Kirk's Korner Blog Blog

Thank You

Kirk Norman — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 04:04:26 GMT

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each member of First Church for the support you have shown my family and I over the past 10 years. It has been a rewarding time as we have grown together and watched the Lord work in the lives of many different individuals. Thank you very much for the thoughtful framed picture titled “Reflections” showing the reflecting pool at the Memorial and the survivor tree. It will be cherished always. We are excited to be moving from First Church and entering in to another chapter in our lives. As I have shared on many occasions I know I have been called to preach and teach. Where that will be or how that will be is still to be determined as we discern God’s will in our lives. Everyone is called to share the gifts they have been given by God. I encourage each of you to determine how God has gifted you and how you are responding to God’s call in your life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is still my favorite verse for life. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will direct your path. Again, the Lord has charted a simple pattern for living. Don’t be caught up by the people or things in your life that would direct you away from this simple path.

Ending this journey to begin my first steps on a new path,

Kirk

Yielding Fruit in Transition

Kirk Norman — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 02:56:38 GMT

Can you remember when your first romance ended? When your best friend moved away? It is hard to see good things come to an end, good relationships, meaningful projects, things that make us better than what we could be alone, and things that make us happy and give us meaning. But inevitably, certain times in our lives come to a close, and it is painful.

When Paul was arrested and placed in prison a chapter of his life closed. The mission that had captivated him was no longer. He had originally set out ot convert the gentile world and was now in prison. Now he was not able to preach and teach in the synagogues, or debate the issues of the day. When a chapter of your life closes, the change can be troublesome. We feel lost, and we search for answers. This time has a strange darkness all its own. But, during this time is when we are sure to find a closeness with that which is changeless. That which has always been the ever constant of our life. Paul found something in the Roman prison probably very quickly. The more things change the more Jesus stays the same. We love standing and professing the Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, until we find ourselves going through and endless cycle of change, and then we just want the ride to stop so we can get off. Don’t you find it odd that Paul in the midst of despair of the prison cell could write and share with the Philippians of his being filled with the fruit of righteousness? Perhaps Paul had been through so much change in his life he was used to leaning on the thing that never changes. What fruit are you producing during these times of transition? We are not allowed the privilege to sit and wait for the ride to stop so we can get off and begin to produce fruit. Transition is a constant in our lives and we are urged to produce in the midst of transition. Transition should never be an excuse for lack of fruitful behavior.

In a world where chapters open and close frequently, we search for stability, certainty, and assurance. Many look for a bedrock in a world of quicksand. Those of us who have seen that the more things change the more Jesus stays the same will be like a tree…yielding its fruit in due season. Father help us remain rooted in you that the goodness of your steadfast love will produce fruit in our time of transition.

On the journey with you this last trip,

Kirk

Bitterness

Kirk Norman — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:11:24 GMT

I have been reflecting recently about the church as a whole or the church universal, not the well meaning establishments or outposts of faith that we call the “church.” As a traditional Methodist I come back to a statement we traditionally stated before the affirmations of faith when I was a child. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is the one true church apostolic and universal…” I write this today because I think we often fail to remember we are a part of a greater body of believers. We often refer to other churches or denominations when we are stating something “we” believe versus something “they” believe. A seed is planted as we speak. A division occurs. When this event happens it seems very insignificant at the time, often something that is glossed over with a smile, or spoken as a passing comment. The seed is bitterness. Bitterness is spoken about often in the Bible. The Greek word that is used in scripture is PIKRIA and refers to intensity of suffering of mind and body, something that is difficult to bear, something that causes animosity and reaction, something that is brought about by hatred or antagonism. The other form of bitterness actually is very similar; PIKROS refers to the actual taste of something that is bitter. When bitterness is sown into our lives it is very difficult to remove.

Seeds planted in any soil will sprout, but seeds planted in fertile soil not only sprout but grow to be mighty plants which reproduce to make seedlings which multiply often times out of control. The fertile soil of bitterness is often found to be pride. Once we have sown the seed of bitterness our pride fertilizes the seed until the plant is beyond our ability to keep it from consuming us and all that is around us. When bitterness is left to grow out of control I repeat it is beyond our ability to control it! It does not matter if you feel you are a “we” or a “they” bitterness will consume you. It does not matter if you feel as though you are in the right and others are wrong, bitterness will consume you. But… the answer to bitterness is confession. Bitterness is simply sin. You must deal with sin on a daily basis by confessing and moving on. Do you hear the word daily? If you don't do this, sin becomes a burden that clouds your joy, drains your spiritual energy, and destroys your productivity. In short, sin is depressing.

1 John 1:9 states that when you confess your sins, God "is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." In privacy, make a list of your mental attitude sins, verbal sins, and behavior sins. Ask the Lord to make you aware of the habits of your own life. Respond immediately to the Holy Spirit when He uses the Word to spotlight your sin. Name the sin to God; then rejoice in forgiveness and cleansing and your renewed fellowship with God.

I pray each of us can reach a point where we realize we have all contributed to any division we may have created in the church universal. If you believe this is not about you, then you are saying you do not sin, and we know where that leads. God is waiting to hear us cry out so He may be faithful and just to forgive. Never go longer than a day in confessing your sins before God. Bitterness cannot grow in God’s garden of forgiveness.

On the journey together,

Kirk

Manna From Heaven

Kirk Norman — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:48:03 GMT

The rain is coming and the wind is blowing. We need the rain. I have heard many people saying that we need the rain. For those whose homes were threatened this past week with wildfires it is a life giving substance from heaven. Much like the “What is it” or “manna” that fell in the wilderness. It provided that which was needed to sustain life.

Today’s Kirk’s Korner article I will boldly predict is like manna from heaven or the life giving substance that falls from heaven. It is this…Without a relationship with Jesus Christ as your personal savior all the good you can do on the earth will fall away like the grass that will soon die with coming winter. You can be a very good person. You can do good for others with every step you take and with all the money you have, but you will spend eternity in a terrible place. But the good news is this… when you bow our heart and ask forgiveness of your sin and allow Jesus Christ to become a living and active part of your life. When you decide that Jesus is a better leader than any person you might follow including yourself. When you wake each morning to ask Jesus Christ to rule in your hearts from within and to put aside all your earthly desires. God is faithful to hear your cry and come to you and comfort you and free you for a life of abundance.

Abundance does not always equal having everything you WANT, but abundance does represent everything you need and then more. We may not see until the promised land the overwhelming lavishness of our creator, but it is there for those who believe. Stop looking for the riches of God’s kingdom in our earthly existence. You will be sadly disappointed, but look for the God existence in the creations of His image. You will be richly blessed.

On the journey together,

Kirk

What will you believe?

Kirk Norman — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:15:28 GMT

What an incredible week is shaping up as we move through to the weekend. If everything goes as planned we will be receiving rain by the time you receive this blog and the cooler weather is to follow. Football time in Oklahoma often comes with the first games average temperature around 100 degrees. This week the forecast says we should see a high of 86. That is hard to believe. I think there are a lot of things in our lives that are hard to believe.

Believing is to… accept something as true: to accept that something is true or real - accept somebody as truthful: to accept that somebody is telling the truth - credit somebody with something: to accept that somebody or something has a particular quality or ability.

Why then do we struggle so in believing? Have we been misled so many times that it becomes difficult to believe anymore? I remember driving along the country roads when I was a young boy. We would be in the middle of nowhere and my Dad would honk the horn several times in a row. When we asked him what he was doing he would tell us, “That’s the way you keep the elephants away!” He would then say, “Look, it works!” Does that mean my Dad was lying to me? Of course not, I never saw an elephant on any of those roads. Believing is difficult because when it comes to something we cannot see we can neither prove or disprove that which we are being asked to believe.

Living in the wilderness for 40 years as the Israelites did seems to me a relatively easy journey with respect to belief. God was with them in a visible and provisionary form. Walking through life today we are challenged to see God in His creations. I’m not talking about the hills and trees, but through the people who He has created in His image. Often times we question this creation known as humans because of our inhumanity to each other. God is not looking for puppets to inhabit the Promised Land, but people who believe Him enough to know He is seeing them through to the end. When we boil away all the “stuff” in life we are left with an incredible decision to make about the way we live. Will we believe in the face of hardship? Will we believe in our trials and tribulations? Will we believe when the things of life are really quite spectacular? When we can answer, “Yes!” we begin to grow as disciples. And there lies the foundations of faith. I challenge you to share this week how you have come to the knowledge of faith through your belief. As you share others will believe.

On the journey together,

Kirk

Go on the Offensive

Kirk Norman — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:27:40 GMT

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed." (Luke 4:18) How beautiful are the words when we hear them proclaimed from pulpits and shared in small group settings. Sadly we sometimes hear them as beautiful words and not a call to action.

When the words were originally used in Isaiah 61 the prophet was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and was declaring the re-birth of Israel in exile. When Jesus uses the words in Luke he has just returned from the temptations and is beginning his ministry in Galilee. In some ways it was his ordination process, and his marching orders.

Okay! So what? How does this translate for you and me sitting at our computers? Maybe you are sitting at work reading this blog, or possibly sitting in your den or kitchen. It really doesn’t matter. What we must do is allow the Word to come alive for us in our daily lives wherever we would find ourselves. Have you ever experienced exile or temptation? Have you just come through a difficult time in your life? Are you experiencing a feeling of aloneness in your life? How often we hold tight and try to endure the hardships. I am sick of well-meaning people telling me, “this too shall pass,” as though the only answer to life’s problems is to grin and bear it. (Side note: “this too shall pass” is not Biblical, it may sound Biblical but it’s not, neither is “grin and bear it.”)

We need to call upon the Spirit of the Lord. When we have done that along with walking through the dark periods of life we are ready to preach. When we feel the Spirit of the Lord on us, we are sent to release those who are where we were! When we have the Spirit of the Lord on us, we are to see and help others see things from a different perspective. If you declare the Lords faithfulness in your life, you are given no alternative but to set free those around you who are oppressed. I don’t know about you, but I find oppressed people wherever I go. Ask any student who has started back to school in the past two weeks if they do not feel oppressed. Ask any single mother raising her children if she does not feel oppressed? Jesus left His time of temptation not to sit it out on the sidelines but to go on the offensive in His ministry.

I here many people in my life telling me how much they love the Lord their God with all their hearts, soul, mind, and strength. What I hear you saying is, “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” If this is true, you cannot leave out the rest of the passage, “because He has anointed me to…" What has God anointed you to do? He has anointed you to not only worship Him, but to LIVE for Him! LIVING is an action! It's time we go on the offensive in our walk with the Lord. I would rather die moving forward with Christ than sitting still waiting for His return.

On the journey together,
Kirk

Who Do We Live For?

Kirk Norman — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:13:26 GMT

I rarely pass on articles that I have read, but this week I was captivated by an article of a pastor in Tennessee by the name of Steven Fry. Steve writes: How do we find the center of gravity in our spiritual lives? It comes down to this: Who do we live for? Whose will do we do?

Taking up the cross means submission to the Lord’s will at the most difficult points in our life. The cross has little to do with daily inconveniences like preparing a tax return, or putting on a brave face in traffic or being polite to a rude neighbor. It has little to do with coping with life’s complexity. Instead, we take up the cross when we obey God even when that course incurs the greatest hurt. In Philippians 2, Paul gave us a glimpse of the attitude that bears the cross, when he called the cross Christ’s ultimate response of obedience – ultimate because it meant the greatest sacrifice. As we wrestle daily with submission to God, the question we must ask ourselves is this: What will give God the most glory?

Choices constantly confront us. Some are easy, some are difficult. When faced with life choices like, what school do I go to? What career to pursue? Or other choices forced on us by unpleasant circumstances—Do I confront the one who hurt me? Do I remain quiet about my talents, allowing God to promote me in His time? Do we say, “This choice will provide greater financial stability so that I can serve God more effectively?” Or “This will make me happiest—and God said He would give me the desires of my heart.”

When facing tough choices we must ask: What would give God the most glory? If you ask that question God will part the skies and send you an answer. In fact, he often delays answers in order to bring us to where we can joyfully say, “God I will go in the direction that glorifies you most.” It may not be what seems to benefit us. It may not be the obvious pathway of delight. But, it will be the pathway of peace.
Some of us never quiet our hearts long enough to discern what God is doing. Then, God may let us settle at the level of spiritual maturity we choose, even if that means frolicking in a spiritual sandbox for the rest of our lives. May we instead be those who press into a relationship with God, where our desire is this: whatever glorifies Him most.

Thanks Steve.

On the journey together,
Kirk

Who's Your Life Coach?

Kirk Norman — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:35:37 GMT

One of my favorite people in the Bible is the Apostle Paul. In my mind I see Paul as a rough character, maybe even a John Wayne type person, who moves through the different circumstances he finds himself in with great confidence. He had truly “seen the light” and knew exactly where his strength came from in his life.

Paul has an indomitable spirit. He is a master motivator, and in his book to the Philippians he is a one-liner machine. I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (Phil 4:11) My God will meet all your needs. (Phil. 4:19), and For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Phil 1:21)

How can a person who has faced such hardship continue to be so powerfully effective in his ministry? Paul did not spend a lot of time telling his conversion story again and again. He did not spend much time recanting the hardships of his past or the way God was able to free him from every ill-fated attempt at evangelism. He did, however, have a living and breathing faith which truly believed the Lord was capable of using whatever he put forth to complete the work which was started in him.

In our positive thinking society, we believe that God is the person who is always delivering us from our problems, rather than helping us find our way into them. Consider this: what if God designs our problems so we can lean wholly into Him for our every step and breath? For Paul, the prison time allowed him time to write in such a way that could have never been done with his hectic ministry schedule. I am sure that sitting it out in prison is not your first choice for a life plan. But Paul knew in his heart that God was still in control.

Do you know that in your heart? Maybe? Would you tell that to your head? Hmm? As believers we should never doubt our future or become hopeless for our tomorrows. We are not called to create our future, but to know who holds the future. I challenge you to answer this blog this week after having spent some time in prayer. Maybe you can answer the blog in your daily journal, or maybe you can answer below so others can grow from your experiences and rejoice that they are not alone. When was the last time you felt truly confident about your life and where it was headed? Have you been trying to build a life or are you leaning on Jesus Christ as your life coach?

On the journey together,
Kirk

Seek Ye First

Kirk Norman — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:30:07 GMT

Anybody out there feeling the heat? When we gathered this past Sunday we talked about the distractions that the devil will use to keep us from thinking about Christ first in our lives. I believe the devil is using the current heat wave to distract us from remembering that God is always in charge.

The scripture text that I remember was when the disciples in the boat said, “Who is this man, that even the wind and the seas obey him.” (Mark 4). I find myself often trying to discern who is in charge. It seems to me it is when I think I am in charge that I get myself into the deepest trouble. When it comes to doing the laundry at my house, I can quickly get into trouble thinking that I know what I am doing.

I need to constantly be reminded to look to Christ first in all things. That is the very intent of the sermon last week; to do anything in life well we must be focused on the One who does all things well. All things can become a distraction, even those things which we cherish, if we get the order of things mixed up. “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matt 6). As we move into the fall football season it is easy for us to be distracted by the little “g” gods which consume so much of our thought, conversation, time, and energy. Even as we find ourselves being “fan”atics, let us seek the big “G” in all things. The winning and the losing will take care of itself.

On the journey together,
Kirk

Boldness

Kirk Norman — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:27:14 GMT

This past week we looked at what it meant for John and Peter to be bold and how they trusted and relied upon the Holy Spirit to guide them through the difficult times of their lives. We saw how by the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter and John were able to influence many to come to the knowledge of Christ as their Savior. How great to see the witness of these two men as they head out in ministry. What is our witness? What have we believed and then seen that provides hope to the hopeless, light in the darkness, and faith to the faithless?

I am challenged often with the thought, “What have you done for me lately?” I think back on the excitement of becoming a Christ follower, and doing whatever I could to bring change about me to show others what Christ has done and was doing in my life. I remember telling people about the moment I knew that I knew that I knew I was cleansed of my sins. Witnessing to others about this love was so real and fresh and powerful.

Now I recall those times and also recall that it was 40 years ago. What new things have I witnessed in my life that causes me to share what God is doing today, through my work, and all about me? Am I looking for the things that the Holy Spirit is placing before me? Am I expecting to see the Holy Spirit work in my midst, or am I thinking that it will only happen to someone else? I believe some people see the Holy Spirit at work because they expect to see the Holy Spirit at work in their own life and in the lives of those around them. One of the things we learned this week was the disciples prayed for the Holy Spirit to make them bolder! I believe they wanted to corner the market on the Holy Spirit. Maybe we should make it our goal to corner the market on the Holy Spirit. I believe the Holy Spirit wants to work in you and in me more than we want the Holy Spirit to work in us.

Join with me this week to keep our prayers tuned to the Spirit, and inviting the Spirit to use us more with each passing day. More Spirit, less me! How has the Spirit worked in your life this week? Tell the world!

Calling all Spirit people,
Kirk

Back to the Basics

Kirk Norman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:55:12 GMT

In children’s ministry we talk often about Father Abraham. There are songs sung in his honor about the many sons Abraham has. We sometimes remember the great sacrifice Abraham was asked to give with respect to Isaac, and the way the Lord saw fit to spare Isaac after seeing Abraham’s faithfulness. I could go on about Abraham but I have always been struck by one quick little verse in Genesis 15:1. This is after Abraham has routed an army after fleeing Sodom with Lot his nephew and, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” How would your life be different if we lived in the saving knowledge of these words from the Sovereign Lord? How much differently would you respond knowing that the Lord was your shield? How often have we responded out of fear instead of faith? How would your life be changed knowing that we are receiving a great reward?

This is how we are designed to live. We are designed to be the children of the Great High King. As children of the King, we should feel as though everything will be in our favor. Obviously we sometimes make poor decisions in our lives, and at times those decisions can cause us heartache and stress. However, as King’s kids it will be overcome. Humans are designed to live with the faith of the Father. The Creator of all things put us together to rely on Him the Creator to make it through our lives. Why then do we spend so much of our time hiding from one another trying to get through life solely on our own? As I give my life to Christ every day, I must also relinquish control to the One who knows what tomorrow will bring. Getting back to the basics is wrapped up in this vision from God to Abram.

Do not be afraid, Christians. I am your shield, your very great reward!!

On the journey together,
Kirk

Jesus Is All We Need

Kirk Norman — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:03:57 GMT

A few weeks back in worship meeting when we were looking at what the summer and fall would look like I felt the Spirit saying we needed to get back to the basics. In a couple of my Kirk’s Korner blogs I have shared that we need to get back to the basics. We are to remember what we are here for and why we are on this earth. Then yesterday in staff meeting Pastor Mark brought an article to share with the staff written by Francis Frangipane in the November 2009 Charisma magazine titled, “All We Need Is Jesus.” I don’t really believe in coincidences, so I share this one paragraph from this article: “If we divide over forms of church government or peripheral doctrines, we will miss completely the true purposes of the church, which is to make disciples of Jesus. Let me make it plain: God is not raising up 'ministries'; He is raising up bond slaves. After we recognize that the goal is not ministry but slavery, we will begin to see the power of Christ restored to the church.”

I know that to many those words may sound like fighting words. “What do you mean we are to be slaves?” But to many others who have poured their lives in to the servanthood of Jesus Christ, who went to the cross bound and beaten to die in our place to free us from our sinful self, these words fall on us as cool water to a thirsty soul. Galations 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Jesus is our master, and we are to be the slaves to the will of God. Have we forgotten the basics of the life we are to lead? Have we fallen away from living daily for Christ and not the church? To be who God requires us to be is to stop looking for the next ministry to come along and start looking at the people who God has placed in our paths daily; to share the love of Christ with a world that is searching for meaning, hope, and answers.

I receive at least 5 or 6 emails every day from well meaning people who are complaining about the way our world is being run. They consistently waste time tearing down one group of people or another and by doing so attempt to make themselves the victor. I tell you this, there is no victory in division. There are no answers in governmental systems or church polity. The answers to our lives are found in Christ. When we are willing to daily take up our cross, laying down our lives, the power of Christ will provide us our meaning, hope, and answers. Pass it on.

On the journey together,
Kirk

Vacation!

Kirk Norman — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:27:47 GMT

The word vacation usually brings a smile to most peoples faces. The thought of getting away and enjoying days off without checking in on the day to day work schedule is a welcome relief. It is interesting though how many people share greatly varying opinions on what a vacation really is or isn’t. Vacations definitely change as the years pass and as families are started. I can remember a great vacation once when there was nothing at all planned. We drove south. That was the plan. We ended up staying in some not so wonderful motels, and some quaint wonderful bed & breakfasts. We slept in, biked a little, looked at the countryside and had a great trip. I don’t think I could get away with that with a teenager and an almost teenager. I can hear the sounds of “boring” echoing from the back seat. Some people think vacation is an amusement park. Hitting the asphalt each day to ride the rides, eating the amusement park food, standing in lines, seeing the latest in electronic entertainment. I have vacationed on houseboats, cruise ships, in the mountains, at the beach, at DisneyWorld, on mission trips, in Las Vegas, and other places. I am leaving for vacation this weekend and I’m looking forward to it. I share this to try and clear up some of our theology. You might be thinking, “How does vacation relate to our theology?”

Vacation is; break from work: a period of time devoted to rest, travel, or recreation.

Theology is; The study of the nature of God and religious truth; rational inquiry into religious questions.

I promise you there are some minister friends of mine who will role their eyes when they read this blog and shrug with disgust the simplicity with which I relate vacation and theology. It’s okay. Nobody reads this anyway, and those who do already get “it”. Your idea of vacation may not be my idea of vacation. Your idea of theology may not be my idea of theology. My basic theology is that God sent His Son to pay the eternal debt for my sins. I can do nothing to gain salvation. It is given to me freely as a gift. What I do with the gift is the journey which is called life. I am dead in my sin, but alive through Christ who lives in me. My idea of vacation is to be away from work. What I do away from work has very little to do with whether or not it is a vacation. Just being away from work is a vacation.

My point is this. There are some things that are basic. Work on those things. We don’t need to be extravagant to be on vacation and we don’t need to delve into every philosophy, angle, and argument to be the Christians God has asked us to be. Work on the basics. Have we done all we can do to understand God’s love for us? Have we truly spent time contemplating the sacrifice that God gave in His Son Jesus Christ? Do we fully accept the gift that is ours for the asking? Have we revisited those basics lately? I know this sounds simple, but sometimes we need to be reminded of why we are here in the first place!

On the journey together,
Kirk

How was worship?

Kirk Norman — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:01:14 GMT

How was worship today? It is a question we are asked to present to ourselves each and every day. Often times when I get home and finally settle in I am asked the question, “How was work today?” I bet you’ve been asked that question before. It may not have been just like that, but something similar. “What did you do today?” “How are things at the office?” etc. Many people may have thought when they read the first question, “How was worship today?" I was talking about Sunday. Nope! How was your worship today? What are we living for in this world?

If we are living a God-filled life we are living to worship. What is the grand story in which you were meant to participate? It is a story of the ages, the meaning behind your life, the purpose for which you were born: you were made to be a worshiper. All too often we think it is enough to be religious, or just a believer. That’s a great start, but it is not good enough! We are called to be people who day in and day out are worshipers, someone whose life is a daily sacrifice in the hands of an unseen Priest. You were made to be a fragrant offering presented with joyful abandon to serve a history-changing purpose much greater than that of your own well being. The scripture is clear: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9) We are chosen to be worshipers! This means you are not just saved to escape the things that keep you stuck in this worldly existence. Thank God that happens too, but you are also saved so that you can become a worshiper.

If somehow we find ourselves Christian, but not whole-hearted worshipers, something is terribly wrong. If the majority of our people on Sunday morning are passive worshipers, we must be concerned. We are called to worship God every day. We are not called to attend something to check it off our list, but to be in an attitude of worship at all times, giving thanks to God the Father. How would it change your life if at all times in your work, play, family times, and rest you were worshipping? This is the life we are called to have. Let us stop putting on Christ as shield, or jacket and let us worship Christ as an act of living. I have heard it said that we are to put on the full armor of God every morning and yet this implies at sometime in the previous day we have shed the armor of God. Worship is an unending attitude of adoration which is in us, with us, and should exude from us in all things. So, how is your worship today?

On the Journey together,
Kirk

This Is the Church!

Kirk Norman — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:28:48 GMT

Who would have thought that First Church could have accomplished what took place this last weekend? In many ways it was bigger than the Marathon. We worked together to help others in our community with projects they could not do without our hands and feet. It is incredible what can be done when we step out of the way and let God work through us for His kingdom. Don’t get me wrong on this. God was going to accomplish His kingdom goals with us or without us, but when we yield our hearts and follow His lead we are fully in the blessings which He gives to us. The blessings of providing a new place for people to lay their heads at night. The blessings of fresh berries that will be grown in raised beds this next year. The blessings of a clear path to paint a house in desperate need of upkeep. The blessings of home and laundry facilities that are safe for you to enter, and beautiful to look upon. The blessings of continuing to create glass for the Memorial to sell for those who want to remember forever the federal building disaster. The blessings of being able to enter a kitchen and receive food from a sanitary environment and bathrooms which are finally habitable.

220 men, women, and children setting aside their own lives for two days to reach out to others in need. This is the church!! This is the church!! We should be yelling it from the rooftops that the church is alive and well and serving in the way that Jesus Christ intended. Lives were touched by our going out, and our lives were changed by the faces we encountered. As I have shared this story with other minister friends I have seen in their face an almost disbelief when I reached the part about not having a service on Sunday morning. It is so backward to our way of doing things, that it catches people unaware. They are not sure they have heard you correctly when you share it. When I shared it with those who were visiting from out of town this past weekend for their high school reunions they were so excited to share in our effort. Two of the ladies said they would go to their church to see if they could do something similar. One of the ladies who was raised in this church as a youngster said, “This church has always cared for others in this way.”

Tell me how you saw God through this past weekend. Let us know so we can share the stories of God’s love to many others through your writing. How has God changed you for the work He has allowed you to do for Him this past week?

On the journey together,
Kirk

A Dream Becomes Reality

Kirk Norman — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:39:47 GMT

What a fantastic opportunity is coming this weekend. Nine months ago the Missions Council began praying how this year’s World Outreach Week could be different. There were plenty of ideas that were brought forth in the next couple of months, but early in December an idea was created to go into our local areas and be the church. This coincided with our effort to turn our church more SIMPLE.

Everyone on the committee began to dream about what this may look like and this weekend we are venturing out in faith to do the work that God has given us. Every member of the Missions Council is excited to be doing these projects in the community, but more excited about meeting the people who these projects will benefit. Often times we talk about our “relationship” with God. We say things like, “It is about having a relationship.” We are going into the community to grow those relationships this week. Everyone is invited to attend and there will be something for everyone to do.

We will be meeting this Saturday morning at 8am for a continental breakfast followed by a time of worship. Worship is an important part of this weekend. Without our worship we are just another group doing a good deed. With worship as our priority we become a mighty force to be contended with in our community. Sunday will begin the same way. Breakfast and worship beginning at 8am then off to the work projects. Sunday evening we will celebrate that which God has done through us during the weekend. I am so excited to hear from many of you the challenges and victories that will come from these two days. What miracles will be worked before our eyes? What God-sightings will you have as we work alongside one another? I ask you to pray feverishly for the next day in preparation for the opportunity to Make A Difference in someone’s life. It will surely Make A Difference in ours.

One the Journey together,
Kirk

It's A Choice

Kirk Norman — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:54:06 GMT

This morning I woke up early to leave the house for a doctor’s appointment at Baptist Medical Center. It is something I don’t really enjoy doing. I don’t enjoy waking up early. I don’t enjoy going to the doctor. I don’t enjoy driving on the cross town expressway to get to the doctor. I don’t enjoy the traffic on I-44 at that time of the morning. I really don’t enjoy sitting in a waiting room. But this morning I decided on my way across town, as I was watching the rain move in from the northwest, that I had a choice to make. I could not like all the things which were going to get my day started off poorly, or I could enjoy whatever was in store for me this morning. I decided to enjoy whatever was going to happen in this day.

When I arrived at the lab so they could draw blood I ran into two ladies sitting behind the desk who were very pleasant and had obviously made the choice to make it a good day. I was quickly called back to the back to get the blood drawn and met another lady who was singing to the radio and had chosen to make a great day of it. I love interacting with people who are joyful. As I left the laboratory I went to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee and ran into a cashier who invited me into the employee line because no one was in that line. It is amazing how very small things can turn your day either good or bad. As I made it back upstairs to wait in the waiting room I encountered four people. One man was fast asleep sitting upright in a chair. I’m not sure how long he had been there but he appeared to be resting well. An older couple was waiting patiently. He was reading a magazine and she was knitting something. And finally a lady who appeared to be in her 70s was playing a game on her cell phone. Ok, it still seems kind of odd when I see someone in their 70’s playing a game on their phone. I don’t know why, it just does.

I took care of answering some emails on my phone, made a couple of calls that needed to be made in then set in for some good people watching. With each new person coming off the elevator, you could tell by their walk, talk, and demeanor what kind of day they had chosen to have that day. There were those who obviously worked in a hospital who were just fulfilling the requirements of work. There were others who genuinely seemed to really enjoy the work they had been charged with that day. There were a few who definitely looked like they needed to see a doctor, and quickly! And then there were those who obviously didn’t feel well but were trying to make the best out of whatever was happening.

All this to say, I really think we need to take stock in making the choice every morning to have a good day or not! If I were to ask you first thing in the morning if you wanted to have a good day, I bet most people would answer yes. And yet, we allow little things to distract and take away from what could be a magnificent day. I know there will be times when your day goes awry and seems nothing is going to work out right. We can combat those days and many more with the simple decision to make things good no matter what comes our way.

Joshua faces this same kind of decision when in the 24th chapter he declares, “Choose then who you will serve.” Things had not necessarily been going well. People were choosing to follow other more desirable things. It seemed easier to take the road which was wide and smooth. Joshua declared, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Then the test came when Joshua reminded the people that in making a choice we must live to the choice. It takes courage to choose to have a good day. It may mean looking beyond the faults of others. Admitting we are not capable of doing it on our own. Making a decision that at the end of the day we will let go of the things that we have no power to control and starting fresh again with God the next day.

Respond to this blog with the things that cause your days to go wrong and set you on the wrong path. How would choosing to have a great day and walking with God throughout the day change some of the things which affect your life? Share with us those things that really aren’t that important that get you started on the wrong foot. I bet we are much more alike than we are different. Then choose to have a great day!!

On the journey together,
Kirk

So Much Drama

Kirk Norman — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:45:36 GMT

What has happened to us? I’ve lived in Oklahoma all my life. I have witnessed tornadoes skipping across the open fields in Western Oklahoma, and helped clean up from the devastation on May 3rd. I may get in trouble writing this article, because I am not completely sure how I feel about this whole idea of interrupting all of life because there is a tornado somewhere in our state. I have given up trying to argue my point about sectioning off Oklahoma County and only having the sirens blow when a tornado was threatening a quadrant of our city. There is nothing worse than being wakened at my house at 2am to the sound of sirens for a threatening storm at Piedmont. On a direct line Piedmont is 60 miles from my house. I completely understand the reason for keeping people informed when a deadly event is occurring. However, I find it irresponsible to start scaring people early in the day about events that we have no evidence will prove to happen.

Meteorology is a science, but predicting nature is not. We have come a long way from when I was a child. We knew about a tornado when the highway patrol confirmed it had hit something or they had seen it with their eyes. We are doing much better at alerting people and therefore saving lives. But for a local weather man to say, “this is setting up to be worse than May 3rd,” on a noon time broadcast where no storms are currently on the radar is no different than screaming “fire” in a crowded theatre. May 3rd brings images of grass being ripped from the ground and weathermen saying “if you’re not below ground you’re not safe,” and 44 people losing their lives. This strikes panic in people. On May 3rd those things were appropriate to say because the tornado was on the ground and was doing mass damage wherever it touched. I think it is time for drama to be removed from the severe storm alerts. Our effort to gain ratings has created the same type of drama the evening newscast has chosen to use to receive better ratings. People flock to death and destruction.

Are we as Christians going in much the same direction? Do we need the glitz and glamour on Sunday mornings to gain the ratings of putting people in the seats? In order to bring people to Christ should we be staging car wrecks, explosives, light shows, production-oriented atmospheres to reach the masses. I am thankful there is still time for prayer, scripture, songs, quietness, handshakes, candlelighting, and meditation in our Sunday morning worship. I still believe Christ is all we need.

Dose all the hype of the weather people drive you crazy? What still touches you when you draw close to God?

On the journey together,
Kirk

What Will It Take?

Kirk Norman — Thu, 13 May 2010 02:44:12 GMT

It has been a wild weather week in Oklahoma. As I write this blog I just put away the extension cords and secured the generator that was graciously delivered by Stuart Turley on Tuesday morning. I am a little ashamed to be sharing this blog in just this way. Many people lost their entire homes and most of their belongings, and we skirted by on the south side of the tornado that ripped through our neighborhood on Monday. I was feeling so good on Sunday afternoon. My family had taken care of its Mother’s Day ritual of going to the plant store and purchasing the plants that would grow in our gardens around the house. I was proud of what we had accomplished over the last two weeks of work in getting the lawn under control. I do not have pristine lawn like some of you. We are happy to have grass under the canopy of trees at our house. In 2007 with the ice storm we lost about 20 trees out of our front yard and although we were sad to see them go it did provide more sun and therefore more grass and we were thankful. You can get a little tired of mowing dirt. Everything was just getting the way we wanted it when the storms blew through on Monday and bang, roof damage, the pool is an absolute mess, trees down everywhere, sticks and twigs stuck all over the yard. Joshaua and Elizabeth witnessed hail being lifted off the ground and blowing in the opposite direction of the storm.

Why does it seem to happen this way? Why is it that just when you think you’ve kind of got things going your way does something come and blow it all up in your face? The rain falls on the just and the unjust. Tornados do the same. I do not believe God ordained the tornados that struck the Oklahoma area on Monday. I do not believe God set the wind in motion to take the lives of two people and injure several others. I do believe that God will use whatever method to create good out of a sense of devastation. I witnessed our little street of twelve neighbors draw closer together in the last 36 hours than we have been in the 13 years I have lived there. We have been forced together to care for each other in ways that only something devastating can do. I know that Kevin Collier, our janitor and fellowship church member, who lost his home to the tornado on Monday, received prayers and hands of help from people who had no plans of coming to his house before Monday evening happened. I know he was visibly moved and proud to see people from "his" church come to offer aid and assistance on Tuesday.

What does God need to use to get your attention? Will He use the wind and storms of life to get you to reach out to others? If you have not gone to introduce yourself to the neighbors at least two houses away from you and across the street, I suggest you get up from your computer and hit the streets. Those are the people who will be dragging you out of your shelter as we witnessed on television this week. God wants us to be in community with each other so we can jointly make it through this life and carry on to life everlasting. How will you respond to circumstances which come in your life? I pray you have many church friends and family to help you on the journey.

On the journey together,
Kirk

Summer Camps Almost Here

Kirk Norman — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:21:42 GMT

The end of the school year is fast approaching. I have been upstairs this morning celebrating the graduation of 40+ students who are graduating high school who were teenagers living on their own over the majority of their high school time. Congratulations to the SKIL Graduating Class of 2010!

All this leads me to looking forward to summer. Being 20+ years in ministry, with a large part of that time attending church camps, my mind wanders to the planning, preparation and recruiting of students to attend church camps this summer. As you hopefully know we have been quite active in church camps for the past few years. I have seen children give their life to Christ at church camp. I have witnessed youth make life decisions to enter the ministry, or deepen their relationships with Christ at a makeshift altar in a camp setting. I cannot tell you how important it is to allow students a time away from the things of their everyday life to spend quality time with God in a different environment.

First Church has cut back on its budget for 2010 and I urge you to dig a little deeper for our children and youth this time of the year. Camps have increased there prices over the last few years but still are a great value for the money that we spend. Our most expensive camp this year is a week long camp which will cost each participant $210 to attend. Some of our families have 3 or 4 kids going to camp which is a burdensome expense. We would like to help kids go to camp this year and in order to do so we need your help. Any extra donation you can give to send a child to camp is greatly appreciated. Maybe you would like to sponsor a child to camp who is unable to participate without your donation. We have made it very clear to the children and youth that everyone will need to pay something to have ownership in the process. Camping has changed my life and the lives of many in our congregation. Maybe you would like to share about a special experience you have had in camping. Maybe there is one among you who would share a life-altering moment you had at camp. Let us know your thoughts about camp, and remember to make a donation to scholarship some kids to camp this year. Mark the memo line in your check, “camp”, and we’ll send some kids to make memories of a lifetime and decisions for eternity.

Grace and peace,
Kirk

How can we pray for you?

Kirk Norman — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:32:31 GMT

When you receive this blog, if you believe what the weather forecasters are saying, it will be raining. Normally this blog goes out on Thursday afternoon, so I am writing hoping that it will still hold true. Whatever, it really doesn’t matter. It will either be raining or sunny. The wind will be blowing or it won’t, and the temperature will be cool or hot. I have seen people who get all upset over the weather. I was talking to a lady last week that has lived in the Oklahoma City area for the past five years. She moved here out of college, met a nice young man, was married and began her career here in the television market. She was born and raised in California, and was telling me how much she hated the weather here in Oklahoma. She was telling me the California weather was just perfect all the time. I guess when you’ve been raised to believe that sort of thing it just becomes natural to think that where you’ve come from is much better than a new place which is different. I suppose earthquakes are a little more infrequent than tornados. At least we get a little warning when a tornado comes rumbling down the plains. The point of this blog is this…

There are some things in life that you can’t really do anything about. The weather is one of those kinds of things. Different situations arise in my life that although I would not have chosen it to be the way it is, there is very little that I can do about it. When these situations arise, I am faced with a choice to make. Will I become angry about something I have no ability to change, or will I accept what is happening and make the best out of what I am given? I believe God equips us to handle the situations we are faced with both good and bad. Our church is a melting pot of people who are dealing with all matter of life issues which challenge us every day. The church is created for us to share one with another the issues of life which cause us pain and give us joy. We are designed to reach out to one another in love to help and nurture those who are struggling. We are charged to give thanks for those whose lives are going well. Why is it then that the church seems much like the rest of our society? Why then do we hide in the midst of our church our hurts and pains? Why are we not sharing our victories and blessings?

Maybe we are afraid of what our Christian brothers and sisters will think of us when we admit that we have problems. Bothers and sisters, we’ve all got problems. Those of you who believe you don’t have problems have more problems than those of us who know we have problems. The only way we can find peace is to share those problems with our creator and with each other so we can spend time in prayer and discernment. One of the greatest things we have not taught our children is how to fail. Failure is a part of living. No one wins all the time. I continue to write this blog as a way of asking each person to share from their heart a little about their life. So I will begin today:

Please be in prayer specifically for one of my children who deals with perfectionism and a lack of humility. Please keep Elizabeth in your prayers for concerns for her work environment and the people she serves each day. Please pray for my discernment in delegating those things which can be done by others and my ability to know the difference.

First Church families, How can we pray for you?

On the journey together,
Kirk

It's Here! It's Here!

Kirk Norman — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:58:53 GMT

It's here! The months of work and planning are culminating in the 10th anniversary of the Memorial Marathon. We are welcoming 23,000+ runners this year to our city for “The Run to Remember.” On Monday of this week we celebrated the triumph over tragedy of the Murrah bombing and the way our people have come back from a devastating event. We have come a long way in the past 15 years to end up at this point.

Our church has also come from the ashes of that day to embrace what would have first appeared as a threat to Christianity: “A marathon on Sunday morning!” “Why would they choose Sunday for a marathon?” “It's the worst day of the week for a church to be shut down.” I have heard these comments and many more from people in our church and some outsiders. When the marathon began, we closed up shop and said, “Why did they do that to us?” Now we are saying, “Why didn’t we get involved earlier?” God has sent people to our doorstep, and we have the opportunity to witness to them the real love of Jesus as Jesus would have done. We know from Jesus’ first miracle that he loved a party. He used that gathering to show the power of the Almighty God who cares about even the small things of our life. We are using the marathon as a way of showing that God cares about all people. As you come to do the work of the marathon this Sunday, you will truly be the face of God to everyone you meet. We are showing the love of Jesus with every pancake. We are expressing God’s love with every runner who hears us cheering them on and keeping them safe the last two miles of the race and caring for the children who are running. We are being God’s hands and feet to those who are not running but are looking for place to wait for their family member who has trained for this day over the last year or for a lifetime. This event is truly an opportunity to express the family of God in a way that we could not create on our own.

On Sunday afternoon you will be exhausted. Each of us will have given all that we can to let people know we truly care. But it will be a good exhaustion. It will be an exhaustion we will talk about for a little while as we share what we have done with family and friends who have no understanding of what this event means to those who are involved. God continues through our ability to share what we have done, to open opportunities for you to witness. Let this weekend be rewarding to your spiritual journey as you become Jesus’ face to those who are searching.

This week I ask you to share below any experiences you have had over the past few years we have hosted“Second Wind.” What do you remember? What feelings do your recall? How have you changed by the work God has given you through this ministry?

Sharing the marathon together,
Kirk

Memories of April 19

Kirk Norman — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:35:51 GMT

I am writing in remembrance of the April 19th, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building. This past week I had an opportunity to reflect upon those days when News 9 came to interview Laura Alfonzo and myself concerning our remembrances of the bombing and the way the federal government helped us re-build.

I was living over 100 miles away at the time of the bombing, serving the Allen United Methodist Church. I remember the phone ringing that morning around 9:15am and hearing my mom asking me what I thought. I had not heard of what had happened until that time. I quickly turned on the television and sat watching the absolute devastation unfold. In 1984 I had become a reserve deputy with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office without a thought of how this day would change my life. Just seven weeks before the bombing my son, Joshaua, had been born, and we were still getting used to having this newborn in the house. About 10:45 am that morning the sheriff’s office dispatcher contacted me and requested me to be at the command post located at 10th & Robinson by 3:00pm. When I left the house that day and told Elizabeth goodbye, I had no idea what the next ten days of my life would be bringing.

Upon arriving in Oklahoma City there was a feeling of shock across every persons face. A stripping of innocence had been removed in the amount of time it took to hear a blast and see a building come crashing down. The lives devastated that day will always be remembered. When asked this past week about the things that stood out to me I responded, “the glass.” Every street in downtown was covered in glass. Upon further remembering the thing that stood out was the overwhelming desire of people who wanted to help. There was never a time in those first ten days that when something was needed at the bombing site there was not a flood of those things provided. After some time in counseling dealing with the devastation of those ten days, I believe there was good in my experience.

Since that time I have often wondered why it takes something so tragic to get us shaken from our complacency to respond to the needs of others. We have truly overcome the tragic circumstances of the day. Nothing will return those whose lives have been lost, but every day we have the opportunity to reach out others who are suffering and hurting. We have learned a deep and abiding lesson of caring for one another in the midst of loss. Truly what the devil intended for evil, God has turned to good. What do you remember and what have you learned from your circumstances? God is always with us.

Kirk

Advance Warning

Kirk Norman — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:52:39 GMT

There is a certain excitement that comes with the spring storms in Oklahoma. I think some of us native Oklahomans truly look forward to the spring when we are witnesses to the awesome power of nature through thunderstorms and tornado activity. I know that many Oklahomans truly enjoy the coverage of these powerful storms. The news stations pre-empt programming and spend great amounts of money to report where the storms are and how severe they will be. With tornado risk the news stations even ramp up to a higher level of awareness. The Oklahoma adage is this, “What do you do when the siren goes off in your neighborhood? You stand outside and look at the clouds.”

All throughout the epistles the authors shared this kind of expectancy. In our state it is never a matter of if, but when the storms will break out. The epistle writers believed that Jesus’ return was not a matter of if, but when Jesus was returning and they believed it would be quickly. Do you believe and have this faith? I wonder if we wouldn’t do things differently if we really believed Jesus’ return was coming quickly. I mean quickly like within the next year. I mean quickly like within the next few months or days. If I could tell you I knew exactly when Jesus was returning and it was going to be within the next six months how would it impact your life? First, you would have to believe it was true. Then what changes would you be making? The writers of the epistles wanted us to live that way. Jesus called for us to live that way.

This blog is written so we can be interactive and share in dialogue together. How would your life change if you truly believed Jesus’ return was coming in the next six months? Share that with your church family below and let us each begin to live with the expectancy of Christ's return. I will also share my life changes as a comment below.

On the journey together,
Kirk

Death Row

Kirk Norman — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 02:46:38 GMT

It is Maundy Thursday as I write this blog. Maundy Thursday is a day when we celebrate the Last Supper. Have you ever been to a supper that you thought might be your last? I am always amazed at the fortitude of our Savior. What must it have been like to know what was about to happen and yet have no one to share it with who understood what you were saying.

Have you ever felt that way? I have. There have been many times in my life when I have struggled with things that I felt I had no one to turn to who would understand. Jesus must have felt much this same way as he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane that fateful night. Maybe that is why He felt frustrated when he found the disciples asleep at the post. Maybe that is why He sweat great drops of blood as he turmoiled with his earthly nature what was about to happen to Him.

I am drawn to think of those who have sat awaiting death on death row in prisons around the world. Many of those people know the feeling of having a last supper. Many of those people know what it feels like to realize their life is coming to an end. Many people reading this blog will be outraged that I would compare Jesus to a person who has committed a crime which is deserving of death. But isn’t that who we are? Aren’t we people who have committed crimes deserving of death. “For the wages of sin is DEATH!” And yet, God sent his Son to bind up our sin. A spotless pure lamb, that takes on the sin of the world, and willingly goes to cross in order for us to escape the agony of our deserved death. Therefore we always find a Jesus a person who knows our every feeling; who has endured our struggling and much more; who hears us when we cry out thinking that no one would know our hurt and pain.

It would be easy to end this blog with the triumph of Sunday morning, but Sunday morning will get here soon enough. It does me good to reflect and remember what Christ suffered that I can live. Let Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday resonate in your spirit so that Easter can be a moment of unspeakable joy.

Together on the journey,
Kirk

Now What?

Kirk Norman — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:37:49 GMT

This past fall First Church continued a transformation of sorts as we looked to the book Simple Church for direction to do church differently. It was an uncomfortable move for many people to hear that we were going to do church differently than we have done in the past. For some, there were some questions about where they would fit in this new way of doing church. Some people were concerned that the group they belonged to would go away and leave a void for them.

First Church does look a little different. The programming has slowed to a crawl, and yet we seem to be as busy as ever. "What is simple about that?" you say. One of the things that has been a colossal change is the fact the staff is not creating, implementing, running, and evaluating a myriad of programs for the church to attend. We have moved to a small group format which brings activities of the small groups to light for the church's service. Many small groups are already beginning to gear up for spring with service projects from their small group needs. Some small groups are planning extra things just for fun to better become acquainted with one another. We are putting more emphasis on a few special services like Maundy Thursday and Good Friday instead of backing away from those services because to do so would mean we were at the church 5 nights in a row.

So the question that the book raises and that I also raise today to you, First Church, is this: ”Now what?” We are always to be asking ourselves this question. What does God have in store for me now? What is just around the bend that I will be challenged with to grow a deeper relationship with Christ? What is God calling me to do today that will be reaching into the community to heal the brokenhearted, bind up the broken and comfort the afflicted? Our church is a "can do" church. We have never backed down from a challenge. God is challenging us today to decide just how we will move into the future with Him. So First Church, now what?

Kirk

March Madness

Kirk Norman — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:42:13 GMT

It’s that time of the year again. We call it “March Madness.” It’s the time when all the conference tourneys end and we head into the “The Big Dance!” Some of the teams play a “zone” some “man to man.” Others work the “triangle” and some use a “modified Stanford.” You’ve got your “pick and go,” “give and go,” “screens from just inside the arc,” to the over the top “alley-oop.”

If a person who had no experience with basketball was reading this article they would simply assume I was drinking something very strong or had lost it all together. Have you ever thought what it must be like to use a language that is totally foreign to the people with whom you are talking? I don’t want anyone to mis-read what I am trying to say, but I think there are times when we as Christians are using a language that is foreign to those who are non-Christians. We are very clear on the matter of making disciples. We have been sent out to make disciples of all peoples in the name of Jesus Christ. What we struggle with is how to do what we have been sent to do. All too often Christians receive a bad wrap when a few of our brothers and sisters use the “I’ll slap you in the face” approach to making disciples. You know, the people who come and describe how bad your are and how good you’ll feel if you only change everything about your life and become like the ones who are trying to convert you; the ones who tell you, “if you’ll just give your life to Christ all your troubles will fade away.”

I personally have not experienced this victory of the Christian life. While striving to be Christ-like and living out this wonderful journey that Christ is guiding I have often found the road to be treacherous and difficult. Sometimes the road is downright dangerous and scary. There have been times in my life when I have recalled the way the disciples died and have questioned whether or not this is the road I want to continue walking. I find no guarantees in the scripture that tell me my life will be free of all difficulties and challenges if I will only call on the name of the Lord. I do, however, find the scripture that says, “nothing can separate me from the love of Christ.” I find this telling me that I will never be left alone in the challenges and difficulties of this life. I find this telling me I am loved. I find this telling me that there is nothing that I can’t make it through with my Savior at my side.

We may never have all the right words to say. Moses didn’t know what he was going to say when he reached Egypt. We may never be able to skillfully and artistically overcome all obstacles of objection with our great wisdom and scriptural knowledge. Solomon prayed to God in 2 Chronicles to give him what it would take to rule the kingdom because he felt totally inadequate for the task at hand. However we do have one thing that speaks volumes to those who are searching for the answers to life’s questions. We have the love of Christ in our heart that provides a sense of peace. We carry an assurance which goes before us saying that whatever we endure, we will share eternity with a loving Savior. If we walked daily with a sense of assurance and peace, Christ would bring those who are in need to us for comfort. Making disciples is more about living out our journey with the assurances of salvation, than it is about telling you all I know about Christ. Jesus explained this very bluntly as he wrote in the sand and said, “those of you without sin cast the first stone” and followed that by telling the woman, “go and sin no more.” In this time of March Madness, we should be less concerned with having all the “lingo” and more concerned with the outcome. Time is ticking down!

On the journey together…
Kirk

Ahead of the Storm

Kirk Norman — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:43:47 GMT

It is springtime in Oklahoma. Why just a couple of days ago a tornado whipped through the town of Hammon in western Oklahoma. We were enjoying the life-giving rain that is so desperately needed for us to have good crops, and plenty of water so when the wind blows the fields won’t be so dry they spontaneously erupt in wildfires. Isn’t Oklahoma grand?

I was talking with someone today who was originally from Detroit, Michigan who said he had received a call from a friend who reported the first snowfall in Detroit this winter only last week. He laughed and reported we had seen almost 20 inches of snow this winter. There is a message in all this for us.

I often think of our changing weather here in Oklahoma as a representation of the Spirit of God. The scripture says “the wind blows where it will” in John 3. It almost sounds like the scripture is speaking of Oklahoma when this is written. “You cannot tell where it comes from it where it is going” is what the scripture says. I recall many times when the wind is whipping around when I am outside. Moreover, I can recall times when the wind was bothersome to me. It caused me to even become angry when the wind blew and I was trying to rake leaves, or the wind was blowing extremely hard and causing the work I was trying to do to be more difficult. Maybe it was “The Spirit” trying to get me to pay attention. The scripture then says, “so it is with everyone that is born of the Spirit.”

As the spring roars in this year in our fair state, I challenge you to look for the Spirit in the wind. It is always there, doing as it wishes. We can’t stop it, but maybe we can learn from it. The wind is not partial to who it touches, it reaches out to all of us. The wind is sometimes cold, and sometimes hot. What is the wind of the Spirit saying to you as you walk through this journey we call life? Is the Spirit bothering you for a reason? Are we needing to pay attention to what the Spirit is guiding in our lives? Remember, we do live in Oklahoma. Could it be that we need an early warning system to help us discern what the wind is saying? If we listen to the Spirit we will be ahead of the storm. Wouldn't’t it be great to enter some of the storms in our lives knowing we were prepared for the outcome?

I challenge you to prepare for the storms of your life the way you prepare for the spring storms that come to Oklahoma. I pray your life is filled with places of shelter which guard you from the storms. Let First Church be one of those shelters. Let your small group be one of those shelters. Let your Sunday School class be one of those shelters. To borrow a line from Rick Mitchell, “We’ll keep you ahead of the storms!”

Grace and peace,
Kirk

Impressions

Kirk Norman — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:53:36 GMT

As many of you know I have a heart for Israel. There is something about the beauty of walking where Jesus walked that gives a new and refreshing perspective to reading the Bible. When the scripture talks about a dry and barren land it takes on more meaning, having seen the dryness and barrenness firsthand. When the scripture speaks of the lilies of the valley, or the cedars of Lebanon, it is easier to see with your mind's eye the beauty and fertile nature of the land when you have walked in those places.

I was in a local restaurant this week eating lunch when I struck up a conversation with a young lady behind the counter who was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She and her fiancé were stationed here at Tinker just a few months back. I asked her what she thought of Oklahoma. She said she was surprised, in a good way, with what she had experienced to this point. Having lived here all my life and having travelled many places I am always a little surprised when I meet people who have never been to Oklahoma and share their impressions of Oklahoma. Maybe they have seen the musical on Broadway or the movie. Whatever the circumstance there always seems to be horses, Indians, and farmlands involved in others' perceptions. This led me to these thoughts: If all some unchurched people see of Christianity is what we show them, are we giving a good perception of what it is to live a Christian life? Some people may only see what is depicted on television as the Christian perspective. When I think of that scenario I pray we are not running people away from the church. The “Christian Perspective” is so diverse in its nature that you might think you can believe in anything and be a Christian. There is a group of Christians who will fight for the rights of the unborn child to the point of taking the lives of those who perform abortions. This is all done in the name of Christianity. This is not a new revelation. During the crusades it was not uncommon to hear the words "repent or die." How are we as individuals showing what Christ has done for us in our daily walk? Are we living a life that represents the amazing grace that has been extended to us through our Savior Jesus Christ? Are we showing people that it is not about being perfect but it is about doing our best to live as Christ would have us live?

What does all this have to do with Israel? Some people from our church are headed to Israel this week. One of them is my daughter, Amanda. She is the last one from our immediate family to travel to the Holy Land. I have absolutely no reservations about her traveling in Israel. She will see the traditional sites, she will see some tourist sites, and she will pass by some of the most incredible landscape the world has to offer. When she returns home she will be able to paint a picture of the words she has read in the Bible. She will be able to put a face to the people she has read about in the Bible. She will have experienced some of what it was like to walk where Jesus walked. This is what we are to be sharing with those who are yet to know our Savior. When people leave First Church do they feel like they have just experienced a brush encounter with Jesus? When you finish a conversation with someone who is searching for answers have you pointed them to the only answer giver you know? Are we sharing the amazing grace we have experienced, or are we quietly holding on to the wonderful experience. I encourage you to tell your story. What has Jesus done for you? Where have you and Jesus journeyed recently? How will you share Jesus’ touch with someone today? Be a tour guide for Christ everyday... you’ve got a story to tell. If you don’t, let’s talk!

Grace and peace,
Kirk

Keep the Fire Burning

Kirk Norman — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:40:41 GMT

Had enough yet! As I sit here in my office this afternoon I am keenly aware of the beautiful sunshine that peeks in my office window. Of course it is 36 degrees outside, but the sunshine! I wonder how the people in Alaska and the Northwest Territory can stand the time of the year where the sun peeks over the horizon for just a few hours a day. There is something about darkness that draws us in. I remember going to haunted houses when I was a teenager. I remember actually paying someone to walk me through a dark area and scare me. That seems so foreign to me now, but then it was great fun. What is it that causes us to walk into a dark place and expect something scary to happen? I can also remember times when I went into the haunted house and was not scared. I always felt ripped off when I wasn’t just a little bit scared. I also remember times when I was doing my best to be grown up when I would run back from the dark corner of the back yard, or the streets edge after depositing the trash by the curb or in the alley behind our house.

I am really looking forward to some more sunshine and spring days which are promised to come. The gloom of the winter and the darkness of days on end without sunshine have had an effect on my mood and even on my spirit. I think there is a lesson to be learned in all of this winter weather. There are times that we head off into the darkness to share a little light with those who are struggling on the journey. We are at work, in the community, and we encounter darkness. We do our best to show a light that comes from our spirit that overcomes the darkness. We have always been told that it only takes a spark to get a fire going. We have been told that if even one candle is burning in a room the darkness flees from it. This is surely true because we have seen it with our own eyes. But like fires and candles the flame is consuming the energy that it takes to keep the flame alive. After hours or days the wood of the fire or wax of the candle is consumed and the fire dies. We must draw back to the source of our light for the energy necessary to keep our light burning inside.

In order to keep our fire burning we must gather, worship, and pray unceasingly throughout our day. Worshiping is not something we only partake in on Sunday morning. Worshiping is a daily experience with the One True God. On our own we do not have what it takes to keep the fire within kindled to fend off the enemy and we too feel a sense of cooling. Jesus is waiting for us to call upon Him. Jesus comes in the form of the Holy Spirit as a mighty rushing wind. Jesus wants to stoke the fire within us and give energy to our waning spirit.

As we move toward spring I encourage you to call upon the Lord every day and to ask for the Spirit’s power to see you through the darkness. When we meet in small groups, build each other's smoldering coals and replenish the energy necessary to build back the fire. When we worship together, reach out to those who have been consumed by the darkness and offer them the spark that will set their lives ablaze again. We need each other as never before in this world of hardship and turmoil. Let Christ breathe into you the fire of this Lenten season. In Matthew 12 Jesus is quoting the book of Isaiah when he shares with us these words, "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope."

Our job then is to do as Jesus did. We are to be building up those who are bruised and re-kindling those who are smoldering. Go a build a fire this week to shatter the darkness. If you need help building a fire, give me a call.

Grace and peace,
Kirk