Is God speaking to you?

Samuel had worked hard that day; he spent a great deal of time serving God in the temple and serving God’s people in Israel.  He had tasks, jobs and routines he did day by day that very seldom varied.  He probably thought this would be his life.  It was a good, honorable life that had him as a servant in the Temple of God, cleaning, setting up, preparing for sacrifice and worship.  You get the idea.  His life was set!

But one night as he prepares to go to sleep, he hears the voice of God call his name. It’s such a soft voice he is unsure who it is and mistakes it for Eli, the temple priest.  Twice he hears the voice, and twice he misses that it is the voice of God.  Finally Eli recognizes that it might be God and tells Samuel, next time say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”  This Samuel does, and neither he nor the world would ever be the same, for Samuel would become one of the greatest prophets of Israel, eventually setting apart the shepherd boy, David, as king and guiding Israel through its early ups and downs as a kingdom.  He would be God’s prophet for a generation.

We hear a lot of voices in our lives.  In the morning I hear a pretty loud voice saying its time for coffee.  Around 11:30 a.m. a voice that says “lunchtime is almost here” starts saying a few words.  All day, and most days (like all of us), I have multiple tasks, demands, routines and expectations that speak insistently.  And those voices can control my day pretty well, for I usually listen.  After all, the task has to be done, this project has to be completed, I have to have lunch, and no coffee, don’t think so!  On top of this I am bombarded with voices that tell me I need a new car, a new house, a new product, a new diet, even a new face — with most of these voices wanting something from me.  Yet the voice of God speaks insistently, wisely, lovingly and most often softly.  Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Is God speaking?  Yes, God is always speaking.  The better question is, “Am I listening?”

Thoughts on vital congregations

Just recently I returned from The Leading Edge, a group of United Methodist ministers who have been charged with supporting one another and leading the revitalization of the United Methodist Church.  This last week we reviewed a report with our bishops entitled Call to Action.  The report is the result of intensive research, focusing first on What Makes a Vital Congregation.  Obviously, if we don’t know what a vital church is and what makes churches successful, we can’t take a next step.  Here is some of the initial summary of the characteristics of vital Methodist churches:

• Effective pastoral leadership, inspirational preaching, mentoring laity, effective management (and most often tenure);
• Multiple small groups and programs for children and youth;
• A mix of traditional and contemporary worship services;
• A high percentage of spiritually engaged laity involved in mission and ministry and leadership.

If the above are the key characteristics of vital churches, then the Call to Action report also defined what the qualifiers or measurements for that vitality is:

• Average worship attendance and percentage of membership;
• Total membership;
• Number of children, youth and young adults attending;
• Number of professions of faith;
• Annual giving per attendee;
• Financial benevolence beyond the local church (spending on mission and outreach).

It is good for us to know that our average worship attendance as of today is 2,370, the highest by far in our history.  Our membership went over 6,000 last year.  We have a tremendous number of children, youth and adults who are not only active in groups and worship services but in making a difference through outreach and mission.  We have had over 125 professions of faith in just the first few months of this year and around 265 folks who have officially united with our church family.  We are a part of one of the most generous churches in North America.  Our outreach and mission outside of our church budget is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and multifaceted locally, nationally and worldwide.

First Methodist of Mansfield is a standard on what a vital church is.  I am proud of you!

This is why we were asked last year to be chair of the task force that restructured the Central Texas Conference, why we are on The Leading Edge seeking to transform the denomination and why many of our staff travel to teach other churches how “to do church.”   Not only is God at work here, but God is using you to influence the United Methodist Church as a whole.

Easter is coming

This is the schedule for all our Easter celebrations, and I certainly hope that all our church family will attend beginning tonight (Thursday at 6:00 p.m.) for our Holy Thursday drama, Twelve at the Table.  But I would also ask you to share this information with family and friends.  If all of us do this, we can tell this great story to thousands in just a few minutes.  And, this great story is surely worth telling.

Thoughts on Holy Week

Palm Sunday is this weekend, the beginning of Holy Week.

Palm Sunday and Saturday

• Jesus enters Jerusalem to the exuberant praises of the crowds;
• Jesus drives the money changers out of the temple;
• Jesus teaches at the temple, heals the sick and works miracles;
• The religious leaders offer 30 pieces of silver for anyone who will help them arrest Jesus.

Holy Thursday

• Jesus shares Passover, the Lord’s or Last supper, with his disciples;
• Jesus is betrayed by Judas for 30 pieces of silver;
• Jesus makes his way to the Garden of Gethsemane where he prays;
• Jesus is eventually arrested somewhere in the night;
• On both Thursday and Friday He is tried in a mock court.

Good Friday

• Jesus is crucified;
• Jesus dies on the cross.

Easter Sunday

• Jesus is raised from the dead.

Thoughts:
Jesus lived the good life.
Jesus taught the good life.
Jesus modeled the good life.

As we walk with Him through Holy Week, what can we learn about what really matters, what really counts, what is really important and what is really The Good Life?

Thoughts on preparation

I am preparing to do a 5K at our church called the Son Run.  Now, I have spent a couple of days a week in the gym for many years, usually in the weights area, running on the treadmill on occasion.  At this point in my life I can’t say I am a runner.  So when I made the decision to join in this cause, I looked up a website that said five weeks to a 5K and have been attempting to run the times, miles and days it says so I can run the day after tomorrow without embarrassing myself or passing out half way through.  I think I am almost there, though if we could change the name of the Son Run to the Son Run Slowly, it would be a more accurate description of the event in my book.  But I will say this, if I had not spent the last five weeks preparing diligently, I would have had to walk the event.  One just can’t drop into a 5K without some preparation.

The directions have been simple — run this long, this far, walk and stop.  It is not hard to figure out the program.  And yes, I do like simple; complicated gets lost in its own complications.

If my choice is to be a strong, spiritual, making-a-difference Christian and follower of Jesus Christ, how does it happen, how do I become this?  Sheer wanting it is not enough, but wanting it enough to prepare for the 5K, or more accurately, the marathon that is life has some simple guidelines.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (and some think 1 Thessalonians was the first book of the New Testament written):

• Rejoice always.
• Pray without ceasing.
• In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
• Do not quench the Spirit.
• Hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.

I would be crazy to attempt a 5K without some preparation.  Yet many go out into a world where major decisions must be made, problems must be solved, relationships must be built, Christ must be followed and the “good life” must be lived, and they go out unprepared and then wonder why it didn’t go well, why they had to drop out half way, had to stop and walk, had to sit on the curb or just plain give up, and maybe even had to drop and wait for the paramedics to come.

• Focus on the blessings of God that demand joy.
• Never lose the prayer connection with a loving God.
• Gratitude is the foundation of a godly life, and ingratitude is sin.
• The Holy Spirit wants to engage each of us consistently, the “breath” of God.
• Find the good, hold on; identify the evil and run.

Thoughts on faith, courage and strength

Faith is one of the most important words and ideas in Christianity, the decision to follow Jesus Christ. Jesus talked about it all the time and expected His followers to display faith. I think sometimes we get this important concept a little off kilter. Some think it means “what I believe.” Others think of it as a way to “get God to do what they want.” Though beliefs are important and a life of miracles is important, faith is more than this.

The evidence of faith is courage and strength!

The evidence of fear is doubt and weakness!

Let me ask a question. You might know the story of Peter walking on the water. He sees Jesus walking toward him on the water of the Sea of Galilee. After a short conversation, Jesus invites him to step out of the boat. Peter does . . . and for a short moment Peter lives beyond the bounds of earthly rules. In a few minutes he begins to take his eyes off of Jesus, looks around at the wind and the waves and begins to sink, crying, “Jesus save me,” which Jesus willingly does. Yet later Jesus exclaims, “O ye of little faith,” I am guessing sounding a little exasperated. Where is the faith in this event? Is it in the courage and strength that Peter had when he stepped out of the boat? The courage and strength He had to ask Jesus for help? The courage and strength he had to not get down on himself or doubt Jesus and continue to follow? I think these three concepts are where faith is defined:

• Courage and strength to step out;
• Courage and strength to ask God for help;
• Courage and strength to not get down on ourselves and to try again because when we give up, we shut down God’s future for us.

Here is the key idea for me: when we find our courage and strength in our relationship with God — our love for God, the grace we experience daily through Jesus Christ — then faith awakens. And even though our circumstances may not have changed, we have, and how we deal with and view those circumstances are dramatically altered. Even though the water might still be there, even the storm and the waves, we just might find ourselves walking on it.

My report to the Executive Council

I wanted to share with you the report that I gave to the Executive Council this week:

First United Methodist Church of Mansfield continues to be an effective and growing church, making an impact upon our community and world, providing leadership in the United Methodist denomination and beyond, and celebrating a membership that keeps growing in numbers, faith and ministry.

1. Our worship attendance is well beyond 2,000 per weekend.
2. Our membership has passed the benchmark number of 6,000.
3. Our confirmation class has 96, our largest class ever.
4. We are moving to complete three major construction projects:
   • Renovation of bathrooms in the Gym;
   • Creating a children’s worship venue in the Gym area;
   • Enhancing substantially the Student Ministries worship area.
5. Our Well and Saturday night services continue to be effective and successful.
6. The Celebrate Recovery service is consistent and building.
7. Our Spanish language worship service is gathering strength through Bible studies, monthly worship and ministry to our Spanish-speaking community.
8. We set the standard for mission, in our own community and in our world.
9. The GPS program continues to grow, adding a family GPS, renovated presentation, weekly podcast and the ability to interact with the study.
10. Our weekly online worship services continue to be effective, attracting new viewers and meeting the worship needs of many.
11. We will add a 5:00 p.m. Sunday service with a new focus and format that will continue our aggressive approach in reaching people for Christ.
12. The generosity of our church family continues to be strong in giving to the budget, giving to special causes, serving, volunteering, and celebrating in worship.

In a season of economic downturn and slowing community growth, First Methodist continues to thrive in vital worship and ministry, making disciples of Jesus Christ who will love God, love others and serve the world.  Our pastors, leadership, staff and congregation are enthusiastic, dedicated and willing to be a church family who make a difference.  First Methodist Church has a deep spiritual, Christ-centered core that makes it adaptable, dynamic and ready to serve a changing world.

I am also thrilled that the God Is Big Enough emphasis keeps expanding, reflecting a church that is ready and willing to share faith and hope in God with others.  We continue to see a transformed and transforming church family.

Mike Ramsdell
Senior Pastor

Thoughts on how we respond

What do we do, how should we feel, how can we help, how do we deal with it?  Sometimes we ask these questions of ourselves, especially when we see and hear with so much clarity and persistence the devastation in Japan — destruction defined by an earthquake, tsunami and even nuclear power plant melt downs. When we add to this the last few years of natural disasters from Hurricane Katrina to the more recent earthquake in Haiti, we can feel overwhelmed.  As Christians, how do we respond?  We might ask further, what’s going on?

I will try to answer the “what’s going” on question first.

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Romans 8:22

“God Himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away.” Revelation 21:3b,4

The first scripture speaks as to what is going on.  The creation itself is in the process of being redeemed.  God is at work in the hearts and through the lives of all those who will turn to Him in faith.  And His purpose is to one day usher in a new heavens and a new earth, a new creation birthed by His grace and spirit where all people have turned their hearts to God.  Until God ushers in the post-sin and death Kingdom, these kinds of things will continue, just as Jesus said they would.

“In this world you will have tribulation . . . you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed, such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise up against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pangs.” Matthew 24

Then Jesus tells us what to do.

“Keep watch . . . be a faithful and wise servant.” Matthew 24

We can respond to the needs in Japan through UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, that is already at work.   But also, all the ways we influence our world and serve others is a direct and indirect response to the needs of that world — yes, when we directly give to UMCOR or another relief agency but also when we serve our neighbor, bless our family, worship our God and make a difference in our community.  As we join our daily efforts with the efforts of millions of other Christians, together we are making a difference.  Living out lives of faith, keeping watch, being faithful and wise servants consistently and lovingly — these are already ongoing responses to the seemingly overwhelming situations in our world.

Thoughts on sharing “God Is Big Enough”

I asked permission to tell a very special story that connects with the God Is Big Enough wristband adventure. Three years ago we took a group to Israel. Jim and Nancy went with us. They are from California, but Jim is the brother of Duane who is a member of our church. We often prayed for their young granddaughter who was battling cancer. These prayers have continued for the last three years.

Just a short time ago, this beautiful Christian granddaughter, Brielle, lost her fight with cancer but inherited the everlasting life that God gives so freely to those who are His. Lisa, her mother, sent this note to Duane and Kathy, Brielle’s great uncle and aunt, a few days ago. The memorial service for Brielle is this coming weekend.

Hi, Duane and Kathy, it’s Lisa. I heard your church was the one that sent Brielle the God Is Big Enough bracelet! I had no idea where she got it till now, and I can’t tell you what a HUGE blessing this has been. Brielle put it on the minute she got it and wore it until I had to take it off her wrist and put it on mine after she passed away. I had been praying and asking God for a way to get those bracelets to be able to pass out at her service. When grandpa got the text to my sister, and Heidi shared with me today about the bracelets being given, I cried non-stop, happy tears of thankfulness. THANK YOU so much for this gift!!!! God spoke to your hearts to do this and my prayers were answered!!! I love you both dearly. I have already made beautiful baskets to put them in to be passed out after the service. Again, thank you from the very bottom of my heart! Xoxo

Duane and Kathy will be taking God Is Big Enough wristbands to California with them. There is always hope because God is God and loves us. This message speaks from a cross, through an empty tomb and into our lives in whatever situation we find ourselves.

We have 10,000 more wristbands coming in this week and have ordered 30,000 more to ensure we have them through the Easter season. If you are reading this and want to share this with another church or organization, go to or share www.godisbigenough.us.  There is the info on how we did the campaign, the resources that are free to use and where other churches can order the bracelets for themselves.

Thoughts on living for what Jesus lived for

The question “What would Jesus do?” sometimes might be impossible to answer. Jesus often did unexpected things. But “What did Jesus live for?” — this is a question that is not nearly as hard to answer.

I knew a woman some years ago who did not live an easy life. She faced many financial hardships, and her two children experienced great difficulty as they grew up. She had a difficult job as well. But over a period of many years, she found an escape, a focus that seemed to help her deal with life to some extent. She discovered bingo. She loved bingo, was formed and shaped by bingo, looked forward to bingo, lived each week on a schedule that revolved around bingo. The hope of shouting “Bingo!” a couple of times a week had become the core of her existence. Last I heard, it still is.

If to follow Jesus is to make a decision, the clear choice to begin this amazing journey with God, then to believe in Jesus might include living for what He lived for. To add to this, we were designed by God to live for this, to be this, to live a life for and with God our creator. People sometimes find substitutes. After all, no one can live for nothing, even if that substitute is bingo. And sin can get in the way as life sometimes gets distorted and broken, but “Amazing Grace” is the answer. A life of grace and living for what Jesus lived for and the core beliefs that guide us are the central components to Follow, Believe, Obey.

A friend, Ken Diehm, died suddenly less than two weeks ago. Ken was 52 and served as a pastor for more than 30 years. He was most recently the senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of Grapevine. I knew Ken, both the public, very successful church leader and the private person who struggled to be faithful to God as a father, husband and pastor. His life was not about success or the legacy he would leave, though Ken had both. It was about a day by day focus “to live for what Jesus lived for” — at home with his family, his many hours on a bicycle, standing in the pulpit or working with me on a recent task force to restructure the Central Texas Conference.

Changing the question from “What would Jesus do?” to “What did Jesus live for?” can change everything. Jesus lived for God and for you and me!