225 N Waco ~ Wichita KS

The Difference One Letter Can Make

Many of us know that airplane travel continues to be more complicated–baggage fee, seat selection fee, security costs, scheduling snafus, flight cancellations, etc. But here is something you may have missed the last time you booked a flight and boarded the plane: a single letter code that determines your “standing” among the other passengers on the plane. There are different letters for a variety of things: how far ahead you booked the fight; how much you paid; coach, business, or first class; whether or not that flight qualifes you for frequent flier miles; and more. You and I do not pay attention to these one-letter codes, but ticket agents do. And that one letter might determine how likely it is for you to be bumped from your next flight! One letter can make a big difference in your airline travel.

When it comes to our spiritual travel, it isn’t quite as complicated. No hidden codes. No secret handshakes. We are all sinners, with the only distinction being this: some have discovered and embraced God’s amazing grace for their lives, while others have not yet made that life-changing discovery. All people matter to God, and His grace is accessible to all through what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.

Read again what God says in Ephesians 2:1-10, and then send the Lord a brief but sincere prayer of thanks for what He has done for you through Jesus. And don’t forget to look for someone in your circle of influence who needs to hear this good news.

An Amazing Year

It’s been a year…twelve months…365 days…an amazing year for our church family…

In mid-March of 2009 the congregation voted on a name change for what had been known as Central Church of Christ. We chose to become RiverWalk Church of Christ.

We began talking about an aggressive strategy of ministry outside the walls and significant building renovations that would require a major capital campaign.

On May 31st we celebrated our “new beginning” as RiverWalk Church of Christ with a day of worship and fellowship.

By August we were committed to a capital campaign which became known as “Now Is The Time.”

For several weeks a large group of RiverWalk members gave their time, energy, and creativity to this campaign.

We identified a new vision for our ministry from this downtown location: a church compelled to demonstrate the boundless love of God through words and actions.

The campaign steering team spent a challenging evening in October wrestling with a campaign goal that would represent both faith and some sense of reality…not always easy to do!

The three-tiered goal for “Now Is The Time” became $800,000, $1 million, and $1.25 million; all three goals seemed a real stretch, given the state of the economy.

We prayed…and prayed…and prayed…continuing to seek God’s direction for where ministry outside the walls might take us.

Momentum was building through the fall months as we continued to talk and pray about what God might do through this congregation.

Ephesians 3:20, 21 became our spiritual rallying cry…Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

At an all-church dinner in mid-November we were amazed and exhilirated to learn that early commitments to “Now Is The Time” totaled over $580,000! To God be the glory!

We continued to talk and pray about how God was working in the hearts and lives of RiverWalk families, pointing to our commitment Sunday on December 13.

On that commitment Sunday we celebrated when the total commitments were announced: over $981,000, committed over three years.

We stepped back to reflect, grateful for such incredible generosity, and in awe of what God was doing among us. 

Working teams have been formed to help implement the different pieces of our “Now Is The Time” projects. While nothing “visible” has surfaced, a lot of work is going on behind the scenes.

And then came last Sunday…an update regarding our campaign projects, and continued encouragement to pray for God’s direction…and the closing comment: “By the way, our campaign commitments are now over $1 million!”

Amazing…incredible…remarkable…immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine…and we continue to stand in awe and say, “To God be the glory, great things He has done!”

It’s been a year…

One Way To Resolve A Dispute

For almost thirty years, India and Bangladesh have argued over control of a tiny rock island in the Bay of Bengal. Well, the argument has been settled…I guess. According to an article from the AP, New Moore Island in the Sunderbans has disappeared. Just gone. Rising sea levels have resolved the dispute between the two countries by submerging the island. Apparently no one had lived on this island for many years, so no human beings were displaced. And it isn’t the first island in this area to simply disappear in this way. The purpose of this post is not to weigh in on how global warming may or may not have contributed to the disappearance of this small land mass. As I read this news story, I began thinking about what it might say regarding our personal disuptes and disagreements.

Here is one idea. These two countries were arguing over rocks…okay, I’m sure they saw it as more than that. But from a great distance, that’s how it seems to me. Arguing over rocks. No one lived on this island; there weren’t  any permanent structures built on  it. How many of the disagreements we have with others–spouse, co-workers, family, church members, etc.–are over small, insigificant issues? How often do we argue over “rocks,” and not over things that really matter?

Here is another idea. Is it possible that as we often argue over insignificant things, something important is overlooked? Two countries were locked in this big debate over who controls a pile of rocks, but somehow missed the point that a roughly 4 square mile land mass was slowly disappearing. A husband and wife constantly argue over the small stuff, and every night their children are watching and listening to this barrage of negativity… perhaps thinking that this is how marriage is supposed to be. A church gets tied up in knots over carpet color or worship order or a dozen other trivial pursuits, losing sight of its mission in the community. While we argue over “rocks,” the island is going under 

Are you experiencing any disagreements over “rocks” that prevent you from becoming the person God wants you to be?

Arms Too Short

I am pretty average height, which is not a bad thing. It was troubling as a teenager when I believed that a couple more inches might have helped me land a spot on the basketball team. More height, longer arms…who knows?

I thought about my average length arms (32 inches, in case you are interested) as my daily Bible reading took me to Numbers 11 recently. The children of Israel were complaining about a lack of variety in their diet. They were growing tired of the manna God provided daily; they demanded meat. Moses took their complaint to the Lord, who agreed to this menu change. Moses responded to this as though he would be the one expected to deliver on this new menu item: “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?” (Numbers 11:21,22)

Moses is scratching his head as to how he is going to fulfill this promise. He knew his human resources were limited. I don’t know if God was amused or annoyed, but the divine response is classic: “Is the Lord’s arm too short?” (11:23)

I’m too much like Moses, putting limits on what God can or cannot do. When faced with a challenge I immediately think about what I lack in the way of resources to overcome the obstacle. In my mind, God is reduced to my size–average height, limited ability, already stretched in too many directions. I think and act as though I believe God’s arms are too short.

Moses–and Israel–needed another reminder of God’s power, which soon came in the form of a “quail storm.” Before the “storm” subsided, the people were walking around in three feet of quail for as far as they could walk in any direction (11:31).

I don’t know what you are up against today, but I would encourage you to think about the question: “Is the Lord’s arm too short?” Don’t get trapped into seeing your options from only your limited perspective. God’s arms are plenty long enough to take on whatever you are  facing.

My arms are average length…God’s are not!

Is Anything Too Hard For God?

In Genesis 18:14 the question is asked, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” The speaker is identified as the Lord. God paid a visit to Abraham and Sarah, disguised in human form. The purpose of the visit was to confirm the promise of a yet-to-be-born son to this aging couple. The promise had first been made years before but the crib remained empty; there was still no child. As the promise is reaffirmed yet another time, Sarah is in the next room. The Bible says she laughed when she heard the words–it seemed even less plausible now then when the promise had first been made. Was this some sort of  cruel cosmic joke?

The Divine Visitor heard her laugh, and asked the question, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

Maybe this qualifies as a rhetorical question–a question asked, but no response is really expected. A question where you assume everyone in the room knows the answer. Is anything too hard for the Lord?

As I read that question again this morning, the answer seemed obvious to me. Based on what I already know about Abraham and Sarah’s situation, of course the answer is a resounding “NO!” I read it as a rhetorical question. But further reflection reminds me that the answer isn’t as obvious when it’s MY life and MY doubt and MY questions and MY delayed dreams on the line.

We are just  a few days into this new year, but already you may be facing one of those “up against the wall” kind of situations. Or maybe it’s a carry-over from last year, and you are still trying to figure out when and how it will be resolved.  I don’t mean to make light of whatever it is you are up against, but can you imagine that, from God’s perspective, it’s about as tough to handle as flicking a fly off your wrist, or removing a piece of lint from your sweater? From my perspective it’s like scaling Mt. Everest; for God, not so much. Is anything too hard for the Lord?

For Abraham and Sarah, it won’t be much longer before they hear the first cry of a new-born son, at which point they might view this as a rhetorical question. But at the moment they’re not sure. They were still waiting on God to do what He said He would do.

The waiting rooms of life try our patience and test our faith. If you are in one of those waiting rooms right now, memorize the question: Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Make This Commitment for 2010

It could be the best decision you make in this new year…though it might not seem that way at first. In fact, it could be awhile before you begin experiencing any of the benefits of completing this commitment. But if you make this decision, and follow through, I am confident that you will reach December 31 and look back at this commitment as a turning point for your life.

What is this potentially life-changing commitment?

Answer: Read through the Bible this year.

That answer might disappoint some–you were perhaps expecting something with more punch and pizazz. But developing the discipline of consistent Bible reading and reflecting could be the best decision you make in 2010.

If you want to grow spiritually, you need a steady diet of Scripture. There is no substitute. The poet, T.S. Eliot, once said, “Everything we eat has some effect upon us. It affects us during the process of assimilation and digestion; and I believe exactly the same is true of anything we read.” My interpretation: You are what you read. We need to be spending more time reading the Word of God.

I am committed to preparing and presenting Biblical messages throughout 2010 that will nourish us spiritually. However, every Christian needs to take responsibility for feeding themselves spiritually as well. Which means consistent time in God’s Word.

So what do you say? Will you make this commitment? Take the plunge? We have provided daily Bible reading guides; but there are plenty of other options available. If you are interested in checking them out, let me know. But decide now…we are only four days into the new year…it isn’t too late to get started…become more consistent in opening your Bible and reading it for yourself.

It could be the best decision you make in 2010!

Sunday Reflections

Wow! To God be the glory! Amazing! Incredible! Praise God!

Just some of the verbal responses to Sunday’s announcement of financial commitments to our “Now Is The Time” campaign:

$981,556

When we began this campaign five months ago, we felt like Abraham when it says in Hebrews 11:8 that “By faith Abraham…obeyed and went… even though he did not know where he was going.” We began this journey not sure just where it would take us, and not clear as to how we were going to get there. We did believe that God had led us to the decision to remain in this location of downtown Wichita. We did believe that God was calling us to be more intentional about ministry outside the walls of our building. We did believe that God was ready to help us move into an exciting new future of ministry in the city. It was time for us to do like Abraham, who by faith “obeyed and went.”

We have prayed a simple prayer the last five months: “Lord, what do you want to do through me?” We give God glory for the answer received last Sunday, a result of so many RiverWalk households responding to God’s whisper and nudge.

Sunday was one of the great days in the 106 year history of our congregation.

Now we turn our attention to the use of these funds in expanding our outreach in the downtown community, and upgrading our facilities for more effective ministry. We will be announcing some “next steps” in early January; there will be opportunities for more RiverWalk members to be involved in helping us turn dreams into reality.

Five months ago we went out, not entirely clear as to where we were going. Last Sunday we experienced the blessing of faith that dares to embrace the truth of Ephesians 3:20, 21: “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Immeasurably more than ALL we ask or imagine…to Him be glory!

Sunday Reflections: One of Those Moments

You know the feeling…there is an event approaching, there is a lot of build-up to it, you know it’s an important opportunity, you have done everything humanly possible to prepare for it, and you have spent weeks calling upon God to bless this moment as only He is capable of doing. You try to imagine how it will look and feel, what the response will be. And the moment arrives…

Last Sunday morning (November 22) was one of those moments for me. It was commitment Sunday for our “Now Is The Time” campaign. The ground work for this day began months ago; and since August dozens of RiverWalk members have invested time and energy, preparing the church for this day. For months we have had a simple prayer: “Lord, what do you you want to do through me?” The last 24 hours leading up to “the moment” were spent in prayer–every time slot was spoken for as we called upon God for His glory to be made known among the RiverWalk family.

Near the end of  the Sunday morning assembly, we called for commitment cards to be brought to the front of the auditorium. I bowed my head, closed my eyes, listened to the song that was playing, and prayed for hearts to be moved. And they were…people came from all over the auditorium to place their commitment cards in the basket.

It was incredible! It was amazing! It was God answering so many prayers,  putting His power and glory on display through RiverWalk members. It was everything I thought it might be…and so much more!

When God shows up, the ordinary becomes extraordinary. When God is present, the routine is suddenly energized. When God shows up, our human effort is multiplied many times over by the power of the Holy Spirit. When God makes His presence known, lives are changed.

God made His presence known last Sunday. It was one of those moments.