Losing it all

A few days before Christmas, the cord to the mouse controlled by my hand knocked over a glass on my desk that held the tiniest bit of water left after the ice had melted.  This tiny bit of water ran over the side of my desk and dripped onto my external drive that was sitting very neatly on its side on my computer tower.  This bit of water slid down into the air vents on my external drive and rendered it useless.  The external drive with its powerful 300 gig of memory held every document and photo I owned.

When I read the scripture passage for this week's sermon (Philippians 3:8-17),  Paul's words in verse 8 took on new meaning to me in light of my recent loss.  Paul said, "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."  Paul had quite a pedigree: he was a Jew's Jew.  He had a lot to lose but he gave it away for the pleasure to know Christ as Lord.  All that powerful knowledge was trash to him.  Could I so easily turn my back on everything?  Would I be willing to donate everything I own to Goodwill?  Could you?

Well, before you take up a love offering for me, you will be relived to know that I have a great computer guy who for a couple hundred bucks cracked open my worthless external drive and saved my precious, irreplaceable documents and photos.  I would have paid anything to get them back.  I now have a new, smaller, faster, 500 gig external drive.  I now know that I am to do a hard drive backup EVERY week and the beverage goes on the LEFT.  (For those of you who know my track record with electronics and beverages, you would probably say the beverage should be in the kitchen.)

Fishing is fun

My dad loved to fish.  When I look back at pictures of him, half of them are of him holding a big fish and wearing a big smile.  I remember fishing at a lake with him and my family as a child.  Certain sights, sounds and smells take me back to that happy time.  What is it about fishing that stirs such emotions in us?

Maybe that is why I related to Pastor Tommy's sermon last Sunday entitled "The Laws of Fishing."  Of course, he was talking about the Methods (the 4th M of the 4M church) that we use to fish for souls.  (Listen to this sermon at www.graceplaceonline.us.)

As Pastor Tommy was talking about the rewards of catching "fish," I was reminded of an old song we used to sing called, "Joy in the Camp" which refers to the joy in Heaven when a lost soul is found.  My new version of that song is called, "Joy in the Fish Camp."  We should get excited when we have heard the Message (love the Lord and others), responded to the Mission (go and make disciples), found a Ministry (use our gifts) and tried new Methods (become all things to save some).  That is what we are trying to do with Small Groups at the Grace Place -- Love some fish for the Lord.

Let's get more people into the Kingdom

That looks like a really high wall around the Kingdom of Christ, doesn't it?  Actually, it is very easy to get into the Kingdom.  All one has to do is walk through the gate but make sure to use the NARROW gate.  The broad gate leads to places of destruction.  The narrow gate leads to the Kingdom and life.   (Matthew 7:13-14)  We need to help more people find the narrow gate into the Kingdom of Christ.

One of our goals with small groups at the Grace Place is to help people find their way into the Kingdom of Christ.  The Kingdom of Christ is about relationships and a small group is a wonderful place to build strong and lasting relationships with God and fellow believers.  It is also a place where you can find joy in your personal relationship with Christ.  If you are not currently a part of a vital small group, please pray about joining one.  New groups will be forming in September.

Over the next few weeks we want to start thinking about how we can add more people to the Kingdom through our small groups ministry.  We want to identify people whom God is calling to host or lead a small group.  With a congregation our size, we have many people who need to find the narrow gate into the Kingdom or deepen their commitment to the Kingdom.  We need more small groups in order to accommodate more people.  Please pray about being a small group host or a leader.  New host and leader training will be held in August.

For more information about small groups at the Grace Place go to www.graceplace.us and click on the GP Ministries tab and scroll down to GP Small Groups.  From there, view "What are Small Groups?"  Start praying now about your commitment to the Kingdom of Christ as it relates to small groups.

Finding a way to comfort the family



Jerry and I were stunned and saddened by our long-time, East Tennessee friend’s death last week of a rare protein that had attacked his muscles and finally his heart.  We feel fortunate to have been able to spend some time with Bill at Vanderbilt Medical Center during his last week.  We feel honored that we were able to share some comfort with his family during that painful time.  We just happened to be in the right place at the right time.  We offered our spare bedroom to Bill’s youngest daughter and her husband and they spent three nights with us.  One morning as her husband was sitting in our kitchen before heading out to the hospital, he noticed the scripture that is hand-painted on the wall.  It reads, “Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.”  (1 Peter 4:9)  He said, “Considering I am sleeping in your guest room, I guess you really do that.”  The odd thing was that we had planned to paint over that wall when we had painted the hallway about two months ago.  On two separate painting days we had forgotten to paint that wall and still plan to paint it when we get around to painting the living room.  I am rethinking that decision.

Being able to comfort a friend when someone they love is dying is a powerful thing.  There is probably no other time in a family’s life that is more important than perhaps at the birth of a child.  We know that life brings tragedy and troubles.  The longer I live the more I realize that there is no way to prevent times of pain and hardship; but with age comes wisdom to know how to get through those times with the help of God and good friends.  During a serious illness a few years ago, a friend from church brought me a cup of coffee every day because he knew the hospital coffee was not good.  I did not know the young guy well but he went out of his way to comfort me with a simple cup of coffee.  Having been comforted by others, I am encouraged to repay the debt by being available when others need me to supply their comfort.  To me, it is more than a scripture painted on the wall, it is a lifestyle.  

People Need People

"People who need people are the luckiest people in the world."  I can hear Barbra Streisand singing those familiar lyrics in my mind.  Even though that song was written in 1964 for the musical "Funny Girl," the words are still true today.  We do need people.  People who think they don't need people are, well, the loneliest people in the world.  We were made in God's image and He needed people.  That is why He created Adam and Eve.  We need human companionship.

You know what is so great about being part of a small group at the Grace Place?  It is a place where people need people.  I know when I need someone; they will be there.  No question.  When one of them needs me, I will be there.  No question.  Yes, there is committment involved but there is also love there.  I am lucky to have them.  To quote the song again, "A feeling deep in your soul, says you are half now you're whole, no more hunger and thirst, but first be a person who needs people."

Singles on the rise

Our newest small group, FOCAS (Fellowship Of Christian Adult Singles) targeting our single adults over 29 years of age starts May 1.  Single adults are a sometimes neglected but growing segment of our church population.  Did you realize that singles now make up 47% of our American population?  That is up from 28% in 1970.  Single households have increased dramatically in the last 30 years.  The largest increase is the number of single FATHER households.  Do these statistics describe someone you know?  They do to me.

I feel a special closeness to this age group of single adults because my daughter is single.  I have heard her pain – not at being single but from feeling she doesn’t fit in at her own church.  We, the married church, have somehow made her feel she is less of a church member because she doesn’t fit into our “married family model.”   We unknowingly signal her that we do not think she is dedicated enough to be an active member.  She is not alone in her view of the church at large.  Many others have expressed the same view. 

According to David Reddout, senior pastor, First Assembly of God, Leesville, Louisiana, "Every group in the church has unique needs and gifts...children, youth, men, women, and marrieds.  But we have put emphasis on these groups and have inadvertently forgotten the singles and have led them to believe we don’t expect them to be involved in ministry.  But the purpose of ministry to singles is to help them see they are the church and to help them come to a place of ministry."

At the Grace Place, we want singles to have a place where they can study God’s word, grow spiritually and share their gifts with the church in whatever way God leads them.  God has placed this burden on our hearts because He doesn’t want anyone to miss out on the blessings of being a part of His church.

We all need a "Do Over"

With my daughter and son-in-law on vacation in Europe, I spent several days babysitting my grandchildren (and granddog) at their house in East Tennessee. Keeping up with a 9 year-old boy, 6 year-old girl and a feisty dog is exhausting work! They are constantly in motion and always hungry.

My grandson loves to play basketball but not alone. He has a way of drawing his sister and even his grandmother into the game. The fact that she is too short and I am too old to play are not a deterrent to him. As a matter of fact, I think he likes it that way. It gives him an unfair advantage.

On the first day, our attempts to get the ball into the hoop were humorous to him and frustrating to us. On Day Two, he told me, "Come on outside, Grandma. You need to practice your lay ups." Let's be clear -- I am 5'1" and have never played basketball in my life. However, the frustrating efforts from Day One had payed off and I somehow sunk the first three of my lay ups. Little sister was firing up balls and made five baskets overall where she had only made one during the prior day's attempts. Obviously, practice did not make perfect but had helped.

My grandson and I started a friendly game of "Horse" but it soon became less than friendly when I started making my shots and he didn't. The game changed. The rules changed. The shots now included complicated dribbling sequences and one-handed, 3-pointers. My grandson had to create new rules more in his favor. I think this happens occasionally in sports. I have heard of getting a "do-over" on the golf course if the ball doesn't land exactly where you planned.

There are many times in life when we need "do-overs." I know there have been numerous occasions where I wanted to change the rules more to my favor especially speed limits. Unfortunately, most of the time we don't get "do-overs." We are stuck with the consequences of our actions. There is one BIG exception, however, and that is with our loving, Heavenly Father. Like the bemused grandmother letting her grandson cheat at "Horse," God knows us and loves us. Everything can become new again. All our sins can be washed away. He is waiting. All we have to do is ask.