Looking Ahead at Riverview

I’ve tried to think of an analogy to accurately reflect my thoughts on 2009, and Riverview’s potential in 2010. One person called 2009 the ‘Perfect Storm’ of change for our church. An entirely new staff, a building project, and a programming change all culminating in January 2009. That’s a pretty good analogy, but I don’t want to give the impression that what happened at RBC in 2009 was bad. God has used all we have gone through to prepare us for future ministry, and challenges.

Someone else related to me that from their ‘insider’ experience at Riverview, RBC is more like a schizophrenic church; meaning there were five different churches trying to meet together in the same building. I could see a lot of truth in that, but from our study in Ephesians, we know it never works that way. We (the church) are one body in Christ, and to divide the body is to kill it. (Ephesians 2:16 & 4:4)

Instead of these two analogies I would like to suggest that Riverview is more like a person who is maturing and growing, and who sometimes goes through what my mom used to call ‘growing pains’. Riverview was born in 1954. When we were a young church we grew like a young child…fast. Within ten years the church had grown from zero to over one hundred. In the next ten years it grew by another hundred. In the adolescent years of the church it stayed much the same, but in its young adult life RBC grew tremendously. By the end of Pastor L.M. Woodson’s tenure the church was turning forty –five years old, and had grown to average four hundred in attendance.

Then came the MLC…the mid-life-crisis. Pastor Brad, Bro. Aaron, Mike, and Charles all arrived at Riverview at an awkward time in the life of our church and community. God placed them as Pastors at Riverview during a difficult time of transition, and they did a great job leading RBC into the new millinea, which I think is pretty symbolic of their ministry years at Riverview. They led Riverview from one distinct phase in life to the next. Also during this time, up through the present, Bixby has been growing like crazy, so we have had to discern who we are in our fast changing community. We have had to answer questions like, how do we keep the older folks who have been here for thirty years happy, and at the same time reach all the new young people moving into our area? Or, how do we keep up with the new and exciting churches that are being planted all around us without sacrificing our core values? Grappling with questions like these and hundreds more have led me to understand Riverview has simply gone through another stage in the life of a church. Over the last several years RBC had a church-wide mid-life-crisis.

A mid-life-crisis is an identity crisis. When men go through this they are trying to figure out who they are, and it often leads to a career change, a gold necklace, and a corvette. When a church goes through it, we imitate the churches around us, adopt ministry methods that don’t fit us (in an attempt to be relevant), and we usually alienate church members on both ends of the spectrum. Riverview has had it’s MLC, and now we are ready to move forward; accepting who we are, as God intended us to be, to be used by Him and for His glory to reach our community for Christ.

So where do we go from here?

Get Comfortable In Our Own Skin. Let’s just be happy with who we are in Christ. Riverview is God’s Church, and He loves His Church. He is building His Church, and the gates of Hell cannot prevail against His Church. Instead of trying to be something we are not, Riverview will simply be the Church God has called us to be.


Commit to Sound Doctrine. Preach the Bible. Teach the Bible. Live out the Bible.


Commit To Being The Best. Let’s be the best Door Greeters, Sunday School Teachers, Hand-Shakers, and Meal Takers out there. We should be the best at welcoming new people into the flock, and we should be the best ministering to the needs of others. I want Riverview members to be the best at a participating in worship, not just showing up to watch. If you are a Youth Sponsor, give it your all. If you teach in Children’s or Preschool Sunday School, do it whole-heartedly. If you are an Adult Director, please realize how important your job is. To everyone else - get involved, find a place to serve, and give God your best.

NO GRUMBLING. Please don’t complain to the people in your circle of influence. Be a positive influence with them. If you have a genuine concern talk to one of us pastors about it. Maybe we can explain why we do what we do. Getting mad and grumbling never does any good. It doesn’t make you feel better, and it doesn’t solve any problems. Not to mention grumbling and complaining are not the Christian way to handle disagreements.


Embrace Evangelism. Evangelism is one of the keys that will unlock the future of Riverview. Pray and ask God to place people on your heart to pray for them to be saved. Then pray and ask God to give you opportunities to share your faith with the people you are praying for.


Live Missionally. Living missionally goes hand and hand with evangelism. People will most likely not hear you message if your life does not back up what you say. Living missionally means to always be watching for opportunities in your daily life that will open a door for you to serve another person in the name of Christ with the hopes of sharing your faith with them on a personal level.

God Bless You Riverview.  You know I love you, and I love being your pastor....Have a great Year!!!!     aj

This Preacher's Life

I feel like a Bible Dictionary. Probably...more like the Cliff's Notes version, but a source for Bible facts and data none the less. But that is not what I am supposed to be doing. I am supposed to teach, no, scratch that, I'm supposed to show people how to live. My teaching should be an overflow of my heart, and my time with God.

I feel like an 'Ambulance Chaser'- No offence any friend I might have who is an AC. My flock - like most - think my highest calling is to know who is sick, who is in what hospital, and to be there before anyone else. I love my church family, and want to be there when they are hurting, but I can't seem to make it happen. My pastoral care should be the overflow of my heart, and my time with God.

I feel like a CEO. I really struggle with being the Administrator of a religious organization. Instead, I want to be a part of a living organism. A Body. The Body. All I can say about this is, I may not be the best, but I could be a whole lot worse. Anyway - my administration should be from the overflow of my heart, and my time with God.

So...if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go spend some time with God.

aj

Choir Rehearsal

Just got through practicing for the Christmas Musical. I really enjoy singing in the choir. I always have. When I was a kid at the First UMC Church in Lamont, Oklahoma I would sing with the adult choir. Me, Gilly (He was the preacher), Glenn Webster, and Rod Reese made up the men's section. Diana Reese, Syble Webster, Cynthia Waddell, and Ada (The preacher's wife)...and some other made up the ladies section. Those are some awesome memories. There was an old guy named Merle Hardwick too. He used to call me...never mind...I would never hear the end of it if I told you. He sang too. I know I'm forgetting some people, but we practiced every Sunday Morning at about 9:00. I was usually a few minutes late, and a little under pitch, but I loved it...

Anyway. I just got out of Choir practice, and I am so thankful I get to sing for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

aj

Surf's Up

I got a surf-board today...dude. I don't think it is for me though. It is about 6 inches wide, and about 18 inches long. Darrell and Teresa McCain gave it to me to remind me to pray for them. As I understand it Teresa leaves Tuesday, the 28th. They have a wonderful opportunity to minister to international students at the University of Hawaii. God speed to you both. We'll pray for Teresa to get things set up, and prepare for the students, and we'll pray for Darrell as he needs to sell their home and join up with his wife.

I just saw the 'MISSIONS TABLE' in the hallway. I am so happy and excited that RBC has a heart for missions. Last night was a great block party at Pecan Park Mobil Home Park. Don't you love it. Missions around the world...missions around the corner.

Get missional. Live missionally every day. Lead your Sunday School or Small group to be missional. Enough preaching...

God Bless - - - - - - (now go be the salt. Matthew 5:13)

Our BIG BIG GOD !!!

If you go outside tonight, and find the tip of the handle on the big dipper you will see a bright star named Polaris. Polaris is forty-six times larger than our own sun, it is 1,800 times brighter, and 430 light years away. 430 light years means you would have to travel at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second) for 430 years to reach your destination.

To put all this in perspective light travels from the Sun to Earth in 8 minutes and 19 second. If we could fly to the Sun on a 747 at four hundred miles per hour (normal speed) it would take a little over 26 years to get there. Think about it. The Sun seems so far away, and at the speed of light it DOES NOT even take a day to get there…it only takes eight minutes, but to get to Polaris it would take 430 years. The most amazing part is, astronomically speaking, Polaris is a neighbor; it is in the Milky Way.

According to NASA, through Hubble Space Telescope technology, astronomers estimate there are hundreds of billions of other galaxies besides the Milky Way in our universe. To say the least it is far beyond our comprehension.

I pray it comforts you to know the God who is powerful and wonderful enough to create all this is the same God who loves you, cares for you, and sent His only Son to die for you.

Isaiah 40:26-31
Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing… Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth
does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power….Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

Why I Don't Like Mother's Day

Now before you get excited let me say for the record...I LOVE MY MOM. I'm not the biggest fan of any holiday; Mother's Day just happens to be tomorrow.

My mom is the epitome of sacrifice. She was a career beautician in a small town, which meant she colored and back-combed hair - almost to hard-hat standards - at the drop of a hat for whoever called, at anytime. Then when I was a senior in High School, she went back to college (I think she was 40), and she began working at a convenience store in the evenings until time to close. She would always forgo things she needed to make sure us kids had what we thought we needed, and she was an awesome cook too. My mother is an inspiration. Without knowing it, she fostered in me a 'can do' attitude. She modeled for me a work ethic that is second to none, and she is truly a woman who walks by faith, and not by sight. Yep. I love my mom.

My beef with Mother's Day is that it gives us kids a cop-out. We can ignore our moms, or not appreciate them all year, and then if we will come through with some flowers or candy one day of the year, we get a reprieve the other 364. Just as we treat Christmas and Easter like 'holy days', and then forget about Jesus the rest of the year, we need to remember that our moms are special every day, not just Mother's Day.

Now I hope I am not coming off as some kind of Mother's Day Pharisee; holier than thou. In fact, all I got my mom this year is this cheap blog article. Soooooo - HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM !! I love and appreciate you. Talk to you next year (just kidding.)

aj

PS - I am a fortunate man. I had a great mom, and my boys have a great mom too. I am so proud of her, and I thank God every day for her being a godly influence in their lives. Maybe in 2039 Nolan, Mason, or OB will sit down at what will be a computer in the future, and honor their mom with a super-information-highway Mother's Day thought.

Anonymous Letters

The following are some assumptions I make concerning people who send anonymous letters to their pastors.

1.) They Don't Love Their Pastor. In the letter they always say they love their pastor, but their actions (writing an anonymous letter) tell a different story. Oh the irony. If you love your pastor talk to them like an adult...face to face.


2.) They Don't Know Their Bible. Did you know people who stretch out their hand against God's annointed servants will not go unpunnished. Individuals can justify their actions to men, but God, the JUDGE, knows their heart, thoughts, and secret motives. This is why pastors must pray for people who hurt them. This is why we pray, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Also, sending anonymous letters shows zero respect and esteem for the leaders God has placed in your church. If you really love them "Speak the truth in love." Remembering though Ephesians 4:15 is not talking about "your truth" - that's your opinion. It is talking about speaking GOD'S TRUTH in whatever situation you are in.

1 Samuel 26:9-10
But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord's anointed and be without guilt?" NASU

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. NASU

3.) They Are Self Centered. Every anonymous letter I have ever received only stated someone's opinion. It reflected their taste concerning Music, Facilites, Preaching Style, etc...

Philippians 2:3-5

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. NASU

NEVER have I reveived an anonymous letter concerning Ecclesiology, Theology, or Doctrine. In other words: anonymous letters never have substance, only steam.

Suggestions for handling an anonymous letter.

You can usually tell what you are in for before you open the envelope.

After opening the letter first check for a signature. If there is no John Hancock at the bottom. CHUNK IT. Resist every temptaion to read it. Run...and I mean RUN to the shredder and feed it to the little paper eating monster in the corner. The shredder can handle it...you can't.

My Solemn Vow

From this day forward I pledge to never ever, ever, ever, ever,...ever-ever read an anonymous letter. I vow to disregard such letters with expediency and fervor. I promise to feed anonymous mail to the Fellows PS 60 C-2 without hesitation. Futhermore, I pledge, with my hand raised to the heavens, to dance a little jig as the disingenuous document is gound to a pulp.

Seriously

I bet your pastor loves you, and would take your constructive criticism graciously. I also believe you are in no emotional, let alone physical danger when talking to your pastor about a serious concern you have. (Meaning - They are not going to yell at you, call you names, and try to punch you.) I also know that you don't understand how much pressure your pastors are under to please many different people who have a wide range of tastes, desires, and agendas. Your pastors need your love, patience, support, and prayers.....not anonymous letters.

Signed - Anonymous - Just Kidding - Andy