At a recent Church Council meeting, the topic came up concerning a "vision" for our church as we begin a new year.  I think that's an important thing for us to ponder.  I say "us," because as a church, we share in the ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  As the popular song goes, "I am the church.  You are the church.  We are the church together."  Only together -- only through a shared vision as to how God is calling us, can we be effective.

You may recall that the first message I shared with you as a congregation (back in July) was titled, "What Does It Mean to Rise Up and Build?"  The message was based on a passage of scripture taken out of Nehemiah 2:18 and included some thoughts I had concerning God's vision for the church.  I concluded with the challenge for us to not be afraid to "share in His great creative venture of Kingdom-building" to which He calls us.  I further challenged us, as Senior Pastor and people, not be fearful stepping out in faith --to just trust Him in His Vision for the church.

Indeed, as we study the holy scriptures, we find that we are given a road map to follow in fulfilling that vision for the church.   The map has, as its basis, the admonition that we should be about our Father's business by looking for new and creative ways to fulfill the great commission, in which He has entrusted us.   And while God's vision for the church may not necessarily change from year to year, the way we perceive His vision may change.

You know, there's a passage of Scripture taken out of Proverbs 29:18 that clearly states, "Without a vision, the people perish..."  I think that's very true.  As His people, we need to be constantly seeking His vision for the church--what He would have us do from year to year --as we go about "making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world..."   But as we seek His vision, we need to remain open to unique opportunities and new ways of carrying out the great commission to which He is calling us.  Remember Isaiah 4:19?  What does it say?  "Behold, I am doing a new thing."  Let's be aware of that, even if it means stepping out of our comfort zones.

So, what is God's vision for the church this year?  Were do you fit in?  Where do I fit in?  How do we "see" it?  Are we going to take "ownership" in that vision; so that it becomes our vision --so that it embodies us fully--so that it becomes part and parcel to whom we are? 

What are your thoughts as we seek God's vision for the church in this new year --what are my thoughts?

In the last several months, as your new senior pastor, my emphasis has been mostly on team-building among staff members.  It's a real blessing to have such a gifted and called staff whose vision is to love all as we share Jesus Christ.  Now, more than ever, I feel the Lord has equipped us with a superior staff for which His vision may be carried out.

As your new pastor, I have some specific things I'd like to see implemented/expounded upon.  For example, I have a desire for the church to expand its ministries of outreach to include more of our lay people.  My job as a pastor and indeed, our job as a body of believers, is to "equip the saints" for ministry.  (Ephesians 4:12)  Again, "the church is a people" and a growing need that I perceive has to do with the ministry of Christian Caregiving --based on the New Testament model.  This is why I am offering a class on Wednesday nights (beginning January 25) called "Caregiving 101."  Since I am a Stephen Leader (Stephen Ministry), I am aware of particular needs that exist in the congregation that some of our lay people (if trained) could be a great help in the ministry of the church.  In the course, there are specific ways outlined in which we can put together a team.  A couple in our church would like to assume a leadership role in this ministry and I am excited about it, too!

In addition, I would like us to continue looking for ways to offer "portals" for people to become involved in the church.  While these may not be viewed as traditional ways of evangelism, they are equally, if not more, effective in terms of outreach.

One way we are doing this already is through classes we're offering on Wednesday nights.  What a great opportunity!  I would also like to see us continue building a children's choir, so that they can sing at worship on a regular basis --maybe once a month!  My experience is that when children sing, the parents come to worship--and it becomes "habit forming" for them.  Wednesday nights can serve as a bridge for people to strengthen their ties with the church.  I would also like to see what we can do to help foster a better relationship between our preschool and the church --viewing our preschool as a real "ministry" and "missional outreach" of the church.

I would personally like to see what we can do, to again bring the Community and Genesis congregations together periodically!

I am a believer in ecumenism.  For that reason, I would like to see our church uniting with other area churches, on a periodic basis, to worship and pray.  Already, a group of pastors are doing this.  We are open to God's vision as He leads us in this endeavor.

Of course, Stewardship is another area of concern, in this struggling economy.  I think the Lord is already at work in the hearts of numerous people, and with some good leadership in this particular area of the church, I am confident there will be a noticeable improvement in our giving this year --especially as more and more people assume ownership of the varied ministries and overall mission of our church.

Finally, I would like to see more involvement in a congregational prayer ministry--prayer not only for our own congregation, but beyond our congregation into the community and world.  Unless what we do, responding to God's call and vision for the church, is completely undergirded (saturated) in prayer, we may miss those unique opportunities to which He is calling us.  Not only that, we may find ourselves pursuing our own visions rather than the Lord's.

Those are a few of my thoughts about God's purpose for the church and how I see us moving forward into this new year.  What about you?  How do you see it?  Where do you see God leading us as a congregation? 

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas ---a holiday season that will provide the inspiration and encouragement that will sustain you through the new year, straight ahead.  May the light of the Bethlehem Star continue to illumine your hearts with His direction as you have opportunities for new beginnings!

As we leave an old year and enter a new one, I thought you might like to read this statement and reflect upon it:

"I am the new year.  I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.  I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned about life during the last twelve months.  All that you sought and didn't find is hidden in me, waiting for you to search it out with more determination.  All the good that you tried for and didn't achieve is mine to grant when you have conflicting desires.  All that you dreamed but didn't dare to do, all that you hoped but did not will, all the faith that you claimed but did not have ---these slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened by the touch of a purpose.  I am your opportunity to renew your allegiance to Him who said, 'I make all things new.'  I am the new year."

Let us take time, as the new year begins, to prayerfully set some goals.  What are the areas of your life where you need to grow?  What are those hurdles or fears that you haven't managed to conquer in the past but are still calling you to attempt?  What are some challenging, but realistically attainable goals to strengthen your relationship with God this year?

Feel free to share with us on this blog and I look forward to discovering, along with you, what God has in store for us this year as we continue to grow in Him.

LUKE 10:38-42

As we enter the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, it is important to be reminded that idols can arise from good as well as selfish desires.  It is not what we want that is the problem but that we want it too much.  For example, it is not unreasonable for a parent to want to spend time with his/her spouse or children.  Nor is it wrong for someone to wish to host a memorable holiday gathering.  These are good desires, yet if they turn into demands that must be met in order for us to be satisfied or fulfilled, they can lead to bitterness, resentment, or self-pity that can destroy a family.  Consider Mary and Martha, from Luke's Gospel...two women with seemingly healthy desires.  Mary's desire was to listen and learn from Jesus, while Martha's was to attend to His comfort.  But our Lord clarifies the difference for both of them, and us all.

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better." (NIV)

In your mind's eye, can you see His gesture of welcome as He speaks...urging her to sit so she too may enjoy the hospitality of His everlasting comfort and peace?

As you move through the celebrations and gifts of the coming days, don't get so busy you neglect to hear the invitation from the Prince of Peace.  Make sure to take time to stop and listen to Him.

As I write this, we are gearing up for the holiday season.  Already, some of you have begun your Christmas shopping.  Indeed, as we fast approach Christmas, we are reminded each day of how many shopping days we have left.  As a result, we hurry here and and hurry there in an effort to find those special gifts for those special people in our lives.

Why do we do this year after year?  Did you ever stop to think about that?

One of the reasons we do so much gift-giving at this time of the year is because it is traditionally a time when we reflect and celebrate the greatest gift ever given --the birth of a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!  Simply put, we want to share in the joy of that perfect example.

Unfortunately, one of the biggest frustrations that many of us may feel this holiday season is our inability to buy the quality of gifts we'd like to give to our friends and loved ones.

It's for that reason that I am using this month's blog to offer up, for your consideration, a possible solution to that frustration, keeping in mind the model of that first Christmas gift.

10 Free Gifts for Christmas:

(1)  The gift of listening --Why not give this valuable gift to someone who lives alone?  But you must really listen!

(2)  The gift of affection --Be generous with your hugs, kisses, and gentle squeezes of the hand.  Let these tiny actions demonstrate the love inside you.

(3)  The gift of a note --It can be simple as "I love you" or as creative as a sonnet.  Put your notes where they will surprise your loved ones!

(4)  The gift of laughter -- Just cut out a cartoon, save a clever article.  You gift will say, "I love to laugh with you!"

(5)  The gift of a compliment --A simple "You look good in blue" or "I like your hair" or "Good supper, Honey" can be of greatest value to those who may feel they are being taken for granted.

(6)  The gift of a favor --Help with the dishes, clean out the garage, etc.

(7)  The gift of leaving alone --Yes, you read that right!  There are times in our lives when we want nothing more than to just be left alone.  Become more sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude.

(8)  The gift of a cheerful disposition --Try to be cheerful around those you love.

(9)  The gift of a game --Offer to play your loved one's favorite game.  Even if you lose, you will be the winner!

(10) The gift of prayer --Pray for those on your Christmas list and let them know that you pray for them.  Praying for someone is a way of saying, "You are so special to me that I talk to God about you."

Let's remember that as we prepare for Christmas this year, the most valuable gifts of all are quite "affordable".  In fact, they don't even involve money!

Maybe you have some of your own gift ideas to share with us!  If you do, please feel free to do so in this blog.  May God bless us all in our gift-giving this holiday.

Not long ago, I heard the following modern-day parable that I'd like to share with you, in this month in which we reflect on our commitment to growing God's Kingdom on Earth.

One Sunday morning, the children's church class was studying the church and its importance in the community.  After some discussion, the teacher told the following story:

Once, there were two men who lived as neighbors.  The first man said, "I believe fruit is good for me, my wife and my children.  It will be good even for my children's children.  Therefore, I will plant a tree on my land.  I will tend the tree carefully; prune it to make it healthy, strong and productive and then, pick the delicious fruit from its branches."

This, the first man did faithfully year after year.  As time passed, generation after generation of his family gathered the fruit from the tree, too.  And his children cared for the tree as their father had done.  All the family grew to love the tree and its succulent fruit.  It seemed to give more to them than they gave to the tree.

Some of the fruit, however, fell into the neighbor's yard.  And that family also enjoyed the fruit of the tree, even though they neither planted nor tended the tree.

The second man who lived next door said, "My neighbor has a tree.  I will pick up whatever fruit I can from the ground under his tree.  I might even reach up to the branches that overhang my yard and get some off the branches, too.  I will benefit from the fruit of the tree, but I will not have to go to all the work of caring for one."

So, the second man waited for his neighbor's tree to produce fruit.  And then, he gathered fruit from the tree that his neighbor had planted and cared for.  And his children and their children followed in the same manner.

The class said, "But why this story?  We're studying about the church, not about fruit trees!"  The teacher asked, "Which man do you respect more?"  And the class answered all in one voice, "The first man, of course."

Then the teacher said, "The fruit tree represents the church.  And the first man and his family are those who work in the church and help it to grow and share with the whole community and the world.  They support their church with their prayers, presence, gifts, service and personal witness.  The second man and his family represent those who benefit from the church, its programs, ministries and outreach, but who do not, themselves, contribute in any way to the life of the church."

Stewardship is a time when we declare our desire to take care of the "tree."  It is a time when we say to one another that we will help the "tree" grow and thrive and prosper; so that it will continue to yeild its "fruit:" in great bounty and be able to do so for generations to come.  It is a time when we grow up, mature and say, "I really don't want to be a freeloader at all.  I don't want to be on spiritual welfare the rest of my life.  I want to give and not only receive, to share and not only take, to offer something back to the Lord and not only receive from the Lord."

Sunday, November 20th, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, we will all have the opportunity to do just that; to make a commitment toward helping to keep the "tree" alive, vital and strong for the coming new year.  If 2011 has been a year in which we have been sharing a little bit of heaven, just think what 2012 can be.   2012:  A year in which we're bold enough to delve --delve into the future with all kinds of possibilities.  Amen?