Jeff Peterson

They greeted her as she returned to her hometown by her name, Naomi, which means pleasant. Yet, she immediately rebutted, “Call me Mara, [bitterness] for ‘the Lord has made my life very bitter.’ (Ruth 1:20) Reading through this story in recent days I once again was struck by the overwhelming anguish the losses of life had brought into this woman’s soul.

This same week I have sat with two couples that are feeling much the same; as life has dealt them incredible bitterness of loss. Thankfully both are couples with deep faith, still clinging to their God as they seek to stumble through the present darkness.

Thankfully they are not alone in their suffering. For this is what this week of Passion is to remind us of in the life of our Savior. Isaiah 53:4 says one aspect of his suffering for our salvation would be the carrying of our ‘sorrows’ (grief, pain). The focus of our ‘Service of Shadows’ tonight will be that anguish Jesus endured for us. It will be a sobering night, even as life can be so very sober.

The beauty of it all, is resurrected in our souls at the close of the book of Ruth, the fulfillment of Isaiah 53 and my firm belief these couples will find themselves in a new season of life and gain and blessing one day. Naomi was returning to Bethlehem in her bitterness, with no knowledge that centuries later her name would be associated in the family lineage of God’s own Son, born in that very town. Oh the mysteries of God…and of the lives we lead. As we follow Him, He truly resurrects our ashes to beauty, our sorrows to joys and our losses to gain. That is the message of Easter.

Such moments are daggers. Due to the uniqueness of my schedule today, I left home with three changes of clothing. The middle set was a suit and tie to attend an event honoring an incredible man, Loren Triplett, for his years of missionary service/leadership. When I went to change for the meeting, I realized I had everything except…my dress shoes. After looking over the shoes of every guy on staff I realized I was doomed to wear the casual ones I had (at least the right color) in the hope no one other than myself would notice.

As I sat listening to an incredible over-view of the ministry of Loren and Millie Triplett, another aspect of shoes struck my heart. This great pioneer preacher, with a burning passion for souls and missions was being honored for the path of faithful ministry he is leaving behind. His four children, all in vocational ministry were lined across the front row. The room was filled with those like myself that were relishing to hear and see the old clips of his passionate preaching. Afterward, we were led to the lobby of AGTS for the unveiling of a plaque and endowment in his honor to pass on his legacy to future graduate students headed into missions work.

It was standing there that the paranoia of my own shoes gave way to a biblical reality of much greater importance. This ceremony was one of replacing shoes. As we feel of so many in our lives, ‘no one’ can fill Loren Triplett’s shoes; and yet, someone will and already has. This stark reality is found throughout Scripture as one man’s leadership is passed to another – generation to generation. How sobering…and yet, how beautiful.

In my short time of pastoring Central, I have had several incredible moments with a man I only knew and admired from a distance. Now, there have been multiple prayer times at the altar and I have been blessed as so many, by the ever-positive outlook of an aging great leader in our movement. I love his shoes. They were filled with what Isaiah called “beautiful feet” (52:7). Yet, I am confident that God will continue to supply others with the same size and fit, to continue the building of His Kingdom in this earth. As was emphasized in the summary of Loren Triplett’s legacy today: “Everything to God’s glory!”

Looking out over what is known as ‘Sodom and Gomorrah’, hugging and holding multiple people who are HIV positive after listening to their difficult stories, watching girls who have experienced tragic abuse dance in a circle around food purchased for the ministry they now see as a safe ‘home’, seeing a building go up as the fruition of a 19 year old dream on a property purchased in 1993 for its purpose, watching a team where most barely knew one another upon departure grow close and enjoy one another by the trip’s end…

As with the many missions trips I have taken through the years, it is always an interesting few days upon returning. Sights, sounds, smells, tastes, faces and ‘moments’ pepper your mind as you go about your daily business back in the routine of life at home. So yes, since returning last Sunday with a team of 18 from Ghana, the entire week has had plenty of flashes of Ghana in my mind…it was a great trip!

I’m excited for the team to share next Sunday night (26th) their experiences and to report back to Central on the investment made in the five ministries we focused upon in Accra, Ghana. Each was impacted in a significant way through the giving and prayers of Central. We will again, be highlighting:
the digging and dedication of a well – what an incredible moment that was!
3 days of ministry at Lifelines home for abandoned / trafficked young ladies – an awesome ministry!
2 days of meeting with many HIV positive – incredible learning experience, key word we heard “stigmatized”
1 day at a Bible college in the north of Ghana – great needs / a special memory for one of our team members
the building of a tabernacle for a ministry with both national, and even continental impact for Africa
6 speaking engagements last Sunday – great for our team to experience the spiritually rich joy in the hearts of many who live in extreme financial poverty

It will be great to worship once again at Central this Sunday, but in the distance of 18 minds will no doubt be the experiences of West Africa.

Calibrate…then, Faith. It will be a good start to the year on Sunday mornings at Central. There are moments as a pastor that I pause to reflect on the incredible privilege and responsibility it is to bring the Word of God to people on a regular basis. It’s something I never take lightly and am so grateful for.

As we embark on a new year, beginning this Sunday will be a short series considering the calibrating, i.e. assessing, setting and/or adjusting of our lives for the year ahead. While this should be a regular discipline to the Christ-follower, this time of the year just seems to call for it.

In February, we will begin a lengthy series through one of the classic chapters of God’s Word, Hebrews 11. For months I’ve been preparing my heart in anticipation of what we will discover for our own walk of faith from these ‘ancients’ of Scripture. It will be an enlightening and extremely applicable series for us all.

The word God has laid upon my heart for Central Assembly this year is ‘passion’. I pray we allow God to instill greater passion for worship, His Word, prayer, our community and world, and greatest of all, simply Him. Let’s make it a great year together.

Well, it’s 6:36 a.m. Christmas morn and the city lights of Kansas City are fading in the distance. I’m thankful as I reflect on the beautiful worship, communion, and singing of the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ just after the lighting of the final Advent Candle. It was great to worship together this Christmas Eve.

Glancing out the window Phoenix-bound to enjoy this next week with our family, I was struck with a memory of some twenty-five years ago. That night, as the plane lowered into the lights of Phoenix, my heart was filled with one prayer, “Lord, use me.” Returning from a speaking engagement, Phoenix had now become home with a youth ministry to return to. I distinctly recall the passion I felt in that prayer as I looked over the city, “Lord, use me. Please use me greatly.”

These many years later the prayer is the same. If anything, it has matured in understanding, but not dimmed in passion. I’ve never wanted to settle for waste, but always to push to be productive in God’s Kingdom. Such is my prayer as we near a new year for Central Assembly and the community we share in.

In this unique week between the Sundays of Christmas and New Year’s Day, it provides the perfect time for some rest, reflection and re-charging for the year ahead. With great anticipation I enter 2012 because I am convinced God wants to work greatly in and through Central Assembly. That word ‘passion’ is what He dropped into my heart just a few days ago…that 2012 would be a year for Central Assembly of much greater passion in worship, passion for His Word, passion for relationships, and passion to impact our community.

Would you join me in praying as we head into 2012 that God would do this within your own heart? The more of us that seek greater spiritual passion, the more we will experience it as a whole community of followers of Jesus that worship at 1301 N Boonville. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!