We had some wicked weather yesterday. We received several inches of rain, with a lot of lightning and thunder. We had, and still have, standing water in places I have never seen with standing water in my year and half here. It was both awesome and lousy, does that make sense? We still had a very good day of ministry in spite of the weather. Now to the musings …

-The weather yesterday reminded me that pastors may be the only group of people who desire mediocre weather. If it is too bad, like we had yesterday, people stay home. If it is too nice people go do something else. But if it is not too nice and not too bad then it seems more people attend. But then one way to overcome that is to just have great things happening in the church.

-We have great things happening in our community, not just in our church, but in other churches in the Canton area as well. In spite of the weather we experienced a great time of worship and fellowship.

-I had some awesome conversations with several people following our worship service yesterday. At least 3 of those conversations are leading to follow up times this week. The purpose of the follow ups is very encouraging. Many people are asking great questions and desiring to minister in some wonderful ways.

-We had a few sound glitches again yesterday. We are praying for, and planning on, making some major sound equipment upgrades this summer. The prayers are for the finances to purchase the equipment.

-Our small group got together just for fun last evening. The torrential rain curtailed some of the outdoor fun we were hoping to do, but the conversation around great food was outstanding. I had to grill in the garage because of the monsoon like weather. The garage really smells like smoke still this morning, but it was worth it.

-We had a work day around the church property on Saturday. While disappointed with the turnout, I was thrilled with the amount of things that were accomplished. Those people worked hard. I love working with like-minded people.

-The amount of major physical needs among people in our church and people we are connected to has been overwhelming recently. I added up the number of names on my prayer list yesterday and was stunned and even more determined to be faithful in prayer.

-I am very encouraged by the number of people who are taking the challenge to pray very seriously. Only great things can ultimately come when a group of people gets serious about praying for real needs and not just comfort items.

-I got busted yesterday calling someone by the wrong name. The guy just looked at me and said “Who?”. I repeated the name and he said that is not me. I said yes it is, then he told me his real name. I said did you hear me call you the wrong name twice this morning? He said yes and just smiled. I told him that he now has an alias and if he ever gets blamed for something he can just say it was the other guy and use the name I gave him. If you would like alias just let me know, I will be glad to help out.

-Our attendance was down from the past couple of weeks but was still well above where we were last year at this time. It really showed our growth, because everyone felt like we were way down, then they heard the number and realized that it is significantly above what it was just a few months ago. Good things are happening in so many areas.

Well I need to work on some stuff for our church board meeting that is tonight. Here’s to hoping you find some encouraging words coming your way this week and that you pass them along to others.

Dennis

Yesterday was one of those days where I am not sure exactly what happened. That is not unprecedented. I have experienced many Sundays that left me wondering what really happened. That is not always a bad thing, but it is frustrating at the time. I can recite the facts of the day, and my musings will have some of that in it, but I am still wrestling with what some of it means going forward.

-We had a great number of children attending yesterday. We had them come in for the music part of our worship. That added a lot of energy, and a little chaos, but it was great to have them in with us. It also gave our adults who do not have children, or grandchildren, attending a chance to see how much our children’s ministry is growing. It was a great time to remind them to pray for the kids and those serving in that ministry and to put a plea out for more people to help in this ministry.

-Since the kids were in with us we had great engagement during the singing. There was even clapping!

-Our 2 new families from last week were back and we had another new couple in attendance. Our people seem to be taking seriously the encouragement to witness and invite.

-I continued my series on relationships but I changed up the action steps part of the message. While praying and walking around the sanctuary early Sunday morning I got a very clear sense from God that I needed to challenge the congregation on confessing. This is not a new thing for us, but it was not how I had planned to conclude the message and this was very specific in the type of challenge. As people began to fill the sanctuary I began to question what I sensed from God and was considering that maybe this wasn’t the day for that particular challenge. The good news is that I listened to the continuing prompting of the Lord and presented the challenge. It was a difficult time for me because there was no visible indication anyone was responding to the challenge. That is where my trusting that I was obedient came into play. I never like seeing no response, but I was led to present the challenge and I did. Now I keep praying that the Holy Spirit will keep speaking throughout the week.

-Our temperature was unseasonably cool for the last Sunday of May. I loved it, but I appeared to be in the minority opinion.

-Our attendance was outstanding. In fact the whole month of May was very good. It is great to see our people inviting and witnessing throughout the week and to see them excited with the growth of the church.

-My prayer list keeps growing and has often seemed overwhelming to me, but God is working and I sense that there is a growing group of people who are joining me in extra times of prayer.

-With the momentum we have experienced this spring I am excited, and curious, to see what takes place this summer.

-The past couple of Sundays we have had some people visit from out of town who used to attend here and it has been fun to see their excitement in the growth and changes in our church.

Here’s hoping you have a week filled with God moments where you realized He is with you and guiding you. Make sure you are looking for them and share them with someone who needs to be encouraged.

Dennis

This morning didn’t go exactly as planned, therefore these musings are coming out a little late. But I do have musings, so let’s get to them.

-My wife and I had a good friend from college visiting with us over the weekend. She was my wife’s roommate when we got engaged. It was great to see her and to have her worship with us. Contrary to her accusation I did not plan the sermon with her in mind.

-We had a lot of children in attendance and their energy made for a lively building.

-We honored a couple of graduates during our worship time. It is always great to see the maturing of youth in your church, which makes graduation Sundays meaningful. I have only been here for a little over a year so I haven’t seen as much of the growing as many others in the church. But I still love honoring graduates, high school and college. Seeing the relief of finishing something and the excitement of taking their next steps is awesome.

-Our attendance was good and we had a new couple attend who have already said they plan to be back next week. New people attending is always a positive, especially when they were unchurched before visiting.

-Our small group was very small again. It is time to make some changes. We discussed some options last evening and I loved the heart of those in attendance to do whatever it takes to reach, and impact, more people.

-There seemed to be a wall, or at least a thick curtain, present while I was preaching yesterday. People were listening and there was a good response to the action steps at the end of the message. But there was a palatable feeling of resistance during the message. It is not surprising because we are focusing on relationships and what God’s Word says about healing hurts from relationships. I am encouraged by some who have expressed what is happening in their heart and mind concerning their relationships.

-I am very burdened, and excited, for the next message in this series of sermons. I believe that this next message may be the real key to significant healing in relationships. Prayers are appreciated as I plan, pray and prepare for this message. I will have to really focus as I prepare because this is going to be a week of contrasts. I have a funeral tomorrow and a wedding on Saturday. So I am preparing a funeral message, finishing the prep for a wedding and preparing the sermon for Sunday. Good news, I won’t be bored.

Here’s hoping that you find something to be focus on this week that will remind you that you are loved.

Dennis

We enjoyed a very good Mother’s Day as God continues to move in powerful ways in our church. As for the musings …

-A big thank you shout out goes to the great group who provided a delicious and generous breakfast buffet for the ladies of our church. The place looked great with special decorations. The ladies were served instead of going through the line. There was a good number who came and enjoyed the fellowship. The best part of the breakfast was the sounds of conversation and laughter.

-Even though the weather was dreary we had good attendance once again.

-There was good energy in the whole worship service and a good percentage of the people were very engaged.

-We showed a special and fun Mother’s Day countdown with many Mother’s Day facts from around the world.

-We had a good number of children in attendance once again. This is one of the most encouraging things happening in our church.

-I began a new message series on relationships entitled “Ouch … Healing Relational Pain”. Each week we will examine one area of relational pain and apply biblical principles for healing. Also, each week will have concrete action steps to take toward healing. The response yesterday was very good and I am really looking forward to seeing, and hearing ways in which many people’s relationships improve.

-We did not have our small group since most of the group was involved with some special Mother’s Day activities.

– On Saturday evening my wife and I attended another’s church’s Saturday evening worship service. We rarely get to attend a worship service in which we have no responsibilities. Then we went out to eat in honor of Mother’s Day since Sundays are rather busy for us.

-I participated in a funeral service for a great guy on Friday. He and his wife are regulars in our church and he loved Jesus. He was in church last Sunday morning for the first time in 3 or 4 weeks because of not feeling well. He gave a strong testimony when I spoke with him on Sunday. Then on Monday morning he was gone. His wife was in worship yesterday and my heart ached for her in her first worship service without her husband of 54 years. There is always a lot more happening in a worship service than most people are aware. I can guarantee that your pastor has a lot more on his/her mind than just the words of their message. Please remember that this week as you pray for your Pastor.

Here’s hoping you find someone to encourage this week. Here’s hoping that you notice the fingerprints of God in your life this week.

Dennis

Yesterday was a very good day. We had 3 of our grandkids with us for the whole weekend and they were in church with us as well. I love having my grandkids around and I always sleep very soundly after they leave. Evidently yesterday was such a good day that I wanted to repeat it. I normally get up between 4:15 and 4:30 am on Sundays and 6:15 to 6:30 most other days. This morning I rolled over and looked at the clock which read 4:16. I sat up and started the process of putting on some sweats and a t-shirt wondering why my alarm did not go off yet. As I stood up I realized that it was Monday morning and not Sunday morning. So I grabbed my pillow and headed to the living room couch. Where I was awakened at 6:15 by my alarm. So I guess yesterday was an outstanding day since I tried to relive it. Now for the real musings …

-My wife is awesome. Not only does she lead worship for our church, but she got 3 grandkids, ages 3, 5, and 8 ready and at church by 8:00 am.

-There was a lot of energy in the building yesterday and it continued throughout our worship.

-There were several great conversations regarding the challenge on vision after the worship service. I love seeing and hearing people engage and commit to make a difference in their community.

-The congregation was really singing out during worship. I love hearing people sing the praises of God.

-We had a lot of children in attendance yesterday, I am so encouraged by what is taking place in our children’s ministries and by the number of adults who are stepping up and serving.

-People seemed very engaged during the sermon. As we looked at a large vision for impacting our area in the next 5 years people seemed to embrace the challenge. After all, all we need to do is the next right thing and leave the results up to God.

-Our attendance was very good.

-We had a very small small group last night. We still had a good time with the ones who were present and it is so great to see and hear what they are applying about following Christ.

-It was in the mid-80’s yesterday, which was somewhat shocking given that it had been 40 just 3 or 4 days earlier.

-Many urgent and significant prayer needs this morning. I am thankful that God knows, cares, listens and will continue to lead. Praying that I will follow closely.

Here’s hoping you have a significant conversation today. Here’s hoping you find someone to encourage today.

Dennis

Yesterday was a sampling of many parts of pastoring all rolled up into one day. Off to the musings …

-We enjoyed a powerful time of the spirit moving during the music part of our worship yesterday. It was one of those special times when everyone knew God was speaking as we sang. Wow, I really needed that myself.

-During the message it was much more difficult. I was really struggling, I just couldn’t tell if people were engaged or not. As a result I felt as if I was trying to pull people along. That is not a good thing for communication. But those days do happen, thankfully they have been few and far between recently.

-There was a lot of energy in the building yesterday as we had a lot of children in attendance. I love their energy, now if more of the adults could just take some cues from the kids.

-Yesterday was a very late arriving crowd. That is difficult on me. Those who know me well are aware that I struggle mightily when things are running behind.

-After the morning service my wife and I headed to a nearby town for a funeral visitation. It was a very difficult one, as it was for a 22 year old who died in an accident. There are no magic words at a time like that, just the ministry of presence. I was especially burdened for the family and the parents as they stood beside the casket of their child. Many prayers going up on their behalf and they will need more prayers and listening hearts in the days, months and years ahead.

-After returning home from that visit I went through some emails and thought a little about our small group and the lesson for the evening. Then laid down and fell asleep as I watched a little baseball and basketball. Then the phone rang …

-Then I was off to the hospital with another man in my church as we had gotten word that one of the guys from our church was in emergency surgery in an out of town hospital. As a result our small group did not meet last evening.

-We arrived at the hospital just as the surgeon was speaking with the family. The surgery went well and they are expecting significant healing in the next few days. Got to spend some time talking with his wife and some of the family. Had prayer with everyone and then headed back home.

-After recapping the visit with my wife I then ate some dinner.

-I love what I do and I loved yesterday. It was just interesting to realize how many different directions I was headed in yesterday.

-I love what God is doing in our church. There are some great times coming our way.

-I love being a part of a team. There are so many people who are really serving and sharing in our fellowship.

Here’s hoping you are able to see God’s hand at work today.

Dennis

We enjoyed a powerful and humbling day yesterday. After a weekend of motivation, encouragement and conviction at our annual District Assembly God continued working on, and in, me as we gathered on Sunday. Some musings from yesterday …

-God is still God and he is alive and working. I had so many reminders of this on Sunday and all weekend. What great assurance to realize that God is still God no matter what we are facing or where we are located.

-Several people came to the altar at the conclusion of the worship service yesterday. Making commitments, confessing and repenting and answering God’s call on their lives. It was thrilling to experience and to imagine the impact this will have on our community.

-3 people who visited for the first time on Easter Sunday returned yesterday and we had another brand new visitor. Our people are really starting to get serious about reaching out and about inviting people to Christ and the church.

-God was really working on me all weekend. I didn’t enjoy being worked on but I am rejoicing in all that he continues to refine in me. One of the results of this was a change in the message I had prepared for yesterday. I always preach to myself whenever I preach as well as to the congregation, but yesterday was simply me telling everyone what God was teaching me and evidently it applied to many others.

-It is not a coincidence that we had such a powerful service yesterday. There were 11 of our ladies away for a mini-retreat on Friday night and Saturday and there were 5 of us at our District Assembly on Friday night and Saturday. All of us were prepared and expecting great things as we entered to worship yesterday. The preparation for and expectation of great things in worship always boosts our time of corporate worship. If more of us would take the time to prepare and expect as we gather to worship we would experience outstanding times of worship regularly.

-Our attendance was down a bit, but was still 9 above what we had the week after Easter last year.

-Our small group was very small in size but we still enjoyed a great time of looking in the Word and discussion of God’s love.

-For the 15 months that I have been here I have been saying that God is up to something good in Canton. I am more convinced than ever that God is truly ready to do some awesome things in our community. I am excited and challenged by what I sense God is desiring to do through us and in us in the next 5 years. Wow!

-My wife and I experienced a tremendous blessing yesterday and it is one that we had been praying about for over 5 months. I am almost speechless as I reflect on the blessing. Those who know me are aware that I am rarely speechless but once again God took my breath away.

Here’s hoping that you see God at work this week. I am praying that you have some “take your breath away” moments. Here’s hoping that you start preparing and expecting great things for this week. Look for someone to encourage today.

Dennis

Easter Sundays are always good and yesterday was very good. This morning has been busy so these musings are in the afternoon. Here we go …

-My son, oldest grandson, oldest daughter, son in law and youngest granddaughter were all in worship with us yesterday. That means that no matter what else happened it was going to be a very good Easter. Our son is a missionary in Kenya and he was back to check out some colleges with our oldest grandson. It has been 15 years since we were in worship together on Easter. Our daughter and family live in Michigan and it has been several years since we worshiped together on Easter. It wasn’t the whole family but it was great. When you are in ministry and your kids are in ministry or are active in their church where they live you don’t get the joy of worshiping together even on special Sundays.

-We were able to experience 3 people accept Christ as their personal Savior and many other followers of Christ commit to sharing Christ with others more often.

-We had a great attendance, it was right at 50% higher than our attendance last Easter. The best news was that all but 8 of them are from our area. We also had at least one person who was looking for a church home, heard about our church and came. He said that he will be back this coming Sunday.

-It was especially fun to see the faces of many of our core families who were smiling from ear to ear as they saw so many in attendance and heard of those who came to Christ.

-It was obvious that our regulars had been inviting people to attend. That will only produce good things for the church and the kingdom in the future.

-We had a good group of children in attendance and several of them participated in leading the congregation in a special song. Things always go well when the kids lead us.

-Our Easter breakfast was outstanding and we had a large attendance for the breakfast. I loved seeing and hearing the people talking with each other and seeing them introduce themselves to people they did not know.

-We had a Good Friday service where we shared communion as part of the service. There was a great spirit in the service and a good attendance for this time of worship.

-We are seeing many great things taking place in, and around, our church.

-My mind is a bit foggy today. After the push toward Easter and doing some extra time as hospital chaplain I am finding it a bit hard to focus today. That is the main reason why this post came out in the afternoon instead of the morning.

-I was also excited this morning to hear that someone I have been praying for their salvation for several years accepted Christ yesterday.

Here’s hoping that you are still celebrating today. Here’s hoping that you will be encouraged by the truth that Christ has risen and is alive today. Here’s hoping that you find someone to encourage today.

Dennis

Yesterday was another good day and very good springboard into Easter weekend. Now for my musings …

-It was cold, windy and rainy yesterday morning. Surely spring is coming sometime, isn’t it?

-Very fun and encouraging to see the children walking around waving palm branches as we sang yesterday. It was also good to see many more children this year than on Palm Sunday a year ago.

-There was great energy in the whole worship service and a great spirit as well.

-There were a few who came to the altar at the end of the service.

-There were several who raised a hand and indicated they were seeking a change in their life.

-I shared a short children’s message with our elementary age children during the service. I love interacting with them because they will actually respond. Adults are not quite as comfortable answering out loud.

-I was very encouraged by the fact that we had a good number go to Winter Jam, a special night of concert with 10 bands that was in an arena about 45 minutes away. There were a couple more teens who went this year than went a year ago. Slow progress with teens, but it is still progress.

-It was great to observe that many people hung around a long time after the worship service talking with each other. I always think that is a good sign of real community and fellowship.

-I opened the sermon yesterday with this question and statement. “Have you ever felt conflicted by the praise you were feeling and the tears from burdens you were carrying? If so, you are in good company because Jesus himself was in this position on Palm Sunday. While we don’t want to stop praising Jesus for who he is and all he has done sometimes we find ourselves praising him through our tears.”

-Jesus knows. He knows you and knows your past. He also knows what you are facing and feeling. He knows the plans he has for you. He knows that he loves you and he knows your tears.

-Because of Winter Jam our small group did not meet last evening and we are not planning on meeting next week either. I miss when we don’t get together.

-Our son and oldest grandson will be arriving at our place late Thursday night. They are serving as missionaries in Kenya so this is a very special visit. Also, our oldest daughter, son in law and youngest grandchild will arrive that same evening. They will all be with us for Easter Sunday. It has been at least 15 years since my son was with us on Easter since he has been in ministry that long. I am not sure the last time our daughter was with us for Easter, but it has been a while. A fact that most people don’t consider is that ministry families are rarely able to be with their family on special days because we are serving on those days. This will be a very special Easter for a lot of reasons. Our grandson is coming to the states to visit some colleges in anticipation of graduating high school next year. Wow, how can that be?

Here’s hoping you have a week of God moments where you are reminded that you are loved and that God is with you no matter what you are facing or feeling.

Dennis