Posts Tagged ‘church’

good, solid, challenging…

Monday, May 14th, 2012

The past two Sunday’s I’ve visited St. Paul’s and St. George’s Episcopal Church in Edinburgh, Scotland. Fondly known as Ps and Gs, the church is a delightful place.  A major remodel that has brought an old world “cathedral” into a contemporary worship and discipleship space. Vanessa Parr, associate rector, did a great job yesterday. Personable, Biblical, engaging, challenging message. One of those, “I wish I’d have preached that…” messages.

The rector made an amazing appeal for funds at the end. I’ve heard several appeals, but few as effective as this one. Direct, clear, not harsh…made me feel like I should give.  I hope it motivated the folks to get on board.  His message was simple: “If you find Ps and Gs to be your spiritual home, don’t merely continue to receive, be sure you give back.”  Solid.

But, I confess, I wouldn’t trade. I’ll take Madison Park any day.  Can’t wait to see the future unfold as God continues to move us forward.  We are blessed…we are responsible for the blessing…and I believe we are up to it.

12,000 seems like a lot…

Sunday, March 11th, 2012

I recently made the comment that only 2 out of 10 people in the Quincy area attend church on a weekly basis. I don’t usually just “guess” at information like that, but I did.  Then, this week, our office called a bunch of churches in Quincy–nearly 40 of them. We asked for their average Sunday attendance.  Nearly 12,000 people are in church each week (assuming accuracy in reporting, of course).

If you take the population of the city proper (40,000), that’s 3 out of 10. I could be considered way off base, missing by 4,000 people.  But, even so, we shouldn’t be satisfied.  That still means that 7 out of 10, or 28,000 people don’t attend. And, not assuming that all that attend are without Jesus in their lives, that’s still too many people who don’t know Jesus. Our work is still clearly before us and challenges us.

But if you take the Quincy Economic Development numbers seriously, Adams County has 67,000 people, and within 25 miles (not an unreasonable distance to consider, given our attendance base), there are 112,000 people. That also means a lot of churches that we haven’t accounted for.  But even allowing for a 3 out of 10 ratio (however unrealistic), that still means 78,000 don’t attend.

I know numbers are just numbers. But when I think of Janet, Chuck,  James, Chuck, Michelle…I don’t think of numbers, I see people.  And the thought overwhelms me.  Suddenly, 12,000 doesn’t seem like very many…

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.

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.

don’t have church at home…

Friday, September 30th, 2011

…at least not in Kazakhstan.  And don’t try to be a church without receiving official recognition from the official department of religion in the Kazak governmental system.  5 Baptist churches were raided last month. Huge fines (10 months salary) were exacted on any who were arrested.  Some for meeting in homes, some for having a religious festival, some for meeting in public buildings.

‘Mereke Myrzabekova of Zhezkazgan’s Internal Policy Department told Forum 18 they would not have been raided had they been watching football or drinking vodka together “because that’s not religion”.’ Just think how many Americans would have to be arrested if “watching football” was illegal!!

You can enjoy sports and you can drink…but you can’t worship. At least, not without permission.  While I realize that our freedom is sometimes our greatest nemesis…it is also an incredible blessing.  We are free to stay home…that’s true.  We are free to believe we don’t need God…no one can stop us.  We are free to be irreligious or non-religious…it’s our right.  But we are also free to gather and worship and read our Bibles. We are free to talk about Jesus.  We are free to invited friends to worship with us.

Thank God for our freedom…pray we don’t abuse it.  Pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world…pray they are faithful

Reflections in the dark…

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

It’s 3:10 am. I’m laying awake–annoyed that I’m awake–annoyed there’s no power–I can’t get up and get anything done. So, I think. I think of how dark it is when there are no lights. I think of how I take power for granted. I think of how many things I’ve thought of over the past few days that are “in the garage” and I can’t get to them. And, I spiritualize it all.

So much of my life feels like this–dark and powerless. How often I spend my life living in the “I take God for granted” mode. After all, He’s always there (just flip a switch), always available (push the door opener), always dependable. And I don’t think anything about it.  My life is dark and powerless–not because there isn’t power and light–but because I’m not accessing it.  I’m so busy just living life I forget to think about the real source of my life.

I also reflect on the blessings. What I thought I could do by myself in 1/2 a day took 8 of us 8 hours to accomplish. Good friends just came by.  Good friends worked, sweated, went hungry. How can I explain that outside of the community of faith? How can I be so blessed?  How can I turn that into a blessing for others?

And I think of my family. Not perfect situations…not without their problems in life…but reasonably healthy, filled with life and purpose, and Christian–most important–Christian. My wife loves people and wants to serve them and make their lives better. My children want lives to be better and they work at it.  My sons in law care for people and want to make a difference.  And the kingdom is paramount.

I wonder about what I do.  Am I the right person for the job? Can I do what is expected?  Can I make a difference? Is there something God wants me to see or know that I’m missing? I love what I do. I love where I do it.  I just never want to be in the way. I just never want the church or the kingdom to fail to advance because of me.

It’s the middle of the night–I know it’s a time to sleep–and I usually do.  But not last night. I thought. I woke to electricity and birds singing. I woke to sunshine and pleasant temperatures. I woke to breakfast with a close friend. I woke to a new day of purpose and fulfillment. I woke not nearly so dark…

worship as witness…

Saturday, June 18th, 2011

Ever since Willow Creek and Saddleback became “seeker-sensitive/seeker-driven” churches there has been a tension in the church community about whether worship is for believers or unbelievers.  The answer is NEITHER.  Worship is for God.  However…

Both Old and New Testaments assume that when God’s people worship they witness.  Paul summarizes it well in Romans 15:8ff. There we see the call of God on His people to be worshipers among the Gentiles (unbelievers) so that the unbelievers will become worshipers. Our worship given to God becomes our witness to those who observe and see it.  Paul will also say in 1 Corinthians that our worship should be understandable to unbelievers so they too will join in the worship.

The context of 1 Peter 2 brings clarity to our worship as witness also.  V9 identifies us and gives our purpose,  to “declare the praises of him who called you…”  V12 then says, “they [pagans] see your good deeds and glorify God…” Unbelievers see our worship (often in the form of good lives) and they want to know God also. 

So, all worship is witness. When those who don’t yet know Jesus show up and share in our worship, they are “hearing” the witness of God’s people.  They are observing the object of our loyalty, affection and devotion.  When they see our lives lived as acts of worship before God–in the marketplace–the observe the object of our loyalty, affection and devotion.

Many believers are intimidated to speak. But they do…they speak…through their worship. So, keep worshiping and keep witnessing.

it finally happened…

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

I hope the young woman realized it wasn’t really our fault. And I do feel bad that she made a trip all the way out here just to find out we had no idea what she was talking about. And I hope she feels she was treated well. But, in spite of her inconvenience, the more I’ve thought about what happened, the more excited I’ve gotten.  I hope you’ll understand and share my excitement.

This isn’t about fame or notoriety. It’s certainly not about attention grabbing.  It’s just a simple reality I have prayed would happen. Several years ago I realized that Madison Park church had the potential for incredible impact in the community. We could (and should) make difference. Not because we are flashy or noisy…but because we are faithful to Jesus and because we love and care for people.

Anyway, it finally happened. A delivery person with a carry-out order came here looking for someone who wanted food.  She gave us the name and no one recognized it.  We asked around, no one knew who it was.  We tracked down some guests in our building to see if they knew…no one did.  Finally, we asked for clarity. Her response, “Someone from Madison Park called in an order. I have their name, their phone number and Madison Park as the location.”  So, we called the number.

You’ve probably guessed by now.  They were in the actual “Madison Park”–the actual park on Maine street across from Madison School. I have longed for the day (still do) that when people hear “Madison Park” their first thought is the church…not the park…not the school. Not for our sake. For their sake. Because then they’ll get to hear about Jesus and experience Life Change.

Debt update…

Friday, May 6th, 2011

We put a brief explanation in Sunday’s bulletin about the sale of our property.  We no longer own the corner of 48th and Columbus Road.  And, more importantly, we are no longer in debt.  This puts us in a position to dream our future without being encumbered by paying the debt on our remodeling.

Please, dream with us about what God may want to do.  Thank God with us for helping us sell our property in a down economy.  And, especially, thank God for the faithful generosity of God’s people who have given for several years without fail.

I’ve attached the bulletin insert that we put out last week.  It contains more of the details.

Poised for Kingdom Growth