Spiritual Discipline: Prayer

Good Monday Church and Online Community!

We had an incredible day of worship together at Christ Community yesterday! First of all, we had the joy of our Super Sprouts singing at our worship services! This group of young preschoolers can sing out loud for Jesus and to the church! We had a blessed time of worship together! This past Sunday marked one of our largest attended worship gatherings! One older first time visitor remarked, "this church got rock n' roll! I love it!" Church, I am grateful for how you responded to greeting many of our newer faces yesterday! They felt extremely warm and welcome.

To become proficient in something, practice is required. I jokingly spoke of how I don't care for hockey. (Of course, I got many boos at our services today!) What I have witnessed from Sidney Crosby is an extreme work ethic that is baffles me. Sidney Crosby is one of the best hockey players worldwide, and we watched a video today of how Sidney Crosby works hard to do so well in games. Take a look:
 Sidney Crosby Practices For Gametime

Our worship centered upon the spiritual discipline of prayer. Praying is to be enjoyed for it is a time of oneness with God. The more we pray the deeper our relationship with God becomes. It's just like practice. The more we practice, the better we become at something.

Over the next five weeks we will focus on one of the elements of the covenantal question, "Will you faithfully support the ministries of the church by your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness?" In today's message, I wanted to provide the church with some practical ways to pray daily.
A-C-T-S 
A- Adoration
C- Confession
T- Thanksgiving
S- Supplication
(A simple, yet profound way to experience intimacy with God in prayer).

Five-Finger Prayer
Thumb - Praying for those nearest to you.
Pointer - Praying for those who point you to God. (Sunday School teacher, Pastor, etc...)
Middle - Longest finger, praying for those who are distant (Example: Kenny Hiser, our missionary to India)
Ring - Weakest Finger, praying for those who are weak and in need.
Small - Praying for your needs

Contemplative Prayer 
Contemplative prayer can be a repetitive prayer such as "Lord, have mercy." Contemplative prayer is a meditative practice where the person praying focuses on a word and repeats that word over and over for the duration of the exercise. The purpose is to clear one’s mind of outside concerns so that God’s voice may be more easily heard.

Our text came from Matthew 6:5-15. Prayer was a pillar of Jewish piety. Jesus knew that and thus demonstrated the importance of prayer by speaking on the importance of prayer and instructed how to pray. The words of this passage ring true to us as we remember it as "The Lord's Prayer." Below are the words of Matthew 6:5-15.


5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.[a]
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,[b]
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c]
12 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.[d]
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

A special thank you is extended to Jon Pincek, who closed traditional worship with a sung "Lord's Prayer." It left people speechless. Thank you Jon and Marilyn Stephenson, our accompanist.

In worship, Stacey Burk, SPRC chair announced who the next Pastor will be at Christ Community. We will be welcoming Rev. Bruce Gascoine, his wife Laurie, and children Sarah and Michael. Bruce comes to Christ Community from St. Paul's UMC in Allison Park, just outside of Pittsburgh in the North Hills. Rev. Gascoine comes with great experience and leadership in large churches and shares his love of God in so many ways. I personally have been blessed by Bruce and the leadership team at St. Paul's when I was at Baldwin Community. Our leadership team at the time met with theirs to learn about Mission, Vision and Core Values. May the Lord continue to bless Bruce and his family as they begin to make the transition to Christ Community officially on July 1, 2013. We also pray for St. Paul's as they begin to make transitions. Bruce is looking forward to sharing in ministry with the people of Christ Community.

I thank you for your prayers over the last week as I was in The Florida Annual Conference for interviews. The Spirit of God is at work and my appointment is in progress. You are a blessing to me as I received many texts, calls, and emails on Monday-Wednesday while I was away. Thank you so much for covering Jennifer, Aaron, with his health, Alayna, Abby and me in prayer. We are forever grateful.

May the Lord bless each of you this upcoming week and know what an honor it is to serve and lead as your pastor.

Marks of A Disciple

Good Morning Church Family,

I pray each of you are well and blessed this day. If you were not in worship, we missed your presence. It was a blessed day of worship together as we began a new series during the Lenten season. Sunday's message centered on the marks of a disciple. The marks of a disciple are laid out in the covenantal question that is asked of us when we join a United Methodist Church. "Will you faithfully participate in the ministries of the church by your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness?"

Each of these action words denote much of the life of a follower of Christ in the church. We will take time each week during the season of Lent to examine these words.

This Wednesday we will not have our "Normal" Wednesday night activities.

We WILL however, come together for Ash Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., a night where we will begin in community, the Lenten season. This season of Lent - Originating in the fourth century of the church, the season of Lent spans 40 weekdays beginning on Ash Wednesday and climaxing during Holy Week with Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Good Friday, and concluding Saturday before Easter. Originally, Lent was the time of preparation for those who were to be baptized, a time of concentrated study and prayer before their baptism at the Easter Vigil, the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord early on Easter Sunday. But since these new members were to be received into a living community of Faith, the entire community was called to preparation. Also, this was the time when those who had been separated from the Church would prepare to rejoin the community.

Today, Lent is marked by a time of prayer and preparation to celebrate Easter. Since Sundays celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the six Sundays that occur during Lent are not counted as part of the 40 days of Lent, and are referred to as the Sundays in Lent. The number 40 is connected with many biblical events, but especially with the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for His ministry by facing the temptations that could lead him to abandon his mission and calling. Christians today use this period of time for introspection, self examination, and repentance. This season of the year is equal only to the Season of Advent in importance in the Christian year, and is part of the second major grouping of Christian festivals and sacred time that includes Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost.

Lent has traditionally been marked by penitential prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Some churches today still observe a rigid schedule of fasting on certain days during Lent, especially the giving up of meat, alcohol, sweets, and other types of food. Other traditions do not place as great an emphasis on fasting, but focus on charitable deeds, especially helping those in physical need with food and clothing, or simply the giving of money to charities. Most Christian churches that observe Lent at all focus on it as a time of prayer, especially penance, repenting for failures and sin as a way to focus on the need for God’s grace. It is really a preparation to celebrate God’s marvelous redemption at Easter, and the resurrected life that we live, and hope for, as Christians. (Description of Lent comes from http://www.cresourcei.org/cylent.html)

I am praying for you this week as we begin the Lenten season. I pray that this will be the season where you grow in Christ and join me in the joy of the resurrection of Easter on March 31.

Thank you for your prayers as I leave for Florida this week to meet with many people regarding my appointment to The Florida Annual Conference. I am blessed to have you praying me and my family through this transition time. I continue to lift you, our church, our Bishop, DS, and pastor who will come in prayer as we all are going through transitions right now.

Church, know that it is an honor to serve and lead as your pastor. Be blessed!

Rejection Hurts

Good Afternoon Church Family!

Well, tonight is the night. The Super Bowl is on. Not sure how Steeler fans are coping with this. If the 49er's win, we share 6 Super Bowl trophies with them. If our rival Ravens win, we... Well, we don't even want to go there! Go Steelers! Pitchers and Catchers report February 12!

Worship was a blessed time of togetherness as we celebrated the Sacrament of Communion together at our services. Our focus today dealt with rejection, rejection received and at times, rejection given. Rejection hurts. In today's Gospel lesson, Jesus encountered a rejecting crowd in his hometown. Here are the words from Luke 4:21-30:

21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” 23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers[a] in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away. 

Rejection can take on many forms: rejection at school, rejection at work, rejection at home, rejection in the church. Rejection alienates and rejection can exclude others from being together. Jesus, proclaiming the mission from the prophet Isaiah, earlier in chapter four, came to seek and save the lost. The people were astonished by what Jesus said and they began to grumble, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" Jesus knew that it was difficult to accept his new authority because they knew him as the son of Joseph, the carpenter. The crowd had an idea to rid themselves of Jesus. "Let's push him off the cliff." The ultimate form of rejection.

Jesus, knowing their hearts of anger, pressed through the crowds and moved on. We too face rejection all of the time. The key is not to retaliate or blame, but when we do face rejection, by faith, we can be sustained through the comfort of the means of God's grace-
Works of Piety 

Individual Practices--
Prayer, Fasting, Searching the Scriptures, Healthy Living

Communal Practices--
Holy Communion. Baptism. Christian Conferencing (or "community")

Works of Mercy 
Service focused toward individual needs--
Doing Good (Good works), Visiting the Sick, Visiting the Imprisoned, Feeding & Clothing those in need, Earning, Saving, & Giving all one can, Service focused toward communal/societal needs, the Seeking of Justice;

These are the means of which we can be sustained by the grace of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. May God forgive us when we reject others and may we strive to seek to find reconciliation, wholeness and new life in Christ and each other.

Here is a link to a video played in worship today. It shows Susan Boyle, at once unknown and rejected. After you see this video, you can see how easy it is for us and society to reject others. Susan Boyle Rejected Almost

This week marks the start of our Wednesday Nights at Christ Community (February 6)! I encourage you to take time to come out for an incredible time as we begin with:
Dinner at 5:30 p.m.
Choir at 6:00 p.m.
Sing Out Loud Choir at 7:00 p.m.
Classes at 7:00 p.m.
Children and Youth Classes at 7:30 p.m.
Our evening together will conclude at 8:15 p.m.

I look forward to sharing the journey on Wednesday Nights with you!


Here's a pic one of our youth took today after the Souper Bowl of Caring at Pizza Hut! Our youth are awesome!

Have a blessed week church! It is an honor to serve and lead as your pastor. 

Leadership In You

Good Morning Church Family and Online Community,

I pray you are well, safe and blessed on this icy morning. The roads were a mess as accidents have been numerous all around Pittsburgh this morning. I hope you are healthy too! It's been a bugger of season with flu and colds. My sick-free streak came to an end yesterday and now I am dealing with a head cold. I don't like it!

We had a beautiful morning of worship as many came out to share in praise of our Lord Jesus Christ! The children and youth choir, Sing Out Loud! sang in both worship services which was a delight! It is always a joy to hear our younger ones sing out to the Lord! We officially welcomed Jon Pincek as our permanent choir director. Jon has served as interim, but has done such a fantastic job, the recommendation came from Staff Parish Relations Committee to Council and he was unanimously approved by Church Council last week! Welcome Jon!

In worship yesterday, we concluded our Esther series from Esther 4:1-5:8. Read these words with me:


4:1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went up to the entrance of the king's gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth. 3 And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 When Esther's young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was. 6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate, 7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people. 9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, 11 “All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”

12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

Esther Prepares a Banquet

5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. 2 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” 4 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.” 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. 6 And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 7 Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”

Mordecai set the example. His influence, instruction and inspiration allowed Esther to discern what was right for her people. She exposed Haman's plot to kill all the Jews and in the end Esther freed the Jews of certain death and liberated them. Mordecai became the prime minister and had a leadership position.

Leadership is not about position as much as it is about example. I encouraged the church yesterday to look inwardly at one's self and see what example we are making in the lives of those around us. Is your example leading others to see Christ at work in you or are you leading others with your example to a path not desired by God? As your pastor, I pray you are sharing the light of Christ in all you do. Below is a link of a video we watched at 9:26.

I'm Watching Dad (Video on Example and Leadership)


A pot-luck lunch was held right after traditional worship and fellowship was enjoyed by all! Thanks to all those who set up, cleaned up and tore down!

I will be in Washington D.C. the beginning of the week through Wednesday evening with the Board of Ordained Ministry conducting interviews at Wesley Seminary. May the Lord bless you this week and know what an honor it is to serve and lead as your pastor.

The Cover-Ups & Dismantling Racism

Good Morning Church Family and Online Community,

I pray you are well and blessed on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Today, we remember a man whose life was given so that all would experience the love of God and that equality would reign upon all. Martin Luther King once said, "If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don't want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say...I'd like somebody to mention that day, that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I'd like for somebody to say that day, that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody. I want you to say that day, that I tried to be right on the war question. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. I want you to say, on that day, that I did try, in my life, to visit those who were in prison. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity." May we, as followers of Jesus Christ, strive to live what King exemplified.

As we continued into chapter two of Esther, we focused on the "cover-ups" of King Ahasuerus and of Mordecai and Esther. King Ahasuerus tried to cover up the fact that he had Vashti killed and Esther covered up her faith as a Jew. We find ourselves in the same boat so often when we cover up things that may not "further" us or we try to cover up things that we are ashamed of. We cover-up our wrongs and in the end, have created so many falsehoods, that we don't even know what is truth or lie. Proverbs 28:13 calls us to "You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you."

Our message also took us into one area of life where we have tried to cover up, that of racism. Some may say racism is a thing of the past, but in reality, here in Western Pa, it is prevalent. Here the words of one of our church members as they posted an experience they had this week, yes, this week: (This person is a manager of a local store) "This guy literally came into my store telling me to call the police because a man was speaking Spanish outside of my store and he looks "suspicious"...dude are you serious?!?!?! Racism is alive and well...it blows my mind every time...nothing upsets me more than stuff like this..."

The Western PA Annual Conference has five areas of focus, which one focuses on dismantling racism:
(1) Developing Principled Christian leaders for the church and the world.  The church must recruit young people for ministry and provide them with the skills necessary to be effective in this new time of opportunity.  That includes women and people of color the world over.  Similarly, we must offer leadership training for Lay people who are in ministry in countless ways.

(2) Creating new places for new people by starting new congregations and renewing existing ones.  If we are to remain faithful to our commitment to transform the world, we will reach out with genuine hospitality to people wherever they are.  We will make them feel welcome as we start new faith communities, seek to renew existing ones and inspire faithful discipleship.

(3) Engaging in ministry with the poor.  As an expression of our discipleship, United Methodists seek to alleviate conditions that undermine quality of life and limit the opportunity to flourish as we believe God intends for all.  As with John Wesley, we seek to change conditions that are unjust, alienating and disempowering.  We engage in ministry with the poor, and in this, we especially want to reach out to protect children.

(4) Stamping out killer diseases by improving health globally.  Conditions of poverty cause illness and death.  The lack of access to doctors, nurses, medications and appropriate facilities is deadly, especially among those who live in conditions of poverty.  But the diseases of poverty are not inevitable. We believe the people of the United Methodist Church can play a significant role in educating others about diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, and treating and preventing their devastating effects.

(5) Dismantling racism.  We are committed to creating a culture of inclusiveness.  The reality of racism keeps many persons way from fellowship with us.  We are richer with diversity and we will continue to find ways to witness with full inclusion and the embracing of all our sisters and brothers of color.

Racism is wrong because it separates us from God and from each other. Racism is wrong because it makes us blind to the reality of people's suffering and perpetuates racist attitudes and practices.
May we truly be in a spirit of prayer as we strive to bring unity as the church to all people, showing the love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.

Church, have a blessed week. It is an honor to serve and lead as your pastor.

P.S. on lighter note, I shared about "covering-up" our son, Aaron's haircut at the age of four. Some saw a picture, here's the damage that was done! Nothing like taking it upon yourself to cut your own hair! He thought dad's beard trimmer was a cool toy!

Our 4 year old Aaron with his new haircut!

I'm Gonna Do It Again for Imagine No Malaria!

I am going to give it another shot! It was a great experience last year and I want to share in it again...The 2013 Pittsburgh Marathon for Imagine No Malaria on May 5, 2013!  

You can support me in this run by clicking on the link here Donate To Imagine No Malaria! . It will take you to a secure site for donating or you can send me a check and I'll put it in for you. 

Thanks for supporting me in the run as we save lives for Imagine No Malaria! 

Journey Into Esther

Good Morning Church Family, 

I pray you are well and blessed this day. In yesterday's blog post, I mentioned the events that took place regarding my family's announcement. I continue and will always thank God for you and your support during this period of transition. I will be praying for each of us as we continue to respond in faith. 

Some of our Youth this weekend at SPARK! 

This weekend our youth had the great opportunity to attend SPARK in Pittsburgh. It was a time of gathering for our youth and our Director of Youth, Cherie Loomis and her husband, Kevin as they gathered with hundreds of other youth from around Western Pennsylvania. From the reports I received, it was a blast! 

Yesterday, in worship we began our Esther series. I spoke that Esther reads much like a soap opera. Many twists and turns lead this book of the Bible as we see how a life engaged with God can produce great things. Yesterday, we read from Esther 1. Read these words. 


Esther 1
English Standard Version (ESV)
The King's Banquets

1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. 5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace. 6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods[a] and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. 8 And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

Queen Vashti's Refusal

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown,[b] in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment, 14 the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom): 15 “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen's behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ 18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's behavior will say the same to all the king's officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. 19 If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.” 21 This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. 22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.



Do you know why Queen Vashti was invited in the 1st place? Verse 4 says that the king threw the party to show everyone his stuff. It wasn’t for just one night, he threw this shindig for 180 days! 

Now Queen Vashti said no, she was not going to go. Why? First of all, would you go to a party where everyone is drunk and you are treated like a piece of property? Second, of all, the traditional Hebrew says that the King wanted her to just wear a crown and nothing else, so she refuses. Here we see a King who was so filled with pride. His pride brought discomfort to others. 


The story tells us that her crown and title of queen was taken away and the rabbis teach that she was beheaded for disobeying the king. The King was totally disengaged because the goal of a disengaged person is to collect as much stuff and control as many people as possible. 

Jesus taught that the goal was not to get others to serve you, it was serving others- that is an engaged life, serving the Lord and serving others. You will never find greatness if you are consumed by impressing people. Greatness is found in faithful, humble service to God. 

In order to be the church that God has called us to be, we must continue to live lives fully devoted to God and to each other in service. Too often, we become consumed about what is in it for me, we are dedicated to comfort and ease and not willing to take the risk of leaving the confines of comfort and ease and will never grow in Christ. Nor do we take the opportunity to bring the Light of Christ to others and thus, neglect our call as follows of Jesus. 

Sharing the Story to The People of God in Santiago, DR

I shared that some of the greatest moments of my life was when I preached in the Dominican Republic with a translator. Despite our barriers, we all were one. I will never forget the time when I went with the team into a remote village and distributed rice. 

A mother came up to me and pointed to my Ohio State hat. She wanted it. I gave it to her and in a few moments, walked over to her son under the tree and gave it to her son who did not have a hat. You would have thought I gave her a convertible! 

Now is the time to engage. Take risks for the furthering of the Kingdom of God. God has equipped you, use the gifts to bring the hope and joy of a relationship with Christ for the world to see.  Be blessed Church. It is an honor to serve and lead as your pastor. 

A new found friend!

Children in the Village Chasing Us As We Left!