Memorial Day Weekend Party!

This Sunday the Voigts are having a Memorial Day Weekend Party on Sunday (30th) at 5pm. Please feel free to bring neighbors, friends and relatives. We will provide hamburgers, hot dogs and all of the condiments. Please bring a side dish, desert or beverage to share. Also, bring any games you might like as well. It's suppose to be a beautiful day so come on over. We are located at 18935 State Road N. 45 next door to Vaughn's Funeral Home.

Future Sermons

I've been working on my sermon calendar for the next year. I'm pretty excited with my plans so far. Thought I would share my overall themes and see if you all have any input. Let me know your ideas, illustrations or worship element suggestions!

Good Words in James
James will be a five week series on the the Epistle of James. James offers very straightforward concepts on the words we choose to use, not showing partiality and demonstrating our faith through our deeds (faith without deeds is dead!).

Vision
I have spent the last four months meeting with about half of our worshiping attendance in small groups for four weeks at a time. We brainstormed the following areas together: Intentional Discipleship, Missions, Evangelism/Growth and Short/Long Term Goals. I will spend four weeks revealing those results and offer a WUMC sized vision for tomorrow!

Relationships
Five weeks discussing the difficulties and keys for success in the following relationship situations: singleness, marriage, children, friendship and Christ. These areas are not completely solidified and I may tweek them:)

Give it Away
Even in recession, many are still living in abundance- but some are not. We will spend four weeks proposing different ways to "give away" our abundance. I'm thinking of focusing on the following areas: stuff, food and money (outside church/inside church). I'm hoping this will be a month to focus on Missions and all the ways we can serve and help. I also have a bombshell of an idea that I am hoping to reveal in September in preparation for this series!

Ruth
I read the Old Testament book of Ruth a few weeks ago and was absolutely floored! It's a beautiful story of God's provision and love; it's romantic, tragic and awe inspiring . . . and four chapters long.

Christmas Series
I don't know just yet- but it will be something Christmassy'. How about some help here!?

Romans
After Christmas we will begin the highly thought provoking New Testament book of Romans. It's 16 chapters long and will likely be our Lenten focus taking us to Easter. In Romans, Paul is writing to the Church in Rome that is no doubt experiencing growing pains. He painstakingly emphasizes the importance of grace by faith alone in Jesus Christ to a pagan culture. Romans will help deepen our Christian beliefs and stretch us in areas concerning God's sovereignty and our Jewish cousins (our faith relatives).

Vacation Over

Well, I had a good vacation. Had a few days around the house the beginning of the week. I did some fishing and relatively "bum" stuff. On Wednesday I headed for Arizona. I thought I had outsmart the flight industry. Tickets to Tucson were cheaper than tickets to Phoenix and the Tucson tickets stopped in Phoenix?! However, I found out that if you stop in Phoenix on the way out that they cancel your return tickets! So, after begging and pleading and not getting anywhere, my best friend in Phoenix drove two hours to Tucson to pick me up. It was mainly a "hangin'" out trip. I spent a lot of time with him (Phil) and his wife (Regina) and infant son (Mitchell). Last year I went up around this time because Mitchell was baptized and I am his godfather, so it was good to see he was growing quite nicely. Phil and I played 36 holes of disc golf and ate a lot- and that was the trip. On the way back to the airport he actually dropped me off in Tucson for my flight and beat me back to the Phoenix airport where we had breakfast together for my 2 hour lay over- I know, completely bizarre. When I got back on Saturday Kim and I went out and ate at Styx restraunt with some friends at the Legends. In the world of Japanese Steak Houses Styx was pretty average, but we still had a good time. On Mothers Day we visited "The Rock" church in N.K.C. It had a very modern worship facility and sound. They were incredibly well organized and reminded me a lot of a mini Willow Creek meets Word of Life. Of course I haven't been to Word of Life in six years so it could feel more like Willow Creek by now for all I know. After church we went and got Kim's Mothers Day gift since I didn't think about that until I got on the plane on Wednesday (although cards were taken care of). We bought some perfume and the nice gals at Dillards through in 3 freebies along with it! The real Mother's Day gift came when we got home and I cleaned out the garage. I think she has requested that one since November. It looks great now- I'll just walk into the garage and check it out:) And now- it's time to get ready for my last Pastoral Leadership Development class in Blue Springs. Back to the races we go!

Weston UMC State of the Union

On Sunday, April 18^th I gave two mini sermons during worship in order to address some different things going on in the life of our church; in other words, a state of the union address for Weston UMC. If you missed services that day, I’d like to update you on some very positive things going on in our church:

1) Walk to Emmaus: Kim and I both experience the Walk to Emmaus weekend retreat. It was a very positive experience and I would recommend it to anyone who is new to faith, needing some encouragement or faith answers, has recently gone through some traumatic life experiences, is spiritually dry or would like to grow some new friendships. It’s a great time and you won’t regret it.

2) Be who God has created you to be: All of you have been created by God with specific gifts and passions. Stop feeling the pressure to live into the molds that others create for you and learn to joyfully be who God has designed you to be.

3) Lay Preaching: I believe in the power of lay preaching and am encouraging people within our congregation to share their stories, passions and Biblical perspectives on life during Sunday morning worship. I believe the voices within the congregation are as equally powerful as the voice sent to minister to the congregation. Please support them with your attendance, prayers and encouragement.

4) Church Finances: A) In the last seven months our General Fund has grown from $2,500 to over $20,000. Your generosity has been overwhelming and this church is blessed because of it. B) Pennies from Heaven has given over $500 to four different individuals and 2 organizations in the last 2 months. C) Lately, many families/people have given generously to our church above and beyond their regular offerings. We have also become the benefactors of a life insurance policy left by Dorothy Voorhees who grew up here in Weston. We are waiting for a sum of $40,000 to arrive. D) With all that we have been blessed with, let’s remember that God calls us to serve and help. Let’s always experience tension between what we spend for ourselves and what we spend for others.

5) Spiritual Director Visits: I have had an increase in visits from individual and couples who would like spiritual direction. This is very positive and I would encourage anyone who desires such support to make an appointment for a visit.

6) How to Become a Member: If you would like to become a member of Weston UMC, please schedule an appointment with me.

7) Beware of Burnout: We have a lot of positive energy and many good things are going on. Make sure to stay spiritually healthy and as balanced in life as possible. Make a fair assessment of your church involvement and always communicate stress before the fall.

Spring, Easter Craziness

Praise the Lord, Spring is in the air! Yesterday I got bit by a mosquito, turned on the ac in the car and opened up the windows in the house. Today I wore sandals to work and saw turkeys frolicking in a field on my way to church. What a perfect week for Easter! I know that within me I have felt like something dead is coming alive. I have wanted to be outside so badly but it's been almost painful to try anything. But that has all changed- it was in the 80's yesterday! Alexis and I have been to the park two days in a row it's been so nice. Very soon I'll be mushroom hunting, fishing for crappie and hunting spring turkeys. If you want to spend some time with me just pick one and let's go do it:) Yeahhhh, Spring!

Youth Ministry

It was official last night- youth ministry on Sunday nights has arrived. We had eight (maybe 9?) students with us and four adult leaders. We had some great burritos that Dotty made along with a lot of chips, drinks and salsa that other church members brought. I led students in an exciting game of "smack another pool ball with another pool ball". I need a cooler name because it doesn't quite capture the intensity of the activity:) Our video series was pretty good and opened up unapologetically on all kinds of issues related to teens and peer pressure: drugs, sex, drinking, popularity. Nothing like starting out full throttle:) Eric did a good job transitioning students from the video and into discussion by sharing some of his own personal experiences. Overall, it was a great night and I look forward to seeing more students this Sunday night at 6:30pm! Count on dinner and fun:)

Book Review- Three Cups of Tea

So it has been a pathetically long time since I've read a novel. For the last eight years I've read an immense amount of books- primarily for seminary or ministry. Someone recommended the book "Three Cups of Tea" to me so I took her advice and read it. It's a fantastic book about a man with a great deal of passion and drive (true story). He demonstrates a rare ability- caring nothing for the superfluous things of life, but focusing solely on making lives better for others. He sacrifices personal comfort and personal gain in order to provide education to children (especially girls) who would not normally receive it in the Middle East. There is also an interesting under current in the book concerning the Muslim faith. It gives a refreshing view of the Muslim faith as a people that desire peace and love, which is a view we rarely see here in the US. However, there is at times conflict with the more radical sect of Muslims who promote violence and control. What was especially attractive to me about the book was the "outdoor" emphasis added since the individual was a mountain man! Overall, it is a very good book that I would recommend. It is inspirational and presents a challenge to those of us who are quite content living out Comfy Christianity.