Remember me?

No???

Let me help your memory.

We used to meet on Wednesdays.

Not the last two Wednesdays I know….

My bad.

Please do not assume anything from this ---

I  LOVE BEING YOUR PASTOR!!!!

I recall a time when our first two boys were very young,

and Peggy and I went away for the weekend, and when we came back

Peggy was convinced the boys did not remember us.

She was mortified.  It crushed her.

We can start today and meet on Wednesdays again.

OK???

THINK ORANGE.

Orange is the reason I missed one of our Wednesdays.

6 of us from IOF were at an Orange conference with some 5000 other people.

AWESOME.

Remember, ORANGE is the result of partnering the church (yellow—for God’s light and truth) with families (red—for the love in hearts).

These produce orange.

Orange is a comprehensive plan from the cradle to college to turn children and students ORANGE in faith.

Think of the impact if -- every church leader, volunteer and parent were working together toward that end—

toward making children disciples of Christ.

WOW!

If we all joined in a strategy to:

·         INCITE  WONDER in preschoolers to see a God who is bigger than our imaginations.

·         PROVOKE DISCOVERY in children so they can grow in relationship with Christ.

·         FUEL PASSION in students to make a difference in the world in the name of Jesus.

·         GALVANIZE LEADERS to mentor one another into disciples.

Can you imagine the lives that can be affected through such a strategy?!?!

I CAN!!!

If we can see God for who God really is;

And see ourselves the way God sees us;

Then we can love others the way God loves them.

THAT CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!!!

That is exactly what we are trying to do.

And our goal is to partner with every family we can.

THINK ORANGE

AAron

What a glorious Wednesday….

God is awesome.

Did you know that there are a group of  ladies who meet every Wednesday morning and pray for our church and the people of our church?

They are just leaving now as I sit down to write this.

What a blessing they are.

Faithfully, every Wednesday,  they come and spend at least one earnest hour in prayer.

The answers to such prayers are further reaching than we can ever know.

THANK YOU ladies !!!

I want to offer some more “ORANGE-aide” today…..

Sometimes we can get thinking that Christians are somehow better people than other people.

This is wrong thinking.

Such an attitude is often not intentional, but is nonetheless present when people “feel judged.”

Here is the Gospel truth------None of us can boast!!!

That is what God’s GRACE is all about.

There really are no perfect people.

The Bible should make that absolutely clear to us.

Name one perfect person (other than Christ) in the Bible.

All of them—“had issues”,  right?!?!?

God doesn’t need perfect.

There are no perfect pictures.

God has always used, and still uses— blemished pictures, broken people.

This is GREAT news as we think about families.

NO FAMILY needs to achieve some spiritual level to be connected and used by God.

God’s desire is to work through EVERY family to demonstrate his story of GRACE—

through restoration, redemption and reconciliation.

Families are not required to create a better picture---but to be open to a BIGGER STORY than they now experience.

Parents in particular can gain great encouragement from this.

They can turn their families around instantly—simply by opening their own hearts to the GRACE of God, right where they are.

Even if they are in the lowest point of their lives, God will meet them there and immediately  begin to work wonders.

All they need to do is be open to God.

That will begin a WHOLE CHAIN of family changing circumstances—and the children will see the POWER of God  every day in the life of their parents.

The church’s mission is to get this GOOD NEWS out……

preaching it… teaching it… testifying to it…. living it…..so that it is obvious and unmistakable.

The church (yellow) partnering with  (families) red,  to make ORANGE disciples.

I LOVE IT, and I love being your pastor,

AAron

HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!

WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!

Whoever has the Son has eternal life,

and whoever does not have the Son does not have eternal life.

We are EASTER PEOPLE!!!

Let’s talk some more about ORANGE strategy…..

Remember our goal is to bring every soul into the right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Our ORANGE strategy BEGINS that process the moment the child is born.

So an important part of this strategy is to ENGAGE the FAMILY with this SAME GOAL for the child.

We are wanting to partner with the family (parents) with the end in mind—a right relationship with God.

We are using the original instructions from God to the people of God—the Israelites.

God’s Word never changes—and God’s expectations are the same today…..

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV)
⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Remember we used this modern  translation in worship—

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (IOFV)

TAKE THESE WORDS OF GOD AND CHERISH THEM IN YOUR  OWN HEART AND SOUL. BELIEVE THEM FULLY, THEN, PUT THEM IN THE HEARTS OF YOUR CHILDREN.  REMIND YOUR CHILDREN OF THESE WORDS CONSTANTLY—TEXT THEM ON THEIR I-PHONES, POST THEM ON THEIR FACEBOOK, DRAW THEM ON THEIR I-PADS, LEAVE MESSAGES IN THEIR BACKPACKS AND STICK POST-IT NOTES ON THEIR X-BOX OR Wii. HAVE THEM RECITE THESE WORDS AS THEY GO TO SLEEP AND THEN WAKE THEM UP USING THESE WORDS IN THE MORNING.

Our challenge in the church is to be able to clarify and communicate the Biblical principles so that both parents and the church together can impress them upon the hearts of the children.  What the church and home have in common is the potential to create an environment in which children can be consistently and constantly reminded of God’s story—all through their growth and development.

[We will talk more about that growth and development next week.]

The question we all should be asking is—

“What do we want this child to become?”

The answer  is—

we want each child to be a citizen of God’s Kingdom; in right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

That is the primary goal for every child.

THINK ORANGE is a systematic approach to make that happen.

So I encourage us all to be THINKING ORANGE!!!!

I love being your pastor,

AAron

We are there---already…..

Palm Sunday and Holy Week!!

Incredible.

Remember the special worship opportunities planned!!!!!

THINKING ORANGE……

This last Sunday we began to deal with the “nuts and bolts” of Orange Strategy.

Specifically we learned about the FIRST LOOK for preschoolers, and how that affects the entire congregation.

This is an exciting era in the life of this church.

Here is one of  the KEY principles to help our ORANGE STRATEGY be successful.

1.    BEING SHORT AND RELEVANT—in other words simplify what is communicated to the biggest concept.

For  example, these CORE TRUTHS: (I encourage you to memorize these)

a.    Everything is spiritual.

b.    What the Bible says—is TRUE.

c.    Jesus is who Jesus says He is.

d.    Everybody is going to be somewhere forever.

e.    Everyone leads someone.

The Bible contains a huge amount of material—all inspired and  true;

but NOT ALL EQUALLY IMPORTANT.

Only teaching what is important---is important!!!

Andy Stanley says it this way—

“Either you are trying to teach the Bible to students,

OR,

you are teaching students the Bible.”

Now, if I get what he means, he is speaking to what is important.

Our goal is not to start with the Bible and present the whole thing unfiltered to students—

But rather,

to take students and apply scriptural truths to the person the student is becoming as they face the challenges of their age!

In the first statement the student gets overwhelmed by the Bible (which is not real helpful or relevant);

while in the second statement the student can use Bible truths to help shape and  form them.

It is important that God’s word be realized as helpful as well as authoritative—because it is BOTH!!

One last short, relevant concept:

Everything comes back to the 3 most important relationships in life.

They are prioritized like this:

1.    Being in right relationship with God.

2.    Being in a right relationship with others.

3.    Being in right relationship with myself.

AT IOF---WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING IN RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS.

ORANGE IS HELPING US BE MORE EFFECTIVE!!!

I love being your pastor,

AAron

Grace and peace from IOF….

Today starts the “Easter watch” known as Lent. This is Ash Wednesday;

a day from church tradition, where believers make commitments to further or deepen their faith by “practicing” some special discipline. It is a great season for the Holy Spirit to move in our hearts. 

We have passed out special devotionals [titled “Living in the Moment”] for all our church members and friends to join together in reading daily during Lent. That in itself is a special discipline.

But then we have provided a second devotional booklet so that each “family” can “REACH OUT” to another “family” and ask them to join in the daily readings.

This is another “discipline” possibility that creates a “witness” for your love and faith and gives the Holy Spirit open access into other lives. You can then put that family name on one of our orange cards and we will place all those on our worship altar—dedicating them to God in PRAYER.

 Know this, the prayers of God’s people are responsible for MUCH of the good that happens in the world. God enjoys our prayers. Prayers honor God.  They reveal how we consider God to be the true source of help and hope in our lives.

And God responds to our prayers—similar to how any loving earthly father responds to his children.

So when we pray,  that gives God an opportunity to move and act in lives and situations and yet  “not show partiality” – because God is REACTING to a prayer request.

Praying is both: a privilege—and – a responsibility— because God will not act in some ways, WITHOUT PRAYERS.

The other day I had a “good day” with one or two things that were “very coincidental.” As Peggy and I were eating dinner together she wondered why things happened that way. I told her it was because of prayers. I know and can feel the prayers from out of this church. It is one of the markers that sets this church apart from many others.

I LOVE BEING YOUR PASTOR!!!!!!!!! 

Maybe some new people can join this prayer discipline during Lent - adding to the power in this church; AND drawing you closer to our Heavenly Father.

I am praying for that…… and I hope everyone will consider all these above disciplines— even if you follow another traditional discipline of “sacrificing” something for Lent. 

Look forward to being with you then.

AAron

Good day all you valentines!!!! 

What a fabulous meal and time we had last night in fellowship and entertainment. Great way to celebrate Valentine’s day. Thank you Ruth Circle, youth, Barb and Mark & Sue. You all blessed me and my valentine!!

Let me share some Good News about Faith…… When we speak about faith our initial thoughts often turn to “our” faith. But what about God’s faith????

This last Sunday we recalled “Johnny B’s” (John the Baptist) faith.  We discussed how he had such a powerful faith-experience at the Baptism of Christ, and yet later doubted who Christ was, sending disciples to ask Jesus if He really was “the One” they were looking for (meaning the Messiah).

Let’s continue….. If you were in Jesus’ spot—how would you have reacted to that question? What would you have thought about John?  Would you have gotten “miffed” with him? What message would you have offered back? Would it have been abrupt?

Sarcastic?

Accusatory?

Belittling?

Would you have “dissed” him?

I know, probably would have at least bordered on that!! I mean after all,  John had more “proof” for faith than 99% of other people. How could he doubt?

So isn’t it telling how Jesus responded? Look again ….

Jesus sends back this message:-- Matthew 11:4-5 (NIV) ⁴ Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what YOU hear and see: [emphasis mine.  Remember how John got to see and hear-- and smell and touch at the baptism? ] ⁵ The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.     [Jesus “defends”  and explains himself—by offering the changes in people’s lives]

That answer might sound a bit strange to us; maybe even like he did not answer the question….right?  

But remember the situation. John is in prison—for heralding the messiah on earth. John questions whether that would really happen (to him) if Jesus was the true Messiah?

Here is the beauty in this response: The confidence (faith?!) Jesus has in John. Jesus believes the testimony of these disciples will reinforce John’s tested faith. John understood that  no one except the Messiah could change people’s lives. So Jesus sends back the very news John needs.

Now here is the lesson for us….. Where John doubts Jesus—Jesus never doubts John.

[now, put your name there!!!]

God sends us what we need to keep faith. We are not alone in our faith. 

That is, my friends, GOOD NEWS!!!

I remind us--who were in worship on Sunday— about the Lenten Devotionals and the opportunity to “REACH OUT”  to another family with a gift  booklet, and then to bring a card this Sunday with that family’s name

to lift in prayer before God this Lenten season. We still know Christ is the one who changes lives!!!!! 

I love being your pastor,

AAron

First pastor’s email of 2012…

BOOOEEYAH!!!

Hi!  friends,

Welcome to our Wednesday messages for 2012.

Think how we identify each other….. for the most part.

I mean—how is it we know who someone is?

What allows us to recognize a person?

Mostly, by their face, right?

In other words,  if we see someone from behind and we think they look familiar—what do we try to do?

See their face!  Right?!?

Our face is the most exposed part of our body—uncovered more than any other area.

It is the most recognizable part of us.

Peggy and I  played a game with other married couples once.

The guys stood behind a black curtain that had holes cut out about knee high.

Each guy stood at a hole with only his knees showing and others had to guess who he was.

[This was up north—where most men do not wear shorts.]

Interestingly—even many wives guessed wrong!!!

 [no comment about that!!]

But really, we do not know people by their knees—do we?!?

Our school yearbooks are not filled with pictures of knees or feet or elbows, etc., —but of faces!!

God of course knows us without seeing our faces—BUT THAT IS HOW WE KNOW ONE ANOTHER.

So God uses that.

Look what happened to Moses at Mt. Sinai, when his face “shone of God.”

When we are in God’s presence—this most exposed part of our body is touched by God’s glory so we might reflect God in our faces.

Sadly--The Israelites were so overwhelmed they made Moses wear a veil.

Paul encourages the early church at Corinth this way:

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NCV)
¹⁸ Our faces, then, are not covered. We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings ever greater glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

WOW----

That puts a whole new slant on coming to worship—doesn’t it.

AND,

It puts a whole new slant on leaving worship---doesn’t it?!?

BY THE WAY--

I’m still lovin‘ being your pastor—this new year.

AAron

YIKES, this week went FAST. Really, it seems like just yesterday I sat here with you. WHEW….I AM getting old.

I am passing along some GREAT material from the Stephen Ministry’s monthly gathering.

Stephen Ministry is a designed program to help people who are walking a difficult path in life, and could use someone to “walk beside them” for a while. Stephen ministers have received special (rather intense) training on how to walk with others in “support” but without “therapy.”

There is a sense in which WE ALL should be Stephen Ministers. Now do know, I say that with NO disrespect to Stephen Ministers themselves—I admire them, but to point out that they are really doing what we ALL should be doing for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

In theory , each of us should probably be trained as Stephen Ministers — although in actuality-- it TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON WITH SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE to commit to walk with someone down a rough road. A big “Thank You” to all our Stephen ministers.

So —here is the INFO from them I pass on to us all. REALLY GOOD STUFF.

It deals with ----how to react to people who are taking treatments like “chemo” and “radiation” (or some other) that radically affects the body. We all have these encounters. I have personally cringed, observing, and overhearing some well-meant, but very insensitive exchanges.

I also cringed when I read through this –seeing how true this is--and remembered some remarks I personally have made!!! We all can gain from this.

Here are 5 TOPICS that should be considered “off-limits” as we interact with such friends with love and encouragement….

1.    FALSE COMPLIMENTS

People who are enduring treatment and looking into the mirror everyday-- know what they look like. It matches how they feel----wiped out, or worse.  Don’t try to compliment them!  It won’t work. Simply saying how happy you are to see them—is quite nice.

2.    COMPARISONS

Each person is unique, and treatment affects each differently. Do not talk about others—with good or bad reactions/results to their personal treatments. Rather listen to THIS PERSON in treatment.  See how they are enduring. Speak words to help them persevere with hope for a “better tomorrow.”

3.    DEATH OR LIMITATIONS

Fear is already a daily intruder in their life. It is like a home invasion. It comes right in with the pain and suffering they are experiencing from both the disease and the treatment. We do not need to focus on any negative effects or outcomes.

They need to be focused on: restoration, strength, support, healing, a future with hope.

Use words like, “this treatment will help restore your health in a day coming, so we will look forward to that together.”

4.    YOUR OWN ANXIETY

Once again the person in treatment is full of anxiety---why would we add to that? Things like “I am so worried about your _____.” Or,  “I think about how I would handle your stress.” NOT HELPFUL. I know we intend these to be supportive---but think!!!!! Who are we saying these things to and what is their perspective? We have a  lot to learn about where people really are, and then, being sensitive to that. That is how we truly minister.

5.    TREATMENT WOES

Forget the sympathetic connection of, “This chemo treatment must be so hard on you.” There is no “sym” there—it is just “pathetic” help. Of course it is hard. No one has to SAY IT. And you only know HOW HARD it really is, when you go through it. Don’t talk about the treatment regimen. Offer diversions to their difficult routine. Ask about new discoveries; or suggest some appropriate new interests to help them focus on something besides their hard pathway.

Here are helpful words that will never be taken poorly, and are always appropriate:

“I care about you”

“I am praying daily for God’s healing in you.”

“I am only ever a phone call away.”

“I am happy to do odd jobs for you.”

Once again I am grateful to (especially Carmie Wagaman) our Stephen Ministry team, for sharing the basic content of our email today…..I love being their pastor…. ….And….. I love being YOUR pastor!

Blessings to all,

AAron

IT’S TIME… WEDNESDAY DATE TIME! WOOOHOOOOO. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

Here is a very noteworthy verse in the book of Acts:

Acts 20:35 (NIV) ³⁵ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

That is a great verse—but there is a particular thing which is noteworthy. Did you catch the noteworthy part? Here is a clue, if you missed it—a “red-letter” edition of the Bible gives you an advantage.

Now do you see it?  In this verse is a QUOTE from Jesus—NOT FOUND IN THE GOSPELS! Luke has shared additional information about Jesus. And look what the quote is about---giving, and receiving and blessing.

This coming Sunday is “Consecration Sunday” where each of us will offer our pledges to God for 2012. We do that now-- to help the church plan a budget for next year.

That is important, and necessary. This verse is helpful in bringing us to that pledge time.

We are familiar with the “Blessed” sayings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, and a couple other “blessed” quotes throughout the four Gospels. But look at this one—found outside the Gospels…..IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE, than to receive.

That is a hard lesson to learn growing up. In fact, some never grow sufficiently to learn it fully.

Maturing in the faith is not something that comes quickly or easily. Paul talks about becoming an adult and giving up childish ways.

Children have receiving down to an art---don’t they? I mean they are quite happy receiving—they can receive all day long and not grow tired of it. And indeed, the childhood experience has a lot of receiving in it…many people give to children.

[And even necessarily so, often times.]

So children have learned to receive. Now, don’t get sour on receiving.  Receiving is not all bad. Jesus said--Mark 10:15 (NIV) ¹⁵ I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Soooooo,  OK, then. Receiving is fine—and in fact there is an ART to receiving, isn’t there? Receiving can be a blessed thing---- BUT LOOK, Jesus says, it is  MORE BLESSED TO GIVE than to receive.

So when we grow up—we learn to go from the blessing of receiving to the blessing of giving. IT IS MORE BLESSED, to give. When we become adults we “give up” on childish things and “give out” from what we have.

Our Father is a giving God….to be like our Father we must be giving children. It is that simple.

God loves being your Father, and I love being your pastor,

AAron

A chilly Wednesday outside, but warm greetings to you all!!

Let me sing praises!! WHAT A PUMPKIN PATCH this year!!! Incredible. Amazing. Sensational.  AND……. SUCCESSFUL beyond anything we have done before—BY FAR!!!!

“Thank you,” “thank you,” and a million more “thank you’s” to EVERYONE and ANYONE who got involved. This year’s efforts were “above and beyond.”

I know MANY people showed exceptional commitment…but, I especially want to mention the  “field-trip” volunteers. WOW!!!!! Over 800 children on scheduled appointments to visit the Patch. They were each treated to a snack, worked at a science project, made a take-home craft,

took a hayride, had a story read to them, played on the haystack, and took home a pumpkin and a commemorative picture of their class in the patch. What a list!!!!!

Stop to think how much WORK that took—5 days a week all month long!!!!!!

WOW….. and again….. WOW. Kudos to Jennifer Bautista who envisioned and organized that whole aspect of the Patch.

Next I think of the WEEKEND events. AWESOME…..the Fall Festival, the Car Show  and Craft Fair, the Country Fair, the Tailgate Party, ALL ON SUCCESSIVE SATURDAYS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH. And then we had Trunk or Treat……Are you kidding me?!?!?? There was a continuous CROWD on our property all month long.

I think of our YOUTH…..what an energetic, fun attitude they brought to the patch—along with the concessions. WONDERFUL!

There really were too many volunteers to mention by name— Some who spent MANY hours setting up, and arranging, and REarranging the Patch; Still others who spent untold hours hosting the Patch throughout the days and evenings,  so that when people came—AND THOUSANDS DID, they got a friendly greeting.  Well done.

Once again this year, we used the HONOR SYSTEM for sales. AND, that approach proved to be even more successful than last year. That brings me to recognize the top award for the Patch participation this year….. --Debbie Giroux came EVERY evening at 8:30 pm, 31 nights in a row, to empty the pumpkin bank and close down the Patch. Everyone--hats off to Debbie.                       

ORANGE is IN friends……. What a FABULOUS month October was.

I LOVE BEING YOUR PASTOR… Let me say it again, I LOVE BEING YOUR PASTOR!

AAron

PS If you want to join with the Isle of Faith church family to hear the details of how successful the Pumpkin Patch was, and to celebrate the salty servants who made it all happen, sign up to attend the Thank You Party on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 6 pm. It will be a catered dinner so we need your RSV