THE PURPOSE OF PUMPKINS
One of the very recent and popular theological catch phrases in the American Christian church is “missional community.” It’s a great turn of a phrase that reminds us of something as old as the Bible – the church’s primary calling is always to be an instrument through which God can win the lost to Jesus Christ.
Whether it’s a Sunday School class, youth group, choir, men’s work day…everything we do ought to be at some level an invitation to those who are strangers to God, to know Him and grow in Him.
EVEN PUMPKINS! While the money we raise from our annual pumpkin patch helps us in our church budget, our focus ought to be the scores of our “neighbors” who stop to shop. We Methodists are not known for aggressive evangelism (we once were!), but it would be interesting one year to take a survey of our pumpkin shoppers to see how many of them are active in a church. I bet the number is lower than we think.
I encourage you to sign up to “man the patch” for a two-hour shift…or much more! I am absolutely certain that if you do, you will bump into someone who doesn’t know Jesus.
Hungering for Holiness,
Pastor Scott
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
A STANDARD...OR NOT?
Are you listening and watching closely? If you're not, you'll miss it...the slow but sure eroding of precious boundaries and standards - those built on Judeo-Christian principles. I think the word is, "insidious."
I am in no way a follower of beauty pageants. I have wonderful Christian friends who grew up in pageants, and many whose daughters now compete in them. I have learned painfully not to debate the value of beauty pageants.
But now there is this. The Miss American Pageant (or whoever owns the pageant now) not only invited Vanessa Williams to be a judge and to perform, but in a very warm moment at center-stage, a moment very well-received by the crowd, the pageant apologized to Ms Williams (and her mother in the audience) for "anything that was said or done that made you feel any less the Miss America you have always been, and will always be."
Of course, they were apologizing for stripping her of her crown years ago when nude pictures of her surfaced after the pageant. I remember when that happened. I remember being thankful that someone was willing to stand by their boundaries and standards, and that whatever pressure she might have been under at the time, she was easily old enough to know that what she did was wrong. And, of course to know that, when she entered the pageant, she had already violated their rules. (I don't have enough space in today's blog to talk about my strong belief in extending God's grace to anyone who is repentant of their sins...including Ms. Williams.)
But on this very day, hundreds (thousands?) of inappropriate pictures will be sent by text from one phone to another, often by those even younger than Ms Williams was back then! So, after the passing of this many years, and now that "everyone is doing it," the LEAST they should have done is apologize to her! In fact, was what she did really wrong?
Of course it was. And, shame (literally) on the pageant for apologizing. Were they apologizing for hurting her feelings? For being mean to her? Were they apologizing for having standards for what it means to be a young woman "worthy" of a crown? I wonder what they think their apology will communicate to other contestants. And, if you ever had a chance to convince me that pageants like that one are primarily for the growth, maturity, confidence, character and professional development of young women...sorry.
When Jesus said, "The truth will set you free," He meant THE truth. The truth that never changes. The truth that declares boundaries and standards that are what they are no matter how I feel or what I need. The truth of the Old and New Testaments without which we will be ruined. the Truth that He is.
The slope is no longer slippery. It is a precipitous cliff. Watch your step...and read your Bible.
Hmm...maybe those silly conservative churches decades ago who restricted their youth from "mixed bathing (swimming)" were onto something.
Pastor Scott
I am in no way a follower of beauty pageants. I have wonderful Christian friends who grew up in pageants, and many whose daughters now compete in them. I have learned painfully not to debate the value of beauty pageants.
But now there is this. The Miss American Pageant (or whoever owns the pageant now) not only invited Vanessa Williams to be a judge and to perform, but in a very warm moment at center-stage, a moment very well-received by the crowd, the pageant apologized to Ms Williams (and her mother in the audience) for "anything that was said or done that made you feel any less the Miss America you have always been, and will always be."
Of course, they were apologizing for stripping her of her crown years ago when nude pictures of her surfaced after the pageant. I remember when that happened. I remember being thankful that someone was willing to stand by their boundaries and standards, and that whatever pressure she might have been under at the time, she was easily old enough to know that what she did was wrong. And, of course to know that, when she entered the pageant, she had already violated their rules. (I don't have enough space in today's blog to talk about my strong belief in extending God's grace to anyone who is repentant of their sins...including Ms. Williams.)
But on this very day, hundreds (thousands?) of inappropriate pictures will be sent by text from one phone to another, often by those even younger than Ms Williams was back then! So, after the passing of this many years, and now that "everyone is doing it," the LEAST they should have done is apologize to her! In fact, was what she did really wrong?
Of course it was. And, shame (literally) on the pageant for apologizing. Were they apologizing for hurting her feelings? For being mean to her? Were they apologizing for having standards for what it means to be a young woman "worthy" of a crown? I wonder what they think their apology will communicate to other contestants. And, if you ever had a chance to convince me that pageants like that one are primarily for the growth, maturity, confidence, character and professional development of young women...sorry.
When Jesus said, "The truth will set you free," He meant THE truth. The truth that never changes. The truth that declares boundaries and standards that are what they are no matter how I feel or what I need. The truth of the Old and New Testaments without which we will be ruined. the Truth that He is.
The slope is no longer slippery. It is a precipitous cliff. Watch your step...and read your Bible.
Hmm...maybe those silly conservative churches decades ago who restricted their youth from "mixed bathing (swimming)" were onto something.
Pastor Scott
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
September 2015 Letter from Pastor Scott
Time Well Spent
As I have been honored to serve our young men and women in the military for over 30 years now, I have enjoyed sharing with my church congregations how their “support” of my reserve duty has made a difference in the lives of those warriors. Of course, much of what a chaplain does is confidential, but let me thank all of you for the following opportunities I had over the last two weeks to hold out God’s grace and comfort to some who needed it.I made a lunch date with an airman whom I have known for quite a few years. It was an opportunity to catch up on each other’s lives and families. After about 30 minutes of catching up, it was apparent he needed to talk about something else. Well, two hours later (sometimes, those long clergy lunch breaks are not just about food!), we ended our visit with a rather long and heartfelt prayer for the myriad of “challenges” in his marriage, parenting and life. Remember, this is a young man who, a few months from now will probably be hiking the dusty sand of Afghanistan in defense of all you and I hold dear.
I also struck up a conversation with a young airman while running on the track. She had a large tattoo of a beautiful Christian cross on the back of her neck. I’m not very good at talking to young girls, but I took that as an open door to ask about her faith. She was brave enough to admit to the chaplain that she was not as “committed to that symbol” as she was when she first got it. It wasn’t exactly an “altar call,” but I am sure she went home that night committed to being…more committed. I especially prayed for her that night, that her growing relationship with her boyfriend might be influenced by her faith.
So…thanks to all of you, for supporting what God does in the lives of some of America’s finest.
Pastor Scott
Thursday, July 30, 2015
August 2015 Letter from Pastor Scott
DOING
THE TWO-STEP
A
preacher friend once asked me, “How is your church doing?” I said, “You
know…two steps forward, one step backwards.” With a tone of frustration
in his voice he said, “I think my church has gotten that dance backwards.”
By
now you have probably heard that I will be deploying as an Air Force chaplain
to the War-on-Terror for six months beginning in early January 2016. The
district Superintendent is already making plans to replace me permanently as
the pastor at Knightsville United Methodist Church. The timing of that is
up to the District Superintendent and the bishop, but I am moving forward as if
I will be your pastor until December 31.
Our
church leadership and I have made some important and difficult decisions in the
last 8 months so our church can be radical disciples of Jesus, and a growing
and healthy witness in our community for years to come. Who would have
imagined 50 years ago that this “little church” would one day be right in the
middle of one of the fastest growing areas in the country?! Our Biblical
calling in the middle of this growing community is to win the lost to Christ and
make disciples. We have planted some seeds to grow in just that way.
With
the news of my leaving in January, I need you more than ever to work with me;
with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness, to
make sure we continue getting that “Two-Step” right.
Pressing
on to the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Monday, July 20, 2015
BEYOND US...
"Off we go, into the wild blue yonder..."
That's the first line of the Air Force song. I have sung it endless times. Every time, I get choked up. For those of us who are children of AF pilots, it represents more than a pep rally song. Those words reminded us that our dads (at the time, only dads) were doing something brave and important...and doing it "out there," or "beyond us." The sky in which they flew those jets was endless, their accomplishments heroic and limitless. Without conscious awareness, we were part of something much bigger than ourselves.
Forty six years ago today, Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. Remember those pictures? Remember how proud we were to beat the Soviets to the moon, especially after they had beaten us to "manned spaceflight?" But there was something profound about that wasn't there? It took our eyes off ourselves somehow. It forced us to "look up" and remember that our petty squabbles and self-interested quibbling (whining?) was a bit shameful. Probably the most well-read Christian book in the last 15 years started its first chapter with the four words, "It's not about you." I'm not sure the rest of the book was even necessary.
The Christian faith and its followers are being persecuted in unprecedented ways, at least in my lifetime. And it is not getting better. As disciples of Jesus, "the only name given under heaven whereby we can be saved," our response cannot be fear nor anger. Our focus on Him must be more fervent and sacrificial than ever before. Our focus must be on things that are "true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report." The battle is not with flesh and blood, but against the powers of darkness. Remember, that includes Satan from without and sinfulness from within.
Look up! Look up! Even as we fight to the death this fight for the Gospel of Jesus; in the Middle East, in Charleston, in Chattanooga, in our families and our churches, our salvation is from on high.
Scott
"Off we go, into the wild blue yonder..."
That's the first line of the Air Force song. I have sung it endless times. Every time, I get choked up. For those of us who are children of AF pilots, it represents more than a pep rally song. Those words reminded us that our dads (at the time, only dads) were doing something brave and important...and doing it "out there," or "beyond us." The sky in which they flew those jets was endless, their accomplishments heroic and limitless. Without conscious awareness, we were part of something much bigger than ourselves.
Forty six years ago today, Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. Remember those pictures? Remember how proud we were to beat the Soviets to the moon, especially after they had beaten us to "manned spaceflight?" But there was something profound about that wasn't there? It took our eyes off ourselves somehow. It forced us to "look up" and remember that our petty squabbles and self-interested quibbling (whining?) was a bit shameful. Probably the most well-read Christian book in the last 15 years started its first chapter with the four words, "It's not about you." I'm not sure the rest of the book was even necessary.
The Christian faith and its followers are being persecuted in unprecedented ways, at least in my lifetime. And it is not getting better. As disciples of Jesus, "the only name given under heaven whereby we can be saved," our response cannot be fear nor anger. Our focus on Him must be more fervent and sacrificial than ever before. Our focus must be on things that are "true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report." The battle is not with flesh and blood, but against the powers of darkness. Remember, that includes Satan from without and sinfulness from within.
Look up! Look up! Even as we fight to the death this fight for the Gospel of Jesus; in the Middle East, in Charleston, in Chattanooga, in our families and our churches, our salvation is from on high.
Scott
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
July 2015 Letter from Pastor Scott
They Will Know...
By now, the entire country (and beyond) is aware and even emotionally involved in what has happened in our Charleston community. For Christians, as the days have gone by, this has become a remarkable story of God's amazing grace and mercy in the hearts of a deeply wounded community, but especially in the stunning statements of forgiveness from the broken hearts of the family survivors.
I keep thinking of the statement, "They will know we are Christians by our love." I don't remember what talk show I was listening to in my truck this week (it could have been any of about 30), but they played an audio sound bite from a newsman who was speaking live, and watching as a group of 500 or so (mostly white) folks walked hand-in-hand toward the Emmanuel Church in Charleston to join the other crowds there in respect and support. The 500 were singing Christian hymns. The tone in the voice of the reporter was the very reaction we should expect in the face of what the Bible considers love. I could hear the confusion in his voice. He didn't know exactly what words to use to describe what he was seeing. It was something other than mere amazement.
I once read that the Scripture, "Behold! What manner of love is this...that we should be called the children of God," is a level of shock we underestimate. I think the writer said we should imagine walking on the polar ice cap and suddenly coming across a flowering rose bush. I think the radio newsman in Charleston was seeing something "other-worldly" in his experience.
See, the world is appropriately impressed when we feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and shelter the un-protected. But, in truth, all decent folks of all religions have been doing that for centuries. Christians should never stop. But if we want folks to step back and come up speechless in the face of Biblical love, then we will have to "dive into the deep end of the pool" when it comes to our decisions to love.
See, what that newsman saw was the shadow of a cross... the one on Calvary.
Behold! Indeed.
Scott
By now, the entire country (and beyond) is aware and even emotionally involved in what has happened in our Charleston community. For Christians, as the days have gone by, this has become a remarkable story of God's amazing grace and mercy in the hearts of a deeply wounded community, but especially in the stunning statements of forgiveness from the broken hearts of the family survivors.
I keep thinking of the statement, "They will know we are Christians by our love." I don't remember what talk show I was listening to in my truck this week (it could have been any of about 30), but they played an audio sound bite from a newsman who was speaking live, and watching as a group of 500 or so (mostly white) folks walked hand-in-hand toward the Emmanuel Church in Charleston to join the other crowds there in respect and support. The 500 were singing Christian hymns. The tone in the voice of the reporter was the very reaction we should expect in the face of what the Bible considers love. I could hear the confusion in his voice. He didn't know exactly what words to use to describe what he was seeing. It was something other than mere amazement.
I once read that the Scripture, "Behold! What manner of love is this...that we should be called the children of God," is a level of shock we underestimate. I think the writer said we should imagine walking on the polar ice cap and suddenly coming across a flowering rose bush. I think the radio newsman in Charleston was seeing something "other-worldly" in his experience.
See, the world is appropriately impressed when we feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and shelter the un-protected. But, in truth, all decent folks of all religions have been doing that for centuries. Christians should never stop. But if we want folks to step back and come up speechless in the face of Biblical love, then we will have to "dive into the deep end of the pool" when it comes to our decisions to love.
See, what that newsman saw was the shadow of a cross... the one on Calvary.
Behold! Indeed.
Scott
Thursday, May 28, 2015
June 2015 Letter from Pastor Scott
Persevere!
This past Sunday was Pentecost, the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Christian church. I preached from Acts 2 about the characteristics of a healthy, growing church…a “Magnetic Fellowship.”
One of those characteristics is often missed. It is in verse 46 in that famous 2nd chapter of Acts. It says, “So continuing daily with one accord…” In the original Greek language of the text, the actual mood of that phrase, “continuing daily,” describes a church that was persevering. In other words, their faithfulness required significant effort, even sacrifice. Having our morning coffee is something we “continue daily.” Living faithfully as the Body of Christ every day is something that takes perseverance and sacrifice.
What a perfect example for us, especially as we enter the summer months. Every pastor prepares for fewer folks in worship and lighter offerings during the summer. I wish that weren’t true. I encourage you to be faithful to your spiritual commitments the next few months, especially as we have started our new 3-service schedule on Sundays, and have more and more ministry that needs your financial support.
God has called us to be a missional community, standing firmly as His ambassadors to everyone we see.
Hungering for Holiness,
Pastor Scott
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Connectional?
There is a national committee in the United Methodist Church (I know...who would have thought?!) called The Connectional Table. Their primary responsibility is a little vague to me, but you can go online and find plenty of information. They recently met and voted to recommend to the next General Conference that we "compromise" on the issue if sexuality by allowing each local church pastor to decide whether or not to perform same-sex marriages. They also will recommend to General Conference that each annual conference decide whether or not to support same-sex marriages AND to ordain openly gay candidates for ministry.
Anyone who knows me knows I stand on the "orthodox/conservative"' side of this debate. But what is troubling and revealing about their recommendations is how thoroughly it violates one of the seminal commitments of historic Methodism AND the title of their own committee - that we are "connectional!"
For all of my life as a Methodist, I thought "connectional" meant we shared a common commitment to the integrity and authority of Scripture and that we had agreed to set aside our individual preferences and submit ourselves to the Authority and authorities over us. In other words, what joined us at the heart was surrendering ourselves to something bigger than ourselves. I was always told that, whether you attended a UM church in Pennsylvania or in Texas, we were connectional because we shared those commitments.
But if a pastor in Iowa permits himself to perform same-sex marriages and supports ordaining practicing homosexuals, then he and I are not connectional. In fact, we are divided at the deepest level. I would say he is not even Wesleyan...but he might say the same about me! See what I mean!!
I wonder if the Connectional Table, without realizing it, did exactly the opposite of what it intended; it has formally voiced what most United Methodists already know - that we are profoundly divided and unquestionably DIS-connected. Ironically, they also did not have a single person from Africa on the Committee - a continent that now holds about 40% of our total world-wide membership.
They say the term, "Military Intelligence" is an oxymoron? Connectional Table?
Pastor Scott
There is a national committee in the United Methodist Church (I know...who would have thought?!) called The Connectional Table. Their primary responsibility is a little vague to me, but you can go online and find plenty of information. They recently met and voted to recommend to the next General Conference that we "compromise" on the issue if sexuality by allowing each local church pastor to decide whether or not to perform same-sex marriages. They also will recommend to General Conference that each annual conference decide whether or not to support same-sex marriages AND to ordain openly gay candidates for ministry.
Anyone who knows me knows I stand on the "orthodox/conservative"' side of this debate. But what is troubling and revealing about their recommendations is how thoroughly it violates one of the seminal commitments of historic Methodism AND the title of their own committee - that we are "connectional!"
For all of my life as a Methodist, I thought "connectional" meant we shared a common commitment to the integrity and authority of Scripture and that we had agreed to set aside our individual preferences and submit ourselves to the Authority and authorities over us. In other words, what joined us at the heart was surrendering ourselves to something bigger than ourselves. I was always told that, whether you attended a UM church in Pennsylvania or in Texas, we were connectional because we shared those commitments.
But if a pastor in Iowa permits himself to perform same-sex marriages and supports ordaining practicing homosexuals, then he and I are not connectional. In fact, we are divided at the deepest level. I would say he is not even Wesleyan...but he might say the same about me! See what I mean!!
I wonder if the Connectional Table, without realizing it, did exactly the opposite of what it intended; it has formally voiced what most United Methodists already know - that we are profoundly divided and unquestionably DIS-connected. Ironically, they also did not have a single person from Africa on the Committee - a continent that now holds about 40% of our total world-wide membership.
They say the term, "Military Intelligence" is an oxymoron? Connectional Table?
Pastor Scott
Thursday, April 30, 2015
May 2015 Letter from pastor Scott
The Joy of Uncertainty
We love our routines, don’t we? I know I do.
Nearly every morning, I do two crossword puzzles from the daily paper. If
I get interrupted and can’t finish, it takes me until at least lunchtime to get
over that break in my routine! Of course, routines can be good. God
in His Word commands that we maintain a life of “holy habits” that keep us
close to Him - Bible reading, prayer, tithing, etc.
Well, in one of my holy habits this morning, I was reading
“My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers. From the book of 1 John,
he comments on, “It has not yet been revealed what we shall be.” His
words got me thinking about the church. Take a listen…
“To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our
ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a
sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation.
We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As
soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to
us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises.”
I love
surprises! But do I love them at my church? Hmmm…
I
think I needed this good word today.
Hungering
for Holiness,
Pastor
Scott
Does Proof Actually Exist?
As I type this, some very sketchy information is beginning to come out about the death of Freddy Gray in Baltimore. Most would call it conjecture because we have not yet heard from the authorities what the investigation shows.
But THAT is the point of my blog today. Skipping over about 5 paragraphs of critical thinking and reasoning, let me ask, "Who exactly are the authorities?" I'm afraid the sad answer is, "We each get to choose our own." Well, to quote C.S. Lewis rather sloppily, "That means YOU are your own authority." In other words, the only truth that will set me free is the truth with which I agree and that supports my agenda. Ironically, that premise creates no freedom, but just the opposite - the chains of slavery...to selfishness. (And the snake said to the woman, "Surely when you eat of that tree, you will be like God." Really? How's that turned out for you?)
In his book, "Slouching Toward Gomorrah," the late Robert Bork pointed at the hippies of the 1960s/70s as the first Americans who aggressively attacked and initiated the dismantling of our trust in institutions, and of course the whole idea of authority. (It's amazing just how many people and institutions, including the church, can fit onto one bulls-eye by using their favorite title of ridicule, "The Man.") Distorted body counts by an American general in the Vietnam War damaged trust. The Nixon/Watergate scandal helped tear down trust. And today, pick your party and politician to find more examples than you want of the eroding of trust. Bork, a faithful Catholic Christian, did not deny that all institutions are flawed. What he was prophetically warning us of, is just where we are today. What he saw coming were the scenes on my television from Baltimore.
I accept the medical examiner in Baltimore as an authority, but only because I have first accepted as an Authority, the One who spoke these words...to me.
"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him for HE is your life..."
Scott
As I type this, some very sketchy information is beginning to come out about the death of Freddy Gray in Baltimore. Most would call it conjecture because we have not yet heard from the authorities what the investigation shows.
But THAT is the point of my blog today. Skipping over about 5 paragraphs of critical thinking and reasoning, let me ask, "Who exactly are the authorities?" I'm afraid the sad answer is, "We each get to choose our own." Well, to quote C.S. Lewis rather sloppily, "That means YOU are your own authority." In other words, the only truth that will set me free is the truth with which I agree and that supports my agenda. Ironically, that premise creates no freedom, but just the opposite - the chains of slavery...to selfishness. (And the snake said to the woman, "Surely when you eat of that tree, you will be like God." Really? How's that turned out for you?)
In his book, "Slouching Toward Gomorrah," the late Robert Bork pointed at the hippies of the 1960s/70s as the first Americans who aggressively attacked and initiated the dismantling of our trust in institutions, and of course the whole idea of authority. (It's amazing just how many people and institutions, including the church, can fit onto one bulls-eye by using their favorite title of ridicule, "The Man.") Distorted body counts by an American general in the Vietnam War damaged trust. The Nixon/Watergate scandal helped tear down trust. And today, pick your party and politician to find more examples than you want of the eroding of trust. Bork, a faithful Catholic Christian, did not deny that all institutions are flawed. What he was prophetically warning us of, is just where we are today. What he saw coming were the scenes on my television from Baltimore.
I accept the medical examiner in Baltimore as an authority, but only because I have first accepted as an Authority, the One who spoke these words...to me.
"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him for HE is your life..."
Scott
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
I'M BAAAAACK!!
I've never been on the cutting edge of technology. Standing on the first tee of a golf course with some buddies years ago, the best player in the group looked down at my driver and said, "You know, Scott, the technology in drivers has come a long way in the last 10 years." Nothing like being insulted by a buddy for a good cause. I effectively shared my shame with Nancy when I got home. Seeing my bottom lip quivering, she just had to agree that I needed a new driver. Even before that, when I got my first cell phone (about 1990), another buddy smiled and said, "Welcome to the 1980s."
Twenty years ago as a young Air Force chaplain in Tacoma, Washington, I was responsible for about 650 airmen in different squadrons around the base. I remember sitting at my desk early one morning and wishing I could see every one of them every day. With apologies to the Apostle Paul, "Lightning struck!!" I realized each of them had access to email at some point in the day. I began emailing out a "chaplain's word" about twice a week. I had created the internet! Well, maybe not. I guess I was blogging before blogging was...well...blogging.
It became a strategic way to have a healthy spiritual conversation with my "congregation." In fact, thanks to technology, it grew well beyond just that initial group.
This blog is that sacred opportunity all over again. And I cherish the opportunity and the challenge for us to grow in Christ together through this blog.
Hungering for Holiness,
Scott
I've never been on the cutting edge of technology. Standing on the first tee of a golf course with some buddies years ago, the best player in the group looked down at my driver and said, "You know, Scott, the technology in drivers has come a long way in the last 10 years." Nothing like being insulted by a buddy for a good cause. I effectively shared my shame with Nancy when I got home. Seeing my bottom lip quivering, she just had to agree that I needed a new driver. Even before that, when I got my first cell phone (about 1990), another buddy smiled and said, "Welcome to the 1980s."
Twenty years ago as a young Air Force chaplain in Tacoma, Washington, I was responsible for about 650 airmen in different squadrons around the base. I remember sitting at my desk early one morning and wishing I could see every one of them every day. With apologies to the Apostle Paul, "Lightning struck!!" I realized each of them had access to email at some point in the day. I began emailing out a "chaplain's word" about twice a week. I had created the internet! Well, maybe not. I guess I was blogging before blogging was...well...blogging.
It became a strategic way to have a healthy spiritual conversation with my "congregation." In fact, thanks to technology, it grew well beyond just that initial group.
This blog is that sacred opportunity all over again. And I cherish the opportunity and the challenge for us to grow in Christ together through this blog.
Hungering for Holiness,
Scott
Thursday, April 16, 2015
April 2015 Letter from Pastor Scott
Faithful Friends,
What an Easter Season at Knightsville UM Church!
Besides the wonderful worship and fellowship during this season, our Administrative Council has made a very important decision for the future of our ministry. We have decided to add a 9:30 worship service on Sunday mornings. At the time of this printing, we have not decided which weekend we will begin this, but I will announce this at our Easter services. The timing of our other two services (8:30/11:00) will remain exactly the same.
Most churches have this conversation and make this decision based on a style of music that “young folks” supposedly like. The music in our new service will be our Praise Team. However, the most exciting thing about our decision is that it was made, not on the basis of a style of worship, but because we have run out of seats on Sunday morning!! I have checked the statistics, and when I arrived in early October of last year, the average worship attendance had grown to 145 each Sunday. This was due to some great work by the previous pastor and all of you. Well, on two of our most recent Sundays, we had 250 and about 280 in attendance.
I know growth is unsettling at times, but I humbly invite you to celebrate this!! God is providing us a remarkable opportunity to “DO” all the things we always “SAY” we are committed to – winning folks to Christ and making disciples. Let’s not let the fear and discomfort of change get in the way of the very reason God has put us in this place. I know there are questions about Sunday School hour(s), especially children’s Sunday School. This church has been committed to inviting children to know Jesus for a long time. That will certainly not change, and we will figure out very soon exactly how Sunday School will take place. I can tell you that it will no doubt require a few more volunteers.
This is an exciting future God is asking us to embrace. I very much look forward to it. Knightsville is a stronger church when you are here.
Scott
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
March 2015 Letter from Pastor Scott
Friends,
Someone once said, “The preacher should write his sermons
with the Bible in one hand and the daily paper in the other.” In other
words, my sermons should intersect with the current issues of the day.
I’m sure that is true of my newsletter articles as well!
So…let’s talk about ISIS. (Did that get your
attention?) A few days ago, in an effort to offer hope in the face of the
brutal horrors performed by ISIS, our president said, “Children are not born
knowing how to hate. They have to be taught that.” I think his
point was, if we can intercept these young people before they get connected to
hateful people, we can short-circuit movements like ISIS. I think this
was mostly a cultural comment, not a theological comment. I certainly
believe that children raised in a culture that rejects hate and chooses love and
kindness have a better chance of growing up to not be hateful.
But, theologically he’s wrong. Orthodox Christians for
thousands of years have believed in what we call “original sin.” That
means that, since sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden through Adam and
Eve, everyone born since then has been born with what John Wesley would call “a
bent toward sinning.” It sounds pleasing, but it is a seductive lie to
say that we are basically “good people.” Some folks are nicer than
others, some meaner, but the Bible is clear that we are all fallen and in need
of God’s forgiving grace. We have a fatal flaw called sinful hearts.
The Christian writer Katherine Anne Porter writes, “Love
must be learned, and learned again and again; there is no end to it. Hate
needs no instruction, but waits only to be provoked.”
Some of the greatest saints in Christian history, when asked
what they consider to be our greatest truths, have said, “The overwhelming
capacity for sin in my own heart.” They didn’t say that because humility
is fashionable. They said it because they believed it.
We should believe that too. Only then does the cross
stand tall on Calvary with its full power and the empty tomb revolutionize our
lives.
Hungering for Holiness
Pastor Scott
February 2015 Letter from Pastor Scott
Hope, Love, and Peace…for
terrorists?
Recently, Miss USA finished
second in the Miss Universe pageant. I am aware of this, not because I am
a fan of beauty pageants, but because of an answer she gave in the “question”
part of the competition. She was asked what her “message to terrorists
might be.” Here is her answer: "I know as
Miss USA I can always spread a message of hope and love and peace, and I would
do my very best to spread that message to them and everyone else in the
world." If you watched it happen, or, like me have watched the
video, you can tell that her answer was not very well thought out. She
gave the safest answer she could think of.
She has been widely mocked for this answer, as you can
imagine. Even Hollywood over the last few years has made fun of how often
beauty pageant contestants, no matter what question they are asked, eventually
get around to supporting “world peace” in their answer (see Sandra Bullock in
“Miss Congeniality”). You just can’t go wrong advocating world peace.
But Christians have to agree with her, right? Our
ultimate message to terrorists (or any of our enemies) is, “Your only hope
for real and lasting peace is to respond to the love of God
through our Savior Jesus, Who died for the sins of all mankind.”
With a sincere apology to Miss USA, remember…God spoke
through Balaam’s donkey in the Old Testament! Keep your ears open to the
sound of His voice! He may surprise you.
Pastor Scott
Friday, January 9, 2015
December 2014 Letter from Pastor Scott
Is it really, truly…already December?!
I’m sure the suddenness of December’s arrival for me this year is connected to the unusual timing of my arrival at Knightsville UMC as your pastor. I can surely say I have never arrived at a church as pastor in early October. It seems like I just got here, and suddenly, it’s already December! But, think how important the word “sudden” is for the Advent Season.
“And suddenly, there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host praising God…” (Luke)
“The Lord, Whom you seek, will suddenly appear.” (Malachi)
Most of us enjoy the sudden surprise of opening a gift at Christmas. But, if we are
honest, most of us don’t like sudden changes in our daily routine or plan. Just this week I had someone say to me at the end of the day, “I have been super busy today and I didn’t end up in a single place I was supposed to be!” That sounds like a day full of interruptions. He was smiling, so I think he was handling it pretty well.
That’s probably the challenge of Advent – that the Holy Spirit is trying between now and Christmas to suddenly interrupt our normal patterns to inspire a new vision for our walk with the “One Whom we seek.”
Give in to the suddenness!”
Hungering for Holiness,
Scott
January 2015 Letter from Pastor Scott
In most weddings I do, I remind folks that marriage is not a man-made institution dreamed up in some far-off culture thousands of years ago. It is an institution created by the God Whom we worship in the name of Jesus, and intended for one man and one woman “until death parts them.”
But, what is the purpose of marriage? More poignantly…what is the purpose of YOUR marriage? In his book “Sacred Marriage,” Gary Thompson asks the question, “What if God created marriage, not primarily to make you happy, but to make you holy?” That idea is at the heart of our “Sacred Marriage” classes that will begin on January 14. The classes include a short video presentation by the author. I will lead a teaching/open conversation time after that.
Beginning on January 14, and each Wednesday night following for about 8 weeks, we will share dinner together (at a nominal cost) between 5:30 and 6:30. The class will begin as dinner concludes and last about an hour. We will provide food and childcare for all children.
Whether you have been married one year or 60 years, or even if you are hoping to be married (or re-married!) someday, I strongly encourage you to come. This class rescues us from a “needs-based” and “happiness-oriented” understanding of marriage.
I encourage you to go online and purchase the book, “Sacred Marriage” as well as the student workbook, and make plans to join Nancy and me for this class.
Please call the church (875-2117) and let Janice know if you’re planning to attend.
Faithfully,
Pastor Scott
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