Sunday Evening Thoughts

"Oh well it's Sunday night and I ain't got nobody... I got some money cause I just got paid...how I wish I had someone to talk to..."  Well, I'm not in an "awful way" but I am in a funny mood.  Music would make that line a little better.  Really, it IS Sunday night, I'm listening to rain beat down on the roof above.  My wife is snuggled up with a soft pillow and blanket... watchin' something on the tube... and I have a few minutes to reflect on the day.

Worship today at Christwalk was good.  The people were attentive and open to what the Spirit would say to them.  The music was enjoyable and it made it easy to share my heart with our people.  The kids were amazing during our "story time."  Today, they heard about Jesus feeding a bunch of people with a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread... as usual, they had their attention glued on me as I tried to bring the Word of God to them in a lively fashion... it was fun.  On top of that, I had my sister and brother-in-law in church with us today... family always helps doesn't it?  But, then, I always have my grandsons to make me feel special.

Today was the last week of the month and the last Sunday for teaching / preaching about "Sharing the Faith."  Today was the "need" part.  We "need" to share the faith because so many are living without HOPE.  And life without hope is impossible.  So, with God's help, we were encouraged to never lose hope.  I KNOW, without a doubt, that there were quite a few people who needed to hear that message...

After the service, we celebrated each other by sharing some food... it was a 'covered-dish' dinner and that kind of stuff is always good... I don't care who you are!! 

Next week, we start a new emphasis on "Sharing the Ministry."  In keeping with that theme, next Sunday is Father's Day at Christwalk.  That's where leadership starts, isn't it?  In the home?  Anyway, if you read this note and would like to have a good time honoring God with friends and more friends, come on out to Christwalk next Sunday morning.  We start at 10:30 and you'll be there a little over an hour.  Our Cafe opens at 9:30 if you want some coffee and breakfast... would love to see you!

God is good and we try our best to let the world see His goodness through our lives!

Blessings!

JC

The Church is a She

"One of the central metaphors for God and his people throughout the Bible is that of a groom and his bride.  God is the groom; his people are the bride.  I like this because it makes the church a "she".  We need to reclaim this image.

The church is a she.

She's a mystery, isn't she?  Still going after all this time.  After the Crusades and the Inquisition and Christian cable television.  Still going.  And there continue to be people like me who believe she is one of the best ideas ever.  In spite of all the ways she has veered off track.  In spite of all the people who have actually turned awasy from God because of what they experienced in church.  I am starting to realize why:  The church is like a double-edged sword.  When it's good, when it's on, when it's right, it's like nothing on earth.  A group of people committed to selflessly serving and loving the world around them?  Great.  But, when it's bad, all that potential gets turned the other way.  From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.  Sometimes in the same week.  Sometimes in the same day.

But she will live on.  She's indestructible.  When she dies in one part of the world, she explodes in another.  She's global.  She's universal.  She's everywhere.  And while she's fragile, she's going to endure.  In every generation there will be those who see her beauty and give their lives to see her shine... She will continue to roll across the ages, serving and giving and connecting people with God and each other.  And people will abuse her and manipulate her and try to control her, but hey'll pass on.  And she will keep going."  (excerpt from "Velvet Elvis", written by Rob Bell, a pastor in Michigan)

This is from me.   The Church... we love her... we hate some of the things we see in her...  but, Jesus gave His life for her and He is head of the Church... how can we ignore her or treat her with such low regard?

JC

The Living Bible

His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college.

He is brilliant. Kind of profound and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not sure how to go about it.

One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat.

The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.

Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.

By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill.

Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit.. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do.

How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy.

The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion.
When the minister gains control, he says,

"What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."

"Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read!"

(Author Unknown)

Righteous Character

“I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.  May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” (Philippians 1:10, 11)

This little paragraph pretty much sums up the way I feel as I do what I can to support families and individuals in their life’s walk.  The Apostle Paul knew that if the believers in the Philippian church understood what really mattered, it would make a difference in the way they live.  He knew they would be able to live pure and blameless lives in society if they really knew what was important.  I believe that about us, too.

This blog is meant to get us to think about what is important.  What really matters is allowing Jesus Christ to develop us into people who have righteous character.  Every hurdle we cross, every barrier we face, every moment of joy (or sorrow) is meant to produce righteous character in us.  How's it going in your life?

JC

Starving Babies

The following is part of an article written by Steven Furtick, a pastor in Charlotte, NC...

One of the greatest critiques of the American Church today is that it’s malnourished.

When most people voice this complaint, the focus is on the worship experience. From people who leave these churches, you hear, “I wasn’t getting fed.” Or, “I just want some deeper teaching.” From people outside these churches, you hear, “Too much milk, not enough meat.”
In some cases, I’m sure this is true. But I really don’t think that’s the real problem. Yes, American Christians are malnourished. But I don’t believe it has anything to do with milk or meat.

Most American Christians aren’t malnourished because of what they’re getting fed on Sunday. They’re malnourished because they don’t feed themselves Monday through Saturday.

So you had filet mignon on Sunday and learned about the mystical union of Christ and the church as it relates to the rapture and the design of the tabernacle in relation to Levitical dietary laws as understood by the Council of Trent. Good for you. Have fun starving yourself the rest of the week and letting your pastor read the Bible so you don’t have to.
So you had some milk on Sunday and learned 37 ways to ________. Have fun having 37 new ways to not obey God during the coming week.
The crisis facing the church today isn’t what people are getting fed on Sundays. It’s what they’re not feeding themselves the rest of the days. Who really cares whether you consume meat or milk on Sunday if it’s the only meal you have all week?

Here’s the point. Churches...we have a responsibility. We should serve up the Word, hot and fresh, every single Sunday. As church leaders, it is our job to create and sustain processes and systems that responsibly enable people to grow in their faith after receiving Christ.

People in our churches: you also have a responsibility. If you refuse to study the Word, apply it, pray some during the week, join a small group and dig deeper with others, there’s not much we can do to help you. Your malnourishment won’t be cured by anything we give you on Sunday.

So, are you an infant and need milk? Drink it for now, but the only way you will mature and be ready for meat is by training yourself. Constantly. Do you want meat?  Get it... On your own. Constantly.  Not getting it served to you once a week.

JC