Whatever

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
           (Philippians 4:8)

Yesterday was a day filled with anxiety, tension, confusion, etc. A person I love dearly was lied to and lied about to others. The day was probably not the complete disaster that you might expect from reading the first part of this paragraph. However, it was one of those days we are glad to put behind us, hoping that the tomorrow will make up for it and put a positive balance in our emotional bank account.

In most of the situations the circumstances were beyond my control. There was nothing I could do but ride the day out to its end. I ended the day tired. I did not end it with praise. I did not end it thinking about purity and justice. I did not end it looking for the things of good report. I saw no virtue or praise. I meditated on myself, and therein lies the problem.

If I center only on me rather than the One who is alive in and through me, I will have a hard time finding truth, because I must seek truth in the One who is Truth, I will mourn the loss of purity because I am not pure, there will be no good report because slander, whether it is heard or spoken, rarely centers on the good in another. So, it is easy to see how one can arrive at a time for sleep having not experienced virtue and having praises unspoken.

Maybe if I start the day differently myself, concentrating on those words of encouragement from Philippians, I will find it better for myself and make it better for others as well.

Pastor Craig

When We Are At Our Best

Two weeks ago I promised some important questions concerning the past, present, and future of our congregation. The first one was, “Think back on your entire experience at this church and name a time when you felt most engage, alive, and motivated.” The challenge from that question was to accept responsibility and to take action to reawaken this in your personal spiritual life and the life of this congregation.

The second question was, “When you consider all of your experiences at this church, what has contributed the most to your spiritual life?” The challenge here was to spend time in the Scriptures aligning your spiritual priorities with those God has in mind for you.

Today’s question is, “what do you think is the single, most life-giving characteristic of this church? When we are at our best, what are we doing?” This question requires a little bit more thought than the others because each of us can recall aspects that are of tremendous sentimental value to us in this church. These memories may be of significant importance to us personally. However, are they life-giving? Are they Gospel centered? Or, are they of sentimental value only. When you consider the entirety of the Gospel message, what activities, programs, and ministries exemplify this message most?

Please, don’t answer quickly. Spend some time thinking about this one because this is something I want us to center our life, mission, and ministry around over the next year or two. This is how our session will determine our programming and budget for the coming year. As you think about this question I would like you also to consider that this is something that is life-giving in our church because it is something that the Holy Spirit has gifted us to do. It is life-giving because it is affirmed by the Spirit when we do it, when we carry it out. At that point we are doing that thing which God has called us to do and he is blessing us with his presence.

Spend some time in prayer. Spend some time in the study of the Scriptures. Spend some time listening to the voice of the Spirit. Spend some time in silence. I hope, when you are done, you will come spend some time with me and tell me where you think God is leading us.

Pastor Craig

Your Spiritual Journey

Over the next several weeks I am going to be asking you all several questions. How you answer these questions six months from now will be more important than you initial answers as you read them.

I won’t keep you guessing. The reason your answer six months from now will be more important than the answer you give today is that, if the answer remains unchanged for six months, it will show that we are headed nowhere. We may talk a great deal about the who, what, when, and where of ministry, but the only thing that matters is if we actually engage in the ministries we have planned.

You had your first question last week. Here is your second question: When you consider all of your experiences at this church, what has contributed the most to your spiritual life? Think. Think very hard. Remember a time when you felt close to God? Remember things, spiritual practices that brought you to that place in your life? What things made the most difference in your spiritual journey?

While your answers may be quite different and varied from person to person, I can tell you one thing that always guarantees a solid return in your spiritual growth. That thing is time alone with your God and His word. God promises us that His word “will not return void.”[1] This means that your faithful study of the Word of God will bring you closer to the God who gives humanity his Living Word!

Maybe your study comes with the rising of the sun. Maybe it is the last thing you do before you go to bed. It may be something you do with your spouse and family or something you do in a quiet place all by yourself. You may join a study formed at church, or you may use a book or guide you buy at a store and do it all on your own. You may read the Scriptures and meditate on a single verse all day, or you may read long sections of Scripture and drink in the larger flow of God’s interaction with humanity.

We usually stop our study of the Word when we feel the action has become something of rote. We may not get the same “feeling” we had originally. We wonder what we get out of our effort. We wonder if we are wasting our time. The Scriptures promise that we are not. God is in the reading, and if God is there it can never be a waste of time.

Whatever it was that meant so much to your spiritual life, don’t give up on it. Reclaim your first love. Remember the words of the One who cannot lie telling you that you will be blessed if you choose to spend time before Him, studying Him, learning His ways, and experiencing His eternal goodness.

Pastor Craig

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[1] I Thessalonians 2:13