pastortimschulte-blog

[pastortimschulte-blog]

The Roll Pin

I worked as a mechanic for nearly ten years when I was younger. I worked several years as a fleet mechanic on medium and heavy duty trucks followed by several years as an auto mechanic. During the later years it I may be replacing an alternator in a Jaguar in the morning and replacing fuel injectors in a Maserati in the afternoon. Obviously, the best part of the job was test driving these exotic sports cars after the repairs had been made!

Even though I no longer earn a living as a mechanic, I continue to ‘turn wrenches’ as a hobby to keep the ‘03 TJ running. Throughout the past 30 plus years of dismantling and rebuilding just about any part of a vehicle you can imagine, I had never fully disassembled and reassembled and axle carrier.

I prepared to install a front locker in the TJ last week by reading the instruction manual and watching a few YouTube videos. I began to remove all of the necessary components: wheels/tires, brakes, rotors, hub assemblies, and axle shafts. The bearing caps were the next components to be removed. Once they were removed the carrier assembly slid out quite easily. This was the first time in 15 years that this assembly had seen daylight!

Once the carrier assembly was on the workbench, the next item to be removed was a rather small roll pin. This roll pin measures 5/16″ diameter by about 1 1/2″ in length (see the circled item in the photo above). The sole purpose of this small roll pin is to hold the cross shaft in place. The cross shaft holds all of the spider gears in their proper place. The spider gears house the inner end of the axle shafts and the axle shaft ultimately transfer power to the wheels. As soon as the roll pin was driven out, the cross shaft slid out of position and the spider gears fell out of place onto the work bench. It turns out that this tiny roll pin was holding all of these other components in place. In other words, if the roll pin doesn’t show up to the carrier scene, the whole carrier assembly literally falls apart.

The church, in many ways, is similar to an axle carrier. There are many parts (people) that comprise the church. Each person has an important role; a role that only they are uniquely created and gifted to fulfill. The church is at its best when all of the parts (people) are fully engaged and fulfilling their unique roles. However, some of us may think our role is unimportant or too small to be missed. Life happens, we become busy, and we neglect to employ the amazing gift(s) that God has given us into building God’s Kingdom. We may even ask ourselves, “what difference can I possibly make in building God’s Kingdom?” We may become complacent and lose sight of our first love (Jesus) and the joy that comes from giving and serving through the gift(s) we have been given.

No part (or gift or person) is too small. Just ask the roll pin.

#BeTheRollPin

“God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-5 MSG

[pastortimschulte-blog]

This past Friday we were part of a large “Block Party” sponsored by the Eureka Parks Department. We sponsored and staffed the “Kid’s Corner” for this wonderful event. The centerpiece for the Kid’s Corner was a massive, inflatable obstacle course. For safety reasons, shoes were not allowed to be worn on the course. This obstacle course quickly developed two long lines of kids, and along with the lines were several large piles of shoes.

Some kids were very careful and placed their shoes neatly next to each other. Some kids kicked their shoes off and each shoe ended up in a different area. As I walked through the Kid’s Corner, I was struck by all of the shoes and the young people who walk in them.

All of these shoes tell story; a story as unique as each of these awesome kids. Some shoes are well worn. Some are brand new. Some are inexpensive, big box store brand shoes. Some were very expensive shoes. As I surveyed these shoes, I wondered about the stories. What are the lives of these kids like?

Certainly, many of these kids probably have a pretty good life; loving parents, a nice house, access to great schools, and maybe even their own tablet or smart device. Some of these kids may be facing real struggles in their lives; their parents are divorcing, mom or dad struggles with an addiction, or they cringe at going to school because they are bullied. Still others may be living in complete hopelessness and despair; they fear coming home from school and encountering an abusive parent that has been drinking all day or they fear seeing the eviction notice on the door...for the third time in their young life.

I wonder if the kids contemplate these shoes and their respective stories like I do? I wonder, if given the chance, they would rather walk in the shoes of someone who has it much better, or worse, than they do?

What about you? How might walking in someone else’s shoes cultivate empathy, or envy, for that person? Maybe the question we should ask is “which shoes would Jesus choose to walk in?”

“When he [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36 ESV

[pastortimschulte-blog]

Jim

Today we met Jim (not his real name). Jim lost his home last week and has been living on the streets in Eureka. He heard that Eureka UMC may be able to help him. He walked to the church building this morning looking for hope. He tried opening the doors on the south side of the church to see if he could receive some food from the Food Pantry and if there may be any other assistance available. The doors were locked.

Discouraged, he began to walk away from the church until he saw the EUMC church van pull into the parking lot. He quickly changed direction and headed towards the van. He introduced himself. He asked if we could help him. He shared his story. He needed food. But more than anything else, he wanted to know that someone would listen to his painful story and that someone cared about him. We listened. We assured him that God loves him and that we love him, too.

We provided a bag of food from the Food Pantry, food that required no preparation; tuna, canned chicken, peanut butter, jelly, and Pop Tarts. He was thrilled at all of this, especially the Pop Tarts. He indicated that this food would sustain him for the next few days until he begins a his new job on Friday.

We also gave him $20 to purchase bread and other needed items that are not available through the Food Pantry. He teared up and said, "I just know that God led me here and I just knew that this church could help me."

Jim found hope, not in a building, but through a group of people known as the 'church'. And our hope is firmly rooted in Jesus Christ.

Friends, this is the church. A place where hope is found, grace is dispensed, love is unleashed, the broken are made whole, and Jesus is exalted.

Coming to church is important, and a vital part of growing in our faith as disciples of Jesus Christ, but being the church is equally important.

How is God calling you to be the 'church' this week? Whose redemptive story will you co-author this week?

“Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it.” Jesus in John 14:11-12 MSG  

[pastortimschulte-blog]

It's officially mountain bike (MTB) season! From the new parsonage, it's just under a mile to ride from the driveway to the southern end of the Declue MTB trail at Greensfelder County Park. I've enjoyed riding this trail during the warmer weather the past few days. People often ask me why I enjoy MTB so much, and my response is "it's the closest thing to tree skiing during the off season". It's great to be out in the woods, navigating the steep drops, the tight turns, weaving through the trees, and conquering the thigh burning climbs.

Yesterday, I stopped near one of the turns on the Declue MTB trail and it reminded me of what our church's journey has looked like over the past year or so. Our journey has closely resembled the tight turns, uphill climbs, quick adjustments in direction and speed, and the overall thrill of mountain biking.

It is a privilege to serve as your pastor. I recognize that there have been some significant changes recently. You have stepped up to adapt to these changes and to embrace the opportunities that we have been given to do exactly what Jesus commissioned us to do, "to make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." These changes, some of them more difficult than others, are having an positive impact on the families in our community. We have seen our Sunday morning worship service attendance increase very significantly over the past few months. I praise God for the lives that are being transformed as these wonderful new families connect to Jesus Christ through the local church.

This is indeed an exciting time in the life of Eureka UMC! Much like mountain biking, we must always be ready to make a quick adjustment and be positioned to pedal hard around or over an obstacle on the trail. As we do these things, we will not only grow stronger in our faith, but more importantly, God's Kingdom will grow as we reach new families in our community with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Tim

[pastortimschulte-blog]

“素敵なonesieの男“

A few weeks ago I traveled to Whistler, British Columbia for a quick ‘guys ski trip’. It was great to spend three full days skiing  some of the best terrain in North America.

One of the highlights of the trip were the ‘onesies’. These are one piece ski outfits that were very popular on the slopes in the 80′s. Some say that they went out of style. My son-in-law, Mike, and I, beg to differ! Not only are they stylish, but they are very warm! He brought along three onesies and I brought along just one.

On the last day of the trip, Mike wore his bright, neon yellow onesie on the slopes. About midday we were at the base area getting ready to board the gondola. Just then a man wearing the same, exact onesie as Mike passed by about 50 feet way. I thought it would be great to include him in a photo with like minded and like attired people so I yelled “great onesie dude!”

No response.

Hoping to gain his attention, I repeated my affirmation of his impeccable attire, “great onesie, dude!”

It appeared that he either could not hear me (unlikely) or that perhaps he was just too busy to let a  random group of onesie guys interrupt his day. We boarded the gondola and continued up the mountain.

A few hours later, I saw the similarly attired onesie guy again. This time, however, he was talking to some of his friends. I quickly realized why he did not respond to my words of affirmation earlier; he was speaking in Japanese.

It was probably not that this guy didn’t hear me. I was simply not speaking in a language that he understood! Had I known any Japanese, he may have very well agreed to take a photo with us.

This experience reaffirmed what I have known for years in my role as a pastor. I believe that we, the church, have the greatest message to share; the Good News of Jesus Christ. As Christians and as Christ’s church, we need to be willing to learn ‘the language’ of our culture in order to effectively share this amazing and life changing message. We do not change the message. The message will never change. But the ‘language’ we use must. Otherwise we are proclaiming “nice onesie dude” to a world that only understands “素敵なonesieの男”. And just like the wonderfully dressed man at the base of Whistler, our amazing message and invitation to know Jesus will not be heard.

So, if you are a Christian, what ‘language’ do you need to learn in order to share the Gospel in today’s rapidly changing culture? Also, what language do we, as Christ’s church, need to learn in order to effectively proclaim the Gospel in today’s rapidly changing culture?

[pastortimschulte-blog]

“素敵なonesieの男“

A few weeks ago I traveled to Whistler, British Columbia for a quick ‘guys ski trip’. It was great to spend three full days skiing  some of the best terrain in North America.

One of the highlights of the trip were the ‘onesies’. These are one piece ski outfits that were very popular on the slopes in the 80′s. Some say that they went out of style. My son-in-law, Mike, and I, beg to differ! Not only are they stylish, but they are very warm! He brought along three onesies and I brought along just one.

On the last day of the trip, Mike wore his bright, neon yellow onesie on the slopes. About midday we were at the base area getting ready to board the gondola. Just then a man wearing the same, exact onesie as Mike passed by about 50 feet way. I thought it would be great to include him in a photo with like minded and like attired people so I yelled “great onesie dude!”

No response.

Hoping to gain his attention, I repeated my affirmation of his impeccable attire, “great onesie, dude!”

It appeared that he either could not hear me (unlikely) or that perhaps he was just too busy to let a  random group of onesie guys interrupt his day. We boarded the gondola and continued up the mountain.

A few hours later, I saw the similarly attired onesie guy again. This time, however, he was talking to some of his friends. I quickly realized why he did not respond to my words of affirmation earlier; he was speaking in Japanese.

It was probably not that this guy didn’t hear me. I was simply not speaking in a language that he understood! Had I known any Japanese, he may have very well agreed to take a photo with us.

This experience reaffirmed what I have known for years in my role as a pastor. I believe that we, the church, have the greatest message to share; the Good News of Jesus Christ. As Christians and as Christ’s church, we need to be willing to learn ‘the language’ of our culture in order to effectively share this amazing and life changing message. We do not change the message. The message will never change. But the ‘language’ we use must. Otherwise we are proclaiming “nice onesie dude” to a world that only understands “素敵なonesieの男”. And just like the wonderfully dressed man at the base of Whistler, our amazing message and invitation to know Jesus will not be heard.

So, if you are a Christian, what ‘language’ do you need to learn in order to share the Gospel in today’s rapidly changing culture? Also, what language do we, as Christ’s church, need to learn in order to effectively proclaim the Gospel in today’s rapidly changing culture?

[pastortimschulte-blog]

RUST

A few weeks ago our family spent the day at one of Missouri’s newest State Parks; Don Robinson State Park. This is a beautiful area located less than twenty miles from Eureka. Don Robinson had a vision of acquiring a parcel of property that was equivalent in size to New York’s Central Park with the intention of donating the land to the State to create a new State Park after his death.

Our crew set out to explore one of the loop trails at the park which included a section through a very scenic sandstone canyon. As we emerged from the canyon, the trail passed near an old home site. I surveyed the abandoned home site and my eyes were drawn to a yellow object. The yellow was in stark contrast to the brown leaves littered on the forest floor. I began walking towards the yellow object; at a distance of about twenty five feet, I recognized what this yellow object was. It was an old Tonka dump truck.

This old, well worn, and rusty Tonka dump truck reminded me of the one that I used to have as a young boy. My brother and I not only had the dump truck, we also had the matching Tonka bulldozer. We would spend hours moving around dirt or sand in our backyard with these Tonka toys.

At some point in my early life, I outgrew the Tonka toys and moved onto other pursuits. I’m not quite sure whatever happened to our small fleet of yellow construction equipment. Perhaps they ended up where all good toys ended up in the 1970′s; a garage sale.

So what’s the story behind this Tonka truck in the woods? Whose was it? Why was it left there? These are questions I will likely never be able to answer.

As I pondered all of these questions, I was reminded that at some point in someone’s life, this Tonka truck was likely a very coveted and prized possession; I know that’s how I felt about mine. It may have been purchased with money earned by doing chores around the home or maybe it was received as a gift. It was special. It may have been the center of a little boys world. It was loved.

Now it rusts away. This truck reminds me that everything in this world will eventually decay. Automobiles, houses, trees, Tonka trucks, and yes, even people. Everything decays; except God’s love. This love is rot proof, fire proof, insect proof, water proof, and even rust proof. Have you ever considered how durable God’s love is compared to the decay and rust prone world that we live in? What is the main ‘building material’ of your life? Is it something prone to decay and rust? Or is it durable, like God’s love?

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21

[pastortimschulte-blog]

“Seriously, Siri?”

I spent the past few days in Kansas City attending a conference. After the first day of the conference was over, I wanted to find a nearby store to purchase a few bottled waters and snacks. A quick search on my I phone revealed a CVS Pharmacy just two miles away. The address was loaded into my maps app and the peaceful voice of Siri directed my journey.

I followed every direction she offered. “Make a right turn in 800 feet”. “Turn left”. “You have reached your destination.”

I stopped and scanned the array of big box stores, restaurants, and specialty stores in this suburb of Kansas City. Siri clearly said that I “had reached my destination” but I did not see a CVS anywhere! I saw a Target, a Petco, a Lowe’s, and dozen’s of other places; but no CVS.

Not to be deterred, I completed a circuit around the large shopping area and pulled into a parking spot and began my search again. I was encouraged that Siri had located the CVS and now it was only a half mile away. Again, I followed every one of her directions and soon became concerned as she led me right back in front of the Target store. I looked at the store and looked at my phone and said (out loud), “Seriously, Siri? You are nuts!” Although Siri could not hear my comment, I did feel better after my rant!

I decided to give up on finding the CVS an opted to enter Target. As soon as I entered the store I retrieved my phone from my pocket and apologized to Siri. She was right! She directed me to the right place. There was a CVS inside Target! I could almost hear Siri saying, “just trust me, Tim.”

Sometimes it’s hard for us to trust, especially when what we see doesn’t line up with what we were expecting. Sometimes life is like that. Have you ever had a sense that God was calling you to do something out of your comfort zone? In your heart, you trusted God. Maybe not right away, but there had been too many affirmations in your life regarding this new direction; it could not be ignored any longer. So you trusted. And you went. And it seemed like God led you to a place that didn’t line up with what you had expected.

If that’s where you are today, take another step. Look closely. Trust God. Be surprised. Be amazed. Just trust God.

 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” Jeremiah 17:7

[pastortimschulte-blog]

The Blue Dot

A few weeks ago, my brother and I set out to climb Mt. Aeneas in the Jewel Basin Area near Big Fork, Montana. We had a short window of opportunity, and after reviewing numerous weather forecasts, decided we’d rather attempt this adventure in the snow forecast on Thursday rather than in the rain falling on Wednesday.

We gathered all of our gear and traveled about an hour to the trail head. As the Subaru climbed the steep, Forest Service Road, the snow became increasingly deeper. When we finally arrived at the trail head, there was about 6″ of newly fallen snow on the ground and it was still snowing. We added a few more layers for warmth and protection from the elements, slung our packs over our shoulders, and began the climb.

Earlier that morning, we had each downloaded a map of the trail onto our I Phones using the All Trails app. This provided details about the route and we could track our progress in real time, even without cell service. As we began the climb, my brother opened the app and we found our location on the map. We were a blue dot on a red line (the trail).

There were several areas where we lost the trail; it was simply covered with too much snow. At those times, we would open the app and confirm that we were either on the trail, or had strayed from the trail, by looking at the location of the blue dot. If we had strayed from the trail, we moved as directed by the app until the blue dot was back on the red line.

When we emerged from the trees and began hiking above the tree line, the visibility decreased to just a few hundred feet. Now this was not our first ascent of a mountain; are very familiar with encountering ‘false summits’ during these climbs. But on previous climbs, once we would reach the top of the false summit, we could clearly see another false summit, or the summit. But this adventure was different. The heavy snow showers diminished the visibility to just a few hundred feet. We’d reach what we thought was the summit, and be convinced that we had reached the top. My brother would pull up the app to confirm our location. The blue dot was not yet at the summit. We repeated this process six times before we finally reached the summit.

On what ended up being the actual summit, Greg pulled up the app and confirmed that the blue dot was at the end of the red line. This time it was centered on the summit! We enjoyed the summit for about 60 seconds; just long enough for a few pictures, and then we descended quickly to find protection from the harsh winds and driving snow as the trail entered the forest.

The blue dot and the red line on the app were critical for us to reach the summit. Often times the snow obscured the trail, and then later, the summit. If it were not for the blue dot and the red line, we would have thought we reached our goal  quite a bit short of the true summit. We would have settled for something less than our goal.

Life can be like that. We have a goal, a dream, or a vision for our lives and it can be challenging to reach it. Life’s distractions obscure the summit we are trying to reach. These distractions, some of them even some very good things, begin to limit our visibility and we intentionally, or non intentionally, settle for a false summit. We don’t experience the joy or fulfillment that comes with reaching our goals.

What, or who, is guiding your life? What summit are you striving for? When you  survey the landscape of your life, is the blue dot where you’d like it to be?

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 (NIV) 

[pastortimschulte-blog]

“The White Chair”

I spent several weeks in Evanston , Illinois this past July. I was completing my seminary studies at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. The seminary is located on the campus of Northwestern University; certainly one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen. The campus is bordered on the east by Lake Michigan. I had never visited Lake Michigan during the summer; it was absolutely beautiful.

One morning I decided to put my stand up paddle board (SUP) into the water at sunrise. One of my colleagues shared with me that the water was really calm in the early morning before classes began. I was looking forward to being on the water as the sun rose over the horizon formed by the lake. I paddled out about a quarter mile, just beyond the breaks on the southern edge of the campus. It was then that I realized that the strong currents my friends had cautioned me about were very real. The current was extremely strong and was taking me north towards Wisconsin!

I scanned the shore and fixed my eyes and the front of my SUP on a solitary white lifeguard chair on the beach. I paddled aggressively towards the chair. When ever I would take a few moments to rest, my board turned and headed north again. I soon realized that I could not rest until I had arrived at that chair. The amount of paddling required to reach the chair, only a quarter mile away, seemed like three miles. I persevered and finally reached the white chair. 

This whole ordeal reminded me of what we are doing at Eureka UMC. Our Mission, given to us by Christ himself, is to “make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” This Mission never changes. What does change is how we accomplish the Mission; this is called our vision. The vision gives the Mission legs. The vision can, and should change. The Mission never changes.

While I was out on the SUP being carried north to Wisconsin by the current, my mission was to reach the shore. I could have easily ended up somewhere along the shore with probably little effort. I could have just laid back on my board and ended up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. But I would have missed my target. Instead, I chose a specific point on the shore to reach. That is vision. That’s what gave my mission legs (or paddles). Staying focused on the white chair challenged me to do whatever it took, to expend any and all effort, to reach that specific spot on the shore. To live into the vision, to accomplish the mission.

This is the season we are in at Eureka UMC. That’s why we are working with a team of consultants and coaches through the Healthier Church Initiative. This is why we have over 25 new prayer groups earnestly seeking God’s unique vision for Eurkea UMC. We are honing our focus, discerning what God is uniquely calling us to do at this time and in this place. We are searching for the white chair. We are discerning our vision.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish” Proverbs 29:18

[pastortimschulte-blog]

The Spotters

I remember my first full time job. I was just 19 years old and landed a job as a fleet mechanic for medium and heavy duty trucks. These were rather large trucks with many blind spots. On my first day of the job I was introduced to the term ‘spotter’. Whenever I was driving one of these large trucks around the parking lot or into one of the service bays, I was required to have a spotter; someone who would help guide me while I maneuvered these large trucks around the facility.

I was reintroduced to the importance of relying on a trusted spotter when I purchased my Jeep and began taking it off-road. I have learned over the years that some of these off-road trails are not challenging at all; they are gravel roads with a few large rocks. But many of these trails are extremely challenging!

A week ago today a group of us were on the Steel Bender Trail in Moab, Utah. This was the most challenging trail that I had ever attempted. It seemed like our spotters, Andy and Zach, spent more time outside of the Jeeps than inside the Jeeps along this 17 mile trail. One of the last obstacles on the trail is a section called ‘The Fall’. I can attest that it is aptly named! This section of the trail dropped nearly fifty vertical feet over a distance of less than fifty linear feet. It was an extremely steep section with large boulders, sudden three foot drops, and several ‘off camber’ sections. While I was sitting in the driver’s seat of the Jeep, I could see absolutely none of this! I had to rely on the eyes and the experience of not just one spotter, but in this case, three spotters.

A good spotter is indispensable! They see what you cannot see. They know that moving the front tires to the left just one inch can have a huge impact (good or bad) where the rear tires will be in just a few seconds. If my spotter instructs me to “turn your wheels three inches on the passenger side”, I just do it. I have learned to never question my spotter. He can see things that I can simply not see at all from the driver’s seat. 

In many ways, this experience on the trail and relying on the experience and wisdom of spotters is exactly where we are headed at Eureka UMC with our Healthier Church Initiative (HCI) October 6, 7, and 8. It is an opportunity for us to invite wise counsel alongside us to help us see things that we may not be able to see. Our highly trained team of consultants and coaches will be ‘looking at our trail’ and giving us wise counsel to ‘turn the wheels’ where needed. All of this to ensure that we are on task with the Mission given to us by Jesus--to make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Without counsel, plans go wrong,    but with many advisers they succeed.  Proverbs 15:22

[pastortimschulte-blog]

White Stripes

I have been exploring Moab, Utah this week in my Jeep along with several friends and their Jeeps. We’ve been on these trips before, but this is the first time to Moab. Our other trips have been to various locations in Colorado and the Jeep trails are usually old mining or Forest Service roads. These trails are relatively easy to follow--they are often ‘cut’ into the side of the mountain, lined by trees, or are otherwise clearly marked. The trails in Moab are different. Truly, they are very different!

The trails in Moab traverse a barren landscape of petrified sand dunes and enormous canyons. The trails here are not ‘cut’ into the sides of mountains (or dunes), rather they are identified by white stripes painted on to the dunes and slick rock. These white stripes represent the preferred route for off road enthusiasts. Over the past few days, we have become distracted by the scenery and have lost sight of the white stripes. They were there, we were just looking in a different direction. Once we corrected our gaze, the white stripes were plainly visible.

These white stripes not only create a preferred path towards our destination, they also steer us away from significant hazards. Oftentimes, straying just a few feet from these white stripes could send our Jeeps, and us, several hundred feet down the side of a canyon or a large dune. Finding the white stripes and following the white stripes is paramount to successfully reaching our destination!

Recently, dozens of members and friends of Eureka UMC began an amazing journey--40 Days of Prayer. This intentional season of prayer for our church and our community is the foundation of our HCI (Healthier Church Initiative) this fall. These prayer groups are gathering each week for the next 40 days to look for the white stripes.. Not the white stripes on a Jeep trail, but rather the white stripes, or the preferred path and vision that God desires us to take as a church and as individuals. Discerning God’s unique vision and will for Eureka UMC, and each of us, will ensure that we are fulfilling our Mission: to make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Much like our experience on the Jeep trail, sometimes the white stripes of God’s vision seem to disappear. Other times they lead us into a direction that may not make sense. But ultimately, finding and following these white stripes will lead us on the preferred path and unique vision that God has for our church and for each of us.

Are you ready to discover these white stripes, the preferred path, that God has chosen for Eureka UMC? For your family? For you?

#whitestripes#40daysofprayer

[pastortimschulte-blog]

Rust. I remember making a decision during the summer of 2014 to bring a bike to Kansas City for the month of July while I completed my second year of seminary studies. I had learned from the previous year that a bike would provide some great opportunities to explore the vast network of trails in the area and also provide a great source of exercise. When I made this decision, I was not a biker. Sure, I owned a bike, but... well, you get the idea. I remember settling into my accommodations and preparing for my first bike ride that evening. Please remember, I was not a biker. I had probably ridden this bike just a few times during the previous three or four years. I drove towards a park that boasted over a dozen miles of bike paths. This particular trail was an 'out and back' trail, and being every enthusiastic, felt fairly comfortable setting out on a 12 mile ride. About a mile into the ride I experienced not one, but two flat tires. This is really understated. The tires were so dry rotted that they kind of exploded and the inner tubes kind of did the same thing. I alternated carrying and rolling (the bike did not roll well) the bike back to my Jeep. I was discouraged. but also eager to ride my bike. I purchased some new inner tubes and tires from an area big box store and was back in business. I also purchased an air pump, a spare tube, and a tube repair kit. Over the next two weeks, I continued to ride my bike daily, sometimes twice a day. I began to log some serious miles during these rides. All was well...I was now a biker! During my third week in Kansas City, I set out on a familiar trail. This trail had a brief uphill section at the beginning. I was pedaling hard, and I remember that I had all of my weight on the right pedal and then...SNAP! The chain snapped, I lost my balance, and careened into a well placed tree. Fortunately, I was not going too fast at the time! After I picked myself up, I looked on the ground and saw a rusted and twisted chunk of metal; it was my severed chain. I learned a valuable lesson that day. The chain is the heart of the bike, as the chain goes so goes the bike. I had neglected the chain. I purchased a new chain and noticed that there were also lubricants specifically for bike chains. I purchased some of the chain lube and began to pay careful attention to my chain. The chain on my mountain bike is especially susceptible to damage from mud, dirt, sand, and water found on the trails. I learned that I could no longer neglect and ignore my chain; I had to be attentive to it. Beginning that day, and continuing today, my chain is inspected before and after each ride. It is cleaned regularly and lubricated several times per week. I am currently completing my fifth and final year of seminary studies at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary located on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. This is a very bike friendly town; numerous paved, gravel, and dirt bike paths along with endless bike lanes along the major roads. And yes, I have my bike with me! It's summer time and the population of this college town is much lower than during the school year, but even so it appears that the bikes outnumber the cars. There are bikes everywhere! Every apartment complex, every small business, and just about every corner at the University contains a bike rack with dozens of bikes each. I cannot imagine how many bikes are here when school is in session. As I ride and walk around town, I can't help but to notice all of the bikes. Some are new and some are very old. Some are well maintained and some are very much neglected. And yes, there are many bikes with some very rusty chains; the very hearts of these bikes are on the verge of breaking. Neglected chains, neglected hearts. I suspect that many of these bike owners, much like myself earlier in my biking experience, do not realize that they are just one pedal stroke way from a catastrophe. So how is it with your "chain"? "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

[pastortimschulte-blog]

The Trees

It has been about two weeks since I have started my day with a hike at Rockwood Reservation Conservation Area. It was chilly this morning; the temperature was hovering in the mid 30′s. It was a brisk hike. It was great to be back among the trees!

The trail was just as I remembered it from a few weeks ago; the forest floor covered with fallen leaves, I encountered several white tail deer, and I caught a glimpse of the valley heavy with fog when I reached the highest point of the trail. It was on the descent that I noticed something very different. Dozens of trees were marked with red and blue tape around their trunks. Not every single tree, but many trees on either side of the trail for about a quarter mile. 

Given the recent political climate leading up to the election, during the election, and the events around the inauguration, my mind went right there...the red trees and the blue trees. There had to be another reason why these trees were marked, but I could not ignore the image of these red and blue trees. I noticed that they were standing together. They were at peace. They were rooted in the same soil. Their branches, and I would assume their roots, were intertwined; they worked together to hold the soil and indeed the foundation of this forest together. They drew their nourishment from the same source. The same sun provided the sunlight necessary for their growth. The last time I was here, I just saw trees. Today, someone had labeled them, and I saw a forest divided.

I was instantly reminded of the song “The Trees” by Rush:

There is unrest in the forest There is trouble with the trees For the maples want more sunlight And the oaks ignore their pleas

The trouble with the maples And they're quite convinced they're right They say the oaks are just too lofty And they grab up all the light But the oaks can't help their feelings If they like the way they're made And they wonder why the maples Can't be happy in their shade?

There is trouble in the forest And the creatures all have fled As the maples scream 'oppression!' And the oaks, just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union And demanded equal rights 'The oaks are just too greedy We will make them give us light' Now there's no more oak oppression For they passed a noble law And the trees are all kept equal By hatchet, Axe, And saw.

I learned, I mean memorized, the words to this song (and dozens of other Rush songs) as a teenager. Until today, I never really considered how the song ends. “And the trees are kept equal by hatchet, axe, and saw.” The trees are finally equal only after they have destroyed themselves.

Personally, I liked the forest when it was just full of trees! No red trees. No blue trees. Just trees. No hatchets. Just trees. No axes. Just trees. No saws. Just trees. Trees at peace with each other; each tree an integral part of something bigger than themselves...a beautiful forest.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Jesus in John 14:27

“The Trees” by Rush https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnC88xBPkkc

[pastortimschulte-blog]

A Poor Connection... This is a busy time of the year for many of us. It is also an especially busy time of the year for our church. Special events, multiple Christmas Eve services, along with the normal cadence of ongoing ministries, missions, and weekly worship services quickly fill up our days and evenings in December. Several wonderful volunteers were helping me prepare our sanctuary for the Christmas Eve services a few days ago when the unthinkable happened. An entire string of lights embedded into the pine roping adorning our communion rail stopped working. Not one light worked. It was dead. Darkness had overcome the entire right side of the sanctuary. Not easily deterred, I retrieved a small screw driver and carefully extracted those incredibly tiny fuses located inside the plug at the end of the light strand. Surely, this was the problem. I travelled to several stores in town and no one had these fuses! Early this morning, I began working on plan 'B'. I found some extra light strands in a storage area and scavenged some fuses from them. I installed these fuses into the darkened strand of lights. I grasped the plug and inserted it into the recessed, stage floor receptacle and a blue sparks danced around the plug and my hand. This previously darkened strand of lights sprang to life; for a brief second. Once again, darkness plagued this strand of lights. One thing I learned through my previous years as both an auto mechanic and later as a contractor is this, electrical problems are usually very easy to fix. The difficult part is identifying the problem. There had to be a very simple reason why these lights were not working. I removed the tiny fuses again and closely inspected the contacts inside the plug. Found it. One of the contacts was missing. That could explain the sparks! Fortunately, I keep quite a few tools in my Jeep. They are invaluable when my rig, or someone else's rig, breaks down on the trail. I retrieved an assortment of electrical tools and supplies from the Jeep and went to work. I ended up scavenging a known good plug from another strand of lights and installing it onto the darkened strand. A few minutes later it was time to test the lights again. I inserted the newly grafted plug into the outlet. The lights beamed to life! No sparks this time, just beautiful lights. It turned out that the strand was dimmed by a poor connection. A poor connection inside the plug. Sometimes our lives can be like that. Our spiritual lives. The light we once had, or the light we desire to see seems evasive. Maybe it's because of a poor connection? Does your life seem dim? Does it seem devoid of truly abundant life and light. Check your connection. The Source, God, is always present and his power is always 'on'. Today is a great day to do some electrical work. Merry Christmas!

[pastortimschulte-blog]

Changed

I needed a PE credit for college. There were the usual options; weight lifting, running (ugh), basketball, etc.. None of those interested me. I continued to search the course offerings and I found the perfect PE credit...skiing! I could not believe that I could earn credit for doing something like that, especially since I live in Missouri. I had heard about a new (at the time) ski area near Eureka, but I had never been there.

I registered for the Skiing PE course and received some very simple instructions: arrive at Hidden Valley at 6 pm and check in with the course instructor who would be in the lodge, and then go skiing. That was it! There were no organized group activities or lessons as part of this course, just a requirement to show up and ski. It was the best class I ever took in college; and an easy “A”.

About thirty years have passed since that class. I have skied at dozens of large ski areas in Colorado, Utah, and Montana. I have purchased and sold countless sets of skis and have logged several hundred days of skiing since that class. Yet, the majority of that skiing happened and still happens right here in Eureka, Missouri. I plan to be on the slopes at Hidden Valley this coming weekend!

It still amazes me that the rest of the St. Louis area can be painted with the drab hues of winter and this beautiful valley will be glistening with snow. This is no easy task! It takes about 75,000 to 100,000 gallons of water to cover an area the size of a football field with 6″ of man made snow. Hidden Valley comprises over 60 skiable acres with mid season snow depths of five to six feet of snow. That is a lot of snow and a lot of water!

Most of what ends up as snow on the slopes begins as lake water in one of several large reservoirs at the base of the property. For the majority of the year it is common to see ducks or geese on the water and deer quenching their thirst at the shores. This lake water is a life giving presence in the sweltering heat of the Midwest summer. But once the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, this murky reservoir water changes into something beautiful and completely different...snow.

This change involves a process. Reservoir water is drawn through a pump station and distributed via a network of pipes to the snow guns. Another series of pipes carries highly compressed air to the snow guns, too. The proper balance of water, compressed air, and cold temperatures combine inside the snow guns and beautiful, white snow comes out the other end. It is truly a remarkable change!

The same thing is possible in our lives. Change. I’m not suggesting a change along the lines of a new hair cut or a slimmer body. Rather, this is a change of epic proportions. One where we enter the ‘snow gun’ of God’s love and our life, combined with God’s grace in Jesus, and stirred with the presence of the Holy Spirit can change us, from the inside out. A change of heart. A change of ownership (from us to God). A fullness of life defined by an inexplicable joy and an extravagant love. Something ordinary changed into something extraordinary.

Man can change murky water into snow.

God can change a hardened heart into a wellspring of new life.

Now, that is change.

[pastortimschulte-blog]

Overflow... I began a new Thanksgiving Day tradition a few years ago. Before gathering with family and friends, I load my mountain bike on to the Jeep and head to Greensfelder County Park and rip through some of the best single track in the state. It's a great way to start the day! This morning, on the way to Greensfelder, I drove through the Arbors of Rockwood, a new 552 home subdivision in Eureka. I drive through the subdivision at least once a week and it's exciting to see all of the new homes being built. As I made my way towards the end of one of the streets, I saw something unusual in the middle of the cul de sac. I stopped the Jeep and stepped out of the vehicle for a closer look. It looked like someone ran over a can of triple expanding foam; a product used to seal gaps in houses. The foam had flowed out of the can and formed a large dome of foam. There were also clumps of foam up to 20 feet from the impact area. At first glance, I smiled at this sight. After all, this exploded can of foam reminds me of what I typically feel like after one, or several, large meals on Thanksgiving Day. It seemed fitting to see this "triple expanded" explosion of foam just a few hours before our Thanksgiving family dinner. I lowered myself until I was on my hands and knees on this newly poured street. I looked closer at this mess and was intrigued by the flow of foam oozing from the ruptured can. While this could certainly represent any of us after consuming a large Thanksgiving Day meal, I saw something different. What if my life, your life, each of our lives are represented by this can? God has poured His amazing love and grace into our lives. It's easy to keep it to ourselves. It's safe. It's comfortable. It requires nothing of us to keep this amazing gift to ourselves. But what if we allow that love and grace to flow...no, to overflow from our lives? It would expand into the lives of those around us; covering others with the amazing grace and the unfathomable love of God. What if we let the love of God explode and expand beyond our "can"...who's life would be forever changed? What if we allowed the love of God to overflow through us? "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you." 1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NIV)