Where do we go from here?

So what do the Magi and Moses have in common?  What does that have to do with us?  

Great questions.  As we begin the Advent season I am inspired by these two stories from Scripture that are the proof text for today’s sermon: Exodus 3:1-6 and Matthew 2:7-9.  See in the first text we have a guy who has been brought to the end of himself, Moses.  He probably remembers a time when he had power, status and prominence, even thought he knew what he was called to do, defend his people, and in his own strength tried to do it, killing an Egyptian and forcing him to flee the land.  But then after wandering in the desert for forty years, he has given up trying to figure out what he is called to do, his greater purpose and has instead accepted the role he knows he has, humble service and leadership of his family, and his father-in-law.  So much so that when he sees a burning bush, and is called over to it, told it is holy ground and given instructions he responds simply, “Who am I?”  He had let go of any self capability and come to the realization that he was not this great man.  He reached that point of surrender through a series of humbling circumstances and the mundane drudgery of life as a shepherd, which made him aware of all he was not.  Now he was useful to the LORD!!! 

In the second story we have a group of wise men, Magi, who were so revered and astute that they were given the task of watching the skies for signs and wonders of life.  These were men who had reached a pinnacle and climax of position in society, they were able to put together gifts of frankincense and myrrh, rare and extraordinary items, to bring to this King they knew was coming.  This is the other end of the spectrum.  Men who had gotten so far along in the intellectual process, searching wisdom and truth out that they ended up in the same place as Moses, humble servants to the one who was greater than they.  Knowledge brought them to the same place, the foot of the Lord, wanting to know who He was, and what they were to do now. 

I think as we enter Advent this is a powerful picture for us.  The Lord uses everything, good and bad circumstances, search for truth, life and death, everything to draw us into a more intimate knowledge of who He is and then a humble position of service to the call He has for us in this life, to bring glory to His name!  I am sure a question Moses and the Magi shared in common was one we should often ask ourselves, and more importantly our Heavenly Father, “Where do we go from here?”  What is it that He has in store for us, then we must realign all we do, all we are, all we believe around that.  In case you are wondering what the answer to that question is, and there is a more personal and unique answer for each of us, but like Moses and the Magi there is also an answer that applies to all of us, go read Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:7-8.

REJOICE…WITH THANKSGIVING

We are gathering together this week on Wednesday night to spend some time before Thanksgiving in thanksgiving, as the body of Christ!  Why?  We have truly experienced another incredible year as the Northland Oviedo family passionately in pursuit of God.  We saw the launch of our Missional May with Compassion International and the sending off of foreign missionaries, beach and pool Baptisms, local adventurers sent on mission trips to Jamaica and Africa, the Luke Project and Women’s Tea, the launch of our Neighborhood Gatherings, multiple Small Groups formed and multiplied, lots of new faces from congregants to baby’s, baby’s and more baby’s.  Even in a time where there is a lot of struggle and hurt, loss and suffering we all still have much to be thankful for form our salvation because of His sacrifice, to our brothers and sisters in Christ who are here with us, “spurring one another on in love and good deeds.”   Having lots to be thankful for is reason enough to take time out before we begin to eat too much food and fall asleep watching football, but Paul gives us a much, much better reason, the greatest reason of all. 

Read this for yourselves from Philippians 4:3-9:  

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 ⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Paul’s reason is more compelling than the list of things we have to be thankful for, even in a time when things are hard for many, these verses give us a clear picture of why we are to spend time in THANKS to the Lord!  In fact, it seems like Paul is actually saying something like “all the more reason to be thankful when things are bad, because He is going to give you what you need to get through it”.  Bring it all to Him, always, good, bad and the ugly, everything, and then, guess what will happen: “…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”

I want more of that, how about you?  “The peace of God that transcends all understanding” sounds pretty awesome, and HOW do I get that?  By bringing my whole life, all of it, to Him, in prayer and supplication (humble petition or request).  Do not be anxious about anything (see Matthew 6:26), He promises He will be with us always and although our situation and circumstances may not disappear, we will be strengthened to endure and glorify Him as we do. 

Join us either at the Tuesday night Thanksgiving Service at FUMCO in Oviedo, 7pm, details in the lobby OR at the Wed night of Prayer and Thanksgiving OR go and serve others at the FUMCO Thanksgiving Dinner, details in the lobby!  If you are going to spend the holiday alone and would like to be with some of us, please contact Amanda Hartley or myself, and we will do what we can to connect you to others, who, like you know they have plenty to be Thankful for this year!

Who me? NO!?

As we approach Thanksgiving and gear up for Christmas this weeks sermon really hits home for me.  See I did not start off in the call to ministry at all.  I was in the business world for 10 years, nominal Christian at best.  Then God turned my life upside down and inside out.  As He continued to bring me to a place of complete surrender it was not Pastors and clergy who were there ministering to me, it was people just like you.  It was a guy named John who asked me to start meeting for breakfast and praying with me.  He was just a normal guy with a job, and wife and kids; responsibilities and way too much to do but who knew that God had called him to minister to me, without even really knowing what all that meant.  He was not seminary trained, nor was he an expert on theological issues, he was simply available; to the Holy Spirits using, and to me.  It changed everything, forever. 

God used ministers and clergy as well, in different ways, and the church absolutely played a pivotal role, but it was not the building or degrees or titles that made the greatest impact, it was ordinary people.  That is how it has always been, we should not be surprised.  Adam was made from dirt, nothing really all that special.  Noah was a bit of a crazy man to his neighbors, Abraham a wanderer, David the youngest of many better suited men, and Jesus a carpenter’s son born out of wedlock.  This is the great mystery the Jewish people were never able to unravel; God does not need to do things the way we think they ought to be done, He does not need common sense or even logic to accomplish His purposes.  He tells us this very thing, in one of my favorite verses, Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”  declares the LORD.  He uses the foolish thinigs to confound the wise, and it seems like He really enjoys doing it (read Matthew 11:25, Luke 10:21, 1 Corinthians Ch 1 and Ch 3). 

Why?  Because then there is no doubt who is doing what, it is Him, and He gets all the glory.  That is good news for us, and for them.  He is doing the great work, in fact it says that He has been planning in advance for us to do (Rom 8:28, Eph 2:10, Phil 21:13).  Well then, carry on all of you ministers of the Gospel, for each of us has received the power of the Holy Spirit, and we have all likewise received the same instruction: Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:7-8.  We may each have different gifts, and some may be called to be ministers, clergy, teachers, etc but these may not be the people God chooses to effect the lives of all the people around each and every one of you; He may want to use YOU, as He used a regular guy like John in my life!  And it may very well change everything for them and for you!

What are you doing next weekend?

“How do we get people more involved in each others lives, and as a result of those relationships and their common relationship with Christ, more involved in the lives of others all around them?“  As we (the Northland Oviedo staff and leadership) have been wrestling with that question for some time now, we have strategically designed social events, bible studies, classes, service opportunities and the like for you over the last three years, always to this end.  We want people to be in a passionate pursuit of Christ, individually and corporately, seeking to know Him and make Him known (that is the ‘others’ part).  We have been blown away by the participation of each of you in the various gathering we have orchestrated, and even more excited about the fruit that has been born out those kinds of things with small groups forming on their own, service opportunities being thought of and executed from a completely self sufficient grass roots level.  That is the result of each of us accepting personal responsibility for our own spiritual health and growth, then applying into our lives and creating ripples of impact in the Kingdom all around us in the lives of others!

All that being said, nothing has quite captured my gratitude to God as much as the last few weeks of response from you, the Oviedo congregation, to the Smaller Community Gatherings idea.  We were sitting at lunch with a congregant as a staff talking about this desire to see people be more connected to each other, geographically so they would run into each other doing life.  Then she simply said, “My church used to do this thing called Agape Meals, would that work?”  So we started kicking around this idea of breaking the area up into communities/neighborhoods and strongly encouraging a congregant led, grass roots gathering to get to know each other better.  First we though we would ‘break the ice’ with this idea by creating a meet and greet, which we did a few weeks back.  Go and meet your neighbors after service right here in the room, sign up in your area so we can connect you to one another, and lets see what happens.  Well that is what has been incredible.  Almost everyone took the time to do just that.  They got up, went to their area and met people they live by, some already known, others brand new connections.  We saw groups break out in prayer right there on the spot, one couple moved to help another couple right away, another couple start organizing a gathering for their community…AWSEOME!!! 

That leads me to the push for next weekend.  We are asking each of you to, at some point connect with those in your community, by email or phone and setup a meal together.  At some point from Friday November 13 through Sunday November 15^th get together and eat a meal.  Maybe a picnic, a BBQ, breakfast, whatever.  You decide, you meet, and you get to know one another.  Then we will see what happens next, maybe we will begin to see and feel the ‘awe and wonder’ Luke tells us of in Acts 2:42-47 and maybe, many will be added to our numbers daily?  You just never know what God is up to, do you?

The People

Last weekend was our BIG SURPRISE event after both the 9 and 11 am services.  I pray that each of you who was able to went and shared a meal with someone else.  Maybe there was a group of you; maybe you knew each other; maybe you found out you were next door neighbors; maybe you learned you work by one another, were from the same hometown, or know similar people; maybe you weren’t able to go last Sunday but you heard all about it and signed up for the next one.  Whatever the case may be, we wanted to share with you the ‘why’ behind this idea 

First and foremost, we need to be in community with each other and to do that we need to get to know each other.  We are called to be ‘like Christ’, transformed into His image, bringing glory to the Father, while being the good news.  Church is not a building we go to, it is a people we become.  To become something, one has to participate in the process in an ongoing fashion, most often with the help of others: like a pitcher becomes a big league pitcher with practice and a coach, or a parent becomes great parent with the input of friends and family and time on the job.  ‘Becoming’ is not a passive, occasional process, it is an intentional process that involves others.  So we wanted to help move that along by introducing you to one another and creating an opportunity to connect and with everyone’s busy lives, we though what better time to do that then right after church, and who doesn’t like to go eat on Sunday! 

Another reason we did it this way, geographically segmenting the congregation, was because often times when we don’t know what to do, we do what we know so we talk to, connect with or reach out to people like us.  We often do this by gravitating towards people, like us, but we wanted to encourage another way of doing this, by connecting with people we live near.  Why?  Because, you have more of a chance of creating 7 days a week community, accountability and relationships when you live near someone.  You might see each other at the store, the pharmacy, the stop light or the parent teach day.  This creates a community of believers looking out for each other, at the mail box per se, encouraging one another on, praying for each other and even looking out for the needs of those you live near like a neighbor who lost a job, or a spouse and needs help around the house.  Being equipped to be like Christ through bible studies, small groups and shared life experiences as well as being like Christ through serving becomes a part of your community life together.

The first century church functioned like this.  It was groups of people who met in a larger gathering to learn about their faith and worship God, and who also lived near one another and met in each others homes, praying for and edifying each other in the faith, meeting the needs of those around them, this was a life of worship in community. 

Acts 2:42-47 explains it like this: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The church being done simply: by living, loving, serving, and worshipping together in both large gatherings and smaller ones, in their neighborhoods and in the ‘church’.  Sunday worship is key, but so is getting to know one another in a way that encourages relationships with each other 7 days a week.  That is why we did what we did last Sunday, we want you to get to know one another, preferably those you may see throughout the week, so you can grow in the faith together, serve together, live the Christian life, together.   We will do it again soon, if you did not make it or need to sign up, please just let me know and we will connect you too!

Front Porches vs Garage Doors

I have favorite author by the name of Wendell Berry. He writes for the New Yorker and other magazines and some of his work has been compiled into some great books. I was assigned one of his books, “What are people for?” in a class at the seminary last Spring and it has been rocking me ever since. He writes about the exchanges we have made over the last 100 years in our country and culture. For example he goes on and on about the trade offs between efficiency and quality; between variety and value; between machines and people. He draws many glaring conclusions about the many presuppositions that were made in the pursuit of ‘better’ or ‘improved’. In one essay he says that we have made huge assumptions about the need for people to get off the farms as soon as they could, go get educated, climb the corporate ladder, so you can chase down all those amazing gadgets that are available and make life ‘easier’. He talks about the humor and irony of just those people now going out to the country to buy farmhouses to vacation at or retire on. He talks about the tyranny of choices that we have today, that often result in ‘analysis paralysis’ and more often than not, the inability to make any choices at all. But one of my favorite images he draws attention to is the transition we have made in home construction, from front porches that people would visit and socialize on with their neighbors, to walled in communities with gates and houses that have a big metal door on the front, that opens to let the residents in and then quickly closes behind them, preventing any sort of possible connection.

I think these observations say a lot not only about our country and the kids we have running around, the politicians leading, the families falling apart, the schools rotting away, the moral fabric fraying at the seams and the individual lives wandering aimlessly…I think it says a lot about the state of the Church. I don’t mean the building, I mean the people, the bride of Christ, you, me, US! We must fight against these tendencies to isolate ourselves, or to trade in the call we have had for 2000 years for the newest and brightest thing that grabs our attention. And most importantly we must do it together! That is what today and the BIG SURPRISE are all about! Enjoy!

LUKE 14:13 PROJECT

In today’s sermon from our guest preacher, David Loveless, we are focusing on the role we have been called to, being like Christ in the world, both in character and behavior.  As Pastor Joel has been building the case for us in this series, we are all called to BE the church, everywhere, everyday and that means more than attending a service on Sunday for about an hour, occasionally reading a devotional, or joining a one time service project.  Those are all good things but we are talking about something more.  We are talking about reorienting your life, your eyes and your ears to the call of the King, and the expansion of His Kingdom into this world, in and through each of us!  In the main Scripture verse today Jesus calls His followers to be a light, a city on a hill.  This idea of a people being a beacon of hope, comfort and rescue to the lost and weary traveler was powerful for them and potentially world changing for us today.  What would happen if we were this kind of church, all of us, all the time? The kind of church that people saw from where they were, and knew could bring them welcome and warmth, protection and provision.  What would happen if we were the church, and it was no longer a building people went to, but a people we had become?

The Luke 14:13 Project coming up this Saturday, October 17^th is an example of exactly this, being the church where we are, with what we’ve got, right now.  A group of women have been meeting since June planning and praying in response to God’s Word in Luke 14:13-14 “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”  They have partnered with other churches in the community through our relationship with the HOPE Foundation and are throwing a banquet for the women in our community who are in need.  If you want to be involved and haven’t been yet please contact Terry Tinsley (tatinsey@mac.com) or Maggie Jobson (mjobson@cfl.rr.com) and be a part of this with them. 

Christmas in the City is coming up in December, which last year fed a hot meal to over 1000 people, gave gifts and gift cards to over 600 kids, and provided a Christmas meal to over 400 families, and is another example of this ‘church without a building’ mentality.  It involved partnerships across our community to meet real needs people had together, as the body of Christ.   These are just two examples of the many ways that you, the Northland Oviedo congregation, have displayed Christ to our community and although they are both service oriented events, they are also both full of potential relationships between the body of Christ, and the wandering, lost travelers in our community. 

Keep your eyes and ears open for the next opportunity God has for you to be the church, right where you are, with what you’ve got.  We have lots of surprises in store for you to continue to engage with this concept and its real implications for the church, in this building, in our community and throughout the world.

Article 38: AA7 Running out of gas is…GOOD!

Today we are showing a short video and hearing a testimony right after service as a close to this series on our African Mission trip. We were being the church everywhere, everyday as Pastor Joel has preached today. Please stay after service and interact with each other as the body of Christ. It tells us to do this in Hebrews 10:24-25 (go read it)

The last story happened the last day, on our way out of Africa. We had been there almost 9 days. I learned a lot about being rather than doing. I watched people be led by the Spirit in a way I have rarely experienced. I observed that presence, listening and eye-contact were better than words at communicating. I uncovered just how much I don’t know, believe or have faith in yet. It was a revealing journey that I am still only now beginning to unravel. But it was all good. To know the Lord loves me so much, that He would gently nudge, woo and lead me to places I had not gone, or did not want to go, so He could develop in me something I did not have. A process I know goes on and on. I am reminded of one of Zoe, my 4 year olds, favorite songs, “Trust and Obey, there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Want a practical example? Sure! As we were heading down the long desert like road towards the airport, ready to head back home, I looked down at the gas gauge and realized we were almost on E. I noticed this the day before but a S African friend said, “You still have 100km when the light comes on, don’t worry you will be fine.” I am not worried, we are fine. The light goes on. I am still not worried, we are fine. I look around and know that we are in the middle of nowhere. I have 8 people in this van. There are NO gas stations to be found, nor are they readily present, and we need diesel. Still not worried, we are fine. 2 gas stations come and go, and by that I mean a gas pump outside a small shack, NO diesel. I look down and the gauge has, quite rapidly, dropped to the E line and is nudging below. I am a bit worried, not sure if we are fine? I mention this to my friend who simply says, “If we need gas and the Lord wants us to have it, then a station will appear with Diesel.” I think to myself, “yeah, that sounds great but…?” I offer a suggestion, “Please lean forward as we go down the hills, I am putting the car in neutral and coasting.” They do so and a hush settles in as they all start to process what running out of gas in the middle of Swaziland with a bunch of tourists might actually mean? Down a hill, up another. Again. We come up on a building with people outside and a green handled pump, DIESEL, a roar of cheers break out! I hit the brakes and the van following us nearly hits us. We both make the turn in and I pull up to the pump. Praises by all who have avoided whatever troubles they saw in that potential other ending to the story. “100 rand in fuel please!” The guy working walks back to pump and quickly returns requesting that we back up a bit so he can reach the handle. “Sure, no problem!” I turn the ignition and the van will not start! Silence falls over the van, then an eruption of cheers and praises even greater than before! God provided exactly what we needed, when we needed it, not before, and not more! We got our fuel, and headed home. A long journey with each other, with new people and most of all with HIM!

The last line in that hymn Zoe likes to sing says it all, “What He says we will do, where He sends we will go; Never fear, only trust and obey.”

TRUST AND OBEY!!!

Article 37: AA6 We are One Body

Now this is an interesting article to write as I continue the series of Africa Articles in reflection on the Mission trip 12 people from the Oviedo congregation took in July. Why? Well because the Pastor from South Africa who was the catalyst for this all being possible is here at Northland preaching this weekend. Pastor Leon is the senior pastor for Vredelust Church, our partner in Cape Town who has spearheaded the work at the Global School alongside Pastor Cleopas, the local pastor in Siteki, Swaziland that we have blessed to be a part of for the last 5 years!

I am sure his message will be great and more importantly that our relationship with him and his congregation, as well as the work we are all involved in there together will be strengthened. That is the amazing thing about the body of Christ, we are all so very different, yet so very much alike. In a country that seems so divided and segmented and focused on how different we all are I am recognizing more and more since flying half way around the world, just how alike we all are.

We all want to be loved, recognized, known, heard, valued, seen, counted, wanted, held, cared for, included and welcomed! Many of us have very different stories, circumstances, backgrounds, pasts, presents, and futures; careers, social circles, families, and friends; things, homes, cars, and musical interests BUT we all have one chance, one hope, one savior CHRIST! That is what makes us more alike than different, no matter what it may look, sound or feel like! In fact, the enemy wants us to believe we are all different because a main tactic he uses in his work against us is isolation. Satan came to Christ alone in the desert and he wants you to feel alone too. But what if we all knew that wasn’t true, ever, because you were already accepted and a part of something. What if we lived like it did not matter where you came from, what you wore, how you labeled yourself, what music you listened to because “In Christ” that is true, we are all one body!

Paul definitely felt this way, just listen to his words:

Romans 12:4-5 says it this way, “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

1 Cor 12:12 “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”

Ephesians 4:25 “for we are all members of one body.”

Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

I LOVE this last one, live in peace with one another as His peace rules in our hearts and be thankful! An attitude of gratitude is infectious. I am grateful for being shown by God that Pastor Leon and I and you are all much more alike than we are different, thanks to Christ’s completed work!

Article 36: AA5 Tension

I have been writing a series of articles in reflection on the recent mission trip to Africa that 12 people from our Oviedo congregation went on in July. This is the fifth such article. You can access the other by either going to the Oviedo blog page or the archived Northland newspapers found online, issues 32, 33, 34, 35. Why am I doing this? Because I believe more now than ever that God is active all over the world and He has invited each of us into His work, here and there. On Sunday Sept 20th we will share with each of you what God is doing there and here through each of us and our experiences, and how you can be involved from Oviedo in the Kingdom work in Africa, right now.

This is going to sound crazy but after about two days of being in the midst of the children, the school, the home visits, the South Africans and us I was reel between emotions of confusion, elation, excitement and despair. I had been in conversations with many different people about the reality we were facing and the minimal impact and effort we were having on any of it. I ended up with two verses, in tension in my heart and mind. Both Scripture and both true and both abused by many of us in the church to justify our behaviors either way.

The first verse is in Acts 3:6 a crippled beggar asks Peter and John for money, and Peter replies, “Look at us!” then says, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Here we see the response so many of us give with confidence to those who are in need, “they need Jesus, not a handout, food or clothing.” That is accurate; we all need Christ in our life. That is the ultimate need we all have, the need that has eternal implications. But they still need food and clothes, a job, a second chance, or a helping hand. They still have real physical, temporal needs as well.

The second verse is James 2:14-17 “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” This verse clearly says that only wishing well to our brothers and sisters who are in need, when we have what they are in need of is not the action of a faithful person.

Well there it is, TENSION! How do I do both and when? The conclusion I have come to lies in Romans 8 and Galatians 4 PLEASE go and read both of them this week. Be led by the Spirit in all that you do and remember what Christ said in Matthew 6 to those in need (all of us) “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”