Home Sweet Home

Well, I'm sitting at my desk in my basement, and I'm thankful that God has called me to this ministry. Sincerely I feel blessed. This journey that I'm on is unpredictable. It reminds me of a story that I heard about the Saddleback Church. In their early years before they had permanent facilities they moved so often they said they were the best church for anyone that could find them. If you need me I'm always available through my trusty cell phone, and I'm sure that we can find a way to connect.

Thanks to Pastor Ariel and Michael Martin for helping me with my move.

--Ben

Moving Moving Moving

For the last couple months I have spent the weekends moving my grandmother out of her property. Today I'll be spending the day moving Pastor Ariel into her new place. Monday, I move the church office back into my home. It's a lot of moving, but I'm looking forward to it settling down for a while.

Congratulations Pastor Ariel on your new condo. I pray that God uses it for his glory.

--Ben

Moments

Lately I've been thinking about moments. There are times in our lives where we can only define them in a collective understanding of seasons or moments. It is not just an instant, but it's a matter of moments. Consider the life of Joseph.

Joseph was be-bopping his way to deliver a message to his brothers, decked out in his colorful coat, and in moments he was in a cistern listening to the coat torn to shreds. From the darkness of the cistern he hears his brothers plotting his death, and in moments he's hoisted up and sold to the Ishmaelites. He's in prison and in moments he's called to stand in front of Pharoah, and it's only moments later that he is second in command to the world's foremost developed civilization.

You never know what the next moments are going to bring; bottom to top or top to bottom. The most important thing is to settle what your life and faith is built on. If it is founded in God then come what may you can be sure it will be for his purposes. If it is founded on you or others, than when moments change your situation you must depend on the fickleness and instability of your center.

Because your low moments today may be setting up your high moments tomorrow, or in just a moment.

--Ben

Handwritten Notes

I remember as a child receiving a letter in the mail to my parent's house. It was addressed to "Master Eric Rainey". If I close my eyes I can still see the blue ink on that white envelope. I thought it was so cool that it said Master. I didn't know that is proper etiquette when addressing a male minor.

It was a letter from my Royal Ranger commander, Bill Lowe. It was a letter of affirmation, and it was written to me. I'll never forget how important and valued that made me feel.

When I started in ministry in 2000 I decided that I wanted to say the most important things in a special way. I would hand-write notes and letters to convey the most meaningful messages. I didn't think of it as a big deal when I would write thank you notes to my youth workers on stationary I printed myself. I used the header line: From the desk of the Quake, From the heart of Pastor Ben. Once a staffer from my youth staff commented that he loved getting the little postcards from me. I hoped that he felt like I did getting that letter from Mr. Bill.

When I started Severn River Church handwritten notes was a habit I carried forward; though not often enough. I send each guest that we host at SRC a note thanking them for attending our weekend service. I send thank you notes to people who serve the church. I send handwritten notes, on occasion, to those who have drifted away from the church. I much prefer them to 8.5 x 11 printed Word Docs. And because I want to show the respect of thinking about that person. You know it's common to say, "You're in my thoughts and prayers." or "I'm thinking about you." but when I sit down to jot a note, I really do think of that person for as long as it takes to write the note. By comparison, it is usually much longer than most people think about anyone besides themselves.

I'm not sure that handwritten notes make others feel like they make me feel, but I certainly hope they do. The people I write are so valuable to me and the Lord, that I try to communicate it in the best way I know how. Today I sent out a pile of handwritten notes. I got to think about valuable people for a while. I got to pray for them as I wrote. I got to express some things that in some cases were long overdue.

Now, if only people could read my handwriting...

--Ben

Clearing The Decks

The seasons of a Pastor's life can be pretty intense. Certain times of the year demand effort that can push me to the breaking point. That's why it is important for me to have weeks like this. The lead up to holidays usually require a big push of energy, and then when the holiday actually arrives I get a bit of a reprieve. This is a week for clearing the decks. My task list is a must do list, tying up loose ends so that I can head into ending the year strong. At the end of this month I am saying goodbye to my office, and moving all my stuff once again. So clearing out paperwork is on my list right now.

The company that I rent from is really struggling as well. The upstairs leaser has move out. The women that usually occupy the other offices haven't been in for over a week. It is very quiet. I'll miss this environment when I move.

--Ben

Talking Back

I had an experience Sunday that I wanted to share. There is a style that I try to use when preaching; I try to stay conversational. As though we're having a conversation except I'm the only one talking. I try to ask the questions the audience is asking and answer them. Occasionally, over the years, I've had people respond during my teaching and while it is usually unexpected, I always enjoy it.

Several years ago as a youth pastor I had one student in particular that would interupt my message to dialog with me. I think that many of the other students probably thought it was funny because most people stay quiet during a sermon, but I always enjoyed it. It has been a long time since I had experienced that, but on Sunday I was interrupted again and got to here someone really identifying and participating in the message. I loved it. Especially for those young in their faith, I hope that church is always a place that we can process the faith-walk together. Not just the wah wah wah of a boring sermon.

Severn River Church's sermons are available online. Click HERE.

--Ben

* The response from the audience didn't get picked up on the audio so that part was edited from the recording.

Food Drive Pics

Didn't put these up yet, thought you'd like to see what the results of our food drive looked like.

Food Delivery

Today we get to deliver the food that was collected during the food drive on Saturday. It is all loaded up in the trailer, and ready to roll. When the doors open at ten, we'll be rolling up and off-loading 166 bags of groceries.

Still filled with joy over the food drive. Thanks to everyone that helped. I'm very proud of SRC's effort.

--Ben

Marketing Compliments

Yesterday we got a really high compliment. I sub-lease an office from the Escapade Advertising company in Pasadena. When the group showed up yesterday to get the doorhangers together the Partner in charge of Art and Design stopped by the table to look at our handbills. She was very impressed and complimentary.

I felt really proud of our church and the way we're representing ourselves. When a professional sees the stuff we're producing and gives an impressed thumbs up, it's a nice compliment. Not only that but we received multiple hits to our website from the area where we did the distribution. Hope those people can connect to the ministry of Severn River Church. We love people and believe that God has a plan for them.

Thanks to those that have played a part in the design, production, and distribution of our invite tools. (doorhangers, handbills, road signs) They're all great.

- -Ben

Invite Arnold To Church

Invite Arnold To Church entered a new phase today. Doorhangers went out in several neighborhoods in Arnold. So thankful for those that came out today and helped with the distribution. Just another effort to get the word out about the church to our community. Trying to build bridges into lives that we can minister too.

--Ben

Prayer For My Dad

Today my dad is heading to see the transplant board. They'll spend the day testing him and some family members that are interested in organ donation. It will probably be a physically and emotionally draining day, so as you think of it, please pray for my dad.

Thanks,
Ben

Don't Feel Like Writing

I wanted to tell you that lately I don't feel like writing. I know my posts have slowed over the last couple weeks, and there have actually been a number of times that I have typed in titles, written one sentence and deleted them. I just don't feel like writing right now. I appreciate your patience. I will still be updating regularly, I would just be grateful for some time to come out of my writer's block.

--Ben

Yard Signs

Well, tonight yard signs went up in median strips and highway shoulders all over Arnold. Invite Arnold To Church is in full swing.

Corie and I had dinner in Arnold tonight at took time to drop our signs off (well done Corie) on our way out of town headed home. It's a very exciting and rewarding feeling. In fact I got a text message from one SRCer that put hers out and then drove by and saw it. She said she, "felt like a proud momma." So proud of all our SRCers that are inviting Arnold to church.

--Ben

Second Sunday Prayer

This week is Second Sunday Prayer. 9:00 a.m. at the church, hope to see everyone there.

--Ben

Still It Lingers

I try to be a pretty positive guy, but this sickness stuff stinks. I got sick on Sunday, and I'm still feeling washed out on Thursday. I'm tired of it. I know a lot of people have been keeping tabs on the blog and on Facebook, so I wanted to let you know that I'm still pretty weak, but gaining strength each day.

--Ben

Meditating On Jehoshaphat

Today I've been thinking about a king of Judah named Jehoshaphat. What a story. I encourage you to read it from 2 Chronicles 17-20.

The part that stood out to me is the way the favor of God impacted his life. He was a seeker of God, and he tried to lead justly. He simply did the things that leaders are supposed to do, nothing fancy. But God started pouring out gifts and bringing resources to him so that his fame and name spread. The bottom line is that nothing Jehoshaphat started with made him a very notorious king, but God started bringing the things he needed until other countries decided they had better not mess with him. There was peace while he was king.

He wasn't perfect. In fact, there were a couple of things that were the acts of a goof ball, but because of his purity of heart God granted him favor.

Does your life beckon the favor of God?

--Ben

Second Sunday Prayer

This Sunday is the second Sunday of the month and is the time we've selected to gather for a special time of prayer. Second Sunday prayer begins at 9:00 a.m. and lasts about 30 minutes. All are welcome to join us. Hope to see you there.

--Ben

The Fog Is Clearing

Well, I thought I was feeling better yesterday, but today I feel even better. I look back on yesterday and realize how much of a fog I was in. Janet, from my growth group, read about my symptoms and recommended we call off the group. I agreed, but get this, I didn't even realize that my group was supposed to meet last night. I was clueless. I guess it was because I missed Monday, all the days got backed up in my mind.

Anyway, I'm still a little weak, still a little achy, but I feel sharper today. I'm compiling a list of all the things I need to catch up on. Should be a busy day.

--Ben

I Wanted To Give You This Invitation...

Been to Arnold yet? I have. Did a little change of place this morning, and grabbed breakfast from the Arnold Safeway. I gave an invitation to the cashier. I'm looking forward to doing the food drive there and at the Severna Park Giant next week.

CHANGE OF PLACE -- COP is our effort to specifically focus on the community of Arnold to invite them to church. Since many of us don't live in Arnold, we have to be intentional about getting into the area immediately surrounding the church and invite them.

One of the common refrains I've heard from people at the church over the last couple years is that they have invited every friend they have and have no one new to invite. Well, Invite Arnold To Church is a way to create new contacts, and get the word out about a good church. Help us out though change of place, it isn't convenient, but it is rewarding. If you just changed one thing like your grocery shopping for a month that would give you four trips into the community and an opportunity to invite people to church.

Hope you'll join in.

--Ben

Feeling Ill

Over the last couple days I've been feeling rather ill. In fact, it started just at the end of church on Sunday and by the evening I was down for the count. Last night I think my fever broke. I woke up this morning feeling better, but now as I get to work I'm feeling run down.

I would appreciate your prayers today.

--Ben