Word on the Street

For thirteen years Grace Avenue has used the motto: "Not a location, but a Way of Life." In other words Christian faith is a perspective. It is a state of mind. It is a matter of the heart.

This story I think illustrates our motto well:

Two wealthy Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, joined a party that was traveling around the world. In Korea one day, they saw, in a field by the side of the road, a boy pulling a rude plow, while an old man held the plow handles and directed it. The lawyer was amused, and took a snapshot of the scene.

"That's a curious picture! I suppose they are very poor," he said to the missionary, who was an interpreter and guide to the party.

"Yes," was the reply. "That is the family of Chi Noui. When the church was being built they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money; so they sold their only ox and gave their money to the church. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves."

The lawyer and the businessman by his side were silent for some moments. Then the businessman said, "That must have been a real sacrifice."

"They did not call it that," said the missionary. "They thought it was fortunate that they had an ox to sell."

 Is the giving of your time and resources to God really a sacrifice or a blessing?

Word on the Street

Happy Birthday Grace Avenue! Next Wednesday August 15 our church turns 13. We've hit our teen years and like any adolescent we are just beginning to move into our most important growing years. Certainly we know 13 can be a confusing time but it is also a time to develop and mature. In the next few weeks we will celebrate the opportunities and the challenges of being 13.

1. At 13 we like to party. That is why this year we are celebrating Grace Avenue's birthday for three weekends instead of just one; August 11 &12, August 18 & 19 and August 25 & 26. Part of the fun begins this Sunday night with Grace Avenue's first ever Talent Show and Spaghetti Dinner. It is still not too late to sign up.
2. At 13 we often have an identity crisis. It is no different with churches. I have people tell me all the time they don't recognize many of the people at our church now, so for the next three weeks we are going to place an emphasis on getting to know one another a little better. In addition I will be preaching a message series about some people in the Bible you may not recognize. The series is called: "Someone I'd Like You to Meet" based on stories from Acts 10, 11 & 12.
3. At 13 we like gifts. Grace Avenue has had a great start with the "From the Heart" furnishings campaign and now would be a great time to give the church a birthday present. If you have not made a "From the Heart" gift, now is the perfect time. If you have purchased an item, I want to thank you. Big gifts, little gifts all count in this important effort and it is a great way to remember or honor someone you love.
4. At 13 we know how important it is to get ready for school. That important transition time is almost here, for everyone. We know the kids will be in class; will you? We have a great Autumn line up of Grace Avenue GROW classes beginning with Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University that starts Wednesday August 29. The rest of the lineup will begin the two weeks following Labor Day. Also on August 25 & 26 we will be celebrating "Blessing of the Backpacks" and Education Personnel commissioning in all our worship services.

We're turning 13. Now is the time to live fully into the dreams God has for us. See you at church.

Word on the Street

As we continue with the "From the Heart" furnishings campaign, I continue to stress that the nature of the furniture is not as important as love demonstrated in these gifts. Our love is expressed in remembering or honoring someone, but also as love expressed to the people who are not at our church yet, who need the ministry of Grace Avenue.

Here is another illustration of that point:

It is said that the great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his marvelous violin to Genoa - the city of his birth - but only on condition that the instrument never be played upon. It was an unfortunate restriction, for wood, as long as it is used and handled, will show little wear. As soon as it is discarded, it begins to decay. The exquisite, mellow-toned violin became worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic. The moldering instrument is a reminder that a life withdrawn from all service to others loses its meaning.

Our new building must be a mission station not a museum. Our love will be our legacy not the building or the contents therein. We must have the furniture to do the ministry. We must give the furnishings "From the Heart".

Word on the Street

The furnishings campaign for our new building has begun. It is called "From the Heart" and it gives us all the opportunity to remember and pay tribute to the special people in our lives. On our website there is a brochure that describes the guidelines and all the items being requested for the new building (click here). I invite you to carefully read through this brochure and spend time in prayer about your contribution to this effort. You can also get a printed brochure at the church.

I believe it is very important to clearly understand what we are doing. This is a furnishings campaign not a furniture campaign. Every item on this list will someday have to be replaced but the legacy of love we generate through this campaign will never be replaced. In preparing to make a contribution to this campaign ask yourself these questions before you choose any of the items:

1. Do I love this church?
2. Do I love someone who I want to honor or remember?

After you answer these questions, then begin to search for items that represent the people you care about. The Furnishings Committee has given us a wonderful set of choices that will affect the ministry we perform at Grace Avenue in a wide number of areas. For those who simply want to honor or remember someone, but do not know which area or items they want choose, there is a great gift card option. If you so desire, contributions can be made anonymously or simply "to the glory of God."

My family is planning on choosing six items; four items to honor each of our four children, one item to honor Laura's parents and one item to remember my parents. As we have prayed about this, we plan to spend at least $1000 on each of the six items. Your plan needs to be based on your prayers but this much I know; everyone can do something.

I am so excited about the progress on our new building and the plans for the renovation of our existing Worship Center. The new building still looks like it is on target to open sometime in December of this year, but I am even more excited about the ministry of "Making Disciples and Making a Difference through Jesus Christ" that will happen in this new building. Thank you in advance for the generosity I know you will show "From the Heart".

Word on the Street

July 20, 2012

The echoes of Vacation Bible Camp resound: Look Up & Trust God!

Word on the Street

July 13, 2012

One of my favorite storytellers is Garrison Keillor. He is famous for his yarns about a fictional small town in Minnesota called Lake Wobegon often told on the syndicated radio program "A Prairie Home Companion". The parody is about the fact that, from the outside, nothing much exciting happens there, but if you live in Lake Wobegon, there is always "news". Keillor finishes every newscast from Lake Wobegon with the phrase; "where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking and all the children, above average".

It is a bit of an overstatement to say that we don't live in Lake Wobegon. We live in the extremes of stress and escape. We are either so busy with so many important things or we run away to mindless, self-indulgent, sometimes dysfunctional endeavors. Psychologists call it "fight or flight".

God calls us to the simple joys of everyday living. God calls us to appreciate the ordinary experiences in our lives that are extraordinary because of God's love. Philippians 4: 4-7 says: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Garrison Keillor states: "Gentleness is everywhere in daily life, a sign that faith rules through ordinary things: through cooking and small talk, through storytelling, making love, fishing, tending animals and sweet corn and flowers, through sports, music and books, raising kids-- all the places where the gravy soaks in and grace shines through."

This week are you living in the extremes or in the places where "the gravy soaks in and the grace shines through"?

Word on the Street

I was on vacation last week in Washington D.C. It is always amazing to see the richness of our nation's heritage depicted in the buildings, museums, monuments and institutions. When I go there and experience these things I realize that I am not simply encountering the past. I am also encountering a challenge as to what kind of citizen I will be in the future.

One evening we went to the area of the Tidal Basin just before sunset. A walk around the south and west side of the Tidal Basin will now take you to the Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Martin Luther King, Jr. memorials. In the Jefferson Memorial stands the large statue of Jefferson along with four panels of inscription quoting the famous Founding Father from Virginia. On the fourth panel are the words:

"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

As I read these words I thought about our country and our church. No one would ever have accused Thomas Jefferson of "Good Ol' Days" syndrome. Jesus said it this way: "No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. (Luke 5: 37-38).

With you on Grace Avenue,

Billy Echols-Richter

Pastor