Thursday, December 31, 2009

SNOW PLOWS



Ten days ago we had a powerful snow storm that dumped 14 inches of snow on Landisville and forced us to cancel a Sunday morning service for the first time since I have been here as pastor. By mid Saturday morning hardly a person was on the road and Saturday night they even took the snowplows off the road for a few hours to allow the drivers to rest while the storm abated. Some time in the wee hours of Sunday morning they went to work removing the snow and ice in an attempt to return the roads to a semblance of safety so that people could get their lives back to normal.

Have you ever had a storm in your life that pretty much left you buried? So much has accumulated that a major effort is needed to clean things away, so you can unbury yourself and get on with your life? Whenever a major snow storm hits I start shoveling before it's over because I know that when the accumulation reaches a certain level, I will never dig out under my own strength. This snowstorm I was blessed by my thoughtful neighbor Jim who ran his snowblower in my driveway Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, and even one more time later. Even then, the shoveling I had to do to keep his work from being in vain was about all I could handle. Left to my own strength and energy, I probably wouldn't have been able to get out of my driveway until sometime in the middle of the next week.

God never intended us to handle our lives alone. He gives us the blessing of the body of Christ (other flesh and blood people) to help deal with the storms of life. But God also gives us His supernatural power because sometimes you need more than a snow shovel or a snow blower--but something big like a snow plow.

Most of the time we handle our small storms with a modicum of success (or so we think)--but it is comforting to know that we have a God with all the power necessary to rescue us and help us get a fresh start.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

GETTING UNSTUCK

“Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” -James 4.10

My grandson Jake has just celebrated his second Christmas. I couldn’t be with him this year, so I couldn’t share in the excitement and wonderment of his celebration. But the time I have spent with him (he leaves in Kentucky, over 500 miles away), I am always in awe with the joy he has as he discovers the world around him and makes new steps in his life.

Those of us who have been around a lot longer sometimes lose that sense of adventure and expectation. Over the years our lives have accumulated a lot of baggage (both emotional and physical) that seems to define us and dictate our direction. We have a “past” that makes us cautious or pessimistic about our future. Or some of us have simply gotten “stuck” and we don’t know how to move forward. Things like old hurts that won’t go away, pride-filled reams that still do not satisfy, conflicts that hang around unresolved—but are reaching the boiling point, a sense of loneliness that leaves us overwhelmed have us bogged down and weighed down.

It’s a far cry from the promise of God for our lives, “I have come to give you life to the full.” Too much is leaking away and we no longer believe things will change. That’s where we need a dose of God’s life transforming power. No another self-help plan, a better skill set, more knowledge—but letting God take control of our lives and then working in cooperation with Him.

Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” That means we have humbled ourselves and finally let God into our lives to work in and through us. Are you “stuck?” Make it your New Year’s resolution to let God take His proper place at the core of your being, cooperating with Him as He unleashes His transforming power.

© 2009 by Stephen L. Dunn

Saturday, December 19, 2009

SNOW DAY




"He makes me lie down by still waters. He restores my soul." - Psalm 23

The first major snow storm of the season arrived early Saturday morning. If the wind had been a factor in the midst of this weather event, we would have called it "The Blizzard of 2009" in Lancaster County. As such it was about a foot of snow that began arriving in earnest around 6 a.m. and continued throughout the day. Just a lightly falling snow as it got dark but it blanketed the landscape with an unblemished white covering.

This "happening" made my wife Dianne's day. She loves the warm, coziness of cocooning at home with no need to leave the house or do anything useful. It's a day to just relax, make a cup of hot cocoa,ignore your "to do" list, and be pleasantly non-social. For a day she (and the rest of us) can suspend our daily grind and relentless stresses and just "be" instead of "doing." I spent four quiet hours in my office, uninterrupted and unhurried, as I finished preparations for Sunday and doing some semi-useful puttering and reorganizing. I enjoyed a little football and basketball and a couple of unplanned naps. For a pastor who has been compared to the Energizer Bunny, it was a nice and refreshing change of pace.

Sometimes we just need to "time out", an impromptu sabbath, a time to slow down and catch our breath. Snow storms and snow days give the obsessive compulsive and workaholics among us a justification for something we really need--a time to lie down by still waters--and let God refresh us.

(C) 2009 by Stephen L Dunn

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

BIBLES, IPODS, CELL PHONES



"Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." - Luke 5.16

Recently in our church we had to begin asking people to turn off their cell phones and stop texting during worship. Those cell phones are everywhere, and for some are a vital, necessary communication tool. (Persons who are "on call" are simply asked to set their phones on vibrate and to step from the sanctuary before answering and talking). The text feature is often a distraction for the worshiper (and those worshiping nearby), the distraction being multiplied when the text recipient is also in the sanctuary? ("Is this sermon boring or what?")

In worship, this technology can actually be a hindrance to worship. Technology has a wonderful way of keeping us connected: but sometimes we need to be disconnected. Worship is one of those times when we need to focus on God. Our technology keeps stealing our focus if we are not careful and disciplined.

But technology, when dedicated to sharing the Gospel and connecting people to Christ and His Church, can be a tremendous asset. ("I AM PRAYING 4 U") We can add Bible study apps to our iphones. We can pass along You Tube Videos that illustrate the Gospel message. We can call people or text them with invitations to be a part of what God is doing. We can connect with people far away or less accessible to remind them that they are a part of the body of Christ. Web cams and computers have been one of the most precious assets to connect missionaries, for example, in "real time" to their prayer partners and supporters. Powerpoint and video has added a powerful visual dimension to preaching and worship. Cell phones allow pastors not to be tied to their offices, freeing them to be out in the community ministering.

Like everything else in Creation, when it is dedicated to God's Purposes, it can be not only good but can bring glory to God. Just make sure your technology is not your master, but that it is dedicated to Your Master.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS




"Do not be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord." - Luke 2;10-11

Shepherds living out in the fields with their flocks.
A cold winter night, struggling to stay awake and vigilant.
Men looked down upon by many because they were,
after all, field hands of sorts.
Living under the thumb of Roman oppression.
Backwater Bethlehem.
Smelly sheep, stubborn sheep, stupid sheep.

An angel of the Lord appears. Trust me, not the kind of angel portrayed in this picture. A forceful, awesome figure above them in the night sky, surrounded by the overwhelming, blinding light of God's great glory.

"They were terrified."

And the angel of the Lord, mindful of this heavenly intrusion into their small, troubled, sin-darkened world began by reminding them that ehy had nothing to fear.
The od of all the universe was about to concentrate the fullness of His love into the person of a baby. God Who could have devastated the shepherds and the whole planet in His judgement, had chosen mercy over judgment.

And that was very good news.

(C) 2009 by Stephen L Dunn

Monday, December 7, 2009

APPEARANCES


“The Lord does not look at the thing man looks at.Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” - 1 Samuel 12:16

I was traveling down Harrisburg Pike, returning home after an appointment at the eye doctor’s office. A sporty little grey compact was head of me, moving very slowly—at least ten miles under the speed limit. I was a little bit impatient, but I knew I dare not be too impatient. It was right through the part of Landisville that tends to be heavily patrolled. Any act of vehicular discourtesy would probably earn me a ticket. Yet the car, which also left stop lights at the acceleration level of the tortoises on the Verizon commercials, seemed oblivious to its pace and the consternation of the drivers following it (by now I am being followed by several others.) As I got nearer the car I saw it was being driven by a little old lady who seemed barely able to see over the steering wheel. In fact, I believe she was staring through the steering wheel to see the road ahead.

Then I saw her license plates “ FOXY GRMA”. I confess, my sinful nature thought, “Boy is that wishful thinking!” The Holy Spirit immediately rebuked my rudeness. The best I can say is neither the car nor the stature nor the speed of driving made me think of foxy anything. But then I don’t know the attitude, personality, or the spirit of that driver at all. Appearances are a poor tool for making serious judgments.

Samuel was sent to anoint David as king of Israel. Essentially still a boy. Not kingly in his appearance or stature like his older brothers like Eliab. Not a seasoned military man. Just a ruddy-faced shepherd boy at the bottom of the family tree. But God knew David’s heart. It was a heart like His, and that was going to be David’s qualifications to be king.

A baby born in a manger would later become a nondescript looking carpenter from Nazareth. Isaiah 53 predicted that nothing in his appearance would commend much more than pity. Yet He was rhe Lamb of God Who would take away the sins of the world. Beware of judging by outward measures.

© 2009 by Stephen Dunn