Yesterday we had a focus on Friends. The focus was on inviting them to worship with us, praying for them and sharing the good news that God is already reaching out to them. It was a very good day. As for my musings …

-My 9:00 church had a good morning. There were 7 visitors and a good spirit in the worship service. They also had a wonderful brunch after the service. I didn’t get to enjoy the brunch since I had to get to my 10:30 church. They had a bunch of great food including biscuits and homemade sausage gravy. That is one of my favorite breakfast foods. Some kind people from the church dropped off a good amount of the gravy and some biscuits for me later in the day. I enjoyed it in the morning. From reports I received the time of connection and fellowship during the brunch was outstanding.

-My 10:30 church had at least 20 visitors. The congregation was very engaged throughout the whole time of worship and there some who chose to accept Jesus as their Savior! There were a lot of great conversations that took place following the worship service. It was encouraging to see the regular attenders welcoming the visitors.

-My sermon went much better at both churches than it did in my practice run early in the morning. That practice run did not go well at all, but that is part of the reason that I practice it so that I can work out the wording. It is a bit unnerving when the practice run goes as poorly as it did yesterday.

-My fantasy football team lost again. Looks like no playoffs for me this year, but I will continue to enjoy the fact that the Cubs won the World Series.

-You are worth it. I just wanted you to be reminded of that fact. It is not an opinion. This fact is supported by the truth that Jesus Christ died for you. No matter how you are feeling. No matter what you are facing. No matter what your past seems to say about you. Jesus Christ loves you and sees you as having right now value and eternal value.

-“So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:11 (New Living Translation) This was a part of my sermon yesterday.

-I may finally have settled on the theme and layout of my Christmas sermon series. Still praying and studying for the next couple of days to confirm it.

-I loved listening to some of our children on Saturday as they practiced some songs for their Christmas program. It was great to hear them singing so enthusiastically.

-My wife and I had a tearful conversation this morning about what God is speaking to us. It so great to know that God is still working on us and through us. We are carrying huge burdens for our own ministry and for the needs of many people to whom we are connected.

-I told my churches about my all-time favorite restaurant during my sermon yesterday. Don’t worry I tied it into the sermon. The restaurant is no longer open. In fact, it is no longer standing. It either collapsed on its own or it was torn down, several years ago. You are intrigued as to what restaurant I am referring to aren’t you? You never know what critical things you may learn during my sermons. 

-I love talking with other pastors. I talked with a fellow pastor this morning and it was great to hear his heart and know better how to pray for him.

-My son and his family are traveling toward their new ministry assignment in Central Africa Republic. They hope to arrive on Thursday. Much prayer is being spoken on their behalf this week. 

Here’s hoping you are following God’s leading this week in all that you do and say.

Dennis

I filled in as Chaplain this morning at our local hospital and then made a trip to an out of town hospital to call on someone from one of my churches, therefore these musings are coming out much later than normal. As for my musings …

-Yesterday I felt like I was swimming upstream  while I was preaching. It went well, but it felt like it was a struggle. Even when I practiced and preached to the empty sanctuary early in the morning it was not easy. There are days like that, fortunately they are not the norm.

-There are many people in my churches who are wrestling with some major things in their families. From strained relationships, to misunderstandings, to job questions and significant physical problems. The prayer list grows, fortunately God is bigger than all our struggles.

-Last week I got to spend a couple of days learning about and working on church planting. It was a challenging and encouraging time. I also got to spend a couple of days with 4 friends from college. We met our freshman year, have remained friends for all these years and we get together for a couple of days every year. I love those guys and it is awesome to see how God has worked in each of our lives and is still working. There was a lot of laughter, a lot of food, a lot of firewood used as we sat outside around a fire for many of the hours we were together and there were even a few tears as we shared with each other.   

-Last week was kind of a big deal for another reason. My Chicago Cubs won the World Series. I have been a lifelong Cubs fan and the playoffs were awesome and excruciating at the same time. I don’t have any experience in having my team win the World Series (or even be in the Series for that matter) but I am loved it. Wait till next year has a whole new meaning this off season.   

-We had good attendance at my 9:00 church and a little below our average at my 10:30 church and the report I received is the third church had a very good day.

-My son and his family are heading toward their new missionary assignment later this week. We are hopeful to skype with them sometime this week. After they arrive in their new location communication will be sporadic. 3 years is a very long time, that is the length of this term of service and how long it is likely to be before they make it back to the states. Time to pray a little harder.

-Last week I concluded an 8 week study with a discipleship group. This was our second 8 week study and now they are looking for someone to come alongside and guide in following Christ. I loved our discussions and their questions. God is up to something good around here and I can’t wait to be a part of the movement.

-I am struggling this year with my Christmas message series. Usually I have it all laid out by now. Not sure what that means.    

-This Sunday we are making a concerted effort to bring our unchurched friends to church in all 3 of my churches. I am looking forward to what God is going to do this Sunday.

Here’s hoping that you are looking forward to God moving in your life and church this week.

Dennis

Yesterday was a very fun and encouraging day, at least most of it was encouraging.  Yesterday I heard from 4 people from a couple of different churches I used to pastor. They gave encouraging words and reminders of great times. As for my musings …

-The elementary children of my 10:30 church helped us in worship by leading one of our songs.  I am singing the song as I type this and picturing the motions. Loved their energy. I may, or may not, be doing the motions in my office right now.    

-I am going to a church planting training conference this week. I went to one part of it last year and this year will complete the other half. We are praying about starting something in a couple of areas near us.

-My 10:30 church did something each Sunday this month for us and my Associate and his wife for Pastor Appreciation. Then they also had a carry-in meal as part of the celebration. I am so humbled by all these expressions of appreciation. I am a very fortunate pastor with the people I am blessed to serve.    

-Had a very good time of prayer yesterday morning. That always helps the sermon get better.

-I looked around yesterday during worship at my 9:00 and 10:30 churches and was struck by how many people have been going through some trying circumstances recently. I also thought through times of praying for them and in some cases praying with them. I was struck by their perseverance.    

-Yesterday we examined the connection between faith and hope.

-Attendance was down a little at both churches yesterday.

-And my fantasy team lost yesterday. The playoffs are looking like “wait until next year”. On a positive note the Cubs stayed alive in the World Series by winning last night.

-I am encouraged by what I am being told of people inviting neighbors and friends to church and some of these invitations are creating great conversations.     

-Feeling an almost overwhelming burden to see more people live out the faith they claim. This burden has been driving my prayer times recently.

-Yesterday afternoon I participated in an Installation Service in a church in a neighboring town. I was on both the receiving and giving end of the installation. I recently agreed to oversee/lead a 3^rd church. That church will have a “campus pastor” that I will mentor and oversee. It was a real honor to pray over and officially install the campus pastor. We can’t keep doing things the way we have always done them. It is time to get creative in our organization and in our ministries to reach our world for Christ. I have rarely shied away from trying something new. After all, I can rest when my time here on earth is done.

Here’s hoping that you see the new thing God is doing in your life and embrace the change.

Dennis

Yesterday was a very full day with some great moments, some confusing moments and some difficult moments. Let’s get to the musings …

-It was great to be back worshipping with the people in my churches. It was great to be gone last Sunday and it was great to be back. I love my people and I love being their pastor.  

-It was awesome to see several people stand and make a choice toward hope. They stood to commit to reach for the hope that Christ has already provided for them. They chose hope so that they can break out of whatever is keeping them from living as God intends for them to live.

-It was great to have new people attending in both churches.

-In the afternoon my wife and I attended the celebration at another church a few miles away who were celebrating the 75^th anniversary of that church and its ministries. There was a small group 75 years ago who committed to bringing the love of Jesus and the message of salvation to that community and they stuck it out in some difficult times. We won’t know, this side of heaven, all the lives changed because of the courage and faithfulness of that small group in that small town. Wherever you are serving remember that your ministry is not just for those you are currently serving, but also for those who will come in the future.   

-In the evening I met with another church that I am coaching through some church health issues. It was a full day, but one with many moments of encouragement. Just realized that I was in 4 different churches yesterday.

-Yesterday was one of those Sundays where many people arrived late. What the attendance was when the service was about to start was much different than what it was when the service finished. That messes with me.   

-For those of you keeping track, my fantasy football team won this week.

-I was grateful that my daughter and son in law made it back safely from their mission trip.

-My discipleship group is passionately digging into God’s Word and asking tough questions of themselves. I am loving watching them wrestle with things and seeing the growth in their relationship with the Lord.

-I am struggling with direction for our Christmas focus this year. Not sure at this point exactly what my sermon theme is going to be, and I don’t like being this close to Christmas without knowing.

-I participated in a 20^th anniversary renewal of wedding vows on Saturday. That was fun.

-It is time, past time is more accurate, to get in much better physical shape. I had conversations with 4 other pastors this past week who are feeling the same need for themselves. It is time to do something about it. Here’s hoping they will join me and we can help each other.

-I am praying fervently for some people who are struggling with the loss of loved ones. It is going to be more pronounced with the holidays approaching.    

-It looks like I am going to be able to take my regular day off this week. My wife and I will be able to spend the day together. We haven’t been able to do that for a few weeks.

Here’s hoping that you will choose hope this week and that you will share that hope with someone else.

Dennis

Yesterday was a very relaxing and refreshing day. Why? The main reason was that I was on vacation. The secondary reason is that my wife I were in Iowa taking care of (sometimes it was the other way around) 3 of our grandkids while their parents are on a mission trip. The third reason was that I was not worried in the least about my churches because I have such great people serving with me. As for my musings …

-Yesterday I went to church as a visitor. That is always an interesting experience for a pastor. To enter a place you don’t know, of course I had the advantage of having 3 grandkids who knew their way around. It made me realize some things we do well at my churches and some things we need to improve.   

-I really enjoyed the whole worship experience at the church we attended. It is a church focused on the needs of young families and college students. I definitely felt my age looking around the worship center. I loved the music and the message was good.

-The service we went to was at 8:45, yes that is in the AM. My grandkids don’t sleep in, so it was easy to be ready and on time (actually early). The place was packed with college students and young families.

-As much as I needed some time away and some refreshing I still missed the people in my churches.

-I am already working on this Sunday’s message even though I am still on vacation and I am excited to preach this message.   

-I am loving that my wife and I are able stay with the grandkids and help my daughter and son in law go and serve in Africa for a time. But I am not fooled, I know that taking care of a 4, 6 and 9 year old for 5 or 6 days is nothing compared to everyday parenting. I love being a grandparent and I especially love being a grandparent watching my kids and kids in law be such great parents.

-Looking forward to enjoying this special time with my grandkids for another day and a half. Because when I get home my first 5 days are absolutely packed and I am looking forward to it. I love being a pastor.

-It is really easy when I am at another church on a Sunday to go into evaluation mode instead just participate. Yesterday I was able to really worship.

-My prayer list is really growing. Fortunately, God is able to handle all that burdens me and more.    

-It is looking like my fantasy team may lose another one.

Here’s hoping that you find something to refresh your spirit this week.

Dennis

Yesterday was a tough one, but it finished well. As for my musings …

-There was a definite lack of energy in both churches yesterday.

-I did a horrible job preaching yesterday. The good news is that God’s Word still works even when I don’t explain it well. More good news is that God is not dependent on my ability.

-It is a very good thing that I am getting some days away. My wife and I left town yesterday afternoon and are at a retreat with several other pastors and spouses. It is a beautiful setting and the relaxing and refreshing have already begun. I love getting time to just relax with my gorgeous wife.

-The sermon yesterday was on choosing hope in the midst of pain or suffering. I was so burdened to get the message across to my people because it is such a timely and needed message.

-I think my fantasy football team is going to pull out the win this week. My opponent still has 2 players in tonight’s game but my lead is pretty big. If I do hold on for the win it will end a 3 week losing streak.

-My son, daughter in law and 2 grandkids made it back to Kenya safely this week. In just over a month they will move to the Central Africa Republic to begin a new ministry among a mostly unreached people group.

-Attendance at both churches was very low.

-Had a great time of discovery and discussion in my discipleship group this past week. I love that group.

-Heavy hearted over the burdens that many people in my churches are carrying. Some of them are carrying their own and others are carrying burdens of those they love. The prayer list grows.

-Very thankful for people in my churches who give their time and efforts so enthusiastically and generously. I am more appreciative of them than I can possibly express. Without them our church would grind to a halt.

-I loved the weather this weekend. It was long sleeve weather in the mornings and shorts in the afternoon type weather. Unfortunately it makes trying to get the church building’s temperature at an acceptable level very difficult.

-This is going to be a little shorter than normal as I head out of for the retreat time with my wife and as well as some great friends.

Here’s hoping that you have a great week full of hope.

Dennis

Yesterday was a good, but difficult day. There were wonderful moments, there were great conversations, there was a tremendous time of worship and there were still sobering moments as well. As for my musings …

-Started a new sermon series yesterday entitled “I Choose Hope”. In this time of so much uncertainty, turmoil and torrent of words of despair rushing at us we need to know that there is hope. Hope is real and available but you need to choose to live in this hope.   

-We had a special moment of the presence of God in the worship at our 9:00 church. I stopped what was planned and asked those who needed a touch of God in a difficult situation in life to stand and we had a meaningful time of prayer. God is moving and trying to get our attention.   

-The time of singing in my 10:30 church was powerful and I really felt the touch of God as people sang with conviction.

-It is beginning to get very real that my son, daughter in law and 2 of our grandkids are heading back to Africa very soon (tomorrow). It has been great to have them in our house even when we weren’t doing anything together just hearing and seeing them has been a blessing. It has been a blessing to look out on the congregation and see them worshiping with us a few times. I am excited for them as they obediently follow God’s call to reach people with the Gospel, but humanly I struggle as I watch them pack and return.  

-My fantasy team lost again. Yes, I still have a player playing tonight, but I am too far behind for a kicker to pull out the victory.

-There have been some special blessings from several people in the past few days. Words of appreciation and encouragement. There have been some special moments of talking with people in both of my churches as they have shared what is happening in their life.

-Yesterday morning was a very rushed morning.   We had some technical glitches again and because of how busy the week had been there was a fair amount of last minute hustling to get everything ready for the day. In spite of those things God showed up and moved in our worship times.

-I have been encouraged by some conversations with some other pastors recently. I have been lifted by some and I have been able to do the lifting with others. It is great to be able to share with others who serve as pastors.

-Really looking forward to a few days away in the coming weeks.

-Excited to watch, or listen to, some playoff baseball beginning this week.

-Really burdened for many people facing some difficult decisions.

-Very excited to teach my next discipleship lesson with my group on the subject of accountability. I don’t know if they are excited or not.

-Praying for sensitivity this week for people who need to know that there is hope for them and whatever they are facing.

Here’s hoping that you will choose hope and pass it on this week.

Dennis

Awesome! Yesterday was full of awesome moments. It was a day of new beginnings, a day of celebration, a day of new life, a day of encouragement and a day of powerful worship. Before I give everything away that happened yesterday, here are my musings …

-We baptized 4 in my 10:30 church and then in the afternoon 1 from my 9:00 church was baptized. Hearing each of them share their personal testimony was so powerful. I bounced from tears to joy to cheers. Then I got to have the best position in the building as I baptized each of them and saw the joy on their face as they came out of the water. I am still pumped this morning as I think of each one. I love baptisms.   

-I was very encouraged by the number of people in attendance at the invitation of those being baptized. Every one of them got to witness the baptism celebration. Everyone who was in attendance heard the gospel through the testimony of each one who got baptized. Those words likely had a stronger impact than anything I said. Praying for fruit from the witness of all who shared.

-I love the cooperation developing between my 9:00 and 10:30 churches.

-There were a couple of people who made a decision to accept Jesus in worship at my 10:30 church. Time to schedule another baptism service. There were 2 other people who told me that they would like to be baptized after witnessing the baptisms yesterday.

-I administered a church health survey at another church in a nearby town yesterday evening. I love being a part of churches that want to make a difference in their community and the world.  

-This coming Sunday will be a very special day. My son and daughter in law will be speaking at both my 9:00 and 10:30 churches. They will be sharing about the ministry they have been involved in for the past 3 years in Kenya and about the new ministry they will be starting as they return to Africa. The new ministry will be in Central Africa Republic.   

-I had the honor of praying with a family as they went through the final hours of a loved one’s life in my role as Chaplain at the local hospital. That is 3 times in 4 weeks. It is difficult but also an honor.

-My fantasy football team got beat yesterday.

-We had very good attendance at both churches yesterday.

-As I listen to a family cleaning the church this morning, I am reminded that we have many people who volunteer every week.  Some of what they do is seen by many and a lot of what people do is seen by very few and yet they continue to serve. That is backbone of the church.   

-I have been encouraged by the number of people telling about friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates and family members that they have been inviting to join them in worship.

-I loved overhearing someone telling a new family about the exciting things taking place in our church.

-Yesterday we had 7 youth in Small group/Sunday School at my 10:30 church. That is after having 9 last Sunday. For us that is a really big deal and a sign that we are finally beginning to get something going with youth. We also had about 25 (not exactly sure of the number) children in attendance during worship.

Here’s hoping that you recognize some things to celebrate this week.

Dennis