Category Archives: Church & Worship

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November 14, 2016

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Church & Worship, God's Word: The Bible, Holidays & Holy Days, Knowing Him, Peace of God, Sharing Our Faith

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE BIBLE – 2016

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. [Joshua 1:8 (NLT)]

great-egret-If I told you that 88% of Americans own four or five of these, you’d probably think of televisions until I told you that less than a fifth of Americans actually use them regularly. It’s the Bible—almost all of us have more than one and yet few of us ever open it more than a few times a year.

It’s estimated that over six billion Bibles have been printed since Gutenberg printed the first one in 1454. Since then, the entire Bible has been translated into 554 languages and some portion of the Bible has been translated into 2,932 languages. Within our language, we can choose from a vast array of translations—from word for word versions such as the King James to thought for thought ones like the New Living Translation to paraphrase versions such as the Message. There are large print, study, chronological, life application, and even journaling Bibles (“Journibles”) that allow us to express our creativity with doodles and sketches on the page margins. For the younger generation, the Bible has entered the 21st Century with both the Kingstone Bible, which presents the Bible in graphic novel form, and the Emoji Bible – Scripture 4 Millennials, with its Unicode-approved emojis and internet slang and contractions. We have Bibles enough for every preference and faith—we just need Bible readers.

The Bible is the foundation of our faith—it’s our history, God’s love letter to us and our ode to Him. It’s our Lord’s biography, the Church’s handbook and our instruction manual for life. Today is the International Day of the Bible. At noon, local time, people of all ages are invited to celebrate the Bible, in public or online, by reading or creatively expressing their love of God’s word. While hoping that people will share favorite Bible verses with family and friends, the event’s sponsor, The National Bible Association, hopes for more creativity such as flash mobs, singing or dancing to Scripture, and artwork or photography that capture God’s glory and add a few lines of verse.

I don’t hold out much hope for a massive demonstration of Bible lovers because, according to a recent study by the Barna Group, only 37% of those who consider themselves “practicing Christians” regularly read the Bible and more than half read it only four times a year. If we love it so much, I wonder why we don’t read it more. Two-thirds of Americans say they would like to do just that but they just can’t find the time. Somehow, I think we can all find at least five minutes a day in our busy lives for God! Today, if you don’t share your love of the Bible with someone else, perhaps you will observe this day by pausing for a few minutes to open and read your Bible and to thank God for the privilege of reading His word. And, maybe, if you don’t already do so, you’ll commit to reading God’s word regularly.

When we open the Bible, it does not say to us, “Listen: God is there!” Instead, the voice of the Spirit whispers through each line, “Look: I am here!” [Chris Webb]

Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created. Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans. If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery. I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life. [Psalm 119:89-93 (NLT)]

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November 8, 2016

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Promises, Holy Spirit, Love & Works, Prayer, Sharing Our Faith

OFFERING PRAYERS

calico asterAlso, the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain. God can see what is in people’s hearts. And he knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit speaks to God for his people in the way God wants. [Romans 8:26-27 (NCV)]

In yesterday’s message, I wrote that a friend prays and yet I’m amazed how rarely that actually happens. Yes, a friend may pray for someone but how often do we, as friends, pray with that someone? Twice when visiting someone in hospital, a chaplain has dropped in to visit. Twice, the chaplain spoke briefly with us and then turned to leave without offering a prayer. Twice, I was the one who asked for prayer—one time for a prayer of thanksgiving and the other for one of strength and healing. Afterwards, I wondered why these hospital chaplains didn’t offer to pray with us. Isn’t prayer part of their job? As I started to point my finger, I saw three fingers pointing back at me and had to admit that I’m not one for offering spur-of-the-moment prayers either. I asked God not to allow me to leave a prayer unoffered or unsaid.

Last month, shortly after the second hospital incident, I was talking with a recently widowed friend. A trip with flowers to the cemetery had left her sad and teary-eyed. We hugged as I departed. I’d only taken a few steps toward my car when the Holy Spirit convicted me: “Here’s your opportunity—pray with her!” I turned back to my friend, held her hands and lifted her needs up to the Lord. I wasn’t eloquent and couldn’t remember any Bible verses; whatever I said was unremarkable, but that didn’t matter. The Holy Spirit knew my friend’s needs and lifted our prayers heavenward.

I’m a writer, not a prayer warrior, and offering prayer  is way out of my comfort zone. My comfort, however, is not high on God’s priority list. Last week, while taking pictures in the park before worship service, I stopped to chat with a young woman who’s started attending our church. I know little about her except that she’s new to the area, belongs to a friendly Dalmatian, and is job hunting. As I stooped to get a photo of her dog, I asked how the job search was going. Answering that she’d not gotten the job for which she applied, I replied with a few encouraging words. When I stepped away to continue taking pictures, I realized my work was not done. Turning back, I asked, “Can we pray?” We held hands and I offered a quick prayer that God would lead this lovely woman to the right job opening. There was nothing memorable or eloquent about my words; they were, however, heartfelt and sincere.

It’s easy to say, “I’ll pray for you,” but a bit harder to actually do it. For many of us, it’s even harder to pray with someone right then and there, but isn’t that what all Christians (not just hospital chaplains) should do?  The sincere agreement of two believers in prayer is powerful and effective because the Holy Spirit is with them, guiding their requests. Our prayers don’t have to be eloquent or deeply profound; they just have to be said.

Rich is the person who has a praying friend. [Janice Hughes]

Also, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about something and pray for it, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  This is true because if two or three people come together in my name, I am there with them. [Matthew 18:19-20 (NCV)]

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October 6, 2016

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Joy, Knowing Him, Prayer, Thanks & Praise

FAMILIARITY

What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt. [1 Corinthians 11:25-26 (MSG)]

dandelionsI admit to having left some church services feeling like I just “mailed it in” and that’s not the way to worship our wonderful glorious God. It’s been said that familiarity breeds contempt. In the case of familiar gospels, epistles, songs and liturgy, while familiarity may not breed contempt it may breed boredom. We’ve listened to the Benediction, Consecration or Absolution so often that we don’t even hear them and we’ve said the Lord’s Prayer, recited the Apostle’s Creed, or sung certain hymns so many times that the words exit our mouths without needing to pass through our hearts or minds.

When I studied theater, my instructors spoke about the “illusion of the first time.” Although the lines had been memorized, rehearsed and performed countless times, the audience was to feel that the actors were saying and hearing those words for the very first time. I’ve watched a young man at our mountain church who always sits in the front row. New to Christ, he worships with fervor and joy. Of course, it really may be the first time he’s heard that verse or sung that song. For those of us who may have heard, said and sung the same words thousands of times, sometimes it’s harder to stir up that sort of passion in our church experience. Perhaps we need to think about recreating that “illusion of the first time” during services so that our worship is as passionate today as it was when we first knew our Lord.

Knowing we have little choice over the service itself, how do we reignite the passion in our worship? Just like good acting, it takes a fair amount of effort and begins with our mindset before the show begins. Instead of getting into the inner workings of our character, we need to set our hearts and minds on God before the service starts. Most of us, upon settling into our seats, probably peruse the program, visit with our neighbors, or check out the attire and hairdos of our fellow worshipers. Although I was taught to pray as soon as I sat down, I often don’t (nor do the people around me). But, when I start with a prayer of thanksgiving for the opportunity to be at church and then ask God to clear my mind of the day’s concerns and open me to His presence, my worship is more enthusiastic and meaningful. Instead of chatting or checking our email before service, perhaps we should prepare the way of the Lord with prayer and by reading the words of the day’s hymns, part of the day’s liturgy, or a few Psalms from the Bible.

The audience is cheated when an actor just walks through his role and God is cheated when we wearily listen to or repeat words rather than putting our heart into His worship. Every time we worship Him, He should experience the “illusion of the first time.” To do that, we must listen, speak and sing with such passion, excitement and joy that it seems as if it is the first time we’ve ever heard, said or sung those words! The more we give Him, the more we’ll get from our worship!

Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road straight and smooth, a highway fit for our God. [Isaiah 40:3 (MSG)]

It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration. [John 4:23-24 (MSG)]

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September 28, 2016

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Fruit of the Spirit, Love & Works, Money & Wealth, Obedience, Today: Make it Count

SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS

Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness. [Luke 4:8 (MSG)]

cabbage white butterfly on red clover

In The Book of Common Prayer, Psalm 100 begins with the words, “O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands; serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song.” As a girl, I frequently read those words in my prayer book before worship began. I thought of them again last Sunday. Following the recessional, the visiting pastor exclaimed, “Our worship has ended, let our service begin!” During worship, I’d made a joyful noise and come before the Lord with a song. The minister’s words reminded me that now was the time to serve Him with gladness. The hour or so spent in worship on Sundays is just a small part of a Christian’s life. God blesses us with another 167 hours in the week. How will we choose to serve Him in that time?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that when our worship ends, the real work of furthering your Kingdom begins. May we not just hear your word, but comprehend it. May we not just say your word, but live it. Let your word turn into our works and cause our faith to turn into action. May we always serve you with gladness.

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable. [Kevin Max]

 I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy. [Rabindranath Tagore]

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. [Romans 12:1-2 (MSG)]

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September 16, 2016

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Love & Works, Nature, Sharing Our Faith

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper,) and to prayer. [Acts 2:42 (NLT)]

egret at clam passI watched the snowy egret at the beach and couldn’t quite decide if he was an exceptionally smart bird, just plain lazy, or a little of both. Egrets are excellent fishermen and will wade in the shallows stirring up the water with their feet to flush out delicacies like fish, frogs, and crayfish. Other times, they exhibit great patience as they stand nearly immobile for several minutes just waiting for their prey to come near enough for them to strike and catch dinner.

This egret, however, wasn’t wading in the water; he was cruising the beach and visiting various fishermen. Cast netting for bait, the anglers were hurling their nets into the surf. While pulling in the bait-filled nets and dumping the contents in a bucket, a few of the minnows always fall out and that’s what this bird was awaiting. Apparently, he prefers carry-out to hunting and may even prefer shop-lifting if he snatches minnows out of the buckets. Clearly, he wants others to do the work while he reaps the benefits. I look at our churches and think we have a lot of people who are like that egret—people who are willing to let the other guys do most or even all of the work.

The early church devoted itself to learning from the Apostles, eating together, prayers, and fellowship. They didn’t just have fellowship, they dedicated themselves to it. Today, many church-goers would define Christian fellowship as having coffee with other parishioners before or after church. Fellowship in the first century, however, meant much more than that and continues to mean more today. Christian fellowship is concern and commitment to one another; it is caring for and sharing with one another. Moreover, we need to share more than our beliefs, activities, interests, communion or coffee. For true Christian fellowship, we need to share our responsibilities and work, especially if we are to fulfill the call to care for one another.

The volunteers at our church were recently recognized while the rest of the congregation stood and gave them a round of applause. Remembering that we don’t just attend a church but are part of one, rather than giving our church volunteers a hand, we need to think about giving them both of our hands, sharing in their responsibilities, and enjoying true Christian fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ!

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. [Philippians 2:1-5 (NLT)]

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September 13, 2016

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Church & Worship, God's Word: The Bible, Holy Spirit, Knowing Him, Obedience, Sharing Our Faith, Wisdom & Guidance

MEMORY WORK

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. … I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. [Psalm 119:11,15-16 (NLT)]

monarch butterfly on canna“Biology!? Math!? English! AAHH!” groans Nancy in a recent one of Guy Gilchrist’s comics. “I shouldn’t have to memorize anything I can Google!!” she protests with a frown. Oh, I feel your pain, Nancy; indeed, I do! Were it not for my Bible’s concordance and Google, I’d be hard put to include Bible verses in my devotions. I can manage to remember the gist of many verses but don’t ask me for chapter or verse and you’d better not quote me because my words won’t be exact. If quizzed on Scripture, I definitely would need an open book test and, like Nancy, would much prefer having access to Google.

We are called to witness for Christ and yet, without a Bible (or a computer) in hand, I make a pretty poor witness. The Bible, however, is pretty clear about knowing God’s word—not just reading it—but actually knowing it. I may read it, I may study and write about it but, when it comes to actually knowing Scripture and being able to recite it, I’m at the bottom of the class.

Granted, being able to talk the talk and recite Scripture certainly doesn’t make someone a follower of Christ or a good witness for His kingdom. Having faith and walking the walk is more important that being able to rattle off Bible verses. Nevertheless, at some point, we’ll be asked why we walk with Christ and what makes us so sure ours is the path to take. It’s then that we need to be able to do some talking—to share what we believe and why we believe it.

At Bible study recently, someone asked our pastor how to defend his belief that Christ is the only way to salvation. The answer, of course, is found in Scripture—John 14:6 which says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Our pastor reminded us that the Holy Spirit will provide us with the words we need when witnessing and, indeed, He will. Yet, we need to remember that God already has provided us with most of those words in the Bible. Let us never forget that God’s armor has only one weapon—the Sword of the Spirit—which is God’s word. Even without our Bibles, iPads or a wireless connection, we’ll have all the weaponry we need if we have God’s word in our hearts and minds.

I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture. . . . No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified. [Chuck Swindoll]

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. [2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)]

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