One Special Day After Another

A big difference I've noticed between Aussie and American churches, is the emphasis on special days. The church we are currently part of in the States, seems to pay much more attention to special days. And I don't mean just special 'Christian days' I mean any special day. Every week the sermon, the music, the decorations have a particular theme. I'm not saying this is a bad thing necessarily, but I think we've only had one 'normal' service since we got here. Today it was Memorial Day. You can see the American flag to left on the stage. The first song was the American National Anthem.

 Last week it was Pentecost. The week before it was Mother's day. I'm very much used to going through a book of the Bible, Sunday by Sunday, preaching exegetical sermons, without paying much attention to special days. Especially not secular holidays. It would be like Aussie churches having a special ANZAC day service on the Sunday of ANZAC day week. That would be strange. Perhaps its a reflection of the lack of separation of Church and State in America.

Adventures in Gluten Free Cooking: The Spaghetti Squash

I had never had a spaghetti squash. Until last night.

It's a weird vegetable. You cut it in half, remove the seeds and then bake it.

And then, using a fork, you kind of scrape out the insides and it comes out like spaghetti.

Which makes a nice, cheaper alternative to gluten free pasta (Amy is gluten-intolerant).

And it got the Micah seal of approval.

Things I See on my Daily Commute

Just for fun, I thought I'd show you some of the interesting things I see on my daily trip to and from work at the U. We'll start here. Nice street. That's not it's name; I was just commenting on its nature.

 

I have to walk up this steep hill, through the forest, after which I get to another street.

 

 After that, I get on a bus, and take a trip through the 'burbs. It's a pretty nice area.

One thing sticks out though.












This bar just makes me think 'Moe's Tavern'.

Then at the U. Extreme agricultural experiments, right in the middle of St Paul/Minneapolis!

 

Then there's this massive water tower.

And these flowers.

And I see this sign. This is the building I work in.

And this is my office.

That was fun, wasn't it?

Imagining Scripture

Calvary Baptist Church in Roseville, Minnesota, the church we have joined for our time here, recently did something called the Church Check-up. It was basically a survey of everyone in the church who wanted to participate, trying to get an idea of what the church was doing well and what we need to improve upon. We came in after the survey had actually been taken, but before the results and analysis were revealed. For the last two week, the interim pastor, Paul Murphy, used his sermon time to talk about the results of the Church Check-up.

I think it's a really good idea. It's important for churches to regularly consider how they are doing in areas such as ministry to adults, kids ministry, fellowship, evangelism, networking, etc.

In the church bulletin last week, a 'Letter to the Church at Roseville' was included. Similar in style to the letters to the churches in the first 3 chapters of Revelation. Paul Murphy tried to imagine what Jesus would say if he were to dictate a letter to the Calvary Baptist. I've reproduced it below, with his permission.

To: The Body of Christ at Calvary

From: the Saviour; the hope of all mankind; God's Sent One to seek and save the lost.

You have a rich history. You rightly are a flagship church with much to look back on and celebrate. You value my Word and your worship is heartfelt and pleasing to me. You excel at ministry to children, and in missions - sending, praying and funding ministry in other parts of the world. Caring and generous giving of time and treasure are woven into your church.
I challenge you - do not rest upon your rich history. The past is a land in which no one 'lives'. Rember my name is 'I AM', not I was. Faith is a muscle that needs to flexed regularly.

Turn from church being an 'end'; remember you are my body meant to be a means of serving and showing me to the world I died to save. Turn also from consumer Christianity - being 'self'-ish, idolizing, what is familiar, what you prefer, or what has become comfortable. I did not die for your comfort or for your favourite programs. Grumbling about minor things evidences that you are not captivated by the major things of my Kingdom work
Freshly turn to me for renewal and you will find a second wind blowing in your hearts. A distaste with 'comfort' will be supplanted by a heart for the not yet saved, a tug toward faith and risk - a magnetic pull toward the adventure of actually 'living' out your faith as partners in my great Kingdom purpose in the world.
Will you again commit yourselves to 'go and make disciples of all nations'
Will you commit to caring for one another; no newcomers or long-timers 'alone' in my body?
Will you commit to growing people up as my disciples, more than knowing my word, but equipping each other by putting it into practices so it transforms your living?
Will you commit to an enlarged heart and action in reaching out showing and sharing the gospel news of my love with those around you who do not yet know me?
You cannot do this without me. Clinging to me, I am able to do more than you can ask or imagine by my spirit at work among you.
I long to breathe a fresh spiritual wind of health and productivity - of lives changed 'in Christ' as unsaved come to new life, as people feel connected and grow up as 'disciples' living like me in your relationships.

Your Loving Lord,

King Jesus

I realise this might be considered by some to be 'adding to Scripture' but I actually think it's OK. The stuff that Paul is saying here is all stuff taken from to Bible, but just applied to Calvary Baptist church; worded in a way that's appropriate to our situation. Rather than adding to Scripture, I think he's just applying Scripture. Perhaps, other churches could benefit from thinking 'Based on what we know from the Bible, what would Jesus say to our church? What would the apostle Paul say to us?' If nothing else, it's an interesting and edifying thought experiment.