Rev. Richard L. Dake

Moving Out

2011-09-14T04:59:00.000-07:00

It is difficult living in a foreign land when you want to communicate something important. There were times in India when I wanted to engage in conversation but could not because I only spoke English. Often, my frustration would be lived out in ever insistant actions that made me look like I was playing charades on a sugar rush. I would get frustrated at my own lack of language skills. I would even start to get mad at those who did not know my language. But mostly, I would remain quiet. I would find ways to exist that did not cause me to interact with others. I would allow the lack of common language to become a wall of isolation keeping me apart from the culture around me.
We are living this same experience today as the church becomes more isolated from society.
It seems as if the church and culture no longer speak the same language. Perceptions and past hurts build barriers isolating one from the other. Each makes assumptions about the other that squelch any desire to engage at a deep level. Failures on both sides to genuinely connect drain energy when we begin to try again. In many ways, we have been isolated from each other for so long it is easy to accept living apart as the norm.
This comes at a cost. When we no longer connect with each other the church becomes neurotically focused on the trivial and the community loses the gifts of the Body of Christ offering true grace, mercy and joy to the world. So how do we break through our seperation?
In India, I was motivated to try again when I became too lonely. I realized I needed the moments when there was connection. I discovered that it really was true there is more we share in common than the differences keeping us apart.
As we launch into a new program year, we are recieving clarity about the direction of our ministry in the days ahead. A significant part of our calling is focused on taking this exciting ministry out into the community. We cannot wait or expect the world to come to us. We must go to the world and enter into honest relationship. In doing this we will discover a lot of truth about ourselves, our faith and the amazing way God can make a way where none previously existed. It will begin when we as individuals reach out to others seeking genuine friendship. When we break through the barriers and really listen and care for others, we will find our address will have changed. We will no longer be in a foreign land, we shall be in the Kingdom of God.

Shower of Joy

2011-02-26T07:53:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow we remember our Baptism. Before we start worship tomorrow, let me ask you. Do you remember you baptism? What do you remember about it? Who was there and where did it occur?
If you do not remember on your own, what do you know about it? What have you been told about it and who told you? If it is possible, call someone today who was there and find out what you can about the moment. I only found out last year the day I was Baptized. I enjoy knowing when my baptismal anniversary was so each year I have a day to remember it and give thanks.
To be counted as a baptized child of God means you are intitiated into a life of faith and as a part of the family of the church. This marking of baptismal water is an outward sign of a miracle occuring with in the life of the baptized and the Body of Christ.
God pours in to our lives grace to both clease our life from the power of sin and equip us to live as the redeemed and blessed children of God. It is a time of blessing and a sign of fulfilled hope.
As the baptized, we seal our connection to each other with vows of mutual support and fellowship.
Tomorrow we are celebrating Baptism in worship. We are inviting those who have not been baptized to hear the call of Baptism and receive this free gift of God's amazing grace. For those who have already been baptized, we are inviting you to come forward to remember your baptism as you feel the water and give thanks for this priceless gift.
Prepare your self for worship tomorrow by thinking and remembering your baptism. Come and be part of the family of faith as the holy water is stirred and showers of joy pour upon us all.
Come to waters and let us give thanks to the Lord.

Money Questions

2011-02-20T11:38:00.000-08:00

Today, Pastor Amy and I had a conversational sermon on money. Or more to the point, it was on the worry, stress and power money has in our lives. It is so hard to have a genuine conversation about money. Many assume if clergy are talking about it they are just trying to get more more money for the church. This is understandable since part of our responsibility is to help make sure the ministry we share is adequately funded.
But there is a desperate need for a honest faith based conversation about money. So much of our life is impacted by the underlying assumptions we have about ourselves, our future, our security and our worries as they get lived out in our financial lives. The passage for today from Matthew 6: 24-34 that we read in church speaks of our inability to serve God and wealth. It called us to not live with worry. It also suggested God will provide for our needs. But I have worries in my life. I am not always at peace when I think about the financial picture of my life or the church I love. So how can I find the peace and joy of this passage of scripture and set my mind and soul at ease on every aspect of my life, including my finances?
This coming week, I hope we can have a conversation about faith and money.
I will share what we considered this morning. John Wesley suggested a template for Christians to follow for their financial lives. He said, "Earn all you can, Save all you can and Give all you can". If you want to read his sermon on money, you can find it here:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/50/ (Be aware it is written in 18th century English)
The power in his message is the integrity of how our faith in Christ is demonstarted in both how we earn our money, how we save it and give it. Faithful discipleship can be reflected in how we earn our income. The telling question is does the way we earn our income bring us peace? Are we injuring our health, our spirit or our relationships with others? Does our work reflect the integrity of the faith we desire?
As we strive to save, are our purchases in balance not only with our income but also our life as stewards of God's intent for life? John Wesley challanges us to consider if what we buy reflects genuine Christian character. Are we honoring God with our purchases? Are we pleasing instead the desires of our eyes, stomach, whims? Are we trying to impress others or keep status instead of reflecting balance and holy perspective?
Giving is both the inevitable fruit of our faithful stewardship and the foundation. Wesley rightly assumed Christians would want to invest in the kingdom work of God. But even that is expected in balance to the rest of our lives and the immeasurable grace we receive from God.
Some have taken this threefold mantra of Earn all you can, Save all you can and Give all you can and put an equation to it. It is live on 80%, save 10% and give 10%. More on this tomorrow.

Our own worst enemy

2011-02-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

Our confessions continue this week. We have taked about our questions on sin, heaven and hell, Jesus and prayer. This week we look in the mirror and face a truth that is difficult to admit.
Christians are the reason many chose not to be Christian. Some possible examples are:

Our imperfections become reasons others use to say we are hypocrites.
Our religious behavior may seem strange to others and quite frankly seem unrelated to what Jesus said and did.
When Christians align with special interests or political parties and claim their stance is the only faithful one possible we weaken the cause of Christ.
When Christians fail to act boldly in the face of injustice, with mercy to those who are vulnerable, with compassion those who hurt, or live with hope in the face of adversity we give others reason to doubt.

What must we confess about the behavior of Christians that get in the way of others accepting Christ?

Sin Thoughts

2011-02-02T05:25:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday, I kidded about how Amy was better prepared to preach than me on Sin this coming week. Fact is, I have enough experience with the topic. I expect you do also.

Having said this, we may not be speaking about the same thing. Or at least the same manifestation of sin. Our sin thoughts often go to specific behavior. Early Methodist classes weekly asked each other this question, "What sins have you committed lately?' Their interest was not embarrassment and voyeuristic interest. They knew the power of sin was strong and was dangerous to take on alone. What people did was important, but the cause and impact was more important.

It is important to remember another question they asked that was related to the sin question. "How is it with your soul?" They understood we could keep listing our sins and unless we address the health of our soul, our relationship with God, we will be doomed to continute to list broken and sinfilled behavior.

What sins have you committed this week? How is it with your soul? Who have you told? Who has offered forgiveness to you?

Driving Down 1-75

2011-01-28T04:50:00.000-08:00

Don't let the title fool you. I am not currently driving down the highway. But I was at 5;30 this am headed to the hospital. One of our members is having surgery today. As I entered the on ramp, it was evident many others were headed out on in the early morning. I assume most were headed to work. As I drove, I thought about the other drivers and wondered what their morning was like. Were they alert and already filled with thoughts of the day to come? Were they bleary eyed and driving on auto pilot as they retraced their daily route? Had this been a normal week for them or had out of the ordinary events impacted thier lives?

There was no way to tell the answer to those questions. As we all headed in the same direction, we were alone in the quiet caves we guided down the road. In the dark, we could think our own thoughts, listen to the radio or audio book and be oblivious to each other. As long as stayed in our lanes, we could all travel along, alone and unaware of the human theater of life ocurring in the cars around us.

I assumed not many, if any, of those anonymous traveling companions were thinking about heaven or hell. They may have used those words to describe specific events in the past week. But few probably were thinking they were, we were, we all are headed into a future where heaven and hell will be encountered. Some think about this as final destinations. Some as descriptions of the best and worst of life. Some think of heaven and hell as indications of the closeness or estrangement we have from God. Some are not so sure.

No matter our definition, heaven and hell are a part of our past and our future. Perhaps you feel like you are in one or the other right now. The question is, whatever you call heaven or hell...what are you doing right now to prepare for them? What are you doing to increase which you will experience? This morning one thing was certain. The quiet warm drive eventually would have to come to a stop. We would have to get out and enter a day filled with many unknowns. There may be moments of heaven or hell to come. May God make us ready and guide us through it all.

Heaven and Hell

2011-01-24T08:41:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I missed yesterday in worship. Since the topic was prayer I assume enough were praying for Amy to preach instead of me. Great credit to Amy since I called her near 10 pm on a Saturday night to alert her I would not be able to preach because of the flu. No surprise that she did well. Thanks Amy!!!

Heaven and Hell is our topic for this week. I wonder how much people spend thinking about either anymore. I have rarely preached on these topics. The faith focus for me is on the relationship with Jesus Christ in the here and now. If we are in relationship with Christ in this life, then I do not worry about the next.

For many of us, hell has become the description of the worst of life. Hell is when human suffering is at its worst. But does it have an afterlife? Is there any sense of hell in a world to come that affects how you live your life today? Or was that ever the point? It would be great to hear your thoughts and questions on heaven and hell. I will get the rest of my strength back today and reflect more tomorrow.

Writing Day

2011-01-20T07:47:00.000-08:00

Thursday is the day I try to write the sermon for the coming Sunday. I would love to say the sermon is finished by the end of the day, but this rarely happens. Some sermons just flow and others wrestle with my mind and soul up to and at times even as I preach it. Other events occur that demand my focus. Currently I am writting this blog while I am on a conference phone call with the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry executive team. Yes, I am paying attention.
When the sermon is not completed by Thursday evening, I spend time on Friday trying to get it into a final draft and then complete on Saturday am. All this is balanced around other demands of work, a day off on Friday and life. It is very much like how everyone else lives.
You have various demands which are important. It is hard on some days to focus on the tasks at hand. But let me ask, how do you prepare for Sunday worship?
I suggest like the preacher, each of us would have a more rich Sunday morning experience if they began by preparing before the Sunday morning alarm clock. Here are some suggestions for how you can prepare for Sunday worship....

Begin on Thursday by praying for the worship leadership who will guide the coming service. I covet your prayer support as I try to shape the message God desires to be shared. Choir practice is on Thursday, the bulletins are printed on Thursday, perhaps a great day to ask all the congregation to lift all things worship to God.
Let Friday be a day of prayer for your own heart to be made ready for the message of Christ to come to you in a powerful way on Sunday.
Saturday make your specific plans to be in worship as fully present as possible. Perhaps even a great day to invite someone to come to worship with you either the next day or on Sunday to come soon.
Sunday morning come with a heart to be open to be a welcoming soul to others, a soul ready to praise with all your heart, to hear with passion and pray as if it mattered. It does!

So today, I ask for your prayer support. I will write the sermon for this week. Let us together prepare for worship. All to the glory of God!

Good Questions

2011-01-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

I was just getting ready for the second class on United Methodist History tonight and printed off the 22 questions Wesley wrote for use in the Holy Club meetings at Oxford. Each time I read them I am humbled and inspired all at the same time. The thought comes to me what an interesting sermon series it would be to do a sermon on each question. Here they are again for your blessing.

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give it time to speak to me every day?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?

Prayer is...

2011-01-19T05:36:00.000-08:00

This Sunday the sermon title reflects the theme of the week, "Prayer is...". We often complete that phrase in relation to our latest experiences of prayer. For example.....Prayer is....
talking with God...
closing my eyes and saying words...
trying to tell God what to do...
giving God my wish list...
listening for God's voice...
sharing in an intimate moment with others...
something I do on my own...
a waste of my time....
the most precious moment of my day...
something I do in the morning, evening, rarely, when I need it, when there is nothing else.....

The completion of the phrase varies from person to person and expereince to experience. The complexity of prayer is often not helped by the small amount of time we spend in teaching and learning how to pray. I have never understood why believers spend so little time learning how to pray. It does not surprise me we have so many questions about it. We naturally have many questions about things we have never learned or deeply experienced.

What is prayer for you? What was the best (most helpful or meaningful) teaching you ever had about prayer? What remains your greatest struggle?

Sunday morning prayer

2011-01-17T09:40:00.000-08:00

One of the more difficult aspects of prayer for me use to be offering the Pastoral prayer in church on Sunday morning. Part of my concern was getting out the right words but most of my concern was the audacity of thinking I could pray on behalf of a room full of people. Each had their own joys, concerns and need for prayer. I could pray for the part of our lives we have in common but how could I ever offer a prayer that would cover the needs of everyone in the room?
I finally surrendered that way of thinking about the Patoral Prayer. I believe that time is OUR prayer time. When I pray in those moments I intentionally focus on two thing....the common concerns we share and what is on my heart. I then trust that as I pray, others are entering into their own prayers. If any are in the congregation listening to my pryaer that is fine but not my expectation. I hope more that people are engaged in their own prayer and that the community of faith is strengthened as we share a moment when we are not alone as we come before God.

Prayer Questions

2011-01-16T05:39:00.000-08:00

Today in church I spoke on questions we have about Jesus. If you did not hear the sermon, why not!!!! Anyway, you can catch it on this web site this week.

This week the topic is prayer. Prayer is one of the assumptions of our faith. We are supposed to do it. But if that is true, why don't we do it more?

Perhaps it is because we have never really been taught to pray. Maybe our past experiences with prayer have not been satisfying. Prayer at times may seem like talking to the wall. There are things we have prayed for and have not received. Perhaps we can not get our head around the idea that God is waiting to hear us. Doesn't God already know what we need and think? So why do we have to say it? Is God waiting for us to tell God what to do?

Once I get started the questions about prayer start rolling quickly. What about you? What is your experience with prayer? What struggles do you have praying? What do you wish you understood about prayer? Let me know. We will be talking about this all week and on Sunday also.

Feel free to raise questions you may have about Jesus. I doubt we exhausted that subject in one week! Looking forward to your comments.

Thinking about Jesus

2011-01-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

The questions we have about Jesus fall in several categories.

We wonder about the parts of his life we have no information on. What was he like as a child?
What kind of friend was he as an adolecent? Traditons tells us he began his ministry at the age of thirty. That was a mature adult in his day. What was he doing before he began ministry?

We wonder about the things we do know about him but do not understand. Much of what he said leaves us with more questions. In practical terms, how long must we really forgive, turn the other cheek, and pray for miracles? What did he mean when he said, "I am the way.....no one comes to the Father but by me'?

We wonder if what the Gospels say about him is really true? Did he really heal people? If so then, why not now? Could he really feed 5000 with so little or is this a metaphor? Did he know where the stumps were or could he walk on water? Did he reallly come to life after he died? Is resurrection real? Can I just believe he was a good man who did many things worth admiring and trying to do in my life?

Finally, how can I sort out what I think I know about Jesus as opposed to what others say about him? Can I really know him personally? What does that even mean? If my life is basically doing okay or if I am in great need, what difference does his life hold for me?

These are a few questions......which one of these do you wonder about? What others do you have about Jesus? Or what conclusions have you come to as you have struggled with your questions?

Who is Jesus?

2011-01-12T05:58:00.000-08:00

This Sunday begins a new sermon series on Confessions of a Everyday Christian. The premise of the series is that all of us have as many questions as we do answers about our faith. Some of our questions are on topics very basic to our faith. Over the next six weeks we will talk honestly about our questions. This will include questions about prayer, sin, heaven and hell, Christians who embarras us and the relationship between our faith and our money.

This Sunday we will focus on a basic question. Who is Jesus? What do people mean when they talk about a personal relationship with him? Am a still a Christian if I am not sure I accept what everyone else says about him? Is Jesus the only way, really?

The questions we have are important to acknowledge and share. Sometimes church can feel like a place where it is not right to admit we are not sure, struggle with or even disagree with what the accepted teaching seems to say. This series will take head on our doubts and questions. Hopefully it will also destroy the notion that having doubts and different thoughts is a bad thing.

I am asking for your help. If you have any questions, doubts or wonderings about Jesus, please let me know. Just respond to this blog and share with me what is on your mind. Then come and lets talk about them on Sunday. I look forward to your questions and thoughts.

Questioning

2010-12-04T06:40:00.000-08:00

We have often used the disciple Thomas as the example of one struggling with doubt in the midst of his faith journey. Each year, just after Easter joy, we hear the story of Doubting Thomas not believing Jesus was resurrected till he had more proof. When the resurrected Jesus came to him with holes in his hands and told him to believe, Thomas believed. Thomas becomes for us a symbol of hope when we have doubts of our own.
The Advent story also has an example of one who had some serious questions about who to believe. John the Baptist, that locust eating, repent callling prophet is usually the sign of one completely committed to his belief. He called out with such conviction from the wilderness that even those living in unholy high places were shaken by his power. In fact, his message was so strong it eventually got him thrown in jail. One would have thought not even this would have caused him to wavier in his faith. In fact it didn't. Jesus was the one making him question his faith. Jesus was not acting exactly like John the Baptist had imagined the Messiah to behave. The corrupt were still in power, the world had not yet been turned upside down. So from his jail cell, John the Baptist wanted to know if he had gotten it wrong.
I talk about this in the sermon for December 5. But here I simply give thanks for the image of a doubter, one with serious questions in the midst of this time of year. It is a tough time for many of us to not have some questions. We struggle with moments less than perfect, holy or even acceptable. For some there is not enough money. Others have too little health. There are those who have not received justice. Some of us have plans, hopes and dreams that are not coming true. At least, not in the way we can see or according to our time line. We have some questions too. Jesus, are you the one? Jesus, why is this happening, did happen, not happen?
For those of you with these questions, for us with these questions, we come to an Advent story that says have faith. Be patient. Wait on the promise of God to be fulfilled. It will. It actually is even when you can not see it.
Our choice is to trust, believe and act on the hope or give up and live in despair. Jesus are you the one? The coming weeks will tell. We will learn a lot about Jesus and ourselves soon. John the Baptist pointed to one who eventually established a new kingdom and showed us a new way to live. His life circled around to another doubter and said, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
May we be so blessed.

Unplanned Holiness

2010-09-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

I hope your Labor Day weekend was great. Let me tell you about a great story about a Labor of Love that happened this weekend.
Last week, one of our members fell and had a severe break of her leg that will require her to use a wheel chair for some time. She and her husband live in a beautiful farm house but there was no handicap access into the home. The challange was to figure out how to get a ramp built into the home before she was released to go home for a long recuperation.
That is where the amazing part of this story begins. As this Labor Day weekend began, Jeff Smolek found out about the dilema facing this couple. He sent out an email to the United Methodist Men on this past Friday that said the following.
"(The husband) is overwhelmed with finances, time and concerns. Plain and simple I volunteered to get the ramp built. I honestly do not know where I will get the time and help, but with His help it WILL get done....I am sending this e-mail to the Thursday Night guys, Friday Morning guys, Methodist Men and possibly even SNL high schoolers. The timing stinks with a holiday weekend coming up and the SNLers going back to school, but I am sure (the wife) did not plan this misfortune...(I am not sure how but)....I darn well know the Lord has not made something too big for Him and us to handle.
Within two hours, volunteers with love, tools and compassionate hearts responded. A total of 15 men spent time this weekend working to build the ramp. It is now Monday night, three days since the email, and I just got off the phone with Jeff. The ramp is done.
I spent time with the couple last night in the hospital and they were so blessed and touched that so many could care so much with tangible acts of love. It is a simple story of need, someone who saw the need and cared enough to ask for help and the response of God lived out in the hands, talent and willingness of those who made this weekend an unplanned act of holiness. Thanks be to God!!!!!

Holy Stories

2010-09-04T06:40:00.000-07:00

If you heard the messages on Righteous Mission Sunday, (August 1) you heard powerful testimonies from people whose lives were changed this summer. (If you missed it, go to the home page and search out the videos you find there. ) Donna Couture spoke with emotion on the impact of working with children in Flint. She also spoke about the connection of grace and love the 60+ adults experienced during the amazing week of service at Whaley's Children Home.
Austin Klebba gave witness about the new life starts (including his own) that occured at the mission site he worked on with others on the High School Righteous Mission week. Paul Anderson's description of experiencing the overwhelming grace of Jesus Christ he has come to know since entering this ministry in the past two year was a beautiful witness. He is a young man not raised in a faith community and now can speak with holy eloquence and encouragement to the Body of Christ.
Duncan Bone thought he knew what he was getting into when he came on board as a youth ministry intern this summer. We had expectations of what he would do for us in this area. All of us experienced divine surprise when we saw what God had planned all along. Duncan touched more lives for the sake of Christ than anyone fully understands. The call God is placing in him became more clearly defined. He has left us to finish school and prepare for what God has in store next for him. He nor our youth ministry will be the same again. Because of the success of his role as intern, we are hiring another youth ministry intern for this fall. God has opened up new doors and we, in faith, are walking through them to new adventures.
I write this on Labor Day weekend as I think about the summer past and the fall to come. Most people think of churches slowing down and not doing much in the summertime. That has not been true for us these past months and I pray will never be true again. For God is always calling, blessing and challenging the faithful to meet human need and fulfill holy plans. Thank God for the summer past and a fall of even more amazing blessing to come. To God be the Glory!!!!

Turning Point

2010-08-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

As I write this, I am looking out over the sunrise on Houghton Lake. It is a peaceful and beautiful setting. The coffee is brewing and a cool breeze is welcoming me to a beautiful day. I am away from the office for a few days. This time allows me the chance to gain persepctive on what has been occuring at the church this summer.
For those who do not know our immediate history, let me share with you. In 2005 our congregation adopted five core values. These core values were what we believed God was giving us to shape our ministry and vision. Everything we do, all we stive to accomplish are built upon these foundational core values. They are: Committed to Christ, Making Disciples, Worship that makes a Difference, Transforming Mission and Biblical Hospitality. Some of these we were already moving to accomplish, others were areas we needed to develop and strengthen. They are intended to live in holy support of each other. We claim not to be exceptional at any of these. But we are committed to strive in each area to mature and live out more perfectly tomorrow than yesterday their intent.
Now five years later, our church has arrived at a turning point. What we once hoped for is now being surpassed by our experiences. Our dreams are becoming every day reality and we can see glimpses of the future God desires for us.
This fall, we will hear more of how the best of our past is leading us into a dynamic future. There are several key moments in the next few months I will alert you to in future blogs.
Today, I sit here looking a the lake and give God thanks for what God has been doing for us and through us. Our church is at a turning point not of survival, but of vitality and holy impact.
I will share over the next few days, some stories of this summer. I will give you examples of transformational change occuring in our midst. We are living in a blessed and holy time.
I remember learning as a child our state motto: If you seek a Beautiful Peninsula, Look about you. I am and it is.
In that spirit I offer this: If you seek a changing, dynamic and blessed church, look and listen to what is happening in this ministry. Praise God!!

Training Time

2010-06-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

Today concludes a week of Vacation Bible School. Every morning we have had between 180 -200 children and countless volunteers. Every corner of the buidling and much of the yard has been used. The sounds of excited children and energized leaders fill the halls with chatter, songs and laughter. Annette Siminski tells me around 60% of the children are regular attenders of our ministry and 40% are new friends from the community.

Vacation Bible School is such an important time. It is a powerful expereince impacting the lives of the children. I have a lousy memory but I still have snapshots of times at VBS in my childhood. It is a time when the images of a church being closed and unable to have fun are confronted with the truth. The Bible, snacks, water balloons, songs, cotton candy and bounce houses all become vehicles and experiences of joy and grace. They are a way to share faith through teaching and expereince.

This week I am locked on to the story of the prophet Elijah passing the mantle of prophetic leadership to Elisha. It is found in 2 Kings 2: 1- 14. Of all its great lessons, the key one is this. Faith is not to be lived and then hope someone else picks it up. It is to be handed off intentionally. It requires mentors and mentees. It requires teachers and students. The faith has always been one generation away from extinction.

VBS is one way to provide time and experiences to share faith with others. It is not however, intended to be the aberration . Faith is a life style where believers care enough to prepare others to pick up the mantle of faith in the world. Who are we preparing to become those who will speak, act, witness and serve God in the world?

Three down, Hundreds to go....

2010-06-05T04:49:00.000-07:00

Our church has now finished three of the six mission trips for this summer season. It is not even mid-June and already we have had members of this congregation serving in Illinois, Louisianna and Washington D.C. The faces of those who have gone out to serve in Chirst's name reflect different ages and tenure in this ministry. Some are grandparents and some just starting college. The projects undertaken were different. The stories they bring back to us are different. Yet in them there is a common thread.
Illinois was a time of profound bonding and fellowship. Louisianna was a revelation to the ongoing devastation and divine grace still existing years after Katrina. Washington D.C. was an over the top experience of the mighty power of God's touch blowing through those who went to serve and found themselves the recievers.
We still have three mission events to go. Soon we will launch our junior high youth in a week long introduction of mission in the local area. Eighty plus youth and the adults who will accompany them are headed to Indianapolis in July. Our first Adult righteous mission will be privledged to serve in Flint in just a few weeks.
The trips taken and those yet to come will provide a rich tapestry of witness to the amazing salvific acts God is doing through Christ in the lives of individuals. On August 1 we will give God thanks for the privilege of serving and tell some of the stories. I invite you to continue to keep our mission in prayer.
I also invite each of us to seek out our own mission and service for Christ in the summer ahead. The mission trips of 2010 will not be defined by the six this summer. They will include all the ways we go as a congregation throughout the year to serve Christ. Cass Community, Grace Centers of Hope, Blood Drives, Relay for Life, and so many more events will add to the witness of this congregaiton. Perhaps even more importantly, are the ways individuals will act to help others motivated only because in their hearts they are led by Christ to act.
We can count the mission trips for this summer but never fully capture their impact on the lives of those who serve and are served. We can feel the character of this congregation shaped by the transformational change living in mission we have experienced. We will never know about every act of kindness, mercy and service rendered for the sake of Christ by this congregation. But the world will feel their impact. Christ will bless each one.
If any of you would like to share a story or moment from your mission experience, please tells us by commenting to this post. Thanks in advance for sharing!!!!!

What to say

2010-05-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, I am taping a welcome messsage for the web site and to place in the welcome packets we give to visitors. It will be a 3-5 minutes message. What should I say? What is most important to convey to others? What do others need to hear? What questions do they want answered?

In such a brief message, there is only so much content I can share. Talking about just one aspect of our ministry could take all the time I have. So what can be shared in a few minutes?

As I wrestle with the answer, I wonder what you would be prepared to say if someone asked you about the church? What ministries would you tell them about? What would be the take away you would want them to have. I have to have my answer in a few hours. Soon you will be able to look on the website on the visitor page to hear what I had to say. You may have more time to come up with your answer. Or maybe someone will ask you about the church you attend today or tomorrow. What will you say?

A New Thing

2010-05-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have been away for a while from blogging. I have not yet put it into my DNA to share thoughts not yet clarified. But now I have a few things to say.

We are part of an amazing ministry!!! Sometimes when you live next to the amazing, it can begin to seem average. We might even take it for granted. When I walk the beach along Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, I am constantly amazed to see all the residents do not go to the beach every morning for sunrises and sunsets. Yet I get it. Sometimes even the most amazing becomes the assumed or even taken for granted.

I am writing this as I sit in a session of Annual Conference of the Detroit Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. This includes 450 United Methodist churches. We have heard many amazing stories of creative ministries, changed lives and inspirational examples of God’s mercy. These come from large, medium and small membership congregations. I celebrate with them and feel encouraged by them.

Further, as we have listened to these witnesses, I have felt my mind spin as I listed ministry after ministry, life after life and mission after mission from our own congregation. I wanted at so many moments to shout out, hear what Clarkston UMC is doing. That may sound self serving, but it isn’t. It is not a witness about me or even for the glorification of this congregation. It is a continuation of what the church has always done, tell the story of God’s amazing grace touching people in the name of Jesus Christ. When this is done, others have been lifted up by witness and the church has expanded in even greater work.

I will make a more concerted effort to tell the stories of amazing grace in this ministry. No list I could begin now would cover adequately even half of all the good news. Yet I will begin and I encourage you to tell what you know about the blessings God is pouring out upon us and around us. We will tell what we can not only to each other but to others. All this to the Glory of God and in the name of Christ.

In the next few weeks I will tell you about such ministries as:

The Six Mission trips for every age from middle school to our 50 and over ministry that are already underway.
The individual witnesses of people changing the world for the sake of Christ.
The growing and impacting ministry of the 611 service.
Launching of the Leadership Academy beginning this fall
A dynamic Men’s ministry.
Deepening of Congregational Care for all persons
The Study Committee that is getting perilously close to seeing the Vision of God for our next steps in ministry.

Our State Motto has always been one I have loved since my youth. It is, “If you seek a beautiful Peninsula, look around you!” In that spirit, and in the name of the Spirit, I tell you; If you seek an dynamic church making a change in the life of individuals for the sake of Christ, then look around you.” It is here. Thanks be to God!

A Better Way

2010-03-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

When were we taught the best way to deal with difficult issues was to draw up sides and attack each other? Blame, slander, and vilification of those we disagree with seem to be the order of the day. Recent debates on health care reform have taught us that some have never matured in the way to resolve differences. No matter your opinion of whether the bill for reform should have passed, is there anyone who feels good about the spirit of the discourse among our elected leaders?

Of course, this is not a slam on either political party. It is on all involved. Unfortunately, the inability to deal with difficult decisions and controversial issues is not limited to our state and federal elected leaders. I imagine you might be aware of some other examples also.

So why would I write about this in the Chimes? It is because there is a better way. Matthew 18. Matthew 18 is a powerful chapter that gives a foundation on how to deal with conflict. It makes some basic assumptions like respect, forgiveness, honesty, speaking to each other rather than about each other and so much more. Even when conflict gets to the height of brokenness, Christians are called to treat those we are in difficulty with like tax collectors and Gentiles. Of course, we know what Jesus did to them. He died for them; for us.

I recognize there is a great deal of cynicism as to the possibility for us to positively change the level of debate in our country. My hopes are not that high. My hope is we will all take time to read and pray Matthew 18. (Maybe there will one day be a sermon series on it!) When we have taken this teaching of Jesus to heart, then we can be the voice of faith and holiness when all others are only angry and blaming.

After all, it is not up to us to save the nation. It is our work to be faithful to the one who can.

Packing for the Journey

2010-03-01T08:27:00.000-08:00

This week I am at Lake Huron Retreat Center, 12 miles north of Port Huron. I am here as a member of the Board of Ordained Ministry for the Detroit Conference. Our primary task this week will be interviewing persons who believe they are called to ordained ministry. It will be a time of discussion, prayer and decision.

We interview candidates on Tuesday and Thursday. On those days, there is an expectation we will dress in a professional manner. For the rest of the time, casual attire is appropriate. The preparation for decision and discernment began at home as I tried to decide what to pack to bring with me. I always over pack for every retreat, no matter where it is or how long it will last. I was determined to bring only the essentials and no more. I may run out of clothes by the end of the week, but at least I can know I felt good about bringing in a small bag!!

Our spiritual life asks us to always pay attention to what we are packing. Are we carrying too much baggage? Have we laid at the foot of Christ what only he can carry and then resisted picking it up again? Are we carrying agenda others have put on us that is taking us away from what God is expecting of us? Are we equipped with prayer, Biblical clarity and holy community?

This Lent is a time for us to prepare ourselves to be equipped for the journey we are on. It is time to be certain we are traveling light enough so if the Holy Spirit calls for a response, we will be ready. It is time to make sure we have in our life what we need to sustain us for times when the journey is in wilderness. I pray you pack well and we all travel faithfully in the days ahead.

Getting Up

2010-02-24T03:47:00.000-08:00

I often wonder what my sleep schedule will be when I retire. My life now has so many different schedule and time demands. When I go to sleep, how long I will sleep and when I get up is not always in my control. So when my work demands end, anywhere from 11-18 years from now, I wonder when I will go to bed or get up.

Lately, I have been waking up a lot in the night. Odd hours like 3: 30 a.m. 4:11 a.m. and 5:07 a.m. I am not sure why. Male menopause? Stress? I don’t know. This morning I woke at 4:11. Wide awake. I laid in bed and considered what was so important I had to wake up then. Should I get up or try to force myself back to sleep? I thought of young Samuel and how the voice of God kept waking him up in the predawn. I asked God to speak to me if it was his desire. Were the thoughts in my head from God or from me?

I do not know. Perhaps I will find out in the days ahead as those thoughts are placed into action. Maybe God will speak to me more clearly tomorrow or maybe not at all. All I know is I am up and when I quit trying to figure it all out, I become aware how still and quiet everything is now. No one is around and it quiet enough to hear a pin drop, or maybe even for God to whisper. I am not sure why you got me up God again today this early, but thanks for this moment of peace. For now, it is gift enough.