Pastor's Perspective - Serendipity is God

Webster defines the word ‘serendipity’ as ‘the phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for’.

I have another definition for the word – Serendipity is God

As modern-day believers in God, we believe whole-heartedly that God does all things with great intention; that all we perceive and discover didn’t just happen. In other words, there are no accidents!

Recently my family and I witnessed His goodness and unbridled kindness in an unforgettably heart-warming way.

Our 10-year-old daughter Lily has had a pen pal relationship with a little boy in central Florida named Andon for approximately seven months. He is the son of dear friends from one of our former ministries. When the pen pal thing began, we as Lily’s parents honestly wondered how long it would last. It seems like with so many entertaining high-tech options available to our kids these days, old school letter-writing would probably go by the wayside. However, much to our surprise and pleasure, Lily and Andon have been consistent long distance friends. For instance, recently while driving across the country, Lily sent Andon a postcard from every state. Likewise, Andon will send photos of himself, pictures he’s drawn and stickers. It’s amazingly sweet to see Lily race to the mailbox daily. As soon as she receives a letter from  Andon she immediately replies. The neatest part is that Lily has never met Andon. We moved out of Andon’s hometown when Lily was just two years old and Andon a baby.

Here’s where it gets really cool.

A few weeks ago my family and I flew to Florida for our niece’s big sweet sixteenth birthday party and to spend some treasured family reunion-time at a gulf coast beach. While spending a few days in Wauchula with great fiends, our kids were invited to attend their annual vacation bible school program. Naturally Lily was eager to go! While sitting in her classroom as the new kid nobody knew, a cute little boy noticed her from across the room and decided to do what Jesus would do – befriend her. Their conversation went something like this.

“Hi. My name is Andon. What’s your name?”

“I have a pen pal named Andon. He lives here in Florida.”

“I have a pen pal too! Her name is Lily. She lives in California.”

“I’m Lily! And I’m from California!”

Lily immediately began crying and the two embraced.

Didn’t I tell you it was cool?!

God is amazing. His kindness to intersect the paths of two little children was yet another reminder of how big, loving and intentional He really is. He’s good and He cares.

Let me remind you of a few important things.

You are who you are by His design.

You like what you like, live where you live, and know who you know, because He wills it.

There are no coincidences.

There are no accidents.

Serendipity is God.

Pastor's Perspective - On His Way

Recently in Scripture I have been reminded of how the Holy Spirit works most frequently through us in the service of others – while we’re moving!

Yesterday while teaching Pie Club, I read where Jesus raised Jairus the synagogue leader’s daughter from the dead. The Bible tells us in Luke 8:42 that ‘as Jesus was on his way’ He was approached by a woman who had been tormented by a bleeding condition for a dozen years. Her faith reached out and touched His loving power and she was instantaneously healed! For many years I have taught and preached that passage, but what the Lord reminded me of is, Jesus helped change a precious life while He was in motion. The same can be said of the healing of Bartimaeus (Mark 10), His unforgettable encounter with Zacchaeus (Luke 19), and so many others.

Almost overlooked is that fact that the illustrious adventures of the Apostle Paul meticulously recorded in Acts happened as the man of God was moving. As he put motion in his faith, the proverbial wind of the Spirit moved him along, creating many glowing ministry opportunities outside of his anticipated missionary itinerary.

In my years as a pastor, many of the beautiful intersections I experience come as complete surprises to me – but not to God! For instance, while visiting a person in the hospital, the Holy Spirit will open my eyes to another need I’ll discern as divine – moments I affectionately call ‘Holy Ghost ambushes’!

Certainly there were well-documented occurrences in the Word of God where people were beckoned to obedience through dreams, angelic visitations, visions and so on; in other words, no previous human motion required. However, most of the time, the prolific saints of antiquity were busy moving and serving when the hand of God nudged them intentionally into a new and exciting direction.

Do you want to be used by the Lord for His glory? Do you genuinely want to help countless others?

My best advice is to push off from the safety and stability of the dock and start sailing! Don’t be surprised if a sovereign wind changes your course heading and creates an adventure far greater than you could ever anticipate.

Jesus changed a life while he was on his way.

Jesus wants to change a life through you!

Pastor's Perspective - Be The Invitation!

Last month we at FCC instituted yet another way to extend love and hospitality to our first-time guests – a special ‘Guest Reception’ in The 4th Watch. Immediately following each Sunday worship service, guests are invited upstairs to our premium coffee café to meet the staff and enjoy a delicious espresso drink of their choice – on us! Of tremendous importance to us as a church is our desire to make each guest feel welcomed and valued.

 On a personal note, to you our FCC faithful, thank you for giving me this time to move from the platform to the second floor expediently to make these special and necessary connections with the wonderful people the good Lord is sending our way. Means a lot to me.

 One of the first questions I like to ask a new person is how they heard about our church. The answers vary greatly. Many reply that they found us online. In other words, “I googled you guys. I really liked your website.” While several others tell us that the church sign on the corner was the thing that enticed them to check us out. Heard often around here, “I’ve been driving by your church for years, and I always read the sign. I thought I’d finally stop in.”

 Our history has proven that the gateways into a guest coming to FCC on any given Sunday are absolutely limitless! However, there is proven way that we can sometimes forget in the fast lane lives we live – the personal invitation. Polls nationwide agree that one out of every four of your family members or friends would agree to accompany you to church if you asked them.

 Admittedly in our society, there is a temptation to use technology to do all of our personal things for us. However, no gadget or form of social media can replace your warm personal phone call, your knock on the door, or your smiling face. If people know that you genuinely care about them, proven by selfless acts; and, that you have true peace, contentment, and hope in your life, they will most likely say ‘yes’ to your friendly invitation.

 So, as we embark into another toasty Solano County summer together, remember that everyone you live near, work near and play near needs Jesus. Let’s not rely solely on our church website or marquee to be our primary invitation instruments as a congregation. My challenge to you is – BE THE INVITATION!

Heart Check - If You've Got One This Will Move It!

Pastor's Perspective - Ephesians 2:1-10 Personified

I, Steve Kiefer, was absolutely dead – a corpse – from birth - ‘dead on arrival’. I was separated from a holy God – and I absolutely deserved it. There was a time when I chased after the empty promises and hollow illusions of the world. I gladly and unashamedly followed the enemy of my soul without resistance – the same fallen angel who is hunting, trapping, capturing , destroying and using countless people all around me. I used to really love the world and all it deceptively offered; proving that love, by satisfying my endless appetites - fueled by my fallen nature. What was wrong with me? My core was broken! The deep-down me hated God and His ways; therefore, I exalted my will and desires above His and thought only of myself, giving the devil free-reign over my mind, making every dimension of my thinking putrid and toxic. Simply put, I was my own god. But, the true God who sees everything, saw what a mess I really was. He knew that I offered Him nothing of intrinsic worth. All of the raw material that was me was hopelessly and helplessly unusable. He was my enemy, and I was His. But something happened - His love. His love for an archenemy, in His fathomless mercy, knowing I was dead and rotting, resuscitated me through Jesus! His grace alone lifted me up from my casket and stood me on my feet for the very first time. But it didn’t stop there! After raising me from the realm of spiritual death, He gave me a seat at His family table – right next to Jesus – all because of Jesus – so that throughout all eternity He could overwhelm me lavishly and continuously with unmerited kindness thanks all to my seatmate! I didn’t deserve even one breath of this new life. I still don’t. I offered Him nothing. I still offer Him nothing but fear, worry and inconsistence. Praise my name! Even my needy quivering hand of faith was all His doing. I couldn’t even receive His grace without Him providing me the hand of faith to accept it! It was all Him and none of me. It still is. He made me alive through grace – period. I didn’t earn it. Dead people offer nothing to anybody! Instead, it was all a gift – all Him. I can take no credit for it. If I could contribute to any of it, knowing me, I’d draw attention to my measly part. That’s why He did it all! All I can really do is thank Him for it. To take even a sliver of merit is to vandalize His gift and discredit the power of His cross. So, now that I am alive, my plate is wonderfully and scandalously full. Now that His resurrection life has overpowered me, I now have the rich, humble, responsibility and privilege of being part of His glorious resuscitation in others. He raised me up not just to be raised up! No. He raised me up on purpose and for a purpose – His praise in my life, family, community and generation. Admittedly, all of this is beautifully new to me – but He knew about it from timelessness past. He knew that my life would now serve a grander purpose and mission – not the exaltation of the dead god that was me – but instead the exaltation of the life-giver Himself – Jesus Christ.

Shisasari Orphan Project - Kenya

Pastor's Perspective - He Wants His Church Back!

The older my 11-year-old son Sam gets, the more he continues to grab my heart and dredge deeper depths of joy in my life. He’s simply one great kid! Recently he made me think deeply about something several state lines away.

Last month on our 23-day trek across the United States and back, we stopped for a few days in San Antonio, Texas where we camped. My wife Michelle, a dedicated home schooling mom, had taught our four youngest about the Alamo in recent months, so we seized the opportunity to experience it in-person. We were not disappointed!

We began the drizzly day driving downtown and watching a very moving and well-produced IMAX production of the historic event, something I recommend everyone does before touring the actual site. I thought I had an understanding of the battle for the Alamo, but after watching the dramatic feature, I had known little. After the short film, you literally walk out of the mall exit downstairs and there it is!

The site is well-staffed, maintained and manicured. Likewise, unanticipated, it carries a high degree of reverence. It was after all - a church! Therefore, no hats, photos or loud disruptive noises.

For those unfamiliar with the story, the Alamo was a mission which in 1836 during a 13-day siege was defended by a relative few against a much larger Mexican army led by the determined General Santa Anna. Those few gallant defenders included James Bowie, William Travis and Davy Crockett. Ultimately the Mexican forces prevailed and the mission was recaptured by Mexico. However, the immense courage of the Alamo defenders inspired Sam Houston and his men to lead a campaign that ultimately took back the Alamo and won Texas its freedom.

After the movie and tour, we went back to the mall to let the kids meander through the gift shop. Lily bought a rubber Bowie knife (that’s our girl!), and Sam bought a toy replica rifle from the Alamo era. (Side note: For those reading and bristling, they’re our kids and we’ll mess them up any way we want!)

Later, back at the campsite, as I was trying-out my propane grill, the kids were running around the camper playing with their new weapons. I would count to ten as they hid, then, they would find each other and take each other’s lives – great fun for a ministry family on the road!

As Sam was running by me huffing and puffing, clearly enjoying shooting his sisters, I stopped him to ask, “Hey Sam, which one are you? General Travis or Davy Crockett?” His response almost made me drop my spatula! “I’m General Santa Anna!” he answered.

“What? Dude! Santa Anna was the ‘bad guy’!”

Sam looked at me and with great resolve replied, “Dad, he just wanted his church back.”

As he ran off to assassinate another sister, I thought about his response – “he just wanted his church back.”

Friends, Jesus Christ just wants His church back!

When we get our eyes off of Him and lose our hunger for His presence – the church becomes something He never intended.

This weekend I will be starting a new 8-week message series titled ‘Undercover Boss’. Over the course of the next two months we at First Christian will be going through Revelation 2-3, identifying seven characteristics Christ is specifically looking for in His church. I hope you’ll join us!

Remember the Alamo! And don’t forget also - Jesus Christ wants His church back.