Chuck Sackett

Chuck SackettThank you for your interest and for stopping by my blog. This is where I post things that I'm working on, writing and thinking about.

Yet another book…

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Ecclesiastes reminds us that “of the making of books there is no end…”  For a reader like me, that’s not a negative comment. I still have a dozen or more on my floor, stacked and ready.  I’m nearly finished with the one I’m working on.  It’s well worth your time to consider it.

Jonathan Morrow’s think Christianly: looking at the intersection of FAITH and CULTURE, is a helpful look at the world in which we live and how the follower of Jesus should be interacting. Morrow says, “My prayer is that God will use these pages to refresh your vision for engaging your specific sphere of influence with the good news of the kingdom of God–and that you will be encouraged and equipped to do so.”

He initiates his discussion of culture, world views and faith with the claim, “Out there is already in here.”  Every chapter ends with a list of resources (books, articles and websites) and an interview with someone doing something to intersect our culture with faith and values.

The section I read this morning dealt with sex, media, and injustice.  It’s powerful material–the kind I wish I’d read as a young parent.  His section on teens and media is worthy of every parent’s attention. His conversations about the Biblical view of sexuality is very helpful.  You’ll be hearing in upcoming sermons some of that plus what he says about addressing injustice.  Simply said–good stuff.

Books like this make my morning “bike session” a lot more enjoyable.  Hopefully, it could make your interaction with the world much more profitable.

Haunting comment…

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

In the book I’m reading, the author quotes another writer. Unfortunately I don’t have that source so this quote is taken out of context. But the quote itself is haunting.

“Charles Pequy, the French spiritual writer, describes the experience of standing before the throne of God after one’s death, and asks the terrible quetsion, ‘What would God say to us if some of us came to him without the others?’”

The power of the church is community. We live with and for each other. The mission of the church is to spread that community so that others are part of it. The idea of coming before God alone–betrays both our essence and our mission. For that reason the church can never stop reaching toward others–both in and out of the body of Christ.

this is why…

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

I love preaching in this place.  I love what God is doing here. I love what we are doing for the community and for each other. I love watching lives change. I love getting to be a part of something that God is up to and knowing that He’s doing it and we’re just along for the ride. I love it.

In an academic discussion of the early church based on Acts 2:42ff, an author says, “This newly formed community of the early church is attractive to outsiders. The life of the believing community radiates the light of the kingdom and thus draws people from darkness.” I love the phrase and image–”the life of the believing community.”  It isn’t merely their beliefs nor their words…it’s their life.

This is why I love the Serve component of our strategy. This is why I love the participation I witness at Washington School, Horizons, in the collection bins.  This is why I love seeing Madison Park people ringing bells at business doorways for the Salvation Army. This is why I appreciate those who volunteer at Teen Reach.  This is why God is bringing new people to us every week.  It’s the “life of the believing community.”

Did I mention that I love being part of this place? I love it because you are working so hard to simply “be” the believing community and in “being” you are becoming all that God needs to work effectively in the world.  Thank you.

voluntary simplicity

Friday, December 9th, 2011

John Coonrod (executive vp of The Hunger Project) and his wife Carol were practicing The Power of Half long before the Salwen’s began their family journey.  He and Carol live on half their income, at one time being the largest supporters of the very organization for which they labor.  In his conversation with the Salwen’s as they determined which group through which to channel their funds, he said, “…there is a voluntary simplicity that is not a sacrifice but a choice of freedom.”

A voluntary simplicity; you have to love that phrase.  I believe that’s exactly what Jesus meant when He advised us to trust God instead of mammon. Or what Paul meant when he said that no soldier got so entangled with the affairs of this world that he couldn’t respond to his commander. Or James, when he warned against the dangers of riches. A voluntary simplicity…a choice of freedom.

Admittedly, many are living simply because they have no other choice.  The economy, the job market, family crises, or some other factor has put them in an economic funk.  But for most, the call of the culture is to keep growing the size of our bank account, the square footage of our homes, the number of our accumulations.  It’s what many call “The New Normal.” Houses grow, activities grow, techno-toys grow.  We accumulate. We even think we own our stuff–but too often, it owns us.

Voluntary simplicity leaves you with disposable resources. Voluntary simplicity allows you to be generous on the spur of the moment. Voluntary simplicity makes you mobile enough to do whatever God calls you whenever God calls you. Can you imagine Abraham, or Moses, or Paul saying to God, “Sorry, I’ll have to find someone to tend the yard, watch the house, keep the car batteries charged up…”?

Just what could you live on?  I mean, if you were really serious about being simple? Could you live on 10% less? 20% ? Half? What might happen to your spiritual life if you did?  What might be different in your family?  In our congregation? In your community of friends?

online banking…reallocating resources

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

I love online banking.  It’s so convenient. A few clicks of the mouse and my funds are moved from place to place.  No more writing checks. No more late payments (well, there were really none of those before). I can actually sit in a small room in Siberia and still reallocate my resources.

I wonder if that’s the view that God has?  Not that He’s in Siberia (I really hope heaven is warmer than that–not too warm, though). But, from His vantage point, He moves resources from one place to another.  He sees a need and He sees the resources and He moves them…or, more specifically, He moves us to move them

When we realize that what we have — time, energy, money, stuff –is really His, then we aren’t surprised nor resistant to Him asking us to meet the needs of a hungry child, a homeless family, or a grieving mother. He clicks the mouse a few times and voila, His resources once in our account are now reallocated to the life of a needy situation.

What do you think? Are you willing to have His resources moved from your care to that of another?

greatful and excited…

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

We’re serving 700+ kids and families today.  I’m so excited for us to offer this Thanksgiving meal.  Thank you to the many of you who provided over 60 desserts.  Not sure how many people are coming, but we’re staffed at 9 for set up, with a bunch coming to serve the meal and host the families, work in the kitchen and then help clean up.

We’re getting there with the other opportunities as well. The needs for people to clean Berrian school are filled.  We have a good start on having enough to clean Washington School.  Thank you for willingly serving.

I’m not sure how we’re doing with the funding of summer trips for kids or for paying for the food for kidzpacks.  I’ll find out and let you know.  In the meantime, blessings on your service and generosity.

it’s a small world…

Sunday, November 20th, 2011

I’m amazed at the interconnectedness of our world.  About a gazillion years ago Gail and I served a church our final year of college.  Bobbye was a feisty junior high girl in our youth group. A few years later she and her husband served as the youth ministers at Lincoln Christian Church where our children were in her youth group.  Then, a few years after that, one of their sons was in a small group that I led on the Lincoln campus.  It’s been an interesting back and forth kind of connection.

I was amused this Friday and Saturday because the connection continues. Bobbye’s oldest son is married to the daughter of a student I had in the class I taught. Who knows where this seesaw relationship will end up.  My grandson in Bobbye’s son’s youth group?  Who knows.

The kingdom of God is one enormous, exciting, interconnected, interrelated family. We have relatives across the street and across the ocean.The church’s ubiquitous presence is powerful testimony to the grace of God. The availability of hospitable friends in every corner of the world testifies to the marvel of Christian unity. The connection with people of every nation, language and tribe…witness of the unifying Spirit of God.

a holy contradiction…

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

“Dead people live here.” I was struck as I read that line. It came in the context of discussing the Cross–a sign of death.  Yet, people wear them…around their necks, in their ears, tatooed into their skins.  If the wearers are authentic–the line is true.  “Dead people live here.”

That’s discipleship. Living life in the shadow of and under the influence of the cross of Christ. We are dead to self and to the world–at least, ideally (See Galatians 2:20). What matters now is living like we’re dead. What an incredible difference it makes when matters isn’t my comfort or my success, instead it’s what pleases God and impacts people.

I keep hoping the ideal becomes real.  I keep hoping that the longer I linger in this life, the more dead I become so I can be even more alive than ever.

warmth…inside and out…

Friday, October 21st, 2011

Generosity is a hard idea to grasp, unless you’re wrapped in it on a cold night.  And that’s what’s going to happen to lots of people due to your graciousness.  We have a pile of coats that represent your desire for people to be warm.  What I hope is that they feel warm on both the outside and the inside.  I hope they realize that this gesture of kindness is an indication of how much we simply value people.

I realize that not everyone will feel the warmth of our gifts.  Oh, their hands and heads may be warm…they may keep a coat wrapped around them against the wind…but they may not fully get the warmth we’re hoping they feel–loved and cared for.  But we’ll pray they do.

What I also hope is that you are warmed.  Even while the recipients are warmed on the outside, I hope you are warmed on the inside. I trust you will find a deep sense of satisfaction and joy that you’ve been enabled to help. I’m confident God’s heart is warmed.

fruit…the product of partnership

Monday, October 17th, 2011

Your response to the series, The 9, has been encouraging.  And since several of you have asked, here’s the list of definitions.  They are a work in progress. I seem to define and redine each week. So, at the end, I’ll put up a more permanent set.  Hopefully, they won’t change very much.

I marvel at what God is up to and how He partners with us in this process. I’m indebted to N.T. Wright for pushing that part of the thinking process.  John R. W. Stott has also contributed greatly to my thinking about the “uncompromising rejection” and “unconditional surrender” that has shaped each sermon.

Blessings as you continue to partner with God to cultivate these qualities in your life.

Definitions of Fruit