iHOPE

The Last Lecture- of Jesus

  Yesterday I gave the link to a YouTube clip of the Oprah Show (how often does that happen?)  It showed Randy Pausch re-doing a speech he titled "The Last Lecture" (based in the tradition of what a professor might hypothetically say to his students if he knew he was going to die).  If you have watched it, you know that Randy knows he is going to die so this exercise is more than an exercise.

  The question I posed yesterday was what we might put in our own 'last lecture?'  What themes, beliefs and hopes would we use to summarize our life?

  It got me thinking about the 'last lecture' of Jesus.  On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus is with his disciples and gives his own version of a Last Lecture.  It is found in its most detailed form in John 13-17. The themes Jesus repeats have to do with Love (its the hallmark of discipleship), staying connected to God through Jesus (he is the Vine and we are the branches) , Unity ('that they may be one') and courage ('I have overcome the world').

  Sometimes I think we skim past this section because our focus is on the the crucifixion or the resurrection.  Reading it as Jesus' Last lecture gives it a different emphasis.  These four chapters go a long way in summarizing the heart of who Jesus is and what he was trying to get across to his disciples.  2,000 years later, I think it still is.

The Last Lecture

  I had a clip from YouTube forwarded to me. Evidently, it is flying around the Internet.  I can see why. It is from a recent Oprah show and featured Randy Pausch. 

  It is a take-off of an academic tradition called The Last Lecture:  If you knew you were going to die, what would you want to leave with your students as your last lecture? As it turns out, this is more than just an academic exercise for Randy.  He really is dying.  You can see the clip for yourself (it is about 10 minutes long) by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0aO64aKqek .  You can't help but admire this man and want to take to heart what he says.

  Besides being a powerful speech, it raises the issue of how we would answer that question.  What would we like to make sure our family, friends, co-workers and neighbors knew about us and what we thought was most important?  What would be the content of your 'last lecture?'

 

 

Welcome, Sarah McHenry!

  Have you seen the new face in the Nursery (I mean other than all the little ones that come in)?  That is our new Nursery Coordinator, Sarah McHenry!  Sarah began as our Nursery Coordinator at the beginning of the month and she has already begaun to make a difference.

  If you haven't done so already, please stop by the Nursery on Sunday morning and welcome Sarah to New Hope.

Same Kind of Different As Me

   Sunday I quoted from the book, Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.  It was a book that was part of this summer's Pastor's Book Club and it has stayed with me since I read it. 

  Several people asked me about it after the service and I said I would post it here. I decided to add a feature to this blog called, "Books Worth Reading".  I'll post books that I have been reading there. If I quote a book in the sermon, you'll find it there, too.  The nice thing about this list is that if you click on the book, it will take you directly to Amazon.com in case you want to purchase it.

  The part I quoted on Sunday is found starting on page 158.

  Same Kind of Different As Me is a wonderful book on several levels.  I think you'll like it.

Memorizing Scripture

  I love Wednesday nights.  More to the point, I love what I get to do on Wednesday nights.

  On Wednesday nights I get to help out in our Pioneer Club; a midweek program for school-aged children.  It is a great program that Jami Lewis is leading.  My part is to help kids memorize scripture and the books of the Bible.

  Kids are amazingly good at memorizing things:  songs on the radio, lines from movies, jingles from ads- even things we wish they wouldn't remember! Why not turn that power and prowess towards something that will help them the rest of their lives?

  Something we started more than 10 years ago is the "66 Club". It is the 'club' you join when you can repeat the 66 books of the Bible.  When they do that in front of the congregation, they get their name on the plaque in the back of the sanctuary. Its not an easy thing to do (have you tried it?) so its a great celebration when a new name is added.  I expect to see some new additions after the first of the year.

  In the meantime, we are memorizing scriptures. Currently, there are 7 scripture verses that make up what we call, "Memory Mountain".  Each verse is another level towards the top.  When all seven levels are scaled, we go get ice cream (did I mention how much I love what I get to do on Wednesday nights?).  In just a few weeks, we already have 4 young people who have reached the summit- with a whole group right on their heels.

  It's a win-win situation: 

• Kids get to excel at something they are good at.
• Key scripture verses are memorized and will be a part of the rest of their lives.
• We have a great time, laugh a lot, learn a lot and get to eat ice cream!

  Not a bad way to spend a Wednesday evening.

Getting Ready to Trot

  In one respect, the scene seemed out of place.  We had finished a wonderful Groundbreaking Celebration on Sunday.  So many people worked so hard- and it showed.  Despite the rainy day, we had one of those wonderful days that shapes us for years to come.  All that was left was to do some clean-up and then close down for the afternoon.  Yet when  walked in to The Pit (which is looking like a very nice 'pit' these days now that we have some new carpet), there was a meeting going on.

  A meeting?  On a day like this, who would be meeting?

  Turns out it was Sherene Miller and her team getting ready for the 2007 Turkey Rock Trot on Thanksgiving Day (November 22).  This is the third year they have organized this event that keeps growing each year.  Last year, they had over 800 people walking and jogging and raised more than $11,000 for the Douglas/Elbert County Task Force.  Appropriately, this year's theme is, "Thanks-for-Giving" and once again we will gather at the Grange in the Meadows for the 5K Family Fun Run.

  Turns out, a meeting like this was perfect for a day like that. The whole point of expanding our facility is to expand our capacity for mission and ministry in our community.  Building an enlarged facility is part of who we are. So is organizing a great event like the Turkey Rock Trot.

  By the way, you can get more information and even register online by clicking here: http://www.rocktrot.com/

 

Milestones

  How do you know if you are going in the right direction on the freeway?  One way is to pay attention to the signs on the road.  They will tell you which direction you are going as well as the distance you have traveled. 

  How do you know what direction you are traveling in life?  One way is to pay attention to the milestones.  The milestones mark the significant events and occasions in your life. Birthdays are milestones.  So are anniversaries.  Starting (or losing) a job, moving, births, deaths, graduations and reunions all serve to mark the direction and significance of a person's life.  Wise is the person who is aware of the milestones in their life.

  We just had a milestone moment at New Hope.  On Sunday, October 14, we celebrated groundbreaking for a new Sanctuary and CE area.  Once completed (Summer of 2008), it will change us and our community for decades.

  Like all milestones, the groundbreaking was time to look back at where we have come.  Less than 20 years ago, the two community churches of Louviers and Sedalia dissolved so they could become a new congregation:  New Hope Presbyterian Church.  They met in the Recreation Center while a new sanctuary and campus were being built on a patch of land in The Meadows (which existed more on paper than in reality).  It was a huge risk and for awhile some thought the congregation had made the wrong move.

  Time and faithfulness proved the move to be the right one.  People came and were welcomed into the life of  New Hope.  Some of them were from around the area, but many were people who had just moved here and were looking for a new beginning in life and with God. New Hope was that place.

  Eight years ago, we marked a milestone when we broke ground on what is now the Fellowship Hall, Children's Area, Kitchen and Welcome Area. It was a big addition and we thought it would take a long time to fill it with people. It took less than six months.  Additional services, staff and programs each marked milestones in our lives.  Each one pointing us ahead to new mission and ministry.

  I believe the groundbreaking last Sunday will be seen as a major milestone in the life of New Hope.  Some from the original Louviers and Sedalia congregations were there.  Many more were the people who have come since then.  Because of the congregation's faithfulness over time, many more still will. When they do, they will hopefully look back to that day and note it as a milestone in their life, when they made a new beginning with God.

  So what have been 'milestone moments' in your life?  Which ones can you point back to as a new beginning in life and with God? Wise is the person who is aware of the milestones in their life.  Wiser still, the one who understands what they mean and walks accordingly.

 

Developing a Devotional Life

  "So, how is your prayer life?"

  I don't know too many questions that will cause as much anxiety among Christians as that one.  It seems like everyone feels bad about the frequency as well as amount of time they pray.  People constantly seem to apologize for their prayer life (or lack of it).  It usually starts with something like, "I know I should probably pray more, but..."

  We have a new resource on our web page that can help.  Click on the "Daily Devotional" button on our front page (or, take the shortcut and just click here: http://newhopepres.org/daily_devotionals.html

  You will find a link to three of the daily devotionals that people often find helpful when they are trying to make a habit of regular scripture reading, reflection and prayer.  The Upper Room is one that we offer in printed form at New Hope (they are on the bookshelves in the Welcome Area) and they disappear pretty quickly. Now you can get the same devotional by going on line.  The same is true for Our Daily Bread and My Utmost for His Highest. 

  A short devotional (5-10 minutes) like this doesn't appeal to everyone, but if you have never found a good way to make prayer a regular part of your schedule, this might be a great place to start.  Some people partner with others and use the devotional material to share thoughts and reflections with one another.  Sometimes, whole Home Groups do the same and then pick the most interesting devotional of the week as the subject of discussion when they get together.

  There are lots of ways to use these resources, but the first step is to quit feeling guilty about your devotional life and start a new habit.  These devotional guides can be a good way to start. They have stood the test of time as helpful for many and now we've made it a little easier to find them.

In the Neighborhood

  In case you haven't yet heard, we are going to have some new neighbors, soon.  Wednesday (October 10) it was announced that Centura Health has purchased 50 acres across the street from us (on the northeast corner) to build a new hospital and medical offices.  Their tentative plan is to open in 2009 with an emergency room, imaging center, outpatient lab and medical office building, followed by a hospital the size and scope of which,  sounds similar to Sky Ridge.  Centura is the healthcare system that includes Porter, Littleton, Parker Adventist, Penrose and St. Francis hospitals.

  Another neighbor scheduled to move in is a long-term care and nursing home facility.  They own the land immediately to the south of the fire station (part of which wraps around andborders our property.  No information yet on who that is or when that will happen, only the indication that the coming of the hospital will accelerate its development.

  These are obviously big changes for Castle Rock, The Meadows- and New Hope.  The church that used to be the "Little Church on the Prairie", stuck all by itself, is now very much in the center of things.  It is also strategically located in a place of sickness, healing, health and hope. There should be a church in the midst of all this and I am glad that we are here.

  For more information about the details and plans, click here: http://www.meadowslink.com/content/content_view.cfm?ID=1191

Groundbreaking!

  Well, it is finally starting to happen!  On Sunday, October 14, we are celebrating the beginning of our new construction with a special Groundbreaking ceremony.

  We are condensing three worship services into one, with a single service at 9:30 am. There will be some special recognitions and very special music. Afterwords, we will move out to our construction site for a brief ceremony that will signal the beginning of our construction and dedicate the land to God's purposes as a sanctuary and an children's wing. Our children will be in Sunday School at 9:30 with a special activity that they will share as part of the groundbreaking ceremony. There will be a reception back inside after the ceremony with a chance to see some of the history of New Hope as well as meet and greet friends, neighbors and member of our Presbytery.

  This is an event that has been a long time coming and it marks a significant new chapter for New Hope and our community.  Come and be a part of history in the making.