Getting Ready For Pentecost

Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, let all our hearts receive; present with thy celestial host the peaceful answer give; to each covenant the blood apply which takes our sins away, and register our names on high and keep us to that day! Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine by Charles Wesley

This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost. It's the Sunday of the church year dedicated to telling the story of the events of the upper room as the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. Scripture describes an event that has perplexed and amazed believers and non-believers alike for generations.

The Spirit is active in the beginning.
I think sometimes we get confused about the Holy Spirit. I've heard many great preachers say the Holy Spirit showed up that day and filled the disciples with fire and power! The Spirit is present always. He doesn't show up, take off or leave the building. The Spirit is mentioned from the beginning of the Bible to the end, from Genesis to Revelation. He's active as breath is to life, fruit to the vine and order in the midst of chaos.

The Spirit is strengthening us for the journey.
The Spirit's role is defined as 'comforting.' That translation can be a bit confusing. We certainly need cheering up when we're sad. N.T. Wright describes the presence of the Spirit as strengthening by coming-alongside to give courage. Like a trusted friend brings courage as he comes with us on the journey. I love this insight. It describes an active spiritual life that engages the pantheon of human experience that includes the range of human emotions and encounters. We aren't extracted from the complete range of life but equipped to live in its fullness by the Spirit's presence.

Surrender is the key to fully know and experience God.
Maybe you've heard the 'bootstrap' theology. It sounds like this: 'God helps those who help themselves.' Honestly ask the question: why would we need God if we can handle it? Human reason can attempt to define the holy mystery of God. We can strive to apprehend the complexity of life and attach religious jargon to supernatural instance. But, all the rhetoric seems skeletal. Ezekiel called it 'dry bones.' Simple surrender can be painfully difficult or profoundly freeing. But, surrender is ultimately necessary to know and experience the supernatural blood and guts work of the Spirit.

We can lose it.
Here's where the controversy sets in. The hymn I quoted above was written by Charles Wesley. Wesleyans are identified with the Arminian belief that salvation is secured by Jesus. But, we must make the choice to remain committed to Christ throughout our lives. Wesleyans believe we choose to live out each day in faith as our human experience challenges what our faith defines as real. Sanctifying and perfecting grace is our life-long companion via the Spirit. We work on becoming more and more like Jesus and less and less like the world. Indeed, we need the Spirit for this reason alone.

I pray you can join us for worship Sunday. Imagine a cup that is near empty being filled to over-flowing. We cannot construct an experience that only God can provide. But, we will ask God to provide the filling and trust he is able to do far more than we dream or imagine. I hope to see you Sunday.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. Acts 2:42-43 NIV

-Pastor Jen

Plant A Little Seed

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV

Have you ever noticed how scripture can be right or truthful and stand on its own?

This scripture about planting, for example, feels like a law of the universe to me. When God speaks about giving in this passage he uses planting language. If I plant a few seeds, I will receive a little yield. If I plant a lot of seeds, I'd better be prepared to do some hard labor. This is not sacrifice language. When we sacrifice something, we never see it again. When something is sacrificed, it’s laid down, given up, hands off, never to be used or seen again. But, planting something is laying down a seed into the ground with an expectation that something greater will come out of it.

Sometimes we plant a seed and get different results. We can receive a ten-fold blessing. Why?

1. Growing conditions are perfect.
2. The season is right to plant.
3. You plant good seed.
4. You protect the seed by removing competition like weeds.
5. You plant the seed in community with others like it to ensure a positive yield.

So if this is a law of the universe, then we can apply it to almost anything. Let's think about applying this general rule to our faith and finances. If I plant a little seed into God's kingdom, I will receive a little yield. But, if I plant a lot of seed into God's kingdom, I'd better have a plan for what I will do with the harvest he gives me. There comes a moment for all of us when we recognize everything we have belongs to God. We're farm hands to the Master Farmer. He provides the soil, growing conditions, seasons, seed, and even the growth process. But we have to participate and do our part.

The greater blessing, or miracle, can be what God does within us through our own growth process. Our faith can grow to produce something greater and lives can be transformed. So, why not try a little experiment of your own? Plant a little seed and see how it grows. You might be amazed at the result.

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NIV

-Pastor Jen

Photo Credit: Aproximando Ciência e Pessoas via Compfight cc

Think Big. Start Small.

We have to be truthful and practical as we obediently work to make God’s vision a reality. We need to consider whether or not we’re doing all we can for God. Are we building his Kingdom and making every effort to build what he desires? Or are we chasing after our own desires and outcomes? Small steps blessed by God have great impact. It's pretty easy to spot someone who is completely in God's corner. God gets all the glory for the success. That's really it.

When God begins to move, we need to be prepared for the miracle God can do. For me, being prepared means I am humble before God, surrendered to his leadership and open to whatever comes my way. It's like God is the Major League pitcher and I am the catcher. He decides what pitch. I respond to his leading. I have to do some serious self-talk before I go into a challenging conversation or situation. I've learned to put my preconceived ideas and my very strong feelings aside in order to be present when the challenge comes. God's pitch can be high and outside or right down the middle. Either way, I must be flexible and adaptable to the pitch. Otherwise, it'll go right by. Good thing God likes to give me a lot of practice.

Here's how we can start small but have a huge impact:

1. Greater relationships: speak affirming words and build each other up by constructive life-giving language and practice. Identify and practice how you can speak Godly words to build others up.
    
2. Greater financial impact for the Kingdom: start using our money in God-honoring ways, pay down our debt and don’t get into any more debt. Live within Godly and healthy boundaries. Identify how your financial situation can get better and make small steps toward generosity.
    
3. Greater holiness: practice healthy spiritual disciplines. Scripture reading and memorization, prayer, worship, service, fasting, giving. Identify whether or not you’re really doing all you can to create holiness and a place for God to reside in you.

One important reason we may feel insecure about our situation is because we compare our behind-the-scenes footage with everyone else’s highlight reel. Sometimes we can listen to someone's incredible faith adventure story and wonder why we're not experiencing the same vitality. Comparisons aren't helpful when it comes to following God. Everyone's faith journey is unique. I don't know how to compare Jonah's whale-of-a-story to Joshua's marching around a city seven times. But, I can tell you, the still small voice Elijah heard and Elisha followed is the voice I can trust to lead me into the belly or around the block.

Stop waiting for what you want, and start working what you have. This can turn your greatest frustration into your greatest potential innovation. If you'll do your part, God will begin to do what only He can do: He'll make your box bigger.” Pastor Steven Furtick, Greater.

-Pastor Jen

Reflecting on My (Jen's) Lenten Season

 

"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship, 1937

This Lenten season has been unusually blessed for me this year.

            1. For three days, my husband Bill and I hosted a bishop from Pakistan. Yaqub mobilized Christians in 2,000 Pakistani churches to help him take clothing, shoes, food and medical supplies to the poverty-stricken mountain region of Northern Pakistan. The recipients belonged to the Taliban.

            2. We met and became friends with a guy named Pete who owns Second Chance Coffee in Wheaton, IL. He employs convicted felons and believes in the win-win benefits of conscious capitalism. We listened to one of Pete's employees named Louis tell his story. Louis was convicted of such violent crimes as a young man that he was sentenced to serve three consecutive life sentences plus one hundred years. Louis talked about finding Jesus Christ in a maximum security prison. He described how hard it was to find a job and begin a new life post-prison after his miraculous release.           

            3. For four days Bill and I hosted our friend Prem from Hope for Today Ministries. We learned more about church planting in India as thousands of people are being reached for Christ through the indigenous church planting discipleship movement. Hope for Today has been a ministry partner of Wheatland Salem Church for more than twenty five years. There are currently 493 house churches flourishing in the northern regions of India as men and women walk village to village sharing the Gospel.

            4. As you read this blog, Yousef is driving a truck filled with clothing, food and medical supplies to christians in Iraq. He sent me an email the night before he left. He felt compelled by Christ to go to the Iraqi Christians. Yousef is an evangelical Egyptian christian and is driving with one other christian from Egypt. He asked me to pray for him and the journey. While we were together in Houston he said, "You American christians think persecution is terrible but for us it's everyday life."

            5. A devout Muslim woman came into church as I was leaving my office Monday evening. She had never been inside a church. She was looking for help for her son.

            6. This morning, I listened to Naghmeh Abedini whose husband, Pastor Saeed Abedini, is currently imprisoned in Iran because of his christian beliefs. She tells her incredible story of leaving the Muslim faith and coming to faith in Jesus during an interview on "Focus on the Family." She also discusses the persecution her husband is facing and the importance of praying for persecuted Christians around the world. You can listen to the interview here. LINK

It feels like the world has come to our doorstep. I can no longer ignore the gnawing feeling that Christ is calling me to something greater. I don't know what 'something greater' is but I trust him. I think that's all that matters.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12 NIV

-Pastor Jen