Without God's Grace, what is there?

Not a bad question to ask, especially for a preacher. So tonight, while engaged in what many of my profession are on Wednesday, speaking to a handful of the 'older faithful' who both remember and yet enjoy the Wednesday Night Prayer Service, I found myself so doing.  In such I sensed - once again - that resonating power we preachers often feel when we strike a cord of truth and see it reflected back on the faces of those listening.  And what is that truth? Why it is the subject of God's grace.  Of how He saved me, called me, and gave me yet another chance to serve Him.  Not because of who I am, nothing from or out of me, but because of Him. His love only. His calling only.  His power only. And by His name to be praised.  

As I spoke I could see in the eyes of these seasoned Saints a look of understanding. A look of agreement and knowing.  I thought, "without preaching of God's grace, what is there left that I might say?"  Oh, I could speak of His creative genius - and none would argue.  Or, I could speak of His might - and none would likely disagree. But, when I speak of His grace, this is something which is and will always be my one great 'connect' point. For it is only by this that we can know Him at all.  Perhaps that is why the Apostle Paul wrote to the church that they were to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."  For certainly it is true - to grow in His grace is to grow in knowing Him.  

Many preachers are known for noise, some for politics, some for poise.  We've been known for buildings, our ministries and degrees!  But this preacher stands content being 'known' by God's grace. 

Pastor Sam  

School's Out!

Do you remember the old song, "Schools Out"?  Its original lines were delivered in derogatory jest towards students. Now, well, welcome to the 21st century! Nonetheless, we still should sing because summertime really is upon us and, with such, comes a wonderful opportunity for church and family to make a difference in the lives of so many.  

In the summertime our church enjoys camps, mission trips, and VBS for pre-teens and teens alike. Ahhhhh Camp!  When I was a boy a church couldn't even attend a youth camp without their pastor.  Now, well... thank God for student pastors.:) But boy, those were the days!  How funny are my memories of those old 'geezer' pastor's sitting on lawn chairs underneath a great oak, drinking iced tea, while we kids played baseball in hot the sun.  "Come on, Sammy." "Win one for the 'geezer,'" Oooppps.  Did I say that?  I mean "Gipper."  And, how about those late night talks when Bro. D would 'visit' the boys cabin and we boys would try to get him off track with questions like, 'Bro. D. Did Adam have a belly button?"  Yet, amazingly, he was always the same.  Tennis shoes, black socks, bermuda shorts, a big straw hat - and lot's of love.  

When I think of the influence of church I can't help but wonder how far it really reaches if not into the hearts of children. For this reason I look forward to summertime. Its our opportunity to have His precious little ones on our campus and in our halls hearing about Jesus from people who know Him firsthand.  This morning, at our staff meeting, a staffer prayed the right prayer."God, as the boys and girls come onto our campus for VBS next week, may they hear of Jesus, of His love, and how He can save their soul and change their life, forever."  

Amen! Its Summertime. And schools out, indeed! 

Pastor Sam 

29 May 2009

ON THIS DAY 

Yes its true, I am 59 today... and, I am holding:) After all, I never knew I would be this young when I got this old. And though no one day makes me feel less or more about me, still, when folks remember you so kindly, as many of you have this day, it warms the heart. So that when Mom called! This lady from whose flesh I came and by whose hands I learned loves touch, to say, "Happy Birthday, Son", I cried. And why? Well, does she not know me more than all? Oh God! Are YOU not MORE of this very same? How could a man turn from his mother? And how dare turn I from you? John. 3:16

ON THIS SUNDAY 

This Sunday our church will take a giant and historic step forward in preparing for its next years. Our early days are over. Temporary buildings have outlasted their usefulness. And the ministry of this wonderful church to this community now impacts people 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. We realize that in these economic times what we might want must play second to what we must do. For this reason I am excited about the proposal by our Building Committee and agreed upon by our Board of Trustees. So that Phase IV of our facilities will be accomplished in 3 steps, which will provide us needed space for education and ministry and improve and enhance the worship center we called 'temporary' 13 years ago.  (Don't you know God has a sense of humor)

If you are a church member of ParkwayHills, Plano, and have not pledged to our 'Opening Doors' campaign, please consider doing so. We will invite you all, through sacrificial giving large and small, to help us realize our goals of completing the planned Phase IV steps. We are committed to not increasing our debt, and grateful that the debt we do have is decreasing each year, placing less and less strain on our operational budget to percentages far less than most. 

Till Sunday, or next time, then...

Pastor Sam

26 May, 2009

I remember the day quite well. It seemed the entire church of Northway Baptist, Dallas, had joined us for the event. There I was walking back and forth between the Presby Dallas delivery area and waiting room, giving up to the minute reports to those who'd arrived. Then, at around 2:00 p.m., I went back one last time, now scrubbed and ready, and there found my bride, saying, "this is it"   She asked me, "what's going on out there?"  And I smiled to say,"there's a party going on." And so began what since has never changed - the 26th of May 1985, @ 2:38 p.m. - the birth of our daughter, Taylor, and the start of our party, FOREVER!

I would not question whether parents love their children less or more than we, but would add that much of what God has taught us since that day has been strategically accomplished through real-life application with both our children. They are a constant source of His challenge, blessing, responsibility and hope.  They remind us everyday of God - both the love side with its exhilaration, and the faith side with its, at times, anxiety and fear - and they speak to us, still, of how love does not possess but gives.  

It has been said that the rightful start for the 'disciple-er' of faith is his/her home.  I agree. Even when such appears frighteningly suspect. For, if not there, then where? And if there, then everywhere!   

Pastor Sam

Rainy Day's and Tin Roofs

I don't know exactly why I'm this way, but rainy days feel good to me.  Especially the slow, drizzling, kind. When weather comes in like this my favorite thing to do is to sit in our front room and look out the window to imagine that all of Dallas is being covered by a blanket and snuggling into repose.  My TV is off.  My computer is on only if I want it to be.  And my journal and Bible are close at hand.  

Now this happens with me because of a fond memory.  The memory of my boyhood, before my grandparents built their new 'brick' house (circa, 1959), and when they still lived on a small farm in the community of Pt. Enterprise outside of Mexia, Texas.  The old wood house was humble, but oh so fascinating to me.  It was heated by one large fireplace that opened on two sides - both into the parlor (or company) room and the main bedroom. The large kitchen, the center of all activity, featured a cookstove that never went out, which kept the backside of the house warm. On both the front and back of the house, under a grand, high-pitched roof, were two large porches. The back porch was 'screened in,' for summer sleeping - and the front for evening 'rocks' and watching the road.  The parlor (with it's fine furniture, crystal dishes and porcelain pretties) and main bedroom featured polished hardwood floors, but all other 'off'' rooms, including the kitchen, were covered by layers of linoleum - tacked down and worn through in places to reveal other layers from days gone by.  

Now my favorite memory from this old house is of cold or stormy nights - when we kids would be put to bed in Mama May and Papa's (pronounced Paw Paw) bedroom, out of the way.  There we were kept warm, and there we would enjoy their grand 'feather bed.'  Sometimes! (and oh those sometimes) after being tucked carefully in, and long after the rest of the house grew quite and the embers from the fire had died down, I'd awaken to a winter's rain peppering softly down on that grand, tin, roof.  Laying there, listening to that sound, I felt no fear, no threat, just a sense of being 'covered' - by love, safety, and forever. The storm - with its lightning and thunder -  brought no angst to me, just a joy of the covering that my body (and soul) felt inside.  I suspect it was the same covering as felt by King David as he hid in caves in the Judean hills. The same as that felt by Joshua, Peter and Paul as they lay in the prisons of their lives and times.  There's, too, was a covering greater than money, beyond circumstance, and one brought to them by God's love. 

So, yes!  A rainy day holds fond memories for me.  Memories of a feather bed, an old house, and a grand, tin roof.  But more, of the security that we can know in Christ as He covers us with His love.  

I am praying that your day - whether of rain or sun - will find you knowing the grace and mercy of Christ as your cover, as well... forever.   

Pastor Sam 

inspired by rain and Psalm 139:10-12

Holy Saturday

Of all days in our Christian Holy Week, Saturday intrigues me most.  Protestants, and even more so 'evangelicals,' have for years shunned or downplayed Holy Week Observances - a likely carry over of the anti-Catholic sentiments of the early to mid 20th century - but we do have a list of acceptable observances, which are more recognizable in recent days among even our tribe.  Now we freely talk of, and in some circles even observe, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, but Saturday -the Jewish Sabbath and the day our Lord rested in the tomb - well... we good Christian folk usually only go shopping.  

Yet the Saturday of this Holy Week is a great day for worship and pause.  By pause I am not meaning we should crawl into a hole and hide, but I DO think that this wonderful day is worthy of our observance and, certainly,our mention.  For one thing, we need to remember that Jesus died and was buried.  Helping us remember the curse, that the curse of our sin is death, and that Jesus came to become the very first-fruits of our victory yet to come (1 Cor. 15)

Secondly, we need to recall the effects of that death.  The isolation, heartbreak, and abandonment that His followers felt on that Sabbath was enormous. What better way to recall that than with silence.  Dare I call for a Silent Saturday?  I think so - for just as no mass is celebrated among our brethren of the Catholic faith on this day - no service of celebration, only personal reflection, would be appropriate for us either.  Simply put, this is a day of remembering.  A day of reflection upon that which has destroyed the first human life and every life thereafter, the curse of sin itself.  

But third, and this is the joy for me, it is a day of anticipation.  It is hard to keep still on this Saturday, though I will, because I know that Sunday's Coming. For the Jews, the new day begins at sundown - 6:00 p.m., becoming a time of resumed activity.  Jesus' body may now be prepared.  It was after 6:00 p.m.!  But we know that this preparation was not necessary. For the body of my LORD is coming out.  Death cannot hold my King. The grave has no sway.  It is but a temporary house for the rest of my LORD, who in honoring the Sabbath Himself, waited, and after doing His duty out of obedience and Divine love, gets up, folds His napkin, and leaves. 

Yes, Saturday is a Holy Day.  A solemn day of silence and of remembering the curse. But, we are not silent and we do not remember to a fault.  Not at all.  And why? Because... we know that this is not the end of our story. We know that Sunday's Coming! and can close our eyes at days end with naught but excitement and joy - for tomorrow and... for Saturday's end!

You can also find me at - http://twitter.com/pastorsamdennis

Twitter

OK. I've joined Twitter. Why? Because just as I've discovered a new world on Face Book only enhancing my ability to communicate and keep up with the people I love, I suspect that Twitter will be more of the same - at least from a communication side.  

So... look for me there.  'Follow me', as they say, in order to 'listen to my thoughts and the hearing of my talks' with the people and ways of everyday life.  For I pray that THIS will only PROMPT YOU TO MORE - more knowing and doing - in the how and why of Christ's call to share Him.

You can find me at - http://twitter.com/pastorsamdennis