One Person at a Time...

I'm Baaaack!

Even for me, a 40+ day hiatus from blogging is a long time.  So many good things have been going on during that time, and I've missed the opportunity to comment on them, but I learned a long time ago that even God doesn't change the past, so instead of dwelling there, I'm moving forward with today!  Part of my Sabbath reflection today has been on the coming fall and all it holds for New Life.  In particular, I've been praying about and reflecting on what Sunday mornings are going to look like, since starting in late August, the focus is going to be moving steadily toward the "campaign" for funding Phase I of our Campus Development Plan, which will culminate in November.  We have operated as a "nomadic" church for so long, that looking forward to the day when we will have a mission outpost from which to share the New Life of Jesus Christ with the World--one person at a time--day in and day out-- is fantastic! Since our staff invested a week with Harvestime in March, and since 50+of you participated with me in the 10-100 Prayer Challenge, God has been blessing us in so many ways. If you are part of the New Life family and community, I thank you for your faithfulness!  If you are a new guest who has been part of the influx to our family over the past couple of months--welcome!  If you are an "outsider," right now, I want to invite you to join us, and be part of a great move of God that has started slowly and is gradually building momentum among us.  Whoever you are--may God's blessings be upon you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!  Join us as we move through a summer and fall like no other in our life together--and one that promises to be the launching pad for reaching our community with greater love and effectiveness than ever.  May it be so!

A Night Like No Other...

If you're planning to joinus for this evening's Maundy Thursday worship--"A Night Like No Other!" at 7:00 p.m., you need to know something important:  We are worshiping at the Plantation Clubhouse in Saxonburg instead of at 127 Knoch Road.  The wintry weather and wind made it impossible to put up the tents for worship and the ground is soft and muddy, so instead of worshiping outdoors, we'll be at the Plantation.  The service is a simple re-enactment of the last few hours before Jesus' arrest including portions of the Last Supper, and His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.  We'll celebrate the Lord's Supper together, and remember God's great love for us shown in Jesus' ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.  I hope you'll be there!

Holy Week!

Tomorrow marks the start of" Holy Week."  Christians call it that, because it marks the last week of Jesus' life and takes us from Palm Sunday to Easter!  Along the way, we also celebrate the Last Supper through "Maundy" Thursday, and then we remember Jesus crucifixion on Good Friday.  At New Life, we'll be celebrating and remembering these holy days in various ways.  I've already mentioned Palm Sunday, and I hope you'll be there for worship at the South Butler Primary School at 10:00 a.m. 

Then on Maundy Thursday we'll be at 127 Knoch Road to celebrate the Last Supper together as we participate in "A Night Like No Other!"  The celebration will offer a re-enactment of the Last Supper as well as Jesus' time of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.  We'll all take part in the Lord's Supper, too.  The evening starts at 7:00 p.m.  I hope you'll be there!

On Good Friday, we're encouraging everyone to participate in our community's morning services and breakfasts.  The Men's Breakfast will be at Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church at 6:00 a.m.  The Women and Children's Breakfast is at Thorncreek United Methodist Church at 9:00 a.m. and the Youth Good Friday Breakfast will be held at Summit U.P. Church at 11:00 a.m., with New Life's worship team providing the music! 

On Easter Day, we will celebrate Jesus' resurrection at 8:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.!  This will be a great time to invite everyone you know to join us for worship!  As the Apostle Paul reminded us over and over in his letters to the early churches--Jesus' resurrection from the dead is the pivotal reality in human history.  If Jesus has not been raised, then our faith is in vain, but Jesus HAS been raised, and that resurrection power lives in us today by the presence of the Holy Spirit!  Be there as we sing praises to our risen Lord, and celebrate His victory over sin and death--which is OUR victory over sin and death as we trust in Him!

Wow!

This has been an incredible week!  I apologize to those of you who read my blog regularly for not posting this week--especially given the importance of the week, but it has been a "Wow!" two days.  I'll have to say that Monday did NOT start out that way.  The ministry staff and I were supposed to take two separate flights to Denver and arrive BEFORE noon Denver time.  Three of the group did.  Not the three of which I was a part!  Our flight was to go from Pittsburgh to Washington to Denver.  The flight to Washington was canceled due to weather.  We were given another flight which was scheduled to fly from Pittsburgh to Chicago to Denver and still get us there before noon.  That flight was canceled because of a mechanical problem with the plane!  That meant we weren't able to fly out of Pittsburgh until 3:00 p.m. and we arrived in Denver at 5:00 p.m.  So the first day was NOT a WOW!

Yesterday we invested the entire day in developing the Strategic Ministry Plan--SMP for New Life, and God worked big time.  While the SMP is not the glamorous part of the process, it will give us a guide for the next decade of ministry in Jesus' name should He tarry!

The biggest WOW! so far, though, has been today.  We met with the Harvestime architect, Pat Morgan.  I have to say, I've never met an architect like him before.  He loves the Lord (he's actually going on a missions trip to Juarez tomorrow), he LISTENED to what we said throughout the day, and made many revisions to the preliminary drawings, and then while we took a two hour break to go and visit Focus on the Family, he drew the rough sketches of the Master Site Plan, the front elevation, and the Phase 1, 2 & 3 building process.  While we still have another full day and some time after dinner tonight, I literally can't wait to see what God is going to do with this process when we get home!  My prayer is that we will all see the opportunity--the open door--God is laying before us, and step through it that hundreds and eventually thousands of people over the next decades (if Jesus tarries!) will be snatched from death into life!

A God Worth Following!

A lot of you were there this morning for the first of our three part PRESS ON TOWARD THE PRIZE series:  A God Worth Following.  If you missed it.  The key points:

• God's worth following because He created EVERYTHING.
• God's worth following because He doesn't MAKE US follow Him.
• God, the Father, is called that primarily because Jesus told us to call Him that!
• God's worth following because He created everything and PUT US IN CHARGE.
• A simple way to show God that we're following Him is to SEE all He has created, and PAUSE to give Him thanks!
• There is a God.  We're not Him!

An added bonus:  the auditorium was WARM.  Thanks to the Knoch High School staff for the extra effort to see that happen!

If you missed it circle January 18th and BE THERE next Sunday!

An End and a Beginning...

Today marks the end of our week of fasting and prayer for wisdom and discernment for 2009 at New Life.  It also marks the beginning of implementing whatever insights God made us aware of through this week.  For me, most of the learnings were personal.  A couple too personal to share.  One that I can share is simple, but if carried out will make all the difference in the coming year:  God's time is ALWAYS right.  We "know" that.  By that I mean that we "know" that God is in charge of everything and therefore his timing has to ALWAYS be right.  But many times I assume that God's timing is off.  I wouldn't say it out loud that way, but my actions make it clear that I believe it to be the case.  For example, by this point in our life together as a congregation, I would have assumed that all of us who have been on the journey together since New Life started would be farther along in the journey than we are.  No matter where I look I see folks who have grown a great deal and those who on the surface, don't seem to have grown very much.  Sometimes the person I see who has grown a great deal AND the one who hasn't grown very much is the one I look at in the mirror when I shave every morning!  How can it be that the progress is so SLOW?  If God's timing is always right, then we must assume that even when we don't grow at a rapid rate that God's timing is part of that.  I'm not saying that He doesn't will us to grow at a more rapid rate, but that in His sovereignty, He knows the rate at which we'll grow and He permits us to move forward or not--based on our commitment.  After all, if we have free will AND God is sovereign, then He KNOWS the rate at which we'll grow, even though our participation in it impacts the rate.  This is a practical application of Philippians 2:12-13, where the Apostle Paul tells us to WORK OUT our salvation with fear and trembling, because God is at WORK IN us to will and to work for His good pleasure.  Both sides of the "equation" are part of God's timing.  Our "working out" and God's "working in."  As we've talked about before in that equation, God won't do our part and we can't do God's part, BUT--and this is a big BUT--but when we do our part, God ALWAYS does His part, and that's when our growth accelerates.

For me, that means that every moment of every day I need to be doing my part--exercising ALL the disciplines available to me:  pray, fasting, bible reading, serving, giving, etc... to their fullest, and calling on God to do His part--which He will.  Imagine what 2009 will look like as we do that!  Imagine if every, single person associated with New Life committed ourselves to doing our best and calling on God to do His best! God's "timing" would seem to accelerate.  We would see more done in one year in Jesus' name, than we have seen so far in the history of New Life!  That is not news, but God underlined for me that it IS the reality.  My part in this is DOING it in my life, casting the vision for all of us to DO our part in our lives, and encouraging and challenging everyone in my sphere of influence to do their part!  Your part is to DO your part in your life and encourage and challenge those in your spheres of influence to do their part.  It will all come down to this:  Will we COMMIT to doing our part? Because God is already DOING His part!

One reminder about breaking the fast at whatever point you do that today:  EASE into it.  I saw a commercial for a juicy, grilled steak last night, and said, "Wow!  That's what I want for dinner tomorrow night!"  Nancy said, "I thought you didn't want any meat for dinner tomorrow."  I said, "It isn't that I don't WANT any meat tomorrow, it's that I know that I need to let my system adjust back into food gradually.  It's great to have an excellent wife, who holds me accountable, and it was good to have the reminder that ALL things are best done in God's timing!

Fasting--Day 6!

Today Abby and I went to run a few errands and as I was driving, I realized something--I was as calm as I've ever been when driving.  I mentioned it to Abby.  I told her that it is as if the fasting has brought me more in tune with God, and as a result my overall demeanor is more at peace and calm.  I also mentioned that on the third day, it was almost the opposite.  She remembered that day!  I was a on edge that day, part of which had to do with the physical realities of fasting--on the third day I was hungry, today, I'm not.  In fact, today I've only had a glass of juice to go with the water and no fruit or vegetables at all.  My body has adjusted to the fast and is allowing me to focus more on the important matters--the spiritual matters.  Today, I have not had any major revelations, but a constant sense of God's presence and peace.  Perhaps this is the peace that passes understanding that the Apostle Paul speaks of in Philippians.  In any case, this Sabbath day has been as restful and focused on Jesus as any I've experienced.

Yesterday, I mentioned that breaking a fast properly is important both physically and spiritually, and that I'd have more to say about that today.  From a spiritual standpoint, the key is to apply whatever insights God has given you during the week, and if you have any particular truths that He has given you for New Life, please pass them on, so that we can consider and act on them.  Jesus tells us in John 13, that blessing comes from DOING His commands.  Applying the truth we gain from God's word, prayer, our circumstances and other believers, not only assures blessing for us, but also means that we will become closer to Jesus and more like Him.  That benefits both us and everyone around us!  From a physical standpoint, the key is not to overindulge on food and particularly "heavy" foods if you have been fasting for an extended period of time.  If you've been doing a "normal" fast this week--meaning just water, then you'll need to reintroduce food gradually, and using the "Eden" fast--eating fruits, vegetables and nuts (and not too many of them!) for a couple of days would be wise.  If you've been on a partial fast as I have, then don't have a big steak tomorrow night.  In fact, I'm not going to have any meat until at least Sunday evening.  As I've noted, I've never fasted for 7 days before (normal or eden fast), but have fasted for three days at a time, and from those experiences, I know that your body WILL be your guide!  Being sensible will help ensure that your body continues to experience the benefits that a week of fasting provides.

Fasting--Day 5...

I just read an on-line book titled Quick Fasting, by Nathaniel Hawthorne Bronner, Jr.  The author is a pastor, a chemist and a businessman.  I have never read such a detailed introduction to fasting!  In it, the author talks a lot about the process and the physical benefits of fasting and not so much about the spiritual benefits.  Even so, One thing he said has stuck with me:  Fasting is not seen as "normal" by most Americans, and yet Jesus told His followers to fast.  That's not an exact quote, but it gets to the point of his words.  I didn't even have to think about it to realize he is right.  Except for "monks" and "zealots" Christians in American don't practice the discipline of fasting, even though Jesus put it in a list of "normal" disciplines that included giving and prayer. (See Matthew 6)  Preachers talk a lot about giving (at least some do), and prayer (more do), but not so much about fasting (few do).  Why?  Maybe it's because of all the spiritual disciplines fasting is the most challenging.  Pastor Bronner makes the point that EATING is the most basic of all human urges.  He contends that the epidemic of obesity in our society comes from our lack of discipline when it comes to this most basic urge.  He says that fasting gives us the opportunity to gain control over this most basic urge. At first, I thought he was saying that fasting was a form of dieting (and some people do use it for that purpose, although I made it clear to New Life folks that our week of prayer and fasting this week is for the SPIRITUAL purpose of seeking God's wisdom, guidance and will for us individually and corporately in 2009).  As I read further, I realized that Pastor Bronner was saying that as a spiritual discipline, fasting helps us give control to God in our lives, in an area that can become our "god."  The Apostle Paul reminded us of this in Philippians 3:18-19:  For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is on earthly things.  I had to ask myself:  IS food my god?  An honest reflection helped me see that it DOES sometimes substitute for God in my life.  I know what healthy eating is, and yet often I eat much more than necessary, and I certainly don't eat healthy foods all the time.  Why?  Because I'm "free" in Jesus, I can do what I want?  Or is it because I forget that the body God has given me IS the temple of the Holy Spirit--and forget that much of the time? 

Having been away from most food for nearly five days now (I found out that what I'm doing is what Pastor Bronner calls an "Eden fast" because it includes some fruit, vegetables and juices in addition to water--and such foods were eaten in Eden before the Fall. For him a biblical fast consists of only water.  I won't argue or debate with him here, but for him having any food is not a biblical fast), I have realized both the spiritual and physical benefits, and have started to ask some important questions:  First the spiritual ones:   1)  Does my eating reflect Jesus' lordship in my life?  2) Would altering my daily diet keep me more spiritually focused as I have been this week?  3) In what sense is my stomach my god, and how do I change that in "normal" life?  Then the physical questions: Would my body feel better ALL the time if I modified my diet to a more "Eden-like" menu?  What are the long-term physical health implications of my current diet?  Why do I want a Whopper more than anything else when I'm really hungry?  (That last question may sound funny to you, but it's totally serious!)  Today's major learning for me personally seems to be--God is only God if He is in charge of EVERY area of my life.  I have always known that, but Day 5 of this fast is showing me that I haven't let Him be in charge of the food area and I need to do that in 2009, if He is going to use me as effectively as possible to advance His Kingdom.

Practical tip for the day:  Depending on whether you are on a "normal" fast-- only water; an "Eden fast"--including some fruits, vegetables and juices; or a partial fast where you just cut out something such as desserts, chocolate, etc..., when the fast comes to an end in a couple of days, don't "go crazy," as you start to reintroduce those things to your system.  Breaking a fast is important for both spiritual and physical reasons, and doing it in a healthy way is important!  More on that tomorrow.

Weeklong Fast--Day 4...

Didn't Jesus tell us not to tell anyone when we're fasting?  (Yes! He did.)  So why am I blogging about it each day?  Because I said I would, and because for many of us a week-long fast is a new experience.  I have now been fasting for longer than I have ever fasted at one time.  In a couple of hours it will be four day.  Several things I've noticed:

• This is the longest I've ever gone without meat in my remembrance--and without much protein, and the last few hours I've started noticing the physical effects of that--I'm sort of weak.
• Taking in just liquids and fruit has strengthened my overall sense of well being physically, even while I'm feeling sort of tired and weak.  (I know that makes no sense on the surface, but what I mean is that my thoughts are clear, my body feels "well"--my joints don't hurt, my vision seems clearer, etc...
• My spiritual awareness is perceptibly greater.  This afternoon God gave me the idea for another book.   I've "written" the outline in my mind, and will get it on paper before the day ends.
• I am not really hungry at this point, and am more at peace than normal.  I think I'm starting to understand what Jesus meant when He told His disciples "I have food you know not of" in John 4, at a deeper level than ever before.

Fasting tip for the day:  Each time you have a hunger pang, or see a commercial for FOOD, immediately turn to the Lord in praise, or petition.  Let the physical signs of your abstaining from food for a spiritual purpose--push you toward the Lord! 

Pastor John Nuzzo to be Leader Retreat Speaker!

Yesterday morning as I was praying about our annual leader retreat, God impressed on my heart that my good friend, Pastor John Nuzzo, was the right speaker for this year's Leader retreat that's coming up on January 30-31.  I was sure that God was telling me this, but right away I thought, "Pastor John isn't going to be available.  It's January 5th--the retreat is only 25 days away.  His schedule is probably booked months in advance.  One thing I've been learning more and more over the past couple of months in particular, though, is when God moves me to do something in prayer to do it.  So, I called Pastor John and he said he would like to do the retreat, but he wasn't sure of his schedule.  He told me to e-mail him the dates and times and he'd let me know today.  He did--and He IS available!  It's been such a blessing for me personally, but also for New Life for us to have been associated with the Pastors' Group that includes Pastor John and a number of other pastors in the North Hills Area.  Saxonburg is really the "East" North Hills, but they let me participate, and we have benefited directly and indirectly in so many ways over the years from those relationships.  This will be the second time that Pastor John has led our annual leaders retreat, and Pastor Jeff from Allison Park has as well.  The encouragement and support these guys have offered over the years has been a true blessing.  I'm rambling here, but any of you New Life leaders who are reading this blog, know that we are in for a treat and a blessing on January 30-31 with Pastor John's leadership!