Making Room for the Unexpected

Making Room for the Unexpected

Embrace God's Grace: Kids

Proverbs 22:6 (The Message)


Point your kids in the right direction— 
   when they're old they won't be lost.

Yesterday I had to drive back to Douglasville from a meeting in Norcross.  One of my favorite things about driving any distance is that I get a good stretch of music time, just me and my ipod.  


Not everybody likes everything on my ipod.  Just ask the youth who had to endure it, at times, on a road trip to Florida this summer.  


We all have our tastes.  


As I was coming back into Douglas County, I left I-20 and took the more scenic route home (as I am always, and everywhere, prone to do).  


Alan Jackson popped up on my ipod.  Yes, Alan Jackson.  


Here's the deal.  I love his songs.  They are absolutely cheesy.  They are unabashedly straightforward and simple.  And, they're deep and full of good old country wisdom.  


He's from Newnan.  That is awesome.  A lot of his childhood reminds me of the best parts of my own.  I connect with his stories about his family, especially his grandparents.  


I can never pull off a mustache and cowboy hat the way he does.  But I can sing his songs when I'm driving.  


I listened to him sing about his first childhood experiences driving a boat, and a truck, and how he grew up to become a dad and teach his daughters those same things.  


Of course, this makes me now think about my own experiences as a dad.  


Last Sunday, SOTH worked together to unload almost a couple thousand pumpkins for our annual Youth Pumpkin Patch.  


For me, the best part came at the very end.  The men of the church had gotten up in the trailer and formed a chain to hand all the big, heavy pumpkins out and down to the ground level.  All along, the little boys and girls had wanted to be with us.  The truth was, it was just too dangerous and too difficult to have them up there handling pumpkins that weigh more than they do.  


But then, we had a huge box of tiny pumpkins left to go.  Weight wasn't a problem anymore, just sheer numbers.  Somebody had a great idea:  "Let the kids make the chain."  And they did, and they were delighted.  


This time of year, we're all thinking about how to best use our energy and time, and money as we consider our pledge for ministry next year.  


We think about ministries and priorities and celebrations...visions for the future and how God might be calling us to help.  Many in our SOTH family will make courageous decisions to give generously because they so deeply believe in what we're doing and the work that we believe God is calling us to, together. 


But maybe there's another reason still.  Maybe a seed gets planted deep within the heart of our little ones who see us give, as a way of life.  


Maybe there's a chance to have conversations about what it means to volunteer, to respond to God's goodness, to dare to give away part of our hard-earned income.  Maybe there's even a chance to let them "drive."  


I know there's that chance.  If we show them the way, God will be faithful, and take care of them always.  


Grace & Peace, 
Adam  

Embrace God's Grace

Somebody said it to me just the other day:  "It's about time to re-up, isn't it?"  


He was referring to this time of year...fall...stewardship...our financial pledges to ministry. 


Yep, it's about time to "re-up."  This year, we're asking everybody to consider what it would mean to "Embrace God's Grace" and take more steps down the path of radical discipleship. 


But, believe me, I'm the first to say that churches should be very careful, and very biblical, when it comes to asking people for their financial gifts.  


How do you ask for money without being greedy for money?  


It's an important question.  The answer has to be all about people, all about change, about sharing that changes both the world and the giver of the gift.  


This Sunday we'll begin celebrating the ministries that emerged from our springtime listening groups as those that are truly changing lives.   Be there this week to hear the stories of our prayer ministry, and to consider the ways that God has embraced you with his grace.  What is he calling us to next?  


I Timothy 6:6-19  (The Message)

A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.

But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. 

Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.

But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. 

Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.

I'm charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn't give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don't slack off. 

Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He'll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He's the only one death can't touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He's never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can't take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes.

Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. 

Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.

Why

Two weeks ago, SOTH member Barbara Hannah received a call that her husband, Darrell, had been in an accident on I-285. He had witnessed a wreck, pulled his truck over, and got out to help. In the midst of his attempt to be a good Samaritan, Darrell's own truck was hit by another vehicle which pinned him against the divider wall, crushing his legs and pelvis and breaking other bones.

Darrell is still hospitalized, has gone through multiple surgeries. He is still receiving assistance with his breathing, and remains in ICU. Our urgent prayers continue to be with Barbara, and we pray that God will help our church be the real presence of Christ to this family in their time of greatest need.

Jamie Blankenship is Barbara's good friend, and write about how faith still makes sense and is our strength, even when things go so horribly wrong.

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When something terrible happens, we often wonder why. And something terrible has happened and we are wondering…

I see drivers tempt death and survive everyday. I know most of you have never met Darrell Hannah, but he is quiet, laid back and so unassuming. He works hard, long days with a long commute. I have never heard him complain. He is loyal, and he would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.

Case in point, he stopped to help strangers along the road…Why this accident, why this day, why these people….yes, a lot of circumstances had to be aligned for this to happen…

How?

I know God can move mountains. He is almighty. I know all things happen to God’s good purpose.

All things. I can still hear Pastor Guito Pierre from the First Haitian Baptist Church say this repeatedly during the prayer vigil at Shepherd of the Hills UMC. He told of the loss and devastation to his country, to his people, to his family – from the earthquake in January. Through his pain, in his pain, He still claimed, ALL THINGS work according to God’s purpose.

That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:28 The Message

What does this mean? What does the future hold? How will the story end?

I don’t know.

Darrell is blessed with a good long term prognosis, but it is hard to imagine that any pain and suffering will turn out good…

I see my friend Tammy and her beautiful family bravely facing the pain of cancer. They know what is coming, they have seen it before. And the long term prognosis is good. But it is still so hard to believe that that any pain or suffering could turn out good…

I know that anytime our hearts are broken, it is an opportunity for God to shape them. I know without some of my own pain and suffering, I wouldn’t be who I am today. And I am a better person than I used to be. I know that many teachers that only invest their time in correcting students that they know they haven’t reached their full potential. Is this extra attention from our teacher a blessing? Is there some potential in us to be discovered through these circumstances?

Is it possible for tragedy to be an opportunity?

I don’t know, but I pray so.

I would like to ask for prayers regarding this. Please pray that God will reveal Himself in the midst of pain in an undeniable way. Ask that He use His Healing touch to mend our broken places and shape us into His ideal of beautiful. Ask that He reassures each of us with the knowledge that He has a plan for us, that it is perfect, and beyond what we can imagine. Ask Him to turn our suffering into miracles.

Yes, pray big with great expectations.

Our God is an awesome God. He can move mountains, parts seas and even change hearts and minds.

For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 New Living Translation

Jamie Blankenship

Eight

Today's blog post is from SOTH'er Joy Shaver.

Joy serves Christ as the leader of SOTH's Prayer ministry team, and as a sponsor for women who are overcoming addition through Alcoholics Anonymous.

She shares with us her celebration of 8 years of freedom from alcohol and drugs. We love you Joy! Thanks be to God!

I’m eight today.

Yes, eight.

I wanted to write something brilliant and witty and clever enough to tie into this week's lectionary scriptures somehow, but couldn’t seem to find quite the right reading.

My next thought was to find something inspiring from one of my go-to daily spiritual mediation readings but I got nothing specific there either. Gosh, now what? Be still, that’s what. Simply be still.

I can’t hear Him when I am chattering in my head. After about 30 minutes (which is about my type-A limit for quiet mediation) I glanced at the books I had opened earlier this morning and noticed the titles for each of the readings.

From Daily Reflections “A Look Backward;” from The Upper Room “A Thankful Heart" and from The Message Remix “You’re Blessed.”

Now, this is something I can work with…

Look backward to eight years ago yesterday? Only long enough to remember the hopelessness of addiction so that I can share my experiences with someone who still feels that despair.

Thankful heart? You’d better believe it! Through God's Grace, I got to start over. I might never have found Him, developed a spiritual life; served others, made friends, found home, church, family. I might never have lived past 41 to become eight.

You’re Blessed. Here’s the reading from Luke 6:

You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all. God’s Kingdom is there for the finding. You’re blessed when you are ravenously hungry. Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal. You’re blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes in the morning.

What I really want to say is not brilliant, or witty, or clever – it’s simple and honest instead:

Thank God that we all get to start over with each morning. Thank you, each and every one of you, for being part of my journey to eight.

In Christ,

Joy Shaver

Returning Thanks: Thoughts on "Church Vision"

If I’ve heard this prayer once, I’ve heard it a thousand times. As a child, I used to roll my eyes when I’d hear some old man recite the words by rote. He usually mumbled quickly along, aware that his audience was focused on the fried chicken, cornbread and sliced tomatoes.

It’s called, “asking the blessing,” or “saying grace,” or best of all, “returning thanks.” Sometimes, in pockets of the deep southern vernacular, the name of this act is shortened even further, as in “Herschel, would you ‘turn thanks, and then we’ll eat.”

Whatever you call it, it goes like this:

“Father, we ask for your blessings on the food set before us, and on the hands that have prepared it. May you bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies, and our bodies to your service.”

That prayer is considered the right and proper way to begin a barbecue, fish fry, homecoming dinner, and any of a number of other church-eating related events throughout the south. Maybe folks pray this prayer in other locales as well, I don’t know.

I just know that the local Patriarch with the deep Georgia drawl has the right voice to make this prayer truly resonate.

As a kid, I knew that when my time came to be one of the praying grown folks, I would say something new, and creative, and from the heart.

Well…a little older and a little wiser now…I think that new and creative definitely has its place, but it’s sure not the only game in town. What a beautiful prayer this truly is, handed down from generation to generation. We don’t have to be the center of attention when we can be part of something larger than ourselves.

This beautiful old prayer reminds us that the summer bounty spread before us on the church buffet is absolutely a free gift from God, and a sign of his love. In fact, everything is a gift. If God chooses to “nourish” our bodies, then we will have the privilege of committing them to his service.

“Vision” should work exactly the same way in a church. At SOTH, our worship, prayer, study of scripture, building of relationships, giving and serving in the community are all gifts from God.

When we respond to God by getting involved we are “returning thanks” to the God who loves us.

On August 15th, we’ll have an important conversation as a church family. The conversation began in May with our listening groups. We’ll share feedback, we’ll pray, we’ll dream about what God might be calling us to next, but most of all we will continue the process of letting God lead us and give us a vision for this community and our world.

Plan to stay for lunch after 11:00 worship that Sunday, and take part in the good things that are happening.

Now, let’s “turn thanks” and eat --- that’s always a great idea.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

VBS 2010: What We Learned

This morning I got to see a pretty spectacular thing.

Sometimes that happens for all of us...we witness the miraculous.

In 1992, Sid Bream slid across home plate and the Braves beat the Pirates in the NLCS. That was a good night.

Sometimes a sunrise or sunset stops us in our tracks. At least a few times each summer, I will pick and eat the perfectly ripe, just picked, homegrown tomato. That always gets my attention.

The truth is, there are thousands of things that we encounter each day which, if we actually thought about them and paid attention, would simply blow us away.

Almost always, those things are simple and spontaneous.

Jesus needed to remind his disciples of this truth:

¹³Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

¹⁴Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." ¹⁵When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. -- Matthew 19

Jesus' disciples often needed to recalibrate. In this case, Jesus did that by teaching them about children.

"This is what the kingdom looks like."

I saw the kingdom today when a line of about 20 little children formed at our opening VBS worship rally.

They'd been invited to share what they've learned this week.

"I learned to forgive my friends when they hurt me."

"I learned that I should love people."

"I learned that God will never leave me."

"I learned to pray for people."

That's what the kingdom looks like.

It's Friday, and tons of SOTH volunteers have dirty houses...piles of laundry...kitchens that need cleaning...and lots of other delayed tasks that have gone undone while they've given their time and energy this week.

Great planning has taken place. Lots of work has been done...so that this spontaneous showing of the kingdom could unfold.

Thank you God --- and all of our volunteers --- and our children, for allowing me to see it.

VBS Celebration this Sunday at SOTH: 11 AM!

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Dear God, surround me as I speak,
the bridges that I walk across are weak
Frustrations fill the void that I can't solely bear
Dear God, don't let me fall apart,
you've held me close to you
I have turned away and searched for answers I can't understand

They say that I can move the mountains
And send them crashing into the sea
They say that I can walk on water
If I would follow and believe
with faith like a child

Sometimes, when I feel miles away
and my eyes can't see your face
I wonder if I've grown to lose the recklessness
I walked in light of you

[Little girl:]
"I've got joy like a fountain!"
"Be kind one to others"
"In Jesus Christ Your son"

They say that love can heal the broken
They say that hope can make you see
They say that faith can find a Savior
If you would follow and believe
with faith like a child

Politics and Religion at the Supper Table

Rev. Tony Crosby is a good friend of mine, and Pastor at Alma, United Methodist Church in Alma, Georgia. He's written a great piece that reminds us how patriotism and Christianity can fit together for American Christians. I really enjoyed it and wanted to share as we approach both the 4th of July and Holy Communion in our worship at SOTH this Sunday. Thanks Tony!
Politics and Religion at the Supper Table

One of the rules that many of us were taught growing up is that you aren’t supposed to talk about politics or religion at the supper table. Most people hold very strong opinions about both of these subjects and the food just doesn’t go down very easily when the tempers are flaring and there is heated discussion.

So guess what I thought we might do? Of course! We are going to talk about politics and religion at the supper table. We will try to keep the discourse positive as the calendar and our traditions converge today with celebrating the sacrament of communion on our most celebrated national political holiday.

Mixing politics and religion is dangerous mostly because people have difficulty resolving matters where it seems that the two have competing objectives. For example, nations make war upon other nations from time to time and many Christians find this to be at odds with the “gospel of peace” that is taught in the scriptures. A controversial piece of legislation will find both support and also opposition from Christians throughout the country because of differing ideas about how Biblical principles should be lived out in the public square. It always makes me nervous when people begin to equate the work of any government with the work of God. The Christian church has historically had some of its worst and darkest times when it has aligned itself too closely with political entities.

As Christians, we serve God first as citizens of the kingdom of God; but, we are also citizens of a geopolitical nation as well. I am very thankful for the heritage of our country and for its unique expression of representative democracy in the world, however, I am cautious in my political allegiances in the context of worship. God has made forgiveness and grace available to all who will call upon the name of Jesus Christ—from Iraq to Italy, from Afghanistan to Africa, from the Czech Republic to Chile, from Bolivia to Brazil, and, yes, from sea to shining sea right here in the United States of America. As Christians who live in one of the most affluent nations in the world, let us never forget how much we need God’s grace in our lives. As we come to the supper table today on this Independence Day, let us remember that God so loved the whole world that he gave his only son, Jesus Christ, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.

Written by Rev. Tony Crosby, Alma UMC

The Same Old Barn

Galatians 2:15-21 (The Message)

We Jews know that we have no advantage of birth over "non-Jewish sinners."

We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know? We tried it—and we had the best system of rules the world has ever seen! Convinced that no human being can please God by self-improvement, we believed in Jesus as the Messiah so that we might be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good.

Have some of you noticed that we are not yet perfect? (No great surprise, right?)

And are you ready to make the accusation that since people like me, who go through Christ in order to get things right with God, aren't perfectly virtuous, Christ must therefore be an accessory to sin? The accusation is frivolous.

If I was "trying to be good," I would be rebuilding the same old barn that I tore down. I would be acting as a charlatan.

What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ.

My ego is no longer central.

It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

How many times do we need God to tell us...stop building the "same old barn."

Paul really wanted to do things right. He really wanted to please God...maybe.

Or, maybe, in his first life as "Saul," he really wanted to use God to his advantage. He liked the idea of pleasing God, but what he really, really liked was everybody knowing that he was the best God-pleaser of them all.

God made him famous. He really knew how to do the God thing better than anybody else. And that life left his lost and empty.

Really consider these words...they're the ones we'll be considering together on Sunday at SOTH:

My ego is no longer central.

I don't need your good opinion of me.

I don't have to impress God.

It's no longer my life you see me living.

What could those statements mean for each of us?

Grace & Peace -- Adam

Don't wanna be a martyr in this war
Don't wanna hear the same excuses anymore
That everything's a threat
And it's only gonna get worse if we let it

Don't wanna blame the rich for what they got
Don't point a finger at the poor for what they have not
Though the politician and the priest
Live in the belly of the beast because we fed it

Freedom is seldom found
By beating someone to the ground
Telling them how everything is gonna be now, yeah

Now if the tables were turned tell me how you would feel
Somebody busted up into your house telling you to stay still
While the leaders will deny defeat
Innocents they testify by dying in the street

Freedom is seldom found
By beating someone to the ground
Telling them how everything is gonna be now

Freedom is seldom found
By beating someone to the ground
Telling them how everything is gonna be now

Regret

Galatians 1:13-24

I'm sure that you've heard the story of my earlier life when I lived in the Jewish way.

In those days I went all out in persecuting God's church.

I was systematically destroying it. I was so enthusiastic about the traditions of my ancestors that I advanced head and shoulders above my peers in my career.

Even then God had designs on me. Why, when I was still in my mother's womb he chose and called me out of sheer generosity! Now he has intervened and revealed his Son to me so that I might joyfully tell non-Jews about him.

Immediately after my calling—without consulting anyone around me and without going up to Jerusalem to confer with those who were apostles long before I was—I got away to Arabia.

Later I returned to Damascus, but it was three years before I went up to Jerusalem to compare stories with Peter. I was there only fifteen days—but what days they were! Except for our Master's brother James, I saw no other apostles. (I'm telling you the absolute truth in this.)

Then I began my ministry in the regions of Syria and Cilicia. After all that time and activity I was still unknown by face among the Christian churches in Judea.

There was only this report: "That man who once persecuted us is now preaching the very message he used to try to destroy."

Their response was to recognize and worship God because of me!

Everybody has a past. Everybody has something they regret.

Paul has more than most folks. He "systematically" persecuted the church. He was responsible for death and mahem among the early followers of Jesus.

He killed in the name of God.

How could he ever overcome that kind of past?

Honestly, I'm not convinced that he ever overcame the guilt. He certainly always had regrets.

But he also witnessed God putting his past actions and reputation to use in the Kingdom.

Because of the incredible story of his own transformation, the followers of Jesus could believe more than ever in the power of God. If Saul could become Paul, then anything really was possible in Jesus Christ.

What do you regret?

Is it possible that God could actually turn those regrets into the biggest places of transformation in your life and the lives of others?

Of course it is.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Summer Camp 2010

The youth and I have returned from Summer Camp on Friday...though I have not completely recovered! What an amazing weekend from the beach to the worship - across the board - it was an unforgettable experience for those who attended.

The theme of the week was "Next" and it was a focus on the things Jesus said that we might pass on; and I dont mean that we share it, either. I mean He said "Go do ________________" and we respond with "I'd rather not."

The four talks centered on Jesus saying:

1) Follow me.

2) Take up your cross.

3) Do not be afraid.

4) Go make disciples.

Some of our groups' highlights from the weekend:

1) Adam and Amber Rigby coming along! Both were amazing assets and presences on the retreat both for the kids and for me. I actually caught a little bit of flack from the other youth directors when they first discovered that Adam was my senior pastor - In case you didnt know: Its not cool to have your pastor along on a retreat. But as the week rolled on and the others got to see Adam at work with the kids, they grew to the point of being envious of my ability to include a senior pastor on a youth trip that didnt suck the cool-factor right out of the room. Amber was a great addition, too, who not only had a great time herself but also enhanced the experience for the youth as she played all of their games on the bus and took them where ever they wanted to go without complaint while we were at the beach. So grateful for both of their presences at Summer Camp!

2) Six hours on a bus makes for some interesting time killers...They ranged from the game Catchphrase to Adam annoying the youth with songs from his mp3 player about harvesting corn to Brian Riehl free-style rapping. Yeah. That happened.

3) On our last night at the camp, two amazing things happened. The first happened right after the talk that evening. The worship space was made quiet as an invitation for youth and adults alike to sit in prayerful communion with and reflection on their God. Watching as the SOTH youth sat, heads bowed and arms around one another, was awesome. I sat in the back literally in awe of their faiths and love for God and one another, blessed at the fact that I have been called to SOTH in such a capacity as to nurture and witness to their spiritual lives, and humbled at the fact that my effects on their lives are nothing compared to what was going on in those moments. Later that night the kids wanted to walk on the beach to the pier and back - not a short jaunt, mind you. En route, a bunch of them struck up singing worship songs...and didnt stop. Not for fear of shame in front of the other random folks on the beach as we walked. Not for shame in their singing abilities. Not for anything. They lifted their voices and sang to the One they love.

4) Adam and I had two awesome opportunities on the retreat to prove that he was not the lame senior pastor that some feared he might be. The first came when Adam was called upon to participate in a game during which he had a large jar-like container of ping-pong balls taped to his stomach and was instructed that he had to get all of the balls out of the container without using his hands or turning upside down before his challenger did the same. Adam and I, using our tried and true telepathy, knew exactly what to do, and when the guy running the games said "Go" I tore through the crowd of youth towards the front and used MY hands to clear his container before his opponent of the game dude knew what was going on. Victory was ours. So was the respect and wonder of the youth directors in the room who realized that Adam and I share an amazing mind-meldish bond. The second cool-point winning moment for Adam was his inclusion in the prankster team of youth directors. He even scored some major laughs from the kids with his shenanigans. I think Adam will be a welcomed part of Summer Camp next year should he choose to attend...

Summer Camp 2010 was a huge success both relationally and spiritually. Many thanks from the youth ministry to those who prayed during our stay for safety, fun, and for God's movement. Summer Camp wouldnt have been the same without you!

Direct

A Month with Galatians...

That's what we're doing at Shepherd of the Hills on Sunday mornings, and I thought it would be good for me to work through this powerful little letter day by day on the SOTHblog. Thanks for indulging.

So, here we go:

Galatians 1:1-5, The Message (read the whole chapter here)

^1-5 I, Paul, and my companions in faith here, send greetings to the Galatian churches.

My authority for writing to you does not come from any popular vote of the people, nor does it come through the appointment of some human higher-up.

It comes directly from Jesus the Messiah and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.

I'm God-commissioned.

So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace! We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we're in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins.

God's plan is that we all experience that rescue.
Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!

As we jump in to what Paul had to say to this church, first things have to come first.

He needs to remind everyone of his authority. Really, the authority isn't his, it's been given to him directly.

The message he carries isn't his own invention. He didn't write this sermon. It's straight from God.

Paul is "God-commissioned."

Acts 9 tells the story, and it's really the place where this letter begins.

Saul was heading to Damascus to arrest the followers of Jesus. Until he met Jesus himself. He experienced the resurrected Christ first-hand. He sat blinded for three days. His life changed forever.

As these next chapters unfold, we'll hear Paul say some hard things to these people he loves. He says it because he has to. The truth burns inside of him and he has to speak. They've been led astray, and that's not something Paul is able to tolerate.

He's God commissioned.

Curious about what a person who saw the risen Jesus face-to-face might have to say about what it means to be a follower of "The Way?"

Then let's keep reading.

Grace & Peace,
Adam

Wisdom

Readings for this week, from the Revised Common Lectionary:

Proverbs 8:1-4; 22-31
Psalm 8
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15

Proverbs 8 (The Message)

Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling? Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice?

She's taken her stand at First and Main, at the busiest intersection.

Right in the city square where the traffic is thickest, she shouts: "You—I'm talking to all of you, everyone out here on the streets!

Listen, you idiots—learn good sense! You blockheads—shape up!

Don't miss a word of this—I'm telling you how to live well, I'm telling you how to live at your best.

"God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic—before he did anything else.

I was brought into being a long time ago, well before Earth got its start.

I arrived on the scene before Ocean, yes, even before Springs and Rivers and Lakes. Before Mountains were sculpted and Hills took shape, I was already there, newborn;

Long before God stretched out Earth's Horizons, and tended to the minute details of Soil and Weather, And set Sky firmly in place, I was there. When he mapped and gave borders to wild Ocean, built the vast vault of Heaven, and installed the fountains that fed Ocean, When he drew a boundary for Sea, posted a sign that said no trespassing, And then staked out Earth's Foundations, I was right there with him, making sure everything fit.

Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause, always enjoying his company,

Delighted with the world of things and creatures, happily celebrating the human family, before he did anything else.

Proverbs 8 shows us wisdom...personified.

"Lady Wisdom" stands crying out in the streets, but few seem to hear her voice.

It's too busy and noisy out there on Main Street. Besides, her advice might run counter to the things that we want to do, or the things that the world sometimes tells us we should do.

The wisdom of God runs deep. It is ancient, present at and in the creation.

Our task? Listen. Find some space before the noise begins and listen. When we get really accomplished, maybe it's even possible for us to find some spiritual space in the middle of the noise, as it's happening around us.

Not easy. The best things take time and practice. But here's the deal. God has already attended to the details. The soil, the water, the air, the trees, the delicate balance of life...it's all in place.

God made us for the purpose of being here, and being in relationship with Him.

Lady Wisdom cries out at First and Main, "delicately" calling us back home:

"Listen you idiots! Learn good sense! You blockheads, shape up!"

Grace & Peace,
Adam

See

John 14:8-17 (The Message)

⁸Philip said, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content."

^9-10"You've been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don't understand?

To see me is to see the Father.

So how can you ask, 'Where is the Father?' Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

The words that I speak to you aren't mere words. I don't just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act.

^11-14"Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me.

If you can't believe that, believe what you see—these works.

The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing.

You can count on it.

From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son.

I mean it.

Whatever you request in this way, I'll do.

^15-17"If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you.

I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth.

The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for.

But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!

I love passages like these from the Gospels so much.

Jesus just makes it simple:

1. See me...you see the Father

2. Believe in me

3. Ask me for what you need

4. Obey me

Simple, right?

So simple...but such a challenge for us because following this teaching will force us to get ourselves out of our own way.

See

Believe

Ask

Obey

Let's give it a shot today. Stop yourself from time to time throughout this day and check in with these four steps.

It's a lesson from the Master worth learning.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

Worship this Sunday, 9:30 and 11 AM. We'll be honoring 7 graduates, and concluding our "To Save a Family" series with, "Strong Families Leave a Legacy."

Pentecost

Acts 2:1-13 (The Message)

^1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building.

Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

^5-11There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world.

When they heard the sound, they came on the run.

Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn't for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, "Aren't these all Galileans? How come we're hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;
Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;
Even Cretans and Arabs!

"They're speaking our languages, describing God's mighty works!"

¹²Their heads were spinning; they couldn't make head or tail of any of it.

They talked back and forth, confused: "What's going on here?"

¹³Others joked, "They're drunk on cheap wine."

Jerusalem has always been a city of many languages.

When Holly and I visited there 2 years ago, we were struck by the incredible diversity of people we met.

I suppose I always thought that Jerusalem was overwhelmingly Jewish. It's the site of the Temple Mount, it's the capitol of Israel.

In reality, I found it to be dominated by Muslim people and culture. The governmental authority and much of the wealth is Jewish. There is a Christian presence, though much smaller and more insignificant than I'd imagined.

The Christians are fragmented among Catholics, Orthodox, Ethiopian, and the infinite stripes of Protestants.

Everybody has their own parts and pieces of the city. Every group has its own sacred sites and shrines.

What could ever bring unity?

Fire from heaven, that's about all I can think of. The spectacle of these many groups and peoples speaking one another's languages, as a gift from God.

It is the Tower of Babel in reverse. It is a vision of what is possible with the immediate, powerful presence of God at work in our lives.

What could the Holy Spirit do to unify our families, our churches, our towns?

Human beings, in our brokenness and sin, will always find ways to be divided. God is unified, and that's God's vision for his people. May it truly come to pass.

Grace & Peace,

Adam