Keep calm and Buc-ee on!

 

“Keep calm and Buc-ee on!”

 
Have you been to Buc-ee’s? If you haven’t, you’ve missed out. There’s a plan to open one in Wisconsin north of Madison in the near future.
  When you’re on a long road trip a stop at a gas station requires an evaluation of some vital questions: Does it look clean? Are the restrooms clean? If they’re not, am I up to date on my vaccinations? Does it look like Norman Bates might be the manager? (Okay, I never really ask that one).
  Buc-ee’s is the new national sensation of gas stations. The Texas-based supersized gas and convenience chain offers much more than a place to fuel up and grab some chips. Devoted fans make regular pilgrimages, sometimes driving hundreds of miles, to stock up on Beaver Nuggets and other merchandise. They hold records for the largest convenience store and longest car wash at 255 feet. Even their restrooms are award-winning.
  Founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin opened his first Buc-ee’s in Clute, Texas in 1982. The name came from combining his childhood nickname; the name of his Labrador Retriever, Buck; and Ipana toothpaste’s animated mascot, Bucky the beaver.
  Buc-ee’s is famous for their food. Each location includes a bakery, brisket and fudge bar, and an Icee station. Walls are lined with candy, beef jerky flavors, including a beef jerky bar. The bakery has about every cookie or pastry imaginable. There are BBQ brisket sandwiches, breakfast tacos/sandwiches, along with various others. Buc-ee’s is famous for its own original snacks – “Beaver Nuggets,” a flavored corn puff snack. It’s a bestseller with people driving hundreds of miles to stock up on them.
  All Buc-ee’s have nearly 100 gas pumps and even Tesla super chargers.  They also offer a wide variety of general and regional-based souvenirs, including apparel and artwork. They carry their own clothing brand, ranging from t-shirts, hats, pants, plushies, swimwear, and blankets. Some locations even sell hunting gear alongside outdoor products such as grills and firepits. In other words, Buc-ee’s has just about everything.
  Do you know the best part of Buc-ee’s? They’re so friendly! On our recent vacation we stopped at a Buc-ee’s in Kentucky around 1 am. Even at those wee hours, employees were friendly and upbeat. They thanked us for coming! Wow! Were we impressed! Not only was it clean and brightly lit, but it was like they actually wanted us there.
  Shouldn’t that be the local church? Shouldn’t that be us at Grace?
  When we’re on vacation we look for a church to worship at. Over the years our family has visited countless ones. Regrettably, some have not been a positive experience. If we lived in the area, we wouldn’t return.  
  In one a few years ago, I had to interrupt a conversation the man passing out bulletins was having to ask if I could have one. One of my unforgettable experiences was being encouraged in the service to pick up a gift for first timers at the Welcome Desk, only to find that they were already shutting it down (I went right away) and again had to interrupt a conversation to ask for the free gift the pastor had urged me to go get.
  My point is that it’s so easy to forget for those of us who have attended Grace for a long time how intimidating it can be to visit a church for the first time. It’s more difficult if you’ve never really attended church. Add to that the complexity if you have young children and are unsure what their experience will be (Where do they go? Will they be safe? Is it clean?)
  Then, with a growing national single population, you can feel like a 5^th wheel if you attend church by yourself. It’s estimated that 51% of Americans are single. They’re either divorced, widowed, or separated, or have always been single (never married).
  Sometimes you must experience something to understand it. It’s why I’d encourage you when you’re on vacation to visit a church. It can be eye-opening, hopefully in a great way, and you’ll come back bubbling with how you were treated as a special guest by another family of believers.
  At Grace, we are all part of the Welcome Team. Remember the “Golden Rule”? “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12). Think about how you’d want to be treated if you were visiting a church for the first time. You’d want to be welcomed. You’d want to know people care. Loneliness is an epidemic today. People need to know that we care…and we care because Jesus cares.
  Did you know where making new people feel welcome and wanted at our church begins? In the parking lot. It sets a whole tone of grace and friendliness. A few years ago, Dave and Jen Bonnar began attending Grace because the parking lot greeter connected with them. (Shameless ministry commercial – we desperately need more parking lot greeters).
  If you have children, you need to know that we have ministries for them. You need to know that they will be safe and cared for, that our ministries are well-staffed, and that we do background checks for the volunteers.  
  You’ll want to know that we have FREE coffee and treats. It’s cool if you take them into the sanctuary or sit in the coffee café to enjoy them. It’s why we want to make sure those first tables are open for our newcomers.
  Then, we want them to have the best seats. They usually want to sit close to the door and toward the back so that they can leave quickly. So, let’s fill up the east section or middle one first. Leave the end chair for them so they don’t have to crawl over you. Be careful about huddling or blocking the entry doors. It’s important to share your name and listen for their name…and more importantly, get their children’s names.  
  If Buc-ee’s can do such a great job of making people feel welcome to make a buck, shouldn’t we as a church family be doing that? What’s at stake for us isn’t the bottom line, it may be the destiny of a soul. It’s our mission and what Jesus called us to! But it can’t be a few. It takes all of us! Can we count on you? Let’s be better than Buc-ee’s!  

Can we help you spiritually? 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. 

We're here for those not here...yet

 

“The church is the church only when it exists for others.” 

                                                                Dietrich Bonhoffer

 Church consultant, surveyed members of nearly a thousand churches asking the question: “Why does the church exist?” Of the members surveyed, 89% said, “The church’s purpose is to take care of my family's and my needs.” Wow! Essentially, that means the job of the pastor is simply to keep those attending happy. Only 11% said, “The purpose of the church is to win the world for Jesus Christ.”

  It’s heartbreaking that there are many churches which are little more than “religious social clubs.” They’re satisfied with those who are already there and only looking for those to come that are like them. How can we have that mentality when Jesus commanded us to reach our world? How can we have that mentality when our world is so hurting and such a disaster?

  That’s not us! At Grace, we’re committed to being part of God’s search and rescue team. It’s why we get excited about every new person who walks through our doors. We don’t care if they just got out of prison or flew in on a private jet. Jesus died for every single person that you will meet and every person that you meet is going to spend eternity somewhere. By God’s grace, we want to take as many with us to heaven as we can. It’s why we are here for those who are not here yet. We live in a lost and hopeless world. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope!

  If you’re a Christ-follower, you are part of Jesus’ mission team. The Great Commission is for every Christ-follower. Jesus told us, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Our community is our end of the earth. Your family, your workplace, your neighborhood is your end of the earth. God has placed you there to be His EMT, His salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16).

  The Bible compares evangelism to farming. Everyone knows that farming is a process. You must prepare the soil and cultivate. Then, you sow the seed and finally reap the harvest. All three functions are essential. Yet, we don’t know what part of the process we’re in with the lost around us. No one sows seed one day and expects to pick the harvest the next.

  So, how do we reach out to those in our circle of influence that don’t yet know our Savior?

  We must start with prayer. Jesus prayed frequently. Paul prayed. Early lay leaders like Stephen prayed. This is God’s work so we must pray for His power. God wants us to pray for those who don’t know Him in our circle of influence. Jesus specifically asked us to pray to the Father and ask Him to send more workers into the field (Matthew 9:37-38). Every believer is a “worker.” The field is our world, specifically our neighborhood, workplace, and community. So, pray for those in your circle by name. Maybe target half a dozen of them that you have a relationship with and pray for them on a regular basis.

  And when you pray, pray for compassion. We can become so caught up in our own world that we overlook the needs of those around us. Compassion motivates us to have conversations. It helps us to cry over the lost and to come to God with a humble request for their salvation.  

  Then, pray for the desire to witness. As you pray this regularly, the Lord will give you a passion to share Jesus with others. Along with that, pray for boldness and the courage to speak up when there’s an opportunity.

  The great Scottish Reformer, John Knox prayed, “Give me Scotland, or I die.” Let’s pray that the Lord will give us Burlington and Waterford…and the surrounding area for the gospel. 

  We must slow down and build gospel bridges. Building relationships takes t-i-m-e. Most of us try to cram 10 lbs. of life in a 5 lb. bag. As a result, many are talking yet few are listening. To reach people, we must be listeners. Jesus was the best listener.

  Find out what they’re interested in and what they care about, and then use that to develop a friendship and hopefully a relationship with the Savior. Jesus is the model. When He met with Peter the professional fisherman, He talked about fishing. That’s what it means to be incarnational. We must enter their world and speak their language. Take the time to take a coworker to lunch or have a neighbor over for a meal. Build a friendship.

  Share what you have so you can share the Savior. If you’re a gardener, share some of your produce with a neighbor or co-worker. If you’re at the store and there’s a sale on something like fruit, buy extra and give it away. I love books and am a thrift store-aholic. I frequently look for books to give away to my friends that I know would be of interest to them.

  Break out of the holy huddle and get involved in the community. Many Christians only have Christians as friends, but you don’t fish in a fishbowl. So, at work, go to the office party. Go out with them after work.  

  Develop relationships in the community. If your children are involved in sports or school events, help out. They’re always looking for coaches or assistant coaches or any type of volunteer. Join the PTO. Help your child’s teacher. Ask the teacher or school how you can help. Every organization in our community is looking for volunteers. It’s why our church helps out at community events or organizes events to serve our community.

  If you love to play a sport, join a tennis or golf club. Invite someone out of your circle to play. If you fish or do crafts, invite them to join you. The opportunities are endless. Use what you love to show Christ’s love to them.

  Humbly ask for help. Ours is a culture that loves to help yet is too proud to ask for help. Yet, you can’t be a Christ-follower without first humbling yourself and admitting that you can’t fix your own life. You desperately needed Jesus to die for your sins and rescue you. Humbly admitting to a co-worker or neighbor that you could use help will amazingly open doors. It might be something as simple as asking for assistance moving a large piece of furniture or borrowing a cup of sugar. I’m not mechanical but had a neighbor who was. Asking for help laid the foundation for a friendship.

  Being part of the Jesus’ rescue ministry has eternal significance. Look at the focus and time usage of your life. What else that you’re investing your time in truly has eternal significance? You’re the missionary in your world. Are you seeking to reach your world for the Lord Jesus?

Can we help you spiritually? 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. 

Is it okay to miss?

 “A church isn't a group of friends you’ve picked, it’s a group of brothers and sisters God has picked for you.” Michael Scott Horton 

Do you have a regular family dinner? Did you have one when you were growing up? Was the family or extended family gathering for Sunday dinner your tradition?  Because of growing up in a home with virtually no Sunday traditions, family traditions, and healthy family relationships get my attention. It’s just not my history. Family gatherings of any kind just didn’t happen. For most of my teenage years I attended church alone…

  It’s one of the reasons that I enjoy the TV series, Blue Bloods. While Tom Selleck has been a favorite actor for me since his Magnum P.I. days, I love the family dinner scenes in Blue Bloods. They may be disagreeing or at odds with each other, yet every Sunday the Reagan family gathers around the family dinner table. On top of that, every family member participates with different ones being responsible for the food.

  Last Sunday Jane and I were on a “staycation.” When we planned it, we didn’t know it was going to be time change Sunday. And then, it’s Wisconsin so it snowed…so we lost an hour of sleep and the drive to whatever church we chose to worship at was going to be more difficult to get to because of road conditions.

  We looked at websites of some churches pastored by friends and those with our DNA of ministry. With the potential of bad roads, we didn’t want to travel too far. One friend was out of town. Another was doing a series on parenting. Add to that, I didn’t sleep well so when I woke up, I was very tempted to attend “Bedside Baptist with Pastor Sheets.” Or, as many have been doing in a post-Covid world, attend “Lazy-boy Church.”

  But I got convicted and knew that I needed to get out of bed and we drove to an area church. I’m so glad we did! What a blessing! It was a great message! The music stirred our hearts! Because we have several friends who are part of this church family, we were able to reconnect with them.

  Unbeknownst to us, that church was having a major congregational vote on leaving their denomination that day because of apostasy. It was a very emotional day for my pastor friend and his church. So Jane and I were blessed and then we were able to be a blessing…and to think that I seriously considered only thinking of myself and skipping.

  It is virtually impossible to be a healthy growing Christian without faithfully attending the worship services of a local church. It’s not enough to be a Christian and love Jesus. If you love Jesus, you love His family. If you love His family, you want to spend time with them. Yet, there has never been a time in history when it’s more difficult to faithfully attend. There are so many other options, opportunities or obligations to our already overflowing schedules.  

  Please understand. I don’t want to guilt-trip anyone. We need to faithfully attend worship services because we want to please the Lord and love Him, not because we feel guilty or pressured. Yet, our struggles with faithfully attending worship services aren’t totally new.

  The early church was largely composed of slaves and those on the socioeconomic fringes of society. As many as one-third of people living in first-century Greco-Roman society were slaves. A large percentage of those slaves were believers. It’s why they either met early in the morning before the work day began or late at night when it was over. Gathering for corporate worship either had to be before or after the long work day.

  Gathering for corporate worship is rarely convenient. There’s always something else going on. Some are required to work. It’s either work on Sunday morning or be terminated.  

  Most situations though don’t carry that much weight. Just a few years ago pastors felt pressure to be done by noon so the congregation could be home for the Sunday kick-off. Now it’s not noon. It’s youth sports, drama practices, dance recitals, etc. that all meet on Sunday morning. Or suggest to your family that maybe they could start the birthday party for little Matilda a little later so you attend church and they’ll look at you like you just got in from Mars.

  Our culture has moved from very few options to an overwhelming amount. Sunday is just another day. So we have to choose. We can’t have it all or do it all. Sometimes we need to give a little pushback to the culture and needless pressures.

  For example, if your company is asking you to work, if you’re an employee with a good reputation, most will give some flexibility for attending church. Think of all the other reasons that other employees miss or don’t show up. An honest conversation can go a long way.

  Then, what about other youth activities? First, I’d suggest an honest conversation with the leaders or organizers and try to attend the 9 am service. Second, what will have more long-term life value for your child?

  Over the years I’ve known some very talented young athletes. Because they were so gifted, their parents had them in a traveling team. Yet, none went on to play professionally or even play in college. Perhaps because church was lowered on the priorities, as far as I know, none of those talented athletes attend a church of any kind.

  Will church attendance make a difference? Well, where else are we encouraged to focus on what has eternal benefits? Where else are we encouraged to be a better spouse or a person of character? Where else are we encouraged to be ethical, gracious and care for others? Where else are we encouraged to be have a biblical worldview and an ethic of morality?

  Hopefully, those things are taking place in your marriage and home. One reason Scripture so emphasizes the local church is that it’s in the community of God’s people with the echoing of eternal values and godly behavior that we grow spiritually. It helps cement these things in our hearts and the hearts of our children.

  Yet please don’t just attend. Get involved, serve. Find a place for your children to serve. Because in serving we learn to think of others. It also helps our children develop friendships with other Christian adults that they will have after they become adults themselves. While Couch Church is increasingly convenient, the long term price for own hearts is too high! 

Can we help you spiritually? 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. 

Ministering to Single Moms in a Post Roe v. Wade World

 “Biblical orthodoxy without compassion 

is surely the ugliest thing in the world. ”  Francis Schaeffer

 
  Friday, June 24, 2022, will be a date long remembered as the nearly 50-year precedent of upholding abortion as a constitutional right in the United States was overturned. 50 years. That’s a long time. It was so long that most of us who are pro-life doubted that it would ever change.
  Christ-followers have gotten what we prayed and worked for, but we will fail if this is the end. God has called us to so much more. Now we must walk the talk and show the love of Christ to those whom we claimed that we loved and cared about. The world is watching. Will we prove it now?
  It is and never has been enough to be opposed to abortion. While it is vital to save a life, it’s more important to see a soul saved and come to Christ. The greatest need of everyone in this world is to trust the gospel and to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
  Yet, 67% of single mothers do not go to a church of any kind. Sometimes they feel judged or inadequate. Either they became pregnant outside of marriage or are divorced. Many have a sense of shame and don't feel like they deserve or even want to be in church. Some are young and have no interaction with Christ-followers. Some have a distorted caricature of what a Christ-follower is of someone hateful, mean, bigoted, and out of touch. Sadly, some who profess to know Christ are like that.
  67% is a heartbreaking number! Not  only does that mean those moms aren’t being exposed to the gospel or mentored, but neither are their children. Single mothers are one of the most unrecognized, hurting groups in our culture. The vast majority have been thrust into a role they never intended to be in and often feel trapped in it. Frequently, they feel judged by Christians, the very ones who should be bringing God’s love, hope, and grace to them. So what can we do?
  Be their friend. How many single moms do you know? There are nearly 16 million families in America headed up by a single mom. 57% of the babies born to Millennials are being born to unmarried mothers.
  Single Moms face the same issues that households with two parents face but do it alone – a house that needs to be cleaned, meals made, groceries bought, homework checked, birthdays celebrated, sick kids to care for, etc.
  Often they’re economically challenged and must come up with creative ways to cover all of the expenses of a family but on one income. Most parents know what it is to feel exhausted but imagine that same weariness doubled by having to work full-time, and care for kids, only to put them in bed and realize that the house is a disaster.
  A sick child for a single Mom isn’t an inconvenience, it’s a crisis. While most employers will seek to be understanding, if there is a long-term or chronic illness, care for a child can cost them their job.
  While most of them do not live in your neighborhood, particularly if you live in a subdivision where people own their own homes, their children attend school with your children. Often the simplest bridge into their lives is by opening your home and life to their children. Perhaps offer a ride if you see a need. If your children are involved in youth sports, their children may be the ones dropped off by a grandparent because Mom has to work.  
  If you engage with individuals in your day-to-day life, they’re often your server or bartender. They may be that clerk where you buy gas. Maybe they cut your hair or do your nails. This is why it’s so important to see every transaction as a gospel opportunity.
  As Christians, we don’t believe in accidents. We must see life as a series of continual divine appointments. So, learn names. Ask questions. Go out of your way to greet and engage them even if it’s for a few moments. Be encouraging and affirming. Every person we meet is Imago Dei. They’re designed by God, He loves them and has a plan for their lives.
  Include them and their children. At Grace, without making someone feel weird, we don’t want anyone to sit alone. Please include single parents in your social circles. Learn their children’s names. Go out of your way to make them feel comfortable. Most young parents feel some level of anxiety about their child’s behavior with those they don’t know. Help those parents feel at ease. Let’s let children be children. Single Moms need to feel that our church has dozens of aunts, uncles, and grandparents for their children and that we accept where they’re at. We want to be Jesus to them!
  Include them on holidays. Think about it. Who prepares Mother’s Day for moms? Their spouses, usually not their children. When a single mom has young children and doesn’t have a spouse, she’s often forgotten on Mother’s Day. For a mom working double-time, it can be a heartbreaking moment. So how much work is it for us to include a few extra at our home on Mother’s Day or Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas? And what is relatively small for us, can be huge for a single Mom and her children.
  It can be something as simple as going out for lunch after church or for ice cream. Small pleasures that most of us take for granted can be enormous for a single Mom with limited discretionary money.
   Be her companion if she has to go to Court. For most single moms, going to court is an unavoidable reality. Being in court with their child’s other parent can be one of the scariest and loneliest times in a single mom’s journey and most spend it completely alone. So offer to go to court with her. If additional people are not allowed in the courtroom, offer to wait for her outside and meet her for coffee afterward.
  Godly men can step in the gap. You want to be appropriate and wise, yet many single Moms don’t have a godly man in their lives. They can be taken advantage of by a mechanic or a repairman. Simple maintenance like a leaky faucet or changing the oil in a car can be huge for them.
  Their children need to see godly men who don’t see their Mom as sex objects. A godly man can teach a child how to fish or throw and catch a ball. Having a man pray for the food at a meal can speak volumes in a child’s heart who has never seen a man who loves the Lord and loves children.
  A cruel world needs to see the Church being the Church. They need to see Jesus in us. Jesus loved and cared for children and parents, and so must we! Being pro-life means being Jesus to those who most need His care! 

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. 

DNA: The Building Blocks of Who We Are

“Often in life we forget the things that we should remember

and remember the things that we should forget.”

  

  While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch. After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant and resumed their trip. When leaving, the elderly woman unknowingly left her glasses on the table but she didn't miss them until they’d been driving for about forty minutes. By then, to add to the aggravation, they had to travel quite a distance before they could find a place to turn around, in order to return to the restaurant to retrieve her glasses. And all the way back, her husband was the classic grumpy old man, fussing and complaining. He scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire return drive. The more he chided her, the more agitated he became. He just wouldn't let up. Finally, to her relief, they arrived at the restaurant. As the berated woman got out of the car and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the old geezer yelled to her, “While you're in there, you might as well get my hat and credit card.” 

  According to researcher, Karen Bolla, everyone periodically forgets things. Here are the six things we most often forget: Names – 83%; Where something is – 60%; Telephone numbers – 57%; Words – 53%; What was said – 49%; Faces - 42%. And if you can’t remember whether you’ve just done something, you’re in good company with 38% of the population.

  The Bible has a lot to say about remembering. The word remember is used 234 times in the Bible. But God knows how forgetful we are. In the Old Testament, we find that God continually gave His people memory reminders to assist them in remembering. In the New Testament, we have two of those that were given to the local church so we wouldn’t forget what Jesus has done for us in our salvation: Baptism and Communion.

  For the next several weeks we’re breaking from our series on 1 Samuel for a new summer series: DNA – The Building Blocks of Who We Are. We want to unpack who we are and why we do what we do at Grace. Many of you are new to our church and we want you to know our DNA and why we do what we do. Yet, even for those who’ve been here for years or decades, it’s easy to forget our purpose or what we’re calling our DNA.

  If you asked most Americans what makes being part of a church important, according to The Pew Research Center, you’d hear reasons like…attending church is important because we have children. Others admit that they primarily go to church because they feel obligated. Some attend a church because they’re looking for guidance to help them through life. Some go to church to feel God’s presence. Then, others go to church for fellowship and social reasons.

  While none of those reasons are wrong, they’re not necessarily biblical and they’re not our DNA at Grace Church. While other gospel teaching churches are similar to ours, none of us are clones. Each church has its own distinctives, values, and personality. While we do not believe that we are the best church in the community and we don’t believe in competing or trying to “sell” people on our church. We are though committed to being the best church that we can be for the glory of God. We are committed to building His Kingdom not our little Empire.

  We also know we’re not for everybody. There are many good churches within driving distance of our church. They have pastors and people who love the Lord and are seeking to please Him. That’s why every week at our church prayer meeting we pray for area gospel-preaching churches and we partner together with them on ministries like our teen program.

  At Grace, we want to be transparent about who we are. Many times when someone has called or visited our church and we find that they’re looking for a certain program or type of ministry that’s not us, we direct them elsewhere. At Grace, we’re committed to the biblical reality that every Christian should be a fully committed Christ-follower. There are times though when because of our values, personality, or DNA, someone will thrive more spiritually in another church. Growing spiritually, becoming more like Jesus, and glorifying Him, is more important than being part of Grace Church. We just don’t want to be an obstacle in someone’s loving and being more like Jesus.

  We are though very, very excited about what the Lord is doing here at Grace and where we’re headed. In the last few years, we’ve seen more come to Christ or get juiced about their faith or walk with the Lord than we have in decades. We’ve experienced a fresh moving of God’s Spirit in our church family, more than ever before. We’re headed in a direction and we want to make sure our church family knows where we are going and remembers who we are.

  For some, this series will be just a good reminder. It’s easy for a church to become distracted or focused on the nonessentials. For others, this will be new. Perhaps you thought that all churches are essentially the same. They’re not. Every church has its own DNA.  

  What is church DNA? Essentially, it’s the essence or soul of a church. It’s the often unspoken assumptions that shape a church’s vision, values, and mission. It’s subtly mirrored in a church’s symbols, stories, and history. It’s difficult to define because it’s invisible, like the air we breathe.

  Sometimes DNA is most easily understood when things are out of alignment when something isn’t quite right. A church that is out of sync with its DNA is one of the greatest causes of conflict in a local church family and creates more damage than nearly any other church issue. Incongruence with DNA can be highly destructive.

  Perhaps you remember several years ago when Sears launched “the softer side of Sears” campaign, it bombed. Why? Because when people think of Sears, they think of tools or appliances, not nightgowns and dress suits. It didn’t fit their DNA. Healthy churches have a clear sense of identity. They know their DNA and they don't readily deviate from it.

  At Grace we want you to know our DNA, so for the next few weeks, we’ll be working through some of our values and what we believe is important. It won’t be exhaustive. It will help all of us though be on the same page, so we can grow together, better pray, and move forward together for His glory…because that’s what it’s really all about – pleasing King Jesus!

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. 

What the demise of Blackberry means for the Church

 “Adaptability is being able to adjust to any situation at any given time." John Wooden

 

There was a time when it was hard to look beyond BlackBerry in the smartphone market. They were so ubiquitous, they were often dubbed “Crackberry.” At the beginning of the 2010s, BlackBerry’s dominance was undisputed. It was the most prominent smartphone in the world. Even President Obama had one. At its peak in 2013, there were eighty-five million subscribers worldwide. But that was yesterday. It’s the end of an era. BlackBerry ended support for its smartphones on January 4^th. 

  What happened? Blackberry failed to adapt to a changing world. Its billionaire founder, Mike Lazaridis, was celebrated as a national hero in Canada and Waterloo, Ontario, where the company is headquartered, was Canada’s Silicon Valley. The rot began when corporate leaders failed to recognize the huge challenge posed by Apple's first iPhones and were slow to respond to rapid changes in the smartphone market. In the end, BlackBerry fell victim to its own stubbornness…and the rest is history. 

  We’re in the midst of a world change. Covid has radically changed our world. This little virus has affected nearly every aspect of life from work and school to everyday activities like buying groceries, and even our wardrobes. Think about some of the changes that are now “normal.”

  We have a new vocabulary. Oxford English Dictionary’s 2021 Word of the Year was “vax.” Several new words and phrases have become part of our vocabulary: “social distancing, masking, Rona, etc.”

  We have a wardrobe addition. The must-have fashion item became a small piece of cloth to put around your face. At first they were homemade masks, then medical ones. While Wisconsin doesn’t have a mask mandate, many employees are required to wear them. You can’t enter a medical facility without one. In some parts of the country, you can barely leave your house without putting on a mask.

  Anxiety and depression have increased. The pandemic has taken a serious toll on mental health. One study found that levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts have skyrocketed since it began.

  Increased alcohol and drug abuse. Another insidious side effect of the pandemic have been increases in alcohol consumption and illegal drug use. A study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association found alcohol consumption rose 14% during pandemic shutdowns. Women, in particular, reported worrying increases in heavy drinking. This crisis has worsened existing mental health problems.

  Rampant rumors and conspiracy theories. Rumors like drinking bleach can kill the virus or inhaling hot air from a hairdryer will help cure it. The pandemic has hatched thousands of rumors and conspiracy theories. 

  School and church closures. Schools across the U.S. and the world made the decision to close and opt for virtual learning. It’s been debated how long they should remain closed and when is it safe to reopen. Many children though have fallen behind academically and may never recover.

  In places like Canada and Australia, large gatherings are still banned and churches cannot meet. Pastors have been arrested and churches faced with draconian fines even for holding worship services outdoors.

  Blackberry failed to adapt to a changing world, but in the Church we must. Our world has changed and we must adapt if we’re going to fulfill our mission. Yet, none of this is new for the Church of Jesus Christ. Read Church History, from the birth of the Church in the book of Acts, until today, the culture has continually changed and the Church has had to adapt to be effective.

  Jesus promised, “I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). His Church will continue to grow until His plan and purposes are done. Throughout history many have sought to destroy His Church. They’re gone but the Church is alive and marches on.

  What may not survive or thrive are individual churches. God’s truth does not change, thus our message must not change. What we must adapt are our methods and approaches to ministry. Because we’re in a new era, any church that desires to be effective and glorify the Savior is going to have to experiment and adapt. None of us are sure what all of that means. Here though are some considerations that affect today’s ministry.

  People are very fearful. Many of those we are seeking to reach are very frightened. God doesn’t want us to live in fear. Fear is the direct opposite of faith. In fact, God’s Word overflows with admonitions to not fear. We’re not talking about foolishness. A lost world desperately needs to see people of faith not just talk about trusting God, but truly trusting God!

  People are very angry. Those we are seeking to reach are often on edge. Anger is frequently the poisoned fruit of fear. Just recently in our area, a customer pointed a gun at a fast-food worker after seeing an employee touch his food without wearing gloves.

  While anger is not always a sin, in that God gets angry, it must be handled very cautiously – like nitroglycerine (Eph. 4:26-27). Christians, instead of adding fuel to the angry atmosphere, must be cautious and not become caught up with irrational emotions that have contaminated so many. Instead, we must be the people of love, grace, and kindness, rather than being caught up in today’s rage.  

  People are very judgmental. For Christians, the only thing that ultimately matters is: Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior? Whether you wear a mask or don’t, whether you’re vaxxed or not, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican…all of those things are trivial in light of eternity. Yet, let’s be honest, what do we talk often about and focus on, even in the Church? In eternity, the only thing that will matter is: Do you know my Jesus? 

  Death has become very real. Just five years ago, there was an existential, live and let live. Not today. We have a great opportunity. Those who don’t know the Lord around us are much more focused on life and death issues, and eternity than at any time in potentially the last hundred years.

  No one has all the answers. We do know that the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ has not changed. We must be the ones who have His peace, who care and share His love, yet hold to His truth. We must adapt as we can and reach our world with His message of hope. This is our time! Let’s not miss the opportunities the Lord is giving us! 

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. 

Take me out to the...church!

 “A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz.” 

                                                  Humphrey Bogart

 

It's as American as apple pie, hot dogs, and Uncle Sam. Baseball prides itself in curses, superstitions, and strange rituals. Baseball helps boys and girls pass the time in the heat and magic of summer. They can meet in dusty neighborhood ballparks to play a game or two, or watch their home team play. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of playing a game of ball in the front yard of my home in Atlanta. 

  One hundred sixty-two games a season. Nine innings per game. Three outs to end half an inning. Three strikes and you’re out. Four balls a walk. Eight playoff teams. One championship. Baseball is known for its confusing and often laborious statistics on nearly everything that goes on in the game. ERA, RBI, OPS, batting averages, home runs, steals, wins, strikeouts, saves, shutouts, walks, and hits. The complexity that comes from this simple, slow-paced game is what makes baseball beautiful. Families bond through the traditions of going to see a game, the seven-inning stretch, and the ceremonial first pitch. 

  So I have a Major League Baseball confession to make. When I attend a baseball game, I feel kind of like I do when I go to church. A perfectly manicured ballpark has to be one of the most beautiful works of art to be found in our world. Late baseball commissioner, Bart Giamatti, was fond of talking about the unusual symmetry and beauty of the game and its parks. The simple enjoyment of taking in the confident uniqueness and beauty of a well-worn and well-kept ballpark is enough to savor. And I’ve always appreciated the fact that baseball fans are not simply drawn to the atmosphere of the event like many football fans are (for many tailgating is the main event and the game is anticlimactic). Generally, baseball fans love the game with all of its quirky nuances. This love for the game rarely begins in the abstract. There’s often a particular time, place, and person. 

  Have you ever noticed when baseball players are asked about the origination of their love of the game, often their first words are, “my dad” or at some point “there was this little park in my hometown,” catch with Dad, countless conversations, or the soil of a particular baseball diamond. 

  When you arrive at the ballpark of your favorite team, often a couple of hours early (after all, infield and batting practice possess a beauty all their own) the other people you see are ethnically, socioeconomically and culturally diverse, yet many essentially have the same story; playing catch and a sandlot in their hometown. A time, a place, and a person provide a wonderful rootedness in a transient rootless culture. It also explains why people who sit beside each other at baseball games nearly always chat. They talk about the game they’re watching and their general love of the game. No matter how different their socio-economic background they often possess a common metanarrative related to their love of the great game. 

  Yet, as much as I appreciate the inherent beauty of an empty ballpark and its idiosyncratic design, it was built for a game to be played and for stands to be filled. No other day in sports possesses the excitement and hopefulness of an opening day. Baseball season doesn’t just begin; it’s celebrated, from tiny, dusty, rural diamonds to Yankee Stadium. Unlike any other sport, the beginning of a new baseball season births a newness and hopefulness that this just may be the year for your favorite team (perhaps with the exception of Cubs fans). 

  There’s a sense, as Thomas Boswell wrote, that “time begins on Opening Day.” This hopefulness is warranted because baseball depends as much on the intangibles as it does 40-yard dash times and bench press maxes. A baseball equivalent of the NFL combine would be essentially worthless. 

  You really can measure what made Babe Ruth a great player. A baseball team’s success depends a lot on clubhouse chemistry. As you drive to the park or turn on the TV to watch your favorite team, you’re right to be full of hope…this just might be their year. 

  Personally, I love the rhythm of baseball. The uninitiated see the length of the season as a knock against baseball, but it’s that very element that makes the game such a powerful metaphor for life. A sport where one loss ruins an entire season and perfection is an attainable goal is at odds with the managed failure of our actual lives. The 2011 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals lost 72 games that season – 45% of the regular season. 

  Babe Ruth had a .342 batting average. That means his failure average was .658. Managed failure in the pursuit, not of perfection, but greater consistency. It’s something that resonates with my own Christian walk. 

  Yet, as much as I love and enjoy baseball, it pales when compared to my love and enjoyment of the gathered church. One of my favorite moments every Sunday is walking in to our church and seeing the eternally hope-filled faces of people from different ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. Ordinary people involved in extraordinary work. A group of people who’d never have gotten together if not for the fact they possess a common metanarrative as it relates to the cross and the saving love of Jesus Christ. Their stories are all different and yet at their core they’re all the same. No one begins to follow Christ in the abstract. There was a time, a place and a person when they heard the Good News and believed. Even though they may not have been cognizant of it (who remembers their natural birth?), the new birth took place. Now their lives are forever rooted in His grace. As they gather for a worship service to celebrate the resurrected Christ, they’ve struggled all week and often failed. But their goal is not perfection (their Savior was the perfect substitute in their place) just simply greater consistency. Worship is a precious gift built into the rhythm of our lives. Every weekend is full of newness and hope through faith in Jesus Christ no matter our failure. 

  Baseball isn’t heaven. It’s certainly not church, which is a glorious taste and window of heaven on earth. But I do confess, baseball reminds me of church and for that, I’m glad and say with renewed gusto, “Play ball!”

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. 

If you're looking for the perfect church, you're in the wrong place!

 

“You don't manage the truth. You tell the truth.” John M. Barry

 

One of the most amazing facets of the Bible is the lack of spin. Scripture is truly a “no spin zone.” Name nearly any hero or heroine in God’s Word and as you check the biblical records, you’re shocked that their history is never sanitized. The good, the bad, and the ugly are recorded. 

  The Bible is much like a true story from the life of Oliver Cromwell. When the Lord Protector was presented with his official portrait in 1656, he angrily rejected it. Thinking it would please him, the court painter had omitted Cromwell’s unsightly facial warts. “Take it away,” Cromwell demanded, “and paint me as I am, warts and all.” 

  Today we’re celebrating our 3^rd anniversary in this building. It’s an event that we believe is important to celebrate each year. God has been so good to us! It’s important that we remember and review God’s hand on our church and His blessings! What has happened here is truly of God and He deserves all of the glory. 

  Periodically, someone will say something foolish like, “I wish our church was like the early church” or “the New Testament church” (a lot of pastors say this) as if that was some perfect ideal. Read the New Testament and you will find back then, what we find today in the local church – failures, fights, disagreements, division, etc. Take for example the church at Corinth. There was division, problems with immorality, abuse of the Lord’s Table, misunderstanding the spiritual gifts, distorted view of marriage, squabbles over minute issues, etc. 

  Every church, even the best ones, has “history.” Ours does. We serve a perfect Savior yet our church is composed of redeemed sinners. With the power of God and transformation of the gospel, the “redeemed” side needs to shine, but sometimes it’s the “sinner” side that’s more predominant. 

  Sometimes it’s a sin problem. Sometimes it’s a matter of perspective or personal tastes. Every church though has some “warts.” Every church if they want to grow spiritually must work through biblical problem-solving. This is so vital to us that you can’t be a member of Grace unless you take the New Member’s class and there is an entire lesson on working through biblical problem-solving. Biblical problem-solving is part of our DNA. 

  Satan is the great divider. He first divided Adam and Eve from God, then from each other and the creation. His strategy has not changed. He loves to divide Christians and churches. 

  Shortly after I became the pastor of our church, I began looking back over the church’s history. Our church was started in 1955. I had the privilege of meeting the founding pastor, Dr. Reuben Kile and his wife, Sandy, and had him preach at my installation service in 1988. He was a godly man who loved the Lord. There was great commitment and excitement during those early days. Yet, no doubt there were issues when Dr. Kile was the pastor because people are people and sinners are sinners. 

  Dr. Kile moved on to pastor another church. But during the time with the pastor who followed him, a division flared up and people left the church. Who was at fault? I don’t know. If we could talk to those who were in the church, there, there would be various perspectives. When it comes to division, there are no innocent parties. That pastor was also a friend of mine and I greatly respected him (he’s now Home with the Lord). No doubt, he looked back with regret at decisions that he’d made. Probably, some of those involved who were so angry with him that they left the church also looked back later with regret at decisions that they made. Time has a way of healing wounds and giving us greater perspective. 

  Why am I sharing this? We all need to understand that while we’re so blessed and it’s exciting to see what God is doing in our church, we have problems and will have more in the future. When God works, Satan attacks. Our Enemy doesn’t put dead churches in his crosshairs but he loves churchianity. He loves it when a church is more interested in being a religious social club than a beachhead for the Kingdom. He hates churches who love Jesus and are serious about the gospel. 

  While I believe that we have great days ahead, we would be naïve if we were not on the alert for Satan’s attacks. In 2 Corinthians 2:11 we’re admonished to “not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” Like a married couple who finds that they can squabble about the silliest things, that’s often Satan’s strategy and attack of the church. How can we have victory and protect ourselves and our church? 

  We must first be humbly dependent. The Bible is clear that anything good in us is of God and the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. If we begin to think that we have spiritually arrived or get comfortable with a spiritual status quo, we’re foolish and setting ourselves up for failure. 

  When there’s a disagreement, suspect first the sinner that you know best. In 1 Timothy 1:15 the Apostle Paul wrote, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” So am I…so are you. I’m continually shocked by the wickedness of my own heart, yet we shouldn’t be surprised at sin in our hearts or in our brothers and sisters. We must commit to showing grace to other sinners as our Savior has shown to us. 

  We must commit to biblical problem-solving. Two processes should never be started prematurely, embalming and church division. Most are committed to fighting for our families. We must be committed to fighting for our spiritual family, and its unity and health. The Bible compares a local church to a body. You don’t start amputating parts haphazardly. 
  We must thank God for church problems. Problems, confronting sin in our lives and in our church are opportunities for spiritual growth. God uses the fire to melt away the dross. It’s in the trials, that as we submit to Him and His Word, we become more like Jesus. 

  God has great things ahead for Grace Church! Know this though that where there are mountains, there will be valleys. It’s why we must be committed to Him and to each other! 

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. 

Was 2020 a Root Canal?

“Do I learn through dark providences, 

or simply seem relieved when they are over?”  Sinclair Ferguson

 

  A man went to his dentist for a root canal. The dentist made him comfortable and injected a numbing agent around the tooth, then left the room for a few minutes to allow the medication to take effect. But when the dentist returned he found the patient standing next to the tray of instruments. The dentist asked, “What are you doing by my surgical instruments?” Without looking up, continuing to focus on his task, the patient replied, “I’m taking out the ones I don’t like.” 

  So if you had the power, what would you do with 2020? What parts would you take out? Many of us would eradicate it. But does that line up with a biblical worldview? Do we really believe that God is sovereign? Do we believe that God is in control, even of years that from our perspective are as horrible as 2020?

  Nobody likes hard times. I know that I don’t. Yet, I know that as I look back on my life, the times that I have grown the most spiritually, the times when I’ve grown closer to God…haven’t been the easy times. They’ve been when I’ve walked through the fire, through deep waters. You’ll find that nearly every believer who has been walking with the Lord for any length of time will say the same thing. And while I don’t want a repeat of 2020, I don’t want to forget the lessons. I want them to be ingrained in my soul. I want them to help me walk closer to Jesus and trust Him more.

  During this pandemic it’s easy to see bad things happening all around us. However, with a biblical view on our circumstances, it may become clearer that what God could be doing during this time of taking things away is actually giving us something wonderful and eternal - Himself! So, here are some things that I’ve learned (you’ve probably learned them too). 

  The most precious people on the planet are the ones that live closest to me (or used to live with me). Spouses, family, children, parents, relatives, close friends, roommates, etc. are people that we care for the most. During this pandemic, I’ve realized anew how blessed I am to be married to Jane Carson. Her love for the Lord, her faith, and joy has helped encourage my own love for the Lord, faith, and joy. Living with someone and seeing them at their best and worst gives us a sense of care and compassion that can’t be adequately expressed. This pandemic has helped us to not take our spouses and children for granted. The ache of not seeing my son and daughter-in-law has only been increased by not being able to see them. Too often I take those closest to me for granted. Yet, when things get serious, I wanted them all close. I want to make certain that they’re all okay.

  Gathering as a church family is one of the most undervalued and underappreciated events in the whole world. This is the first time in most of our lives (since getting saved) that we’ve not been able to be with our brothers and sisters each week. It’s unnatural. It’s discouraging. It’s debilitating. Prior to this, we failed to value how important it is to be with other believers regularly. It’s a blessing that we have the technology to broadcast our services, yet the digital world doesn’t have skin on it. It doesn’t wrap an arm around another believer as you pray with them. It misses the nuances of a smile or a tearing eye. It misses the vital part of a maturing Christianity, giving as well as receiving. But we didn’t realize how much we were gaining from being with the “family” until we weren’t.

  Being busy gives us a false sense of accomplishment while stillness feels deceptively like idleness. When we’re running to work, school, events, etc., and are constantly on the move, we feel like we’re accomplishing something­ but often without much to show for it. Our overly busy lives have taught us to disdain times where we’re sitting still and in the same place. This season has been a lesson for us that busyness is not the same as accomplishing what has significance. It needs to teach us something that we easily forget – God did not create us to be human “doers,” but human “beings.” Being somewhere and being with someone supersedes doing.

  Petty disagreements and the little things that tend to consume us are even pettier and smaller when compared to eternity. Many of us either abandoned social media, limited it, or unfollowed neg-aholics. Yet, when I think about the things that have caused strife among friends or even in the church, they’re generally very small matters that were blown out of proportion. When you compare them to eternity, most aren’t worth the breath to speak them or the energy spent to post them on social media. Were they worth our time or energy at all? Are they worth our time now? What value are they in this world if they have no bearing on the one to come?

  I’m a lot more selfish than I thought I was and not nearly as patient as I thought that I was. When you can’t go where you want to go or do what you want to do, you find warm emotions rising up that are a bit shocking. Why does not being able to go to a coffee shop or movie or travel freely matter so much to me? Why was I so obsessed when this all started to see how far the numbers went up each day as if watching to keep score in a tragedy? It was easy to forget that those weren’t just numbers, they’re people. So, I want to learn to be more thankful for what I do have. I want to learn to be more aware and compassionate, especially for those experiencing loss firsthand. 

  No one is guaranteed tomorrow, and as much as I try to understand that I still don’t get it. Though I know better, I still live my life like I will always have a future on this earth. I think about next week, next month, and next year like they’re guaranteed dates on my calendar. But the psalmist speaks into my heart by turning focus for the day I have. “This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24). While we need to wisely plan, God has only given us today to use. Too often I’ve wasted today assuming I’ll have tomorrow. 

  This life is short and there are many ways to squander it, but only one way to redeem it – Love Jesus with your whole life, and love Him above all else. It really is a straight and narrow path but the road that leads to destruction is broad and too many go down it. Yet, it’s not as difficult to find as it is to maintain. Yet, I’m so easily distracted by the trivial. If I learn nothing else from 2020, I want to learn this and never forget it: “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain!” (Phil. 1:21). 

  I don’t want to repeat 2020 but I don’t want to forget it. How about you?

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.