Pastor Lane's Line

CRAZY LOVE CHAPTER 4

2012-02-09T09:35:00.001-08:00

CRAZY LOVE CHAPTER 4

1. You might be a redneck if…you have ever used a spit can.

2. You might be a lukewarm Christian if…

a. _______ in worship attendance. (Isa. 29:13)

b._______ not a tither. (Micah 3:8-12)

c. More concerned about what ______ think rather than what God thinks. (Luke6:26)

d. Don’t take ______ seriously. (Rom. 6:1-2)

e. Rarely share their ________with others. (Matt.10:32-33)

f. Think about life on earth more then _______with God in heaven. (Col.3:2)

g. Play it safe rather than stepping out in ________. (Matt.10:28)

h. Think more about your _______K, then Jesus. (Luke 18:21-25)

i. Don’t know any ______ people. (Matt.25:34,40)

j. Aren’t that different then _________. (Matt.23:25-28)

3. Like a glass of warm spit. (Revelations 3:16)

4. Lukewarmness is the inevitable result of lack of ________ for God.

5. The solution is not to push yourself to try ________, the solution is to ________your love for God.

6. Spit busters. Growing your ______for God.

a. Spending ______with God.

b. Making Jesus your _______priority.

c. _______ on the Holy Spirit.

7. Remember your ________love. (Rev. 2:1-7)

Questions to consider:

1. Would you describe yourself as totally in love with Jesus? Or do words like half-hearted, lukewarm, partially committed fit better?

2. Have you ever experienced a love for God so intense that it would lead you to do whatever He wanted for His sake?

3. What desires are stronger than your desire for God?

4. What barriers in life keep you from loving God as you ought?

5. How can you overcome those barriers?

6. What can you do to cultivate a stronger love for God?

7. It is impossible to overcome tendencies toward lukewarmness by simply trying harder. We need God’s power and God’s spirit. Spend time simply enjoying God’s presence and asking Him to come near to you.

CRAZY LOVE ***February 4 & 5 - CHAPTER 3

2012-02-04T06:14:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 13 and John 3:16 -17

1) How would you explain the difference between knowing God’s love intellectually and knowing it intimately?

2) Think about your life and your relationship with God. How does God demonstrate His love to you? Be specific. How do these demonstrations of God’s love affect you? (Don’t think about how these things ought to make you feel; describe how they actually make you feel and what they move you to do.)

3) Describe some things that have made you question God’s love for you (whether God gave you things you didn’t want, didn’t give you what you wanted, or took something good from you). How do these things make you feel about God and His love?

4) In light of your circumstances, what would it mean to believe and embrace God’s love for you?

5) Do you remember the moment when you “got it,” when you first realized you loved God with your heart, mind and soul? Describe that moment.

6) How can you work together with the Christians in your life to remind one another throughout the week of the love Jesus demonstrated on the cross?

7) Can you honestly say that you believe God is the greatest good in the universe? If not, what keeps you from affirming this? If so, what makes Him the greatest good?

8) What is love? List the seven characteristics of what love is and the eight that it is not in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7?

9) Rewrite each of the “love is…” qualities to show what love ought to look like in your specific situations at home, work, church, etc. Which one do you feel the need to work on this week?

CRAZY LOVE *** January 28 and 29 - Chapter 2

2012-01-29T04:54:00.000-08:00

JAMES 4:13-7, LUKE 12:13-21

1) List the elements in your life that keep you distracted. Include both good things and bad things in this list.

2) How is it that the good things in your life have come to distract you from what is most important?

3) What would it take to adjust your lifestyle and mentality in order to put the most important things back in their proper places?

4) Make a few notes on this passage. What is James warning against? What is he calling us to do?

5) If James were to say these words specifically to you in the midst of your current life situation, what do you think he would tell you to avoid. What do you think he would tell you to pursue?

6) What are the sources of stress and anxiety in your life?

7) What can you do to remind yourself of God’s care and your dependence on Him in the midst of these stressful situations?

8) How can you structure your life to reflect the fact that your every second is dependent on the grace of God?

9) Describe some people in your life who have died abruptly. What were some of their achievements in life and what might have been their regrets?

10) If today was the day you died, what would you regret, and why.

11) What can you change about your life today to avoid those regrets?

12) What lifestyle difference result from believing in Jesus?

13) In planning an investment portfolio to become “rich toward God”, what will you do this week? This year?

14) Close your time in this session by praying. You’ve been thinking through some pretty heavy issues, and if you’re seriously thinking about making changes in your life to avoid regrets, you likely have some important changes to make. Remember that this life is all about dependence on God and that so many things will pull you away from His simple calling on your life. Spend some time asking God to work in your heart and mind to remove distractions and place you on the path He’s calling you to.

CRAZY LOVE ***Chapter 1 -Jan 21 & 22

2012-01-29T04:36:00.000-08:00

JOHN 1:1-2:2

1)How can your relationship with God and your prayer life differ as a result of reading chapter 1 and considering God’s glory?

2)Describe your prayer life.Do you find yourself talking at God, or do you take time to consider who you are talking to and enjoy being awed by His presence?Why do you think you tend to pray the way you do?
3)How often do you stop to consider how great God is and how insignificant you are by comparison?When you do, what leads you to this point?If you never do, why do you think you’ve never done this?
4)How can you build times of reflection into your lifestyle?
5)What things in your life distract you from loving and worshipping God the way He deserves to be loved and worshiped? What can you do to overcome these obstacles?
6)Which aspects of your priorities, thoughts, and actions declare that you exist for God’s service and glory?
7)Which aspects of your life declare that God exists for your benefit and service?
8)If there are aspects of your life that declare that God exists for your benefit and service, how can you begin to reorder these aspects of your life around the reality of God’s greatness and your dependence on him?

9)What does John mean by the statement “God is light”, practically what does it mean to “walk in the light” as opposed to walking “in darkness”?

If light is linked to love and darkness to hate (see 1 John 1:6&2:9), what does that imply about relating to God? About growing spiritually? What hope does John give when people fail to live in the light of Christ’s love (1:9, 2:1-2)?
you have many opportunities weekly to go further in-depth with Crazy Love including:
1. Read the book.
2. Join a Crazy Love Discussion Group:
· Rowley’s group will be held Mondays at 10:00 a.m. at FUMC.
· Rathmel’s group will be held Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at FUMC.
· Crook’s group will be held Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at FUMC.
· Late Birds group will be held Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. at Mr. C’s.
· Pastor Lane will be leading a group in the Chapel on Sundays at 9:40-10:10 a.m.
3. Watch corresponding chapter videos for Crazy Love
weekly at www.crazylovebook.com/videos.html.

CRAZY LOVE PREACHING SERIES

2012-01-01T19:28:00.000-08:00

Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts — it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis Chan describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.

The God of the universe is crazy about you! His love is the most powerful thing in the world and He wants to give it to you, so you can live for Him. If you have made a commitment to follow Christ, then read Crazy Love to be reminded and challenged in your walk. Sharing from his own life struggles and sacrifices, author Francis Chan issues a call for selfless, Christ-like living. Let the love you have received from God impact your life like never before.

Our next Sermon Series begins on January 22 and extends through the Lent season; it is based on the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. To assist you in your journey to grow closer in your relationships with God and others, we will be encouraging small group to form for support and discussion around a reading schedule for the book, Crazy Love. A limited number of discounted books are available for $11 in the church office.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Lane

P.S. As you read the book, hear the sermons and discuss with family, friends, and small group, share with me also your thoughts about what of the book are you resonating with. Shoot me an email at pastorlane@iowatelecom.net; I want to hear from you.

2011-11-10T18:14:00.001-08:00

"Christmas is not your birthday"
Advent sermon series by Pastor Lane

During the first half of the Sunday morning education hour [9:35-10:10]
Pastor Lane will lead a discussion on his advent preaching series and the
Book by Mike Slaughter: Christmas is not you Birthday. Every year we say we’re going to cut back and have a family Christmas that focuses on the real reason for the season— Jesus. But every year, advertisements beckon, the children plead, and it seems easier just to indulge our wants and whims. Overspending, overeating, materialism, and busyness rob us of our peace and joy and rob Jesus of his rightful role as the center of our celebration.

This Christmas, cut through the hype that leaves you exhausted and broke at the end of the year. Instead, experience the peace of knowing that God is truly with us, the joy of giving sacrificially, and the love of a Savior who gave everything he had for us. In five short, engaging chapters, Pastor Mike Slaughter inspires readers to approach Christmas differently and to be transformed in the process.Advent Weekend Services

Advent Sermon Series

1st Advent weekend
November 26 & 27
"Expect a Miracle!"

2nd Advent weekend
December 3 & 4
"Giving up on Perfect!"

3rd Advent weekend
December 10 & 11
"Scandalous Love!"

4th Advent weekend
December 17 & 18
"Jesus' wish list"

Christmas Eve Services
December 24
"By a different Road"

December 25 10:45 Service
"Wish upon a star"

What Is "Enough

2011-10-18T05:48:00.001-07:00

Remember this saying, "A few seeds make a small harvest, but a lot
of seeds make a big harvest." Each of you must make up your
own mind about how much to give. But don't feel sorry that you
must give and don't feel that you are forced to give. God loves
people who love to give. God can bless you with everything you
need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others. The Scriptures say, "God freely gives his gifts to the poor, and always does right."

What Is "Enough"?
Too often we humans are dissatisfied with our lot. Cultural messages stoke our dissatisfaction, encouraging us to believe that "enough" is just out of reach, and that we need to keep striving for it.
It's a very old problem, one illustrated in a short story published in 1886 by Leo Tolstoy called "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" (www.katinkahesselink.net/other/tolstoy.html). Pahom, a peasant, purchases a small tract of land. The harvest is good. His debts are paid. He is content. But soon he yearns for more.
One day he hears of more land that is offered at "one thousand rubles a day." How much land that would be? "As much as you can go round on your feet in a day," Pahom is told. The next day he sets off at dawn and walks and walks without resting.
As the sun is about to set, he is still far from his starting point. He begins running, his heart beating like a hammer. He reaches his goal just in time and falls to the ground. When a servant comes to help Pahom to his feet, he is dead. "Six feet [of land] from his head to his heels was all he needed," writes Tolstoy.
The good news is that God's "more than enough" is not an offer to indulge in "more, bigger, better." Instead God's abundance turns us toward others. As the 2 Corinthians reminds us: God can bless us with more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others. May you be blessed to bless others through our gracious, generous God who provides more than enough.

Together In Christ,
Pastor Lane

Discovery Weekend

2011-08-31T20:10:00.000-07:00

Spiritual Entrepreneurs

begins September 23/24

During every period of renewal, the church has been universally committed to six theological principles. These 6 principles for risking renewal are:

1. The Lordship Principle: a clear focus on Jesus Christ as the object of faith.

2. The Biblical Principle: scriptural truth as the primary source for what we

believe and do.

3.The Liturgical Principle: discovery of new worship forms.

4. The Covenant Principle: commitment to the integrity of membership.

5. The Priesthood Principle: equipping the laity for ministry.

6. The Leadership Principle: spiritual entrepreneurship.

The church must have Christ-centered persons; they must be spiritual entrepreneurs who are committed to these God inspired principles. Commitment to the prophetic message of these principles is essential for renewal to take place in the church today. Join us as we explore these Godly concepts in an effort to gain renewed passion and faithfulness.

Church renewal is more than an increase in numbers and budgets. Many gimmicks can be employed to persuade people to come and sit in church pews. If our only goal were to increase attendance, we could even pay people to attend church. But until people become committed to being faithful to the will of God, their attendance is no more meaningful than membership in any other human organization or club. Church renewal consists of people in community with one another, dreaming God's vision, believing Christ's victory, and living out the Spirit's work. The evidence of renewal will be seen in transformed lives. Join us for this journey of renewal.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Lane

From the Upper Room

2011-06-24T05:33:00.001-07:00

The Lord says, "I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise." -Isaiah 43:20-21 (NRSV)

FOR the past year or more, economic conditions worldwide have been difficult. Most of us have family, friends, and co-workers who have suffered pay cuts or even the loss of jobs, and perhaps we are living under the threat of further layoffs ourselves. It seems that nobody is exempt from this crisis. Some of us get up every day questioning, "Is this the day?" We rehearse reasons why our job is more important than our fellow workers' when in fact we know that each of our jobs is vital and each of us is equally important.

As I have become more and more dispirited, I remember the biblical account of Abraham preparing to take his son Isaac up on the mountain and sacrifice him. As a result of Abraham's trust and commitment, God provided a way out for him by sending a ram to sacrifice instead of Isaac.

Companies and organizations are doing all they can to survive. I firmly believe that no matter how difficult life seems, even in the throes of such a bad economy, we can trust God. We can stay committed to doing that, knowing that we are important to God and believing that God will provide "a ram in the thicket" for us.

Shawana A. Brown (Tennessee, USA)

Our Prayer
Faithful God, no matter how difficult the circumstances may get, help us to focus on who we are and to whom we belong, trusting that you alone will supply all that we need. Amen.

God, not a job or our bank account, is the source of our security.

Easter’s meaning

2011-04-02T04:22:00.000-07:00

In a 2010 Barna Group survey, 67% of Americans surveyed knew that Easter is a religious holiday. But only 42 percent connected its meaning to Jesus’ resurrection. And only two percent of adults said they would describe Easter as the most important holiday of their faith.

Not everyone who connects Easter to religion has the facts straight. Two percent of Americans said Easter is about Jesus’ birth. Another two percent said it’s about Jesus’ “rebirth.” And one percent said it’s a celebration of his second coming. Another three percent described Easter as a celebration of spring or a pagan holiday.

“’Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man’s nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven …’ (Article II – Of the Resurrection of Christ p.60) …’He is eternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us and by him all men will be judged.’ (Article II – Jesus Christ p.67)” The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2008: Our Doctrinal Standards.

In the same survey, 31 percent of active churchgoers said they’d definitely invite an unchurched friend to worship with them on Easter weekend.

This Easter, share the truth and joy of the holiday with someone who doesn’t know Jesus. News of the resurrection is too good to keep to ourselves!

2011-02-28T14:13:00.000-08:00

LENT OFFERS A TIME FOR GROWTH…

Many of us know our IQ (intelligence quotient), but what about our SQ (spiritual quotient)?

Lent is a good time to think about the quality of your spiritual life. Do you think about God often …or rarely?

Do you pray often … or occasionally? How well do you know the Bible? The Commandments? The Beatitudes? The lives of biblical heroes and heroines?

During Lent, commit to spending more time in prayer. Also consider selecting a book of the Bible or a particular Bible character to study in-depth during this period.

Some people give up particular items or habits during Lent. If used wisely, this discipline can help you abandon things that have been interfering with your relationship with God.

Seek out devotions and books that can help strengthen your spiritual life. Examples include: Show Me the Way by Henri Nouwen, A Season for the Spirit by Martin Smith, Six Hours One Friday by Max Lucado, and Lent and Easter Wisdom From Thomas Merton edited by Jonathan Montaldo.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Lane

New life in Christ

2011-01-29T14:54:00.000-08:00

New life in Christ is more than just obeying these commandments, as important as they are. New life in Christ comes as we accept the gift of God's justifying grace through Jesus Christ. February is a time for all United Methodists to affirm that gift and to offer it to everyone.

Long-term relationships go through cycles: ups and downs, hills and valleys, good times and bad. That's true in our spiritual life, too. For many of us, our spiritual life begins with a very powerfully personal relationship with Christ. We can feel like we are on top of a mountain and have laid claim to the most important thing in all the world. And that strong and powerful feeling can stay with us and propel us for months and even years.

But I don't think I have ever found anyone who has said that they have been able to maintain that state of spiritual ecstasy throughout the entire course of their life. Sooner or later, we find ourselves in a spiritual valley.

I talked to a woman the other day who explained her situation exactly like that. 'Yes, it's true,' she said, 'I've been away from church for a long time. But you know, it goes deeper than that. I've not really had much of a spiritual life for a good number of years now. I don't know why. I used to be on fire for the Lord. I couldn't get enough of church. I read the Bible all of the time and prayed all the time too. I found ways to serve Christ every single day. But I guess the 'newness' of it all wore off and I just lost interest.'

But then she said, 'I feel something stirring in me again. Could it be the Holy Spirit? And I feel like I want to come back and start walking on my spiritual journey again.'

She really put into words what all of us experience if we enter into a relationship with the Lord. It doesn't stay on the mountaintop forever. There are valleys and great stretches of desert. We could very well 'drop out' and even move in a different direction.

But those down cycles don't last forever and more often than not there come brand-new stirrings in the heart. What would it mean for you to 'fall in love all over again' with the One whom Revelation 2:4 calls our 'first love'? This is a great time to come back home to the Lord, your first love, and renew at an even deeper and more seasoned level the most important relationship any of us will ever have in life.

-Norman Neaves, 'The Church of the Servant,'

Oklahoma City, in Thrust, August 12, 1998

From the Upper Room - Jan. 25, 2011

2011-01-25T07:03:00.000-08:00

Our Way, or God's?

Matthew 11:28-30 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I was resting on the couch in the living room when I noticed my four-year-old son in the hallway. He was crying as he struggled to open a container with a tight lid. I asked him to bring the container to me so I could help him, but he resolutely tried to open it himself. He continued to cry, and his frustration grew. When exhaustion overcame him, he finally decided to allow me to help. He then saw how easy it was for me. He could have avoided the frustration had he come to me earlier.

This incident became a spiritual lesson for me about how to handle difficult situations. Too often, rather than seeking God's help, we try our own methods to solve our problems — and we often end up frustrated or in tears. But God's promise is before us: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." God has the solution to our problems: We can believe in and trust in God's word — and ask for God's help.

Yaneth Orozco Z. (Valle del Cauca, Colombia)

Dear loving God, help us understand that with you all things are possible. We know that we can place our problems in your care and that in you we can find rest. Amen.

Go to God first.

Where God is leading you?

2011-01-06T16:03:00.000-08:00

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…. Ecclesiastes 3:1

As we start 2011, we look forward to where God is leading us. This year we are implementing new programs and encourage all to join in on these growth opportunities. One of these is a monthly insert from the pamphlet A Year with John Wesley and Our Methodist Values, prepared by the Board of Discipleship in response to The United Methodist Council of Bishops call that the Church engage in intensive study of and reflection on our Wesleyan theology, polity, and practice. Throughout the year we will be publishing a monthly installment that will consist of a Wesleyan Scholar teaching point on a Wesleyan theme followed by a corresponding practice reflection by Bishop Michael Coyner. Process these thought provoking articles with your spouse, your Circle, Sunday school class and others as you make these concepts authentic to your faith practice.

Another new program emphasis in 2011 is geared toward intentional faithful development thru bible study and small groups. Small groups have been an area of growth for many persons in our church in the past, and I sense a growing hunger in others to discover a more fulfilling spiritual life. On January 22 & 23 weekend services special guest preachers will share an exciting word about a dynamic spiritual growth opportunity, Discovery Sunday. Don’t miss this wonderful life changing opportunity to connect deeper with God and others.

As we look to 2011 as a new positive beginning, let us remember the encouraging words of St. Paul “….but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,” Philippians 3:13

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Lane

What do you expect?

2010-12-01T20:08:00.000-08:00

Advent is the season of expectation; the time where we prepare once again for the coming of the Prince of Peace. How we prepare depends to a great extent upon what we are anticipating. We often subconsciously set ourselves up, with self-fulfilling prophecies that predetermine final outcomes.
As you begin this 2010 Advent Season, I encourage you to spend some quality time evaluating what you expect, need, and want Christmas to be for you and your loved ones.
If Christmas has become a time that drains, stresses, and depresses you then you're more than likely trapped by the secular commercialism of our secular society. It's time to stop the merry-go-round and prepare for a spiritual experience.
This need not be a radical change of lifestyle. There are a variety of ways to make Christmas a more meaningful experience. Here is a partial list of suggestions. If these don't meet your needs contact me and I will share more alternatives.
1. Remember whose birth we are celebrating.
2. Be a part of the Advent and Christmas activities of the Church.
3. Pick up a copy of the Advent devotional we have at church from the Society of St. Andrew.
4. Earmark at least 25% of your Christmas giving budget to the less fortunate. In place of a gift make a donation to a charitable organization in the name of a person.
5. Buy your cards and gifts from UNICEF, Heifer International, etc. or any charitable organization that is supporting third world development .
6. Set aside time each day to read Scripture, pray, be still and prepare for the coming of the Prince of Peace.
7. Be active in the Means of Grace [God’s way of streaming love] particularly works of Mercy; ring the Salvation Army Bells, volunteer your time and energy in ministries that aid the hungry, the stranger, the sick, the shut-ins and the imprisoned.
8. Strive to be a peacemaker in your family, personal relationships, church and broader communities.
9. Add your own:__________________________
Praying that this may be your most Blessed Christmas ever.

"He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life" John 4:36

Together In Christ,
Pastor Lane

Pastor Lane's Line

CRAZY LOVE CHAPTER 4

CRAZY LOVE ***February 4 & 5 - CHAPTER 3

CRAZY LOVE *** January 28 and 29 - Chapter 2

CRAZY LOVE ***Chapter 1 -Jan 21 & 22

CRAZY LOVE PREACHING SERIES

What Is "Enough

Discovery Weekend

begins September 23/24

During every period of renewal, the church has been univer­sally committed to six theological principles. These 6 principles for risking renewal are:

1. The Lordship Principle: a clear focus on Jesus Christ as the object of faith.

2. The Biblical Principle: scriptural truth as the primary source for what we

believe and do.

3.The Liturgical Principle: discovery of new worship forms.

4. The Covenant Principle: commitment to the integrity of membership.

5. The Priesthood Principle: equipping the laity for ministry.

6. The Leadership Principle: spiritual entrepreneurship.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Lane

From the Upper Room

Easter’s meaning

New life in Christ

From the Upper Room - Jan. 25, 2011

Where God is leading you?

What do you expect?

During every period of renewal, the church has been universally committed to six theological principles. These 6 principles for risking renewal are: