In the face of all that has happened, this is a very minor thing, but I wanted to share it with you.
Last Wednesday, my husband, Jerry, and I were making arrangements to have a family who lives in a mobile home stay with us during the hurricane. To insure we had enough water, we attached a hose to a tub spout and were filling a 40 gallon garbage can with water in the bathroom.
Suddenly I thought about all the things at the church that needed to be moved away from windows in case the wind blew the windows out. So we left for the church and worked about two hours there. Then we filled our cars with gas, picked up some plywood, and returned to the church to welcome another mobile home family who would be staying in the fellowship hall.
That was when my husband remembered that we'd left the water running through the hose into that huge garbage can at the parsonage. I threw my keys to him and said, "Hurry!!! The parsonage has to be flooded completely by now!!" He called me from the parsonage about 10 minutes later with news I couldn't believe.
When the garbage can filled, that hose literally jumped out of the can and across a two foot span into the tub and never spilt a drop of water on the floor. It had continued to run for over three hours safely down the drain!
Not a very good ecological illustration, but I believe that if we care for the House of the Lord, the Lord will also care for ours.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Friday, July 08, 2005
Too Many Ministries?
I heard a curious question working its way through the congregation this past week. Finally a relatively new member came to me directly and asked me straight up without mentioning any names: “Pastor, there are some people here who are wondering why we have to have so many ministries at St. Paul.”
Admittedly, I was at a loss for words for a moment. What was behind such a question? Was having a large number of ministries considered an asset by the questioners, or were they considered a “strain?”
How did the questioners view the church? As the very Body of Christ? As a business? As a social club? Perhaps they viewed the church as it was understood two generations ago – i.e., as a place where the pastor was “hired” to do ministry and the people show up for an hour on Sunday for a good “feed?” Frankly, that is an heretical understanding!
How did they understand Jesus giving his life for the church? How did they define “ministry?” Do they realize that there is no such thing as being a Christian and not being in ministry personally—whether one’s ministry involves kids, the “books,” the property, the marginalized, or all the other areas of lay and clergy calling?
These internal questions brought to mind my own faith journey. There was a time back in the late 1980’s, shortly after my conversion to Christ, when I was frustrated by the lack of “open hearts” in the church toward people with disabilities. The more I prayed about my feelings, the more ideas came into my mind on what could be done to remedy the situation.
Finally, I made a appointment with my pastor (Dr. William Hinson), and planned to criticize him soundly for apparently focusing ministries only on the able-bodied and sound-minded.
After my tirade in his office, he simply smiled and said, “It looks like God has put that on your heart, Cindy. Go home and write me up a proposal for a ministry with people with disabilities.” Do WHAT!?
After my tirade in his office, he simply smiled and said, “It looks like God has put that on your heart, Cindy. Go home and write me up a proposal for a ministry with people with disabilities.” Do WHAT!?
I had to look “ministry” up in the dictionary – not that that helped. I had to wrestle with myself and with God for the next week, coming to understand the mission of the church and something called “the ministry of all Christians.” So now I feel prepared to answer the question as to why we have “so many ministries” at St. Paul:
1) First, there is NOTHING a church or person can do to give someone a ministry. By definition, ministry is a gift from God. God works in the heart of a person to generate awareness of and compassion toward a need that exists in God’s created order. God knocks on that person’s heart until there is a final answer: “yes, Lord, send me,” or “no, Lord, I’m not interested.” In other words, the impetus for all ministries comes from God. And the base of God’s ministry is the church – not the Y or service clubs, or government agencies – as good as they are, those are benevolences, not THE CHURCH.
2) If a ministry is not of God, it will fail. God will make a way, even when there seems to be no way, for ministries to flourish. He does require obedience in the hearts of people—a willingness to be led, convicted, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. If a person attempts “a ministry” for his or her own glory, it will fail. True motives will be exposed and that person will be embarrassed by God. In the same way, a church full of people who become ingrown and who refuse to accept God’s call to them to grow and be in ministry with others will eventually wither and die like an unhealthy weed. Oh, it could continue to exist as a social gathering, but there will be no Christ present, no lives transformed, no spirits healed, and no souls saved.
3) Just like a plant, either a church grows and produces fruit (ministries and sanctified hearts), or it withers. There is no such thing as a church that “stands still.” Dr. Hinson used to say, “if you’re not growing, you’re dying.” And he was right. Ministry multiplication means that God is present and working among us
Let me close with a little story about aphids.
When I was in the real estate management business, I was given a property to turnaround that was terribly overstaffed. Everywhere I walked on those premises I saw workers hanging around doing nothing. I fired just about all of them and brought in some folks who were eager to make a difference—in the property and in their own incomes. I gave bonuses for good ideas. I would take them out to eat if they worked overtime. In one year we turned around a 12 million dollar budget and groomed that property for sale at a tidy profit—and then moved on to the next.
I’ll never forget the day George Krupp flew in from Boston to talk with me and to ask what the problem had been.
“You had aphids,” I said.
“APHIDS? – what are you talking about?” he barked.
“George,” I said, “An aphid is a critter that sits on something bigger than itself and sucks it for all it’s worth.” You had aphids.
“You had aphids,” I said.
“APHIDS? – what are you talking about?” he barked.
“George,” I said, “An aphid is a critter that sits on something bigger than itself and sucks it for all it’s worth.” You had aphids.
Case closed.
I don’t’ preach very often about tithing at St. Paul because frankly it’s an embarrassment to think that mature Christians don’t know what they should be doing – including setting an example for others. It hurts to even consider that with all that a person has been given, they may think they know better than God–-and that they can’t afford to return 10% to Him in gratitude.
The truth is that a person CAN’T afford NOT to give God a tithe – no matter what his or her income level is. (read Malachi 3:10) The tithe supports God’s church and enables the birth of ministries that God raises up. The tithe is God’s plan, not our idea, and certainly not the preacher’s!
Now, for any “Christian” who wants to know why we have so many ministries at St. Paul, here are the two primary reasons: first, we have a lot of healthy roses here that can support more than their share of aphids, and second, we have many hearts and hands obedient to the call of the Lord. Thanks be to God!!!
Thursday, June 16, 2005
No Light Night
Standing in the choir loft we gazed out across the sanctuary with our mouths hanging as wide open as a bunch of startled sock monkeys. All the light fixtures flashed and flickered like those spewing sparklers we were given as children on hot Fourth of July evenings.
Five times everything electric dwindled to darkness. Five times the copier jammed, the computer complained, the organ moaned, and the air conditioning died trying to fight the 96 degree/100% humidity East Texas summer.
Finally, the giant power-giver, wherever it was, gave up. Eight Texas counties were cast into darkness at the hour of completion: 7 p.m. Within minutes, sirens blared as police rushed to direct traffic at major intersections.
But the St. Paul Praise Team didn't give up. I guess after emerging from 15 years or so of air conditioning units and breakers that were undersized or half-operable, the surprise of having an unexpected "lights out" during choir practice tapped a reservoir of memories from "the old days." As a pastor, I remembered that Sunday when all the power suddenly went off in the sanctuary and scrambling for a way to complete the service, I asked everyone to pick up a hymnal and prepare to "move the tabernacle." Nothing unusual about that, is there? It's biblical, isn't it? So, two by two (because that's all that can fit in our center aisle) The St. Paul congregation moved to the fellowship building without batting an eye.
Tonight was no different. The church secretary ran for pillar candles. The praise team gathered around the altar, and our pianist--who never needs the "sheet music"--played her heart out as millions of stars became visible over Conroe for the first time in years.
Ironically--or maybe not--the first song rehearsed was "This Is the Day the Lord Has Made." Next up, "To God Be the Glory, Great Things He Has Done." By this time, some giggling issued from the ranks. Then, as if to affirm that God knew how we used to suffer from power outages before updating our buildings, we practiced the third song for Sunday's service: "O God Our Help in Ages Past." That did it for me. We were in a CORPORATE EPIPHANY!
I hunger for those rare moments when God is so present, so close, that we not only know we are known, but we know we are loved and accepted and cherished by the Lord. The Spirit speaks through the mouth of a donkey and Heaven and Nature Sing!
Unity -- rare moments attached by a spiritual umbilical to the Godhead and in the Great Exchange given brief glimpses of the world through his eyes.
"Shut UP!" God said last night to the noise, the pollution, the glaring artificial lights, the gas station pumps, the churning cash registers and the commercialism that swams like locusts through our time between "getting off" and "getting home."
"Be still and know that I am God."
But we couldn't be still. We laughed and sang and praised God as we prepared undeterred for Sunday.
The wedding guests cannot fast while the Bridegroom is with them, can they?
Five times everything electric dwindled to darkness. Five times the copier jammed, the computer complained, the organ moaned, and the air conditioning died trying to fight the 96 degree/100% humidity East Texas summer.
Finally, the giant power-giver, wherever it was, gave up. Eight Texas counties were cast into darkness at the hour of completion: 7 p.m. Within minutes, sirens blared as police rushed to direct traffic at major intersections.
But the St. Paul Praise Team didn't give up. I guess after emerging from 15 years or so of air conditioning units and breakers that were undersized or half-operable, the surprise of having an unexpected "lights out" during choir practice tapped a reservoir of memories from "the old days." As a pastor, I remembered that Sunday when all the power suddenly went off in the sanctuary and scrambling for a way to complete the service, I asked everyone to pick up a hymnal and prepare to "move the tabernacle." Nothing unusual about that, is there? It's biblical, isn't it? So, two by two (because that's all that can fit in our center aisle) The St. Paul congregation moved to the fellowship building without batting an eye.
Tonight was no different. The church secretary ran for pillar candles. The praise team gathered around the altar, and our pianist--who never needs the "sheet music"--played her heart out as millions of stars became visible over Conroe for the first time in years.
Ironically--or maybe not--the first song rehearsed was "This Is the Day the Lord Has Made." Next up, "To God Be the Glory, Great Things He Has Done." By this time, some giggling issued from the ranks. Then, as if to affirm that God knew how we used to suffer from power outages before updating our buildings, we practiced the third song for Sunday's service: "O God Our Help in Ages Past." That did it for me. We were in a CORPORATE EPIPHANY!
I hunger for those rare moments when God is so present, so close, that we not only know we are known, but we know we are loved and accepted and cherished by the Lord. The Spirit speaks through the mouth of a donkey and Heaven and Nature Sing!
Unity -- rare moments attached by a spiritual umbilical to the Godhead and in the Great Exchange given brief glimpses of the world through his eyes.
"Shut UP!" God said last night to the noise, the pollution, the glaring artificial lights, the gas station pumps, the churning cash registers and the commercialism that swams like locusts through our time between "getting off" and "getting home."
"Be still and know that I am God."
But we couldn't be still. We laughed and sang and praised God as we prepared undeterred for Sunday.
The wedding guests cannot fast while the Bridegroom is with them, can they?
Monday, June 06, 2005
A HARVEST OF DISCARDS?
Matthew 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Crowds… dirty feet, smelling like hard labor in a hot Middle Eastern sun.
On top of it all the crowds had “issues.” Harassed crowds. Maybe they didn’t pay their taxes or their tithes. Maybe they walked too far on the Sabbath breaking the law against ‘work’ or perhaps they passed by in the shadow of something or someone unclean, thereby breaking the law on cleanliness. They were ostracized, ignored and so far out on the edge of the “acceptable people” that any re-entry positions were closed or closing fast. They were helpless and unable to change their fate.
Were their issues political or religious? Who cares? One tax was as bad as another. One law sealed their fate just as quickly as another. One ostracism was as painful as another.
What kind of “harvest” could they have possibly been? What did Jesus see when he looked at them?
I imagine my mother digging though a colander of dried pinto beans looking for the “bad ones” to pick out and discard. “Keep this handful…oops! Toss out that one!” Who in the world would call Mom’s bad beans “the “harvest?”
Who would have called the crowds "a harvest?”
Jesus did.
This harvest he longs for isn’t a “weeding” or a gathering up of things unwanted from a blessed and flourishing field. It’s a gathering up of potential life that lies wilting and dying in a field once precious, but now turned to weeds. It’s a RESCUE of something wanted and something loved.
The people in the crowds are ripe for picking not because they are bruised and need to be discarded, but because they are frustrated and victimized and marginalized and so have first hand experience with the systemic sins of a sick and unjust society. They are preciously AWARE. The crowds can SEE. They are not bound or blinded by their own economic and social idolatry. . .
I pastor a small church full of "the crowd." We are not wealthy, we are not well educated, but we are "harvested." We are called and gathered together by the hand of the Lord. If we have needs, we can be sure a supplier is among us. If there are skills required for a job to be done, we can be sure the Lord will provide them. A shepherd cares for his sheep!
We have a motto that we joyously share with visitors to our congregation and new members, partly because it is fun to watch people's faces as they recognize its two interpretations: "No one comes to St. Paul by accident." Yes, it is hard to find our "off the main road" physical location, but the greater truth is that we believe the Lord has called to be among us everyone who comes through our door. We believe that with all our hearts. They are more than our guests; they are his.
The Lord's harvest is not haphazard or arbitrary.
We are wheat hand-picked.
Loved and gathered in!
Thanks be to God!
Crowds… dirty feet, smelling like hard labor in a hot Middle Eastern sun.
On top of it all the crowds had “issues.” Harassed crowds. Maybe they didn’t pay their taxes or their tithes. Maybe they walked too far on the Sabbath breaking the law against ‘work’ or perhaps they passed by in the shadow of something or someone unclean, thereby breaking the law on cleanliness. They were ostracized, ignored and so far out on the edge of the “acceptable people” that any re-entry positions were closed or closing fast. They were helpless and unable to change their fate.
Were their issues political or religious? Who cares? One tax was as bad as another. One law sealed their fate just as quickly as another. One ostracism was as painful as another.
What kind of “harvest” could they have possibly been? What did Jesus see when he looked at them?
I imagine my mother digging though a colander of dried pinto beans looking for the “bad ones” to pick out and discard. “Keep this handful…oops! Toss out that one!” Who in the world would call Mom’s bad beans “the “harvest?”
Who would have called the crowds "a harvest?”
Jesus did.
This harvest he longs for isn’t a “weeding” or a gathering up of things unwanted from a blessed and flourishing field. It’s a gathering up of potential life that lies wilting and dying in a field once precious, but now turned to weeds. It’s a RESCUE of something wanted and something loved.
The people in the crowds are ripe for picking not because they are bruised and need to be discarded, but because they are frustrated and victimized and marginalized and so have first hand experience with the systemic sins of a sick and unjust society. They are preciously AWARE. The crowds can SEE. They are not bound or blinded by their own economic and social idolatry. . .
I pastor a small church full of "the crowd." We are not wealthy, we are not well educated, but we are "harvested." We are called and gathered together by the hand of the Lord. If we have needs, we can be sure a supplier is among us. If there are skills required for a job to be done, we can be sure the Lord will provide them. A shepherd cares for his sheep!
We have a motto that we joyously share with visitors to our congregation and new members, partly because it is fun to watch people's faces as they recognize its two interpretations: "No one comes to St. Paul by accident." Yes, it is hard to find our "off the main road" physical location, but the greater truth is that we believe the Lord has called to be among us everyone who comes through our door. We believe that with all our hearts. They are more than our guests; they are his.
The Lord's harvest is not haphazard or arbitrary.
We are wheat hand-picked.
Loved and gathered in!
Thanks be to God!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)