Jesus says about prayer, “Ask and it will be given you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Mt. 7:7,8.
Under what set of circumstances is the above true? Can you ask for just anything and expect to receive it from God? Why does Jesus teach us to pray in TLP, “Thy will be done”? Should we expect God to give us that which helps us do other than His will?
The above teaching of Jesus is certainly true in the context of asking for guidance regarding God’s will for our lives and for support in doing God’s will. God will help us succeed in accomplishing His will, which is the meaning of the word Godspeed.
In American history, can any of you remember the names of the three ships the settlers of Jamestown came on in 1607? Not the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Those were Columbus’ ships back in 1492. The three ships that brought settlers to Jamestown were the Susan Constant, the Discovery, and the Godspeed; the names of all three of which have worked their way into American life. Susan Constant was evidently a chatty lady, and so they named Constant Comment Tea after her. A Channel was named after the Discovery. And we go around saying “Godspeed” to one another, although we sometimes do it wrongly.
Godspeed has nothing to do with velocity. It comes from the Middle-English word spede, which means to “prosper.” If someone wishes us “Godspeed,” they’re saying, “God help you succeed!” which God will certainly will, if what we’re doing is in accord with God’s will. Maybe we ought to check in more often with God and find out. - DJ
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Pastor's Column Sept. 19, 2010
Ralph Carefree recently retired from the company that had been his employer for the past 27 years. He and his wife Wilma left the home in which they had been living and moved 800 miles to be closer to their children.
Ralph and Wilma were active church members in their former community. Soon after moving into their new home, they began a search for a new church. Paying their fair share is important to the Carefrees, and so every church they visited, they dropped a check for $25 in the offering plate. It took them seven churches to find their new church. Prior to finding it, every week, whichever church they visited, they donated $25, feeling that they had contributed their fair share. But was this their fair share?
How much does it really cost to open the doors on Sunday? The most recent statistics we have are a few years old, but studies show that congregational reports indicate total expenses for the year of between $1,200 to $3,500 times the average worship attendance. (Ave. # in worship X between $1200 and $3500 = Budget)
Most congregations who participated in this study had expenses greater than $1,500/worshiper. In terms of Ralph and Wilma Carefree’s wanting to pay their fair share, an average contribution of $20 by each worshiper, every week (including the children who were part of that count), comes to only $1,040 for the year; and $25 per attendee adds up to only $1,300 per worshiper for the year – somewhat short of paying the church’s bills, which require $1,500 to $3,500 per worshiper.
Finding out what churches actually pay in expenditures, Ralph and Wilma have changed their giving habits when they drive cross-country in their motor home. Stopping to worship wherever they are on a Sunday, they now write a check for $75.
Given GPC’s budget for 2010, and our average worship attendance of around 100, our expenses come to about $45 per worship attendee per week, including kids, or $2,250 per year. The range for most churches in America is from $30 to $70 per worshiper. Again, these figures are from several years ago and not current. DJ
Ralph and Wilma were active church members in their former community. Soon after moving into their new home, they began a search for a new church. Paying their fair share is important to the Carefrees, and so every church they visited, they dropped a check for $25 in the offering plate. It took them seven churches to find their new church. Prior to finding it, every week, whichever church they visited, they donated $25, feeling that they had contributed their fair share. But was this their fair share?
How much does it really cost to open the doors on Sunday? The most recent statistics we have are a few years old, but studies show that congregational reports indicate total expenses for the year of between $1,200 to $3,500 times the average worship attendance. (Ave. # in worship X between $1200 and $3500 = Budget)
Most congregations who participated in this study had expenses greater than $1,500/worshiper. In terms of Ralph and Wilma Carefree’s wanting to pay their fair share, an average contribution of $20 by each worshiper, every week (including the children who were part of that count), comes to only $1,040 for the year; and $25 per attendee adds up to only $1,300 per worshiper for the year – somewhat short of paying the church’s bills, which require $1,500 to $3,500 per worshiper.
Finding out what churches actually pay in expenditures, Ralph and Wilma have changed their giving habits when they drive cross-country in their motor home. Stopping to worship wherever they are on a Sunday, they now write a check for $75.
Given GPC’s budget for 2010, and our average worship attendance of around 100, our expenses come to about $45 per worship attendee per week, including kids, or $2,250 per year. The range for most churches in America is from $30 to $70 per worshiper. Again, these figures are from several years ago and not current. DJ
Sunday, September 12, 2010
PASTOR’S COLUMN Sept. 12
”As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea – for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me…” Mt. 4:18,19.
“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at a tax booth: and he said to him, “Follow me…” Mt. 9:9.
The next time you feel that God cannot use you, remember that Simon, above, was Simon Peter, the fellow who denied Jesus three times after Jesus’ arrest. Matthew, who collected taxes for the hated Romans, was regarded as a traitor by his fellow Jews.
Furthermore, Noah got drunk, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, and Jacob was a liar. Joseph was abused, Moses had a stuttering problem, Gideon was afraid. Sampson was a womanizer, Rahab was a prostitute, Timothy was too young, David had an affair and then had Bathsheba’s husband murdered. Job went bankrupt, Martha was a worrier, Paul was a zealot, and Lazarus was dead.
Puts things in perspective. No one who follows Jesus is perfect.
“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at a tax booth: and he said to him, “Follow me…” Mt. 9:9.
The next time you feel that God cannot use you, remember that Simon, above, was Simon Peter, the fellow who denied Jesus three times after Jesus’ arrest. Matthew, who collected taxes for the hated Romans, was regarded as a traitor by his fellow Jews.
Furthermore, Noah got drunk, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, and Jacob was a liar. Joseph was abused, Moses had a stuttering problem, Gideon was afraid. Sampson was a womanizer, Rahab was a prostitute, Timothy was too young, David had an affair and then had Bathsheba’s husband murdered. Job went bankrupt, Martha was a worrier, Paul was a zealot, and Lazarus was dead.
Puts things in perspective. No one who follows Jesus is perfect.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Pastor's Column September 5, 2010
Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ, had a resume problem in terms of his early life. He says in Galatians 2: 13, “You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I violently persecuted the church of God and was trying to destroy it.” For ex., a fellow named Stephen was a deacon in the early church. The Council in Jerusalem decreed that he be stoned to death for his witness to Jesus Christ. Paul, who at the time was known as Saul, approved.
One thing that the life of Paul bears out is that when it comes to having a relationship to Jesus Christ, God helps us overcome a bad resume. And it’s not just Paul who bears this out. We’ve all heard stories about people who were living what they said were terrible lives, when they turned away from that life and turned to Jesus. What we hear about less often are people who weren’t so bad as they were just basically indifferent to Jesus. The good news is that you don’t have to have been the devil incarnate to be freed for new life with Jesus. Jesus also frees us from lives of little commitment for a life centered about Jesus. God wants the best for us no matter where we’ve been.-DJ
One thing that the life of Paul bears out is that when it comes to having a relationship to Jesus Christ, God helps us overcome a bad resume. And it’s not just Paul who bears this out. We’ve all heard stories about people who were living what they said were terrible lives, when they turned away from that life and turned to Jesus. What we hear about less often are people who weren’t so bad as they were just basically indifferent to Jesus. The good news is that you don’t have to have been the devil incarnate to be freed for new life with Jesus. Jesus also frees us from lives of little commitment for a life centered about Jesus. God wants the best for us no matter where we’ve been.-DJ
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