The last couple of weeks have afforded me some opportunities to share God's wisdom. Two different places and two totally different situations, yet the same truths. Let me share those with you.
The first opportunity to share God's truth came during my time with the alternative high school class I hang out with for couple of hours each week. The class had watched the movie August Rush, and Rudy started a conversation with the question; Do you think we all have a unique calling in life?"
The conversation that followed for me pointed to the fact so often people simply live life from one day to the next without really catching the idea that what they do has an effect on the community, or larger body. The idea of community and how we are responsible for one another has been one of the issues that I have been spending a lot of time with lately. In a message I preached last month I pointed at the Trinity in Genesis as the first recorded community in the Bible when God said "Let US make man in OUR own image". God clearly is working in community here as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the three elements of the Trinity that will be revealed through out the Bible.
Anyway since I had been spending a lot of time with the idea of community when Rudy ask me to share my thoughts I was ready. I told the class that I believe they were each created for something that was meant to strengthen the community and if they chose not to use their gift the community would be weaker. I also was able to tell them that from my point of view each of us had the freedom to do with the gifts that we created with as we choose, but that we would not know true happiness unless we responded to the creator in a positive way. (to have an opportunity to share God's truth in a public school classroom is always a good thing)
This occured a couple of weeks ago and since then I have been in that classroom a couple of time. More and more I feel like I am part of what goes on in there and today one of the students even commented that they looked forward to my coming to class and sharing. Praise God relationships are being built! Community is being created!
The second opportunity today came as I visited a friend. It has been a while since I stopped to visit this person and when they saw me they were thrilled. The person told me that they had been praying for someone to come along who they could share some thoughts with, and I showed up. I am convinced that God orchestrated all of that because in my original plans for the day I was not planning on visiting this person, but something told me to stop by. I am glad that I did not miss the opportunity! God does calls us to be our brother's keeper!
Please be in prayer for the group that is meeting on Thursday night. We are planning on beginning the Son Life Discipleship training materials right after the first of the year. We have ask several other people to join us on that journey and are waiting to hear responses.
Your Servant in Christ
Brian
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
How Did We Get Here?
Yesterday while in Sebewaing, I visited with Scott, one of the few high school friends whom I have remained in contact with. Scott and I were best friends in high school and during our college years started Village Pizzeria in Sebewaing, a business that Scott continues to own and operate to this day.
Scott's family was one of the most solidly Christian families I knew when I was growing up. I recently had the opportunity to visit with his parents, and their faith has continued to grow. I was greatly encouraged by that visit.
Anyway, I had to visit Scott because he recently turned 50 years old. I have 6 months before I turn 50 so he is much older than I am. We began to talk about the years and how they have flown by but also how God has blessed us even though we have both had our times when we weren't as faithful to God as we should have been. We laughed about a number of things as we asked each other how did we get here?
Recently the idea of community has been a central thought in my heart and mind. God has had me looking at scripture about community, and I centered on the kind of community that existed between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit even before the creation of human kind. What love that must have been that the three elements of the Trinity wanted to share the joy they were having, and therefore created us, knowing that we would break community. Then of course God could share with us the gift of grace, and community could be established in even greater ways.
I say all that because in the life of the church I think every now and then we need to look back and ask ourselves how did we get where we are as a community? Are there changes that need to be made? Is God pleased with the way we have lived out community?
As we work in Sebewaing to establish a faith community that would be pleasing before God we need to continue to seek Him in prayer. Thanks for your prayer support.
Building the Kingdom Together,
Pastor Brian
Scott's family was one of the most solidly Christian families I knew when I was growing up. I recently had the opportunity to visit with his parents, and their faith has continued to grow. I was greatly encouraged by that visit.
Anyway, I had to visit Scott because he recently turned 50 years old. I have 6 months before I turn 50 so he is much older than I am. We began to talk about the years and how they have flown by but also how God has blessed us even though we have both had our times when we weren't as faithful to God as we should have been. We laughed about a number of things as we asked each other how did we get here?
Recently the idea of community has been a central thought in my heart and mind. God has had me looking at scripture about community, and I centered on the kind of community that existed between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit even before the creation of human kind. What love that must have been that the three elements of the Trinity wanted to share the joy they were having, and therefore created us, knowing that we would break community. Then of course God could share with us the gift of grace, and community could be established in even greater ways.
I say all that because in the life of the church I think every now and then we need to look back and ask ourselves how did we get where we are as a community? Are there changes that need to be made? Is God pleased with the way we have lived out community?
As we work in Sebewaing to establish a faith community that would be pleasing before God we need to continue to seek Him in prayer. Thanks for your prayer support.
Building the Kingdom Together,
Pastor Brian
Friday, November 6, 2009
Going it Alone
I have to begin this blog post by apologizing. It has been over two months since I last posted because I have simply not taken the time to communicate. (It's the old I have been too busy story.) What I have come to realize in the last few days is that by not posting I have not allowed those of you who are reading and following this blog the opportunity to pray and share in the ministry that we are building in Sebewaing. Going it alone is never God's intent. We are called to operate in community, first with God, then with each other. My not posting has left you out, and I seek your forgiveness.
Yesterday was my first day back in Sebewaing after a couple of weeks of being away. Two things really stood out yesterday, both I think illustrating how community is suppose to work.
The first occurred at the school. The alternative education class that I have been helping with was working on a team building exercise. It was a timely event because as I listened to the instructor it was obvious that the group had been having some internal conflicts. I was impressed how the instructor emphasized to them that each of them in one way or another had been marginalized by society. (I couldn't help but think of the church as he said those things.) He then pointed out that if they were going to succeed they must work together rather than the infighting and lack of participation that had been going on. (Again parallels to the church.) The group seemed to take it to heart, and the team building exercise that took place after was highly successful. (It also cost me my hat, but that is another story.)
The second event centered around the terrible tragedy that occurred in Fort Hood, Texas. One of John and Rhonda's sons works at the Fort Hood base and as the news of the shooting came out, there was great anxiety about Troy because they could not reach him for a while. By the time we met that night, they had heard from him and the fact that he was alright. I had planned for the learning time last night to listen and discuss a message on building a community and being there for one another. Part of the discussion that took place centered around how much easier it is to face crisis when you do have a faith community and the need to really pour into the lives of others. In the circumstances of that moment, we all understood that lesson at a deeper level.
Praises:
We are going to start a Sonlife Live26 discipling group in a few weeks, and we have gotten a couple of commitments from other people to join that.
God continues to show His faithfulness.
Concerns:
I seek your prayers as I am a little overwhelmed in these days with school (I am working on a Masters in Counseling) and a difficult situation at my home church.
Your Servant in Christ,
Brian
Yesterday was my first day back in Sebewaing after a couple of weeks of being away. Two things really stood out yesterday, both I think illustrating how community is suppose to work.
The first occurred at the school. The alternative education class that I have been helping with was working on a team building exercise. It was a timely event because as I listened to the instructor it was obvious that the group had been having some internal conflicts. I was impressed how the instructor emphasized to them that each of them in one way or another had been marginalized by society. (I couldn't help but think of the church as he said those things.) He then pointed out that if they were going to succeed they must work together rather than the infighting and lack of participation that had been going on. (Again parallels to the church.) The group seemed to take it to heart, and the team building exercise that took place after was highly successful. (It also cost me my hat, but that is another story.)
The second event centered around the terrible tragedy that occurred in Fort Hood, Texas. One of John and Rhonda's sons works at the Fort Hood base and as the news of the shooting came out, there was great anxiety about Troy because they could not reach him for a while. By the time we met that night, they had heard from him and the fact that he was alright. I had planned for the learning time last night to listen and discuss a message on building a community and being there for one another. Part of the discussion that took place centered around how much easier it is to face crisis when you do have a faith community and the need to really pour into the lives of others. In the circumstances of that moment, we all understood that lesson at a deeper level.
Praises:
We are going to start a Sonlife Live26 discipling group in a few weeks, and we have gotten a couple of commitments from other people to join that.
God continues to show His faithfulness.
Concerns:
I seek your prayers as I am a little overwhelmed in these days with school (I am working on a Masters in Counseling) and a difficult situation at my home church.
Your Servant in Christ,
Brian
Friday, August 28, 2009
Moving Forward
Last Sunday I had the privilege to share at the Elkton Missionary Church about what the Thumb area LEAD Team is trying to do in Sebewaing. I felt like the Holy Spirit moved, and I was blessed. After the service I had several very positive conversations with people from the congregation. One of the things I tried to challenge them with was to think of people they might know in Sebewaing who did not attend any church. I then asked them if they might be willing to come to Sebewaing on a Thursday night and bring them to our gathering as together we seek God through relationships.
Yesterday as I was in McDonalds talking with a couple, one of the people who attends the Elkton Church and works at the McDonalds in Sebewaing, approached me and asked if she and her husband could attend our gathering that night. I assured her that would be great. We gathered together that night and continued our journey through the book of John, talking about the relationships that are encountered in this gospel. (In 3 weeks we still have not gotten through the 1st chapter despite 3 hours of conversation.)
After the study we spent some time in prayer, and I asked the group to begin to list people who they knew in the area who either had no relationship with Christ or who had wandered away. By the time we were done, we had 9 people on our list who people in the room have some kind of contact with. We prayed for them last night and have made the commitment to pray for them each week and start looking for ways to invite them into our fellowship.
I left our time together last night feeling very uplifted! I continue to be amazed at how at just the right instant, God does something to encourage us when things seem not to be moving. The Lord continues to march toward eternity and continues to call us to follow, and, at times, to hold on!
Praises:
Our prayer list of people
My time in Elkton
The continued support of each of the LEAD Team churches
For a Spirit of excitement that seems to be growing, as well as our numbers, within the group meeting in Sebewaing
Concerns:
One of the guys I have been meeting with is going through a difficult time - keep Joe in prayer.
Wisdom on how to approach the people God has laid on our hearts
Your Servant in Christ,
Brian
Yesterday as I was in McDonalds talking with a couple, one of the people who attends the Elkton Church and works at the McDonalds in Sebewaing, approached me and asked if she and her husband could attend our gathering that night. I assured her that would be great. We gathered together that night and continued our journey through the book of John, talking about the relationships that are encountered in this gospel. (In 3 weeks we still have not gotten through the 1st chapter despite 3 hours of conversation.)
After the study we spent some time in prayer, and I asked the group to begin to list people who they knew in the area who either had no relationship with Christ or who had wandered away. By the time we were done, we had 9 people on our list who people in the room have some kind of contact with. We prayed for them last night and have made the commitment to pray for them each week and start looking for ways to invite them into our fellowship.
I left our time together last night feeling very uplifted! I continue to be amazed at how at just the right instant, God does something to encourage us when things seem not to be moving. The Lord continues to march toward eternity and continues to call us to follow, and, at times, to hold on!
Praises:
Our prayer list of people
My time in Elkton
The continued support of each of the LEAD Team churches
For a Spirit of excitement that seems to be growing, as well as our numbers, within the group meeting in Sebewaing
Concerns:
One of the guys I have been meeting with is going through a difficult time - keep Joe in prayer.
Wisdom on how to approach the people God has laid on our hearts
Your Servant in Christ,
Brian
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Working in the Middle of Chaos August 19
I don't know about the rest of you, but for me summer this year seems to have been one chaotic blur. Between scheduled and unscheduled events, it seems like I have been constantly on the go. I shudder to say this, but I will almost be glad when summer is over so I can return to a routine. Yet even in the midst of all the chaos, God is at work. I want to take a minute to share just a couple of things from my life that occurred in the last week.
On Tuesday of last week I met with a former student of mine who has graduated from college this past spring and is in the process of starting a new job. Now that she is starting a new phase of her life, she is wrestling with how to do "church". As we sat talking and I heard the things she was dealing with, I made a suggestion to her. I said, "Why not start a church?"
The look on her face was one of pure amazement. She told me she had been thinking about just such an idea, but was worried that the established church and people like me might frown on the idea. I reassured her that as long as God was being honored and salvation through Jesus was being taught, I would have no problem theologically helping her get something started.
We talked about making sure there was an apostolic present in the group to help make sure that their theology did not waiver, and I assured her that if they wanted me to I would be that presence. I also gave her a book to read, Organic Church by Neal Cole and told her we would get together as soon as she had the first part read to talk about future direction. I walked away thinking "alright God I just want to be part."
The second event that showed me how God is at work even when I think only chaos is going on around occurred last Thursday during my visit to Sebewaing. One of the families who has been coming to our study on Thursday nights let me know they could not make it last Thursday. When I was thinking about how to proceed, a family came to my mind. The thought of this family was followed by a thought that one of the speakers at Brown City Camp had emphasized the week before. He said "people had more than enough Bible what they needed was to see the scripture lived out."
I trusted that God had brought those two thoughts together in my mind, and I called up John and Rhonda and asked them if it would be alright if rather than us meeting, we called this other family and offered to bring dinner to their house and to have a time of fellowship and sharing together. That is exactly what happened, and it was quite clear to me and the others that it was an appointment that pleased God.
What does all this mean? I am not sure but what it reinforced for me is that it is Jesus who builds the church. My job is to do what I am told to do through scripture and be willing to be obedient to the Holy Spirit.
This week I have one of those unscheduled events that will prevent me from getting to Sebewaing on Thursday. I will be traveling to Tampa, Florida to take part in a memorial service for my uncle who passed away. However I know God is still at work, and hopefully, I will again be able to join in as fall unfolds.
Praises:
God's faithfulness
New opportunities
Concerns:
Pray for Joe whom I have been meeting with in Sebewaing
This Sunday I will share in the Elkton Church
Pray for God's wisdom as I work with these young people about a possible church meeting in their home
Pray for me as I share at the memorial service for my uncle. There will be many in attendance who do not know Jesus as Lord and Saviour
On Tuesday of last week I met with a former student of mine who has graduated from college this past spring and is in the process of starting a new job. Now that she is starting a new phase of her life, she is wrestling with how to do "church". As we sat talking and I heard the things she was dealing with, I made a suggestion to her. I said, "Why not start a church?"
The look on her face was one of pure amazement. She told me she had been thinking about just such an idea, but was worried that the established church and people like me might frown on the idea. I reassured her that as long as God was being honored and salvation through Jesus was being taught, I would have no problem theologically helping her get something started.
We talked about making sure there was an apostolic present in the group to help make sure that their theology did not waiver, and I assured her that if they wanted me to I would be that presence. I also gave her a book to read, Organic Church by Neal Cole and told her we would get together as soon as she had the first part read to talk about future direction. I walked away thinking "alright God I just want to be part."
The second event that showed me how God is at work even when I think only chaos is going on around occurred last Thursday during my visit to Sebewaing. One of the families who has been coming to our study on Thursday nights let me know they could not make it last Thursday. When I was thinking about how to proceed, a family came to my mind. The thought of this family was followed by a thought that one of the speakers at Brown City Camp had emphasized the week before. He said "people had more than enough Bible what they needed was to see the scripture lived out."
I trusted that God had brought those two thoughts together in my mind, and I called up John and Rhonda and asked them if it would be alright if rather than us meeting, we called this other family and offered to bring dinner to their house and to have a time of fellowship and sharing together. That is exactly what happened, and it was quite clear to me and the others that it was an appointment that pleased God.
What does all this mean? I am not sure but what it reinforced for me is that it is Jesus who builds the church. My job is to do what I am told to do through scripture and be willing to be obedient to the Holy Spirit.
This week I have one of those unscheduled events that will prevent me from getting to Sebewaing on Thursday. I will be traveling to Tampa, Florida to take part in a memorial service for my uncle who passed away. However I know God is still at work, and hopefully, I will again be able to join in as fall unfolds.
Praises:
God's faithfulness
New opportunities
Concerns:
Pray for Joe whom I have been meeting with in Sebewaing
This Sunday I will share in the Elkton Church
Pray for God's wisdom as I work with these young people about a possible church meeting in their home
Pray for me as I share at the memorial service for my uncle. There will be many in attendance who do not know Jesus as Lord and Saviour
Thursday, July 2, 2009
SHOW
Wow! I didn't realize that it has been a little over a month since I have posted! Between a week at Happy Time Camp and some other things, I have just been on the run a lot lately. Knowing that next week I will be on vacation, it was important that I share a few things.
The Gabrielsons, Elenbaums and Reinhardts have been together a few times in the last month including a time of fellowship with our families. God is working in our midst, and we have been enjoying getting to know each other . We are scheduled to again get together on July 13 and are hoping to have some others join us. Kent gave me an idea when he, John and I met today. He suggested that we use the acronym:
Sebewaing
Home
Outreach &
Worship
to describe what we are doing. I like the idea, and so I think we are going to begin inviting people to the SHOW!
Last week I had the privilege of speaking at the Cass City Missionary Church and continue to cast a vision of what we believe God is up to. Pastor Bob and the church were very gracious.
I would ask that you keep me in prayer these days. I had a blackout episode a little over a week ago that we are still trying to test and figure out the cause.
As I mentioned earlier, I am on vacation next week and am looking forward to it.
Your servant in Christ,
Brian
The Gabrielsons, Elenbaums and Reinhardts have been together a few times in the last month including a time of fellowship with our families. God is working in our midst, and we have been enjoying getting to know each other . We are scheduled to again get together on July 13 and are hoping to have some others join us. Kent gave me an idea when he, John and I met today. He suggested that we use the acronym:
Sebewaing
Home
Outreach &
Worship
to describe what we are doing. I like the idea, and so I think we are going to begin inviting people to the SHOW!
Last week I had the privilege of speaking at the Cass City Missionary Church and continue to cast a vision of what we believe God is up to. Pastor Bob and the church were very gracious.
I would ask that you keep me in prayer these days. I had a blackout episode a little over a week ago that we are still trying to test and figure out the cause.
As I mentioned earlier, I am on vacation next week and am looking forward to it.
Your servant in Christ,
Brian
Friday, May 22, 2009
Community
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image." Genesis 1:26 (my emphasis added on us.)
The Lord God said, "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18
Community -- more and more I am learning that God has set it up and intends us to be in community. Last evening for four hours or so as three couples gathered to really begin the process of discerning God's will for a ministry of some kind in Sebewaing, there was among us a deep sense of that kind of community.
We began with dinner together. It was simply a time to get to know one another, and there was much laughter. In recent days I have been reading and listening to teachings on the early church. One of the things that has stood out is how their times together often started or included the "common meal". I felt very much the presence of the Holy Spirit working.
After dinner we shared a little of our own spiritual journeys and began a conversation on what a disciple making movement might look like with our present situations and resources. I was excited because there seemed to be an attitude of "let's get started". After a time of prayer, we set up a plan to meet again next week.
We decided that next week we would each share our salvation story and a little about our spiritual journeys. After that we are going to begin to formulate a plan to draw people in. (We kicked around a couple of service project ideas last night.) We understand that traditional summer may not be the best time to start some of these things, but we are going to take an attitude "let's keep starting something until we finally get started."
Please keep the Gabrielsons, Elenbaums, and Reinhardts in prayer as we work to discern God's calling and also enjoy and invite others in the community we have experienced.
Your Servant in Christ,
Brian
The Lord God said, "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18
Community -- more and more I am learning that God has set it up and intends us to be in community. Last evening for four hours or so as three couples gathered to really begin the process of discerning God's will for a ministry of some kind in Sebewaing, there was among us a deep sense of that kind of community.
We began with dinner together. It was simply a time to get to know one another, and there was much laughter. In recent days I have been reading and listening to teachings on the early church. One of the things that has stood out is how their times together often started or included the "common meal". I felt very much the presence of the Holy Spirit working.
After dinner we shared a little of our own spiritual journeys and began a conversation on what a disciple making movement might look like with our present situations and resources. I was excited because there seemed to be an attitude of "let's get started". After a time of prayer, we set up a plan to meet again next week.
We decided that next week we would each share our salvation story and a little about our spiritual journeys. After that we are going to begin to formulate a plan to draw people in. (We kicked around a couple of service project ideas last night.) We understand that traditional summer may not be the best time to start some of these things, but we are going to take an attitude "let's keep starting something until we finally get started."
Please keep the Gabrielsons, Elenbaums, and Reinhardts in prayer as we work to discern God's calling and also enjoy and invite others in the community we have experienced.
Your Servant in Christ,
Brian
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