A MESSAGE FROM MATTHEW:

ON THE WAY TO PENTECOST

4.25.25 

Easter has come to an end.  Jesus was raised from the dead.  The emotional rollercoaster of the last week of Christ has ended with the returning of the King.  There are questions and doubts, but hope that all will end well.

After all of the events of the death of Jesus, there is a special time coming.  It is the day of Pentecost.  It is 50 days after the Passover.  Peter will preach the first sermon that ushers in the era of the Church.  3000 will be baptized in the establishment of the Church.  A new time has come.  What is amazing about this time is the 50 days. 

What is happening during those 50 days?  There are sightings. There are appearances. There is probably a lot of confusion.  The question of “Now what?” is on the mind of the disciples.  What is next?

Each year as we celebrate Easter, we dress up, we have lunches, we attend church, but what impact did Easter have on your Monday because of Sunday?  The events and the spiritual highs are wonderful, but we need to do life in the middle times of the 50 days.  These days are less certain, more confusing, not clear, but this is where faith is seen that is lived out in the world.

So, as the days pass after Easter, continue to embrace a “He is Risen” faith in the days to come.  Those days are the true sign of a deep commitment, a sign of trust, and a marker of maturity.     

RESURRECTION SUNDAY

04.18.25

What was it like to run to the grave?  What was it like to look into the cave?  What was it like to run back with the news of the empty tomb?  What is amazing is that we have an account of these events. 

John 20:1-10 “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.  So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”  So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.  Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.  Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.  (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)  Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.”

Every Easter I want the power of that first look to still overcome my heart.  I want that feeling of looking into the tomb for the first time to overcome me.  There is no way I want this story to become common place in my heart.  The majestic feeling of looking into the empty tomb should never get old.  On Sunday, we will look one more time into that tomb, and we will not see the body, but the risen Lord.   

CONVICTION VERSUS COMPASSION

04.11.25

We all have convictions.  We have deep beliefs that are dear to us.  We hold these convictions through the storms of life, and often these deep truths are what provides stability during those troublesome times.  In times in which those strong convictions are questioned, we might double down on those ideas.  We refuse to listen, and perhaps strongly defend ourselves from the questioners. 

There is definitely a time to stay firm on our convictions and speak up boldly to keep our convictions at the forefront of culture.  There are also times in which we keep our convictions to ourselves.  Understanding the balancing of boldness and meekness is part of maturity in Christ.

Here are three strong verses about conviction:

· 1 Corinthians 16:13
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong."

· Romans 14:5
"Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind."

· 2 Timothy 1:12
"I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day."

Here are three strong verses about compassion:

· Colossians 3:12
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people... clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

· Luke 10:33–34 (The Good Samaritan) "But a Samaritan... took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds..."

 · Matthew 9:36 "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

Wisdom is knowing when to apply which virtue.  A good question to ask is: What does the person need right now?   

BELIEVE THE HYPE

04.04.25

Be careful that the loudest voice is right.  Sometimes in life the people that are the loudest can turn into the right ones.  Something can be repeated over and over again until it becomes the truth.  But it is not the real truth; it is an imaginary truth.  The facts tell a different story.

I was reading a book recently bemoaning all the division within the churches of Christ.  Yes, there has been division, but the author was noting over 20 different issues that the churches of Christ have divided over.  The issues were wide ranging, but here is the reality: the majority of churches have not divided, and in the areas of division, the majority of people were not part of those separations.  The majority of the church were all united in Christ.  The mainstream stayed the mainstream.  Yes, there are one cup congregations, no Bible class churches, and crossroads congregations, but the majority of the churches were in fellowship with one another.

We are an autonomous movement which means that each congregation cannot make choices for one another.  Understanding this situation, one realizes that there will be local congregations that will break away from the majority.  It is not a sign that churches are dividing rapidly, but it is a sign of human freedom.  The words of massive division might be too loud.  The news might be on the front page, but in reality, it is not that bad.

We need to be careful about believing the loudest voices in our life.  Not all people who yell are right.  We need to think carefully about what is truth.  Yes, there is division, but is it to the level we think it is?  One family could be going through a hard time, but are all families?  We can start to think that a small group is the whole.          

HOW TO LOVE SOMEONE YOU CAN’T STAND

03.28.25

A preacher friend of mine sent me a book that has the same title as this bulletin article.  Yes, the book is about loving people you cannot stand.  I am not sure what the motivation was to send it to me.  What is even more concerning was that he already gave me this book a couple of months ago when I saw him.  But he must have forgotten, or thought I needed it. 

Looking at the back of the book, because I have not read it yet, the author has a couple of bullet points.  The book has some good advice coming from Romans 12:14-21.  He gives seven steps to loving the hard people in this world. 

Here are a couple of the suggestions:

1.      See Things from the Other Person’s Point of View.  What a powerful principle!  A lot of issues between people come from assuming motivations or assigning motivations.  A person typically has reasons for what he or she does, but knowing the motives can be helpful.  Why did this person’s actions make sense?  There is often a lot of assuming. You should never have a conflict with someone until you hear them out.  Too frequently people just cut others off instead of listening.

2.      Don’t Win the War, Win the Peace.  A lot of people seek revenge or try to harm the other person in a conflict.  Instead of dealing with the issue, it becomes a battle of wills.  You can have a small misunderstanding that turns into a massive battle, all because the people involved turn from desiring a solution to needing to win.  Fight this temptation!

The book is in my office if anyone wants to read it.  In fact, I have two of them.

THE ART OF REHEARING

03.21.25

For the last month I have been able to hear some good preaching from across the country.  It was a nice treat, as most weeks, I am the one preaching, and it is always good to hear sermons and lessons from other ministers.   A lot of times, the topic is not a new thought, but a retelling of a familiar theme.  The topic is often a topic that is common to all people.  It could be about the salvation we have in Christ or the death of Jesus. The sermon may not be packed full of new information, but is going over the well-known story of the Gospel.

What is powerful is that this is the Gospel.  It is not new, but is a story that is told over and over again.  There is something powerful in rehearing a message.  There could be a tendency to not pay attention because you might think in your heart that you already know this information, and in today’s world, we are trained to filter information because of the overwhelming abundance of communication.  You have to be intentional about rehearing.

To rehear well:

1.      Have a Childlike Faith.  Matthew 18:3 "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  Coming to hear the Gospel should be like a child coming to listen.  The attitude of knowing it already will not be helpful.  A lot of learning in childhood is from repetition. 

2.      Realize the Hear.  Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  One should realize that faith does come by hearing.  The more you hear, the better it is for you.  You are being strengthened by hearing the Gospel.  It is not about hearing the new thing; it is hearing the old thing. 

How we listen is so important to our growth in Christ.  When we stop listening because of an attitude of knowing, you can be certain that you do not know enough. 

MOVING FORWARD WITH THE 3 G’s

03.14.25

The beginning of the year has been amazing.  We are in the middle of the focus on the growth stage of our 2025 plan.  The congregation has had a ton of highlights at the start of the year.  As we move into Spring, we will hit an active time in the congregation.  One of the big events will be L2L at the beginning of May.  At the end of May, we have our annual Family Camp.  Maybe it is just me, but with kids, it feels that Spring is one of the most active times of the year. 

Earlier this year, one of the growth goals that I mentioned to the congregation is the practice of reading two chapters of the Bible each day.  This is doable for everyone.  By focusing on the reading of just two chapters and not attempting to finish a large amount of reading, you might find the practice very rewarding.  Allow the reading to go deeper into your heart.  Having the foundational habit of Bible reading will always be part of a growth plan.  There will be no growth without Bible reading.

Also, what other areas are you seeking to grow in this Spring?  The best practice you can do right now is to write down a goal for growth.  Is it patience, or controlling anger, or showing kindness or thankfulness?  Whatever your goal is, perhaps search for some tangible ways to make that goal happen in your life.  Having the desire to be kind is not good enough.  You must practice kindness.  This is the real core of growth - having a real change of character. 

As we enter an active Spring, remember not to let the pace of life crowd out your growth.

SUCCESSES

03.07.25

We had two massive successes this week.  The first one is the most important. We had over $60,000 given on Mission Sunday.  What an amazing amount!  Think about all the good work that can happen with these funds.  Castle Rock continues to be a lighthouse to this region and to the world.  We have gone from being a Church plant, to a healthy Church, to a thriving Church over the years.  We are a congregation that has grown and invested in the kingdom.  You are probably familiar with Churches across this country that are dying.  Castle Rock is a powerful testament to another story.  We are expanding. 

Over 15 years ago, our contribution each week was about $4,000.  Today, our weekly contribution stands at over $12,000.  We have tripled the impact we are making in this world.  You are part of a Church that is living into the last of the three “B’s”. We are blessing others.  We could not be happier about the kickoff of our three “G’s”.  We are in our growth stage, and we are perfectly set up to move strongly into our “go” stage. 

Thank you for sacrificing generously for mission work.  We did more than triple the budget; we about doubled the goal of tripling.  You are an impressive congregation. 

On more of a lighter note for a recent success was the teen night this past Sunday.  We had thirty people come out to go rock climbing.  It was such a fun night.  Everyone had a blast.  We even had a 5.11 challenge and certain parts of the route got named.  Two of the famous sections were called the Hymore Crux and the Nolan Step.  The energy around this climb was so great that you would have thought we were climbing Mt. Everest.

Thank you everyone for making this past Sunday super successful.  What a great day!  

MISSION SUNDAY

02.28.25

On March 2nd we are having our Mission Sunday.  It has been a few years since we had this event.  The last time we raised a ton of money for the Colorado Extension Ministry that Bill Young has done a superb job in overseeing.  We have blessed countless congregations and Church leaders through the funds that were given.  Some of the money was used to provide counseling for leaders that were going through struggles, and those funds made a difference because all those individuals are still in ministry today.  Imagine what could have happened if we did not come to the need of those people?  Leadership is a hard pursuit, and our congregation kept people in ministry.  Over and over again, leaders approached me to thank our congregation for helping them out.  Counseling is expensive, and a lot of preachers could not pay for this service without our help.  We plan on keeping this Extension Ministry funded in the coming years because of the impact it is having in the Kingdom.   

We have another opportunity to make a difference in this world.  We are looking at supporting a Preacher’s School in Chile, and we are looking at providing Bibles to people in Ghana.  Both of these are excellent works.  With the funds from this coming Mission Sunday, we can continue to extend the outreach of the Castle Rock congregation into new areas.

We are giving the “Triple Challenge”. This week when you prepare to give, ponder giving three times as much as you normally do.  This will allow us to meet our goal.  Come to the plate and hit a triple.  We understand that a triple is not easy.  You might have to allocate funds away from another area to hit the triple, but it is a sacrifice worth it to gain an impact in the kingdom.

I know we can do this. 

MISSION SUNDAY ON MARCH 2ND

2.21.25 

We are glad that “Mission Sunday” is coming back to Castle Rock after a few years.  We have been blessed to create a mission’s committee that is stewarding some of the funds of the congregation into mission work.  Castle Rock has done an excellent job of investing in Colorado, and because Castle Rock has been so blessed, we are going international.  Our circle of influence in the Kingdom continues to expand.  We could not be happier about the team working together to direct funds to good works.  We are so pleased with the tremendous work the team is doing. 

Here is a list of works that we invested in last year:  Heritage Christian University, Walk4Water, Church of Christ Student Center in San Antonio, Carbon Valley church of Christ, Ghana, and Missions Chile

We are excited for this year’s “Mission Sunday” because we are wanting to continue to invest in the work in Chile and Ghana specifically.  We see the gospel impacting these areas, and we have great partners already in these works.  In Chile, we are going to support a Preaching Training School.  This is totally in alignment with Castle Rock values as we invest in leaders that can invest in leaders.  The second major work is Bibles for Ghana.  We are going to buy thousands of Bibles to give out in the Northern part of Ghana.  This, of course, aligns with us as we are all about getting the Word of God out into this world. 

The goal for this year is to triple the contribution on “Mission Sunday”.  Everything on top of the average contribution will go directly to the mission’s fund.  Our encouragement is for everyone on March 2nd to triple their contribution.  If we all do this, we meet our goal.  We are aiming for $35,000.   

WHAT WORKS

2.14.25

“The medical profession has come a long way since the seventeenth century, when a Belgian scientist called Jan Baptist van Helmont challenged the quacks of the day to prove that bloodletting and purging actually did any good. He proposed a fair trial, and was even prepared to wager 300 florins on the outcome: Let us take out of the hospitals, out of the camps, or from elsewhere 200 or 500 poor people that have fevers, pleurisies, etc. Let us divide them in halves, let us cast lots, that one half of them may fall to my share and the other to yours; I will cure them without bloodletting and sensible evacuation; but do you do as ye know … we shall see how many funerals both of us shall have.”

In this historical example, you have a doctor challenging the wisdom of the time on what was most effective in healing people.  Stories, successes, whatever was attached to the idea of bloodletting, which was seen as the best solution to some sicknesses in centuries past.  The problem was that it did not work.  You can believe something works, even if it is not helpful.

As Christians, we need to look at those practices that are helpful and that work for the development of our faith.  There is a powerful question we should ask ourselves - “How is that working for you?”  One has to be honest about the answer. 

A lot of bad habits work a little, but in the end, do not work out well.  On the other hand, a lot of spiritual practices might not provide massive changes, but in the end, become significantly valuable.  Think about your behaviors: what works and what does not?  Be honest.      

Harford, Tim. Adapt: Why Success Always Starts with Failure (pp. 121-122). (Function). Kindle Edition.

GROW TIME

02.07.25 

We are in the grow stage of our trifold spiritual progress development.  The grow time is important to properly set us up for the “go” and “gather” stages.  One needs to provide a strong foundation to accomplish the goals of evangelism and fellowship.  Without the internal growth of spirituality, one cannot typically help others grow in Christ.  The issue sometimes is that there are so many areas in which we all could grow that the overwhelming need for growth can stop positive growth.  The project seems too big.

This bulletin is a plea to focus on one area.  Take some time to reflect on where you want to grow in your faith.  You cannot build a house in one day, and you cannot accomplish every goal in building overnight.  You need to look at one area to make progress.

Here are a few suggestions:

1.      Hospitality.  This is one of the hardest skills to develop.  It is not about skill so much, but about the time it takes.  There is a commitment of time that has to be made to be good at hospitality, but it is so important for spiritual development.  It is the way to connect to people and to make lasting impressions.

2.      Gifts.  Another area we can grow in is the giving of gifts.  Thoughtful gifts can be a blessing and through them, you can communicate love to people.  A good gift is something that is personal and meaningful.  You are thinking about the other person and looking at the gift from their perspective.

Growth in both hospitality and gift giving can be a blessing to others as well as to yourself.  You might pick another area to develop, but give some attention to what you want to focus on for the growth stage of this year.     

KEEP YOUR PROMISES

01.31.25 

We always talk about people needing to keep a promise.  If you make a commitment, you need to follow through on that commitment.  It helps people to trust you.  It is character trait of reliability.  Your word is your bond.  We become frustrated with people who make promises and do not keep them.  It is annoying and a lack of character.  No one likes a dishonest person.

Of course, there are sometimes in which a commitment was made that cannot be kept.  It happens.  How you respond to those times shows a lot of character.  The situation might be obvious.  You made a commitment, but you are sick.  You made a promise, but a situation happened that you had to tend to.  What is frustrating is the flaky people that make up excuses.  It is the person who is late because he or she did not leave early enough.  It is the person that promised to be there, but forgot.  All people make mistakes, but not all people have to make excuses.

A lot of times we make promises to others, but one of the best character choices is keeping the commitments that you make to yourself.  It is the end of January, and perhaps a lot of the promises you made to yourself at the beginning of the month are being broken.  You promised yourself that you were going to stop that or start this, but you are not keeping your commitment to yourself.

One of the most damaging character issues is breaking a promise to yourself.  If you cannot keep your commitments to yourself, you will struggle keeping them with others.     

REVIEW OF THE THREE G’S

01.24.25 

We had a great start to 2025.  We introduced the Three G’s for this year - Grow, Go, Gather.  People have embraced the vision and mission of the elders.  We are excited to create value for you in your spiritual walk. 

The first part of the year will center around “Grow”.  We are going to focus on our spiritual formation and faith development.  On Wednesday Night, we are starting a new class called “Salvation by Allegiance.”  The class will highlight what strong faith is.  It is more than thought; it is loyalty to Christ.

The second part of the year will focus on “Go.”  The sermons are going to highlight the foundational tenets of the faith.  What do we believe about Jesus Christ?  It will provide the tools for you to speak about your faith in a clear manner.  Also, there will be a class on “How to Tell Your Story.”  It will hone in on developing a clear message to people curious about the faith. 

The last part of the year we will talk about “Gather.”  During this time, we will look to strengthen the relationships within the congregation as well as connect new people to the members.  We need to continue to be an open congregation for new relationships and connections.  A lot of spiritual formation is found through mentoring and mutual accountability.  We become like the people we are with.  We want people to feel loved and to have the opportunity to love. 

We could not be more optimistic about the future of our congregation.  There is so much energy within the congregation that is concentrated on doing good.  The start of the year has been wonderful, and we believe that this year will be one of the best yet at Castle Rock.    

THE BALANCE OF FEEDBACK

01.17.25

There is tension with feedback.  There is a continuum with feedback.  On one side, there is blind confidence; you could call this side arrogant.  This person refuses to listen to feedback because of ignorance or insincerity.  On the other side, is nebulous insecurity.  A person on this end listens to everyone and everything and feels totally wrong with the first appearance of a dissenting voice.  In the middle of these two sides is balance.  People will move to either side with time and experience.          

Too often people are closed off from feedback because of confidence.  A person can be too sure of an opinion.  A person that struggles with this will usually seek to defend themselves from the feedback too quickly.  Instead of being open to the thinking, the person must justify behavior or the plan.  A person with this unhealthy balance rarely can adapt to changing circumstances. 

The person on the other side refuses to stop people from complaining or speaking out of turn.  You have the person that cannot lead because he or she is so influenced.  Someone makes a comment, and the plans are ended.  This person has to learn more confidence and the ability to move forward in the face of certain pressure.   

Great leaders have radical openness and radical confidence.  The tension is what makes those leaders great.  

New Year, New You

01.10.25 

Maybe this is a little late into the year.  Maybe it was New Year’s being on a Wednesday.  Maybe it is because of procrastination, but it feels that my New Year, New Me vibe did not kick in until today, January 6th.  Whatever the reason behind the late motivation to accomplish a new goal or a restoration of a goal, the time has come to make a change. 

This morning, I was reading an annual investor letter.  The letter talked about investments, but the author also had a wonderful section about honesty.  Here is what he wrote:

“There become cracks in the mask, but we maintain such a distance that we’re convinced no one notices. We keep pretending, while our hearts slowly become deadened. We assume that cautiously navigating everyone, especially those closest to us, is just how life works. And often, we try harder to keep the mask tight and polished, getting more fit, more successful, and more involved in our churches. We pretend that if we shroud ourselves in good works and the apparent fruit of them, no one will ever know about the brokenness. And then the facade detonates. It always does, but rarely when we expect or in the way we would have expected. The shrapnel maims. Everything we built our lives on is threatened, which is the exact fear that we were hiding from. Our fears become a self-fulfilling prophecy, and it was our hiding that enabled it. This probably sounds impossible, but true freedom starts with nothing to hide. Light is the best disinfectant, and when it comes to our sin, it is the only disinfectant. We must be known. We must live in deep relationship, in community with people who know the real us, the real pain, the real struggles, and our real dreams.” (https://www.permanentequity.com/content/2024-annual-letter)

These are some powerful words and a much-needed warning and encouragement for whatever we seek to do in the coming year.  We will think about new goals to improve ourselves, but the best goal will be to bring to light your life.

ENDURANCE

01.03.25

There is a book called Endurance that numerous members of the congregation have read.  It is a true story about a group of men that Sir Ernest Shackleton led to the Artic.  Ultimately, he was not successful and was stuck in the ice for a long period of time.  All the men survived, but in the book, there is a short paragraph that mentions some of the conditions that the men were living through.  Last Christmas, I read this book each evening as I was in my warm house.  It was a rather stark contrast from the conditions of the men in the book and the conditions of my home.  Here is the paragraph: ““It is hard to realize one’s position here,” Macklin wrote, “living in a smoky, dirty, ramshackle little hut with only just sufficient room to cram us all in: drinking out of a common pot . . . and laying in close proximity to a man with a large discharging abscess—a horrible existence, but yet we are pretty happy. . . .” 

The conditions are “horrible”, but what jumps out to you is the ending line: “Yet we are pretty happy….”  What a statement to make!  Happiness is an attitude because if it was a true outlook of a situation, these men would not be happy.  However, a mindset can be controlled.  There is a sense of contentment with these men, despite their situation.

It reminds me of Paul stating in the Philippian letter that he has learned to be content in whatever circumstances he is currently in.  For Paul, contentment or happiness is what he chooses, not what he is experiencing.  It is a mindset, not a situation.  What a powerful reminder to all of us for the coming year.  You make your own sunshine.

Lansing, Alfred. Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage (pp. 215-217). Basic Books. Kindle Edition.   

IN WITH THE NEW

12.27.24 

The end of the year is approaching rapidly.  In a few days, the New Year will be here.  Out with 2024 and in with 2025.  We are thankful 2024 was another amazing year at Castle Rock. We continue to be blessed.

The major event of 2024 for the congregation was the Bible reading program “Look at The Book.”  It was a great success for us here at Castle Rock.  If you were to add up all the hours logged reading the Bible together, the number is massive.  Think about the impact that the word had on our congregation throughout the year.  We are a better congregation because of this Bible reading program. 

One of the most impactful changes at Castle Rock in 2024 was adding Chris Painter to the eldership.  We could not have added a more qualified man to the leadership.  He is truly a passionate Bible student and teacher.  He loves the word and the Church.  We are blessed to add men of his quality to the leadership.  The health of a congregation starts at the top, and we continue to add highly talented men to the group.

In fact, Castle Rock has an abundance of ability.  It is unfair in some ways that we have such a talent pool.  We have leaders and servants all throughout the congregation.  2024 was great, and 2025 is shaping up to be another banner year for the Church.

The past is the past, and we look to the future.  I see a bright horizon.  We have another amazing discipleship focus for our congregation coming, which you will be hearing about soon.  We continue to invest in YOU!  We want to partner with you as you grow in Christ.  2025 is going to be a fantastic year. 

CHRISTMAS PLAY

12.20.24 

I was on Facebook a couple of days ago.  On a community group, there was someone posting about wanting to take his or her children to a Christmas play that was put on by a church.  The person noted that when he or she was younger, his or her parents would take him or her to a church Christmas play. This individual wanted to give the same experience to her or his children.  Yes, I did not check to see if the person was a guy or girl. 

It was a joy to write that we did, in fact, have a Christmas play on Sunday, December 22nd at 5pm at the Castle Rock church of Christ building.  I extended the invitation, and I hope that this person will bring the kids to the event. Maybe the family will start attending our congregation.

A lot of people are looking for Christmas themed events. We are blessed to have a special Christmas presentation from the kids this year and inviting people to come is an amazing outreach opportunity.  It gives us a chance to present the Gospel story, while hopefully building some connections in the community.  Please invite your friends and family to our time together.

At Castle Rock, we are a family friendly place.  We invest in kids, and what better way to share the joy of Jesus than through watching our kids sing about our Lord.  It is going to be a special evening, so invite away and also come.  Our kids are worth us investing in.

EMBRACING THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

12.13.24 

All Christmas movies, or perhaps just the cheesy ones, have a common theme.  There are those who embrace the Christmas spirit and those who reject the Christmas vibe.  There are characters that “just love Christmas”, and then there are those who do not want anything to do with Christmas, maybe because they have been hurt or merely dislike the holiday traditions.  The people who reject Christmas are not stopping the fun because of conviction, but because of some anti-Christmas heart.  But what is the Christmas spirit?

1.      Love For Humankind.  It is the feeling of goodwill towards all.  It is the ability to look at people and see the good in them, to believe that there is goodness in all people.  Throughout the year, people can hurt one another, but during this time, it is amazing to have the focus of seeing people’s strengths.  People look for good motives behind a person’s actions, instead of seeing the negative motives. 

2.      A Feeling of Joy.  One of my favorite activities is going for a run on Christmas Eve.  To everyone I pass, I say, “Merry Christmas”, and everyone loves saying it back.  There is this connection between us.  The Christmas spirit is having a positive joyous outlook on life.  It is good to be alive; it is good to be a Christian; it is good to have the Lord watching out for us.

3.      Generosity.  It is fun to give.  People love exchanging gifts.  People make treats for one another.  It is nice to give to others and see the joy on people’s faces. 

Who does not want to have the Christmas spirit of love, joy, and generosity?  We could have this outlook all year and our lives would be better.    

INVESTING IN THE KIDS

12.6.24 

People are always wondering what the future will hold for a congregation.  Will a congregation continue to thrive or die?  Will the congregation increase its kingdom impact or slowly fade away?  One of the best indicators of the future of the congregation is the children’s ministry.  At Castle Rock, we are having a Christmas Spectacular on Sunday, December 22nd at 5pm.  It will be an evening of cuteness overload.  It will be a festive occasion with warm hot chocolate and treats.  The Christmas Season is always full of love and kindness, and this evening is going to be one of the most historic events in Castle Rock’s history.

The best part is that we have over 25 kids participating in the event.  We are so blessed to have a ton of kids in our congregation.  Young families are a major demographic of our Church. 

One of the reasons that we have so many young people is because of our Church’s intergenerational approach.  We have invested in all age groups coming together to support one another.  We have some of the best leaders ever leading our children’s ministry.  We have an eldership that supports the kids. 

I remember years ago, there was a need for more classroom space, and there was a request to use the old elder’s office for another classroom.  I remember the eldership discussing this topic for 2 seconds.  Maybe it was less than 2 seconds because the request was made, and the answer was “yes.”  Our leadership was going to put kids first.

We are seeing the results of these foundational choices - an abundance of kids in our upcoming Christmas play.

A SEASON FOR THANKSGIVING

11.29.24 

The Thanksgiving Season is finally here.  Once a year, the holiday arrives on the calendar, and all the country thinks about turkey and sweet potatoes.  Perhaps you are running a turkey trot race or thankful for a must needed day off.  Perhaps you plan to watch football and sleep.  Whatever your Thanksgiving looks like, often it is full of tradition. 

The yearly reminder of Thanksgiving is a precious time of year.  It is about more than food and family; it is about thankfulness and gratitude.  According to AI, the word "thankfulness" is mentioned in the Bible between 71 and 195 times, depending on the source and definition of the word: 

• Thankfulness: The word "thankfulness" or related words are mentioned 71 times in the New Testament. 

• Thankful: The word "thankful" or related words are mentioned 195 times in the Bible. 

• Gratitude: The word "gratitude" is mentioned 157 times in the Bible. 

The theme of thanksgiving is woven throughout the Bible, and the apostle Paul used the concept of thankfulness over 40 times in his epistles. The Psalmist also speaks of giving thanks more than 30 times in the Psalms.  This is a lot of mentions for the need of a grateful heart in the Word of God.

There must be a reason.  Perhaps it is because we need the reminder to be thankful.  Perhaps it is because we have the Lord and that causes us to be thankful.  Perhaps it is a natural perspective for believers.  What we do know, is that God cares about thankfulness.  It is a major theme throughout the Word of God.  Hopefully, during your Thanksgiving activities this year, you take up the mantle of the Word and practice thankfulness in your life.   

LONGEVITY IS GOOD

11.22.24

This past weekend, Charity and I were in Gallatin, Tennessee with the Hartsville Pike congregation.  Over twenty years ago, I worked with this church as a minister.  The congregation and I go back a long way.  The congregation helped support me for one year of school, and I interned with the church the summer I met Charity.  After that summer, I had one more year of school left, and then Charity and I got married and worked with the congregation for two years. 

On Sunday, I got a text from a young man that was a kid when I was in Waynesboro, TN asking if I was going to be around this week.  His Dad and I are friends, and his family was thinking about getting him a ticket to come out to see me.  Not sure if this will happen, but I am hoping that he does.  We have known one another for 20 years.  I am still friends with the people in Waynesboro. 

I was reading a quote about sticking to your relationships for the long term.  Here it is: “Spiritual formation occurs primarily in the context of community.  Persons who remain contented with their brothers and sisters in the local church almost invariably grow in self-understanding.  And they mature in their ability to relate in healthy ways to God and to their fellow human beings.  This is especially the case for those courageous Christians who stick it out through the often-messy process of interpersonal discord and conflict resolution.  People who stay grow.  People who leave do not grow.” Dr. Joseph Hellerman

Can you keep your relationships?  Can you be patient with people during the messy times of conflict?  Those who do, grow. 

FINDING PEACE

11.15.24 

Everyone wants peace.  I think.  People want a sense of contentment.  I think.  There might be those rare individuals that thrive on conflict or the modern way of putting it—drama.  But for the average person, most people simply want peace.  People want a good night’s sleep.  People want a clear mind.  People want tranquility.  No one wants to toss and turn all night worrying about a situation.  No one wants something lodged in their heads that will not go away.  No one wants conflict.  We want peace.

The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. It was a common greeting and farewell in the ancient world.  When they wanted to ask how someone was doing, the Jews would say, “Hashalom lach” which means “How is peace to you.”  In a modern way of putting it, “Is it well with you?”  The ancient Jews used the idea of peace much more than modern individuals.  It was as common as a hello and goodbye. 

Two ways to find peace are:

1.      Control.  To find peace, you have to give up control.  Too often we think we can fix everything or solve everything, but this is untrue.  You can only do so much, and you have to let go. 

2.      Acceptance.  It happened that way.  This phrase is part of life.  You would like to go back and maybe have a redo, but time has passed, and you have to accept what happened and not what you wanted to happen.  There are too many burdens to carry in this world, so you have to let them go. 

Finding peace is important.  Let me ask you the ancient greeting, “Is it well with you?” 

THE BLESSING OF LONGEVITY

11.8.24 

I looked up some quotes about longevity on the internet.  It was not a deep study; I never made it off the first page, and it was only one website deep, but there were some insightful quotes about the blessings of longevity.  Here are a couple of reflections on the quotes:

1.      “To sustain longevity, you have to evolve.”  What is it about humanity that desires novelty?  From those in Athens that always wanted to hear a new teaching, to people that get bored of books, the world desires newness.  But there is a key to longevity.  It is growing or evolving.  You need to grow as an individual both in your actions and in your thinking.  You must be learning and doing, or you become trite.  Perhaps longevity encourages growth in people.  It pushes people to study instead of relying on existing thinking and work. 

2.      “The longevity of every relationship is decided by the willingness to forgive.”  What a powerful statement.  This is so true.  Relationships are broken when forgiveness is denied. However, when people learn to forgive and practice forgiveness like Jesus, relationships can have longevity.  The moments of hurt can be painful, but the sweet celebration of long-lasting relationships is truly precious.  It always takes two people for forgiveness.  People without long lasting friendship may be people who have not learned the discipline of forgiveness.

It is truly a blessing to be with people for many years.  It is a blessed gift from the Lord.      

YOUTH LED WORSHIP

11.1.24 

This coming Sunday, November 3rd, we are having a special service.  The youth of the congregation will be leading us in worship.  We have young men who will be leading the singing and who will be preaching.  These are always uplifting times because we are encouraged by the next generation’s commitment to serving the Lord. 

A congregation has to invest in the next generation.  2 Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”  Within this verse, there is the principle of passing the faith on to the next generation, who can then pass it on to the following generation as well.  There is a never-ending retelling of the gospel.  If there is ever a generation we do not intentionally develop, that generation will be missing from the Church.

Castle Rock is special in its approach to the youth.  One of our core values is intergenerational ministry.  We believe that all ages of the Church can learn from one another.  This means that a 77-year-old can learn something from a 7-year-old as much as a 7-year-old can learn from a 77-year-old.  Each generation has a lesson to teach another generation.  Perhaps a 77-year-old could learn about joy from a 7-year-old, and perhaps a 7-year-old could learn about patience from the 77-year-old.  The most important part of all of this is to have an open heart to the lessons that we can teach one another.

We can be blessed to learn and listen to one another, so come Sunday and be blessed by our youth group.      

CHRISTIAN IDEOLOGY

10.25.24

Over the weekend I saw a movie called Reagan.  It was a movie about Ronald Reagan’s life and about his rise to the Presidency of the United States.  The movie was good, and it took me back to my childhood as some of the events played out before my eyes, but from a kid’s perspective. 

The story told about his fight against communism.  Communism is a political and economic ideology that advocates for a classless society in which all property and the means of production (such as factories, land, and resources) are owned collectively by the community or the state. The goal is to eliminate private ownership of these means of production and create a system where wealth and power are shared equally among all people.  It was a major idea that influenced the world after World War II.  In the movie, it talked about how Ronald Reagan fought against this ideology while he was the president of the actor’s union.  There was a desire of the Russians to influence America through Hollywood. 

Reagan’s story got me thinking about the ideologies that influence America today.  I have noticed that we are in a polarized environment.  There are always competing interests and ideas that influence people, but the resolution of the battle for the minds of America during Reagan’s era was a focus on the Bible.  There was a basis to discuss issues because people had the framework of a Christian faith.  You had a starting point.

It seems that we are losing this starting point.  People might not realize how important Christianity is to our country anymore, but it provides a foundation that this country can build on.  It starts the conversation for what is right and wrong.  We need Christianity more today, not less.      

LEADERSHIP AND MOTIVATION

10.18.24 

Sunday was another special day for the congregation.  We added Chris Painter to the eldership.  Chris will do an excellent job as part of the leadership team.  He is smart and social.  His best quality is his servant heart.  He is motivated to bless God’s people through his role. 

Motivation is important in leadership.  Why are you serving?  Are you serving to control a situation?  Are you serving because it feeds the ego?  Are you serving out of the right motives?  The best leaders have the best motivations for serving.  Someone that is not serving in alignment with the spirit of Christ will struggle in leadership because the motivation is perhaps worldly instead of spiritual. 

Too often someone can lose track of motives.  Typically, this is because of pride.  Look at Paul’s advice to Timothy.  One of the major foundations of moral character is a humble heart. And yet, perhaps no position makes humility more challenging than leadership. When people trust you or look up to you, it’s easy to become conceited. Our hearts are prideful, and power can be a dangerous idol. In 1 Timothy 3:6, Paul warns against the dangers of conceited leaders: “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.” Again, in 1 Timothy 6:3-5, Paul warns about conceited leaders and what it can lead to: “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” As soon as we become conceited, and as soon as we begin to believe ourselves greater than we should, we put ourselves at risk of even greater sin.

There is a temptation in leadership for pridefulness, but the push back on this is humility.  A strong leader keeps his motives in check so that he does not fall prey to pride. 

LIVING IN RESURRECTION

10.11.24

How do you define yourself?  What truths help you to develop your perspective in life?  How would you define yourself through the lens of resurrection? 

John 20:11-14 - “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing….”

I believe what changes for people who are people of the resurrection is hope.  You believe in a better ending in this world.  You believe in a Lord that makes right that which has been wrong.  Having this hope in a better future gives you amazing strength.  You do not have to be hopeless.  Sometimes the power in hope is so important.  During those dark days, when all seems lost, there is the power of the resurrection to turn that which is dead into life again.  You can apply this perspective in so many areas.

A dead relationship can have life.  A child that has wandered away from the Lord can return.  A broken relationship can be healed.  You believe in hope.  You believe that which is broken can be mended. 

Being a person of faith is so heathy in a sick world.  You see such negativity.  You see so much hopelessness, but that is not the mindset of a person of the resurrection.  You believe in a God that has been risen from the dead.  Live in this truth.

TELL ME ANYTHING

10.4.24

Matthew 18:15-17 - “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

These verses in Matthew 18 are well known.  This section of scripture is dealing with going to a brother or sister in the Lord over a sin.  Throughout the years, I have heard people say to me, “If you have a problem with me or something I have done, come to me.  I want to know.”  People will state confidently that he or she desires for people to speak freely with them about whatever issue the other person has.  Probably, in some of these cases, the person does have the ability to hear another person’s concerns, but there are numerous cases where the person who is so open to criticism is really closed off from it.  The inner lawyer is defending the self to such a degree that the “fault” that is addressed is rarely admitted too. 

Sometimes people refuse to see themselves in a conflict.  You might be willing for someone to tell you of your sin or fault, but are you willing to listen to them with an open mind?  Can you see the situation from another person’s perspective, or do you merely allow another person to express thoughts, but you deny the reality of their perspective?  There are two parties involved in Matthew 18, the teller and the hearer.  It takes both to find resolution.

People who are so bold in saying that they will hear anything might not be listening well.  Criticism hurts and having your sin pointed out to you hurts, so we are guarded about this.  Remember just hearing words, does not mean you are hearing the truth about yourself.     

BAD PREACHING

09.27.24 

The Pharisees and Scribes approached Jesus, seeking that Jesus offer a miraculous sign to validate himself.  The leaders had a heart problem.  He tackles the issue by talking about the preaching of Jonah.   Jesus replied: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign—and a sign will not be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was in the belly of the sea creature for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.” (Matt. 12:39–40) Jesus compares himself to the prophet Jonah, who had preached an ambiguously terse message to the wicked Ninevites, demanding repentance. And shockingly, when Jonah preached, these Gentiles were surprisingly stimulated to repentance by his halfhearted preaching.  Jonah’s heart was not into it, but the people still responded to the Word of God.

A lot of times the hearer places the burden of the need to listen on the speaker.  The speaker is taxed with doing a good job.  It is like the hearer is testing the preacher.  You preach well, then I will listen.  But in this case, Jesus is not worried about the messenger, instead he is concerned with the heart of the hearer. 

The Gentiles, who were disobedient and outside of the Jewish covenant, responded to the preaching and still had soft hearts and the willingness to repent.  The Word of God is so important that there should be no barrier to listening.  It is not on the speaker to command your attention; it is on your heart to be receptive to the message.  Anytime we place a wall between the Word and our ears, it is an unhealthy mindset.

The Beautiful Nature of Caring

09.20.24 

When was the last time you cared for someone else?  What did you do to show them concern?  How did you tune into what was going on in the other person’s life to care for them?  You might care, but what did you do to show that caring?  It is easy to care about someone in your heart, but it is healthy to care for them through action even more.  I read a quote a while ago that stated something like this: “you can fake caring, but you cannot fake showing up”.  Your actions speak the loudest. 

So here are a couple of ways to care for people.

1.      Make the Phone Call.  Sometimes a simple phone call means a lot to someone.  Reach out to them, and even if you leave a message, that person knows that he or she was thought about, which means a lot to them.  You can call and mostly say that you were thinking about them and wanted to check in.  It feels good to be thought about.  When you are in pain or suffering, knowing that people are concerned for you is an uplifting thought.

2.      Send the Card.  Here is another simple, but meaningful way to care for someone.  It could be a simple card that mentions that you are praying for them, or it could be a card of well wishes, but a card means there is thought behind it.  The person will get it in the mail and know that people are thinking about them.  It is good to know others are mindful of you.

There are hundreds of ways to care for people.  It is more about doing it, than always doing the right thing.   

FINISH THE READING

 09.13.24

One of the best ideas we have ever had at Castle Rock was to do the Look at the Book Bible reading this year.  We have done smaller sections of readings, like the time we read the Book of Hebrews together as a congregation, but we took a larger approach this year to read through almost all the Bible.  We have geared the entire year around this idea with each week’s sermon on the book of the week, and all our classes focused on the books too.  We have tracked the participation within the congregation, and we have created children’s material to go along with the reading.  You could say that “we are all in” for reading the Bible as a congregation.  It was a large undertaking, but one that was so worth it. 

We have almost entered into the last quarter of the year.  A lot of times in life we start better than we finish.  We have the early excitement and momentum, but with time and the business of life, we lose the habits that we start.  This bulletin article is a push to reengage or to keep on going.  It is the little push in the right direction.  If you started, and have stopped or have become less consistent, push forward.  If you have not started, pick up where we are at, which is the Book of Romans.  It is better to start late, than never.

The best way to keep moving forward in the reading is to habit stack.  What is a habit that you are current doing that you can add Bible reading to?  Is it drinking your coffee in the morning?  If so, when you drink your coffee, read your Bible too.  Perhaps it is listening to a podcast on the way to work, so before listening to the podcast, listen to the Bible first.  If you habit stack, you will find that you can be super consistent in your reading as well.

Let’s all finish together.  It will be a great feeling to know you finished what you started. 

I Took an Oath

09.06.24 

On Tuesday, September 3rd, I took the Oath of Allegiance to the USA.  It was a promise that I made to honor and protect this country.  It was a beautiful ceremony in which numerous members of the congregation came too.  It was nice to take this oath with my son standing next to me.  This oath was important.

But there was a commitment that I made years before that does take priority to my commitment to the USA.  It was my commitment to Christ.  Matthew 10:32-33 “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”  Sometimes when we talk about the plan of salvation, we perhaps overlook the importance of confession.  We talk about faith, repentance, and baptism, but we perhaps could merely attach confession to the steps.  It is a step, but do we put the focus on standing in front of others and making that good confession that Jesus is Lord?  It is so important to confess our loyalty to the Lord. 

It takes me back to the confession that Peter made so long again.  Matthew 16:13-16 “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.””  Think about this moment.  Peter answers this question of who Jesus is.  He sees Jesus for who he is—the Son of God.

There are times in our lives in which we make a commitment.  I did this week, and this commitment is important to me. But the most important commitment I ever made was to Christ so long ago and that still holds so much value to me today.     

Reflections from Nova Scotia

08.30.24

Last week I was home in Nova Scotia for 6 days.  It has been around 3 years since visiting the family there.  It was good to see everyone.  On this trip, I was able to learn more about my family, especially on the Morine side.  It is good to see where you come from and some of the major events in your family history.  The Jews in Biblical times had a major focus on family linage, and sometimes in America we forget about our family backgrounds.  Here are a few items I learned about from my visit.

1. My Grandfather was a gunner in the Second World War.  I knew he fought for Canada in WWII, but I never knew what his role was.  He was the one that would shoot at the tanks.  He manned a large gun that was for attacking the heavy armor of tanks.  He spent the majority of the war in Northern Italy.  As a spiritual reflection, everyone has a job to do.  When you think about someone fighting on the front lines, you kind of think about people with guns shooting at one another.  He was close to the battle, but he was to shoot the massive gun to protect the foot soldiers on the ground.  Imagine in the church if we only had people doing one job.  Satan would certainly win. 

2. My Grandfather had three brothers that all volunteered for the war together.  All of them came home too.  This was an impressive feat.  Once again, the spiritual reflection is that we need one another.  When we work together in the church, we can have success. 

3. The last reflection is that the Morine family have been in Avonport, NS since 1732.  The Morine family have lived in this part of the world for almost 300 hundred years.  My father lives in Avonport, NS currently.  As someone that has moved, it is shocking to see this level of stability in such an unstable world.  It is good when we stick to something for a long time.  For those who have been part of Castle Rock for a long time, thank you for your longevity with us.  It says a lot of good about you.

From John Miller:

08.23.24

This week’s Look at the Book reading is 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Paul wrote many things which the Thessalonians should think and do. But I would like to direct our thoughts toward Paul’s instructions to “walk” in a certain way.

It is vitally important to “grow … in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3.18). If we don’t, we will be “waivering … like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1.6). But, to borrow a phrase, “where the rubber meets the road” in the life of every Christian is putting our knowledge into practice.

Paul uses the word “walk” four times in these two letters, each dealing with slightly different circumstances. Before we examine each, let’s explore the meaning of “walk”.

This word is used most frequently in daily conversation with a meaning of “mov[ing] along on foot: advanc[ing] by steps”, Merriam-Webster online dictionary. Yet, it’s unlikely the Holy Spirit, working through Paul, had that pedestrian meaning in mind. The dictionary has several other definitions for the word, but the one that best fits the context of Thessalonians is for a person “to pursue a course of action or way of life: conduct oneself: BEHAVE”. Now that we have a definition firmly in mind, let’s briefly explore each of Paul’s “walk” exhortations.

· 1 Th 2.12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

How does one “walk worthy of God”? The New Testament is full of commands, exhortations, and examples of behavior that Christians should pursue. But the most complete instruction we have on this point is from Jesus himself: Love God with your whole being and your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22.38-39).

· 1 Th 4.1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

Paul follows up his instruction in 1 Th 2.12 with this encouragement: Abound more and more in walking worthy of God. I understand this to mean that we should never be content with the condition of our current walk. We should continue to “up our game” in this regard.

· 1 Th 4.12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

In another passage, 1 Timothy 4.12, Paul wrote that Timothy (and each of us also) should be “an example of the believers in word, in conversation [behavior], in charity [love], in spirit, in faith, in purity”. When we do so, by “be[ing] quiet and … do[ing] [our] own business, and … work[ing] with [our] own hands” (1 Thessalonians 4.11), we will lack nothing. Perhaps this is a promise of physically having no lack, but we definitely will not lack spiritually because we have obeyed God.

·2 Th 3.11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Paul offered this instruction about “walking disorderly” in the context of correcting the behavior of some who – believing Christ’s return was imminent – had stopped working and were “mooching” off their brothers and sisters. While we should encourage our brethren to be busy providing for themselves and others (1 Timothy 5.8), we should do the same for those who the Scriptures teach are walking disorderly in other aspects of life.

I pray that each of you has been blessed by this week’s reading!

CITIZENSHIP IN HEAVEN

08.16.24 

Today I am heading into the immigration department near Denver to take my Civils’ and English tests to become an American citizen.  I am super excited about this and glad that I am becoming an American citizen.  The test covers 100 questions concerning the basics of government, history, and geography of the United States.  I will be asked 10 questions in which I have to get 6 right.  I hope I pass.  I will be leaving the office in 30 minutes to do the test, and by the time you read this on Friday, you will know if I have passed or not.  If I fail, it will be a pretty public failure, but at this point in ministry, looking like a failure in front of people is somewhat normal.  Fortunately, I have a lot of people praying for me to pass the test so it could be a lack of brains, but the prayers of faithful Christians can do much.   

Philippians 3:20-21 talks about our citizenship in heaven.  “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”  One of the questions of the Civils’ test is about loyalty to the USA.  You are to be loyal to America first and foremost of all.  But there is also a question about what the meaning of freedom of religion is.  The answer is you are free to practice a religion or not practice a religion.  It is your choice.  No one can force a religion on you, and no one can forbid you from practicing a religion. 

There is a difference between the American view of government and religion verses the view of government and religion in the Roman world.  In Rome, the Caesar was considered a god, while the President of America is not.  I can be loyal to America because it is an earthly nation, but my true loyalty is to the Spiritual Kingdom of Jesus Christ.  My faith trumps my earthly citizenship.  We all need to see that our commitment to the church should be more pressing than our commitment to a country on earth.        

THE HELLS ANGELS

08.09.24

As the youth group was traveling to hike Mt. Sherman, we stopped at a gas station that had a Dunkin’ Donuts shop.  We were all using the bathroom there.  We also got some donuts that hit the spot at 5am in the morning.  While we were there, we saw the famous biker gang called the Hells Angels. 

The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is an international outlaw motorcycle club founded in 1948 in Fontana, California. Known for their distinctive insignia featuring a winged skull and their red and white colors, the Hells Angels are one of the most notorious and well-recognized biker gangs in the world.  While some members engage in legal activities, the club has been associated with various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, weapons offenses, and violent crimes.  They are known for their loyalty to the club and their willingness to use violence to protect their interests.  Public perception of the Hells Angels is mixed; some view them as rebels and freedom fighters, while others see them as dangerous criminals.

Did we avoid them?  No, instead we started to talk to them about donuts and Jesus Christ.  There was almost the need to fight about a toasted coconut donut, and there was a mention that we were a church group. 

There was some discussion about getting a group picture together.  Youth group and Hells Angels in the same picture.  Perhaps we thought the world would need to see this.  We need more coming together to show love to one another instead of more fighting.  The world needs to see that we can be kind to each other even though various groups might represent different interests.  We need to see more faith, not fear of one another. 

WHAT IS DESIRE?

08.02.24

1 Timothy 3:1 - “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.”  Paul opened his discussion of qualifications for the office of overseer with a commendation of the position. The term “sets his heart on” can refer to a desire coming from self-centered ambition, but it may also be a desire that springs from genuine love and commitment (Heb 11:16, where “longing” is the same Greek word). The word “desire” (oregomai) signifies to “stretch oneself out.” In a figurative sense, it describes aspiration or desire. Paul did not suggest that longing for the office was blameworthy in itself; in fact, he suggested it is a “fine work he desires to do” (NASB).[1] 

There is powerful insight in this explanation of the idea of desire.  It is “to stretch oneself out.”  We talk about stretching ourselves, or improving ourselves, and there is a sense within the person that desires to be an elder of being willing to grow to heightened spiritual maturity.  Yes, elders are to already be spiritually mature, as a novice in the faith would be given to pride, but there is also a realization that after a man becomes an elder, he will continue to go through the process of added faith formation.  The man that comes into the eldership is rarely the man that steps down from the eldership after long years of serving a congregation.  Sometimes there is a spiritual maturity that is found through guiding the flock. 

The idea of desire is one in which the person wishes to continue to grow in Christ.  It is perhaps seen as the next step or the next phase of spiritual progress.  A person who desires to serve is someone that desires to be continually challenged by the Lord.  A person has to consent to this truth.  You cannot be an elder and desire to be stagnant in your faith journey.  It is accepting a new challenge by the Lord. 

You desire to continue to learn.  Not that you are already there, but you are willing to learn new lessons given by God. 

[1] Thomas D. Lea and Hayne P. Griffin, 1, 2 Timothy, Titus, vol. 34, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 107.

Healthy People – Healthy Congregation

07.26.24

“It has been said that health comes from empowering people to take responsibility for their own health. The health of a congregation is no different. It comes from individuals being responsible, being stewards of the whole. Healthy people create healthy organizations. The congregation’s health and the people in it are connected.” *

Christianity is inherently relational. Our journey to emulate Christ's character cannot be undertaken in solitude; it thrives in community. Despite the busyness of modern life, we must remember that true spiritual success is not just about attending church on Sunday morning, but about actively participating in the life of the church community.

As mentioned earlier, each of us bears a share of the responsibility for the well-being of our CR family. Alongside our worship services and Bible classes, the Elders view participation in House-to-House groups as a fundamental element of our family’s health. They feel so strongly about it that they have termed H2H a “Core” ministry. Core in that it is central to developing the spiritual health of the Body.

Castle Rock H2H originally launched with two primary focus areas stemming from the example of Acts 2:42:

1.      Fostering fellowship within the body.

2.     Providing a vehicle to connect and anchor new members and guests into CRCoC.

That focus still holds true today. I am not going to discuss all the research clearly showing how a healthy small group ministry helps more people connect with the church’s life, mainly because I feel, deep down, you already know it to be true. We are called to encourage and nurture the spiritual transformation of each other.

Over the eight years I have been at CR, I have come to know more people on a deeper level through our time together in an H2H group than through any other activity. Participating in a house-to-house group is one of the best opportunities to feel more connected and engaged with others and God’s Word. “The congregation's health and the people in it are connected.” Sign-up sheets are in the lobby.

Mark

* Peter Steinke, Healthy Congregations: A Systems Approach. 1996.

THE ELDER TOLL

07.19.24 

A lot of times people believe that being an elder is a large time commitment.  There is certainly time that must be dedicated to the role of an elder, but there is a bigger toll that elders pay that is often overlooked.  People will focus on the time commitment of shepherding the flock by checking on people, meetings, and making phone calls to check on others.  There is time dedicated to dealing with conflict too.  Time is involved in being an elder, but there is something that is harder to deal with than the sacrifice of time.

A lot of men could be qualified to be an elder, if the giving of time was the only quality needed.  Sometimes men will say “yes” or “no” based on the perceived time commitment, but the higher sacrifice for an elder is the emotional commitment to the congregation.  It is more mental space than calendar space. 

Think about some of the qualifications for an elder.  He is to be above reproach, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, gentle, not quarrelsome, not arrogant or quick tempered, not violent, and disciplined.  A lot of these qualities are concerning the mind.  At the root of them is how does an elder handle his emotions?

A lot of times the meetings or situations can be tense.  There are strong feelings and sometimes poor behavior.  You will leave the meeting feeling terrible, and it will keep you up at night.  You might be up because of how poorly you have been treated, but more often you will be up at night because of how you treated others.  You will have wished you handled yourself better and was more gentle, more loving, and more discerning.  You will hold yourself to a higher standard than those around you. 

A strong elder is someone that can handle the emotions of being a leader.  Do you have the emotional space to care for the flock?  

ADDING ELDERS

07.12.24 

We are in the process of adding new elders to the leadership of the congregation.  This is an exciting time for our congregation as we are seeking to add the highest quality men to the duty of guiding the congregation into the future. 

Titus 1:6-9 states “An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”  These qualifications are important in selecting the right people to lead.  Being an elder is a great blessing.  You have the opportunity to be part of people’s lives in deep ways.  You have the blessing of being a blessing to countless families and being there for people in time of need. 

Over the last year or so, I have been asking people, “What is the most important quality of an elder?  What is the most important characteristic that someone should have to be an effective elder?”  Two of the best responses so far have been “self-denial” and “compassion”.   These are strong insights into what makes an elder effective.  You need to deny self and feel for others.  Having a focus on yourself first is not going to be helpful to a future elder.

Leading is so important in our Churches.  We are excited about adding new elders. 

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

07.05.24

We all probably dislike the announcements.  No one comes to Church and says, “I love the announcements.”  No one wants the announcements to be longer.  If you visit a new Church, the announcements probably do not make much sense to you.  We kind of put up with the announcements as a necessary element, but not a well-liked one.

This past week at Castle Rock the announcements were fantastic.  Rory did a great job, but it was not the tone of his voice or his level of excitement; it was what was included in the announcements.  He highlighted that each day this past week the Lord had blessed our congregation.  The blessings were baptisms, good health, and the bountiful harvest of VBS.  Each day the Lord provided the congregation with a blessing. 

It was great to hear of all the wonderful news in our Church.  God has certainly been good to Castle Rock.  Our congregation has found the favor of the Lord.  We are being true to the stewardship that the Lord has provided through resources and the amazing talent that we have here.

Castle Rock continues to be blessed by the Lord.  There is a warning in scripture that if a congregation is not faithful, the Lord will remove a congregation’s candlestick.  We are seeing instead the Lord allowing our congregation’s light to shine bright throughout our town.  We need to continue to be faithful to God’s plans.  If we shine bright, the Lord will continue to bless our work here.    

VBS WEEKEND

06.28.24

One of my favorite weekends of every year is VBS weekend.  This is going to be the biggest and best VBS we have ever had at the congregation.  I heard that we already have 100 kids signed up for it.  Yes, 100 kids, and I heard that we might be capped on attendance.  You’ve got to love that.

You might be wondering why our VBS is going to be so fantastic?  Well, it starts with the leadership.  We have the best group of ladies leading our VBS.  Our VBS leadership team are the best of the best.  To use a hockey line, we have all first-round draft picks playing on the same line.  I so appreciate the ladies that put together VBS.  The talents they have work perfectly together and because of this dynamic we always have a super successful VBS.

The second reason our VBS is always awesome is because we have a ton of volunteers.  Our congregation loves investing in kids.  You really cannot have a great Church and not care about kids.  As soon as you stop caring about kids, you are certainly going to die as a Church.  Our congregation loves our young people and because of this fact, we are thriving. 

The third reason is that it is hard to lose with kids.  Young people bring so much energy to VBS.  All the kids are pumped up to participate.  There is so much positive joy around the building during VBS week.  It is bonding to be part of VBS and to accomplish the event together. 

So come and join us for another year of VBS.  I am so excited to be a ring master and to work with Tim, our lion.  It is going to be the best!

AN AMAZING MISSION ADVENTURE

 6.21.24

Our congregation took a large group to Kayenta, AZ which is part of the Navajo Reservation.  It is a small town in the Northern part of Arizona.  The landscape is pretty because it is close to the Valley of the Monuments, but the land is dry and dusty.  It was a 9-hour drive away.  The trip was routine, but I hit a deer outside of Durango, Colorado.  Fortunately, we were able to continue, but there was considerable damage to the front of the Highlander. 

The congregation is expanding rapidly.  Our team was tasked with building new classroom space that is desperately needed.  The congregation has grown from about 14 to 65.  There are a lot of kids because kids are coming from the community to attend the healthy environment of the congregation.  On Sunday morning, I walked by a classroom, and it was overflowing.  The added classroom space will be a needed addition.  We did the building, and we did the buying, as we raised over $20,000 dollars for this project.  Once again, Castle Rock provided talent and resources to bless a smaller congregation.  Castle Rock continues to be a lighthouse congregation with an ever-expanding reach into this world. 

The Weems’ family did an amazing job leading the mission trip with much help from those with excellent building skills.  Everyone in our congregation should be so proud of them, but I must admit that the teens were superstars as well.  We had a great group of young people who were amazing.  Our teens are strong in character and commitment.  The work ethic was off the charts. 

The whole trip was so uplifting.  I preached on Sunday morning and gave a devotion on Sunday evening with various men giving a devotional talk each night.  In the talk I gave, I mentioned that when you pour yourself out for God, God fills you up with so much more.  We saw this during the mission trip.  Everyone came back full.  It was an amazing trip.        

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

6.14.24

It is safe to say that much of what we read in the Old Testament this year makes us uncomfortable. Last week, I was listening to parts of Ezekiel, and it was unpleasant to hear the word "whore” (ESV) repeated so many times (depending on your translations, prostitute, harlot). If we think of why those words are so vulgar to us, we gain a better understanding of how God views sin in his people. Sin violates, not just in a legal sense, but also morally and relationally, our relationship with God.

The struggle between what we read of God in the Old Testament and the New Testament is not new. Yet we are still faced with the question of how we teach our children and adults this problematic side of God's character, one that honors his love and how that love manifests in a hatred of sin in his children. If we do not spend adequate time studying this part of God's character, are we missing opportunities to develop a deeper, and I dare say, more accurate, understanding of him? I do not know the appropriate age to begin exposing our kids to this side of God. But we must. Do we struggle to purge sin from our lives because we do not realize that God's love and God’s hate for sin are two sides to the same coin? God of the Old Testament is the God in the New Testament.

Understanding this side of God's character enriches our appreciation for Christ's death, the Gospel message, and what we will soon read in the New Testament. I, for one, am grateful for our time reading these challenging texts, as it is a much-needed reminder for me to rekindle the same repulsion to sin in my life. If you have not yet joined us for the weekly reading of God's Word, I challenge you to do so as we all strive to mirror more of God's character.

Mark

LESSONS IN FLY FISHING

6.7.24

Recently, I was up in Casper, Wyoming fly fishing.  Each time I’m there, I learn a lot more about the sport.  Like most activities, the skill level increases with practicing the art.  You continue to improve on your skills and seem to master the task a little better each time.  In a lot of sports, there is never real mastery of an activity, like golf, but you can get better at it the more you do it right.  Here are a few parallels:

1. Keep the Rod High.  If you want to catch a fish, you must keep your rod high in the air.  The reason is that it is a natural way to keep the line tight on the fish.  A lot of fish will attempt to shake the hook out, but keeping the rod high means that the flex in the rod does the work for you.  It is the first principle of fishing.  You are allowing the rod to do the work.  Use the first principle of fishing to think about Christianity by allowing the word of God to do the work.  If you want to grow, you need to keep the reading of God’s word as the first habit.  It will do its work for you. 

2. Keep the Rod Still.  Imagine an apple and putting a hook into it.  At first, the hole is small, but when you move the hook around, the hole will be enlarged.  You must keep the rod still because too much movement causes the hole to grow, and the fish will come off the hook.  Sin has the same effect on you.  The more sin that enters your life, the bigger hole that it causes in the heart.  Sin increases the more that you do it.

3. Keep the Rod moving in the Cast.  You must drive the cast forward.  You cannot be too relaxed.  You have to commit to the task of the cast.  When you practice your faith, you need to commit to it.  Do not be too relaxed, go for it.

There are always parallels with fishing and the faith.  Jesus would use this image too.            

SUMMER SUCCESS

5.31.24 

We had a wonderful family camp this past weekend. It was a super successful family camp. Eric Lyons did a great job teaching us about the Divinity of Jesus Christ. His lessons were informative and insightful. All of the extra events, like the game night and variety show, were amazing. It was truly an uplifting time. A big thank you to the Lawrence Family for hosting our family camp once again. What an All-Star family!

Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer. It is the time of transition from the Spring to the Summer months. For many years, it seemed that summer was a time of break, but that does not seem to be the case any longer. Summer seems to be one big sprint. There is travel, visits from family, extra activities, and a longer day. In the summer, the sun stays up longer, so you feel you have more time in a day to work with. Unlike in the winter, at 7 pm, you feel like shutting it down for the day. 

To make it through the summer, you need to:

 1.      Plan. I wish I were a better planner, but I must plan to make it through the summer well. There are so many moving parts, and you need to look ahead to not feel overwhelmed. Also, carve out some family time beforehand because your calendar might get filled out for you. 

2.      Keep Faith First. Do not put your faith on the back burner. You think you might have extra time in the summer, but what might happen is that with all of the visits and trips, your faith might be pushed down on the priority list. Keep it first. The last thing you want to see is you getting out of the habit of attending worship or Bible class. 

The summer is always a wonderful time in Colorado. It is full of excitement and joy. Enjoy the time.        

FAMILY CAMP WEEKEND

5.24.24 

We are blessed to have family camp again this weekend. This has become a long-standing tradition for the congregation. We appreciate the Lawrence family for putting on this wonderful event each year. It is always an uplifting and encouraging time. You will be getting this newsletter on Friday, so I want to share some advice on how to have the best family camp ever.

1.      Speak to Someone New. Family camp is an excellent opportunity to meet people in the congregation. Many times on a Sunday Morning, you sit in the same spot, so you get to know the people around you. At Family camp, you will interact with many new people. You never know the relationships that you will start and what will come of them. Use family camp to extend your friendship network in the congregation. 

2.      Enjoy the Nature. We are staying at the YMCA of the Rocky’s, a fantastic facility. There are the mountains surrounding us. One year, Travis Kronberg was looking at Longs Peak, and I asked him, “Do you want to climb that?”  He said, “It is my dream to stand at the top of that peak.”  I told him, “The first week of August, we will.”  He trained through the summer, and we did a warmup hike, and on the first Tuesday of August, we hiked Longs Peak together. All because of family camp.

3.      Have Fun. Whatever game you are playing, enjoy it. If you bring the mindset of having fun, you will have fun. Do not be too cool for anything. Get into whatever activity is happening. I remember some game we were playing, and Trey McKinnis was on my team, and he was so into what we were doing. It was a blast just being with him. 

Family Camp is always fun. I hope this is the best year yet for you. 

CLONER OR CREATOR

May 17, 2024

There are numerous paths to success in an enterprise. You can follow the model from another successful organization or imagine a new path. Neither path is intricately better. The goal is to obtain results. There is no moralistic higher ground between a cloner and a creator. Scripture holds the two concepts in tension. 

We are commanded to clone ourselves after Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:1 says, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”  Jesus set the example for Christians to follow. In 1 Peter 2:21, we read, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”  One would be foolish to believe that he or she could tread a new way better than Jesus himself while he was on earth. A faithful Christian seeks to clone himself into the very image of God. 

On the other hand, there are times to explore a new path forward. You use the foundational principles of the faith, but you must apply them to a new context. Matthew 18:18-20 gives some flexibility to adapt to the situation before the Church. You cannot change what is already written in scripture, but there will be times when the congregation must render judgments of what is acceptable. “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Our congregations are good at cloning but not creating. The creating process requires discernment. What is a Biblical way to handle a situation that a congregation is facing? Is this activity authorized or forbidden within scripture? How does this choice impact people? Are the principles behind the choice of the highest importance?

To adapt to the current culture, one must be open to the creating concept while faithfully practicing cloning.         

MOTHER’S DAY

5.12.24

Who are the women that you admire? I ran across a woman recently in reading about the Civil War that really interested me. Her name was Clara Barton. She has a fascinating history. She is probably most famous for her work with the Red Cross, but her work during the Civil War was remarkable. 

What is most interesting is the blending of struggle and success. She had a great job, but sexism stopped her career. She struggled with depression and uselessness. But she had a tenacity that was off the charts. Her life has numerous highlights, but one that stands out is her work locating soldiers’ histories after the war. A lot of soldiers died in prison camps across the South. Few people knew the names of these fallen dead. 

“In late June, a young Connecticut Yankee named Dorence Atwater walked into a post office in Washington, DC, and saw Barton’s list of missing men. He was no ordinary young man. He had been captured after the Battle of Gettysburg and had spent five months in a rebel prison camp at Belle Isle in Richmond. He had then been transferred to the new Confederate prison camp at Andersonville, Georgia, where he was among the first prisoners. He had spent a year there. Though he was only twenty years old, blue-eyed and beardless, he was badly emaciated and had the wrinkled skin of an older man. What was most unusual about him, though, was the astounding document in his possession. He told Barton in a letter that he had a copy “of the Death Register of the Prison at Andersonville, Ga. containing the names of 12,658.”

She helped local missing men from the war and wrote to families to let them know what happened to their loved ones. It was a huge task, but one done through compassion. I think what makes a mother is someone who shows compassion for others. 

            Gwynne, S. C.. Hymns of the Republic: The Story of the Final Year of the American Civil War (pp. 411-412). Scribner. Kindle Edition.   

AREA-WIDE WONDERFULNESS

5.3.24

This weekend, we had two big area-wide events. Both were super encouraging. One was L2L, which was hosted this weekend at the Denver West Hotel near Golden. We had 350 people at the convention. It was a super success. One observation I had was that the smaller congregations did better this year. In the past, the larger congregations seemed to be on stage more than the smaller Churches, but this year, this was not the case. It appeared that the smaller congregations participated more. As a larger church, there are numerous opportunities for activities, but with a smaller church, it seems most kids participate in L2L. You can see the need for L2L in this area. As a larger church, we need to provide critical mass for L2L to encourage a vibrant atmosphere for our smaller churches in the area.  L2L is a wonderful mission work to keep the churches strong in Colorado. It very much aligns with our extension ministry, which serves area-wide congregations. If you think about it, if we do not invest in smaller congregations, we will see a decline in all churches. We do not want to be standing around someday wondering what happened to our fellowship when we knew we had a job to do to help the Kingdom. 

Similarly, the last SYD (Singing Youth Denver) concert was at the Bear Valley Congregation on Sunday evening. The SYD ministry has been going on for 60 years in this area. It originally started for teens in smaller congregations to have a youth group experience. It was a way to bring together local teens from congregations to establish friendships. You can see this as some current leaders were friends in SYD years ago. SYD is another work that started to help the overall church body in Colorado. 

Seeing Castle Rock at the forefront of these works is always amazing. Castle Rock was the overseeing congregation for SYD for countless years, and we currently have numerous teens who attend SYD. We also helped launch L2L in the area. We are not standing alone celebrating our successes but standing with others, strengthening the Kingdom of God.

L2L WEEKEND

4.26.24

This weekend numerous people will be at the L2L convention.  It is always a wonderful experience joining other congregations in shaping the next generation of kids.  It is encouraging to see young people developing themselves for the service to the Lord.  Last week I was with a couple that was talking about the difference that L2L makes.  The couple said that a schoolteacher asked them about some of the kids from the congregation.  The teacher noticed that the cofc kids had an amazing ability to deliver a speech.  She asked about why.  The couple told the teacher it was the L2L program from the church.  It gave young people the experience of speaking in front of a group.  The skills that L2L creates helps young people in church, and in the world. 

The need to develop leaders is crucial in our congregations.  Leadership does not just happen.  People are not born to be natural leaders.  People are mentored into leadership.  There are skills that are cultivated that translate well into leadership.  Leadership is influence and there are ways to develop influence.  One of the ways is through giving a talk.  Can you motivate people through your words?

The earlier we start young people getting up front the better.  Instead of the nerves that come from public speaking, we allow people to get comfortable with this act through L2L.  The more chances you get the better.  Each time you give a talk the next time it becomes easier. 

This is just one example of the L2L difference.  This weekend is going to be great.  We appreciate everyone being there and helping out the Church.

My Fitness Journey

4.19.24

For Christmas, I got a smart scale.  A magical scale that gives you a ton of data about your physical health.  It gave me numbers like weight, bone mass, fat percentage, and even water weight.  All of this wonderful data would sync to my Garmin watch on my wrist, and I could see the data in the app on my phone.  Because of all of this data, I got motivated to eat better.  

But I could not do this alone; I got a friend, who is my tennis friend, to coach me through the journey.  I have to text him daily to tell him what I ate.  If I do well, he says good job, and when I eat poorly, he tells me to get with it again in not-so-nice words.  What is really happening is that I am seeing patterns in my eating.

1.    I eat terribly on trips.  When I am on trips working, I am not in control of what I eat, or I make excuses for myself.  I have some mental loop that gives me a pass when I am on a trip. 

2.    I do not eat in moderation.  I love ice cream, and instead of having a little bit, I eat a pint of it.  I might not eat a lot throughout the day, but when I eat badly, it goes bad fast.  

3.    I am a reward eater.  If I work out or am stressed, I eat to make myself feel better.

4.    I get tired of eating well.  It is mentally hard to discipline yourself to say no repeatedly.

I share all this with one point in mind.  Our eating is like our Christianity.  We have certain habits that are hard to break.  Often, we go through the motions, but when we have to watch ourselves, we see our unhealthy patterns emerge.  Think about your daily walk with the Lord; what are your healthy habits and your unhealthy habits in your faith?  What would you learn if you watched your faith like I am watching what I eat?

L2L

4.12.24

We are excited for L2L to be coming soon.  It is at the end of the month, and people have kicked in the preparation in high gear.  This is always exciting because we are preparing the next generation for service in the Church.  L2L does a great job in helping our young people become comfortable in leadership roles, from song-leading to giving a devotional.  We are blessed to have a convention in Denver.

L2L blesses our young people in numerous ways.  One of the best ways is to help them develop the ability to get in front of others.  Many jobs require the ability to speak in front of a group.  L2L starts young people early in this skill.  Having a fear of public speaking can hold someone back, but L2L has kids up so early that this fear rarely develops.  Instead of the nerves kicking in, there is a quick comfort in talking in front of others.  One cannot underestimate this skill in a person’s life.

We appreciate all the parents and coaches who put hours into this ministry.  We are blessed to have highly involved kids, teens, and adults helping with this ministry.  Thank you so much for investing in the next generation.  The lessons kids learn through L2L cannot be measured, but those skills will make finite and infinite differences in this world and the next. 

So, the next few weeks will be busy with L2L activity, but it will be so worth it in the end.  You are investing in the future, and those returns are often not seen in weeks but in years.  Our congregations across the state will be blessed because of L2L.  

HOW TO TALK ONLINE

4.5.24

“In contrast, we’ve only been communicating online since 1983. Relatively speaking, the norms and behaviors for talking over the internet are still in their infancy.”  This statement was an interesting insight from the book “Supercommunicatiors.”  The insight was concerning a group page on Facebook about gun control. The conversations or interactions were intensive and unproductive. There was a lot of repeated arguing and tone-deaf behavior from all sides of the issue. Name-calling, put-downs, and dismissive labeling were sadly the norm. A spirit of kindness was lacking.

Why are social media interactions negative? The simple solution is that humans have little practice with the art form. We have not been doing it for long. People are learning on the fly with this style of conversation. 

So, how can we do better with online discussions?

1.      Overemphasize politeness. Numerous studies have shown that online tensions are lessened if at least one person is consistently polite.

2.      Underemphasize sarcasm. When we say something in a wry tone, it signals an irony our audience usually understands. When we type something sarcastic online, we typically hear these same inflections within our heads—but the people reading our comments do not.

3.      Express more gratitude, deference, greetings, apologies, and hedges.

4.      Avoid criticism in public forums.

Probably the best rule in online discussions is that if you feel the need to put someone in their place, you should probably realize that you should have kept your place instead of jumping into the dispute. 

Duhigg, Charles. Supercommunicators (p. 167-172). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Two Levels of Conflict

3.29.24

There are two levels of conflict: the issue of the conflict and the underlying emotions connected to the conflict. Often, people believe one is fighting about an issue, but in reality, people are fighting about the feelings under the surface of the conflict.

Here is some insight into this reality from a book called “Supercommunicators.” 

“The first step is recognizing that within each fight is not just one conflict, but, at a minimum, two: There’s the surface issue causing us to disagree with each other, and then the emotional conflict underneath. “Say you have a couple fighting with each other about having another kid,” “There’s the top-level conflict—you want another child, and I don’t—that seems, at first glance, to explain why they’re fighting. But there’s also a deeper emotional issue: I’m angry because you’re prioritizing a kid over my career or I’m scared another child will bankrupt us or I’m frustrated because you don’t seem to care what I want.” Those emotional conflicts are sometimes nebulous, difficult to pin down, but they’re also incredibly powerful—because they contain so much of the anger and disappointment driving this argument beyond the possibility of compromise.”

There will rarely be peace until both parties have the opportunity to share the feelings that are beneath the surface of the dispute. This is hard to do because of an essential factor called trust. In a conflict, trust is low, but the ability to share a feeling is found in a trusting environment. This challenge is why people become stuck in a conflict--low trust and no communication. 

Feelings must be shared to resolve an issue. However, too often, people believe that one can be a robot in conflict, which is rarely the case. To manage conflict, be open to listening to how the other person feels, which opens the door to resolution.      

Duhigg, Charles. Supercommunicators (pp. 137-138). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

DO WE HAVE MORE SHAME TODAY?

3.22.24

A few years ago, in a periodical called The Hedgehog Review, there was a fascinating and important article written by Wilfred McClay, a professor at the University of Oklahoma who is now a professor at Hillsdale College. The article was entitled “The Strange Persistence of Guilt.”

Here’s the opening paragraph:

Those of us living in the developed countries of the West find ourselves in the tightening grip of a paradox, one whose shape and character have so far largely eluded our understanding. It is the strange persistence of guilt as a psychological force in modern life. If anything, the word persistence understates the matter. Guilt has not merely lingered. It has grown, even metastasized, into an ever more powerful and pervasive element in the life of the contemporary West, even as the rich language formerly used to define it has withered and faded from discourse, and the means of containing its effects, let alone obtaining relief from it, have become ever more elusive.

Years ago, the thinkers of secular thought believed that the problem of guilt was from Christianity, but this has not been the case. Our world has become even more judgmental without the plea of Christianity to counter this trend. You have guilt but no forgiveness now. There is guilt or shame about the food you eat, the sports you watch, and the campground spot taken from someone else. There are businesses that you can and cannot go to. The amount of guilt in our world and the judgment from others has increased. There is always a new cause to support or a new cause to reject. Keeping up with what should be supported or canceled is almost impossible. 

Christianity is not the cause of shame; rather, it is the solution. Humanity naturally shames others, but with Christ, we have forgiveness.   

DeYoung, Kevin. Impossible Christianity (p. 61). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Looking for Lessons

3.15.24

We are all reading through the Bible this year.  We are blessed to engage in this process as a congregation throughout the year.  Reading the Bible within a community is truly a beautiful process.  We listen to classes focused on the book of the week and meet in our small groups every two weeks to discuss the book.  These experiences create a shared experience of engaging in the scripture.  We often read the Bible individually, but through this process, we read as a community.

When we read the Bible, we typically look for lessons or insights from the text.  We bring various questions to the Bible, looking for answers.  Some of the questions we might have are: what does a man of God look like?  What attributes does a faithful lover of God have?  How does a woman conduct herself through the lens of scripture?  Sometimes, the questions we ask come from our situation in life.  What you are currently facing is what you often look for in the Biblical text.  Interestingly, while reading the Bible individually, you typically have a limited view of questions. However, when you expand the reading within a community, you gain new questions from perspectives you might not have considered or thought about previously.  You could find God much bigger or more complex than previously thought.

Our small groups and classes are a blessing because this format provides avenues to listen and learn.  What else are people seeing in the text?  How are people viewing the situations in the Bible?  Your understanding of scripture can be so much richer because you attended a small group or class.

I really want to encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities.  Step outside of the individual reading and join in the community of Bible reading.  You will be blessed.

COLD AND WARM CHURCHES

3.8.24

Does everyone think that their church is warm?  Does everyone think that their church is friendly?  Does everyone think that their church is inviting?  Probably not, and it depends on who you are.  There is a lot that goes into believing a church is warm.  Do people talk to you?  Do you feel welcomed?  On the other side, do you feel invisible?  Do you feel ignored?  Do you feel that everyone is talking to everyone that one knows?  So, what is the difference between a warm church and a cold church?

1.      Do people talk with you?  This is probably the most basic expectation.  If you go to church, people should talk with you.  We can put this off on others, like the people did not stay around, but probably most people are not going to stand around too long feeling awkward if no one is engaging them in conversation.  You are going to stand up, look around, and if no one starts talking, you are going to make your way out the door.  Very few people are going to come in and force conversation.  Most people will expect the church members to do that. 

2.      Is there a lot of insider language?  We all have been in a group and there is an inside joke that is stated, and everyone laughs besides you.  You just do not get it because only the people who know one another well get it.  Sometimes the jokes about people in a congregation can backfire because a new person does not know why it is funny or not.  Sometimes the simple announcements can create this feeling.  There is plenty happening for the church people, but you are out of the loop.

3.      How are people dressed?  It feels terrible to be over dress or under dressed at an event.  It makes you feel like you are standing out.  No one might care, but you do.  You feel uncomfortable. 

There are always numerous signs of a church being cold or warm.  Sometimes we do not realize how we make people feel.  We always need to think about creating a warm atmosphere.    

HOW STRONG ARE YOU?

3.1.24 

People call it by many names. It can be called grit, bravery, pluck, strength of will, backbone, nerve, valor, fortitude, toughness, hardiness, resolve, determination, tenacity, and gumption. Still, it all comes down to the ability to keep going when the going gets tough. How do you respond to challenges?

Years ago, people had the “put up with it” mindset. This approach can work for a while, but it might not be the best way to handle adversity. It was the mindset of ignoring reality before you to accomplish the goal. But in today’s world, how can you be emotionally and mentally healthy and still have a fantastic resolve? Can you be attuned to your feelings and body and still accomplish challenging goals?

 I believe the book of Acts gives us one key insight into this mindset. Focus on the bigger goal. Do not deny what is before you; do not run from your feelings but attempt to accomplish something bigger than yourself. Have a bigger goal before you.

Acts 8:1-4 “And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.”

The early church was struggling with a lot of traumas. People who were dear to them were being killed. You see strong emotions expressed, “great lamentation,” but the people still kept the goal before them. You have to spread the gospel. People have long dealt with pain through purpose.       

 

UP COMING CLASSES

2.23.24

Our Bible reading program for the year is going well.  We are about two months into the reading and people are sticking to the routine.  It has been highly successful and helpful.  One of the best blessings has been the togetherness that we are experiencing as a congregation.  People are on the same page.  We are doing this together.

 On Wednesday Night, we are finishing up a study of David, we have one lesson left.  After this, we will have a short series of lessons on Art and Spirituality.  It will be a integration of pictures and Bible study.  We will see how people viewed religious ideas through the art and we will compare this to the Bible text itself.  It should be an interesting study, and will not last that long.  A couple of weeks.

Our classes on Sunday morning are going well because we are sticking to the reading program.  This is helpful because everyone is familiar with the topic from the reading of the various books of the Bible.  It allows us to listen better to the text.  Also, we had a couple of weeks in which we canceled because of weather.  Let’s not fall out of the habit of attending too.

After the Art and Spirituality class, we will be switching to a class called “Jesus and His Old Testament Values.”  Since we are reading through the Bible, I thought it would be good to have a class on the spiritual formation of Christ through the Old Testament Bible.  Where did Jesus get his teaching, it was from the Old Testament.  His values were shaped through the Old Testament text.

I appreciate everyone reading their Bibles and the impact this is having on our congregation. 

WHAT MADE JOSHUA GREAT

2.16.24

This week, we are reading the book of Joshua. This book is very popular, and there are always sermons and lessons from it. Joshua is one of the most popular leaders in the Bible. There are countless lessons that one can draw from him. Some of the most mentioned are his faith, courageous character, and ability to see the opportunities, not hindrances. But what are some smaller lessons we can learn from him?

1.      He Was Sincere in his Leadership.

Some people are consistently trying to position themselves to gain an advantage. When their actions seem aimed at gaining favor with others, it isn't easy to know the motives of those individuals. Do these people have your best interests at heart, or is it simply manipulation so the leader can get something in return? The best leaders are honest leaders. The goal is to do good. These people make mistakes, own those mistakes, and continue to press on. Their conduct is honest; you know what they think and feel without much pretending or posturing. This is the type of leader people can get behind. As Joshua plainly declares, his instruction and warnings to the people were not his own words but the words of God. Joshua 23:14 states, "And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed."

2.      He Made God His Guide

The temptation is strong to make yourself and your desires your guide.. Joshua never did this. He was looking to be led by the Lord.  Joshua 1:8, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." Keeping the focus on accomplishing God's will is foremost essential in leadership. Soon, the will of God becomes your will.

Quitter’s Day

2.9.24

January 19th, 2024, is known as Quitter’s Day. Strava (the activity tracking company) calls this date Quitter’s Day because it is the end of most people’s fitness activity. In 2019, Strava looked at over 800 million user-logged activities and discovered that January 19th is when most people give up on their New Year’s fitness resolution. How about you? Have you already packed it in on the 2024 resolutions? Whether you have quit or not, are you keeping the goals that you set for yourself for the new year? We are into the month of February, and are you keeping your commitments to yourself?

Many Christians talk about counting the cost of an activity, but I think we talk more than we realize the power of this statement. We all want to improve, but have you considered the time commitment? Have you considered the sacrifices you need to make to make your goals come true? We all hear the verses from Jesus, but counting the cost is a significant step in accomplishing a goal.

Luke 14:27-33 “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,  saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’  Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Sometimes, we think we can add, and add, and add to what we are doing, but rarely is this the case. It is best to think about what you will do and what you will not do. We all have a limit to what we can accomplish in a given week. What are you going to sacrifice to achieve the dream? Before you start something, count the cost by stating what you will give up first. You probably will find yourself counting the cost better.

TUNNEL VISION AND DECISIONS

2.2.24

“The largest proxy advisor, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), was started with good intentions in the mid-1980s and now advises a large number of institutional investors on voting matters.  In 2004, they advised Coca-Cola shareholders to withhold votes from Warren Buffett because of conflicts of interest related to his ownership of Dairy Queen. In an angry op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, fellow Coke director Herbert Allen sarcastically wrote, “Maybe ISS has a strong point that Mr. Buffett’s vote on the board can be swayed because a company that he probably forgot that he owned has a small contract with Coke that could add up to as much as three cents of his $50 billion fortune.”  ISS’s formulaic evaluation penalized Buffett even though his ownership of DQ was tiny compared to his $10 billion of Coca-Cola stock. Apparently there was also no question on ISS’s checklist that asked, “Is the candidate the greatest capital allocator to ever live?””

The story about attempting to kick Warren Buffett off of Coke’s board of directors is interesting.  It demonstrates a problem that humans can have in making a choice.  The group of advising clients became focused on the conflict of interest over the reality of having perhaps the greatest investor ever on the board.  The small issue of Buffett owning Dairy Queen became bigger than the value Buffett could bring to the board of directors. 

It is the classic case of allowing a small issue to overwhelm a decision.  You view the small issue first, blinding you to the bigger one.  Think about looking at an object in the distance, which you can see well, but if you put a tiny object closer up to your eye, it causes you to be blind to the larger object in the distance. 

Jesus made this point in Matthew 7:3-5, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Gramm, Jeff. Dear Chairman (p. 196). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

 

THE LAW OF HAPPINESS

1.26.24

“A common storyline of history goes like this: Things get better, wealth increases, technology brings new efficiencies, and medicine saves lives. The quality of life goes up. But people’s expectations then rise by just as much, if not more, because those improvements also benefit other people around you, whose circumstances you anchor to. Happiness is little changed despite the world improving. It’s been like this forever. Montesquieu wrote 275 years ago, “If you only wished to be happy, this could be easily accomplished; but we wish to be happier than other people, and this is always difficult, for we believe others to be happier than they are.” John D. Rockefeller never had penicillin, sunscreen, or Advil. But you can’t say a low-income American with Advil and sunscreen today should feel better off than Rockefeller, because that’s not how people’s heads work. People gauge their well-being relative to those around them, and luxuries become necessities in a remarkably short period of time when the people around you become better off.”

The desire to compare is strong in humanity.  Paul speaks of having contentment in Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”  How did Paul reach this level of happiness? 

He had to have overcome the desire to compare himself to others around him.  This is easier said than done.  But you can help yourself.  One way is to stay off of social media.  If you notice yourself viewing others and feeling a little jealous, perhaps turn off the screen.  There are some people on social media that are creating an image and what you are seeing is not reality, but a highlight reel.  There is a big difference between the two.  Be intentional about avoiding stuff that creates a feeling of discontentment.    

Housel, Morgan. Same as Ever (pp. 25-26). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Why Do Companies and Churches Fail?

1.19.24

I have been reading a book called "The Innovator's Dilemma."  It is a famous book about innovation in companies.  It has some interesting studies on various industries, especially the disk drive industry for computers.  The author highlights that the company that dominated one form of the disk drive rarely produced the next leap in technology for the upgraded model.  He notes that this lack of innovation was not from a lack of resources or even good management; instead, it was what he called a "value network."  A value network is the customers that use your product. The problem was that the company was attempting to please its customers, so there was little motivation to bring about a new product because the current customers were happy with what they already had.  It was hard to invest in the new when the old was working.  The companies struggle to see the next jump forward because the value network is entrenched in the old products.  

The author stated that it is the customers that drive the innovation of a company.  What a customer wanted was most important.

Understanding the desires of the people you are serving is critical.  The customers' wants outweigh the skill of management or leadership, and it even trumps the amount of money thrown at a problem.  To turn this towards a church insight, members must be aware of what they want.  What the majority of members desire creates the fabric of the congregation.  The majority of energy is channeled to serving the members.  In other words, the member's wishes become the church's desires, which is a reminder to all of us to focus on aligning ourselves with the will of God.  

A congregation can fail when its people are no longer aligned with the Lord.  The focus becomes misplaced on meeting members' needs over accomplishing the Lord's mandates.  With time, members get the church that they wanted.  We better make sure it is the church that the Lord desires.

Flexibility and Snow

1.12.24

It is Monday morning and outside my window there is a snow storm.  A good one, but not a major one.  One that makes you stay off the roads, but not one that forces you off the roads.  On Monday mornings I write the bulletin article and do the slides for the Sunday Morning PowerPoint.  It is a routine that I hate to change up.  So instead of sitting in my office, I am writing this bulletin from home, but I have meetings today at 1pm and 3pm and will be in the office at 10am.  This snow is throwing my routine off.

It is funny how much routine plays in our lives.  This morning I was reading the book of Exodus, which is our weekly reading this week, and it talked about Moses walking about Egypt and he saw his people being mistreated and he killed the Egyptian doing it.  Killed him! The next day he was walking the streets, which seems to be part of his daily routine, but two men were fighting and he tried to break up the fight, but the men made a comment about the murder he committed. Moses realized that his killing was public knowledge so he left of town.         

AND I THOUGHT SOME SNOW WAS STOPPING ME.  Moses murdered a man!  The great leader of Israel, the deliverer of God’s people was a murderer.  I think that we read the Bible and the stories become so commonplace.  We need to stop and think about some of the details in these accounts.  It really teaches us about the unpredictability of life. There will be poor choices, yours and those around you.  There will be weather issues, like snow.  The nature of living is that you cannot predict the future.  You must learn the art of flexibility.  

 Moses runs into the desert and is there for forty years.  Then one day God appears to him and says, “you got to go back to Egypt to save my people”. So Moses heads back.  You must roll with it.     

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

 1.5.24

 January 1st is a Holiday, so Tuesday, January 2nd is the official start of the year. All of the goals you have for yourself and the promises you have made to yourself started that day. First of all, what are your goals that you have made? We have the “Look at the Book” goal of reading our Bible, and you probably have a few personal goals, like praying more or running more. If you are like more, goals are exciting. It is a challenge to accomplish. So here is some helpful advice on starting well for 2024. 

1. 2 Chronicles 15:7 - “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”  A lot of times, the process of reaching a goal is delayed gratification. You are pushing off the rewards instead of seeking the pleasure instantly. A way I like to think about this is through a motto that I have: play the long game. What is best not in the moment but in ten years? Use this trick of thinking about what is best for the next week, month, or year. 

2. Proverbs 15:22 - “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”  One of the best ways to accomplish a goal is to tell others about it. If you have accountability, you have a better system in place to fulfill it. You can get advice from people and ask others about how they were able to accomplish the goal that you want. Make it a community effort.

3. Luke 14:28 - “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”  You have to plan out the goal. If you want to build a tower, you have to know the steps to complete it. 

 Good luck, everyone, with your goals in the coming year. It is going to be a great year. We can do this together.   

LOOK AT THE BOOK AS ARRIVED

 12.29.23

The time has arrived to start reading through the Bible as a congregation.  We are excited about this upcoming year of reading through the inspired text of the Bible.  Our theme this year is “Become” from the three-year rotation of the 3 B’s.  Each year, we focus on one of the B’s: Belong, Become, and Bless. We believe at Castle Rock that we Belong to God, Become like Jesus Christ, and Bless others through the power of the Holy Spirit.  This year, we are going to focus on becoming more Christ-like by immersing ourselves in God’s Word.

There has been a lot of chatter concerning Look at the Book.  People have been giving me ideas on how to stay motivated to do the reading.  One excellent idea was to text others about what you read that morning.  What jumped out at you from the page?  What impacted you?  What made you curious to know more?  Share what you are thinking about the text with others.  It will make them want to read more because others will want to see how the daily reading impacted them. 

Now, some of our members have already started to read the text.  I must admit this temptation was in my heart.  I remember thinking about starting my reading recently in Genesis to get a head start but elected to read 1 Samuel because I am teaching on David on Wednesday Night.  Honestly, you cannot fault someone for wanting to get started early.  I love it.

It is going to be a transformational year for our congregation.  You will not want to miss out on this wonderful project that we are doing together.     

     

CHRISTMAS EVE

12.22.23

 O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

'Til He appears and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born

O night, O Holy night, O night divine!

Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child

Holy Infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace

O Holy Night and Silent Night are two of my favorite Christmas songs.  The lyrics never get old.  Even though we do not know the date of the birth of Christ, we do know that there was one night in the history of humanity that the Christ child entered into this world.  For years, there has always been something magical to me about Christmas Eve, maybe it is because on this night so long ago the world changed.  God broke into time, not as a king, not as a Caesar, but as a baby.  How ever you are spending Christmas Eve, please know as the first song declares “the soul felt its worth.”  It is the night that all around the world the worth of humanity is declared.  We need this message today.  Please sleep tonight in “heavenly peace” because you are valuable to God.   

HOW TO GIVE A GIFT

12.15.23

Some people are excellent gift-givers. The people put a lot of thought into the gift. A good gift is not about the cost, but it is about the fit. You could buy a fancy shirt for someone for 500 dollars, but if it is a lady's shirt and you give it to a teenage boy, he will not consider the gift good. It is not about the cost but about finding the right gift for the right person. I would rather have someone give me running socks than something that was more costly but unnecessary. A good gift is a good connection with the person.

You think about the gift of salvation. We all needed forgiveness of sins. We all need to be reconciled to Christ. Jesus gave us his Son, which was the perfect gift for humanity. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Isaiah 9:6-7, "For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this." Jesus was that perfect gift.

James talks about the giving of a perfect gift. When we give good gifts, we follow God's mindset. James 1:17, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." All good gifts are from the Lord. A good gift is thoughtful, needed, and meaningful. We are going to give a lot of gifts, let's make them meaningful.     

LOOK THROUGH THE BOOK HABITS

12.8.23

As you know, we are starting a Bible reading program next year.  We will read through the Word of God together, one book at a time, each week.  We feel that in the year of “Become,” this is a worthy project to help us be more like Christ.  To succeed with this project, we must create strong habits that will carry us through the year.  Here are a few helpful hints to kick-start the year in Bible reading.

1.      Habit Stack.  We want to start the year strong, so the best way to add a new habit is to stack it on an old habit.  I love drinking coffee in the morning, so I do my Bible reading each morning.  You can pretty much count on me getting a cup of coffee, so it is an easy add to pick up my coffee and Bible each morning.  Use an existing habit and add Bible reading to it.

2.      Start Strong.  At the beginning of any project, the first few days or weeks are essential because of the habit of consistency.  You have to give yourself a feeling of success at the beginning.  Once you create a feeling of accomplishing the goal, you will want to continue the progress.  We want everyone to start strong because if you do not start well, you will not end well. 

3.      Give Yourself Accountability.  What are the consequences of you not reading your Bible?  Give yourself a blessing for accomplishing the task and a punishment for not reading your Bible.  Have some people around you to hold yourself accountable for your commitments. 

As we kick up next year’s Bible reading program, it is essential we get a good start.  Hopefully, these suggestions will help you start well.  

MAKING A LIST

12.1.23

Santa Claus is not the only one that makes a list and checks it twice. Making a list is wise for all of us. Each Monday, I come into the office and write a list of the major tasks for that week. It is an easy way to keep my week moving fast by accomplishing all my roles for that week. I write down tasks like writing the bulletin and writing the sermon. I write down lunch appointments and people to call. I feel that if I do not have this list, I move slower throughout the week. It makes me more efficient.

In the New Testament, there are numerous lists. Often, these lists are moral attributes. There are virtues to add and works for flesh to avoid. Having a list is an easy way to keep everyone on task. A list can be as simple as a list of people to greet. You see this in Romans 16, “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.  Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.  Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.  Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.  Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.  Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus.  Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.  Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.  Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.  Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.”

You have lists of virtues too. 2 Peter 1:5-7 “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” Lists are great to keep you on track. Perhaps make a list of some goals or tasks that you want to accomplish this week. 

SO MUCH APPRECIATION

1.24.23

Thank you to everyone for the amazing celebration for being with the wonderful Castle Rock congregation for 15 years.  I felt overwhelmed and humbled by the attention and warm acts of love that was extended to me and my family.  We all feel honored and appreciated for the care that the congregation has afforded us over all these years.  The elders were so thoughtful to honor us in this way.  Also, thank you to everyone who had a part in putting the celebration together.  It was amazing. 

The Morine family are so thankful that we have been able to serve with you all for so long.  It is an amazing feeling knowing that my children have had a church home.  We have accomplished so much together as a team.  Our congregation has supported missionaries, focused on blessing other congregations in Colorado through the extension ministry, we have planted a L2L convention, hosted workshop for other ministers, and we have seen countless families be blessed through the work of Castle Rock.

We have created a wonderful culture in the congregation.  One that is focused on building one another up, focusing on the core of Christianity, being intentional about having intergenerational families, and seeking to care for one another.  I am really thankful for all that Castle Rock has become over these years, and our members are the true stars of this congregation. 

For years, I have stated that Castle Rock is a talent collecting congregation, and we see that in the eldership, in our members, and those who serve in such powerful ways.  The day might have been about the Morine family, but it really was a celebration of the health of this congregation.  We did this together. 

Starlight and Christmas Trees

11.17.23

This weekend Castle Rock will light the star that sits on top of the castle rock.  This star represents the Holiday season to the town.  There is always the downtown event that seems to unofficially opens the Christmas Season.  But I saw something recently on Facebook about the history of the star.  Here is the little write-up that is interesting.

 “The Star was first set up in 1936 as a symbol of hope during the Great Depression. Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce has hosted the starlighting event since 1962. Equipped with 100 bulbs, the 40-foot Star was constructed by Castle Rock Hose Co. No. 1. It's still kept shining bright by Castle Rock Fire and Rescue. "The star was originally put up by the Castle Rock Fire Department who still maintains it," said History Colorado's Shaun Boyd. "They actually go up there every year, change out all the light bulbs, make sure the wiring’s correct." Traditionally lit throughout the holiday season, the Star was relit during the pandemic in March 2020 "as a reminder that Castle Rock is a strong and united community that will persevere," according the Castle Rock Town Council. The Star was also lit at the end of World War II. It wasn't shaped like a star, though. The lights formed a "V" for victory. It was lit again after Sept. 11, 2001. It's also been relit to celebrate Colorado's big sports moments, too, like when the Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl in 1998 and 2015. The Star will turn off for the season at the end of the National Western Stock Show in January. "When we’re experiencing something out of the ordinary, I think people look for things that are hopeful and celebratory, for a lack of a better word, that bring everybody together," Boyd said.”

The star’s history is connected to Christmas and special events.  Sometimes the star represents adversity, while other times it is a symbol of struggles.  The idea of symbolism is powerful for a Christian.  Think about the Lord’s Supper, or the cross, and the tomb, which are all symbols of something so much more.  

ASKING WHY

11.10.23

There are some activities that have a defined goal.  You play chess and the patterns are always the same.  You play golf and the shots look mostly the same.  You are playing the course, but each behavior is mostly about your ability to control the outcome.  But there are some activities that are hard to predict.  Tennis is a little different from golf because you must react to the other player’s style.  One tennis player might be excellent against another type of player but struggle against a player that has an unorthodox style.  You are reacting to someone reacting.

In our world, there are billions of options for the reasons why something is the way that it is.  A lot of times we take facts as facts but rarely look deeper into the reason why.  Kids are famous for asking why.  Perhaps as adults we give up our curiosity.  We take stuff at face value.  But to really make a change or to see a situation anew, one has to ask “why.”  What is really happening in whatever situation you are thinking about to gain answers? 

There are some questions that I have:

 1.      Why are we losing more of our young people to the world?  People will discuss this, but what is really happening?  There are surveys about the topic, and there are some answers, but often the answers given are surface level.  I wonder how a young person falls away from the Lord.  What are the first cracks in the foundation?

2.      What are the essential elements of personal growth in Christ?  What will make the biggest difference over the long term to influence my faith development?  There is always much to do, but what are the core behaviors that have the biggest impact for transformation?  Why do people not grow as much as we should?

 Asking “why” is a core question.  If we do not think deeper, we might spend much of our time on areas that make little lasting impacts.      

HABITS AND FAMILY

11.3.23

Each week, I write a bulletin article.  I do this every week.  I typically come in on Monday morning, write the bulletin, and develop the slides for my sermon each week.  Most weeks, I have no clue what I will write about unless Mark has assigned me some topic.  So, I give some thought to the topic.  But I was talking to my nephew, a youth minister at a church, and he said, “I hate writing the bulletin each week.”  He is to write a youth bulletin.  He said, “I will never give my best ideas in the bulletin article because no one reads it.”  He had a point.  Would you spend your best ideas on something that has the smallest impact? 

Another friend of mine was talking about getting feedback on his sermons.  He said one man walked out on Sunday morning, looked at him, and said, “That was not one of your best sermons.”  My friend was not offended because he agreed with him.  Each week, there is no way for a preacher to preach a better sermon than the previous one continually.  You will have some terrible weeks, and your material and delivery will be lacking, if not awful.  Some sermons will stink. 

I was at a lectureship last week, and no, this is not an excuse for a bad sermon recently; instead, I saw this principle play out before me.  Some of the lectures were good, and some of them were average and maybe even bordering on bad.  I do not know the amount of time each person put into the lecture.  I also do not know what that person was dealing with that week.

There is a point to all these stories.  Put your time in the matters that matter most.  You should put certain habits first in your life, like Bible reading and prayer.  Loving others is important, but you better love your family first.  We all make choices on how to spend our time.  Ordering this time is essential for good living.     

THE EVIDENCE FOR GOD'S EXISTENCE

This week, I was in Montgomery, Alabama, and while there, a debate competition took place concerning the existence of God. The person denying God's existence stated that he did believe in God because of the lack of evidence. He argued that there was not enough proof for the existence of God. What was interesting to me is that this idea is pretty subjective. There is proof or evidence, but how much is enough to believe in God? People will give ideas on both sides of the debate like they did during the debate that I was listening to, and both people have points to make, but at what point is enough, enough?

Paul believes in God because, through the Holy Spirit, he states that creation testifies to the existence of God. Romans 1:18-20 "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Paul states that creation provides enough evidence of the existence of God. 

I saw this on the retreat we had for preachers last week. The men often looked at the mountains and said, "How can you not believe in God as you see His creation." David felt the same way. Psalm 19:1-4 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun."

We all have a choice to make. How much evidence do you need to believe?

TIMES OF REFRESHING

10.20.23

When you are stressed, do you rest? Have you ever felt that you have one thousand things to do? Ever feel that you have an endless task list to accomplish? Do you feel that sometimes you do not have a moment to spare? These are the moments you should rest, which is shocking advice for the modern American. We have trained to be effective and efficient. Sometimes, you need to step back to move forward. Often, when we are highly stressed, we are not thinking wisely. We are in a fight or flight mode, which causes a lack of imagination. By stopping for a moment to figuratively catch your breath, you can think more clearly and increase the likelihood of not working harder but working smarter. 

Jesus attempted to practice this discipline in Mark 6. He is dealing with the death of John the Baptist, so he tries to get away with his Apostles. The crowd follows, and he has compassion for them, but his heart is looking for a time of rest. "The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.  Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So, they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place." (Mark 6:30-32)

This week, 12 preachers from across the country are coming to Colorado to spend four days in the mountains. I partner with some of this congregation's members and Heritage Christian University to make this time possible. All of the costs are covered for the ministers to attend the retreat. So often, ministers participate in spiritual events, but they are in charge. At this retreat, we serve them. It is a time of refreshing. People have made it possible for us to pour into these preachers to build them up during these four days.   

Drop Kicks For Class

10.13.23

Wanted to share this story I read recently from Mike Allen.  I remember teaching middle school kids and feeling this same way.  Fortunately, I did not drop kick anyone. 

“In junior high, our classes met in a small house across the street from the main College Church building. The church had purchased the house because our congregation was growing, and we needed the extra space. On Wednesday nights, most of the junior high crowd would hang out in front of the classroom-house, standing in the yard or leaning against cars in the driveway, killing time before the evening session started. Then, at 7:00, we’d wind down our conversations and slowly file up to the front door.

Our boys’ class met in the very first room, what used to be the living room. Our chairs were spread in a loose semicircle against three walls. The western wall was covered in windows, and in the summer, the shadows on the floor would grow like beanstalks as the sun went down. Our group was a somewhat rowdy bunch, that was our reputation at least--a bright bunch of boys with too much energy buzzing around inside our bodies. Our teacher, Mr. D, was a middle-aged guy with a firm hand, but he still had some trouble controlling us. One night, we seemed especially restless. Maybe there was a full moon. Although I was participating in the general ruckus, I began toning things down when Mr. D’s eyes started to bulge. My friend Brad wasn’t so good at the toning-down part.

On this night, he sat across the room from me, bouncing up and down in his seat. Mr. D’s face was a mask of frustration. He was definitely approaching the point of can’t-stand-this-nonsense-any-longer. Most of us had seen it before with other adults. Then, as quickly as you could snap your fingers, Mr. D scurried across the room and aimed a karate kick at Brad’s chest. It connected with a thud. Brad stopped his bouncing, and his face turned completely red. I thought he was going to cry, and some of the boys around him giggled nervously.  Mr. D had our attention now. For a moment, he stuttered and stammered on about something, I’m not sure what, and then he just pressed on with the class like a good soldier.

We didn’t realize it at the time, but we had just witnessed what was probably the biggest public foul-up of our teacher’s entire life. The following week, we had a meeting with all of our parents. Mr. D didn’t show up, but he passed along an apology for the kick. What else could he do? Our parents encouraged us to be more cooperative with our teachers, but we got the idea that Mr. D was in more trouble than we were. I’m not sure Mr. D ever taught another Bible class after that. But maybe he did. After a long while. After the dust had settled.”

Mike S. Allen. Growing Up Church of Christ (pp. 35-37). Kindle Edition.

HOW TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION

10.6.23

We all have decisions to make in life.  Sometimes these choices are pretty simple.  Sometimes these choices will influence the rest of your life.  It is always fun to look back at the events of your life and think about “what if.”  What if you did not go to that school, which was up in the air, but went someplace else, there are good chances that you might not have met your spouse.  What would have happened instead?  We can sometimes put too much pressure on ourselves to always make the right call.  Instead, we would be wise to think about how to make a choice more than always trying to be right, which can be hard to see into the future.

1.      Go With The Word.  A life that is attempting to follow God through his Word is going to be wise.  Be a by the book type of person.  If God said it, follow it.  This type of thinking will eliminate a lot of the clear mistakes in life.  In no way will your life be worse by following the advice and laws of the Lord. 

2.      Imitate Christ.  What would Jesus do in this situation?  This concept was super popular for a few years.  People would wear bracelets that had WWJD on them.  You do not see these today, but the principle is still effective.  It is always good to think about what would Jesus do in this situation?  What is the Christlike response here?  You will not reject trying to do the right thing.  You might not always know what Jesus would have done, but you can come close by knowing the Lord deeply.

3.      Gain Faithful Advice.  You are surrounded by good Christian people.  Ask for help by those that you trust.  If a lot of your Christian friends seem convinced by an action, there is a strong likelihood that it might be pretty wise. If all your Christian friends are against it, you might be too. 

Sometimes we can make decisions too hard.  Go through these steps and you will probably find your answer for the majority of your choices.       

A WONDERFUL RISE

9.29.23

We had a fantastic youth rally this past weekend.  What a successful event!  We had over 200 people come to the rally, and we had 335 people at worship on Sunday Morning.  335 is a new attendance record for the congregation.  The old record was 302 people.  It was established years ago for a friends and family day.  It was nice to see so many people on Sunday.  The singing was amazing too.  It felt so loud with all the voices joining in song together.  It was such an uplifting day. 

A big thank you to Jammie and Jeff Linn.  This couple did an amazing job.  Also, we had countless people jump in to help too.  It was truly a team effort that was blessed by the Lord.  God did amazing work this past weekend.  It was great to have Jesse Garner and Landen Wright with us too.  Both of them did a great job preaching and leading us in praise.  We were blessed by the panel discussions too.  We are blessed with a lot of local talent in the area.

Castle Rock continues to invest in the local area.  We believe in being a lighthouse congregation in which we help other congregations.  We do this through the L2L ministry, through the extension ministry, and through RISE now.  We are investing in all the local congregations to bring about unity and spiritual formation.  We believe that we are all better together. 

The future is bright!   

BUILDING TO THIS

9.22.23

This weekend we are hosting RISE.  It is our youth rally.  We have people coming from all over America to be with us.  There has been a ton of work put into this weekend.  People are hosting kids, people are cooking, and people are going to be dunked in a tank too.  The amount of hours given to this task have all been building for this weekend.  Jammie and Jeff Linn have done an extraordinary job in leading this ministry.  RISE would never have been successful without this couple. 

So often in life the dynamic of working toward a goal happens.  You have to lay a foundation for an event to happen.  You do the work, but you really do not know what will happen.  Will it be successful?  Will people come?  What will God do with the event?  You put in the time and energy and the results will come later.  It is truly an act of faith.  You hope for a positive outcome, but you have to believe that all of the work will be worth it in the end. 

Our congregation has done well with this skill.  We had faith to do a youth rally.  We had faith in starting our extension ministry.  We had faith in planting a L2L convention in Denver.  We had faith that when we partner with God, God will bless the work.  Too often congregations will see all the problems with a new plan.  A church will see the issues, instead of the opportunities.  We believe that God is acting and alive and is involved in our work. 

Castle Rock has been a bright light in this area because we have been able to continue to dream.  We dreamed about family camp, and God blessed this work.  We dreamed about starting H2H, and God blessed this work.  We are not a congregation that our days are behind us, instead we are still building for the betterment of the Lord.    

HABITS AND FAITH

9.15.23

When we were taking Gabrielle to college, I was driving while listening to a book called Atomic Habits.  It was a great book and a good way to kill a lot of time in the car.  The book was about 7 hours, so I finished it on one drive.  I love reading books, but sometimes listening to them is good too.  Here are a few take aways that might help you to introduce some positive spiritual practices in your life.

1.      Habit Stacking.  This is the idea of connecting one existing habit with another habit.  For me, I read my Bible each morning after I get my coffee.  I always drink my coffee, and it is a good time to read my Bible and journal.  I already have a time set aside and a habit already formed.  So, I stack my habit on another habit.

2.      Punish Yourself.  When we are trying to add a new habit, we typically think about rewarding ourselves after doing the habit, but if you really want a new habit to stick, try punishing yourself.  If you do not do something that needs to get done, punish yourself.  You will find the motivation to accomplish the goal.

3.      Do A Little, But Do It.  In the book, it talked about going to the gym for even two minutes, which seems pointless.  It really is for a workout, but not for creating a habit.  If you take a small bite out of the habit, you start to form lasting patterns.  Once you are used to going to the gym, you might as well do something while there.  I did this with Bible Reading.  I read two chapters every morning.  I had a hard time sticking to a Bible reading program, but with two chapters, I have a strongly formed habit that is consistent.

Change happens with new habits.  If you want to grow in your faith, think about what habits you could increase or add that will make a positive difference. 

RISE YOUTH RALLY

9.8.23

We are super excited for our youth rally on Sept. 23-24.  We are expecting a couple of hundred people to attend.  On Sunday Morning, we are having a service in which we will have about 350 to 400 people.  Because of the large numbers, we are going to have to be pay attention to some of the logistics.  Here are a few things that could help us.

1.      Drive One Car.  Yes, parking is going to be tight.  Sometimes one family will bring two cars, like the Morine Family.  I come early and the rest of the family comes a little later for class.  On RISE Weekend, we will be bringing one car, and since the Song Leader is staying with us, he will be riding with us as well. 

2.      Pack In.  We are always talking about people needing to sit up front and pack in because we are always short on space.  On this Sunday, this is super true.  We are needing every chair to have someone in it.  We love having a little space but, on this Sunday, we are truly going to have close fellowship.  There might not be any holy kissing, but we need some close sitting.

3.      Come Ready.  This is going to be a special Sunday in the history of the congregation.  We will probably set a record for attention on this Sunday.  Come ready to make history.  Have the attitude of wanting to praise the Lord with all your heart.  The worship will be amazing.

We are so excited for the RISE Youth Rally.  The Linn’s have done an amazing job putting this rally together.  So many people are pulling together for this special time investing in the youth. 

MORE THAN MEMORIES, MOTION

9.1.23

We had a wonderful Walk for Water event on Saturday.  We had over one hundred come out to raise money and awareness for those who travel over four miles a day for drinking water.  We raised enough money so far for three wells which will give lifesaving water for villages. 

On Sunday we had another super high attendance, and we made an announcement about the Youth Rally on September 23rd and 24th.  We are expecting to have the highest attendance ever in the history of the congregation on this weekend.  We might even have over 400 people.  This is going to be a struggle to fit everyone in, so we are asking the congregation to help us do it.  On that Sunday, drive one car, sit as close as possible, and we will have areas for those who need extra space, because we are going to pack the chairs in the auditorium.  There might be blankets too for the smaller kids to sit on up front.  It is going to be a packed house. I was in the back talking to one of our members about the exciting youth weekend.  I told him that a lot of congregations are having trouble filling up the auditoriums, but we are having a struggle fitting everyone in on this Sunday.  We are not a congregation of memories, but of motion.  We are still in the fight for the Lord.  Our best days are still ahead of us.  It is truly exciting to be part of this congregation. 

 We honor our memories though, and the people who have been part of the history of this congregation.  The people that laid the groundwork for the bright future before us.  What is fantastic is that we are more than memories, we are still in full motion serving the Lord.        

UNITY AND BASEBALL

8.25.23

Through the history of the Church in America, there has been a discussion over essentials and non-essentials.  You might not use this language, but I bet you have heard it put this way—is this a salvation issue?  It is the classic idea of what is required to be faithful and what are matters of opinions.  A lot of times our basis for unity is on those who agree with one of these issues.  If you have a list of issues that are essential and someone else has a list, if your lists agree, there can be unity. 

For an example of this is the issue of kitchens in the building.  I recently saw a lecture that was addressing this topic.  It was called “Can a church have a kitchen?”  What is interesting is that personally I do not care.  It is not a matter of right or wrong for me, it is a matter of there are other topics that I consider essential, and I do not want to spend time on this topic.  But if you consider this topic part of the faith and someone must be right on the topic, we are going to struggle to have unityRecently I was reading a good illustration about how to deal with this idea of essentials and non-essentials using baseball.  On a baseball field there are two lines that note which balls are in play and which balls are considered fouls.  If someone hits the ball into the stands, it is a foul ball, but if it is on the left side of first base, the ball is in play.  There is some space for ideas in our fellowship.  But of course, there are some areas in which are out of play and cannot be allowed in the game or in the fellowship.  You might not have to get every detail right to be in fellowship with someone, but that does not mean there are no lines of fellowship in the church.

At Castle Rock, we definitely have lines that we will not cross, but we also want to be loving to people that might differ from us in some respects.  We try to make sure what is in the lines is what God allows and what is outside of the lines are what God rejects. 

PREPARED FOR WORSHIP

8.18.23

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.” (Ex. 19:10–11) God wanted the people of Israel, before they came near to Him, to get ready to come near to Him, to prepare themselves for an encounter with Him.  There is a principle about preparing our minds for worship.  We show up on Sunday with a mind that is ready to worship.

So here are some super practical ways to prepare for Sunday Morning.

1.      Go to Bed.  There is nothing better than a good night’s sleep.  I remember years ago I would ask one of the teens how she was doing, and she always told me that she was tired.  I would tell her that she needed to go to bed earlier.  If you are always coming to worship already wore out from the previous week, it is going to be hard to worship in spirit and truth.  You mind will not be alert.  If you are fighting to stay awake, it might not be the preacher, it could be your choices the night before because you stayed up until 1am. 

2.      Be Early.  I do not know about you but being late stresses me out.  I hate it.  It puts me on edge.  I cannot relax, and even when I arrive at the destination, my mind is still racing.  If you are running behind for worship, it is going to be hard to transition from a go-go mindset to a worshipful attitude.  You will not calm yourself quickly.  Typically, when you are running late, everyone is stressed out. 

3.      Come Expecting.  Sometimes you can find yourself going through the motions of worship. Instead, come with an attitude that God is going to bless you and you are going to bless others.  You can gain something from worship, and with this attitude you will find that you will start seeing more in worship. 

A good worship service often depends on our mindset.  If we are prepared, God will meet us.  If we are too rushed, we might rush right by the Lord during this special time.      

WALK FOR WATER

8.11.23

Matthew 14:14-21 “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said.  And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.  They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.  The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.” 

John 7:37 “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”

We are excited to partner with Hope International to participate in a Walk For Water.  This is an wonderful opportunity to raise money and awareness of those that have to walk miles for a clean drinking source.  We cannot imagine the time commitment that gaining water takes in some countries.  We turn on a tap, and water appears.  In some parts of the world, people walk miles for water.  We want to help. 

On August 26th, we are hosting an event to partner with this ministry.  This is an excellent opportunity to invite community members to join us.  It will be a wonderful day doing good.   

WorkDay Success

8.4.23

We had a fantastic workday at the congregation. You have to like the workday dynamic. An older preacher told me years ago that you can see the vitality of a congregation through three signs. The signs are not what you would think to look for, which might mean there is no hiding the truth. You can cover up much if you know people are looking. We often judge a congregation on things like friendliness, soundness in the Word, and leadership, but his list was different. He said a congregation can be seen through the quality of a women’s ministry, the condition of the bathrooms, and the number of people that would show up for a workday.

The turnout for the workday is a strong indicator of a super healthy congregation. We have so much talent and desire to serve in our CR family. We have people who are gifted for building projects. At the root of this gift is the heart of a servant. 

We had a bunch of new members too. I was teasing one of the newer members that he signed up for membership too early. He should have waited until after workday to place membership, but that was not how he felt. He told me a story about visiting a congregation on a business trip. He drove by the building because the website did not give the best information for service times, so he wanted to ensure he would be at worship on time. He arrived at the building, and there was a workday happening. He stayed and helped. You got to love a guy that is Kingdom-focused. He is a servant to the Lord. This is the type of person attracted to Castle Rock, someone who wants to make a difference in the Kingdom. 

We got tons of people like that here! 

A Good Pruning

7.28.23

At the beginning of the Summer, I trimmed several trees in our yard and was left with a large pile of limbs that I ignored for several weeks. Then someone told me about the mulch site here in Castle Rock that was free! The pickup was loaded so high I had to use tie downs to cinch it down until I got to the drop-off. They told me to just pull up anywhere and toss it all on the ground, they would take it from there. I was unloaded and gone in less than five minutes. I wish some other things in life were as easy to dispose of.

First, we should regularly prune sin from our life. Hebrews 4:10 says, “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” I realized the next time I trim trees I need to wear a long sleeve shirt and gloves to limit the scrapes. We are quite familiar with this passage in Hebrews, yet many of us seem to be cruising through life without a nick, cut, or scar from allowing God’s Word to transform our lives. Like the tree overgrown with dead and unhealthy limbs, our lives appear full but are at severe risk of an impending storm because we have not removed what makes us spiritually unhealthy.

Second. Sometimes there are things in our life we would like to remove, but instead are left to persevere with what we have. We talk often about Paul saying how he finds glory in suffering that produces perseverance, character, and hope (Rom. 5:3-4). Or James considering trials pure joy because of what testing of our faith can produce (James 1:2-4). One of the recent hailstorms especially hit the pine trees in our yard leaving four-inch piles of needles around the base of the trees. The trees looked beaten and bare but fortunately new growth soon emerged. Pain, disease, stress, worry, and loss are all things we wish we could remove, take somewhere, and drop off. These same trials can produce reliance on God.

The thing about pruning trees… it doesn’t happen by itself. Before long, I will have to do it all again, and make another trip to the place where they grind up all the dead limbs. I pray we all bear the evidence of God’s Word continually pruning our lives.

Mark (substituting for Matthew this week)

Focus On The Core

7.21.23

Each week I write this bulletin article.  We send it out in the newsletter that goes out on Friday.  About once a month or probably less, a lot less I hear from someone about the article.  Mostly it is a quick email that he or she liked it.  The reality is that few people read this bulletin article, or perhaps it is now called a newsletter article.  Really, it does not matter.  Before you worry about my feelings on this matter, please know that I have accepted the reality that few people read the article I write here every week.  It is a nice side discipline, but I get that it is not a core element of my work. 

A lot of organizations and churches can become stagnant because of forgiving what is peripheral and what is core.  Over the years, I have seen congregation have 50 ministries for a 200-member congregation.  Each ministry is a good work, but if you have too many good works, you accomplish little because typically the core is what creates the most value for people.  You are so busy doing the non-core stuff that the core stuff suffers.  You need to invest the majority of your time in those areas that produce the most spiritual vitality.  A lot of times, a church can be doing too much of the secondary things.  Imagine if I took 10 hours to write this bulletin article.  Instead, I need to use that time to develop a sermon. 

The principle of focusing on the core works for your own individual spiritual life.  A lot of times we see little spiritual growth because we might be doing some good things to grow our faith, but we are not investing in the core.  You are probably wondering what the core is—Bible Reading.  Yes, if there was one thing that you got to do to grow in your faith it is bible reading. You have to read your Bible.  You can do almost anything else, but without being in the Word, it will be hard to continue to grow in your faith.  So if you got to, go read your Bible over reading this bulletin article.     

What A Fantastic Sunday

7.14.23

Even though I thought it was the evening instead of the morning because I was at the airport so early on Sunday Morning, we still had a fantastic Sunday. What made our time together so special was the rejoicing over the healing of Paula’s cancer. It was so powerful to see the joy on the faces of the members over her story of going through all the treatments and having a cat scan that was all clear of cancer. Many Sundays are good, and some are average, but these are the Sundays you do not want to miss. You remember these special moments of being a church family together. These times remind us of how important we are to one another. The support, cards, and calls make a difference. People who are struggling need glimmers of light in a dark season. 

Another reason it was a fantastic Sunday was the number of kids that came forward to give. We are so blessed to have such amazing families and tons of them. Having kids in our building provides so much joy and life. We are reminded of the goodness in this world. On Monday, someone at the house told me he rarely sees so many young families in congregations anymore. What we are doing is attracting to young families. Our VBS was fantastic, with an incredible team running it.   We had a lot of families too. I love seeing families super excited to attend our worship services. People are proud of our church.

Our numbers remain strong. It is not unusual for our numbers to dip in the summer months, but not this year. We are having great attendance during the vacation months. We could not be more joyful about this success. Our youth group is growing and doing fantastic. We had a lot of kids go to camp, which is always impactful. Castle Rock is great!  

The Values We Hold

7.7.23

This week we celebrated July 4th.  It is the day of American freedom.  Flags were waving, and fireworks were going off into the late evening.  For Americans, this is a special day.  Living in America is a huge blessing.  America has done well as a nation.  There are a few reasons for the success of the country.  Here are a few values that make America great and we can learn from today.

1.      Democracy.  Democracy is the ability to discuss an issue and come to a reasonable conclusion.  Once a nation shuts down discussion or the press, echo chambers are established, which means people tend to only want to hear others with the same views, and are not receptive to different views. We certainly see this happening in or society today. One of the blessings of Castle Rock is that we have people with different perspectives all in search of God’s truth. Our people are smart and can think for themselves.  Of course we stay alert for any obvious false teaching. There is strength in community when we are all united in a pursuit of truth, through open and constructive discussion.

2.      Togetherness.  Look at the history of America, some of the finest moments of this nation happened when people came together to work together.  People talk about America being divided, and perhaps there is some truth in that, but also America has to amazing ability to unite in times of need.  At Castle Rock, we believe in coming together as one.  We might disagree in certain areas, but we are better together.  We can accomplish more as one.

There are values that drive a direction of a country or church.  The right values can make a massive difference in the culture.  The wrong values can plant destructive seeds that can grow into a toxic culture.  America has done well because of strong values and Castle Rock has done well too because of having godly values.

VBS Success

6.30.23

We had a wonderful VBS this past weekend.  We had over 50 kids each day.  A lot of those kids were from the community.  We are appreciative of the hard work that everyone did to reach out community for Christ.  These special events are wonderful for introducing our congregation to others in our town.  We provided a fun time for the children and introduced them to some of the stories about Christ. 

 Our decorations were amazing.  The auditorium and the classrooms looked like a candy land fantasy world.  The people behind this world have some talents that go beyond normal.  The creativity and imagination are superb.  You walk into the building, and you are transported to a new reality.  It created a magical environment. 

 We are so thankful for the leadership team of Hailey, Amber, and Laura for the leadership on VBS.  This is a special team that is full of talent.  The ladies do a great job with everything. 

 Also, thank you to all of our volunteers.  It takes about as many adults as it does kids.  We had so many people contribute in all types of ways.  It was great to see the elders outside too cooking the hotdogs for everyone.  We have a great group of elders that love kids. 

 Castle Rock continues to amaze me.  I really do not think there is a more talented church in all the country.  We have so many people that have unlimited gifts.  People are continuing to come to Castle Rock and it seems that God continues to send us truly special people. 

Does God Change His Mind?

6.23.23

There are always questions that seem to confuse humans. One is “Does God change his mind?”  People struggle with this because of certain ideas. One is, “If God knows the future, how can he change his mind?”  People wonder about all of these dynamics working together. We hear terms and ideas like “God does not change” and “God changed his mind,” and we wonder how both can be true.

One example of God changing his mind is when we read of people about to be destroyed, but because of their repentance, God changes his mind concerning his judgment of them. Or when someone prays for the guilty, and God changes his mind. You see this happen with Moses praying to prevent the destruction of the people of Israel (Ex. 32:9-14). Also, when Jonah preaches to Nineveh, the people repent, and God does not punish them (Jonah 3:4,10). 

There are a couple of principles at work here. One is that the true expression of God’s present attitude is for the situation as it exists at that moment. If the situation changes, then God’s response can also change. Imagine the person that states an action, but when the circumstances change, they refuse to adjust accordingly. We do not consider that person strong; instead, that person is stubborn. The issue of free will is involved. The second principle is that God responds differently to different situations. When God makes a judgment, it is a declaration that the situation needs to stay the same for the outcome to stay the same. But if there are new developments, then God takes those into account. 

What is decisive is numerous times in the Bible in which God changed his mind when prayer is involved.    

VBS Game Plan

6.18.23

Before a big match in any sporting event there is a game plan.  What are the goals?  What are the weaknesses of the other team and what are the strengths.  You want to assess the situation and create a plan to tackle it.  Walking into a situation without a game plan is a good sign that you will not be successful.  We are excited for another year of VBS.  Having all of the kids involved in learning about Jesus is an amazing time.  The joy on the kid’s faces makes VBS so worth it.  We have a fantastic team that leads our VBS.  We have the all star team of VBS.  But it takes everyone to make it a success.  So here is our outreach game plan. 

 1.      Invite All.  The best way to get the word out is to invite the kids you know.  You have family and friends in the area and those people will come if you invite them.  We will not typically show up to an event that we know no one at because we do not trust the event.  If you invite the people you know, those people will trust that it is going to be good.  Please invite people.

2.      Excitement.  We have a lot of people that volunteer for our amazing VBS.  Your energy dictates the excitement of the kids.  The more you are into it the more the kids will have fun.  Come to VBS with your game face on.  Be into it with all of your being.  Be over the top excited about whatever is happening.  The kids will pick this up and be super happy to be there.

3.      Appreciation.  We have some of the finest people leading VBS in our congregation.  A lot of work goes into these days, so we want to honor those who serve.  Write a note, say thank you to the leaders, and be positive about what is happening.  Yes, the good vibes from the smiles on the kid’s faces, but bad vibes can hurt too.

We are super excited about this year’s VBS.

EVERY DAY IS A NEW DAY

6.11.23

Michael and I were up in Casper, Wyoming, this week, fly fishing on the North Platte River. On this river, there are plenty of large fish. What is interesting about fishing is that it is the same but different. It is floating down a river in a boat catching trout. You would think it would be the same each time, but that is not the case. There is much variety in catching fish. I asked him about talking with his clients about what other people have caught. We fished the Miracle Mile and caught some amazing fish. Our guide was going up there again the next day, and I asked if he would mention that the fish were biting in certain holes to the new clients. Would he tell them about the big Brown Trout we caught in one spot and the large Rainbow Trout in another part of the river? He looked at me and said, “Every day is a new day.” 

The slogan “every day is a new day” is so true in fishing. The fact that you caught a particular fish in one spot does not mean you will in that same spot the next day. There is good reasoning here. If he talks about his client from the day before catching a 20-inch Brown Trout, which is super rare in those waters, the client will be expecting, perhaps only hoping to catch a large Brown Trout there too. The expectation would be set in the mind even though it might not be realistic. If the new client catches a regular-size fish, they might be disappointed. It was good, but not as good. Instead of excitement for what they did catch, there would be sadness over the fish that could have been. It does not matter what happened to someone else or what happened the day before because in fishing, “every day is a new day.”

Living for the day is a healthy approach to life. It is too easy to compare yourself or what you have to others. Comparison to others can diminish your joy. If the fishing guide told you about the biggest and best fish caught in all the fishing spots, even though you might have had a fantastic day, you are now sad because of comparison instead of embracing your day. Live your day, not someone else’s.     

VBS AND FAMILY CAMP

6.2.23

We had another amazing Family Camp.  The Lawrence Family did an outstanding job running the camp for the congregation.  Every year is a wonderful experience.  We also appreciate Steve Tandy coming out from Kansas to speak for us this year on the theme of being a servant.  He talked about the idea of being an “under-rower.”  He had a lot of practical wisdom on how to be a strong servant for the Savior. 

The talent show was another highlight of Family Camp.  We truly have a talented congregation.  Seeing people on stage was so much fun, and everyone was very supportive of the people entertaining us.  Shower Singer was fun too, and I had two family members involved.  Of course, I knew who they were, but I did not know the other singers.  You would think it would be easy to hear and pick up on the person singing.  It made me think about the judges on “The Voice.”  Family Camp is a work of the congregation and involves many people, from the teachers to the talent show hosts.  We appreciate the elders supporting this excellent work too.  We are a blessed Church to be able to pull off this great event. 

May is always busy with L2L and Family Camp.  It has been a crazy season for us with Gabrielle graduating.  We are excited for the summer to kick in.  Though at the end of the month, we have a two-day VBS.  VBS is always great, and we had a ton of kids last year.  Be thinking about who you can invite.  Last year we had numerous community members come, which is always special.  We are blessed to have an active congregation.

It finally feels like summer.  I pray that your summer is great.    

FAMILY CAMP WEEKEND

5.26.23

Services will look a little different on Sunday.  About 200 people will be up in Estes Park at the YMCA Campground.  We are having another year of Family Camp, which is always a highlight of the year.  We are excited for the congregation to enjoy a weekend of great fellowship. 

We have the famous Steve Tandy coming to speak to us this year.  He filled in for me while we were on Sabbatical over seven years ago.  People still talk about his wonderful lessons, and we are sure to gain great preaching again at Family Camp.  We are blessed to have a great network of ministers to preach for the congregation.

There will also be services at the building on Sunday.  It is always a strong family feeling worshipping together.

Family Camp is a great time to create new relationships and connect with people at a deeper level.  You also learn a lot about people at Family Camp.  It is a wonderful way to learn about your brothers and sisters in the Lord.  So perhaps over the weekend, attempt to connect with someone new, with someone older, and learn some new facts about your Christian family. 

On the way home, perhaps ask what the weekend's highlight was.  You might be shocked to see what everyone in your car says.  Many great memories are created over Family Camp; this should be another exciting year. 

ADVICE TO GRADUATES

5.19.23

I try to offer some advice to the graduates most years, but this year is special.  I have a graduate, which is hard to believe.  I am so proud of Gabrielle and all of the other seniors.  We have a large graduating class this year at church.  I remember the first class of kids that I knew really well and how special it was for me.  I am blessed to have spent time with all these kids.  I do love longevity at church.  So here is my advice.

1.      Focus on Your Character.  Good grades are important, and sports achievements are great, but character is the goal.  Focus on being like Jesus in your life.  Demonstrate the virtues of Christ to the world.   To have a strong character, you must be firmly convicted to what matters to you most.  You will go through a process of leaving home and discovering your values.  Not all values are created equal, so look for those of God because heavenly principles are a bedrock for success in all areas of life. 

2.      Go to Church.  There are always foundational habits that create other habits.  One of those habits is to attend worship services on Sunday mornings.  There will be a temptation not to go or to quit attending, and Satan will lie to you and give you plenty of reasons to avoid going.  Do not listen to the Devil.  You got to go to church.  You will surround yourself with people who will be putting Jesus first, which is a must during a time of discovery. 

3.      Challenge is Good.  You will face challenges; that is the natural process in life.  Face them boldly and with the courage that comes from the Lord.  Do not be afraid because the Lord is with you.  See challenge as an opportunity for growth.       

Congratulations to all of the seniors that are finishing up High School.  I am proud of you.  You did it. 

HOW TO BE A HAPPY CHURCH MEMBER

5.12.23

Through the years, I have witnessed people becoming unhappy with church membership.  It happens.  Sometimes this happens because of the church leadership, while other times, it is because of the members.  You cannot control the church's outcome but can take ownership of your behavior.  Here are three principles that will keep you happy in your congregation.

1.      Do not Second Guess the Elders.  I have done this through the years, and I have learned that my batting average for right calls is no better, if not worse, than the elders.  When you get into the habit of second-guessing the leaders, you probably will be right a few times and wrong a few times too.  We are no Ted Williams at the leadership plate.  You will spend a lot of time second-guessing choices that are rarely clear-cut.  You will probably find yourself much happier submitting.  You can express your thoughts, but most times go with the flow; you will be more satisfied.

2.      Establish Your Boundaries.  A congregation has a lot of offerings.  I have often tried to do everything, and in those seasons, I am usually pretty worn out.  Maybe it is more taxing for me as a minister, but I have seen members do this too.  You try to be involved with too much.  On the other hand, people will put up boundaries to the point they are not involved much at all.  After a while, these members do not feel connected to the body and become unhappy.  Do not be shocked if your boundary walls are too high that others struggle to connect with you. 

3.      Invest Somewhere, Some Way.  The greatest joy is serving others (Mark 10:45).  If you are not contributing in some way to the congregation, you will find yourself as a consumer instead of being Christian.  Your focus will turn inward to your needs which causes selfishness and leads to discontent.  It would be best if you found ways to give back.  Serving creates a generous spirit because you realize the sacrifices people make to serve and become less critical.

We all want to be happy in our church membership, and these are a few ways that you can accomplish this goal.  Practice these habits, and you will find church membership much more rewarding.            

WHAT AN AMAZING WEEKEND

5.5.23

What an amazing weekend.  It was one of the best ever.  L2L was a massive success.  We had 375 coming together from all over the area to invest in young people.  It is such an intergenerational event.  You have young people delivering speeches and songs and older people judging and leading them.  Our congregation pulled together in such a positive way.  Also, Megan Lawrence and others provided wonderful meals for us.  We are blessed to have such wonderful servants in our congregation.

This morning I got a note from a parent that stated this: “My child called me several times a day, told me what an all-out blast he was having.  How much fun it was.  He slept less than 8 hours in a 48-hour period, he didn't want to leave and begged me to come back to Denver for another event you are having (lots of stories, can't remember specific event), he said he wants to come back to L2L in Denver next year… THANK YOU!  Does my heart good to know there are still kids out there that care.  That love and include others.  Please, pass this on to others you feel need to hear it.  Or don't pass it on anywhere.  But I needed to say thank you in a large way, my son had an AWESOME time.”  What a powerful testimony about our youth group!

The weekend was not finished with L2L.  We had a SYD concert in the afternoon.  It was wonderful to hear our teens singing to the Lord.  We have numerous great leaders in our area all investing in young people.  What I loved about our areas is that all of Churches come together to care for our kids.  It is like we have a 60-person youth group in each church.  All of this feels to be coming together so well for our RISE Rally on September 23-24.  Our church is making an impact in our area as we partner with others in caring for teens.  This weekend was a great illustration of everyone coming together.    

L2L WEEKEND

4.28.23

We are excited about another L2L weekend here in Denver.  We are expecting a large turnout again from the area.  Many of our people will worship in Golden, Colorado, this weekend with our brothers and sisters from various states and local congregations.  We appreciate everyone in the congregation putting so much work into helping our young people develop skills in serving the Lord and for all the coordinators and coaches investing so many hours into the young people.

Also, we appreciate the elders for supporting this good ministry.  We honor all of our young people for doing this work.  I was having lunch with a friend a couple of months ago, and he mentioned how important it was for him to learn to speak before a crowd.  He attributed his success in his career to his training in Church.  We do not realize the value that L2L provides for leadership development.  It blesses churches and corporations for years to come. 

We love the intergenerational focus of L2L too.  It is good to have parents being judges and adults being coaches.  It brings people together.  Many of those relationships have long-term benefits.  It creates the opportunity to share one’s faith in meaningful ways. 

We are excited to be in Golden this year.  We are planning on having 375 people at the convention this year.  The crowds are back up; hopefully, we will have even more next year.  We are having more congregations from a wider area come and join us.  It will be good to see Don Moore again too.  He will be the convention director again.     

MOTIVES QUESTIONED

4.21.23

This morning I read an article about being effective leaders by Carey Nieuwhof. He is a well-known Christian author and Canadian. The article dealt with the attributes of a good leader. One of the points Nieuwhof made connected with me because of an insight I had while reading a biography about U.S. Grant. The observation was in how often people questioned Grant's leadership motives. People would come up with explanations for what and why he was doing stuff. What was interesting was how far off the guesses were. 

Nieuwhof gives a little insight into this dynamic. In the section, "Being Misunderstand," he offers this advice: "At some point, every leader will be misunderstood. People will say things about you behind your back (or to your face) that aren't true. People will judge your motives and get it wrong. Sometimes you'll only be allowed to say certain things in public, not because you're being secretive, but because revealing all the information would make others look bad or would be breaking confidence. So instead, you look bad. That's just the territory of leadership." 

Think about all of the guesses about the motives of Jesus. A lot of them were wrong. Jesus defines his motives. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). "Jesus answered them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance'" (Luke 5:31-32). Jesus had his motives, and the people had their guesses. 

As a leadership lesson, one should listen for motives. What are the motives that people are trying to tell you? Listen for what people reveal about themselves. True motives will show in due time. 

STAY IN THE GAME

4.14.23

Preachers have highs and lows.  We have Easter highs.  We had 290 people at Castle Rock on Easter.  This was the highest attendance for sure after Covid 19.  It is one of the highest totals ever for the congregation.  Our congregation is growing and thriving.  After Easter the next week is always sad for me.  There is so much excitement around Easter, but the next week is somewhat of a letdown.  Maybe I should not feel that way, but I have been for over 20 years.  There are highs and lows in ministry.

This is the nature of life though.  Noah experienced this recently with Track and Field.  He had a new Personal Record for the mile and was moved up to Varsity to run the 800 meters race.  He felt great, and then the 800 meter was a struggle at the next level.  What happens is that we do not handle these highs and lows.  We can allow ourselves to be discouraged if anything goes wrong.  But trying to remove all barriers or struggles is really pointless.  You cannot protect yourself or your families from the normal ups and downs of life.   You will experience them so prepare for them. 

We cannot hide from the lows.  We cannot avoid the struggles.  What we need to do is stay in the game.  There will be wins and there will be loses.  Learn to handle these events.  Christianity is like this.  There are spiritual highs and moral lows.  We cannot flatten out the line of emotion to the point that everything is regulated.  You got to experience the joys and failures of life.  Do not give up, but rather stay in the game.  Keep on moving forward.          

WHAT DOES TRAUMA MEAN?

4.7.23

What do certain words mean? Words can change over time, and certain words gain a following in our culture. A word used a lot these days is “trauma.” After reading the book, “The Myth of Normal,” here are some insights into this word.

“The meaning of the word “trauma,” in its Greek origin, is “wound.” Whether we realize it or not, it is our woundedness, or how we cope with it, that dictates much of our behavior, shapes our social habits, and informs our ways of thinking about the world” (16). “Trauma is not what happens to you but what happens inside you” is how I formulate it. Think of a car accident where someone sustains a concussion: the accident is what happened; the injury is what lasts. Likewise, trauma is a psychic injury, lodged in our nervous system, mind, and body, lasting long past the originating incident(s), triggerable at any moment. It is a constellation of hardships, composed of the wound itself and the residual burdens that our woundedness imposes on our bodies and souls: the unresolved emotions they visit upon us; the coping dynamics they dictate; the tragic or melodramatic or neurotic scripts we unwittingly but inexorably live out; and, not least, the toll these take on our bodies” (20).

Here is an interesting insight that I had never thought about before. “Trauma is when we are not seen and known” (23). Because of the power of trauma, we lose our ability to be flexible in our responses. “Response flexibility: the ability to choose how we address life’s inevitable ups and downs, its disappointments, triumphs, and challenges. ‘Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we wish to throw our weight,’ wrote the psychologist Rollo May. ‘Trauma robs us of that freedom’” (29).

Here is another powerful insight I have seen people in the Church struggle with often. People cannot give grace to themselves. “People bearing trauma’s scars almost uniformly develop a shame-based view of themselves at the core, a negative self-perception most of them are all too conscious of. Among the most poisonous consequences of shame is the loss of compassion for oneself. The more severe the trauma, the more total that loss” (30).

Maté, Gabor. The Myth of Normal. Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

SUFFERING AND SNOW

3.31.23

It is Monday morning, and there is snow on the ground. We expect this in January and February. We know it can happen in March and April. But something is frustrating about snow at the end of March. You are ready for Spring to kick in. I think it feels colder in March even though the temperature is the same. Maybe you are not like me, you love the snow and cold as long as possible, but I typically get tired of the cold and snow at about the end of March. I am over it.

The snow is really not that bad. It is not like another snow flurry really damages my life. I just become impatient with it. There are various levels of suffering. There is the bone-crushing, can barely breathe type of suffering. It hurts deep into the core of your being, and then there is the mild form of suffering. It is there, not that bad, but you still get sick of it. Sometimes as Christians, we confuse the two types. With the bone-crushing suffering, we tell people that it will be alright and do not allow them to grieve the pain. While with the annoying kind of suffering, we provide too much sympathy. Knowing which one you are dealing with is important. All people are allowed to suffer how they are, though responding to suffering depends on the type of suffering.

Perhaps it would be wise to put suffering in various buckets. Mild, intense, annoying, and deep could all be buckets that you label suffering. Using a bucket approach, you can perhaps identify some guidelines for responding to the pain. I was reading somewhere that our world struggles with this concept. We are too quick to tell people they need to move on from deep hurt, while we also allow people to feel sorry for themselves for too long with the more common daily pains. A big gap exists between “that is awful” and “get over it.”

It is impossible to judge the level of someone’s pain, but for yourself, try to gauge the status of your suffering. I propose this will allow you to respond better to the various levels of hurt in this world.

MARRIAGE WORKSHOP IN ACTION

3.24.23

Our marriage workshop is this weekend, and we appreciate everyone committing the time to attend. Marriage is one of those foundational relationships. If the marriage is going well, much of life can go well. But a struggling marriage creates struggles in all other areas of life. Sadly, sometimes people will invest in random relationships over building bonds in marriage. The coworker that you might never speak to again will have more priority than a person’s spouse. People are not relationally limitless, so one must discern the time given to the various relationships in life. Marriage is of the highest priority.

Attending a workshop on core values is always a blessing. We want to continue this focus over the next few weeks. Information is good; action is better. How can you put into practice what you have learned this weekend? Here are a few steps:

1. Have a check-in on the temperature of your marriage. Sit down with your spouse and gauge where you are at in the relationship. Start simple with a 1-10 range and get feedback. Then move to the next level with the question, “why?” Is it expectations, our own brokenness, or a lack of interest from one of both parties? Put down a number and think about it. Move down the “why” scale to discover motives and mindsets.

2. One Thing to Change. Sometimes improving a marriage is a long and challenging road. It might take years or months to make a meaningful improvement. Sometimes small habits can make significant inroads for change. There might be a lot to work to do on the marriage but start with one thing to change. Discuss with your spouse perhaps one thing you both could do that would improve the marriage for both of you. It should not be something you or your spouse want individually; it must be a mutual choice of something you want together.

After a workshop, you may have big plans. The motivation is there but can fizzle out if we are not careful. Use this workshop as a launch point for improvement.

MARRIAGE WORKSHOP

3.19.23

We are excited about the marriage workshop in two weeks. We sent out 800 postcards to the community. We are happy to provide people an opportunity to work on this important relationship. I believe everyone wants a happy marriage, but the struggle is not desire but know-how. One can develop specific skills to increase the joy in a marriage. We have one of the best marriage guys in the area coming too for the event. I promise that you will learn about marriage at a level that is beyond the surface-level material. You will get to the root of marriage contentment. So come on March 24 from 6 pm to 9 pm and March 25 from 9 am to 12 pm. It will be great and helpful.

Here is what you can do.

1. Plan on coming. It will be worth your time, and the speaker will do a great job helping increase the joy in your marriage. You do not need to have a broken marriage; you need a willing heart to learn.

2. Please invite your friends. We also do these events as an outreach to bless our community. He will not say stuff that will embarrass you. He will stick to marriage topics. You will be blessing those that you invite to this event.

3. Pray for this event. Yes, we need prayers that it will be a blessing. When marriages fall apart, there is so much damage to families and kids.

We are excited about our marriage workshop and hope that you can come. If you cannot attend the entire time, come for what you can make.

The Intriguing Ministry of John the Baptizer

3.10.23

Guest author: John Miller

Imagine being the subject of a prophesy made centuries before your birth! The last prophet to God’s people before God went silent for 400 years foretold what God would do in the future:

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi 4.5-6)

As with Jesus, we know little about John’s life before he began his public ministry. We know that his conception was miraculous in that, like Abraham and Sarah, Zacharias and Elisabeth were quite old and barren when they received revelation from an angel that Elisabeth would bear a son (Luke 1.7ff). Specifically, the angel told Zacharias:

Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias [Elijah], to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1.13-17)

We can imagine that Zacharias and Elisabeth raised John in such a way that, aided by the Holy Spirit who possessed him since at least birth, he was prepared to “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” What a wonderful ministry was laid before him!

I don’t know about you, but that kind of power and responsibility might have “gone to my head.” Yet, when John burst on the scene, here is what he taught:

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me (John 1.15). when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ (John 1.19-20). [When asked] why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

[Later, John saw] Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. (John 1.29-31).

Unlike so many humans, John recognized that his mission was to point Jesus out to the Jews and, once Jesus was noticed, then his job would be finished. In recognition that his job was finished, John stepped into the background and let Jesus have center stage with the statement that: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3.30).

My challenge this week: Are we prepared to follow John’s example by pointing people to Jesus and then minimizing self so we don’t obscure their view?

John Miller

The Power of Unity

3.3.23

When we take a look at the world around us we probably see things getting worse and worse. Stated another way, the world is getting darker and darker with the consequences of sin. On one hand, this is a discouraging observation but on the other we stand at the crossroads of a great opportunity.

During my lifetime, many in the culture attempted to live by Biblical principles and many others at least give lip service to those principles. Thus, our light was less bright because a fair amount of light surrounded the culture.

Today, we live in a far different world ... one that is ignorant of, and hostile to, Biblical morality. As Jesus' body, we are called to represent him to a lost world (2 Corinthians 5.20). If we unite with other Christians to teach and live out how God would have us conduct our lives, I believe we will draw people to the light, which is the Christ: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12.32).

I think we can learn some lessons to help us continue shining bright in the face of increasing darkness from the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11.1-8).

Despite God's wish and command that the generations who followed the Flood spread out and re-populate the cleansed world, they settled in one place and decided to build a city and a tower to the heavens to make a name for themselves (11.4) so they would not be scattered throughout the Earth. How typical of humanity to do our own thing rather than obey God!

In spite of doing the opposite of what God wanted, the people were succeeding in their goal. How could that be?

The text tells us three things:

1.      Everyone alive spoke the same language (11.1)

2.      Everyone had the same goal (11.6)

3.      They were working hard to achieve the goal (inferred from 11.8)

With these things in place, God himself said that "...nothing will be restrained from them ..." (11.6).

If God said people who were doing the exact opposite of what he said could accomplish their goal, imagine what is possible if we possess the same three qualities and are working in concert with God's will?

Let's do some imagining! We should keep in mind that even our grandest imaginings are dwarfed by what God can do: "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3.20).

John Miller

The Sounds of the Church

2.24.23

Every Sunday morning, I look forward to the sounds of the church.  The increasing volume as people gather before worship and talk and laugh with others.  The four-part harmony of well-known songs.  The rustling of pages of the Bible being turned.  The delicate clanking of communion trays being passed.  The unmistakable Canadian/southern accent of Matthew.  Even the loud roar of the furnace kicking on and off.  But of all the sounds I look forward to, the innocent voices of our kids or a crying baby are what I look forward to the most.

Taking children to worship can be a lot of work for parents.  Most parents can remember being at worship, only to leave having gone through the motions, but remembering very little of what was said from the pulpit.  There were too many distractions from the little ones and too much work to keep them quiet so as not to offend anyone.  Thank you for making the effort and bringing them anyway!  Your hard work today will pay off when they’re older! 

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

There are far too many churches who aren’t able to look forward to the sounds of a toy truck or car driving across a seat…or the older child trying to tell the younger child to hold their hands this way when they pray.  If you sit close to my granddaughter Cedar, expect to hear “Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen” when G-dad says a prayer that’s just a little too long!  These are special sounds that emphasize that Castle Rock is a special place.

Churches that don’t have these sounds are likely churches that are dying.  We need to have kids in church because they’re the future of the church.  And the need for a strong foundation may be more important today than at any time in our country’s history.  It breaks my heart to listen to the struggles our California kids are having in finding a congregation where their boys aren’t the only ones in Bible class.  These churches have good people with good hearts…but what’s the future?  Will that congregation be open 5 years from now?

So when you hear our kids, smile and encourage the parents.  Maybe offer to sit with them and care for the kids so the parents can worship and not feel they need to shush the cries and squeals of delight.  And when you hear the noises made by kids, remind yourself how blessed we are to have those sounds in our worship service!

Rory

CONFESSORS ARE NOT HOPELESS

2.17.23

 “Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin.”

(Psalm 51:1 ESV)

Sinful behavior often leaves ugly scars. Ashamed and humiliated, we don’t want to see people again – or be seen! If a big hole would open up at our feet, jumping in and dropping out of sight might seem a welcomed escape.

David and Bathsheba’s story of adultery has sobering impact when it isn’t sensationalized in dramatic entertainment on stage or screen. David’s shocking smear on his role as King and his immoral breakdown before God brought many grievous results. Sin pays out distressing losses. 

Every story about someone’s tragic life and the hopelessness that eventuates in pain, shame, or death causes much grieving. Fatalism wins out over hope. The hurt to be felt by family and other friends is seldom considered. Not even God is considered.

Thanks to his faith in God, one of David’s losses wasn’t despair about living. Confession was agonizing and bereavement for the death of a newborn child was a wretched experience. But neither selfishness nor self-defense would save him. Only reclaiming God’s mercy could renew a right spirit within him.

He didn’t deserve mercy, you say?    

If he had deserved it, it would not have been mercy.

 Bill Young

Who’s Got the Monkey?

2.10.23

There is a popular article from 1974 called Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey? Most have heard some form of the saying, “…monkey on your back,” which means you are carrying a burden or problem that you find difficult to get rid of or solve.

Demands for our time are incredibly high. We often juggle job-imposed, family-imposed, others-imposed, self-imposed, and a host of other demands for our time. Whenever something is imposed on us by others or ourselves, it is like adding another monkey on our back. That monkey (problem or task) must be fed and dealt with, or it continues to weigh us down. Much of life is about managing the monkeys; which ones must you deal with personally, which can you share the burden of with others, and which can you unload?

A struggle I see is that we may have relegated service in the Church to just another monkey on our back, another demand on our time. And for many, out of all the monkeys we carry, this is the monkey we choose to pass off. “I have too much on my plate right now” or “I’ll have to check my schedule” are ways we use to push the monkey onto someone else. We lose too many ministry leaders because they are trying to carry the monkeys for the rest of us, while simultaneously hearing they could do a better job caring for the monkeys. Being a servant does not mean I wait for someone to ask me to help with a monkey and then decide if I want to or not; it means I actively look for a need and volunteer to take responsibility for that monkey.

Is that too many monkeys for one article?

Mark

The Great Commission commands us to make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father,  Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to follow God’s commands.  Nearly anyone who has been a member of the Lord’s church for more than a second knows that!

In the first two verses of Acts 13, we see that the church at Antioch ministered to the Lord in prayer.  For the church to do the things God desires it to do, it must take instruction from the Holy Spirit, rather than through man’s reasoning and/or plans.

This Sunday we’ll have the Spiritual State of the Congregation.  Traditionally, Castle Rock and other churches choose a Sunday for an elder to deliver a message that often turns into a pep rally to celebrate successes.  And while that’s encouraging, we also need to be challenged to make sure we too are ministering to the Lord in prayer…both as a body of believers and individually.  How well are you communicating with the Holy Spirit?  Do you set aside time for prayer and fasting?  While some do, it’s an area many can improve upon.

As we continue reading Acts 13, we also see that the Antioch church released God ordained ministry to touch the world.  The impact of a church can be measured more by its sending capacity than its seating capacity.  Throughout history there have been small churches who accomplished much and there have been large congregations that have accomplished very little.

As you reflect on the impact of Castle Rock, I invite you to do so through this lens.  Are we making a difference in our community?  What can you personally do to help make a bigger difference?  Are you helping to spread the Good News rather than rely on others to do so?  Where can you use your God given talents to promote God’s Kingdom to your friends and neighbors?

I hope you can join us Sunday as we consider what Castle Rock is doing and how that compares to the church in Antioch!

Rory

THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY

1.27.23

As most of you know, the Morine Family will be gone for the month of February. Every seven years, the congregation provides a Sabbatical. We are going to Monterrey, California. While there, I will preach for the Church on Sundays and teach some on Wednesday Nights. Hopefully, that is all I will do, as I hope to find some rest while there. You might be wondering why we do this.

The principle of rest after seven years comes from Leviticus 25:1-5, "The Lord said to Moses at Mount Sinai, "Say to the people of Israel, 'When you come to the land I will give you, then the land will have a Year of Rest to the Lord. Six years you will plant seeds in your field. Six years you will take care of your vines and gather their fruit. But the seventh year will be a Year of Rest for the land, a Year of Rest to the Lord. You will not plant seeds in your field or take care of your vines. You will not gather what grows of itself in your field. And do not gather the fruit of the vines that have not been cared for. The land will have a Year of Rest." The land is to have a time of rest.

Years ago, I had a friend that always had a sabbatical time written in his contract. His case was that the land got a time of rest after seven years, and he was more important than dirt. His leadership agreed with him, so he was given a sabbatical. You might disagree on whether or not I am more valuable than dirt; nevertheless, the principle is there.

Rest is not much of an American value, but God models it. After six days of creation, God rested. One cannot push hard continually. Rest is valuable because it allows you to regain strength and greater longevity. We have seen this here at Castle Rock. We are in our 14th year with the congregation. At some point this year, I will pass Jack Carter as the congregation's longest-serving minister. Please keep us in your prayers during our travels; you will continue to be in ours.

RARE BEHAVIOR

1.20.23 

We all like stories of rare behavior, an example of someone doing something shocking or unexpected. What is interesting about rare behavior is that there is really no rule. The reason it is rare is because of our expectations. Certain norms seem to be in place in human behavior, but when someone breaks that norm, it becomes a powerful example.

Here is a powerful story that I read recently. “Some religious movements have as their heroes great warriors or prophets. The Mennonites have Dirk Willems, who was arrested for his religious beliefs in the sixteenth century and held in a prison tower. With the aid of a rope made of knotted rags, he let himself down from the window and escaped across the castle’s ice-covered moat. A guard gave chase. Willems made it safely to the other side. The guard did not, falling through the ice into the freezing water, and Willems stopped, went back, and pulled his pursuer to safety. For his act of compassion, he was taken back to prison, tortured, and then burned slowly at the stake as he repeated, “Oh, my Lord, my God” seventy times over.”

This story is powerful because Dirk is attempting to escape. He is undoubtedly willing to flee for his life, but when the guard is about to die, he turns back to save him. We might expect the guard to let him go, but he is taken back to jail and killed. 

Think about your life. Do you have any moments of rare behavior? Rare behavior is the power of the gospel because what Jesus did was so rare that it continues to inspire the whole world.   

Gladwell, Malcolm. David and Goliath (pp. 254-255). Little, Brown and Company. Kindle Edition.

SOME NEWS TO KNOW

1.13.23

We are officially into 2023 and are excited about what lies ahead. We kicked off the new year with one of our higher attendance numbers. It is fantastic to see how full the auditorium is each week. What is even better is the amount of visiting that is happening after services. Each week I stand in the back and see so many conversations among everyone. Here are a few updates.

 1.      A Leadership Newsletter. This past week you might have received a new leadership newsletter. If you are a ministry leader, it should be in your inbox. It will be information about how to expand and improve your leadership skills. Please let the office know if you would like to receive this separate leadership newsletter.

2.      The Morine’s will be on a Sabbatical for the month of February. Every seven years, we have a time of rest. We are excited that Dr. Huffard will be at CR during this time. I will be in California, preaching at a little church there while we are away. I appreciate the leadership for this opportunity.

3.      I am teaching the teens on Sunday Mornings. Please have your teen here. We are studying the L2L Pearls material. 

4.      We sadly said goodbye to Don and Lisa Moore. We will truly miss them. We thank them for the excellent service and love this couple gave us for many years. 

 The new year is exciting. We are moving into the future with a ton of energy and opportunities. What we do need, though, is more leaders in various areas. Be thinking about how you can contribute this year to the kingdom.         

WINTER IS HERE

1.6.23

What is it about snow that makes it fantastic in December and a pain in January?  Snow seems so festive during the Christmas Season but seems to be a pain in January.  Snow at certain times is a joy and other times is a nuisance.  I guess it is all about timing.  If you are sitting home with nothing to do, snow falling outside is beautiful, but if you must catch a flight, then snow is a complication.  This idea of something being a blessing or a curse is a normal truth.  Suffering is like this.  At some times suffering is terrible, while at other times, it can be a blessing.  It really depends on the circumstances. 

Too much suffering can be overwhelming.  Lifting a heavy object is good, unless it is too heavy, and it crushes you.  1 Corinthians 10:13 is talking about temptation, but there is the principle of God not allowing you to endure more than you can handle.  Suffering is a powerful tool for spiritual growth, but if the suffering is so intense that someone rejects God, that is not a positive.  “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”  Endurance in the faith is important to the Lord.  He desires for all people to be saved.  “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). 

Evil is bad, but it can challenge you and cause you to be stronger.  Jesus had to stand against the Devil in Matthew 4.  God does not automatically rescue us from evil.  But that does not mean we should go looking for it.  Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” We should be praying that God will deliver us from evil.  You can grow in your faith by overcoming evil in this world. 

A little snow can be good but driving through six feet of snow will shut everything down.  We do not live in a perfect world, so we will face numerous temptations and challenges, and these can make us stronger, but too much suffering and temptation can harm us.    

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

12.30.22

The Christmas Season is over, and the New Year is here. We know what that means. Goals. A new year is typically the time to establish new goals for the coming year. It seems a little trite to mention setting goals again. I write a bulletin about it every year. There can also be a benefit to sticking with what has been a focus for numerous years. There must be a reason that New Year's resolutions have been around for so long.

Merriam-Webster dictionary states, "It would appear that New Year's resolutions have existed for quite a long time. A 1671 entry from the diaries of Anne Halkett, a writer and member of the Scottish gentry, contains a number of pledges, typically taken from biblical verses such as "I will not offend any more." Halkett titled this page "Resolutions" and wrote them on January 2nd, which would possibly indicate that the practice was in use at the time, even if people did not refer to it as a New Year's resolution."

There is some longevity with the concept of New Year's resolutions. Instead of giving you three pieces of advice to accomplish your goals, I encourage you to tackle one goal. Here it is—do something challenging. Find one task or goal that is difficult. Something that you might not personally want to do. Not lose weight, but sometime that would not be enjoyable. We typically focus on habits we want to do more of, like reading the Bible and praying. But this year, I want to challenge you to do something mentally taxing and unpleasant. Something that you have to increase your mental strength to accomplish. Think more like a polar pungle. There is no joy in jumping in cold water, and there is probably no immediate benefit besides the positive feeling of doing it.

We typically look for ways to make our lives more comfortable. Instead, look for something that makes you uncomfortable. The mental ability to push yourself to do something hard will be an excellent foundation to build on in the coming year.

CHRISTMAS MORNING

12.24.22

Christmas is on a Sunday, which on average, only comes around every seven years. It is interesting how people view this event; some see it as a burden, while others see it as a blessing. 

We have one worship service this Sunday at 10 am. There will be no class. Some people view this event as an interruption to celebrating Christmas with their family. How come you have to stop opening gifts to go to Church? People will choose to miss worship for family time. Everyone is entitled to their thoughts on this, but I want to encourage you to make worship a priority on Christmas morning. Here are a few of my reasons.

1.      It is always about Jesus. We should focus on worshipping our Lord and Savior every first day of the week. There are times in which people will miss worship, it happens, but our habit should be to be there. Make worship more important than gift opening. You will have plenty of time to open presents. Make sure you take the time to be grateful for all the Lord has given you.

2.      It is so encouraging. There is nothing like coming together on Christmas morning with your Church family. Everyone is excited, and people are so festive. I personally love telling everyone Merry Christmas. 

3.      Be a Light. Not everyone has a ton of family near, and those people are excited to get out and celebrate with others. Come to encourage.

4.      Teach the Kids the Order of Priorities. All kids are excited about Christmas morning; presents and gifts are amazing. From a kid’s point of view, why show up? Christmas morning is a great opportunity to teach delayed gratification. Life is not about us at the center; it is about Christ in the center.

Honestly, why do I want you there on Sunday morning? Because I like to see you every Sunday morning and especially look forward to it this Christmas morning. It brings joy to my heart to see everyone coming together to praise the Jesus we all worship.     

GO BACK TO THE SHEEP

12.16.22

1 Samuel 16:1-19 “The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king…. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.”  Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.”  So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one…. Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.  Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.” So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.” One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.” Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

Sometimes we think the process of leadership is glorious.  David is anointed by Samuel and he started in the academy for future kings, but instead he was anointed and his Dad sent him back into the field to tend the sheep.  He is back protecting the sheep and feeding them.  There is nothing glorious about his training program.  God will continue to develop him by allowing him into the house of Saul, but for now, he is going to be a boy shepherd.  His experience with the sheep will be a blessing to him as he faces Goliath because he will have the confidence to stand against the giant because he has fought off bears and lions.  You want to be a great leader—serve in the role you are in.  When you do, God opens up an door for greater service.   

 
No Worries about Idleness

12.9.22

Do we really need to worry about idleness in our world?  Who has time to be idle?  Ask the average person how they are doing, and the common response is “I’m busy.”  Ask someone what they are up to, and the person will state that he or she has been so busy.  Business seems almost as a badge of honor.  If you are busy, you must be important.  Personally, though, I feel that business is a sign of a lack of time management.  Are we busy or are we piddling our time away.  It might be viewing the internet on social media, watching TV shows, or some other low reward activity, but we are not busy, we are poor time managers.  Maybe we are less busy but are making poor choices for our time.  Perhaps idleness is defined differently than we think?

Here is perhaps a good sign to see if you are idle.  “All our worries and plans about the future, all of the replays in our minds of the bad things that happened in the past is all in our heads (the human mind has a tendency to create issues out of nothing when it’s idle).  Are you creating negative situations in your mind? 

The Bible speaks of idleness more than we would expect.  Proverbs 15:19-21 For lazy people, life is a path overgrown with thorns and thistles. For those who do what is right, it is a smooth highway. Wise children make their parents happy. Foolish children bring them shame. Doing foolish things makes a fool happy, but a wise person is careful to do what is right.”  You see excuse making too, because the person starts to create issues out of nothing.  Proverbs 26:11-16 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road— a lion in the public square!” A door turns on its hinges, and a slacker, on his bed. The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth. In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser than seven men who can answer sensibly.” 

Idleness has a way of confusing you.  You might be more busy than you think or that you see problems that do not really exist. 

Baid, Gautam. The Joys of Compounding (Heilbrunn Center for Graham & Dodd Investing Series) (p. 40). Columbia University Press. Kindle Edition.

IT ALL LOOKS EASY

12.2.22

“Every job looks easy,” (Jeff) Immelt began to tell his colleagues, “When you’re not the one doing it.”  This quote comes from Jeffery Immelt who was the CEO of General Electric.  He replaced Jack Welch but did not have the level of success his predecessor did.  He was taking on a lot of criticism, and his statement declared a strong truth.  It looks easier as they say, from the armchair quarterback position. 

We can all fall prey to the temptation of believing we have the answers when we are not in charge.  Peter struggled with this dynamic, even with Jesus.  Matthew 16:21-23 “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”  Peter was trying to make Jesus make the wrong choices.  Jesus had the mission in mind, Peter had his concerns in mind. 

Through the years, I have noticed that I have judged people’s actions through my imagination.  An imagination is hard to debate with because it typically is overly optimistic or negative.  We tend to think about worst-case or best-case outcomes.  Rarely do we believe our imagined future does not turn out to be different than we imagined.  We hardly ever picture our imaginations being wrong. 

Learning to trust leadership is an important skill in one’s development.   

Gryta, Thomas; Mann, Ted. Lights Out: Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric (p. 57). HMH Books. Kindle Edition.

THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS

11.25.22

There seems to be a focus in November about posting something that you are thankful for each day on social media.  A person will write a little post about someone or something that has impacted them in a positive way.  The assignment is probably easy at the first of the month.  The major areas of thankfulness shines through quickly, but as the month progresses, the mind must think a little more deeply.  Perhaps the list of people grows, and the events go back a little longer.  The obvious areas are covered, and the brain must be more thoughtful.  This must be good.  You have to search for thankfulness. 

The stronger verse concerning the search for thankfulness could be James 1:2 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.”  The word that is translated “trial”—peirasmos—and its verbal cognate—peirazō—are important words in this section: we find peirasmos in vv. 2 and 12 and peirazō in vv. 13 and 14. These words have two distinct meanings in the NT. They can denote either an outward trial or process of “testing” or they can denote the inner enticement to sin: “temptation” or “tempt.” The latter meaning is seen in verses such as 1 Tim. 6:9: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction” (see also Luke 22:40, 46). 1 Pet. 4:12, on the other hand, it is a good example of the other meaning: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (see also 1 Pet. 1:6; Matt. 26:41; Luke 22:28; Acts 20:19; Rev. 3:10).[1] 

 James casts a wide net of struggles with the phrase “trails of various kinds.”  There are so many different types of struggles that one can face.  The focus can turn to the struggle with little attention to the savior.  The mind needs a moment to be intentional about dwelling on the areas of thankfulness.  You can probably list some areas that are at the tip of your tongue, but perhaps this year, drill a little deeper and look for the areas that might be day 28 level of thankfulness.  If you can go that deep, you probably have a lot to be thankful for in life.      

 [1] Douglas J. Moo, The Letter of James, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2000), 53.

HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE

11.18.22

The Christmas Season can be overwhelming.  I was doing a funeral recently and the funeral director was telling me that this is his busiest season.  He informed me that more deaths happen during this time of year than at any other time.  This was shocking to me.  I always thought there were more deaths during the Holidays, but I thought it was because it was more visible because of the timing, but I guess the data backs this insight up.  He says that funeral directors never are allowed time off from about Thanksgiving to the New Year.  “Don’t ask for it", he said.

With this insight, this year’s survival guide has a little more weight to it.  So here are three tips for a better Christmas Season.

1.      You might be hurting during this time of year.  Stuff happens in your life, and there is sometimes a disconnect.  The message from everyone is one of happiness and joy, but you are not feeling it.  You might be dealing with something that is painful to you, and the reminder of joy is hard to accept.  It is alright to be grieving and hurting during Christmas.  Accept the disconnect and be honest with your emotions.

2.      Order Your Life.  Give yourself permission to say “no.” You do not have to do everything that is planned for you this time of year.  Create some boundaries, but also be open to opportunities.  This could be a balancing act, but one worth doing.  Do not run yourself into the ground but be open to surprises.  There could be some events that you might not want to be at but might turn out to be a blessing to you.

3.      Do Something Special for Someone Else.  Do give back to others.  There is no greater joy than giving during Christmas.  Look for something or someone to bless this season.  Stay in touch with the spirit of the season and do good.  Bless people and you will be blessed.

I hope this little survival guide gives you a few thoughts for the coming Christmas Season.  I always look forward to it.

Three Mindsets in Conflict

11.11.22

In a conflict, your attitude will make a big difference in the outcome.  A negative attitude can influence the events significantly.  Here are three mindsets that can influence you. These are “better-than” “I-deserve” “I am not worth it.” 

“Better Than.” Sometimes in a conflict or a disagreement, a person can have the attitude of being better than the other person.  This goes against the advice of Paul in Philippians 2:3-4, in which he states that one “should think of others more highly than themselves.”  One can fall prey to thinking that he or she is right, which causes the person to not really listen to other thoughts or points of view.  You put up a wall to learning with a better than outlook.

“I deserve.”  With this mindset, you can be tempted through entitlement.  Instead of looking for a win-win solution, it becomes more of a land grab in the conflict.  You feel that you deserve more than the other person because of whatever reasons you have come up with in your mind.  It turns into a very self-centered approach to working out a situation. 

“I am not worth it.”  Sometimes Christians do not feel worth standing up for themselves.  Instead of working for a solution, the Christian merely gives in all the time and feels walked over.  You might have avoided the conflict, but over time you feel terrible about yourself and feel used by others.  Romans 12 is clear, as long as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.  There is a limit to having peace with others.  Unity is not being a doormat to others. 

In all conflict, ask yourself this question.  “What is my attitude towards this situation?”  Then add this extra question, “really.”  “What is my attitude, really?”  Discern your attitude first to seek peace.      

Are Demons in the World Today?

11.4.22

 What does the Bible teach about Demons in the world today?  People wonder about this question, but one should probably admit that no direct teaching in the Bible addresses the question.  The New Testament was written about 2000 years ago, and probably no author was concerned with this during that time.  So, we probably need to look at some principles to answer the question.

In last week’s bulletin, we looked at various ages in which demons were present.  Not all times had the same level of demon involvement.  So, we know that as times change, so can demon activity.  What we see in the New Testament might not be seen during our time.  On the other hand, we are still living in the last times, and are under the New Covenant, so we can also see that similarities could exist.  

We definitely do not want to be like those extreme progressive leaders who rejected all demon involvement in the first century during the time of Christ.  People have denied that the demons we read about in the New Testament are real but were just the mindset of primitive people.  I reject this.  Demons are not a myth.

We are in the Church age, so I believe that demon activity is still happening in the world.  Sometimes we can allow ourselves to have a modern perspective over a Biblical perspective.  We can become blind to the work of Satan and perhaps assign demon activity to another area mistakenly.  If we believe that Satan is alive and working, we should probably be open that he is using demons to accomplish his purposes.  We probably should be consistent.  If you believe Satan can work, you should consider that demons are involved too.  

Demons

10.28.22

This past Sunday, we started a new series about Demons. There are a lot of questions and opinions surrounding demons in the Old and New Testaments, along with questions concerning the role of demons today. There have been differing stages of demonic activity in history.

1.      In the Old Testament. The word “demon” is not used often, and little is said about demonic activity. A few verses highlight the role of demons, though. Deuteronomy 32:16-17 “They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger. They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.” Also, look to Psalms 106:35-37, “but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did. They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons.” These references demonstrate that worship offered to idols in all the nations surrounding Israel was really worship to Satan and demons. But also interesting is that there is no clear instance of casting out demons in the Old Testament. 

2.      During the Ministry of Jesus. After hundreds of years of inability to have any triumph over demonic forces, it is understandable that when Jesus came casting out demons with absolute authority, the people were impressed. Mark 1:27 “And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

3.      During the New Covenant Age. The authority over demonic powers was not limited to Jesus himself. He gave authority to the twelve (Matthew 10:8), also to the seventy disciples (Luke 10:17), and those who ministered in Jesus’ name (Acts 8:7, James 4:7). 

Because of this information on the changing nature of authority over demons, one could conclude that the role of demons in the world is not static. 

Partner With Others

10.21.22

This week I have been hosting the Heritage Christian Alumni Retreat in Breckenridge, Colorado.  It is a highlight for those who attended HCU.  Thirteen ministers traveled from all over the nation to be there.  Ministers spend much of their time giving to others, but for this retreat, it is all about giving to them.  We provide beautiful accommodations, spiritual nourishment, and HCU covers the costs for food and fun.  It is a chance to give back. 

We can do this because of the partnerships we have in this congregation.  Castle Rock is special because we invest in the Kingdom, and not just ourselves.  We can have this retreat because of members donating the condo.  We can do this because the congregation is willing to allow me to lead this work instead of demanding my time in the office.  In fact, our congregation is all over the place serving others.  We are hosting a retreat in December for smaller congregations in Colorado as part of our Partners in Missions.  We had numerous people attend the recent Mountain States Children’s Home Gala.  We planted the L2L convention in Colorado and one of our elders leads the convention.  Numerous members serve as judges for the event.  We have members that support my work in the community through tennis.  What I love about Castle Rock is that you support a wide variety of work.  I believe we are blessed because we bless others. 

            The principle of partnership is strong in the Bible.  You can do more together than you can do individually.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!  Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?  And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Partnership is powerful because it creates unity.  We are all connected to one another and share in the victories together.  We are truly one when we are partnering with one another.    

Reflections On Another Tennis Season

10.14.22

As most of you know, I am the Assistant Coach for the Varsity Tennis Boys at Castle View High School. I have done this for about four years now. Our season is from August to the middle of October. Typically, we would have finished this week, but we had five players go to states this year which is a record for the school. Last year we had three guys go, and before that, only one guy who ever made it to states from the school. Our program is definitely improving. My primary motivation for doing this is to be involved in the community. It is a good way to connect to people in town. Over the years, I probably know more people through tennis than the church. It is a great opportunity to be the presence of Christ in the community.

Here are a couple of reflections I have from the season:

1. Division Happens Without a Goal. The season started kind of tense. We had tryouts, and some of the boys were unhappy with the results. There were some hurt feelings toward one another on the team. But many of these feelings went away once we started playing other teams. We needed a goal that was outside of ourselves. We needed a purpose. You see this in congregations; people can start fighting for power or influence if the congregation is highly internally focused. But once you start engaging the world, you got to unite because you need one another.

2. Love the Process. We train all summer and all during the fall months. It is a long season. If you are only involved for the games or the state championship, you will probably not make it far. You got to love the process as much as the destination. You must love practicing, working on your fitness, and developing your shots. It has to be about the journey. You see this in our walk with the Lord. You got to love the process of sanctification.

It was a good season, and I saw the Lord working throughout the season. I am ready for the season to come to an end, but it was a good journey. I am proud of the boys and the hard work that they put in. Until next year….

REFLECTIONS ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP

10.7.22

 We had a successful mental health workshop this past weekend.  We appreciate Dr. Paul Helton coming from Tennessee to speak on the topics of anxiety, trauma, stress, depression, and how the body functions in relation to mental health.  You could tell that he was highly informed and experienced in this field of study.  Here are a few reflections I had on the weekend.

 1.  We are deeply connected as body, soul, and spirit.  Our minds and our bodies are deeply connected in a system.  How you treat the body will influence the mind, and how you treat the mind will influence the body.  We cannot separate the elements of humanity from one another.  1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  We should have a wholistic approach to mental health. 

2.  There is a lot of empowerment in depression.  I really liked the information about depression.  For me, I pretty much thought depression was a deep darkness that lasts for days to months, and to perhaps years.  But depression can be situational.  You might feel bad for a short amount of time, move on, but it is still depression.  What we can do is use the coping skills that he mentioned.  His top five suggestions were great.  Get moving, meditate, connect with nature, diet, and journaling are all helpful.

3.  His work on cognitive restricting was rich.  People can struggle with distorted thinking.  His list of the top ten distortions was enlightening.  There were numerous distortions that can happen.  We can have “all of nothing” thinking.  We can “disqualify the position.”  We can “magnify or minimize.” 

 It was a good weekend with plenty of important insights into how God created us.  A big thank you to everyone that made the weekend possible.      

Mental Health Workshop

9.30.22 

It is Monday morning, September 26th, and this weekend we are hosting our mental health workshop.  We have had a ton of positive reactions from the community about this workshop, but on Monday we are still unsure of what will happen on Saturday and Sunday.  We are praying that people will be blessed by the material. 

 If you are reading this note on Friday, I want to encourage you to come to the workshop on Saturday.  Yes, there are always plenty of things happening on a Saturday morning, but please make this a priority.  Even if you do not feel that need to be here for yourself, come for the opportunity to learn how to help others.  We are seeing numerous people dealing with the issues of anxiety, trauma, stress, depression, and we need to learn coping skills to help ourselves and others through these issues.  It is just one morning but might make a lifelong improvement for you or someone you know.  

If you are reading this note on Sunday, I hope you enjoyed Saturday, and we are excited for Sunday.  You might be wondering though how to move forward.  You see that this is an area that you could grow in, and you are wondering how to continue the journey towards healing.  Here are a few suggestions.

1.  Talk to someone.  At Castle Rock, we have a partnership with a counseling firm here in town.  We would love to refer you to someone that could help you.  At a workshop, typically people deal with the surface level, but there is still a lot of work to do beneath the surface.  We encourage you to continue to go deeper.

2.  Continue to educate yourself.  Read about the areas that were mentioned and work through the material.  Take ownership of your journey.  One weekend will not solve everything, so continue to focus on mental health.

3.  Next year we will explore this area again through some sermons.  Stay around because we will continue to help as a congregation.

Dealing with Anxiety

9.23.22

What is anxiety?  Is it a big deal or sometime that is a modern-day America problem?  Can people just “get over it?”  A definition of anxiety is “is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal reaction to stress. For example, you might feel anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. It can help you to cope. The anxiety may give you a boost of energy or help you focus. But for people with anxiety disorders, the fear is not temporary and can be overwhelming.” 

 What is amazing is that anxiety is not a modern problem.  It is not something that Americas have made up, but rather is a common issue throughout time.  The Bible mentions anxiety often.  Isaiah 35:4 “Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”  Matthew 6:25 ““Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”  Matthew 6:34 ““Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  Matthew 10:19 “When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.”  Luke 10:41 “But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things.”  1 Corinthians 7:33 “But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife.”  Philippians 2:28 “I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.”

Throughout the Bible there are numerous references to anxiety.  It is a classic feeling of humankind.  Learning to deal with anxiety is a skill that people have to face.  It is not a made up problem or something that people have that have little going on to really stress them out.  It is a feeling that is throughout the word of God because it is a normal feeling of people.  

THE ART OF REMEMBERING

9.16.22

There are hundreds of tables across our fellowship that have inscribed in them the words “do this in remembrance.”  The words are referring to the Lord’s Supper which we are commanded to partake of every week.  During the worship service, we reflect on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  There is something powerful in remembering.

This past Sunday was 9/11.  The date is connected to the terrible attack on the two World Trade Centers in New York City.  America was attacked this day all over the nation.  It was a day of uncertainty and forever change.  Terrorism stepped foot on America soil in such a way that everything changed after this day.  So many lives were lost because of senseless hatred. 

On Sunday before worship services, Kevin, Brian, and Kyle Russell walked up the incline in Castle Rock eleven times to remember those who served during this day.  Kyle and Brian are firemen and donned full gear as they walked to the top.  Kevin walked with them to support them in this time of remembering.  I really appreciated this family doing this.  You think about all of the firemen that served during this historic day.  Those individuals gave everything during this sad day in American history. 

What this family did was special.  It is one thing to remember, it is another to act on that memory.  As the people of God, we act on us remembering the sacrifice of Jesus.  It is not just a act of mental reflection, we partake of the fruit of the vine and the body of Christ so that we ingrain our memories.  Memory is more than mental, it needs to be physical too.  As you partake of the Lord’s Supper this week, do more than think, focus on the taste, the texture, and remember what Jesus did for you.  The more physical it is, often the more of a lasting impression you experience.  Thank you to the Russell family for this reminder, and for honoring those who served on 9/11.    

ALONE WITH THE LORD

9.9.22

 You have probably sang the son “I Come to the Garden Alone.”  The words that begin the song are: I Come To The Garden Alone, While The Dew Is Still On The Roses, And The Voice, I Hear Falling On My Ear, The Son Of God Discloses., And He Walks With Me, And He Talks With Me, And He Tells Me I Am His Own; And The Joy We Share As We Tarry There, None Other Has Ever Known.  It is a pretty song that talks about spending time with the Lord.  There is a stillness to the song that is rare for these times.

Did you know that there was a study done about people’s desires to be a lone.  “Researchers published a study in 2014 that revealed that approximately a quarter of women and two-thirds of men chose electric shocks over spending time alone with their own thoughts.”  Imagine this thought—someone would rather be shocked than to think.  You probably see this in life.  People rarely have silence in life.  There is always the TV going, or music playing in the background.  Noise is all around us.  Finding a moment of peace is rare in a world of noise. 

Think about the last time you practiced peace.  You intentionally found a spot or time to be alone with the Lord?  This practice is so healthy and especially needed for all of us. 

Jesus modeled this behavior. 

1.    To prepare for a major task: Luke 4:1-2, 14-15. After Jesus was baptized He spent 40 days praying in the wilderness.

2.     To recharge after hard work: Mark 6:30-32. Jesus sent the 12 disciples out to do ministry.

3.     To work through grief: Matthew 14:1-13. After Jesus learned that his cousin John the Baptist had been beheaded, He went away by Himself.

4.     Before making an important decision: Luke 6:12-13. Early in His ministry Jesus spent the whole night alone in prayer. The next day He chose his 12 disciples.

5.      In a time of distress: Luke 22:39-44. Hours before Jesus was arrested He went to the Mt. of Olives and went a short distance away from His disciples to pray.

6.     To focus on prayer: Luke 5:16. Many times in Jesus’ ministry He spent time alone in prayer.

Baid, Gautam. The Joys of Compounding (Heilbrunn Center for Graham & Dodd Investing Series) (p. 30). Columbia University Press. Kindle Edition.

The Lens of Scripture

9.4.22

 I remember standing on the shore of Snowmass Lake.  It was in the evening with the moon shining on the cold waters of the alpine lake.  In the distance was two mountains.  One that was closer looked bigger than the one behind it.  The first one was a 13,000 foot mountain, but the one behind it was called Snowmass Mountain which is one of the famous 14ers.  The first seemed taller, but logically I knew that this was not the case.  It was from my perspective.  The first mountain seemed to command more height than the mountain behind.

We often read scripture this way.  There could be numerous verses on a given topic, but the verses that we take to be most important often narrow our focus on interpreting them.  We know that scripture does not contradict, but how do we understand truth?  How do we weigh which verses should come first in trying to understand a biblical command?

Here are a principles that can help.  Allow the context to determine the lens.  For an example, there are verses that people state that mention a female deacon.  Romans 16:1-2 “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.”  The word “servant” can mean “deacon.”  On the other hand, Paul talks to Timothy about the role of women in the church in 1 Timothy 2:11-12 “Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.  I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.”  A good Bible student needs to harmonize these two verses.  People can argue over and over again what is the meaning by contradicting each other, but there is a better approach.  What is the truth?  You need to see which verses are talking more specifically about a topic.  If there is a truth that is more of a side note in contrast to a truth that is more pertinent to the context, that truth should be the guiding lens.

Choosing which verses in your sights is a good start in understanding harder concepts in the Bible.   

WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THIS?

8.26.22

Questions can be more powerful than answers.  Questions can be better than statements.  What if the most important question for your life is “why are we talking about this?”  This is a powerful question because it is a channeling question.  It narrows in on motivation and attitudes.  With unlimited information in our world, we can be considered with almost unlimited possibilities.  All the news media, social media, and conversations of people can be driven from the need to command your attention.  There are industries that are built with one goal in mind—your eyeballs on them.  Your attention is worth billions of dollars.  Instead of allowing others to dictate the direction of your mind, you need to control it.

So, ask yourself “why are we talking about this.”  This question will take you deeper into a person’s motivation.  Is it because someone else is concerned?  Is it because the person needs you to handle the problem for them?  Is the person having too much time and is upset about something that is honestly pretty pointless?  Or is it a genuine and needed concern?  A lot of talk can happen, but what is the most important talk?

James is clear about the power of the tongue.  It can overwhelm a person and control them.  The tongue can talk people in all kinds of direction that need not happen.  James 3:1-3 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.  For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.  If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.”

The next time you find yourself talking about something that seems pretty minor, but the time is given to it is major, ask yourself this simple question.  “Why are we talking about this?” 

SOUL WINNING WORKSHOP

8.19.22

On August 27th, from 9am to 3pm, we have Jon Rowe coming to help us in the area of evangelism.  I personally do not know Jon, though he is a friend of Kevin Bearly.  He is coming to talk about principles of preparation, personal evangelism in Jesus’ life, generating a gospel discussion, and the gospel presentation.  Evangelism is an area in which all of us could improve.

No one tells you to just act.  No one tells you to walk on to a stage and portray a character without some coaching.  People would not expect you to shoot a basketball without some instruction.  You are given pointers on how to hold the ball, where to place your feet, and the technique in releasing the ball.  Instruction is helpful in all areas of life.  You could put on a pair of skates, step onto a hockey rink, and fall flat on your face.  You are not a bad person or unathletic; you are merely lacking the proper know how.

 We all know the commands to evangelism, but we do not always have the tools to be effective.  We could all learn more about the art of reaching people for Christ.

On Saturday, there will be a lunch provided too.  Even if you cannot come for the entire time, we hope that you will be able to make one or two sessions.  You probably will be blessed if you do so.  

TWO WORKSHOPS COMING SOON

8.12.22

We have two workshops coming up for the congregation and the community.  Sometimes it is wise to bring in an expert in a certain field to help us to continue to grow in our service to the Lord. 

The first workshop is right around the corner.  On Saturday, August 27th, we are having a soul winning workshop.  Our speaker will be addressing how to prepare for evangelism, how Jesus evangelized, and how to have a gospel discussion.  Evangelism is important to us at Castle Rock and we all could use some help in this vital area of our role as a Christian.  We have invited the area congregations and those we serve through our Colorado Missions. It will go until 3pm and lunch will be provided. 

 The second workshop is concerning mental health.  It is October 1st and 2nd.  We will be dealing with Anxiety: Triggers & Solutions; Trauma (childhood, event related, onetime events); Physiology of Stress and Coping Suggestions; Depression and Coping suggestions; How the body holds trauma.  We are hoping to invite the community too.  We will be doing mail outs and a Facebook campaign as well.  But you are the best advertisement, so please be inviting people.  I believe everyone will be blessed by this event. 

The Castle Rock leadership is committed to you.  We provide these opportunities so that you can continue to grow as a human and in your faith.   Please mark the dates on your calendar and try to be here.  You should be blessed.  

Student Sunday Promotion

8.5.22

This Sunday is Student Sunday.  It is a Sunday that we take to honor our kids and teens.  Our students will be moving up to the next class.  Recently, I was coaching some seven-year-old kids.  I asked all the kids their ages.  Most kids were seven, but no one told me they were seven.  It was always seven and a half.  Kids look forward to being a little older.  A seven-year-old will be seven and a half that next day after a birthday, but adults are the same age until the last hour of their birthday.  Moving up a grade is always exciting for young people.  So how can young people transition well?

1.      Face the Challenge.  With a step up, there will be new challenges.  Facing them will be an essential skill in life because there is always a new challenge.  Life is full of needing to step up to meet a new obstacle.  Learning this skill will be crucial for long-term success.  Throughout the Bible, you see God’s people facing a struggle and failing or succeeding.  Try to be optimistic about what you are facing currently.  Having the right attitude is often half the battle.  Pessimism usually creates added problems. 

2.      Root Yourself in God.  As you age, you need to shape your identity.  Many young people struggle because they do not know their core values.  Remember, you are a Christian.  Your number one task is not to win sporting events or excel in school but to be faithful to God.  A lot will change around you, but you will know who you are, which will keep you grounded during times of upheaval. 

3.      Create Lifelong Habits.  You might not realize it, but you are creating habits that will stay with you for years.  Be intentional about the habits you make.  Start praying and reading your Bible now, instead of waiting.  The proper practices will take you far in life.

You are taking the next step in your journey, and we at Castle Rock are thankful to be part of the adventure.

IMPRESSED WITH PEOPLE

7.29.22

I have been noticing a trend within myself.  I never really saw it before, but something is changing in me.  I feel that I am more impressed with people lately.  People are more interesting to me and seem way more talented than before.  This is a strange phenomenon.  You would think that a younger me would be more impressed with people.  You are older and less experienced.  You definitely have less ability than the majority of the people you are around but for some reason you are not as impressed with them.  It is like the teenager that thinks that adults are dumb.  But the older I get the more respect I have for those around me.  People are really talented individuals and bring numerous gifts to life.  It seems that as we age, we appreciate the gifting of others much more.

Perhaps one of the tests of maturity is our ability to appreciate the gifting of others.  Younger people can compete.  Somehow people feel that they have to measure up or keep up.  There is a silent scale that people are watching.  Young men do this in sports and girls do this with relationships.  Who is the most athletic or the prettiest?  We are comparing ourselves.  But as people age, the need to prove oneself diminishes hopefully and is replaced with respect.  You can feel good about yourself while feeling a sense of appreciate for others.  You are merely thankful to be around good people who are talented.  There is the old adage of becoming who your friends are, so if you cannot handle being around talented and smart people, ultimately those choices will come back to haunt you.

In the end, this is the wisdom of Paul to the Philippian congregation.  He states “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Phil. 2:3-4).  It would be a hard life to always compare yourself to others, and feel you have to be the best.  It would be a goal that is impossible to achieve because there are people who are going to excel in areas in which you have little experience or talent.  Do not begrudge talent, instead appreciate the gifting that is from the Lord.        

Security of Bondage

7.22.22

The prophet Jeremiah talks of when God carried His people into exile because of their disobedience (Jer. 29). Once there, God told them to build houses, settle down, plant gardens, have sons and daughters, and seek peace and prosperity. Basically, settle in because you are going to be there a while. Yet he also tells them that when seventy years have passed, he will come to them as he promised and bring them out of captivity and back to their homeland. In the middle of this text is the verse so many like, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jer. 29:11).

We know the story; they, unfortunately, became so comfortable that when the time came, they did not want to leave. God had work for them to do, but his plan was now inconvenient for their current life. Isaiah 48 tells of God’s rebuke because they claim one thing and do another. They are all talk, and God is not buying any of it. Since they would not reject the world’s ways and accept God’s way, their condemnation is no different than their captors, the Babylonians. Had they obeyed God in the first place, they would have experienced peace and not captivity all those years.

One would think they would now be eager to return to the land and work God had planned for them. Instead, they had grown accustomed to the security of bondage and forgotten the life of freedom that comes with trusting God. As individuals and a congregation, we can easily grow complacent with the comfort and affluence we enjoy in this world. Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3). May we learn from the mistakes of our ancestors, trust in Him, his Word, and eagerly await the time he calls us to the land he promises.

Mark Walker (pinch-hitting this week)

Equality in Personhood and Importance

7.15.22

One of the discussions in our congregations across America concerns the role of men and women in the Church. There are various ideas about what women can do and what men should be doing. I believe that men and women have similar, though also differing, roles within a local congregation. The reason for these differing roles is not due to any superiority of the man or that he is someone more important to God than a woman. In regards to personhood and importance, both men and women are equal.

 As the trinity are equal in their importance and full existence as distinct persons, God has created men and women to be equal in their importance and personhood. When God made man and woman, he made them in his image. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27). Because both the man and woman are made in the image of God, both reflect the character of God. The idea of being in the image of God should exclude all feelings of pride or inferiority and any idea that one sex is better or worse than the other.

You see this erroneous mindset in the prayer of the Pharisees. “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:  “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector” (Luke 18:9-11). Having a sense of superiority is rarely from the Lord. It is a sign of pride and blindness. 

The Bible does not pit the sexes against one another. Instead, scripture honors one another and commands people to do as much too. You have the godly woman in Proverbs 31:10. “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”  A mindset that attacks one another is an attitude that will do more harm than good. Both sexes should be honored and respected.   

     
A WEDDING WEEKEND

7.8.22

It seems like these days there is a family wedding once a year.  This past weekend the family and I were down in Edmond, OK attending the wedding of our oldest nephew.  Alan was marrying Kate.  Both are from the same town, same church, and around the same age.  It was a beautiful wedding, and the bride and groom looked incredibly happy.  Weddings are joyous occasions.  There was probably 60 family members in town for the event. 

Weddings are great because there is always optimism.  The couple has been dating, falling in love, and there are numerous stories of romantic gestures and caring actions. All seems perfect on the wedding day.  But after 20 years of full time ministry, I have learned that this is not always the case.  There can be cracks that form with time.  So how do we keep the cracks from growing large and unruly? 

One of the most important themes in a good marriage is the idea of oneness.  When we think about oneness we probably can think about the sexual act, but there is so much more to oneness than a physical act, though that is a part of it.  Genesis 2:24 “ Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Here are a few areas to focus on for oneness.

Emotional Oneness.  Sometimes people need permission to feel what they are feeling.  There is nothing more frustrating than having an emotion and your spouse minimizes it or rejects it.  Being a safe person for your spouse is so important.  Validating feelings will bring a strong level of oneness in a marriage.  You have to trust one another with your emotions, and holding all of your thoughts in will not be healthy in the long run. 

Purpose Oneness.  There is something powerful about a couple that has the same faith.  You have the same goals in life in regards to faith.  It unites couples.  If you are pulling in different directions, it will be hard to come together and be one.

Weddings are great, but the hard work of having a great marriage is most important.  Work on the oneness in your relationship. 

BIG WINS

7.1.22

This weekend we celebrated some big wins.  The most important win was the amazing VBS.  We had a record amount of kids come.  What was extra special was that about half of the kids were from the community.  Our VBS team did an amazing job of outreach.  We had so many precious new faces.  I was standing at the back of the door saying goodbye to everyone and so many of the guests expressed appreciate for the amazing VBS.  I had a couple of families too mention coming on Sunday as well.  It was such a blessing to see the evangelism within the congregation. 

Our building looked amazing too.  What a job with creativity!  It was an honor to preach in front of such a colorful backdrop.  Truly a highlight for me.  I always wanted to preach in the jungle.  Our VBS ran so well too.  The reptile guy was great.  I was watching the kids and all of them were so engaged with all of the animals.  Our VBS was a huge win.

A big thankyou to our leadership team for putting it together.  What a group of amazing women!  Also, we are so appreciative of all of the volunteers from the skits, to the food, to all of the guides, we had a unified team making an impact for Christ in our community.  We are so blessed to have elders that support this work.  I love the fact that our elders get behind the dreams and goals of our young ladies.  We have a leadership team that loves kids and outreach.  I am so excited already for next year. 

I would be amiss not to mention the next win we had this week.  It was great watching the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup this year.  My favorite player, Nathan MacKinnon is from Nova Scotia, so I have been cheering for him since he was 15 years old.  It was good to see the cup return to Denver again. 

Recognizing Jesus

6.24.22

There are several passages in the book of Mark where someone or something witnesses to the divine nature of Jesus.

• 1:7 John the Baptist says, “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

• 1:11 God acknowledges Jesus as his son as he came up from the water of baptism, saying, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

• 1:12-13 Jesus was in the wilderness and, “angels attended to him.”

•  1:16-20 Jesus is walking along the Sea of Galilee, sees fishermen casting their nets, and says, “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people.” And what did they do? Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

• 1:24 The evil spirit cries out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?... I know who you are – the Holy One of God.

• 2:1-10 2 Jesus heals the paralytic, and “This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

• 4:35-41 Jesus commands the wind and waves to “Be Still!” And the disciples, terrified, ask, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

• 5:1-17 The demon-possessed man comes before Jesus and shouts, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

• 5:21-43 Jesus raises the dead girl and heals the sick woman.

People and nature recognized Jesus as different, powerful, and authoritative. John the Baptist, angels, demons, disciples, disease, wind, waves, death, and God himself all testified to the divine nature of Jesus.

Everyone except who? The religious leaders. Ironic? One would think that those who had the most training and experience to be best prepared for what to look for in the Messiah. Yet, those who were “in the know” did not know and refused to acknowledge the evidence right in front of them. What a stark contrast was their testimony to the divine nature of Jesus.

• 3:22 – The teachers of the Law said, “By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

• 7:6-7 – Jesus responds to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, saying, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.”

• 11:18 – “The chief Priests and the teachers of the law… began looking for a way to kill him.”

• 11:27-28 The chief Priests and teachers of the law and the elders ask, “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

May we not suffer the blindness of the religious elite but look with wide-open eyes for Jesus as evidenced in Scripture and all of creation.

“Are you living for the dot or the line?”

6.17.22 

This year's Family Camp theme was "Better Together" based on Ephesians 4:16, “from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

Our "whole body", "every joint", and "each part" of God’s church desires to consistently give our time, talent, and treasure for the growth of the body. We live and work for something greater than our short span in this world. We live to glorify God in this life and to spend eternity with Him. We illustrated this by a dot representing our earthly life, and a never-ending line representing eternity.        

How many times in your church life do you think you have sung or heard the song Amazing Grace? I can conservatively say I have sung it at least a few hundred times. The last verse of that song says:  

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, Than when we first begun.

I wonder if we sometimes sing “…ten thousand years” as if it is figurative, when in fact it is quite literal. And when the first ten thousand years passes, we still have “no less days” ahead. Simple math now puts that at twenty thousand years and counting. I have been blessed to live sixty years. So, in comparison, I would still have 19,940 years to go, and that is still just getting started. Now imagine if that same time was spent in hell.

Thank you, Jason, for challenging us to remember who and what we live for. Let us commit our time, talent, treasure, and whole being to live for the line, and not the dot.

Mark

WE ALL DESIRE

6.10.22

“The church is a place of desire. People come looking for something more in their lives, something more than is on offer in our culture at large, more even than in the university at large. Many people have come to worship at some inconvenience to yourselves. You could have slept in, or knocked an item or two off your to-do list, but you came, I dare say, hoping to hear something . . . in the songs or the prayers, from the pulpit, in the education hour, maybe from a friend; week after week, we all come here hoping to hear something that will feed us. Sometimes we come out of sheer desperation, hoping against hope that someone will throw out a lifeline to get us through the day, the week, the seemingly endless future. So the church, like the university, is a place of desire—very often, intense desire.”

Desire is a good and necessary thing, and probably we do not speak about it nearly enough in the classroom and in the church. We let the advertising industry have the corner on desire, and that’s a great shame, because their notion of desire is pretty paltry: the endless, repetitious hunger to buy more of the same stuff. But real desire is a great thing, an essential part of our humanity. As far as we know, this is something distinctively human: the yearning to realize a great dream, the passion for excellence that keeps you up at night, wakes you up in the morning, sets your heart on fire.”

Too often we discount desire.  Almost turn into something that is dirty and selfish.  The world attempts to convince us to desire the wrong things in life, but a godly desire is healthy and good.  Having a desire provides a sense of living.  A passion to pursuit.  When we have a real Biblical desire the energy is exciting, but when we stop desiring that which is of God, we turn to substitutes.  We feel empty instead of alive.  Psalms 34:12 “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days.”

Davis, Ellen F.; Dennis, Austin McIver. Preaching the Luminous Word: Biblical Sermons and Homiletical Essays (p. 112). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

AMAZING FAMILY CAMP

6.5.22

What an amazing family camp.  This was the first year for me at the new camp ground.  I was impressed.  The food was good and the facilities were excellent.  But more importantly the fun was increased.  One of the best blessings about family camp are the experiences that are created with one another within the congregation.  Sometimes attending church worship services does not lead into meaningful connections and friendships. There is an inherent struggle with breaking through the surface level of conversation or connection to something deeper and more meaningful on Sunday mornings.  There is more shallow conversation in the church building halls.  But at family camp, there are added opportunities to connect with people.  Maybe it is because you are sharing experiences with one another from shooting a gun to climbing a rock wall, but those moments help us to connect.  It is something to experience together.  You probably got to have a few conversations with people that you rarely talked to on Sunday morning.  Camp is great for connections.

We are so appreciative of the Lawrence family for leading this ministry.  Jason and Megan do an amazing job in bringing us all together and creating spiritual formation.  A long with the parents, the kids help too.  We are thankful for all of them.  We are a congregation that is overflowing with talent.

We were rewarded with some great sessions of teaching.  Do not forget about your homework of helping out with a ministry area.  Reach out to the leader of the ministry that you signed up to volunteer with during one of the sessions.  Also, think about your giving and how you can bless people through your treasure.

Also, thank you for everyone coming to family camp.  It is the people that make this time special.  What was one of your favorite memories?  Maybe share it with the person that you made it with this week.       

Know Yourself

5.27.22

Sometimes it is easy to fool people and fooling yourself can be even easier.  You probably have met people that seem to lack the ability of self-reflection.  The person just cannot see themselves in a normal light or recognizing their behavior.  One of the biggest struggles people have is assessing their spiritual health.

The person thinks they are doing well spiritually but are really dying inside.  But they cannot see it.  This lie is fueled by the evidence of life going well and by other people’s affirmations. You seem so happy.  You have learned to put on a happy face, but the heart is struggling.  Instead of admitting the reality, people learn to hide behind a happy face.  People learn to live with the constant feeling of discontent.  But in the end, this is like a thirsty man in the desert being satisfied by a mirage.

Taking account of how one is really doing personally—heart, soul, and in close relationships is important. It is critical to have a clear diagnosis of one’s own state to move forward with the appropriate intervention. An accurate diagnosis of one’s spiritual and emotional condition can occur in many ways. A counselor, an assessment, an open discussion with spouse and children are all ways to get a picture of how one is doing. Another way is respecting your time off. Your daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and sabbatical time off needs to be kept. The principle most of us break without batting an eye is “Keep the Sabbath.” Taking our time off reveals so much about how we are doing. It can give us opportunity to rest and reflect. Whether or not we allow ourselves to take a break tells us a lot about whether we are trusting God or ourselves. During time off we can invest in relationships and our own hearts.

This weekend is family camp.  It is a wonderful time to practice this habit.  There are always pressing matters, but getting away with friends is so healthy for busy people. 

We Are Adopted Into God’s Family

5.20.22

Adoption is an act of God whereby he makes us members of his family.  John mentions this opportunity at the beginning of his Gospel.  John 1:12 states “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—.” There is a contrast between those who are in the family and those who are not.  Those who do not believe in Christ are not children of God, but instead of children of wrath (Eph. 2:3).  Instead of being children, Paul uses the term of family and states that those without Christ are called “sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2). 

Paul highlights the blessing of being adopted in Romans 8:14-17 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” 

What is interesting is that Paul explains that this status of adoption as God’s children was not fully realized in the Old Covenant.  He says that “before faith came, we were confined under the law…the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Gal. 3:23-26).

There are a few blessings that come with this adoption.  1. He loves us (1 John 3:1).  2. He understands us (Psa. 103:13-14). 3. He takes care of our needs (Matthew 6:32).  4. He gives us the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13).    

 

WE HONOR OUR SENIORS

5.13.22

Graduation season is here.  There are numerous pictures of people finishing High School or walking across the stage to receive a Ph.D. diploma.  People are starting the next stage in life or are finally finishing a 20-year journey through education.  It is a time of reflection and excitement.

On Sunday, we will be honoring our seniors.  People love to give seniors advice.  So that is what I will do.  Here are a few thoughts that might help you in the future.

1.      The journey is uncertain.  What you may think your future will look like, there is a good chance it will look different.  People go off to college thinking that a particular career is a dream, but life has a funny way of changing stuff up for people.  If you want to do well, go with the change.  The Bible states that you do not know what tomorrow may bring, so be open to the unlimited possibilities out there for you. 

2.      Aim for something.  Yes, you might not know what God has in plan for you, but sitting back and doing nothing productive rarely produces a life you will be pleased with.  Part of growing up is realizing that hard work creates opportunities.  The Bible states that if a man does not work, neither should he eat.  If God were in the business of merely giving opportunities to people, without their partnership, he would simply feed everyone regardless of the work.  You got to do something to provide value in this world.  It does not have to be about money, but it should aim to bless the world. 

3.      Be Thankful.  Some things will not work out.  Some things will completely surprise you.  If you are discontent because your plans did not work out, you might find yourself sad, instead of embracing the joy you can find.  Do not allow your expectations to steal your joy in this world.  Paul said that he can be content in all of life’s circumstances.

Good luck, Seniors!  You are embarking on a wonderful journey.     

PUT YOURSELF INTO THE OPPORTUNITY

5.6.22

This week I went Fly Fishing with my friend Michael.  We typically use a guide named Devin.  He is a great young man.  In the evenings, we have supper with him and his dad.  His dad’s name is Dave.  It has been my tradition to take some piece of fly-fishing wisdom and apply it to a spiritual lesson.  Over the years, Devin has given me the insightful statements like “do not leave fish to find fish” and “sets are free.”  This year’s lesson though comes from his dad. 

The key to landing fish is not so much talent, skill, or even luck, but by placing yourself in a position of opportunity.  You got to create the opportunity to catch fish.  No matter how much training you have in fly fishing, there is a zero percent chance of catching a fish if you do not have your hook in the water.  You must show up to the river, put a fly on the line, and place the hook in the water for a fish to bite it.  The more you show up to fish, the more chances you have to catch fish.  You cannot always control the weather, the river, and the propensity of the fish biting, but you can control the number of times that you put yourself in a position to catch fish.

Think about this with your spiritual life.  Ever wonder why you should read your Bible every day.  Well, when you do, you are putting yourself into the opportunity to grow in your faith.  Why should you show up to church each Sunday?  Because when you do you are giving yourself the opportunity to grow in Christ.  You might read your Bible that day and nothing really happens.  No new insight, nothing that really jumps out at you, so you feel that it was not worth it, but that is a lie.  You gave yourself the opportunity to grow.  You show up to church, the singing is slow, and the sermon is terrible (you must not attend Castle Rock), so you feel that the morning was a waste of your time.  But that is not the case, you gave yourself an opportunity to grow in your faith.  You were in the right place to grow in your faith. 

So often we cannot control the elements around us, but we can control the opportunities to catch fish and to increase faith.  Dave had some excellent insight. As we were leaving the restaurant, he said that this principle applies to more than fishing.  I could not agree more.             

WHAT A WONDERFUL L2L CONVENTION

4.29.22

What a wonderful L2L convention this weekend.  The amazing kids worked so hard on various projects.  We had huge numbers and about 20 different congregations represented across the Front Range region.  We loved the spirit of unity with all the other Christians in our area.  We were blessed to cheer on others and support each other in the pursuit of training up the next generation of Christians.  We had Christians from Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Alabama, and of course Colorado.  Right now, the L2L event is the largest youth gathering in Colorado. 

We created memories.  One of the most touching moments was JT Lawrence delivering the last talk during the Sunday Morning worship.  He has grown up in our congregation and has given numerous talks through the years.  It was a special moment to hear him preach on Sunday morning.  As a I was listening, I could not help but be thankful for our community here.  Over and over again people at the event walked up to me and praised our eldership.  Our leaders have a wonderful reputation in this region.  People admire them.  Also, people mentioned repeatedly the relationships within our youth group.  I believe we have the largest youth group in the area.  More than that, we have a youth group that loves each other.  These types of events help to bond young people together.  It is those moments that are precious. 

We so appreciated having SYD come on Friday night and sing for the convention.  This is a wonderful ministry that Kyle Roberts and Steven Curo are leading.  We loved all the teens that praised God with us. 

A big thank you to all the adult volunteers, and our judges, coaches, and coordinators that make this event happen.  Also, thank you to Don Moore who is the convention director.  He knows how to run a great convention.  We had an amazing weekend and we appreciate the congregation supporting this ministry.      

L2L WEEKEND

4.22.22

A lot of work has gone into this weekend.  We are thankful for all of the young people who have worked incredibly hard to train themselves to know the Bible and provide service to the Lord.  A lot of leaders understand the principle of investing in leaders.  If one desires an organization to grow, one must train up leaders who will produce leaders.  Some of the best work is to prepare future leaders in the world and, most importantly, the church.  Churches fail because there is little or no leadership development within the congregation.  People have not learned how to be a Christ-like leaders. 

We appreciate all the teens and all the adult coaches.  L2L is a team effort.  Countless hours have gone into preparing speeches, studying for Bible Bowl, leading songs, and having an awesome puppet play.  The finished products are a result of hours and hours of work.  Without our adults, we would not have well-trained young people.  Thank you to everyone who has dedicated time to preparing for L2L 2022. 

We are also thankful for all the contributions given to L2L.  We had some very generous contributors to this ministry.  Thank you for making L2L a priority in your giving.  Your sacrifice blesses us. 

The Castle Rock congregation has been instrumental in helping L2L come to Colorado.  Don Moore, one of our elders, is on the board of directors and is the convention director.  He has traveled far and wide this year visiting congregations to promote the work.  We have about 350 people registered for the convention.  Last year we had about 200 attend, so we are looking forward to the increased numbers.

Most importantly, we appreciate the unity of all the congregations participating in this work.  It is amazing coming together to train the next generation.  All of our young people love seeing friends from other congregations and being part of the greater body of Christ in the region.         

YOUR WORTH

4.15.22

What provides a sense of worth to you?  Really think about this question.  Not what you think is the right answer, but what is your real answer.  What gives you your greatest sense of self-worth?  Maybe look at it this way, what do you have to prove to yourself, to others, to your family? 

“Since the Fall, man has often failed to turn to God for the truth about himself. Instead, he has looked to others to meet his inescapable need for self-worth. I am what others say I am, he has reasoned. I will find my value in their opinions of me. Isn’t it amazing that we turn to others who have a perspective as limited and darkened as our own to discover our worth! Rather than relying on God’s steady, uplifting reassurance of who we are, we depend on others who base our worth on our ability to meet their standards. Because our performance and ability to please others so dominate our search for significance, we have difficulty recognizing the distinction between our real identity and the way we behave, a realization crucial to understanding our true worth. Our true value is based not on our behavior or the approval of others but on what God’s Word says is true of us.”

Satan tricks humans into living into a false equation. 

Self-Worth = Performance+ Others’ Opinions 

With this incorrect equation, people can become addicted to success.  Within Douglas County, which is a super county, which means that people make over six figures and have graduate degrees, people might not be struggling with drinks and drugs, but with degrees and digits.  One’s identify is rooted in net worth and educational status.  At the root of all of the success is a fearful man or woman that really just needs someone to love them for being themselves.  There is nothing wrong with success per say, but the motivation has to be rooted in a secure identify in Christ.    

McGee, Robert S.. The Search for Significance (p. 20). Thomas Nelson

UNDERGROUND CHURCH

4.8.22

What an amazing night of fellowship!  We had perhaps 40 teens, and 30 adults participate in Underground Church on Sunday evening.  Teens from all over the Rocky Mountain region came to the event.  We are so blessed to have a strong network of congregations throughout the Denver region that join together helping strengthen our teens.  From SYD to Church Camp, and L2L, we continue to host and participate in events that help teens grow stronger in the Lord.           

What a faith-based workout!  It was amazing seeing our teens talking about and defending their faith.  I believe this was the best year yet.  Our teens were passionate and knowledgeable about why they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.          

We had some new elements this year.  Underground church was set in North Korea.  All the cops had a backstory of why they served the government instead of being a Christian.  The teens had to learn the backstory and connect with it to convince them to be a believer.  In the middle of the time, we had a secret worship.  All the teens gathered to sing praises to the Lord.  Many stated that this was super meaningful.  One teen said, “we were singing a lot of the familiar songs, but the words just felt so much more meaningful to me.”  Then we came into the room and started shooting at them with nerf and water guns.  I thought the teens would break up and start to run.  But that did not happen.  Instead, the teens continued to sing.  Finally, I had to try to break it up, so I told them all to head upstairs to be tortured, but instead of fleeing the teens went up together and continued the praise to the Lord.  The adults looked at me and said, “what do we do now.”  I said, “I do not know, I did not expect this.”  So, I told some of the adults to hall off groups of five to get them separated.  It was such a powerful moment to see our teens united in praise to the Lord.          

Change the Script

4.1.22

As business writers Chip Heath and Dan Heath observe: “Any successful change [in life/behavior] requires a translation of ambiguous goals into concrete behaviors. In short, to make a switch, you need to script the critical moves.”  Often, people want to make changes in one’s spiritual health. People have high aspirations for change, but practically, sometimes the desire does not lead to follow-through for real change. The challenge is how we translate our desires into concrete behaviors. The better one can specify the action steps for growth, the more likely that person will realize meaningful change.

Let us workshop a behavior. Would you like to read your Bible more? Indeed, it is a noble goal and one that most people would like to improve in their life. So how would you increase the likelihood of accomplishing the behavior? 

1.      Habit Stack. One of the best practices to add a habit is to habit stack. For example, you may drink coffee every day, perhaps in the morning. So tie your Bible reading to that habit. When you drink your coffee, read your Bible. One habit is already deeply imprinted on you, so use that practice to stack another habit onto it. 

2.      Specific Goal. The next element to change the script is to have a specific goal. Everyone talks about reading the Bible more, but how much more? One chapter a day, ten chapters a day? What are you seeking to accomplish? Perhaps you decide to read three chapters a day, and by doing this, you have a tangible measure to hit. 

3.      Where to Read. With our example above, where to read could also be tied to drinking your coffee. Or, if you pick another habit stacking behavior, there is the question of location. Where will you read? In your big chair, in your bed, or on the deck? Wherever you pick, have the Bible there ready for you to read. Whatever items you need for reading, like reading glasses or your favorite version, having them readily available will help you accomplish your goal. 

To change the script or your behavior, the more detail you can provide for defining the goal, the better the odds of success. You can change; you need to think about the change and outline what it will take to get to the new behavior faster.         

Kuruvilla, Abraham. A Vision for Preaching: Understanding the Heart of Pastoral Ministry (p. 118). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

THREE INGREDIENTS TO SAFE RELATIONSHIPS

3.25.22

Everyone enjoys safe relationships.  But on the other hand, probably most people have experienced unsafe relationships.  People might desire a close relationship with others, but that person making the demands might not realize that others do not trust them enough to go deeper in vulnerability.  True relationships are experienced through self-giving.  One is not creating a transaction in a relationship.  A relationship should be deeper than the classic “what’s in it for me” thinking.  So how can we maintain safe relationships?

1.      Relationships are mutual interactions that prioritize the other person, by putting that individual decisively at the forefront of the relationship.  It is an act of selflessness.  It invests, and has no interest in maneuvering for a payoff. 

2.      The interests of the relationship are placed in a position superior to our own interests.  Often, we see our personal needs as being in competition with the needs of the relationship.  Sometimes we fight the relationship in the attempt to get our needs met.  The reality is that our core needs are met out of the very bond that is fostered deep in the womb of the relationship.

3.      As you pour out, you are poured in.  We are built up as we bow down.  When we liberally pour out, the relationship lavishly pours in.  When we give, we are given to.  Wearing the robe of service, will ultimately clothe us in the garments of a rich relationship.  James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

Relationships are deeper because there is commitment.  There are plenty of relationships in life that are about transaction.  I gain, you gain, we are both happy gaining from one another.  There is a level of satisfaction within those type of relationships, but the truly forming connections are found through giving.  The mutuality of sacrifice forms the deepest bonds. 

WHY I COACH TENNIS

3.18.22                                                                        

Sometimes you never know what you will end up doing.  I never played tennis in High School or College.  I only started playing the game because of my children being involved in the sport, but somehow, probably through the hand of the Lord, I became a tennis coach.  Sometimes this activity takes me away from the office, but puts me squarely within the community.  The connections I have through tennis rival or probably transcends the number of people I know through the Church these days.  It is rare for me to go to a place without seeing someone I know.  So I wanted to share a couple of reasons why I coach.

This quote is from a book called “Season of Life.”  It is a great book about a former NFL player that has turned into a coach.  His program has been highly successful, but it is about more than football, it is about life.  “So I am part of a football program in Baltimore, and we use this as our base philosophy. Our understanding is that sports—football—is nothing more than a context to help connect with boys and teach them, one, a clear and compelling definition of what it means to be a man. Second is to give them a code of conduct for manhood. And then third is to help them figure out what their own unique, transcendent cause should or could be in this world.”  I really like this quote because I relate to it.  All sports should be bigger than the sport itself.  Too often our little league sports becomes too intense and out of control.  People put so much time and energy into this that really plays little dividends in the long run.  You will probably not play college or professional sports.  But there are valuable lessons to learn through the sport.  These are the most important aspects of the sport.

Through coaching, I am able to help shape the character of young men and women through this sport.  It provides a platform to help our boys and girls in the community to be of high moral character.  Sometimes people will not come to a church building, but to a tennis court, though on that stage I can still preach and teach the lessons of Jesus Christ.  Not all preaching is from a pulpit, but from behind a net I can instill valuable lessons.  When the early church went everywhere preaching the word, it did not mean going to another church building, but rather to a different location.  You can preach there too.   

Marx, Jeffrey. Season of Life: A Football Star, a Boy, a Journey to Manhood (p. 34). Simon & Schuster. Kindle Edition.

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF

3.11.22

This quote from Brene Brown is powerful.  “If you roughly divide the men and women I’ve interviewed into two groups—those who feel a deep sense of love and belonging, and those who struggle for it—there’s only one variable that separates the groups: Those who feel lovable, who love, and who experience belonging simply believe they are worthy of love and belonging. They don’t have better or easier lives, they don’t have fewer struggles with addiction or depression, and they haven’t survived fewer traumas or bankruptcies or divorces, but in the midst of all of these struggles, they have developed practices that enable them to hold on to the belief that they are worthy of love, belonging, and even joy.”  There is a moment of almost shock with this statement.  It seems a little untold or too hard to believe it is true.  So you are telling me that the difference because people who feel loved and those who do not feel loved is whether or not those people love themselves enough to feel worthy of love.  Mmmm, that seems simple. 

Within Christianity we have always highlighted the need to love your neighbor as yourself.  I think we hear in that verse the ideas of sacrifice, giving of yourself, service, and putting others ahead of yourself.  I think I have heard this verse more about denying myself, or discounting myself, so that I would pour into everyone else.  Let me be a servant, let me refuse to love myself, so that I can love others better.  I think I have heard this verse more like “love others more than yourself.  But that is not what the verse says.  Mark 12:30-31 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Perhaps as Christians we have so focused on loving others that we have forgot that we are worthy of love ourselves.  In serving, giving, and sacrificing, we have failed in the second greatest command.  We have not loved ourselves.  You are worthy to be loved. 

 Brown, Brené. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead (p. 11). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

 DO YOU AVOID CONFLICT?

3.4.22

Do you avoid conflict?  Sometimes avoiding conflict can be healthy.  Other times avoiding conflict is unhealthy.  Various personalities profiles dictate the conflict.  Some people are energized by conflict.  A great debate around the supper table is a highly fulfilling evening.  Discussing a topic passionately that is controversial is rewarding to certain personality temperaments.  On the other hand, people that are people pleasers are averse to direct conflict.  While one person is hitting the table to make a point, someone else is hoping to leave the table because of feeling awkward.

The Bible talks about conflict specifically in Matthew 18:15-20 ““If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”  Because of differences in personalities, sometimes people will evoke these verses swiftly, or avoid them all together. 

Within conflict, there is always a balance.  Avoiding a conflict can be unhealthy and being too swift for conflict can be just as unhealthy.  Agreeable people tend to be nice, friendly, polite, and Canadian.  Disagreeable people tend to be more critical, skeptical, and challenging—and they are more likely than their peers to become engineers and lawyers.

When it comes to conflict, you have to address the motivation behind it.  Sometimes people avoid conflict because it saves time.  It might save a friendship.  It might not help to argue.  You do not want anyone to be mad at you.  Other times the friendship or relationship can be saved through conflict.  That was the motivation in 1 Corinthians 5:5 “you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”  Every time in conflict, looking into your heart is the first place to start. 

 

ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE TO BE DANGEROUS

2.25.22

The most dangerous people are those who are not ignorant, or experts, it is the person who has enough knowledge to be dangerous.  It is the person who believes he or she knows, but only knows in part.  The Greek student with one semester of Greek lecturing to a congregation or the doctor that finished up medical school, but has years of internships ahead of her.  David Dunning and Justin Kruger identified this situation. They published a “modest report” on skill and confidence that would soon become famous. They found that in many situations, those who can’t . . . don’t know they can’t. According to what’s now known as the Dunning-Kruger effect, it’s when we lack competence that we’re most likely to be brimming with overconfidence.  In the original Dunning-Kruger studies, people who scored the lowest on tests of logical reasoning, grammar, and sense of humor had the most inflated opinions of their skills. On average, they believed they did better than 62 percent of their peers, but in reality outperformed only 12 percent of them. The less intelligent we are in a particular domain, the more we seem to overestimate our actual intelligence in that domain. In a group of football fans, the one who knows the least is the most likely to be the armchair quarterback, prosecuting the coach for calling the wrong play and preaching about a better playbook. 

It’s when we progress from novice to amateur that we become overconfident. A bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing. In too many domains of our lives, we never gain enough expertise to question our opinions or discover what we don’t know. We have just enough information to feel self-assured about making pronouncements and passing judgment, failing to realize that we’ve climbed to the top of a confidence mountain of ignorance without making it over to the other side to wisdom.

Think about the story in which Peter rebukes Jesus.  Matthew 16:21-23 “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”  Peter had no clue what really needed to happen, but he believed he knew best.  Imagine if Peter somehow stopped God’s plan, and the consequences for his errors.  The world would be a different place.   

QUICKLY BECOMING RICH

2.18.22

Many people desire to be rich. Even more so, they want to be rich quickly. People will play the lottery to win untold millions instantly. Hoping for a windfall is something that many people look forward to in this world. People believe that money will solve a lot of problems. Sometimes that is the case; money can solve problems. If you have ever broken down on the side of the road, the ability to pay for a tow truck and perhaps a hotel room will make the night much better. Sometimes you have to travel to a loved one or home, but if you are so close to the poverty line, that choice might take food off the table.

I remember reading somewhere that the average American does not have an extra 400 dollars saved for emergencies. When something goes wrong, a little money can be very useful. Even the good Samaritan used money to help solve a problem. He found this man in the ditch, put him up in the inn, and covered his costs. If you do not have the needed funds, this story plays out differently. Luke 10:34-35 “He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.  And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.”

Not having is a burden in life. One of the principal values of the Lord is his desire to care for the poor. I was reading Jeremiah for my daily Bible reading, and there was a verse that jumped out at me. It was a reversal verse. The idea that God reverses the established order is also a common theme in the gospel of Luke. The rich become poor, and the poor become rich. The verse I was reading was Jeremiah 39:10, “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.”  Babylon is taking God’s people away from the homeland, also the well-to-do, and the leaders. But he leaves the poor, and suddenly, the poor have land; they have vineyards and fields for themselves. Instead of begging, the poor are farming. The nation is punished for disobedience, but the poor are blessed through the purge. Imagine that day for the people who had nothing. The field you had gleaned from is now the field you harvest. One more example of God being gracious to the poor. 

 


BEING DISMISSIVE

2.11.22

All people hurt.  The idea of mental health is gaining awareness in our culture.  People are learning how to handle mental health situations better, but there is still a lot of work to do in this area in the church.  While I was at the FHU lectures there was a question about mental health and how people can be dismissive of the problem without even realizing it.  Also, while viewing social media a friend posted the thought that there are others that have suffered more than them but highlighting this can feel like you are dismissing that person’s pain. 

As Christians we can have various approaches to people’s mental health.  We might be the person who feels that everyone should just get over whatever the struggle is.  The thought is that with great self-control and strength of mind that person should be able to heal themselves.  We think that someone needs to toughen up.  There are times in which a little fortitude would be good, but people who are dealing with pain can feel the motivational speech for toughness empty.

There are some classic statements to avoid toward people struggling with mental health.  Here are a few.  1. The Lord has a plan.  Yes, he does, but seeing that plan is no one’s ability.  After dealing with something traumatic, seeing a plan unfold can be hard.  Often a plan or a reflection on what God is doing only comes perhaps after many years when the pain has lessened.  Looking for a plan too quickly can lead to hurt feelings toward the Lord.  2. Other people have suffered more.  Yes, this is true, but when you are dealing with your own pain, trying to find the silver lining in another comparison rarely helps.  It does not make you feel better, it seems that the other person is not allowing you to deal with your own pain.  3. You need to pray.  Yes, we all do, but praying might not automatically make the pain go away. 

Instead of being dismissive, we should attempt to listen and affirm.  You want to state the truth.  Lines like “I can see that you are hurting.”  “You are going through a painful season.”  Acknowledge the hurt.  People need empathy, not motivation.        

EVANGELISM IS BIGGER THAN A BIBLE STUDY 

2.4.2022

When people hear the word “evangelism,” some may automatically assume you are talking about a Bible study.  The idea is that you are going to someone’s home or to a coffee shop to talk about the Bible.  The thought of even talking about the Bible could be different than teaching someone the Bible.  We assume that evangelism is only leading the person through the word of God with the intention of having them be baptized.  We think this is the predominant concept of what evangelism is.  We might know that reaching out is so much bigger than this, but sometimes this is what we assume at the back of our minds.

Evangelism is bigger than personal Bible studies.  It can include so much more.  You mentioned that you will be at church on Sunday can be evangelism.  You bring a gift to a coach or friend can be evangelism.  You provide a listening ear to someone that is hurting is outreach.  A lot of times evangelism is not what you do, but why you are doing it.  Our motivation is wanting the person to be saved, and we approach it from the perspective of loving the person.  You are doing it because you care.  You are not trying to manipulate someone into coming to Church, you are trying to love them as Christ loved the world.  You do hope that people will see the light of Christ shining through you.  God is working in this world, and some people, even though you are going to them, will never be interested in the gospel, but other people will see your love and look for the reason behind your actions.  People who are looking for something spiritual will connect to you.

I want to challenge you this week to do something in the name of evangelism.  Talk to a coworker but do it to be the light of Christ.  Shovel a driveway for someone on your street.  Listen with empathy to someone at work.  We are always caring for one another in the church, let’s care for the people in the world around us too.  Watch what happens.  Does it lead to something?  Does the person seem to care?  What are the vibes that you are feeling?  Let’s do one thing this week in the name of evangelism and see what happens. 

A Mirror and a Hammer

1.28.22 

There are always metaphors that we can use to speak about scripture.  Ideas that I have heard through the years have been a love letter, a rule book, a history book, a living book.  There is the idea that scripture is a mirror, which is the case.  James 1:23 “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.”  The Bible can also be a hammer in which it molds us into the image of Jesus Christ.  Think about the craftsperson who is shaping metal on an anvil.  Isaiah 42:7-10 “The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good”; and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved. But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Both the image of a hammer and a mirror should be balanced by one another.  A mirror could be a narcissistic endeavor to reflect yourself into scripture and a hammer could be used to pound out all grace from the Bible. 

Properly reading the Bible model takes a step in the right direction by proposing a narrative view of Scripture that avoids dichotomizing the Bible either as an encoded archive of propositions or as a mirror that merely reflects the subjectivities of its readers. The church, after all, is not an interpretation of itself but a lived interpretation of Scripture.  Believers do more than read the Bible for facts, or explore the Bible for internal truths that apply to them, instead Believers read the Bible for transformation of the self. 

Notice one of the more classic verses about the nature of inspiration.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”  Scripture is given with the intention of transformation.  The hammer is used to shape you, and the mirror is used to allow you to have a better prospective on your true self. 

 
THE PURPOSE OF LIFE

1.21.22

 In his book “Think About,” Adam Grant makes this statement about happiness:

 Psychologists find that the more people value happiness, the less happy they often become with their lives. It’s true for people who naturally care about happiness and for people who are randomly assigned to reflect on why happiness matters. There’s even evidence that placing a great deal of importance on happiness is a risk factor for depression. Why? One possibility is that when we’re searching for happiness, we get too busy evaluating life to actually experience it. Instead of savoring our moments of joy, we ruminate about why our lives aren’t more joyful. A second likely culprit is that we spend too much time striving for peak happiness, overlooking the fact that happiness depends more on the frequency of positive emotions than their intensity. A third potential factor is that when we hunt for happiness, we overemphasize pleasure at the expense of purpose.  

People often become confused about the purpose of life and believe that life is about finding happiness. This feeling contrasts with the purpose of life in which God created us. God created us for His glory. We aim to fulfill the reason that God created us: to glorify him.   Jesus was on earth to glorify the Father.  John 17:1 “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you. Romans 15:6 the people of God are here to glorify the Father. “That together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We frequently make this world about us. We become the center of our focus, and often this approach corrupts our joy. Instead, when our purpose centers on God, we find true contentment. Psalms 73:25-26 says, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”  Also, in Psalms 84:1-2, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

Too often, people chase happiness, but it is a mirage on the horizon. We find true joy in Christ Jesus.    

Grant, Adam. Think Again (pp. 237-238). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

TEACHERS PLEASE

1.14.22

 Over the last few weeks we have been dealing with a lot of sickness within the congregation.  In fact, we have been dealing with a lot of changes because of the even fluid dynamics of COVID 19.  In one way, I am shocked that we are still talking about COVID 19, because a couple of years ago, I would never have imagined that a sickness or a pandemic would last this long.  My predictive abilities were pretty lacking as I thought we would be dealing with COVID 19 for two weeks max.

We have done reasonably well with handling the changes with the pandemic.  The last few weeks we saw another surge and had to cancel classes.  One of the reasons is that our pool of teachers is smaller.  A couple of years ago, we had an abundance of teaches for the kids.  But some people stepped away during the time off, but have not come back into the rotation.  We are needing people to sign back up again to help with classes.  People have come back to services, but some people have not come back yet to service.  We really need a strong influx of new teachers for our classes to do well.

Personally, I believe we have the best children’s program in the state among the churches of Christ.  We need to keep this high level of excellence going.  There are numerous roles, and the leaders in the children ministry do a fantastic job of providing the tools so that you are empowered to do the best job possible.  There is a great support system in place, and with the added numbers the opportunity is not overwhelming. 

Teaching the kids is one of the best blessings within the congregation.  You will be so blessed by watching the young kids grow in faith.  Seeing the smiling faces and the joy will provide riches of joy to your heart.  So we are putting the invitation out there again to join up to teach.  A couple of years ago we had a long waiting list, so try to contact Megan Lawrence or Jenn Anderson as quickly as possible to get started blessing the next generation.  We pride ourselves on being an intergenerational congregation and teaching class is one of the best ways to accomplish this goal.    

One Week In

1.7.22

This time of year people make a lot of plans for change.  Whether it is a diet, fitness routine, or daily Bible reading, the intentions are strong, but the follow through can become weak within a week.  Instead of giving a bunch of advice last week, I thought it would be good to check in after a week of progress.  So where are you with your yearly goals?  Still going strong, or hardly going at all?  So if you have puttered out already, here is some encouragement.

1.      Remember 21 Days.  Yes, the experts state that if you practice a need action for 21 days, it will become a habit after that amount of time.  People can become discouraged thinking about doing something for 365 days a year, but most people can handle 21 days.  Set the goal to get to January 21st with whatever you are working on currently.  It should become easier after that.

2.      Remember the “Cue.”  A lot of times we need a “cue”, or you could call it a reminder to perform some action.  You are not use to doing whatever you planned on doing.  If it was habitually, it would not be a new goal for the year.  You have to trigger your brain to establish a new pattern of behavior.  So whatever you are working on, you need to have something that starts the behavior in motion. 

3.      Remember to Believe.  A few years ago, Tim Tebow in college would have Phil. 4:13 on his black below his eyes.  The famous verse is “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  He had a reminder when he looked into the mirror that he could do whatever he wanted because God was with him.  Sometimes we give up on ourselves too quickly.  Believe that God can help you accomplish your goal.  You can do this.

I hope your goals are going well, and let this be a reminder to keep pressing on to what you desire to change about yourself in the coming year.  We are one week in, so if you have given up, give it another try.   

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

12.24.21

We hope everyone had a nice Christmas Day.  The New Year is coming as well.  The tradition of Christmas is one of the most beloved times of year.  People enjoy the lights and the gift giving, but most important the themes of joy, peace, and salvation.  Christmas is a season of reflection and thankfulness. 

With the coming year, there is always the time for reflection.  What are your goals, what is next, and what do you plan to accomplish?  Before you go there in your mind, do not rush the process.  Too often we are on to the next thing without allowing the first thing to be finished.  Stop and reflect on where you are at in your life.  What is going well, what is not working for you?  There is so much value in being still.

Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Here is some action plans for being still.

Pray

There is so much value in praying.  Stopping the mind and allowing your spirit to pray to the Lord.  At this time of year, pray please. 

Meditate

Find a spot, go some place, and mediate for a while.  Allow your mind to wonder or to focus on what you are needing.  It is a centering process in which you allow yourself to be in the presence of the Lord. 

Read

Read through a book of the Bible.  Slowly, go through each verse, stop and think about the words.  Allow the word of God to wash over you.

Carve out some personal time before you start thinking what is next.  Focus on what is now.  Embrace the moment and know that God is there for you.

THE HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE

12.17.21

Most people love Christmas.  The eggnog, the lights, and the festive songs are fantastic.  There is a general cheeriness within society.  It is truly a wonderful time of year.  But sometimes the Holidays can be stressful for various reasons.  Here is a little survival guide for those times in which the Christmas can be hard.

1.      After Losing a Loved One.  Christmas can be a struggle after losing a loved one during the year.  Especially, if that loved one was part of the Christmas traditions.  A lot of the activities remind you of them.  People usually take two approaches to this.  Either try to suppress the memories or to talk about them.  Whatever you choose, it is your choice.  Try to remember that the loved one would want you to enjoy Christmas, not be too sorrowful.  It is alright to grieve but remember that the person would want what is best for you throughout the Holidays.  Sometimes it is healthy to do something intentional to remember them too.  Put the memory in a specific tradition, and that might allow you to enjoy the entire Christmas season more.

2.      Saying “Yes” too Much.  There is always the temptation to overbook yourself during this time of year.  Remember you are human and rushing around for the Christmas Season does not give you a warm and fuzzy feeling.  When you over commit, you are stressed instead of blessed.  You might want to look at a calendar before agreeing to too many events.  You do not want to be alone, but you also do not want to be running to multiple parties in one night.

3.      Spending too Much.  There is a lot of commercialism surrounding this time of year.  Companies are doing everything possible to cause you to spend.  Remember, your kids will not remember you spending way over your budget.  Have a budget and stick to it.  You will feel better about Christmas and be less stressed too.  Keep the focus where it needs to be, not on stuff.

Hope these little pieces of advice help for this wonderful time of year.  Merry Christmas everyone.      

COLORADO LIGHTHOUSE

12.10.21

A few months ago the congregation raised over 70,000 dollars to invest in local congregations in Colorado.  The congregation in Castle Rock went beyond the call to be a lighthouse congregation for the area.  We love foreign mission work at Castle Rock, but we wanted to spend some funds securing a future for some of our small, rural congregations in the state.  This week we hosted a “Small Church Workshop” for a few days in Colorado Springs at the Hideaway Retreat Center. 

We had Dr. Huffard, a leading expert in leadership development within the Churches of Christ to be the lead lecturer for our time together.  We had about 30 people in attendance.  The time together was a blessing and needed.  A lot of the ministers that work in the state of Colorado and are outside of the front range region will have little contact with one another because of the distance between the congregations and towns.  People can feel lonely and disconnected for the wider fellowship of the Church.  Coming together was a welcome blessing.

We are hoping that through investing in the leaderships of the congregation we can make a positive difference within the congregation.  A lot of congregations are not as healthy as Castle Rock right now.  There are struggles because of COVID 19, leadership drain from small towns, and the aging of long-standing Churches.  We hope to prove tools for a turnaround.  If the congregation is moving in the right direction, we hope to support the continued development too.

Castle Rock continues to amaze me.  A prominent leader in the Church commented recently that Castle Rock is an exceptional congregation because we have an outward perspective.  He said that “a lot of congregations are too busy looking at their navels.”  All congregations can struggle with having too much of an insider perspective, but I am proud of the Castle Rock congregation because we are using our abundant resources to bless others.

A lighthouse provides light for countless ships, I am thankful that Castle Rock is providing light for countless congregations.   

     

Functions of Elders

12.3.21

Years ago, a man that was attending the congregation took me out to lunch.  He wanted to talk about setting up a committee that would oversee all of the funds of the congregation.  He did not want the current elders to have any say concerning how money was spent within the congregation.  This committee would be in charge of all budgets, salaries, and would approve any expenses.  The man believed that elders should not be discussing or dealing with money matters.  I asked him “how are you going to select this committee?”  He said he would from members in the congregation.  “How would they be selected?”  He would head up the committee and would lead it once established.  Sometimes you need to simplify stuff.  What he was saying was that he would have control over the funds within the congregation, and create a group of people that the elders would have to answer too for any vision planning, mission focus, and for the hiring and firing of a minister.  Instead of the elders overseeing the congregation the eldership would have to seek approval of this committee, and yes, this man.  What is interesting was that this man was seeking the level of leadership without being vetted.  He wanted a role that the New Testament never created.  I told him “we are not going to do that.” 

I think our elders do a great job of overseeing the congregation.  First of all, the elders have the role to handle the funds of a congregation.  Look at 1 Peter 5:2-5 “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Peter mentions that elders are not to work in a way that would lead to shameful gain.  This seems to highlight that elders can make financial decisions for a congregation.  There is a standard to follow.  Unlike a committee, which has no parameters of responsibility, the elders do. 

Also, Peter says that elders are not to be domineering.  I have watched our elders for years, I feel we have some of the most loving and respectful men around.  With that said, Peter telling them not to be controlling is a sign that elders are authorized to have a governing function.  We might not always like what an eldership decides, but we, according to Peter, should follow humbly under their leadership.  

THANKSGIVING TIME

11.26.21

This is the week of Thanksgiving.  Families gather together to enjoy a meal and to share positive memories with one another.  Most of the time people are blessed during this time of year.  You see loved ones and friends.  Sometimes though, that is not the case.  Here is a “Thanksgiving Survival Guide”.

1.      The Opinionated Uncle.  He is the guy that has to bring up all of the controversy of the year.  He is going to fight about masks, politics, Biden, Trump, and anything else that people disagree with.  Instead of having polite conversation and discussing topics that everyone in the family can agree on, he has to drive home various points that would be better left avoided.  He might get you going, and you might feel the need to correct him.  Let it be.  Remember James 1:19 “ Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.

2.      Bad Cooking.  The turkey is dry.  The potatoes are terrible.  There is no cranberry sauce.  Your sister is a terrible cook.  Whatever you do, do nothing.  Do not try to make it better.  Do not try to cook it yourself.  And whatever you do, do not give cooking advice.  Eat your food and practice James 1:19.  Keep it to yourself.

3.      The Bragging Aunt.  Yes, her kids are perfect, yes her husband looks like Brad Pitt and is bank rolled like Jeffery Bezos, and he is as smart as Elon Musk.  And he is as likable as one of the ministers at Castle Rock.  You get to hear about her vacation to a wonderful place.  Yes, she got a new SUV.  And yes, her kid got an award for top student.  Remember in this moment to practice James 1:19.  Practice being slow to speak. 

4.      Too Much Food.  The spread is massive.  There is too much food that you like.  You want to try everything, but remember that eating too much turkey is going to put you to sleep.  You might not have to practice being slow to speak, but focus on the part of James 1:19, and eat “slow.” 

Hope this advice helps you have a great thanksgiving.  We are thankful for you here at Castle Rock.   Happy Thanksgiving everyone. 

LIVING IN LIGHT OF JUDGMENT

11.19.21

The judgment is coming.  At the end of time God will judge humanity.  There are several implications of this reality.

The final judgement satisfies our sense of justice.  People need a sense of fairness in this world.  With the judgment those who have done wrong, and gotten away with it, will be punished.  All the deeds will come to light for those who have sinned against others.  People will pay for wickedness.  Colossians 3:25 “For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

The final judgment frees us to forgive.  We do not have to take revenge ourselves.  God is the one that will settle the final scores for what has happened in this world.  We do not have to harbor bitterness or resentment because God will pay back that which is out of balance.  We can forgive and move on in life.  God will handle the need for revenge.  Romans 12:19 “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 

The final judgment provides motivation for righteous living.  Knowing that we will stand before the Lord motivates us to live right.  We are to engage in good works because these will be remembered by the Lord.  We are looking to gain heavenly rewards more than earthly rewards.  Matthew 6:20 “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” 

The final judgment motivates us to evangelize.  A judgment is coming and all of humanity must stand before God.  We must tell others of this reality.  There will be people who are lost or saved.  2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 

We sing a song with the lines “there is a great day coming, a great day coming.”  Judgment is coming, and we are to live in that reality. 

THANK YOU FOR 13 YEARS

11.12.21

This past Sunday, the Morine Family celebrated 13 years with the congregation.  Every year we appreciate the opportunity to mark this special day.  We appreciate the kind gifts that the elders provided to our family.  We are so thankful to feel loved by the leadership of the congregation.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful men leading our congregation through the years.  Instead of conflict within the leadership team, we have respect and unity.  What a blessing?

Also, over the last six years, I have worked with Mark Walker.  He has been a wonderful coworker and friend.  We are blessed to have a man of his talents with us at the congregation.  I tell people these days that I am too old to work with people I dislike, and that might not be the case for many people in this congregation, but it is undoubtedly a blessing here at Castle Rock.  Speaking of people I like, it is a joy to work with Pamela Kovarik. She is always pleasant and kind to me.  She also brings in coffee often.  Bonny Carter is also a blessing.  Each week she comes in to clean the building, and she always visits with me and is one of the most encouraging people I know.  And she cleans up my mess, which is saying something because it is super disorganized.  I am so thankful to be part of a staff that is world-class.

You, the members, are wonderful too.  You love my family and me well.  We do not feel there are unrealistic demands, and you are so gracious to me when I make all my mistakes.  You all politely laugh at my mispronouncing numerous names and places and even act like some of the words I make up are real.  I always brag on Castle Rock that we are a talent-collecting Church.  The best people in the area all want to come to Castle Rock. 

And the most important people over these 13 years are my family.  Charity has stood by my side through all these years.  She has sacrificed a lot to be here with me.  She has loved me and supported me even when she sees all my faults.  What I do would be difficult without her.  My children are also a huge blessing.  When we first got here, they were babies, but now they are strong Christian teens.  It is amazing watching them gain their own faith and see them grow up.  I am so proud of the people they are becoming. We love you all!

 

The Ethics of the Resurrection

11.5.21

Paul considers the resurrection not only a truth to believe but also an inspiration for ethical living.  The resurrection is a catalyst for morality.  The resurrection motivates as much as it is a point of Christian doctrine.

Paul sees the resurrection as a call to obedience.  After a lengthy discussion of the resurrection, Paul finishes the section by quoting 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”  Because Christ was raised from the dead, there is action on our part. 

The resurrection also motivates us to handle the struggles in this life.  At the second coming, Christ will heal all pain.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:17-19, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”  Too often, our minds turn to this world, and we get focused on the cares of living, but Paul reminds his hearers that during hard times, we focus on that which is above where Christ is.  Colossians 3:1-3 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” 

The last ethical consideration of the resurrection is that we stop sinning because Christ is resurrected.  Paul notes in Romans 6:9-11, “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”  Our motivation for holiness is found in following the example of Jesus.  We are called to holy living because Christ died for sins once and for all.

SPOTS IN THE FAITH

10.29.21

Every summer the yard barely holds up.  Because we live in the high plains, grass staying green is a rare sight.  Perhaps in June, and maybe even into July, someone’s yard will be a deep green, but by August unless you have a sprinkler system the grass will be brown.  My problem is that the majority of the grass is green, but there are always spots in which the brown will shine forth in the yard.  All of the sprinkler heads do not perfectly cover the territory of my small yard.  You do not notice this much in the early summer, but by the end of summer, the spots are clear. 

Maybe this is a good illustration of our faith.  Rarely does someone lose faith overnight.  Few people wake up one day totally turned on God.  From all appearances all seems fine in the faith, but over time brown spots start to form.  You do not notice them as much in the beginning, but through time the green turns to brown.  Probably everyone has a few weak spots in their faith.  Maybe a brown spot in regards to prayer, or a brown spot in the area of Bible study.  We all have strong areas in our spirituality and weak areas.  The problem is when the brown spots start to take over in our lives. 

Think about King Saul.  He was selected to be king of Israel but with time he fell away from the Lord.  Even King David was a man after God’s own heart, but there was a brown spot in his eyes for lust.  David could pray, write songs of praise to the Lord, but in regards to his eyes, the power of lust was too great and he committed sin with Bathsheba.  At the foundation of his sin was pride.  He wanted what he wanted.  He allowed the privilege of being King to cause him to feel that he can have anything—even another man’s wife. 

The problem with brown spots in our yard and in our faith is that through time these spots grow.  The grass dies, and our faith falls into malnutrition.  Unless we are watering our yard and our faith, these spots can start to take over in our hearts.  John 15:1-8 speaks clearly that we need to be connected to the vine, which is Christ to stay alive and fed in our spiritual formation.  Christ is the vine and we are the branches.  Once we become disconnected from Jesus the weak areas in our lives can increase first. 

Be careful with our brown spots in life.  After awhile, you might have more brown than green. 

OUR STORIES

10.22.21

Over the last few days, I hosted a preacher’s retreat for 11 ministers throughout the country.  We were up in Breckenridge, in a wonderful condo, that the preacher’s thought was fantastic.  We had the President of Heritage Christian University, Dr. Kirk Brothers, providing the lessons on leadership.  A lot of the time was dedicated to hiking and experiencing the scenic beauty of the area.  All throughout the trip, people talked and told stories.  What was interesting was that some stories were told repeatedly.

Everyone goes through experiences.  These experiences can be positive or negative, but the negative ones can stay within our minds for many years.  The painful stories are told over and over again because we are still processing them.  The pain has not been healed.  One of the major signs that you have overcome trauma is that you no longer feel the need to retell your story.  You have accepted what has happened.

Sometimes though, instead of processing your pain, you hold your story in.  You do not talk about it, this is not a sign that you have overcome the pain, but that you are burying it within your mind.  It stays with you, but you never find healing.  One of the most powerful ways that you can be with someone is by listening to their stories.  Allowing that person to share with you.

Think about the gospels and the Old Testament stories.  Those stories were the times of joy and pain of God’s people.  There is something healing when we hear these classic Bible stories that help to heal us.  We hear that others have gone through hard times, and we listen to those who have overcome the evil that happens to all of us. 

Sometimes people need to come together to share stories.  We had a great retreat, we hiked, learned, and went gold panning, but probably what was most important was people who could hear stories of pain that preachers have gone through over the years by people who could relate and empathize.  We all have our stories, and listening to the stories of others is a way that we can care for the people around us.         

Our Relationship to Angels

10.15.21

We think about Angels, but have you ever thought about your relationship to angels?  Probably not.  Here are some helpful insights into our relationship with God’s heavenly beings. 

 We Should Be Aware of Angels in Our Daily Lives

Scripture makes us aware of the existence of angels.  We should not assume that the teaching about angels has nothing to do with us today.  When we come before God in worship, we are joined by the angels (Heb. 12:22-23).  The angels are also rejoicing with us when a sinner turns to the Lord (Luke 15:3-7).  We also need to be aware that when we are showing hospitality to a stranger, we could be spending time with an angel (Heb. 13:2).  And perhaps, sometimes we are protected by an angel (Dan. 6:22).  Angels are around us, and we need to be aware of them.

 We Should Be Aware of Receiving False Doctrine From Angels

There are warnings of false teaching that could come from an angel.  Galatians 1:8 states, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”  There is another warning of being manipulated by Satan because he will disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). 

 We Should Be Aware of Refusing to Worship Them

The worship of angels was one of the false doctrines taught at Colossae.  “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind (Col. 2:18).  The Angel speaking to John in the Book of Revelation warns John not to worship him.  “Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10).

People typically have an interest in angels.  We need to realize that angels are all around us every day, but how we engage them is essential.   

Driving A Standard Car

10.8.21

I am home in Nova Scotia, Canada, right now.  Sitting in a coffee shop called “Just Coffee.”  At my Father’s house, there is no internet service, nor cell service either.  It has been a long time since I have been at a house that did not have internet.  No dial up, and definitely no fiber.  Nothing.  It is kind of nice really.  No temptation to surf Facebook or jump on to randomly read the news.  It feels quieter.  

 Having no internet was a blast from the past until I jumped into my brother’s car.  I had to go to a coffee shop to do some work and call home.  Why, I needed internet.  I got into the car, looked down and saw three pedals.  The gas, the brake, and yes, the clutch.  His car was a standard.  It was a old school stick shift.  It has probably been twenty years since I drove a standard car.  So why not give it a go.  I was definitely not smooth, but I was not bad at it either.  It is amazing how the mind once it has learned something can do it again.  It felt somewhat natural.  We kind of get this line of thinking.  We have a saying “it is like riding a bike again.”  It might have been years, but you can do it again because of muscle memory.

 The principle of habit is powerful.  What you are use too is what you can do instinctually.  A person that has grown up in the church can come back and it feels natural.  It feels familiar and normal.  People that have fallen away, but are restored can jump right back in without a lot of learning pains.  But sadly, the principle can work the opposite way too.  Someone that has come out of the world can fall right back into old sinful habits too.  It just feels natural.  This is why people struggle with overcoming sin.  Even though someone can be sober for years, after one drink that cycle can start all over again.  People need to realize that what is natural can always be normal.

People can fall away from the Lord, but once that individual realizes that need to come back, and the person gives it a chance, it can feel great again.  It is what they are use to.  The principle is at the foundation of Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”  A child can fall away, but there is always hope that if he or she will give Christianity another chance, it will be like jumping in a standard car again.  It all comes back quickly.  There is always hope because of this principle.

HOME

10.1.21

The morning that I left Nova Scotia, Canada to travel to attend school at the Brown Trail School of Preaching, both of my parents went to work that morning.  My father was the last one to leave, and before he pulled out of the driveway, he walked into the house to wish me well and to say good bye.  Over the years, I have been home on average about every two years.  During the early years, I would fly home for Christmas, and perhaps in the summer.  But the trips became less frequent.  For the last few years, I have been home every three years.  It has been five years since I have been back to Nova Scotia, and two years since I have seen my parents. 

Next week I will be flying to Canada.  I have a conference to speak at in Winnipeg, then I will be flying over to Halifax for a visit.  It will be nice to be back.  It causes me to think about years ago, and those people who traveled West.  The idea of going back home was rare.  Today we have planes in which in a matter of a few hours, I can be standing on the same soil that I was raised on.  I am really excited to be back. 

Thinking of home makes me think about the Biblical celebration of Jubilee.  Leviticus 25:13 states “In this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his property.”  It is the idea of returning home.  After perhaps being sold into slavery, or losing what you have, on this 50 year celebration, those who have been displaced are free to travel back home. 

It is good to be home, but really it is an appreciate of where we have all gone.  Not being home means that you have had an adventure.  You have had an experience.  You had to go travel the world to explore life.  Getting to go back means that you got to go in the first place.  It causes me to think about the Shire in the Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit movies.  I feel torn between the mindsets of Frodo and Sam.  Frodo went back and could not stay.  He was changed by his journey, while Sam returned home to his family.  When I go back to Canada, there is a part of me that so connects to the land and the people, but I no longer belong there.  My journey has changed me, and I no longer fit into that culture any longer. But to visit again, that will be nice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMWnDC__o4s

WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES

9.24.21

Our hearts are broken over the sudden passing of Timothy Baugh.  He was biking on the frontage road next to I-25 when he was struck by a 19-year-old test driving a recently fixed truck.  Timothy was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.  We all at the congregation express our sympathy to Milenda, his wife, and to his parents Craig and Nancy.  We cannot imagine the grief that these wonderful people are going through at this time.        

Timothy was loved in our congregation.  So many families have worked diligently to care for the needs of this family.  The love that has been expressed is overwhelming and personal.  When tragedy strikes, the world stops.  People respond and help.  You see the love within a congregation, and the blessing of being part of the family of God.  Church people are there for you during unspeakable hard times. 

People typically wonder what to do during times of tragedy.  The first thing is to pray.  Pray for the family.  Sometimes there are no words to be spoken or food to be cooked.  We look to do something, anything to help with the pain that others are feeling.  In hard times, there is nothing someone can do to “fix it.”  But you can pray.  There are two great promises in the Bible concerning prayer during pain.  The first promise is that God provides comfort through the power of the Holy Spirit.  John 14:26 states, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”  We have the Holy Spirit to provide comfort during difficult times. 

 There is one more promise concerning prayer during painful times.  Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”  Sometimes we do not have words in prayer, which is fine because the Spirit provides words to communicate to God.  When tragedy strikes, never overlook the power of prayer.  God has created prayer and provided the Spirit for times like this. 

Ordering Your Life Well

9.17.21

A lot of people are looking for success in life.  Few people wake up in the morning looking for failure.  Everyone it seems seeks faithfulness to God, happiness in life, and contentment in relationships.  We all want a good life.  But what are the key ingredients to gain these pursuits?  Here is a paragraph from a book I was reading from a CEO of a corporation, that seemed wise to me.

“First, to be successful and fulfilled, we need to decide what we care about most and be honest with ourselves about what we do best. Second, we need to adopt daily habits that enable us to improve continuously where it truly counts—and to subtract habits that divert us. It’s worth writing down a list of beneficial habits that should be part of our daily routine. But it’s equally valuable to compile a Do Not Do list, reminding us of all the ingenious ways in which we habitually distract or undermine ourselves.”

The first piece of advice is to discern what is most important.  Jesus highlighted this wisdom in his classic statement “seek ye first the Kingdom of God.”  The how to accomplish this goal is to love God first and love your neighbor second.  Christ defined the most important for his followers.  What comes first helps one define the parameters in life. 

The second piece of advice is to adopt daily habits that helps with progress.  There are helpful habits and negative habits.  The goal is to practice the beneficial habits and remove those habits that distract from the ultimate goals in life.  The wisdom is simple.  Do what helps, stop what hurts.  Think about being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.  Prayer helps, watching too much TV hurts.  Reading the Bible helps, overviewing social media hurts.  Everyone should take a moment to reflect on an average day.  Not a special day, or vacation day, or the day that you are amazing, but average, and think about what habits you practiced.  What could be increased, and what could be decreased to create better alignment with your core values? 

We all have the same amount of time in a given day, but the difference is how we choose to use those precious minutes.  Through time the habits we pick will determine the outcome in our lives.     

RANDOM EVENTS

9.10.21

Probably 20 years has passed since I was stung by a bee or wasp.  As a kid growing up in the country in Canada, being stung was a common occurrence.  There were always some ferocious bees waiting to penetrate the skin.  We would be bringing in wood for the winter or playing in the field, and too often we were purposefully trying to kill a nest, and the attack would be on for the insects. 

Having experience in getting stung provided knowledge of a few home remedies.  You would use mud or baking soda to help withdraw the poison from the body.  The reason is that the baking soda or mud would dry to help draw out the toxins.  Not sure if this is completely accurate or an old wives tale.  Nevertheless, it was what seemed to work.

After 20 years of being stung free, this year I have been stung twice.  Once while fly fishing in which a large wasp landed on me and foolishly, I attempted to kill it.  My hand landing on the wasp provoked a fight and the wasp landed a painful blow.  On Saturday, while running, another wasp stung my ankle, and my ankle has been swollen ever since.  It might not have helped that I continued to run on it for a couple of hours. 

The point of the bulletin is this: random stuff happens.  All could be going smoothly in life and quickly it all changes.  Being able to adapt to changing circumstances is a valuable skill.  As humans we might seek predictability, but life is too dynamic for mere routine to run its course consistently.  The art of flexibility is a valuable skill in today’s culture.

A lot of times you cannot go back and undo what has been done.  The more important question is “what now?”  What can be done to help the situation unfold well?  You cannot predict the future, you cannot undo the past, but you can act in the present.  How can you react in the current situation to make it better?  Think about Colossians 3:17 in this light.  “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  However you react, will it be God honoring?

              


A WONDERFUL SUNDAY

9.3.21

Every Sunday is wonderful.  Each week as a body of Believers we are blessed to gather to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We come together to partake of the Lord Supper, to sing songs of praise, and to study God’s Word.  Every week is a blessing, but there are some weeks that are extra special.  This past Sunday was one of those marker weeks.  It was the first time that we gathered as a united body for one worship service since early last year.

Think about the worship in Acts 20:7-12.  “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.”  Think about if you missed this time together?  Everyone would have been talking about the miracle, how Eutychus fell asleep, and how he was raised from the dead.  What happened that Sunday would not be as good if it was told in a story.  You would have wanted to be there.  There are some Sunday’s that you just do not want to miss.  Paul was even set to travel, but he stayed around to partake of the Lord’s Supper.  He did not want to miss.

Our first united worship was one of those Sundays.  We had 271 people come.  We had a wonderful fellowship meal afterwards.  It has been over a year and a half since we all worshipped together.  You could feel the energy in the room.  The singing was amazing.  We perhaps forgot how good it is to all be together.  We especially are appreciative of our congregation.  We have had a lot of change, new rules to follow, and uncertainty about the future.  We appreciate the cooperation and the spirit of unity within the congregation.  It was wonderful to come back together with even more members than before the pandemic started.  God has been good to us. 

Being Cold In Nashville

8.27.21

I am writing this bulletin article in the Nashville International Airport.  Outside of the airport the weather is hot and sunny.  There is a lot of humidity in the air.  I woke up at my in-laws house, and my sister in law was sitting outside drinking her coffee and reading her Bible.  She walked into the house, and I said “it must be cold outside?”  “No”, she said.  “This is the best time of the day to be out there, the rest of the day, it is too hot.”  I walked outside into the screened in porch, and the temperature was perfect.  And I drank a little coffee too.  In Colorado, usually the mornings are pretty cool. 

At the airport, it is a different story.  There is air conditioning flowing through the vents.  There is a wet cold air being pushed out from a massive air conditioning unit.  There are a group of college girls sitting in front of me, with sweatshirts and hoodies on them.  The girls are bundled up like they should be at a Colorado campfire.  To me, Nashville is a weather contradiction.  The heat outside is hot, and everyone keeps inside cold.  The extremes are hard to deal with for me. 

Think about your faith.  Through the years I will notice people being super committed for a season to step back and then be energized again.  There is a cycle that happens.  People work hard on growing in Christ, something changes, and a downward cycle kicks in that pulls them in the wrong direction.  There is usually a anxiety provoking event, which causes them to call out to the Lord, and the person has another shot of energy for the faith, which lasts for a few months, but the cycle repeats itself again. 

The extremes are harder to navigate.  Instead Christianity grows best through consistent actions.  Transformation happens not through going to the gym once a month and lifting or running for two hours straight but through going to the gym for 45 minutes each day.  This is why we encourage people to read the Bible daily and to pray daily.  We encourage people to attend worship weekly.  Think about what are you foundational habits more than your intense times of growth.  Both can help perhaps, but one will move the spiritual needle more than the other. 

TAKE THE LONG ROAD

8.20.21

Go hiking, and you will see numerous switchbacks cutting through the trail.  People form these little shortcuts when looking for a quicker way down a mountain and minimizing steps.  No one desires to take the long road.  Give me the easiest way and the fast route, and this type of thinking seems wise until it isn’t. 

Jesus told his disciples to go the extra mile.  Matthew 5:41 “And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”  The background of this text is through Roman dominion in Jerusalem.  A Roman soldier could force a Jewish man to carry his load for one mile, but Jesus is saying that if you are forced into this role, instead go two miles.  Go beyond the call of duty, and step right into kindness. 

Meb Keflezighi, who was an American marathoner, wrote a wonderful book called “26 Marathons.”  In the book, he talks about life lessons from each race he ran in through the years.  In one chapter, he wrote this about taking the long road. “Taking the long view, putting in the unglamorous daily work, finding joy in the process, saving something for the inevitable challenges—these traits have helped me be a better husband, father, brother, and friend. The greatest rewards I’ve felt from all those roles in my life have come over the long term, not through immediate payoff.” 

He breaks down his advice with three powerful states.  The first one is “putting in the unglamorous daily work.”  The world might focus on style and show, but true accomplishments are found through the everyday grind of work.  Think about what Jesus said in Luke 9:23 “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  Progress is made in those moments away from the fanfare and cheering, instead through the unglamorous moments of hard work.  Christianity forms behind the scenes, so you have saved something to defend your soul in those moments of trial. 

Keflezighi, Meb; Douglas, Scott. 26 Marathons (p. 65). Harmony/Rodale. Kindle Edition.  

VBS is BACK

8.13.21

On August 21st, we are having VBS again.  We took a break last year because of the circumstances, but this year we are excited to host another VBS.  So how can you help?

1.      Invite.  The best way to make a successful VBS is to invite people that you know.  The same amount of work will go into the day, so we might as well have as many kids as possible.  Invite family, friends, neighbors, and most anyone.  Having a larger group makes the day more exciting for everyone. 

2.      Volunteer.  I am not sure about all of the work duties for the day, but typically we can usually use more workers.  You might be in a play, or help with snacks, and perhaps teach a class.  It is better to have too many workers than not enough.

3.      Set Up and Tear Down.  If kids are not your thing, we could still use you.  After putting so much energy into helping the kids have fun, it is good to have a crew of people who will help clean up from the day. 

4.      Pray.  If you cannot be in town that day, you can still pray.  Maybe you have to work that day, but you can still pray.  Pray that the day is a huge success, and it helps spread the word that Jesus loves the kids from this community.

5.      Thank.  The leaders of the VBS put a ton of work into this project.  Let us all thank them for the service.  We really appreciate our excellent leaders making this day possible.  So show appreciation for the many hours planning and executing our VBS.

Make plans to be there this year.  It is always a highlight of the year, and we are thankful that VBS is back. 

Prayer Partners

8.6.21

There is a skill in running that elite athletes use.  It is called “drag.”  The idea is that you tuck in closely with a person that is ahead of you to conserve energy.  Race car drivers do this, as well as bikers, in which the lead person creates drag which helps the person trailing the leader.  The application can work with prayer too.

Think about some of the famous men of God.  You have Abraham, Moses, and Elijah, and what all of them have in common is that each of them prayed for the welfare of others.  And God answered those prayers because of them.  There is a powerful principle at work.  Your prayers can bless the people around you.  James uses this principle in James 5:17-18 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”  Your prayers can work for the betterment of others.  

This principle is important for our “Prayer Partner” ministry.  You have the opportunity to bless others within the congregation through your prayers.  We desire for this ministry to create inter-generational relationships, but most importantly we need our members praying for the lives of our young people.  Who knows the impact that you can have through your prayers.  The ministry is a “win-win” for everyone.  We create stronger connection within the congregation between younger and older members, and we have faithful men and women of God praying for the welfare of our kids and teens.  

If you have not yet, please consider signing up for prayer partners.  I think we can all be in agreement—this world needs more Christians faithfully praying for one another.    

How Christians Are Viewed in Public

7.30.21

How are Christians viewed in public?  What is your reputation in town?  For many years I would go to various stores, and no one would recognize me.  I was newer to the community, and most of my connections were within the congregation only.  Over the years, people start to know me.  With coaching tennis in the community, rarely does no one recognize me when I go places now.  I think there is a kid that I coach in every restaurant in town.  Not that I would want to, but being rude to people is no longer an option.  The last thing I would like is for one of my teens to see me mistreating one of their coworkers. 

I recently finished reading “Nickel and Dimed,” a book about American’s working poor.  The book was interesting to see the struggle that people have affording life even though they work 40 plus hours a week. The book was written about 12 years ago and is about a lady that gave up her normal middle-class lifestyle to work minimum wage jobs.  She worked at various diners, Walmart, and hotels.  She had to live off of what she was making.  The people and stories that she encountered were also fascinating.

What saddened me though was an account that she gave while she was a waitress.  Here are her words.  “The worst, for some reason, are the Visible Christians—like the ten-person table, all jolly and sanctified after Sunday night service, who run me mercilessly and then leave me $1 on a $92 bill. Or the guy with the crucifixion T-shirt (SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO) who complains that his baked potato is too hard and his iced tea too icy (I cheerfully fix both) and leaves no tip at all. As a general rule, people wearing crosses or WWJD? (“What Would Jesus Do?”) buttons look at us disapprovingly no matter what we do, as if they were confusing waitressing with Mary Magdalene’s original profession.”

This paragraph should remind us to treat people well in service jobs and all areas of life.  We cannot convert people if we are not good to people.  As believers, we need to be some of the most gracious and kind people in society and not have a reputation for being cheap or harsh with others. 

Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and Dimed (p. 36). Henry Holt and Co. Kindle Edition.

POURED OUT

7.23.21

When you think about the idea of being “poured out”, what image comes to mind?  Do you ponder a slow drip?  A glass of water being gently emptied.  Perhaps you think about a large bucket of soapy water being poured on someone.  Some sports fans would think about the large cooler of Gatorade being poured out on the head of the winning coach. 

Look at these verses that talk about the Holy Spirit being poured out on humanity. 

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” (Isa. 44:3)

“When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, …I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.” (Ezek. 39:27–29)

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28–29)

“God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.” (Acts 2:32–33)

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.” (Acts 10:44–45)

“He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus our Savior.” (Titus 3:5–6)

“We boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Rom. 5:2–5)

Think about the lavishness that God has poured out the Spirit on you.  Did you give it in abundance or did he hold back on this blessing?

FULL STEAM AHEAD

7.16.21

We had a super successful “Colorado Mission’s Sunday.”  We were hoping to raise 25,000 dollars for our mission work within the state, but we ended up more than doubling our desired total.  We raised 63,513 dollars.  We are excited about the work that you have successfully supported and are so thankful to the congregation for the overwhelming generosity that was displayed on Sunday.  We were confident about reaching our goal but did not expect the level of giving that was displayed.  Once again, the Lord blessed this congregation beyond measure or imagination.  Thank you so much for supporting the dream of making congregations in Colorado more vibrant for the Lord!

We appreciate everyone being so diligent in Bible reading.  Over and over again people are communicating with me about how much the Bible reading is making a difference for them.  People are really being blessed by the daily habit of reading on average three chapters a day.  Today I finished Luke 1-3, which should let you know on which day I am writing this bulletin article.  Let me really encourage you to stay on track and practice daily reading over reading larger sections at one time.  It is fun to go through the Bible together because we can share our readings as a Body.  It was amazing that on Sunday, the reading ended with the story of the Widow’s Offering.  There is no way that was an accident, but perhaps God was working through the reading for us to have such a wonderful contribution.

Plus, be watching for our launch of Prayer Partners.  We are excited about continuing this excellent intergenerational ministry.  Creating relationships within the congregation is the best way to keep young people faithful throughout life.  You can be part of this rewarding ministry.      

One last area that I want to mention is the VBS.  Yes, VBS is on again, and it will be Saturday, August 21st.  VBS is always a highlight of the year, and we certainly missed it last year.  Glad it will be back.  Mark it on the calendar and see if you can invite a few people too.     

A LASTING IMPACT

7.9.21

Sunday is Colorado Mission Sunday.  We have all purchased something that was a waste of money.  It was a frivolous purchase, or it was a worthless product.  No one enjoys throwing money away on junk.  We all want something to show for our cash.  Everything has a value to us.  Some people enjoy expensive cars, while others would rather spend money on food.  Other people like a nice house, and others would prefer having more land.  Value is typically in the eye of the beholder. 

On Sunday we have the privilege of investing in the Kingdom, and specifically in Colorado.  At Castle Rock, we are a “lighthouse” congregation, in which we seek to provide light to all others traveling the Christian Road with us.  Castle Rock is a special congregation.  We are blessed with amazing leadership through the elders, and we are in an incredibly affluent area.  We are in a super county in which the average person has a six figure salary and a master’s degree.  We might not be the ten talent Congregation, but we certainly are a five talent church.  So it is on us to invest our talents to increase the impact of the Kingdom of God in Colorado. 

Our mission is to increase the health of our smaller rural congregations through increasing the health of the leadership of those Churches.  We are investing in a retreat for small town ministers and their spouses in which both of them can be blessed by a ministry coach.  The retreat is geared towards rest, as well as continued training.  A lot of times ministers leave ministry because of burnout.  There is a constant drain that happens from being on call 24/7, and taking on all of the emotional and spiritual needs within a congregation.  The stress can be overwhelming.  We believe by keeping leadership spiritually healthy we can help keep congregations healthy. 

Last year we provided a few bonuses to small town ministers which blessed them richly.  All of them wrote the kindest “thank you notes” expressing gratitude.  Sometimes 500 dollars will never be missed by some people, while a minister is able to have a Christmas with his kids because of our bonus.  We are seeking to create a lasting impact for the kingdom in Colorado and we are asking for you to contribute to the work.       

COLORADO MISSION SUNDAY

7.1.21

On July 11th, we are having our Colorado Mission Sunday.  We will have a special contribution in which everything above the $9,500 budget will go directly into mission work to support the great state of Colorado.  Please be preparing to be generous on this day.  We have a lot of plans to support the kingdom with your contribution.

 We desire to keep our congregations strong in our local region.  Colorado is a mission field.  We are a blessed congregation, and we wish to share our blessing with others.  The town of Castle Rock is a thriving city, but there are plenty of smaller towns in the state that are struggling, and the local congregations in those areas are fighting for survival.  We believe that through investing in the leadership, we can bless the entire Church.  Many smaller congregations are served by one paid minister who rarely has the funds or the time to continue his spiritual development.  We want to provide resources for these ministers through a renewal retreat, bonuses to help with expenses, L2L scholarships, and continued education.

 We are planning on hosting a Renewal Retreat for ministers and their spouses.  It will be a 3-day, 2-night event in which we will have spiritual coaches to refresh the ministry couples.  If we can keep more of our servants in ministry, we have a better chance of reaching more souls in the long term.  Too often, ministers in smaller congregations have high turnover because of lack of funding and burnout. 

 The teens are already making plans for how they can serve these smaller congregations.  We can be a blessing to a smaller community that might not have the same privileges as our young people.  Service is so important to establish character in teenagers. 

 Other plans in work include providing scholarships to attend Heritage Christian University and giving bonuses to ministers to ease their financial burden and reward their hard work in the kingdom.  So we ask you to help with this mission on July 11th.   

COLORADO MISSIONS SUNDAY

6.25.21

Castle Rock has a long history of having a “Missions Sunday.”  Each year we provide the congregation the opportunity to increase giving for a week that will go directly into the mission fund.  Everything above the weekly contribution is allotted into mission work.  Over the last few years, we saw this annual giving grow from about five thousand dollars to almost twenty thousand dollars above budget for the special day.  We have supported work in India, Haiti, Heritage Christian University, and Angola, which Robert and Teague Meyers have worked for over ten years.  Each year we seek to make an impact in the kingdom through the sacrificial giving in the congregation. 

Over the last few years, we have seen the need to invest in rural congregations in Colorado.  Castle Rock has done incredibly well for the last ten years.  We have grown and have been financially healthy because of the generosity within the congregation.  We are a shining example of a healthy and vibrant Church.  But not all congregations have been as blessed as we are.  Especially, outside of the front range region, smaller congregations are struggling.  Instead of keeping all of the blessings for ourselves, we want to model the spirit of Jesus and be sacrificial for the welfare of others. 

So, on July 11th, we have having our annual missions Sunday.  We are hoping that you will give sacrificially to this cause.  We want to invest in the health of the Church in Colorado.  We plan on hosting a spiritual retreat for local ministers in the State.  At this retreat, we will provide tools, support, and fellowship to ministers that probably feel a sense of isolation.  We are also wanting to provide bonuses to ministers in the area to bless them.  We feel that by encouraging leadership in these congregation we can encourage the entire congregation.  It is our way of maximining our impact for the kingdom. 

So please be thinking about how you can give on July 11th.  We will have our very own Bill Young giving the lesson, who also coordinates our extension ministry which provides preachers and training to local Churches.  We have prayed for this day, and are excited to see what God will do through us.     

90 DAYS OF BIBLE READING

6.18.21

We intend to talk frequently about our commitment to reading the Bible because it is that important. Our recent messages calling for spiritual transformation have been well received, and people are genuinely motivated to make spiritual changes.  We have two more lessons for this series, and then we will be switching to a series called “A Word Created World.”  Both of these series lead to our focus on reading through the New Testament in 90 days. 

On Sunday, we launched the “Five Minutes of Bible Reading” to help everyone start to get into the habit of reading the Bible to start the day.  We will build on this foundation habit by extending the time by reading about three to four chapters a day.  A lot of times, the struggle in establishing a new practice is beginning.  The “Five Minutes of Bible Reading” helps us to get the behavior going.  We are excited about this focus that the eldership has put in place to help us continue the spiritual transformation process.  The focus on Bible reading is a deep-seated value in our congregation.  A long-tenured minister with the congregation named Jack Carter would always emphasize Bible reading within the congregation.  We are reaching back to the history of our Church to reach forward to the future.     

Have you ever thought that through words, the world was created?  Look at Genesis 1:1-3 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  Notice the phrase “God said.”  Before there was light, there was the word of God speaking creation into existence.  God spoke.  God also keeps the world in order through his word.  Hebrews 1:3 “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”

Think about the power in the word of God.  He creates the earth and keeps it orderly through the power of his word.  For us humans, the word of God will create a life and sustain it for us.  If you ever doubt the power of Bible reading, ponder these verses.

90 Days Through the New Testament

(Written by: Mark Walker)

6.11.21

We are in the middle of a sermon series examining the theme of 40 days for transformation seen in the Bible. Transformation is a character-changing process. Romans 12:2 reads, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Similarly, 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” In both passages, the word “transformed” comes from the same word we know as metamorphosis. We likely first heard that term in elementary school when learning about caterpillars turning into butterflies. The new state of something has changed so significantly that it no longer resembles its original condition.

With one voice, I believe we would all say that God chose to reveal himself and his son to us through the Word. We would also agree that transformation into His image, a true metamorphosis, is only found through that same Word. On June 27th, we, together as a congregation, will challenge each other to read through the New Testament in 90-days. We will provide a reading schedule for those who prefer some structure to help accomplish this goal. Most folks would read the entire New Testament in just over eighteen hours, which works out to less than fifteen minutes per day for a plan of finishing in 90 days. As we said last week, reading the Bible is the foundational behavior for change. It is step one. We ask that you begin prayerfully preparing to join us on this 90-day journey.

Two Big Events On The Horizon

6.4.21

We are excited for the coming months.  Congregational life is starting to trend towards normal.  We had two of our major events come and go recently.  Both L2L and Family Camps were highly attended and successful events.  Within the month, COVID 19 restrictions radically changed.  Looking back the leadership was unprepared for the extent of the COVID 19 pandemic.  No one predicted the timeframe well.  As the year moved forward the leadership learned to plan for the next few months instead of making more long range plans.  The short term approach was positive for the congregation.  We were more nimble and adaptive.  We are meeting again soon to plan for the coming months, and dream about the coming years. 

We have two major opportunities for the congregation in the near future.  On July 11th, we are having our annual mission Sunday.  We are launching our Colorado Mission work.  We are raising funds to support the work of the kingdom in Colorado.  The Castle Rock congregation has been a lighthouse congregation for the front range region for years.  We have led SYD, we founded the L2L convention, and have probably grown the most over the years of all congregations in the area.  We have been providing our extension services to congregations for a few years now.  At Castle Rock, we are so rich in talent and resources.  To those who have been given much, much is expected.  We must raise to the occasion.  We need to invest in leadership of the local congregations.  We are wanting to invest in continued education of ministers in the area, host a retreat for rural ministers from Colorado, and provide spiritual coaching to them.  The more we invest in leaders, the more leaders can invest in the congregation.  We are losing hundreds of ministers a year, and we need to stop this trend. 

The second massive area of investment is reading through the New Testament together as a congregation.  We are committing to reading through the New Testament over a period of six weeks.  Recently someone asked me on a zoom interview what was the best thing to keep from forgetting to do evangelism.  I had a simple answer—read the Bible every day.  No matter what you are doing to grow spiritually, the number one growth habit is to READ THE BIBLE.  It is the foundational behavior for change.

We are moving into the future with a ton of wind at our backs.  We have grown stronger during the pandemic and we pray that the progress will continue into the coming months.

READING THE WISDOM LITERATURE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

5.28.21

We are going through 40 days of transformation as a congregation over the next few weeks.  One of the most helpful spiritual practices that I have learned is to read the wisdom literature of the Old Testament.  My favorite book to read is Proverbs.  Each morning reading a couple of chapters, or even reading one and mediating on the advice is beneficial in having a good day.  Each morning you are reminded of excellent people skills, and wisdom on how to conduct yourself throughout the day.  The wisdom literature is powerful for transformation.

There are numerous books that can also be read too.  You have the Psalms which will create a worshipful heart, Ecclesiastes will help you keep your priorities in order, the Book of Job will help you deal with suffering.  And if you want to focus on your relationship with your spouse, read Song of Solomon.  All of these books can be helpful in transforming your mind and becoming a person of wisdom. 

Here is how the book of Proverbs starts.  The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:  To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple,  knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning,  and the one who understands obtain guidance,  to understand a proverb and a saying,  the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;  fools despise wisdom and instruction.” 

True spiritual maturity is not sitting on a mountain alone mediating, rather it is dealing with people in everyday life.  It is about reading people well, assessing the situation correctly, balancing justice and mercy, and showing compassion or judgment appropriately.  The wisdom writings of the Old Testament are foundation for these tasks.  A New Testament equivalent is the book of James.  Wisdom literature and James gives pity advice to people.

So as these 40 days go by, add the practice of reading the wisdom literature to your routine each morning.  You will feel more confident in dealing with people, and will probably increase your spiritual maturity significantly.     

HOW NOT TO CATCH FISH

5.21.21

Micheal Seay and I went Fly Fishing this week.  We headed up to Casper, Wyoming, which has the North Platte River.  The river is famous for the abundance of trout.  On the first day, we fished the Miracle Mile which is a renowned section of the river which is known to produce large fish.  Michael caught numerous fish, but on this day, I caught none.  On the second day, it took me until the afternoon to land my first fish.  By this point, I realized I had a new book idea.  The book was going to be called “How Not To Catch Fish.” 

1.      Practice Poor Casting.  To really help in not catching fish, you want to aim to cast poorly so that your line becomes tangled.  So instead of having your flies in the water, you are spending the majority of your time trying to pull out the knots.  You can count on never catching a fish while you have your line in the boat instead of in the water.  Too often congregations practice the same skill in not catching converts because people are too busy being in conflict with one another.  All of the time and attention of the Church is given to resolving conflict instead of evangelism.

2.      Focus On Small Fish.  The first two fish I caught were tiny ones.  The average size fish in the river is about 18 inches, but I was only landing small six inch trout.  I was excelling at pulling out the tiny ones.  The Church can master this art too by spending all of their time and resources on tiny problems.  Rather than investing in the important aspects of ministry, the congregation spends all of the time on minuscule issues. 

3.      Be Slow In Setting the Hook.  If you want to guarantee that you will not catch fish, take your time in setting the hook on the fish.  To set a hook, you need to pull back quickly when the fish strikes the fly.  A slow takeback causes you to miss the opportunity to land the fish.  Sometimes in congregations there are genuine interest from people concerning the gospel, but instead of investing in them, and building a relationship, we never get around to teaching them the gospel.  The opportunity comes and goes. 

We had a great time fishing, but for the first day, I really mastered the art of not catching fish.  I was even thinking about starting a Youtube Channel to help other people not catch fish too.     

HONOR TO THE SENIORS

5.16.21

Graduating from High School is a worthy achievement.  The rite of passage of finishing High School and moving to the next stage of life is something that is celebrated in America.  We have three wonderful seniors making the leap into the next stage this year.  I wanted to give them some advice, it might not be good advice, but it will be advice.

1.      Stay Faithful.  Over the years, we have graduated a lot of young people, and some of them are still faithful.  People might come back to the Lord after the college years, or young adult years, but stay in the Church during this time.  Some of you will go to Christian colleges and there will be a ton of programing that will cater to you, while others of you might stay home, or go directly into work.  Whatever path you take, the choice will be yours, stay faithful or fall away.  In some contexts, staying faithful will be easier, while other paths might be filled with greater challenges.  Remember, make your own path, by walking with the Lord faithfully through your young adult years.

2.      Do The Work.  Charity found a new saying recently that I think is super helpful.  It states “Choose Your Hard.”  Being in physical shape is hard, being out of shape is hard, choose your hard.  Being educated is hard, not being educated is hard, choose your hard.  Whatever path you have chosen next in life, there will be challenges, face them, and work hard to overcome the tests that you will face.  There is always room for the mistakes that you will make, but invest in yourself now in developing your character, and the hard that you face now will help you face the hard in the future.  Do the work now on yourself so that you can be stronger later in life.  Make the sacrifices to reap the later rewards.  Essentially, play the long game, instead of the short game of immediate gratification.  Jesus endured the agony of the Cross so that he could be glorified at the right seat of God his Father. 

3.      Tap Dance To Life.  I respect that person that goes to work every day to provide for others, even though he or she might hate it.  On the other hand, if you have a choice about what you do for a living, pick something that you love.  Invest in that future.  You will create a career, but if you love what you do, you will never feel like it is working.  It will be a joy.  It does not mean there will a lack of challenging days, but it does mean that you enjoy going to work in something that you find fulfilling.  Invest in something that is meaningful to you.      

THE GOAL IS TO FINISH

5.9.21

Some of us in the congregation have a race this Saturday to run.  It is the Greenland 50k, 25k, or the 8 miler.  As far as I know, Sam Hamilton, Jack Hamilton, and Greg Cooper are running the 50k race, I am running the 25k, and Noah is running the 8 miler.  For some of the men running these races, the goal is to finish fast.  Other of us, the goal is to finish.  I have never run 15.5 miles, and my goal is to complete the race.  How fast is not that important to me, the point is to cross the finish line. 

Sometimes in life you have certain standards to focus on in a task.  It might be sales numbers, times, or first place, but other times in life the goal is to finish.  We had our L2L Convention this past weekend.  There was certainly a lot of uncertainty surrounding the event.  Would it happen?  What would it look like?  Would people come?  How many people could we have?  A lot of congregations were not even meeting during the decision-making timeframe for L2L.  We pressed on to have the convention even though there was a ton of questions surrounding the event.  We had faith to have it.  It worked.

God provided a wonderful event.  The excitement on Saturday was wonderful.  Our young people had a great weekend with one another.  Friendships were strengthened, talent was increased, and fun was had.  It was the first major event that other congregations and we were involved in for over a year.  The success was that it happened.

Everyone wants to cross the finish line in flying colors, but sometimes the goal is to cross.  Our expectations were met for the convention, and even exceeded our hopes.  When you think about Paul longing for his glory, he says these words in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”  To Paul, the finish line was to keep the faith.  He was going to be rewarded because he has kept the faith.  

We are so thankful for everyone being part of L2L.  We did it.  We finished well.  

SLOWING DOWN AND SPEEDING UP

4.30.21

Ever feel that you are doing too much?  There is too much happening for you to keep up?  During various stages of life, there are times when you have an abundance of extra time while you can barely keep up with the responsibilities you have during other times of life.  Sometimes we all need to balance our commitments. 

Remember last year in March and April, and through the summer, most planned events were canceled.  People who had packed calendars suddenly had ample amounts of spare time for the first time in years.  Instead of trying to fit stuff in, you were trying to find something to do.  It was a radical shift that happened quickly.  Life slowed down. 

Are you starting to notice that life is beginning to take off again?  Sports are back, we are planning events, and social engagements have picked back up.  I know for our family, we had a play, tennis tournament, and now L2L, all on back-to-back weekends. Last year at this time, we had… nothing.  It is great to be having events again, but I am noticing my calendar filling up again. 

Probably, you will have the calendar filled too soon if you are in the same life stage that we are.  Because of this reality, we should be intentional about what we allow on our schedule and what is left off.  Here are a couple of principles.  What is most important?  I remember one year Charity and I had to plan a couple of family outings before the summer started to make sure we could do them.  If you do not create time, you will have time filled unintentionally.  The second principle is understanding your values.  Sometimes you will have to pick what you do and to what you will say “no.”  If you have a defined hierarchy of which values are most important, it will make time conflicts easier to manage.

Managing the usual slowing down and speeding up in life is part of life.  It is an excellent skill to learn.  There are times to speed up, and there are times to slow down.  Hebrews 4:10 is an interesting verse.  “For whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.”  God works, but he also rests.  God understands the principles of speeding up and slowing down.

L2L WEEKEND COMING

4.25.21

There were questions whether or not L2L would happen this year.  So much has been canceled over the last calendar year that nothing was certain.  But there was a commitment and the desire to have the L2L Convention in Colorado Springs in 2021.  Last year was canceled, which stopped the streak of over 50 years in a row.  The last thing we wanted was for another year to go by without the convention taking place.  In two weeks, it will happen, Lord Willing. 

One of the most important ministries at the Castle Rock Congregation is L2L. The Sermon from last week was about the need to teach the next generation the Bible.  L2L really helps with this goal.  Think about those who do Bible Bowl on the theme book of the year.  Those kids have pretty much the entire book memorized by the time the students take the test.  The Castle Rock congregation has scored the best each year too.  Most importantly, the scriptures have entered the minds of the young people in profound ways.  Who knows the impact that those scriptures will have in their lives?  In a moment of temptation, a verse might rise to the top to stop the behavior, or during a sad time in life, a scripture is a guiding hope of renewal.  We need our young people to be studying the Bible to the level that L2L pushes them to do so.

Also, all of the skills the young people are learning through L2L will continue to bless the Church in the coming decades.  Young people teaching, singing, and even puppeteering all provides skills to bless people in teaching and singing about the Lord.  We need our people having the ability to stand in front of the people of God to proclaim his Word.  If we cannot proclaim it in front of a friendly audience, how are we ever to boldly preach it to an unbelieving world?  Math, Reading, Science, and Sports are important skills to develop, but Biblical skills are the most important for eternal life and evangelism.

So we are looking forward to L2L weekend.  We are excited to join other congregations in the Rocky Mountain region to celebrate with one another the work that our young people are doing for the Lord.  What a testament to unity for our congregations.  We need to catch up, encourage one another, and to build up the body of Christ.  We are so glad that L2L is happening this year.  It will be a blessing to not only our congregation, but congregations around the region.  It will be a fantastic time.   

HOW TO IMPROVE SPIRITUAL FORMATION

4.18.21

As the two researchers brainstormed, their thoughts kept coming back to milk. Most Americans drink milk, and we all know that milk is a great source of calcium. But milk is also the single largest source of saturated fat in the typical American’s diet. In fact, calculations showed something remarkable: If Americans switched from whole milk to skim or 1% milk, the average diet would immediately attain the USDA recommended levels of saturated fat. How do you get Americans to start drinking low-fat milk? You make sure it shows up in their refrigerators. And that isn’t an entirely facetious answer. People will drink whatever is around the house—a family will plow through low-fat milk as fast as whole milk. So, in essence, the problem was even easier than anticipated: You don’t need to change drinking behavior. You need to change purchasing behavior. Suddenly the intervention became razor-sharp. What behavior do we want to change? We want consumers to buy skim or 1% milk.

Think about all of the changes that you might like to make for your spiritual life?  Maybe you desire to read the Bible more or pray more?  Do you want to give more or serve more?  We are always seeking to improve but progress is about an upstream choice, not a moment in time decision.  In the moment, you might choose to watch TV, instead of reading the Bible.  In the moment it might seem better to check Facebook than to pray.  Making a choice in the moment is harder than setting in order certain habits.  If this was not the case, people would not go through the entire day without reading the Bible or praying.

Drinking low-fat milk was about buying the milk more than drinking the milk.  You drink what you have.  Think about some of the habits that you have.  Do you stay on tech before going to bed?  Do not keep your cellphone by your bed.  Can you not turn down chips?  Do not buy chips.  Cannot read your Bible consistently, put it by your bed to read before going to sleep.  Whatever habit you are looking to change, think about what behavior has to change upstream from the moment of decision and create a nudge for the right behavior to take over.  “Chains of Habit Are Too Light to Be Felt Until They Are Too Heavy to Be Broken” – Warren Buffett.

Heath, Chip; Heath, Dan. Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard (pp. 15-16). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

AFTER EASTER

4.9.21 

There is always much focus around Easter in the Christian world.  Commonly, people attend Church on Easter; there are family activities connected with the day and traditions to celebrate the Holiday.  Easter is the main event, but the days after are the undercard.  Easter is a religious shot in the arm of spiritual vitality.  But what happens in the coming weeks defines the person more than the special day of Easter. 

Think about the disciples of Christ.  There are fifty days between the Passover and Pentecost.  There is the exuberant excitement of the returning Son of God and the ascension of Christ, but the next few weeks are full of questions.  What now?  The command was to head to Jerusalem and wait.  Sometimes, the struggle in spirituality is not a need to sacrifice, serve, or study, but to wait, not knowing what the next step is for the future.  The in-between times are the times of uncertainty.  Easter is the high, Pentecost is the future, but the 50 days of waiting are not the valley or the summit, but somewhere in the middle of the journey.  In the Church, we do a good job of teaching about mountains and valleys, but rarely do we offer advice on the middle ground.  So here are some good insights.

Stay Engaged.  Stay connected to fellowship and be around Christian people.  Not every event is a pinnacle moment or a life-changing event, but rather the average Christian fellowship keeps you connected for the long haul of the journey.  Consistently coming to worship, being around Christian friends, and serving together keeps the spiritual fire aflame.  The pattern of fellowship provides the foundation for longevity of faithfulness.

Do Bible Things.  Sometimes you hear about people having these massive moments of clarity on what God would have them to do in life.  Praise God for those moments.  However, consistent faithfulness fills that average times.  The little habits of Bible reading and prayer are much more needful for daily living than rare emotional elation.  Keeping the practices of faith will sustain you during the times of waiting.

Remember, keeping faith habits is more than wishing for another mountain or valley experience to happen.     

EASTER SUNDAY

4.4.21 

Every year Easter and Christmas are on the calendar.  Christmas is typically filled with more tradition, but Easter is as special too.  During both of these times, the classic texts of the Bible are read.  The birth account and the resurrection account are poured over as a reminder of what our Savior has gone through for us.  Every year we could search for a new insight or perspective, but sometimes what people need is not novelty, but consistency.  We need to be reminded of the classic story of the resurrection of Christ. 

John 20:1-9 says, “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.  So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”  So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.  Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.  He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.  Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.  Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.  (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.).”  The dearly beloved story of the empty tomb has provided comfort and hope for countless Christians across the landscape of time.

This Sunday we will focus on the truth that Jesus suffered and died for us.  He was raised from the dead by his Father.  Come Sunday to worship the risen Lord!

We need the truth this year.  We need the truth every year.  Easter is about Easter baskets and rabbits, but it is about so much more.  Little kids might think about finding eggs, but as adults we think about the empty tomb.  Allow the fact that we serve a resurrected Lord to invade your thoughts this year.  Allow the truth that has given Christians hope for centuries to sink deeply into your heart.  Jesus is risen.  Come and celebrate this fact, which is a fact that no other group can claim.  Our God is alive! 

Disagreeing with Decisions

3.28.21

 For the last couple of weeks, we have looked at making good church decisions and how to judge a decision.  But how do you handle a decision with which you disagree?  Over the years, I have been part of hundreds of meaningful decisions in Church leadership.  There have been plenty of times when a decision has was not what I thought was best.  My idea was to do something else, but at the end of the day, that was not where the leadership landed, and I am part of the leadership team.  So what do you do when a decision is something that you do not wholly support?

 Practice Humility.  Most of the difficult decisions in life are multifaceted.  There are numerous moving parts and elements, and it is almost impossible to predict people's outcomes and reactions.  Instead of feeling that what I want is best, I acknowledge that a group of intelligent individuals has attempted to make the best decision with the information available.  Maybe these people see something I do not see.  We all need the humility to know that we can be wrong.  People that are certain that he or she is never wrong scare me.  There is nothing wrong with having confidence in an opinion, but always leave room for the possibility of being incorrect.  History is full of stories of high-confidence leading to error.  You are not the center of the earth, and neither is the earth the center of the universe.  Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."

 I Can Live with It Principle.  I cannot count how many times I have walked out of a meeting thinking, "It is not what I wanted, but I can live with it." Of course, I cannot compromise specific non-negotiable standards, but those are pretty defined in my mind.  We should all have definite boundaries for principles and God's Word, but most choices are between nebulous options, not clear scriptural commands.  The ability to be flexible in one's thinking is helpful in leadership.  The person who sees every situation as either black or white is trapped in a room with blackout blinds and cannot distinguish the different color shades in the room.  Think about the big decision about the Gentiles being included in the Church.  The Jerusalem Counsel met and came up with this solution.  Acts 15:19-20 "Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood." Probably not everyone was pleased with the choice, but those in leadership could live with the decision. 

 Knowing how to handle a decision you disagree with is half the battle.  Having solid principles for how to manage disagreement helps lower the conflict and disappointment in life.  You might not always get what you want, but you will handle them with grace and class when those times happen. 

Judging Decisions

3.21.21

 Last week we wrote about how to make a good church decision.  This week I want to write about how to judge a good decision.  Often people will evaluate a decision based only on the result.  The situation turned out poorly; therefore, the decision was bad.  On the other hand, the result was good, so the decision had to be good.  When the quality of a decision is solely dependent on the outcome, that is called "resulting." What people do not realize is that predicting the future is pretty much impossible.  Instead of focusing on the quality of the decision-making process, people judge a choice through the lens of 20/20 hindsight. 

The problem with judging a decision in hindsight is that more facts now bear on the choice.  There is more information that was not available at the time of the original decision.  Think about the decision to cancel services this week.  The weather channels were predicting a massive storm with high winds.  The snow accumulation was to be over 24 inches.  The storm was to come on Friday, snow all through Saturday, and wrap up on Sunday afternoon.  With this information in mind, the leaders canceled services at the building and pre-recorded a service we could stream so that everyone could still worship on Sunday morning.  We made a decision.  Then, when the forecasts started to change on Friday and Saturday, how many of you, myself included, started to think that it was not a good decision?  Maybe it seemed like an overreaction.  Then Sunday happened, and the storm was massive.  It was a great decision.  In judging the decision, "resulting" looks at the outcome, not the process's quality.

People who judge others' decisions typically look at the result, not the process within a decision made.  The process is more important than the outcome.  Think about a bet in a poker game.  A professional player realizes there is an 84 percent chance of winning the hand and a 16 percent chance of losing.  The professional would be a fool to refuse to take these odds.  But the wrong card is dealt, and he or she loses.  Was it a poor decision?  No, it was the right one, but it did not work out.  There is rarely a sure thing in life.  People that wait until the odds are always 100 percent will rarely accomplish anything.  This is called "decision paralysis." 

Decisions must be made in a congregation and our lives.  Some of them will turn out good, while others will be a flop.  There have been plenty of times that a decision seemed to be wrong, but it turned out to be a great success; other times, the choice ended poorly.  Judging the quality of a decision by only the outcome causes the person to depend on that which he cannot control. Instead, if we focus on the process, evaluate the research, facts, and the emotional read of a situation, we can improve the decision-making art.

HOW TO MAKE A CHURCH DECISION

3.14.21

Church decisions can be hard to make.  No matter the direction one chooses, others may see a different direction as a better option.  Rarely in a decision is there a clear choice between two competing ideas.  The idea of one option as all evil, sinful, and wicked while the other as heavenly, loving, and faithful is abundantly rare.  Those types of choices rarely bubble up to leadership when the answer seems so clear that no one disputes the choice.  The hard decisions are between competing tensions within a polarity.  I mean by polarity that you have two good but different options to be balanced.  For some quick examples, which is more important, feeding the flock or reaching the community?  Keeping a traditional service or reaching new people with the gospel?  Holding to justice or showing grace?  Often these choices are about "how much," not "either/or." Here are some principles to help make church choices.

 What Must a Church Do? 

A congregation is free to do much.  A church can have a carwash.  A church can walk dogs in the neighborhood.  A church can give away food.  A church can have a talent show.  But what must a church do to be a Church?  Invert the idea and consider what could a church fail to do that would lead to it no longer being a Church?  Could a Church stop worshipping and still be a Church?  Could a Church refuse to offer the Lord's Supper every week and still be a Church?  Could a Church stop evangelizing and still be a Church?  The answer to these questions is "no." A Church has core activities that must happen for it to remain a living congregation.  The fundamental principle in decisions a church makes is to keep the Church doing Church stuff.  The good stuff that a church can do should never, ever, push out the stuff that a Church must do.  The goal is to make sure that the main thing stays the main thing in a congregation.  A good church decision prioritizes the core work of a congregation. 

 Align with Core Values

A lot of choices in Church come down to a value scale.  Which values will come first?  As you can imagine, there are usually various views of a given situation.  Each idea has complementary concepts attached to the decision.  You might phrase it as "the loving thing to do is..." but the problem is that people define what is loving through various lenses.  Sometimes the loving thing to do is to be direct with the truth; other times might call for patience.  The question is which value is most important for the situation.  Having a clear set of values helps to make church decisions.  What will come first?  Will we love God first?  Is obedience most important here, or is this a time to eat the showbread because the disciples' needs for food trumps tradition?  Defining one's core values is essential in making good choices in life.   

PLAYING THE VICTIM

3.7.21

Over the last few years, I have noticed a trend in society.  It seems that people posture to be the victim.  There are undoubtedly numerous illnesses within society that should be addressed, but much of the social change is beyond someone’s individual control.  A person can get busy blaming or get busy taking responsibility.  There is plenty of blame to go around, but rarely does blaming create empowerment in people.  A healthier response is to accept responsibility and work toward a better future.

I saw the attitude of responsibility in a letter I read this weekend.  It is from Warren Buffett, who, when speaking about a past investment, said, “The final component in our GAAP figure – that ugly $11 billion write-down – is almost entirely the quantification of a mistake I made in 2016. That year, Berkshire purchased Precision Castparts (“PCC”), and I paid too much for the company. No one misled me in any way – I was simply too optimistic about PCC’s normalized profit potential… I was wrong, however, in judging the average amount of future earnings and, consequently, wrong in my calculation of the proper price to pay for the business.”  I love his example; own up to your mistakes.  He says, “no one misled me in any way.”  He could have spun a story that lowered the judgment of his mistake, but instead, he admitted the problem was with his own thinking.    

A book I was recently reading made a great point about blame.  “But reaching your greatest potential depends on whether you lean into that process or run from it. Most people choose to run. They would rather fixate on the 10% of their lives they can’t control, and so they complain and blame everyone and everything. But the funny thing about blame is that while it might temporarily make us feel better, it does absolutely nothing to create a better tomorrow. Anyone can blame, but very few have the courage to take responsibility.

Imagine the Apostle Paul sitting in house arrest blaming the government for his imprisonment.  Imagine Jesus on the Cross bemoaning the hard hearts in the world.  Imagine the early Church blaming all the paganism in the land.  Instead, Paul said he could do all things through Christ; Jesus asked the Father to forgive the people because they did not know what they were doing, and the early Church went about preaching the word.  Own it and Act. 

Medcalf, Joshua. Pound The Stone: 7 Lessons To Develop Grit On The Path To Mastery (p. 118). Train to be CLUTCH. Kindle Edition.   

UNDERGROUND CHURCH

2.28.21

We had probably over fifty teens from the congregation, community, and surrounding churches participate in the Underground Church Experience on Sunday Night. We had a ton of adult volunteers be torturers and police officers for the event. The game's premise was that the young people needed to find the truth, which was a verse from the Bible. The verse for the game was Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." The truth was written on an index card that others needed to find and copy. 

After someone found the truth, that person is to share it with everyone else. It simulates evangelism. The police roam around looking for Christians to persecute. If a Christian is arrested, he or she is taken to the torturers, which typically means that the person has shaving cream or cold ice water poured on them. The torture becomes secondary because the young people are to attempt to convert the police officers to the truth. A lot of times, the young people walk around seeking conversations about why they believe in Christ. It is a great way to practice sharing one's faith and thinking through objections to believing that Jesus is the Christ.

Each year I am amazed at the level of intensity of the Underground Church Experience.  Quite often, people feel that community dynamic of being united in Christ. A natural camaraderie forms through the simulated torture and the need to stand together. The event usually ends with the need to travel together from the basketball goal to inside the church building. There are complications along the path, which causes the teens to stand together. The moment is enlightening because people feel the desire and importance of helping everyone get to the goal as one body of believers.

Sometimes the best lessons are discovered through experience. It is a small simulation of what the Church might experience in the first century or in a country where Christianity would be illegal. We need to be reminded of what the power of persecution can afford to those who believe. Acts 8:4 "Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.”

HANDLING DISAPPOINTMENT

2.21.21

Would it not be wonderful for everything to go your way?  You know what I mean.  No disappointment, no struggles, no hard times.  What you want is what you get.  How nice it would be.  You are never cut from the team, always get the promotion you worked for, you always invest correctly, and everyone at Church will get along and there is never ever any tension or conflict.  What a wonderful world it would be.  It seems.

The fairy tale reality that is outlined above is make believe.  It does not exist.  There is no world like that on earth.  People reject you; the world treats you unfairly, and you make plenty of mistakes that causes harm to yourself.  We all deal with disappointment.  So how do we handle it and keep emotionally strong? 

Trust in God.  No one has a crystal ball for the outcomes of the world.   None of us can see the future.  There are going to be painful disappointments, but we can never be certain of the final outcome of a rejection or failure.  Who knows what the future holds for you?  Perhaps the giant rejection is a massive opportunity that you cannot presently see.  “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). 

Never Be the Victim.  Highlighting how the world has done you wrong will rarely fix anything.  Someone can spend countless hours detailing what someone else has done to them to hurt them but feeling sorry for yourself rarely helps.  You feel even more powerless in a chaotic world.  There is no such thing as a fair world.  Accept the reality and move on.  If life was predicated on fairness, Jesus would never have had to die on the cross. 

Grieve.  In no way does someone have to like everything that happens to them.  Sometimes people bottle up all the pain in life and never express it.  God is big enough for you to share your sorrow with Him.  There is nothing wrong with a Christian expressing the pain from disappointment.  You have to feel it to move on from it.  So, express your cares to God because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Learning to deal with disappointments is one of the behaviors of emotionally mature people.  It is an acquired skill that takes countless years to develop.  Though, it is essential to positive mental health.       

RECAP OF THE SPIRITUAL STATE OF THE CONGREGATION

2.14.21

Terry Webb did a fantastic job of developing and delivering the Spiritual State of the Congregation Address.  The Castle Rock congregation has a long history with this tradition, the idea of which started from Dr. Dale Darby.  He realized the wisdom of providing regular updates on the spiritual history and future of the congregation.  Communication is essential in leadership.  Through the years, the SSOC report has dealt with issues facing the congregation, shared the dreams of members, and provided a general assessment of the spiritual health of the Church.  This year’s presentation noted numerous conditions within the congregation that connote a healthy Church family. 

 2020 was certainly an unprecedented year.  I appreciate Terry’s mention that there was no playbook for the leadership team concerning the COVID 19 pandemic.  A lot of the choices were game-time decisions.  What is even more impressive is the unity and love the congregation continued to express during the difficult days. 

 Another excellent point that Mr. Webb made was highlighting all of the ways the congregation served during the challenging year.  There might have been a pandemic, but GOD IS STILL ALIVE.  Our congregation was actively joining God in his work in the community.  Our faith was tested, and we proved faithful.  It was an encouraging look at what happened instead of dwelling on what we missed out on over the last year.  The continued good works in the congregation provide optimism and encouragement for us all.

 Finally, we are excited about the future, especially the Colorado Mission focus.  Colorado is a mission field, and I love how we can be a lighthouse to the area.  We are so blessed at Castle Rock with talent and treasure that we can give back to others.  We are still putting the finishing touches on the Colorado Mission focus, but it is something that we can all be proud to be part of over the next few years.  What I love about Castle Rock is that we want to be externally focused on servicing others.     

Achievement and Identity

2.7.21

When I was younger, especially as a new teenager, one of my normal sayings was “I can’t.”  Of course, I really did not say “I Can’t”, but I said “I Kate” because I would say it wrong.  So, you can imagine having the struggle with confidence, and having the problem of mispronouncing words wrong.  You feel bad enough about feeling that you could not achieve much but add on everyone laughing at you for saying the word wrong.  It was a bad combination.

During these formative years, I gave up a lot.  But as I matured, I started to want to succeed.  It was small victories at first, but it started with boxing, and it really took off when I became a Christian.  My whole view towards myself changed.  I could, because God could.  Having a Christian perspective gave me confidences that it took to try new things and success and still fail too. 

Once you start to do well, sometimes it can become addicting.  Your identity can fall prey to the new to always be successful.  If you are not achieving, you are not valuable.  This is a lie that Satan can tell.  So, you start on this path of always having to do more, achieve more, prove yourself more.  It takes some time to realize that your identity is bigger than what you own, what you earn, what you drive, and what degrees or awards are on your wall.

Francis Chan says “’Our greatest fear in life should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.’ Every day, people head out the door believing that everything will be different if they can just achieve more, win more, or make more money. But if achievement hasn’t filled that void yet, how is achieving more going to fill it in the future? Like thirsty people guzzling salt water, achievement only creates a greater desire for accomplishing more, dehydrating us of true satisfaction and fulfillment.  One of my greatest fears has always been getting to the end of my life and the top of the ladder and realizing that my ladder has been on the wrong building all along. You want to make sure your ladder is on the right building.”

What a thought to think about.  Where is your ladder?  Solomon experienced this.  He achieved so much but felt like much of his life he was climbing the wrong wall (Ecc. 12:13). This week, think about which wall your ladder is on?       

Medcalf, Joshua. Pound The Stone: 7 Lessons To Develop Grit On The Path To Mastery (p. 24). Train to be CLUTCH. Kindle Edition.      

BREAKING TRAIL IN THE SNOW

1.31.21

Have you ever broken trail on a hike?  The snow is deep and dense, and you are the first person to walk through the frozen H2O.  The going is tough.  You break through the harder top crust to sink deeply into the snow.  Sometimes you fall to your waist.  The term that is often used for this phenomenon is called “post holing.”  With each step you sink, climb out of the hole, and take another tentative step.  Doing this for miles can be overly taxing and exhausting.  The next person that comes through the trail has the struggle a little easier.  As the numbers increase, the hiking becomes better.  The snow starts to be packed down.  The sinking becomes less because there is no more fluffy snow.  With each successive person the trail becomes easier to walk. 

In our H2H book study, the author pulls out a wonderful insight into the text.  On page 13, she writes “The rest of Hebrews 2 explains why Jesus came to earth.  We use the term ‘incarnation,’ meaning ‘the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form.’  Jesus came to become the archegos (author, pioneer; v.10), a word chosen by the writer to portray Him as the ‘one who trod this earthly way before us as he established the way of salvation.’  Jesus became human to clear the path for our journey to a better place.” 

The idea of “incarnation” means to “camp among us or to pitch a tent.”  Jesus camped with us, but he also broke the trail to salvation for us.  He did the hard work so that we could follow him easier. 

As parents, mature Christians, and spiritual leaders, we are to go next behind Jesus to make the pathway better for those who follow us.  There is always talk from younger generations about the mistakes of the older generation in regard to the Church.  The question is are you helping the next generation find the same destination that you are hiking towards?  Or are you making the pathway harder. 

I was reading a Facebook post recently from a friend that mentions that his daughter who is a college student at Oklahoma Christians University was rebuked by an older male for wearing jeans to worship.  I do not know the context around what happened, but probably the older member should have “sat that one out.”  Did that encourage the young lady or discourage her?  As mature Christians, we are to help make the trail better for the future travelers behind us.              

A REAL TEMPTATION

1.24.21

We are starting H2H meetings again this week.  We are excited to launch a study of the book of Hebrews which is the theme book for the year, and also the theme book for L2L.  We are studying each chapter of Hebrews and using “Journey to a Better Place” as a supplement to the study of the text.  The book is rich with insights.  The book starts with an illustration from the movie “Love Comes Softly” which certainly gears the book towards women, but not to be too stereotyping, we probably need a little change of pace because how often do women have to hear my constant illustrations about sports, war, mountain climbing, hockey, boxing, tennis, and topics that generally appeal to a man’s ear.  Her insights are deeply researched, we might hear a couple more illustrations about love and romance, but probably the majority of us men could use the advice. 

In the first chapter of Hebrews, the case is made that Jesus is God’s Son.  The argument is made because the audience in the book is struggling with backsliding into Judaism.  The majority of the Christians would have come from a Jewish background, and radically changing to embrace Christ would have been a serious temptation.  Modern people today have no clue about the pull back into the familiar that the audience had.  All of your life you would have been hearing about the glorious leaders of old like Moses, David, and Abraham, and now someone is telling you that Jesus is superior.  You could believe it but making the change would have been hard especially with the suffering and persecution that the people were going through at the time.  There is almost an assumption that if Jesus is God’s Son, why is he not protecting us from the current harm.

Anytime a change happens in someone’s life, the pull of the past can be powerful.  What is familiar typically carries the most psychological weight.  The temptation was real.  It was a huge struggle to press on in faith towards Jesus.  It was a real battle for the people in the book.  We might not appreciate the struggle.  In the early centuries of Christianity, the definite truth that Jesus is the Son of God was still up for public debate.  The idea is solidified in our minds, but these early Christians were still struggling to accept this truth.  The temptation was real.     

WHO NEEDS FORGIVENESS?

1.17.21

I cannot believe he is wearing a mask.  Look at her not wearing a mask.  Why are those two families not maintaining six feet of social distance?  How can those leaders be so tone deaf to the pandemic and keep the congregation meeting during these risky times?  How dare the leadership cancel services?  Love is protecting one another from Covid-19.  Quit thinking about yourself and think about your neighbor.  There is no way that fear is going to stop me from attending worship.  Do we trust God or the Government?  We all need to sacrifice during the pandemic and not be so selfish.

All of these lines above have been heard by me throughout the pandemic.  All of them have been expressed by people I love and respect.  Throughout the pandemic, there has been a lot of changes.  There has been endless debate over the correct path forward, even though there is no playbook to follow.  Everyone is doing the best he or she can to be in alignment with one’s values.  What we need moving forward is not more debate, disagreement, and division.  What we need is forgiveness.

Who do you need to forgive because of them choosing a different path through the pandemic?  What attitudes have you had toward people who have disagreed with you?  Is there some level of resentment in your heart toward people that did not follow what you thought were helpful or unhelpful rules?  As we move on from the pandemic into the future, the most important virtue we need is forgiveness.  We cannot, must not, allow COVID 19 to divide us.  Not everyone followed your path forward, but we need to forgive those who made different choices and unite on the core truth that Jesus is the Christ.  We need a united congregation, not a congregation that is remembering the perceived mistakes that people have made in relation to the virus. 

We need Jesus, not second-guessing.  Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  I can guarantee that some of the attitudes and choices that I have made have been wrong.  So, needing forgiveness is definitely warranted.  We all need to offer forgiveness to others and move on to a brighter future that is focused on the mission of Christ and not on the mistakes of the past.   

L2L Opportunities

1.10.2021

Every year the congregation puts a lot of work into Lads 2 Leaders.  Of course, this year has been a little different.  We are typically started by this time of year, especially with Bible Bowl preparation.  We are still planning on hosting a conference this year in Colorado Springs.  The convention is the first weekend of May. 

We want to encourage everyone to participate still.  There are plenty of positive activities that we can aim towards, like speech, song leading, and puppets.  Of course, there is a chance that things change again.  But more than likely, there will be some additional measures in place that allow us to have a convention still.  No matter what happens, the work that takes place will be worth it for spiritual development.  We need more song leaders; we need more individuals willing and able to deliver a talk about God.  We need more young people studying and reading the Word of God.  I might not know what the convention will look like, but I know, without a doubt, the time we put into spiritual leadership is valuable. 

We have all experienced many cancellations over the past year.  We have played defense; we have taken too many blows from Satan.  We see increasing levels of isolation, loneliness, and disengagement from the faith.  All of these elements are from Satan.  It is time for us to hit back.  Our young people need hope, not another event canceled. 

Besides, it will be fun.  What teenager does not like spending a weekend together at a hotel.  We will see other congregations in the area.  All the other congregations are signed up besides two of them. 

 So, let’s give it our best effort.  We cannot see the future, but we can move forward optimistically.  Think about what you can be doing to help yourself grow in the faith, learn new spiritual development skills, and make a positive impact for the Lord.   

The Hope of New

1.1.2021

Sometimes everyone needs a reset, a restart to give hope. A reset is always hopeful and exciting. Even though people might fall into old habits or patterns, a refresh provides a person with the hope that life can change. The power of something new is unmeasurable to people that need a fresh start. The feeling of starting over again creates aliveness in an individual.

God is a God of the new. Revelation 21:1-3 states, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” The book of Revelation is about persecution, suffering, and the battle between good and evil. But at the closing of the book, there is this hopeful message. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. One can go into all of the theological significance of these verses, but the underlining message is that there will be a reset. God will restore that which was lost.

The people of God will be refreshed through the graciousness of the Lord. January 1st is a reminder of this promise. Each year there is a new start to a new year. 2020 has passed into the annals of history, and 2021 holds the newfound promise of a better day.

So, what are you hopeful about in the coming year? Dwell on these facts. What are you looking forward to focusing on or doing? It might be a race you signed up for or reading the entire Bible. Maybe your goal is to read some more spiritual books to help you understand the Bible better. It could be simple, like praying every morning. Whatever the fresh start is, focus on completing it. In the end, you will be thankful for the accomplishment.

Remember, God allows us new starts to remake us into the image of his Son. Allow yourself to go through the process of transformation. It will be worth it.

FOCUS ON THE HAVE

12.27.20

Over the last month the majority of commercials on television have focused on what you need.  There is a picture of a couple walking outside to see two new fancy trucks for one another.  The wife picks the red one in which the man originally wanted.  The latest commercial is of a phone that has some new feature that your perfectly good phone does not have.  Whatever the product is, there is the underlining message of something that you need that you do not currently have.  Marketing is about creating need, never being thankful for what you have. 

Think about the Christmas Season.  How sad it would be if it turned into a narrow focus on “need.”  Instead of thinking about what you already have, you sit around and dwell on what you need.  It could be material, a relationship, a memory, or some trip.  The one way to ruin the Christmas Season is to bemoan what you need instead of being thankful for what you have. 

Philippians 4:11-13 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”  2020 has been a year of cancelations, changes in plans, and all of these interruptions could overwhelm someone’s emotional life.  But thinking about what is missing rarely gives someone the spirit of joy.  It might take a lot more mental strength this year to dwell on the positive, but it will certainly be worth it. 

So, for this Holiday Season, refuse to make the list of what has been denied.  Instead make the list of what has been provided through the goodness of God.  I can promise you that the positive list will cause you to be thankful to the Lord and enjoy the season much more.  You cannot control the circumstances, but you can control how you view them. 

Even though it might feel hard to think of the positive this year, remember the key is not what is happening around you, but what is happening in you.  You have the strength of Christ.    

THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS

12.20.20

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.  And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:1-7).  This is the famous Christmas story about how Mary and Joseph had to travel.  We are so familiar with this account.  But I thought I would write a modern-day version.

In those days, a decree went out from Trump that all the world should return home because of COVID 19.  So the couple traveled during the COVID 19 pandemic.  The couple had to travel from Colorado to California because the family was originally from California like most people in Colorado these days.  Mary was pregnant but was not married to Joseph yet, but people told her to get an abortion because Joseph might not be a man of his word who would marry her.  People were telling Joseph that Mary cheated on him and could not be trusted.  Finally, the couple made it to their hometown, but the city was under strict lockdown and did not allow newcomers into the community.  The hospital turned them away because they did not have insurance.  All of the hotels refused to rent them a room because they were exposed to someone that had COVID 19 three days earlier.  So Mary had to deliver her child in a shed on the property of a family friend.

The week before Christmas was a stressful time for Mary and Joseph.  The couple had to travel while Mary was pregnant.  There were complications during the journey.  Not everything worked out for them.  Sometimes we need a reminder in life, and perhaps especially this year, that life is not filled with smooth sailing.  There are always struggles, problems to be solved, issues that arise, and as Christians, we press on with faith.  We handle the challenges through faith and do the best we can through the circumstances.  The particular struggles might change, but we all face our own set of challenges.  The Christmas story does teach us one valuable truth.  You can do it.  Joseph and Mary found a way with God’s help, and the Christ child was born.          

REFLECTIONS FROM COVID 19

12.13.20

COVID 19 has finally come to the Morine house.  We appreciated all the congregation's prayers and the countless people who have checked in on us too.  Over the last nine months, we have heard story after story about COVID 19.  It is a surreal experience having the virus flowing through my veins that has commanded international attention for so long. 

The diversity of reactions is wide.  People have died of this virus, while others have been asymptotic.  As for me, I have had a sore throat, a little runny nose, and I think I have lost my taste.  People have felt incredibly lethargic, but generally, that has not been the case for me. My prayers are with those who have suffered much from the virus. 

I have been quarantined at home for a while now.  Though, I am excited to be able to be back on Sunday to preach for the congregation.  No worries, you will not be able to get COVID 19 from me or give it to me.  Feel free to hug me as much as you like.  Well, everyone can, but not Dean Weems. 

Here are a couple of thoughts on COVID 19.  It is good to protect people.  You can do everything you are told to protect yourself and can still get it.  All the countermeasures cannot take the place of trusting ultimately in God.  He is in control.  Prayer is still our most powerful solution, but that does not mean we do nothing to protect ourselves.  Everyone should make a decision that works for them.  We can learn valuable lessons about being flexible and handling change.  We can all grow from these experiences, and with this virus, there is a broad spectrum of results, so be gracious to one another and kind. 

TIME TO GIVE BACK

12.6.20 

 During the Thanksgiving Holiday, my Mother-in-law and I talked about a young man in one of my youth groups that is now a preacher.  He was a Youth Minister for some years and transitioned to preaching a couple of years ago.  He is an excellent young man.  She mentioned his name, and I told her that I wanted to have him as a part of a minister refreshment retreat that I plan on hosting in October.  The retreat's purpose is to provide spiritual healing and nourishment for working in full-time ministry, a mini-sabbatical for preachers.  A school that I work with is funding the retreat, and some generous members are providing the accommodations.

 During the conversation, my Mother-in-law commented to me, “You are no longer a young preacher, are you.  You are now mentoring others.”  In a way, this is true; in another way, I am still being mentored by older ministers.  But at 43 years old, I have been doing ministry for a few years now, and I am at the point that I need to give back for all that the Lord has given me.  Without the good Christians that have invested in me, I know that my work in the service of the Lord would look way different.  Fortunately, I am at a local congregation where giving back is possible.  Too often, congregations are not healthy enough to provide for others.  When someone is sick, there is little desire or ability to serve others since you focus on your health.

 At Castle Rock, we are a giving back congregation.  We have overseen the SYD ministry in the Denver region for years; we helped establish the L2L convention, we provide preachers through the extension ministry.  We have contributed to congregations financially and spiritually in this area.  When I think about Castle Rock's impact on the kingdom of God over the last decade, I am thankful.  I also realize that it is because of you.  We are a healthy, growing, and giving congregation.  Our people are spiritually mature enough to give back to others.  I am so proud of our Church. 

So thank you for opening your hearts to make an impact for good on the kingdom of God. We might never see the full extent of our influence for God until heaven, but I know that we are planting seeds and creating a harvest that makes a difference in this life.

TURKEY AND THANKFULNESS

11.29.20

The majority of you celebrated Thanksgiving this week.  The Holiday Season is officially upon us.  This year feels a little different.  Something feels off.  Not all Holiday Seasons feel the same.  Sometimes there is a break in the usual tradition or a severe change within the family.  It is Thanksgiving, but something is off; someone is missing. It just feels different this time around.  This year it is COVID 19. 

Perhaps plans were interrupted because of concern or physical sickness.  Maybe people were worried about getting someone else sick.  Or perhaps it was because everything feels different this year.  At the family get together, do you hug, shake hands, fist bump, avoid all contact.  Is this person comfortable with a hug, do we wear a mask, will I offend someone if I do not?

On the other hand, with all the change, you might have felt like “Thanksgiving” was a little break from the madness around us.  It felt so typical.  The turkey was the main course, the tradition was the same, and for a little while, all seemed calm in the world. 

 This is a year we need Thanksgiving.  Remember, Thanksgiving's spiritual art is not counting one’s blessings within an environment of a utopia.  Being thankful is to be practiced when all is not right with the world or your personal life.  It is the ability to be grateful when everyone is not perfect.  COVID 19 might have seemed overwhelming, but there are always struggles in this world.  Can we be thankful to God when we have lost loved ones, transitioned out of a job, dealt with conflict in a marriage?

 So, this year, we need “Thanksgiving” even more.  Curating the ability to be thankful comes for a heart condition of finding joy in situations, not always seeking to change one’s circumstances.  Paul mentions that he learned to be content at all times.  That ability is genuinely what Thanksgiving is all about this year. 

      
An End to Celebration of Discipline

11.22.20

This week is the last chapter of the congregational study of Celebration of Discipline.  It has been a fruitful study over the past few months.  We might not have agreed with everything in the book, but the text provided scriptural examination, discussion, and personal growth.  We appreciate all the people that engaged in this time together.  It was an excellent addition to the current sermon series, Wild Transformation, which also ends this week. 

 The background of the series and the H2H material grew out of the leadership team retreat we have each year.  For most years, we discuss the visionary plans for the future of the congregation.  This year, with all the COVID uncertainty permeating society, we felt the need to hone in on the congregation’s present pulse.  There was a sense that the concerns of COVID were overshadowing our emphasis on the Church's core identity.  We certainly wanted to ensure our members' safety, but we wanted to protect the congregation's spiritual vitality even more.  COVID 19 concern is essential but not as important as evangelism, spiritual transformation, and Biblical faithfulness.  Too much of the talk was about masks and regulations.

 We needed to get back to the core of Christianity.  Stephen Covey offers a little piece of wisdom to “Keep the main thing that main thing.”  As a congregation, our priority is to provide spiritual development for the members and to be sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the world.  Throughout centuries these two priorities define the Church. 

 Sometimes as leaders, you see a coming storm on the horizon, and you must react to the current events.  But never forget, we are not storm-chasers, but rather sailors.  We have a destination to arrive at, which is our heavenly reward.  May we all work together towards that goal!

REFLECTIONS ON 12 YEARS

Last Sunday, we celebrated 12 years with the congregation. Through the years, attendance has increased at Castle Rock, but I can say with complete confidence that we had the lowest attendance last week during the twelve years. We had four people at the building. Fortunately, or unfortunately, that is a COVID 19 situation. Overall, the congregation has grown in size and impact over the years. Here are a couple of reflections from 12 years with the congregation.

• Quick Fix Thinking. There are times in all relationships or organizations that people want a change. The annoyance in a relationship increases, and people look for solutions. Sometimes a minister will feel annoyed within a congregation and feel that moving to another will make his problems go away. On the other hand, members and leaders can feel the same way about a preacher. Get rid of him, and the issues within a congregation will undoubtedly improve. A quick fix will solve all problems. The point is that rarely will a change solve the problems. The next place or preacher will have a new set of problems. Making a change provides an easy feeling of improvement but typically does not deal with the underlying conflict. There is deeper thinking that has to take place. It is better to work on yourself than to believe that the solution is to eliminate the people around you. No one ever makes it to 12 years in ministry, or 12 years with one preaching minister, or even 12 years in marriage without some ability to focus on improving yourself, not getting out of relationships.

• Change. To be at a place for 12 years, everyone has to be able to handle change. Mentioning Change might be shocking. What has changed in 12 years? We are still together. But think about the amount of change we have gone through together. The congregation has radically shifted in new people coming in, and saying goodbye to dear members. We have gone through much change throughout the years. I have changed, and the Church has changed. We accept that fact. Sometimes people believe that the congregation has to be always what it was, and the minister needs to be the person he was when we hired him. But all people change with time. We have to accept change and embrace it graciously.

Thank you, leaders and congregation, for the honor of being one of your ministers for 12 years. The journey has been incredible so far.

Wild Transformation and 3-B’s

 11.8.20

We have been focusing on a series each Sunday morning called Wild Transformation.  Within the series, each lesson has dealt with the concept of transforming into the image of Christ.  Behind the series lies the core values of the Castle Rock congregation.  Years ago, we introduced the 3-B’s as the discipleship process within the congregation.  The 3-B’s are Belong, Become, and Bless.  We desire all people to belong to God, become like Christ, and bless others through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

The Wild Transformation series divided into three sections that correspond with each of the 3-B’s.  The first part of the series considered how we belong through being converted, connected, conformed, and how culture influences us.  The second part of the series examined how we transform into Christ's image through suffering, sanctification, sin, and submissiveness.  These are all core values of Jesus Christ.  For the last part of the series, we will look at the “bless” aspect of the Castle Rock discipleship process.  After being transformed into a closer walk with God, how do we impact the world around us?  Essentially, how do we bless others?

We have three more lessons in the Wild Transformation series.  No one will ever reach perfection, but we all can continue to move into a better expression of Christlikeness to the world around us.  Transformation is a process.  We must first establish a foundation before progressing to the next levels of spiritual maturity.  People who do not belong to God will have little concern about wanting to be like his Son; those who do not demonstrate Christlikeness will rarely bless those around them. 

Last week’s sermon examined the Hero’s Journey.  Where are you on that journey?  Take a little inventory of your life.  Do you have mentors; do you see the enemies and helpers; what is the goal of your journey; and what do you hope to give back to the community around you?  Wherever you are, think about progressing to the next level.  We are all called to belong to God, become like Christ, and bless others.  The core values at Castle Rock weave through the Wild Transformation series. 

We needed to get back to the core of Christianity.  Stephen Covey offers a little piece of wisdom to “Keep the main thing that main thing.”  As a congregation, our priority is to provide spiritual development for the members and to be sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the world.  Throughout centuries these two priorities define the Church. 

Sometimes as leaders, you see a coming storm on the horizon, and you must react to the current events.  But never forget, we are not storm-chasers, but rather sailors.  We have a destination to arrive at, which is our heavenly reward.  May we all work together towards that goal!

REFLECTIONS ON 12 YEARS

Last Sunday, we celebrated 12 years with the congregation. Through the years, attendance has increased at Castle Rock, but I can say with complete confidence that we had the lowest attendance last week during the twelve years. We had four people at the building. Fortunately, or unfortunately, that is a COVID 19 situation. Overall, the congregation has grown in size and impact over the years. Here are a couple of reflections from 12 years with the congregation.

• Quick Fix Thinking. There are times in all relationships or organizations that people want a change. The annoyance in a relationship increases, and people look for solutions. Sometimes a minister will feel annoyed within a congregation and feel that moving to another will make his problems go away. On the other hand, members and leaders can feel the same way about a preacher. Get rid of him, and the issues within a congregation will undoubtedly improve. A quick fix will solve all problems. The point is that rarely will a change solve the problems. The next place or preacher will have a new set of problems. Making a change provides an easy feeling of improvement but typically does not deal with the underlying conflict. There is deeper thinking that has to take place. It is better to work on yourself than to believe that the solution is to eliminate the people around you. No one ever makes it to 12 years in ministry, or 12 years with one preaching minister, or even 12 years in marriage without some ability to focus on improving yourself, not getting out of relationships.

• Change. To be at a place for 12 years, everyone has to be able to handle change. Mentioning Change might be shocking. What has changed in 12 years? We are still together. But think about the amount of change we have gone through together. The congregation has radically shifted in new people coming in, and saying goodbye to dear members. We have gone through much change throughout the years. I have changed, and the Church has changed. We accept that fact. Sometimes people believe that the congregation has to be always what it was, and the minister needs to be the person he was when we hired him. But all people change with time. We have to accept change and embrace it graciously.

Thank you, leaders and congregation, for the honor of being one of your ministers for 12 years. The journey has been incredible so far.

Wild Transformation and 3-B’s

 11.8.20

We have been focusing on a series each Sunday morning called Wild Transformation.  Within the series, each lesson has dealt with the concept of transforming into the image of Christ.  Behind the series lies the core values of the Castle Rock congregation.  Years ago, we introduced the 3-B’s as the discipleship process within the congregation.  The 3-B’s are Belong, Become, and Bless.  We desire all people to belong to God, become like Christ, and bless others through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

The Wild Transformation series divided into three sections that correspond with each of the 3-B’s.  The first part of the series considered how we belong through being converted, connected, conformed, and how culture influences us.  The second part of the series examined how we transform into Christ's image through suffering, sanctification, sin, and submissiveness.  These are all core values of Jesus Christ.  For the last part of the series, we will look at the “bless” aspect of the Castle Rock discipleship process.  After being transformed into a closer walk with God, how do we impact the world around us?  Essentially, how do we bless others?

We have three more lessons in the Wild Transformation series.  No one will ever reach perfection, but we all can continue to move into a better expression of Christlikeness to the world around us.  Transformation is a process.  We must first establish a foundation before progressing to the next levels of spiritual maturity.  People who do not belong to God will have little concern about wanting to be like his Son; those who do not demonstrate Christlikeness will rarely bless those around them. 

Last week’s sermon examined the Hero’s Journey.  Where are you on that journey?  Take a little inventory of your life.  Do you have mentors; do you see the enemies and helpers; what is the goal of your journey; and what do you hope to give back to the community around you?  Wherever you are, think about progressing to the next level.  We are all called to belong to God, become like Christ, and bless others.  The core values at Castle Rock weave through the Wild Transformation series. 

How Far Is Far Enough

11.1.20

If someone asks you to go one mile, go with them two.  If someone asks for your shirt, give them your jacket too.  The theme of self-sacrifice is deep in the pages of the Bible.  Deny yourself, give up your rights for others, and put others ahead of yourself.  All these maxims come from the teachings of Christ.  We hear the commands for self-denial and agree in principle until an occasion arises that challenges us to practice radical self-sacrifice. 

A lot of Biblical students are aware of the famous parable of the Good Samaritan.  The story goes that there was a man that was robbed and left injured in the ditch.  A Levite comes by but does not help, and a Priest walks by but does not help.  Both religious people have other concerns that are more pressing than aiding the beaten man on the side of the road.  Within the story, all the mindsets of the two men that continued the journey without stopping are not elaborated on in the story.  Perhaps there was an abundance of caution that was practiced.  There is indication that there was a preplanned event that had to be attended.  We are not given what kind of area the person was in.  Was it a nice Jewish community or perhaps a rough area of town?  The location of the ditch is not given.  There are numerous factors that influence somebody’s decision to help or not.  Most people believe that he or she would be quick to help but sociological evidence typically states otherwise. 

The Good Samaritan comes by the man in need and offers help.  He is the hero of the story.  But notice that he has boundaries too in his helping.  He gets the man to the inn and promises to pay for his needs when he returns.  But notice that the Samaritan continues his journey.  He does not stop everything, stay with the beat-up man, and sacrifice his own trip.  He does what he can and continues with his tasks. 

The Good Samaritan provides an excellent model in helping others.  He does what he can.  He cannot do everything, but he does do what he can.  In helping others, people usually feel that helping is an either/or choice.  I must own this problem completely or I must reject the request or need for help.  Instead of walking on the other side and not entangling one’s self in the situation, the Good Samaritan surveys the situation, helps as much as he is able, and continues his journey.  Instead of seeing assistance as either a hero or villain story, see it as an opportunity to make an impact to the level that you are able in the moment.  Having the attitude of the Good Samaritan will cause you to see those in need more often and make a larger impact in the world. 

Three Great Attitudes for Marriage

10.25.20

A bad marriage is miserable.  There is conflict, stress, and toxic anger.  No one ever dreams of getting married and having a bad marriage.  But you see relationships digress to separation or habitually unhappy marriages.  Sometimes marriage is about having the right attitude more than finding the perfect person.  You cannot control what the other person does in a marriage, but you can control yourself and your mind.  So, what are some great attitudes to have in marriage?

1.      Do not Compare.  Have you ever got on Facebook and see many pictures of a couple, and in the photos, the couple is always happy?  You look at them and wish your marriage was that perfect as a fairytale?  The couple is on an exciting trip, there is a post about how wonderful the spouse is, and the relationship looks terrific.  All of that might be true, but remember, people rarely post about the big fight the night before or the weeks of feeling neglected in a relationship.  Feeling that your marriage is not measuring up to someone else’s is destructive in a relationship.  Rarely will you find contentment with your spouse.  You are comparing your marriage to a curated image online. 

2.      Marriage Makes You Holy.  Too often, people see marriage within the framework of happiness.  People feel that marriage is all about happiness.  Of course, happiness is part of marriage, but it is not everything.  Marriage is more about the process of becoming holy.  In marriage, a person learns self-denial, abiding love, and compassion.  God uses the marriage relationship to transform his people into better disciples of Christ.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to be happy in a marriage, but remember that is not the first-order goal; your transformation is. 

3.      You Get What You Give.  Sometimes a marriage falls apart because the other person is focused on what they are not getting.  There are certainly examples of selfish people, but giving in the marriage will typically produce better results.  It might not solve all the problems, but it will rarely hurt to be giving in your marriage.

Marriage is more about having the right attitudes than finding the perfect person.  Focus on the right mindsets, and marriage will improve for you.      

A SPIRITUAL CHECK UP

10.18.20

My health provider sends me an email about once a year.  Some years I do not even see a doctor.  If I have not been in there for a while, Kaiser will send an email to tell me to book a preventative checkup.  The doctor provides an overview of my health.  He or she is wanting to see how I am doing. 

All of us need the same level of care for our spiritual condition.  We need a check-up on the walk with God.  An overview of our spiritual care is essential.  Without a check-up, spiritual weaknesses can increase, and strengths are not developed.  We fall into patterns without pushing ourselves to multiply spiritually vitality.           

The congregation has dealt with numerous changes through the pandemic.  Services have looked differently, the times meeting with other Christians have been interrupted, and even people's personal work calendars have changed.  One would be foolish to think that there have been no spiritual changes throughout all of this change.  The changes might not have been bad.  People might have had increased times of prayer and Bible study.  People are learning to lean on the Lord better.  In uncertain times, people learn to trust God.  The pandemic might have been a wakeup call for faith.

On the other hand, some people might have decreased in spiritual health.  Think about all that the congregation is offering.  We have live and online services.  We have live and online small groups.  We are all studying the book "Celebration of Disciplines" throughout the congregation.  There are youth activities and children's Bible classes happening too.  Of course, the personal disciplines are happening like prayer and Bible study.  The question is, are you spiritually more healthy now, or are you more disconnected from your spiritual walk currently?  Right now is an excellent time to reevaluate your spiritual condition.           

GUILT OR GUILTLESS

10.4.20

The spiritual discipline this week is "simplicity." The idea behind the chapter is an intentional pushing back against materialism.  Few people in America, especially within the Denver Metroplex, could read the chapter without feeling a little guilty about the abundance that numerous people enjoy.  The majority of the people within the congregation are highly blessed with material wealth.  A medium family income of 46,000 a year puts people in the top 4 percent of the world's highest standard of living.  The majority of the people in our congregation would be considered wealthy by worldly standards.             

When the Church starts to talk about wealth, there are typically two reactions.  One is to make people feel guilty about not giving more.  Perhaps that is how people should feel, but the guilt misses the point of the discipline of simplicity.  Giving more does not automatically cause someone to have a heart of simplicity.  Behind the heart of simplicity is a trust in the Lord to provide.  Instead of feeling that a person has to earn God's favor by giving more, having a heart of trust knows that God is the one in control.  By merely giving more, to earn God's favor, the person still feels that he or she can control the grace of God.  Trust is not happening; control is still the heart condition of the person.  To practice the art of simple living, trust has to increase.             

On the other hand, when modern Christians read the chapter on the discipline of simplicity, the other common reaction is to justify abundance so that he or she can feel guiltless.  People will look at others and feel not accountable to give because there is always someone richer than them.  Instead of applying the teachings to themselves, Christians will apply it to someone they consider to be better off.  In reading a chapter about materialism, the easy solution is to justify themselves.  People look for reasons that the command for simplicity does not apply to them.  People will look at all of the complexity of the command and do little change.  Justification is not the solution.            

Everyone can grow in this area, and probably everyone needs to grow in this spiritual discipline.  Do not feel guilty or guiltless, but rather look for practical ways to live out this truth.    

THE WEEK OF STUDY

9.27.20              

The congregation is working through the discipline of study this week.  The idea of studying is deeply rooted in the life of the Church and consistently emphasized in Scripture.  Some of the other disciplines might be less discussed, but the habit of study is always at the forefront of the culture. Research is vital to us.

Acts 17:11 is often quoted when discussing the topic of Bible Study, “Now, these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”  Think about some of the common practices within the local Church.  Years ago, I would hear of people talking about Wednesday Evening Prayer Service.  I believe that the Wednesday Evening service times were started initially because of the desire to come together in prayer.  But at some point, the focus of the Wednesday Evening shifted to Bible Classes.  Think about the amount of time given to Bible Study within the classic offerings of a congregation.  Before COVID 19, the average Church had Bible classes, Wednesday evening classes, and a Sunday Evening service in which the sermon was the largest element of the worship.  Even on Sunday Mornings, the sermon is usually the focal point regarding time spent.  One of the main reasons for our move to small groups during the week was to encourage study as a body.  There is little doubt that study is important to us as a people.             

Why is the study necessary to you?  I think most people would say so that they could be more like Jesus Christ, but think about some of the topics that have been studied through the ages.  People have studied predestination, Calvinism, Premillennialism, and the figurative or literal indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The list of topics is numerous.  We have a propensity to study for knowledge more than transformation.  But as our reading this week says, let us not mistake “the accumulation of information for knowledge.”  Gaining knowledge through the study of Scripture is wholly about knowing Christ and God.  Think about this question.  “Do you find Bible study fulfilling?”  I think the answer to this question speaks clearly of the mindset in the study.  We should enjoy it.             

OVERVIEW OF WILD TRANSFORMATION

9.20.20

The wild transformation series has launched with an encouraging start.  People are meeting in H2H groups to study practical disciplines that can be executed to increase spiritual maturity, and lessons have been given from the pulpit each Sunday. 

The two lessons from “Celebration of Discipline” have been meditation and prayer.  This week the focus is on fasting.  One insight into these disciplines that might help everyone is simple.  The key to accomplishing the goal is to make time.  To mediate or pray, a person has to be intentional about making it a priority.  Anytime a new habit is being formed, there has to be a cue to get the habit started.  Sometimes what has worked well for me through the years is to set the alarm on a smartphone to go off at an appointed time.  Plan to pray or meditate during that time.  Setting up a daily reminder will increase the chances of practicing the discipline.  Another practical step in pray and mediation is to use scripture to guide you.  Through the years, I have read a Psalm before engaging in prayer or meditation.  The Psalm helps channel your mind so that prayer and meditation will be more meaningful.  So, set aside a particular time, read a Psalm, and allow prayer and meditation to bless you.

There have been two lessons delivered on Sunday Morning.  The first lesson focused on being converted to Christ, and the second lesson dealt with being connected to the Body of Christ.  There will be little to no chance in a person unless he or she takes conversion to Christ seriously.  All people are to grow in Christian maturity.  The second lesson narrowed in on being part of the Church.  Isolation rarely works for believers.  We need one another to hold us accountable.  Think about this week how you have changed through the years in your ability to be like Jesus?  Also, how has the local congregation blessed you in your walk with God.  These are two right questions to ask yourself during your time of mediation. 

We appreciate everyone focusing on the “Wild Transformation” series this fall.  We believe God is working powerfully through you.    

CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE

9.11.20 

We had a tremendous start to our H2H groups!  We have approximately 120 participating, with various groups meeting in homes as well as two groups meeting virtually.  We are delighted to see the number of people join in this ministry.  Even people who are not meeting in groups are studying the book as well.  We are thankful to be part of a congregation dedicated to spiritual transformation.

We also launched our new sermon series last week called “Wild Transformation.”  The staging upfront helps to connect us to the message each week.  It looks amazing.  The signs on the walls are helpful, too, because these verses will be core to the lessons in the coming weeks.  During a time of social unrest, we are focused on the core message of Christianity and are growing in Christlikeness.  We are picking up the cross daily. 

The book is a classic study in the art of spiritual disciplines.  Some thoughts in the book will challenge you, and you probably will disagree with some of the content.  Fortunately, we know that the majority of our members are spiritually wise.  In those cases possibly needing more discernment, we have the community of Christ surrounding us to help provide real insight into the text.  Also, some of the areas of disagreement with the book can stimulate discussion.  We will be stronger Christians from facing the challenge. 

With the world caught up with controversy, we are so pleased to be part of a congregation caught up with conforming to the image of Christ.  We are focusing on the basics of faith rooted in the foundational truths for countless Christians throughout the centuries.  No matter what is happening around us, we are comforted because we have a secure anchor during rough times.       

COMMUNITY

9.4.20 

Church is a word that originally meant “a gathering.”  The idea behind the word “church” is one of meeting, group, a coming together.”  People will talk about coming to Church which usually means “to go to worship at a building.”  At the core, Church is people.  Sometimes people become focused on other elements of what a Church does.  People start to think about Church providing a youth group, worship, small groups, spiritual friendships, etc., but a lot of the Church is about the relationships that are formed because of all being part of the one Church.  Relationships are at the core of Church.

 People can separate from Church and believe that spiritual transformation can still happen.  The person can be intentional about reading the Bible, prayer, meditation, and giving back.  A person can be involved in the local community by providing service.  A person can genuinely believe that an individualistic walk with God is attainable.  But over and over again through the years I have witnessed people convince themselves that he or she does not need the relationships found through Church.  People have seen some of the shady elements of Church and believe that it would be healthier to be away from Church people.  After a while though, these same people struggle with spiritual vitality.  When the core element of Church is people, to believe that God’s divine plan for his people is somehow going to be improved upon is neurotic.  God knows that for us to have a vibrant faith we need other people of shared faith on a consistent basis, even if those people are rude, harsh, unloving, unkind, or spiritual immature people.  Christianity was never, ever intended to be practiced alone. 

 Think about the establishment of the Church.  The well-known section of scripture in Acts 2:42-47, describes the practices of the early Christians, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers...”  The Word says, “they devoted themselves.”  The spiritual practices were practiced in a community.  Spiritual growth happens within community.  It can happen alone for a season, but God intended his people to be together. 

MODERN MEN OF THE FAITH

8.30.20

Over the weekend, I learned that Thomas Olbricht passed away.  A lot of you reading this bulletin probably have never heard of this name.  It means little to you.  He was a well-known scholar within the Churches of Christ.  Mr. Olbricht wrote a fascinating book called “Hearing God’s Voice: My Life with Scripture in the Churches of Christ.”  In the book, he dealt with the issue of hermeneutics, which means the art of interpreting scripture.  In the book, he reexamined the classic style of Biblical interpretation of “command, example, and necessary inference.”  Olbricht’s major premise was that scripture was given so that people can come face to face with God. 

 I have another book that is sitting on my lap as I write this bulletin called “Reflections on My Life in the Kingdom and the Academy.”  This is a long and thick book.  In the book, he tells a story about going to Freed-Hardeman to speak on the topic of hermeneutics.  He mentions that Stafford North introduced him.  Here is another name that a lot of people would not know about in Colorado, but in Oklahoma, he is a legend.  Mr. North also passed away this year too.  Both of these men had a considerable influence on the church.  I would see Mr. North when I was visiting the Memorial Road church of Christ, and I met Thomas Olbricht once.  Talking with both of these men was an honor.  Both of them served for countless years in our universities and our congregations.  

Both of these men will be honored, but there is a more profound lesson for all Christians.  People come and go, but the work of the Lord continues.  No man or woman is so crucial to the Kingdom that he or she cannot be replaced.  God continues to rise in the next generation of leaders.  We all have a part to play in the Kingdom, but the Kingdom of God never stops because of the passing of one person.  Stories will be told of leaders of yesterday; hope will be given for the people that are currently leading.  Death comes to all people, but those who make an impact will be remembered for a few days longer.    

SPIRITUAL FORMATION IN SMALL GROUPS

8.21.20

Some people might be exhausted from talking about COVID 19.  A lot of new terms have been mentioned concerning the pandemic.  The ideas of social distancing, masks, health,and safety, flattening the curve, and protecting others are all prevalent concepts in 2020.The pandemic has undoubtedly taken up a lot of mental space in this great nation's minds.  With all of the issues surrounding the epidemic, it is essential not to forget about the core identity that all Christians have, which is to be spiritually transformed into Christ's image.

We are excited to launch our Small Groups ministry during the week.  We have reimagined Wednesday Evening services to be an opportunity to study together with the book "The Celebration of Disciplines."  This classic text on the spiritual disciplines has been around for years because of its conventional wisdom in taking on the character of Christ.  The H2H groups will study this book together and hopefully also invite those within our community to study with us.  With countless congregations still not meeting, we have an excellent opportunity for people that are longing for spiritual fellowship to join us in this needed study.  We encourage everyone to study the book together as a congregation, even if you are still social distancing.

We believe that we must refocus on the core truths of spiritual formation.  When a team starts to struggle in sports, the coach will always preach a message of the fundamentals.  Focus on the essential elements of the sport.  This ever-present wisdom applies to our walk with the Lord too.  We need to go back to the basics.  We need to think about being like Christ, being Holy like our heavenly Father is holy.  We need to practice the ancient behaviors that have helped the people of God overcome suffering, social unrest, change, pain, and every situation between the pages of history.       

THE BLESSINGS OF OLDER MEMBERS

8.16.20 

Years ago, while I attended the Brown Trail School of Preaching, the members that reached out to me the most were the older members.  I remember the names of the most involved members.  Eddie and Jean Lane from the Brown Trail congregation and Ray and Betty Williams from the Granbury Street Church of Christ.  Both of these couples invested hours into me.  A lot of the younger couples with children rarely, if ever even spoke to me while I was a student.  I did not think much of it at the time, but looking back, I believe the reason was not that those couples were unfriendly or unloving, instead it was because those couples were watching young kids or had little extra time for a new relationship.  The older members had some extra time to spare.

 Sometimes congregations can become so focused on families that it overlooks the preciousness of the older members.  A lot of times, the older members are the bedrock of the local body.  The older members are a huge blessing to the Church.  Here are a couple of reasons.

Experience

During a time of crisis, older members have a leveled preceptive.  The senior saints have lived through crisis, tragedy, and conflict before and have gained the seasoned patience that trails produce.  Where perhaps the younger members are wringing hands with stress, the older members are confidently walking in faith because of the trust in the Lord that only grey hairs or no hair can bring.  Older members are not given to overreaction.

An example of level headed thinker is found in John 8:9, "And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.”  The verse is from the account of the adulterous woman in which people wanted to stone her.  Jesus told the crowd that the person who has no sin to step up first with the boulder in hand.  The older members of the crowd were the first to leave the scene.

Dedication

The second blessing of older members is the level of dedication.  The young of heart group have been faithful members of the Church for years.  There is something praiseworthy of a person that has stayed faithful to the Lord throughout one's life.  These individuals have learned habits, mindsets, and behaviors that have served them well.  It is wise to listen to them.

WHAT GOD IS DOING

8.7.20

 People can look around the world to see all the ways that society is failing.  The morality of a nation is failing, Churches are failing, common decency is failing, and God's focus is failing.  Look to the left or look to the right, and on all sides people see a lack of God in this world.  People see suffering, hate, pain, and spiritual apathy.  Sit around with other believers and start talking about all of the ways in which God seems to be removed from the public forum, and discouragement will come upon that group quickly.  Everyone will be depressed.  A feeling of hopelessness will overtake them. 

A counterbalance to this approach comes from one of the most beloved songs in the Churches of Christ.  For some of us, the number 728B is all that needs to be said.  But the title of the song is called “Our God, He Is Alive.”  The first two verses are full of theological thought.  “There is, beyond the azure blue, A God, concealed from human sight, He tinted skies with heav'nly, hue, And framed the worlds with His great might, Chorus: There is a God, He is alive, In Him, we live, and we survive, From dust our God created man, He is our God, the great I Am, There was a long, long time ago, A God whose voice the prophets heard, He is the God that we should know, Who speaks from His inspired word”  All Christians need a reminder that God is alive.

 A choice has to be made.  Will you focus on all of the negative or look for what God is currently doing.  A lot has changed here at Castle Rock over the last few months, but look at what God has been up to.  We have had more baptisms this year than all of last year.  People are coming to the Lord from the community and are getting connected to our congregation.  Our youth events are Monday's are packed full of kids from the group and the community.  People are learning to grow in faith through personal study.  Things might look different, but God is still alive and active in this world.  If we look around, we will see his fingerprints all over the lives are people.  God is not distancing himself from humanity; He is ever-presence to us.

THE POWER OF GROUPS

7.31.20

You hear about group mentality.  A group of people come together and work themselves up into a frenzy.  You hear about groupthink in which a group makes a poor decision together.  Instead of added wisdom from a group, it seems that the group can become blind to reasonable possibilities.  People are fearful of groups.  The negative outlook on a group is called "riots, mobs, and gangs," but all of these words are really about groups that have gone wrong.  But groups are not all bad.

Over the last few days, I was helping with a youth retreat in Colorado Springs.  The trip was from a youth group from the panhandle of Texas.  While on the trip, we climbed Pike's Peak together.  We had 15 teens, and 14 of them made it to the top.  What is impressive is that these numbers are better than some of the youth trips I took years ago of teens in Colorado.  Looking back, I think it had more to do with my leading the hike than the teens themselves.  I was immature about how to motivate teens to climb a mountain.  The teens would spread out over the hill, and the faster group would make it to the top, but the slower group would become discouraged and turn back.  On this last hike, I set the pace super slow and keep everyone together.  The power of the group motivated everyone to make it to the top together.

The power of groups is a Biblical concept.  People need one another in the Church.  When like-minded Christians surround us, we are more likely to make it to the heavenly summit, but we drop out when we become separated from one another.  Isolation kills hikers and believers.  

As Christians, we must stay connected to one another.  We cannot become disengaged from the community of the Church.  Doing so will lead to people turning back.  The power of groups can be used for positive gain.     

STRATEGIES FOR UNITY

7.24.20

Do you feel that there is an added measure of conflict within the world? Do you think that there is a diminished ability to have a cordial disagreement? When you interact with people, do you think that people are concerned more with proving a point than strengthening a relationship? If you do, I hope to give you some principles to deal with conflict.

Assume Benevolent Motivations. Through the years, I have seen a lot of hurtful behavior in the Church. People will attack one another with harsh tones and aggressive behavior, but throughout the years, the people being harsh and aggressive believe that the motivation behind the actions was benevolent. It might have been the feeling for faithfulness that drove the actions, or the need to protect people from perceived false teaching that motivated the harmful behavior, but behind the behavior was the desire to do good. In conflict, assigning malicious motives will rarely help a person understand someone else's point of view. A negative assumption of motives creates a wall for understanding. Instead of seeing the situation from another point of view, the person can fall into the tunnel vision trap because the conflict becomes more about protecting oneself, instead of understanding the other person. Rarely do people overtly act with evil intentions, so be cautious in assigning them to another person (Matthew 7:12).

Look for God, Not Satan. Look around and see that Satan is in the world and attempting to divide the Church. Satan is subtle. A full-frontal attack would unite Christians, but a peripheral flank assault would cause the Church to fight internally. Instead of uniting, the Church could turn on one another. A person not wearing a mask at worship could be assigned rebellious motives instead of assuming that they are not wearing one for medical conditions. Soon people start to judge one another over fabric, not faith. Satan will push people away. But instead of seeing division, Christians should look for the good. Through the debates, people realize the need for corporate worship because of missing it so much. People are learning to be non-judgmental through love at a higher intensity. As Christians, we know that God is working for good for those who are looking for it. An unhealthy focus on Satan leads to a blinded view of the power of God. No matter what, God wins in the end. Look for God, not Satan (Phil. 4:2-10; Rom 8:28).

SALVATION AS VICTORY

7.17.20 

 Most people like to win.  No one wins a contest, a game, or competition and feels terrible about it.  There is an inherent joy in victory.  We always tell our kids to go have fun in sports, but we all know that winning is fun.  There is enough defeat in this world.  Sin can defeat us, pain can defeat us, and even other people can defeat us.  No matter what we face on earth, we know in the end, God wins.  As Christians, we win.  Sometimes it is nice to know that we are winners.  

 Deuteronomy 20:4 "The Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."  God is before us at the front of the battle.  He is not a God standing behind us giving us orders, but instead is leading the charge.  Our God fights with us.  John 16:33 "In this world, you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.".  As Christians, we will face numerous challenges, struggles, and trials, but God has already overcome the world.  Our eternal destiny is certain.  Instead of a fearful spirit, we are bold in living.  Fear is swiped aside and replaced with courage.    

Jamie Owens-Collins wrote these powerful words that most of you are familiar with from being part of the Church.  "In heavenly armor, we'll enter the land; the battle belongs to the Lord.  No weapon that's fashioned against us will stand, the battle belongs to the Lord."  I love it when we sing these older classics in the Church.  As the people of God, we can sing this song.  The battle has been won.      

The language from the Bible that is connected with the victory is diverse.  Words like redemption, redeemer, triumph, ransom, fight, struggle, powers, liberation, and authorities, are all used to testify that God has won and we are co-victors too.     

COME BACK STRONGER

7.12.20

Theodore Roosevelt attended a double funeral.  He was there to say goodbye to both his wife and mother.  His mother and wife died 12 hours apart on the same day.  The minister conducted the funeral and noted the sad circumstances surrounding the occasion.  In all his years, he never heard about or attended a funeral with such painful grief.  Theodore was a broken man.

He left New York City and traveled to the Badlands in South Dakota.  He purchased a ranch and went about raising cattle.  He wanted to get away from everything.  He was depressed.  At the farm, he learned a lot about Western living.  While in New York City, he struggled with asthma and had a slender frame.  His voice was high.  But after his years on the ranch, he gained a barrel chest, and his voice deepened.  The boy looking politician transformed from a city boy to a cowboy, where he learned to be strong.  He had a commanding presence that demanded respect.  

Teddy Roosevelt left his ranch after some years and returned to New York.  He was a changed man.  He threw himself into reforming the police department and fighting the corruption in the system.  No longer was he afraid, he has been through the pain, endured the tribulation, and set his mind on making positive changes in the various roles of leadership that he was given.  The pathway led all the way to the Presidency.  But without his time in South Dakota, he probably would not have accomplished his dreams.  He came back to New York City stronger.

Everyone will suffer setbacks.  People might step back for a time of personal reflection.  An old saying states, "whatever does not kill you, only makes you stronger."  Jesus traveled to the wilderness and was tempted by the Devil for forty days (Matthew 4:1-11).  After his time in the desert, he started his public ministry.  

After all of the events that have happened in the world, the question is—will you be back to Church stronger?  Have you used this time to strengthen yourself spiritually?  Greatness is discovered by going through the trial and coming out on the other end more robust than before.                 

MAKE CHRIST YOUR ALL

7.3.20

Desiderius Erasmus wrote in 1504 “Make Christ the only goal of your life.  Dedicate to him all your enthusiasm, all your effort, your leisure as well as your business.”  Over the years there is a continued shift away from Christianity being the focal point of life to being part of a life.  Christianity was at the core of existence for Church people.  The priorities of the faith were first.  A family would commit to being involved in the life of the congregation and the life of faith, and would fit in other activities around that crucial commitment.  Money, time, recreation, and work would all be in submission to one’s Christianity.  Christ was first, everything else needed permission. 

One of the reasons that the faith was first was because the faith at the core of one’s mind.  A person was thinking about Jesus.  It was only natural to put faith first because it was first.  Paul tells the Colossians to set your mind on the things that are above.  “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:1-3).  A person that is thinking about the things that are above is a Christian that is naturally making Christ the priority.  Not a priority, but the priority. 

The people of faith were engaged in godly activities.  The work of God was the first element that is placed in a person’s iphone calendar.  The Christian activities are put in there first, and the other tasks are secondary.  You probably have watched an illustration of time management before online or at a conference.  A person will start with a jar, some rocks, pebbles, a few smaller stones, and some sand.  A person will put in the sand, stones, and pebbles, but at the end, there is no room for the larger rocks.   On the other hand, if you start with the larger rocks, you can fit everything in.  As Christians, our faith are the larger rocks, put them in first.      

PRAISE OR EXPECTED

6.26.20

Did you know that false praise is damaging to a child?  A child attempted something, and it is awful, but the parents want to be encouraging and nice, so he or she states “well done.”  The vocal pattern communicates a sense of disappointment, and the child picks up on this, and feels empty inside.  He or she knows that the project is lacking.  The world has convinced people that you have to always praise other people.  It feels tacky to be critical.  A child learns that performance means little.  No one will give real feedback on what I do, so why invest in it. 

The other mistakes that can be made with praise is when people praise others for what is really expected of them.  A child cleans his or her room.  The parents fall all over the child for this duty.  The parents do it to motivate the child to keep up the good habit, but it teaches a negative cycle.  You deserve to be praised for what is expected, and not for what is praise worthy.  There are numerous tasks in life that are expected to be done.  At work people expect you to show up on time.  There should be no reward, prize, and honor in doing what you should be doing.  At Church, people are expected to worship, evangelize, give, and love, and these are the basic characteristics of a Christian.  If people are always praising others for what is a duty, instead of what is going beyond the call of duty, then that person will expect praise for average.  No one is going to give you an award in life for getting out of bed in the morning. 

Character does what is expected, because it is expected.  Praise is reserved for going above the call of duty.  It almost seems wrong to limit praise, but not all praise is productive.  False praise creates false expectations. 

Knowing the difference between an expectation and true praise is a Biblical principle.  Luke 17:7-10 ““Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’?  Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?  So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

FOCUS ON THE BASICS

Maybe you have been stressed recently about all the current events within the country. You see the 24-hour news cycle and feel anxious. The culture seems to move from one singular focus to another at a rapid clip. Each issue appears to be divided up into small sound bits of outrage. Each side is feeling dejected at the foolishness of the "other" side. Within each issue, there are the inconsistencies, extremes, and examples to validate a particular perspective. No matter what is said, there is a counterargument. It can be exhausting.

During social unrest, the best approach is to focus on the basics. When it seems that left or right is wrong, the basics of love, compassion, and action will always reign strong.

Love - Jesus, when asked about the greatest command, gave two rules: Love God, love others. No one will feel wrong by loving God first. Whatever is happening, ask yourself, is this in alignment with the character and commands of God? You cannot support something sinful, no matter what the culture cries, and you are obligated to be like Jesus to the world. The safe approach is to follow God. The second is to love people. Whatever you are doing, is this loving to the other person? Common decency is always in vogue.

Compassion - Sometimes, people naturally only see one side of an issue. Granted, sometimes there is only one right side, so never feel bad for holding to what is right. However, before reaching conclusions, take the time to reflect on the counter thoughts. You might disagree, but you will gain an extra measure of compassion and empathy because you allow yourself to see the situation from another person's eyes. Remember that person is made in the image of God too.

Action - Do not confuse a Facebook post or a Twitter comment with action. If using social media is your strategy to change the world, you are missing the point. Actions speak louder than words. People will fight about words or ideas, so step aside and be the change you want to see. Whatever views you have, be consistent with God’s Word. Allow your behavior to do the speaking, not your fingertips on a keyboard.

NAVIGATING SOCIAL MEDIA  

6.12.20

Over the last ten years, the popularity of social media increased significantly.  Years ago, an editor of a newspaper or magazine would curate the stories to be published.  Typically, the individual had years of experience dealing with the current cultural environment.  He or she would select articles or pieces that would inform, educate, and probably even provoke the masses.  A writer could write an essay, a too harsh tone might be suppressed or highlighted, but the content would be filtered through an editor that was more than likely less emotionally engaged in the text. This added some distance between the raw emotions and the final product.  

With the progress of social media, the average person can be a published writer.  No one is censoring the writing; no one is forcing a rewrite of an opinion.  Feelings are expressed and reactions are given without an ounce of supervision.  Everyone has a platform.  With all of the changes in communications patterns, a wise Christian evaluates his or her role in social media.  Here are a few principles that might help.  

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” 

Psalm 37:30 “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.” 

Proverbs 12:25 “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” 

Ephesians 4:29  “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” 

These verses provide some critical insight.  Is this acceptable to God?  Is this wise?  Is this from a place of anxiety?  Is this building others up?  Since no one has a paid editor watching out for them, people have to watch out for themselves. 

GREAT TO BE BACK    

6.7.20

After over two months, the Castle Rock Church of Christ had two services at the building.  We live-streamed the service at 9 am and had the service available to watch on YouTube at 10 am.  Whether you were with us in person or remotely, it was good to take this step as a congregation.  There is a lot of talk about a "new normal."  There were added measures in place on Sunday morning to protect the members' safety and health, but we need to realize that the "new normal" does not include "forsaking the assembly."    

Right now, the "assembly" looks different.  The people are spread out throughout the auditorium, and people are spread out across this state and country.  But everyone is coming together to maintain the bond of unity during this time.  We respect everyone's choices to continue to be mindful of the COVID 19 pandemic. Still, we also pray that with time and God's blessing, everyone will be back worshiping together physically.

 On Sunday, you could feel the spirit of fellowship in the room.  People were rejoicing to see one another again after months.  For many people, this was the first time in their Christian lives that they did not attend a worship service in person for over eight weeks.  People walked into the building, thankful to praise God again with brothers and sisters in the Lord.   

During this unprecedented time, people have struggled with loneliness, isolation, and depression.  People have dealt with being apart from loved brothers and sisters in the Lord.  It certainly felt different this past week coming together, but it was a good step in the right direction.  We all long for increased safety in our country so that we can all be back together praising Jesus as a family of God again.

Continue to pray for our country as we are seeing social unrest, health unrest, and personal unrest surrounding us.  We do know the solution to all of these issues—Jesus.    

AS WE OPEN

5.29.20

As I am sitting in my office this Monday, it appears that in addition to our online service, we will also be able to meet at the building this coming Sunday, for those that are able. Throughout this pandemic, I have been wrong in my estimations. When everything was starting to close, I guessed that it would be about a two-week closure. Oh, how wrong I was. As the closures continued into April, I assumed that by May, the country and Churches would be opened by then. Once again, I was wrong. My prayer is that we are open soon.

When we initially closed, I was in full support of the decision for a couple of reasons. First, because I believed it would look like Churches were supporting the country and the battle against the spread of COVID 19. There are times to fight against culture, but there are also times to support the nation's direction. Second, we had no idea what the death rate was going to be. I did not want to present the Church as being out of touch with the stress in the world. There are other reasons, but I felt like we needed to do our part.

I feel like we as a Church have tried to do our best. We pulled together, our members responded well, and we continue to make the best of the situation. But my worry as a minister is the cultural underpinnings of the future. For years, the world has attempted to push Church into the private realm. “Keep your religion to yourself.” Even while we have sheltered in place, no one has kept us from the right to worship. But it is important to practice our command to meet as a collective body while respecting those of our number who need to physically worship from home. Our Christianity is not a private matter only, but a public proclamation of our allegiance to Christ. We refuse to promote a belief that Christianity is relegated to the privacy of the home, but not in the public arena of a building. Yes, the early Church met in homes, and the early Church also met in synagogues. The world needs to see Church buildings bustling again as a public statement of our commitment to the Lord.

We are one Body, unified in our worship to God. We will continue to do our part to be respectful to the immune-compromised and be respectful of one another out of love. As a minister, I care about your health, but I care most about your soul. And I am charged to put that first.

Never Leave Fish to Find Fish

5.22.20

Over the last week I was out fly fishing.  We had a guide that was giving his principles for a wise fisherman.  One of them was “never leave fish to find fish.”  This was a catchy saying, with some good truth.  Of course, the saying is referring to fish.  Never leave a good fishing spot to search for a better fishing spot.  As humans there is a natural tendency to search for “greener grass.”  We also learn there are numerous nature references to finding contentment.

Think about the underlying truth of staying at a good fishing spot, which recalls the principle of patience.  As long as a spot is providing fish, be content in the outcome.  When the fishing hole dries up, move on.  Maybe you have met people that never seem settled.  The situation is never good enough, never meets expectations, and that person cannot finish a project.  He or she is always jumping from situation to situation. 

The second principle that this little bit of wisdom provides is to be satisfied with the results.  There is always a better fishing hole, maybe a spot with bigger fish, but you do not know that when you leave the good fish to search for the great fish.  No one ever leaves a fishing spot thinking the next spot is going to be barren.  Through the years, I have watched people never find contentment in a spiritual practice or a congregation.  There are times to refresh a spiritual life, but there are also times to hold the course.  Too often people are enamored with the new, without realizing what he or she is leaving behind.  Before someone makes a serious leap in one’s spiritual life, there better be some surety that the next hole will provide fish.

John 21:3-6 “Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.”  Sometimes there are still fish in that hole, you just have to move to the other side.  Giving up too quickly might mean that you are passing up a massive catch.

Pleased But Not Satisfied

5.15.20

Two extremes can overtake a person's spiritual life.  One is that the person is content with spiritual maturity to the extent that he or she invests little time or energy into spiritual formation.  The second extreme is that a person is never pleased with his or her spiritual journey.  God wants a balance.  There is little wisdom in never finding contentment with God while there is a small reward from being too satisfied with one's spiritual walk.

The title of this bulletin article comes from a book I read recently.  It is about management in a business, but the phrase makes an important spiritual point.  We should be pleased, but not satisfied.  God does not want us to journey through life with a chronic sense of disappointment in ourselves.  We are never pleased, happy, or fulfilled in God.  Instead of having a sense of abundance, we have a sense of emptiness.  On the other hand, without a little bit of discontentment, we might never draw nearer to God.  We are so pleased that we stay ignorantly spiritually immature because we are unaware of the depth of God's fullness.   

Imagine always being discontented with your relationship with God?  Imagine always being so pleased that you never seek growth opportunities in Christ? 

The Jews in the first century divided the commands of God into two categories.  There were heavy commands and light commands.  The heavy commands were absolute must command, and the light commands were viewed as more optional.  Think about Matthew 11:27-29 in light of this historical context.  “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

God never wants to communicate to his people that they are not good enough or that they are perfect.  God is always pleased, but not satisfied with our walk with him.  God balances acceptance and improvement. 

The Book of Ruth

5.10.2020

Things change. Look at the first five verses of the Book of Ruth, “In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.” There is social unrest, she is living during the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land, and she loses her husband and sons. Think about the feelings that she would have. The amount of change that she experiences is severe. But she must adapt to the changing circumstances.

Welcome to life in this world. The world is changing all the time. Two months ago, the country was moving along at an average clip. After two months, the church has not physically met together, the economy is struggling, unemployment has skyrocketed, and loneliness has spread. We see unprecedented change happening. We see the visible hurting, and there will be consequences revealed in the future that we cannot predict.

The story of Ruth continues for a couple more chapters, and in those chapters, you learn about God's provisions. Boaz comes along to provide for Ruth. She is cared for from unexpected places. During change, there are always choices that Christians can make. Fear, worry, love, grace, kindness, anger, compassion, stress, and courage are all available options for a Christian. People cannot write the story, but we can write our reactions to each chapter. We can choose to love those who are with us like Ruth, we can choose to be kind like Boaz, and we can choose to go on with life. Life will look different, but it is still the life that is given to us all.

TWENTY-TWO KILLED AND BLAME

5.1.2020

As some of you might have heard, there was a mass shooting in Nova Scotia, Canada, last week. A gunman terrorized the small Province by killing twenty-two people. The act of senseless violence is the largest shooting ever in Canada. Of all the places in Canada for this event to happen, Nova Scotia would have been pretty far down on the majority of lists. Nova Scotia is a sleeping land full of ocean beauty, not a place of violence and murder. But having the killings here provides a stoic reminder that abuse can happen anyway and at any time.

The Province has grieved this event and has turned to the next emotion that often percolates to the surface during trauma—blame. People are discussing how this violence could have been adverted sooner. There are countless suggestions on the right course of action. The police should have warned everyone earlier, there should have been a mass message from the government, the police should have seen the profile of this murderer quicker. There are numerous suggestions of all the ways that could have been taken to lower the death toll. Underneath the surface of these suggestions is blaming. Someone is at fault.

Something is empowering with blame. Blame gives a veneer of control. Somehow what happened could have been stopped. But liability is accessible. People say that "hindsight is 20/20" for a reason. If you think about it, though, the police would have had a hard time even imagining that a crazy man was going through the Province killing people at random. Most of the cops would have said that this was crazy to also go there in mind. After an event, people feel that he or she can see the causality or to put together a narrative explanation of what happened, but rarely in real-time do humans have this ability. People cannot see it coming. Sometimes people judge others after the fact because new information has been learned, which changes the circumstances. It is easy to see after you have seen what happened. Before an event, there are unlimited possibilities to guess correctly.

Assigning blame is rarely helpful in unknowable events. Learning from them is empowering.

WATCHING JESUS

4.26.2020

Jesus' brother writes the book of James. Here was a man that watched Jesus grow up. He was someone that knew him on the inside and out. James was a son of Mary and Joseph and, therefore, a half-brother to Jesus and brother to Joseph, Simon, Judas, and their sisters (Matthew 13:55). In the Gospels, James is mentioned a couple of times, but at that time, he misunderstood Jesus' ministry and was not a believer (John 7:2-5). James becomes one of the earliest witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). He then stays in Jerusalem and forms part of the group of believers who pray in the upper room (Acts 1:14). From that time forward, James’ status within the Jerusalem church begins to grow.

James is still in Jerusalem when the recently converted Saul arrives to meet with him and Peter (Galatians 1:19). Several years later, when Peter escapes from prison, he reports to James about the miraculous manner of the escape (Acts 12:17). When the Jerusalem Council convenes, James is the apparent chairman (Acts 15:13, 19). He is also an elder of the church, called a “pillar” in Galatians 2:9. Later, James again presides over a meeting in Jerusalem, this time after Paul’s third missionary journey. It is believed that James was martyred about A.D. 62, although there is no biblical record of his death.

James is the author of the epistle of James, which he wrote somewhere between A.D. 50 and A.D. 60. James identifies himself by name but simply describes himself as "a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (James 1:1).

Think about some of the writings that James presents in his letter to the Churches. When he talks about counting it joy through suffering, he watched Jesus do that. When he talks about treating all people with respect, from the rich to the poor, he watched Jesus do that. Think about what it must have been like for James to write that letter. He would reflect on seeing the moral principles he gives demonstrated before his eyes. What he writes about, he witnessed.

Spiritual Formation Ideas

4.19.2020

Last week I was talking to a few people on the phone that mentioned that they had more time to focus on spirituality. The people had more time to read the Bible and pray. All of the people expressed the joy in feeling the blessing of the added space to focus on Bible Study and spiritual formation. Everyone might be getting impatience with sitting at home so much, but this time is creating added margins for some of the spiritual disciplines that have been pushed aside because of the frantic pace of life. We become mere spectators and consumers of holy things, not participants in the life Jesus is now living on earth, and we lose meaningful discipline. Instead of consuming Christianity, we must learn to be trained by the Master. So what are a few positive spiritual disciplines that you can practice during house quarantine?

Observe Silence

Still the mind and mediate on a spiritual truth. Find a quiet place to sit, take some deep breaths, focusing on the act of inhaling and exhaling. Take about ten deep, long breaths, and think about one spiritual word. It could be Jesus, peace, grace, or love, or even long-suffering, and allow that word to enter your mind. After you have focused on the word for about five minutes, stop thinking, and relax yourself. Attempt to stay silent and rest the mind. Try this for about ten minutes. After the time you have selected, think of your focus word again for about two minutes. After this, stop. Try this for a few days in a row and go to the same spot each day. Try to be as consistent with the practice as possible.

Enter Scripture

Read a passage of scripture from the gospel accounts. Take one of the well known healing stories, and read over the account a few times. After becoming very familiar with the story, put down the Bible, and close your eyes, and walk through the story in your mind. But place yourself in the story. Look around, what do you see. Think about the characters, how is everyone acting. Enter into the story, and pay attention to the details. What is this section of scripture seeking to teach you?

Dr. Matthew Morine

Pulpit Minister