Worship Retreat

Courageous Encouragement

2012-01-19T16:38:00.002-05:00

I was blessed to be able to share in our sermon series 'A Life Of Courage' the message 'Courageous Encouragement'. This was a challenging study for me and I trust God will challenge you also as we consider the source and the power of our words

Holiness and Sanctification part 2

2011-12-21T16:20:00.001-05:00

photo - Eric Wing

One term that holds as much tension as any other when we speak of holiness and sanctification is the term Wesley used, Christian perfection. Just the word perfection can cause reactionary definitions to flow freely. Wesley describes Christian Perfection this way, “The loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. This implies, that no wrong temper, none contrary to love, remains in the soul; and that all the thoughts, words and actions, are governed by pure love.”. Christian perfection is a descriptor of the possibility that our intention to love God and others could be made perfect by God's grace. Christian perfection is about our intent to love, it is not at all about being a superior Christian, or in claiming spiritual infallibility. “Christian perfection is not immunity from life's problems. . . Christian perfection is not a vaccination against reality.” (Dr. Steve Harper). Christian perfection speaks of a persons single intention and purpose in life being, to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and to love their neighbor as themselves. (Matthew 22).

How we come to define sin, purity, and every other term attached to holiness will be directly impacted with how we come to define the term Christian perfection. We need to teach and preach in this tension between the words that describe holiness so that others may know the fullness of a holy life beyond the cultural definition of a few words. This hard work in redefining our thoughts and expectations of what a holy life could and should be on both a personal and a corporate level are not only worth the effort and struggle, they are indeed the goal of God for all of His children. After the topic of salvation few others hold as much possibility for life altering transformation than the topic and teaching of holiness and sanctification. I used to think holiness was an unpopular subject due to the tension and conflict of the terminology, but as God has been growing me, I now believe it to be an unpopular subject because many do not know the astounding blessings that are made available in all of our lives if we would partner with the amazing work of God's grace in our personal sanctification.

Personal Holiness and Sanctification part 1

2011-11-30T18:14:00.001-05:00

Holiness and sanctification, strong and pure, enter the confines of our three pound thoughts and quickly bump into our misconceived presuppositions about God and about ourselves. At first, sanctification appears to stand out as a freak alien visitor when contrasted against our view of sin and God and life. But as we look at what has been set apart for God's purpose we, by God's grace, begin to experience an answer to a prayer that was prayed centuries ago, “. . . that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,” (Ephesians 1:18 NIV). The hope to which God has called us is a life that is not only redeemed, but a life that is cleansed and empowered to love God and others more and more. The riches of His glorious inheritance include God's sanctification of us that we may become His holy people. This new life, this holy sanctified life, as alien and unnatural as it may first appear, is not only possible, it is the life God had in mind for all of us even before the beginning.

There are, however, some significant issues related to our concept of, and participation, in the work of sanctification. One of the most problematic issues with our concept of holiness comes from our presuppositions and culturally filtered definitions of holiness terms. At times our preconceptions of these terms may even cause us to bristle at the very suggestion of applying them to ourselves. For example, on first encounter, the word perfection is draped in anything but humility. It is not a term that we find even remotely useful, for instance, on our resume. Perfection is not a term peppering the conversation of a first date, as we try to accurately describe ourselves. Yet perfection, in sanctification terms, is a useful and accurate descriptor of what God's grace is working toward in our lives.

This tension in definitions births opinions that, over time, become beloved filters that we sift our worldview through. The terms sin, perfection, love, truth, pride, humility, purity, and even holiness, among others, have all fallen into this tension of definitions and assumptions. We become quickly distracted by a cultural, man made, even doctrinal definition often causing us to miss the transformation that God longs to accomplish by His grace in our lives toward holiness. When we filter terms this way we risk diminishing the power of the cross of Christ and the power and purity of God in accomplishing a cleansing, healing work in us toward holiness.

art by Luis Toro

All In

2011-10-11T21:40:00.002-04:00

Consider the little word “in”. Beyond the many descriptive names we have for God or the words we useto somehow try and describe His mighty saving works, the little word“in” may be one of the most powerful that we read in scripture. Think about how this little word powerfully changes us. For examplethere is a great difference in thinking about music andthinking in music – one is a musician and one is not. Likewise, knowing about the Bible does not mean I will thinkbiblically in the Bible, in fact knowing about Jesusdoes not guarantee I am in Jesus.

This is much more thanprepositional word play, even memorizing the Word, without our beingin the Word does not make me a worshiper, just as memorizing a recipedoes not make me a Cook. We need “in”, we don't need moreknowledge “about” we need more “in”. When Jesus spoke to thewomen at the well about worship He did not say that worship is aboutspirit and about truth – Jesus said “Yet a time is coming and hasnow come when the true worshipers will worship the Father inthe Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipersthe Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship inthe Spirit and in truth.” (John 4)

Read John 15 this week and considerthe little word “in” prayerfully consider this word and how itdescribes you and Christ. Are you in Him and He in You? Let's beall in as we follow Christ Jesus.

In Christ

Pastor Eric

(art by Chris Orr)

Art In Worship Part Two

2011-09-01T18:11:00.003-04:00

mixed media image by Rose Beckman

Ask God this month to show you how to better engage with art, with creativity.At times our confining attitudes toward artistic expression in worship have also had an impact on our sacred spaces and on the focal points of our worship gatherings. For example, to make sure people did not confuse a sculpture for something to be worshiped, instead of its intended purpose as something to aid in our remembering the God we worship, the sculptures have been removed. The intent of the Reformers to refocus our worship on access to the Word for every worshiper was a needed and critical step forward in expanding the Kingdom, but the extreme shift threw sacred art out with the dirtied bathwater of idolatry.“The Bible and the pulpit were placed front and center in the church's life. The recovery of scripture was essential, to be sure, but the loss of art and the artist in worship was tragic.” - Throop

Our congregation is growing in its use and expectation of artistic expression. I am thankful for the openness to art in our church community I and look forward to seeing it grow. Though much has been lost in sacred artistic expression over time, I am thankful that much is being regained. I am encouraged, for example, by the rate at which Christian films have been improving in artistic quality, and in the continued improvement in the musicianship of Christian music. I believe God desires all that we are in our offerings of art in worship, and that He will accept the best of our heart when given to honor and glorify Him. Art that is honest about the struggles, trials and temptations we bear and about the freedom, peace and joy that God offers in Christ Jesus is art that our God deserves.

Our Great God deserves great art.

Change & Obedience

2011-08-19T18:19:00.001-04:00

Friday Thoughts: Ordination

2011-07-12T23:03:00.001-04:00

Friday Thoughts: Ordination: "Tonight Pastor Eric will receive ordination as an Elder in the Free Methodist Church. He will become Reverend Eric Wing. The halo is ge..."

Art In Worship - Part One

2011-06-20T14:53:00.000-04:00

Art In Worship – Part One

This is part one of a series of articles about the powerful subject of Art, and specifically, Art in worship. This oil painting is by Lori Macmath and is available at http://www.creationswap.com.

When we gather for worship, when we engage with the Word of God, with the person and presence of God we soon run out of ways to describe his complete holiness, power, love, wrath, comfort – only a few words, that like all the others, never attain their goal of describing a complete and fully accurate picture of the God we seek to worship. If we begin to think that we the created can ever fully describe our Creator then we need to wrestle with issues of pride before we address issues of art.

Art and artistic expression, the fluid and ambiguous descriptors of the stories, objects, images and sounds that we create. Though we are made in the likeness of The Creator God, we do not create Ex nihilo but rather we create out of our response to our life with and without God. This freedom to create is a depth of boundless opportunity to honor God or to honor ourselves. In this freedom to create art, we travel in areas that at first may seem to be filled with great risk and fear, but as we investigate deeper we find that art can contain and convey both intellect and emotion in powerful and transforming ways. However, with this great freedom, as in many areas of freedom and human will, artistic expression has been lowered to levels of idolatry, kidnapped and abused, often taking what was meant for beauty and purity and fully distorting it into expressions that are offensive and vulgar. We must regain artistic expression in worship to help us describe and adore things of God that are beyond the range of our language and intellect alone. How can the words and language that we create every fully describe the One who created us? There is much that we can know about God and much more that we can only describe with metaphor and artistic expression. We need art to do this.

Friday Thoughts: This morning I thought about God

2011-04-29T11:10:00.001-04:00

This is the weekly blog from our senior pastor Dave Kessler called Friday Thoughts - check it out.

Friday Thoughts: This morning I thought about God: "I thought this morning about God. That isn't a strange thing and most would expect that a pastor does that all the time. But, this mo..."

Our Responsibility In Worship

2011-03-31T22:34:00.001-04:00

I am reading the book "Exploring The Worship Spectrum" as part of a Wesley Seminary course on worship. This is only the second week of the course and I still have much to read but I couldn't wait to start sharing these ideas.

It is indeed a great blessing to freely gather together and worship God. To fully receive this blessing we must consider our own responsibility in the assembly of God's church. In the book of Malachi, the final book of the Old testament, we are reminded of the fact that throughout time God has never given less than His best for His children. From creation itself, all the way through time, to this next Sunday when His church gathers to worship, God has poured His best out upon the children He loves.

Malachi, the prophet, wrote that people had figured it cost them far less to put a lame lamb upon the altar rather than to offer the best of the flock. After everything that God has done, this was the best that people could bring, the sick and lame from among their flocks? Listen to God's heart break as He proclaims through the prophet: "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! - Malachi 1:10 - take some time and read for yourself this powerful account in Malachi 1. As we gather to worship God our responsibility is to kindle a useful fire on the altar of worship by bringing God our best - our heart, mind, soul and strength - all our best to kindle a useful flame of worship. This not a performance issue, this is an issue of motives.

After God spoke through the prophet Malachi He was silent for hundreds of years. No prophets proclaiming the Word, no signs or wonders, no manna from heaven, no water from rocks, God was silent. The people God loved had chosen to keep the best for themselves and to bring God the weakest and cheapest lambs they could - and then they waited for God's response - but God was silent - for hundreds of years they waited and God remained silent. Keep that in mind as you read the next thing they heard God proclaim to all people;

"In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" Luke 2:8-10

God brought His best lamb. May we do the same, may we give Him our best praise. May we bring all of out heart, soul, mind and strength to the altar of God. I can't wait to gather with the church next week and give God our best praise. May God be glorified in it.

40 Things Jesus Said - A 40 day devotional to Easter

2011-03-09T12:47:00.000-05:00

Day 40 - 40 Things Jesus Said from Eric Wing on Vimeo.

God is not fair, God is generous

2011-01-19T13:16:00.000-05:00

I had the privilege of speaking in our series "A Big Step Of Growth" on Generosity.

"Generosity is releasing control of what I think I own" - Pastor Dave Kessler

Falling In Love - Again

2010-12-22T16:03:00.000-05:00

During this Christmas season I was blessed to be able to take my oldest daughter out on a daddy daughter date night. She selected the restaurant - Daddy O's where we dined on mac and cheese, hot dogs, french fries and chocolate malts. We sat on the stools at the front counter as she leaned against me as we talked and laughed and ate. She then led me down main street pointing out her favorite decorations of Christmas which led us to a large beautiful Christmas tree in the middle of town. I took this picture on our walk, by the Christmas tree. And on this night as she smiled at me in the light of the tree that she had "discovered" I fell deeper in love again with my little girl. An unexpected blessing in a moment that seemed so simple but was so compelling, wonderful and pure. I held her little hand as we walked back to the car breathing a prayer of gratitude to God for this tailor-made moment that He had blessed me with. As I consider how much I love my children, I cannot begin to fathom the Love that God has lavished upon each of us. I hope that this Christmas you are blessed with a moment of falling deeper in love with someone as I did - that unexpected moment that cannot be faked or worked up, that moment that takes you to a profound place of clarity with your priorities and your burdens, your reason and your truth. In that moment may you evaluate again the love God has for you. God loved us enough to give His only Son, to save the world through Him. On this Christmas may you celebrate God falling in love with you again. Merry Christmas.

A Table For Two

2010-11-29T17:10:00.000-05:00

Psalm 145:4 One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. (NIV)

In 2008 my wife Susie and I were blessed, by the church I was serving, to attend an Arts Conference where we heard worship leader Ross Parsley speak. Ross spoke about worship in a multi-generational church. One of the metaphors that Ross presented is one that has stuck with me and that has value for us to consider as a picture of the multi-generational church family. The metaphor that Ross used was “family happens at the dinner table”. Let's hang on to Ross's thought as we pursue what this metaphor can help us to understand in becoming a multi-generational family of God.
Imagine the atmosphere and the cadence of dinner when it is just you and your spouse on a date, sitting comfortably at a table for two. It's quiet, calm, the lighting is low, a good waiter serves the meal but is careful to not trespass in the moment shared between a husband and wife at a table for two. The meal that is received is presented in single portions on individual plates. The food is displayed in colorful, creative, and unique ways, adding additional elements of celebration to this moment with you and your spouse, at a table for two. As an assistant pastor, seminary student, husband, and father of two little girls, six and eight years old, “A table for two, please” sounds like the most wonderful phrase I can imagine coming out of my mouth right now. We unquestionably need table for two time, but a table for two is not the table where family happens. As a church, we cannot neglect the multi-generational table and still expect to grow and thrive as a church family.
In contrast, consider an all-family, multi-generational dinner. Forget the quiet table for a couple to share, this is a table for a couple dozen to share. The meal that is received at the family table is served in deep bowls and on large platters that can be passed and shared with everyone. The multi-generational family table is not the tranquil and composed table for two, the family table is filled with energy and excitement. This atmosphere, at the multi-generational family table, is at times lively and boisterous. The cadence and moments at the multi-generational family table are enthusiastic and unpredictable. “Family happens at the dinner table”.
For the church it is easy to feel the appealing and subtle draw of reaching out to only one generation. After all, it is straightforward and undemanding to have dinner with people who are just like us. The conversation flows in an informal and relaxed exchange, the jokes are funny and do not need to be explained. Dinner with people just like us, people of the same generation, people with shared life experience, brings a comforting “we just get each other” flavor to the gathering. There are moments when this type of gathering is completely appropriate, but as a church we must not mistake this one generation table for two as being the church family.
Dr. Bob Whitesel, professor at Wesley Seminary, and Dr. Kent Hunter present in their book “A House Divided: Bridging the Generation Gaps in Your Church” that their “observation is that the leading reason churches are declining is because most are staffed, programmed, and envisioned to reach one generation.” When a church is content reaching only one generation, the church is, in effect, offering only a table for two. This can seem like an effective model but the one generation church will risk what Whitesel and Hunter term as “geriatrophy”. Geriatrophy is a congregational illness that is the result of a church remaining a one generational church, a table for two church, instead of a table for the whole family. Whitesel and Hunter clearly state that “geriatrophy can be successfully treated if the community has retained a portion of its younger generations.” We need every generation at the table for family to happen. This may mean that the church needs to reconsider its current model of ministry. We, as a church, have to consider if we love our table for two more than we love the unchurched that, as of yet, do not have a place at the family table.
The multi-generational family table requires an extreme amount of preparation and investment before, during and after the meal, but this work is part of being a family. This multi-generational dinner metaphor helps us consider how the hard work and care we invest in these moments has a tremendous impact on the experience and the familial growth of each generation in our church family.
Family celebrations are an obvious example of multi-generational events. At multi-generational gatherings, thoughtfulness and care are invested into each offering of food, surroundings, special moments, and prayer. Some dishes are prepared not because everyone at the table enjoys them but because specific generations in the family enjoy them. Each offering of food is prepared specifically to bless and nourish individuals of each generation gathered at the table. The youngest generation may need help in understanding and risking participation in consuming the wide variety of distinct flavors, colors, textures and aromas. The oldest generation may need help just getting to the table and receiving what is offered during the meal.
Continuing with the metaphor, “Family happens at the table”, we can observe generational behaviors and reactions. Parents caring for and assisting grandparents models for the multi-generational church how we are to love one another. Children seeing how the entire family walks through times of transition and times of celebration, giving God praise throughout, helps them see God as the unshakable foundation of the family. Grandparents intentionally seeking out the time and attention of their grandchildren, helps to foster a mutual love and respect across generations. A multi-generational gathering is not about everyone getting their way, but rather it is about thoughtfully and compassionately preparing an atmosphere where each generation is loved, blessed and nourished.
As we follow this metaphor it, of course, is not perfect. If God is not the initiator of our response, if He is not the source of all that we are in awe of and grateful for, then we risk being motivated not by awe and gratitude but rather by the motivation of performance and of pleasing man alone.
In considering how this can work, let's take a look at the Thanksgiving table, for example. Often there is an opportunity, after each dish has been lovingly prepared, for the family to share with one another a testimony of gratitude before the prayer is offered. This moment at the table can be a wonderful example of generations learning from each other, similar to Paul's urging in Titus 2. As grandma speaks and testifies to what she is grateful for, her children and her grandchildren can learn from her example and grow in their respect of her wisdom, experience and resources. This time at the multi-generational gathering is Psalm 145:4 lived out as “one generation commends [God's] works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” This is a time when families and generations can sing, laugh and remember together, they can taste the tears of laughter in joyful nostalgia, and gently recall the bitter taste of heartache and family loss. Every family has gone through the moment of coming together for a multi-generational gathering with heavy hearts as the physical gathering of the generations around the table clearly reminds the family of who no longer sits at the table as they once did. When God is the head of the family, these moments point to the hope that the family knows will not disappoint.
As the children and grandchildren share in their testimony of thanksgiving, the older generations can participate in cheering the younger on, in encouraging them to fully consider all that the Lord has done. This encouragement and and sincere concern by the older generation is critical in helping younger generations learn what it looks like to live life letting “the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16 (NIV). This requires respect among each generation and a greater desire to see others receive rather than making certain that you get what you want on your plate. The church must recapture the concept of a family, a family that offers gratitude and praise to “Our Father”. During these times at the table, at the multi-generational gatherings we begin to pick up our core values as a family, along with our unique family goals, expectations and burdens. The most significant core value that is assimilated at these multi-generational gatherings is that God is the undisputed head of this family.
Terry York, in the Journal Of Family Ministry writes, “Moving your congregation to cross-generational worship will take work, even if you now enjoy full-family attendance. But the work will be worth it if the result is a congregation that lives, celebrates, and mines life's journey and passages. Such a congregation will be able to address the needs presented by the whole of society, not just a selected generation.” Stepping forward into a multi-generational service is not a time to plan on our favorite table for two, this is a time of unity, of mutual respect, of creativity and of shared risk. It will, at times, be noisy, and it will most likely have moments that are messy. There will be times when generations have to be patient while other generations share. We will need to cooperate and not be selfish as we pass around the elements of the meal, all while becoming a family together at the table.

Eric H. Wing is a graduate student at Wesley Seminary at IWU and serves as an assistant pastor at the Midland Free Methodist Church in Midland, Michigan.

References
Whitesel, B. (2004). Growth by accident, death by planning : how not to kill a growing
congregation. Nashville, TN Abingdon Press.
Whitesel, Bob & Hunter, Kent R. (2000). A House Divided:Bridging The Generation Gaps In Your Church. Nashville, TN Abingdon Press
York, T. (2002). Cross-generational worship. Journal of Family Ministry, 16(4), 33-46. Retrieved from ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials database.

Following The Shepherd

2010-09-05T23:14:00.001-04:00

I had the chance to preach on John 10, and ask the question, what does it look like to follow the Shepherd?

Ground Breaking At MFMC

2010-06-05T00:06:00.001-04:00

We broke ground together as a church for our new office/training and student ministries building. We are very excited to see how God continues to grow His church and His people. Check out the video of the ground breaking here

Humility - Singing Mary's Song

2010-01-05T21:56:00.003-05:00

I had the privileged of teaching on humility and in this message I share what God has been teaching me about being humble. Humility is being honest about my current condition so that God can do miraculous things through me. You can listen to this message with the player below.

Ready For A New Season

2009-09-04T16:08:00.005-04:00

I'm ready for the new season to begin. It's going to be a great fall, following one of the best summer's ever. In this past year I have been blessed to see God at work in His people and in His church. He has been faithful, His promises have been true. He has been present, he has never left me on my own. He has blessed and he has provided in ways that have changed me and my family forever. I am blessed to work on a team that does not punt, it is wonderful to be part of a team that seeks only to give God glory - nobody is looking for credit, they are looking for how we can glorify God - I praise God for that. I have also been blessed with deeply intimate and profound friendships - I praise and thank God for that. It's been a great year.

In this past year we have lived in seven different places, they were all nice but they weren't ours. Today I write this post in the kitchen of a beautiful apartment that God has blessed us with. It's ours, it's very nice, it feels like home - Thank you Lord.

This past year we, like many others walked through the gunk of selling a home in Michigan. After being on the market over a year, we were blessed to close on our home just a few days ago. I thank God for His provision in selling our home and in providing a great real estate agent to help us through that part of our journey.

This year I was also blessed to baptize my oldest little girl. As a dad and as a pastor, that's got to be about the coolest thing I could ever be part of - period. I thank God for that blessing. The little video is of Katie getting baptized.

Today I was blessed to be able to bring the message. My senior pastor is fantastic - It is a great privilege to fill the pulpit for him when he is gone. This past year has been a time of growth for God's church. Even today (Labor Day Sunday) our attendance pushed forward in growth and we added an extra row of chars to the back row for our second service. God is doing great things. I am blessed to witness how He is healing and restoring, how he is meeting the needs of His children in ways that can only be God.

Blessing on top of blessing - that's last year with the Lord. I am looking forward to all that God has for me and for His church in this new season. I want to live life remembering all He has done for me and looking forward to all that He has for me this fall season.

Think small, Imagine big

2009-05-05T20:05:00.007-04:00

I feel myself leaning forward into the next season of my walk. Standing at the new beginnings of serving His call on my life in more vivid and pronounced ways. There is enough journey behind me to know there will be curves ahead of me, and still I lean into the next step. Putting weight and significance into my walk is bringing with it a distinct forward momentum - I want to get where He is calling me to. Some of the journey He is calling me too seems way to big for me to ever tackle. Some I am excited to get to, and some I'm excited to get out of. I sense God is going to move in strong ways this summer and I want to part of that moving.

Willow Creek has a Christmas program they have called "Imagine" and the promo line for the program keeps coming back to mind as I consider all that lay ahead. The promo line is "Think small, imagine Big". It has made me think of these verses in a different way.

Proverbs 3:5-7

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil

Ephesians 3:17-21
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Think small, Imagine big.

I am excited about this season, I am going to give myself to listen and obey - I want to lean forward into the walk - with the advantadge of Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine - I want to think small and imagine big.

Great Taste, More Filling

2009-03-27T13:53:00.002-04:00

I am having a blast, and I am being filled again and again as I partner with a staff that is doing all we can to give God glory. Every week as part of our Podcast production we record a conversation to tag on to the end of the Podcast. This has become a great time during the week. The last two conversations have been unguarded and Spirit led. These weekly conversations have become a blessing to be part of. I am also blessed to have moved my family this week into a place we can unpack our boxes after seven months of storage - the girls have been discovering forgotten toys and screaming like boiled kittens with unspeakable joy. I, however, have discovered that many of my forgotten toys have been mysteriously donated to Good Will- I gently weep.

Answers

2009-01-23T12:38:00.005-05:00

Today we are publishing a new video that I am very excited about. This video was shot and edited by Dan Goodell our youth director. Dan is a good friend and an extremely talented part of our team. I am blessed to be able to serve in such an anointed and creative environment.

I'm In a Cartoon!

2009-01-09T22:48:00.005-05:00

I have a wonderful friend, who happens to be a great artist, who drew me in a cartoon that was published in a magazine. Seriously - I had no idea how good it would be to be used, even slightly, as an image for a cartoon, but today I know this sweet rich chocolaty joy. And oh sweet potato-cakes do I look fine as a cartoon! As I drink in this tremendous moment, I also feel the burning unrestrained, unfettered, unsaturated jealousy of the rest of the , "un-drawn" as I now call them, pastoral staff. Oh yes, for the "un-drawn" it is indeed a dark, lonely, un-shadowed existence. Any reference to - standing in line, reading between the lines, drawing a conclusion, or simply asking them again and again "did you see my cartoon?", brings low mournful groans from deep inside their "un-drawn" bodies. Anyway, being a cartoon will definitely be included in my list of skills. I think this Sunday I'll sing the Chris Rice "Cartoon Song" to open service. That's all folks.

Yesterday is waiting

2008-11-25T13:49:00.004-05:00

I love being in Midland. During this transition I have written about the changes my family is walking through and about how all things seem new. This week Pastor Dave ended our Banner Quotes series with the banner "Yes Lord". In the message he said that "yesterday was waiting. No mater how far you've gone from yesterday it's always just a decision and step away". As we follow Jesus we need to be present in the day He has given us - this day. As I look back on yesterday, on great times, on times of great trial, on relationships and circumstances, and on achievement and failure, I need to celebrate some of yesterday and grieve some of yesterday, but more than anything I was reminded this week that I need to be present in today. I want to walk through today with my eyes wide open and not miss anything that God has made for me this day. I'm not trying to figure out tomorrow, I'm just trying to say "yes Lord" today.

Seek God & Live

2008-11-14T16:12:00.004-05:00

I shared my first sermon in Midland this past Sunday. Pastor Dave helped me put together a message that ended up being very personal. We are in a series of banner quotes and mine was "Seek God & Live". It seemed like such a simple idea yet through the week it became a strong reminder to me that in seeking, God instead of any number of selfish pursuits, I would find the life God desires for me. The idea that my potential, even if misused, underused or abused is not in conflict with God's dream for me. I do look back and see times when I was seeking my own dream, and my own plans, but today, in new ways, I am seeking God and I am finding that there is a dream that God has for me that fits my life better than my own dream ever could. I love where God is taking me, and I love the dream God is revealing each day. I choose to seek God and Live.

Check out our Podcast to hear the entire Banner Quotes Series.

All Things New

2008-09-18T09:22:00.007-04:00

I'm trying to make myself new. I have a new job, new town, new band, new car, new boss, new church, new coffee shop, three new places to sleep in six weeks - my little girl started kindergarten at a new school, new understanding of how much change my wife can take - it's a new day -

Midland

2008-08-15T13:19:00.004-04:00

I love being in Midland. Even getting here for my first day of ministry has been exciting. On my way up from Lansing I and my car met a deer while traveling around 70mph. The deer and my car did not survive the encounter. I, however, am doing great, and I praise God for that.

Loosing my car was a curve in life I didn't expect, but what God has done since this accident has been a tremendous blessing. Even in loosing one car, God has provided my family with two cars. A new, far nicer car than I expected to be able to put my girls in, and a great car for me to get around this beautiful town. God is great.

I have been here for two Sunday services and it has been wonderful to worship together. On our first Sunday we shared communion together. It was a powerful way to begin our covenant relationship together in ministry here at Midland. The Midland congregation also blessed our family with a welcome basket. It was actually several welcome baskets, it took four trips to get the baskets into Pastor Dave & Leah's house. We had a great meal together with the Midland staff and then we watched my little girls open gifts for just over an hour. It was like Christmas morning for them. I thank our Midland family for the way they have loved and welcomed my family. It is great to be here. May God fresh anointing to our ministry and our journey together.

Pastor Eric

Dear Central Family

2008-06-28T18:15:00.003-04:00

Dear Central Family, June 27, 2008

I have accepted a position with the Midland Free Methodist Church. I will begin serving in Midland on August 1st. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to serve in ministry with Pastor Sue and Pastor Shawn and Pastor Bruce. I am very thankful that Pastor Bruce partnered with me in prayer in this decision and allowed me the freedom to talk with him about anything during the process. I have learned a great deal from Pastor Bruce, in class as my instructor and in staff as my lead pastor. I have enjoyed working with the pastoral team and the support staff at Central, we will continue to serve as friends even as we serve from different locations. I am sad to leave friends, and I am excited to serve God in this new position. The prayerful pursuit for God's guidance in making this decision has been a significant endeavor, often walking Susie and I through times of disappointment and periods of hopeful expectation. God has been faithful, and has lead us in this new direction for our family.

We love the people of Central Free Methodist Church. We have gained the dearest friends that we have ever been blessed with in our adult lives. As God has walked us through this time He has been preparing us for this transition. Leaving friends will be a difficult portion of this decision. Leaving our worship ministry team will be the hardest part of this move. The worship team at Central knows what worship is and what worship is not. I have been blessed again and again as this team of people continues to grow musically, technically and spiritually as they have become wonderful worship leaders. We will miss you, but we are encouraged that friendships will endure even when we are apart.

Susie and I are grateful for all of the friendships and the many blessings the people of Central have showered upon us. We have been leading worship at Central for almost six years. When we came to Central we were in transition from our ministry with World Vision and we immediately found a home and a church family here at Central. We came to Central when our first daughter, Katie, was just two weeks old, and in the next year our second daughter, Jolie, was born. The people of Central have always loved our family and cared for us, blessing us and helping us in times of need, and celebrating God's faithful goodness with us. We are grateful for times when Susie and the girls got rides to church when we needed help with transportation. We are grateful for the times over the past years when individuals fixed cars for us when we were unable to do so. We are grateful for the many times that you blessed our family with food and fellowship, and gifts for the girls during Christmas. We are grateful for the anonymous help we received when we could not pay our water bill and our water was shut off. We are grateful for the tremendous blessing of many who have become moms and dads to us and grandmas and grandpas to our girls. Individuals in the church have blessed us over and over again. I am blessed to play a beautiful guitar that was a gift from an anonymous friend in the church. I have wanted to play on the golf league, and this year I am because of three wonderful friends in the church that have blessed me by buying me clubs, and paying for league fees. I am grateful for the tuition that individuals from Central have paid to allow me to pursue classes toward my ordination. I could go on and on as I recall all of the abundant blessings we have received, I trust God has used us to bless His church during this time, also. As a couple, Susie and I are immeasurably grateful for how much you have loved us and our two little girls.

We have been blessed to share our lives with you over the past years, sharing together times of triumph and times of great struggle. We have worshipped the unchanging God together even through changing times. Though this decision has been hard, I am very excited about Midland. Because of the love and friendship we have with the people of Central, I know you will be happy for us, also. Midland is a great fit for our family, and we are excited about the opportunity to partner with Pastor Dave Kessler. We will remember you in prayer, and will trust that God has great plans for us as well as for all of you at Central. Thank you for the privilege of serving as your worship leader during these past years. We will look forward to times when we are able to worship together again. May God bless us all as we submit to His authority and to the power of His grace.

"Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone's eyes. If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone," - Romans 12:9-18

Pastor Eric & Susie Wing
Katie Louise & Jolie Mae

Willow Arts Conference

2008-06-16T10:46:00.006-04:00

I am very grateful that Pastor Bruce sent me to the Willow Creek Arts Conference last week, it was a wonderful and challenging event. I was very blessed to be able to attend. The conference was very confirming and encouraging, some of the sessions fit perfectly with the core of our worship sabbatical study. There where other sessions that where much more personal. As I return to work I am struggling to see how to implement some challenging thoughts. I have felt this way before after a great conference, when you come home and the "real" world replaces the conference world. This time I need the "real" world to change a bit, I need to intentionally spend time to create, to wait on God and listen, to look for God in everyone and everything, to do what God has called me to do even in disappointing circumstances. I do not want to let go of this complicated struggle. The friction of wrestling with this conflict of ideas will, I believe, help me become the worship leader, the artist as intercessor, God wants me to be.

Don't Come Empty Handed

2008-05-08T00:23:00.003-04:00

Last night was the last night of our worship sabbatical. I have been so blessed by how the team has invested in this time of study. Individuals on the team have stepped up to the idea that on Sunday morning we present the offering we have prepared all week. One on our team has done this. He has put together a rehearsal CD in Garageband that is helping the entire team prepare a song for worship. This is "loaves and Fishes" worship for our team. Taking what we have and giving it back to God, and letting Him multiply it. An offering of time, talent and resources is multiplied in preparing the entire team to present an offering that God will multiply on Sunday morning to feed the multitude. Last week another member of our worship team honored God by the time he gave in preparation of a video of the worship team reading scripture paraphrases from our study. God blessed that offering as we shared the video last week.

This is how we are to worship, preparing an offering Monday through Saturday and on Sunday we do not show up empty handed, we present the offering of worship and the sacrifice of praise that we have prepared all week long. Here is part of the worship team video.

Worship Sabbatical April 22, 2008

2008-04-24T00:07:00.003-04:00

The team continues to pursue the heart of worship. I was blessed during this week of study by the depth of discussion and transformation that God is bringing to our worship team. I shared with the team that they can never go back to how things where, now that we have seen how worship could and should be. I believe this worship sabbatical time will bear fruit in this team and for this congregation for years to come.

After our teaching and discussion time we began "mic & monitor night". This focus on how to use the equipment we have, made a dramatic improvement to our monitor mix. The team also took part in producing a video to share with the congregation to help communicate how God has lead each of us during this worship sabbatical.

Worship at Central Free Methodist

2008-04-17T23:51:00.002-04:00

Worship Sabbatical wk4

2008-04-16T20:55:00.003-04:00

Last night the worship team met for our fourth week of worship sabbatical. It was a great night as all shared from the homework that we have been doing together. I am excited about sharing this study I have put together with our congregation and eventually with other worship teams. This time of spiritual growth and deliberate focus is having a great impact on the worship team, and I believe will have a great impact on how this congregation will worship our Redeemer, Savior and Friend.

Stop Prepare Worship

2008-04-07T16:00:00.006-04:00

We are taking a worship sabbatical. This will involve two new activities for our team. One, we will begin to meet as an entire group each Tuesday night. Two, we are going to step away from serving on Sunday morning for an extended period, so that we are able to stop, prepare and worship. As we learn and grow together we will take time to share insights that have been inspired from our personal time in God’s word. The purpose of this sabbatical will be to build a worship ministry that is vibrant, spiritually alert, fervent, and committed to seeing God’s purposes fulfilled through our corporate worship. The worship ministry that finds this kind of momentum will be used by God to impact the community in a powerful way.

God's Love

2008-04-04T09:08:00.001-04:00

During my two day retreat at St. Francis retreat center I was very much invested in seeking God's will. But like God often does, He had something different in mind. I sat down at a table prepared for me and began enjoying the meal. As I was reflecting on my pursuit of God's will I suddenly was truly blessed by the pitcher of water on my table! It seems like a very simple idea as I share it, but it is a very powerful idea when I embrace it. God reminded me through a simple pitcher of ice water that His will was that I know how greatly He loves me, cares for me, and provides for me. He is the source of rest, refreshment, and life.
I decided at this meal to buy a water pitcher to have on my family's table at home. I want this water pitcher to be a reminder for my family and I, of God's love, of God's care and of God's providing life to us.

God In Me

2008-03-13T22:18:00.003-04:00

Jack Handy writes - “If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”

I was blessed by the love and support of my family and my church staff to be able to invest two days in prayer and study at St. Francis Retreat Center. During my time I had such a renewed sense of how much God loves us. It sounds flat as I write this but spending that time in God's word and having uninterrupted worship and prayer time just kept crushing me with the significance of God's love in my life. I went with a list of questions, I came home with the same set of questions. I came back today from my retreat with a greater thirst for just being with Him. I came home with a renewed desire and urgency to know God better and to have Him fully dwell within me. I guess my questions can wait, they don't seem as urgent as they did a couple of days ago.

Seeking God's Will

2008-03-10T23:24:00.002-04:00

In seeking God's will I have asked questions that I would bet are quite popular with anyone who has pursued this goal. "what do you want me to do God?" "Why have you put me in this situation God?" "What in the world are you doing God?"

It's this last question that I believe has brought me the closest to the truth of knowing God's will. I am learning that seeking God's will is not just asking God if we should by this house or that house, or if we should take this job or that job, or if we should marry this person or not, or if I should have raisin bran or corn chex. Seeking God's will is as unimaginable and as simple as seeking God. To know God, to know His ways and His thoughts. God's will is that we would know Him. In knowing Him we can begin to renew our minds and become like Him and discern His ways.

Paul said it pretty well
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

That is exactly what I am after.

Life Giver

2008-03-04T16:29:00.006-05:00

This is a copy of an article written by Ron DeBoer. It is basketball season, and this is a story about basketball with a ESPN video. I have been using this story with our worship team to prepare us for Easter. This story reminds me in a powerful way of what God donated so that we could receive life. Read the story, watch the video and enter Easter knowing that a Father watched His Son die so that all of us could live.

Life, Death, Rebirth
by Ron DeBoer
1/4/2008

If you’re a college basketball fan, you know what I mean when I refer to “March Madness.” It’s that time in the spring when the best NCAA Division One men’s basketball teams begin their journey on the Road to the Final Four in an attempt at roundball supremacy. The journey begins with Selection Sunday, which this year occurs on March 16, when the sixty-four teams are chosen and slated into the tournament brackets. It’s an exciting time for everyone associated with a team that makes the tournament—its fans, cheerleaders, marching band, and even the mascot.

This article isn’t about the upsets of top seeds or the buzzer beater in one of the regional finals. This article isn’t about the madness that will begin in a few short weeks at sites all across the country. This article is about last year’s tournament and, particularly, the North Carolina Tar Heels mascot and the tremendous impact of the young man who wore that suit in saving the lives of over fifty people.

* The spiritual imagery emanating from this video gives me goosebumps. The organ donation administrator: “The gift that Jason gave—there’s no greater gift.” The reporter’s voice-over: “All the survivors struggle with guilt—someone else had to die so they could live.” And of course the testimony of Emmitt Ray, Jason’s father: “I don’t know how anyone could listen to some of the stories and the timing and everything that has occurred, and not think an architect is doing that—you know, it’s like God designed it.” You get the feeling when you read and hear about Jason Ray that if, before his death, he had been able to meet the people he saved afterwards, he might have chosen to die.

As we approach Easter, I often imagine the crucifixion of Jesus as seen by God’s eyes. I imagine the Father watching his Son being humiliated, tortured, and killed. When Jesus rises from the dead, I imagine God’s great satisfaction and pride in his son. His son—dying not for just fifty people, but for all of humankind then and in the future.

We are asked to be Christ-imitators in all we do, giving of ourselves freely and generously. Jason chose to donate his organs. Many of us may never get an opportunity to save others in that way. But we can save people in other ways by giving of our resources, time, and love. Jason donated himself to others when he was alive, too. God used his death to save others, but before that, God was surely using his life to save others as well.

God wants to use your life, too. In 2 Corinthians 9:7-9, Paul tells the people, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, ‘They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.’”

For me, Jason’s story doesn’t end with his life and death. I first received this video from a friend of mine who does not believe in God. My friend is a basketball fanatic who rejected God years ago when his mother was taken at a young age with cancer. Through his story, Jason is donating parts of his spiritual heart and impacting people like my friend whom he never met.

You and I can do the same today.

Council of Fears

2008-02-07T15:07:00.000-05:00

I have been praying Nehemiah 1:5-11, a bold prayer that reminds us that we can be completely confident in God even as we are completely surrendered to Him. As our team has been looking at Nehemiah to appropriate lessons for leading worship, I have been reminded by one of my prayer partners that Nehemiah did not take the council of his fears. He did not fold under very real justified fears. He was not reckless, but instead he was resilient, trusting that he was called by God to do a "great work". How often the church is handicapped by the council of our fears. Even in the seemingly mundane details of the day, fear is often at the helm. I have been asking God to help me to live and pray and walk boldly in full confidence of who He is - the great God.
As I have been considering these ideas, I am reminded of another scripture that contains a bold prayer - 2 Samuel 7:27-29. In boldness we cannot take a posture of demanding anything of God, but maybe too often we pray with more confidence in our fears than confidence in our God. Let's consider who we pray to when we pray, the Sovereign Lord whose words are Trustworthy!

2 Samuel 7:27-29

27 "O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, 'I will build a house for you.' So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer. 28 O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever."

In all your ways

2008-01-24T16:03:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

In all your ways - this phrase has been a point of spiritual growth for me since just before Christmas. Like many, I have been in pursuit of God's will in my life. "Lord show me what You want me to do - where You want me to be". I have been asking God to show me what He wants me to do, what His will is for me, and I believe He has. He has shown me a deeper application to a verse I've known since I was a kid Proverbs 3:5,6. The deeper application comes with the word acknowledge in verse six. To acknowledge is more of a polite gesture for us today, but I feel God's desire in the word acknowledge, is for me to be completely riveted to Him.

This idea is helping me see that seeking God's will for my life has never been His desire - but seeking Him in all of my life is His desire. This all seems a bit simple, but when we consider the way God asks us to have a relationship with Him, we begin to see how simply God wants this relationship to work.

In John 6:40 it says For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life. 1 Peter 5:7 says Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. We believe - we have eternal life, we can dump all our anxiety on Him because He takes care of us. We really struggle with how simple God wants this relationship with Him to work.

Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

We have far too much of our own understanding being trusted, followed and acknowledged in our lives as the body of Christ. When in contrast the wisdom of God says lean not on your own understanding we somehow cannot resist building on our own short sightedness and arrogance. I want in myself to become a person who does not lean on myown understanding , but in every single area of my life may I become completely riveted to who God is, and to what He is doing. When we can do this we will see God's will as He makes our paths straight.

for what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees Duet. 10:12.

I want to be riveted to Him in all my ways

Thank You

2007-10-04T21:54:00.000-04:00

Thank you all for taking part in this years worship retreat. It was a blessing to have Pastor Bruce and Pastor Dave lead in teaching. May we live the gospel, and may God use us all, to draw people to Him and to the hope that is only found in being set free.

Eric

Retreat outline

2007-08-22T22:05:00.000-04:00

"An Adventure To Freedom"
Tentative Schedule

9:00 am - Worship - PRAISE - Being consumed with who God is and what He has done

9:15 am - Pastor Bruce - Our Offering of Worship part 1

10:00 am - Worship - DEVOTION - A willingness to give yourself consistently, completely and wholeheartedly to God

10:15 am - Pastor Dave Kessler - Dragon Gazing

11:45 am - Prayer and Worship - COMMUNION - Building a relationship with God by praying and listening

12:00 noon - El Ewe En Ci eightch

1:00 pm - Worship - ADORATION - Intimate, personal, loving worship

1:15 pm - Eric - Our Offering of Worship part 2

2:00 - 4:00 pm - Pastor Dave Kessler - The King's View

An Adventure To Freedom

2007-08-21T23:51:00.001-04:00

I am excited to invite you to this years worship retreat. The retreat will be Saturday, September 15th from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. We will be meeting at the Okemos Conference Center

This Sunday you will receive your copy of the book "Backyard Dwellers" by Pastor David Kessler. Pastor Dave will be our guest teacher during our retreat. As a team I am asking you to invest in reading this book BEFORE the retreat so we may get the most from our time with Pastor Dave. Our time together will also include teaching from Pastor Bruce, . . . and I may say a couple things.

Our focus this year is "An Adventure To Freedom" - the subtitle of Pastor Dave's book "Backyard Dwellers". My prayer is that through this study and teaching we will be better equipped to bring an offering of worship and a sacrifice of praise