Prayer

This afternoon I was walking in the old sanctuary, praying through the church requests from the last few weeks. After finishing, noticed that many of the requests were neither personal nor for the direct nuclear family - rather, for external family, friends, missionaries and the like.

Only six of the 24 were directly personal, 11 of the 24 for the immediate family.

This concerns me a bit.

Not that we shouldn't pray for relatives & friends, nor share those requests with others. Certainly we should.

Rather, we should be able to share personal requests - if not with the whole congregation, at least with the staff & elders.

This list is from the past couple of months - are we truly to believe that our congregation only averages one personal request worth sharing weekly? Or is it more likely that we are shy about sharing - concerned with how others will view us - concerned that the information could be used against us - concerned about vulnerability and transparency in general?

In addition, 18 of the 24 requests were for health issues. Again, it is important to pray about health issues. But do we not have spiritual, emotional, relational and other issues that need prayer?

Perhaps sharing personal requests across the congregation - or even with our leadership - is a bit intimidating. But please, allow me to encourage you to share personal requests with those you can trust, or feel free to call/email me with them. "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

And I will try to do the same.

Levels

As all churches do on occasion, we are currently struggling financially.

There are a number of potential causes - the construction downturn has cause layoffs and/or lack of hours - gas costs have risen enough to impact our commuters - other non-fixed costs (like food) have risen - frankly, it's been hard to nail down exactly what's happening.

But perhaps we're forgetting the spiritual component. God speaks to us in a number of ways, and one is blessing, or lack thereof.

Perhaps this is a time for reevaluation of church and personal priorities. Perhaps there is sin in the congregation that needs to be repented of. Perhaps He is getting our attention to move us in different directions.

Will you pray with me as we seek the Lord about this?

Blessings!

My apologies for lack of May blogs - have been alternately very busy or on vacation - here are a few thoughts:

Last Wednesday (May 14th) Nathan and I birded Big Stone and Lac Qui Parle Counties in western Minnesota. We enjoyed an excellent day together, tallying 132 species, many of which are unusual in central MN.

At one stop we saw/heard three rare species (which is a bit like drawing to an inside straight or winning the lottery). We had seen one of those species in the same location (Big Stone Refuge) the year before, and had taken flak from other Minnesota birders after reporting it. They didn’t believe we had seen it, because they had never done so, or because it was statistically unusual. Last year’s experience initially caused us to hesitate reporting it again – but we finally screwed up our courage and did so.

Sharing the bird(s) would allow others an opportunity to view them as well – even if some doubted.

I wonder if we sometimes hesitate to share our God experiences for the same reason.

God usually works behind the scenes, sovereignly massaging circumstances and guiding people in “normal” ways. Once in a while, however, He breaks through in our lives, startling us, touching us directly, miraculously, unusually. We want to share these experiences with others (believers or unbelievers), but then fear they might verbally abuse or look down on us.

Sometimes we even hesitate to share our greatest God experience of all – the miracle of salvation – with those who need it most, fearing their disdain.

Yet, if we don’t share, others may not experience what (and Who) we have. Others’ faith may not grow. Others may not come to salvation. Isn’t it worth the risk?

NFL Draft Reflection

As a football fan (Green Bay Packers - lived 42 years in the state), I listened to some of the reports about this last weekend's draft. One fact surprised me.

The Chicago Bears did not draft a quarterback.

Not in 2008. Not in 2007. Not in 2006. 28 draft choices without a quarterback.

This would not be surprising if a quarterback was not important. However, one can make a case that he's the most important player on the team.

This would not be surprising if their current quarterback was excellent. However, he's been wildly inconsistent.

This would not be surprising if they had a young backup in the wings who was on the verge of excellence. However, this doesn't appear to be true.

(While waiting for my background baseball game this afternoon to come on, I heard some Chicago radio personalities defending the lack of a drafted quarterback. Perhaps blindness is contagious.)

But aren't we all tempted to be like this? We may have a glaring weakness, apparent to any impartial observer, yet we refuse to take action or make changes. Those close to us may never say a word, afraid to hurt us.

The Chicago Bears need someone they respect to speak truth to them. And so do we.

There are 60+ teens wandering around the church this afternoon, waiting to head off for district conference.

The noise level is a bit high, the wandering about a bit unruly, the overall chaos perhaps a bit intense for adult tastes - and it's all good.

In my mind's (faith's?) eye, I can see God smiling down upon them - as they connect with each other and with their leaders - as they listen to speakers and consider life-changing information - as they meet & transparently debrief after sessions.

God's at work. And I rejoice.

Birding (or, as some still call it, "birdwatching") is a reflection of life - 90% logical, 10% bizarre.

This year's migration is a great example. Late winter weather slowed down migration, so many birds throughout April have been 7-10 days late in arrival.

But not all - single Gray Catbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown Thrasher and few others - have arrived early in Mille Lacs County - some as much as three weeks.

Much of life is structured and predictable - projects are planned & executed, meetings reach anticipated results, discussions with family go well - but then the 10% happens - and a deer runs into your car, or the IRS disagrees with your tax return, or people respond positively to a poor sermon....

And it's in the 10% that God becomes more obvious. Certainly He is present for all 100%, but we miss Him in the routine.

If the 10% didn't occur, perhaps we would miss Him completely.

Fear

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3)

Fear is a universal human experience. We fear personal harm – family crises – financial setbacks – loss of employment – aging & death - peoples’ opinions - and a myriad of other (potentially) negative situations.

Fear can drive us to distracted focus - hasty decisions – relational tension - poor health – even an early grave.

David (the writer of the psalm above) does not deny fear. He knows it will come. He wrote this shortly after being seized by enemies, an experience that I hope none of us will share.

But he allowed fear to drive him to the Lord. Fear triggered prayer, triggered seeking the Lord. In the Lord he could rest, in the Lord he could regain confidence, in the Lord he could regain life perspective.

Do you fear sometimes? I do. When you do, think (and act) through these verses:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition (begging, pouring yourself out to the Lord), with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding (figuring your situation out is not the key, He is), will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6 & 7

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

“Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5 & 6 (portions)

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” I Peter 5:7

Denying fear or avoiding difficult circumstances are not answers; trusting in the ever present God is. Have a blessed month!