God Will Provide

It is hard to believe that next week will be October already. I hope that you have enjoyed the wonderful weather that we have been having. I keep saying to others, “Great Sleeping Weather.” It won’t be long before we will have to start closing the windows at night, and the heat will be turned on. For now, I guess we’ll just have to enjoy the weather we have.

October reminds me of harvest more than November does. Maybe it’s because of all of the late vegetables that you can get at the market, the apples, and the pumpkins. Maybe it’s the hayrides that begin to take place or maybe its just about giving thanks a little early.

In my devotional yesterday, I read a passage from the 17th chapter of First Kings. It begins by saying that there will be no dew or rain, except when God speaks. But it doesn’t take long in that passage for God to speak to Elijah and tell him to go and wait by a river. It is there that God provides for him, more than just dew and rain.

In a related text, today I read from Luke’s twelfth chapter where Jesus tells his disciples not to worry about what they will eat, or about what they will wear. Life is more than food.

As I read that Word, and the Word from the Old Testament, I kept coming back to the same thoughts and the thoughts of October Harvest. More than November, October reminds me of the abundance and the constant supply that we have in our lives.

Think back to a time in your life when you didn’t have to worry about what you would eat or drink. It may be right now, or it may be as far back as when you were a child. Without a doubt there were times when you didn’t have to worry much. I remember with gratitude my childhood years when there was always more than I could ever imagine. It is as if God was supplying my needs through my parents. Now, I am the parent and I am able to provide. Things just happen, food is on the table, and abundance is supplied.

Sure there are times when you have some stress when you are running to the end of the pay period, but God continues to supply even in the midst of those lean times. I imagine that if you went to your cupboard right now, there would be more than enough to make a meal. Maybe the children wouldn’t be thrilled that you were having tuna noodle casserole, but there would be food.

Often times, we take for granted that we have been given so much. We neglect to think about the supply that we have been given even in the midst of scarcity. Abundance is around us, and we should not worry.

Today, I am giving thanks for so much. I am thankful for everything that I have. I am thankful for the gifts that I have received, the roof over my head, my family, and most importantly my life. I hope that you have an opportunity to give thanks too.

“Almighty God, in whom I find life, health, and strength, and through whose mercy I am clothed and fed, grant to me a thankful and faithful heart. In the name and spirit of Christ. Amen.”

This week in worship we will be hearing a message entitled, “When the Game is Over” based upon 1 Timothy 6:6-19. We will begin to distribute copies of “Treasures of a Transformed Life” as we begin our Transformed Living Congregational Study. I hope to see you there.

Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg

News from the Bizarre

I don't know why I found this - but take a look at this story of a man who was trying to row upstream. Tell me if this is not a metaphor for church work!

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-liresc0921,0,6017627.story

Transformed Living

Several weeks ago, I walked into the hospital to visit a parishioner. I walked to the front desk to get a room number. I verified that the patient was in the same room, and I proceeded to walk around the corner toward the back hallway.

Before I could take two steps, the volunteer behind the reception desk stopped me and said, “You can’t go that way, the hallway is now closed.”

My reaction, both mental and verbal was, “Gee – when are they going to be done renovating these hallways.” I didn’t get a response.

I was sharing with some of my colleagues who also frequent that hospital about the renovation. We were all surprised that there was yet another “detour” through the hospital. We all shared our consternation over the fact that it seems that the hospital has been in a constant state of renovation for several years.

Just as I was getting used to the new detour, I was reminded of that conversation. I arrived at the hospital to find that this renovation project was shorter than the others, and was now complete. I wondered whether there would be something else under construction soon and where I would be sent next. As I walked down the hall, things did look different and cleaner. I could tell some work had been done. I may not know the purpose, but things were different.

As I was walking down that newly renovated hallway, I also began to think about my reaction differently. I was coming to understand that not only was this new transformation a good thing, but it was also necessary, regardless of how much it aggravated me in the beginning. If there was not a renovation or transformation, the hospital would be the same as it was when it first opened. Moreover, it would probably begin to fail, deteriorate, and move to a point that it was unable to fulfill the purposes of being a hospital in the 21st Century.

That idea serves as a great illustration for our lives as Christians, I think. We must continue to be transformed if we are to continue to be called as disciples of Jesus Christ. We can not, and should not be the same people that we were last year, or several years ago. We should be under a constant state of renovation, as we allow God to work on our lives to make us who God is calling us to be. No matter the detour or the cost, in the end we are different, hopefully better.

Paul’s words come to mind when I think of that renovation project. He tells the people of Rome, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you can know the will of God, so that you will know what is good acceptable and perfect.” That word transformed is important here and it is important for all of us.

In the coming weeks, we are going to be embarking on a church wide study called Transformed Living. Throughout the study, the congregation will be reading a book together entitled “Treasures of a Transformed Life,” studying in small groups, and hearing sermons that tie this all together. The team that has been working on this study is excited about seeing the transformation that happens.
I encourage you to look for opportunities to be transformed in the coming weeks and see how God can work within each of us toward transformation. By the way, it’s only a 40 day detour.

“God of transformation, we open ourselves to you this day and everyday. We open our hearts to your spirit for healing and wholeness, knowing that you are the God of everything in our lives. Help us to seek your will in all that we do, and be gracious in your leading. We pray these things through Christ who saves us. Amen.”

There Are Some Things Money Can't Buy, For Everything Else - There's Cheating

Video Tape for "Sideline Reporter"- $250,000
A New Hoodie for Bill Belichick - $500,000
Winning Three Super Bowls - Priceless!

Current Events

Our daughter brought home an assignment last week. It was an assignment on current events and was part of her Social Studies curriculum. It was due today.

The assignment was simple. Find a current event from a news source and write about it. Tell about the source of the article, the title, the date, and the event. Then she was to take the article and describe in a certain number of sentences, the event and the significance for the class.

Easy right?

Not quite! There was a caveat. The article had to include a picture. Further, the current event could not be related to violence or weapons. Not so simple anymore, huh?

The assignment probably turned out to be just as much about being a parent as it was a fourth grader learning about current events. We began by looking at the few news sources to which we have access. I taught her how to find the date, and the title of the source on the newspaper. We talked about the sections and the information that would be found in those sections.

But what was so difficult was actually finding a story that both fit the assignment as well as the constraints. Once you got past being age appropriate for a story, the real struggle was finding one with pictures that didn’t involve violence and weapons. Keep in mind – I didn’t think that sports would fit the bill. That eliminated an entire section of relevant news.

You have probably heard – “if it bleeds, it leads.” In the news last week, that was true. There were terrorists on the covers of magazines. On one edition of the newspaper, there was the picture of a small coffin being carried by teens. They were carrying the body of an 11 year old twin boy who was killed by his brother. With so much news dealing with violence and weapons, it was difficult to find a news article. The one thing that kept running through my mind was, “wouldn’t it be great if there was a story about peace.”

Today, I’m thinking about that prospect a little. Six years ago today, we were planning to travel back to Pennsylvania after spending some time in North Carolina. Our bags were packed, our sandwiches were made, and with the exception of a migraine headache, we were going to leave for PA. But just about the time that we were about to leave, the first terrorist attack on 9/11 happened. Needless to say, we stayed in North Carolina for another day not knowing whether they would be shutting down Interstate Highways, and curtailing all travel.

Six years ago today, 9/11 was the current event. Images would have been flowing in and out of our minds without the hope of escaping them. I remember the same daughter who turned in her project today continuing to ask, “why did bad people do that to us?” Technically, that wouldn’t have fit the assignment either. Violence, once again.

Today, I am praying for peace. Isaiah talks about peace and the day when the house of God will be brought to full recognition. At that time, says the prophet, “He shall judge between nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Isaiah 2:4.

Someday, hopefully soon, fourth graders will have nothing but positive lead stories which will be considered appropriate for a current events project. Hopefully that time won’t be too far into the future. And today, as we remember a current event that is still fresh in our memories, let’s all pray for peace.

“Almighty God, how can we not consider peace a possibility today. Our minds recall so much pain and violence, so much hurt. Images flood our memories and the terror returns. Help us to seek your peace and assurance each day, yet not forget the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. May the day come soon, when we shall learn war no more. In his name we pray. Amen.”

This week in worship, we will be talking about the parable of the Lost Sheep. I promise no violent images or weapons will be included, but it will be current and topical. The title of the sermon is “Who’s number One!?!” I hope that you will join us.

Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg

It's That Time of Year Again

What time of year is it? If you were asked that question, you might answer it differently depending upon your mindset, your activities, or even your family circumstances.

It’s that time of year again, may mean that it’s High School Football season once again. Maybe your son or daughter plays in the marching band, or you have a child involved in the sport in some way.

It may also mean hunting season for you. Those of us who don’t hunt in this season probably wondered what the big fuss was over when the State decided to shut down the fire arms clearance site for a few days for upgrades. However, if you were a hunter who enjoys dove season, this issue may be important to you.

Most of us have forgotten that the Pirates are still playing, because the Steelers season begins in earnest this Sunday. Many throughout Western Pennsylvania will be glued to the television this week to watch the “Stillers” battle the dreaded “Cleve Brownies.”

Summer is over, so regardless of what the calendar says, it’s fall – that’s another season. School began for most of our children – so it’s homework season. Before too long, churches will be talking about money – so it’s stewardship season too.

But whether we know it or not, all of the above amount to something very important in the church. It’s harvest season.

I’m not talking about the harvest of all of the fruits and vegetables that is occurring right now, but the harvest of souls. Because what happens whether we know it or not, there is a season that exists right now when people are more likely to come to church. There is something happening right now when people know that its that time of year and it happens right about now, many times during Christmas, and then again at Easter. It’s harvest time because people are more likely to come to church, and they are more likely to respond to an invitation to church.

Sure it happens at other times too, but often times those seasons become intensely personal. Personal circumstances in life make people respond to church differently: change in job status, relocation, loss of a loved one, or even coming to college for the first time.

I have been reading some of the ninth chapter in Matthew’s Gospel recently and began to think about the harvest a lot. In that ninth chapter, Matthew is talking a lot about how Jesus Christ was reaching out to those who are outside the church including the sick, the tax collectors, and the lost – he called them sheep without a shepherd. He then went on to say, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Sure, harvest season is all the time. But sometimes I guess we need a little reminder that there may be someone new to you over the next coming weeks who needs to hear that they are loved, wanted, and needed right here in the church. I think we need that little reminder because each of us has our own priorities in mind at time of the year.

Let’s pray for that harvest. Almighty God, there are so many around us that need to hear your Word in their lives. They are hungering and thirsting for you and for your love. Help us to go out into the fields of harvest that you have made ready, and glean those who have been left behind by the world. Give us strength to see beyond our own perspective and see the needs of those who come seeking the shepherd. In Jesus Name, Amen.

This week in worship, we will be hearing a message on the cost of radical discipleship. My message title is “I Need Your Answer by Noon.” But if worship goes over this week by a few minutes, you can get me your answer then. But even before that, remember that Sunday School starts this week throughout the building for all ages. Invite someone, invite a child, invite a friend – they might just be waiting for an invitation. Hope to see you then.

Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg