Category: Journal

My journey

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Church Leadership Journal

October and November Messages Planned

 

Harvest time is for Thanksgiving

I haven’t blogged in a couple weeks because I have been traveling part of each week.   But now that the schedule has returned a little more to normal, I will try to catch up a little.  As you can see, the plan below is already in progress.    Our October series was planned to go with election  season when our country is talking about values and issues.   The church needs to be relevant and enter the conversation.  But my take is a little different ffom some.  Here is a quote from the introduction to the series on Christian Values for Today.

      “I believe that Christians are called to tell the truth about the chaos of values today.  Our task is to call our country back to the values of the Bible.   As we undertake this task, we cannot help but seem political at times. But that is not our first intention.  As one person has put it, ‘God is not a Democrat or Republican.’    God’s values apply equally to Democrats and Republicans.  He calls both parties to forsake their sins and walk in his paths.   It is up to us as followers of Christ to use our discernment and our influence to encourage all parties to take stands on contemporary issues that reflect the teaching of the Word of God.  Using our vote as best we can is part of our responsibility to use our influence.  At times in this series, I expect that the Republicans will feel somewhat smug.  But at other times I expect that the Democrats will feel the same way.  But that is not my issue. My responsibility is to preach the word of God wherever the chips fall.  My responsibility is to pick issues that I feel are of extreme importance in the Bible, our lives, and in our country and preach on them.   And God helping us that is what we will do in this series called Christian Values for Today.”  

The November series  will focus on the close relationship between the Thanksgiving season and the Christian value and practice of generosity and stewardship.   It will also be a great lead-in to the Christmas season with its emphasis upon giving. 

 

October Series:  Christian Values for Today

Date

Topic

Speaker

 Scripture

Suggested Hymn

October 7

Human Life is Precious

Kelvin Jones

Psalm 139:13-16

We Praise Thee, O God

October 14

God has Blessed Traditional Marriage

Kelvin Jones

Gen. 1:26-32 Eph. 5:28-33

A Christian Home (147)

October 21

Pastor Appreciation

Larry Nemitz

1 Tim. 2:1-7

My Faith has Found (277)

October 28

Remembering the Poor

Kelvin Jones

Gal. 2:6-10 Acts 10:1-6

Show a Little Bit of Love (511)

November 4

Righteousness Exalts a Nation

Eric Paashaus

Prov. 14:34

Where Cross the Crowded Ways (490)

Thanksgiving Series:   Thanksgiving and Giving

November 11

Giving is a Good Thing

Kelvin Jones

1 Tim. 6:3-19

Now Thank We All Our God (36)

November 18

Thanksgiving and the Offering of Firstfruits

Kelvin Jones

Deut. 26:1-11

Count Your Blessings (430)

November 25

 Giving to the Work of God

Eric Paashaus

 2 Cor. 9:6-15

Thanks to God (110)

 

Categories
Journal Who Am I Wisdom

Chronicling the reading habit

Reading is an important habit for all of us. Of course, our number one book to read is the Bible.   I have several ways to keep track of my reading.   When I finish a book that I own, I write the date in the front. Since I started blogging, I also try to write a short article for the book review section of my blog for each book that I have read, including the borrowed ones.   I have missed one or two.    My wife keeps notes including actual quotes in her computer from each book that she reads.    This is especially helpful to her as it preserves usable material from books she has read out of the public library. 

Both JoAnne and I always have several books going at once.   Inevitably, some get neglected while others take priority. This is just part of the way it is.   But eventually, most of them get finished.   Summer is a great time for reading.  I always manage to finish several books, as I did this year.   You can catch the three recent reviews in my book review section.

Choosing books to read is the heart of the matter.  I try to choose books that enrich the work that I’m doing.    And I usually have at least three different areas going at once to provide variety.   Often one is for fun or for my health.   I highly recommend the discipline of reading.  Whether it is from physical books or on electronic screens does not matter.

I usually have at least one book that challenges or encourages my spiritual life and/or my prayer life. This is a discipline I have maintained for many years.   The recent biography of Smith Wigglesworth was such a book.    Other books, I read to help me in my various responsibilities like the Gary McIntosh’s book on Taking Your Church to the Next Level.  Currently I am reading a book about college administration that is related to my work as a trustee at Houghton College.   Over the last several years, I have usually had at least one book related to leadership on my shelf with a bookmark part way through it.     For example, I finished a John Maxwell book last winter on being a people person (I haven’t reviewed it for my blog yet).  

 

Categories
Journal Who Am I

A visit to Mom

I went to visit my Mom today. It takes about two and one-half hours one way going down through Gorham, Rushville, Naples, and Wayland.  I enjoy the scenery, especially today as the fall colors were more and more prominent as I neared my boyhood home.   I went to encourage Mom and took her some flowers from my garden in a basket that was my grandmother’s.  Thankfully I have a good crop of zinnias this year that have made wonderful cut flowers to take to Mom.   I read Scripture to her and sang to her as I usually do.  Even though she is on medicine that makes it hard for her to remember or think well, she sang with me on the chorus of “God Will Take Care of You.” The most precious part was when she prayed for me.  That encouraged me. These days I try to give back to her from the rich spiritual heritage that she and my Dad gave to us. 

Categories
Church Leadership Forward Look Journal

On Celebrating World Communion Sunday

On October 7, we at Community Wesleyan, Kirkville, will join Christians around the world in the celebration of World Communion Sunday.   This year, I did a little research to see what some others were saying about the observance of this special Sunday.   It was a great way to use the spirit of the day to express its meaning.  Here are some of the inspiring thoughts I found expressed by church leaders of other denominations.

It originated when the world was very divided in order to emphasize unity in Christ

 

World Communion Sunday originated in the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 1936, for the first time, the first Sunday in October was celebrated in Presbyterian churches in the United States and overseas. From the beginning, it was planned so that other denominations could make use of it. After a few years, the idea was welcomed by the wider Christian community as an opportunity to move beyond historical and theological differences and worship together. On this first Sunday of October, we celebrate our oneness –our communion – in Christ, in the midst of a world still in need of the reconciling unity of Christ. The Middle English roots of the word “communion” refer to having something in common and to being in a relationship. On this particular Sunday, it is a blessing to be intentionally aware of being “in communion,” that is, sharing Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, whom we have “in common” with other Christians, congregations, and denominations around the world.(quoted from http://resources.mennonitechurch.ca/ResourceView/43/14412)

It reminds us that in order to overcome the divisions of our world we will need to look beyond ourselves and receive from Jesus

World Communion Sunday is an event that bridges denominations and spotlights our commonality in the Body of Christ. This world would be so much better off if we looked for that which we hold in common rather than our differences. Holy Communion, rightly observed, reunites the Church. This is the pastor’s hope when he or she holds up the loaf of bread and says, “Because there is one loaf, we who are many, are one body in Christ.”

Therefore, our focus is in how to get over our differences and find common power to live in Christ. The Eucharist is a time of positive celebration, reunion, prayer for healing, and a sacred time to put others before ourselves

World Communion Sunday was intended as an occasion when persons would be invited to the Lord’s  Table on the same Sunday in many different churches and denominations, regardless of how often those churches and denominations normally observe communion. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) participates in this witness and celebrates the fact that many other denominations are also inviting persons to the Lord’s Table on the first Sunday in October. (from a blog by Rev. Tim McClendon found at  http://www.umcgiving.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=qwL6KkNWLrH&b=7080293&ct=11520565&notoc=1.)

 

We may have different liturgies and customs but we have only one Lord and Savior who unites us

As Disciples, we proclaim the message of unity at Christ’s Table every Sunday of the year, not just on World Communion Sunday. We gather with other Christians every Sunday and declare our oneness in Christ as we take our place at the Table of our Lord. There are many different approaches to the serving and partaking of communion. Different elements are used. Different liturgies exist for communion in different churches. Communion is placed in a variety of positions in different orders of worship. But the message of God’s love for us, made known in Christ, is proclaimed boldly through our worship at the Table. It is this love that we proclaim at the Table that has the power to heal wounds, whether they are the wounds within our own spirits, within our families, within our communities, and between nations. God’s love makes us One. In my view, we are not being truly faithful in our worship unless we are proclaiming that message.

May we find joy in proclaiming that message with passion on World Communion Sunday and on all of the other Sundays of the year. Come to think of it, why be restricted to Sundays? Let us proclaim this good news every day that God gives us breath.

(Taken from Resources for World Communion Sunday: October 7, 2012 Prepared by the Council on Christian Unity, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) accessed at http://www.disciples.org/ccu/PDF/World%20Communion%20Sunday%202012b.pdf)

 

Categories
Journal News Commentary Wisdom

An excellent essay opposed to gay marriage

From the pen of Pastor Jim Garlow, a Wesleyan pastor from California, and now a national leader in the battle to preserve Biblical values in our country, comes a tremendous essay explaining the consequences of the state’s adoption of gay marriage.  I highly recommend it.  It is one of the clearest statements I have read concerning the reasons why states should not allow gay marriage.  I agree whole-heartedly with Dr. Garlow.   I have heard him speak several  times and read some of his writings.  He is an absolutely brilliant historian as well as a great pastor. 

http://torenewamerica.com/index.php/garlow-on-the-prop-8-ruling

Categories
Church Leadership Journal Joy Notes

FRC Simulcast marks a new first

Hurrah for a landmark event.  

Last Sunday evening our church hosted its first simulcast, the Family Research Council (FRC) I Pledge event.  We met in the sanctuary and viewed nationally known speakers on the big screen.  Over 40 people attended; a number equal to about 30 percent of our recent average Sunday attendance.    Included were guests from other churches, new attenders and those who have attended church infrequently but were very interested in this topic, applying Christian values to political decision-making.    The FRC program was very well received.  In addition, one of our technical whizzes, Josh Basile, made our first simulcast work flawlessly.  

Upgrades made it possible

Over the years since we first caught the vision of using a screen in church for song words, video clips, PowerPoint, etc. we have gradually been upgrading our capabilities.   When this opportunity came along, we realized that we now had the ability to host such an event. 

Simulcasts may become a significant ministry

I believe that hosting simulcasts will now become a significant means of ministry for our church.   National speakers frequently organize such events and ask churches to host them.   The cost is usually modest because the speaker wants to get their ideas out.   But in our celebrity conscious world, famous speakers and hot topics can definitely draw an audience.   The bottom line is, if chosen carefully, I believe such programming can strongly influence people in our area to follow Jesus.    

 

 

Categories
Church Leadership Journal Joy Notes

Our Romania Connection

 

Our next team arrives this week

This week our latest layperson team arrives in Romania.   They will be joining our Associate Pastor, Eric Paashaus, his wife Magda and their three children to work with the Romanian churches headed by Pastor Rudy Costea, Magda’s father.   Through the generosity of an anonymous donor, Eric and Magda have been preaching and coordinating ministry there since June.       They will all return together in another 10 days.   Their report to the church will be September 23rd.   Save that date.

We sent them off with prayer

It was a very special moment in both services as congregation members gathered around Mark and Eva Boswell and Shaun and Lea Harrington to pray for them and send them off in a manner similar to the way Paul and Barnabas were sent off by the church in Acts in Acts 13.   I was especially touched in second service, as children and teens came forward to assist in the prayer.   In fact, two of the teens joined with the adults in praying aloud for the team.   Our intercession is so important, especially since this team has been sent for an emphasis upon outreach and evangelism.   By personalities, gifts and experiences we believe they will be able to witness to Jesus’ life changing power.   We are praying for the Holy Spirit to speak through them. 

Our ministry focuses on towns and villages

The city that is the center of their ministry is Sighisoara which is in the Transylvania area.   Pastor Rudy and his wife Eugenia also supervise ministry in several surrounding villages and towns.   Some have church buildings and some do not.   We have already been helping to support teachers at the school in one such village, Apold.   During this trip, we hope to be a blessing to more outlying villages through VBS ministry and church planting.   Another donor has given a substantial gift to assist in church planting.   Pastor Eric has also been coordinating with the Nazarene missionaries to establish a cooperative venture for the training of new pastors.  This is sorely needed as most of the current pastors under Pastor Rudy are older.   We are praising God for what has already been accomplished and what we believe will yet be accomplished for his kingdom through this team. 

Categories
Americana Journal Joy Notes

Horses at the NY State Fair

Watching the horses

I don’t remember JoAnne and I ever stopping to watch the big hitches in the coliseum before.  Yesterday was the day.   We watched four different classes during the afternoon horse show.   In the third class, the six horse hitches came roaring in.  

Six horse hitches

These are the big Percheron draft horses.  According to Wikipedia, “the  Percheron is a breed of draft horse that originated in the Huisne river valley in northern France, part of the former Perche province from which the breed takes its name. Usually gray or black in color, Percherons are well-muscled, and known for their intelligence and willingness to work.”   There was thunder in the air as each horse weighs about a ton.  Three hitches came in at one time and then the ringmaster invited all nine in.  It was quite a sight and sound.   

Unicorn hitches

Next in were the Belgian draft horses hitched together in the unicorn formation.   This consisted of a team of horses and one single horse hitched in front of the team in the center—a lead horse.    Belgians are a heavy draft horse and the largest horse on record was a Belgian.   I love their colors—chestnut body and contrasting ivory mane and tail.   As with the six horse hitches, every hitch had a second person on board who hopped off the finely finished wagon and served as the handler of the lead horse when the team stopped.   This person also was in charge of what we used to call in dairy cattle exhibiting, the showmanship aspect—helping the horses position themselves, making sure they were presentable for the judge. 

JoAnne and I both enjoyed our time in the coliseum very much.  If I had a little less to do, I would like to go back tomorrow when the six horse hitches will return along with eight horse hitches. 

ladies and carts
six horse hitches
beautiful horses and wagons too
There were nine hitches in this class
Next were the Belgians
There were lots of them as well
Here is the whole line-up

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Categories
Americana Journal Joy Notes

State fair fun at the butterfly house

Since our dating days, JoAnne and I have loved going to the fair.   In fact, I took her to the Bath fair on one of our first dates and later to the NY State Fair.   Since we have been going for many years, we look for the unique things.   Usually there is something that just happens to be there that year or is happening only on the day or at the time you go that you have not seen before.   This year, we found a butterfly house in the horticulture building.   It was filled with monarch butterflies and was a popular attraction.  For a dollar, you could attempt to feed them using a Q-tip and a nectar the keepers had prepared.   We didn’t try to feed them but they loved our big sun hats as resting places.   It made for some light and delightful moments as the pics show. 

my wife in her sun hat
the author in his sun hat
Close-up of the monarch butterfly

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Categories
Church Leadership Journal News Commentary Wisdom

Best pro-life article I have read in some time

People who are pro-life are always asked by pro-choice people,  “What about cases of rape and incest?”   Here is a compelling, factual, insightful and thoroughly convincing pro-life answer.   I highly recommend it.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/how-do-we-respond-to-the-question-what-about-rape-and-incest-80584/