Some thoughts on small groups. . . .

Small groups are nothing new.  In fact they are very Biblical and very Methodist.  However, for many, if not for most in United Methodist circles the notion of a small group in which we do life, mission and ministry together is new if not totally foreign.  Sure we have heard about small groups more and more in the last 10 years, but really what is it all about?  I confess it has been since graduation from seminary that I have become more and more aware of the small group movement in the church.  With every passing day I see how important they are.  

 

As you pray about becoming a part of a small group here at THUMC consider the following:

1.)  The church was first and foremost a gathering of small groups.  Acts 2:42-47  It was in Acts where the people gathered in homes, met in the temple courts, they ate together, worshipped, were committed to the Apostle's teachings and to prayer.  It is when we gather together, study together, eat together and pray that true life change happens. 

2.)  Small groups are more than book learning.  We have been good at Sunday School and Bible Studies where we come and consume data.  Small groups are where we learn more importantly the great commandments of Jesus.  It is where we truly begin to love God and neighbor more deeply.

3.)  Small groups are mission outposts.  Small groups are places where people with a common heartbeat, work together to be salt and light in a hurting world.  Think about the possibilities here.  If every group in the church were to work together for mission.  WE would increase our work exponentially.  Missions is not a committee it is something we all do.  

These are just some ramblings. . . if you want to talk more about small groups you can reach me at    doug@thumc.com    

You are God's masterpiece!!!

Recently my 10 year old came to me and asked me about her name. Her name is Kallie, short for Kalenda.

She was learning about names and wondered about her own name, what it meant and what were the implications. She came to concerned because somewhere on the internet she looked up her name and found that it meant "Art." Actually I found that it means beautiful or lovely. I have to confess I didn't know what it meant when we named her, but she has grown into her name quite well.

Her concern came as she processed what her name implied for her. She had been learning about naming and that in Jewish culture your name is reflective of your character. The last thing she wanted to be was a piece of art, a statue, or a motionless thing hanging on a wall. I held back my laughter! It makes me chuckle still, but really she was pretty upset.

I paused and told her, but you are Art. That was the last thing she wanted to hear. But you are I insisted. "Do you know what art is?" I asked her. It is an expression of the creators heart! We have art in our home from people in our church and as I look at it I see the hearts of those fine people. As I look at my daughter, I see a piece of the heart of our creator.

I have to wonder, are not each of us, God's masterpiece? A work of art! Beautiful, lovely, an expression of the creator's heart?

Control what's in you . . .

Yesterday as I was doing some of my daily reading I was caused to stop and reflect more than usual.  Here is what I read from John Maxwell's, Daily Reader.  

 ". . . one of the greatest coaches who ever lived said, Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. . . .

As you move forward on the success journey, you need to remember what happens in you is more important than what happens to you.  You can control your attitudes as you travel on the journey, but you have no control over the actions of others.  You can control what you put on your calendar, but you cannot control today's circumstances.   Unfortunately the majority of the fear and stress that people experience in life is from things that they can do nothing about.  Don't let that happen to you"  

John Maxwell

I suppose this so clearly spoke to me because I am guilty.  I am guilty of letting the world get the best of me.  I too often allow events, circumstances, other people's actions, the list goes on. . . cause me to be angry, stressed or unhappy.  

I believe we have a choice how we respond.  We have a choice to respond in a way that is of God, or a way that is not.  We can choose to be victims or we can be over-comers.  We can be build up with words or tear down those around us with words.  What will it be?   If Christ is alive in you, let his light shine, no matter what might come your way today.  Be a blessing and let the one who is alive in you be what the world sees today.    

Peace-

Turbulent Economic Times

Haggai 1:5-6

 5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

Consider that this passage was written 2500 years ago. . . . . Clearly the prophet is telling us to plan accordingly.  The Hebrew people never planned on being in exile.  They never planned on  rebuilding the temple.  They never planned on what amounted to a major economic meltdown.  Next time lets have a little foresight people, the prophet says!

But vs 6 raises more questions.  Is the writer speaking to the fact that times are tough, simply telling us that people are struggling to make ends meet?  Is the writer writing suggesting that even when we have enough, we are never satisfied?  Is the writer writing to indicate that riches cannot satisfy the longing of the soul.  Be it one or all of the above the writer seems to be reaching through the pages to tell us our situation is nothing new.

Fear Everywhere

"Be courageous. I have seen many depressions in business. Always America has emerged from these stronger and more prosperous. Be brave as your fathers before you. Have faith! Go forward!" 

                           Thomas Edison

Fear seems to be prevailing these days.  I blame the media.  I don't condemn them, they are doing their job.  Oh no, I don't mean they are doing their job, effectively reporting the news.  I think they are doing their job selling stories. And drama sells!  Have you heard the inflammatory language that I have heard?  Have you witnessed the contradictory statements that the media constructs so as to create Drama.  One day the "recession is soon to be over"  the average recession lasts only 18 months and well we are already 12 months in.  The next day reporters report that it could be 2013 before we are out of this.  Its called tension.  I don't know about you, but I have enough in my life without someone or something construing some. 

 

To top it off, we buy in.  We buy in. . . .and even more so too many are panicking.  This may be the first recession that you may be living through, and who knows maybe it will be a depression.  But it won't be the last.  We can be fearful, and panic or we can be courageous and have faith.  We must learn from our situation and know that the light of God will prevail, regardless of how dark things may be.  

Manipulation of religion

I love this guy---meets with pastors today.  Declares his innocence?  Interesting.  

This one of my pet peeves, the manipulation of religion by those in politics!  When it works for me, when I need religion,  I draw religion close.  Have you noticed how government at all levels does that?  

On the other hand,  when it becomes uncomfortable or inconvenient, government burns religion at the stake!  I wonder how God feels about this. . . 

For more read,  "A Culture of Disbelief"  Stephen Carter

Give it away

When was the last time you enjoyed something so much that you gave it away?  It could be anything.  

Recently someone said to me, "I love my church."  "What do you love about your church?"  I replied.  

"Everything!"  Was her reply.  

Being I am one of the pastors at the church, I couldn't help but to try and pat myself on the back.  Sprained my elbow in the effort.   I suppose that is what one gets when patting one's self on the back.  Anyhow. . . .

But I wondered how much do you really love this church.  Can you contain your joy?  Do you love it enough to give it away?

I do believe that too often that joy often comes with amnesia.  That bliss is often myopic.  

We forget the pain, the struggle, the loneliness that we knew before we found wholeness.  We forget too often, not always the struggle of life pre-joy.  Remembering is what we do.  By remembering we not only celebrate the joy of today, but are grateful for what we have now and have learned from the past.  

In remembering and what was, we are reminded that what we have is so blessed that we cannot contain it ourselves, but we must give it away.