August 2010

     How's this for trivia: did you know that I once lived next door to a guy who was NCAA golf coach of the year (and more than once, too)?  In fact, our families literally lived under the same roof (a duplex).  One of his former students was a touring PGA pro who lived just down the street.

            This pro naturally was someone who I followed in the news.  He once came really close to winning a high-profile tournament.  But just as his career was about to take-off, his marriage ended.  His golf game ended with it.

            That happened decades ago, but I never forgot the lesson of how important our relationships are to us.

            This summer God has been teaching me how important my personal relationships are to Him as well.  I have discovered that the healthier my relationships are with others the better my relationship is with Him.  And, the better my relationship with Him, the better my relationships are with others...

            Teaching our summer series on relationships has been very helpful to me.  We will continue this study until the end of September. 

            Our annual Q & A Sunday is the last week of August.  On the 29th I will respond to questions taken from the pews ...from you.

            This Fall's Sabbatical:  By the graciousness of our elders and the generosity of the Lilly Foundation, our church is offering me a three-month leave to rest and recharge my spiritual batteries.  During that time I will be doing some traveling with Sue.  Our plan is to reconnect with family and to learn some skills in landscape photography.

            What can the congregation expect?  I love our church and initially resisted the sabbatical idea over concern about our congregation's spiritual growth.  But now, I am very excited to let you know that some of the professors from Cedarville University will fill our pulpit and share portions of their spiritual formation curriculum.  This course of studies is required of every CU student.

            We are currently planning the details of this pulpit series (running from October through December).  This fall we will introduce new Growth Groups which will provide you a chance to grow spiritually and to develop authentic relationships with others in our church.

            What if one needs pastoral care for a hospital or other emergency during the sabbatical?  Again, I have good news:  our friend Denny Moritz will be available to respond to these needs.  He will also work with our elders and supervise our staff this fall.  This promises to be a wonderful experience for us all.  I am excited for me and for you, too!

            I cannot sign off without mentioning the PCUSA issue.  Many people have talked to me and the elders about this summer's bi-annual General Assembly of the PCUSA.  News from this meeting caught news headlines.

            We have met and studied the actions taken.  The bottom-line is that the votes taken do not make any material changes in the PCUSA.  That's right, nothing has changed, yet.  To respond at this time as some suggest would be premature and hasty.  Instead, we have chosen to prepare and distribute a Public Statement in regard to this summer's meeting and votes.

            I strongly commend to your attention two documents for immediate reading.  One is the Public Statement.  The second is Session's PCUSA Report of 2003.  This latter document is the best I have read to-date on this subject.

            Both documents are stapled together and available for you to pick up in our Sanctuary Welcome Center.  They are also posted under a link on our homepage at www.scharlestonfirst.org.  Take and read these to become better informed.  And, as always, your comments are always welcome and given serious consideration.

July 2010

          Ok, I have to admit it: I love what I do.  I love being your pastor.  Specifically, I love watching you grow in your faith.  Weekly, I see evidences of people in our congregation becoming closer followers and lovers of Jesus.  What makes this occur?  Spiritual Growth!

            This summer I'm involved in some Growth Groups: one studying the book Ordering Your Private World, another going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace, one learning how to share Christ and disciple new believers, and of course, our elders continue to meet weekly.  The spiritual growth I witness in these groups is truly exciting!  And the fellowship is great...  Other small groups are meeting over the summer.  Several women are learning about the history of Christianity, and some couples are studying the Gospel of Matthew.

            I am convinced of the value of two things of vital importance to our faith: 1) pursuing spiritual growth and 2) being connected with others in a small group setting.

            Over this summer, we will be orchestrating a new semester of Growth Groups which will begin meeting in September.  The topics of study in these will be coordinated with our sermon series this fall on Spiritual Disciplines.  In September, you will be invited to join a Growth Group.

            Finally, our summer series is on healthy relationship skills.  I found that having good relationships with people enhance my relationship with Jesus.  And, a growing relationship with Him improves other relationships.  It sounds strange, I know, but it's true! 

            I have this awesome thought: being involved in a church family with authentic relationships.  It's no wonder that Jesus said, "...by this all people will know that you are My disciples."

June 2010

May 2010

     As I drove to lunch recently I was so sick to my stomach I didn’t know how I would even order and eat!  No, I was not ill.  I was really nervous.  Over lunch I faced a difficult and confrontational issue in my role in presbytery leadership.

     This reminded me of the importance of relationships.  These are vital to our happiness.  They have the potential to place us ‘on top of the world’ or to turn our stomachs inside-out.  For this reason I am very excited and passionate about our upcoming sermon plans...

     This summer, after Father’s Day, we begin a series of sermons on relationships.  In order for us to have healthy relationships we need to have Biblical relational skills.  The Bible is filled with passages that guide us in having Christ-likeness in our interactions at home, at work, and in the community.  A major aspect of our witness for Christ is how we treat others.  This is what people remember the most about us.  This determines whether or not they consider our faith authentic.  And how we relate either confirms or negates our message about Christ!

     During May, several growth groups are beginning new studies.  Two women’s groups are doing a pilot survey of Church History.  Teaching this subject is one of our goals for discipleship in our church.  A group of men are beginning an excellent series called Design for Discipleship by the Navigators; another men’s group is reading Ordering Your Private World.  On Sunday morning a group is reading John MacArthur’s excellent study on Prayer.  And, I am teaching a study on the techniques for sharing the Gospel and discipling new Christians.  These skills are core to our mission of ‘making disciples.’

     Finally, I wish to mention a note of gratitude to a group of six people who have helped me in the search for our Director of Youth Ministries.  Since posting the position on the internet, I have received over forty resumes.  We have narrowed that list down to 15 excellent and serious candidates.  That group has been pared to three applicants who have personal interviews with me and my team of helpers.  Who are these folks?  They are: Tony Faust, Carl Ruby, Sam Lloyd, Amy Reisenweaver, Linda Smith, (all from the Youth Committee), and Amber Hanson.  I am confident that in June we will introduce and commission our next YD in worship.

     I see two exciting chapters of new life in our church with these two momentous changes: youth ministry and growth groups!  We worship a living God who is doing new things in our church family.