then once we're get a room up on the floor then I'll go back to the car and bring up all of our stuff - but Jude insisted that the box come to clinic with us!

So when I finally open the box I think both Jude's and my jaw dropped open! They so graciously gave almost ALL of the individual figurines (I mean, they start at like $30 a piece! - I'm pretty sure one of those start at $50!), 3 different Batman automobile sets, 2 large Star Wars sets, some Star wars figurines, and a HUGE bag of misc pieces! These generous people gave him hundreds of dollars worth of Legos!!!!!!! In a market where people are greedy and try and get ridiculous amounts of money FOR TOYS - these people gave Jude something he wouldn't have gotten otherwise. He played with those ALL DAY Wed and ALL DAY yesterday - I'm not exaggerating! So, here is the link to the Henchman's Bricks storefront on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/shops/henchmansbricks

If you need Legos of any kind please consider buying from them! Or if you know of anyone who is looking for Legos please suggest them! I feel like this is the least I can do for their generosity!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday and weekend!

Love,

Sarah

Ministry- Serving 2

2010-07-20T12:45:00.001-07:00

This past week Grace UMC in Lee's Summit hosted a group from First UMC Omaha. They were serving at Harvesters and several other local mission sites. Mission is what goes on outside the walls of the church. Ministry takes place within the Body of Christ. Some churches describe mission as evangelism which is fine too. Mission for many of us, especially at Grace, is us going out into the community and serving those in need in the name of Jesus Christ. There are several mission endeavors that Grace has been apart of this past year. They include our monthly connection to ReStart. We also work monthly and sometimes weekly with Lee's Summit Social Services. There are numerous other agencies we partner with and also hope to partner with in the future. One of my favorite places to serve is Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City. Particularly, the Cherry Street location is a great place to serve. Whether you serve as part of a mission group or you and your family give it a try. You never know when God is going to act or bless.
Go in peace and go with God

Ministry- Serving 1

2010-07-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

This morning as I sit here at Camp Galilee, I am thankful for those willing to spend time in service of God. This week, there are 58 campers at Ultimate Extreme Jr. High Camp. This week we are talking about "Call to Ministry" and "Heroes of the Bible". It's a pretty big week of camp. Last year we maxed the camp out with over 200 of us. I think we are just under 200 this year. None of what we do here at Galilee would be possible if it weren't for God loving Christians willing to give up a week of their life and come here to be counselors. On the Jr. High side we have twelve counselors, six male and six female. They are each paired with another counselor and then assigned cabins. They help teach and lead the week here. They are spiritual guides for all of the campers. They are simply an inspiration. So this week I say thank you to Katy, Andrea, Rachel, Erica, Andy, Mike, Rocky, Milton, Geoff, Tommy, Kyle, Kelly and Lynsey for serving in ministry this week as camp counselors. God bless you all!

Ministry- "Leap of Faith"

2010-07-06T07:05:00.000-07:00

At some point we probably all take a leap of faith. A leap of faith is one of the times when we are not really sure which way to go. Or maybe, we know which way to go and we struggle to proceed. For some though, we take such a leap it's as if we are jumping off a cliff. A leap of faith implies that God is there to catch us and that we are moving forward pursuing God's purpose, not our own. To grow spiritually means we are moving, doing and being. Just moving doesn't get you there, as just doing or being doesn't either. Faith must be accompanied with works.
The leaps we take help us move beyond our current understandings and views on things, especially how we fit into God's plan for us and this world. It's when we are able to go beyond what we thought possible that we can truly see God at work. For me this has occurred numerous times. A few examples personally are mission trips and summer camp. Those are settings where I in a very real and personal way have experienced many leaps of faith. In the local church there are also man leaps of faith. Whether it be in worship, in small groups or in mission, I am never prepared to experience the wonders that God has in store for us when we take that leap. It's amazing! So, will you take that next leap of faith? If you don't want to take the leap alone, find another Christian to jump with you. Don't go the journey alone.
Go in peace and go with God.

Ministry- "The Local Pastor"

2010-06-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

A Licensed Local Pastor in the United Methodist Church has answered a call from God to serve in the local congregation as pastor. "The local pastor has the authority of pastor only within the setting and during the time of the appointment and shall not extend beyond the local setting." That would be word, sacrament and service. The local pastor is licensed, not ordained. As part of the licensing process, the local pastor completes the candidacy process, is recommended by the district Committee on Ordained Ministry (dCOM), completes licensing school, and is subsequently approved by the clergy session of the Annual Conference. They are assigned to a particular congregation to engage in ministry as local pastor. The local pastor is a different path (ordination path) for those pursuing to follow a call into ministry. Part of the role of every pastor is religious education. For the Elder and Deacon, that involves an MDIV and or equivalent. The local pastor attends Course of Study. COS is a basic 5 year theological education program. After completion of COS, a local pastor may apply for associate membership in the Annual Conference, provided they have 60 hours of undergraduate credit and served four years as full-time local pastor.
If desired, a local pastor may apply for probationary membership and ordination if they have finished COS, have completed Advance Course of Study.
Local pastors serve in a variety of ministry settings. In the Missouri Annual Conference, local pastors serve as pastors of small and large congregations, associate pastors in our larger churches and we have seen two local pastors start new churches. The role of local pastor will inevitably chance in the next few years as financial expense of an Elder goes up, full-time and part local pastor will be in high demand.
In our district (Heartland South), for the past six years we have provided a day of fellowship and education for our local pastors known as the Local Pastor Connection. Our discussions have included preaching, leadership, conflict management, evangelism and turnaround churches. Our speakers have been most local pastors and a few other invited guests who are relevant to the conversation.
This next year local pastors will play a new role in the life of the Annual Conference. For the first year, per Amendment 19- local pastors will have the opportunity to vote for the clergy delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conference. Now, there are a few requirements, not all local pastors can vote. Here is the breakdown.
"This amendment would extend voting privileges to associate members, provisional members who have completed all of their educational requirements and local pastors who have completed course of study or a Master of Divinity degree and have served a minimum of two consecutive years under appointment immediately preceding the election."
The local pastor is vital to the future health and vitality of the United Methodist Church. May God continue to bless all those who seek after Him and pursue a call to ministry.
Go in peace and go with God.

Equipping For Ministry

2010-06-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

Pastors are not the only Christians in the church engaged in ministry. So are the laity. Here is a great quote from Thomas Oden- "The pastor is accountable for seeing that things are done, not for unilaterally doing them". Some of my brothers and sisters in ministry should remember this, as should some churches. The laity and pastor are partners in ministry. They work together to further the kingdom of God. So the church (both laity and clergy) are called to build up the body of Christ. In the United Methodist Church through Cokesbury and the General Board of Discipleship, numerous opportunities and resources are offered to help us all better understand and engage in ministry. Our United Methodist Book of Discipline says it this way, "The heart of Christian ministry is Christ's ministry of outreaching love...a common life of gratitude and devotion, witness and service, celebration and discipleship." And the lay members "are by history and calling, active advocates of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every lay person is called to carry out the Great Commission (Matt. 28-18-20); every layperson is called to be missional." It is a primary way in which people come to Christ.
The role of the pastor among many is to help equip the laity for ministry. Clergy also help equip other clergy for ministry through covenant discipleship groups and many other opportunities known as conferencing.
If you are a member of the church then you probably know the vows of membership in your local church. We couch them in pledging loyalty to Christ through the United Methodist Church with prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. So, are you effectively engaged in ministry? Are you living up to your membership vows? Simple and yet tough questions.
Go in peace and go with God.

Ministry- Ordination

2010-06-23T09:17:00.000-07:00

Currently in the United Methodist Church, we have two ordained groups. They are Elder and Deacon.
The Elder has a fourfold ministry focus- Word, Order, Sacrament, Service
The Deacon has a twofold ministry focus- Word, Service.
Elders, like local pastors, preach the word, order the life of the church, administer the sacraments and live out their calling in servant leadership.
Deacons live out their calling in specialized ministries sharing the Word and living a life of servant leadership.
Each one of these Orders have a specific path to ordination. It begins with an inward call, then shared through and outward call. After consultation with their local pastor and District Superintendent (and a few other steps), the person following a call is assigned a mentor to help them discern their call. The process to ordination can last a few years, or a decade, if not more. Some might feel the desire to rush this, but the United Methodist Church has done an excellent job of helping us spend time in prayer and discernment. The educational requirements of Course of Study and Theological degrees help the searching Christian continue to understand their call and the history, theology and life of the church. There are numerous other criteria that have to be met before moving forward. Just going to seminary does not mean you will be ordained. Seminary is but one step in a process of discernment and faithful leadership. Finally, moving into the hands of the Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, the person following the path to ordination spends a few years serving full-time in a local church or ministry setting, under the appointment of the Bishop, and supervision of the Board and District Superintendent. For a better understand of these paths, please check out the General Board website. It is a long process to ordination. But, it is not arbitrary or capricious. It is a well thought out process to help those who seek ordination to find the best path in ministry for them and the Body of Christ. We continue to tweak the process as allow ourselves to be hope to the leading of the Spirit and discover new options and opportunities that Christ affords us. The ministry of Elder, Deacon and Local Pastor are vital to the future health and vitality of the church. Although they are not the only ones that are to carry out the ministry of the local church, as the laity are to carry out general ministry as well. For those ordained we know what the other side of it looks like. It is a privilege and honor to serve how and where we serve. There is a lot more that could be said about ordination and I encourage anyone who has questions to talk to their pastor. Search your heart and find any and every resource you can to help you discern your call. Ordination is for life. It's not just part of your life, it's a life choice and must be affirmed by others. I hope that helps make sense of a sometimes mistaken view of the path to ordination.
Go in peace and go with God.

Ministry- "Being Called- Inward and Outward"

2010-06-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

Today I would like to begin a conversation about ministry. Over the next few weeks I would like to share my thoughts on numerous and different aspects of ministry in the life of the church. This blog is not specifically addressing any one situation or person. Over the past few weeks I have talked with church members and other clergy, several questions about call continue to rise in how we encourage and how we discover new clergy. Our summer camp this year is all about call to ministry. Step one is talking about call to ministry. Throughout the Bible God calls people into ministry. Whether it be Moses, Jeremiah or John, people are called. Being called by God to ministry is a powerful and emotional experience. For me, a call to ministry is humbling, but also, inspiring. When called, we have to remember that it's not about us. It is about what God will do through us. Is everyone called to ordained ministry? No. If you feel called I encourage you to ask yourself a few questions-- Have you learned to pray? Are worship, the sacraments and Scripture deeply ingrained in your life today? There are numerous other questions that arise as well, but those are few that begin the conversation. Another would center around how I react to situations. Specifically, how do I deal with adversity or frustrating situations? If anger is the first place you go, then maybe you should reconsider where you are being called. As you look at your life and what could be, the inward call is then moved to what is known as the outward call. Outward call would be how others confirm or receive your understanding of call.
If you feel called it is difficult to keep it in. We have a strong desire to share it. Some fight their call for YEARS. Only after someone else recognizes something in them do they respond. The outward call is confirmed by the church, the Body of Christ. In the United Methodist Church to confirm an outward call, we have several excellent layers of leadership that help. We find those leaders in the local church, the district, the conference and ultimately, with our Bishops. Both clergy and laity are deeply involved in this process. The process of moving forward with an outward call is clearly outlined by our General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. A call to ministry is inwardly experienced, and outwardly confirmed. For the United Methodist Church, both are needed to move forward toward clergy service. For more answers about inward and outward call, I recommend reading Thomas Oden's book Pastoral Theology.
If you feel called to ministry and have done nothing with it, what are you waiting for? God calls leaders for a reason. God needs faithful and loving people to lead the church. Prayerfully consider taking the next step if you are called. Let others around you know what you are considering in. Don't keep it in. Let love and faith be your guides. Go in peace and go with God.

Standing On the Edge

2010-06-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we talked about Moses, the People of God, the Red Sea and the army of Egypt. Imagine standing up against the impassable Red Sea, the army of Egypt chasing you down and some guy named Moses leading you to what seems like an impossible situation. But, God provides a path. Not only that, the path has dry ground. The water parts and the path is dry.
For some of us, we feel like we are in a situation with no way out. We are lost. We are hurt. We are suffering. God always provides a path. The tough part, the path is not always the path we want to take. Imagine walking through the Red Sea, water on both sides. Do you think anyone questioned how long that water would stay up? Did anyone get halfway through and then decide to turn around?
While hiking in Yosemite a few weeks ago we were following a pretty clearly marked path. A couple passed us walking the same path. About 20 minutes later, they came back by and asked us, "Is this the right path?"
We said yes.
Funny thing, we were on the way back, as were they. They had already walked it and yet, they were lost. They did not trust they were going the right way.
Trust in the Lord. Follow the path.
Go in peace and go with God.

Read- Digest- Act

2010-06-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

I like to read. Ok, I love to read. I read tons of books. I probably own over 1000 books split between the office and home. It's a collection I started while in college. I continue to read. I like to read new ideas and hear about others ways of doing things. I rarely read fiction, but I do have my small vices (vince flynn novels). Anyway, most pastors have lots of books. Many of them actually read the books. I know lots of pastors who have read the most brilliant books on ministry. Right now, we have more information at our fingertips than ever before and yet, we still don't all get it right. I know people who own every John Maxwell leadership book. Are they great leaders because they own the books? Because they read the books? I don't think so. Just owning a book does not make you an author or authority on any subject. Reading the book means hopefully that you have learned something. It all comes down to practices. If you can learn something, digest/ponder/think about and figure out how to put it into useful practice, then maybe you can become a great leader or whatever you aspire. Larry Bossidy would call that "Execution". David Allen would call that "Getting Things Done". Adam Hamilton would call that "Leading Beyond the Walls." Yes, I am staring at all three of those books on my shelf. I have read them all. So, just because you have a book or read a book doesn't change anything. You have to put what you learned into practice. What about your Bible? If we read and do nothing, why read? Read to lead. Read to learn. Read to grow.
Go in peace and go with God.

Opportunities to Share the Gospel

2010-06-15T06:58:00.000-07:00

When I started on this journey toward ordained ministry, a wise person once told me, "Whenever asked to share or preach the Gospel, if you can make the time, do so."
Now you would think that we would all jump at the opportunity to preach or share the Gospel, but there are days when it feels like you've worked for 20 days straight with no break. Self care is something that all, I mean all my pastor friends and I always struggle with, especially in regard to new opportunities. Some of us just don't know how to say no.
A few years ago, a local group was desperate for someone to come share a devotion at their local meeting. It was on a Monday, and well, Monday mornings are tough for me. It's the beginning of the new week and Monday's can indicate how Sunday's will go.
After some back and forth I said yes. So over the past four years I have been sharing a devotion whenever asked by this group. If I am in town, I am there.
I have a chance to preach next week at Institute in Kansas at Baker University. It's a spiritual life growth week for teens.
When I started this journey I would not have listened to that advice given to me because it was way outside my comfort zone. We are constantly bombarded by struggle, tragedy and grief. If we can't offer ourselves daily to God and to others then what are we doing? There are days when all the bad stuff gets to us. But there are also days when we see the good. Joy and love are around us always and yet, it's tough to see. When given the opportunity and if someone asks, go. Go therefore and make disciples of all people.
Go in peace and go with God.

Moses- Reluctant Leader

2010-06-13T17:20:00.000-07:00

Today we commenced on a several week journey through Biblical stories that might be found on Page 6 of the New York Post. Our study starts with Moses. We find Moses learning how to be a man of action in the face of great adversity. In Exodus 2-4 Moses reluctantly jumps into action as he sees a fellow Hebrew being beaten to death. He pauses and looks both ways before helping him. He then kills the person beating the Hebrew.
Later, he tries to become the peacemaker and dispense with a dispute between two Hebrews and they ask if he will kill them too as he did the Egyptian.
He flees. Pharaoh wants him dead because of it.
Later, God calls him into ministry to free his fellow Hebrews. He provides several excellent excuses for why he should not go and save the Hebrews.
1. Who am I?
2. What is they don't believe me?
3. What is they listen and call me a liar?
4. I am not a good public speaker.
5. Oh Lord, please send someone else.
Not the leader you think of when considering Moses leading the Hebrews from slavery.
Think of your own spiritual life. How many times have you made excuses when called into ministry or given particular opportunities to serve God? Today, please open your heart, mind and soul. Be available and open to the leading of the Spirit. May God speak to you in a profound and deep way and may you listen and act.
Go in peace and go with God.

Slow Down and Listen

2010-06-11T05:07:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I slowed down. My phone was off for nearly a week. I was on vacation. I essentially unplugged for the week. No connection or communication. I just was. Sometimes to find perspective we don't need more conversation or more communication, we need less. To slow down and listen means we pause and wait on the Lord. As the usual paths of communication are shut off, new paths open. We see new ways and find a different view. We can see other sides of the same issue. It is refreshing. It sometimes even brings renewal.

After a week I reentered life and my normal paths of communication came back on. It's comforting to reconnect, but that doesn't mean that change has not happened. Our hearts, minds and souls can forever be deeply and profoundly impacted by a change in perspective. Today or sometime soon, turn off and unplug. Wait upon the Lord. You will see the road you are on and the destination are not the only way to go. There are multiple paths. Don't feel locked in to just one. Go in peace and go with God.

Psalm 85-

⁸ I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints— but let them not return to folly.

Youth Fundraiser- Concessions

2010-06-10T05:27:00.000-07:00

Today our youth group begins a 10 day fundraiser. We will be helping with the concessions at a soccer tournament here in Lee's Summit. We will be at Legacy Park running two concession stands. Youth and adults from Grace are welcome to help out with any of the time slots. Contact Lee and Stephanie if you would like to help.

This event will help provide more scholarships for summer camp. It will also provide our youth an opportunity to be out in the community serving and connecting.

Prayers today for our youth and adults as they step out in servant evangelism and raising funds for scholarships.

Annual Conference Reflections 2010

2010-06-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

So people of Grace, if you were wondering where your pastor was last week, well, I was attending Annual Conference in Springfield.

Annual Conference is the annual business meeting of The Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church. We gather together to resource ministries, hear of the goings on of others and put forth a vision for the next year as laity and clergy. The Conference is made up of 1 clergy person and 1 lay person from each church/charge. And to compensate for the retired clergy, at large lay members come as well.

We spend the weekend in worship hearing sermons, listening to our leadership and committees, voting on new clergy and celebrating highly successful ministries.

I missed Annual Conference last year due to surgery. Yes, it's been a year.

I deeply enjoyed Annual Conference this year. It was full of great preaching, excellent and concise reports from our committees, a great clergy session with lots of new ordinands, informal and formal discussion times, lunches with great friends, new connections and time to rest.

Some have discussed making the weekend shorter due to cost and actual business to be done. Honestly, I used to be one of them. But this year I encountered a long time friend and colleague who mentioned that he needed the time away. Conference is not just a business meeting. It's a time to be inspired and recharge your batteries to be redeployed back into the local church. So thank you to our Conference leadership who put on a great weekend. Thanks to all who shared the Word with us. It's fine the way it is and hopefully will be just as great if not better next year. Go in peace and go with God.

Look below to see a better definition of Annual Conference-

An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge (a charge is one or more churches served by a minister under appointment by the bishop). Each conference is a geographical division. In general, the smaller states in the United States hold one conference each, while larger states often include two or more conferences. Several annual conferences are held in other nations as well.

The Annual Conference is the primary unit of denominational government. Regional groups of conferences make up the Jurisdictional Conferences, and the entire group of all annual conferences makes up the General Conference which meets every four years. Only the General Conference can speak officially for the church.

The Annual Conference is composed of an equal number of clergy and laity. Each charge conference elects as many lay members to the Annual Conference as they have ministers appointed to that charge. In most cases that is one. The Lay Member must be a Professing Member of the United Methodist Church. The Annual Conference also consists of a number of "at-large" members, the number of at-large members being the number necessary (after the members elected by charge conferences are seated) so that the laity and the clergy are equal in number. First seated among at-large members are lay persons holding certain lay positions or offices desiginated by the Discipline or by the Annual Conference itself. When there are multiple congregations in a charge conference, members from each congregation in that charge are encouraged to become at-large members.

Concrete Moments

2010-06-08T06:14:00.001-07:00

Our lives are full of big and small moments. Big moments- weddings, births, graduation days, milestone birthdays, etc. Small moments- stopping to hear the birds, taking a walk, choosing to have a conversation. The big moments are easy to remember and usually, lots of work or thinking go into those moments. It's the small moments that actually change our course without us knowing. Over a few weeks we can completely change the course of our life and future options or destinations. The decisions we make today really do change the course of our lives.

That being said, not every decision changes our destination.

These concrete moments come every now and then. Sometimes they go by unnoticed. Fortunately, there are days when we take time to pause. In the moments pause we stand on a firm foundation and see clearly. The blizzard of stuff around us slows down and our paths become clear....well, clearer. In those concrete moments courses can be corrected and your whole future can be changed. These moments might be a few seconds or weeks. When we are in those moments make sure you talk to your trusted friends. The people you can share with and that will be completely honest with you. And resist the negative. Resist negative attitudes and the funk we find ourselves in sometimes. Feeling sorry for ourselves or worrying about things gets us NO where. Put your trust and faith in God.

Go in peace and go with God.

Don't Go It Alone

2010-06-07T05:14:00.000-07:00

Most people who go it alone in ministry do not last. They burnout. Why? We need connection. We need conversation. We need perspective. I do not have all the answers. I do not know everything. Friends and colleagues in ministry are a great resource for keeping me accountable and helping me find my way. It's a reflective relationship because I too can help others. It's not just about me. I've often heard that going to a church you have never been to before is like going to someone else's family reunion. And for those new to Annual Conference, that too might feel like going to a family reunion where you don't know everyone. Each one of us should take note of radical hospitality that has been in the culture of our conversations these past few years. John Wesley was someone who helped make connections between God and neighbor. Every day we are making connections. It's tough to make connections if you go it alone. Open your hearts and minds and seek God's leading in your life today. Be a person that makes connections. Today is a day you might meet someone who needs to know that God loves them. Will you be too busy hanging with your own family (close personal connections) or can you be that person that lights up the darkness?

Go in peace and go with God.

A Loud Noise

2010-06-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

Ever notice how a really loud noise gets your attention? Sometimes is just causes you to turn your head. Other times, those loud noises cause us to startle, or even awaken from a deep sleep. Our hearts race and our senses come to life for a few moments.

Over the past few weeks we traveled up into the mountains between 4000-7000 ft. Storms move in and out all the time. Rain. Ice. Snow. Below is us driving into a cloud.

I heard thunder one night crack through the woods. It sounded like 1000 trees exploding at the same time for about ten seconds. It is a very unnerving worrisome sound. The next morning, no damage. The clouds were gone and there were blue skies.

The storms of life come and go. Sometimes they sneak up on us, other times, loud noises (signs) signal their coming. So be prepared. Trust in the Lord and hopefully most of the storms are just loud with little impact. Fear not. Go in peace and go with God.

Do You Need a Financial Coach?

2010-05-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

Christy Dunham is blessed with an amazing financial mind. She is someone that I completely trust and rely on to help those who are in financial need. She can also help those who are in need a finding their path again. Christy started a new company called KC Money Coach. If you need to talk to someone, contact her immediately.

Christy and her husband Sean lead our FPU. She is so passionate about helping others, she has branched out beyond our church to the community. If you need help or you know someone who needs help, check out her website.

Go in peace and go with God.

I Need A Rainbow

2010-05-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Lord,

Have we done something wrong? The earthquakes, volcanoes and floods are getting to be a bit much. The rain seems to not be stopping. It keeps coming. In the last two weeks the rain filled half of a 5 gallon bucket. I thought you said you would never flood the world again. So, where is our rainbow? Amen.

Ok, not the most appropriate prayer, but sometimes in the midst of frustration we say things in a direct way. Or as many of you know, I just say things in a direct way just because, that is the way I say things. No excuses.

Here are some lyrics to a well known song focused on finding that rainbow.

Somewhere over the rainbow Way up high, There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow Skies are blue, And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true. Someday I'll wish upon a star And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me. Somewhere over the rainbow Bluebirds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow. Why then, oh why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly Beyond the rainbow Why, oh why can't I?

So, one of my favorite tv shows is Scrubs (except season 9, I mean really!). In their 100th episode, they focused on someone need a heart, brain and courage. The end of the episode everyone has found what they needed. Rainbows are a sign of God's covenant with humanity to never flood the earth again. For many of us we pause and stare when we see a rainbow. We smile. So my hope is that today we all see God at work in our lives today. Go in peace and go with God.

Know Your Limits

2010-05-18T13:48:00.000-07:00

Ever heard that phrase? Maybe from a parent or friend? When we are younger, we feel as if we have no limits. Life is limitless. Dreams are everywhere. Some of our dreams are absolutely impossible to achieve, other than by and act of God.

When I was in Jr. High I dreamed of playing professional football. NFL dreams.

No, baseball was never my favorite sport, neither golf or basketball. It was football. I watched and learned everything I could. Sadly, I realized this somewhere in High School that it was just not possible. Call it genetics or luck, it was probably not to be for me.

Now we all have dreams. We have hopes. And some of those hopes and dreams never come to be either. The problem is really that they don't come, it's how we deal with it.

I could have chosen to be bitter and angry all of my life for not achieving that dream. How about your dreams? Have you achieved them? Are they still out there? Or sadly, has it not come to be?

If you have a dream, do everything you can to achieve it. Don't just sit and hope it happens. Make it happen. And remember, sometimes, our dreams don't happen. But that is not reason to be angry or upset. Trust in the Lord and follow the path He sets before you.

Go in peace and go with God.

What Is Church To You?

2010-05-17T14:28:00.000-07:00

Some of us treat church like a restaurant. We go when we are hungry. Other than that, we go for weeks without considering, praying, worshipping or growing. And sometimes, when we feel as if the meal wasn't good, we go someplace else.

I love Chick Fil A. It is probably one of my favorite restaurants. Ok, probably my favorite. The nuggets are the BEST! No it's not something that is weekly due to location. But, if I am near one, BAM, I am there.

Every now and then, the nuggets are a little too cooked. But does that stop me? No. I go back.

I have received incorrect orders from Chick Fil A. Does that deter me. No. I love Chick Fil A. Again, my favorite restaurant. There is really nothing they can do to keep me away.

I know some treat church as a restaurant they like, but if the service is not what they expect, well then, "we aren't going back there again".

We need to find a place where we fit.

My guess is, that most churches provide spiritual nourishment. It's a matter of flavor and taste. There is no need to be rude about it. Some people like certain things. That is ok. But it's not ok to gripe or to become angry about the flavors. Maybe you should get in there and do a bit of the cooking. When you find yourself treating the body of Christ like a fast food restaurant, especially one that you expect to deliver things "your way", stop. Take a moment. Pause. Why are you here? What are doing? And, what does God expect of you?

Go in peace and go with God.

Choose Peace

2010-05-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

This week you are faced with a choice. Do I become frustrated or angry over something that has happened OR, do I just let it be and move on? This dilemma is one many of us face every week, or sometimes, every day. In our legalistic judgmental bodies, I don't have to be frustrated that someone driving inattentively almost caused a huge accident today because the weather is a bit rainy. I can pray for that person and hope that they would care more about others than themselves. Not paying attention is a huge struggle for some. We become so wrapped up in our own world of smiles and cries that we neglect to look around at the people right in front of us. The more we focus on our own needs and desires, the more miserable we become, because life is not about fulfilling those things. Life is all about the love. How we show it, share it, give it and live it.

So today, make a serious and intentional effort to choose love and peace. Don't let a mess somewhere else mess up your place.

Go in peace and go with God.

Relationships

2010-05-14T05:26:00.000-07:00

Relationships are tough. They can also be full of blessings. God reached out to humanity to be in relationship with us. We were created to be in relationship. Relationships at their best are full of love, kindness and kinship. There are friends, family and others we encounter. Treat everyone as if they are your friend unless to they prove otherwise. I heard that once.

When the people of God strayed, God sent His son. God's son provides a path to a healthy and vital relationship with God......and our neighbors. Our connection to God hopefully helps us grow as disciples. As we grow, we grow in a relationship of love. We grow and become more loving. Love becomes the center of our lives, not selfishness or desire. Our hearts desire is to love God and neighbor. Check your heart today. Check your relationships today.

Go in peace and go with God.

Miles and Miles

2010-05-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my 2004 Ford F-150 4x4 and I crossed the 100,000 mile mark together. That is a lot of miles together since I have been driving it since the odometer read 77. We've had a good run and I hope to continue to drive that amazing truck for another 100,000. Been in a wreck, in ditches and mud puddles, through creeks and fields, and on several adventures all over the Mid-West. Hopefully our adventure will continue many more miles.

Now that is all about the what did you travel in.

But let's think about the who. Who have you traveled 100,000 miles with, or maybe, you might count in years? Who have you spent time with these past 10, 20, 30, 40 years?

Cherish those moments and those years. For some us we have only 20-30 million more minutes to live. Live in every one of those minutes with faith, hope and love.

Go in peace and go with God.

Churchianity

2010-05-11T07:24:00.000-07:00

This week we continue our "Unchained" series at Grace. Colossians 2:8 says, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

Churchianity is something that happens when we begin to more closely identify ourselves with a church rather than Christ. We lift the church up above Christ. We are the church, and yet, we forget that Christ is who we are truly connected to as his followers. Our discipleship lifts high the name of Jesus, not high the name of First City Church (insert other church name here).

We are not a country club, although some treat the church as such.

We are not a civic organization, and yet, some of us act like it.

We are more than another service organization (Red Cross, etc.).

The Body of Christ, the church, is not about focusing our devotion to serving the church. No, we serve God and neighbor and live out our faith in Christ in a specific, local and the global church.

It's a fine line.

One of the ways to discern if you have fallen into Churchianity is to listen to how you talk about your church. Yes you can be proud of what your church does, but how do you speak about your church in comparison to other churches. Listen to how others and how your pastor speaks. Hold us accountable for our words.

So this day, focus on Christ. Go in peace and go with God.

Account-ability

2010-05-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

Accountability- The state of being accountable, liable or answerable.

Account- To Answer concerning one's conduct.

Ability- The power to act (morally, physically, etc.)

Being able to act in regard to one's conduct. Holding others to account.

Accountable- Subject to explanation, justification and or responsible.

Account- To answer concerning one's conduct.

Able- Qualified, authorized or necessary power.

The power to answer for conduct.

Do you have accountability in your life?

How are you accountable to and who is accountable to you?

Go in peace and go with God.

Google Homepage Changes!?!

2010-05-06T15:42:00.000-07:00

Wow, for the first time in YEARS Google has changed their homepage. I for one like it. Their font has changed as well as the right side of the page. Some people are saying that it's very similar to bing.com, which is Microsoft's search page. Funny, do people really think that Google is now copying Microsoft? I for one would say probably not. Anyway, it's change. And well, there are few articles out there who do not like the change. Not a lot, but there are a few people who resist change. The search is still the same. The quality is the same, and maybe actually better. It's updated. After the many frustrations of facebook changes, I welcome the Google change.

For those of you out there who don't care about facebook and google (very few of you) I'm not really talking about google and facebook.

Change is never easy. I know. Change happens. People come into our lives and move out of our lives. Sometimes quickly, sometimes they linger. Today I ask you to think about those people you have lost touch with in the past year. What was the reason? Did you leave the relationship in a bad way?

Remember-

¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ¹⁸All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Go in peace and go with God.

Do You Need Financial Help?

2010-05-05T06:28:00.000-07:00

In 2008 Jill and I went through Financial Peace University. That is Dave Ramsey's program for churches. As a newly married couple, it helped us merge our finances and set some really good goals for our future together. If you have not taken FPU, sign up now. There are countless churches in your area offering FPU. Don't wait another minute. FPU can provide a path to financial peace for anyone.

One of the things that Grace is now offering is a Financial Coach. Christy Dunham, a member of Grace, was trained by Dave Ramsey and his team. She completed her training this past year and has graciously offered her services to Grace. She will provide an initial consultation, followed by a two hour session and then a follow up meeting. The whole process takes about three months. If you are struggling with debt or just need some financial direction, please contact Christy today. You don't need to be a member of Grace to ask for her help. If you live in the KC area and would like to talk, please contact her today.

Cdunham@kcmoneycoach.com or contact the church office 816-246-5764

If you do not live in the KC area, you make click HERE and search for a coach in your area.

Go in peace and go with God.

Didn't Jesus know about Weed and Feed?

2010-05-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

I was at the Grass Pad yesterday picking up some stuff for our tomatoes and a big sign caught my eye. Step 2- Weed and Feed

It's time to feed your yard with fertilizer and kill the weeds with whatever they put in the weed stuff (chemicals to kill weeds).

It has a dual purpose and works at the same time. Quite a brilliant combination if you are not willing to use someone like Weed Man.

We don't use those companies.......yet.

Anyway, there is a passage in the New Testament that talks about weeds.

It's found in Matthew 13.

²⁴Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. ²⁷"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' ²⁸" 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' ²⁹" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. ³⁰Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'

As you read that you might be saying..."whaaaaat?" Well, so did the crowds and disciples. So, they asked him to explain it. He did.

³⁷He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, ³⁹and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. ⁴⁰"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴²They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

So does that mean I am not supposed to use Weed and Feed on my yard? No. It means that at the end of the age that there will be a time of reckoning. An accounting. Those who cause sin and do evil will be thrown into a fiery furnace. Ummm, yikes. Wow. That is rather a stark description of where you end up if you do evil and sin.

So I guess, there is sin and evil in this world. It's not our place to stand as judge over them. But, it's also not our place to make excuses. Sin is sin. Don't sin. Jesus once said, "go and leave your life of sin". Your sins are forgiven.

Don't get caught up in judging others. It's just a frustrating and vicious circle. Try and grow and shine brightly, "like the sun". Who knows, maybe you will have the chance to witness and call others to shine. Never give up living the life you are called to live, no matter what others think or say.

Go in peace and go with God.

Trees and Fruitfulness

2010-05-03T08:54:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I spoke of a scarred tree in my front yard. Several years ago in the life of this tree someone hit it with a lawn mower (not me) and scarred the tree. It did such damage, that the tree is permanently stunted. It will only grow so much. It will produce leaves every year that don't look very healthy, and in the mid summer the tree really struggles. No matter what we do, it can't be fixed. The advice of a tree expert was....."cut it down".

There it was again standing there just struggling. We cut down a honeysuckle tree yesterday in the yard but did not cut down our wounded tree. Why? Not enough time in the day.

Some of us have been scarred or wounded during our lives. Some spiritual wounds are so deep that we still carry them with us today. We have not fully healed and don't feel we will ever heal. We also use those spiritual wounds to keep us from growing. We are called by God to be fruitful. We have many excuses that we give and share to not be fruitful. Those are too many to list here. My advice today is this- seek a path to healing and vitality in your life. Do not let your past struggles and pain keep you from future glory and victory in Christ.

And yes, some day soon, that tree will be cut down because it is not effective or fruitful. It's unproductive.

Go in peace and go with God.

Serving God and Others While Playing Golf

2010-05-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

Several years ago I read a book about combining your passions and gifts with God's purpose for you life. So, one of my passions used to be playing golf (before my car accident). Still, I enjoy playing golf, but the passion is tough to find when you are constantly in the rough. Friday, eight people from Grace UMC played in the JuiceBox Challenge. This was a benefit for Children's Mercy, The Lymphoma Society and Jude's family. The tournament was organized by friends and family. There were over 80 people their playing golf to support Jude, Addy, Clint and Sara. And countless others helped put the event together. You can follow Jude's progress here. And check out the story page which tells you how all this happened. And check out Jude's website too.

I guess today I want to say thank you to Gary, Gil, Travis, Rocky, Craig, Steve and Brian. Thank you for taking Friday off and playing golf to help a family and others during a time of difficulty and struggle. I deeply enjoyed playing golf with all of you and you are all some of the most amazing Christians I know. God bless you and thanks for making a difference.

And thanks for all those who spend time together helping others. We can all make a difference if we make ourselves available to God's leading.

Go in peace and go with God.

Funny

2010-04-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday I was driving home from church and saw a funny sight. A family was driving down the road with their sunroof open on their Ford Explorer. Peeking out just above the window was this big dog with the wind in his face enjoying every minute of it. I laughed.

Go in peace and go with God.

Mowing Straight Lines

2010-04-28T07:30:00.001-07:00

Well, I mentioned it on Sunday, but thought I would say it again for those dosing during that part of the message. There is a passage in the New Testament that says,

"⁶¹ Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." ⁶²Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." It's from Luke 9. Jesus encounters several people on his walk and they basically all say they will follow Him, and then make excuses and delay the moment of actually taking a step forward. Verses 61 and 62 end the discussion.

He essentially says that if you are doing something for the kingdom of God, you really should not dwell on your past. If you are going to make a commitment, not only are you forgiven and you need to keep on keeping on ;0)

Move forward. Stopping looking back at your past mistakes. Once you start, don't stop.

So, here we go.

Some of us like to have nice lawns. We like to mow beautiful lines into our lawns. Imagine trying to mow that line while looking back. You might be able to do it for a while, but probably after a few times you would see that your lines are no longer straight. Imagine trying to plow and plant in crooked lines. Then try to harvest that!

So stop dwelling on your past mistakes. Embrace the future that God has in store for you. Go in peace and go with God.

Church Directory

2010-04-27T07:39:00.000-07:00

Well our church directories are finally in. As I look through all the pictures I see new and old faces. I see a group of people who stepped out in faith this past year and really pushed hard to realize God's vision for this church. I see a hope-filled church with endless possibilities and opportunities. What will the future hold for Grace UMC here in Lee's Summit? I pray and hope every day that we will be a fruitful people, seeking to live out the Great Commission every day. Right now, we approach several things.

The first is a soon to be all church conference to move forward on the new sanctuary.

Another of course is our summer schedule here at Grace- youth and adults are doing an outwardly focused servant evangelism project in June- working/running concessions at a 10 day soccer tournament--Camp, need I say more?--VBS in late July.

Wow, summer is nearly here. Senior and Youth Sunday is this week.

Today is a day of immense opportunity. What will you do today to advance the kingdom of God?

Finally, I have been praying about a church wide small group to offer this fall 2010. I am still working out details and curriculum, but I hope that many of you will prayerfully consider joining me in trying something new here at Grace.

So, what will you do this day?

Go in peace and go with God.

HCI and PLD Musings

2010-04-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

The Healthy Church Initiative is something the Missouri Conference is doing to help church gather momentum and offer 5 prescriptions for churches to move to a place of health and vitality. I have been sitting with a UM church these past two days talking and mostly, listening. I have been assigned to coach a church after the HCI weekend. For 18 months I will assist them in fulfilling the prescriptions, if they are adopted by the church. There is much more to the process, check the MO Annual Conference website.

Today I can say.

The United Methodist Church is full of great leaders.

People want a vision.

People will follow strong leadership.

Mission cannot be a substitute for Evangelism.

There is hope.

Change is possible.

Growth is possible.

More to follow.

Go in peace and go with God.

Present Sufferings

2010-04-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

We have arrived at our present because of our past. Where we go from here is determined by our present. Reactions matter. External forces do have a say. So, today we turn to Romans 8.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. Romans 8:18-21

Go in peace and go with God.

Finished with PLD

2010-04-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

This year our participated in something called PLD (pastoral leadership development). It's a class that numerous United Methodist clergy have been working through these past few years in Missouri. PLD 1 takes clergy through numerous books that focus on leadership, preaching, evangelism and several other topics.

Well, today we are finished. After eight months of 4 hrs each time and talking about action plans for ministry, listening to great discussions led by Jeff, and hanging out with brothers and sisters in ministry.

I liked most of the books. A few of the really good ones include: Unbinding the Gospel, Simple Church and Communicating for Change.

It's good to sit down with other clergy and talk about leadership, ministry and the future of the United Methodist Church.

Fellowship is good.

Learning is good.

My hope is that many of us will take what we have learned back into our churches and contextualize in such a way that it is beneficial to all.

My fear is that some of us think we have it all figured out and just let the learning's fade away.

So, I pray that we continue to grow in faith, hope and love. I pray that all of our churches grow and reach out into our communities. I pray we remain humble.

Go in peace and go with God.

Great Book

2010-04-20T08:12:00.000-07:00

Every now and then I come across a really good book that I like to recommend to others. Andy Stanley has a book called "The Principle of the Path". How to get from where you are to where you want to be is the subtitle. In his usual style, he weaves in some great stories to help support his view that this principle is everywhere and that we can leverage it to our advantage. It's a cross between a Christian/spiritual book and a self-help book.

His main point (which was actually preached in a sermon series awhile back) is:

Direction-not intention- determines our destination. If you have a chance to read this book you should. Lots of great stories and helps us all better understand how we change direction.

Go in peace and go with God.

There He Was Again

2010-04-19T11:56:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning I saw him again. Last spring I was sitting on the deck reading and I heard the sound of cyclists cruising on Ward Rd. And inevitably, there are a few stragglers. Last year there was one guy. Just riding by himself. Well, I heard the group coming again this past Saturday. They blew by, probably thirty of them. So I waited to see if he would be there and he WAS! Looked like the same guy. They group past and about a minute later a guy wearing the same clothing, obviously part of the group, was riding by himself. There is always someone at the back of the pack. Rarely do the ride in the front. They can't for some reason keep up. But does that exclude them from the group? Should we abandon them and ignore them?

Some days I feel like I am leading the pack, riding true and nothing can stop me.

Other days, I am in the back, barely able to keep the group in sight.

Be careful with how you encounter others. You never know who you are talking to and honestly, we should treat all if we are encountering the living Lord.

Go in peace and go with God.