Closing Update

Special Announcement:

Severn River Church will be closed this weekend due to complications from the weather. AACC has closed their campus for tomorrow morning. We look forward to meeting you next week.

Weather Reminder

Just a reminder that our inclement weather policy is based off AACC's plan. If they close then we are closed. Please check back here for more information, and watch the homepage of Severnriverchurch.com.

--Ben

Experience The Plunge Vicariously

Today I take the plunge; the MSP Polar Bear Plunge. I sacrifice my body for the cause of Special Olympics, and while that might sound noble, for the last 12 hours it has become increasingly more scary.

The tips for newbies are things like, "your fingers and toes won't work so wear things without zippers and buttons." Nice. "Don't run in, you may not be able to get back out." Thanks.

Anywhoo, you can follow my updates all day as I experience this adventure. Simply check in at BenjaminRainey.com and look to the right side of the page for twitter updates.

--Cold already

Parking For Polar Bear Plunge

There is no parking at the park for Saturday, but there is a shuttle that runs continuously from AACC. For all the details check out this site:

http://www.plungemd.com/parkinginformation.shtml

They recommend catching the shuttle at least 90 minutes before the plunge time (1p.m.)

--Ben

Thanks For Your Help

This week I put out a request for sponsors to donate toward my entrance fee for the MSP Polar Bear Plunge. Today I saw that I have raised the full amount. Thanks to everyone who donated. If you want to come and cheer me on I'll be plunging at 1:00 p.m. I'd love to have the support.

--Ben

Remodel Update

Well, it seems everywhere I go people want to know what is going on with the office remodel, so I thought I'd update you. Last night Sydney and I went to the store and bought paint and moulding. Sydney even helped me paint for a little while. She was so excited. Her grandfather had given her a paint brush a year ago, and she's been dying to paint something. She helped me paint a piece of chair rail, and then went to bed.

Today my brother-in-law Brad is painting the first coat, and in a couple days it should be ready for flooring. I was out looking at flooring last night as well, and am looking forward to putting that in. I can tell you that I can't wait for this office to be finished and get moved back in. I'm not sure Corie's looking forward to it, because she knows once I get in she might not be able to get me back out.

--Ben

Life Commitments

This year at Severn River Church we're taking our effort to make disciples to another level. We're starting a discipleship group called Life Commitments, and it will focus on the five basic commitments of anyone who follows Christ. Currently it is only open to men, and will be led by me. As we develop this course I'm writing sermons for the weekend services that will correspond to the things we're learning, doing and becoming in Life Commitments. Today I've been spending time writing the sermon for the first week of February when we kick it off. I'm really looking forward to it.

Men, if you would like to get into these groups they'll be meeting at two different times you can choose the group that works best for you. We'll be meeting at my house at 7:00 a.m on Tuesday mornings, and at 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday nights. Sign-up Here and indicate time.

--Ben

MSP Polar Bear Plunge

This Saturday I'm participating in the MSP Polar Bear Plunge. It is a great way to help the Special Olympics, and cultivate community connection with our church's backyard. I'd love to have you support me either at the Sandy Point State Park on Saturday at 1 p.m. when I plunge and I really need you to help me raise at least $50.00. If you can help by supporting me 5 dollars or so. You can donate online CLICK HERE.

--Ben

An Adequate Representation Of The Flavor Of Severn River Church

Today at SRC was small group Sunday. The new semester is about to kick off and we spent the whole morning talking about groups, groups and groups. I was so pleased to have Drew up there with me, I thought he did a great job and maybe needs to be up there more often.

We just spent the service reflecting on why we believe in small groups, what they're like, who should be part of them, and how to sign up. Did some Q&A with the audience (thanks for helping out everyone.)

After the service one member commented that it was, "An adequate representation of the flavor of Severn River Church." In other words, "If you want to know who we are and what we're about, you just saw it."

--Ben

Bowling Mixer

Tonight SRC is going bowling. Fourteen adults plus kids have signed up so it should be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to it.

I'm going to be heading out to an all night prayer meeting afterwards. If you would like prayer please call, email, or text me.

--Ben

Whirlwind Week

My week seems to be never-ending. I am usually very disciplined with my time off and especially conscious of my evenings off. I have a tendency to work more than is reasonable, and when I started the church Corie and I made an agreement about how I would guard my family time. We agreed that I would have four nights a week off from ministry obligations. And for the most part I've maintained that. This week however I've been booked every night accept one, so tonight I'm taking my wife on a date and taking a breather from the schedule I've been keeping and will run me through Saturday.

I'm thankful for an understanding wife that knows there are just busy seasons, and reminds me that I can enjoy seasons that are not as busy as well.

--Ben

Office Update

I've had a set back in the remodel of my office in my basement due to a knee injury. I've been off-duty on it for a couple weeks now, and my knee is just about better. My brother-in-law volunteered to come over and finish sanding and get the primer on, so hopefully I'll get back in the swing soon.

Currently I have a plastic drop cloth hung across the door to keep the dust in the room. I sit across from it each day and it taunts me. I look forward to having it done. I'll keep you updated.

--Ben

My Kind Of Church

Today I spent the day preparing for our next Discover The River (DTR) class coming up this week at Severn River Church. DTR is a membership class that orients people to the mission of the church and how they can partner to be part of it. I'm looking forward to being with two new couples this Sunday.

In preparation I realized that I had lost the document file of the material, so I've had to use a hard copy to retype and format the new booklets. As I sorted through the material and entered the data I was struck by the mission, vision, and values of our church. As I read them I had a expanding feeling in my heart. I thought, "I want to be a part of a church like that."

So glad I am. I believe that God has just begun to unfold the adventure of Severn River Church. And I love it.

--Ben

PS. As I typed and formatted it also stirred the part of the vision that provides a secretary in my future. And as I reworded and corrected the grammar and spelling in the previous edition I recalled the great need I have of one. One of these days...

Facebook Fan Page

The last couple days I've been learning quite a bit about Facebook fan pages, and today I can announce that Severn River Church has set up a Fan Page on Facebook. If you're on FB feel free to look us up and become a fan. It is a better effort to communicate activities that are upcoming for the church.

To become a fan CLICK HERE.

Ben

God Bless The Peacocks

Over the weekend I got to see peacocks on a trip to Carroll county with my dad. Peacocks are relatively ignoble birds, that have been much publicized in our culture through NBC a seemingly ignoble network. They're greatest popularity was probably in a time when there was no Home Depot with hundreds of color choices in their paint department. In the world that was plain the colorful feathers that peacocks provided were used as decoration. Now I think the peacock is taken for granted and rarely thought of at all. But not by the peacock itself. The male peacocks strut for females and it seems for anyone else. They extend their feathers to full erect bloom and walk about inviting all on-lookers to enjoy the beauty on display. Peacocks are often associated with pride, probably unfair, because in reality they are beautiful birds.

I'm going to share something that will one day get me into trouble. Forty years from now this statement will likely come back to bite me. Sooner I would think.

I think musicians in the body of Christ are like peacocks. Let me try to keep this brief and suffice to say that I am thankful for the ministry of musically inclined friends who work vocationally in the ministry of music. Music is beautiful, God created, and beneficial to the human expression of worship. Now having said that I believe often worship leaders get caught up in the beautiful art of music as though it is the most important thing in the world. And let's be honest, many of them strut in front of the crowd. For the peacock it is the biggest favor he can do the world to rise to full bloom and display God's gift to the world through him.

Recently a question arose about one of the songs we sing at SRC, "You dance over me while I am unaware." Where in the Bible does it say that God dances over us? Well, the answer is: nowhere. Musicians, artists, writers will tell you that according to Zephaniah 3:17 God's delight and rejoicing could be translated dance. That is a really weak argument. Their better argument would be: we're musicians, artists and writers. God's gift of literary devices in poetry like metaphor is beautiful enough. The Psalms are filled with exaggerations and expressions that shouldn't be taken literally, but when understood figuratively give us a great appreciation for God.

I'm saying let the peacocks be the peacocks. When I attend worship events and the leaders are obviously strutting their stuff, I can sometimes have the tendency to think "showoff". Over the last couple years I've come to realize that they are probably just trying their best to be the best they can be, and I believe God receives glory from it. When I encounter them I say, "God bless the peacocks." Otherwise we would be missing the color and animation of God's creation.

--Ben

It's Like A Seminar In My Living Room

Last night I hosted a small group gathering for Pastors from our area. We get together several times a year and catch up with each other. We started doing it about three years ago and I have really loved our meetings. These relationships are very stabilizing. When life and ministry get crazy it is nice to have the benefit of friends like this that go through similar experiences. Perhaps most beneficial to me is that most of these friends are pastors older than me so they have a lot of experience to draw from.

Last night we had a new pastor join our group. Glenn commented at the end that it was like attending a seminar in my living room. The collective experience and support is really a great benefit for younger ministers.

So thankful for everyone who is part of our group.

--Ben

Potomac District Church Life Concierge

I've been asked to serve the Potomac District as the Church Life Concierge. I'm tasked with communication and troubleshooting for members of the cohort. It is an interesting job translating what I do personally (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) into a format for the cohort. It has given me some new ideas for communication at SRC. Stay tuned.

--Ben

Book Review: The 22 Immutable Laws Of Marketing

I just finished The 22 Immutable Laws Of Marketing by Al Reis & Jack Trout. This book was recommended to me a couple years ago, and I should have picked it up then. This is a simple look into marketing that really provoked me to thinking about our church and the strategy we implement.

I would recommend this book to anyone in leadership of a company or organization. It is particularly beneficial because it confronts the natural assumptions that really hinder the goals that each organization has for establishing its message and services.

I especially recommend this book to other pastors. There are many applications for evangelism related to this subject.

--Ben

Some Recent Developments

This weekend I noted two developments that I thought I would share. First is that I have been fully released from carrying the deposit each week. Since we opened the church I have been in charge of dropping the deposit after our Sunday collection. While we have always maintained the practice of having others count and verify the offering from Sunday so that I never have touched the money, I would always be in charge of taking it to our financial secretary where the totals were re-verified. Well, we have finally appointed a treasurer who is now in charge of that so I am now totally hands off. I'm very thankful for that.

In addition to that my dad began pulling the trailer to the church last week. This week he set about "making the trailer his" by rearranging the way it is packed, adding wider mirrors, checking lights, and even weighing the truck and trailer.

These are the types of responsibilities that I've been carrying that I no longer have to because of the dedication of volunteers and improvements in our systems.

Thanks to everyone involved.

--Ben

Ah Saturday

This morning I went to watch my nephew, Dillon, play basketball with the UPWARDS basketball league in Glen Burnie. It was painful in some ways to watch because the kids know nothing about how to play, and it requires a lot more skills (running, dribbling, passing, defending, shooting, etc) than soccer (kicking). I'm sure in a couple weeks though they will get much better. The coaches and refs were super supportive and patient.

Basement update: I've got the room 90% sanded, and Corie has volunteered to help me finish it up. This week I'll be painting, hanging the door, and if possible putting the flooring in.

There is one more part of refreshment that I'll enjoy this weekend. Tonight the Ravens are playing in the second round of the playoffs (Go Ravens!) and on a typical Saturday night I go to bed around ten o'clock in order to be fresh enough to preach the next morning. I take it very seriously. Pastor Ariel is preaching tomorrow so I've got permission to stay up and watch a great game tonight. I'm very thankful and looking forward to it.

--Ben

Haiti Relief

The devastation in Haiti is remarkable, and the news doesn't seem to be getting any better. I've heard a number of reports of people being cut off and the infrastructure in the country being destroyed. Today a friend of mine put into perspective the hurt that Haiti must be feeling...

Let me offer this perspective:

2,985 people died in the 9-11 attacks.

1,836 people died in Hurricane Katrina.

Now, remember with me the utter panic and pain that these 2 tragedies brought to THIS nation.

As sad as these tragedies were (and as hurtful as they were for those impacted), they were tiny in comparison to what the people of Haiti are feeling today.

I can't imagine the sense of loss they must be feeling, but there is no doubt they are in need and we have plenty by comparison. I want to ask you to give generously through whatever organization you can. We will be collecting an offering this Sunday that will be given to ConvoyofHope.org.

--Ben

An Invitation To Pray

On Friday January 22nd, we've been invited to join a prayer gathering that is scheduled to last all night. It will be held at Eastern Assembly of God church on Wise Avenue in Baltimore. Similar to the prayer meeting that took place in the book of Acts on the night Peter was set free from prison we are asking for a visitation of God and joining our prayers with those from churches all around the Baltimore area. I've been invited to lead the prayer from 2-3 a.m.

I want to invite you to be part of the prayer service. It starts at 10 p.m. and ends at 6 a.m. You can come for some or all of it; that is up to you. I want to particularly invite you to join me for the 2 o'clock hour of prayer.

--Ben

A Special Opportunity

Today I got to return to Arnold Christian Academy after a two year layoff. I volunteered to preach there for several years, and then due to a mix up was not invited back. A couple months ago the subject came up with the Principal and the invitation was offered again. I enjoy preaching for the chapel there. The kids are cute and attentive. The school has changed a lot over the last couple years, but I enjoy serving there a lot.

It was also nice to run into Diane Campbell a friend who moved to the area with her family over the summer. They were our guest at SRC for God In The Great Outdoors, and after checking out several churches they connected with the New Covenant Church in Arnold which is the hosting church for ACA. She has recently become a math teacher for them so it was very nice to reconnect with her.

--Ben

Book Review: The Pursuit Of God by A W Tozer

This was my first foray into any of Tozer's writings, but it won't be my last. I want to say to all my ministry friends you ought to read this. It is fantastic and challenging. His style is very forthright and sincere that as I read it I was constantly evaluating my own beliefs on the subject. There were probably a place or two that we disagreed but what a prolific approach to the pursuit of God.

Here are thoughts I marked as I read:

• "We have been snared in the coils of a spurious logic which insists that if we have found Him, we need no more seek Him."
• "Things have become necessary to us, a development never originally intended."
• " We must ascend [toward God] a step at a time. If we refuse one step, we bring our progress to an end."
• "It [the veil that separates men and God] is woven of the fine threads of the self-life, the hyphenated sins of the human spirit. They are not something we do, they are something we are, and therein lies both their subtlety and their power. To be specific, the self-sins are self-righteousness, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love and a host of other like them."
• "The world of sense triumphs. The visible becomes the enemy of the invisible, the temporal, of the eternal. That is the curse inherited by every member of Adam's tragic race."
• "Men do not know that God is here. What a difference it would make if they knew."
• "God is speaking. Not God spoke, but God is speaking. He is, by His nature, continuously articulate. He fills the world with His speaking voice."
• "The tragedy is that our eternal welfare depends upon our hearing and we have trained our ears not to hear."
• "What then is genius? Could it be that a genius is a man haunted by the speaking Voice, laboring and striving like one possessed to achieve ends which he only vaguely understands?"
• "Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified."
• "In himself, nothing; in God, everything...He will be patient to wait for the day when everything will get its own price tag and real worth will come into its own."

Not a bad harvest of thoughts from a 90 page book. This book is great for devotional reading.

--Ben

Some Thoughts Are Cooking

I have several posts that I'm preparing for the blog, but just need the time to write them. Tune in early in the week, when the blog blitz starts firing.

--Ben

What Do You Have In Your Hand?

The patriarchs of faith often faced the question of what they had in their hand to use for God. Abraham had a knife in one hand and a son in the other. Moses had a shepherds staff. The judges had a number of things from a donkey's jawbone to an ox goad. David had five smooth stones. One story that stands out in my mind is the story of Jonathan from 1 Samuel 14.

The Philistine's so dominated the smithing industry that they had forged all of the swords of Israel into farming equipment. Only King Saul and his son Jonathan had them. So 600 militia are gathered up trying to figure out what to do about the attacks that are taking place along their border when Jonathan says to his armor bearer, "Let's go attack them you and me." So they set off on a fool's errand to take on whatever Philistines they can find and when they get there they have a plan: If they call us up the cliff to fight them we will. They wander around until they see the Philistine soldiers who call them up to make fun of them. Only thing is when they climb up to the high ground, Jonathan and his attendant kill them all and now there are swords for all the soldiers in his army. God used what was in Jonathan's hand to produce what was needed elsewhere.

I share that story because recently I've been looking at what God has put in my hand, figuratively speaking. As leaders the people we lead are the resources of God that he's given in our hand. Sunday as I sat at the New Year Brunch looking around at the people that were there, as I listened to their open and honest thoughts about what God wants to do in their lives, and as I reflected on the year ahead I came to realize that we have enough in our hand to do what God is calling us to do. We have enough to invite more. We have enough to pray in more. We have enough to change the world. I'm thankful for what God has put in our hands.

On to the fight!

--Ben

Retreating

Today I'll be retreating for the day, getting away to a quiet place to think, plan, study, and prepare for the year ahead. I'm truly looking forward to it after the last couple weeks. In some ways it has been a whirlwind in my life with the remodel and all, but today will be just the Lord and me. I'll be screening calls, and focusing on vision.

--Ben

It's A Baby!

Yesterday my wife and I went to see a sonogram specialist. They took dozens of pictures of our baby, and said that everything looked healthy. What a relief, and what a joy. We did not find out a gender. We feel that in an age where you can know everything, we would rather wait and be surprised, but the gut feelings increased after watching the scan.

My gut feeling? Girl.

Corie's gut feeling? Boy.

The doctor simply said, "I hope you get what you want."

--Ben

Formed In The Image Of Christ

I shared a thought yesterday at the New Year Brunch that I think will really be the theme for the year ahead of us. We are all being formed into the image of something, and there are three formations that, as believers, we must face and only one that is true progress in our spirituality. The human condition is one of being shaped constantly. We are not static, always the same, instead we are constantly be shaped and formed by the circumstances, people and experiences we encounter. The simple truth is that we can't always control everything, but we can't choose to move toward certain ends. We are responsible for our choice.

• The Image Of Chaos

The image of chaos is the life of sin. 1 Peter 1:14 tells us, "Do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance." A life embracing sin is a life of chaos. Sin gives way to sin and we become entangled to the degree that we cannot find release from it and its consequences. Don't let evil desires and bondage to sin shape you into a life of chaos.

• The Image Of Comfort

The image of comfort is a life that is complacent, having attained just enough to release us from much of the chaos, but not the fulfilled life God intends for us. Maybe the most challenging for Severn River Church is a comfort level that arises from those who can settle into life following the ways of Christ without the commitment of following Christ. Let me explain.

When we come to Christ there are a number of changes that take place. In fact, the scripture says that old things pass away and all things become new. In that process our outlook changes through the work of the Holy Spirit and our expanding understanding of Grace. But at some point the actions of following Christ give way to habits that are the way of Christ, but not necessarily submitting to the direction of Christ. A person may as a new believer learn the habit of giving, indeed cheerful giving, and that may be uncomfortable at first. I've known many new believers that had difficulty parting with money, because they were afraid they wouldn't have enough. But over time that habit which is the way of Christ may become nothing more than a comfortable routine. A person can become comfortable giving 10% of their income away and living on 90%. And though that's the way of Christ, it may not be obedience because we've just become confident in ourselves rather than dependent on Christ. Romans 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

That's the danger of being formed in the image of comfort; we are not comfortable in Christ, we're are comfortable in ourselves. The image of comfort will rob us of the potential that we could have in serving God, and will ultimately lead us back to the image of chaos given enough time.

• The Image Of Christ

There is a purpose to the things that God allows in our lives both success and failure. They are for the shaping of our lives into the image of Christ. Romans 8:28-29 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

The image of Christ is God's plan for our lives using us to further His kingdom among many others through our lives. The image of Christ is not chaotic. It may be unpredictable, but there is always a purpose and more importantly always freedom following Christ. The image of Christ is not comfortable either. There is no complacency in following Christ. It is a journey following His direction resting in Him, getting away in prayer so that we can meet the needs of multitudes, heal the sick, give sight to the blind. Discipleship in the image of Christ is a life of following the son of man who has no place to lay his head. This is not comfortable, but it is worthwhile. It is closeness and obedience. It is pleasing to God and in light of all that He has done for us it is the least we can give back to Him.

This year I'm seeking to be formed into the image of Christ.

--Ben

Remodel Day Five

Ok, so here we are five days in. I've lost track of time, and apparently last night was New Years. I didn't remember actually, but my wife reminded me in time to get out and have some fun catching up with friends that I went to High School with.

So let me catch you up on the remodel. My vanity makes me hesitate to post these pics. A couple of them contain mistakes I later had to go back and fix, but alas they are my true journey of learning. I'm happy with where things are standing now, and tomorrow I'll start drywalling. That should also make for nice pictures of my trial and error. :-)