In Between

There are times in life when we feel in between two things.  Right now is one of those times.  We are in between the year-end holidays and the best and beautiful parts of winter.  We are not yet to spring break and the warmer temperatures.  There are other in-between times in the year, depending on who you are: mid-October, July, and anytime Covid surges.  The point is that these times place us in a difficult situation.  The cheer of the last thing has worn off and the anticipation of the next things has yet to take hold.  It can be disorienting.

For centuries Christians have followed a rhythm that we call the “church year.”  It is made up of two seasons (Advent and Lent) and a number of special days (Christmas, Easter, Pentecost).  Built into the church year are in-between times.  The time after Pentecost, for example, is nearly six months long.  Right now we are in one of those in-between times.  We are between the Epiphany and the start of Lent.  We are neither celebrating nor preparing.  So if you feel a bit in-between right now, it might help to know that centuries of wisdom recognized this and made room for it.  It’s okay to be in-between.  No matter how in-between you feel, these truths still remain: Christ is born and Christ is risen and Christ lives in you through the Holy Spirit.  Hallelujah!

Cadet Contribution

This coming Sunday, the tri-cities Cadet club would normally have their annual Cadet Sunday.  Because of Covid, they won’t be together at a church.  We will still be taking an offering for the Cadets.  Cadets is a boys club that has fun, learns God’s word, and builds intergenerational relationships.  Things change over the years, but Cadets left an indelible mark on me.  There were a lot of laughs as we cracked jokes and blew off various forms of steam as boys are wont to do.  But I also saw Christian men sharing their lives with us.  Mr. Van Laar, Mr. Scheffers, Mr. Laning, and my own father were all Cadet counselors.  They invested in me and other squirrelly boys from my church in ways that contributed to our lives and our walk with Jesus.  They have become a part of my story.

It blesses me to know that men are still investing in squirrelly boys in the name of Jesus, contributing to their lives and their stories.  These are ordinary men who keep showing up twice a month to be a living example of what it means to follow Jesus.  Say a prayer for Rod Pell, our lead counselor, as well as the other counselors who are helping.  Pray that they will know their labor is never in vain.  They are leaving an impact and becoming part of a young man’s story.

What You Can Do

When was the last time you set out to do something that you knew you couldn’t do?  Ever attempted something that, in order for it to happen, would require miraculous outside intervention?  In business this happens all the time.  There are risks because no business plan, no matter how good, can account for or control every variable.  Even sporting events are often decided by a funny bounce, a lucky roll, or a highly unlikely combination of events.

What about church?  What risky things do churches do?  When do churches make leaps of faith that require God’s miraculous intervention for success?  Perhaps capital campaigns are an example.  But I would contend that most things that churches do can be done without God.  Of course, we need God for our every breath.  But most of the goals we set and the plans we make are well within our power to accomplish.  We don’t need God to achieve them.  Does that sound right to you?  We are people with the power that created the universe and raised the dead available to us.  And we set goals and make plans that require none of it.  That might be worth some reflection.

Quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.

Snow Day

There are few events in life that polarize children and adults like a snow day.  Now the first snow day of the year is often fun for everyone.  It can even awaken the child in all of us.  As adults we remember the thrill of waking up and hearing mom say, “No school today.  You can go back to bed.”  The second snow day of the year is not received so gladly by adults.  It often comes at a bad time.  So when we get to the third or fourth cancelled school day of the year, adults have had enough.  Most parents still have to go to work.  This means scrambling to figure out what to do with the kids.  Our children, on the other hand, receive the news of a snow day with great joy.  It is a gift.

I’m reminded of the time Jesus told His disciples, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  Let me paraphrase: Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a snow day will never enter it.  I challenge you today to see the joy in a child’s eyes at the good news of a snow day.  Receive the good news of the kingdom of God like that - as a gift.

Epiphany

This Thursday is Epiphany.  It’s a day in the Church year that has mostly gotten swallowed up by Christmas and the New Year.  At Ferrysburg Community Church, we’ve not traditionally done a lot with Epiphany.  We mention Epiphany Sunday (this coming Sunday) and sing some Epiphany songs, like “We Three Kings.”  But other than that, it gets little attention.  Epiphany comes from a Greek word that means “an appearing” or “a manifestation.”  In the Greek language this word was sometimes used to describe the appearing of an enemy coming to attack.  Epiphany was also used to describe the dawn - the appearing of the sun.  

This is a powerful way to picture Jesus being revealed to the world.  We often think of Jesus bringing light and life to us, the people of God.  But imagine the forces of sin and death seeing Jesus appearing on a ridge, marching toward them into battle.  Picture Jesus, like the sun, breaking into the darkness with rays of light.  As great as it is to celebrate the birth of Jesus, Epiphany marks the start of business time.  Epiphany means that the battle has begun in earnest.  As we live out the drama of Christ’s life, Epiphany is a time to remind us that Jesus has declared war on brokenness and sin.  It’s on!  Light has come!

Christmas Letdown

The lead up to Christmas is a marvelous one.  So much preparation: gifts are purchased, decorations hung, tree trimmed, food cooked, clothes bought, gatherings planned.  It’s the equivalent of planning a small wedding each year.  As the day comes, our anticipation grows, our expectations grow, our hopes grow.  And nearly every year, Christmas itself is no match for these things.  The gifts disappoint initially or eventually.  The food - no matter how delicious - devolves into leftovers.  The people - no matter how much we love them - often leave us with a splinter or two if we’re not careful enough.  And so after Christmas we are left longing still.  We long for the things Christmas was not able to bring us or deliver.  Hope has not been quenched.  We are still waiting.

I believe that a Christmas is coming that will meet every longing.  There will be a Christmas that delivers beyond every expectation and hope.  It is the Christmas when Jesus returns to this world.  He will come not simply to announce his kingdom, but to bring it fully.  He will come not just with promises, but with fulfillment.  His return won’t just point to a day to come.  It will be that day.  In your every hope, longing, desire, and wish, that is the day - the Christmas - you are ultimately waiting for.  The Christmas letdown that you feel right now is perfectly appropriate.  It tells you that the real Christmas is yet to come.

Untainted

For many people, Christmas is the best time of the year.  The whole season is full of good tidings and cheer.  We seem to rise above the doldrums and embrace our better selves and the better parts of those around us.  It’s a time of hope, if only because we choose to believe that people are still good and, for a day or two, can channel their generous side.  But it’s not that way for everyone.  For some, Christmas is a miserable time.  Whether it’s because of loss or strained relationships or an aversion to crowds and chaos, some people dread December.  For them, Christmas is far from the best time of year.  It is the worst.

I’d like to suggest that both parties have got it wrong.  Both the “Whos down in Who-ville” and the “Grinches” are wrong for the same reason: they see Christmas from their own perspective.  They evaluate it based on how it affects themselves.  It’s the idea that Christmas is what we make of it.  Sort of like a baked potato.  The potato is just a platform for butter and cheese and sour cream.  The potato itself is rather tasteless and unremarkable.  While we may think that Christmas is what we make of it, we are very wrong.  Christmas is not simply a platform we decorate with generosity and gifts, family and food.  Christmas is the defining event in history.  It requires neither presents nor carols, neither relatives nor eggnog to be remarkable.  We don’t decorate the birth of Christ.  It decorates us.  We don’t make it good.  It makes us good.  Christmas is unenhanced by our revelry and untainted by our humbugs.  So don’t let yourself try to make the best of Christmas this year.  Let it make the best of you.

GrowGroups - Huddles

Here’s an offer - a bargain, really.  You are invited to invest about an hour every week and, in return, gain a great deal of spiritual growth and capital.  For just over an hour a week you will understand more clearly what it means to follow Jesus and how to do it.  You will gain a small community of people who are praying for you and walk the journey with you.  All that for just an hour or so each week!

Starting in January, we will offer a type of GrowGroup called a huddle.  It’s a weekly meeting where we look at concepts from Jesus’ life and apply them to our own.  Huddles are made up of 5-7 people and will meet on Tuesday evenings from January into June.  We’ll learn about the rhythms of Jesus’ life, the way he related to others, and how he thought about his own life.  We’ll find ways to respond to these concepts that help us become more like Jesus.  For more information or to sign up, email Pastor Nate by clicking here.

Spiritual Discipline: Solitude

Last week in this space I wrote about the claim that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.  That may or may not be true.  But it is undoubtedly the loudest time of the year.  We are bombarded with music everywhere we go.  Christmas music gets turned up louder than any other time of the year.  There are more people in the stores, more voices announcing the “deals of the year,” more cars on the road, honking their horns at the person looking at their phone while the light turns green.  The lights come out this time of year too.  Have you driven through the village of Spring Lake after dark?

In the midst of all of this, a person needs a break.  We need quiet to hear the most important, but softer voices in our lives.  We need a little darkness so that we can see the brightest light of the Christmas season.  And the spiritual discipline of solitude helps us do that.  Solitude helps us listen to what’s most important and focus on what is of greatest value.  As you consider taking some time in quiet solitude this month, here’s one way to get started.  Pick a day and leave the radio and the TV off.  You’ll be surprised at what comes into focus and what you hear when you give yourself a little extra time and space.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

You know the Andy Williams song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”  It’s about Christmastime.  There is something special about this season.  Even I, though given to bouts of “grinchy-ness,” feel the excitement of celebration and cheer.  We enjoy the time with family and friends.  We cherish a few days off to eat and rest and give and receive gifts.  For those of us who belong to Jesus, Christmas has an even deeper reason for joy.  We celebrate the birth of a savior.

At the same time, I think we should recognize that for many this is not the “hap-happiest season of all.”  At the holidays many are confronted with loneliness, dysfunction, grief, and pain.  It brings hurtful family dynamics to the forefront.  Losses are magnified at Christmas.  If you struggle at Christmastime, I want to direct you to a much greater promise than presents and family and shopping.  It’s the promise of a returning Savior who will wipe every tear from your eye and make all things new.  And for those who are blessed to be able to enjoy this season, say a prayer for those who struggle.  When you pray before a family meal, remember those who will not be gathering with family for various painful reasons.

Kingdom Investment Update

In 2022 we will be using the funds freed up from paying off our building debt to make an investment in God’s kingdom.  Last month we shared with you plans to support a refugee family and participate in a home build with Habitat for Humanity.  Since then, we’ve been so excited by your encouragement and desire to be involved.  Our Kingdom Investment team felt that coordinating these projects will require a point person - someone who can communicate with partner organizations and support volunteers from FCC.  We’re happy to let you know that our Director of Student Ministries, Kyle Mullin, will be filling that role.

When we hired Kyle, we knew that directing our student ministries was not a full time position all by itself.  Once Kyle was established, we would be looking for another way for him to support God’s work at FCC.  This position is a perfect fit for Kyle.  Not only does it match his passion to help people in need, it will be a great opportunity to involve our students in this work.  As we move into these projects, stay tuned for updates from Kyle.  If you’d like to help out or have ideas, feel free to contact him at kyle@ferrysburgchurch.com.  Please keep Kyle and these projects in your prayers.

Light Always Wins

Did you read or watch the news today?  Any day?  It’s never good.  Every once in a while there’s something we can celebrate.  But mostly it triggers anger, sadness, and despair.  Contentious verdicts.  Subpoenas.  Covid.  Even the weather is discouraging!  Now might be a fine time for Jesus to come back.  In the face of all that darkness, it’s tempting to lose hope and give in to despair.

But don’t!  Because light always wins.  When the wrong seems oft’ so strong, God is the ruler yet.  Now is not the time to give up and wail.  We have been given a kingdom that cannot fail.  This kingdom will wipe every tear from our eyes.  The lion will lie down with the lamb and a little child will lead them.  So when sorrow seems to reign and this world is filled with pain, we are more than conquerors in Jesus’ name.  Pressed but not crushed.  Joy comes in the morning.  Light always wins.  It shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

No One Stands Alone

Note: This message is so important that I like to run it about once a year.  I think it’s a great reminder to our church family and worth repeating.

I want to issue our church family a challenge.  It’s called “No one stands alone.”  Generally speaking, we are a very friendly church.  Guests who worship with us typically report feeling very welcomed.  Every once in a while, someone slips through the cracks.  A guest exits the sanctuary, gets a cup of coffee, then stands by himself or herself for five minutes and leaves.  Ugh.  

So here’s the challenge.  Let’s work together to make sure that no one stands alone in our church.  Whether a first time guest or a member, let’s keep our eyes peeled for people or couples who are standing by themselves in our lobby before or after the service.  A simple handshake, a warm welcome, and a few questions to get to know that person will make all the difference.  In the family of God, no one should stand alone.  As an expression of God’s family at FCC, let’s come together to make sure it doesn’t happen here.

Kingdom Investment 2022

Earlier this year, we were able to pay off the debt on our church building.  This freed up $48,000 from our annual budget.  We are excited to reinvest this money back into God’s kingdom in 2022.  Yesterday we shared with you the plan for this kingdom investment that Council approved at the October meeting.  You can watch the 10 minute presentation below..  After establishing criteria and hearing your ideas, the Kingdom Investment team recommended two options for Council to consider.  Council chose to do both of them!

First, we will sponsor a refugee family that is being resettled in the tri-cities area.  We have a history with this and the need is urgent.  We anticipate this happening soon.  Second, we will partner with Habitat for Humanity on a home build in Grand Haven.  Affordable housing is a challenge in our area.  This will give a local family an opportunity to become homeowners.  This project will probably get started in late spring or early summer of next year.  Thanks for all the great ideas you submitted.  Please be praying about this as we get started.  Stay tuned for updates and more information!

Family Value: Alignment

No family is perfectly consistent.  The classic example is the family that fights like cats and dogs in the car on the way to church, but suddenly transforms into the perfect family upon exiting the car in the church parking lot.  If respect or togetherness are values in your family, they may not get practiced in every area of your family’s life.  The priorities and values we aspire to are rarely 100% integrated in a family’s life.

At FCC we understand perfection isn’t likely.  A vision and values that permeate everything we do is a very tall mountain to climb.  But we are committed to climbing it.  Specifically, we want all of our ministries to reflect the UP, IN, and OUT of our vision.  We want all of our programs to align with our vision: VBS, children’s ministries, student ministries, and other events.  We also hope that this pattern gets reflected in the lives of our church family too.  Your life and mine beginning to reflect and align with our vision of becoming like Jesus.  Like an automobile, when the body of Christ is in alignment with who we are supposed to be, there is less wear and tear, the ride is smoother, and we reach our destination more efficiently.

Family Value: Empowerment

There are some churches in the world - even in our community - where you can just attend.  Churches where you can show up on Sunday morning (or some other time on the weekend that is convenient for you) and enjoy a very polished worship service while your kids are taught a Bible story.  You can enjoy refreshments after the service, pick up your children, and go home.  Then you can do it again next weekend.  If you want.

Believe me, I understand the allure and value of a church like this.  It has a lot to offer people and genuinely helps them grow closer to God.  I praise God for churches like this.  But we’re not one of them.  FCC isn’t a church that you just attend.  You can do that for a while, but before long you will be involved.  We have a few paid professionals who coordinate ministry.  But the ministry is done by all of us.  FCC is a place where everyone is asked to take the field.  There is a role for each person regardless of age or ability.  Being a part of this family means you get to do ministry.  Serving children.  Helping out after church.  Reading Scripture.  Welcoming guests.  FCC is a place where we believe you have something to offer.  It’s a place where you are empowered to share it.

Spiritual Discipline - Worship

Back in the 1980s, this thing started in churches called “The Worship Wars.”  It was a battle between church members who wanted a more modern, contemporary form of worship and church members who preferred (strongly) to stay with the hymns they grew up singing.  Lines were formed and the war began.  Many people left their congregation to join another that used worship music more in line with their desires.  It was messy.  It was painful.  And it completely missed the point.

Worship is so much more than a style of singing.  It is the orientation of a person’s life.  Worship can happen with hands raised or holding a hymnal.  But it can also happen while we drive, mow the lawn, join a Zoom call, or write up an estimate.  It can happen while we chase kids, walk the dog, or put away laundry.  Whenever we stop and become mindful that God is the Lord of the universe, that he is great and loving and sovereign, we are worshiping.  This month we are practicing the spiritual discipline of worship.  We want to encourage you to be intentional about doing this outside of a Sunday service.  Here’s a simple way to start: share with another person one way you saw the power or goodness of God in your day.  That will be an act of worship.

Family Value: Celebration

As Kool and the Gang famously sang, “Celebrate good times, come on!”  Families celebrate important events in life.  Whether it is a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation, or a retirement, families come together to celebrate.  As a church family at FCC, we do too!  Our biggest celebrations are around things like professions of faith and baptisms.  But we celebrate weddings, graduations, and anniversaries too.  

When we celebrate as a church family, it’s more than just congratulating someone or recognizing an accomplishment.  If you read the Gospels, you’ll notice that Jesus went to a lot of parties and weddings and other celebrations.  Celebration is a way we become more like Jesus.  What’s more, when we celebrate we are actually announcing God’s kingdom.  Throughout the Bible, God’s kingdom is described as a banquet or a wedding feast.  When we celebrate we are practicing for the party in the new creation.

Family Value: Better Together

There’s a saying of unknown origin that goes like this: “If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.”  Doing things as a group can be terribly inefficient.  We wait for people to follow through or catch up.  There are all kinds of reasons we have to slow down and wait.  The more people you take on a road trip, the more stops you’ll have to make for food or the restroom.  It’s just a whole lot simpler when I can do it on my own.

But it’s never as good when I do it alone.  It’s always better when we do it together.  When we do things together, I’ve got your back when you have a bad day.  You can cover for me when I’m struggling.  Doing things together has a much higher ceiling for enjoyment.  It’s not just your assistance or my extra pair of hands.  It’s your sense of humor and my experiences that add depth and richness to what we are doing.  Like all of our values, “together” has its roots in Scripture.  God created us for relationship and community.  We find our identity in a family.  That’s why whenever possible we do things together.  It’s just better that way!