Saturday, October 31, 2009
Singing New Songs
Psalm 96 begins, “Sing to the Lord a new song….” Why a “new song?” When I think about music and the worship of the Lord, I am reminded of two basic musical purposes. One is to help us remember what God has done and the other is to remind us of who God is. Old songs tell the story of God over the last years, decades and centuries. New songs remind us that God is still at work in our time and circumstances. The church must always encourage the writing of new songs while not neglecting those of the past. I’m thinking of some great songs from the 70s and 80s I haven’t heard for awhile. I am also thrilled with new music that emerges from dear friends like Joel Hanson and Carol Zimmerman. Many thanks to them and the many artists who help us see the God of yesterday still active today.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Remembering Ken Churchill
I learned a great deal from Ken Churchill, my pastor and friend for many years. Ken officiated the wedding for Carolyn and I and Carolyn grew up in a house right across the road from the parsonage where Ken and his family lived. Ken passed away just short of his 90th birthday and I shared a few thoughts about what I learned from him at his funeral last Friday. Here they are:
Ken was a man who loved God. He nurtured his relationship with God by spending time in God’s Word and time in God’s presence through prayer. His ministry wasn’t a duty or a profession, it reflected his life with God. He showed me that and I’m trying to do it, not as well as he did, I’m still learning but I thank him for modeling this.
Ken was a man who loved people. I know that reflected God’s love in him but it was evident to everyone. Ken loved me. (Of course, 50 years ago we men didn’t use the L word very much,) but when I came in to see Ken he really cared about me. He read our prayer letters, he wanted to know what was going on in our lives and he listened. And of course, he prayed for us. Ken truly modeled the two great commandments. I’ve tried to follow him in this with still a long way to go.
Ken had a missionary heart. It was first evidenced in his call and ministry in China but when they were expelled by the communists and ultimately came to MCC, Ken led us in creating an outstanding vision for missions and practice of the same. I was the fruit of that vision along with many others. MCC was known through out the region as a mission minded church and when I worked for the Association of Mission Committees I would often talk about the MCC model, the result of Ken’s vision.
But Ken also cared about the person across the street. As a church he led us in door-to-door evangelistic efforts on several occasions, encouraged evangelistic home Bible studies and
many ministries that reached out to the lost. He wanted everyone to know the love of God as he did.
Finally, Ken showed me and all of us how to persevere. There were ups and downs in his ministry as there is with everyone of us. Ken never changed character or gave up. He consistently chose to do things the Jesus way. When he did retire from full time pastoral work he picked up the baton of US director for the Red Sea Mission Team, now Reach Across. He and Marie faithfully served in this role for at least another decade. When I would visit him at Ridge Pointe he would mention his ministries and Bible studies and his personal ministry carried on even to the Auburn Manor residence. Ken could truly say like Paul, I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. I hope to continue imitating Ken as he imitated Christ his Lord.
I already said finally, but here is a further thought. At the end of his life, Paul wrote to his son in the faith, Timothy. He said, “That which you have heard and seen in me among many witnesses, the same commit though to faithful men, (and I must add women here,) who will be able to teach others also.” There are four generations in this passage and there are at least four generations in this room The majority of Kens legacy don’t even know his name. They are followers of Christ around the globe that are a part of this generational chain. So what’s the best way to honor Ken? Pass it on. Pass it on.
Ken was a man who loved God. He nurtured his relationship with God by spending time in God’s Word and time in God’s presence through prayer. His ministry wasn’t a duty or a profession, it reflected his life with God. He showed me that and I’m trying to do it, not as well as he did, I’m still learning but I thank him for modeling this.
Ken was a man who loved people. I know that reflected God’s love in him but it was evident to everyone. Ken loved me. (Of course, 50 years ago we men didn’t use the L word very much,) but when I came in to see Ken he really cared about me. He read our prayer letters, he wanted to know what was going on in our lives and he listened. And of course, he prayed for us. Ken truly modeled the two great commandments. I’ve tried to follow him in this with still a long way to go.
Ken had a missionary heart. It was first evidenced in his call and ministry in China but when they were expelled by the communists and ultimately came to MCC, Ken led us in creating an outstanding vision for missions and practice of the same. I was the fruit of that vision along with many others. MCC was known through out the region as a mission minded church and when I worked for the Association of Mission Committees I would often talk about the MCC model, the result of Ken’s vision.
But Ken also cared about the person across the street. As a church he led us in door-to-door evangelistic efforts on several occasions, encouraged evangelistic home Bible studies and
many ministries that reached out to the lost. He wanted everyone to know the love of God as he did.
Finally, Ken showed me and all of us how to persevere. There were ups and downs in his ministry as there is with everyone of us. Ken never changed character or gave up. He consistently chose to do things the Jesus way. When he did retire from full time pastoral work he picked up the baton of US director for the Red Sea Mission Team, now Reach Across. He and Marie faithfully served in this role for at least another decade. When I would visit him at Ridge Pointe he would mention his ministries and Bible studies and his personal ministry carried on even to the Auburn Manor residence. Ken could truly say like Paul, I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. I hope to continue imitating Ken as he imitated Christ his Lord.
I already said finally, but here is a further thought. At the end of his life, Paul wrote to his son in the faith, Timothy. He said, “That which you have heard and seen in me among many witnesses, the same commit though to faithful men, (and I must add women here,) who will be able to teach others also.” There are four generations in this passage and there are at least four generations in this room The majority of Kens legacy don’t even know his name. They are followers of Christ around the globe that are a part of this generational chain. So what’s the best way to honor Ken? Pass it on. Pass it on.
A Simple Daily Routine
From Psalm 92
No matter what is swirling around us we can still take some simple steps that help ground us and that God will look at and declare, “Good job.” In Ps. 92 we read, “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night…” Starting the day in praise and ending it in thankfulness, is this possible when most of what has happened in between seems to have gone wrong?
If our focus is on ourselves and that is how we evaluate the day, the answer is no. With this perspective, God is only good when he is good to us and we judge that goodness relative to his meeting our expectations. So in the end, we are god and he is our servant and not a good one if we don’t get what we want.
Praising God in the morning and thanking him at night reverses this perspective. We don’t always understand his ways but we know he is good and there is an ultimate goodness even in our difficult day. Taking these steps each day takes us off the throne of the universe and declares God to be in charge.
The psalmist says that this is a wonderful way to live even into our older years; it will keep us young and fruitful. I like that. He ends up saying, “They will bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright, he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” Or in my own words today, “Praise God, I can always trust him and he is always good.”
No matter what is swirling around us we can still take some simple steps that help ground us and that God will look at and declare, “Good job.” In Ps. 92 we read, “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night…” Starting the day in praise and ending it in thankfulness, is this possible when most of what has happened in between seems to have gone wrong?
If our focus is on ourselves and that is how we evaluate the day, the answer is no. With this perspective, God is only good when he is good to us and we judge that goodness relative to his meeting our expectations. So in the end, we are god and he is our servant and not a good one if we don’t get what we want.
Praising God in the morning and thanking him at night reverses this perspective. We don’t always understand his ways but we know he is good and there is an ultimate goodness even in our difficult day. Taking these steps each day takes us off the throne of the universe and declares God to be in charge.
The psalmist says that this is a wonderful way to live even into our older years; it will keep us young and fruitful. I like that. He ends up saying, “They will bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright, he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” Or in my own words today, “Praise God, I can always trust him and he is always good.”
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Be Bold
Sometimes my readings in scripture just seem to harmonize so perfectly. That's what happened in reading Joshua 1, Ps. 80 and Acts 5 together. Joshua chapter one repeatedly calls for boldness and courage. Joshua, the new leader is about to lead the Israelites across the Jordan into the promised land but there are many obstacles, including the fortified city of Jericho.
Meanwhile, in Acts Chapter 5, the apostles are seeking to lead the fledgling church in the face of opposition and persecution. They are arrested and beaten but they continue speaking boldly. How could they do this? The answer is in chapter 4. First in verse 13 the religious leaders saw their courage and took note that they had been with Jesus. At the end of the chapter they pray and are filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit takes our time with Jesus and translates it into mighty power and boldness. Our times in God's word and prayer are the components of walking in boldness.
Psalm 80 repeats this verse 3 times. "Restore us, O Lord God Almighty, make your face shine upon us, that we maybe saved." Let's call to God for his renewing power so that we can not only be saved but boldly carry the message of salvation to others.
Meanwhile, in Acts Chapter 5, the apostles are seeking to lead the fledgling church in the face of opposition and persecution. They are arrested and beaten but they continue speaking boldly. How could they do this? The answer is in chapter 4. First in verse 13 the religious leaders saw their courage and took note that they had been with Jesus. At the end of the chapter they pray and are filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit takes our time with Jesus and translates it into mighty power and boldness. Our times in God's word and prayer are the components of walking in boldness.
Psalm 80 repeats this verse 3 times. "Restore us, O Lord God Almighty, make your face shine upon us, that we maybe saved." Let's call to God for his renewing power so that we can not only be saved but boldly carry the message of salvation to others.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Passing on the song.
Psalm 78 opens with an exhortation to hear and listen to the story of God's working in the people of Israel and then to pass that story on to succeeding generations. Their children and their children's children and even the children yet to be born should hear the story of God's praiseworthy deeds, his power, wonders and law. The purpose of all this is so that they might know him and trust him.
The psalmist then proceeds to recount many of those stories in the rest of the psalm, (song.) The power of story and song are the vehicles of communication that keep the message alive and remembered. There is something special about contemporary worship because it is our story. Traditional songs are joined with today's songs to tell the work and wonders of God. A big thank you to all the musicians and poets who are a part of this process. Let us continue to sing out the story of God.
The psalmist then proceeds to recount many of those stories in the rest of the psalm, (song.) The power of story and song are the vehicles of communication that keep the message alive and remembered. There is something special about contemporary worship because it is our story. Traditional songs are joined with today's songs to tell the work and wonders of God. A big thank you to all the musicians and poets who are a part of this process. Let us continue to sing out the story of God.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
The Discipline of Remembering
Psalm 77 begins with the psalmist crying out to God. He is full of fear and stress. Life had become too hard. He cried for God t0 hear him, to help him. He lay on his bed at night moaning and groaning. He remembered God but in a spirit of fear. Where is he, has he forgotten me, will I ever see happy times again? Where is he, has he rejected me, will he fail to keep his promises?
Suddenly the psalmist switches gears. His thoughts go from what he fears to the one in whom he has placed his faith. He activates a discipline of remembering. Remembering God's mighty deeds and awesome works. He takes it a step further and meditates on all that God has done. He takes us inside his process as he describes God's miraculous deliverance for the children of Israel. He begins to see the bigger picture.
Then the psalm ends. He doesn't return to his bedtime musings. He doesn't tell us that now his fears are gone. Still, I believe he has left us an important message. The discipline of remembering and meditating on God's nature, works and ways is a real difference maker. While under stress he ordered his thinking to take a new tack to go in a new direction. I believe we can do this too. I want to develop a discipline of remembering God and his faithfulness. How about you?
Suddenly the psalmist switches gears. His thoughts go from what he fears to the one in whom he has placed his faith. He activates a discipline of remembering. Remembering God's mighty deeds and awesome works. He takes it a step further and meditates on all that God has done. He takes us inside his process as he describes God's miraculous deliverance for the children of Israel. He begins to see the bigger picture.
Then the psalm ends. He doesn't return to his bedtime musings. He doesn't tell us that now his fears are gone. Still, I believe he has left us an important message. The discipline of remembering and meditating on God's nature, works and ways is a real difference maker. While under stress he ordered his thinking to take a new tack to go in a new direction. I believe we can do this too. I want to develop a discipline of remembering God and his faithfulness. How about you?
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