TO BLOG OR NOT TO BLOG, THAT IS THE QUESTION

I am writing from the Refocus 2014 Pastors Conference at Moody Bible Institute.  Just attended a class "How to Write a Better Pastor's Bog" with Jamie Janosz.  I stated that I had a blog, but I was infrequent.  I decided to look mine up and was shocked to see that infrequent was an understatement! December of 2012?  That's crazy.  Time to get back to it.

So I thought I would just restart with a couple comments from the morning sessions that challenged me today - and then make a commitment to do a better job in the future. (But isn't that the life of a back slider - I will try harder!) Well, we will see!

Larry Moyer in his General Session unpacked, 1 Cor 2:1-5. Larry is a champion for evangelism.  He said all we need is: a simple message;  obedience in spite of our fear;  and the right perspective.  He summed it all up by helping us personalize this point, "I don't need to be a brilliant man with a clever mind, I just need to be a broken man with a clear message."

That being said, he concludes with the belief that we have no excuse to not share our faith if we know the gospel,  "Jesus died for our sins and then rose from the dead."

More to come.

SIMPLENESS

(This is another guest blog of Beth Johnson who just returned with her husband Brett from a HopeForce International Mission Project in Sous Savanne Haiti.)

 

The drive to the village of Sous Savanne. The long winding road up in the hills, the road with streams running through it and rough terrain. The scenery is very beautiful. Everywhere you look you see cows, goats, chickens, pigs (all the pigs of course I named Bacon) fruit trees like bananas, mango, lemons, plantains, etc....hills and mountains everywhere you look. Women washing clothes in big wash tubs or the streams, people of all ages fetching water at the wells, dominos is the big game in Haiti. Everyday we passed a group playing. kids everywhere. As we walked thru the village it gave a better picture of their day to day living. There were really only 2 roads within the village. Everything else was footpaths. When we would venture to job sites we would walk with all our supplies. Ladders, Paint, Brushes, rollers, and water jug.

 

As you passed by peoples homes they were always so polite. Bonjou (Good morning) or Bonswa (Good Afternoon)

 

We got very good at those words! If we finished one house we would pack up all the supplies and walk to the next one. Always children everywhere. They would see you coming and would be right by your side. Holding your hand! There is nothing like walking thru a village, hauling supplies, with children following, singing “Yes, Jesus Loves Me”

 

Simpleness, although they are in need of so much, they live so simply because they have to. Fully relying on God, their Hope.

 

I then think of our society and all we have at our fingertips and how busy our lives become because of it. Rushing here, have to do this, no time to do that, doesn’t fit into my schedule today……

 

So as I reflect back on my time in Haiti, I want to reorganize my life and unload all of that craziness I create for myself. I am reminded to keep it simple, put God first, be thankful always and He will take care of the rest.

My Trip To Haiti

This is a guest blog from Beth Johnson, a member of the Grove Mission Team and just returning from Sous Savanne Haiti and her first mission trip out of the country.

Haiti 2012

04-Dec-2012

Bonjou (good morning)

As I reflect back on our time this past week in Haiti, I was thinking about the church service we went to in the Village of Sous Savanne. It was our teams first experience of the area in daylight. When we arrived in Port au Prince the night before it was very very dark so we didn’t get to see to much of the scenery. 

As we entered the Church building there was some young kids (consisting of about 6-8 kids) sitting up front practicing for the praise and worship part of service. Clarinets, trombone, trumpet, guitar, and drums. We were told these instruments had been donated from the states. There were two women who sat in the very front by the little orchestra who led the singing of the songs. The power came from car batteries that were located on the stage in front of the church. We all sat on wooden benches and some even brought their own chairs to sit on. The women sat on one side of the church while the men sat on the other and they all showed up in their Sunday best. As the service started of course there was a bit of a language barrier being they speak French Creole! 

As I sat back and observed I was just amazed. Here I am a very long way from home, in a village, sitting in a church service that I cannot understand a lick of what they were saying. However, it really wasn’t about understanding WHAT they were saying. It was all about seeing, observing, and participating with them in worship, hearing the music, listening to them sing, hearing the kids play the instruments, watching them praise God, raising their hands, men clapping their hands, beautiful voices being lifted up to our Lord, OUR LORD, it really didn’t matter that we were many miles from home or didn’t understand Creole. We were worshipping together. 

As they sang hymns and you could recognize the hymns and sing along in English I could not stop the tears from flowing down my face. I was really overcome with emotion to experience worshiping in that setting. 

The service lasted about 2-2 ½ hours and it was really awesome. As one of the leaders in the church did some interpretation for our group he had asked if any of us wanted to say anything and meek little me was compelled to get up and share. I didn’t realize I would have to go up on stage!! So off I went. I shared with them that the love they showed and the ability to worship with them was very overwhelming to me. I thanked them so very much for the opportunity to be there with them. It was short and sweet but God felt and of course the tears flowed again. 

We ended that service with “All is well with my soul”.

After the service everyone greeted everyone with either a handshake, kissing on each cheek, or both! As I sit back and reflect on all they don’t have yet ALL they DO have in the Lord, I am humbled. We really are blessed with so much yet sometimes we are blinded to it. I am so blessed with so much and I pray that I will forever remember what God has allowed Brett and I to experience thru this trip to Haiti.

Here are a few pics from the trip. The first two are from the new church.  Unfortunately it was taken later in week when the gate was shut to the church.  The 3rd pic is from the church they used to meet at before the earthquake which is no longer safe to use.  The 4th pic is one of our team pictures. I'm the one in the middle with the bandanna.  My husband, Brett, is in the back row with his sunglasses hanging around his neck.

What You See Is What You Get?

Had a humbling day on Thursday.  After attending a chamber networking event I decided to go out to breakfast.  I love to support the local, small businesses in our community so I ventured over to one of my favorites.  It was 9 am so the breakfast rush was gone.  Other than one table of regulars I had the place to myself.  That meant that I could engage the waitress in more meaningful conversation than regularly during a rush.

Before I could say much, she asked me if she knew me from somewhere.  I thought she looked familiar but before I could say anything she said "Rukos" you come in on Sunday mornings!"

She was right, that is a restaurant I will frequent on Sunday mornings after the church is open and things set up.  I take my iPad and go over my message notes one last time.  So I said she was right and that I'm a pastor and I go there to review my message for the day.

Then she, without hesitation, cut me to the quick, she said, "Yeah I thought you were just a jerk!"  She then proceeded to explain hat she meant.  She would try to be very attentive to me when waiting on me, asking if my meal was Ok, and if I wanted more coffee.  Her comment was, I'm glad you have explained what you were doing because you always seemed so not pay any attention to me, so I just assumed you were a jerk."

She then perked up and explained how she was looking for a church, wanted to know the worship times, do we have anything for kids - really interested.  And while I was excited at the prospect of a new family coming to The Grove, her comments, "I thought you were "just a jerk" was ringing in my ears. Unfortunately she isn't the first person to sarcastically say that I am a bit too serious or focused on Sunday mornings.  While I may feel justified because I want things to go right and especially want to be all I can be, I guess I can come off as "just a jerk".

So I've determined in my mind, and resolved in my heart to be more attentive, loosen up, and relax more.  God redeemed a relationship that had no chance of being a valid witness for Christ as long as I was presenting myself this way.  Pray for me - and for this young woman and family that we can laugh about this as her family gets reconnected to the body of Christ.

The Jerk

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God — even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved."
(1 Cor. 10:31-33)

Mother's Day

It's been too long since I wrote and hope to get back on track. Thought I'd use this great occasion to share some things. Facebook has exploded with all of the normal sentiments connected with this day. Post a picture of your mom as your profile picture in honor of having a great mom - etc. I think a better thing to do is to take the essence of what your mother taught you (providing it was godly and healthy) and then live it out. I know I'm taking umbrage with this scripture but "let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven."

My mom taught me that as a Christian man I would be viewed by some as peculiar - that I may receive some persecution because of my choice to be a follower of Jesus - that I must make choices every day consistent with what I believe. One of the best examples of excellent mothering was making sure I sat my butt in church every week. The rule - until the age of 18 it was my parents choice about whether I went to church or not. I vowed when I was 16 that when that day came, I was all done with church. But my parents were consistent and persistent and their rule put me in a place where God nurtured my rebellious spirit and by age 17 I already felt a call to ministry.

I so wish that parents today would stop trying to keep their kids happy - stop taking the path of least resistance and let their children decide what was important for them. They enroll them in every activity and sport possible and then let them decide about their spiritual future. What's up with that?

Another thing my mother did for me was to help me be independent. I started mowing lawns, shoveling walks, at age 13. Got my first real job as a maintenance guy at the local five and dime when I was 14. I bought my own clothes and paid my way into everything I wanted to do. Had to pay cash for my first car - cover my own insurance - pay for the maintenance and repairs - and if cell phones were around then - I would have had to pay my own way there as well. Thanks Mom (and Dad) for that guidance.

Mom has been gone for several years now. She had kind of checked out after her stroke but there was just something about being able to be around her that soothed me. Wish I still had those times with her - missed her little comments like "if wishes were horses we'd all take a ride", or "cripes on a bicycle" - can't wait to see her in heaven.

God has blessed me with another godly woman that teaches me so much about an active faith walk. We are enjoying our 40th year together as husband and wife. She has done remarkable things in raising our two daughters and now loves her role as "Grammie". Thank you Lord for our moms, may we honor them today by living for You!

It's Time to DTR

I love the journey that The Grove has begun this year. We are taking the Old Testament Challenge - 32 weeks in a survey of the OT. So far we've been reminded of the majesty of God our creator; watched the downward spiral of man (Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, The Flood, Babel) and now we begin our look at God and His covenant that He made with Abraham.

God has a conversation with Abraham requiring him to DTR - "Define The Relationship".

Think back to your dating years. When a young man and a young woman begin to hang out together – eventually one or the other – usually the young lady will say – “we have to talk.” Now guys you know what happens next! Your hands get sweaty – you start to click through all the things you said, or did, or try to figure out what maybe you didn’t say or didn’t do.

But what she is saying is, I need to know if there is a commitment here. It’s time to fish, or cut bait. We need a DTR. We need to define the relationship.

What is your relationship with Jesus. Is it casual? Dating other gods? Or are you committed to the one true God? Hope you can be at The Grove tomorrow - or listen to our podcast at www.grovechurch.cc.

Jeff

Long Time

I began a new series yesterday at The Grove called SE7EN - it's based on the 7 Deadly Sins.

I am challenged by this series. I should be. Anytime I share what God has put on my heart I should be looking into my own. The premise I am basing this series on is how the 7 Deadly Sins even originated. St. Benedict, the predecessor of the monastic life, surmised that love is the supreme objective for Christians and that anything that sets itself up against love is our enemy. Thus he identified 7 sins that he thought were the most egregious and thus the list.

So, how am I doing in the love department? Some days I would say great - others not so. But as I look even closer I realize that so many times my love has conditions. How selfish you can be Jeff!

So as I began this series and focued on Pride and our life growth groups will be doing the same this week - my desire for me and for you is that we will decrease in the pride department and increase in the humility. In case you missed the service, you can listen to our podcast through our website at www.grovechurch.cc.

Also, Grovers were challenged to take a look at the list below and identify one action step they could integrate into their life this week to become more humble. Hope this challenges you - it certainly does me.

Here's Nelson Searcy's adaptation of St. Benedict's 12 Steps of Humility:

12 Actions of Humility

1. Intentionally seek humility as an act of obedience

2. Seek God’s will above my own will (John 6:38)

3. Confess your sins to God quickly (1 John 1:9)

4. Persevere through sickness and affliction quietly (Romans 8:37)

5. Study God’s word and live it out daily.

6. Practice praising and complimenting others

7. Use my gifts and talents to serve others

8. Plan regular times of fasting

9. Be a friend to others who are going through humbling times

10. Restrict my sarcasm

11. Speak gently and practice silence

12. Be modest in my appearance and actions.

Until the next time,

I remain in His Grip!