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.

Having Clear Vision

I don't know that I have ever had 20/20 vision.  I started wearing glasses when I was 9 years old.  I can't read anything on the eye chart which means I am "legally blind" without corrective lenses.  Jerry learned early in our marriage that if I lose a contact lens he has to find it for me.  My contact lens are over -8 (most people wear a -1 or -2.)  Now, I wear a -7 in my left eye so I can read without glasses.  That means I don't see anything clearly but, hey, it works and I'm not complaining.  I am very thankful to have sight.

Having clear vision is important.  It is important to a student who needs to see the writing on the board or a church who needs to see the direction God is leading them.  If we are going to impact our community for Christ for years into the future, we need to have a clear vision.  It was fun to hear Dr Cliff Ricketts talk about how far our congregation has come -- from a small building with an outhouse to a multi-purpose facility with a narthex.  It would be fun to be around in another 40 years to hear where the church has grown from here.  Some of our children running around the beloved narthex now will be the leaders then.

What we do now will impact the church in 2050.  What we do now will impact the church in 2040, 2030 and in 2020.  As a member of a small group, look at your group to see what you can do to make a difference in the future.  Find ways to use the gifts God has put into your hands.  Hold each other accountable to the Biblical principal of tithing.  Encourage each other to become involved in the Impact 2020 campaign.  Be a vision caster!

Love never fails

For my discipleship class, I have been reading the books of the Bible written by the Apostle Paul.  God gave me a little Valentine's gift today when I opened my Bible to the next chapter of 1 Corinthians I was scheduled to read -- Chapter 13, the Love chapter.  Believing there are no coincidences, I had to smile as I read my valentine from God, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."  Wow, sounds like wedding vows to me!

Pastor Tommy used marriage as the topic of his sermon this past Sunday, "Heaven on Earth -- Marriage God's Way."  Marriage is under attack in our American society so it is appropriate that we focus on forging strong marriages.  Strong marriages build strong families.  Strong families are comprised of people who love each other.  All that love spills out into our church and community.  We can all use a little more love.  We all need to spread a little more love.

Let me share a little more of my valentine with you:
"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."

Love is in the Air. . .Where is your Treasure?

Sunday kicked off the new sermon series, "Love is in the Air..." by focusing on our treasures.  Pastor Tommy referred to the History Channel's "American Pickers" in his sermon on Treasure Hunters.  It has become one of our favorite shows on TV.  Basically, Mike and Frank travel the U.S. digging through the dusty, rusty belongings of collectors.  I use the word "collectors" carefully since another TV show, TLC's "Hoarders: Buried Alive" would call most of these people hoarders.

The Bible warns us about loving things but it is so easy to get "Junk Drunk," as Mike calls it, in our materialistic society.  We end up loving things and using people instead of using things and loving people.  On another TV show, Style's "Clean House," there was a man who had a collection of car magazines that had taken over the living room.  It was a point of contention between him and his wife.  When the show's host asked him to choose between his magazines and his wife, he had to think about it a long time -- way too long.  Pastor Tommy, I am so glad you chose Margaret over the Mustang.  And, Jerry, I promise to never choose the blue plate collection over you.

We're Never Too Old or Too Young

I sure am relieved to know that we are never too old or too young to serve God.  As a matter of fact, I don't think age matters to God at all.  When you have no beginning or ending, time doesn't matter much.  Time does matter to those of us still on planet Earth.  We mark time with birthdays and anniversaries but also with births and deaths.

Isn't the four generational picture of my family a hoot?  That's me in the back with the Farrah Fawcett hairdo.  (She was an actress -- Google her.)  On the left is my Grandma Edwards who was a long-time member of the church that is now The River.  In front of me is my mom, Gladys Odum, holding my daughter, Carla Reaves.  My mom used to sing with Louise Ricketts and teach Sunday School at the Grace Place.  Years later, Carla taught the very same class.  Why am I showing you this?  Because it is a family.  A family that has had a long heritage of serving God regardless of age.

We have seen our Grace Place church family in action this month.  We learned last week that our senior adults are still a vital and valued part of our family.  God doesn't look at the winkles on one's face; He looks at the faith in one's heart.  I can't wait to see what the GP Kids have in store for us Sunday.  It's gonna be good!

The Whole Family

Well, 2011 is off to a great start with a fresh snowfall and a new sermon series, "The Whole Family."  I love the church and want to help others to "see" the church in this fresh, new year.  It is a BIG family and that is why breaking it down into small groups is such a vital part of ministering to the body of Christ.  In a small group we can show every one how much we care about them and how valuable they are to the body, even our crazy uncle.  As Tina said, "You can't Google how to love people, it must be modeled."  Wow, you can't model love any stronger than being willing to shave your head to show your love and support for a sick friend!  This is the powerful affect that being a part of a small group can have on the family.  It looks like the church being committed and passionate to one another!