The Two Things You Need for Christmas

There are a number of things that we believe we need for Christmas.  These needs show up in our Christmas wish lists and hopefully under the tree.  Maybe what you need is family around you or a specific set of circumstances.  But Christmas in its simplest and most powerful form only requires two things.

The first thing is Jesus.  That should be obvious.  Christmas is the celebration of His birthday.  He is the original Gift.  But Jesus alone doesn’t make it Christmas.  A second thing is needed: your attention.  Space in your heart.  Christmas is a reenactment of sorts.  We celebrate the birth of the Christ by re-living the drama of the original event.  We become the stable, our hearts the manger.  There’s no question that Jesus is present this Christmas.  The question is whether we will be present to the miracle.  Will we find the quiet space to behold Him as the newborn King?  Will we give our attention to Jesus?

Patient Endurance

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

We’ve been talking about waiting during this season of Advent.  Specifically, we are waiting to celebrate the birth of Christ.  We are also waiting for the second Christmas when Jesus will return to make all things new.  But there is a more general type of waiting that we all must do.  We wait for our prayers to be answered.  We wait for the time we’ve invested in people to produce a positive outcome.  We wait for opportunities to share our faith.  We wait for our hopes and dreams and our hearts’ desires to become reality.  But it sure is a lot of waiting.

But consider this: when we plant a seed, there is no expectation it will immediately become a flower or a tree.  There is always a period of waiting before the plant pokes through the soil.  Even when it appears nothing has happened, a lot is going on beneath the surface.  What are you waiting for today?  As you pray and hope and dream and work, don’t grow weary.  Don’t give up.  Things are happening that we can’t see.  God is at work.  And at the proper time, we will reap the harvest that God intends.

A World of Difference

In 2018, over 3.5 billion people gathered to watch the most viewed sporting event in the world: the World Cup. This year, it is expected that even more people will watch the World Cup currently unfolding in Qatar. With 32 countries competing for a single trophy, it is a beautiful picture of how many different cultures, languages, and traditions exist. Despite all these differences, they are all united under the common thread of soccer.

This spring, FCC has an incredible opportunity to engage in cross-cultural work through a mission trip with Filter of Hope. There may be many differences between West Michiganders and Central Americans, but we have a common thread that connects us as well. The differences in language and culture are overshadowed by the fact that we have the same Creator, the same need for a Savior, and the same claim to God’s gift of grace. Not only that, but we are able to work towards a common goal of having access to clean water. This work will change the lives of people who live half a world away but are much more like us than we may realize.

As you pray about how you can be involved in our work with Filter of Hope, know that you will make a world of difference in the lives of those who are not that different from you or me. To learn more about this trip, go to www.ferrysburgchurch.com/trip.

Putting Our Money Where Our Mouth Is

It’s been said: “Show me how you spend your money and I’ll tell you what’s important to you.”  The way we use our money is a telling statement of our priorities.  If I claim that saving money is important to me, but put nothing in an investment account, I’m fooling myself.  If I tell you that I’m committed to living within my means, but rack up credit card debt, it’s not very congruent.  We may talk about aspirational values.  But our actual values are revealed in the way we spend our money.

Yesterday our Council shared the proposed 2023 financial plan with our church family.  A church financial plan is also a statement of our values and priorities.  We say it’s important to announce God’s kingdom.  But what does our budget say?  Next year’s financial plan includes over $145,000 that will go directly to announce God’s kingdom.  Over 25% of our budget will go outside of our church walls to bless the world around us in Jesus’ name.  This doesn’t even include the use of our building for community events or the special offerings that we take for community organizations.  Twenty five cents of every dollar you give goes directly to support God’s work outside of FCC.  I’m very proud that we are putting our money where our mouth is.

On Disappointment and Faith

In the mid-nineties, singer and songwriter Tori Amos released a song entitled, “God.”  So far, so good, right?  A secular artist singing about God.  However, this song was not an expression of praise, but a lament of disappointment.  The opening lines that get repeated throughout the song are, “Sometimes, God, you just don’t come through.”  Before we go into defensive mode, let’s acknowledge that it’s felt like that.  Sometimes God doesn’t seem to come through.  We prayed and prayed and nothing changed.  Evil prevails.  Tragedies happen.

There are times when things seem so obvious to us.  Everything we know about God would all but guarantee a certain outcome.  We put the signs together and what God is doing and how he’s working seems crystal clear.  But then it doesn’t happen.  It doesn’t materialize.  God didn’t come through… at least not in the way we thought.  I believe that we can be disappointed without losing our faith.  We can be upset with God and still be every bit his child.  It would be easy to cite how God’s ways are higher than our ways.  But sometimes God’s higher ways are still disappointing to us.  Sure, it will all make sense someday.  But until that day, we can keep our faith and be disappointed at the same time.

Voting Is Spiritual

Ferrysburg Community Church is a church of all kinds of people.  It’s something I love and value about our church family.  But it does present some challenges as well.  Take voting and politics, for example.  I’m told there was a day when church people earnestly sought their pastor’s wisdom as they considered how to vote.  Today a lot of people evaluate their pastor based on his or her perceived political inclinations.  All that to say: I have no plans to tell you how to vote.  I probably err on the side of not saying enough about political things.  As we tip-toe through this minefield in conversations with our church family members and in our Sunday gatherings, I have one main fear: voting will become separated from our faith and our relationship with God.  It will be something we do as an American, but not as a Christian.

When you go to the polls tomorrow, you will be carrying out a very spiritual activity - something just as spiritual as going to worship yesterday.  Deciding how to vote is a hugely spiritual process.  It is an expression of your values, your understanding of God, and how you read the Bible.  It is the result of prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Regardless of which party you lean toward and which candidates you vote for, going to the polls is a profoundly spiritual experience.  As a church of all kinds of people, we will vote in all kinds of ways.  However, as your pastor, it is my prayer that each of us will engage in election day as a child of God, led by his Spirit.

Reformation Day

500 years ago Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg.  In many ways, we’ve romanticized this event as a guy standing up for his convictions and making some needed change.  The reality is that this simple act touched off a firestorm of pain and change.  Martin Luther was forced into hiding for fear of his life.  Wars would be fought because of this event.  Thousands of people would be put to death because of this event.  It tore Europe in two.  The Reformation was arguably the most significant event of the last thousand years.  We have the privilege of benefitting from the Reformation without paying the price for it. 

As we remember Martin Luther and the Reformation, I hope it puts into perspective some of the struggles we face as God’s people today.  There is a fair amount of division in the Church.  Our own denomination is wrestling with issues that are significant and weighty.  But these issues and their fallout pale in comparison to what happened in the 1500s.  The Reformation also reminds us Christ’s Church will survive even the most difficult of times because it is built on Christ himself.  As the old hymn says: “Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth; her charter of salvation: one Lord, one, faith, one birth.”

He Reigns

One of the most beloved and beautiful statements of comfort and peace is the first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism.  The question is, “What is your only comfort in life and in death?”  The answer is that I belong, body and soul... to my faithful savior Jesus Christ.  Far be it from me to be critical of this wonderful formulation of faith.  But I think that this question and answer makes an assumption that we need to acknowledge.  It assumes correctly that Jesus is the best person to belong to.

He is.  Here’s why.  Jesus reigns.  Jesus is Lord over all things.  He is Lord of all places.  Jesus reigns in the darkest night.  He reigns in the midst of pain and in the midst of joy.  He reigns during a pandemic.  He reigns as humans scratch and claw for power.  Therefore (and the catechism goes on to say this) Jesus is capable of making all things work together for my salvation.  It isn’t just that we belong to Jesus.  We belong to the Lord of the universe.  He reigns.  And that is why it is so awesome to belong to Him.  

The Power of "And"

I recall a leadership seminar where the presenter suggested using the word “and” in place of the word “but”.  Used this way, “and” kept the conversation going and opened up new possibilities for dialogue.  Not bad advice.  I’d like to suggest using “and” in place of a different word: “or”.  We live in a culture that requires us to reject one thing in order to hold onto another.  Our culture gives us just one brush to paint people, events, and ideas.  A person is good or bad.  An event is understandable or terrible.  An idea is brilliant or foolish.  

I think this binary way of thinking is partly responsible for the divisions we face in our country and even in the American Church.  Perhaps it would help if we used the word “and” instead.  While sin is always wrong, the people who commit sins are both sinners and saints.  There is evil in the best of us and goodness in the worst of us.  Most ideas have some merit and  some weaknesses.  It doesn’t make every idea worth pursuing or every person worth trusting.  But maybe if we started looking for the “and”, we would come to understand each other a little better.  We could disagree without malice.  We could reach different conclusions with common respect.

Presence

When a birthday or a holiday draws near, it can be difficult to think of good gift ideas for the people around you. Do you get them something new at the risk of them not liking it? Do you get them the same thing from years past? While gifts come and go with years, there is one gift that stands the test of time. That is the gift of presence.

Part of the culture in FCC Student Ministries is a mentor program where high school students choose an adult from FCC to walk alongside them during a highly formational time of their lives. While this adult may impart wisdom or experience to their student mentee, the biggest gift they can offer is their presence. The impact of having caring adults present in the life of a teenager goes far beyond the time that student is in high school and is also one of the biggest factors in students maintaining strong faith as adults.

Jesus was the perfect example of God’s presence. Even the name “Emmanuel” carries the meaning “God with us.” As Jesus is present in our lives, adults can be present in the lives of younger generations and be a Christ-like influence on our students.

Extension

No single person can be everywhere or be good at everything. In fact, none of us are called to be everywhere and do everything. You probably aren’t called to go to Nicaragua or work in prison ministry or share the Gospel with Muslim people groups. But isn’t it great that some people are? Isn’t it awesome that families like the Holtrops and the Admiraals and the DeLanges are called to go to these places? By supporting them, we can extend our reach and participate in God’s kingdom in a multitude of ways.

This coming Sunday we will vote on calling Becky Tjapkes to be an extension of our ministries as she shares God’s presence and hope with people at the end of their lives. Becky is a hospice chaplain. We have the opportunity to partner with and support her by being her calling church. We will vote on this during the service on Sunday. In extending her a call, we will be extending our impact - and God's grace - beyond ourselves.

Your Next Free Minute

What do you do when you have one free minute?  Some examples of free minutes might include waiting for your child to finish practice, the time you stand in line at the restaurant waiting to be seated, or at the grocery store waiting to check out.  You might have a free minute while your eggs are cooking or while you’re pumping gas.  A free minute could happen while you are on hold with customer service.  The time between the end of one task and the start of another could also be a free minute.  So what do you do with these free minutes?

Typically we pull out our phone and check Facebook or Twitter or our email.  It might be just enough time to send a quick text or check our calendar.  Maybe you make a phone call and find someone to keep you company while you wait.  Most of the time we have free minutes, we fill them with distractions.  Here’s a challenge for you this week.  What if you used your free minutes to pray?  What if you offered God a list of things you were thankful for that day?  What if you prayed for a friend who is struggling?  That seems like a much more productive way to use a free minute.  So there’s the challenge.  This week use some of your free minutes to pray.  Are you in?

Let the Children Come!

Last Tuesday morning our church gym was full of smiles and excitement as about 20 moms and a lot of kids played freely in the gym as our weekly GymJam resumed. On Thursday volunteers finished assembling our new play structure in the new playground area so kids can now play as adults visit nearby. Yesterday we embarked on a new season of Sunday morning ministries with about 50 volunteers committed to sharing the love of Jesus, the amazing greatness of our God, and God’s epic story. This Thursday we will welcome new and returning moms and kids to our thriving MOPS ministry. And next Monday we will kick off a new GEMS year with over 40 girls, including at least 20 girls who are new to GEMS. 

Praise God for our opportunity to welcome kids at FCC! As a church that welcomes all kinds of people, we are so thankful for the opportunity to serve kids and have an impact on their lives. A survey by the International Bible Society indicated that 83% of Christians make their first commitment to Jesus between the ages of 4 and 14. Join me in praying that we are able to nurture kids’ faith well and help them put down strong roots of faith.

Change

We are in a time of dramatic change right now.  The days are getting shorter.  The breeze is more refreshing.  Before long growth will slow down and the leaves will change colors before falling in our yards.  Students are wrapping up summer jobs and family vacations and going back into a more structured time called the school year.  Parents, too, are involved in these changes as alarms go off earlier.  In just under a month’s time, we went from a house of six people to a house of three.  We move into new seasons of parenting, work, and health.  People move in and out of our lives.  

Sometimes I want to freeze time and live in an eternal now.  Things are good.  I’ve made progress on knowing how to live in this season of life.  Can’t I just live a while longer in this moment now that I understand it better?  But time won’t cooperate with my request.  It keeps moving forward.  And with the progression of time comes change.  I’m reminded of a line from a classic hymn: “Change and decay in all around I see.  O God, who changes not, abide with me.”  And that’s the one thing that will never change: God, and his abiding presence in our lives.  At the end of the day, we weren’t made for a set of circumstances.  We were made for God.  And that will never change.

Kingdom Investment, Round Two

In 2021 we were able to pay off our church mortgage, freeing up $48,000 annually.  We decided to use these funds to impact the world in Jesus’ name - to make a kingdom investment.  As Kyle shared yesterday, this has allowed us to sponsor the Benchuk family as they resettle in the US from Ukraine.  It’s already time to start thinking about how to make a kingdom investment in 2023.  On Sunday after the service, we will gather in the gym at tables for about 20 minutes to hear your thoughts and ideas on how to make that investment in the coming year.  

Please start thinking and praying about ways that we can serve our community and world.  We are especially looking for ideas that allow for participation within our church family and are focused on our community, rather than on ourselves.  Ideas should also be connected to our church’s vision and personality.  For example, food ministries, refugee sponsorship, and housing would all be consistent with our values.  Thank you for participating in this endeavor by brainstorming and praying!

Weddings and Anniversaries

Yesterday in our worship service we recognized a couple who were celebrating their 60th anniversary.  Later on in the day I did a wedding for a couple who will wake up today to their first full day of married life.  Sara and I are somewhere in between with 24 years under our belts.  It’s a long way from day one to year 60.  There are a lot of highs and lows.  There is much forgiveness, tears, and compromise along the way.  

One thing I’m sure about is that no one gets to year 60 on accident or by dumb luck.  A 60th anniversary - any anniversary, for that matter - is the result of intentional decisions, sacrifice, and commitment.  If you’re married and reading this, what can you do today that will put some fuel in your marriage tank?  What conversation, act of kindness or romance would make a contribution to the health and endurance of your marriage.  And if you’re not married and reading this, say a prayer for the marriages in your life.  Pray that God would keep them strong and protected.

Living in the Future Now

Shortly after moving to the tri-cities, I learned that the Coast Guard Festival is the unofficial end of summer.  Honestly, it’s a bit mystifying to me how summer could be over in early August, but that’s the prevailing wisdom.  As soon as Coast Guard is over, sports begin and people start thinking about going back to school.  Given the brief window of beautiful summer weather, it’s especially regrettable that we have to say goodbye to summer so soon.

This phenomenon of living our lives with one foot in the future can be problematic.  If I look ahead too far, I can miss the gift and the joy that is the present moment.  But I’ve also discovered that hope for the future can make the present moment even sweeter.  As followers of Jesus, we are invited to live in the present with one foot firmly in the future.  We look ahead to a coming kingdom and a new creation.  With that solid hope, we can savor the present moment all the more deeply.  We are free to embrace all the joy this world offers and know that it can’t compare to the joy of the next.

Gathering Places

Gathering Places

A few weeks ago I was blessed with the opportunity to spend a week at the extended family cottage in Fremont. Our girls joined us for the week and other family and friends were also able to spend some time with us there. While I am grateful to be able to regularly stay in touch with our kids through texts, phone calls and FaceTime, nothing beats being together in person. Spending time goofing off out on the water, sitting together in the sun, and enjoying meals together helps deepen our connection.

I’m grateful for opportunities for our church family to gather in person, too. Psalm 122 starts by saying, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”  It is so good when we can be together. While technology gives us great options when we are unable to physically gather due to illness, Covid exposures, or travel, we can connect and grow together so much better in person.  May our upcoming months and year be filled with opportunities to worship and grow with our church family!

Living in Joy

When our founding fathers drafted the Declaration of Independence, they identified three inalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Perhaps they should have aimed a bit higher with the last one.  Why not “the pursuit of joy”?  We sometimes talk about the difference between happiness and joy.  Happiness is usually more fleeting.  It’s based on our circumstances and our expectations being met.  Joy, on the other hand, runs much deeper.  Joy is a state of being that we live in.

I suppose then, that by definition, you can’t really pursue joy.  Joy is not something you acquire as much as the result of a deep, abiding truth: we belong to God and nothing can change that.  Since joy springs from an unchangeable truth, it remains even when happiness is fleeting.  Joy survives even in the midst of pain and suffering where happiness fades.  Go ahead and pursue happiness this week.  It’s your inalienable right.  But if you fail to catch it or it gets away from you, be assured that there is something greater that you will never lose: joy.  As God’s children, joy actually pursues us.

Covenant Contribution

When we baptize an infant, we aren’t just witnesses - passive bystanders while God makes amazing promises.  We are there making our own set of promises.  God will do much of his work in that child’s life through you and me.  Specifically, here is what we commit to: Do you, people of the Lord, promise to receive this child in love, pray for him/her, help instruct him/her in the faith, and encourage and sustain him in the fellowship of believers?  There are many ways to keep this promise, but here is a very practical one: share a Sunday morning with our covenant children.

Giving a few Sundays a year to support our children’s faith nurture ministries is an excellent way to make a covenant contribution.  By spending just an hour or less with our children, you are tangibly and powerfully keeping the promises we’ve made to them at their baptism.  You’ll know better how to pray for them and encourage them in the future.  Courtney Wolffis will be in the Commons after church next Sunday to talk to you about participating.  Please consider this opportunity to make a covenant contribution.  You can also email Courtney for more information: courtney@ferrysburgchurch.com.