Worship....more than just Sunday Morning

I enjoyed experiencing a sermon today from Rev. Adam Hamilton at Church of the Resurrection In Leawood, Kansas. I discovered just because I am a pastor I do not know everything about worship. Worship is a disciple's way of life. Everything we do not only on Sunday but everyday of our life is an act of worship to God. When we help a friend in need, aid a stranger, or anything else we are worshiping God. We know that when we pray, when we sing hymns or praise music, read and hear scripture and a sermon we are engaged in worship. Notice I used the word engaged. We need to be engaged in worship not only on Sunday or whenever you go but in everyday life. We gather for corporate worship but worship should be engaged everyday of our lives. Even when we give to our churches that is an act of worship. It is an outward act of an inward desire to please our God.
There are people out there who say they have no use for church. But remember Jesus is the one who calls us to worship him and follow him. Yes, church is filled with hypocrites and people who do not live their lives as they pretend to on Sundays. But what better place to start. I am starting with me....how about you? Strice to live your life as an act of worship to God!!!! You will be blessed by it!!!!

Until the whole world hears.....

Steve

Mission Can Begin at Home!

I have a lot of friends and colleagues who do mission work all over the world. Many go to work on medical and construction mission trips in Mexico, Alaska, Israel, all over the world but I find it funny that some of these places are sending missionaries and doing mission work right here in the United States. Believe it or not there are people right in your own neighborhood that need help. We can look at it and think someone else will help....but guess what? Everyone is saying that and it ends up no one steps up to the plate. The task of mission work can look overwhelming but every little bit helps.

I am reminded about the task that Nehemiah faced on building a wall to protect the city. It seemed like when people took care of the wall right there in front of their own house the work got done in record time. So many times we think that mission work has to be done out of the country but that is simply not true. Mission work happens where you make it happen. I think about the lady down the street who is on a fixed income and is in need of help. It could be the little church in the middle of nowhere that has limited resources that is need of tender loving care. I think of the single mother who is doing all she can do to survive in this economy and not knowing where her next meal for her kids will come from. That is mission!!!!! That is being the hands and feet Jesus needs us to be.

Not everyone can afford to travel out of the country but we can help out that neighbor that is need of our help. I ask you to consider a mission project that helps someone in your own neighborhood. Maybe a little church or senior citizen's center in need of some TLC. You can make a difference in the life of someone who really does not have much hope at all. Look around you.......there is your mission field.....will you help?

Pray for God to place you in the path of someone in need and feel the power he can give you to make a difference!!!!

May the Lord bless you!!!

Steve

Remembering 9/11

I am going to step on a few toes here but sometimes I am good at that. We are hearing in the news about the upcoming 10th anniversary of 9/11. There will be lots of continuing stories about this and lots of preachers including me will be preaching about it this Sunday. I however am not one to dwell on the past but look to the future. I recognize the sacrifice and all the importance of 9/11. I recognize that it has significance and many lives were lost and the event changed our outlook on the world. I do however want to recognize that we cannot live in the past. Many of people have tried to do this and failed. People who grew up in the 60's and 70's sometimes try to continue to live in that time. I cherish the time I grew up in the 70's and the 80's. But I know I cannot live in them again. That part of my life is in the past. The church is this way as well. We try to do church as it was done back in the 60's, 70's and 80's and guess what? It does not work that way anymore. We have to make the church and our lives prosper in the here and now. WE CANNOT LIVE IN THE PAST AND SHOULD NOT DWELL ON IT. We have to live and breathe in the here and now. We need to be looking forward and working for the future and we cannot do that always looking in the past. Just as our parents made decisions for us that moved us into the future, we need to be making decisions and looking to the future for us and our children and our children's children. This deserves our full attention!!!! I was one who used to dwell in the negative and was hit by a brick or something by my heavenly father that he was tired of it. He wanted me to encourage as many as possible. That is where I am now. Encouraging and building up! Let's look forward to the life God wants us to live. It is okay to look back occasionally but it is important we do not dwell on it or we will be consumed by it!

May God bless you and join me in encouraging as we look to the future!!!!!

Pastor Steve