In The Waiting

Have you ever felt that life is just a waiting game? When I reflect on my life, I can conclude that I have spent most of it waiting. Waiting on birthdays or vacations. Waiting for a husband. Waiting to become a mother. Waiting for God to reveal His purpose for my life. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. I have truly come to learn that life does not consist of “possible” waiting, but “perpetual” waiting. We are even told constantly throughout scripture to “wait on the Lord”. 

At times, the waiting is exciting and exhilarating. Most people can reflect on moments in life that were full of thrilling anticipation. And throughout life, even in the little things, we can feel joy and elation while waiting for something. However, many of us can also relate to the brokenness, heartache, and desperation that can accompany waiting. My husband, Tim, and I got married fairly young, and we always knew we wanted a family. Within the first year of marriage, we decided we were ready for God to bless us with children. (When I look back on it now, I can’t help but smile. It’s so very human of us to let God know we are “ready” for something.) We waited, and waited, and waited. After a year of waiting, praying, and pleading with the Lord, we went to the doctor, only to be told that it was very unlikely we would ever conceive a child of our own. We were absolutely shattered. It’s hard to even articulate the amount of pain and sorrow we experienced. BUT GOD! While in the middle of an adoption process, God answered our cries, and we were blessed with our son Tytus. Much to the doctor’s surprise, we not only had one miracle baby, but our sweet Eden came along two years later. I would love to say that while I waited on the Lord during this time I was always vigilant in prayer and consistently trusted His promises. But that would be a lie. I doubted Him; I struggled with anger and jealousy of others; I shed many, many tears. 

It wasn’t until recently that I truly started to reflect on what I should be doing in the waiting. Christ gives us the ultimate example in scripture as he waited on his crucifixion at Calvary. What did Jesus do as he awaited his death? He prayed! He set the ultimate example for us. 

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” –Matthew 26:36-39

Jesus was awaiting the worst possible death anyone can imagine. I learn from this text that while waiting, especially in trials, I must pray and communicate with God about it. It also shows me that it is ok to plead with God, and to implore Him to rescue and relieve me from my situation. I think sometimes we must remind ourselves that God does NOT delight in our sorrows. He is a “Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” and “he comforts us in all our troubles” (1 Cor. 1:3-4). He is also a God that desires relationship with us. I have learned that I can’t be afraid to talk to him and pour my heart to him while I wait on Him to reveal His purpose in my life. 

While prayer is essential to surviving the waiting periods of life, remembering His faithfulness and presence is just as important. God is in the waiting. He doesn’t send us off on our own to experience excruciating pain and loneliness. He also doesn’t want our waiting to be passive. While in times of waiting, He desires us to be active, growing, and trusting. 

Maybe you find yourself in a season of waiting. Even as a church, we are waiting on God to provide a building. As cliche as it sounds, truly the greatest thing we can do is PRAY! Pray that God would provide for that need. Or as we read about Jesus, pray that God would strip away something we are dreading. Be open and honest with God. Invite Him into the struggle, and share your heart with the only one who can truly understand and bring comfort. And remember that waiting should just be our situation–not our mindset. Put away the urge to wait passively, and get busy on what God has for you now! Waiting can be difficult, but if we allow it, it can teach us, mold us, and create something brand new within our lives. Trust Him…even in the waiting! 

Part 3: Why We Serve

 A few weeks ago Sam Metheny, our Executive Administrator, put out a call to the Partners at Veritas Church for guest writers to be featured on our website and weekly emails. If this is your first time visiting our blog then I encourage you to visit our back catalog! There is some good stuff there by our staff and the other pastors! This is the third article in a three part reflection on Christ-like service, why it is important to develop new Service Teams, and finally why we serve.

[31] When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. [32] If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. [33] Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ [34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:31–35 (ESV) 

During my time at Veritas Church Jesus has done amazing things in my life, especially in my understanding of service. Early on, I served because I wanted to meet people and make friends. As wonderful as those experiences were, because I am human, I also struggled with sin around my service. Often my sin showed up as pride for what I do, impatience with others, and a sense of being “owed” for my work. It isn’t surprising that I have felt this way, because my “why” for serving was grounded in my own desires. If I had continued to serve only out of my own desire, then I would have never been able to show Jesus’ love through my actions. Jesus has been gracious to me, and He has not allowed those sins to continue. He has radically changed me through His Gospel and the community of other Christians.   

John 13:34-35 cannot be clearer, we are to love one another as Jesus loved us, and by this love all people will know we follow Jesus. This command is concise, but it is not a thing we can do alone.  Jesus was addressing not just the individual disciples but the whole group. To follow Jesus is to be part of a community led by Him, the Church, locally and universally. Jesus used this community to change me so that I can begin to love others more than myself. I say ‘begin’ because the work is not yet complete, and I still struggle with sin daily. The pattern of a Christian life is one of confession, repentance, and joyful celebration alongside other followers of Jesus! 

To fulfill this command we need the power of the Holy Spirit, not just in ourselves but also in others, to shape our lives. Without the Holy Spirit, my brothers, and my sisters, I would forget my one hope in life and death. The greatest way we serve is through a Christ-like life, loving others as Jesus loved us. This is the reason that over the years so many redemption stories begin with Christians loving an unbeliever. No one comes to God, He comes to us, and often it is through a follower of Jesus. The call to serve is the call to love, to share the whole of scripture and God’s redemptive plan. 

The reason a follower of Jesus serves is because His love calls us to. That love drives and empowers us in all things. It can be easy to be discouraged by this broken world. That is ok brothers and sisters, but remember our hope is held on high. We serve as ambassadors to an infinite king with all authority in heaven and on earth. One day He will return and our joy will be complete, but right now we get a foretaste of that joy. Join me in service so that together we may taste and see all that Jesus has for us. 

I hope these blog posts have encouraged you to join us in serving one another. If you have any comments or questions about how you can serve then you can reach me at trey@veritasfayetteville.com or life@veritasfayetteville.com. 

For the fame of Jesus, 
Trey Perry
Lay Pastor | Veritas Church

Part 2: Why We Develop Service Teams

Recently Sam Metheny, our Executive Administrator,  put out a call to the Partners at Veritas Church to guest write a blog post for our website and weekly emails. When she did this I realized that I have never written anything for the church. This is the second article in a three part reflection on Christ-like service, why it is important to develop new Service Teams, and finally why we serve.  

[12] When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? [13] You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. [14] If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. [16] Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [17] If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. [18] I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ [19] I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. [20] Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” John 13:12–20 (ESV)

John 13:12 -20 is so powerful and humbling, because in many ways I can relate to what the disciples must have felt like. I don’t think I will ever fully understand what Jesus has done to me. The enormity of Jesus’ work, and the fact that it is historical and eternal often blows my mind. It is only through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and the subsequent indwelling of the Holy Spirit that I can begin to approach an understanding of God. Even so, when our Lord and Teacher tells us that just as he washed others we are to do the same, my first thoughts are “how” and “why”. It is a good thing that he has provided those answers! 

John 13:20 informs us that we have been sent by Jesus to present the Gospel to everyone so that they may know God. This isn’t new information, as the whole Bible clearly shows us that God has chosen to work through His people. At Veritas Church we wholeheartedly believe that from the time a person shows up in the parking lot until they leave, we are to show them Jesus. Part of the development of a Service Team is about training a member the “how” of our roles, but the most important part is the “why”. Every team member will meet someone each Sunday at a unique moment in their life. We may meet a person in the depths of personal struggle or at the height of personal triumph. When we have those encounters, because of the Holy Spirit, we have the opportunity to share the love of Jesus through our service. For about an hour and a half every week we get to help others experience His love as a community. It is also a reminder for us to do the same everywhere we go throughout the rest of the week.

There will come a time when Jesus calls me away, either to serve elsewhere or to His side. When that day comes I hope that during my time at Veritas Church I have enabled others to take my place.  So, I humbly ask that if you have not had the joy of serving at Veritas Church then reach out to us. Being part of a Service Team is more than just making sure Sunday morning happens. Serving others is an opportunity to connect to the mission of the Gospel in an intimate way, and it has brought me great joy these last 8 years. I invite you to join me in sharing Jesus with others.

In the final post we will continue to look at John chapter 13 and why we serve. I hope you join us in serving one another, and if you have any comments or questions you can reach me at trey@veritasfayetteville.com or life@veritasfayetteville.com.

For the fame of Jesus,
Trey Perry | Lay Pastor
trey@veritasfayetteville.com

Part 1: Christ-like Service

Recently Sam Metheny, our Executive Administrator, put out a call for guest bloggers for our website and weekly emails. I was instantly excited to hear from some new voices, but I also realized that I have never written anything for the church either. So, I thought it was about time that I changed that. I had a few posts worth of thoughts, so this is the first of three articles in which I reflect on Christ-like service, the importance of developing new Service Teams, and finally why we serve.

[1] Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. [2] During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, [3] Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, [4] rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. [5] Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. [6] He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” [7] Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” John 13:1–7 (ESV)

I have been a partner at Veritas Church for close to its entire life, and throughout that time Jesus has done amazing things in my life. Early on I began to serve, first on set-up and tear down, then I served as a sound technician, and eventually I began to lead the AVL team. My initial reasons were to meet new people and because I grew up in churches that modeled service regularly. Recently I have been reminded of my grandfather who served as a deacon at his small Baptist church. For most of my life my grandfather was an older man, well into retirement, and yet he did everything from the finances to building maintenance. Sometimes he would bring me along, and there was never a question of why, it was just something we did. However, it wasn’t until I was much older that I realized that service was more than just duty or tradition. My grandfather found great joy in showing the love of Christ by helping where there was a need. One of the many results of the way Jesus shaped his life was the joy he gained from serving others!

In John Chapter 13 we see a simple, yet impactful way in which Jesus, who has all authority in heaven and earth, washed the feet of his disciples. When looking at the significance of this action it is often mentioned that washing feet was one of the lowest jobs in the household. John points out that Jesus had every right to give this task to a follower. Jesus always acts counter to worldly expectations and provides his followers a model for humble service in love to others. However, there is more to Jesus’s actions than just the physical washing of feet or example in humility. Like the Lord’s Supper there is also a revelatory aspect to the washing of the disciples’ feet. Jesus points us to the greater truth of HIs work, that only He can wash us clean from our sin. When we serve others, we can meditate on this truth and give thanks to our Savior for the depth of His love for us. To serve in a Christ-like way is to joyfully put aside our authority and preference to worship Jesus through our service to others.

Next post we will continue to look at John chapter 13 and why we develop Service Teams at Veritas Church. I hope you join us in serving one another, and if you have any comments or questions you can reach me at trey@veritasfayetteville.com or life@veritasfayetteville.com.

For the fame of Jesus,
Trey Perry | Lay Pastor
trey@veritasfayetteville.com

Theology and Affections

I'd like to share a personal story with you guys. I learn really well by listening, and podcasts are my jam. I love to occupy my mind with good things while I am physically doing something that I consider mundane - driving, dishes, folding laundry, binding printed materials, editing photos. I have gravitated toward some podcasts lately that focus heavily on biblical themes, theological topics, or practical topics through the eyes of a biblical worldview. Not only do I enjoy the subject matter, but I also love the insights into the lives of the people that I'm listening to.

However, I caught myself (through the Lord's gracious conviction) enjoying these podcasts and other theological study topics more than I enjoyed time with God in prayer and study of his Word. It is as if I want to learn a whole lot about God and other people's opinions about his Word more than I want to come to God and grow my friendship with him.

This conviction brought a question to mind that I think is a question for more than myself: Is my study of theology growing my love and affection for Jesus, or is it feeding my tendency toward confirmation bias?

I'm reading the opinions of people that I agree with. I'm listening to the words of people that affirm my own opinions about sticky topics. I'm gaining knowledge, but that knowledge is not immediately encouraging me toward heart change. The problems don't stop here - is all of this study helping me to love my neighbor? To approach today's issues with compassion and truth? To handle the hearts of my children and my community with delicate care?

Do I look more like Jesus than I did before I started all of this study? If I can't say yes, I need to re-direct my efforts.

God's words through Paul in 1 Corinthians: If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Cor 13:1-2)

If you identify with any of these observations, join me in praising God for his work in our lives.

If you're interested in hearing what podcasts I've been binging lately, here you go:

Sincerely,
Samantha Metheny | Executive Administrator
samantha@veritasfayetteville.com