Questions For Leading Deeper

I did it or at least I think I did.

We are in the middle of a sermon series on Reformed Theology yet I believe that maybe half of the people know it. Maybe less. Maybe they have a healthy perspective of theology. Maybe it isn’t a big deal for them at the moment.

I started out with the hope to help the congregation build a deeper foundation in their understanding of God and their journey through life with Jesus. I thought that it would be important to talk about some of the basics. These are not the “non-negotiables” but rather the “disputable matters” that have good theologians on either side.

But then I began to question my purpose: Is my role only to get the people to think through things, to use their brains? Pastors aren't supposed to tell people what to think? Surely my job is to nudge them in a certain direction, right?

Peace came my way when I remembered a useful saying that one of my informal mentors says, “The main things are the plain things so keep the plain things the main things.” My hope is that we can always lead with a sense of humility in our theology knowing that we do not have it all figured out. Some day when we get to the end of our journey, I want to be able to celebrate that our search to know God deeper did not cause division nor did it distract us from loving others. I want to teach unity on the essentials and freedom where it is needed.

We are only 2 weeks into the 5 week series. I have great resources from which to draw from (Thanks Jim Osterhouse)! I have a great congregation that truly desires to be stretched yet does not want to be told what to think. The conversations have started and I have heard some deeper discussions. My hope remains that the roots grow and great things come from this.  I look forward to where this takes us together!

George II

It is monarch butterfly season.  We go out and look for the caterpillars.  They are usually under the leaves.  We take them home and feed them milkweed and help them become butterflies.  It is all a very fun family event.

Tonight we find 2 of them.  One very small. The other was nearly the size of making a chrysalis (cocoon).  We named him George.  We get them both home and before George in the door, Brandon roughly pushes by Jessica and George falls to the floor.  And George doesn't fall where he is supposed to fall.  He falls right where Brandon's shoe is going to fall.  Yep, he becomes a grease spot on the garage steps!  Farewell George!

Understandably, Brandon is distraught.  He is very sorry for his unintentional mistake and doesn't know how to make things better.  He goes inside to sit by himself and wallow in his misery.  I am surprised that Jessica does not feel any sadness about George.  Possibly their relationship was so short in duration that the emotional attachment did not occur.  Sorry for the psychobabble!

I thought that we could have left things this way with one child OK and the other miserable.  Seriously, 50% isn't bad sometimes.  But would it not be better to try to make things right?  I thought so.  Brandon and I went out on a quest for another caterpillar and came home with George 2.  Not as big but still a monarch.  Guilt washed off his shoulders and his behavior is atoned for.  That is a good day!  Oh that all our mistakes were that easy to fix!  Grace, mercy, and peace!  This good!

Genuine Love

Mornings are an adventure.  It makes sense that I take the kids to school since I need to be to church not long after the kids need to be at school.  So we rush around and get all of the lunches made and clothes on.  Most mornings child #3 is the slow one because she can be and it bothers the others.  We all have our control issues and this one is hers at the moment.  Other than that, mornings have fallen into a quiet routine of which we have navigated safely so far and without coming to blows.

This morning Maria asked me if I would help her roll up her blanket with her.  Preschool is so cool these days. I just had hang time with mom.  I could have been a rocket scientist if I had preschool!  But I digress.  Maria brings her fun dog blanket pillow for rest time at school.  She wanted it rolled up well so that it is easy to carry.

We fold the sides in together and begin to roll it but it doesn't roll as she wanted.  I notice that she couldn't get it so I jumped in and did my daddy thing to fix the problem.  I rolled it up and stuffed it just right so that it looked like a cool dog blanket pillow.  I must say, it did look well done!

Then, the coolest part of the morning took place.  Maria realizes that she now is in possession of a cool looking dog blanket-pillow.  Her face changes from one of anticipation to that of "this is the coolest thing ever!"  She lunges at my neck and gives me the biggest hug and kisses me on the cheek.  Then she says thank you, picks up the pillow, puts it in her backpack.

Such a genuine display of love is maybe the coolest thing ever!  This girl showed me her deep appreciation for my efforts and her love for me as her dad.  As a dad, what else would be better than that?

I get moments like that with God too.  Hopefully you know what I mean.  God unexpectedly puts a person in my path to bless me.  God arranges a complicated set of circumstances into a perfect alignment that I thought impossible.  God inexplicably sends his comforting peace when I am frazzled and am most definitely in need of it.

When I am confronted by God's greatness and goodness, my attitude suddenly changes from one of deep concern to a response of wonder and amazement of my heavenly dad.  He blows me away!  I sit back and smile and say, "God you are so good to me!  Thanks!"  And if I could physically hug his neck, I would for the longest time.  Someday!

Snow!

Monday!  The first Monday of the year and a very snowy, windy Monday!  I have not settled into the pastor's day off on Monday yet.  I think that Saturday would be a much better day to take off so that I could be with the youngin's.

Anyway, I am sitting in Russ' Restaurant in Grand Haven, MI organizing my world.  We start a new sermon series on Sunday and many other details that need to put in order before then.  They gave me a corner booth right by the window with an outlet next to the seat.  Perfect!

The best part is that I can look out the window on 2 sides and see the snow coming down.  It is swirling a bit and is supposed to continue throughout the day.  It is really pretty but last night the wind was howling with gusts of +40mph!  Even now the wind is really blowing hard and the wind chill makes it feel much colder than it really is.  But for me inside Russ', I am toasty and warm, the waitress keeps bringing me hot coffee, and I don't have to worry about the swirling cold outside.

A comforting thought for me is that my God has his warm, strong hands cupped around me.  The terrifying and destructive winds of evil threaten but I am safe and secure, protected by my God in the palm of his hands.  I can hear the terrifying winds shriek around me and even shudder at their ferocity.  But I clearly hear that quieting voice in my heart telling me that nothing will ever happen to me that my God will not turn to my benefit.  The winds may whip in at times and cause me pain and discomfort but my God will draw me closer and warm me with his love.

Of course, it is much easier to talk about the freezing gales of chaos when I am comfortably indoors and safe.  For those who are being buffeted by these fierce gusts, this post seems totally wrong and even naive.  As one who has been chilled in these winds and then drawn back into the comforting peace of God, I know that there is peace in God's warm, strong hands even while the storm rages outside.  I pray that this frigid season will let up for you.  I pray that God's protection and peace might shine into your world and warm you as never before.  I pray that you will also stand confident and defiant against the chilling winds as you hear God's strong voice speak to your heart that you are indeed safe in his hands.