A New Day and Time

It has been said that there is 'nothing new under the sun' but I say to you that, today, there is. Why?  Because today  I see an attitude and practice exciting a new generation of Christians now taking their turn at Kingdom advancement by serving in ways that work.   By folks taking seriously the life and teachings of Christ, and placing such at the core of individual and corporate church expressions, the church is beginning to respond to challenges that directly effect our world - opening up new opportunities to share the gospel.   And that is exciting.  Always!

I've sensed the need for this new day for a long time.  When I first began Parkwayhills Church - even though we had no physical building to call our own - in every way I knew this was a beginning in the church, to the church, and for the church.  Now that's not what I said, that's just what was.  What I said was - 'we need to be a church for those on the outside'- and, try as I might, I spent all the energy and resources I could muster to convince 'us' this was true.  Had I been pressed, though, I would've had to admit that the 'world' - well... really could care less.  So that my true and best hope was that we might simply 'catch' or 'attract' a few of those on the 'outside' who were on their way to the 'inside' anyway.   In my heart I ached for a church that was more.  I longed for a church triumphant, marching on to Zion while making a difference as tasty salt and loving light in the lives of all people - so that people, whether inside or out, might look up and say, WOW, that was something!  

So, getting back to the new, what I see today is something I really like.  I see a deacon ministry that is connecting with our members and not just coming to meetings.  I see small groups, whether meeting on Sundays or other days of the week at church or in the home, creating structures of true Christian koinonia where people connect in ways beyond 'consumer' and are engaged in faith that changes lives.      

On Sunday, April 27,  I will begin a preaching series titled, "In this City."  By teaching about Christ's life from the gospels I will attempt to engage our congregation to not "do' church but "be" the church instead. Christ made a difference - a difference that centers absolutely on the cross.   And, though we know it is not our job to re-do what Christ has done (as only His work there is sufficient) but to tell others about it, the truth is we earn the right to do so, or not, in the way we live.  Do we doubt that Jesus piqued the interest of others in who He was with a winsome life?  Dare we do less?  

Yes... this is a new day and time and I, for one, am glad for it!  The world we live in is not impressed with rhetoric.   It is time for us (the church) to change - in ways that have, for too long, only failed - with lives that can!  

I thank God for a new day and time.  Don't you? 

Pastor Sam   

A High School Climb; circa, 1968

When I was a young man nearing graduation from High School, there was one thing left yet for me to do before exiting my alma mater – Wichita High School North.  The school had been built on the banks of the Little Arkansas River in 1929, and - as that was another time and place in the American psyche - inscribed in stone upon her grand tower were the words from the Bible passage, Proverbs 3:13-18. 

Now tradition held that Seniors, on the last week before they graduated, could climb the tower steps to its top and look out across the river, north upon what once was the Kansas prairie, and south to the city streets of Wichita.  And though the consummate prankster and malefactor of mischief, prone to frequent all nooks and crannies of this great old school at will, I had failed in all previous attempts to break tradition and code by climbing those tower steps.   

As I faced opportunity for my 'official climb',  there lacked  but one requirement  - recitation of the tower's Proverb, word for word, and by memory.   Of course, not knowing the proverb, dear to some but merely 'permission' to me, I took the morning of my appointed day to learn it - then stood before a volunteer, recited it in full, and  was passed to the heights above.   Up step after step and ladder after ladder, I climbed to the tower’s top, anticipating what I would see with naught but the proverb in my memory.  

Perhaps I was naive.  I don't know.  But, once there I was shocked to find only this... names!  More names in 'legalized graffiti' than ever I'd seen.  Names of rich, of poor,  of recent and long ago.  Some recognizable, but most not.  So that as I stood on this grand perch gazing at the names of her walls, they began speaking to me of  their days and times.  There were names of those who had crossed seas for war, and names who had not come back.  There were names recognizable, of distinction and notoriety; and many more – the greater sea of which were just like mine - of no recognition at all.   These were names of countless young, who had climbed to the tower’s top on a proverb, who had looked out to see what they might see, and who, like me, had yet to fully realize that it was the words that had brought them there and could - if they'd listen - bring them back again.

This May marks my 40th year since scaling that old tower, and I am still amazed over it all.   Not at the climb. But at those words 'hurriedly' learned.  They are now a precious memory to me, and true!   Because I have come to know the Saviour, the very Son of God, from whose heart these words are born.   

Do you know the words?  Do you know the Saviour?  Words of wisdom written long ago - that have become a part of the landscape of my life - from a "High School Climb" to now.  

Here they are!

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Proverbs 3: 13-24, KJV

2008.04.08 - Maneuvering the Turns

I traveled to Dallas this morning to visit a family whose loved one has survived a very serious motorcycle accident from this past Sunday. Their 'watch' is being held at Methodist Hospital of Oak Cliff where they are surrounded by friends, church members and loved ones. And though "Scott" will be OK, the family now faces surgeries to repair broken bones, months of rehab and recovery, and certain - even if only temporary, 'life-change' along with it.

Now the longer I live and serve as a pastor, the more I have come to expect that things are NEVER as tranquil as they appear. I can be marrying one couple today, with yet another talking of divorce. At the hospital rejoicing over a new birth, and turning to my phone to hear another has just died. Life takes quick turns - not just as a metaphoric comparison of people - but sometimes with the self-same one. Scott was enjoying a peaceful Sunday ride down a farm to market road outside of Aubry Texas when his 'turn' came. The next thing he knew was that he was being careflight-ed to Dallas. In an 'instant' his reality was changed and this one turn turned his life upside down.

Maneuvering our turns, then, is the operative - not avoiding them. And all the 'platitudes' in the world, however well meaning, are just not enough. In short, there's not enough 'real' comfort or confidence gained in the words - "He's in Control" - though He is. Because there has to be more than surface understanding of this truth, God is in control, we need Scripture to help us.

God helps us maneuver our turns as we realize...

1. He loves us - Romans 8:38-39

2. He cares for us - 1 Peter 5:7

3. He has a plan for our life - Jeremiah 29:11

4. He will never forsake us - Matthew 28:20b

These truths may not take the turns away from life, but they will help us maneuver them.

Till Sunday, then -

Pastor Sam

April 1, 2008

Pastor Sam’s Blog – 04.01.2008

Good Morning Church!

I am pleased to greet you today with good news. In response by you to our church budget this last week of our fiscal year, we have ended strong with nearly $100,000 in general budget giving, and completed the year by contributing $2,950,000. This figure successfully matches expenses of the same - leaving our cash position strong. So that in spite of news of a slowing economy, and as a testimony of your faithfulness as well as sound management by our leadership and staff, we turn, now, to our new fiscal year excited to see what God has in store.

This past Sunday also brought many of you back to your ParkwayHills small group and/or SMBS Class. Easter was fun, and the large crowd was exciting. But, after the resurrection comes the ‘upper room.’ Amen? And we must be faithful to take full advantage of the power that God gifts each of us with (the Holy Spirit), to move out from here and on with a dynamic, everyday-day life in Him.

Finally, I am pleased to hear many of you share that you are enjoying my new message series on heaven. In this, let me encourage you to invite your un-churched friends to join you each week, and also, to take advantage of my message outlines for this series, which will be posted on our church Website from the ‘on-line’ link.

Hope to see you Sunday –

Pastor Sam

Eph. 3:20-21

Pastor Sam's Blog

It is my joy to serve as your pastor!  I use this blog to journal about where and how the Lord is moving in my heart, to communicate thoughts and to celebrate what God is doing at ParkwayHills.

So let me encourage you to sign up for updates to Pastor Sam's blog.  Also, to take time to surf the ParkwayHills website and keep up with all He is doing through our dynamic fellowship. 

Pastor Sam