IRCUMC Blog

Hi there!  HAPPY, HAPPY FRIDAY!  I hope you have had a really great week!  Wasn’t the Devotion great today?!  Did you hear God on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1^st when he encouraged us to “not get tired of doing God’s good things because if we don’t give up, we will experience a great BIG bunch of God’s great things at just the time we need it!”? (Galatians 6:9)

I bet that you are a whole lot like me…your weeks are absolutely full of stuff!  And, like me…not all of it is God’s good stuff!  We can get awful busy doing lots of things that waste the time, talent and treasure that God gives you and me for each day!

In these days of seemingly continuing diminishing returns on so many things like our financial investments, the worth of our home and other possessions or the security of our jobs…God is the only one in the whole wide world promising a great return on what we do with our lives!

SSSSSOOOOOOOO…how do we go about making sure that God’s main thing is always my main thing?

Great question!

I really appreciate you asking!

The easiest way to make sure that happens is to daily “set our hearts and minds on Jesus” (Colossians 3:2).    Well…how do we go about that?  One way is to join me and others in the “UPPER ROOM!  What is that?  The UPPER ROOM is a devotion guide that we use at Indian River City Church to gather all of us together to hear and listen to God talk to us, through his Bible!

It gives God an opportunity to speak his love and truth into each one of us and give us some direction for each day!  It’s a place where we can listen to another person, just like you or me, who has found that God offers his life and words for every situation or circumstance and shows us that following God’s directions will help us through whatever life brings us!

It’s a time when we can talk with him about anything and together ask him to penetrate our happenings and help us find him in the midst of them!  It’s where we can talk with him in behalf of one another and ask him to supply everything every person needs to keep going day after day, week after week doing “God’s good things!”  And…like we heard him say on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2^nd…we can keep going because “if we have faith the size of a mustard seed…nothing will be impossible for us!” (Matthew 17:20)

On those days when our faith and strength are weak and we are ready to give up doing God’s good things, we don’t because others who gather together with us have faith and strength that we don’t have that day and they help us keep going when so much else is telling us to give up and stop!

SSSSSSSOOOOOOO…let’s pool all of our time, talent and treasure and by all the faith we have, invest everything we are and have in everything God is and is doing and show a watching, waiting world what He can do for them!  Our community really needs us serving God’s purpose in simple but significant ways so that God can bring his best blessing to us at just the right time!

Thanks for listening…and doing!

Hi there!  Wasn’t the Devotion great today?!!  Every week I write this “Blog” while thinking of you!  This is part of my commitment to helping you become a more fully-devoted follower of Jesus!

I was in the UPPER ROOM on MONDAY (8/23) when we heard Paul say, “I am really sure of this…that God who began the good work within you will continue it until it is finally finished on that day when Jesus comes back again!” (Philippians 1:6)

Have you ever started something that you never quite got around to finishing?  If you are anything like me…then your answer is “YES!”  The great good news is that God who starts shaping you for service in His purpose always finishes what he starts!

Have you ever contracted with someone to do a much-needed project in your home with an agreed upon finish date…only to have it continue well beyond that date?!  The great good news is that God who starts shaping you for service in His purpose always finishes on time!

Have you ever done something or have it done by someone else only to discover that the finished product is less than perfect?  The great good news is that God who starts shaping you for service in His purpose always provides BETTER than we ask!  Why is God so focused on developing you and me into the likeness of his Son, Jesus?

WWWWWWEEEEEELLLLLLLLL…that’s a really great question!  Thanks for asking!  Tuesday’s author quoted Catherine Booth, the wife of Salvation Army founder General William Booth.  She encouraged and challenged her children often by saying, “Remember, you are not here in this world for yourselves!  You have been sent for God and others!  The world is waiting for you!”

WOW!  Take some time to wrap your head and heart around that thought!  Everything God is doing in your life and mine is because the world desperately needs what God is doing in you and me!

Paul said that “It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ago he planned that we should spend these lives helping others!” (Ephesians 2:10)

God is working around the clock to shape us like Jesus so that others will be able to see, hear and know Jesus when they see, hear and know us!  Why?  Because the world needs Jesus and all the things God brings to the world through Jesus!

For God to continue and complete what he started through Jesus he chooses to use you and me to do it!  That’s why he is working day and night to produce the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in you and me in order to reveal to a waiting world the person of His One and Only Son! (Galatians 5:22-23)

God is not sending us into a waiting world to fail at his purpose!  Those family members, friends and folks around us are way too important to Him for us to fail!

SSSSSSSOOOOOOOOO…he continues working until the transforming work of salvation is complete and we are able to do the things that Jesus did and even greater things than that! (John 14:12)  Remember…we are not here for ourselves!  We are here for God and others!  The world is waiting for us!  Let’s not keep them waiting!

Thanks for listening!

Hi there!  I hope you have had an amazing week!  Wasn’t the Devotion great today?!!  I was in the UPPER ROOM on TUESDAY (8/17) when we heard God tell us to “Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith!” (Hebrews 13:7)

I am so very grateful for all the folks God has used to bring me to Jesus to know him and make him known!  I remember Jack Clemons, my fourth grade Sunday School teacher at Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Tampa!  He not only made the stories and teachings of Jesus interesting and understandable, he also took time to take us to the local skating rink or to the neighborhood lake on Saturday afternoons!

As I look back…I gained my passion for connecting with folks in Sunday School and Small Groups from him!  I remember Dick Cameron, my 6^th grade Sunday School Teacher and Youth Counselor!  Even though I thought he was really old…he was only in his 20’s!  He was a great servant!  As I look back…I gained my passion for serving God at a young age and learned that you can make a BIG difference by doing little things that are helpful!  I remember Joe Taylor, a bachelor Tampa Firefighter who discipled and mentored me during my high school years!  Joe worked with our Youth, playing the guitar and helping us learn about Jesus through singing and having fun!  He taught us to play basketball, water ski, play guitar and helped organize a Bicycle Club called the “Soncoasters”.

As I look back…I gained my passion for bringing youth to Jesus to know him and make him known in real and practical ways!  I remember Connie Hunt, an amazing leader and the “Mom” figure of our Youth Ministry!  I call her “my oldest living friend”!  She played a really BIG part in building and growing our “Tyme Outs!” musical group!  As I look back…I gained my passion for bringing people to Jesus through music and learned that God can use ordinary people to do extraordinary things!

I remember Kenneth Tingle, my Lay Leader at the Port Royal United Methodist Church in Port Royal, Kentucky!  He and his wife, Emmy took me into their hearts and home when I was appointed as Student Pastor of their little country church!  In a community of people who saw you either as an “insider” or an “outsider”, he helped me connect and become one with them as pastor and friend!  As I look back…I gained my passion for being an active part in the greater community and for helping everyone feel like an “insider”!

WWWWWEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLL…I could probably go on and on but you get the idea!  Everywhere I’ve been God has used people like you to bring me closer to Jesus by showing me what he looks like, acts like and sounds like!  I’ve grown by following the life they and others modeled for me!

NNNNNNOOOOWWWWW…I’m here at Indian River City to look for those whom God will use to bring me even closer to him AAAAANNNNNDDDDD to be the kind of person who will help you become more like Jesus!  I look forward to helping one another become a fully-devoted follower of Jesus!

Talk to you later!

Bill

Hi there!  I hope you have had an amazing week!  Wasn’t the Devotion great today?!!  I was in the UPPER ROOM on FRIDAY (8/13) when we heard God tell us to “I am the light of the world!  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life! (John 8:12)

We can all use a little light!  Have you ever stumped your toe in the middle of the night trying to find our way?  I have!

This week students in our community returned to school … some to schools they’ve never seen before with teachers they don’t know, hearing things they’ve never heard before!  All are trying to remember where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there!  It’s like trying to find your way in the dark!

Jesus promises to light the way!

Some folks have to seek new jobs or careers for the first time in more years than they can count!  Just the thought of applying and interviewing can be a very fearful thing!  It’s a brand new world out there and some face the need to reinvent themselves to fit in with the changing advances in their fields of expertise!  It’s like trying to find your way in the dark!

Jesus promises to light the way!

In fact … Jesus says that he is the light! This past Tuesday (8/10) we heard God promise that “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you! (Isaiah 43:2)  Jesus says that “whoever” follows him will never walk in darkness!  That means you and me and anybody else anywhere else!

God provides all the light we’ll ever need for every step along the path of life … The light is located in his words! (Psalm 119:105)  And Jesus is God’s living word … he came so that we have someone to follow!

Early Tuesday morning Maureen and I set out to conquer Buffalo Mountain … the mountain we live on when we’re in Colorado!  We have ventured a little higher each time we come and this time we wanted to go even higher!  For 1.5 hours we hiked at a pretty quick pace … at least quick for flat-landers like us!

Finally…we arrived at our previous high mark at the ‘treeline’ and prepared to take the first few steps beyond when we “lost” the trail!  We could not discern the trail in the rock field that made up the rest of the mountain!  We were stuck!

In the Bible “darkness” often means confusion!  I can tell you … we were completely confused with what to do next!  Suddenly, we heard the voice of a man we had passed on the way up … ”Look for the stone ‘cairns’ (man-made rock road signs!) and go from one to the other! I’ll gladly show you the way!”

As we followed his directions, we went higher than ever before! That is what Jesus offers to do and be in our current situation or circumstance!  If you have been following God’s light then you are right where God is … look to his light for your next step!  Jesus promises to light the way!  He’ll get you there!

Talk to you later!
Bill

Hi there!  Wasn’t the Devotion great today?!!  I was in the UPPER ROOM on FRIDAY (8/6) when we heard God tell us to “Imitate God, since you are the children he loves! Live in love as Christ also loved us!  He gave his life for us as an offering and sacrifice! (Ephesians 5:1-2)

WOW!  That’s a really BIG responsibility!  Why is it so important that we live our lives imitating God?!  I mean…he’s so much BIGGER than I can ever be!  I remember when I was 12 years old and being given just a little more independence…my parents talked to me about the importance of representing them well out in our neighborhood!

That’s how BIG the world is when you are 12!  I was told that I was a reflection of them as people and parents!  What people would see, hear and come to know from watching, listening and knowing me would tell them something significant about my parents!  Somehow I knew that I wanted that to be a good something!

When I became a Christian at 16 years old I was told by our Pastor and Adult Counselors that others would come to know something about God upon seeing, hearing and knowing me because I was representing him wherever I was by whatever I was doing!  Somehow even then I knew that I wanted that to be a good something!

God tells us to daily “live in love” in the same way that Jesus loves us and others!  SSSSSSSOOOOOOO…what does that look like, act like and sound like?  It means using our time, talents and treasure as an “offering and sacrifice” that blesses and benefits others in real and practical ways!

It is an “offering and sacrifice” that helps others see, hear and know Jesus Christ! An ‘Offering’ is something that I freely give to support and serve God’s purpose in my congregation and community and a ‘Sacrifice’ is something given or done for that same purpose that uses time, talent or treasure that could have been spent elsewhere!

I loved the song that Jim & Sally Boyles sang this past Sunday – “I Won’t Give Something That Costs Me Nothing!”  Jesus says that there is no greater way to show love than by being someone and doing something that costs us everything!

I really believe that our congregation and community needs people like you and me to imitate God’s loving, living and giving ways now more than ever!  Like any good parent, he is doing everything necessary to help us succeed wildly at all the things he says are important.

This past Father’s Day I showed a video called “I’m Watching You!” where the little boy narrator shared all the ways that he was watching his Dad react and respond in and to a variety of situations and circumstances!  That’s what God is asking us to do…look, listen and learn from his example and then apply all we learn to our loving, living and giving!

Thanks for all the ways you help others see, hear and know Jesus…your model is worth imitating!

Talk to you later!

Bill

Hi there!  Wasn’t the Devotion great today?!!  I was in the UPPER ROOM on FRIDAY (7/30) when I heard Paul say that, “God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him!  May you overflow with that hope through the power of the Holy Spirit! (Romans 15:13 UR 7/30)

There’s lots and lots of stuff happening in our little bit of the world!  Not all of it is great!  Things that are causing folks like you and me to express some wondering and worry!  All of us are experiencing heightened levels of stress!

• What about my job?
• How will I pay my bills?
• What about my family?
• How will all this impact our congregation?
• What’s going to happen next?
• Where is God in the midst of all this stuff?

WWWWWWWWEEEEEELLLLLLLL…there’s good news in the midst of all the not-so-good!  God has something to give us for these times!  Prior to his departure, Jesus told folks that he was leaving them with a special gift!  You can almost see the disciples rubbing their hands together in excitement and anticipation… everybody loves to get gifts!  What will Jesus give us?  Maybe he will give us the secret recipe for turning a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread into a meal that can feed thousands and thousands of hungry people…with several baskets full of leftovers!

I don’t know about you…I love leftovers!  Maybe he will give us the power to touch people who are blind, deaf and lame so that they can see, hear and walk!  Maybe he’ll give us the solution to our economy’s problems!  Wouldn’t that be great!  Show us Jesus!  Show us!  Jesus said, “I am leaving you with a gift…peace of heart and mind!  And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives!  So don’t be troubled or afraid!” (John 14:27)  The only peace our world can offer is when things are good!

But what happens when it’s not good?  What happens when it seems that everything is broken and falling apart!  Every Tuesday our Staff meets in the Chapel for a time of listening to and learning from God!  This past week Dawn Schissler, our Adult Ministries Leader, brought us the lesson!  She heard Rev. Chuck Swindoll say that “WE KNOW THAT GOD…makes everything work together for the good of everyone who loves him and lives for his purpose!” (Romans 8:28)

We KNOW!  How do we know?  Because Jesus said, “Don’t worry…Make me and my kingdom your primary concern and I will meet your day to day needs!” (Matthew 6:33)

SSSSSSOOOOOOOO…whatever’s happening in your life today…believe that Jesus is with you and working for you…then you can “overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit!”  Remember…He’ll make it work real good!

Talk to you later!

Bill

Hi there!  I hope you have had an amazing week … I’ve been talking to God in your behalf about that very thing! And I’m really glad that God always answers BIGGER than I can ask!  I was in the UPPER ROOM for Friday, July 23, when God showed us that he wants to change the world through folks like you and me!

Others notice when we are living for God!  The folks in Thessalonica sure did because they said, “Paul and Silas have been turning the rest of the world upside down and now they are here!” (Acts 17:6)

WOW!  That’s what the folks in Titusville ought to be saying about you and me!  God has placed us together to make a Jesus-sized difference in the workplace, marketplace and home place!  We make that difference best when we simply live the life that Jesus gives us when our sins are forgiven and we are made a completely new person!

Paul tells us that “Whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father!” (Colossians 3:17)  Wherever he went Jesus shook things up just by doing the things that His Father sent him to do and that’s what happens when we go each day for all the same reasons that Jesus came!

SSSSOOOOOO…what can you and I do to turn our world upside down?  God showed us one of those ways when he told us on Tuesday, July 20, about the 4 folks who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus in the belief that He could make a difference in that situation! (Mark 2:3)

I know that there are family members, friends and folks around you and me who could have their world turned upside down if we would participate in bringing them to Jesus!  What could happen if we just started extending invitations to everyone we know?  Changed people change things!

Another way we can shake our world is in the way we speak to one another!  Our culture seems so full of taunting, trash-talking, gossiping, electronic bullying, anonymous E-Mailing and texting and rumor mongering! He told us on Thursday, July 22, to “Let your conversation always be gracious and kind!  The goal is to bring out the best in others and not tear them down!” (Colossians 4:6)

Speaking positive, encouraging, life-giving words into those around us will turn their world upside down, inside out and every which way but loose!

WWWWWEEEEELLLLLL…Thanks for letting Jesus use you to turn our community and congregation upside down for God!  Turning life upside down for God turns life right-side up for us!  Titusville and Indian River City Church needs folks like you!  Thanks for being you…you are really good at it!

Talk to you later!
Pastor Bill

Hi there! I was in the UPPER ROOM on Wednesday, July 14, and heard God encourage us by telling us, “Just as you excel in everything…see that you also excel in this grace of giving!” (2 Corinthians 8:7)

I learn the most when I’m able to “see” the lesson being lived out!

I’ve been at Indian River City Church for just a couple of weeks and everywhere I look I see excellence! I see excellence in our Weekend Worship Experiences! I see excellence in our Music Ministry! I see excellence in our Weekday Caring Ministries! I see excellence in our Ministry, Management and Maintenance Staff! I see excellence in our Kids Place Ministry! I see excellence in our Children, Youth and Adult Ministries!

This past week we hosted 325+ boys and girls at the 2010 SUMMER BLAST! The whole campus was awash with their energy and excitement! It hit me that, including parents and siblings, we were impacting 1,000 people per day! I was thrilled to be a part of it all! WOW! The boys and girls discovered lots of ways by which they could express their love for God! They were learning to “excel in the grace of giving!” and everyone was better because of it!

The thing that made the BIGGEST impression on me during the week was seeing the “Blast” Leadership TEAM and the 100+ adults and youth who served with them during the week! They set an example for all of us! I was privileged to see what it looks like, acts like and sounds like to “excel in this grace of giving!” I was watching 100+ people use their God-given time, talents and treasure to serve God’s purpose and in the process, make a Jesus-sized difference in the lives of all those families as represented by all their boys and girls!

I know that you can “excel” in special ways too…we all can because God has already prepared us to be able to participate in excellent ways!! I encourage you to find your place within the ministries and missions of our church where you can “excel in the grace of giving” and play your part in helping us serve God’s purpose at IRC!

I invite you to join me in the UPPER ROOM everyday to listen to God, learn from Him and then follow His lead into the congregation and community to live a life that “excels in the grace of giving!”

God bless you a lot and lots of others through you!

Talk to you later!

My name is Bill. Maureen and I are extra excited to become your partners in serving God‟s purpose at “xciting‟ IRCUMC!

It‟s always very tough to leave good friends, but it‟s great to have the opportunity to make new ones! I look forward to getting to know you and building some amazing new friendships! I sincerely appreciate all the great cards, calls, and E-NOTES expressing your great welcome and growing excitement! Thanks a lot! I already feel at home!

I am so very honored and humbled to follow in the steps and service of Pastor Jim. I join you in thanking God for such a great servant-leader! He worked long and hard to help you become a more fully-devoted follower of Jesus to serve God’s purpose within our congregation and out into our community! IRCUMC is better because God brought you together with him to continue the things that Jesus started!

I‟m really glad to take my place and do my part!

I am really excited about God bringing us together for such a time as this, so we can keep bringing people to Jesus, so He can build us for life, and then live through our lives to change our little bit of the world!

SSSSSSOOOOOOOO…Where do we start, so God can do all the amazing things he wants to do to, in, around, and through us? I think there are 5 simple, but significant things we can begin doing together that will make a ginormous difference every time in everyone and everything!

1. PRAY EVERYDAY – I encourage us to meet together every day in the UPPER ROOM for prayer, Bible Study, reflection and application! Praying together connects us with God and one another! We want what‟s happening in heaven to happen here! Thanks for praying!
2. PARTICPATE ENTHUSIASTICALLY – I encourage us to participate in what God is doing and blessing! He designed you and me to be participants not spectators! Being an active part of what he is doing is the greatest experience ever! Thanks for participating!
3. PROVIDE EXTRAVAGANTLY – I encourage us to give all we are and have to what God is doing! He‟s given all we need to be generous at all times! (2 Corinthians 9:11) Our time, talents, and treasure always accomplish more in God‟s hands and plans! Thanks for giving!
4. PERFORM ENERGETICALLY – I encourage us to find the place where we can play our part in God‟s work! Every person brings a needed gift and every single gift is needed for God‟s purpose to be served! We will help you discover and develop your gift and deploy you into a TEAM that fits your passion and personality! Thanks for serving!
5. PROCLAIM ENGAGINGLY – I encourage us to invite our family, friends, and all the folks we know to everything we do! Jesus makes it really simple…”Go & Tell!” others in your life to “Come & See!” when he provides the opportunity! Thanks for inviting!

I‟ve probably babbled on way too long! Is that an AMEN I hear?

I am just so excited to get our partnership started. I think these steps will help us start well! I can‟t wait to see what God does next!

Thanks for all you do and all the ways you do them to help us serve God‟s purpose! God bless you a lot and lots of others through you!

Talk to you later!
Pastor Bill

In 2009 many individuals and small groups “adopted” streets for prayer.  We have mentioned the need to continue prayer for our “adopted” neighborhood during the weekend services around Thanksgiving. Attached is the listing we have from our initial sign-ups.  Would you please review and see if your name or group’s name is listed to be praying for a street and either renew your commitment to pray or let Jennifer Taylor know if you would like to have it removed.  Also, if you or your group would like to adopt a street, please also let her know that as well.  Our goal is to have at least one small group praying for the residents of every street directly across from IRC because it is through prayer that God will prepare the way for us to connect with these residents in ways that can lead them to Christ and into the kingdom of God.   Jennifer may be reached at jtaylor@ircumc.com.

CLICK HERE to download “Prayer Covering Street Names” document