Last month I did a wedding that had some unusual mishaps. The first was that a flower girl passed out. We got through that and we went on (she is OK by the way). Then when it came time to light the unity candle, it would not light. The wick on the unity candle had burned down into the middle of the candle and was being submerged by melted wax as the couple tried to light it. After watching them struggle for a while, not knowing anything more to try than what they were doing, an idea popped into my head.
I went around to the back side of the candle holder, pulled the unity candle from its place and turned it upside down so the melted wax would drip out onto the base that held the candle. I saw the wick was still very short and we would be right back where we started if I put it back in place. Another idea came, which has to be from God because I usually don't get more than one good idea a day. I held the unity candle upside down and told the couple to place the flames of their individual candles onto the wick area. It worked. Their candles burned enough of the wax away from the wick so that the unity candle would finally light. I put it back in place and it began to burn though still not brightly. It was good enough to proceed. The congregation applauded. I pronounced them husband and wife, had them kiss and we finished. The unity candle barely burned but it did give it's light.
Light can be hard to come by sometimes. Like that unity candle, we struggle to get the light we need for decisions, for discernment or for direction. God wants to give us his "light." He wants to show us his will and his way. But let's be honest, even the most experienced Christians can struggle in finding the light in a time of crisis. Sometimes we need others to help us. Sometimes we need to try things we have never done before. But mainly, what we need to do is know that we can never get to the light of God's guidance apart from getting to God; or better, God getting to us. Even though God does give it, sometimes we have to do our best to find it. A simple but powerful verse tells us, "You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13
God does not try to hide himself or hide his will from us. It's just that sometimes we have such a hard time seeing the light he gives, it takes a full hearted effort for us to see it. This Sunday, we will talk more about the light that Jesus gives to guide our lives. I hope you come - with all your heart.
For the journey...
Tim
Friday, February 24, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Are You Up for the Journey?
How many times have you heard the phrase, "take it to the next level?" As in, "It's time to take our sales to the next level." Or, "It's time to take our team to the next level?" And sometimes, "It's time to take our relationship to the next level." What does that really mean? Are there buttons on businesses or athletic teams or relationships like an elevator where you get to pick what floor you want to go to next? Does Christianity have a "next level?" Does our faith need to be, "taken to the next level?" I am not sure it is always that clear.
I do know that as I read through the Bible in 2011, it struck me how much Jesus' life and teaching and example are at a heightened state in the week leading up to his death and resurrection. He told his disciples in Luke 18:31, "We are going up to Jerusalem and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled." If ever anyone took things to the next level Jesus did that week. Sunday we will begin a series that covers that journey up and the fulfillment of many of the things Jesus accomplished. There will also be a special daily devotional for us to read from now until Easter called, "Up for the Journey." It was written by your fellow Northsiders.
Jesus always leads us upward and forward. There is always another step in the climb, always another place for growth and, I suppose it could be said, always the next level. If we follow, he will take us there. I hope you are up for the journey.
Tim
I do know that as I read through the Bible in 2011, it struck me how much Jesus' life and teaching and example are at a heightened state in the week leading up to his death and resurrection. He told his disciples in Luke 18:31, "We are going up to Jerusalem and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled." If ever anyone took things to the next level Jesus did that week. Sunday we will begin a series that covers that journey up and the fulfillment of many of the things Jesus accomplished. There will also be a special daily devotional for us to read from now until Easter called, "Up for the Journey." It was written by your fellow Northsiders.
Jesus always leads us upward and forward. There is always another step in the climb, always another place for growth and, I suppose it could be said, always the next level. If we follow, he will take us there. I hope you are up for the journey.
Tim
Friday, February 10, 2012
Who First Told You About Jesus?
During the children's AWANA program on a Wednesday night not too long ago, one of our workers had a good but sobering experience. The kids were asked to share with their adult leaders who was it that first told them about Jesus. A little girl was asked that question by her leader and the girl replied, "You did."
Several years before, this particular worker had led an Upward Cheerleader team in the fall. This little girl had been a part of it. During those cheerleader practice devotionals, this little girl had heard about Jesus for the first time from this leader. Now they are both spending time in AWANA and sharing and learning more about Jesus. Until a few weeks ago, the leader had no idea that the little girl had first heard of Jesus in those practices on the Upward Field.
When we share Christ with other people, we never know the impact he may have on them. We also rarely know when someone is hearing for the first time. It is good to have different activities to share and to continue to share the message of the love of Jesus with children. When you get involved and stay involved, this is the kind of experience you get to have. You see the impact of the love of God over time.
This coming Sunday, we will study the kind of love we are supposed to share with one another in the church. Of course it is all about the love of Jesus. Whether it is the first time of the 1,000th time, we never can hear it too much. Nor can we share it too much.
For the journey....
Tim
Several years before, this particular worker had led an Upward Cheerleader team in the fall. This little girl had been a part of it. During those cheerleader practice devotionals, this little girl had heard about Jesus for the first time from this leader. Now they are both spending time in AWANA and sharing and learning more about Jesus. Until a few weeks ago, the leader had no idea that the little girl had first heard of Jesus in those practices on the Upward Field.
When we share Christ with other people, we never know the impact he may have on them. We also rarely know when someone is hearing for the first time. It is good to have different activities to share and to continue to share the message of the love of Jesus with children. When you get involved and stay involved, this is the kind of experience you get to have. You see the impact of the love of God over time.
This coming Sunday, we will study the kind of love we are supposed to share with one another in the church. Of course it is all about the love of Jesus. Whether it is the first time of the 1,000th time, we never can hear it too much. Nor can we share it too much.
For the journey....
Tim
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Joy and Sadness
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15
Last week was a challenging week. Two funerals and one wedding in a week will do that, especially if the one of the funerals and the wedding happen on the same day. One of the funerals involved a family originally from Iran. The wedding involved a couple from mainland China. It is interesting to see the cultures that God has brought into our church. The week was not demanding because of the differing cultures; if anything I found that we all mourn in similar ways and we all rejoice in similar ways.
There was great joy at the wedding. A young couple begin their lives together full of promise and hope. There was sadness at the funerals. Two women who had been very full of life are now gone from us. Laughter is a universal language. Crying is the same in any language.
I saw two clear lessons. First, if we have a church family, it fully enables us to rejoice or to mourn. There would be something missing in either of those experiences if it were not experienced in a community of faith. Second, we are not that different. Whether we mourn in Farsi or rejoice in Mandarin, we have many deep similarities. I got just a glimpse of how God sees us all as his children - how He "so loves the world."
It is good to be a part of a church that has all those differing people of differing backgrounds within it. It is a little bit of what heaven will be like. And we realize in weeping or rejoicing we all need the same Jesus. This Sunday, we will come to His table to remember, to weep and to rejoice.
For the journey...
Tim
Last week was a challenging week. Two funerals and one wedding in a week will do that, especially if the one of the funerals and the wedding happen on the same day. One of the funerals involved a family originally from Iran. The wedding involved a couple from mainland China. It is interesting to see the cultures that God has brought into our church. The week was not demanding because of the differing cultures; if anything I found that we all mourn in similar ways and we all rejoice in similar ways.
There was great joy at the wedding. A young couple begin their lives together full of promise and hope. There was sadness at the funerals. Two women who had been very full of life are now gone from us. Laughter is a universal language. Crying is the same in any language.
I saw two clear lessons. First, if we have a church family, it fully enables us to rejoice or to mourn. There would be something missing in either of those experiences if it were not experienced in a community of faith. Second, we are not that different. Whether we mourn in Farsi or rejoice in Mandarin, we have many deep similarities. I got just a glimpse of how God sees us all as his children - how He "so loves the world."
It is good to be a part of a church that has all those differing people of differing backgrounds within it. It is a little bit of what heaven will be like. And we realize in weeping or rejoicing we all need the same Jesus. This Sunday, we will come to His table to remember, to weep and to rejoice.
For the journey...
Tim
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