Have You Found God Yet?

My message this Sunday is entitled, "Seekers" . . . and is based upon that pericope in Luke which contains the Lord's Prayer and the Lord's admonition that we should ask, seek, and knock if we are to discover the will and leading of God.

I'm pondering this message deeply this week because I know many congregations that have been built around the idea of offering "seeker" worship services--the idea being that there is a group of people who are seeking and another group of people who have "found" what they are seeking (and are then by definition no longer seekers but true Christians).

I don't see this distinction in the gospel, however.  Jesus told his disciples to "seek first the kingdom of God"...but the Greek verb form here would better be translated, "continue to seek the kingdom" or "never stop seeking the kingdom."

Now here is the spin.  The essence of faith is seeking!  It is not finding. 

Jesus made it clear that when we pray the Lord's Prayer, we are seeking God, the one who is higher and greater than we are . . . seeking the kingdom on earth as it exists in heaven.  When we pray, we are asking.  We are seeking God through our continued knocking, our continuing persistence and attention toward the things of God . . . even that, and especially that, which we do not understand.

We are always seekers.  If we are found, it is God who has found us . . . not us who have found God.

We are always seekers.  

Kind of like that line in the U-2 song:  "I still haven't found what I'm looking for."  

Are you still seeking first the kingdom?  If so, Jesus said all the rest will follow after, not the other way around.
~Pastor Todd 

Summer Breeze

Summer's at Calvary are as busy, or busier, than many other times of the year.  Vacation Bible School, Theatre for Christ, and then subsequently planning for the September Fish Fry are three of the largest events/ministries through the year.  So . . . never a dull moment.

Obviously, it takes many hands and hearts to create a church of size and impact, and we want to send kudos out to the many who helped with:

Vacation Bible School . . . and the hundreds of children who graced our halls and lawns.

Theatre for Christ . . . and the hundreds of people, mostly guests, who found joy and togetherness, as well as the cast and crew, in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

The Fish Fry planning team . . . and the new faces and excitement and energy found in creating this annual event.

And also our Prayer Warriors . . . who pray without ceasing.

Our Funeral Dinner Teams . . . who provide for the needs of those grieving.

The Calvary Learning Academy . . . and the gift of new playground equipment and the hard work of mulching a playground.

Our Calvary Staff . . . who are so motivated, gifted, excited, and capable in their ministry.

And thanks to the congregation, too . . . for generosity, prayers, thoughtfulness and joy in the journey. 

I hope the summer breezes can carry us along into another spectacular Hoosier Fall and the many other life changes we will experience in ministry together.

~Pastor Todd

On the Set

Sunday morning was a new adventure for me, as I actually preached my sermon standing behind Lucy's Psychiatric Booth (The Doctor is "In") from our Theatre for Christ set of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.  (In case you don't yet have your ticket, get one!!  Can be ordered online from the Calvary web site.) Show times are:  Friday 7 p.m., Saturday 7 p.m. and Sunday @ 2:30 p.m.

After my sermon Sunday, two people gave me a nickel.  (Remember:  Lucy charges 5 cents for her services.)

Several other individuals did tell me that, while they didn't have a nickel, my sermon was worth more than 5 cents, and one dear lady said that while my sermon wasn't psychological in nature, it did stir some thoughts and helped her to see a few things more clearly.  (How, only God can tell.)

I hope you appreciate Calvary's many gifts in this direction. We did have some spectacular music, with soloists singing "You Raise Me Up" and "Deep River" and, of course, two selections from You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown to boot. As I have pointed out in several sermons of late, we are one of those few congregations that continues to get younger with each passing year.  We have children who offer their gifts of song, and who are eager to go on mission trips.  And with so many of our teens returning from Mountain Top and Soup's On this summer, there is a spirit of excitement and energy in their testimonies and their faith.  And I also note that some of our senior members went out of their way today to pick up neighbors and bring them to church . . . including one dear woman who had recently moved to the area but cannot drive because she is blind.  She received communion on Sunday (by our United Methodist invitation) and was deeply moved by Christ's presence and warmth.  And as far as first time guests go, another woman told me after church:  "We just moved to Brownsburg, and leaving this morning I know this is where I belong."

So . . . let's continue to make Calvary a people of open hearts and open doors.  We always have guests.  We always have people to welcome.  And one of Calvary's gifts is warmth.  

Didn't John Wesley say something about a warm heart and staying in love with God?  Sort of makes sense now that I think about it. 

 

If I Had a Hammer

In recent days I've been making certain preparations for my mission trip to Guatemala (in mid-October).  This trip will be an opportunity for me to spend some time with my good friend, Tom Heaton, as well as gain insight and knowledge in preparation for our Calvary trip/team going in March, 2014.  

One this is for certain.  Ideology around missions has changed (and rightfully so) over the past thirty years.  United Methodist Missionaries like Tom Heaton (in Guatemala) and Bob Walters and Taylor Denyer (in Congo) are community-builders, leaders, teachers, and most importantly, partners within the communities and constituencies they serve. 

In going to Guatemala, I'm going to strive to leave behind my pre-conceptions and North American ideas about what I have to offer.  My goal, in large part, will be to receive humbly (and even eagerly) those unique Guatemalan qualities and the spirit that makes a mission/ministry work because of the people who live, work and die there. 

Of course, if I can help, and when I can help . . . I shall.  I'll work hard.  I'll listen.  I'm willing to sweat.  I'm willing to eat what the people eat.  But I will also look for the joy and the peace and the healing that is taking place . . . and when and where I can encourage others to use their God-given gifts and resources to further their own communities and build the kingdom of God . . . I'll do that, too.

In essence, I'm keeping it simple.  I have no illusions about being someone's savior, or healer, or teacher.  But I can make new friends.  I can pound a nail.

Seems to me there is something sacramental about this type of missiology.  When we go to a strange place and experience hospitality, friendship, and common bonds of faith and love . . . we get a much clearer picture of what it means to be "one in Christ". 

I hope to experience all of this.  And plan to.  If I have a hammer.  

Doing the Christian Thing

In recent years many people have begun using the phrase, "I just want to do the Christian thing", as an explanation for various kinds of decisions and choices they make.  But sometimes I have to wonder:  "What, exactly, is the Christian thing?" 

Some folks, for example, seem to think that doing the Christian thing is taking a hard-line, or a "stand", or being unwavering in their certainties.  Being a Christian is about defining oneself over-and-against others who are not Christian . . . and even deciding who is and is not a follower of Jesus. 

But I wonder if, instead of asking, "What is the Christian thing to do?" we would not be better served by asking, "How did Jesus act?" or "How did Jesus respond?" or even "How would Jesus have me treat this person or this situation?"

After all, being a Christian--as defined as a follower of Jesus, or one who sets out to live his or her life after the example and teachings of Christ--is principally about relationships (with God and others).  How we treat people, how we accept people, how we work with people, how we greet people, and how we help people are all defined by the spirit of Jesus . . . if we are doing the Christian thing! 

And then here's the real kicker . . .

The gospel teaches us that we should even love our enemies, that we should treat those who might differ from us, or disagree with us, or even hate us, with an even greater love . . . as Christ loved.  This is doing the Christian thing!

I don't have answers for the church.  Never have.  But I do know that much of what passes these days for "The Christian Thing" frequently isn't Christian at all.  And sometimes those folks who tell us they are just "doing the Christian thing" aren't representing the gospel of Christ.

Which makes me wonder . . . am I doing the Christian thing?  Are YOU? 

Glory Sightings At Vacation Bible School

Okay, here's a few glory sightings from Vacation Bible School this past week from the perspective of a pastor who was outside leading the games.

First, lots of gifts and glory evident in the staff and volunteers who created the most remarkable theme I've ever seen at a VBS--a true Medieval castle with all the trimmings and reminders of finding our strength in God.  A lot of love here.

Second, lots of glory in these children . . . about 260 of them, and their enthusiasm for Jesus.  They made crafts, gave more than $650, and collected other goods that will go to International Heifer Project.  So the poor will be helped.

Third, have to say I enjoyed the hugs and the kids who identified me as "Pastor Todd" instead of "Sir Todd".  We played tag, red-light, green-light, had relay races, and even launched water balloons.  The big hit was the bounce house on Friday and I don't think I heard anyone cry when it was time to go.  All of these children were cooperative, respectful, a very joyous bunch.

I did get a kick out of one little boy who was crying, however.  When I asked him what was wrong, he said, "I didn't get to touch a water balloon."  We got him a water balloon, the kid was fine.  Must love latex. 

Don't forget to worship at Calvary this Sunday at 9:00 a.m. if you want to see the children and hear their music.  We also have a baptism, commissioning for our Mountain Top Missionaries, commissioning for our service project at Robert's Park Soup's On, a soloist extraordinaire, and with all of this . . . a rather brief sermon entitled "Devotion." 

I love having to make three sermons for the weekend:  Long (Saturday 5 p.m.), Short (Sunday @ 9:00 am) and Medium (Sunday @ 11:11 am).  

See you in the Devotion place this Sunday!

Some Post-Annual-Conference Calvary Celebrations

In the aftermath of our annual conference there were several celebrations that we should note:

* This first day of Vacation Bible School (VBS) saw nearly 300 people in attendance, mostly children, who have come to learn about putting on the full armor of God.  Our Calvary building is decorated like a Medieval castle, complete with drawbridge, barred windows, thrones, family crests, and wall tapestries.  If you want to see Calvary's creativity in full-bloom, make sure you drop by before Friday afternoon. And don't forget that there is a great deal of learning going on.

* Calvary continues to receive the incredible gifts of our young people. Adam Hammerle played Bach on the organ this past Sunday, and Malachi Henry sang "Ride On, King Jesus" (a song in which he recently won a state-wide vocal competition for high school students). 

* And how's this?  I noted that Calvary paid 15% to the conference and district in 2012--one of the highest percentages among all congregations in the annual conference--a tithe and a half!!!!  We did get behind in our conference tithe in 2011, so this percentage reflects our "catch up" . . . but nevertheless, we did go the second mile. And better yet, our giving to missions over-and-above these gifts meant that nearly 25% of Calvary's total revenue went to meet needs outside of our own congregation and community.  And we won't even note the number of people who participated directly in these missions with their hands, time, or individual gifts!

* Finally I want to say a big THANK YOU to the congregation for your generosity in giving to all of these needs, and more.  While we have dipped behind in our mortgage payments for several months now, we are finding that God is able to supply every need, and I am confident we will see our mortgage funds grow from our own frugal prunings.  So, again . . . thanks for your generosity to God's work. 

And remember . . . we are praying and working that the kingdom of God may come on earth as it is in heaven.  YOU are integral to this work, vital to its success, and all of your time, talent and treasure does make a difference!

~Pastor Todd

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