What Are You/We Becoming?

I would love to say I wrote the following article on "Becoming", but I didn't. It was written by our District Superintendant, Rev. Terry Yancey. Take a few minutes to read what Pastor Yancey wrote...then ask yourself the following questions:
1. What is my personal focus?
2. What is our focus as a church?
3. Am I/Are we Missional or Member Minded or both or neither???
4. What am I becoming?
Answer and feel free to comment! Love you all!

-Pastor Ryan


I Was Thinking …"Becoming..."
by Rev. Terry Yancey, KS A/G District Superintendant

The book of Acts chronicles a church “becoming” (chapter one) obedient, expectant and organized; (two) powerful, bold, verbal and larger; (three) helpful, noticed and more articulate; (four) persecuted, jailed, enlarged, threatened, more prayerful and communally generous; (five) purified, larger, notably more powerful, delivered, cajoled, abused and prolific in discipleship; (six) DIVIDED and then refocused.

The division came when one group felt overlooked and underfed. The church would keep “becoming” but if it chose poorly, it would become ingrown and ineffective. Would leaders allow the church to become focused on “tables and church dinners?” Would they become satisfied with ministering to the existing group, or would they keep becoming a church with an expansionist mindset?

Thankfully, they chose wisely, displaying for us this lesson: A church that maintains a missional focus can balance the need for “member care,” but church leadership that becomes enmeshed in “member care” will become less missional, missing opportunities for Kingdom expansion.

As a local church and as a Fellowship, what are we becoming? As a leader, what am I becoming…

Ps 63:1O God, you are my God,earnestly I seek you;my soul thirsts for you,my body longs for you,in a dry and weary land where there is no water.(from New International Version)

Ever get dry? Ever feel like your thirst isn't going to get quenched?

Mother's Day Miracle

Yesterday was a wonderful day to celebrate our Mothers! I had a great time sharing the stories our Mom's had written about their experiences! Thank you for all who were able to participate!

As I began to think about what kind of gift to give our mothers during our service yesterday, my mind was bombarded with all kinds of ideas. However, the only one that made sense to me was giving it away...or finding someone who really needed some substantial amount of help. As I shared my idea of what God was leading me to with our treasurer, the amount of $200.00 kept popping into my mind. I dismissed it as a figure that I normally spend on candles or flowers or pens, etc. So during offering, I shared with the congregation what God had led me to do and offered it privately to any mother who may need it. The cool thing was I didn't say an amount!

The rest of the story...Well, yesterday afternoon I received a phone call from a mother who said she was in need. She told me on Saturday they had paid their bills, bought their groceries and diapers, and then balanced their checkbook. Was it a coincidence they were exactly $200.00 over? I don't think so! God is so awesome (I really wanted to say "cool)!

Matthew 6:31-34
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NIV)

Thank you to all the moms who gave up their Mother's Day gift from the church! You in turn were used by God and gave a gift so much better than you could have ever received!

-Pastor Ryan

Reminded by a Child...

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to take Sammy, our 4 year old son to the hospital to give a blood sample. Now for those of you have done this with your children, you know the joy of holding your kid while they scream bloody murder (not very joyful). I so wish I had a camera to capture the faces of all those in the waiting room...it was shear panic and anticipation knowing they were next!

Let me get to the point of this story...
As we left the hospital, Sammy and I decided to begin walking down the street because Rachel was at JC Penney's doing some Mother's Day shopping. We called her and told her we would just meet her along the way. So here Sammy and I were walking down the street and talking. I am sure it was a quaint little picture...big ole daddy Ryan holding hands with his boy. As we walked, I began to tell Sammy how brave he was with the whole needle and blood giving opportunity. Its my desire as a father to build that bravery up in my sons. Sammy looked up at me and said, "Daddy, I wasn't brave." "Yes, son, you were very brave." "No dad, I wasn't brave...I cried." "Yes, Sammy, you were really brave." "Dad! I wasn't brave, the needle scared me." As this little conversation occurred, God's gentle voice began to speak to my heart...and the whisper said, "In your weakness, my strength is made perfect..." Then those brown eyes looked up at his daddy's and Sammy said, "But dad, it was okay because God helped me!"

Here I am, a 35 year old educated reverend, and my 4 year old was teaching me one of the mysteries of God! I reached down, picked him up, and began to share with him about how there are times when "brave old daddy" gets scared too. And when I get scared, I put my faith in God and know He will take care of me! What a tremendous training and teaching opportunity...the child teaching the father...

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NIV)

Has your bravery left you? Are you in a situation or facing something which scares you? Learn from a child..."But dad, it was okay, because God helped me". Remember, God's power is made perfect in your weaknesses.

-Pastor Ryan

Books Pastor Ryan is Reading...

I just started a book this weekend entitled, "The Son", by E.L. Towns. Just so you know, I have beend having a difficult time putting this novel down. Its written by a well versed author, E.L. Towns and is based on the life of Christ.

Each of us have our own niches we get caught up in, and lately, mine has been reading books about church growth and other various non-fiction books on multiple Biblical topics. So, in an attempt to break out of the mold, I started reading this novel, "The Son". This has been a much needed break from the normal grind of the "how to" and "this is how I did it" books that frequently catch my attention.

Granted I am only on the third chapter, but hey, it is really blessing my imagination and filling in some of the blanks! So, if you are looking for a great read, check this one out.

-Pastor Ryan

God Story "Look What I Can Do..."

Today I had the opportunity to lead our local minister's association in our monthly meeting. To be honest, it probably was one of the best meetings we have had. God is bringing a great sense of UNITY to the Body of Christ in our CommUNITY.

Then it hit me, I look over to my left, and see one of the greatest friends God has blessed me with...this guy you see in the picture...Rev. Mark Slattery. Pastor Mark is the new pastor of the Larned Southern Baptist Church. The "surrealness" of the situation leaped out at me and I began to have those "God Shivers" run up and down my body! "Look what I can do..." That's what I felt God speaking to my heart. "Look what I can do..." I can take two of the least likely men, plant my heart in them, birth the desire to be pastors, form a life-long friendship between them, and then place them in the same community together! "Look what I can do..."

God, if you can do something like this...and bring two friends together to minister to the Body of Christ in one community...what are you about to do through this relationship? God, you are amazing!

Read this verse with me:

Ephesians 3:20-21

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Now ask yourself this question...what is God wanting to "DO" in your life? What is God wanting to "DO" through your life? Are you willing to let Him lead you? Are you willing to let Him guide you. I believe God is wanting to write a God Story through each of our lives. My desire as a pastor is to see other people experience the "God Shivers" I experienced today as I looked over at my friend in our ministers meeting!

God is ready to bring revival to your life...are you ready to be revived?

-Pastor Ryan

Pursuit...

Well...one of my favorite times of the year has started and we are off to Kansas Deer Season. It's been great seeing several men, and yes...women in our church get their deer. However, I have yet to get mine. I did have a chance this morning, but I missed a decent 10 point buck...blame it on "buck fever"(man my heart was pounding)...blame it on a long shot...blame it on the gun...but still, I missed. Well it got me to thinking about what I, and all of us should really be pursuing. Take a minute and read what Paul wrote to Timothy about what to pursue in life:

2 Timothy 2:22
22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (NIV)

So for all of us "deer hunters" out there...and the rest of you who are pursuing something else, lets remember what God has called us to pursue.

Have a wonderful day!

-Pastor Ryan

PS - That was my trophy deer from 2004...couldn't resist to post it again on the web.

Love Your Neighbor...

Like many of you, I grew up watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood on PBS. The puppets kind of scared me, but the message was always right on...Love Your Neighbor. Its awesome how a Biblical principle was taught via a children's show on TV.

Jesus told us in Matthew 22:39 we are to "Love our neighbor as ourself." This, according to Christ, was the 2nd greatest commandment we can follow as Christians. Are you loving your neighbor?

If you think deeply about it, the two commandments encourage us to be involved in relationships: Relationship with God, and Relationship with others. These are greatest commands Jesus could give. In my opinion, we need to follow these thoroughly and completely. Love God with everything we have and love others as ourselves!

Just yesterday, I was walking out of my house and my neighbor just happened to be walking out of his. I casually engaged him in conversation and we ended up talking in his yard for a few moments. During the conversation, he shared he was getting ready to be involved in an event that could literally change his life. Hmmm...can someone say divine appointment. I knew I could not leave that conversation without praying for him. As we finished up our chat, I looked at him and asked...can I pray with you? Guess what...he said "yes" and I prayed with him. Right there, in front of God and everyone else in the neighborhood, I put my hand on his shoulder and just prayed. Simple and effective.

Are you praying for your neighbor? Are you looking for ways to minister to your neighbors? Are you involved in relationship with them? Remember, Jesus said this is the 2nd greatest commandment! Wouldn't it be great if we as a church committed ourselves to truly loving our neighbors?

One last thought for the moment...maybe one of you is saying to yourself, "I don't have the strength or the courage (put any excuse in here you want) to pray for someone like that." Well here is the truth...I didn't pray for my neighbor as "Reverend Ryan T. Webster" or even "Pastor Ryan", I prayed with him as "Plain ole Neighbor Across the Street Ryan." You can do it...God will give you the strength. To quote another children's show on PBS..."Who are the people in your neighborhood?" God knows...and He wants you to as well!

-Pastor Ryan

Giving Everything

Yesterday was a great service! For those of you who missed, the whole morning was definately orchestrated by God. First off, I want to share how very excited I am to see our church worship the way it does. It is truly our way of expressing love to God! I loved the time of communion yesterday...what more appropriate way to end the Thanksgiving holiday than to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross. I am most proud of our students from 4 Points Masters Commission. What a great opportunity to see how God is working in their lives. There is truly something remarkable to say about giving our life fully to Him and knowing that God is in control!

Over the next few Sundays I will be sharing on the theme of giving. This next week I would like each of you to spend some time reading Luke 9. This is where the main text of my message will come from. What kept a few people from giving their all to Chirst? We will also be celebrating with Mike & Krista Hulsey as they take a step of faith and head down to Oklahoma City to be Youth Pastors. Lets be in continual prayer for God's direction in their life!

-Pastor Ryan

Happy Thanksgiving

Hey Church Family,
I wanted to extend to each one of you my sincere thanks and appreciation for being a part of the Body of Christ. Know that you are loved and prayed for regularly! Here is a short Thanksgiving day message to each of you.

Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Isn't it wonderful to know on days like this, but in truth...everyday...God's peace will guard our hearts and minds through Jesus! What an awesome thing to be thankful for!

-Pastor Ryan