Soundtrack of Life

A few years ago Starbucks coffee came out with a TV ad campaign that has stuck in my memory.  In the commercial an everyday normal person wakes up to get ready for work, and finds that he has a rock band that follows him around giving him a soundtrack for his day.  The band is there to pump him up, to encourage him, and to narrate his day through their music, essentially giving him a soundtrack for his day. (You can find it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9buedr_YDQ)  As I watched this commercial I began to think, what if my life had a soundtrack?  What if a band narrated each day in my life as a Christian?  What would it sound like?

Throughout scripture we are reminded that as Christians our faith must be present and lived out in our daily actions as well as in our quiet time.  In the book of James we are told, “You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” (James 2:20, TNIV)  In Ephesians we are reminded that we have an obligation to use the gifts and experiences that God has given to us, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up“ (Ephesians 4:11-12, TNIV) There are countless other scripture passage that point us to the importance of living out our faith in our daily lives.  In each we are reminded that all that we do, in word and deed are a reflection of Jesus.  We are his ambassadors, his representatives; we are the body of Christ.  We are reminded that in all that we are to reflect Jesus to the world.

So what kind of soundtrack would our church have?  As someone walks through our doors are they overwhelmed by the love of Christ, and devotion to following Jesus?  Do they sense a passion for doing God’s will?  Do they hear a song of hope, a song of salvation?  Or looking to our lives personally, what would your soundtrack be like?  Would it be filled with joy or pain?  Would it be rockin’ or a bit mellower?  Would it be filled with words of life and encouragement, or lyrics of hurt, and discouragement?  Jesus has given to each of us gifts, talents, and experiences to bring glory to Him, and to make an impact in this world.  So the next time you are listening to your iPod, or radio, or stereo, be thinking, what would my soundtrack be like, what would our church’s soundtrack be like?  Is there a clear reflection of the message of Jesus, of Hope, of forgiveness, or restoration?  Whether or not we like it everyone around us is listening, waiting to see what they hear, what they see, and what they experience.  They are wondering and observing these Christians, and about our church.  So let your life’s song ring true, may it be a reflection of Jesus to everyone that you meet, and everyone that you know.

Rejoice, pray, encourage

This week I was reading through 1 Thessalonians and came across this verse, “Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, TNIV) This is a part of Paul’s final instructions in the letter for his church in Thessalonica, and is written to a church known to have a number of new believers in it. Paul as their pastor is seeking to teach the new believers what Christian community looks like so they can embody it themselves. Take a moment, and reread these verses from Paul, hear Paul the pastor pleading with and encouraging his new community to take up these words, to embody this as a church.

Envision what this might look like for you. “Rejoice always.” Pay attention to your conversations this week and see if you hear fellow Christians rejoicing always. Paul is not suggesting that they need to always put on a happy face, but to be aware of all that God is doing all around you. Take a moment at the end of the day to ask this question of yourself or others, “How have I (or you) seen God at work today? What has happened today that is especially life giving?” It is amazing the power of remembrance, of taking a moment to think about that basic question. Suddenly we remember and notice the work of God all around us that we may have missed before.

“Pray continually.” Prayer is not simply a set of words that we use with our eyes closed in a dark room, but can be a conversation with God that continues throughout our days. Take a moment this week to pray for your pastor, that God would grant me discernment as I seek to lead Trinity, pray as we approach of 50th anniversary that God would use this as a opportunity to share fellowship with old friends and with new ones. Pray for our visitors who have been joining us in worship week after week, pray that God might meet them in a real and powerful way at our church, and pray that we might encourage them and help them grow in their faith.

Paul’s central point is that we are called to build up the body of Christ in all that we do. The body of Christ at its best builds up one another in our faith. We encourage one another of how we see God at work in our own and in one another’s lives. We cover one another in pray during the good times and the bad. We encourage each other to use our gifts for God’s glory, to build up and serve this body of believers.

Pastor Bill

Rejoice, Pray, Encourage

This week I was reading through 1 Thessalonians and came across this verse, “Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, TNIV)  This is a part of Paul’s final instructions in the letter for his church in Thessalonica, and is written to a church known to have a number of new believers in it.  Paul as their pastor is seeking to teach the new believers what Christian community looks like so they can embody it themselves.  Take a moment, and reread these verses from Paul, hear Paul the pastor pleading with and encouraging his new community to take up these words, to embody this as a church.

Envision what this might look like for you.  “Rejoice always.”  Pay attention to your conversations this week and see if you hear fellow Christians rejoicing always.  Paul is not suggesting that they need to always put on a happy face, but to be aware of all that God is doing all around you.  Take a moment at the end of the day to ask this question of yourself or others, “How have I (or you) seen God at work today?  What has happened today that is especially life giving?”  It is amazing the power of remembrance, of taking a moment to think about that basic question.  Suddenly we remember and notice the work of God all around us that we may have missed before.

“Pray continually.”  Prayer is not simply a set of words that we use with our eyes closed in a dark room, but can be a conversation with God that continues throughout our days.  Take a moment this week to pray for your pastor, that God would grant me discernment as I seek to lead Trinity, pray as we approach of 50^th anniversary that God would use this as a opportunity to share fellowship with old friends and with new ones.  Pray for our visitors who have been joining us in worship week after week, pray that God might meet them in a real and powerful way at our church, and pray that we might encourage them and help them grow in their faith.

Paul’s central point is that we are called to build up the body of Christ in all that we do.  The body of Christ at its best builds up one another in our faith.  We encourage one another of how we see God at work in our own and in one another’s lives.  We cover one another in pray during the good times and the bad.  We encourage each other to use our gifts for God’s glory, to build up and serve this body of believers.

Pastor Bill