First Stop Music City

Hello Grovers!

Our small team arrived safely in Nashville tonight. (Beth Johnson, Susie Lendzian, Lenie Pitsenbarger and myself) Tom and Marcia will meet us in Biloxi tomorrow. Our conversation was great and the time passed quickly. We will be attending Harpeth Community Church in the morning for their 9am service - then on to Mississippi!

We are praying for all of you - pray for us.

As we embarked today each team member was given a word and scripture passage for our focus. Today's word was "Serve" and our scripture was from Galatians 5:13.

Will be keeping you updated on what God is doing in us and through us this week. Will try to post pictures as I can. See you tomorrow.

Pastor Jeff

Closing Out My Week

I've read other pastors blogs and noticed a common thing many of them do - they kind of let all the thoughts of their week flood out on Sunday nights - kind of a letting go experience. Thought I'd do it too and see how it goes.

Things I've learned this week.

1- No matter how much you want things to stay the same, they don't. Every Christmas is a little different now - and that's a good thing. Different days, times and plans - all good.

2- Making a difference in the life of someone else is where it's at. Had the chance to bless someone this week who would be alone on Christmas - it felt great to keep the focus off of me!

3- I don't need anything! Struggled to come up with a list for my family for Christmas. Loved everything I got - but really have more than I could hope for - we are so rich.

4- Grandkids in one day can provide you a week, make that a month's worth of memories. I find myself making nonsensical sounds and repeating gibberish much to the dismay of the parents who I'm sure wish I would talk more intelligently.

5- I truly want to finish strong in 2008 and get my new year off on the right foot. I will be making some goals and specific life plans and won't rest til I've met them.

6- I love my church family and the committed Christians who work along side of me. We will be making a huge difference in N/E Ohio this year.

7- I'm getting older and it's taking much longer to do things than it used to. I just pray God gives me enough time to complete all the dreams he's given me.

8- Finally. As I shared this morning - I woke from a deep dream this week realizing I had been weeping. When asked by others around me I couldn't speak. As I probed deeper into my dream I realized it was because I felt deep sorrow for those who didn't have clean water to drink and that up until now I hadn't done anything about it. Thanks to the Grovers who stepped up today and gave $1,500 in our Christmas offering. I hope I dream more this week - more importantly I hope I feel deeply about those things that grieve the heart of God.

Time for rest.

Jeff

Generous Giving

We tackled a tough subject Sunday! It's the one many pastors cringe over sharing, but it's soooo critical to the advancement of God's purposes for His church and The Grove. Thanks for the many comments after the message - I'm of course assuming you are the ones who already practice giving generously.



As we move into the holidays and toward 09 I am challenged by the many dreams God has given us and what we will need to do to accomplish them with His help. As I mentioned Sunday, our giving will need to increase and be consistent.



Speaking of generosity - I had the privilege of driving down to Mansfield yesterday to drop off the 52 Operation Christmas Child boxes. The people were truly thankful and impressed that we all had the plastic ones. They said it made it much easier to pack. As you will see by the pictures they had a group of friendly volunteers waiting for me and before I knew it they were packing them 12-13 in a larger box and then out top the semi where 600 boxes had already been loaded.



Thank you Grovers for your generosity - we have a couple more opportunities before this holiday is over to be generous - be sure to be there Sunday as we join the Advent Conspiracy!

Rest and Other Things I Learned in The Sticks

Last week I attended a two day conference called "The Sticks" in Loudonville, OH (Officially in The Sticks). I left late on Monday (my day off) and rushed back to lead the men's group on Wednesday night. I was reminded repeatedly through the conference several things but one thing stuck, again. "We cannot be dependent on ourselves and dependent on God at the same time. When we consider the practice of rest unnecessary, we also will inevitably lose sight of the necessity of God."

I justified my involvement the lat 6 weeks in a new life growth group because I wanted to get to know these ladies. I don't regret it, just realize I need to do a better job of protecting my day off.

How are you doing in the rest department? I'm concerned about you - because as much as I run I see some of you running even harder - and the holidays are on top of us which means some of you will run even faster! Why!

What are we modelling to our kids, and our neighbors (who we seek to reach for Christ) when they see us frenetically going from experience to experience, never seeming to be satisfied by the previous?

I pray you will join me in the Advent Conspiracy. We will explain more fully on Sunday, November 30th - but let me prime the pump (so to speak). Before you go crazy with your calendar and your credit cards for this holiday - STOP - see what God wants to do to you, in you and through you this Christmas!

That's all for now - REST - STOP - sounds great to me.

Pastor Jeff

p.s. Prayers welcome for Cindy and I as we go to TN to see our daughter and grandson to help them prepare for their daddy's return from Iraq the following week. More from Nashville and more about The Sticks!

Mold Me, Make Me, Fill Me, Use Me

From the moment we helped Jim Anderson load in his equipment (potters wheel, table and supplies) I knew we were in for a treat. He carries such a sweet serving spirit and wanted to be down on the floor, close to the people so everyone could see. The children sat close and watched intently.

He started with a song, "Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me."

God's Spirit indeed feel upon those in attendance.

Jim served as a pastor til last June - but his passion for his craft and the ability to bring his ministry to groups like ours was too much to do it all.

I can see why - Jim shared a life changing, life altering message. It was one of those kinds of experiences that only come along once in a while. I am different because of it. Maybe it was the way he wove scripture and the many lessons we have already learned during this 40 Day campaign into his presentation. It certainly was neat to see him throw a lump of clay on the wheel, center it, open it up and then draw it up into the shape it was designed to take.

He reminded us that God shapes us in 4 ways; through the Bible, prayer, being an active part of the Body of Christ and through our circumstances.

At the end he reminded us that his pottery had to dry completely, then be fired once, glaze applied and then fired in an even hotter fire before it would be completed. I know that none of us enjoy the refiners fire but it burns off the impurities and makes us pure to be more useful to God.

Jim closed the way he started - by singing an old hymn, "Have thine own way" - it was great!

I am so glad I met Jim - I am so glad God used him to further shape my life. I'm sure those present felt the same way.

Pastor Jeff

To Do Community or Not Do Community - That Is The Question

In one of my emails this week I was directed to a book review and a short excerpt from a new book entitled "Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community" by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis.

The book was trying to help blend two camps of thought. One is from the traditional church claiming that the emerging church movement is short on truth; and the emerging church stating that the traditional church is short on community. As I read intently I came across this; "We agree with the conservatives that the emerging church is too often soft on truth. But we do not think the answer is to be suspicious of community. Indeed, we think that conservatives often do not “do truth” well because they neglect community. Because people are not sharing their lives, truth is not applied and lived out."

This really got my attention for a couple of reasons. First, our vision is to be real people with real truth. The second is my burden to see the people of The Grove experiencing true community.

My commitment has been to share the truth in contemporary ways with the use of music and media. I am conscious of the allegations from some in Christianity that we may have therefore adopted a decision to dispense "gospel light" to our people. I would challenge anyone to visit the Grove and tell us we are doing that. You can disagree with our style, but the TRUTH is spoken!

So I'm not concerned that we couldn't pass the scrutiny test of others in the truth argument. What I am concerned about, no actually baffled over, is the reluctance, and in some ways downright refusal, for people to participate in a life-growth group.

Over the years I've read everything I can get my hands on about building up your groups - the struggle of how busy everyone is - how skeptical we all are - this technique and that technique. We've shared testimonies from members whose lives have been powerfully effected by life-growth group involvement - and yet people still don't sign up.

Everyone who attends The Grove is aware that for the next 40 days (actually 38 now) we are participating in an all church spiritual growth campaign which strongly emphasizes enrollment in one of 6 groups that meet during the week. I've led two already and the third met just yesterday. The word back is that they are too short! People are truly enjoying the conversations that are emerging from the DVD lesson and the following discussion.

So what more can I do to help people see that; "Because people are not sharing their lives, truth is not applied and lived out"?

I will definitely pray for people to slow down, re-prioritize, and re-examine their refusal to get into a group - if not for themselves then for the impact they can have on the rest of the group.

I know lives are going to be changed and the end result of this campaign will be amazing, but I can't seem to let go of the fact that some will miss out, and that truly is a burden to me.

We will as Pastor Rick Warren suggests, invite people one more time this week, because it's not too late we've just begun. I just hope people will respond.

Nature Cries Out

All week long I've been planning on sharing what God put on my heart last weekend in the final moments of the leadership retreat. After the group had participated in a session on evaluating The Grove "On Purpose", then evaluating themselves, we were led in a session on personal brokenness. We then discussed the biblical dynamics of revival in a church. It was an exhausting day - we worshipped around the campfire, and then ended the day with a video by Louie Giglio on how big our creator God really is. Sunday morning was a time for personal reflection in which we all went out on our own to look at nature and listen to what God was saying to us.

The pictures attached and the following is what I want to share with you today:

"As I walked and talked with the Lord I found myself sitting under the overhang of a building that had seen better days. R4sting underneath was also a vintage Ford tractor with a makeshift trailer made of the pick up bed from a Dodge truck.

Only a stones throw away was a rusted up retired wood chipper - left among the weeds no longer useful except as a refuge for mice or the occasional bird perch.

A quick glance in the immediate area revealed an abandoned car - pick up cap, an old pull behind the tractor lawn mower, cinder blocks and other unrecognizable metal objects.

I immediately thought this was a good word picture for the body of Christ and even for me individually.

I sometimes feel like that old Ford tractor, I've got more rusty hinges every year - some because of the normal aging process - others because I'm not taking care of it as I should. Yes Lord, I'll pay better attention to this temple you've created so that I won't be forced to retire earl;y only to be useful as an Angus or Ruby perch.

The body is made up of Fords, Chevy's, Chrysler's and the occasional foreign model. We have all kinds of discarded things laying around our yards too - like relationships, dreams, passions, and God inspired vision.

Help me Lord to assist others in realizing their full potential - to reignite their passions - restore their relationships - fulfill their dreams and finish well.

In the quiet or at times, not so quiet woods, I once again am in touch with the one who created it all. The one who is so far away and yet so close. The one who can give me serenity in the midst of chaos. The one who can restore right relationships - undo past failures - correct my pride issues and use me, even me, rusted and at times wishing I could retire early.

May I be an oil can, grease gun, sand blaster, or polishing rag in your kingdom!"

Not sure who else this inspiration was meant for - pray it encourages someone else.

Stay tuned for more as we live Purpose Driven Lives!