Pastor Rileys Blog

Good Morning,

You’ll be glad you stayed all in and stood out for Him.

Good Morning,

More all in than before!

This is the 6th and final week of Pastor Riley’s sabbatical. Last week on our trip, I could tell that–while he is enjoying his time away–he is chomping at the bit with excitement to get back here to Marion 1st Church of the Nazarene. Please pray that this last week is fantastic and refreshing for him, and that our hearts are prepared for what God has showed him over the past six weeks.

Read John 17:20-26

Jesus prayed, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:23 (NIV)

The wooded slope was ablaze with autumn colors – fiery reds and oranges, vivid yellows and golds. Occasional splashes of green added to the chorus of color. God’s masterpiece! I thought. Only God could create individual colors and blend them together to produce a landscape of breathtaking beauty like this.

The Body of Christ is like that multicolored forest. God has created individuals with unique personalities and expects us to work together, portraying unity for the world to see. Some people are visionaries, while others possess the ability to fulfill plans. Some folks are bubbly and impulsive while others are quiet by nature, proceeding only after careful thought and prayer. Some people are gifted leaders, while others prefer to serve behind the scenes. Our response to people’s differences can strengthen unity or destroy it.

Does the world see unity when it looks at our churches? If not, what can we do to change that? Just as the hillside’s colors combined to create a beautiful picture, so the Body of Christ is most glorious when we work together in unity.

Prayer
Dear God, help us to appreciate the uniqueness of others. May those around us see unity when they look at the Body of Christ. Amen.

Thought for the week
The variety of God’s people is evidence of God’s creative genius.

Week 5 of Pastor Riley’s sabbatical. This past week the staff were all with him in Dallas at a conference called C3, hosted by Fellowship Church, a growing congregation of ever 17,000 people. …and I didn’t take my computer with me. So that is why this post is a few days late.

The conference was just incredible, and hopefully formational in the way we do ministry here at MFCN. And the time we all got to spend together was refreshing and fun. Here is week 5’s post.

Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galations 6:2 (NIV)

The biologist led us through the wetlands. He pointed out the tree roots that had spread along the surface of the forest. Then he said, “Look at the canopy overhead. If one of these trees stood alone, a fierce wind could fell it. Because the branches overhead intertwine, the trees protect and hold up one another.” The canopy is one. Though each tree has its own trunk and shallow roots, together they form one canopy.

Christian unity is like the supporting canopy of the forest wetlands. Each of us is an individual with unique gifts; but we are joined together to become the church, which supports, protects, and encourages us. Together we form a canopy, the arms of Christ that intertwine to form the community of faith and that keep each of us from falling.

Prayer
Thank you, Lord, that in you we are one. Help us to hold one another in arms of love so we all may stand strong in faith.
Amen.

Thought for the week
Who today needs to feel the supporting arms of the Christian community?

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
1Corinthians 12:12 (NIV)

IMAGINE if each human body consisted of a collection of one body part — one body consisting of ears, another of eyes, and another of legs. Any of these would be severely limited. A body made of ears couldn’t walk; a body made of legs couldn’t see. Paul uses the image of a body to help us think about how we serve Christ, calling the church the body of Christ. As a collection of body parts, we can expect that we will all be different — each with different gifts and abilities, each with a unique contribution to make.

As we help one another to discover and develop our gifts, we can rejoice in our diversity. But since we are called to be interdependent and obedient together to Christ, we seek unity within our diversity. We need one another; we cannot be individual churches all on our own. We need the support and encouragement of fellow Christians working together in partnership. Christ is the head of the body, and, just as a healthy body does what the brain tells it, so we can do what Christ commands.

All our gifts are needed. Each one of us is valued by God and equipped to serve within the church.

Prayer
O God, thank you for making each of us your unique creation. Help us to work together for your kingdom. Amen.

Thought for the week
God rejoices when we all work together.

Week 3 of Pastor Riley’s sabbatical. This week he became Grandpa to another little boy. And he’ll be visiting a church that has grown to over 10,000 people in the last ten years, in an area the size of Marion County. Pretty cool, huh? Don’t forget to keep praying for Pastor Riley & Karen’s rest, relaxation, and renewal during this time. Here’s this week’s devotion from upperroom.org.

Read Ephesians 4:1-16

24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

I was pleased. A few more pieces to go, and the giant puzzle would be finished. As I fitted the pieces together, I thought about how beautiful the puzzle scene would look when it was complete. I had been working on it for several days. Then, I discovered that one piece was missing. This annoyed me. I felt that all the time and energy I had invested had been a waste. Without that piece, the picture would not be complete and beautiful.
I drew a spiritual parallel to this. We in the church sometimes resemble those puzzle pieces. God has invested time and life itself in each of us. When we are united and complete we shine, and we can rejoice in that. However, when someone is absent or is not in the congregation there is an empty spot, a missing piece. The church is much more beautiful when all the pieces of the puzzle are in place.

Prayer
Dear God, help us to value the blessing of being part of the Body of Christ, your
church. Amen.

Thought for the week
Each member is an essential part of the Body of Christ.

Week 2 of Pastor Riley’s sabbatical. Right about now, he should be on the beach soaking up the sun…or something. I haven’t heard from him yet, but I’m assured that he is having a great time and getting a lot of much-needed physical, emotional, and spiritual rest.

Read Ephesians 4:1-6

4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV)

I find family reunions to be eye-opening. Amid the eating, looking at pictures, playing games, and catching up, I’m struck by how people from the same family can be so different. We differ in size, shape, personality, perspective, vocations, interests, opinions, and a host of other characteristics. But what we share as a family binds us together — name, heritage, shared history and experiences, and years of life together.

The church — the family of God — is much the same. We are a diverse group of people. We don’t all worship the same way. Our personalities are different. Some of us are outgoing, and some of us are more reserved. We all serve Christ in different ways, with different circles of influence. But what binds us together as the family of God is what Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” Even with all of our different shapes and sizes, we all belong to the same family through Christ. Do we recognize that? Are we “making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”? (See Eph. 4:3.)

Prayer
O God, forgive us for looking down on our brothers and sisters because they are different. Help us to maintain unity. Amen.

Thought for the week
What unites us as believers is far more important than what separates us.

Good morning. Over the next six weeks, during Pastor Riley’s sabbatical, I’ll be posting the guided devotion and prayer from the worship folder insert. These were found on upperroom.org and were chosen for their focus on unity. Enjoy.

Read Philippians 2:1-11

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 (NIV)

I once enjoyed the incredible experience of attending a full-orchestra concert. Before they perform, the musicians tune their instruments, playing whatever notes they choose. The result is musical chaos. Then, at the appointed time, the chaos ends. One chosen musician plays a certain note, and all the other musicians tune their instruments in relation to it.

Likewise, Jesus Christ has generated the perfect note for us through his teaching and sacrificial life. To experience divine harmony, to live in peace with others, to make beautiful music with our lives, we have only to “tune” our lives to the example set by Christ. We could tune our lives to people, fads, or fashions. But if we do not tune our lives to the Spirit of Christ, we will make only noise. When we listen to and follow Christ, we make beautiful music.

Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to live in harmony with you and with one another. We pray as Jesus taught us, saying, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”
Amen.

Thought for the week
Tuning our life to Christ brings unity and peace.

Good afternoon, surprise surprise

The question is asked at least twice in scripture, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”; both times the answer is “No”, Genesis 18:14. Have you noticed how fond our God seems to be of surprises? At the last second Abraham, arm poised to bring down the knife, is startled by the loud bleating of a lamb caught in the thicket. In the midst of their complaining of hunger the Israelites have to duck for cover as the largest flock of quail ever descends upon them. When the womb is empty, surprise, Sarah wakes up with morning sickness. As all the theologians and clerics are writing him off as unforgivable, to their surprise all of David’s sins are forgiven. Oh no we’re all out of wine . . . except for these three huge jars of wine that just showed up out of nowhere.

So what’s it mean, God’s penchant for surprises? What it means is this, don’t give up. Got a hard row to hoe, don’t come up short. Is the tunnel dark, the light may come at the next step. Is the night its blackest, then dawn approaches. God is watching. You may have taken your eyes off of Him but He hasn’t lost sight of you.

In the midst of her recovery from breast cancer, Janet Paschal was comforted by these words of yet another Gaither song:

Someone said that in each life some rain is bound to fall
And each one sheds his share of tears
And trouble troubles us all
But the hurt can’t hurt forever
And the tears are sure to dry

And it won’t rain always
The clouds will soon be gone
The sun that they’ve been hiding has been there all along

And it won’t rain always
God’s promises are true
The sun’s gonna shine in His own good time
And He will see you through

Need to be encouraged, go to this link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwbAqMD6Sio

The sun’s gonna shine in His own good time. The Son’s gonna hold you and carry you for as long as you need His arms. With a promise like that, what’s to keep us from hanging on and staying all in?

God bless you; I’ll see you soon.

Good Morning,

“Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,

humility, gentleness and patience.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever

grievances you may have against one

another.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Col. 3:12-13

One cannot watch the news without hearing a reference to the burgeoning national debt.  If I go any further down this thought trail what’s supposed to be a spiritual devotional will become a diatribe.  So let’s quickly make the application.  How do you feel about your eternal debt?  Do you feel debt free?  Do you mentally acknowledge that the ransom has been paid and yet still feel indebted to your Savior?

I think even once I’ve stood before the throne and heard it from Him with my own ears, it will be hard to grasp.  Quite natural to feel that way I think; but here’s what can be unnatural.  Unable to face the magnitude of their sins, some think of themselves as having only been forgiven a little, not because the grace of the King is limited; but because their confession is small and their faith is small.  Face your past, all of it, and trust that God is willing to forgive all.  He’s prepared to take your hand and guide you to a pool of mercy, maybe you need a lake, so be it He has one of those too.  Regardless whether it’s a pool or a lake, His invitation is for you to dive in, bathe.  And when invited some of us plunge in while others just dangle their feet in the water and thus do not leave feeling totally forgiven.

Maybe this is why some are so slow to be forgiving of one another.  If you have not taken the plunge, or if you have forgotten what it felt like when those cleansing, healing waters swept over you, please make your way down to the shore in 2010.  If bashful, look around, strip down to your skivvies  and when no one’s looking jump in.  It will feel so good to bounce back to the surface fresh and clean.  It’ll do wonders for your outlook on your fellow man as well.  The more we immerse ourselves in grace, the more likely we are to give grace.

All In for 2010 (that rhymes)