Getting Closer to God...

I had a long list of things that I wanted to do today in my yard and garden.  But I have a funeral that I need to work on.  Having already bought the plants, I decided I needed to get them in the ground.  So, I worked the garden and planted 25 strawberry plants, 12 tomato plants, 8 pepper plants, 2 blueberry bushes, 25 asparagus roots, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, sunflowers, and zinnias.  I love working in the garden and I feel so close to the Creator when I do!

More and Less....

Too many of us get it all wrong.  We are all about More and Less, but not in the right order or connection.  Last night's men's group read from John 3:22-36.  It is an interesting story.

In it John the Baptist's disciples are upset because Jesus and his followers are stealing the crowds.  They go to John to complain and an interesting thing happens.  John sets them straight.  You see it would have been easy for John to get a big head and bask in the limelight his followers were placing him in, but instead John knows his rightful place.  And he knows that Jesus is far more important than he is.  I love John's response to his followers... in talking about Jesus, John says, "he must become greater and greater and I must become less and less."

That my friends, is the constant struggle all of us have.  And too often we get it all mixed up... we think we are the ones who need to get greater and greater and in so doing we make Jesus less and less in our lives.  But John has it right and if only we can adopt his attitude our life will be filled with the same kind of joy that John talked about. 

How are you making Jesus greater and greater in your life?   And as you do that, how are you making yourself less and less?   As we make Jesus greater, we must also become less.  That is the way to become more!

Making Disciples

Jesus calls us to MAKE Disciples.  

One thing that is clear to me and has become increasingly more clear is that most churches and Christ followers in those churches don't understand what this means.  And consequently we aren't doing a very good job of making disciples of Jesus. 

During the last two months, while turkey hunting in the early morning hours, I read a book on my Kindle called "Insourcing: Bringing Discipleship Back to the Local Church" by Randy Pope.  That book along with witnessing the transformation that God is doing in the lives of the men in the Community Men's Group I lead called Get Nailed Men's Bible Study Group have caused me to make a decision that I want to spend the rest of my life making disciples of Jesus and encouraging those disciples to make more disciples.

You see, I have seen first hand how a transformed life transforms other lives!   In the past two years I have seen how one life that was transformed by the power of God has invited other men to join a movement and experience that same transformation.  That movement is growing and those men's lives are being radically changed and the lives of others who they interact with are also being touched by God!

Here is a definition that Randy Pope offers for discipleship... "Life on life missional discipleship is laboring in the lives of a few with the intention of imparting one's life, the gospel, and God's Word in such a way as to see them become mature and equipped followers of Jesus, committed to doing the same in the lives of other followers."

I believe that Jesus knew that making disciples who make disciples would transform the world.  And you know what, the world desperately needs to be transformed.  So what are you waiting for?

My Eulogy - Stephen Slocum

I was asked to give the Eulogy on Friday at my friend and brother in Christ's Celebration of Life service.  I was honored to do so.  Was given 5-7 minutes (which isn't much time!)  But here is what I said...

The Apostle Paul didn't know Stephen Scott Slocum, but he wrote about him. 

 You and I, we knew Stephen and many of us knew him well.

 Listen to what Paul wrote long ago and see if you agree with me that he knew Stephen too... I Cor. 9:24 -27.   “²⁴ Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! ²⁵ All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. ²⁶ So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. ²⁷ I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.”

Steve was a do what it takes kind of man.  And if what it takes was hard or challenging so be it!  He ran the race to win and he was purposeful in so doing.  In his acceptance speech last October as Steve was inducted into the Wagner College Athletic Hall of Fame, Steve talked about how learning and working the basics has helped him throughout his entire life. 

One day, a while back, Steve and I were sitting in his office talking about some of life’s challenges and he shared with me how as a center in football, he felt if the coach told him to put a hole in the wall (pointing to his office wall) it was his job to figure out a way to put a hole in that wall.   Steve spent his life finding ways to win.

And in many arenas in life he won.  He worked hard and achieved many successes.  He has a loving and supportive family, a lovely wife and two beautiful daughters of whom he was very proud.  He had a successful business.  He had many friends and I am honored to have been one.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame at his college.  He was widely respected in and contributed much to the greater Salisbury community.  But you know about all those wins!

There is a bigger win, I want to talk about today.  Steve prepared for it all his life… but it wasn’t until recent years that he took seriously his preparation and on last Friday when he took his last breath on this earth he received the ultimate prize – eternal life with his Lord, Jesus Christ – the prize he had diligently prepared for.

Steve would tell you that for most of his life, he had a casual relationship with Jesus.  Then he stepped it up a few notches about 10 years ago when he joined Chris Gilbert and myself in a Men’s Bible Study that Chris and I had going on each week. 

But even then Steve wasn’t fully on board with the preparations necessary for a win in this arena. And again he would tell you that until more recently to use his term, he was living a double life.  That changed in a big way nearly two years ago. When Steve experienced his sudden death cardiac arrest where he actually died and had to be brought back 3 times. He joined what he termed as the 1% club, surviving that with no brain damage or other major effects.  This episode in Steve’s life opened his eyes to God’s incredible Mercy.  After that life changing time, he jumped into the serious training for winning the ultimate prize so that every time the ball was snapped he was ready to play!

He devoted his life to Christ.  He began praying in earnest and reading his bible.  He decided to focus all his living on loving, serving, and sharing Jesus.  And most importantly he relished the Mercy of Christ and received the gift that it is. It was at that point that he and I talked about taking our Men’s group to new heights… and he started inviting friends who he knew would benefit from meeting weekly and doing serious training as followers of Jesus.

He named the group, Get Nailed.  He had Melissa design a logo, he became the producer of the Get Nailed clothing line ( polos, button downs, and hoodies).  

The group is a place of accountability for all of us.  A place that would encourage us in our walk with Christ and enable us to grow in that walk as well as find support in the challenges of life.   The Get Nailed Men’s Bible Study group was transformative in Steve’s life and is transformative in the lives of each of the men who are part of it.

Steve had a way about him that pushed you farther than you thought you could go.  He was an encourager.  And in the last almost 2 years, he ran the race so that not only he could get the prize, but that others could as well.  He deepened his connection with Christ so that when the ball was snapped he was ready to play.  And he constantly invited others to deepen their connection with Christ too, so that when they too were ready to play!

One of the highlights of this past nearly two year journey for Steve was seeing his long time friend and sporting buddy, Bruce Elliott open his heart to Jesus and join our Get Nailed Men’s Bible Study.  And I know that three weeks ago when Bruce joined St. Thomas Anglican Church, Steve’s church, that made Steve burst the buttons on his shirt!

You see, not only was Steve a disciple of Jesus, who himself was ready to play when the ball was snapped, but he was also a disciple who knew his role was to help others get ready to play ball when the ball was snapped.

Several of us from the Get Nailed group are here today with our wives.  I would like to ask the guys to stand at this moment so that you can see this cast of guys that played an important role in Steve’s game plan.   And I want you to take note of who you can ask if you have questions about joining our Get Nailed Group or want to see one started in your community.  We produced new business cards just for today and you may have already picked one up or if you didn’t, please do.  The number on the card is my cell number and I would be happy to talk to you or any of these men would be happy to talk to you too!  Please don’t think that I am out of line to make this invitation.  Steve would be extremely disappointed in me if I didn’t!  No matter where you are in your walk with Jesus, there is a place for you in our Get Nailed Men’s group. 

Our purpose is to help you take your next step toward Jesus through Bible Study, Prayer, Support, Accountability and Service.  While this group will now be meeting at the church I pastor, it is not affiliated with my church and is made up of guys who go to several different churches in the area.  And going to church is not a requirement for coming either!  (be seated)

Steve did what he needed to do to prepare himself so that when the ball was snapped one last time, he would be ready to play.  And he would be delighted to have you on his team too.  That is one way his legacy will live on!

Some of you might look at his most recent battle with cancer and say he lost that fight.  But Steve didn't loose!  You see the training that Steve did deepened his relationship with Christ to such a level that Steve was able to embrace his new illness with the peace that comes from knowing that even if this illness took his life it would not defeat him. 

He deeply trusted that Christ had already won the battle and Steve walked freely in the Mercy of Christ and the peace that comes from knowing Jesus as his Lord. 

Many have remarked at how positive Steve was throughout his illness and how shocked you were in discovering how harsh his battle really was.  This my friends, is evidence of the new faith in Christ that Steve found and his confidence that even if physical healing didn’t come, because of God’s incredible mercy, Steve knew that he would win the prize. 

Steve knew that there is more to life than the life on this earth.  And today he is reaping the benefits of that trust and faith in Christ!

You see, for Steve, in this final battle, finding a way to win, meant trusting in the One who had already won the battle over death – Jesus Christ! 

Steve, my friend, you have run the race with discipline and purpose.  May your example and the memories we share inspire and encourage us all to run our race that we might join you in winning the eternal prize.

 

Honoring the Replogles...

 

Yesterday was a grand day for our congregation at Community of Joy as we honored Jim and Carol Replogle for their 22 plus years of commitment to establishing a Church of the Brethren congregation here in Salisbury.   They will soon retire to PA and will be sadly missed at Community of Joy.

 

Here is the Toast I gave them yesterday as a part of 7 other toasts or roasts.

 

 

There is a story about a guy who waited patiently in line to greet his pastor one Sunday after the sermon.  “Pastor, this eager, sincere Christ follower, said, “I have only one thing to tell you.  My answer is YES. Now what’s the question?”

The pastor looked at him, confused, and smiling awkwardly, fell back on the pastor’s safety net and said, “God bless you.”   The pastor politely brushed the man off and turned to greet the next parishioner.  The next week, the same guy waited in line and repeated the same words. “Pastor, my answer is YES. Now what’s the question?”

The pastor pondered this enigma.  Wanting to get to the bottom of it, he invited the man to go to lunch.  Over a midweek meal, the man once again blurted out the intriguing mantra: ”Pastor, my answer is yes. Now what’s the question?”   Finally overcome with curiosity, the pastor asked, “Can you please tell me what you mean by that?”

The man smiled and with passion, began, “Pastor I was hooked on everything bad, about to lose my family, sliding down a slippery slope toward certain destruction.  Then Jesus intervened.”  Tears welled up in his eyes.  “Because of what Jesus did for me, my answer to you is YES!  You are my pastor and I’ll do whatever you need.”

If you want me to rock babies, I’ll rock babies.  If you want me to usher, I’ll usher.  If you want me to mow the churchyard, I’ll be there at 6 a.m. every Saturday.  My answer to you will always be YES!  Now what’s the question?”

Jim and Carol Replogle are “my answer to you will always be yes, now what’s the question.” People!   Probably no one in the history of Community of Joy has had more influence in the life and formation of this congregation than Jim and Carol.  They have said yes and yes and yes so many times to serving Jesus through the building of his congregation called Community of Joy!   They have been for these past 22 years or so – the life beat of Community of Joy!

Until January 2013 Jim has diligently led our leadership team and until we find a replacement for her, Carol has been and continues to be at the piano at both our worship gatherings.   Carol also has held the position of Fellowship Team Chairperson for all these years too.

They have been faithfully committed to the work of Christ here.  Even though they came here in “Retirement” they did nothing of the sort!  They have been actively engaged in the work and mission of Jesus here – often arranging their times away with the church’s calendar in mind.  And most of the time getting home by Sunday or leaving after worship on Sunday, so that they didn’t have to miss a beat.

They have worn many hats over the years and often several at the same time.  At times I am sure it was hard for them to remember which had they had on.  One hat they have worn and wear well is that of Pastoral Cheerleader.  Sharon and I and our girls have been the beneficiaries of their support, encouragement, and love from the moment we agreed to come here as Co-Pastors.  That support, encouragement, and love has not wavered over these 14 years!

Jim and Carol always had this ability to know just what Community of Joy needed and they were always eager to give it their all.  They opened their home to many of us for meals and meetings.  Until 2007, when we purchased the ministry center, every month, the leadership team would meet in their home and that always included a delicious home cooked meal at their table.  

They have treated countless young adults in our congregation over the years to many meals out in local eateries.  And the stories abound of those among us – Judy Urrasio, in particular who became wise to the fact that if Jim and Carol invited you to dinner, it must mean they were about to ask you to take on a new role at COJ!

In 2007, when God provided us with our Ministry Center, Carol led the decorating team and Jim worked with a team of us – often till the final hours of the night – day in and day out transforming our ministry center into the beautiful place it is now.   Jim has great skills in carpentry and in problem solving and designing things.  Some of the most treasured times in our 14 years here as Pastors for me have been those 5 months that Jim and I were able to work side by side remodeling this facility that God provided.

Today is a day of celebration – not that Jim and Carol are leaving but of all that they have done for the Lord here at COJ over the years.  It will be a sad day for all of us when we come in for worship and recognize that the Replogles are no longer among us.

Jim and Carol – to say thank you hardly seems enough!  In so many ways we at Community of Joy are indebted to both of you for all of the ways you have said yes, for all the hats you have worn, for the countless hours you have given, for the unending prayers you have prayed for the success of this work and for your commitment to Jesus and the work and ministry he is doing here.  You have forever marked our lives and the fruit of your years of labor here will continue to grow for decades!  May God bless and guide you both and us as a congregation through this time of farewell and beyond.

Hard to Fathom...

It is hard for me to fathom that my baby is about to graduate from high school.   Last night was her senior prom.  However, she did not go to the prom for a number of reasons.

Since both she and her boyfriend had to work, they decided to make a special night the day before.  They went to Baltimore in the afternoon and spent some time in the inner harbor, then boarded a boat for a dinner cruise and a special night on the bay.   They had a blast and enjoyed it probably more than they would have the prom.

Before they left, I snapped some pics!

Nearly 107...

Today, I have the honor of working on the funeral service for a very sweet lady that I have been blessed to know these past 11 or 12 years.  She was just two months shy of her 107th birthday.  I so enjoyed our visits over the years.  And since her 100th birthday, we shared a little tradition on her birthday every year, through last year's birthday... As long as she was able, we had a cake at the Church for her and then when she wasn't able, we went to her with a cake and sang to her.

Just this past year when I asked to have our picture taken with her, she informed me that she didn't think she would be around for her next birthday... I told her you just never know.  Turns out she was right.   What a precious lady, who just a few days ago, when she asked me if I thought she was dying, told me that she wasn't ready to go yet because she had lots more people she wanted to help!

I hope that when I reach that age, I would have the same perspective... lots more people I want to help!   Rest in peace, Aunt Mattie!  We love and will miss your sweet spirit!

This was our last picture on June 26, 2012 at 106 years young!

Apprentices...

 

This picture sums up how most of us are probably feeling today after watching the events of this week in Boston come to an end last night.

 

 

This picture was taken about 8:30 a.m. today as the rain finished falling and the sun began to peak out from behing the clouds as I walked across the field lane to the turkey woods to hunt wild turkeys.  I had originally planned to bring my nephew with me today as he had a rare second weekend in a row at his mom's house.  But I didn't communicate that to him in time and he had made other plans.

 

Turns out his other plans involved taking my dad (his grandpa) turkey hunting this morning.  After lining up the place for them to hunt with my cousin and coaching both Ben and my dad, I was anxious to hear all about their day.   Especially because I have been taking Ben turkey hunting for the past 5 or so years but I have never let him call them yet.  And my dad has never ever turkey hunted at all.

 

I awoke this morning to texts from Ben asking what time he should get up.   Had to laugh at that... I had told him what time he should be at the woods which I thought would allow him to figure out what time he needed to get up.  The next two texts reported that he had called in two lone Jakes (young gobblers) and that my dad had decided not to shoot them.   Boy was I proud of Ben for that accomplishment... it is not an easy one at all! 

 

So, I went turkey hunting myself and was bowled over when I got a text later in the day from him saying that there was a big gobbler out in front of them gobbling and he was calling to it.  And then he said that he intended to let Grandpa shoot it if it came in!!!   WOW!~

 

It is so cool to see someone you have been apprenticing spread their wings and fly!   This will be a day I remember for a long time.

 

It occurs to me that the same is true with people we are apprenticing for Jesus!  The purpose for apprenticing people for Jesus is to see them soar high, not become dependant on you.   And it is one of the greatest feelings in the world when you see them take off!

 



Can't Stop Thinking and Praying....

There is so much violence and hatred in our world, I can't stop thinking about it and praying for us to know God's love for ourselves and for each other and to live in love and peace.   The events in Boston are horrific and seem especially so to us here in the USAmerica but the truth is these kind of events happen everyday in many places around our globe.  What makes them seem so horrible to us is that they happened close to home.   I know I am more aware of the devastation of yesterday's events because I personally know 3 people who were less than a block away.   While I am rejoicing that they are well, I am also mourning for the countless people whose lives forever changed yesterday and now must face this horrific event in a personal way. 

I have been thinking about a response to this and have decided to begin a series of sermons on Sunday at Community of Joy called, "What This World Needs..." to explore ways that we who are apprentices of Jesus can make an impact in our world as he calls us to do.

Join me Sunday as we kick off this series... either at 9 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. @ 302 South Blvd. Salisbury, MD!

A Hand Up Not a Hand Out...

Community of Joy's ministry center needed a new roof on part of the building.  We got estimates ranging from $7,700 to $18,000.   In January, we had a gift given to the church of $5,685.  At the time the giver said it could be used toward the roof and hoped it would cover the cost of the new roof entirely.  With the estimates we had, I was skeptical that it would cover it all.

Every year in February, we host a homeless men's shelter in our facility for two weeks.  On one of the very first nights that I spent an overnight there, I was feeling a strong compulsion early in the morning to go talk to one of the guys who happened to be up and in our sitting room.  I tried to shake the compulsion but couldn't.  So, I went in, asked if I could sit down and asked him where he was from and that one question led into a nearly 3 hour conversation.   Turns out he was local and was a roofer who had fallen on hard times due to the economy.  I knew that he wasn't your typical homeless  guest we usually get... I was pretty sure he didn't have any addiction issues.

Long story short, I prayed about things.  One of our other properties team guys had spoken with him that night too and we both talked.  Then got him up on the roof.  Asked him to submit a proposal.  Checked references.  They were fantastic.  After a meeting of the properties team, we decided to take the calculated risk.   Insisting he use an advance we would give him to get insurance and that we would purchase all the material for the job.  We embarked on a monthy long journey.

It wasn't your typical contractor\client relationship because he had no vehicle to get supplies and needed some help with tools.  So, I stepped in and in the end ran him 17 times to various places checking out supplies, getting them, and hauling things to the dump.   I spent far more time on the roof than I wanted to, but that time was time speaking into his life and learning from him.

Last week, he finished the job and now with the money he made has the ability to get a place and this emotional boost also led him to a couple more jobs!   I am hopeful that this job will be the begining of a life turn around for him.   And I am thankful for a team that was willing to take a risk in order to love someone like Jesus would!

What Can You Trust?

Had an interesting experience yesterday as I traveled from home to Dayton, Ohio via Philadelphia Airport.   I arrived safely about 1 p.m. and almost immediately checked the monitors to see if my flight was on time and the gate was what I thought.  It was listed as ON TIME.  I had a 3 hour layover so, I set out to get lunch.  While in line to get lunch, I got a phone call saying that my flight would be delayed about an hour an a half and I would be leaving about the time I was supposed to arrive originally.  No big deal, I had the time as we werent meeting till today.  I only had to fly yesterday because no flights worked to get me here today on time.

So, periodically I checked the monitors to see what they said about our flight and they constantly listed it as "ON TIME"!   Even the agent desk has has "ON TIME".  But interesting that the manually put up flight info at the causeway had us listed as leaving at a new time.  Throughout the afternoon, they periodically announced the change over the PA system.   About a half hour after our original departure time, I went by the monitors to see what it said and was shocked to see it say "DEPARTED"  yet we were still there!

That got me to thinking... what can you trust?  And what do you do when what you expect to be able to trust (the monitors) were wrong and what you thought you might not be able to trust (the manually updated board) was right?

Trust is a precious thing and once you loose it or violate it, it is hard to find again.  All afternoon, I found myself thinking about how precious it is.

One thing I definitely want to be... is trustworthy.   Jesus encourages it too... he said let your yes be yes!

Full Circle

On Saturday, Sharon and I spent most of the day with our youngest, Emma, exploring her choice of Colleges.... Salisbury University.  It was a fun day for all of us!  We listened to the presentations, paid our deposit, ate lunch in the dining hall, toured the Medical Simulation Center, chatted with a department head to figure out how Emma's two years at Wor-Wic Community College will fit in her SU plan, and enjoyed walking around the beautiful campus.


After lunch when we walked from the Dining Hall to the Medical Simulation Center, a thought hit me... I realized that on one side of the street was Emma's Nursery School (Asbury Child Development Center) and on the other side of the street was Emma's University!   While we chose her Nursery School, she chose her University!  

We all came away from that day feeling excited for Emma and her future pursuit of Nursing at Salisbury University.  

We have lots of family history at this esteemed institution.  In fact, I insisted that Emma go stand on the hallowed steps of Holloway Hall as somewhere in my family's collection is a picture of my grandmother - Caroline Hutchison standing on those same steps when she graduated from what was then ... Salisbury State Normal School.

Making Dreams Reality...

Read this in a book recently... it resonates with me...

"Everyone who's ever taken a shower has had an idea.  It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off, and does something about it who makes a difference."  Nolan Bushnell.

It is one thing to have a dream, but it is another thing entirely to see that dream become a reality.

What are you doing about your dreams?  How are you taking steps toward making them reality?

Untied!

On Palm Sunday, I challenged folks at Community of Joy to consider what they have tied up and unavailable to Jesus in the areas of Time, Talent, and Resources.  I used the story of Jesus telling his apprentices to go into town and find a donkey in a certain spot and untie it and bring to him.   He told them if the owner asked what they were doing, they were to tell him that "the Lord needs it".   That's what they did.

I also gave out pieces of string to tie around our wrists as a reminder of the need to untie our time, talent, and resources for Jesus asking God to lead us to that which we needed to make available to him in our lives.

I have been doing just that since then.   And one area that I have clarity in is I need to step up my prayer life, especially praying for the strengthening and growing of our congregation.   I have been doing so and already we are seeing great results!  In my prayers, I am not telling God what to do, but am very conscious that the church is his and he is the one who began it and promises to bring to completion the good work that he has begun.  So, I am asking him to do just that!

I am thankful for what God is doing and excited to see what is ahead of us!   Last night in Bible Study, several of the folks gave testimony to the excitement they are feeling as they see what God is doing among us in recent weeks!  And to the power of God's transformative presence in their lives as well! 

I am glad I untied my prayer life and made myself more available to God in this area!

New Beginnings!

Since Easter is a time of new beginnings, I thought I would resurrect my blog writing.  I have been away from it for too long and have had people asking me when I was going to start writing again... now is the time!

This year at Community of Joy, in the midst of some pretty major transitions in the life of our congregation, we decided to change up our Easter Traditions.  Normally, we have a sunrise service, a breakfast immediately following that, then our 9 a.m. worship gathering and our 10:30 worship gathering.  Since we are down in numbers due to the transition we are in and since many of our folks travel away on Easter, we didn't want the deflating experience of two small Easter worships.  Thus the decision to combine the two and to do both styles of music in the one gathering.  And the decision to not have a sunrise worship and have our breakfast at the time of the first gathering instead.

I know of a couple people who we lost because of this, and that makes me sad.  But I think it was a great move for our congregation as we had an awesome turn out for breakfast and worship too.  It was great to feel the energy of a fuller space and the expanded musicians!   We had our largest (for us) number of first time guests on Easter!  There was an energy in the air that should be present in a congregation on Easter!

I find that energy is invigorating still today!   I saw this cartoon making it's rounds yesterday on Facebook ... 

 

This is NOT how I felt yesterday nor today!   And it is encouraging to have it be like this!

 

 

Breakfast