I Love To Fly!

RC planes are a popular hobby that I really enjoy. The “Oh Yeah!” feeling of flying an aircraft, even if it’s just a small model, is awesome. But did you know that RC planes can also teach us important lessons about faith? The Bible teaches us to have faith and trust in God’s plan for us. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus tells his disciples, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” RC planes may be small in size, but they require a great deal of faith and trust in the equipment and in our own abilities as RC pilots.

Building an RC plane from scratch can also teach us about accomplishing something, especially if it’s hard. It takes time and effort to build an RC plane, and it can be pain in the you know what when things don’t go as planned. However, with patience, we can overcome obstacles and achieve our goals. Like, in our spiritual lives, we must be positive through challenges and setbacks and trust that God will guide us through difficult times.

Flying an RC plane can also teach us about the importance of focus. We must carefully prepare our planes for flight, ensuring that all systems are working properly and that we are trained as RC pilots. Once in flight, we must stay focused and alert, making adjustments as necessary to keep the plane on course. This level of practice and focus can add to our spiritual lives as well. We must be prepared and focused in our faith, constantly seeking to deepen our relationship with Christ and stay on the path he has set for us.

Flying RC planes can be a fun way to connect with others and share our faith. Whether it’s hanging out at the RC flying clubs or hosting events that involve RC planes and fellowship, there are many ways to use this hobby as a tool. We can share our love of RC planes with others while also sharing our love of Christ.

So, RC planes can teach us important lessons about faith, preparation, and focus. Whether you’re an experienced pilot or just starting out, there are many opportunities to connect your love of RC planes with your love of Christ. So, the next time you’re flying your plane (or want to start), take a moment to reflect on the lessons you can learn and how you can use this hobby to grow in your faith and serve others.

Will You Join The Team?

We read in Matthew 4:18-22 this:

“As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James, son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

I know it is only November, but I love March, the third month of the year. I’m sure you’re thinking that this Florida born person loves March because the weather is warmer, the sun is out longer, the azaleas are blooming. That is true, but the true reason I love this month is, it’s March Madness. Some of you may know what I’m talking about but just in case, March Madness is an entire month of college basketball where one NCAA Division 1 team is crowned the national champion. 68 teams will play over a few weeks and will be whittled down to 1. It is during this month that we witness the Cinderella teams, those who are the lower seed teams beat ones that are seeded higher. Each player on each team plays a role, has a function, finds their place so they work together for their goal, playing the best that they can and hopefully winning.

Jesus takes this same approach, assembling a team. He called persons who were not the upper echelon, ones who were considered outcasts, common persons to join him. None of them were worthy of being called but yet they were called, and they responded. They found their role, their function and they worked together to share all that Jesus had taught them. The team today is much larger than 12 people. You see God is calling all to be on the team. When we answer that call, we discover our role, our function in how we can share God’s word, love and how we can transform the world. We are on a winning team, God’s team. I encourage you if you have been sitting back and watching, listen God is calling you to the team. If you have answered that call, continue to listen as roles and functions can change according to the plans that God has for you at any given time. By the second week in April, a Division 1 basketball team will be crowned the national champion for 20243 and the pursuit for 2025 will begin. God’s pursuit to have all on God’s team never ends. The benefits of God’s team are greater than a National Championship. I invite you to answer God’s call to join the team.

Navigating the Path of Youth Ministry

As the youth pastor at Navarre United Methodist Church, I've had the privilege of walking alongside our incredible young people on their spiritual journeys. It's a role that fills me with joy, challenges me daily, and deepens my own faith. For my first blog entry, I'd like to share with you some insights into the heart of our youth ministry and how we're striving to make it a place of growth, connection, and empowerment.

Meaningful Relationships. In youth ministry, relationships are at the core of everything we do. Building meaningful connections with our young members is a fundamental step in helping them grow spiritually. We aim to be more than just spiritual guides; we strive to be friends, mentors, and confidants. Trust is the foundation of these relationships, and it's something we cherish and nurture. By genuinely getting to know our students, listening to their stories, and being there for them during the ups and downs of life, we create a safe and loving environment where they can explore their faith.

Intentional Programming. Creating a thriving youth ministry means being purposeful and strategic in our approach. Our programs and activities are carefully designed to engage, challenge, and inspire our young members. We offer a range of activities, from worship services and Bible studies to community service projects and fun outings. These experiences not only deepen their faith but also give them opportunities to build relationships with their peers and contribute positively to our community.

Discipleship. Discipleship is at the heart of our mission. We want our young people to not only understand the teachings of Jesus but also to live out those teachings in their daily lives. Our focus is on helping them grow spiritually, develop a strong moral compass, and discover their unique gifts and talents. By doing so, we empower them to be ambassadors of God's love in our world.

Partnering with Parents. We believe that the partnership between the church and parents is vital for the spiritual growth of our youth. We regularly engage with parents, providing resources, guidance, and open lines of communication. We encourage parents to take an active role in their children's faith development and support them in becoming active participants in our church community.

Student Leadership. One of our key objectives is to empower our young members to become leaders within our church and the larger community. We encourage them to take ownership of their faith journey and actively participate in planning and executing various youth activities. By fostering leadership skills, we are preparing them to be strong, faith-driven leaders in our church and society.

In conclusion, youth ministry at Navarre United Methodist Church is an exciting journey that we embark on together. It’s filled with learning, growth, and the incredible discovery of God's love.

I invite you to join us on this path. Whether you're a young person seeking faith or a parent looking for a nurturing environment for your child, we're here to walk with you. Together, we can create a strong foundation of faith and community for the future generations. If you would like to learn more about youth, or if you’re interested in serving these future leaders, please do not hesitate to reach out to me!

In Christ alone,

Chris Gersic

Youth Pastor at Navarre United Methodist Church

Influential Writings

I experienced a first last week. Some very gracious individual mentioned our second podcast and then informed me that they bought a book that we talked about. I have to admit, I have a mild case of Tsundoku. Don’t worry, I had to google that word. It’s when you end up collecting books more then reading them. I have an ever growing list of books that I would love to read, and some of them I’ve even bought, but I buy them faster than I can read them. I don’t know if you suffer from the same thing, but below is a short top 5 list of books and authors that have been incredibly influential in my spiritual life and that I can’t recommend enough.

1: Henri Nouwen- This is one of the authors we mentioned in the podcast. His writings are incredibly convicting, not in a judgemental way, but in a humility self awareness when compared to Jesus.

My personal favorites of his are Compassion, The Selfless Way of Christ, and Spiritual Direction.

2: Richard Foster- I can’t say enough good things about his books. They generally come from a position of trying to teach you an aspect of the christian life and they exposed me to rich traditions and practices that have been lost to most of us.

My personal favorites are: Celebration of Discipline, Prayer, and Freedom of Simplicity.

3: Shane Claiborne- This is not your typical Christian author, but he asks “What if Jesus really meant everything he said?” And comes up with a very different, but sincere and probably more accurate, approach to the Christian life.

My personal favorites are “Jesus for President, The Irresistible Revolution, and Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals.

4: Karl Barth- He is not for the feint of heart. There are single sentences that take up an entire page. But he is one of the best theologians ever and if you are wanting to really get into the details of Christian theology, there’s no one better to read.

While he has serval other books, the only thing I truly recommend is the 14 volume Church Dogmatics.

5: Dietrich Bonhoeffer- More of a classic theologian at this point, his life is testament to his devotion and interpretation of scripture, refusing to flee Europe during WWII so he could continue to minister and dying in a concentration camp.

Must read: The Cost of Discipleship

Other highly recommended books:
The Book of Common Prayer

The Confessions of St Augustine

Conflict Holiness and Politics in the Teachings of Jesus - Borg

The Hungering Dark- Buechner

The Magnificent Defeat- Buechner

Holiness in Israel- Gammie

Love Does- Goff

The Story of Christianity- Gonzalez

Not A Fan- Idleman

The Imitation of Christ- a Kempis

Christ and Culture- Niebuhr

Under the Unpredictable Plant- Peterson

Radical- Platt

A Plain Account of Christian Perfection- Wesley

The Day The Revolution Began- Wright

The Politics of Jesus- Yoder

This is the Life

This is the Life

This year marked a significant milestone in my life - my 50th birthday as a Christian - and I can say without equivocation, I am a bona fide product of the Christian life.  Yes, there is a Christian life, and it is not unlike every other life in its highs and lows, troubles and triumphs, failures and successes, laughter and tears, except in one very significant way.  It is a life that has been informed by the work of the Holy Spirit in me and through each of you.

I was very fortunate to find Christ as a teenager, because it exposed me very early in life to people who understood my struggles and my new-found desire to please the One who gave His life to save me and promised He would stay with me to the “very end of the age.”  You see, with Christ we receive  a new family with the God-given mission (Matt 28:20) to teach us to obey everything Jesus taught them and to walk in the footsteps He still leaves on the pathways of our lives.

It will always be a mystery to me why God has has chosen to pour His precious Spirit into flawed, cracked, and empty vessels like us, but He does.  First, “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7). He set aside His own divine privilege, so He could walk in our shoes and be tempted and suffer as we do, even unto death.  Then when He had gone, He sent the Holy Spirit to us, so we could do as He did – immerse ourselves in our culture, being fully in it, but not of it – bringing with us the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). His presence is the key to the life of the church. It is in and through the church that Christ encounters, calls, transforms, equips, and sends His people into the world. He has called the church to (1) introduce salvation to those who don’t know him, and (2) to nurture the faith and edify the life of believers.

Last week, I began this three-part series by pointing you to the banners hanging on the eastern outside wall of our sanctuary. There are three of them and they read, “Light,” Life,” and “Love.”  I explained that those banners describe the three elements of the NUMC church vision –

“To be the Light, Life, and Love of Jesus Christ.”

A vision is simply a statement of WHAT we are working to BE. It offers a view of what we wish to become and what we hope to be known for in the community.  As I said last week, It is a leadership responsibility to articulate and cast a vision for the church, and it is our individual responsibility as members to interpret that vision in the light of what God is calling each of us to do to make it a reality.  That can be a little challenging.  What does it look like for a church to be the light, life, and love of Jesus Christ? It takes a lot of prayer, a lot of preaching, a lot of Bible study, a lot of service, and a lot of good discipleship to help us understand what the vision means to each of us and how it can inspire and energize our work.

I am doing this series in the hope that sharing my personal understanding might make that challenge less daunting for some.  Last week, I began the series with the first element of our vision – Light.  Today, I will continue with the second element - Life.

Here’s a heavy thought for you.  Whether you totally get it or not, YOU and I are instruments for delivering His love and grace to the world, and that is our primary purpose. Whatever else we choose to do with the time we have here, there is no more pressing responsibility placed on our lives.  When I open my daily calendar in the morning, the top priority on my to-do list better say, “be the hands and feet of Jesus in my world today.”  I must do whatever it takes to remember I don’t just represent Jesus to this world. I bring Him.  The “why” is simple - Jesus filled the church (that’s us) with His Spirit and put us here so He could be here.

So, here we are.  What now?  In last week’s blog, The Light of the World, I said that discipleship always begins with a rescue mission.  The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) gives us three clear tasks.  The first is to go into world to make new disciples. We are to introduce the world to the saving grace of Jesus Christ and rescue them from the consequences of separation from God.  Our second job is to baptize these new believers into the faith and family of God.  The third task is to assume the life-long responsibility of teaching one another to obey His commands and to live the Christian life.   

To put this process in life-cycle terms – the first two tasks are about birth or rebirth (we often refer to people in this stage as being born-again, as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3-5).  To me, this last task is about growing in that new birth.  In fact, if I were sum up this last task in one word, it would be Growth.

So, the church that is Life will bring Growth. It will give the community a life-enriching alternative to the many competing systems that take far more from us than they will ever give. The church that is Life will build a place where learning and teaching is a priority and service is seen not just as a way of helping others, but as an opportunity to strengthen life-giving relationships.  It will promote the Christian life, bringing people increasingly closer to their Creator as they age and offering a solid foundation and framework for overcoming the challenges common to us all, as well as the sins that beset us as individuals.

The church that is Life will provide a setting of openness and welcome; a place for dialogue, asking questions about life, sharing fears and concerns, and finding reasons for hope. It will allow believers to strategize together on how to engage the world in a better way to affirm all people, advocate for all people, and spread God’s message of love, acceptance, forgiveness and peace.   

The church that is Life will facilitate a process of life-long growth that starts when we come to faith and does not stop until we go home to Jesus.  I see the desire to be just such a church at NUMC, and I want to be certain I am doing everything I am called to do to help us realize this vision.  As I regularly evaluate my readiness to support our vision, I find there are several areas where I am in continuing need of growth.  They include:     

• Teaching and studying the Word of God.  The Bible establishes the foundation of everything we know about Jesus and His plan for humanity.  Every one of the sixty-six books points the reader to Him in some way.  How much do I need to know to teach His Word?  Just a little more than the plethora of potential students in my life.  I should also always study with the intention of teaching what I learn to someone else.   

• Living as a witness to the peace and hope of the Christian life.    I need to remember people are watching our lives closely.  They know the genuine article when they see it.  They also know the hypocrites when they see them.  People sometimes ask why I wear the NUMC polo shirt almost everywhere I go. I assure you, it’s not because I’m a slave to fashion.  To be candid, I wear it because the logo helps me remember whose I am in those many circumstances each day when I am prone to become frustrated and not so Christ-like.  When I do fall short in my witness, I don’t want that to be last thing people see in me.  I also want them to see that my failure is always followed by contrition and a desire for forgiveness.     

• Teaching and coaching the next generation of the church.  We are so blessed to have a church rich with seniors, who have significant experience living the Christian life.  Sadly, I now find myself among them!  What I love most about our seniors is their willingness to contribute the wisdom of their experience with the next (and next after that) generation.  I want to be better at doing that the way they do – not through criticism or judgement, but by working side-by-side our younger people on every project we undertake.    

• Offering and accepting loving accountability.  I need to develop more relationships that are close enough survive the “rebuke of a brother.”  We ALL need correction from time-to-time.  Our zeal for Christ alone is enough to drive many of us over the line into behavior that hurts people or misrepresents Christ’s love for people.  We will all sin and none of us should be willing to casually ignore or tolerate sin in someone we love – not just because it is repugnant to us, but more because of the damage it does to them.  Christ has proven over and over the safest and most effective place for a loving rebuke is inside a healthy and trusting relationship.     

• Engaging everyone in ministry and nurturing the growth of our future leaders.  There should be no one sitting on the sidelines.  I sat in amazement one morning about a year ago as I witnessed a man walk up to one of our previous staff members and say, “Is there anything I can do to help out today?” only to be told, “No, we’re good.  We’ve got it covered.” I had to jump in and offer the man some work.  Do I really have to say this in church – never turn down help!  I want to always have something on my list that someone else can do.  In fact this should probably be a list I publish somewhere!  Service is at the very heart of discipleship.  This is where we learn the most, grow the most, and love the most.  Our young people are most eager to take up a cause and do some good.  I want to give them all the opportunities they can handle, and one goal for me is to actively encourage more young people to consider careers in full-time ministry and missional service.      

Whether it acknowledges it or not, our community is in a daily search for a spiritual mentor.  Even with the current culture trying to convince us that the answers to our problems lie deep within ourselves, we instinctively know that’s not true.  The church that is Life will be the spiritual mentor for a community that needs to know the Christian Life.

Jamel and I wrote a song about this Christian life.  It’s called, “This is the Life.” My favorite verse is the one that describes how the Christian life lived on this earth changes our whole perspective on eternity. It goes like this:

Your mercies are fresh with every rising of the sun;

All things are new – another chapter has begun;

In a story that takes us to glory with Jesus as our Friend;

And happily-ever-after cause this story has no end.

Followed by the chorus:

This is the life you promised we would know.

This is the life of the redeemed;

You are the Way.  You are the Truth.

And Jesus – this, this is the life.

I have lived it for fifty years.  It is the only life I want to live.  L’chaim!!

Grace and Peace, my friends.