We have almost lost the practice of appreciation; we have misplaced the habit of saying thank you. I think this happens because we take people for granted. We see each other week after week and day after day. It is normal for these people to be a part of our lives. We get used to what others do for us and we only take notice of what they do when they don't do it. Does that make sense to you? I hope so.
Paul is a good example of showing his appreciation to his fellow believers. In almost every letter he wrote, he expressed his thanks (cf. Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 4). This week I would like to point out just a couple of observations about Paul's thank you notes:
First, Paul's thanksgiving was directed to God. Yes, he did openly express his thanksgiving in his letters, but he was thanking God for these believers. He was careful to make sure they knew that he was thankful to God for them. This is a great compliment we can pay to others. A God-ward thankfulness is sincere whereas a man-ward thankfulness can be hypocritical and self-serving.
Second, Paul's thanksgiving was about spiritual qualities. He saw things such as faith, love and hope as important. There was never a focus on the external, temporary traits; he kept his attention on those things in believers that we lasting and world-changing.
the avenues of communication we have today are both wonderful and quick, but they should never take the place of a timely written and much needed handwritten card. I hope all of us will be challenged to take the time to occasionally write a personal note to someone and tell them that we are thankful for what God has done in their lives and how God is using them in ours. When God brings someone across your mind take that as a prompting of the Holy Spirit to get out pen and paper and put words to your feelings.
Grace & Peace,
Scott
The resurrection is a doctrine of hope. It is a truth that was shrouded in mystery for centuries to Old Testament believers. The believers who lived before Christ's resurrection were not given much revelation from God about what happened to those who died. But even those believers trusted that God would do the right thing. Job said of his life after death,
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God. (Job 19:25-26)
At this point in history God had not chosen to pull back the curtain to reveal what happened to His followers after they died. The mystery of what ultimately happened to the body after death continued. And then it happened! Three days after Jesus' agonizing death on the cross He physically raised from the dead. What was once a total mystery began to be revealed. God began to give a glimpse of His plan for our physical bodies after we die.
God continued to progressively reveal His ways throughout the New Testament. When we finally come upon Paul he basically throws the curtain wide open so all could see. Paul was dealing with this issue with the believers in Thessalonica; he wanted to give them hope in the midst of grieving for those who had died and so he wrote,
But we do not want you to be uninformed brothers about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep...The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive...will be caught up together with them...and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, 16-17)
I believe people look for hope in death. The one true hope believers have in death is that God is not done with their believing loved ones. He clearly promises a resurrection to eternal life for those who believe in Him. The resurrection of His Son, Jesus, is proof positive of the authenticity of the resurrection. The resurrection we celebrate every week as we gather on the first day of the week infuses us with hope!
Grace & Peace,
Scott
What you did for Barb on Sunday night was "fantastically wonderful"! And I want to say, "Thank you." Your love was on vibrant display as you surprised her to honor her just for being Barb. She is truly a wonderful woman...I may be biased, but I know I'm right. In the churches we've served she is one of the factors that I'm sure got me the job. And yes, I agree that I married way beyond my pay grade! I don't think you can spend even five minutes with her without coming away with the feeling that you've met somebody pretty special. By the way, I believe a church like Calvary deserves a pastor's wife like Barb!
Does this surprise me about Calvary? Not in the least! This is a church filled with people who not only tell you they love you but also prove that love through action. It reminds me of what God dreamed His Church would be like. He didn't create a church that would be all talk and no action. One of the many important aspects of His Church is a loving environment where people know they are loved by what people do not just what they say.
Jesus vehemently attacked the religious hypocrisy of His day. On one occasion He said, "They preach, but do not practice" (Matthew 23:3). Even Paul sense this danger of saying but not doing when he addressed the believers in Corinth. He compared his Christian walk with that of a runner, and in the analogy he said that runners discipline themselves to run by the rules so that when they cross the finish line they win legitimately (1 Corinthians 9:24-27a). He applied this analogy to his own life-ministry and wrote in the end,
...Let after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified (v. 27b).
A danger always exists in our lives of becoming a hypocrite (saying one thing and doing another). We must not let that sin slip into our lives. If we do then we are no better off than the accepted religion of Jesus' day that thought they knew God but were far from Him.
Grace & Peace,
Scott
I pastor the greatest church known to mankind! Now I realize that is a bold statement, but I believe that if I don't feel this way then I have to ask myself, "Why am I here?" Every pastor should feel this way about the congregation they under-shepherd, and at any time he feels like the grass is greener in another pasture then it's time to pack the books and move on. But let me tell you why I believe this particular group of Christ-followers is simply the best.
A God-Exalting Passion. The people at Calvary are truly striving to lift the name of God high above all others. This is a growing desire here that steers the ship. You just need to step into one of the services and you will sense this focus. We are not about gimmicks, glitz, or gold--we are about God!
A Family Atmosphere. While this is a trait many are trying to attain it is something that I believe Calvary has achieved. When you come week after week you just feel like you've come home. Every week is a family reunion. No, we are not perfect, but what family is?
A Truth-Hungry Appetite. Christians naturally love God's Word. They see the Bible as their lifeline to the heavenly Father and His instructions on how to live. When you come to Calvary you encounter a people who have a heavy appetite for that Word. You cannot come to Calvary without wanting to be taught.
These are only three of the factors that make Calvary Church the best. I love you and it is an honor to be your pastor. One of my prayers is that I will be able to return to the pastoral trend set back when the church first started in 1923. The first four pastors pastored the church for 62 years, and two of the first four pastors stayed for over 18 years. Let's get back to that pattern and see what God will do over the next 15 years!
Grace & Peace,
Scott
