First Presbyterian Church Santa Ana

Wholly Devoted to You

2011-06-21T11:50:00.000-07:00

“Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in all hearts of those who love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.” – Patrick of Ireland (389-461)

When I think of devotion, I think of love. I think of couples who devote themselves to one another. I think of songs like the Everly Brothers:

Darlin’ you can count on me
Till the sun dries up the sea
Until then I’ll always be devoted to you

I’ll be yours through endless time
I’ll adore your charms sublime
Guess by now you know that I’m devoted to you

I’ll never hurt you, I’ll never lie
I’ll never be untrue
I’ll never give you reason to cry
I’d be unhappy if you were blue

Through the years my love will grow
Like a river it will flow
It can’t die because I’m so devoted to you

The definition of devotion is “1. love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person or activity; 2. Religious worship or observance.” As Christians, we would like to believe we are devoted to Jesus Christ. But I think many distractions draw us away from our God.

To what or whom are you devoted? Where is your devotion focused? Your spouse? Your children? Your home? Your pet? Your job? Your popularity? Your church? Your volunteerism? Your hobby? Your entertainment? Your sports team? Your future? Your past?

Let me offer five marks of believers who are devoted to Jesus Christ. First, devoted believers are devoted to Scripture. They hunger to know the mind and will of God. They want to know the life and words of Jesus. They long to experience the touch of the Holy Spirit. How can they know these things better? By reading the inspired word of God. Like a sports fan who reads all the stories about their teams and knows all the statistics, a devoted believer knows the Bible.

Secondly, devoted believers are devoted to prayer. You might notice their knees are a little raw from kneeling at bedside, praying to God. They offer prayers of adoration for who God is and thanksgiving for what God has done and is doing. They confess their shortcomings and ask for God to cleanse and heal them. They offer prayers of petition, laying their worries and concerns at the feet of Jesus and asking Him to carry their burdens and the burdens of their loved ones. And at times, they sit in silence, waiting for God to speak to them in a still, small voice. Like a devoted lover who simply wants to spend time with the object of their devotion, a devoted believer spends time in prayer with God.

Third, devoted believers are devoted to living more like Christ. Reading about God and spending time in prayer are not enough. They desire to grow in faith. Scripture and prayer should transform us into the likeness of our Lord. Like a devoted spouse begins to act, look and think like their partner, so a believer should begin to begin to become more and more like Jesus.

Fourth, devoted believers are devoted to sharing Jesus Christ with others. As a believer’s relationship with Christ grows and blossoms, so their enthusiasm for Him grows. They want to tell others about who Jesus is and how He is changing their lives in new, unexpected, amazingly positive ways. Like the devoted hobbyist becomes excited to share about their collection or activity or whatever, a devoted believer should be brimming with excitement to share their relationship with Jesus to others.

Fifth, devoted believers are devoted to joyful generosity. As a believer grows in the knowledge and grace of God and His overwhelming love and generosity in their lives, it is a natural byproduct to become more generous. They recognize that everything is a gift from God. And they recognize that nothing of this earth will last. What will last are the eternal souls of those around us. Like the devoted character in the movie “Pay It Forward,” a devoted believer recognizes the benefits of joyful generosity.

We are coming into the summer months. I love these months because life slows down. Summers are a time for me to read and reflect. I take the opportunity to refocus and refine my direction.

I long to be devoted to Jesus Christ. And so I commit myself to be devoted to Scripture, to prayer, to living more like Jesus, to sharing my faith, and to joyful generosity. I hope you will join me in devotion to our Lord. May Jesus Christ be the object of our devotion today, tomorrow, and always.

May God richly bless us, even as He blesses others through us!

In His Love & Service,

Lance

Which Will Be for All the People

2010-12-01T14:53:00.000-08:00

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid: for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.'" (Luke 2:10)

"What do you want for Christmas?"

I suppose after the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" then, "What do you want for Christmas?" is the second most common question asked of children. And if you are around children at all, you know that they will readily, thoughtfully and thoroughly answer this question. They have a list and they are happy to share their list with anyone who will listen.

I remember when I was a child. One set of grandparents used to send me socks and underwear for Christmas. I wanted toys and games, nut they sent me socks and underwear. They didn't give me what I wanted; they gave me something I needed. In my youthful frustration, I remember one time throwing their gift under my bed and leaving it there for weeks.

Now that I am an adult, my children ask what I want for Christmas and my response is often, "I could really use some new socks and underwear." With time comes maturity. We watch our lives pass by and we see how the things we wanted have come and gone. What once was something we "have to have" becomes something to be sold at the next garage sale.

Christmas is the season we give gifts to family and loved ones. Why? The gifts we give are a symbol of the gifts brought to Jesus when He was born. But they are more than that. The gifts we give are symbols of the gifts that God has sent to us. What gifts did God send at this time?

This Advent/Christmas season, we will be focusing our attention on The Gifts of Christmas. What gifts did God send to the world when He sent His Son to be born here? We will focus on the gift of salvation, the gift of Emmanuel, the gift of peace, the gift of joy and the gift of a baby.

Sometimes I wonder if these gifts are really what I think we think they are. The people of Jesus' day were looking for a certain kind of savior, but Jesus did not fulfill their desires. They had their hearts set on a different kind of Messiah. God sent what the people of the world needed, not necessarily what the people wanted.

Are we at all like the people of the first century? Do we accept only the gifts from God we want and toss the gifts we need under the beds of our lives? We'll be wrestling with these questions as we seek to gratefully and humbly receive God's rich blessings this holiday season.

May God bless us, every one!

In His Love & Service,

Lance

If My People Pray

2010-11-01T11:04:00.000-07:00

"If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
(2 Chronicles 7:14)

There's power in prayer.

I forget that. I try to follow Christ's teaching. But I get so busy. I try to do things that will honor God. I try to do all I can to further God's Kingdom here on earth. But I get side-tracked sometimes. I do the best I can.

What I don't do as well as I would like to do... is pray.

After King Solomon built and dedicated the Temple to the Lord, God spoke these words to the young king: "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." God desires to forgive us, to heal us, to prosper us. But God also desires us to humble ourselves, to seek Him and to pray.

At our September session meeting, our elders made a commitment to pray. While we continue to pray for the concerns and needs of our church family and community, we purposed to pray intentionally for our budget. We feel God has called us to this specific place for such a time as this. But we are deeply concerned about our finances and our resources.

Now, we can make cuts and we probably will. We can put a task force together to study the problem and offer recommendations. We can ask the congregation to give more. We can hire outside consultants to study our current budget and make recommendations.

But in September I was proud of our session. While they didn't eliminate the possibility of doing any of the above listed actions, they decided to pray for our budget. There are 14 active session members, so two were assigned to each day of the week. Your session is intentionally praying for our church budget.

Ironically, a week after we started to pray, NBC contacted the church office asking if they could use our parking lot and facility while they were shooting an episode of the series, "Outlaw." Suddenly, we had several thousand dollars donated to the church for use of the facility.

Now, some might say that was a coincidence. As my friend, Steve Murray, likes to say, "I don't know if it was a coincidence or not. I just know that when I pray, a lot of coincidences happen!"

And I know that a few thousand dollars aren't going to solve all of our budget woes. But I thank God for this provision. I believe that this donation was an answer to prayer. And that spurs me to want to pray more. To thank God for the way He has supplied our needs in the past. Wow! He has done amazing things through the faithful members of this church who have gone before us. And I believe God will continue to do amazing things in our church today and into the future. If...

Yeah, that's the "conditional phrase" in the Bible. If my people humble themselves. If my people seek my face. If my people pray.

Will you join us? Will you pray with us? Will you pray intentionally for our budget? Will you pray that God will continue to guide our leaders into His vision for this congregation? And will you pray that God will supply our needs to fulfill that vision?

I believe that where God provides the vision, God will provide the means.

But the funny thing is... God wants us to ask. I can't think of a single time Jesus performed a miracle that was unasked for. Can you? So lets ask! Let's pray for God's vision. Let's pray for the finances to carry out that vision. Let's pray for a miracle!

As we consider the context of the passage from 2 Chronicles, lets ask ourselves what happened following the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. The nation of Israel reached its zenith. King Solomon was the wealthiest king in the nation's history; some suggest he was the wealthiest monarch in all of history! Tales are still told of Solomon's treasures. And the kingdom of Israel spread in all directions.

Now, I'm not suggesting that there's something formulaic about prayer. I'm not saying that if we say certain words we'll be blessed. And I'm not suggesting a prosperity gospel. But I do believe this, if we do not pray, God will not respond to our need. As scripture reminds us, "You do not have, because you do not ask." (Js 4:2) So let's pray!

Please join with your session as we pray for the budget of First Presbyterian Church Santa Ana.

May God richly bless us even as He blesses others through us!

In His Love & Service,

Lance

Getting Back Into the Rhythm

2010-09-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." (Eccl. 3:1)

Rhythm is an important part of life. By it the farmer knows when to sew and when to reap; the athlete knows when to train and when to recuperate; the student knows when to study and when to rest. Pet owners are taught to stay within a regular routine so pets will be at ease. New parents are instructed to stay with a regular routine so babies will have a stronger sense of security. Dieters are trained to establish new routines so their weight loss lasts.

Summer is coming to an end. It's time to get back into the rhythm of life, balancing work, family, school, friends, hobbies, and other interests. Unfortunately, life is very busy these days. I see parents setting priority on studies and sports, while they neglect the Spiritual nurture of their children. I see adults setting priority on work and recreation, while they neglect work and Bible study.

In order to set up a healthy routine, we must establish our priorities. What comes first on your list? Family? Work? School? Where does God fit in? There are several areas we should all consider when thinking about our regular routine: 1) a personal devotional time; 2) corporate worship; 3) small group fellowship; and 4) servant ministry to others.

If you're anything like me, you need to set a regular time for reading scripture and praying. If I simply say I want to do it every day, but I don't schedule a time to do it, then I never get around to it. Like a good workout routine, we must be disciplined with our devotional time. If we do not spend time alone with our Lord, then we become spiritually flabby and lethargic.

One of my favorite verses is Luke 4:16, "and as was His custom, [Jesus] entered the synagogue on the Sabbath... This verse reminds us that Jesus went to worship on a regular basis. Jesus Christ set a priority to go worship every week. If the Son of God made worship a priority, then what about us? Be sure to include worship in your regular rhythm.

As a pastor I have read countless books on church growth and church health. One of the overwhelming statistics for healthy, vital churches is a strong, small group ministry. If you are not currently involved in a regular small group Bible study, I would strongly encourage you to do so. It will become a place of growth, of support and of community. I have seen people transformed by their involvement with a small group. Don't let other priorities rob you of this much needed place for spiritual transformation.

Finally, love is not love until it is given away. God loved the world so much that he sent His Son. God still loves the world so much that He sends you and me. As I mentioned in my sermon on August 22, we understand God's love for us so much better when we express God's love to others. Don't hoard God's love, give it away. Let the compassion of our Heavenly Father well up inside of you as you allow that love to overflow to others. Set some kind of ministry as a priority in your regular rhythm. If you are not sure how you might be involved in a servant ministry, contact the church office; we have many opportunities.

I pray that we will have a fantastic year this year. Let us establish a regular routine that includes God. No, let me reword that. Let us establish a routine that prioritizes God in our lives, as individuals and as a church body.

May God richly bless us even as He blesses others through us!

In His Love and Service,

Lance

A Personal Response to General Assembly

2010-08-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

"And when Paul and Barnabus had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabus and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue." (Acts 15:2)

The above quoted verse reminds us that dissension and debate are nothing new to the Church. In the first generation after Christ's death, resurrection and ascencion, the Church began to have arguments, disputes and divisions. The Church has gone through seasons of contentious splits and celebrative reunifications throughout the centuries. At every General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, issues are debated, sides are taken, lines are drawn, votes are tallied and results are sent to the presbyteries. Some of the recommendations of GA are ratified by the presbyteries and other decisions are overturned.

I'd like to offer my own personal responses to some of the recommendations that are coming from the 219th General Assembly. One area of question is our current Book of Confessions. This book is part of the PCUSA's constitution and includes eleven confessions of faith from different times and different places. A confession of faith reflects the church's faith and itentity in the context of a particular circumstance and a unique situation. Oft times the confession of faith is in response or reaction to a distinct heresy within the church or a specific injustice in society or at a point of the reunification of two seperate denominations.

There are two recommendations in regard to the BofC before the denomination at this time. One is to bring a more authentic and reliable translation of the Heidelberg Catechism of 1562. Scholars have informed the denomination through the years that the version in our current BofC is a poor translation with several inaccuracies. Like a good version of the Holy Bible, a good translation of our confessions is important. And so, an updated translation of the catechism is in order.

The second motion was to add the Confession of Belhar to the Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Confessions. In 1984 the Dutch Reformed Mission Church and the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa united to form the Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa. This creed was adopted by the URCSA in 1986. It was written to build unity in the church and reject apartheid in society.

While the emphasis is overwhelmingly focused on unity - almost to the exclusion of purity, holiness and righteousness - the document is Biblically based and there are no glaring heresies that I can see. In studying our confessions, our denomination recognizes them to be "subordinate standards to the authority of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, as the Scriptures bear witness to Him." (Book of Order G-2.0200) Perhaps we can take the opportunity here at FPCSA to study and discuss the Confessions of Belhar and its meaning in the context of apartheid in South Africa as well as in the context of the whole church.

There are two other recommendations coming to the presbyteries that I am deeply concerned about. Ons is to adopt a simplified form of Gevernment section to the denomination's Book of Order and the other is to change the standards of ordination. The simplified form of Government would set aside literally 100's of rules. I have read this document and I jokingly call it "Government-Lite." I believe or current rules were written because of years of struggles and difficulties within the church. They came into being through bad experiences, thoughtful debate and prayerful discernment. There have been a number of times I have thanked God for our Book of Order because it brought clarity to particularly difficult situations. This new Form of Government muddies the waters. One reason I was attracted to the PCUSA was because of its thoughtful constitution. This change would cause me great concern.

Our denomination has been debating ordination standards, with particular emphasis on same-sex partners, for years. The GA is asking the presbyteries to amend the constitution by removing the requirement that candidates for ordination live a life of "fidelity within marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness," and replace it with the requirement for officers to submit "joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ" in all aspects of life. The discernment of what that Lordship looks like is left to the discretion of the governing body that will ordain the candidate.

No matter which side a person takes on the subject of same-sex partnerships, the deeper question raised by this amendment reminds me of basic civics: what belongs to the federal government and what belongs to the states? I believe that the standards for ordination of church officers should be consistent throughout the denomination. Rather than bring unity to the denomination, this amendment would further drive a wedge of division.

If this amendment passes, we will see a deep rift among the denomination. Presbyteries will be lumped into an "us and them" mentality. What will happen when a particular church wants to call an ordained minister from another presbytery to serve as their pastor, only to discover that their choice does not meet the standards for ordination in their presbytery? Division. What will happen when a church member is ordained to serve as an elder in one church, then moves across country and joins another church but is disallowed from serving as an elder because their current church has a different set of standards than their former church? Contention.

This question of same-sex partnerships and church leadership standards has brought pain and frustration to countless church folk on both sides of the issue. People on both sides of the issue have left their church families. Congregations on both sides of the issue have left the denomination. Many churches have left the denomination in the last ten years because of this one issue. The amendment will not fix the problem. It will only exasperate it.

With my whole heart, I believe that this issue will never be favorably resolved for all parties concerned. For this reason, I believe the denomination should split. I know that many good Presbyterians, who I respect a great deal, would balk at my opinion. But I believe this issue will continue to bring dissension and strife to our community of faith. Like a cancer, it will bring a slow death until we deal with it aggressively. We spend too much time and energy pouring resources into this one issue. We have become a laughingstock to the world. And the enemies of the gospel rejoice at our distraction.

I believe two denominations should be established: one that would maintain the historic standards for ordination and the other that would open the door to ordain those in same-sex partnerships. To illustrate my point, the greatest difference between PCUSA and the PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) is that the latter does not ordain women. These two denominations have recognized their differences and have respectfully lived side-by-side in communities for decades. I think establishing two seperate denominations along the lines of marriage would be a similar distinction.

Ordained pastors could choose the denomination with which to be affiliated. Individual congregations could do the same. Congregations that have formerly left the PCUSA could be invited to affiliate with the newly formed denomination that best relates to them. If we split, we can set aside the constant bickering.

Ironically, even as I write this, I recognize that FPCSA is one of the few congregations that would have difficulty choosing which denomination with which to affiliate. Our membership is pretty evenly split. Somehow, we have learned to live in the tension. Then again, who wants to attend a church where there's tension? We have lost many members - on both sides of the issue - because of the debate surrounding ordination standards. In many ways our particular congregation is a microcosm of the denomination.

For these reasons, I do not think removing the current standards for ordination is a good idea. I forsee it will bring more division, more dissension and more desertion.

I very much doubt that a split is in the future for our denomination. I am an isolated voice on this subject, but that's my two cents... for whatever it's worth. I do know that I want to focus my energy and time carrying out the mission of our denomination and our congregation. I hope my church family is committed to the same.

May God richly bless us even as He blesses others through us!

In His Love & Service,

Lance

Into Africa

2010-07-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

Our Presbytery and our church have a longstanding relationship with Kenya, Africa. The Presbytery of Los Ranchos has a sister relationship with the Presbytery of Limuru in Kenya. In 1999 members of our church, the Becker family, went on a Presbytery mission trip to Kenya. Afterwards, Laura and Allison launched the "Kids for Kenya" mission project. Members of our church have hosted visiting Kenyans on several occasions. One of our church members, Taylor Morrison, has been serving at the Limuru Home for Girls since the beginning of this year.
Recently our Presbytery hosted a delegation of Africans from our sister Presbytery in Limuru, Kenya. They visited many of our churches and saw things unique to Southern California. And they chared with us their love for God and community. Lator this summer, our Presbytery will be sending a delegation to East Africa. This delegation will include two of our church members: Jim and Laura (Becker) Rutherford. I have been invited to pastor on this trip and I am thrilled at the prospect!
In the Christian world, Africa plays a key role in Scripture and in the history of the Church. Africa was the refuge for the family of Jacob. In Africa, that family became the nation of Israel. Centuries later, King Solomon made an alliance with an African nation by marrying the Queen of Sheba. In fact, if you visit Jerusalem today, you can walk up the stairs behind the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, through a gateway in an old stone wall, and suddenly find a small African village with low mud huts. In the middle of the courtyard rises the small, elegant dome of Deir es-Sultan, the home of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. On the interior walls are ancient paintings of the wedding between the Queen of Sheba and Solomon. These Christian Africans have a permanent home on the roof of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem!
When Jesus was a child, Joseph and Mary fled from the threat of the evil king Herod to Africa.
On the day of Pentacost, there were representatives from Africa in the crowd who responded to Peter's sermon. In Acts 8, Philip led an African - who had come to Jerusalem to worship the one, true God - to receive Christ. When Saul and Barnabas were commissioned as missionaries in Antioch, one of the four named leaders of the church was from Africa. Another key leader in the New Testament church was an African named Apollos.
A contemporary of Jesus, the great historian, Philo, was African. In the history of Christianity. the African city of Alexandria, Egypt, was the most active intellectual center in the late, second century and played a hey role in the development of the early church. Several great leaders in the early church were from Africa, including Clement, Tertullian, Origen, and, of course, one of the most influential early theologians, St. Augustine.
For years now, we in the United States have referred to un-industrialized nations as "Third World Countries." To the people of these nations, this reference is ignorant, arrogant and offensive. Certainly the people of Africa should be insulted by such a statement. To many of them - and much of the modern scientific community - Africa is the origin of the human species. If anything, most Africans think of themselves as being from First World Countries.
When I was at Princeton Theological Seminary, I spoke with the international students who talked about their community's frustrations with missionaries who had come to evangelize without listening to the people. Many of these indigenous people had a profound and rich faith that went back for generations. They were deeply aware of the God of creation, of Jesus Christ who had come to die for the salvation of humankind, and of the Holy Spirit's power in the world.
And yet, many of the misisonaries regarded these people as savages and pagans. Much of what they preached was more cultural than it was theological. And they often disregarded the villagers' genuine faith. Other early colonizers used Christianity to manipulate the local people. Still others quoted the Bible to justify the enslavement of human beings, sisters and brothers of villagers.
Green Belt Movement Founder and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Wangari Maathai of Kenya, wrote this: "What becomes clear is that the Christian religion that the colonized people were exposed to was commercialized and trivialized. While the Christian priests may have claimed they were committed to the community they served, and while some may have actually been concerned with the indigenous culture of their community, the majority were committed rather to the colonizing power and its people, with their God and their destiny.
"A genuine priesthood stands between a community and its God, who chooses that priesthood for itself so that it can stand between it and its people to interpret the will of their God to them. A genuine priesthood nurtures the community, identifies with its aspirations and concerns, and guides it toward their God and their destiny. Such a priesthood cannot be imposed from above; it cannot exist in the absence of culture.
"A foregn priesthood cannot recognize the God of the colonized or its destiny; nor can it take them toward their God and destiny. Led by a foreign priesthood, a people will perish, either because the foreign priesthood is genuinely unable to lead them or because it deliberately leads them toward the wrong God and the wrong destination. This is one of the reasons why the destruction of traditional priesthood, through the destruction of culture, becomes necessary to any colonizing power."
Quotes like this remind me that the way I look at myself and my culture may not be the way the rest of the world looks at me and my culture. While I may go on a mission trip to helo those in need, I must recognize that these people may not want my help nor feel a need. People from these countries may be impressed (more likely, overwhelmed) by the wealth of the United States: the homes where we live, the food we eat, the cars we drive, the clothes we wear, the activities that we participate in. But I have discovered that these same people are rich in faith, family and community.
One day, we will all stand with our brothers and sisters in the presence of our Heavenly Father. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with believers from every time, from every place and from every circumstance. Among those who will be with us are our sisters and brothers from Africa. They are part of the rich tapestry that is the family of God. We celebrate that diversity and look for the handprint of the Creator upon it.
I come to this point of my life with a profound sense of wonder at the idea of visiting our friends in Kenya, Africa. They are citizens of God's Kingdom here on earth and as such are our sisters and brothers. I look forward to seeing the image of God imprinted on the faces of those I meet. I look forward to listening and learning from these dear people. I look forward to experiencing the Spirit working in and through the Church in Africa. I look forward to offering what gifts I can to these people to support them in their faith. And I look forward to visiting and encouraging Taylor Morrison at the Limuru Home for Girls.
Please pray for the mission team and its leaders; pray especially for Jim, Laura, and myself. We are all seeking to raise money to pay for this trip. So please pray for our finances. Pray for our health and safety. And pray that we might be a source of compassion, of encouragement and of humility while we are in Africa. We covet your prayers.
May God richly bless us even as He blesses others through us!

In His Love & Service,

Lance

Training Our Young Ones

2010-06-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

"Train young ones in the right way, and when they are old, they will not stray." (Proverbs 22:6)

We are very excited to introduce Mr. Kevan Hanson as our new Director of Youth Ministry. We feel truly blessed that God has led Kevan to our church family! We offer prayers of thanksgiving to our Lord!

A native of Salem, Oregon, Kevan earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies (Biblical languages emphasis) at Azusa Pacific University and he is just finishing up an M.A. in Theological Studies (Old Testament Emphasis) from APU right now. He has served as Youth Director of Village Presbyterian Church in Arcadia since 2008. In 2009 he took five months to live and work in Jerusalem, Israel, teaching English to high school aged, Arabic speaking, Gypsies. In his time there, he developed a deep appreciation for the country of Israel and for other cultures.

Kevan has also been involved in various volunteer capacities. He has been a worship leader, a deacon and an orientation leader for APU. For the last three years, he has participated as a team member of a Mexico outreach that travels to a community center in Mexicali once a month and volunteers with children who have Down syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.

Because he has commitments through June, Kevan will not be able to start as Director of Youth Ministry until July 1st. But he will be in church on Sunday, June 13th, to meet our church members. He is excited to meet our youth and get to know them.

How might you support Kevan and FPCSA's youth ministry? First recognize the incredible importance of youth ministry. Most Christians (estimated 80%) no matter their age, say they committed their lives to Jesus Christ when they were in their youth. Over and over again, a phrase is repeated in scripture, "since my youth." We must recognize that the years of youth are a pivotal point in a person's life. And we must seek to fulfill the Proverb to train young people in the right way.

Secondly, if you have a relationship with a young person in Middle or High School, invite them to come meet Kevan. I think they will really like him. He is the total package: a nice balance of theological knowledge, playful enthusiasm and hip coolness. Just don't tell your young person that the pastor said "hip coolness" or that will negate everything else I've said about him!

Thirdly, WE NEED SOME HELP. Kevan is taking a huge step of faith here. He's leaving the familiar area of Azusa, he's not returning to his home in Salem, and he's moving to Orange County for a part-time (20 hours a week) job with a part-time salary. In the past, we have provided housing for our seminary interns. I wonder if anyone would be willing to give Kevan housing during the summer months, or until he figures out different accomodations.

Also, Kevan needs a second job. So if you know of anything for an energetic, well-educated, trustworthy young man inhis mid-twenties, we would be very appreciative of the information. He will obviously need Sundays to work here at the church, but the rest of the week is pretty flexible.

Finally, pray. E.M. Bounds wrote, "God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. They outlive the lives of those who utter them." Pray for our young people. Pray that God will bless them, help them grow and help them become all that He has designed them to be. Pray for Kevan that his relationships with the young people would develop quickly and deeply. Pray that the other areas of his life would fall into place. Pray for our youth ministry. Pray that it would flourish, that new young people would be drawn to it and families would follow. Pray that they would grow in faith. And pray for our church, that we would continue to follow God's leading in every area of ministry.

May God richly bless us even as He blesses others through us!

Lance

I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel

2010-05-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God

for salvation to everyone who has faith..." (Romans 1:16)

I love the story of when a pastor bumped into an individual in the grocery store that he saw occasionally at his church. He asked the young man why he didn't attend church more often. The man said that he liked the church alright, but he got a little tired of hearing the same hymns every time. Baffled the pastor asked what hymns they were singing so often. The man replied, "Joy to the World" and Silent Night."

When I worked with youth, I used to joke about the "Camp Christians:" the kids who showed up for the summer camps, the ski trips and special retreats. Now working with the whole church, I joke about the "Christmas/Easter Christians," those people who only show up on Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday.

Every time these services roll around, we pay particular attention to the worship service, seeking to make it as visitor friendly as possible. One aspect of these services is the sharing of the gospel: the simple plan of salvation for those who have never heard it before. I have heard church members (not at this church) criticize pastors for doing the "gospel thing" at these services. They say things like, "Oh, here it comes... the obligatory Altar Call."

So it was with a great deal of joy that I heard one of our recent new members express her faith to the session (the church's governing body). When asked about her faith journey, she told of her Catholic upbringing. Someone asked if she had ever accepted Jesus Christ into her heart, and she said, "Yes, here, at the last Christmas Eve service."

I was thrilled to hear this. On the night we celebrate the angel chorus over the cradle, we can also celebrate the rebirth of a new Christian. As Jesus said, "I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (Luke 15:7)

God is at work in our church. That work is not only in the ways we are serving in the community or in the ways of our Bible study participants are becoming more spiritually mature, but God is working so that people are coming to faith. And that is exciting.

If ever a pastor begins to speak the simple message of the gospel and you think to yourself, "I've heard this before, I don't really need to listen," I would encourage you to take a moment and pray. Pray for anyone in the service who has never invited Jesus into their heart. Pray that the Spirit of God would work within their lives and knock at the door of their heart. And pray that they would accept Jesus' invitation to commit their life to Him.

May we join with the choruses of heaven as we rejoice over every person who comes to faith because of the ministry here at FPCSA. And may we never be ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation.

May God richly bless us even as He blesses others through us!

In His Love & Service,

Lance

I Am Proud of My Church

2010-04-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

"Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all." (II Cor. 3:1f.)

This past week, I realized how proud I am of our congregation.

I heard how the Assistance League came to tour our facility on March 13th. I heard how over 100 people were welcomed and shown our beautiful facility. I was once again reminded how much our building and our history means to us and to others. In many ways, our house of worship identifies us. I am proud of a building dedicated to the glory of God. And I am proud of our church members who showed such hospitality and kindness to those who visited. Special thanks to Bobbie Rooker and her volunteer team!

On Monday, March 15th, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Bruce Reyes-Chow, was hosted by our Presbytery and by our congregation. When the Moderator asked me about our ministry in the heart of Orange County, I was filled with pride at the work of the saints here. Of the 82 people we had in attendance that night, 25 were from our congregation! I was so proud of our church and the presence they had! Special thanks to Ann Niedringhaus and her volunteer team!

At the River Bible Study, one Tuesday evening in March, a couple of the members were overcome by the pain of recent losses. As the tears flowed, I saw other members surround them with love and care, offering words of encouragement, whispering prayers of concern, giving hugs of love. I was proud of that fellowship.

On Saturday, March 20th, we had a new member class. We had volunteers from Session provide food for our candidates. We had wonderful discussions about the church and the denomination. And we will welcome those new members to the congregation on Easter Sunday. Special thanks to Linda Becker and her volunteer team!

I am proud of my Heavenly Father. I am proud of Jesus Christ, my Savior. I am proud of the Holy Spirit. I am proud of First Presbyterian Church of Santa Ana.

Now I know. I preached a sermon on the wickedness of pride. And so I recognize how pride can quickly become evil. But pride can be healthy. We can be proud of a job well done. We can certainly be proud of our kids and grandkids. This is a healthy pride.

I believe the Spirit of God is on the move in our midst. And when the Spirit is in motion, the faithful remain in partnership with that Spirit. When our hearts begin to swell with pride, it is for the work God is doing among us.

The thing is, we talk about the things we are proud of. If someone has just added a rare piece to their collection, they will tell everyone they can about it. If someone is proud of something a grandchild has done, just try to stop them from talking about it! The Kiwanis Club charges $1 to allow a member to brag about things. And they make pretty good money from it. Members willingly throw money into the coiffeur to boast about kids, grandkids and such.

Are you proud of this church?

My point is this. Perhaps some healthy pride is appropriate here. Perhaps boasting about what God is doing in the life of our congregation and the community is in order. Perhaps giving credit to God for the accomplishments of the church will draw people to this place.

Easter is right around the corner. Mention to someone the exciting things God is doing in and through our congregation. Invite them to come and experience Easter with us. Offer opportunities for them to become involved in positive ways in service to others.

May God richly bless us even as He blesses others through us!

In His Love & Service,

Lance

New Vision Statement

2010-03-01T12:24:00.000-08:00

"Where there is no vision, the people perish..." (Proverbs 29:18a, KJV)

At its most recent meeting, your session adopted a new vision statement for our church:

At First Presbyterian Church, we are seeking to

experience the presence of God;

live as Jesus Christ lived; and

love others as God loves us.

I cannot tell you how excited I am about this Vision Statement. For me, it covers all the bases. We will retain an amended version of the current Mission Statement, which provides steps to reach this vision. From these we will implement clear strategies and goals. Consider this new three-fold Vision Statement.

EXPERIENCE THE PRESENCE OF GOD

First we are seeking to experience the presence of God. Before ascending to heaven, Jesus promised to always be with His disciples. Sometimes we forget that promise and live as if He is not intimately close. We want to remind ourselved that God is with us. And we want to provide opportunities to experience that presence. Certainly this can (and hopefully does) happen in worship. But this can also happen in Bible study, in service to others, in community, or in quiet solitude.

At our session meeting, there was some thought to add the word "powerful" before "presence," but then that would limit the scope of God's presence. At times, God's presence might be experience as powerful. But at other times, it might be peaceful or holy or awe-inspiring or comforting or even terrible.

The danger of this idea is that we humans might begin to worship "the experience" rather than the Creator. This is evident when people begin to measure their spiritual maturity by the number and depth of spiritual experiences they have had. So we must maintain a healthy balance of opening ourselves to God's presence without defying the experience.

LIVE AS JESUS CHRIST LIVED

Scripture tells us that we are to be holy as God is holy. Jesus commissioned His disciples to teach others to obey all that He had commanded. Notice, that Jesus does not say, "Teach others what I have commanded." He tells His followers "to obey" Obedience is evident in actions, not simply knowledge.

One of the complaints I hear from those who dislike church is that Christians don't follow Jesus' teachings. Unfortunately they are absolutely correct. Really. Who can live as Jesus lived? That's why we say that "we are seeking to" do so. When I was young, my church handed out buttons that had this printed on them: P B P G I N F W M Y. This stood for, "Please be patient; God is not finished with me yet." We are all in a state of becoming.

While we recognize that no one is perfect, we must also take seriously Christ's call to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. And we cannot follow in His footsteps unless we know where He has walked. So Bible study is vitally important. As the apostle Paul says, "Be transformed by the renewing of your minds." The Holy Spirit works through Scripture to transform our lives and helps us to live as Christ lived.

LOVE OTHERS AS GOD LOVES US

As the Father loved the Son, so the Son loved His disciples and He commanded them to love one another. This love is illustrated in His acts of compassion, healing, of serving others, of setting captives free, of washing feet, of restoring sight, of laying down His life for others.

Jesus reminded His disciples to love others as they wanted to be loved. There is no greater example of perfect love, than Jesus Christ's love for us. We love others as God loves us when we follow the example of Jesus Christ. We exhibit God's love when we reach out to the unlovely and unloved, when we fight for the cause of the oppressed and the exploited, when we give voice to the long-silenced.

An important distinction to make at this point is what "love" is. One of my favorite quotes is Dan Allender's: "If Christ had practiced the kind of love [the church] advocates nowadays, He would have lived to a ripe old age." Perfect love is bold and strong. Perfect love seeks the spiritual, emotional, mental, physical best for others.

I am excited about this new Vision Statement. Solomon warns his readers in Proverbs, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." As one church leader pointed out, the proverb warns that the people perish, not the pastor. The vision is vitally important for the health of the community. Or, as Rick Warren warns, "Where there is no vision, the people find another parish." Having a vision and goals brings new life.

I hope you will consider this new Vision Statement and how it might apply to your life. I believe that every member of this church should be involved in three ways: 1) in worship; 2) in one regular Small Group Bible Study; and 3) in one service ministry to others. As a church, may we consider how we are seeking to make this vision a reality in our lives, in our congregation, and in our community.

May God richly bless us even as He blesses others through us!

In His Love & Service,

Lance

Where Have All the Young Ones Gone?

2009-12-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth..." (Eccl. 12:1)

Do you remember the song by Peete Seger: "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" It is a haunting, cyclical song about flowers being picked by young girls, who gave them to young men, who became soldiers, who went off to war, who were killed in battle and were buried in graveyards, where flowers grew.

Sometimes that song comes to my mind when I look out over our congregation on Sunday morning: "Where Have All the Young Ones Gone?" Perhaps others feel the same way. Certainly our session is grappling with this question and other questions as we look to the future of our congregation. We need to think long and hard about our church family and what we may need to do to encourage young people to attend and to remain in our fellowship.

There are many positive ministries at the church. Our children's ministry continues to grow. The Amigos after-school program is at capacity with children waiting to get in. The KidSingers continue to be a beacon of light in our community. Our assistance with the students at Wilson School has been a wonderful new relationship. The food distribution and assistance to those in need continues to expand.

One ministry that is not as visible is the Tuesday night contemporary worship and Bible study: "The River." We have 15 regular attendees and all but three are around thirty years old. There are five couples who come regularly. One of our members brings tacos every week and others bring sweets. We sing praise songs and discuss scripture together. We have built a fine fellowship.

One concern that your session is seeking to address is the trend that when our children move into Middle School and High School, they lose interest in church. Other churches have more exciting and active youth groups and so we see our youth go to them. Often, the parents, who are concerned about the spiritual development of their children, will take the kids where they want to go. If the kids are happy, the parents are happy.

Pastor Danny started to see this trend in the Latino ministry. Families started coming to First Presbyterian Church, they got involved, loved the children's ministry, but as soon as the children began to get older, the families disappeared. Danny talks about how frustrating it is to invest so much time and energy into the lives of these precious children, only to see them leave when they're older.

When Danny started to express his frustration, I started thinking about FPCSA since I have been here. This concern is not limited to the Latino members. We have seen the same trend among our English speakin members: young families involved in the life of the church that have left because there wasn't a strong youth ministry here.

Your session has prayerfully considered this concern and has come to the conclusion that our next step for ministry will focus on a strong, active and exciting youth program. In order for this to happen, we will need to consider the addition of a Director of Youth Ministry. I ask you to prayerfully consider this next step in the life of this church. Many of our members remember how well this church did with theor children during their adolescent years.

Perhaps it is time to recapture that strong ministry. Perhaps then, I won't be singing, "Where have all the young ones gone?" on Sunday mornings.

On a somewhat related note, last summe I read a wonderful book by Gordon MacDonald titled, Who Stole My Church? MacDonald has been a pastor an author for over 40 years. And this book deals with the question of "What to do when the church you love tries to enter the 21st century." MacDonald approaches the issue of modernizing from the viewpoint of a long-time church member and a grandfather. I encourage everyone in our congregation - both young and old - to read this book.

May God richly bless us even as He blesses others through us! And may we have a happy & prosperous New Year!

In His Love & Service,

Lance

"Children Are My Thing"

2009-11-18T11:12:00.000-08:00

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God..." (1 John 3:1)

"Children are my thing."

This was the opening line of a devotional given by Marcia Griffin at a recent session meeting. Her comment was not news to most of us. Marcia has taken delight in children for most of her life. She has been an advocate for children, a teacher, a director of children's ministry and a mother. Throughout her adult life, Marcia has poured her life into children.

As Marcia continued with her devotional, I was struck by the fact that her opening words were not hers alone, but God's. Jesus could just as easily have said, "Children are my thing." When they tried to gain access to Him, Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." He went on to say that people who wanted to follow Him needed to enter the kingdom like a child.

During this Christmas season, we are reminded that God did not reveal Himself to the world in all of His glory, but instead, came to this earth in the form of a child. The first glimple of the incarnation was a baby. The infant grew up to become a boy. And so God's first fleshly revelation was that of a child.

May we be reminded of the importance of children to our congregation. We are here to protect them, to nurture them in their faith and to love them as God loves us. We are here to provide opportunities for them to encounter their Heavenly Father.

In the same way, children teach us. They remind us of the wonder of childhood. They teach us to be curious and perhaps a little mischievous. They give us hope for the future. They model for us the childlike spirit Christ commended to His followers.

Marcia told of an experience at the installation service for the new pastor at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church of Newport Beach. During the service a brief video clip showed the world's greatest preachers including some familiar faces. The video ended with a 3-year old singing, "Jesus Loves Me." What a wonderful reminder that the simplicity of the gospel is often best expressed in the face and voice of a child.

It is my hope that we will continue to love our children this holiday season. Come to the Children's Christmas Pageant during worhip on Sunday, December 13th at 10:00 a.m. Support these little ones. It may not be the most professional production in town, but it will be presented by the children of this church and that's a good enough reason to come.

Marcia Griffin said, "Children are my thing." And in saying that, she reminds all of us, that children are God's thing, as well. I hope that we, as a church family, can say, "Children are our thing." Celebrate children this Christmas season. Love them and support them. Cultivate childlike qualities in yourself. And worship the Christ Child this holiday. O Come, Let Us Adore Him.

May God richly bless us even as He blesses others through us!

In His love & Service,

Lance

Working Towards Greater Communication

2009-09-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)

“Communication is the problem to the answer.”
This is one of my favorite lines from a song by 10cc. What exactly it means, I’m not sure. But I think that’s the point.

Communication is vitally important for a community. This fact crosses the lines between couples and families, businesses and organizations, schools and churches. Good communication can help, while poor communication can hinder, the community’s growth.

Here at First Presbyterian Church Santa Ana we are seeking to improve lines of communication by launching a new tool called “Pastor’s E-Share.” Once a week an email message will come from my personal email address to members, friends and staff of the congregation who wish to receive it. This message will include the following information:

1. a verse of the week;
2. a short list of “Church Members of the Week for Prayer;”
3. announcements of upcoming special events;
4. any special prayer concerns, joys or requests; and
5. an option to “unsubscribe” if anyone wishes to do so.

The purpose of this E-share is to keep everyone in the loop. Nothing bothers me more than hearing people say, “Oh, I had planned to go to that, but it completely slipped my mind;” or “Oh, was that this week?” or “No one ever told me;” or “I had no idea she was in the hospital!” Hopefully, the E-Share will lessen these occurrences and help all of us remember.
Nothing will be shared that an individual does not wish to be published. For example, we will ask if those members on the prayer list would like to have their email address included; if they say no, we will not publish it. If someone is going into the hospital, but does not want that information shared, we will not publish it.

Our Presbytery Executive sends out a Presbytery wide E-Share every week. And once a year I am listed on the Clergy for Prayer list. During that week, I receive dozens of emails from my colleagues let me know that they are thinking of me and praying for me. It’s really neat. And I hope our congregation’s E-share will have the same effect.

If you would like to receive the Pastor’s E-Share, simply email me and ask to be put on the list. My email address is: Lance@fpcsa.org.

May God richly bless us even as He blesses others through us!

In His Love & Service,
Lance

Surf Camp Rides Waves of Joy

2009-07-29T14:23:00.000-07:00

“Let the heaven and earth praise God, the seas, and everything that moveth therein.”(Psalm 69:34)

On July 13th, 2009, the Surf Camp was launched. And in the words of several of our young people, it was “AWESOME!” We had eleven kids on our first day, ranging in age from 11 to 15 years old. And given the response, we expect the number to grow through the rest of the summer.

Now some people might ask, why a Surf Camp? Many years ago, when I was a lowly youth intern at Berkeley Presbyterian Church, the senior pastor, Earl Palmer, said, “One of the most important things our church can do for our youth is to teach them how to ski.” I remember thinking that was an odd statement to come from one of the foremost pastors in our denomination, but I learned the wisdom of it.

Many people think the church should teach young people how to be nice, good, Christian folk. Earl’s point was that the church should teach young people how to live, how to experience life to its fullest. And what better context to learn about life, than in the shadows of the majestic mountains that bear the Creator’s fingerprints. What more exhilarating experience than shushing down the slopes with the icy wind in your face. What more communal experience than living for a time with sisters and brothers in Christ.

Some time ago, I was reminded by Earl’s comment. But I realized with our limitations, FPCSA could not easily teach young people to ski. But given our location, we could teach them how to surf. And while ski lift tickets are very expensive, surfing is relatively cheap. And so, the Surf Camp began.

How does the Surf Camp work? Every Monday morning we meet in the church parking lot at 9:00 a.m. Middle Schoolers and High Schoolers come with lunches, towels, sunscreen, booties (the beach we go to is very rocky), and medical release forms. We caravan to Doheney State Beach. Then we take one small group at a time out into the small waves where the adult leaders literally stand (the entire day) and hold the kids on surf boards until a decent wave comes; then we push them forward onto the wave and they ride as far as they can go. We’re back in the church lot by 3:00 p.m.

The first few times they simply lie and feel the wave push them forward. The next step is to try and get up on their knees. Then they move to a squatting position. Finally, they attempt to stand. On our first day, several of our young people were able to stand for a time. And while it’s not so much fun for the adults to stand pushing surf boards all day, it is truly fulfilling to see the joy and excitement on these young faces. By the end of the day, my voice was sore from whooping it up.

Here are several responses from people. One said, “I can’t believe how easy and fun it is.” Another said, “I can’t wait until next week!” One who had been silent on the way down, could not stop talking all the way home. Another met her mom in the church parking lot when we returned and said, “I want a surf board for my Birthday!” to which her mother responded, “But your Birthday is tomorrow!”

Later in the week, I received two other comments that struck me. The first comment came from our High School leader, Norma Galeana, who said, “Pastor, surfing is not something that we Latinos consider to be an option.” Some of the kids that came to the Surf Camp have never even been to the beach. For them, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. The Surf Camp is building bridges and building self confidence.

The other comment came from long-time member, Carol Hatch, who asked how the day had gone and then said something like this: “I remember when my kids grew up in this church, there were lots of great programs for them. And they still talk about those experiences to this day!” It is my hope that thirty or forty years down the line, these young people will look fondly back at these times and say, “I learned how to surf when I was in my teens; and it was my church who taught me how to surf.”

Special thanks go to our leaders: Garrett McIntyre, Megan Acedo and Danny Jimenez. And special thanks to two very good friends of mine: Steve Sweet, the associate pastor of Laguna Presbyterian, who loaned us two surf boards; and, Steve Wright, the organizing pastor from Village Presbyterian of Ladera Ranch, who came with his son, Matthew to help train our youth. This is one more testament to the connectional benefits of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The Surf Camp will continue through the month of August. Please pray for the safety and positive experience of our young people. If you would like to assist by being a driver, please let me know. If you want to sit at the “base camp” on the beach and assist in keeping everyone happy, you are more than welcome. If you want to join Garrett and me in the waves launching the kids forward, we would love the company. And if you would like to donate a board, we could use more; they should be at least 7 foot (boogie boards don’t really work at Doheney).

Together we at First Presbyterian Church are building for the future. And we are furthering the Kingdom of God one soul at a time. Together we are stronger. And so we can echo the words of the psalmist, “Let the heaven and earth praise God, the seas, and everything that moveth therein” . . . including the youth of FPCSA!

May God richly bless us even as He blesses others through us!

In His Love & Service,

Lance

Fifty's Nifty

2009-05-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

“Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal . . .” (Phil. 3:13f.)

Someone told me that “Fifty’s Nifty!” I’m not so sure that is really the case. I’m still trying to figure that one out. But fifty is the reality now. I turned the magic number in May. I’ve crested that hill. I’m looking down the other side. I’m receiving lots of advice and hearing lots of catchy phrases, like, “50 is the new 30.” Which makes me wonder if Bob Dylan, who is quoted as saying, “Never trust anyone over 30,” is able to trust himself, anymore?

Fifty is one of those chronological landmarks that can be a pivotal point in a person’s life. It’s a time to reflect and reconsider where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re headed. Some people go through what’s called a “mid-life crisis,” which has always baffled me. If we know we have a tendency to go through these crises at certain times in our lives, shouldn’t we be aware of them and not allow them to disturb our lives?

Mid-life doesn’t have to be a crisis. In fact, it can be an opportunity to recognize our need to periodically stop and reconsider our life direction. It can be a silly thing when we lament the loss of our youth and desperately seek to recapture it. Some quit their jobs and try to become rock stars. Others walk away from a loving marriage to date a younger person. Still others purchase new toys (like motorcycles) and try to return to a wilder season of life. Some start wearing clothes that should be left to teenagers. Not only can this response to mid-life be silly; it can be downright destructive.

But mid-life can be an excellent opportunity to reflect. Am I happy with where I am? Is this where I wanted to be? Have I achieved my goals? Am I still going in the direction I wanted to go? And what can I constructively do to make my life – and the lives of those around me – better? Upon turning 50, I’ve reflected a bit, and here are a few goals I’ve set for myself.

First, make the most of each day. Our Lenten series – Live Like You Were Dying – reminded me to make the most of every day. So many of us get distracted. As a pastor, I find myself putting out fires here, there and everywhere. I am easily distracted from what is really important in my own life and in the life of this congregation. I find myself “majoring” on the minors and “minoring” on the majors. I want to spend more quality time with loved ones doing memorable things. Goal #1 is to make the most of each day.

Secondly, speak the truth in love. I’m tired of walking on egg shells. There are certain people in life who are so easily offended and/or become angry when they don’t get their way. I don’t like conflict, so I tend to avoid potentially volatile situations. I realize I’m not doing them any favors and I’m not being true to what I believe. Goal #2 is to speak the truth in love. If that frustrates certain people, then so be it.

Finally, set goals that matter. On the reality television show, The Celebrity Apprentice, one of the contestants said, “This show is all about friends and charity . . . and that’s what life should really be about.” As a pastor, I would, of course, make one addition: God. Wouldn’t you agree? That’s what the church should be about: God, friends and charity. Our staff, our buildings, our budget should be dedicated to the worship of God, to the deepening of friendships and to the provision of charity. I’m proud of FPCSA as we gain a reputation for service in our community, especially to children. We are making a difference in people’s lives. Goal #3 is to set goals that matter.

Mid-life crises are not limited to individuals. Organizations go through them as well. Churches experience mid-life crises. Those times can be destructive or constructive. They can cause division and dissonance or they can foster positive change. Two years ago FPCSA went through a period of crisis and reflection. As good Presbyterians, we formed a task force to study the concerns and make recommendations. Some of those recommendations had to do with staffing; others had to do with scheduling and programs.

I’m proud of the work that our congregation did to make positive changes that make a difference. Our ministry to Latinos continues to grow. The after school Amigos Program has had a tremendously positive effect in the lives of at-risk young people. In less than year it went from no kids to having a waiting list. And our outreach programs to the community have been wonderful.

The next area I see FPCSA focusing on is youth (Junior and Senior High School age). Since I have served this church (8 ½ years), I have seen a steady stream of families involved in the children’s ministry who left when their kids got into Middle School because the church was not supplying a strong Youth Ministry. Now, we are beginning to see the same thing happen with our Latino members. They are beginning to migrate to other churches that have strong Youth Ministries.

We will need to look ahead at how we might address this concern. This is a goal that matters, not only to our families, but to the life of the church. I’m looking forward to what lies ahead, for myself, and for FPCSA. I hope you will stand with me as we make the most of each day, speak the truth in love, and set goals that matter. That would be pretty nifty. J

May God richly bless you even as He blesses others through you!

In His Love & Service,

Lance

MAKING CONNECTIONS

2009-04-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

“I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.” (I Cor. 9:22b)

Do you ever wonder whatever happened to a certain friend? You were close to them during a particular season in your life and then you just kind of lost track? Perhaps you went to school with them. Or they were part of a group with which you were affiliated. Or you worked somewhere with them. Or perhaps you had a falling out and you never reconciled. Each of us has a history of friendships. Some we have remained in contact with (even if it’s just the annual Christmas card); others we have not.

Recently, I’ve gotten a kick out of the phenomena known as “facebook.” It is an internet website that connects – or reconnects – the user with friends. I first logged on last summer. And since that time, my “friends list” has grown to nearly 300 hundred. There are friends from many different seasons in my life: school classmates; professional colleagues; and extended family.

I’ve reconnected with classmates from Los Gatos High School, Westmont College, UC Irvine, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Some I haven’t spoken to in about 30 years. I’ve gotten in touch with former colleagues from various churches where I have worked and with members of those organizations (some are now abroad – from South Korea to United Arab Emirates – and it’s great to hear little snippets from them). The two youth choirs that I founded have their own web-pages and their own fan lists. It’s great to see how well they are doing. Many of the pastors of our Presbytery are on my list. I’m even on the friends list of Bruce Reyes-Chow, the denomination’s national moderator.

I’m able to keep up with my family, from my nephew stationed in Japan to my second cousins in rural Illinois. People post photos on their profile and I love to see all the new pictures of their children.

There are even members of FPCSA who are on my friendlist. It’s a fun way to see a different side of people. In fact, FPCSA has its own web page on facebook. If you’re on facebook, check it out: First Presbyterian Church Santa Ana. Become a fan! We’re going to try to include occasional updates through this site. Also, look me up. I would love to be on your friends list and add you to mine!

Some of you have heard me quote responses from questions that I have posted on facebook. It’s a casual way to request and receive input without being judged or condemned. There are several reasons I do this. First, people are able to keep up to date with what I am doing here at the church. Secondly, we have had quite a few people visit our worship service because of the facebook connection. And, in fact, last week I had coffee with one of my former youth group members who has not felt comfortable going to church since a certain incident caused him to go sour on organized religion; but because of facebook, he wanted to get together to discuss religion and our congregation. And, finally, people can give input and then feel a sense of connection if they hear themselves quoted in the sermon.

And so, the purpose of this article and the reason I use facebook becomes clear. It’s not just a way to stay connected with friends; it’s a way to draw people into dialogue and hopefully connect – or reconnect – them with their Maker. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.” I wonder what “becoming all things to all people” looks like today. If he were alive today, I wonder if Paul would be on facebook. I think he would be. And I think he would be updating on his Blackberry from the local coffee shop. I don’t know why, but I think Paul would have appreciated a good cup of coffee.

It’s a whole new world out there. No longer can we build a church and wait for people to show up. We must reach out to them. And we must follow Paul’s example, using all means to reach out to all people so that some might be saved. The message we share is the most important gift we can offer. Let’s be creative and use of all means available to us.

May God richly bless you even as He blesses others through you!

In His Love & Service,

Lance

“CHRIST IS RISEN!” NOW WHAT?

2009-03-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations – Jesus

I recently officiated a wedding. At the end, I announced the couple and presented them to the congregation as husband and wife. They turned and faced their families and friends and then the groom thrust his fist into the air with a look of triumph, as if to say, “Yes!!! I did it! I’ve won!” He was so proud of his new wife. And perhaps, he might have thought at one time that he would never be so lucky as to have her as his wife. The wedding was the culminating moment of all his hopes and dreams. He had won his prize.

I smiled. And I thought, alright, buddy, the wedding isn’t the end; it’s just the beginning.

Among Biblical scholars the study of salvation history is called soteriology. Of course, much of this is tied to Jesus’ atoning work on the cross. And for many of us, the death and resurrection of our Lord is the climax of the story. The empty tomb is the culmination of all of humanity’s hopes and dreams. Jesus had won the prize! I imagine the disciples walking around for days, thrusting their fists in the air, and exclaiming, “Yes!!! He did it! He won!”

But the resurrection is not the end; it’s just the beginning. Christ’s disciples would spend 40 more days with Him, learning from Him, and being instructed by Him. At His ascension, Jesus commissioned His disciples to carry on the work of salvation. Far from being the end, the resurrection was the beginning of a new chapter in the book of soteriology. Most of those disciples wrote new chapters using the ink of their own blood.

Many churches today treat Easter as the culmination of humanity’s hopes and dreams. It is the climax of the story. After we celebrate, the credits roll, the lights go up, and everyone heads towards the exits with warm feelings in their hearts. There’s nothing more to be done. But that is not the message of scripture.

To personalize this a bit, many Christians focus so much on salvation being at the point of conversion, that they ignore the ongoing affect and transformation that salvation is meant to have on their lives. Yes, conversion, or confirmation, is a powerful moment in any individual’s life. But it isn’t the end; it’s just the beginning. Just like a marriage relationship hopefully lasts many years after the wedding ceremony, so our relationship with Jesus Christ lasts a lifetime. In fact, it lasts an eternity!

So this Easter Sunday we will focus on the “Now What?” Yes, we will declare Christ as risen, but we’ll also ask how that affects and transforms our lives individually as well as corporately. We’ll recognize the resurrection as not the end, but the beginning of the story. And just as a marriage takes work and time to grow and stay healthy, so we’ll look at ways to grow in our faith and stay in a healthy relationship with our Lord.

Visitors may be surprised by this different approach to Easter, but hopefully they will be challenged as we all will be. Christ is Risen! Now what?

May God richly bless you even as He blesses others through you!

In His Love & Service,

Lance

March 2009 Pastor's Page

2009-02-19T11:30:00.000-08:00

Live Like You Were Dying

So teach us to number our days, so that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom – Psalm 90:12

Imagine, a parent being able to say to an estranged child, “I love you;” or an adult daughter offering forgiveness to her father for abuse; or people taking time to encourage and affirm each other; or a young person stepping across the line of faith as they embrace eternity.

Here at First Presbyterian Church, we are looking at a unique opportunity this Lenten Season. We’ll be going through a 30-day series called, "Live Like You Were Dying," inspired by the Grammy award winning song recorded by Tim McGraw. This series takes a song of the culture, the deepest needs of people, the truth of God’s word, and brings it all together during a focused period of time for spiritual transformation. The Bible teaches that we’re not guaranteed tomorrow. So how should we live? This series will challenge us to:

v Live with a sense of urgency (I Peter 4:7-8)
v Live with a sense of eternity (Psalm 90:12)
v Live with a sense of priority (Ephesians 5:15-17)
v Give up the frantic pursuit of the “good life” (Matthew 16:25-26)
v Make more time for relationships (Hebrews 10:24-25)
v Offer forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32)
v Celebrate being released from God’s judgment (Romans 8:33-34)
v Liberate others from your judgment (Romans 14:13)
v Do the unexpected in love (Matthew 5:39-42)

There are three ways you can make the most of this series:

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
Commit to coming to church for the Sunday morning worship. Services and sermons will be devoted to these themes: 1) live like you were dying; 2) love deeper; 3) speak sweeter; 4) give forgiveness; and, 5) embrace eternity. The Sunday morning series will begin on March 1st and go through April 5th. On March 8th we’ll take the day off from the series so that our women might lead us in worship as we celebrate the gifts of women.

SMALL GROUP LESSONS
Inspiring messages, taught by best-selling author Gary Smalley provide small groups with four, short, weekly video teachings based on the themes of the LLYWD series. I will facilitate the discussions for each of these groups. One group will meet on Thursday mornings at 10:00 in the Conference Room (beginning 3/5). Another group will meet on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 in the Underground (beginning 3/10). If there is enough interest, we’ll add a third group on Sunday mornings at 11:30.

DAILY READINGS
There is a companion booklet that will be available. The Daily Readings, written by John Fischer, will challenge you on a personal level to examine your life priorities and reflect on how to live your “one and only life” each day. The book also includes notes for the four small group sessions. The books are available through the church office at a cost of $7.50. Our reading schedule will begin on March 9th.

Live Like You Were Dying will be a unique opportunity for us. I pray that this series will create moments of thoughtful reflection on what really matters. I pray that it will touch our deepest longing for meaning. And I pray that it will unite our congregation and build a stronger sense of community within the life of our church family.

I encourage you to make the most of this opportunity. Attend our Sunday morning worship services. Participate in one of the small groups. Purchase a copy of the booklet and meditate on the daily readings. And may God richly bless us even as God richly blesses others through us.

In His Love & Service,

Lance

February 2009 Messenger: "Visitation"

2009-01-21T12:42:00.000-08:00

I was sick, and you visited me – Jesus

I would like to write a little bit about visitation this month. One of the rights and responsibilities of being a pastor is the privilege of visiting members and friends of the particular congregation. There are few other vocations where a non-family member can walk into a hospital room without question and move seamlessly into the life of a family. Truly, it is a profound honor to participate in people’s lives this way. My friendships with each and every one of you are a gift to me.

Jesus told His followers that when we reach out in love to those who are hungry, thirsty, to the stranger, the naked, the sick, or those in prison, we are in fact reaching out to Him. (Mt. 25:34ff.) The author of James writes, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (Js. 1:27) We are created to reach out in love to others.

In our Book of Order, the responsibilities of a pastor are outlined. One of those responsibilities is described in this way: “to exercise pastoral care, devoting special attention to the poor, the sick, the troubled, and the dying.” Pastoral care is a part of who we are and what we do as ministers. It is also part of who we are and what we do as followers of Jesus Christ.

One of the expectations of pastors is that they will visit the members of the congregation. But sometimes those expectations are undefined and ambiguous; there’s a sense that the pastor should be making house calls, but how often and to whom isn’t really well defined. Other times there is a breakdown in communication. A church member is rushed to the hospital and the pastor doesn’t hear about it until the person has been sent home; the church member feels neglected and the pastor feels frustrated. And sometimes there are unrealistic expectations. In my last church one of the members told me the former pastor had visited every member of the congregation on an annual basis. This seemed unrealistic to me.

Let me offer a few personal perspectives on visitation. First, I love being with people. I love seeing where they live – what my Gran used to call, their “digs.” I learn so much about people when I see their home environment. It offers a comfortable and familiar place for people to open up and tell stories about their lives. Often photographs, collectibles or heirlooms that are on display open the way to deeper conversation. I love hearing stories and getting to know people better.

Secondly, I will visit a person in the hospital or after a loved one has died as quickly as humanly possible. To me, these are sacred moments and I feel it is my God-given privilege and responsibility to enter into these situations in the name of Christ with love and grace. At the same time, the reality is that I cannot always come as quickly as I would like. Sometimes I have time conflicts, parental responsibilities or I am too far away. Please know that I will come as quickly as I can or I will contact one of our other pastors to go in my place.

Also, remember that I cannot respond if I do not hear. In a pastoral emergency, please contact the church office (714-542-7253). If you get the voicemail, dial extension 333, leave a message, and then hang up; I should be paged after you hang up. Also, you may leave a message on my office voicemail at extension 301. And if an urgent matter happens during non-business hours, please do not hesitate to call me at home (714-389-1036). I want to hear from you.

Thirdly, if you are concerned about one of our members that might benefit from a pastoral call, please let me know. Sometimes people could use a visit or call from the pastor and the pastor just doesn’t know. Give me a heads-up and I will do my best to follow up. Mary Lee and Ann Niedringhaus are great at this. Leave a note in my box, give a call or speak to me and I will do my best to follow up. Feel free to nudge me a little, too. Sometimes I forget.

Fourth, if you would like a visit from the pastor, please invite him! I was raised in a home where we were taught that it was rude to invite oneself to someone else’s home. So it goes against every fiber of my being to call and invite myself over. Perhaps it’s a bit of a generational thing, too. Younger generations are often uncomfortable if the pastor comes over. There’s almost a feeling like they’re being called into the principal’s office. So please don’t hesitate to give me a call and say, “Hey, we would love to have you over sometime.” You’ll make my day!

Finally, pastoral care is not just for the professional ministers; pastoral care is for all believers. The Book of Order quote above is written both to pastors as well as to elders. James was speaking to the whole of the church when he described “pure and undefiled religion.” Jesus was speaking to all believers when He said, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of My family, you did it to Me.” When we reach out in love and compassion to others, we are reaching out to Jesus Christ. That is a gift.

May God richly bless you even as God richly blesses others through you.

In His Love & Service,

Lance

Carrying the Great Ends into Advent

2008-11-18T12:20:00.000-08:00

The great ends of the church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

During this autumn season, we have looked at the Great Ends of the Church as published in the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). As we move into the 2008 Advent Season, let us consider how these purposes of the denomination encourage us to live in the ebb and flow of our lives today. Let us review.

Perhaps there is no better time for our voices to be heard than during the Holiday Season. But our voices are often drowned by the voices of commercialism, fantasy and “busyness”. Take time this season to share the good news of what Jesus means to you. Tell someone why your life is better because you have a relationship with Him. What better way to mark the holiday than to help lead someone to a saving faith in Jesus Christ!

In our rush to be everywhere and do everything, let us take a moment to be with our church family and experience the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the family of God. This might be just what the doctor ordered: a moment of respite in a frenetic world. Take a moment, breathe and experience the spiritual fellowship.

Everywhere we go, we hear Christmas carols. They are played through the store speakers to help loosen our purse strings. But how often do we take time to reflect on the words of these powerful hymns and praise songs. During the holiday season, come to church and truly worship God. Worship the baby in the manger. Worship the man on the hillside. Worship the redeemer on the cross. Worship the Lord, raised from the dead. O come, let us adore Him.

There are many stories surrounding the winter holiday season. In our world of tolerance, we can sometimes “fudge” on the truth of the gospel. We do not want to offend anyone. We don’t want to push our belief onto anyone. But let us continue to preserve the truth. Jesus and Santa Claus are not equals. Let us speak boldly of the nativity story, not as one of many stories surrounding the season, but as THE story of the season.

And let us not forget those in need during this season. As our country faces an economic crisis, let us remember those who are less fortunate than us. In particular let us remember those who have little power, those who are oppressed, those who are exploited. Perhaps this is the year that we are unable to send money, but we can give of our time, energy and talents to the less fortunate. Let us promote social righteousness during this season.

Finally, let us exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. As the angels proclaimed the good news to the shepherds so many years ago, the glory of heaven was manifest: Glory to God in the highest! May everything that we do, everything that we say, every gift that we give, exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to a world in need. In His infinite wisdom, God chose you and me to exhibit the Kingdom to the world. God chose the imperfect things of the world to confound the proud. I feel unworthy, as you probably do, but God came as a baby 2,000 years ago. Now He comes as imperfect people called the Church.

Let us carry out the Great Ends of the Church this Christmas Season. Let us do so as individuals. Let us do so as a congregation. Therein lays our Christmas Joy.

And may God Bless us. Every one.

In His Love & Service,

Lance

An Act of Worship

2008-10-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

“and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him; then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts” (Matthew 2:11)

I remember six years ago. The Angels were playing in the World Series. And Paul McNeff had scheduled a special guest for our Moment for Ministry in the worship service: Steve Physioc, the “Voice of the Angels.” The Sunday Steve was with us just happened to be the day of Game 7. The excitement was palpable.

Following the service, I was surprised to see one of our members. She had been in the hospital and I didn’t think she would be back in church so soon. I mentioned how glad I was to see her, and then I remembered that she was a big Angels’ fan. Jokingly I said, “Hey, wait a minute, you’re here to see Steve Physioc!”
“Oh, no, I’m here because it’s the right thing to do. I ought to be at church.” She then craned her neck to look around me and asked, “Where is he anyway?” We both shared a good-natured laugh.

It’s always fun to see people we esteem, whether they be great athletes, famous actors, favorite politicians, deep thinkers, popular musicians, or foreign dignitaries. We get butterflies as we anticipate them entering the room. We are filled with delight when we catch our first glimpse. We position ourselves to be close to them. We might even ask for an autograph.

When important people visit a community, the group often presents the visitor with a gift. This is a way to share ourselves with them. It is a way we show appreciation and respect. It is also a way to build relationship. A gift is a way to show we care.

Imagine if someone told you that Jesus was coming to church on Sunday. Imagine if you knew that He would be physically in the building. Would you be excited? Would you dress your best? Would you come early? Would you wait in anticipation? Would you crane your neck to see Him? Would you bring a gift?

Hopefully, each of us understands that Christ is present with us in worship every Sunday. But sometimes it’s good to consider what it would be like if we could actually see Him, actually hear Him, actually touch Him.

November 9th is Consecration Sunday. It is the day we dedicate our 2009 Faith Pledges to the Lord. This is not something we do haphazardly. For our community, this is an act of worship. Following the sermon, a praise song will be sung. During that song, members and friends of FPCSA will walk forward and place their faith pledges in our wooden box. It is an act of worship.

I love the story of the magi who travel from a distant land to see the new born King. After a long journey, they enter into the home of Joseph and Mary. When they see the Baby, notice what they do. They fall prostrate to the ground. They worship this little, fragile One. Then they open their treasures and present their gifts to the Lord. Wow. What an image! These noble and respected dignitaries kneeling before the Christ Child.

In the same way, the members and friends of FPCSA will physically come forward and present their gifts to the Lord. When you come to church on that Sunday morning, bring your faith pledge to church with you. At the appropriate time you will be invited to present that pledge to the Lord.

It is an act of worship. I encourage you to use your imagination. Imagine not the pastor nor the musicians nor the singers in the front of the sanctuary. Imagine Jesus standing before you. Imagine His arms outstretched. Imagine His smile of welcome. Imagine His look of love.

As you place your pledge in the box, remind yourself that you are not simply giving support to the church. Remind yourself that you are presenting a gift to the Lord. Perhaps in your own heart, whisper, this gift is for You, Jesus. The size of the gift does not matter in the least; the heart of the giver matters a great deal. God loves a cheerful giver.

Sometimes making a faith pledge can be a little scary because we’re not sure if we can afford to keep this pledge. Don’t worry. God knows our circumstances. That is why we call it a faith pledge. It is a pledge made in faith, trusting God to protect and keep us in the days ahead. And remember, that every good gift comes from the Lord, so that the presentation of our gifts is really a giving back to Him. It is an act of worship.

Steve Physioc will probably not be in church with us on November 9th. The politicians you supported in the recent election will probably be absent. Your favorite movie stars will not be with us. But know this: Jesus Christ will very much be present on that day. And you have the good fortune to come and be with Him. Come fall before Him in worship. Open your treasure to Him and present Him with your gifts. It is an act of worship.

In His Love & Service,

Lance

September 2008 Messenger Article

2008-08-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

The other day, one of our members read something to one of our fellowship groups that she had heard at a Presbyterian gathering. After saying how much she appreciated the quote, she began, "The Great Ends of the Church are..."

I recognized it immediately as a quote from the first chapter of our denomination's constitution, The Book of Order. The Great Ends of the Church are something of a mission statement for our denomination and something that seminarians and pastors study.

Every organization seems to have a mission statement nowadays. It is a vision by which the organization tests itself, its programs and its activities. Larry Small - the author of an excellent study guide for the Great Ends - points out, mission statements are often more expressions of hope than they are descriptions of reality. Mission statements can give and organization goals to seek.

The Great Ends statement was developed between 1904 and 1910. It was preserved through the two major reunifications of the denomination in 1958 and 1983 and remains in our curent constitution. It has the capacity to shape faith and faithfulness in every generation.
The Great Ends of the Church are the proclamation of the gospel for the
salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the
children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the
truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the kingdom
of heaven to the world.

The questions that arise about these Great Ends are plentiful. Are they Biblical? Do they stand the test of time? Do they still speak to us today? Can they be applied not only to our denomination, but to every individual member and/or every particular congregation? Are they achievable and measurable goals? Can they help us in planning and developing programs and activities to further the Kingdom of God?

And so it is with a great deal of excitement that I begin a sermon series based on the Great Ends of the Church. Each week this fall, we will focus on a different aspect of the statement. It is my prayer that this series will give us a newfound appreciation for the rich history and integrity of our denomination.

I look forward to seeing you in worship. I remain devoted to you, this Church, and to our LORD Jesus Christ.

In His Love & Service,

Lance

Our Children Are Important

2008-07-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

“The promise is for you and your children – for all whom the LORD our God will call.” (Acts 2:39)

When I was younger (much younger) I had the good fortune to work as an intern with one of the best known and finest Presbyterian pastors in the United States: the Rev. Dr. Earl Palmer. Earl has served as a youth pastor in Seattle, a missionary to the Philippines, and a senior pastor in Berkeley and currently in Seattle. He has written many practical and theological books. He is a highly respected keynote speaker for conferences and workshops. I interned for two years at First Presbyterian of Berkeley, CA. While I was there, I learned a great deal from Earl Palmer.
During a staff meeting one day, Earl said, “We must remember, the second most important staff position in the church – after the pastor – is the children’s director. Nothing is more important than our children and youth. If any church hopes to survive, it must focus its time, its resources, its finances on ministry to children and youth.”

That quote has stuck with me throughout my vocational ministry. I agree with it. I believe it. And I stand behind it. That is why I’m excited to see our congregation focus on children and youth this month. Our children are important.

Vacation Bible School (VBS) will take place August 4th through August 8th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. VBS is for youngsters going into 1st through 5th grades. On Sunday, August 3rd, we will commission our VBS volunteers in the worship service. Sunday, August 10th, will be VBS Sunday. The theme for this year will be “Beach Party.” The goal will be to instill in our children the idea that devoting life to Christ is a celebration.

The Labyrinth Project for Middle Schoolers will take place between Sunday, August 10th, and Saturday, August 16th. Our youth will drive up to San Francisco with youth members from Grace First Presbyterian of Long Beach. They will take part in fun activities, Bible studies, praying through a Labyrinth, and volunteering in service projects. This opportunity is a great way for our young people to grow in their faith and build friendships with one another.
Alabaré (Music Camp) will take place August 18th through August 22nd from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, there will be a performance for parents. Sunday, August 24th, will be Alabaré Sunday. Alabaré, which translated means “I will praise,” is for young people going into 1st through 8th grades. This camp will run along the same lines as VBS with large group activities and small group stations. Children and Middle Schoolers will learn music skills, rhythm exercises and vocal production.

For VBS and Alabaré we continue to welcome volunteers; so consider how you might assist. There are opportunities to do simple paperwork, registration, teaching, assisting with workshops, cooking and/or serving food, assisting with crafts or recreational activities, overseeing or the assisting with a small group. You can serve one evening or the whole week. And you will be blessed even as you bless others!

Please pray for our children, youth, volunteers and staff during these exciting weeks. Let us pray that young lives will be positively affected by these ministries and that families will be attracted to our congregation. These are the sorts of ministries that attract young families. If children are excited about the church, then moms and dads are excited about the church. And so the church grows. That is why Earl Palmer emphasized that ministry to children and youth is vitally important to the health of any congregation. To put it another way, the Church is always one generation away from being extinct.

Let us continue to do all we can to invest in the future of the Church of Jesus Christ. Let us devote our time, our resources and our finances to the lives of these precious treasures. Let us pray for them, teach them and prepare them to serve our LORD.

I remain devoted to you, to this Church, and to our LORD Jesus Christ.

In His Love & Service,
Lance

A Little Graduation Advice from a Grumpy Old Uncle

2008-07-03T11:38:00.000-07:00

Life is not always fair
the fastest runner does not always win the race
the smartest person does not always succeed
the thing about life is to live it
you can spend the rest of your life living,
or you can spend the rest of your life dying
it’s up to you
Live it

The path is not always easy
sometimes the path is rocky
sometimes it is steep
sometimes the path seems endless
but the rocky paths will make you sure-footed
the steep paths lead you to majestic vistas
and the endless paths will give you patient endurance
do not avoid the path set before you
Walk it

Teachers are not always kind
teachers can be downright grumpy
they can be overbearing, self-important, patronizing
at times they seem to relish in the idea of tearing students down
but if you look close enough you will find nuggets of wisdom
sometimes buried deeply beneath the surface
you do not go to school to criticize the teachers
you go to school to learn from them
look for the nuggets of wisdom
Find them

Friends are not always nice
friends can be a source of laughter
a source of tears, companionship, rage
I have experienced two kinds of friends in my life
those that bring life and those that take life away
those that fill your sails and those that take the wind out of your sails
those that inspire, those that deflate
those that encourage, those that discourage
this can be particularly true with those of the opposite sex
guard yourself from relationships with those who suck the marrow from your life
surround yourself with those who fill you with life
more importantly be a friend who gives life
Love them

Families are not always perfect
everyone comes from a dysfunctional family
I have yet to find a functional one
every family has one or two black sheep
skeletons in the closet
I like to think of myself as the black sheep in ours
the thing about families is that they’re family
not much you can do about it except love them
friends come and go, lovers too
but families are forever
and when you’re with family
You’re home

God is not always easy to understand
His ways are not our ways
sometimes He feels distant and silent
sometimes He feels angry and awful
Lewis said Aslan was not a tame Lion
but He is good
you can’t tame God
you can’t put God into a box
don’t try to
let God be God
Tozer said if we understood God
then God would not be worthy of our worship
we cannot hope to fully understand God
but we can know Him
and He is good
and we can know that He knows us
better than we know ourselves
He knows all the good stuff
and all the bad stuff too
in spite of that He loves us
more than we can ever possibly know
Rest in that love

Live life to the fullest
Walk the path set before you
Search for the nuggets of wisdom in all people
Surround yourself with good friends
Remember your family is always there for you
Rest in God’s love

by Lance Allen ©2008 xenos

"AMIGOS" Program is Launched

2008-04-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them.’” (Matthew 19:14)

When I was interviewing for the position of Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church Santa Ana, one of the things that attracted me was the Heninger tutoring program. I loved that members of this congregation were involved in reaching out to the children of the community. The members were encouraging these young ones, giving them tools to succeed, and serving as mentors.

Unfortunately, the partnership with the school lapsed. But the need remains great in our community. Children often have little supervision in the afternoons. Many parents struggle with English and find they are unable to assist their children with homework.

Pastor Danny and I have been aware of this need for many years. Now we have an opportunity to meet this need in the community once again. Through a partnership with Tustin Presbyterian Church (TPC), our Director of Children’s Ministry, Jessica Otto, has begun the AMIGOS program on Tuesday afternoons from 2:15 to 4:15.

Amigos is an after school program that offers help with homework and a safe place for children to play. Snacks are provided, as well as school supplies: pencils, pens, paper, reference books. Each student has a study area and a tutor available to them. When children have completed their homework, learning games are available.

About 25 young people have already checked out Amigos. Each week we are averaging between ten and fifteen children. Currently, Jessica is assisted by Pastor Danny and four volunteers from TPC. Volunteers help with snack and/or homework.

We would love to see this program expand to two days, three days, perhaps even four days a week. We would also like to see the hours extended. And there are possibilities of including other offerings such as art, music, sports, dance. But to reach these goals, we would need to see a strong interest by the young people as well as an increase in the number of volunteers.

And, of course, that’s where you come in. Many of you have spoken to me about the possibility of being involved in a tutoring program. Well, here it is, right in your own church. If you are interested in investing in the lives of these precious young people, please call Jessica at the church or email her: Jessica@fpcsa.org. We can use all the tutors we can get and we would love to have a snack coordinator.

The great thing about working with kids is that, while you are doing so much for them, you walk away from the experience realizing how much you have received. May we echo the words of Jesus, “Let the little children come . . .” Give Amigos a shot. See how God might bless you as you bless others.

In His Love & Service,

Lance

April Messenger Article, "Molokai Mo Bettah"

2008-03-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

“And Jesus sent them out to proclaim the reign of God and to heal.” (Luke 9:2)

For the past several years I have travelled to Molokai, Hawaii, on a mission trip with the Laguna Presbyterian Church High School group. These young people give up their Spring Break to serve Christ and to grow in their faith. This year I will be with them during the week of April 7th.

Now, I know what many of you are thinking, because I thought it, too, when I first heard about the Molokai Mission Trip: “Oh, yeah, tough mission trip . . . Hawaii! Now, that’s what I call ‘suffering for the Lord!!!’” But the fact is Molokai is different from most of the other islands. With no major resorts to speak of, it is least affected by the tourist trade.

Although it is known as “The Friendly Island,” the 7,000 residents barely tolerate tourists, verbally abuse visiting surfers and shun new residents. The island is plagued by poverty, drug abuse and alcoholism. One local pastor calls it “The Arkansas of the Hawaiian Islands.” (my apologies to anyone from Arkansas) Still most of the locals have been there for generations and there is a great deal of pride in their heritage. Perhaps that is why many t-shirts, hats and bumper stickers have the phrase: “Molokai Mo Bettah.”

After a rather adventurous, white-knuckle flight on the island hopper plane from Oahu, visitors are greeted by a sign: “Slow Down, You’re in Molokai.” Located between Oahu, Lanai and Maui, Molokai is 38 miles long and 10 miles wide. The north shore boasts the highest sea cliffs in the world: to 3,500 feet. The east side has a beautiful valley with a pristine waterfall. The west side has a large cattle ranch and coffee plantation.

There are several reasons to visit this island. When most people hear that I am going to Molokai, they ask, “Isn’t that where the leper colony is?” Located at the base of the sea cliffs is a peninsula where Kalaupapa Village is situated. In the 1800’s and 1900’s, people with Hansen’s Disease and undetermined skin rashes were physically thrown into the high surf and banished to this isolated location.

Twice I have climbed down the treacherous cliff path to visit and learn about the settlement. By the time I reached the bottom of the cliffs, my legs felt like Jell-O. Our hosts were members and staff of the UCC Church. They drive us around in a beat up old van that has no seat belts or side door. We see where the Catholic missionary, Father Damien, served the people and we visit the various buildings of the original settlement. Although a cure for Hansen’s Disease has been found, several “patients” still reside there and live quiet and private lives. The climb back up the cliffs is even more exhausting than the climb down and the tropical climate leaves the hikers completely soaked.

Last year I hiked with the young people to the Hipuapua waterfall on the east end of the island; once there I swam in the ice cold, fresh water. It was exhilarating! After the falls we hiked back to the beach where we swam in the ocean looking across the channel to the shores of Maui. Suddenly there were whales cresting in the waves. The majesty of God’s creation that day was awesome!

About 30 High Schoolers go on the mission trip every year. They serve the community by doing work projects at various churches and homes. I cannot emphasize enough what a gift this is to the people of Molokai. One year I took a run down some of the back roads of the island and the homes reminded me of the poor areas of Mexico. After the work projects are done for the day, the youth play at the beach, surf in the ocean, visit the main town, Kaunakakai, or relax at the Christian conference center.

One night during the week, after 11:00 p.m., the group sneaks down a dark alley of Kaunakakai. We stand in line with locals in the shadows behind a local bakery. A baker opens the back door to gruffly take up to five orders at a time. I was reminded of Seinfeld’s “Soup Nazi.” Each person in line orders a loaf of bread topped with various sweets. The locals often times ridicule the Laguna youth with rude comments, but the High Schoolers are instructed to keep quiet. The bread is delicious and some of the kids eat more than they can handle, it’s so good.
Steve Sweet, the Senior Associate Pastor and my dear friend, has invited me to be the guest speaker of the Molokai Mission Trip for the past four years. I provide a written morning devotional, in which participants find a quiet location, read a passage of scripture, reflect on it, answer some questions in their handbook, and pray. Each night I speak to the group after a time of worship. Following the message, they break into small groups where they discuss questions I provide for them.

Each year this trip has proven to be an opportunity for me to experience God’s creation, to enjoy being with a good friend, to get to know other young people and minister to them, and to reflect about my own relationship with our Lord. It’s also a wonderful chance to think about FPCSA and the direction Christ would have us go in the future.

I covet your prayers during this week. I pray for travelling mercies; I pray that Christ would become real to these young people; and, I pray that I will return rested, relaxed, renewed and ready to serve my Lord by serving the members, friends and community of First Presbyterian Church Santa Ana.

In His Love & Service,
Lance

March Messenger Article

2008-03-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

We're coming to the Easter season. And with it, come visitors and perhaps people we haven't seen for a while. As I have asked people to fill out little questionnaires regarding the church and worship, I was surprised by the most common answer to the question, "What would you like to see change at FPCSA?" Most responses (from all generations) said they would like to see more people. Most everyone would like to see the church grow.

Every member can help in this endeavor. Every member is a representative of this congregation. I know everyone wants to be welcoming. In fact, we are known to be a welcoming church. But sometimes we say things that are miscontsrued and I thought it might be a good idea to discuss some "Visitor Etiquette" with you. In his letter, James discusses visitor etiquette in light of the "royal law" to love your neighbor as yourself. Here are some ways you can help.

First, following a service, attempt the Three Face Rule. The Three Face Rule is simply searching out three people that are unfamiliar to you before talking with friends. It's so easy to go straight to the people we know. We love them. We have things we need to discuss with them. We want to catch up. And we're comfortable with them.

Talking with strangers takes us out of our comfort zone. If it's hard for you, in our own church, imagine how hard it must be for visitors! But the Three Face Rule works not only with visitors, but also with long-time members who don't know each other very well. Not only can it force us to greet visitors, but it also helps to break up some cliques.

Second, avoid Foot in Mouth Disease. Be careful about the questions you ask. It's been known to happen. Someone walks up to a stranger in the gallery and says, "Hi, are you visiting us today?" And the person responds, "I've been a member here for thirty years!" To avoid this uncomfortable situation, try a different approach: "I don't believe I know you, my name's Lance," (well, don't use my name!) That way if the person is a member, they (and you) don't feel embarrassed. If they are visiting, then they will feel like you opened up to them first and be more inclined to open up to you.

If you see someone who used to attend but has not been around for a while, be careful not to throw unintentional guilt on them. Questions like, "Where've you been?" or "Why aren't you coming anymore?" put pressure on a person to defend themselves and their choices. They feel guilty and defensive. Even something as well meaning as "We've missed you!" causes some to feel uncomfortable, because they feel responsible for your feelings. Try a different approach; something like, "Hey, it's great to see you. How are you?" This approach is simple and friendly; and hopefully it will open the doors to a deeper conversation.

Third, follow the practice of Positive Inquiry. How we ask a question can determine the direction a conversation will go. "What did you think of the service?" leads the conversation in the direction of analysis and critique. One critical comment leads to another and the conversation ends with two thumbs down. Asking the question differently can lead the conversation into a richer and deeper realm: "How did God speak to you today?" or "What did you like best about the service today?" These questions lead the conversation in a positive direction.

Finally, keep my Grandmother's Rule. Gran always said, "If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all." You've all heard that one, I'm sure. Here's one of the simplest truths you will ever hear: negative comments have a negative effect. Ironically, the most common response to the question, "What would you like to see change at FPCSA?" was "more people." The second most common response was, "less complaining." If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all.

I received a letter from a visitor in their twenties several months ago that saddened me a great deal. They wrote:

This past Sunday there was a couple of people sitting behind me in church that made me feel really uncomfortable. They were making negative comments about the fact that there were three praise songs in the service and that was too much. They were upset that they had to sit through three rather than the usual one or two.

I don't feel comfortable worshipping next to people that disagree that much with my choice of worship. I respect and admire hymns and classic songs that the church brings to services - it would be nice if the feeling was reciprocated. It's hard enough to get out of bed to go to church by myself, but to feel uncomfortable in worship is not something I want to deal with at church of all places!

I hope this is an isolated incident and those that made these comments were unaware that they could be heard; however, Grandmother's Rule is a good one: If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all. Negative comments can alienate visitors and church members.

If we really want the church to grow, then we need to think of church differently and be open to new ways to worship God. Building a multi-generational church is not easy. In fact, many naysayers believe it's impossible. But I believe our Lord desires for the local congregation to be rich in diversity, and that diversity should include people of all ages.

Let's be intentional this Easter Season. Let's do all we can to welcome visitors and perhaps we can contribute to the growth of this congregation. Let's step out of our comfort zones and greet people who are unfamiliar to us. Let's be careful to ask questions in such a way that people don't get put on the defensive. Let's stay positive!

Not only will you be fulfilling the royal law to love your neighbor as yourself, but you will be contributing to the growth of the church. And in so doing, you will be participating in the building up of the Kingdom of God. And that's what we're supposed to be doing!

May the power and the mystery of the resurrection fill you with wonder and awe this Easter Season.

In His Love & Service,

Lance

February Messenger Article

2008-02-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

For years I have been fascinated by generational studies. This area of study looks at the unique cultural perspectives of various age groups. It also looks at global events that occur during a generation's "coming of age" years - generally considered to be around 17 to 25 years old - and how they affect world views and cultural perspectives.

I am no expert in this area, but I have done a lot of research. I am particularly interested in how generational perspectives affect church life.

How do the generations differ from one another?
How do they tend to think?
Are all generations equally celebrated in the life of the church?
Are they well represented in the leadership?
Do they have an equal say in what happens?
Are they al comfortable in worship & fellowship settings?

This past fall, I focused my sermon series on our congregation. I looked at the various seasons in our 125 year history. I enjoyed studying past session minutes, looking at old photographs and hearing stories from longtime members. I got to know the church family better. I grew in my understanding of who we are and where we've been.

Now this spring, I plan to look at the various sociological generations in our society and how they fit - or don't fit - in our church family. You have probably heard of some of these in the media: Builders, Boomers, Generation X. How are they different from one another? What are they looking for in a church? What keeps them from attending church? How might we address these concerns?

But here's the situation. I need your help. On any given Sunday, I will focus on a particular generation. I would like to receive input from members of the congregation who are a part of that generation. In fact, I would be very excited if members from that generation planned the entire worship service: i.e. choose music, plan the worship order, coordinate special moments within the service, assist in the leadership. You can even tell me how to dress!

For example, people born between 1900 and 1924 are most often called the Builder Generation. We have several "Builders" in our membership. On February 17th, I will be focusing on this generation.. On February 10th, I'll be focusing on my generation, those born between 1956 and 1964. On February 24th, I'll focus on Generation X, those born between 1965 and 1980.

I would love to have a representative team plan each individual worship service, so that we sing hymns or praise songs that resonate with what "church" is to them. Please give me a call or e-mail me if you are interested and/or willing to help with any of these services.

Furthermore, I will be interviewing as many of you as I can to find out about your attitudes in regard to society and church, so that I can speak somewhat intelligently about each generation. My goal is to show the importance of a multi-generational church family, to show what each generation brings to the life of the particular congregation and to discuss ways we can become more open to others so that we might provide a safe place "To Every Generation."

In His Love & Service,

Lance