Categories
Journal Wisdom

My Lenten Journey toward De-accumulation

My shop's not this bad yet but...
My shop’s not this bad yet but…

 

A Different Lenten Journey

When the purposes pursued during Lent carry over afterward, that is a salutary sign that a fuse has been lit for something good.   I hope so because, like most Americans, my office and closets and garage have been getting more and more full, and this in spite of the fact that I tried very hard to downsize when we moved a couple years ago.  Allow me to explain more fully.  It is customary among Christians to give up something for Lent as a discipline of self-denial.  In other years I have fasted one day a week or given up a favorite food or added devotional time.    But this year, I felt I needed to do something different.   I decided to tackle the problem of accumulation of things that plagues Americans, me among them.

Accumulation is too easy

Now, I’m  just middle class, and I can’t afford to shop much, but if I buy a book here, a tool there,  a few folders for the office, something for my Christmas display, I’m adding things to my possessions.  Then I receive a few clothes for Christmas, and maybe another shop tool.  Perhaps I see a steal of a deal at the one or two summer garage sales I stop for.  The result– adding on a few more things.  Now I don’t have or need any rented storage units as many Americans have, and I can still park a car in my garage if needed, but I decided that it was still time to turn the tide and make a deliberate start at de-accumulating.

My Lenten goals toward de-accumulating

So for my Lenten journey, I set a goal to get rid of at least forty items from at least 7 different areas of my life.    It took me a couple days past Easter to finish, but I exceeded my goal both in numbers of items and in numbers of areas affected.   However, I did discover that it was one thing to identify items as extra and ready to be disposed of and another to actually make them disappear.  For example, I have two old computers still to take to recycling and I have a stack of books removed from my shelves but not yet taken away.  I guess that’s one reason that de-accumulation has to be a continuing discipline.

Steps

  1. Convince yourself that de-accumulation is desirable and necessary.
  2. Identify things that are excess in obvious areas first to get the ball rolling.
  3. Allow the habit to spread into areas you had not thought about down-sizing.
  4. Keep track of progress for encouragement.
  5. Set aside things to be de-accumulated that cannot be immediately disposed of.
  6. Carry through with plans for these identified items.
  7. Question some underlying purposes that have driven your accumulation.

 

Benefits

There have already been some good side effects of this effort.

  • I like most industrious people had more projects in the works than I could ever do.  I have already deliberately discontinued one of my big some-day projects and am questioning another.
  • I have reduced clutter which is an encouragement to continue.
  • I am creating space to better work on current activities.
  • I can sense a narrowing of focus for my energies.
  • I believe I have also started a mindset that will help me to continue to pare down inessentials and focus my life more effectively.

 

 

Categories
Journal Wisdom

How to have a good day

That’s a great subject.  It would make a great book title.  A distinguished and successful pastoral leader I respect named Stan Toler has written a short blog article with four quick points that contain a great deal of wisdom.  Here’s the link

http://nblo.gs/13hF7m

As an added idea; if doing something for yourself also forwards a personal goal, you have a double win.  For example, sometimes the time I take for myself is to take a long walk which helps with my physical fitness goals.

Categories
Church Leadership Forward Look Journal

Plans for our remaining Sundays at Kirkville

The remaining weeks of our time here at Kirkville will be busy ones.  We have saved a few weeks vacation to help us have time to pack and visit our family in CT and western NY.   I am also doing some reading in preparation for my new part-time position at Copper Hill UMC.  You know what I always say, “If the leader is not growing, the people will not be growing either.”    This chart tells you when I will be preaching here and who will be preaching when I am not.   Thank you for your prayers during this time of transition.  I am praying for you too.

 

Community Wesleyan Service Plans May 5- June 16

  Special Day Speaker Message Scripture Other Events that Day
May  5 Missions Sunday Don & Cheri Floyd     4 PM  CLASS 201
May 12 Mother’s Day Pastor Eric  Jesus and the Problem  John 6:1-14  
May  19 Pentecost Sunday Pastor Kelvin Secrets of Spiritual Power Luke 3:21,33;  4:1-15 MBK Christian Unity Svc. 6 PM
May 26 Memorial Day Weekend Pastor Eric      
June 2   Larry Nemitz     4 PM  CLASS 301
June 9 Communion Sunday Pastor Kelvin How Shall we Live? 1 Thess. 3:11– 4:11; Titus 3:3-8 Retirement Dinner 3PM
June 16 Father’s Day Pastor Kelvin Be of Good Courage! Deut. 31:6 Reception following services
Categories
Church Leadership Forward Look Journal

January message series sets tone for the New Year

As we begin the New Year, most of us are making plans of some sort.  Some of us (like me) are making plans to lose weight (again); others are making plans for major changes in their lives, a marriage, a move, or a job change.   But as the New Year begins, it is also important for us to think about the spiritual plans that we should be making for the New Year, plans that can help us to grow and advance in our Christian lives.

 

That is the purpose of our new series of sermons that began last Sunday.  Each week we will take up a new topic that represents a key area of our spiritual life.  In some areas we will find the message simply affirming habits that we already have in place.  In other areas, we will find ourselves deeply challenged to strengthen our walk with God, our witness, and our service.

 

I invite you to join us for this insightful and inspiring series.  It will carry into February and be followed by our 50 Day Lenten Emphasis which will start February 19.

 

Spiritual Plans for a New Year

Date

Topic

Text

Speaker

Jan. 1

Preventing a Famine of Hearing God’s Word

Amos 8:1-12

Ben Mackey

Jan. 8

Partners In the Gospel

Philippians 1

Pastor Kelvin

Jan. 15

God’s Plan for Financial Stewardship

Gen. 14:17-20; Lev. 27:30-32; Mal. 3:6-12; Matt. 23:23,24

Pastor Kelvin

Jan 22

The Power of Testimony

Revelation 12

Pastor Kelvin

Jan 29

Bring the Sacrifice of Praise

Hebrews 13:1-21

Pastor Kelvin

Feb 5

Using Our Abilities for God

Matt. 25:14-30   

Pastor Eric

Feb 12

(Preschool Sunday –family emphasis)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Forward Look Journal

August Messages Planned

During my days off in the Adirondacks I had a chance to read the book Starting Your Best Life Now, a condensation of Joel Osteen’s best-selling book, Your Best Life Now.  I was sufficiently captivated by several of the key concepts that I felt impressed to pass them on to our congregation.  I believe the chapters I’ve selected will form the basis for a very uplifting and encouraging series during the month of August.

August 7  Begin series from selected chapters in Joel Osteen’s Book  Your Best Life Now — God has more in Store – chap 3     Scriptures:  Heb. 11:1-12;  Proverbs 3:1-10;  Jer. 29:4-14;  Eph. 3:20,21

August 14    (Communion Sunday) Become what you believe – chap 9   Scriptures: Negative side – Jer. 2:5; Ro. 1:21;  Ps. 115:8 (could read 1-11); positive side – Rom. 12:1,2;  Matt. 9:18,19, 23-33; Mk. 9:17-29;   Jn. 14:9-14

August 21   The Power in Your Words — chap 14   Scriptures: James 3:3-18; Prov. 10:10-21; 12:13-22; Rom. 10:5-13

August 28   The Purpose of Trials  — chap 23   Scriptures: 1 Peter 1:3-9; 4:12-19;   Isa. 64:8;  Phil. 1:29; 2:12,13; Rom. 8:18-39

 

Categories
Forward Look Journal

Lenten & Easter Message Series Depends on the Wind

Very Windy

What comes to your mind when you think of wind? I think most of us have many associations as wind is a big part of our lives.  One association for me centers around a childhood memory.  My bedroom as a boy was on the West side of our house and the cold winter winds whistled in the window.   Here in Kirkville, I often think of my neighbor’s cheery wind chimes blowing in the breeze.   Sometimes I think of the warm southern breezes that bring warming temperatures and birds flying in from the south in the spring.  Today wind is in the news often as a power generation source.  March is the month most associated with wind. 

 

Exploring the Bible’s use of wind images will be exciting.

This year at Community Wesleyan during March and April, we plan to explore the Biblical imagery of wind.    Three of the most defining Biblical passages for understanding how the Bible uses the idea of wind to teach us are the creation story, the prophecy of Ezekiel over the dry bones and the event of Pentecost.  Because of Pentecost we cannot help but associate wind and God’s Spirit.   These three Bible passages will play a big part in this series.  

The planning so far