Worship On Wednesday

What Am I To Do Lord?-Based Upon Mark 1:21-28

2006-02-01T12:50:00.000-06:00

I am always amazed at the many things I read in the Bible and the breadth of how awesome Jesus must have been. The Gospel of Mark is a book unlike the other gospels in that he gets right to the point and continues on. Mark and I would have been good friends, as I like the same thing of moving on after a point. However, I was confused for a moment upon exploring this section of scripture. We read about Jesus teaching in front of high officials, and nothing is said of what exactly he was teaching. We know that he is showing his authority given te audience around him.

Jesus appears as a man of action, and man of ppurpose if he is in this situation. Yet, in the midst of his teaching, a man of "unclean spirit" interrupts him. He must have been one of the people we tend to avoid on our streets today (i.e. a homeless man, a man with some communicable disease, or even someone with a mental illness). I started thinking back to a person I could relate to in this situation and that was "Bucket Joe." "Bucket Joe" was the southside's answer to this biblical character. A man who lived on the streets and drank his liquor of choice. A man who didn't know what a shower was, unless it rained. A man who played his radio loud and sang in a dialect unfamiliar to those who heard him.

I can only imagine if "Bucket Joe" was to wander into that same synagogue and shout out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God." If this happened in churches today, the ushers would scramble in trying to remove him, people would feel a bit tense in the presence of the outburst. He might be told where the closest shelter might be and then be told to go on about his business. The disciples don't figure it out until later, so this guy is obviously ahead of the curve. This unclean man is asking a very good question, "What are you going to do with people like me? Are you going to destroy us?"

Jesus' next step is the remove the "unclean spirits" from the man. Whatever an "unclean spirit" is, I am impressed that Jesus is able to remove it. We don't know what Jesus was talking about at this time, but one thing is certain..Jesus had the power over things people label as unclean. The point Mark is making is this: That the will and purpose of God present in Jesus in engaging and fighting against the purposes of evil that exist among humanity. This is a battle not fought by those at the highest levels of authority, but by those of us who are in the midst of life. The battleof good versus evil, right versus wrong, life versus death happens amidst the people who are gathered for worship. Christ has come to set us free from prejudice, pride, greed, and other 'isms. If we devote ourselves to something other than what God has directed us to do, we have missed the goal of faith.

This week, as we mourn the loss of Coretta Scott King, I reflect upon her life and the lives of others the King Family has influenced. Many years ago, they had the responsibility of asking Jesus, "What do you have me to do?" Life is much more fulfilling in leading others to know that Jesus has a purpose for their life. There is more to life than work, honors, fame, wealth, poverty, struggle, sickness, and "unclean spirits." The purpose is rather to engage in the urgent struggle of living out God's will.

I'm not sure how I would answer that question on a daily basis, because sometimes I just don't know what God wants me to do with my life. There are days where I am like the man with "unclean spirits." I believe all of of us have our moments. We don't understand the things happening all around us. We don't understand our emotions and the ways they control us when we don't want them to. In essence, we are searching for some power that can set us free to live in the right way.

This scripture is here to remind us that Jesus stands right beside us, ready to cast aside that which binds us and constricts us. The demons that defeat our best and highest purposes are removed instantly. Christ stands ready with the power of grace, which breaks the power of sin over us. It is in this gift, that Jesus has much to do with us.

Based upon a reflection by Rev. Todd Weir

Finally, An Update!!!

2006-01-13T12:18:00.000-06:00

Well, it has been quite some time since my last update. Needless to say, many things have been going on in the world of Glenn. I started back to school with 5 classes and three different subjects to teach. On top of all of that, the district introduced new curriculum that I was getting to know a little better. Along with all of these changes came the greatest change of all. Julie and I got married on November 12, 2005, at Dover Place Christian Church. Big surprise I know. Preparations, marriage couseling and arranging the actual wedding ate into my time to dedicate to this blog. Everything is pretty well calmed down now that all of these things are over with and the holidays are long gone as well.

WOW just completed its' 100th service and are heading into our thir year within a month. I know that I have changed over that time, but the message has not. We continue to look to the wilderness that is outside the doors of Dover Place and seek out new believers, or believers without a home. When Dover Place was built at its current location, it was in the wilderness of the Carondelet neighborhood. People worried that nobody would come so far for church. Well, due to the persistence and enduring faith of the minister (Rev. G.E. Ireland), Dover Place has remained an anchor of the community for 110 years. All of this in an age when churches are growing exponentially or going away, Dover has maintained her charm as being a community of believers sharing the faith with others.

As I reflect on John the Baptist living in his cave in the wilderness, living in the most meager of settings, I believe our mission is the same. Baptize believers in the name of the Father and Son, but allow the Holy Spirit to fill us and guide us. Dover's theme for the year is "Faith In Action," and we are taking the first steps to active leadership and spirtual renewal in the community. The spirit of the Lord is ready to descend upon those who don't know the power that Christ has in their lives. I will report the blessings yet to come or that have already come.

No Excuses For Not Carrying the Cross-Based upon Matthew 16:21-28

2005-08-31T15:16:00.000-05:00

This week, I started a new task with my students that I have never done before. We started studying what it means to establish goals and maintain those goals in order to succeed in life. We are all familiar with short-term goals and long-term goals, but what about everything that happens in the middle? Where do our goals remain personal and professional, yet stray into the spiritual realm? How should we establish goals with relation to Christ in our hearts and minds? Well, there are a couple steps to do this, but there are a couple things to remember about establishing goals. They should be challenging, yet able to be accomplished. They should also be enjoyable, and if you are not happy with the progress, the goals should be changed. All of this is well and good, especially when establishing a personal statement about your future, but for many of us, we lack any goals for Christ.

For many people in this church and in the world today, we don’t make the effort to establish goals for our faith and carry them forward. For any people, the effort of carrying the cross is something they are unwilling to do, because it doesn’t fit into the daily grind of the schedule at hand. Far too many people enter into the world searching for a cross of their own to carry, however the only cross we need to concern ourselves with is the cross that Christ died on 2000 years ago. A cross that was able to bear the weight of the worlds sins and shame. A cross that allowed our Savior to die and rise again for the salvation of the people who followed him. A cross that was carrying the sins of every man, woman, and child hung there with the lifeless body of our Savior on it, and yet many of the disciples did not carry the cross that day of decision. Many of the disciples stayed out of sight and at home on the day of the ultimate decision. If you were one of the twelve, would you stand at the Lord’s side and face death, or would you stay at home?

For many people throughout the ages, waiting on the sidelines looking at the cross was not even an option. There have been numerous men and women throughout the history of the religion that have for one reason or another taken an active role of bearing the cross. Martin Luther became so frustrated with the sale of indulgences and other abuses of power that he started the Protestant Reformation. Some women enter the priesthood to help further the lives of those who are poor and underprivileged. Some folks go into the field of education for the exact same reason, but people don’t view that as carrying a cross. To simplify the matter a little further, carrying the cross does not mean giving up all your earthy possessions and leading a life of poverty. All you have to do is take up the role of activity and leadership in advancing the cause of Christ.

Within this church, the cross can be carried in many different ways and is already being carried in some form or another. Within this church we need people who are willing to lead programs assisting our youth and older adults. There is room to carry the cross on committees dedicated to missions, worship, and evangelization. Even within this ministry there is room for people to lead worship and assist in reaching out to potential worshippers. Carrying the cross can come in the form of helping our neighbors achieve their goal of becoming a crime free neighborhood. There are so many easy ways to carry the cross of Christ without giving up an arm and a leg…you’ll need to save those in order to pay for gas!

One of the things that I want to emphasize this evening is something the disciples didn’t do at first, but later realized the importance of doing it…it is the ability to carry the cross as a team. Just as the Romans had Simon the Cyrene carry the cross alone; many of us try to do the same thing. For some people involved in the church, they view this cross carrying as a job that would never get done unless they were there to do it. This is tempting to say, however the door merely opens for someone else to step in and carry the cross. For many of our older members, they kid themselves into believing that there is nothing left for them to do, and there is no way their frail bodies can carry the cross. Again, I say to you, when we work together…there is room for everyone to share in the weight of the cross.

I am always excited to see Wes Wideman at a BBQ, because he is able to minister through fellowship and his joy of the event. I am excited to see our youth ready to get dirty for the betterment of the church, or for the betterment of a friend. I am excited to see Barb Jarman at events, because she is such a gracious hostess and wonderful person to spin a story with. I am excited to see Ann Pelech come to events, because she has a sense of humor that is appreciated and it warms the heart. I am excited to see James and Julian Cobb on Wednesday nights, because even though they may drive their parents crazy, these are two young men seeking out Christ in their own way. I am excited every time I see Pastor Bill and Lisa, because they are a team committed to building a worship experience and future for our church. I am excited to see the Bode family in our worship environment, because they are willing to step up to the plate and help out with things as needed, and they will tell you how God has moved through their lives. I am even excited to see mom and Bert, because they recognize their gifts and use them to the best of their abilities.

There is by no means a slight, if I didn’t mention your name or your family, but there is always room for growth and always room to carry the cross. Something to remember is that even the most faithful sometimes walk away from the cross. Peter, who we discussed as the right hand of Christ, denied Christ three times on the night he was betrayed. He walked away from Christ and regretted the decision for the remainder of his time on earth. I have walked away from the cross before, and never felt quite right. There is something to be said about walking away from the cross, finding disappointment, and then returning home to bear a burden for someone else.
My message to you this evening is simple. If you are not involved in carrying the cross, there is still room for you. You don’t have to give up every part of your life, but be aware of how much time you dedicate to furthering the message of Christ. Attending service is always a nice start, however there is room for your participation. Determine your spiritual gifts and make good use of them. Look around for the opportunity and be sure to join in the cross walk.

The Keys to the Kingdom-Based on Matthew 16:13-20

2005-08-24T20:51:00.000-05:00

I have to tell you that this week, I was a little disturbed by the fact that Maplewood Christian Church had closed its doors and moved to another location. The main reason for this happening is the dwindling population of the congregation. A congregation, similar to Dover in that it is a pillar of the community and anchor through change, but not long enough to stay a vital force in the community. This is by no means a put down of Maplewood Christian, but it is the simple reality for many churches in the United States and even churches here in St. Louis. Churches that were once built on bedrock foundations are now crumbling down to the final stones.

This scripture is an interesting insight into the relationship between Peter and Jesus. A relationship that is tried and tested , but remains firm in its resolve to minister to others. Paul may have been the greatest evangelist of the New Testament, but it was Peter who built the church upon bedrock in its earliest stages. It was Peter who set the standard and example for the way churches were to be run. It was Peter who had the trust and faith of Christ to be the leader of the movement here on earth, while Christ reigned in heaven. Peter is the foundation for the Christian Church, inasmuch as he is also the gatekeeper of heaven. Peter is the right hand man of Jesus, some might even refer to him as the “muscle” of the operation. He is the one charged to guide the disciples while Jesus was absent. What a tremendous task to behold!

Here is where the scripture and Peter become awesome for this church and our solid foundation. This scripture isn’t so much for the glorification of Peter, as much as it is a call for us to heed. The first thing we need to understand about this scripture is that Peter isn’t our rock, he is the one that established the church in bedrock. He was the one who went all the way down into the ground and made sure the church was able to survive for thousands of years. Sometimes that takes organization, leadership, and a massive amount of faith. Peter exhibited these characteristics. The second thing we need to understand about this scripture is that just like Peter is a “rock” to Christ, we need to view those who came before us, the saints, as stones who built and improved the living church we are in.

I have told you stories of the saints who came before all of us in this church and helped establish Dover Place as a church with a firm foundation. We were absolutely blessed to have saints with knowledge of financial affairs, civic functions, and political action to a certain extent. Dover Place is self-sufficient, but we draw upon our reserves that were built up over the years in order to maintain what we currently have. Should there be a moment where the stock market goes south and we have bad planning, then Dover Place may have a hard time existing as we know it. That is certainly picture none of us even want to picture.

To go along with this point, the third thing we need to take away from this scripture is the importance of the house of worship. Church in its purest form does not take place in a building or in a sanctuary. Church happens throughout the other days you are living and breathing away from the house of worship. Church is to built upon a solid rock of knowledge and practice. We are to take the scriptures and the messages given to us and put them into practice. Sometimes that is not the easiest thing to do, but the road less traveled is not an easy one either. Church is wide open for interpretation and description, but no church survives without a solid foundation of teaching, preaching, and practice. Faith that is spoken from the lips and confessed from the heart is a foundation that cannot be destroyed.

Finally, we need to look at who the door-keeper for the church is, and it is Peter. No evil will ever infiltrate the house of the Lord, as Peter stands guard as the gatekeeper. As hard as it is to believe, the gates of heaven are open to everyone who confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. For many folks, that confession isn’t made until death approaches their final moments of life. Christ didn’t die for those of us who have known Christ for a long time, but for everyone who confesses to know Christ. We cannot, nor should we judge the salvation of anyone on this earth. As much as I hoped that a person like Adolph Hitler went to hell, I cannot be so sure of his judgment, because I am not the one finalizing the decision. By casting stones at others, we are weakening our foundation.

Friends, there are no easy answers to maintain Dover Place Christian Church and help it grow and prosper for another 110 years. We can only be the foundation for the church and continue to build upon that foundation, instead of crumbling down to a shell of our former selves. As much as I believe that we will survive for my grandchildren to see Dover in 100 years is yet to be seen, but my grandfather must have said the same thing 75 years ago as he started attending Dover Place Christian at the age of 27. Dover was once an isolated little church in the wilderness of undeveloped St. Louis City. Now we are an isolated little church in this metropolis with a pulse still kicking like that of a young man. It seems hard to believe how the times have changed and the people have come and gone, but the message is still fundamentally the same.

Christ came here to build his church upon a firm foundation where believers would know eternal life and peace here on earth. Christ came with the message of love and peace, a message that is sometimes lost in the shuffle of board meetings, general assemblies, and even in worship services. The foundation has been laid before us, whether or not we contribute to the architecture is upon our hearts. However, I encourage each one of you to look deep into your heart and find what you are able to contribute to keep this church upon a firm foundation. Go out into the world and minister to those lost souls dying to know Christ. Give them peace, but also build up their spirit and lead them to build upon solid ground, because nothing can tear down the church, as long as Christ is in our hearts.

Wrestling At The Chase-Based Upon Genesis 32:22-31

2005-08-03T12:24:00.000-05:00

This Wednesday, we are continuing with the message that God has outlined for us in Genesis about the life and times of Jacob. As a further reminder of where we have been in the journey with Jacob, we have observed him in many different points in his life. A life filled with treachery and deceit, as he used these things to deny his brother Esau the birthright that he deserved. We have witnessed Jacob being sent out into the wilderness to start life anew when God starts getting into his life. We have seen how his best laid plans to find love and happiness where thwarted through his father-in-law. Now we encounter Jacob at his most vulnerable point in life. He is a man with two wives, eleven children and some concubines. If that were not enough stress, remember that his being hunted down by his brother for all the wrongs that have happened in the past. What better position in life can you possibly be to find God?

Starting this section of scripture, we have the image of a protective man looking out for the best interests of his family. Jacob wants to keep them safe and away from the harm that can come from desert travel, but also the problems that seem to follow him. When Jacob is assured of his families safety, it is time to sleep through a rather uneasy evening. Jacob is probably wrestling with his past, his present and his future. However, we know that Jacob becomes involved in one of the greatest wrestling matches of all times. Jacob takes on God face to face and wins. A mere mortal wins the match, but not by pinning the aggressor, but by changing his way of life. Jacob suffered a damaged hip in the process, but he was forever changed by seeing the grace of God face to face. He came to a sudden realization that God came into his life for a purpose and that was to be a leader for many. He was a leader willing to change his ways of living and honor God through being an example to others.

As a kid growing up, I was immersed into the world of professional wrestling and had my favorites and no so favorites. I remember staying up late on Friday and Saturday nights with my mom and dad watching the old National Wrestling Alliance. Stars such as Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, The Road Warriors and others came into my home and made me love them or hate them. One group in particular stood out for me and have a way of relating to this story. The Four Horsemen were comprised of Ric Flair, Ole Anderson, Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard. These were the dirtiest players in the game and dominated the sport for several years. They were wrapped up the high roller lifestyle and tried to maintain it anyway they could. I personally hated them, because they beat up the guys I always watched. However, when I discovered that wrestling decisions were predetermined, I wanted to know more about these guys.

Tully Blanchard really stands out in my mind as a guy who can probably relate best to the story of Jacob. He grew up in a home where going to church was optional, but there was a perverted sense of faith. His father was a former professional wrestler and began a small promotion out of southern Texas. His father applied all kinds of pressure on him to be the best and bring good attention to the family. Tully was the best athlete in high school for football, baseball, and basketball. He won a scholarship to Southern Methodist University for football, but couldn’t make the commitment to play due to injury, so he attended West Texas State. Even in this smaller environment, Tully could not move on to the professional glory. So he and a couple teammates moved on to the world of professional wrestling. Those teammates who joined him in the wrestling business turned out to be Ted DiBiase and Merced Solis, better known as Tito Santana.

The world of professional wrestling offered Blanchard everything he desired. Money, fame, expensive clothes, and cars were among some of his trophies in the world of professional wrestling. However, what Blanchard was not ready for was the isolation of being in a business where your every move is noted in the papers. He soon took his loneliness and resorted to drugs and womanizing. Blanchard was snorting cocaine on a daily basis and going through woman like they were nothing. He hit rock bottom in the late 1980s when he was cut from the roster of the WWF. His career and life were slowly ebbing away…that is, until God found him in a hotel room alone.

God came to this professional wrestler and engaged him in his final match. As Tully Blanchard tells it, “God pinned me to the bed and told me there was a greater purpose in my life and that purpose is to use your fame for the glory of God.” Blanchard changed his life around and helped others in his family change the purpose of their lives. He is currently the president of Exodus Ministries which helps churches and organizations meet the needs of people who are pretty much down and out in life. It encourages these organizations and members of the church to be candles in the community when there are people trying to snuff out the life from others.

Renita J. Weems has this to say about faith, “Faith is what you do between the last time you experienced God and the next time you experience God.” In the examples of faith were Jacob has been encountered by God, it is the second time where Jacob understands his purpose. We are very much the same way. Sometimes we have to find ourselves at the bottom, even though there have been people in our lives trying to help us through difficult situations. Our encounters with God can be life changing.

If there is anyone willing to share their struggles with faith, please do so. Or, if you have a moment where you wrestled with God over something and feel compelled to share it, I encourage you to lend a voice to this community and share openly.
Last night (National Night Out), I saw an amazing amount of people come into this community for the very first time, or in the case of some people, it was the first time in decades. Some people already know Christ and have a home for their spiritual lives, but many in this community are crying out for help. How amazing would it be if we were able to wrestle with God as a church and find out our purpose for those lost souls? How awesome would it be to open our doors to the community more often than just for special events and for selling food? How cool would it be to have all of those young families attending regularly, and helping them find the purpose driven life? How neat would it be to return to a multiple service Sunday and have an overflowing fellowship hall for Wednesday evenings? Maybe I am dreaming, or maybe I am wrestling alone. I would like you to join me in this match, as I cannot do it alone.

2005-07-22T15:04:00.000-05:00

As the waves crash in all around you, know that Christ is with you always! Join us this Sunday for the message of faith, perseverance, and joy. "Tough times don't last; tough people do!"-Robert Schuller

The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness-Based on Romans 8:26-39

2005-07-22T14:55:00.000-05:00

Several years ago, I went out on a little exploration of truth. I went to the bank and asked to withdraw a $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bill. The reason I did this was to see if the phrase “In God We Trust” appeared on every single bill. Seems like an odd request for sure, as my teller was hardly amused by this request. The teller laughed at me more when asked if I could acquire the $500, $1,000, and very rare $100,000 bills for further examination. Upon receipt, I looked over the bills intently and noticed the great men who appeared on the bills and sure enough, every single one of them was emblazoned with the phrase “In God We Trust.” Later in my exploration, I found out that it was an act of Congress in 1955 that allowed our currency to be labeled with this simple and very poignant message. However, I ask this of you, have you even thought about the significance of that statement? More importantly, how many of you believe it with your whole heart?

The spirit of God is with us in our times of weakness, and that is even more apparent in the world we live in today. A couple weeks ago, Julie and I were in the midst of traveling to Northern California for a long overdue vacation and visit with her family. Within 24 hours of our arrival in San Jose, word came across the news that four intense bombings had taken place in the metropolitan London area. A scary event in and of itself, except one of Julie’s cousins, and her husband were in London that same morning. They were in route to a local hotel on the famed London Underground when it suddenly stopped without warning. They smelled smoke and took it upon themselves and with the advice of the locals to walk along the rails until they reached the next station. As they departed from the station, they entered a cab and finished their trek to their hotel. Then the bombing of the double-decker bus occurred within earshot. As news spread to the states about what had happened in London, Julie’s aunt and uncle were worried as to whether or not their child was safe. After calling the hotel, the calm voice of Christina reassured her father that they were alright and out of harms way.

As believers of Christ, we know that there are tests awaiting us, not by Christ, but by the world surrounding us that is unaware of Christ. One of our natural inclinations in times of despair is to resort to some of the same tactics that “evildoers” impose upon us. We have a tendency to stare at evil in the face and lash out in anger, which is the opposite of what Christ calls us to do. Violence has a way of conquering evil, but loving the sinner until it hurts is the greatest response we can uphold. We can only pray that the people who committed this awful crime will be placed on trial and held accountable for their actions. In return, we as Christians need to reach out even more to those perpetrated these actions and enter into dialogue with them.

One of the problems we face in entering dialogue with other groups is that we don’t have the capable leadership to guide these discussions. One side of our leadership says that war is the answer, while the other advocates negotiation and international response. Confidence in leadership is another trial that we have to consider in our times of weakness. Every president has had to earn the confidence in the people, just as much as every minister of the church has had to do the same thing. As a body of believers and as a “:body politik,” we have to be prayerful when it comes to making the decisions that hurt the most. We have to be willing to deal with the difficult decisions ahead of us in an open and honest manner. At the same time, we must be willing to trust one another and work in good faith to make sure the work of God is being done right.

One of the reasons I have never entered the field of politics is that it is so easy to get caught up in the games and special interests of the day. One of my favorite politicians of old was Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neil from Massachusetts. Tip was raised Irish-Catholic in a rather working class section of Massachusetts during the Great Depression. A man of independent means, O’Neil was raised to be an independent thinker and one that looked out for the best interests of the people around him. Even when times were thin during the 30s and early 40s, Tip O’Neil did whatever it took to make sure his family had food on the table and a roof over their head. He was a hard working man whose faith guided him in every direction of life. When he stepped out against the Vietnam War and joined the protesters, he was chastised for being the flip-flopper of his day. He was unsure that he would be re-elected to the US House of Representatives, but won the race in landslide, because he told the truth when telling the truth wasn’t popular. His whole career was in jeopardy, but it was his faith in this time of weakness that carried him through.

We are being called upon by God to great things within this community and the world around us. Sometimes we have the tendency to worry whether or not we will live up to God’s will for our lives. We worry about getting into heaven. Regardless of these worries, God has a place for us. All you have to do is remember that Christ died for us, rose again from the dead and is now sitting at the right hand of God. It is Christ who intercedes upon our behalf when we are in moments of weakness. It is Christ we call upon in times of need and Christ responds in one way or another. What greater promise of love can there be for our lives? God loves us so much, that he sacrificed his own son to protect us from the things ready to sacrifice us here on earth! Does that mean that Christ will step in to protect you from getting fired? Not likely. Does that mean Christ will get involved in a divorce? No. But Christ will give you guidance through these life changing measures. It was Christ who fell upon the heart of this neighborhood and leaders in the community to address the issue of neighborhood crime. We now are seeing the fruits of this movement coming forward with intensity and achievement.

My friends, as we struggle with doubt and with despair, with personal and family problems, with neighborhood problems and the paralyzing fear of failure, as we acknowledge as Christians, Jews, Muslims, and members of every faith tradition that we have sometimes lost our way and fallen short of the original vision which laid the foundations of this country. We have the opportunity today to renew and to reclaim our trust in one another and in our leaders and in God to be and to become the people whom God has called us to be.

Maya Angelou, the great and African-American poet, went back to her hometown with the television commentator Bill Moyers to meet with a group of children in the elementary school that Angelou had once attended. Maya Angelou looked into the eyes of those young children, and she said to them with honesty and with humility, "When I look at you, I see who I used to be. When you look at me, I hope you see the person that you can become."

Friends, if we believe, as the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, that God works all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose, then we can know, we can trust beyond a shadow of a doubt that God's promise is being fulfilled in this nation and community today. It is a grand and glorious promise, a promise God intends to keep, the promise of his kingdom on earth and the hope of the American dream.

In closing, I want to share a prayer with you. It was written by the Trappist monk Thomas Merton, who spent more than 25 years of his life in a Kentucky monastery and who became well known for his popular books on theology and spirituality. But Merton also struggled like all of us to discern God's will and to trust in God's way.

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me, and I cannot know for certain where it will end, nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire, and I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore, I will trust in you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death, I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Segments were based off of “In God We Trust” by Rev. George Wirth, First Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA.

Stairway to a New Life-Based Upon Genesis 28:10-19

2005-07-20T20:42:00.000-05:00

In doing readings and research for this message, I began looking at the story of Jacob, not from the perspective of the ladder and the dream, but from the perspective of a person leaving home for the very first time. That is not to say that the dream and ladder aren’t important, because they are important to the larger message. However, if you look at the story at the very beginning and at the end, they are very different settings. As Pastor Bill discussed on Sunday, Jacob has one of the more colorful pasts of anyone in the Bible through the first 28 verses of Genesis. Here is the grandson of Abraham, and the son of Isaac, already a deceiver of his brother, accomplice to his mother’s conniving and future leader of Israel…leaving home for the very first time out of fear for his life. He is in the desert with the purpose of seeking out family for comfort when he comes to rest for the evening.

I don’t know about you, but most of the trouble I committed was when I was away from home for the very first time, and not while I was living with my parents. Many of you may remember your first taste of independence and freedom. It may have come after high school, by going away to college, or even some of you knew what independence was after a spouse passed away. Either way, that is when we have a tendency to lose our inhibitions a little and explore things that are good and some that are bad. For all intents and purposes, Jacob was not seeking anything related to God, but he was seeking out a sense of peace for his life. He knew that he needed to cut the umbilical cord and find a new way through life without the drama of the home front in his face on a consistent basis. He did like every good youth did and much like his grandfather Abraham, he went on a little road trip.

Jacob can be considered the black sheep of this family, for all of his actions. He would not be the one granted a blessing, but he would be the one who could lead people better than his brother. He had many talents and strengths that God must have noticed, because God came down to visit him in his sleep and show him that even though he was wrong in many aspects of his life, that he was still chosen by God to lead his people. What is amazing is that many of us have experienced God in some of the same ways. We have been in the midst of trouble within our lives and have found God waiting for us to respond. Jacob’s life is now determined and guided by the will of God and not the bad influences around him, namely his own mother. Instead of a guided and planned journey with his family, he embarks on a journey without any kind of direction, except the direction of God.

As humans, we have the ability to make things happen, for good and bad. However, it is the hand of God that ultimately allows us to shape humanity for good or for bad. God is the subtle power from behind the scenes that makes things go a certain way. God allows Jacob to make a journey through life, so he can be shaped and molded into a man of God, before he can become the owner of the promised land. In the same way, God acts through our lives. We are able to grow up in a loving home and taught the basic necessities of life, but it is through our experiences that we are truly connected to Christ. We come to know about life, not only through our book smarts, but also through our street smarts. Life and seeing life in a different perspective, is what allows us to grow and mature in our relationship with God.

How many of you have some kind of sacred space, or a reminder of some sacred area? Just as Pastor Bill keeps reminders of things that are sacred to him, for Jacob, his discovery of God is marked with the blessing of the stone at Bethel. For him, he was finally awakened to the awesome power and purpose for God in his life. Where is the spot where you were find by God? For me, there are several places. Dover Place Christian Church is one of those spots, a river bed in Christian County is another place for me, and also the many beaches of California are where I feel like Christ found me again after wandering around trying to find my purpose in life. What is amazing about Jacob’s dream, is that we need to look beyond the dream, but also look at this as a rebirth.

Jacob fell asleep as a person filled with a history of drama and controversy, but awakes as a new person. He has been baptized with a new vision of God and an anointing by God. Only God knows why he chooses some of us to continue on his will. It is amazing to me that he selected the least likely figure to do so. A figure who was very much human and sinful, but it sets an amazing precedent throughout the Bible of ordinary men who in turn lead millions to know God and then Christ. David the Shepherd, becomes King David. Saul of Tarsus the leader of killing Christians, comes to know Christ in a vision and becomes Paul, the greatest evangelist of the Christian world. God has a way of using ordinary people such as you and me to do great things in this world.

Even within our own society, you can look at the achievements of Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. All of these men came from pretty basic backgrounds and emerged as leaders of the free world. Each man comes with his own faults and successes, but they are men of faith who have worked diligently to bring peace, prosperity, and hope for millions of people who suffer on a daily basis. The life of a former president used to spent in isolation and quiet, but these men have shifted the paradigm of former president being an elderly statesman, to a statesman who continues to bring change in the world. Despite their age and infirmities, these are men, who were anointed with power and prestige. They use this gift not so much for the betterment of their own personal lives, but for those who don’t know the amazing power of God.

You are being searched for by God to continue his promises and his will. The average person who has a pretty checkered past, may be the one called to lead others to know Christ better. There is no better time to know Christ than on your knees. However, whatever blessings Christ bestows upon you, remember the time, place, and event where you were brought to know Christ better. Revisit the areas where Christ found you. Take a reminder with you, such as a stone, a grain of sand, or even a flower. Jewish tradition allows for stone pillars to be built as a sign of remembrance and honor for a blessing. Placing a stone on a Jewish tombstone is a symbol of remembrance for those who have passed on. We need to leave our mark, our anointing on those who are seeking Christ.

Just as God has reached out to us, we need to reach others. Some of the greatest leaders of the church are those who are students of life and continuing students of life. They are the ones who have lived life as it was given to them, but are no longer satisfied looking for that next quick fix. They are the ones ready to establish roots and make a full time commitment to Christ. Let us be the ones to reach out to the and give them peace.

2005-07-15T17:08:00.000-05:00

Sorry for not updating the blog for almost a month, however we have had some interesting worship take place that was prayer oriented and experiential. There was a watermelon social one Wednesday as we look forward to National Night Out in August. More importantly for me, I was able to take my first vacation in 2 years to Northern California, where I met Julie's family. Really neat experience and lots of fun to boot. The next update will occur within a week.

We Have Peace With Christ-Based on Romans 5:1-8

2005-06-12T16:39:00.000-05:00

This morning’s message is a personal message and one that I have talked about many times before, but I feel the need to share it with you yet again to make a point. Finding peace in our life is difficult, but finding peace with God, at times can be a serious struggle. This is my story at finding peace.

Ten years ago this past March, my life was changed forever when my mom called me and told me she left my father. I was in the middle of college and doing well, but knew the home life wasn’t the greatest for my mom and sister. They decided to move in with my grandmother at the time and try to see if the situation could work itself out. Now, there are some of you here who already know the story, but I want to say it again, because the scripture ties in to this experience. Through the whole separation and divorce situation, I saw my father become remorseful and angry. Early on in the separation, he wanted the family to be together and promised he would try to get help for the multiple issues in his life. The next day would be different where he would blame everyone except himself for the problems of the family.

My mother, sister, and myself had an important decision to make, and that is where should we go from here. After prayer and deliberation, we made the decision to start all over again in life and find a new road to travel. I tried throughout college to stay in contact with my father and to maintain some kind of relationship. Sometimes it was good, and sometimes it was awful. I knew things would head south when graduation approached and dad was non-committal in coming. Even when I returned home, he still said some evil things towards me and everyone else in my life. I finally had a decision to make and that was to try and make peace with him. One day, I ventured over to his house and it was about a month after we had a huge argument and my heart was heavy with pain and sadness. As I knocked on the door, I wanted to run. He answered the door, and I told him that I was here to make peace with him and to try to work out any differences we might have. I wasn’t quite ready for his response, because he told me that he didn’t want anything to do with me, and then proceeded to slam the door in my face. That was five years ago.

Since that time, I have reinvested my life into the church and rediscovered my faith after straying away from it for some time, and I feel more alive than I ever have. All of this is due to the presence of Christ in my life and the sacrifice he made for us many years ago. Part of the reason I share this very personal episode of my life is that this was my time of personal sacrifice in order for me to be reborn into a new and improved person. It is also through this very painful period of life that I found peace with God for the first time. God has a way of leading us through times of trouble and knowing how to deal with those times of trouble is what makes us all the greater in our faith.

When Christ was sent to Earth, he was sent here to transform the lives of those who did not know God in their lives. He was sent, not to put a temporary fix on a wound, but he came here to solve our problems. When we go through life experiencing pain and heartache, we have different medicines to address those problems. Some people result to alcohol and drugs. Some people result to sex and violence. Others resolve their problems through their words and actions. Very few turn to the real answer and that answer is Christ. Christ poured out his blood for us at the Last Supper, which is also his love for all of us. When we are faithful to God, we are loved so much, that we find comfort in a world that is very harsh and mean-spirited.
Christ gives us the ability to share with others in our sufferings. I share this story not to show you my battle scars, but to tell you the wonderful power that Christ has in our lives when we believe in him. I would not be in the position I am today, had it not been for Christ stepping into my life and showing me the way. I would not have peace given the situation with my father, had Christ not entered my life and opened my eyes. My sufferings have not transformed me, but instead, Christ has transformed my sufferings. Every time I go through a challenging time, I have to rely upon my faith and common sense to make it through. I don’t personally suffer during major problems, but it is the sinner within me that suffers the most. To use the Star Wars lingo, my “dark side” becomes less and less visible. Christ is able to build endurance and character along the way. We are able to use those attributes in addressing future situations that come into our lives.

Christ came here to earth in order to bring peace to the earth. Along the way he is able to bring that peace, yet he died the most violent possible death and abandoned on the cross. He bears the brunt of our self-destructive nature. Everything he does is according to the father’s will, and yet it brings him more suffering on the road to his death. Paul states that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, but for Jesus the only thing suffering produced was death on the cross--or so it seemed! But, in fact, Christ's death on the cross won a victory over death that produced from the tomb resurrection into new life. And all for us!

So what do we do with this new found faith, peace, endurance and penchant for suffering? Our next step as a church is to go into the world and share the message with those who do not know the life giving spirit that Christ has for them. So many people in this neighborhood are in the throes of poverty. Some people are victims of discrimination, racism, and violence. There are others who once knew Christ, but all they know is loneliness. The lonely ones have been forgotten by: the church, friends, and sometimes even family members. There are others in this community who are the victims of broken homes and domestic violence. As a church, we need to share in their suffering and show them that there is the answer for peace in their lives and that answer is Christ. We are already addressing the needs of those who go without toys during the Christmas season, those who are unable to pay their bills, and even those who need basic toiletries, but our work is never done.

Just because you have found peace with Christ doesn’t mean that your relationship with him is the only one that matters. As a matter of fact, because you have peace with Christ, you should be the one standing on the frontline leading the charge towards those who need to know Christ’s peace. We have so many opportunities to boast in our sufferings and show others how Christ has worked through our lives to make them so much better. What makes our lives even more extraordinary is that we have each other in this room, ready willing, and able to lend a hand when the time comes for help. I cannot tell you how many times where I have been in a pinch and have been able to get help from a person who goes to Dover Place. As believers, we have a duty to one another to keep our faith up and to share the peace of Christ with others.

In closing, I feel blessed for going through a divorce and dealing with difficult situations, knowing that Christ is in my life. Even though I thought Christ may have abandoned me, there were still people around who guided me in the right direction. One person in particular tried to reach out to me and bring me back home, and that was Steve Earhardt, who is a former member of Dover. Steve bought me audiotapes of “Mere Christianity” which was written during World War II, while the British were being bombarded by the Nazis. I listened to those tapes every morning as I drove to school, and found myself again over a period of time. C.S. Lewis wrote this series of essays, as a way of boosting the faith and morale of the British people, while they were facing the greatest threat to their existence. What these essays did for me, was bring me back to having peace with Christ.

The past four years of my life have been some of the most exciting and peaceful years of living that I have ever had. I found new life in the church. I found new life in finding to woman of my dreams. And I found peace with Bert Flowers, who is the greatest step-father I could ever ask for. Even though he doesn’t say a whole bunch, he has brought stability and calm to a rather chaotic bunch of people. (The only time Bert isn’t calm, is when he is trying to study for school…Then you have to steer him into finding peace with Christ and everyone in the house!)
I encourage each and everyone of you to find Christ and find peace. Any suffering you go through pales in comparison to the suffering he did for us. Let us also reach out to those who are in need of knowing the peace of Christ and give them the support and love that we have received. Thanks be to God for the peace we have in Christ!

Follow Me...Everything Will Be Alright-Based on Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

2005-06-08T15:11:00.000-05:00

Over the course of my very short life, I have found myself in situations where I was the one who stood out from others for obvious reasons, because I was a stranger. As a little kid, I found myself in North St. Louis on Ashland Avenue playing in the neighborhood, while my mom was having a baby shower. Needless to say, I was the only little white boy amongst the black children in the neighborhood. Some were quite surprised to see me there, but we managed to have fun anyway. In college, I was with a group of students teaching at an all Hispanic school in a border town in Texas. At different points in my life, I have worshipped with Jews, Catholics, Muslims, and Buddhists; yet all have been very welcoming of me. These experiences made me feel like a stranger in a strange land at times, but I was welcomed into these communities with open arms. Visiting Dover can be that way for people as well.

I cannot even begin to imagine seeing Jesus touch the lives of those around him in such a way that they are forever altered. To see Jesus take a tax collector and make him a follower must have been something else. Just the dinner conversation alone that evening must have been interesting as the other disciples would have met this man for the first time. Considering the other disciples came from reputable careers in fishing, to have a tax collector amongst them must have been a little “cheeky.” Consider the facts about a tax collector, here is a man who pays the Romans all taxes up front, and then collects an unlimited amount of taxes thereafter, making a hand over fist profit. People in the community are already jealous of this guy, because he has the ability to read and write, but they hate him even more because he works for the enemy and cheats them out of their very precious money. Here is a man who was hated and loathed by his own people, but is openly embraced by the Son of God.

The other miracle of faith here is the healing of the woman who had been bleeding for many years. A woman; according to the Jewish laws, who is unfit for social contact. This is a society that segregates itself based upon laws, and they are unaware of the issues those excluded from society are dealing with. Jesus knows that the woman is having problems, but he also realizes that she is a soul valuable to the community, regardless of her problem. Even though she has this problem, she is still valued to the kingdom of God. If you think about the segregation that takes place in our modern society, the caste system in India is a perfect example. You have the four levels of society, but at the bottom are the untouchables, who are people limited in income and job opportunities. Within our own history, we segregated our country based upon race.

Finally, the girl who was declared dead, found new life with a house call from the Great Healer. Jesus refused to believe that she was dead, but he acknowledged the fact that the faith of those around her was dead. They followed the law so closely, that they were blinded by the fact that anything new in their lives was possible. They had accepted death as the only option for their lives, not eternal life. For each of these cases, Jesus takes sick people and lets them know there is something in them that makes them a stranger to us no more, and that is their faith.

Jesus has entered your life for a reason. Most of us have been strangers to Christ at some point in our lives, where we came to him as sick souls in pain and desiring a cure for that pain. We found Christ at our most vulnerable times in life. I have friends in college who are in the accounting and business field, making almost six figure salaries, and yet they are unhappy and unfulfilled in life. They probably feel like Matthew the tax collector, in that they have these skills and they have money, but they have an empty life. Another friend of mine was a semester away from graduating from college, but got married and has basically wasted away in physical pain and mental pain ever since she got married. She is like the woman who was bleeding, and needs to know the healing power of Christ in her life. Another person I know is in the midst of killing herself slowly through her drinking, and she is someone who doesn’t know how important her skills are to the people around her. Her faith needs to be awaken and made vital again, instead of all the dead faith that surrounds her.

There are many strangers among our lives; that we have the ultimate task of making them realize that they have the cure for all their pain within them, and it is called their faith. Our faith was given to us, and developed by God, as a means of survival when we are sick. However, our faith cannot cure certain diseases or social situations, but it can help us through difficult times. People in our society need to hear that message of faith and be able to help themselves, rather than through artificial means.

I have to say though, the greatest image to me in this scripture is the fact that Christ welcomed the sinners and outcasts to his table for meals. Having a meal in those days was the ultimate welcoming experience. To have someone in your home and lavishing them with a meal was the ultimate sign of respect. To invite the unclean and sinner into your home, was really something special. Sometimes, churches forget their mission, which is to open their doors to all people. We are the place for everyone who is messed up in this world. People who experience broken marriages, diseases that are life threatening, the poor, the homeless, the families with messed up kids, and even messed up parents…they are all welcome here. If you have no car, if your home is roach infested, and you have flea bites…you are welcome here.

As a young child, I knew the importance of welcoming strangers into my home. My family has had the history in welcoming in people of all kinds of backgrounds for one reason or another, and it became second nature to me. Twenty years ago, I watched the Live AID concert on MTV and saw these megastars of music implore people to reach out to the people in Africa who were suffering from extreme poverty and famine. That kind of outreach showed me how important we are to one another. However, nothing compares to the outreach my mother did for a man she worked with who had AIDS.

AIDS in the 1980s was a scary thing as many of you remember. Nobody really knew whether or not you could catch it from casual contact or from someone sneezing. A young man by the name of Toby was the unit secretary for her floor and had contracted AIDS through unsafe sexual practices. He was the first person I knew who had AIDS. I had heard all of these horrible things about AIDS and couldn’t understand why my mom wanted to be around a man who had this fatal disease. When I would visit her at work on occasion, I would generally hide behind her and try not to even look at Toby. Toby knew that I was a naïve little kid, and he tried to explain his situation to me. He had enough compassion and faith to reach out to a little kid. As his condition deteriorated, the nurses who worked with Toby did everything they could to make him feel better. I remember mom making him food, because he used all of his paycheck for treatments. Toby died relatively quickly, but he has had a lasting impact on my life on how others should be treated.

We live among strangers and sinners in our world, but it s our mission in life to reach out to them and make them feel welcome at the table. We encounter some really interesting people and situations every day of our life, but what limits them from knowing God any better than we do? Some of the best places to find people new souls are in the places where Christians don’t like going, such as bars, nightclubs, ghettos, bus stations, street overpasses, and even third world countries. I am not like Johnny Cash, in that I have not been everywhere, but I have seen a lot of things in this world that can be changed. Sometimes we forget the words of Christ when he said, “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me.” There are no strangers among us, as we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all sinners, but knowing our faith, is the cure for all of our pain.

Sunday Morning Message

2005-05-29T20:10:00.000-05:00

Join me this coming Sunday morning for the worship service, as Pastor Bill is away studying at Eden Seminary.

The Righteousness of God is Revealed Through Faith-Based on Romans 1:16-17, 3:22-28

2005-05-29T20:00:00.000-05:00

What does baseball and the scripture have in common today? On the surface not a whole lot, but there are some deeper connections if you look real hard. Both subjects involve trades and changing lives in some form or another. Both deal with “look at me players” who are not living to the potential set forward by their managers. Also, both involve a sense of redemption. Baseball is the only sport in the world that celebrates a person who is able to hit a ball 30% of the time. In the same way, we are only able to live decent, Biblical lives about 30% of the time. Regardless of these facts, both sports are very forgiving of their players, allowing them many chances to prove themselves, despite errors committed, and a lack of production.

Our faith is something that we take seriously without really thinking about it. However, we are also seemingly bound to rules that dictate the way we live and act. There are some of us who feel the need to constantly serve others in the hopes of finding another star in our crown when we get to heaven, or another room in our mansion. Kind of like the baseball player who plays his whole career in a team sport, but only desires individual accolades, instead team goals. This is not truly faithful living and practices. To understand faith, you have to understand where you have been and where you are going in life.

Each and every one of us was born into the world as sinners. We have lived as sinners since Adam and Eve ascending into the Garden of Eden and disobeyed the commandments of God. Every human being after those two have been tempted by evil and engaged in sin. Some of us do it on a daily basis. Perfection in life has only been achieved once in life, and that was by Christ. Perfection is celebrated, especially in the world of sports, because it is a rare occasion. Perfect games in baseball, perfect seasons in football, and perfect managers for spoiled players are all a part of the game. Athletics also parallel life in the sense that we are not perfect, yet we try to boast of our many accomplishments to society. Just as baseball players are paid millions of dollars to succeed at hitting the ball 30% of the time, we have a tendency to do the same thing. We look at our personal accomplishments, or works, and compare them against others in the hopes of achieving a greater payday in the end. In the world of baseball, that is the player who spends their whole career working for individual accomplishment versus the team goals. These same players also make playing the game difficult and the team is never really successful, just look at the St. Louis Cardinals before Whitey Herzog took over and also when Tony LaRussa became manager.

To correct the world from this self centered, boasting society; Christ was sent to the earth as a part of a blockbuster trade. In exchange for his death, we are granted the proverbial “player to be named later.” I use this term, because it could mean that our lives will change when we are traded from a life of sin to a life of salvation. Our faith to a great part of this trade, is a response to knowing Christ in a different light. We are transformed by Christ’s love for us. Over time, we are granted missions of discipleship by Christ, and told to make a change for the greater team. Be the person in the clubhouse who changes the attitude and mood of the team.

It is through our faith that works come about and we are able to achieve many wonderful, heavenly things here on earth. This is where the Romans began straying away from the original intent of the gospel. They began engaging in works as a way to put another feather into their cap of Christianity, instead of expanding the glory of God for the benefit of others. In the same way, we have a tendency to engage in work here at the church in the hopes of improving our own individual place in heaven.

General managers of sports have the difficult task of supplying their team with talent in order to succeed on the field. Churches have the same task set before them, and that is to go into the world and teach people how to be a part of a successful team. A team that succeeds is a team that is happy. On the other hand, there are the teams that go out and find people just to fill the stands and profit from them in many ways. Mark McGwire was brought in to St. Louis in the middle of the 1997 season as a possible key to playoff teams of the future, but he also brought in people who were just interested in seeing moon-shot homeruns. The Cardinals never got far into the playoffs with McGwire, and his alienation of fans after retirement left a bad taste in the mouths of many. So much promise, but so little on substance.

In another similarity to sporting teams, people in churches have a tendency to use God at times of convenience. They thank God for allowing them to hit homeruns, steal bases, and pitch 100 miles per hour. I am unsure as to whether or not saying this on TV will win any converts any time soon. Jesus’ final words to his disciples were “go to the ends of the earth and make disciples of all people, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Not one time did Jesus say for his followers to stay at home and drop his name whenever it was convenient. His message is one that is to be conveyed in both public and private, but not in a boasting way. God doesn’t care about any one team in sports, but he cares for every team and all their players. Just as God loves everyone of us to offer us the opportunity of life in Christ.

To put things into context, God is in charge of our lives and there is nothing we can do about it. As much as we might not like things going on the world, we are still obligated to use our faith to respond to the ills of the world. Instead of using measuring sticks to determine the levels of faith amongst Christians and non-Christians, we must use our faith to dismantle those measuring sticks. We have the responsibility of looking at all people as children of God and being disciples to them in loving ways. Like athletes, we have to engage in learning discipleship from the best and then use those skills to share with others. What God made right for us, we have the ability to make right for someone else. No laws or church derived code will improve heaven here on earth, unless we take the time to explain to people why Christ is so important. That has to be done faithfully and courageously.

Our faith feeds off the righteousness of God. When God made the decision to send his son into the world, a new creation was made. A creation that involved improving the game of life right now, in exchange for perfect life later. We have to prepare our lives for many successful seasons and some dry spells. We need to train our faith for slumps and wonderful times, without thinking about the future perfection. Through this process, we have to maintain our modesty and humility, as we look up to Christ as the greatest player of the game.

I am thankful for the man I was traded for in life. My life has been made better with the help of Christ and the many other disciples who have encouraged me and tutored me to be successful in faith. I am able to bear fruit for once in my life (even though, statistically it is about 30% of the time) and feel fortunate enough to share it with others. Hopefully the fruit that I am able to share with others will develop and allow them to bear fruit to share with others. It is only by the grace of God that we are able to train others to make heaven here on earth. Thanks be to God for the ability to train in faith and to receive his righteousness.

The Great Commission-Based on Matthew 28:16-20

2005-05-26T13:25:00.000-05:00

The Great Commission is probably the most daunting task we have to face in our lives as Christians. We have been given the duty to go to the ends of the earth and make disciples of all people. Wouldn’t it be a little easier to stay at home and try to make disciples of all people? Sure, but where is the challenge in that? Why is it so difficult for us to have a working relationship with Christ, when he is our boss? Why is it so hard to reach out to people who may never know the awesome love and power God has for their lives? So many questions, and yet there so little action on our parts to understand what it is we need to do as Christians.

First of all, please allow me the opportunity to expand on these verses a little bit and show how awesome these verses can be for your life. Understand this about the verses, that this is the first time that the remaining disciples had been gathered in one place after the death and resurrection of Christ. Many still remained skeptical of his power and enduring legacy for their lives, and yet they gathered one last time outside Galilee for his final commandment. These founding fathers of our church were an imperfect bunch who pretty well abandoned their teacher out of fear and doubt, yet something led them back to hear him one last time. In this last meeting in the same area where he gave the Sermon on the Mount and experienced his temptation, Jesus makes three very important statements that have impacted our lives almost 2000 years later.

First, Jesus established the fact that he has been given the authority over the heavens and the earth. Jesus establishes himself as the boss over all of heaven and earth, thus demanding obedience from those who call on his name. Jesus has the power to empower his disciples with missions in life and allow them to change the lives of others in the world who don’t know him all that well. More importantly, Jesus demands that whatever mission is given to his followers be carried out to the fullest. For me, Worship On Wednesday is my calling to disciple others. I am perfectly human and susceptible to failing, but while I have this mission in life, my eyes need to be focused squarely on Christ to deliver this mission. People in the military are the same way, as they focus on a mission until it is complete.

The second major impact on our lives is that we are responsible for making disciples of all nations. For the disciples hearing Jesus at this time, there must have been sheer terror, as the known world was pretty big for them. As it was, the Romans were ruling the world with an iron fist, and worship of the Roman rulers was required. Anything out of the ordinary resulted in death. For these men to go out into the world and make disciples, they were risking their lives for something they weren’t completely convinced of at this point. Remember that doubt was a major influence for some disciples not to see Christ up until this very point. Going into the world, meant going to places that never knew Christ, or even had rejected Christ. We know the disciples spread throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and even into Africa. Most of the disciples met a tragic fate, but imagine the consequences of not spreading the word of God? We would not exist today, and Jesus Christ would merely be a footnote in history.

Finally, Jesus tells us while making disciples, be good teachers of the things he has taught us and remember that he is with us always. Jesus is more than our boss, he is our best friend when we need one the most. He is with us when we confront hatred and violence. He is with us when we try to answer hard questions or make important life decisions. He is there when we need to love someone just a little bit more, due to their not loving us. Jesus does not allow us to pick and choose what to believe, instead he commands us to obey all of his commandments and instill that same obedience into the people that we are reaching out to. The task of reaching out to people today is probably as dangerous, if not more so than it was during the time of Christ. Each year we hear about martyrs in other countries trying to spread the word of God, yet they are cut down in the process. As our world grows more unstable, it is imperative that the missions of Christ continue.

Just imagine what your life would be like if you had never known Christ, or no one introduced Christ to you. For some folks here, they still don’t know Christ like I do, but they are moving one step closer to knowing. For the believers, I tell you this—Jesus has not abandoned you. Jesus is with you always and at every end of the earth. I think of my sister Erin who has been in Iceland for the past four years or so, which is one of the most remote places on the earth. Even though she has been with her husband and son, she still feels the presence of Christ with those she comes into contact with.

What are you supposed to do with your life as a Christian? First, you are always a student of the teachings of Christ and the apostles. You are a student of life and how to improve your life and the lives of others around you. Second, you are to share the message and teachings of Christ with others, making them disciples of Christ. They will look up to you for guidance and direction. Finally, you are to know that Christ is with you always and forever. There is not one single place you can hide from God, as much as you might try. That is why I encourage everyone in this church to seek those hiding from something in their life and be a spirited force for their lives.

In closing, I was reminded of how powerful the role of discipleship is in the lives of those around us. A friend of mine from college called me this week wanting to know if I was involved in teaching a bible study and I said I was not at this time. He said, “Man, I just feel like there is something inside of me that needs to be fixed and something has to get right.” I told him about our options and he said that he needed the fellowship more than anything else and is willing to come to WOW sometime, time permitting, as he lives in St. Charles County. But then he began telling me about a person whom he worked with who was a confessed atheist, but was interested in understanding the beliefs of a Christian. Here was an opportunity for two people to work on bringing someone out of the dark and into the light.

Now I ask you this…What would you do in this situation? Would you stay at home, or would you go to the mountain for this person? What would you do for my friend who hungers for spiritual food? Would you feed him, or let him die? The mission is clear, go into the world and make disciples. Christ is with you, now and until the end of time.

Julie and Glenn Update

2005-05-22T16:28:00.000-05:00

Julie and I have been busy over the past 2 weeks, due to a death in the family and an evolving job situation. Sorry for not keeping the posts completely fresh, but we hope you still get something out of them.

Gifts of the Spirit-Based on 1 Corinthians 12:3-13

2005-05-22T16:08:00.000-05:00

This past week, I was reminded of the kindred spirit that all people have, especially when it comes in times of grief. Seeing all the wonderful people at my Uncle Bill’s funeral made me see people in a new light. The people who had been very important to my uncle had gathered their many gifts and contributed to the greater life that was being remembered. Some people gave gifts of money or other items to the family during the grieving process. Others gave the gift of encouragement while many of us were feeling pretty low at moments. Probably my uncle’s favorite gift was the gift of gab. He could spin tales for hours and hours if allowed to do so. Many of his former work friends were spinning a yarn for him while he lay at peace.

God has blessed our lives with many gifts. The most important gift is the gift of Christ who gives us grace and eternal salvation. Yet, we have a tendency to forget about the gift of the Holy Spirit within our lives. As believers we the faith, it is important for us to recognize that within our lives are gifts of the spirit. Throughout the New Testament, we see the examples of spiritual gifts bestowed upon believers. These are gifts that are used to draw the community of Christ together and make it stronger. The gifts of the spirit are also bestowed upon other believers through us, as their faith grows and is strengthened. For the Corinthians, they were unaware of the many other gifts that were necessary to impart for their community to grow with Christ. They were focused on the gift of tongues, but they were not doing a whole lot with it, except for themselves. Speaking in tongues still remains a gift, but it is noted in the scripture that interpretation is also necessary.

So what are the spiritual gifts that are present, or should be present in every community? Prophecy is the gift of being able to see far ahead, to see the prize and then focus our eyes on it. Service is the gift of dedicating our lives to others and to God’s creation, becoming caregivers like the Good Shepherd. Teaching is the gift of speaking with wisdom, and sharing what we and those who have gone before us have learned. Preaching is the gift of speaking with wisdom, sharing the riches of the wisdom of God. Encouraging is the gift of coaching, meaning you bring out the best in others. Healing is the gift of making people whole when they have physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual ailments. Giving is the gift of making sure that others who are doing the work of the Lord have the right resources at the right time. Leadership is the gift of showing others the right way to God. Finally, mercy is the gift of going beyond fairness, and standing up not only for justice, but also for kindness. Please understand that no single person receives all of these gifts. However, all these gifts together along with the people blessed with these gifts, make up the whole body of the Christian community.

Hearing what some of these gifts are, you can identify in your mind who has these gifts within this church. For prophecy, I look back to some of the leaders who came before us in establishing an endowment for the church. Had this not been put into effect, Dover Place would not exist as it is today. I see Rosemary Taylor as the embodiment of service, as she faithfully comes to church to work on the Digest, organize the Busy Bees, and also be the wonderful greeter on Sunday mornings. I see Deb Hazlewood and Tim Baskins as the wonderful teachers who give knowledge to our children and adults for Sunday School. Pastor Bill and Cari have the gift of preaching wonderful messages at any given time. I see Bob Petrich as a man who has encouraged this neighborhood to better itself and find new life amongst the changing world we live in. I see my mother and Aunt Jan as healing forces within my life, but also the lives they are around. Their words and ability to be healing have been amazing to the lives they have touched. I see Jackie Witt, the Hovis’, and Hazlewood Family as being givers when the church needs something that is important. They give of their time, resources, and talents in a way that is spiritually uplifting. I see Lisa Foglesong as a leader who can be misinterpreted at times, but she has a vision for the church that can be realistically carried out. Finally, I see Bert Flowers, George Fischer, and the Parker Family as ones who have the great gift of mercy. These are people who are willing to reach out to others in times of need and willing to sacrifice themselves when others are in trouble.

After hearing these examples, where do you stand with a gift to contribute? There are spiritual gift inventories that can be used in case you want to find out your spiritual gift. If you don’t know your gift, take the time to find out what it is, because you are important part to this community. Not using your spiritual gift is almost a “kick in the shins” to God. You are not making the church community a better place, nor are you reaching out to someone who needs to know God better. You don’t have to be the greatest teacher in the world, or the best preacher to save someone, but you can be a friend. Cari’s illustration this past Sunday as being rays of light to others is so important to our ministry here. Drawing in on those rays of light that have been given to us is very important, because it brings all of us closer together.

The community of Christ is as strong as long as all the tools are used to make us strong. Knowing these gifts of the spirit makes us more susceptible to sin in the world and other temptations. By building on those strengths, we are able to change others around us for the better. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is what makes this church and this community stronger. I feel blessed by your presence every week and hope that your lives will continue to grow and be blessings to others.

All The Lonely People, Where Do They Belong?-Based On John 14:15-21

2005-05-04T08:15:00.000-05:00

I was reminded of one of the most morose songs this week after reading the lectionary and some of you might know it. Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles is one of the most depressing songs looking at lonely people, even asking the question “where do they all belong.” There are two main characters in the song, Eleanor Rigby who we can assume is an older woman without much of a life in front of her, or behind her for that much. She may even be destitute in the sense that she is picking up the rice after a wedding and then returning to an empty home. Father McKenzie is the minister of the church where he must have spent a lot of time, but he is a man who lacks faith as the song says he is “writing a sermon that nobody will hear.” “What does he care?” Eleanor Rigby dies and is only left with her name in the church yard, nobody came to the service, and Father McKenzie presided and didn’t even save her. He wiped the dirt off his hands and walked away. All the lonely people, where do they all come from? All the lonely people, where do they all belong?

According to Christ, they belong in communion with believers who are willing to give them a new life and a new beginning. However, there are many here among us that are very much like Father McKenzie in that we lack the faith, or even the obedience to try to make a difference in the lives of others. We have the tendency to wipe our hands clean and walk away from the grave of someone we don’t even know and return to our own lives of mediocrity. Of all the lonely people in the world, Father McKenzie could have easily reached out to the poor lonely woman picking up rice off the front of the church. He didn’t. Did Father McKenzie know Eleanor Rigby, or did he just walk past her as an aloof man of God? How do you go through life and look at all the lonely people and not do something about it? Where do you think they belong? More importantly, are you reaching the lonely people? Are we as a church reaching all the lonely people?

How many of you realize that Sunday is the loneliest time of the week? While many people are in houses of worship with family and friends, there are still others at home in bed alone. They may not be physically alone, but they are in a state of loneliness from a spiritual perspective. Many people may be alone by choice, or because the church has abandoned them in one way or another. Still others, come to houses of worship trying to reach out for connections, but are denied because the house of worship has become a social club befit with stature and outrageous comparisons of status. Sometimes church conversations swirl around lunchtime reservations, business meetings, and church finances; and yet there is a desperate soul or two waiting to be embraced and welcomed back into the family. How do we reach out to those in this world without Christ in them?

The first thing we need to do is take a good look at ourselves and find out if we are guilty of keeping Christ all to ourselves. Are we so wrapped up in the our world that we are so selfish to share the love of Christ with others? Are we not willing to sacrifice our initial plans to spend a little extra time with someone who needs to know Christ’s love a little more? I will be the first to admit that I have a hard time approaching people new to the congregation. Julie (my fiance) is the extroverted half that I never had, and she has helped me meet people and made me feel comfortable. There have been times where I will visit churches out of town and hear amazing messages, but the minister and his flock don’t have one minute to share. That is not the kind of church that Christ set forth. In I John 2:3-5, “3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him.”

Being alone also implies that the church cannot keep to itself and wax about how good things will be when Jesus returns. We must stand up and have faith in the teachings while we are here. There is a vast wealth of knowledge that we as a body of believers can share with others. We can share the need to love one another, helping a neighbor, being peacemakers in times of conflict, and so many other nuggets of greatness. Whether or not we live those, can only be determined by those we are trying to minister to. We cannot become so lazy with our faith and simply use it when the chips are down. Our faith is an ever evolving and ever changing part of being a Christian. Max Lucado makes the point that “faith with no effort, is no faith at all.” Using your faith out of convenience is not the way to live. Cars, dishwashers, cable TV, and Starbucks are things of convenience, but not your faith.

The last point I want to emphasize this evening is that as long as you believe Christ is in your heart, Christ is always with you. Christ may have left us in the physical sense, but the spirit is always with us even as we go throughout the life we are blessed with. We are interconnected with our faith, our spirit and everyone around us. When we look at other people, remembering that they too were created in the image of God is important in reaching out to someone who is lost. We also need to help the people who are lost realize they are not lost after all, but they are searching for Christ in all the wrong things. People search for Christ in the loneliest of places. Places like nightclubs, house parties, bars, and even houses of prostitution. There are many folks in our lives that we haven’t even met that are searching aimlessly for Christ in all the wrong places.

I continue to be involved in the personal security world (on a really part time basis), but it started out in a bar in Soulard for me. In the year after graduating from college, I needed a second job to help get my feet on the ground and to move out of my mom’s house. So I became a bouncer for a saloon in the "wilds" of Soulard. This world of being able to determine who was "in" and who was "out" almost gave me a messianic complex, in that I was able to allow people into this popular venue, or send them home miserable. As time went on, I noticed a pattern every weekend. The same people came to the bar and they sat in the same place, ordered the same drinks, and had the same conversations. This is the most depressing situation I had ever been around, but I realized that these people were seeking something greater in their lives, but didn’t know where to find it. Oddly enough, there was a church right across the street from the saloon, but none of the parishioners ministered to the patrons. Now that same church has been closed due to a lack of attendance.

Are we able to save everyone, of course not! I would much rather us reach out to the Eleanor Rigby’s in this world, and not be like Father McKenzie. There is no reason for us to keep the faith to ourselves. Go out on a limb, because that is where the fruit is. Like camels, Christians unload their baggage on their knees. Reach out to those lonely people, because unfortunately John Lennon and Paul McCartney didn’t know about Dover Place Christian Church. This is where all the lonely people belong, who cares where they come from?

Staring Down Death In Evangelizing-Based Upon Acts 7:55-60

2005-04-28T08:34:00.000-05:00

“Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” These are the words familiar to Christians around the world, as they are some of the final words spoken by Christ while he was dying on the cross. Jesus became a martyr for the cause of eternal salvation, as would many of his followers trying to spread the word. So what exactly is a martyr? A martyr is someone who quite simply cannot keep their mouth shut, and willing to die for a cause that they not only believe in, but live for. In the scripture, Stephen is the very first martyr in the New Testament. He is convicted of false charges and is stoned to death. However, we should look at his life with great intensity, because for all intents and purposes, Stephen was an everyday person (just like you and me). There have been a lot of other martyrs since Stephen, but would we be martyrs if necessary?

The word "martyr" has become a tainted word since the terrorist attacks of 2001. The terrorists claimed to be martyrs for the faith, while killing others. True martyrs die so that others may in fact live. Many martyrs die due to the fact that they are so open with their faith that they make people in power very uncomfortable. Many young men who were prisoners of war in World War II, Korea and Vietnam used their faith as a way to strike out at their captors, so much so that some men were killed in prison. Recently, there was the case of the young woman in Atlanta who was taken hostage by a man who was in the midst of a killing spree. She witnessed to him and was able to escape with her life. She took a stand for Christ and was able to help a man end his life of crime.

Some people believe that they should be seen and not heard throughout their lives. In countries where religions are restricted, most notably China and Cuba, you will find martyrs in action. In these countries, churches are supposed to register with the government in order to remain in good graces, and yet other faiths practice in defiance to these laws. They face death on a daily basis. When you push the governments buttons, you face punishment, anger, and the possibility of becoming a martyr.

In South Africa during the 1970s, a young man named Steve Biko was killed for standing up against the racist government which established apartheid. Biko was so bold that he wrote a book entitled “I Say What I Like.” He was asking for trouble, and yet his death inspired even more people to join the cause of fighting a racist and oppressive government. Biko’s death made him a martyr in the long history of expanding Christian ideals of peace and equality.

Another important example of a martyr in the modern world is the example of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador. Romero was an outspoken critic of the government run by the government during the 1980s, because they would systematically kill thousands of people at a time with no real rhyme or reason. If Romero would have been like everyone else, he would have kept his mouth shut about what was happening in his home and possibly stayed alive. For Romero, the pulpit was the position for advocating change within his community and around the world. One Sunday morning, while delivering mass, the door of his church was thrown open and he was assassinated in front of his congregation. What amazing imagery of not only his death, but his blood and body joining Christ’s on the alter! He could have kept Christ to himself, but decided to share Christ’s love even with his enemies.

The final example of a martyr actually lived, but was never quite the same. Pope John Paul II was almost martyred for speaking against the atrocities occurring in his homeland of Poland by the Soviets. The Pope was almost assassinated at the hand of a young Turkish man with the assistance of the Bulgarian government and the KGB, which was headed by future Soviet premier, Yuri Andropov. As we all know, Poland gained freedom from the Soviet style government, and John Paul II continued to minister to those without a voice in countries with similar style governments, until those governments collapsed a little over a decade ago. The Pope was never the same as well, after taking a bullet for Christ.

These examples create a vision for our church and how we are able to grow. We should be able to walk tall in this world with confidence and proclaim the word of God. There will be those people who hurl stones at you for proclaiming your faith, but you have Christ by your side as protection. As a martyr, you must be willing to point fingers at others and tell them what they should be doing, even if it makes them uncomfortable. Nobody said it would be an easy position to be in, but it is absolutely necessary. Prophets and leaders had the guts to move out of their comfort zones and convict others to take action. It is the prophets and martyrs who attack our sinful, slimy side of life.

A martyr is someone who does not necessarily take risks in what they say, but when and where they say it. If you talk about Christ in front of those who already know Christ, you are not making much of an impact. However, if you take that message to the street, or to kids, you will make a greater impact. At the same time, you must be willing to get hit with some stones. In some countries, you can get killed. My cousin is a missionary in China and has been for some time. He has been ministering in secret for a long time and faces the prospect of death everyday. He does not stick his finger into the air and go along with public opinion, or wherever the wind blows…He takes a stand and goes against the wind.

As for the church, we must be willing to stick our necks out for the sake of saving others. Stephen was in the midst of ministering to people who knew Jesus on the surface, but not at a deeper level. Our duty as a church is to go into the world and make disciples who make disciples, who in turn make more disciples. That means building relations with people we have never built relationships with. That also means securing and enhancing the surface relationships we already have. If we don’t minister to others, then we are failing the mission of the church and failing the mission that Christ has given to us. Fortunately for us, we are not under a quota system by which we have to save so many people. All I am asking is that you try to evangelize as you become more comfortable in your faith.

The final characteristic of a martyr is that the martyr must in fact be willing to die. I ask you this evening, how many of you are willing to die for Christ? I assume many of us would find it difficult to leave behind family or friends, let alone our possessions, but that is exactly what Christ died for. We must be willing to move out of silence and speak where it is dangerous for us to speak about Christ. Truth resounds with everyone and the truth of Christ sound resonate within the hearts and minds of the people of Christ…So much so that we are willing to lay our lives out for the one who saved us. My encouragement to you is to walk tall in your faith and seek out those who need to know Christ. Remember that one of the men who stoned Stephen would later become the greatest ambassador for Christianity and a martyr himself, and that is Paul.

Utilized “The Martyrs and St. Stephen” from Edward F. Markquart Sermons from Seattle

What Is WOW Like?

2005-04-24T21:38:00.000-05:00

This service was started in February of 2004 as a response of the community to have a second opportunity to worship. Some of the regular church members wanted a contemporary service, but also allow for a casual atmosphere. We also wanted an opportunity to reach out to those seeking Christ for the first time. Last year, we were able to baptize 8 people in one evening. WOW is about evangelizing and reaching out to others. Community outreach is also a key component to worship.

Worship On Wednesday is a very casual worship experience geared towards a younger audience. However, a great deal of older people enjoy the upbeat music, the candlelight, and informal worship. We gather in the Fellowship Hall before the service and usually have good conversation. After a 2 song introduction to move into the worship area, the service starts. We have a welcome, sing a praise song, and enter into a time of prayer. Scripture is read and the message is given. We celebrate communion every Wednesday. Communion is open to all believers regardless of their church home. A closing song and benediction is given, and we adjourn.

Contagious Community-Based Upon Acts 2:42-47

2005-04-20T22:17:00.000-05:00

Thirty years ago this year, a revolution was taking place in the suburbs of Chicago. A movement so historic, the effects of it are still being felt to this day, and that movement is called the Willow Creek Association. Willow Creek is the nations largest nondenominational movement with thousands of member churches and regular attendance in the 20,000 range for a typical weekend in main church located in the Chicago suburb. What is amazing, is that the very first service for the Willow Creek Community Church was only attended by 125 people. That is the approximate attendance for Dover Place Christian Church for the same time frame. Why does one church have multiple services to account for 20,000 people, while another church is barely able to see 60 people on a Sunday? Well, there is no simple answer. Vision, leadership, and age certainly figure into the equation. On the whole, Willow Creek is the embodiment of the Acts passage.

Building a contagious church is something that takes years and energy to implement at its greatest point. Being a contagious church also takes people who are willing to share their faith in an open matter with those who are willing to listen. More importantly, sharing of the faith is done in a way that shows the other person how God is moving through you. Clear communication is essential when it comes to professing ones faith. The last thing I want to hear from a Christian is this...Why do you believe in Jesus? "Because, I always have." That doesn't give the greatest insight on why you believe the way you do. This message is an exciting message filled with prophecy and hope for our future as a church.

Bill Hybels, who is the founder of Willow Creek makes this assessment of the church today. He says, "If you have an airport and planes are not coming to the airport, people assume there is a problem. If you have a business, but not receiving customers; people say there is a problem. So why is it that when no new believers are coming to church, and churches are closing their doors on a daily basis do people assume there is not a problem. There is a major problem!" Friends, that is the grim realty that we at Dover Place face on a daily basis. If we don't minister to people who are seeking out Christ, we will be one of those churches that closes its doors. At the same time, we are also needed to minister to those who have never known the wonderful power of Christ. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he left us with the great commission, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the end of the age."

So, where do we begin to become a contagious church? There are five steps I want to highlight for you and encourage each and every one of you to take note of these five steps and implement them into your own personal life of evangelism. The first step is the act of prayer. The Apostle Paul in Romans encourages Christ's followers to be "joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, and sharing with God's people who are in need." Asking God for forgiveness of your own soul is never enough, as there are other sinners in this world who need your forgiveness through God. Each week, we spend a great deal of time focused around the prayers of the community, as we have the ability to lift each other up, but also those who don't understand God the way we understand God. As a group of voices lifting many up, the miracle of life is celebrated yet again.

The second step in becoming a contagious church is the gift of caring for others. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that people should not hide their light under a bowl, instead, they put that lamp on the stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. Sharing light has been important to this service as we bask in candlelight each time we gather. At the same time, we are the light to others in darkness. Some of the easiest steps in caring for others starts with you giving them some of your personal time. Meeting somebody for coffee, or even giving them a call on the phone can break the levee of silence for some. When I was in college, I would receive one-line e-mails from Bert (my stepfather), and it made all the difference. If you don't have time, share some of your wealth with somebody by buying the person a soda and conversing, or even running an errand for them. Do all of these things out of the kindness of your own heart and don't look for anything in return.

The third step in becoming a contagious church is through sharing with others. Sharing your personal walk of faith with others is powerful stuff. Talk about how God has moved through you to others. Some of us have stories tat will change the lives of those around us. Most people maintain shallow relationships for some reason, but I am encouraging you deepen those relationships even more. Bill Hybels points out another important point in his success in building contagious community in that, "Far too many Christians have been anesthetized into thinking that if they simply live out their faith in an open and consistent fashion, the people around them will see it, want it, and somehow figure it out for themselves." People need real positive connections to other people who struggle with life themselves, but also have a strong faith.

Step four is the step dealing with compassion. You have to be able to listen to the person who is hurting or dealing with the issue of faith. Many people will ask you questions that you will not be able to answer, but don't let hem go without referring them to someone who can answer their questions. Also, you may want to seek out the answer for the question with the person who is asking it. This leads me to step five in contagious community, which is clear communication. Everyone as to be able to state what they believe in a clear, concise manner. Take a stand for Christ and explore your faith with others.

Being a contagious community of faith begins with you. Make it a regular habit of inviting friends to WOW or the Sunday service. Talk to your friends about their lives and try to help them through situations, but go the extra mile for them. Take the time to give someone a call and check up on them over the week. Step up your habits of communicating with one another through the week, whether through e-mail, or even meeting up for coffee. Spread the word of God, not only through your actions, but also through your life. Reach out to those who are seeking a different life for themselves. A life filled with love, inspiration, and peace. Set your soul on fire for Christ, and let his love spread freely over all those you come into contact with. Find peace within yourself, in order to give peace to others in your life.

Welcome to the WOW Blog!

2005-04-20T22:05:00.000-05:00

Dover Place Christian Church has been my home church for the past 20 years, and I hope it will be my home for many more to come. My name is Glenn Barnes, and I am the Minister of Alternative Worship for this casual, yet complementary, worship service. Located in the Carondelet neighborhood of St. Louis, Dover Place has been a religious anchor in the community reaching out to people of all backgrounds. This blog is one more way we can reach out to seekers, believers without a home, or those looking for a new church home. I will post my "Meditations" on here (some call them sermons), as well as other thoughts that come to mind. I hope you enjoy the blog and please be sure to give feedback.