Rise Again with a New Song.

Greetings!  It’s good to be with you on this Friday.

As you know we’ve begun a new series, “Rise Again”.  It’s not only our new series title, it’s also our stewardship emphasis.  Both the series and the emphasis call us to embrace the uplifting grace of Jesus Christ.  We are encouraged to let the resurrection of our Lord inspire and empower us as we rise into the ministries ahead in the next month and the coming year.

The series will be built around our four “pillars” of ministry at Spring Valley: “Creating Compelling Worship”, “Raising Up the Next Generation in Faith”, “Building Bridges of Harmony and Care with our Community and World”, and “Growing Deeper in Discipleship”.  Each week of October we’ll be centering on one of these focus areas and exploring how it contributes to helping our church rise again in our ministry with Jesus Christ.

This week we’ll begin with worship.  Our title is “Rise Again with a New Song”.  Our Scripture is Psalm 96.

As you know Thursday is a highlight of our creative process.   It’s when we gather our notes, revisit our reflections, lift up a prayer for God’s guidance and seek to discern a message for Sunday. 

Here are my talking points:

We’ve all used the expression, “same song, second verse”.  Usually we say that when we are tired of hearing what someone is saying. They need to “change their tune”.   

We may also say it about ourselves when we know that we need something different in our lives, when we need to “sing a new song”.  The Psalmist opens our eyes on  how worship brings that blessing to us.

Psalm 96 begins with a summons -  “sing to the Lord a new song”.  Shout aloud to the God of our salvation.  God is great and greatly to be praised.  Our worship is grounded in this “greatness of God”.

The psalmist says our God stands over  and above all other gods.  Everything else we can’t live without, love more than anything else, or center our lives around, God puts all of these in their proper perspective.

God is Spirit and God is Truth.  And so the sanctuary we enter for worship is not one of brick and mortar but of spiritual splendor, beauty and majesty. And the offering of worship we bring is one of praise, honor and glory.  This is our work of worship – to glorify God-  by our participation in song, prayer and active listening.  This is what we bring and give to God each week.

Even as we do our “work of worship” we are in God’s workshop.  God uses worship to soften hearts, heal hurts, forgive sins, open minds, change perspectives, strengthen wills, and embolden courage. 

Through worship God opens us to God’s Kingdom view of the world.  It is a vision where God sets all things right.  It is a world where all people stand equally in and under the justice, righteousness and truth of God.  God works through worship to equip and empower our witness with this vision.  God uses worship to give us a “new song”.

And then God calls us to rise from worship and go to the world and sing our new song.  The world so needs to hear it!  Worship on Sunday strengthens us for witness on Monday through Saturday.  

Yes, through worship we are invited to “sing a new song” because God has done marvelous things!

This is my outline.  Of course it will be expanded for Sunday.

What are your thoughts? What sermon is the Lord giving you?

I’m glad that we’ve had this week together to focus on Psalm 96.  I look forward to being with you on Sunday as we unite in worship and “sing a new song” together,  all to the glory of God.

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank You for the blessing of this week.  You are a great God and greatly to be praised.  Thank You for giving us the gift of worship.  Thank You for the ways worship fills our hearts with a “new song”.  Thank You for how we can live out worship in witness.   Lord, let our praise always rise to you whether on Sunday or throughout the week, all to Your glory through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Rise Again!

Good morning!  I’m glad to be with you on this Tuesday in the Pastor’s Workshop.  And I’m sorry I missed being with you yesterday.  It was a busy, busy day.

This week we’re beginning a new series, “Rise Again!”  It builds on our last series, “Ready to Reopen?”  In that series we talked about “Recovering our Confidence”, “Reassuring our Doubts” and “Rallying to our Call”.  As we recover, are reassured and rally, rising again is a next step.  Rising again relies on the resurrection of the Christ and builds that uplifting grace into our lives. 

As we “Rise Again” we’ll structure this series around the four focal points at the heart of our ministry at Spring Valley.  These four key areas are “Creating Compelling Worship”, “Raising Up the Next Generation in Faith”, “Building Bridges of Harmony and Care with our Community and World”, and “Growing Deeper in Discipleship”.

We start our series with a message on “compelling worship”.  It’s entitled “Rising Again with a New Song”.  The Scripture for this message is Psalm 96, “O sing to the Lord a new song!”

On Tuesdays we look at the structure of the text.  We experience the “flow” of the passage.  We seek to discern how the main idea develops through the verses.

So how does Psalm 96 invite us to “sing a new song”?  Here’s my interpretation.

·       Sing to the Lord a new song, join together with everyone on earth. Sing and bless God’s name! (vs. 1-2a)

·       Shout for the Lord, celebrate God’s salvation and praise God in front of everyone! (vs. 2b-3)

·        Because God is great, above all gods.  All the rest are “knock offs” made by human hands, but our God is our Creator not of our creation. (vs.4-5)

·       God’s sanctuary is honor and majesty, strength and beauty.  That’s where God “resides”. (vs.6)

·       So when we come to church, (when we “come into his courts”) we bring our offering of worship.  We focus on God and bring our heartfelt praise to the Lord in song, prayer and by embracing God’s Word as our way. By honoring and revering God in worship we open ourselves to the uplifting blessing of God grace. (vs. 7-9)

·       Worship is the way I say, ‘The Lord is in charge of my life’. (vs.10a)

·       God’s in charge of my life, because God is in charge of all.  God sets the foundation for life.  God makes the rules of life. (vs. 10b)

·       In God’s rule of right all people are embraced with “equity”.  There is no partiality.  The God who created all in God’s image (the “imago dei” in us all), is at work upholding the inherent dignity of our “God created”, common humanity. (vs. 10b)

·       So all the universe is singing, the heavens and the earth, the seas and the fields…singing beautiful praise of God’s glory. (vs. 11-12)

·       And worship in this Spirit and Truth, awakens us to the hope that the Lord is coming!  Worship opens our eyes to a “Preferred Future”, a future where God makes all things right and a future where all people live in the light of God’s truth.  (vs. 13)

·       As we come to church with this intent, to actively worship with this spirit of glorifying God, and with this hope, that in God’s world God’s right is supreme and human dignity is upheld, then we will find ourselves “singing a new song”.

·       Our “new song” will make each day a “new day” in God’s love in Jesus Christ.

That’s how I paraphrase this Scripture.  That’s how I trace the call to “sing to the Lord a new song” through our text.  That’s the truth I’ll seek to encompass as I write, “Rise Again with a New Song”.

I’d invite you to paraphrase this beautiful Psalm for yourself.  See how the Spirit would speak in a special way to you through this Scripture.

As I conclude today I want to take a moment of personal privilege.

I ‘m so grateful to all of you who have been with me in the Pastor’s Workshop day in and day out throughout the entire Covid season.  It has been a journey for sure.  I’m so thankful we have been partners throughout this season.

Sometimes people wonder how the pastor writes a sermon.  Now you know – at least how I “make the sausage”.  And I’m thankful that along the way I could encourage you to do some of your “own cooking”.

I’m hopeful as we did this that the blog helped you to prepare for worship.  If you’re like me getting a preview of what’s to come helps me to better focus.  My prayer is that the blog helped make your time of worship more meaningful.

As we emerge from the Covid season and get “Ready to Reopen” I’m finding myself caught up again in all the fullness of ministry.  As I said in my opening, it has been busy, busy, busy.

Because of this development I’m going to be “dialing back” my blogging.  I will be posting probably two days a week – I’m hoping Tuesday and Thursday.  I’m also hoping that this new schedule will accomplish the same purposes of staying connected, studying the Scripture, and preparing for worship that we sought for in our five day a week schedule.  

Again, I’m thankful to you and to God for all the good time we’ve spent together.  I look forward to developing many more good messages with you In the years to come.

With that I’ll sign off and see you on Thursday in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank You for the blessing of worship.  Thank You for the ways it “tunes my heart to sing your grace”.  Thank You for how You Spirit teaches me a “new song”.  Thank You also for time together in the Pastor’s Workshop.  It has been a blessing. In these gifts of Your grace, we lift up our praise in Jesus’ name.  Amen

Halloween Music Fest & Trunk or Treat

A fun, free, safe event for the whole family!  The program this year will include (slightly) scary music for the holiday played outside on the church parking lot on a keyboard with symphonic sounds.  John Tarver, organist for Spring Valley UMC will be performing. 

 Following the short musical program, bags of treats for all the kids will be distributed in a drive-by parade, with candy also given to walk-up attendees.

 Decorate your cars, wear your costumes!  Let’s all have a fun evening at -

 Spring Valley United Methodist Church, 7700 Spring Valley Road, Dallas, between Hillcrest and Coit

 October 31, 2020; concert at 6:00 – parade of cars and candy distribution follows

 Everyone is welcome...all ages!

Prepare with Prayer

Grace and peace on this Saturday!  I’m glad to finish the week with you in the Pastor’s Workshop.

We’re not only finishing the week, we’re also finishing the series, “Ready to Reopen?”  We’re asking the question facing so many.  We’re seeking to be guided by our faith as we discern an answer. 

Our series has been based on the Book of Judges, Chapters 6 and 7.  We’ve followed the story of Gideon and the “reopening” of ancient Israel as we consider our own reopening.

In week one we were invited to “Recover our Confidence”.  In week two we were “Reassured in our Doubts”.  This week we rise to a “Rally Cry” that leads us forward as we seek to answer the question, “Are we ready to reopen?” faithfully, wisely and well.

The rally cry that comes to us from our text is “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon” (verse 20).  The New King James version translates this cry, “A sword of the Lord and of Gideon”.

I like both translations.  “A Sword for the Lord…” clarifies and crystalizes whose purpose we are seeking to advance.  We are “A Church for the Lord…”  At the same time we are “A Church of the Lord…”.  We know “the battle belongs to the Lord”.  It’s only in Christ’s love that we can be “more than conquerors” as we seek to move forward together in answering the question, “Are we ready to reopen?”

On Saturday we get ready for worship.  We prepare with prayer.  What would be your prayers for our worship tomorrow?  Particularly as you think about the rally cry, “A Church for the Lord and for Christ’s Kingdom Love” what would be your prayers?

Here are a few of mine:

·       I pray as a church we will find our confidence in the Covenant we share with God in Christ and in the Commission Jesus Christ gives us as we seek to move forward in faith, answering the question, “Are we ready to reopen?”

·       I pray as we think about our rally cry, “A Church for the Lord and for Christ’ Kingdom love “this cry would unify, fortify and mobilize us as we seek to move forward.

·       I pray as we think about our rally cry as “A Church of the Lord and of Christ’s Kingdom love” we know “the battle belongs to the Lord”.

·       I pray as we answer the question, “Ready to Reopen?” we would do so wisely and well, unified, fortified and mobilized in the “Rally Cry” of God’s grace.

These are a few of my prayers.  What are your prayers for yourself and our church as we move forward in these days?

I encourage you to enjoy and be blessed by your time of prayer. I know as you open your heart and mind in faith to the Lord, God will answer and strengthen in grace.

In that faith, I join you in prayer today and look forward to being with you tomorrow in the Master’s Workshop of worship.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the blessing of this last week.  Thank You for the way You rally us to Your Kingdom plans and purposes by Your Spirit.  Keep us ever mindful and always faithful to the future You have for us.  Lead us forward in Your Lordship to and for Your glory.  In Jesus’ holy name we pray.  Amen

A Battle Cry.

Good day!  It’s a joy to be with you on this Thursday in the Pastor’s Workshop.

On Thursday we “put it all together”.  We gather our thoughts and reflections, notes and writings and put it all to prayer.  We ask for God’s creative Spirit to guide us into a message that blesses our hearers and grows us in Christ’s grace.

To that end, what would your message be for this week?  What sermon would you bring on Sunday?

Here are my talking points:

Throughout American history there have been a number of great Battle Cries. From the militias of the American Revolution, “Liberty or Death”.  From the Texans in the War of Independence from Mexico, “Remember the Alamo”.  Most recently from 9-11 (as popularized by “Flight 93”), “Let’s Roll”.

Battle cries rally the troops.  They unify the forces.  They inspire bravery.  They mobilize for action.

And Gideon needed all of this as he went into battle in the Scripture.  As we have seen previously, the Midianite army, the enemy, was a dominating power.  They were “as many as locusts”.  They subjugated Israel for seven years.  They quashed any uprisings.

The Israelites were crushed in every way.  They were hiding in the hills for protection. They were not able to rise up  without violent repercussions.

They cried to the Lord and God sent a prophet to remind them of the Covenant they shared.  Then  God sent an angel to commission Gideon to be a “Mighty Warrior” and lead the people to freedom.

Gideon In no way considered himself a “Mighty Warrior”.  He described himself as the weakest of the meekest.   He had all kinds of hesitations, reservations, doubts and fears.   He tested God with a sacrifice and tried God with fleeces.  He did everything he could to dissuade God from using him.  As a leader  he was suspect at best.

And even once he assumed command, the odds continued to stack up against Gideon.  God “sifted” his army from 22,000 to 300.  Those enlisted lapped water from a stream like a dog – face down and not alert to anything incoming. Then these soldiers were equipped with torches and trumpets, not swords and spears. 

The whole point is everything is going against Gideon and his army.  If you were to bet on the battle, wager on the Midianites.  The Israelites were outmanned, under trained, and ill equipped.  It had all the makings of a massacre.

What they needed was a good battle cry, a resounding rally cry. God and Gideon gave them one, “For the Lord and for Gideon” (verse 18). 

As the battle occurred you watched a miracle unfold.  The Israelites relied on surprise, shock and awe.  The Midianites were thrown into chaos, panic and a wild striking out at anyone (which happened to be other Midianite soldiers).  The Israelites prevailed.

As you witness the scene you realize the victory ultimately wasn’t a matter of strategy or bravery.  The battle was about who they were fighting for, “For the Lord and for Gideon”. 

But even more, it was about who was fighting for them!  The battle belonged to the Lord.  As the prophet Zechariah said, “Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit says the Lord!”

Over the last six months, we’ve known what it’s like to be in a “battle” with the pandemic.  We’ve known what it’s been like to be “underdogs” in that struggle.  It seemed the virus always had the upper hand. 

And we’re not quite sure what’s ahead.  As think about what it means to “Reopen” we still have lots of questions, doubts and fears.

We know we need to “Recover our Confidence”.  We’re clear we need to “Reassure our Doubts”.  We look to be bolstered in our bravery.  We need a “battle cry”, a “rally cry” that unifies, energizes and mobilizes. 

But more than that we need a “Rally Cry” to remind us, the battle is ultimately not ours.  The battle belongs to the Lord.  When you say or pray, “For the Lord and for _______ (insert your name here)” you make a connection that strengthens your spirit and fills you with hope.

This is the direction of my message for Sunday.  As always it will be expanded and enhanced with details and deeper discussion.  

What are your thoughts? What have you discerned as a light God has offered you through this text?  As  always, “Make sure you write down your message”.  It’s a gift of God specifically to you.

I’ll let you get to work.  Blessings as you write.

And I look forward to seeing you again Saturday as we prepare with prayer in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank You that in all our struggles You are our strength.  Thank You for the ways we remind ourselves of that truth and immerse ourselves in that grace. Let us know that whatever “fight we face” the battle ultimately belongs to You.  Let us find our strength and hope in You so we can continue to rise up and move forward into Your future.  This we pray in the name of the One “through whom we are more than conquerors”, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

A Mighty Warrior

Welcome to Wednesday!  It’s a blessing to be with you in the Pastor’s Workshop today.

This week we’re concluding our series, “Ready to Reopen?” with a message entitled “Rally Cry”.  It’s based on the story of Gideon in Judges 7:15-23.

On Wednesday in the workshop we explore the historical context of the text.  Knowing the original settings of a Scripture can provide greater insights into a passage.  We also look at contrasts present in a text.  Sometimes these internal “dynamic tensions” deepen our understanding of an author‘s intentions.

Since this is our third week in the story of Gideon we’ve already investigated the historical context of this passage (See the blogs from September 9 and 16).  Today we’ll look at contrasts present in the character of Gideon found in this Scripture.  The transition in his attitude and confidence witnesses to God’s working in his life.

In chapter 6 Gideon was cowardly.

·       He was threshing wheat in the winepress.

·       God called him to free Israel and he responded that he was the least member in the weakest clan of Israel.

·       He tested the angel of the Lord with a sacrificial offering.

·       He “tried” God by setting out “fleeces” twice.

·       He snuck down to spy on the Midianite camp and overheard conversation between sentries.  They spoke of a dream foretelling Israel’s victory.

There is a profound change in Gideon beginning in Chapter 7, verse 15.  “When Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshipped…”  That experience of worship was a turning point for him.

After that worship notice his leadership.  The Scripture says:

·       “ he returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Get up; for the Lord has given the army of Midian into your hand.”

·        he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and put trumpets into the hands of all of them, and empty jars, with torches inside the jars, 

·        he said to them, “Look at me, and do the same; when I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. 18 When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets around the whole camp,

·       and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’”

·      19 So Gideon and the hundred who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch;

·      and they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. 20 So the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, holding in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow;

·      and they cried, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 

·      21 Every man stood in his place all around the camp, and all the men in camp ran; they cried out and fled. 

·      23 And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after the Midianites.

The “before” and “after” change in Gideon is profound.  All the verbs are “take charge” and “move ahead”.  He has become the “Mighty Warrior” God first called him to be.

As readers we note this change.  And then we focus on the pivot point.  Again, for Gideon this occurred when he worshipped God.  I pray worship would allow that same transformational opportunity for us.  I pray we can come in vulnerable and rise up strong.

In that blessing of faith, I’ll let you continue to consider this text and its message for you.

And I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow In the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Gracious God, we thank You that You are with us in every moment of our lives.  Not only are You with us, but You are with us to make a difference.  You are with us so that we can grow in Your grace and become strong in Your Spirit.  Guide us through this Scripture and bless us through our worship each Sunday.  Let us become “mighty warriors of witness” for You.  This we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen  

The Battle Belongs to the Lord.

Morning!  It’s good to be together on this Tuesday in the Pastor’s Workshop.

This week we’re finishing up our series, “Ready to Reopen?”  As we answer that question our first message focused on “Recovering our Confidence”.  Our second sermon invited us to “Reassure our Doubts”.  Our third sermon is entitled “Rally Cry”.

The text for this message comes from the Book of Judges, Chapter 7:15-23. This Scripture centers on Gideon’s battle.

On Tuesdays in the Workshop  we “dive deeper” into our passage.  We look for a “thread of logic” that unites the elements of our text.  We search for an underlying emphasis being expressed.

As we examine these particular verses we need to see them in light of the whole story of Gideon.  Knowing Chapter 6 and the first part of Chapter 7 makes this text “come alive”.

Here’s the background.  Chapter 6 opens with the overwhelming oppression of the Midianites (6:1-6). Israel cries to the Lord and God reminds them of their Covenant (6:7-10), and calls and commissions Gideon (6:11-12).  Gideon has hesitations and reservations (6:13-40). In Chapter 7 God “sifts” Gideon’s army from 22,000 to 300. The enormity of the Midianite army is described (“thick as locusts”). God reveals to Gideon a dream for victory. Gideon arms his troops with “trumpets and torches”.

As you read this context it’s clear that Gideon’s army was outmanned, under trained, and ill equipped.  Their captain (Gideon) came from a place of being unsure, unconvinced and unconfident. On paper the odds were not good. It looked for sure like a massacre in the making.

And then we read Gideon’s rally cry, the battle cry.  Verse 18 lifts it up, “For the Lord and for Gideon”.  Verse 20 echoes the cry, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon”.

A battle cry rallies the troops.  It unifies your forces. It inspires bravery.  It mobilizes to action.  “For the Lord and for Gideon”.  This is who they were fighting for … their Commander and their captain.

After the battle cry is given the battle unfolds.  The battle plan relies on a huge element of surprise. Gideon’s 300 sneak up in the middle of the night, at the changing of the guard.  They light their torches so the flames will flare and they blow their trumpets with all their might.

The battle plan works! Surprise, shock and awe are successful.  The Midianite army is totally confused and panicked.  In their pandemonium they turn their swords on each other.  And then they run for the hills, literally. 

As you watch the battle progress you realize the rally cry was not really about whom Gideon’s army was fighting for. It was about who was fighting for them.  The rally cry was a cry of faith.  The battle belonged to the Lord.

The “Battle belongs to the Lord” is a common rally cry throughout the Scripture.   Zechariah puts it this way, “Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit says the Lord”.  What Gideon’s rally cry (“For the Lord and for Gideon”) does is unify the troops, instill bravery, mobilize to action and also draw on the strength of God’s Spirit in the midst of the conflict. 

This is a great lesson for all of us in the battles and conflicts of our lives.  In faith, as we lean upon the Lord, we can know that the battle ultimately does “belong to the Lord” and it is “not by might nor by power but by God’s Spirit” that victory is won.

I invite you to consider that thought as you go forward in this day.  I pray it will provide you the confidence it did for Gideon and his forces.

In that blessing I’ll look forward to joining you again tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Gracious God, in the struggles of our lives, when we feel overmatched and under equipped for what is ahead, let us remember Gideon’s rally cry, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon’ and the faith it voices.  Let us claim that cry as our own so we know the strength it brings through your Spirit.  This we pray In Jesus’ name.  Amen 

Rally Cry.

Greetings on this Monday!  It’s good to start the week and the fall together in the Pastor’s Workshop.

This week we’re  concluding our series, “Ready to Reopen?”  We’ve been considering a question on the hearts and minds of many across our county, in our community and at our church.  What do we need to do to ready ourselves to reopen wisely and well?  As we saw there are no definitive answers, but differing answers depending on who you talk with.  At the same time there are some “common denominators” underlying  all considerations.  We have sought to bring these forward in this series.

This set of messages has been based on the story of Gideon, from the Book of Judges, chapters 6 and 7.   This Biblical account narrates the “reopening of Israel” from the oppression of the Midianites.

Our first two messages were, “Recover Your Confidence” and “Reassure Your Doubts”.  “Recover Your Confidence” focused on the importance of having confidence as we begin to face into the question, “Are we ready to reopen?”  The sermon noted how fear can cloud thinking as we consider this important step.   We saw how faith calls us to remember the covenant we share with God and the commission God gives us to serve, as we work through our thought process. 

In our second message, “Reassure Your Doubts”, we owned that when we consider taking major steps as individuals or as a church in following God we often have hesitations and reservations.  These are common, normal and OK.  God accepts us in our fears and reassures us in our doubts so we can move forward in faith into the future God has for us. 

This week we’ll be looking at a highpoint in the story of Gideon.  After recovering his confidence and reassuring his doubts, Gideon gave his troops a rally cry, “For the Lord and for Gideon!”  When they made their surprise attack they cried, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”

Our text this week will be Judges 7:15-23.  This is the account of the battle with the Midianities.  As you read it you see the “hand of God”  at work in a mighty way.  As it says in Zechariah, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord.”  That is the truth on display.   Here is our text:

15 When Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped; and he returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Get up; for the Lord has given the army of Midian into your hand.” 16 After he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and put trumpets into the hands of all of them, and empty jars, with torches inside the jars, 17 he said to them, “Look at me, and do the same; when I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. 18 When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets around the whole camp, and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’”

19 So Gideon and the hundred who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch; and they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. 20 So the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, holding in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow; and they cried, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21 Every man stood in his place all around the camp, and all the men in camp ran; they cried out and fled. 22 When they blew the three hundred trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow and against all the army; and the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah,[a] as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. 23 And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after the Midianites.

As God works triumphantly in this account what roll does the “rally cry” play in the victory?  What roll might a “rally cry” serve in our current circumstances?  What might it be?

On Monday we immerse ourselves in the Scripture.  As we read and re-read, write and re-write from multiple translations and paraphrases. We seek to hear how the Spirit would speak to us through this word of the Scripture as a Word of God today.

There’s  lots to do, so I’ll let you get to it!  May God bless you in your study.

I’ll see you tomorrow In the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank You for the beginning of a new week and a new message.  We pray Your Spirit guide us as we read, listen and discern.  Help us to hear Your holy Word so that we might follow in Your life giving ways.  These we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Prepare with Prayer

Grace and peace on this good Saturday.  I'm glad and grateful we can finish the week together in the Pastor's Workshop.

This week we've developed a message entitled, "Ready to Reopen? Reassure Your Doubts."  Scripturally it draws from the story of Gideon in Judges 6:14-21, 36-40.  Existentially it explores the question and struggle our society and each of us personally is facing "Are we ready/ am I ready to Reopen?"

The message affirms that how we approach this core question is very different for each of us.  Some are ready to "dive right in" and "reopen right now."  Others are not so sure.  There are hesitations, reservations, doubts and fears.

Knowing that God's man, Gideon, experienced all this and more, helps us realize this struggle is common, normal, human and OK.  But more than that, as we look to the Scripture we see how God was with Gideon, "walking with him" through his struggle.  God was patient, persistent and persevering in guiding Gideon along and growing Gideon up.  Through answered prayer, encouraging conversation, successful trials, confirming signs and emerging vision God ministered to Gideon. Gideon was able to go from being fearful to embracing the commission and the future God had for him.  God will minister that same "Blessed Reassurance" with us as we move forward in our own "journeys of faith."

Knowing that this is our message, what would be our prayers?  How would you and I pray that gift of "blessed reassurance" for every one who hears this message?  Moreover, what would we pray for our congregation, community and country as we move through these days of answering this question?

Here are a few of my prayers:

• I pray we would embrace our hesitations, reservations, doubts and fears as normal and natural.  We would not be afraid of our fears.
   

• I pray we would trust these to God, knowing we live in covenant relationship with God who is Lord of all.
  

• I pray that we would know God will lead us and grow us through this time.  As we pray there will be answers.  As we have conversations with friends there will be encouragement.  As we conduct our own "trials" there will be successes.  As we look for signs there will be confirmations.
  

• I pray that as we have our doubts reassured we will experience a growing confidence in our hearts and minds about how we can approach the question, "Are we ready to reopen?"
   

• I pray our community and country can begin to come together and work together on answering this question wisely and well.

These are a few of my prayers this week.  What are yours?  I encourage you to jot them down in your journal.  As you record your prayers, you can also look back later and see how God answered your prayer and how you grew in your faith.

Saturday is a day to "prepare with prayer."  So I'll let you get to it.  Saturday is also a Sabbath day - a day of "different rhythms" from Monday-Friday, and a day of rest.  I pray you know some of each today.

In that blessing, I'm glad we shared this time together today.  I look forward to being with you tomorrow in the Master's Workshop as we join in worship.

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank You for the gift of Sabbath and the blessing of prayer.  Thank You that as we claim these mercies You would reassure our doubts and refresh our hearts.  Let us not only know this grace today, but let us also share it with others, our family and friends.  Let us do so in ways that reveal Your goodness and glory.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen

In Christ,

Paul

God calls us to follow.

It’s good to be together on this Thursday.  I’m glad we can “head into the homestretch” in our time of preparation In the Pastor’s Workshop.

Today  we “pray” and “put it all together”.   We look at all our notes from Monday – Wednesday.  We are open to a creative moving of the Spirit.  And we write and write and write (we write it out!).

As you know the title for our message is “Ready to Reopen? Reassure Your Doubts”.   Our Scripture text is from the story of Gideon in the Old Testament, Judges 6:14-21, 36-40.  These are famous verses about “the fleece” and Gideon testing God. 

As we have done our work, here are talking points emerging for me for Sunday.

God calls all of us to “Follow”.  Following is part of our faith.

How we do that varies greatly.  Some “dive right in”.  They “take the plunge”.  There is nothing that seems to hold them back.  The first disciples who responded to Jesus’ call to follow are a great example.  It says in the Scriptures, these fishermen left their nets immediately when Jesus called and followed him.

And then there are others, like Gideon, where God calls and they have reservations, hesitations, doubts and fears.  God calls and they make up excuses and set up tests for God before they’ll move ahead.

In this Scripture God called Gideon to be a “Mighty Warrior”.  He was to liberate the Israelites from the Midianites. Gideon’s response was to test God four times.

Instead of getting perturbed, God was patient and persistent.  God worked with Gideon, guiding him and growing him through these tests.  God was doing important “internal” work with Gideon. God provided an encouraging word, an answered prayer, a “successful trial”, and even a “confirmation” so Gideon would know God was with him. God was reassuring Gideon’s doubts so Gideon could step forward with confidence and engage the challenge of God’s commission.

Gideon is not alone.  In my own experience I have known doubts and reservations when God has called me to follow.  I have also seen how God reassures doubts.  I have heard the same witness from others as they have spoken of answered prayers, encouraging words and confirming experiences that reassured their fears.

As we consider our guiding question, “Are we ready to reopen?”, there are some who are ready to “dive right in”, “take the plunge”, and “get with it”.  Then there are others who have reservations and hesitations.

The Scripture lets us know that having doubts and fears is OK.  It’s common, normal and part of being human.  God works with us at those places in our lives, doing internal work, which readies us for whatever answer, whatever future God is leading us into.

There’s a “Blessed Assurance” and there’s a “Blessed Reassurance”.  I’m glad God gives both gifts of grace as we seek to follow faithfully.

This is the outline for my message.  As always there will be enhancements and enrichments, additional illustrations and developments to “fill out” the message.

What are your “talking points”?  Sometimes if you jot down 5-7 “bullet points” you would say, it will help solidify the message God is speaking to you.  I would always encourage you to journal these.  Journaling the Scripture is a great habit that will grow you in your faith.

Over the next few days we’ll have time to review our message.  Make sure to do that.  Think about how your message will be received by your hearers.  Are there changes you can make so your message will be clearer, cleaner, and more accessible to your hearers?

I’m grateful for this time of reflection.  And I’m thankful for our prayer time on Saturday.  With both those blessings in mind, I’ll let you get to work and pray God’s creating guidance with you. 

And I look forward to joining with you again on Saturday in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank You for this day and this week.  Thank you for the Scripture and Your creative Spirit moving through Your Word.  Thank You for Your call to follow in faith.  And thank You for the reassurance You provide which strengthens us in our fears and guides us into Your future.  In these gifts of Your grace we lift up this prayer, in the name of Jesus our Lord.  Amen.  

A God Who Reassures.

Welcome to Wednesday!  It’s a blessing to be with you today in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Since this is midweek, we’re well along in our creative process towards Sunday’s message.  We’ve submerged ourselves in the Scripture.  We’ve looked for an underlying logic in the passage.  Today we think about context and contrast.  What was the world into which the Word was spoken?  How is it like our world today?  What situation in the human condition does the Scripture speak into?  How do we see that same situation in our lives?

Our message for this week is “Ready to Reopen? Reassure Your Doubts”.  It is based in the second half of Judges 6, verses 14-21, 36-40.

As we studied last week, this Scripture comes from a period of history when the Israelites were establishing themselves in Canaan.  They considered it their Promised Land from God.  As the Book of Joshua notes there were already people in the land.  And as the Book of Judges reflects the relationship between these neighboring tribes and Israel was contentious.

Particularly in our story of Gideon, the Midianites, who were a tribe to the east and south of Israel, had risen up, “prevailed against” and oppressed the Israelites.  This oppression went on for seven years, a “full season” in Biblical parlance.  In this Scripture the whole notion of “Reopening” is about liberation from this foreign domination and regaining freedom.

The Israelites adapted to this subjugation by hiding in the mountains.  The caves were their strongholds.  Every time they tried to rise up, plant crops, and to get back to “normal”, the Midianites rose up even more, to quash any uprising.

It was in this actively oppressive situation God called Gideon to be a “mighty warrior”.  He was to be God’s leader in liberating the people.  Judges 6 highlights not only God’s call, but also Gideon’s response.

As we noted yesterday in the Workshop, there is an explicit interplay in this Scripture between God’s call and Gideon’s fear.  Gideon “tests God” to see if it is really God talking to him, to see if God will give him a sign showing God is serious, and to see if God will be true to  God’s word.  With each “fleece”, each test and trial, God moves Gideon forward step by step , overcoming his fears so that in faith he can live into the commission God has given him.  Gaining victory Gideon’s internal “battle” is critical to Gideon advancing into engaging in God’s commission.

Following God can hold that same dynamic for us. God’s commission can stretch us beyond our “comfort zones”.  We can find we have hesitations, reservations, doubts and fears.  We need to address and overcome these before we can fully embrace what God has for us.  This Scripture proclaims we have a God who is with us every step of the way, as we make our “internal journey” so we can also step into fulfilling the call God has given us to share and show God’s love in Christ.

I’m grateful we have a God who reassures.  In that blessing I invite us to consider our guiding question, “Are we ready to reopen?”  I encourage us to be aware of our hesitations, doubts, and fears, knowing they are natural, normal and OK.  And then I call us to trust these to God, just as Gideon did, in ways God can answer our prayers, encourage our hearts, enlighten our minds and inspire our spirits as we move forward wisely and well into the mission God has for us to accomplish in this season. 

Trusting in that grace, I’m glad we had this time today and I look forward to being with you tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Gracious God, there are times in our lives as people of faith that we don’t “dive right in” as we follow You.  We have reservations, doubts and fears.  By Your grace You would go with us through these and grow us through these.  Thank you for Your Reassurance that blesses us as we seek to walk in Your paths.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen

Reassure Your Doubts.

Greetings on this Tuesday!  Good to be with you in the Pastor’s Workshop.

This week we’re preaching the second message in our series entitled, “Ready to Reopen?”  It’s based on the story of Gideon in Judges 6 and 7.

Our first message “Recover Your Confidence” encouraged us to not be afraid to consider this guiding question, “Are we ready to reopen?”   Instead we were invited to be open to entertaining what it would mean to reopen, knowing that we can do so wisely and well.  The Scripture highlighted that confidence is found in the covenant relationship we share with God and through the commission God gives us to be about God’s work in our world.

Our second message is entitled “Reassure Your Doubts”.  Just because we are encouraged to be confident doesn’t mean that we won’t have doubts, questions and fears.  In Scripture for this week Judges 6:14-21, 36-40 we see Gideon had all of those.

On Tuesday we look for an underlying logic in the Scripture.  The whole notion of having doubt about God’s leading is all through this Scripture.  At the same time God’s reassurance runs continuously in  the text. 

In verse 15 Gideon asks, “How can I save Israel?”  God answers in verse 16, “I will be with you.”

In verse 17 Gideon says, “If I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that I may know it is really you talking to me.”  Gideon brings an offering of a sacrificial meal to the angel.  And in verse 21 the angel “consumes” Gideon’s offering in a flash of fire.

In verse 36-37 Gideon says to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have said, look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor.  If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.”  In verse 38 God sends so much dew that Gideon wrings out a bowlful of water.

In verse 39 Gideon says to God, “Do not angry with me.  Let me make just one more request.  Allow me one more test with the fleece…” This time the test is that the fleece is dry and the ground is to be covered with dew.  In verse 40 it says, “That night God did so.”

In each of the four “tests” Gideon seeks reassurance.  And God patiently provides it every time.

For me there is great grace in this Scripture.  Sometimes following God’s leading in life is challenging and hard.  It stretches us.  We question.  We need a “fleece” to know we’re on the right track.  We need a sign to go forward.

And God provides.  Maybe the sign is an answered prayer.  Maybe it’s a word of encouragement that really touches your heart.  Maybe it’s a successful experience.  Maybe it’s a meaningful learning.   There are many ways God provides reassurance we need to keep us moving forward in faith.

As you consider this text this week I invite you to think about signs God has given you that have encouraged you in your walk of faith.  There is not only a “Blessed Assurance” (as the hymn says) there is also a “Blessed Reassurance”.

In that faith I’ll let you get to remembering and reflecting.  As you do I invite you to write down your thoughts. 

I’m grateful for our time today and I look forward to being with you tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank You for Your call to follow You in faith each day.  We both know that some days are more challenging than others and sometimes we have doubts, questions and fears.  At the same time we’re grateful for Your patience and reassurance that keeps us going forward.  In that grace we give You thanks in Jesus’ name.  Amen

The Story of Gideon.

Good morning on this Monday!  It’s great to start the week with you in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Last week we began a new series, “Ready to Reopen?”  It’s based on Judges 6 and 7.  We looked into the question so many are asking, “Are we ready to reopen?”,  through a perspective of faith using the story of Gideon.

Our opening message was entitled, “Ready to Reopen? Recover Your Confidence”.   We explored how essential it is to have confidence as we begin to answer the question, “Are we ready to reopen?”  As we looked into the Biblical narrative from Gideon we saw how we can gain confidence through remembering the Covenant we share with God (where God is the Lord) and recalling our Commission (where as God’s people we have God’s work to do in God’s world).

This week we’ll continue our journey in answering our guiding question.  As we read the story of Gideon we see that recovering confidence is not as easy as it seems.  Even when we remember the Covenant and recall our Commission we may still have questions, doubts and fears. 

Gideon certainly did.  To reassure his fears, Gideon needed signs from God.  Our text this week is Judges 6:14-21, 36-40.  It is a well known story about Gideon, God and “the fleeces”. 

Judges 6:14-21

14 Then the Lord turned to him (Gideon) and said, “Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.” 15 He responded, “But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” 16 The Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike down the Midianites, every one of them.”

 17 Then he said to him, “If now I have found favor with you, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me. 18 Do not depart from here until I come to you, and bring out my present, and set it before you.” And he said, “I will stay until you return.” 

19 So Gideon went into his house and prepared a kid, and unleavened cakes from an ephah of flour; the meat he put in a basket, and the broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the oak and presented them. 20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and put them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And he did so.

21 Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes; and the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight.

Judges 6:36-40

36 Then Gideon said to God, “In order to see whether you will deliver Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 I am going to lay a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will deliver Israel by my hand, as you have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not let your anger burn against me, let me speak one more time; let me, please, make trial with the fleece just once more; let it be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

Read this text several times.  Are there words or phrases that stand out for you?  Read the passage using several translations or paraphrases (biblegateway.com).  What captures your attention?  How does this text stir your “holy curiosity and creativity”?

Since it’s Monday, it’s time to get started.  I invite you to “jump on in”!

I look forward to what you’ll find.   And I’ll see you tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for the beginning of a new week.  Thank you for the Scripture which is Your light of truth that guides us.  Thank you for the ways that when we have questions, doubts and fears You have patience.  We trust in Your reassurance as we move forward in faith.  In Jesus’ name we pray.   Amen.

Put It All To Prayer.

Grace and peace this fine Saturday.  It’s good to end the week with you In the Pastor’s Workshop.

This week we’ve focused on recovering our confidence as we prepare to answer the question, “Ready to Reopen?”   We’ve followed the story of Gideon as he started to recover his confidence by remembering the covenant he shared with God and receiving the commission God issued to him.

As we come to Saturday we’ve finished our writing.  But our work is not done.  To fully prepare for Sunday we have to “put it all to prayer”.   To be set for tomorrow we have to ready both our minds and our hearts.

So what would be your prayers for our worship?  Particularly as you think about this past six months with the Covid pandemic and the reopening preparations before us what are your prayers as we move ahead into the future God would be opening?

Here are a few of mine:

·       I pray for all those who have been seriously impacted by this season with the Covid virus, particularly those who:  have been ill, had loved ones ill, had loved ones pass away, lost jobs, lost financial security, had educational development seriously disrupted, had mental or emotional turmoil, or suffered any other debilitating effects in these past months.

·       I pray for all who have known a “cloud of Covid”, a low grade depression and  ongoing dis-ease that has been associated with this disease.

·       I pray for all who have lost a feeling of freedom they once had, a sense of confidence they once knew about how they lived life.

·       I pray for faith as we move forward in this season ahead, a faith that we can take steps, make progress, mitigate risk, and advance ministry thoughtfully and carefully, wisely and well.

·       I pray that the covenant relationship we share with God would be a source of strength and assurance for us.

·       I pray that the commission we receive from Christ to be doing God’s work in the world would inspire us beyond any “doldrums”, back into service that is appropriate for these days.

These are a few of my prayers. What are yours?  Particularly as you think about the story of Gideon, the reopening of Israel and the reopening of our community and country what are you asking from God?  What is God asking from you?

I’m glad we can share in this “preparation with prayer” today.  I’ll let you get to your personal time with the Lord.  

And I look forward to being with you tomorrow either at “Together at the Tower” or online in the Master’s Workshop.

Prayer: Gracious God, as we prepare to take steps which answer the question, “Are we ready to reopen?, guide us with your Spirit.  Keep all safe in Your Care.  Call us forward in Your Service.  Help us to see the ways we can help one another through these uncertain days.  In our covenant with You help us discover the confidence we need to re-engage in life with the sense of promise and hope that is of You. This we pray in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen

Moving forward confidently.

Greetings!  Good to be with you on this Thursday in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Thursday is a “big” day.  It’s the highlight of our creative process.  We review our notes from Monday-Wednesday, our paraphrase and initial impressions of the Scripture, our understanding of the logic of the passage, and our view of the context into which the text speaks. We seek to discern a message in the midst of our reflections.  Then we “write it out”.

This week we started a new series, “Ready to Reopen?”  It comes as a question.  It asks what so many are considering as we enter into the fall. Are we ready for all that is before us?

The Scriptural basis for our series is found in Judges 6 & 7.  It’s the story of Gideon.  It’s the account of the liberation of Israel from the oppression of the Midianites.  

The specific focus for our message this week comes from Judges 6:1-16.  It is the opening of the story of Gideon.  It provides the setting for all that is about to unfold in the following chapters.  As you read this passage the parallels between the circumstances of the Israelites and our modern situation is striking.  As these two stories, ancient and current, overlap we hear words from the Scripture that hold guiding wisdom for us today.

Here are my talking points for Sunday.

The Covid pandemic has been a difficult season for us.   There was the initial outbreak, the total shut down, the sheltering in place and the later resurgence of the virus.  When you put all of this together it has had a powerful impact on our lives.

And that impact has had consequences measured in lives lost, livelihoods imperiled, educations disrupted, and general well being threatened.  To use a phrase from Judges 6, we have been “greatly impoverished”.

This dark season has cast its own cloud over us. Perhaps one of the greatest “shadows” of this cloud is a crisis of confidence. 

It is hard to move forward when we are uncertain and insecure about what’s ahead.  And yet that is the position in which we find ourselves.  And those are the circumstances into which this Scripture speaks.

As you “dive into” this Scripture the parallels between ancient Israel and modern America are striking.  The Israelites were also “greatly impoverished”.  They were oppressed, not by a pandemic, but by a neighboring tribe, the Midianites.  The “sheltered in place”, in caves and strongholds in the mountains.  Every time they tried to rise up and resume life as normal, the Midianites would crush them.  They suffered.  And in their suffering they cried out to God.

God answered their cries in two ways.

First, God sent a prophet to the people.  The prophet reminded the people to remember the covenant they shared with God.   God is the Lord.  The Lord is in control and they are under God’s care.  The Lord is a liberator. God is at work to free from oppression and restore to wholeness.

Second, God sent an angel to Gideon.  Gideon was a man who was afraid, threshing wheat in a wine press.  The angel greeted Gideon with a challenge.  God wanted Gideon be a leader in the liberation God was about to work.  Gideon didn’t  see that potential in himself.  Gideon had doubts, questions and fears.  Yet God called and commissioned Gideon, not on the because of Gideon’s qualifications but because of God’s intentions.  God’s commission summoned Gideon to be about God’s work in God’s world.

As we seek to recover our confidence and move forward faithfully these two truths guide us as well.   We remember the covenant we share with God.  We recall we are commissioned by Christ to do God’s work in our world.  These truths will help us to embrace the future unfolding as we answer the question, “are we ready to reopen?”

These are my thoughts.  They will be expanded and more fully developed for Sunday.

What is your message?  How did the Spirit speak to your mind and heart through the word of the Scripture found in the story of Gideon?  As always, it’s good to write down your thoughts.  “Putting pen to paper” (or “strokes to keyboard”) is work that will bless you.

Now that we’ve done a draft, we let it “sit”.  As it percolates our minds are still at work.  This “space” allows for time for the message to sharpen.  It’s an important part of the process and the final “product”.

I’m glad we had this time today.  I hope as you work in your writing it will be an exercise in faith which will bless you.  In that gift of grace, I’ll let you go to work.  And I look forward to being with you on Saturday as we “prepare with prayer” in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank You for the gift of reflection and writing.  Thank You for the guidance of Your Spirit which leads us into fresh insights for living from the word of Your Scripture.  Even as we come through this difficult season help us to move forward confidently, knowing that You are our Covenant God who has commissioned us to bring Your good news to Your world.  In that blessing, we lift this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen

Backyard Worship Service

Families and students of all ages join us for our Backyard Worship . This will be an evening of Praise and Worship by Mason and a special Ministry Moment/Sermon by Mrs. Nancy. Mrs. Nancy is a renowned puppeteer in the DFW area.

 We will have our special Children’s Worship Service under the trees and the Kona Ice Truck will be back.

Recover Your Confidence.

Welcome to Wednesday in the Pastor’s Workshop!  I’m glad we can be together in God’s Word today.

This week we are starting a new series called, “Ready to Reopen?”  It’s a question everyone is asking.  We’re guided in our answer by the story of Gideon from Judges 6 and 7. 

This week we’re focusing on the first part of Gideon’s awakening and adventure.  Our text for this Sunday is Judges 6:1-16.  Our message is entitled, “Ready to Reopen?: Recover Your Confidence”.

Yesterday as we traced through this passage we saw there were two major components to recovering confidence.  The first was remembering our covenant with God.  In this text, the phrase, “The Lord is with you” is repeated several times.  It reminds Gideon and us we are not alone.  We are in a relationship with a God who delivers from oppression.

The second significant step in recovering confidence was recalling our commission from God. What we learned from Gideon’s story was that in the freedom God was bringing, Gideon and we have a part to play.  The angel greeted Gideon with the welcome, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” And then later is the conversation said, “Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel…”  Gideon had a role and responsibility in what God was working.  So do we.

On Wednesday we look at the context of the text.  We look at the world into which the Word was spoken. We ask, “How does this background knowledge both broaden our understanding of the Scripture and sharpen our message for Sunday?”

Judges 6:1-6 describes the setting.

6 The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2 The hand of Midian prevailed over Israel; and because of Midian, the Israelites provided for themselves hiding places in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. 3 For whenever the Israelites put in seed, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the east would come up against them. 4 They would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the land, as far as the neighborhood of Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel, and no sheep or ox or donkey. 5 For they and their livestock would come up, and they would even bring their tents, as thick as locusts; neither they nor their camels could be counted; so they wasted the land as they came in. 6 Thus Israel was greatly impoverished because of Midian; and the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.

It was a time of tribal warfare in the life of Israel.  Even though the Israelites had gone in and occupied the “Promised Land” there were other tribes who either lived on that land, or were neighbors of that land, who did not want or welcome their presence. 

The picture is one of great oppression.  Phrases like: “The hand …prevailed over”, “hiding places”, “come up against”, “destroy … and leave no sustenance”, “thick as locusts”, “wasted the land” and “greatly impoverished” leave little to doubt about the suffering of the people.

Moreover in their occupation of the new land, the Israelites made the mistake of acclimating to the surrounding culture of their new neighbors. Verse 10 tips us off to this critical mis-step, ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not pay reverence to the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not given heed to my voice.”  This verse gives us insight into what verse 1 was referring to when it said the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight.

As I look at this Scripture there are some obvious parallels between Israel’s predicament and our own pandemic. There is a sense of deep suffering that has gone on for a full season (“seven years” In the Scripture).  During the oppression, we have “sheltered” in hiding. With the suffering has come “great impoverishment”.  There have been detrimental consequences economically, educationally, and emotionally.  When we tried to Reopen too early, in May and June, there was a rising and resurgence of the virus. 

I am not one who believes this pandemic was in any way a “judgment of God”.  Verses one and ten have those overtones as the “cause” for Israel’s hardship.  I would not advocate that connection as part of our understanding for our current circumstances.  In Jesus Christ, we have come to know God as a forgiving and delivering God, rather than a punishing God. 

All this being said, the parallels between the Scripture and our situation are striking.   In noting that correlation we also can understand how important the guidance of the Scripture is to lead not only Gideon and Israel but also us as believers and as a church through these days.

I invite you to think about these parallels.  And find even more on your own!

And as you do that, I’ll do the same. And I look forward to being with you again tomorrow as we “put it all together” In the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank You for the light the Scripture shines on the situations of our lives.  Through the stories of the Bible, we gain greater insights into the story of our lives with You.  Help us to be good learners and faithful “livers” of Your Good News in Jesus Christ.   In his name, we pray.  Amen

Ready to Reopen?

Good morning!  It’s good to be together on this Tuesday in the Pastor’s Workshop.

This week we’re starting a new series: “Ready to Reopen?”  Its Scriptural base is Judges 6 and 7.  This is the story of Gideon.

The title of the series is a question.  It’s a relevant question for this month.  Particularly as all segments of our society are asking the question and answering with their own unique strategies and plans. 

At Spring Valley we will also be asking and answering are we “Ready to Reopen?” As a people of faith we know our considerations in how we view and how we answer this question are in some ways similar and in some ways different than other folks in our community.

Of course we will be mindful of and responsive to the medical and health considerations which are part of the pandemic.  And at the same time we know that the actions we take are also acts of faith. As we move forward it is not as a reaction to fear as much as a response of faith. II Timothy 1:7 says it well, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

And so as part of our “answer” we turn to Bible, particularly Judges 6 and 7, to inform our response to “Ready to Reopen?”  This Sunday we’ll start with the beginning of the story of Gideon, focusing on Judges 6:1-16.

If you are a regular reader you know that on Monday we immerse ourselves In the Scripture. We read and re-read, write and re-write, paraphrase and pray.  It’s all about listening and letting God’s creative Spirit stir within us through the words of the Scripture.

On Tuesday we look into the structure of the Scripture.  How does the Scripture flow?  How is the main idea presented?  What are key concepts we may need to include in Sunday’s message?

As I read the text here’s how it unfolds in my understanding:

·       Israel has forgotten its covenant relationship with God. In that forgetfulness it has pursued life in ways that are outside of God’s will.

·       They have experienced the consequences of their choices. They have suffered at the hands of an oppressor, the Midianites, for a “full season”, seven years.

·       Because of that oppression that have had to shelter in caves and strongholds in the mountains.

·       Whenever they tried to “rise up” and resume life as normal (planting and harvesting), the Midianites would resurge, like “locusts”, and obliterate everything.

·       The Israelites were “greatly impoverished” by this oppression in every way.

·       In this oppression they turned back to God and cried to the Lord.

·       The Lord answered.  God sent a prophet to the people, reminding them of who God was, “I am the Lord” and the relationship they share, “…your God”.  Verse 10 is a call back to Covenant.

·       Then the Lord sends a messenger, “an angel”, to the one who would be leading the people out of oppression.  An angel comes to Gideon.

·       The angel finds Gideon threshing wheat in a wine press.  The picture is one of “operating under oppression”. 

·       The greeting is one of challenge, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!”  God sees something in Gideon that Gideon doesn’t see in himself.

·       Gideon has questions, doubts and fears.  If God is “our God” why has all this happened?

·       The angel doesn’t spend time answering, “Why”.  Instead the angel commissions Gideon into action. Verse 14, “Go… Have I not sent you?”

·       In fear Gideon focuses on himself and his weaknesses.  “I am from the weakest clan and the least in my family.”

·       God reminds Gideon that when God commissions, God accompanies and empowers.

There is a lot of material in the text.  So as we discern a message for Sunday we’ll need to get to the core and be succinct. Sometimes the obvious parallels of this story and our story are a good place to start. 

Since there is a lot to cover I’ll let you get to work.  And I’ll do the same.  I pray God will guide us, not only in our message writing, but also in our ministry preparation.

In that faith and blessing I’ll look forward to joining with you again tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank You for Your word of truth as it would come to us through the Scripture.  We pray that in these days as we answer what it means to Reopen we would be guided by faith and not by fear.  Remind us always of the Covenant relationship we share and the Commission You give.  This we pray In the name of the One who gives us a spirit of love, of power and of a sound mind, even Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prepare with Prayer

Grace and peace on this Saturday.  It’s good to finish up the week with you in the Pastor’s Workshop.

As you know this week we are finishing up our series, “Begin with Basics”.  Our messages have been based in Genesis 1, the first Creation story of the Scripture.  We are finishing up our series with God finishing up Creation.  This week we have focused on Day 7, on Sabbath and on being “Blessed by Rest”.

Saturday is a day in the workshop when the writing is done.  That part of the creative work is over.  And so in one sense, Saturday is a Sabbath day.  It is a day of rest.

In another sense Saturday is an active day.  On Saturday we “prepare with prayer” for what is about to come tomorrow.   We lift our time of worship up to God.  We ask our Lord to be at work.  We pray that God would use our message to fill hearts with hope, minds with truth and wills with strength.

As you pray for tomorrow, for worship, and for all who will be “tuning in” what are your prayers?  Particularly in relation to the Sabbath and being “Blessed by Rest” what blessings are you praying for yourself and for others?

Here are a few of my prayers:

·       I pray we would not let our lives be overrun by busy-ness, by work, or by worry.

·       I pray we would know God has created Sabbath as a gift of rest for us.

·       I pray we would know God has commanded that gift of rest for us because we need it.

·       I pray that through Sabbath time, worship time and personal prayer time we would be renewed and replenished in our energy for engaging life.

·       I pray that through Sabbath time, worship time and personal prayer time we would be reconnected with our Savior in ways we know the refreshment of Christ’s saving grace.

·       I pray that as we enter each new week, with all the challenges ahead, we would do so as those who are fresh, rested and ready, we would do so as those who have experienced the blessing of Sabbath.  We have been “Blessed by Rest”.

These are my prayers for tomorrow and our time of worship. What are yours?

I covet your prayers for our time together in worship.  I know God hears what you hope and pray for   our worship.  I believe God answers in ways that bring blessings for you and for all.

In that gift of grace, I invite you to spend time in prayer today.

I look forward to being with you tomorrow in worship in the Master’s Workshop!

Prayer: Gracious God, thank You for the blessing of prayer.  Thank You for the gift of Sabbath rest. Thank You for how refresh and renew us in Your creative love.  Thank You for how You reconnect with us in Your replenishing mercies.  For all the blessings that Sabbath rest brings and for all the ways we enter into Your grace through “Remembering the Sabbath and Keeping it Holy” we give You our thanks and praise in Jesus’ name.  Amen

Together at the Tower

We’re excited about our new early morning, outdoor worship option “Together at the Tower”.  Here are some things you’ll want to know as you enjoy this new onsite worship experience.

What: “Together at the Tower” is an early morning outdoor worship experience.  This informal worship features music, prayer and a message.

When: Starts Sunday, September 13, 8:30 – 9:00 am and continues weekly going forward

Where: Spring Valley UMC, the Northside (the Spring Valley Rd. side) Parking Lot

What you can bring:  Lawnchairs (if you want)

What you can expect:

·       When you enter the parking lot you will be guided to your parking space by parking attendants.

·       The Worship Platform will be set up on the North End (the Spring Valley side) of the Parking Lot.  You will be facing north (not into the sun) as you worship.

·       You will be parking in a “checker board” pattern facing north.  This means you will be parking in every other parking space, and the row behind you will stagger their parking so they will park facing into the empty parking space between vehicles.

·       You can choose to worship seated in your car or outside in the empty parking space in front of or behind your car (depending on your parking spot).  If you choose to sit outside please bring your own lawn chairs.  Chairs will not be available from the church.

·       If you worship in your car, you can tune into FM 98.7.  If you sit outside, we have adequate amplification.

·       An Order of Worship will be available on your phone at our website (svumc.org).  Paper copies are also available upon request from an attendant.

·       Please bring and plan to wear your mask!  If you are in “your space” (your car or the parking space directly in front or behind your car) and you are separated by 20 feet from anyone else wearing a mask is voluntary.  If you move out of “your space” to go to the restroom, to get bottled water or for any other reason you will come within 10 feet of a non-family member please wear your mask.

·       Masks made by the Spring Valley Craft Ladies will be available for $5 on the front steps of the church.

·       Restrooms will be available in the church.  We ask that you enter and occupy a restroom one person/family at a time.  A Red (Occupied)/Green (Open) reversible sign will be hanging on the door of the church and the restroom to assist you.  If you use the restroom, make sure you reverse the sign when entering and exiting.

·       Water Fountains will not be available.  Bottled Water is available on a limited basis In the loggia.

·       The Loggia will not be available for sitting or resting, unless in case of emergency.

·       An offering will not be received as part of worship.  If you wish to make a donation a box will be available by the Tower for you to drive by and “drop off” your donation as you leave worship.

·       We will have worship “Rain or Shine”.  If it rains we will reorient our parking and face the main front entry steps.

·       If you choose to remain in your car and leave your car running to use your air conditioner during worship, we ask you to park in the designated row near the rear of the lot.  Please let the parking attendant know.  Orange cones will mark that row.

·       A full and regular worship service will still be “live-streamed” at 11:00 am on svumc.org.  It will also be recorded and available for viewing at a later time.  Pre-recorded Worship will not be available earlier than 11:00 am.

·       Please know that this outside worship is a new experience for us as well as for you.  We are sure there will be a “learning curve”.  We appreciate your patience as we work to make “Together at the Tower” a meaningful and safe worship experience for all.  

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower.  The righteous run into it and they are safe.” 

Proverbs 18:10