tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48305860679966611252024-02-19T06:47:43.628-08:00WorldviewingThe reflections of Bill Sytsma on topics such as: Theology, Discipleship, Preaching, Chicago Sports, Adoption, Racial Reconciliation, Theology, Leadership, and more...
If you are looking for information specifically about New Life CRC worship services or Council discussions, please visit http://www.newlifecrc.com.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-6843742582491991892013-04-01T07:48:00.002-07:002013-04-01T13:25:23.689-07:00Was it My Fault in 1984?I have been carrying a burden of guilt for almost 30 years, and it is time for me to come clean.<br />
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In October of 1984, the Cubs were in the playoffs for the first time in my life. It was a great summer. Ryne Sandberg was the MVP for the National League. Rick Sutcliffe was the Cy Young winner. They Cubs had the best record in the National League, and should have had the home field advantage in the playoffs. However, because they did not have the ability to host a night game, they had to forfeit the advantage to the Padres.<br />
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The National League Divisional Series started out perfectly. The Cubs won the first two games at Wrigley Field, and seemed to be destined to play the Tigers in the World Series. When they lost the first game in SanDiego, I was not worried. When they lost the second game, I remained confident, because I knew that the Cubs ace, Rick Sutcliffe, was going to pitch for the fifth and deciding game of the series, and the Cubs would advance to their first World Series in my lifetime.<br />
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The deciding game was on Sunday, October 7, 1984. It looked like everything was going according to plan. The Cubs were winning 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh. <br />
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At this point in the game, I started to worry. I had been watching Cubs baseball for most of my life. I was a die-hard Chicago sports fan, and I had never seen a championship from any of my favorite professional teams. I was not, however, worried about the result of the game. I was afraid that I was going to miss the celebration.<br />
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You see, the Cubs game was running late on that Sunday afternoon, and our family always went to the morning and evening worship services at church. We had already attended the morning service, and during the seventh inning, it was time to start getting ready for church. I was not angry about going to church, but I was disappointed that we were going to miss the champagne celebration in the Cubs locker room and the feeling of elation as my favorite team advanced to the World Series.<br />
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Just as these thoughts in my mind were escalating my anxiety, my dad turned to me, and said something that I never thought I would hear him say, "Do you want to stay home from church and watch the rest of the game?"<br />
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My disappointment was lifted in a moment. I was thrilled as I thought of the display I would witness on TV. The Cubs would win the game and pile on top of each other in a celebration. I would jump up and down in our family living room as the television announcers went into the Cubs locker room and got soaked in the midst of the festivities. Initially, I felt no guilt about skipping church. <br />
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That guilt-free feeling changed within a moment of my mom leaving for church. The car was barely out of our driveway, when the unspeakable became a reality. Leon Durham, the Cubs first baseman, (who was supposed to be the game's hero for hitting a two-run homer) botched what seemed to be a routine ground ball, and allowed the tying run to score. By the end of the inning, the Cubs were losing 6-3, and they never recovered.<br />
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For years, I had this gnawing sense that I had cost the Cubs the opportunity to go to the World Series. I feared that my decision to skip church had somehow turned around in a justifiable fashion to cause the downfall of my favorite sports team.<br />
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My view of God and the call to observe the Sabbath was not fully developed at the age of 14. I had this warped image of God as an all-powerful being who took some kind of delight in punishing me for each of my misdeeds. So when I chose to skip church (and therefore violate the Sabbath) in order to watch the MLB Playoffs, I believed God was justified in punishing me by causing my favorite team to lose. I did not understand that Sabbath keeping was a gift, rather than a chore. It took me a long time to see God as loving and caring, rather than someone who took an almost sadistic delight in enforcing consequences for those who violated His commandments. I had to learn that sabbath keeping was intended to help me develop life-long habits to make space for God in my life that would ultimately benefit me, rather than restrict my personal pleasures on one day a week.<br />
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Over the years, that overwhelming sense of guilt has subsided, even though the Cubs have continued to disappoint. I was hopeful in 2003, 2007, and 2008 that the Cubs would end their dry spell. I have witnessed the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, and even the White Sox win championships, while the Cubs fans still go without the ultimate celebration. Every time the Cubs come close and fall short, my dad and I will talk about that decision to stay home from church in 1984.<br />
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But at least I have grown past my sense of irrational guilt. I can say with confidence that I no longer feel responsible for the Cubs unimaginable streak of unfruitful pursuits of a World Series Championships.<br />
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Now I blame my dad...Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-79224403274084816272012-06-21T07:44:00.010-07:002012-06-21T07:44:00.442-07:00Belhar Confession: Disappointed with Debate<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">For the past few years, the Christian Reformed Church has been discussing whether or not to adopt another confession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Belhar Confession comes from the Reformed Churches of South Africa, and was written as a response to the racist policies of Apartheid.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When I first read the Belhar Confession, I was immediately impressed with the kind of challenge it offered Christians to strive for Unity, Justice, and Reconciliation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also appreciated the strong stance it took against racism.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvNjSydzawOPlq4_-eAoQ_pbk_gI4MQaplGLqur4_V0p39fA-iBuG65s32zlHMlTH5m_0e6rvPbaxdPFBTr05fUrBOpY8OrzROlCHUEJYHUJu9huWpUH3xKngaf827MqITrKgxpUm-ik/s1600/Belhar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvNjSydzawOPlq4_-eAoQ_pbk_gI4MQaplGLqur4_V0p39fA-iBuG65s32zlHMlTH5m_0e6rvPbaxdPFBTr05fUrBOpY8OrzROlCHUEJYHUJu9huWpUH3xKngaf827MqITrKgxpUm-ik/s1600/Belhar.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Christian Reformed Church of North America has not always taken a strong stance against racism, and there are many who have misused Calvinist teachings to support racism and slavery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church, I was pleased to see the opportunity for our denomination to make this kind of strong stance against the misuse of the Bible to support racist and discriminatory practices and attitudes.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In the past year, there was a lot of discussion about whether or not the Belhar Confession should be approved as a standard for our denomination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it were declared a confession, pastors, ministry associates, elders, and deacons would be required to sign a form voicing their agreement with the doctrines of the document.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In June, 2012, the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church decided to voice their approval of the Belhar Confession but did not add it as a binding confession for our denomination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that we have affirmed that the Belhar is worth studying, but we will not make members, pastor, or church leaders sign a statement to signify their agreement.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The discussion surrounding the Belhar Confession seemed to revolve around whether the statement was worthy of being approved as a full confession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While many liked the document, there were concerns that it remained vague about doctrinal issues that our other confessions addressed more thoroughly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Because of the debate and concerns surrounding the Belhar, I think our Synod made a good decision in how to receive this document.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the discussions of the past year leave a bad taste in my mouth.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When I first started studying the Belhar, I thought this discussion would offer a great opportunity for our denomination to address some of our struggles to become a multi-ethnic body of believers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because our church can trace its historical roots to the Netherlands, we have often struggled with the characterization of being a “Dutch church.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I had hoped the discussion of the Belhar would prompt our church to some reflective self analysis, so that we could consider whether we harbor unfair characterizations of people from different races, or so that we could evaluate whether some of our traditional practices have deeper roots in our cultural heritage than in Biblical instruction.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I had also hoped that the discussion of the Belhar would help many white Christians realize the damage that the history of racism has created in our world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is very easy for those of us who are Caucasian to downplay the damage of racism as a problem of the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can point to the changes in legal and corporate policies in the past fifty years, and believe that the problem of racism has been completely eradicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we do this, we fail to realize that there are still some who harbor discriminatory, prejudiced, and even hateful attitudes towards others simply on the basis of skin color.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Furthermore, even if we could magically eliminate all racial prejudices in people’s hearts today, we would still have many people who feel bitterness and resentment because of the way they have been treated in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is racism is bigger than we might be willing to acknowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had hoped that the introduction of the Belhar would prompt more discussion about our efforts to pursue unity, in spite of the damage of racism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, we talked about the definitions and expectations of a confession.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Although the discussion about the Belhar had value – because it is worthwhile for us to consider the meaning and value of our confessional standards – I was disappointed because I had hoped for a different tone to our conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still hope the use of the Belhar will stir members of our churches to pursue Unity, Justice, and Reconciliation; but the direction of the conversation regarding the Belhar Confession did not move us into that discussion.</span></div>Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-38420018196150375422012-06-18T11:24:00.000-07:002012-06-18T11:24:18.114-07:00Covenant for Officebearers<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the Christian Reformed Church, whenever church leaders are installed as a pastors, ministry associates, elders, or deacons; they are expected to sign a letter that signifies their agreements with the doctrinal teachings of our church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until 2012, this letter was called the “Form of Subscription.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year, our denomination adopted a new letter that has been called “Covenant for Officebearers.”</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The discussion over this new form started years ago, in order to clarify and update the language of the old Form of Subscription.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2011, a new document was presented to Synod for consideration, but Synod asked for some revisions to be made.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Christian Reformed Church has always asked their church leaders to sign this kind of a statement, in order to make sure that officers in our churches believe the Word of God, and agree with the doctrines that are taught in our Creeds (Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed) and Confessions (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new Covenant for Officebearers also adds a paragraph that recognizes the Contemporary Testimony, “Our World Belongs to God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Prior to the final revisions to the new Covenant for Officebearers, some were concerned that a new document would allow leaders in our church greater leeway in their differences with the teachings of our church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the final document seems to be well received by those who had these concerns.</span></div>Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-82105423539292249412012-06-12T11:50:00.003-07:002012-06-12T11:52:43.052-07:00Confessional Identity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2VfpVMKcy8RkqRC0QNXp7Kl-XFNozsMfxNZnbTw5MM4MPoJgxrg0XGvs80K1X2wUr8pK5V8-fOl6akhqK7ssQTxTwy2LO0f1qWkYTKbnOMjOw2XOnycmAzIgh3gc17TZwpEPLIIjHSU/s1600/synod.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2VfpVMKcy8RkqRC0QNXp7Kl-XFNozsMfxNZnbTw5MM4MPoJgxrg0XGvs80K1X2wUr8pK5V8-fOl6akhqK7ssQTxTwy2LO0f1qWkYTKbnOMjOw2XOnycmAzIgh3gc17TZwpEPLIIjHSU/s200/synod.12.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">This week, the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church is meeting at Redeemer College in Ontario.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each year, Synod gathers to discuss and make decisions on matters for our denomination.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This year, the prominent issues that are being discussed revolve around the theme of Confessional Identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The first issue is the updating of the Form of Subscription.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For years, Pastors, Elders, and Deacons have signed the form of subscription when they become officers in the church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The form signifies that they believe the Word of God, and that they believe the teachings of the Bible are accurately taught in the doctrines of some historical statements: Apostle’s Creed, Athanasian Creed, Nicene Creed, Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of Dort (all of these statements can be found in the back of the official songbook of the Christian Reformed Church, the Psalter Hymnal).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new Form of Subscription has been renamed the Covenant for Officebearers, and the intent of the changes is to make the statement clearer and simpler to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some have expressed concern that the updated language may decrease the significance of our commitment to the doctrines of these historic statements.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The second issue is how our denomination receives the Belhar Confession, a statement from South African Churches that came from the culture of Apartheid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The document calls for unity, justice, and reconciliation, and makes a strong statement against racism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Christian Reformed Church has been asked to adopt this statement as a confession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although most agree that this document makes a valid statement against racism and Apartheid, there is concern that it should not be adopted as a Confession.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As Synod unfolds, I will post some of my reflections on the deliberation and decisions that are made regarding these two issues.</span></div>Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-77886771235044801382011-10-13T01:51:00.000-07:002011-10-13T01:51:13.215-07:00To Be Reformed<span style="font-family: Arial;">What does it mean to be Reformed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In recent years, many churches in America have faced drastic changes, which can cause church members to question the identity of their church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Organs have been replaced by guitars and drums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Songs that were once familiar have had their lyrics changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t recite the Apostle’s Creed as often as we once did.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Occasionally, I will hear someone comment that they don’t recognize their church anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They question how many changes we can endure and still be truly “Reformed.”</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">One of the reasons we face that question is because we have identified the idea of being “Reformed” with certain practices, rather than the truths we embrace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Traditionally, Christian Reformed Churches have had many common practices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We worshipped twice every Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Ten Commandments were read every Sunday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Apostle’s Creed was recited every Sunday evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pastor prayed a long prayer before his sermon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We expected parents to send their children to Christian Day schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High School students memorized the Heidelberg Catechism and went to class on Wednesday nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We celebrated the Lord’s Supper exactly four times a year.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As time passes, many of these practices have changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Attendance at the evening worship service has dwindled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t use the Apostle’s Creed and the Ten Commandments as often as we once did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The long prayer is shorter than it used to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High School students go on service projects and attend conventions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> P</span>arents send their children to the public schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have communion more frequently than we once did.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sometimes we like the changes we see in our churches, and sometimes we wonder if the church is changing too much and losing its identity.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">While practices in our church may change, the truth we proclaim is unchanging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every Sunday we gather to be reminded that Jesus is Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hold onto the claim that we are saved by God’s grace because of the work of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – even if we do not use the words of the Apostle’s Creed every week to confess that belief. Our practices for proclaiming these truths may have changed, but the truths are constant.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Maybe it would be helpful if we thought of our “Reformed” identity in terms of the truth we believe, rather that our traditional practices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> That truth can have a lasting influence on each of us personally, and on our world.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We believe that God is working to reclaim His people, to renew and “re-form” us into His likeness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe that God uses the people He is “re-forming” to have a transforming influence in the world for His Kingdom. </span></div>Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-1174064157336090102011-09-07T12:46:00.000-07:002011-09-07T12:46:25.094-07:00The End Times<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Sunday Evening (September 11), our worship service is going to have a slightly different format.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are going to begin a series of sermons on the book of Revelation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we start, I want to spend an evening giving an overview of the Bible’s teachings about the End Times, and help us understand the general story that is told in the book of Revelation.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">If most Christians are asked about the book of Revelation, they can probably tell you two things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, it has a lot to say about the end times; and second, it is very difficult to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Revelation, we read of signs and seals, beasts and horses, trumpet calls and bowls of wrath…it can become a pretty confusing picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Sunday night, we are going to put those pictures into a single framework to get the overall picture of Revelation’s message.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">While we do that, we also want to acknowledge that Revelation speaks about the End Times, which can also be a confusing picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know about Judgment Day, the Millenium, tribulations, the antichrist, and other images that the Bible mentions about the final days, but we aren’t sure how they all fit together.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Even if you don’t normally come to the evening worship service, you might find this time helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring your best questions about the book of Revelation and the End Times, and we will spend time helping each other grasp the Bible’s picture of God’s plans.</span></div>Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-51758129626870467432011-08-24T11:04:00.001-07:002011-08-24T11:04:55.711-07:00Using the Bible <span style="font-family: Arial;">I have to admit I cringe a little bit when I hear people boldly proclaim that the Bible has the answers to all of life’s questions.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I don’t cringe because I think the statement is false – I do believe the Bible offers insights that affect every aspect of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cringe because I am concerned about the way Christians utilize the Bible.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Many people treat the bible like the owner’s manual to their vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I have a problem setting the radio stations on my stereo, I get out the manual, look up stereo system, and find the appropriate section to learn how to program the radio buttons.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">If I am having trouble as a parent, where do I turn in the Bible to find insights that will affect my parenting techniques?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should I leave my kids at the temple like Hannah and Elkanah (1 Samuel 1)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should I give them their inheritance and send them on their way like the Prodigal Son (Luke 15)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I think that David or Noah or Abraham set a good example for me to follow as a father?</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The problem with this approach is that the Bible was not written to be a “life fix-it” manual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although God’s Word will affect our parenting, financial management, career choices, political preferences, and just about every other area of our lives, it is not a reference guide to give us quick advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was intended to teach us about God, and to draw us into a life-giving relationship with Him.</span><br />
Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-83975838172650899202011-08-10T11:09:00.000-07:002011-08-10T11:09:15.732-07:00Hospitality<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">In the Old Testament, the word “hospitality” never appears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people of Israel had an identity of being former slaves, wanderers, and people who had to fight to establish and maintain a home in Canaan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because they viewed themselves as strangers, there may not have been much thought given to the concept of hospitality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the New Testament, the word for hospitality makes a few more appearances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul writes of his appreciation for the hospitality that others have shown him, and both Peter and Paul encourage Christ’s followers to practice showing hospitality to others.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hospitality is probably an underappreciated art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t think too much about how we will welcome people into our homes, or how we will make room or time to focus our attention on someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We meet friends in restaurants or malls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We go someplace together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when we worship, we go to a common place, a church building, to spend time with others.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">On Sunday, August 7, our church hosted an event following the Share the Rock basketball camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We planned an outdoor worship service, a barbecue lunch, and a recognition ceremony for those who participated in the basketball camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I arrived at church that Sunday morning, I was overwhelmed when I saw all of the people who were working to make this day special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People were testing the sound equipment, adjusting tents, setting up tables and chairs, preparing food, and carrying beverages to make our church a welcoming environment for our anticipated visitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that wasn’t enough, once the rain rolled in, and interrupted our plans, people stepped up to move the food downstairs, set up more tables and chairs,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cover the sound equipment, and work to adjust our plans to the weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It is easy to take these kinds of efforts for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you go to an event that runs smoothly, you probably don’t pay a lot of attention to the work that has been done to set up and plan the details, but the work is almost essential in order to make people feel welcomed.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The work of hospitality is an effort to make outsiders feel welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can happen very simply when you are standing in a circle, and intentionally move so that someone else can join the conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It happens when you set an extra plate at your table to welcome a last minute visitor to supper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It happened last Sunday when many worked so that visitors to our church would know that they are welcomed and valued by God’s people.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">God’s work of salvation is largely the work of hospitality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus told His disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His sacrifice allows us to enter God’s presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when we remember His death for our sins, we symbolize this by gathering at a table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of this reminds us that God is one who goes to great lengths to welcome us to Himself.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">One final thought about hospitality:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus tells his disciples about the last days in Matthew 24, one of the criteria for separating the sheep from the goats is evidence of practicing hospitality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He indicates that those he knows have welcomed strangers, fed the hungry, given clothes to those who were naked, and showed kindness to those who were imprisoned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems as though when we follow and love Christ, the act of hospitality becomes a natural overflow of loving Him.</span></div><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">I</span> want to thank those who volunteered to make the worship service on August 7 a special event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was thrilled to see so many serving to welcome others to our church family.</span>Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-36043873831663773862011-02-19T11:56:00.000-08:002011-02-19T11:56:10.392-08:00Healthy Self-AssessmentDid you know that our church was infiltrated by spies last fall? <br />
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As she began her work in our church as Director of Community Outreach, Liz Fledderjohann asked some people who were not members of our church to visit a worship service, and then meet with her to discuss their initial impressions. She informed the Elders that there would be some. She used an inquiry approach to help us determine how visitors might perceive our church.<br />
At our Council Meeting on February 16, Liz presented the results of her research to the Council. We were pleased to discover that many of the visitors had positive comments about the worship service, singing, and the sanctuary. One person said that “it really felt like church.” Another added, “the liturgy was refreshing.”<br />
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Along with positive comments about the friendliness of our church, we also noticed comments that reveal the need to be prepared to welcome people who are not familiar with our church customs. Some visitors pointed out that it was too noisy and crowded to visit after the worship service. Others said that they would have liked to stay for Adult Education while their kids were in Sunday School. One visitor struggled to find our nursery, and wished there had been a more convenient place to change her child’s diaper.<br />
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In the coming months, Council will continue to discuss the comments from this informal study, so that we truly are prepared to welcome people into our church fellowship.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-44457857934044432702011-02-19T11:20:00.000-08:002011-02-19T11:21:23.906-08:00Safe Child PolicyIn 2004, the Council approved a policy that was intended to protect children from harm while they were participating in the children’s ministries at our church. Included in this policy are guidelines for any leader in a children’s ministry (eg. Sunday School, Jr. or Sr. High Youth Group, Cadets, GEMS, Story Hour, Nursery, etc.), qualifications for serving in a children’s ministry, rules for responding to allegations of abuse, recommendations for safe classrooms and nursery, and the requirement that anyone who serves as a leader or helper in the children’s ministries at our church should fill out an application which allows the church to run a background check on all who volunteer in our church’s children’s ministries.<br />
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Although that policy was approved in 2004, it was never fully implemented. As we strive to have a greater influence in our community, and as we hope to effectively enfold new members in to our church family, it is important that parents of young children have a high level of confidence in the children’s ministries at our church.<br />
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This year, we are planning to implement the child safety policy that was approved in 2004. This means that we will be asking all children’s ministry volunteers to fill out an application that will allow a police background check. Although the policy originally allowed people who had served in children’s ministry prior to 2004 to forego the application, we will be asking all who serve in these ministries to participate in this process, so that we can let people know that we have worked to ensure the safety of children who participate in our church ministries. The staff members of our church have all filled out their applications, and we will be asking volunteers to fill them out prior to the beginning of the 2011-12 school year.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-83286392732858319432011-02-03T05:39:00.000-08:002011-02-03T05:39:40.950-08:00Choir Loft PewsIn the fall of 2010, the Worship Planning Committee had a discussion about how we utilize our worship space. We noticed that during our worship services, we often have people standing between the pulpit and the first row of pews in the sanctuary. Whenever the bell ringers play, the praise team sings, or children are dismissed for worship center; the front of the sanctuary can feel crowded. During that discussion, we also noted that the choir loft is not used too often. The choir will often sing while standing around the piano, or on the steps by the pulpit, and the space that is filled with the choir loft pews is rarely utilized.<br />
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The committee first discussed the possibility of remodeling the front of the sanctuary. After discussion and research, they decided the cost of such a project was prohibitive at this time. As an alternative, the committee explored the possibility of removing the choir loft pews, and utilizing that space for our worship services.<br />
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In January, the Worship Planning Committee submitted a motion to council asking them to remove the pews from the choir loft. The Council approved this motion, and asked the Building and Grounds Committee to see if there are aesthetic considerations that have been overlooked, and to schedule a time to remove the pews. We anticipate the Building and Grounds Committee will report back at the February Council meeting, and that the pews should be removed from the choir loft sometime in the next few weeks.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-20565679003094562742010-09-01T08:55:00.000-07:002010-09-01T08:55:26.965-07:00More Than ProgramsThis month we have made some quiet, but significant changes in our church. We have welcomed Kelli Hofstra to Highland, and she has begun her work as our new Director of Youth Ministries (Kelli will be commissioned on Septemer 12). We have also commissioned Liz Fledderjohann to serve as the Director of Community Outreach in our church.<br />
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With the arrivals of Kelli and Liz, we have a good representation on our church staff. We hope and pray that the programs and activities that Kelli plans for the Middle School and High School students in our church will be tremendously successful. We also look forward to the challenge that Liz will bring to our congregation as we seek to be more intentionally engaged in our broader community.<br />
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More than likely, you will notice some of the programs that are introduced by Kelli and Liz. The Director of Community Outreach may plan activities to welcome people into our church and may challenge us to be ready to welcome new people into our church family. The Director of Youth Ministries will probably include announcements in our News and Notes about activities, service projects, and regular meeting times for the students in our church.<br />
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As we move forward as a church, it will be important for us to realize that effective church ministry is not measured in the “buzz” that surrounds a particular program.<br />
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Earlier this month, our church partnered with Mercy Hill Church and Suburban Bible Church to host the “Share the Rock” basketball camp at the Lincoln Center in Highland. It was a great event, as more boys came to the camp each day. There was even an article in one of the local newspapers about this ministry program. It might be tempting to think that the program was a success because many people attended the camp, and because the local newspaper wrote a favorable article. The basketball camp certainly received favorable “buzz.”<br />
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We could also argue that there were many intangibles about the camp that made it successful. It was wonderful to partner with other churches from our community for a purpose that supersedes denominational differences. We were blessed to work with Dan Voudrie, the men’s head basketball coach at Purdue University Calumet.<br />
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But the effectiveness of our ministry should not be measured by the “buzz” our programs create, nor by the good feelings we get from cooperative efforts. The focus of our ministry efforts is to see lives transformed by people coming to a deeper knowledge of God’s grace. <br />
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Sometimes, we see this transforming work in the lives of people who attend the ministry programs. After the camp concluded, I received a phone call from a mom who expressed her thanks not only for the camp, but for the volunteers who dropped off school supplies and information about other church ministries for her son. Hopefully, that family saw God’s hand at work through the ministry of a program. <br />
Sometimes, we see this transforming work in the lives of people who serve within our ministry programs. I was excited to see young men and women from our churches using their gifts to lead boys from our community. I hope that those who participated were able to see God’s hand working through them to touch others.<br />
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Please welcome Kelli and Liz to our church staff, and pray for them as they serve God within our church family. And remember: as we work to create and manage ministry programs, the goal of our ministry is not merely to create successful programs, but to see lives transformed.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-23471892175932269042010-05-26T11:57:00.000-07:002010-05-26T11:57:56.214-07:00Share the Rock Basketball CampOn August 2-4, 2010, our church will be partnering with Mercy Hill Church to host a three-day basketball camp for boys in grades 3-8 from the town of Highland. Dan Voudrie, head coach of men's basketball at Purdue Calumet University, will provide the coaching to help the boys develop their basketball skills. Throughout the day, the participants will hear testimonies of faith from basketball players, coaches, and church leaders. After the conclusion of the camp, our churches will attempt to follow up with the participants and invite their families to participate in the life of the church.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-87791421349969002502010-04-03T05:24:00.000-07:002010-04-03T05:24:26.870-07:00Two Search CommitteesOur church has two search committees that are currently meeting to fill two important staff positions at our church.<br />
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The first committee is the Youth Pastor Search Team. Terry Kuipers, Herb Sitter, and Jill Boender are members of this team from our church who are meeting with three members of First Church in order to recruit and recommend a qualified candidate to fill the position of Youth Pastor at New Life CRC and First Church. This committee has reviewed the job description of Youth Pastor, and has already recommended that this position become an equally shared position between the two churches. The person who fills this position will work with volunteers from both churches to oversee the combined high school and junior high youth ministries of our churches.<br />
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The second committee is the Director of Community Outreach Search Team. Tim Abbring, Brad Gossman, Lynnea Lytle, and Mary Otte are the members of this team who are working to recruit and recommend a qualified candidate to plan events and activities to welcome people into our church, as well as coordinate efforts to make sure new members and visitors are included in the life of our congregation.<br />
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Please pray for the work of these two search committees, and pray that they will be led to the right people to enhance God’s work in our church and in our community.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-38387830376976606812010-02-09T00:01:00.000-08:002010-02-09T00:01:03.566-08:00Final Word: PrayerFollowing Christ begins with prayer, and the process of following Christ is bathed in prayer. During the past month, you have considered different habits that you can develop in order to grow closer to God. One of the common mistakes of spiritual disciplines is the tendency to turn the discipline into a routine that is accomplished, so that the habit no longer draws your attention to God. <br />
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As you practice spiritual disciplines, I encourage you to think of the habits as a means to help you grow in your prayer life. <br />
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I have known faithful Christians who have never fasted nor meditated. I have learned a great deal from Christians who have never kept a journal. However, I have never met a mature Christian who did not spend time in prayer.<br />
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Let your life be bathed in prayer as you strive to grow closer to God.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-14773280825654059592010-02-08T00:01:00.000-08:002010-02-08T00:01:03.732-08:00The Discipline of ServiceThe Bible tells us that true religion is worked out in the way we live our lives. Offering our bodies in service may not seem very spiritual, but service can indeed be an act of worship. I think many people believe spirituality is some kind of mysterious, exotic experience that has little to do with “real life.”<br />
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I believe the opposite is true. True spirituality is evident in the way we handle the things that can often seem mundane. How do we treat our spouses when we are having a bad day? Do we do our jobs well, even when we are upset with our bosses? How do we act at the local sporting events and when we are on vacation? True spirituality that is focused on Christ is evident in the normal stuff of “real life.”<br />
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Christians are called to serve. Below, I could list numerous service possibilities, but instead, I am only going to list a few categories to get you thinking creatively about how you can serve God.<br />
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<strong>Ideas for Service:</strong><br />
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<em>1. Long-term commitment</em><br />
Many people are willing to do a “one-time” favor. It is relatively easy to find someone to bake cookies, donate car-wash buckets, or serve one meal. It is much more difficult to find someone who is willing to make a commitment to serve for an extended period of time. Churches often struggle to find Sunday School teachers, elders, deacons, committee members. Consider making a commitment to serve for an extended period of time. <br />
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<em>2. Using your gifts</em><br />
It is easy to get overwhelmed by opportunities to serve. You may feel pressure to serve meals, fix bicycles, organize fundraisers, host the youth group, serve on the social action committee, save labels for the local school, be a mentor, correct Bible lessons, and deliver meals. These are all worthwhile service opportunities, but no person can participate in every worthwhile service opportunity. As you consider ways to serve God, ask God to reveal your gifts. When He prompts you to use a gift, do not feel guilty when you have to say “no” to other worthwhile service opportunities. God has given other people gifts for those areas of service.<br />
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<em>3. Secret acts of kindness</em><br />
It is a good idea to occasionally offer an act of kindness anonymously. When you offer a good deed in secret, you know it has truly been for God’s sake, rather than for the sake of being praised by others.<br />
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<em>4. Encouragement</em><br />
I think it is difficult to overstate the value of encouragement. Consider taking time to write thank-you notes or offering a word of praise when you notice someone striving to do their best. God often uses the words of people to steer people closer to Him. Use your ability to encourage others to glorify God.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-25264863580929367802010-02-07T00:01:00.000-08:002010-02-07T00:01:00.838-08:00The Discipline of MeditationThe word “meditate” carries a connotation of sitting in the woods with you legs folded and chanting some meaningless word over and over. Meditation merely means to think. When you practice meditating, you are setting aside time to think about God’s will for your life, and how you will live for Him.<br />
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<strong>Ideas for Meditating:</strong><br />
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<em>1. Bible Memorization</em><br />
When I was a junior in college, I was challenged to read less scripture, and instead memorize some particular passages. I started with Isaiah 40:28-31, and then memorized Proverbs 3:5-6. After a few weeks of reciting these passages, I added Micah 6:6-8, and then Psalm 121. I was amazed at how these passages started to pop up in my thoughts as I faced decisions and spent time in prayer. The act of memorizing forces you to think about Bible passages.<br />
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<em>2. Word of the Year</em><br />
For the last two years, my wife and I have chosen a word that we would focus on throughout the year. In 2006, my word was “discernment,” and in 2007, my word is “contentment.” We have found that focusing on one word for the year has helped our individual prayer lives, and it has been good for discussions in our marriage. My word for the year has become a recurring prayer request, and I am discovering that God teaches me about the significance of that word as I focus on it. If you want to pick a word for the year, I suggest starting with one of the fruit of the Spirit that are mentioned in Galatians 5.<br />
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<em>3. Pointed Questions</em><br />
After spending some time in prayer, resolve to sit quietly for a few moment in order to think about some important matters in your life. In the silence, continue to pray and ask God some questions about your life. You may want to ask about your integrity, your faithfulness, your relationship with family members, your witness to family members or co-workers, your walk with God, or the calling God has for you (to name a few). After you ask these questions, take time to think about the answer to that question, and ask God to guide your thoughts. When I have practiced this as a spiritual discipline, I have had frequent times when I have sat silently without any earthshaking revelations. However, there have also been numerous times when I have gained previously undiscovered insights. I believe that many of those insights were God’s voice calling me to live for Him.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-31660372410070106982010-02-06T00:01:00.000-08:002010-02-06T00:01:00.211-08:00The Discipline of FastingFasting is the practice of voluntarily giving up something in order to dedicate that time or resource to growing in your walk with God.<br />
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I must confess I have mixed emotions about my experiences with fasting. In college, I would occasionally join a group of students who would fast for 24 hours for the purpose of learning how to sympathize with those who are hungry in our world. I don’t think our experience was very helpful as a spiritual discipline, because we would always wait until 12:00 midnight and then order a pizza in order to celebrate the fact that we went an entire day without food. However, I have had other occasions when fasting has been helpful. I have intentionally decided to skip a meal or two in order to spend time in prayer. This has been particularly helpful when I have been facing a difficult decision, and wanted to spend time in prayer for wisdom.<br />
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If you practice fasting, make sure the focus of your fast is growing closer to God. There is nothing wrong with attempting to lose weight, save money, or developing a new hobby, but if this is the point of your fast, you should not consider it a spiritual discipline.<br />
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<strong>Ideas for Fasting:</strong><br />
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<em>1. Giving up food</em><br />
This is the classic kind of fast. If you are going to fast from food, please make sure that you are in good health. Pregnant women and people who have struggles with blood sugar levels would want to talk to a doctor before fasting from food. I have heard of people fasting for periods of time that last over a week. Many will allow themselves fluids during their fast. If you want to fast from food, set a period of time that you want to fast. You might want to fast by skipping breakfast and lunch for a period of 1-3 days. Take your normal meal times for a devotional activity. Fasting can be especially helpful when you are seeking wisdom for a decision, or when you are praying for a specific circumstance.<br />
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<em>2. Turn off the TV</em><br />
In the United States, most homes have more than 1 television set, and many of those television sets are on for more than 8 hours a day. All of this noise can drown out our ability to focus on God. You can fast by turning off the TV. This can be anything from limiting your time watching television, to getting rid of the television in your home. If you are going to fast from television, I suggest starting with a period of time (at least one day) when you do not turn on the TV in your home. After that, make sure that you only sit down in front of the TV when there is a specific program that you want to watch, and turn the TV off when that show is over. You can also help yourself in this endeavor by putting the TV in a room that is not the center of the home, or putting your television set behind closed doors, so that you do not see it when it is turned off. By the way, this fast from media input can also be applied to the internet, magazines, radio, etc.<br />
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<em>3. Financial Fast</em><br />
Take a solid week when you do not spend any money. This will take planning, but you will be surprised by the results.<br />
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<em>4. Sabbath Keeping</em><br />
Make Sunday a day of rest, not only from your job, but also from normal weekly routines.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-19191271133644980952010-02-05T00:01:00.000-08:002010-02-05T00:01:02.639-08:00The Discipline of StudyIt is hard to overstate the value of studying for Christians. The desire to know God more fully is the reason the printing press was invented. Schools were first developed to teach children to read so that they could read their Bible. <br />
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Studying does not have to be a monotonous exercise. There are many facets of the Christian faith that can be the subject of your study. This can be a discipline that promotes wonderful growth in your understanding of God.<br />
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<strong>Ideas for Studying:</strong><br />
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<em>1. Read a book</em><br />
There are many good Christian books that are available today. Some of them are deeply theological and theoretical, and some are very practical. I would recommend going to your local Christian bookstore and browsing through the shelves to see what aspect of Christian Life interests you.<br />
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<em>2. Read the Bible</em><br />
Many Christians have read sections of the Bible, but have never read an entire book. I encourage you to take time to read the Bible and study the stories. Keep track of the characters that are mentioned as you read through an entire book. I recommend starting with a book of the Bible that is filled with stories, and then move to other types of Biblical material. If you are going to read large sections of the Bible for the first time, I recommend purchasing a readable translation or paraphrase. I really appreciate Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase called The Message.<br />
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<em>3. Join a group study</em><br />
Bible Study groups are woven into the fabric of Christian history. Churches offer many options for studying the Bible with others. There are para-church groups such as Bible Study Fellowship that offer helpful opportunities. When you study with others, not only do you learn more about God’s word, but you also develop very close friendships with others who will hold you accountable in the way you live for Christ.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-78967056030668639702010-02-04T00:01:00.000-08:002010-02-04T00:01:02.540-08:00The Discipline of Journaling<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
Many Christians have benefited from keeping a journal, or a diary. I have had a few times in my life when journaling has been very beneficial in my walk with God, and I have had other times when I tried desperately to keep a journal, but only found it more burdensome than helpful.<br />
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Journaling is accomplished by writing down your thoughts. If you are going to be serious about journaling, it helps to have a nice notebook or even a bound journal (they sell them at bookstores). Keep your journal in a place where you can have access to it during quiet times.<br />
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Journaling works best when you find regular times to write. It can be in the mornings or evenings, or even just on the weekends – whatever time regularly works for you.<br />
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<strong>Ideas for Journaling:</strong><br />
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<em>1. Write your prayer</em><br />
Writing a prayer makes you focus on what you are saying to God. Furthermore, but writing down your prayers, you have a record to look back at and see how God answered them.<br />
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<em>2. Write the answers to your prayers</em><br />
After praying, spend some time writing down how you have seen God respond to your prayers.<br />
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<em>3. How I have seen God at work</em><br />
One journaling method is to write down each day the way that you have seen God’s hand at work in that day. This practice makes you aware that God is actually working, it helps you pay attention for His work, and it can produce contentment as you notice His handiwork<br />
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<em>4. A Daily Record</em><br />
Perhaps the most common type of journaling is merely keeping a record of things that have happened during the day or week, and reflections on those events. This can become a wonderful record if you save your journals. Furthermore, it can cause you to slow down to meditate about what is happening in your life. <br />
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</div>Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-27972728413458213292010-02-03T00:01:00.000-08:002010-02-03T00:01:03.199-08:00Day 31: The Joy of Discipline<strong>Week 5, Wednesday, February 3</strong><br />
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Text: Psalm 139:23-24<br />
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”<br />
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<em>Thought for the day:</em><br />
When God gave us the Ten Commandments, He included one that is difficult for us to understand in our world today. He told His people to take a day of rest, to set aside time for the purpose of worshipping Him. He wanted His people to acknowledge His presence by giving Him time and space, so that He could shape them according to His plans.<br />
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For the past month, you have been practicing spiritual disciplines by setting aside time at regular intervals to focus on God’s work in your life and in the world around you. Today, I want you to consider how you can continue developing these habits for the remainder of the year.<br />
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<em>Journal/Exercise:</em><br />
Look back in your journal to Day 3. On that day, you were challenged to pray about God’s Kingdom, and to write down some way you believed God wanted you to serve Him in His Kingdom. Do you still believe God wants you to serve Him in that way? God has searched you and knows you, better than you know yourself. Pray that He will lead you as you strive to follow Him. Pray that He will guide you in a life of developing habits to spend time in prayer with Him, and pray that He will teach you how to continue pursuing Him.<br />
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Over the next few days, I will post some ideas for practicing spiritual disciplines. Take a few moments in the next few days to decide which ideas you will want to put into practice. Please do not think that the list I post will be exhaustive. You know yourself better than I do, so be creative in thinking of ways you can develop habits to focus your attention on Christ’s work in your life. Write down in your journal some ways you will want to develop these habits.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-24176635661609234872010-02-02T00:01:00.000-08:002010-02-02T00:01:02.165-08:00Day 30: Holding Your Attention<strong>Week 5, Tuesday, February 2</strong><br />
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Text: Matthew 14:29-30<br />
“Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”<br />
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<em>Thought for the day:</em><br />
Did Peter do anything that bad? I think if I had been walking on water, and the wind started to blow, I would certainly be a little nervous. After Jesus saved Peter, he scolded Peter, asking why he doubted, and saying Peter had little faith.<br />
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I think Peter had a great deal of faith to merely step out of the boat. The other disciples didn’t even make a move to step out. However, Jesus was not scolding Peter for his faith to get out of the boat, He was scolding Peter for his short attention span.<br />
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A life of faith is more than merely having occasional moment of extreme trust. If we trust Jesus in a moment of crisis, and than forget about Him a few days later, we have demonstrated faith, but little faith. Faith matures as we intently focus our lives on Christ. Peter would have had a big faith, if he had been able to continue to trust that Christ would sustain Him even though the wind was blowing.<br />
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The practice of spiritual disciplines helps us develop a focus on Christ, so that our little faith can grow up.<br />
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<em>Journal/Exercise:</em><br />
Look back in your journal to Day 9. On that day you were asked to write down one prayer request that would be the focus of your prayers for your time of fasting. Have you been able to focus on that prayer request? How has God responded to that request in the last three weeks? Write down that prayer request again, and whether you have seen God working in response to that prayer.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-46384574651183740692010-02-01T00:01:00.000-08:002010-02-01T00:01:03.582-08:00Day 29: Walking with God<strong>Week 5, Monday, February 1</strong><br />
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Text: Genesis 5:24<br />
“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”<br />
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<em>Thought for the day:</em><br />
For the past month, you have been sampling spiritual disciplines in order to help you grow in your walk with God. Enoch is a character in the Bible, but we know very little about him. We are only told that he walked with God, and God took him away.<br />
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What would you want people to know about you, if your life were to end tomorrow? If you were taken away tomorrow, would you want to be remembered because of your financial savvy? Would you want people to speak of your wonderful leadership abilities? Perhaps you would want to be remembered for your personal integrity, or for the way you loved your family. Enoch is remembered because he walked with God, and in the final day, that is what matters most. <br />
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<em>Journal/Exercise:</em><br />
Write down one way that you want to grow in your walk with God. Do you want to be more loving, more devoted to prayer, or more willing to be still in God’s presence? Would you like to grow in your assurance of God’s faithfulness or in your level of contentment? After you write down one way that you would like to grow, spend some time in prayer, asking God to show you how to develop habits that will help you grow in that area.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-32053434693065486882010-01-30T00:01:00.000-08:002010-01-30T00:01:00.693-08:00Thought for the Weekend: Working Toward a Disciplined Life<strong>Weekend 4, Saturday – Sunday, January 30-31 (Days 27-28)</strong><br />
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As of this weekend, you have completed 4 weeks of participating in this devotional, and practicing spiritual disciplines. We have really just scratched the surface of the impact that spiritual disciplines can have on our walk with God.<br />
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Over the next few days, our devotions will be focused on reminding us of the intent of practicing spiritual disciplines: Growing Nearer to God. By the end of this week, you will be challenged to write down how you intend to practice spiritual disciplines in the coming year. After Day 31, I will post descriptions of a few disciplines that I have practiced. My intent is not to convey the idea that I have mastered spiritual disciplines, but to share some possible suggestions for you to consider as you strive to grow in your walk with God.<br />
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For the next week, please think about your walk with God, and try to evaluate where you can work on growing in Christ. Do you desire to mature in your prayer life, or in the ability to listen for God’s leading? Do you wish to grow in your knowledge of scripture? Would you like to be more gracious in your attitude and willingness to serve others? Furthermore, pray that God will reveal the gifts that He has given you. He may want you to work at refining those gifts.<br />
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In the upcoming days, think creatively about the habits you can develop that will help you mature in your walk with God. You might not practice one single discipline for the entire year. Perhaps you will want to grow in your Biblical knowledge for a few months, so you will set aside daily time to read through the books of 1 and 2 Kings. This summer, you may want to grow through service, so you will volunteer to mow the lawn for an elderly neighbor for the entire summer. There are nearly unlimited possibilities for the ways you can develop habits to help you grow in your awareness of God’s presence.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830586067996661125.post-89135542030106121652010-01-29T00:01:00.000-08:002010-01-29T00:01:01.813-08:00Day 26: Secret Service<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Week 4, Friday, January 29</strong></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Text: Matthew 6:3-4</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”<br />
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<em>Thought for the day:</em><br />
There are times when we will want others to know our accomplishments. If you have ever interviewed for a new job, you interviewer probably asked about previous employment and successful accomplishments. When a church is hosting an outreach event, they will probably want to advertise it to the community so that people will attend. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:17 that His followers should let their good deeds shine before others, so that God will be praised.<br />
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However, there are other times, when our deeds should be done in secret. Jesus says this is true, especially when we are responding to the needs of others. We do not need to have every good deed known by others, because God knows our deeds, and we are promised that when we serve Him in secrecy, He gives us rewards. I am confident that His rewards are better than the congratulations that we might receive from other people who know us.<br />
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<em>Journal/Exercise:</em><br />
This weekend, perform an act of kindness for someone, and never tell them that you were the one who did it. I would prefer you to respond to a need of someone in your community. If you have a neighbor who has difficulty shoveling snow, clear their driveway at night. If you have a neighbor who is struggling with an illness, deliver a meal to their home. Be creative in how you can serve someone. If you cannot avoid revealing your identity, then be discreet, and avoid telling others of your service. See how this secret act of kindness is received by God.Bill Sytsmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00704421706134132505noreply@blogger.com0