November 21, 2011
I have been reading those familiar words in Mark 13: "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come (verses 32-33)."
Those words seem crystal clear to me. Jesus seems to be direct and to the point. You would think the entire topic of the Second Coming of Christ would be a closed case. No need thinking about it too much. No matter how many clues you might find in Daniel or Revelation, no one is going to figure it out. Even though the Mayan calendar ends in 2012, it doesn’t mean a thing.
Instead, we need to spend our time being “on guard” and “alert.” I’m not supposed to be counting the days when Christ returns. I am not supposed to be examining the geopolitical ramifications of Israel. That’s not being on guard or being alert.
Being on guard means I should protect my quiet and prayer time with the Lord jealously. Being on guard means I should mold my will to the will of my Father in heaven. It means reading the Bible and doing what it says – extending grace at all costs.
When I am alert about spiritual matters, then I should be able to see evidence of Christ’s presence all around me each and every day. When I get asked by my small group “where have you seen Christ this week?” I should be able to come up with several examples, way more than I have time to share.
In his explanatory notes about the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew, John Wesley writes this about “Thy Kingdom Come:” “May your kingdom come quickly and swallow up all the kingdoms of the earth! May all people receive You, O Christ, for their King and truly believe in Your name. May they be filled with righteousness, peace, joy, holiness, and happiness till they are removed into Your kingdom of glory to reign with You forever.”
Some powerful insights to consider – here’s just a few. “May your kingdom come quickly …” What a wonderful notion that it. Can I be so alert and on guard that from every fiber of my being could I declare to the Lord to “come quickly”? I am moved by his words “May all people receive you.” Do we really mean ALL people? That gives the notion of “open doors, open hearts and open doors” some deeper meaning.
Of course, in the world I live in, Jesus’ words do not stop the speculation. Instead, many people are consumed with picking the day, the moment, the year when Christ returns. I suppose someone might get it right eventually. My concern is that we lose focus on the message of Christ to every believer. We ought to be on guard and stay alert, to pray for the needs of others.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Re-Discover the Christ Child!
November 22, 2011
For the Journal-Review
By Gary Lewis
Pastor, First United Methodist Church
As I write this, I’m busy making last-minute preparations for our first vacation trip to our newlywed daughter and husband in New York State. It occurred to me that when I return our community will be decked out in Christmas trimmings.
Of course, there already seems to be a lot of Christmas decorations in many stores. Perhaps that is a sign of a tough economy with stores desperate to entice shoppers to buy now in their annual push for sales during this all-important time of the year for them. Or, maybe it is simply a symptom of corporate greed. Whatever the circumstances might be, Christmas is coming.
December 25 will soon be here and it is so tempting to simply let it come without much spiritual preparation. I hope you won’t do that this year. Because Christmas is not the lighting of the Christmas tree, or a Shopping Frenzy, but a very, very, old story of a loving creator who brought us a beautiful gift in the form of an infant boy.
One of the highlights of my ministry is when parents of newborns invite me to the hospital for a visit. Several years ago, a family greeted me in a quiet hospital room in Anderson, Indiana. Jack and Angie allowed me to hold their newborn son, Jadin, just hours after his birth.
I must tell you that I wasn’t prepared to be part of such a special moment. The elevator I was riding in got stuck on the way to Angie’s room. I had to be freed by a very uninterested maintenance man (I thought they called the rescue squad when someone is trapped in an elevator!) after a maddening 30-minute wait.
After stumbling upon her room, still fuming over the elevator ordeal, I realized how special that mid-morning visit had become. A beaming mother and a proud father, and doting grandmothers and sisters, all had gathered to take part in a very special moment.
And after just a few minutes in the room, they asked me if I wanted to hold the baby!
That’s the way Christmas comes to most of us. We stumble through the season with all of its trappings and stumble into a holy moment still fuming over what we’ve had to go through to get there. But when we take the time to take hold of it all, we find ourselves suddenly changed. A long look into the eyes of a newborn baby wrapped in swaddling cloths will do that.
As we celebrate Christmas in the year 2011, I pray that you, dear reader, will find yourself in many holy moments. Christmas has come in the form of a helpless baby to meet the needs of a helpless world stumbling to find its way. Together, let us set our eyes upon Jesus so we can experience God’s transforming power.
I want to close this column with some excerpts from my Christmas Eve prayer. If you are looking for some holy moments this Christmas, I invite you to our 11 p.m. candlelight service on Christmas Eve. If it all works out, you will be walking out the door a few ticks after midnight – just in time to welcome the real reason for season.
“O God … We praise you for the mystery of Christ: Son of God, yet our brother, born of Mary; the Eternal Word, yet a speechless child; clothed in glory, yet wrapped in cloths; the Lord of lords, yet laid in a manger; strong in his weakness, and mighty to save.
“We remember this night the manger, the sign of your Son’s humility and rejection. Help us to seek and find him in the unexpected places of life. Pour upon your Church the Spirit of lowliness and love, that we may never despise any child of yours, however weak; but help us to honor and care for all people, for his sake, and to share with them the life and blessings which you have given for the use of all. … Forgive us our maddening cries which drown the song, and teach us to be still and to know that you are God. … All these things we ask in the name of your Child, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
For the Journal-Review
By Gary Lewis
Pastor, First United Methodist Church
As I write this, I’m busy making last-minute preparations for our first vacation trip to our newlywed daughter and husband in New York State. It occurred to me that when I return our community will be decked out in Christmas trimmings.
Of course, there already seems to be a lot of Christmas decorations in many stores. Perhaps that is a sign of a tough economy with stores desperate to entice shoppers to buy now in their annual push for sales during this all-important time of the year for them. Or, maybe it is simply a symptom of corporate greed. Whatever the circumstances might be, Christmas is coming.
December 25 will soon be here and it is so tempting to simply let it come without much spiritual preparation. I hope you won’t do that this year. Because Christmas is not the lighting of the Christmas tree, or a Shopping Frenzy, but a very, very, old story of a loving creator who brought us a beautiful gift in the form of an infant boy.
One of the highlights of my ministry is when parents of newborns invite me to the hospital for a visit. Several years ago, a family greeted me in a quiet hospital room in Anderson, Indiana. Jack and Angie allowed me to hold their newborn son, Jadin, just hours after his birth.
I must tell you that I wasn’t prepared to be part of such a special moment. The elevator I was riding in got stuck on the way to Angie’s room. I had to be freed by a very uninterested maintenance man (I thought they called the rescue squad when someone is trapped in an elevator!) after a maddening 30-minute wait.
After stumbling upon her room, still fuming over the elevator ordeal, I realized how special that mid-morning visit had become. A beaming mother and a proud father, and doting grandmothers and sisters, all had gathered to take part in a very special moment.
And after just a few minutes in the room, they asked me if I wanted to hold the baby!
That’s the way Christmas comes to most of us. We stumble through the season with all of its trappings and stumble into a holy moment still fuming over what we’ve had to go through to get there. But when we take the time to take hold of it all, we find ourselves suddenly changed. A long look into the eyes of a newborn baby wrapped in swaddling cloths will do that.
As we celebrate Christmas in the year 2011, I pray that you, dear reader, will find yourself in many holy moments. Christmas has come in the form of a helpless baby to meet the needs of a helpless world stumbling to find its way. Together, let us set our eyes upon Jesus so we can experience God’s transforming power.
I want to close this column with some excerpts from my Christmas Eve prayer. If you are looking for some holy moments this Christmas, I invite you to our 11 p.m. candlelight service on Christmas Eve. If it all works out, you will be walking out the door a few ticks after midnight – just in time to welcome the real reason for season.
“O God … We praise you for the mystery of Christ: Son of God, yet our brother, born of Mary; the Eternal Word, yet a speechless child; clothed in glory, yet wrapped in cloths; the Lord of lords, yet laid in a manger; strong in his weakness, and mighty to save.
“We remember this night the manger, the sign of your Son’s humility and rejection. Help us to seek and find him in the unexpected places of life. Pour upon your Church the Spirit of lowliness and love, that we may never despise any child of yours, however weak; but help us to honor and care for all people, for his sake, and to share with them the life and blessings which you have given for the use of all. … Forgive us our maddening cries which drown the song, and teach us to be still and to know that you are God. … All these things we ask in the name of your Child, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Becoming a River of God's Grace
Journal-Review
October 19, 2011
By Pastor Gary Lewis
First United Methodist Church of Crawfordsville
I have been leading our church in a study about what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. It’s a question many folks will want to answer quickly. For some, it means saying the right words, praying the right prayer or following all the right rules. Yet, when you study the Bible, Jesus pulls no punches.
Being a follower of Jesus means you have to get comfortable with the narrow road. It is not the easy-to-navigate avenue. It means making the shift from being a container of God’s blessing to being a conduit of God’s blessing.
It means instead of being a reservoir of God’s grace, a follower of Jesus becomes a river of grace. We move beyond not just your personal response to God’s love to our responsibility to share God’s love. Once you have tasted the sweet, liberating, joy of God’s love you cannot help but begin to share it.
Take a look at 1 John 4:8: “Anyone who does not love does not know God for God is love.” The reverse is also true. If a person does know God then the obvious result is they will become a more loving person. The natural by-product of a person entering into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is that they become a more loving person.
According to this passage, if your life is devoid of love – you have little or no compassion for people – the conclusion is your faith isn’t what you think it is. Your faith is fiction. St. Augustine once wrote, “Love slays what we have been that we may be what we are not.” As a Christ-follower, we begin to look at life differently and through the lens of God’s love.
When you grasp God’s undeserved grace, you cannot help but become a different person. When God’s love invades your life, you begin to see other people differently as well.
One day when Jesus was asked, “What’s the greatest commandment of all?” He said the greatest commandment has two components to it. Number one: we are to love God completely with all our heart. Number two: we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. In fact, the implied truth is that you cannot love God without loving people.
So to get a picture of how God wants us to love other people we will go straight to Jesus. What Rembrandt is to painting Jesus is to love. In Luke 13:10-13 is a short healing story that is a masterpiece portrait of what love is all about.
“On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues. A woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for 18 years. She was bent over and couldn’t straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from you infirmity.’ Then he put his hands on her and immediately she straightened up and praised God.”
I want to share with you two challenges from the brief but powerful encounter that will change how you live this week. It could change how you live the rest of your days on planet earth.
1. Look around.
Many people were attracted to Jesus’ teaching. Crowds showed up each day, the Bible says, because people were drawn to him because he taught differently. So one day in the synagogue this woman appears from the crowd. The Bible says she had been crippled and bent over and unable to stand up straight for 18 years.
As Jesus is teaching somehow his eyes locked on hers and the Bible says Jesus saw her. He saw her! He noticed her. His eyes locked with hers and he was moved with compassion.
How many people do we notice? How many hurting people do we pass over each day without even noticing them? While we may not be able to physically heal them, we can certainly reach out to them. We can take the time to hear their stories and pray for them.
2. Take a risk.
In this passage the Bible says Jesus saw her and then he took a risk to speak to her. He called her forward. This was very risky socially. This was not proper protocol. This was not in the order of service. This would have been very unconventional.
Think about how embarrassing it must have been for her – crippled over for the last 18 years. It was probably tough enough just for her to be in public. Now this rabbi teacher calls her to the front.
When you choose to demonstrate the bold, reckless, radical love of Christ sometimes it will be risky. It is worth the risk. Generally, our temptation is to want to play it safe. Who do you need to love that is in your world and that it is not easy for you to love? Let your heart dream for a minute.
What would it look like to take the risk to say loving things to the people around us? Imagine if we unleashed an army to cover this community with loving deeds?
Our church’s mission is to make disciples for Jesus Christ. We seek to relate people to Christ, connect people to the body of Christ, and reach out in love and concern to the world. I invite you to our two worship service each Sunday. At 9 a.m. we offer a traditional worship service in the Sanctuary. At 11:10 a.m. we have a contemporary worship service in our Fellowship Hall, located in the lower level. Sunday school classes for all ages begin right after our 9 a.m. worship service at about 10 a.m.
Our 9 a.m. worship service is broadcast on TV each Sunday morning live at 9 a.m. and then on tape-delay at 10:15 a.m. on Comcast cable channel 3 and Accelplus cable channel 2.
By Pastor Gary Lewis
First United Methodist Church of Crawfordsville
I have been leading our church in a study about what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. It’s a question many folks will want to answer quickly. For some, it means saying the right words, praying the right prayer or following all the right rules. Yet, when you study the Bible, Jesus pulls no punches.
Being a follower of Jesus means you have to get comfortable with the narrow road. It is not the easy-to-navigate avenue. It means making the shift from being a container of God’s blessing to being a conduit of God’s blessing.
It means instead of being a reservoir of God’s grace, a follower of Jesus becomes a river of grace. We move beyond not just your personal response to God’s love to our responsibility to share God’s love. Once you have tasted the sweet, liberating, joy of God’s love you cannot help but begin to share it.
Take a look at 1 John 4:8: “Anyone who does not love does not know God for God is love.” The reverse is also true. If a person does know God then the obvious result is they will become a more loving person. The natural by-product of a person entering into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is that they become a more loving person.
According to this passage, if your life is devoid of love – you have little or no compassion for people – the conclusion is your faith isn’t what you think it is. Your faith is fiction. St. Augustine once wrote, “Love slays what we have been that we may be what we are not.” As a Christ-follower, we begin to look at life differently and through the lens of God’s love.
When you grasp God’s undeserved grace, you cannot help but become a different person. When God’s love invades your life, you begin to see other people differently as well.
One day when Jesus was asked, “What’s the greatest commandment of all?” He said the greatest commandment has two components to it. Number one: we are to love God completely with all our heart. Number two: we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. In fact, the implied truth is that you cannot love God without loving people.
So to get a picture of how God wants us to love other people we will go straight to Jesus. What Rembrandt is to painting Jesus is to love. In Luke 13:10-13 is a short healing story that is a masterpiece portrait of what love is all about.
“On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues. A woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for 18 years. She was bent over and couldn’t straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from you infirmity.’ Then he put his hands on her and immediately she straightened up and praised God.”
I want to share with you two challenges from the brief but powerful encounter that will change how you live this week. It could change how you live the rest of your days on planet earth.
1. Look around.
Many people were attracted to Jesus’ teaching. Crowds showed up each day, the Bible says, because people were drawn to him because he taught differently. So one day in the synagogue this woman appears from the crowd. The Bible says she had been crippled and bent over and unable to stand up straight for 18 years.
As Jesus is teaching somehow his eyes locked on hers and the Bible says Jesus saw her. He saw her! He noticed her. His eyes locked with hers and he was moved with compassion.
How many people do we notice? How many hurting people do we pass over each day without even noticing them? While we may not be able to physically heal them, we can certainly reach out to them. We can take the time to hear their stories and pray for them.
2. Take a risk.
In this passage the Bible says Jesus saw her and then he took a risk to speak to her. He called her forward. This was very risky socially. This was not proper protocol. This was not in the order of service. This would have been very unconventional.
Think about how embarrassing it must have been for her – crippled over for the last 18 years. It was probably tough enough just for her to be in public. Now this rabbi teacher calls her to the front.
When you choose to demonstrate the bold, reckless, radical love of Christ sometimes it will be risky. It is worth the risk. Generally, our temptation is to want to play it safe. Who do you need to love that is in your world and that it is not easy for you to love? Let your heart dream for a minute.
What would it look like to take the risk to say loving things to the people around us? Imagine if we unleashed an army to cover this community with loving deeds?
Our church’s mission is to make disciples for Jesus Christ. We seek to relate people to Christ, connect people to the body of Christ, and reach out in love and concern to the world. I invite you to our two worship service each Sunday. At 9 a.m. we offer a traditional worship service in the Sanctuary. At 11:10 a.m. we have a contemporary worship service in our Fellowship Hall, located in the lower level. Sunday school classes for all ages begin right after our 9 a.m. worship service at about 10 a.m.
Our 9 a.m. worship service is broadcast on TV each Sunday morning live at 9 a.m. and then on tape-delay at 10:15 a.m. on Comcast cable channel 3 and Accelplus cable channel 2.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Reflections from the Father-of-the-Bride
Journal-Review
September 10, 2011
By Pastor Gary Lewis
First United Methodist Church of Crawfordsville
God willing, by the time you read this column my only child – our daughter Sarah Jay – will have been married to Aaron Wesley Miller. The ceremony was scheduled for last night.
I guess I am using the word “scheduled” because there is a part of me that doesn’t want to let go. Sarah Jay met him early in her college career. Aaron, who is six years older than Sarah, has been very patient. I know he loves and adores her. I know I am so blessed to have a man of faith and integrity as a son-in-law. You can’t get much better than an Eagle Scout! I have had Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, circled in my heart for a long, long, time.
You would think a pastor with some 20 years of experience in performing wedding ceremonies would have loads of advice for his daughter about the meaning of marriage. After 27 years of marriage experience, you would think I would have something profound to say. Yet, it is the Gospel that comes to my mind. It all comes down to Jesus.
Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-38) In marriage, you have the privilege to do this together.
I have been thinking about what I would say to Sarah as she approaches the altar. I have chosen to be the “father of the bride” instead of clergy at Sarah’s wedding. I am so glad I made this decision. The pressure of wedding planning is a much heavier load than I imagined. I don’t know if I could have handled the logistics of presiding at the ceremony. My prayer is that I – and especially my wife – will be able to experience a peaceful, tender, night at our daughter’s wedding.
So, if you don’t mind dear reader, I am going to write in words what I probably won’t be able to say in person.
I am so proud of you Sarah. I have seen you take on an academic load that has taxed you severely. Yet, in your style, you have not blinked in the face of adversity. At the age of 24, you have kept your faith in Jesus Christ intact. We have drifted apart politically, but I know you have Jesus in your heart. A father cannot ask for any more than that.
I am proud of the way you have handled the pressure your mother has been under these past few weeks. I have seen you encourage her. I have seen you embrace her. I have seen you two laughing together and crying together. Even when tempers flared, you always managed to put it behind you.
I am proud of the way you treat others. I beamed when I heard all the reports about the way you handled yourself at the wedding shower our church so graciously hosted for you. My little girl is a wonderful young woman.
Do you remember all those jokes about preacher’s kids the laity would lay on you and me? Well, I wonder what they would say about you now. You are going to become a great wife because you know what it means to be a great friend.
I am so happy you have been able to fulfill so many of your dreams. You have traveled afar several times – sometimes for school and sometimes for pleasure. I marvel at your deep interest and enjoyment of Ireland. I am happy you did not cave in to my fear and my wanting to limit your wings that wanted to fly. Even though I felt abandoned at times, unable to figure out Skype, or keep in touch the way I wanted, you persevered.
I’ll never forget the unauthorized trip you took to Toronto. I can laugh about it now, but back then I wasn’t in a laughing mood. Perhaps you were right. Maybe you needed that trip more than you needed to attend those classes. You and I don’t like to give in, do we?
You told me once that when you were little you thought I was the smartest man in the world. Now that you know me better, you undoubtedly know that was never the truth. I will never forget those precious years watching you grow up.
I remember just waiting for the day when you could talk. I was fascinated to hear you speak and I remember fondly thinking about having a conversation with you. Still, today, I enjoy hearing your voice and talking to you about education, politics, faith, the church, the Cubs and the Colts.
I really am going to miss you. A friend gave me a better perspective about the reality that you will be living your life 1,000 miles away from me. She said you and Aaron will now have the opportunity to truly “leave and cleave.” It is right that you leave our home and it is right for you to cleave to your husband. You two will have to rely on each other more and more. I suppose that is one of the benefits about moving so far away to begin your new life together.
I know you are up for it! It is going to be more difficult than you ever imagined. Yet, day by day, you will begin to see the benefits of your new home. What seems so foreign will one day suddenly come into familiar focus. What you will be doing is building a life. And you will be leaning on God to get through it.
I was so thrilled when you told me about the churches you have already visited. So little time together at your new place and yet my girl took the time to worship the Lord in a new community not knowing a single person. Now that takes courage. The Lord will be able to use you and Aaron in so many exciting ways.
Friends have said to me “you are not losing a daughter; you are gaining a son.” I do finally understand this expression, although it took me awhile to get my head around it. We have shared many holidays and visits together with Aaron. It has been inspirational to see Aaron thrive in this tough job market. I watched him pick himself up off the floor and find a job in his field of study.
I close with a portion of a famous Irish blessing. May this blessing be true to all who read these words: “May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. And rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.”
September 10, 2011
By Pastor Gary Lewis
First United Methodist Church of Crawfordsville
God willing, by the time you read this column my only child – our daughter Sarah Jay – will have been married to Aaron Wesley Miller. The ceremony was scheduled for last night.
I guess I am using the word “scheduled” because there is a part of me that doesn’t want to let go. Sarah Jay met him early in her college career. Aaron, who is six years older than Sarah, has been very patient. I know he loves and adores her. I know I am so blessed to have a man of faith and integrity as a son-in-law. You can’t get much better than an Eagle Scout! I have had Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, circled in my heart for a long, long, time.
You would think a pastor with some 20 years of experience in performing wedding ceremonies would have loads of advice for his daughter about the meaning of marriage. After 27 years of marriage experience, you would think I would have something profound to say. Yet, it is the Gospel that comes to my mind. It all comes down to Jesus.
Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-38) In marriage, you have the privilege to do this together.
I have been thinking about what I would say to Sarah as she approaches the altar. I have chosen to be the “father of the bride” instead of clergy at Sarah’s wedding. I am so glad I made this decision. The pressure of wedding planning is a much heavier load than I imagined. I don’t know if I could have handled the logistics of presiding at the ceremony. My prayer is that I – and especially my wife – will be able to experience a peaceful, tender, night at our daughter’s wedding.
So, if you don’t mind dear reader, I am going to write in words what I probably won’t be able to say in person.
I am so proud of you Sarah. I have seen you take on an academic load that has taxed you severely. Yet, in your style, you have not blinked in the face of adversity. At the age of 24, you have kept your faith in Jesus Christ intact. We have drifted apart politically, but I know you have Jesus in your heart. A father cannot ask for any more than that.
I am proud of the way you have handled the pressure your mother has been under these past few weeks. I have seen you encourage her. I have seen you embrace her. I have seen you two laughing together and crying together. Even when tempers flared, you always managed to put it behind you.
I am proud of the way you treat others. I beamed when I heard all the reports about the way you handled yourself at the wedding shower our church so graciously hosted for you. My little girl is a wonderful young woman.
Do you remember all those jokes about preacher’s kids the laity would lay on you and me? Well, I wonder what they would say about you now. You are going to become a great wife because you know what it means to be a great friend.
I am so happy you have been able to fulfill so many of your dreams. You have traveled afar several times – sometimes for school and sometimes for pleasure. I marvel at your deep interest and enjoyment of Ireland. I am happy you did not cave in to my fear and my wanting to limit your wings that wanted to fly. Even though I felt abandoned at times, unable to figure out Skype, or keep in touch the way I wanted, you persevered.
I’ll never forget the unauthorized trip you took to Toronto. I can laugh about it now, but back then I wasn’t in a laughing mood. Perhaps you were right. Maybe you needed that trip more than you needed to attend those classes. You and I don’t like to give in, do we?
You told me once that when you were little you thought I was the smartest man in the world. Now that you know me better, you undoubtedly know that was never the truth. I will never forget those precious years watching you grow up.
I remember just waiting for the day when you could talk. I was fascinated to hear you speak and I remember fondly thinking about having a conversation with you. Still, today, I enjoy hearing your voice and talking to you about education, politics, faith, the church, the Cubs and the Colts.
I really am going to miss you. A friend gave me a better perspective about the reality that you will be living your life 1,000 miles away from me. She said you and Aaron will now have the opportunity to truly “leave and cleave.” It is right that you leave our home and it is right for you to cleave to your husband. You two will have to rely on each other more and more. I suppose that is one of the benefits about moving so far away to begin your new life together.
I know you are up for it! It is going to be more difficult than you ever imagined. Yet, day by day, you will begin to see the benefits of your new home. What seems so foreign will one day suddenly come into familiar focus. What you will be doing is building a life. And you will be leaning on God to get through it.
I was so thrilled when you told me about the churches you have already visited. So little time together at your new place and yet my girl took the time to worship the Lord in a new community not knowing a single person. Now that takes courage. The Lord will be able to use you and Aaron in so many exciting ways.
Friends have said to me “you are not losing a daughter; you are gaining a son.” I do finally understand this expression, although it took me awhile to get my head around it. We have shared many holidays and visits together with Aaron. It has been inspirational to see Aaron thrive in this tough job market. I watched him pick himself up off the floor and find a job in his field of study.
I close with a portion of a famous Irish blessing. May this blessing be true to all who read these words: “May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. And rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.”
Sunday, July 24, 2011
The Secret of True Satisfaction
May 5, 2011
For the Journal-Review
By Rev. Gary Lewis
First United Methodist Church
Crawfordsville, IN
We were planning to spend a few days away during Spring Break. Train tickets were purchased. (I have never traveled on a train before, so this was supposed to be my maiden voyage.) Hotel rooms were booked. All was set in motion until we both became sick with a deep, disturbing, cough, headaches and general misery.
All we wanted to do was stay in bed. So instead of a fun-filled few days away, we spent a miserable week together confined in Crawfordsville. Except for a trip to see my physician, all we could do was rest.
If I could just take a cruise to some warm, tropical, paradise, then I would find happiness. Isn’t this what the world would have us believe? If I could take 12 months off and travel the world, then I would be happy. Isn’t that what the TV commercials would lead us to believe?
Mother Theresa, who spent her life caring for the hungry and thirsty in India, would often say those of us in America are starving spiritually. So many people today have a spiritual hunger inside them. The confusing thing is that we don’t want to call it a spiritual hunger. We use phrases such as: “My life is empty.” Or, “I’m bored.” “I’m restless.” “Something seems to be missing in my life.” “There must be more to life than this.”
Even when things are going good, even when things seem to be OK in life; there’s this gnawing feeling on the inside – something is missing. The Rolling Stones gave the baby boomer generation a theme song: “I can’t get no satisfaction.” If this becomes the theme of your life then that is a pretty sad outlook.
I believe Jesus knew something about our human tendency to want more and more while at the same time we become less and less satisfied. Everyone must fight this trend to self-destruct. The Bible says no matter how much we see we’re never satisfied: no matter how much we experience, we are never content. Jesus puts it this way in Matthew 5:6, “Happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for true goodness, for they will be truly satisfied.” (J.B. Phillips translation)
“Satisfaction guaranteed” is a common promise of many manufacturers. They are convinced that their product will exceed all of our expectations. But is that really true? Twice as many products are available today than were available 10 years ago. Are people twice as happy? I would venture to say “no.”
We cannot find happiness in pleasurable experiences such as vacations, or in possessions. They will only leave us empty. That’s because no matter how great the vacation might be, or how wonderful our possessions may be, we still have to deal with ourselves.
A few years ago, we went to a movie and decided to go out for supper afterward. We played this game: “Honey, where would you like to go to get something to eat?” My wife says: “I don’t know.”
“What are you hungry for?” I don’t know. Have you ever played that game? You know the game I’m talking about, the where-do-you-want-to-go-I-don’t-know game? A lot of people spend their lives that way. They really don’t know what they want in life.
My question for you, dear reader, is this: How is your spiritual appetite these days? Do you hunger for the things of God? Do you really want to know God?
One of the most powerful ways to seek true happiness is to be on the outlook for God moments in your everyday life. Truly, God is around us at all times. We need to have our spiritual eyes to see them. They often come in ordinary packages but are expressed in extraordinary ways.
Here is the secret of true satisfaction: “Seek your happiness in the Lord and He will give you your hearts desire.” (Psalm 37:4, Good News translation) Notice it says, don’t seek happiness … seek God. If you make happiness your goal in life, you are going to miss it. The only path to happiness is in seeking God. When we seek God, happiness is a natural by-product of that search.
I know I need some time to get away from my normal, hectic, schedule. Vacations do have a way of refreshing our lives. Setting some time to be with my wife is precious to me. Yet, I know that no matter where we go or what we do such experiences do not create happiness.
Seeking God is what will give me satisfaction. “Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty … if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever!” (John 8:35, 51, New International Version)
The Good News is we can seek God no matter where we happen to be – in Cancun, or in dear, ole’ Crawfordsville.
For the Journal-Review
By Rev. Gary Lewis
First United Methodist Church
Crawfordsville, IN
We were planning to spend a few days away during Spring Break. Train tickets were purchased. (I have never traveled on a train before, so this was supposed to be my maiden voyage.) Hotel rooms were booked. All was set in motion until we both became sick with a deep, disturbing, cough, headaches and general misery.
All we wanted to do was stay in bed. So instead of a fun-filled few days away, we spent a miserable week together confined in Crawfordsville. Except for a trip to see my physician, all we could do was rest.
If I could just take a cruise to some warm, tropical, paradise, then I would find happiness. Isn’t this what the world would have us believe? If I could take 12 months off and travel the world, then I would be happy. Isn’t that what the TV commercials would lead us to believe?
Mother Theresa, who spent her life caring for the hungry and thirsty in India, would often say those of us in America are starving spiritually. So many people today have a spiritual hunger inside them. The confusing thing is that we don’t want to call it a spiritual hunger. We use phrases such as: “My life is empty.” Or, “I’m bored.” “I’m restless.” “Something seems to be missing in my life.” “There must be more to life than this.”
Even when things are going good, even when things seem to be OK in life; there’s this gnawing feeling on the inside – something is missing. The Rolling Stones gave the baby boomer generation a theme song: “I can’t get no satisfaction.” If this becomes the theme of your life then that is a pretty sad outlook.
I believe Jesus knew something about our human tendency to want more and more while at the same time we become less and less satisfied. Everyone must fight this trend to self-destruct. The Bible says no matter how much we see we’re never satisfied: no matter how much we experience, we are never content. Jesus puts it this way in Matthew 5:6, “Happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for true goodness, for they will be truly satisfied.” (J.B. Phillips translation)
“Satisfaction guaranteed” is a common promise of many manufacturers. They are convinced that their product will exceed all of our expectations. But is that really true? Twice as many products are available today than were available 10 years ago. Are people twice as happy? I would venture to say “no.”
We cannot find happiness in pleasurable experiences such as vacations, or in possessions. They will only leave us empty. That’s because no matter how great the vacation might be, or how wonderful our possessions may be, we still have to deal with ourselves.
A few years ago, we went to a movie and decided to go out for supper afterward. We played this game: “Honey, where would you like to go to get something to eat?” My wife says: “I don’t know.”
“What are you hungry for?” I don’t know. Have you ever played that game? You know the game I’m talking about, the where-do-you-want-to-go-I-don’t-know game? A lot of people spend their lives that way. They really don’t know what they want in life.
My question for you, dear reader, is this: How is your spiritual appetite these days? Do you hunger for the things of God? Do you really want to know God?
One of the most powerful ways to seek true happiness is to be on the outlook for God moments in your everyday life. Truly, God is around us at all times. We need to have our spiritual eyes to see them. They often come in ordinary packages but are expressed in extraordinary ways.
Here is the secret of true satisfaction: “Seek your happiness in the Lord and He will give you your hearts desire.” (Psalm 37:4, Good News translation) Notice it says, don’t seek happiness … seek God. If you make happiness your goal in life, you are going to miss it. The only path to happiness is in seeking God. When we seek God, happiness is a natural by-product of that search.
I know I need some time to get away from my normal, hectic, schedule. Vacations do have a way of refreshing our lives. Setting some time to be with my wife is precious to me. Yet, I know that no matter where we go or what we do such experiences do not create happiness.
Seeking God is what will give me satisfaction. “Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty … if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever!” (John 8:35, 51, New International Version)
The Good News is we can seek God no matter where we happen to be – in Cancun, or in dear, ole’ Crawfordsville.
The Power of Story in Living a Life of Faith
For the Chimes Newsletter
By Pastor Gary Lewis
During our “One Month to Live” spiritual growth campaign, I have been reminded of the many conversations I have had with terminally ill persons and their families. One of the first things that come to mind is the importance of story. Many times, I have been privileged to sit with someone and listen to the story of his or her life.
We need to tell our stories. We need time to reflect, to think about the things that have mattered most to us. We need to give thanks for those we have loved and those we have received love from during the course of our days. This is the way we make meaning in life.
The one constant theme I have learned from “One Month to Live” is that we don’t have to wait. Each of us is terminal so the decision we need to make now is to really start living. The way to do that is to tell our stories. I have been encouraging our church leaders to share their testimonies of faith with us. I envision a time when worship will include moments of sharing. What has God been doing in your life? How has God’s grace, mercy and care been made real to you?
We are benefactors of a long history of God’s providential grace and care. I came across a sermon title the other day I really liked: “Why Windshields are Larger than Rearview Mirrors.” While a rearview mirror is mandatory by law, seeing what is in front of us is infinitely more important. Yet, knowing the story of where we have been gives us encouragement to face an uncertain future.
People remembering the mighty acts of God in the past are also encouraged to persevere and hope, even in the midst of present difficulty. When we remember the powerful hand of God at work in the past, we are encouraged to trust in God. Rehearsing the mighty acts of God offers assurance that the future is secure in God’s hands as well.
As we begin the season of Lent (March 13), we are encouraged to remember our story as Christ-followers. There are many stories to tell. There are the stories of Old Testament figures that testify to God’s love and deliverance. We hear the stories of Daniel, Nehemiah, Deborah, and Jonah—and they become our story. There are the stories of the New Testament, and encounters with God’s Word made flesh. We hear the stories of the disciples, of the Gerasene demoniac, of the lepers, of the paralytic, and of Mary and Martha—and they become our story. We hear the stories of the early church in the book of Acts, and the stories of each church that has proclaimed the truth of Christ since the day of Jesus’ resurrection - and they become our stories.
We all have stories to tell. We remember all the blessings we enjoy. We think about the things we have accomplished through the power of God at work in us. We give voice to the things that have mattered most to us. We give thanks for those we have loved and those we have received love from during the course of our days. This is the way we make meaning in life. This is the way we prepare to celebrate the greatest gift we have ever received - the body of Christ given for us so that we might live.
During these 40 days in Lent, let’s spend time sharing our stories. I believe that if we listen closely, we will hear the good news of God’s amazing love, being poured out for us in ways large and small.
By Pastor Gary Lewis
During our “One Month to Live” spiritual growth campaign, I have been reminded of the many conversations I have had with terminally ill persons and their families. One of the first things that come to mind is the importance of story. Many times, I have been privileged to sit with someone and listen to the story of his or her life.
We need to tell our stories. We need time to reflect, to think about the things that have mattered most to us. We need to give thanks for those we have loved and those we have received love from during the course of our days. This is the way we make meaning in life.
The one constant theme I have learned from “One Month to Live” is that we don’t have to wait. Each of us is terminal so the decision we need to make now is to really start living. The way to do that is to tell our stories. I have been encouraging our church leaders to share their testimonies of faith with us. I envision a time when worship will include moments of sharing. What has God been doing in your life? How has God’s grace, mercy and care been made real to you?
We are benefactors of a long history of God’s providential grace and care. I came across a sermon title the other day I really liked: “Why Windshields are Larger than Rearview Mirrors.” While a rearview mirror is mandatory by law, seeing what is in front of us is infinitely more important. Yet, knowing the story of where we have been gives us encouragement to face an uncertain future.
People remembering the mighty acts of God in the past are also encouraged to persevere and hope, even in the midst of present difficulty. When we remember the powerful hand of God at work in the past, we are encouraged to trust in God. Rehearsing the mighty acts of God offers assurance that the future is secure in God’s hands as well.
As we begin the season of Lent (March 13), we are encouraged to remember our story as Christ-followers. There are many stories to tell. There are the stories of Old Testament figures that testify to God’s love and deliverance. We hear the stories of Daniel, Nehemiah, Deborah, and Jonah—and they become our story. There are the stories of the New Testament, and encounters with God’s Word made flesh. We hear the stories of the disciples, of the Gerasene demoniac, of the lepers, of the paralytic, and of Mary and Martha—and they become our story. We hear the stories of the early church in the book of Acts, and the stories of each church that has proclaimed the truth of Christ since the day of Jesus’ resurrection - and they become our stories.
We all have stories to tell. We remember all the blessings we enjoy. We think about the things we have accomplished through the power of God at work in us. We give voice to the things that have mattered most to us. We give thanks for those we have loved and those we have received love from during the course of our days. This is the way we make meaning in life. This is the way we prepare to celebrate the greatest gift we have ever received - the body of Christ given for us so that we might live.
During these 40 days in Lent, let’s spend time sharing our stories. I believe that if we listen closely, we will hear the good news of God’s amazing love, being poured out for us in ways large and small.
'5-Minute Rule' to be Enforced at Worship
For the Chimes Newsletter
By Pastor Gary Lewis
The final five minutes in each worship service will be reserved for our guests. At a recent seminar, author and church assimilation expert Gary L. McIntosh said churches have found a “Five Minute rule” to be extremely helpful in welcoming visitors to church.
This is how it works: the five minute clock begins immediately after worship concludes. Your job is to find someone you don't know and welcome them to our church. Most of us spend this valuable time talking to someone we know.
Don’t know if they are guest or long-time attendee? There’s an easy fix. Plus, you will get to meet a new friend. Say this, “Hi, I’m (say your first name) I don’t believe we have met. (Then shake their hand.) How long have you been attending here?”
If they have only been attending a short time, say a word of welcome. For example, introduce them to someone else standing nearby you know. If they have been attending here a long time, then tell them it is great to meet them. Either way, you can’t lose.
So instead of finding someone familiar, spend five minutes looking for someone new. When the five minutes have concluded – then you are off the hook! McIntosh said many churches completely forget about guests AFTER the worship service ends. Many times, newcomers will want to leave quickly. This is why it is important everyone spends five minutes greeting others they may not know.
I will be reminding you from time-to-time by saying to you all “Remember the 5-minute rule.” This might serve as a conversation piece because someone might say “What is he talking about?” You’ll get to inform them on our little secret.
Please pray for our ministry of hospitality to those who visit us. We have had several people visit our worship services once and then disappear. I need your help to fix this problem. I believe our church has a lot to offer someone searching for a church home. Do you believe that is true? Then, join me in enforcing the “five minute rule” on Sunday morning!
By Pastor Gary Lewis
The final five minutes in each worship service will be reserved for our guests. At a recent seminar, author and church assimilation expert Gary L. McIntosh said churches have found a “Five Minute rule” to be extremely helpful in welcoming visitors to church.
This is how it works: the five minute clock begins immediately after worship concludes. Your job is to find someone you don't know and welcome them to our church. Most of us spend this valuable time talking to someone we know.
Don’t know if they are guest or long-time attendee? There’s an easy fix. Plus, you will get to meet a new friend. Say this, “Hi, I’m (say your first name) I don’t believe we have met. (Then shake their hand.) How long have you been attending here?”
If they have only been attending a short time, say a word of welcome. For example, introduce them to someone else standing nearby you know. If they have been attending here a long time, then tell them it is great to meet them. Either way, you can’t lose.
So instead of finding someone familiar, spend five minutes looking for someone new. When the five minutes have concluded – then you are off the hook! McIntosh said many churches completely forget about guests AFTER the worship service ends. Many times, newcomers will want to leave quickly. This is why it is important everyone spends five minutes greeting others they may not know.
I will be reminding you from time-to-time by saying to you all “Remember the 5-minute rule.” This might serve as a conversation piece because someone might say “What is he talking about?” You’ll get to inform them on our little secret.
Please pray for our ministry of hospitality to those who visit us. We have had several people visit our worship services once and then disappear. I need your help to fix this problem. I believe our church has a lot to offer someone searching for a church home. Do you believe that is true? Then, join me in enforcing the “five minute rule” on Sunday morning!
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