Contentment

In conjunction with the Message: "The Contentment Factor"
United Presbyterian Church, Rev. Ross Slaughter, August 19, 2007

In our society we must battle dissatisfaction with our condition in life, or with other people, or with whatever …! We want things to be different. And many times circumstances should be different. So, how can we live with more contentment and less complaint, bitterness and anger in our lives.

Paul said in Philippians 4 that he had learned the secret of contentment … He knew how to live independently of outward circumstances. Keep in mind that Paul is writing from a jail cell (and in Paul’s time prison and the word "wretched" were not too far apart in meaning …!)

My suggestion is that we go straight to the Word of God on this matter and get that Word in us by personalizing its promises …


Philippians 4.6
"Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

I turn my anxious thoughts in to prayers to God. I will tell Him exactly what is bothering me so that He can lift my anxiety from me. As I pray, I will thank Him and let gratitude grow in my heart."


Philippians 4.12-13
"I know how to be in need and how to live with more than enough. I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and lack. I can do all things in Him who strengthens me."

Whether I have a lot right now or finding my situation challenging to my pocketbook and my faith, God is teaching me to live independently of my circumstances and feelings. I can do this and all things through Christ who is actively giving me more-than-enough strength.


Philippians 4.19
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

My God is supplying me even now with what I need. I will follow His lead and wisdom with confidence, not in fear.


Matthew 6.25 & 33
"Do not be anxious about your life … But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be yours as well."

God, I’m feeling anxious again about my circumstance. I choose to seek You and to understand Your way and to draw on Your wisdom and power, rather than to dwell on things I cannot control. I know that You know my problems and that You always care.


Psalm 103.1-5
"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all that He has done!
He forgives all your sins.
He heals all your diseases.
He redeems your life from the Pit.
He crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
He satisfies you with good as along as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."

Today, I choose to bless You, Lord, and not live in perpetual complaint. I will not forget all that You have done for me … You forgive me of my sins and relieve me of my shame. You are my source of health continually. You redeem me and keep my days from being wasted. You focus steadfast love and mercy into the center of my spirit. You satisfy me with good things and I have a sense of new vitality within me. Thank you, Lord.


Hebrews 13.5-6
"Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for He has said, ‘I will never fail you nor forsake you.’ Therefore we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can other people do to me?’"

Lord, protect me from being too attached to money I have and the money I don’t have. I choose to be content with what you have provided for me today. You are my helper. I will not live in fear. Replace my fear with faith in You so that I can look anyone in the eye with patience and love.

_______________________________________________

These are some verses and suggested verse-based prayers and affirmations you can use to help drive you closer to God’s goodness and will. It is preferable that you say these out loud, because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10.17).

Saying these verses and affirmations help get the Word more inside of your thinking and perspective where it can do the most good.

Overflow Ministry

"The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. … He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God." -- 2 Corinthians 9.6-12

My goal is to support stewardship awareness on a more personal level this year as the Finance Committee, the Church Session and the Congregation thinks through, prays through and plans financially toward 2008. Instead of doing full-blown messages on financial stewardship, I thought I would write a series of short flyers written from a personal point of view. Two weeks ago: "Why I Tithe." Last week: "Why I Pledge." And then for today, Stewardship Sunday: "Overflow Ministry."

-------------------------------------

What would happen if today’s believers tithed on their income blessing and pledged financial partnership to their church? I believe that the ministry capabilities of the local congregation would explode with energy to witness to Christ and to bless others in an unprecedented and compassionate way. We would be leaving our budget in the dust and serving in an "overflow" dimension to the glory of God who desires to bless His people – and through them, bless the world.


Poverty Minded or Prosperity Minded?

Up to a year ago I would not have written these flyers in the way that I have, and I certainly would not have written this third one on prosperity. My religious upbringing and training had me set on the conviction that God was against abundance and much happier with poverty … that God was happier with us poor, and that God wanted the church to be poor and struggling and kept "humble."

Many have been similarly taught, and, as a result, churches struggle to get by … I mean struggle to get by with just the basics of maintaining a building and providing the minimal pastoral services for a congregation. (One can certainly make a good case for the North American Church being too materially encumbered. One can make an equally valid case for a church or faith community to have a home base for ministry work and witness … the ‘synagogue’ idea)

Finance committees all over are going to their members trying not so sound as though they are begging, but hoping against hope that the church can operate without significant loss for "just one more year." As a result, ministry dreams never see the light of day and the church’s witness is severely truncated.

Is this the best or only vision for the church when it comes to finances and resources? I hope not. I am willing to give God-provided, God-blessed abundance a try.

Proverbs 10.22: "The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it."

We serve a God who longs to bless and to bless us with abundance. If you have taken a look at the 2 Corinthian passage on the other side of this flyer, you get a glimpse of a very generous God, not a stingy God. Jesus came, He told us, that we "may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10.10b).

The same Jesus who said "consider the lilies of the field, how they grow …" in Matthew 6 also said in Luke 6.38, "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you give will be the measure you get back." … This is the language of God-provided overflow.


Giving to the Church Budget?

Most churches have some guideline for spending the resources entrusted to them. This is basic, good and faithful financial stewardship. The finance committees that meet late into the night trying to make things work for the good of the congregation are made up of sincere, hardworking people who give of their time to do right by their church. Most church budgets are the best prayerful and educated guesses of how resources can and should be used to do the ministry work of the church. And by the same token, many, if not most church boards, are unsure if enough will come in, and what adjustments downward may be needed on a gamble to survive.

Is there an alternative?

I think there is and I want to propose one to you.


Giving to God According to Blessing

When I give, I do not give to the church budget. My giving is not at all determined by the church budget. If I were in a church of 65 members or 650 members, my giving would be exactly the same. Why? Because I have been taught through the Scriptures to give according in proportion to how God has blessed me. As I mentioned in the flyer "Why I Tithe," ten percent of one’s blessing is exclusively God’s.

On the personal and prayerful level in my life - half of my tithe goes directly to the church. Others will work this out differently.

Depending on the research consulted, Presbyterians on the national average contribute between 2.1% to 2.3% of their income blessing to the local church.


Participating More Fully in the Work of God

Giving in proportion to how God has blessed us, with the priority on the work of the local congregation, will result in ministry that goes well beyond current budgets and enters the realm of vision … blessing … compassion … generous service … mission … greater lay training and competence in practical ministries that will touch peoples lives in redemptive ways.

I’m tired of the beggarly way of doing church finances. May be others are too. Our God is a blessing-giving God! Philippians 4:19-20: "My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God be glory for ever and ever! Amen!"

For Bulletin Flyer ... October 14, 2007

Why I Pledge

"Now concerning the contribution for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that contributions need not be made when I come . ..." -- 1 Corinthians 16.1-2

My goal is to support stewardship awareness on a more personal level this year as the Finance Committee, the Church Session and the Congregation thinks through, prays through and plans financially toward 2008. Instead of doing full-blown messages on financial stewardship, I thought I would write a series of short flyers written from a personal point of view. Last week’s topic: "Why I Tithe." This week: "Why I Pledge." And then for Stewardship Sunday, next week "Overflow Ministry."

-------------------------------------

Pleding is another … I don’t want to say controversy, but ... topic around which there is a variety of perspectives. That’s OK. I understand that. My perspectives have changed over time. I hope to show a good set of reasons why the practice of pledging is legitimate and helpful. Again, I hope that people who have not pledged before – pledge financially to this church. I have no qualms about being "up front" with that. I am one Christian among many on this issue; however, I think it is fair that you hear from your pastor on this issue as well.

So … Here goes … !

1 Corinthians 16

I did not choose this passage as a proof text to say: "Thou shalt pledge," because the Bible does not command this. I chose this passage because Paul counsels that the Christians in Corinth were to lay up a certain amount of their income/blessing ("…as he may prosper …") on a regular basis, in this passage, on the first day of the week (the day that the Christian community met for worship). Evidently, this directive of Paul’s was not just limited to the Corinthian Christians, but was a recommendation/expectation Paul had of the many churches he had established in the region of Galatia. One can certainly point out this Paul’s financial campaign to the poor Christians in Jerusalem was an exception … a special offering under special circumstances. Yet, I want us to see a principle at work in Paul’s approach.

Similar to the flyer I wrote on tithing for last week, you can see the idea of proportional giving in operation, rather than an expectation of a certain, preset amount. If you were to read this passage in 1 Corinthians and compare it to Paul’s extended and fuller explanation of this financial offering to the poorer Christians in Jerusalem in 2 Corinthians, chapters 8 and 9, you will get an excellent overview of New Testament financial stewardship principles.


Giving from the Heart

Occasionally people want me to consider an alternative to pledging, saying that giving should be from the heart and not as a matter of dutifully seeing a pledge through, explaining to me that we should give as we feel we should give – out of a genuine "want to." I agree that giving should be from the heart, but that heart should have a heartbeat, that is a regularity to it. As I give in terms of a long term commitment (which is a pledge), whether to the church or to a mission cause I believe in, I am giving from the heart. I am not always led to pledge, sometimes one time gift is all that is needed and for other types of ministry I want to give over time because of the nature of the need. I think that only makes practical sense.


Living on Faith

It has been said to me over the years that it is not right for a church to ask or expect a financial pledge on the part of its members … It comes across as an invasive technique to for a church to get money … and, that the church needs to operate on faith instead.

Operating by faith is more than ‘just getting by’ if you can ‘just get buy.’ … Being in a position of wondering and lack … wishing and hoping for better, yet not convinced that the situation will improve very much … Always considering that the church should be poor and strung out financially to meet its basic financial obligations … And, "Well, if the money comes in, then it comes in! Praise God!"

Operating by faith means … Knowing the promises of prosperity chapter and verse from God’s Word and claiming those promises in our lives and in our church … Praying that God will release generous hearts to give to this ministry we call U.P.C.

… Changing the flow of reason and emotion from "How little can we get by with?’ to "What can God do with the financial seeds we give and sow into His care?" … Confidence in the principle that if we sow abundantly we will reap abundantly (see 2 Corinthians 9.6-12).

Operating by faith means responding to His invitation to join Him in His work. That’s not just a financial point of obedience, that is a whole-life, whole-faith response to the leading of God and it will include our finances on some level.


My Number One Reason for Pledging is …

… to relieve the church of the unnecessary burden of financial anxiety. I want my church to know that it can count on me to do my part. I can’t do everything, but I can let the church know by my pledge up front that it does not need to live with financial anxiety. Financial anxiety, for those who have gone through it, drains a lot of energy, often physically and certainly emotionally. The church needs to be in a position to plan and follow through, without the added and unnecessary burden of financial anxiety. We have God’s work to get on with!


Next Post: Overflow Ministry

I want to talk about ministry beyond the church budget … Overflow Ministry. We have yet to see where biblical and prayerful tithing and pledging will take us.

For Bulletin Flyer ... October 7, 2007

Why I Tithe

"Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts." -- Malachi 3.10-12

My goal is to support stewardship awareness on a more personal level this year as the Finance Committee, the Church Session and the Congregation thinks through, prays through and plans financially toward 2008. Instead of doing full-blown messages on financial stewardship, I thought I would write a series of short flyers written from a personal point of view. This week’s topic: "Why I Tithe." Next week: "Why I Pledge." And then for Stewardship Sunday "Overflow Ministry."

-------------------------------------

Tithing is a confusing and somewhat intimidating issue for many in the pews. I want to let you in on why I tithe from a personal point of view. I am not saying that you have to do as I do or think as I think – there are various schools of thought when it comes to tithing and people of godly character vary in their interpretations of this teaching. I am one Christian among many on this issue, and I think it is fair that you hear from your pastor on this issue as well.

So … Here goes … !

The Tenth Part

The word tithe is a word hardly anyone uses in every day speech. It means the tenth part of something. In the Bible people were to give a tenth of their crops and flocks as well as their money. The tenth part was considered holy or dedicated to the Lord. The basic rule of thumb for the Hebrew people was: A tenth of what we have is exclusively God’s.

Although the rules concerning tithes and offerings are fairly complicated (to our way of thinking), the conscientious Jew would be in fact giving 21% of his blessings/income in whatever form to Temple and King.
The Hebrews did not proscribe amounts for offerings, but percentages for the most part. The reason – They were an agricultural society. Some seasons were better than other seasons. They were to bless as they had been blessed by God. The fairest way to assign a consistent offering was to calibrate it by percentage. Many churches today emphasize the same concept of proportional giving … to bless others in proportion to how you have been blessed by God.


The Least I Could Do

Early in my Christian life (late teens for me) the concept of tithing was brought to my attention and I have regarded the practice (also known as a spiritual discipline) of tithing to be a basic form of Christian obedience. I considered the giving of ten percent to be a biblical standard for my own giving … that if I were faithful in this, I was doing my part. I am always free to do more, but this was the benchmark.

I also considered my tithe as a seed for continued blessing. Some may take issue with this. For me – this is how it has worked. God sustained me in lean times (I have real stories to share here) and I am convinced that it was directly linked to my willingness to give to Him come what may (see Malachi 3.10-12).


Learning All Over Again

After we were married, Sheila and I had to come to agreement as to how we were going to give as a couple/family. We had differing perspectives and it took a while to sort things out. During that time we were under teaching that emphasized the necessity and blessing of tithing and we came to the prayerful agreement on how we were going to disburse God’s exclusive portion of our income (blessing). It has been amazing to see how God has blessed our 90% over the years …!


Tithing is not a matter of Old Testament Law. It is a way we relate to Jesus.

One of the considerations that often comes up in a discussion of tithing is that this was a matter of Old Testament law and is not binding to believers today. I understand that and respect peoples’ differing views on this matter.

However, my eyes were opened to keen biblical observation that tithing was considered the basic form of giving and gratitude to God long before the Law/Torah. We have two Old Testament examples of tithing in the lives of Abraham and Jacob, both of whom lived hundreds of years prior to the Law.

The Book of Hebrews (read Genesis 14.1-24 and Hebrews 6.9-7.19) refers directly to the tithing story of Abraham and interprets it significance for us. Space does not allow me to go into detail (… happy to discuss it, though) … But, to make a long story short: Abraham gives a tenth of everything to the Priest Melchizedek. According to the writer of Hebrews, Melchizedek is a type or Old Testament prefigurement of Jesus Christ. In essence (see Hebrews 7.4-10) the descendants of Abraham gratefully acknowledges the greatness of Jesus Christ through the giving of the tithe. Again, this is not a law for us, but a pattern worthy of consideration for the Christian’s growth in the grace of giving.


Next Post: Why I Pledge

I will deal with another controversial matter of stewardship … Pledging. Again, it will be from a personal and pastoral point of view. But, to be up front, I am hoping to lead others to actions that will result in tithing and pledging toward the work of God here, blessing in proportion to how God has blessed us. We need to move forward together on the financial level with Biblical guidance and insight …! We have nothing to lose by doing this kind of study ... and most everything to gain.

Bulletin Flyer ... September 30, 2007

Another Church in Eastminster Presbytery votes to leave the PC(USA)

This is news I received in my email while on vacation. This same letter can be read on our Presbytery's website - www.eastminsterpresbytery.org

Now we have three local churches who have opted out of the PC(USA): Hudson, Stow and now - North Benton

_________________________________________________

A Pastoral Letter from General Presbyter Dan Schomer
June 25, 2007

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On Wednesday evening, June 20, eight members of the Committee on Ministry and I met at the First Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth, with a group of about fifteen members from the North Benton Presbyterian Church. We had called this gathering because the North Benton session had called a congregational meeting for June 24 to vote on whether to seek dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and seek transfer to the provisional New Wineskins Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

On the evening of June 20 we spent two hours together. Two documents were distributed:

(1) a document from Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), called “The Church’s One Foundation Is Jesus Christ Her Lord” which was written as a response to a series of attacks on the on the New Wineskins website; and (2) a letter from General Assembly Moderator Joan Gray. These two documents can be viewed and downloaded from the presbytery website.

I had learned earlier in the day that, in response to the one page letter the presbytery had sent to every member of the North Benton congregation inviting them to the June 20 gathering, Pastor Jim Henkel had sent a six-page letter that sought to discredit the PCUSA response to attacks and justify the proposed actions for the congregational meeting.

Our gathering with the North Benton members was heartbreaking. They told of how they had heard little from the pulpit over the past several months other than how the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) had gone astray. We were asked by them if the Presbyterian Church really no longer believes that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation or that Presbyterians no longer accept the authority of the Bible. There were some tears that night too. People were hurting and said so. They saw that their church family was being divided.

One in attendance stated the situation in this way, “Whether we vote yes or no, some people are going to leave.”

Four members of the Committee on Ministry attended the congregational meeting at the North Benton Church on June 24. According to the report I received, the meeting began at 11:45 a.m. and ended at 2:30 p.m. There were 116 voting members in attendance. A motion was made that the North Benton Presbyterian Church seek dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and authorize the session to take the necessary steps to do so. A member of the congregation made a motion to postpone action indefinitely. After a length discussion, the vote was 84 against postponement and 26 in favor of postponement (74% to 26%). After further discussion, a written ballot was taken. The results of the ballot were reported as follows: 81 for, 29 against, 6 abstaining (70%, 25%, 5%).

Another motion was made to that the North Benton Presbyterian Church seek transitional membership into the New Wineskins Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and authorize the session to take the necessary steps to do so. After considerable discussion, a written ballot was taken. The results of the ballot were reported as follows: 78 for, 28 against, 10 abstaining (67%, 24%, 9%).

Once again, Eastminster Presbytery is faced with how to respond to a congregation seeking to leave the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). For now, one thing we can all do is pray that God will comfort those who mourn these decisions and grant the presbytery discernment as we respond to the actions of the North Benton congregation.

In Christ’s service together,

Dan Schomer

New Life Now - Through the Power of the Resurrection

Summary and Outline of the April 29 Message

We are in a series this Spring on the power of the Resurrection - Yes, Christ rose from the dead - But now we need to make connections between that even and our daily living.

We make that connection by going into passages that help us process the fact that our Lord transcends death and desires to transfer that power into our living, our fiath and our praying!

In this message we go to Romans 6.1-14 as Paul addresses how difficult it is for us to deal with the force of sin in our lives - how difficult it is to change ourselves. In order for that to be truly manifested in our living - we need the power of Christ's resurrection - that power that changed Him and made Him alive - phsycially, spiritually and forever.

___________________________________

Passage: Romans 6.1-14

Focus verses: "... just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly by united with Him in a resurrection like His." (Romans 6.4b-5)

___________________________________

From an episode of Numb3rs ...
... Don Epps is with his therapist. Key line in conversation = "There's a difference between feeling good and feeling right. If you want to feel good you can drink or take a pill - or - you can make the decisions you need to make to get your life right."


Romans 6 - Overcoming Sin (Context)
... Are we at the decision points in our lives to go beyond a life that seeks to stop the pain ... to a life that walks with God, who will make things progressively "right" for us and with us?


Overcoming Sin
... We need resurrection power - not more effort - not more guilt. We need out of the cycle of "sin-repent-sin-repent ..." We know how to apologies with religious language - How do we actually get beyond the sinning to a life that is filled with the power of God?


Raised by the Glory of the Father
... Our perspective/relationship with God is paramount here. Is God the source of your problems or is God the source of your solutions?

... The inner witness for me in this message was - God directing me to pass on God's word: "Tell my people that they walk in the newness of life only as they walk by My Glory." How? - my response.

... God reveals Himself in His Word as ... Faithful, our Strength, our Rock, our Savior, our Fortress, our Provider, our Helper, our Comforter, our Healer, our Sheild and Banner of Protection, our Peace, our Hope.

... When we build ourselves up in knowing Him as He reveals Himself and on knowing His promises - we are lifted by great power to release from the death and dead-end places of our lives to a newness and freshness that maginfies Him.


United in a Death Like His ...
... "United" - from the Greek, meaning "Grow up together" - A word that designates "experience" with Christ.

... United in a Death Like His ... What does this mean? Once could say: "It means the forgiveness of my sins." True. But go beyond that - to the Death of the Old Self ... the death of those destructive forces that keep us disobedient and captive to our petty and often pathetic selves.

... The Cross of Jesus is our fixed point. We are not our own - we were bought with a price. Keep you sin accounts with God real short and be honsest with Him about the sin and struggles of our lives.


United with Him in a Resurrection Like His.
... Allow Him to call you out of the death dimensions of our current life. Learn to depend upon Him in the midst of the struggle.

... The Apostle Paul ... 2 Corinthians 4.8 and following with 6.8b and following ... Note the nature of his life and ministry ... It is really hard with plenty of setbacks. But these are not the words of a man who has to take his lumps from God ... These are the words of a man who knows God as His source ... of Provision, Help, Strength, Solution ... He knows the power of the rusurrection in all of life's situations.

... Paul ... Philippians 4.13 ... "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."


A Norwegian Folk Tale
... A boy took an eagle's egg from its nest and took it to his farm and put it into the nest of the goose on the farm. In time the eggs hatched and the little eagle thought he was a goose, not realizing his true nature. He had a rough time ... He couldn't honk like the other geese. He couldn't swim. They didn't fly so I didn't know to fly. He spent his days waddling around in the dirt on the farm ... Until one day he saw a strangely familiar sight overhead. He saw an eagle in flight. He responded by spreading his wings. He got some air underneath them and rose higher and higher. He finally entered the life he was intended for all along. As he rose higher, the farm and the old life there got smaller. Ahead of him as a new world and a new life.

... God has not destined you and me to live captive to sin and death. ... We were meant to soar.


A Truth to put some air under your wings ...
... God loves you as much as He loves Jesus.

... United with Him in His Death ... United with Him in His Resurrection

The Real Story about Jesus' Tomb

Message Outline for Sunday, April 8, 2007
The Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

On March 4 the Discovery Channel aired a special called "The Jesus Family Tomb", in which James Cameron (Director of Titanic) and Simcha Jacobovici (a notable Israeli filmmaker) set out to claim, more by inference than by proof, that they had discovered the tomb of Jesus Christ and His family (including wife Mary Magdalene and son Jude). Never mind that this tomb had been discovered in 1980 and that a British documentary had already been done at that time.

Today, on the Sunday of the Resurrection, we get the real story about Jesus’ tomb … It was used for just a real short time. His ‘tomb’ is famous for that is not there. We read eye witness accounts from John 20.1-18. Let’s take a look inside …

__________________________________

Scripture: John 20.1-18

Key Verse: "Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed ..." (John 20.8)
__________________________________

The Jesus' Family Tomb
... James Cameron / Simcha Jacobovici / Discovery Channel Special - March 4
... Found - bone boxes for Joseph, Mary, Jesus, Mariamne, Judas (son of Jesus) and Matthew.

But Dan Brown said ...
... Jesus married to Mary Magdalene / Daughter Sarah / Joseph of Arimathea took them to France / Started royal blood line!
... Now I find out this wasn't true. Another crisis of faith!

Scholarly Consensus
... Gospels were not eye witness accounts.
... Gospels made up of rumor and legend circulated by the uneducated and written down well after the time.

Resurrection - Only Symbolic
... Resurrection - not literal. Death still reigns
... 1 Co 15.7 - No resurrection - preaching and faith is in vain and we are still in our sins.

Resurrection - Not Symbolic, but Literal
... These apostles would not give their lives up for a lie. They had everything to lose and nothing to gain.
... They were convinced that Jesus had broken the power of death.
... They saw / spoke with / ate with / touched - and PREACHED Him.

Easter - More than an Empty Tomb
... Key Verse: Went in ... Saw ... Believed
... Sequence: We need to go into the issues ... See the implications for sure faith foundation

If God is for us ...
... Message of the Resurrection: God is on our side.
... If God is for us, who can be against us ... Ro 8.31-39

The Power of His Resurrection
... Paul - Ph 3.10 - Paul wants to the the power of the resurrection
... Do you want to know the power of His resurrection in your life?
... Series for Eastertide - The Power of His Resurrection

__________________________________

Resurrection - You Get An Upgrade

The Apostles’ Creed states: "I believe … in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting."

What I have discovered in numerous conversations with people throughout the years is - that many do not realize that there is a resurrection of the body. It genuinely surprises them that we actually get our bodies back to live forever. Most assume that when you die, your "soul" goes to heaven and that's it. But there is so much more revealed to us in the Bible about what happens when we die and what's in store for believers in Jesus.

We were created - as humans - a body-soul-spirit unity.

Death occurs when the body is separated from the soul and spirit. The Bible teaches us that this separation is temporary. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5: "That while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord ... and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." In Philippians 1 Paul says: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain ... My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better." I take away from these verses a principle: "Away from the body - At home with the Lord." Jesus said to the thief on the cross in Luke 23: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise."

However, the story does not end there.

In Philippians 3 Paul says he wants to know the power of Christ's resurrection - which is Christ coming to physical life again (3.10) - an important and essential ingredient in Christian spirituality. Later on in Philippians 3 (at verse 21) Paul says: "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior - the Lord Jesus Christ - who will change our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power which enables Him even to subject all things to Himself." … You get your body back.

Go to 1 Corinthians 15 ...!

That whole chapter is about the resurrection of the dead - Christ's and ours. Death for the believer is a temporary state of affairs. The body will not always be separated from the soul and spirit. Body, soul and spirit are brought back together at the Second Coming of Jesus.

Jesus said in John 5, "The hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice (referring to the voice of the Son of Man - Jesus) and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment." Later in Jesus' ministry (John 11) at the funeral of His good friend Lazarus, Martha said, "I know that Lazarus will rise again in the resurrection at the last day" (Resurrection is a Jewish teaching). Jesus responded, "I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." Jesus called into Lazarus' dark grave for him to come out - demonstrating even at that time the power He had to restore human beings to human being.

When Jesus rose from the dead He was not a ghost or spirit.

He was physical - solid - alive. And one day we will be as well. Revelation 20 through 22 gives a tantalizing glimpse of what's ahead. The body we will receive will be a the body God designed for us all along ... Our bodies and minds maximized, perfected - as though untouched by disease, tragedy and sin. We will finally embody (literally) God’s perfect vision for us … whole, healed, perfect. What a promise!

People wonder - "Will I recognize my loved ones in heaven?"

Yes. You will recognize them. Why? They will be in their bodies, just as you will be in yours. You will not be stuck in an eternity surrounded by complete strangers.

Jesus was certainly known and recognized by His disciples - John 20.19-20: "Jesus came and stood among them and said 'Peace be with you.' When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." They didn’t say: "Who’s this guy and what’s he doing here?"

In the opening chapter of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus was with His disciples for 40 days before returning bodily to the Father. Apparently, there was no contest of recognition. They knew is was Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul relates that Jesus revealed Himself to Peter, then to the Twelve and also to James, His brother. Paul also mentions that Jesus met with a little over five hundred of His followers at one time (quite a gathering with the Resurrected Lord!). Recognizable? I should say.

April 8, the Sunday of the Resurrection - is about resurrection.

... Not new life in the Spring, flowers, bunnies, eggs, chocolate and fashion (although I like the ham dinner tradition myself ...!) Come to church with a transformed mind about your transformed body and give Jesus the praise! His victory is ours – resurrection and all.

The Showdown

The Sunday Morning Message Outline
for April 1, 2007
Palm-Passion Sunday

____________________________

Colossians 2.13-15

And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in the cross.

____________________________

Showdown - to force an issue to conclusion
... Three times Jesus predicted what would happen when they got to Jerusalem.
... 1 John 3.8 - Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus fights on the enemy's home turf - the flesh
... God in flesh - His plan to defeat Satan/death
... To win, He must lose - To live, He must die
... God would take death into His very being through the 2nd person of the Trinity.

Colossians 2.13-15 - the Language of Victory
... Forgiveness - The record of our sins nailed to the cross.
... Disarmed principalities/powers - shows them up for what they are.
... Paul uses the image of the military victory parade.

What "powers" are you dealing with?
... Fear & Worry / memories / Depression / Addiction / Hopelessness / Significance / Money / Fear of aging and death?
... He is greater than the "powers"

"I'm taking the hit."
... Suffering - Enters it / Endures it / Experiences it
... Evil does its best to do its worst - Ultimately unsuccessful.
... There is nothing left of their power - sting removed.

Showdown - to force an issue to a conclusion
... Jesus rides a donkey - humility. Don't be fooled by appearances

Church Growth Tips You Can Use!

Expanding the Family Circle … that’s what I’m talking about.

As we get closer to the Sunday of the Resurrection (Easter) on April 8, we will be seeing more people visit the church. Step out of your comfort zone and welcome a potential friend. Most everyone of us has been the new person in a church or a group of some kind. Strangers then are good friends now.

Church … it’s about relationships. Let’s keep a good thing going, and make it better!

If someone is just visiting because they are traveling, tell them that you are glad that they chose to come here for their week away from home.

If they are looking for a church home, tell them that you hope that this not the last time you will see them here. Make sure that they sign the red pew pad. Many times a visitor won’t do that unless encouraged to do so (so keep that in mind. It helps to know who they are and where they live.) We also have a PowerPoint presentation of our church (a visual brochure) in the room under the balcony for a new person to take with them if they wish. We also have regular paper brochures in the room under the balcony as well.

Don’t forget the power of ‘good old fashion’ word of mouth. If you are receiving good things from your life in this church and you know of a friend, family member or co-worker who is not a part of a church, then invite that person and (this is really key …) either pick them up personally or arrange to actually meet them here. Newcomers are many times reticent to just come to a church. It is our job to make that transition easier and less awkward for new people. If an invitation is – "Meet me here and afterward let’s have lunch" – chances are it will work (… just one idea …! You can probably think of other ideas).

PRAYER is the key to it all … how you might be used of God to expand our church’s family circle. (see Luke 14.21-23)

Jesus - The Way, the Truth and the Life

Sunday Message Outline
for March 18, 2007

John 14.1-14

Focus Verse: John 14.6
"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Is Jesus the only way to God?
... Controversial teaching here
... Is this exclusive - unfair?
... What about people who have never heard?
... What about good people who simply have different beliefs?

Do all religions lead to the same God?
... Each are distinctive and exclusive
... Each have lofty ideals and they often show Christians up!
... Some commonality in ethics, but differ in what they actually believe.
... Differ greatly about God / gods / worship / works / afterlife ... etc.
... Christians are to respect people - connect - lead them to Christ.

A Closer Look at the One who said this - Jesus
... The "I AM" sayings of Christ - God speaking!
... I am the Bread of Life ...
... I am the Light of the World ...
... I am the Door ...
... I am the Resurrection and the Life ...
... Every human soul linked to Christ w/o exception

Way? Truth? Life?
... Consider the context of this teaching - the night of His betrayal!
... The Way would soon be stopped by crucifixion
... The Truth would be swallowed up by the lies of His enemies
... The Life would soon be laid cold and dead in a tomb

The Way - Connection Between Two Points
... The Stone rolled away ... the Way is now open!
... Mt 11.27 - No one knows the Father but the Son and the Son but the Father and those whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
... Mt 28.18 - All power in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
... Jn 1.18 - No one has seen God. The only Son has made Him known.
... Col 1.15-16 - He is the image of the invisible God. All things created for Him and through Him.
... Col 1.19 - All the fullness of God was pleased to dwell in Christ.
... Col 2.9 - The fulness of deity dwells bodily in Jesus.
... 1 Tim 2.5 - One God and one mediator between God and man - Jesus
... Acts 4.12 - There is no other name given to humanity by which we must be saved.
... Jn 14.9 - Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.

The World Needs to Know
... What about those who have not heard? see Ro 2.12-16
... What about those who have not heard? see Mt 28.18-20 - He sends us to those who have not heard!

They need to know ...
... That ancestors do not need to be appeased or else a curse will follow
... That the many gods have no power
... That it is not a matter of uncertain works
... That real sins can be forgiven and forsaken
... That spiritual oppression does not need to be one's life
... That real relationship and fellowship with God is possible
... Jesus: "Tell them that I love them ... and I came to let them know."

For the Third Sunday in Lent

Once for all…

We do not need to look to any other than Jesus
We do not need to look for any other than Jesus

Acts 4.12 reads:

"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

This bold statement was said by Peter, the leader of the band of apostles after Jesus ascended into heaven.

Here’s the story … At the beginning of Acts, chapter 3, Peter and John go to the Temple (the headquarters for the Jewish religion in the city of Jerusalem at that time) for mid-afternoon prayer. A lame man there was begging for money. Peter and John did not have money to give him; but what they did have was the power of Jesus to help him. They took this man by the hand and helped him to his feet. He didn’t just walk, he jumped up and down and praised God with all the air he had in his lungs!

This healing, as you would imagine, created quite a crowd, and Peter and John started to talk about Jesus to everyone. However, not everyone was receptive to the message. The rulers, the elders and the scribes called a meeting headed by the High Priest of the Temple. They brought Peter and John in for further questioning, for they thought that they had gotten rid of Jesus a few months ago and now a healing had been performed using His name! Peter told them that it was by the name and power of Jesus that this healing was done. Peter also reminded them that Jesus, whom they had rejected and killed, was in fact the most important part of God’s plan. Then, he said to them, in no uncertain terms: "There is no other name … by which we must be saved."

No other name … What a claim!

At one point, John the Baptist had, what strikes me as, an amazing question for Jesus: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" Look for another?!? I take comfort in this question, because I know about doubt. We are not used to linking John the Baptist and doubt together in the same thought, but if you turn to Matthew 11.2-6 you’ll get the whole story. If you have every wondered if Jesus was really "it" or not … or if you have ever wondered whether you could just have a belief in God, but by-pass Jesus (… a nice man and all, but hey … Why go overboard, y’know?) you are not alone. God and Jesus are linked. You cannot have one without the other. "I and the Father are one," Jesus said (John 10.30); "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." (John 14.9) God and Jesus are linked. You cannot have one without the other. Truly, there is no other name by which we must be saved.

Consider C. S. Lewis’ insight into Jesus:

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

(C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, The MacMillan Company, 1960, pp. 40-41.)

No other name … Here are some scriptures to encourage you about the "Name" this week.

Psalm 20.1-9
Psalm 54.1-7
Proverbs 18.10
Luke 24.44-53
Hebrews 13.15
Philippians 2.9-11

Christianity Today Article on Denominational Splits

Quick post ...

There is an online article at Christianity Today entitled: "Church Divorce Done Right: Denominational Splits Just Aren't What They Used To Be" by Ted Olsen (posted 3/07/2007)

I am not allowed to violate copywrite laws and copy it in my blog, but I can give you the link < http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/april/1.24.html > so that you can read it directly.

The article starts ... "When I asked Orlando Sentinel religion reporter Mark Pinsky if he'd covered the February meeting where as many as 150 Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations made plans * to leave the denomination, I wasn't terribly surprised when he answered no ..."

This article starts out by talking about the PC(USA) scene, but it also does a wider observational analysis of the overall demarcation between liberal-progressive and evangelical concerns.

Plus it gives some history that you may find helpful concerning a similar time - the 1920s when J. Gresham Machen gave leadership to the conservative wing of the Presbyterian Church in contrast to the liberal-progressives that by and large spurned the witness of scripture and the voice of the creeds.

Take a few minutes to check this out.


* The link within this first paragraph takes you to an online article at < http://www.pres-outlook.org >

Why Denominations? – Do They Make Any Difference?

The top 7 "mainline" denominations have lost collectively 5 million (plus) members over the last 42 years (since 1965 when they reached their peak in American society) The Presbyterian Church has lost basically half of its membership nationwide in that time, from approximately 4.5 million in 1965 to 2.3 million at this point. Of all the mainline churches the Presbyterian Church (USA) seems to be losing the most members at the fastest rate. By and large we do not lose our members to other churches. The majority of those who drop out no longer go to any church …!

Added to the denominational dilemma is the desire of some congregations to formally change their affiliation from the PC(USA) to the EPC (The Evangelical Presbyterian Church*). The PC(USA) is not the only denomination experiencing this level of dissatisfaction and church property concerns. The ECUSA (The Episcopal Church) is also undergoing it institutional hemorrhaging, as individual congregations align with more conservative Anglican diocese located outside of the United States. The ECUSA is experiencing their property law suits in the courts as well as headlines surface in print and on line.

Why denominations?

Denominations are a purely utilitarian church or ministry structures that were developed rather late in church history.

Thumbnail review: … After the age of the Apostles (early church) official church leadership was centered in Rome and is the basis of the Roman Catholic Church of today. The Roman Church has its ties deep in Christian history drawing on the witness of Peter and Paul in that, which was the most important, city of its day. As the Roman Church spread it influence its eastern branch became independent and in 1056 there was the official spit of the Roman Church and, what is known as, the Easter Orthodox Church.

It isn’t until we get to the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s that we find a church structure that resembles the denominational structures we know of today. But at the time of the Reformation in Europe, we don’t really have ‘denominations’ per se, but regional protestant churches: The Lutherans among the German kingdoms, The Reform Churches of Switzerland and Holland, the Huguenots of France, the Presbyterians of Scotland and the Puritans of England. You also have the rise of radical protestant of the Anabaptist traditions in central Europe as well. There is a basic protestant theology, but also doctrinal distinctives in each "camp."

It is when these European regional church groups get to the United States that we have the concept of ‘denomination.’ Since the U.S. government does not recognize a state religion, it allowed different Christian communions and other faiths to form voluntary associations (as long as no federal laws were violated). So, with the concept of protected voluntary association, Presbyterians were allowed to form their own ‘network’ of churches, establish their own internal church government, etc. Other protestant church groups could and would do the same. The result was and is various churches coinciding peacefully in the same community – a Methodist Church (England) across the street from a Lutheran Church (German) right down the street from a Roman Catholic Church (Italy) and one block west of the Baptist Church (German-England). Each group establishing their unique standards and proffering their distinct witness to Jesus Christ.

Is there then a biblical mandate to preserve at all costs a denominational structure?

I will write more on this later …!

* I want to write more about the EPC in a later post as well.

For the Second Sunday in Lent

It is easy for our spiritual life and our praying to be centered on our needs alone far too often. But John lifts our sights higher and reminds us of this truth from the cross upon which Jesus hangs:

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2.2)

The cross can be thought of as a form healing for this broken world.

We are so aware of the deeply troubling, pervasive and ever-entrenched problems in this world … war, starvation, the torture of innocent people, terrorism, sickness … as well as political corruption on the bad end of the spectrum and political ineptitude on the other. It worries us when we start to pay attention to it all. We prefer to set our sights on entertainment and amusements instead. Life is short. We are powerless to do anything against human misery, so we pursue the "feel goods" of life.

Jesus had in mind when He took on the burden of the Roman cross being the Lamb of God for the sins of the world. One need only go the Servant Songs of Isaiah (certain passages in the Book of Isaiah that describe a ‘Servant’ of God who would take away the sins of the world upon Himself) to see the world-wide scope of Christ’s supreme act of redemption. … Selected verses from the Servant Song of Isaiah 53:

"He was despised and rejected … a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief … Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows … He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; Upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have each turned to his own way and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all … Because He poured out His soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors."

Think of it … His perfect, sinless blood poured out for you and for me. Only one drop … one drop! … would be enough to deliver our world, and yet He sheds His life’s blood through the injustice of crucifixion in order to connect with a suffering world and to identify with fullest range of human suffering. We know as we read the end of the Bible that Jesus’ world-wide embrace is successful. For before the Throne of God at the end of time stand the ransomed "… from every tribe and tongue, people and nation."

The closer we get to Christ spiritually, the more we take on His hearts for this world. Christ’s compassion reaches deep and wide as captured in this verse from a hymn of the Welsh Revival, entitled "Here is Love" by William Rees:

"On the mount of crucifixion,
fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
poured incessant from above,
And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
kissed a guilty world in love."

Let these marvelous words sink in to you: He kissed a guilty world in love.

Isaiah 53.1-12
John 3.16-18
Ephesians 2.13-22
John 12.31-33
Philippians 2.5-11
Revelation 5.1-14

Finding More of God through His Word this Lent - Psalm of the Week - Psalm 25

We live as busy people in a busy world.

We are rushed … pressured … behind. And when we do get time to ourselves, we are depleted. Prayer is left in the dust. Reading from the Bible is the last thing we want to do and will do almost anything else to erase that thought from our minds. It is easier to amuse ourselves … pick up the remote … go back to the DVD that we have seen before … go to the mall and spend some money. The upshot of all that results in boredom … a boredom attached to our soul we have come to accept. We pick at our religion like a kid picking at the peas he doesn’t want to eat. In our we-have-every-need-met-in-our-lives world - we are empty spiritually.

How can we find God in our lives with more of the flavor and energy that we want on the inside?

"Taste and see that the Lord is good!" says the Psalmist in Psalm 34.8.

I have found the following Bible-Prayer technique really helpful, and I pass it on to you.

Psalm of the Week.
Read one of the psalms once a day for one week. At first glance you may be thinking: "Big deal." But it can be a big deal, if you let God make it a big deal. Here’s how this can work …

Let’s say, you make Psalm 25 your psalm of the week. It is only 22 verses long … very manageable, and no weird Bible names (whew!).

Read it. You don’t have to understand every last living concept in this psalm. I am simply saying: "Read it" … just open the book to this psalm and place it before your open eyes (I say this because people never get to this essential step!).

Read it s-l-o-w-l-y, out loud if your circumstances permit … and if there is activity going on at your house, read it sub-vocally, being intentional about the words, but not out loud so as to have people stare and ask you what the heck you’re doing.

I suggest reading it a few times over in one setting. Your time commitment with this may be somewhere between 5 and 7 minutes. Don’t rush it. As you read this psalm, you will get used to it and you will be able to read it with some expression. This not like reading directions to put together your TV stand. This will begin to mean something to you in a way the directions to your TV stand could never rival. By the end of the week, this will be a very different palm and experience than when you started.

Imagine reading Psalm 25 everyday for one week …slowly and meaningfully … and really getting familiar with every little nook and cranny of it. It will not get boring – I guarantee it.

Here’s why I can say this …

Let’s say your attention is drawn to verses 4 and 5. Verses 4 and 5 read: "Make me to know Your ways, Lord. Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth. You are the God of my salvation. For You I wait all day long." You could read this focus verse on knowing God’s way, path, truth a couple of times just by itself and ask the Lord to plant the seed of this verse deep in the soil of your mind and heart and leave it there … and then, experience how God will bring that verse to your mind at various times of the day.

Now - the psalm is starting to be a way the Holy Spirit is speaking to you.

How about verse 14? (one of my favorites): "The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him (that is hold Him in the highest respect); He makes known to them His covenant (the strength, sweetness and commitment of relationship with Him)." Let the verses that pull at your attention do some laps in your brain and experience a greater awareness of God’s presence through His Word. You will begin to respond and talk to God differently. You will have more to share with Him. And … guess what … He will have more to share with you! (… The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him …!)

This way of reading scripture can be easily transferred to other psalms and passages in the Bible.

It is painless … interesting … and enriching. This will definitely help if you are a busy person.

Use Psalm 25 as your Psalm of the Week for the Week of March 4-10 and tell me about your experience on this blog entry.

Thanks.

New Year’s Resolution … a few months late!

It has been seven months since my last posting.

I admit that maintaining this has been a low priority. I find squirreling around with this somewhat time consuming … writing the piece in the first place and then the process of uploading …!

I have made a promise – that I would address denominational issues that are causing some congregations to re-evaluate their participation in the PC(USA). Many church members have asked me why our sister churches in this Presbytery (Stow and Hudson) are pulling out of the denomination. People want to know what the issues are. I want to take a look at them over time.

The issues facing our denomination in particular and the "mainline" churches in general have concerned me for the last ten years or so. I am presently ambivalent about my connection with the PC(USA) and I am sympathetic with those who struggle to stay and with those who have decided to leave in order to serve Christ and His church and kingdom in other, more productive ways.

This blog (short for "weblog") is the one place I have to speak purely as Ross Slaughter. I think it is important for people where their pastor is in his thinking on these matters.

I have been intentional in my preaching and teaching not to "bad mouth" the denomination. I feel that that would be a waste of time. The Word of God needs to be clearly proclaimed and that is where my efforts have been. Besides, the congregation cannot discern truth from error apart from the Word of God and a thorough and working knowledge of it.

Here on this blog I can share my thought, my heart, my struggle, my view.

I compel no one to believe as I do. I am not forcing an "agenda." I am of the thought that if a person logs on to this site, that that action is voluntary on that person’s part. If that person wants to read – fine. If that person does not with to waste time here – fine. This blog is here for people to be informed as to where I am with the issues facing the PC(USA) and why.

Keep me in your prayers. … Thanks!

Series on God's Will

This summer (2006) I am preaching 6 messages on the theme of GOD'S WILL.

I am indebted to Rev. Leslie D. Weatherhead and his little book simply titled: "The Will Of God." (Abingdon Press, 1954)

This book, based on his messages on the subject, preached in London, England, during WWII, helped me to understand God's will differently. He breaks down God's will into three basic components:

• God's Intentional Will - His original purpose and plan for the world and for people. Also known as the Perfect Will of God.
• God's Circumstantial Will - How God works in the midst of a world that is marred and broken by sin along with people who are sinful in their nature, orientation and choice.
• God's Ultimate Will - Referring to the purposes God will acheive in the end.
  

In basing my perspectives on Weatherhead's basic premise, I am definitely making the messages my own and making them appropriate to the setting of my pastorate in the early 21st Century.

These messages are being transcribed from the service tapes and will be available in booklet form as well as posted on my companion blog @ ... http://revrossgodswill.blogspot.com

There you will see the entire schedule and scope of this series.

A Vision for the Christian Life and for the Church

I have created a new page to say more about my vision for personal Christian growth and how that can affect our life together as a church.

My aim and desire in my second year with United Presbyterian Church is to form a vision - not just for the church - but a vision that integrates both personal spiritual growth and discipleship and life together in the church. So, I begin by saying that: Our Vision is ...For all people to become all they can be in Jesus Christ ...

The new link is http://revrosschurchvision.blogspot.com

Thanks.

I hope you will visit that site, look it over and comment on it. I find comments helpful.

I will be shaping this into a series of sermons for the Fall.

I will have a more on how that shapes Mission and Core Values later.

@RevRoss

"Minister" or "Pastor" sounds to much like a church word ...

I think of myself as a Spiritual Director and a Coordinator of Volunteer Ministries. I think this describes better what I do and has less of a negative connotation than "minister" or "pastor" or "reverend." ...

I am a Spiritual Director in many respects ... in that I study and interpret the Word of God (Bible) for a Christian Community (United Presbyterian) and I also deal with peoples' questions and problems as they search for meaning and God ...

I also do a fair amount of coordinating the church's program. My motto could be: "Pastor Ross Slaughter - saving the world one committee meeting at a time." (... just kidding ... sort of ...)