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Journal News Commentary

Response to May 21 Second Coming Prediction

My wife has written a great response to the hullabaloo this week created by an elderly radio preacher who has predicted the coming of Christ this Saturday.  Personally, I’m always surprised at how much traction these types of predictions seem to get.  I think it reflects humankind’s inner fears of eventual accountability to God.  But as JoAnne points out, it also gives us opportunity to help others hear from us a more Biblical perspective.  I’m including the majority of her e-mail.

Hi Friends,

    So did ya hear? According to an 89-yr.-old preacher, the rapture is supposed to happen Sat. May 21, around 6 p.m. My first reaction was, “Well, I guess that’s one day we know He’s NOT coming back.”

    As you know, the Bible says, “No one knows about that day or hour… So you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him: (Matt. 24:36-44). It also tells us to make the most of what time we have left, being good stewards of our opportunities (Luke 19:13, Phil. 4:5).

    Guess what I just read in my devotional for May 18?! “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity” (Col.4:5)  Talk about God’s timing – WE HAVE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TODAY!

    People are talking about this all over the Internet, Facebook, News, etc. We don’t want to be lumped in with those “Christian fanatics” who will look stupid on May 22. Therefore we must speak out – today thru Saturday – before the event.

    1. The fact that people are already talking about it opens a wide door of opportunity. We don’t need to bring up “religion” – just the daily news. They have questions – we have answers. How do they feel about the end of the world? Do they know where they’re going? Now’s our chance to talk about our certainty of going to heaven and how they can be sure as well. Talk about your own peace – they can’t argue with that.

    2. The point is, life is uncertain. Any one of us may leave this earth BEFORE May 21. We could drive out our driveway today and be involved in a fatal crash. We all need to be ready, and so do our neighbors who are “far from God” (as Bill Hybels would say). 

    Today is an opportunity to take a “Walk Across the Room” to Facebook friends, co-workers, the clerk at Wal-Mart.

    Our doomsday friends are focused on Christ’s return, as we all should be. They’ve also done us a favor by opening the minds of America to listen to the real truth of the Gospel. And we get a chance to plant some seeds and harvest some fruit.

 

 

  

Categories
Journal Who Am I

Busy weeks: Are they related to a late Easter?

sunny spring flowersIt seems like the weeks since Easter have been unusually busy for me.  How about you? I’m wondering how much of this is related to the late date of Easter?  Easter was about as late as it can possibly get this year.  For one thing, Mothers Day and college graduation season fell only two weeks after Easter, a potentially stressful conjunction of big events.  At Community Wesleyan, global partners (missions) emphasis which usually fits comfortably between Easter and Mother’s Day, now was shoehorned into an already busy May as well.   

My parents and grandparents, passing down the wisdom of generations of farm families, had a saying that if Easter was late, spring would also be late. That certainly has been truly here in Syracuse this year. As a gardner, this has also added to the busyness of late April and early May. Tilling that was done in mid-April in past years could not be done until the first May. Lettuce, radishes, spinach, and peas have often been planted in April but this year are being planted in May.   At least we didn’t start mowing the lawn until the first week in May.

As I reflect on it, a late Easter was nice for having crocuses and tulips out to adorn the season.  I also enjoyed the longer winter sermon series it allowed.  But I’m not sure I like the time crunch that has followed. I still think the ideal time for Easter celebration is the second Sunday in April.  But since it’s not up to you and me anyway, I guess we’ll just have to take it as it comes and remember that God’s grace is sufficient for everyday!   Sometimes I need to be reminded of my favorite verse, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Co 9:8 NIV).  

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Journal Joy Notes

A Parable Poem on Lawns Turning Green

 

I wrote the first version of this some years ago for our church newsletter at our first church.  Each year as the lawns turn green again after the winter’s destruction, I am reminded of it.   I thought it might be a word of encourgement to someone so I edited it and am publishing it.    Here is the link:

http://learntobewise.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Parable-on-a-Winter-Brown-Lawn.pdf

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Journal Joy Notes

Reflections on Easter Weekend

I am thankful for each one who took time to honor Jesus by worshipping at Community Wesleyan in Kirkville this year.  Attendance at Good Friday service and Easter Celebration service was up despite the fact that for nearly all of us, the pace of life accelerates on a holiday weekend.   (The busy pace is one reason I’ve written less lately.)  Yet somehow, if we do not take time to honor Jesus on Good Friday and Easter, when will we ever?   He is supremely worthy of our praise.  

This weekend held several highlights for me:

I have come to deeply appreciate the interactive passion narrative that we used again this year at the ecumenical service at St Paul’s Episcopal Church.   Reading the narrative as characters in a play, helps put me more closely in touch with what really happened. In addition, sharing together in the service with other churches reminds me again that the family for whom Jesus died and who are responding to his call enfolds so many more than just my local church fellowship or even my denomination. 

Easter has become a family time too in our culture and our family is no exception.  It was a delight to have our daughter and son-in-law visit for a couple days and to have my brother-in-law, Joe, and father-in-law at Easter dinner.  

Easter is a special time for children.  Our church tries to make a home for children at God’s house.  I enjoy greeting them at the Easter brunch and the Easter services.   Some, especially the little girls, are all dressed up in Easter outfits and appreciate it if my wife or I notice.   The boys like the food, as I think I would have as a boy.

Easter music is always a highlight. Special music adds a great deal; solos, instrumentals, handbell choir and holiday choir all help to mark the moment.  I usually enjoy most the songs that the congregation seems to truly get involved in.  This year was no exception.  At our Good Friday service, there was a special moment when we sang the hymn, At Calvary.   In Easter Celebration service, the praise team led with joy as everyone joined in on Celebrate Jesus.  Then we sang the story of Jesus’ life via the new hymn, In Christ Alone; an inspiring time.   One of the gifts of any worship service is when the music comes back to you and you find yourself singing it throughout the day or in the middle of the week.  Then you know it was inspiring.  (Singing in the choir will make that happen for sure.)

It always encourages me to see people in church at a holiday service that I or our church have reached out to in some way recently.  Perhaps I stood by the side of someone in their family at a difficult time or performed a wedding or a funeral.  Perhaps a child in the family attended preschool.  People don’t realize how much it encourages pastors and church leaders when they attend.   

On the flip side, I always wonder what people thought were their favorite moments in sermons.  If they had to nominate a five minute segment from one of the three sermons I gave over this weekend to be put on U-Tube or inserted in an advertisement for our church, what five minutes would they choose?   Pastors often have mixed feelings about their preaching and I guess this weekend is no exception.   Some parts went better than I expected and others I would like to do over.   I just trust that overall my thoughts were a blessing to many. 

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Journal Joy Notes Who Am I

Reflections on Speaking at Houghton Chapel

I remember as a student attending the mandatory chapel services at Houghton College.  Since I was taking mostly Bible and related courses and was already active in church leadership in my home church, I considered chapel interesting.  But I was quite aware that was not always the attitude of many of my peers.   In fact, I sometimes felt a little sorry for chapel speakers who were asked to address an audience many of whom felt compelled to be there.  A few of their listeners would even be shamelessly involved in other pursuits like reading, doing homework or chatting with friends. 

I don’t remember it ever entering my mind that I might someday be one of those speakers.  But that is what I had the privilege to be on April 13, 2011.  Funny it is how perspectives completely change. 

Categories
Forward Look Journal

Winds of Refreshing Series Modified

I have decided to change the message for April 10th.  Here is the new chart.

Categories
Church Leadership Forward Look Journal Joy Notes

Celebrating a Unanimous Decision

 

Our Celebration Theme and Logo

What a joy it was to lead the special church conference this evening in the consideration of the 50th Anniversary Project.   I had felt that there was a positive feeling about the various parts of the project but one always wonders if everyone is speaking up.   There was good attendance at our meeting.  This was gratifying since I had postponed it due to weather one time.  But sometimes good attendance means sharp division of opinion.   In this case, however, it quickly became obvious that good attendance signaled a strong excitement and a unanimous enthusiasm for the project. 

Categories
Journal

Is the New Menu Working?

I am experimenting with the ability of my Word Press Theme to include a custom menu.  For the spring I have created a menu for the Winds of Refreshing emphasis.  I will keep adding to it and probably leave it up for awhile after the emphasis is finished at church.   I’m wondering if my readers are finding the custom menu feature helpful.  Any feedback?

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Journal Joy Notes

Spring means counting robins

What says spring like counting the returning birds?   Last weekend, I went for my neighborhood walk (about 1 mile each way) and counted robins.  I was rejoicing to report a total of ten.   The most I had seen before was one here or there.   But today, things had definitely changed for the better.  I counted 38 on the same walk!   Yes!  Gardening must be just around the corner!
Categories
Journal Joy Notes

Help in seeking God – a testimony

Seeking God is rewarded

Ever since we have set our hearts on seeking God together, it seems that I have been supernaturally aided in my searching.  

1.      God has helped me to have the heart to seek Him.  I am learning that as we respond to God’s invitation, the Holy Spirit gives us greater thirst.   Yesterday, for example, I had plenty to do.   But I felt so hungry spiritually that I was almost compelled to spend more than double my normal devotional time in seeking God.   I praised God, then prayed for things I thought of.   When I was finished, God laid more things on my heart for intercession.   I was experiencing the levels of prayer I had just read about in David Yonggi Cho’s book. 

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.  Jn 6:44 NIV

2.      I keep running into more resources to encourage my search and help me to encourage others. Now, if I am thinking about something and run onto an article now and then, I can easily credit it to coincidence or just mental pre-occupation.   But I have worked on sermons for many years and know about how often one normally runs into things that are relevant without doing specific research.   In the last three weeks, such a high percentage of articles, devotionals, books I’m reading, DVD’s and music I’ve played have been directly helpful that it has amazed me.  To give one example–last night, I picked up a worship video that has been on my desk for months.   I thought it might be relevant to the sermon.   I discovered quickly that it was more relevant to last week’s sermon so I could have stopped watching and saved time.  But I kept watching for the personal inspiration just when I needed it.  It was awesome–a true worship generator.  I don’t think it added material for the message this week, but it sure helped fill the preacher’s heart. 

 And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 1 Ch 28:9 NIV

 Stay tuned, I have a feeling this adventure is only begun!