Devotional Thought from Lisa Michelle Wilson

Devotional for Busy Families

All Alone (November 30, 2009) Devotional

Troy is a transfer student. Although he still lives in the same town, it’s as if he has entered a different world. Troy and his family made the decision to switch schools because of the advanced math courses offered at his new school. Troy dreams one day of becoming a doctor, and he thought the more challenging classes would help him toward that goal. Troy knew that the academics would be difficult, but he never dreamed the social aspect of transferring would be so tough.

The majority of the kids at his new school live in a wealthier part of town. They are into wearing designer label clothes, comparing vacation spots, and seeing who has the most “toys”. Troy’s family is less wealthy, and , frankly, those kinds of material possessions don’t appeal much to Troy. He’s more interested in a friend who appreciates a good tough-football game, going fishing in the river, or relaxing after school listening to some good music. Troy is beginning to think that no one shares his interests and values. Right now Troy is feeling very much alone and discouraged. What do you think he should do?

Should Troy…

A. Put an ad in the school newspaper and advertise for friends?

B. Ask his parents if he can transfer back to his old school?

C. Start wearing designer clothes so he can fit in with the new crowd?

D. Trust that God is with him and will help him through this difficult transition?

E. Give up on ever meeting friends at his new school?

Read Genesis 28:15 to see how the Lord comforted Jacob when he was alone.

(This devotional was taken from Sticky Situations by Betsy Schmitt)

Tips for Parents

After School Activities and Supervision

(Taken from Dr. Kay Kuzma’s- How to Mold Character from the Inside Out)

Because school age children are finally more of an asset than a nuisance when it comes to helping around the house, parents may tend to impose a heavy dose of household chores. As they get older, school work gradually increases. This is also when children are branching out into extracurricular activities such as tumbling, tennis, swimming, piano playing, or horseback riding. Then comes Scouts or church clubs. Make sure your child doesn’t try to do so much working, studying, practicing, and socializing that she has no time for family life or quiet moments to herself. All of the extra activities are good- but too many may be detrimental to the developing child. Parents must be careful to encourage- but not to push. Kids need time to think, to doodle, to read fun books or listen to music. Basically, kids needs balance. And it’s these years when parents still have some control that balance can be built into a child’s life. School age children need Mom and Dad. It is a fallacy to think that children should take care of themselves just because they can take care of themselves during the time between the final school bell and the sound of the parents’ car coming up the driveway after work. Some children mature earlier than others and enjoy some time alone. Basically, school age children need supervision and direction. If you can’t be there, make sure someone is around to give your child the guidance he needs. Idleness can lead to misbehavior and experimentation with forbidden activities, such as smoking, drinking, or stealing. Don’t take a chance.

Next week’s topic: Getting Kids to do ‘Home’ Work…

Sermon Excerpt: Advent 2009 - Nazareth & Hometown Rejection

Text: Luke 4:16-31

Video Link to sermon

Upon the cliff, Jesus walks right through the middle of the crowd and escapes. A supernatural escape is what it took to save Jesus’ life. Jesus escapes and moves on to Capernaum which is a town along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Remember these words from Jesus that end the section of the Sermon on the Mount that we call the Beatitudes. Blessed are you when others chase after you, say mean things against you, try to undermine your authority, dignity, character and integrity because of doing the right thing.

Blessed are you when, because of Jesus, people insult you and slander you with all sorts of sordid lies that if anyone would simply use their head for a moment would know are not true. You are blessed by God because in these instances your aligning with Him is causing great trials and God will not forget you.

It is one thing when acquaintances and colleagues do this to you. It hurts. It stings. It causes you to assess things. It is quite another thing when close friends and family do this to you. At this point, it can make you question everything in your life.

Jesus understood what it meant to be rejected. We see it time and time again in the gospels. His hometown rejected him as well as his disciples and the nation of Israel. When we decide to be a follower of Jesus, it is therefore obvious that we too will be rejected. The question is then, “how do we deal with rejection in all its forms?”

1. We are not alone. Others, even in this very room, have experienced rejection. One of the most compelling reasons to include this story in the gospel of Luke is so we can know that Jesus himself was not immune to it. I have said this plenty of times from this pulpit and will continue to say it, “we are in this place for one another.” Find a Sunday School or some other small group and begin getting to know others. It is within these groups that care, share, and study together that we can gain support to work through whatever rejection we may be facing in our lives.
2. Understand that rejection comes often when we are no longer who or what the other person “perceives” they need. It wasn’t until Jesus told the home folks that they would not be at the center of his ministry did they reject him. And so it is with our lives. When our priorities or perspective changes, which always happens when we follow Christ, it offends those who are affected.
3. Jesus gives us the example of how to handle rejection in our life. Don’t miss this. What does your text says he does after walking through the midst of the group? Then he went down to Capernaum, another town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught people. How great is that. Some may reject me but that will not deter me from doing the “right” thing. Even those closest to me may not understand and push me away, but that will not stop me from following. When we face rejection, the encouragement is to not lose hope or give up. The encouragement is to continue to do the right thing; continue to follow Jesus.

Some of you right now are discouraged by how others have been treating you for doing the “right” thing. Blessed are you. God is on your side. We, your church family, are on your side. Some of you right now are being pursued and lied about and trashed in the court of public opinion for taking a stand and following Christ. God is on your side. Your church family is on your side. Continue to move forward encouraged that God has your back and we have your back. Continue and do not lose heart.

Advent Sermon Series: The Places He's Been

First century Israel is a world apart from our Twenty-First century society. The places that Jesus ministered, taught, and lived may have looked different, but the lessons are as true for us today as ever. These settings offer insight into real world issues such as hometown rejection, foreign land forgiveness, capitol city critics, and birthplace wonder. Join us as we spend Advent following in Jesus' footsteps.

(The above image is a picture of current day Nazareth. Jesus' hometown has grown from 400-500 in the first-century to a bustling city of more than 60,000 today.)

Sermon Excerpt: What Kind of King?

Text: Revelation 1:4-8

The question we must ask this morning is this, “Is that the kind of King you are looking for?” Some may be expecting a white knight King who will take you out of your current situation and make everything better? Fix all that is broken in your life (finances, relationships, career) and deliver you? The problem with this expectation is that Jesus never says he will take us out of this life, rather he promises that he will journey with us through whatever we face. If he himself faced problems while on the earth, why should we feel that it will be an different for us? Does it happen sometimes? Surely. But just as often, instead of changing our circumstances, God changes us. How will you deal with your expectations not getting met in the manner you envisioned?

Or perhaps we are waiting on a George Burns figure from the movie “Oh God.” Someone who brings us comfort and companionship without interrupting our life too very much. You might be saying, “as long as I can have this experience for one hour per week and it does not have to impact the rest of my life, then so be it.” Let the king be convenient and entertaining, but not life changing or challenging. How will you deal with the fact that this King Jesus might very well be counting on you leaving your comfortable bubble? What will that expectation not being met do to you?

Or maybe we are expecting a king who will bring justice to those who have hurt us in the past or are currently hurting us? We are waiting for the king to show up and clean house for us. Right all the wrongs in our life and strike down all those responsible. This king is a Chuck Norris with superpowers. Ready to come in and save the day. What happens when this King Jesus says to love your enemies and forgive those who harm you? What will that expectation not being met do to you?

Perhaps our expectation is that there is no king? This whole thing is made up by well-meaning but erroneous people. It is a cultural thing that if you grow up with it you continue in it. There is no king. It is only a figment of the imagination. This king is about as real as the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk. But what if we sit here this morning and realize that perhaps this King Jesus is a bit more tangible, real, assessable than we ever could have imagined. What happens then? What will that expectation not being met mean for you?

We all have our expectations of the king even if our expectations are defined by a lack of expectation. So what will happen when your expectation are either met or not? Will that defining moment or ever building realization strengthen your faith or harm it? The fact of the matter is that each of us will come to the realization at some point in our lives if we already haven’t. And will we be like the first century Jews who missed it or will we be like those who got it and received him?

(If you would like the full manuscript of this sermon, please email Todd at todd@1stumc.org).

Pre-Thanksgiving Fellowship Meal - November 22nd

Join your Andover family for a traditional Thanksgiving meal with turkey, dressing and trimmings after the service on November 22nd. We are catering the meal and the cost is $5 per person with a $20 family maximum. Please RSVP to Susan Nelson at susanleenelson@yahoo.com or Vicki Greenup at greenupv@aol.com.

Sermon Manuscript: Stewardship Series 2009 - Simplicity and Generosity

Text: Luke 16:1-13, Mark 6: 33-45

I had the most difficult time deciding how to start this sermon. So many thoughts are going through my head. Let me share the wealth so to speak with my struggles. Get it share the wealth! First of all, the church gets a bad wrap that all we want is your money. That we talk about it all the time and indeed make people feel guilty. That is a mindset among many even though 17 out of Jesus’ 40 parables focused upon money! So that is on my mind. Secondly, many if not all of us have had a difficult year economically and many of you face uncertainty in your lives with respect to your finances. Today could be one of those days that leads to a feeling of inadequacy or lack of blessing. I do not want any of us to come away with that feeling today. Here is a personal issue. I have no problem encouraging you to live your life in a certain way. But when it comes to spending your money, I get an uneasy feeling. I believe that it stems from this being on of the issues that I continue to deal with in my own life. I am very much wrestling with everything we talk about today in my own life. Not to mention that we as a church have seen a difficult year with the budget running over $100,000 behind in giving through October. From Paul Brunstetter throughout the staff, we want you to know that we are thankful for your generosity and will make sure we live within the realm of what is given. I do not, nor does Paul, want this day to be about how little we have and how we need more in terms of budget. While it is true that we may face some very difficult decisions as a church family, we will survive and continue to be Jesus’ hands and voice in our community. No. Today is not about how to meet a budget. It extends well beyond that to a much deeper issue that impacts all of our lives. So, will you do me a favor and let us all move past today being a budget raising sermon and let’s hear the deeper truth that can transform our lives. If we come to terms with the truths we will discuss, the budget is the least thing that we need to worry about.

John Wesley in his sermon “The Use of Money” said the following,

"The love of money," we know, "is the root of all evil;" but not the thing itself. The fault does not lie in the money, but in them that use it. It may be used ill: and what may not? But it may likewise be used well: It is full as applicable to the best, as to the worst uses. It is of unspeakable service to all civilized nations, in all the common affairs of life: It is a most compendious instrument of transacting all manner of business, and (if we use it according to Christian wisdom) of doing all manner of good. It is true, were man in a state of innocence, or were all men "filled with the Holy Ghost," so that, like the infant Church at Jerusalem, "no man counted anything he had his own," but "distribution was made to everyone as he had need," the use of it would be superseded; as we cannot conceive there is anything of the kind among the inhabitants of heaven. But, in the present state of mankind, it is an excellent gift of God, answering the noblest ends. In the hands of his children, it is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, raiment for the naked: It gives to the traveller and the stranger where to lay his head. By it we may supply the place of an husband to the widow, and of a father to the fatherless. We maybe a defence for the oppressed, a means of health to the sick, of ease to them that are in pain; it may be as eyes to the blind, as feet to the lame; yea, a lifter up from the gates of death!

It is therefore of the highest concern that all who fear God know how to employ this valuable talent; that they be instructed how it may answer these glorious ends, and in the highest degree. And, perhaps, all the instructions which are necessary for this may be reduced to three plain rules, by the exact observance whereof we may approve ourselves faithful stewards of "the mammon of unrighteousness."

And here are the three plain rules Mr. Wesley suggested were the key to understanding how to use money.

Having, First, gained all you can, and, Secondly saved all you can, Then "give all you can."

Simple, straightforward. Brutally difficult. We began discussing the first rule, “gain all you can”, last week. Mr. Wesley is not saying that we all become Gordon Gecko and run people over and run our integrity into the ground. Rather, he expresses that God is the creator of all things and that we are to partner with God in doing something with the creation that is already going somewhere. Co-creators. Subduers and rulers of the very thing that God put in motion.

The second rule is to “save all you can”. Rather than encourage us to be hoarders, he has something very different in mind. Turn to Luke 16 with me as we consider the parable of the Shrewd Manager.

Seems that there was a rich man who had a dishonest manager working for him. After finding out that his manager was cheating the rich man, the rich man told the manager to audit his accounts and be prepared to be fired. The manager panicked. He was not strong enough to make it through manual labor and he was too proud for begging. He came up with a plan. I will go to the people who owe my employer oil, wheat and other goods and re-write their loan amounts downward. Evidently, he had been adding a surcharge or commission to the bills and skimming from the top for himself. By writing down the overinflated loan amounts, the manager was saving the customers a huge amount of money and thereby winning their hearts over for later when he would need their help in return. Brilliant. Resourceful. If he had done more of this while employed, who knows where it might have gotten him! And hear Jesus’ assessment of the situation in verses 8-9:

And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light. 9 Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.

Don’t be afraid of using the sound practices and principles of this world for a greater good. I need to be very careful with this section. Jesus is not saying it is okay to be dishonest, unscrupulous, or even mildly unethical. He is using an extreme case to encourage his followers to not check their minds at the doorway of the church. Sometimes I hear that we the church should not manage ourselves like a business. And while that means something different to each of us, I refuse to believe that sound practices and principles that work within the business setting, or educational setting, or even government setting are not options for the church itself. Twice Jesus tells his disciples to be shrewd. This is one instance and the other is Matthew 10:16 when Jesus says that his followers should be “shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” Shrewd gets a bad wrap. It simply means to have keen awareness, sharp intelligence, and often a sense of the practical. We make such a big issue over what is sacred versus what is secular. Somehow a few professions have gotten listed as God-ordained and the rest are simply places to make a living. Nothing could be further from the truth. We notice that in Genesis 1 there was only one vocation in the beginning: farmer. Do you remember the quote from Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire? He said, “When I run I feel God’s pleasure.” For Eric is was running. For some of you it is hosting a dinner party or making a production line hum or working with others to help them achieve their goals. The fact of the matter is that we are all created with unique gifts and talents that when used put us in the center of God’s will.

Put into practice good money management principles. Develop an IQ as to how the world works. Understand how goods and services are exchanged. And utilize it to your fullest advantage. Be practical in everything. And to take this a step further, perhaps the most tangible way to be shrewd in this world is the practice of living simply. Wesley made a choice to eat basic foods, purchase only what was necessary in terms of clothing, and avoided any excess in lifestyle. Part of this was to be able to identify with those he served. The other part was to be able to have more in order for a greater good. You see we do not accumulate and save for the sake of security. That is a western society myth that we have bought into. We accumulate and save for a greater purpose than our personal well-being. We accumulate and save for one reason alone: to give it all away. There is no greater good. There is no higher calling.

And here is the difference in the world’s model and ours. We both are free to gain all we can and save all we can. But we do it for one purpose and one purpose alone. To give all we can. That makes our work sacred. Not what we do, but what we do with it.

Hear from Mr. Wesley again on this topic and sense the urgency and high calling,

“If I leave behind me 10 pounds, you and the whole of humanity bear the witness against me that I lived and died a thief and robber.”

We gain and save for one purpose: to give.

The 6th chapter of the gospel of Mark relates a story that brings this idea home. Jesus, having taught all day finds his disciples becoming worried about how they will feed the masses. They tell Jesus, “send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” Jesus turns to them and gives the classic answer of all time, “You give them something to eat.” Why are you looking at me? You give them something to eat? Why does it have to be my problem? There are plenty enough resources right here. You feed them. To which the disciples answer, “that would take a year’s wages.” And so the object lesson begins.

How many loaves do you have? Go and see. They reported back that there was 5 loaves and 2 fish. Now, I don’t think they looked too hard. In a group of 5,000 people, there had to be more than 5 loaves and 2 fish. My own family has at least that much in the back of the van at any given time. And if we were going for a day out on the countryside we would pack enough for a small third world village to eat for the day. It is my belief that either people were holding out, or the disciples simply wanted to force Jesus’ hand to send them away. Either way, Jesus had a lesson for them all to learn. In God’s economy, the value of a gift can only be discerned after it passes through God’s hand.

A couple of takeaways from this story. The person who gave the loaves and the fish in this instance is not revealed. I think that is somewhat appropriate and tells us that giving is not about what we receive back, but what God is able to do through our gift.

Secondly, notice that Jesus pushed back at the disciples by telling them, “You feed them.” The resources are available if we will but look. God has created a place that provides sufficiently, you and I must utilize it effectively. When our generosity meets God’s power, amazing things happen. Five loaves and two fish feed 5,000 with baskets and baskets leftover. When we commit to giving all we can of our time, talent, and yes money, God meets us and is faithful in the blessing God gave us in Genesis when God said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the seas.” Gain all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can.

Second Service Update

Fall Festival at Andover

Thanksgiving Lunch

Thursday November 25, 2009

1pm

Andover Campus of 1st UMC

4131 Todds Rd.

Lexington, KY 40509

Turkey and Dressing Provided (Iced Tea and Coffee as well)

Please bring a side dish or dessert and RSVP to Lisa Michelle Wilson

Lisa@1stumc.org or 859-797-2651

I wanted to offer a meal for those who do not have plans for Thanksgiving. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me.

Blessings,

Lisa Michelle Wilson

Sermon Excerpt: God's Provision

Text: Genesis 1:11-30

Stewardship season officially kicks-off today. I want to put you on notice, and at ease, on a couple of fronts. I have about a 45 minute sermon prepared. And I will give it over the next two weeks! Secondly. Historically, stewardship time has meant we hand-out pledge cards and ask the church family to return them during the service at the conclusion of the campaign. That will not be happening this year for two reasons. First, we have begun to notice that some in the congregation see their pledge as an amount that they “owe” the church. Somehow we have missed communicated the intention of these pledge cards. So we will not be collecting them this year. Instead, we will be encouraging your faithful, prayerful, and yes sacrificial response to stewardship. Some of that will be giving toward the budget, but that is only the surface of what we will be talking about. For those of you worried about “how we will make the budget”, I will tell you that if God’s people understand and begin to practice stewardship in its fullest since, we do not need any such instrument. Secondly, the finance team does not rely solely upon pledge cards anyway to make the budget. They account of approximately 60% of the budget and the rest of a leap of faith. Now 100% will be based upon current giving trends along with prayerful discernment of what our needs are as a church family.

So, now that I have hopefully gotten all of our attention, let us turn to Genesis and begin exploring the first part of this sermon which deals with God’s provision.

Genesis1:11 Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. (NLT)

Genesis 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground."29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so. (NLT)

Here is a fundamental truth that I don’t want you to miss. God made the earth with the ability to reproduce and grow itself. God makes “seed”-bearing plants. God makes living creatures and even humanity with the instruction to “be fruitful and multiply.” God began this whole ecosystem moving forward with a few deliberate words and it continues to move forward even to this day. We stand in the midst of a world that God set in motion with the ability to reproduce itself. And we can testify to this fact. Even your own backyard bears the traits listed in Genesis. You were kind enough to allow me to go away for a couple of weeks this summer. And you know what? When I returned, the grass had grown about 5 inches and there were weeds all throughout our walkway in the back of our house. Amazing isn’t it? I bet your yard would do the same thing. This world is moving forward and reproducing, growing, changing as we stand in the midst of it.

Here is the second thing I want us to notice from the passage. After making the earth, God gives the beings made in God’s own image, that would be you and me, three directives to follow. Fill the earth is the first. There is that “be fruitful” truth again. And the second is the key to our discussion today, “subdue and rule it.” The Hebrew words for subdue and rule are kabash and radah. God created this world that is going somewhere. It will not stand still even if you or I want it to. It will provide for us and the rest of creation. Our role is to take this ecosystem, this ecological community together with its environment, functioning as a unit, and do something with it. Co-create with God. Subdue, which means to bring order to and restrain, and rule, which means to utilize to the fullest extent.

It’s like this box of brownies. All the ingredients are here to make a wonderful batch of chocolate goodness. And topped with Blue Bell Ice Cream we have the beginning of heaven on earth. But we must take some initiative. Removing the contents from the box is a start. Adding our own imagination of M&Ms and toppings would be another step. Expertly working the oven and watching carefully for the product to be completed would be the final step before the brownie goodness begins to serve its intended purpose.

Let’s bring it into the room for a moment. God has placed each of us in the world that is going somewhere and do something with it. What we do with it is based upon the talents, gifts, and passions God places within us. Some of us can take $10 and you innately know how to turn it into $100. You have a gift with physical resources. You understand how it all works and quickly can be productive. Others of us take the same $10 and quickly turn it into $30 worth of debt! You get my point? Some of us have the gift of order. You can take complex problems and define them, clarify them, and solve them. You imitate and bring to life the example of God bringing order out of chaos, dividing the realms in order to bring about something of greater usefulness and beauty. Others of us simply walk around in the maze all day long. Some of us have the innate ability to encourage and nurture. People bloom when they are around us for any length of time. Others of us, well let’s just say we tend to be more like weed killer than fertilizer when it comes to nurturing relationships. Others of us are creative. We make things with wood or canvass and paint or with words.

All of these examples and too many others to mention are primary examples of what God calls each of us to do in Genesis 1. God created this earth with provision enough for all of us, and God asks us to do something with that provision. Not let it go to waste. Not let it rot on the vine. Not let it become unproductive. Why? Because our well-being and the well-being of others depends upon it. And that is where we leave it today. God provides. We partner. The world around us is better.

Three questions I leave you to ponder this upcoming week. How has God provided for you? What are your gifts, talents and passions? How are you using God’s provision and your talents to further God’s work on earth?

Practical Tips for Christian Parenting- Lisa Michelle Wilson

Finding and Creating Balance in Your Child’s Life

Every child’s weekly schedule needs balance. Determine ahead of time how often you will let your child spend the night with a friend. How many days may he go home with someone after school? How many nights during the week may he attend school or church activities? How often may he work? Help your child understand that no one does it all. If you don’t have some kind of boundary, then home can become little more than a pit stop for fuel (food), new tires (money), and water (a peck on the cheek or a pat on the back by Mom or Dad).

Source(s):

Parenting Today's Adolescent: Helping Your Child Avoid the Traps of the Preteen and Teen Years Copyright 1998 by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

Sermon Excerpt: Our Hope is Built Upon You and Me

The following was a letter read Sunday as a way to summarize our time in Romans and to detail Paul's thoughts in chapters 12-16.

November 1, 2009

My Dearest Andover Family,

After completing our study of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, I wanted to share with you my thoughts and impressions; my learning and places where I have been challenged by this particular letter. My prayer is that you will receive the following as an expression of my concern and love for your lives.

It is what you believe above all else that matters in this life. Not just what you know. But what you believe. Not just what you aspire to. But what you act upon. Belief is matter that cannot be touched and yet it fuels all of our life. For we are changed, shaped, and over time are not merely conformed but transformed by what we believe.

Therefore, I encourage. No, I beg you to stop striving and start believing. For your belief in Jesus the Christ and what this man who was God incarnate did for us on the Cross at Calvary will make all the difference in your life.

And once this belief is in place, it will lead you forward into realms you could not have dreamed. Namely suffering and sacrifice. Yes, you heard correctly. As strange as it seems, faith in Jesus Christ will lead you to times of suffering and sacrifice in addition to the times of joy and other happier times in life. For suffering and sacrifice are the crucible by which your life will be formed. Therefore, do not run from difficulty. Embrace it. Do not avoid taking chances. Look for them. For Jesus first descended into the grave before being raised victorious. Do you think your life will be any different? I say again. Do not run from difficulty. Embrace it. Do not avoid taking chances. Look for them.

I realize that what I have written is a high and most difficult calling. In fact, many of you have already checked out by now. You may have started counting the ceiling tiles, planning your weekly meal schedule, or fantasizing about lunch. And that is okay. Know that God continues to love you. For everyone is invited into this faith relationship, but not everyone is ready or willing to respond. Perhaps the greatest disservice we the church has done is to make it sound too easy. Say a prayer and you are “in”. Show up to church and put money in the plate and feel good. But that worldview is not in the Scriptures. That is something we have made up to make this high calling in Christ more palatable. For we are after numbers. Large crowds. Followers of “our” way. I apologize on behalf of pastors everywhere who have sold out the gospel message for our personal gain.

But for you. You who order your entire life around God’s will and not your own. You know who you are. You are to live in such a way that others will be drawn to the life you have in Christ. And you accomplish this by the treatment you give one another, particular those who are outside the faith or new to it.

Take a good look around you at this moment. The faces you see, familiar and not, are created in God’s image for God’s purposes today and eternity. Their value in God’s economy cannot be quantified. Immeasurable is their worth. Unlimited is their potential. As you move in and among these people of God, treat them with the same dignity and respect as you would Jesus himself. For they are His hands and feet. They, along with you, are the vessels God has chosen to use to save the world.

Not everyone in this room today, yesterday or at any time in the future will be in the same place of relationship with Christ. For spiritual growth lives upon a continuum that stretches from pre-belief to entire sanctification. Those of you who are mature in faith, be certain to give those who are new to faith the benefit of the doubt. Accept them for where they are today and not where you think or want them to be in terms of maturity. Please make every effort to not quibble about those things which do not matter in the eternal places such as what we wear to church and if there are pews or chairs or if an organ is used or bongo drums. Be sure to not confuse the medium with the message.

And for those who have ears to hear, understand that God created everything and deemed it good. But everything has its season. Some things you might do without any pangs or hints of guilt. These very same things, because of past experiences, might create spiritual difficulties for others. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the mature to not destroy their brother or sister’s faith by what we eat, drink, wear, read, or even say. You see, if we go ahead and freely partake of something that is offensive to another, we are saying that our liberty is more important than theirs. Better for us both to be free than one to stay in the bondage of confusion and disillusionment. The bottom line is that the strong in faith are called upon to sacrifice for the benefit of the entire community.

As much as it depends upon you, let there be peace in your relationships. Certainly there will be things that happen which could lead to strife and division. And it is in these times of pain that people watch you the closest. Will you retaliate with gossip or harsh words? Will you attempt to seek vengeance or retribution for the wrong done to you? Or will you in love and respect forgive those who wrong you? Remember that forgiveness is dependent upon one heart alone; yours. Reconciliation takes two parties, but forgiveness simply takes one. Let me say it again, as much as it depends upon you let there be peace in your relationships. Let there always be forgiveness in your heart. In so doing, you fulfill the Gospel message and witness to God’s power in your life and the hope of the world. Let’s face it. Wars have not brought about lasting peace. I assure you that forgiveness will eventually bring about the peace we long for in our lives and the entire world.

Above all else, accept one another without preconceptions or ulterior motives. In so doing, you create a pathway to the throne of God to be traveled by generations to come.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)


With much love,
Todd

Practical Tips for Christian Parenting- Lisa Michelle Wilson

Protect Your Child from Feeling Inferior

The most meaningful gift you can give your child as he steps outside your door and heads off to school is the assurance that he is a very important and capable person. This protects him from vibes of inferiority he may soon get from social failures:

“Mommy, Cindy won’t play with me.”

Or academic failure:

“Daddy, I’m afraid I’ll forget how to spell D-O-G when the teacher asks me.”

Of course, the younger the child is when he enters this foreign environment, the fewer skills and abilities he will have to make friends and to succeed in various learning situations. Don’t force your child into a situation he or she is not mature enough to handle.

Boys especially, are less mature than girls at five and six. Just because your child doesn’t start school with the rest of the neighborhood doesn’t mean he isn’t as smart! Don’t feel forced into conforming to what society has suggested is the age children should start school. Seek the guidance that is available from your school system.

Do what is best for your child. There are many factors that go together in determining school success. Then do everything you can to make the first few years of school successful. You have invested too much into your child’s character to have it sacrificed in a school situation that makes him feel inferior.

When children feel inferior, they may tends to withdraw, be aggressive, act silly, or exhibit any number of “coping” behaviors. They will also tend to conform to peer pressure rather than stand up for what they have been taught is right. What school age children need is enough self-worth to go against the crowd when it comes to a moral issue, and that is very difficult for school age children to do because their acceptance by peers is so important to them. Your best insurance for a healthy start in school is to establish a positive relationship with your child’s teacher. Show you interest and willingness to cooperate. Keep involved.



This parenting Tip comes from Dr. Kay Kuzma’s How to Mold Character From the Inside Out.

Andover Update

Resource Day

Sunday November 1, 2009

Bible and Christian Resource Day at 1st UMC Andover

We will have Bibles, Devotionals and other Christian Resources available for purchase before and after church. We will have items from both Cokesbury and Lifeway. We will take cash and check (payable to FUMC). There will be a lot of items that would make great Christmas presents. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Michelle Wilson 859-797-2651 or lisa@1stumc.org

Sermon Excerpt: Our Hope is Built Upon Sacrifice

Romans 12:2; "Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (TNIV)

Let’s be careful to acknowledge that a sacrificial life doesn’t give us some special ESP to know the future and God’s perfect will. Rather, we become the embodiment of God’s perfect will as we live our lives because we are in the right place at the right time for God to use us.

Right thinking leads to right living. That is the lesson today. Understanding the reason for our hope leads to our giving hope to others. That is the lesson today. Because Jesus’ gracious submission to God’s lordship we too are compelled to submit to Jesus’ plan for our lives. True faith does not stop within the walls of the heart but moves out into our society.

So, we are called to be a living sacrifice? Someone who is completely committed to aligning ourselves with the heartbeat of God. Someone who is totally useable for God’s purposes? John Wesley understood the power of such a commitment when he said, “"Give me one hundred men (or women) who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergyman or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth.”

Those who are living sacrifices (many sitting right in this room today) share some things in common.

Practice means of grace. They do the things that God has said will draw a person closer to Him. Not out of compulsion but commitment and desire for not only the ways of God but God Himself. They are people who are constantly seeking God through prayer, Bible study, Holy Communion, being involved in small groups.

Generous. How can it be otherwise? A sacrifice by its very nature is an act of generosity. Living sacrifices view their life as an act of stewardship and strive to be people who give away their resources, time, and most of all love.

Available. People who have exemplified what it means to be a living sacrifice for me are available in two ways. They are available in terms of being sensitive to God’s leading. They see events in their lives not as accidents but as possibilities for God to be at work. They are awake, ready, and willing to be used. And just as important and difficult for many of us, they do not over-program their lives (even in doing good things) in a way that they are not available when a divine appointment comes their way.

See their lives as an integrated whole and not as a series of silos. Eugene Peterson paraphrases Romans 12:1 this way, “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.” This idea that we have a spiritual life and then the rest of our life is a recent concept. If you asked Jesus how his spiritual life was going, he would have not known what you were asking. Life was an integrated whole as mind, spirit and body. We tend to put things in tidy compartments such as church, work, family, friends, hobbies, and many others. We then practice situational ethics. We act and think differently depending upon the situation and the people we find ourselves with. The people I know that live sacrificially are the same on Sunday morning as Friday evening and everywhere between.

Weekend Preview

Jim Orr Nazareth trip Update

Below is a communication we received from Jim Orr who is on a trip to Nazareth visiting Nabil Samara. Nabil is a Palestinian Christian living in Nazareth working hard to bring the Good News of Christ to that region. First Church has had an on-going relationship with Nabil for several years and we are taking the next step by sending people to visit. Upon returning, Jim will be sharing his impression of the trip and letting us know what we can do to help the ministry in Israel where only 3% of the population is Christian!

Hello all,

We are in the Bible college now. This morning we ate breakfast and worship with Christian leaders from Nazareth, Jerusalem, Northern Gallilee and Tiberius - Jews and Arabs. We learned what really are the concerns of the church in Israel. Much to share when we get back.

Everyone is well Sanat has overwhelmed us with her cooking. I'm afraid we are gaining weight instead of loosing weight. It is hot and humid here and the temp. is in the 90's.

After lunch we gather around the coffee table and drink coffee or tea and have sweets - fruit, chocolate, cookies, jello - and we talk about everything from baptism, women as leaders in the church, politics, communion. One of the best things I have enjoyed at the Samara's is taking our shoes and socks off. We truely have been made welcome.

Tonight we will be visiting Nabil's mother and extended family. Him being one of eight children, this gathering will be large.

Blessings to you all and give the Denmark family our condolances.

Jim Orr

VideoBlog: How Do I Get Involved at Andover?