A Ragamuffin Voice

I know that outreach can be a scary thing to some of you.  I remember the days back when churches were doing a thing called Evangelism Explosion – an effective outreach ministry where you’d go door to door and ask very personal questions.  You’d go through intensive training to help build your confidence, memorize scripture and learn how to lead someone in the sinner’s prayer to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Going door to door certainly wasn’t everyone’s thing.  It was very personally challenging and often very uncomfortable.  No one likes a door slammed in their face.  And in the 1980’s that’s often what you got.  While Evangelism Explosion was very effective in the 70’s, it was not seen as culturally friendly by the mid 80’s. As Christians, however, we are still called to reach people for Christ.  It’s not limited to those with the gift of evangelism.  In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus makes it real clear...

One of the worst catastrophes in this country has happened and we are still trying to regain some composure. If you're like me, you are watching exerpts throughout the day to see what is happening in New Orleans, Mississippi and Alabama. I cannot begin to imagine how deeply seated is this turmoil in their lives. I have found myself in deep anguish over the loss of life and the helplessness of the people I see on TV and read about in the paper. I think I am in a personal struggle as well, wishing there was something more I could do besides giving money and praying. Personally, I don't know anyone in any of the areas -- that I know of. One of my former youth and member of ALC was going to attend Tulane and then was sent home. It was covered in the Sentinel on Saturday. Other than that, I feel somewhat distant both physically and emotionally from the whole thing. Even with the inundation of media coverage, one cannot fully connect. But one thing I do know -- God is with these peop...

It's been awhile since I posted on this site, but things have been quite busy. PRAISE THE LORD! We finally have all the permit stuff taken care of. I want to put out a special thank you to Andrew Golike who took time off work and more to chase all of this stuff down. Thanks to Cary Eidsness, Orville and Coreen Caldwell, and Bud Knapton for going the extra mile on the Restart Team, to make this happen. I also want to thank John Paxson from New Life Church for being so involved and an incredible support to ALC. I thank God for these folks every day. Let me bring you up to speed on all the happenings. The offices will no longer be at West Gate Inn. I have an office in my home for the time being. The phone number is still the same. Vickie Golike has come on board as a volunteer office manager type person since Coreen had to take another job. I am very sad that we can not pay for the position at this time. Coreen is still involved in small groups, Taste and See, and prayer. ...

Just this past week I attended a funeral of an acquaintance of mine. Let me correct that. I would say that, while I didn’t know Austin Parker as a close friend, he was definitely a friend. We played music together and lead worship at New Life Church just a few years ago. Our worship team was very much like a small group and we got to know each other fairly well. I began to think about Austin’s life accomplishments after viewing the big collage of pictures at his wake. I wondered how many lives he’d touched and all the things that he must have laughed about. You see, most of the pictures showed something of his character. He loved life and could be seen with his big broad grin or mouth wide in hysterical laughter. I stood in front of those memories of Austin and chuckled remembering some of his silly jokes or the times he loved to kid around. Some of us standing around laughed out loud with the family as they recounted some of those moments. Imagine, laughing a...

I came across this posting by Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Church and author of the Purpose Driven Life. I thought it was well worth reproducing. It has a lot to say about a healthy church. The importance of helping members develop friendships within your church cannot be overemphasized. Relationships are the glue that holds a church together. Friendships are the key to retaining members. A friend once told me of a survey he took in a church. When he asked, "Why did you join this church?" 93% of the members said, "I joined because of the pastor." When he then asked, "What if the pastor leaves? Will you leave?" 93% said "No." When he asked why they wouldn't leave, the response was "Because I have friends here!" Do you notice the shift in allegiance? This is normal and healthy. Lyle Schaller has done extensive research that shows the more friendships a person has in a congregation, the less likely he is to become inact...

This is a follow up post to the sermon from this past Sunday. I am curious to know how you believe the Holy Spirit moves in your life. Maybe we can share some stories here. I shared just a few things where I know the Holy Spirit has moved in my life; speaking through me at times I least expect it, guidance in my study and my decisions. Have you ever wondered whether or not the things you said to someone were at all helpful? You remember saying something, but felt that it wasn't very profound or insightful. You remember saying a quiet prayer asking for God's help, but weren't sure anything worthwhile came out of your mouth. I've done that and later found out that what I said really spoke to the person. It reminds me of Matthew 10 where Jesus sends out his disciples. In verse 19 and 20 it says... "19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the...

So I'm driving into Fruita last Friday night with my lovely wife to get some dinner at the new Fruita Brewing Company and then take in Nate's play, Little Shop of Horrors, when I sense something..... .... You see I had been praying for months and silently while we were driving. As we came into town I felt an overwhelming sense of love for this community. I really care about what happens in Fruita; for the people there, to the people. And tonight as we satand prayed in the central park in the Fruita circle, I was overwhelmed with the pain that God must feel for all those who do not know him. I found myself weeping on the way home. I attribute this all to prayer and the movement of the Holy Spirit in my life. It seems the more one prays the more we are open to God's heart -- we begin to see people as he sees them. We can see clearer as our eyes are opened through prayer. Acts 1:14 "They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the m...

Life seems really busy these days. It always seems to pick up speed as we head toward the end of the school year. And, once again, we are preparing for another graduation. Nate graduates this year. There are many events to attend including the last play and concerts not to mention a scholarship award ceremony. After returning from my whirlwind tour of South Dakota and Iowa, I was greeted to a sick dog who needed a vet's attention. Bailey had a fast growing absess on her face just below the eye. By Sunday it was difficult to look at her without wanting to flinch. Tired and worn I found myself crying to God from some respite. I have been missing my extended prayer times and can feel it. To top it all off, I think about all the work that needs to be done and the money raised to make the transition to Fruita. Then something happens. I see how vital it is that we get there. I think about the Acts 2 church and how they gave so freely of themselves, the reached out to everyon...

This is the final week of Jesus' ministry before enduring the cross. Many call it Holy Week. I like that. You don't have to be Catholic or Episcopalian to appreciate the importance of allowing the events of Christ's journey to the cross settle in your spirit. So what makes this week any different than another? While it is just seven days, it is important for us to take the time to remember what Christ has done on our behalf. The Apostle's Creed says, "suffered under Pontius Pilate...." Let's take a moment and consider what suffering Christ endured and why. During his whole life on earth, but especially at the end, Christ sustained in body and soul the anger of God against the sin of the whole human race. And he did it so that by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice, he might set us free, body and soul, from eternal condemnation. But not only that, he gains for us God's grace, righteousness and eternal life. Christ's whole person was...

Okay, so I've been reflecting on that past number of years since we started Abundant Life Church. It has often been said, and some of you have heard me say it, that to know if you're in God's will, just look behind you and see where He's brought you. Romans 12:1&2 is a key scripture passage for understanding God's will. Verse 2 especially says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Lately, we've been able to test God's will. Think of how he's been moving in our church: He brings the right people into our congregation to help grow the areas that need development. We do all that we are supposed to do to grow the church and establish it in the community. Growth has been slow, but the vision and faith in our body has grown tremendously. Just when we are wond...

God is good... All the time... And all the time... God is good. That's something we say a lot in our church family. Why? Because it is true. As the pastor I am privileged to hear a lot of stories of what God is doing in people's lives. I have tried to instill in our small church the joy of sharing our God sightings. After awhile you hear some common themes in people's stories. Some times the theme is, "when I finally realized that I couldn't do it and surrendered it to God, everything changed; things began to happen that only God could do." I don't know how many times I've heard how someone who desperately wanted to get married and had tried so hard to find that special someone gave it up to God. They couldn't seem to meet that right one. They were moving from relationship to relationship but never connecting with that one person who would be their soulmate. In desperation and frustration they gave it to God and said, "fine, if I'...

What an awesome time we had at the Campfields for the Super Bowl Party. -- Hey Rich and Jo, thanks for the grand time. To the domino playing chicks in the back room and laughing hysterically -- PIPE DOWN WILL YA! You gals are having just tooo much fun. This football thing is too important to be missing any of the commercials. The food was amazing and plenty to go around. I'm glad that it was a close game, but I was disappointed that the Patriots won. I was hoping to be able to razz my old mentor buddy Ken Nydam whose living in Massachusettes and a die-hard New England fan. Hmmpff -- anyone can root for a winning team.

If you were at last Sunday's worship service (Jan 31,05) you heard a sermon on God's Providence. Well, Coreen showed me an awesome devotional for today that I hadn't seen before. God is good! Check it out below and see what you think. From "The Word for you Today" devotional Tuesday Feb 1, 2005: "You meant it for evil against me; But God meant if for Good." Genesis 50:20 GOOD WILL COME OUT OF IT In spite of the fact that Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, wrongly accused of rape by Potiphar's wife and sent to prison for many years, he could say: "You meant it for evil against me; but God meant if for good." How often has something happened in your life that you later realized was necessary? If you hadn't sustained this or walked through that you wouldn't be ready for the blessings you're enjoying now, right? It's when you see the hand of God in it, that you begin to understand that what th...

Hey all, I always thought I was a fairly contemporary guy. I like to keep up on the latest things especially when it comes to technology -- oh my, I just thought of the groom's song from Napoleon Dynamite -- whoa! Anyway, I have been reading and noticing that blogging has become the latest thing. What's blogging? It is short for web log. It is a place to journal your thoughts, ideas and, of course rantings and musings and let others comment and respond. Kind of cool, eh So, what do you think of the idea? I plan on posting some serious spiritual issue stuff here for you to comment on. If you check it out regularly you'll probably find some challenges. We can probably get some good discussions going here. Let me know what you think.