Opening New Doors, Day 15, 'Pressing On'

On day 15 of our '40 days of prayer', I suspect that a smidge of pastoral encouragement is in order.   Why?  Because unlike the 3/4 mark, where the 'come on, you're nearly there' works, or the 1/2 mark, where the 'congratulations, you've made the hump' does the trick, the 1/3 mark, it just needs something of, well, substance.  Here is when we ask, 'should I have started this?'  Or, 'is it too late to go back?'  And it is here that we could use that critical encouragement, saying, 'whatever you do, don't look back.'  For yes... the look back is still a killer.  Remember Lot's wife?  

For this reason we should turn to a pastoral reminder, one of personal testimony from the Apostle Paul himself.   On day 15 of our journey we should heed his words of, "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on... (Philippians 3:13b)  Simple?  Yes!  But, oh so true!  

So, use this outline on the critical day 15 of our journey in prayer.  As you take the step of faith asking God, "Lord, what do you want to do through me in regards to our church Opening New Doors?"  consider Paul's personal, pastoral admonition.  Forget what was.  Look to what is yet to come.  And press on.  This outline works.  Especially on Day 15.  

Pastor Sam 

Prayer - I Wonder?

Prayer is not something we are prone to do, unless...  and... I've observed only two kinds of people in this -  those who do and those who don't.   

The early church was encouraged to pray always.  They were admonished to pray for the apostles (leadership), to pray for one another (the church - its unity and its healing), and to pray for the spread of the gospel (the work).   Frankly, though, that was about it.  These three things were their prayer-issues - and they were asked to pray for them regularly.  Our list is much larger.  We ask God for health - good - and we ask Him for success, peace, and prosperity - hmmmmmm?   So that, I confess, today, to wondering at the disparity between our prayer list and the injunction and instruction of the early church on the same.  

Which brings me to this question.  What would happen if our prayers were less selfish and more about the ministry and effectiveness of the gospel and the gospel spreaders themselves? (see above)  Would God be surprised to find His church praying for its success and power in the land?   Now don't get me wrong.  We can, and perhaps should, pray for our needs and the individual success and happiness of friends, family and others.  But it just strikes me as strange, today, to consider the disparity between what we often pray for and what the early church was instructed to pray for instead.   

So I wonder, what would God think if His church prayed for... the Kingdom?  You know, the way He taught us to - "Thy Kingdom Come Thy will be done on earth as it is heaven."

I wonder?

September Evening

The last Saturday evening of September falls tonight and I have loved this day immensely.  West Plano seems unusually calm on this Saturday.  There is probably some calendar reason for this but I will content myself that it is the product of something more grand - like a 'decide to take it easy and not rush' choice, instead of something other.   Perhaps this is naive of me.  After all, we WP people do cluster.  We've not learned the grace of slow.  One night at this function, then another at yet another.  Like a covey of quail we roost in a pack.   But tonight all seems, well, settled, calm, and personal.  Folks walking alone through Steeplechase Park.  Mall parking lots, even church lots, empty.  I wonder?  

My grandparents new the rhythm of life and passed the same on to my parents in my early days.  In the 50s, you worked hard all week  and on Saturday you geared down.  Sunday's you just went to church and rested.  Or, if feeling really ambitious, you went 'visiting.'   There was always someone to see that wasn't expecting you but prepared when you did - and glad to have you.  Food would just appear, and coffee, always fresh coffee,  would be put on.  We kids would play and the adults would talk - talking us right into a a lazy drive home with September's breeze wrestling through the open window of the car.  It was Sunday!  And I don't remember worrying, ever back then, about a paper that was due, or sports, or anything at all.  

Every once in a while I drive by the home I lived in then.  It still stands.  A white frame, two bedroom with an add-on, near Abrams and Trammel.  Across the street from the house is the train track where I would put penny's - hoping to find them flattened out by the trains passing by.  That same track now carries commuters from Richardson, Plano, and McKinney.  

I wonder who lives in that house now?  I wonder if inside there is a boy and whether his Dad works on Saturday?  I wonder if they go to church on Sunday, and if they  ever take drives in September afternoons to go 'visiting'?  Then, I come home to my place here in Plano -  resolved to bring a piece of that time to the folks I now know.  Whether at the game on Friday night or the church house on Sunday, I try to salvage a part of what I learned back then, the best parts, and bring them to my life and ministry now.  Occasionally I make headway.  Like tonight, as I pull out onto Park to find and evening like this, with nothing on my calendar at all, and come visiting... you.

Pastor Sam   

     

Opening Doors Begins

This Sunday opened a new chapter in the history of our young but effective church 'on the way'- as we officially began our Opening Doors Capital Campaign to raise 7.5 million dollars for needed remodeling, expanded education, and the construction of a permanent worship facility. Yes, in the midst of what some have called, 'difficult days,' we are asking membership for a renewed commitment to the work, ministry and mission of this church. The congregation once called 'the church without walls' now asks the same to expand its walls, and open its heart so that more may come in.

Of course I am grateful for the leadership of our Board of Trustees, and particularly for the leadership of Board Member, Ronelle Ianace, who has accepted the helm of our campaign. She brings experience and excellent skills to this task, as well as a unique blend of community and volunteer involvement perfectly suiting her to the objectives of this formidable role. This, combined with Ronelle and Pete's love for Jesus Christ and their commitment to our church, make for a refreshing blend of calling and 'Spirit-led' leadership. This past Sunday she charged us - a host of 50 volunteer leaders plus staff - by calling us to our posts. When prayer time came you could sense the very arms of God enveloping our church. It was a wonderful moment.

As your pastor I am pleased with our goal, but do sense that the real blessing will not be in the money that is raised or in any buildings that are built. Instead, I see a blessing that will come from a church determining to do more. A church determining to reach out, and to do so together. Many of us are involved in a myriad of other affairs and even ministry - to the point of taking what God does here for granted. Yet, because of the vision of our founding families, who built not for themselves but for those yet to come, everyday something spectacular occurs right here. And how often have we heard some say, "we yearn for revival and want unity for our church," while all the while God knows this is not the real desire of our hearts? Well... this is our chance! When this church was young it accomplished great things for God by working together - and - going forward I can assure you the formula has not nor will not change.

So pray for Opening Doors! Pray for your own participation. Get behind this effort and say yes to leadership, when asked. This is your opportunity to see God move on the Parkway, not as a spectator, but as a participant. May the first door open be the door of your heart. For this is not a 'build it and they will come,' nor an 'improve it for us and we will give' campaign - but - an opening of the heart of every member of this church. When this has occurred we will see an...

Opening of Doors, indeed!

Pastor Sam

Dirty Hands - the Discipline of Confession

As a child I was forever the object of inspection, for... 'dirty hands.'  At the time I would think, 'why just my hands? Why not my feet, toes, or whatever?'.... but that was just me being rebellious.  Truth was I didn't want anything inspected.  I thought the whole business was a waste of time - adults being, you know, adults.  But inspect they did.  Before each and every meal - sending me, more often than not, straight to the sink to correct what was absolutely not allowed at meal-time, DIRTY HANDS.  To this day a dinner roll without the slight taste of 'kitchen-sink soap' just doesn't taste right.    

Readying for last Sunday's message on the discipline of Confession, I thought about all this.  You know what?  The metaphor works!  Our church is often rendered powerless because it comes to worship and work with 'dirty hands.' We are even offended at the suggestion to wash - specifically confess our sins.  Imagine that!

Now most of you know that I keep a personal journal that is merely a collection of thoughts and commentary on experiences as I live them.  Well one day last week an entry was made that I thought it might be good for you all to read a part of...

Confession is all but absent from the evangelical church today, I think, because we have overstated our lack of need for a priestly confession through someone other than Christ.  In so doing we have wrongly abdicated our responsibility and privilege to confess, even to Christ Himself, let alone anyone else.  Our confession unto eternity has us 'in' but our confession for every day, because it is  absent, pushes us 'out' of any real fellowship. The result? Our faith is plagued and hindered with our unconfessed sin.  We are saved but dirty, and, coming to work or worship with dirty hands leaves us an embarrassment - even to ourselves.  Satan has had his way with us.  We are right where he wants us - crippled!  Sam Dennis Journal, 27 August 2008

John wrote to Christians - if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us... and to cleanse us.' James wrote to the same - 'confess your sins one to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed.' And didn't Paul call on the church at Corinth to practice some self-examination before coming to the table? (1 Cor. 11:28)

In all of this confession is designed by God as our help.  It is his method for men to come to Him.  The means is in His Son, but confession - this step - is up to us.  We confess that He is God.  We confess that we are sinners.  We confess faith/trust in His Son.  We confess that we are His.  Confess it! We are to confess!  

Pastor Sam 

 

The Discipline of Solitude

Yesterdays message on the discipline of solitude really seemed to resonate with folks.  I had to laugh, however, as one man walked out after the service feigning not being able to speak.  He handed me a note that said he had started the practice already.  His wife just rolled her eyes. 

When Thomas a Kempis (1380 - 1471) wrote what we now know as "Imitation of Christ," scholars, or even those who could read, were few, but... persons who could empathize were many.  In the troubled world in which he lived, his gentle words and practical ideas resonated and are still considered the quintessential edict on the value and practice of a simple, more silent, more content, and quiet life in seeking after God.  He wrote of the peace that comes to us simply from exchanging our view of self, and identified "four things that bring great peace" (from Imitations chapt. 23, paraphrase mine) as...

1. Seeking to the will of others rather than your own

2. Choosing to have less than more

3. Looking to be last rather than first

4. Praying that the will of God will always be carried out in you 

The really radical thing about all of this is just how radical this really is!  It is alien to the way we actually live.  We claw our way to to the top, stepping on anybody we must or can  to get there - leaving chaos, confusion, and death of souls in our way.  In living as we do we become less human, moving ever further from the 'Imgao Dei' within.  We are shells of God's original intent and children, indeed, of the Garden called Eve. 

Solitude is one way to get us back to God.  Without it, especially in our world, we may not hear Him.  The psalmist writes that He speaks to us from creation, but we, as David did, must pause to listen.  

Have a great week - 

Pastor Sam 

LIFEwalk - the Discipline of Meditation

THE HEAD AND THE HEART

This Sunday my series LIFEwalk will continue with a look at the spiritual discipline of Meditation.  Thomas Merton in Spiritual Direction and Reflection writes, 'meditation is to exercise the mind in serious reflection,' which, 'not only involves the mind, but the whole heart.'  This distinction is critical.  Our faith in Christ is a matter of the heart and the head.  Which comes first?  The heart or head?  I would say both -  at times one and at times the other.  Praise God that my mind is influenced by my heart, and praise Him, likewise, that my heart is at times transformed by His work in my head. 

TIME 'ALONE'

Now the above does not happen by accident.  Acquiring disciplines that can enable this is critical.  In this, focused time 'alone' helps.  As a boy this 'alone time' was precious to me.  Of course, I wasn't really alone.  I would take with me thoughts, dreams, my 'focus' of the day, and any other thing which formed a critical role in my current journey.  The result?  I found help for moving myself among the crowd.  Whether a grade schooler with a baseball mitt, or a teenager with a guitar, these segments of my young life became times that defined me. 

As an adult, this 'time' and its result is still true - but - with one wonderful distinction.  Now I take it with God.  By stepping away with and to reflect on Him - His attributes, wonder, work, creation and Word - I gain a critical 'center' for what I do and how I am among the crowds and places of my life today.  

A CRITICAL CONNECTION

So, mediation is not complex, or just for the 'super spiritual.'  In fact, you likely are accomplishing it in its most basic form now - by reflecting and focusing on something already.  The question is, upon what are you meditating?   This is our critical connection.  The psalmist wrote, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not....sin..."  and each of us could add our individual asterisk - that I might not... fear, fret, be jealous, or, even... be wasteful of my time.  

So remember, help for your journey is found in Him.  Take Him with you, or even, go with Him. 

Till next time then...

Pastor Sam