The Fruit of Ordinary Days

An Inkling

Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruit.”  What is the testimony of the fruit of your life?

Some of the fruit is borne on extraordinary days, such as a day when integrity is at stake in a hard choice you make at the office, or when trust is shown in a season of bad health.  But such days are called extraordinary for a reason, and their fruit is but a small portion of your life’s harvest.

What is the fruit of your most ordinary days?  We heard a winsome witness to such fruit in the testimony of several moms that we compiled for worship on Mother’s Day.  Every mom has some extraordinary days.  But when I asked them to reflect on motherhood just off the top of their heads, these moms described the preponderance of fruit – the fruit of ordinary days.

What is the fruit of your ordinary days?

Blessings,

Keith

Remembering Why We Are Making This Move

An Inkling

In two weeks our congregation will cast a momentous vote – whether or not to depart from our current denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA), for a new denomination that fits our commitments much better, the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, abbreviated E.C.O.  We hope that you can be here for the meeting on May 19.  If the vote is affirmative, then the Presbytery will act on our dismissal request on June 18.  If their vote is affirmative we will be launched in our partnership with the new denomination.

We began this journey nearly two years ago.  At the time we talked a good bit about why this had become necessary.  But in the meantime we’ve been busy interacting with our Presbytery about the details of our departure.  So it’s been a while since we talked about why the Session believed we must commence this process.

So, as a way of recalling why we launched what has proven to be a long, arduous, and (as we’re seeing) expensive process, I’ve attached this 13 minute video by Dana Allin, the executive of our new denomination.  He does a wonderful job of briefly describing why we and many other congregations have found it necessary to take this difficult step.

If you would find it helpful to be reminded what this decision is about, I commend this video to you.  And let’s all be in prayer for God to guide us at our meeting on May 19.  May he be glorified and his church strengthened for mission!

I am most grateful for the privilege of serving with you.

Blessings,

Keith

Your Elevator Speech

An Inkling

It’s called the “Elevator Speech” – a pitch you can make in the 30 seconds of an elevator ride.  Salespeople hone them to perfection, knowing that they will often have only an elevator ride’s worth of opportunity to gain a hearing.

Most of us don’t think of ourselves as selling anything.  But in a culture where biblical values are increasingly suspect, it’s well not only to know what you believe and why, but to give some attention to how best to communicate your beliefs.

This came to mind as I saw Chris Broussard, an ESPN analyst, respond to Jason Collins’ announcement that he is gay.  Here’s the clip:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCOXBgBjDgY

While most of the talking heads were falling all over themselves to praise Jason’s bravery and to posture themselves as open-minded celebrants of his sexuality, Chris responded with his own views on sin, grace, God’s design for sexuality, and friendships that transcend different beliefs.  If he did that off the cuff, he really did well.  But with a little preparation, he could certainly improve that elevator speech at several points.

We could hope to do as well off the cuff – and especially on camera!  But we can do better if we follow the salespeople’s lead, and hone our elevator speech.  Here are some hints:

• First, think through more broadly what you believe about the controversial topic, be it sexual ethics, the nature of marriage, abortion, or the place of Christian values in public conversations.  Then from your full rationale form your briefer declaration.  You really don’t have to make the whole case.  Stating a couple of key points winsomely will invite a more thorough conversation.
• Second, invite your challenger to speak first, and listen for values you can affirm.  Real listening is crucial for making sure there is conversation, and not just dueling diatribes.
• Third, make sure that the truth you affirm is preceded and followed by affirmations of grace, and your own need for that grace.
• And fourth, as the salespeople advise, practice.  None of us do very well off the cuff on controversial topics.  Hone your elevator speech with your small group or your prayer partner.  Then if the moment comes, you’ll be ready.

There’s more to say.  But I’ve already gone beyond elevator length!

Bless Chris,

Keith

Launching Pastors

An Inkling

All Pastors-in-the-making need a place to try their ministry wings.  St. Giles has provided such a place for many students from Union Seminary over the years, and in the process has loaded them up with lots of love and encouragement.

Last week Sarah Craven, our Student Minister in 2011-12, dropped by to tell us her big news:  she’s been called to serve a church in Missouri.  Listen to her in the video, and you can hear her excitement.  She’s ready to fly.  And you can hear her gratitude for the part we had in launching her.

As we shift to our new denomination, I'm not sure whether we’ll have any more Student Ministers from Union Seminary.  But I’m guessing the Lord will open some other doors for us.  For St. Giles is a marvelous congregation for stretching wings toward soaring pastoral ministry!

Pray for Sarah,

Keith

Welcome to Evie

An Inkling

Yesterday Sarah and I got to greet little Evie, Clayton and Jessie’s daughter, born several hours before.  What a happy privilege to meet her, and to witness her parents getting to know this one God has entrusted to them.  Here’s my note to little Evie:

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Dear Evie,

What a joy it was to meet you on the very day of your birth!  And what fun it was to see the delight in your parents’ eyes as they held you.

Here’s a glimpse of what else happened in the world on your birthday:

• A terrorist strike in Boston killed three and injured scores.
• A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck southeast Iran.
• The gruesome Gosnell abortion clinic trial continued in Philadelphia.
• The Nats hammered the Marlins.
• Time listed the 50 “Must Have iPad Apps”.

Over time you’ll learn that bad news often gets top billing in this world.  And that’s just the short list of the day’s grim headlines.  You’ll also see that trivialities are often hyped as significant – like the Nats and the 50 Apps.

But your parents and your church will be telling you some other news – far more significant and timely, though frequently overlooked: 

• Evie, the One who made this world and the other 370,000 who share your birthday loves you very much.
• In fact, he loves you so much, that he gave his Son’s life for you and this world, and that changes everything.
• You will get to be part of what he is doing to rescue and redeem this world.  That will be the hardest and the very best part of your life.

If all we had to offer you were the headlines, we would greet you only with a sense of dread at what you must face.  But this other news, of the God who loves you and who gives you new life in Jesus, means that we can welcome you with a sure hope that you will know his kind of joy in living – even in a world like this!

So, welcome, little one!

Keith