What will we do to alleviate the physical suffering of those
in need? What comfort are we willing to sacrifice to take care of somebody in
dire straights? Imagine a widow who cannot afford a necessity while we enjoy
the convenience of going to the MacDonald’s drive-thru because we want a Coke.
In my opinion it is one thing to go through that fast food restaurant without
knowing of a need, but it is quite another to know someone we claim to love is
going through a financial crisis and do nothing about it.
We have these kinds of needs at Calvary Church. On Sunday
morning I made us aware of a specific need. We now have the knowledge. What
will we do about it? Remember, our generosity is not predicated on our ability,
our generosity is predicated on God’s generosity in Christ and His ability to
meet the need of those who are suffering. Listen to Paul on this:
…In a severe test of
affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in
a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means,
as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us
earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints. (2
Corinthians 8:2-4)
On to something else…
This Sunday evening we will be hosting our Vacation Bible
School Open House and Preregistration. It is not mandatory that all the kids
coming to VBS preregister, but coming by and signing them up will be a huge
help. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and I want to encourage you to bring
your kids by and get them registered. And while you’re at it why not grab some
of your neighborhood kids and get them here as well. If you would like to help
out with teaching or assisting at VBS please let Lucretia Ridings or Donna
Paxton know. June 25 – 29 is going to be a great week here at Calvary!
Grace & Peace,
Scott
I spent a little time recently with a young man who is going off to war. If you haven’t met him you should. His name is Jesse Shaw and he has been coming to Calvary for a few months. Ben and I got him a Bible because we desire to continue investing our lives into Jesse’s even though he would be thousands of miles away. Jesse is a pretty neat guy who will look you straight in the eye during a conversation. He is excited about what he is about to do, and he is focused. He said he wanted to do his part in this war.
Something Jesse and I talked about has got me thinking this week. He is going away to Kuwait for a year, and when he leaves (which could be any day) he will put his Boiling Springs life on pause. Everything he enjoyed over the last year he will not experience this coming year – birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, family dinners, church, and dates (!Kristen!). Things will definitely change while he is gone. I imagine some restaurants will open along Highway 9, and people will change (new hair styles, growth spurts, etc.), but Jesse will wear the same clothes day after day, he will have the same hair cut month after month, and he will eat the same food…everyday! We have to learn to empathize with his situation.
I think we all find ourselves in this situation from time to time. Something happens, we have to push the pause button, but everything, and everyone, else keeps moving on. We feel left out; we feel like we are on the outside looking in. And once we get back in the game there is a huge learning curve. Frustration builds as a result and anger or bitterness takes root.
The lesson we need to learn from this, whether it is Jesse, Mike, Clay (or anyone going off to war), or somebody whose had to stop because of a prolonged illness is to feel for those whose lives have had to temporarily stop. One greatly need way to minister to people going through this is through constant communication. As the body of Christ we must be His hands and feet to others face "life-pausing" circumstances. We must communicate through personal visits, text messages, Facebook posts, Skype, personal letters and cards, and phone calls. Leave no one behind!
Grace & Peace,
Scott
It is always exciting for us when somebody new comes to Calvary. We love visitors because we like to meet new people who might potentially turn into active members! Now, when somebody joins it is like Christmas all over again. This is what happened last Sunday...welcome John & Pam Suder!
We want to get down that isle and hug their neck or shake their hand; we want to shout "Hallelujah"; we want to shed tears of joy. Why all the emotion? We are emotional about people joining because they have come to know us, and they want to be a part of what God is us to at Calvary Church, and that brings joy to our souls. It touches a spiritual nerve deep inside us.
We must never take new people for granted. Whether someone is visiting or joining, it is our responsibility to make them feel like they've come home. God has enough "cold fish" churches out there that He is trying to light a fire under, let's not be one of them. Let's strive to be warm and loving to the sisters and brothers who come our way.
With the same breath I also want to say we must never take each other for granted...you know, the old people. Calvary is a family, and one of the characteristics that make us who we are is the way we treat one another week after week. This sense of family has always existed here. I'm not sure how it got started, but it is imperative that we keep it going. No matter what God does to us numerically in the future we must strive to maintain our family atmosphere.
What will you do now that you've read this? Not everyone who reads this electronically or in The Calvarette attends Calvary Baptist Church, but the lesson is still the same. You will make a difference where God has placed you. You can be the one who brings warmth to a cold place. We never know what people are going through, and it may just be the warmth of our embrace that lifts their spirits out of the pit of despair.
Grace & Peace,
Scott
Wounding someone is devastating but at times very necessary. Now I'm not writing this to advocate we go out and shoot someone in the leg or run him or her over with our bicycle. No, that's not the kind of wounding I'm talking about. I'm talking about wounding people with honest rebuke or correction. You know, telling them the truth even though the truth may wound them for a time. Too many people are walking around thinking everything is ok simply because we don't want to wound them with honesty. It's like watching somebody make the bed while the house is on fire. We see people making a mess of their lives knowing we could help them with a word of warning, but we are willing to keep our mouth shut because we are afraid of either hurting their feelings or running them off as a friend. But the stakes are too high!
Solomon wrote,
Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
Profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (Proverbs 27:5)
This takes risk on our part. We have to be willing to risk a friendship for the sake of helping someone take another step spiritually. It's not only risky but also painful...I've been on both the giving and receiving ends of rebuke and correction. But I've also realized the great joy that can come when I respond correctly or when someone I am trying to help responds correctly.
And always remember the words of Paul,
...Restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)
Grace & Peace,
Scott
Commercialism erodes our affections; it forces us to think too much about the here-and-now when we should have our focus on the riches in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). What if we had to live the entire year under the frenzied pressure of the "more monster"? I don't think any of us could handle a weekly "Black Friday" (unless of course you are in retail or are one of my daughters).
I think we spend too many of our resources on what is under the tree instead of preparing our hearts for the Advent. Culture is moving toward a "holiday" celebration where present are king instead of investing in preparation of the presence of the King.
One of the major downfalls of this is that we perpetuate our own selfishness. We are teaching the next generation that it is ok to be greedy and fall head-0ver-heels in love with the things this world has to offer. We are training the next generation of "Black Friday" shoppers to be even more consumed with wanting and expecting more stuff.
John Stott wrote, "Materialism tethers our hearts to this earth." This right on target because it's grounded in biblical truth. Remember what Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34)?
I am not advocating emptiness under the tree. I still believe giving gifts in moderation can be an expression of God's grace and our love to one another. What I am encouraging is a little less under the tree and a little more time at home...a little less spending on the over stuffed and a little more spending on the hungry...less consumerism and more compassion. God's present was His presence, why should we do any different?
God's intention in giving His gift was to change the world and I still believe Christmas can change the world, but it must start with me...with you...with us!
Something I've been thinking about this year that will actually be put into use next Christmas (yes, I actually do plan that far ahead) is "The Advent Conspiracy." I've found the following website helpful in the beginning stage of my thought process: www.adventconspiracy.org.
Grace & Peace,
Scott
