ARC VISION
We are a community of people passionately pursuing God and participating in God's passion for reaching people with the love of Jesus Christ.
Read it, memorize it, live it.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
"It is important people perceive our church to be..."
Yesterday I filled out an online questionnaire for our web designer in preparation for tomorrow's design meeting. One of the things they asked was for me to complete the sentence, "It is important people perceive our church to be" The first word that came to my mind was genuine. I want people to have no doubt that we are genuine in our faith, our passion and our commitment to live for Jesus every day and in every way.
Now I'm not a web designer, but my guess is that it's hard for a website to communicate "genuine." That's almost like asking an ATM to communicate a bank is friendly. Church's can have the best website in the world and that website can do an incredible job of connecting people to your church and encouraging them to check it out, but if they show up and realize it was just a fancy design, it loses all meaning.
In other words, genuine is not a perception you can fake. People will know we are genuine as we take our faith and our relationship with Jesus and let it truly transform the way we live and care for our family at home, the integrity we exhibit at work, the patience we show in line at the grocery store, the calm and reassurance we provide in crisis...you get the idea.
In my Bible study right now we're talking about friendships and one of the things we've talked about is the difference between a fake friendship and the real deal. We all know the difference and we can all tell immediately the people who are interested in the real thing. As a church (you and me), people can tell when we're genuinely interested in them just like they can tell when we're genuine about our relationship with Jesus.
Let's get real in our walk with God and let's get real in our current relationships so we have the kind of support and accountability that will keep us genuine as a community of faith.
Yesterday I filled out an online questionnaire for our web designer in preparation for tomorrow's design meeting. One of the things they asked was for me to complete the sentence, "It is important people perceive our church to be" The first word that came to my mind was genuine. I want people to have no doubt that we are genuine in our faith, our passion and our commitment to live for Jesus every day and in every way.
Now I'm not a web designer, but my guess is that it's hard for a website to communicate "genuine." That's almost like asking an ATM to communicate a bank is friendly. Church's can have the best website in the world and that website can do an incredible job of connecting people to your church and encouraging them to check it out, but if they show up and realize it was just a fancy design, it loses all meaning.
In other words, genuine is not a perception you can fake. People will know we are genuine as we take our faith and our relationship with Jesus and let it truly transform the way we live and care for our family at home, the integrity we exhibit at work, the patience we show in line at the grocery store, the calm and reassurance we provide in crisis...you get the idea.
In my Bible study right now we're talking about friendships and one of the things we've talked about is the difference between a fake friendship and the real deal. We all know the difference and we can all tell immediately the people who are interested in the real thing. As a church (you and me), people can tell when we're genuinely interested in them just like they can tell when we're genuine about our relationship with Jesus.
Let's get real in our walk with God and let's get real in our current relationships so we have the kind of support and accountability that will keep us genuine as a community of faith.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Irresistible Environments
Clark and Jake and I just spent a week of vacation with my parents and my sister's family - it was a great week filled with all of the energy, joy and busyness that a 5-year old, a 2-year old, a 1-year old and a 5-month old bring to the table!
I don't know if Andy Stanley coined the phrase, but on more than one occasion I've heard him talk about creating "irresistible environments." I've always bought into the theory, but I had a chance to observe it in action with the kids one morning. We had been running like crazy keeping up with all four of them out at the beach as they went in different directions to play (one to the water, another to dig in the sand, another chasing a sea gull - you get the idea), so I decided to venture out on my own and see who would follow. I went down to the water's edge and begin to dig an enormous hole that would fill with water. On the edge of the hole I began piling my sand to be the base for a huge drip castle. As I worked, sure enough the kids found their way to me - first the 5-year old (Liza Jane) who wanted the hole to be big enough for a whale and immediately began to assist my digging efforts, then the 2-year old (Max) who wanted to use the shells he found as kayaks and motor boats to speed around the "lake", and then the 1-year old (Ruthie) who was curious to see what her big brother and sister were up to. The 1-year old is afraid of water and when she noticed the hole filling with water, she kept a safe distance, but didn't want to walk away so she stood by, continuing to observe, building up her nerve to be part of whatever this excitement was that had so engaged the big kids. Not long after, some of the kids from families nearby came over to see what was going on and before long the kids had made some new friends and had help building the "lake" and the drip castle.
The theory isn't profound, but it's absolutely true. With ARC, we are trying to create an irresistible environment where people not only want to come and see what's going on, but also a place where people want to bring everyone they know. Some may be hesitant at first (like Ruthie), but if we continue to be faithful and passionate about what we're doing, they won't be able to resist joining in, which means coming to know Jesus Christ as part of their life and worshiping God together.
Jesus said, "let the little children come to me" - what an opportunity to create that environment!
I don't know if Andy Stanley coined the phrase, but on more than one occasion I've heard him talk about creating "irresistible environments." I've always bought into the theory, but I had a chance to observe it in action with the kids one morning. We had been running like crazy keeping up with all four of them out at the beach as they went in different directions to play (one to the water, another to dig in the sand, another chasing a sea gull - you get the idea), so I decided to venture out on my own and see who would follow. I went down to the water's edge and begin to dig an enormous hole that would fill with water. On the edge of the hole I began piling my sand to be the base for a huge drip castle. As I worked, sure enough the kids found their way to me - first the 5-year old (Liza Jane) who wanted the hole to be big enough for a whale and immediately began to assist my digging efforts, then the 2-year old (Max) who wanted to use the shells he found as kayaks and motor boats to speed around the "lake", and then the 1-year old (Ruthie) who was curious to see what her big brother and sister were up to. The 1-year old is afraid of water and when she noticed the hole filling with water, she kept a safe distance, but didn't want to walk away so she stood by, continuing to observe, building up her nerve to be part of whatever this excitement was that had so engaged the big kids. Not long after, some of the kids from families nearby came over to see what was going on and before long the kids had made some new friends and had help building the "lake" and the drip castle.
The theory isn't profound, but it's absolutely true. With ARC, we are trying to create an irresistible environment where people not only want to come and see what's going on, but also a place where people want to bring everyone they know. Some may be hesitant at first (like Ruthie), but if we continue to be faithful and passionate about what we're doing, they won't be able to resist joining in, which means coming to know Jesus Christ as part of their life and worshiping God together.
Jesus said, "let the little children come to me" - what an opportunity to create that environment!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
continuing thoughts on the last post...
On Thursday nights through the summer we've been meeting with the college students at Bethany and talking about relationships. Our pastor for student ministry has led great conversations on covenants and Christian marriage and tonight we made it to a discussion on homosexuality. I've been part of several conversations on this topic, but I was incredibly impressed with the direction these students went with it. We spent much more time talking about what it means to be judgmental than we did on our aversion to homosexual practice. There were great questions asked about how we interpret Scripture and what does it mean to live in a fallen world and what does reconciliation to Christ look like for all of us.
Homosexuality is an incredibly divisive issue in the body of Christ and I will be the first to say that I have definite thoughts about what I think Scripture has to say about it and how we should respond in the church, but I also think it's a shame that we have given the world the impression that the most important thing on the church's agenda is a stance on homosexuality. I think it's time we get back to showing the world that the most important thing on our agenda is proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ - no sidetracks, no exceptions.
On Thursday nights through the summer we've been meeting with the college students at Bethany and talking about relationships. Our pastor for student ministry has led great conversations on covenants and Christian marriage and tonight we made it to a discussion on homosexuality. I've been part of several conversations on this topic, but I was incredibly impressed with the direction these students went with it. We spent much more time talking about what it means to be judgmental than we did on our aversion to homosexual practice. There were great questions asked about how we interpret Scripture and what does it mean to live in a fallen world and what does reconciliation to Christ look like for all of us.
Homosexuality is an incredibly divisive issue in the body of Christ and I will be the first to say that I have definite thoughts about what I think Scripture has to say about it and how we should respond in the church, but I also think it's a shame that we have given the world the impression that the most important thing on the church's agenda is a stance on homosexuality. I think it's time we get back to showing the world that the most important thing on our agenda is proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ - no sidetracks, no exceptions.
What Unifies is More Important than that which Divides
Rick Warren had a great tweet this morning, saying "I believe in the absolute inerrancy of Scripture, I do not believe in the inerrancy of my interpretation - or yours either." Jesus prayed for all of the believers in John 17:22-23, saying, "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
Jesus' desire was for all of those who follow Him to be one - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Too often we waste time at odds with one another trying to clarify our definition of inerrancy when the truth is we should all believe the Bible is God's Word, given to us without error. The problem is we are imperfect people who have trouble receiving without error. Paul said in I Corinthians 13 that on this side of heaven we know in part, see in part and prophesy in part. In other words, we do our best to understand the perfect Word of God, but we still acknowledge that we aren't perfect and we don't always get it right.
Instead of engaging or dismissing parts of the body of Christ based on different interpretations of Scripture, I like to ask the question, "Are we all pursuing God to the best of our ability and trying our best to be faithful to Him?" If the answer is yes, than we need to be willing to put our differences aside, or at least be open to good discussion, prayer and ongoing discernment instead of putting each other down and encouraging division in the body.
I've been asked recently why the new church is called Ashley Ridge Church instead of Ashley Ridge United Methodist Church, and the answer is that, bottom line, we are a Church that believes Jesus is Lord, and that's what we're all about. That's why there is a large cross right in the middle of our logo beside the word "church." Paul also said, "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."
My church history professor always told us, "agreement on the essentials makes us free to disagree on the non-essentials."
Rick Warren had a great tweet this morning, saying "I believe in the absolute inerrancy of Scripture, I do not believe in the inerrancy of my interpretation - or yours either." Jesus prayed for all of the believers in John 17:22-23, saying, "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
Jesus' desire was for all of those who follow Him to be one - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Too often we waste time at odds with one another trying to clarify our definition of inerrancy when the truth is we should all believe the Bible is God's Word, given to us without error. The problem is we are imperfect people who have trouble receiving without error. Paul said in I Corinthians 13 that on this side of heaven we know in part, see in part and prophesy in part. In other words, we do our best to understand the perfect Word of God, but we still acknowledge that we aren't perfect and we don't always get it right.
Instead of engaging or dismissing parts of the body of Christ based on different interpretations of Scripture, I like to ask the question, "Are we all pursuing God to the best of our ability and trying our best to be faithful to Him?" If the answer is yes, than we need to be willing to put our differences aside, or at least be open to good discussion, prayer and ongoing discernment instead of putting each other down and encouraging division in the body.
I've been asked recently why the new church is called Ashley Ridge Church instead of Ashley Ridge United Methodist Church, and the answer is that, bottom line, we are a Church that believes Jesus is Lord, and that's what we're all about. That's why there is a large cross right in the middle of our logo beside the word "church." Paul also said, "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."
My church history professor always told us, "agreement on the essentials makes us free to disagree on the non-essentials."
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Importance of an Excellent Worship Leader
So, the current priority numero uno for Ashley Ridge is finding the right worship leader. Easy? Afraid not. Worship leaders are difficult to find for several reasons, the first of which is that it is a very specific and highly specialized field. Worship leaders need excellent musical ability, communication skills, organizational skills, creativity, and more. They need to be relational and genuine, flexible and structured, passionate and disciplined, confident and humble - are you starting to see why they're so hard to find? And to top it all off, they need to be 100% sold-out, on-fire, and crazy passionate about living for Jesus and leading others into the presence of God. Speaking of which, check out this blogpost on Seven Keys to Being an Effective Worship Leader.
With all of these expectations, you might be asking, aren't our expectations a little too high? The answer - absolutely, but don't think for a second that we should be willing to compromise. We were made to worship God and it is the most important thing we do day in and day out. God deserves our very best, which is why we are begging God (my thanks to Perry Noble for asking the question, "What big things are you begging God to do in your church this fall?) for an amazing worship leader to guide us and direct us toward God on Sunday mornings at Ashley Ridge.
God, we pray for the person you are preparing right now to be the worship leader at Ashley Ridge Church. Please give us the wisdom to look in the right places and ask the right questions. And while we search, please work within us that we might be 100% sold-out, on-fire, and crazy passionate about living for Jesus always and everywhere.
So, the current priority numero uno for Ashley Ridge is finding the right worship leader. Easy? Afraid not. Worship leaders are difficult to find for several reasons, the first of which is that it is a very specific and highly specialized field. Worship leaders need excellent musical ability, communication skills, organizational skills, creativity, and more. They need to be relational and genuine, flexible and structured, passionate and disciplined, confident and humble - are you starting to see why they're so hard to find? And to top it all off, they need to be 100% sold-out, on-fire, and crazy passionate about living for Jesus and leading others into the presence of God. Speaking of which, check out this blogpost on Seven Keys to Being an Effective Worship Leader.
With all of these expectations, you might be asking, aren't our expectations a little too high? The answer - absolutely, but don't think for a second that we should be willing to compromise. We were made to worship God and it is the most important thing we do day in and day out. God deserves our very best, which is why we are begging God (my thanks to Perry Noble for asking the question, "What big things are you begging God to do in your church this fall?) for an amazing worship leader to guide us and direct us toward God on Sunday mornings at Ashley Ridge.
God, we pray for the person you are preparing right now to be the worship leader at Ashley Ridge Church. Please give us the wisdom to look in the right places and ask the right questions. And while we search, please work within us that we might be 100% sold-out, on-fire, and crazy passionate about living for Jesus always and everywhere.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Recommended Reading
I noticed as I've read more blogs recently that often people will post links to posts and articles from other people that they found interesting. I've learned a lot as I've followed some of these links so I may follow suit from time to time. For now, let me simply point you to some of the blogs I frequent as well as a few websites worth exploring:
www.perrynoble.com
www.stevenfurtick.com
evotional.com (Mark Batterson's blog)
www.new-song.org (a church plant in New Bern, NC)
www.flowing-grace.com (a church plant in Chicagoland, Batavia UMC is the mother church)
www.communitychristian.org (a church plant committed to planting churches, led by Dave Ferguson, a guy who is huge in the church planting world)
And, as always, I highly recommend a little book called the Bible - some crazy relevant stuff in there, don't miss it!
I noticed as I've read more blogs recently that often people will post links to posts and articles from other people that they found interesting. I've learned a lot as I've followed some of these links so I may follow suit from time to time. For now, let me simply point you to some of the blogs I frequent as well as a few websites worth exploring:
www.perrynoble.com
www.stevenfurtick.com
evotional.com (Mark Batterson's blog)
www.new-song.org (a church plant in New Bern, NC)
www.flowing-grace.com (a church plant in Chicagoland, Batavia UMC is the mother church)
www.communitychristian.org (a church plant committed to planting churches, led by Dave Ferguson, a guy who is huge in the church planting world)
And, as always, I highly recommend a little book called the Bible - some crazy relevant stuff in there, don't miss it!
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
speaking the truth in love does not equal being nice all the time
Have you ever found that the quest to be nice can get in the way of being honest? Don't misunderstand me, I'm not advocating being a jerk. I'm sure as Jake gets older I'll find myself often saying "Be nice." It's a good rule to live by, but if there is a rule that trumps it (like paper beating rock in rock-paper-scissors) then that rule is "Be honest."
I suppose there wouldn't be a need for these two rules to conflict if we didn't translate being nice in our minds and lives as a means to making sure people like us. I find myself using the "be nice" rule as an excuse to say things that will make people happy, but aren't 100% truthful.
Think how much simpler our lives would be at home and at work and at school if everyone one was completely honest. Little things like "where do you want to go eat?" would not turn into monumental decisions because people would say where they wanted to eat first and then be nice second by choosing to eat where someone else wanted to go as a gesture of hospitality. It's amazing how being honest first can open the door to opportunities for being genuinely nice.
When Jesus threw the people out of the Temple for turning it into "a den of thieves" he actually made a whip to drive them out. That wasn't very nice. However, Jesus was completely honest about what was going on and how he felt about it. In turn, Jesus gave his life so that everyone could come to the "temple" and know Him and receive eternal life without having to wade through a bunch of junk. What a nice thing to do!
Have you ever found that the quest to be nice can get in the way of being honest? Don't misunderstand me, I'm not advocating being a jerk. I'm sure as Jake gets older I'll find myself often saying "Be nice." It's a good rule to live by, but if there is a rule that trumps it (like paper beating rock in rock-paper-scissors) then that rule is "Be honest."
I suppose there wouldn't be a need for these two rules to conflict if we didn't translate being nice in our minds and lives as a means to making sure people like us. I find myself using the "be nice" rule as an excuse to say things that will make people happy, but aren't 100% truthful.
Think how much simpler our lives would be at home and at work and at school if everyone one was completely honest. Little things like "where do you want to go eat?" would not turn into monumental decisions because people would say where they wanted to eat first and then be nice second by choosing to eat where someone else wanted to go as a gesture of hospitality. It's amazing how being honest first can open the door to opportunities for being genuinely nice.
When Jesus threw the people out of the Temple for turning it into "a den of thieves" he actually made a whip to drive them out. That wasn't very nice. However, Jesus was completely honest about what was going on and how he felt about it. In turn, Jesus gave his life so that everyone could come to the "temple" and know Him and receive eternal life without having to wade through a bunch of junk. What a nice thing to do!
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Questions of Accountability
I don't care how organized or self-disciplined you may be, we all need accountability. We all need people who are going to walk with us, help us stay focused, challenge our weaknesses and encourage us to stay on track. Last week I submitted a list of accountability questions to my husband. These are questions I would like him to ask me from time to time to hold me accountable. Some of the questions are:
Have you had your quiet time today?
Have you exercised this week, how much?
Are you caught up with return phone calls? (I'm terrible about listening to voicemails and returning calls - I need to work on this, but in the meantime know that you'll almost always hear back from me quicker on e-mail).
Have you been packing your lunch at least 3x a week or are you going out to eat a lot?
Let me challenge you to think of a list of accountability questions that would help you stay on track and give them to someone you trust, maybe its your spouse, maybe its a good friend or maybe its a parent. We all need help from time to time - don't let your pride get in the way.
I've tried for too long to be perfect on my own, and when that failed, I spent precious time and energy trying to put forth the illusion of perfection. The gig is up - I am extremely imperfect (not that this is news to anyone). The good news is that God still loves me and promises to bring to completion the good work He has begun in me. So, I'm asking God every day to make me new and I'm asking my husband and my friends to hold me accountable.
Try it...
I don't care how organized or self-disciplined you may be, we all need accountability. We all need people who are going to walk with us, help us stay focused, challenge our weaknesses and encourage us to stay on track. Last week I submitted a list of accountability questions to my husband. These are questions I would like him to ask me from time to time to hold me accountable. Some of the questions are:
Have you had your quiet time today?
Have you exercised this week, how much?
Are you caught up with return phone calls? (I'm terrible about listening to voicemails and returning calls - I need to work on this, but in the meantime know that you'll almost always hear back from me quicker on e-mail).
Have you been packing your lunch at least 3x a week or are you going out to eat a lot?
Let me challenge you to think of a list of accountability questions that would help you stay on track and give them to someone you trust, maybe its your spouse, maybe its a good friend or maybe its a parent. We all need help from time to time - don't let your pride get in the way.
I've tried for too long to be perfect on my own, and when that failed, I spent precious time and energy trying to put forth the illusion of perfection. The gig is up - I am extremely imperfect (not that this is news to anyone). The good news is that God still loves me and promises to bring to completion the good work He has begun in me. So, I'm asking God every day to make me new and I'm asking my husband and my friends to hold me accountable.
Try it...
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Still in Nashville, having good conversations and enjoying time with family.
I mentioned yesterday that Clark's aunt and uncle were part of a church plant that launched about seven years ago. Their church is called Midtown Fellowship and it's in the heart of Nashville. You can check out their website at www.midtownfellowship.org, especially take a look at their church planting vision page. They are an urban plant, which differs from Ashley Ridge, but I love that they planted with a vision to be a multi-site church. I'm especially impressed by how they've thought through the differing identities of a multi-site set-up while maintaining a unified vision. They remind me of Community Christian Church in Chicago.
People often ask why we need to plant churches when there are so many dying churches already in existence. The simple answer is forget the dying churches, there are thousands and thousands and thousands of people in all of our communities across the United States that do not know Jesus Christ and do not have a church home. We ought to be continually creating new communities that are going out into the world to invite people into a life-saving, life-giving relationship with Jesus. The church has no business retreating at any point in time no matter what is going on (i.e. denominational confusion, bad economies, you name it). The Church of Jesus Christ will go on and we must go forward in faith doing all we can to bring glory to God.
So, as we gear up to plant Ashley Ridge, I hope we have a mentality that says Ashley Ridge will be a church that not only thrives and grows as Ashley Ridge, but also goes out and plants new communities of faith all over the greater Charleston area and beyond. Greater things...
I mentioned yesterday that Clark's aunt and uncle were part of a church plant that launched about seven years ago. Their church is called Midtown Fellowship and it's in the heart of Nashville. You can check out their website at www.midtownfellowship.org, especially take a look at their church planting vision page. They are an urban plant, which differs from Ashley Ridge, but I love that they planted with a vision to be a multi-site church. I'm especially impressed by how they've thought through the differing identities of a multi-site set-up while maintaining a unified vision. They remind me of Community Christian Church in Chicago.
People often ask why we need to plant churches when there are so many dying churches already in existence. The simple answer is forget the dying churches, there are thousands and thousands and thousands of people in all of our communities across the United States that do not know Jesus Christ and do not have a church home. We ought to be continually creating new communities that are going out into the world to invite people into a life-saving, life-giving relationship with Jesus. The church has no business retreating at any point in time no matter what is going on (i.e. denominational confusion, bad economies, you name it). The Church of Jesus Christ will go on and we must go forward in faith doing all we can to bring glory to God.
So, as we gear up to plant Ashley Ridge, I hope we have a mentality that says Ashley Ridge will be a church that not only thrives and grows as Ashley Ridge, but also goes out and plants new communities of faith all over the greater Charleston area and beyond. Greater things...
Monday, June 29, 2009
Yesterday our family worshiped at East Cooper Baptist Church with their pastor, Buster Brown. It made me happy just to be worshiping with someone named Buster Brown. I first heard about ECBC when some of the college students from Bethany started going there while attending College of Charleston. ECBC was a church plant in 1974/75 and their mother church was First Baptist in downtown Charleston. They moved east of the Cooper River when there wasn't a whole lot there...yet. Is any of this sounding familiar?
Today ECBC is a thriving church with simultaneous traditional and contemporary services. They use a video feed to show the sermon in the contemporary service. We noticed that the set-up created some awkwardness in the flow of the contemporary service, but it is obviously working for them.
Right now, we're in Nashville visiting Clark's family. Clark's grandfather was very eager to meet his first great-grandson. It will be a quick visit, but we're glad to be here. The added bonus is that Clark's aunt and uncle were part of 30 people who helped plant a church in Nashville 7 years ago. It was also a mother-daughter church plant so I'm looking forward to picking their brains about the experience. More to come...
Today ECBC is a thriving church with simultaneous traditional and contemporary services. They use a video feed to show the sermon in the contemporary service. We noticed that the set-up created some awkwardness in the flow of the contemporary service, but it is obviously working for them.
Right now, we're in Nashville visiting Clark's family. Clark's grandfather was very eager to meet his first great-grandson. It will be a quick visit, but we're glad to be here. The added bonus is that Clark's aunt and uncle were part of 30 people who helped plant a church in Nashville 7 years ago. It was also a mother-daughter church plant so I'm looking forward to picking their brains about the experience. More to come...
Friday, June 26, 2009
For someone who never listens to talk radio, I have become a serious podcast junkie in the last two years. I subscribe to the Catalyst podcast, LifeisSport (great interviews w/ sporting heroes like Coack K about life) and some church planting stuff, but I primarily listen to sermons from Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Perry Noble, Steven Furtick and Rick McKinley. You see, for most people one sermon a week is sufficient, but I need to hear at least one a day. I can't seem to get enough. Maybe it's a sickness, but strong biblical preaching and teaching gets me fired up and motivated. Plus, I need a good kick in the pants everyday to keep me on track.
This morning, I listened to part three of Andy Stanley's "Defining Moments" series. He was talking about Jesus' conversation with the rich young ruler who wanted to know what he needed to do to secure eternal life. Jesus told him to sell everything he had, give all the proceeds to the poor and come follow him - not so much the answer he was looking for. In his sermon Andy made the point that God wants to know whose we are. Money/possessions are the number one thing that competes with our relationship with God and God needs to know who and what we belong to. The amounts and the dollar figures are never the point, the question is whose we are.
Growing up, my dad would drop my sister and me off at school in the morning and the last thing he would say was "remember who you are and whose you are." It's easy to get distracted and wrapped up in all kinds of things - even really good things - but if we're not fully committed to following God then we've missed the point.
The same is true for ARC - will it be our church or will it be God's church? Who does the church belong to? Knowing the answer to that question gives me a lot of clarity about our purpose, courage to keep walking and humility to know it sure as heck doesn't belong to me. The Church at all times and all places belongs to God. And so, I leave you with this quote from Reggie McNeal that I read this morning, "Unfortunately it [the church growth movement] fell victim to an idolatry as old as the Tower of Babel, the belief that we are the architects of the work of God. As a result we have the best churches men can build, but are still waiting for the church that only God can get the credit for." Let's be that church.
This morning, I listened to part three of Andy Stanley's "Defining Moments" series. He was talking about Jesus' conversation with the rich young ruler who wanted to know what he needed to do to secure eternal life. Jesus told him to sell everything he had, give all the proceeds to the poor and come follow him - not so much the answer he was looking for. In his sermon Andy made the point that God wants to know whose we are. Money/possessions are the number one thing that competes with our relationship with God and God needs to know who and what we belong to. The amounts and the dollar figures are never the point, the question is whose we are.
Growing up, my dad would drop my sister and me off at school in the morning and the last thing he would say was "remember who you are and whose you are." It's easy to get distracted and wrapped up in all kinds of things - even really good things - but if we're not fully committed to following God then we've missed the point.
The same is true for ARC - will it be our church or will it be God's church? Who does the church belong to? Knowing the answer to that question gives me a lot of clarity about our purpose, courage to keep walking and humility to know it sure as heck doesn't belong to me. The Church at all times and all places belongs to God. And so, I leave you with this quote from Reggie McNeal that I read this morning, "Unfortunately it [the church growth movement] fell victim to an idolatry as old as the Tower of Babel, the belief that we are the architects of the work of God. As a result we have the best churches men can build, but are still waiting for the church that only God can get the credit for." Let's be that church.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Confession: my whole life I have been a church insider - first as a pastor’s kid and now as a pastor. I’m used to being on the inside, knowing the underside, seeing behind the scenes. And so, it is an incredibly strange, out-of-body experience for me to visit churches, which will be my lot for the next few months.
Yesterday, Clark and Jake and I went to the Summerville campus of Seacoast. From the moment we pulled onto their parking lot, there were people directing us to a parking spot, smiling and saying hello. When we walked in the door, we were directed to the first time registration table for Kidscoast where we registered Jake for the 0-12 month class before being escorted to the class and introduced to the childcare volunteers. It was a wonderful experience…and the whole time I was thinking about what the people on the inside were thinking as they looked at us: “There’s a young couple with a baby, I wonder if they’re new in town,” or “That family looks nice, I hope they have a good experience and want to join our church,” or “I wonder what they do for a living and if they would like to tithe here.” My insider voice can be very distracting.
Nevertheless, we had a great morning. The worship team was excellent and the preaching was powerful. Craig Groeschel, the pastor of lifechurch.tv, talked about the prodigal son and what it means to know God as Father. He talked about God as a patient Father, a forgiving Father and an intimate Father, and ultimately he extended the invitation for all of us to come home to our Father. Clark and I so rarely have the chance to worship together and it means so much to us. In fact, most of the times when we do worship together I have the thought at least once that I should quit my job so we can worship together weekly. The truth is that we do, but simply in a less traditional fashion.
So what did I learn this week…sometimes it’s good not to be an insider and simply worship, but, in fact, God invites all of us to be insiders, to claim the church as our home and pray for its strength at all times and in all places.
Yesterday, Clark and Jake and I went to the Summerville campus of Seacoast. From the moment we pulled onto their parking lot, there were people directing us to a parking spot, smiling and saying hello. When we walked in the door, we were directed to the first time registration table for Kidscoast where we registered Jake for the 0-12 month class before being escorted to the class and introduced to the childcare volunteers. It was a wonderful experience…and the whole time I was thinking about what the people on the inside were thinking as they looked at us: “There’s a young couple with a baby, I wonder if they’re new in town,” or “That family looks nice, I hope they have a good experience and want to join our church,” or “I wonder what they do for a living and if they would like to tithe here.” My insider voice can be very distracting.
Nevertheless, we had a great morning. The worship team was excellent and the preaching was powerful. Craig Groeschel, the pastor of lifechurch.tv, talked about the prodigal son and what it means to know God as Father. He talked about God as a patient Father, a forgiving Father and an intimate Father, and ultimately he extended the invitation for all of us to come home to our Father. Clark and I so rarely have the chance to worship together and it means so much to us. In fact, most of the times when we do worship together I have the thought at least once that I should quit my job so we can worship together weekly. The truth is that we do, but simply in a less traditional fashion.
So what did I learn this week…sometimes it’s good not to be an insider and simply worship, but, in fact, God invites all of us to be insiders, to claim the church as our home and pray for its strength at all times and in all places.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Ashley Ridge High School here we come!
We're finishing up the paperwork to turn into the school district, but everything looks great for meeting at Ashley Ridge High School. Keep praying specifically for the Ashley Ridge community and please let me know if you have an idea for how we can reach out to that area.
My last official day as a pastor at Bethany UMC is June 24, which means that as of June 25 I can get down to business as the pastor of ARC! Starting June 25 start checking in with this blog more frequently. I will be updating it at least 3x a week and I'm counting on ya'll to hold me accountable :)
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
I realized something this week: I am a very arrogant person. For years, I heard people talk about how having kids is hard work and how it changes everything and makes the smallest tasks a challenge. I listened, I internalized, and I followed the thought in my own head with, “I’m sure they’re right, but I’m equally sure I can handle it.” A thought to which I would now like to publicly say, “HA - you foolish, foolish girl!”
Clark and I love being parents, but we are definitely realizing how hard it is and how much our lives have changed. We have always been thankful for our family, our friends and our church, but suddenly their presence in our lives means so much more. We would be drowning without all of the support, encouragement and prayers.
All of this reflection has led me to two thoughts in relation to the church plant:
#1 – How do people who do not have faith in God and a church family make it from day to day? There are far too many people and families living right next door to us who do not have these things we would consider cornerstones of our lives. I can only imagine the struggle, the frustration, and the anxiety that must be present. At the end of a long day when the kids are sick and the bills aren’t paid and the job situation is precarious at best, where do people outside of the Church of Jesus Christ turn for hope?
We need to be passionate and get fired up about spreading the love of Jesus Christ in Summerville. We need to be serious about reaching out and going places we’ve never gone before to make Jesus Christ known and offer people an opportunity to know life in Him. We need to take seriously our call to be disciples of Jesus Christ who are sharing hospitality and caring for our neighbors as God cares for us in our day-to-day lives.
#2 – For this church plant to be successful, it’s going to take everyone! I can’t do it alone, nor should I try. It would be arrogant to say the least to assume that this is my mission and my church and I am capable of doing the hard work on my own. To begin with, it is God’s Church – always has been, always will be. Yet amazingly, God has called us as Bethany United Methodist Church to be about this mission and everyone has a gift to offer and a role to play. For some, that role is prayer warrior for others that role is small group leader, for others that role is new member of Ashley Ridge Church and the list goes on and on.
There is much more to talk about and share. I would like to invite EVERYONE to come out on Thursday, April 16 at 5:30pm for an evening of pizza, fellowship, conversation and prayer about Ashley Ridge Church. Bring your questions, bring your ideas – bring your neighbor or co-worker – and come. A nursery will be available and we want to encourage you to make this evening a family event. See you there!
Monday, March 02, 2009
I now interrupt this prolonged blog silence to announce the birth of our son, Jacob Bradley Williams!
Jacob was born on February 17 at 10:01pm, weighing in at 7lb.1oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. God is so good and we are currently reveling in every moment with our new little man. You can check out pictures of Jacob at jacobbradleywilliams.shutterfly.com.
I am on maternity leave until the beginning of April, but I do hope to provide some updates on the church plant between now and then. So, please check back soon and keep praying for this incredible mission God has set before us!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Church Plant Gathering
And we’re off…
We had our first information session and prayer gathering for the new church on January 13. It was a great opportunity to talk about the vision God has put before us, answer questions and continue praying for God to lead the way.
If you missed the meeting, but would like to be on the e-mail list to receive updates about the new church, please send your name and e-mail address to ashleyridgechurch@gmail.com. There will be additional meetings similar to the January 13 gathering in the months to come. Keep checking back for the time and date in March to get together and continue the conversation. In the meantime, questions and input are always welcome and appreciated.
I have included below a summary of our gathering on the 13th including all the questions that were asked and the answers that were given.
Clark (my husband) opened the gathering with prayer and then read from Acts 1:7-11 – “Jesus said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’”
I love the question asked by the two men dressed in white – “why are you standing around gawking?” The implication is “go, stop standing around and get out of here, tell people what you’ve seen and heard.” And with that, the Holy Spirit comes over the whole gathering with incredible power and suddenly everyone is able to hear the good news of Jesus Christ in a language they can understand. From there the church is born and takes off like wildfire. We are called today to continue in that movement of the Spirit, going into all the world and speaking the good news in every way possible for people to hear it and understand.
And so…here we go. Bethany is going to plant a new church in the Ashley Ridge community. Like Bethany, our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Unlike Bethany, the new church is going to be a simple church instead of a program church. Our hope is to share in excellent worship that gives glory to God, provide opportunities for all ages to grow in love and knowledge of God, and, finally, to send people back into the world to all the places where we live and work and play to live as people who belong to Jesus Christ. Ultimately, this church will be completely independent from Bethany. However, it is what’s called a mother-daughter church plant, which means the people at Bethany will do all they can to ensure the success of the new church, providing prayer, people, facilities and financial resources in the short term; and in the long term, as with any parent/child relationship, there will be a connection that is not about dependence, but rather partnership in the shared ministry of reaching out to people in the greater Summerville community.
Questions and Answers
1. Does a simple church mean worship only, or will there be Sunday School and other activities?
a. Yes, there will be venues for all ages in the form of small groups, children’s ministry and student ministry
b. Expect formation of some of the small groups between June and December 2009
2. What is the difference between Sunday School and small groups?
a. Sunday School classes are educational environments that are often larger than 8-10 people; whereas, small groups usually consist of 10 or fewer people who have the opportunity to grow together spiritually on a deeper level because of the intimacy and trust that is created in a smaller group.
3. Will this be a Sunday only church?
a. At the start worship will be Sunday only, but small groups will meet during the week.
4. Will Youth activities continue at Bethany?
a. Yes, one of the advantages of being a mother/daughter church plant is being able to share ministry, especially at the beginning while the new church is just getting started.
b. Students will be encouraged to be part of Bethany’s student ministry and also connect with other students at the new church via small groups geared toward their age and interests.
5. Will this be a United Methodist Church?
a. Yes
6. Is the long term goal to be an independent Methodist church?
a. Yes, the long term goal is to be an independent United Methodist Church.
b. As mentioned above, the nature of a mother/daughter plant is that there is a natural, long-term connection, which we hope will take the form of shared mission endeavors in the Summerville community
7. Can the Bishop move the minister?
a. Yes
b. The United Methodist Church as a whole is committed to planting churches successfully in the coming years. With that commitment is an understanding that successful church plants require careful selection of planting pastors and often longer relationships between the church and the pastor (i.e. most church plant pastors are expected to be at the plant for at least 5 years and often many more).
8. Will people transfer membership to the new church from Bethany?
a. Yes, but from a formal standpoint, membership is not something that becomes relevant until the new church charters, often 2-3 years after it begins.
9. What kind of committees will the new church be required to have?
a. NONE!!! (how cool is that?!) – until a church charters, committees are not a requirement.
b. There will be a leadership team formed in 2009 and other ministry teams will spring up naturally as the church progresses.
10. Is there a specific date set to start?
a. In June, planting the new church becomes my full time job
b. Between June and December, we will be honing the vision for the new church, starting small groups, building a relationship with the Ashley Ridge community, sharing in “preview worship services” and making plans for the launch.
c. The tentative launch for regularly, weekly worship services is January of 2010. However, the church could launch sooner based on interest and the momentum of the planning process.
11. Are we already locked into Ashley Ridge High School (others may be looking)?
a. We do not have a written contract with Ashley Ridge High School yet. There is a verbal acknowledgment that we are interested in them and they are interested in us. In other words, we’re currently first in line but hoping to make more concrete process in the coming weeks.
b. Please pray for this process and also let us know if you have any thoughts about alternate locations to consider.
12. How can people be involved in the new church?
a. We hope everyone at Bethany will be involved in some way. Some people will feel led to be pioneers who leave Bethany and make Ashley Ridge their church home. Others will be what we call seed worshippers. Seed worshippers can be individuals or families who decide to worship and participate in the new church for a limited amount of time (often 6 months to a year). Seed worshippers can also be Sunday School classes and other groups who commit to worshiping at the new church for a month here or there to help out and provide support. People can also be involved from Bethany by offering their gifts and time in various areas as the new church gets its feet on the ground.
b. Everyone can be involved by praying for the new church
c. Those who know they are going to be pioneers – be on the lookout for information coming soon about ways to get involved right now
13. If we want to start contributing to the new church, can that be done now, and if so how?
a. Yes! You can start contributing to the new church now by giving money to Bethany and designating it on the check or on an envelope as “New Church”
14. When the new church gets to the point of acquiring land and constructing buildings, who pays?
a. Church planting has undergone a revision in the last several years from a building first, people second mentality to a people first, building eventually mentality.
b. This means, it will be the people who form Ashley Ridge Church who make decisions in the future about what kind of land to buy, where to buy, what to build and how to pay for it.
15. Does Bethany have an obligation to help the church plant financially because of the mother/daughter relationship?
a. Yes, Bethany has committed to giving the new church a minimum of $375,000 over a 5-year period starting in 2009.
b. The new church will also receive funds from the South Carolina Annual Conference over the next five years in the amount of $375,000
c. Bethany and the conference will give more of their financial contribution in the beginning stages and less as the time goes on in the expectation that the money given by the people at the new church will grow over the five years and beyond.
16. Will Bethany see Jenn after June?
a. Yes, you can’t get rid of me that easily J
b. We are trying to find office space for me somewhere off the beaten path at Bethany. In addition, I will be present on occasion to preach and teach as we continue to involve the people at Bethany in the church plant.
17. Will Bethany maintain the Saturday night service?
a. When I was hired at Bethany four years ago, I was given the assignment to work with the church to create new worship opportunities at Bethany. Word and Table is one result of that work and it was created to exist at Bethany. Therefore, the intention is for Bethany to maintain the Saturday night.
b. However, the long-term existence of the Saturday night service will depend on the number of people interested and attending.
18. After June will Jenn continue to support the Saturday night service?
a. We are still talking about how much or how little I will be involved in the Saturday night service after June. I might be there once or twice a month, or I may be there less frequently.
19. Does this group feel the need to get together again?
a. (lots of heads nodding yes) We plan to have another gathering in March to talk about our progress and continue having an exchange of ideas and also sharing in a time of questions and answers. My hope is to make our March meeting around 5:30 or 6 in the evening with pizza.
Prayer Needs:
Wisdom and discernment in planning
Leadership Team
Honing the vision of the new church
Ashley Ridge community
Bethany United Methodist Church
Those who will go permanently to the new church
Those who will be seed worshippers
Those who will stay at Bethany and support the new church
New church location – Ashley Ridge High School?
Raising money
The Williams – Jenn, Clark and Jacob (who’s expected within the next four weeks!)
And we’re off…
We had our first information session and prayer gathering for the new church on January 13. It was a great opportunity to talk about the vision God has put before us, answer questions and continue praying for God to lead the way.
If you missed the meeting, but would like to be on the e-mail list to receive updates about the new church, please send your name and e-mail address to ashleyridgechurch@gmail.com. There will be additional meetings similar to the January 13 gathering in the months to come. Keep checking back for the time and date in March to get together and continue the conversation. In the meantime, questions and input are always welcome and appreciated.
I have included below a summary of our gathering on the 13th including all the questions that were asked and the answers that were given.
Clark (my husband) opened the gathering with prayer and then read from Acts 1:7-11 – “Jesus said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’”
I love the question asked by the two men dressed in white – “why are you standing around gawking?” The implication is “go, stop standing around and get out of here, tell people what you’ve seen and heard.” And with that, the Holy Spirit comes over the whole gathering with incredible power and suddenly everyone is able to hear the good news of Jesus Christ in a language they can understand. From there the church is born and takes off like wildfire. We are called today to continue in that movement of the Spirit, going into all the world and speaking the good news in every way possible for people to hear it and understand.
And so…here we go. Bethany is going to plant a new church in the Ashley Ridge community. Like Bethany, our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Unlike Bethany, the new church is going to be a simple church instead of a program church. Our hope is to share in excellent worship that gives glory to God, provide opportunities for all ages to grow in love and knowledge of God, and, finally, to send people back into the world to all the places where we live and work and play to live as people who belong to Jesus Christ. Ultimately, this church will be completely independent from Bethany. However, it is what’s called a mother-daughter church plant, which means the people at Bethany will do all they can to ensure the success of the new church, providing prayer, people, facilities and financial resources in the short term; and in the long term, as with any parent/child relationship, there will be a connection that is not about dependence, but rather partnership in the shared ministry of reaching out to people in the greater Summerville community.
Questions and Answers
1. Does a simple church mean worship only, or will there be Sunday School and other activities?
a. Yes, there will be venues for all ages in the form of small groups, children’s ministry and student ministry
b. Expect formation of some of the small groups between June and December 2009
2. What is the difference between Sunday School and small groups?
a. Sunday School classes are educational environments that are often larger than 8-10 people; whereas, small groups usually consist of 10 or fewer people who have the opportunity to grow together spiritually on a deeper level because of the intimacy and trust that is created in a smaller group.
3. Will this be a Sunday only church?
a. At the start worship will be Sunday only, but small groups will meet during the week.
4. Will Youth activities continue at Bethany?
a. Yes, one of the advantages of being a mother/daughter church plant is being able to share ministry, especially at the beginning while the new church is just getting started.
b. Students will be encouraged to be part of Bethany’s student ministry and also connect with other students at the new church via small groups geared toward their age and interests.
5. Will this be a United Methodist Church?
a. Yes
6. Is the long term goal to be an independent Methodist church?
a. Yes, the long term goal is to be an independent United Methodist Church.
b. As mentioned above, the nature of a mother/daughter plant is that there is a natural, long-term connection, which we hope will take the form of shared mission endeavors in the Summerville community
7. Can the Bishop move the minister?
a. Yes
b. The United Methodist Church as a whole is committed to planting churches successfully in the coming years. With that commitment is an understanding that successful church plants require careful selection of planting pastors and often longer relationships between the church and the pastor (i.e. most church plant pastors are expected to be at the plant for at least 5 years and often many more).
8. Will people transfer membership to the new church from Bethany?
a. Yes, but from a formal standpoint, membership is not something that becomes relevant until the new church charters, often 2-3 years after it begins.
9. What kind of committees will the new church be required to have?
a. NONE!!! (how cool is that?!) – until a church charters, committees are not a requirement.
b. There will be a leadership team formed in 2009 and other ministry teams will spring up naturally as the church progresses.
10. Is there a specific date set to start?
a. In June, planting the new church becomes my full time job
b. Between June and December, we will be honing the vision for the new church, starting small groups, building a relationship with the Ashley Ridge community, sharing in “preview worship services” and making plans for the launch.
c. The tentative launch for regularly, weekly worship services is January of 2010. However, the church could launch sooner based on interest and the momentum of the planning process.
11. Are we already locked into Ashley Ridge High School (others may be looking)?
a. We do not have a written contract with Ashley Ridge High School yet. There is a verbal acknowledgment that we are interested in them and they are interested in us. In other words, we’re currently first in line but hoping to make more concrete process in the coming weeks.
b. Please pray for this process and also let us know if you have any thoughts about alternate locations to consider.
12. How can people be involved in the new church?
a. We hope everyone at Bethany will be involved in some way. Some people will feel led to be pioneers who leave Bethany and make Ashley Ridge their church home. Others will be what we call seed worshippers. Seed worshippers can be individuals or families who decide to worship and participate in the new church for a limited amount of time (often 6 months to a year). Seed worshippers can also be Sunday School classes and other groups who commit to worshiping at the new church for a month here or there to help out and provide support. People can also be involved from Bethany by offering their gifts and time in various areas as the new church gets its feet on the ground.
b. Everyone can be involved by praying for the new church
c. Those who know they are going to be pioneers – be on the lookout for information coming soon about ways to get involved right now
13. If we want to start contributing to the new church, can that be done now, and if so how?
a. Yes! You can start contributing to the new church now by giving money to Bethany and designating it on the check or on an envelope as “New Church”
14. When the new church gets to the point of acquiring land and constructing buildings, who pays?
a. Church planting has undergone a revision in the last several years from a building first, people second mentality to a people first, building eventually mentality.
b. This means, it will be the people who form Ashley Ridge Church who make decisions in the future about what kind of land to buy, where to buy, what to build and how to pay for it.
15. Does Bethany have an obligation to help the church plant financially because of the mother/daughter relationship?
a. Yes, Bethany has committed to giving the new church a minimum of $375,000 over a 5-year period starting in 2009.
b. The new church will also receive funds from the South Carolina Annual Conference over the next five years in the amount of $375,000
c. Bethany and the conference will give more of their financial contribution in the beginning stages and less as the time goes on in the expectation that the money given by the people at the new church will grow over the five years and beyond.
16. Will Bethany see Jenn after June?
a. Yes, you can’t get rid of me that easily J
b. We are trying to find office space for me somewhere off the beaten path at Bethany. In addition, I will be present on occasion to preach and teach as we continue to involve the people at Bethany in the church plant.
17. Will Bethany maintain the Saturday night service?
a. When I was hired at Bethany four years ago, I was given the assignment to work with the church to create new worship opportunities at Bethany. Word and Table is one result of that work and it was created to exist at Bethany. Therefore, the intention is for Bethany to maintain the Saturday night.
b. However, the long-term existence of the Saturday night service will depend on the number of people interested and attending.
18. After June will Jenn continue to support the Saturday night service?
a. We are still talking about how much or how little I will be involved in the Saturday night service after June. I might be there once or twice a month, or I may be there less frequently.
19. Does this group feel the need to get together again?
a. (lots of heads nodding yes) We plan to have another gathering in March to talk about our progress and continue having an exchange of ideas and also sharing in a time of questions and answers. My hope is to make our March meeting around 5:30 or 6 in the evening with pizza.
Prayer Needs:
Wisdom and discernment in planning
Leadership Team
Honing the vision of the new church
Ashley Ridge community
Bethany United Methodist Church
Those who will go permanently to the new church
Those who will be seed worshippers
Those who will stay at Bethany and support the new church
New church location – Ashley Ridge High School?
Raising money
The Williams – Jenn, Clark and Jacob (who’s expected within the next four weeks!)
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Big Year - Bigger God
So, in short, 2009 brings with it a new baby, a church plant, my ordination and, well, I hope not a whole lot more. Needless to say 2009 is going to be a big year for me and Clark. I'm a little scared (where I write "little" read "A LOT"), but incredibly excited. I feel like I'm sitting on the precipice of God doing some crazy things with my life and I can't wait to fall over the edge.
When big things happen, changes inevitably come. Lots of people are scared of change, but I think I thrive on it. Change provokes my passion. Change invites me out of ruts and change provides an opportunity for new habits and beginnings. Paul writes in Romans 12 that we need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, something that happens when we learn to give ourselves completely to God in worship. What strikes me about this today is that there are so many things that should lead me to worship God. No matter how big my year may look to me, think about how big God's everyday is - what He's doing in this world, what He's doing in each of our lives. Change is a sign of God's constant presence and work right in our midst.
And so, I'm ready to worship. Bring on the change. I'm looking for big things in 2009!
So, in short, 2009 brings with it a new baby, a church plant, my ordination and, well, I hope not a whole lot more. Needless to say 2009 is going to be a big year for me and Clark. I'm a little scared (where I write "little" read "A LOT"), but incredibly excited. I feel like I'm sitting on the precipice of God doing some crazy things with my life and I can't wait to fall over the edge.
When big things happen, changes inevitably come. Lots of people are scared of change, but I think I thrive on it. Change provokes my passion. Change invites me out of ruts and change provides an opportunity for new habits and beginnings. Paul writes in Romans 12 that we need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, something that happens when we learn to give ourselves completely to God in worship. What strikes me about this today is that there are so many things that should lead me to worship God. No matter how big my year may look to me, think about how big God's everyday is - what He's doing in this world, what He's doing in each of our lives. Change is a sign of God's constant presence and work right in our midst.
And so, I'm ready to worship. Bring on the change. I'm looking for big things in 2009!
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Advent has taken on a whole new meaning for me this year. During Advent, we talk about preparation and waiting for Emmanuel to come. I've read the stories of Mary, Joseph and Elizabeth and I've often wondered what that first Christmas must have been like. Well, this year I am waiting for the birth of my firstborn. There is this tiny miracle growing inside of me, kicking and stretching and making everything I thought I knew about life seem almost silly. Normally this season would fly by with parties, activities, shopping and work, but this year I find myself sitting back a little bit, thinking about what it means to prepare.
No matter how much I do or how much I run around and how many lists I make, Christmas will come and in a few more weeks, so will my son, Jacob. There is no way for me to be completely prepared for either one. Eight more days won't turn me into the perfect person and eight more weeks won't give me nearly enough time to transform into the perfect mother. But, then again, that's not the point.
You see, we can't deserve the gift of Jesus Christ nor can we fully understand what it means for God to become human so that we can become His children. But that's exactly why it's a gift - just like our children are gifts.
I don't think Advent has anything to do with having 4 weeks to prepare and become perfectly ready to receive Christ into our lives. I think it has everything to do with a time and space in our busy, chaotic lives to step back and stand in awe of who God is, preparing our hearts to simply receive the most incredible gift the world has ever and will ever receive.
No matter how much I do or how much I run around and how many lists I make, Christmas will come and in a few more weeks, so will my son, Jacob. There is no way for me to be completely prepared for either one. Eight more days won't turn me into the perfect person and eight more weeks won't give me nearly enough time to transform into the perfect mother. But, then again, that's not the point.
You see, we can't deserve the gift of Jesus Christ nor can we fully understand what it means for God to become human so that we can become His children. But that's exactly why it's a gift - just like our children are gifts.
I don't think Advent has anything to do with having 4 weeks to prepare and become perfectly ready to receive Christ into our lives. I think it has everything to do with a time and space in our busy, chaotic lives to step back and stand in awe of who God is, preparing our hearts to simply receive the most incredible gift the world has ever and will ever receive.
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