The Better Way
Today, I’m honored to present another guest blogger. Terri Stone is the Director of Pastoral Care at my church. I’ve had the privilege of serving with Terri over the past several years, and I’ve met few people who can connect and remember people like Terri. Today, Terri shares her current STRETCHING story with us. Enjoy!
(If you’re interested in guest posting on my blog, please drop me a comment. I’d love to connect with you.)
I’ve spent the last 11 years stretching. I should be good and warmed up; ready for anything. Serving on the ministry staff at my church has given me the opportunity to do more things and meet more people than I ever imagined I would in my lifetime. Being in the mix of a fast growing church has had me “burning the midnight oil” for a very long time. I have to be clear, though, and say that no one demanded I burn the midnight oil; I chose to burn it myself. My personality is one that needs to be busy from sunrise to sunset or I feel like a useless, lazy, non-contributing person. Crazy, I know.
I’ve had a few different jobs in my tenure at the church. I’ve seen staff members come; and I’ve seen them go off to do awesome things. I’ve been part of large outreach events, classes, small groups, Sunday services, baptisms, mission trips, and capital campaigns…and this is the short list. The thought of having enough time in the day to get everything done has been unheard of. This was the case until recently. I’m now in the job where I’m perfectly gifted to serve. I’m no longer involved in every single thing that happens at the church being pulled in a million different directions. Now my days are focused, helping people with their spiritual questions, life struggles and personal needs. I have time to think and pray, plan and strategize about how to build a new ministry from the ground up.
And while I absolutely love how I’m serving, it’s been one of the most challenging things I’ve encountered in ministry. The task list has changed. The “to do” list has become the “who list.” To say the least, this new place in ministry has me stretching in ways that I’m not used to stretching.
I think about the story, in Luke’s Gospel, of the two sisters, Martha and Mary. Martha welcomes Jesus and his crew into her home where she and her sister promptly choose two different approaches to their interaction with Jesus. Martha fusses with taking care of the needs of her guests while Mary ignores all the others and all the preparations so she can hang out with Jesus. Martha complains asking Jesus to tell her sister to help. Jesus’ response is not what she expects, “Martha, Martha,”…“you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
What I’ve come to realize is that I’ve been like that complaining sister! I’ve been busy “doing” ministry; all the while fussing about something or somebody. For someone like me, it’s strange not to have a task list a mile long of what must get done. Having more tasks than I can handle has always equaled value. But Jesus is saying there’s a better way. The better way has me stretching to be contemplative, to be quiet, to be more prayerful and to listen. In doing so, I’ll actually be better prepared to do the people things, “who list” things God has for me to do.
I think there’s a great lesson in the story for all of us. Jesus needs us to be with him first before we can really do what he has for us to do. After reading the story in Luke 10, there are some questions we need to ask ourselves. Am I serving Jesus in the right way for the right reasons? Is my busyness “for Jesus” to impress others with all I have to do? What will it take to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen so we can learn his better way for us?
Examine your service to Jesus and others. Invite him to show you what he truly desires the outcome of your time with him to be.
My Good Versus God’s Good
I have the privilege today of presenting guest blogger, Jeff Whitebread. Jeff (or Pumpernickel as I like to call him) is a good friend and sincere brother. Jeff is just starting his own blog (see the link below), and he has so generously volunteered to share his current STRETCHING story here.
(If you’re interested in guest posting on my blog, please drop me a comment. I’d love to connect with you.)
It certainly is a pleasure to be a guest contributor on my good friend’s blog. In sticking with the theme of being stretched, it is always helpful when I consider God’s purpose in stretching my life. For when I focus on life’s circumstances, I can often feel overwhelmed and find myself being swept away in moments of despair. For in the midst of life’s turmoil, I can feel as if I am being pulled apart from the inside, as if a part of me is dying. I am left with these nagging thoughts. Why does God make life so hard? If life is this hard, am I doing something wrong?
Romans 8:28-29 says,
(28) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (29) For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
As I read this passage, an obvious truth jumps out from V28. God works all things for the good of those who love him, not some things or most things. God is working every single thing in my life out for my good. If I love God, then I can take this truth to the bank. I can believe this truth and live according to this truth. But wait, not everything that happens to me appears to be good, and here my story of being stretched begins.
When I was told, I was losing my job several weeks ago my first reaction was not, “thank you God this is so good.” It was a shock. I had to pick my jaw up off the table. Now, you must understand, I knew my job was going to end. I have been working for an insurance company that has been going out of business since 2001. When I started working for this company, it had 6,000 employees, and now it has only 150. During this 11 year process, I have seen God reawaken my heart and set a desire to serve him in the full-time ministry. I have viewed these last several years as a time of transition, as a time of preparation to leave the IT field and serve God where He calls.
As God began to open and close doors in my life, I developed a plan for how things were going to work out. I began thinking about how I was going to transition from working as an IT geek to being a missionary to our elected officials in Harrisburg. It was a smooth transition, it was neat and clean and in truth it required little risk and even less faith. After all, I will be serving the Lord; He would certainly bless such pure intentions. What I failed to see and what God is teaching me and stretching me to understand is this truth. God has a different purpose in mind. While I am focused on the destination, God’s laser beam focus is on me as an individual.
Let’s take a step back and ask ourselves, how does God define the word “good” in v28? We quickly realize through life’s circumstances that God is not working in our lives the way we might desire Him to work. He is doing something strange to us; He is taking us places we have no interest going. Our hearts cry out as we try to make sense of the situations we face. You see V29 tells us the goal, the good thing God is doing in our lives. What God desires for us, what He is working to accomplish through every situation and circumstance we face is to become like Jesus. This is what He wants; this is what He is doing. When we face the hard times in life we can hold onto this truth – this difficult and challenging situation is in my life because God is doing something good. His purpose for me is to be conformed to the image of His Son. He is working in my life and taking me through the hard time because his desire is that Christ may be formed in my life.
As I face the realities of my life and think of how God is at work, my plan no longer makes sense. I cannot connect the dots. I did not expect to be out of a job for another 2-3 years, I thought I would be one of the last people employed in my company. Obviously, God had a different plan from mine. Now I face the fact of raising my support, of trusting God with opening people’s hearts toward this ministry. As I look for God to validate my call through the financial commitment of others, it is humbling, it is scary, and yet it is where God has placed me in my journey to follow Him. I can say through the eyes of faith it is good. Whether I end up in this ministry or serve God in some other area, no matter what happens to my family and the things we place our security on, God is working to create in me the image of His Son.
The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death (Heb 2:9). The path our Lord went down was one of sacrifice and suffering, if this was required of our Lord, should we expect that to become like Him would require anything less for our lives. The worldly part of our heart cries out, “No! Please give us another way.” Yet the cross stands and proclaims that there is no other way in which we can serve our great and glorious King, Jesus the Christ. Is it easy? Never! Is it worth it? Every single moment, for God is actively working for the “good” of our lives.
Through the encouragement of Jon, I am being stretched in another area, I have decided to start blogging about this journey. If you would like to read my attempt to write about this journey, please check out On The Narrow Road.
All for the glory of God!
Jeff
Where do you see Christ being formed in your life? How have you seen hard times actually used for good?
Locks of Love
The generous heart of my daughter never ceases to amaze me. As you can see by the pictures, Hannah decided several months ago to grow her hair out, so she could donate to Locks of Love. Locks of Love provides wigs for children who are facing hair loss for various reasons. Hair is a big deal for girls, women, and kids. So when Hannah decided to have her hair cut so someone else could enjoy a head of hair, it was quite a sacrifice – at least in my mind.
It makes me think about true sacrifice. I am so often caught up in my own self interest. I don’t put others first. I’m thinking of me – instead of thinking of others. I often fall short when it comes to true sacrifice.
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) Jesus is the ultimate example of true sacrifice. He who was without sin laid down his life on the cross for us that we might be saved.
I’m thankful for Hannah’s example, it reminds me of Christ. It reminds me that I need to be sacrificial if I’m going to be a Christ follower. Thanks, Sweetie!
What does it really mean to make a sacrifice for someone? When was the last time you really sacrificed something for someone?
Stretch Uncut 2011 Video Highlights
Last week, our church hosted Stretch Uncut 2011, a three night event for middle school students. You can read more about it here and here. Our church’s video team led by Dave Wasserman put together this great highlight video. Enjoy!
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/27165053]What do you think?
Lessons Learned From Stretch
Friday night, we finished up three nights of Stretch. I have volunteered at this event for several years, and it amazes me how I learn something or am reminded of something every year. Here are some of the things that I learned/remembered:
1. Junior High or Middle School is an awkward stage of life. At Stretch this year, I saw kids who danced, kids with green glasses, kids with short shorts, kids in wheelchairs, and kids with crazy hats. I saw kids who thought they were cool and kids who weren’t so confident in themselves. I saw all kinds of different kids.
2. Many young teenagers are crying out for attention. They wear tight clothing. They style their hair to get attention. They act tough. They want people to recognize them.
3. Young people today are very wasteful. Maybe this is just the wasteful minority overshadowing the others, but I’m not so sure. I can’t believe how many half full soda cans and half eaten cheeseburgers and candy wrappers and water bottles I found lying around. Is this something learned at home or is this what happens when young kids have freedom (i.e. Lord of the Flies)?
4. Young teenagers need positive influences in their lives. Hearing the disrespect from many of these kids, it was obvious that many lacked this influence. Perhaps, it was just normal teenage rebellion, but I’m not so sure.
5. We have awesome volunteers at our church. They helped pull off an “extreme” event for over 350 middle school students. Wow! I love these people. It was so fun to talk with these volunteers and work with them in serving the middle school students. I was inspiring to see them as they served.
6. Young teenagers feel misunderstood. They need adults in their lives who can come alongside them. They need to know that somebody cares. They need someone who will listen to them.
7. We need to create events (like Stretch) that will attract people who are far from God. These types of activities can serve as springboards to helping them find God and starting them on a growth path.
8. Our churches need to focus on this age group. I am so thankful for April Tatta who leads the middle school ministry at our church. She brings an energy and a passion to this area that is so often overlooked. Kudos to April for leading such a great event!
I can’t wait for Stretch 2012!
How do you remember your middle school/junior high experience?
Rest For The Weary
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Stretch 2011 started last night, and it went great. I’m co-leading the games again this year with a new friend. Let me just say that we have an awesome Games Team this year. Everything went very well last night. And it was obvious as I walked around that the kids were having a great time. I don’t know the numbers, but it seemed like it was the biggest opening night we’ve had since Stretch began several years ago.
After cleaning up and driving home, I didn’t get to bed until 11:30PM. This is late for me. So when my alarm went off this morning at 4:50AM, it’s no surprise that I was exhausted. I managed to get out of bed and out for my morning run despite my fatigue. As I ran, this verse from Matthew 11 came to me.
I don’t know what you’re going through right now. Maybe you volunteered at Stretch last night, and you’re feeling weary. Maybe you just drove half way across the country. Maybe you are fighting illness. Maybe you’ve poured your energy into a project that seems unending. You’re feeling worn-out, tired, exhausted, weary. The verse above is a reminder that we can come to Jesus when we’re weary. He promises to give us rest.
How are you feeling today? When was the last time you faced exhaustion?
Stretch Starts Tomorrow!!!
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/13617196]Middle school (or junior high) can be an awkward time in life. The girls are growing way faster than most of the guys. Kids are trying to figure out how they work and where they fit in. They don’t get the attention of elementary aged children, and they’re not big shot high school teenagers.
Tomorrow night, I’ll be volunteering at a FREE three night camp designed just for middle school students. The camp is called Stretch (Yes, they used my nickname without consulting with me, but I’m okay with it.) I have participated as a volunteer for this event since it started several years ago. And this year is extra special as Leanne and I now have two kids who will be in middle school this fall. If you live in the area and you know someone who is going into sixth through eighth grade, plan on bringing them to three unbelievable nights.
The night is designed for kids this age. Here are some of the things that will happen there:
– Laser Tag
– Video Games
– Basketball
– Dodgeball
– Karaoke
– Amusement Ride – I call it the puke machine
– All kinds of food (pizza, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, soda, cotton candy, etc.)
– Stage Games
– Slip and Slide
– Volleyball
– Inflatable
– Music
– Great Speakers
If any of this sounds like fun, you don’t want to miss Stretch Uncut 2011.
Wednesday, July 27 – Friday, July 29, 2011
6:30PM – 10:00PM (Friday night until 11:00PM)
1560 Yeager Road
Royersford, PA
Hope to see you there!
How does your church connect with middle school students? What cool activities do you think would be great to add to an event like this?
Middle School Missions Trip Recap
Today, I am so proud that I can introduce my daughter as my guest blogger. In her post below, Hannah shares her take on a missions trip she took two weeks ago with my son and a group of middle school students from our church. I think you’ll see that this trip had an impact on Hannah, and you’ll see that God can use anyone – even a group of crazy middle schoolers!
(If you’re interested in guest posting on my blog, please drop me a comment. I’d love to connect with you.)
Two weeks ago, I went on a missions trip to Johnstown, PA with my church’s youth group. We had a great time and were able to help and shine God’s love to so many people. As well as serving people, I also learned a lot about how I should live according to God’s Word. One of the biggest things I learned can be found in Luke 22:42:
“Father, if you are willing take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done“
A lot of the times, I want to do what I want to do. I’ll want to do this. I won’t want to do that. But as a follower of God, He calls me to do His will – to step out of my comfort zone and not necessarily do what I want to do. He has amazing plans for me, but they can only happen if I follow His will. Two weeks ago, whatever we did we asked God for guidance so that we could do His will. Whether it was asking Him what He wanted us to do that day or listening to Him to see if He wanted us to talk to someone, His will was done and it was amazing to see His plans for our group unfold.
Here’s a recap of our week:
On Monday, we went to a church down the street from where we were staying. This church has been closed for two years due to the economy. With the amount of churches closing in their area, they have decided to reopen. As it has been closed for two years, there was a lot of work to do. We mopped, swept, weeded, trimmed bushes, painted, scrubbed, and scraped paint and rust off poles. It was amazing to see how much work our middle school group was able to accomplish in such a short time. It also was great to see how grateful everyone was for the work we accomplished!Tuesday was by far my favorite day. On Tuesday, we went to an old hospital in the town of Culver. The owner of the hospital (Jeremy) is turning it into a community center for Culver. It will have apartments, a kitchen, his house, and other things for youth – such as a gaming room. On Tuesday, my middle school group and the high school group that was staying with us helped to clean out the hospital and tear down the walls and ceiling. It was God’s miracle that no one got hurt despite the large amounts of plaster that continually fell. After we finished our work, a friend and I explored the hospital. There was lots of papers, x-rays, and old equipment. Later that evening, we played volleyball, roasted marshmallows, sang songs around a fire, and watched fireworks.My day on Wednesday was split into two parts. In the morning, I baked cookies and made cards. Another group would hand out the cookies, cards, and Bibles to people the next day. Their decision to do this definitely involved following God’s will by stepping out of their comfort zones to talk with the people who received the Bibles.
In the afternoon, we went to Goodwill. We swept up trash and threw trash it into a big dumpster. Then a few people who worked there told us about what Goodwill does. We also got to meet a man who was employed by Goodwill a couple of years ago. He was very thankful for his job and groups like ours who help out at Goodwill.
On Thursday, we went to a soup kitchen and a nursing home. At the soup kitchen, we moved wood and sorted food and utensils. At the end, we were able to eat lunch with a few recipients of the soup kitchen food.
At the nursing home, we did several things. First, we escorted the residents to their rooms after a ballroom dancing show. A few of the people on our team were able to talk and pray with residents. After that, we cut and colored Forth of July coloring pages with residents. Later, the nursing home staff were going to put the decorations on the residents’ doors.
On Friday, we traveled home, but first, we made some detours. After a small lunch of pop tarts at the church we were staying at, we went to McDonald’s for a bigger breakfast. We then followed the GPS until we arrived at the incline plane in Johnstown. We took a round trip on the incline plane and then headed to Chuck E. Cheese’s for some last-minute fun. After Chuck E. Cheese’s, we sat on the pavement and went around in a circle complementing and encouraging each other. After that, we went to the food court to grab some food before heading home.
All in all, it was a great trip. I’m so glad I went, and I look forward to future opportunities to serve!
Have you ever been on a missions trip? What was something you learned on this trip?
Faith Stretch
Here is a guest post by Beck Gambill. Beck is an author, mentor, wife, mother, and Christ-follower. I have enjoyed following Beck on her blog for the past month, and she graciously agreed to share her thoughts and talents with us today. Her writing is inspired and beautiful, and I love what she shares below and how she says it. Please chime in on her questions, and don’t forget to get connected with Beck. Besides her blog, you can follow her on Twitter.
(If you’re interested in guest posting on my blog, please drop me a comment. I’d love to connect with you.)
Lately the very fibers and sinews of my heart are being pulled tight in a deep faith stretch. Three months ago my husband, Chris, and I took a risky step of faith. After serving as worship pastor for four years in a Wyoming church, due to some difficult circumstances and God’s leading, we left our place of ministry trusting God had a plan. My human assumption was that the plan would be revealed quickly and before long we would be serving in a new place of ministry. I was wrong.
We are thankful for dear friends who have graciously opened their home providing a place for us to stay while we wait. Yet I’ve learned it’s not good for a man to live without fulfilling work or a woman to be without a home. God knows this.
There are moments in the waiting that fear and hurt swell, choking off my breath. There are also moments of deep joy. The difference, I find, lies in the abiding. A tenacious sitting at Jesus feet decides if I will sink in despair or soar on wings of faith. Time in the word of God fills my heart with life-sustaining truth that counteracts the lies I would otherwise believe. Lies that say; God doesn’t see you, he has abandoned you, you’re not good enough, you have failed, you will never know fulfillment.
Daily I come, I press on, my spiritual muscles stretched and strengthened. As I come Jesus is always faithful to meet me. He recently revived my heart with the words of Psalm 18. Are you weary from the journey of life, stretched by your limitations or circumstances? Let me share some of those verses with you.
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry to him reached his ears…
He opened the heavens and came down;
dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind.
He shrouded himself in darkness,
veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.
Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him
and rained down hail and burning coals.
The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded
amid the hail and burning coals…
He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
he drew me out of deep waters…
He led me to a place of safety;
he rescued me because he delights in me.
Can you see the God of heaven leap to his feet at the sound of your voice crying out in need. Imagine him take flight on the wings of an angel, thundering his approach, reaching down his mighty hand to rescue you! Like a mother stalking across the playground, determined eyes focused, set to rescue her child from the bully, so is our God with his own children. In a purely physical sense we may not see God on the move but we can be sure when we call out in need he hears and acts.
In the midst of messy circumstances God is stretching my heart to trust him. He challenges me to show up daily to sit at his feet to be fed. As I obey, my heart is comforted that God sees me, he rescues me and it’s his delight to do so.
Are you being stretched through difficult circumstances? How has God reminded you of his care?
God in the Spaces
Today, I have the honor of presenting my dad, Norman Stolpe, as my guest blogger. I have so many things that I could write about in describing my dad. He has probably been one of my biggest writing influences. Dad helped me through my senior year of Honors English in high school. Writing has always surrounded Dad as he has written books, stories, curriculum, poems, and countless sermons. He is a true inspiration to me. Today, he shares about finding God in the Spaces. I think you’ll enjoy what he has to share. To read more from my dad, you can follow him on his blogs: Christlink and Writing Workshop.
(If you’re interested in guest posting on my blog, please drop me a comment. I’d love to connect with you.)
Monastery of St. Scholastica - "Ora et Labora"
My son Jon asked if I would write something for his Stretched blog about how I am being stretched by my current transition. After 35 years of ordained ministry and long-term relationships with three churches (one exception was 2 years), I “retired” from Central Christian Church in Dallas, Texas where I had been the pastor for almost 11 years. I am viewing this as a transition to a new phase of ministry as an interim pastor. I am in conversation with a couple of congregations, and the prospect of serving one of them by September is encouraging, but nothing is definite yet.
I believe I am being stretched as I watch for the presence of God in this in between space. Though I have intentionally described this as a transition, I am learning to accept that other people label it “retirement.” I am anticipating several years of active, full-time ministry, but I am adjusting to recognizing how major this transition is.
My wife, Candy, and I consciously started down this path couple of years ago and worked with Central Christian Church for a transparent, smooth, healthy transition for their pastoral leadership. My last Sunday to preach was May 29, and my successors (Revs. Drs. Steve and Debbie Chisolm) will preach for the first time July 10. God’s hand in that process was gentle but clear to us and the congregation.
I have been amazed at how many seemingly minor details have fallen into place for exactly the right timing as our transition has unfolded so far. I have felt that this has stretched my faith to expect the details will continue to fall into place at just the right time as it becomes clear which congregation we will be serving next. We know we will have an income gap of at least a month, hoping to fill it with supply preaching and temp work. So far we seem to have navigated the uncertainties and ambiguities with minimal anxiety.
However, reflecting on that is stretching me in another direction. I have to ask myself, “Why should I expect my path to be smooth with everything provided at just the right time? Other people who are at least as faithful to Jesus have to endure hardship and deprivation on their paths. I certainly don’t deserve to be exempt.”
In this in between space, I feel the tension between trusting God, perhaps presumptuously, and the pull of frantic activity to bring in income and perhaps force a premature decision about where we will serve. I believe I have to take responsible steps as acts of faith that God is the one actually orchestrating events. I am reminded of the inscription above the door of the Monastery of St. Scholastica (St. Benedict’s sister) in Subiaco, Italy (and other Benedictine monasteries). “Ora et Labora” pray and work. The priority is to pray first. Then work finds its place in harmony with God’s activity.
My patience is being stretched, not in the sense of anxious impatience, but recognizing that church processes move slowly. God is patient too, not just with our individual foibles, but also with the unhurried unfolding of history. With this stretching patience, I am learning to watch for God to slip the smallest details into place at just the right time. As I recognize God’s hand in the details, I am also learning that God’s story doesn’t revolve around me and having my journey unfold smoothly, but that I am privileged to play some part in God’s greater plan. If I will be patient, I will discern just how the details fit at just the right time.
How have you seen God in the spaces of your life?