Community Church Forum

Recently, after a worship service a church member stopped and mentioned to me that her company was hiring and if I knew of anyone job-hunting to please pass along the information. I couldn’t think of anyone at the time but, later that afternoon I had another person mention she had a friend looking for work. I immediately passed along the contact information of the first woman and was tickled by God’s connecting these two ladies.
Later, I discovered that the two people were able to connect. I thanked the first lady for mentioning the job and here is part of her response:

“It’s actually healing for me to put the word out on jobs, to give back for the opportunity I was given when I needed a job after being left by my first husband for another woman and had to find a way to pay the mortgage and the food and all the bills for 2 teenagers with no job. A friend that I was going to Geneva College with at that time put me in touch with her sister at the company, and I will be forever grateful for that. I wouldn’t have gotten this job without the connection. God really does provide for us in amazing and unexpected ways.”

I have no idea if the job worked out. But, I am confident that God worked out this interaction this connection between these two believers and that He has many more planned out for each of us. I pray we will each be sensitive to God working in our lives and those around us.

His hair was tussled and his clothes were dirty. He smelled horribly. His face beamed with joy as he stood at the entrance of the church to greet the congregation as they came to worship that Easter Sunday. “Who was this man and why was he greeting when that was my job?” Uncomfortable with the situation, I introduced myself and said I would be greeting along with him. He, instead, sat down, alone in the last row, the joy gone from his face. What had I done? I knew I needed to invite him to sit with me. Hesitantly, I did so, and he quickly obliged. We walked to the front row raising many eyebrows along the way. I felt the stares and heard their silent questions. “Who was this man?” “Who brought him?” “Is he dangerous?” “Why was he here?” We sat down and chairs inched away from us because he smelled so bad.

I formed an opinion of this man based on his outward appearance. Later, I learned that much of our congregation had. He didn’t seem to fit in. He didn’t look like us.

“For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7

Not all judgments are bad. In fact, as Matthew 18:15-17 teaches, if a believer sees another believer sinning, it is his Christian duty to lovingly confront the person with his sin. This kind of judgment points out the truth with hope that repentance and reconciliation will follow.

Unfortunately, while God may call us to judge, we never seem to get it right. We judge when we have no business judging and we usually do so unlovingly. God’s word gives us some rules for judging others:

1. Judge according to scripture: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” Isaiah 8:20. His living word is our plumb line, not our opinions or traditions.

2. Don’t make more of a matter than God makes of it: “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard

to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.” Colossians 2:16

3. Pray for ability to judge: “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 1 Kings 3:9

4. Seek to judge in truth: “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.” Jeremiah 5:1. In others words, get your facts straight before you judge.

5. Judge yourself before judging others: “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:2-4.

I gave the old man a seat with me that morning, but he gave me so much more. I offered him my hymnal because there weren’t enough. He didn’t take it, I figured, because he wasn’t really there to worship. He didn’t need the hymnal because he knew every word of every hymn and he sang them beautifully and for the glory of God…with tears streaming down his face. I put my hymnal and opinions down and listened, with tears streaming down my face.

My grandmother had a beautiful set of silverware. It was heavier than the stuff we used at our house. The design was fancier. It glistened. I have many childhood memories of taking the silverware out of its special velvet-lined box on holidays and special occasions to make the meal seem even more extravagant. When the celebration was over, the silverware was carefully washed and put back in the box until the next meal that seemed special enough.

When my dear grandmother passed away five years ago, I was thrilled and honored to receive her set of silverware. I decided to use it every day; after all, a beautiful set of silverware can make any ordinary meal seem elegant.

Anyone with a set of real silverware knows it takes work. It becomes tarnished. It no longer glistens. The design doesn’t seem fancy anymore. And the ordinary meals…well they stay ordinary.

As I spent a few hours polishing the silverware last week, I couldn’t believe just how dull they had become! And it struck me that it happened slowly, almost without me even realizing it.

But with a little polish and care, it sparkled again!

Friends, does this illustration resemble your walk with the Lord? Do you, perhaps, put Him aside, giving Him special honor only on certain occasions? Or maybe you’re like me and your daily walk slowly, over time, becomes somewhat mundane. The luster gradually fades until your relationship with the King of kings becomes very common.

Join me in the challenge to live as we are called in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Don’t let your relationship become occasional or dull; care for it so it shines for all to see!

I recently got a text from someone inquiring about any help our church could offer her daughter as she grieved the loss of her father. I passed on information about Stephen Ministry and GriefShare, hoping she’d find comfort from either or both of those ministries.

After I had shared the details, I wondered—why did she ask me? While I was once close with this particular family, I have not had any notable relationship with them as an adult. Even if they aren’t affiliated with a church, I thought, surely they had countless closer friends who could help them in a more personal way.

I’d like to say that I live my life in such a way that my faith is obvious and that when people are hurting and need help, they think of me and my strong faith. I wish that were true.

If I had to offer a better explanation, I’d say these people have noticed my Facebook posts about upcoming events at Community Church. And while posting events a social networking site might seem less important than evangelizing and personal interaction in the name of our Father, the fact remains—it matters how you live. People, no matter how distant you think they might be, are watching you.

I’ve heard Pastor John preach about the importance of living intentionally. I’ve heard people say that we, as Christians, may be the only glimpse of Christ some people may see. As you move through your day, think about who is watching you. Your kids? A co-worker? A stranger?

Do you feel the pressure? I hope so. Are the rewards eternal? Absolutely.

Ephesians 5:15-16 tells us, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…”

Amen.

Christmas seems to have gone away. Gone from the radio stations, stores, and streets in town. My house looks empty, too. The decorations are put away and thankfully the cookies have disappeared. Even as I took down my nativity, I realized I was putting Jesus away. Is Christmas really just a day? I feel as though it is sometimes, but I’d like to keep it all year long.

Keeping it all year, to me, means keeping His gift in the forefront of my life everyday. That means connecting with Him daily through prayer and reading His word. It means actively loving His children, even the unlovable. That’s not easy, is it? It seems small, though, when I think about what He did for me. He came to this world an infant and then died on a cross so that a wretch like me may spend eternity with Him. I believe that is deserving of a life of dedication to Him…not just a day of celebration and gift giving.

Today I will return to the attic and take Jesus out of the box. He will stay near so that I can remember His gift all year long; He will live in my heart so that I may experience Him always.

Praying your Christmas lasts all year long.

Nancy Whalen is a Stephen Minister and longtime member of CUMC. You can often find her helping out in the kitchen or involved in Bible Study. Read in her own words why she wanted to become a Stephen Minister …

I believe I was led to Stephen Ministry because I didn’t do well with my own personal grief. When my husband died, I felt like my grief was the worst.

I had heard grief takes one to three years depending on how well you handled it. So, I decided I would work hard and do it in one year. I read every book on death and dying in three libraries and as many self-help books about grief as I could get my hands on. My daughter found a grief group for me eleven months into my grief journey. I proudly told the group I only had one month to go. The leader kindly told me she was afraid I might not make my goal.

At the meeting I met a Stephen Minister who came with another widow. During the break the Stephen Minister talked to me and asked me how I was doing. She wanted to know, not just hoping I would say “fine.” She also asked me about my husband. I loved to tell about him but my friends were avoiding his name in case I might cry or feel bad. This woman let me talk about my husband — a subject I still like to talk about today!

I don’t even know this Stephen Minister’s name and never thanked her for being such a caring person. But, she is the reason I wanted to be a Stephen Minister, so maybe I could help another person through their grief.

If you or someone you know is hurting from the pain of circumstances like death, divorce, chronic illness or financial strain or is experiencing some transition in their life such as; the birth of a baby, new marriage or empty nest, perhaps talking to a Stephen Minister can help. Stephen Ministry is one-to-one, confidential and FREE to CUMC members and non-members. Contact Pastor John or Elizabeth Somes at 724-744-3413 or esomes@communityumc.info to be connected with a Stephen Minister.

GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences … the death of a loved one. This small group meets on Tuesdays from 6-8pm in the youth room. Come at any time, contact Krista Karnbauer (724-861-0286 or kkarnbauer@comcast.net) or Sue Keller (724-871-7674 or so.keller@gmail.com) for more information.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:2

Have you made any New Year’s resolutions yet? I don’t usually make them, but every year I like to reflect on the year that has passed and look ahead with hopes to do better. I try to find the dead spots in my life that I know need removed in order to allow something better to grow. Reflecting on John 15 helps me to see that I don’t need to find the dead spots or remove them myself, God is the master gardener. If I truly believe that he has a perfect plan for me (Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.), then I need to trust that He is shaping me into His vision for me. And I must submit to His pruning.

Just like the branch of a tree can’t be fruitful if it is not connected to the trunk, I cannot be fruitful unless I am connected to Him. He shapes me through His Word and His Spirit so that His purpose can become mine. While He may do the pruning, I can strive to stay connected to Him and allow Him to cut away.

What needs pruned in your life? Are there wild

branches stifling you from being all He intended? You aren’t the same as you were last year, and next year, thanks to His glorious work, you will be closer to being the glorious fruit bearer He had in mind. Maybe we need to move away from the self-centeredness of New Year’s Resolutions and make it easier for Him to do the pruning?

Sharing His Gift

Did you know that 80% of first-time church visitors come because they were personally invited? I wonder why that is? Maybe when invited, people don’t have to worry about being there alone. For some, church is intimidating, especially if they have never been there before or if it’s been a while. I know it’s the same way in our youth group. Most of our youth were invited by someone else. Just as in our congregation, the testimonies at youth group are amazing. Many lives have been saved because someone cared enough to bring them along.

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Mark 16:15

At Christmas we celebrate the greatest gift ever given, yet we are surrounded by neighbors, coworkers and even family members who haven’t been ready to receive that gift. Could you help them? Would you like to impact their eternity? Take a chance and invite someone to church this Christmas, God will take care of the rest. To make it a little easier, invitation cards will be available for you at services this weekend.

If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is. ~Author Unknown

Can you relate? I can, especially at this time of year. We are in such a rush…to shop, to attend, and to get it all done so much so that we miss the moments. We miss the pride on our daughter’s face when her first batch of cookies turns out perfectly because we were too busy cleaning up the mess. We didn’t notice how the Christmas tree lights made their faces glow as they sat in wonder because we had to get the boxes put away. We didn’t hear the pain in our friend’s voice because we were thinking about our next appointment. Sometimes we are there, but we aren’t really there. Is it possible to be fully in the moment and still get it all done? Or, better yet, do we need to get it all done?

Just like manna to the wandering Israelites, our time is a gift that cannot be stored up. We are given 86,400 seconds each day. At the end of the day, they’re gone and hopefully tomorrow we will have another chance. How did we use them?

Teach us to number our days aright,

That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

The Greek language has a few words for “time.” Chronos means chronology of days. It’s the passing of time on the clock and calendar. Unfortunately our culture runs on chronos time. It’s our deadlines, our rigid schedules, and completed checklists. Kairos is another Greek word for time meaning, the fullness of time. It’s the flow of time, just as God, who is not bound by time, flows into our lives. Living in our chronos culture, we often miss the Kairos of His presence. Kairos was how the Wise Men knew it was time for the King of Kings to be born, not because of a date on a calendar, but because they had seen the awaited star.

Wishing you many Kairos moments this season, that you may see the awaited star and receive His gift in the fullness that it was given.

I can remember one Christmas when I was a little girl, dreaming of getting my first stereo for Christmas…back then it was a record player, but I’m dating myself! Anyways, I could barely sleep some nights just anticipating receiving the gift. Before Christmas, I made room on my bookshelf for it and even dusted the space. I made sure there was an electrical outlet open and ready for it. I was prepared to receive that gift should someone find me worthy.

Just like I prepared myself to receive my gift of a stereo, we must prepare ourselves to receive the gift of Christ. That’s what Advent is all about, preparing our hearts for Christ’s coming, waiting and listening for Him. I imagine it’s hard to prepare and wait and listen with all of the shopping, baking, decorating and visiting we must do? Hmmm…

Can you identify with Charlie Brown, that somewhere in the hype and commercialization, the real meaning of Christmas has been lost? Maybe we need to remember what Linus told Charlie Brown? In its true sense, Christmas is not about giving, but rather about receiving, receiving a special gift from God in Jesus Christ. Once we receive His gift, giving happens. We give ourselves to Him and then we become His hands and feet, sharing His love all year long, not just at Christmas.

Luke 2:8-11

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all of the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

Soon, He will give you the greatest gift of all…receive it this year with great joy.