Dear Messiah Congregation,

“At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, it was all quiet on the western front.” With these words in 1918, World War I came to an end. Then there was World War II, the war to end all wars. But it did not. Today, there are wars in many parts of the world and men and women serving on behalf of this nation. There may be some who today will give their lives in such service. Before I left the house this morning, I put the flag in front of our home to honor and remember all who have served and serve today. I came of age at a time when military service was voluntary. I’ve not forgotten that a great many men and women continue to volunteer. For that, I am grateful and on this Veteran’s Day I pray:

Read more...

Dear Messiah Congregation,
This has been a week that will bring change for our nation. For those who are students of politics, the results of last Tuesday’s election provide much to analyze. My prayer is that the rancor of the past can give way to a common purpose and an attitude that will honor God. I find it especially interesting that in the same week we experience a national election in which billions of dollars were spent on campaigns, a hurricane approaches our neighbor, the nation of Haiti where hundreds of thousands of people are without homes. Perhaps it is not fair to connect these two occurrences, but it prompts me to realize we live in a broken world where investments may not match the priorities that we hope for as a people who hear God’s call. This month, we will look at our Messiah Church investments and consider where God is calling us.

Read more...

Dear Messiah Congregation,
Answered prayer: Last night, I received an email from a friend. She has been struggling with a difficult family issue that has kept her awake night after night. For months, she has been praying for an answer. Last evening, because her husband was out of town, she stopped at a favorite restaurant for dinner alone on her way home from work. While waiting for her food, she entered into a conversation with a stranger who told her his story. It was an amazing story which I won’t describe here, but when she got home she sent me an email describing what he told her. And in the midst of writing the email, she realized that she had just received an answer to her prayer. It was not the answer she had been seeking, nor did it completely resolve the issue but it was an answer. Then she asked me to join her in praying.

Read more...

Dear Messiah congregation,
“Remember your first love.” These were the words from the opening session of the annual Leadership Institute at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. The words recall Jesus’ words of warning from the Book of Revelation to the church in Ephesus. Jesus said, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.” A church that had once been on fire with faith had grown cold by the end of the first century. Last night’s session focused on the importance of keeping our faith vital and alive. Remember your first love! Eight of our Messiah church staff and one layperson from our Children’s Team are attending this two day Leadership Institute. There are over 1900 persons present from 46 states and several other countries. We have attended this annual event several times over the past nine years. It is hosted by the largest United Methodist Church in this country. A special gift from a family in our congregation is making it possible for several staff to participate. Other persons on our staff wanted so much to attend that they are covering all of their expenses on their own. More than what we learn here, we look forward to these two days being surrounded by a worldwide community of faith that is on fire for Jesus Christ.

Read more...

Dear Messiah Congregation,
This month, we tried something new. Usually we designate a Sunday or two in the fall to provide information about all of the ministry and mission opportunities available through the church. Over the past few months, we have been aligning everything we do to the Path of Discipleship and even reassessing what does not obviously fit into that Path. The past two Sundays, the Faithfest showed what the Path of Discipleship looks like in each of the life stages. I hope you have taken a few minutes to complete the Spiritual Assessment. Click here to download a copy for your use. As I completed it, I was able to see a next step that I could take to deepen my spiritual life. I have already added that step to my life and am finding blessing in that. I hope for that kind of blessing with each of you.

Read more...

Dear Messiah Congregation,
Change is in the air. Last week, we turned off the air conditioning and almost turned on the furnace. Some people look forward to this change. Others dread the change. Some find the warm humid weather of summer to be the best part of the year. Others look forward to lots of snow. Live in Minnesota long enough and you experience it all – even if that means living through seasons you do not prefer. We could relate this to nearly every aspect of life. Even if you do not have children in your home, the school year cycle makes September the beginning of a new year. And what a flurry of activity this week has been to get ready for the weekend!

Read more...

Dear Messiah congregation,
This month, we are studying the New Testament letter of James. Although he mentions Jesus only twice, his letter is filled with the practical application of faith in Jesus to our daily lives. It’s not that faith changes the circumstances of life, but faith provides a way through all that we face. This week, we will consider the care of orphans. I have been doing some research and learning about orphans. I’d like your help as I prepare for Sunday.

• If you were adopted as a child and would be willing to share with me what that has meant to you, would you reply to this email.

• If you have adopted a child, would you be willing to share what prompted that decision and what you have experienced?

• If you are providing financial support for a child through Compassion International or Light of Hope or another mission program, would you share with me where that child lives and what you have experienced through this relationship?

Read more...

Dear Messiah Congregation,
Amanda and I returned from a week of vacation in North Carolina. Amanda was born and raised in Charlotte and, although she no longer has family living in Charlotte, through the years we have returned to North Carolina and have a favorite vacation spot on the Outer Banks. While there, we have no cell phone or Internet service. The community is assessable only by a 2 ½ hour ferry ride. It is a small community of a few hundred people. No traffic lights. No retail chains. It was a week of being together, walking the beach, reading books, riding bicycles, and having long conversations. All are things we could do here at home but rarely do. It was renewing.

Read more...

Dear Messiah Congregation:
Do you like smiles? This has been a week of smiles and laughter and a whole lot of energy as our annual week of Vacation Bible Camp has been in full swing. I think every year I say this one is the best VBC ever, and I mean it! Each year is a phenomenal experience. I am proud that you make it possible for nearly 100 children to experience such joy in knowing the love of Jesus Christ. Just watching the children, I hear the words of Jesus: “…for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” If you would like to see some of the smiles for yourself, click here.

Read more...

Dear Messiah Congregation:
Later today, we are hosting a funeral service for a family in our Plymouth community that does not have a church. The tragedy of a loved one’s death is only heightened when a family is lacking a community of faith to be the presence of Christ with love, comfort and hope. In preparation for this service, I was reading from Lamentations 3. The words of lament could be our own. The writer knew well the feeling of anguish. Whatever had happened was a devastating event. So devastating that happiness was forgotten. The Bible gives us honest human emotion, but it doesn’t leave us there. Verse 32: “The Lord will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.” How does the Lord do this? Through you. I am proud that our congregation is ready to step forward in such a moment as this.

Read more...