Why do you do what you do?

This Sunday's message may be hard for some of us. We've been talking about spiritual gifts. Every believer has at least one and it is to be used to glorify God and serve others. 1 Corinthians 12 says that we are not to be ignorant or uninformed about gifts, so we've been learning about them - but now in 1 Corinthians 13, the apostle Paul basically says that if we don't have love, the gifts are all worthless! Without love, it' s just a bunch of noise.

Personally, I know what my gifts are (maybe you do too), but unless I first and foremost love, the gifts don't mean diddly squat (that's a Greek word for "nothing"). I can preach the world's best sermon but if I don't have love, I might as well bang on a pot. I can help lead worship and pray God-focused prayers, but if I don't love, it's as if nothing ever happened.

Love is what should motivate me (us) to use whatever gift we've been given. Even if we don't know what our gift is yet, if we just start making love our highest goal, the gift will be revealed.

So I need to stop and ask myself: Why do I do what I do? What is my motivation for using the gifts God has given me?

Bellwood came through...as always!

God be praised! - Bellwood gave over $3,100 on Sunday to help relief efforts in Japan through Mennonite Central Committee. I told you this congregation is generous. May we also continue to be generous with our prayers on behalf of the Japanese people.

What to do...this Sunday?

Like most of you, I have been watching the devastation that continues in Japan. The tremendous fear that the people are living with each day, wondering if another tsunami is coming because of all the aftershocks; wondering if the nuclear reactor is going to blow; wondering if loved ones are still alive; wondering what to do next...

So I am wondering what can I do? (and what can the Church do?) Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches, shares God's love and compassion for all in the name of Christ by responding to basic human needs and working for peace and justice. MCC is closely monitoring the situation in Japan.

Although MCC does not have staff or programs in Japan, they are accepting donations to help victims of the disaster. Contributions will be forwarded to trusted MCC partners involved in relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in Japan.

I would like to give us an opportunity this coming Sunday (March 20th), to receive a special love offering for the people of Japan. Checks can be made out to "Bellwood Mennonite Church" and will be forwarded to MCC.

In Japan, police officials are now estimating the death toll will exceed 10,000 people. Please keep the people of Japan in your prayers.

10 Promises for Tough Times

It's all you've been hearing about and seeing lately - the prediction that gas prices are going to hit $5.00 per gallon soon! I am no prophet so I can't tell you if that's the case or not; nor can I tell you how to prevent it from happening (if it does), but what I can tell you is that God promises to be with us and help us through tough times. So, if you are starting to get a little worried and concerned, stay focused on these 10 promises from Scripture. These come from Rick Warren printed in the "Purpose Driven Connection”.

God promises:

1. To care for you - "And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? “Matthew 6:28-30 (NLT)

2. To provide for you - “Don't ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?' or ‘What are we going to drink?' or ‘What are we going to wear?' Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.” Matthew 6:31-33 (GW)

3. To give you rest - “Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (GW)

4. To lift you up - “Be humble under God's powerful hand so he will lift you up when the right time comes. Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NCV)

5. To give you peace – “Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG)

6. To meet all your needs – “ And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

7. To protect you from fear - “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah” Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)

8. To answer your prayers - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

9. To direct your decisions – “ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

10. To be with you - “When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:2-3 (NLT)

Progressing From Pain to Perfection

As you may know, I am a big bluegrass fan. Bluegrass music and lyrics capture the pure, raw feelings of the everyday person. Many songs are written about the pain of lost romance or the hardships of life. Here are the lyrics to a Ron Block song that really ring true about the human condition. It's called, "The Pain of a Troubled Life" (watch & listen here). We are all fallen creatures, and because of that, we will end up hurting others because we are also broken. Sometimes we become hardened and calloused, but we shouldn't allow others to bring further pain into our lives. It's a matter of setting boundaries.

I've lived a dozen lifetimes in twenty-some-odd years
Got no use for trouble, got no use for tears
Can't you see it's killing me, I'm old before my time
I won't let you double the pain of a troubled life

[Chorus:]
I've had my share of sorrow, more than you could know
Save your lies and alibis, I've heard that tune before
Can't you see it's killing me, I'm old before my time
I won't let you double the pain of a troubled life


Here is a quote from John Reisinger's series on Ecclesiastes: "One of the tragic mistakes that people commit is to think that alcohol, drugs, and pornography have produced the wicked society in which we currently live. It is actually the other way around. Our society has produced those things as essential means to kill the pain of an empty and futile life. If our culture, believing as it does, did not have drugs, booze and unbridled sex as distractions, it would finally find suicide the only acceptable option."

Jesus said he came so that we might have life and have it ABUNDANTLY - Does this also include pain and sorrow? Maybe - because what else would provide the opportunity to grow in Christ-like character?

An Ethos of Grace?

Ethos is a Greek word that denotes the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community, a nation or an ideology. What kind of ethos do we convey - in ourselves, at home, in the workplace and yes, in the church? Do people experience grace when they come into contact with us?

I came across this today from Terry Virgo:

“What we are looking for in our churches is that there is a whole ethos of grace, and acceptance, that we are delighted in by God. . . It is not to make it casual or lazy. . .We accept one another but we also admonish one another . . . In Peter it says you have everything you need for life and godliness, then it says “make every effort.” . . Genuine biblical grace does not produce passivity . . . there are things we need to do for ourselves in response to grace.

Grace should be the motivator to want to see others experience it also.