News, stories, events, updates, and all things Mount Olivet.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Pastor's Penpoint - "Do Something Different This Lent" - March 2015

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it speeds to the end - it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." Habakkuk 2:3

Well, you know what they say about the best made plans. It always amazes me how we make such careful plans and strategize - and God has other thoughts. While we moved quickly through our first two weeks of the visioning sermon series, the snow stopped us for two weeks. I hope you had the opportunity to rest, relax, and find your own way to worship.

We will finish our series (hopefully weather permitting) on March 8th, which is half way through the Lenten season. As we finish this series and look forward to Holy Week (which for us includes Maundy Thursday Service, Easter Sonrise Service, and Easter Sunday worship) lets try again to focus on what God's vision is for Mt. Olivet.

Just a reminder ... what is Lent? The word "Lent" comes from the old English word "Lengten," which simply means "spring" - when the days grow longer and new life springs forth. It is a time in which we anticipate the victory of the light and life of Christ over the darkness of sin and death. It is, to borrow a phrase from C. S. Lewis, a season of a kind of "happiness and wonder that makes you serious."

It is my prayer that as we journey through Lent to Easter, we will be reminded of the reality of our brokenness - but as days grow brighter, we will experience with great abundance the reality of God's redeeming grace. And so, just as we carefully prepare for big events in our personal lives, such as a wedding or commencement, Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus' death and resurrection - this year we will add God's vision to that list.

Please plan to join your sisters and brothers in Christ for a meal and visioning discussion following the meal on April 12th. May this be for you a season of a kind of "happiness and wonder that makes you serious."

God bless in the days and weeks to come. ~ Pastor Todd


Sunday, February 15, 2015

Firewood

A special thank you goes out to the men of Mt. Olivet who have cut and delivered 27 truckloads of firewood this winter for the elderly and needy.





Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Pastor's Penpoint - "Fulfilling God's Vision" - February 2015

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith ..." (Hebrews 12:2)

In the coming months - we will be hearing a lot about catching God's vision, both individually and for the church. We will begin with:
  • The four part sermon series in February, "Be Thou My Vision;"
  • that will lad to six weeks of prayer during Lent - focused on awareness of God setting forth His vision for Mt. Olivet, our programs and ministries; and
  • then conclude this focus with worship and a time of fellowship discerning God's response on Sunday, April 12th.
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of vision is that it changes our way of thinking, which in turn changes the way we live.
  • A mother endures the painful labor of childbirth because the vision of her newborn baby sustains her.
  • And a four-year-old endures the struggle to be a very, very good by for another two weeks because he is motivated by a vision of gifts under a Christmas tree.
  • An Olympic swimmer endures the long hours of staring at the bottom of a pool, day after day, because he is motivated by the vision of the gold to come.
Vision is a power that motivates us to do great things, give great things, and love everyone at all times. Vision keeps us going when there doesn't appear to be any other reason to keep pushing forward toward the goal.

Evangelist Oswald Chambers says the thing that keeps us going for God, even when everything or everyone around us is tumbling and stumbling, is our vision of God, not our devotion to theology or denomination. It is the vision of God before us, where we set our "minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2).
In the coming weeks, please join me in asking God to give you a vision of Himself. Ask Him to show you how your purpose is an extension of His heart and mind. Next, ask the same for the church. Let's pray to strip away agendas, biases and disagreement. Instead let's hold our breath - and wait for God to breath.

Together, we can fulfill God's vision.   ~P.T.