Phil's Thoughts

I was recently looking at some promotional material on the movie that came out this past spring called “Expelled:  No Intelligence Allowed”.  It is a cry for freedom to those who would dare to question the “truth” of Darwinism.  The movie highlights the order and the intricate design of the entire universe in a way that raises serious questions and doubts about the ongoing teaching of random selection.  As science continues to advance and discover the highly sophisticated in which all of life is knit together, the evidence continues to mount for a Master Designer, Creator who put it all together.

I have always accepted by faith that God is the Creator of all living things. Through the years, as science has continued to advance in its discoveries, my faith grows and I am awed over and over again at the awesome power and creativity that is seen in His creation.

Recently, as I was contemplating this whole subject again, I began to think of my own life.  If God gave so much attention to such minute detail of His creation, how much more He must be involved in what is going on in my life every day.  Psalm 139 reminds us that there is no thought or activity in our life that escapes His attention.  The psalmist says, “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.”  Further on he says, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” When I stop and contemplate such knowledge I am humbled and I find myself caught up in worship of Him.  

Set aside some time in your life each day to contemplate God’s care interest for you.  You are His handiwork and He has great plans for your life.  Don’t exchange them for your own. Take some time this week to read through Psalm 139 and meditate on the words.

Reflections

It has been a privilege recently to have my parents visiting with us.  The other night, we were sitting around listening to some stories of their childhood. We listened to stories of long, cold and dark nights before electricity and indoor plumbing.  Their days were filled with plenty to do besides going to school, hanging out with friends and playing video games.  There were cows to be milked, a garden to be tended and sap to be gathered for making maple syrup. All of these experiences and more served to build a strong bond between siblings as well as with mom and dad.  

Time has brought many changes. Today, the things that can consume so much of our time outside of work and school are things that draw our attention inward, toward ourselves—things like television, computer, music, hobbies, etc.  None of these things are evil in and of themselves.  The unfortunate result of having a steady diet of these things is they do not generally foster relationship building with others and closeness with family members and friends is sacrificed. It is too easy for each family member to become absorbed in their own interests and there are too few activities or chores that bring us together. 

During this time of the year when we are focusing on family, intentionally seek out opportunities and activities that will build on those relationships with others. Take a walk together, play games, go with a friend or family member to visit someone you have not seen for a long time, read the Bible and pray together, take some time to simply talk about your childhood or just share some memories together.  Be creative and share your experiences with others.  

Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”  As we invest in the lives of others, together we are becoming a better person.  As believers our goal is to be conformed more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ.  Commit yourself today in a greater measure to those things that bear eternal dividends.    

I Dare You!

In the summer of 1925 an evangelist by the name of Will French pitched a tent on the corner of what is now Lombard and St Louis Ave to hold a series of evangelistic meetings with the intent of seeing a new church planted in St Johns.  After a summer of meetings in that tent a core of new believers was formed that continued to meet together at various locations over the next year.  On Thanksgiving day of 1926 the basement of a new church building was poured, it was covered and the newly formed church began to meet together for worship. (The corner of Chicago and Leonard) The St Johns Wesleyan Methodist Church grew over the following years. It outgrew its building on Chicago and built a new sanctuary on its present location where they moved their meetings to in October of 1963. 

Over the years the Wesleyan Church in St Johns has had the opportunity to see many lives impacted and changed with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Many have poured their lives into the ministry of the church to see transformation take place.  The face of St Johns has changed over the years and has left the church with a unique challenge of building bridges into the lives of its people in differing ways.  If we do not care about seeing transformation take place in our community we will not exert the effort to get close enough to its people to understand the needs and the questions that they are plagued with. The message must forever stay the same, but methodology may need to change according to the needs of the people we minis- 

ter to.  

Christ is and always will be our model for evangelism.  In His encounters with those He ministered to while on this earth, Christ taught us some timely principles about building bridges into the lives of others.  In his book, “Just Walk Across the Room”, Bill Hybels highlights five lessons that is gleaned from Christ’s encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 4. 

LESSON 1: Bridge the Chasm – 

Jesus went where other Jews did not go.  He talked to people that other Jews would not talk to. “Jesus was intentional about moving toward people who were different than He was.” Are we willing to reach across differences of race, religion, gender, social class or political lines to get close enough to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others?  I dare you! 

LESSON 2: Ask A Question – 

Jesus asked, “Will you give me a drink?”  His question tests the waters of her will- 

ingness to engage ultimately in spiritual issues.  Learning to ask leading questions 

and to know when there is openness and when there is not is something that all of 

us can do as we allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit. Will we mingle with 

people we do not know long enough to ask about the spiritual needs in their life? I 

dare you! 

LESSON 3: Practice Patience – 

Jesus did not push her too quickly in making her decision about Him.  Christ’s agenda was in letting her know that her life was valuable, that it counted for some- 

thing and that in knowing Him her future would forever be changed.  Will you be 

careful to know that you are following God’s agenda and not your own when you seek to engage in spiritual conversations with others?  Will you wait?  Will you

listen?  I dare you! 

LESSON 4: Beware of Rabbit Trails – 

When the Samaritan woman diverts to a long-standing dispute about where the 

“true” place of worship was Jesus brings the conversation back to her need.  People 

will bring up hot button topics that people have talked about over and over, “What 

about the problem of evil in the world?”, “What about all the hypocrites?”  We must be sensitive to know when inquires may be sincere and when they are a diversion to avoid their own response to Jesus Christ.  Will you resist the temptation to engage in meaningless arguments that misses out on answering the questions to the real need?  I dare you! 

LESSON 5: Give Hope to the Hopeless – 

Let those that you reach out to know that the pain, the shame, the bondage, the grief, the brokenness, the despair can be filled with forgiveness, comfort, freedom, direction, meaning and purpose for life. Will you care enough to initiate that contact?  I dare you! 

When the woman’s life was changed she went off and brought an entire town out to meet Christ.  A life newly transformed leaves a story that cannot be contained. Do you believe in the power of God to transform a life, a home, a community?  Let’s pray, let’s go, let’s speak as God leads us into the fields of harvest. I dare you! 

You Want Me To What?

Have you ever watched the eyes of a child light up when they discover the joy of giving a piece of their own candy to another child?  We know all too well that we are by nature quite selfish.  We like to use that “mine” word and that can be hard to change.  We continue to do it when we get older we just become more sophisticated about it.  Learning the joy of giving can be a lifelong journey.  The more we practice it the more we discover its value in our lives.  

There is a principle about giving outlined in the Bible that describes a proportionate relationship between our giving and our receiving.  II Corinthians 9:6 says, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”  God knows what our needs are. The things that He pours back into our lives will astound us over and over again.  As we continue giving we will experience the joy similar to that of the child described at the beginning.  Many have testified to God’s faithfulness as they have learned to give of themselves and their resources to Him.  It is a supernatural thing that only God can do in a person’s life. 

The principle for giving that was just highlighted from II Corinthians can be applied to more than just money.  In Luke’s gospel Jesus says, “Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)  In the verse preceding this one Jesus was talking about forgiveness, not judging and not condemning others.  Learn to extend mercy and grace and you will find it poured back into your life from Christ and from those around you.  

Life is full of challenges.  When we place “me” at the center, we can find ourselves coming up short – short on finances, short on patience, short on kind words and so on.  When our greatest desire is to honor the One who is the author and provider of 

everything, life takes on a new perspective.  The windows of the eyes are opened and delight begins to pour out of them.  This is when we become the kind of giver that Paul describes – “a cheerful giver.”   

At the beginning of this New Year, commit yourself to a new level of generosity in every area of your life.  Honor Christ in all that you do.  You will not be disappointed.