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. Archives of my blog posts from prior years are here.

December 27, 2010

What a glorious service we had on Christmas Eve! The room was filled with candlelight and the sound of voices singing together "Silent Night, Holy Night." We wrapped up our Charlie Brown Advent series by hearing Linus tell the Christmas story and then turn to his friend and say, "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." We watched a video my daughter Bethany made about her missions in Haiti. We shared communion and took an offering that raised over $700 for the people of Haiti and Tanzania. As we left, each person received a special Christmas ornament from Haiti. What a perrfect night to welcome the Christ child!

Worship yesterday was the story of Simeon and Anna, one that few people seem to know. It was great to see how many people came out to worship, and the room was once-again filled with the sounds of voices singing carols.

Next week we'll begin looking ahead to what God might have in store for us in 2011. The possibilities are there for it to be the best year ever! Be a part of what God is doing at Living Water.

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December 20, 2010

I know, I know. We live in a post-Christan culture where church, if it's a part of people's lives at all, is something that's squeezed in if there's nothing else going on. But I can't help feeling sad about that. I think of what happened at Living Water yesterday, and I think to myself, "What could be better, more important, than this?" We had the opportunity to purchase bracelets made by children living in tent cities in Haiti. This small income is such a huge blessing to these children and their families. Bethany, who just returned from 8 months in Haiti, shared a beautiful story of the joy on the kids' faces on payday when they see how much money they've earned. How awesome that we got to be a part of that story! Looking around the room at all the people wearing bracelets, it was a tangible reminder of how connected we are to God's children all around the world.

Then we heard some truly amazing music from our 8-piece band, including a version of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" that is my new favorite carol. We shared Scripture, prayer and communion together. We praised God for a 60th wedding anniversary in our congregation! Then we feasted on a delectable potluck dinner and laughed till our sides ached playing a silly white elephant gift exchange game. I found myself thinking, "This is the abundant life Jesus spoke about." Meaning, connection, spiritual food, laughter - we experienced all of it yesterday at church. I don't know what important things are going on in your life on Sunday mornings, but can they top that?

This Friday is Christmas Eve. Once again, we offer an opportunity for you to spend time in God's presence with God's people. You can't find the meaning of Christmas at the mall; you can only find it at church. Come find the baby in the manger at Living Water this Christmas Eve. The service begins at 5 pm, but plan to arrive by 4:45 to get a good seat and listen to some beautiful music. The following Sunday, Dec. 26, we will have only one service at 11:00 am. We'll look at what happened after the Christmas story.

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December 12, 2010

I'm writing this on Sunday night instead of my usual Monday morning because my daughter Bethany might be coming home from Haiti tomorrow! I'm still humming the awesome song the band played this morning - "Beautiful Things." When I first heard it, I knew that it would fit with a sermon someday. I just didn't know how. But when I thought of Charlie Brown's tree - so overlooked and unappreciated - I realized that it is the perfect symbol for that song. Along with the manger in the Christmas story, it doesn't seem to fit the glitter and sparkle of Christmas. Yet God is always taking overlooked and unappreciated people and turning them into beautiful things! And the morning was even more special because our band went above and beyond and dressed up like the Peanuts characters :-)

Next week we'll look at one of the biggest stresses surrounding Christmas - dealing with family. How can we have a Perfect Christmas with Imperfect People? Come find out at Living Water!

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December 6, 2010

When you hear Mary's story in Luke 1, it's hard to believe that she didn't make a bigger deal out of the fact that God chose her above all other women. People are naturally competitive, and she would have been justified in letting everyone know that she was the most special person in the whole world. But instead, she displayed beautiful humility, exclaiming, "I am the Lord's servant." How helpful to remember that when the only Christmas song we seem to be able to sing is, "Me, Me, Me, Me, Me."

Next week we'll look at the birthplace of Jesus - the stable in Bethlehem. Why would God choose a place so small and insignificant to usher in the biggest chapter in human history? If you've ever felt small and insignificant, then this sermon is for you.

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November 29, 2010

There is something about Advent that brings an energy and excitement to worship. We are not a people who like to wait for anything. We like fast food, fast cash, fast check-out lines. We seem to have forgotten how wonderful it can be to wait for something with anticipation. Sure, if we are honest, most of us are anticipating giving and receiving gifts, reuniting with family and eating holiday food. But Advent reminds us that there is holiness in waiting for the birth of Jesus and the return of Jesus. So we wait, singing "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." We wait, hearing the story of Joseph and Mary. We wait, remembering the greatest gift we have ever been given. Advent is a holy season. Come wait with us this Advent.

We started with the story of Joseph yesterday, and next week we will look at how Mary reacted to the news of her holy child. In her, we can find a model for our own response to Christmas. And all of this will be framed through the lens of Charlie Brown and friends!

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November 22, 2010

Do you ever wonder what God has for Thanksgiving dinner? I mean, if God were going to feast on something, what would it be? I suspect that God doesn't need food, so I imagine that God would love to sit down to a feast of our praises! We got the appetizers started yesterday with our praise offerings to God. Here are some of the things we wrote down:

I am thankful for a wonderful family and church.

Comfort and care of Hospice to family.

My dad is still alive in Afghanistan.

We are thankful for the unconditional acceptance we have received from Living Water.

Getting married to my best friend in a year!

Have a church home where my husband and I feel welcome and are spiritually challenged each week.

I am thankful for the presence of God in my life and for the love of these people of Living Water.

I am thankful for all the "Pray-ers" at LW. You are a blessing to me!

And many, many more thanks for life, health, family, food, shelter, work and other blessings. In addition to giving praises, we also received a taste of "manna", or at least the closest thing we could come to it. Jamie Milks made a batch for us to taste, reminding us how God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness and how God will provide for us. It was quite a project for Jamie to figure out how she could reproduce a nutritionally complete cracker-like substance, but she did a fantastic job! If you'd like to read about how she did it, check out her blog.

Next week we begin the season of Advent. It is a season of waiting, of preparation for the birth of Christ. This year, we will be looking at the story of Christmas through the lens of "A Charlie Brown Christmas." We have been entertained by the story and music for years, but there are some real Gospel truths in that special, too. Join us this Advent for "What Charlie Brown Can Teach Us About Christmas."

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November 15, 2010

It was interesting to hear about our first foreign missionary to Jerusalem in the mid 1800s. Back then, the biggest concern was "converting the Jews." The motivation was to make Jerusalem a Christian city so Jesus could reign from there for 1,000 years. It would be easy to snicker at those "simple-minded" missionaries, but the truth is that they risked their lives and took on great hardship for something that they believed in with all their heart. And many of them did good work - helping the poor, building schools and clinics, etc. In some ways, the job was easier back then than it is now. Missionaries in Jerusalem now must find a way to be a Christian presence in a volatile place. They bring their understanding of Christian love and the peace of Christ to a conflict that has raged for thousands of years. They still need our prayers. May all of our Christian missionaries in the Holy Lands build bridges of peace and understanding!

Next week we'll wrap up our series on Moses and celebrate Thanksgiving at the same time. How can we be thankful when our lives are falling apart? Moses and the wandering Israelites have something to teach us...

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November 8, 2010

I continue to be amazed at the way God works. I chose to preach this series on Moses when I was doing worship planning a few months back. I have preached series on other biblical characters - David and Paul - and I thought it was time to do something with Moses. But I didn't give it much thought until it was time to actually work out what the sermons would be. My goal was to familarize people with these great stories. But God has a way of making those stories leap off the pages and into our lives! That's what has happened to me during this series. Each week, as I sit down to look at what is happening in Moses' life, it resonates with something happening in my own life. Even a friend I hadn't seen in years said that, as I was telling her about my life, the thought that popped into her head was, "Moses." Then I told her I was preaching on Moses, and she smiled. The ancient stories in the Bible refuse to stay bound in the book because God still wants to speak through them!

Next week we will have a special guest preacher - Peter Makari with Global Ministries. He will share with us what God is doing around the world. Everyone is welcome!

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November 1, 2010

Ok, maybe it's a bad thing when the most memorable part of a Sunday morning is the laughter and silliness. I mean, I hope my sermon was good. I hope it was theologically correct and that it spoke to people and helped us learn more about the life of Moses and the way God works. Personally, it was another one of those sermons that I needed to hear, so I hope others were blessed by it, too. But as I was driving home yesterday, the images that stuck in my mind were the people in their costumes - both literal and virtual. We invited the kids to wear costumes to church, so we had a Dorothy (from the Wizard of Oz), a knight, a sumo wrestler, a cat, an Ewok, and Woody (of the ones I remember). But we also had a few adults come in costumes - Samson, Martha with her broom, a ladybug, a few crazy kids in pajamas, and Lot and his wife (before she was turned into salt). Then we had other folks with virtual costumes written on their nametags. Some of my favorites were:

Goliath - chosen by the tallest guy in church

Marc and Sara became Mark and Sarah

Matt, the drummer, wrote Matthew, ~~Tax Collector~~, Disciple

Elisha, the bald-headed prophet (my husband chose that, based on one of his favorite stories, 2 Kings 2:23-24

And many other fun and creative "costumes"

We gave out fair trade chocolate. Oh, and we sang "Pharaoh, Pharaoh" to the tune of "Louie, Louie", complete with motions.

I was clear that our primary purpose was to worship God, and we did. We had songs of praise, Scripture, prayer and communion. But we also sprinkled some (extra) fun into our All Hallows' Eve worship because living life in Christian community is great fun!

Next week we'll look at what happens after Pharaoh says "yes." Surely Moses' life and the life of the newly-released slaves is about to get better, right?

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October 25, 2010

I shared in the sermon yesterday how personal the story of Moses was to me when I was in seminary. I knew I felt called to be there, but I felt totally unworthy of the call. Who was I? I wasn't anyone special or holy. I didn't even know the Bible very well! Yet, when I saw how God called Moses - a murderer! - to do big things, I realized that God could use even someone like me, too. We're quick to point out the sin of pride, but it is also a sin to neglect to do what God is calling us to do because we think too little of ourselves. God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called! If God is asking us to do it, it can be done (with His help, of course).

Next Sunday is Oct. 31, Halloween. We're going to look at the story of Moses' scariest moment - facing Pharaoh. We'll have a little fun with a special song, kids in costume, and even some virtual costumes for the adults (write your favorite biblical character on a nametag). And, of course, there will be treats :-) Come worship God and have a little fun at Living Water this Sunday!

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October 18, 2010

Every time I read ths story of baby Moses, I smile. There is something so humorous and endearing about these five courageous women who all play a role in saving this baby. From the midwives who tell Pharaoh a little white lie (or maybe it's more like a whopper), to the birth mother who prepares a a little boat for her baby, to the big sister who follows him from the shore to the adoptive mother who saves the child her own father condemned to death, it is a story of hope in the face of extreme cruelty. And it's all these "ordinary" people who create a lifeline for this extraordinary child. If we don't see ourselves in the story of Moses, the Great Leader, then we must see ourselves in the stories of these five ordinary people who acted in faith to help him.

Next week we'll look at the story of Moses and the burning bush. Why doesn't God speak to us like that anymore? How did that conversation change the rest of Moses' life (and the world)?

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October 11, 2010

Every once in a while, a sermon comes along that is so personal that it is almost painful to preach. Yesterday was one of those sermons. It's been difficult to preach on all the fruits of the Spirit because I can't claim to have fully mastered any of them. But when it came to self-control, I knew that it was going to be hard to speak with integrity. Being overweight, I can't hide the fact that I have not found the solution to controlling my own obsessions and desires. But, it turned out, God wanted me to go even deeper into examining my own behavior. And that's when I realized that it isn't just issues surrounding food that threaten to de-rail my spiritual life; it's everything I do, the entire structure of my life that needs more self-control. As personal and painful and in-my-own-face as the sermon was, there were many other people who told me it hit them where they live, too. In fact, I heard from more people about this sermon than any other I can remember. I think this whole series on the Fruits of the Spirit has made us think differently about the way we live our lives, and that's what a good series should do :-)

Next week we begin a new series on the life of Moses. I'm encouraging everyone to begin reading his story in the book of Exodus. I wish I could say that this series will be easier for me to preach, however, I know it's also going to hit close to home when we hear Moses say, "Send someone else, Lord!" You'll see how your life connects with Moses' life in all kinds of ways!

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October 4, 2010

I have to give credit to my friend Suzi for the idea of using a child's first encounter with a pet as an example of learning about gentleness. As soon as she suggested it, I knew it could work as the metaphor that would bring the whole sermon together. How often do we act like that toddler - so caught up in our own agenda that we fail to consider what the other might want or need? We rush into situations, expressing our anger, frustration and irritation without pausing to ask the Spirit to give us words of gentleness. In this world where so many are hurting, we need the Spirit to help us bear the fruit of gentleness now more than ever.

Next week we wrap up this series on the Fruits of the Spirit with the last fruit - self-control. Piece of cake, right? Unless of course, a piece of cake is what makes us lose our self-control :-) Come learn how the Holy Spirit can help us conquer whatever it is that makes us lose control.

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September 27, 2010

I mentioned in the sermon yesterday that it's a very good thing the Bible is as big a book as it is. The story of God's interaction with humanity could have been three sentences:

God created everything beautiful and perfect.

We messed it up.

God said, "I'm outta here."

That might have been all there was to the story. But God has been faithful to us, time and time again. How sad that we don't repay that faithfulness. If we believe in God at all, give Him the time of day at all, it's usually just short, little shout-out prayers - most of the time when we need something. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is ready to help us become people who bear the fruit of faithfulness in our lives. The words we most want to hear when we meet God face-to-face are, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Next week's topic coulc be another tough one - gentleness. What does it mean to bear the fruit of gentleness? Are we supposed to walk around like monks, never raising our voices? Are we supposed to let others walk all over us? Or does it mean something else altogether? (hint: it does!) Join us for worship this Sunday!

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September 20, 2010

So I knew going into this that I had a big challenge ahead of me. Maybe the reason other pastors don't preach on the fruits of the Spirit is not because they don't think the fruits are important, but because it's too hard! Oh sure, the first few weeks I had plenty to say about love, joy, and peace, but once I got to kindness and goodness, I was really second-guessing my decision to do this sermon series! But I am grateful that God has given me something to say each week - hopefully something that connects with people who are listening. And the last three fruits - faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - should give me plenty to talk about. If you've missed any of the sermons in this series (or all of them) be sure to check them out on our worship archive page.

So next Sunday is faithfulness. What does it mean to be faithful? Is it just about going to church? And why do we need the Holy Spirit to help us be faithful? Come to worship on Sunday at find out!

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September 13, 2010

Sometimes I'll be driving down the road, and I'll get a flash of inspiration for my sermon. That's great - except when I'm driving home from church on Sunday and the great idea is for something I should have included in that morning's sermon! So I'll add it here: one of the best ways to begin to widen our circle and show hesed to others is by joining a small group at church! Week after week, as we share prayer concerns and talk about our lives and our faith, we develop relationships that are important to us. These people who were once strangers become some of the first people we call when we have a crisis. Sharing our lives is how we practice hesed with each other.

This series has really challenged me to find new ways to talk about these very familiar words, but I'm enjoying the challenge. Next week the topic is "goodness". On the surface, it seems like we wouldn't need to say much about it - I mean, isn't it obvous that God wants us to be good? But like all the other fruits, there is more here than meets the eye. Come find out how to cultivate the fruit of goodness in your life.

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September 7, 2010

I'd love to tell you how much I enjoyed Abby Olson's sermon on patience last Sunday, but I haven't listened to it yet - and man, am I impatient to hear it! I've heard great things about it, and we hope to have it posted on the website later this week. When I first asked Abby if she would be willing to bring the message while I was out of town, she said, "Sure!" Then I told her the fruit of the Spirit for that day was patience, and she laughed and laughed. I've never met a person who thought she had plenty of patience. Most of us wish we had more of it - without the life lessons that develop it, please! It's no surprise that Paul included this important quality in the list of fruits. If we really trust God, then we should be bearing the fruit of patience.

Next week we'll look at the fruit of kindness. This is one of the tougher sermons in the series because what can I say about kindness that I didn't already say about love? I have some ideas percolating, however, and I'm getting excited to bring the message. I can't wait! Oops, I mean, I am waiting patiently for next Sunday. I hope to see you there.

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August 30, 2010

How many self-help books promise something like "3 Easy steps to peace"? Some of those books might have a helpful tip or two, but I hope my sermon yesterday really gave people 3 ways to become more peace-filled. They aren't easy steps, but they are time-tested, biblically-grounded things we can do to bear the fruit of peace in our lives. I have found that the idea of a "sigh reflex" is a really helpful way to recognize and appreciate everything I have that is "enough." Already today I have let out several sighs of contentment.

Last night I attended a worship service with people from many of the new churches the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has planted in the Kansas City area. Much of the music in the service was provided by a Hispanic praise band singing songs in Spanish and inviting others to jump on the mic and sing along in English. We were also blessed to hear an African-American gospel choir, a Haitian soloist who sang a song he wrote while in jail and the highpoint of the night - a version of "You Are Good" that had the whole place on our feet praising God! The preaching was daring, and the Good News was proclaimed loud and clear! It just brought home how much the body of Christ is diminished when we don't find opportunities to worship together. What a blessing to worship with my brothers and sisters last night!

Next week is everyone's favorite fruit - patience. Who doesn't want a fast forward button to rush through all the boring parts of life? But what if we missed something in our hurry? If you need more patience in your life, come hear Abby Olson preach on the fruit of patience next Sunday.

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August 23, 2010

I hate it when my sermons keep preaching to me long after the Sunday service has ended. It's one thing to tell other people about how much time they waste pursuing happiness instead of true joy, but I don't want to have to think about all the time I waste! Sigh. Just another reminder that the call to preach is not given to those who have everything all figured out. We are fellow travelers, hoping through our study and prayer to figure out something new to bring to God's people every week. So I hope I'm learning the lessons along with my congregation.

Next week we'll look at the fruit of peace. Would you like a more peaceful life? Come to Living Water and learn how to get there!

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August 16, 2010

Well, I got their attention! In my communion meditation, I shared how I carry a little pocket New Testament with me in case I find myself in a theological conversation with someone. "So," I said, "if someone asks me what the love of God looks like, I can open my Bible to John 3:16 and tell them. However, the Holy Spirit would also be happy if I did this.." and I pulled a paper cutout of an apple out of my Bible and stuck in on my forehead. The point was, we can show people what the love of God looks like when we practice acts of self-emptying love - our "fruit" that we bear. As people came up for communion, they each took a paper apple to stick on themselves (although, surprisingly, no one else chose to stick it on their forehead) as a place-holder - a paper fruit that they would trade in for a loving act this week, a real fruit of the Spirit. I hope they share some of their stories of how the paper fruit became the real thing!

Next week we'll talk about joy. We read all kinds of articles about how to be happy, but joy is something different from happiness. Find out how to cultivate this fruit in your life next Sunday at Living Water!

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August 9, 2010

It was good to be back at Living Water after a few weeks of vacation with my family. I am so grateful to everyone who pitched in to make worship happen while I was gone. And what a homecoming Sunday it was! My daughter Bethany preached about her experiences as a missionary in Haiti this summer. Although I knew the stories she told because I had followed her blog, it was still so moving to hear her descriptions of life in the tent cities. I am so amazed that she is following God's call to live and serve in Haiti, and we're so blessed as a church to have her represent us to God's children who have lost so much.

Next week we rev up into our new fall series "the Fruits of the Spirit". At first I was hesitant to build a sermon series around this topic. I mean, how boring is it to spend a week on "love" or "kindness"? But these simple words point to a deeper reality - we are really supposed to be living our lives so that people see this "fruit" when they look at us. If we're really honest with ourselves, most of the time we have a failed crop. If this fruit is the sign of an abundant Christian life, then we need to figure out a way to cultivate it in our lives. So if you need more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control in your life, come work in the garden with us!

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July 19, 2010

Well, it was worth a try. It sounded like fun anyway - worshipping in the parking lot of the baseball stadium and then going in to watch a game together. Too bad it was a heat advisory day, coming after a string of heat advisory days. Many folks were just too drained after days of dealing with the heat to even think about sitting out in it for half a day. My husband pointed out that I really don't do a good job of taking seasons into account when I plan outdoor worship events. I try to do outdoor baptisms in April and outdoor worship in the middle of July. Perhaps I should try baptisms in July and baseball games in April - nah, that would make life too predictable! Still, there were a few hearty souls who came out in the heat, and we did worship God out in His (very hot) Creation. Coming up with a baseball-themed sermon, however, was really a stretch for this non-sports-fan pastor! One special blessing of the day was finding our seats and discovering that they were in the shade. Even though it was still toasty, it was definitely bearable and even fun watching the game.

Next week will be a special "arts Sunday" at Living Water. We'll let the arts - music, drama and dance - bring the message. Stay cool in our air-conditioned sanctuary and let the presence of God blow through you!

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July 12, 2010

Yesterday's sermon was a good example of one that "got away from me" - but in a good way. I chose to preach on the book of Philemon because I needed a one-week, stand-alone sermon, and I thought it would be fun to cover an entire book of the Bible. Philemon is perfect because it's only 25 verses. But then when I started working on what I would say, I soon realized that this little book was talking about profound changes. The sermon quickly became one of my most passionate and heartfelt. If you weren't able to worship at Living Water in person, I encourage you to listen to the sermon about this little book and the big changes it talks about!

As a new church planter, I've tried my share of crazy ideas. But next Sunday's experiment could be my craziest yet. We bought 150 tickets to the Royals game at 1:10 on Sunday. So, we're going to meet in the parking lot for a tailgate worship service at 11. That means that there won't be any 11:00 service at the church building next Sunday - a risky move. (We will have a scaled down version of 9:30 worship, however). Will people really come out to worship in a parking lot? What will other folks think of us? Will the weather cooperate? I have no way of knowing, but it was worth a try to take the church out into the world and invite some friends to join us. If you'd like to be a part of this historic day, email me through the Contact Us form and let me know. We still have some tickets left, and we'd love to find people to use them!

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July 5, 2010

"It is for freedom that Christ has set you free." Well, duh. Is there any more obvious statement in the Bible? But why did Paul even have to say it if it's so obvious? Because people tend to find our way back into prisons even after Jesus paid the price to buy our freedom. Our prisons are familiar to us - even though they are full of pain, regret, disappointment, fear, shame, anger and hatred. Those are emotions we know well. Out in the fresh air with Jesus, we have to trust in the Holy Spirit. We have to allow the Spirit to bear fruit in us that looks very unfamiliar - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. So Paul had to remind the Galatians of what was painfully obvious. And Paul has to keep reminding us, too. It is for freedom that Christ has set you free.

Next Sunday we are going to cover one entire book of the Bible in a 20 minute sermon! That's right - the book of Philemon, all 25 verses. It's a little book with a lot to say. So come learn about this little book with a big message at Living Water next Sunday. And don't forget to take our Clean Water Challenge!

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June 28, 2010

It's all in how you look at things. I don't know how many times I said out loud that there were "only" eight people going on our mission trip to Koinonia Farm. I had hoped for ten or twelve, maybe even fifteen. But in the end, there were "only" eight of us. But let's do some math - our summer worship attendance is around 56 folks, so that means that 1/7 of our congregation went on our mission trip. That's a good portion of our congregation. More importantly, six of the eight had never been on a mission trip before. And as they shared their memories and reflections in worship yesterday, I found myself thanking God for these eight people. They were a phenomenal group of people - kids, youth and adults - and each one of them experienced God in a way that will change their lives forever. God doesn't use the word "only." It's a human word, expressing human limitations. We had eight, count 'em, eight people on our mission trip!!!

It was also a joy to share the story of Clarence Jordan with the people of Living Water. I knew nothing about him before planning this trip, but I am a true fan now. Thinking of the courage that he and the others who lived at Koinonia during the 50s and 60s demonstrated, it made all of us search our own souls to ask how we could be faithful witnesses like Clarence and Florence Jordan. We allowed his words to sink in and challenge us, "Faith is not belief in spite of evidence, but a life lived in scorn of the consequences."

Next week is the Fourth of July. It is easy for churches to get caught up in the fun and pageantry of this celebration and forget that we gather to worship God. So we will have some prayers for our country, sing one song of blessing for our country, but the "freedom" we are talking about next week is the freedom we find in Jesus Christ. Come celebrate freedom at Living Water next Sunday.

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June 21, 2010

We had a little "Christmas in June" yesterday as we looked at the story of Joseph becoming a father. It's interesting to think about how he must have struggled with his doubts. We don't talk about it much in Protestant circles, but the Eastern Orthodox tradition includes an image of Joseph being tempted by Satan to walk away from Mary and her baby in the Nativity icon. He gave up any hope for a normal, respectable life when he married Mary. What an extraordinary example he is of self-less love! We also watched a video from Sara Groves where she describes an encounter between Minneapolis businessmen and Rwandan orphans. I have watched it numerous times, and I tear up every time. What a beautiful story of self-less love!

Next week our mission team will share memories and photos from our trip to Koinonia Farm in Americus, GA. God spoke to us in lots of ways, and we'll share them in worship. Come join us!

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June 14, 2010

I'm writing this from the Guest House on Koinonia Farm in Americus, GA. I'm here with the mission trip team, and we're having a great (and sweaty) time. We'll share about our trip in worship on June 27. But I heard the report about worship at Living Water, and I listened to Clif's sermon. I am so grateful to him for sharing the message yesterday. I always miss worshipping at Living Water when I'm out of town, but it's good to know that God's people still gather and worship whether I am there or not!

Next week we'll celebrate all men in worship, and we'll look at the story of one of the most famous fathers in history. All of the special guys who come to worship will get a chocolate bar.

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June 7, 2010

There is absolutely no connection between my sermon on tithing yesterday and the fact that I'll be gone next Sunday :-) Honestly, it's tough to talk about money, and it was even tougher yesterday to talk about how much I give to the church. But Jesus talked about money all the time. It is a huge part of our lives, and therefore it is a huge part of the way we live our faith. Whether people ever give a dime to Living Water or not, it's important for them to understand why we need to give something to God's work. I hope you'll take a few moments and listen to the podcast so you can learn why you should give.

Next week I'll be on the mission trip to Americus, GA. We will be staying on Koinonia Farm, a beacon of Christian love during the civil rights era. We will learn about the history of the farm, and see how people of all races still live and work on the farm today. We'll worship with them, work with them and eat with them. While I'm gone, my husband Clif will bring the message next week. I'll listen to the podcast to hear what he brings to God's people!

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May 31, 2010

Most of us would never think of ourselves as a hero, as anyone who could leave much of a legacy. But it really is so easy to impact the world and change a life. All we have to do is sow seeds of the Spirit; invest in people. I am so grateful for the people of Park Ave. Christian Church who invested in me. My life is their legacy.

Next week we'll look at abundance - how to recognize it, how to get it. If you'd like more - time, money, energy - come find abundance next Sunday at Living Water!

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May 24, 2010

boiling water It's usually a challenge to try to find just the right image to put on the screen during my sermon. Every year at Pentecost, we've used images of fire. I wanted something a little different this year. How do we visualize the Holy Spirit has an alternative fuel? That's when I thought about a pan of water over a campfire - and I found the perfect photo! I also came up with a great way to describe it: When you put the living water of Jesus on the flame of the Holy Spirit, watch out, because something is cooking! May our lives run on that kind of steam!

Next Sunday is Memorial Day Sunday. We're going to look at the legacies our loved ones have left for us, and think about what kind of legacies we will leave. If you want to leave behind a legacy, come join us for worship next week.

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May 17, 2010

I had to stay in "pastor mode" yesterday so I wouldn't get tearful when we had our blessing for our graduates. It's always a special day for a church - giving Bibles and saying a prayer for our young adults - but this year it was very meaningful for me since two of the graduates are my own kids! I am grateful as I look back and think about how the Church has always been such a big part of their lives. How appropriate that the church should give them a new Bible and a blessing to send them onto the future God has in store for them. And how well the story of Jesus in the Temple fit with the day. May we all continue to "graduate" to the next phase of growth in our own lives, too!

Next week is Pentecost, and I admit I like to celebrate in a big way. It's all about the power of the Holy Spirit, the birthday of the Church, doves and tongues of fire! And, of course, the color red. I don't know too many pastors who make a big deal out of people wearing red on Pentecost, but I figure if folks wear red to a Chiefs' game, they can find something red to wear for the Holy Spirit :-) Throw on a red shirt and come worship at Living Water next Sunday (people without red shirts also welcome).

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May 10, 2010

It was really eye-opening for me to think about body position in the story of Mary and Martha. I had never thought about the fact that Mary sat at Jesus' feet, wanting to receive from him. Martha, however, stood over Jesus, wanting to tell him what to do. If I'm honest, I spend more of my prayer life in the Martha pose than the Mary one. But if I begin my prayers by imagining myself at the feet of Jesus, perhaps I will spend more time listening!

Next week we will honor our graduates, but we will also think about how we know when it's time for us to graduate to the next level in our spiritual life. For many folks, treading water is a the only way they know how to go through life. What if we never stopped learning, never stopped growing? What if graduation to the next level was a lifelong practice? Join us to learn how next Sunday.

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May 2, 2010

I can't remember a sermon series that has drained me as much as this one did. I am someone who really deplores violence - even pretend violence. So spending three weeks reading about all kinds of violent acts that have been done in the name of God has taken a lot out of me. But I am more convinced than ever that Christians need to be aware of history - our own and the history of other major religions. It is too easy to distance ourselves from Christians of the past who got it wrong, who gave in to fear, who forgot that the Lord they worship is a crucified messiah. So as much as I personally disliked preparing these sermons, I know they were ones I needed to preach. I just hope God doesn't ask me to preach anything else that heavy for a LONG time.

Next week we'll do a complete switch and talk about amazing women and what a blessing they are to us. We have 200 bars of Divine Chocolate to give away to all the women - all ages - who come worship with us next week. To find out how we won them, read this. Come join us, and bring all the amazing women you know!

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April 26, 2010

It's not easy or fun to talk about the strong violent language found in our own Bible. I could tell that people were disturbed by the passages we looked at yesterday. I even told my husband, half-jokingly, that we probably had people who WEREN'T concerned about violence in the Old Testament until I preached on it! That's why most preachers stay away from it. Those stories do not make for joyful worship. But we can't sweep them under the rug, either. So we must deal with them as honestly as we can. In the end, I hope most people gained at least one new point of reference for understanding those difficult passages.

But we have one more week to go, and now it's time to face the violence in our own history of Christianity. There have been many times when we have been wrong and done wrong. How did we mess up the message of Jesus? How can we be sure we won't do it again? We'll look at those tough questions next week.

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April 19, 2010

First of all, I want to say that we had a first-rate progressive dinner party to celebrate five years of ministry on Saturday. There was so much laughter and food and conversation and food and beautiful weather and food. As I looked around at the people God had brought together, I just marveled at this community of people that had been created out of strangers. At times it seemed like the church might not survive until its fifth anniversary, but God has brought us through those tough years, and the future for Living Water Christian Church is as bright as ever.

Yesterday we began our Religion and Violence series by looking at the teachings and beliefs of Islam. Some members of the Park University Secular Club came to visit our church to see what happens in a Christian worship service. As we were driving home from church, I told my husband, "I'm so disappointed that the Secular Club picked today to come to Living Water! I wanted to talk about Jesus when they were here, but instead I spent most of my sermon talking about Muhammad!" He replied, "I think it was the perfect day for them to be here. They heard a Christian pastor give a thoughtful, respectful message about another faith, but they also heard you explain how Christianity is distinct from Islam." I think maybe he's right. My hope and prayer is that everyone who heard the message learned something about Islam that will help them to open avenues of conversation with Muslim friends and neighbors, but I also hope they learned what makes our beliefs different - what is at the heart of Christianity.

Next week we'll look at violence in our Old Testament and the history of Judaism. How do we reconcile the God who appears at times to be war-like with the God known to us in Jesus? Come find out!

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April 12, 2010

I asked Michael Coleman to share his story in worship yesterday, so I was trying to keep my sermon "lite" to allow time for him. "How hard can it be to preach a short sermon on the Great Commission?" I thought. "It's only 5 verses." But wow, there is a lot to say about those five verses! So we did both - thought about what Jesus is commissioning us to do and heard Michael's story - and what a great story it was. Sometimes the Sunday after Easter can be a down Sunday - down attendance and down energy level. But the service yesterday encouraged all of us to "Go!" be disciples.

Next week I'll start a new series that has me excited and nervous - Religion and Violence. I usually don't tackle heavy topics like this, but there is so much misinformation about how religion and violence are connected that I felt compelled to address it. We'll begin by looking at the teachings of Islam to see if the religion promotes violence, as some claim. The next two weeks will cover violence in the history of Judaism - the Old Testament - and violence in the history of Christianity. But these sermons will not just be lectures about history. Each week we'll look to Jesus for answers about how we are to live as peaceful people in a sometimes violent world.

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April 5, 2010

A pastor friend of mine wrote this on her Facebook page yesterday: "Post-church-on-Easter tired is second only to post-labor tired. New life requires work." Amen! But I was not the only one who was tired after worship yesterday. There were so many people who cooked, cleaned, rehearsed, decorated and set up the baptistry. It was truly an all-church effort. But what a glorious morning it was! The brunch under the pavilion was amazing - gorgeous weather, scrumptious foods, creative children making works of art. And the worship was even better - video, music, message, communion and baptisms. Someone asked me last week, "How do you pastors do it, come up with something new to say every Easter?" The answer is, we don't. I mean each year I try to find a new angle. I actually write a new sermon each Easter, not just recycle an old one. But this year especially, I decided to just tell the story - no bells or whistles. Yet, so many people have told me that it was the message they needed to hear. No matter how many times we hear it, the resurrection story just never gets old.

Next week we'll wrap up our series on Matthew by looking at the last words Jesus says in the Gospel. It is the risen Jesus speaking to his disciples, and we'll see if his words apply to us today, too. If you are looking for a church home, come worship with us and see if God is leading you to make this place your place.

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March 29, 2010

Yesterday we let the arts speak in worship. Throughout the service, we thought about the cost of worship - what it cost the people who lined the streets that first Palm Sunday, and what it costs us. The children paraded with palm branches. The youth danced in praise to God. The drama team made us think about what it really means to understand the Bible. We even heard a poem about getting a hug from Jesus. Throughout all of it, the band led us in worship through song. I never know how a service like this will hit people. Some folks just aren't big fans of dance and drama in worship. It makes them uncomfortable. But dance and story-telling have been a part of worship since Old Testament times. I was so happy to hear people's comments after the service. Many folks were so appreciative. They expressed a sense of feeling God's presence in a powerful way during the service. What a blessing to have so many talented people who can use the arts to worship God!

This Friday is our Good Friday service at 7 pm. It is a somber, reflective service with a focus on the cross. I hope you'll join us for this time of quiet worship as we prepare to greet the empty tomb on Sunday morning.

And Easter will be a fantastic day or worship! We will have brunch food available before each service, so come early for good food and fellowship. We will also have a service of baptism after the 11:00 service. If you don't have a church home in Kansas City, make Living Water your church home this Easter!

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March 22,2010

Last Saturday we had a prayer retreat at church - during the snowstorm! One of the things we did was to spend 2 hours in silent prayer. To fill that time, I gave everyone some neon-colored Post-It tabs and told them to walk around the building. As they saw items, they could ask God to bless the person who uses that or bless the people who provided it or work through that item to reach someone's heart. Whenever they prayed over these inanimate objects, they could leave a tab there. As the two hours unfolded, the worship space and the whole building became dotted with neon tabs. We left them up so people could see them on Sunday morning. Every chair had a tab. The speakers, microphones, pulpit, fountain, guitar amps, light switches, doors - virtually everything! - had a tab or three or more. As people entered for worship they asked, "what are the tabs for?" Imagine their surprise to learn that someone had prayed over their chair, that God would bless the person who sat there. As they looked around the room, they realized all the many objects that are instruments of God's grace to us. We were truly surrounded by prayers!

I really enjoyed looking at the parable of the workers in the vineyard and seeing how unfair God is! But instead of people being cheated, people were inexplicably blessed. That's how grace works. It's not fair, and thank God for that!

Next week is Palm Sunday. It's going to be Arts Sunday at Living Water as well. We'll look at what it means to worship Jesus like the people did along the road that first Palm Sunday. Then we'll think about the cost of worshipping like that. The youth will bring a dance. The drama team will bring a skit. The musicians will bring special songs, and there will even be a recited poem. We'll let the arts speak about worship, and we'll listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts.

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March 15, 2010

So how do you convince people that spiritual risk-taking can be the greatest thrill of their lives? We're so used to keeping our faith bottled up, sensible and reasonable. But Peter got to experience what it was like to actually walk on the water with Jesus - only after he stepped out of the boat of "safety." Taking spiritual risks opens up possibilities we can't even imagine. We will see lives changed. We will see the power of God work in ways beyond explanation. But we have to step out of the boat first. I have heard from several people who felt like the sermon really spoke to them yesterday, and they are now ready to take some risky steps with Jesus!

Next week we're going to look at one of Jesus' most confusing parables - the Workers in the Vineyard, Matt. 20:1-16. Jesus seems to be saying that God doesn't treat people fairly. Could that be true? Come find out this Sunday.

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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,

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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!

Who is Pastor Laura?

Get the 411 on Pastor Laura and the rest of Living Water's staff here. Read her answers to frequently asked questions here.