The greatest gift we have is a relationship with our God. In this season of Advent we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ's birth. How do we do that? Here is a start. Follow the link below and get started on the journey.
http://www.montanasynod.org/newsletters/1111/AdventDevotionBooklet.pdf
Blessings!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
An Advent Conspiracy
I know I'm not the first to notice that Christmas displays go up earlier every year at stores all around us. I'm pretty sure Costco started stocking trees and lights in September. (A good friend of mine is a longtime Costco employee and he says that by the time December 25 arrives he is sick of all things Christmas.) As a pastor I do my best to observe the season of Advent instead of jumping right into Christmas. That observation includes decorating and pulling out the Christmas music.
For some reason this year I found myself putting in a Christmas cd in mid-November. Granted it was a gift from a dear friend and it wasn't your typical Christmas carols (to check it out look for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones "Jingle All the Way"). As I listened I thought again about Advent and Christmas practices.
For the last couple of years my family has been participating in the Advent Conspiracy. (You can find their website here http://adventconspiracy.org/) This simple idea revolves around reclaiming the season for the true celebration of the birth of Christ. Their four catch phrases are Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All. Their challenge is to really dive into this season by attending church and reading scripture, to buy one less gift than you normally would, use the time you would have spent in the mall with family and friends, and use the money you would have spent on that gift to support a mission in the world.
For the last couple of years my family has purchased an animal through Heifer International or the ELCA's Good Gifts catalogue. We've found this to be incredibly meaningful. Will you join the Advent Conspiracy?
For some reason this year I found myself putting in a Christmas cd in mid-November. Granted it was a gift from a dear friend and it wasn't your typical Christmas carols (to check it out look for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones "Jingle All the Way"). As I listened I thought again about Advent and Christmas practices.
For the last couple of years my family has been participating in the Advent Conspiracy. (You can find their website here http://adventconspiracy.org/) This simple idea revolves around reclaiming the season for the true celebration of the birth of Christ. Their four catch phrases are Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All. Their challenge is to really dive into this season by attending church and reading scripture, to buy one less gift than you normally would, use the time you would have spent in the mall with family and friends, and use the money you would have spent on that gift to support a mission in the world.
For the last couple of years my family has purchased an animal through Heifer International or the ELCA's Good Gifts catalogue. We've found this to be incredibly meaningful. Will you join the Advent Conspiracy?
Thursday, November 3, 2011
For All The Saints
Who are the saints who have made a difference in your faith life? Who are the people who have pointed you toward a life of following Christ?
As we remember the saints who have died in the faith this All Saints weekend, we do well to remember the saints who are still with us today. God has placed people in our lives who encourage us, who challenge us and who pray for us. Sometimes we don't even know that is what they are doing.
I would not be the man I am today without the saints in my life. One of the main attributes my saints share is the willingness to show where they are weak and how they rely on God in their weakness. Saints are not perfect. In fact, true saints are more than willing to share their brokenness.
The next question we do well to ask is, "Who am I a saint to today?" Whether you know it or not, there is someone paying attention to how you live and what you say. You can be a saint to them.
There are saints that I miss and saints that I see daily. I give God thanks for all the saints in my life.
As we remember the saints who have died in the faith this All Saints weekend, we do well to remember the saints who are still with us today. God has placed people in our lives who encourage us, who challenge us and who pray for us. Sometimes we don't even know that is what they are doing.
I would not be the man I am today without the saints in my life. One of the main attributes my saints share is the willingness to show where they are weak and how they rely on God in their weakness. Saints are not perfect. In fact, true saints are more than willing to share their brokenness.
The next question we do well to ask is, "Who am I a saint to today?" Whether you know it or not, there is someone paying attention to how you live and what you say. You can be a saint to them.
There are saints that I miss and saints that I see daily. I give God thanks for all the saints in my life.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Knowing Where You Belong
I love being with people and I have a tendency to try to pack too much into too little time. My wife has been very patient with me on this throughout our marriage, but it does result very often in chaos.
An example of what I mean is I promised to take the family to a community Halloween party on the same night there was a function at Peace. I figured I could get the kids home and settled and still have time to catch the end of the the church event. I was not even close.
I showed up at the church long after the crowd had left and I chatted with the clean up crew. I offered to help clean up, but they kindly declined and offered me food instead. As I spoke with several different folks I had a sense that I was doing exactly what I needed to be doing. The conversations we were sharing was the good stuff.
In the effort to pack as much fun in as possible I often miss the "right now" moment. Where do you find it difficult to be present? Do you often find yourself looking to what's coming up next?
An example of what I mean is I promised to take the family to a community Halloween party on the same night there was a function at Peace. I figured I could get the kids home and settled and still have time to catch the end of the the church event. I was not even close.
I showed up at the church long after the crowd had left and I chatted with the clean up crew. I offered to help clean up, but they kindly declined and offered me food instead. As I spoke with several different folks I had a sense that I was doing exactly what I needed to be doing. The conversations we were sharing was the good stuff.
In the effort to pack as much fun in as possible I often miss the "right now" moment. Where do you find it difficult to be present? Do you often find yourself looking to what's coming up next?
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Dream Big
Learning a new community is a lot of fun. Getting to know what people are passionate about and what gets them excited to serve brings me great joy. A question I've find myself asking is, "What is your dream for this place?"
God calls us to dream big dreams for His kingdom. I think too often our dreams are too small. God responds to our dreams with, "That is a nice little dream, but try again!" What would it mean to dream a God dream for our church and our community?
What is too big for God to do? I sure can't think of anything, so why do I limit my dreams? Why do I keep my hopes to a manageable size?
It is risky to dream big, but we do not need to worry because God is a God of risk. God takes a chance on us everyday. Talk about dreaming big!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Invitation and Challenge
I have been blessed to have learned a great deal about discipleship from two men Mike Breen and Steve Cockram. One of the examples they lift up of how Jesus did discipleship and how we should as well is Monty Roberts who is known as the "Horse Whisperer."
Jesus is constantly inviting us to a greater depth of relationship. So then, how do we invite others? Take a look at this 10 minute youtube clip showing how Monty uses invitation and challenge.
Jesus invites us into relationship and then challenges us to greater responsibility in His kingdom. How is this different from how you've been taught to "do" evangelism?
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Making Time For God
It doesn't take much to throw my entire schedule out of whack. With three young kids there always seems to be a new crisis or tragedy around every corner. (And yes, to a four year old losing your socks is a monumental crisis.) My wife and I have learned how to surf the waves of parenthood while mostly maintaining a life rhythm, but when one of us gets sick or runs into a major obstacle everything gets put on hold.
I confess that my devotional time is one of the first things to get put on the back burner in my daily schedule. (Devotional time is the second thing to get postponed right after getting to the gym.)
I would suspect I'm not alone in that regard. I suspect it does not take much for any of us to ask God to wait while we attend to the chaos of life. The problem with putting God on hold is that I need to lean on God in the difficult times. How can I lean when I've asked God to come back later?
When Kaia was sick and I was taking care of her and three kids, I found myself a bit short tempered towards the end of the day. That is when I remembered I postponed my devotional time and now I was running on empty. I did not feel right again until I said bedtime prayers with my daughter. Ah, the healing power of prayer.
How often do you ask God to come back another time?
I confess that my devotional time is one of the first things to get put on the back burner in my daily schedule. (Devotional time is the second thing to get postponed right after getting to the gym.)
I would suspect I'm not alone in that regard. I suspect it does not take much for any of us to ask God to wait while we attend to the chaos of life. The problem with putting God on hold is that I need to lean on God in the difficult times. How can I lean when I've asked God to come back later?
When Kaia was sick and I was taking care of her and three kids, I found myself a bit short tempered towards the end of the day. That is when I remembered I postponed my devotional time and now I was running on empty. I did not feel right again until I said bedtime prayers with my daughter. Ah, the healing power of prayer.
How often do you ask God to come back another time?
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Music for the Soul
I like (or can appreciate) nearly every genre of music, but there are certain songs that make my soul sing. Sometimes it is an old hymn in church and sometimes it is the newest release from an unknown artist. What I have learned is that I need to keep listening to all sorts of things because I never know how God is going to hit me upside the head next with a blessing.
Most recently I was hit upside the head by a full congregation singing the great old hymn, "I Love to Tell the Story." (Seriously, how great is a full room of people all singing the same song?) It made me ask the question, "How well am I telling the story God has given me?"
So, I want to know, what music speaks to you? What is your response to that music? What story are you singing?
Peace,
Will
Most recently I was hit upside the head by a full congregation singing the great old hymn, "I Love to Tell the Story." (Seriously, how great is a full room of people all singing the same song?) It made me ask the question, "How well am I telling the story God has given me?"
So, I want to know, what music speaks to you? What is your response to that music? What story are you singing?
Peace,
Will
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