Devotional Prayer
October 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
One of the best books that I’ve read recently is Thomas Merton’s autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain. Merton recounts a childhood spent traveling about Europe in the early 20th century and his American education at prestigious Columbia University. But it is mostly a story about his journey to faith. In 1941, on the cusp of an exceptional literary career, Merton entered a Trappist Monastery in Kentucky and embarked on a life of meditation and writing. He became one of the most renowned Christian writers of his era. (I was actually given an extra copy for Christmas a couple of years ago. If anyone wants it, it’s yours.)
I just wanted you to have some context before I shared one of his prayers with you. This is from his book, Thoughts in Solitude:
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Let me tell you what I absolutely love about this prayer: its unflinching honesty. This prayer hasn’t the slightest bit of pretense. Merton has no need to act like he has all the answers or that he’s Super Christian. This is the modern day equivalent of the tax collector’s prayer in Luke 18: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
This morning we’ll be looking at a verse in Colossians in which Paul encourages his audience to “devote (themselves) to prayer (4:2).” I’ve been trying to figure out why this is so difficult a challenge for me. I pray semi-regularly. But to say that I’m devoted to prayer, I don’t know about that.
I think that there are a variety of reasons. But one of them is that I still have a hard time being this honest with God. When I can be this transparent, devotion to God isn’t a difficulty, it’s a privilege. I hope you will devote yourselves to prayer this morning and that you will experience God’s blessings because of it.
Yard Sale to Benefit AtMyGate
October 19, 2008 | 3 Comments
There will be yard sale at the building to support our AtMyGate ministry to Africa. The yard sale is happening on Saturday, Nov. 8th at the building. Donations for the sale are needed. Find out how you can get involved, see Deborah Cuthrell for more information.
Ambassadors
October 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
When Rachel was at Lipscomb University she twice went to Bucharest, Romania with a group of students and faculty. After we were married I went there with her for a month. While there, we worked with a church to teach English to and study the Bible with interested Romanians. We volunteered in local orphanages-things like that.
I remember her talking about what it was like to travel the streets of Bucharest with a large group of American students. When I was there with her, I got to witness it first hand. Let’s just say that the Americans didn’t blend in very well. I’m sure it was obvious to everyone at first sight that we weren’t Romanian. The way we dressed, the way we walked and our overstuffed backpacks, everything about us made us stand out.
I remember sitting in an Ice Cream parlor in downtown Bucharest. This was not a filthy place. (It was a Baskin Robbins, for Pete’s sake.) But you can imagine the funny looks we got from the locals when two team members reached into their voluminous packs and commenced to bathe their arms up to the elbows in disinfectant.
And then we would start talking. Rather loudly it turns out. On the Metro, we filled a third of a car with our conversation. And on top of that someone had the idea to start singing devotional songs. Romanians began to edge toward the opposite side of the car as their normally subdued commute became a symphony.
Let me be clear. There’s nothing wrong with singing. Singing is good. I like devotional songs. And I’m all for people talking to one another. And there’s nothing wrong with a little personal hygiene. And these students were giving up there summer to serve others and tell them about Jesus. And people got to see God’s mercy in them. I really respect that.
But the challenging question for us is this: “If we were representing Jesus, what kind of picture were the citizens of Bucharest getting?” The ones who saw us on the street would probably say that Jesus is a nicely dressed, outspoken young person who is preoccupied with infection and who is prone to burst into spontaneous song.
The question should at least give us pause. Because we have to ask the same question of ourselves this morning. When people see us every day, do they get a good idea of who Jesus is? Does our behavior represent him well? That’s certainly a sobering thought. Sometimes I think I’ve done okay. Sometimes I’ve failed miserably. Either way I need the reminder that Paul gives us this morning:
…And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17).
Norfolk Military Ministry
October 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The Norfolk Church of Christ is unlike any other church I’ve ever been a part of. That’s partially due to geographical differences. Congregations in Tennessee (a CofC “motherland”) are older, more established and more easily populated. But it’s also a result of NCOC’s military composition. In Tennessee, most churches have a large percentage of multigenerational families in their membership. I’ve heard some people say that, in those churches, you’re a “new member” until you’ve been there for a decade or more. Clearly that’s not the case here. If we waited that long, no one would ever become a part of our family.
Like everything else, this is a mixed blessing. It’s not always easy getting to know people, watching them become an important part of the church family, and then saying goodbye to them in such a short time. At the same time, one of the things I love about this church is that most people don’t waste any time jumping in and getting involved. Never a dull moment.
I also love the fact that this congregation’s nature provides a unique opportunity-one that our elder’s have wisely recognized. If you think solely in terms of what is happening in Norfolk our range of influence is certainly not as great as other churches (not that I would encourage comparisons of that nature). But if you think about our ability to have an impact on a larger sphere, it looks like God has given us a tremendous opportunity.
Let me remind you of something I don’t talk about often enough. The hope of the Norfolk Military Ministry is to:
• Serve: Welcome all of those whom the military brings are way and share God’s love with them.
• Save: Bring them into a saving relationship with Jesus, one that will change lives.
• Strengthen: Equip them to serve others.
• Send: Watch them go to their next duty station knowing that they will make a difference in the name of Jesus.
I’m out of town this weekend. In my absence, Bill Hromada is going to be sharing his vision for his work with the Norfolk Military Ministry. I’m excited about Bill’s ability to help us achieve this fourfold mission. I’ll miss worshiping with you, and I look forward to seeing you next week.
Can You Spare a Dime?
October 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment
In a 1997 awards dinner speech, then Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen told a story about a trip that Henry Ford made to his Father’s homeland of County Cork, Ireland. By this time Ford was millionaire, so he received celebrity treatment. He was also given plenty of opportunities to give to local charities. One of those charities was the construction of a local hospital, for which Ford pulled out his checkbook and stroked a check for $5000.
Imagine his surprise the next morning when he picked up the local newspaper and the headline read, “Ford Contributes $50,000 Dollars for Construction of Local Hospital.” The local officials were equally distraught. Upon seeing the headline, they rushed to where Ford was staying, hoping to reassure him. “Mr. Ford,” they said, “we’re terribly sorry. It wasn’t our fault. It must have been a typographical error. We’ll be happy to see to it that a retraction is printed in tomorrow’s paper.”
Of course, Ford knew that it would be a PR disaster if the next day’s headline were to read, “Ford Withdraws Donation.” So he made them an offer. He said, “If you’ll give me one wish, I’ll give you the balance of $45,000. When the hospital is finished, I want to place a quote of my choice at the entrance.”
The townspeople agreed. A check was written, and when construction was completed a quote from the KJV translation of Matthew 25:25 was placed above the entrance-”I came to you as a stranger and you took me in.”
This morning we promise not to “take you in.” But we will be reminding you that we want your donations for “At My Gate”-our effort to work with a local church in Uyo, Nigeria to provide aid to widows, orphans and the needy. I promise that we won’t be adding any zeroes to your contribution. We will be happy for whatever you can give.
This morning you’ll get an update from one of our deacons, Inemesit Ekanem on what our funds are helping to accomplish in Nigeria. And I’m going to be sharing some scripture that, I hope, will help us get the bigger picture when it comes to our money and our giving.
But that’s not the only reason we’re here. We’re also gathering to celebrate how much God has given to us. We are incredibly blessed today. I hope you’ll join men in offering up songs of praise and prayers of thanks to the One who has given us everything.
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