It's Yosemite Bible Camp this week for Woodward Park. Camp actually kicked off last night and continues through Saturday. My task for the week is to teach the high school class each morning meaning my blogging activity this week will be non-existent. I'll miss being with you but promise to be back next Monday morning with a complete recap of the week.
Keep the 200+ campers and staff from Woodward Park in your prayers this week. Camp week is often the time for kids to make decisions that affect eternity. On the heels of Day Camp, we have at least 30 4th-8th graders that have been taught what sin and salvation is all about. Ariana McDermott will join Julia and Sierra as our newest family members when she is baptized tonight at YBC by her grandfather.
Till next Monday, keep the faith and keep shining your light!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
It's For Jesus
Here's a sample of the newest effort of the Woodward Park Church of Christ's effort to advance the reign of Christ in Fresno. These pictures are from Wednesday evening's downtown outreach at an apartment complex for at-risk families, where food and clothing were distributed and Bible studies were set-up with the residents.
The faces of the children touch me deeply. To think that these children have and are facing unimagineable difficulties and instability just grips me. These aren't the faces of at-risk children living overseas, but children in turmoil who live right here in our city.
A look from above at the courtyard area of the complex where the clothes distribution for the parents and children was held. The Woodward Park family responded to the call for clothes in overwhelming fashion, as you can see in the above picture.-------------------
What's happening downtown is touching lives beyond the borders of Fresno County. Last week while in Arkansas, I discovered just how exciting this ministry is to me personally when asked about our downtown outreach from people who read my blog regularly.
One couple was especially touched and convicted as I shared with them and they have committed to partner with us in this ministry. They were particularly interested in how the funding for the ministry was being handled. I told them, "There is no budget for this and there's no direct source of funding. We're operating on faith that we are doing the will of God and living out the mission of Jesus and trusting God to provide."
And now, God has honored that faith and there is a direct source of funding for our food distribution! We received a check in the mail yesterday that will fund our next two food distributions downtown! Through one couple in Arkansas who want to partner with us, God has provided financial contribution toward the food, clothing and supplies distribution to the lost and the least among us.
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"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'" (Matthew 25.31-40).
The words of Jesus make it abundantly clear that every act of benevolence, every random act of kindness, every financial and personal investment that advances the justice of God and the reign of Christ is ultimately a gift to Jesus himself.
It's for Jesus!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Church and Culture: Who's Converting Who?
What a blast First Principles Day Camp has been! 32 kids went through an intense time of study on what the Bible says about the problem of sin and the salvation afforded through obedient faith in the finished work of Jesus at Calvary.
To cap off the week, Julia Hall and Sierra Burgess were baptized into Jesus last night following Bible class! I couldn't help bit feel a tinge of envy as I watched Michael baptize his daughter into Jesus. What a thrill for a daddy and a daughter!
A special thanks to Rod, Al, Sarah, Hylin, Erin B., Jennifer, Michelle and Erin C. for providing lunch for us each day and to Grady, Shelly, Rena, Sandy and Candy for providing transportation. And big kudos to Paul for organizing the trip to Boomers, the movie, and the afternoon of bowling as a reward for the kids' hard work.
-----------------------
Last night, our group outreach at the 52-unit apartment complex for at-risk families kicked off. A group of 45 from Woodward Park fed the residents, distributed clothing, and began setting up Bible studies for the adults. I am anxious to see all that God has in store through this new ministry. The good folks at the Health and Human Services of Fresno County are allowing us back next Wednesday since the two-week appointment falls on the 4th of July. Keep praying as we keep spreading seed!
-----------------------
My great friend, Allan Stanglin, is now blogging. Yesterday, he posted a penetrating piece on the tension between Church and culture. Here are his words for you to chew on this Thursday.
“In leaning over to speak to the modern world, I fear we may have fallen in" (William Willimon, 1997).
Willimon’s article from the Winter 1997 issue of Leadership should be required reading for every preacher and elder, and probably for every church member. I try to read it at least once or twice a month to remind me of what’s important and to shape my approach to Scripture and to preaching. I hear so often, daily it seems, that we need to reach the culture, we need to speak to the culture, we need to adapt what we do and how we do it to the culture. I find that a lot of the decisions we make regarding “church” are made in reaction to, or in an effort to reach out to, or even reflect our culture.
Willimon says, “the Bible doesn’t want to speak to the modern world; the Bible wants to convert the modern world.” Most of the time, I think, we treat our culture as if it were a fact, a reality to which we’re obligated to adjust, instead of merely one way of looking at things or doing things with which we might argue.
Again, Willimon: “Christianity is a distinct culture with its own vocabulary, grammar, and practices. Too often, when we try to speak to our culture, we merely adopt the culture of the moment rather than present the gospel to the culture.”
“The point is not to speak to the culture, “Willimon continues, “the point is to change it. And God’s appointed means of producing change is called ‘church.’”
And I think the apostle Paul would agree.
“Since you died with Christ to the basic principals of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules" (Colossians 2:20)?
May we see our culture for what it is, a set of systems and values that are opposed to Christ and his Church. And may we strive together to change the culture for him and the Kingdom, not adapt to it.
To cap off the week, Julia Hall and Sierra Burgess were baptized into Jesus last night following Bible class! I couldn't help bit feel a tinge of envy as I watched Michael baptize his daughter into Jesus. What a thrill for a daddy and a daughter!
A special thanks to Rod, Al, Sarah, Hylin, Erin B., Jennifer, Michelle and Erin C. for providing lunch for us each day and to Grady, Shelly, Rena, Sandy and Candy for providing transportation. And big kudos to Paul for organizing the trip to Boomers, the movie, and the afternoon of bowling as a reward for the kids' hard work.
-----------------------
Last night, our group outreach at the 52-unit apartment complex for at-risk families kicked off. A group of 45 from Woodward Park fed the residents, distributed clothing, and began setting up Bible studies for the adults. I am anxious to see all that God has in store through this new ministry. The good folks at the Health and Human Services of Fresno County are allowing us back next Wednesday since the two-week appointment falls on the 4th of July. Keep praying as we keep spreading seed!
-----------------------
My great friend, Allan Stanglin, is now blogging. Yesterday, he posted a penetrating piece on the tension between Church and culture. Here are his words for you to chew on this Thursday.
“In leaning over to speak to the modern world, I fear we may have fallen in" (William Willimon, 1997).
Willimon’s article from the Winter 1997 issue of Leadership should be required reading for every preacher and elder, and probably for every church member. I try to read it at least once or twice a month to remind me of what’s important and to shape my approach to Scripture and to preaching. I hear so often, daily it seems, that we need to reach the culture, we need to speak to the culture, we need to adapt what we do and how we do it to the culture. I find that a lot of the decisions we make regarding “church” are made in reaction to, or in an effort to reach out to, or even reflect our culture.
Willimon says, “the Bible doesn’t want to speak to the modern world; the Bible wants to convert the modern world.” Most of the time, I think, we treat our culture as if it were a fact, a reality to which we’re obligated to adjust, instead of merely one way of looking at things or doing things with which we might argue.
Again, Willimon: “Christianity is a distinct culture with its own vocabulary, grammar, and practices. Too often, when we try to speak to our culture, we merely adopt the culture of the moment rather than present the gospel to the culture.”
“The point is not to speak to the culture, “Willimon continues, “the point is to change it. And God’s appointed means of producing change is called ‘church.’”
And I think the apostle Paul would agree.
“Since you died with Christ to the basic principals of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules" (Colossians 2:20)?
May we see our culture for what it is, a set of systems and values that are opposed to Christ and his Church. And may we strive together to change the culture for him and the Kingdom, not adapt to it.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
A Missional Mandate
Happy Belated Father's Day to all you daddy's. I've heard from several of you dads of daughters recently who have jumped on a couple of books I've recommended. Thanks for sharing your reflections on your reading. It's great to have a kindred spirit or two who recognize that God's sufficiency can overcome our deficiencies!
As a gift to you, check out this Gene Wojciechowski article on the Jason Foundation and one college football coach's effort to assist the Foundation at all cost. It is a wonderful, if very touching, story.
-----------------
How's this for historical irony from Kevin Starr's classic volume California: A History?
"A third settlement given pueblo (town) status -- Villa de Branciforte, established in 1796 by the viceroy, as a retirement town for soldiers and their families near Santa Cruz never got off the ground. No retired soldiers, much less their wives and families, wanted to come that far north to live on the edge of nowhere. Branciforte (near Santa Cruz) eventually wound up as a kind of Botany Bay for men convicted of petty crimes...While Mexico might talk of a civil society, it remained unsuccessful in promoting civilian settlement in California (circa 1830). Few people wished to come, and so, in desperation, Mexico began to treat California as a kind of Botany Bay for wayward soldiers" (37, 47).
Santa Cruz? A banishment place for prisoners and wayward soldiers? Santa Cruz?
O, for a little foresight, huh?
-----------------------
Two weeks ago, in back of a Sunday speaking engagement in Hollister, I blogged about the state of the church in rural California. In that blog, I compared the status of churches in rural California with the status of churches in the rural South. Comparatively speaking, churches in the West struggle to reach 100 active members in communities where in the South, a similar community would consistently have multiple churches with an active membership of over 500.
Since coming from the South, that one fundamental difference has been most striking, and most troubling, to me. So I solicited your feedback and you responded.
Interestingly, every single response I received placed the presence and activity of young families as crucial to the turnaround. It seemed as though your responses were unanimous in this regard: a church with youth, i.e. families, moms, dads, kids, babies -- is a staple of a healthy church. A healthy church is one where the sound of crying babies and restless children is not only heard but appreciated. A healthy church is one where diversity is prized -- not in terms of theological confusion but in terms of age.
(Now, as I say that, I realize that for a politically conservative person, diversity is a buzzword packed with loaded implications. But I'm a disciple, not a politician and my identity comes from Christ, not a philosophical presupposition that must color my every thought).
Frankly, the task is great. Many of you shared wonderful experiences of your own personal investment or group investment in reaching out to encourage small churches in places like Caruthers and Auberry and Morro Bay and Paso Robles.
I think the greatest aim, though, as shared by one respondent is the need to raise up a generation of disciples who think missional. We've so conditioned ourselves to think of "mission work" as something that only occurs on foreign soil, across an ocean, in third world countries.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
The church is desperately in need of missionaries -- of men and women, moms and dads, children -- who are willing to think, see and live as missionaries at home. It doesn't require crossing an ocean to be a missionary! Perhaps God's calling is for you to cross your street to share Jesus with a neighbor. One doesn't have to jet across the world to foreign soil to do mission work. Perhaps God's leading in your life is for you to set your foot on your neighbor's soil as you share with them the good news of Jesus.
The great need today is the same as in Jesus's day: "When he saw the crowds, he had com-passion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field'" (Matthew 9.36-38).
I want to be a worker for the Lord! How about you? Wherever you are today, whether in a rural or urban setting, a small church or a megachurch, determine to be a worker for the Lord.
As a gift to you, check out this Gene Wojciechowski article on the Jason Foundation and one college football coach's effort to assist the Foundation at all cost. It is a wonderful, if very touching, story.
-----------------
How's this for historical irony from Kevin Starr's classic volume California: A History?
"A third settlement given pueblo (town) status -- Villa de Branciforte, established in 1796 by the viceroy, as a retirement town for soldiers and their families near Santa Cruz never got off the ground. No retired soldiers, much less their wives and families, wanted to come that far north to live on the edge of nowhere. Branciforte (near Santa Cruz) eventually wound up as a kind of Botany Bay for men convicted of petty crimes...While Mexico might talk of a civil society, it remained unsuccessful in promoting civilian settlement in California (circa 1830). Few people wished to come, and so, in desperation, Mexico began to treat California as a kind of Botany Bay for wayward soldiers" (37, 47).
Santa Cruz? A banishment place for prisoners and wayward soldiers? Santa Cruz?
O, for a little foresight, huh?
-----------------------
Two weeks ago, in back of a Sunday speaking engagement in Hollister, I blogged about the state of the church in rural California. In that blog, I compared the status of churches in rural California with the status of churches in the rural South. Comparatively speaking, churches in the West struggle to reach 100 active members in communities where in the South, a similar community would consistently have multiple churches with an active membership of over 500.
Since coming from the South, that one fundamental difference has been most striking, and most troubling, to me. So I solicited your feedback and you responded.
Interestingly, every single response I received placed the presence and activity of young families as crucial to the turnaround. It seemed as though your responses were unanimous in this regard: a church with youth, i.e. families, moms, dads, kids, babies -- is a staple of a healthy church. A healthy church is one where the sound of crying babies and restless children is not only heard but appreciated. A healthy church is one where diversity is prized -- not in terms of theological confusion but in terms of age.
(Now, as I say that, I realize that for a politically conservative person, diversity is a buzzword packed with loaded implications. But I'm a disciple, not a politician and my identity comes from Christ, not a philosophical presupposition that must color my every thought).
Frankly, the task is great. Many of you shared wonderful experiences of your own personal investment or group investment in reaching out to encourage small churches in places like Caruthers and Auberry and Morro Bay and Paso Robles.
I think the greatest aim, though, as shared by one respondent is the need to raise up a generation of disciples who think missional. We've so conditioned ourselves to think of "mission work" as something that only occurs on foreign soil, across an ocean, in third world countries.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
The church is desperately in need of missionaries -- of men and women, moms and dads, children -- who are willing to think, see and live as missionaries at home. It doesn't require crossing an ocean to be a missionary! Perhaps God's calling is for you to cross your street to share Jesus with a neighbor. One doesn't have to jet across the world to foreign soil to do mission work. Perhaps God's leading in your life is for you to set your foot on your neighbor's soil as you share with them the good news of Jesus.
The great need today is the same as in Jesus's day: "When he saw the crowds, he had com-passion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field'" (Matthew 9.36-38).
I want to be a worker for the Lord! How about you? Wherever you are today, whether in a rural or urban setting, a small church or a megachurch, determine to be a worker for the Lord.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Returning Home
One of the real paradoxes of our nomadic journey of ministry is the blessing of "home" as a moving target. Arkansas will always be home -- that's where my mom and dad, my sister and her family live. It is where I have spent 29 of my 36 years. It is where we spent our longest tenure of ministry -- seven years with the wonderful family of God that is the Village Church of Christ.
But home is also Hurricane, West Virginia. To this day, some of the dearest friends Mandy and I have live where we made our first home together. Home is also Lake City, Florida. And we still have fond memories of our short sojourn in Marble Falls, Texas.
Now, home is Fresno, California. It is at our home in Fresno where we forging eternal friendships as we witness the work of God in making an eternal difference in the lives of so many people.
I couldn't help but think of all this during the flight back to California on Sunday. I reflected on all our homes and our family, of our friends and all the great memories of fellowship shared in the past.
And that moment of nostalgia made me home-sick. Not for a home on this earth, but for an eternal home. Where there will be no more "goodbyes." Where there will be no more urgings to relocate. Where there will be an end to every ambition save the eternal praise of our Almighty God.
-----------------
Being back home reminded me of so many things I miss -- and some things I don't -- about home in Arkansas.
For one thing, I absolutely do not miss chiggers. The Arkansas landscape is littered with those little boogers and the itchy sores on my ankles are proof.
What do I miss? I miss my parents. I miss my little sis. I miss my grandparents. I miss getting to play with my new niece and nephew. I miss getting to scour the Howard Mountain Hunting Lease with my dad as we did at daybreak on Saturday morning. I miss eating lunch at Pizza Inn with Myron Hall. I miss Clyde and Linda, Sam and Betty, Johnny and Sandy, Rob and Marla, Gary and Paula, John and Allessandra, Jeff and Michelle, and Hunter. I miss Shackburgers. I miss Friday night football at Jessieville High School. And I miss every friend who has impacted my life.
Truly, it was great to be home again.
-----------------
And yet, those things I miss as I reminisce were yesterday.
Today is a new day and, like Paul, I am striving to "forget what is behind and strain toward what is before."
Today finds us in the midst of First Principles Day Camp at Woodward Park. Each year, I have conducted this day camp the week before the kids go to church camp (for us at Woodward Park, it is Yosemite Bible Camp in Oakhurst). So many kids make life-altering decisions at church camp and too many times, I have found those decisions are made without the depth of thought required for such a major commitment.
So, we are spending two hours each morning talking about sin and its consequences, the reality that Jesus is the Son of God, the necessity of faith and the evidence that supports faith in Jesus, the necessity of repentance, and baptism. It is my prayer that each of the 32 kids (grades 4-8) participating in our day camp this week will come to a fuller understanding of God's will for their salvation. Each evening, the kids have homework to do and discuss with their parents so that the parents are involved with their own children in the journey toward salvation.
Following lunch each day, Paul, our youth minister, has a fun activity for the kids. On Monday, they spent the afternoon at Boomers. Today they'll watch a movie on the big screen at church. Tomorrow, its off to Sierra Lanes for an afternoon of bowling.
But the fun is secondary to the spiritual feast from God's Word! Keep our day camp in your prayers, especially our campers as they consider the testimony of Scripture and its implications in their quest for..."home."
But home is also Hurricane, West Virginia. To this day, some of the dearest friends Mandy and I have live where we made our first home together. Home is also Lake City, Florida. And we still have fond memories of our short sojourn in Marble Falls, Texas.
Now, home is Fresno, California. It is at our home in Fresno where we forging eternal friendships as we witness the work of God in making an eternal difference in the lives of so many people.
I couldn't help but think of all this during the flight back to California on Sunday. I reflected on all our homes and our family, of our friends and all the great memories of fellowship shared in the past.
And that moment of nostalgia made me home-sick. Not for a home on this earth, but for an eternal home. Where there will be no more "goodbyes." Where there will be no more urgings to relocate. Where there will be an end to every ambition save the eternal praise of our Almighty God.
-----------------
Being back home reminded me of so many things I miss -- and some things I don't -- about home in Arkansas.
For one thing, I absolutely do not miss chiggers. The Arkansas landscape is littered with those little boogers and the itchy sores on my ankles are proof.
What do I miss? I miss my parents. I miss my little sis. I miss my grandparents. I miss getting to play with my new niece and nephew. I miss getting to scour the Howard Mountain Hunting Lease with my dad as we did at daybreak on Saturday morning. I miss eating lunch at Pizza Inn with Myron Hall. I miss Clyde and Linda, Sam and Betty, Johnny and Sandy, Rob and Marla, Gary and Paula, John and Allessandra, Jeff and Michelle, and Hunter. I miss Shackburgers. I miss Friday night football at Jessieville High School. And I miss every friend who has impacted my life.
Truly, it was great to be home again.
-----------------
And yet, those things I miss as I reminisce were yesterday.
Today is a new day and, like Paul, I am striving to "forget what is behind and strain toward what is before."
Today finds us in the midst of First Principles Day Camp at Woodward Park. Each year, I have conducted this day camp the week before the kids go to church camp (for us at Woodward Park, it is Yosemite Bible Camp in Oakhurst). So many kids make life-altering decisions at church camp and too many times, I have found those decisions are made without the depth of thought required for such a major commitment.
So, we are spending two hours each morning talking about sin and its consequences, the reality that Jesus is the Son of God, the necessity of faith and the evidence that supports faith in Jesus, the necessity of repentance, and baptism. It is my prayer that each of the 32 kids (grades 4-8) participating in our day camp this week will come to a fuller understanding of God's will for their salvation. Each evening, the kids have homework to do and discuss with their parents so that the parents are involved with their own children in the journey toward salvation.
Following lunch each day, Paul, our youth minister, has a fun activity for the kids. On Monday, they spent the afternoon at Boomers. Today they'll watch a movie on the big screen at church. Tomorrow, its off to Sierra Lanes for an afternoon of bowling.
But the fun is secondary to the spiritual feast from God's Word! Keep our day camp in your prayers, especially our campers as they consider the testimony of Scripture and its implications in their quest for..."home."
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Going Home
There's a new addition to my links. My great friend, Allan Stanglin -- the new Preaching Minister for the Legacy Church of Christ in North Richland Hills, Texas -- has begun blogging. You'll get a kick out of Allan's insights. Give it a look today.
-----------------
Speaking of blogs, check out this entry by my little sister. Are the words insanely jealous an appropriate response?
-----------------
We're going home today and going home never meant so much is it does today. I am so excited about getting to meet my little niece and nephew face-to-face. I'm excited about watching my girls play with their baby cousins. I am excited about the impact all the young life of the kids will have on our entire family. I'm excited about the full-day of visits in Hot Springs Village on Wednesday with many dear brothers and sisters who have encouraged me through the years. And I am excited about getting to see and spend time with my parents and my grandparents.
Going home is great! And yet, I sense that today's journey is but a living parable of the ultimate home-going; the journey into eternity and the presence of our Heavenly Father.
I'm going to take a blog vacation until Monday when First Principles Day Camp begins in earnest. God has blessed us with 8 baptisms the last 4 weeks and I'm praying that Day Camp and YBC will only yield more productive kingdom fruit!
Till then, read Revelation 21: a divine postcard from the destination of our ultimate home-going journey.
-----------------
Speaking of blogs, check out this entry by my little sister. Are the words insanely jealous an appropriate response?
-----------------
We're going home today and going home never meant so much is it does today. I am so excited about getting to meet my little niece and nephew face-to-face. I'm excited about watching my girls play with their baby cousins. I am excited about the impact all the young life of the kids will have on our entire family. I'm excited about the full-day of visits in Hot Springs Village on Wednesday with many dear brothers and sisters who have encouraged me through the years. And I am excited about getting to see and spend time with my parents and my grandparents.
Going home is great! And yet, I sense that today's journey is but a living parable of the ultimate home-going; the journey into eternity and the presence of our Heavenly Father.
I'm going to take a blog vacation until Monday when First Principles Day Camp begins in earnest. God has blessed us with 8 baptisms the last 4 weeks and I'm praying that Day Camp and YBC will only yield more productive kingdom fruit!
Till then, read Revelation 21: a divine postcard from the destination of our ultimate home-going journey.
Monday, June 11, 2007
13 Years Ago Today
There are dates indellibly etched into my memory. Just recalling the date illicits a treasure trove of memories.For instance, August 1, 1984 is one date that is dear to me. On that evening, I was baptized into Jesus by my grandfather at Camp Barton.
Another date that is blazened upon my memory is June 11, 1994.
Thirteen years ago today.
One of the most special days of my life...
Dear Princess,
13 years ago today, you blessed me with the second greatest gift of my life. 13 years ago today, in Rick and Keely's front yard, you committed to spend the rest of your life with me as my wife. My bride. My angel.
What a 13 years its been, huh? We've been on the receiving end of two wonderful bundles of love from God, Trae and Tori. We've lived together in five states. We've bought three homes and built one. We've made memories on every coast. We've laughed together, cried together, fought together, gotten mad together, prayed together, sang together, worshipped together, served together.
We've shared life together.
I'll never forget the day I first saw you behind those aviator sunglasses. From that first glance, my heart raced at your beauty -- beauty that has only been enhanced in my eyes with the passing of time. It was your physical beauty that stole my heart at first. And 13 years later, it is the beauty of your entire personality that I've come to cherish and am so madly in love with. From your sense of humor to the wonderful mommy you are to our girls to those cute dimples in your chin when you smile, I am as smitten today as I was on that autumn afternoon when I first saw you.
Thank you for loving me. For supporting me. For praying for me. For putting up with me. For believing in me when my courage was gone and my faith was flat.
Your love coupled with God's love is the three-stranded cord that completes me.
Happy Anniversary Baby Doll!
I Love You,
Jim
Friday, June 08, 2007
When God Opens a Door
Got a lot on the docket for this weekend? We welcome Coy and Teresa Thorp, some of our dear friends from El Dorado County, with their two girls Ann and Emma to our home this weekend. Tonight at 9:00 pm, the undefeated Woodward Park softball team is back in action at the Bethany Softball Complex. Tomorrow, the girls have their dance recital. Trae is very polished in her jazz and ballet routines; Tori, on the other hand, is the youngest in her group and, at times, it shows. Sunday is a full day with worship assemblies, honoring nine graduates from the Class of 2007, and a YBC Planning Meeting.
It's a full-life lived at break-neck speed...but its all good!
-------------------
I continue to appreciate all the insightful feedback I've received all week in response to my post on Tuesday about strengthening the churches in decline throughout the rural areas of California. I'm going to devote my blog on Monday to your ideas, and my own, as it relates to answering the question, "What Shall We Do?"
-------------------
Two weeks ago, I asked you to pray for a special ministry opportunity. God has heard our prayers and a door has opened for us through the Fresno Human Services System.
Back in January, I was intrigued by what I learned at Greenlawn Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas. A group from there had commissioned a class to meet each Wednesday evening at a park in Lubbock as a means of taking the church into the neighborhood for the express purpose of reaching the lost.
Through Cedric and Cheryl Rowe, we learned of an ideal place to imitate Greenlawn's ministry. That ideal place is a 52-unit housing facility for at-risk families, comprised primarily of moms and children who have come out of abusive environments. All 52-units in the transitional facility are filled and through the graciousness of the staff there, we have been given permission to go every other Wednesday night to conduct Bible studies for the moms and special Bible studies for the children.
Beginning on Wednesday evening, June 20, a group from Woodward Park will begin meeting there every other Wednesday evening in the hopes of sharing the grace and love of Jesus with the less-fortunate lost of our city. I am grateful to God for this incredible, open door of opportunity. Coupled with our ministry downtown, these opportunities are unique in giving us an outreach to a most receptive, if not often ignored, segment of our city.
It's a full-life lived at break-neck speed...but its all good!
-------------------
I continue to appreciate all the insightful feedback I've received all week in response to my post on Tuesday about strengthening the churches in decline throughout the rural areas of California. I'm going to devote my blog on Monday to your ideas, and my own, as it relates to answering the question, "What Shall We Do?"
-------------------
Two weeks ago, I asked you to pray for a special ministry opportunity. God has heard our prayers and a door has opened for us through the Fresno Human Services System.
Back in January, I was intrigued by what I learned at Greenlawn Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas. A group from there had commissioned a class to meet each Wednesday evening at a park in Lubbock as a means of taking the church into the neighborhood for the express purpose of reaching the lost.
Through Cedric and Cheryl Rowe, we learned of an ideal place to imitate Greenlawn's ministry. That ideal place is a 52-unit housing facility for at-risk families, comprised primarily of moms and children who have come out of abusive environments. All 52-units in the transitional facility are filled and through the graciousness of the staff there, we have been given permission to go every other Wednesday night to conduct Bible studies for the moms and special Bible studies for the children.
Beginning on Wednesday evening, June 20, a group from Woodward Park will begin meeting there every other Wednesday evening in the hopes of sharing the grace and love of Jesus with the less-fortunate lost of our city. I am grateful to God for this incredible, open door of opportunity. Coupled with our ministry downtown, these opportunities are unique in giving us an outreach to a most receptive, if not often ignored, segment of our city.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
June in the Valley
I'm typing this late on the evening of June 5th.
Yes, June 5th.
The low temperature tonight? 49. The high tomorrow? 76. Humidity during the day? 19%. It is San Diego-like wonderful in the Valley, known for its unrelenting summer heat. The smog has eased, the snow-peaked Sierras to the east are majestic, and the mercury is perfect (if only it could stay this way for, oh, about three more months)!
What a blessed, beautiful time to be alive and to be a child of the Creator.
-------------------
After following the Giants over the weekend in Philadelphia, Hal Bodley of USA Today raised an interesting question in his column yesterday:
Do fans so despise Barry Bonds because of his alleged steroid use or because of his surly attitude?
Regardless of your answer, it does seem as though one of the more disliked figures in all of professional sports will soon break one of the most storied records in all of sports, Hammerin' Hank's home run record.
So, does Bonds break the record? If so, when? This year? Next year? When do you think Bonds will hit his historic home run?
Yes, June 5th.
The low temperature tonight? 49. The high tomorrow? 76. Humidity during the day? 19%. It is San Diego-like wonderful in the Valley, known for its unrelenting summer heat. The smog has eased, the snow-peaked Sierras to the east are majestic, and the mercury is perfect (if only it could stay this way for, oh, about three more months)!
What a blessed, beautiful time to be alive and to be a child of the Creator.
-------------------
After following the Giants over the weekend in Philadelphia, Hal Bodley of USA Today raised an interesting question in his column yesterday:
Do fans so despise Barry Bonds because of his alleged steroid use or because of his surly attitude?
Regardless of your answer, it does seem as though one of the more disliked figures in all of professional sports will soon break one of the most storied records in all of sports, Hammerin' Hank's home run record.
So, does Bonds break the record? If so, when? This year? Next year? When do you think Bonds will hit his historic home run?
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Hollister
There are so many things I want to share this morning. I want to tell you about how awesome Nick Gerard did preaching last Sunday evening. I want to tell you about how great the other eight young men did who read Scripture, led songs and/or prayed. I want to tell you how wonderful it is to have guys like Randy Stumpfhauser (BMX Racing Pro) and John Hollett (Head Baseball Coach of the Valley Division III Champs, the Selma Bears) working with our 3rd -6th grade guys every Wednesday night to develop them and challenge them in their burgeoning faith. I want to tell you how that on Sunday we cracked the 100 response mark for the year in just 22 Sundays. I want to tell you about the six baptisms we have had at Woodward Park in the last two weeks. I want to tell you about the dear friend I have in Rick Northen who spent his final moments in the States before boarding a plane to Cambodia encouraging me in my ministry as he has always done.
But what is most on my heart as I type this blog is the impression left on me this past Sunday as I preached in Hollister, California. You may best recognize the name "Hollister" from the popular line of teen clothing, but Hollister is a wonderful little hamlet 30 miles from the California coast, south of San Jose. Hollister is a city of some 37,000 people and at church on Sunday, about 45 assembled to worship.
Place Hollister in the South and the church would likely have an attendance of at least 500. Shoot, I've preached in places like Delight, Arkansas where the average attendance at church on Sunday is greater than the entire population posted on the city limit sign! But this is California, where the rural churches are struggling and the hair of the members is graying.
I was struck by the fact that the faithful band of disciples who met for worship on Sunday are, by-in-large, an older band of believers who've walked a long time with the Lord. What distressed me about the church in Hollister, and the church in many other rural cities akin to Hollister throughout California, is that church membership is in numerical decline with the younger generations virtually absent.
How do we turn that trend around? How do we reach the unchurched families in cities like Hollister with the good news of Jesus?
It seems that hardly a week goes by but what we do not hear of another church family in a rural Valley city struggling to hold on.
How do we encourage them? As a healthy, vibrant, growing church in an urban setting, I feel a burden that we at Woodward Park have a responsibility, a stewardship, to invest in these churches with manpower and resources to help them in their quest to be light in their communities.
But the task is so great and the need nigh overwhelming.
What can we do to help? Help me think through this today by emailing me your ideas to jim@wpcoc.com.
But what is most on my heart as I type this blog is the impression left on me this past Sunday as I preached in Hollister, California. You may best recognize the name "Hollister" from the popular line of teen clothing, but Hollister is a wonderful little hamlet 30 miles from the California coast, south of San Jose. Hollister is a city of some 37,000 people and at church on Sunday, about 45 assembled to worship.
Place Hollister in the South and the church would likely have an attendance of at least 500. Shoot, I've preached in places like Delight, Arkansas where the average attendance at church on Sunday is greater than the entire population posted on the city limit sign! But this is California, where the rural churches are struggling and the hair of the members is graying.
I was struck by the fact that the faithful band of disciples who met for worship on Sunday are, by-in-large, an older band of believers who've walked a long time with the Lord. What distressed me about the church in Hollister, and the church in many other rural cities akin to Hollister throughout California, is that church membership is in numerical decline with the younger generations virtually absent.
How do we turn that trend around? How do we reach the unchurched families in cities like Hollister with the good news of Jesus?
It seems that hardly a week goes by but what we do not hear of another church family in a rural Valley city struggling to hold on.
How do we encourage them? As a healthy, vibrant, growing church in an urban setting, I feel a burden that we at Woodward Park have a responsibility, a stewardship, to invest in these churches with manpower and resources to help them in their quest to be light in their communities.
But the task is so great and the need nigh overwhelming.
What can we do to help? Help me think through this today by emailing me your ideas to jim@wpcoc.com.
Friday, June 01, 2007
The Glory of Preaching, Redux
Not quite two months ago, I wrote the following on my blog and it literally generated world-wide feedback. A minister-blogger in the United Kingdom picked up on it and echoed my thoughts about the necessity of encouraging young men to preach. Here's what I wrote then:
Last night, I had the wonderful privilege of filling in for Randy and John who teach our 3rd-6th grade boys on Wednesday nights. They've been studying the life of David but I wanted to talk to them about the glory of preaching.
When I was a kid, I developed an interest in preaching. As I grew, that interest grew also until I determined to go to college to learn skills, service traits and study habits that would allow me to serve God full-time to the best of my ability.
That growth came despite the fact I was rarely offered the opportunity to preach in my home church. The preacher in my home church during my teen years was an older gentleman with a kind heart who seemed to have little interest in sharing the pulpit. Consequently, young guys like myself had to search for neighboring churches to try our hand at preaching. Thankfully, in my life, the Johnson Street Church of Christ in my hometown of Benton always gave me an open invitation. To this day, I consider their investment in my ministry to be one of the dearest gifts in my life. The lessons I learned from their preachers, Willie Hill and Cedric Finley, continue to influence my thinking and my ministry.
I write all that for this purpose: very early in my ministry, I determined that the pulpit where God granted me the opportunity to preach full-time would always be open and available to any young men desiring to try their hand at preaching. Anytime one of our young men shows an interest in preaching, I will help them prepare and practice and will allow them the opportunity to preach their sermon on the Sunday of their choosing.
So, last night, I simply tried to fan a potential flame in the hearts of those young me. Maybe one day (soon), one or more of those guys will seek me out wanting to preach.
I'm praying for that to happen.
The future of the church depends on good men willing to forgo more financially lucrative careers in other fields to commit their lives to the glory of preaching.
It's been nearly two months and my prayers have been answered! The Sunday following the original post, Nick Gerard approached me and said, "I think I want to give preaching a try!" I was elated.
This coming Sunday evening, Nick -- a third grader who attends Woodward Park with his family -- will be preaching. Nick and I have been working together every Wednesday night before Bible class in preparation for this coming Sunday night. Nick has a great sermon prepared on how Christians should respond to people in poverty. It is timely, extremely practical for our current setting, and penetrating with application from the text of the Bible.
My hope is this: I hope we have the largest Sunday night attendance of the year this coming Sunday evening. I hope all members of Woodward Park who read this will make a special effort to be there on Sunday night. This opportunity in Nick's life could be the birthplace of a lifelong commitment -- a commitment to the glory of preaching.
That is my prayer!
Last night, I had the wonderful privilege of filling in for Randy and John who teach our 3rd-6th grade boys on Wednesday nights. They've been studying the life of David but I wanted to talk to them about the glory of preaching.
When I was a kid, I developed an interest in preaching. As I grew, that interest grew also until I determined to go to college to learn skills, service traits and study habits that would allow me to serve God full-time to the best of my ability.
That growth came despite the fact I was rarely offered the opportunity to preach in my home church. The preacher in my home church during my teen years was an older gentleman with a kind heart who seemed to have little interest in sharing the pulpit. Consequently, young guys like myself had to search for neighboring churches to try our hand at preaching. Thankfully, in my life, the Johnson Street Church of Christ in my hometown of Benton always gave me an open invitation. To this day, I consider their investment in my ministry to be one of the dearest gifts in my life. The lessons I learned from their preachers, Willie Hill and Cedric Finley, continue to influence my thinking and my ministry.
I write all that for this purpose: very early in my ministry, I determined that the pulpit where God granted me the opportunity to preach full-time would always be open and available to any young men desiring to try their hand at preaching. Anytime one of our young men shows an interest in preaching, I will help them prepare and practice and will allow them the opportunity to preach their sermon on the Sunday of their choosing.
So, last night, I simply tried to fan a potential flame in the hearts of those young me. Maybe one day (soon), one or more of those guys will seek me out wanting to preach.
I'm praying for that to happen.
The future of the church depends on good men willing to forgo more financially lucrative careers in other fields to commit their lives to the glory of preaching.
It's been nearly two months and my prayers have been answered! The Sunday following the original post, Nick Gerard approached me and said, "I think I want to give preaching a try!" I was elated.
This coming Sunday evening, Nick -- a third grader who attends Woodward Park with his family -- will be preaching. Nick and I have been working together every Wednesday night before Bible class in preparation for this coming Sunday night. Nick has a great sermon prepared on how Christians should respond to people in poverty. It is timely, extremely practical for our current setting, and penetrating with application from the text of the Bible.
My hope is this: I hope we have the largest Sunday night attendance of the year this coming Sunday evening. I hope all members of Woodward Park who read this will make a special effort to be there on Sunday night. This opportunity in Nick's life could be the birthplace of a lifelong commitment -- a commitment to the glory of preaching.
That is my prayer!
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