'Little country church on the edge of town'

Church starts at 10:30 with a greeting followed by all 4 verses of 'How Great Thou Art' and all 4 verses of 'Savior like a Shepherd Lead Us' and all 4 verses of a few other venerable classics. I am taken by heart felt singing as song fills the church. There is nothing politely tolerant or passive about this. Folks are engaged in worship. All the music is gospel centered - The old rugged cross, the blood of Jesus, and repentance for sins is front and center stage! It is refreshingly old school. The choir is invited to come to the front of the church and anyone who wants to join them is welcomed to! Someone nudges me – we’re going to sing ‘Peace like a River’ for the 'special music' – would you like to join us?  No! But Yes!  So I find myself at the front of the church with 2 other people, then 3 then 5 and finally 7 of us. God’s presence grows in my heart (and I think in the room) as we sing - all four verses. 'It is well. (echo) 'It is well'.  'With my soul'.  We are part of a number of visitors lingering after a family wedding the night before.  Each group is painstakingly introduced and acknowledged with interest by the congregation. Embarrassing but inclusive. It feels, well, right. Then just before the sermon we hear a rousing rendition of ‘These are the Days of Elijah’ by a smartly dressed young woman. I sing along from my seat. The Word of God is preached. The service draws to a close with several verses of 'Just as I am'. (without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me) God is in the house here in Louisiana!

Messy Celebration

It was a family reunion and a wedding.  I watched with pride as my daughter took her place at the front of the church along with 4 nieces and a niece-in-law all with the same last name. Their cousin would be taking a new name, starting a new life. The theme was western. They wore frilly, poofy skirts that showed off their cowboy boots. Pastor Don, who had marrried the groom's father and mother some years earlier, gave the charge, 'Marriage is honorable.' The father of the bride, my brother and a local pastor stood up, choked up, and shared how he had been hit by lightning (and survived:) 22 years ago – a year before the bride was born. He was thankful to share the moment this day. God had been faithful. After the newlyweds left for their honeymoon it was clean up time. We took down the decorations, hauled out the hay bales from the hoedown, and swept up the mess. That's what family does. Did I mention it's hot this time of year in Louisiana? My fine attire was dirty and sweat drenched, but it felt good. Marriage had been honored. Another generation was taking up the challenge of life and faith and family. The bride's father had said, ‘We’re trusting God that they will grow up together’. And we are!

 

Two kinds of people

I have it on good authority (the old classic ‘What about Bob’ starring Richard Dreyfus and Bill Murray) that ‘There are only two kinds of people. Those who like Neil Diamond and those who don’t.’  My wife and I decided to test this theory and as we set out for a wedding 1,000 miles away we were packing 30+ vintage Neil Diamond songs. We bopped along to: ‘You and me are subject to the blues now and then but when you take the blues and make a song you sing ‘em out again.’ We sang with abandon. (Join us :) ‘Sweet Caroline, (bum! bum! bum!) good times never seemed so good.’ (Didn't that feel good?) The sun was coming up. My sleepy daughter comments from the back seat – ‘I’m not big on Neil Diamond but I like the mood it puts you and mom into.’  I notice a Neil Diamond pattern.  When he's lonely he revels in song or drink (‘Cracklin’ Rosie’ – just sayin’) or women. When he sings: ‘I’ve got an emptiness deep inside and I’ve tried but it won’t let me go.’ We sing along.  ‘Funny thing, you can sing it with a cry in your voice, then you start to feeling good you simply got no choice.’ And yes it does feel good. Family and celebration are waiting in Louisiana.  Singing the blues out with Neil feels great! But something's missing in his music. I am not ‘lost and I don’t know why’! Jesus is the Rock and He rolled my blues away! There are two kinds of people.  Those who exult in a God drenched world and those who are still searching.

Saturday mornings at Mimi's

I have a pastor friend who hates elder board meetings.  He's loving ministry, but those meetings are a killer!  I understand my friends dislike of such meetings but I actually look forward to them.  In fact, when I accepted the call to come to AR I asked that the elders agree to weekly meetings, complete with a signed covenant.  As a result our personal lives have bonded and our committment to God's work at AR has deepened. 

We often meet on Saturday mornings at Mimi's. The informal setting over breakfast and coffee encourages us to talk about our lives and leads into church business at hand.  Meeting weekly means that we can process life together and deal with church stuff as it comes up. This Saturday we discussed Acts 6:4 and our calling as elders to 'devote ourselves to prayer'.  We discussed prayer. Then we prayed for our church family - from personal needs to corporate needs - from worship to petitions for awakening, trust, patience & transformation.  We prayed that our church and our lives would be a 'bent pipe' not a 'stove pipe' reflecting God's glory.  Oh yeah, and we almost forgot that we had a matter of church business to discuss. Me thinks we had the balance right!  As we left I commented at how quickly 2 hours can go.  One of the guys responded, 'Two hours? More like three!'  I can't imagine a better way to spend a Saturday morning. 

Summer solstice

We met at the local coffee shop to discuss their participation in our church, in their church.  A job change loomed.  A degree needed to be earned.  ‘We’re stepping back from our responsibilities but we are planning on being at church every Sunday we can,’ he said.  And then as an afterthought - ‘No, we’re not leaving the church’ - with a smile.  ‘We’ve seen people leave that way and we want you to know that we are not. We like our church.’ How simple, how mature, how refreshing, went through my head and touched my heart. 

Just like the coming of the summer solstice (today!), seasons wax and wane.  The circumstances of our lives bring about new challenges and may change how we relate to our church. But our church is meant to outlive the seasons of our lives. ARC provides a deeper strength for the journey. It halves our grief in sorrow and doubles our joy in the good times. Together we are better.  We prayed together right there in that coffee shop. We prayed for their lives and dreams, and for our church.  Such sweet fellowship.   

To Parvomay and back

My friend Zhaco called me from Parvomay, Bulgaria.  I’ve known him since he helped move us into our house in Falcon, CO two summers ago.  He was just another guy moving boxes until he pulled me aside and in excellent english started talking about God. I discovered a wonderful brother from another culture.  I saw him the next summer but he won't be back this year. He calls me occasionally to talk and pray. He told me about how he started a youth group in his church. He told me of his mentor Dancho's daughter, Vanya, and her lymphoma and surgery in Germany. He asked for prayer and hesitantly for help defraying the costs. He said, ‘She prays all night for people in our church by name. The whole church is fasting and praying for her.’ I asked where he was working.  He said, ‘There are no jobs. When there are jobs you have to know people and I have only God.’  He joined me as we laughed out loud at the irony in - 'I have only God'. ‘I have a job interview June 20^th for an embassy job. Pray for me,’ he said.  He described his youth group. ‘Young people are praying, fasting, asking, and sacrificing because they love God. They want to know Him.’ Zhako enriches my life and raises my desire to know God. I pray with him; for Vanya, for his church, for my church, for his job and his youth group. I pray for God to do amazing things.  I am the long arm of Aspen Ridge Church and so are you!     

Little house on the prairie

One Tuesday night near Peyton. The 10 mile ride through the prairie was a promising start. The welcome greeting shouted from the porch as I arrived, brought a smile.  Slowly the small  room filled with laughter, warmth, and 12 souls.  The oldest was 65 and the youngest 16.   The topic was prayer, the Lord's - from Matthew 6:9-13. The fellowship was palpable.  Discussion was lively.  Lightness mixed with insight. Interaction with quietness. Prayer following the study was genuine, unhurried and meaningful. Some who spoke little prayed with wisdom and familiarity beyond their years. Outside, climbing aboard my bike, I am so thankful that I have come. God's presence is inescapable and refreshing.  It reminds me of last Sunday’s worship service.  So we gathered in a little house on the prairie on a Tuesday night and discovered God in the midst of a busy week, for a daily adventure called life. 

An endless display of energy

Round and round she went in an endless display of energy.  Her voice insisted that she be watched.  'Look at me Pastor Dean,' she shouted. So I did. I even picked up a skateboard and joined her.  Around we went. She threw back her head with abandon and laughed the laugh that only a 5 year old can laugh. I had interrupted her supper, a mighty fine supper, but she didn’t care. Half eaten steak, potatoes and green beans were carelessly strewn about her plate, forgotten in the house, forgotten in the moment. Right now life was meant to be celebrated on a skateboard.  

Beagle slipped into the house unnoticed and was soon discovered standing on the kitchen table wolfing down a neglected half eaten steak.  We all pretended to be angry with him, but nothing could spoil the moment.  Smoors were waiting to be melted over the coals of a small fire still burning brightly. Evening was young.  There was life to be squeezed out of each precious moment as bedtime loomed just around the corner. I think God is like that. Jesus is coming back. Maybe at bedtime! There is not a moment to spare! 

Don't want to miss the glory!

 I have no illusions (or delusions) about being cool.  I’ve read some cool guy pastor blogs. I’m not that. :) But I am compelled by two ideas. 

#1. We live in a God drenched world and that everything that happens comes from the hand of God for our good.  Watch with me for God’s hand - in the smile of a child, the thunder of a storm, the glory of a sunrise - and also in the sorrow of a broken heart and the angst of an insecure future.  When we watch for God's hand we live in the awareness of His care. Don't miss the glory. Magnify God in the ordinary with me.

#2. I am called by God to shepherd Aspen Ridge Church. Sometimes I feel like a broken record saying over and over - ‘You should be in church on Sunday.’ - or ‘We missed you at small group this week.’   I am torn between the prophetic and pastoral. But I want to do more encouraging and less admonishing.  So I am purposing to blog regularly, to use this medium to encourage connection in the living body of Christ called Aspen Ridge Church. You are the long arm of Aspen Ridge!  And we are better together.