Last night I "attempted" to teach The Holy Trinity. I say "attempted" because The Trinity can be a challenging concept to grasp if we attempt to understand it on our terms. When we talk about The Trinity God's math doesn't add up like ours does. Three equals one and one equals three? Now I do not consider myself a math genius, and I am not embarrassed to admit that my third grader's math homework frequently challenges me more than it should, but I am pretty sure that 3 typically does not equal 1 any more than 1 equals 3. What if The Trinity is not so much about understanding and explaining but about experiencing. What if we felt OK admitting that we don't fully understand this one. What if we were comfortable saying we don't have all the answers.
We live in the age of professionals. Many of us are professionals in our own fields and quite often people come to us seeking advice, clarification and answers. Now when one of these professionals does not have the answer we are looking for this surprises us. After all they are professionals and this is what they do. I may carry the title of pastor and I may have studied theology in college and seminary for nearly a decade but that does not mean that I have all the answers because faith isn't about answers. Faith is about peace, hope and family. We may go to a family member or a parent for some advice and we certainly appreciate their wisdom but their value to us goes far beyond answers. They are our family because we share our lives with them, they share theirs with us and they are a part of our journey.
It is OK to admit you don't have all the answers because faith is not about answers. Our faith is a life long journey and we never cross that finish line until the day we transition from this world to the next. And that journey is enriched because of those that we share it with. Not because of their intelligence or wisdom but because they are a part of our lives.
Enjoy the journey.
See you in Church.
Pastor Chris
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Forward with Permitting!
It was the fastest congregational vote in all of recorded church history. It took all of one minute and fifteen second for this congregation to vote unanimously to move forward with the permitting for the new building. As I write this blog, David Bigham, our church administrator, is delivering the check to the builder to bring along with the plans to the county permitting office.
Thank you!
For the next 4-6 weeks, the county will tweak and comment on the plans before approval. Once this approval is secured, the builder will put the plans out for bids to the subcontractors. And then, if everything goes as planned, we will have another congregational vote in December with the contract to build.
This is really going to happen!
This has been years in the making through countless meetings for number crunching, designing and sharing information. Several councils have rotated through, each one advancing the cause a little at a time. Thank you for your patience in letting us get it right. Thank you for your generosity towards The Master's Plan. And thank you for the trust that you have placed in your leadership these many years to make the right and faithful decisions.
Thanks be to God!
Pastor Scott
Thank you!
For the next 4-6 weeks, the county will tweak and comment on the plans before approval. Once this approval is secured, the builder will put the plans out for bids to the subcontractors. And then, if everything goes as planned, we will have another congregational vote in December with the contract to build.
This is really going to happen!
This has been years in the making through countless meetings for number crunching, designing and sharing information. Several councils have rotated through, each one advancing the cause a little at a time. Thank you for your patience in letting us get it right. Thank you for your generosity towards The Master's Plan. And thank you for the trust that you have placed in your leadership these many years to make the right and faithful decisions.
Thanks be to God!
Pastor Scott
Being New
Over the next two Sundays we will welcome some new members into our church family. Some have been a part of our community for a few weeks, others a few years. They have spent two Sunday afternoons with Pastor Scott, Gretchen, the staff and myself and this Sunday at the 11:15am service and next week at the 8:45 service we will introduce them to you. Now what?
How long ago did you join the church? Do you remember attending a new member class and standing in front of a group of relative strangers? What happened next for you? I am hoping "what happened next" was someone came up to you and invited you out to lunch or met you for a cup of coffee. I am hoping someone invited you to a small group or asked you to join them for a play date at the park with your kids. I am hoping someone reached out to you and made you feel a part of this family.
Now it is your turn. Joining a church can be a bit of a stretch for some people. Joining a church requires you to put yourself out there a bit and let others in. We need you to reach out to these new members of our family and make them feel welcome. We need you to invite them to lunch or buy them a cup of coffee. Their kids need to meet your kids so they can find a connection here. At one point you were a new member and someone reached out to you and the rest, as they say, is history. Now it is your turn to do the same thing, to invite them to be a part of our family.
See you in church,
Pastor Chris
How long ago did you join the church? Do you remember attending a new member class and standing in front of a group of relative strangers? What happened next for you? I am hoping "what happened next" was someone came up to you and invited you out to lunch or met you for a cup of coffee. I am hoping someone invited you to a small group or asked you to join them for a play date at the park with your kids. I am hoping someone reached out to you and made you feel a part of this family.
Now it is your turn. Joining a church can be a bit of a stretch for some people. Joining a church requires you to put yourself out there a bit and let others in. We need you to reach out to these new members of our family and make them feel welcome. We need you to invite them to lunch or buy them a cup of coffee. Their kids need to meet your kids so they can find a connection here. At one point you were a new member and someone reached out to you and the rest, as they say, is history. Now it is your turn to do the same thing, to invite them to be a part of our family.
See you in church,
Pastor Chris
Monday, September 26, 2011
Congregational Vote--October 2
It has been a long time in the making to get to this vote--and we are not quite near the end.
On Sunday, October 2 at 12:15, we will have an historic vote to move forward with The Master's Plan. After casting the vision 17 years ago, after first building the Ministry Center, after legal battles with the neighbors, after expanding our campus and improving our parking, after paying off debt and after banking $4,000,000, (whew! We've come a long ways!) we are now ready to go to the country to seek a permit to build. This is not an authorization to build (that will come in December), this is only to secure a permit. Once submitted, the process will take 4-6 weeks.
Please come to the meeting this Sunday--even if you are on board and eager to start. We need an overwhelming "yea!" vote to confirm what God is doing through us.
We have poured over the plans. We have scrutinized the numbers. We have debated the issues. It is now time for all God's people to speak in one accord, "Amen. So be it!"
AMEN!
Pastor Scott
On Sunday, October 2 at 12:15, we will have an historic vote to move forward with The Master's Plan. After casting the vision 17 years ago, after first building the Ministry Center, after legal battles with the neighbors, after expanding our campus and improving our parking, after paying off debt and after banking $4,000,000, (whew! We've come a long ways!) we are now ready to go to the country to seek a permit to build. This is not an authorization to build (that will come in December), this is only to secure a permit. Once submitted, the process will take 4-6 weeks.
Please come to the meeting this Sunday--even if you are on board and eager to start. We need an overwhelming "yea!" vote to confirm what God is doing through us.
We have poured over the plans. We have scrutinized the numbers. We have debated the issues. It is now time for all God's people to speak in one accord, "Amen. So be it!"
AMEN!
Pastor Scott
Monday, September 19, 2011
Adultery
Last Sunday was not one of those feel good sermons. How could it be with a topic like adultery?
I wanted to be specific, without being unnecessarily graphic. I wanted it to be frank, without being insensitive to the young ears in the congregation. I wanted to speak to the married people, but with a powerful word to those who are unmarried.
When Jesus expanded the definition of adultery to lust, it make sense for us to include all those things in between--emotional affairs, premarital sex, pornography, etc. And when you do that, this commandment against adultery suddenly affects everyone--married and single, young and old. No one is left unscathed. No one can sit back with moral indignation, point a finger and say, "At least I've never done THAT!"
Why does Jesus cut such a wide swath to convict everyone with this commandment? Isn't it enough just to condemn those who have done THAT?
I begin with the assumption that everything that Jesus does is to repair, renew, restore and reunite us with God. By convicting everyone, he opens our eyes, reveals our brokenness, extends his hand and says, "Today. Today, make those changes. Today, sin no more. Today, return to me. Today, walk as a child of God. Today, start fresh. Today."
Jesus doesn't end with conviction, but that is often where we must begin in order for us to hear the last word of forgiveness.
Today!
Pastor Scott
I wanted to be specific, without being unnecessarily graphic. I wanted it to be frank, without being insensitive to the young ears in the congregation. I wanted to speak to the married people, but with a powerful word to those who are unmarried.
When Jesus expanded the definition of adultery to lust, it make sense for us to include all those things in between--emotional affairs, premarital sex, pornography, etc. And when you do that, this commandment against adultery suddenly affects everyone--married and single, young and old. No one is left unscathed. No one can sit back with moral indignation, point a finger and say, "At least I've never done THAT!"
Why does Jesus cut such a wide swath to convict everyone with this commandment? Isn't it enough just to condemn those who have done THAT?
I begin with the assumption that everything that Jesus does is to repair, renew, restore and reunite us with God. By convicting everyone, he opens our eyes, reveals our brokenness, extends his hand and says, "Today. Today, make those changes. Today, sin no more. Today, return to me. Today, walk as a child of God. Today, start fresh. Today."
Jesus doesn't end with conviction, but that is often where we must begin in order for us to hear the last word of forgiveness.
Today!
Pastor Scott
This Sunday, 7 and 8.
This Sunday we will continue our look at the 10 Commandments and I am wondering what your take is on the 7th commandment, "Don't Steal" and the 8th commandment, "Don't bear false witness against your neighbor." At first glance we could simply say "don't take something that isn't yours" and "don't lie" but do these go further. These two might seem like weaker commandments in comparison to killing and adultery but do we always know how powerful words are and how deep and painful they can be? We may have never "boosted" a car or shoplifted at the mall but have we stolen in other ways? Have we stolen someone's self-esteem or innocence? I would greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts on this one. You can post them here or email me at chermansen@christelca.org, call the church office at 704 366 1595 or track me down on facebook. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.
See you in church,
Chris
See you in church,
Chris
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Why Wednesdays Together
Tomorrow evening we kick off our Wednesday night program, called Wednesdays Together, and if you have never attended a Wednesdays Together I hope this will encourage you to check it out.
Why go? At its core faith is our relationship with God and this relationship needs to be cared for. Just like any relationship in your life if you don't care for that relationship it will eventually weaken and die. Wednesdays Together is a great opportunity to care for your relationship with God.
Taking care of any excuses: The evening starts at 5 with a meal. Its not lobster thermidor or filet mignon but it is a good meal. Beyond the food it is a great chance to spend some time getting to know new people or catching up with old friends. Our Sunday schedule can be a hectic one but on Wednesday nights you have all the time in the world to sit and connect with old and new friends alike.
Taking care of more excuses: the entire family is covered. You say you have a new baby? We have some of the best childcare I have ever seen and its free. You have toddlers, grade schoolers or teenagers? We have activities for them too. Its not daycare or organized chaos but it is a safe, healthy environment where your kids have the opportunity to learn about God and build connections with their peers.
And its not just for kids. We have 6 adult classes that cover a wide spectrum. Whether you want something more basic like Faith 101 or something more in depth like a study on John or Revelation we have that too. Or maybe you want to attend a class on managing your finances, understanding your God given gifts or finding some peace through yoga its all here.
Mostly this is an evening where you can grow in your faith and develop some deeper relationships with your peers who are on the same journey. It truly is a great program and I hope you will join us.
See you in church,
Chris Hermansen
Why go? At its core faith is our relationship with God and this relationship needs to be cared for. Just like any relationship in your life if you don't care for that relationship it will eventually weaken and die. Wednesdays Together is a great opportunity to care for your relationship with God.
Taking care of any excuses: The evening starts at 5 with a meal. Its not lobster thermidor or filet mignon but it is a good meal. Beyond the food it is a great chance to spend some time getting to know new people or catching up with old friends. Our Sunday schedule can be a hectic one but on Wednesday nights you have all the time in the world to sit and connect with old and new friends alike.
Taking care of more excuses: the entire family is covered. You say you have a new baby? We have some of the best childcare I have ever seen and its free. You have toddlers, grade schoolers or teenagers? We have activities for them too. Its not daycare or organized chaos but it is a safe, healthy environment where your kids have the opportunity to learn about God and build connections with their peers.
And its not just for kids. We have 6 adult classes that cover a wide spectrum. Whether you want something more basic like Faith 101 or something more in depth like a study on John or Revelation we have that too. Or maybe you want to attend a class on managing your finances, understanding your God given gifts or finding some peace through yoga its all here.
Mostly this is an evening where you can grow in your faith and develop some deeper relationships with your peers who are on the same journey. It truly is a great program and I hope you will join us.
See you in church,
Chris Hermansen
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