I’ve heard it said to church leaders that their church could be one of four churches located at a four-way intersection and each church could fulfill the needs of its people if they were all pursuing the distinct assignment that God had given them.
Think about that for a moment. Is your church fulfilling the assignment that God originally gave it? (Read More…)
Link:
http://infinityconcepts.net/2012/05/what-is-your-church-known-for-in-your-community/
On Saturday May 5th I attended the Women’s Conference “Uncluttered” with the enthusiastic worship leader Gwen Smith. Two hundred women gathered in the MMR to be inspired, to be enriched and to be reminded that through the Word of God we obtain peace, power, and strength. The “Uncluttered” conference was a day of worship through life stories, scripture, songs and chocolate. It was about turning down the “life noise” and listening to the beauty all around. My favorite part of the day was the session Gwen spent on worship through her music. It was a time of reflection and connection and for me it was like I was the only person in the room. I reflected on my own trials on what led me to be sitting in that chair at that exact moment, and the continuation of my journey. I was moved in love, and it was though Jesus had wrapped his arms around me and I was overcome with emotion. Attending the conference has better equipped me to help others to be saved by saying the words of Gwen Smith, “Do you not know?”, “Have you not heard?” If you don’t know the answer to those questions….I would love to tell you.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12
How often do you stop to help a stranded motorist? I grew up watching my dad faithfully stop for every stranded driver he came across. I was proud of him for that and I wanted to be just like him. But when I got my driver’s license, he told me that it wouldn’t be safe for me to stop and help. So I abided, and to be honest, until recently, I haven’t given it much thought. I hadn’t paid much attention to disabled vehicles. One morning, I drove by someone on the parkway who was disabled with his flashers on, and for some reason, I looked at the driver’s face. He looked so distraught and something struck me to stop and help. Unfortunately, there was no place for me pull over quickly, so I kept going. It bothered me all day. I thought about the driver and hoped that someone helped him. I wondered if he saw the cross hanging in my rearview mirror.
We’ve become so worried about our own safety and our own needs that we don’t stop to help anymore…we don’t even think about it. People aren’t just sidelined in their cars…they can also be sidelined in life…pulled off to the side with their flashers on. Do you see them? Do you stop to help? Or are you so used to “driving by” that you don’t even notice? Are you afraid of the answer you may get if you ask beyond the superficial “How are you?”
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5: 14-16
God commands us to love one another, and when we do, we shine His light in this world. He gives us so many opportunities to show His love. We all miss out when we “drive by.”
Third place isn’t typically a coveted position. It isn’t quite second, and it is far from first. But third place isn’t just an award or a place on a podium…it can be a space where you spend your time.
This concept isn’t new with me, but I do think it is worth considering. People spend the majority of their time between two places…at home and at work. But when they are off the clock and out of the house, where do they go? Well most go to their third place. It’s the place that they gravitate to when they have free time.
So where is your third place? A restaurant? A park? The local coffee shop? A friend’s house?
If you come on the right days of the week, Community Church can be all of the above for you. F.E.A.S.T. is served on Wednesday nights, the playground is newly updated and you can get a good cup of coffee (or tea!) during weekend services at the Connect Café. And friends? They are here in abundance.
Consider making Community Church your third place. I’ve deepened my walk with the Lord, made dear friends and eaten delicious meals…all at my third place. Community Church…there is a place for you here!
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1Peter 5:8
Do you believe the enemy prowls around us? Or do you think he stays away from Christians? I believe he knows that by waging a war against a Christian leader, he can have a powerful impact. When a Christian falls to sin, his church is shaken and the nonbelievers around him scoff. When Satan attacks a Christian, he doesn’t harm one, he destroys many.
The enemy despises us because of how much God loves us. We are barraged by temptation every day. There is a real war waged against us. We can’t let down our guard thinking that it can’t happen to us. Sin happens to “good people” every day.
Does knowing that the enemy is prowling around you scare you? It terrifies me, especially when I see fellow Christians fall. Could I be next? I don’t have to be. The bible is filled with stories of how God helped his faithful followers win in battle. He equips us too, not for a physical battle, but a spiritual one.
Ephesians 6:10-18 describes the armor God gives us to stand strong in battle.
…Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and
always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Be alert my friends, but fear not. Be at peace knowing that you are fully dressed for battle.
Have you ever felt like the enemy was waging a war against you? Some days, can you relate with Job? While I have never felt as if God was punishing me, there have been times when I wondered where He was. You see, I don’t like to suffer alone. Job didn’t like feeling alone either. He was actually longing for an umpire, a mediator, between he and God. He wanted a man like himself who could bridge the gap between he and the almighty God. Job was actually looking for our Savior, Jesus Christ! Here’s what he says in Job Chapter 9 verses 32-37.
“He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.”
If there was only someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together…Did Job know that his Mediator would come to shed His life so that we could be right with God again? Did he know that because of Christ we would no longer have to hide from Him in fear? That our sins would be washed away and we would no longer suffer alone?
The Lord heard Job’s cry and He hears ours. At Easter we remember the life that was given so that we may be saved. We rejoice in the prayers that were answered. Are there Jobs in your life who long for a savior? Why not share yours?
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Happy Easter! Christ is Risen Indeed!
Community Church has started a new kind of small group this Lenten season. Some call it free range. Some call it organic. Bottom line—it happens when and where YOU make it happen…with friends, at work or around your family’s dinner table. Getting the material is easy—listen to the sermon (in person or online at www.sharechristwithothers.org) and pick up a Connect sheet (also in person or online).
My family has had the blessing of meeting with a group of families each week during Lent. The meetings are hosted in our homes, and the meals are a potluck. We enjoy dinner family-style, catching up with our spouses, kids and friends (and their spouses and kids). After dinner, our kids play and the adults work through the provided Connect sheets. The conversations are easy, the thoughts interesting and the laughter is plentiful.
If you haven’t had the chance share in this great extension of weekly worship, it isn’t too late. Pick up a sheet this weekend after worship and look for an opportunity to get in on your own organic Connect group. You’ll be glad you did.
My mom was such a happy person, even when at times, it seemed she didn’t have much to be happy about. She brought joy and laughter to all around her. After she passed away, I treasured the stories shared with me about her. Sprinkled in with the hilarious remembrances of her awesome sense of humor, were stories of her thankful spirit. They recalled, “She was so grateful, for even the smallest of things.” How true this was. My family used to tease her about her reactions to even the smallest of gifts. The slightest kindnesses done for her always evoked immense gratitude. I can only imagine how she praised God when she went on to meet Him.
I am certain that her grateful heart lead to her happiness. I know this because God wires all of us that way. His word tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18. “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Research has shown that people who express gratitude are not only happier but have more energy and have better outlooks on the future. God tells us to express gratitude, not only because He loves to hear how thankful we are for all He has done for us, but also because He wants us to be happy and healthy. His guidance directs us to be grateful which leads to our happiness! Our Father certainly knows what’s best for us.
My mom’s gratefulness was one way she loved people and drew near to them. In turn, they drew near to her. God designed us for relationship with one another and gratefulness bonds us.
Who or what are you thankful for? Give thought to this and consider writing it down in a gratitude journal. Then begin each day telling God and others what you are thankful for. Happiness is sure to follow for “This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus!”
God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?” ~William A. Ward
Today’s Truth
Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness (1 Timothy 4:7b, NASB).
Friend to Friend
Before our first child was born, my husband and I took a series of classes to prepare us for childbirth. I vividly remember being told by my Lamaze instructor that while in labor, I would need to breathe through each contraction. She would give us instructions like: “Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth” and “When you inhale, allow your belly to expand first, then your chest.” She told us that the way we breathe would affect the way we would experience labor.
We spent a lot of time during those week-after-week classes learning how to breathe in a whole new way. We were taught that the breaths we would take during labor would need to be purposed and controlled. They required discipline and were not like natural breathing. So I practiced and I practiced the special breathing techniques in preparation for when the labor pains came a-knocking.
When the day arrived to welcome my firstborn son, Preston Miles Smith, into the world, I learned what a discipline breathing through contractions really is! There were times during labor that I felt like holding my breath instead of breathing. Times when the pain was so intense that my natural response was to scream instead of to breathe. Yes. This type of breathing was surely a learned behavior, a purposed discipline. And on the other side of this purposed discipline, in spite of all the pain endured, I was blessed to experience the wonderful joy of life.
I’ve labored through many hard life experiences since my child birthing days. I’m sure you have too. There are times when circumstances press us in waves, contractions of life that are seemingly endless. When the waves of trials hit our heart and home, the spiritual discipline of trusting God helps us to breathe through the squeeze of each pressure. I like to call it faith-breathing. When we hunker down and put into practice the act – the discipline – of faith.
But what do we mean by “the discipline of faith”? Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). Just like I learned to breathe in preparation for going through labor pains, Christians learn to breathe through life pains when we implement spiritual disciplines in our lives like prayer, fasting, journaling and Scripture reading. They are purposed disciplines that bring joy and strength. The more we pray, the more we grow in intimacy with God. The more we read and know the Bible, the more we understand God’s will and character. We see over and over again that He is good, faithful, compassionate, loving, gentle, just, holy, righteous and trustworthy in all things. We are encouraged and spurred on by the faith of others. We learn to faith-breathe!
The flames of fire have heated up and refined my faith on many occasions! Life is filled with challenges. God is always with us and will help us breathe through the difficult situations we face. He allows us to go through trials as a part of our refining process. Struggles send us running to God for help, for faith, for strength, for protection and direction. They are often pregnant with pain. Bursting with heartache. If we yield them to God, He uses to rid our lives of trust-
barriers like fear and doubt, and to bring glory and honor to him. There are many life contractions that hurt us, but there is no earthly pain that can diminish the hope of our salvation. We must simply breath – continue practicing those spiritual disciplines that bind us to the heart of God.
Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work (2 Timothy 3:12, 14-17, NLT).
Trusting God takes discipline. We don’t always feel like it. It’s not always what we want to do. It’s not natural. At times we feel overwhelmed and want to soul-scream. If we always acted on our feelings, our lives would be chaotic messes. As in childbirth, there finally comes the time of deliverance where what is birthed forth to joy is directly the result of the very pain we have gone through.
Let’s Pray
Dear Father, please teach me to breath! Strengthen me through life’s hard labor experiences and help me to practice the disciplines I have learned through your Scriptures. When I feel like screaming through the pain, help me to breath by reading and memorizing your Word, fasting and praying, and meditating on your Truth. Thank you for the strength you will give me as I trust in You.
In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen.
Now it’s Your Turn
Read over the verses below and write them on note card and review them until they are committed to memory.
“…all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27b).
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).
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Adapted from Trusting God by Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith, & Mary Southerland by permission of Multnomah, division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Are you aware there are prison ministry opportunities at CUMC?
Jesus talked about the importance of visiting prisoners in Matthew 25:36-40. For the past few years, several members at CUMC have been involved in Kairos Prison Ministry International. The people of the Kairos Ministry are called by God to share the love of Christ with those impacted by incarceration. Kairos encourages believers from a variety of Christian traditions to be volunteers in this Christ-filled ministry. We feel that if one person is saved by this program that it is all worthwhile. Proof of the program’s effectiveness is found in studies that show the recidivism rate for inmates who have attended Kairos is lower than the general prison population. For more information, visit http://www.kairosprisonministry.org/
Our local mission field is a maximum-security men’s prison in Waynesburg, Greene County (SCI Greene). There are two intensive 4-day weekends per year held in the prison (the next weekend is May17-20, and it will be the thirteenth Kairos weekend at Waynesburg). Prior to each Kairos weekend, the “inside team” and “prayer and sacrifice team” meet for several training sessions. The teams work closely with the Chaplain of SCI Greene (Kathy Higgins, a United Methodist minister).
Approximately 20 Kairos male volunteers make up the “inside team” and they spend almost 40 hours in the prison during the 4-day weekend. The team includes Christian clergy, men from our church, and men from other Christian congregations. The program is structured with encouraging talks, songs, meaningful small group discussions, and tangible expressions of God’s love. The formal program ends on a Sunday afternoon in the prison chapel with an inspirational closing service of song and testimonies from the inmates, and the Holy Spirit’s presence can be clearly felt. The “prayer and sacrifice” team (women and men, some from CUMC, and some from other congregations) spends the weekend at First United Methodist Church in Waynesburg, and serves to assist the “inside team” in multiple ways. The “prayer and sacrifice team” is also invited to the Sunday closing, and it is the highlight for all members of both teams.
The ministry doesn’t end with the two weekends per year. EVERY Friday night, at least three men who have served on one of the Kairos “inside teams” go to the prison in Waynesburg and facilitate Prayer and Share meetings – meetings for “graduates” of a Kairos weekend who are still incarcerated.
How can you help?
1) Prayer. One of the demonstrations of God’s love during the weekend is on Friday, when a large prayer chart is brought into the prison, and every slot is filled with names of people praying for one hour time periods during the weekend. If you are interested in praying for the teams and the men who reside in the prison, please sign up on the prayer chart that will soon be posted during the Current services. Only first names will be listed for the large prayer chart taken into the prison. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will work in the hearts of the men and that their lives will be transformed. Our goal is to have every slot on our CUMC prayer chart filled – you can sign up for several slots, and more than one person can be listed per time period.
2) Personal letters. Each member of the “inside” and “prayer and sacrifice” teams writes 30 letters (one to each of the men in prison who are attending the weekend). The letters are meant to encourage the men, to share the love of Christ with them, and are another tangible demonstration of God’s love. Some of these men have been in prison for many years, and have never received a letter, so when they open a large packet of letters during the weekend, it’s almost overwhelming. Prison terms and crimes committed are not mentioned in the letter, and we do not sign our last names on the letters. We are not asking that you write 30 letters, but if you would like to write one or more letters, please contact Doreen Stakor (dstak@comcast.net or 412.400.2151) or Mark Stakor (mstakor@comcast.net or 412.398.5675) for more information.
3) Bible sponsorship. Each attendee receives their choice of a study Bible at the conclusion of the weekend. The cost of the study Bibles is $25.00, and the men typically have a choice of four different Bible translations.
4) Become a Kairos volunteer. Both “inside” and “prayer and sacrifice” team members are always needed and welcome.
Those of us involved with Kairos have been privileged to witness first-hand the transforming power of faith in Christ.
Another ministry of Kairos, Kairos Outside (geared to female relatives and friends of the incarcerated) will be holding their third weekend in June. Prayer and other opportunities will be available.
For information about the Kairos Prison Ministry opportunities, please contact Mark or Doreen Stakor at 412.398.5675, or Jay and Judy Newport at 412.398.1278.