The Well

Pastor Laura's Blog

 

In Jesus' time, the town well was the place where people gathered and shared news and ideas. It was also the place they could be refreshed. In the book of John, chapter 4, the town well was where Jesus offered his living water to the Samaritan woman. In this blog, I will offer some reflections on sermons I just preached, and some thoughts on upcoming sermons and Scripture passages. I welcome your thoughts, questions and insights in conversation with me. Your feedback will help me as I pray about what word from God I can bring to people in the sermon. Please check in weekly and send me your thoughts via email through our Contact Us form.

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March 8, 2010

Like most Christians I know, I have wrestled with unanswered prayers. What does it mean when I ask God to heal a loved one, but that healing never comes? That's what made yesterday's sermon a difficult one to preach. The story of the Centurion's Servant, the story of Jesus calming the storm, remind us that our Savior is one with authority over the elements, over Creation. While there is a need for the Church to struggle with making sense of unanswered prayers, there is also a need for the Church to acknowledge that we have un-asked-for prayers. There are times when we don't seek Jesus' help, maybe because we feel unworthy, or maybe because we don't think there's anything he can do about it. These stories in Matthew 8 remind us that Jesus' healing power is given freely, even to outsiders like Roman Centurions. And his authority over the storms at sea remind us that he can also calm the storms that rage in our lives. Sometimes, instead of a timid tap on heaven's door, we need to knock with confidence!

Next week we'll look at one of my favorites stories - Peter's wild walk on water in Matt 14. If you're ready to take a wild walk with Jesus, come to worship at Living Water!

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March 1, 2010

It's a little dangerous to take verses as deeply loved and important as the Beatitudes and compare them to the imaginary comic book planet Bizarro World! But the challenge with preaching about the Beatitudes is that they are so well known that we are tempted to "zone out" when we hear them. Blah, blah, blah "the meek shall inherit the earth" yada, yada, yada. I wanted to find a way for us experience the shock, the scandal of Jesus' words. "Wait a minute! You're saying that it's the meek, the poor in spirit, the persecuted who are the blessed ones? I thought the blessed people were the ones with all the money, power and good looks!" What does it mean to be blessed? Jesus forces us to redefine what we think about success and blessing. But he also invites us to live in this beautiful place where God is with those who have lost everything, blessing them with His presence. May we claim our citizenship in this Kingdom!

Next week we'll look at Jesus' healing ministry. Whom does he heal and why? How does it work for Jesus, and can we get it to work for us? Come to worship next Sunday!

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February 22, 2010

Sigh. Like everyone else, we have been impacted by the weather this winter. Intellectually, I know that this is just the way this winter is shaping up, but that doesn't mean I have to accept it emotionally :-) I was especially disappointed that the snow and ice kept people home yesterday. One reason was because I started a new sermon series on Matthew, and I was really excited to share what I learned about Matthew's "Bad Beginning." But even more important, it was Freedom Sunday, a day to raise awareness about human trafficking and to pray for an end to this vile crime. I really wanted people to be in church to learn about the 27 million people in slavery, and to pray about how we can work to end human trafficking. Plus, as a special treat, Clifford Hall sang an African-American spiritual, one sung originally by slaves yearning for freedom. I had goosebumps as he boomed, "Let My people go!" I hated for anyone to miss this amazing service, yet, thanks to our podcast, many Living Water folks were able to listen to some highlights from home. Others have posted facts about human trafficking and links to justice ministries on their Facebook pages. The weather can blow and snow, but God's people will not be prevented from worshipping and lifting our voices to proclaim release to the captives!

Next week we'll look at Jesus' greatest teachings in Matthew - the Sermon on the Mount. We'll specifically look at the Beatitudes, the "blesseds." Jesus blesses all kinds of people we would call "losers." What can we learn from his teaching about what it means to truly be blessed? Join us next Sunday and find out.

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February 15, 2010

What a way to finish out our Travel Guide series - surrounded by valentines to Living Water representing changed lives. We were challenged to keep traveling with Jesus, and we closed the service with a prayer for the people whose names we wrote down on pieces of paper, people who might be ready to start their own journey. This is what it's all about - welcoming fellow travelers, seeing people find new life in Jesus, and then continuing on the journey, always growing to be more like Jesus everyday. We put it this way in our mission statement: Living Water Christian Church exists to offer Christ's living water to spiritually thirsty people and then help them become bearers of that living water to others. Now that's a love worth celebrating on Valentine's Day!

Our next series will be a look at Jesus in Matthew's Gospel. As we draw closer to Easter, we want to draw closer to Jesus, too. Come worship at Living Water as we discover, "Who Is This Man?"

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February 8, 2010

It is really only in the last 50 years in America that the idea of being a Christian became something separate from going to church. For the rest of Christian history, they were one and the same thing. To be a part of a worshipping community was to profess a belief in the Christ you worshipped, and to believe in Jesus as the Son of God meant that you lived out that belief in a worshipping community. But as society has become more pluralistic, and as churches and pastors have made headlines for very un-Christlike behavior, some people are saying "yes" to Jesus but "no" to the Church. But, if anyone could have ever lived a "Lone Ranger" spiritual life, it was Jesus. He already had a perfect relationship with God. Yet, Jesus modeled a life in community, even with flawed, disappointing people like the disciples. He didn't give us the option of going it alone. One author I read put it this way: to say yes to Jesus but no to his bride, the Church, is like saying to someone, "I love you and I want to have a close relationship with you, but I can’t stand being around your spouse at all!"

This Travel Guide series has opened our eyes to the kinds of questions spiritual travelers might have and given us tools for engaging them in conversation. One of those tools is the actual Travel Guide booklet. When we started this series, it seemed unlikely that we could actually hand out 200 of them to people we know and meet. But just last week, someone from Living Water had a conversation with a spiritual seeker at a laundromat, and she was so glad to have a Travel Guide booklet to give to her. There are spiritual travelers all around us, and if we ask God to open doors of conversation, we will always have someone to talk to. We'll wrap up this series next week by looking at the end of the journey and "What's Next?"

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February 1, 2010

Traveling on a journey, seeking to know more about Jesus, is all well and good until Jesus asks us to actually change something about ourselves. For Nicodemus, the thought of giving up control of his life and all the answers he thought he knew was just as ridiculous as crawling back into his mother's womb. Being born again means starting over, and starting over means letting go of things that make us feel in control of our lives. It's no wonder that this is the point where many travelers abandon their journey. Learning about Jesus is fine. Handing over control to Jesus is not. But for those of us who have "taken the plunge", we find that surrendering our lives, giving up the illusion of control, brings us a sense of peace, a sense of purpose like we have never known.

Next week we tackle an issue that many travelers question - "Can't I have Jesus without the Church?" You won't get an argument from me that churches have messed up, have taken Jesus' message and twisted it. But I also know that churches are the primary places where Jesus connects with people. So, is it possible to follow Jesus on our own, or do we have to go to church?

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January 25, 2010

It was such a blessing to have Dawn Weaks in worship with us yesterday! Her stories about how often we overlook opportunities to share our faith really hit home. We talk ourselves out of inviting people to church by telling ourselves they'll refuse the invitation. Maybe they will, but they definitely won't come to church if we never invite them! I'm so grateful to Dawn for writing the Travel Guide books and for sharing with us in worship yesterday. And I'm grateful that her church and family allowed her to be with us, too.

Next week we'll tackle that "moment of truth" question - Am I ready to start over? Even when following Jesus looks appealing, it is scary to think that we have to let go of some things. How do we talk to travelers about the process of letting go and starting over?

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January 18, 2010

What do you do when you've planned out a sermon series, but then there is an international tragedy like the one in Haiti? Do you go with the original plan or drop everything to focus on what's going on in the world? It's a tough call. I knew that there wouldn't be a person coming through the door that hadn't been touched by the images on the news for the past several days. Yet, I also knew that there would be people coming through the door who needed to hear a word from God about what was going on in their own lives, too. And I really wanted to say something about Martin Luther King! So, in the end, I stayed with the theme we had planned because it fed beautifully into the life of Dr. King and the rescue and relief work in Haiti. God does not have a one-track mind. God can care for those suffering in Haiti and those battling loneliness in Kansas City. Worship is always a mixture of people coming with different emotions and experiences, yet joining to praise God in the midst of it all.

Next week we will be privileged to have Rev. Dawn Weaks, the author of the Travel Guide books, bringing us the message in worship and joining us for lunch and conversation afterwards. If you live in the Kansas City area, come hear Dawn share about what led her to write these books and what the response has been. You are welcome for lunch, too!

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January 11, 2010

If you had asked me yesterday afternoon how I felt about the sermon I had preached in the morning, I would have said something like, "Well, I don't think it was my best work." It felt disjointed, a little confused, and I wasn't sure that people got much out of it. Although I had written it with a specific point in mind, I couldn't tell if anyone actually got the point. I was especially disappointed because the topic was so important - What can Jesus do for me that I can't do for myself? It is the heart of Christianity. But, as often happens, my experience of the sermon was not the only experience. In fact, I have heard from quite a few people that they heard something new and fresh, something that made them rethink who Jesus is (or at least changed the way they'll watch "Raiders of the Lost Ark" forever). What a powerful reminder that God isn't limited to my expectations or experiences!

We are continuing to pray for people whose names we have written down on slips of paper - travelers who might be interested in reading the Travel Guide book and having a conversation with us. Those little pieces of paper remind us as we gather to worship that there are many people who are struggling with life, with the pain of loneliness, heartache, rejection. May the names that are written on paper one day be replaced with the people who belong to those names, joining their church family in worship!

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January 4, 2010

Want to know what my predictions are for Living Water in 2010? I don't have a clue. I honestly don't know what God might have in store for us. When we started the church, we had plans and graphs and projections - but most of them didn't happen the way we thought they would. And while letting go of some of those plans was a little painful, seeing God's plans in action has been so rewarding. All I can say is that I am sure that lives will change as a result of the ministries of Living Water Christian Church in 2010, and God will surprise us in some amazing ways.

Our new series "A Travel Guide to Christian Faith" may be one of the ways God surprises us in 2010. We're thinking about faith from the perspective of one who is seeking, traveling on this journey. We are praying for people we know who don't know how much God loves them. What might God do as a result of this series? I have no idea, but I can't wait to see!

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December 28, 2009

This is my last post for the year 2009. As I reflect on all that has happened at Living Water this year, I see God at work in the lives of so many people. It has been a rough year for many - health problems, financial/job stresses, and strained relationships - but God has been faithful to comfort, protect, heal and provide for our needs. That has been the story of Living Water this year, too. We also wondered at times if our resources were going to be stretched too tight. But God has been faithful, our needs have been met, and the future is looking bright! I wish all of you a sense of God's presence very near to you throughout 2010.

I am very excited about our first sermon series of the year - A Travel Guide to Christian Faith. There are many people who have honest, intelligent questions about Christianity, but they don't know where to bring their questions without getting lectures and dogma. This series will take seven questions that seekers have - one each week of the series - and find ways of engaging in deep conversation around those questions. This is a series for those with questions and for those of us who want to begin some conversations about faith. If you fit into either of those categories, come join us for this journey!

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December 21, 2009

The last sermon in our Advent series - Simply Christmas - was actually the most difficult one for me to preach. It's not that the subject matter - Love All - is hard to talk about. It's just hard to know how to help people wrap their minds around what it really means to love people who live on the other side of the world, or the other side of the city, who are very different from us. It helped me to think about the circumstances of Jesus' birth and to realize that there are babies coming into the world under similar circumstances today. Loving all is simply another way to love Jesus.

Christmas Eve is one of my favorite nights of the whole year. The music, the candlelight, the Christmas story all create an experience that stays with me long after the tree has been put away. If you live in the Kansas City area, come be a part of Christmas Eve at Living Water. Flute and Harp music will begin at 4:30, and the service will begin at 5 pm.

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December 14, 2009

I love the Russian legend of Babushka. She turned down an opportunity to worship the newborn King because of housework! (See? No good comes from doing too much housework.) What a contrast to the shepherds who left their jobs to go see the baby. We live with priorities. We decide everyday what is more important, most important, and worthy of our time. God gave us His presence. He is fully available to us at all times. Can we say the same about our availablity to God?

This Advent has been one of most memorable for me because of this series, Simply Christmas. You are invited to find a new meaning in Christmas this Sunday at Living Water. And if you live in the Kansas City area, come on over to hear our band do their annual Christmas Coffeehouse Concert this Friday night at 7:30!

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December 7, 2009

I have mixed feelings about using a portion of the sermon time for comedy. I know some pastors who try to include a joke or funny story in most sermons as a way to make people comfortable. I like to think I have a good sense of humor (and am hilariously funny), but when I only have 20-25 minutes to try to convey something about the mystery of God, it seems like I'm wasting precious time if I spend several minutes telling jokes. But yesterday, when I was preaching about spending less on gifts, it seemed like a good time to look at some of the more ridiculous over-the-top gifts that people buy. We had some good laughs. But we also had a chance to think about why we buy some of the things we buy. I have heard from several people that this series - "Simply Christmas" - is changing the way they think about their traditions, making this Christmas season more memorable than most.

Next week's sermon would seem to be a contradiction from yesterday's sermon - Give More. But what if the "things" we gave were actually chunks of our time and attention? Join us for worship next week and see if the way you think about Christmas changes for the better, too.

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November 30, 2009

Most Sundays, by the time I leave church, I am mentally done with that morning's sermon and already thinking about the one I will preach next week. That didn't happen for me yesterday. In fact, as the day went on, the sermon seemed to sink deeper and deeper into my heart. Even this morning as I write this, I am still holding onto the words I preached yesterday. They have changed the way I'm preparing for Christmas. It's not that it was the best sermon anyone has ever preached. Heck, it wasn't even the best sermon I've ever preached. But the message hit me in a profound way, and I needed to hear it and let it speak to me as much as anyone else in the congregation. You can listen to it here. I also heard from several people who were very moved by the Advent Conspiracy video we showed in worship.

Next week we take on holiday shopping practices by thinking of ways we can spend less money this Christmas without giving up any of the joy or meaning. It's not too late for you to join us in celebrating what is "Simply Christmas!"

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November 23, 2009

Choosing topics for sermon series can be tricky. Some pastors like to begin with "where the people are" and deal with issues like parenting, managing finances and things like that. Other pastors stick to a regular rotation of Bible passages known as the lectionary for their sermon topics so that people get to know the scope of the Bible. I like to mix it up. Our last series on the life of David introduced us to one of the towering figures of the Old Testament. While looking at his life, we spent a lot of time in the Bible. But, if we were paying attention, we should also have noticed how the "ancient" problems of David are not really any different from the problems we deal with today - fear, temptation, family disagreements. I hope that this look at his life has helped us learn lessons we can apply to our own lives.

And now it's time to move on toward Advent. This year we are looking beyond the wrappings and trappings to find what is essential, to celebrate what is "Simply Christmas." We had a little preview last night with our Advent Make, Take and Decorate Night. We shared a simple supper of soup and bread then made ornaments for the tree at church as well as some extras to give as gifts. While we glued and glittered and stitched and stuffed and strung popcorn and cranberries, we talked and laughed, creating new memories. That's what this series is about, finding ways to make Christmas more meaningful, celebrating the gifts that Jesus gives to us. If you're ready to experience a richer, more meaningful Christmas, come to worship at Living Water this Sunday at 9:30 or 11:00.

 

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November 16, 2009

The story of David and Bathsheba is one of the most remarkable stories in the Old Testament. Here is David, a man of great faith, a man who trusted in God enough to defeat Goliath, yet he cannot control his own lust. As I said in my sermon yesterday, as the readers of the story, we watch as his character unravels before our eyes. It is hard to believe it is the same man who befriended Jonathan, who refused to lay a hand on King Saul. But one of the most amazing things about this story is that it is not the end for David. It is a stunning lapse in judgment. There are terrible consequences. But God forgives and restores David's character. The story of David does not end in humiliation and sin. What a powerful reminder of the mercy of God!

Next week we'll finish our series on David by looking at his later years, and his sorrow over his son Absalom. Even the king has trouble in his family. See how David finishes out the life God appointed for him.

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November 9, 2009

I know that some people/families are more musical than others, but when it comes to using music to worship God, I don't think it's an either/or thing. Even if we can't sing a lick or play an instrument, there is some kind of music out there that draws us close to God. In fact, that's why music styles can be such a contentious issue in churches - everyone has a particular style of music that just seems "right" for worshipping God. But God is not limited to one kind of music! God can be found in the praises sung in hymns, country, rap, rock, swing, bluegrass, African rhythms, and every other kind of music on the planet. However we connect to God through music, we need to allow that music to call us back, to ground us, in worship of our Creator.

Next week we'll look at the second most-popular story from David's life - his affair with Bathsheeba. It's a story that could be ripped from today's headlines. Come learn from David what NOT to do when we're feeling tempted to sin.

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November 2, 2009

To tell or not to tell - that was the question. I knew I wanted to focus on the friendship between David and Jonathan, but in the course of my research, I discovered that what most people want to talk about is whether these two men had more than friendship going on. Do I bring that up in my sermon so that my congregation is aware that there is a heated debate over this relationship, or do I ignore the debate and pretend like everyone agrees they were simply friends? If I ignore it, there might be people who would discover it on their own and wonder, "Why didn't my pastor mention this?" But if I do mention it, will anyone be able to focus on the point of the sermon - this amazing friendship? I decided to risk mentioning it, letting people know the convtroversy exists, then moving on to the study of how Jonathan and David were devoted and loyal friends. They model a life in community, true friendship, in ways that should inspire us to create life-giving friendships, too.

Next week we will look at the role of music in David's life. He is credited with writing many of the Psalms, and he played a musical instrument. Was music a way for David to communicate with God that went beyond prayer? What role does music play in our spiritual life?

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October 26, 2009

What on earth could I possibly say about the David and Goliath story that's new? That was my dilemma. I needed to tell the story for those who weren't completely familiar with it, but I also needed to give it a new twist for those who had heard it many times. The light bulb came on for me when I realized that this story wasn't intended to have a "surprise ending." We are supposed to know all along that little David will take down Goliath, because he has the living God on his side. The only surprise in the story is that none of the other men of Israel had that kind of faith. May we have David's same kind of rock-solid faith and character when God needs us to act.

Next week we'll look at one of the most important relationships in David's life - his friendship with Jonathan. The only thing that complicated it was that Jonathan's dad kept trying to kill David...

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October 19, 2009

Even though I consider myself a well-rounded person, I have to admit that I didn't know who Joshua Bell was until I ran across the amazing story of how this world-famous musician played music in a subway station. It was the perfect illustration for how we fail to notice beauty in life, just like Jesse failed to see the potential in his youngest son, David. But God sees beyond what we see to the heart of a person, the potential each of us has within us. As those who love God, we are called to see with God's eyes and listen with God's ears.

Next week we'll look at the most famous story from David's life - the defeat of Goliath. We love a good underdog story, and this one is a classic. Come learn how to tackle the giants in your life!

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October 12, 2009

Just between you and me, I'm a little sad that our "Finding Good Theology in Bad Songs" series is over. The sermons were certainly a challenge for me, but it was fun to step out of our routine and our comfort zone and hear God speak to us through some awfully bad songs. Yesterday was a special treat because a good friend of mine, Christen Blando, came to sing our last bad song - "The Devil's in the Phone Booth Dialing 911." We also had a very successful chili cook-off hosted by our youth. All 6 chili entries were unique and tasty, and the youth raised over $400 to remodel the basement into a youth room. But perhaps the most moving part of the morning was when Fe, our frequent visitor from the Philippines, tearfully told us how her house and town had been damaged in the recent typhoon. Many people have been killed by mudslides from the excessive rain. So often we hear of destruction in other parts of the world, but the suffering is far removed from us. Yesterday the suffering was brought into our community, as we surrounded Fe and prayed for her and for all who are in need of rescue, shelter, food and water in the Philippines. If you would like to give to the rescue efforts, you can do so through World Vision.

Next week we'll begin a new series on the life of David - finding lessons for our own lives. You can begin reading his story in 1 Sam. 8. Come learn from David's successes and failures and we strive to become people "after God's own heart."

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October 5, 2009

Ok, so maybe it wasn't the best planning in the world to be in the middle of a series on bad songs for World Communion Sunday. I had other pastor friends who did some amazing services with a global theme at their churches, and at Living Water, we were focusing on an "800 Pound Jesus." But the Spirit was moving in the room, and we remembered our brothers and sisters who gathered with us at the table. Next year, however, I will probably be a little more aware of World Communion Sunday during my sermon planning...

My husband was surprised to learn that the "bad song" series ends next week. He was enjoying it. I told him that I didn't think the congregation could stand more than 3 weeks of bad songs. We're going to go out with a bang, though! I think I've saved the best bad song (or would that be the worst bad song?) for last. Some to worship next Sunday and see if we can find any good theology hiding in this really bad song.

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September 27, 2009

Wow, what an amazing week I've had. One week ago I flew to San Francisco for the last of my Bethany Fellowships retreats - five days of spiritual direction and mentoring for new pastors. My daughter, Bethany, brought the message at Living Water that morning, and I was so proud of her for her message of thanksgiving. As soon as my plane landed back in KC on Friday, I was off to Tall Oaks camp for the All-Church retreat. At first I was worried that I would be too tired to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, but the rich fellowship of friends and the peaceful woods made it a refreshing time, filled with much joy and laughter.

Then this morning I took one of the biggest sermon risks I've ever taken - preaching a sermon about a "bad" song. Our band did a very cheesy version of "Drop-kick Me, Jesus, Through the Goalposts of Life." It was very fun and got lots of laughs, but then I had to find some good theology in the song. I wasn't sure how it would come together, but the Spirit was present in the room, and it was a great morning of worship.

Next week I'll tackle another "bad" song, and pray that God will speak through my message!

 

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September 14, 2009

What could the Church accomplish if each one of us discovered and used our spiritual gifts? How awesome would it be, not just for our hurting world, but for those of us engaged in meaningful, life-giving ministry! One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is to take the time to find out what our gifts are, and then ask God to help us find ways to use them. The rush that comes from doing what God created us to do is beyond any other thrill.

Next Sunday my daughter Bethany will bring the message based on her experiences as a missions intern in Galveston this summer. Yes, I'm a proud momma, but I also think it's great for the church to hear from the younger generation as they seek and live out God's call in their lives. Come hear about her summer of hurricane recovery work and what God taught her.

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September 7, 2009

I think most of us would rather not hear a sermon about how the Holy Spirit speaks to us. Once we become aware (or are reminded) that God usually has something to say to us most of the time, it becomes a lot harder to ignore the voice of the Spirit. We tend to think that the things God wants us to do are inconvenient (they are) and uncomfortable (they are!), but we forget that when we follow through, there is such an amazing feeling that comes from living in the center of God's will. There's no other rush quite like it!

For our last week of this series, we will look at the gifts of the Spirit and how each one of us is designed to play a part in God's plan for the world. Come find your gift next Sunday!

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August 31, 2009

It's a little intimidating (OK, it's VERY intimidating) for a mainline preacher such as myself to take on baptism of the Holy Spirit. It's one of those topics that can speak volumes by its very absence from the pulpit. But I took it on because Jesus actually said those words, and when we're talking about tapping into the power available to us in the Spirit, I think we should talk about what Jesus might have meant. In the end, I left it firmly in the realm of the mystery of God, but I also tried to give us a few new ideas and insights. But it will definitely be one of the things I want to talk to Jesus about when I see him.

Next week we'll look at how the Spirit gives us wisdom and understanding. If there's something I want more of, it's wisdom! Don't miss the last two weeks of this series on the Spirit and find out what you've been missing all along.

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August 23, 2009

So I went from graphs last week to etymology this week! To understand where words come from and what they originally meant can open up new understanding, so I did all kinds of research on the meaning of "paraclete", "advocate" and "comfort." Once again, my goal was not to bore anyone with archaic word searches, but to make these words come alive and have meaning for us in our own lives and situations. To know that the Spirit is so much more than any one word can contain makes him real and strong and an important part of our lives.

Next Sunday we'll discover how the Spirit can super-charge our lives. If you're running out of steam, let the Holy Spirit rev you up!

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August 17, 2009

I'm a theology nerd. While other people find talking about the Trinity (with graphs, no less!) boring and unimportant, it makes my heart beat faster. Theology is talk about God. And anything that helps me understand this mysterious and wonderful God is exciting to me. So I brought some of my nerdiness to the sermon yesterday. It seems ironic that I would begin a sermon series on the Holy Spirit with a graph since the Spirit is the most elusive person of the Trinity. But I hope that seeing the Spirit's place within the Trinity, dancing with the Father and the Son, will help us tap into the beauty and power of the Spirit.

Next week we'll look at how the Spirit comforts us. If you are in need of God's comfort in your life, this sermon is for you.

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August 10, 2009

As much as I enjoyed my vacation and time spent at the General Assembly, it was great to be back worshipping at Living Water. We used the chalice I brought back from General Assembly for communion - the one with the symbol of the river of life and the tree with leaves "for the healing of the nations." It was fun to bring something back from the gathering of 6,000 Disciples of Christ to share with this one, new congregation. It is because of the prayers and gifts of those other churches that we exist today.

I'm really excited about the new sermon series beginning next week- the Holy Spirit. It's been a while since I've really focused on the Spirit, and I think we've all been missing something in our spiritual lives as a result. But when you start talking about the Spirit - watch out! Who knows what God may do through this series?

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July 20, 2009

I love puns, the punnier the better. If it makes other people groan, then there's a good chance that I will love it. That's one of the reasons I had so much fun preaching "The Killer Sermon" yesterday. It gave me a chance to roll out all my jokes about long-winded preachers and sleepy congregants. But I didn't want anyone to miss the seriousness in the message either - it is very easy for us to fall asleep in our faith. Like Eutychus, we could find ourselves falling to our spiritual death if we allow ourselves to get drowsy. My prayer is that anyone who needed a wake-up call heard it in the message.

My family will be traveling for the next two Sundays - taking some vacation time and going to the General Assembly for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It's always difficult for me to be away from Living Water because there are so many things I do during the week and on Sundays. But I am a firm believer that God calls all of us to be ministers so I know that those who will step in for me the next two weeks will do an awesome job. I am also a firm believer in rest, and I need some time with my family to rest and relax. I will, however, be doing some guest preaching on Aug. 2 at New Palestine Christian Church in New Palestine, IN. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by and say "hi."

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July 13, 2009

For some of these strange stories, it's hard to figure out what they might have to do with our lives today. I mean, they're interesting and entertaining to read, but what are we supposed to do with them? This was especially difficult with the story of "The Hand Writing on the Wall." (Yes, I know "handwriting" is one word, but this is a story about a hand writing on the wall!) If the audience is a bunch of rulers drunk on their own power and wine, drinking out of stolen, sacred goblets from the Temple, then yes, this story has a strong message. But for us non-ruling, non-drunk-on-power people who only drink out of cups we purchased at Wal Mart, what does this story mean to us? For me, the answer was found when I tried to imagine the impact of this evening on the party guests. They witnessed all that happened. They thought they were safe from judgment. But they saw the handwriting on the wall, too. Did it change anything about the way they lived? Does it change anything about the way we live?

The last strange story is one I'm really looking forward to preaching - "The Killer Sermon" from Acts 20:7-12. My husband insists that the point of the story is - don't preach too long. But that surely can't be the point of the story :-)

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July 6, 2009

No wonder it is so difficult for us to comprehend the mind of God. Here is Gideon with a measly 32,000 soldiers preparing to take on an army of 135,000 when God tells him his army is too...big? This strange story just kept getting more and more bizarre. But God had to make sure that when the victory was won, NO ONE could claim that it was because of their superior intellect or strength. When 300 soldiers armed with nothing more than jars and trumpets defeats an army of 135,000, it's all God. There are times in our own lives when less really is more, especially when we give up relying on ourselves and our own resources and rely instead on God.

Next week we'll read the "Hand Writing on the Wall." Come hear the next story in this Strange Stories series!

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June 29, 2008

It was very interesting to read all the Internet sites devoted to explaining the "missing day" described in Joshua 10 - the sermon for yesterday. I guess I never really invested much energy in trying to figure out exactly what could have made the sun appear to stop in the sky or trying to prove that it actually did. Some of the theories are definitely"out there." But while it's kind of fun to speculate about the science involved in that, focusing on those things might make us miss the primary message. We have a God who is willing to get His hands dirty on our behalf. Our God does not sit on a mountaintop, waiting to see the outcome of our battles. He fights by our side against whatever would harm us - even throwing metaphorical hailstones! It's only one of the ways He shows His love to us. How great is our God!

Next week is the story of the amazing shrinking army. We think that more is better, especially if you're going into battle against a much bigger army. But what would you do if God told you to send most of your soldiers home? Come hear this strange story next Sunday at Living Water.

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June 22, 2009

I wonder why it is that I hate to clean my own house, but it was so much fun cleaning an apartment at Hillcrest Transitional Housing on Saturday? Maybe it was the hearty breakfast beforehand. Maybe it was the fellowship and laughter as the team of us from Living Water worked together. Maybe it was the sense of accomplishment when we were done - we had that apartment almost ready for the family who is moving in this week. Or maybe it was the sense that this was more than simply cleaning an apartment; it was a tanglible way to show the love of Jesus to others. I can't wait for our next mission day at Harvesters in July!

I had way too much fun preaching on Balaam and his talking donkey yesterday. This story was probably the strangest one in my Strange Stories series. But it really does make us stop and think about how God tries to get our attention. So far, God has not had to resort to talking animals for me to hear Him speak, but I think I have forced him to use some other drastic measures at times. I wonder what we'll find in next week's strange story...

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June 15, 2009

Thank you, Living Water! I know we have a great church with great people, but you demonstrated that to the world (literally) yesterday. When Niko first arrived from Germany last fall, you welcomed him and showed appreciation for his musical gifts. You became his church family. For his last Sunday, you surrounded him with prayer, well wishes, hugs and a potluck that he won't soon forget :-) His mother and aunt from Germany were overwhelmed with your warmth and love for Niko. They told me many times, "I can't believe it." That's what we mean when we say church "family." It's not just a catch phrase. You have been a part of Niko's family while he was here, and he will bring a part of us back to Germany with him. It is the kind of community God wants for the Church, and you have created it at Living Water.

Oh yes, and we looked at a strange story, too. Ananias and Sapphira has got to be one of the stranger ones in the New Testament. Next week we'll look at the story of a talking donkey. Yes, I said a talking donkey. It is also Fathers' Day, and we will celebrate all the wonderful men God has placed in our lives. Every guy will get a gift. If you want to experience what it means to be a part of a church family, come to Living Water this Sunday!

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June 8, 2009

I laugh every time I think about the story of the The People Who Gave Too Much. It strikes me as so humorous that Moses had to "order" the people to stop giving, he had to "restrain" them. I love the image of being restrained from giving more to God's work. I can picture the people, hands full of gold and jewels and expensive fabrics straining to get their gifts to the tabneracle and big, burly bouncers holding them back saying, "Not today, you won't." What a reversal from the pleas most pastors give today, "Please give more money so we can keep our doors open!" May God's Spirit change our hearts so that we will become people who might one day have to be restrained from giving more!

Next week's sermon is intended to be the flip side of giving. It is the strange story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. Now THAT could be a good stewardship sermon - give to God or die! But that's not really what's happening, so we'll unpack it a little more in the sermon next Sunday. Come learn about this strange story at Living Water.

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June 1, 2009

I love Pentecost, and I love the Church! There, I said it. I don't just mean that I love my church, I love the idea of the Church. Yes, I know that many people have negative ideas about what Church is and what churches do. But the way God envisioned the Church, the way God birthed and continues to re-birth the Church still take my breath away. When the people of the Church are doing what we're supposed to be doing, sharing the Good News of Jesus, sharing what we have with those in need, there is nothing more beautiful. I hope that the mosaic of Living Water Christian Church captures some of that beauty. May God continue to pour out His Spirit on His Church!

I have been very late in deciding what to preach on this summer. I usually like to do something fun in the summer - parables of Jesus or Old Testament stories. I finally decided to do a "Strange Stories" Summer Sermon Series (that's fun to say!) this year. I'll be looking at some of those stories that make us laugh or scratch our heads and go "huh?" But we'll listen to them closely and see if we hear God saying something through them.

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May 25, 2009

We are people who live in the present moment. So much of what we do is motivated by what will make us happy right now. Thinking about people who died in war doesn't make us happy, so Memorial Day has become more about barbeque and boating than about remembering the dead. But my research about the origins of Memorial Day uncovered the beautiful and moving history of this day. It is important for us to remember the past and those who made sacrifices so that we could live as we do. It's also important for the Church to pause and remember those who made sacrifices in order to pass on the faith to us. These people have become our "great cloud of witnesses", and it was really wonderful to write down their names and remember them in worship yesterday. We put those lists on the walls so that we would truly be surrounded by them. We also remembered that one day we will become a part of this great cloud ourselves.

Next week is Pentecost, one of my favorite days of the year. We don't spend a whole lot of time talking about the Holy Spirit, but next week, the Spirit gets all our attention. The way God started the Church is the way God continues to re-create the Church in each new generation. Come feel the wind of the Spirit at Living Water next week!

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May 18, 2009

Saturday morning a group of us participated in the Walk for the Homeless to raise money and awareness for Hillcrest Transitional Housing. It was a little chilly, but otherwise it was a great day to walk for such a great cause. May Living Water Christian Church continue to be involved in great community ministries like Hillcrest!

 

Yesterday we honored our graduates and gave them Bibles. Realistically, I know what happens to most Bibles. Even though the Bible continues to be the #1 best-selling book, that doesn't mean that it is the #1 most-read book. Often, our Bibles sit on a shelf while we go on with our lives, making important decisions without bothering to wonder if God might have something to say to us. But our prayer for the Bibles we gave out is that they would be used by the graduates, now and in the future, to hear God's voice in their own lives. That's why we're offering two new Bible study classes, too. We want to get those Bibles off the shelves and into the hands of the people!

Next Monday is a national day of remembrance. There's something very beautiful about taking a day to remember those who sacrificed so much so that we can live as we do. There are good reasons to pause to remember our mothers and fathers in the faith, too. This Sunday, we'll celebrate those who are a part of the great cloud of witnesses in our lives.

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May 11, 2009

In all our time of tracking worship attendance at Living Water, we've never had a Mothers' Day bump until yesterday. But the people poured in the door, coming to worship God and honor the special women in their lives. It was great to see so many families sitting together in worship. But it also made me wonder, on this day when most people are more willing to do something to make their moms happy, why was going to church together so important to these moms? I think moms love to see their families all together, sharing in something meaningful (Dads love it, too, and maybe we'll see a Fathers' Day bump next month). Wouldn't it be great if going to church together became a new family tradition, not just once a year but every Sunday? How might the lives of those family members change if they included this new tradition as a part of their family life?

It was also a treat to officially welcome Paul Slezak to our congregation with a baby blessing. We are his church family, and we must be his aunts, uncles and cousins in the faith. Welcome Paul!

Next week we'll honor our graduates and think about life lessons that serve us well. If you'd like to hear some great advice from Scripture about a life well-lived, come to worship at Living Water next Sunday!

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May 4, 2009

One of the big advantages of starting a new church over stepping into the pulpit of an existing church is that you start with a clean slate. Being small in number means that there aren't a lot of personalities to clash on ideas and opinions. For the first few years, we have been blessed with little or no conflict. But as we grow, we will surely encounter our fair share of disagreements and irritation. Spending time now thinking about how we will deal with that conflict when it comes will hopefully keep us focused on our mission and not lose sight of what unites us. Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chap. 4, offers us some great advice for dealing with differences while maintaining our unity. May God help Living Water Christian Church stay the course and move forward into ministry and mission as a healthy and whole body of Christ!

Next week is Mothers' Day, and we'll look at the story of Ruth and Naomi. These women weren't related by blood, yet they formed a new kind of family with bonds as strong as any family anywhere. Whether we are mothers, stepmothers, teachers, mentors, big sisters or aunts, we can have a huge impact on the lives of others. We will celebrate all these amazing women this Sunday! (And we'll celebrate the amazing guys in our lives on Fathers' Day.) Bring the amazing women in your life to Living Water this Sunday. All women will receive a gift.

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April 27, 2009

Yesterday's service was a treat for me. I got to sit and let others tell most of the story. We had a video clip, a drama and a dance that all served to remind us that God is all around us, trying to get our attention with signs of His love. It was a great way to close out our series on the book of John. And it also made me dream of what more the arts could do in our congregation if we had the space to spread out a little bit.

Next Sunday, I want to talk about something that has been on my heart for a while - how to be the Church. Spending time worshipping and serving with others can be frustrating. Let's face it, people can be annoying. But I believe with all my heart that Jesus intends for us to be in community, even with people who frustrate us. How can we live as the Church he wants us to be?

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April 19, 2009

It's difficult to talk about having doubts. I want my own faith life to be rock-solid, but those nagging little questions never seem to leave me alone for long. There is a fear that if I start to pick at them, that maybe the whole fabric of my faith will unravel. I've seen it happen to friends, people who used to believe in Jesus but now see the Christian faith as folklore or worse. But the story of Thomas reminds us that when we bring our doubts to Jesus, he will reveal himself to us. Doubting isn't the opposite of faith, it's a part of faith. Jesus knows that he's asking us to believe in him, to believe in his resurrection without one shred of physical evidence. He showed Thomas what he needed to see to believe, but Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." I've never seen Jesus in the flesh. I've never touched his scarred hands and feet. But I have experienced the risen Christ over and over and over again. The doubts may never completely go away, but neither will Jesus.

Next week will be a special service about seeing Jesus right in front of us. We will have video clips, drama and a dance to bring home the message that signs of God's love are everywhere.

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April 13, 2009

It was interesting to follow my pastor friends on Facebook last week. Everyone was posting about how many services they had to plan, how many hours they spent at the church building, how exhausted they were (how much caffeine they were drinking), etc. I am sitting here feeling pretty bleary-eyed myself this morning. But the truth is that Holy Week reminds us why we do what we do. The celebration of Palm Sunday, the sorrow of Good Friday, the joy and excitement of Easter morning - it's worth every minute of planning and preparing because people get to hear the message of the Gospel told in one week. We saw many new faces yesterday - some of them had not been to church in many years. We celebrated two baptisms - two people rising out of the water to new life in Christ. And we welcomed more people into our building than have ever been there before on a Sunday morning. Praise God for Holy Week and for the privilege of sharing with others how Jesus changes everything!

We usually end our sermon series on Easter, but since we are going through John's Gospel, and since John tells several stories of encounters with Jesus after his resurrection, we're going to spend a couple more weeks looking at those stories - beginning with Doubting Thomas. Many of us have been told that our doubts are sinful, that we should be ashamed of them. But Jesus welcomed Thomas' doubts, and showed him what he needed to see to believe. Bring your doubts with you to church this Sunday!

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April 6, 2009

It's so easy to look at the story of the first Palm Sunday and think, "Those clueless dolts! They completely misunderstood who Jesus was." It's much more difficult to see our own unreasonable expectations of who Jesus is. We want him to be our own personal "genie in a bottle", answering our every need, preferably before we even mention it. But he did not travel on a smooth road, and he does not promise us a smooth road in our lives, either. What he does promise is that he can free us from all our junk that weighs us down, and when that junk is gone, we can have an eternal relationship with God, one that begins today and continues forever. And to think that we act as if that isn't enough! We, too, sometimes throw down our palm branches in disgust when we discover that Jesus isn't who we want him to be.

Which makes heading into Good Friday all the more poignant. We are the crowd who turned on Jesus. Our shouts turned from "Hosanna!" to "Crucify him!" But he prayed for our forgiveness, because we don't know what we're doing, we don't know what we're saying. We'll focus on the cost of that forgiveness this Friday at our Good Friday service. Come at 7 pm to spend some time reflecting on the cross and the one who hung there for us.

But the emptiness of Good Friday is not the end. This Sunday is Easter! It is the most joyous day of the whole year. If you have been thinking about coming to Living Water, this Sunday is the day to come. Plan to arrive by 9:15 for the early service or 10:45 for the late service so that you can enjoy food, hot drinks and a warm greeting. If you don't have a place to experience the joy of Easter worship, then come experience it at Living Water!

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March 30, 2009

When you were a kid, did your parents ever mark your growth on a chart or a wall? My husband's family did that at the family cabin each summer. The post they used had pencil marks showing how tall the kids (and grandkids) were at age 2, 5, 7, etc. As parents, we might not notice how much our kids are growing day-to-day, but whenever we look at those marks, we can exclaim, "My, how you've grown!" That's a little like what I experienced at church yesterday. We had a Saturday snow storm come through town (why do they always seem to come through on Saturdays?), and I knew that some people would have trouble getting to church in the morning. I figured some others would use the snow as a reason to stay home. Those snow Sundays always cause a big dip in church attendance - sometimes as much as half the congregation. In past years, those kinds of storms would drop our attendance down into the 20s. In the back of my mind, that's what I was expecting as I drove to church yesterday. But while our attendance was down from what it has been recently, we still had 53 people in worship yesterday. That's amazing! It's like looking at the mark on the wall and saying, "Wow, even on a 'low attendance' day, we still have 53 people in worship." My, how we've grown!

I decided to read the whole story of the raising of Lazarus, John 11:1-44. That's a lot of Scripture to read to people during a sermon. Most pastors find that people do not pay attention past a few verses. But there is so much going on in this story, and let's face it, most people don't take the time to read the Bible on their own. If they don't get the whole story in church on Sunday, they likely won't get it at all. And only the most conceited pastor would think that the words of her sermon are more important than the words of the Bible story she is speaking about. So I let John have a big chunk of my sermon time yesterday, and I hope that people heard God speaking through those words.

Next week is Palm Sunday. It is an unusual day of worship that features joy and praise and waving palms even as we face into the coming week of betrayal, beatings and the cross. Enter into the joy and sorrow of Holy Week at Living Water next Sunday.

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March 23, 2009

You know how last week I wrote that I was counting on God to give me something new to say about the story of the woman at the well? Wow, did God come through in a big way! I knew that we would have a skit in the service called "Jesus and Miss Kitty" - a retelling of the story set in an Old West saloon. Our drama director, Abby, came up with some creative ways to make a bar for the cowboys and a table for Jesus and Miss Kitty to sit and talk. Originally, we were planning to strike most of the set so that I could move my pulpit over and give my sermon. But as I watched the rehearsal on Wednesday night, I thought, "Why don't I just sit on one of the barstools to preach?" It gave me the framework for my whole sermon. And transforming the "bar" - a place of judgment in the sermon - to a communion table - a place of welcome - was a very moving moment for me. It was a whole new way of thinking about that story, and I'm so glad God inspired the scriptwriter, the director, the actors and this pastor to bring it all together.

Next week I'll preach on the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. In John's Gospel, this is a major event. How strange that it isn't even mentioned in the other three Gospels. I don't promise any barstools for this sermon, but I do know that God has something to say to us through this amazing story.

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March 16, 2009

A member of the congregation told me after church yesterday that he has a different interpretation of Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus than the one I preached. He sees Nicodemus employing a rhetorical device in the question he asks Jesus, a debating technique, not the "clueless" Nicodemus that I presented in the sermon. I think he has a good point. The Scripture could definitely be read that way, too. Since we don't know the tone of voice, we can't really know all the intricacies of the conversation. I appreciate hearing how others interpret Scriptures. Oftentimes, their viewpoint creates new ways of thinking about a passage. And, I assured this member, when I preach on this passage again in 3-5 years, I will have a totally new take on it - perhaps even influenced by his interpretation. That's why the Bible is a living book. It breathes and sings, and every time we open its pages and read, we find new insights there.

This is really going to be true for me next Sunday when I preach on John 4 - Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well - for the fifth time since we started the church. It is our founding Scripture, the place where our name comes from. It is where the name of this blog comes from. I know it very well. But I can already see that God is, once more, opening my eyes to see things there that I haven't seen before. We're also going to have a drama that will give us a new perspective on the story!

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March 11, 2009

Maybe the most important thing we can do in a worship service is give people a few moments of silence to listen to God speak to them. We seem to be pretty good at talking to God, but we often don't take the time to listen. When we sit in silence, especially when we've just asked God to reveal to us what we're supposed to do, what it's time to start doing, people often tell me that it's the most meaningful moment in the service. Many people filled out a card on Sunday that indicated they were ready to say "yes" to whatever it was God was asking them to do. For some, it's the first step in their journey of faith. For others, it's a new experience, a new ministry they're taking on. We're so good at giving excuses why we can't do what God has been preparing us to do. It's time to say "yes" and start doing it.

Next Sunday we'll look at the story of Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus. The most famous line in the Bible comes from this story. Do you know what it is? What did Jesus mean by that? We'll also have guest musician Daniel Christian with us in worship. It will be a great day, and you are welcome to be a part of it!

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March 2, 2009

Should a preacher ever recycle a sermon? Well, we do it all the time if we're asked to preach in different locations for different worshipping communities. But what if it's your own congregation? Is it ever ok to take out a previous sermon, dust it off and give it another hearing? That was part of my dilemma last week. Since we are starting a series on John's Gospel, it only made sense that I would preach on the Prologue for my first sermon of the series. But the Prologue, John 1:1-18, is also a common Christmas passage, and I used it for my Christmas Eve sermon in 2006. Lent is a totally different season than Christmas, yet as I read over that sermon again last week, I was tempted to lift most of it for Sunday's sermon. In the end, I realized that the congregation is in a different place now than we were two years ago, and the context of this series is different from the context on Christmas Eve. So, I rewrote the sermon to fit what I felt the people of Living Water needed to hear now. However, the video clip I used for an illustration back then was just as powerful when I watched it again, and I felt it deserved a repeat showing. From the feedback I received, I think it was the right decision. Incidentally, I will be preaching on John 4 during this series - Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well, from which our church gets its name - for the fourth time since we started the church. Each time I have an opportunity to preach on that story, I find new things to bring out, new insights into who Jesus was. So, even though it will be a challenge to preach on it once again, I am really looking forward to writing yet another sermon about Jesus offering living water!

Next week is the story of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding. John says it was the first public sign that Jesus was someone special, someone different. Why was such a small, unimportant thing the first time Jesus displayed his supernatural abilities? And what role did his mother play? Find out next Sunday!

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February 23, 2009

I've never been a bang-on-the-pulpit-and-yell kind of preacher. I had a preaching professor that said that sometimes speaking in a softer voice grabs people's attention better because they have to lean in to hear what you're saying. Or they could just tune you out and take a nap. But I didn't give anyone that option yesterday because I yelled and banged on the pulpit in my sermon. I could tell how much I shocked people when I did that (gotta keep 'em guessing). But I wanted to make the point that the word "Amen!" is a loud word, an exciting word. It does not signal the end of our prayer but our determination to live out the prayer. So when I read that Eugene Peterson paraphrased "Amen" as "Yes! Yes! Yes!" I couldn't resist trying it out on the congregation, complete with banging for emphasis. Saying "amen" means we plan to live into the prayer we just prayed, and that's exciting! Amen!

Lent begins this Wednesday. Our Lenten series will be a journey through John's Gospel, reading about the encounters people have with Jesus. We'll start with the strange beginning of John, a weird, almost New Age-y poem. Why does John start that way? Come meet Jesus in the pages of John this Lenten season.

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February 16, 2009

Talking about temptation is tough. We tend to think of temptation as something evil, something that God would want us to avoid at all costs. So it's very strange that it says in Matthew 4 that the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted. And why would Jesus teach us in the Lord's Prayer to ask God to not lead us into temptation? It begs the question, "Would God ever lead us into temptation?" I tackled this tricky part of the prayer yesterday, and even though I don't think I provided a slam-dunk answer, I do think I provided some new ways of thinking about temptation and where God leads us. The Christian life is much more complicated and complex than we want it to be. No matter how many times we read that Jesus says we must "take up our cross" and follow him, we still somehow want life to be easier when we become a follower of Jesus. But temptations are everywhere in this world - whether we follow Jesus or not. The key is to ask for God's help negotiating them, before we fall into them.

Next week we'll wrap up the Lord's Prayer series by looking at the ending that some say shouldn't be there - "For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." The oldest manuscripts don't have it. Catholics don't say it. And most people aren't sure what it really means. Should we continue to include it? What is the purpose of it? Find out next Sunday!

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February 9, 2009

It is so tempting to try to change Jesus' words to make them mean what we want them to mean. But there aren't many ways you can change "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors", especially when the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6 is immediately followed by, "For if you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." There really isn't any way around it. If we want a relationship with God, complete with daily forgiveness, we must forgive the people who have hurt us. The fear for a pastor who preaches this is that some people might find this to be a deal-breaker. They are on board with the whole God thing as long as we're talking about the peace, joy and love they receive. But when we start telling them that Jesus wants - no, expects - us to forgive people who have hurt us, then there may be some who decide to jump ship. Forgiveness is so difficult for us, and some hurts go so deep that we even wonder if it is possible to forgive, or if we should forgive. But if we pray the Lord's Prayer, we must confront the line where we ask God to forgive us as we forgive others. Can we trust that God will help us do that? (I spent an entire sermon series last fall looking at the difficult topic of forgiveness. You can find it on our worship archive.)

Next week we'll look at the most confusing line in the prayer - "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Does God lead people into temptation? What would be the purpose in that ? Doesn't that seem kind of cruel for God to set us up to fail? Come explore this mysterious line of the prayer in worship next Sunday.

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February 2, 2009

Why is it so hard for us to trust that God will provide what we need when we need it? In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray for our daily bread. For the Israelites, that was literally what God provided for them. Each morning they found manna on the ground - exactly as much as each person needed. Yet we always seem to be in fear that God will show up too late with too little. What if we really meant it when we prayed "Give us this day our daily bread"? What if we really trusted that God would provide what we truly need? What if we lived our lives "waiting to worry", seeing if God would take care of things before we invested unnecessary emotional energy worrying about the future?

Next week we'll tackle the most difficult line to say in the prayer, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." Do we really forgive others? And if we don't, will God still forgive us? Come to worship next week and find out.

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January 26, 2009

Something very interesting and exciting is happening. Throughout this adventure of starting a new church, we have seen consistent but very slow growth. Some of the reasons that the growth has taken longer than we anticipated may be due to our location or the unusual look of our building, but we've also known from the beginning that starting a church that reaches out to folks who are church-phobic or church-apathetic is a VERY difficult thing to do. Throughout our 3 1/2 years in Parkville, we have hit attendance barriers in groups of 10s. Believe it or not, it took us forever to get into the 20s - mostly because our core group consisted of 15 people - none of whom even lived in Missouri! Then we inched our way into the 30s. Finally, last year, we began to see some weeks where we had attendance figures in the 40s and even a few weeks in the 50s. We praised God for each new face, each new family, each new friend, and we celebrated new life and new commitments in the waters of baptism. And then we started our new sermon series on the Lord's Prayer on January 11, 2009 with 74 people in worship. The next week it was 67 people and yesterday we had 70. Now this may just be a temporary attendance "bump", but it may also be that the word is getting out that Living Water Christian Church is a place to bring your questions and encounter the presence of God in life-changing ways. We will continue to make room for all who want to come taste and discover if Christ's living water makes a difference in their lives. Come taste it for yourself in worship this Sunday!

Next week we turn to the line "Give us this day our daily bread." Was Jesus just talking about food? Or is there something deeper we're asking of God in this line of the prayer?

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January 19, 2009

What an amazing moment in history! Yesterday in worship we remembered Martin Luther King and his legacy. We saw pictures from the civil rights movement - pictures taken just 50 years ago. And now we are poised to swear in a president who would not have been allowed to drink from a "white only" fountain in a previous generation. God must be smiling! This doesn't mean that racism and other forms of discrimination are all behind us. But with God's help, maybe we can become a beacon of hope and unity to the rest of the world.

Which actually has something to do with my topic for the sermon - God's holiness. In our attempt to tell people about God's love, we have sometimes forgotten about God's holiness. We have domesticated God and made Him a "buddy" who approves of everything we do. But God is holy, a complete otherness from sin. That holiness hates sin, hates racism, hates hate. May we remember to prepare ourselves to enter into God's presence, and give thanks that our holy God allows our unholy selves to approach Him as a heavenly parent.

Next week we'll look at the phrase, "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." what is God's kingdom? What is God's will? These are two very important things for us to understand if we are to pray the Lord's Prayer.

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January 12, 2009

How could I have so much to say about two words - "Our Father"? Yesterday's sermon was one of those painful ones to write in which I had to edit and then edit and then edit some more. Each cut was painful because there was so much I wanted to say about these two words. They have caused some to push away from God while they have drawn others closer to God. The words we use to talk about God are theologically loaded, and Jesus knew that. But he chose these words to begin the Lord's Prayer because he felt they conveyed something important that we needed to know about the nature of God. Jesus' intent was that these words draw us closer to God, not make it more difficult for us to approach God in love. So we had to address all the baggage that goes along with the word "Father" for God, as well as the positive image Jesus wants us to see. We also spent time looking at how important the word "Our" is, too. Many people really appreciated the story I shared from Rick Reilly. And finally, I spent just a moment talking about what it means when we say "who art in heaven." For some, seeing heaven as the atmosphere, the air around us, was a new way of imagining a God who is so close we can breathe Him in.

Next week we'll look at the line "hallowed be Thy name." Just four little words. But I can already see I'm going to have to do some major editing this week, too :-) Living Water is experiencing record-breaking worship attendance as more and more people are finding new life, hope and healing in this church. There's still room for you! Come worship this Sunday at 9:30 or 11:00 am.

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January 5, 2009

Thanks to many prayers and the grace of God, I made it through all four of my keynote addresses at the CYF Mid-Winter retreat last weekend - even though I was fighting a cold the whole time. As I mentioned in my blog last week, I've never really been involved in youth ministry or speaking to youth as an isolated group, so I was concerned that I might fall flat on my face and, worse yet, embarrass my son Rob. But I remember what it's like to be a teenager, and I also remember how my life was changed in a youth group. I spoke from the heart, and even though at times it appeared they weren't listening, several came up to me afterwards and told me that something I said really got through to them. Praise God for the Spirit who can communicate to hurting hearts, no matter how flawed the speaker may be! It was an amazing weekend with truly amazing kids, and they give me so much hope for the future of the Church. Meanwhile, back at Living Water, my daughter Bethany preached on "Why My Friends Don't Go to Church." The college-age/20s crowd is the missing generation in churches. Bethany actually interviewed her friends who don't go to church, and she opened our eyes to what we can do to reach this missing generation. I am a very proud Mama :-)

Next week I'll begin a new series on the Lord's Prayer. We don't say it every week at Living Water, mostly because I have found that saying it from memory each week tends to diminish its meaning for people. We will look at different versions of the prayer, and we'll try to understand what Jesus wanted us to know about God in the words of the prayer. My hope is that this series will help all of us become better pray-ers.

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December 29, 2008

This is my last blog entry for the year, so I guess it's a good time to look back and see what God has done in the life of Living Water in 2008. There have been many setbacks, frustrations and even some goodbyes that made the year look very much like a typical year in ministry. But when I think of all God has done through us this year, I know that we have truly been blessed. New faces, new friends, new lives rising out of the waters of baptism - all of these are signs of God's goodness. We launched a youth band, Disciple II Bible Study, a new Disciple I Bible Study, a prayer group, and another Financial Peace University class. We supported ministries that care for people in our community and around the world - Micah Ministry, Hillcrest Ministries, Bead for Life - and we also supported Lily's family with our prayers, meals, cards and financial gifts. And we have had fun! Super Bowl party, Fourth of July parade, Chilioke, concerts, Christmas party (and our upcoming New Year's Day party). On Christmas Eve, we sat in our darkened and cozy worship space, surrounded by candlelight, beautiful music and the message that God loves us so much, He came as a baby to live with us. The room was so full of people that we almost ran out of chairs, and it was an incredible moment to look out on all those holy faces and know that God created this church for this purpose. I can't wait to see where God takes us in 2009!

Next Sunday, I will be speaking at the CYF mid-winter retreat. I don't think of myself as one of those cool people that youth like to hang out with, so it's a little (ok, a lot) intimidating to think of what I might say to them through 4 keynote messages over the weekend. But I am honored to be asked, and in my own life, it was as a teenager that someone told me that Jesus loved me. That message changed my life forever. My prayer, and I hope you will pray it too, is that God will speak through me to one next weekend who may need to hear how much he or she is loved, too. At Living Water, my daughter Bethany will bring the message. She is a communications major at Park University, and she is discerning her own call into ministry. She is an anomaly in the Church - a college student who attends regularly. This gives her a unique insight into religion and culture. Come hear her preach next Sunday.

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December 22, 2008

We have almost reached our goal of folding 1,000 origami cranes. I am confident we will have all 1,000 of them by Christmas Eve, hanging all over the room as a reminder of the peace that Jesus brings to us. While I've folded them, I've thought a lot about peace - how to find it and how to keep it. One of the keys to peace is to remember that Jesus is Emmanuel - God with us. Whatever we face, we do not face it alone, and that can bring a whole lot of peace. When the band led us in singing, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" yesterday, my heart truly sang it as a prayer.

I can't wait for Christmas Eve. It is my favorite night of the year. Everything is beautiful - the candles, the music, the story. Come and worship the newborn king at Living Water this Christmas Eve. The service begins at 5 pm.

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December 15, 2008

Preaching about family relationships is always a little tricky. I mean, I'm very proud of my family, and God has really blessed us with some wonderful kids, and we get along very well. But I can't stand up in front of my congregation and pretend that I've got this whole relationship thing all figured out. I can't pretend that I'm always Christ-like with my kids and husband. My household is not always peace-filled. But I have learned some things in 25 years of marriage and raising two kids. God has shown me how to be present to my family so that, at times at least, they see the best of me. What an amazing revolution would take place if each of us could say that we are most Christ-like when we are in our homes! It wouldn't take long at all before our peaceful homes would begin to affect the rest of our lives, the rest of our nation and our world.

Next Sunday is music Sunday. Our musicians will proclaim the Good News of Christmas in Scripture and song. Several guest musicians will be joining them to make the day extra-special. After the 11:00 service, we will have a potluck party and white elephant gift exchange. I always look forward to this day at church because I get to sit and let the spirit of Christmas - the beauty and wonder and the joy and fellowship - happen to me. If you need a day to let the real Christmas happen to you, please join us next Sunday!

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December 8, 2008

It's much easier to think of peace as something that happens to us rather than something we have to work to create. But God's peace involves both. It was so eye-opening to me to read Dr. King's Letter from Birmingham Jail last week in preparation for the sermon. Even though it was written over 40 years ago, his words sounded as if he were still talking about the Church in America today. Can it still be said of us that we are more like thermometers than thermostats?

Next week we'll look at how the Prince of Peace can bring peace to our homes. For many people, home is not a very peace-filled place. How can Jesus bring peace into the chaos of our family lives? Find out next Sunday.

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December 1, 2008

I didn't know when I chose the theme of Peace on Earth for this Advent how much everyone would be longing for peace, especially this Christmas. There are so many things to be anxious about - even in my own life - but claiming Jesus as our Prince of Peace helps us to put things in perspective and remember that he is our Hope for peace. The peace cranes that we have put up around the room as indicators of our prayers for peace have been a church-wide project. Many people have learned how to fold them, and so far we have over 400 cranes. I even taught my nieces and nephew how to fold them over Thanksgiving, and they must have folded 50 or more in a 24 hour period. Our goal is to have 1,000 cranes surrounding us as we worship on Christmas Eve - the night we welcome our Prince of Peace. If you would like a daily dose of worship in the days leading up to Christmas, I encourage you to join me in doing this daily online devotion.

Next week we'll look at how Jesus can bring peace to our nation. We face so many problems that seem insurmountable, is it even possible that Jesus could help? If you're looking for peace this Christmas season, please come worship with us on Sundays at 9:30 or 11:00 am or on Christmas Eve at 5:00 pm.

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November 24, 2008

I need to shut up more often. Yesterday I turned over my pulpit to the people of Living Water so they could share their own stories of what God is doing in their lives, what they are thankful for. And their words were beautiful and heart-breaking and moving and filled with grace and gratitude. And I got to just sit and listen and whisper, "thank you, God" over and over again. At the close of second service, we baptized Lily, the 8-year-old-girl we have been praying for as she has battled cancer this year. What a glorious ending to a service of Thanksgiving! Lily glowed from within as the Holy Spirit filled her. We prayed for her healing, and we prayed for God to bless her new life in Christ. I love every baptism we have ever had at Living Water, but this one was certainly one I will never forget.

Next week Advent begins. We will turn our thoughts to Christmas and the coming of the Prince of Peace. Our theme this year is Peace on Earth. If there is any chaos in your life, come find peace as we welcome the baby in the manger.

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November 17, 2008

So I planned this silly church fellowship event for last Friday night - a combined chili cook-off and karaoke night called Chilioke. The purpose was to give folks a chance to meet some new people, invite some friends, and have some fun. But you never know when God will take a frivolous moment and turn it into something sacred. That happened to us when Lily - our 8-year-old friend with stage 4 cancer whom we have been praying for - showed up to sing karaoke. She had just been released from the hospital a few days earlier, after spending almost 4 weeks there trying to get her pain under control. Still in some pain, and with no appetite for the chili or any other food, she belted out her song in a clear and beautiful voice. Her pick for a song to sing? "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." I realized as I listened to her that it was more than just a song for her. It was a prayer. This 8-year-old girl who has been through so much just wants to be a normal kid. She just wants to have fun. I will never forget that moment, and I will never hear that song in the same way again. Please take a moment now and pray for Lily to have many more moments of fun in her life.

My sermon yesterday provoked two different responses (that I know of). Several women commented that they really appreciated the new insights I brought to a troubling passage. Another person thought that the biblical commentator I used for most of my research (N.T. Wright) was making an awful lot of assumptions and conjectures. It wasn't my intention to make this sermon the definitive sermon on 1 Tim. 2:11-15, but I do think it's important for all of us to continue to engage Scriptures, even troubling ones, by reading and researching all we can. Perhaps we will find some new insights that are helpful, or perhaps we will need to continue searching for helpful commentaries. But my primary hope for yesterday's sermon is that everyone who has ever dismissed Paul out-of-hand will give him another chance.

Next week's worship service is one of my favorites - Thanksgiving Sunday. We will offer an "open mic" time to anyone who wants to share what God has been doing in your life. It's my favorite kind of Thanksgiving feast - a feast of praise! Come be a part of it.

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November 10, 2008

I'm rather embarrassed to admit that during this series on the life of Paul I am (re)discovering things about him that surprise me. I have read the book of Acts several times, but it has always been with an eye toward the early church, not necessarily the life of Paul. I think maybe it is because I used to have a negative view of Paul - you know, a chauvinist who created more problems for the contemporary Church than anyone else. But I have softened my view of Paul, and in fact, I have found him to be a great inspiration to me. That doesn't mean that he isn't still creating problems for the Church. He is, and I'll spend some time in next Sunday's sermon looking at those. But if we take the stories in Acts as they are presented, we find a man who was driven to do what had to be done. And I must say that I really admire him for that. I hope that others have found this series helpful in meeting Paul or rediscovering what made him so special.

We'll finish up the series on Paul next week, then it will be Thanksgiving and Advent! The holiday season is the prefect time to make going to church a part of the rhythm of your week. We can easily get lost in the busyness and consumerism and miss the best part. Come find Jesus at Living Water this holiday season.

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November 3, 2008

I really admire preachers who have their sermons written by Tuesday afternoon. I wish I could do that. I have finally come to terms with the fact that my sermons seem to have a 5-day gestational period, and I can only seem to fit one sermon at a time into my head. That means that, even though I do my research throughout the week, and I have a general idea where it's going, I really don't know what's going to come out in the sermon until I sit down and write it - usually not until Friday (OK, or even Saturday). This past week, I had the idea for the sermon early in the week, but when I sat down to write it on Saturday morning, the idea of playing games with the Holy, of pretending, was what the Scripture passage was saying to me. I was surprised because I don't usually do "hard-hitting" sermons that call people out for just sitting in church without having it mean something. But that's where the sermon took me when I sat down to write it. And when I realized that that's where it was going, I also realized that the song the band was planning to play after the sermon wasn't going to fit very well. So, I picked up the phone on Saturday afternoon and said, "You know that song you rehearsed on Wednesday night? Well, I think maybe we should change it to a different song you didn't rehearse." They would have been within their rights to slam down the phone and think unkind thoughts about me (maybe they did the latter part...). But they found the right song for the sermon, and they did it beautifully. Everything fit together so well. I thank God for inspiration - in message and music. And I thank God for musicians who can make last-minute changes for a pastor who can't seem to write her sermons by Tuesday afternoon.

We have two more weeks left in our series on the life of the Apostle Paul. He's really a fascinating person, and his life is one amazing adventure after another. I'm looking forward to preaching on the events at the end of his life this next Sunday. His passion for preaching about Jesus never died out, and I hope we catch some of that passion in our lives, too. Please come join us for worship!

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October 27, 2008

There are some Bible stories that almost seem too good to be true, almost as if someone "embellished" the facts to make a more compelling story. That's how the story of Paul and Silas in jail, found in Acts 16, seems at times. From their wrongful imprisonment to the singing in chains, the miraculous earthquake and escape that never happened, to the new faith and baptism of the jailer and his family - it all seems to be too much to have really happened that way. But isn't truth often stranger than fiction? How many times in our lives have things happened at just the right moment, with consequences we could not have foreseen? God usually works in quiet ways through the people we meet and the experiences we have. But sometimes, God moves in mighty ways. That's what happened with Paul and Silas. Even in their fear and pain, they left themselves open to God's Spirit, and the results were life-changing. May each of us know moments in our lives when God moves in ways beyond our comprehension!

Yesterday we had a photographer take pictures of Living Water folks for our pictorial directory. It was a very cold, very windy day, but the little preview photos he showed me looked great! It was another moment of awe and wonder, seeing the beautiful faces of these people who had once been strangers - to me and one another. But now all those beautiful faces will go into the directory as a church, as Living Water Christian Church!

OK, now that we've spent a week on Paul's first missionary journey and a week on his second missionary journey, you know what's next. Come hear the highlights from Paul's third missionary journey next week!

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October 20, 2008

There have been times in my life when I have seen the Church at her worst. I have been in some frightful meetings where people in the church I was attending said and did horrible things. I have walked away from those meetings thinking, "Isn't this church doing more harm than good for my faith life?" So for me to preach so passionately about the need to belong to a church shows how far I have come in my own understanding of what it means to be the Church. Yes, there are some toxic churches out there, and people need to leave those places and find a place where they can truly worship. But it's also true that there are no perfect churches out there. Some of the greatest moments we experience in being a part of a church only come after we've spent 20+ years worshipping with the same people (more or less) week after week, sitting in Bible studies with them, bringing them food when they get out of the hospital, etc. If we ask ourselves every week, "Am I happy in this church?", we will almost certainly have days, weeks and months when the answer is "no." But the purpose of sharing our life with the lives of others in the church isn't just for our own happiness, it's so we can be there when others need us. It's about finding ways to serve rather than be served all the time. I am so grateful for the ways God is building Living Water into a church that seeks to live in community. It's not always easy, but when it works, it's a thing of breath-taking beauty!

Next Sunday is portrait day at Living Water. We will have a photographer taking pictures so that we can put together our first-ever pictorial directory. For the sermon, we will look at what happened to Paul on his second missionary journey - the amazing story of the prison escape that never happened.

 

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October 13, 2008

If you read this blog very much, I know you get tired of me saying, "Wow! What a great morning in worship yesterday!" But I have to say it once again - it really was a great morning in worship yesterday! We had many new visitors who came to check us out, and it's always fun to meet new people and get to know them a little bit. Another highlight of the morning for me was to hear the youth band (with some help from Fusion) do the song Solid Rock. In the middle of the song, the lyrics of the old hymn, "My Hope is Built" are performed as a rap. It is so exciting to see the next generation of church musicians find a way to express their faith through music. We're so proud of our youth!

I also took some time in the sermon to address the current economic situation and how the fear and uncertainty can make us feel shaky. But we learned from Paul and the early church that our hope really is built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, no matter what else seems to be shifting around us.

Next Sunday we'll see how Paul begins to take the message on the road as he begins his first missionary journey. As one might expect, he isn't necessarily greeted by cheering crowds wherever he goes...

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October 6, 2008

Last week I went on a pastors' retreat with about 40 other pastors. Part of our retreat schedule is to spend 24 hours or more in silence so that we can tune out all the other noise of life and tune in to God's voice. On past retreats, I have asked my congregation to give me prayer request cards so that I might pray for them during the day of silence. Even if people don't give me a card, I still pray for each member of my congregation by name. My sermon last Sunday was about how to forgive the big hurts of life, things that seem to be unforgivable. When I prepared that sermon, I thought there might be one or two people in my congregation who were struggling with past violence done to them or a loved one. But when I sat down to pray over the prayer requests of my congregation, I discovered that there were many others who said they needed God's help to forgive someone who had hurt them in ways that cut deep. It was a profound moment as a pastor - to see into the hearts of people, to see their hurts, to get a glimpse of the invisible pain so many people carry around with them. I marveled again at how God is big enough to see all that pain all the time and big enough to carry all of it for us when we're ready to let go. I also marveled at the amazing privilege of being a pastor whose congregation will share those kinds of pain with her so she can pray for them. And I praised God for all He has done in the life of Living Water, and all the incredible people He has brought to be a part of this church. Whether our hurts are big or small, we share them together as a family of faith. There is always more room in this family, and you are welcome to come see if we might be the kind of supportive community you are looking for.

We're now into our new series on the life of Paul the Apostle. He is a very complicated character, and his words have created some of the biggest splits in churches and denominations. But we're discovering the person behind the hype and hopefully learning some things along the way about what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Come meet Paul, too!

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September 28, 2008

Each week I look over the statistics from our website to see what pages people are visiting and what search phrases they use to find us. I am always surprised to discover that this page - my blog - is one of the most frequently read pages on our site. My friends are quick to point out that this isn't a real blog - there's no place for others to comment. So it's more like a forum for me to write out thoughts that didn't make it into the sermon or my reflections on what happened in worship. It's more than a little humbling to realize that people are actually reading it. It can be that way with preaching, too. As I prepared this sermon on forgiving the Big Hurts - the "unforgivable" things people do to us - I felt very inadequate to speak to people's deepest pain. But when I offer what I can, what God has shown me, I am awed that people listen. It is an amazing thing to get to speak into darkness each week, bringing the light of Christ. And it's equally humbling to know that my rambling thoughts are read by so many of you!

Next week we begin a new series on the life of Paul. I was one of those people who used to dismiss Paul as chauvinistic and outdated. But the more I got to know him, the more I saw what a true rebel he was! Come meet this fascinating man this Sunday.

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September 22, 2008

Friday and Saturday were our first-ever all-church retreat at Tall Oaks camp. God provided beautiful weather, and I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful experience. There have been many moments in our journey as a new church when I have stepped back and really appreciated what God has done - and this weekend was another "Yea, God!" moment. We had a great turnout of fantastic people who played together, prayed together, worshipped together, and truly lived as the Church. Until a few years ago, most of us had been strangers to one another, but now we are a church. Yea, God!

The series on forgiveness continues to be a meaningful one for many people. I hear from people each week who say that the message was just what they needed. As I look back over my four years worth of Living Water sermons, I know I have preached on all of these topics before, but never packaged together in a series on forgiveness. By hearing week after week how God forgives so graciously, and then how we are now free to forgive ourselves and forgive others, the message of forgiveness is reinforced for us. Next week we'll take on the Big Hurts - crimes and injustices done to us that leave scars for a lifetime. How can God expect us to forgive something that big? Where is the justice if we do?

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September 15, 2008

It's always a little risky to reveal personal details in a sermon. On the one hand, a preacher wants people to know that she is human just like everyone else in the church, that she wrestles with the same things they do. But on the other hand, revealing too much about yourself in a sermon can make people uncomfortable. I struggled with how much to reveal about the tapes I hear in my own head as I spoke about self-forgiveness and self-love yesterday. I decided to share the story of a defining moment in my life when I spoke the words in my head out loud, and how much those ugly words about myself hurt my friend Kay. As someone who loved me, she would not allow anyone, even me, to talk about her friend that way. It gave me a clear insight into what God must feel when we use those ugly words to beat ourselves up, one of His beloved children. My prayer is that all those who heard the sermon or who will hear it on the podcast will find a way to see themselves as God sees them, and release themselves from whatever prisons they have created.

This series on forgiveness is generating a lot of feedback from people. They are finding helpful ways to reframe their thinking and let go of things that have held them down. The last two sermons in this series are going to address how we can forgive others. Next Sunday we'll talk about forgiving all the daily wounds people inflict on us. And the last Sunday we'll talk about forgiving the "unforgivable" - abusive and/or violent acts that leave scars for a lifetime. God is doing amazing things, helping people find freedom for the first time in a long time. Come to Living Water and find God's freedom for your life, too.

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September 8, 2008

I feel like maybe I need to issue an apology to pig farmers after my sermon yesterday. Sometimes, to make a strong point that people will remember, a preacher needs to take a little creative license so people can really engage their senses in the story. Yesterday, I tried to engage the sense of smell in the story of the prodigal son as a way to talk about sin and our pigpen moments. Apparently, my "smellovision" worked, as one kid was waving his hand in front of his nose to get rid of the smell of pig his imagination had created. Several people thanked me for the sermon yesterday, and they told me that they heard the story in a new way, even though they were very familiar with the story of the prodigal son. God has given us these wonderful senses so that we may know the world around us. It's fun to be able to engage them in a sermon so that we might have a deeper understanding of how God forgives. And I do apologize to all those who spend their days tending pigs (and I'm very grateful for their work every time I sit down to a ham dinner).

Now that we have a better grasp on God's forgiveness, we're ready to move on to a different kind of forgiveness - how do we forgive ourselves? For some, this is the most difficult kind of forgiveness to practice. We'll see what God has to say about it in our sermon next week. Come find freedom in this important sermon series!

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September 1, 2008

It is very difficult for a pastor to worship during a worship service. So many things are running through our minds - is there anything I need to change in my sermon? are there any visitors here today? are they being welcomed? did someone forget to light the candles? and on and on. But when the band led us in singing "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see you." I prayed those words. The attendance was low because many people were traveling, and I wasn't sure that God would do anything life-changing in a sermon that was a wrap-up to the summer series. But I prayed that God would open my eyes so that I might see where He was working at Living Water. And when I start looking for where God is at work, I discover that I find Him everywhere. We had two special visitors yesterday, women who come from Iowa each year to worship with us. The first year they came because they were in town for a Christian music festival, and the name Living Water had a special meaning for them. They told me yesterday that they make the drive now just to worship with us. I was floored! One of the women told me she is feeling called into ministry, and she said, "I want to start a church just like this." Wow! Another person handed me a prayer card just before she left, indicating that she had rededicated her life to Christ. Double wow! I am embarassed to admit how many times I forget that God is at work in the hearts and lives of His people whether I see it or feel it or am completely clueless about it. What an amazing God I love and serve!

I have felt the need to do a sermon series on forgiveness for quite a while. It is something that everyone struggles with at some point in their lives. "Am I worthy of God's forgiveness? How can I forgive someone who is so hateful toward me? How can I forgive someone who has destroyed my life?" God has a lot to say about forgiveness if we will listen. This series can truly change your life and help you find a freedom you could not have imagined. Don't miss this series!

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August 25, 2008

It's true that we often don't really appreciate a trip until we return home. While I was on the mission trip this summer, I had a great time, and I really felt like I was drawing closer to God and to the others on the trip. But it wasn't until I spent time last week looking through our photos that I realized what a truly amazing experience we had together. As I listened to others share their memories in worship yesterday, I thanked God that our church can send out people in missions like this. I hope each person at Living Water will find a place to serve - either locally or traveling to a new place.

Next week's sermon is going to be "Pastor's Choice." I don't want to start our new series on forgiveness yet, so I have one week to fill in with whatever sermon topic seems appropriate. I decided that, since we spent the summer looking at Old Testament stories, maybe it would be fun to see how the Old Testament connects to the New Testament. So that's what I'll be preaching on next Sunday. Come close out the summer by discovering how the threads of the Old Testament are woven into the fabric of the New Testament!

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August 18, 2008

I don't think there is anything more difficult to understand in the Bible than the Old Testament stories of God ordering the death and destruction of all living things in Jericho and other conquered cities. I want to ask God why on earth He would have ordered something like that, and even if He had a good reason, why did it have to be recorded in the Bible? My life as a pastor would be so much easier if I didn't have to try to explain passages like that. But, there they are, and so I am left with the difficult task of trying to make sense out of something that seems senseless. I didn't try to explain it all away in my sermon yesterday, but I did try to bring a little more information and a different perspective to our reading of it so that we might be able to at least set it aside long enough to focus on the inspiring part of the Jericho story. When I discovered the clip of Mahalia Jackson singing "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho," I knew that she could convey the life-giving hope of the story better than I ever could!

Next week I will invite the people from the mission trip team to share their stories and photos about our summer trip to live and serve among the Navajo people. God works in amazing ways on mission trips, often in the least-expected places. I look forward to hearing how the others experienced God while on our trip.

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August 11, 2008

Wow, I really hate preaching about idol worship because it hits way too close to home. There are so many things that I hold on to because I think they make me feel better, give me comfort. I know that God is the real source of comfort, but I have such a hard time letting go of these other things that I have used as security blankets. For the communion meditation, I talked about visiting the Iowa State Fair and how there is every kind of imaginable food available - most of them deep fried and on sticks. You can get a fried Twinkie, fried Oreos, fried candy bars, even fried pineapple. While I didn't eat any of those things (and I won't tell you what I did eat), it reminded me of how much junk we stuff in our lives. At the table, Jesus offers us the bread of life, the cup of salvation. It seems ridiculous that I would even consider filling myself with anything on a stick for comfort when the Prince of Peace offers me true joy!

There is a lot going on in my home life this week. Wednesday is my 25th wedding anniversary. It's very hard to believe that Clif and I were married 25 years ago. There have been many good times, and some bad times, but God has seen us through them all, and we're still going strong. I'm looking forward to the next 25 years! On Thursday, we will meet our new exchange student, Niko from Germany. He will stay with us for the whole school year. We're excited to have him live with us, and a little bit nervous, too. We're asking all the usual questions - Will he like us? Will he be happy here? Will he fit in with our family? Our son Rob has asked us to at least act normal for Niko's first week so we don't scare him, but I don't think we can keep up "normal" that long :-)

We're coming to the end of our summer sermon series. Next week is the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho. Come and hear this great story!

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August 2, 2008

I am writing this on Saturday instead of my usual Monday post because I will be on a road trip this week, leaving tomorrow after church. The purpose of the trip is to attend a conference for women leaders, hosted by Willow Creek Community Church in the Chicago area. I am excited about the conference - the first of its kind, as far as I know - and what I can learn about leadership. But since it was going to take me a day to drive up and a day to drive back, I decided to take the whole week and look up some dear friends and family along the way. I will spend two days with my sister in Dahinda, IL. My sister Amy has a master's degree in biomedical engineering, but you'll find her home-schooling her three kids and raising organic vegetables for sale in a local farmers' market. I admire her so much, and I can't wait to taste all the produce from her farm! While in Chicago, I'll reconnect with a friend from my youth group. Jennie and I go way back - junior high school - and ours is a friendship that picks up wherever we left off, no matter how much time has passed since we last saw each other. On my way home, I'll spend a night in Des Moines with Susan, a friend who goes so far back that she actually used to babysit me. Since I'll happen to be in Des Moines while the Iowa State Fair is going on (yes, it really is the BEST state fair!), I will spend the day Friday re-living my childhood, eating corn dogs and seeing prize-winning pigs.

One of the things I have identified as a need in my life is more play time. Sure, I'll take time to watch TV or read a book, but I don't really "play" much. I have come to realize lately that God is often found as much (or more) in our play than in our other daily activities. When we play, we laugh and wonder and yell and create and find the child in us. Jesus said it is a childlike state that we need to approach God. So play is good, even necessary for a spiritually-healthy life. If it's been a while since you played, take some time, find a fun activity and call up some friends. God will meet you there.

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July 28, 2008

I thought I'd try something different today. Instead of blogging about the sermon yesterday - the steamy story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife - I thought I would post something I wrote on a Facebook discussion board. I don't usually jump into discussions on Facebook because it's so easy for people to misunderstand you, and the conversations can turn nasty. But when I read this question on the group site, Disciples of Christ: (1,000,000 Strong!) - a great group for you to join! - I felt it was a very thoughtful question that I might be able to answer. The question was, Does someone who believes in the teachings of Christ, but not that he is the son of God, still be considered a christian? There were several others who answered, but being a preacher, I had to give the longest answer so far. Here is what I said:

Hi Matt,

Great question and great discussion around it. I am the pastor of a new DOC church in the Kansas City area, and I describe myself as an evangelical liberal - yes, there is such a thing :-)

First of all, whenever I have a conversation around this issue with someone, I like to take the topic of hell or eternal destination off the table. I think the Bible gives us ample evidence that God alone is the one who decides that, and any time we try to determine someone else's eternal destination, we likely put our own in jeopardy (think Pharisees).

Having said that, however, I do believe that there can be a danger in saying that we are Christians because we "follow Jesus' teachings." There are a lot of people whose teachings I try to follow - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, Oprah :-) To say that we follow Jesus' teachings means that we think he was wise, that he made sense in the things he taught, and that's all good. But the claim of Christianity is that Jesus is more than a wise man. The claim of Christianity is that Jesus is unique in all of human history. Personally, I don't think the idea of Jesus' divinity is something that his followers cooked up hundreds of years after he died. I believe there had to be something supernatural and powerfully convincing about who Jesus was in order for the early church to endure the persecution they endured (but that's another topic). Whether you believe in his divinity or not, most Christians would agree that Jesus is the primary way that God chose to reveal who God is. If we want to know the heart of God - a God of compassion and mercy and grace - we need look no further than Jesus. That doesn't mean that other religions don't know things about God, but Christians claim that Jesus is the primary way by which God chooses to be known.

The other unique claim we make is that Jesus is the way to reach the heart of God. Once again, I'm not talking about a free pass into heaven. I'm talking about knowing God right here, right now, having access to an intimate, personal relationship with the Creator of the universe in which all your junk is known, but God loves you completely and unconditionally. Yes, we believe that Jesus' death on the cross is the reason we can have this relationship, and there are differing ideas about how exactly that works. But if we accept that it does, for whatever reason, mere human beings have the ability to reach the heart of God right now. And we believe that the life we begin with God through Jesus is an eternal life, an eternal relationship that continues beyond death.

To me, those are the exclusive claims that Christianity can continue to make. Other religions and other wise people can know things about God and have access to God, but, in my understanding, Jesus is the only way to know the heart of God and to reach the heart of God (emphasis on "heart").

Now I need to write my real sermon for tomorrow :-) Thanks for starting this stimulating discussion.

Laura Guy
Pastor, Living Water Christian Church
www.livingwaterchristian.org

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July 21, 2008

You know you've picked an intriguing passage of Scripture when two people come up to you before the service even begins and ask you how you're going to handle it. Will it be appropriate for children? How could it possibly have anything to do with us? Many folks are surprised when they first discover that the Bible contains stories like the one about Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38. But I love the fact that the Bible has stories about people in all kinds of situations. Their stories reflect the lives of people today. Life is messy, and yet God is always there in the middle of the mess, bringing hope out of hopelessness. Tamar is an ancestor of Jesus, yet she was also (briefly) a prostitute. How strange that we often forget that prostitutes were a part of Jesus' family, and how sad that we don't tell them that they can be a part of his family today. I'm so grateful for Veronica's Voice and the work of Kristi Childs who tells women in prostitution that there is a way out and helps them find it.

My husband felt like there was a little bit of male-bashing in my sermon yesterday. I reminded him that even Judah declared that Tamar was more righteous than he :-) But just to set the record straight, next Sunday's story will be about a treacherous woman and a virtuous man. Joseph had every reason to give in to Potiphar's wife, yet he remained righteous and paid a big price. Come hear this story in worship next week!

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July 14, 2008

I returned from the mission trip on Saturday night, and I returned to the pulpit yesterday. The past week was an incredible experience living and working with the Navajo people, and we had an awesome group of people on the trip. In a future sermon, we will share more about the trip, but our thoughts yesterday were focused on the story of Jacob's vision and what happened when he found himself on holy ground (something that we experienced quite a bit on our trip). I shared that I consider the church building and property to be holy ground, not because we make it holy but because God made it holy before we even arrived. In fact, that is the reason we worship there now! There are so many things that are "wrong" about our location and building - not very close to town, too small, weird-looking building, etc. - but the minute I stepped on to the ground, I felt the Spirit's movement, and I know that God intended for something to happen in this space. Over the three years we have been there, I have witnessed God doing some real transformation in people's lives, and that has confirmed my belief that the ground itself is saturated with God's healing presence. That doesn't mean that we don't still have to do a lot of work to make worship a meaningful experience for people, but it is nice to know that God starts speaking to people's hearts before worship even begins!

Next week I'm going to tackle a strange and difficult story - Judah and Tamar in Gen. 38. I've never heard a sermon on it, but I think it's an important story for us to know. If you like learning about obscure stories in the Old Testament, join us in worship next Sunday for this one and see if God says something to you while you worship on holy ground!

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July 4, 2008

I'm writing this on Friday instead of my usual Monday post because I'm leaving in the morning with the mission trip team for New Mexico. We are returning to the place we went last year, Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Community School near Bloomfield. We will spend the week with our Navajo brothers and sisters, helping with whatever projects they have for us to do. While we certainly hope to give our time, talent and energy to help others while we are there, we found last year that we received at least as much as we gave. The people who live there share their lives and their culture with us, and we are blessed by them.

While I am gone, Living Water will have a great worship service with Glenn Kelley. Glenn started a church in New Jersey to reach people who weren't being reached by other churches - he jokingly said his average participant has at least 25 piercings - and his church is growing as the word gets around that there is a place where they are welcome. I can't wait to hear all about what Glenn does at Living Water while I'm gone. It's going to be a Sunday to remember! I'll see you on July 13 when I'm back in the pulpit.

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June 30, 2008

I tend to shy away from preaching about "hot button" or political subjects. OK, I admit it. Partly it's because I'm a chicken :-) But I also believe very strongly in the desire of our denomination to be common ground - where people with different political ideas and interpretations of Scripture can worship together, can be brothers and sisters united in a common belief in Jesus as Savior. The danger in not preaching about hot button issues, however, is that it gives the false impression that maybe God doesn't care about them. I must always remind myself that there were many pastors who did not speak out against American slavery in the 1800s, and other pastors in recent history in South Africa who did not speak out against apartheid, for that same reason. When a member of my congregation asked me to preach on the story of Sodom and Gomorrah as a part of this summer series, I was faced with the question, "How much do I say about homosexuality?" It became even more important as the news has been filled with stories about how this issue is tearing apart another mainline denomination - the Presbyterian Church USA. I wanted to try to offer a fresh understanding of the story, acknowledge that loving Christian people don't agree on the biblical passages about homosexuality, and adamantly declare that our particular church welcomes everyone. You can listen to the sermon if you like and see if I accomplished those goals. Surely, there will be some who think I went too far, and others who think I did not go far enough, but I pray that God will smooth out whatever rough edges I left unfinished and lead us all into a deeper understanding of what it means to practice Jesus' radical hospitality.

It really is a coincidence that I'm leaving town after preaching that sermon ;-) but I will be gone on the mission trip next Sunday. Glenn Kelley will be bringing the message, and he is sure to enlighten and challenge you with his take on Scripture. I'll be back in the pulpit on July 13, preaching on the story of Jacob's Ladder. Come join us!

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June 23, 2008

I have been an active church-goer my whole adult life. I have spent many years in committee meetings and board meetings, and I have seen some of the uglier side of church politics and governance. When we set up the governance policies at Living Water, we specifically tried to make everything transparent and streamlined. However, all those past years of sitting through meetings with a churning stomach made it hard for me to enjoy the annual meeting at Living Water yesterday. And yet, what happened was truly miraculous. What started out as a small group of people trying to build a church in Parkville three years ago has now become a real church with a real mission and real budget to accomplish that mission. I find myself truly in awe of what God has already done, and I am excited about where God will lead us - even if it means my stomach is still going to churn a little bit every time we have a meeting :-)

When I started this sermon series on Old Testament stories, I asked people to give me their suggestions for what stories they wanted to hear. One person asked me to preach on Sodom and Gomorrah, which I will do next Sunday. This story used to be the primary story that fundamentalist churches would use to denounce homosexuality (maybe they still do), but there is actually a lot going on in this story - and it doesn't have anything to do with sexual orientation. We'll wade through this tricky text, and see what God wants to say to us through it.

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June 16, 2008

As a new church planter, sometimes we go a long time before we see any progress, any fruit from our labors. But on those days when exciting things happen, I feel ashamed that I ever doubted God. How fitting that I should preach on Abraham and his same doubts that God would be faithful to the promise. Yesterday was such an awesome day for so many reasons - it was Fathers' Day and we honored all men, my step-dad came to see me preach, we had a record attendance (for a non-Easter Sunday), and we baptized Stacey. Hearing her share about her journey and how it was the support of her small group that helped her come to the decision to be baptized was such a strong validation for the importance of community in our spiritual development. We weren't meant to try to figure things out on our own. Afterwards, I told Stacey's husband, Brad, that baptisms are my favorite thing about ministry. "What other job has perks like this?", I asked. Ministry can be tough- emotionally, physically, spiritually - but when God pulls back the curtain a little and reveals what He has been doing behind the scenes all this time, it's truly breathtaking.

 

Next week we'll continue the Abraham story and hear about the three mysterious visitors who come to see him. This series on Old Testament stories is full of drama, humor and danger. There is a place for you to come sit on God's lap and hear these stories, too. Come worship with us this Sunday!

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June 9, 2008

I had never really considered the story of the Tower of Babel to be very theologically deep. It's a strange little story that seems on the surface to be an attempt by the ancient Hebrews to explain where different languages come from. But as I spent time with the story last week, reading commentaries and looking around on the internet, I discovered that there are all kinds of things going on in this story! God's interaction with humans is remarkable, and His solution to the problem of the tower is so creative. I had never realized before that God didn't really do anything to prevent the continued building of the tower. God just made it more difficult by requiring us to learn a new language. We were willing to do all the hard physical labor to build the tower, but we weren't willing to invest the time to learn to communicate.

Next week is Fathers' Day, and we will honor all men in worship. We will be looking at the story of the "father" of the Jewish faith - Abraham. Even though it's summer and people are traveling, we are experiencing lively worship and new visitors every week at Living Water. Come spend your summer Sundays with us as we look through the great stories of faith!

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June 2, 2008

Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm the only one who reads the story of Noah's Ark and has a hard time understanding how God could just decide to wipe out almost the entire human race and animal population. It seems especially unfair to the animals because it was humans who were doing all the evil things. But if we can view the story as the original audience did, a story of wickedness and corruption that had ruined the beauty God created, I think it's a little easier to see this as a story of redemption and not destruction. God wanted to cleanse the earth of the corruption, the poison, that was killing it. Unfortunately, that meant getting rid of the cause of the corruption and everything it had already corrupted. This is not a easy story for us to wrestle with. I don't think one sermon is going to answer all the questions it raises. But hopefully, anyone else who has struggled with this story has found a new way to look at it, and maybe a new appreciation for the God we find there.

Next week I'll take on the story of the Tower of Babel. It's also a humorous story, but is there some theological significance in it, too? Tune it next week and find out!

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May 26, 2008

It's been a while since I've taken a sermon risk, tried something outside the box. But yesterday I thought I'd try to capture the beauty and wonder of the creation story as if God Himself was telling it in the first person. Using Eugene Peterson's paraphrase, The Message, I changed all the third person pronouns to first person. To really create the whole story-telling vibe, I read the story from a rocking chair. As with any creative idea, those kinds of things can help take people to a new place with a familiar Scripture passage, or they can just leave people scratching their heads, saying, "Huh?" There was probably some of both yesterday, but I heard from several people afterwards that it really worked for them. So maybe taking a sermon risk every once in a while isn't such a bad thing. It stretches me as a preacher, and it stretches the church as people who must actively receive the message each week and decide what God is saying to them through it.

I'm still gathering suggestions from folks about stories they would like included in the sermon series on Old Testament stories. If you are one who worships with us, in person or through our podcast, email me your idea for a story you'd like to hear. I'll do my best to include it. You can use the Contact Us form to send it to me.

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May 19, 2008

Yesterday I preached at Countryside Christian Church, the church my family and I attended for almost 20 years. It was nice to see some old friends, and I received lots of hugs and expressions of appreciation. But it's always difficult for me to be away from Living Water. Partly it's the new-parent syndrome - I'm afraid to leave the "baby" with a sitter for fear that something might not happen as it usually does, the way I prefer it. But babies do not need overprotective mothers, and churches do not need control-freak pastors, and the Holy Spirit works in all kinds of ways through all kinds of people. I think I needed to be at Countryside yesterday, and perhaps they needed to hear the message I brought. And several people at Living Water expressed to Bethany that they are inspired to take a step and do something new after hearing her sermon. Isn't it amazing how patient God is with us, waiting for us to get out of the way so the Spirit can do His work?

Next week we'll begin our summer series, Sitting on God's Lap, with the story of Creation in Genesis 1. I have preached Old Testament stories in the summers in previous years, and those have been some of the favorite sermons I have ever preached. We're going to imagine we are curled in God's lap, hearing those stories read to us for the first time and wondering, "What does that story mean to my life?" It's going to be a great summer!

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May 12, 2008

I had to gulp twice as I was preparing my sermon last week. Here it was, Pentecost, one of my favorite days of the whole year, and for the first time ever, I wasn't going to be preaching on Acts 2. It's not that I had exhausted the Acts 2 story - there are thousands of sermons contained in that one chapter - but I had just preached on it a few months ago during our Unbinding the Gospel series, and I realized that I had never preached about Jesus' baptism, about how the Holy Spirit can also come to us as a dove and not just as wind and fire. So I brought both stories into the sermon and talked about how the chameleon Spirit can both comfort us and empower us because we need both. I asked Jeff if I could share part of his story in my sermon because he was someone who knew he desperately needed the power of the Spirit to help him overcome his addictions. His story was so powerful because it was real and honest. When it came time for his baptism, he shared more of his story with us. He told us how he had started using drugs when he was 12 years old. Most of his life had been spent being a slave to his addictions, and he had ruined a lot of relationships along the way. He shared a conversation that he and I had had during the week:

Laura: I'm sorry your family won't be able to be there when you are baptized.

Jeff: Well, some of my relatives might not be there, but my family is there every week.

May this Living Water family continue to love and support Jeff and Rosetta and all the others God brings to us who need Jesus, need a church family and need the comfort and power of the Holy Spirit.

Next week I will be preaching at Countryside Christian Church in Mission, KS as a part of an effort to give visibility to the new church pastors in our region. While it will be good to see old friends, I will really miss being with my Living Water family. And I will especially miss hearing my daughter, Bethany, bring the message (I'll have to catch the podcast like some of you!). Bethany is a sophomore at Park University, majoring in Communications, and she plans to follow God's call into ministry by attending seminary after she graduates. She has a fresh, young perspective on the Scriptures, and I know she will bring a great message.

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May 5, 2008

It's very easy for me to tell stories about the times I mess up, the times I don't do what God asks me to do and how I wish later I would have listened to God. But yesterday I really felt like I needed to share the story of one thing I did right, and I found it very difficult to tell the story. I wanted to share about how the call to new church ministry was also a call to give up thousands of dollars in potential income. In my particular case, it was actually a call to go without a salary for two years, and even now, four years into the life of Living Water, my income is less than half of what pastors in other similar-sized churches make. But I didn't want people to think that I shared that story in order to make them feel sorry for me, or to manipulate their emotions so they would feel guilty and give more money. I wanted to share the story so that people would know that when I talk about how hard it is sometimes to follow where God leads, to give what God is asking us to give, I know exactly how much that hurts. But I have also learned that when I place myself in a position where I must totally rely on God, I move to the center of God's will for me, and my life is enriched beyond measure.

Next week is a day of big celebrations - Mothers' Day, Pentecost and Baptisms! As always, we will honor all women on Mothers' Day - not just mothers - and we will give all women a special gift. We'll talk about the Holy Spirit, and we'll share in the joy of welcoming people into the waters of baptism. Bring all the special women in your life to this great day of worship!

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April 28, 2008

I know I say it a lot, but we had an awesome day yesterday. I preached about money, which can sometimes make the pastor and the congregation nervous, but we focused on the freedom God wants us to have with our finances, the freedom to give it away to help others. After the 11:00 worship service, the youth served a delicious meal of French dip sandwiches, and all the donations they collected (over $260!) will go to help fund start-up businesses through kiva.org.

Then we had a prayer service for 7-year-old Lily and her family. Her mom Cheryl and sister Sydney were there to pray with us. We tried a unique kind of prayer called enacted prayer as part of the service. In enacted prayer, people act out (like mime) what it would look like if our prayer was answered. In Lily's case, her mom said she will know when Lily is healed when she sings in the back seat of the car and rides her bike and smiles again. So we had someone be Lily in the prayer, feeling sick and sad in the beginning but getting stronger and healthier and happier until she was riding her bike and smiling at everyone. We also had people portray the rest of the family - mom, dad and sister - doing their daily routines, caring for Lily and taking care of the family. We also had someone represent the medical people who work with Lily. Then we had three people portray God as the Trinity, moving around all of them, comforting them, healing Lily. An enacted prayer isn't rehearsed, so you never know what will happen. I was very hesitant to even suggest this kind of prayer because the potential for it to become comic is very great. But we gave it over to the Holy Spirit, and what happened was beautiful. We saw "Lily" move from being sick and sad to being able to eat and drink and ride her bike and smile. Everything we want for her was shown to us in that prayer. We also saw God at work in the lives of her family, caring for them and holding them up. It was a holy moment. When that prayer was finished, we laid hands on Cheryl and Sydney and offered prayers for all of them. It is such an honor and privilege to pray with people as a church family. What a glorious day! (If you would like to see an example of enacted prayer, you can watch one here, prayed by Jeff Barker - the man who created it - and his drama students at Northwestern College.)

Next week I will again preach about money, but in this sermon I will also lay out where God is leading us as a church and what kinds of resources - both financial and other kinds of gifts - can get us there. I always become very passionate when I talk about Living Water and what is ahead for us. God only shows me little glimpses at a time, but what I have seen is breathtaking! There's a place for you to be a part of it, too. Come to worship this Sunday!

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April 21, 2008

God never ceases to amaze me. This sermon series based on children's letters to God was just supposed to be something kind of lighthearted and fun. The letters themselves are funny, and I thought I could use them to fill up some Sundays between Easter and Pentecost. But God had bigger plans. As I began working on the sermons, I realized that I was tackling some of the biggest questions people can ask - questions that can draw us closer to God or move us farther away depending on the answers we get. So this little "lighthearted" series suddenly became about some very serious topics - death, the Bible, unanswered prayers. And then yesterday I preached what I thought was going to be the easiest sermon in the series - How Can God Love Everybody? I mean, how easy should it be for a pastor to preach about God's love?!?! Yet I wrestled with this sermon more than any of the others. When I stood up to preach yesterday, I wasn't sure that I had even two cohesive thoughts in my sermon. But God had something to say, and when the services were over, more people told me they heard God speak to them in that sermon than any I've preached in a long time. The simplest sermon - one about how God loves each one of us - had the most profound effect on a room full of people who were hungry to hear that God REALLY does love us, all of us. And adding the song Never Been Unloved was one of those Saturday night inspirations that brought it all together. I thank God for working through clueless pastors to change hearts and lives!

Next week I'm going to preach my first-ever mini-series on God and money. This is a topic I have neglected in the past, but I am more convinced than ever that God has a lot to say to us about what we do with our money. It's not about producing shame and guilt about what we haven't done, it's about finding freedom. If you want to know why God cares about your money, join us this week in worship.

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April 14, 2008

"Why didn't God answer my prayer?" It's one of the most difficult questions we face. The stakes are extremely high - if we can't give a satisfactory answer, then it's possible that the person asking the question will walk away from God. But it's not an easy question to answer. No matter how much I search the Scriptures and live through my own prayer experiences, I can't come up with a quick and easy answer to that question. This is one of the big areas of mystery that is part of the nature of God. We can't really penetrate the mind of God to know exactly why God heals, protects and saves sometimes and not others. But if we continue to leave ourselves open to God, if we continue to pray - even in our hurt and disappointment and anger over what feels like God's silence - then we will eventually realize that God has been with us the whole time, weeping with us and holding us close. Unfortunately, many people don't stick around long enough to recognize God's presence in their pain.

Next week we'll ask the question, "How can God love everybody, even the bad people?" We will discover that loving the unlovable is really hard, and trying to explain it is even harder.

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April 6, 2008

How do you try to answer every troubling question about the Bible in a 20-minute sermon? Very carefully. It's really not possible to address all the concerns in one sermon - that's why I've preached whole series on this topic (see the worship archive page under April 23, 2006)- but it was worth spending a week reviewing what Scripture is and why it's important. There are so many misconceptions about the Bible that can lead us down dead-end roads. I wanted to find a way to stand firmly in the belief that Scripture is God-breathed and life-giving, without also insisting that it is 100% historically correct. That can be a slippery slope. But if we see that the Biblical authors weren't trying to nail down every tiny detail as truth (small "t") because they were pointing to the bigger Truth (capital "T"), we can stop trying to reconcile small details that don't matter, and listen to hear God still speaking to us from its pages.

Next week we'll tackle another troubling topic - why doesn't God answer our prayers? If you've ever asked God for something and been disappointed, this sermon is for you.

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March 31, 2008

The week after Easter is always a little nerve-wracking. You've just been through an incredible Easter worship service with lots of visitors, and in our case, baptisms. You're encouraged by the all the new faces, and you pray that some of them will come back the following week. But for most pastors, the week after Easter brings worship attendance that is back to normal or even slightly lower than normal. I've heard of some pastors who try to counteract this by chastising all their Easter worshipers who don't come the rest of the year. Guess what? That doesn't really motivate anyone to come back the next week! For us, yesterday was extra nerve-wracking because it was the first non-Easter Sunday with two morning worship services. So we took a Sunday that's usually a lower attendance day, and we split the congregation in two. Where there used to be a last minute scramble to find a place for everyone to sit, now there are lots of empty spaces. For some who have only known us in our recent more-crowded times, the room felt kind of sparse and lonely.

But I reminded everyone that when we launched in Parkville three years ago, we had only 15 people, and none of them lived anywhere near Parkville, or even lived in Missouri. Yet, God faithfully brought people to make Living Water their church, and now we have outgrown our space when we all worship together. Even though it was a little unusual to have the room half-full for both services, it reminded us of the reason we made the decision to add a second service in the first place - to make room for more people. We have done that. We have made lots of room for more people to come and experience the presence of God at Living Water. And just as God multiplied us from 15 to 50, we trust that God will continue to bring new faces, new lives, into our community. Now we have room for them!

I tried to answer the difficult question of death yesterday, and next week, I'll try to answer the equally difficult question - Is the Bible true? Bring your questions and join us in worship next Sunday. We have room for you at both services :-)

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March 24, 2008

All last week, I prayed, "Don't let me miss it, God." There are so many details involved in pulling off an Easter worship service - especially when we added a brunch and a second service on to the day. There was cleaning and decorating and planning and setting up the baptistry and scheduling rehearsals to consume my time and energy. And I knew that, despite all my planning, some things were not going to go as smoothly as I had hoped. It would have been so easy for me to lose my focus, to concentrate on all the little details that weren't perfect. But if I had done that, I would have missed it. I would have missed the joy of Easter, of Resurrection. I would have missed the excitement of our biggest worship attendance ever. I would have missed the new faces that were present in our services. And I would have missed the greatest part of the morning - hearing the stories from the three people we baptized. But God answered my prayer, and helped me be present in that holy moment. Even though the baptistry water was chilly, I didn't feel a thing as I witnessed three lives sharing with the gathered community how Jesus Christ had taken away their emptiness and given them joy. All three became tearful, as did most of us listening to them, and I was filled with awe that God would have called me to give my life in ministry for this reason. I heard God whisper to me, "This is why, Laura." It was a day I will never forget.

My prayer is that some of those new faces who worshipped with us yesterday, and some others we haven't met yet, will come next week as we begin a new series based on letters that children wrote to God. Children have a way of cutting right to the heart of the matter, and we will tackle the issues of death, the Bible, prayer and God - seeking answers that even children can understand. If you do not have a church home, please come be a part of what God is doing at Living Water!

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March 17, 2008

Yesterday was an emotional roller-coaster for me. I loved watching the kids parade around the room with palm branches while we sang "Hosanna." I loved listening to our musicians lead us in worship through song. I loved hearing the song "Jeremiah", and all the memories it brought back of my ordination service. But that's when I also started to feel tremendous sadness. Yesterday was the last day that Rhonda Frisbie will be a part of our band. She and her husband made the difficult decision to attend a church closer to their home where she also plays music for worship. Rhonda has been a part of Living Water, and therefore a huge part of my life, since Day 1 of this crazy adventure we call New Church. She has amazing talents, but more importantly, she understands how music can lead people into a deeper worship experience. She was always game to take on any challenge I threw at her, and the people of Living Water have been blessed over and over by the sharing of her gifts. We still have incredibly talented musicians in our band, and our music will continue to draw people closer to God, but we will truly miss Rhonda. After worship, we had a reception for her, and it was all I could do to keep from crying.

But now all my attention turns to what lies ahead this week. You might expect that I'm running full-steam ahead toward Easter, and that's partially true, but first I am focusing on the Good Friday service. I know it sounds weird, but the Good Friday service is one of my favorites of the whole year. It is very "moody" - with drawn curtains, low light, candles, somber music and video reflections of the last words Jesus spoke from the cross. We don't usually spend much time thinking about Jesus on the cross, but on this one day, it is crucial for us to remember the depths of his love for us and what it cost him. This year, I am especially excited because we have two poets in our church who have written poems especially for this service.

Then we're on to Easter! I am so excited about everything that will happen on Easter - we'll start with a brunch at 8:30, then our first service at 9:30. Immediately after the service, we'll have three baptisms - one of the most thrilling things I get to do as a pastor. Then, as I change into dry clothes, the band will start the second service at 11:00. The services will have incredible music, videos, a powerful message and all kinds of butterflies - made by people in the church. If you live in the Kansas City area and do not have a church home, please come spend Easter with us!

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March 10, 2008

I love the image of tearing a hole in the roof so a friend can meet Jesus (Mark 2:1-12). When a church does this - metaphorically speaking - and focuses attention on the needs of people over property or comfort, then hurting people are going to know that they have found a church that cares about them. The ministry of hospitality is one that everyone can practice. It can be a simple smile or handshake, showing a visitor where the restrooms are or brewing another pot of coffee when we run out. If visitors have a sense that they are wanted, and are even expected, they get a better picture of a God who would run down a dusty path to greet them.

Next week is Palm Sunday. We will open the service by waving palm branches and singing "Hosanna!" Then our musicians will share the Gospel message in song. The service will be mainly music. While some pastors might be a little concerned that the worship service would turn into a "performance", I know that our musicians are worshipping as they sing, and many people have heard God speaking through the music at Living Water. In past years, the Palm Sunday service has been one of the most powerful ones of the Easter season. Come experience the love of God proclaimed to us in music!

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March 2, 2008

You could hear an audible gasp in the room when I revealed the percentage of mainline churches that had baptized even five adults a year for three years. People in the congregation guessed 10%, 20%, even 30%. Of the 30,000 churches that Gay Reese studied as part of her mainline evangelism project, less than 1/2 of 1% had baptized 15 adults in three years. Some of these churches have hundreds of members, yet they failed to share the good news with even one person who experienced new life in Jesus Christ through baptism. For those of us in mainline denominations, these statistics make us more than a little nauseous. Fortunately, Gay spent the rest of her time interviewing the 150 churches that were reaching people. She found out that those folks invested themselves in their relationship with God, with other people in the church, and with people outside the church. Surprisingly, for many of us, we struggle most with relationships with people inside the church. I asked yesterday "If you had an urgent prayer need, is there someone in this church - other than a family member - that you could call and ask to pray for you?" I could tell people were really thinking about that one. Then I made it harder by saying, "Is there someone other than me, the pastor, you could call?" I assured them that I am always ready to pray with anyone who has a need, but there should be someone else in the church they could call, too. If they haven't taken the time to know anyone else in the church well enough to request prayers, then they need to get into a small group. That's where real life is shared. That's the way Jesus modeled it.

Next week we'll discover how hospitality is really just an extension of evangelism. Can a cup of coffee really change someone's life?

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February 25, 2008

I always enjoy preaching about the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman. It is the longest conversation Jesus has in any of the Gospels, and it tells us so much about who he is and how he interacted with people. Long before we had our first worship service, I knew that the name of our new church would be Living Water, because this story is Jesus' way of modeling how we should interact with others, too. He reaches across barriers to talk to someone who was hurting. He does not judge her or condemn her behavior, he simply starts a conversation with her, offering her a new life and a new identity. What a perfect place for us to learn how to do evangelism! We pray that God will open doors for us to have catalytic conversations, too.

 

Our congregation continues to pray for 7-year-old Lily Clevenger and her family as they go through the pain of cancer treatments. We ask everyone who is reading this to join us in praying for this hurting family. You can read updates about Lily here.

 

 

Next week we'll learn about three very important relationships that all of us need to have in order to be effective evangelists. We'll do a self-diagnostic test and see where we are in these three relationships.

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February 18, 2008

Question: How does a church with a policy of never canceling service end up canceling its service and then having it anyway?  It's a long story...   As a general rule, we never cancel church due to weather because I will always make the effort to be there just in case someone else makes the effort to be there.  That was the case yesterday when I left the house in the middle of a snowstorm.  But the roads had not been plowed well, and the road on which the church building is located was in terrible shape. But worst of all, the church driveway and parking lot had not been plowed.  When we tried to get up the driveway, our car started sliding down the hill.  I quickly realized that it was not going to be safe for people to try to get to church.  But by this time it was 10:15, and it took us a few minutes to get the computer going so we could post the cancellation on the website.  We were able to reach the musicians by cell phone en route and told them to go back home, then Clif and I prepared to record my sermon so we could post it on the website.  It was a sad and lonely morning at Living Water with just me and Clif. 

Then, just before 11:00, two cars slipped and slid up our driveway.  It was a family from the church - two parents, four kids and two grandparents.  They came inside and told us that it was one of the girls' birthday, and she had asked her grandparents to come to church with them for her birthday.  Suddenly, we were going to have a church service!  I handed each of the girls a rhythm instrument and we sang Uyaimose to call everyone to worship.  We prayed, watched a video, listened to the sermon, and shared communion.  I asked the birthday girl to help me serve communion, and we said the words of institution together.  God took the disappointment of the morning and turned it into something fun and special.  What a wonderful surprise!  I told the birthday girl that she was the only person I knew of who had a worship service birthday party.  How cool is that?!

Next week we'll look at how we can have catalytic conversations as we continue our journey to Unbind the Gospel. If you live in the KC area and don't have a church home, please come worship at Living Water!

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February 11, 2008

Worship yesterday was amazing. In the one hour we spent together, we went through the highs of singing energetic and fun praise songs, to the intensity of listening to a man share about his own faith journey from troubled youth to street evangelist. We welcomed visitors and made new friends, and we prayed together for one of our own, Lily, who is seven years old and has cancer. It is rare for one service to take us through all the emotional peaks and valleys like that. But it occurred to me that God is in all of those places. He is there in the moments of pure joy and praise. He is there in the stories that move us and make us look at our own lives. He is there in the fellowship and welcome we extend to the stranger. And He is there when we receive the most frightening news we will ever receive. God is present in all those moments, and as a church family, we can be there with each other in all those moments, too. Please join us in praying for Lily's complete healing.

Next week we'll look at the deep connection between prayer and evangelism. If we're doing them right, we can't have one without the other. I can't wait to see what happens next week. Come be a part of it.

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February 4, 2008

It was rather embarrassing to admit in my sermon that I actually wrote letters to my mom when I was a new Christian (age 13) where I begged her to come to Christ so that she would not burn in hell. I can't imagine saying things like that to anyone now, but at the time, I was deeply worried about her immortal soul. It was also embarrassing to admit that when I discovered I do not have the spiritual gift of evangelism, that I thought that meant I didn't have to do it at all. For too long, those of us in mainline churches have wrestled with the "E" word and what to do with it. We know we don't want to talk to people about hell, but we can't find any good openers for spiritual conversations with people besides, "Are you saved?" That's why this series based on the book Unbinding the Gospel is so important for us. I expect each of us to grow in some incredible ways during this series.

Next week we'll look at the Paul Problem. Sure, it was easy for Paul to give his before-and-after story. Who wouldn't be spellbound with the story of the transformation of a former enemy of Christians into their greatest champion? But what about the rest of us? What difference has Jesus made in our lives? We'll take on the Paul Problem next Sunday.

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January 28, 2008

It's hard to believe that I was in Cape Town just a week ago. (You can read my blog about the trip here.) I have been back since Tuesday, and I am settling back in to my normal routine. But the memories of what we experienced in Africa will stay with me for a very long time. Sharing some of those memories in my sermon yesterday was a huge task. First I had to severely limit what I could say because of time constraints. And then when I did know what I wanted to say, Clif and I had to sift through almost 1,000 photographs from the trip to find the 40 or so I showed for the sermon. But I hope that people got a sense of what happened on the trip and how God brought us into contact with some amazing people doing some amazing ministry. I also hope that people didn't walk away yesterday thinking, "Wow, it's neat that a pastor can go on a trip like that." My prayer is that people walked away thinking, "I wonder if God will lead me on a trip like that someday." There are so many places God would like to take us and show us, if we will only allow ourselves to be open to the possibility.

Next week we begin our series based on the book Unbinding the Gospel. This book was written by a friend of mine, Gay Reese, and when I first read it, I kept thinking to myself, "Yes, she nailed it! This is exactly what I needed to hear!" Apparently others who read it thought the same thing because the book has only been out for a year and is already in its fifth printing. This is evidence to me that people are being awakened to a new vitality in their faith through this book, and I can't wait to see what will happen in our congregation when we begin to Unbind the Gospel!

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January 12, 2008,

I write this in between packing my suitcase and my carry-on bag. We leave for Cape Town in the morning. I'm excited and restless and unsure of what awaits us, but I expect it will be pretty amazing. Instead of posting here as I usually do each week, I have actually created a REAL blog (since my friends insist that a real blog has opportunities for people to post a comment). To read about our adventures, and see some photos of things we're seeing, you can check out my blog, Sitting by the Well, here. I'll be back here posting on my "non-blog" when I get back.

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January 7, 2008

I've been doing a lot of thinking about the winter blahs that I preached on yesterday. I had always thought of it as a worthless time, a season of waiting for better things to come around. It was so refreshing to read Gary Straub's reflection on the winter work of God, and think about the fallow time as a time when deep things can happen under the surface. I especially loved his line that winter is time to "allow body and soul to catch up and get re-acquainted." How fragmented our lives become during the hectic holiday season, and how desperately we need time for our body and soul to catch up and get re-acquainted. May your winter blahs turn into winter work, preparing you for the fruitful spring just around the corner.

Next Sunday I leave for South Africa (see entry for Jan. 1). I am full of excitement and anticipation, as well as some nervousness about what I will experience there. Whenever we travel, we are forced to hand over some of our control to others - to the airlines and their pilots, to the cab drivers, to the owners of our place of lodging. Giving up that much control is often scary. But I find that when I am forced to give up that much control, it's easy for me to go one more step and give up control of my expectations and desires so that God can show me new things I might otherwise miss. I know that there will be many holy moments on this trip when God will help me understand the evil of apartheid, the grace of reconciliation, and the hope for an end to the AIDS epidemic. I welcome your prayers for me and my husband Clif as we travel to the other side of the world and experience whatever God has in store for us there. I hope to be able to blog about the trip, and I will post a link from our homepage if we can find a way to make that work. While I am gone for two Sundays, Living Water will be blessed with two very good preachers - my friends Jeff Hon and Roxanne Grant-Atkinson from New Song church.

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January 1, 2008

So much changes with the start of a new year - new calendars, new resolutions, new date to write on our checks. But there is also much that remains the same. The faithfulness of God is constant through whatever other changes may happen in our lives. As we move into the unknown of 2008, may we trust that, whatever may come our way in this new year, our God will be right there with us through all of it.

I will begin this new year by going on a big adventure. In two weeks, my husband and I will go to Cape Town, South Africa with a group from my former seminary. I had not intended to visit Africa, we had not budgeted for it, and frankly, there were other tourist destinations we had in mind for our next excursion together. But God has been moving my heart toward the people of Africa for quite some time, and when I saw the email from Saint Paul School of Theology that a group was going and that alumni were invited, God nudged me to consider this trip. One thing led to another, and now we are leaving for a trip that will open our eyes and change our lives. I'm not sure what God will show us when we're there, but I know it will affect my thinking, my preaching and my ministry. May you follow to the new places where God is leading you, too.

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December 24, 2007

Today is Christmas Eve. I am excited about the service we will have tonight - the candles and music and the Christmas story told once again. Every Christmas Eve feels like a new beginning, a time when God breaks into our lives, into our world, and hope is renewed. It's easy to get cynical and think, "Yeah, people will get a warm, fuzzy feeling tonight surrounded by candlelight, but nothing will really change." It's true that whatever goodness and kindness people display at Christmastime usually disappears by the time the tree is taken down. But each Christmas, I have hope that something will change, just a little bit, from what it was before. I have hope that relationships in peril will find a renewed commitment to work things out. I have hope that the addicts who have tried many times in the past to conquer their addictions will finally break free from their chains. I have hope that those who are discouraged, lonely, heartbroken will experience the love of God in a way that will change their lives forever. I have hope that the baby in the manger will bring his peace into our violence. So tonight I have hope that someone will experience something in our service that will make a difference.

Next Sunday we will finish our series on angels by looking at the story of the angel warning Joseph to take his family to Egypt. It will be a final time to take in the whole story of Christmas and to see how God orchestrated all of it for our benefit. May your Christmas be filled with the presence of our loving God.

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December 17, 2007

The music we listen to makes the soundtrack for our lives. We never forget the song that was playing when we first fell in love or when we received terrible news. Our Christmas memories are connected to the songs of the season, too. Some of them are happy memories involving school productions and elf costumes or hot chocolate and warm laps. Some of them are bittersweet memories of our first Christmas without a loved one. The music of Christmas helps point me to the manger whenever the craziness of the season threatens to overwhelm me. That's why we try to have one Sunday during Advent where we let music bring the message of Christ's birth to us. Yesterday was a great day to hear and remember the celebration - "Rejoice! Emmanuel has come!" - and to hear Mary's prayer for strength - "Breath of Heaven, hold me together." Christmas music can help us find our center and remember that God is with us.

Christmas Eve is a week away! It's my favorite night of the year. There will be music and video and candles, and of course, the Christmas Story. If you live in the Kansas City area and don't have a church home, please come worship with us this Christmas Eve at 5 pm.

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December 10, 2007

There's nothing a pastor hates more than hearing that an ice storm is moving into town on Saturday night, especially in December. Many pastors made the painful decision to cancel yesterday's services so that people wouldn't try to travel on slick streets. I was worried, too, worried that people might get hurt if they tried to come to church and worried that no one would try to come out even if we did have our service. But as I was working on my sermon this week, I had a strong sense that God wanted to speak to someone, maybe more than one person, through my words about Joseph and his difficult decision. I'm not claiming that I have a direct line to God and simply take dictation for my sermons. But there are times when I find myself writing a sermon, and I sense that God intends for someone in particular to hear those words. I usually never know who the words are meant for, but sometimes people will express appreciation for a sermon or say, "It felt like you were speaking directly to me." Ice storm or no ice storm, I was determined to preach those words. So we had church, and a bunch of people came out, and maybe a few more will listen online. Whoever those words were intended for, I pray you will be blessed by them.

Next week is music Sunday, the day in December when we tell the Christmas story primarily through music. I will also do a brief reflection on the angel's visit to Mary. Our Christmas choir will sing, and after worship we'll have a potluck dinner and a silly gift exchange. We would love to have you visit us next Sunday and stay for the meal and the party!

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December 3, 2007

Advent is a tricky time of year for pastors. How can we compete with the sights, smells and sounds of Christmas that are everywhere we look? How can we encourage people to slow down and turn off the Christmas noise long enough to hear the crying of a newborn in a manger? To further complicate things, Advent is the busiest time of the year for pastors too - extra events and services to plan and prepare for. Many of us aren't any better than the people in our churches at taking time to center ourselves in the wonder of Christ's birth. One of the ways I am encouraging all of us to prepare our hearts is to do a daily Advent devotional. I will be doing an online one at www.followingthestar.org. I hope all who read this will also find time each day to spend with God in anticipation of the birth of Christ.

 

We begin our Advent series "Angels We Have Heard" with the story of Zechariah and the angel. Next week we'll look at Joseph's encounter with an angel and see if we can learn more about these mysterious and powerful creatures. If you live in the Kansas City area and do not have a church home, please come celebrate the birth of Christ at Living Water Christian Church. We would love to gather around the manger with you.

 

 

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November 26, 2007

I always get a little nervous when I try an "open mic" service like we did yesterday. The thoughts that run through my mind are typical - "What if no one shares? Will I look like an idiot? What will we do to fill the time?" And there were a few moments after I turned over the sharing time when the stretch of silence seemed very uncomfortable. But, sure enough, the Spirit nudged a few folks to come up and share and then nudged a few more. By the end, we had all feasted on the thanks we gave to God, and we had heard some words of deep gratitude for the ways God had delivered us from ourselves. What a blessing to be able to share in a special service like that!

Next week we begin our Advent series, "Angels We Have Heard." I have never really spent much time thinking about the angels in the Christmas story, so I'm looking forward to digging into my commentaries and seeing what I find. If you'd like to prepare your heart for the birth of Jesus by listening to the angels, then come listen in next Sunday!

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November 19, 2007

Yesterday was a marathon day - exhausting and exhilarating. Worship in the morning was a great mix of familiar Thanksgiving hymns and new praise music. The highlight of the day, however, was the baptism we celebrated at the end of the service. It is the most awesome thing a pastor can do - be present with someone who is taking the "plunge". My own baptism was one of the greatest days of my life. I am so honored whenever I have the opportunity to share that moment with someone else who is ready to walk in newness of life with Jesus Christ. In the evening, we participated in a community Thanksgiving service at Pine Ridge Presbyterian. Our band joined with the band at Pine Ridge and played some awesome music (you can listen to You Are Good.) I was asked to bring the message, and I was excited and queasy as I walked up to the pulpit. But I felt that God had given me something to share, and several people told me afterwards that the message had been meaningful to them. If you would like to hear that message, A Loser's Thanksgiving, you can find it on our worship archive page.

Next week we will do something we did last year - give people a chance to share their own stories of thankfulness. God is at work in all of our lives, in big ways and small ways. How incredible it is to gather with brothers and sisters and celebrate together how gracious our God is!

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November 12, 2007

I sometimes hear some of my women friends bemoan the fact that the Bible was written by men about men. They say that women are pushed to the side in Scripture, simply treated as somebody's wife. There is no question that the Bible was written during a very different time when women were seen as possessions, good for bearing children and keeping a home, but little else. However, I think it is amazing that, given all that, we find the story of Deborah included in Scripture at all. Here is a strong, courageous woman, leading Israel during a difficult and scary time in their history. Yes, she is married, but we don't know anything about her husband other than his name. Deborah is the star of this story. But she is not the only strong woman. We also have Jael, the woman who single-handedly did what no one else had been able to do for 20 years - get rid of Sisera, the man who had been oppressing and killing the Israelites. God has been calling women into leadership for thousands of years, and the proof is right there in the pages of the Bible.

Next Sunday is our Thanksgiving celebration. We'll sing some familiar hymns and have a beautiful cornucopia display. What a perfect way to prepare ourselves for the national day of thanks! The service will conclude with a wonderful expression of thankfulness - a baptism. Come be a part of this special day!

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November 5, 2007

I had never really thought of the story of Daniel in the lions' den as a comedy. But as I read the story again last week, I was struck by how silly it was that Daniel is the one facing death - yet all we read about is how upset and anxious the king is! In fact, my husband said that the story isn't really about Daniel or the lions at all. It is the story of a fretful king. When we find ourselves in those dark and dangerous places, do we act more like Daniel or like the king? Daniel knew he wasn't alone, and because of that, it's likely that he got a good night's sleep. The king, the one with all the wealth and power, couldn't find any peace at all and spent the night pacing the room. How many nights have I spent like the king instead of like Daniel?

Next week we'll wrap up our series on Old Testament heroes by looking at Deborah and Jael. I sometimes hear people complain that the Bible doesn't have any strong women in it. They must not have read Judges 4! We'll see what these strong women can teach us about wisdom and courage.

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October 29, 2007

The book of Esther doesn't seem to be a story that was written thousands of years ago. It is still as captivating and humorous now as it must have been to its original audience. For me, it is a great example of how people of faith have found ways to celebrate and laugh, even in the face of despair. It's also a great reminder that each one of has a sense of destiny and purpose in our lives. We may not be royalty like Esther, but we have something to contribute. For each of us, God has brought us to the place we are "for such a time as this." May we each find the courage of Esther to speak to the kings of this world!

Next week is the story of Daniel in the lions' den. It's another story that has some elements of humor in it. Can God really close the mouths of hungry lions? Can God really deliver us from frightening places? Come find out next Sunday.

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October 22, 2007

There are a lot of things about my seminary experience that I have forgotten. I can't recall every lecture or chapel service I attended during my four years at Saint Paul School of Theology. But I distinctly remember the Intro to Ministry class my first week when the professor had us bend a cup and do a 20-minute reflection on it. (You can hear about this experience in my sermon.) At first, it seemed like a silly exercise - not at all the kind of thing I thought would happen in a seminary class. But as I began to see myself in the bent cup, and then thought of all the other broken people God has been able to us - especially Moses - I realized that my brokenness did not disqualify me for ministry. In fact, broken people can be some of the best pastors. I hope others who heard the sermon realized that they too can be used by God in powerful ways, no matter what their flaws are.

Next week we'll look at one of my favorite books of the Old Testament - Esther. There is no modern novel that can compete with the sex, lies, intrigue and danger we find in this ancient story. And what a hero Esther is! I only wish I had time to tell the whole story - plot twists and all - in worship. I'll have to come up with a Reader's Digest version and hope that everyone takes the time to read the whole thing on their own. Come hear this great story with us next Sunday.

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October 15, 2007

Yesterday was exhausting and exhilarating. We are an unusual new church in that we've always had a church building available for us to have our worship service. Most new churches must meet in schools and movie theaters for years before they finally have a building. That means that every week a whole crew of people help turn a school gymnasium into a worship space. Yesterday, when we moved our worship service to the Parkville Athletic Complex, we had a taste of what other new churches do every week. We had a crew show up at 8:00 am in order to pack and move everything and get it set up for the 11:00 am service. And then that same crew moved everything back when it was over. Then we all collapsed in a heap! But there is something exciting about moving worship to a new place, a different place, and finding that God is already there waiting for you. Next week we will have some conversation and prayer after worship to discern what God has in store for us.

I'll be preaching on Moses next week. He is another one of the complicated heroes we find in the Old Testament. We'll also have our first baby blessing service. What a wonderful way to welcome a new life into a church family!

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October 8, 2007

Something really amazing happened yesterday. Instead of having people come forward for communion, we set up communion at the tables and asked people to gather round a table so they could pass the bread and cup to one another. Then we gave each table an information sheet about a ministry that takes place in some other part of the world. Each table was to read about and pray for that ministry, and then share a prayer concern of their own that they would like the rest of the table to pray about during the week. I expected that the groups would be done with this in less than 5 minutes, and since it was the last part of the service (and the Chiefs game started at noon), I thought they would trickle out of the room after 5 minutes. But the groups were having good conversation, and no one seemed to be in much of a hurry to leave. I was reminded how powerful it is to gather around a table with our brothers and sisters and share life with them. That's what Worldwide Communion Sunday is all about - remembering all those who are gathered around the table with us - near and far.

Next week is going to be really fun as we take our worship on the road to the PAC - the Parkville Athletic Complex at 6014 N. 9 HWY. There will be a lot of work involved to move our instruments, sound system, projector, and other worship supplies to a new location - not to mention the drinks and bagels! But there's something exciting about going to a new place and seeing if some folks might come worship with us in this different location - folks who haven't worshipped with us before. If you've ever thought about seeing what Living Water Christian Church is all about, this is the perfect week for you to come check us out! Arrive a few minutes early so you can choose some munchies and a drink. We hope to see you there!

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October 1, 2007

We wrapped up our series on Love, Marriage and Sex by hearing some reflections from a woman in our church who has been married more than 50 years. One of her most interesting insights is that people, especially couples, don't seem to talk much anymore. She noted that there are so many things that compete for our time and attention now - TV, internet, videos, etc. - that we seem to have lost the art of listening, of conversation. That is certainly true in my house. I notice this whenever I go away on spiritual retreats like I did last week. The room where I stayed had no TV, radio, computer or anything to distract me. There were moments when I was desperate for something, anything, to make some kind of background noise. I wanted to unwind each night with mindless television. Instead, I was left in a quiet room with a listening God, and I re-learned the art of listening to Him, too.

 

Next week is Worldwide Communion Sunday. I love to make a big deal about this day. We use fabrics from around the world to decorate. We use different kinds of breads for communion. And we sing songs from other countries in our worship. The songs are lively, even if some of the words are a little tricky to learn at first. But my favorite part of the day is remembering how many people are gathered at the table with us - people who look, think and speak very differently from us. The Kingdom of God is more beautiful than we can possibly imagine, full of the faces of people who share a love for Jesus. Gather at the table with us next Sunday!

 

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September 24, 2007

It had never occurred to me before that in 2 Sam 11:1-5, when David is home in Jerusalem instead of off fighting with the other men, that he is basically staying in town with a bunch of lonely women. How convenient for him to send the other men off to war and then just stay back and choose one of their wives to keep him company when he gets bored. The fact that he had many of his own wives and concubines to choose from doesn't make his situation look any better. I love the fact that the Bible gives us the stories of these people with all their faults and flaws. In David's case, that includes even the murder of Uriah to cover David's own sin. It is a story of a good person who does some very bad things. The consequences are terrible, too. But God's grace is greater even than David's sin. My hope is that we can learn from David's mistake before we find ourselves beginning to head down the same path he did.

Next week we'll wrap up our Love, Marriage and Sex series by learning how to make our love relationships last a lifetime. How do we become one of those cute older couples who hold hands as they walk down the street? Can God really help our love for our spouse grow over the years? We'll even hear some good advice from people who have been married over 50 years. Don't miss it!

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September 17, 2007

Now I know why so few preachers give sermons on sex. It is really tough! We deal with people all the time who are in sexual relationships outside of marriage, and we don't want to come across as prudish, judgmental and completely out-of-touch with what's really happening in the world. So usually we just keep our mouths shut. But this week I really felt that I needed to preach at least one sermon that articulated why God asks us to refrain from sex outside of marriage. It is not so we will be "good" people. It is so we will have great lives. God only asks us to do what is in our best interest. Although I wondered whether anyone would listen or care, I also realized that if even one person listening chose to wait for sex until marriage, it would be one of the greatest gifts they would ever give to themselves. I have counseled many people who live with regrets and heartache over sexual relationships gone bad. God doesn't want to see us suffer like that, and, as a parent of two teenagers, I don't want to see either of my children suffer like that, either.

Next week I'll tackle the other sex issue - adultery. Is is really possible to "affair-proof" our marriages? Is it possible for a marriage to survive after an affair? These are the questions we'll look at next week.

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September 10, 2007

I have been a little uncomfortable with this series on "Love, Marriage and Sex" since we started it a few weeks ago. Part of my discomfort is because I feel like this series is mainly targeted to married people, although I have tried to include advice on dating relationships, too. I have wondered if single folks are feeling ignored or, as my 19-year-old daughter put it, "The series is interesting, but it doesn't really apply to me." The thing is, though, that the single people are listening in on what God really wants for them in their relationships. The hope is that, as they date, they will have healthy relationships from the beginning and avoid all the pitfalls and bad habits that some marriages fall into. And next week's sermon on God's Plan for Sexual Intimacy is going to be mainly for the single people.

Which leads me to another reason why I am a little uncomfortable with this series. I'm not really one who enjoys standing up in front of people and talking about sex. If I had my way, I'd do what my health class teachers did on "sex day" and just show a film. But God has called me to be a pastor, and people need to know why God created sex and what God's purposes are for sex. So, I'll pray a lot this week, take a deep breath, and plunge into the topic of sex next Sunday. Whether you're single or married, you don't want to miss this.

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September 3, 2007

So right off the bat, I heard some grumbling from the men who took my survey that they didn't like the questions I asked, and they wanted to answer different questions. But sixteen of them did turn in a survey. The problem was that there were almost no discernable patterns in their answers. I was beginning to fear that I wouldn't have much to say about "what men wish women knew about men." But I also had a hypothesis when I created the men's survey. It was something that Adam Hamilton had written in his book, "Making Love Last a Lifetime" on which I've based this series. Adam said that it means more to him when his wife says, "I'm proud of you" than when she says, "I love you." It's not that he doesn't like to hear the latter, but hearing that his wife is proud of him makes him feel loved and appreciated. The men in our survey also agreed with this. This was the biggest surprise for me, and maybe for other women, too. We think we have communicated our love and appreciation to our husbands whenever we say, "I love you." But the guys also really like to hear that we are proud of them. It's such a simple thing to say, yet it means so much.

Next Sunday we'll look at the habits of unhealthy marriages. It is so easy for a marriage to fall into a rut of non-communication, sarcastic remarks or other destructive patterns. Once that poison enters the relationship, it can often spread quickly, destroying whatever was healthy and good. Can we root it out of our own marriages before it does more damage?

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August 27, 2007

So I sent out a little survey to some friends of mine last week. I was curious if my hunch was correct - that many women would prefer praying with their husbands over receiving roses or a backrub from them. I tried very hard to word the survey so as to not give away my hypothesis. (You can see the actual survey on this page.) But I was not prepared for the insightful, moving comments that many of the women wrote on the survey. I realized that I had tapped into a big void in the lives and marriages of some of these women, and I wanted to share this insight with the men and women who would hear my sermon. During my sermon, I quoted from some of the comments I received, and I was again struck by the longing these women had to pray with their husbands. I spent the week trying to figure out why the women would choose prayer over the more "romantic" acts of receiving roses or a backrub, and also why they thought prayer was the thing their husbands would be least likely to do. I think part of the answer is that prayer is an intimate act - that's why women want to share it with the person they are most intimate with. Men, on the other hand, might feel as though they would have to "open up, share their feelings" in prayer - something that can be threatening for men and women. In reality, although I think women would like to have their husbands "open up" once in a while, what they really want is just to spend time with their spouses talking to God about the things they both care about. It is a way to be united, as a couple, in our conversations with God, asking for guidance for our children, our careers, our health, our relationships. There are obviously misconceptions and barriers that are keeping couples from praying together, and I hope my sermon yesterday helped dismantle some of them. I believe that there are many, many women who desperately want to pray with their husbands but who fear it will never happen.

Next week it's the men's turn to say what's on their minds. I will have to rely on the surveys they turned in when I write my sermon, because I don't have a clue what men wish women knew about men! I expect I will learn a thing or two this week.

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August 20, 2007

Preaching on marriage is very intimidating. There are a lot of people out there who know a lot more about it (and probably practice it better) than I do. Add to that the thought that I will be preaching on this for another six weeks, and it's enough to keep me up at night with worry. But with the first sermon under my belt, I must say that the reaction from people yesterday helped reinforce why this is such an important topic for churches to talk about. Several people mentioned to me yesterday, "I wish ________ could have heard that sermon." We all know people who are struggling in their marriage - or maybe we're the one who is struggling. It can be very helpful to hear that God has something to say to us about our romantic relationships and how to make them better.

Next week I'll be sharing "What Women Wish Men Knew About Women." I'm not sure how I'm going to keep this sermon under 25 minutes...

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August 13, 2007

It was wonderful to get the opportunity to share some of the highlights of the mission trip with people yesterday. We returned from the trip a month ago, and so much has happened in all of our lives since then that it might have been easy to forget the important things we learned there. But as I looked through the photos of the trip, I was reminded again of the amazing people we met and the amazing things God taught us. And even though we sent 8 people on the trip, it was really a whole-church effort to get us there and to pray us back home again. I'm excited (and a little nervous) to see where God will lead us next year.

 

Today is my 24th wedding anniversary. Yes, I did get married when I was 19. It seemed like a perfectly mature age at the time, but now that my daughter is 19, I can't imagine what I was thinking! But God has held us together through the good times and the bad times (and there have been plenty of both), and it feels like a great accomplishment to be able to say we've made it 24 years. My next series on Love, Marriage and Sex, however, will not just rely on my own experience and knowledge of marriage. I will be using Adam Hamilton's book "Making Love Last a Lifetime" as my guide for the sermons, and also as a small group curriculum for our new 9:30 class. I hope to pick up some marriage tips myself along the way. Whether you are single or married, this series will have something for you.

 

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August 6, 2007

Coming back from vacation often feels like waking up on Dec. 26. The excitement you felt just a few short days ago has been replaced by a dread for all the clean-up required in the aftermath of your fun. For me, it was a frantic dash to catch up on email, snail mail, phone messages and of course, laundry. Added to that was all the things I needed to do to get ready for my first Sunday back at Living Water since July 1. Therefore, I arrived for worship yesterday feeling a little off-balance and out-of-sorts. I actually even felt a little nervous about being back in the pulpit again. But as soon as the service started, I knew I was home, and my heart gave God lots of praise for this church that has grown so much since we started a few short years ago - not just in size but in maturity, too. It was great to be back home.

Next week our mission trip team will share pictures and stories from our trip to New Mexico. It was a journey of faith for us, and God taught us many new things. Being among the Navajo people showed us a different culture and way of life from what we are used to. But it also taught us the beauty and strength of the Navajo people. Even though there were only 8 of us who went on the trip, the whole church is responsible for the success of the mission. We will all get to share and celebrate together!

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July 29,2007

I know it is becoming more and more difficult for people to actually unwind completely on vacation because email and cell phones make sure that people can find us wherever and whenever they need us. As a pastor, I felt comfortable taking off with my family for an extended vacation because I knew that if anyone in the church needed me, they could quickly contact me through email or cell phone. However, just before we left Ft. Worth, I learned of a family in the church who needed pastoral care, and when my family and I arrived at our next destination - Terlingua, TX - we discovered that this sleepy, little town had no cell phone coverage and no internet connections. I bought a phone card and called another member of Living Water from a pay phone (remember those?). I asked if she could provide care to the family in need, and she quickly replied "yes." Others began praying, even without knowing the need, just the name of the family. When we got back to "civilization" tonight, I was able to use my cell phone again, and I heard from the family that the care given was a real ministry to them.

It is a difficult thing for a pastor to hand over the spiritual care of church members to someone else. I really struggled with wanting to return home early to help this family. But I believe that God has gifted and called all of us to be ministers, and I know that I can never be everywhere there are hurting people. What a wonderful lesson God is teaching me. I can share ministry with the whole body of Christ. We can be the hands and feet of Christ to one another. This is especially important as I also learn the value of spending time with my own family, strengthening those relationships, too.

I am looking forward to being back at Living Water next week. Please join us for worship if you are in town!

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July 25, 2007

I have spent the last week among my own kind at the General Assembly for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It has been said that we are a "31 flavors" denomination, and that is certainly true as I look around and speak with my brothers and sisters who have come to the Assembly. I am learning so much, and I have found many opportunities to share the story of Living Water with others. I have heard from the folks back home that worship has been wonderful during the time I've been gone, and we've even had some visitors who have worshipped with us for two weeks in a row.

I guess that information could make me feel unwanted or unnecessary, but instead, I am so thankful to God that I pastor a church where the attendance is just as strong and the worship is just as vibrant when the pastor's gone as when she's there. It tells me that the people of Living Water understand that going to worship is NOT about going to hear the pastor. It's about spending time in the presence of God and allowing God to speak through any and all means - music, Scripture, prayer, preaching and communion. God has surely spoken through the men who have preached this month, and I know God will speak through Matt Allison this Sunday as well.

I have had some wonderful worship experiences of my own, but I look forward to being back at Living Water on Aug. 5. I have so much to share about what I've learned, and I'll spend time doing that during Act(s) II. Until then, may the Lord bless you and keep you.

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July 16, 2007

I have just returned from my very first mission trip. It was also the very first mission trip for Living Water Christian Church. I have known for a long time that something wonderful happens on these trips. There is something about being away from familiar surroundings and experiencing life from a different perspective that allows a person to hear God speak in a new way. That was certainly what happened to me as I left the humid Kansas City summer and headed into the dry heat of New Mexico to work with people on a Navajo reservation. God was present in so many ways, and I wish I could share it all with you. Our missionaries will be sharing some of their stories in worship on Aug. 12. I hope you'll come hear them in person, or listen in on the podcast or mp3.

It's been tough to be away from Living Water for two Sundays, and now I'll be away for two more as I head to Texas for our General Assembly. But I have heard great things about the worship while I've been gone, and I've listened to both sermons. I know that God is "in the house" every Sunday morning, and I'm so glad that people are worshipping together there, even as I have been worshipping in different places on Sundays. And as much as I enjoy this time traveling, I will be very happy to be back "home" again on Sunday, Aug. 5.

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July 2, 2007

Looking back, there have been many "milestone" Sundays at Living Water - our first worship service, our Pentecost birthday service, the Thanksgiving testimonial service and many others. But I have to believe that yesterday's baptism service ranks up there in the top one or two best-ever services at Living Water. Thanks to the generous donation of a portable baptistry, we were able to worship around the water and then gather round when it was time to baptize folks. You could feel the joy and electricity of the Spirit in the room as we sang "Halle-Halle-Halle-lujah!" when people came up out of the water. And they truly glowed with the light of Christ as the water dripped down their faces. If I am ever discouraged in ministry and begin to wonder if maybe there is another vocation that could be more rewarding for me, I will remember this day and know that there is no job anywhere that has benefits like this.

When I first realized that I would be gone for four Sundays in July, I almost had a panic attack. How could the pastor of a new and growing church be gone for four weeks in a row? What would happen to our momentum? Who would do all the things that I do each week? What if visitors came when I was gone? But once God got me to calm down, I knew that everything would be fine while I was gone. In fact, when I am forced to step completely back, God will show me that this is indeed His church, and the people of Living Water know how to do ministry without the pastor being around. The ironic thing is that the biggest boost to my ego would be if Living Water continued to grow and have returning visitors while I am away. If I have managed to pastor a church that can function as well without me as with me, then I am truly a blessed pastor. And I know that the four preachers who will share in July will bring a fresh word that uplifts and encourages. As for this blog, I will do my best to update it each week, but internet connections might be a little difficult to come by at times. Keep checking back to find out about our mission trip to the Navajo reservation and then my trip to the General Assembly for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

 

January-June 2007 archive

October-December 2006 archive

July-September 2006 archive

April-June 2006 archive

January-March 2006 archive

October-December 2005 archive

August-September 2005 archive

June-July 2005 archive

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