Been awhile, but I am back to writing. Last weekend we talked about how we often let fear drive our decision making process. Have any of you recently made a decision or decisions out of fear? How might that decision have been different if you had made it out of a deep love for God and God's Kingdom?
A lot of my decisions surrounding a relationship have been based on fear recently. I knew at the time that I was reacting out of fear and wanted to trust in God's love to help us through, but it's hard to give it over to Him. I have been trying more each day to trust in God's wisdom and protection for this relationship and it has been helping. It is giving me a much greater peace and comfort knowing that I don't have to control this situation, I just have to let go of it.
On October 25, 2009 I put out the challenge that everyone who is a part of BMZ Church needs to bring one new person to worship before Christmas Eve ... Christmas Eve does not count, because they are coming then anyway! I would love to hear one of two things in this conversation ... 1) Tell us what has worked for you in inviting other people to come, or 2) Tell us the story of how you got a friend or relative to come with you to worship at BMZ.
Oh, and if you have time, write down that guest's response to attending worship at the Boscobel or Mt. Zion campus...
Keep multiplying the Kingdom everyone!
What I've found often works is to make the first invitation to something that BMZ is offering that isn't necessarily church...inviting their kids to VBS & them to supper before hand, or to the Women of Faith videos we had a few years ago. Once people have been thru our doors & have met people, they are more comfortable with the idea of coming to worship as well.
My New Year's Resolution (2009) was to return to my church. I felt totally welcome and became addicted to the relevant messages presented each week by Stan. So, each week, a little at a time I would talk to my husband about some of the things Stan would say (no preaching).....I kept saying to him that I think he would enjoy listening to Stan. When I finally had him convinced to come with me, I really messed up. He was already to go and I said "Why don't you put on your better jeans?" That ended going to church that Sunday. So the following Sunday I said it didn't matter what he wore and there were old friends at church that would love to see him. So last Sunday he came to church with me. I hope it continues. He was raised Catholic and used to attend church regularly. During the same time period I talked to my friend of 50+years about also coming back to church. I would tell her a little bit at a time about the service and the changes and invited her to come. She said she wanted to go at 7:45am so I made the change to accomodate her. So last Sunday I was already to go at 7:25am and my husband was not ready, saying he needed to shower, etc. I told him he had plenty of time because men don't take as long as women. While he showered I drove to pick up Nancy and came back home to pick him up and we all went together. Only a couple minutes late but it was great. I am going to be gone this week so maybe neither will be there again until I get back. Pat Roseliep
This past Sunday in worship, we were in the Garden of Geths****e (oil press) according to Mark 14. In verses 51 and 52, Mark shares the part of the story that we do not see in the other Gospel recordings of this event. Quiz question for the week is: Who is the young man who ran away naked?
The first person who blogs in with the traditionally correct answer will receive a prize. This contest is not for staff or anyone else I told the answer to.
Ok, from the whole of what I read, I would say a young man who came mostly undressed.... but with a bit of research, what else would I do with my librarian role, some say it is Mark himself, but that means I need to do more reading to find out where Mark was and was supposed to be. I also, found that some people say it was an angel,
"The young man of Mark 14:51-52 is the same neaniskos as in Mark 16:5-7. This would make him an angel, or something like an angel — at any rate, ..."
I did look to find out that this the figure at the tomb who is only there momentarily.
So just for the fun of it- Hope others have other ideas...
I'm not so sure it was Mark. I've done some reading from a few sources and maybe it was simply a young man living in a nearby house who was sleeping at the time and awoke at the commotion. Due to what I discovered about what may have been typical bedclothes, the boy may have been wrapped in them, suggesting he left the house in a hurry, not wanting to miss the activities. He may have been mistaked as a disciple due to his age and where he was standing during the commotion. And as far as the running off...well, I would run too if my PJ's fell off too!
When I looked up the passage in our Dake's Bible, it said it could be either John Mark (this is who John said he thought it was), Lazarus, or the rich young ruler. Not sure why, but I would kind of like to think it was the latter...that it might have been a sign that he had decided to cast off his worldly "stuff" & was looking for Jesus, even if it took him awhile to do so.
It's Mark.
What a great week we are having with the Boscobel Campus VBS "Crocodile Dock". I hope that all is well with all of you.
This past weekend we were in Luke 4 talking about the beginning of Jesus' ministry. As we found out, Jesus began his ministry without any disciples following him. A couple of questions: Why do you think Jesus started his ministry without the disciples? Then, when Jesus did start inviting disciples to come with him (Luke 5 and following), what was significant about WHO Jesus asked to be disciples?
Hey, get excited you all. We are headed to Galilee this weekend and we get to watch Jesus teach again about being in ministry to EVERYONE! By the way; pictures of the Sea of Galilee ... beautiful!
Great to see your blog comments. I really like the photos, without being there one's self, it is good to see what your saw.. I like the scripture links too, they even work on my slow dial up connection.
From last Sunday's worship and Scripture, Acts 10, I wonder first of all if any of you have thought of that individual that you have known for more than 10 years that you have never or seldom had conversation with about faith. Will you say, "Yes, Lord" and invite that person to worship or take time to talk to them about your experience of your relationship with Jesus?
Also, do you know anyone like Cornelius? Cornelius was the one who was trying to be good and do good things, but knew that he was not right with God because he had not been allowed to turn his whole life over to Christ. Do you know anyone who does good things, but has never surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ? How do you think God views them? What can we tell them to encourage them?
Did get the opportunity to do it & found out God has brought both of us a LONG way from where we were in elementary CCD classes! Our God is amazing & surprising!
This week 21 miles, Jesus harassed and threatened by people from his hometown. Much deeper with the visuals, not a small trip down the cliff. True inspiration to take on the real challenges presented in the Christian walk, remembering to pray for the strength to handle it.
AND many blessings for the Crocodile Dock and the VBS ministry.
I am in Appleton this week for our annual conferencing. The pastors and non-pastor leadership of the United Methodist churches in Wisconsin come together annually to discuss all that is going on and all that we think needs to go on. We discuss everything from organizational budget to ministries to political issues that we sense a need to take a stance on. I don't mind being here, but would always rather be doing ministry locally (BMZ area). Anyway, please pray for the United Methodist Church as a whole. We really need God to intervene in our proceedings if we are going to be the churches that God wants us to be. Please also pray about how we at BMZ can be a light in the darkness for many other churches around the state. As your pastor, please let me thank you for all that you do and who you are as servants of God's Kingdom through our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Hope the conference is a time of renewal, maybe a little relaxing while you are away from the work of the BMZ hotseat. Mission trip next?
The epic mini-series- very timely. Something(s) to think about all week.
Appreciate your good work, thoughtful and inspired message.
Okay, it's been awhile again since I've done the bloggy thing. A couple of things on my mind today. As we go through the worship series, "Jesus and the Matrix" I can't get the thought of the Pharisees' critical hearts out of my mind. Time and time again, they had a chance to see Jesus, the Son of God, in action. They had chances to bow before the King of kings and the Lord of lords in the flesh. They had chances to ask Jesus the questions about life and faith and death and resurrection and why our vegetables are so colorful; but their critical hearts prevented them from doing so.
What about us? We have the same chance to see Jesus in action in the Word of God as well as in our daily lives. Jesus waits for us to pray and expect great things, but do we take time for that? Jesus desires for us to serve God's Kingdom in adventurous and risky-faithful ways, but are we willing to get close enough to Jesus to find out what those ways are? Will we bow before the King of kings and the Lord of lords today, or will we find excuses or reasons that we think we can't trust that Jesus is who He says He is? Will we be critical of what God is doing in our churches or will we come with repentant hearts and ask God humbly what He would have us do now and next?!?
Wow! That was a big 1st thought ... maybe I should save the next thought for later. See You in Worship.
Thanks for the challenges!
Some of you experienced the BMZ Leadership Summit this past weekend. It was a great experience sharing our lives and the life of BMZ with 60 pastors and leaders from around the state. We had wonderful feedback from the participants about how our hospitality was tremendous. Go Purple People!
Wouldn't it be great if we could offer that same hospitality more consistently during our Sunday worship times and other events that happen during the week? What a great example of God's abundant love for each one of us! You know, as near as I can tell, that's what people need. They need to know that they are loved!
If we are going to serve God well at BMZ, we need to be as consistent as possible in our love, compassion and caring for the people of our community and beyond. Can we do it?!?
AMEN!
Well duh, of course we can. geez.
Rom and I had great meetings today with representatives from Hopkinsville's Planning Commission. We saw worksites in the inner city that will keep us busy all week long. Not only has time worn out the homes in Hopkinsville's downtown area, but recent storms and high winds have caused a lot of roof and siding damage. We will have our work cut out for us. There are many residents who are on fixed income and cannot possibly pay to have their homes refurbished, so the City of Hopkinsville has worked to get money to help give their city a facelift. We get to be the hands that put those materials on the houses. It's going to be a great trip, ya'll (been down south for a day!).
Get your money and applications in and get on the bus!
Hey Pastor Stan~ How exciting~ Mission 09 going to Hopkinsville, KY!!! I do have one question, do they still have a restaurant called CPT D\'s? :) That was one of my favs to eat while we lived there! ok i have 2 questions: How high was that building you said i would be on top of!?!?!? LOL
Look forward to reading more about the Mission Trip!
The mission trip becomes more real. It was terrific to have met Rom through the Summit. And the Summit, WoW, what a weekend. Great job to all who prayed, planned, and showed up.
Rom and I had great meetings today with representatives from Hopkinsville's Planning Commission. We saw worksites in the inner city that will keep us busy all week long. Not only has time worn out the homes in Hopkinsville's downtown area, but recent storms and high winds have caused a lot of roof and siding damage. We will have our work cut out for us. There are many residents who are on fixed income and cannot possibly pay to have their homes refurbished, so the City of Hopkinsville has worked to get money to help give their city a facelift. We get to be the hands that put those materials on the houses. It's going to be a great trip, ya'll (been down south for a day!).
Get your money and applications in and get on the bus!
Down south for a day! More hours on the road than in the city? But travel time can be valuable planning time too. Looking forward to hearing more about it.