Making Life Matter

2011-04-17T13:15:00.000-07:00

Announcement from CUMC Memphis Website

Bishop Dick Wills of the Memphis Annual Conference announces the appointment of Rev. Shane Stanford as the next Senior Pastor of Christ United Methodist Church. Rev. Stanford currently serves as Senior Pastor of Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church in Gulf Breeze, FL, one of the largest UMC congregations in the United States with an average weekly worship attendance of more than 2,400.

“The Search Committee is delighted that Rev. Shane Stanford will be the sixth pastor in the 56 year history of Christ Church,” said Kirk Bailey, chairman of the Search Committee. “Shane is a gifted preacher/teacher, with a warm, engaging personality and a unique life story to share that will be an asset in the outreach ministries of Christ Church.”

Dr. Maxie Dunnam shares Bailey’s excitement about this appointment. “Shane Stanford is an amazingly gifted person. He is a powerful preacher and a convincing writer,” said Maxie. “Knowing the significant place of Christ Church in United Methodism and in our city, I am delighted to have a leader of this quality assume the position as Senior Minister. Our congregation and the entire city will be well served by his leadership.”

Rev. Stanford has served as Host of The United Methodist Hour, a television and radio ministry viewed in more than 30,000,000 homes weekly. He continues to host a radio blog titled LifeMatters, available nationwide.

He is also the author of nine books including bestsellers, The CURE for the Chronic Life (co-authored with Deanna Favre and which held as the #1 Pastoral Care book in the country for seven weeks), The Seven NEXT Words of Christ and You Can’t Do Everything…So Do Something. He has published numerous articles in journals and magazines including The Upper Room, CNN Today and Christianity Today.

Rev. Stanford travels extensively sharing his testimony and witness as an HIV+ Christian Minister who contracted the disease through a blood transfusion used to treat his Hemophilia. He has spoken in 36 states including an engagement as the keynote speaker for the 2006 Saddleback Global AIDS Summit, alongside other notables as Franklin Graham, John Ortberg and then-Senator Barack Obama.

Rev. Stanford has appeared as an expert and contributor on spirituality, family health and issues related to HIV on numerous media outlets including Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, LifeToday and The Hour of Power.

“I have been aware of the wonderful work and impact of Christ UMC Memphis for most of my ministry,” said Rev. Stanford. “To have the opportunity of working with such gifted, creative and passionate servants of Christ is a true honor. As the writer of Hebrews states, I look forward to being a part of this ‘great cloud of witnesses’ as we work together to Love Jesus…and Love Like Jesus in our community and beyond.”

Rev. Stanford is married to Dr. Pokey Stanford, an Associate Professor of Education at the University of Southern Mississippi, and they are the parents of three daughters, Sarai Grace (14), Juli Anna (11) and Emma Leigh (7).

To learn more about Rev. Stanford, he invites you to visit his website at www.shanestanford.org or his blog, www.shanestanford.blogspot.com. For those on Facebook, Rev. Stanford invites you to become a friend of Shane Stanford or follow him on twitter, stanfordshane@twitter.com.

2011-04-13T13:00:00.001-07:00

“The Blooming of Spring”

Last week was Holy Week… It was The Masters Golf Tournament! Okay, maybe not the “holy week” you were thinking about! But, to golfers, there is nothing quite like the annual invitational at Augusta National.

I had the privilege of attending a practice round of The Masters several years ago. From the moment I walked through the gates, I was overwhelmed by the aura of the place. Many times what we see or expect does not hold up in reality. That was not the case at Augusta. In fact, reality was even more beautiful.

The course is awash in spring. The blooming of azaleas and a host of other foliage that makes the property a wonderland of nature. And, to top it off, the best golfers in the world gather to compete in arguably the most important tournament in golf.

Again, if you play golf, The Masters is more than just a week of golf or even a tournament. It is an experience.

Okay, Okay… so it is still JUST a golf tournament. And, it is certainly NOT the Holy Week we all know, expect and love. No, that week begins Sunday.

As the Palm Branches begin to wave, we usher in the expectation of a new “blooming of spring”, and another powerful expression of life—we prepare ourselves for Easter—the true “wonderland” of God’s grace, forgiveness and new beginnings.

That Holy Week is more than any human event or endeavor could design. The God of the Universe decided to reach down into our broken lives and journeys and do something about them. He gave His only Son.

Oh… and all of Nature rejoices… as even the rocks, trees and flowers cry out that Christ is Risen, He is risen indeed!

This true HOLY WEEK marks an exciting and meaningful time in the life of our church. We will begin with Services of Healing on Wednesday at both the Fairpoint (6pm) and Soundside (7:30pm) campuses.

Also, on Wednesday, the “Journey to the Cross” begins as you are invited to view the Stations of the Cross and experience the final steps of Jesus in a remarkable and personal way. You can attend the Stations from 9am to 4pm Wednesday through Friday.

On Thursday, from 2pm to 8pm, we will experience the power of the Upper Room in a very new, exciting way, as families and individuals will sit at the seat of a disciple and share Holy Communion as the first disciples would have experienced. This “come and go” gathering will take place in 15 minute shifts.

On Saturday, the Church gathers for our annual Easter Egg Hunt at 10am at Shoreline Park. Families and neighbors are invited to share with hundreds of our church family in a day of fellowship, food and fun.

Finally, we approach the empty tomb with our Second Annual Sunrise Service at Flounders, hosted by the folks at our Worship at the Water Campus. Join us at 6am as we see the sunrise and the SONrise.

Yes, it will be a wonderful week. It will be a memorable week. It will be a powerful week. It will be a HOLY Week.

The blooming of spring is wonderful. The blooming of a heart redeemed… priceless.

Be salt and light, my friends… You Matter.

Shane

2011-02-08T18:56:00.000-08:00

Gulf Breeze UMC
Senior Pastor Note—February 3, 2011

The Life Lived Well--

What is the life lived well?

Several years ago, I read William Bennett's book, "The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories". It was a wonderful read that unveiled a set of commonly held principles for how civilized societies both approach and make decisions in regards to important issues.

Many of Mr. Bennett's "virtues" come from the Judeo-Christian framework, and he is not afraid to link his moral conversation with faith.

Recently, I read the book again. True to form, I was captured by the stories of moral challenge and courage. To think if we could-- if we would-- aspire to these principles.

In particular, five virtues from Mr. Bennett’s book stood out as critical to the life lived well. Each virtue unveiled itself through stories of hope and perseverance, and served as a "destination" for our moral discourse—the intersection for both how and why we arrive where we are in life.

These five principles are tools by which we find our voice, the song we are to sing, and the melody that makes it all so sweet.

The virtues for a life lived well are:

1. Honor

Honor is how we act when relaying our beliefs. Jesus said that they will know you are mine by "how you love one another". Our actions bear on the outside what we believe on the inside.

Thomas Carlyle says Show me the man you honor and I will know what kind of man you are.

Focus Scripture: Deuteronomy 26: 16-19

2. Purity

The dictionary connects 'purity' with 'freedom'. In fact, purity is "freedom from anything that debases, contaminates, pollutes, or leads to inappropriate elements in our lives". Purity is not the absence of particular vices, but, rather, the presence of something deeper and richer—the freedom to “become” all that God intends.

Focus Scripture: Proverbs 27: 21

3. Loyalty

I love the story of Babe Ruth and the later days of his career. For so many years, his bat had the power of a cannon, and his record of 714 home runs remained unbroken until Hank Aaron came along. The Babe was the idol of sports fans, but in time age took its toll, and his popularity began to wane. Finally the Yankees traded him to the Braves. In one of his last games in Cincinnati, Babe Ruth began to falter. He struck out and made several misplays that allowed the Reds to score five runs in one inning. As the Babe walked toward the dugout, chin down and dejected, there rose from the stands an enormous storm of boos and catcalls. Some fans actually shook their fists. Then a wonderful thing happened. A little boy jumped over the railing, and with tears streaming down his cheeks he ran out to the great athlete. Unashamedly, he flung his arms around the Babe's legs and held on tightly. Babe Ruth scooped him up, hugged him, and set him down again. Patting him gently on the head, he took his hand and the two of them walked off the field together.

We are as good a friend as the distance we travel when the going gets tough—Unknown.

Focus Scripture: Proverbs 3: 3-6

4. Integrity

James Patterson and Peter Kim, in The Day America Told the Truth, asked “What are you willing to do for $10,000,000?” In a shocking report, the authors revealed that 2/3 of Americans polled would agree to at least one, some to several of the following answers:

Would abandon their entire family (25%)
Would abandon their church (25%)
Would become prostitutes for a week or more (23%)
Would give up their American citizenships (16%)
Would leave their spouses (16%)
Would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free (10%)
Would kill a stranger (7%)
Would put their children up for adoption (3%)

Scripture Focus: 1 Timothy 4: 11-14

5. Gratitude

More than just “thank you” and a letter of appreciation, gratitude is the barometer of what we truly value in life. Nothing highlights what we consider most important than what we take the time to treasure and recognize.

Scripture Focus: Luke 17: 16-17

Scientists now say that a series of slits, not a giant gash, sank the Titanic. The opulent, 900-foot cruise ship sank in 1912 on its first voyage, from England to New York. Fifteen hundred people died in the worst maritime disaster of the time.

The most widely held theory was that the ship hit an iceberg, which opened a huge gash in the side of the liner. But an international team of divers and scientists recently used sound waves to probe the wreckage, buried in the mud under two-and-a-half miles of water. Their discovery? The damage was surprisingly small. Instead of the huge gash, they found six relatively narrow slits across the six watertight holds.

Small damage, invisible to most, can sink not only a great ship but also a great reputation.

The materials with which we build our lives matter. They demonstrate our commitment to a life that makes the most of every moment, and seizes, not just the day, but also the reason for living it.

My prayer for all of us is that we examine the markers for our journey, and reflect on those ways we might right our paths, celebrate the distance traveled so far, and look beyond the horizon to the promises where we have yet to arrive.

Be Salt and Light… You Matter!

Shane

2011-01-23T12:59:00.000-08:00

The ME I Need to BE, Part IV: REACHing our Potential

We are wired to "win" the race. (Hebrews 12: 1-2) In fact, God has called us to be a part of His family, to know our value and to live as heirs to the Kingdom. But, many of us spend our lives "working for the world", held prisoner by our mistakes, miscues and mess-ups. We "work for the world" instead of sharing in the bounty of grace and hope.

What must we do to REACH our potential in Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews suggests three principles:

1. We must REACH Up. Our relationship to God serves as the foundation for how we connect in Christ and become all that God intends for us.

2. We must REACH Out. Our relationships with each other serve as the window for how our faith n God is viewed. The Bible is clear-- how we treat one another is what we really see God.

3. We must REACH Down. Our relationship in serving the "least of these" provides a backdrop for how our faith "hits the ground" and makes real differences in real people's lives.

So, what about you? Are you ready to become all that God has in store? You are created to win the race. On your mark, get ready... GO!

For more info, check out the web-view of this sermon at www.gbumc.org.

Be Salt and Light... You Matter.

Shane
Matthew 5: 13-16

2011-01-16T15:17:00.000-08:00

The ME I Need to BE, Part III
Resources-- BEcoming more Capable

If we are to learn to become more capable in becoming the ME I Need to Be, we must remember three principles:

I. We can't do EVERYthing.

II. We Should do SOMEthing.

III. And, when everyone is doing their SOMEthing, ANYthing is possible.

The Bible says that everyone has been given a spiritual gift that is to be used in accomplishing significant things for the Kingdom.

If you would like to know more about this topic, check out my book "You Can't Do Everything... So Do Something" (Abingdon 2010).

Love you all.

Be Salt and Light... You Matter.

Shane

2011-01-02T22:43:00.000-08:00

The ME I Need to BE, Part I
Scripture: Philippians 3: 13-14

What are your New Year's Resolutions? Why have you made them? Are they the same as the years before? Are they a reaction to what is wrong in your life, or a response of what you want to be right?

These are the questions we ponder when deciding that new beginning is necessary. These are the questions for a New Year!

In this series, we look not just at our resolutions for a new year, but also how God intends for our lives to look and work in the first place. We seek to Be the Me that God has intended all along.

But, first, we must learn to BE more committed to God's Word, God's Plan and God's Purpose in our lives.

The Scriptures are clear that "new beginnings" are part of God's work in our lives. He treasures the times when we decide to begin again and create something significant in His name.

Three principles stand out in Scripture when considering "Healthy Biblical Resolutions"--

1. Resolutions should Transform Us not Merely Change Us.

2. Resolutions should Reflect What We Should Be Not Only React to What We Shouldn't Be.

3. Resolutions should Build A Foundation for More Good Not Simply Set a Goal for A Principle Odds are We Can't Meet.

So, again, what are you resolutions for this new year? Have you set them out of habit or because God is calling for something new in your journey? And, are they preparing you for success according to the world's standards, or real significance according to God's?

Blessings in the New Year.

Be Salt and Light, my friends... You Matter!

Grace,
Shane
Matthew 5: 13-16

2010-12-31T17:06:00.000-08:00

A New Start...

It is time to put 2010 to bed. What a year! It has been filled with its share of ups and downs, goods and bads. But, in the end, I wouldn't trade it for anything. During this year, I learned a great deal about humility, grace, patience, prayer, forgiveness, and love. I was also reminded of what really matters, and of those things that we take too seriously but shouldn't. 2010 was a learning year... and I can't wait to see how the lessons we share "hit the ground in 2011". God has so many wonderful things in store for us!

We begin a new sermon series this Sunday entitled, "The Me I Need to Be for 2011". The next four weeks are:

2nd: Resolutions—BEcoming more committed
9th: Relationships—BEcoming more connected
16th: Resources—BEcoming more capable
23rd: Reach—BEcoming more compassionate

Remember, Fairpoint Campus-- 8am, 9:30am or 11:00am. And, of course, we also have excellent worship and teaching at our Soundside campus -- 8am, 9:00am and 10:30am. Our Worship at the Water worship campus will not return for several weeks.

Also, on another note, I make the following commitment to you-- I will update this blog on a regular basis. Like last year, I want us to make this journey together. So, I look forward to meeting you here each week, to share what God is doing and, especially, to learn how we each get to be a part of it. What a blessing!

Be Salt and Light, my friends... You matter!

Shane
Matthew 5: 13-16

2010-06-13T15:02:00.000-07:00

Proxy, Part I
1 Samuel 17: 26-50

Today, we discussed what happens when we "proxy" our expectations, gifts and responsibilities that God has given us, using, instead, the standards of the world.

We looked at the example of David and Goliath. When the shepherd boy, David, decided to meet the giant on the battlefield, King Saul tried to put his own armor on David. Of course, it didn't fit, and, so, David chose five smooth stones and a slingshot. Saul's armor worked for Saul, not David.

Too many times, when we face our giants, we try all of the tools of the world. But, those tools are not for us. And, so, we face the struggle of our life with the wrong tools, having set a proxy for our fight.

The Scripture offers three lessons for facing the giants in our lives:

1. Distinguish between Fact and Fiction

2. Use the Tools that God has Given YOU

3. Use them Boldly, Consistently and Decisively

In following these rules, we take the fight to the giant ourselves and don't wait for the world to save us. That belongs to God, whose has already provided more than we need in Christ Jesus.

We love you.

Be Salt and Light... You Matter!

Shane

2010-05-30T16:50:00.000-07:00

Dirty Laundry, Part II

Today's sermon was surreal. I talked about sexual immorality with one of the widest audiences to which I ever spoken. However, one person after another shared how this topic impacted their lives-- whether for them or for someone they love.

The stats are pretty incredible--

--2/3 of all marriages will end in divorce
--the average age for a male to be exposed to pornography is 11
-- the average age for a girl's first sexual encounter is now 12
--9 out of 10 persons between the age of 8 and 16 have been exposed to pornography

I could go on and on!

In a recent survey, 57% of pastors reported that pornography is the most important, destructive issue in their church's life. I know in my own ministry how important this topic has become, not only because of its effects on the person in question, but also in how that person interacts and values others.

But, THERE IS HOPE.

God has a new normal in store for us. We were meant for more. And, no matter what the broken edge might be, God has established a set of rules that pull us from our brokenness and restores our life and our relationships.

It is a simple formula--

1. Follow God's Rules for Our Intimate Life-- Celibacy outside of marriage; monogamy within marriage.
2. Give our bodies and our broken edges to God each day
3. Treat others as we would have them treat us
4. See each other through Christ's eyes

1 Thessalonians 4: 1-8 talks about the power of sexual immorality, but also shares the incredible power of how following God's rules for living a holy life can change, almost overnight, our circumstances. Not that the details change overnight, but the trajectory certainly does.

I am not sure where you are in your walk. Your marriage may be in trouble. You may be involved in inappropriate relationships or patterns that no one knows about. God HAS A NEW NORMAL AND WANTS BETTER FOR YOU. Don't turn your back on God's love for you. Reach for it. Cling to it. And, then, allow your brothers and sisters to step into the gap for you.

I love you.

Be Salt and Light... You matter!
Shane

P.S. On this Memorial Day Sunday, we also shared a special service this afternoon to remember those who had given their lives in service to their country. It was a true blessing of a service. We didn't have a big crowd but God certainly was present and we were blessed.

2010-05-25T15:26:00.001-07:00

What an amazing Sunday at GBUMC! All three campuses reported a tremendous moving of God's spirit. Nearly 2,400 people attended one of seven worship services. What a blessing.

At Fairpoint, we started our series entitled, "Dirty Laundry". We talked this past week about Gossip. The focus of the sermon was that gossip is one of the most dangerous acts in which a person participates. Its effects are far-reaching, not only for the situation at hand, but because of the ripple effect throughout the Body.

I mentioned that Gossip is petty, a deliberate "mis-truth", and meant to tear down a person.

Healthy conversation, on the other hand, is valuable, truth-full, and meant to build up the Body.

I love the three filter test used by Socrates. He asked: Is it True? Is it Good? Is it Useful?

This week, as we go about our many conversations, ask yourself that question. It will not only transform your personal conversations, but will bless the Body of Christ is both seen and unseen ways.

I would love to hear you comments about the sermon. Or, send your questions. Nothing is off limits.

Be Salt and Light... You Matter!

Shane

2010-05-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

Spills and... No... Thrills!

As the floor of the Gulf of Mexico continues to spew oil, people from Louisiana to Florida brace for what could be one of the worst environmental catastrophes in history. No one knows for sure what the real impact will be, because so many factors remain variables. Needless to say, the potential impact for our community is profound, if, Heaven forbid, the worst case scenarios come to pass.

But, let me tell you about another "catastrophe" that is getting much less news coverage, but might even affect our lives more substantially.

Did you know that there are over 1,200 children who attend the Santa Rosa County School District who are also homeless. Yes, you heard me.... HOMELESS!

These are not your usual suspects. For the most parts, their parents are doing everything they know to do. Most have jobs, most had goals and ambitions, most were living the American Dream until the housing market turned against them and they found themselves in the streets.

In fact, one of our pastors at GBUMC found a homeless family with small children living in a park not far from our Fairpoint Campus. It was eye opening, not to mention humbling and indicting of who we, as the Body of Christ, claim to be.

We talk about tsunamis, hurricanes, oil spills and are horrified by the implications of what these "acts of God" might mean for our community and livlihoods.

But, I promise you that if tomorrow, every home in Plantation Hill subdivision (a large nice subdivision in Gulf Breeze, Florida) were to burn to the ground leaving each family homeless, there would be "drives" and relief efforts immediately. People would make it a point to respond and to come together as the Body of Christ.. But, there are more homeless families in Santa Rosa County to fill more than 10 subdivisions like Plantation Hill.

What is our indictment here? Acts of God are one thing, but what about "Acts of Humanity" whereby the best of what we should be is drowned out by the worst of what we are.

This week, please pray for all of the "catastrophes" in our lives--- natural and man made. We don't need an oil spill to talk about the fragile nature of humanity. We don't need a hurricane to remind us of how vulnerable we truly are. We only need look at a make shift campsite in Shoreline park and be reminded that a family slept there, not for a camping trip, but because they "had no place to lay their heads".

Sound familiar... of course, it does. NO one likes the part of the story where happy endings are impossible to fathom much less find, and where hope becomes a commodity too rich for many to afford.

We have much to pray about today. Begin from the ground up... from the hearts of young students attending our schools knowing they have no home... to the geologist who will move into our community, leaving his family for a year because of a hole in the ocean floor. In both cases, we are called to be the "hands and feet of Jesus". Nothing less will do.

Be Salt and Light, my friends...

You Matter!

Shane

2009-11-21T17:14:00.000-08:00

Transitions in Season…

While watching a Ken Burns documentary on baseball, I picked up a phrase that is relatively new to professional sports. For decades, players remained pretty much with the primary team that had drafted them and brought them up through that team’s farm system.

But, in the late 1960’s, player arbitration came on the scene when Sandy Kofax and Don Drysdale negotiated the first “out of system” contract. After that, baseball changed forever. It is now not unusual for a player to play for as many as 6 or 7 teams during their career because of what is known as “transitions in season”. This is the process by which, at the end of a particular season or “season of seasons”, the player would renegotiate their contract, usually leaving their previous team for a new one.

The result was that once long-term relationships became “season to season” experiences where change became the mode of operation instead of identities that connected players to teams in infinity. Sure, you have a Derek Jeter who has played his entire career for the Yankees. But, for every Jeter, we now have hundreds of players who travel from team to team--- transition in season, depending on what the player asks for, what the team is willing to pay, what type of skills the player brings to the team, and what type of team the organization is wanting to build.

Add to this the basic emotions and difficulties of any change and transition, and Major League Baseball no longer means a DiMaggio is synonymous with the Yankees, it means a player is sinuous… now… for this season… until the next transition.

Unfortunately, churches are no better today, especially larger ones. In a previous generation of large, successful churches built by long term pastorates of exceptional men who intersected perfectly with the “Greatest Generation” and the Baby Boomers returning to church, the next generation of leaders, as well as the churches themselves, are finding the “transitions in season” difficult to navigate.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the events of the past week at our sister church, Frazer Memorial UMC, in Montgomery. During the past several days, Frazer has experienced the resignation of their long-time Teaching pastor for their contemporary service, John Schmidt, the resignation of another teaching pastor who bridge between services, and most recently, the resignation of their Senior Pastor, Dr. Barry Carpenter.

All of these resignations are effective immediately. Their transitions in season happened so quickly, that they did not even wait for the normal appointment process through July 1st of next year.

There is much speculation as to the cause. But, as I have learned through my own recent transition, only those closest to the situation know all of the facts. Thus, it is our job not to “figure out why” but to pray and support our brothers and sisters in the faith. Transition is not fun, and their road ahead is long.

However, given our own recent difficulties in transition, several of you have emailed to inquire of my state of mind in continuing to serve as the Senior Pastor of GBUMC. First, I appreciate your concern. But, second, I assure you that I am in the place I need to be and committed to our work together for several years to come.

In fact, just last week, Bishop Leland and I had a long meeting in which he asked my intentions for the coming appointment season, and I stated my desire to remain as the Senior Pastor for our congregation.

On that note, please pray for our bishop. He is a very kind, warm-hearted man with great responsibility on his shoulders right now. He needs our care and concern more than ever.

My perception is that congregations, including our own, have become so distracted by the Adversary during transition that we forget to live, simply as the Church together. In the process, we miss the power and potential of what God is doing from one season to the next.

That is why, for the next several weeks, I will focus us on the future of what I believe God is leading in my heart as I lead your hearts in ministry for the coming year.

For instance, in 2010, God has consistently reminded me of our covenant to Love Jesus and Love Like Jesus by the image of a man “reaching”. The idea of reaching comes in many forms, and for our congregation it means several things.

First, we will Reach Up in 2010. We will seek God’s guidance, Will, love and direction by growing deeper in our relationship with Him and by going in the direction He would have us go.

Second, we will Reach Out in 2010 by continuing to invite those who are unchurched and dischurched into our fellowship. It is more than a church program; it is the Gospel (Matthew 28: 18-20).

Third, we will Reach Around in 2010 by putting our arms around each other, to care for one another in fellowship and community. Needing one another in Christ does not mean agreeing with everything that the other stands for. But, it does mean respecting each other, as family should do.

Finally, we will Reach Behind in 2010 to help bring forward those who are the most fragile, forgotten and marginalized in our community. The church is no better than how much of it we are willing to give away--- Bonhoeffer.

Thus, my friends, please pray as we move forward in this season of our church’s life. God has great things in store for a great church in 2010, and WE WILL be faithful to live out our potential. God deserves our best in this, and we won’t disappoint him.

And, again, pray for our brothers and sisters at Frazer Memorial and at other churches for whom the season has created such contention that it has broken more hearts than it has mended. How senseless… How sad!

I love you. I look forward to working with you.

Blessings.

Be Salt and Light… oh… and Happy Thanksgiving!
Shane

2009-11-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

Reigniting a Holy Brand!

Several years ago, I wrote this article talking about the importance of “re-branding” the local church in our communities. At first, people did not know what to make of using such secular terms to discuss the more holy avenues of our lives. But, once they got past the terminology, they understood the point of the article--- the church must re-invent itself if it is to be successful in the future.

A recent article in the magazine, Fast Company, said the same of business. If a business does not learn the language, the likes, the dislikes, the worries, fears, dreams, and habits of those they are trying to attract as customers, it cannot succeed. The consumer base is too fickle with a memory that is very short-term.

So what about the Church? What distinguishes us from EVERYTHING ELSE THAT A PERSON COULD BE DOING ON SUNDAY MORNING? Or, what would make a person choose being involved in the life of the church versus being involved in any other social network or organization.

After all, there is a web experience for almost every aspect of the traditional church life now. You can worship online, be in Bible study online, find serving opportunities on line and offer your prayers or receive counseling online. Christianity Today even highlighted a new website that allows you to make your confessions online. Talk about one stop shopping!

And, the articles discussed what any organization in our modern world needs for energizing its core. The church is no different, though most of our congregations are stuck in old patterns that lead to little or no real change. To put it mildly, most churches are spiritually anemic and nothing saddens me more.

The following are my takes on what these articles concluded were necessary to re-ignite the “holy brand” of our local church and to help us reach beyond the walls for the unchurched and dischurched of our community. They are only my “take” on a broader, tested Biblical concept that speaks volumes in how congregations can reignite their core passions and live faithfully into the future for their communities and world.

Principle One: Passion is Personal. Nothing substitutes for people believing that what they do or who they are means something (John 2: 12-22). Passion inspires vision; vision inspires mission; mission inspires results. What are you passionate about today? What in the life of your church challenges you to get out of your comfort zone and reach those outside the walls of our congregation?

Principle Two: Word of Mouth Still Works Best. In a culture that relies on more and more impersonal means of communication, the most effective forms are still personal and direct. One on one” interaction trumps mass communication when seeking to provide long term effects. The woman at the well knew the teachings, but it was Jesus knowing her that changed her life forever. In what ways are you providing positive “word of mouth” witness to your friends and relatives about the life of GBUMC? Or… goodness forbid… have your words done more to tear down the ministry of the church you love?

Principle Three: Follow Me Home. Plain and simple--The closer an organization gets to those they serve, the better the organization serves. Remember, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet himself! In what ways are we “following people home” and becoming a part of their daily routines. Are we simply a visit on Sundays or another check on the “to do” list? If people were forced to narrow their lives to only three things to which they could give their time, would “church” be one of them?

Principle Four: All Success Begins Small. Even great journeys begin with one small step. Churches want too much, too quickly. Dialog, planning and purpose must always begin with people agreeing to begin at the beginning. I know this is not very poetic, but it is nonetheless true! Even Jesus’ ministry began with simple steps from the Jordan River. What are the “simple steps” we take each week to live as the “hands and feet of Jesus” in our world? How do these simple steps inspire people to know our church better and to seek a connection?

Principle Five: No Connection, No Bother. People must connect to the people and purpose of a church in order to “stick” around. No matter the excitement on the front end, people need substance not show. When we see a church with no connection, we see a church with a huge back door. Great crowds gather for meals along the shore, but the truly committed remain through the Cross. How large is the “backdoor” of our church? What can we do to close it?

Each of these principles speaks to the heart of what it means for us to grow into this next generation. Please pray for our church that we will live faithfully in these new methods while proclaiming a message that NEVER changes.

2009-10-14T11:25:00.001-07:00

An Unexpected Verdict

Dan was a successful attorney, but he was not as successful at life. He arrived at my office on a Monday and proceeded to ask for the best advice I could give him about why “faith should matter”. He wanted an answer immediately. But, I asked him to give me some time. And, so, I spent several days thinking of what I should say.

The night before our next meeting, I awoke and wrote two phrases on the pad sitting on the nightstand. They were “Love Jesus” and “Love Like Jesus”. I couldn’t think of anything more important for those of us who call ourselves Christian. It is not enough that we know Jesus and say we want to live like him. We need to put our energies into loving him, knowing him, understanding him, becoming like him. And, then we live our energies in the world loving like he did for those who are the most forgotten and the least of these our brothers and sisters.

After sharing these phrases with my friend, I watched as his life changed. It was not my words or wisdom, but the simplicity of God working in him that transformed his priorities and life. He began to read his Bible more, attended one Bible and life study after another. He became a regular in the church and volunteered to serve in multiple serving opportunities. He also joined a small, accountability group that provided a new approach to community.

But, that was not enough for Dan. Several months went by until Dan resigned from his law firm to take the directorship of a community ministry association that ministers to the needs of the under-resourced. It was a huge life decision, but one that provided a new joy and direction for his life. Of course, it shocked everyone who had known the ‘old Dan’, but to those of us who had watched his life over the past months, we knew that he wanted more.

Over the next years, his life flourished and his work made a difference. Dan not only did amazing things in helping those in need, but he changed the spirit of his own life. And, maybe most importantly, he changed the spirit of his family, friends, small group and church. People could not help but notice what had happened in his life. They saw the changes, certainly, where Dan seemed more at peace, more content, but they also saw the joy and presence of mind that gave life purpose. But, nothing compared to when they saw the results of what God would do in another person’s life through the work of Dan’s newfound career and motives. The more he gave his life away in service to others, the more he found the real meaning of his life. Dan’s life had been successful; now it was significant.

So what about your life? Are you happy with the status quo, of getting by with the same routines that lead through lots of activity but with little results that you cling to. Have you felt the pressure to be everything to everyone, and you end up being nothing or, at least, very little to no one. And, when you do find something that gives you joy, excitement and a feeling of purpose, how does that translate into what God really needs for you to accomplish both for yourself but also within the Body of Christ.?

The questions keep coming because this is more than getting our calendars in order, our ‘to-do’ lists straight, or deciding what our next “volunteer” ministry will be. This is how we are wired up. This is the way God has framed our being. Apart from experiencing His presence, this IS what relationship in Christ is all about. It is the lynchpin of the Good News--- that Christ has transformed our lives and wants us to live as that transformed presence in the world.

My friend, this is not supposed to be complicated. You have much to offer in the Body of Christ. God has gifted you, yes, you, and I want to help you discover that passion area and the way he has wired you up to accomplish significant things for the kingdom. Yes, I said—You and significant things for the kingdom. It is the Gospel Imperative, but it is also part of your birthright as the Children of God.

Faith in Christ is more than signing in the attendance books on Sunday morning or doing your round in the 5th grade Sunday School wing (though those are both very important). It is about awakening the very image of God inside of you, and then sharing that with the world. And… (and this is a big ‘And’) as you are doing that in your life, others are doing the same thing, and the Body of Christ awakens to accomplish something significant.

Someone once asked a small, aging nun in one of the most depressed parts of the world why it was that, even with her failing health, she marched into the courtyard of the convent every morning to care for the countless sick and dying who lay on the makeshift stretchers. After all, she was far too aged and had paid her dues. After a moment, this wonderful woman of God (not unlike many we know with her love, doubts, fears and joys for Jesus) looked and said, “Because this is how they will see Christ… and how I will see Him, too.” Simple enough. Powerful… enough.

The convent in question was in Calcutta, India. The patients were AIDS victims, lepers and those dying of diseases with no names yet. The woman was Mother Theresa. She couldn’t do Everything…. So she did something. And, well, yes, the rest is history.

So, over the next weeks, months and years—Love Jesus and, then, Love Like Jeus. Go make history, my friend. The world needs you… now.

Be Salt and Light… You Matter!

Shane

2009-10-08T18:44:00.000-07:00

A Friend Named Greg

Greg Jenks spent most of his life as the quintessential United Methodist pastor. Everyone you talk to, colleagues, friends, family, loves Greg. You see instantly his humility and love for God. But, you also see an incredible love for God’s people, born from a deep spiritual mission that, over the last few years, has changed thousands of lives.

In 2004, Greg heard the testimony of a 15-year-old girl that struck at the core of his heart. Her testimony about the unbelievable needs in sub-Saharan Africa created by pandemic poverty and disease haunted Greg. What could he do? Just a few years before, he had committed to plant a new church in his Annual Conference. God was certainly not calling him to leave that mission for another new start? Or was He? It did not make any sense. First, he thought of simply organizing trips and teams. But, God kept calling for more—there was always ‘one other thing’ in Greg’s conversations with God.

Finally, to the surprise of his congregation, family, and, most importantly, to Greg himself, he left pastoral ministry and founded ZOE as a means for organizing teams and groups to address the needs of orphans, particularly in Zimbabwe. Greg found that not only was the need great, but the skills by which God had gifted him came to life in this project. After only a year, over 1,000 orphans had found assistance and love and support through ZOE. But, God did not stop there. In the next five years, ZOE expanded to Rwanda, Kenya, and Zambia. Today, there are staff offices for ZOE in the United States and Africa. The programs now include more than basic, response supplies but programs that provide for long-term support and success for those affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa, especially the children. Today, through ZOE, a child, who only a few years ago would, along with his or her family, have struggled to meet the basic, daily needs, now has training and life opportunities that not only change their lives but can possibly change their communities. All because a man named Greg Jenks did ‘something’.

The first time I met Greg Jenks was at a meeting of the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund. Greg is a humble, incredibly focused, but yet, very normal man. His presence does not particularly overwhelm you--until he begins to share his passion for children and families who are hurting around the world. No, Greg Jenks in his very ordinary way has lived out an extraordinary plan for his life.

One of the first times I heard Greg speak, he told of those first days in his former life after hearing the testimony of that young girl. Greg said the first intuition was to “do something”, but that seemed so insignificant, so inconsequential. Therefore, he began to think in large, grand terms about what could be done. But, the more he thought, the more discouraged he became as he grew overwhelmed by what he had seen and learned about the pandemic and those affected. 40,000,000 AIDS orphans, 14,000 people dying daily from bad water and not enough food, intense discrimination against young girls and women, and incredibly unstable political structures made almost any plan risky and seemingly undoable. But, Greg was seriously disturbed by God’s call on his life, and He knew that God wanted him to do something. But, what could one person do? Why was God burdening his soul for such a seemingly unreachable task?

That is when Greg said the Holy Spirit intervened, and he heard God speak into his soul, “Just follow me, Greg… Just follow.” Greg DID follow, creating ZOE as his one small way to respond to the crisis, and the lives of thousands of children have not been the same since. Greg finished the presentation with these words, “I don’t know what God wants from you, but I know He wants something. It was planted like a seed inside of you from the beginning, and He expects and needs for it to grow and blossom. All you are asked to do is water and nurture it. Nothing more, nothing less. God will do the rest.”

Next Sunday, you will have the opportunity to let that seed that God planted in you take root. In the coming week, please pray about what it is God wants you to do and then on October 18th you will be able to choose from any of the many ways to serve inside the church, outside the church and around the world.

And then on November 22nd, Gulf Breeze UMC will have the privilege of hearing from Greg Jenks and representatives of ZOE Ministry. They will speak at worship services for all three campuses. Our goal over the next year is to build a partnership bridge between GBUMC’s heart for the hurting and under resourced and ZOE ministry.

I can’t wait to watch what God will do through this partnership as he broadens our scope to Africa and helps us to be the “hands and feet of Jesus” here and around the world. Please pray for Greg’s time with us, that God will unveil how GBUMC can make a difference in those dear, sweet lives who show such love but have so little.

More to come…

2009-09-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

Our Friends Under the Bridge

“Do they belong to us?” It sounds like an odd question, but not to a three year old trying to make sense of why the folks living under the bridge have no where to go. My youngest daughter, Emma Leigh, and I had taken a day trip to New Orleans, some 85 miles from where we were living at the time. It was a couple of years after Hurricane Katrina had ravaged the city. And, although many groups had made life a little more bearable for the masses of homeless who call New Orleans home, the underpasses of Interstate 10 are still filled with those who have no other place to go. One part, in particular, is prolific with those living in such conditions. It is the Canal Street exit, and as soon as you turn off of the interstate you stop at a traffic light and one either side, behind and in front of you are those living in a makeshift tent city.

I noticed the people and was surprised by the number. Emma Leigh saw them, too. Emma Leigh was three years old at the time and though she was still a baby in so many ways, she had the vocabulary of a child so much older, largely due to older sisters who included her in almost every make believe world they created. I adjusted my rear view mirror to watch her eyes. That is when she asked, “Daddy, who are they?” I explained that the men and women under the bridge didn’t have homes and that they were living the best way they knew. It was then that Emma Leigh stunned me. “Why don’t their mommies and daddies come get them?” she asked. In her little world, everyone has mommies and daddies who take care of their children. I wondered how many of them had wished the same thing.

I explained to Emma Leigh that many of them didn’t have family any more or that they couldn’t get in touch with their family or that their family was mad at them or them at their families. I could tell in her eyes that this did not make sense. All she knew was a family who loved her very much and who would go anywhere to take care of her and make sure that she was okay. In fact, only a few weeks prior to that trip, she had called me at the office and had been tired and upset. “Can you come get me, Daddy” she said. “Of course, I can” I replied. When she needed her daddy, he showed up. That is what daddies, and mommies, and families do. Of course, she had a whole host of folks who would respond. If, for some reason, she couldn’t have gotten me, she would have gotten her grandmothers or aunt.

But, to have no one did not compute and I could tell that she did not know what to do with it. After a few minutes, she replied. “That’s okay,” she said. “They can go live with their friends”. Once again, in her world, friends took care of each other. And, then, as though she was ready for what my answer might be there, she replied, “or call their church.” Now, it was getting personal, and painful, and I knew that at some point, this three year old would make too much sense even for this situation.

Again, I tried to explain, that their situations were difficult and that they may not have friends who could or would help. That didn’t seem to settle well with her either. She sat there for a second. I kept wondering why the traffic light was taking so long. Finally, I, feeling the need to say something, blurted out, “They just don’t belong to anyone, sweetheart.”

It was at that moment that my three-year-old daughter got the best of me. She was only three, but it was enough. Jesus’ direction to his disciples that they should approach the Father as a child, meant something in that moment, and I, for one, confronted it first hand.

“Don’t they belong to us, Daddy?” she finally responded. This was my 3 year old daughter's way of asking, aren’t we their friends? She didn’t say anything else. She didn’t need to. Her point hit home and reminded me that what unites us is so much deeper than what we allow to divide us… Allow being the key word.

And, my three year old, reminded me that all of us are yoked together by the sheer essence of being the children of God. It didn’t matter what our skin color was, where we were born, how much we had attended Church, or how much we knew about our Bibles. We are all yoked together, first, by the fact that we are all God’s children, and, second, by the fact that God’s children don’t get to pick their brothers and sisters.

Be Salt and Light… You Matter…
Shane

2009-09-18T20:58:00.001-07:00

We Always Have A Choice, Part II

Last week, I shared with you an excerpt that talked about choices—choices learned from conversations with my grandfather at our “special place” overlooking a golf course. One of those conversations set in motion how I assimilated some of the most difficult news of my life and how I committed myself to living everyday to make a difference for Christ.

This week’s excerpt picks up where last week’s left off, except this time some twenty-give years later overlooking a different setting, but, also, with long term consequences for my life. This setting was Saddleback Community Church when I, at the invitation of Rick and Kay Warren, shared my story about those early choices.

____________________

Excerpt from “A Positive Life” by Shane Stanford. Prologue, Section: “A Different Stage”
Nearly twenty years after that moment with my grandfather, I shared my story at the Saddleback Global AIDS Summit, founded by Kay and Rick Warren. My grandfather had been right. The story itself made a difference for people, even when it was not particularly welcome and when people did not know what to do with it.
I was scheduled to speak in the first session in between remarks by Rick and Kay. I shared how HIV/AIDS had dominated my life, shaped my worldview, informed my faith, and redesigned my view of others. My story taught me valuable lessons for life. My illness is not a part of me, but rather it is me in so many positive ways—my marriage, my family, my vocation, my faith—and has taught me simple things about living, about how to love more and better, and about how to serve beyond my own interests. It has carved away my prejudices and fears and shaped my view of God and God’s people—the latter, unfortunately, often in a negative light. HIV/AIDS is my common story and my moral voice—the deepest place where God works his presence in me.
From the doctor’s room where, as a sixteen-year-old kid, I learned my HIV status, to the conference room of the church that would not accept me as their pastor; and from the grieving rooms where I said goodbye to friends, to the hospital rooms where my wife buried her head in my chest and cried, HIV/AIDS has been my means of grace as much as my wound of sorrow.
I feel more familiar with the disease now than angry. As much as the disease has pushed and torn at me, I know myself, the world, and God’s heart better because of it. Sure, I would prefer to be healthy and disease free, but I have become content with the struggle—maybe even, at times, not wishing to trade it away. Illness has refined my soul, and life, people, and goals mean different things because of its presence.
As Rick finished his opening remarks, I remember my heart was about to pound out of my chest. He concluded his remarks by saying, “And, now I would like to introduce you to a pastor who gets… please welcome Shane Stanford.” I walked to the podium. Rick hugged me and said, “Thanks for being here. You are a blessing.” But the real blessing was being anywhere, anytime at all. I couldn’t help but thinking that my grandfather would like this moment. Of course, I couldn’t help but remember those who along the way had meant so much and, for one reason or another, could not be there. This had not just been my fight or my battle. I looked to my right and saw Pokey sitting in the audience. She smiled such a huge smile and I could see her wink at me. And looking forward, I saw the media, cameras and over two thousand Summit participants who had their own stories and war wounds.
Standing at that podium in front of the world, I realized that, like so many others in that room, I had met the enemy over many years, and I had been fortunate enough to prosper. Yes, the disease attacked my body, but because of the disease, I attacked life with an understanding of the brokenness through which we, like Paul, can declare God’s grace to be sufficient. No, it wasn’t easy. There are still times I want to take off running or lay down and give up. Did all go as planned? I am afraid not. But the story showed that we had at least made the choice for something better and had, to our best, lived it faithfully, even when we would get it horribly wrong. Regardless, the story was real, and it was mine. With that, I began to speak and shared my story. The following is what I said…
Speech, Global AIDS Summit, 2006
As a person living with HIV and AIDS, my entire life has been a race. A race against illness and disease, against fear and uncertainty, against discrimination and prejudice. A race against time.
Sure, the race has been difficult with many twists and turns—from growing up a Hemophiliac to discovering my HIV status at sixteen to watching how the secrecy of my HIV status affected the emotional life of our family and relationships.
It is a journey with spiritual struggles and tension—from watching my denomination’s struggle over whether to ordain me to being rejected by the first church to which I was appointed as pastor.
And certainly, it is a race with great loss and disillusionment—from the loss of dear friends to the disease to the loss of others for the fear surrounding it.
No, it has not been easy, pushing me to trust beyond what I can see and understand even, at times, pressing the limits of my faith, not necessarily as much for God as for God’s people.
Certainly, this is not a path that I would have chosen. But oddly enough, so many miles into it now, I would also not trade it with anyone.
You see, HIV has also afforded me an incredible glimpse into the best of what God offers in this world and the best for what God’s people can become. This journey informs me in God’s call for each of us to respond faithfully as God’s children and teaches all of us who call ourselves “Christian” important lessons that, potentially, can change our world.
Lessons about time: Because of my illness I am reminded each day that time is a privilege given to us by God, a luxury afforded to us with the possibility that each of us can make a difference in this world.
Lessons about relationships: I am blessed with a beautiful wife, three wonderful daughters and countless family and friends who remind me that the most important things we do in this world are not done alone.
Lessons about simplicity: More, bigger, nicer, pale in comparison to simple things like sunsets with those you love and the laughter of children at play.
And most importantly, lessons about real faith: Personally, HIV reminds me every day that, with God’s grace, what I need I have, and what I have is sufficient. Sufficient to confront the struggles of my health and the uncertainties of tomorrow. Sufficient to meet the needs of others if we, the Body of Christ, might agree to meet them together. For still, more than anything I have ever known, the Body of Christ (when we truly live like it) with all of its imperfections, holds as the hope of the world, bearing witness to this amazing Gospel that says God passionately loves the unlovable, the marginalized and the forgotten.
No, HIV is not easy for any of us. But it is a journey with real lessons for real life, and if we listen carefully it can teach us much about loving God and each other.
Friends, we have a race to run. This world cannot afford to run it alone.

__________________

As the speech finished I made my way back to my seat and took a deep breath. I was glad it was over. But, I couldn’t help but think of my grandfather. It was a long way from our golf hillside to the hills of Orange County, California and the world’s most prominent church stage. But, the journey seemed almost expected, prophesied in part by a very proud, but worried grandfather whose belief in his God (though not by much he would later admit) was still enough to outpace his fear of the world.

Somewhere, I knew my grandfather was smiling at that moment, whispering between his lips, “Good choice, Sport… Good choice, indeed.”

Be Salt and Light… You Matter…
Shane

2009-09-10T05:47:00.000-07:00

We Always Have A Choice, Part I

My grandfather was my hero. He was also my best friend, until he passed away in 1997.

There was nothing I couldn’t tell him. His quiet spirit and wisdom always knew the right thing to say or the right moment not to say anything at all.
My grandfather shared a special time and place from the time I was a young boy, just after my parents’ divorce. First, we went to an orchard just across the road from the family farm. Later, we went to a hill overlooking a golf course. These were our moments.

The following is an excerpt from A Positive Life, a memoir of my life until now. Over the next two weeks, I talk about choices. The section is taken from the Prologue of the book entitled, “More than the Sum of What We Can Say”. I hope you enjoy it.
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(Excerpt from A Positive Life, Zondervan 2010, Prologue section: “More than Sum of What We Can Say”)

The first weekend I spent with my grandparents after the diagnosis was awkward. My disease was not discussed. No one wanted to be the first to mention the situation. After Sunday breakfast, my grandfather asked me to take a ride with him. We drove the familiar road to the hill overlooking the golf course and sat together for a few moments in silence.

It was always my grandfather’s habit when we would arrive to say an “open eye” prayer. He liked to say that no one else would want him to say a prayer with your eyes open because “prayer was supposed to be with our eyes closed and our heads bowed”. But sitting here or in the orchard, my grandfather would ask, “How can we pray to God and be thankful for all we have and see and be afraid to look up and actually take it all in?”

It always made sense to me when were sitting there, though I dared not try the open-eye prayer anywhere else. My grandfather also said that looking up meant making the prayer about God more than about ourselves, which so many prayers seemed to be. So we would pray, looking up, around, and at each other. It was always a great moment, filled with some laughter, smiles, and the occasional loving, quiet stare from a grandfather to his grandson.

On this particular day, my grandfather finished the prayer and then took my hand. He had looked over at me several times, and we knew there was more in the air than just the breeze and much more to discuss.

Finally, my grandfather broke the silence: “So, what are you going to do with this thing?” He never used the letters HIV or AIDS and he never talked about sickness or disease. But I knew exactly what he was talking about.

“I don’t know. There’s no cure,” I said, looking down messing with a blade of grass or some loose rock. “There is not much of a choice.”

“You always have a choice,” my grandfather said, his voice steady. He was straightforward in his words but not gruff or difficult in his tone. But he wanted me to hear and pay attention.

“What choice do I have?” I asked. There didn’t seem to be many choices on my end. The doctors had not given any and most, if not everyone in my life, were walking around as though resigned to something else … to no choices available. “Sometimes,” I finally added, “I just feel like running as fast as I could. I am not sure where I would go, but just to see if I could outrun this feeling of loneliness and dread in my life.” My grandfather was listening.

“And then there are times, I just want to lay down and let it be over. Some days, it is hard to find the reason to feel joyful again. That scares me more than the disease.”

My grandfather had looked back at the horizon. I could tell he was thinking.

“I know there is a lot to consider over the next weeks. The doctor is telling me a lot about what I need to think about in terms of my treatment. So I am trying to get the right info and make good decisions. But choices?” I asked. “About life … really, about life? I don’t know about that.”

My grandfather and I sat there for a few moments. I was trying to be honest with him about where my heart was in this news and in this whole fight. I had faced a lot in my life, but this was different. The face of this disease was bigger than all of us put together. And the impact was not just about my life, but about so many others in my family. Lest we forget, this was all being done in secret, since most people could not at that point in the disease’s timeline get their brains around the idea of what me being HIV positive would mean for them, our family, or our community.

My grandfather shifted his body language to turn more toward me. He leaned against the ground with his left arm so that he could look me in the eye. “If anybody has a right to get in the corner and have a pity party about this, it’s you. It’s very raw deal, and I can’t tell you that I understand it or have even begun to confront my anger over it. But as bad as this seems—and I know it’s bad—you have a choice to make. You can get in that corner, and if you want me to, I will get in there with you.” My grandfather paused. I had never heard him talk about giving up or giving in to anything. But here he was with tears in his eyes, saying that he would crawl into that pity party hole with me, if that is where I went and he needed to go.

“But I know you, maybe better than anyone, and I know what is in your heart and deep in your soul, and I think you are going to make a choice other than pity, retreat, or surrender. I think you are going to live each day to the fullest with everything you have. I think you are going to take each day, no matter how many you have, and make something of them. No one can ask any more of you.”
He stopped and looked into my eyes. “And son, I think you making that choice will mean something someday.”
____________________

My grandfather understood the power of our choices. I learned their power, too. And, it is not always the “decision” we make as much the process we use that ultimately sets the stage for God’s most profound lessons and displays of grace and wisdom. The ability for the Creation to have “free will” and the ability to make “choices” that define our present and future is the most significant gift the Creator could give us. And, we make use and worth of that gift everyday, in large and small ways alike.

Over the next couple of weeks, I pray you will think diligently about the choices you make and about the prayer, thought and consideration you take in making them. What is God wanting you to learn from your choices? What does the process tell us about how God has already worked a miracle in us before we ever make them?

Next week, I will share another conversation from another vantage point about everyday wisdom and the choices we make. A different “stage” than the hillside from when I was 16 years old and newly diagnosed, but nonetheless the important into whose I would become and for what God would do in and through me across the journey.
Until then… You ALWAYS Have A Choice.

Be Salt and Light… You Matter…
Shane

2009-09-03T16:52:00.000-07:00

"Re-Newing Our Minds"

This week, Pokey and I attended a gathering of Senior Pastors and Spouses of the 100 largest United Methodist Churches in the United States according to average worship attendance. GBUMC is ranked 23rd, in case you were wondering.

The meeting was informative, challenging and reassuring as we met new friends, shared with older ones, and learned that we have much in common with those at similar places of similar size.

One of our responsibilities at this gathering was to discuss how the 100 largest congregations can assist the denomination as a whole in the next century’s new reality of ministry. According to the data shared by Adam Hamilton, Pastor of Church of the Resurrection UMC (the largest UMC church in the country) and the convener of the meeting, if nothing is done to change the prevailing trends, the United Methodist Church will cease to exist in 44 years.

In the past six years, The United Methodist Church has lost 22% of our membership. During this same period, the number of Professions of Faith has declined by 18%. The number of children in confirmation declined by 21%. Membership in the United Methodist Women across the denomination has declined so rapidly that the organization will lose over 95% of its membership in the next 14 years.

Worship attendance in the United Methodist Church declined by over 70,000 last year alone. That is the same as all of the United Methodists who attend church in the Kansas East and West Annual Conferences combined.

The stats and conversation are difficult to assimilate.

But, as sobering as the data may be, the opportunities and potential discussed for how the local church remains as the "hope of the world" and the center for renewal in our denomination are even more significant.

Adam Hamilton reminded us that John Wesley faced a similar crisis in his own denomination, the Church of England. He would look out and see the empty churches, but even more important, empty spirits, and decided that something must be done. And, the “something” began with him--with his own mindset and thinking. He took to heart several of Paul's sermons where he said that we must become what God needs us to be by, first, "re-newing" our minds. In Wesley’s day, that was more than an intellectual exercise, but it symbolized the "way we saw the world, God, and God in the world."

Wesley took on a life philosophy that is well documented and that became his mantra for how he would conduct his ministry. His philosophy had two principles: 1) No matter how much you love something, if it doesn’t work, throw it out, and 2) No matter how much you hate something, if it works, use it.

Wesley believed that the two primary purposes of the Church were to 1) Save Souls, and 2) Build Up the Body. Wesley, himself, was an intellectual who loved preaching in his staid, safe parish church. But, no matter his personal feelings, he traveled 250,000 miles to preach 40,000 sermons in the countryside because that is where the people were and where God needed him to go. Even though he detested both (travel and open air preaching), he did them because that is where God sent him.

And, Wesley and his brother, Charles, took recognizable tunes from the local taverns, wrote religious words to them, and used those songs for preaching to those who would have been outside the bounds of the church. Many of those songs are considered some of our most sacred hymns today. He never really liked this process, but it worked, and that is what mattered to him, and he believed mattered also to God.

Wesley not only renewed his preaching techniques, his music, and his goals/objectives, but he first had to make new his thinking about why and how he carried out his ministry.

As I thought about the idea of Wesley "Re-Newing His Mind" to become all that Christ intends, I came to four conclusions.

1. Wesley believed we must STOP thinking about OURSELVES. There are numerous Biblical references to this principle. Too numerous, in fact, to mention. The Adversary wants and needs for us to think about ourselves—our wants, needs, desires, and goals—because it turns us away from God. It was the trick he used on Eve in the Garden and it has been successful ever since.

2. He concluded we must START thinking like CHRIST. More than a bracelet, this must be a real effort to take the principles, motives and intentions of Jesus into our hearts and to live them. It is not enough to simply say we Love Jesus… we must Love Like Jesus as well.

3. Wesley understood that we must START thinking about OTHERS. Again, the Biblical principles are too numerous to reference, but the gist is like this. If we want to be first—we must be last. If we want to win--- we must learn to lose. If we want to fulfill the full nature of our own lives and experience wholeness in Christ—we must be willing to give ourselves away for our brothers, in heart, soul, mind and body. Not very complicated but very difficult.

4. Finally, Wesley believed we must START thinking of TOMORROW like it is TODAY. Jesus says we only control what we do right now. So, we can’t wait until tomorrow to make things better in our relationships, to be better at our spiritual walks or to serve more. NO, tomorrow begins today. All that the Bible says we can and must become in Christ is within our grasps now. We must be willing to make it so, no matter how uncomfortable it makes us.

Adam Hamilton said that Wesley’s great contribution to the cause of evangelical Christianity was more practical than theological. I would agree. Certainly, he was a wonderful thinker—and the re-newing of his mind gave birth to a new way of doing church. But, more than anything Wesley reminds us that the best of who we are in Christ is found in our acts of charity, our proclamation of the Good News, and in our strength for justice and righteousness.

As the Scripture states, in giving our lives away in service to Christ…. We find real life, and it makes all the difference.

We love you all.

Be Salt and Light... You matter!

Shane

2009-08-21T18:47:00.000-07:00

The Lighthouse, Part II: “Sometimes… it IS what you know…”

As though I need any help getting myself in trouble these days, I stepped off into a very unintentional conversation last week. I believe all of you see my heart for ministry to the under-resourced and how that has been a tremendous part of my ministry for the past 15 years. I could have shared countless other stories about God working in other places that have meant so much to me over the years.

What I did not know was the wonderful, significant ministry being done by our own South Santa Rosa Interfaith Ministries. Providing housing assistance, a food pantry and clothes closet as well as unbelievable medical care and assistance through the Good Samaritan Clinic, their work for the under-resourced is invaluable. You can imagine how happy I was to learn that what I love and care about so deeply for the “least of these in our community” was already in effect in such a powerful way.

Now, I certainly would have liked to avoid the stinging array of emails I received passionately defending Interfaith Ministries but in the end not only did I become aware of this outstanding ministry, but the conversation served to raise the value and visibility of what is happening in this great place. I was also blessed with the opportunity to meet with Fred and Shirley Cornett, who are wonderful and passionate about the marginalized and forgotten as well.

With this newfound knowledge, first I would like to encourage each of you to get involved with Interfaith Ministries. What they are doing is so needed in the life of our community. Interfaith has between 120-150 volunteers who minister to those in need. Our congregation represents about 1/3 of those volunteers, which is great! But, we have over 2,000 people who attend worship here each week. Maybe over the next year we could double the number of volunteers? Maybe triple?

And, please also serve in our other opportunities for the under-resourced including the Angel Food Ministries and Loaves and Fishes. For more information on these great ministries, please check our website at www.gbumc.org

Second, I received new information that says the number of under-resourced in our community is rising. So, not only will Interfaith need your support, but also so will all of the relief and response agencies/ministries in our area.

Third, as we go forward in our discussions about serving, God is always unveiling new ways that we can minister to the needs of others. That is why I am so excited about the “Dream Session” on Thursday, August 27th at 5:30pm, where we can “dream” about how to increase our support of all existing ministries and think about the ways, unimaginable now, that God is expanding our vision.

Finally, allow me to personally apologize to the volunteers of Santa Rose Interfaith Ministries for not knowing all of this sooner. I look forward to being involved with you for years and years of service together in meeting the needs of those who sit “at the city gate” and who only require our “willingness” to make a true difference (Mark 1: 40-45).

Blessings, my friends.

Loving Jesus ... Loving Like Jesus

Beginning September 23rd, we will begin a time for Covenant Commitment Renewal in the life of our church. Together, we will learn both how to Love Jesus more and how to Love Like Jesus in our world.

On September 23rd we will begin our 40 Days of Serving Devotional Time. And, on September 27th, we will begin a five week teaching series at all of our campuses where we look at how we Love Jesus through the following five areas:

1. Studying our Bible
2. Living in Community
3. Sharing our Resources
4. Faithfully Serving and Using our Spiritual Gifts
5. Worshipping Joyfully in Christ

Then on October 25th, we will have a Covenant Commitment Response Time for each family to commit themselves in real ways back to the life of our congregation. I can’t wait for what God will do!

Be Salt and Light... You matter!

Shane

2009-08-12T18:30:00.000-07:00

The Lighthouse

In late 2004, the church I founded and served as Senior Pastor for nearly a decade dedicated a Family Missions Center called The Lighthouse. The name was chosen from a congregational survey and vote. I’ll admit it was not my favorite, but the congregation loved it.

The name meant to convey the purpose of the facility, built by the congregation to minister to the under-resourced of the community through a food pantry, clothes closet, life skills programs and various other ministries that meant to give dignity, hope, healing, and a new direction while navigating the jagged rocks of life.

Today, The Lighthouse literarily provides food and services to hundreds of families per week and has become a powerful standard for hope in the small community I served. With all we accomplished over that decade together, I am most proud of how the people loved each other and, especially, how they loved the least of these, their neighbors, brothers and sisters.

However, as with so many entities, with The Lighthouse, there was a story behind the story. The land where the Lighthouse sits was donated by a family who were new to the congregation. When we made the announcement that we were looking for a site to host our new “Serving Center”, this particular family approached me and offered to donate the little more than an acre lot, which happened to sit in one of the most under-resourced areas of the community. It was a perfect location for our mission.

The lot was not much to look at. Trees and brush had overgrown the front of the property, and at the back sat a concrete slab, long ago the family’s old home place.

It was also the site of a tragedy. The eldest daughter of the family, who was charged to make arrangements for transferring the property to the church, told me of the story of how their father, an abrupt, abusive man, had repeatedly beat and tortured their mother, until their mother had found the strength to leave, taking the children with her.

But, these were different times, and the father kept the house. Over the years, he would slip back and forth between drunken rages and short periods of lucid, sobriety. The children did their best to care for him, but he would ultimately hurt them and would, with words and actions, do everything in his power to push them away. But, days later, as the pattern unfolded, he would beg them back into his life.

This pattern continued until the children were in college, where they found their own lives apart from their father’s desperate, broken cycles.

The daughter remembered one morning receiving a call from her father asking her to come by after she got out of class. At first, she protested, but, after much pleading from her father, she eventually promised to be at the house around noon.

Little did she know that her father was asking her home for more than a visit but to witness an unspeakable horror. Standing in the doorway of the house, the father had soaked himself as well as the porch and rest of the home in gasoline. When his daughter arrived and she began walking from her car to the porch, she watched her father light a match and set himself on fire. The house exploded into flames and, in an instance, her father and the house were gone. The house was demolished days later.

Literally, for nearly two and a half decades, the family left the property alone, as it grew up in the debris of foliage, legend and bad memories. They refused to do ANYTHING with it, never agreeing to sale it or rebuild it. It simply sat their for nearly 25 years as a symbol of horror, pain, suffering and hopelessness.

Thus, it was all the more remarkable that the family, hearing our need for a site for our new Missions Center would discuss among themselves and agree that God was moving them to give the property to the church. As the eldest daughter signed over the deed to the church, she said, “We agree that the Devil has had this property long enough. It is now time for God to do something beautiful with it.”

Later that afternoon, several of us from the Missions Center Team gathered with the family and took a picture on the newly mowed property and held our shovels to break ground for a place that would ignite a new kind of fire, born from the heart and grace of God.

That evening, after the festivities, the mother of the family came by my house with a gift. It was a large square box that one could tell had been stored away for many years. She left it at the door with a note taped to the side.

It read: “In this box, is the only thing we were able to save from the rubble of the house after the fire. I have had it my attic all of these years waiting to see what God would do next. We have prayed that God would transform our pain into something that could be helpful for those whose lives have been battered and beaten by life. I hope you enjoy it.”

I took the box and placed it on the dining room table and opened it. What I pulled out was a worn, but beautiful oil painting, still in a gold leaf frame but with black soot marks along the edges. As I turned the painting around to look at the front, the image caused me to literally lose my breath. It was a picture of…. a lighthouse.

There are no coincidences in Christ or in God’s plan.

This week, a friend of mine and I met to dream about what God could do in our own Gulf Breeze community to meet the needs of the under-resourced and to consider what could be our “lighthouse” for the least of these, our brothers and sisters. The “dream time” had little to do with our campus facilities, thousands of people in worship, or even the many, wonderful programs that we faithfully lead.

No, our dream time focused on developing a place where people could come from all walks of life to have their needs met--- medical, physical, emotional, and spiritual.

What does this place look like? What programs do we offer? How is it organized? Well, we are not sure. We haven’t gotten to that part of the dream yet. We are waiting for others to join in with their versions and dreams, too.

But, we know that God is planting a seed for such a place in many of us. And, of course, who knows how long God has been working to push forward his grace that on THAT DAY to unveil His plan.

Personally, having witnessed His work in dreams like this before, and I can’t wait to see what He has in store next.

On that note, I would like to invite you to a Compassion “Dream Session” and Forum about reaching the needs of the under-resourced in our community. The “Dream Time” is scheduled for Thursday, August 27th at 5:30pm at GBUMC Fairpoint.

This is not a committee meeting, a strategy session, a planning meeting or even a task group… this is simply a conversation among likeminded folks who Love God, who love God’s people and who want to dream “out loud” about the next places we see God leading us.

Remember what we learned at the Leadership Summit. It is the creation of our “Red Hot Kingdom Visions” that mark our place in God’s season for making a difference in our world. I want to be there. I believe you do, too.

“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world…” (Matthew 5: 13-16) You matter.

Our Vision and “Good Morning”

This past week, I received word from someone who was concerned that I had not said “Good Morning” when I first addressed the congregation this past Sunday morning. At first, my pride got in the way and I couldn’t believe that, with all that I had said on Sunday, that someone would be upset over those two words. I asked what others thought was behind the sentiment or concern and a friend said that it was symptomatic that folks want to know where my heart is in reference to the congregation, to Gulf Breeze and to the future.

In other words, as my friend put it, “they are looking for signs that ‘you love them’…

One of the first elements that drew me to GBUMC was our mission statement… A Place of Hospitality, Hope and Healing. Goodness knows each of these have meant a great deal to me personally and in the life of my ministry.

Hospitality in the Christian tradition means to “offer Christ” and to put a person “at ease” as though they were “home”. Hope in our tradition means to “offer Christ” and to provide a new way of looking at our world, our circumstances and our struggles. To know there is something better in store or around the corner. Healing in our faith means to “offer Christ” and to insist and claim the wholeness that only comes from Jesus and that can only manifest itself in our brokenness and pain. We do more than worship God… We NEED Him.

I love these elements of our mission statement. I love being on this journey with you. I love being your pastor. I love getting to know you and making new friends. I love the struggle of our misunderstandings because even they point to the joy of what it means to find God together. I love grace and forgiveness even when they are not offered because I know that God offers them for us. I love getting things right and making you proud. I love learning from our mistakes and claiming, together again, that we will not let them happen the same way twice. I love the moments when we sing in one voice. And, I love the moments when our voices catch different tunes in different seasons and places, because we still sing for the same God.

But, more than anything… I love you. You are my brothers and sisters in the faith. I don’t know you all. But, I love you. I don’t understand you all (as you don’t me), but I love you. I don’t always appreciate the ways we talk to one another and allow our anxieties to push us apart, but, even then, I love you. And, I hope you love me.

We are more than the sum of what we can say. Our story is bigger than that, and God has only finished the first paragraph. I look forward to what happens when the whole text comes together and when people see clearly, through glass that is dim no more. Praise God for our journey. Praise God for you.

We love you all.

Be Salt and Light… You Matter!

Shane
1 Corinthians 15: 58

2009-08-06T22:19:00.000-07:00

Questions for the Pastor

Over the last ten days, I have received several emails and handwritten questions concerning a variety of topics. Some of them have been very encouraging with offers of prayer and support. Others have been genuine questions about ministry programs and the direction of the church. And, finally, some of have been focused on particular concerns or issues related to a variety of topics.

Several years ago in my ministry, I started a “Questions with the Pastor” forum where by folks could ask any question and I would do my best to answer it. I liked the format so much that I decided to do it here, maybe once per quarter.

The following are just a few of the questions I have received and my attempt to answer them in an honest, Godly fashion.

Of course, my goal for us at GBUMC is transparency, openness and honesty. I want you to know the general course of our church and to work together to create in us what God has so carefully and beautifully planned.

Again, these are real questions I have received.

What is the most important book you have read in the past year and why? The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller. It not only changed the way I read the Parable of the Lost Son, but it reminded me of the incredible, “reckless” love God has for us. Everyone should read this wonderful, little book.

What is your vision for GBUMC over the next year, five years and 10 years? Well, this is a huge question that cannot be answered in just a few sentences, but here is my summary. I want us to live faithfully, first, in the Great Commission, “Going into the world and making disciples of Jesus Christ.” Second, I want us to live passionately for the Greatest Commandment, “to Love the Lord Our God with all our hearts, souls and minds, and then to love our neighbors as ourselves.” If we do these two things, then the whole of our church and our future will be very bright.

Why are you getting rid of the organ in the sanctuary? Well, this one came as a surprise because there has been NO talk of getting rid of the organ. In fact, the organ will continue to be used faithfully at the 8am and 11am worship services. I am sorry for this VERY inaccurate rumor that has caused a great deal of unrest.

What are your current writing projects and how do you see them impacting your role as Senior Pastor at GBUMC? Let me answer the last, first. My writing is an outflow of my sermon preparation. Thus, I believe my role as a Teaching Pastor will inform my writing and vice versa by allowing me to stay focused on topics that will touch people’s hearts and lead them into relationships with Christ. Now, for current projects… I am finishing edits on “A Positive Life,” a memoir of my story to be published and released by Zondervan in February 2010. Second, I am completing the manuscript for “You Can’t Do Everything… So Do Something” to be released by Abingdon Press (Cokesbury) in May 2010. Third, I am beginning work on “Aching for Answers: God’s CURE for the Chronic Life,” co-written with my dear friend Deanna Favre, to be released late fall 2010 or winter 2011. Along with this I have several articles I am working on including one to be printed in Charles Stanley’s “InTouch Magazine” this fall.

Is it true that you refused to take the appointment of Senior Pastor to GBUMC unless the church hired your friends from Mississippi? This one would be funny if I had not heard it several times. The answer is ASBOLUTELY NOT TRUE. First, I am appointed by the Bishop of the Alabama West Florida Conference, so I have little room to negotiate. Secondly, there were NO positions available when I accepted the appointment whereby my associates from Mississippi might be hired. I, at no time, made any statement, hint or stipulation of any sort or kind related to my job being tied to positions for other associates. However, when the positions became available, I was asked if I knew of someone to fill the position; to which I answered an enthusiastic “Yes.” These rumors are simply…. Rumors. Now, that said, it is not unusual in churches of our size for the Senior Pastor designee to bring his/her staff with them when they make a transition. I did not do that. But, I am also very happy that the Lord has worked out the details so that I might work with my associates from previous ministries. Over the last years, we have become family, and they mean a great deal to me.

Are you still traveling and speaking a great deal? If so, how will that affect your role at GBUMC? And, how does hosting The United Methodist Hour fit into your role at GBUMC? I have seriously reduced my speaking schedule for the next year in order to focus on GBUMC. I have two speaking engagements for the next year, one at St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City and one at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. And, for those who have not heard, I have resigned as the host of The United Methodist Hour effective September 1, 2009 in order to focus more on GBUMC.

What is this talk about Gulf Breeze Global? Some folks think you are trying to turn us into “Saddleback: The Gulf Breeze Campus?” This email would also be funny if I had not received it in a couple of different forms. Gulf Breeze Global is simply a name given to our efforts to share the worship, programming and congregational care/guidance with folks who are “not present” with us in this community. We are trying to create a “Global Community” where friends around the country and world can worship via the web and be included in the life of the congregation whether they live here or in California. We already have folks living in various places like Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania who consider GBUMC their home. As Thomas Friedman said, “The world is flat and we can be many places at one time.” But, don’t worry the focus for great pastoral care and love will only grow deeper for those of us in this community. As Jesus said, “As we learn to give ourselves away, we find Him.” Oh… and thanks for the compliment about trying to be like Saddleback. I have dear friends who work and go to church there. They are great folks who mobilize thousands of people every year to be the “hands and feet of Jesus.” We should be so blessed as to live out their model.

Many of our older members are afraid they are being pushed out for a “younger approach--- I believe Senior Adults are an integral part of our church--- do you!?” ABSOLUTELY. In fact, I want a vibrant, active senior adult ministry that is not just another “retirement experience” but a place where our fastest growing population can utilize the life skills and wisdom they have learned in service to Christ and to Christ’s people. I love Senior Adult ministry and have enjoyed the Sharing and Caring Program and the different Sunday school classes I have attended. Not only do Senior Adults represent a large number of our congregation, but they represent a vital heartbeat in the life of our church. I have found that age is more of a “mindset” than a “number.” What God wants from us is that we learn to serve and love and share until he has deemed it time to move on.

Now, I realize that change brings a lot of fear and uncertainty. But, as I shared with one of our older members the other day when I asked her to name what we had ACTUALLY changed in the last weeks and months that worried her so, she could not think of but a couple of adjustments. In fact, most of our changes have been to secure our traditional heritage in worship and to make sure that people feel comfortable. Most of the concerns folks are dealing with are either from rumors or perceptions, or both.

My prayer is that we will not hesitate to ask questions and talk to one another. God has great things in store for this congregation, but it certainly will not be in the same place or season as before. God is now moving into other areas for the people of GBUMC to shine.

Just know that I love you all and that we move forward in much prayer and deliberation, knowing that not everyone will like what we do, but confident that God goes before us.

And, friends, the joy of all of this is not that we accomplish new tasks or directions, but that we accomplish them together. I am very excited to be on the journey with you!

1. Worship Matters
This week at GBUMC, all three campuses continue our VACATION Series and will talk about the importance of not only finding rest in Christ but living in such a way as to have others “want the kind of relationship with God” that we have.

George Barna, the preeminent Christian statistician, recently shared that the greatest impediment Christianity has to its own growth, is what non-Christians perceive as a lack of enthusiasm and authenticity in our faith.

The Vacation Series addresses the need for each of us to find that central place in our faith journey that brings such joy, rest, purpose and peace that others want to be a part of it as well.

Making Life Matter Learning Series--- Fall 2009

I am very excited to be leading several Bible Study/Small Group Offerings this Fall Semester in our LiFE Journey program. The following are some of the classes I will be leading/teaching:

“When God Disappears: Finding Hope When Your Circumstances Seem Impossible.” Three-Week Series. Begins September 9th. 6:30-7:30pm. Study Curriculum: Book of same name. Available in The Bookplace.

"A Quck Guide to Learning How to Study Your Bible.” September 27th. 5:00-6:30pm. A study guide is available.

“A Quick Guide to Learning How to Pray.” September 30th. 6:00-7:00pm. A study guide is available. Free.

“Learning and Developing Your Spiritual Gift.” October 21st. 6:00-7:00pm. A study guide is available. Free.

“The Eight Blessings: Redisovering the Beattitudes.” Four-Week Series. Begins October 28th. 6:30-7:30pm. Study Curriculum: Book of same name. Available in The Bookplace.

“The Real Story of Christmas: The NOEL You Never Knew… or at least had forgotten.” Two-Week Series. Begins December 2nd. 6:30-7:30pm. A Study Guide is Available. Free.

For more information or to register, please contact Kathy Norberg, Asst. Exec. Director for Connections, at 850-932-3594 or email knorberg@gbumc.org.

We love you all.

Be Salt and Light... You matter!

Shane

2009-08-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

Sermon Follow-up...

Someone suggested that I use a blog entry to follow-up my sermon for the day. I have long resisted adding a new task or job to the already full "to-do" list.

However, today, I felt a real calling to re-cap the sermon, not because of what I said, but because of what the Holy Spirit said so clearly this morning.

I preached at the Fairpoint Campus and had planned to start the Vacation Series by answering the question, "Where do you go for Rest?" I used the passage from Matthew 11: 28-30 where Jesus encourages "everyone who is weary and needs rest to take his Yoke upon Him." So, I wrote the sermon early in the week and turned in the outline for the bulletin.

However, last night God changed directions based on me reading Eugene Peterson's The Message translation of the passage. It was like a seismic shift in my thinking for the passage, so I scrambled to re-write the sermon.

Here was my short-take on this new direction...

Christ was talking to those of us who have spent most of our time trying to be our "own God". In fact, it is clear that Jesus is talking to the religiously settled and faithful, but who have become tired and weary of not being able to be everything for everyone.

After assuring the listener that God wants us to find rest (real rest) that begins in our souls and that is not just a "break from the day", Jesus provides three suggestions for making this happen.

Here they are:

1. Come to me: Change the patterns of your life and devote yourself to follow me. I particularly loved the phrase that said "I will not burden you more than your are able..."

2. Walk and Work With Me: After setting your eyes on Christ, you will get to know him and learn his ways which become a model for how we are to live, treat one another and make decisions in the world.

3. Keep Company with Me: By following me, you become like me and you are family. This changes everything including how we view ourselves, our world and the ways to make a difference in both.

It is powerful stuff. God wants us to have real rest that is meant for the deepest parts of us. All we need to do is follow Christ's example and live faithfully as He leads. Sound simple. God meant it that way.

Watch the sermon at www.gbumc.org

Love you all.
Shane
Matthew 5; 13-16

2009-07-29T18:28:00.000-07:00

A Life Well Lived

Bill was born in 1919 in Birmingham, Alabama. He passed away in Gulf Breeze in 2009. During those 89 years, Bill, as his family and friends called him, raised himself from a poor, broken home to live an outstanding life.

He was married to the same woman for over 60 years and was the father of four, three daughters and a son. For a time, Bill served as the State’s Chief Marine Biologist, but eventually resigned to work for the EPA because it would keep him closer to his family. He pioneered “clean air and water standards” long before “going green” was hip or cool. And, he championed procedures for protecting the environment long before such processes rooted themselves in our daily lives.

And, Bill loved his family and his God—to love one was to love and be committed to the other he liked to say. Bill spent lots of time with his family long before “the family table” became the next catch phrase, and he learned the importance of serving and caring for the under-resourced at a time when “person salvation” was the prominent theological conversation. Not only did loving “his family” matter, but caring for the family of God was just as important.

Alzheimer’s finally took Bill’s life, but nothing could steal the impressive legacy his left behind. Even during the final days of his life, he would encourage folks to say the Lord’s Prayer with him, even if he was unable to remember their names, and he always, always wished people a “good day”, even if, as his family said, he was having trouble remember “which day” it actually was.

Some things are so ingrained in us, so deep into our souls that even Alzheimer’s can’t take them away. A person’s life is more than the sum of what we can say, or do, or put on a resume. Our character should ooze from us, even when we are unable to define it, proclaim it or even understand it ourselves. Such was the case with Bill.

This week, I had the privilege of officiating at Bill’s funeral. Listening to friends and family describe this now small, frail man, and knowing how we loved life and cared for those people and places that mattered most to him, reminded me that much of what we do in this world outlives even the fragile shell of this body.

I was reminded that what we say and do and care about in this world matters for more than the ways they will measure our fame, place or standing, but for how people, many whom we do not even know, will be watching, and for how this witness we bear, even with those we don’t see looking, will far outpace our titles, positions or accomplishments.

It reminds me of when Jesus, in Matthew 5: 13-16, says to the disciples that they are the “Salt of the earth…” and the “Light of the world”. Neither is meant to set the disciples apart from the world, but, on the contrary, places them “smack dab in the middle of it”. And, best of all, we represent the One who has loved us first and most and best. That is a line on the resume worth having, a title that can’t ever be taken away.

So, over the next days, we would do well to assess our place in this world, but not according to the standards the world so often considers important, but according to the life of the One to whom we witness or at least should. I believe we will find a ‘real legacy” for real life that will outpace and outlive even our years on this planet.

Bill did, and it made all the difference. He lived as “Salt and Light” and it mattered.

Worship Matters

Last week, Ruth Knights took us to the river in the close to our Blockbuster Series with “O’ Brother Where Art Thou” and Scott negotiated the danger of the Pirates of the Caribbean. And, of course, Jack provided a wonderful interpretation through the series “How Great Thou Art” with a live artist working as the sermon unfolded.

This week, all three campuses began a new sermon series entitled, “Vacation”. At GBUMC Soundside, Scott addresses the basics of “vacation” and our need for rest. While Jack will discuss the items “we leave behind” when we go on vacation at GBUMC W@W.

And, at GBUMC Fairpoint, I will ask the question “Where do you go to rest?” and will use the wonderful scripture from Matthew 11: 28-30 to discuss Jesus’ desire that all of us find rest and peace in Him. I am very happy to be back you at Fairpoint and look forward to Sunday!

I love you.

Be Salt and Light... You Matter!
Shane
Matthew 5: 13-16

2009-07-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

Changes...

Many have written to offer their prayers, support and encouragement in my recent decision to step down as host of The United Methodist Hour. I appreciate your concerns, and, especially, the way you have shared your heart with me and my family.

But, several of you have asked for the "real story". "Why are you really leaving the Hour?" and "I heard this..." and "I heard that..."

Well... the whole story, though not nearly as tantalizing as the rumors, is a bit long and complicated.

When I was appointed as Senior Pastor of Gulf Breeze UMC this past March, I offered and The Hour accepted that I remain as the host of The United Methodist Hour for free for as long as necessary or until the Board decided to go in another direction.

Over the past weeks since taking on the position with GBUMC full time, I have kept my taping schedule active, though never taking away from what GBUMC needed. And, I believe The Hour was served well, too, mainly because Anthony Thaxton and Mike Boucher made sure the new taping schedule would work. And, it did work.

But, there were and are other issues at play. Three years ago, I took the Hour in a new direction in both terms of programming and also the long range vision for the ministry-- a vision that has led us into podcasting and on to FamilyNet. Some on the Board of Directors and within the Mississippi Annual Conference liked the new direction; others did not. We have moved forward, but not without our share of disagreements over what would work and what needed to be the core of our ministry.

NEITHER SIDE of this discussion is WRONG; we simply disagree as to where the ministry goes from here.

The Hour deserves an opportunity to move forward continuing the vision it has lived out for the past 40 years. And, I must remain faithful to what God has placed on my heart for my teaching ministry.

I truly respect and cherish the past three years. It has taught me a great deal about media ministry, introduced me to great people (some who have become my dearest friends) and provided a new frame for ministry through technology that most people never have the chance to experience.

Yes, God has other things in store for both of us--- The Hour and me.

Over the next weeks, you will be hearing more about "Making Life Matter" and "Gulf Breeze Global", two approaches to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I look forward to.

And, I know The Hour will also have new chapters and places that God will lead it as well.

I recently finished Timothy Keller's "The Prodigal God". It is an amazing book about a story that many of us "think" we know, but ultimately have only a passing knowledge-- The Parable of the Lost Son.

In essence, it is a story about two sons from two very different places. What both miss is the gracious abandon by which the Father loves them and encourages both of them to live within the light and "freedom" of His grace. The reckless nature of the younger son and the rules of the older son keep both from living the real wealth and treasure of their inheritance-- within the Father's hope that they may both reach their potential. Neither are right... both miss the mark. One just misses it with more flare. I have been and continue to be both "sons" in my life. How about you?

We have much to share and live out over the next years. God has given me the privilege to share and love and follow Him. I don't want to miss one single moment. I don't want you to either.

Whatever our struggles and disagreements have been about style, direction and future for the ministry; what has not changed is the love for sharing the Good News, resourcing the local church and providing hope as the "hands and feet of Jesus" in the world. The Hour has a long history of faithful service in this, and it has been a joy to be a part of it.

I want to take a moment to thank folks like Jim Golden, Carolyn Hood, Ann Pace, Mike Boucher and Anthony Thaxton for carrying so many of the details of the ministry. It has been a privilege to work with you.

And, my sincere hope is that The Hour will be ALL that God needs her to be in the future.

So, now we turn back to the horizon and what God has in store for us over the next hill. There is much to do..

Be Salt and Light... You Matter!
Shane

2009-07-23T20:05:00.000-07:00

“Our Gang” Band of Brothers

Yesterday, I put on my “Band of Brothers” wristband, given to me by the Men’s Ministry of Gulf Breeze UMC. It is an important reminder of our commitment to walk the journey together. Not only is Biblical Community one of the most important Biblical imperatives for the Church, but also, personally, it has become a cornerstone of my spiritual walk and life. As Christians, God has wired us to need one another. Our relationships are some of the most sacred expressions of how we represent the image of God in which we were created. Thus, when those relationships shine, the whole world sees and knows it. And, when they don’t… well… the same is true.

The following is an excerpt from my new book, A Positive Life, to be released by Zondervan-Harper Collins next February. The following section discusses a time in my journey when I first learned the importance of small groups and of “doing life together”.

(From Chapter Five: Putting Our Future Where Our Faith Is. A Positive Life, Zondervan Publishing, February 2010)

There were six of us in our tawdry man club. At first (or second) glimpse, we were not much to behold. One was a lawyer, another an accountant. One traveled across the world working for a global telecom company. Another coached basketball until pharmaceutical sales lured him away with more money. Then, there was the former college football player who decided to sell mail-order steaks. And of course, there was the seminary student--- me.

The group began because someone at Sunday School mentioned they liked golf. In no time, there were Saturday golfing dates, lunch after church, and finally, a regularly scheduled “man’s night out” every week. Before you wonder, it was harmless.

Mostly, we enjoyed the company and at least pretending that we were masters of our domain. We beat our chests and talked about how we were the kings of our castles, although most of us lived in apartments, and how much we enjoyed matching wits as we surveyed our kingdoms together. That was, of course, until we went home.

The whole scene reminded me of the Little Rascals or Our Gang from generations before. Spanky, Alfalfa and Buckwheat shouted statements of great manliness all the while subjected to the “Darlas” (the love of Alfalfa’s life) of the world who really pulled the strings. Sooner or later, Spanky and the gang informed Alfalfa that he was up to his neck in “love” with Darla and there was little they could do to save him. Of course, Alfalfa shouted the obligatory “I am not!” and proclaimed his sovereignty, all the while secretly preparing the next poem or gift that would say to Darla “I am sorry for proclaiming my sovereignty and listening to those stupid guys anyway.”

And, ironically, that pretty much described our own tawdry “man club.” Although we didn’t have a Clubhouse, we still met to sing from the man songbook about how we were different and how our wives loved us just like we were, and about how we could do whatever we wanted, until, of course, one of us would look at our watches and say, “Oh it is about time for me to go… I have to be home by 9pm.”

And, yet, there was more to the group than just our bursts of testosterone. For some reason, the Rascals needed the clubhouse. And no matter our insistence on strength and independence, we needed our group, too. No, it wasn’t an escape or distraction from our homes. Truthfully, we have great wives who we love very much. The connection for us is more than just another fraternal order, but a “wiring” issue at the deepest level. There is something important about knowing and being known by your brothers and about being honest enough to become real friends.

Because of this, the relationships weren’t just about golf, dinner, the clubhouse or surface things. Like I am sure many of the off camera scenes at the Our Gang Clubhouse, our discussions included talks of other, deeper things like hopes and dreams and fears and doubts and failures. And, we also wondered about whether we could ever really be who our wives needed, and more importantly, whether or not we could ever become who God expected us to be in the world. The six of us had a place where we could be ourselves, and in the long run, it made us better.

Over the years, the group has dealt with changes and difficult events like the death of a father, a mother’s cancer and a sister’s drug addiction. We have helped each other through marital woes, health crises and job dilemmas. We’ve seen the best and the worst.

I don’t think God is surprised by such groups or by our need to be in community. On the contrary, I believe God wired us up this way, because He knew how doing life together would be so much easier and better than trying to make the trek alone. Over the next weeks, you will hear more about how we will “live life together” in Christ, and how each of us will “love Jesus” and “love like Jesus” in our world. I look forward to those discussions and to what God has in store.

2009-07-14T15:05:00.000-07:00

“I Know Your Kind…”

“I thought I knew your kind…” These words of the gentleman who approached me at the Cokesbury book table one Annual Conference caught me off guard.

The man had watched the United Methodist Hour for many years and admitted that had liked the program until I started hosting it several months before. It wasn’t my theology or even my sermon topics that upset him about me but, rather, the fact that I wore a beard.

In fact, my first program as host, the man saw my unshaven face, turned off the program, and vowed never to watch again.

His boycott lasted several weeks until he determined, as an avid “Hour” supporter for many years, not to let my “unkempt” appearance keep him from watching the program he had loved for so long. Besides, as he later recalled, if he “closed his eyes”, my sermons “weren’t too bad”.

Several weeks later, I shared from my personal story how years my face reacted sensitively to one of my medicines and a rash broke out around my mouth, chin and neck. The rash was not only uncomfortable but embarrassing.

To offset the appearance, I grew a beard to cover the splotches from the reaction. And, being a hemophiliac, the beard provided much less face to cut or knick.

When the gentleman heard me tell the story that morning on the program, he became embarrassed and ashamed of his first impressions. In fact, the gentleman was so upset that he drove four hours to the Annual Conference to meet me and say he was sorry-- which he did.

He waited in line at the book table for almost thirty minutes, then, after placing his books in front of me, told me his story and asked for my forgiveness. I got up from behind the table, told him that he was most certainly “forgiven”, and gave him a hug.

Mr. Charlie, as he now prefers to be called, continues as a regular fan of the program, but, more importantly, as a new friend of mine.

His words that day struck me, “I saw you and immediately made a judgment call” he said, looking down. “I thought I knew your kind.” He paused and then looked back at me. “But, what I really saw was the ‘kind’ of person I had become… and I didn’t like it.”

We know the rules. “Don’t judge a book by its cover” or a “face by its hair”--- okay, I made that one up. But, you get the picture. There is always more to the situation than we know or presume, and it will always benefit us to hear the rest of the story.

As Christians, we have a special duty to NOT jump to conclusions. Paul, Peter, John…. even Jesus warns against making assumptions about our brothers and sisters before we know the whole truth.

The Body of Christ should be the one place where everyone is truly welcome regardless of who are or where we have been. And, not because of ourselves, but because of what Christ has done for and in us.

My challenge for each of us is to know the whole story before we presume on someone’s intentions and to ask questions before we assume of someone’s purpose. It will save us much grief in the future, and bring us, ever quicker, to the real business of living as the “hands and feet of Jesus” in this world.

Trust me, the world “knows our kind”— we either live like Jesus or we don’t. And, the difference matters.

Worship Matters

This week at GBUMC Fairpoint and Soundside, we continue our Blockbuster Sermon Series with “Spiderman” (Fairpoint) and “Forest Gump” (Soundside).

Herb Sadler, as mild mannered as Peter Parker ever thought of being, will discuss the power of responsibility in Spiderman, and I will discuss what the Bible says about the importance of the shoes we wear in this world. As Forest said, “You know mama always said you could tell a lot about a person from the shoes they wear.”

At GBUMC Worship @the Water, Jack continues his powerful and beautiful series on “How Great Thou Art” discussing the intersection between the love and sovereignty of God.

Check out The LiFE Plan at www.gbumc.org

Our EnVisioned Future:
Report from the 2008 Visioning Process

“So much is changing at GBUMC.” I know you have heard someone say this, or, possibly, you have thought it yourself. Yes, there is a lot of new directions and happenings at GBUMC. But, with all of the new ideas and information you have received, most are a result of conversations you, the congregation, began last year in the 2008 Visioning Process. Much of what we are experiencing now are the ways GBUMC is “hitting the ground” with ideas, programs and initiatives to fulfill what you described as the “Envisioned Future” of our congregation in 2009 and beyond.

The following list includes the five ministry objectives for GBUMC established at last summer’s visioning roundtables and approved by the Administrative Council. However, along with each objective is one idea or initative by which GBUMC envisions “living out” this ministry objective in the coming year. We did not want to simply “dream” without making an effort to move in “real directions” for the congregation.

Of course, we crave your feedback, prayers and support for these efforts. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at lsstanford2003@yahoo.com.

These objectives included:

• One Church with one mission, in multiple locations—Worship @ the Water Winter Season, and the Gulf Breeze Global Media and Resource Development (a virtual church available anywhere around the globe)

• Diversity in worship styles, evolving with the needs of our community, relevant to all ages—New worship opportunities including The Table Saturday Worship Service, Video Venue Café Service, The Vibe Service for Young Adults, Axis Service for Deeper Spiritual Walk. These will compliment the already wonderful worship opportunities offered at all three campuses.

• God’s love offered with hospitality, hope and healing to all—Congregation Elders Program for pastoral care and spiritual guidance and support.

• Clearly defined paths for Christian Education, Fellowship and Missions--- The LiFE Journey Program for Discovering, Developing and Deepening our Walk with Christ and our Connection to the Church, as well as increased focus on ministries to Children and Youth.

• An environment of faithfulness to God and His Church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness—A twelve month program designed for developing our covenant witness as members of GBUMC called Loving Jesus… Loving Like Jesus to be launched this fall.

Again, all of these “new ideas and initiatives” evolved from the vision set by the congregation over the past year. God is doing an amazing thing in the life of our Church and we look forward to all He has in store.

I love you all.

Be Salt and Light… You matter.

Shane
1 Corinthians 15: 58

2009-07-09T13:14:00.000-07:00

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he… sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44

What would you do if you realized someone had buried a treasure in your backyard? My guess is that you would grab shovels and dig furiously until you had discovered the treasure and found your reward. Nothing would stop you from finding something of such worth and importance.

Jesus compares the “Kingdom of Heaven”—that place of the Gospel born in your heart and mine--- like that buried treasure. It is palpable, precious and powerful. And, yet, so many of us don’t lift more than a finger to discover the riches resting in front of us.

GBUMC is filled with wonderful riches in Christ. God has planted one treasure after another in the life of this church and we are incredibly blessed. But, the lesson of Matthew 13 is two-fold. One, God has made finding the treasure part of the process. It is the work, the toil, the task that makes finding what God has given us so beautiful. And, second, once we find it, we should make it ours. It belongs to all of us and we are to celebrate it together.

Pokey, the girls and I feel very blessed to be on this treasure hunt with you. God has great things in store. So… get your shovels, keep digging… you never know what rests just below the surface.

Worship Matters

Although many regular attendees were away for the holiday, still, nearly 2,000 folks joined us this past week for worship at one of our three campuses.

This week at Fairpoint and Soundside, we continue our Blockbuster Sermon Series with “The Lord of the Rings” (Fairpoint) and “Titanic” (Soundside).

I will focus on how we are to “carry each other’s burdens” (Sam and Frodo), and Jim Bell (at Soundside) will help us navigate the “icebergs” ahead.

At Worship @ the Water, Jack continues his series on “How Great Thou Art”. The stunning illustrative portrayal last week of the Prodigal Son unveils further as Jack looks at the sovereignty of God from an incredibly personal angle.

Want to Go Deeper: Check out The LiFE Plan!

Each week at Fairpoint, a LiFE Plan is available for your continued study and reflection. LiFE stands for “Living in Faith Everyday”. The plan includes questions specific to the previous week’s sermon but also a daily challenge that includes daily bible readings, prayer, fellowship and service opportunities.

Go to www.gbumc.org to check out the latest edition or find a copy located in the Sunday Information Bulletin.

The Serving Initiative

The Serving Initiative is a personal ministry endeavor my family and I began several years ago in order to raise awareness for living as “the hands and feet of Jesus” in our world.

My favorite definition of “serve” is translated “to answer the purpose”. For many of us, serving with our gifts and resources “answers the purpose” of the Gospel in our lives.

For instance, did you know that today, 14,000 children will die from causes that we COULD do something about… not from the hard, complicated stuff like various diseases and geopolitical despair…. but from things like malnutrition and bad water. 14,000 --- That is twice the population of Gulf Breeze.

A friend of mine, Rick Warren, said, when asked the most important advice he could give to the Church, “teach them they can’t do everything… so do something--- and, if everyone is doing something—then anything becomes possible”.

The Serving Initiative is a partnership with organizations and groups that work to “Do Something” and make the art of “possibility” part of the daily routine in the Body of Christ. The Serving Initiative encourages members of the Body to serve in one of three levels—1) serving within the Body of Christ for worship, education and fellowship, 2) serving the underresourced of our community and beyond through basic acts of kindness and relief, and 3) serving in opportunities to, as Wesley puts it, “save souls and build up the Body” here and around the world through missional activities and lifeworks.

Over the next weeks and months, you will hear more about how GBUMC is living out its initiative for serving and making a difference in the world.

I encourage each of you to go to the new Facebook page for The Serving Initiative and join the conversation beginning in the next few weeks to see ways God can connect you with others in ministry.

Clearly, the work of God in our lives is always calling us out to serve, to unveil His gracious nature, and to live faithful, productive lives.

Gulf Breeze Global Media and Resources

Soon we will have an exciting ministry called Gulf Breeze Global that will provide resource development not only for our congregation but also for United Methodist churches around the world.

Gulf Breeze Global will provide worship materials, media resources and curriculum for small groups, age-level ministries and special projects that will both enhance our presentation of the Gospel at our campuses and provide needed resources for other local churches.

We are very excited about the ongoing work of Anthony Thaxton who has consulted and led the staff of GBUMC as Chief Creative Officer for Design and Resource Development. Anthony has already provided incredible support and oversight for graphic design, worship media development, and website design and coordination.

Two new projects to be revealed in the very near future are a new GBUMC ministry website, to be launched August 1st, and also the first Gulf Breeze Global video curriculum entitled, “Conversations at the Shack”, hosted by Jack Kale.

Our Envisioned Future: New Worship Opportunities

The Senior Staff recently completed discussion of an article describing the 25 most innovative churches. One of the common denominators for these churches were not only multiple worship sites, but a variety of worship services that provided unique, diverse options for worship within the community.

GBUMC is already very blessed to have a variety of wonderful worship styles from our more Enhanced Traditional at 8:00am and Modern/Traditional at 11:00am at Fairpoint, our contemporary praise at Soundside to our very casual and unique setting at Worship @the Water. Yet the Envisioned Future statement from the Visioning Process in 2008 challenged us to create “diversity in worship styles evolving with the needs to our community and relevant to all ages.”

In the coming months we will develop, new worship ideas that will provide greater diversity and availability for worship at GBUMC including an “Unplugged” Service on an alternative night such as Saturday, a service focused on folks particularly aged 15-25, a mid-week service for more in-depth Bible study of the weekend’s messages, and a worship video venue possibly held in a café setting.

These are all exciting opportunities that enhance the already wonderful worship experiences available at GBUMC. God has great things in store!

I love you all.

Be Salt and Light… You matter.

Shane
1 Corinthians 15: 58

2009-07-02T21:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Gulf Breeze UMC Family,

“If I wait for immaculate, I will never have a guest”
--- Lauren Winner

I love this quote from Professor Lauren Winner. Lauren is a Church History professor at Duke and also a New York Times best selling author of such books as “Girl Meets God” and “Mudhouse Sabbath.”

What strikes me about her writing is how simple and to the point her thoughts are. She speaks for a generation of Christians aged 18-35 who are looking for deep, meaningful connections to Christ but whose vehicles for accomplishing such connection do not necessarily include the normal experiences of church.

Thus, in order to reach this generation, churches must be real, authentic and available for people at all walks of life. It is a beautiful concept and one that has strong Biblical undercurrents--- just read the Beatitudes--- I could suggest a good book on the topic!

Worship Matters

Another great Sunday at GBUMC! Over 2,100 folks worshipped with us at three unique campuses and I am excited about the wonderful ways I see God moving in each place. Please continue to pray for the Teaching Pastors, that each of us will open God’s word faithfully and share it clearly so that hearts and lives will be changed. Nothing more, nothing less.

What's Coming Up…

At GBUMC W@W, Jack begins a series entitled “How Great Thou Art” connecting the great hymn with a daily, practical application of faith.

It’s the first week of our Blockbuster Movie Series at GBUMC Fairpoint and Soundside.

At Soundside, Scott celebrates our patriotic impulses with a clip from Rocky IV. You remember Rocky’s defense of our national pride, Apollo’s death and James Brown being lowered from a roof. Well, you will remember all of it on Sunday!

At Fairpoint, I will use a video clip from the movie, Independence Day, starring Will Smith. We have more to fear than aliens taking away our freedom. The Adversary is working much harder to hold us captive than any extraterrestrial! How do we fight off slavery to sin and failure and become Free as only Christ can make us!

Both sermons focus on “freedom” born from the Gospel and from a new life in Jesus Christ. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Welcome Bo Parker and Family!

GBUMC is very excited to welcome Bo Parker as the new Executive Director for Worship Ministries for our congregation. Bo will oversee the entire worship ministry of the church including worship teams for all campuses, choirs and age-level/special musical ministries.

Bo joins GBUMC after having served as the Worship Director/Consultant for The United Methodist Hour. Prior to that, Bo was the Director of Worship for a 3,000 member congregation in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Bo is best known, however, as a former member of Truth, the renowned contemporary Christian group that changed the face of Christian music over their nearly 30 year run. Bo spent two different periods as one of their lead singers.

Bo has produced and released several CDs of his work and is highly sought after as a worship leader and performer in Christian music circles.

Bo brings significant leadership experience for congregations of blended worship styles and settings. We are very excited about Bo’s leadership and look forward to what God will do in the future.

Bo is married to Leigh Anne and they are the parents of three children--- two sons and a daughter.

Please pray for Bo and his family as they make this transition into the Gulf Breeze UMC family. To learn more about Bo, go to www.boparker.com

Two Written, “Unwritten” Rules…

Someone emailed me last week and asked about my two written, “unwritten” rules. I had mentioned them in one of my earlier sermons.

Well, they are the result of leading a church committee years ago that got into the habit of petty discussions about issues that provided no real growth for the Body of Christ. And, these discussions usually deteriorated (sometimes during the meeting, but mostly in the parking lot afterwards) into unloving conversations about persons and personalities instead of issues.

So, in order to frame our work, I developed two rules for how we would conduct our business. And… one other thing… I convinced the Church Council to agree that if anyone willingly broke the rules and would not apologize once confronted, they were off the committee. We had to have accountability.

The rules were:

1. No pettiness. It would not be tolerated at all. So, people had to stop and think (novel idea) about their words and whether they were said to genuinely build up the Body or to take a cheap shot or jab at someone.

2. Say EVERYTHING in love. Even the tough stuff. If we do that, then we can learn to talk about any issue at any time.

I have since added a third rule.

3. Pray by Name for the person you are in conversation with or about whom you are discussing. If we pray for one another, we can’t be mad at them at the same time.

For years, my congregation knew these rules. Eventually, someone wrote them down. So, that is the story.

The Bible considers how we treat our brothers and sisters as being just as important as what we claim we believe. So much so, that Jesus’ last complete prayer was for unity, not understanding, for his disciples.

I love you all.

Be Salt and Light… You matter.

Shane
1 Corinthians 15: 58

2009-06-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Gulf Breeze UMC Family,

“If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance”
—George Bernard Shaw

I love this quote from George Bernard Shaw. Talk about family skeletons; he had several! But, don’t we all?! I haven’t found the skeletons yet, but I continue to enjoy meeting new friends at GBUMC. Your kindness, compassion and consideration of my family overwhelms us, and we appreciate your genuine and sincere nature in welcoming us into the community.

Please continue to be patient. God is making our skeletons dance, though we may not all have the rhythm as yet!

Worship Matters

Another Wonderful Sunday! Last week, nearly 2,400 people experienced the power and presence of The Holy Spirit at one of our three unique campuses.

GBUMC Fairpoint not only celebrated the wonderful Vacation Bible School that saw over 500 children present on our campus last week, but we also acknowledged the powerful and blessed ministry of Neil and Ashley Epler. Neil and Ashley finished their service at GBUMC this week and now relocate to Enterprise, AL where Neil becomes the Senior Pastor for St. Luke UMC. Of course, we wish Neil and his family the best during this transition and thank him for his generous, gifted service to GBUMC.

Coming Up…Jack is in the fourth week of a powerful series on “The Shack” at GBUMC W@W. Be sure to check out the W@W Facebook page for a wonderful video discussion on The Shack. Also, coming soon, Jack and I share an interview about the deeper meaning of The Shack and how each of us can confront that place most difficult in our lives through God’s grace.

At GBUMC Soundside, Scott teaches on making our way through the wilderness and discovering the real “promised land” by recounting the story of the Israelites’ own journey to the land God had promised to their ancestors.

And, at GBUMC Fairpoint, I teach from 1 Samuel 17 and the familiar story of David and Goliath. What does it mean for us to “Face our Giants”? I believe God’s goal is not just that we survive, but that we prevail and provide a witness for God’s strength and grace in a hurting world.

We are so blessed to have a variety of worship styles through six different, but powerful worship opportunities at GBUMC. Truly, everyone has a place!

Movies and Moving In!

The next sermon series is entitled, “Blockbusters”. Beginning the first Sunday in July, GBUMC Fairpoint and Soundside will use various blockbuster movies to teach God’s enduring truths.

Upcoming sermons include clips from Titanic, Forrest Gump, Independence Day, The Patriot, and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.

And, Bo Parker joins the staff of GBUMC on July 1st as the new Executive Director for Worship Ministries. Many of you have had the chance to meet Bo and his wonderful family. As the day for Bo to begin his ministry with us draws near, please continue to pray for him, his family and for GBUMC. We know that God has great things in store!

The LiFE Plan: Check it Out!
Each week at GBUMC Fairpoint, a LiFE Plan is available for your continued study and reflection. LiFE stands for “Living in Faith Everyday”. The plan includes questions specific to the previous week’s sermon but also a daily challenge that includes daily bible readings, prayer, fellowship and service opportunities.

Go to www.gbumc.org to check out the latest edition or find a copy located in the Sunday Information Bulletin.

New Ministry Structure: The Congregational Care Team
Last week I mentioned the new ministry/staff structure approved by the Church Council. This new ministry design provides wonderful opportunities for focusing our ministry objectives around common tables and growing forward.

Over the next weeks, I will provide descriptions and objectives related to each ministry area. Of course, if you have questions concerning these or other issues, please do not hesitate to email me at sstanford@gbumc.org.

The Congregational Care Team. Ruth Knights will continue to lead our Congregational Care Ministry Area. Congregational Care Ministries provide care, concern, prayer and support for families and individuals at various stages, places and circumstances of life and to engage the congregation in service and community for one another. Gail Eggimann will serve as the Associate Executive Director for Congregational Care.

The focus of the Congregational Care Team is to respond to the care and support needs of the congregation and to engage the congregation in the ongoing spiritual, physical, emotional and relational expression of living faithfully within the Body of Christ. Ministry departments include:

Christian Counseling Center
Stephen Ministry
Inactive Members Follow-up
Prayer Ministry
Support Groups
Visitation/Hospitals
Congregational Care Support
Senior Adult Ministry

Next week, I will introduce you to the specifics of the Compassion Ministries Area.

What am I reading?

Several of you have asked what I am currently reading--- besides a lot of church reports!. Well, frankly, my usual love of reading has taken a backseat to moving, transition and two book manuscripts.

However, I recently had the chance to finish a great, “quick read” that, although it has an unusual title, impressed me with its genuine nature and real world wisdom for the church.

“Killing Cockroaches” by Tony Morgan was a delightful surprise written by a pastor leading his church through transition, change and various new ministry opportunities. His honest and forthright writing style impressed me as he shared his dreams and fears from finding God’s grace even in our starts and stumbles. The book is real, funny, poignant and powerful, and I highly recommend it—though I had to tear the cover off in order for my mother to read it! Don’t tell her!

Speaking of Books…
As my church family, I need your support and prayers with two writing projects currently on the horizon.

First, I am finishing edits on A Positive Life, which is mine and Pokey’s memoir. Zondervan will release it next February (2010). Please pray that it will be honest, genuine and helpful. It is hard to tell all of your story. But, if God can use it, so be it!

Second, I am currently finishing a manuscript entitled, You Can’t Do Everything… So Do Something. I don’t usually say this, but I love this book. It is about serving God and how God can use each of us in our own special ways to be the “hands and feet of Jesus in our world”. Please pray that God unveils the joyful, powerful nature of serving and allows me to use the right words for the right folks. I want the book to make a difference. Abingdon Press releases the book next May.

Friends, I write late at night or early in the morning, so praying for a good dose of stamina and adrenaline would be nice. Also, pray for wisdom and the flow of words that always makes the process easier.

Ministry Podcasts

Making Life Matter: “Jesus’ Red Letter Words: Follow”

Salt and Light (hosted with Herb Sadler): “Lessons I Learned Yesterday About Tomorrow, Part II”

www.gbumc.org

2009 Leadership Summit

GBUMC Soundside is honored to, once again, serve as satellite host for the 2009 Leadership Summit presented by Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois. This year’s summit will be held August 6-7th, 2009. Willow Creek is one of the largest, most innovative churches in the country.

Speakers include Bill Hybels, David Gergen, Jessica Jackley, Bono, Tony Blair (former UK Prime Minister), Patrick Lencioni, Tim Keller and Wess Stafford.

For more information or to register, see http://www.gbumc.org/news/leadership_summit.htm

We are very blessed to be part of this important time for look forward and learning to “Lead Where You Are”… More to come!

Most important… God is doing a wonderful work in the life of our congregation. We are many folks in many places with many approaches to ministry… but we proclaim one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Praise God.

I love you all.

Be Salt and Light… You matter.

Shane
1 Corinthians 15: 58

2009-06-17T20:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Gulf Breeze UMC Family,

What a tremendous week here at GBUMC! Each day we have had over 500 children involved with our Vacation Bible School program at the GBUMC Fairpoint campus.

You can literally feel the excitement and joy from the children, workers and leaders. Not only are folks having a wonderful, fun time, but they are learning valuable lessons about the love of God and the importance of loving one another.

We are very blessed to have such a committed group of leaders shepherding our children through the VBS swamps in this year’s Crocodile Dock.

And… if you have had to miss the fun at GBUMC Fairpoint, we will experience it all again at GBUMC Soundside, July 13-17. So, don’t miss the fun!

Worship Matters

What a wonderful Sunday we had! Last week, nearly 2,300 people experienced the power and presence of The Holy Spirit at one of our three unique campuses.

Again, there was a record attendance at GBUMC W@W. Jack is in the third week of a powerful series on “The Shack”. This week he asks “What is God’s ‘Note’ to get your attention for His life?”.

And, at GBUMC Fairpoint, Neil and the VBS team will celebrate VBS Sunday and will also share in God’s word that causes us to “dance” for Him. This Sunday will also be Neil’s final Sunday with us at GBUMC before he becomes Senior Pastor at St. Luke UMC in Enterprise. We certainly hold Neil and Ashley in our prayers and wish them all the best in their new adventure.

I have the privilege of preaching at GBUMC Soundside this Sunday. I will discuss the importance of “Running to the Fire” for Christ by looking at Daniel 3 and the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

We are so blessed to have a variety of worship opportunities at GBUMC. Truly, everyone has a place!

New Ministry Structure: The Connections Ministry Team
Last week I mentioned the new ministry/staff structure approved by the Church Council. This new ministry design provides wonderful opportunities for focusing our ministry objectives around common tables and growing forward.

Over the next weeks, I will provide descriptions and objectives related to each ministry area. Of course, if you have questions concerning these or other issues, please do not hesitate to email me at sstanford@gbumc.org.
First, Herb Sadler, will lead our Connections Team. The Connections Team is charged with developing ministries that provide meaningful opportunities for people to connect within the life of the Church and within the purpose of God’s intentions for their place in service to the world.

The Focus of the Connections Ministry Team is to teach/lead the GBUMC family how to share their faith through word and action, provide opportunities for guests to connect to the life of GBUMC, and to inform people in the importance of Spiritual Gifts and then how to discover and employ their spiritual gifts for service within the Church. The Connections Ministry Team includes:

Evangelism Ministry
Guest Services/Newcomers Ministry
Hospitality Ministry
Serving/Volunteer Ministries
Usher/Greeters

Convergence LiFE is a special sub-ministry of Connections and includes all ministries for education and development of Adult Learning Studies and Resources including the:

Resource Center
Adult Small Groups/Adult Sunday School
GB Christian Life Academy
Financial Planning Ministry
Marriage Enrichment
Spiritual Gifts Development
The L.i.F.E. Plan (Pathway to Faith and Belonging)

Again, over the next weeks, I will introduce you to specifics in the life of each ministry area and, hopefully, unveil the incredible potential of the already stellar ministry of GBUMC.

But, as I mentioned last week, what WILL NOT CHANGE is the continued focus on Hospitality, Hope and Healing. I feel very blessed to be a part of this team and look forward to what God will do.

Ministry Podcasts
Don’t miss the latest podcast programs at www.gbumc.org.

Making Life Matter: “Jesus’ Red Letter Words: Turn”

Salt and Light (hosted by Shane Stanford and Herb Sadler): “Lessons I Learned Yesterday About Tomorrow, Part I”
And, of course, you will be able to listen, either through our webcast ministry or podcasts, to the worship services from both the Fairpoint and Soundside campuses. We are currently developing a way to share W@W in the upcoming weeks.

2009 Leadership Summit
GBUMC Soundside is honored to, once again, serve as a satellite host for the 2009 Leadership Summit by Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois. This year’s summit will be held August 6-7th, 2009. Willow Creek is one of the largest, most innovative churches in the country.

This year’s Leadership Summit line up is a list of the powerful voices for change and leadership both within the church and throughout the world.

Speakers include Bill Hybels, David Gergen, Jessica Jackley, Bono, Tony Blair (former UK Prime Minister), Patrick Lencioni, Tim Keller and Wess Stafford.

For more information or to register, see http://www.gbumc.org/news/leadership_summit.htm

We are very blessed to be part of this important time for look forward and learning to “Lead Where You Are”… More to come!

Well, that should be enough for this week.

Again, thank you for your kind welcome. We have much going on and much to do, but God is way ahead of us. We are blessed.

I love you all.

Be Salt and Light… You matter.

Shane
1 Corinthians 15: 58

2009-06-09T20:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I have survived the first week! It was touch and go for a few days, but I believe we have made it! Seriously, I want to say “thank you” for everyone’s warm and generous welcome to my family and me. We are still in the transition phase but, hopefully, over the next couple of weeks, things will finally settle down. We are looking forward to a “normal” routine--- whatever normal really is.

Please continue to pray for Pokey, Sarai Grace, Juli Anna, Emma Leigh and me as we move into our new house, navigate through our new community and continue to meet and make new friends. We feel very blessed to be a part of the GBUMC family.

Worship Matters
What a wonderful Sunday we had! Last week, over 2,300 people experienced the power and presence of The Holy Spirit at one of our three unique campuses.

There was a record attendance at GBUMC W@W. Jack is leading a powerful series on “The Shack” and has created serious conversation about God’s love and grace in the midst of difficult times.

Scott and our GBUMC Soundside family will continue where Bill Hybels left off last week, discussing the need for folks to move out their comfort zones and find the place where our hearts are “wrecked for God”.

And, at GBUMC Fairpoint, I will share the principles for “Living as an Acts 2 Church”, looking at the example of the first Christian community as described in Acts 2: 42-47.

We are so blessed to have a variety of worship opportunities at GBUMC. Truly, everyone has a place!

New Ministry Structure
Last week I mentioned the new ministry/staff structure approved by the Church Council. This new ministry design provides wonderful opportunities for focusing our ministry objectives around common tables and growing forward.

Over the next weeks, I will share more specific information about each of these ministry areas and introduce you to some of the objectives and goals for each team. However, first, I wanted to introduce you to those individuals who will provide oversight for each ministry team--- though, for most of them, no introductions are needed.

Herb Sadler, who also serves as Pastor of GBUMC, will lead our Connections Team. The Connections Team is charged with developing ministries that provide meaningful opportunities for people to connect within the life of the Church and within the purpose of God’s intentions for their place in service to the world.

Jack Kale will lead our Compassion Ministries Team, as well as continue as Campus/Lead Pastor of GBUMC W@W. The Compassion Ministries Team provides for ministries that respond to the needs of the under resourced in our local and global community and that provide outlets for the congregation to serve as the ‘hands and feet of Jesus’ in our midst.

Jennifer Keenan will lead our Family Ministries Team. Jennifer has served ably as the Director of Children’s Ministries of the Fairpoint campus since 2005 and for both campuses since January of this year. The Family Ministries Team provides foundational connections for living as the Body of Christ in Biblical community and intersects the power of faith and Biblical teaching with the practical nature and potential of our everyday lives.

Ruth Knights will lead our Congregational Care Team. Ruth has led this ministry for several years and will continue her wonderful work in caring for the needs of our church family. The Congregational Care Team provides care, concern, prayer and support for families and individuals at various stages, places and circumstances of life and to engage the congregation in service and community for one another.

Paula Reid will lead our Church Operations Team. Church Operations is a large, important and daunting task area for the church. It provides logistical, fiscal and operational support for the life of the church. Literally, we cannot function without this wonderful ministry team.

Finally, Bo Parker will lead our Worship Ministries Team. Bo is new to GBUMC but not new to worship ministry. He has been sharing his unique gifts of worship leadership for over twenty years and we are very blessed to have Bo and his family as a part of the GBUMC family. The Worship Ministries Team will provide opportunities that point the congregation back to God for praise and worship. This will be the first time, since GBUMC’s move to multi-campus ministry that our worship teams will be working in one department. We are very excited about what God will do as this great team joins together.

Scott Veroneau will serve as Campus/Lead Pastor of GBUMC Sounside and will continue to provide oversight for the Recreation Ministry of GBUMC. The growth and development of GBUMC Soundside is such a testament to the hand and work of God in this congregation.

Again, over the next weeks, I will introduce you to specifics in the life of each ministry area and, hopefully, unveil the incredible potential for taking the already unbelievable, stellar ministry of GBUMC to new heights. And, you will see more and more ways that we are organizing our congregational life around these ministry teams, including bulletin, newsletter and web information.

But, as I mentioned last week, what WILL NOT CHANGE is the continued focus on Hospitality, Hope and Healing. I feel very blessed to be a part of this team and look forward to what God will do.

Ministry Podcasts

GBUMC is excited to have partnered with The United Methodist Hour to provide new ministry podcast opportunities including “Making Life Matter” and “Salt and Light”. MLM is a three to four minute “life lesson”. Currently, we are talking about Jesus’ “Red Letter Words”. Salt and Light is a podcast program that takes everyday life issues and intersects them with Biblical principles. Next week, Herb and I discuss what “We Learned Yesterday About Tomorrow”, lessons from the tables of our lives.

And, of course, you will be able to listen, either through our webcast ministry or podcasts, to the worship services from both the Fairpoint and Soundside campuses. We are currently developing a way to share W@W in the upcoming weeks.

Go to www.gbumc.org to link to the podcast page.

Stars in My EyesAnd, I want to say “thank you” to the Silvertones for a wonderful presentation this past Monday at our Sharing and Caring event. The music was wonderful. The food was delicious. But, more than anything, the spirit that filled the place touched my heart. Thank you for making my family feel so welcome and for sharing your wonderful gifts of song and hospitality with us.

Watch for Crocodiles
Finally, you may want to take a second look before putting your toes in the water around here. I hear there are “crocs” in the area!

The 2009 Vacation Bible School program is “Crocodile Dock” and it promises to be a great experience. If you haven’t already done so, please plan to support the work of this important time in our church’s life. I have seen the sets and decorations and can only say “Wow!” You will not be disappointed.

Well, that should be enough for this week.

Again, thank you for your kind welcome. We have much going on and much to do, but God is way ahead of us. We are blessed.

I love you all.

Be Salt and Light… You matter.

Shane
1 Corinthians 15: 58

2009-05-17T06:37:00.000-07:00

Running to the Fire... Becoming All that God Needs You To Be.

A year ago, my life was very different. I was still "recovering" from heart surgery, hosting the United Methodist Hour and preparing for a new role with the Mississippi Annual Conference.

Twelve months later, our family prepares for another transition... this time leading us from our home in Mississippi and back into the life of the local church.

In just two weeks, I will assume the role of Senior Pastor for Gulf Breeze UMC, outside of Pensacola, Florida. GBUMC is a wonderful congregation of nearly 5,000, whose history of innovative ministry in well known in the United Methodist Church. Over the past weeks, I have had the chance to meet knew friends and colleagues with whom I am very excited about what God is doing in these next phases of our lives.

But, with any transition, comes the process of saying goodbye and of leaving those people and places that have meant so much to me. During the last year, I have written a memoir, entitled "A Positive Life", that will be published later this year by Zondervan. So, in very real ways, I have delved deep into the past narrative of my life, including recounting those relationships and situations that have defined me. What I discovered is that there are countless people who have impacted my life and given me the courage and strength to face the journey. To these folks, I say "thank you"... thank you for your love, support, prayers... and for your unwavering confidence that God was doing something special, even when I couldn't see it.

And, yet, transition also means that we must look forward... that we lift our eyes to "what happens next" and trust that God has something beautiful over the horizon.

Some places we are called are wonderful, exciting and joyful (like we were are headed), but other places are difficult, challenging and filled with obstacles (we have been there, too.) Regardless, we go... we follow...

For years now, I have preached a sermon entitled, "Running to the Fire". It is from the story of Daniel 3 and the characters of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. As you know, these three faithful Jews were asked to choose between the comfort of their lives and the risk of the furnace in whether they would trust God or bow down and worship the golden idols. They chose the fire.

Choosing the fire does not make sense to the world. It is unknown, menacing and, oftentimes, illogical to a world that stresses personal comfort and self-fulfillment.

But, faith in God is not about our comfort... but about our witness, and whether or not, we truly believe that faith in that God means something. And, in running to the fire--- choosing faith over my own comfort--- provides the most amazing scenes of God's love, grace and power I can describe. I have learned little from the tranquil, peaceful places... but my life has been changed at the foot of the furnace.

Running to the Fire doesn't make sense to the world because it is not about you and me. The world wants to make it about us, and anything that downplays our own goals, desires or wishes seems ridiculous in a world consumed with narcissistic expressions.

But, in running to the fire, we see another side of life. We see what self-sacrifice can mean for us... for our witness... and for the world.

Not long after the events of 9/11, I saw a picture of two firemen from the stairwell of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. In the picture, a long line of people had formed to the right making their way down the stairs to safety. On the left of the stairway were these two firemen, loaded with their gear, trudging step by step in the opposite direction... up the stairs TO the fire. At the moment the picture was taken, the two men were looking directly into the camera and you could see in their eyes that they did not believe they were coming back. But... still... they went forward, marching to the fire when the rest of the world headed in the opposite direction.

I placed this picture in my office and stared at it for several days until, finally, I went to the local fire station to ask what would cause the two firemen to give their lives away so fearlessly, so knowable in this situation.

The men and women of the fire station answered "it is what they had trained to do... it is who they were." One added, "Going to the fire was in their DNA..."

And, as Christians, it is in ours, too. And, it makes all the difference.

Over the next posts, I want to share three obstacles I believe keep us from running to the fire... from becoming all that God needs us to be in this world. And, I believe that when we cast away these burdens and re-tool our direction, we find not only a new purpose, but the discovery that God has made the journey with us.

Look forward to the next weeks...

Be Salt and Light... You Matter.
Shane

2009-02-06T21:17:00.000-08:00

On Monday of this week, the bishops of the Mississippi Annual Conference and the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church appointed me as the new Senior Pastor of Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church.

Gulf Breeze is a wonderful community just over the bay from Pensacola, Florida. Gulf Breeze UMC is a great congregation of nearly 5,000 members with an average worship attendance of 2,500. The church has a long history of innovative, exciting ministry that has not only impacted their immediate area, but the United Methodist Church in general. In fact, GBUMC is one of the 20 largest UMC churches in the United States.

Pokey, the girls and I are very excited about this new adventure and look forward to what God will do in the coming weeks, months and years.

Of course, we will miss our friends and colleagues in the Mississippi Annual Conference and are so grateful for their support and encouragement through the years.

More information will be forthcoming about the next steps in ministry for The Hour, but, regardless, I can guarantee that God has great plans for all of us.

The new appointment date has not been officially set but the traditional transition date is July 1st.

Please keep our family in your prayers as we make these changes. And also pray for the wonderful folks at The Hour and at Gulf Breeze UMC as God opens new doors and areas to serve Him.

We love you.

Be Salt and Light... You matter!
Shane

2009-01-07T19:41:00.000-08:00

"'At Last' Begins Today: A Tribute to the Hope of Martin Luther King's Dream"
by Shane Stanford

In a world where so much work seems undone… and unfinished.

Where so many people seem underresourced... and unloved.

Where so many hopes seem unrealized... and uncertain.

There remains a dream...

That what is broken will one day be whole... and what is hurt will one day be healed.

There remains a dream...

That all people will one day have enough... and that all hearts will one day have love.

There remains a dream...

That the hopeless will one day find rest... and that the helpless will one day find peace.

And though that dream, at times, may seem undone…

“Still we hew it out of the mountain of despair”... “transforming our discord… into a symphony” of faith--

"Working together”
"Praying together”
"Struggling together”
"Standing together”
Knowing, hoping, believing, insisting together... that one day "WE WILL be free”

"At last" begins today... Together!

2009-01-03T18:58:00.000-08:00

"The Greatest Gift" by Shane Stanford

I am the unlikeliest of televangelists. I never aspired to being on television (I wanted to be a writer) and apparently missed the "TV Ministry" booth on Senior Career Day that explained the various tasks involved.

To make matters more interesting, I don't look like the average televangelist, who is tall, distinguished and larger than life or so profoundly "different" that they almost appear cartoonish. No, I am the "plain" televangelist with a receding hairline, wrinkles under my eyes, and a propensity to butcher the consonants of important words at just the wrong moment. But, don't feel sorry for me, I knew the gig and all its issues when I took it.

However, one of the aspects of running a television ministry for which I was most unprepared was the amount of time we spend raising money and developing donors. It is certainly my least favorite part of the job, although the Lord has and continues to provide wonderful supporters. And, media ministry is much more cost effective in terms of the amount of money spent per person reached for the Gospel. Still, it is very expensive. Thus, the task of raising money never ends, and we spend a significant amount of time dealing with financial issues.

Therefore, it is easy to become unwittingly concerned with developing large gifts. This is not to say that we don't spend a significant amount of time or effort thanking and connecting to every donor, but media ministry in general, no matter how frugal or how well managed, requires a significant volume of consistently large amounts of resources available. And, truthfully, large donations make fundraising easier and less time intensive, thus, providing more time for other aspects of the ministry including production, serving, worship, etc. As the officers on Dragnet say, "these are just the facts".

Needless to say, I am not crazy about fundraising whether large, medium or small donations, and would prefer to spend time teaching and creating new ways to proclaim the Good News.

And, yet, sometimes, the Lord uses even these things we enjoy the least to teach the best lessons.

During the last weeks of any calendar year, The Hour experiences its greatest level of contributions-much like other churches and non-profits do. Donations of all sizes arrive from various sources, and it is an incredibly important time, especially since the first three months of the year are the opposite, oftentimes the worst of months, financially.

We are grateful for, but also incredibly reliant on these gifts for a successful ministry year.

However, this past December, we received a gift that may be the most significant donation we have ever received, not because of its size but for what it taught each of us.

The gift was from Ms. Vera, a 92 year old resident of a small town in central Mississippi. She has been widowed for nearly 25 years, but still lives alone in her meager house near town. She has no children, but a nephew visits and takes care of the various tasks and business she has. His work schedule prevents a lot of "chit-chat", and thus, Ms. Vera spends a great deal of time alone.

Ms. Vera loves television, especially on Sunday Mornings. She is unable to attend church, and, although her favorite show is Wheel of Fortune (a point she makes emphatically), she never misses watching The United Methodist Hour.

Ms. Vera says The Hour is her "church family", although she is quick to remind us that she is and will always be a Baptist. But, she likes our message each week, the Bible Study by the "older fellow", and, especially, the "young cute man" who "sings so well". Ms. Vera "goes to Church" with us and says that each Sunday program is a blessing.

This year, Ms. Vera decided to give us a gift. Instead of tithing to her Baptist church, she sent her tithe to us at The Hour. Now, she has no retirement and lives on a modest, monthly Social Security check that doesn't cover the basic expenses. Her nephew "supplements" her income and pays the balance of her bills, has her groceries delivered and then gives her a spending allowance for each week. But, Ms. Vera is a tither and no matter what "she doesn't have", she writes her tithe check faithfully each week. And, so, the final week of December 2008, Ms. Vera tithed to the United Methodist Hour. We received her check, written in labored handwriting for the amount of $6. Yes-six dollars.

The check was accompanied by a note that said this was a special gift; that we should not get used to it because she planned to start tithing back to her local church the next week; and, thus, we should use it to do something "special" for the ministry. She finished the note by thanking us for meaning so much to so many.

Deep down, I knew this $6 represented more than just a gift, but it was a sacrifice for Ms. Vera. For her, every penny mattered in her humble life, and, here, she had decided to give us 600 of them.

I folded Ms. Vera's note and put it into my wallet, so the next time I was complaining about bills or worrying about donors, I would be reminded of Ms. Vera and of what God's provisions really look like.

Ms. Vera's gift reminds me of Jesus' words to His disciples when they encountered the widow at the Temple. The widow's gift inspired Jesus and reminds each of us that it is not the amount that matters, but the heart. "She has given more than any of the rest of these" Jesus said.

Sure, as they did when Jesus spoke them, His words remain strange to a world consumed with materials things and goods. God's propensity to "under-whelm" His critics is legendary. But, for those who "really get it" in the economy of God, a six dollar donation is no less profound than stables, mangers and crosses made of wood. No one would call their impact "under-whelming"...

Therefore, as we say goodbye to 2008 and welcome 2009, I would like to say "thank you" to our friends of The Hour like Ms. Vera who make what we do possible. Your gifts make a difference, no matter how large or small. Your heart is what brings value to our efforts, and we are humbled by them each and every time.

Thus, in this television ministry, you won't find fancy cars, big houses, or fine jewelry. You wont' be particularly impressed by our facilities or furnishings. And, you most certainly wont' be in awe of my wardrobe or even my polished delivery.

But, I can promise you this. NO gift will ever be unappreciated or missed or taken for granted. NO week will go by when we don't think about those like Ms. Vera who watch our program to find company, direction or hope. And, NO person, program, place or potential will ever mean more to us than the God whose message of Good News we proclaim.

These gifts are sacred trust. To live out our mission any other way--- well, Ms. Vera wouldn't stand for it.

Happy New Year!

Be Salt and Light--- no, really, YOU MATTER!

Shane

"Shane Stanford's life is an example for all to follow--- He has a unique way of writing that touches the very soul of the reader. I have gained strength from his words. God had a hand in our paths crossing. I am a better person for meeting Shane--- I feel blessed by our encounter--- I am so grateful that Shane has allowed me to be a part of his journey."

Deanna Favre
Author of the NY Times Bestseller, Don't Bet Against Me

2008-11-28T07:23:00.000-08:00

Q&A

Since my last post, entitled “Two Friends—After the Election”, I have received, literally, hundreds of emails asking various questions about a host of topics. A few of them stood out---

Have you ever taken a spiritual gift assessment? If so, what are your spiritual gifts? I liked this question, because, yes, I have taken a spiritual gift assessment, and, no, no one has ever asked the results. So, “thank you”. My top three spiritual gifts (as noted by NETWORK) are Faith, Teaching and Leadership. I am “least gifted” in Mercy, Speaking in Tongues, and Craftsmanship. I am working to improve on two of the three.

What are you hobbies and interests? I have always secretly envied people who get this question, so I want to thank Beth from Wisconsin, who finally asked it. I am an avid golfer (10 handicap) and love pretty much every sport (even the ones he doesn’t understand—like Curling). I also love books, reading, movies, Meet the Press, and politics. And, I just mastered my DVR! But, more than anything, I love my girls (all of them--- included the tallest one who has been the love of my life for the past 20 years!).

What books have you read lately, and who are your favorite authors? I have read a lot of books lately and, when I finished the list, was surprised by some of them (You’ll see what I mean). But, here is what I have read in the last three months. :

Finding Our Way Again by Brian McLaren, His Excellency: A Life of George Washington by Joseph Ellis, The War Within by Bob Woodward, Deadly Viper Character Assassins by Marc Foster and Jud Wilhite, Paula Deen by Paula Deen (no, I am not kidding!), The Shack by Paul Young, The Language of Sex by Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham. 1776 and Truman by David McCullough (re-reads),

Now-- my favorite authors.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer--- he just amazes and humbles me.
Brennan Manning--- same as above, and, he changed the way I viewed the mission of the Church.
David McCullough--- anything he writes is “fine as wine”-- though I don’t condone drinking (the official pastor answer).
Lisa Samson--- she is the best thing since Cheeze Whiz, and I do condone the use of that.

“I read your evotion about the Election--who is YOUR favorite President-- AND, who do you consider to be the best President-- AND are you a Republican or a Democrat?” This was part of a long email exchange that involved several questions. David from Memphis, the author of the questions, knew I had a degree in Political Science and was a PoliSci nut. So, we had a great exchange. Okay--- answers to a few of the questions. I am an Independent who is either characterized as a Lincoln Republican or a Truman Democrat. Truman is my favorite President (and I believe one of the best). I believe Lincoln was the most significant. Both of these are open for debate.

And, finally, this next question really intrigued me.

What do you believe is the most important issue facing the Church today? Trying to be too relevant… I am one of the early sinners in the movement to make the Church “relevant”. The books Ragamuffin Gospel and Jesus in the Margins really changed the way I looked at the life and purpose of the Church. The Gospels are a story of unique, uncommon, exceptional intercession by the Creator of the Universe into the unbelievably common, unexceptional, imperfect Creation. This is big news! It doesn’t go without notice, and, it does not necessarily fit into the culture all the time. We are supposed to be different, to express a new point of reference that, ultimately, reconnects our roots to the One who “brung us” instead of making that One look more like us. Okay, so I like choruses, media and technology, but, to me, Holy Communion is still the best illustration ever used and still the best way for us, as insignificant as we are, to become significant for the world. It really all comes down to this for me-- Love Jesus, Love Like Jesus. The rest is textbook fodder and window dressing. I don’t necessarily want to be relevant; I just want to be His.

So, thanks for letting me share some of the questions I received over the past couple of weeks. I enjoy the dialog and the opportunity to think about things I don’t normally put into words.

Enjoy the Holidays.

And, remember-- Be Salt and Light--- You Matter!

Shane

2008-11-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

After the Election-- Two Friends…
By Shane Stanford

In the last 10 hours, two friends called me. One was ecstatic. The other very worried. One friend supported Barrack Obama. The other supported John McCain.

My Obama friend talked of a new hope and brighter days. My McCain friend spoke of difficult times ahead and fears about tomorrow.

My Obama friend said that Obama would change everything. My McCain friend said the same thing, but for different reasons.

My Obama friend gushed at Obama’s victory as though the stars seemed more in line. My McCain friend recoiled at Obama’s victory as though the heavens had fallen.

My Obama friend considers Obama a magnetic personality, poised to the change the world. My McCain friend sees Obama as a polarizing personality… poised to change the world.

I simply listened to both of them and thought about the morning…

For you see, this morning… the world still suffers from the broken edges of our humanity. 8,000 people will die today from AIDS. 14,000 children will die from conditions that we could have prevented. Young men and women on various sides will die as a result of various conflicts around the world.

This morning… the complexities of our world still transcend the efforts of one man, one party or, even, one nation. People will do unspeakable things because they say they love their country or their God.

This morning… families from all backgrounds will struggle, marriages will fail, and parents will worry about their children. The most local of our circumstances and problems will still seem overwhelming and hopeless for so many, no matter what the political landscape looks like.

This morning… the poor are still poor; our prisons are still full; our schools are still in need. People still judge too many of our brothers and sisters because of the color of their skin. People still awaken to lonely homes and even lonelier lives. And, people still believe that one more dollar, or one more purchase, or one more title, will make the ache go away.

This morning… our brothers and sisters in the faith still fight over the least of what we can agree upon. And, people continue to believe that our answers exists somewhere among our own abilities, gifts and graces—a lie told, and believed, from the Garden until now.

And, so, this morning… we need not create another Satan. That job remains taken.

But, on this morning… we need not create another Messiah either. That position is also filled.

And because of that, this morning… the solutions to our problems remain vested in our ability to look past our differences and trust the best of what we can agree upon.

This morning… the Table remains, as it has for 2,000 years and through countless elections, as the real center of hope for both how God sees us and for how God intends for us to see each other. While the world casts its hope in the extraordinary—buildings made of marble and granite; God delights and offers real hope in the ordinary--- bread, juice, and places made of straw and hills made of jagged rock.

This morning… the message of the Good News remains for those who have and have not, for those who vote left or right or not at all, and for those who consider faith a burden or a crutch.

This morning…. the family of God remains bigger than boundaries and nationalities and ideologies. And, we still pray that men and women of all ages, nations and races, will make good decisions for the good of the world for the right reasons. Because, our hope remains in something more sacred than even an election, a president, a congress or the concept of democracy.

This morning… our God still reigns, still loves unconditionally, still offers forgiveness, still calls us to do good and seek justice, still encourages us to live faithfully, still insists that we make peace, still favors the poor whether of material or spirit, still comforts those who mourn, still draws close to those who hunger and thirst for Him, still believes in the communion of the saints, and still prepares a place for when the journey is over.

Yes, this morning… much is different, but little has changed.

And, so, for my two friends… and for all of us… the real question on this morning… or any morning… is what shall we do with THIS DAY… that the LORD HAS MADE---I say let us rejoice and be glad in it---

Be salt and light… you matter.
Shane

2008-10-18T08:35:00.001-07:00

Making a New Start in Life...

Several folks have written lately asking about how they can "begin again" and "have a new start in life." So, I wanted to take a moment to share with you the plan that saved my life and changed my future. It begins simple enough...

God, through Jesus Christ, has offered forgiveness for our mistakes and a new start for our lives...

How do you change your life?

1. Recognize that no matter how smart, good, strong, bad, sinful, religious, non-religious, agreeable, angry or doubtful you have been, you just can't do this journey on your own. The road is too long and too complicated. And, you can't make the ache go away by yourself.

2. Ask Christ to change your life by living in your heart, by transforming your mind and changing the way you view Him and others. Ask him to take the baggage of your mistakes and brokenness and give you freedom and peace.

3. Commit yourself to trust in Him first by studying His Word, Praying daily, and by living like Him in the world. This not only affects how you connect to God, but it will change how you connect to your brothers and sisters in Christ and to the world.

4. Do Life with Others by joining a community of faith and by committing yourself to a life of serving others through Him. Remember, it is not about YOU anymore. We are not enough, but He is.

5. Share your gifts for God's work in the world. No, we're not talking about your money, here. We're talking about YOU-- all of YOU. It is not enough to simply Love Jesus... We must Love Like Jesus.

Now, all of this begins with a simple prayer. There is no right or wrong way to pray it. I could give you suggestions, but you don't need to pray using any words but your own. God wants to hear from YOU. Just start talking to Him. He has heard it all before!

I love you. But, more importantly, God loves you. You matter to Him.

2008-10-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

What I Learned Yesterday About Tomorrow, Part III

Lesson Six: “I am HOW I pray”

Most of my prayers take one of two forms. I am either asking God to help with some problem, or I am thanking God for helping with... some problem. And, to make matters worse, I am usually bargaining with God in the latter as to how I will thank Him more if he blesses me more... with less problems.

But, that is not prayer… not even close.

I love the first words of Mercy Me’s song, Word of God Speak. “I’m finding myself at a loss for words, and the funny thing is, its okay. The last thing I need is to be heard, but to hear what you would say…”

The most intimate places of prayer have little to do with my words or with my voice being heard. Deeper still, prayer becomes my relationship with God because it symbolizes the places where I am and where I am not... the most in need, the most broken and, yes, the most complete.

My prayer life, as I would presume with you as well, defines how I trust God and how I see the opportunities for where God can move and work in my life.

If my prayer life exhibits listening, praise, peace, comfort, wisdom… then that becomes the reflection for how my heart is connected to God.

If I am stuck in a pattern of only asking for help and only consumed with my own problems and issues… well… you get the picture.

My grandfather prayed beautiful, sweet spirited, humble prayers. He didn’t just talk to God. He walked into God’s presence and found a place.

I always could tell when my grandfather had been praying. There was a look on his face that spoke to having been in the presence of power, majesty and love. It was more than a task on his calendar, prayer transformed him.... defined him.

My grandfather was how he prayed.

Lesson Seven: “I am not enough”

We live in a world that suffers from the “lie of self sufficiency”. It is a lie that we have believed from the beginning… not just our respective beginnings, but from THE beginning. From as far back as the Garden of Eden, we have chosen to believe that we can be enough. Of course, it is entirely in the Adversary’s interest that we learn to waste inordinate amounts of time trying to be our own little gods.

We don’t even have to be particularly good at it. We simply need, from time to time, to become distracted enough that the lotus of our being is distorted and our scope is reduced.

Maybe my grandfather understood this so clearly because of what had shaped him. As a child of the Depression, he understood being without and not having enough. He also understood that eventually, no matter how smart or strong or fast you are, something comes along that “reduces” you. That was his term for being put in your place or in becoming all too aware of our frailties.

Or maybe it was “war” that shaped him and showed his generation what happens when self interests or national interests overshoot goodness, community or self control.
Regardless, my grandfather passed along this wisdom directly and often. He would always say, “Boy, you're smart, but you will never be smart enough” when it came to my need to keep learning. Or, he would, concerning my golf game, say “Son, you're good, but you will never be good enough. You will always have to practice.” He was right about that, too.

Of all the lessons we can share with our words and actions, this one may be the most important for our children to learn. Sure, we assure them that they are loved, valued and respected, but there is always room to grow deeper and better.

Learning early that we are not enough to meet the various challenges and seize the opportunities of life causes us to reach for others, and, hopefully, for God.

Sure there is a lot of pushback for this one. Our culture prefers the opposite, teaching that our answers are found “within” us. And, that is partly true (God has placed the answers simply and humbly deep within our hearts and relationships with Him) But, WE are not the answer.

Ultimately, no matter our gifts or strengths, we turn down a dead end, face an impossible question, or reach an obstacle too high.

We are not enough.

Love to you all.

Be Salt and Light... You Matter.
Shane

2008-10-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

"What I Learned Yesterday About Tomorrow, Part II"
Lessons 3, 4, and 5

Lesson Three: “They will walk like me”

A friend of mine uses the phrase “withness” instead of “witness” to share the intimate nature of what following God really entails. Loving Jesus is more than knowing the right doctrine or following the prescribed list of disciplines. No, loving Jesus means “being with” Christ in both how we approach our relationships with God and with each other.

As we live faithfully in relationship with Christ, that relationship imprints on our words and actions how we live in the world. We “reflect” that which we believe and that for which we have passion.

This is a familiar theme for the Apostle John who, in one of his letters, describes the nature of Godly love as the connection between what we say and what we “really” believe. How will others know what we believe and to “whom we belong”? They will know by our actions and by how we treat one another.

But, how we live what we believe not only impacts our journey, but also impacts those who are watching us. “Withness” is a powerful concept for faith because it defines, from one generation to another, what those next believers cling to and how deeply their faith roots.

Lesson Four: “It ain’t over until He says its over”.

Too often, we live in a “give up” world. We “give up” if the situation gets too hard, or if the circumstances do not intrigue us, or if the outcome does not serve our purposes. A friend of mine says “giving up” is the most self-centered of reactions that exists in a self-centered world.

For many of us, "giving up" is about control, not the circumstances. Over and over again, though, God uses the difficult places of our lives to teach us the most valuable lessons. How better for God to get our attention or push us even beyond our prescribed limits than to test us beyond our control or comfort zones?

Of all of my grandfather's lessons, this one is most personal because it, more than any of the others, defines his tremendous impact in my life.

He taught me that, sure, “giving up” was an option, but never the best one. And, by pressing on and through difficult circumstances, the sweetness of lessons found only on the other side of struggle was immense and worth it.

Following God’s will, even through the uncertain and unchosen places of life, brings the greatest rewards and most profound opportunities.

Lesson Five: “I need a place”

We are created to belong. The first interactions in the Garden are about belonging--- to God, to Eden, to one another. In fact, God, who calls all of creation “good”, calls the completion of relationship in Adam and Eve “very good”. There is something complete about them being together; they have “found their place”.
Unfortunately, I didn’t fully appreciate this scene until I had lost my place. I appreciated those moments, but nothing prepared me for the significance of what those days had meant, or how much I would miss them.

I have spent the years sense talking to others, especially my children about the importance and sweetness of “place”—about how we are created to “belong” and how we are created to offer “belonging” to others.

Today, I count time around the table of my home with the people I love as the premium of my life.

I need a place. But, the place also needs me.

Next Week: "What I Learned Yesterday About Tomorrow, Part III"

2008-09-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

What I Learned Yesterday About Tomorrow, Part I.

Over the past few days, as I have watched the interactions and conversations surrounding the current financial crisis, I have thought a great deal about the power of simple wisdom.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, the lessons my grandfather taught me as a child sitting around his table remain some of the most important, direct and useful lessons of my life.

If nothing else, the past few days remind us why "simplicity" in our values, relationships, aspirations, ambitions, and faith provide the most stable foundation for healthy lives and communities.

For example, as I mentioned last week, at the heart of the financial crisis is a credit crisis. At the core of the credit crisis is the valuation of assets versus loans to folks with questionable means to afford them. And, at the center of such risky financial practices are issues of "enough", abundance, and, dare we say it, greed.

Sure, the details are much more complex now, but only because the force of the situation has spun out of control, not because the genesis was that complicated.

No, at the end of the day, we spent more than we had for things we really didn't need, and we all became complicit in a practice of "life" that forgot what it means to be truly satisfied.

Thus, the simple lessons of a farmer with a high school education resurfaces as profound and, somewhat prophetic, when ignored.

Over the next weeks, I want to share seven of his lessons with you. I hope they mean as much to you as they have to me. Of course, they are not original to my grandfather. He would be horrified at such a suggestion. But, he was humble enough to believe them and, more importantly, to live them. I hope the same for my life.

Here are the first two...

Lesson One: “If I break it, I buy it”

Every part of life costs something—good or bad. We invest ourselves into the lives of others and should realize the intentionality and effect that such investment requires and yields. The interdependent nature of human relationships insures that our lives impact each other.

I learned early that every person’s words and actions have power. My grandfather loved the saying “If you break it, you buy it”. He wasn’t just referring to objects or goods, but also to relationships.

In today’s world of individuality and personal needs/desires, accountability and responsibility often become “catch phrases” when describing how others affect us. Again, a self centered approach even to community. But, real community works when we realize how our lives affect others. In the process, we discover the authentic sense of our own personal value and self worth.

Lesson Two: “It’s never too late to be sorry… but ‘sorry’ doesn’t cut it.”

Too often, Christians see ‘salvation’ in strictly spiritual terms. But, eternal life is only part of the wonderful gift that God has offered us through Christ. We are also afforded ‘abundant life’ that transforms the way we see ourselves, our God and each other.

Real repentance and forgiveness mean looking at how God defines true “reconciliation” in Him.

First, there is never too much “water under the bridge” for one to seek and work for reconciliation. Truly, it is never too late to be sorry and to wish for a healthier, more whole relationship.

But, many of us believe that saying “sorry” or “feeling sorry” about something is the ultimate goal in reconciliation. I heard “sorry doesn’t cut it” a lot as a child, especially after I was quick to say “sorry” for my transgressions (which were many). But, did I really mean it?

My family expected us to “show our sorry” instead of just saying the words. Relationships crave interaction. Rebuilding relationships requires effort.
Words are important. Actions even more so.

Next week... Lessons three and four.

Love you all.
Be Salt and Light,
Shane

2008-09-24T19:36:00.000-07:00

Reprinted from original eVotion on April 27th, 2008.

When Is EnoughEnough?: Six Core Biblical Values for Faithful Financial Living by Shane Stanford

When is enough,enough? No decision or life change affects our futures more.

As consumer debt rises, so do the levels of personal and relational stress permeating our families, workplaces, and churches. Confronting our consumerist tendencies produces a wealth of benefits. But why is it so hard to decide that enoughis indeed enough? As Benjamin Franklin states, "Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody."

We live in a world of "discontented accumulation"-no matter how much we acquire, it never feeds the real hunger of our lives. And, the answer is more spiritual than financial.

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) reads: "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.'" The writer of Hebrews hits on the real struggle: our dissatisfaction comes from missing God's intimate connection to the whole of our existence, not just our finances. We can't fix a checking account balance unless we first fix what drives our priorities in this world. And our priorities must begin with God, not the inflated values of a world bent on gorging itself on one fleeting delicacy after another but never truly being filled.

Like our physical diets, our spiritual menus must include real foods, not merely emotional candy that leave us unhealthy and always craving more. Spiritual energy and vitality come only from living lives devoted to a deeper understanding of who we are and of the Creator to whom we belong. No job, car, house, or title can provide this.

In teaching about stewardship, I realized that families and individuals must develop a healthy lifestyle in order to experience financial health. Good budgets and debt reduction are not enough. In order to change our financial future, we have to address what drives our financial behavior.

And, Jesus taught that our resources give us opportunities to live faithfully before God and one another. Money, for Jesus, was another tool for doing great good in the world.

Here are six biblical core values that, I believe, can change our lives. These principles are certainly not exhaustive of all the Scriptures teach about stewardship, money, or resources. However, they provide a framework for stewarding our resources for significance in the kingdom of God:

1. The Principle of Enough (Hebrews 13:5). What happens when consuming becomes our God? The writer of Hebrews encourages us to be satisfied with the indispensable promise of God's faithfulness. Regardless of the ebb and flow of the world's gifts, God's gift will never rust, fade, or slip away.

2. The Principle of Proper Perspective (Matthew 6:24). We cannot serve two masters; God does not give us that option. Such clear distinction between the things of this world and the things of God gives us the opportunity for clarity in our decisions. What seems like a stark, declarative statement actually provides a clear point of reference by which we can understand God's plan for our lives

3. The Principle of the Good Steward (Matthew 19:16-22). In a world where "good" is defined in terms of the accumulation of material possessions, Jesus counters that "good" is a matter of care and stewardship, even to the point of giving away that which we treasure. Most financial problems come when the things we possess in reality possess us. Part of being a good steward involves understanding the temporary nature of all the material goods we possess.

4. The Principle of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-18). Clearly, Jesus is not endorsing the manager's dishonest practices. Rather, he is teaching us that, like the manager, we are called to be shrewd managers of the resources that God gives us. The parable might be paraphrased "If only we were as wise and shrewd in achieving eternal things as those who are intent on possessing dishonest things." Of course, this requires focus, planning, and a faithful heart so that we may adequately respond to God's kingdom plans. Only when we spend as much time and effort preparing our lives (and resources) for kingdom good (through the building of relationships, for example) as we do for pleasure will we experience a true measure of God's enormous potential in both our earthly and our eternal lives.

5. The Principle of the Widow's Mite (Mark 12:41-44). What does it mean to give out of our poverty? Jesus understands that trusting God is much easier in times of abundance than in our times of need. However, some of life's greatest lessons are learned from our commitment and response as we experience times of hardship and sacrifice.

6. The Principle of the Faithful Giver (1 Timothy 6:17-18). Be "ready to share" (NRSV). Paul's command highlights the nature of why we give-because God expects us to do so. Our resources serve as another opportunity to be a part of the work of God in this world and to do good things in God's name. We do not share our resources for pride or personal gain but because God covets the whole of our lives, including our earthly possessions, to be offered in God's service.

Consider the defining values of your life. What beliefs and principles form who you are? How do these core values define the important boundaries and goals of your life? How are they shaping your heart into a vessel for God's good news?

Sitting on my desk is the famous discourse of the apostle Paul concerning his thorn in the flesh.He asks God to remove it. I love how Eugene Peterson, in his work The Message, translates God's response: "My grace is enough; it's all you need."

Be Salt and Light... You Matter!
Shane
www.shanestanford.com
www.thehour.org

2008-08-25T16:00:00.000-07:00

“And so dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic, knowing that WHATEVER you do for the Lord is useful…” 1 Corinthians 15: 58

The Reason I Write…

It is not what you think. When most people discover I write books, their first questions usually focus on how many copies I have sold or with royalties and notoriety. I don’t have the heart to tell them that writing is very unglamorous, oftentimes to the point of mundane. And, sure, the idea of making lots of money as an author may drive some people’s ambitions, but, sadly, most of these people (really… like 99% of “most) will grow bitter or poor or both.

No, I write to answer questions that I have about life, faith and the oftentimes curious paths we travel. I don’t write to get rich (although there are days I would like to try that vice) or for fame. Actually, lately, I have learned that “visibility” is not all it is cracked up to be.

But, indeed, there is something about having your writing read by someone who loves the words or ideas, and having those same ideas make a difference in a person’s life. It doesn’t get any better than adding a smile to a person’s day or, more profound, causing someone to re-think why and how God loves them.

I write for these moments. I endure the less enjoyable parts of the job… for these moments.

I have a friend named Robert who is one of the best writers I know. He writes a food and culture column and does a beautiful job crafting words into images. He also happens to be one of the nicest guys on the planet and his love for life comes through immediately. When Robert goes to book signings, people stand in long lines to have him sign a copy. By far, Robert is the exception.

No, most book signings are considered successful by the author surviving the tremendous blow associated with sitting in the same place for a couple of hours while dozens of people pass by trying not to make eye contact because they don’t want to buy your book. Needless to say, the process is not a self esteem builder.

For that reason, I don’t do many book signings unless they accompany a speaking engagement at a church or organization. My tender emotional constitution can’t take it. Occasionally, I will accept an invitation, but only if a friend is involved in the asking.

Recently a friend asked if I would do a booksigning at a local Barnes and Nobles where he works. I agreed with trepidation. Sure enough, after arriving, I knew I was in trouble when the first five people who approached the table inadvertently made eye contact with me and looked as though they had just seen their dead aunt waving a butcher knife at them. “Here we go…” I thought. So, I picked up my copy of The Shack (this book now goes everywhere I go—a long story that I will tell at a later date) and started to pass the time.

By the end of the day, I had sold about a dozen copies. I met some very interesting people along the way and made countless others very uncomfortable.
However, just as the event was coming to a merciful end, two folks bought books and reminded me why I write.

The first was a young lady who read about the event in the local paper. Her boyfriend was going through a difficult time and had, that past week, mentioned that he believed “God had disappeared”. She took off of work (her Saturday job) to “stand in line” in order to get a copy in the hope that my book could reassure her boyfriend (It turned out not to be a problem—standing in line that is). Wow! What a scene! She kept telling me “thank you” for writing the book, and I kept telling her “thank you” for buying it.

Then, a few moments later, a young man, who had passed the table several times, stopped and asked about the book’s topic. He used broken English and was uneasy. I asked if he lived in the area and he told me that he was from the Northeast, but had been stationed at a local Navy base for the past few months. He confided that he missed his family and was going through a difficult time. He left base for a few hours to clear his head. He saw the title of the book and, as he put, wondered if “that book talked about the same things he felt.”

Come to discover, the young man was not a believer. He had no idea about Zachaeus or Lazarus and was only vaguely familiar with Jesus. But, after we talked for a few moments he said he “liked what I had to say about Jesus and looked forward to knowing him more”. Knowing him more… what a nice way to put it.

And, so, I sat, once again, with my self esteem on parade, realizing that, in the end, it is not about me, but has everything to do with what God says through me or in me or in spite of me.

And, the same is true for you.

Wherever God leads you this week, know that you are not enough. In fact, we never were. But, we know the One who is and in spite of where He may lead or challenge us (even in doing those things we deplore) God is always working… always shaping… always loving… always making the journey with us.

No, we are not alone—not even at a book signing.

Love you all.
Be salt and light… You matter.
Shane

2008-07-13T19:17:00.001-07:00

Reflection for the Week-- July 13, 2008

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1: 4-9

Table Lessons

I sat at my grandfather's table for the better part of 28 years. And, although he is no longer with us, I continue to sit at the feet of his teachings.

Gathering at "Mr. Earl's" dining room table was more than just an opportunity for a good meal. It was the beginning of a 'moment'-a moment whereby those who listened carefully could glean from this rather quiet, faithful man, nuggets of invaluable wisdom.
Funny how we rarely characterize such moments as foundational as they happen. No, we wait until later, when life moves on or shifts focus, to recognize the places and people who shaped how we consider the most important principles.

In a world of such fast paced schedules and priorities, gathering at any table is a rarity or luxury. But, as many have discovered, the absence of the "family table" creates significant issues for connecting loved ones together, not just in the sense of proximity or fellowship, but also through the inability to communicate wisdom, history and guidance from one generation to another.

And, lest we forget, the "Table life" is central to the Christian faith, too. From the heart of Jesus' ministry to the core of our modern practice, Christians cling to life at The Table as a primary consideration of how God instructs and connects God's people.

I learned valuable lessons at my grandfather's table through stories and anecdotes that came to dominate my life. But, as I learned later, those lessons did not originate with my grandfather. No, he received that wisdom from earlier generations who, themselves, anchored their lives deeply in a much richer wisdom found and lived within the Word of God.

Scripture teaches us about real relationship and connection to others, highlighting our need to be connected to one another in an unique, yet common way.

Let's be clear, my grandfather taught real lessons gathered around a real table with very real people. However, I believe you can recognize those places or people or relationships in your own life that point to a life worth living.

Sure, not all of the tables of our lives bring happy memories. I discovered a book several years ago entitled, A Wolf at the Table, a powerful, memoir about an abusive father. Maybe your memories of your family table bring sadness, regret or remorse. Our tables speak honestly to our most sacred and, sometimes, sorrowful places. Your table may have been a painful place or a place worth forgetting. But, my grandfather used to say ain't so doesn't equal supposed to be. I always wondered about that phrase until I realized that God puts broken lives back together because there is something better. Life's ain't so is not the same as God's supposed to be.

And, not all tables look alike. Many of us may see a neatly arranged table full of silverware and china, surrounded by well-crafted chairs. But, for some folks, their tables are TV trays, hospital carts or hot dog stands. It doesn't matter what the table looks like, it matters what the table becomes as we gather around it. Two days after my heart surgery, my wife and I gathered around a makeshift table in ICU and she fed me my first meal of the rest of my life. I will never forget the smell and the taste (or lack thereof) of the broth, nor shall I ever forget the beautiful look of my wife's eyes as I realized, one more time, why I love her so much.

Our tables are not meant to be complex; they don't need to be. The Table is radically simple and familiar. All of us have stories and situations that point us back to a table of fellowship, conversation, food, or fun in our lives. Maybe, at first glance, these lessons do not appear as particularly "Christian" or "religious". I suspect many folks will think of their own grandfathers or uncles or grandmothers before they think of God.

But, God will not mind. That is why the "table life" came to mean so much in our faith. God, through Jesus, gathered those He loved around a table, took ordinary bread and made it the extraordinary Body of Christ. Then, at that same table, Jesus took common wine and made it the uncommon forgiveness for sins. With the table, as with many things, God begins with the simple concepts. No showmanship needed.

There are gobs (yes, I like that word -it sounds like a word used in my grandmother's kitchen) of other works about food, fellowship, friends and family, but, that is an advantage in this case.

Think about it.--- I believe Paula Deen or Rachel Ray resonate because they touch an even deeper sense in all of us. Food is just the tip of the iceberg. There is more to it. Jesus recognized this. So did my grandfather. And, so do you. More than the turnips, tuna, or tiramisu--it is The Table.

These lessons around these tables are about simple ideas in grand conversations; grand concepts in simple places. What can one learn from eavesdropping in on my grandfather's table? Shhhh--- sit back, gather loved ones around your table this week, listen and be amazed.

2008-06-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

Reflection for the Week-- June 29, 2008

Friendships and Forewords

This is the final part of our three part series highlighting my new book, When God Disappears. Thank you for your patience and indulgence as I shared bits and pieces of the book with you.

Sure, many may think I am just trying to sell copies of the book. And, of course, there is some truth in that. But, not for what might appear as the obvious reason.

When God Disappears is not the book I longed to write. The project that meant the most to me is A Positive Life, a more autobiographical account of my life and the lessons the journey has taught me.

But, Regal Books (to whom I am so grateful) took a special interest in the proposal that would become When God Disappears. At first, I was surprised. But, after finishing the manuscript, woven through my recovery from heart surgery and a host of other issues in my life, I realized God's great wisdom in allowing this book to be published first.

When God Disappears is deeply personal, and not just because of the words on a page. The effort (yes, that is the best description) in writing the manuscript, recounting the stories and deciphering the angles of God's message, proved one of the most significant experiences of my life.

The project also afforded me connections to some of the finest, Christian brothers and sisters. My emails with Len Sweet were invaluable for broaden my understanding of God's plan. Vivan Berryhill reminded me of the simple, powerful grace of God for changing the world-- beginning in our own backyards. Reconnecting and reliving the stories of so many friends and heroes revived my deep passion for Jesus and for Jesus' people.

And, what can I say about Deanna Favre? I read Deanna's book shortly after it was released. It is a wonderful, candid testament of her journey with Brett, as a single mom, and as a cancer survivor. She is truly a remarkable and dear friend in Christ.

I was humbled when Deanna agreed to write the foreword to When God Disappears. But, I was overwhelmed when her words in the foreword returned with such grace and beauty.

Sure, I was thankful for the compliments Deanna shared about me and the book, but I was amazed at her recounting and praise for God in the midst of the work. More than encouraging me (which she did), Deanna found the encouragement of God's loving touch and shared it (as she always has) so that those "to whom love and peace are strangers, will find a home in Christ".

And, so, please indulge me again-- and sit back and take a few moments to read Deanna's foreword. Please look past the references to me (really!) and see the heart of a God who has not disappeared--- for we are never alone!

Foreword by Deanna Favre
Author, Don't Bet Against Me

"When God Disappears" is an amazing book that will, no doubt, touch the lives of all its readers. It teaches of God's love and patience for us. It represents one of the most unique writing experiences that I have ever encountered. It will give you the hope you have so desperately been searching to find. It will change your life!
Shane Stanford's life is an example for all to follow. Living with hemophilia, Hepatitis C, and HIV is associated with repression and discrimination, rejection by family and friends, and fear of the unknown, yet he has sustained an unwavering faith. Many people would have turned away from God, would have given up hope, and lost faith. Shane continues to see God's grace and teach others about a loving God who never gives up on his children. He is unbelievably talented. He has a unique way of writing that touches the very soul of the reader. I have gained strength from his words. God had a hand in our paths crossing. I am a better person for meeting Shane and reading his book. I feel blessed by our encounter.
Without a doubt, there are times in the lives of every individual that the giants seem too big, the trees too high to climb and the rocks too plentiful for those who wish to throw them. Shane goes straight to the heart of everyone, because all of us have experienced burdens such as rejection, pain, loss, failure and sorrow. These are the times that deepen our faith.
The sting of death has touched all of us. Shane reminds us that it is our faith and trust in God that soothes our wounded spirit in these painful moments of life. Death cast a lonely darkness that can only be illuminated by the hand of God. Shane's words walk us gently to the foot of the cross where acceptance always lives, where death and illness cannot exist, trust is never lost, promises are never broken, and everyone is always welcome.
We have all been guilty of betrayal at some point in our lives. How are we to react when someone betrays us? We have all been a victim of this. Someone chooses to momentarily look away from our friendship and deceive us. Thank you Shane for showing us that forgiveness is the only path to restoration.
Shane helps us to repair the bridge of our lives. Many times, as humans do, we forget to include God in our lives and decision making. We only turn to God during the trying times, the times when we are going through trials and tribulations. This is when we decide to reach out to God. When things are great in our lives, we forget to praise God and include him in our decisions. Most of these decisions made without the help of God are remorseful. God should be in our lives daily, not just during the trying times.
I am so grateful that Shane has allowed me to be a part of his journey. By writing this book, he will help so many get to the place they need to be in their walk with our Savior. I pray that you too, will be ministered to and touched by Shane's amazing words. What will you do with the insight that you gain from this book? It is for you to decide. However, it is my hope that you will choose to live a life in honor of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is truly amazing!

Thank you, Deanna.

Be Salt and Light-- You Matter!

2008-06-22T19:56:00.000-07:00

Reflection for the Week-- June 22, 2008

Blessed are those who mourn---

Since I was a student pastor at Justice Heights UMC in Laurel, Mississippi, I have recorded Meet the Press hosted by Tim Russert. With a handful of exceptions, I have watched faithfully for the past seventeen years. Although I did not get the chance to watch the program as it aired on Sunday mornings (due to Sunday services), I watched by VHS tape, TiVO and, now, DVR. In fact, I first learned to record from VCR because of Meet the Press. I still couldn't set the clock mind you, but the program taped just fine.
Losing Tim Russert last week to a heart attack was like losing a member of our family. Last year, during my recovery from heart surgery, and subsequent five week absence from church, my wife and I spent our Sunday mornings watching Meet the Press, Charles Stanley, Paula Deen and Sports Center. (Oh, and, yes, I watched my favorite show-- The United Methodist Hour).
I never met Tim Russert, but I had great respect for his work ethic, probing intellect, fierce love for his family, and devotion to his faith. He and his family remain in our thoughts and prayers. His loss is significant for our nation and for how we process critical information. I have spent the past several days wondering how, and if, this election cycle can proceed without Tim Russert explaining for all of us the details. Of course, it will, but--- well, you know what I mean.
Loss does that-- It causes us to ask the "what if" questions and leaves us searching to make sense of sudden and unexplainable events.
Several years ago, I wrote a devotion on mourning after my grandmother passed away from a difficult bout with cancer. The devotion eventually became part of my book, The Eight Blessings. My grandmother's favorite Scripture was from Matthew 5, the Beatitudes. During her final days, she kept five translations of the passage near her bedside.
After her funeral, I took those translations and spent the next year reading from them each day. Needless to say, it changed my life. The following is from the Second Blessing, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Comfort from Sorrow

Matthew translates Jesus' Aramaic word for mourning into the strongest Greek equivalent possible. The image is of one who endures the loss of that which is most dear. It is an almost paralyzing form of grief whose effect is life numbing, stopping the mourner dead in their tracks. The use of such a word drags from each us the profoundest of memories and reminds us of the depth and sting death has upon our world. But, when one delves further, death is not the only culprit that causes this form of grief.
The Second Blessing also speaks to the general suffering of the world--the plight of others so long victims of injustice and despair. And, from this, Jesus goes further by implicating our personal grief, the result of too many bad life decisions and unreconciled mistakes. No, the grief of which Jesus speaks broadens the picture of mourning from the vivid scenes of a tomb to the deep recesses of life's poorest choices or circumstances. It is a personal view of grief from which no one is immune, for Jesus knows we have all lost someone or something, and, as a result, our lives are less than whole.
But with such an expression of mourning comes an equally powerful view of God's comfort. Jesus approaches the vulnerability of life honestly and gives us a glimpse of why loving and living, even with the prospect of such pain, is the only means for experiencing real comfort. And, this is not a cheap comfort, feelings spoken as mere clichés, but a sincere embrace of life's deepest emotions through which loving unconditionally serves as the primary source.
Jesus encourages us to love with real openness and honesty that we might see the deeper side of living, but such love also brings great vulnerability. I know what you are asking, What happens when one loves to the point of such great risk? Do they avoid the pain and struggle of this world? Quite the contrary, Jesus tells his disciples that in this world "they will have trouble", but there is also potential for great joy as Jesus assures them to "take heart for I have overcome the world". Sure the risk of grief or mourning can be overwhelming, but God promises a life-changing joy if we are willing to take the chance.
The life that risks love to the point of real vulnerability shifts the tone of the world's expectations. By risking our own grief, we see the possibility of genuine relationship and community, of sincere faith and spiritual connection-as God intended from the beginning. We should not miss the declarative tone of Jesus' second blessing-Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Certainly, Jesus affirms the presence of mourning in this world, and the risk of love that often leads to such emotions, but equally affirming, is the promise of spectacular comfort born from the heart of God. God does not call us to risk ourselves for the mere possibility of comfort, but in the certainty of it.
We see this time and again as Jesus confronts the mourning of this world, whether in the death of a friend (Lazarus) or in the grief of a people's discontent (weeping over Jerusalem). It is even present in Jesus' discourse about his own suffering and death. In Matthew 9 and John 16, he teaches his disciples about suffering from a very personal perspective referring to a time when he will no longer be with them. Jesus insists they will experience an almost palpable form of suffering, where their faith will be tested and strained (Matthew 9). However, in this most difficult period for the disciples, Jesus promises that their mourning will turn to comfort--an unimaginable joy that the world will not understand (John 16).
Many cannot or will not experience this kind of comfort and joy, not because God does offer it, but because we have opted for a safer or easier path complete with little risk or a quick fix; missing, through either, what God can unveil to us on the other side and, unfortunately, setting up a false sense of security. One may think they can prevent the risk of grief by refusing to love completely, but ultimately this mourning takes the form of a more profound grief-loneliness and unfulfillment. No, the joy of which I speak is born only from the risk of possibly losing it. However, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus bridges the distance between mourning and comfort, sorrow and joy, calling only that we see the path and then be willing to courageously walk down it.

Be Salt and Light-- You Matter!

Shane

2008-06-15T19:59:00.000-07:00

Reflection for the Week-- June 15, 2008

The following is the second of three excerpts from When God Disappears, a new book by Shane Stanford. Release Date: August 1, 2008.

A Child Who Sleeps in Miseri
By 2010, it is estimated that there will be upward of 40 million AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. This is a stunning figure-one that is almost impossible to fathom. To comprehend the worldwide effects of this pandemic is to lose the ability to stay neutral or even objective. HIV/AIDS is the global Pandora's Box that has already been opened and will eventually affect everyone on the planet in one way or another. It already impacts our national security as well as the global economy.
Recently I watched as one commentator spoke of the incredible difficulty of effectively confronting this disease. For every step forward we take in the fight against HIV/AIDS, two more hurdles appear. We provide medicines for 800,000 new patients, only to discover that 3 million new infections have been reported.
Yes, when we ponder the nature of this disease, it is overwhelming and invariably begs the question, What, if anything, can solve such a seemingly impossible problem?
Not long ago, at the invitation of Rick and Kay Warren, I spoke at the 2006 Global AIDS Summit held at Saddleback Community Church in Orange County, California. Amid the amazing array of speakers, professionals and experts, I determined that the Church, both local and global, is our most potent weapon against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Church possesses the greatest mobilization, distribution and motivation potential of any institution on earth. The idea of 1 billion-plus Christians reaching together into the abyss of this unbelievable struggle captivated my imagination.
But as I reflected further, I became convinced that it is more than the organizational possibilities of the Church that makes the Body of Christ so vital in this fight. As with confronting any impossible problem, the answer for how effectively we fight and how well we succeed lies deeper than just the sound principles that are the basis of any well-run institution. No, such answers begin in simple-and many times, overlooked-places.
A friend of mine recently traveled to Kenya to visit a day orphanage for children who have lost parents to the HIV/AIDS crisis. In Kenya, as in other nations in sub-Saharan Africa, the needs created by the pandemic have overrun the institutional services, especially those that serve children. Day orphanages exist as a means of providing basic necessities to those little ones who would otherwise have nothing-truly a last resort for these "least of these" among us.
Arriving at the orphanage, my friend met two workers carrying a small girl. Her body was frail and clearly malnourished, but her face wore the most beautiful smile. Whereas her body revealed every sign of what is most disturbing and troubling about the plight of those in her situation, her face revealed a spirit that was anything but hopeless.
As these contrasting images collided in my friend's mind, she greeted the young child with the help of an interpreter. My friend learned that the child's father had died just after she was born; her mother died when she was three. She lived with an aunt who was also sick and who could not provide much in the way of care. In fact, the child told my friend that she cared for her aunt at night, trying to provide her with as much comfort as possible. Like so many in similar circumstances, this child's was a long, lonely existence.
However, every morning, the workers arrived in a "goat cart" and took her to the day orphanage. Here she found not only food and an occasional change of clothes, but also friends and others with whom she could talk and play. Sure, the toys were few, the meals meager and the clothes second hand, but this place in the daylight seemed worlds away from her home at night, and it provided what previously appeared impossible: glimpses of hope.
My friend listened intently as the workers and the little girl described her daily routine. "We pick her up" they said in their broken English, "and bring her here so that she might find a little food, some clothes and some schooling. It is not much, but it is more than she has when she returns to Miseri
"Where?" my friend asked, not sure that she had heard right.
"Miseri" the worker replied. "It is the name of her settlement. The word comes from the Swahili for 'Egypt.' "
My friend realized that although she had only faintly heard our English word "misery," it certainly conveyed the right meaning. Misery was more than appropriate to describe the child's life. After all, what hope did she have? She most likely would not grow up to finish school, train for a job, have a family, or for that matter, enjoy an abundant childhood like the kids my friend knew in the States. No, the chances of her having a future were those same impossible odds the disease brings to everyone who suffers from it-but now, for my friend, these obstacles were all the more tragic because now they had a face.
Standing there, my friend was lost in thought, musing on how impossible it all seemed for this little girl. Where was God? Where was hope? What could effectively confront the wake of this disease, not only for this child but also for all children? What could possibly fill the void left by such desolation of not only a child's present but also her future? She paused a moment, lost in the realization of such sorrow. But then, as she looked up, she again saw the child's smile and the embrace of the workers, their love and care for this little one. Above all, she saw that in spite of the obvious struggles, this picture seemed full of possibilities, not because the circumstances she had encountered weren't daunting, but because there was something tangibly hopeful about the scene. Surrounded by so much sorrow and despair, my friend saw something amazing-and she found the answer to her questions.
Her answer was right in front of her, resting in what she had almost missed. My friend realized that despite the disease and the impossible circumstances intended for this child, nothing was set in stone. No. Why? Because of these people who loved like Jesus, touched like Jesus, cared like Jesus-who had become Jesus to her-misery was not all she would know.

Be Salt and Light... You Matter!
Shane

2008-03-05T20:16:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends and Supporters of the United Methodist Hour--

Beginning July 1st, I will become the Team Leader for Message and Media for the Annual Conference. I will work with the Bishop, Cabinet and Conference leaders to shape and articulate the message and strategy of the United Methodist Church in Mississippi. This is an important opportunity to assist in making a difference for our church throughout the state. This change will NOT affect my leadership role with the United Methodist Hour; however, I will no longer be on staff at Main Street UMC in Hattiesburg. Jim Golden, Board Chair of the Hour, is aware of these changes.

This new responsibility with the Annual Conference is not entirely a new role for me. Until January 1st of this year, I served as the Congregational Development consultant for the Annual Conference. This new position continues the spirit of that work and the A2 assessment program.

Although I will remain as the Ministry Leader/Host of The United Methodist Hour and my family and I will continue to live in Hattiesburg, I will not be able to serve as the Teaching Pastor for the Fellowship at Main Street.

Of course, this was a difficult decision. But, Pokey and I believe this is God's will for our family. Everyone at Main Street grew to mean a great deal to us.

Please pray for me, my family and for Main Street Church as we make these transitions.

I am excited about this new responsibility and believe it is a much better fit with my role at The Hour. Speaking of the Hour, what can we say about the wonderful things that God is doing!! We continue to hear from new viewers and partners in ministry. As one person stated in a letter the other day, "I believe the best days of The Hour are ahead of us!" AMEN!

Again, I appreciate your friendship and support. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

Many blessings,

Shane

2008-02-22T07:08:00.000-08:00

I recently attended the annual meeting of the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund in New York City. I have served on the Fund's steering committee for the past year. Our challenge is to raise $1 for every United Methodist member and to distribute those funds to organizations and agencies around the world who minister to those affected and infected with HIV.

At this meeting, my friend, Greg Jenks, who founded and leads ZOE, a ministry that cares for AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe and Rwanda, reminded us that though the Church must address and teach about the causes and effects of HIV, we as the Church have a lot to learn from HIV itself about our own imperfections.

You see, no one dies from HIV or AIDS. No, people die from the opportunistic infections created when AIDS destroys the body's defenses. People with HIV/AIDS can die from any number of related illnesses because the system designed to provide their strength and health has failed.

It is similar to the life of the Church. Most dangerous to our future is when we forget to simply live as the Body of Christ. When we fail to do this, we become chronic in our spiritual disorder, eventually wearing down the "Body's" defenses.

But, friends, there is a CURE for the chronic life that ails us, and it is simpler than you might expect.

First, we must return to lives of Compassion. Jesus says that others will know we belong to Him by how we love one another. Compassion recalibrates our values, mission and vision as the people of God, and turns us away from our own self-interest to the interests of others.

Second, we must realize the importance of Understanding. Understanding the situation of our brothers and sisters, putting ourselves in "their shoes" so to speak, changes our perspective and refocuses our resources, allowing for us to make real and tangible differences in the world.

Third, we must reclaim the power of Response. The power of faith is not measured by how much we "say" we love Jesus, but by becoming the "hands and feet" of Jesus in our world. Don't tell me you love Jesus... Show me!

Finally, we must raise the temperature for Encouragement and make it a "lifestyle" for the Body of Christ. Encouragement means seeking solutions instead of judgement and reconciliation instead of condemnation and division. And, encouragement recruits others along the way to a life of true discipleship, and builds real community.

Sure, the Church is under attack, but not necessarily from outside forces. No, our greatest danger is the spiritual virus that seeks to destroy our basic defenses and make us vulnerable to ourselves.

But, friends, there is a way to attack the spiritual virus that too often plagues our churches. And, it will not only provide a cure from our malady, but will rejuvenate our mission and our message for the world.

Be Salt and Light... You Matter!

Shane
1 Corinthians 15: 58

2008-02-18T17:27:00.000-08:00

Hope-Fully Devoted, Part II: Studying God's Word

Studying God's Word is a critical element of our faith walk. It allows for us to draw close to God and, ultimately, teaches us how to draw close to one another.

Studying God's Word Does Five Important Things:

1. It Corrects

2. It Restores

3. It Informs

4. It Sends

5. It Connects

Studying God's Word is not the end-all of our journey, but it does provide a nice and sure footing by which to begin.

We Love You All...

Be Salt and Light... You Matter!

Shane

2008-02-16T20:39:00.000-08:00

Hope-Fully Devoted Outlines...

Several of you have asked about posting sermon outlines from previous messages. I'm just sorry that I didn't think of that myself. So, here it goes...

Sermon Outline for February 10th: Hope-Fully Devoted: To Prayer

Scripture: Matthew 6: 9-13

Using the Lord's Prayer "Outline"

Praise: Hallowed by thy name...
Discernment: Thy will be done...
Necessities: Give us this day our daily bread...
Forgiveness and Restoration: Forgive our debts...
Holiness: Lead us not into temptation...
Protection: Deliver us from evil...
Praise: Part II...

Of course, if you would like a copy of the sermon, send your email to Jenny Bowers at jennybowers@thehour.org.

2008-02-16T11:16:00.001-08:00

Several of you have asked about the scheduled release of the new book, When God Disappears. Yes, the book's release has been moved up to September. We are in the process of securing endorsements and making final edits.

Pre-order information is now available through Regal Books and at Amazon. However, as soon as we know more about the official release date, we will contact everyone on the enews list.

Another update... The Serving Initiative continues to make a difference as the "hands and feet" of Jesus. To date, the Maji Project has provided over 6,000 rehydration kits. Thank you to everyone for your support of this incredible project.

P.S. You will also notice that the blog is changed. We had technical difficulties, so a new blog site was created. Keep checking in...

We love you all...

Be Salt and Light-- You Matter!
Shane