At our Ash Wednesday Worship nearly two weeks ago, I briefly described some spiritual disciplines that are a part of our Lenten journey from Ash Wednesday to Easter. Allow me to expand upon what I introduced.
Psalm 51 became our foundational scripture for the evening. A portion of this Psalm is shared now:
“1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgement. 5 Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. 6 You desire truth in the inward being;* therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.”
To be in that place where God seeks for us to be requires what I have called a form of spring-cleaning. God’s abundant forgiveness and grace is unending as we open ourselves for Him to mold us as a potter molds a piece of clay or as an artist paints a gorgeous painting.
Let us truly open ourselves to God’s enfolding love and blessing.

Pastor Nik

For several weeks many of you have been participating in some prayer triads.

As I stated on the Sunday that I introduced these triads the sole purpose is for

members of the congregation to join together in small fellowship groups, to study

designated passages of scripture, to pray together, and then to discern what

direction God is calling for First Christian to move.

I have received a number of reports that many of you are having an

enjoyable time and discovering significant insights that God is revealing to your

heart and to your spirit. I know that some of the triads are just three people while

others involve as many as five to eight people. When we reach the end of that triad

time, I will look forward to your reports.

I deeply regret that my wife and I were not able to join with so many of you

for a special Valentine’s dinner followed by the movie, “The War Room”. We had

planned to make the trip back to Middletown mid-afternoon. By that time, the

snow was falling rapidly and we only made it as far as Milford before I had to stop

and call and say that we would not make it.

Thank you to all who are engaging in this time of discernment regarding

God’s vision and mission for First Christian.

Some other exciting things are on the horizon that you will be hearing about

soon.

When I have been on vacation or traveling for business purposes, I have
taken note of something that the state of Ohio lacks. Driving on interstates into our
neighboring states provides me with a chance to be greeted at the first rest area to
a “Welcome Center.” Those welcome centers usually have state maps of the state
that you are entering along with a wealth of information regarding places you might
want to visit while in that state. Some welcome centers even offer regional snack
or drink. Often you are able to make motel reservations if needed and the friendly
clerks greet you with a warm welcome.
I have always felt that the state of Ohio is missing an important element that
would make it user-friendlier. Now, I understand that the rest area on I-75 just
south of Monroe does have maps and other information about Ohio. I have not had
the chance to stop and check it out.
This got me to thinking about the welcome that we offer as a church. Is it
enough for us to be called a friendly church when people enter our doors? What
about the friendliness that we extend into the community? Is our welcome in our
neighborhoods and the communities in which we live such that another might say,
“I want to visit that church?” Think about it and seek to live it.
During the season of Lent I will be addressing the phrases that Jesus used in
the prayer that he taught his disciples and that he has given to us. Join us as we
begin that adventure.

Pastor Nik

All of you know that I wear glasses. I have worn glasses since I was in first

grade. Of course, as I got older, those single lens glasses gradually changed into
bi-focals to allow me to read and see things at a distance more clearly. I suffer
from both astigmatism and far-sightedness. Actually my visual prescription has
changed very little over the last ten years.
I got to thinking about what glasses do for anyone of us whether we need
them or not. With or without glasses we need to have clarity and perspective
regarding what is around us. Right now, many of you are involved in prayer triads
to study selected scripture passages and to seek God’s direction regarding where he
seeks for First Christian to live and to move regarding its mission and vision. What
kind of clarity and perspective is God giving you?
Some time close to or immediately following Easter, I will invite all of the
recorders of the prayer groups to gather for a time of brainstorming and
discernment regarding what God has revealed. From this session, we will draft a
new and exciting mission and vision for First Christian. Then we can begin the task
of assembling a Search Committee and drafting a narrative profile of First Christian
for perspective candidates for settled pastor.
Seek for clarity and perspective regarding God’s call to us.

Pastor Nik

Some of you know that I do my best to get to the gym on those days I am at home to work out. Actually, there is a similar gym in Monroe, but I have not been able to take advantage of it. Years ago, I reaffirmed that if I did not take good care of myself I really could not have adequately been able to care for others.
When I go to the gym I usually spend some time on an elliptical machine to get my heart rate going and to warm up my muscles. I may use a treadmill or a rower if an elliptical is not available.
I spend most of the rest of my time lifting weights and toning various parts of my body. I use a personal trainer who makes sure that I lift the weight with the proper form. Often my trainer or another friend will become a spotter for me. The spotter has a primary purpose: to make sure that you can lift the weight you are trying to lift and to prevent any chance of your dropping the weight on yourself, which could lead to serious injury.
I want all of us to apply the concept of a spotter to the work and the ministry of the church. How can we serve as spotters for one another? Let me suggest some possibilities. Volunteer without being asked to assist another with their tasks, whether it be communion preparation, stepping in for an absent deacon or elder, joining with others to provide snacks for a coffee fellowship, making sure that all of the lights are off as you depart the building, assisting in the video booth.
I am sure that all of us have heard the statement, “Everybody’s business is nobody’s business.” I have never tried to confirm that here at First Christian. But don’t be surprised if you see a balled up piece of paper on the carpet. The next question is, who will pick it up?
Be a spotter when it comes to the ministries of First Christian.

Since I shared a children’s story last week in order to make a point, I decided that I would continue this week with that trend. Only this week I will not share the entire story because I believe that the title to this story is sufficient.
The story is “The Little Engine That Could!” I believe that most if not all of you are familiar with that story. The little engine had a tremendous task of pulling a great load of freight cars over a mountain. This is a story of faith. It is a story of hope. It is a story of possibilities.
My dear people, I want you to think big and to think outside the box when it comes to First Christian Church. Dream big dreams. Think great possibilities. Remember that all things are possible with God.
We have begun a time of discernment. I have invited you to join together in prayer triads to attentively study some designated scripture passages and to continually ask, what is God saying to us? It is not about your agenda. It is not about my agenda. It is about God’s agenda.
Can we be like that little engine as he began to pull that great load up the mountainside? “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” As he got closer to the top, his chugging changed to “I know I can, I know I can, I know I can”
Will you stand at the foot of the mountain and only say, “No way?” Or will you stand at the foot of the mountain and say, “Let’s do it because God will be at your side to lend a helping hand?”

First, allow me to say Happy New Year to all of you.

Many of you may recall, “Mirror, mirror on the wall….” from the story of

“Snow White”. Every morning and perhaps throughout the day, we gaze at

ourselves in a mirror, primping, preparing for the day ahead. We may see our

reflection in windows or phones or tablets or computer screens. Each time we take

note of our appearance. I have a question for you. How do we sincerely and

genuinely reflect the image of God?

Remember the creation story. “So God created man in his own image, in the

image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27,

If we were created in the image of God, is it not true that God’s church has

also been brought forth in his image? How do we reflect the image of Christ? Early

on in my time with you I suggested that you greet one another in this way: “The

Christ in me greets the Christ in you.”

Remember this whenever you come upon a mirror or a reflection of yourself,

always asking that critical question, how am I reflecting the image of Christ?

Suppose I was to say to you, Christ is one of you! Would we treat one another

differently with greater dignity, honor, and respect? Or would we pass it off as

being impossible or improbable?

As a congregation and as individuals let us be imitators of the Christ who has

called us to be his beloved.

Pastor Nik

First Christian Church; Middletown, Ohio