IBC Blog

I had a bad day the other day. You know, one of those days where everything just seems to go wrong. Sometimes it’s caused by little things—like spilling coffee on your blouse as you walk out the door. Sometimes it’s caused by bigger things—like a fight with a loved one that leaves you feeling frustrated and defeated. And sometimes it’s just the accumulation of life that makes you want to cry out, “I just can’t do this anymore.”

For me, it was all three. I felt defeated. Thankfully instead of crawling back in bed and throwing the covers over my head—which is what I really, really wanted to do—I forced myself to sit down to spend some time with Jesus.

Sunday will be a big day at IBC. It’s Pentecost Sunday, commonly referred to as the “Birthday of the Church,” and so we’re going to get together and celebrate. I’m particularly excited about the timing of our Pentecost Sunday festivities because I’m more aware than ever of how much we have to celebrate. Let me explain. 

Last night about 300 IBCers met for something called The Summit with the express purpose of gathering around the stories of what God is doing in and through our volunteers. These volunteers and these stories are really what Pentecost is all about: the Spirit of God empowering ordinary people to serve Him, love others, and build the kingdom.

What a wonderful community we have. The reality is that this community, this family of faith we’re a part of, was born in earnest about 2,000 years ago on the Day of Pentecost, and that’s worth celebrating.

Yesterday was Pastor Andy's last sermon before he leaves on sabbatical. It's going to be different around here without his voice, both on Sundays and throughout the week. I think this is going to be an important time for him, his family, and IBC. Here's what I'm praying for...

When we’re completely honest, most of us know people in our lives we’ve had trouble loving. We know our greatest instructions from God are to love him and to love our neighbor, but our differences and various circumstances can make getting along difficult—to say the least. 

Every seven years IBC sends each member of the pastoral staff on a 3-month sabbatical for a time of refreshment and reflection. Starting May 14 Pastor Andy will be on sabbatical. While he will not be preaching or doing church business, he will be engaged in intentional study, prayer and writing. With that in mind, please join us in praying for Andy and Alice this summer. 

Even though I was still a bit bleary-eyed when I read Luke 5 for our family devotions this morning, verse 8 still managed to burst through my sleepy fog: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

That’s Peter speaking in the aftermath of Jesus’ miracle of the great catch of fish when it first dawns on him that Jesus is more than a carpenter. In the unexpected presence of a holy and almighty God, people do radical things. It’s actually fitting that one of them be to grow quickly self-conscious and embarrassed for one’s sin. (I get a kick out of Peter pulling another well-intentioned faux pas here as he literally invites Jesus to go jump in the lake. Have you ever noticed that when he asks Jesus to leave the boat, they’re still out on the water?!)

What struck me about this passage is not what Peter said. He is actually perfectly correct both in his self-evaluation and in his request of Christ. He was indeed a sinful man. And Jesus, the perfect miracle-working Son of God, need not stain himself by hobnobbing with imperfection. Nothing here is news; it’s strictly dog-bites-man stuff. 

There are three small group leaders I meet for breakfast once a week. We spend an hour talking about the challenges of community, patterns of spiritual growth, and how to become better leaders. Last week, we were talking about a few group members who stonewall, who refuse to open up about their hearts, their struggles, or their stories. One of the leaders at the table, Robert, said, "How do you successfully invade someone's life?"

I was struck by his question and the way he phrased it. It's a theme among our small group leaders. Almost every group has those members who seem like they only show up for the spinach dip. Their heart just isn't in it. So what do you do with those folks? How do you get them to open up? How do you "invade their life?"

I have a few tips..

“Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.”

Can you relate to these words from the old hymn? I know I can! How easy I find it to to fall back into old selfish, undisciplined patterns, convenient sins, times of prayer less self-sufficiency and pride and foolish independence. I’m not going to tell you what that looks like specifically! But I bet you can imagine very well if you are honest about your own occasional wanderings. As Christians we’re forgiven but imperfect and therefore prone to leave the God we love.