Saturday, September 27, 2008

Friday, September 26, 2008

I'm that guy...

Recently I was in our local feed store West Bear Creek which also doubles as a clothing store. I was looking around and visiting and I ran into one of our local bankers.

Brian said, "hey brother Jim I heard a good one about you the other day".

I responded, "O really what was said?"

"Well, Bronc was trying to tell someone who you are and said "you know, that guy who's always talking about Jesus."

I thought that was great. Bronc is a four year old in our congregation who is one of the neatest kids I know. I was pleased to know that is how he views me. Shouldn't we all as Christians have Jesus on our lips all the time. I just wish it were really true about me.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Mignon News

Mignon's beloved baby sitter Aunt Jean retired so today was her first day in daycare. She wasn't to happy to be left this morning but as soon as I was out of sight she calmed down.
She had lots of fun and even made a new friend.

Midweek Devotion Prayer

What is quality prayer time? It is time when you get alone with God for the purpose of fellowship and worship. Jesus himself would go to a solitary place to spend time in prayer. Why do you think that he found this necessary? Following a busy day and before another day began I believe that Jesus was seeking focus, and was recharging his batteries. However it seems like he didn’t go far enough. The disciples found him and reminded him that there were many waiting for him.

How often do we begin to pray and then allow ourselves to be distracted? Many times I will plan on getting up earlier than normal to read and pray but I end up hitting the snooze button. Or I actually make time and I read and begin to pray and my mind begins to wonder.

We all need to pray and experience the fullness of our relationship with God. We would be much the poorer to leave the development of our prayer life either to those times when we hit our thumbs with hammers, or when tragedy strikes. Though these times are times for prayer too, an ever deepening relationship with God demands a more sustained approach.

There are different types of prayer and I have come to try to be intentional in praying different types of prayers. There are prayers of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, intercession and petition. Many of us are very good at praying for others (intercession) and ourselves (petition) but we leave out other aspects of prayer.

Adoration is praise of God and expresses our love. To adore means to be caught up with the reality of God’s nature. No matter how intensely we know, feel or discern God’s presence the reality is that God is greater than our thoughts, emotions or intuitions. God’s love is greater than any love that we could experience. God’s compassion is greater than any care we could be shown. God’s providence is greater than any generosity we could receive. In the face of such reality the only true response is that of adoration.

In times of true adoration words fall short. There are other languages we use to communicate for example, body language or gesture. When lost in adoration people use gesture as well as words in response. Luke records Peter’s early encounter with Jesus. After hauling in the miraculous catch of fish Peter falls at Jesus feet with words ’Depart from me master for I am a sinful man.’ And Matthew writes of the disciples as they met their resurrected Lord: ’Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.’ (Mat 28:9 NRSV). Other forms of gesture indicating adoration are bowing, kneeling, and closing our eyes. That is one reason we offer the gestures we do in worship prayer is more than words.

Adoration is about losing oneself in the awe and wonder of God, but this response does not mean that we become insignificant as a result. The New Testament tells us that in losing ourselves we find ourselves. This is the way to find one’s self; beginning a relationship of adoration of God.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Midweek Devotion; Why do we follow Jesus?

Following
Often people today follow Jesus for selfish reasons. There is a brand of theology out there called “prosperity theology” and if you’ve ever watched the religious channel you’ve seen it. It’s a theology that says if you come to Christ, He will take away all of your troubles. If you want to be healed, follow Jesus. If you want to take care of your financial difficulties, follow Jesus. If you want to meet the love of your life, follow Jesus.” Now all these are true in a sense. Jesus does heal, but not all the time. Jesus often does help you in your finances, but not always; and I do think that God had a hand in me finding Laurie. But there are no guarantees that everything will be perfect.

But if this is why you want to be a Christian, then you are being a Christian for the wrong reason. The focus of Christianity quickly becomes not how can I love and serve Christ, but what can I get from Him, and the focus of Christianity is not Christ, but our own selfish desires.

You see we need to ask the question, “What happens when we follow Christ for the wrong reasons?” Often the response to that question is, we become disappointed and leave. A woman falls in love with a man because he has stomach you could iron a shirt on, but 5 years down the road when that six pack starts to look more like a keg, she’s disappointed and the marriage quickly falls apart. When I follow Christ because He will heal my cancer, or fix my marriage, or balance my check book, and when that doesn’t happen, I quickly fall away.”

And when you follow Christ for any reason other than who He is, you will be disappointed and you will say, “It didn’t work. Let me try something else.” Now, don’t get me wrong. God does heal, He does perform miracles, He does do all these things, but these are not why you become a Christian. You became a Christian because you were convinced that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah. You follow Him because of who He is.

And that is what true faith is. It’s when you follow God not for the blessings that come with it, but from the blessing of who He is. He has taken care of our greatest need. The bible says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. When we were dead in our sins, Christ died for us. And when He rose from the grave and ascended into Heaven, and He left the door open for us to come in.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Off to a Good Start

Our Kids for Christ (KFC) group got off to a good start with 20 kids and some good volunteers. We had lots of fun and maybe even learned something. :)

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Playing With My New Camera


For my birthday I got a new to me camera. It's a Nikon D50 and I have been taking lots of pictures. You can see some of them on my Flickr page by clicking HERE.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Midweek Devotion, The Family Table

The Family Table

Laurie and I have been trying to make sure that we eat our meals at the kitchen table with Mignon at a specific time. We say a blessing, one that Mignon can repeat with us. This fosters some consistency and gives us a time where we slow down and pay attention to one another as we share our meals.

In the New Testament we are shown many moments where the meal is central to what is going on or what Jesus is teaching. Jesus eats with sinners; Martha prepares a meal while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, the feeding of the multitudes, the last supper. In the book of Acts meals play a prominent role in the development of the early church.

When we gather around the table it is a place where we find our identity. Different generations of the family can get together; old stories are remembered and retold. The family table is a place where we feel that we belong. Do you remember the show "Cheers"? Their theme stated that, "You want to go where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came." The family table offers welcome and security. We are surrounded by those that really care about us and our well being.

The table is also a place where faith can be kindled. Tables can be a means of nurturing the faith of those we love. Family meals provide an opportunity for parents and grandparents to share the faith that we hold so deer.

The good news for us is that we have an open invitation to and can always come to God's table. Jesus had some of his most powerful moments at dinners. He taught his disciples, with words and actions.

When we pray in the Lord's Prayer: "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.", we are asking for and expecting Christ's realm to take shape in our personal lives and in the lives of others; as we and they live under the influence of Christ in our daily activities. In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus is present among us. As we participate in this sacrament, we are forgiven, healed, loved, and strengthened in our faith in order that we, in response, may go out from here to live and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in the world.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Doctors Visit

Thursday we went for Laurie's monthly check up and had another ultra sound done to see what progress baby Ethan is making. The Dr. looked at the ultra sound and said, "O, my". Evidently Ethan is already a big boy. At this stage of the pregnancy 10oz is normal and he is 14oz. Everything is looking good mom and baby are both healthy. Ethan likes to kick and punch and he was very active during the ultra sound. That is really neat to watch. I didn't scan the pictures from the ultra sound yet because I don't have my scanner set back up yet from the computer crash. Maybe I can get that done Tuesday.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Mid Week Devotion Servant Leadership

Christian theology contemplates the model of a triune God. From this comes the powerful image of relationships and being in community. Christian leadership is about spirituality, character and community. A good name for this would be servant leadership. The idea of the presence of God’s Spirit gives us a very strong notion of our inclusion in and empowerment for the community of God. Spirituality is the center, heart and beginning point for Christian servant leadership. This spiritual position determines everything, from the character formation of the leader, to the interpretation of the leaders’ vision, to the understanding that most issues of leadership can be resolved only at the spiritual level.


As Christians we lead out of who we are in Christ. Our relationship with Christ forms and shapes our person. This is a lifelong process and relies on the bumps and bruises of life to make markings that define who we are when no one is watching. We cannot separate our service and leadership from this composite picture of our values, beliefs and godly nature. The Christian leader’s obedience to Christ produces service. We are drawn to God’s vision of eternal life, and we know that bringing God’s kingdom to life on earth is a primary goal of leadership. This is our highest calling, our driving vision.


We also know that the primary focus in this process is making disciples of Christ and bringing them into fellowship with God and God’s community. But also central is extending justice and compassion in and through every arena of life and every place where we work. God is a partner in this process and shares with us divine “power” to help us accomplish this goal. The presence of God is actively engaged in this kingdom-making process. Building community might be the most sacred of leadership pursuits, for leaders are attempting to bring their communities into full service to each other and God.


Our Christian framework understands sin and the nature of evil. It also takes a very different position when it comes to the notion of self-sufficiency. Dependence on and obedience to God is the highest and best use of a Christian leader’s time and energy.


In a sense all believers are leaders in that they have a sphere of influence in which they can encourage people in a Godward direction and assist in drawing out the spiritual gifts and service in others. This means that the real task of leaders is to unleash and develop the leader that is in every person.


Thus leaders are also followers, followers of Christ, and willing to accept the leadership of others. This turns out to be the harder discipline. Almost all aspire to be leaders; few aspire to be followers. Following involves the recognition that we must operate not as a cluster of independent individuals but as the body of Christ. God has designed the body for interdependence, not codependence or independence.


On a deeper level, following requires personal humility and the crucifixion of pride. Jesus uses himself and his own acts of service as an example for others to follow. Whenever we desire to understand this idea of servant leadership, we can turn to the example of Christ. Take for example Jesus’ foot washing in John chapter 13. In John 13:3-5 we read, “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” Jesus knew that he had all the power of the universe in his hands, but he did not use the power in those hands to inflict control over his disciples. He instead got up and washed his disciples’ feet. In verse 15 of this chapter Jesus said, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” Jesus exemplified servant leadership, and his is a model we should follow.

Computer Crash



Yesterday morning my trusty HP laptop failed me. The hard drive crashed. As luck would have it I had a backup hard drive that I could install and so I started the process of reinstalling my operating system it took five hours to do the recovery. I had all my documents and pictures backed up but I hadn't backed up my Outlook since June so I think that I have lost all of those emails. Not quite the end of the world but it kind of spoiled my day. Lesson learned back up every week.