New Summit Presbyterian Church

Dear Friends,

Years ago, when Ronda and I were dating and I was in graduate school, we participated in a weekend spiritual retreat called Shalom. The retreat was led by a friend, the pastor of a Presbyterian congregation in Los Angeles, and was similar in style to Cursillo, Camino or The Emmaus Walk, for those of you who have experienced one of those ministries.

I still have the little notebook in which I recorded my experiences that weekend. A central theme was built around Isaiah 30:15:

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it." (New International Version)

Think about those words for a moment. If I remove the call to rest and quietness, we would have a verse that reads, "In repentance is your salvation, in trust is your strength." We're familiar with those concepts. Believers in every time and generation have called others to repent and believe. Many of us have responded to those calls. We've attempted to turn from our broken lives and start over. We've assented to the claims of Jesus Christ and have vowed to place our trust in him.

Yet many of us have experienced moments of pain, disillusionment, distance and conflict; both personally and in the community of faith- the local congregations of which we are a part. New programs offer the promise of change but don't deliver. Emotional and spiritual highs quickly pass and leave us unsatisfied and yearning. Others seem to be doing well, so we wear masks of spiritual health for fear of being exposed. Eventually we come to a series of destructive options: stay and hide the conflict within; drift away and disappear; or pick a fight based on an issue (or directed toward another person) that relieves tension but fails to address what is really happening.

But what would happen if we removed the familiar in Isaiah 30:15 and focused on the other parts of the verse? "In rest is your salvation, in quietness is your strength, but you would have none of it."

The call to rest and quiet is certainly foreign to our culture. We are always moving, always going. Our lives are filled with noise: TV, radio, computers, internet, email, smart phones, laptops, pads, ipods. We are never disconnected from the noise. We know that our immersion in noise hasn't helped the depths of our spirits. We know that adding more noise (the latest new Christian fad, the most successful new bestselling Christian book, the most entertaining new Christian experience) hasn't helped.

God calls us to rest and quiet. Could it really be that simple?

Rest includes stopping, ceasing movement, sleeping, and experiencing the affirmation of God's love for us exactly as we are. Jesus said, "Come to me, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Could genuine repentance, the process of turning one's life around, be intimately linked with time to rest?

Quietness includes a stilling of the noise around us, a focus on God within us, and an active listening spirit. Could strength to live and love and face life's challenges be intimately connected with quietness?

During these weeks of our series on Emotionally Healthy Spirituality we aren't really discovering a new concept. Instead, we're getting in touch with an ancient faith, known and practiced by followers of Jesus throughout the centuries, and challenged in every generation by the culture's demand for attention. The call isn't easy, of course, but neither is it clothed in mystery. God wants us to change. God wants us to be strong. God has given us a way, through Jesus Christ, to move in the direction he calls. We will hear his voice and find our path as we still the noise and give God our time.

I pray that this season of your life is filled with unexpected and planned opportunities for rest and quietness before God. I pray that all of your living between those moments is centered on the God whose love you know and whose voice you hear in those encounters. I'm grateful for you, excited and expectant about the way God is moving in your lives.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, January 26, 2012

Dear Friends,

From time to time we're all stunned at some revelation concerning the personal life of a well-known "saint." Sometimes a broken piece of life is exposed in the midst of what appears to be a wildly successful career. Other times we learn of a failing or struggle only after the death of the person in question.

We could easily be hardened in the direction of cynicism. We could begin looking for and expecting the shadow side of everyone. Recently Tim Tebow has been very much in the spotlight. He is an outspoken follower of Jesus Christ who happens to be the quarterback for the Denver Broncos. Tim appears to live a life worthy of imitation, especially in his charitable efforts. Some love him for his articulate and apparently genuine convictions. Some dislike him, believing such personal convictions are better kept out of the public eye. What caught my attention was a string of comments on Facebook, and the large number of people who anticipated and boldly guaranteed his future fall from respectability. "Today a star, tomorrow the next Jerry Sandusky" was one quote, in reference to the former assistant football coach at Penn State, now on trial for child molestation. Really? Must every well-known believer be hiding a dark and criminal secret?

Unfortunately, followers of Jesus often help to create the environment in which such criticisms emerge. We're good at pretending, and we create a culture where pretending is encouraged. Everyone else looks bright and shiny. They seem "spiritual." They must be reading the Bible and praying regularly. They couldn't be suffering. They never get angry. They must always feel the presence of God. They never have any questions or doubts.

In the face of such hypocrisy, is it any wonder that the vast majority of the population stays away from church? Should we be surprised when church members drift away from congregations? Is it really all that stunning that we want to believe, and yet we fail to find church inspiring, meaningful and transforming?

During these next 8 weeks at New Summit we're addressing issues like these in a series called Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. Believing in God's grace for each of us and all of us, we're exploring the intersection of emotional health and spiritual health. We believe there is a different way, and we're seeking to become the kind of congregation that promotes and practices emotional as well as spiritual health.

I'm excited about the possibilities, and grateful to be part of a congregation where people (including the pastor!) are welcomed with grace, just as they are, and loved in the direction of transformation.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, January 12, 2012

Dear Friends,

Today I'm copying a blog post I recently made on my blog, www.strongatthecore.blogspot.com. As we begin the new year and think about hopes and dreams, here is one of mine as it is reflected in the intersection of fitness and spirituality:

I'm a CrossFitter, a passionate and enthusiastic practitioner of the exercise discipline known as CrossFit. As I've discovered this new hobby (obsession?) over the past two years I've been reminded again and again of the parallels between CrossFit and the spiritual journey. Those parallels will be the subject of numerous posts to come.

CrossFit is "a core strength and conditioning program." (Definition from www.crossfit.com) Look up the word "core" in a thesaurus and you'll find the following among the synonyms: base, center, essence, foundation, heart, kernel, main idea, middle, nucleus, origin and substance.

I want my physical foundation to be solid. I want to be strong at the core. In CrossFit terms I make, "a deliberate attempt to optimize physical competence in each of ten recognized ﬁtness domains. They are Cardiovascular and Respiratory endurance, Stamina, Strength, Flexibility, Power, Speed, Coordination, Agility, Balance, and Accuracy."

But the physical core isn't all there is. I'm a follower of Jesus, a husband, a father, a brother, a friend, a pastor, and a police chaplain. I'm even a father-in-law to be! In each of these areas of life and others I want to be strong at the core.

Spiritually, I'm inspired by how the Bible describes the prophet Balaam in one of his best moments: "...whose eye sees clearly...who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened." I want to be that strong at my spiritual core, always listening for God, watching to see where God is at work, and joining God in the work.

I also want to have that kind of strength to offer others. A vision and goal for my life might best be described in the book of Ecclesiastes: "Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true." (Ecclesiastes 12:9-10) I want to become like that teacher- strong at the core.

I believe all of us have a deep desire to be strong at the core. I'm hopeful that my posts might be used as part of your journey. To that end, borrowing from Crossfit just prior to the beginning of the workout: "Ready? 3-2-1 exercise!"

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, December 22, 2011

Dear Friends,

I love the decorations this time of year. Especially Christmas trees.

Some homes are carefully designed inside and out. Christmas trees are color-coordinated. Each ornament is chosen for overall presentation and theme.

Not your house? Not mine either. At the Moore residence designs are heavily influenced by the following artistic philosophy: "It has been in the box for years and connects to this memory, so it goes on the tree!." Elementary school projects, family heirlooms, symbols of rites of passage, trinkets from friends- they all combine to help us celebrate. Some are damaged, others fragile, a few seem indestructible, and still others are beautiful yet contain hidden cracks and flaws.

Somehow it all comes together and the tree looks beautiful every year.

Reminds me of the church. Jesus, God in human flesh, coming among us to save. People responding and coming together. Are we all beautiful and carefully arranged for the greatest possible artistic effect? No! We are strong and weak, broken and wounded, hurting and hopeful. Some of us have been in the box a long time! Others appear to have it all together, yet carry silent burdens. Still others are obviously flawed. Hardly the stuff by which a masterpiece is created.

Somehow, we all come together and God creates a thing of beauty and power. The body of Christ. His bride. The family of God. Agents of God's reconciliation. Ambassadors of Jesus Christ. Salt and Light to the world. A treasure within our flawed spirits. God's power made perfect in our weakness. God's grace and unconditional love poured out.

Looking at the decorations in our home, I'm filled with an awareness of all that God has done for my family. I'm grateful, and rest for a moment in God's unconditional love. I'm hopeful, trusting and confident of God's future.

That's how I feel about you too. You are precious in the sight of God. You are amazing, unique and loved by God unconditionally. You are a thing of beauty and power, and God has an amazing plan for you in fulfillment of his mission. I'm honored to be your pastor.

Merry Christmas!

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, December 15, 2011

Dear Friends,

This week some information from different leaders of New Summit:

Our SERVE Team (helping us to serve God and others with our gifts, talents, resources and abilities) wants us to know that the Christmas Eve Worship Service will receive an offering that will be devoted 100% to four different missions! 1. Safe Water for Life, a ministry of Compassion International that provides clean drinking water for children and families. 2. Seth Sears, a missionary and his family serving in Costa Rica. Seth is doing some powerful work with boys, teaching them employable skills while also introducing them to Jesus Christ and helping their families. 3. New Creation Church in Joplin, MO, a congregation that has been at the center of the recovery and assistance movement following the tornado last May. New Creation has hosted over 14,000 volunteers, and has a long list of needs to be met in addition to their continued need for volunteers. 4. Pastor Jose Pezini and the Outreach Foundation. Many of you remember Pezini when he was here at New Summit as an interpreter for Pastor Jose, the Apostle to the Amazon. The demand for church planting in Brazil is so great that Pezini is moving back to Brazil in the spring of 2012. He will be coaching church planters in their work.

Our Session and Staff want you to know that we'll be starting a new church-wide initiative on January 22, "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality." This 8 week series will include weekly worship themes, small group opportunities, an introduction to contemplative spirituality, and a book on the topic for those who wish to read it. The two guiding principles are: first, emotional health and spiritual health are inseparable; and second, we grow and change in our lives as we explore contemplative spirituality, being with God. The eight weekly themes are as follows: 1. The problem of emotionally unhealthy spirituality. 2. Know yourself that you may know God. 3. Going back in order to go forward. 4. Journey through the wall. 5. Enlarge your soul through grief and loss. 6. Discover the rhythms of the Daily Office and Sabbath. 7. Grow into an emotionally mature adult. 8. Go the next step and develop a "rule of life." We would love to have people volunteer to host small groups and lead small groups. For more information on the program, go to http://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/index.php/about/mission

Our SERVE Team wants you to know that New Summit has been active in a number of initiatives in the last few weeks. Soles of Compassion has seen donations of over 500 pairs of shoes and over 700 pairs of socks. New Summit has contributed to Lee's Summit Social Services and other organizations and missionaries. One of our members in the social work field was made aware of a single mom in a wheelchair, with four kids in the house and no beds for the children. Beds and bedding are being picked up and will be delivered today or tomorrow! You are all missionaries, and the mission field for each of us is life! But we also have the privilege of sharing projects together, and these keep our hearts open while they train us to look expectantly for God's work throughout life.

Our Finance Team wants to update you on church finances. Year to date we have received $1557 more than we have spent. However, we started the year with a deficit to our general fund. That deficit is now at $6900. The Session of the church has proposed a budget for 2012 of $230,000, the same total as for 2011. Due to increased utility costs, however, we have had to make adjustments to other program areas of the budget. The Personnel budget for 2012 is the same as for 2011. A congregational meeting will be held on Sunday evening, January 8, for the purpose of electing elders, approving the Pastor's terms of call, and taking a vote of support on the budget.

Leaders are needed for different ministry areas as we begin the new year. In particular, we are looking for someone to assume the duties of Church Treasurer, Clerk of Session, and leader of the Finance Team.

Remember our Christmas schedule and worship changes! Saturday, December 24, at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, December 25, at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, January 1, at 11:00 a.m.

Please contact the church office by phone (816-246-7474 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 816-246-7474 end_of_the_skype_highlighting) or email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or contact Pastor Dave ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) if you would like more information about any of these opportunities or if you have any questions.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, December 8, 2011

Dear Friends,

Several years ago Ronda and I, newly married and graduated from seminary, moved from the Los Angeles metropolitan area to rural South Dakota. There we were introduced to small town traditions around Christmas, and we loved that experience and the people who shared our lives in those years. Among the traditions were the efforts of the local businesses to keep business in town, especially when people might be tempted to make the long drives to Mitchell (65 miles) or Sioux Falls (120 miles) for day long excursions in consumer materialism.

The businesses of Platte each participated in Christmas drawings. Stop in, fill out an entry, more opportunities if you buy- that sort of thing. I remember Ronda saying that she had really never won much of anything in her life, though she did remember winning a bag of potatoes in Idaho once! Still, we wanted to be supportive of the community, and attempted to keep our purchasing local.

She won! She not only won, her name was drawn in a couple of the businesses, including the largest prize offered at Bischke Drug. Getting a prescription filled didn't seem like much of a Christmas prize, so we opted for a Precious Moments Nativity set, which became a feature in our home. I don't remember exactly which figurines were included, but the basics were there: Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus.

Over the years the set offered me and our kids a default present for Ronda's birthday, anniversaries, and of course Christmas. When in doubt, add to the Nativity! At first we tried to stay within a reasonable expectation of animals that might actually have been present. Camels and sheep, for instance. But others found their way, and soon Jesus was worshiped by elephants and dogs along with wise men and shepherds.

As the years have passed, we have sometimes left the Precious Moments Nativity out of our Christmas decorating- like many of you, we have more decorations than square footage in which to display them. And, we have not always displayed each piece. This year the display is on our coffee table in the living room, but includes fewer of the accessories and more of the essential characters.

There on the table, however, we have witnessed first hand the miracle of the Christmas story. You see, when Ronda teaches piano the children usually arrive a bit early or stay a bit late waiting for their rides. They can't keep their hands off of the Nativity! Each child who wishes will start rearranging the pieces and imagining the story in his or her way.

We all long to be in contact with the holy. We want to know that our greatest victories, hopes and dreams are part of some larger purpose and plan. We want to know that our greatest pains and hurts are not lost in some eternal and meaningless void. The message of Christmas is that God wants to be in contact with us. God wants to be accessible. God wants to know our friendship and receive glory from each of us. God took on human flesh to come among us in our pain and suffering.

I hope that each of you touches Jesus in a new way this Advent and Christmas, or maybe another way of saying it is that I hope he gets ahold of you. And I hope that our lives so shine with his love that the world knows God is among us.

In Christ's Love,
Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, December 1, 2011

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, Don Harman, the weather forecaster for Fox 4 TV in Kansas City, took his life late Tuesday. During yesterday's broadcast his colleagues maintained an awkward and difficult silence, repeatedly thanking listeners for their concerns and prayers while saying nothing until Don's father could be notified of his son's death. On today's show the news was finally out. Today we saw something we all know to be true, but seldom acknowledge: the genuine human lives behind the personalities. Tears, tissues, fond remembrances and soul searching were the order for the day. I was reminded of the same expression of pain we saw on the evening of September 11, 2001, as national news and entertainment personalities attempted to do their jobs while at the same time experiencing the stunning pain of loss and death.

I don't want to skip over the real pain of Don Harman's death, and I hope we will all pray for his family and friends as they grieve.

But I do wonder about the bigger picture or spiritual truth in such a tragedy. Here are some of my reflections:

Celebrities are real people, but not to those of us who watch them. To us they are the image they choose to present, or the image that is demanded by the business and entertainment forces driving their professions. At their best they connect us in some thoughtful way with what is real in our lives. At their worst (or perhaps at our worst) we use them to escape our reality and avoid our responsibilities.
Real life isn't what we see on the screen of the television or the computer. The only reality show that matters is the one you are living right now. The people who matter the most are not the celebrities about whom you obsess, but those people with whom you live and interact.
While a professional entertainer may play a role different from his or her personal reality, none of us can live meaningfully without people who know us with the mask off. Authenticity and transparency are as much a need for healthy living as diet, exercise, rest, intellectual stimulation, meaningful work, purpose, and faith.
There is no immediate answer to the question, "Why?" And there is no guarantee that we will one day have the answer, at least not on this side. God's purpose will be accomplished (Isaiah 55). In all things God works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8). Neither of those scriptural promises includes the right to grill God for answers and the expectation that God will provide them. God is God. I am not. Neither are you.

The pain many in Kansas City feel today is precisely the motivation behind the season of Advent, and the yearning that finds its fulfillment in Christmas. Advent is about waiting for hope in a world of pain, a world where celebrities die young and unexpectedly after long and painful battles with depression. Advent is about waiting for hope in the midst of your personal pain, pain that may never be known to all but a few because you are not a celebrity, but pain which is just as real and destructive. Advent is about hoping that God hears us in our pain, hoping that God has a plan, and hoping that God's plan will come to fulfillment in ways that meet our deepest needs. Christmas is the celebration that God has heard, and God has done something, coming into our midst in Jesus to give us relationship with him through whatever life may bring.

This Advent season I pray that you might know a new level of transparency and authenticity with those who love you. I pray that you might know hope in the midst of uncertainty. I pray that you might find courage to live and love in a world where the answers are not obvious. I pray that you might discover Jesus in the middle of your reality.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, November 17, 2011

Dear Friends,

My college years were spent in San Diego at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Those were great years, filled with friends and activities and even a bit of education. I loved that area, and thought I knew everything it had to offer.

I returned in 2010 while on sabbatical leave. Ronda, Emily and Chris joined me. Chris' girlfriend (now fiancee!) Megan came out for a week, and so did Emily's best friend Alyssa. Two of my sisters came down. We reconnected with former roommates and friends. We walked on the beaches, saw the sites, sat in stillness caught in the sound of the waves, and ate with abandon! I was even able to get back in the water as a SCUBA diver, taking a trip out to the Coronado islands. What a great time!

Later I was writing in my journal and recorded these words: "...though I lived here for four and 1/2 years, on this trip I saw more of the city than I had previously experienced."

What happened? Circumstances and station in life, of course. In college I was on a student's budget and, for the first couple of years, without a car. In 2010 I was the beneficiary of a grant from the Lilly Foundation's Clergy Renewal Project.

My perspective also changed over the years. As a spouse and parent I was interested in sharing old memories with my family, but also in creating new ones. Some of those were built around their desires and interests as well as mine. My understanding of life and its opportunities had deepened.

As followers of Jesus we say that God is Sovereign. The title implies active power and authority over all creation. The title also suggests perspective and wisdom. God has seen more of this world than we have. In fact, God has even seen and understood more of our experience than we have. God's understanding is...deeper.

Living under God's sovereignty in no way diminishes our free will or our significance to God and one another. But affirming God's sovereignty does teach us to trust Jesus beyond the boundaries of our awareness. Every moment, even those we do not understand or those we find impossible to bear, has something to be offered. We may not understand for years. We may never understand. But God does:

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. (Psalm 24:1)

God owns it all. God is responsible for all of it. God has power over all of it. God knows what to do with all of it. God does exactly what needs to be done.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:8-11)

May you discover more and more of God's deep and loving purpose for your life, today and always.

In Christ's Love,
Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, November 10, 2011

Dear Friends,

Over the years I've been encouraged to branch out a bit with my writing, and a number of people have mentioned a blog. So, while I won't stop sharing in this forum each week, I've posted for the first time a blog I've named, "Strong at the Core." You can find it at www.strongatthecore.blogspot.com. I hope you'll drop by, sign up to receive updates by email, and share your thoughts.

In my first blog post I mention a passage in Numbers 24 that has been inspiring and motivational for me. In the story, the prophet Balaam, who has some rough spots in his life, is having a moment of deep connection with God. This is how Scripture describes the moment:

"...the Spirit of God came upon him and he uttered this oracle: "The oracle of Balaam, son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly, the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened." (Numbers 24:3, repeated in 24:15)

What a powerful description of a disciple! I want to follow Jesus so closely that I see clearly, hear God speak, dream as God dreams, and worship with my whole life.

But Balaam doesn't stop there. There is an immediate threat- the people of Israel are in conflict with the people of Moab. God wants to say something through Balaam about the people of Israel: How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel! Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters. (Numbers 24:5-6)

Numbers 24 is a powerful combination of two great truths of our faith that, taken together, form a great mystery of our faith.

Truth number 1: Faith is individual and personal. Each person needs to seek God, to be captured by God's spirit, to listen for God's voice and to join in God's mission. Balaam has that encounter in Numbers 24.

Truth number 2: You can't do it alone. Scripture never separates individual faith from the life of the believing community. God's call to Balaam will be fulfilled in the entire community of Israel as they trust God and obey God together in their conflict with Moab and at every other time and place.

This vision inspires me: people meeting Jesus personally and following him, discovering his power to transform life. And at the same time, God's presence and purpose worked out in those individual lives as they come together in the community of faith- the church.

Powerful.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, November 3, 2011

Dear Friends,

A couple of weeks ago I had several highly productive days and two reminders from God.

The productive days were memorable. Everything seemed to go according to schedule. I adjusted well to surprises and attacked tasks with more focus than usual. I seemed to balance time spent on study and prayer and administration, and time spent with people. There wasn't a lot of wasted time. I ate well, rested well, and exercised well. I felt like things were moving smoothly, according to plan and in line with priorities.

At the end of those days two thoughts seemed predominant. I was grateful, and I wasn't anywhere close to finished! There was still so much to do! There were still so many unfinished tasks, and others not yet begun.

I wavered between praise and despair. "If these are productive days, what do my unproductive days look like? God help me."

The first reminder from God concerned you, my family of faith at New Summit. I could see so clearly how many of you are experiencing your faith in such chaotic and turbulent times. I know you haven't stopped believing. You haven't stopped caring. You haven't stopped wanting to be here, or to help out with God's mission in any way possible. And you haven't stopped wanting to know more about God in your daily living and loving and working. But I also know that your lives are full. Even an extra moment sometimes seems like a miracle. I know that, at the end of your most productive days, your list is still long. You are very much in my thoughts and prayers.

The second reminder from God concerned what I can only describe as a paradox. Jesus invites us to follow him anyway. Even if the time doesn't seem to be there. Even if the feeling seems distant. Even if life doesn't want to yield one more minute. He says, "Seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

Part of the journey of faith is about taking risks in the face of apparent reality. How would you describe your reality these days? In what quiet ways might God be calling you to take a risk of faith?

In Christ's Love,
Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, October 27, 2011

Dear Friends,

Over the years I've repeated a phrase I first heard from my pastor growing up: "The church is a hospital for sinners; not a museum for saints." I think the quote comes from Abigail Van Buren, a popular advice columnist of years ago known as Dear Abby.

There is powerful sentiment in the quote. We long for the church to be a place of authenticity, transparency and genuine faith. We don't want to be known for hypocrisy and shallow pretending. Everyone is welcome, and we all come in the same condition- sinners in need of a savior.

As much as we hope for that kind of a church, all of us also bring with us our fears, misunderstandings and stereotypes. We see a family that seems to have everything together, and we think, "They have everything together." We hear a prayer that appears eloquent, and we wish we could feel that close to God- "that leader does, why not me?" We feel some kind of spiritual disconnection and drift away, thinking that we must be the problem- "everyone else seems to be fine." We say the words of authenticity but never really get around to living transparently. We speak the language of struggle but never take the journey of struggle together.

We aren't alone. Several years ago a young woman named Agnes suffered from a spiritual dry period that lasted decades! In the midst of her doubts and uncertainty she wrote,

"Where is my faith? Even deep down...there is nothing but emptiness and darkness. If there be God...please forgive me. When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven, there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul.... How painful is this unknown pain- I have no faith. Repulsed, empty, no faith, no love, no zeal,...what do I labor for? If there be no God, there can be no soul. If there be no soul, then Jesus, You also are not true."

Moments, or even years like these are not uncommon, but you might be surprised to learn more of this particular woman. You actually know quite a bit about her. Her given name was Agnes, but when she entered the convent and accepted God's call she took the name Teresa, and we later knew her as Mother Teresa. And for so many of those years of smiling and serving and loving and caring she struggled deeply.

I could take this post in a number of directions, for instance the counsel of the spiritually wise for times of spiritual darkness and dryness. But mostly what I am feeling as I write is the need to encourage you right now, wherever you are and in whatever state you find your spiritual journey. You are not alone. God has not abandoned you, and your experiences of doubt or despair are shared by others.

Keep going. Don't quit. Don't distance yourself from the body of Christ, the church. Come back if you've drifted away. Take another step. Tell someone what's happening. Come alongside those who are struggling.

We have a choice every day: museum for saints, or hospital for sinners. I choose the hospital, and the doors are open.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, October 20, 2011

Dear Friends,

Yesterday was the first game of this year's World Series. The Cardinals beat the Rangers 3-2.

Moammar Gadhafi is dead.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 10 (no, wait...33....nope, 34 at the closing bell) points today.

The search continues for baby Lisa Irwin.

The National Weather Service is predicting that, due to a weather condition called La Nina, the winter of 2011-2012 will be another brutal winter of cold, snow and ice in the midwest.

Jesus said, "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27)

I suppose many of these statements present matters open to interpretation based on perspective. Cardinal and Ranger fans, for instance, and those of us who root for different teams or don't care.

Jesus doesn't sound like he leaves that kind of option, does he?

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, October 6, 2011

Dear Friends,

Every Thursday evening Terri Roberts goes to the home of Christ and Mary Liz King to offer her services as a volunteer. The King's daughter, Rosanna, is paralyzed. She cannot talk, move or eat. She understands, however, and during the day attends a local school.

When she arrives at the King's home, Terri spends time with Rosanna. She talks to the 11 year old, brushes her hair, and bathes her. The evening sessions are sometimes difficult- Rosanna has her bad nights. But Terri keeps on coming, and has been volunteering in this way for nearly five years.

Terri's story is replayed by millions of people who volunteer. A cause is served. People are fed. Homes are constructed. Compassion is offered. Such service is part of the expression of faith for nearly every faith tradition. Followers of Jesus Christ are no different, believing that service to others is actually imitation of our Lord's example, "for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)

Terri's faith in Jesus Christ is indeed motivation for her weekly visits with Rosanna, but there is much more to her story. You see, Rosanna is not paralyzed due to a tragic accident or an abnormality of birth or health. Rosanna is the victim of a crime. Five years ago she was a student in an Amish schoolhouse when a young man walked in and started shooting. Five girls were killed. Five were wounded. Four of the wounded have recovered, leaving Rosanna as a living and suffering reminder of the darkness and brutality that can overcome a life and lead to such a violent act.

The gunman ultimately turned the gun on himself and took his own life. His name was Charles Carl Roberts IV. Terri's son.

Terri's healing began the day of the shooting, when an Amish neighbor said to her husband, "Roberts, we love you." The healing continued when she met with the families of the victims, who even in deep grief and loss extended forgiveness and love. The healing continues to this day, in weekly visits with Rosanna.

Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) This Sunday we'll explore those words in my teaching tme with you during worship. But tonight (Thursday), somewhere in Pennsylvania, Terri Roberts and the King family are walking the narrow path.

God, give us courage, that our lights may so shine.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, September 29, 2011

Dear Friends,

In the past weeks groups of leaders and staff have met on a number of occasions, and I'm excited to share with you some of the decisions coming out of those gatherings:

Christmas Celebration Potluck Meal, Sunday, December 11. Last year's potluck and program were a huge success. This year we'll combine our potluck with a celebration of the end of the Momentum/Financial Peace University program. You'll hear testimonies and results of Momentum, the children and youth will have a program focused on Christmas, and there will be some fun and laughter and surprises.

Christmas Eve Worship, Saturday, December 24, at 5:00 p.m. Since Christmas Eve is Saturday and Christmas Day is Sunday we will have only one service on Christmas Eve. We're excited about a huge gathering of the New Summit Community to celebrate the gift of God's love through Jesus Christ at Christmas. No nursery- we love having all of the families together for this event.

Christmas Day Worship, Sunday, December 25, at 11:00 a.m. Only one worship service on Christmas Day. Note the change of time for this Sunday. Songs and Carols and the Christmas Story in a way that will engage all the ages. No children's program or nursery- we want the families to share this time together.

New Year's Day Worship and Communion, Sunday, January 1, at 11:00 a.m. Only one worship service on New Year's Day. Note the change of time for this Sunday. Come and begin the new year with your church family. The service will appeal to all ages. No children's program or nursery.

Leaders Meeting, Tuesday, October 11, at 7:00 p.m. An opportunity for leaders at New Summit to gather for prayer, sharing, encouragement, teaching (from Elder Adam Collins) and updates concerning the mission, vision and strategy of the congregation.

Momentum Message Series, beginning November 6: Looking at biblical principles for handling money and resources. Topics include: "Trusting God Completely," "Savings for Harvest and Famine," "God Owns it All," "The Church Gaining Momentum," and "Our Financial Peace Declaration," followed by a celebration Sunday on December 11.

I'm excited about this time of the year, about the life and energy I see at New Summit, and about the ways in which God is moving in our midst.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, September 22, 2011

Dear Friends,

Following Jesus is either practical or pointless.

On any given day hundreds of events unfold. A bill needs to be paid. Your niece announces that she is pregnant. Your son and his girlfriend begin co-habitating. Your financial counselor calls with a great opportunity. Your best friend wants to go fishing. Traffic is slow. An employee is late. A colleague misses a deadline. An old "significant other" sends a friend invitation on Facebook. Your children are fighting. Your spouse needs time. Your parents are aging. You spill coffee in your lap. You diet. You exercise. You hope and dream. You live and love, and one day you die.

These life moments are profoundly spiritual. To say that God is sovereign is to say that God stands over each moment, in authority over all time and eternity and each event. To say that Jesus is fully human and fully God is to say that Jesus has known and experienced the full experience of the moments of a human life. To say that we are in Christ and Christ in us is to say that Christ lives each of our moments with us, made possible by his incarnation, his sinless life, his atoning death, his overcoming resurrection, his ascension to God the Father, and the gift of His Holy Spirit.

Early Celtic Christians understood, as did Saint Patrick and the missionaries who brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Ireland. Their life of discipleship (the journey of following Jesus) was shaped by prayers that touched upon every part of life, especially the ordinary routines. Consider this prayer in the morning for the kindling of fire, which I've only modified just a bit for our context:

I will brew my coffee in the morning

In the presence of the holy angels of heaven

Without malice, without jealousy, without envy

But the Holy Son of God to shield me.

God, brew in my heart within

A cup of love to my neighbor,

To my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all.

This is what it means to follow Jesus. We hear his gracious call. We accept his invitation. We invite him into each and every moment. Life becomes a spiritual adventure, a counter-culture movement, an advancing of the Kingdom of God in you against the powers of darkness. Even that first cup of coffee is transformed into prayer!

How is it with your faith this day? During which moments have you been spiritually aware? During which events have you unconsciously slipped into routine and forgotten? In which areas have you consciously shut God out?

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

P.S. A spiritual exercise, great for adults and kids: take one or more ordinary moments of your life, and write a short prayer of dedication to God. Ask God to show you how to see each moment with spiritual eyes, and how to follow Jesus during these daily events. Share the prayers with others in your family, or with a friend, and invite them to remember you in prayer during a routine moment in your day. Check back with one another to share your experiences.

Pastor Dave's Letter, September 15, 2011

Dear Friends,

This summer I served as the chaplain for the annual meeting of the Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Advisory Council (LETSAC). In addition to my responsibilities of leading a Bible study and in other ways serving the delegates present for the conference, I had plenty of opportunity to watch people in their professional environment. As always, I'm inspired and amazed by the passion, depth and expertise.

We humans really are an amazing part of God's creation. Take any hobby, career or pursuit, and you'll find people who are deeply committed. I never knew there was so much energy dedicated to reducing traffic fatalities in the state of Missouri. I never knew there were so many tools available. Naturally, along with the tools were a number of business enterprises that I never knew existed: everything from high tech road warnings to powerful flashlights to clothing to the latest in detection equipment for alcohol and drug abuse!

The same is true for those who are passionate about fitness, or quilting, or seeing the country in an RV. Listen to enthusiasts talk about their passion. Listen to a research scientist. Listen to a dietician. Listen to a competitive runner, or even someone who has just joined the local gym looking to lose a few pounds and gain some strength.

The language is almost...religious. People find deep and lasting friendships, align themselves to mentors who teach a particular style and approach, are serious about developing skill and practicing it, and are filled with an evangelistic fervor as they tell their friends, "This is amazing! You need to try it!"

And I wonder, why is it so easy for us to talk with such passion about these amazing parts of our human experience, and so difficult for us to talk about the God who created us with such potential? Why is it so easy for us to share our hobbies and recreational pursuits, and so difficult for us to invite our friends to church?

I don't really have a specific place in mind to lay blame, nor do I desire to produce guilt with my observations. Instead, I'm sharing these thoughts as more of an invitation to reflection, and perhaps an opportunity for conversation.

What would have to happen at New Summit Church to produce the kind of enthusiasm that flows from people who are inspired, motivated, caught up and committed?

What kind of barriers stand in the way of that kind of faith experience for you personally?

What are the "best practices" that you see in the organizations and groups that produce such an enthusiastic response from their constituents?

What is it about Jesus that touches you deeply, inspires you, and motivates you? How do you share that enthusiasm with others? In what ways could a local congregation help?

Life is such a beautiful gift, filled with all of the diversity and creativity that only a Sovereign God could imagine. I'm so grateful for the common expressions of that gift in my life. How much greater is the steadfast love of the Lord that never ceases, his mercies which never come to an end, his grace through Jesus Christ, and the promise and hope we can know in Christ. I dream of a deep and growing enthusiasm that captures God's people, overflowing into our homes and communities, and being used by God to do a new thing in our world.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, August 25, 2011

Dear Friends,

I'm writing from Minneapolis, where I'm attending the Gathering of the Fellowship of Presbyterians. Over 1900 of us from 49 states, 3 countries, and over 830 congregations have come together to pray, worship and to seek God's guidance for our denomination in the days ahead. Bill and Jaye Pryor and Marcia Finke are here with me. I'll be back on Saturday and looking forward to worship with you on Sunday.

The day's events have been powerful in many ways. Many familiar faces, including members of the national covenant group of pastors of which I am a part. There was Mary Naegeli leading worship tonight, a friend and leader from my childhood and young adult days growing up in the faith at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. Mary sang at my ordination service. Sharing a room with my good friend Mark Hawke, the pastor of First Presbyterian of Olathe. Spending time with Bill, Jaye and Marcia. God is good.

We began with a service of prayer built around the six "great ends of the church." If you've never heard that phrase, the six ends are a mission statement of the Presbyterian Church dating back to the United Presbyterian Church of North America in 1910, with older versions going back as far as 1782. These are the things that the church must do:

1. The proclamation of the Gospel for the salvation of humankind;

2. The shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God;

3. The maintenance of divine worship;

4. The preservation of the truth;

5. The promotion of social righteousness; and

6. The exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

I'd encourage each of you to read through the list again. If these are the mission goals of the church, and if we are the church by virtue of God's grace and calling through Jesus Christ, then this list is a personal mission statement for each of us as well as for all of us. In what ways are we fulfilling such lofty goals? Where are we falling short? Where can we celebrate God's work in our midst?

As part of the worship built around the six great ends, we sang a (contemporary) hymn by Charitie Lees Bancroft and Vikki Cook, "Before the Throne of God Above." Here are the lyrics, and a link to a version on YouTube:

Before the throne of God above,

I have a strong, a perfect plea,

A great High Priest whose name is "Love,"

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,

My name is writen on His heart;

I know that while in heav'n He stands

no tongue can bid me thence depart.

No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,

and tells me of the guilt within,

upward I look and see Him there

Who made an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died,

my sinful soul is counted free;

For God, the Just, is satisfied

to look on him and pardon me.

To look on him and pardon me.

Behold him there! the risen Lamb,

my perfect, spotless Righteousness,

the great unchangeable I AM,

the King of glory and of grace!

One with Himself I cannot die,

My soul is purchased by His blood;

My life is hid with Christ on high,

with Christ, my Savior and my God.

With Christ, my Savior and my God.

Here is the YouTube version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xUK2Dx5RkY

What a great way to begin a gathering like this! We are called together to God's mission, our mission and our identity made possible by God's gift of grace and love through Jesus Christ. In the words of our denomination's brief statement of faith, "In life and in death we belong to God, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit."

I'm looking forward to the days ahead, and to all that God is doing and will do.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, August 18, 2011

Dear Friends,

When was the last time you had an, "I just had to..." moment?

You know, one of those experiences that evokes a response so strong it is undeniable and unstoppable.

We hear our friends and loved ones talking about such moments:

"I couldn't resist that cheesecake. I just had to eat it."

"It was on sale. I just had to buy it."

To be honest, these sound more like, "I just wanted to" moments than "I just had to" moments! An observer might say, "Why don't you get a little self-control?" In our culture we seldom experience the need for food and possessions with the extreme urgency of those who are genuinely without one or both.

Relationships are different. Do you ever remember the power of urgency in a romance? I do.

"I knew she was the one. I just had to marry her!" (It was an extremely wise choice on my part, I might add.)

What about the spiritual realm? Have you ever had an "I just had to...." moment with God?

We don't often use that kind of language, do we? Perhaps with conversion- "I knew I had to give my life to Jesus Christ." Sometimes as a way of explaining a choice or decision- "I knew God was calling me to...." But even words like these are often shaped by conventions and community. If the people you hang out with don't talk this way, the chances are you don't either.

How about with our bodies? "I just had to fall to my knees." "I just had to weep." "I just had to fast and pray."

Such expressions raise red flags for some believers. "Be careful of the dangers of emotionalism." But a thoughtful, reflective and completely non-emotional interpretation of the Bible will acknowledge that the Scriptures invite a response from the whole person! Body, mind, soul and strength. Think about exortations to raise a shout, clap your hands, bang a drum, blow a trumpet, fall on your face, and many more.

God invites a response. Would it be fair to strengthen that verb a bit? God demands a response.

We know what it takes to evoke a response with food and possessions. We've felt what it takes to evoke a response in relationships. What would it take to evoke from us a response to the Holy One? What might that response look like?

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, August 11, 2011

Dear Friends,

I had a great conversation on Facebook this week, one that reminded me of the depth of the challenges facing our nation and economy right now.

I had posted an analogy from Dave Ramsey about the nation's budget and debt. Here it is:

"If the US Government was a family, they would be making $58,000 a year, they spend $75,000 a year, & are $327,000 in credit card debt. They are currently proposing BIG spending cuts to reduce their spending to $72,000 a year. These are the actual proportions of the federal budget & debt, reduced to a level that we can understand."

When I see something like that, my first reaction is: how do we cut expenses? If this were a family related to me, or members of our congregation, that's what I would probably advise.

But someone else joining the conversation looked at things another way: how do we increase the family income? That's a great question, and one that also challenges each of us to own the problem rather than simply blaming the leaders in Congress or the current President, regardless of their political party.

And still another reminded all of us that the cuts we contemplate might do some actual and real damage to people right now who need the programs and/or services provided by those categories of the U.S. budget, no matter what we might think about the relative value of those programs and services.

I'm not sharing this with you to propose a solution or to take a side. There are factors here that go far beyond one's political affiliation or the leadership in Washington, D.C. right now. Among those factors is our American obsession with instant gratification. We have years of history of spending more than we take in, hoping that somewhere down the road things will somehow work out. This is, I believe, a spiritual issue as well as an economic and political issue.

But here is one thing each one of us can do: we can each address the importance and the use of money in our personal life. Spiritually, we can assess our own interaction with consumption and instant gratification. Have I seen money as a gift from God, one that is neutral and may be used for good or for evil? Have I aligned money and possessions with God's vision for my life? Or have I crossed that boundary between money as a resource and the "love of money" which Scripture calls the "root of all kinds of evil"? (1 Timothy 6:10)

Dave Ramsey recently shared his opinion that our nation probably will not work its way out of the current challenges through a political strategy or through efforts initiated by members of Congress or the President. Change, if it is to happen, will happen only as we return to God's principles, including principles concerning finance. This will take place one person at a time, one family at a time, one church at a time, one community at a time.

New Summit has been part of that movement, offering Financial Peace University as a practical opportunity for life transformation since 2007. Many lives have been changed, and many individuals and families are better equipped to ride out current challenges because of what they have been learning and the changes they have been making. With September right around the corner we are starting a new round of FPU classes, our most ambitious offering yet. We have established a goal that only God can fulfill, trusting that God wants to use our little congregation to have an impact on between 200 and 300 people! Check out our website for more details about the FPU classes starting this fall: www.newsummit.org.

I believe the time is right. I believe God has uniquely equipped us and placed us for this kind of service to our community. I believe this is something powerful for you and for your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues. I believe people are hurting and hungry for solutions. I believe that while Washington offers politics as usual, we offer hope.

Pray for our nation. Pray for our leaders. May God give them wisdom and the courage for real and meaningful change. In the meantime, we have work to do, and I look forward to sharing our mission with you.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, August 4, 2011

Dear Friends at New Summit,

This morning Ronda and I drove Chris to the airport and sent him off on his adventure to Africa. We know these short term mission trips do serve a purpose for the people he will meet, and we trust that the good news of God's love through Jesus Christ will be proclaimed by the team of which Chris is a part. We also know that those who travel are often the ones most deeply impacted and changed. They move out of their comfort zones and see something new of the world and God's work in the world. We have no doubts that Chris will learn much, serve well, glorify Jesus and grow in faith.

On Tuesday we welcomed our daughter Emily back home from Denver. Her summer semester has ended and we're delighted to spend some time with her as she takes a break prior to her final year in college. We continue to be amazed at Emily's creativity and her artistic creations, her work ethic and her explorations into organizing and leading others in entrepreneurial ventures. We welcome back from their travels those we love, observing their changes and growth, celebrating their successes and victories, and observing the challenges and growing opportunities they face in the present and future.

One leaves, and one returns. For us, then, life is good right now on a deeply personal level. It has not always been so, nor will it always be so, but this present moment, this one snapshot, is a gift that evokes gratitude.

I have seen the other side of the equation in our family and in the journey of faith that I'm privileged to share with many as a pastor. Just this week an 18 year old in Lee's Summit took her life. Her family is wracked with grief. Their sorrow is profound and their lives will forever be changed by a moment of darkness and despair that few of us can comprehend.

We are all just one breath from such moments. An unexpected diagnosis. A youthful indiscretion. The consequence of irresponsible action by someone else. A freak act of nature. The mystery of brain chemistry and the depths of our emotions and irrational behaviors.

Our culture and much of our energy is devoted to avoiding such pain, pretending that all moments can be good and that each moment must be better if life is to be fulfilling. A fool's game, and yet in many ways we all play along.

What are we to say to all of this? How do we respond to a shallow world, to a world of people desperately clinging to the illusion that pain can be avoided or desperately hurting from inevitable pain? Do we offer a three point sermon carefully explaining a proven strategy? Do we imply that prosperity is right around the corner with just the right amount of "faith"?

God does not offer an answer, if by an answer we mean a guarantee about any moment in the future. God offers instead a promise:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose....For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:28, 38-39)

In moments of gratitude, we are captured and secure in the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In moments of pain, we are captured and secure in the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And in such sovereignty and security alone we find hope, meaning and the courage to live and love.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Momentum? Financial Peace University? The Great Recovery?

Recently you might have heard any one of these names, or perhaps all of them!

Momentum is a churchwide program designed to get all of us working together toward a big dream of breaking financial bondage, serving others, and growing the kingdom of God.
Financial Peace University is the primary tool we're using in our Momentum focus. We're hoping to enroll 200-300 people in FPU classes this fall, including everyone in our congregation, even if you've taken FPU before.
The Great Recovery started with a message Dave Ramsey shared with our nation just last week. You can watch his message at www.thegreatrecovery.com. In the message, Dave spoke with us about how only God can lead us through our present challenges, not a political party or an economic plan. He encouraged us to believe in God's plan for freedom, one person, one family, one church at a time. He also encouraged us to get involved with classes like FPU as a way of learning God's principles for transformation.

At New Summit we believe in God's plan to release us from bondage. We want to serve every family and every individual in this congregation in life transforming and practical ways. We want to share this message with our friends, neighbors, family members, co-workers and associates. We want to see our nation experience a great recovery, build genuine momentum, and discover financial peace.

Are you ready to join us? Check out the FPU link on our website at www.newsummit.org. Watch Dave Ramsey's message at www.thegreatrecovery.com. Start spreading the word. Enroll in a class- absolutely free if you've taken FPU before. Let's see this fall as a momentum changer for New Summit.

Let's see this fall as an opportunity to serve people in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Dave's Letter, July 21, 2011

Dear Friends,

This week I've had the privilege of sharing the Vacation Bible School experience at New Summit. Wow, what an amazing week! We have kids, volunteers, food, crafts, music, energy, excitement, bumped heads, bruised knees, smiles, laughter, and lots and lots of heat!

The kids have a beach theme for this year's VBS, and so each day has a "Big Kahuna" question:

Sunday: Who is Jesus?

Monday: Why can I trust Jesus?

Tuesday: Why do I need Jesus?

Wednesday: How can Jesus help me when I mess up?

Thursday: What does Jesus want me to do?

Of course, each day also has a "Big Kahuna" answer. I wonder, what would your answers be? Do you feel competent to answer questions like these? Would you know where to start, or how to lead this kind of a conversation, if your kids or spouse or friend or co-worker asked?

The author of the book of Hebrews once observed, "...you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:11-14)

I love our programs and ministries for kids at New Summit, and I am so grateful for each and every volunteer. But I don't ever want to forget that our kids will, for the most part, go as far in relationship wtih Jesus as they see their parents going. Our goal is never just the spiritual formation of children. Our goal is the formation of a community of faith, where every life is on the journey of being transformed by God.

Don't forget.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, July 7, 2011

Dear Friends,

The phrase, "midterm exams" will inspire nausia, sweating and sleeplessness among those currently in school and those with less than fond memories of the academic experience. Of course, there's always a few that will remember tests fondly. We say to those folks, "Just pretend you hated them too- it will make it easier for all of us."

Seriously, we've just passed June 30, the mid-point of 2011, and I want to re-introduce a tool I shared with you at the beginning of the year: the Discipleship Wheel. The six sections of the wheel represent different aspects of the discipleship journey:

1. Connect with God: hearing the call of Jesus Christ to follow him and responding in faith, actively worshiping God on a regular basis.

2. Love God: growing in the spiritual journey, practicing the disciplines of the spirit, encountering God in Scripture and prayer.

3. Love Others: developing caring, loving and accountable relationships with others who follow Jesus, adding the dynamic of Christian community to your personal experience of Jesus Christ.

4. Serve God and Others: Discover, develop and utilize your spiritual gifts, together with those of others, to represent Jesus in the church and in the world. Looking for the places God is at work in the world, and joining God in his work. Caring about a world in need.

5. Share Faith: through the building of relationships, the demonstration of love for others, and the right words at the right time.

6. An open section of the wheel. Perhaps we've missed something critical to your journey of faith, or maybe you would just rephrase one of these categories. Feel free to make this review personal!

Seeing the center of the wheel as 0 (meaning this area is completely absent in your life), and the outer edge of each section as 10 (meaning you are fully engaged in this area of the discipleship journey), rank your personal level of satisfaction and development with each discipleship area by drawing a straight or curved line to create a new outer edge in each section. The new perimeter represents the wheel of your discipleship. If your result were a real wheel, how bumpy would the ride be?

Ready for the mid-term test? Here's the wheel

discipleship wheel

Remember that part of the role of a congregation is to equip you to follow Jesus. As you assess your faith journey, know that New Summit has a number of people and resources ready to serve you.

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, June 30, 2011

Dear Friends,

This week we move to a new section of the Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus discusses key practices of the spiritual life: giving, prayer and fasting. In my reading time at home each day I've been exploring Eugene Peterson's book Run with the Horses: The Quest for Life at Its Best. The book is a reflection on the life of the prophet Jeremiah. In his thoughts about Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Peterson talks about the giving nature of God and the way in which God's giving nature is hardwired into our spirits. This is a long quote, but he says it so well I wanted to share it with you:

"God gives. He is generous. He is lavishly generous. Before Jeremiah ever got it together he was given away.

"This is God's way. He did it with his own son, Jesus. He gave him away. He gave him to the nations. He did not keep him on display. He did not preserve him in a museum. He did not show him off as a trophy. 'God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.' (John 3:16)

"And he gave Jeremiah away. I can hear Jeremiah objecting, 'Wait a minute. Don't be so quick to give me away. I've got something to say about this. I've got my inalienable rights....' Imagine God's response: 'Sorry, but I did it before you were even born. It's already done; you are given away.'

"Some things we have a choice in, some we don't. In this we don't. It is the kind of world into which we were born. God created it. God sustains it. Giving is the style of the universe. Giving is woven into the fabric of existence. If we try to live by getting instead of giving, we are going against the grain. It is like trying to go against the law of gravity- the consequence is bruises and broken bones. In fact, we do see a lot of distorted, misshapen, crippled lives among those who defy the reality that all life is given and must continue to be given to be true to its nature....

"Birds have feet and can walk. Birds have talons and can grasp a branch securely. They can walk; they can cling. But flying is their characteristic action, and not until they fly are they living at their best, gracefully and beautifully.

"Giving is what we do best. It is the air into which we were born. It is the action that was designed into us before our birth. Giving is the way the world is. God gives himself. He also gives away everything that is. He makes no exceptions for any of us. We are given away to our families, to our neighbors, to our friends, to our enemies- to the nations. Our life is for others. That is the way creation works. Some of us try desperately to hold on to ourselves, to live for ourselves. We look so bedraggled and pathetic doing it, hanging on to the dead branch of a bank account for dear life, afraid to risk ourselves on the untried wings of giving. We don't think we can live generously because we have never tried. But the sooner we start the better, for we are going to have to give up our lives finally, and the longer we wait the less time we have for the soaring and swooping life of grace."

Looking forward to worship with you this Sunday,

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, June 23, 2011

Dear Friends,

Quickly, quote Jesus. What is the first saying of his that comes to your mind?

(This parenthetical insert is a typed attempt to give you a moment to actually answer the above question before you go racing to the next part of my communication. So, really, before you go on- what is the first saying of Jesus that comes to your mind?)

I’m guessing, but I suspect many will think of a well-known passage like John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son….” Perhaps others will recall the words of a most familiar prayer, “Our Father, who art in heaven….”

Of course, most people receiving this communication are in some way connected with New Summit Church, and our answers might differ from those of others. What if we broadened the scope of our survey to include the population of the world? There are a billion or more who have never heard the name of Jesus, but a majority of the world’s population has some opinion or experience or awareness of the teacher and prophet from Nazareth.

If we surveyed the world, we would probably hear a mixture of timeless truth that transcend all religions, and key passages that have come to symbolize Christian faith.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

“A house divided against itself will fall.” (Luke 11:17)

“Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12)

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind….and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

This Sunday we’ll consider a teaching of Jesus that must certainly be near the top of most-mentioned quotes: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) Beautiful, precise and inspiring? Or difficult, impossible and unreasonable? I’m looking forward to exploring this teaching with you.

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Dave

P.S. What is your favorite Jesus quote? Tell me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Pastor Dave's Letter, June 16, 2011

Dear Friends,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person.”

Jesus doesn’t let up. Every topic is open for discussion. Every weakness is exposed. Every area of life is considered:

The spirit or character of someone who is captured by the Kingdom of God.
The way such a person is presented to the world.
God’s attention to every detail of his revealed plan and law, each one fulfilled through Jesus.
An exploration of many of those laws as they relate to our most significant relationships.

This weekend we’ll struggle together with the Sermon on the Mount teaching concerning our response to those who wound us. As with the rest of the sermon, Jesus asks the impossible. But God can do within us what we cannot do for ourselves.

The connection with Father’s Day will be an interesting feature of this week’s message. Dads often struggle with the balance of fathering. We push our children and demand the impossible without offering an unconditional love and grace. We neglect our kids and never call out from them their hopes and dreams, gifts and abilities. We buy the cultural expectation of the “nice” dad, never daring to challenge our sons and daughters. We battle our own weaknesses and lack of control, exploding in anger or demonstrating other behaviors that have far greater influence on our children than whatever words of wisdom we might offer.

Jesus and dads, Jesus and his followers, Jesus and those who wound us. Should be an interesting Sunday!

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, June 9, 2011

Dear Friends,

Last Tuesday we offered a time of group prayer and discernment to seek God’s guidance for the future of New Summit. Recent changes to our denominational structure have raised both interest and concern, and motivated our Session to call for a time of prayer as we seek God’s guidance for the future.

On Wednesday morning I spoke with a woman who attended the prayer time. She said, “I expected a debate. I expected that everyone would come with their positions and with Bible passages to back them up. I was so pleasantly surprised to witness the spirit of the people who participated.” I would add my own observations: there was quite a bit of silence, the group spent much of the time repenting of our sins, and the mood was reflective and searching.

Those are all good signs, and among the many things that I appreciate about our congregation. We have convictions, strong ones. Some we share together as a group, and others we hold as individuals. We are not afraid to hold these convictions, and yet we strive to remember that we must hold them with grace and humility. With that in mind, I want to remind all of us of some of the principles we have at New Summit for our interaction with one another in every time and situation.

Speak for yourself. Use “I” statements. While we may have conversations with others, and others may let us know how they feel, they are responsible for sharing their feelings and convictions. Statements like, “A lot of people are saying…” are generally confusing and unhelpful. How many people? What are their names? We are always better off when we speak for ourselves.
Be thoughtful, prayerful, and especially careful about first reactions. We all have them, and some of them are strong. If I am serious about listening for God’s voice in any situation, part of the listening is to lay my first reactions and opinions at the throne of God. That’s not easy for me to do.
Be careful about limiting options. When faced with a challenge most of us will see two choices. “My boss is upset with me: I can either leave my job or stay here and be miserable.” A non-anxious and thoughtful process will generally reveal more options.
Listen graciously. This is hard for me- I’m a talker and I know it! Often groups will meet and just a few will dominate the conversation. A healthy process will listen carefully to as many people as possible, even those with whom we may disagree.
Related to #4, speak directly to one another. At New Summit we’ve found this guideline so helpful to curb gossip. If you have a disagreement with someone and you mention it to an elder or a member of the staff, you better hear them say, “You need to talk with that person directly rather than talking about them.” If you have a concern about someone, or if you’ve heard something about someone’s opinion and you aren’t sure, honor them as a brother or sister in Christ by going directly to them.
Set aside your anxiety. That isn’t easy to do in any crisis, but Scripture challenges us to do it. A friend of mine says, “Jesus wins. We followers of his need to start acting like it!”
Come to every interaction with brokenness. In Scripture and throughout history God speaks to the broken, to people who know that they are sinful and are God’s children only because of grace. I believe principles like these will lead us through every challenge and opportunity of our journey with Jesus.

I believe principles like these will also present Jesus to the world as others watch us. I’m grateful to be part of a congregation that attempts to put such things into practice, even though I know we often fall short of God’s ideals.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave's Letter, June 2, 2011

Dear Friends,

This Sunday we have a unique opportunity to celebrate the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism together on the same Sunday.

We celebrate the Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday of each month. In the Sacrament, also called Communion or Eucharist (“Good grace”) we remember what God has done for us through Jesus Christ and offer ourselves to God in renewed commitment. While each of us does this individually, the symbolism of the meal reminds us that we are part of a community of those who follow Jesus, and as part of that community we come together for a common purpose and mission. In the Lord’s Supper we experience the grace of God at work in our lives. Far from celebrating a distant event in history, we know that Jesus is present with us for the meal, and that God is at work among us. As we break bread and share the cup we experience God’s grace and the movement of God’s Spirit: lives are rededicated to Jesus Christ, faith is embraced for the first time, hearts are moved to offer reconciliation and forgiveness, and courage is imparted for faithfulness to the mission God gives each of us.

In Baptism we reenact the death and resurrection of Jesus in the life of the individual being baptized. For an infant or child baptism recognizes the sovereignty of God, who is already at work to draw the child toward himself. For an older child or adult we recognize, in addition to God’s sovereignty, the public declaration signifying a decision to follow Jesus. Baptism also reminds us of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ, and Baptism is also an act of the larger community, for in Baptism we acknowledge that the one being baptized is becoming a part of the body of Christ, the Church.

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are foundational to our identity as followers of Jesus Christ, but we seldom celebrate both on the same day! This Sunday, June 5, at the 10:30 a.m. service, we will celebrate the baptism of Sighris Sharber. Many of you know and love Sighris, who has been a part of our New Summit community for a while now. He has announced his desire to follow Jesus and is passionate about being baptized! All of us who have followed his life journey are excited to share this act of worship and public declaration of faith with him.

If you know me, you know I’m not very much interested in scorekeeping when it comes to church attendance. I know that life is crazy busy, and that a motivation to worship can only come from the Holy Spirit. I believe in extending to everyone the same grace that God has extended to me. At the same time, I make no apologies for saying that worship together is so important in spiritual formation that spiritual growth and development without regular worship in Christian community is nearly impossible. And to follow Jesus without joining others in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper and of Baptism? Again, it is just difficult to separate from faith what Jesus himself saw as so integrated and important.

So I encourage you to be present at worship this Sunday. Come for the Lord’s Supper at the 9:00 a.m. service. Come for the Lord’s Supper and Sighris’ baptism at 10:30 a.m. Come to hear a statement that our Session (the elders currently serving as the governing board of our congregation) has prepared concerning recent debates on social issues within our denomination. Come to honor and glorify the Lord. Come because your covenant as a church member includes a commitment to faithfully participate. Come because you are hungry and seeking. Come because you are wounded and weak. Come because you are angry and hurt. Come because you are celebrating and giving thanks.

The Font of Baptism and the Table of the Lord await. Come.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Dave