Tag Archives: service

Thoughts for the Day – March 24, 2020

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Beloved,
 
Just touching base with you all as we begin another week of limited gatherings. The reality is that these restrictions of gatherings less than 10 may be longer than just 15 days. While we pray for this pandemic’s effects to flatten out, it continues to grow in the U.S.
 
With that said, we continue to look for ways to “do church.” Thanks to all who participated with us in online worship on Sunday. We are sorry for the initial audio problems, but had most of it worked out by the second song. If you missed the service, a video with those first 8 minutes clipped is available HERE. We found that some needed to “refresh” their browsers in order to deal with screen freezes. We’ll continue to work on improving our online broadcasting.
 

This was a screen shot of our online worship last Sunday in which Joe Powers made announcements, Cindy Taylor, Neal McRae, Aaron Richardson and I provided worship music while Tim Redd, Sandy Seals and Ben Walker handled the audio/visuals. This kept our “in person” gathering under 10, so we could reach over 130 online!

Another observation is that we are relational people. God created us to be in community, and this is testing so many of us who are feeling more isolated. Even the most introverted among us still needs relationships. In some of my reading this week I came across this statement: “One hundred years ago, French sociologist Émile Durkheim used the phrase ‘collective effervescence’ to describe the shared emotional excitement people experience during religious ceremonies.” Although, online gatherings are a poor substitute for in person events, one of the things about Sunday that was so good to see was the interaction happening in the comments.
 

“Jojo is excited she can finally come to church with us!”

Because we are relational, one of the most beneficial exercises we can do for ourselves is to reach out to others. While we don’t need research to validate the Word of God, again and again it has proven what Paul said in Acts 20:35: “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Send a text, make a call, drop a card, invite someone to dinner, deliver some groceries or baked goods, take a meal…do something that will help maintain the relationships you have and build some new ones!

Finally, let’s be creative. After all, we were created in the image of God and His first act was to create. What are ways in which we can utilize social media, create new ministries, etc., in these days of social distancing? Ask God to give us fresh ideas that will carry us through these challenging times and beyond!

Blessings!

Pastor Chuck
 

525,600 Minutes

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The musical Rent had a catchy number called “Seasons of Love.” Using the number of minutes in a year, it asked “how do you measure the life of a woman or a man?” As the title implies, the song ultimately says that a life is measured by the love that is shown in that year. The writer got it right in these lyrics:  You know that love is a gift from up above / Share love, give love, spread love / Measure, measure your life in love.

Of the 525,600 minutes in a year (527,040 minutes of 2012 because it’s a leap year), how will you spend them?

Last Sunday, we talked about the importance of using each moment of 2012 in ways that demonstrate your love for God and others by making some commitments to use every moment to the fullest. In particular, we can use our time wisely if we live as Christ modeled in these five areas:

  • Seek reconciliation in a broken relationship (Ephesians 4:26)
  • Spend more time with God each day (Luke 6:12)
  • Serve someone else (John 13:35)
  • Share your faith story with someone (Matthew 28:19-20)
  • Surrender to God the part of your life that you’ve held back (Matthew 19:21)

Each of these actions are motivated by a love from God…for God and for others. Perhaps this is a good list to keep in front of us this coming year, asking God every day (in that extended time with Him) to help us use every moment of 2012 for His glory and to demonstrate His love in all of our relationships.

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16, HCSB).

I look forward to spending some of our 527,040 minutes together this next year and hope to see you on Sunday!