Now what?

I wonder if the news feed that has broken into this broken world will really make a difference…

I wonder if the visitor among the 1,400+ at St. Luke this Christmas will come back…

I wonder if the person who decided they’d give church another chance this year was touched by the good news of Jesus’ birth…

I wonder if God’s Holy Spirit will infiltrate the empy one’s hungering heart…

I wonder if Jesus will be living and active in someone’s life who is feeling all alone…

I wonder if the person who came expecting to be bored to tears but found the joy of the Lord, will be back to experience God’s joy once again…

Not sure why I wonder - God has crashed into the world by the birth of His Son, Jesus.  Why wouldn’t He keep crashing in and changing lives one heart at a time?

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Tim 

…there has been a better time for the season of Advent in our lives of faith.

Why?

These are tough times…the economy brings about layers of issues: uncertainty, anxiety, financial hardship, job transition and stress, even depression.

Morale in our country is at a low that I’ve never experienced before.

Is there any better time for the Good News of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ? 

The Good News that no matter what–no matter WHAT–God loves you and Jesus was sent for YOU.

There is HOPE right now.  Jesus is that hope.  There is JOY right now.  Jesus brings true joy, a joy that the world cannot give.  There is PEACE right now.  Jesus brings a peace that passes all human understanding and quiets our hearts, minds, and souls.

Will you join me in opening up for God’s Good News in Jesus Christ this time of year?

Pastor Tim

I continue to marvel at what God is doing in our midst at St. Luke…

We GATHER - 4 weekend services…bands to choirs…liturgy to all-out contemporary…pastors in jeans to pastors in robes…and, yet, the Good News of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed no matter what the worship style is.  800 people a weekend are gathering to Worship the living God…and God meets us by His Holy Spirit and connects with us in amazing and wonderful ways.

We GROW - if you told me 63 people would have registered for our Tuesday Night 6-week “Bible 101″ course, I might have chuckled.  Yet, that’s what happened.  St. Luke is a people hungering to grow in faith!  Whether it’s a Bible Study, Small Group, or teaching the biblical truths to our kids, we are growing as Christ-followers.

We GIVE - wondering if the Lord is up to something at St. Luke?  Look no further than our 2008 “faith” budget (that’s church talk for a big budget based on prior year’s budgets).  The economy is facing difficult and trying times.  Yet, St. Luke still finds herself “in the black” with respect to budget!  How can that be?  Answer: the Holy Spirit continues to stir hearts to be faithful, generous, and cheerful givers.  Not only do we give our financial resources to God’s mission in the world; we give our time and our talents, too.  Our local and global mission ministries are just scratching the surface with respect to what God is calling us to do to share His love with the world!

We GO!  Wonder how St. Luke has gone from 425 worhsippers a weekend in 2005 to 800 in 2008?  Simple answer.  St. Luke “goes with the gospel!”  Sometimes big churches get comfy with their size and figure they don’t need to go.  We go.  A member of St. Luke, after hearing a sermon on our call from God to go and invite others to be a part of God’s mission for St. Luke, invited some friends to worship with 3 simple biblical words: “Come and see.”  Their friends came, and they had a great experience, and now want to come back and join St. Luke.  Could it be that simple? Yep.

Way to go, St. Luke!  Isn’t it fun to have a God-given mission and ”Four G’s” to live by?  Gather, Grow, Give, & Go! 

God is a God of surprises!

How else can you explain Him starting a nation through a couple–Abraham and Sarah–in their 90’s?

How else can you explain Him using a young boy–David–to knock down the giant enemy?

How else can you explain Him choosing a young, unwed woman–Mary–to be the mother of the Messiah?

God is a God of surprises!

I wonder what He will surprise us with this fall at St. Luke?

I wonder whom God will raise up for His will to be done to build His Kingdom?  Is it you?

Is He calling you to lead a Small Group or teach our youth?

Is He calling you to join a band or choir and share your musical gifts?

Is He calling you to share a passion for one of our local or global mission ministries?

Is He calling you to get connected to one of our Minsitry Teams and lead by sharing your gifts and serving others?

I can’t wait to see God’s surprises for us this fall at St. Luke!

Does St. Luke exist for our members, or our non-members?

Yes.

The answer is we exist for both.

There are Christ-followers here who moved chairs at Crestview Elementary School, back when St. Luke was just getting started in the late 70’s.  Since then, thousands have called St. Luke their home congregation.  We exist for these people, because Christ-followers never, ever stop growing in faith, worshiping, and being serious about mission and sharing Christ’s love with the world.

There are people who do not know Jesus Christ, or who once were connected to the church but have since drifted away and have no church home now.  “I don’t believe anymore,” or “I don’t know what to believe,” or simply, “There is no God” is what they sincerely say.  We exist for these people, because Jesus never said the church is a private club.  The church is a center for mission and we are called by Jesus to “go, make disciples of everyone, baptizing them and teaching them.”  Jesus told us to have the same passion for people who aren’t where they belong–in an authentic and real relationship with Him–as those looking for something they lost that is priceless to them.

We exist for our members.  We exist for our non-members.  That’s a church who knows God wants to draw them closer to Him; while at the same time drawing those who don’t know Him to them.  What a privilege for Christ-followers to be called to share His love with the world.

So, it’s not one or the other.  It’s “yes.”  We exist for all of God’s children–the ones who know Him, and the ones who don’t know Him yet.

GO, SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!  THANKS BE TO GOD!

Every year, our family watches fireworks on the 4th of July.

It seems every year during that time as the fireworks are exploding; I find myself thanking God in prayer for the generations of men and women who have given their very lives to provide Americans with the freedom we have.

As we say, “Thank you” to those men and women; I am also reminded of the true freedom we have from God in Christ Jesus.  Jesus gave His very life for our freedom–freedom from sin and death.

Through the cross of Jesus Christ, and our faith in Him as Lord and Savior, we have true freedom from our sins; and true freedom from death.

Freedom from sin is forgiveness–not saying, “you’re ok, I’m ok, we’re all ok” and condoning the things we know from Scripture are not God’s will for our lives.  Sin is sin; and we’re all stuck in it.  True freedom comes from knowing that and understanding that the power of the cross is not condoning sin; but forgiving it.

Freedom from death is knowing that when our earthly life ends, we will enter heaven if we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Heaven is where all believers will be forever with God.

So, in this lifetime, I’m thankful for the freedom we have in this great country thanks to the generations of men and women who have provided us with this freedom by giving their very lives for it.  Also, in this lifetime, I’m thankful for the freedom that comes from faith in Jesus Christ–from sin and death.

Thank you, American soldiers.  Thank you, Jesus Christ.

Pastor Tim

I stood on the grass two days ago to say, “Good Morning” and “Welcome” to those coming from the parking lot to our first outdoor worship gathering this summer…and I kept seeing more people…and more people…and more people.

In fact, at a few times, there was a back-up on Hinton Avenue to turn into our parking lot!

My heart started racing as God’s people just kept coming - and when everyone had their lawn chairs settled under shade or in the beautiful sunshine; there were over 340 people on our lawn worshipping our Creator in His Creation!

God keeps amazing me!

He has stirred our hearts to be a people of worship - we had 150 more people worshipping this past summer weekend than we had three years ago during the program year months!

He has stirred our hearts to be a giving people - our giving is up in an economy that’s not.

He has stirred our hearts to be mission-minded people - our MISSION MIDWAY ministry is gearing up for life-changing ministry this summer.

He has stirred our hearts to be people seeking those outside of faith - each week, I meet someone at worship who’s friends invited them to join us!

THANK YOU, ST. LUKE!  God keeps amazing me through YOU!

Pastor Tim

A pastor/mentor of mine said this once at a conference he was speaking at, and it has stuck with me ever since.  The most beautiful sanctuaries ARE, indeed, outdoors.

Think of the beauty of God’s creation.  Think of the sanctuaries He has created for you and me:

-For some of you, it’s the lake early in the morning, and drifting out upon it in your boat.

-For some of you, it’s your garden or back yard.

-For some of you, it’s looking out over a beautifully designed golf hole.

-For some of you, it’s your favorite path to walk or ride your bike.

For ALL OF US, God calls us to gather outdoors this summer on the grass, amidst the trees, and worship Him.  Every Sunday at 10AM, we’ll worship in God’s sanctuary–outdoors, on the lawn.

Bring your lawn chairs, a neighbor/friend, and let’s enjoy God’s sanctuary for worship this summer.

…of faith.

The New Testament talks about our faith as a “race.” 

First, it’s a race that’s good.  God would never ask you to run a race that wasn’t good.  “Good” may not be what you think.  Good might be a challenge in your life.  Good might be a difficult time that creates a deeper faith for you, thus good.  Good might be pushing you out of your comfort zone.  Whatever the case may be, God would not invite you to run a race that’s “bad.”

Second, it’s a race that calls for endurance.  It’s a marathon, not a sprint.  It’s a call to pace yourself through the ups and downs of life - a pace that helps faith in Jesus persevere.  So many “fall away” from a Spirit-filled faith…many times it’s because they haven’t trained well for endurance; or perhaps they decided to stop the race would be “easier” or the “better way.”  Newsflash - it’s not either.

Third, it’s a race that has been mapped out for you.  OK, let’s think about that for a second…the Creator of the universe has mapped out a race for YOU.  A plan for your life!  That’s hard to wrap our brains around, but amazing to ponder! 

God invites you to run the race of faith…the race of life…they are meant to be the same race.

A garden?  Your lawn?  Baseball or softball?  A home project?  Getting the lake place or boat ready?

There’s something major missing on the list above…can you guess?

Answer:  Worship.

God wired you up to worship Him.  So, as you think about your spring priorities, think about worship.  Can I challenge you to put it on your “Spring Priorities List?”  Hope so, because God’s people continue to gather in the spring, as they do in all seasons of the year.

Psalm 100 says, “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs…enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.”

That’s hard to do if you don’t show up.

Let’s keep worship as a priority throughout the spring!  God gathers with His worshippers every time we come together - His Holy Spirit stirs and moves throughout the assembly!

How could one have a priority that could top that?

See you in worship.