Archives For Ministry

Freedom to forget?

11.11.2010 — Leave a comment

It’s Veteran’s Day, 2010. A Federal Holiday where we are to reflect, as President Woodrow Wilson declared in 1919, “… the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with lots of pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

I was reflecting this week on the freedom we have here in the United States, and was once-again caught off-guard by how much I take it for granted.

I watched this week the news-reports of my brothers and sisters in Iraq being attacked as they worshiped together in their church. This, and countless stories before it – and countless that we’ll continue to hear after, remind me to be thankful for where I live.

And yet with this freedom, sadly, I believe there is another form of ‘freedom’ that comes. I’m calling it the “freedom to forget”. I don’t think I’m the only one who falls prey to this “freedom to forget”, on the contrary, I think most of us do. With the freedom scripted by our government and defended by our military comes a ‘disconnect’ on my part. It’s a false-sense, I believe, of safety that comes from not having much interaction with or knowledge-of the opposite of freedom.

I don’t want to live in fear, but I don’t want to take my freedom for granted, I don’t want to forget its worth, and I don’t want to only recognize my tendencies to do these things around Federal holidays.

And I’m also embarrassed to say that this ‘freedom to forget’ transfers into my Spiritual life, too. When is the last time we recognized what we’ve been freed from through the blood of Jesus Christ? Do we simply recognize and honor it on special holidays or a certain day of the week? Why is it so easy to become forgetful of the gift-of-love that gives us the freedom we have in Christ?

How do YOU remember and honor the freedoms you experience?

What are ways that WE can honor those who have sacrificed so much for us beyond the times where it is easiest and culturally ‘normal’?

How must we live to not fall into the trap of experiencing ‘freedom to forget’?

In General, Ministry
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From the Ashes {video}

11.9.2010 — 2 Comments

I just watched this video-testimony on Perry Noble’s blog and was nearly moved to tears (did I just admit that?)

What a powerful testimony this is of life-change that is possible with complete surrender to God!



Thanks to NewSpring Church for creating this beautiful video! And thanks to Jason & Jennifer for being willing to share their story with all of us!

Jennifer’s quote sums it up: “No situation is hopeless, nothing is too big for God.”

I love that!

In Linkage, Ministry, Videos , ,
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Sunday Review | 2010.11.07

11.7.2010 — Leave a comment

Today was a fantastic Sunday at Shippensburg First Wesleyan. I started a new DVD-based curriculum in my Sunday School class this morning that will run for the next 6-weeks and focus on educating Christians on some of the cults and religions in our society.

I also preached a message entitled, “No More Excuses” based on the interaction between God and Moses in Exodus 4. One of my visual-illustrations was this terrific Nike commercial featuring Matt Scott, a professional wheelchair basketball player.

Sermon audio is here if you’re interested.

It was also quite overwhelming to recognize the Veterans within our small congregation. I counted at least 8 this morning that served in our Nation’s Armed Force branches.

I left this morning with a renewed excitement for what is happening at First Wesleyan! The Holy Spirit was so evident this morning as we worshiped together and I was humbled again as I walked out of the church at what the Lord has trusted me with in shepherding this congregation.

This morning we also announced our 4-week Christmas series that we will be launching starting November 28th. It’s called Come Together. I’m looking forward to the Christmas-season and sharing the holiday with our Shippensburg First Wesleyan family! I have a brainstorming-session/meeting with a couple of our creative-ladies from the church tomorrow morning to brainstorm how we can possibly transform our church sanctuary into something unique and Christmassy. I can’t wait!

In Linkage, Ministry
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Worship Background – Fall Road

11.5.2010 — 1 Comment

I was working on our service’s lyric slides for this weekend and decided to create a new background image from one of the photos I took a couple of weeks ago.

If anyone needs a great Fall image to use behind lyrics this Season, consider using this one! If you use it, how about commenting quickly below and letting me know!

Download the 1024×768 image here: bit.ly/fall_road

In Images, Ministry
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Sunday Review | 2010.10.31

10.31.2010 — Leave a comment

Had a wonderful, unique service this morning at Shippensburg First Wesleyan. Friends of ours, Scott Troyer and Katie Nelson were here and led us in a worship concert this morning. Their testimonies and singing/playing made today much more than a performance, but rather a worship-experience.

I am grateful for their friendship and their willingness to lead and play with their whole-hearts.

It was also a special surprise this morning as people were walking into the sanctuary to see familiar faces from out-of-state! Upon my double or triple-take I realized it was my Uncle David and Aunt Bea from Washington, DC! We enjoyed lunch with them in Chambersburg before they hit the road back home to DC.

After lunch we ventured back to King’s Gap State Park to show Scott & Katie some of our beautiful surroundings!

Some great pictures from this afternoon:



In Family, General, Images, Ministry
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