Pastor's Perspective - Going or Becoming?

Dear FCC Family & Cherished Friends,

As a parent of four children under ten, the following questions are frequently asked in our minivan – “Where are we going?” and “Are we almost there?”

As a pastor of over four hundred, the following questions are frequently asked in our gatherings – “Where are we going?” and “Are we almost there?”

The Bible is the infallible authority on God’s plan for every member of the human family and every congregation that waves His banner in Christ. From Genesis to ‘Maps’, we read that our Father is more interested in our character than our short-sighted summit attempts. He is more concerned about the authenticity of our kingdom ambassadorship than our self-pleasing success quests. He is into the journey more than the destination – the drive more than the resort – the flight more than meeting Mickey! In other words, He is more interested in who we are becoming, than where we are going – as individuals and as an FCC family. We’ve gotten it backwards! Success, as defined by God, is our transformation, and not our destination.

Where we are going hinges entirely on our ability to surrender to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Only through yielding to His Christ-glorifying work in us daily can we become the congregation and individuals the Lord predestined and desires us to become. Tragically, too many in the Body are hyper-busy and hyper-involved, yet, are not actively becoming. Admittedly, we as the sign-up-sheet-friendly clergy are partly to blame.

Just a reminder, that Christ didn’t suffer for us just to be busy. He suffered that we would become - acceptable and pleasing to His Father; that real life transformation could begin and never cease.

So, the questions are simple, ‘Are you cooperating with Him, or contending?’, ‘Grieving Him, or pleasing Him?’, ‘Going, or becoming?’

The choices are yours.

‘And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit’ – 2 Corinthians 3:18

In the Fight,

Steve

Pastor's Perspective - Drop Your Weapons!

I’m not a ‘political person’ – especially politics in the church! However, I take great pride in my country and naturally have dreams and concerns about our future as a nation. As a fan of current events, I have been watching the Obama-Clinton dogfight quite closely (not that I have a choice). Today I read that the ‘super-delegates’ have been issued a deadline (July 1st) by which they must cast their lot with one of these two battling senators. This effort is to ensure that the Democrats have ample time to identify and promote their candidate against Republican John McCain this fall.

I’m no Tim Russert, but even a political novice like me knows that this move makes sense. There is a heavyweight bout coming up with the GOP’s best choice; and that to fight and exhaust resources, energy and focus on each other will only weaken the one that eventually prevails.

Friends, as a pastor, I see a similar dynamic at work within many marriages and homes. Too many spouses are fighting each other and viewing each other as the enemy; when the real enemy is in a place of strategic ambiguity and strength. Husbands and wives who were once madly in love and couldn’t live without the other, now become master players of the ‘blame game’. As a result, the real enemy of marriages goes undetected, dancing and skipping around the perimeter, unidentified and winning – while the married combatants duke it out and homes crumble.

Husbands? Wives? Here’s the 411: Your marriage has an enemy, and your spouse is not that enemy! The Bible tells us that our battles are not flesh against flesh, but against unseen spiritual powers (Ephesians 6:12). These forces of evil are (literally) hell-bent on destroying all of your God-seeded potential – your lives, your children, your joy, your hope. As long as we see our seen spouses as the enemy, unseen enemies flourish.

It’s time to drop your weapons and see your spouse for who they really are – your God-given helpmate and gift – wedlock and not headlock!

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” – Ecclesiastes 4:12

Pastor's Perspective - Living Commercials

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

I’ve got some mega-important, earth-shattering inquiries for you. Ready?

Which team are you pulling for this ‘Super’ Sunday? Where are you watching the game? Have you planned your menu? In front of what sized television will you and your nachos be parked? And finally, are you looking forward to the myriad of multimillion dollar commercials ahead?

Although I’m a frustrated jock at heart and anticipate the big game first, I admittedly look forward to the laughs and creativity shown through these spots annually – turning a typical 3-hour game into a global marathon event. Some commercials make me howl. Some make me cringe. Some leave me saying, “Wow”. Others leave me with a blank-faced “Huh?” But somehow, despite my personal ratings, this process is all good – one I eagerly look forward to.

Did you know that your life is a commercial? An anticipated one at that!

Before the creation of this garden planet, the one true sovereign God in His perfect forethought creatively planned and orchestrated that you would be His living-breathing commercial in 2008 A.D. With unparalleled genius, our Father anticipated that our brief public lives would appear and make indelible and attractive connections between the people in our community and His epic redemptive love story. Like the commercials we’ll all see this weekend, all of our life commercials are designed with great purpose for great purpose; to make an impact, and in some small way, drawing attention to something grander and higher than ourselves– for something every human soul thirsts and craves – love, belonging and meaning – found only through Jesus Christ.

In the game of life where many are watching and seeking, let your unique life commercial run!

In the Fight,

Steve

Pastor's Perspective - A Baby's Hug

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

In the hustle and bustle of another tinseled Christmas season, are you struggling to get into the proper spirit? Maybe this story sent my way by my dear friend and former secretary Gena Mitchell will help you as it helped me. By the way, you’ll need about three minutes and about that many tissues. Merry Christmas ~

A Baby's Hug

We were the only family with children in the restaurant.. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking.

Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi." He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment..
I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists.
"Hi there, baby; Hi there, big boy. I see! ya, buster," the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?"
Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi" .
Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man ..
The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.
Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo."
Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.
My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence - all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skidrow bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments. We finally got through the meal and headed for the door.
My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot.
The old man sat poised between me and the door. "Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed.

As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's "pick-me-up" position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship... Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard
labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back.
No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby."
Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that contained a stone.
He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, "God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift."

I said nothing more than a muttered thanks.
With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, "My God, my God, forgive me."
I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not.
I felt it was God asking, "Are you willing to share your son for a moment?" when He shared His for all eternity.

The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, "To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become as little children."

Live Simply & Contently.
Love Generously.
Care Deeply.
Speak Kindly.
And leave the Rest to God.

In the Fight To Be An Erik,

Steve Kiefer

Pastor's Perspective - A True Know-It-All!

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

Recently I have been reading and re-reading a classical work titled ‘The Knowledge of the Holy’ by A.W. Tozer – a thin and affordable book I highly recommend for anyone eager to acquaint themselves with the true majesty of God.

In his text Tozer reminds us that the Lord is omniscient. In other words, He possesses perfect knowledge. He knows all that can be known. He knows instantly and with a fullness of perfection everything that exists or could have existed anywhere in the universe at any time in the past or that may exist in the centuries or ages yet unborn!

Does that truth about God trouble you or soothe you?

Every one of us has a strong desire – no exceptions. You and I want to be fully known, and, to be loved unconditionally by the one who fully knows us – the building blocks of truest intimacy. Yet, many of us live in fear of disclosure of weaknesses and ghosts and injuries from our pasts. Therefore, it is the satisfaction of every yearning soul to read that “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). Friends, only Jesus knows you fully with perfect knowledge and loves you unconditionally – and tells us not to be afraid – because He has already taken our punishment!

In closing listen to Tozer’s encapsulation of the knowledge, love and acceptance God offers every member of the human family – “…how utterly sweet is the knowledge that our Heavenly Father knows us completely. No talebearer can inform on us, no enemy can make an accusation stick; no forgotten skeleton can come tumbling out of some hidden closet to abash us and expose our past; no unsuspected weakness in our characters can come to light to turn God away from us, since He knew us utterly before we knew Him and called us to Himself in the full knowledge of everything that was against us.”

Anybody else smile after reading that?

Now THAT’S a Redeemer worth loving, worshiping and serving!

In the Fight,

Steve Kiefer

Pastor's Perspective - Who Are You Wearing?

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

So, what are you wearing tonight?

If your young ones are anything like mine, they woke up this morning excited about donning their costumes and knocking on doors as soon as possible. Emma, 9, is going as Princess Lea. Sam, 7, is a policeman. Abi, 7, is a hippy. And, Lily, 6, is Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz this year. Adorable!

Some of you are in businesses that require that you dress up today. While I was in the banking biz I dreaded this day. One year I came to work as a cowboy and felt crunchy all day long. It’s hard to talk to Mr. Smith about his investments when he keeps glancing up at your Stetson!

Did you hear about the drunk Halloween reveler in Germany who got mistaken for a corpse? Apparently a 24-year-old dressed very realistically as a zombie passed out on a train trying to get home and was unresponsive. Fellow passengers thought he had been murdered! The police were called in and quickly put two and two together. He was ordered to wipe off his make-up and continue his journey.

So, what are you wearing tonight? Paul told the Roman believers in 13:14 to “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The apostle was not challenging his ancient and modern readers to put on a Jesus costume, or just act like Jesus. Instead, he was challenging them to let the authentic life-changes that Jesus makes on the inside outside!

So, more importantly than ‘WHAT are you wearing’ is the question – WHO are you wearing tonight? Let’s humbly remove all doubt of who we belong to and what He is doing in our lives. Despite changing fads and trends – wearing Jesus is always fashionable. He’s the Designer of designers!

In the Fight,

Steve

Pastor's Perspective - Walking By Faith

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

Today the Lord showed me through a child the simplicity of what life and responding to challenges is all about. I couldn’t wait to share it with you.

Each Monday morning I take our six-year-old Lily to an appointment in Fairfield, while Michelle stays home to teach the other three. It’s always a kick just to spend that daddy and Lily time together. Sometimes we sing silly songs. Sometimes we talk about life and friends. Sometimes she pretends she’s asleep, knowing I’ll wake her with a good tickle at the next stop light. One thing is quite predictable. She always turns her seat warmer up to the maximum resulting in a playful phenomenon we affectionately call “hot bootie”! Guess you gotta be there.

Another thing is predictable. As we walk through the parking lot Lily always reaches up and holds my hand. This morning as were walking I looked down to see that Lily had her eyes closed as we walked, something she had never done before.

“Lily, your eyes are closed. Are they really shut?”
“Uh-hum”
“Why are they closed?”
“I trust you.”
“Aren’t you afraid of the moving cars around us?”
“No.”
“What if I walked you right into a curb?”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Why Lil?”
“Because Daddy, you’ve never done that before.”
“Okay then. Do you trust me to lead you through the door up ahead?”
“Uh-hum”
“Sure your eyes are shut?”
“Uh-hum”

When we walked into the building I looked down at her sweet blonde head and said, “Lily, open your eyes!” As she did an angelic smile swept across her face as she jumped up and down . “See Daddy, I knew I could trust you! You never let go.”

Friends, as we walk through the short breadth of this thing called life, many challenges abound. Sometimes unexpectedly like a car quickly backing up across our path comes the report of loss, diagnosis, devastation. Sometimes like hard jagged curbs come hardships, challenge, disillusionment, memories, heartache and personal pain. Yet through it all, our Father never releases our hand, but instead encourages us to walk by faith, to trust Him in the darkness. Although His track record of hand-holding is impeccable, we sometimes stumble in our assessment of His ability to lead us through. Yet, He continues to prove His unconditional father’s love for us daily.

Someday in every future of every person reading this who has put their trust in Jesus Christ, a time will come when suddenly the things of earth will fade away. All of its toils and snares will be a fast-fading memory. Ripped away forever will be our blindness in a place brilliant with the illumination of a Savior’s face. You’ll realize in a second that He not only made this place available to you, He personally held your hand and led you every step of the way until you were safely inside. Can’t you just hear His voice now? – “Open your eyes.” And throughout all eternity, you and I will celebrate an everlasting and unfading song of truth with the Redeemed – “Daddy, we knew we could trust you! You never let go.”

In the Fight,

Steve