Consumed!

Here are two of the references I was looking at for today. If you want to read them in their entirety make sure you read the comments in each of them.

There are so many broken people in this broken world!

Five Reasons the Church Failed

Dear Homosexual Friend

I haven't had time to look at Chick-Fil-A's list of people they donated to yet. My hope is that these accusations are false. You are not a Christ follower if you hate people.

Reconciliation Part II

Here is one of my clips that I used for Reconciliation II. This was about how we are reconciled through Christ and in Christ to God and each other!

Reconciliation belongs to Christ. It is his thing! Pursue Jesus for a reconciled heart and a reconciled relationship will follow.

Here is the Impossible God opener I used last week for my message. I thought some that weren't here might want to see it. (Although it has no moral value.)

http://youtu.be/Otm1RSxdjFk

Mission Impossible - Impossible God!

Sometimes our life feels like this. It seems like we are doing the impossible. That our life is full of things and situations that are just too hard. This is what leads to hopelessness.

A lack of hope comes from not seeing a way out. A way to succeed.

And there is only one answer to this problem. One.

We put God in a little box that says what He can and can't do. Only through releasing our minds from this rut can we realize the power, majesty and strength of our God.

God looks at our problems and says, "Hey, those aren't that big. I AM the IMF (Impossible Mission Force). Difficult is just a walk in the park. And to go one step further, God makes the impossible, possible. What is keeping you from truly trusting in God? What has failed? What is it that is keeping you from seeing a way out? For God, all things are possible. Do you believe, or not?

Billy Mays - king of the Pitch

Here is a video that made me laugh. It is from a Jay Leno skit. I found it when I was doing research for my sermon this week.
Enjoy!



The message today is on More. We are always searching for more, but more of the wrong thing. There is so much more that we could have of God that we aren't claiming!

Seek More!

Spiritual Retreat 2012.3

Today the weather was great! I had asked God to make a time so that I could go hiking again today. I worked on the vision this morning and after lunch I was ready to go hike. I looked outside and the sky was clearing and the temperature was 63 degrees! Thank you God!

So I decided to head over to Frontenac State Park and go up the bluff. It was going to be a longer hike. With my boot rubbing a little on my heel I decided to push it anyway.

I ended up hiking 6.3 miles! It was wonderful. I talked to God and listened and praised him. I saw a squirrel and birds and then I saw two sets of deer.

Here are the links to see my walk yesterday and today also:

Yesterday: http://s3.amazonaws.com/accuterra/1334806372.kmz

Today: http://s3.amazonaws.com/accuterra/1334781767.kmz

Here are my stats, which was kind of fun to know:

Trip 1:

Adventure Statistics:

Time:

 

Start: 1:34:44 PMStop: 3:19:22 PMDuration: 1 hr 44 min 38 sec
Distance: 4.2 milesSpeed:
Average Speed: 2.4 miles/hrAverage Pace: 24:38 mm:ss/mile
Elevation:
Minimum: +662 feetMaximum: +823 feet
Trip 2:
Adventure Statistics:
Time:
Start: 1:17:45 PMStop: 3:45:23 PMDuration: 2 hr 27 min 38 sec
Distance: 6.3 milesSpeed:
Average Speed: 2.6 miles/hrAverage Pace: 23:26 mm:ss/mile
Elevation:
Minimum: +715 feetMaximum: +1131 feet
 


 


 

Panoramic from Bluff

I did end up getting a blister on the back of my heel. I'll live. : ]

Great day with God today. Tomorrow I head back in the afternoon. Although I video chatted with my family both nights, it wasn't the same and will be glad to get back to see them.

Have a great night all!

 

Spiritual Retreat 2012.2

Yesterday, I was hiking and these were all over the place. I found it a little humorous because each one had a number on it. Like little apartment numbers. Little birds living in little apartments. Perhaps they are french birds.

I don't know. Struck me as funny.

 

On another note, I went and ate a little Mom and Pop last night called The Whistle Stop. If you are going through Frontenac and are hungry I would recommend it. Get the omelet called something like Everything under the Spud. It is very good!

 

 

Spiritual Retreat 2012.1

Every church I've been in I have had what they called spiritual days. The most often way of doing this, or allocating as it could be called, was to say one spiritual day a month. These could usually be hoarded for use with the idea built in that you could not store all of them and then take a nice vacation. : ]

Unfortunately, I never took any of them. Sad for me.

And so, in my desperate quest to know God more and to realize the more that he has for me, I quickly put together a retreat last week. I talked to the Leadership Team and asked them what they thought of me taking a small retreat and their response was funny. They said, "What? A pastor taking a spiritual retreat!!" It was very funny. I like facetiousness.

So I am very excited to be here. I am the only one in the whole building/castle.

Today I arrived in the afternoon and then got settled. I then went for a hike and ended up going 4.5 miles. Here are so pictures that I took:

It was good to be out in God's creation. I saw a lot of wildlife and enjoyed walking and talking with God. I plan on continuing a spiritual retreat Bible study that I have started today and then watching Faith Like Potatoes and going to sleep.

I have a busy day tomorrow!

Hope you all are having a good week!

 

Dave

 

 

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Ubi Caritas et Amor

Where charity and love are, there God is.
The love of Christ has gathered us into one flock.
Let us exult, and in Him be joyful.
Let us fear and let us love the living God.
And from a sincere heart let us love each other (and Him).

Where charity and love are, there God is.
Therefore, whensoever we are gathered as one:
Lest we in mind be divided, let us beware.
Let cease malicious quarrels, let strife give way.
And in the midst of us be Christ our God.

Where charity and love are, there God is.
Together also with the blessed may we see,
Gloriously, Thy countenance, O Christ our God:
A joy which is immense, and also approved:
Through infinite ages of ages.
Amen.

I am singing a song this Good Friday. It is called A Lenten Song by Helen Kemp.

At the end there is a Latin phrase. I didn't know what it meant and thought I would look it up. This is the poem that I ran across in my search. The full phrase in the song is the first line of this poem.

I learned something more about Tradition today. And now, so have you.

Day Eight 2012

Eight days in. It has been a very hectic week. That's not a moniker to put on my jacket. Just admitting that I'm tired. I didn't get a day off this week so I need to focus better and prioritize. That is to say that I'm going to have to not do some things this week that I would like to do. Or delegate them out. I am also not completing my goal of posting once a day.

We have a couple people in the hospital right now. Remember to pray for Char and Shirley. Char just had her knee operated on for replacement and is doing well. Will  probably come home tomorrow. Home is not literal. She will be staying with her sister. Also, her mother just went in to the hospital and Char is concerned about her. If you would like to send Char something, Tom S. has the address. Also, Shirley is in the hospital with an infection, influenza and pneumonia. They are giving her meds and she is recovering. She has good friends and family come see her and seems comfortable.

God has answered our prayers with Char and Shirley as well. Both are doing well and recovering. Char feels really well and is healing. Shirley's cough has improved a lot!

Today we are going to talk about Service. Servanthood. I am applying the text from John 13:1-17. I wanted to list out some things that I can't fit into the sermon. Here is a list of Self-Righteous Service determiners, not Self-Giving Service determiners.

1. Make a Big Deal
2. External Rewards
3. Pick and Choose
4. Moods and Whims
5. Temporary
6. Insensitive
7. Fractures Community

I will briefly explain them.

1. If we make a big deal and draw attention to ourselves then it is about serving yourself not the thing or person you are serving.
2. If there is a reward for you. You get something out of it. A new car. A piece of candy. If the question in your mind is "What am I getting out of this?" then you are not giving with the right heart.
3. When we choose who to help and who or what not to help or do, we are neglecting God's work in our lives and theirs. Walk with God and you will know the right ways to help. Sometimes it is not apparent in what they are saying they need, or the perceived need. God will help. Ask him.
4. "I don't feel like it." Many are those that receive no help or do not receive the gift of love through service from others because of this attitude.
5. "True service is a lifestyle." It isn't something that is orchestrated necessarily (out of necessity via laxity). It comes from within and floods others.
6. Self-giving love is sensitive to staying tuned in to others. Sometimes the best service is listening. Doing nothing. Being there.
7. Self-serving is all about the one person. Or the group. It divides some or one from others. The thought is that I did this and I am better than them. Even if we don't say it. We think it.

If you find yourselves serving others and one of these thoughts goes through you mind, it needs to be expunged. It is not from God. It is either the evil one spurring you or your human self coming through. Ask God to remove this spirit from you. Ask him to cleanse you from it and give it over to Him. He is a God that sanctifies.

Day Four 2012

Today is the fourth day of my fast. I meant to blog every day and that hasn't happened. Not off to a good start!

I was hoping to blog each day and have a small devotional thought plus list some prayer needs that I have prayed for. Maybe I can start today and go forward.

Today, Shirley is on my mind. I just found out she went to the hospital yesterday. She asked for something to read so tomorrow I'll go over and take her a book.

Char needs prayer. I know she is getting ready for her operation tomorrow.

Cathy is on my mind too. She is having a hard time with her stomach issues and it is knocking her out from doing the things she wants to do.

Dan Bohi is traveling and preaching at churches and will be here next Thursday and Friday. These services will be at 7 pm. I believe he will help us draw closer to God and give our lives to living a holy life. I am excited to see what God is going to do. I am praying that he will use Dan to transform our hearts.

- - - -

This morning I read about David testing out his armor and it not working for him. So he took it off and instead picked five smooth stones. He then went forward with God's power and those five stones.

It only took one. One stone. That is God's power. We prepare and then we give it to God. He takes it and says, "Watch what I am gonna do!" And he does the amazing. And ultimately this led to him becoming the king of Israel.

The question my book asked was, "What are your five stones?" And she was talking about picking five pieces of Scripture to be the mainstay of what your stand on during this time of preparation for whatever God has in store for you. This is all about seeking God. Knowing him well.

How many of us would say we know God well? If God walked up to us in the flesh, would we be able to say that he is our best friend? Would God agree based on His experience with us? Do we "hang out"' with God on a regular basis?

Dirty Little Secret Lyrics

Hello all!

This song is performed by The All-American Rejects. Here are the lyrics:


Let me know that I've done wrong
When I've known this all along
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you

Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to know

I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret

Who has to know
When we live such fragile lives
It's the best way we survive
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you

Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to know

I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret

Who has to know
The way she feels inside (inside)
Those thoughts I can't deny (deny)
These sleeping thoughts won't lie (won't lie)
And all I've tried to hide
It's eating me apart
Trace this life out

I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret)

I'll keep you my dirty little secret
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret
Dirty little secret
Dirty little secret

Who has to know
Who has to know

Egg coloring

 

Grandpa, Mimi, Audrey and Eliya coloring eggs on our visit. So much fun!

 

An Impactful Poem

One day I looked at myself, 

At the self that Christ can see; 

I saw the person I am today 

And the one I ought to be. 

I saw how little I really pray, 

How little I really do; 

I saw the influence of my life—

How little of it was true! 

I saw the bundle of faults and fears 

I ought to lay on the shelf; 

I had given a little bit to God, 

But I hadn’t given myself. 

I came from seeing myself, 

With the mind made up to be

The sort of person that Christ can use

With a heart He may always see. 

Celebration of Fasting

I thought I would post some more information about Fasting.

Here are all the references I found in the Bible. I know there are more in there, so feel free to add them in the comments!

Scripture	Fasting Content
Nehemiah 1:4	Confessing, mourning, petitioning
Daniel 9:3	Seek Answer, petitioning, sackcloth and ashes
Isaiah 58:1-14	Fasting as Duty- True Worship!
Zechariah 7:1-7 and 8:18-19	Fast for God, No Hypocritical Fasting! Joy Filled Fast
Deuteronomy 9:9	God sustained Moses
1 Kings 19:8	Elijah was sustained by God and went 40days/n
Esther 4:16	Consecrate, Esther and People
Luke 5:33-35	Bridegroom is here, Feast! Fast later.
Acts 14:23	Consecrated to the Lord, church
Acts 13:2	Holy Spirit Answered, Paul and Barnabas consecrated
Acts 9:9	Saul fasted after Damascus
2 Corinthians 11:27	Suffering for Christ, Paul, fasting often.
Matthew 9:15	Parallel to Luke 5:33

Scripture	Corporate Fasting Content
Joel 2:12-15	Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Set apart yourself for a fast. Sanctify the congregation!
Leviticus 23:27	Day of Atonement Fast! Commandment.
2 Chronicles 20:1-4	Jehoshaphat proclaimed a corporate fast to seek help from God!
Jonah 3:4-10	Repentance. Petition.
Ezra 8:21-23	Corporate Fast, Petitioning God for safety.
Luke 2:37	Anna living in temple. Way of life. Presented to God.
Acts 13:2	Consecrated for service. Paul and Barnabas
Zechariah 7:5	Fast for the people’s relationship with God. Don’t fast for God. Fast for yourself.
Psalm 69:10	Petitioning God. Humbled my soul.
John 4:32,34	My food is the will of God who sent me. Complete his work. God sustains. Food does not.

I thought it might help to see how pervasive fasting is in the Bible. I think I have a couple of these duplicated because they had to do with fasting and with corporate fasting both.

Have a great week!

Just thought you all might need a laugh!

Since we have girl scout troupes that meet in our church I thought this was pretty funny.

More about Prayer!

Here is another post about prayer. There are some great books out there that talk about prayer. Here is an interesting article about four books. I found it helpful.

Prayer Review

Let me know what you think!

Celebration of Prayer

This morning the topic was prayer. Even though the sermon was longer than I had planned on talking about it, I can't help but feel that I was unable to even touch the surface. I thought I would do a brief recap here with some other thoughts later.

The number one thing I wanted to get across this morning was that God wants an intimate relationship with us and that requires us to talk with him. Not only that, but further, is that he wants it to meaningful.

This doesn't mean that it should be difficult or that we should be scared about what we are telling our Father in heaven. That is not the goal. The goal is that we become comfortable talking and sharing with him in such a way that it becomes like we are talking with our most trusted friend. And that is mainly because you are!

God doesn't want us to be anything but authentic with him. He wants the real stuff!! He already knows what we are going through and he already knows everything about our situations! He wants you to know that he cares about that stuff. He cares about it all. He cares that you live your faith out at work or at school.

He wants to share in live with you. Not only that, he wants to guide you and help you go through your life.

The challenge this morning was that we add a more intense focus on prayer to our life over the next six weeks. Get somebody you trust and partner up to hold each other accountable to pray on a daily basis.

Get real with God in your prayer! Praise God in your prayers!

You know how it is when you talk with someone you don't trust? They ask how you are and you say, "Fine." Well, God is not that person! He is a person you can trust. You can share everything with him. You can trust him. He cares about it and wants his best for you. God doesn't want to hear that you are "fine." He wants to hear the real stuff! "God I was so mad at ________ today! _______ made me want to scream!" Because out of this admittance, just as an example, God can begin to help you see what he wants you to grow in. He can help transform who you are by helping you see what he sees! Whether it is in you that he sees it or whether it is in them that you need to see it.

One of the goals this morning was for all of us to see that God wants us to share our very real selves with him.

Of course it is okay to thank God for this day. But for many, that is not really what is going on. "Thank you for this day," is not truly what is going on within you. "Thank you for this day," is a way of gathering your thoughts before you actually get truly real and serious about the prayer you are about to pray. What would happen if every time you talked to a trusted friend you started out with "I feel fine." I don't think that the friend would think you were being very real with them. I don't think that they would find a lot of meaning in that phrase.

We need to get serious about prayer. We need to get serious about what our God has done in our lives and our relationship with him. We need to get real with God.

Then we will see growth. Then we will see change. Then we will be made new through the incredible work of our Savior, Jesus.

 

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Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday. This day has a profound meaning in the Christian church year. It has been around since around the 8th century and is meant to set apart a time in preparation of the coming celebration of the Resurrection.

If you have never heard of Ash Wednesday or don't know what it is, you are in the majority of Protestants. However, because you are reading this, you are also in an increasing majority that are coming to know Ash Wednesday and Lent as a time of spiritual renewal that adds spiritual value to your relationship with God. I know it has added value to mine in years past and I am looking forward to that increase this year.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. It is meant to help us focus on our own mortality and our confession of our need of the atoning work of Christ on the cross. An Ash Wednesday service helps us to do this together, as a church body, and in the larger context with the global Church. As we journey together in these 40 days toward the cross, Ash Wednesday helps us to begin the journey with our church family: around the table of Christ's church and the community of faith.

Ashes are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as a sign of mortality and repentance. In Job 42:6, we read, "Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." In the New Testament, Jesus refers to the practice in Matthew 11:21. What a picture of the full circle of life! It is almost as if their sorrow is such that they are saying, "Return me to the dust I was made from! It is better to be dust than to be in such agony."

This time is also a personal time of examining ourselves and being open to God's movement in our life. May He reveal that which needs repenting from in our lives! And, of course, it is also to bear witness to His incredible mercy and grace that reconciles us to Him and to others.

Starting with Ash Wednesday through the season of Lent, we throw away the tendency to live out our lives content in our own sufficiency and righteousness (which is an illusion) and to rely on God's sufficiency and God's righteousness.

The holiest of God's people have always known the imperativeness of searching our hearts and humbling ourselves before God. We must feel the need to draw near to God. And, it is that desire that must be recognized in our lives each day; we must recognize the need for God's grace.

Many people use the season of Lent to enter into disciplines that remove distractions that have kept us from daily living in God's grace. Some of the disciplines that are added to people's lives are daily prayer, fasting, self-denial, and meditation of God's Word. These disciplines of devotion and denial are not meant to be avenues of legalism or some sort of divine money to earn God's adoration. Instead they are avenues of increasing our awareness of that adoration that has always been there. They discipline us to be more in tune with God.

So let us come into this time together! The time for preparation for celebration is here. Rejoice! God desires for us to be drawn closer into his embrace and to devote this time to become more intimate with our God: Lover and Lord.

Celebration of Prayer

This morning the topic was prayer. Even though the sermon was longer than I had planned on talking about it, I can't help but feel that I was unable to even touch the surface. I thought I would do a brief recap here with some other thoughts later.

The number one thing I wanted to get across this morning was that God wants an intimate relationship with us and that requires us to talk with him. Not only that, but further, is that he wants it to meaningful.

This doesn't mean that it should be difficult or that we should be scared about what we are telling our Father in heaven. That is not the goal. The goal is that we become comfortable talking and sharing with him in such a way that it becomes like we are talking with our most trusted friend. And that is mainly because you are!

God doesn't want us to be anything but authentic with him. He wants the real stuff!! He already knows what we are going through and he already knows everything about our situations! He wants you to know that he cares about that stuff. He cares about it all. He cares that you live your faith out at work or at school.

He wants to share in live with you. Not only that, he wants to guide you and help you go through your life.

The challenge this morning was that we add a more intense focus on prayer to our life over the next six weeks. Get somebody you trust and partner up to hold each other accountable to pray on a daily basis.

Get real with God in your prayer! Praise God in your prayers!

You know how it is when you talk with someone you don't trust? They ask how you are and you say, "Fine." Well, God is not that person! He is a person you can trust. You can share everything with him. You can trust him. He cares about it and wants his best for you. God doesn't want to hear that you are "fine." He wants to hear the real stuff! "God I was so mad at ________ today! _______ made me want to scream!" Because out of this admittance, just as an example, God can begin to help you see what he wants you to grow in. He can help transform who you are by helping you see what he sees! Whether it is in you that he sees it or whether it is in them that you need to see it.

One of the goals this morning was for all of us to see that God wants us to share our very real selves with him.

Of course it is okay to thank God for this day. But for many, that is not really what is going on. "Thank you for this day," is not truly what is going on within you. "Thank you for this day," is a way of gathering your thoughts before you actually get truly real and serious about the prayer you are about to pray. What would happen if every time you talked to a trusted friend you started out with "I feel fine." I don't think that the friend would think you were being very real with them. I don't think that they would find a lot of meaning in that phrase.

We need to get serious about prayer. We need to get serious about what our God has done in our lives and our relationship with him. We need to get real with God.

Then we will see growth. Then we will see change. Then we will be made new through the incredible work of our Savior, Jesus.

 

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For Informational Purposes!

This is an excerpt from Dr. Dennis Bratcher's website. It is a lot of information about the Lenten season.

Enjoy!

"The season of Lent has not been well observed in much of evangelical Christianity, largely because it was associated with "high church" liturgical worship that some churches were eager to reject. However, much of the background of evangelical Christianity, for example the heritage of John Wesley, was very "high church." Many of the churches that had originally rejected more formal and deliberate liturgy are now recovering aspects of a larger Christian tradition as a means to refocus on spirituality in a culture that is increasingly secular.

Originating in the fourth century of the church, the season of Lent spans 40 weekdays beginning on Ash Wednesday and climaxing during Holy Week with Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Good Friday, and concluding Saturday before Easter. Originally, Lent was the time of preparation for those who were to be baptized, a time of concentrated study and prayer before their baptism at the Easter Vigil, the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord early on Easter Sunday. But since these new members were to be received into a living community of Faith, the entire community was called to preparation. Also, this was the time when those who had been separated from the Church would prepare to rejoin the community.

Today, Lent is marked by a time of prayer and preparation to celebrate Easter. Since Sundays celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the six Sundays that occur during Lent are not counted as part of the 40 days of Lent, and are referred to as the Sundays in Lent. The number 40 is connected with many biblical events, but especially with the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for His ministry by facing the temptations that could lead him to abandon his mission and calling. Christians today use this period of time for introspection, self examination, and repentance. This season of the year is equal only to the Season of Advent in importance in the Christian year, and is part of the second major grouping of Christian festivals and sacred time that includes Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost.

Lent has traditionally been marked by penitential prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Some churches today still observe a rigid schedule of fasting on certain days during Lent, especially the giving up of meat, alcohol, sweets, and other types of food. Other traditions do not place as great an emphasis on fasting, but focus on charitable deeds, especially helping those in physical need with food and clothing, or simply the giving of money to charities. Most Christian churches that observe Lent at all focus on it as a time of prayer, especially penance, repenting for failures and sin as a way to focus on the need for God’s grace. It is really a preparation to celebrate God’s marvelous redemption at Easter, and the resurrected life that we live, and hope for, as Christians.

Mardi Gras or Carnival

Carnival, which comes from a Latin phrase meaning "removal of meat," is the three day period preceding the beginning of Lent, the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday immediately before Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of the Lenten Season (some traditions count Carnival as the entire period of time between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday). The three days before Ash Wednesday are also known as Shrovetide ("shrove" is an Old English word meaning "to repent"). The Tuesday just before Ash Wednesday is called Shrove Tuesday, or is more popularly known by the French term Mardi Gras, meaning "Fat Tuesday," contrasting to the fasting during Lent. The entire three day period has now come to be known in many areas as Mardi Gras.

Carnival or Mardi Gras is usually a period of celebration, originally a festival before the fasting during the season of Lent. Now it is celebrated in many places with parades, costumes, dancing, and music. Many Christians’ discomfort with Lent originates with a distaste for Mardi Gras. In some cultures, especially the Portuguese culture of Brazil, the French culture of Louisiana, and some of the Caribbean cultures such as Trinidad, it has tended to take on the excesses of wild and drunken revelry. There has been some attempt in recent years to change this aspect of the season, such as using Brazilian Carnival parades to focus on national and cultural history. Many churches now observe Mardi Gras with a church pancake breakfast or other church meal, eating together as a community before the symbolic fasting of Lent begins.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter Sunday, is the first day of the Season of Lent. Its name comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes on worshippers’ heads or foreheads as a sign of humility before God, a symbol of mourning and sorrow at the death that sin brings into the world. It not only prefigures the mourning at the death of Jesus, but also places the worshipper in a position to realize the consequences of sin.  (See Reflections on Ash Wednesday). Ash Wednesday is a somber day of reflection on what needs to change in our lives if we are to be fully Christian.

In the early church, ashes were not offered to everyone but were only used to mark the forehead of worshippers who had made public confession of sin and sought to be restored to the fellowship of the community at the Easter celebration. However, over the years others began to show their humility and identification with the penitents by asking that they, too, be marked as sinners. Finally, the imposition of ashes was extended to the whole congregation in services similar to those that are now observed in many Christian churches on Ash Wednesday. Ashes became symbolic of that attitude of penitence reflected in the Lord’s prayer:  “forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us”  (Luke 11:4, NRSV).

Colors and Symbols of Lent

The color used in the sanctuary for most of Lent is purple, red violet, or dark violet (see Colors of the Church Year). These colors symbolize both the pain and suffering leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus as well as the suffering of humanity and the world under sin.  But purple is also the color of royalty, and so anticipates through the suffering and death of Jesus the coming resurrection and hope of newness that will be celebrated in the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Some churches use grey for Ash Wednesday or for the entire season of Lent, or for special days of fasting and prayer. Gray is the color of ashes, and therefore a biblical symbol of mourning and repentance. The decorations for the sanctuary during Lent should reflect this mood of penitence and reflection.  Some Anglican churches use unbleached muslin, which can range from white to beige, with accents in red or black for Lent to symbolize this same spirit of penitence.

Some churches avoid the use of any flowers in the sanctuary during Lent, using various dried arrangements.  This can be especially effective if a flowering cross is used for Easter. Other churches use arrangements of rocks or symbols associated with the Gospel readings for the six Sundays in Lent.

Some church traditions change the sanctuary colors to red for Maundy Thursday, a symbol of the disciples and through them the community of the church.  Since Eucharist or communion is often observed on Maundy Thursday in the context of Passover, the emphasis is on the gathered community in the presence of Jesus the Christ.

Traditionally, the sanctuary colors of Good Friday and Holy Saturday are black, the only days of the Church Year that black is used. It symbolizes the darkness brought into the world by sin. It also symbolizes death, not only the death of Jesus but the death of the whole world under the burden of sin.  In this sense, it also represents the hopelessness and the endings that come as human beings try to make their own way in the world without God (see The Days of Holy Week). Black is always replaced by white before sunrise of Easter Sunday.

The Journey of Lent

There are many ways for a congregation to mark the journey of Lent.  Of course, beginning with a service of worship for Ash Wednesday is always appropriate (see Ash Wednesday: A Service of Worship).  During Lent, one of the most effective visual reminders of the season that can be expanded in many variations is to use a rough wooden cross as a focal point in the sanctuary.  The type of cross and how it is constructed will depend on exactly how it will be used.  The cross is usually erected in the Sanctuary on Ash Wednesday as a visible symbol of the beginning of Lent.  It is usually draped in black on Good Friday.  The same cross can also become a part of the congregation's Easter celebration as it is then draped in white or gold, or covered with flowers (see The Flowering Cross).

One effective way to make use of the cross is to use it as a Prayer Cross during Lent.   A hammer, square nails, and small pieces of paper are made available near the cross.  At a designated time of prayer during the Sundays in Lent, or beginning with Ash Wednesday, people are invited to write their prayer requests on the paper, and then nail them to the cross.  The quiet time of prayer with only the sounds of the hammer striking the nails can be a moving time for reflection on the meaning of Lent, and a powerful call to prayer. The prayer requests can be removed and burned as part of a Tenebrae or Stations of the Cross service during Holy Week to symbolize releasing the needs to God.

Some churches have a special time of prayer or meditation one night of each week during Lent.  Often Catholic and high church traditions pray the Stations of the Cross (see The Fourteen Stations of the Cross).  Some Protestant churches have a special series of weekly Bible studies followed by a time of meditation and prayer. Often, in both Catholic and Protestant traditions, the prayer time is followed by a simple meal of soup and bread to symbolize the penitence of the Season.

Reflections on Lent

We enjoy celebrating Palm Sunday.  The children get to make paper palm branches and for many it is one of the few times they get to take an active role in "big church."  We wave the palm branches and celebrate. And we all love Easter Sunday!  It is a happy time, with flowers, new clothes, and the expectation of Spring in the air.

Yet there is something significant missing if we only concentrate on celebration for these two Sundays.  It is too easy and promotes much too cheap a grace to focus only on the high points of Palm Sunday and Easter without walking with Jesus through the gathering shadows of Maundy Thursday and the darkness of Good Friday. For us, that journey begins on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Lent is a way to recall a larger story than just celebration. It is a way to face the reality of the consequences of sin and the terrible toll it takes on the world. Lent calls us to examine our own lives with the prayer, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me (Psa 139:23-24).

The journey through Lent is a way to places ourselves before God humbled, bringing in our hands no price whereby we can ourselves purchase our salvation. It is a way to confess our total inadequacy before God, to strip ourselves bare of all pretenses to righteousness, to come before God in dust and ashes. It is a way to empty ourselves of our false pride, of our rationalizations that prevent us from seeing ourselves as needy creatures, of our external piety that blinds us to the beam in our own eyes.

Through prayer that gives up self, we seek to open ourselves up before God, and to hear anew the call "Come unto me!" We seek to recognize and respond afresh to God’s presence in our lives and in our world. We seek to place our needs, our fears, our failures, our hopes, our very lives in God’s hands, again. And we seek by abandoning ourselves in Jesus’ death to recognize again who God is, to allow His transforming grace to work in us once more, and to come to worship Him on Easter Sunday with a fresh victory and hope that goes beyond the new clothes, the Spring flowers, the happy music.

Yet, that celebration begins in ashes. And it journeys though darkness. It is a spiritual pilgrimage that I am convinced we must all make, one way or the other, for genuine spiritual renewal to come.

I have heard the passage in 2 Chronicles 7:14 quoted a lot: ". . .if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." This usually is quoted in the context of wanting revival or renewal in the church. The prayer is usually interpreted as intercessory prayer for others, since we too easily assume that any problem lies with someone else. Yet a careful reading of the passage will reveal that the prayer that is called for here is not intercessory prayer for others; it is penitential prayer for the faith community, for us. It is not to call for others to repent; it is a call for us, God’s people, to repent. It is our land that needs healed, it is our wicked ways from which we need to turn, we are the ones who need to seek God’s face.

Perhaps during the Lenten season we should stop praying for others as if we were virtuous enough to do so. Perhaps we should take off our righteous robes just long enough during these 40 days to put ashes on our own heads, to come before God with a new humility that is willing to confess, "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner." Maybe we should be willing to prostrate ourselves before God and plead, "Lord, in my hand no price I bring; simply to the cross I cling." That might put us in a position to hear God in ways that we have not heard Him in a long time. And it may be the beginning of that healing for which we have so longed.

O Lord, begin with me. Here. Now."

End Quote!

We're Baaaccckkkk. . .

Hello Everyone!

We made it back! It was a great trip there. We could not have asked for better weather. It took us about 8 hours or so.

The retreat was at Aberdeen, SD. We had a great time! Thank you for investing in us!

We met every pastor that came to the retreat and started some great friendships. The time of listening to the speaker was wonderful. He taught us so much. He was very real and open.

Dr. Kraemer was wonderful and helped us see where he would like the district to get to.

We felt emotionally and spiritually charged. Although, our physical bodies are very tired.

On Sunday we left around 1 pm or so. There was snow in Aberdeen and Sioux Falls. After Sioux Falls it became slush and then that stuff that you can't see very well that makes it slick. I don't like ice.

It was a careful trip with a little tension in a couple of places and yet, God was with us and gave us wisdom and safety along the way. We are grateful to Him for being with us.

We met some amazing people that have become near and dear to us. We feel more apart of the district. What a great gift God has given us!

And we are so glad to be back as well. We missed you all. Can't wait to talk with each of you.

God's best,


Dave

Arrival!

We made it and got checked in!

And it is cold!


Can't wait to get to know some people from the District.

Pastor Dave


~ mobile post

Location:Elks Dr,Aberdeen,United States

Living Your Strengths 1.4

Back for the last day this week!

On this day we will do the Calling Question.

This week's Calling Questions is this:

There are so many needs to be addressed in our world today:  poverty, injustice, loneliness, substance abuse ~ to name a few. When you read the newspaper, hear radio or television news reports, or are out and about in your community, what needs make you stop and think, “I wish I could help!”?

This is key to understand who you are and how God has made you. What are your passions? God put them there! Be aware of them.

Next Tuesday we will go through Living Your Strengths Session Two. So bring your books and your notes!

Living Your Strengths 1.3

Hello again!

How is the journey this week? Going okay? Are you staying on top of your journaling? Are you making time for reflection? Got 5 minutes? Sit down with a pen and paper and think about yesterday. How were your strengths revealed? Did you "overuse" any of them? Think balance here.

My third question for us is this:

But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his mater’s money. (Matt. 25:18)

And now these.

1) Our talents come from God. Why do we so typically ignore them?

2) In what ways have your greatest talents led to your creates successes?

See you tomorrow!

Living Your Strengths 1.2

Second Day!

Remember the key for this week is Vulnerability.

My second question for us is this:

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit that I from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. (1 Cor. 2:12)

And now these.

1) Are there some areas in which you've always known you naturally excelled, but never knew how to describe your talents?

2) Would others be surprised at some of the themes in which you are especially talented?

Did you journal yesterday? How was your time? Did you look for your strengths as your day progressed? What did you notice? 

Living Your Strengths Session 1

Our church leadership team (BLT) is going through Living Your Strengths together. I told them that I would post some more information here so that they could go through more of the information in their home study time.

The first VALUE is Vulnerability. I liked what one of them said. "That second one is what scares me." The second one was this:  To acknowledge strengths means accountability. Accountability is scary!

My first question for us is this:

To each is given the manifestation of the spirit for the common good. (1 Cor. 12:7)

Think about that. Now, consider these questions in relation to that.
1) How does it feel to be able to "name" your talents?

2) What aspect of your Signature Themes report surprised you most?


Find some time to journal and reflect on this.

Tomorrow's post coming up!