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