I’ve been a bit distracted at work—more than usual. Over the last two weeks, all day long I’ve been mesmerized by the activity of the stone masons right outside my office window who spend the day stacking and securing rock to the soaring vertical face of our new space. 

This team of skilled artisans, working in a coordinated flow, saw and chisel the appropriate stones for the pattern while on the ground, then load a pallet with rock before hoisting it to the scaffold level where they are working with the large yellow lift. It is almost hypnotic to watch their flow.

The crew has a clear goal of what they are doing and plans for how to get there. A host of people are using a variety of materials and are working together to build our future.

Sometimes, we don’t have such clarity as a church. Why are we here? What are we doing? How do we accomplish whatever it is we’re supposed to be doing? We remember that Jesus told us to “love God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind and love our neighbors as ourselves” (Luke 10:27), but what does that look like here and now? We can recite our mission statement, which springs from “because God first loved us [we can] live, share, and celebrate with all people God’s love in Jesus Christ,” but what is the point?

Lord of Life received this generous and stunning review on Google this week that reminded me of our mission:

“[Lord of Life] church has done a lot for the recovery community. It's evident that they have kindness in their hearts and they have kept (possibly) the most valuable aspect in life – helping thy neighbor. It's a form of help that is not conditional. It's provided at ALL times... not ONLY when it's convenient for one’s schedule. 

“So many people nowadays have lost this. How much better would the world be if we all contributed to "unity?" Or better yet, if we all exhibited self-sacrifice and unselfish constructive action to better help others. In my opinion, this is God at work…God bless.”

One of our mission priorities is to share our space with our neighbors. As part of that emphasis, we host three weekly recovery meetings where people find encouragement and skills to battle addiction and co-dependency through in-person and online groups. What a profound way to connect our lives of faith with the complex challenges beyond our campus. Of course we want to encourage those seeking restoration and wholeness.

As our new space takes shape, you may have noticed that the building literally is pointing to the risen Jesus Christ as well as away from our existing building and out into the community. This isn’t by accident but is an architectural choice to visually remind us that our mission—God’s mission—doesn’t reside on our property, but propels us upward and outward.

English novelist Mary Ann Evans, known by her pen name George Eliot, asked, “What do we live for if not to make the world less difficult for each other?” Indeed. That is how Jesus lived. As followers of Jesus, that is where Christ leads us, too.

Where is God pointing you this week? Who is on your heart and mind? How can you make life less difficult for them? Take a moment today to reach out with a text, email, or phone call. Your voice might be just the boost they need. Your kind words of encouragement and connection could lead them to a place of hope. 

Trying to point to Jesus,

Pastor Lowell

Thirty-eight minutes. Forty-three minutes. Eighty-seven minutes. These are all real commute times I have experienced since beginning my internship six weeks ago. I knew it was going to be a lot of time in the car and I wanted to maximize my efficiency. So I made a plan. You’ll learn that I am a really good plan maker. Not the best plan follower. I was going to use these five, six, eight hours of traveling a week to better myself for ministry. I was going to listen to the entire Bible. And grow my knowledge of Christian hymns and contemporary songs so that I can collaborate with John on worship music. Or listen to Christian classics by authors like Dietrich Bonhoeffer or C.S. Lewis. Maybe branch out into the various Christian podcasts to help me with my sermon preparation.

But honestly, that’s a lot of God. It’s probably heretical, but I can imagine Jesus asking, “Why are you so obsessed with me?” 

By the time I hit the car in the afternoon, my mind is fried and I need this downtime. Most often, I just turn on some bumpin' music and drive. Or I might call someone, maybe catch up with a friend, or more likely my mom. Sometimes in the morning, I am more mentally awake and I listen to audiobooks through apps like Audible or Libby. But sometimes that’s the best time to catch up with my besties on their own thirty-eight-minute commutes. I’m learning that it’s not just ok to spend time outside of direct worship and prayer, it’s essential.

One book I have started is “Holy Unhappiness” by Amanda Held Opelt as recommended by Allison Perdue. In this memoir, Held Opelt discusses her Christian upbringing in the nineties and the way it shaped her expectations of the world. She was taught that God should be the focus of our lives and that when we center our life around God, God will bless us. 

Her ministers took it a step further into “prosperity gospel” territory, a branch of Christianity that teaches God’s blessings are directly tied to our acts of faith: tithing, prayer, faith, service. The other side of the coin with prosperity gospel teachings is that if you’re not dedicated to God, especially in these matters, you will experience hardship and loss. Held Opelt talks about how she was taught that God was going to give her a husband that would be the answer to all her life’s needs and that as long as they centered themselves around God, it would be a glorious marriage. When she did that and still experienced the normal strife that comes in marriage and life, she thought she must not be dedicated enough to God and her husband.

She was shocked when her marriage counselor told her she needed to find some friends. However, over time she came to accept that as the best advice she ever received. When we expect all of our needs to be met by one person, we can suffocate that relationship and get burnt out, even in our relationship with God. It is healthy to explore interests and develop different friendships. It feeds our need for diversity, and we can go back with renewed devotion to God and our families. 

So my commute doesn’t look like I expected it to. I’m not spending my drive listening to contemporary Christian music or readings of the Bible. I’m catching up on crime podcasts. I’m calling my mom. I’m dancing and singing along to bygone radio hits. This diversity of activities rejuvenates me and allows me to attune to God more fully in other moments of my life. It prevents burnout and empowers me to be truly present in those unspeakable moments when we ache so much we can’t even cry or perhaps can’t stop crying once we start. These moments away can be just as important as moments together. Even Jesus took time away from the daily grind of healing and teaching to call his parent and catch up (Luke 5:16). Perhaps calling my friends and family or singing along to Spotify’s playlists like “Songs to Sing in the Car” or “Classic Rock Drive” does make me a better minister. 

And now, I’m left wondering how you will utilize your next drive to refresh your soul and prepare yourself to be truly present for all that life brings. Let’s grab a coffee to talk and maybe on the way, we can dance and sing or even call my mom.

May God’s peace be with you!

Pastor Laura Applegate, Seminary Intern

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I don’t mind keeping things simple. As I lead drum circle, I put myself in a place of prayer and start with a simple rhythm. 

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Everyone joins in and we let the sound of the drums wash over us as we drum and pray together. As everyone becomes more confident in their drumming, I allow my rhythms to get more complicated. Some people continue with the simple rhthym. Some people try to join me with more adventurous drumming. And sometimes people get lost because it has gotten a little too complicated and I have to pull back my own drumming to help everyone get back on the same page.

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I do the same thing with music on Sunday mornings. We do songs we know that we all love. We try new songs that are more complicated as we wade into new musical ideas. Every once in a while a new song falls apart and we need to fall back on a song that is more baked into our memory.

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Think about how this applies to our theology. We shape our worship and activities around the idea that we celebrate Jesus’ love with everyone. That is our most basic rhythm. As we pray and worship together, we explore a lot of complicated ideas. What happens when we die? Are we really eating Jesus’ body and drinking his blood when we take communion? Why do bad things happen to me even though I try to be a good person? What does Jesus’ love look like with people who are doing bad things? What does the Bible say about [insert hot social or political topic here]. 

The ideas get really complicated, and even among the people who go to school for theology and continue their education through reflection and reading, it is hard to get everyone to agree. So sometimes we have to pull back and remember our basic rhythm: Jesus loves everyone.

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I don’t mind bringing my blogs back to this every time. Our Sunday sermons can get heavy and we have a lot of prayers on our hearts. As we serve together we are confronted with the realities of a world in need of so many more things than we can do individually, but that we chip away at as a church because we know we are called to share God’s love. So as usual, I’m here to remind you that Jesus loves all of us, and if that is the only thing we ever know, then that is enough.

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John

On Tax Day I start getting my hummingbird feeders ready. I read somewhere that it was a good day to start attracting them. They begin their migration early in the spring, so you want them to notice that your yard is a good place to stop for the summer. Every 3-4 days, I change the sugar water.  Countless times, I wondered if this ritual of changing the water is fruitless. They are so fast; it is difficult to glimpse a sighting. Are they there? Is the water evaporating from the heat, not a thirsty hummingbird? I try to put my faith in the bright red feeder that will attract them. However, inevitably, I need to take the time to be still, wait and watch for them to reveal themselves. 

They are amazing little creatures. So much power and beauty. Buzzing quickly in, resting for just a moment to take a drink then they fly off with wings flapping at 50 times per second. They are always worth the wait, and I am in awe of their uniqueness. But just like so much in life, I rarely make the time to be still. What if we also rested and soaked in God’s goodness or waited for what God is revealing to us? God tells us to do just that, “Be still, and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10.

For how long are we quiet or still with the busyness of life? We live in an instant-gratification, social media-driven, and high-pressured society. We can be so distracted. Can we hear when God is calling us if we don’t take the time to nourish our souls in peace and rest? Those moments are fleeting just as the hummingbirds flit in and out of view. We don’t want to miss them. I know it’s a struggle for me to build in those moments of quiet reflection, but I am always rejuvenated in the Spirit when I do.

The hummingbirds drink in the sweet goodness of the feeder and the flowers around the yard. They know what they need to thrive. Why is it so hard for us to see? Where and when can we take those moments to soak in all the possibilities that come from a life of following Jesus? God is always there faithfully tending the feeder, waiting for us to drink deeply and rest. 

Resting in God’s goodness,

Angie Seiller

Director of Faith Formation

Greetings from Magoffin County, KY, from two of your original Appalachia Service Project (ASP) (self-proclaimed) favorites! Can you believe this is our fourth time attending the ASP mission trip? In 2019, we heard about the opportunity to spend a week serving under God and being served by Him. As two 16-year-olds, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. As we spent our first week at ASP, we quickly learned this was a place we belonged. From endless inside jokes and laughs to serving the families of each community through the love of Christ, we have found ourselves fully involved in Appalachia Service Project. 

In 2019, Lord of Life’s first year at ASP, we quickly realized we would do this every summer. This year our tasks were to put in a bathroom and put up a wall. We had no idea what we were doing or what to expect, but we quickly realized that our most important task was to put a smile on everyone’s face. With our amazing leader Lowell, not only did our nerves settle, but we also created so many strong relationships. ASP was a new environment for everyone, but Pastor Lowell did not hesitate to get his hands dirty at work daily and helped our group with every step. All the built-up excitement for each workday was followed by an amazing ice cream stop at the best local shop. The ice cream we enjoyed each night is still remembered and talked about to this day. The first year of ASP was one to write in the books and start the Lord of Life tradition each summer.

In 2021, our second year due to Covid preventing ASP from happening in 2020, we had a unique role. We had the honor of being “floaters” with Tom Barth, meaning we would travel from site to site and help wherever needed. Having Tom as our leader, we learned many of his habits, creating life-long jokes. We can only imagine Tom's horror when he realized he was paired with us two for the week, but he became one of us in no time. We quickly became a dream team whose reputation would live on. Without Tom, ASP would not be the same. This year had the biggest impact on us as we grew close and were able to have an impact on several different families. 

In 2022, our third year, things were a little different in a good way. We stayed on cots in little cabins instead of on a community center or school floor. We also had to drive to the showers, activity rooms, and supply room. With these many changes, there were also several new people, including Dan Seiller. Dan made our trip a year to remember! As a fire chief, Dan was prepared for all the hard work this year would entail but not for the work it takes to deal with us two girls. Little did he know, we would make this the best trip he’s ever experienced. Not only was he shocked at how honored he felt to work with us, but Angie was happy to see her husband entertained for the week. Without Dan, we wouldn’t have finished the work or shared as many laughs. We also had the pleasure of working with another church at our worksite. Our goal was to repair a hole and uneven floor in the kitchen. We had a great work crew for the week and accomplished all the work. As Saturday morning approached, we realized we had completed a successful third year with Appalachia Service Project.

This year, our 4th year, 2023, has been quite the ride. With almost a whole new group of people, who knew what this year would hold? We partnered with another Lord of Life crew for the first time. We were disappointed by the sad news that Dan would not be returning to ASP, but little did we know we would be blessed with an amazing leader: Joe Cramer. You’re probably thinking the same thing: the name Joe does not do justice to the man behind the name. This year, we got to work alongside the most infamous leaders, Joe and Tom. Our task for this year was to fix and put up siding. We thought by now we were pros as we’d done a little bit of it every year. We were wrong. We quickly realized it wasn’t as easy as it seemed. Luckily, we grew close with all our work partners, and everyone was willing to help us get started. We got a lot of work done and had a fabulous time making new friends in our work groups. This year has held the most laughs. 

Overall, Appalachia Service Project has greatly impacted both of our summers and has become one of our favorite traditions every year. It is such a fun experience, and we hope every person gets to participate in ASP. The people and environment, with changes every year, keeps bringing us back, and we hope one day we get the opportunity to become staff members of ASP.

Yours in Christ,

Annabelle King and Larkyn Ripley

In our culture summer is associated with relaxation. “A lazy summer day” is a phrase often used in stories when the main characters spend the day near the water, enjoying life. Perhaps you have taken this week to relax and enjoy life. Maybe you grilled out and watched fireworks, swam, fished, or boated. So many awesome opportunities to be out enjoying God’s creation!

And yet, this week was not the relaxing oasis I had envisioned. I had family in town this week and I was so looking forward to reconnecting. But then the burden of cleaning and planning and being perfect got in the way. I became overwhelmed with worries that I robbed myself of peace and enjoyment. I wasn’t embracing vulnerability and honesty. I was trying to live up to what I perceived their expectations would be. I wasn’t being myself and was trying to present this more perfect image of myself as someone who has it together.

It reminds me of the song “Truth be Told” by Matthew West. He outlines lies we tell ourselves and others to measure up to societal pressures. And in the chorus, he repeats, “I say I'm fine, yeah I'm fine oh I'm fine, hey I'm fine but I'm not, I'm broken.” And despite this brokenness, God loves us. Fully. God knows all about the stuff we try to keep hidden and still loves us. God does not judge us for the dust on the baseboards or the expired dressing in the fridge or even for the endless train of worries in our minds. God knows all this and loves us.

God accepts us for who we are. This idea of being perfect is something we put on ourselves. God did not add a “Thou shalt be perfect” to the tablets on Mt. Sinai. God just wants us to be upfront and honest about the mess that God is fully aware of already. We have to be honest with ourselves and with God about the “not fine” moments of our lives. Honesty is a critical foundation to any relationship. Those lies we tell ourselves can be like stagnant water. When we ignore the truth of how we are truly doing, we miss the opportunity to flush out the stale water. If we persist in ignoring our faults, the foundation begins to break down and we need more than cleaning, we need repairs.

But a pressure washer won’t help us clean up our hearts and minds. West tells us that “being honest is the only way to fix it.” Opening up, reflecting, and being honest about where I am gives me the opportunity to clean up and repair the brokenness I have created through my pursuit of perfection. Through this acceptance of who I am in this moment, I can change. I plan to be more intentional in my relationship with God and my family. I also am going to work with my therapist on confidence. I might take another read through Brené Brown’s “The Gifts of Imperfection” or perhaps “Boundaries” by Drs. Cloud and Townsend. But what I’m not going to do is continue to lie to myself that I’m fine when I’m not.

So, take heart, friends, and whatever your truth is – addiction, anxiety, people-pleasing, gossiping, FOMO (fear of missing out, aka envy), and so, so, so many other things we keep hidden in our hearts – embrace vulnerability and “let the truth be told.” What does this clean-up look like for you? When we stand in the freedom of the truth, then we can really enjoy our lazy summer days.

Peace be with you all. See you Sunday!

Pastor Laura Applegate, Seminary Intern