Category Archives: Church & Worship

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April 25, 2015

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Bible Stories, Church & Worship, Love & Works, Obedience

LET US HONOR HIM IN ALL WE DO

When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?  You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” [Genesis 4:3-7 (NLT)]

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Sundays, I take photos for the church website. As I was editing pictures from last Sunday’s service, I wondered why I was doing it and bemoaned the fact that it is so much faster and easier to take 150 photos than to edit them all. Couldn’t I just upload them without the painstaking process of editing? Or, couldn’t I just take a quick look through them and just eliminate the really bad or unfocused ones? Why did I have to analyze every photo before deleting or enhancing and cropping it to make it good enough for posting? Why am I so careful to eliminate any that, if I were the subject, I wouldn’t want someone to see? Who really looks anyway? Then, I remembered that there were 9,000 hits on the church’s Facebook page the week after Easter so I suppose some people actually do look at those photos. I had an idea: what if I didn’t take so many? Couldn’t I get by with just a handful of the band, singers, pastor and congregation? Think how quickly I’d be done if I only took twenty instead of 150 or more! I say I wasn’t complaining, but really I was.

I paused in my tirade when I came to the photo of the lovely crosses given to our music team in appreciation for their service to the congregation. It brought to mind the hours the worship leader, band, singers and sound crew work to give us the music that makes our one hour of worship so joyful, entertaining and moving. I pondered the hours our pastors work each week to make that same hour so meaningful. I looked at the photos of the men setting up and taking down the thousand chairs that get carted to the park each week for our worshippers. I looked at my shots of the volunteers who pick up or serve the food, coffee, and juice. I saw pics of the teachers for our kid’s time and youth groups. I saw the friendly faces of the greeters who faithfully hand out programs and carry collection buckets every Sunday. There are other pictures of the many volunteers who make our church so special: the blood pressure checkers, the men in charge of our veteran’s outreach, the Bible study teachers and small group leaders, and the food pantry volunteers. Every one of these people give their very best every Sunday.

God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s and it wasn’t because God didn’t like vegetarian fare! Abel gave God the finest he had to offer: the choicest piece of meat from the firstborn of his flock. Although he gave God some of his crops, Cain didn’t give Him the first of the harvest or even the best of his crop. It may have been the surplus yield or possibly blighted in some way. The best was accepted; the less than best was not. It’s clear that God expects the best we can offer; after all, he gave us His best when he gave us Jesus! I guess a few hours on Sunday afternoon aren’t all that much to offer. So, I’ll continue to take way too many photos at church tomorrow and I’ll probably grumble a bit as I edit them. I will continue to carefully look through them to delete the bad ones and enhance and crop the good ones so they are the best I can offer to God and my fellow worshippers.

What’s the best you have to offer?

“You Are My King (Amazing Love)” [Billy James Foote, songwriter]
Amazing love, how can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love and I know it’s true,
And it’s my joy to honor You, in all I do to honor You.
In all I do to honor You, in all I do, let me honor You.

It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith. [Hebrews 11:4 (NLT)]

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April 10, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Joy, Knowing Him, Trusting God, Wisdom & Guidance

DIG INTO GOD

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People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. “Let these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” [Luke 18:15-17 (MSG)]

Earlier this year, our son’s family visited us with their 20-month old son and his three-year old sister. I recently looked through photos from their visit and recalled how entertaining it was to watch the children play. They enjoyed every new thing encountered and were determined to learn new skills. Whether it was climbing the monkey bars, dressing the dolls, riding the trike, pushing the doll stroller, frosting cupcakes, setting the table, making sand castles, being chased by waves, or playing in the pool, they attacked each activity earnestly. Of course, there were moments of frustration and a few tears, but the little guys never abandoned their exploration of the world around them. The youngest even figured out how the locks on the lanai doors worked; fortunately, the doors were too heavy to open, but he tried anyway. Nothing deterred the children’s quest for knowledge. Interested in everything around them, there was never a moment of boredom; they eagerly approached each day as an adventure waiting to happen.

I wondered why we adults are so easily bored, prone to discouragement and world-weary. How many times have we said “Been there, done that,” “Tried it, didn’t like it,” “Same old, same old” or something similar? Unfortunately, sometimes that attitude carries over into our faith and church life. We often blame our pastors, worship team, choice of music, organist, band or choir when our relationship with God wanes. If we’re missing out on having glory moments with the Lord, it’s not their fault. We’re the ones responsible for keeping our faith alive and interesting, not them. If my faith is lifeless, if my worship experience lackluster, if my prayer life dull, or my Bible study boring, I have no one to blame but myself and my attitude. A relationship with God is never unexciting or monotonous. We, however, have to do our part to keep it going; we need to approach God with the eagerness of a child.

I didn’t have to prod my grandchildren to discover the world around them; they were keen to learn. Hungry for everything that life has to offer, they eagerly met each day with enthusiasm. If we crave those glory moments with our Lord, if we’re hungry for a deeper faith, if we have an appetite for the Holy Spirit, we need to bring that same childlike enthusiasm to God’s table. It’s not our fellow Christians’ job to spoon feed us and it certainly isn’t God’s. Everything we need is right in front of us: worship and serving opportunities, Bibles and Bible study, prayer, praise music, and our church family. We, however, need to pick up our spoons and dig in zealously the way a child does a bowl of ice cream! Better yet, get out a shovel and whole-heartedly dig in the way a child does when digging sand castles at the beach! Every day with God is truly an adventure waiting to happen; we just need to dig in!

You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. [Matthew 5:6 (MSG)]

God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love. [Ephesians 4:15-16 (MSG)]

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March 6, 2015

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Church & Worship, Holidays & Holy Days, Love & Works, Prayer, Sharing Our Faith

RADICAL LOVE – WORLD DAY OF PRAYER 2015

Jesus washed their feet and put on His coat. Then He sat down again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? [John 12:12 (NLV)]

My husband had an elderly aunt who clipped recipes continually and often sent them out to family. Her kitchen was filled with assorted recipes, recipe books and a beautiful array of pots, pans and other cooking utensils. The kitchen and equipment, however, were in pristine condition because they’d never been used. Although she read recipes, she rarely stepped into the kitchen and never cooked. Prayer without action is a bit like my husband’s aunt reading recipes and never doing anything with them. We can sit in our comfy chairs and pray about all sorts of things but never get up to do anything about our concerns. Prayer and action, however, are inseparable. If we care enough to pray about it, we should care enough to do something about it. My husband’s aunt didn’t have to become a gourmet chef like Mario Batali or Julia Child but she could have tried cooking something. We’re not necessarily called to become Mother Teresa or David Livingstone, but God expects us to do for others what He has done for us.

Today women, men and children in more than 170 countries will celebrate the World Day of Prayer. The motto of the World Day of Prayer organization is “Informed Prayer & Prayerful Action.” Materials for today’s celebration, prepared by the WDP Committee of The Bahamas, ask us to consider Jesus’ words to the disciples after washing their feet: “Do you understand what I have done for you?” The women of The Bahamas describe Jesus’ action as an act of “radical love.” They point out that such radical love comes from humility, compassion and commitment. God’s radical love is not inert and unmoving; it is dynamic. God’s radical love is not self-centered; it is selfless. God’s radical love reaches out and draws others in. God’s radical love gets off its knees and takes action.

The women of The Bahamas call for prayers and action regarding issues of special concern to them: domestic abuse, HIV/AIDS, women in the workplace, the environment, and immigrant and migrant workers. There is no shortage of issues that beg for prayer and action. Join with our sisters (and brothers) in Christ in both prayer and efforts toward justice, peace, healing and wholeness. Let us always remember Jesus’ radical act of love and follow his example.

We exalt your name for every opportunity given to us to minister to the poor and to wash the feet of the weary. …Open our eyes to those who are in need of a gentle touch, a listening ear, a word of comfort or a healing presence. Jesus, we are amazed by you. How deep and radical is your love for us! Teach us how to be more like you, and to model your radical love and gracious hospitality to all of your children. Amen. [From World Day of Prayer 2015]

Christ alone can save the world, but Christ cannot save the world alone. [David Livingstone]

You call Me Teacher and Lord. You are right because that is what I am. I am your Teacher and Lord. I have washed your feet. You should wash each other’s feet also. I have done this to show you what should be done. You should do as I have done to you. [John 12:13-15 (NLV)]

 

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February 17, 2015

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Church & Worship, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Obedience, Sharing Our Faith, Trusting God

FISHERS OF MEN

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” [Matthew 4:19 (NLT)]

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When we’re fishing for souls, we can learn from our fisherman friends.

Trust your guide: He knows where he’s taking you and how to get you home.
Obey the guide: Cast your line when and where he tells you.
Have patience: A good fisherman is willing to wait for the fish to bite.
Use the right lure: The same bait won’t work for all fish.
Be quiet: If you’re too loud, you might scare away the fish.
Be adaptable: There’s more than one way to catch fish.
Don’t get discouraged: Remember, tomorrow is another day.
There are no age or gender limitations: Everyone can go fishing!

Of course, there are some differences between fishing for people and trying to catch fish: no license is required, there are no limits on the size of our catch, and God never throws anyone back!

There is never a bad day for fishing; some days, however, turn out to be bad days for catching! [Scott, a fisherman friend]

“Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” [Luke 5:10b (NLT)]

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February 7, 2015

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

A NEW WAY TO SERVE

The twelve apostles called all the disciples together and told them, “It’s not right for us to give up God’s word in order to distribute food. So, brothers and sisters, choose seven men whom the people know are spiritually wise. We will put them in charge of this problem. [Acts 6:2-3 (GW)]

The office of deacon was established early in the New Testament church to make sure food was distributed to widows and others in need. A good friend is a Presbyterian deacon and, according to The Presbyterian Deacon: An Essential Guide, he is to “exhibit within the church and before the world the exemplary moral authority of sympathy, witness and service after the example of Jesus Christ.” At a recent deacon’s meeting, while offering the evening’s devotion, he spoke of their calling to be the caring arm of the church and of the various ways they fulfill their mission. They typically drive people to worship or Bible study, bring food when someone is ill, visit shut-ins, and welcome visitors. My deacon friend pointed out that many of the struggles faced by their congregation are quite different from the ones faced in the past. He questioned whether their old ways of serving were still effective. Challenging his fellow deacons to think “outside of the box” and to try new ideas, he said, “We are only limited by our own imaginations.”

Another friend recently shared how she helped an elderly woman in Hospice care. Her story illustrates the new problems faced by our church family and the new methods that can be used to meet them. Using her business and Internet savvy, she arranged for automatic bill payments for the woman’s expenses and cancelled services no longer needed. She set up online accounts, established passwords, and answered security questions. She now has online access to her friend’s medical records and bills and can finally make sense of the stacks of paper that have accumulated during this long illness. I’m sure her sick friend would have appreciated a visit from a church member but getting her personal business in order was far more important. It had become overwhelming, especially since Internet knowledge has become essential to doing it.

Until hearing this story, I hadn’t considered how daunting the Internet can be for others, especially the elderly. Many people still don’t use smart phones or computers. Moreover, many of those who do are hopelessly lost beyond email, FaceTime or Facebook. Increased dependence on computerization for important communication is just one of the new challenges faced by many in our church family.

We don’t need to be deacons to be the caring arms of our churches. We all have been given the task of ministering to the ill, those in want, those without family or friends, and those enduring hardships. Jesus called on all of us to serve, not just a select few. Let’s never allow the limit of our imaginations limit the ways we minister to those in need. Is there something you can do for someone? Is there some unique way you can serve?

Each of you as a good manager must use the gift that God has given you to serve others. [1 Peter 4:10 (GW)]

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January 30, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Grace & Love, Love & Works, Temptation & Sin

HE CAME FOR EVERYONE

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16 NLT)]

That’s you, my friend, and me. It’s everyone else, too. Salvation isn’t just for the rich or pretty, the respected and comfortable, the intelligent and wealthy. It’s for all of us, no matter our color or nationality, our education or profession, our hygiene or attire. Let’s always remember that God has an “open door” policy; he loves us all and all are welcome in His house.

Jesus surrounded himself with an assorted group of people: tax collectors, fishermen, the mentally ill and handicapped, laborers, children, and even women of questionable reputations. He came for them all and loved them all. Every church has an interesting mix of people and we might find some of them a bit annoying at times. Perhaps it’s the special needs man who talks too loudly, the oddly dressed woman who seems to come only for the cookies and coffee, the smoker who brings the aroma of stale cigarettes with him to the sanctuary, the woman who falls asleep during the sermon and snores, the cougher who sits behind you and the lady next to him who loudly sings off key, the babies who cry, the kids who fidget, the person with body odor who sits beside you, or the ladies who whisper to one another during service. If we don’t like the person we’re sitting next to at church, it’s time to do a little soul searching. Remember, since God loved him enough to die for him, we ought to be able to muster up a little love, patience and tolerance for our neighbor. After all, he may have some misgivings about us, as well!

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. [Romans 12:3-5 (NLT)]

Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. [1 Peter 2:17a (NLT)]