The Sunday Morning Express

Well, Sunday morning has arrived and there is so much to do. We must make breakfast for the family, lay their clothes out, get the children cleaned up, do their hair, check their nails, make a few phone calls and several other tasks, if all is to go well throughout the day. If you have a leadership position you may need to review your Sunday School lesson, your sermon or otherwise make certain that you are prepared. Perhaps there are people to be picked up for church or donuts for the fellowship hour to be bought!

Sunday morning, for many, has turned out to be the busiest day of the week and it seems that when we arrive at church we are already exhausted! Yet, the day has just begun!

Many years ago there was a very popular song by Simon and Garfunkel, the first two lines of which say,

"Slow down you move to fast,
you've got to make the morning last."

I am wondering if there is something in these words that we might benefit from. To often our Sunday preparations have turned into what I will call, 'The Sunday Morning Express'! To much to do and so little time to do it! Rush, rush, rush! When we finally arrive at church, we are hardly in a frame of mind that allows us to truly worship.

If this is what your Sunday mornings look like, perhaps you may be asking, "Is there anything I can do to make it better, easier?" Yes, there is! With a little planning and forethought, Sunday mornings can be a time that includes spiritual preparation that might just transform you worship experience.

Take time to do a little planning. We plan for everything else in life....why not plan ahead of time what our morning will be like! This may include giving the children their bath's on Saturday night and setting their clothes out, also. Checking your leadership materials on the days leading up to Sunday so that they are ready might be helpful. Try making your phone calls the day before or getting your gas for the day on Saturday.

Begin your Sunday with a quiet time, a devotional or perhaps put some Christian music on the radio that will calm your spirit. Take time to plan how your day will begin and 'slow down', thinking on those things that are really important. Sunday is the day we have set aside to honor, worship and commune with the Most High. You will need to start your day in a way that will enable you to make the most of the worship experience.

With a little planning, it can be done!

The Coming Storm

Few events cause the uncertainty or anxiety associated with a coming storm. As I write this, Hurricane Sandy has blasted itself across Cuba and the Bahamas leaving 21 dead in it's wake. It is expected to turn north towards the United States East Coast threatening the great cities of New York and Boston. Of course we have come to learn that, no matter how great the city, powerful storms leave their mark of destruction, especially when little or no preparations are made to withstand them. This is true as it regards other storms of life, also.

Everyone knows what it is like to face difficult days in their personal relationships or personal finances. Occasionally, we must face ill health or the death of a loved one or friend. At times, the storm clouds gather and threaten even the the most powerful among us. Trials and tribulations are no respecter of persons.

The results of such storms are even more damaging when people fail to adequately prepare for them. Many are taught, from their earliest years, to prepare 'for a rainy day'. One principle pertaining to our financial health, is to 'maximize our income while minimizing our expenses'! With the development of our personal relationships, we are taught to invest in and nurture them, so as to achieve success! However, we also learn that there are few guarantees in life.

There is one story in the Bible that comes to mind as I write on this subject:

"And evening having come, He said to them on that day, Let us pass over to the other side. And when they had sent away the crowd, they took Him with them as He was in the boat. And there were also other little boats with Him. And there arose a windstorm, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was now full. And He was in the stern of the boat, asleep on a headrest. And they awakened Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we perish? And He awakened and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace! Be still! And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said to them, Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" Mark 4:35-40 MKJV If we are to prepare for the storms that come our way, it would be a good thing to remember just who it is that has the power to quell the storm!

Placing our life in the powerful and loving hands of Jesus Christ will help us survive the storm! This does not mean that storms will not come our way, it simply means that we depend upon the One who has the ultimate power to enable us in the storms midst.

Whatever difficulties you may be facing, learn to take them to the Lord in prayer....always listening for His direction and calming voice. No, there is no guarantee that troubles will not come your way. But, when they do, you do not have to face them alone or in your own strength. God is 'in the boat' with you, and He will stretch out His hand and quell the raging waters when you place your life in His hands.

The most encouraging words found in the above quoted scripture are, I believe, " And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." This calm can be yours if you seek Him out and accept His provision for you, today!  GDL

SMALL TOWN CHURCHES

I was born and raised in a big city in upstate New York. It was a great place to live. Since those days I have lived in Chicago, St. Louis and a handful of other big cities. However, most of my ministry years have been spent in the rural Midwest; Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. When it was time to retire, my wife and I returned to New York although now we live on the edge of a very small village northeast of Syracuse, New York on the shores of Oneida Lake. What a joy it is to experience small town living, this time by choice. Often I find myself worshiping at a small United Methodist Church just a few blocks from our retirement community. The church is led by a Pastor who is always cheerful in spirit and, although she is slight in physical stature, she possesses a giant spirit of caring. It can also be said that she is a powerhouse in the pulpit! Her sermons are delivered with a strength that one would associate with a Pastor of a large Metropolitan Church. The sermons are well prepared and very well delivered. They are meaningful. The people are friendly and each Sunday I have attended, almost everyone greeted me and made me feel very welcome. There is an atmosphere that is very much a part of the small town character that surrounds this little country church. I plan on attending as often as circumstances allow. My point in sharing this is to underscore the importance of Christians of every stripe to reach out and welcome those who grace their presence. Sharing the love of God with others always comes easiest when that very love is resident in our lives. You may be a small church but God will do great things with you and your fellow Christians if you but take the time to welcome everyone into your fellowship and demonstrate, personally, the love of Christ.

Reformer or Performer?

I heard a minister on TV this morning refer to himself as an Inspirational Performance Artist. At first I was offended by such a characterization. The vast majority of ministers I have worked with and alongside through the years have been honorable servants of God who always had the best interests of their charges in mind. Yet, I would suppose that, for some, this is an apt description! How sad. To be seen in the context of a 'performer' rather than a 'reformer' can hardly be seen as a holy thing. Preacher....which title best describes what you do?

The Jericho Principle

In a recent sermon, I preached on the subject of what I call, the Jericho Principles. According to scripture, Joshua, at the battle of Jericho, had a plan. That plan was given by God. God expected the plan to be carried out to the letter and it was the 'foot soldiers' that would accomplish it's implementation. With that being done successfully, God would deliver the victory! We need to realize that all Christians are God's foot soldiers. He has given us a plan and objective for our lives and for the the effective propagation of the Gospel message. It is essential that His plan for creation and it's salvation be carried out and, with that done, God will deliver the Victory. Do you see yourself as God's 'foot soldier'? I pray that you do.

Pulpits or Pews?

I think the Pastor's responsibility is NOT to fill the pews, but to fill the pulpit! It is the congregants responsibility to fill the pews! Just my opinion, of course.

Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy

Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy

How often have you wished you had more time for the important things, like family and reflection? Bookstore shelves bulge with materials that tell you how to organize your life, but many of the sources miss an important aspect of time management.

There is a lot of talk in the US about posting the Ten Commandments in schools and government buildings. Few would argue against adhering to the instructions forbidding murder or stealing. Keeping these laws of God surely would bring a blessing to everyone. But in the debate one commandment is almost always forgotten. In fact its relevance is often debated even among those who promote keeping the Ten Commandments.

This makes the biblical introduction to the fourth commandment all the more potent. “Remember the Sabbath Day….”! It’s as if   this commandment is the easiest for humans to trivialize or overlook   ignore entirely.

The Fourth Commandment states; “Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God….” Ex 20:8-10

Physical , emotional and spiritual rest are human needs. To ignore these is to sow the seeds of anxiety, illness, lethargy and depression.

Imagine a day devoted to rest and worship-no business calls, no painting the house, no lawn chores to attend to. Imagine a day with extra time to share with your family, without the deadlines and pressing appointments of the rest of the week. Even television shows with intense sound tracks and graphic scenes can leave our minds and even bodies exhausted. Imagine a day when you can shut out the noise, the violence, the preoccupation with making money…..and experience peace.

Jesus says, “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” A little time later in the same account he  explains, “For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” The Sabbath is a time to experience rest for the body and mind and renew our relationship with God and His Son.

For some it may be daunting to think of spiritual rest dedicated to reflection on our need for God and to think about what is important in life. Sometimes it is easier to fill each waking moment with career, house, car or entertainment than to deal with our own nature. It’s easier , that is, until the results in broken relationships, emotional breakdown, and spiritual emptiness take their toll.

The Sabbath, that is, the Lord’s Day, isn’t intended to be a day of idleness. It is a time to gather with other Christians for worship. It is a time to reconnect with family and friends. It is a day for physical, emotional and spiritual renewal. Plan it carefully!