Pastor Jerry

When the weather turned cold my office was like an ice box. My first response was to check the thermostat. The indication was a comfortable 70 degrees, but it felt much colder. I made sure the windows were closed. The next day I brought a thermometer from home and it read 61 degrees. Nine degrees may not sound like much; however, it was not comfortable to sit at my desk. Periodically the fan would circulate air. Yet, the room would never get warm. After some investigation it was discovered that the furnace had never been wired to allow the igniter to light the natural gas. For seven years a furnace had been dysfunctional. It looked like a furnace, blew air like a furnace, it must be a furnace! Without the fire of God, the Church is cold and ineffective. Fire generates energy that warms us inside and out. The Holy Spirit wires us directly to the power of the Almighty. John Wesley tested his spiritual temperature by means of Scripture, Prayer, Fasting, Journaling, and Mission. How hot or cold is your faith in Christ?

“So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold or hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
Rev. 3: 16

The first is WORSHIP. Be in worship every week. There is something mysterious and powerful about corporate worship. We experience the presence of the risen Christ in ways we just can't alone; after all Matthew 18:20 tells us that where two or three are gathered there He is!

The second is SMALL GROUPS. We all need to be in a small group for spiritual growth. This may be a Sunday School class, a midweek Bible study, a prayer group. We have all of these at Saint Stephen West. Join us on Wednesday's this winter/spring for our D-teams. Proverbs 27:17 tells us that "as iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another." We need each other!

And the third is SERVICE. serving others cures us of our self-centeredness. Matthew 25:40 tells us that whatever we do to one of "the least of these" we have done unto Christ. Service is an essential part of the Christian life; it turns us outward and make us sensitive to the needs in the world around us.

In WORSHIP and SMALL GROUPS we grow in Christ. In SERVICE we live out a Christ-like life!

That's the power of Three!

in Christ,

Rich

As we end 2009 and begin 2010 we can experience the new life Jesus offers. We can grow in Christ in ways we never dreamed possible. We can enter a life of amazing possibilities. We can see the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. As we die to self and live for Christ we turn reality upside down and inside out; and we begin to live as God intended when He created us in the first place.

To end our old ways and begin in God’s new ways requires a real commitment. Jesus never said it would be easy; the really important things never are. This year, instead of volunteering at the church: make a commitment Jesus. This year, instead of asking ‘how am I being fed?’ ask, ‘who am I feeding?” This year, instead of asking ‘how will this make my life better?’ ask, ‘how can my life make others better?’ The end is the beginning.

If this is all new to you, then I suggest you start with these three commitments: worship, small groups, service. Make a commitment this year to be in worship every week. There is no substitute for corporate worship. There is something compelling and mysterious that happens when we worship with one another: we experience the risen Christ in ways we simply can’t by ourselves. Make a commitment to be in a small group this year. We are not meant to go through this life by ourselves; we need each other. Proverbs 27:17 tells us that, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” So join a Sunday School class, a midweek Bible Study, the West Campus D-Team, a prayer group; we have many opportunities to join a small group at St. Stephen West. Finally, make a commitment to serve. Go on a mission trip: Mexico in February or Kenya in July. Help serve a meal at Another Chance House. Teach in the Youth or Children’s ministry. Find a place to serve!

The end is the beginning!

Rich

Romans 10:13-15

We have begun to really get out of the church and share the Good News of Jesus with our community. Our S.O.S. (Summer of Service) is definitely taking off and making a difference in our community, and in us. This last week we had a great time taking laundry soap, quarters, and a little note saying ‘God loves you and so do we, your friends at Saint Stephen West’ to several Laundromats around town. One manager told us that she had long wondered where the Christians were; that the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons were there all the time but that she couldn’t remember there ever being any Christians come into her store. At another one, our team met some wonderful Muslims who just couldn’t believe that a group of Christians would offer them anything; and would show love to them. What a great, and easy, way to show the love of Christ to the people of Amarillo! I hope you will join us at our next project on July 8^th when we take cold bottles of water to people in the park; we will meet at the West Campus at 6:30pm and return by 8pm.

This Sunday we begin a new sermon series called ‘Bible Stories: Revisited.’ Through July and August we will be revisiting some of the good old Bible Stories like ‘Fish Bait: the Story of Jonah,’ ‘Cruise Ship: the Story of Noah.’ Our first message will be “Dreamer: the story of Joseph.” And, on this Independence Day weekend, we will have a special time of prayer for our nation in each of our worship services.

Grace and Peace,

Rich

So far in June I’ve been to Annual Conference for four days, and been to camp with three hundred and ten 8^th and 9^th graders. We spent a week focused on Missions and World Evangelism. Don’t be surprised if your teenager begins to take God’s command to reach the world for Christ seriously. You ought to join these new teenage missionaries; they’re amazing.

This Wednesday we will have our second Summer of Service project. We will meet at Saint Stephen West at 6:30pm for our Laundromat Outreach; Children will have an outreach activity appropriate for them; and we will return to the church by 8pm. We will have more outreach projects all summer long.

Saturday July 4^th we will have an evening of prayer and praise for our nation at 7pm in the Sanctuary called “God’s Grace & Old Glory!” Afterwards we will move outside for snow cones, ice cream, watermelon, games, and of course the wonderful fireworks. This Sunday we will have fliers/invitations for you to share with the community about our July 4^th celebration.

Vacation Bible School, Son Rock Camp, will be here before we know it; every evening July 12^th through the 15^th.

And, a new sermon series called ‘Bible Stories: Revisited.’ Through July and August we will be revisiting some of the good old Bible Stories like ‘Fish Bait: the Story of Jonah,’ ‘Cruise Ship: the Story of Noah.’ And many other great stories!

Summer Time; Down Time?

Not For Me ! ! !

Grace and Peace,

Rich

Memorial Day; a day for cooking out and being with family.

Memorial Day; a time for golf.

Memorial Day; means school is almost over for the year.

Memorial Day; a three day weekend.

Memorial Day . . .

Memorial Day: a time to Remember!

Memorial Day is a time set aside for us to remember and give thanks for all those who have gone before us. Take some time this Memorial Day weekend to remember and give thanks for parents, teachers, friends, and others who have impacted your life. In the past Memorial Day was a time to go to the cemetery, lay flowers on the grave of a loved one, and remember their life.

In preparation for worship this week take some time and read John 11:1-45. This a story of Jesus visiting a cemetery, and then doing something extraordinary.

Grace and Peace,

Rich

June 15-19       OneWay 8/9

June 22-26       OneWay 10/12

June 29-July 3 OneWay 4/5

July 6-10         OneWay 6/7

(The numbers to the right of the camp name are the grades the camper will be entering in the fall of 2009)

You can find more info at:

www.cetacanyon.org

www.camp09.info

And as always we are in need adult volunteers to give a week of their time to work camp this summer. I can’t think of a better way to spend your summer break than helping kids experience the grace of Jesus! See Scott Smith to help with OneWay 10/12 and see Rich Jones to help with OneWay 8/9 and either of us can help connect you with the directors of the other camps.

Also, Ceta Canyon is hosting an Open House this Sunday May 17th from 2 - 4pm. If you would like to check out the camp; this is a great time to do so!

Grace and Peace,

Rich

Genesis 12:1-3 tells us that the people of God are blessed to be a blessing and that all the nations of the earth are to be blessed through the people of God. Exodus 19:5-6 tells us that the people of God are to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests; the role of priests is to mediate between a holy God and a broken people-to help people know the one true God. Matthew 28:19-20 tells us how Jesus commissioned the first believers to go into all the world making disciples of Jesus Christ. And Acts 1:8 tells us that the Holy Spirit gives us the power to go to the ends of the earth as witnesses for Jesus.

All through the Scriptures we see that God is on a mission to bring all of humanity into a relationship with Himself. And His means for accomplishing that mission is the church; us. We who have experienced the life-transforming grace of Jesus in our lives are to then become extensions of that same grace in the lives of others. Our passion for Jesus must be a passion for others to experience Jesus. In other words, ‘a passion for Jesus is a passion for missions!’ Let me paraphrase Stan Cosby, ‘Missions is not a program of the church; the church is the tool God uses for missions!’

Grace and Peace,

Rich

April 22, 2009

Saint Stephen West,

I have a couple of things for you to think about: first, our new all church directory is coming soon. In fact you can sign up for picture appointments right now. The best way to do this is through our website at www.ssumc.net and use the ‘lifeTouchPortrait’ scheduling link. The company we have contracted with requires us to have about 80% of the first week scheduled before they will open the second week for appointments; likewise the second week must be 80% full before they will open the third week. If you schedule your appointment during the first two weeks the pictures will be taken at the East Campus. The third week’s pictures will be taken at the West Campus. It does not matter which campus you have your picture taken at; your information will be in the section of the directory that you designate.

Second, we have an amazing World Outreach Week scheduled for next week. This is one of the biggest highlights of the year. We will spend the week focusing on world missions. Missionaries from around the world will be here, in our church, to share how God is reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What could be more exciting than that? Be sure to take advantage of every opportunity to learn about the amazing ways Saint Stephen Church is involved in, and supporting, God’s Kingdom building enterprise. You should receive a letter this week with the complete schedule of events! Don’t miss a one!!!

Grace and Peace,

Rich

    Clouds of grey

    Days of dark and damp

    Light veiled and dim

            Not yet extinguished

    Bleak and drear

    Fear unfurled

    Hope knocked down

            Faint but alive

    Cowardly anger

    Indignant reprise

    Misdirected eyes

            Not fully closed

    Unknown days

    Confusion reigns

    Still a song plays

            A melody of praise

    In the miry clay

    Under clouds of rain

    A new harmony

            A symphony of praise

    A composer’s choice

    The director’s baton

    A new song begun

            And I will sing

    Yes I will sing

    Whatever may come

    I will sing

            A new song

Grace and Peace,

Rich

In the early church; in the first couple of centuries after the resurrection; every Sunday was considered a ‘little Easter.’ Every worship service was a time to celebrate our risen Lord.

Grumpy Christians are a living oxymoron. Joy should be evident within our services and upon our faces. We ought to radiate the joy of the Lord. So clap along with the music, sing a little louder, and if you are daring enough-shout ‘Hallelujah’ from time to time. We are Resurrection People! And it’s alright to get a little excited about it! AMEN!!!

Grace and Peace,

Rich

Easter week is always a special time in the life of the church. We have so many activities to attend: The Seder Meal, Good Friday service, the children’s Easter Eggstravaganza, and of course, our Easter Sunday morning services! Whew, that a lot of activity for one week.

Sometimes, when the week is so packed with activity, we might want to just get through it; to survive it; to make it to the other side alive. And we forget what it’s all about; we focus on new clothes, bright colors, great events, chocolate bunnies (and I certainly won’t discourage chocolate bunnies), eggs, and all that stuff; and we just forget; maybe it’s just for a moment; but we forget: it’s all about Jesus!

All of human history, indeed, all of eternity, hinges on what happened on that cruel cross so long ago. Our God, our Savior, our Jesus, gave Himself for us. He became the perfect and final sacrifice of atonement. In His death and resurrection we find forgiveness, mercy, and grace; indeed, we find life, life eternal, life abundant.

This Easter, let’s take a moment to remember that it is truly all about Jesus! He has defeated death; broken the bonds of sin; and set us free! He, and He alone, is deserving of all our worship! He, and He alone, is deserving of all our attention this Easter!

Grace and Peace,

Rich

The human eye is designed in such a way that it can only focus on one thing at a time. Try an experiment with me: cover one eye with your hand and extend the other hand out, hold one finger straight up; then attempt to keep the tip of your finger clearly in focus while simultaneously focusing on an object across the room. It’s impossible. Either the tip of your finger will be in focus or the object across the room will be in focus; but not both. The human eye simply doesn’t work that way. The same is true for the human life. We can have Jesus clearly in focus at the center or our lives, or ourselves, or something else; but not both. Our lives simply don’t work that way.

There is no better time than the Easter season to truly put Jesus back in the center of our lives. This Sunday; as we remember Jesus riding down the Mount of Olives and up into Jerusalem; as we remember the crowds shouting, “Hosanna, Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Let our voices join theirs as Jesus once again ascends to the Throne of our Lives! Let us refocus our lives so Jesus is clearly at the center of all that we are!

Grace and Peace,

Rich

Last Sunday while preaching on this passage, I presented five broad categories in which we, like Peter, deny Jesus. Here they are in case you missed them on Sunday:

1. Directly. For one reason or another we state directly, and sometimes publicly, ‘I don’t know Him,’ ‘I’m not one of them.’  It may be due to peer pressure or our own disbelief; but we directly deny our relationship to Jesus.
2. Our Priorities. Anytime Jesus becomes anything less than the absolute first in our lives; then we have denied Him. It may be that work has taken His place in our lives; or school, or relationships, or things, or our own ambition. Whatever forces our relationship with Jesus into second place in our lives serves as a denial of Him.
3. Our Finances. Does the way we use our finances give evidence to our faith in Christ or serve to deny Christ? Will our check book register provide evidence of our trust in Jesus?
4. By Continuing in Sin. Whenever we indulge sinful behaviors in our lives we deny Jesus. Refusing to confess and repent leads us to deny Jesus the opportunity to forgive and restore us to right relationship with Himself.
5. By the Untransformed Life. To accept Jesus as Savior; but not to live for Him as Lord; is to stop short in the process of full conversion. Our lives then are not fully transformed and ultimately that serves as a denial of Christ. He requires us totally, completely, fully; and not just in part. We belong to Him one hundred percent, anything less is to deny Jesus.

So, this is just something to think about; to pray over. But don’t ever forget that in the midst of our denial, doubt, and sin Jesus came to provide us a way back to Him. Romans 5:8 says, “But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” We don’t have to remain in our sin, doubt, and denial-God love us too much to leave us there!

Grace and Peace,

Rich

After the resurrection and just before Jesus ascends to heaven Luke records Jesus’ last words to his followers in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere--in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” And in Matthew 28: 19-20 Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

There are four things I think we need to remember from these two statements. First, the power and ability to witness for Christ comes from God in the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to do it alone or in our own power or ability. Second, the Good News about Jesus is for everybody—‘to the ends of the earth’ and ‘of all nations’—means that Jesus didn’t just come for us; but for everyone; regardless of nationality, income level, educational background, or ethnicity; we all need Jesus! Third, the command to ‘bear witness’ and ‘make disciples’ is not just for a special group of people; but for all who follow Jesus. If we know Jesus; then we are the ones called to make Him known to others. It’s our common mission as the body of Christ on earth, the church. Fourth, it’s about discipleship and not just conversion. Our conversion is incomplete if we don’t continue growing in our faith and becoming more like Jesus.

One of the songs we sang in the late service on Sunday put it this way, “It comes down to just one thing, and that’s to know you oh Jesus and make you known.”

Grace and Peace,

Rich

Here it is! The main point; you can sum it all up, right here in Luke 10:25-28 and following. Love God! Love Others! That’s what we’re all about. Learning to love God with all that we are and then loving others in exactly the same way. However, we live in a culture that misunderstands the true nature of love; that tends equate love with permissiveness; that tends to equate love with blind acceptance of all behaviors. Real love helps people be and get better. Real love transforms. Real love reaches into messy lives and gives a hand up. Real love doesn’t apologize for high standards but walks with and encourages people as they move closer to God’s standards. Real love doesn’t give up on someone when they fall. Real love doesn’t leave them down. After all, Jesus is Real Love incarnated. God took on flesh and blood, skin and bone, clothed Himself with humanity, and stepped out of heaven and into human history, just so you and I wouldn’t have to live our lives in the ditch of sin and death. Real love picked us up, forgave us, recreated us, and set us back on His path, for His glory! How should we respond to this love? By loving others with this same, real, true, Love!

Grace and Peace,

Rich