At times I have found myself grumbling about the “repetition” and “programming” of gratitude by having a national holiday called “Thanksgiving.”  After all, we should all be thankful.  We should all be conscious of the debt we owe to God for the many ways we have been blessed.  What I have discovered about myself and maybe even some others I have encountered is that we tend to forget.  We pray for things in the middle of a crisis, but forget when God shows up with His provision or His rescue.  We take great pride in accomplishments which were made possible by God’s choosing to inhabit and multiply our effectiveness and tilt the table in our favor.  We see the unanswered prayers instead of the unspoken prayers already answered.  We see the imaginary hardships yet to be faced instead of the hurdles already cleared by His grace.  Slowly…grudgingly, I guess I have to admit that it is a good thing to be reminded to be thankful and to set aside a repetitive time of the year to draw out of the hidden recesses those “God sightings” He has allowed for my benefit.  The Apostle Paul’s reflections from prison, shared with his friends in Philippi are classic reminders for me:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  ⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. ¹⁰ I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:4-13 (NIV)

I need to hone my skills at rejoicing in the Lord; in prayer, in giving thanks, in directing my thoughts toward the noble and good; and in practicing contentment.  First and foremost, I can see how these skills honor and please God.  I can also see how they will enrich my life and the lives of those around me.  This weekend we will look at the three required pilgrimage celebrations God put on the calendar of the Israelites and learn some lessons from their examples.

I want to thank the members for your attendance at the congregational meeting last Sunday night and for the overwhelming support for calling Anthony Pratt to join us as Associate Pastor of Spiritual Transformation.  As I write Anthony and Ashley continue to pray seeking God’s wisdom and direction for response to this call.  Please join them in prayer for God’s clear guidance.

God bless,

Mick

As I reflect on the brief 13 years since CCC launched from the EHBC “mother-ship,” I’m amazed at what the toolmakers have been doing.  The recent death of Steven Jobs, Apple Computer’s brilliant co-founder, is a prime example of an amazing toolmaker.  He revolutionized the use of computers taking them from something only engineers and scientists understood or employed, to an everyday item that can be used by toddlers and great-grandparents.  The tributes to his genius have been voluminous and deservedly so.  God has created mankind with an amazing capacity, proceeding from His image in us, that allows us to take charge and impose our influence over our surroundings (Genesis 1:27-28).

Tools change the way we live.  I can now wander the aisles of a large store independently, knowing that I have a phone that will help me locate my wife when it’s time to go.  I can record a Navy football game and erase it before watching it if they lose; or see it 3 times in slow motion if they win.  Or I could do what I saw folks doing last weekend when Betsy and I had a “date” at a mall restaurant.  At the table next to us there were two couples.  It appeared that it was a younger couple and one of their “in laws.”  While waiting to order and waiting for their orders to arrive all four were enraptured by a personal communication device.  The oldest male (50-60’s) was playing solitaire (how appropriate); the younger male (30’s) seemed to be scanning football scores.  The younger woman was on an iPad slicing and dicing through countless screen options.  The older woman was not in a position for me to spy on her, but had a device in hand.  None made eye contact or spoke to anyone else during the lull in their day.  Their level of social interaction could have taken place during a time-coordinated nap separately located in any of the four corners of the world.  Great social tools can disrupt the very thing they are intended to enhance.  These tools have saved lives by getting help to remote places during emergencies; they provide access to a wealth of positive information; they have also been used to perpetrate crime and deliver instructions for making bombs or explicit images of sex or violence.  Most tools have no inherent morality.  They depend on the tool users to determine the value of their products.

As tool-users we should take steps to keep us from abusing the tool or producing effects that we would regret.  We need to respect the power of the tools.  Like a power saw out of control, an unwise or hasty email or posting on an internet social media site can maim friendships.  As we would not leave power tools out for younger children, we need to monitor the use of tools; the tool won’t do that for us.  We need to make sure that we control the tool, not the other way around.  I’m convinced that there are many whose use of social media tools is at the level of addiction.  What can be a convenient way to inform, connect, or seek information can become a drug-like escape from “real” life and “real” people.

As followers of Jesus we are “stewards” or managers of assets He has put in our trust.  These assets include our 3T’s—time, treasure (or material resources, including tools), and talents.  He has empowered and supplied each of us in unique ways for His unique purposes.  He will someday bring us in for a review of how we managed our trust (Matthew 25:14-30).  Jesus’ description of that review process is one of the most explicit examples of accountability in all of Scripture.  He will be delighted and generously rewarding with those who are faithful in their trust.  He will be pointed and firm with those who ignore their trust.

What do you see in your tool box?  What opportunities do your tools provide?  What dangers might they bring into play?  How do you think God would have you employ them?

As we welcome the Pratt’s this weekend, I ask you to pray for God to guide us and them to His will in whether or not to call them to our ministry team and for a great weekend of fellowship.  I hope you will access at least one of the opportunities to meet them while they are here.

In light of their visit and pending a recommendation of the board of elders, we have scheduled a congregational meeting for Sunday night November 13^th at 6:00pm to vote on their candidacy.

Speaking of tools, don’t forget to turn your clocks back Saturday night.

God bless,

Mick

A friend loaned me a book recently with a great reminder.  God doesn’t promise “prosperity,” “pleasure,” or “pain free” life as the result of following Jesus.  A quick glance around us will provide adequate evidence that this is true.  In our relatively small church there are many suffering from serious illnesses, financial hardships, job uncertainties, and many who have been hurt by others’ actions.

Christians through the centuries have suffered to the point of death and in our era is no exception to the rule.  Betsy’s former college roommate was a High School friend and fellow youth group attender with Chet Bitterman.  Chet was a missionary who was martyred in Columbia while working to translate the Scriptures into native languages with Wycliffe Bible Translators.  He wrote the following in his journal nearly two years prior to his death, “The situation in Nicaragua is getting worse. If Nicaragua falls, I guess the rest of Central America will too. Maybe this is just some kind of self-inflicted Martyr complex, but I find this recurring thought that perhaps God will call me to be martyred in His service in Colombia. I am willing.”

It is true that the Gospel is the greatest of all news.  It is news that despite our broken and sinful nature and our crossing of God’s standard of holiness, there is forgiveness, mercy and grace available.  By trusting in Jesus we solve the most critical of all crises, the problem of reconciling our unworthiness with the consuming purity and perfection of God.  What results from that trust is miraculous.  We are forgiven, cleansed, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, gifted and called for service, and have a “place prepared” for us in God’s presence (the list could go on).  We even have the promise that “all things (even things like Chet Bitterman’s fate) work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).  What we do not have is the promise that we will be physically healthy, financially wealthy, have children who never disappoint or desert us, climb the ladder to the top of our field, or are shielded from attack or harm.   By virtue of the math alone, the vast majority of the benefits of following Jesus will be enjoyed after this life.  We live in the reality where evil and its destructive wake will continue to bring pain until God chooses to return and bring in true justice.  Walking with Jesus and following the principles of life God has provided in Scripture will keep us from of the self-afflicted wounds we would otherwise experience.  It will give us relational peace with God.  It will bring His presence when we walk through the valleys.  It will connect us with the community of faith where we can find the support, comfort and companionship of fellow-travelers.  We have access to the throne of grace where we can bring our needs and open our hearts to God (Hebrews 4:15-16).  His answer will be a combination of our request, His sovereignty and wisdom.  As we share our story of faith with others we should promise no more, nor no less.

Steve and I appreciate your prayers for us while we traveled to interview candidates last week.  We have been blessed with candidates whose experience and love for the Lord have made this a very difficult decision.  Despite that difficulty we have met and prayed with the elders this week and have narrowed our search to one candidate with whom we will proceed to the next steps of the process, including a visit with us over the weekend of November 4th – 6^th.  At our 13^th Anniversary celebration potluck dinner I will tell you more about the candidate.

Please remember the Loucy family in your prayers with the passing of Cheryl’s mother, Fran Barry.  Fran was a joy to be around and had made CrossRoads her home until her health deterred her from attending.  Her memorial service will be this Saturday, October 22^nd at 6pm here at CCC.

Please join us this weekend as we continue our study in 1 Corinthians investigating “Timeless Rx for Spiritual Maladies.”

God bless,

Mick

The NFL has made an interesting change in their rules this year, seeking to prevent injuries.  They have moved up the kickoff line.  Kicks will go deeper with the expectation that instead of running out with them, the receivers will take a knee and be spared the full-speed collisions of the past.  Ironically, in the opening night game, a rookie receiver took the risk anyway and ran one back 108 yards for a touchdown!

Kickoffs aren’t limited to football games.  We use the term to describe the launching of virtually any new thing, like politicians who “kick-off” their campaigns and not-for-profit agencies which “kick-off” their fundraising efforts.  With summer vacations and travel, we traditionally “kick-off” our ministry year with the return of the school year.

We have retooled, rethought, and reviewed.  Now we look ahead and recommit.  This weekend we will look again at the core ideas and values that drive us as a church—the reasons we gather together and link together to serve the Lord.  In preparation I just want to point out a couple things for your consideration.

There is great need around us and among us.  There is need for the guiding truth God has entrusted to us.  We have truth about family life, financial wisdom, vocational guidelines, emotional health, and eternal hope all of which can alleviate suffering, discouragement and despair.  We are the bridges between the truth and those who need this life-giving truth from God.  We are not “know-it-alls,” but we are messengers who can faithfully and humbly deliver the encouraging truth we receive from God.  We are also meant to be credible examples.  What we speak about, we should also demonstrate.  The message of hope and truth is best caught when the messenger models the message.

Most of all there is a need for THE good news—the news that Jesus has brought forgiveness and reconciliation to our condition of guilt and separation from God.  Many live with the delusion that they are “okay” with God just by being a “good Joe” or “good Sally,” despite a few slip-ups here and there.  The solution from their point of view is to “polish up” things and get some “advice” for living.  While we may find such advice available in the Scripture, it will never resolve the presence of our rebellious nature inside, and our responsibilities for our “slip-ups.”  For those we need our substitute, Jesus, and the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

We have been called and entrusted to represent Jesus and labor in His field in our area and, as He gives opportunity, around the world.  I hope you will join with us this weekend as we rededicate ourselves and reenergize our motivation for serving Him this year.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Mick

Like many of you, I woke up at 4am today to the piercing sights and sounds of a thunder storm.  It was a rude awakening.  So is the date.  The great NY State fair begins today officially signaling the waning days of summer and the start of the school year.  We central New Yorkers are passionate about summer.  We cram 12 months of recreation into those 2.5 months of summer, knowing that soon those recreations won’t be an option.  I hope you have enjoyed your summer, but I also hope your thoughts are gradually returning to the rhythms and priorities which include a refocus on the life of the Body of Christ and our calling to “Bring Christ’s compassion to people at the CrossRoads of life.”

What can we do to “rekindle” our thinking?  Let’s review some facts from Scripture.  First, the Body of Christ, the church, is the hope of the world.  We face a spectrum of issues—political, environmental, economic, moral, educational, medical and relational.  All of these are affected by our fallen state as human beings.  Solutions to these issues which ignore the spiritual dimension will be of limited benefit.  We are called to be an influence for good; loving God wholeheartedly and loving our neighbor as enthusiastically as we are taking care of our own needs.  There is eternal life after this life and apart from faith in Christ; the Scripture tells us that a permanent place of agony and loss awaits.  Scripture also teaches that those who have received His forgiveness by faith will experience eternal joy.  If we truly love others and believe these truths about eternity, we should be motivated to provide a clear opportunity to others to make this choice and we should want to love them in a way that shows God’s love to them.  I would say that most of us in the CCC family would affirm these facts.

How does what we think affect what we do?  Knowing biblical facts is foundational, but it’s not complete.  If we don’t act on what we know, we are educated fools, building our lives on sand (Matthew 7:24-27).  We need to ask ourselves, “What have I done in the past year that has made it possible for a neighbor, friend or co-worker to make an informed decision about believing in Christ?”  “Have I demonstrated the unconditional and sacrificial love of God?”  “Have I told them of the hope that I have for eternity and of the gift God offers?” (1 Peter 3:15)  If my answers to those questions are not in line with my beliefs it is likely that it won’t be different a year from now unless I decide to make some changes.  If you feel you’d like to experience that kind of change let me suggest a couple things.  First, talk to God about it.  Admit to Him where you see the need for change and seek His empowerment and direction for the change that He wants.  Ask Him to guide you as you seek to serve Him both in the body of Christ and in the relational circle where you live and work.  Ask Him to give you specific opportunities to serve specific people.  Next, build your tool box.  Look for opportunities and create opportunities to grow in your knowledge of the Scripture, in your capacity to serve others, and in your relational support.  Finally, commit to the community of faith.  The church was never meant to be a tent with a gaggle of independent vendors, but an interdependent team maximizing the impact of the gifts God has entrusted to us.

As the rude reality of summer’s end is upon us we have a great opportunity to rethink and retool.  I will be praying for God to guide us individually and as a faith community as we seek to fulfill His calling.

I look forward to seeing you this weekend as we continue our “Survivor” series looking at the life of Mary the mother of Jesus.

Mick