FROM THE PASTOR'S PEN... July 2010

One of my favorite Old Testament Bible verses has been on our church directory for several years in a row. It is from the book of Proverbs and it says "Where there is no vision, the people perish...". I don't think I'm unique in my perspective that the entire revealed Word of God can be wrapped up by Jesus' words from His Great Commandment in Matthew 22:37-40, which basically states that our purpose on earth is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and love our neighbor likewise; plus our central mission as followers of Christ is to fulfill His Great Commission, as stated in Matthew 28:19-20, which is to GO OUT, make disciples, baptize them(into the body of Christ, which is His church family) and teach them to obey everything He has taught us. If we would do the above basics, our reason for being born and given life on this earth would be totally fulfilled.

I know I won't be the Pastor at St. Paul's forever, but while I'm called by God to be planted here (which is an incredible joy to me by the way), I want to see that not only I bloom, but that the spiritual gifts He has given each of us also bloom to accomplish the unique vision He has given us to fulfill. That vision will never be contrary to His Great Commandment or Great Commission.

I have subtlely and blatantly asked people about the values and direction they believe God has and is calling St. Paul's toward in the short and long term. I am blessed to be the Pastor for a second time at St. Paul's. The first time was a fairly clear mandate for me to merely maintain the status quo until a more permanent Pastor could be found. This time I told the Council on the very first night that if I was blessed enough to be at St. Paul's again, I would like to lead this time in terms of changes in qualitative growth and intentionalized quantitative growth. I mentioned on that first night in particular that whatever else the members wanted to prioritize, I knew that one of the greatest needs for St. Paul's future was to emphasize our focus on younger children and secondly, we needed to create an environment of deeper spiritual intimacy with the adults(especially those with younger children). My giftedness is in the area of adult small groups arranged by affinity. This is an area which not only fulfills both the Great Commandment and Great Commission, and is designed to reach out to the unchurched but at the same time closes the back door of those people who have already come in the front door of St. Paul's, so that they can quickly feel just as accepted and needed as the members who have been here for a long time. Since I've been here, in the past eight or nine months some new attenders and new members have brought in fresh ideas that fit into this same Biblically centered vision for St. Paul's future.

I will attempt to put some meat on the bones of prioritizing a type of game plan(vison for St. Paul's future) which honors God's blueprint for us to"not perish" but instead cause us to flourish and make an impact for our God through St. Paul's Lutheran Church family. I'll be communicating this with members as well as Council for "tweaking" and/or reprioritizing, then announce an informal time to present this plan to the entire church family before the summer is out.

Please pray for me, this above mentioned process and the vision for St. Paul's future.

Sincerely...In His Grip,        

Soli Deo Gloria               
Pastor Bucky