A thought....

After I got up this morning... I visited a couple blogs of pastors that I find inspirational to me. And then this evening, I watched a local worship gathering. All were of the mind set that the doors of the church must be open at all costs on a snowy Sunday like today. All were of the mindset that they must be open to reach the unreached. But, I must differ!

While I hate to cancel worship, there was no way that we would have been able to pull it off today due to having nearly 12 inches. Besides, I think a greater way to reach the "unreached" is to find ways to serve them. Taking advantage of time we would have spent in worship...why not shovel a neighbor's drive or some other act of kindness and blessing. I am delighted to learn that several families from CoJ did just that today! I know I sure enjoyed having the opportunity to use the ministry Center's snow blower to clear the driveways and sidewalks for three of the ministry center's neighbors! They were so thankful! One hugged me and thanked me profusely! Nearly in tears, she was so touched!

Interesting note... Serving others is what I was going to preach on today... and now it will be next week! And already CoJ folks are busy serving!

Thanks to Daryl See for serving today at the ministry center shoveling and blowing snow!

And the winner is...

In every church there are two tensions... Outreach (care for those "out there") and Nurture (care for those "in here"). And without DELIBERATE effort, Nurture ALWAYS wins!

While we are called into community to encourage, love, support each other, we are also called to reach out to those who are NOT part of the community.

Henry Trumbull once said, " unless a person is ready to work for the salvation of others, it can be questioned whether or not they themselves are saved. Those who want only enough religion to save themselves, are not likely to have even that much!"

Just had to share it...

Just got the following in an email from a friend who took on the task of leading her church to be the hands and feet of Jesus this week by hosting a homeless men's shelter. What she writes inspires me and hopefully it inspires you too!

"There's so much more to this week than the obvious - opening our doors to men who have no where else to go.....we've made new friends, we've come together in a way that we never have before, we've moved out of our comfort zones and done things we have never done before, people are involved that haven't been before, the blessings go on and on. Just had to share that. I'm feeling so blessed! "

Changing the world...

From the book "Deliberate Simplicity". "Small groups are more valuable than you think. Christian educator, Margaret Mead once instructed, "never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world... indeed it is the only thing that ever has!"

Small groups are powerful - it's just that simple. That's why I want to give greater emphasis on developing them at Community of Joy in 2010. We have had them in the past, but not so much now. But hopefully that too will change!

Baptized

I love baptizing people who have fallen in love with Jesus and desire to live their lives for him! Had that privilege on Sunday.

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!

Spent the night last night at the Wicomico Presbyterian Church's homeless men's shelter. This is their first year. Previously they have felt they couldn't do this. But that has changed! Now they know they CAN do it and do it WELL! All it took was a little encouragement and a passionate leader from their church to step up and say, "let's give it a try!"

Things went so smoothly! The guys were most appreciative and the help was excited to be there and the love was flowing! It is truly awesome to see the church BEING the church! Doing the things that Jesus would want us to be doing!

This is definitely a "little engine that could" story! WOW! They stepped out of their comfort zones and God met them and provided all that they needed to do an excellent job with the shelter!

WAY TO GO!

Double Excitement!

This weekend holds some double excitement for me. First, tonight I am gonna see a High School friend that I haven't seen since we walked across the stage in 1983 @ Easton High. We recently connected on Facebook and from that came an invitation to officiate her wedding in March. We will meet for the counseling and planning time tonight and will no doubt enjoy time catching up!

Second, on Sunday night, I am staying the over night shift at Wicomico Presbyterian Church's Homeless Shelter. So excited about that too! Since we couldn't get two weeks back to back for the Community of Joy Shelter this year (because they gave one of our weeks away), I set out to see if I couldn't get another church to come on board with the ministry. And sure enough, Wicomico Pres. stepped up in a BIG way and is opening their facility. I promised that Community of Joy would help supplement and that we are. We have 4 men taking turns on the overnight 12 midnight to 7 a.m. shifts this week! Then we get to do it all again in February at Community of Joy! What a blessing that is to be able to serve in this way.

The weekend will begin and end in a great way!

The Million Dollar Question

Last night at Passages (Bible Study) we talked a lot about, why more people don't avail themselves of something that is so powerful. That, for me, is the million dollar question.

We claim to be in a relationship with Jesus, but that relationship stagnates without spiritual practices in our lives that enhance it. One of the greatest practices I have implemented in my life is reading and reflecting on Scripture. And of the many people I have discipled over the years, they would agree there is no substitute. In fact that is what got the conversation started last night. Bible reading, study, and reflection has powerfully transformed the lives of all who do it.

I have had seasons when I am not on my A Game with this like I want to be and I have had seasons when I am on the top of my A Game with this spiritual discipline. And I can only say that the seasons when I am on my A Game, life is so much more enjoyable.

I am working at offering some other options to make available to folks so that they can experience the difference it makes in life!

A helpful framework...

Just finished reading a book called "Whole Church: Leading from Fragmentation to Engagement" by Mel Lawrenz. I can't recommend the book except that the framework he sets forth I find really helpful and provocative! The book is just lots of ink on paper. The framework is on page 11 and the rest works at supporting the framework, but not very well, in my opinion.

The framework Mel sets forth is a helpful way to think about God's work in the world and the work that God has called us to do in the world as well.

Mel defines engagement as "Bringing together God's supply and human need.

And then he further talks about four kinds of engagement that every church is called to do.

1. Engaging with God (the life of worship and personal devotion)
2. Engaging with God's people (real koinonia {Community} through small groups and other means)
3. Engaging with your community (imaginative ways to distribute Christian witness that is decentralized, grass roots, salt and light.)
4. Engaging with the world (developing an awareness of and involvement in global mission)

When Jesus announced, what I call his mission to the world, he said he was sent to engage the world. He said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." That's engagement!

It is also what he calls us to do!

We need each other...

California redwood trees are known to be some of the largest trees in the world. The secret to their ability to stand tall is NOT in their deep root system, but in the fact that the roots are interconnected with the roots of the trees growing around them. They are interdependant. Each one needs the others.

That is also true of us. We are not islands. We need each other and are strongest when we care for and support one another!

Thoughts on Discipleship

I have been Reading a great book, Deliberate Simplicity: How the church does more by doing less, by Dave Browning.

In it he talks about discipleship among other things. These thoughts struck me...

"Discipleship in North America has been complicated by the American educational system, an extensive scheme of levels, departments, courses, and grades. Because of this, our inclination is to ask, "have they taken the course?" The system Christ employed was more relational than informational. Jesus said, "Follow me." That's it. Being a Christian is as simple as sying yes to Christ. As Mary stated at the wedding in Cana, "Whatever he tells you to do, do it!"

The greatest challenge in discipleship is implementation rather than information.

New believers can learn enough in just a few days to keep them growing for the rest of their lives. If you are taught to read the Word, pray, be in community, and reach out to others, you have the basic equipment to make the journey."

I think he is right on!

New Life...

Just returned from a meeting of area pastors and business leaders at Salisbury Christian School. Heard Larry Sonneberg, President of New Life Ministries share his heart for helping hurting people and about the upcoming New Life Weekend in O.C.

At the end of a very moving video where lots of people shared the power of transformation that they experienced in their lives at the conclusion of a New Life Weekend, was this quote... "God's greatest miracle is a transformed life!" Think about that for a minute. Indeed it is!

I believe that this was the heart of Jesus' ministry as well. He traveled all around living out his mission to announce the Lord's favor, to set the oppressed free, give sight to the blind, bring healing to people's lives.

I am excited to let you know that on October 15-17, in Ocean City Md, New Life Ministries is sponsoring a New Life Weekend where you can work on whatever issues weigh you down. Check it out and spread the word.

Intersting God thing... just prior to going to the meeting, I got a call from a friend who was looking for help for a co-worker who is having a rough time (the only problem is that the co-worker lives in Franklin VA. I quickly emailed my friend this info and told him that it might be just the thing his co-worker was looking for.

A Whole New World...

Since early in her middle school career, Caroline has wanted to work in Annapolis or D.C. ... well today she is getting her chance. She was chosen as one of two students from our county to be in the Senate Page program at the Maryland State House and today, she drove me to Annapolis so that I could drop her off.

It was a great ride and one that included many firsts for her. It was her first time driving on the Bay Bridge (she did a GREAT job!). As we were gassing her car, I noticed that the car next to us was our Senator Lowell Stoltzfuss and I asked her if she wanted to meet him. She of course was shy, but I insisted, so she got out and I marched up to him, stuck out my hand, and said, "Sen. Stoltzfuss, I am Martin Hutchison and this is my daughter Caroline Hutchison and we are on our way to Annapolis so that Caroline can be a Page." And away the conversation went. He was so nice and told Caroline if she needed anything while she was there, to get in touch with him. It was Caroline's fist time driving in Annapolis and navigating with her new gps.

We found the house where she and another page are staying and enjoyed meeting the delightful elderly lady who is hosting them. Shortly after we got settled in, the other page came by and after some pictures and chit chat, we went on our way.

When I dropped the two of them off at that State House, they were anxious and excited for the week that is ahead. Sounds like they are having a great time too! All except, the mandatory Page Sport Jackets... Caroline didn't much like them.

So, excited for Caroline and proud of her too! She is about to launch off on her own wings and she will fly far and high for sure!

To Think About...

From The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith...

"Julian of Norwich once wrote: " The greatest honor we can give to God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of his love."

"It is not my sin that moves me away from God, it is my refusal of grace, both for myself and for others."

Enjoy God's Beauty

I concluded my vacation by driving through the snow in the early morning hours to my parent's farm to hunt on Friday and Saturday. Here are the pictures of the beauty of God's world...

Interesting Thoughts on the Beatitudes...

I have been doing lots of reading on vacation. Working my way through a books series (3 in number) Called the Apprentice Series. The first one is called The Good and Beautiful God, the second (which I am reading now) is called The Good and Beautiful Life. They are books designed to be used in a spiritual formation group and in 2010, I will probably attempt doing just that. I wanted to read them through first to see if they were worthy of that. They are! (At least the first two are - the third one is not yet printed!)

They are written by James Bryan Smith, who is a theology professor at Friends University in Kansas and the Director of the Spiritual Formation Institute there and is a founding member of Renovare (Richard Foster's spiritual growth group). One of the things that caught my eye was Dallas Willard's praise of the book... "The best practice I have seen in Christian spiritual formation."

In a chapter I was reading today, James writes this about the Beattitudes..."The people mentioned in the Beattitudes are not blessed because they are in those conditions. They are blessed because of Jesus. They have hope because the kingdom is available to even them.... People are not blessed merely because they are poor in spirit. The condition is not important. What is important is that these people are not cut off from God. Their life situation does not prevent them from entering the kingdom of God."

And he concludes that out of that blessing they are to bless the world!

Neat way to think about the beattitudes! We ARE blessed because of Jesus (not because of the condition we find ourselves in) and the blessing we have is the invitation to be part of God's kingdom and that blessing is for us to share - to invite others into God's kingdom where they will find love, forgiveness, healing, peace, and blessing!

What is your god?

I regularly read Mark Batterson's blog and find it very helpful. Today, I read a post he made a few days ago about idols.

In it he is asking us to identify the things in our lives that compete with God for our attention. And as part of that, he gave four "Idol Indentifiers". I want to share them with you...

Mark writes.... "So how do you identify an idol? Here are four idol identifiers:

1) What consumes your thoughts? Your daydreams are idol clues. If it's something you think about more than God then it may be an idol.

2) What bad habits do you struggle with? Your addictions are idol clues. An idol is something you cannot control. It controls you.

3) What do you spend too much money on? Your spending habits are idol clues. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also!

4) What produces your strongest emotions? Your intense emotions are idol clues. If you want to identify an idol, all you have to do is identify your emotional attachments."

Jesus encourages us to Seek First God's Kingdom and then tells us that everything else will be added.... but the problem for us is that some things get in the way of our ability to seek first God's kingdom... The first step to making adjustments in our lives is to identify those things that keep us from "seeking first". Those things that keep us from giving God our full attention!

A Great Question...

Don't think of it as "What will I have to give up to follow Jesus?" But rather, "What will I never get to experience if I choose not to follow Jesus?"

Love the way that question re-frames the number one concern that most people have when faced with deciding to follow Jesus.

Can't Stay Away...

While I am still on vacation and I had planned to take the entire vacation time off from blogging, just as a kind of fast, I can't stay away any longer.

As the new year is dawning, I can't stop thinking of what the year ahead holds for me, my family, and Community of Joy! There are some changes coming to all three areas! There are areas that I want to grow in, skills I want to learn, relationships I want to deepen and ways I want to lead and empower others to lead. My family will enjoy it's last year as a unit before Caroline heads off to college in the fall! That will be a BIG change for all of us! And my prayer is that Community of Joy will grow in influence and stature in this community as we actively love Jesus and serve him by loving others.

Today, while I was getting gas, near the mall, I saw on Regal Cinema's sign an ad for a new church that is starting. I pray for the success of that church. I pray for that church's leadership and sincerly hope God blesses it. There is not a Christian Church in the world that I don't want to see succeed!

But something about the sign got me to thinking...

It said, "the church that smells like butter" Now I know they were being cute and hoping to get your attention by that and I know that they are meeting at the theaters. But the question it sparked for me, is what do I want the church to be known for?

I want Community of Joy to be known as the place that is all about relationships. About helping people experience a deepening relationship with Jesus and with each other. About helping people experience a deepening relationship with our community and world. In the coming year, I hope that as we deepen our relationships, we will grow in influence and that people will know us as the church where relationships with God through Jesus and with each other are central and really do matter!

Looking forward to a brand new year and all that God has in store for me and us!