On Journey...
December 2006
I do enjoy the decorations this
time of year. Beginning with pumpkins and corn stalks and moving
through to lights and trees and wreaths, these visuals help me
enjoy this time of year. For several weeks, our hostess committee
has been hard at work helping us to visualize the season as we
have gathered for worship and Bible study. All throughout the church,
there is evidence of their work and gifts. And now, our building
is visually ready for the coming of Christ! What a wonderful gift
they have given to all of us. Thank you.
Something new this year that I
want to especially mention is a visual that will help us to “see” the
growth of our missions giving as we move towards our goal of $5,500.00.
The tree that is in the baptistry will have presents placed under
it. Each present will represent $500.00 given towards our mission
goal. As the presents increase, it will be a visual reminder of
the increased opportunities for the news of the “great joy” which
has come for all people to be shared around the world!
Remember, you have the option
to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering (Southern Baptist)
or to the Global Mission offering (Cooperative Baptist). Clearly
marked envelopes for either are in the pew rack or you will find
them in your envelope box. Either way, the money you give will
be used to strengthen and develop missions around the world. I
encourage you to pick up provided material which shares about different
work going on all around the globe. You can be a part of that work.
Let’s work together to make
that stack of presents grow as quickly as possible. IF my math
is correct, we need 11 presents to reach our goal. Hmmm…I
wonder if we could reach 15-20 presents? Only time will tell.
Keep Walking!
Stan
On
Journey...
November 2006
I want you to know something about your deacons.
They are a praying group. Our deacons meetings are prayer
sessions. The deacons pray for the life of the church, for
those who have health needs, for the staff, and for many
other interest of the church.
I want you to know something the
Sunday School classes here at First Baptist Clinton. They are praying
Sunday Schools. I have had the joy of visiting all of our Sunday
Schools several times and have experienced in every class a time
of prayer.
I want you to know something about your choir. Every week following rehearsal,
they enter into a time of prayer for people and events and concerns. Lydia
shares about this time with me often.
I want you to know that we have
a men’s group and a women’s group dedicated to nothing
but prayer. The men’s group meets each Wednesday night at
6:10 p.m.in the Parlor to pray. The Women’s group combines
their praying with knitting of shawls, blankets, and toboggans
which are delivered to those for whom they have been praying. They
meet every 4th Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the area adjacent to the
Christian Service Center.
I want you to know something about
our prayer ministry that is on-line and on the phone. Every day,
Dot Howell updates a prayer list and needs that she send out to
many in our congregation and community. As people receive this
list, they are faithful to pray. There is also a phone prayer chain
that is being organized to pray for special and immediate needs.
I want you to know something about
his congregation. They believe in and participate in prayer. Do
you have a need? Let us know and people will pray. Do you want
to get more connected to a prayer ministry? Give us a call and
we will give you information on several opportunities. Most of
all, pray. God is always available to dialogue with those He loves!
Keep Praying!
Stan
On
Journey...
November 2006
Thank you! Thank you for responding in such an incredible
manner to our budget issues. I can say with hesitation that I have
never experienced such a response. As a friend responded when I
shared the news with him what you had done he responded, “I
do not have a box to put this in!”
As we celebrate and give thanks
for God’s goodness, let us reaffirm our commitment to being
the people of God in this place. The question that has come to
me out of this experience is this- If this congregation can respond
to our budget need in the way you have, what else are you capable
of? In Luke 14 Jesus tells a story of the steward who knows what
the master wants but does not do it. Jesus response is well known
when he says, “ From everyone who has been given much, much
will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they
will ask all the more.”
It is no secret that this congregation
has many, many resources of all kinds. What is it that God would
have us to be doing in this place to prepare Clinton for His coming?
What are the tasks and opportunities that God is laying before
us to share the good news of His love? What preparations should
we be making in order to be ready for our work?
That is the exciting part of what
I see happening! People of all stripes and places in life seem
to sharing excitement and visions for what God is doing among us.
Our focus groups have begun meeting. Individuals continue to listen
to the voice of God and respond in obedience. The waters of Baptism
are stirring. I ask you to pray and watch. I ask you to prepare
yourself to receive God’s word in our midst that we may move
forward as His people. We do not have too; God will not force his
presence and will on us. But I believe that He stands ready to
turn us loose on this community in such a way that His name is
glorified and His Kingdom is proclaimed. I hope you will join with
us!
Keep Walking!
Stan
On
Journey...
November 2006
“The most important first step in any organization
or any endeavor is clarity of aim – of mission and vision.” This
is a quote from the book Quest for Quality in the Church by
Ezra Jones. I have had this little book for several years and find
it to be very practical and helpful. The information in it is not
necessarily cutting edge or new, it is simply the simple way he
organizes his thoughts in order to help churches engage their mission.
His process of leadership is built
on the following values: cooperation rather than competition; listening
to people rather than deciding for them; trusting people and involving
everyone in the process; and involving ourselves with God in His
mission. Having these things in mind, we are beginning the process
of clarifying our aim. To do this, we have started with 7 groups
of 7 people who meet with a facilitator to begin dialogue about
our future. The questions they will be dealing with are designed
to help us look toward tomorrow and what we would like to see happen.
Eventually, everyone who would like to will have several opportunities
to share ideas and dreams and visions.
Our task is simple. We want to
clarify our aim, design an infrastructure and system to reach the
aim, and then work together to provide leadership for our tasks.
Let me ask you to do the most important thing right now – pray.
Place yourself in the presence of God that He might begin to show
us his work for us in his body. Pray that we will be willing to
be obedient as we discover our mission. Pray that our eyes and
hears and heart will be open to the moving of the Spirit. As our
focus groups begin their dialogue pray for discernment and wisdom
of those facilitating. As the scripture say in 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If
My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray
and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear
from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
God is ready to heal us. Will
we listen? Will we obey? Only time will tell.
Keep Walking!!
Stan
On
Journey... ney...
October 2006
Jesus said, “I was hungry
and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless
and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came
to me.” Matthew 25: 35-36. Sometimes it is easy for us to
overlook the fact that Jesus says he was these things and when
we feed, clothe, visit, etc. anyone, we have ministered to Christ
himself.
For 20 years, First Baptist Church
has ministered to Christ and in the name of Christ through our
Christian Service Center. Every Tuesday, food is given, clothes
are made available, smiles are generously shared and people who
feel imprisoned have someone to talk to.
This month marks the 20 year anniversary
of that ministry. From the first day that I came to FBC, I have
been so thankful for what happens there every week. Though I do
not get to visit now as much as before due to meetings and hospital
visits, my heart is there in prayer and spirit every week. I encourage
you to give thanks to God for this wonderful opportunity we have
to join Him in his work. I also encourage you to get involved if
needed. Call the church office and we will get you in touch with
those who do the scheduling. If nothing else, I encourage you to
just show up on Tuesday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and sit in the gathering
room. I have had some wonderful and interesting conversations.
Maybe most significant of all is the truth that as you interact
with our friends and guests, you will be looking into the face
of Jesus.
Keep Walking!
Stan
On
Journey...
October 2006
“We will forgive you.” Words
spoken by an unnamed Amish neighbor, while embracing the father
of Charles Carl Roberts IV, the gunman who killed five Amish school
children and injured five others before taking his own life Monday
morning.
This is a quote from the Sojourners
newsletter I receive from time to time (SojoMail@sojo.net).
We have all recoiled from the recent shootings that once again
have killed our children and caused the anxiety level in all of
us to rise. Some day we will talk about the presence of evil and
our response but today I want to focus on the above quote.
Forgiveness is something that
as Christians we talk a lot about and we hear a lot about. All
of us can acknowledge with our heads that forgiveness is what we
should do. But what about forgiving someone who killed our children?
Forgiveness makes for good Sunday School lessons and wall hangings
but becomes one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult,
Christian disciplines to do when it gets personal.
As in all things pertaining to
the Christian’s walk, forgiveness begins with God. The Biblical
record tells us that God initiated forgiveness towards us even
though so many have never even asked for it. The words from the
cross, “Father, forgive them for they no not what they do” instruct
us that Biblical, God directed forgiveness is initiated by us towards
those who have done us wrong. To wait for someone to ask for forgiveness
is not God’s way.
Let me be clear again, it is much
easier for me to write about this truth than to live this truth
in my life, especially towards those who have hurt the people I
Iove. But it is what God has called us to do.
As we pray for the families that
have lost children in these recent events, let us also pray for
courage and strength to be the bearers of forgiveness, God’s
kind of forgiveness.
Keep Walking!
Stan
On Journey...
On
Journey…
July 30, 2006
Sunday’s worship experience
was ________. That blank has been filled in with many descriptive
terms by you. We continue to give thanks to God for moving in
such a visible and heartfelt way. The authentic responses were
evidence that we were on “holy ground.”
As I have continued to process Sunday,
there are a few thoughts I would share with you. First, I believe
that Sunday was not an isolated event but rather a result of several
things known and many others not known. A number of groups have
been praying for some time now – deacons, men’s prayer
group, XYZ’s, staff- just to name a few that I am aware of.
I believe that many others have been praying that we would become
more obedient to God and that we would be open to His leadership.
Our task is to continue in obedience in prayer and listening.
I have been paying attention to the folks
who are coming through our doors. These individuals are bringing
with them gifts, experiences, and visions that are helping us
to hear God’s call for us as a congregation. Coupled with
those of you who have been
faithful members for a long time, this congregation seems posed
to have a fresh vision and work to move us forward. Our task
is to continue to grow in unity, and in listening and sharing
with each other.
I believe that the experience of Sunday is always a possibility. I am not saying
that we will or should have that kind of outpouring every week. I do believe
that every time we gather, God speaks and calls, and moves. Our task is to
be obedient and responsive when God calls.
In the first chapter of Acts, we read the account of the Ascension of Jesus
back to heaven. As the disciples are standing there watching, two angels appear
and ask them what they are doing. In essence, they strongly suggest to them
that they get on with their lives, but that now their lives will be lived with
a deep awareness of God. They were told to go on back to Jerusalem , to the
lives and relationships they had. Sunday was a wonderful day, a day we would
like to experience all the time. The truth is, we can. We just have to learn
to see God in the ordinary events of living: jobs we do not like, relationships
that are strained, diseases that are still in our bodies. God is still working
and calling and moving in the ordinary events of living. My prayer has been,
and will continue to be, that the experience of Sunday will empower your living
in new and powerful ways. See you Sunday!
Keep Walking!
Stan
On
Journey…
July 2006
There is a lot of talk these days about worship. I believe that anytime we
talk about worship it is a good thing. I hope though that we are sharing good
thoughts and ideas that will help us all think as clearly as possible about
worship and what we do when we say we have gathered for worship. Below is an
article that I recently read that I want to share with you. I think it contains
some very good thoughts about worship. As you read, pray that God will lead
us all to a richer and deeper worship experience, whatever the form!
But ‘‘did
we worship?’
By Jack Key
Many churches are now having two
or even three worship services. This is not to accommodate the
overflow crowds but an effort to suit the worship tastes of those
who come. Usually, one of the services is called ““traditional”,” and
the other is called “contemporary.”” Neither
term adequately describes what happens in the two worship experiences.Whether
one prefers “contemporary”” over “traditional”” or
vice versa is not the crucial question. The big, all-important
question is, “DID WE WORSHIP?””
A beautiful sanctuary, stained glass windows, a robed choir, a mighty organ,
candles burning on the altar, hymn books, a liturgically correct order of worship
- all of this does not automatically guarantee true worship. It may be beautiful,
inspiring, comforting. But DID WE WORSHIP?
On the other hand, moving out of the sanctuary for more contemporary service-
featuring praise bands and praise choruses, dressing down rather than dressing
up, lots of hand clapping and hand-lifting, turning the sound system up a few
decibels - does not automatically guarantee that we have worshipped. We may
enjoy it, but DID WE WORSHIP?
In our most honest moments, we all know that nothing external guarantees worship.
Both the contemporary worshippers and traditionalists agree with Jesus when
He said, “Those who worship must do so in spirit and in truth.” Neither
the where nor the when is of first importance. I had my morning devotions about
an hour ago - it is Monday and I was in my study. Did I worship? Yes!”
Often my quiet times are more meaningful to me than what happens at church
on Sunday morning. During the past few years, there has been much talk about
getting out of our “comfort zones.”” In other words, be willing
to try something new and different in worship.
I confess that I am more comfortable singing the great hymns of our faith and
listening to a pipe organ. I grew up wearing my best clothing on Sunday - I
would not be in my comfort zone in blue jeans and a T-shirt. If there are people
who feel comfortable with this, it's okay by me. But the issue is not about
comfort zones, it is DID WE WORSHIP.
A sign outside one church announces “Casual” Worship” 9 a.m.
I hope the word “casual”” describes how people dress and
not the way they worship. In true worship, we are in the presence of Almighty
GOD. Don’t be too casual or too “laid back”” about
it.
Whether one worships in a cathedral or thatched-roof tabernacle; whether one
sits in reverent silence or shouts “glory hallelujah”; whether
one wears togs from Nieman Marcus or your everyday stuff - the question is
DID WE WORSHIP?
A word to both groups: please don’t forget how much we need each other. THE
REV. JACK KEY, a former writer for the Wesleyan Christian Advocate, serves
in retirement as pastor of Evergreen UMC and minister of visitation for First
UMC in Dublin , Ga.
Keep Walking!!
Stan
On
Journey…
June
2006
Sunday
night, the gathered body of Christ here at First Baptist Clinton
engaged in some good dialogue. We talked about barriers. This conversation
was a continuation of discussion that began on a Wednesday night
several weeks ago. Essentially, we began by looking at the barriers
that Israel had “built” around God. Believing that
only one Jewish male person could approach God once a year, they
kept a tight lid on who, what, when, and where people were given
access to God. They said if you want God, you must…look
like us, sound like us, eat like us, live like us. Of course, Jesus
taught that barriers were not what God had in mind. Jesus came
to show us that the people of God were to be in the barrier removing
business!
If, then, we are the people of God in this place, and if we are interested
in joining with Christ in removing barriers, how do we go about that? This
is the question we began to discuss Sunday night. Over the years, I have never
heard any church verbally resist joining with Christ in removing barriers;
i.e., we will always agree in thought that we should be doing that. It is,
however, a little more difficult when we have to start acting in a way that
removes barriers.
I have phrased the question of removing barriers with four different issues
that churches seem to struggle with. The issues are: How do we join with Jesus
in removing barriers and maintain safety and liability issues? How do we join
with Jesus in removing barriers and not feel displaced? How do we join with
Jesus in removing barriers and continue in long established activities that
are meaningful to the congregation? How do we join with Jesus in removing barriers
and meet needs and not fads?
When we start looking at the actual things we will need to do to remove barriers,
it starts to get personal and that makes us all a little uncomfortable. Again,
over the years I have seen pastors respond to this uncomfortableness in two
ways: they choose to ignore the question all together, or they become a “bull
in the china shop” and force the issue and then pick up the pieces! As
your pastor, I will choose another way, the way of dialogue and journey. I
want us to continue in many ways to ask ourselves these questions. I want us
to diligently and intentionally work together to listen in prayer to the voice
of the Spirit. I want us to covenant together to be obedient as a congregation
to our Lord. I want us to walk together as we allow God to shape us into the
congregation He has in mind for us. This is not necessarily an easy journey,
but it is a fulfilling one, one that will lead others to come know Christ as
Savior and to grow deeply as followers of Him. May God give us courage and
wisdom.
Keep Walking (and talking)!
Stan
On
Journey…
May
2006
I understand
that for a while now we have had a wonderful woman’s
ministry that provides Bible Study, prayer support
groups, special events and ministry for the women
of this community. Thank you ladies for planning
and participating in these wonderful opportunities
for growth and service. Men, we are pleased to
announce that we are beginning a men’s ministry
for you!
Several weeks ago, a few interested men got together to begin dialoguing about
a way to involve more men in growth and service opportunities. This is not
to say that the opportunities for growth and service for all of our members
are not doing the job. These new opportunities are simply one other possibility
that may help you to grow as a follower of Christ.
We discussed many possibilities and are excited about the future. We decided
though to begin with prayer. Knowing that prayer is a hallmark of the follower
of Christ, there is s group of men who have begun meeting at 6:10 p.m. every
Wednesday night in an upstairs classroom in the Family Life Center. They meet
until about 6:25 so as to leave time for those wishing to attend Wednesday
night service. Please note that should the group need more time, there is complete
freedom to continue meeting. This is a time for you to share prayer concerns
and to prayer for others. It will become a time of growing in Christ and deepening
relationships. Out of this event, we hope to create more outreach and growth
opportunities for the men of this community.
The Church as we know it today exist because there were small groups of followers
of Jesus who continued to meet for prayer and encouragement in those early
days. Would you consider joining this prayer group as we prepare for the Spirit
of God to break through? I am thankful for all of the ministries and opportunities
to be Kingdom people that we have in this place. May God continue to bring
people in our midst who have passion for His work and His presence to break
out among us!
Keep Walking!
Stan
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