Think small, Imagine big

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.