A Simple, Holy, Beauty

   Some of the flowers in the yard of our neighbors, Bonnie and Herb, have bloomed this week, sending a bright and yellow explosion of color as far as the eye can see them. They are beautiful in their simplicity. For this boy raised in the South, they also seem a little early. None of us can blame them, though, as this has been quite an extra-ordinary winter?
   Flowers in full bloom are, in their own way, singing a song of praise to the One who planted them and caused them to grow. The Scriptures, on a couple of occasions, make it clear that God has an agenda about God's own praise and glory and if humans are not going to live into the agenda God can cause the natural world around us to pitch in. Consider these:

• In Luke 19, when some of the Pharisees from the crowd wanted Jesus to reprimand his followers about singing Jesus praise and said, “Teacher, scold your disciples! Tell them to stop!” he answered, “I tell you, if they were silent, the stones would shout.”
• Psalm 19 says, "Heaven is declaring God’s glory; the sky is proclaiming his handiwork. One day gushes the news to the next, and one night informs another what needs to be known. Of course, there’s no speech, no words - their voices can’t be heard - but their sound extends throughout the world; their words reach the ends of the earth.

If God has placed within nature the very substance needed to sing praise, how much more should we, considering that we are made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26)?
   I think the purpose of the Season of Lent is to clear our minds and focus our hearts in order that we might return to a life of living out the praise of God. I love this prayer in my devotional book for this week that asks "that some beauty of holiness may appear in us." May the God who brings forth beauty in the simplest ways, also bring forth a simple, holy beauty from our lives, as well.
   Grace and peace, Scott

The Myth of Close and Threatening

   Molly, our 9 year old Maltese ninja-dog, and I were out for a walk the other day. She was curiously sniffing everything we happened upon as we strolled along the sidewalks of Old Perry Road, near our home. I was listening to an audiobook when suddenly the sound of the author speaking into my ears was overcome by another sound, loud and seemingly all around me. I took the earbuds out and realized that it was the Norfolk Southern train, over a half of a mile from where we were walking. It happened later on, as we were headed back toward the house. Both times I was struck by how my ears (and my mind) were not able to determine how close the sound was because of the other sounds and distractions going on around me. It sounded as though the horn of the train was close and all around me.
   Many of you are thinking, "This is exactly why it is not safe to walk, ride, or drive with earbuds in Scott." You are correct. For our part, Molly and I were walking on the sidewalk about very careful when crossing streets.
   The experience of having my brain convince me that an object was much closer than I knew could be true, gave me pause. What other experiences have I had where I was too distracted to be able to appreciate the distance or possible threat posed by something else? As I think about it I realize that it happens all the time. Distracted by the one thing I really want to happen, I lose the ability to appreciate all of the other good things that are happening and in the process miss out on the beauty of nature, of other people, and of God's grace at work. I also realize these same dynamics - distracted by one thing and then overwhelmed by another thing that I incorrectly perceive as close and threatening - have led me to speak poorly of others, to react in anger, to not appreciate someone else's contribution, and to otherwise act like an idiot.
   The truth is, most of the things that we perceive as threatening are not that close and not that much of a threat; our minds and our hearts have been tricked by other distractions. Could it be that the devil does not always have to try hart to tempt us or ensnare us? Could it be that we walk right into bad actions or hasty reactions simply because we are too distracted and not able to appreciate the safe distance something or someone else is from us?
   The Season of Lent calls to remove some of the distractions in order to hear more clearly the call of God. I cannot think of a time in all of Christian history in which the intentional choice to put down distractions is needed more than this age of constant technological connection and the endless stream of noise, news, and nagging distractions. We need the grace offered in the moments we turn off the distractions and tune into the Word of God through prayer, meditation, and reading the Scriptures. I invite you to continue journeying with me toward Easter.
   Grace and peace, Scott

Numbers and Progress on our Capital Campaign

   The Internal Revenue Service has established the end of January as a time of documenting where the money is: companies are issuing W-2s and 1099s to those persons who worked for them and churches and non-profits are sending out charitable giving statements for people to use as they prepare for itemizing their deductions. In the world of corporate income (or loss), the first week of February is one of the weeks that many of the largest companies report on their previous fiscal calendar. With this season of reporting and transparency for the good (more on that later) I would like to share some numbers.
   This month marks the three year anniversary of the first worship services held in the new building that houses our main sanctuary, our offices, our music and children's ministry areas, and many of our Sunday School classrooms. It is both functional and beautiful. Bonaire Church started a Capital Campaign in October 2012 to pay down the principal on the $2 million mortgage on our new facility. While the three-year Campaign officially ended in October 2015, we are still receiving donations. We welcome them, if you feel led to continue to pay down the cost of living into this new building. To use the language of an election year, "This is Scott and I approve that message!" The loan was a 10-year agreement that included monthly payments of $11,200, which are now also included in our approved ministry budget for 2016. That means we are paying down the debt every month, in small ways, with money our church has already committed through the Estimate of Giving Cards on Consecration Sunday. Of course, the large payments received from our Capital Campaign over the past three years made the biggest different, as principal payments are much more efficient at reducing our mortgage balance. As of 12/31/2015, the numbers associated are:

Now, look closely at that last row. The bank confirmed last week that if we only made our minimum monthly payment for the remaining seven years, we will owe $917,000. That number seems really large (because it is). But, join me in thinking through it. First, we have an awesome building to show for it. Second, we will make more than the minimum payment over time because of how generous our people are. Third, we have some key assets that can be used toward paying this down if/when our leadership wants to; namely, a cash reserve earmarked for the building and property nearby that is not currently being used. So, this is a big number but we have some big options, as well. 
   As I said before, we still welcome Capital Campaign donations and apply them to our mortgage principal. If you have any questions about this, contact our treasurer John Teague or seek out Charles Lee, Finance Committee Chairperson, or anyone on that team. 
   For me, all of this is good news. God is with us. Our history is grand. Our people are generous. Our hope is in Jesus. Grace and peace, Scott