Our Blog

Kids Happenings December 2017

Hello church family,
Let me tell you, I love social media… when it’s used in good ways and not in ways to discourage others or tear     people down.  It can be used to dote on our kiddos, share our adventures, and encourage our friends with birthday wishes. If you don’t use social media it’s okay, it’s not for everyone and can be very addicting and time consuming, and for some, depressing.

Sadly, social media has its downfalls when it comes to relationships. Sure we can say we have 836 Facebook friends, but are they really friends? Are they even acquaintances?  When I look at the number of friends and followers that I have on social media I realize that the majority of them I haven’t spoken to in years. But I feel like I know them and I’m sure they feel the same way about me.  That’s just not right!  They don’t know me, they only know the things I want to share publicly. Not the truths that I keep to myself or only share with those that are truly “friends”.

The issue with present culture is we post pictures of the food we’re about to eat or the event or gathering we just attended. TV commercials make us feel like a loser if we haven’t backpacked Thailand or run with the bulls (which by the way is CRAZY).  We consume experiences like our small-plate appetizers and post our results on Facebook.  We choose to proudly advertise our worldly lives and deny our “friends” of knowing more about our Savior.  The bible tells us in Matthew 10:27 that we “shall proclaim from the rooftops”.  What is it that you are proclaiming? Is it your 35th small-plate appetizer or coffee house latte?  Social Media can be a VERY tall rooftop to proclaim a 2,000 year-old     message about a God who gave for us so we can give for others.

Imagine what our relationships would be like with our 836 “friends” when they hear Gods word through your social media and possibly learn more about your heart and Savior. Who knows.. that “friend” may become more than a mere acquaintance and become a sister or brother in Christ.  This coming holiday season, when you’re posting pics of your beautiful decorations and holiday feast, remember you have a rooftop to proclaim much more!

Thank you for allowing me to love on your kiddos.
God Bless,

Spare Change November 2017

As I sat at our annual food pantry training I looked around and realized that I was the youngest person in the room.  There were food pantry ministries from all over the tri-state area and many of them were run and staffed by senior adults.  That got me thinking about how much seniors serve.  I truly believe that without senior adults, retired adults, and disabled adults churches would not be able to offer the amount of ministry that we do and subsequently not help as many people in the community.  From this we can understand two important things:

1. Seniors Are Valuable
   Seniors (I am primarily thinking about those 60 years and above and in most cases retired or semi-retired) are not valued in our society.  Our culture values youth over experience.  There is so much talk now-a-days in church life about engaging millennials, which means the seniors can go quietly unnoticed.  Many people don’t care what seniors think or, at the very least, think they are outmoded.  However, seniors offer a unique life perspective.  They realize that life is a marathon. They realize what’s important in life. Young people have a lot to learn from them and need to value them.
2. You Never Retire from Ministry
   Many seniors also never retire.  Sure, they might retire professionally, but it is hard to go from working every day to all of a sudden doing nothing, so they naturally look for something to do.  You look at any volunteer organization, including the church, and what do you see…seniors.  Retirees are the ones working at the food banks, they are helping to fix things around the church, visiting shut-ins, spearheading mission’s offerings, and the list goes on and on.  Seniors that love God and love their church never retire, they continue to serve often until they just physically can’t.

Young People (I use this term loosely, anyone under 60) need to be challenged by the involvement of senior adults.  There are three ways in which we are challenged:

1. Are You Too Busy to Do Ministry?
   I know what it is like to have the stresses of life and the pressures of work and family.  We often feel like we are meeting ourselves coming and going.  Busyness seems to be a way of life, but is it the right way?  I think we need to step back and realize that we don’t have to schedule ourselves every hour of the day, especially to the exclusion of ministry.  If you’re too busy to serve the Lord, then you’re just too busy.  You need to cut some stuff out and find time to serve somewhere.
2. Serve Now and You’ll Serve Then
   I remember someone telling me that if you want to build a lifelong habit then start it when you're young.  Want to be a saver? Then start saving from the first time you get paid for mowing or babysitting.  Those habits will stick with you for the rest of your life.  The same is true with serving. If you don’t make it a habit now you will never do it, there will always be an excuse, or another thing that takes precedence.  If you want to serve the Lord then do it now, don’t wait.
3. Today’s Young People are Tomorrow’s Seniors
   Finally, I just want to remind all the young folks that today you are relevant, but tomorrow you may be feeling forgotten by our culture.  Realize that seniors are valuable: get to know some of them, listen to them, help them, and serve alongside of them.  You may just learn something new.