Dry in Texas

Received thus in an email and thought I would share…

It’s so Dry in Texas, it’s affecting Churches!!!

For all you Texans, and former Texans, you need to start praying for our state. Look below to see how bad the drought has become.
HOW DRY IS IT IN TEXAS?

It’s so dry in Texas that
the Baptists are beginning to baptize by sprinkling,
the Methodists are using wet-wipes,
the Presbyterians are giving out rain-checks,
and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water.

Now, that’s DRY!

A statement on the 2009 ELCA Churchwide decision

I sit at my desk and prayerfully consider a statement to simply state my Biblical and pastoral understanding of the ELCA’s decisions “to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize and support lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships” and to allow persons in these relationships to serve as rostered leaders (including pastors) of those congregations. I also wish to address the possible impact of this decision here at FEELC since our church council has initiated discussions on this issue. As a congregation we did file a statement with the Southwestern Texas Synod office on November 19, 2010 that stated we would not call a pastor in a lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationship.

I desire to be the pastor and leader of this congregation to all people who are here, be those members or non-members. We are called to spread the love of God and to share his mercy with all the world. I want to be here to lead this gathering of God’s flock through the decisions ahead and to do ministry in, with, and through all of you. I reflect on conversations I had with the Call Committee about the churchwide decision that was coming and how that could play out in this place. I said then, and I say now, I will lead this congregation through whatever comes our way to what is best for this gathering of the body of Christ, and I will have to decide what my family and I will do.

This is a very heated issue with people very passionate on all sides. I agree with the Human Sexuality statement that “we do not have agreement,” and the decision of the churchwide assembly to hold up bound conscience, which Martin Luther used in his defense at the Diet of Worms. We are united in the Cross of Christ; we do not have to agree on everything. In this statement I am stating my opinion and position on this issue, and some will agree and some will disagree. I strive through all of this to be the leader God has called me to be in this place, at this time.

As I told the Call Committee, had I been at churchwide assembly of 2009, I would have voted “no” on the issue of allowing homosexual people in lifelong, monogamous relationships to be leaders of the church. This is not for reasons of Biblical witness or that those who are in these relationships are committing sin. If it is about sin, then we need to heed the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:31-32 about divorce and remarriage, that anyone who is divorced and remarried commits adultery. So all members of the roster who are divorced and remarried must be removed from being pastors if we are not allowing homosexual people to be pastors because it is a sin. And in that vein, we all must be removed from the roster, because none of us are without sin. All of us have fallen short, and it is only by the grace of God that we are in a relationship with him.

Martin Luther stood on what he believed the Bible told him, and said at the Diet of Worms, “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason, I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither sane nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand, may God help me, Amen.”

I also cannot do otherwise. I do not see this issue as a reason to leave any church, which is not what Luther would have done. I am and will continue to be a pastor in the ELCA, a denomination that has faithfully upheld the scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

Please know that I have been and will continue to be the pastor for all who come through these doors and will strive to help them all draw closer to God and the love he gives us, which is the central message of the Bible. Jesus said several times that the Law and the Prophets (which to Jesus meant the whole of the Hebrew Scriptures, or the Old Testament) hang upon the commandments, “Love the Lord your God and Love your neighbor as yourself.” If we can only but love the other, God will take care of the rest.

Let us strive to show forth the mercy of God, knowing that is not of our works, but it is by grace through faith that we have been saved. God saved you to show forth his love. Let us build and nurture relationships in God’s church so that all can use the gifts they have been given for the glory of God.

I pray for this congregation and each of you daily and hope that we always strive to follow the path He has set before us.

The sound of your name…

Can you hear your mother calling your name?  It sounds beautiful doesn’t it?  Even when you hear it in a timber that you know you have done something wrong, there is still a beauty to the way your loved one speaks your name.  Even for those of us whos mother has long passed, we can still hear her call our name, and it makes a rush of love flow over me when I think of my mother calling my name.

In our reading Mary saw Jesus and assumed he was the gardener, and even after speaking to him, she did not know who he was, until he called her by name.  Image the beautiful tones of Jesus calling you by name…

Every one of us is joined with Jesus this mornign in his resurrection and given new life through the faith that he has given us as a gift.  He has called us by name and loves us beyond our wildest imagination.

Go therefore and tell everyone of the wonderful love of the one who calls you by name!  Show all the grace that flows freely from the throne of God and the relaitonship they can have.  Tell them of the beautiful tones with which he calls your name.

Gracious Risen Savior, guide us to hear you calling our name.  Fill us with your Spirit, that we might shine forth your love and grace to all, that those around us will see you and not us and be drawn to you, so they too might hear you call their name. Amen.

Place your life in His hands…

Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me. (Psalm 31:15 The Message).

I place my days in your hands.  Wow.  If we could only do this.  It is easy to do when we are surrounded by enemies wanting to drag us down with them.  We go to God and we say, “Take my life and mold me.”  But when everything is going our way, do we say, “I place my days in your hands?”

Psalm 31 tells us our refuge is in God.  And my first inclination is that a refuge is something I seek when I need help, when I am being attacked.  But a refuge is a place we do not have to worry about attack. It is a place that shelters us from the storm and keeps us safe all the time.  It is a place where we can be who we were created to be and not worry about what others will think or do.  God is our refuge. He will never let us be put to shame; he will lead us and guide us. The question is are we ready to be led and guided?  If we are led and guided, we may be led or guided to a place we do not believe we should go.  God might ask us to do something we think we should not do, and are you really ready for that?  God said he would shelter you, and keep you safe, and he asks you to follow him, but are you ready for that?  Place you days in God’s hands and I know you will not regret it and you will truly take the ride of your life!

Daddy God, give us the peace that comes from finding our shelter in you, from following you where you lead us, from being in your love completely.  Help us to give up our lives and place our days in your hands.  Amen.

 

Interesting Quote I found today…

“The fact is that the cross isn’t a form of cosmic child abuse – a vengeful Father, punishing his Son for an offence he has not even committed. Understandably, both people inside and outside of the Church have found this twisted version of events morally dubious and a huge barrier to faith. Deeper than that, however, is that such a concept stands in total contradiction to the statement that “God is Love”. If the cross is a personal act of vioence perpetrated by God towards humankind but borne by his Son, then it makes a mockery of Jesus’ own teaching to love your enemies and to refuse to repay evil with evil”
-Steve Chalke

Where is the Hope?

Where is the hope?  This day is after all Good Friday.  What is really Good about a day where the one who we thought was the Messiah is crucified, killed on the cursed tree?  The worst type of death known to man.  What is so Good about this?

The hope is in 19:39 – Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came… And where is the hope in Nicodemus coming at the end of Jesus’ death to help get him off the cross and put him in his tomb?  It shows devotion to Jesus, and a following of his teachings that is where the hope is. Nicodemus came to Jesus in chapter 3 of the gospel of John under the cover of darkness.  This is because he was a Pharisee and did not want to be seen talking to Jesus.  Yet he knew Jesus was a great teacher, and so he went to him.  He questioned Jesus and went away pondering.  Then later in the gospel of John, Nicodemus defends Jesus in front of the Jewish High Council. He makes a stand for Jesus, all be it a weak one, he makes a stand.  And here on Good Friday the day of our Lord’s death, Nicodemus comes out in broad daylight, and helps remove Jesus body from the cross and place it in the tomb.  Not worried about what any one will say, but doing what he knows is right. Throwing all caution to the wind, he comes and pays respects to Jesus, and shows to be a follower of the Way he taught. That is the hope, which is the gospel, where the seed is planted and then it grows over time.  Nicodemus did not get converted in a moment, and that is the hope each of us has in our weaknesses. Jesus is still working in and through us to bring us to the hope, of stepping out in our faith in a radical way that will make our friends heads turn and see what is up.

Bearer of all hope, fill us as you did Nicodemus and guide our lives to be ever devoted to you, that we will throw caution to the wind and serve you regardless of the consequences. Amen

 

To Serve…

“Jesus rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”

Jesus served his disciples.  He set the example for us to be the servant of all.  And it is in this section we see that most clearly.  The beginning of the chapter, Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, all 12 of them.  Right we know this we have heard this story before.  But remember who the 12 are now…

Judas is one of the 12, and Jesus served him.  The one who hands Jesus over to the authorities.  Jesus is troubled because one of his own will hand him over. But the fact that this one is going to do this act, Jesus still loves him and washes him.  He sits down and eats with him.

Jesus shows us what it means to serve, by serving the one who hands him into the hands of those that send him to his death.  On this day remember the wonderful sacrifice given to us in the last supper, the time of fellowship and the most wonderful gift ever given to us. And on this day remember the command we have been given, to love one another, not who we want, but every one.  Jesus served Judas, so we have no excuse.

Gracious Lord, help me to be humble and follow where you lead and show your love to all, through service and giving of what I have been given. Fill me with yoru spirit and guide me in your love.  Help me to remember the wonderful gifts of grace you have given me and help me to give that to others. Amen.

Are you devoted to God?

Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:3).

Mary took a lot of perfume and anointed Jesus feet. In Matthew and Mark she anointed his head (Matt. 26:7; Mark 14:3), but here she anoints his feet.  This was the work of servants.  In Jesus’ day when one entered the house their feet would have been washed by a servant, and then dried, so they did not bring any disease or unwanted stuff they might have traveled through into the home.  This was a very intimate gesture, as the feet were the part of the body that people did not talk about.  Yet here Mary takes some perfume that costs about a years wage and anoints Jesus’ feet with it.  And then on top of her washing his feet, she takes down her hair and wipes his feet.  Women never took their hair down in public, she did something unmentionable, something unheard of, something no woman would do.  She went to extra mile in complete devotion to Jesus.

Are you completely devoted to Jesus you would do whatever he needs, even if it makes you look bad in the eyes of everyone?  Are you willing to let your reservations go and give it all to him knowing that it only matters what God thinks and not the rest of the world?  Jesus did the unthinkable in a few days when he takes off his robe and washes the feet of the disciples, including the one who hands him over.  This was not what people expected the Messiah to do, but he did, because it was what he had to do.  Let go and give it up to God, knowing he will not lead you wrong, even though society will think you are a rebel.

Daddy God, help me to give it up to you and not worry about what others will say about me.  Knowing that you are all that truly matters. Amen.

Forever God is with us! Psalm 118:1-2

I read this psalm, and starting singing a song I rememebr from my days in North Carolina.  At the start up mission congregation my family and I were a part of there.  It is a song by Chris Tomlin from his first album The Noise We Make, called Forever. This song is a paraphrase of these verses for today (Psalm 118:1-2).

The second verse is:

From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
By the grace of God
We will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
Yeah
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us

Forever God is with us, so we can sing praises to him regardless of what is happening around us, because by His grace we can always carry on. He will never leave us, and He will always be faithful and is able to see us through whatever comes our way.

Sing praise to our God who is forever faithful to us who he calls his own.

Wonderful gracious king, help us to sing praises to you, knowing you have promised to always be with us and to guide us along the paths in front of us.  Give us your strength so we might cling to you always. Amen.

 

Strong Enough

I was taking the girls to school this morning and I heard this song by Matthew West and it really struck me.

We sometimes wonder why God has brought us to this place, and sometimes maybe it is so we realize that we can not do it by ourselves and we have to give it up…

God please help me to always remember I am not strong enough to do this on my own, yet through you who gives me strength I can do all things, and I do not have to be strong enough on my own.