Resources and Information: Pastor Jody's Articles
Pastor Jody's Heart
Are
you familiar with the words of Jesus in Matthew 18, where He was addressing the
issue of interpersonal conflict, and how we as believers are instructed to
handle it? I think it’s very important
to be reminded of these words from time to time...as interpersonal conflict
(even between Christians) is inevitable.
This
is what Jesus said (Matthew 18:15-17):
"If your
brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of
you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not
listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established
by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them,
tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat
him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
So
let’s say that fellow believer (“your brother”...or sister) does something that
you don’t like, or don’t agree with...or believe is downright wrong or
sinful. What should be your first move? Clearly, Jesus instructs us to go directly to
that person, one-on-one… “just between the two of you”...and discuss it. The vast majority of the time, this is the
only step required. You’ll share your point
of view, they’ll share theirs, and you shake hands and move on. But if they dig in their heels, and refuse to
listen, we are instructed to then take one or two others along with you. Now it’s not just your word against
theirs. The testimony is being
“established”. And if the conflict is
still unresolved, we are instructed to “tell it to the church”. I don’t believe this means to announce it
from the front on a Sunday morning (please don’t). I think this means to involve the elders of
the church, who have the responsibility of overseeing church discipline and
membership.
It
is a clear process that Jesus...yes, Jesus...has given for us to follow. And what is it that doesn’t happen in this process?
You got it. Gossip. Proverbs 26:20 tells us that “Without wood a
fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.” Our goal should never be to stir up a
fire...rather our goal needs to be resolving the conflict and coming to a place
of reconciliation, forgiveness and understanding.
I
pray daily that the Lord protects our congregation from the devastating effects
of gossip. Following Matthew 18 is the
way to keep wood from being thrown on the fire of conflict. If you have an issue with another brother or
sister, then please don’t share it with others...don’t even ask them to “pray
about it”. Do what Jesus tells us to do,
and take it directly to the one you have issue with. God receives the glory, and the unity of the
Body is protected.
Friday Greetings…
Friday Greetings…
The heat is on! Nothing but sunshine for the next week, with temperatures forecast to hit triple digits this coming Sunday and Monday. For those of you heat lovers out there (or farmers who need the heat), this is welcome news. And for those of you like me…what you love the most is that there is a 40 degree difference between the heat of the afternoon and the cool of the night. Having grown up in Ohio, where there was usually only a 15-20 degree difference (afternoons in the 90’s, middle of the night in the 80’s…with high humidity), dropping 40 degrees makes such a huge difference. Not to mention the 20% humidity. Just another day in paradise. OK…not really. But it will certainly suffice until we actually DO get to paradise…where the light comes from Jesus and the water flows from the very throne of God.
We continue to have our children and students coming and going this summer. Our high school students returned from the LIFE Conference in Louisville a week ago, and had a tremendous time with 6500 other students from across the country. Our middle school students return this afternoon from Portland, where they have been to a conference called “Youthquake” sponsored by our district office. Their mornings and evenings have been spent in group sessions, and their afternoons have involved going out on various missions projects. Pastor Andy called me yesterday to say that it’s been a great trip. And tomorrow morning, 25 of our children (grades 3-6) and 11 leaders are heading to Camp Wooten for 5 days of fun and spiritual growth. This is always a highlight for our Kid’s Ministry, and I ask that you hold them up in your prayers.
Don’t you just love being a part of a church that reaches and trains up kids and students the way ours does? I was telling someone earlier today how significant it is that our kids and teenagers are literally changing a community in West Africa (Samorogouan) through their love, prayers, sacrificial giving, and personal involvement. A pastor’s house has been built, a church has been built, a school/literacy center will soon be constructed (in the least literate country in the world), pastors are able to take the gospel even further into “the bush” carried along by two ATV’s (last year’s VBS project), and now seven pastors have a pair of bulls to plow their fields and assist others as well (this year’s VBS project). We plan to send another team of 18-20 high school students back there next summer. It is our mission to reach the very ends of the earth with the saving message of Jesus Christ…and by the Lord’s help we work to accomplish it.
On the giving front, our giving has dropped off a notch or two these past couple of Sundays. The great news is that all of the construction bills from the sanctuary remodel project have or will in the next week or so be completely paid off. We are also getting to the place where the funds that we “borrowed” from our restricted savings accounts are being restored. But our goal for the summer is to completely restore those accounts, and get back to the place in our unrestricted savings accounts that we were heading into this year. In order to accomplish that we need to see between $25,000 and $30,000 come in each Sunday for the next 6 Sundays. If we hit an average of $30,000 per week, we will accomplish our “thermometer” goal of $125,000 per month for June, July and August. June was almost right on ($121,200). And August gives us an additional Sunday to reach the goal. So our prayer is that we finish July with a strong Sunday, and see what God does in August. It is obvious that so many of you are giving in such sacrificial ways…and I can only say thank you. These are very challenging economic times, and we must take the journey of faith through the fear of giving. But God promises to open wide the storehouses of His blessing when we tithe and give sacrificially (see Malachi 3)…so let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and give with joy.
Lastly, I want to mention that our annual Church Picnic out at Connelly Park is a week from this Sunday, August 1st, at 3pm. We ask that last names beginning with A-M bring a main dish and dessert, and those N-Z bring a main dish and salad. Table service and drinks will be provided. Also bring your own chairs, blankets…and of course boats and jet-ski’s if you’re fortunate enough to have ‘em.
Blessings…and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
Pastor Jody
7-23-2010