More on Being God's Masterpiece

YOU are God's Original Masterpiece. On January 1 we explored Ephesians 2:10 which declares us to be God's "workmanship". The word means masterpiece, a unique composition. We learned that God does this work in us, but we must cooperate, and that it is a long journey. We are spending the month of January learning ways we can cooperate with God in this process of transformation, so that we will become His perfect Masterpiece. 

The message on January 8 dealt with "Transformation Through the Word" using several different scriptures, but primarily focused on Hebrews 4:12. The Word of God is the primary tool He uses in the work of transformation. As we saw in the video from January 1, God cuts away everything that does not look like Jesus. This verse tells us that God's Word cuts through and reveals the thoughts and intents of our hearts. It shows us what is not like God, and how we are to remove those things. It is spiritual surgery, and any surgery is painful. But the results are well worth the pain of the process!

Are you joining us on the journey to become God's Masterpiece? Here are the Bible challenges we are taking:

• Read the Bible every day. Yearly Bible reading plans are available at church, or there are literally thousands available free on the internet. I personally use one through www.youversion.com. It is free, and sends reminders to me daily in my email, and I can even get reminders and read it on my smart phone with a YouVersion app. Check it out.
• Use Sunday School material to supplement your daily Bible reading. The free material we provide is an excellent resource to guide you, and provide additional understanding as you read. If you don't take one home, start this week.
• Memorize Scripture. Memorizing Scripture allows you to carry more tools in your toolbox for the Holy Spirit to use as He seeks to help you each day. We have begun memorizing a verse or passage every month. For January, let's seek to memorize the key verse for the Transformation message series:

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

Remember to read with a pencil and paper nearby. Make notes about what you read, do not understand, or when God speaks to you. Seek to understand what you read. And when you understand it, ask yourself, "so what?" What do you need to do with what you have read? How do you need to respond? How will you begin and when? with whom do you need to share what you have learned? 

Set aside time each day and get to know God's Word. Before you know it, you will experience transformation!

God's Masterpiece

YOU are God's original Masterpiece. The main verse from Sunday's message was Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV): "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." The Greek word for 'workmanship' means something intricately created, woven, or composed. We get our English word poem from it. Just as God masterfully created the heavens and the earth, He also created you. And not just physically; His desire is to weave you into the greatest masterpiece of all: the image of His Son Jesus.

But it is a long process, not unlike a marathon. God does the work over time as we discipline ourselves to cooperate with Him. There is work for us to do, that God will use to transform us into His masterpiece. I will write about some of the basic steps this month. For now, review the video below that was shown in our January 1 worship service. There are more comments below.

So, are you tired of "doing the dance to get the hug"? Are you ready to surrender total control to God? Why not take a moment right now to breathe a prayer to God and express to Him your total surrender? Tell Him that you want to become all the He desires for you, and that you are willing to embark on the journey. Commit to Him, and to yourself, to cooperate in every way with His transforming work. Now, share your commitment with a friend and ask them to hold you accountable. I would love to know of your commitment also. Please write to me at pastor@araratbaptistchurch.com and let me know of your decision. I would love to pray for you and offer any assistance I can. May God bless you as you begin this journey!

Musings on 2011

Me working while in CT with Adrian for testing at Yale University, February 2011. Yes, it’s been a while since my last posting. Many things have happened since I wrote here. Too many things to spend lots of space writing but suffice it to say, life has been busy in the Stover household, the West TN branch as well as the East TN division. In fact, reflecting on the entire year of 2011, it has been one of the most trying years to date. Multiple health crises and life changes have kept us all near the breaking point. Many personal and ministry goals have gone unreached, even un-attempted, as we have found ourselves in survival mode. I found myself just trying to hold my family intact and invest a great deal of time in them to provide some stability in the midst of turmoil. However, to do this, other things were left undone. I am sure many have been and are displeased; but none of them know the depth of despair and anguish our personal crises have caused. I have learned that I cannot measure the trials and circumstances of others by my own experience because each one’s trials are unique to them. Similarly, no one else can judge our lives or actions by their own desires or opinions, having never been where we are. Being in the public eye, or as some call it “living in the fishbowl of ministry”, I have learned to let others form their own opinions while we stay true to our Lord and to one another. Some will understand; a few will reach out to help shoulder the burden; most will stand at a distance with a critical eye. We will each render an accounting to our Master for ourselves alone.

What has been learned? At the end of every year, indeed at the end of every experience, that is the question to consider. What have I learned through the experience and how can I be better because of it? How can I be different and how can God get more glory through me now? I have learned to love more and to give more grace. Everyone struggles, just like me. They will not benefit or see God through my critical spirit or condemnation. They will see Him through me as I offer grace, love, understanding, patience, and help. Instead of placing more demands on them, I should offer to come alongside where they are, link arms with them, and help to pull the load. This is not to say that people should not be challenged or held accountable; we all should and must. However, Jesus never stomped on those who were hurting but sincerely making an effort. He lovingly and patiently challenged them while at the same time offering the assistance they needed to move ahead. I am not the Lord Jesus or His Holy Spirit. But I am His instrument for working His kind of ministry, when I allow myself to be used. I firmly believe now more than ever before that when I stand to render an accounting before God, He will not condemn me for not being legalistic enough; but I fear He will say I should have given more grace.

So what will it be like in 2012? I cannot say. I can only look at the scars that 2011 has left behind: a heart-healthy diet, more gray hair, a wife who still cannot eat and battles health issues every day, a son whose seizures daily seem to change for the worse, a daughter who increasingly becomes more independent as she grows into the woman God has created her to be, another son facing college, parents with serious long-term health challenges of their own, 7 hours away, and the usual collection of bumps and scrapes accumulated by walking through a world of fallen humanity. It is my hope that lessons learned through this past year will transform me into a better disciple, husband, father, son, pastor, neighbor, citizen, and human being. Only time will tell; but the future looks bright. The Light of the World is my lamp!

Andrew's Senior Pictures

Andrew Stover, age 17, October 2011

This month we had a friend who is a professional photographer make Andrew's senior pictures. Many thanks to Liberty DeFilippo of Lighthouse Photography for these wonderful pictures. Above is just a sample, and probably my favorite. See the entire collection here, and visit LIberty's site by clicking on the link above. Both links will open in a new window.

Heart Attack Scare

Me in the Chest Pain Center of the ER, 9/12/2011On Monday September 12, 2011, while returning home from a particularly unstressful day in the church office, I began having pains in my chest. During the five minute drive home the pain increased. When I arrived home I went immediately to lie down. Becky knew at once something was definitely wrong. The pains continued and intensified, even after taking four 81mg aspirin. After thirty minutes of steady pain, Becky drove me to Jackson Madison County General Hospital Chest Pain Center.

I was quickly wheeled inside and connected to an electrocardiogram machine. Moments later I was taken to a trauma room, connected to an IV line, oxygen line, and heart monitor. The first of six total blood draws was taken. I underwent a chest x-ray. A nitroglycerine patch was placed on my chest to alleviate the pain. At this time my pain level on a scale of one to ten was a seven. The pain did not actually subside until I later received a morphine shot through the IV. The pain fluctuated some after reaching the hospital, but never really left until over four hours after it began. The next morning, after a night of periodic examinations and blood draws, I underwent two nuclear scans and a lexi (chemically induced) stress test, and an echocardiogram.

The results showed that my heart function is completely normal with no discernable blockages. However, my triglycerides were way too high at 420 (healthy is below 150), and my cholesterol was a touch high at 228 (healthy is below 200). The cardiologist diagnosed my chest pain as an angina attack. More specifically, I had an attack of unstable angina. “Unstable angina happens with or without physical activity — sometimes while at rest or sleeping. Unstable angina means you are at immediate risk of a heart attack and should seek emergency help. This type of angina is unpredictable, more severe and usually lasts as long as 30 minutes.” – taken from Speakfromtheheart.com.

As with my cancer experience of 2005-2006, this new physical challenge has made some changes necessary. I am now on medication, temporarily, to lower the triglycerides quickly. However, new eating habits and more exercise are the main prescription to prevent more serious heart troubles. For some this may sound like a relatively simple change to make. For a man accustomed to the pleasure of uninhibited and indiscriminate eating, it is something else entirely.

After a few days of recovery and reflection it became clear that what is in store for me is not simply a change in diet, but a change of lifestyle. Eating habits, buying habits, meal planning, scheduling my day, everything is affected. Eating healthy and exercise necessitates planning. Perhaps the most important change will be a change of mindset. A positive determination to do what is necessary to be healthy, with the disciplined choices that will be necessary.

Although this experience was thankfully not as extreme as my previous cancer ordeal, the same kind of positive attitude will be necessary. A quote from one of my favorite movies comes to mind, a quote that defined my choices and struggle when dealing with cancer years ago. In the movie The Shawshank Redemption, inmate Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins) tells fellow inmate Red Redding (played by Morgan Freeman) that in prison, a man has a choice to make. Andy would not allow grim circumstances to keep him from hoping and following his dreams. He said, that ultimately every man must make this choice: “Get busy living, or get busy dying”. I chose to get busy living, and to do all that would entail, back in 2005 when cancer threatened to take my life. This week I made the same choice.