The surveys show it, the experts talk about it, and the attendance proves it – people are not as committed to the church as they were in the past.  We talk about the need for people to fill the seats and the positions on the board; to be a part of the education ministry and the small groups; to participate in the activities and programs that are apart of church life.  But what are we being committed to?  As I look around the church (in general) I see less people doing more and they say they are getting tired – or are they getting board.  Bored with the status quo and just filling positions and doing activities.  Maybe that is why people keep saying that we need new and exciting programs to get people excited and involved in the life of the church, but you know as well as I do that soon the excitement and newness wears off and we are bored once again.

How do we get beyond this?  How do we move from boredom and “programmed excitement”, to truly living and being the Body of Christ?  Read below what Peter has to say about this (especially the bolded text).

1 Peter 2:4-12  As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”  So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.  Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.  Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Peter deals with two basic topics here – the centrality of Christ and the call upon and position of believers.  Both of these are important and interconnected.  Many times when we are a part of the church, we are seen (overtly or not) as “pieces that keep the church alive”, cogs in a machine.  This is the wrong way to look at the church and our place in it.  How would our perspective change, how would our energy be channeled, how would our focus be different (as individuals and the church as a whole) if we were to know in our heart and head and live out that belief that we are a chosen priesthood and holy nation.  It is not up to the hired hand or those who take on leadership positions to do the ministry.  It is not up to us to keep the church alive or open.  We are called as a people who have received mercy to share that mercy with others.  We are called to be a holy people called by God out of darkness into the light and then to shine God’s light for others.  That is exciting to know that God uses us to touch the lives of people where they are and not just to keep the church building open and functioning.  Our task is to remain faithful and live as God’s chosen people.  We do this by keeping our focus on the centrality of Jesus.

I am reminded of kids on summer vacation who begin with such great enthusiasm but get drawn into the mundane activities and ruts of watching TV, sleeping, video games and then say that they are board and there is nothing to do.  They get bogged down with the mundane and forget about the exciting and world that awaits them outside.  We in the church have gotten bogged down by the mundane tasks, the rules and positions, the maintenance of the structure (physical and governance) and even those that are meant to be engaging and energizing have become monotonous and we are bored.  We have forgotten about the exciting world that awaits us as we are faithful and live out the truth that we are God’s people called for His service.  We are called to “go into the world” yet we prefer to stay in our walls and expect people to come to us.  That worked in another time.  I don’t think it works now.

Are you committed to the church because you think you have to in order to keep in open and functioning?  This is maintenance of the institutional church.  Are you committed to God’s call on your life to be a holy people chosen to live in this world in faithful ways that show the mercy we have received and call others to God’s light?  This is the true nature of the faith and God’s call to His Body, the church.

Some may not think so, but I really enjoy a good snow fall.  Hampton Roads had a good snow fall (for them), 6-10 inches, but it did cover things.  I had almost forgotten how nice it is to stand outside after a snow fall.  Everything is so quiet and peaceful, all the sounds seem muted and the sun is so bright off the snow.

Psalm 51:7 says, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

This is part of David’s prayer / song asking for forgiveness following being caught in his deception with Bathsheba.  He know that it is only God who can give this forgiveness and that the forgiveness is total.

As I stood and have stood looking at the covering following a good snow fall, I am reminded of God’s forgiveness in my life and understand again the peace that comes when we are forgiven and when we forgive. 

This Sunday’s sermon is about forgiveness and I would love to hear your thoughts about giving and receiving forgiveness.

May we all experience the cleansing and peace that comes with real forgiveness and be willing to give as we have received.

Dr. Stacy Spencer is the Senior Pastor at New Directions Christian Church in Memphis and he shares this message from The Nines, of helping people out of the pit, a story from Jeremiah 38:10.  He talks specifically about leaders who have fallen for a variety of reasons but this can be said of anyone in our church and community.  I have become very aware of the hurt and the fallenness around us and this message is a challenge to me and the church as a whole.  Check out the link and see what you think.

http://thenines.leadnet.org - The Nines Website

http://ow.ly/16qEtQ - blog containing video

Since the earthquakes in Haiti, there has been a huge out pouring of money and resources to help with the rescue, relief and rebuilding efforts that have to happen following such a devastating event.  The current numbers are something like 150,000 dead and more than 190,000 injured.  The out pouring of money and resources have come from many places such as churches, celebrities, doctors, Red Cross, and many other places and organizations from around the world.  This is the kind of support and care that usually happens following this type of event.

Recently though, I have seen and heard different people question why we are giving so much money and resources to Haiti when we have a large population of homeless, poor, malnourished and sick people in our country.

These comments and questions got me thinking about why there is such a difference.  There is no doubt that the recent event in Haiti are devastating and they need help from around the world to recover and rebuild.  This will be on going help and not just for a few months.  There is also no doubt that we have issues here at home that need addressed too.

I wonder if the difference comes from what we see in front of us.  The scenes from Haiti fill our computers and news casts, those needs are before us all the time now.  What about the needs here?  How much do we see the needs of people on the street, kids who are malnourished, families who are not insured, etc?  Too often if it is not before us, we don’t see it and it is easy for us to look past or look through the needs that are around us.  What happens too, in a few months, when the ‘newness’ of Haiti wears off and something else takes its place?  Will the need there go away?  No, the needs will be there for a long time to come, but unless we remain aware of it, the help will diminish (think the gulf coast).

I do wonder how we can raise multiple millions of dollars through our cell phones and stars can raise millions in just two hours on t.v. to go to Haiti where they need it but many of our shelters are closing because of lack of funds and food banks are bare because of the great need.  We do need to help those affected by the earthquakes and other disasters as they happen and sometimes the best way is to give money to allow those who are trained and are able to do the direct help.  On the other hand, we can not look past and ignore the needs that are around us every day where ever we live.  We can address these needs in a more direct way through personal help and relationships, gifts of food and support, and yes, giving of money too.

It should not be an either/or as to who we help, but a both/and.  When we do give through good organizations who are going to use the money to help and not just waste it, then the needs are really met, whether in Haiti, Hampton, New York, Los Angles, or any other city.  One of the problems we face when giving is that many times our gifts are wasted or worse, stolen by people who are in it to make money for themselves.  There are many great organizations that do help in appropriate ways.  Check out a previous post at: http://hamptonpastor.wordpress.com/2010/01/14/ways-to-help-relief-effort-in-haiti/ for ways in which our church is helping through Week of Compassion and don’t forget to be aware of and be willing to meet the needs of those around you.  I encourage you to give to the needs following disasters such as earthquakes, floods and drought, but don’t forget the ongoing needs in your community.

The following is from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and talks about ways we can help  the relief efforts:

There is actually quite a bit people can do during this time when many feel helpless.  Namely, 3 things:

 1-Continue to donate – this truly is the BEST and most effective way to help right now – www.weekofcompassion.org – 100% goes to Haiti relief efforts – remind folks that WoC is part of the largest global alliance of Christian humanitarian agencies in the world, ACT Alliance (thus, our capacity on the ground is vast and has stood the test of time) as well as CWS.

 2-Assemble and send emergency kits — there is an URGENT need for more CWS hygiene and baby kits — our ecumenical warehouse in New Windsor, MD has been emptied already — please go to http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=how_vol_kits for a list of items needed for the kits – I know how often people want to do something “hands on” in a time like this – this is a GREAT and truly helpful way to do so.

3-Pray, pray, pray for all those affected by this disaster in Haiti and for those trying to help them.

As of now, I would also ask for specific prayers for several members of the ecumenical humanitarian community who are still missing; I work with all of these folks on several of the boards I serve.  3 members of the IMA World Health staff are missing, including Rick Santos, the CEO of IMA, a dear friend and former colleague from CWS.  Sam Dixon, the exec dir of UMCOR, is also missing along with other UMCOR staff.  In addition, we are still searching for several ACT Alliance staff.

Will the Church Remain Relevant?

I have not posted anything lately for a number of reasons, one of them being this question, “How will the church in all its different forms be relevant in today’s changing world and culture?”  For pastors and many in the church, this is a pressing question that has a lot of varied answers.  I came across this quote today and it just had to be shared:

//

QUOTE: ”In order for the church to be relevant in 2010 it must find its identity in Jesus and become scripturally literate. As it returns to its original mission the focus will not be on self but on others. Not on wealth but on worship and the worth of the soul. The early church was known as being composed of those who turned the world upside down. In other words, they challenged the status quo. They effected change by focusing on the person of Jesus. Their goal was not self advancement but the advancement of the Kingdom of God.” —Bill Shuler, pastor of Capital Life Church in Arlington, Virginia, and contributor to the Fox Forum, commenting on the need for the church to take the focus off self and instead, reach out to others. [Foxnews.com, 1/8/10]

What do you think?  How is your church relevant in your culture or is it?

I wanted to take a few minutes and offer you this simple Christmas invitation and blessing.  As we continue to wait this holy night, we are invited to place behind us the concerns of our life, shopping, presents, family and friends, decorations and the many other things that can make up this time of year.  Too infrequently, do we really stop and really try and remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Remember the stable was plain, dirty and quiet, the visitors were kings from the east, but were also shepherds from the fields, Jesus received gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but was also wrapped in simple blankets and laid in a manger filled with hay.

 The words of a Christmas hymn read –

 O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him.

Christ the Lord.

I invite you to come to the stable, just as you are, smell the smells and hear the sounds of the animals, feel the hay under your feet, see the baby Jesus laying in the manger filled with hay and the young mother and father sitting nearby.  Bring everything you have as a gift to the Christ child and simply adore Him.  Worship the Baby who is God and King who left the glories of Heaven for the simple life on earth.  Adore the child who would grow to die on the cross to reconcile us with God.

I invite you to set aside the traditions of our contemporary culture, and relive the birth of the savior.  A simple birth that changed the course of history.  God entered the world through a tiny baby, Immanuel – God with us, and things have never been the same.  Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the baby Jesus.  Prepare your heart.  Take time to receive the blessing that is Immanuel and let Him change your life forever.  Amen.

This is a great video, done is a fun way that talks about the true story of Christmas and how our traditions have worked their way in.

We have begun the season of Advent in the church.  Advent is the 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas where we are waiting and preparing ourselves for the coming of Jesus, born as a baby.  Last Sunday we celebrated the Hanging of the Greens in the sanctuary.  This Sunday we begin a sermon series entitled “Christmas Dreams” with the focus this Sunday on The Dreams of Humanity.  Isaiah 9:1-7 talks about the different struggles that we has humans go through – pain, death, darkness, gloom, etc.  This is one of the passages that is commonly used as a prophesy of Jesus’ birth and the situation that He will be born into.

As I read this text, I realized that the troubles that are talked about in Isaiah are the same that we deal with in 2009.  We all face pain, trouble, death, darkness, gloom and conflict on a lot of different levels physical, emotional and spiritual and this is what we are waiting with and in as we prepare for Jesus’ birth during Advent.  We can dream of a better world, we can dream of a world with out the pain and brokenness that surrounds us but some how we fall short.

What are your dreams this Advent season for humanity?  What are your dreams for the future of all people in all countries?

Share them with us as we wait for the coming of the one who will bring those dreams to reality.

Thank you to all who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard -

For those who have served in times of war and in times of peace -

For those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, for those who have seen their friends taken from them, for those who have returned home with scars on the inside as well as the out -

For those families who have waved good-bye to a father or mother, a son or daughter and stayed at home and served their families and communities as their loved ones served others -

For those who serve active duty and the reserve -

For those who help in times of natural disaster and man-made disaster -

Thank you for all that you do and all that give to help this nation and keep us free, and to help those around the world in need.