Pastor's Report for Charge Conference

Since last year’s Charge Conference, Good News has challenged itself to RETHINKCHURCH – to imagine a church where who we worship is more important than where or how we worship; where being the church is more important than just going to church; and where building up the kingdom of God is more important than building up one specific church or denomination. Traditional events such as the Fall Festival were reinvented to reflect the desire to take God’s grace out into the community and new emphasis was placed on how Good News can make a difference in Cedar Park, Leander, and the world. First Fruits Garden was more productive in providing fresh produce to the local food pantry; more youth and adults participated in CTCYM; VBS provided over 100 pounds of fresh meat to Hill Country Community Ministries; more books were provided to the Storybook Project of Texas; and Good News began working with Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County. In other words, rethinking church meant rethinking how to take the opportunities to encounter the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ out into the community.

Rethinking Church also meant taking where we worship out of the school. In an effort to let more people know that Good News exists, the leadership voted in April to sign a lease for a storefront in the Railyard Shopping Center. This is part of a three-year plan to get Good News into a permanent building on Holy Ground. The nursing home developer has made a new offer that will allow the debt on the land to be paid off leaving over $500,000 to begin building. The visibility of the new location has already resulted in more visitors and new members than the previous 12 months at Block House Creek Elementary School.

Last year, Good News was challenged to RETHINKCHURCH. This is the year the people of Good News go from rethinking church as a church “program” to rethinking church as way of life. This is the year we begin to make a difference in our community because of Jesus as his disciples who transform the world. Throughout the Gospel, it is clear that Jesus expects those who wish to follow him to become a disciple – to bear the cross with him – to go beyond just wearing a uniform to actually getting in the game. This year Good News is offering opportunities focused on helping people fall in love with God. It will offer opportunities and commitments that are varied, but the reason to accept the challenge is the same for all. It is so, as Jesus said, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (John 15:8) In other words, as Christians, we are called to Grow, Give, and Serve because of Jesus – to grow in our love of God in small spiritual/faith building groups because of Jesus, to give of our money and talents because of Jesus, and to serve God by serving our neighbors through new ministries because of Jesus.

Don't Miss Church on October 31

Last year on October 31, Good News UMC was challenged to RETHINKCHURCH. We caught a glimpse of the difference between just going to church and being the church through various “grace” projects around our community. For one day, we experienced how we can make a difference because of Jesus. This is the year the people of Good News go from rethinking church one day of the year to being the church all year long. This is the year we begin to make a difference in our community because of Jesus as his disciples. And it all starts October 31, 2010.

On that Sunday, everyone is invited and encouraged to begin this journey together. Throughout the Gospel, it is clear that Jesus expects those who wish to follow him to become a disciple – to bear the cross with him – to go beyond just wearing a uniform to actually getting in the game. On October 31, everyone will find out how they can do just that. The opportunities and commitments will be varied, but the reason to accept the challenge is the same for all. It is so, as Jesus said, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (John 15:8) But this is not just about how to bear fruit as a church through some new “program.” It is also about how you can bear fruit as a believer in Jesus Christ as a way of life. In other words, as Christians, we are called to Grow, Give, and Serve because of Jesus. Come to church on Sunday, October 31 at 8:30 or 10:45 and together we will begin bearing the fruit that glorifies God and allows each of us to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

A Prayer for Everyone's Life

This past weekend, Judy and I went with our son, Richard, as he began his four years at the United States Military Academy at West Point. At 6:30 a.m. we gathered into a gym and after a brief message, had 90 seconds to say our goodbyes. As Richard began a day of getting yelled at and learning the Army way, Judy and I began a day touring this historic campus. I convinced Judy that we should walk down to the visitor center instead of taking the bus. This, of course, got us immediately lost.

However, we did finally stumble down the mountain finding ourselves at the door of the majestic Cadet Chapel. This imposing structure, built in 1910, looked down knowingly at the campus and on to the Hudson River. Someone was practicing the pipe organ, the largest in the world, as we peeked into a sanctuary 210 feet long, 61 feet wide, with a 56 foot ceiling. We gazed at just some of the 192 stain glass windows and thought about the historic figures who must have sat in the pews that hold over 1500 people.

As we left, we picked up a brochure about the Chapel and on the back was printed the Cadet Prayer. It was written by Clayton E. Wheat – the USMA Chaplain from 1919 to 1926 – right after the First World War. As we read the prayer, we realized that it was not just a prayer for someone preparing for life in the army, but a prayer for anyone preparing for life. I hope it is as meaningful to you as it was for Judy and me and the many cadets who have worshiped in this holy space over the last 100 years.

The Cadet Prayer

O God, Our Father, Thou Searcher of Human hearts, help us to draw near to Thee in sincerity and truth. May our religion be filled with gladness and may our worship of Thee be natural. Strengthen and increase our admiration for honest dealing and clean thinking, and suffer not our hatred of hypocrisy and pretence ever to diminish. Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life. Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never be content with a half truth when the whole can be won. Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy. Guard us against flippancy and irreverence in the sacred things of life. Grant us new ties of friendship and new opportunities of service. Kindle our hearts in fellowship with those of a cheerful countenance, and soften our hearts with sympathy for those that sorrow and suffer. Help us to maintain the honor of the Corps untarnished and unsullied and to show forth in our lives the ideals of West Point in doing our duty to Thee and to our Country. All of which we ask in the name of the Great Friend and Master of All – Amen.

Thermometer or Thermostat?

This Sunday, the Church celebrates another time of Pentecost. This is the Sunday we remember the birth of the Church of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit starting with the disciples. This is a good time to remember how and why the Church came into existence. Today, the church of Jesus Christ has been described as the bride of Christ and the body of Christ. It has also been called a community of believers, a mission station, and a house of prayer. But, my favorite description for the church was coined in the 1960’s by Dr. Martin Luther King from the Birmingham jail. In a letter to other clergy who were trying to silence him, Dr. King described the Church of Jesus Christ in this way:

“There was a time when the church was very powerful. It was during that period when the early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed in. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Wherever the early Christians entered a town the power structure got disturbed and immediately sought to convict them for being ‘disturbers of the peace’ and ‘outside agitators’. But they went on with the conviction that they were a ‘colony of heaven’, and had to obey God rather than man. They were small in number but big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be ‘astronomically intimidated.’ They brought to an end such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contest. Things are different now. The contemporary church is often a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. It is so often the arch supporter of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church’s silent and often vocal sanction of things as they are.”

I believe that every Pentecost, we, as the Church, especially as Good News is entering into a new chapter, should ask ourselves one question: Is our church a thermostat or just another thermometer? Or, maybe a better question is that after remembering how and why the Church came into existence, what should it be?

Our Chance to Really RETHINK Church

After eight years, Good News is finally going to have a worship space to call its own. As you know by now, the Leadership of the church decided to take the bold and courageous step of moving our worship from Block House Creek Elementary School to the Railyard. A decision that means no more set-up and take-down every Sunday. But this step forward in the life of the church means more than just not having to stack our chairs after the final song and getting to lunch earlier.

One of the members of the Leadership Team said that just because the visibility is better at the new location doesn’t mean more people will come and worship with us. He said, “We’ve got to do something different or it doesn’t matter where we meet.” I couldn’t agree more because I think that this is what's at the heart of Psalm 127:1 where it says:

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Psalm 127:1

God put Good News in Cedar Park and Leander for a reason. And, I believe we are all here for a reason. It is time for us to let God do the building and for us to stop laboring in vain. Our new move gives us the chance to shift our focus from playing church to being the church. To focus on who and why we worship instead of how and who doesn’t come to worship. To focus on becoming better disciples and growing in God’s grace. It gives us the opportunity to invite and attract more people to encounter the risen Christ for themselves and build up the kingdom of God.

Church has been about “build it and they will come.” To rethink church is about people coming because it is God they find when they come into the building. It’s time to rethink church. Let’s let God start building His kingdom through the work of Good News United Methodist Church. As members, let’s begin by inviting people to experience not our music, or our preacher, or our new worship center. Let’s invite people instead to experience our God and His grace.

Good News has come to a very exciting point in its history. And I'm not just talking about the new worship space. Enough talk... it's time to get to work.

3 Questions Regarding Stewardship

If you missed worship this past Sunday, then you missed a short offering regarding stewardship with Tim Lowke. Below is a summary:

When Lindsay asked me to speak for a few minutes this morning, she posed three questions for me to answer and think about. At first, I thought this might be difficult, but as I mulled over the questions, I found that they were actually quite simply for me to verbalize. She asked:

Why do you love Good News?
This is going to be the answer that may puzzle both Lindsay and Bob and may cause them pause before they request me to do something like this again ----- I love Good News for many of the things that it isn’t. We aren’t a typical Methodist church. We don’t have a long history to bog us down. Don’t get me wrong, church rich in history can be fascinating places to worship, but many times they can be difficult places to do ministry. Good News isn’t a church that is stuck in its past ways --- we don’t say that we have always done it this way and so this is the only way in which to do it --- we are still flexible and willing to adjust and change. I see that as a strong part of our DNA as a congregation. For Lorna and I, this means that true ministry happens. We are not just concerned about ourselves, but we are concerned about our community. This hasn’t always been easy for us as a congregation, but what I see is a church, a congregation that is defining and redefining itself and is continually growing as a whole it its faith journey. We aren’t a church with all the answers. We don’t always make the right decision. We aren’t afraid to go out on a limb and try something new. I do think that we are all trying to serve in a way that examines and exemplifies that as a congregation we are trying to serve as the hands and feet of Christ on this earth for children, youth and families of this community.

Why do you think it is important to give back to God?
As I have grown in my faith, I have come to the realization that church and God is not what I take, but what I am able to give. Through that statement, what I mean is that I choose to give my prayers, my presence, my time, my energy, our money and my witness freely because I have learned through that joyful giving, not only am I touching lives of those both inside my family, but also those in our congregation and larger community, thus sharing the love that Christ and his father has for all of us.

What is your prayer for the future of Good News?
My prayer for Good News is that we continually move forward in ministry to the community and that we continue to focus outward and not inward. While like everyone else, I would like to see us move towards a building and a permanent home, my main reason for that move is not to make my life easier so I don’t have to set-up chairs on the second Sunday of the month, but because by having a permanent home, it would allow us to do even more ministry to the community, to the children, youth and families of our area. My prayer for Good News is that we continue to be that place that doesn’t look like the typical church --- we continue to be nimble and unafraid of change and challenge ---- we continue to be a place that needs people --- really needs them and challenges all of us to be a bit uncomfortable and moves each of forward in our faith journey to be the hands and feet of Christ.

Pray with me......
Dear God,
Challenge each of us to answer the tough questions about why we are here in this place and at this time. Help us to realize that we possess, we have because of your grace and glory.
In his name, Amen

Rethinking Music

Sometimes music tends to define what kind of church we are – traditional, contemporary, praise and worship, blended, etc. It tends to be the dominate ingredient in what we do on Sunday morning. But to really rethink church means to rethink the role music has in our worship service. Darlene Zschech is a worship leader, speaker, acclaimed singer, and songwriter from Hillsong Church in Australia. In fact, one of Good News’ favorite songs, Shout to the Lord, was written by her. She is one of the leaders in what many call the praise and worship music movement. Last week, I stumbled upon an article she wrote for the September issue of Worship Leader Magazine and I wanted to share some of it with you.

I will never forget a few years ago, when I was sitting in a lecture style environment listening and gleaning from a wonderful godly leader as he taught and poured out his heart on the “how to” of worship. There was a great deal of practical and necessary advice, but perhaps what was missing from the discussion was the “why” of worship. And as many of us in the room were fairly new in our roles of overseeing and teaching teams on worship, we were hungry for theology, hungry for revelation, and desperate to know God’s voice in the midst of it all. Towards the end of the lecture, the question was asked, “What about Jesus?” The room went uncomfortably quiet, and the lecturer gave a little laugh and simply said, “Well of course, it’s about Jesus.” We left the room feeling awkward, and confused about where Jesus fits in our worship.
When I looked back over that moment, I realize that somehow we had lost Jesus in the middle of our quest to make things sound good and look good.

Music, like all things in our worship, should be done the very best we can, but if it’s not done for Jesus for the glory of God it’s just another distraction keeping us from encountering the risen Christ. The kind of music we sing at Good News does not define us. Instead, let us be defined by who we sing for.

Being the Church

I have the privilege of receiving Bishop Will Willimon's (North Alabama Conference) weekly email and I wanted to share this week's with you. He is quoting author Tony Robinson's book What’s Theology Got to Do with It? Convictions, Vitality, and the Church. In light of our own church journey, I thought it was worth sharing.

It concerns me that the literature on what it takes to create healthy congregations includes a great deal on systems theory, leadership studies, conflict management… but little that is explicitly theological or biblical in nature. By and large, it seems that congregational health is not considered to have much to do with either the core convictions of the Christian faith, theology, or the Bible. In particular, little attention is paid to ecclesiology—the theology of church. In fact, Christian conviction about the church often seems to be missing entirely. This lack, I believe, should be central to our efforts as we work to build healthy congregations for the future.
Theologian Ellen Charry, who teaches at Princeton Theological Seminary, puts the matter directly: “I am increasingly realizing that a number of our ministerial students have no ecclesiology to speak of. For them the church is a voluntary not-for-profit organization run like a local franchise.”1 This is perhaps understandable given the pervasiveness of the consumer economy, including churches that compete in the free-market of spirituality in North America. … If our efforts to be and build congregations do not rest on a core of Christian conviction about what the church is, we tend to go to default options from the culture. The church becomes an entertainment experience with audience ratings, a purveyor of spiritual goods and services, a religious club for people who share the same worldview and experiences, a coalition united around a set of causes or sociopolitical agendas, or simply a gathering place where people have their individual spiritual experiences. The biblical sense of the church as a people or body is lost.
Consider, for example, the “congregation” (in this case, I use the word advisedly) that gathers around the compelling personal presence of one preacher and leader. A number of such charismatic leaders operate in North America. Some are televised. Many are not. Some do wonderful things. Some use and abuse their members or participants. In all cases, though, the attention of the faithful is centered on the dynamic leader. When something happens to that person—a mental breakdown or accusations of sexual harassment or financial malfeasance, for instance—the church usually goes from boom to bust in short order. When the charismatic founder dies, “the ministry,” as it is often referred to, simply dies also. The church is the ministry of that one person. Usually, in such instances, there has been no real church. There has been a charismatic leader and his or her followers. This is but one of the common distortions of church today. Lacking core Christian conviction about this thing called church, distortions and pseudo churches flourish, although only for a time. Established and more traditional congregations that lack a sufficient ecclesiology often lose their sense of identity and purpose.
The very word ecclesiology provides clues to its importance in understanding what it truly means to be a church or congregation. It comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which means “a people called” and “the visible assembly.” Church is not the building in which people meet, nor is it the leader. It is people gathered into community in response to God’s call in Jesus Christ. Church happens, as Jesus said, where “two or three are gathered in my name” (Matt. 18:20).
Churches, like other organizations, develop their structures, systems, and rituals for governance and continuity. These can be quite important, for they sustain common life and work, but such structures are in the end provisional. In Paul’s words, they are “clay jars,” not to be confused with the “extraordinary power [that] belongs to God” (2 Cor. 4:7). The church belongs to and owes its existence to God and not to us. God has created and claimed the church for God’s purposes.
The owner is God. Thus, the church is not simply a consumer-driven entity that exists to meet the religious needs of those who come to it. Churches may meet people’s needs, but they must do more than that. At least potentially, they transform people by drawing them into a larger purpose and identity. “Once you were not a people,” writes Peter, “but now you are God’s people” (1 Pet. 2:10).
As the exodus event transformed the Hebrew people into a people called and set apart by God, so the new exodus, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, calls and sets apart a people of God, the church. This people owe its being to God. The people of God are called to be faithful to this creating, redeeming, and sustaining God. And, as Israel itself was blessed to be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth, so the people of God—the church—also are called by God to be a blessing to others. God calls the church not to receive special favors or protection but to carry out a unique vocation: service to God and to the world God loves.

I Remember Now...

I remember now why I love going to Annual Conference.

First, I love hearing about all the great things that the United Methodist Church is doing around the world in the name of Jesus Christ – including right here in our own Conference. From the lives that are touched by the Methodist Mission Home in San Antonio for unwed expectant mothers and people with disabilities, to the children who now know security and love at the Methodist Children’s Home in Waco. How adults who are mentally challenged can find and experience a purpose for their lives at Aldersgate Enrichment Center in Brownwood. And to discover and celebrate how local churches all over central Texas are finding ways to be Christ to their neighbors.

Second, I love being reminded of the call on my life by Jesus Christ. The guest preacher at all three worship services was Dr. Walter Kimbrough of Atlanta, Georgia, and he was outstanding. He called on those who call themselves Christians to commit to building the kingdom of God by focusing on the church being what we do for Christ and not just a building, by making disciples and not just church members, and by serving and not by being served.

And finally, I love knowing that our Bishop, J. Michael Lowry, really believes in Jesus Christ. I heard it in his opening address when he said that the church’s main objective is to build the kingdom of God. I saw it when he stopped all business to offer prayers for people’s illnesses, for families in their loss of loved ones, and for the safety of Olney, Texas in the face of a tornado. And, I felt it in the passion he had during his morning Bible study, in his words of challenge to those being ordained, and in his grace amidst the debates of the business sessions.

Yes, I remember now why I love going to Annual Conference, but I also remember why I serve Jesus.

Living or Dead?

During my preparation for this Sunday's sermon, I found a very interesting quote comparing churches that are "alive" and those that are "dead." The source is unknown, but I thought it was very interesting after my meeting with the Bishop and our Conferences' new church pastors this past Wednesday. During the conversation, the question was asked what DNA the Bishop would like to see new churches have. The answer was for a church to be "outward focused" and Bible based from Acts 2 devoting themselves "to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." I think what the Bishop meant was that a new church needs to have the DNA that ensures an eternal life rather than the DNA that commits it to an eventual death. Which DNA do we want for Good News? Read the following and decide for yourself.

Live churches' expenses are always more than their income; dead churches don't need much money!
Live churches have parking problems; Dead churches have empty spaces!
Live churches may have some noisy children; Dead churches are quiet as a cemetery.
Live churches keep changing their ways of doing things; Dead churches see no need for change!
Live churches grow so fast you can't keep up with people's names; In dead churches everybody always knows everybody's name.
Live churches strongly support world missions; Dead churches keep the money at home!
Live churches are full of regular, cheerful givers; Dead churches are full of grudging tippers!
Live churches move ahead on prayer and faith; Dead churches work only on sight!
Live churches plant daughter churches; Dead churches fear spending the money, time, and talent!
Live churches outgrow their Sunday School facilities; Dead churches have room to spare!
Live churches welcome all classes of people; Dead churches stick to their own kind!
Live churches' members read their Bibles and bring them to church; Dead churches' members seldom do!
Live churches' members enthusiastically support the ministries; Dead churches have no ministries--only functions!
Live churches' members look for someone they can help; Dead churches' members look for something to complain about!
Live churches' members reach out to share their faith in Christ; Dead churches' members don't have enough to share!

Following Jesus dragging our nets behind us...

Value # 7 – To allow the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us even if it is into the sometimes uncomfortable world (the kingdom of God) where there is no doubt of the reality of Jesus.

The seventh and final overriding principle, or core value, of Good News United Methodist Church is the hardest to live by and follow. So far the values have included things that we can do without any real personal sacrifices and consequences. But, number seven, requires more from us. It requires us to do the three most foreign things possible for human beings.

The first is to be quiet and listen. The twenty-first century human being is not used to being quiet. In fact, we do everything possible to avoid it. So much so that if the world around us becomes too quiet, we have continued to find ways to fill the emptiness with personal music devices. The latest in the line includes the IPod so that each of us is never too far a way from our own personal soundtrack. But, we believe we must be still and listen. Listen for the voice of God through the Holy Spirit to lead and guide our way.

The second thing this value requires is that once we know where God would have us go, we must follow without question. In fact in most cases, it means following without even knowing where we’ll end up. Abraham moved his family out of his hometown to a location only God knew of simply because he heard God say, “Go and I will be with you.” Moses heard God’s voice in the burning bush and, after some resistance, began a mission that would take the rest of his life. And, then there were the disciples. They left their families and nets behind to follow the one they believed to be the Messiah – Jesus Christ.

The third most difficult thing for human beings to do is voluntarily walk from the comfortable to the uncomfortable. It is not human nature to make things harder by choice. In fact if the truth be known, we as human beings really only have one priority – ourselves. And, the one thing we like most of all is comfort. We want to feel good. So, why would perfectly normal human beings make the choice to place ourselves in situations that make us anxious, scared, worried, and basically uncomfortable?

It is because of the one thing that all these values, overriding principles, have in common. We have to have faith. We have to really believe that Jesus existed. We have to really believe that Jesus is the Messiah. And, we have to really believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This faith cannot just color our Sundays but color our every days. If we believe in Jesus, then we must love our neighbors everyday. If we believe in Jesus, we must trust God in all things. And, if we believe in Jesus, we must follow him and leave the nets of our old world behind. The Bible teaches us that if we really believe in Jesus we will be led by the Holy Spirit to some places that will make us uncomfortable (the courts of the Pharisees, the feet of the lepers, dinner with sinners, the foot of the cross). Sometimes we will be asked to go where we don’t want to go and help people we don’t want to help. If we really believe in Jesus, we will be asked to follow and leave our nets behind – including the nets of our own selfish fears and desires. It means being a Christian and not just claiming the name Christian. (Acts 1:8, Acts 4:31)

Good News Core Values Continued

Last week, I began talking about the seven overriding principles (or core values) used by Good News as the basis of our mission and in how we operate. As you may have noticed, these values are based on the scripture from the four Gospels and the Book of Acts. In other words, they are based on Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit’s formation of Christ's Church. They are used to keep the operation of Good News UMC focused on the main objective of growing and building the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. The first three core values were discussed last week. Today, I offer the next three.

Value #4 – To express our love for God and for others through our service to others. Throughout the Gospel, Jesus uses the words love and serve interchangeably because the kind of love he talked about is best demonstrated by serving. In other words, to love someone is best manifested by a desire to serve that someone. Jesus calls us to love God with everything we have and to love others as ourselves – to love God and to love whom God loves. Jesus demonstrated this kind of love by being the humble servant, washing the feet of the disciples, and ultimately, laying down his life for us. He would not have done this without having a fierce love for and desire to serve God. He also expects the same from us. Jesus also told us in Matthew how we can serve the King. He reminds us that every time we do something for “the least of these” who are members of God’s family, we do it to Him. If we want to serve God, we must serve others. (Mark 12:30-32, Mark 9:35, Matthew 25:40)

Value #5 – To allow God to bless us with an increase in numbers and other resources through our obedience to our mission. This is another way of saying we need to do our job and let God do God’s job. Too often a church worries about what they should be doing to attract members and increase attendance. But, in the Book of Acts the disciples simply are offering and living out the Good News our in the world and “and day by day the Lord added to their number those who are being saved.” It is the church’s job to offer the ministries they are called to do and to let God worry about who and how lives will be touched. The church’s job is more about being faithful than it is about keeping score. (Acts 2:46-47)

Value #6 – To accept grace and offer grace unconditionally. Grace is unconditional love and forgiveness. God offers it to us with no strings attached. In some ways, it is the best example of how God’s love is radically different than the world’s love. It basically means that God loves each of us “warts and all.” Part of Jesus’ message is this very thing. But, he goes further by telling us that this is how we are to love each other, as well. We, too, are to love and forgive others with no strings attached warts and all. We are called by Jesus to demonstrate and offer this grace to others. This means we need to be loving, forgiving, and accepting of people different than us. We need to give without stipulations, love without prerequisites, and forgive without conditions. This means we need to be open to every individual’s worth to God. We are called to demonstrate this unconditional love not only to Good News visitors, but to long-time members, to new kinds of ministries, and even to the kinds of music played in worship. What better way to encounter the risen Christ for ourselves than to live by his grace. (Matthew 18:15-22, John 13:34-35)

Next week, the seventh and final principle. In fact, it may turn out to be the one on which all the others are built. Until then, have a great week.

Pastor Bob

Seven Core Values of Good News UMC

As many of you know, the mission statement of Good News United Methodist Church is to offer the children, youth, and families of Cedar Park/Leander the opportunity to encounter the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ in our worship, small groups, special events, and daily lives so as to transform the world one relationship at a time. But what many of you may not know is that there are seven overriding principles on which this mission is based. In other words, there are seven core values on which this church operates. These are the reasons the church does what it does. And, why a church is different than any other organization in the world today.

Value #1 – To make ministry (defined as the different expressions of our Mission) our only business. The only reason we exist is to be a source of the kingdom of God – a real life, flesh and blood, tangible example of God’s grace. To be a place that offers forgiveness, acceptance, and love unconditionally so others may encounter its reality for themselves. A place where people can not only begin a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, but also grow that relationship and begin to offer the same back to others. In addition, our business is rooted in four areas: teaching, relationships, the Sacraments, and prayer. (Acts 2:42)

Value #2 – To seek new ways to achieve our mission and have faith in God to provide what we need to get it done. This means we are called to do our job and to allow God to do God’s job. Too often a new way to meet the needs of our neighbors (ways to offer the kingdom of God) is not started by a church because the people do not think they have what it takes to get it done. (Not enough people and/or money) But according to Jesus, this is backwards thinking. Our job is to seek the kingdom first, build and grow the kingdom as God gives us the opportunity to serve first, and let God provide what we need as we go. Where would Israel be today if Moses had decided not to go back to Egypt based on the high cost of travel? What would the Gospel be like today if Peter decided it would not be cost effective to leave his fishing career? And where would the Church be today if Paul decided he could not spread the message of Jesus to the gentiles because he didn’t have enough help? Being faithful and obedient is all God asks us to be. (Matthew 6:33)

Value #3 – To glorify God in all that we do rather than glorify individuals, or church, or our denomination. It others words, it is not about us. It is not about who gets the credit, who gets the praise, and who gets rewarded. It is about glorifying God in all that we do. This also means that whatever we give to Good News is really given to glorify God not just the church or an individual. In the church, when we sing, or when we teach, or when we serve on a committee, we do it for God. In whatever Good News accomplishes, people should see God’s hand in the work and not just ours. Our mission is not to do things so that people will encounter just our church, but so that people will encounter the body of Christ. It means keeping the main thing the main thing. And for followers of Jesus, the main thing is God. (Matthew 5:16)

Tune in next week when we'll talk about the remaining four. As always, I welcome your comments and questions. God bless and have a great week.

Easter 2009

This year's Easter season was wonderful and meaningful. Lent started with the Ash Wednesday service at The Pointe and followed up with the Holy Week services with our Brothers and Sisters at the other area United Methodist Churches, the Sunrise service held in the newly expanded room at Holy Ground, the indoor Easter egg hunt in the MPR, and a worshipful experience of our Easter service celebrating the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We also witnessed the launch of the new First Fruits garden ministry.

But as we reflect on this past Easter at Good News, I wanted to share an article with you from what seems an unlikely source - U2's lead singer, Bono. Below is his interesting reflection on Easter 2009. Enjoy and tell me what you think.

It’s 2009. Do You Know Where Your Soul Is?
By BONO
Published: April 18, 2009
I AM in Midtown Manhattan, where drivers still play their car horns as if they were musical instruments and shouting in restaurants is sport.
I am a long way from the warm breeze of voices I heard a week ago on Easter Sunday.
“Glorify your name,” the island women sang, as they swayed in a cut sandstone church. I was overwhelmed by a riot of color, an emotional swell that carried me to sea.
Christianity, it turns out, has a rhythm — and it crescendos this time of year. The rumba of Carnival gives way to the slow march of Lent, then to the staccato hymnals of the Easter parade. From revelry to reverie. After 40 days in the desert, sort of ...
Carnival — rock stars are good at that.
“Carne” is flesh; “Carne-val,” its goodbye party. I’ve been to many. Brazilians say they’ve done it longest; they certainly do it best. You can’t help but contract the fever. You’ve got no choice but to join the ravers as they swell up the streets bursting like the banks of a river in a flood of fun set to rhythm. This is a Joy that cannot be conjured. This is life force. This is the heart full and spilling over with gratitude. The choice is yours ...
It’s Lent I’ve always had issues with. I gave it up ... self-denial is where I come a cropper. My idea of discipline is simple — hard work — but of course that’s another indulgence.
Then comes the dying and the living that is Easter.
It’s a transcendent moment for me — a rebirth I always seem to need. Never more so than a few years ago, when my father died. I recall the embarrassment and relief of hot tears as I knelt in a chapel in a village in France and repented my prodigal nature — repented for fighting my father for so many years and wasting so many opportunities to know him better. I remember the feeling of “a peace that passes understanding” as a load lifted. Of all the Christian festivals, it is the Easter parade that demands the most faith — pushing you past reverence for creation, through bewilderment at the idea of a virgin birth, and into the far-fetched and far-reaching idea that death is not the end. The cross as crossroads. Whatever your religious or nonreligious views, the chance to begin again is a compelling idea.
Last Sunday, the choirmaster was jumping out of his skin ... stormy then still, playful then tender, on the most upright of pianos and melodies. He sang his invocations in a beautiful oaken tenor with a freckle-faced boy at his side playing conga and tambourine as if it was a full drum kit. The parish sang to the rafters songs of praise to a God that apparently surrendered His voice to ours.
I come to lowly church halls and lofty cathedrals for what purpose? I search the Scriptures to what end? To check my head? My heart? No, my soul. For me these meditations are like a plumb line dropped by a master builder — to see if the walls are straight or crooked. I check my emotional life with music, my intellectual life with writing, but religion is where I soul-search.
The preacher said, “What good does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?” Hearing this, every one of the pilgrims gathered in the room asked, “Is it me, Lord?” In America, in Europe, people are asking, “Is it us?”
Well, yes. It is us.
Carnival is over. Commerce has been overheating markets and climates ... the sooty skies of the industrial revolution have changed scale and location, but now melt ice caps and make the seas boil in the time of technological revolution. Capitalism is on trial; globalization is, once again, in the dock. We used to say that all we wanted for the rest of the world was what we had for ourselves. Then we found out that if every living soul on the planet had a fridge and a house and an S.U.V., we would choke on our own exhaust.
Lent is upon us whether we asked for it or not. And with it, we hope, comes a chance at redemption. But redemption is not just a spiritual term, it’s an economic concept. At the turn of the millennium, the debt cancellation campaign, inspired by the Jewish concept of Jubilee, aimed to give the poorest countries a fresh start. Thirty-four million more children in Africa are now in school in large part because their governments used money freed up by debt relief. This redemption was not an end to economic slavery, but it was a more hopeful beginning for many. And to the many, not the lucky few, is surely where any soul-searching must lead us.
A few weeks ago I was in Washington when news arrived of proposed cuts to the president’s aid budget. People said that it was going to be hard to fulfill promises to those who live in dire circumstances such a long way away when there is so much hardship in the United States. And there is.
But I read recently that Americans are taking up public service in greater numbers because they are short on money to give. And, following a successful bipartisan Senate vote, word is that Congress will restore the money that had been cut from the aid budget — a refusal to abandon those who would pay such a high price for a crisis not of their making. In the roughest of times, people show who they are.
Your soul.
So much of the discussion today is about value, not values. Aid well spent can be an example of both, values and value for money. Providing AIDS medication to just under four million people, putting in place modest measures to improve maternal health, eradicating killer pests like malaria and rotoviruses — all these provide a leg up on the climb to self-sufficiency, all these can help us make friends in a world quick to enmity. It’s not alms, it’s investment. It’s not charity, it’s justice.
Strangely, as we file out of the small stone church into the cruel sun, I think of Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, whose now combined fortune is dedicated to the fight against extreme poverty. Agnostics both, I believe. I think of Nelson Mandela, who has spent his life upholding the rights of others. A spiritual man — no doubt. Religious? I’m told he would not describe himself that way.
Not all soul music comes from the church.
Bono is the lead singer of the band U2 and a co-founder of the advocacy group ONE.

Audio Podcast

Reminder we are putting Bob's sermon's online. Our second installment is now available from January 4th: Epiphany Sunday. We still are working out the kinks to get it recorded every week. I am afraid we will not get this week's message recorded as David Luscombe is out of town being a Grandpa!

Give these a listen. I now I enjoy listening to them again as I am posting them to the web.

The Christmas Story

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I wanted to share with you Chuck's own version of the Christmas Story he shared with us at the Christmas Eve service. Thanks again to him for continuing to share his many talents in the mission of Good News United Methodist Church.


"The Christmas Story"
phrased by Chuck Tysor
Plagiarizing: Clement C. Moore
Kind of as written by Isaiah, Matthew, and Luke
(plus a little extra)


Twas the night before Christmas In Bethlehem that night, Something special was happening Which to be a most wondrous sight

For the town was all busy Due to the census you know And Joseph and Mary Had just arrived off the road.

The Inns were all busy With such crowds in the town And all the rooms were taken But for a stable to bed down.

The villagers were all nestled, All snug in their beds, Not knowing, some not caring, About what was ahead.

The animals were lowingIt was such a peaceful sight Then a wondrous star appeared That gave out a bright and Holy light.

And then it all happened, As Isaiah foretold for that nightIt was a miracle of God, The birth of the Christ.

For that night God gave a wondrous gift The salvation for all mankind he gave, For God gave us his only son, To a carpenter, his wife, and all to be saved.

And the Angels told the Shepherd's, Which made them shake with fright, And said, "Do not be afraid", For the Savior is born tonight.

In swaddling clothes The Christ Child they saw, So gentle, not crying, In a manger, filled with straw.

The little drummer boy came With a gift all his own, And he gave all that he had, The beating sound of his drum.

And the Holy star shined Guiding the magi with their presents They came to worship a King, The Christ Child in their presence.

So as the prophecies were fulfilled, And Jesus saves us from our sins, Glory to God in the highest, Peace on Earth, good will to men.

So now follow the example of St. Nickolas When you hand out presents as you do, Remember the magi's gifts to Christ, And the gift God has given you.

Now THAT's the story of Christmas It must have been a wonderful sight So now I say, Merry Christmas to all And to all a good night.

Christmas Extravaganza!

Wow. That was the way to prepare for Christmas. Two weekends, 4 events and everything was wonderful. I hope you all enjoyed the fun. Here is brief montage of the Good News Advent and Christmas events. Merry Christmas from Good News!

We started off with the Leander Christmas Parade. Even thought this year community attendance was down and the the parade route organization was straight from National Lampoon's 'Animal House', the our 3 Kings and Camels were great. Click Here for a short video as we rolled through town plus the slide show below. (slide.com has added a music feature to the free slide shows. Click the speaker the symbol if you're not fan of 3 doors down or find it distracting...otherwise rock on.)

Next was the Christmas Family Festival where we all made Chrismons. Glitter and hot glue = Christmas fun. Below is the Video Christmas Card made from the event.


The next weekend was the Children's Christmas Show - Three Wise Men and a Baby Story. No Ted Danson, Tom Selleck nor Steve Guttenberg did not make an appearance but the kids were precious. Here is an angel of the Lord...now why would the shepards be afraid of this?


Lastly, the Adult and Youth Christmas Presentation - The Miracle. I don't have any pictures or a video to share. Let's just say that a youth black light/white glove presentation, 12 plus songs, piano, drums, guitar, bass, well travelled audio equipment and dancing all came together for a 45 minute flawless presentation. That was a miracle within "The Miracle". Well done by all!

Introducing Sermon Podcasting

We have added a new online feature for GNUMC - Podcasting. Each week we will strive to record and post Bob's message. Thank you David Luscombe for figuring out how to record through the soundboard! So if you miss a Sunday...listen to the podcast and read the newsletter.

Operation Christmas Child

At a gathering at the Rainey residence on Nov. 18, several members of the United Methodist Women Sisters of Faith group met and tackled the task of wrapping the shoe boxes donated by the Good News congregation for Operation Christmas Child.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, which enables people to share God’s love with hurting girls and boys in the far corners of the globe. Shoe boxes are filled with prayers, toys, school supplies, and hygiene items. Each box is then wrapped and marked for the gender and age of the child for which it is intended.

Good News church sent 28 boxes filled with prayers and gifts of all kinds. The UMW donated the postage for all of the boxes that were donated. Thank you to all who participated and helped to bring smiles to 28 little faces.

Stewardship for 2008 and Beyond

This year’s Stewardship Campaign may have seemed very low key compared to other years at Good News United Methodist Church. There is a reason for that. Motivating people to give money to the church can be accomplished in many ways. One is by experiencing a very large, hyped-up campaign where folks are moved by peer pressure and emotion to pledge large amounts to the church. The other extreme is to constantly show how behind the church is in paying its bills each month to generate giving out of guilt and fear. I do not believe in either method.

I believe stewardship is not just something we do once a year to somehow predict whether or not we will have enough money to do the work of the church. Stewardship is an everyday part of what it means to have faith in God. It is an outward expression of our trust in God that we can do everyday whether it is the time we spend in prayer and service, the gifts we use to lift up and encourage others, or the money we give to fund the ministry of the Church. Stewardship is the using of what God has given to us to build the kingdom of God on earth everyday in all that we do.

In addition, a pledge card is more than just a financial record of our promised giving to the church. It is an opportunity to put our faith in action. It is a chance to step out of the comfortable world of trusting only ourselves into the uncomfortable world of learning to trust God with some level of accountability – not to keep us accountable for a dollar amount to the church, but to help keep us accountable to a promise we make between us and God. It is an opportunity to grow in our walk with God.

We at Good News United Methodist Church have a mission to offer the people in our community the opportunities to encounter the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ in all that we do. But, to do so takes money, both now and in the future as expenses grow with a building of our own. Again, let me remind you that even though we will make money on the sale of half of Holy Ground, we are not allowed to use any of the money to pay operational expenses or fund the necessary ministry of the church. That is why we need each other to make ministry happen.

I would like to thank those families who filled out and turned in their commitment cards for 2009, and I would like to encourage those who have yet to turn their cards in to do so by Thanksgiving. As believers, we have a reason to be thankful even during tough times because tough times don’t just need tough people. Tough times need a tough faith in a strong God.