Who Sings a Song About You?

There is a wonderful quote in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I think most of you will be able to pick up on the essence of the quote even if you’ve never seen the movies or read the books. However, just maybe it will inspire you to do both!

Sam: I wonder if we'll ever be put into songs or tales.

Frodo: What?

Sam: I wonder if people will ever say, 'Let's hear about Frodo and the Ring.' And they'll say 'Yes, that's one of my favorite stories. Frodo was really courageous, wasn't he, Dad?' 'Yes, my boy, the most famousest of hobbits. And that's saying a lot.'

Frodo: You've left out one of the chief characters - Samwise the Brave. I want to hear more about Sam. Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam.

Sam: Now Mr. Frodo, you shouldn't make fun; I was being serious.

Frodo: So was I.

Many of you, like Frodo and Sam on their journey to Mordor have come far. Most of you try to give credit to those many people who have helped you along the way. However, many more of you have failed to see how the Spirit has used you in the lives of others. Just like Sam, you think of yourself as baggage than bravery, more hindrance than helper. Yet, you are a child of God. We sing that chorus almost every week. It is a chorus of triumph and victory, not one of defeat or despair.

If you have given yourself to Jesus Christ you are under the power of the Holy Spirit. You are being used of God is ways small and large, obvious and obscure (at least obscure to you!)

Sam’s main gift was availability. He was willing to pour his life out to the last measure to assist Frodo in his quest to destroy the One Great Ring. He was nothing but an instrument, but it was that very attitude that made him the most valuable instrument of the whole journey.

This week, I want you to do a couple things. First, contact one of the Sam people in your life and tell them how much they have helped you along the journey of your life. Second, if even for only one day of this next week, put yourself ENTIRELY at the disposal of some other cause or person that can never return the favor for you. Pour yourself out on some great quest for others. If you choose to accept this challenge, I would love to hear about it in the weeks ahead!

Pastor Craig

What Is a Church?

What is a church? I could have asked, “What is The Church?” That is a very different question. When we talk about The Church we talk about all the believers in Jesus Christ regardless of denominational affiliation, differing theologies, languages, races, cultures, ethnic groups. The Church has no boundaries. The Church has no need for a building, nor does it even want one. The Church hopes, loves, believes, and welcomes without prejudice.

Then there is “a church.” A church is a local assembly made up of broken and failing people. It is a collection of sinners, saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. A church is a collection of walking wounded warriors sent out to do battle with injustice, Sin and sins, prejudice, hatred, guilt, evil, Satan himself. Yes, there is a real Satan. No, he probably isn’t red with horns and carrying a pitchfork. Yes, he is personal, meaning he has a personality.

A church is a group of children called to take on and fight legions of enemy warriors. A church involves people called to make a difference. A church is never satisfied. It yearns and longs for purpose and mission. A church is people like you, called by their Creator to do tremendous things.

A church is sent. Maybe that is the best way to think about it. A church is not called. Here, I know some of my Christian brothers and sisters will take issue with me. They will say, “Well, of course The Church is called! How could you say it is not?” For this purpose today remember this – a calling is to something. We are called to come to Jesus Christ for salvation, equipping, gifting, and commissioning. After that we are sent! We were never meant to be limited to just the Call. The Sending part ALWAYS follows the Calling part. God calls us to Himself to prepare us to do something in His name. That’s the sending part.

The mission of a church, even The Church, is never limited to looking through the windows and feeling sorry for all the people who may not know Jesus as we do. A church is a group of people who are committed to take care of and support one another for the express purpose of making a difference in the lives of the people who are on the other side of the glass through which we look.

A church is never guaranteed a future. It is called and sent into the present with all its resources and assets at the disposal of the mission of making a difference to those outside of the comfort and peace of salvation. Where will you be sent to make a difference this week?

Pastor Craig

An Open Letter Concerning the Recent Decision of the PCUSA

Below is a letter to the congregation I serve in Texas. The recent decision of the Presbyterian Church (USA) left the denomination adrift and at the mercies of culture and the whims of society rather than calling society back to the considerations of Scripture.

In August of this year (2011) there will be a meeting in Minneapolis of people who feel they are no longer welcome within their own denomination. Please be in prayer for that meeting. It is more important than any of us realize at this point. What is done, or not done, will effect millions of Presbyterians across the country and strongly impact the nature and ministry of the entire denomination. The letter is below. I would value your response to it.

June 1, 2011

First, I would like to say that the Presbyterian form of government is an awesome thing. We saw several unique and foundational principles from the Book of Order put into play on Sunday. My favorite comes from G-1.0301(a). “God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in anything contrary to his Word, or beside it, in matters of faith or worship.” In other words, we don’t have to agree. We can take different points of view on issues, even many points of theology, and no pastor, session, church, or denomination can say “you can’t do, believe, or say that” with any authority other than that which the Word of God or the Spirit of God would give of their own authority. It is an awesome foundational principle.

Ultimately, we MUST recognize one another as family. God gives us no other option. He has put us together, and when all the debate and discussion is over, that is where, if possible, God wants us to continue to stand.

I hope this explains why I consider this Minneapolis meeting so important. There are people within the PCUSA (yes, I am one of them) who no longer feel welcome in their own denomination. Viewpoints and theologies which were, at one time foundational pillars of Presbyterianism, seem to have been cast aside by popular vote. In some cases, entire congregations feel this with such intensity that they have requested dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (USA). The meeting in Minneapolis is not a meeting for or of those seeking to leave the denomination. None of the representatives or planning team members are planning to separate themselves from the PCUSA. The conference is an effort to find a place to stand within the denomination, not apart from it.

We are not aligning ourselves with one side or the other simply by our attendance at the conference. We are making a desperate attempt to save our family of faith from division. The worst thing we could possibly do is to remain unengaged, uninvolved, and uninformed. Attendance at this conference says in a loud, clear voice to our members, our presbytery, and our denomination that we want to do all that we can to continue our historical connection to the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Peace,
Pastor Craig