The Season of Easter!

Article from First United Methodist Church of Orange Newsletter

The tombs of many of the world’s greatest leaders are awe-inspiring wonders characterized by elegant architecture, impressive epithets, eternal flames and beautiful surroundings.  I can remember this from the times I visited the pyramids in Egypt, or saw Lenin’s Tomb in Russia.  In most cases, no expense was spared to memorialize the good, the bad, and the ugly.  However, in spite of their magnificence, these tombs all share one common characteristic---they are all still occupied!  By contrast, Jesus was buried in an unpretentious tomb that was not prepared exclusively for Him (to my surprise, when I visited, it now even sits next to a vast bus stop station in Jerusalem).  No person carved it out with the intention of persevering His memory.  And yet today, the empty tomb of Jesus remains as mute testimony of His victory over sin and death.  His simple tomb assures us that through faith in the risen Jesus, people can experience forgiveness of their sins and a new and everlasting life.

The Apostle Paul wrote that Jesus was “the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18).  In other words, He was the first person to be raised from the dead without dying again.  He is alive today, reigns supreme, and is worthy of our unrivaled love and loyalty.  Paul believed that the gospel is at the center of our faith, and the cross and the empty tomb are at the center of the gospel.  In his letter to the church at Corinth, he wrote: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Paul said that what he had received was rooted in history or “according to the Scriptures.” The death of Christ was foretold in “the Scriptures” (for example, Isaiah 53:5-12). Many men died at the hands of the Romans, but His death was “for our sins.” And, Jesus “was raised” — the perfect tense in Greek indicates that He remains raised from the dead. His resurrection is a past event with results continuing to the present.

This Easter, we remember His resurrection and victory over the grave. Along with Christ-followers around the world, we also reflect on and rejoice in the fact that He is alive and reigns supreme. As you remember, reflect, and rejoice in the resurrection and on the meaning of Easter, keep these things in mind and take a moment to lead your family in praise and thanksgiving for all that Jesus did to make a way for us to be reconciled to God.  

E = Easter is about an empty tomb that offers hope to those with empty lives.

A = Easter is about an announcement that Jesus is alive.

S = Easter is about God’s offer of salvation to all who believe.

T = Easter is about the triumph of Jesus over death.

E = Easter is about the joy that we can experience every day.

R = Easter is about our responsibility to share the good news that Jesus is alive.

Christ is risen indeed!  I look forward to seeing you and your family here on Easter morning!

Grace and Peace,

Peter Joseph

Director of Faith Formation

PRESEASON AND THE SEASON OF LENT

The term 'pre-season' is sometimes a season that fans don't look forward to, because the wins and losses don't count yet.  Some fans think the preseason is boring and dull, and doesn't have the allure and joys of a regular season.  And it's a chance for coaches to work on their plays and rotations, to see who will make the team.  However, this is a very important preparation time to get ready for the regular season, for players to get into game shape, to know the plays, and to get back into the discipline of the regular season.  However, we know that there would be no season without the pre-season.

This is kind of like the season of Lent.  We can't get to Easter unless we go thru Lent.  And this preparation time is so important.

We are entering the Lenten season this month, and I wanted to reflect on why this season is so important in our faith walks.  It’s not like we jump up and down for joy, and circle this on our calendars like we do with Christmas.  Let me explain.  Most of us have favorite holiday seasons. For some it's Christmas, with the family get-togethers and presents. For others it's the Fourth of July and summer, filled by a sense of national pride and beach vacations to boot. But each year at just about this time, it strikes me that very few of us would pick Lent, a season that seems to most of us as grim as the weather that usually attends it.

Think about it: crossing off days on the calendar until Ash Wednesday; leaving work just a little early, saying "I've got to get my Lenten shopping done;" advertisements on television saying "only 12 more days 'til the day of Ashes;" or little kids going to bed, asking their parents, "How much longer 'till Lent is here?" It just doesn't happen.
  These words don’t jump out at us and scream joy: penitence.  sacrifice.  contemplation.  fasting.  atonement.  repentance.  humility.  self-denial.  But these are the powerful words that are brought up in the season of Lent.

I mean, even among those traditions that do honor the season, rarely is there the same kind of enthusiasm or expectancy which greets Advent.  However, Lent is just as important as the season of Advent.  Just maybe I need a time (is 40 days really enough?) to help clear my head of the distractions which any involved life in this world will necessarily bring and re-orient myself towards the Maker of all that was given for my pleasure and which I have let become merely distracting.

Maybe I need the opportunity (and perhaps deep down I crave the chance!) to clear my eyes of the glaze of indifference and apathy which comes from situation after situation where I feel nearly helpless so that I can fasten my eyes once more on the almost unbearable revelation of the God who loves God's children enough to take the form of a man hanging on a tree.

And maybe, just maybe -- and this takes the greatest amount of imagination of them all -- just maybe Lent really isn't mine to do with whatever I please. Maybe Lent is God's. Maybe Lent is God's gift to a people starved for meaning, for courage, for comfort, for life.

If it is, if we can imagine that Lent is not ours at all but is wholly God's, then maybe we'll also begin to recall, at first vaguely but then more strongly, that we, too, are not ours at all, but are wholly God's -- God's own possession and treasure.

Seen this way, Lent reminds us of whose we are. The "sacrifices," the disciplines, these are not intended as good works offered by us to God; rather, they are God's gifts to us to remind us who we are, God's adopted daughters and sons, God's treasure, so priceless that God was willing to go to any length -- or, more appropriately, to any depth -- to tell us that we are loved, that we have value, that we have purpose.

Yes. I need Lent. I need an absence of gifts so that I might acknowledge the Gift. I need a time to be quiet and still, a time to crane my neck and lift my head, straining to hear again what was promised me at Baptism: "You are mine! I love you! I am with you!"

I need Lent, finally, to remind me of who I am -- God's heir and Christ's co-heir -- so that, come Easter, I can rejoice and celebrate with all the joy, all the revelry, all the anticipation, of a true heir to the throne.

And so yes, I need Lent. And to tell you the truth, I suspect that you do, too. You see, we are so busy trying to make or keep or save our lives that we fail to notice that God has already saved us and has already freed us to live with each other and for each other all the rest of our days. And so we have Lent, a gift of the church, the season during which God prepares us to behold God's own great sacrifice for us, with the hope and prayer that, come Good Friday and Easter, we may be immersed once again into God's mercy and perceive more fully God's great love for us and all the world and in this way find the peace and hope and freedom that we so often lack.

I hope we begin to reorient ourselves to the importance and meaning behind Lent.  I hope that our children come to Lent with an understanding of the need, want, and reliance upon God, and not the need, want, and reliance upon our own strength and understanding.  May Lent be a coming back to Jesus moment for you.  May Lent be a time for us to be renewed in the power and spirit of our God.  May Lent remind us of the humility and servanthood that our Savior displayed and endured, and may we come out of the season being more like Jesus.


Grace and Peace,
Peter Joseph





P.S.  We are excited to announce the birth of Noah Liam Joseph!  We feel truly blessed!

6x8 Stationery Card

The Season of Advent

It’s December, and Advent is here!

Chances are you’re just now fully recovering from the Thanksgiving holiday last week. But with Thanksgiving behind us, we’ve officially entered the countdown to Christmas.
And while that stretch of time holds a lot of pleasant experiences - Christmas music, time spent with
family, Christmas-themed activities at school and church, etc. - it’s also usually marked by a hectic pace, jam-packed schedules, and financial stress. With all of that packed into just one month, how can you possibly experience spiritual peace this holiday season?

One simple way you can stay spiritually grounded this Christmas season is by participating in the season of Advent. Advent has just begun; now is a perfect time to choose to participate.
Advent won’t add stress to your life; you don’t need to buy presents for it. Advent is simply the period of time leading up to Christmas, during which Christians around the world take a bit of time to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday. It’s specifically meant to pull our attention away from our everyday worries and focus it on the person of Jesus Christ instead. Advent reminds us of Jesus’ first coming two thousand years ago, while pointing us to his long-awaited second coming.

Our church started Advent with the lighting of the 1st candle by the Meersman Family to point us toward and remind us of HOPE. Most people understand hope as wishful thinking, as in "I hope something will happen,” or as Pastor Bill alluded to, “a Pollyanna feeling.” This is not what the Bible means by hope. The biblical definition of hope is "confident expectation."

Some common ways we commemorate the season include special Scripture readings, the lighting of
Advent candles, and the use of purple and blue in decorations. However, Advent is even more rewarding when you observe it not just at weekly worship services, but in your personal life throughout December.

Here are just a few of the ways you might choose to observe Advent, and my challenge is for you and your family to take this up:

• ƒ Commit to read the Bible for five minutes (or whatever amount of time fits into your schedule) each day.
• ƒ Challenge yourself to read a particular section of the Bible during Advent. This doesn’t need to be a huge commitment - reading through one or more of the Gospels would be very thematically appropriate, and easily do-able in a month.
• ƒ Spend a few extra minutes each day in prayer, perhaps centered around a particular theme. For example, you might pray for a different person in your family, our church, or our Orange community each day.
• ƒ Read the devotionals and the family devotionals that our church staff sent out as gifts this season. If you don’t have one, we have extras here in the church office.
• ƒ Practice charity. Go out of your way each week during Advent to spread grace in your community. This might mean running errands for somebody who can’t do them on their own; volunteering or donating at a food pantry or other organization; visiting somebody who needs company during the holidays; buying groceries for a family struggling to make financial ends meet; or whatever else you can dream up. A neat idea would be to take your child alongside you as you do the charity work so that the child can experience it for themselves. This an amazing, transformative experience for a child to have during this Advent season.

There’s no limit to what you can do to observe Advent, nor any requirement that you observe it in a
particular way (or at all). But if you could use an extra dose of spiritual peace and joy this Christmas
season, try commemorating Advent in a way that makes sense for your life, your family and situation - you’ll find that time spent focusing on Jesus Christ will put the rest of your hectic holiday schedule in a healthy perspective.

Grace and Peace, 

Peter Joseph
Director of Faith Formation

                                    Christmas Eve at First United Methodist of Orange

HOLY WEEK REFLECTIONS

Last Sunday we celebrated the most famous misunderstanding of Jesus in the entire Gospel narrative: the triumphal entry.

On that day all those years ago, faithful Jews laid down their cloaks and palm branches before the returning king of the line of David. In Jesus, they placed their hope of a return to the days of glory, the restoration of the Israelite kingdom, and the overthrow of the Roman Empire occupying their ancestral land. Less than a week later, Jesus would be crucified by those occupying forces, the Hebrew Messiah executed among thieves.

It would seem their hope was misplaced.

We know better. Their hope was not misplaced so much as misunderstood. They understood the promise of the messianic kingdom in terms of political power, yet Jesus proclaimed an other-worldly reign. From our vantage point on this side of the empty tomb, the mistaken identity of the King of Kings seems apparent.

And yet, we still define this kingdom in political terms. We still misplace our hope.

The Misplaced Kingdom

In the first chapter of Mark, we discover the earliest proclamation of the kingdom of God. It is the beginning of the earthly ministry of Jesus, and He is careful to define what this ministry means.

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” ~ Mark 1:15

Like those who cast down their cloaks before Jesus, we recognize that the term “kingdom” is layered with political nuance. Our best conception of the English word involves a geographical terrain under the political authority of a powerful ruler. The kingdom is the region which belongs to that king.

However, this becomes problematic when we look at how Jesus speaks of God’s kingdom. As creator, all that exists belongs to God. The opening line of Psalm 24 professes this when it declares that, “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.” (Psalm 24:1) Jesus, on the other hand, speaks of a kingdom that has “come near” and prays that “[God’s] kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

So how can the earth both belong to God and not be part of His kingdom?

The Answer Is In The Terminology

Language is a nuanced organism, with layers of meaning embedded in any particular term. Unfortunately, these layers rarely (if ever) find a perfect match when shifting from one language to another. This requires one to use phrases to capture the entire meaning, but translating every term that way would result in an unreadable mess. Thus, translators often seek to find the best synonym which grabs hold of as much of a concept as possible. Unfortunately, not only does a synonym loses certain nuances, so does it also come with unintended meanings as baggage. “Kingdom” is a perfect example of this.

When Jesus speaks of a coming kingdom, the term He uses isbasileia. Rather than a politico-geographical region, basileia speaks of God’s dominion. It is His will and authority manifesting in human affairs. In other words, it is God’s reign.

And Jesus makes this reign known.

Putting Things Right

It is in the life and ministry of Jesus that we see what this reign truly means.

Shortly after his declaration in Mark 1:15, He puts on vivid display the divine authority of the basileia of God. It begins in a synagogue, where he stands before a gathering of devout Hebrews and starts to teach. As scripture tells it, “they were astounded at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority…” (Mark 1:22)

It continues in that same synagogue, as He encounters one who is possessed and casts forth the unclean spirit. The people marvel, whispering that “He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” (Mark 1:27) Then, He goes on to reveal that authority in the immediate region, as “He cured many who were sick with various diseases.” (Mark 1:34)

Wisdom. Spiritual authority. Physical restoration. In all things, Christ displays the nearness of the heavenly reign, the basileia of God, restoring order to a broken world.

…But before he does any of that, He calls disciples.

This Is The Kingdom

In Mark 1:15, Jesus declares the kingdom. In Mark 1:21-34, He displays it publicly. But between the declaration and display, Jesus takes a stroll on the beach. There, along the Sea of Galilee, He calls forth Simon, Andrew, James, and John to be His followers. This is of critical importance:

The kingdom of God is not manifested in politics, but in people.

TWEET THIS

This is where contemporary Christianity often misses the boat. Like those who cheered at the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, we so often seek to impact our world through the politics of our age. Yet, the kingdom of God is not a political entity. It is a gathered community united under the Lordship of our King, called out of our world only to be sent back into it as emissaries of another ruler.

This is what it means when we declare Jesus as our Lord. It is not some pithy prayer or Christian catch-phrase. It is a decision to enter into the basileia of God, to yield our authority to the reign of our King, and to become ambassadors of an other-worldly kingdom in the midst of this one.

So How Do We Do That?

Allow me to offer five suggestions on how to become a people living under the reign of God.

1. Examine yourself. Never forget that we are sinners in need of a savior, and while our sin has been covered at the cross, repentance is a daily discipline for personal spiritual freedom.
2. Grow in the faith. Focus on allowing God to shape you into the person that He wants you to be before focusing on whether other people are who you think they should be.
3. Gather in community. We are not kingdoms unto ourselves. When God calls us out of the world and to Him, He also draws us to one another.
4. Acknowledge our brokenness. Despite our new identity in Christ, we will still screw up. So will our brothers and sisters. Be merciful.
5. Live the kingdom. Community is for manifesting the kingdom in the world, not for hiding behind four walls. Let the change that God has wrought in us, personally and collectively, be displayed in how we live.

This has always been how the kingdom has grown: not through the imposition of worldly power, but through the faithfulness of the called. We do not lay down palm branches to honor an earthly king; we lay down our lives to become part of a divine kingdom.

On earth as it is in heaven.

How do you live the kingdom? 

TURNOVERS

In many sports, and of course I'll be focusing mainly on basketball, turnovers are caused by acting before you think.  For example, a pass is coming your way, and you begin to jump the gun and plan your move before you even get the ball------and what happens?  You don't catch the ball, because you aren't present in the moment, you rather are somewhere else, where in this case, planning ahead is a bad thing. (0:

I saw this great post on missing a childhood, and I wanted to share this with all the people that read my blog.  I have a 3 year old daughter, and I can definitely relate to this.  Sometimes my iPhone does get in the way, and I need to be cognizant of that.  I get frustrated sometimes myself when I look out on a room of high schoolers, and I can't have a face to face conversation with them because they are staring at their phones.  In fact, what is hilarious (maybe not) is that they text their peers when they are in the same room.  Wow.

How to Miss a Childhood
*Keep your phone turned on at all times of the day. Allow the rings, beeps, and buzzes to interrupt your child midsentence; always let the caller take priority.

*Carry your phone around so much that when you happen to leave it in one room your child will come running with it proudly in hand—treating it more like a much needed breathing apparatus than a communication device.

*Decide the app you’re playing is more important than throwing the ball in the yard with your kids. Even better, yell at them to leave you alone while you play your game.

*Take your children to the zoo and spend so much time on your phone that your child looks longingly at the mother who is engaged with her children and wishes she was with her instead.

*While you wait for the server to bring your food or the movie to start, get out your phone and stare at it despite the fact your child sits inches away longing for you talk to him.

*Go to your child’s sporting event and look up periodically from your phone thinking she won’t notice that you are not fully focused on her game.

*Check your phone first thing in the morning … even before you kiss, hug, or greet the people in your family.

*Neglect daily rituals like tucking your child into bed or nightly dinner conversation because you are too busy with your online activity.

*Don’t look up from your phone when your child speaks to you or just reply with an “uh huh” so she thinks you were listening.

*Lose your temper with your child when he “bothers” you while you are interacting with your hand-held electronic device.

*Give an exasperated sigh when your child asks you to push her on the swing. Can’t she see you’re busy?

*Use drive time to call other people regardless of the fact you could be talking to your kids about their day—or about their worries, their fears, or their dreams.

*Read email and text messages at stoplights. Then tell yourself that when your kids are old enough to drive they won’t remember you did this all the time.

*Have the phone to your ear when she gets in or out of the car. Convince yourself a loving hello or goodbye is highly overrated.

Follow this recipe and you will have:

• Missed opportunities for human connection

• Fewer chances to create beautiful memories

• Lack of connection to the people most precious to you

• Inability to really know your children and them unable to know you

• Overwhelming regret

If you find this recipe difficult to read—if you find that you have tears in your eyes, I thank you, and your child thanks you.

It is not easy to consider the possibility that the distractions of the modern age have taken an undeserved priority over the people who matter in your life. In fact, when I admitted this difficult truth to myself almost two years ago, I experienced an emotional breakdown. However, that breakdown became a breakthrough that propelled me to begin my life-changing “Hands Free” journey.

Here’s the thing: You don’t have to follow the above recipe. Yes, it is the 21st century. Yes, the whole world is online. Yes, the communications for your job are important. Yes, at times you must be readily available. But despite all those factors, you do not have to sacrifice your child’s childhood; nor do you have to sacrifice your life.

May I recommend this recipe instead?

How to Grasp a Childhood:

Look into her eyes when she speaks to you … Your uninterrupted gaze is love to your child.

Take time to be with him—really be with him by giving your full attention … The gift of your total presence is love to your child.

Hold her hand, rub his back, listen to her heart beat, and smooth his hair … Your gentle touch is love to your child.

Greet her like you missed her when she was not in your presence … Seeing your face light up when you see her is love to your child.

Play with him … Your involvement in his activities is love to your child.

Set an example of being distraction-free while driving … Positive role modeling behind the wheel is love (and safety) to your child.

Create a distraction-free daily ritual … Consistently making him a priority each day is love to your child.

Focus and smile at her from the stands, sidelines, or the audience … Seeing the joy on your face as you watch is love to your child.

The recipe for “How to Grasp a Childhood” requires only one thing: You must put down your phone. Whether it is for ten minutes, two hours, or an entire Saturday, beautiful human connection, memory making, and parent-child bonding can occur every single time you let go of distraction to grasp what really matters.

The beautiful, life-changing results of your “Hands Free” action can start today … right now … the moment you put down the phone.

************************************************************

My life changed the day I stopped justifying my highly distracted life and  admitted I was missing precious moments that I would never retrieve. I imagined my daughter standing on the stage of her high school graduation and asked myself: When she is 18 years old, will I wish I had spent more time on my phone/work/social life? Or will I wish I had spent more time investing in her?

The answer was simple.

My hope is that this post inspires one person to become aware of how often he or she uses the phone (or computer) in the presence of a child. Please help spread this critical message by clicking “share.” By falling into the right hands, it could be the best gift ever received.

I really don't mean to make you feel guilty.  In actuality, I have taken on my own advice.

Grace and Peace,

Peter Joseph

THERE IS NO 'I' IN TEAM

So I have been fascinated lately this past week of all the hoopla on Sherman's post game interview on FOX after his team defeated the 49ers to reach the Super Bowl (and YES, it has been a very very long time since I last posted on my blog....been quite busy.)

This is a great article from the Huffington Post.  Good read:

"I'm the best corner[back] in the game. When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result you going to get."
--Richard Sherman

That's the quote that got America talking.

The man behind it was Seattle Seahawks all-pro defensive back Richard Sherman, a guy whose mouth is about the only thing louder than his game.

In the moments after Sherman's post-game interview, Twitter exploded. People called him everything from a "thug" to a "disgrace," and even Justin Verlander - a professional pitcher for the Detroit Tigers - suggested that Sherman would get "high and tight" fastballs if he were in the MLB. On top of that, tweets and memes like the one below spread like wildfire.

#Truth I can't stand him!! The reason why I hate the Seahawks!pic.twitter.com/2IECYsANaT

-- Kelly Michelle (@kelly_MichelleJ) January 20, 2014

But from my perspective, the heat Sherman is getting is not just misguided but ludicrous. This is a guy who represents one of the best kinds of sports stories there is in the world: the rise from the bottom, the profound destruction of obstacles, the honest success story built by a foundation of hard work and loving parents. If anyone with a brain took the time to learn about Richard Sherman, and then put him in the context of the rest of the National Football League, he'd be a pretty hard guy to bash.

Firstly, we're talking about a 25-year-old who came out of the streets of Compton, California. Sherman graduated from one of the worst school districts in the United States, one that boasts a high-school graduation rate of 57 percent. In a country where 68 percent of all federal and state inmates are lacking a high school diploma, you could say Sherman avoided a horrifying fate. But to say he "got lucky" or "escaped" would be foolhardy. He didn't "just graduate," either. He finished with a 4.2 GPA, second in his class, and went on to Stanford University, one of the most prestigious places to get an education in the entire world. He busted out in a rocket ship. He went from a world of gang violence and drugs to everything that Palo Alto and Stanford University represent.

And where did Mr. Sherman get the work ethic to put up those grades and make it to a school that offers that kind of education? Probably from his father, Kevin, who has worked in the sanitation department for Los Angeles for more than thirty years. But you won't see that on Sherman's stat sheet, and you definitely won't hear about it when ESPN analysts comment on his post-game interview today. Most interesting, though, is that Sherman's story isn't a big secret. NFL Films has even done a short documentary on "the trash-talking cornerback."

So now, America, let's talk about Richard Sherman in the NFL. Let's talk about the Stanford graduate from Compton who has never been arrested, never cursed in a post-game interview, never been accused of being a dirty player, started his own charitable non-profit, and won an appeal in the only thing close to a smudge on his record.

This past off-season, 31 NFL players were arrested for everything from gun charges and driving under the Influence to murder.

Last year, Kansas City Chiefs player Javon Belcher killed Kasandra Perkins, his girlfriend and the mother of his own child, before taking his own life.

Week in and week out, we sit down in front of our televisions and cheer for these freak athletes to destroy each other's bodies in one of the most brutal games known to man. Most of us probably do it with a beer in our hand, screaming and cursing at our TVs in a desperate hope to change the outcome of the game. We ignore how the NFL's owners use our tax money so freely, and we don't seem to care much about the brain damage retired players suffer from every year.

Yet, when one kid who has overcome everything, one kid who was doubted by the very player he overcame on Sunday, decides to emphatically claim he is the best (by the way: he is), this is what upsets us? Man, could you imagine if this generation had to deal with Muhammad Ali?

Last night, when Richard Sherman went on his rant to Erin Andrews, most of America thought they were learning about the arrogance of another NFL player. But in reality, what Richard Sherman did was teach us about ourselves. He taught us that we're still a country that isn't ready for lower-class Americans from neighborhoods like Compton to succeed. We're still a country that can't decipher a person's character. But most of all, he taught us that no matter what you overcome in your life, we're still a country that can't accept someone if they're a little louder, a little prouder, or a little different from the people we surround ourselves with.

In the words of the great Richard Sherman, there is only one question: You mad, bro?

Here is the interview if you missed it:

Now the only comment I will make is that I agree:  is Sherman indeed any different from the Kobe Bryants, the Michael Jordans, etc.?  I am not excusing his behavior in any way, but let's put it in context folks.

'Till next time, Peace Out,

Peter Joseph

The Success of Programming at Churches

          Why will the Children and Youth Ministries Programs here be successful?  It's nothing that I am doing, but it is because many of our adults and youth are assisting to make this a viable ministry and a community where we love God, and we love one another.  We have an amazing ministry leadership team: Julie Wakefield, Joyce Claussen, Bonnie Joseph, Sarah Fast, Jessica Sanchez, Ashton Conner, Susan Simpson, Meg Murray, Dorothy Utter, Julie Roney, Jodi Roney, Packy & Lynne McFarland, Sandy Wilson, Donna Nelson, Sylvia Coussa, Bob & Cindy Wilson, Augusta Gohil, Sushma Corbin, and Yvonne Moffitt.  That's not including the group of parents that help us behind the scenes!
          Teamwork, as in many sports, is a vital part of life in the body of Christ.  God's work involves many different individuals with a variety of gifts, talents and abilities.  There are no superstars in this task, only team members performing their own unique roles.  We can only become useful members of God's team if we are prepared to set aside any desire to receive glory for what we do.  We should never seek or encourage the praise that comes from people.  The praise of humankind is always short lived and of no real or lasting value.  Instead, we should always seek approval from God.
          God has given the Church an enormous responsibility, to make disciples in every nation (Matthew 28:18-20).  This involves preaching, teaching, healing, nurturing, giving, administering, building and many other tasks.  If we had to fulfill this command as individuals, we may as well give up without even trying, it would be impossible.  But God calls us as members of His body.  Some of us can do one task; some can do another.  Together, we can serve God more fully than any one of us could ever do alone.  It is a human tendency to overestimate what we can do individually and to underestimate what we can do as a team!  As the body of Christ, we can accomplish more together than we could ever dream possible, working alone.  Working together, the church can express the fullness of Christ.  And together, our children and our youth can do great things!
         We frequently underestimate people and don't challenge them with our dreams for God's work in the world.  I want our youth to begin to understand that they can be world changers.  I want to challenge our youth to always keep an eye out for friends they can reach out for our youth program.  When God plants an idea in your mind to accomplish something for him, share it with others and trust the Holy Spirit to impress them with similar thoughts.  Don't regard yourself as the only one through whom God is working.  Often God uses one person to express the vision and others to turn it into reality.  When you encourage and inspire others, you put teamwork into action to accomplish God's goals.  I want our youth to challenge and inspire one another!
         Definitely something to be learned in ministry is that if we are faithful, and good stewards of what God has given us (gifts/talents), then whatever happens, God will take the burden on his shoulders, and in that process, our faith will grow still.  God will give our youth the confidence and the words to use to share the love of God with their friends.
         Youth pastors do take great pride in seeing the faith and knowledge that our teens are taught being put into practice.  God desires for us to put our faith into action.  We are doing an injustice if we just hold onto the knowledge we learn, and do nothing. I'm excited about the potential of this place here at First United Methodist Church of Orange, and to see where God takes our children's and youth programs.  Our youth are embarking on an Sierra Service Project journey to work on a Native American Reservation next summer in Arizona.  I hope that the lives of our teenagers are transformed.

Until next time,
Grace and Peace,
Peter



P.S.  So glad that my favorite show finally won an Emmy for Best Drama Series on TV.  Way to Go Breaking Bad!  If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend you catch the old seasons on Netflix now!  You won't be disappointed!

LISTENING TO GOD

It's been a few years since I last preached (3 to be precise), but I am excited to be preaching on Sunday, September 1st for the first time here at First United Methodist Church of Orange.  I will be talking about stopping to listen to God's voice, then responding boldly to that voice!  We can only walk out boldly in faith if we stop and listen.

"Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or to the left" (Isaiah 30:21)

There are many voices that speak to us in our world today, telling us where we should go, what we should do, and how.  As Christians we know we’re“supposed” to listen to God for this kind of direction.  However, many of us are either so confused by the many other voices around us that we can’t discern God’s voice, or we may not really have an idea of how to recognize His voice in the first place.

So how exactly do we “listen to God”?  How can we recognize His voice in the midst of so many competing voices around us?  I’ve learned to use at least five basic filters to help me determine which things I’m hearing are from God or not.  I offer them to you now: 

1) Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17): Is what we’re “hearing” consistent with God’s word? The “voice of God” will never contradict holy scripture.

2) “Gentle Impressions” of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 8:10-11):  Sometimes we sense certain “nudges” or “impressions” in our inner heart/spirit that are an indicator of the voice or calling of God.  With practice using the other filters (along with our own experience), we’ll increasingly come to recognize the ones that are from God vs. the ones coming merely from us.

3) Godly counsel from others (Proverbs 11:14):  Sometimes God’s voice speaks through the wisdom and advice of others.  What are others telling you about God’s voice?

4) A sense of God’s peace (Colossians 3:15):  The voice of God can often be determined “after the fact” by a sense of “peace” about a decision or direction that you’ve “stepped out on faith” to take.

5) “Coincidental” confirmation through circumstances (Matthew 18:16 and Acts 18:1-3):  Sometimes things just “happen” to us at the right time -- timing that seems fortuitous and very coincidental.  In my experience, the eyes of faith help us see that there are really no “coincidences” -- that God works through all things that happen to us in life (even the things that He didn’t cause), and often these seeming “coincidences” are God’s way of confirming our direction; of saying “this is the way; walk in it!”

Of course, it hopefully goes without saying that all of these filters are merely tools that need to be used in conjunction with PRAYER -- intentional time to both talk to God and space to listen for God.  As we practice these more and more, we’ll come to increasingly be able to correctly discern the voice of God in our lives.  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

I hope this has been helpful...it has been for me, and I have been meditating on this as I prepare my sermon for Youth Sunday.

Until next time,

Grace and Peace,

Peter

THE MILLENNIALS AND THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

I highly recommend reading the blog below.  There have been many books written lately on why young adults are leaving the 'church'.  This is an important facet to look closely at since churches are not getting any younger.  Even though I don't agree 100% with Rachel Evans, upon reading it, I begin to see that she's characterizing the United Methodist denomination in many ways without saying it. I think the most important ministry of the church today is to sit down with our young adults to truly see where they are at, and what would feed them spiritually---that is if we care about getting any younger.

Why millennials are leaving the church

By Rachel Held Evans, Special to CNN

(CNN) – At 32, I barely qualify as a millennial.

I wrote my first essay with a pen and paper, but by the time I graduated from college, I owned a cell phone and used Google as a verb.

I still remember the home phone numbers of my old high school friends, but don’t ask me to recite my husband’s without checking my contacts first.

I own mix tapes that include selections from Nirvana and Pearl Jam, but I’ve never planned a trip without Travelocity.

Despite having one foot in Generation X, I tend to identify most strongly with the attitudes and the ethos of the millennial generation, and because of this, I’m often asked to speak to my fellow evangelical leaders about why millennials are leaving the church.

Armed with the latest surveys, along with personal testimonies from friends and readers, I explain how young adults perceive evangelical Christianity to be too political, too exclusive, old-fashioned, unconcerned with social justice and hostile to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

I point to research that shows young evangelicals often feel they have to choose between their intellectual integrity and their faith, between science and Christianity, between compassion and holiness.

I talk about how the evangelical obsession with sex can make Christian living seem like little more than sticking to a list of rules, and how millennials long for faith communities in which they are safe asking tough questions and wrestling with doubt.

Invariably, after I’ve finished my presentation and opened the floor to questions, a pastor raises his hand and says, “So what you’re saying is we need hipper worship bands. …”

And I proceed to bang my head against the podium.

Time and again, the assumption among Christian leaders, and evangelical leaders in particular, is that the key to drawing twenty-somethings back to church is simply to make a few style updates – edgier music, more casual services, a coffee shop in the fellowship hall, a pastor who wears skinny jeans, an updated Web site that includes online giving.

But here’s the thing: Having been advertised to our whole lives, we millennials have highly sensitive BS meters, and we’re not easily impressed with consumerism or performances.

In fact, I would argue that church-as-performance is just one more thing driving us away from the church, and evangelicalism in particular.

Many of us, myself included, are finding ourselves increasingly drawn to high church traditions – Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, the Episcopal Church, etc. –precisely because the ancient forms of liturgy seem so unpretentious, so unconcerned with being “cool,” and we find that refreshingly authentic.

What millennials really want from the church is not a change in style but a change in substance.

We want an end to the culture wars. We want a truce between science and faith. We want to be known for what we stand for, not what we are against.

We want to ask questions that don’t have predetermined answers.

We want churches that emphasize an allegiance to the kingdom of God over an allegiance to a single political party or a single nation.

We want our LGBT friends to feel truly welcome in our faith communities.

We want to be challenged to live lives of holiness, not only when it comes to sex, but also when it comes to living simply, caring for the poor and oppressed, pursuing reconciliation, engaging in creation care and becoming peacemakers.

You can’t hand us a latte and then go about business as usual and expect us to stick around. We’re not leaving the church because we don’t find the cool factor there; we’re leaving the church because we don’t find Jesus there.

Like every generation before ours and every generation after, deep down, we long for Jesus.

Now these trends are obviously true not only for millennials but also for many folks from other generations. Whenever I write about this topic, I hear from forty-somethings and grandmothers, Generation Xers and retirees, who send me messages in all caps that read “ME TOO!” So I don’t want to portray the divide as wider than it is.

But I would encourage church leaders eager to win millennials back to sit down and really talk with them about what they’re looking for and what they would like to contribute to a faith community.

Their answers might surprise you.

Please leave comments or questions below.

Until next time,

Grace and Peace,

Peter