Posted by David on October 19, 1997 under Bulletin Articles
Being genuinely loved is overwhelming. It is not the fact that you are loved that overwhelms. It is the meaning of being loved that overwhelms. When you reflect on the fact that a wonderful person loves you enough to be your wife or husband, you are astounded. But when you seek to grasp the significance of that fact, you are stunned. You accept the fact, but you struggle with the meaning and significance.
God’s love affects us in the same way. Realizing that He genuinely loves “me” is overwhelming. The fact that He loves us individually is astounding. But the meaning and significance of His love exceeds our comprehension.
The bond of genuine love in a congregation has the same impact. A congregation filled with genuine love overwhelms its members and visitors. Such love is naturally obvious–you feel it as well as see it. The fact that it exists is astounding. Its significance exceeds comprehension.
Joyce and I are richly blessed by your love. Thank you for loving us! Once, after moving to Fort Smith, I was asked in a television interview about my wife. I stated–truthfully and without hesitation–that she was my greatest asset. I could not use my life as I do without her. It takes a very specific kind of person to be the wife of a preacher. It is not possible to explain all the ways that she supports and encourages me. Neither is it possible to enumerate all the ways that her devotion and service to our Lord blesses and compliments my efforts.
So many of you have told me how much you appreciate Joyce’s friendliness, love for people, sense of humor, and wit. Your appreciation for her is a great joy to me.
Your support and encouragement when she had surgery touched us. Though we were out of state, never were either of us concerned about your understanding. We knew you were praying for us and were “there for us.” In fact, we had an incredible double blessing. Our spiritual family in Oxford was also “there for us” and caring for us with the same love.
Last week you gave us a very generous check to help with the medical expenses of her surgery. Our medical insurance has an extremely high deductible. Your generosity paid the entire amount of the deductible. Thank you!
You do so much for us! You provide for our needs so wonderfully that I feel a sense of embarrassment when I consider all that you have done and are doing. Our love and appreciation for you never stops growing. My prayer never ceases: “Lord, help us be the blessing this congregation needs. May one of the ways that Your incredible love flows to them be through us.”
Posted by David on October 12, 1997 under Bulletin Articles
How can we as a congregation become spiritually stronger? That is my first prayer for this congregation: “Lord, help us grow spiritually strong.” Certainly, I want numerical growth, involvement growth, and growth in our ministries. But, above all, I want growth that results in the strength of spiritual maturity.
The foundation of that maturity is a growing faith. Unless faith in God, His Son, and His Spirit increases, spiritual maturity cannot occur. For any congregation to grow in strength, it must grow in faith.
Spiritual needs must be understood and met. Evil has “customized” the problems and troubles it produces in our society. People who experienced significant rejection have unique problems. So do people who were unloved, or who were abandoned, or who grew up surrounded by evil, or who were abused, or who were betrayed, or who failed, or who have deep feelings of guilt.
All of those circumstances generate specific spiritual needs. These specific needs must be addressed. While the primary solution for every spiritual need is the grace, love, and forgiveness of Christ, the congregation, as a spiritual family, must minister to the special needs of its members with sensitivity and caring.
People rarely are too troubled to marry. Troubled pasts rarely convince husbands and wives not to have children. Faith does not change past circumstances. Faith cannot keep a troubled past from influencing the realities of one’s present. Even when we have faith, the past casts shadows on our families.
Even with good pasts, we have so much to learn about healthy, vibrant, loving family relationships. Knowing how to become loving, kind husbands, wives, and parents is not intuitive–none of us “just know how to do that.”
Aside from a growing faith, the second most important factor in becoming a spiritually mature congregation is helping families develop stable, loving relationships.
Carl Brecheen and Paul Faulkner will conduct a family seminar here the first weekend in December. Please come! Singles, marrieds, separated; troubled, divorced, happy; pre-parents, parents, empty nesters; young, middle-aged, older; please come! Bless yourself, and bless this congregation.
Posted by David on October 5, 1997 under Bulletin Articles
Some declarations break me out in a cold sweat. It is not the “hearing” that causes chills to run up and down my spine. It is knowing that I must do the “doing.”
“No assembly required” (so why is there more than one piece?). “Simple assembly required” (so why are the instructions five pages of gibberish?). “Anybody can do it” (never met him–could you introduce us?). “Anybody can understand it” (I still haven’t met him). “Easy for everybody” (and I still haven’t met that first guy!).
Seriously, we create major problems when we convince people that the complex is simple. When people expect the simple and encounter the complex, they are disillusioned. The consequences: they become skeptics and we lose credibility.
Would any of us affirm that it is simple to develop the love that endures? to find the “right person” to marry? to sustain a marriage for a life time? to avoid divorce? to rear children? to help adult children when they struggle? to find job security? to sell or buy property? to arrange financing? to go into business? to have a secure retirement? (You may extend this list by at least 100 additional items.)
The same problems are created when we convince people that the complex is simple spiritually. Would any of us affirm that it is simple to believe without doubt? to repent? to clearly distinguish between good and evil? to identify the specific sources of our personal temptations? to identify the specific causes of our personal temptations? to overcome temptation? to defeat addiction? to be spiritually positive? to avoid discouragement? to build a strong, vibrant faith? to maintain an active faith? to worship from the heart in spirit and truth? to pray?
Would any of us like to affirm that it is simple to understand the Bible? including the Song of Solomon? the Old Testament prophets? the sayings of Jesus? the “difficult sayings” of Paul? the book of Revelation?
The creator God is not simple. The Word who became flesh is not simple. The Spirit of God is not simple. When we over simplify Christianity and the church, we disillusion. Disillusionment gives birth to the skepticism that destroys faith. With those who seek faith, it also destroys our credibility.
Posted by David on September 28, 1997 under Bulletin Articles
We discuss the importance of being friendly. We stress the need for convenient relationship opportunities. Visitors and new members need friends. However, that discussion tends to be a faceless generality dealing with a hypothetical.
An alarming number of college students from Christian homes and church programs leave Christianity when they leave home. This has happened for decades. Conservative estimates are that 55% of our children cease actively expressing faith when they go to college. Wonder what the percentage is for those who begin jobs?
We had an exceptional group of senior high students who became college freshman this fall. They had excellent fellowship with each other. They encouraged younger teens. They were spiritually active with peers. They provided quality leadership in our youth group.
Last week on the same day Brad received a call and a letter from two of those freshmen. Both were “strong;” true leaders within our youth group. One wrote, “I miss you guys. I’m starting to see why so many college kids leave the church. It’s just hard to get excited about going to church when you don’t know anyone there. It is SO different from home.”
One called. She is searching for a local church where she feels welcome. Though she attends with two sophomores from this congregation, she feels like no one has noticed her at any of the church functions or activities. For the first time she realizes how special it was to be a part of our youth program and our church family. She misses the involvement and the encouragement.
Sobering? Perhaps frightening? Our own flesh and blood, strong members of our own spiritual family are discouraged in a month. Suddenly the importance of and need for friendliness and relationship are real and urgent, not hypothetical.
What difference would a friend within the congregation make? A friendly voice that cared? A face that noticed you were there? They do not want to be lost in the crowd; they just feel lost in the crowd.
What about people who know no one when they walk into our building? What about those who sit in our assemblies for weeks and know almost no one? Do you think it really matters?
Posted by David on September 21, 1997 under Bulletin Articles
Thank you for helping elevate our level of praise on Sunday mornings! Our God created us physically and spiritually. Each of us, by our choices and decisions, allowed evil to destroy us spiritually. Faith in Jesus and the choice to redirect life (repentance) moved us to participate in Jesus’ death and resurrection (baptism). God’s grace expressed through Jesus’ blood created us again. Our forgiven sins are destroyed, and forgiveness is a continuing, daily reality in our lives. While we are not given a license to sin, we never exhaust God’s forgiveness. It is absolutely impossible for us to be perfect, but it is absolutely possible for us to be committed to faith and service.
Every week our reasons for praising God exceed our awareness. That is true if it is a week of life’s finest experiences or a week of life’s worst experiences. Regardless of the nature of our experiences, God’s unconditional love remains a constant, never ending reality in our lives.
The quality of our singing has improved significantly the past two weeks. The improvement is far more than volume and harmony–it is equally heart and spirit.
As we worship, sing with all your heart as you reflect on your blessings. Meditate with your whole mind and spirit as we consider Jesus and our forgiveness in communion. Let your prayers rise with sincerity. Show your gratitude for your blessings as we give. As we study, let your understanding grow and your commitment gain resolve.
Posted by David on August 31, 1997 under Bulletin Articles
Jesus told the apostles that the sacrifices they made to follow him would result in a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and farms now, and eternal life in the age to come (Mark 10:29, 30).
Joyce and I left Fort Smith to return to Oxford, Mississippi, early Monday morning, August 18. We were to close on our Oxford house early Wednesday, the 20th, and return to Fort Smith.
That closing was delayed until 5 p.m. By 3 p.m. Joyce was extremely sick. After closing, Joyce was too sick to travel. Thursday morning she was admitted to the hospital. Friday she had gall bladder surgery. The infection kept her hospitalized until late Monday morning.
We were so blessed! We stayed in the home of close friends. The hospital was familiar to us. She did many years of volunteer work there. We knew many people on staff. Many, many friends saw to our every need as they provided constant support.
Joyce has been sick about a year. Her variation in symptoms made diagnosis difficult. The amount of infection indicated that this had been her problem for a long time. We were so grateful to finally determine the problem and care for it.
When we look back at the lengthy process of the sell and closing, we now understand that it was not a mere frustration. It was a blessing. We were blessed with homes and family that far exceeded our need. We were blessed by being a part of God’s great family as a grave need was addressed in a wonderful way.
Wives, Joyce advises you to get sick away from home while visiting friends. Your husband has no office or home to go to. He has nothing to do but take care of you.
I thanked God that we were privileged to know two great groups of Christians who are so generous with their love, concern, and caring. It was a wonderful time of love and sharing with our friends in Oxford. It is wonderful to be home in Fort Smith.
Posted by David on August 10, 1997 under Bulletin Articles
Operation Encouragement should be at full speed! Did you remember to write your note of encouragement to someone this week? It is not too late! Make your day–and someone else’s!
This week’s operation encouragement suggestion: write a note to the elders that specifically names something you genuinely appreciate about this congregation. Could you send your note to the church’s address so that all of the elders could read it? It will be wonderful for our elders to receive a few hundred such notes this week! Without hesitation, we tell them what disturbs us. Have you ever told them what you appreciate? This week is the perfect opportunity!
Sam Roberts was recently asked, “Where are we going as a congregation?” An excellent question that is deserving of a carefully considered, well thought out answer. My “off-the-cuff” response for the immediate future focused on three goals: meaningfully development in spirituality and Christ-likeness as a congregation; developing our community outreach in ways that keep pace with and support our missions outreach; providing this congregation with the tools (facilities) that will enable us to advance fellowship and nurturing among our members. For me, all of this is in addition to (not in replacement of) the wonderful things already happening at West-Ark.
I so appreciate the job our greeters are doing! They are here early (they beat me to the building!). I don’t think anyone can enter the main building without receiving several genuine welcomes. Last Sunday Bob and Sharon Faries were among the greeters. Bob said, “Greeting is a wonderful job! It makes you aware of all the great people we have here.” He told me how much he and Sharon enjoyed it, and how much fun it was. He observed that you cannot see and talk to that many people unless you are a greeter, and he thoroughly enjoyed the experience. To all of you greeters, thanks! You make a difference!
Posted by David on August 3, 1997 under Bulletin Articles
This is the “slow” time. No, life’s rat race did not take a break. Regardless of the month of the year, “hectic” is always the pace and “too busy” is always the reality.
Late July and August have their own personality in a congregation’s life. It is the “slow” time. The weather is hot and dry. The heat zaps our energy. Activities are not as much fun because of the weather’s discomfort. The kids are bored–many actually look forward to school starting. Even the summertime routine breaks down in families.
Within the congregation, it is the “wrong time” to begin anything new. Momentum would place last in a snail race. Attendance is erratic because families are making their last trips before school starts. It is difficult to find teachers or men to take leading roles in assemblies because so many are gone. Ministry work crawls.
“What’s wrong?” Nothing. This is always typical of late July and August. It simply is “that time of the year.” It is amazing to watch the life, the involvement, and the momentum revive themselves when September arrives.
The most significant danger in this period is the possibility of developing a bad case of congregational “blahs.” Since healthy congregational routines and involvement tend to suffer, it is easy to lose sight of our blessings. Minor frustrations look like monsters.
To help us “see” our blessings and fight the blahs, let’s begin “Operation Encouragement” this week. For the next few weeks, I challenge every member to consciously focus on our blessings. Focus on everything that brings you gratitude and joy.
We will sharpen and intensify that focus in a very simple way. Each week I will ask every member to write and mail a note. Just one note, just one stamp! I will suggest a different focus for our notes each week.
THIS WEEK: WRITE A NOTE TO SOMEONE IN THE CONGREGATION WHOM YOU APPRECIATE! It can be anyone you appreciate–someone who touches your life, or encourages you, or renews your faith, or lifts your spirits. Write to someone that others may not write. Perhaps it is someone that you have wanted to thank for a long time.
Do it this week! It will sharpen your focus on our blessings! It will lift the spirits and gladden the heart of the person who receives your note!
Posted by David on July 6, 1997 under Bulletin Articles
Music always has been a powerful language. It eloquently expresses moods and emotions that words without music cannot express. Music is a rare form of communication that is universal, transcultural, transgenerational, and ageless. Amazingly, music from a specific age and specific culture can powerfully touch and move people of all ages in numerous cultures a century later.
Music is a primary means of communication within our society. You doubt that? Have you “noted” the role music plays in television programs? movies? commercials? For teens and young adults, it is the number one vehicle of communication.
We listen to it in our cars. We listen to it as we exercise or do routine chores. We hear it so frequently during the day that we often do not notice it. Because it is ingrained in daily life, the CD and tape music market is a major, world wide industry.
We relax to music. We “psyche up” to music. We stimulate patriotism with music. We “supercharge” crowds at ball games with music. We express joy with music. We grieve with music. We pursue romance with music.
Music and life are inseparable. Important occasions, important events, and important moments always include music.
Singing allows us to express feelings, thoughts, and emotions as can nothing else. We can “say” things in song that we cannot express as meaningfully or powerfully in any other way. Whatever our mood, we “experience” it with music.
The music of song must assist our worship. We “say” things to God by song that we likely could not even say in prayer. Emotion, attitudes, and feelings can be expressed meaningfully by every individual in the assembly. By song we all talk to each other, to God, to Christ, and to the Spirit simultaneously–without confusion! By song we converse with our hearts and spirits and well as our tongues.
We want our singing to be a more significant part of our Sunday morning worship assemblies. We do not want merely to sing more songs. We want our singing to give voice to our hearts as we celebrate life in Christ. We want each Christian to feel our Lord’s presence as the congregation expresses itself in song. We want our visitors to be moved by the praises that are offered by song.
For the next two weeks I will share with you the ways in which we hope to use our singing to worship God more meaningfully.
Posted by David on June 22, 1997 under Bulletin Articles
As a younger adult, I made “forever” decisions. I thought that if I could ever buy a new car, I would have a good car “forever.” (When you are thirty years old, you have only been an adult for nine years. You have not experienced adult life long enough to understand the realities of twenty years of adult living.) At that age, refrigerators do not wear out–they last “forever.” The roof on the house does not wear out–it’s guaranteed for twenty-five years, and that is close to “forever.” I thought I would not outgrow my suits and my neckties would always be in style!
I now have lived long enough to know that nothing lasts forever. No situation is ideal forever, and no circumstance is promising forever. We do not truly experience that reality until we live long enough as an adult for a car, a roof, and a refrigerator to wear out; for styles to change; and for situations and circumstances to make significant transitions.
As young adults, the reality of transition is exciting–it means opportunity! As older adults, the reality of transition is frustrating–it means change! Young adults are invigorated by the prospects of opportunity. Older adults are wearied at the thought of more transition in our constantly changing lives.
The Westark Community College wants to discuss the possibility of buying this congregation’s present property. Until those discussions occur, we will not know if there is a decision to be made. If any decision is needed, it will be made by the congregation.
Joyce and I came here with the awareness that this decision was not certain, but was a possibility. My prayer regarding this has been simple: “Lord, help us make the wisest decision for Your work and worship for both now and the future.”
Daily pray with me that the Lord work in all our minds, hearts, and spirits before, during, and after any decision. If you are aware of members who might be troubled by any decision (whatever that decision might be), please pray for them. Do not pray, “Lord, help that person decide X.” With sensitivity and respect, pray for their hearts and minds. May we all pray for each other’s attitudes and spirit. We need love for the Lord and each other, not campaign efforts.
