"Where did this come from?"
"Oh, that's where that was!"
"Gosh, the kids were young then."
"I hadn't thought about them for a while."
"Why did we keep that?"
"Where are we going to put this?"
"This room looks so much bigger now!"
"Do you remember when..."
These are some of the thoughts I've heard expressed from others- and myself- over the course of our moving the last week or so. It is truly amazing what you can find when you move. I have a friend who says everyone should move every ten years. As I settle into my fifth office while pastor at Towne View I'm not so sure!
As book cases were removed, cabinets come down, and carpets pulled-up you can see what the church "was made of." A concrete floor, 2x4 studs, drywall, and steel reveal construction materials- but don't really show "what the church was made of."
It was in the energy of members young and old, the smiles over quick lunch, the laughter generated by well-told stories, the sweat of heavy-lifting, the wistful smiles of memories, the expressions or gratitude for God's faithfulness, the hope-filled glances to the future... this is what our church is "made of."
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Parts of the Body
Committees sometimes take a bad rap in church life. You've probably heard the jokes... "a camel is a horse designed by a committee" or "God so loved the world that he didn't send a committee." Yet, committees are an essential component in the way we "do" church.
1Corinthians 12 begins with Paul discussing spiritual gifts and says "All these (gifts) are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them each one, just as he determines (v. 11). " Later, in a discussion of the church as a body the apostle says, "God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted the to be (v. 18) and "you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it (v. 27)." WOW! God has shaped us into the body of Christ, given each of us a role in the body, and has equipped each of us with the gift(s) necessary for the proper functioning of the body "for the common good (v. 7)."
As we have organized our church for ministry we have designated a Nominating Committee with the responsibility to identify members and gifts necessary for our officers and committees to effectively guide our ministries. Without quotas, the Nominating Committee strives to involve a broad variety of members in positions of leadership and service- younger and older, male and female, long-time members (as long as it gets in a church of our relative "youth") and newcomers, as well as the ethnic diversity of our little part of the kingdom. The composition of our Nominating Committee itself is representative. Where did these folks come from? How did they get here?
John Sherman chairs the Nominating Committee this year. He and his family became involved with Towne View at the invitation of Doug Butler, a friend from college days at SPSU.
Laurita Benjamin retired to Kennesaw from upstate New York to be closer to family (especially grandchildren).
Rick Hedger and his late wife came to Towne View at the invitation of their neighbors, Tom and Lorraine Roote.
Tanya Hall, a tried and true southern girl came to a nearby neighborhood in Kennesaw due to a job transfer.
Lou Shewmake came to our fellowship as a single Mom looking for a place where her young sons could get connected... she met Denny and the rest,as they say, is history.
Patsy Carrier and John and her mother, Mrs. Allen, came with a group of friends looking for a church where their age and experiences would be welcomed.
I'll encourage you to pray for these folks as they seek to be faithful to the task our church has sent their way. And pray for yourself- that you will be open to God's invitation to use your gifts in service "for the common good." And pray for those neighbors, co-workers, long-time friends, and new acquaintances who are looking for help and hope and a place to belong.
1Corinthians 12 begins with Paul discussing spiritual gifts and says "All these (gifts) are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them each one, just as he determines (v. 11). " Later, in a discussion of the church as a body the apostle says, "God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted the to be (v. 18) and "you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it (v. 27)." WOW! God has shaped us into the body of Christ, given each of us a role in the body, and has equipped each of us with the gift(s) necessary for the proper functioning of the body "for the common good (v. 7)."
As we have organized our church for ministry we have designated a Nominating Committee with the responsibility to identify members and gifts necessary for our officers and committees to effectively guide our ministries. Without quotas, the Nominating Committee strives to involve a broad variety of members in positions of leadership and service- younger and older, male and female, long-time members (as long as it gets in a church of our relative "youth") and newcomers, as well as the ethnic diversity of our little part of the kingdom. The composition of our Nominating Committee itself is representative. Where did these folks come from? How did they get here?
John Sherman chairs the Nominating Committee this year. He and his family became involved with Towne View at the invitation of Doug Butler, a friend from college days at SPSU.
Laurita Benjamin retired to Kennesaw from upstate New York to be closer to family (especially grandchildren).
Rick Hedger and his late wife came to Towne View at the invitation of their neighbors, Tom and Lorraine Roote.
Tanya Hall, a tried and true southern girl came to a nearby neighborhood in Kennesaw due to a job transfer.
Lou Shewmake came to our fellowship as a single Mom looking for a place where her young sons could get connected... she met Denny and the rest,as they say, is history.
Patsy Carrier and John and her mother, Mrs. Allen, came with a group of friends looking for a church where their age and experiences would be welcomed.
I'll encourage you to pray for these folks as they seek to be faithful to the task our church has sent their way. And pray for yourself- that you will be open to God's invitation to use your gifts in service "for the common good." And pray for those neighbors, co-workers, long-time friends, and new acquaintances who are looking for help and hope and a place to belong.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Rainy Days and Mondays
"Rainy days and Mondays always get me down" crooned The Carpenter's in their classic song of the 70's. Yes, I will confess to most likely being the only guy in my high school with a collection of Carpenter's 8-tracks in my crushed-velvet lined storage case!
It's raining and it's Monday... and yes, it's hard not to feel "down." In north Georgia it sometimes seems as if the sun itself has gone south for the winter... rain only makes it worse. After a weekend change of pace Monday seems full of unfinished business. Uggh!
Some friends from my college days sang another song about days (weeks... months?) like today- it went "I get growing pains when it rains." Rick and David's song was a reminder that God is at work... even in the rainy days. Yes, there may be some carryover, but Monday is also a reminder of a new week full of new opportunities. And the rain, though inconvenient today, offers the promise of a bright spring and refreshing water for the summer beyond.
"Rainy Days and Mondays" or "Growing Pains," which will I sing today?
It's raining and it's Monday... and yes, it's hard not to feel "down." In north Georgia it sometimes seems as if the sun itself has gone south for the winter... rain only makes it worse. After a weekend change of pace Monday seems full of unfinished business. Uggh!
Some friends from my college days sang another song about days (weeks... months?) like today- it went "I get growing pains when it rains." Rick and David's song was a reminder that God is at work... even in the rainy days. Yes, there may be some carryover, but Monday is also a reminder of a new week full of new opportunities. And the rain, though inconvenient today, offers the promise of a bright spring and refreshing water for the summer beyond.
"Rainy Days and Mondays" or "Growing Pains," which will I sing today?
Monday, December 31, 2012
2013 Wardrobe
I don't normally re-hash sermons in this blog but by popular demand- well, a couple of people asked at the door- here are the key points for "A 2013 Wardrobe" from Colossians 3:12:17-
Whenever we feel isolated or dismissed by others we should remember that we are "God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved."
Paul follows this affirmation with an instruction to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; that we should forgive one another, and above all, put on love."
My challenge was that we use these seven virtues as guides for prayer in the new year- that each day we could ask God to help us grow in each characteristic:
I closed- and close- with Paul's beautiful prayer in vv. 15-17:
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body, you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Whenever we feel isolated or dismissed by others we should remember that we are "God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved."
Paul follows this affirmation with an instruction to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; that we should forgive one another, and above all, put on love."
My challenge was that we use these seven virtues as guides for prayer in the new year- that each day we could ask God to help us grow in each characteristic:
- Monday- Lord, help me be more compassionate
- Tuesday- Lord, help me be more kind
- Wednesday- Lord, help me be more humble
- Thursday- Lord, help me be more gentle
- Friday- Lord, help me be more patient
- Saturday- Lord, help me be more forgiving
- Sunday- Lord, help me be more loving
I closed- and close- with Paul's beautiful prayer in vv. 15-17:
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body, you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Confessions of a Pastor
One of my favorite aspects of this calling is the opportunity to plan and lead worship. Jonnia, Chris, and I approach worship planning with the genuine desire to create a service that will honor God and help people experience God. Many others assist in making this possible- accompanists, choir members, sound and graphics coordinators, ushers, and extended session volunteers- by sharing their gifts and time.
Unfortunately, planning and leading worship can make it difficult for me to actually worship. I am constantly aware of "all the moving parts." As I scan the crowd I making mental notes of who's present... and who's missing. My attention is drawn to last minute notes handed in the hallways or distracted by a look of concern on the face of a worshiper. For me to get "lost in worship" can mean missing my cue!
But, this last week, in a darkened gym on the Third Sunday of Advent, I worshiped. My moment came as we sang a song we don't often sing. The words of the song were moving, but I've sung them scores of times over the years. This time it wasn't the words or the music that led me to worship... it was the voices. With each successive stanza I found myself blinking away a tear and my voice faltering as we united our voices with the voices of the ancient church and the prophets of old to sing, "Rejoice!"
It was as if together we sensed the promise of advent, the promise of joy was ours. No matter the challenges, no matter how great the disappointments, no matter how crazy things seemed, we, as God's people could "rejoice!" And I worshiped the One we call Emmanuel, Dayspring, Wisdom, and the Desire of nations.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Unfortunately, planning and leading worship can make it difficult for me to actually worship. I am constantly aware of "all the moving parts." As I scan the crowd I making mental notes of who's present... and who's missing. My attention is drawn to last minute notes handed in the hallways or distracted by a look of concern on the face of a worshiper. For me to get "lost in worship" can mean missing my cue!
But, this last week, in a darkened gym on the Third Sunday of Advent, I worshiped. My moment came as we sang a song we don't often sing. The words of the song were moving, but I've sung them scores of times over the years. This time it wasn't the words or the music that led me to worship... it was the voices. With each successive stanza I found myself blinking away a tear and my voice faltering as we united our voices with the voices of the ancient church and the prophets of old to sing, "Rejoice!"
It was as if together we sensed the promise of advent, the promise of joy was ours. No matter the challenges, no matter how great the disappointments, no matter how crazy things seemed, we, as God's people could "rejoice!" And I worshiped the One we call Emmanuel, Dayspring, Wisdom, and the Desire of nations.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
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