Clay in the Hands

Seeing Clearly Through the Dust

June 17, 2014 by jbrianhill

Life is not back to normal (whatever that is) but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. For the last month and a half, we have been undergoing a face lift at the church. Most of the ground floor of our main building has been remodeled. That has meant relocating offices, putting up with a lot of noise, a lot of interruptions and a ton of dust. But other than a little counter top work, tile flooring and some cleaning, we can see the end.

One of the things that God has reminded me through this process is that it is really easy to get into a rut and miss ministry opportunities. By being forced into a new work mode, I have seen things differently. I have been reminded that things don’t need to stay the same. We must never forget the past and the tradition, and those who have given their blood, sweat, tears and prayer to build what we have – both in the physical sense but also the spiritual sense. But while we must strive to honor our heritage, we cannot live in it.

Our world changes daily. In fact, the old concept of developing a 5 and 10 year long range plan is not applicable any longer. The best we can hope for is developing a direction that will carry us for the next 24 months (and that is pushing it).

In order for the church to fulfill her mission – the calling to share the Gospel with the world – she has to remain relevant – and yes, that includes our facilities. I realize that some of the changes we are making are different for those who have called 1st B their church home for 40 to 50 years, but the mission has not changed. The Gospel is the same today as it was 100 years ago. And the demand of the Great Commission is still the driving force of what we do. We have just tweaked the system of delivery and operation.

God is at work, we just have to join him in what he is already doing!

Be blessed today!

Posted in Church, Community, Missions | 2 Comments »

A Retreat To Remember

June 10, 2014 by jbrianhill

Last Friday and Saturday I had the opportunity to be blessed beyond measure. On Friday morning, 25 pastors from Juarez, Mexico and the surrounding colonias made their way with their spouses to a hotel in Juarez for a two day retreat. As the couples came through the door into the meeting room, I recognized some of their faces from last year’s event. There were some new faces as well. But they all had at least one thing in common – they were all happy to be there. It was a reunion of sorts.

The focus of this year’s retreat was centered around spiritual formation. We hosted sessions on prayer and spiritual practices. We also had sessions on the things we carry as pastors and the fact that we have to find ways to lighten our load from time to time. All of the sessions were done well and the pastors and their spouses benefited greatly.

But this year, the aspect of the retreat that seemed to grab my attention most was the benefit of having time to leave the worries of the ministry at home and just be around other couples who are experiencing the same struggles. The fellowship was amazing. The laughter and tears around the tables at the meals captured my attention. And on Friday night, after our big banquet, the couples gathered to play games. What was fun to watch (because I did not understand much of what was happening) was the fact that nearly all the couples participated in games they had played as children. In the same room we had pastors who have been serving churches for 45 plus years and pastors who are just getting started. But all were laughing and having fun together.

It hit me that given the stress these families are under on a day to day basis, they do not have the opportunity to simply enjoy life and enjoy fellowship. I will share later this week, some of the stories of these couples and the stress they are under. It should be a matter of prayer for all of us.

I was reminded of how important this retreat is in the lives of these ministers. God is at work in Juarez – even in the midst of the violence. And these couples have chosen to stay and minister – even when it is not easy – or even safe.

Remember to pray for Mexico.

Have a very blessed today!

Posted in Community, Hope, Missions | 2 Comments »

Ms. Norma and My Shoes

June 5, 2014 by jbrianhill

Tuesday was a difficult day for many people in our church family and others outside our church family as well. Tuesday, an integral part of our family moved. She had been planning on moving to be closer to her family in another part of the state. But she made a more distant move – still to be with family, but farther than any of us expected.

Norma was one of those people that could not – and would not – be ignored. When she entered a room you knew it. Her personality was contagious and her wit infectious. She rarely was speechless when it came to the banter she and I shared – and there was plenty of banter. She was faithful to attend church every Sunday morning and Sunday night. She was also present every Wednesday night for Bible Study.

She was a career military wife and she loved it. She loved to talk about it. She was proud of her husband who served his country with all he had. She was proud of all her family members who have done and are doing the same.

Her biggest chide at me (and it came every time I saw her) was the appearance of my shoes. Being a military wife, she was used to shoes being spit shined. She expected to see her reflection in the toes of my black dress shoes. So each time we saw each other, she looked immediately at my feet with a smile on her face. When she would “get on to me” for my shoes not meeting her expectation, I would politely smile and tell her, “next week I will drop them off at your house on Saturday and let you take care of that for me.” Of course I never did – but it was all part of the playful exchange we had just about every week.

Norma, you have been such a vital part of the ministry here and such a dear friend to so many – especially me! You will be missed!

Sunday is coming – now where is my shoe polish?

Posted in Church, Community, Hope | 3 Comments »

Living For Today

May 19, 2014 by jbrianhill

What will this week bring? Will God use me this week to make a difference in another life? Or will the days pass by just so that I can mark them off my calendar as if looking forward to some grand event?

So often we miss the blessings of today because we are too focused on tomorrow. Sometimes we overlook the impact we could make in another life today because we are too busy planning how to impact a life tomorrow. How often do we rush past someone in need on our way to church to talk about helping people in need?

One of the posts I read regularly dealt with seeing the world through God’s eyes – with God’s perspective. We are conditioned to see the world and the people in it through our own lenses. But today, I want to see differently. I don’t want to rush past a divine appointment because I have already made up my mind that the appointment is tomorrow. I want to live for today.

Will you strive to see the world through God’s eyes today?

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The Forgotten Ones

May 14, 2014 by jbrianhill

Yesterday, I experienced something that has reminded me of the importance of my calling – and the calling of every believer. I had the opportunity to walk among the forgotten.

As I walked down a 3 block area of Hastings Street in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, I witnessed drugs passing openly. Homeless and desperate people bartered and sold things they had found on the street trying to get enough money scraped together for their next hit. There were little shops set up in abandoned buildings where clean needles could be acquired.

It is not that I have not looked into the eyes of poverty or addiction before. Honestly, I am saddened to say, it was not as shocking as I had been led to believe it would be before making the trek. I guess the experience was just a reminder for me.

As I have processed this experience, what is the most overwhelming to me is the question: “What can I do about it?”

We all face this question in large or small ways. Each and every day we come into contact with desperate people. The difference is that the folks I saw yesterday are the forgotten ones. Most of the desperation we see is masked with a smile.

The answer to the question of what can be done is the same for all of us. I think it can be simplified into three words – Show them Jesus. And the way you do that is to 1) Live your faith and 2) Tell your story.

Jesus has made all the difference in my life. My story can help others see what Jesus can do in their lives.

As we look into the eyes of poverty or hurt or desperation today – the answer is not welfare. The answer is not a handout. The answer is not even encouragement.

The answer is Jesus!

Be a blessing today!

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Just Wondering

May 12, 2014 by jbrianhill

As believers and followers of the Way, we say we believe that there is one God. We hold to the truth that Jesus is God’s one and only son. We accept the fact that Jesus came to earth, showed us how to live and to love and then died in our place on a cross. We celebrate the fact that on the third day after the cross event, Jesus walked out of that borrowed tomb – alive and well.

We say we believe these things – these basic elements of our faith.

But I wonder what our churches – what our communities – what our world would look like if we lived like we truly believe these things.

Just wondering!

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Serving Jesus By Adapting

April 29, 2014 by jbrianhill

There is so much going on at the church, it has been difficult for me to sit still long enough to devote much time to my ramblings here. We celebrated a wonderful Easter season and then moved right into some much needed facility renovations that have consumed much of my time. But progress is a wonderful thing and the changes that are coming about to our facility are going to make a huge difference for years and years to come.

Taking walls down and changing the look of the facility has caused me to pause and think about the last 60 or so years in the life of the church. The facility looks much the same today as it did when it was constructed in the early 1950’s. It has served our family and our community well. Countless lives have been impacted by the ministry of our church and the facilities have played a major role in that impact.

But times change. Culture changes. What was relevant many years ago, does not carry the same weight today. So things must change – ministry needs require adaptation. We still have wonderful facilities but in order for them to be used effectively, we need to shift a bit and make a few changes here and there in order to utilize what God has given us to the best of our ability.

As I have thought about the renovations, I have thought about how each of us face decisions regarding adaptation. We are called to make disciples. But the tools we used 20 years ago, may not be effective today. We have to be willing to strive to remain relevant – and that is a challenge. We like things to stay the same. We like to hold on to things. We often resist change – particularly if it effects us personally.

Jesus did not die on the cross to save me for a life of comfort. He died to call me out of my sin and into a life of service and devotion to him. That service is a life of sharing the good news of his mercy and hope with others. It is not a calling that we grow out of or that has a time limit. If we are still drawing breath, we are still called to impact other for Christ.

Are there areas of your life that need to adapt in order to make a greater impact for Christ possible?

Think about it.

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Will You LIve Like Jesus Is Alive Today?

April 22, 2014 by jbrianhill

I’ve been thinking a lot this week about the aftermath of Easter. We spent weeks moving up to that glorious day. We spent days during Holy Week stopping at the foot of the cross and looking straight into the face of Jesus as he suffered and died. And then Resurrection day finally came and we celebrated the fact that there is an empty tomb – Jesus is alive – he is alive indeed.

But now we find ourselves back in the routine. Life as normal has replaced intense focus on Jesus.

So my question is “Were we serious about Jesus last week or was it just holiday hype?”

I ran across a quote yesterday from Jim Denison. He made the statement that “Easter is not intended to be an event but a lifestyle.” What a great way to state it. We have life today because of the resurrection. We have hope today because death couldn’t hold him. We can’t hold these truths of our faith hostage to a holiday that happens once per year. We have to live as if we believe it every single day.

Live your life today as if Jesus is alive.

Because he is!

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Maundy Thursday With the Guys

April 17, 2014 by jbrianhill

Can you hear the laughter? Can you see the excitement on their faces? The guys just watched him run those money hungry worship distorters from the courts of the temple. They can sense that it is happening (of course, they don’t really know what “it” is). Finally, after three years, Jesus is going to usher in his rule – his kingdom. All their sacrifice, all their time spent learning from this great man is about to pay off.

Now he tells them to get ready for the big celebration meal. He gives instructions for what they need and sends a few of them off to get started. In a few hours they will gather in the vacant room and celebrate together.

Listen to the excitement in their voices. It’s happening – it’s finally happening.

But what comes next sets them back.

Walk with them today and try and feel what they felt.

It will be a very long day!

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If God Were Human

April 9, 2014 by jbrianhill

If God were human, would God . . .

age?

feel pain?

feel joy?

feel sorrow?

get frustrated?

get hungry?

get tired?

die?

The answer to each of these questions is YES! I know this because God did become human. Jesus – God’s one and only son – took on flesh and walked this earth as a man. He experienced every emotion and temptation we face – but did it without falter and with no sin.

Jesus felt frustrated, even anger at times. He felt joy and fatigue. But the one emotion we need to focus on at this time of year is that Jesus felt sorrow.

Jesus knew the cross was God’s plan. He knew that to fulfill his mission on earth, he had to endure the shame, humiliation and pain that came with such an agonizing death. But he had a choice. At any point, he could have decided humanity was just not worth it.

But through that emotional agony and deep sorrow, he focused on the joy of what fulfilling his mission would bring.

As we approach Easter and look forward to the celebration of an empty tomb, don’t rush too quickly past the pain and suffering that Christ endured for you and for me on his way to that empty tomb.

Be blessed!

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope | Leave a Comment »

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