Right around the third inning tonight at my sons baseball game the game was pretty much over. Every kids dream is to get a chance to contribute when it comes to sports. A chance to help the team. Although they were down 6 runs, my oldest son was called on to get the last out of a tough inning (little league of course). It was his first time pitching ever. I couldn’t help but think about the movie “The Rookie,” with Dennis Quaid. My son pitched a strike. A ball. The batter hit into a ground out. Inning over. If you could see his face. He would go onto stirke out seven in the final three innings of play and held the other team to one run. Proud daddy. Happy Son.

I really enjoyed leading worship this past Sunday. Every 6-8 weeks I get the opportunity to preach. I know I’ve shared that I’m very grateful and the HOS (Head of Staff) I serve with is a giver when it comes to sharing the pulpit between us three pastors. Although it was the day, half of the church was away, I still enjoyed giving the message, the Word of the Lord. If anything I enjoyed my own study time last week. I wish I had a set time to study and pray each week. One of my goals for the summer.

For these next few moments I want you to ponder this question. What would the church look like if we were to model a devoted, deliberate, and daring kind of Christian faith? This morning’s scripture lesson comes from the 2nd chapter of Acts, starting at verse 42 and ending at verse 47. If you would like to follow along with me you can find the passage on page 120 in your New Testament bibles. Listen for God’s Word.

Over the recent weeks we’ve looked at what it means to truly rely on the Holy Spirit of God for power. A power that comes from upon high and that can literally change the lives and hearts of many. The Apostle Peter got to witness this kind of power, a power so amazing and something that changed the course of history in the Christian church. Last week Pastor Keith talked about that kind of power in the creation story. What Peter witnessed was when church was the church. No walls. No committees. No church politics. A place where the community of faith understood it’s calling to be a devoted, deliberate, and daring people of faith. A place where the people of God knew what their purpose was as the body of Christ. To be messengers and givers of hope of the saving grace of Christ. A place where community happened and existed.

I believe devoted Christians are people, men and women, who are not concerned about themselves. A devoted Christian spends their time looking for ways of being an encouragement to others. They look for ways at helping others toward the love of God as Paul talks about in Hebrews 10:24; “So, let us consider how we may, spur one another towards love and good deeds.” Listen to Paul’s words from Philippians 2:3-4…”Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” A devoted Christian makes it their calling in life to considering others better then themselves. Who in your life models this kind of devotion? They are the kind of people who never expect anything back from you. They would be fine with just knowing that you were happy. According to this morning’s scripture lesson, devoted Christians also are ones who are devoted to the teachings of the Gospel message.

What made the early church unique was that it relied on the apostles teaching, Holy Scripture, God’s Word proclaimed more then just a source of knowledge. It was God’s Word spoken. Here at CPC the Bible is what we look to as the Apostles teaching. The Bible is the authoritative and the inspired Word of God for all of us as Christians. God’s Word is essential to the Christian faith and it is needed to deepen ones relationship with Christ. It is the way we come to know the love God has for his people. It is the way we meet Jesus and find his love and forgiveness for sin.

For us as the church to be devoted means that we become a church that listens to God’s Word. We together listen and approach God with a heart that is ready to be people who are deliberate in the way we tell others of God’s love. One way of listening to God’s Word is going to God in prayer. Becoming a church that prays is our calling as Christians. It is another Characteristic of the Christian Church. What is your prayer life like this morning? Do you make it a point to approach God’s throne on a daily basis with boldness in the prayers you bring before the Lord? Also are we a praying church? (Plug Wednesday prayer night) The early church knew that the only way that a church could survive was to be a church that prayed. 1 John 5:13 writes, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so, that you may know that you have eternal life, this is the assurance, we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears, and if we know that he hears us, we know that we have what we’ve asked of him.” Paul’s words in Hebrews 4:16 are words for us to live by this morning; “Let us then approach the throne of grace with boldness so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.” The church must be a place where we go to God first in prayer before we do anything else in the lives that God has called each one of us to live.

To become a deliberate Christian means that one must become unashamedly bold about how the Christian message is to be conveyed. To be deliberate is to be intentional about how you tell others about Jesus. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” When Jesus gives the great commission in Matthew 28 his command to go was in my opinion a command to be deliberate in every way when it comes to communicating the Christian message. To make every opportunity an opportunity for seeing that who ever you meet and greet knows why you believe in what you believe. What keeps you from becoming a deliberate Christian? I believe, as with a devoted Christian, a deliberate Christian is one who goes out of their way at being a servant of Christ. Devoted and deliberate Christians aren’t into the accolades or the need to have egos stroked. They are servants first. They are servant leaders.

Daring Christians are people who go out of their way at making sure the Word of God is modeled and taught in a way that the Holy Spirit can change the hearts and minds of God’s people. They do it in love. Daring Christians imitate God’s love as Paul instructs the church in Ephesians 5:1a, “be imitators of God.” Daring Christians are not ashamed of the gospel message. Paul writes in Romans 1:16; I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. When the church becomes daring it becomes a place filled with people who have been touched by people who were daring in the way they shared with them the love of Christ. I can’t help but hum that old song; “they will know we are Christians by our love.” To be a daring Christian means that you are willing to be adventurous in the way the gospel message is communicated.

When the church becomes daring in the way it communicates the gospel the church becomes a place where people’s lives are transformed. Where could you be more daring when it comes to sharing with others the gospel message? Devoted people of God and to God’s Word, deliberate in the way we communicate the love of God, and daring when it comes to being a church willing to tell others no matter what that God indeed loves us, has forgiven us, and has and will give us new life only found in a relationship with Christ. This is the kind of church I know we should be. I also know it’s hard. It requires work. It requires people who will be faithful.

This Memorial Day weekend again is a time for us to remember those who modeled what it truly meant to be a devoted, deliberate, and daring kind of people. Men and women in the armed forces. People who worked day and night at making sure that we were and that we would become a nation that would rest on the freedom God has given to us. Imagine what the kingdom of God here on earth would look like if we as those before us were to become truly devoted, deliberate, and daring people of the Christian faith? What would this church look like? What would your friends look like? What would you look like?
To God be the glory. Amen.

Just got back from the movies with the boys and another family from church. I had more fun hearing my three year old sing, “I Like to Move It.” Although CT gives it a “sorta” for a good family fun movie, Madagascar was worth seeing. I still think you should go see it. I will tell you why I liked it later after I finish writing my sermon. I’m flying solo tomorrow. The other cool cat pastors are on “retreat” hanging out with other cool cat pastors from across the country. One of the cool cat pastors they get to hear preach is the Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggemann who is one of the many preachers I got to hear preach while in seminary at Princeton. Anyways, I drew the short straw. I’m actually glad, because all I’ve done all day is hang out with the family. In my opinion, family time trumps pastors retreats any day.

After being at our friend Julie’s memorial service a couple of weeks ago I’ve had a few days to reflect and have read a few emails on reflections my friends have had about the service and being together to remember Julie’s life. Here are a few thoughts about that day…

As we pulled up to the church with our friends I was struck again with the memories of a church that has been and is still in many ways my home. As folks arrived for the memorial service for Julie it was hard not to notice the numbers of friends and family members who were in attendance to grieve but to also celebrate the eternal life Julie has now with the Lord. As we sat down in a sanctuary where I spent most of my life hearing the Word of the Lord proclaimed in, I couldn’t help but notice the familiar faces and friends who I hadn’t seen for several years. A friend who was in my wedding who I hadn’t seen for close to 15 years. Another set of friends who were in my youth groups while growing up with Julie. Even another set of friends who were my youth leaders when I was in the Junior High, high school , and college youth groups at the church. Friends who have aged. Pastors who have been spiritual mentors. A youth pastor who I consider a surrogate father. A best buddy who I talk to almost weekly. As we sat in the service I felt an overwhelming sense of Gods grace in my life. In this place I called home for so many years was the place I rededicated my life to Christ, where I was baptized, where I became a member of the church. This was the place I promised to the Lord I would be faithful to my wife, to pray for her and love her through the joys and sorrows of life. This place I called home is where I committed to the Lord that I would be the kind of father and husband that my father wasn’t. This was the place where I sensed the Lord’s calling into full-time pastoral ministry. Lord thank you for the new life Julie has with you and thank you for the life you have given me because of this place that has and will always be home, this, your church, a place where the brokenhearted can find hope and grace as I have found, a place in which I’ve come to know that you are the Lord above all life and the one who has and will make things right.

I believe strongly that as a pastor there is a point when you have to model and imitate God’s grace to those who might not be as quick to do like wise. I’m totally learning the best thing to do is to be a giver of grace and to consider others better than myself as our buddy Paul belted out to the Philippians…

“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care - then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.”

It’s tough to do. My hope is that others will sense that this is my philosophy for ministry. I only pray.

I was reading an old friends sermon today she preached at her church a few weeks ago. In the sermon she writes reflecting on a mission trip she went on with her youth group, “I witnessed a glimpse of this hope, this prophetic faith last week.. Karl Barth was quoted as saying we should preach with a Bible in one hand and the New York Times in another. Our postmodern equivalent, for those of us who work with youth might be, you should preach with a Bible in one hand and an iPod in the other.” I better upgrade my MP3 palm pilot to an ipod.

Belmar Presbyterian Church was near the NJ Shore, a church I did some pulpit supply at…What we Californians call the beach!  

(First Presbyterian Church, Tuckerton, NJ, a cool little church I got to preach at)
One of the best part-time jobs I had that got us through seminary was that there several small (I mean small, under 20 persons in attendance in sanctuaries that sat at least 400 people) Presbyterian churches in New Jersey who were always looking for pastors or “pastors in training” to fill a pulpit. A time for me as a young buck to come and polish up a sermon or two. It was a great way for me to practice what I was learning in my preaching classes and to find that “preaching voice.” I was always humbled in that these were churches that were once thriving in their communities. It was sad. How I wanted so much to help them find that pastor called by God to come and pastor a group of folks who also deserved to be pastored.

This morning I had the opportunity to fill a pulpit in a little community outside of Davis, CA called Dixon. Again, I was humbled and grateful for where the Lord has called me from and called me to at my church. I was thinking what if our pastors in our churches in our denomination had to occasionally fill a pulpit of a small tiny church in order to remember where they once started and to actually remember why they were called into the pastorate? What the Lord could do with an experience like that for a pastor who needed some humbling or a reality check would be amazing. Just a thought.

Youth pastors and youth leaders as a kid were some of the strongest of evangelical women I had ever met. I remember Gail who was with me when I accepted the Lord at a Jr. high winter camp when I was in Jr. High school. She spent the first few months of my life as a baby Christian teaching me how to study God’s Word and how to pray. We would meet weekly. I remember Beth who drove me home weekly after youth group and spent hundreds of dollars on meals and cokes on me nurturing me in the faith. I remember Dorothy who today I still refer to as “mom.” I recently ran into Liz who would drive me to church every week faithfully. Making sure I knew I was cared for and loved. Liz was this excellent guitar player and had a heart for leading worship. I remember Julie and Tina. Both were women I looked up to as Godly women. Lisa was a constant and faithful encouragement to me. Jodi. Deb. I can name several others who were blessings to me. I even think about my wife Debbie who was looked up to by so many of our churches youth when we were serving together years ago and modeled for so many what it meant to be a follower of Christ. There is a new web site for women who are in part-time, full-time, and volunteer youth ministry that you must visit. Praise God for women youth pastors and youth leaders! Check it out!

Reading a wonderful series off a pastor friends blog made me do some thinking about where I’ve come from in regards to now being a young pastor. When I was growing up in the church I had the chance to watch, listen, and to serve with several church leaders and pastors within the Presbyterian church. Many of these pastors and church leaders are now pastoring some of the largest and most evangelical congregations in our country.

Each week I heard the Word proclaimed in every arena of church from adult Sunday school classes, youth groups, and worship services that affirmed the saving grace of Christ. I watched pastors I admire and served with who had to make tough decisions and to work at ministering and equipping those who were broken hearted and in need of God’s grace to be messengers of hope. I watched pastors model for me and so many others what it meant to truly worship the Lord. I listened to leaders who were blessed with huge amounts of wisdom and leadership ability when it came to what it meant to truly be a shepherd of shepherds. What I didn’t have an opportunity to see was what these folks did behind the scenes while I was in the trenches serving as a youth worker. In some ways I’m glad I didn’t see what I’m seeing and hearing in the larger church today as a pastor.

As a first year pastor I am learning for the first time what these pastors and leaders were doing while I was off at youth camps, running youth groups, mission trips, and playing “chubby bunny and singing some youth group traditional hymn like “King Jesus is All or “Big House” for the millionth time (late 80’s and early 90’s of course, I think playing chubby bunny is illegal now). I am learning that many of these pastors were themselves learning how to navigate through church politics. Learning how to maintain budgets. Learning how to avoid the need to please church leaders and the need to please the church. I am learning that many of these pastors were learning how to console folks who were going through some of the worst trials of life. They were learning how to care for someone who was facing death? How to deal with the loss of a loved one? How to counsel someone who was going through a tough divorce? Things I am now dealing with in my first call.

If I’m hearing my pastor friend correctly and from what I’ve learned from these pastors is that it is not about me. I am not the guy in charge. Instead I am one who has been called by God to be a leader of leaders. A servant leader. One who has been called by God from within the midst of the brokenhearted. I had a seminary professor who once asked the question,” what would the church look like if the pastor actually got up from the middle of the congregation, to preach the Word for the morning instead of rising from a chair to stand in the pulpit?”

There is a part of me that still enjoys being the youth worker. The one who gets to live out and model Jesus. The one who gets to practice the kind of ministry Jesus modeled. One that was relational and who modeled what it meant to be in the trenches. There is a part of me though who is thrilled that I get to now work with the larger church even in all its pain and brokenness. To put into practice what was handed down to me. A Gospel that is changing, can change, has changed, and will change lives.

Thank God I’m not the head and thank God I get to walk alongside those who are also called to truly be imitators of God’s love. Thank God that the church is about the people. Not merely four walls, but the body of Christ. Read my pastor friends blog next week as he begins to deal with the question what part of the body of Christ is the pastor? Just some thoughts. Still learning. Still watching. Still listening.