Orphaned

Have you ever lost your parents? Been walking in a store and looking at your favorite toy and turn around and they are not there…

You are alone. No one around. Now this is not the same as being orphaned. But for that moment you do not know what to do or where to go. You are alone, surrounded by people. People that might want to do you harm, people you do not know and can not trust…

Jesus promised us in John 14:16 that he would not leave us alone. He would not leave us orphaned. He goes on in John to tell us He is leaving us, we will not see Him. Unlike losing our parents, we have been warned. Jesus tells us He is going to be here, and then we will not see Him, He will be gone. In the blink of an eye it will seem that our world has ended, and everything has changed. And it has. nut He has not orphaned us! He will come back and get us. John 14 starts with one of the verses I hear/preach on at funerals. “In My Father’s house are many mansions, and I will come and take you to myself, so where I am you maybe also.” (my paraphrase). Jesus tells us there is a place for us, for all of us. He is not going to leave us, for long. He is coming back for us.

So in your darkest hour when it seems like God has left the building and is no where to be found, have heart and trust in the promise that He will not leave you orphaned!

Restore us…

I was taking my girls to school this morning and Stronger by Mandisa came on KSBJ.

Here is the first verse:

Hey, heard you were up all night
Thinking about how your world ain’t right
And you wonder if things will ever get better
And you’re asking why is it always raining on you
When all you want is just a little good news
Instead of standing there stuck out in the weather

As I heard these words on the radio driving down the road, I began to cry. You see I have been waiting for a phone call about a call to a new congregation, and it did not come but an email did. Saying that the congregation was moving forward. I saw this email at just before 4:00 am my time and I could not go back to sleep after reading it. I thought this congregation was the one, and I had stayed up almost all night last Thursday into Friday waiting for that call because the committee met last Thursday. I wanted this to be the one, yet not my will but Yours be done oh Lord. (that is much easier to say or type than it is to live!)

So today I sat down and read the readings for the day. James 3:17-18, Isaiah 32:9-20 and Psalm 80. All I can think about is what is happening in my life and these first 2 verses are not speaking to me. But there is the repeated verse in Psalm 80 “Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”

And I thought about the song Stronger:

Oh, don’t hang your head
It’s gonna end
God’s right there
Even if it’s hard to see Him
I promise you that He still cares

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain’t gonna last forever
And things can only get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger
Gonna make you stronger, stronger, stronger
Believe me, this is gonna make you …

God is the one who is in control of everything, and He has the master schedule. It is not about us. Psalm 80 says “But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.” God allow your hand be upon Jesus the one at your right hand, and through Him we will all be blessed. And everything you are going through can be used by God to make you stronger and pull you closer to Him.

It is all about God’s timing and not ours and our ways are not His ways, and He has the best plan for us. So even in the disappointments, know that God will always have the last word, and that He is always with us and watching us, Walking with us through the dark night of the soul. He is your presence and peace. Allow Him to be your shelter and rest.

Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Live by the Spirit

Paul tells the Galatians to live by the Spirit. To not live by the flesh because the Spirit and the flesh are opposed to each other and we are to live in the Spirit to keep us from doing what we want to do…

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

So Paul says if we are led by the Spirit we are not under the law. Because the Spirit is connected to God and therefore does what God wants us to do and is not subject to the flesh. And the works of the flesh are obvious! Obvious? How is it then that we are all saying that our neighbors are the ones living in the flesh, and not doing what God wants them to do? We are always good at pointing out where others fail. I am the first to say that I live plenty of time in the flesh, but we need to look closer and see what we miss.

So what are these obvious works of the flesh? Fornication which is adultery so this means that any sex outside of marriage is out. Licentiousness is close to fornication but goes further to include non sexual items, but is really focused on sex. Impurity is anything that makes something else impure. Now this could be something that goes against the Levitical Law, which means anything pork is out, and if you are married you need to sleep in a different room from your wife when she is menstruating, and you can not eat shrimp or cheese burgers – unless you use goat cheese. You can not wear clothing made from mixed fibers. So I question how obvious impurity is. Idolatry is something that all of us fall short on. We all have something that takes the place of God. Idolatry is not just making a golden calf, it is putting something before God, so whenever we put something before God, i.e. our wants desires, our money, our families, our houses, our possessions, our congregations these are our idols. Only God can take that seat of worship in our lives. We all have idols and think we are ok on this, but here is a spot we all live in the flesh. Sorcery is interesting because how many of us live as sorcerers? But when we say that certain things can only be done by certain people is this not in some ways saying these people have special powers that others don’t, and couldn’t this be similar to sorcery? Enmities is when you harbor a grudge or wish ill will towards others. This could be taken to the point of saying that if you say that some people are not going to obtain the kingdom of heaven because of how they live, you are holding a grudge. By constantly putting this in the person face and reminding them of their short comings, is not the love Jesus told us to show. Strife is bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension or a jockeying for power position, so when you put yourself over anyone else fro any reason you are living in the flesh. Jealousy is something that we all have under control. We are not jealous of anyone… well. Anger is something that we all struggle with. But I would question this one as an emotion created by God, and are we not created in the image of God, and does not God get angry? So if God gets angry does God live in the flesh? (ok other than when Jesus was here…) Is anger an obvious sign of living in the flesh when anger is something that God displays? Quarrels, dissensions, and factions are things that keep us from living in unity which is what God calls us to, so anything we do that causes believers to be separated is living in the flesh, this is when we say our interpretation is correct, or not listening to the view of a brother or sister, saying that when someone else believes differently than us they are wrong. These things are putting ourselves before others and is living in the flesh and not allowing the Spirit to work through us. Do you see what I see and hear what I hear? That obvious is the works of the flesh, and obvious we are all very guilty of living in the flesh.

But Paul tells us to live by the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE! And love is joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Live in Love and allow the Spirit to fill you and guide you in every aspect of your life.

And always remember that God wants spiritual fruits not religious nuts!

pruned…

John tells us the I am statements of Jesus. These are important because I am is the name that God gave to Moses at the burning bush. I am is the name of God. And in John Jesus expands on this understanding through  the I am statements. This Sunday’s I am is the vine.

We all have heard this story from John 15:1-8 before. Jesus says, “I am the vine you are the branches. All who do not bear fruit are removed. If you remain in me you will bear much fruit but if not you will be thrown into the fire.” All branches that do not bear fruit are removed by God, the master gardener and thrown away. So you better make sure you are good and follow after God, because you will be removed if you do not do what is right and in the path of God…

Well that is not what it said. Hopefully you caught that I did not quote John 15 correctly. Now would be a good time to stop and read John 15:1-8. Here is a link to the NRSV of this text.

Did you get that. Jesus identifies himself and the father first. Then he talks about branches. Who are the branches? He has not defined that yet. It is not until later when He says that branches can not bear fruit by themselves it is only when they stay in contact with the vine that they can produce fruit. But he identifies himself and the father, then says branches that do not produce are removed. This is not what worries me. It is the next part, that all branches that do produce fruit are pruned so they will produce more fruit. So if you are connected to God and are producing fruit He is going to prune you, cut you back, and remove the parts that are in the way so you can produce more. So we will be cut and trimmed by God to produce more and better fruit. He will take each of us and trim us and mold us to bear more and better fruit. But remember He is the master gardener. He will work with us and mold us to be the best we can and apart from him we can not produce.

Jesus tells us we are the branches and we will produce fruit if we stay connected to him. So take the pruning, the waiting, the uncertainty, the questioning, the things that make no sense to us now, because God is using these things to work in and through us to help us to produce more and better fruit. Allow the master gardener to prune you and know that He is always working in and through you…

Mustard…

Mark 4:30-32 ESV

And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,  yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

Mustard is something not everyone likes. It is a weed according to kosher standards. So why is this what Jesus uses to compare the kingdom of God to?

It is something so small. In Jesus’ day it was the smallest of seeds known to man, this is no longer the case. But once this seed hit the soil it would become the largest of bushes and the birds would nest and rest in its branches. The mustard plant would take over and become something of stature. And the reason this is used to describe the kingdom of God is because that is what our faith is. Something small and insignificant but when he allow that master gardener to work with it grows into something mighty that can give others love and shelter and a place of rest from the worries of life. Our faith can show forth God’s live for us and for all of creation.

Jesus elsewhere talks about faith the size of a mustard seed and if you had this small of a faith you could move mountains. We take this as our faith is not enough, but that is not what Jesus said. He said if you had faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain move and it would. Maybe your faith is enough because why do you need to move a mountain? The faith you have been given is your gift and if you allow the one who gave it to you to work in and through it, it will only be a blessing in your life.

Allow the master gardener to work in you to produce a harvest that will have a bountiful effect on others around you.

What can we give?

Acts 8:9-25 tell us of Simon the magician and how he went from being a somebody great to being a nobody when he was baptized and started believing and being with Philip. He was enamored with the power of God. He once proclaimed himself to be someone great and now he realizes that he is nothing without God.

Then Peter and John came to Samaria to bring the Holy Spirit. Because the believers had been baptized but had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Now I wonder how it is that they knew they had not received the Holy Spirit, and why is it that the apostles from Jerusalem had to send someone to lay  hands on them so they might receive the Holy Spirit. This is one issue I have with the Lutheran service of baptism where we say that the baptized “has been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” I don’t argue the Holy Spirit indwelling, it happens. I wonder about the whole timing thing. Does the Holy Spirit wait until one is baptized before entering? If this is true how did the thief on the cross come to an understanding of who Jesus was and ask for the right to be with Him? How do we then explain Martin Luther’s explanation of the 3rd article of the Apostle’s Creed, which says (my paraphrase) I can not by my own understanding come to believe in God/Jesus Christ except through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that moves us to understand Grace and move towards it, so when does the Holy Spirit come, at baptism, or when ever she feels like it? This however is a topic for another discussion, but does help us in this discussion…

the subtitle for this blog is How Much Does it Cost?  You see Simon asked Peter and John when he saw what they were doing, laying on of hands and giving of the Holy Spirit, if he could have this power and he offered them money for this power. Now who of us that are involved in organized public ministry (meaning the church) have heard of someone using their money to get what they want? Never happens right? Wrong. We all know that people give their money and expect it to be used the way they want it to. And this my friends is what happens at a country club. If you want to be able to have say in how your money is used, then give it to a club where that money buys you membership. Do not give it to God for use in ministry and then think you can have complete control over what happens with it. Or do not give your money to God thinking it will get you something, like a better seat, or greater powers. The Holy Spirit gives gifts and to each as is apportioned by God. Your money does not effect this. God does not look on your financial situation, but He does know about it because He is the one that allowed you to be in the place you are. Money can not buy you powers from God or a better seat at the banquet.

Peter said to Simon, “Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.” I pray that wickedness will be removed from all of us, and we are forgiven. I pray that the Holy Spirit indwell in all of us and fill us with the power of God to show forth His mercy and grace to all.

What can we give? Or how much does it cost? It cost the life of Jesus and there is nothing you can give to obtain the mercy of God. But once you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, you will be moved to give everything freely…

Scattered

Now on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Some devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was trying to destroy the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word. Philip went down to the main city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the miraculous signs he was performing. For unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, were coming out of many who were possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. So there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:1b-8 NET)

Stephen was just stoned to death and Saul (Paul) approves of this and is going around collecting more followers of the way to bring to justice…

And the devout were scattered…

Do you feel like you have been scattered? For the past 2.5 months I have been without call, searching, wondering and wandering…

I have questioned why I am in this place at this time. I have questioned why this has happened to me, and why did I do this to my family? I wonder when this will be over and if ministry is actually what I am to be doing…

Now do not be concerned, the day I do not question God’s call on my life into ordained ministry is the day I will look for another vocation. God has called me, and that is really the point. In Acts those following the teaching of the apostles just saw one of those selected to serve them killed by those who were persecuting the church, the followers of the way. They are like the disciples who left Jesus on the cross they were scattered, because they were worried about being persecuted. But in Acts these people go out spreading the word about Jesus, they do not go and hide in a locked room. They are all out doing what they need to do.

I pray that God will lead me where He needs me, as I do the same for you. If you feel like you have been scattered, and do not belong, or you are running from persecution, or life that is getting you down, remember that the scattered in Acts still spread the news of Jesus and that is what you can do, because He gives you the strength to do that.

How much time do we need?

I was looking around on Facebook and found this quote and I had to share.

It made me wonder how much time do we need? I guess the real question is what is our priorities?

Here is the quote:
“Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.”

-H. Jackson Brown, Jr., writer

Magic Jesus Dust…

Today in the gospel lesson (John 14:26-31) we hear Jesus tell the disciples as the head up the Mount of Olives that they will all desert Him, and that Peter will deny Him 3 times. Peter vehemently said, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.”  And all of the disciples agreed…

However we know what comes next. At this point in the story though, Peter and disciples have this all worked out in their minds. They have seen what has happened, and they are looking forward to what they know will happen. They knew that Jesus was going to be the king and put down those who were oppressing their nation, and they were correct, but not how they thought.

And we never do that do we? I have had plans all of my life and think that is the way it should be. I heard Mark Hall of Casting Crowns this morning on the radio talking about magic Jesus dust. Magic Jesus dust is the stuff we go to Jesus for when we have our plans all together and we go to get His blessing on it. But as we see from the gospel passage in John that this is not how it works. We can not make up our minds and set our plans how we want and then go to Jesus and say, “Here it is and this is how it is going to happen.” He will tell us, “not so fast, I think we may need to rethink this…” There is no magic Jesus dust to make all of our plans to be what God wants. All through the Bible we are told to ask for what we want and God will give it, if it is in His will. If is the smallest biggest word in the English language.

If your plans are in line with what God knows is best for you, and we all know how often that happens… Well we can plan, but do not get attached. Ask Jesus first what needs to happen, and go with what He is telling you. Your plans are not His plans, and His ways are not our ways. So don’t go to Jesus looking for magic Jesus dust to make all your dreams come true, go to Jesus asking what His dreams are for you, and live into that, because that is the best way to go.

And always remember if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.

Will you be satisfied?

What is it that will satisfy you?

Or maybe a better question is will we ever be satisfied?

In the gospel text sent to me today, Philip says to Jesus, “Show us the Father and we will be satisfied.” Now is that really all it will take?

We all know people (and probably most of us if we will admit it) who say that if I could only get this I would be happy. They mean they would be satisfied with life. I worry about one of my children because they are like me and they want everything. I am horrible at the coveting commandments! I see something that some one else has and I have to have it. I have learned over the years that it is not possible to have everything, that does not mean that I still do not want it! But it is that thought that if I could have that then my life would be complete. And I see that in one of my children. I am trying to help them all (my children) realize that it is not what you have, or that everything is not worth having. I am trying to teach them the value of a dollar and what is affordable. For instance the older ones want cell phones. I do not think they “need” them yet, so my answer is when you can afford to pay for it, you can have one. That not only means the phone but the service… Recently we have had discussions about this because we have started Financial Peace Jr with our three children so the older 2 are asking about cell phones for their saving for things.  My wife and I explained to them that the phone that I have was $100. for just the phone and I pay about $100 a month for service (phone/data) and I have a 2 year contract so to get what I have they would need to save $2500 in order to do this. That does not change their resolve to getting their own phone, but it does show them it is not something that is going to happen quickly. I told the oldest to think about a Kindle, because she loves to read and this is a quicker item to achieve. But it is about learning that even once you get this thing, you will not be satisfied.

Philip asked Jesus to see the Father, and Jesus said “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”?” Philip already had what he was looking for and he did not know it. And that is true with most of us. We have so much around us that we are blessed with and yet we still want something else.

So I ask with what will you be satisfied? Look around you and count your blessings, and see how much you have and bask in the glory of what God has blessed you with. And then go and help others see their blessings, and help others see the love that God has for them.