Devotions - Selma Christ Church

Free to Become

Posted on Jul 23, 2019 in Devotions, Uncategorized |

by Phil Ware (07/03/2019) | Two Minute Meditations

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord — who is the Spirit — makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NLT).

Thoughts about freedom are in the air even more than usual this time of year. More than just the celebration of Independence Day in the U.S. (July 4), demonstrations for freedom are occurring all over the world. I can’t help but believe that the passion for freedom is part of God creating us in his image (Genesis 1:26-27). Something deep within us longs to be free to create and decide. Unlike God, however, we have a deep yearning to become. God is, was, and always will be (Revelation 1:4, 8; 4:8). His fundamental nature is immutable — God is faithful: his unchangeable nature of gracious compassion and righteous character ensure his love for his people (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). We, however, are fallible and flawed. We then attempt to move past our failures and live past their consequences. We don’t want to live in the past with our failures, so we hope to become someone better, someone, new. Unfortunately, those we’ve disappointed or hurt, those who are our enemies, and our internal sense of shame and regret anchor us to our failed self. We long for the freedom to become who we long to be and were made to be. But where can we find this freedom to become? The apostle Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit gives us the freedom to become — to become our better selves and to become our version of Jesus incarnated through us. Rules can’t do this — not even God’s rules. (This truth is Paul’s point in 2 Corinthians 3.) Only God’s Holy Spirit has this power.

Only the Spirit of God that brooded over the chaos of pre-creation and began the work of creation through God’s spoken word (Genesis 1:1-3) has the power to make us new and help us become.Only the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead can give life to our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11) has the power to make us new and help us become. Only the Spirit that Jesus poured out on us in our rebirth (Titus 3:3-7) has the power to make us new and help us become.

The glorious good news, the freedom we find in grace, is that the Holy Spirit was given to us as a gift when we came to Christ (Acts 2:38-39). This Spirit lives in us to help us in all sorts of helpful ways in our lives as Jesus’ followers (Romans 8:1-39). This Spirit brings power to us to help us become all God wants us to be (Ephesians 3:14-21).

This is the greatest freedom of all!

Paul reminds us as he wrote the Corinthians that where the Spirit of the Lord is, we have freedom. We have the freedom to become — to become our best selves, to become more like Jesus, and to be transformed to be who God created us to be, and re-created to be in Christ.And how is this supposed to happen? We are called to focus upon and to contemplate Jesus so that little by little, we begin to reflect his nature, his glory, as the Spirit transforms us to become like Jesus. This transformation happens gradually. In Christ, through the Holy Spirit, we have the freedom to become! And that, dear friend, is the greatest freedom of all.

Love the Family

Posted on Jun 13, 2019 in Devotions, Uncategorized |

Love the family of believers (1 Peter 2:17).

Imagine a family where being together isn’t prioritized. Where other responsibilities — or maybe just a preference to spend time doing other things — crowd out family time. Imagine a family that trains its younger generation to put other things first as well. Imagine a family where cliques and factions become more important than the family as a whole, where the family name is brought into disrepute by all the squabbles, infighting, and division. Imagine a family that thinks its differences are more important than its shared bloodline, history and values as a family. Imagine a family that thinks success for one part means failure for another. Imagine a family that thinks every member must hold all the same opinions and convictions and do everything in the same way to remain a part of the family. Imagine a family in which the vulnerable are preyed upon while the predators are protected. Imagine a family that crushes members who are in pain under the weight of expectation, guilt, and judgment. Now imagine that same family celebrating the success of its most manipulative, deceitful, and abusive members. Imagine a family where there is no expectation that members will be a part of family life. Imagine a family in which family members only share in the life of the family when they’re nagged, cajoled, and guilted into it. Imagine a family where a few people do everything. The other members of the family stop by now and then and enjoy the benefits of the others’ work. Imagine a family where the people who do most of the work simmer in resentment of the others do little work, instead of encouraging and helping others to take responsibility as well. Imagine a family in which every person expects that everything in the family’s life together will be done to his or her liking. Imagine a family in which everyone considers him or herself an expert on every topic. Imagine a family where problems and disagreements are addressed, not by communication, but by avoidance. Imagine a family where members choose not to be part of the family anymore rather than deal with those with whom they don’t see eye-to-eye. Imagine a family that’s segregated by race, ethnicity, and language. Imagine a family in which those with money or education look down on those without and vice versa. Imagine a family in which differences provide lines for division instead of opportunities for learning, understanding, and growth. Imagine a family in which there’s no concern for the younger generation, the future of the family. Imagine that the children aren’t taught the family’s values or instructed in treasuring what the family calls essential. Imagine, if you can, a family that routinely stifles the passion and potential of young adulthood, that continually requires the up-and-comers to earn their place at the table through years of silent service to the agendas and whims of their elders. Imagine a family where there’s no respect for ancestors. Imagine a family where the younger generation demands that their voices be heard by denigrating and devaluing the experiences and earned wisdom of the older. Imagine a family in which those who are older are consigned to the trash heap because they aren’t as hip, exciting, or energetic as they used to be. Imagine that they’re mocked because they refuse to embrace the latest and greatest. Imagine a family in which the younger generation demeans the hard work and sacrifice of those who have come before — the hard work and sacrifice that has built the family as they know it. A family like the one I’m describing wouldn’t remain viable very long. It wouldn’t effectively provide safety and security for its members. Its younger members wouldn’t learn the lessons they needed to thrive. Growing bitter, angry, and suspicious as they got older would be expected. Dysfunction, like I’m describing, would reproduce itself from generation to generation until it erased anything healthy, constructive, or life-giving. A family like the one I’m describing
wouldn’t remain viable very long. When Peter tells us to “love the family of believers,” he doesn’t mean that the church ought to talk a lot about being a family. He doesn’t mean that we should call each other “brother” and “sister” at church and then go about the rest of our weeks as if our sisters and brothers don’t exist. Those words come shortly after he demands that we “live such good lives among the pagans that…they may see [our] good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” How we treat each other in the church is part of the kind of life that should build a bridge between this world and the world God is creating for us to enjoy with him forever. How we live together in the church, in short, ought to be a teaser for what life together will look like then, when Christ returns and abolishes everything that causes families to implode and collapse. Too often, perhaps, it’s just the opposite. Too often, the way the church has treated one another has done nothing to give “the pagans” hope for a different kind of world, a different type of life, a different sort of family. At times, we’ve even topped the pagans in family dysfunction. The good news is, your church can be different. The failings of the historical church don’t have to be the failings of each local expression of the church. Your church can love one another. You can live together as the family that you ought to be. You can take care of each other. You can respect each other. You can disagree without diminishing each other. You can solve the problems that come up in every family by working together and affirming what holds you together. You can see diversity in age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, and economics as a good thing that will better help you understand one another and the world in which we live. You can create together a place of safety, joy, and peace. You can be a family in which every member does the work God has called them to do in the world, encouraged and equipped by every other member. Your church can be that kind of family, and it can begin with you being that kind of family member. You don’t need your leaders’ permission to love the family of believers. You can start right now. Imagine what kind of family you can create.

About the Author

Patrick Odum lives in Chicago, Illinois, with his wife, Laura and son, Joshua. He is one of the ministers at Northwest Church of Christ, and an avid Heartlight fan. He enjoys writing and maintains a website of his work called Faith Web where you can find all of his articles.

Spring is in the air

Posted on Apr 5, 2019 in Devotions |

Friends in Christ,

Signs of spring are all around us. The temperatures are finally warming, trees are beginning to bud; the grass is even starting to look greener. Soon the flowers will be in full bloom and the trees will be completely leafed out. Spring is on its way!

This is such a beautiful time of year. It is as if God is re-creating our world, revealing his love and presence through all of nature. God has taken that which we considered dead and breathed new life into it again. All of this is God’s gift to us!

This month we celebrate Easter, the highest and most important day of our Christian year! We come together in worship to celebrate God’s redeeming work through Christ, making the way possible that we might have new life in Him. This is the time in which we declare our witnesses to the risen Christ in our lives. As we worship together, we proclaim Christ crucified, dead, and buried, risen and exalted as the head of the Church, the Savior of humanity and the Lord of all.

Just as we witness God’s hand in the re-creating of life each spring; Easter is that time in which God has re-created all of humanity, raising us up out of the pit of death and darkness and giving us new life, that we might shine and blossom into God’s children of Light.

May you be blessed in Christ love and grace!

Pastor Andy

Holy Week Services

Sun 14^th – Palm Sunday Service 9:00am

Thr 18^th – Maundy Thursday Service 7:00pm

Fri 19th – Good Friday Service at New Burlington 7:00pm

Sun 21st – Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00am with breakfast to follow. Easter Worship service at 9:00am (no evening services or youth group)

Lent 2019

Posted on Mar 1, 2019 in Devotions |

Friends in Christ,

The first Wednesday of March begins our season of Lent. Lent is a 40 day period (excluding Sundays) that will eventually lead us to an open tomb and the wonderful Good News of Easter. However, before that day arrives we must journey down a path that will remind us of Jesus’ last days, and the last hours of his earthly life. For Christians this is a time of, “renewal” as we reflect on all God has done for us through Christ Jesus. This renewal time will lead us through deeper disciplines of prayer, fasting, giving, service, and study. Many of us will choose to “give up” something as a way to seek a closer connection with God, who gave up His only Son for us. We “give up” something important to us to develop self-discipline (if we are faithful in little things, then we are more apt to be faithful in bigger things). And as we do this, we are reminded of just how human we are, and how our needs and wants can drive us! So Lent is a time of introspection, a time of renewal, a time of not just “giving up” but also, “giving in” to where God would lead us. We begin Lent on “Ash Wednesday” (March 6^th). This year I’ve planned a special “Ash Wednesday” service to share in Word and Sacrament at Selma Christ Church at 7:00pm. We will share together in the imposition of ashes and be reminded again of God’s love for us. We will also begin a time of study through Lent into mid-May (10 weeks). Our focus will be upon becoming a “Missional Church.” We will meet each Wednesday evening at 7:00pm beginning March 13^th. What we glean from this study will greatly help us form our “Church’s Vision” for the next 10 years as we seek God’s guidance and leading. So it is my hope that every adult and Jr/Sr High Youth will be able to participate in some way. I do hope you will be able to share in this study, the Lenten sermon themes, and our different opportunities for worship. May God bless you and your family as you make your journey toward the cross and as you come to share in the joy of Resurrection Sunday.

Blessings, Pastor Andy

28 Pillows

Posted on Feb 1, 2019 in Devotions |

Friends in Christ,

28 Pillows! That’s right 28! Yesterday afternoon (which happened to be the coldest day of the year with temperatures in the negative digits and wind chill at -30) Micah and Eli were home for daycare and preschool. I was in the kitchen working on music for Wednesday Evening Fellowship and I happened to notice the house was quiet. A good thing if you are by yourself but not so much when there is a four year old and two year old at home! Susan was at the hospital with Sarah (who went into labor the night before which was the “coldest” night of the year). At 3:56am Sarah gave birth to our fourth grandchild, “Olivia Rose Martin” (January 30^th). She’s a beautiful healthy little girl that I’m sure will become just as spoiled as her two siblings and cousin. So here I am alone with the grandkids (in a quiet house). I get up from the kitchen table to see what’s up, and as I come to our hallway, I find this massive pile of “Pillows!” Eli and Micah had gathered every pillow from every room of the house. And here they were just as proud as can be of their “pillow cars” they had made. They were quite creative in arranging their pillows into cars. Both had front and back seats with pillow cushions to sit on, pillow doors, pillow hood, pillow windshield, and of course a pillow trunk. And when I asked where they were driving their pillow cars to, they both spouted out, “Chick-fil-A!” Well Chick-fil-A would come another day; it was way too cold to go outside! What a wonderful gift is our imagination; the ability to envision something new, to dream, to creatively see with one’s mind that which is before you. One time, Jesus told his disciples that they must become like little children (Matthew 18). And the context of this passage certainly focuses on “humility,” but I can’t help but to also think that Jesus would want us to be “open and accepting to his word and will,” just as a child is open and accepting to the things their parents share with them. Along with this, I think Jesus would have his followers, his children to dream, to envision something new, to creatively see with their mind that which the Father is showing them. To envision, “The Promised land full of milk and honey;” to envision, “Jericho’s walls tumbling down;” to dream and envision the day when, “The Messiah comes!” The Bible is full of experiences where God’s people creatively saw with their mind that which God was showing them. This year it is my hope that we as a Church, as the body of Christ will be able to dream bold dreams, to creatively see with our mind’s eye that which God is showing us, to envision that “something new” that God will reveal to us! As we work hand in hand, and heart to heart, may we be open and accepting as “little children.”

Blessings, Pastor Andy

Epiphany

Posted on Jan 11, 2019 in Devotions |

Friends in Christ,

Very soon our Christmas season will come to an end. Now some are a little eager to get all the wrappings and décor put into boxes and the tree stored for next year, but hold on. The Christmas season doesn’t end until January 6^th. We still have 12 days to celebrate Christmas!

So depending on when you read this you could be celebrating with, “Seven swans a swimming” or “Eight maids a milking!” Unless of course the mail is really slow due to our overworked postal folks (God bless them, what a busy time they just went through). In that case you might be celebrating with, “Ten lords a leaping or eleven pipers piping!”

But soon we begin a New Year and a new season within the Church, “Epiphany!” Epiphany means “manifestation” or “revelation.” We remember the story of the “Wise Men” bringing gifts to baby Jesus and we are reminded again of the “Light” God has brought into our world. The season of Epiphany calls us to take the revelation of Christ, and let that soak into our lives and shine forth in everything we do and in everything we are about.

One of my favorite scriptures is Colossians 3:17 where Paul says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Jesus’ people are people who seek to live as Jesus lived. We are people who hope to treat others as Jesus did. And the only way this is possible is to come to the Epiphany of “who” Jesus is: The very Son of God who has come into our world to set us free from ourselves, set us free from sin and death, to bring us into relationship with God the Father, and to show us the way on how we are to treat and care for each other in this journey we call life.

On January 13^th I plan to begin a three week preaching series on, “Wesley’s Three Simple Rules.” I think this will be a good way to begin the New Year. And a great way of coming to the epiphany of who Jesus is and truly putting into practice Paul’s words in Colossians 3:17. I hope you can be at church as we look at these three topics of John Wesley’s Three Simple Rules: Do No Harm, Do Good, and Stay in Love With God!

Blessings in the New Year!

Pastor Andy

Autumn

Posted on Nov 1, 2018 in Devotions |

Grace and Peace to You,

Autumn is a special time to celebrate all the wonderful changes of nature. The temperature drops and there is a “freshness or crispness” in the air. The leaves reveal their hidden beauty. The cornstalks have turned from green to brown and the fields give up their golden grain. And we even rejoice as we see those first beautiful snowflakes fall from the sky. Autumn is also a “busy time” as we prepare for Fall and Winter. We have to winterize our homes and get our vehicles ready for the colder temperatures. Out comes our winter clothes and coats. And we finally get to make that last “Cut” of the grass (praise the Lord). Every year I remember the words of my father, “Now make sure you cut the grass as short as you can when the leaves start to fall. That a ways, they won’t stick to your yard, and will blow over on your neighbors.” My dad is very wise! Autumn is a “beautiful time.” It’s a time we celebrate and give thanks to God for his creative hand, and for the blessings he has given us. One of the ways we do this in the church, is by celebrating “All Saints Day.” John Wesley referred to All Saints as a day of “triumphant joy,” and that it is! For this is a day in which we “give thanks and we remember” those dear to us that have gone on to be with the Lord. This is a day in which we recognize the common bond between the church on earth, and the church triumphant in God’s love. This is a day in which we remember that we are all part of God’s body, the Church (here on earth and in heaven, we are one)! November is a month to celebrate! We begin in celebration with All Saints Sunday. We share in celebration with family and friends through Thanksgiving. We eat and laugh and loosen our belts. We give God our thanks for all the ways he has blessed us throughout the year (and for all our years). We thank God for being our present help in times of struggle, hurt, and pain. We praise God for our family and friends, and all the things that make life good! And then we end the month in celebration. The season of “Advent” begins and we celebrate the “Incarnation.” God’s coming to us in flesh. God wrapping himself up in Jesus and being born in Bethlehem. God coming to us in a unique way so that we can know his love and be born anew. Autumn is such a wonderful and beautiful time. May God truly bless you in these days of change and celebration. May you take time to experience all the joy God offers.

Blessings, Pastor Andy

Make Smooth the rough places

Posted on Oct 5, 2018 in Devotions, Uncategorized |

Friends in Christ,

A few weeks ago the streets in Selma were resurfaced. The pavers came in and ground off about an 1” to 1 ½” of surface material and ground out the deeper holes (it was quite noisy). The large dump trucks made constant trips hauling out the old material (seemed like they all passed my house). Finally, the paver put down the new asphalt making the streets look new and “smooth.” And a few days later, came the new yellow lines! As all of this was happening, I remember thinking, “Are the roads really that bad?” After all, there are a number of streets in our area that could certainly be repaved before these (one of those being “McGalliard” going into Muncie off of 35). But at the same time, it was really nice to have a nice new, smooth surface to pull out onto in front of my home. The new road is especially noticeable when riding my “bicycle” to church. Not a bump, not a groove, not a hole, just “smooth!” And it’s funny, because I really didn’t think the road was in that bad of shape. I had only been here a couple of months and had gotten “use to dodging the rough spots!” And it wasn’t until they were made smooth, that I realized just how bumpy and rough they were. I suppose that’s how we can become in our walk with Christ too. We can see that there are places (or people) where “God needs to be at work!” That’s pretty easy to see in the world we live in. And we can see ourselves as doing OK, “I’m not really that rough around the edges, things are pretty smooth in my walk with God.” And just like I became a little blind to the condition of my road, a person can become a little blind to “self” after side stepping those little rough places enough times. But our God is the one who, “makes smooth the rough places” (Isaiah 40:4). He is the one that is not content on leaving us the way we are! He is the one who gives us a whole new life, not just a “resurfacing over the old” but “remaking us completely in the image of his design!” And as we allow and seek this new design, it becomes clearer just how much we need it. This is why fellowship and worship, Bible study and prayer meetings, missions and ministry, personal devotions, etc., are so crucial in our walk with God. They give us insight to what God is seeking to remake in us! They help us to identify those “rough places” where we may be sidestepping. They allow us to be “surprised” at the new work God is doing in us (and through us)! Without a doubt, “God is always at work in us!” May we be open to the design that he has in store for us. And may we do our part that allows this “remaking” to take place. Blessings, Pastor Andy I also wanted to share with you that I’m planning to have an, “All Saints” service on “All Saints Sunday,” November 4^th. “All Saints Sunday” is a time to remember and honor those who have died in the last “year or so” to the present time. During the service I will read the names of those who have gone on to their eternal glory. Family and close friends will be encouraged to stand, a candle will be lit, and we will remember and honor the lives of these dear saints. This is a service in which we “give thanks” for these precious people whom God has blessed our lives. This is also a time you may want to encourage family and friends of those who have died to be present. I will have an “All Saints” form for you at church that will ask for the deceased name, date of birth, date of death (also your name and phone number). It is also very helpful to have a photograph of the deceased (this will all be on a powerpoint presentation). Let us remember and let us give thanks!

Fresh Start

Posted on Sep 7, 2018 in Devotions, Uncategorized |

Friends in Christ,

It’s hard to believe that two months have passed since my family and I have moved to Selma and became your pastor. What a great time we are having as we come to get to know you better and our community. Last week we experienced our first “Bluebird Days!” What a fun and great experience that was!

We got to see and visit with several people from both churches as we walked through the fair and experienced the talent in the Lion’s Club building. We have a lot of talented folks in our community and churches.

The highlight for Micah and Eli was of course the “rides!” We did the wristband thing on Thursday evening from about 5:30 to 9:00pm. It was pretty much nonstop and no lines! Micah was in heaven! His favorite ride was the Ferris wheel. I couldn’t believe how “fast” this went. I’ve never been a huge fan of the Ferris wheel because they always go so “slow” and in doing so it always made my stomach queasy. But not this one, it zipped right around.

After three hours of rides the kids were pretty well pooped and they slept sound that night (as did Susan and I). The parade was also just wonderful, although we were almost rained out. The kids got loads of candy and stayed dry. We were able to walk home afterwards, get into the house, stepped into the kitchen and then the downpour came (with a very close and loud lightning strike).

The only thing I found a little disappointing was that I never did see any “Bluebirds.” But that’s OK, I once went to an “Apple Festival” and there was not a single, “Apple Dumpling” to be found (and oh how I was looking forward to an apple dumpling with ice cream)!

But God is so good! We are truly blessed to live in a small town and community. Our “smallness” is truly a great strength! There is a closeness and connectedness that one cannot miss. There is this wonderful sense of small town pride, especially when we come together to put on a festival, or provide a ball field, etc.. Truly, in our smallness is great strength!

In the Church this is also a great strength. Be it a “small group” or even a “small church!” There is a closeness and connectedness that one cannot miss. When God’s people have one mind and one mission (even though they may be small in number) great things can happen! It was after all, just a handful of Jesus’ followers who changed the world forever! I love how John Maxwell puts it, “The greatness of a church is based upon how many it sends, not how many it seats.”

Blessings, Pastor Andy

Whatever you do…

Posted on Aug 6, 2018 in Devotions |

Friends in Christ,

What a joy this past month has been! It has been such a blessing moving to Selma and New Burlington! You have made my family and I feel so welcomed! I especially want to thank you for the thoughtful cards and words of encouragement. And thank you for the many gifts and special ways you have reached out to me and my family! I also want you to know that Micah and Eli are adjusting “very well” as they have just made their selves at home in both churches! We so much look forward to being in ministry with you for many years ahead.

This past week I was reading through the book of Colossians and thinking how much a blessing Selma Christ and New Burlington has been. Not just to me and my family but to our community. This past month Selma Christ reached out with the love of Jesus through their VBS program and what a joy that was! They and New Burlington also put together and “stuffed” 31 backpacks “full” of school supplies for children in our community! It was truly, “Love in action!”

And I thought of this as I read Paul’s words encouraging the Church in Colosse to continue to share their faith and love. Paul said we are “God’s chosen people” and we are to clothe ourselves in the likeness of Christ (putting on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing each other up, and forgiving one another…, Colossians 3:12-17). Like ancient Israel, we are called to be a “blessing to others;” to share Christ’ love. And I’ve seen this in you in so many ways in just this first month together!

Paul also reminded the people of Colosse to let the peace of Christ and the word of Christ rule their hearts and live in them. That whatever we do, we do in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! These are good words for us today. For they remind us that Christ is to be at the very center of our lives. That the church activities we participate in, the special programs, the ways we reach out to our community, our times of fellowship and even our personal lives are to have Christ as the goal. I believe Paul is saying that “whatever we do” or “whatever we are about” should always bring glory to God.

May we continue to “Glorify God” in all we do, say, and think. May the peace of Christ rule our hearts, and his word dwell deep within us. And may the Lord continue to bless our church and each of our families.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Andy

“Love the Family” — Heartlight®

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