LifeNotes from the Pastor...
Each church represents the body of Christ. If we believe this biblical teaching, then we also believe that just
as each human body gets what it needs to function in the world, so does each body of Christ. Where two or three
are gathered in Jesus’ name, there Jesus is in the midst of them. We cannot use small as an excuse for not
accomplishing God’s work in the world. We cannot use lack of resources as an excuse either.
God provides. God gives us what we need to accomplish whatever task God has in mind for us. We have
enough people and enough resources to be T.O.S.S.E.D. (Teams Of Servants Sent Everywhere Delivering). This
is the vision God gave to us about a year ago. It fits nicely with the Great Commission, “Go, therefore, and make
disciples.”
If we believe the biblical texts, we don’t need any special training or equipment to do this. Jesus sent his disciples
out in teams of two and they didn’t even have bibles with them. They had the message Jesus had put on their
hearts. They had Jesus’ blessing and authority with them. With those basic resources they cast out demons and
healed the sick, which is another way of saying they delivered God’s grace, peace and hope to those open to
receive it.
It doesn’t take special training or equipment to share Christ’s love and to extend God’s precious forgiveness
and grace to other people. Compassion for those struggling to survive without God’s grace, peace, and hope is
all you need. And we need grateful hearts. Because we appreciate and rejoice in what God has done for us, we
are excited to share it with everyone. There is nothing like life lived with the hope of Jesus Christ. There is nothing
like life lived embraced by God’s magnificent grace.
Life is still a struggle, so pretending we’re supposed to be happy and joyful all the time is not the answer
either. Appropriately and authentically sharing hope with someone feeling hopeless is what we are called to do.
This is a healing act. Letting a person know God’s grace can help them leave the baggage of the past behind and
start a new way of living is casting out a demon.
Together we are the body of Christ. Like any human body the body of Christ also has its own unique DNA.
Each cell in the body carries that DNA. Even though the cell has a particular function, like a liver cell or a brain
cell or a red blood cell, it still carries the entire DNA within it. This is what the apostle Paul meant when he
described the church as the body of Christ. The body needs all the parts but not all the parts have the same
function. Yet, they are still are essential parts of the body.
Each of us has a purpose and job in the body of Christ, in this church and in our communities. Each of us
gets T.O.S.S.E.D. We may be delivering grace and peace and hope in different ways and in different locations,
but we’re all still delivering grace and peace and hope. We all have the same DNA, but out individual functions will
vary. If any part of the body, any person, any cell, does not function, then that part of the body is not working as
effectively or efficiently as it could. If several parts refuse to function, the entire body suffers.
We need each other. Each part of the body is essential and valuable. We are called to be T.O.S.S.E.D. and
to go and make disciples. God has provided us with the tools we need. What sometimes trips us up is we expect
the people to whom we “deliver” grace and peace to be grateful. Remember, Jesus healed ten lepers and only
one thanked him. If you get thanked 10% of the time, you are doing as well as Jesus did. Jesus didn’t heal people
because he expected them to be grateful. Jesus brought the healing word to people because he had compassion
for them.
One final thought. We also have been given some “subvisions,” namely H.O.P. (Help Other People), J.U.M.P
(Jesus Uses Many People), and S.K.I.P.(Simply Keep In Prayer). J.U.M.P. reminds us we’re a body and no one
person is called to do it all. H.O.P. is another way to remember that the product we deliver is designed to help
other people, not ourselves. However, most of us will find that we benefit when we help others. S.K.I.P. puts our
attention on God’s will and not our own. It also assists us in letting go of the outcome. Pray is our best friend. It
keeps us in step with our Lord and Savior, so we stay on the path.
We have what we need to do God’s work. A simple thing any of us can try is to walk through our neighborhood
praying for the people in each house. You can do a house a day or a block a day. It’s up to you. We may not
know exactly what the needs are in that house, but God does. Sometimes we need to start practicing compassion
at a distance. Then, who knows, maybe one of those neighbors will appear sometime and because you have
prayed regularly for him or her, you’ll know just what to say. You’ll know just what and how to deliver what he or
she needs. GET T.O.S.S.E.D. in Jesus’ name.
as each human body gets what it needs to function in the world, so does each body of Christ. Where two or three
are gathered in Jesus’ name, there Jesus is in the midst of them. We cannot use small as an excuse for not
accomplishing God’s work in the world. We cannot use lack of resources as an excuse either.
God provides. God gives us what we need to accomplish whatever task God has in mind for us. We have
enough people and enough resources to be T.O.S.S.E.D. (Teams Of Servants Sent Everywhere Delivering). This
is the vision God gave to us about a year ago. It fits nicely with the Great Commission, “Go, therefore, and make
disciples.”
If we believe the biblical texts, we don’t need any special training or equipment to do this. Jesus sent his disciples
out in teams of two and they didn’t even have bibles with them. They had the message Jesus had put on their
hearts. They had Jesus’ blessing and authority with them. With those basic resources they cast out demons and
healed the sick, which is another way of saying they delivered God’s grace, peace and hope to those open to
receive it.
It doesn’t take special training or equipment to share Christ’s love and to extend God’s precious forgiveness
and grace to other people. Compassion for those struggling to survive without God’s grace, peace, and hope is
all you need. And we need grateful hearts. Because we appreciate and rejoice in what God has done for us, we
are excited to share it with everyone. There is nothing like life lived with the hope of Jesus Christ. There is nothing
like life lived embraced by God’s magnificent grace.
Life is still a struggle, so pretending we’re supposed to be happy and joyful all the time is not the answer
either. Appropriately and authentically sharing hope with someone feeling hopeless is what we are called to do.
This is a healing act. Letting a person know God’s grace can help them leave the baggage of the past behind and
start a new way of living is casting out a demon.
Together we are the body of Christ. Like any human body the body of Christ also has its own unique DNA.
Each cell in the body carries that DNA. Even though the cell has a particular function, like a liver cell or a brain
cell or a red blood cell, it still carries the entire DNA within it. This is what the apostle Paul meant when he
described the church as the body of Christ. The body needs all the parts but not all the parts have the same
function. Yet, they are still are essential parts of the body.
Each of us has a purpose and job in the body of Christ, in this church and in our communities. Each of us
gets T.O.S.S.E.D. We may be delivering grace and peace and hope in different ways and in different locations,
but we’re all still delivering grace and peace and hope. We all have the same DNA, but out individual functions will
vary. If any part of the body, any person, any cell, does not function, then that part of the body is not working as
effectively or efficiently as it could. If several parts refuse to function, the entire body suffers.
We need each other. Each part of the body is essential and valuable. We are called to be T.O.S.S.E.D. and
to go and make disciples. God has provided us with the tools we need. What sometimes trips us up is we expect
the people to whom we “deliver” grace and peace to be grateful. Remember, Jesus healed ten lepers and only
one thanked him. If you get thanked 10% of the time, you are doing as well as Jesus did. Jesus didn’t heal people
because he expected them to be grateful. Jesus brought the healing word to people because he had compassion
for them.
One final thought. We also have been given some “subvisions,” namely H.O.P. (Help Other People), J.U.M.P
(Jesus Uses Many People), and S.K.I.P.(Simply Keep In Prayer). J.U.M.P. reminds us we’re a body and no one
person is called to do it all. H.O.P. is another way to remember that the product we deliver is designed to help
other people, not ourselves. However, most of us will find that we benefit when we help others. S.K.I.P. puts our
attention on God’s will and not our own. It also assists us in letting go of the outcome. Pray is our best friend. It
keeps us in step with our Lord and Savior, so we stay on the path.
We have what we need to do God’s work. A simple thing any of us can try is to walk through our neighborhood
praying for the people in each house. You can do a house a day or a block a day. It’s up to you. We may not
know exactly what the needs are in that house, but God does. Sometimes we need to start practicing compassion
at a distance. Then, who knows, maybe one of those neighbors will appear sometime and because you have
prayed regularly for him or her, you’ll know just what to say. You’ll know just what and how to deliver what he or
she needs. GET T.O.S.S.E.D. in Jesus’ name.
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