Don’t be afraid…

I, John, your brother who shares with you in the hardship, kingdom, and endurance that we have in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and my witness about Jesus. I was in a Spirit-inspired trance on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice that sounded like a trumpet. It said, “Write down on a scroll whatever you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” I turned to see who was speaking to me, and when I turned, I saw seven oil lamps burning on top of seven gold stands. In the middle of the lampstands I saw someone who looked like the Human One. He wore a robe that stretched down to his feet, and he had a gold sash around his chest. His head and hair were white as white wool—like snow—and his eyes were like a fiery flame. His feet were like fine brass that has been purified in a furnace, and his voice sounded like rushing water. He held seven stars in his right hand, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword. His appearance was like the sun shining with all its power. When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. But he put his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m the first and the last, and the living one. I was dead, but look! Now I’m alive forever and always. I have the keys of Death and the Grave. (Revelation 1:9-18, CEB)

Don’t be afraid. The Bible says this a lot. I however still get afraid.

Does fear stop us though? I think fear can be something we use to motivate us to be better or to overcome something we are dreading. Fear can be debilitating, and stop us cold, but fear can also motivate us to become more than we are.

In Return of the Jedi Darth Vader actually overcomes his fear when he sees his son being tortured by the Emperor. He picks up the Emperor and throws him over the ledge of the tower they are on, overcoming the fear of power and dread.

We can not let fear hold us back, we need to realize that we are in the hands of our creator and that the promise of God always being with us and never forsaking us are real and true. We are never alone.

Trust in the promise and know that fear doesn’t control you.

Loving People. Loving God.

Ascension of the Lord

Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law from Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. He said to them, “This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and a change of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Look, I’m sending to you what my Father promised, but you are to stay in the city until you have been furnished with heavenly power.” He led them out as far as Bethany, where he lifted his hands and blessed them. As he blessed them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. They worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem overwhelmed with joy. And they were continuously in the temple praising God. (Luke 24:44-53, CEB)

Jesus ascended to sit at the right hand of God.

Jesus blessed the disciples and then was taken into heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father. The disciples, just blessed, returned to the city overwhelmed with joy and they were praising God.

Everything was made known to them. We too can be blessed and know that the promises of the scriptures are true and hold them fast.

Know you are loved and Jesus ascended, gave us the Spirit, and will come back. We know we are loved and we will one day be with God.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

went out

After the Lord Jesus spoke to them, he was lifted up into heaven and sat down on the right side of God. But they went out and proclaimed the message everywhere. The Lord worked with them, confirming the word by the signs associated with them.]] (Mark 16:19-20, CEB)

I used to be a part of a denomination that went around knocking on doors asking, “If you were to die tonight, where would you go?” We were looking to save people from the fires of hell.

When I became a Lutheran, my pastor said that was the wrong question. We shouldn’t knock on doors and ask if you die where would you go, we should ask, since you are alive today what are you going to do?

You see, we have the greatest news anyone has ever heard. You are loved as you are. Regardless of what anyone else has told you, God loves you just as you are and since we know this, what are we going to do?

Go out and tell the world!

Loving People. Loving God.

Follow Jesus

I command you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and Christ Jesus, who made the good confession when testifying before Pontius Pilate. Obey this order without fault or failure until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. The timing of this appearance is revealed by God alone, who is the blessed and only master, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He alone has immortality and lives in light that no one can come near. No human being has ever seen or is able to see him. Honor and eternal power belong to him. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:13-16, CEB)

We need to follow Jesus and hold fast to where Jesus leads us.

All of our power and strength come from God.

God is the one who makes all things new and leads us to love as God first loved us.

Love all.

Loving People. Loving God.

Pursue

But as for you, man of God, run away from all these things. Instead, pursue righteousness, holy living, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. Compete in the good fight of faith. Grab hold of eternal life—you were called to it, and you made a good confession of it in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11-12, CEB)

pursue righteousness, holy living, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.

Love all. Be righteous in your actions, not stuck up but seeking justice for all. Be faithful to God in keeping the commandment to love all as God loves you. Stay strong because living this way will cause others to question you. And live a life that is gentle to all, because we do not know what anyone else is facing.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Remain in my love

“As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete. This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you. You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you could go and produce fruit and so that your fruit could last. As a result, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. I give you these commandments so that you can love each other. (John 15:9-17, CEB)

Keep the commandments and you will remain in God’s love.

And what is the commandment?

“love each other just as I have loved you” It is that easy.

Love everyone as God loves you.

Accept them and love them.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Lord or serve?

Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the ones who are considered the rulers by the Gentiles show off their authority over them and their high-ranking officials order them around. But that’s not the way it will be with you. Whoever wants to be great among you will be your servant. Whoever wants to be first among you will be the slave of all, for the Human One didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life to liberate many people.” (Mark 10:42-45, CEB)

Should we seek to be a Lord over people? We see what happened when Anakin did this in Star Wars… Lord Vader was not a great person. Instilling fear and dread in people.

When we serve others and seek to fulfill their needs we are loving as God calls us to be and do.

Jesus came to serve and show love, not ask for it and be served.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Worships and does what is right

Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. Rather, in every nation, whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to him. This is the message of peace he sent to the Israelites by proclaiming the good news through Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all! You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism John preached. You know about Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and endowed with power. Jesus traveled around doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil because God was with him. We are witnesses of everything he did, both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him up on the third day and allowed him to be seen, not by everyone but by us. We are witnesses whom God chose beforehand, who ate and drank with him after God raised him from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:34-43, CEB)

Whoever worships God and does what is right…

What is right? And who decides what is right?

I mean Jesus loved everyone and welcomed everyone. Jesus went with the people most “religious” people would avoid. I know that a lot of people don’t go to church now because they find Jesus in people who don’t go to church or aren’t welcome in church because they aren’t doing it right according to the rules.

But “Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. “” Why can’t we get that?

When we exclude one person the body isn’t complete and it is not our place to say who is in and who is out. That judgment belongs to God.

Love.

Love like Jesus.

Eat and hang out with the people who aren’t “right” to make a difference.

Loving People. Loving God.

what?!

There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Company. He and his whole household were pious, Gentile God-worshippers. He gave generously to those in need among the Jewish people and prayed to God constantly. One day at nearly three o’clock in the afternoon, he clearly saw an angel from God in a vision. The angel came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Startled, he stared at the angel and replied, “What is it, Lord?” The angel said, “Your prayers and your compassionate acts are like a memorial offering to God. Send messengers to Joppa at once and summon a certain Simon, the one known as Peter. He is a guest of Simon the tanner, whose house is near the seacoast.” When the angel who was speaking to him had gone, Cornelius summoned two of his household servants along with a pious soldier from his personal staff. He explained everything to them, then sent them to Joppa. At noon on the following day, as their journey brought them close to the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted to eat. While others were preparing the meal, he had a visionary experience. He saw heaven opened up and something like a large linen sheet being lowered to the earth by its four corners. Inside the sheet were all kinds of four-legged animals, reptiles, and wild birds. A voice told him, “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!” Peter exclaimed, “Absolutely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke a second time, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure.” This happened three times, then the object was suddenly pulled back into heaven. Peter was bewildered about the meaning of the vision. Just then, the messengers sent by Cornelius discovered the whereabouts of Simon’s house and arrived at the gate. Calling out, they inquired whether the Simon known as Peter was a guest there. While Peter was brooding over the vision, the Spirit interrupted him, “Look! Three people are looking for you. Go downstairs. Don’t ask questions; just go with them because I have sent them.” So Peter went downstairs and told them, “I’m the one you are looking for. Why have you come?” They replied, “We’ve come on behalf of Cornelius, a centurion and righteous man, a God-worshipper who is well-respected by all Jewish people. A holy angel directed him to summon you to his house and to hear what you have to say.” Peter invited them into the house as his guests. The next day he got up and went with them, together with some of the believers from Joppa. They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Anticipating their arrival, Cornelius had gathered his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in order to honor him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Get up! Like you, I’m just a human.” As they continued to talk, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them, “You all realize that it is forbidden for a Jew to associate or visit with outsiders. However, God has shown me that I should never call a person impure or unclean. For this reason, when you sent for me, I came without objection. I want to know, then, why you sent for me.” Cornelius answered, “Four days ago at this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon, I was praying at home. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me. He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayers, and your compassionate acts are like a memorial offering to him. Therefore, send someone to Joppa and summon Simon, who is known as Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, located near the seacoast.’ I sent for you right away, and you were kind enough to come. Now, here we are, gathered in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has directed you to say.” Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. (Acts 10:1-34, CEB)

Never consider unclean what God has made pure.

I am currently working on a paper for my Doctor of Ministry Program on the inclusivity of Paul. The class is an independent study and is entitled, Paul’s Radical inclusivity according to Galatians. Specifically Galatians 3:28. As I have looked at this many people believe that this verse is a quoting of an early baptismal right. All are one in Christ.

Who are we to say that something is unclean? Over and over again God and Jesus tell us to love, and yet we pull verses that point out the way people different from us sin and how that will lead them to separation from God for eternity. Why don’t we focus on the verses that tell us to love and we are one, and that everyone is invited?

Never consider unclean what God has made pure.

If we worry about our own lives and getting them right with God, maybe we will love as God does.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Never alone

“I won’t leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” Judas (not Judas Iscariot) asked, “Lord, why are you about to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered, “Whoever loves me will keep my word. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word that you hear isn’t mine. It is the word of the Father who sent me. “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid. You have heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away and returning to you.’ If you loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than me. I have told you before it happens so that when it happens you will believe. I won’t say much more to you because this world’s ruler is coming. He has nothing on me. Rather, he comes so that the world will know that I love the Father and do just as the Father has commanded me. Get up. We’re leaving this place. (John 14:18-31, CEB)

Have you ever felt alone?

I’ll be honest and say yes. In a crowded room, surrounded by people I love and love me, I have felt alone. Like no one cared or saw me. I felt like I was invisible and no one cared that I wasn’t there. It actually happens more often than I want to admit. Darkness surrounds me and it seems like there is no light. I understand how people get to the point of ending it because it seems the only way out.

In those moments I call out to God, and sometimes I feel like Saint Teresa and wonder why God has left me. She said that in the moments she did the most work for God, she felt like God was nowhere near her. And yet God promised us to never leave us. Here Jesus says the Holy Spirit is always with us.

We are never alone. I know that, and yet the times come. Remind yourself that you are loved.

You are loved by God and never alone.

Let us share love so when the darkness comes, people will know they are not alone.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.