Peace

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The Peace of God will guard your hearts and minds… Doesn’t that give you a warm fuzzy feeling?  Our hearts and minds are guarded in Christ Jesus.  And how…

Just before this Paul urges the Philippians… “I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.”  The Philippians are to help Euodia and Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. It doesn’t say we need to believe or understand the same thing. It does not say we have to agree on all the details. It says we have to be of the same mind in Christ. And this will guard out hearts and our minds in Christ.  Being of the same mind in Christ and agreeing we are together in Christ will allow us to Rejoice and seek everything that God wants for us through prayer and supplication. Agree you are one in Christ. Do not seek to believe the same thing, think the same thing, or thing agree on all of the details, we are one in Christ and in this we can have the peace the surpasses all understanding.

Gracious God, help us to seek to know we are united with each other through you and for your faithfulness to go to the cross and help us to not have to convince everyone we have to agree on the details, but allow us to live in the fact that your cross has already united us….

Straining Forward…

It would be so easy for me to worry about what has happened in my life. Up until last Wednesday I was a called pastor, and that was my reality for the last 5 years. You see yesterday was the first Ash Wednesday in 5 years that I was not leading a gathered body of worshipers in worship…  I have to say it was sad. I was very upset by all of the things that had happened. At all of the ways I had failed to lead the people of God.  I was moved to realize exactly how much I need a savior, how much I need the blood of Jesus to cover me, how much I need the 40 days that are coming… I was moved to wonder about all of the things I had done wrong and failed at during my time as pastor…

But then I read Philippians 3:12-21…  “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,” Paul tells the Philippians and us to not worry about yesterday.  What happened yesterday is not to be worried about, we need to forget all of the mistakes we made, forget all of the wrongs we have done, and strain forward… We need to be straining forward to what lies ahead, “only let us hold tight to what we have attained.” Not to let go of all that Christ has given us.  God is waiting to give us the prize that we strain for, that we press on towards. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” Press on towards the call of God… We are all called, and this day we are called to continue our 40 day journey with Jesus in the wilderness, to remember our mortality, to draw closer to God and find our selves in Him.  God has called us to journey with him…

And that is my good news. Yes I did make mistakes as the leader of the congregations I served, and I will make mistakes in my call(s) that is/are to come, but I can not dwell on those, I can ask God and those whom I have wronged for forgiveness, and press on towards the goal of the heavenly call, God has given to us all…

A Journey Begins…

40 days for a journey to bring us closer to God…

Many of us will be giving up something for Lent, I remember the one year I gave up all coffee drinks for Lent. Maybe not so hard, but the church I was attending worship at was a coffee shop… I felt that as others around me drank their coffee… Yet did it actually bring me closer to God?

You see that is the real question in what you give up or take on on this journey. Does this denial or extra act bring me closer to my maker, my creator? If the answer is no, then it will do you no good spiritually. Now it may help you lose weight or have a healthier life, if it is something like giving up chocolate, or caffeine, or carbonated beverages, or hamburger, or exercising more… There could be physical or mental pluses, but if it does not bring you closer to God, then it is not helpful spiritually…

That is where we intersect with Luke 18:9-14.

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

It is not about looking like you follow Jesus and are dead on the inside. We can not judge the motivations or the inside life of anyone other than ourselves….

What motivates you? Is it a love of being noticed for doing all of the right things like the Pharisee in Luke? Or are you truly repentant of your sins, so much so you can’t even look to heaven like the tax collector? Do you seek the exaltation of others, or are you truly devoted to Jesus and follow Him where he leads you?

As we start our 40 day journey of Lent, I invite you to look at your motivations and to do things thee 40 days that draw you closer to God, and allow Him to work in and through you and you will be amazed at what happens in your life…

Fast for the Lord

“Shout! A full-throated shout! Hold nothing back-a trumpet-blast shout! Tell my people what’s wrong with their lives, face my family Jacob with their sins! They’re busy, busy, busy at worship, and love studying all about me. To all appearances they’re a nation of right-living people-law-abiding, God-honoring. They ask me, ‘What’s the right thing to do?’ and love having me on their side. But they also complain, ‘Why do we fast and you don’t look our way? Why do we humble ourselves and you don’t even notice?’ “Well, here’s why: “The bottom line on your ‘fast days’ is profit. You drive your employees much too hard. You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight. You fast, but you swing a mean fist. The kind of fasting you do won’t get your prayers off the ground. Do you think this is the kind of fast day I’m after: a day to show off humility? To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black? Do you call that fasting, a fast day that I, God, would like? “This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’ A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places “If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people’s sins, If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places-firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again. “If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don’t use my holy day for personal advantage, If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, God’s holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing ‘business as usual,’ making money, running here and there – Then you’ll be free to enjoy God! Oh, I’ll make you ride high and soar above it all. I’ll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob.” Yes! God says so! (Isaiah 58:1-14 MSG)

Ok. I know I’m a day early for fasting, but I wanted to remind all of us that while today is Fat Tuesday, tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, and the day we begin our 40 day journey that reminds us of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, days that are meant to draw us closer to God…

We need to do a fast that shows forth the light in the dark places. A fast that gives bread to the hungry and a place to sleep for those who have none. We are to do things that draw us closer to God and shows His presence to everyone around us. Not because we are trying to puff ourselves up and draw attention to ourselves but to draw us closer to God. So get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people’s sins… Stop doing things for your own good, but love God and others, shining His light in the darkness….

And get ready for the journey of your life…

Son of God

This is the year of Mark in the lectionary…

Jesus is called the Son of God 3 times in the Gospel of Mark. One was at the baptism of Jesus which was earlier this year in Epiphany. One time was this past Sunday at the Transfiguration, and one time later in the Gospel…

These first 2 times it is the Father that proclaims Jesus is His beloved son, someone who is loved by God and should be listened to.

At the baptism, only Jesus hears this voice though as he rises up out of the water (read Mark 1:1-11). I wonder why Jesus needed to be told that He was the son of God and beloved by the Father? Did he not already know this? Or maybe we as he readers get in on the inside at the beginning, that there is something more to this Jesus…

The second proclamation of Jesus as the son of God, there are a few more witnesses. James, John, and Peter get to see Jesus standing and talking to Moses and Elijah… And if that wasn’t enough, he turns bright white, not like any white they had ever seen before, but shining… They see Jesus as he is, God! And again if that was not enough, the Father speaks to them and says that Jesus is His son and beloved by Him, and they should listen to Him. (read Mark 9:2-9) And why did Jesus tell the three of them not to tell anyone until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead? They just got proof that Jesus is God, and He told them to not tell anyone, why?

The third time Jesus is proclaimed the son of God, it is not by God the Father, and it is not by a disciple… Mark 15:39 Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” A Roman centurion! A gentile! Not someone on the inside who walked with Jesus for 3 years, or who should know that he is the Son of God, but a Roman guard, who witnessed His death and through this knew that He was God…

Do we see Jesus as the Son of God, and if we do, how do we live our lives so that others will know that Jesus is the Son of God?

Live the Gospel out loud – showing the world that Jesus is the Son of God and you are a disciple of Him!

A time for change

Last Sunday was my last Sunday at the congregation I was serving. Tomorrow is. New week and new possibilities and the first time in 5 years I’m not leading worship on a Sunday when I’m not on vacation.

In this time of transition and discernment if where God is leading me, I cling to the strength that God gives me. Philippines 4:13 says I can do all things through him who gives me strength. Jeremiah 29:11 says I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans for a future based in hope. God gives us strength to do the things that come into our lives. God has plans for each of us, plans for a future based in his hope.

Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. God is always with us and gives us strength to make it through.

I’m leaning on my Lord and I know he will see me through.

February 2012 Front Page

I received this in an email and thought it was worth sharing…

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago . They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night’s dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding…

ALL BUT ONE !!!

He paused, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did. The 16year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, ‘Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?’

She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, ‘I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly.’

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, ‘Mister…….’ He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.
She continued, ‘Are you Jesus?’

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: ‘Are you Jesus?’

Do people mistake you for Jesus? That’s our Destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace. If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It’s actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day. You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Are You Jesus?

Got this in an email and had to share…

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago . They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night’s dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding…
ALL BUT ONE !!!
He paused, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did. The 16year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, ‘Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?’
She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, ‘I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly.’
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, ‘Mister…….’ He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.
She continued, ‘Are you Jesus?’
He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: ‘Are you Jesus?’
Do people mistake you for Jesus? That’s our Destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace. If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It’s actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day. You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Wondering…

Today I had come into the office with the hopes of getting so much done…

Yes I know I set myself up for failure right there.  I had high expectations of my day. I had planned out what was going to happen and how many things would be done by lunch and how I would go and visit the hospitals after lunch and maybe get a walk in before hand bell and choir practice tonight…

Then the phone rang and someone wants to have a meeting…  Why didn’t someone tell me there would be all of these meetings that seemingly have nothing to do with ministry. Most meetings I’ve been to are ways to find ways to keep us from being with the people.  Do we not realize that ministry happens usually not in the walls of the church but when we are out in public with the people. At the gym, the Y, or McDonalds, or the library, or the local pub, or on the streets, in Wal-Mart, or the grocery store. Jesus spent his time at synagogue worshiping but then he spent the most of his time with the people, and not the people he went to church with. He spent his time outside of church with the people where they were in their environment, not asking them to change because he was there, but being there so he could bring God’s love and mercy and grace to them, where they are.

I wonder why we spend so much time in meetings trying to control things, and make everything the way we want it to be.  Why do we try to force our ideals and needs on everyone else around us.  We are not all created the same way, and God loves each of us the same. He gives us all the same grace, and NONE of us deserve it. We are all sinners and broken. And that is truly the wonder of it all, that God love a sinner like me, even though I do not deserve it, even though I let him down each and every day.

Thank you for the cross and for loving me. Help me to be som empowered that I will go and be with your creation where you created it and love it as you do unconditionally…

January 2012 Front Page

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

This is the first month of the New Year 2012! Time to make resolutions… But is a resolution something we follow through on? So many times we say we are going to walk more, start exercising, eat less, stop eating so many sweets, stop smoking, start reading our Bible more…

There are so many things we want to do and we think they will be easy to do, so we plan to start to do this in the new year. I for one know these changes are not easy. I made a lot of changes in the time I have been here especially over the past year and a half. I have changed my exercise habits and eating habits, and it has paid off. But I did not start exercising or go on a diet I made a lifestyle change. If I had not changed my lifestyle, things would have been bad, very bad.

Yet we seem to forget that we are already new. Christ made us a new creation, when He followed through and was faithful to the plan that was set in motion from the beginning of time. We have all been given a new lifestyle to live, one in Christ! He has accepted us as is, and continues to work to perfect us. We just need to allow Him to continue the good work He started in us. So remember that as one year passes away, and the new one comes upon us, that you are a beloved child of God, a new creation! You are a wonderful work of art being ever molded and shaped into the perfect ideal for you in the eye of God.