Monday, August 8, 2011

Noticing

This was service weekend around our church. Many of us painted a house on Saturday, others delivered updated church directories to homebound members on Sunday, and still others spread out to sing at 3 care facilities in town Sunday afternoon. What a weekend! A great weekend! Weekends like this happen too seldom for churches. They are events we have to work in the schedule. But, when they do occur we always walk away feeling good, talking about the event, and someone invariably says “we should do that more often.” True!

This has been an incredible summer, all summer, for the Westhill family. The sag of summer seems to have passed us by so far. Families coming. Families looking. And hopefully families finding. And what they find I trust is a church striving to live out a Christian faith which is real, filled with grace, hopeful, providing a place for families and individuals to thrive spiritually, and for those in need to receive a fresh start. This has been an incredible summer. Record hot temperatures while a topic of conversation, has slowed down little, actually nothing.

As we look toward the fall plans are under way to strengthen and expand our children’s ministry, build-up other ministries, and I find myself working through the fall with messages to be preached. In all our planning and in all out events we are inspired by what we are taking the time to notice – God is at work! We have been called to witness the shaking of Divine presence waking us to the reality God is moving and transforming lives. And in response we stand and applaud. God is worthy of applause! And it is natural for us to applause! So put your hands together and let the gentle roar echo upwards.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Christians and Happiness

Can one be Christian and not happy, or is one a synonym of the other? And further if we profess to be Christians and are not happy where is the breakdown?

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Could You

So we talk about the joy of giving, but what if you went the entire season without buying anything for yourself and all gift-giving going one way – toward others. Not a single experience of exchange or even a negotiated quid pro quo. Could you do it? And would it be a great Christmas, or lame one? Weigh in! Be honest!

Monday, November 29, 2010

The Unspoken

Perhaps less so now than at one time, but there was a time when the topic of the Holy Spirit received little press for many. So, here is what I am wondering, does avoiding the topic of the Spirit hurt the identity or mission of the church? Perhaps it doesn't given that the Trinity works in concert. On the other hand could it be we cannot be fully who we are designed to be if we neglect a full engagement of the Spirit? Topics on the table! What do you think?

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Honest with the Season

If we need a holiday to remember to say "Thank You" and carve out time for family how deep does our appreciation go? Shouldn't gratitude be a routine part of life? And let's face it, it seems like Thanksgiving is becoming more of a pause between us and "Black Friday!" The point is on the table. Weigh in!

Monday, November 22, 2010

The Season - roundtable

As Christian if we want to maximize this time of year for preaching the Gospel two thoughts come to mind: first, are we currently doing it; and two what would it require for us to raise the banner for Christ as this year draws to a close. Are we missing the opportunity by not taking up more bells to ring and offering more Christmas plays to attend? Or, if we invest our efforts in those activities do we miss more important opportunities?

Reminisce about the season. What are your thoughts?

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Jesus: Republican, or Democrat

Riding to the office this morning the news indicated today was going to be busy on Capitol Hill. Having moved beyond the political season we now watch the politicians positioning themselves for power. This leaves me wondering if Jesus were to walk the political streets today which party would He be affiliated with? Would He make the Republican events, or the democratic? Would He long for an Obama re-election, or two years out, a defeat? All this of course presumes He cares about political parties and strategy formatting positions, speeches, and campaigns.

We turn on the news, or more likely catch a quick story when we start up our computer, and fidget nervously, or smile uncontrollably. Yet, I wonder which party would Jesus carry the banner for, or would he be passing out tea?