Hello Church,
It's happening before our eyes... we are growing younger...
Over the past several weeks we have watched young people participate more in the life of Emmanuel. The Children's Message is back as part of worship and we had 10? kids younger than 12 in worship.... most of which went to Children's Church..... thanks to Amanda Forsee... a relatively younger person who decided to take on the challenge.
And if you haven't noticed, our praise band ministry is younger with the addition of Mckenzie Uhl. Add Hope and Morgan and Russ's higher age category is brought down a few notches. And don't forget Owen Boone is helping with the slide show.
And don't forget the refurbished youth group. For 3 weeks now we have had a consistent group of 8 meet on Sunday evenings.... led by a young Morgan, a relatively young Kevin, and ... well... Chad (who is still younger than Russ).
Another note is that the Youth group is deciding to take on the challenge of a Christmas program to be held on December 22nd. More details to come very soon.....
What do we take from this? It isn't just kids getting more involved. It is the blessing of having relatively young leaders step forward and take charge.
I can't overstate the opportunity to grow from this. We need to be ecstatic at what is happening and take full advantage. So many 'kid-friendly' churches are seen as the big kind that have big budgets and numerous paid staff with off-the-chart facilities. This doesn't have to be so. Spread the word. Emmanuel is growing younger.
We need to look for and invite those who could fit into a church that is growing younger. We need to continue to allow, teach and guide young people into leadership and encourage them to keep learning and growing. We need to celebrate youth in a Church that too often dreams of young families.... but only dreams.
It's happening. Emmanuel is growing younger. What are we going to do about it? We need to share the news and invite, invite, invite. We are growing younger and growing up.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
Monday, October 28, 2019
Monday, October 21, 2019
Angels, Demons And What You Can Do About Them
Hello Church,
For those of you who have listened to me for the past 10 years (or 23 years), you know I talk very little about Satan. I also don't preach or teach a lot on the belief that there are cosmic battles taking place around us unseen. Angels and demons who fight for the right to take human souls or cause or prevent human tragedy make a great book or movie, but does it really fit biblical theology or a Christ-centered belief system?
There are other reasons I don't talk much about it, but the main one is that Free Will is a big deal to me. A popular excuse people have for doing bad, wrong, immoral or unethical things is that 'the devil made me do it'.... or that is to say, someone or something else is to blame for our actions. It's an easy out. We shy away from taking responsibility for our choices when we could just confess the truth.....
I was mad
I was in a bad mood
I was in a hurry
I didn't notice
I didn't listen
I didn't care
I was selfish, self-centered, self-absorbed
I just made a bad decision
Biblical Theology is, at times, far away from our cultural perceptions of the 'underworld' or 'heavenly realms'. As we have discussed in Bible Study, how we understand angels has been influenced heavily by various cultures over the centuries. How we market and make money off of them just reinforces these understandings.
My take covers a couple of layers. First, my decisions or the decisions of others -- be it informed or misinformed decisions-- say a lot about how our days go. Sometimes those decisions are mine and sometimes a decision that a stranger makes can impact my life in wonderful or tragic ways. We live in community, like it or not. All of our decisions weave themselves around one another causing endless domino effects that we sometimes are not ever aware of.
Second, God created a Universe that is always changing and renewing itself. Some would say, for example, that the tornadoes in Texas last night were spiritually motivated by either God or Satan. I say when we build our homes in tornado alley, we understand the risk we take by our decisions. Just as if we build our house by the Ohio River, we understand the risk of flooding.... or if we walk under a dead tree during a windy day, we understand the risk of getting hit on the head from a falling branch... or if we walk down hard-wood steps in our socks we take the risk of falling on our butts (personal experience notwithstanding).
This belief system might make some uncomfortable. It makes me more comfortable. Having the gift every day to make good decisions that matter to myself and others is something to look forward to. It beats waking up every day and wonder what others are going to do to me.... something I can't control anyhow.
Live the gift. Make good decisions. Satan won't like it and he can't do anything about that either.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
For those of you who have listened to me for the past 10 years (or 23 years), you know I talk very little about Satan. I also don't preach or teach a lot on the belief that there are cosmic battles taking place around us unseen. Angels and demons who fight for the right to take human souls or cause or prevent human tragedy make a great book or movie, but does it really fit biblical theology or a Christ-centered belief system?
There are other reasons I don't talk much about it, but the main one is that Free Will is a big deal to me. A popular excuse people have for doing bad, wrong, immoral or unethical things is that 'the devil made me do it'.... or that is to say, someone or something else is to blame for our actions. It's an easy out. We shy away from taking responsibility for our choices when we could just confess the truth.....
I was mad
I was in a bad mood
I was in a hurry
I didn't notice
I didn't listen
I didn't care
I was selfish, self-centered, self-absorbed
I just made a bad decision
Biblical Theology is, at times, far away from our cultural perceptions of the 'underworld' or 'heavenly realms'. As we have discussed in Bible Study, how we understand angels has been influenced heavily by various cultures over the centuries. How we market and make money off of them just reinforces these understandings.
My take covers a couple of layers. First, my decisions or the decisions of others -- be it informed or misinformed decisions-- say a lot about how our days go. Sometimes those decisions are mine and sometimes a decision that a stranger makes can impact my life in wonderful or tragic ways. We live in community, like it or not. All of our decisions weave themselves around one another causing endless domino effects that we sometimes are not ever aware of.
Second, God created a Universe that is always changing and renewing itself. Some would say, for example, that the tornadoes in Texas last night were spiritually motivated by either God or Satan. I say when we build our homes in tornado alley, we understand the risk we take by our decisions. Just as if we build our house by the Ohio River, we understand the risk of flooding.... or if we walk under a dead tree during a windy day, we understand the risk of getting hit on the head from a falling branch... or if we walk down hard-wood steps in our socks we take the risk of falling on our butts (personal experience notwithstanding).
This belief system might make some uncomfortable. It makes me more comfortable. Having the gift every day to make good decisions that matter to myself and others is something to look forward to. It beats waking up every day and wonder what others are going to do to me.... something I can't control anyhow.
Live the gift. Make good decisions. Satan won't like it and he can't do anything about that either.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
Monday, October 14, 2019
.... Those People Who Are Never Happy.....
Hello Church,
Things are looking up (it's what churches do). What a wonderful baptism yesterday to top off a week of optimism!
It's odd how fast life can change. I think a word that finance advisers would use is 'volatility'. The ups and downs can come fast and furious. In other times, they can come subtle and gradual.
I've learned not to let the volatility of life decide how I approach my day or week or month. It isn't easy. I try to let my faith in a consistent God guide me. Yet emotions do get the best of me at times.
When bad stuff happens, I am tempted to have a grumpy week. When good stuff happens, life becomes fine and dandy.
The truth is, if I let others depict how my week goes, then does it not minimize my faith in a consistent God? If I believe that God supplies all I need to live forever and ever in a state of grace, then isn't that good enough for every one of my days to be good? You would think?
So we come to those individuals who never seem happy or satisfied or content. It makes sense to me if there is no faith in a consistently loving God. However, what about those who claim the Faith? What about those who say they believe in the saving Grace in Christ and freely talk about the joy that God offers to everyone who believes? What if some such people never seem happy?
I've never been one to question a person's state of salvation. It isn't my job. Yet I struggle with those who are genuinely and consistently unhappy even as they sing 'I've Got The Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down In My Heart'.
Is this you? If so, I encourage you into doing some soul searching. God is too good to walk with him with your head down all the time.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
Things are looking up (it's what churches do). What a wonderful baptism yesterday to top off a week of optimism!
It's odd how fast life can change. I think a word that finance advisers would use is 'volatility'. The ups and downs can come fast and furious. In other times, they can come subtle and gradual.
I've learned not to let the volatility of life decide how I approach my day or week or month. It isn't easy. I try to let my faith in a consistent God guide me. Yet emotions do get the best of me at times.
When bad stuff happens, I am tempted to have a grumpy week. When good stuff happens, life becomes fine and dandy.
The truth is, if I let others depict how my week goes, then does it not minimize my faith in a consistent God? If I believe that God supplies all I need to live forever and ever in a state of grace, then isn't that good enough for every one of my days to be good? You would think?
So we come to those individuals who never seem happy or satisfied or content. It makes sense to me if there is no faith in a consistently loving God. However, what about those who claim the Faith? What about those who say they believe in the saving Grace in Christ and freely talk about the joy that God offers to everyone who believes? What if some such people never seem happy?
I've never been one to question a person's state of salvation. It isn't my job. Yet I struggle with those who are genuinely and consistently unhappy even as they sing 'I've Got The Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down In My Heart'.
Is this you? If so, I encourage you into doing some soul searching. God is too good to walk with him with your head down all the time.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
Monday, October 7, 2019
I Feel Good. Na na na na na na na.... I Know That I Would Now
Hello Church,
People energy is a funny thing. You can't really measure it, but you can feel it. Sometimes it is subtle and sometimes it is obvious. One thing I've learned over the years is begin able to identify people energy in order to help me discern the health of a congregation.
I'm not always good at this. My attempt at optimism sometimes gets in my way. Or when I get discouraged in my personal life, that can also skew my perceptions. However, I try to look at the level of participation, attitudes and listen to feedback. Needless to say, church life is always in flux from season to season and year to year.
But I gotta say that I feel really good. Emmanuel has found new energy in some new leadership. Areas of youth, worship, community outreach and discipleship has trended upward. This is a lot at once. I'm trying to keep up. When the energy of the church increases, I must not get left behind.
That said, people energy doesn't always translate to growth.... either numerical or spiritual. In order to do so, we need to be ready to invite, nurture and connect people to one another. True, we want to feel good about what we are inviting people to come and see. One thing they will see is a passion for various areas of ministry.
If you have been feeling discouraged about your church life, I invite you to look hard at Emmanuel. Find that energy and draw from it. We have evolved over the past 12 months. We are different. We prioritize different. We are more intentional. We are better focused. A year ago we were tired. Today we are certainly more enthused and hopeful.
As I walk forward with you, I hope you consider to commit or recommit to the church... be it with your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Together, and with God's help, we will strive to make positive impacts on people's lives..... both inside and outside the church.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
I am always available to set up any appointment if you need to talk about anything. You can call me at 513-463-7378 or email me at pastorjoe@emmanuel-umc.com.
People energy is a funny thing. You can't really measure it, but you can feel it. Sometimes it is subtle and sometimes it is obvious. One thing I've learned over the years is begin able to identify people energy in order to help me discern the health of a congregation.
I'm not always good at this. My attempt at optimism sometimes gets in my way. Or when I get discouraged in my personal life, that can also skew my perceptions. However, I try to look at the level of participation, attitudes and listen to feedback. Needless to say, church life is always in flux from season to season and year to year.
But I gotta say that I feel really good. Emmanuel has found new energy in some new leadership. Areas of youth, worship, community outreach and discipleship has trended upward. This is a lot at once. I'm trying to keep up. When the energy of the church increases, I must not get left behind.
That said, people energy doesn't always translate to growth.... either numerical or spiritual. In order to do so, we need to be ready to invite, nurture and connect people to one another. True, we want to feel good about what we are inviting people to come and see. One thing they will see is a passion for various areas of ministry.
If you have been feeling discouraged about your church life, I invite you to look hard at Emmanuel. Find that energy and draw from it. We have evolved over the past 12 months. We are different. We prioritize different. We are more intentional. We are better focused. A year ago we were tired. Today we are certainly more enthused and hopeful.
As I walk forward with you, I hope you consider to commit or recommit to the church... be it with your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Together, and with God's help, we will strive to make positive impacts on people's lives..... both inside and outside the church.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
I am always available to set up any appointment if you need to talk about anything. You can call me at 513-463-7378 or email me at pastorjoe@emmanuel-umc.com.
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