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August 27, 2008

Good Morning All…

Today I woke up to the sound of heavy machinery doing, who-knows-what across the street. Of course, I don’t need to know what they’re doing…unless I’m paying for it, or it’s going to lock me into my house! But that’s the beauty of “community”; everyone has work to do that supports everyone else, so that ALL of our lives can be better…that’s the IDEAL anyway.

I’m assuming that what these guys are doing across the street is something for the betterment of our street, and I’m assuming that they KNOW what they’re doing…in other words, I TRUST them to do their job. I rely on them to do their job, and I silently THANK them for doing their job.

I’ve worked in businesses (and churches) where ONE person seemed to do everything. You can guess what happened, THINGS GOT MISSED. There are churches that I know of where the Pastor is required to be ALL things to ALL people…and I can tell you that not only does it not work, it’s not what the scripture defines as “church”. In fact the scripture and the Holy Spirit are clear in their description of ALL the members working together as ONE Body…with JESUS as the head. Good grief, in this scenario even JESUS doesn’t do EVERYTHING.

I’m saying this because sometimes I feel frustrated at not being able to do everything that I want to, in a timely manner. I sometimes feel that I don’t get to study as much as I should, visit as much as I should, teach as much as I should…etc. And I have one of those personalities that needs to multi-task to get ANYTHING done, and I like to stay busy. But I thank God that He has placed me in a community filled with people who “step in”, who, like the guys in orange vests across the street, know what they’re doing and do it…who understand that the Pastor can’t be everywhere at the same time, can’t be all things to all people, and shouldn’t represent the entirety of spiritual gifts that each church family should have.

What I’m saying, I guess, is “thank you” for being the teachers, the visitation ministers, the prayer warriors, the artists, the workers, the helpers that God has called you to be…thank you for “picking up the slack”, for “going above and beyond”, in short, for being the “Body of Christ” on earth. I am blessed to be with you all…

…and I love you all, and if I can get out of my front door and am not surrounded by heavy machinery…I’ll see you in church!

THIS SUNDAY…the official last Sunday of the Summer, we finish up our DREAM BIG series with “RISK IT”.

Please remember those who seek your prayers on the back of the bulletin, and remember those who haven’t been able to be with us for a while, like Suzi McDuffee and the many others who are recovering at home. Please remember the family of Charlotte Wilkins as we host a memorial service this Saturday at 11am in the Central Church Sanctuary for her and her family. Please pray for all of the up-coming Church ministries that begin anew and start again on September 7^th or that week…thank you all.

August 20, 2008

Good Morning Everyone!

Well I’ve got a new neighbor who lives underneath the shrubbery beneath our front porch. He is a noisy neighbor, at all hours of the day you can hear him. And he’s hiding deep enough within the greenery to not even be disturbed by our coming and going. He’s also intrigued Bob the Cat enough that Bob goes to the window and sits listening. My new neighbor is a cricket.

A cricket. Not “singing” at night, but during the day. A confused cricket. And WHY is he confused? Well, my guess is (because all of the traffic in and out of the house doesn’t seem to disturb him) that he’s either deaf and blind (unlikely), or he’s so much in the dark that he doesn’t know the night from the day…and chirps (or “stridulates”, as it’s called) to ward off a constant perceived threat that isn’t really there.

He’s in the dark, not realizing that he is SURROUNDED by life, light and yes…safety (peace). His stressful life is determined by only what he sees. And without moving out of his comfort zone, he only knows what he sees in his little world.

If only there were some way to show my little cricket neighbor that he was not in danger, that there was sunshine outside of his little shrubbery house, that he could SLEEP during the day (instead of annoying his neighbors) and sing at night…when he’s supposed to. He wouldn’t listen to me…but if I could become a cricket, then maybe I could explain it to him, save him, and he’d choose to be my friend…he’d choose to love me.

Wow, this story sounds familiar. Thanks, little cricket-dude, for reminding me about the Life & Light .

This Sunday…join us for another installment of DREAM BIG: BEYOND YOUR PICKET FENCE, we’ve also got the CENTAL SINGERS to add to our worship experience (you’ll have to come to see who they are).

Check out the website at www.central-christian-church.com to see what’s coming up in the next couple weeks, as we start the ecclesiastical year on September 7^th. There’s information on our 150^TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION along with photos from C.A.M.P. and information on the 10 concerts in our 2008-2009 CENTRAL CONCERT SERIES.

Congratulations to Lyle & Pat Crouse on their 50^th Anniversary last week!

Just a reminder…Visitation for ALMA PARTINGTON is this Friday (the 22^nd) from 5p-8p at Robert Loose with the service this Saturday at 11:30am at Robert Loose.

I love you all…see you in Church!

August 13, 2008

Good Morning Everyone!

I really enjoy the OLYMPICS, it’s something that my parents always watched and got excited about, it’s something that I grew up with…I can remember so many “moments” from the Opening Ceremonies to the Closing Ceremonies and everything in between…so many stories. The tragic moments of the Munich Olympics, and watching such legends as Peggy Flemming, Nadia Comaneci, Mark Spitz and the list goes on.

When I watch a performance, especially of a single and single-minded athlete, as overproduced orchestration plays in the background…among thousands waving the flag of the United States of America, I walk away believing that I have seen the impossible (impossible for ME, at least) and that perhaps my dreams are too small.

I’m also constantly struck by the discipline these athletes have, enough to make what they’re doing look easy. I mean, have you seen Michael Phelps?! This guy is incredible! Not only is he a giant of a kid (and yes, I am falling into that pattern that my parents established…”anyone under 30 is considered a “kid”) but he works so hard, every day to be who he is. Not only is his career impressive: competing in the Sidney Olympics at 15, being the youngest person to ever BREAK a world record, setting 4 world records in the 2003 World Championships, qualifying for 6 events in the 2004 Olympics…but he seems to be a really nice, average guy who loves his Mom (ahh).

But the lesson that truly struck me was watching him swim the race, doing the butterfly (his signature stroke), that he won, making him the winningest (is that a word?) medal-winner ever! At the end of the race he looked disappointed…really. Later, it was revealed that at the beginning of the race his goggles had filled with water and he swam (won and set yet another world record) blind. In other words, he had worked so hard, disciplined himself so much, that he could actually do what he was doing…with his eyes closed!

Yes folks, there IS a sermon in here. How many ways and how many times does God speak to use through His Spirit and the Scripture, to “practice” His presence, to discipline ourselves to prayer and the practice of love for each other…why is that? I believe that when the time comes for our testing, when hard times come, when we are physically weak and tired and sick…our discipline and practice pays off and we can still win the race, even with our eyes closed, because of what we have done to prepare.

Michael Phelps will continue to inspire, along with all of the athletes, for all parts of the world…but my prayer is that they, like everything and everyone around us, will lead us to a deeper love and understanding of the Father we all share.

This Sunday…we celebrate again in word and song, following our DREAM BIG series, with “DREAM BIG: MAKE A MOVE”…Monday Night Pastor’s Bible Study will look at the faith of ISLAM.

A couple of long-time and older members at Central have passed this month. Alma Partington, who was living in a health-care facility in town, passed and we will celebrate her life at a service of resurrection on Saturday, August 23^rd (Robert Loose). And Charlotte Wilkins (husband, Richard), a former member who since had moved away, will have a Memorial Service on Saturday August 30^th here at Central, in the Chapel.

Mark your calendars for SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7^TH…OUR “KICK OFF” SUNDAY for returning ministries including Chancel Choir, Chancel Handbells, Sunday School…and new ministries like “WORSHIP & WONDER” for Children, and FRIDAY NIGHTS for COLLEGE AGE.

I love you all…see you in church!

July 30, 2008

Good Morning Everyone!

As you read this, we are having a great time at our first C.A.M.P.(Central Arts, Music & Parables) this week. We have 36 energetic, beautiful children with us each day this week; some local, some from Central, most not. They are singing, dancing, learning about the story of Joseph and his “amazing Technicolor dreamcoat” and making shirts, bracelets, candles, fake beards and wigs, costumes…and who-knows-what…they are laughing, yelling (screaming…in joy of course) and filling this 100-year-old building with life! What started as a dream and a plan on paper, through Cindy Pugsley, our guest leaders Wendy Rogers & Steve Fleck, and all of our volunteers…has become reality.

Our beautiful old sanctuary has seen a lot of life in its time, it has heard the laughter of children many times and housed dreams and reality for over 100 years…and each time, it is a wonder to see what a dream can do, and what new life can do to change a mere place.

I am so happy to see this congregation “host”, so warmly, the many “dreams” of people from within and without. Dreams need a place where they can safely be exposed to the world, a place where there is support and prayers and life. When you look in the eyes of these kids, and see the smiles reflected in the faces of the adult helpers as they watch these kids have fun, you realize that THIS kind of energy in God has kept this church alive. And you understand why God takes so much interest in children…they help us stay young, they help us smile, they help us remember what is important…and they ask us to join them as they look for us to help them.

This Sunday we have an opportunity to see how our building “ministers” to those who dream and pursue beauty in God’s name. We will host “The Doctors of Dixieland” in our worship, playing for all of our singing and some special music…our C.A.M.P. KIDS will also sing and dance for us, and the set from “JOSEPH” will be up in the sanctuary. We invite EVERYONE to a Pitch-In right outside (or inside if it’s too hot) after worship. Then at 4p Anderson’s Black Expo opens with an Ecumenical Service in our sanctuary…all are invited!

Pray for Susie McDuffee as she faces surgery today for her back…remember Travis Tunis also as he continues in rehab.

I love you all…SEE YOU IN CHURCH!

July 16, 2008

Good Morning Everyone!

As I sit at my desk this morning, after returning from some time off, I ask myself how I could be away from my desk for only 10 days and yet have accumulated 20 days worth of work! It’s a little-known law of nature I suppose.

What did I do during my time off, you ask? Well, I was one of the many this year who took a “STAYcation”. Although I had several friends who offered their homes, condos in various places, I couldn’t afford to really GO anywhere, so I stayed in my home, wrote music and worked on a stage set that I designed for the MAINSTAGE THEATRE’S upcoming (opening tomorrow in fact) play, “WAIT UNTIL DARK”.

I have been fascinated by set design and construction for as long as I can remember seeing shows in a theatre. I’m not sure what the fascination is, except perhaps the idea of making something look like what it is not; fooling the eye. For instance, this upcoming MAINSTAGE show (did I say that it opened tomorrow night?) takes place in the New York City basement apartment of Sam & Susie Hendrix. There are two windows that look out into the street (fake), and a beautiful hardwood floor (also fake), and a brick wall (fake, fake, fake). And if you take a look backstage, all of that stuff that looks so real and solid is thin, propped up and wouldn’t stand the weakest puff of wind. It’s a nice place, but I wouldn’t want to live there.

It looks good, but it’s not what it seems to be. There are people I know who’s lives are exactly like that; what you see on the outside does not reflect the reality of the inside.

What do you think, is it a good thing to appear as something that you are not? Is it good to present a false face to others just because you think it’s what THEY need to see, or who YOU would like to be? Of course not. Sooner or later false faces expose themselves. Just like my stage set would not stand up to the test of real living, a false front wears away at the most inopportune times.

The whole of the Bible and the idea of Christianity is “truth” and “wholeness/holiness”. God wants us to be “who we are” in Him. It is, as everything is with God, for our own benefit. People who live false lives suffer greatly, people who know themselves and God, who are true to themselves and God, are at peace.

Honesty is not “full disclosure” to everyone you meet, but it IS a lifestyle that begins with knowing yourself and being honest before God. Some of us have learned this lesson the hard way…I would not wish that journey on anyone, but I would pray that everyone can arrive at the same “destination”. Be honest, be at peace…God loves who you are.

This Sunday, the 20th…join us for another installment of “PLANTING, WEEDING & GROWING” Parables of Jesus. Dr. Randy is leading in another summer conference and we’ll have the pleasure of having Shirley Coolidge with us as organist once again.

C.A.M.P. Central Art, Music & Parables camp begins Monday the 28^th at 9:00am. We already have several children attending, from outside Central’s walls…please pray that God will lead others to this exciting and fun adventure…and enroll your kids and grandkids this Sunday!

JAZZ SUNDAY August 3^rd at 10am…pitch-in/cookout to follow!!!

I love you all…see you in Church!