24 May 2007

Yesterday, I witnessed a true wonder.  For over a year about two dozen old telephone poles have laid in the field next to the church. 

Old telephone poles are not much use for anything.  They are burdensome and ugly. But over the past few weeks Dan, his dad, and a few others formed some of those old poles into crosses. They are huge, about 35 feet tall.  Still, telephone pole crosses lying in the grass don’t mean much.

But yesterday morning, PPL dug three deep holes in the ground near I-81 at the front of our campus. They then attached a cable to a crane and performed a feat that brought tears to my eyes. Old telephone poles don’t mean much, that is until you transform them into crosses and lift them into place for the world to see. 

It is such a simple shape, a simple symbol - the cross. Yet, it exudes meaning. The cross of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of the world, is perhaps the most powerful symbol ever created.

I am reminded that I’m a lot like those old poles. I too have been transformed by the cross. I am a child of God, saved, forgiven, empowered.

May all who pass by the crosses at I-81 and Lambs Gap Road come under the protection and blessing of the Cross.  May all be drawn to Jesus by this simple symbol of God’s love.

"But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself" (John 12:32).  Jesus Christ

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God"  (I Corinthians 1:18).

Sharing the Journey,
Pastor Don

17 May 2007

Throughout the past month a group of us has made great forward progress on a major community project. It is an exciting ride to see God open doors of opportunity and challenge.  However, characteristic of all forward movement, there has been opposition.  In this case, it has come from a very unlikely source.

It never ceases to amaze me. You can be doing the most kind, wonderful service possible, and you will still receive opposition.  When opposition first hits, I usually react in one of two manners - rooted in my great maturity - yuk, yuk.  Fight or flight. To extreme, neither of these reactions is the best solution.

In fact, I’ve found that opposition is a good friend. Here’s why.

Opposition helps us clarify our motives and plans.  It causes us to ask ourselves tough questions.  Are we doing this for the right reasons?  Have we done our homework?  Do we have a good plan?  Have we received wise counsel?

Opposition creates community. I remember one of my leadership professors making this statement.  "A common enemy is a powerful, unifying force."  Unity in purpose and plans is often unstoppable. Some of my closest friendship bonds were born out of opposition and difficult times.

Opposition, like weight lifting, makes us stronger.  Great projects and programs are developed through strength; the bigger the project, the more strength needed for completion.  Big projects and programs often receive strong opposition.  It is often this opposition that develops our strength enough to complete the project.

Opposition gives us an opportunity to see God at work.  When Nehemiah decided to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem, he took on a job that was clearly beyond his means. That’s where the real fun begins.  God goes before us and clears paths we cannot conquer. "When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall." (Nehemiah 4:15)

Nevertheless, I’m still not praying for opposition.  It has a way of answering its’ own prayer.  But, when it comes, and come it will, I know it’s a good thing.

Sharing the Journey,
Pastor Don

P.S.  Join us for Youth Sunday this weekend. Our worship will be led by the teens, Pastor Mike will be speaking, and Sunday evening we will raise thousands of dollars for youth missions at the banquet and auction.  Don’t miss it!

10 May 2007

Did you ever wish God would get on your time table?  It seems like He so slow sometimes.  The Bible tells us that with God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day.  He is not limited by time. He knows the end before the beginning and everything in between.

Of course I’m sometimes not sure what’s going on now, much less a day, a month, or years from now.  Anyway, I digress.

About twenty-eight years ago this spring I left Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tennessee for a week of ministry in New York City and Long Island. I’ll never forget stepping off the subway for the first time. I was enthralled by the city.  I immediately fell in love with the sights, sounds, and smells of the greatest city on earth.  But I also sensed a deep desire to see Christ honored in this megopolis. I wanted to pastor in or near the city.

God has never seen fit to allow me to pastor in New York. I’ve been called to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and a wonderful twenty-five year ministry there.  But I have been involved to some extent or another with church planting in New York and throughout the Northeast for most of these years.  In recent times He has allowed my involvement to increase much to my delight.

Last week Paul Williams, President of The Orchard Group asked me to serve on the Board of Directors of this outstanding organization of which I am a Regional Director.  The Orchard Groups’ mission is to plant churches in New York City and the northeast! 

I am honored. I am humbled. I am amazed at God’s timing. I truly don’t know why God has said, "Now is the time for you to become more involved with your beloved city."  But I do know this.  God’s timing is always right.  When I get on His agenda, I always reap the rewards.

So . . . Okay Lord, some stuff takes a long time. I’m good with that. The wait makes me really appreciate it. And maybe I have more to offer these days.

All can say is; don’t give up before your time's up.  Some stuff takes a long, long time. God knows what He is doing.

Sharing the Journey,
Pastor Don

P.S. Don’t miss the start of the new message series for May - Impossible Is Nothing - Learning to Pray, this Sunday.  Invite a friend, or even an enemy!

2 May 2007

Did you ever wish God would get on your time table?  It seems like He so slow sometimes.  The Bible tells us that with God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day.  He is not limited by time. He knows the end before the beginning and everything in between.

Of course I’m sometimes not sure what’s going on now, much less a day, a month, or years from now.  Anyway, I digress.

About twenty-eight years ago this spring I left Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tennessee for a week of ministry in New York City and Long Island. I’ll never forget stepping off the subway for the first time. I was enthralled by the city.  I immediately fell in love with the sights, sounds, and smells of the greatest city on earth.  But I also sensed a deep desire to see Christ honored in this megopolis. I wanted to pastor in or near the city.

God has never seen fit to allow me to pastor in New York. I’ve been called to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and a wonderful twenty-five year ministry there.  But I have been involved to some extent or another with church planting in New York and throughout the Northeast for most of these years.  In recent times He has allowed my involvement to increase much to my delight.

Last week Paul Williams, President of The Orchard Group asked me to serve on the Board of Directors of this outstanding organization of which I am a Regional Director.  The Orchard Groups’ mission is to plant churches in New York City and the northeast! 

I am honored. I am humbled. I am amazed at God’s timing. I truly don’t know why God has said, "Now is the time for you to become more involved with your beloved city."  But I do know this.  God’s timing is always right.  When I get on His agenda, I always reap the rewards.

So . . . Okay Lord, some stuff takes a long time. I’m good with that. The wait makes me really appreciate it. And maybe I have more to offer these days.

All can say is; don’t give up before your time's up.  Some stuff takes a long, long time. God knows what He is doing.

Sharing the Journey,
Pastor Don

P.S. Don’t miss the start of the new message series for May - Impossible Is Nothing - Learning to Pray, this Sunday.  Invite a friend, or even an enemy!