Today, we celebrate St Patrick’s Day and I am wearing green, even though I am not Irish. I am re-posting my blog about St Patrick from last year.
 
Other than shamrock shakes and wearing green, why is St Patrick recognized? St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. Though, widely known, much of his life is a mystery and it is difficult to determine what stories are accurate and what stories are legends.

Here is what we do know, from History.com:
St. Patrick was born in Britain and lived there until he was a teenager. It is known that St. Patrick was born to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D. Although his father was a Christian deacon, it has been suggested that he probably took on the role because of tax incentives and there is no evidence that Patrick came from a particularly religious family.

At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. (It is also believed that Patrick first began to dream of converting the Irish people to Christianity during his captivity.)

After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. According to his writing, a voice-which he believed to be God's voice spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland.

To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles to the Irish coast where he boarded a ship. After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second revelation; an angel in a dream telling him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission-to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish. (Interestingly, this mission contradicts the widely held notion that Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland.)
More can be read at http://www.history.com/topics/who-was-saint-patrick

St. Patrick was named a patron saint of Ireland for the spiritual impact he made in the country that kidnapped him and enslaved him for six years.

God does extraordinary things through ordinary people that hear and obey His voice.
What can you do on St. Patrick’s Day that is a response to obeying God?

Have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

A church that impacted many churches over the year, including ours, held its’ last service this past Sunday. I had heard that it was going to shut down and was quite surprised at the news. Truthfully, I was more curious than saddened. I read an article online that did not give reasons for the closure other than a declining congregation and a large campus to support.
 
In its prime, the church had 88 staff members, a school, and a satellite campus. It was well-known for large Christmas and Easter pageants which included live animals such as camels. Although a mainline denomination, the church used to hold Holy Spirit conferences that drew charismatic and Pentecostals to its campus. Our church would bring a youth team to help teach younger children while the parents were at the conference. Many of our people grew in their faith through their Holy Spirit teachings.
 
I read a blog by a person who was critical of signs and wonders movements. This person blamed the church for manipulating people into believing people were getting words of knowledge from God and were healing people. Another blog blamed the lead pastor for being divisive and creating disunity that resulted in most of the congregation to leave and start a new church.
 
The church’s own website blamed a man they allowed to come and lead the church down an authoritarian path around himself that contradicted scripture.
 
After I reading the various articles, I was concerned for the church I serve and lead. I believe God still speaks to people today, that the Holy Spirit still heals today, that signs and wonders are still evidence of God’s love and presence in our world today. As a church, we are desiring more activity of the Holy Spirit in our gatherings.
 
We recently clarified our purpose, mission and values. The closed mega-church had clearly written statements that did not prevent them from going drastically off course. What is the solution for staying close and true to God’s calling on our church? We must humbly and desperately hold on to Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our lives.
 
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.