We are so blessed!

“God does not help those who help themselves. Rather, He helps those who cannot help themselves, know it, and rely on Him.” 

Dean Ulrich

  Over the years I’ve been at several grand openings and building dedications. I was at the grand opening of our local Walmart and both area Kwik-Trips. Typically, at those events, they recognize the owner, architect, bankers, contractors, various dignitaries and key management personnel. On Sunday, February 18^th, we will have our Grand Opening/Building Dedication and will thank and recognize many of those individuals. Today though we want to praise, thank and honor the One behind this building.

  If God had not been with us, if our Heavenly Father had not blessed us and undertaken for us – we would not be here this morning. There are so many things that we need to thank Him for that I hardly know where to begin. Let me mention a few…

  We are so thankful for God’s protection. Life is so fragile. It’s easy for construction workers, particularly if they have been doing the same task for years to become overconfident or hurried. Years ago, when I was in commercial roofing, I saw my share of accidents. In fact, I have a scar on my forehead that I’ve carried all my life from my first day on the job when the boss was too hurried and caught me in the face with a roofing shovel. I remember holding a friend down and urging him not to move after he fell 15’ through an uncovered skylight backwards. Blood was trickling out of his ear. Fortunately, he was not killed though he ultimately lost the hearing in that ear, but it could have been so much worse. To my knowledge there were no accidents on our project. Sadly, one of the contractors did have some equipment stolen but the God of all justice may still bring that to a fulfilling conclusion.

  We are so thankful for God’s provision. This was a huge step of faith for our church family. Our original budget was $1 million. You could hear an audible gasp when the first estimates came back at $2.2 million. Yet, with lots of hard work and some very difficult decisions, we whittled it down again and again. Yet, we still came out with a beautiful building that is a viable tool that enables us to minister and accomplish our mission of reaching our world with the gospel for the glory of God! I feel both blessed and humbled to pastor such a generous church family. So many of you sacrificed, not just money, but hours upon hours.

  Then, we had friends across the country who helped us and sent funds to assist us. And we made new friends who for some reason that we can only explain as a “God thing,” were burdened to help us. I am awed by it all. There are horror stories of the difficulty of working with governmental authorities, yet repeatedly we found them stepping up to assist us!

  We are so thankful for God’s providence. Are you like me? I find that I’m often in a hurry. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that God is continually cultivating in me. Unfortunately, I’m a very slow learner. It seemed to take so l-o-n-g from the time the land was purchased, to paying it off, to organizing a building committee, to selecting a contractor and putting that first shovel in the ground. But I wasn’t in the driver’s seat, the Father was.

  What a tragedy it could have been if we had begun building and faced the economic downturn our nation went through a few years ago. We have sought to err on the side of being fiscally conservative. If we had failed financially, it’s not just our testimony that would have been hurt, it would have hurt the cause of Christ and given skeptics cause to mock.

  When we built, interest rates were very low and financial institutions were looking for worthy projects. Construction was beginning to catch on fire (which is one reason our costs increased). Yet, with Foxconn coming to our area and some major Milwaukee projects, further delay would have only increased our costs where they could have become unreachable for us and given us less options of contractors. God’s timing is always perfect!

  We are so thankful for God’s pressure. We human beings love comfort and ease. This project has helped my prayer life grow. So many times, I didn’t have a clue on how we were going to put something together or finance it. And I just prayed…and over and over again, God answered our prayers. It’s truly been a very humbling experience. It’s helped Jane and I, and our whole family learn to be more generous. As opportunities came up, God would lay on our hearts to be the one to take care of it. That’s true for many of you as well. And I need that pressure. My faith and dependence on the Father needs to grow deeper. This pressure has been a blessing for me!

  We are so thankful that this is only Phase #1. This project has created a buzz and excitement in our church family that I’ve never seen. It’s drawn us closer together. We’ve spent hours with each other. It’s given us a greater love and appreciation for each other. And we need the pressure of a project unfinished to keep us dependent on the Father. It reminds us that though this phase of our building is complete, the task is unfinished. Our mission is not about a building, it’s about the Great Commission!

  In fact, I’m even thankful our new chairs didn’t arrive for today (though it sure would have been nice). It reminds us that we do not need all the bells and whistles to worship our Father. It reminds us that a church is people, not a building. We have each other! Your brothers and sisters are the church. This building is only a tool for us to get together in.

  This building, serving, worshiping and honoring the Father is only a foretaste of what we have waiting for us in Heaven, when we join King Jesus and all our brothers and sisters through the ages – and the Church finally meets for the very first time! It won’t be a soft opening. It will be the real deal!

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Memories: God's blessings from the past give us strength for the future

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”  Dr. Seuss

The people of God are to have incredible memories. Scripture constantly warns believers of the danger of forgetting, exhorting them to remember God’s faithfulness. Deuteronomy 8:2 says, “You shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you.” Each time we celebrate Communion, we are to remember Jesus’ words, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

  For sixty-two years this building we are meeting in this morning has been the home of Grace Church (originally Bethel Baptist). It’s hard to believe that today is our last Sunday worshiping here. God has been so good to us and used this tool for His glory! When I think about that small group of believers back in 1955 who had a vision and passion, I’m staggered by their great faith. Just a handful of believers saw a tremendous need and acted in faith to meet that need.

  If you know our history, then you know that they were given these two parcels. In a short time, they built this building. There weren’t very many of them, yet with the resources that they had, what they did was nearly miraculous. They literally poured their blood, sweat and tears into this place. As the Lord has done for them, He’s done for us! I’m continually staggered by God’s hand of grace on us as we’ve moved forward with our new building.

  As I’ve reflected on our moving from this facility, I’ve gotten very nostalgic. Like many of you this building holds truckloads of memories for me. I still vividly remember the fall of 1988 and opening those heavy solid red doors to walk in for the first time, the red carpet, pews and of course, the lime green walls. My current office was the nursery. The basement was essentially two large rooms. For many years our family lived next door in what was the parsonage. The parking lot was our children’s playground. (The church was too but I probably shouldn’t mention that… 😊).

  There have been Christmas programs where we did what we could with our small stage. Then, the place would be packed with kids and their families during Kids’ Cooking Camp or special meetings and services. We worshiped together, sang together, praised and prayed together, wept together and rejoiced together!

  Some of you trusted Christ as your Savior in this building. Many of you took steps of faith forward in your walk with the Lord here. You began to read your Bible or pray, or serve. Many of you raised your family here…if these walls could talk, this brick and mortar place overflows with powerful and wonderful memories. Yet, after the many, many worship services, what I most remember are the events: church dinners, parties, fellowships, children and teen activities.

  During my thirty years here, there have been a few weddings. Because the auditorium is so small, most couples had to choose another venue. Yet, there have been a few and they were always wonderful! We crammed everyone in and then crammed them in again downstairs for the reception. 

  While there have been a few weddings, it seems like there have been lots of funerals…too many. One of the heartbreaks of a long pastorate is that you must bury your friends. I’ve stood before the casket of many, many friends, brothers and sisters, over the years…often in this very building.

  Several funerals were packed, standing room only. Some were for dear gray headed saints who longed for Home. Some were tragic, at least from our side of heaven. The Father reached down and picked a choice flower from His garden. We weren’t ready for their Homegoing. Those losses are always a mixed blessing. They’re a blessing because you know that the believer is now Home with Jesus and there’s no more suffering. Yet, it’s hard for us. We’re close. We’re a family. We take death very personally. Most of us sit in the same spot each Sunday, but suddenly there’s an empty space. A teary-eyed spouse now comes in alone as the God of comfort begins to heal their heart. We’re careful about what we say but we know, and we hurt too. We’ve lost a friend, a brother or a sister.

  Some of my favorite memories though have been the many baptisms. Some were young people. The Holy Spirit had worked in their heart and they wanted to obey Scripture in believer’s immersion. Several times I’ve been the one to introduce the person to Christ. Sometimes it was after weeks or months of opening God’s Word in a Bible study and suddenly the Spirit would open their eyes. They finally understood what the Cross was all about. They realized that they weren’t a good person and needed a Savior, that Jesus died for them – that God loved them so much that He gave His only Son – so they could be forgiven and know where they would spend eternity.

  As they grew in grace, they realized that the next step was commitment – that they needed to make a public testimony of what had taken place in their heart. Some had resisted God working in their life for years…decades. But they found that could not outrun what Francis Thompson powerfully labeled “the Hound of Heaven.”

  Only Heaven fully knows how God has used this place. It’s been a tool in His hand for many decades. Next week we move our church family to a new home and tool, but it has the same purpose. It’s to bring glory to God. It’s a place to worship, to fellowship. It’s a place for Christians to grow in grace. It’s a place of hope for the hopeless. It’s a place where many who have not yet met Jesus Christ as their personal Savior will be born again.

  As this building has been a wonderful tool in the Master’s hand, let’s pray and determine that by God’s grace we will use the new one to be a tool for His glory as well and our feeble efforts there will please Him!

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

You get what you honor....

“Ability without honor is useless.”  Cicero

  My family probably can’t remember the last time that I kept the game on during a meal, but I was glued to the set for this year’s Rose Bowl game. Though I did mute the volume during our New Year’s Day dinner, I was very distracted. It was a nail biter and even made Rose Bowl history in that it was the first Rose Bowl to go into overtime and ultimately had a double overtime. Of course, the right team won – at least from my Georgia roots perspective, with the Dawgs defeating the Sooners 54-48.

  This is a typical complaint from sports fans but I really felt that the ESPN analysts were very one sided and seemed to have some kind of bromance going with Sooner’s quarterback, Baker Mayfield. To be sure, the Georgia Bulldogs are not saints, but Baker Mayfield is an anti-hero. USA Today dubbed him the “Anti-Tim Tebow.” What a terrible reputation! Though he’s the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner, according to the mission statement, he shouldn’t be: “The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity…”

  Integrity is not one of his character traits. Mayfield is known for being obnoxious and obscene. He’s a star fit for a TMZ episode. While a gifted athlete, he’s known for his arrogance and unsportsmanlike conduct. Next year he’s probably headed to the NFL. Unfortunately, in our sullied culture, he’ll fit right in with the likes of a Ben Roethlisberger and Adrian Peterson. Sadly, we’re numb to it and overlook it as long as you’re a star.

  But as Christians, we can’t. Too often we forget something vital – you get what you honor. It’s deplorable that too often in the Church we honor and measure by the same wrong standards a godless world measures by. We value and are enamored by the same wrong things. And then, we wonder why we who are called to be transformed and difference makers don’t. 

  Years ago I observed this in the Christian school movement. Parents were urged, even guilt tripped, into pulling their children out of the “godless” public school so they could be taught biblical values BUT they weren’t.

  You get what you honor. Most Christian schools honored the same things the public schools honored, athletics, appearance and academics. What you reward, you reap generationally. Like a lost world, they had little concern for the disenfranchised and often failed to honor those who loved the Lord.

  As Christians, we’re to be a “Christian Counter-culture” (to quote John Stott). Our yardstick must be biblical and is distinctly different. Jesus modeled this for us. The twelve men that He chose to lead His church were a bunch of losers from the world’s perspective. The most gifted one was Judas, yet spiritually, he was a zero. How do we counteract this?

  We honor true beauty. Proverbs 31:30 says, “beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” That fits with Isaiah’s prophetic words about the coming Savior, “He had no… beauty that we should desire Him” (53:2). There may be a time to commend beauty, like about a bride on her wedding day. Biblically, though what is truly beautiful is godliness and character. We’ve all met some beautiful very ugly individuals. In the world’s eyes, they were beautiful but their attitude and arrogance was detestable. What we must notice and praise is inner beauty. 

  We honor wisdom. One can be brilliant and a fool. Scripture repeatedly speaks of the value of wisdom – not just knowing it – but applying it to life. The book of Proverbs defines and describes wisdom in seeing and living life according to God’s perspective. We need to encourage and note those who live out God’s truth. Too often in the Church we’re content with merely knowing God’s truth. That’s not a biblical perspective. It’s not enough to have the right answers. We must live righteously.

  We honor stewardship. We all know very talented individuals who never lived up to their ability. Perhaps they had athletic or musical ability, but peaked in high school or college. Their life is one that’s continually rear view mirror oriented, focused on the past, on what they used to be and do. God is the great “I am,” not “I was.” At the Bema, the commendation from King Jesus is not for ability but for faithfulness, “Well, done good and faithful servant.” God is more pleased with a C student who does the best that he/she can, than an A- student who sloughs and lives off their reputation rather than the faithful application of their abilities.

  We honor those who are spiritually fruitful. When was the last time you praised someone for being kind or patient or even joyful? Our culture honors the tough and mean, not the loving or gracious. But what does it really take to blow your stack? Just a short fuse. Do you pray, think or talk about spiritual fruit? If it’s not even on our radar, it’s not going to be cultivated in our hearts or in those around us like our family or friends. We certainly think and talk about those who are spiritually fruitless – those who are cranky or impatient. Our focus should instead be on those who are living out the fruit of the Spirit.

  We honor those who possess eternal riches. So what if someone has a huge house, terrific toys or a cool car. It’s just stuff that rusts and decays. The Apostle John said, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper…just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2). Our souls prosper as we make the changes that allow the love of God to flow in and out our lives back to God and to others! When you’re spiritually rich, you’re focused on glorifying God. You’re selfless and thinking about others and their needs. You’re motivated to care for others, knowing that as you seek to bless them, God will bless you. You’ll long for the love of God which you possess to be known and possessed by others.

  I truly hope Baker Mayfield repents and lives for Jesus. Otherwise his life won’t even be a smudge on the pages of sports history. Our lives and the lives of those around us can count for eternity but we must be focused and live for the real world, for eternity. 

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

I'm with Dr. Seuss

“The more that you read, the more things you know. 

The more that you learn, the more places you will go.” Dr. Seuss

  Have you seen the new church sign at the new building? Our property was previously a gravel pit and there are lots of rocks. Installing the new sign should have been a fairly simple task. Dig a few holes (we rented an electric post hole digger) but because there were so many rocks, we had to rent a jackhammer. Ultimately, we dug nine holes for the two we needed.

  On most projects, I’m a “go-for” – go for this or that. I remembered that I had an ice chipper at home that we use to break up ice in the winter, so I grabbed it. I’m not known for having a vast array of tools, so several guys were shocked I owned such a beast. In the end, it made a big difference.

  You probably know someone with a garage full of tools but they’re rarely used. Or, you know someone with a kitchen that’d make Rachel Ray turn green with envy but they never cook. God has entrusted each of us with a wonderful tool – our minds. Too often they’re unused. Much of our free time is spent in “amusement” (TV, social media, etc.). Muse means to think; A-muse mean to “not think.” We’re managers of what God has given us. That demands that we use the “tool” He’s entrusted to us, our minds. One of the key ways that we use our minds is that we read. Reading good books is like giving your mind vitamins!

  Periodically, someone will say, “I’m not a reader.” That’s tragic. It’s very hard to think without being a reader. Our Bible is a written document meant to be read. It’s hard to think about God and what He has to say without being a reader. It’s usually apparent when someone is not a reader. They’re no longer being stretched with new thoughts, concepts or ideas. Frequently, they suffer from the hardening of the attitudes and opinions.

  No one wants a doctor who stopped learning 20 years ago after she graduated from med school. Too often Christians are a turn off because they aren’t growing. Many times it’s because they refuse to read. They foolishly associate reading with school, yet our Heavenly Father has enrolled us in the school of life. We must never stop learning and growing.

  “You are what you eat.” It’s equally true, “You are what you read!” Because God has given us a Book, He expects us to read it. Yet, don’t stop there, start there. And read more than Christian books. The Apostle Paul was familiar with pagan philosophy and writings. He quoted Menander (Acts 17:28, 1 Corinthians 15:33) and Epimenides (Titus 1:12).

  A few of years ago I was challenged to increase my reading. This past year, I read nearly 50 books (the average American reads 4). Now I’m not suggesting that you read 50 books, but 1 or 2 a month is not out of the question. Here are some reasons that you should read.

  Reading enlarges our world and helps us minister more effectively. Through books, we’re given an opportunity to become informed about the lives of others in the world and in our community. Prior to coming to Wisconsin I’d never heard of the “Ice Bowl” and couldn’t understand the obsession with the Packers…until I read Bart Starr: America’s Quarterback and the Rise of the National Football League by Keith Dunnavant. It gave me a brand new perspective. As I read Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, it opened my eyes to issues facing the poor. Reading helps us work through difficult topics and learn from those unlike ourselves. It helps us to learn about and better understand so we can love our neighbor.

  To stretch me spiritually. God is closer than you think by John Ortberg encouraged me to seek to know Jesus better and deepen my walk with Him. You and Me Forever by Francis & Lisa Chan reminded me to keep my marriage fresh. Jane and I will have been married 35 years this July. I don’t want to coast in these later years, so I need a kick-start periodically. 

  To be more compassionate. Gospel Justice by Bruce Strom is about the injustice that those who can’t afford a lawyer or understand the law face. It reminded me again that God is a God of justice, yet there is so little of it in our world. As a believer, I must be committed to helping those being treated unjustly. It’s hard to imagine what it’s like to have a child incarcerated. When I Lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent opened my eyes to that heartache. As a pastor, because I deal with death all the time, it’s easy to become jaundiced to loss. Losing Mum and Pup by Christopher Buckley is his story of how he lost both of his parents within a year’s time. It made me more compassionate to those who have lost a loved one.

  To mentally relax. During this past year I’ve often felt stressed with the pressure and details of our new building. Periodically, I’d read a book by John Grisham or a historical account like The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown to help me decompress. I hardly knew what rowing was before. It detailed the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from Washington State showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really is. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar team was never expected to defeat elite American teams, yet they did, and went on to shock the world by defeating Hitler’s rowing team.

  To challenge my presuppositions. After I finish a book, I struggle with what to read next. There are so many good books I want to read, but I force myself to read books that stretch me like Heaven is a place on Earth by Michael Wittmer. It was a different interpretation of end times. The Bookseller of Kabul horrified me in what life is like, particularly for women, in much of the Islamic world. It made me thankful for friends who risk their lives to take the Gospel to that region of the world.  

  So what have you got on your book shelf? God has given us a wonderful tool between our ears. Please read and use it for His glory. Start small. Begin with what you’re interested in. Most of us can spare half an hour a day. Reading enriches and transforms our lives in ways that few other hobbies can. The rewards of reading are worth the effort of what it will do for your life and your walk with Christ. What are you going to read next?

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.