In God's Hands

I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all;
but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.
  Martin Luther

October Thought

 

Of all the people who ever inhabited planet earth, this generation is probably the most besieged by a tidal wave of information, messages, facts, figures, truths, and lies that have ever assailed the human mind. It’s easy to feel intimidated and overwhelmed. Christians know that they cannot respond to every message they hear, or solve every problem, or meet every need by applying some once-and-for-all elixir that translates every language and clarifies every ambiguity. What we can do is to deliberately recognize that we cannot avoid being part of the current scene, and that our greatest gift may well lie to also recognize that the Holy Spirit is not limited as we are, and that there is energy from God that is seeking entrance into our world, through us. We are called to recognize that God changes things not by miraculous re-ordering of our social universe, but by planting into the history of the human family the seeds of his living word, like some potent virus for good that has a life of its own, introduced into history through God’s people and growing by its own energy into a persuasive and saving presence in the human scene.

Our task is to transform the human observation of the Grace of God from being a distant and sometimes inarticulate abstraction into a warm-blooded, here and now, observable human version that we experience. In the long term, it is like the October task on the farm (as I imagine it to be in its basic parts) of harvesting the field: to free the kernels of grain from their immediate environment, so to speak, separating leaves and thistles – and other confusing materials – and then to take those kernels of grain to the mill, and grind out the flour that becomes the food that sustains us.

In all humility, it is for the believer to allow the truth of the gospel of grace and love to grow in one’s heart and mind; however one’s environment may challenge or confuse. Then with all humility to allow that truth to shape one’s daily life. The world has been changed not because Christians took on the entire task in one fell swoop, but were willing to be a micro cosmos, a small world of one by one whose faithfulness was infectious, and graciously claimed at least some little piece of the world’s travail each day for Christ.

In Christ,

Pastor Jansen   

God's People

 

 

To gather with God's people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer.  

Martin Luther

An Important Piece

One of my interests is in putting jigsaw puzzles together. During the January 2010 blizzard, Sandy and I completed a 1000 piece puzzle. It was a picture of birds at the bird feeder on a beautiful summer day. In the midst of the snow storm, it was a reminder that summer would be coming. There are instant rewards when you find another piece that slowly completes the picture. The body of Christ can often resemble a large jigsaw puzzle that was just dumped out of the box onto the table. The pieces can seem jumbled together without any sense of cohesion, but as you examine the various shapes, you soon begin to figure out how certain pieces will join to others. Connecting one part to the next, the big picture gradually comes into focus as you begin to see how other pieces fit into place.

Every person in the family of God is given specific gifts. This could be a gift of teaching, music, leadership, writing, hospitality, or even compassion. It could be the transformation of a talent you already have, or a completely new ability God gives to you. It may not be clear at first how your specific gift will fit in. You may even be hesitant to use your gift out of fear that others will think it unimportant. However, it is important to remember that every gift from God is significant. When you fail to contribute your gift, you withhold pieces necessary to complete the big picture that makes up the body of Christ; like that frustrating last puzzle piece that is missing, withholding your gift leaves gaping holes in the body that could be used to bless others.

Rely upon the grace of God and trust that the gifts He has given will fit together to make the body of Christ stronger as a whole. God has entrusted each of us with unique gifts that will strengthen and inspire the body of Christ. Thanks for your partnership in putting the pieces of the puzzle together as we live out the gospel in word and deed.

Go with God,

Pastor Qualley

Planning for the future

Across America there is a trend in congregational life that is somewhat alarming. Every denominational body is seeing a decline in people involved in worship and ministry. Church is becoming one of many options for people to choose from in their busy lives. In some cases, people are opting out of church and choosing other activities to invest their lives. There is no better alternative in one’s life than to have a strong relationship to God. The church will continue to be a place where people will be encouraged and supported through the best and worst of times. There is no other message than the Good News of Jesus Christ which brings strength for daily living, peace within one’s heart, and a purpose and direction for living. It is with this in mind that Lord of Life is committed to changing this trend within our community. Our church leaders and staff are committed to ensure that our relationship to Jesus Christ will be valued above all other competing forces that seek to engage individuals and families. Lord of Life will continue to search for ways to connect to the needs of people in this place and time. We will understand the barriers to faith development and seek solutions in overcoming them. These are some ways in which we will achieve this goal:

 

Provide opportunities for all ages to grow in their relationship to Jesus Christ. Marks of Discipleship and Children and Family Ministry have detailed in which every household will be offered practical ways to deepen your faith through sermon series, small group offerings, resources, and in-home activities.

 

Engage a research and development program to ensure a congregational life that reflects the present/future cultural trends with the power of the gospel. As we move into the future with rapid cultural changes, especially in the area of technology, we will endeavor to seek ways for the church’s ministry to connect with the daily needs of our people. Lord of Life seeks to be proactive in finding strength and purpose in our changing environment. 

 

 

Assess the worship needs and styles for the next few years: No longer is one style of worship is meaningful to all ages. Some worshippers prefer traditional, some contemporary, some contemplative, and some more informal worship. If we are going to reach all ages with the gospel’s message, we need to address how best to use our talents and resources in providing meaningful inspiring worship for all ages.

 

Live out the “Great Commission” (“Go therefore, and make disciples…Matt. 28:19) and the “Great Commandment” (“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul—and your neighbor as yourself”…Matt. 22:36-40). These two verses continue to guide our thinking and our planning. They are like our North Star. Our ministry is shaped by our Mission Statement and Biblical imperatives. Our leadership and staff teams are committed to be faithful to these.

 

Visibly serve in the community, nation, and world through acts of kindness: Lord of Life has a strong history of making a difference in the lives of others. We are driven by the Biblical mandate of Micah 6:2 “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.” We will seek ways to assist our local government leaders, schools, and other community agencies to share our time, talents, and resources. This also applies to national and international needs.  

Proactively steward our resources to include prudent fiscal management of our monetary and human resources. Lord of Life is blessed with outstanding gifted people. Our motto continues to be, “Those who are so blessed have much expected of them as well”. We ask for everyone’s participation–sharing their time, talents, and resources—to be good stewards of what we have been given. Sound fiscal financial management of our resources has been another hallmark of our ministry. Lord of Life will continue to do so.

 

Ensure that Lord of Life’s future continues with dynamic leadership and vision. Lord of Life is committed to looking at the long term staffing needs to ensure this ministry moves from strength to strength. The congregation also remains committed to the continued necessity of a compelling vision to steer our ministry in the years ahead.

“I thank God in all my remembrance of you,” I chose Paul’s words to the church at Philippi to be my words as well. From the smiles and hugs from the little ones to the firm hand shake and look in the eye of each saint of God, this is a wonderful place to serve. Each of you is a treasure that God has placed in the midst of this congregation that together we can share each other’s burdens and celebrate each other’s blessings. May you know you are special to God and to each of us in this church family. So Let Our Light Shine. I like the wisdom of Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that has.” Also I share this quote from an unknown source, “The person who says it can’t be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it.” Never forgot that you are people of an Almighty God. Never forget that our highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live them out. May our thanks to God be expressed loudly and boldly as we serve one another in love and joy!

Go with God,
Pastor Qualley

 

Alive to the Unexpected: Seeing Ourselves as Servants

 

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12:35-40)

Jesus tell this rather short but remarkable parable: The master has left to go to a wedding banquet and there is no way for the servants of that master to know when he will return. It could be that very night. It could be the next. It could be three days before he returns home, because weddings in Jewish culture were week-long events, one never knew how long the stay. If the wine held out and the celebration was lively enough, he could be there all week. But the servants are not privy to the master’s plans. They are simply to be ready when he knocks on the door.

On the surface, this is a routine story. Everyone listening would have understood the word picture that Jesus told. But there is a remarkable twist at the end. It involves a role reversal. Jesus says, “It will be good for those servants who are watching to meet their master at the door.” That makes sense. The master will have certain needs that must be met when he arrives. They must feed him if he is hungry. They must help him unpack. They must give him an accounting of what they have done since he has been gone. That makes sense but this is not how the story ends. It is not the servants who wait on the master. It is the master who waits on the servants. Isn’t that odd? It will be good for those servants who are ready for the master not because there is the threat of punishment for un-alert behavior but because there is the promise of a lavish master who upon his return graciously gives to his servants. Sets them down and serves them! This is quite a different picture of a master and a servant, one where the rewards are beyond measure and grace abundant. That’s the kind of promise that our Lord has given us upon his return. He will sit us down at his banquet table, and satisfy the needs of us—his servants.

Donald Trump is perhaps a household name. There is a touching story about Trump’s generosity with a stranger. It is said that Trump’s limousine broke down on the Garden State Parkway on the way home from Atlantic City during a weekend excursion. An unemployed auto mechanic stopped to help, succeeded in getting the limo running and then refused to accept any payment for his services. Trump was so impressed that the next day he sent flowers to the mechanic’s wife and a certified letter stating that the man’s mortgage had been paid in full. Trump was asked about the incident and refused to confirm or deny the story or say exactly what he did for the Good Samaritan mechanic. “I don’t do those kinds of things for publicity,” he said.

 

What a deal it would be to have someone really rich taking care of you. If you knew that with their vast wealth they would gladly help you, you could be free from many a worry. You would have financial security. How good it will be, when, out of the vast wealth of our Father’s grace, the Lord returns and we his servants are asked to sit down and be served by the master.

People get ready—there’s a train, a comin

You don’t need no baggage—

you just get on board

All you need is faith—

to hear the diesels hummin’

Don’t need no ticket—

you just thank the Lord

 

Go with God,

Pastor Qualley

Alive to the Unexpected: Getting Rid of Fear

 

Jesus had just finished dealing with a young man who was jealous because his brother was getting two-thirds of their father’s estate and he was only getting one-third. This jealous young man wanted Jesus to preside over his case and resolve the matter. He wanted half. He wanted a secure future. He wanted Jesus to turn the tables of Jewish custom in his favor. Jesus said, “I am not your lawyer young man but I will give you a piece of advice: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.”

Now to us it seems fair that this young man should receive half but Jesus doesn’t see it that way. He turns to this fellow and tells him a parable about a rich man who had a great crop and stored it all for himself but that night his soul was required of him. On the very night he got his barns built and secured his future he died. He never ate a single grain of corn. It is better, Jesus concludes to be rich toward God. Jesus then turns away from this young man to address his disciples and he says, “This fellow is worried about his life and how it will all turn out. I don’t want you to worry about your life. I don’t want you to worry about what you will eat. I don’t worry about what you are going to drink and I don’t want you to worry about what you are going to wear. Consider the ravens and the lilies, he said. Doesn’t God take care of these, how much more valuable are you?”

Most of our life we spend worrying about our security. But what would happen to those insecurities if we suddenly sold everything we owned and gave it to the poor? I am convinced that we would view life from the perspective of needs of others and we would come to depend on God for our most basic daily necessities. Now I don’t think God is asking you to sell everything you have and give it to the poor. We remember Zacchaeus for his small stature and his climbing the Sycamore Tree. Few of us remember him for the tall stature of his attitude and what happened in his home. Out of the blue, during the meal, he says to Jesus, I will sell half of everything I own give it to the poor, and if I have wronged anyone I will pay them back fourfold. Do you remember Jesus’ response? He did not say, no, you must sell everything Zacchaeus. He said “No greater faith exits in all of Israel.”

We are to get ready for the unexpected by getting rid of our fears. Now, don’t think for a moment that Jesus has some Pollyanna view of the world here. He knows just as well as any of us that plenty is wrong with the world and much of it isn’t ever going to get better. He is not suggesting that Christians will be immune to suffering. Rather, he is asking his followers to adopt a way of life that is not rooted in the securities of this world. There is a standard but it is not selling everything you have. Here is the standard: How much time do you spend worrying about storing up treasures on earth and how much time do you spend storing up treasures in heaven? If the scales are tilting toward heaven then I believe you are meeting Jesus’ standard.

Money quickly traps us and cuts us off from both God and the needy. The key to using money wisely is to see how much we can use for God’s purposes, not how much we can accumulate for ourselves. Does God’s love touch your wallet? Does your money free you to help others? If your financial goals and possessions hinder you from giving generously, loving others, or serving God, sell what you must to bring your life into perspective.

Go with God,

Pastor Qualley