A Jesus-centered, faith-community offering love & hope to the world
Archive for December, 2006
December 13, 2006 at 5:03 pm · Filed under Lakeside Family
After sorting, touch-up painting, some extra cleaning, and packing some of the extras we’re ready to fly… to Seattle and then to Lakeside this Sunday! We’re really thankful that the Lord has moved us to this point. Virginia commented this afternoon as our Real Estate agent brought the signs by for us to put out, "It’s so good to feel so ‘right’ about this!" Absolutely!
We’ve reached another significant point in this transition process: our house is now officially on the market and we’re coming to greet you, our new Lakeside family, this Sunday! See you soon!
December 12, 2006 at 8:31 pm · Filed under Free Methodist Family
Tonight Virginia and I attended the annual World Ministry Center employee Christmas party. I think that there are between 65-80 full or part-time workers that work at the "Free Methodist Church HQ," –all great people. Many of them attend one of the six Free Methodist Churches in the Indianapolis area.
Our girls (Sarah, Rebekah, and Bethany) had a great time with my A/A’s daughter Kiran. Jennifer (my admin. asst.) has worked with me nearly all five years here. She and her husband (and Kiran) live about 70 miles north in Kokomo, where Russ is pastor of our FM church in that town. Kiran is two, sweet and cute, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy spending time with three older girls … it was not their first time together.
At the Christmas party, I realized it was my last event with the whole group. Good-bye is a normal part of life often intensified by the love and friendship shared in Jesus. While I’d never withhold myself relationally, I just don’t enjoy saying those words. However, the sting of ‘good-bye’ has become a great reminder for me to thank God for His kindness and graciousness in giving those precious friendships in the first place. They’re each like a gift under the tree at Christmas; individually wrapped, holding something special inside that I have the privilege of sharing for a while.
We’ve said good-bye time and time again, literally all over the world. If I dwell on the pain of separation, the loss spirals me downward. But if each time I feel the sting I thank the Lord for the ‘gift’ of that person, experience, or relationship, I find it a bit easier to let go. Of course I’ll always cherish those ‘gifts’ in my heart; sometimes the Lord allows for those friendships and connections to be renewed, other times I know the sweet reunion won’t happen this side of heaven.
Just yesterday we learned of another ‘good-bye’ that we must say: Virginia’s grandmother went to be with Jesus. She had just turned 100 years old this past September. We’re glad that she knew the Savior, and will have this Christmas in His presence!
Some of our friends at the party tonight expressed mixed feelings about our departure. It’s absolutely wonderful to be able to share with confidence our sense of God’s leading, and that we just can’t wait to be with our new church family called Lakeside!
December 10, 2006 at 5:37 am · Filed under Following Jesus
This photo was taken just yesterday (Saturday 9Dec) down in the Los Angeles area. Andrew’s INSIGHT group went to a Buddhist temple as part of their study of world religions. You can see the temple in the background, a Buddha statue, and our son –we’ll let you guess which one is Andrew! 
"Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said,
‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.’" -Mark 8:34 (NLT)
Following Jesus may take you to some places you’d never expect. It will take you away from selfishness. It may take you away from current friends and family; the familiar; the comfortable. Following Him will lead you on a path of self-denial, but I’ve found the less of me and the more of Jesus I have –the more at peace I am.
I like to picture following Jesus as a step-by-step, daily, even moment-by-moment ongoing conversation with Him. Sometimes I listen, sometimes I speak; sometimes it’s just enough to know He is with me –that we are walking together on the road of life.
Have you ever had the experience of talking with someone, but when you look at their face and their body language, you know that they are ’somewhere else?’ "Maybe they are bored with me," you think. Or maybe they’ve just realized something they had forgotten. Regardless, there’s a disconnect in the communication, maybe even in the relationship a little bit.
I’m still tempted by the things that distract me from Jesus. But I’m finding as I follow Him that by His side is the place I really want to be.
He’s been talking to me about ‘trust’ these days. Will I trust Him with the changes in our lives? Will I trust Him with the days ahead? Will I follow Him and trust Him, even though I can’t always see into the future? In my daily reading this week, the I believe that the Holy Spirit pointed these verses out to me:
"Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises." Romans 4:20-21 (NLT)
I’m determined to follow fully, absolutely convinced that He is able lead down the road ahead.
December 8, 2006 at 4:01 am · Filed under Missional Living
Good morning, friends!
If you’ve had a chance to read or browse through my main blog, you may have picked up that I’ve had an increasing passion to live ‘missionally.’ To me, living missionally is about our ‘doing’ flowing from our ‘being.’ Who I am and who I am becoming in Jesus Christ affects what I do for Him. Additionally, I believe that to be ‘missional’ one must understand that all followers of Christ are ‘sent.’ In John 20:21 Jesus says plainly, “…As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Of course where we are sent is different with every follower of Jesus. Some are sent to other parts of the world, some are sent simply across the street to their neighbor. But we all are ‘sent’ on behalf of Jesus and God’s ongoing mission.
We also understand this ‘sentness’ in the context of community. Most people who know me understand that I treasure relationships. As I write, it’s early morning here, and I’m having my first big cup of Seattle Mountain Blend coffee made from beans that we purchased from Costco on the north side of Indy. I hope in this next year that I have the privilege of sharing many cups of coffee across the table from you. Sharing life in community is one of my most favorite things about life in Jesus, especially when it is over a good ‘cup of joe.’
So, I’m studying and learning and seeking to know all I can about God’s mission, and how as a follower of Jesus I can live missionally within the context of community.
Dr. Charles Van Engen identifies ‘communities’ or spheres of missional influence as being the place where any particular congregation may be able to reach through boundaries with the good news of Jesus Christ. (Communities are “specific subsets of groups of people with whom the members of the congregation are in contact through specific pathways of relationships. In other words, a church should ask: “Who is out there that Jesus wants us to reach?).
Dr. Van Engen suggests six types of communities through which members of a church can reach out with the Good News: Geographic Community: This community includes people who live near the meeting place. Program Community: This community identifies the people who are reached through programs such as ESL, Daycare/preschool, etc. Relational Community: This is the biggest of the communities, and is based upon the study by Donald McGavran, in his work Bridges of God. The idea is that all human relationships serve as bridges: family relationships, work relationships, etc. Dr. Van Engen says that during an average week, each adult in a congregation connects in some way with between 75-100 people. The potential is significant, when one considers how many adults attend a given church. Nearly 90% of all new members in a church who remain within the church after a period of 5 years cite some relationship (friendship, family, etc) as key along with the invitation. This is an effective missional ‘bridge’ that minimizes expense and maximizes a local church’s outreach potential for Jesus.
The Newcomer Community includes people who have just moved into a local area, neighborhood or city. These people may be open to forming relationships for a year or more. A church could work with local governments and other agencies to be a point of first contact for these people. Prayer Community: This circle of influence crosses any barrier because it includes all of the people for whom an individual or group prays. Lastly, the International Community, which would include members of an area who have come to the location from another country or are part of a particular ethnic group, or perhaps are actually in another country. These people represent significant opportunity for world evangelization because they are a ‘bridge’ back into their culture/world.
These are interesting and important thoughts to me, and I wanted to share them with you this morning (or today, depending upon when you read this.) It seems to me that the idea of ‘mission’ and ‘community’ have been a very central part of Lakeside’s history.
I’m praying for you!
December 7, 2006 at 4:10 am · Filed under Spangler Family
If you have younger children (and maybe even if you don’t) you’ve probably seen the movie "The Incredibles." I thought you might like to know that I actually live with Mrs. Incredible. That’s not at all to say that I am Mr. Incredible…far from it! I just want to let you know that the greatest earthly gift God has ever given to me is my sweet wife, Virginia.
Born a Texas girl to John and Diane Simpson, she has two older brothers (Charlie and Brad), and an older sister (Marsha), all who still live in the Lone Star state with their own families. Although most of her growing up years were spent in Texas, her family lived in Southern California for a while –I think this is where she lost most of her southern accent!
We met at a place called Last Days Ministries while attending an intensive Christian training program, and volunteering our service for a year. Last Days was started by the late Keith Green, a Christian musician that greatly influenced many for Jesus. This next August, Virginia and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage together!
Virginia is the most gracious, kind, and compassionate person you will ever meet. These qualities are among her many gifts. She is patient and dedicated; deeply loves Jesus, me, and our children –and many others. She has taught Andrew, Sarah, Rebekah, and Bethany from the beginning of their learning, and proofread and offered critical feedback on hundreds of my sermons, papers, and reports. She’s talked me through many pressures and challenges, providing objective feedback on countless life and ministry issues.
My sweet wife is humble, preferring to deflect attention away from herself. At the same time she has a trail of friends all over the world (literally). Each time I’m in India, the first question pastor’s wives ask me is "How is sister Virginia?" She’s ‘been to coffee’ with many of our friends from the World Ministry Center here in Indianapolis. She is creative, giving, and easy to get to know. When she is not serving others, you’ll often find her reading or researching topics on the internet that will help bless those around her. I’m excited to share Virginia with you. She’ll be your good friend; and as my partner in life and ministry, is already praying for you!
« Previous entries ·
Next entries »
