Saturday, September 30, 2017

9-30-2017



Good Morning All,
           John 16:33; “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
    Just watch the news; that is all it takes to make you sigh, shake your head and be discouraged.  What is going on?  It seems to get more and more bizarre and more and more beyond anything believable.  We used to watch the news and think “now I have seen everything.”  Now we worry about what is coming next.  For many of us, if not most of us, it feels like things are sinning completely out of control and the pieces are beginning to fly off.  Everyone is offended by everything and waste no time in telling as many people as they can about it.  I used to think it kind of funny, but quirky, that people would stop, take a photo of their food and then tell me they were eating lunch.  Now it is not that banal.  Now it is more vindictive, hateful and cruel.
    Most people tell me, I could use a little good news; why do we only look at the bad news.  Part of it is we need to know.  We need to know what the weather is.  We need to know what our elected officials are doing.  We need to know about events that occur around the world that may impact us.  Yet, as we watch, we are bombarded by different “truths” and then counter- claims of “fake news” and most of us are lost as to what is what.  We seem to have arrived at the place that Friedrich Nietzsche called, “there is no truth only interpretations”.  In other words, there is nothing that is true and it all depends on our viewpoint, our understanding and our interpretation.  When you fall into this trap, nothing is good and there is no good news.
    However, I do have good news for you.  Jesus came to this earth to walk on it and to talk to the people he met and to bring healing.  He came to this earth in order to bring you hope, comfort and peace.  He came to give you life.  In his coming, he reveals much to us.  First, He reveals the immeasurable, incomparable love of God for you.  The Apostle Paul asks the rhetorical question in Romans, “If God is for us, who is against us?”  The clear answer is absolutely no one.  God is for you.  Jesus began the process of bringing about healing into this world with His life, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.  It will not be complete until he returns.  So until that occurs, there will still be sin, sorrow, pain and suffering.
    We know this partly because we live it but completely because Jesus told us.  Over and over, Jesus told us that there would be troubles, tribulations, and problems in the world.  He warned us so when we see it; we remember his words and we remember his actions so we have peace.  Jesus said it will be bad but take heart; Jesus has overcome the world and offers victory to us and he offers the comfort that; we have won.  No matter how it looks; God has given us the true hope and peace.  This is our good news, forever, Jesus has won and so have you!
Gracious Father, lift our hearts and spirits that we may look only to you for our true news, our true peace.  Calm our hearts that we may know your peace and grace.  Be with those who are especially troubled about world events.  Send your Spirit that they may know your hope.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret

Friday, September 29, 2017

9-29-2017



Good Morning All,
            Mark 5:19; “And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
     Let’s stretch our imagination a little bit.  Imagine that you went to your mailbox and in it you found a letter from your favorite restaurant has awarded you first prize in their anniversary give away.  You have won $50,000 worth of meals at this restaurant; what would you do?  I would probably start by trying to get my wife and kids and grandkids together for a meal.  Then I would try to get my dad and step-mom and my wife’s mom and my sisters and my wife’s sister and their families together.  I don’t remember the last time that all my nieces and nephews were all together.  That would be a fun meal.
     Then I would get some of our closest friends and go out for a good meal.  Then we would probably try to get hold of those people who we used to spend a lot of time with but through the years have lost touch with them.  It would be great to reconnect with them and find out what has been happening in their life. 
    We know some people who have had a tough year or two.  They have had health setbacks and some have had job setbacks and a couple of others have lost their spouses.  They could use a pickup and this could be fun.  It would be a chance to connect with them as meal partners.
    Who would you pick?  How would you use this prize?  Would you try to keep it all for yourself?  That would be difficult and even your favorite restaurant would get old after a while.  I think a prize this grand requires sharing; it would lose its enjoyment.  You would always have it but sharing it, especially with family and friends makes it even better.
    This is what Jesus wants us to do.  He wants us to share our good fortune.  He wants us to share the blessings that he has bestowed on us, especially the good news of salvation which we have because of his own death and resurrection.  This is something that we should be bursting with joy and excitement to do. This is the greatest news that you and I have ever received.  It is news to be shared.
    This is why Jesus refused to let the man follow him but rather instructed him to go home and tell your friends.  The spread of the Gospel is an oral event.  It is an event that, truly should be, an intimate sharing among family and friends.  It is an experience that should be done with joy and comfort.  It is best when done in a setting where you have a relationship with the other person and best occurs in a family friendly setting, like a meal together. 
Gracious Lord, we thank you for the gift of life we receive from you through your sacrifice on the cross.  Lead us to joyfully share this news with those around us.  Lead us to bring the good news of salvation to all.  Lead us to be healers in this world.  In the precious name of Jesus our Risen Lord we pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret    

Thursday, September 28, 2017

9-28-2017



Good Morning All,
            Acts 4:34; “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold
     There are many powerful verses or phrases in the Bible that can and should cause us to wonder and to be in awe of.  When Jesus said, “It is finished.” Or when the angel said, “He is not here; for he has risen!”  These are a couple of those verses.  “It is finished.”  The job is done, the debt is paid in full; the last payment on the mortgage is made.  “He is not here; for he has risen!” Forever, our life is changed.  We are entirely different creatures now.  With our debt fully paid and with Christ raised from the dead and reigning forever; our life is changed or is it?
    Our verse for today is one of the powerful verses. “There was not a needy person among them,” can we say that?  Can we look at our church family and our neighborhood and say, “there is not a needy person among them?”  I know our response, “I do the best I can.” I know we do.  I know that to many of you this is going to sound like a plea (demand?) for money for the church but it really isn’t.  This verse, although easily twisted into a plea for more money, is more than that.  It moves much deeper into what our life as a Christian should be.  It is about compassion.
    For many of us, giving to the church is a matter of duty or of guilty conscience or of selfish desire.  We give to get others off our back and to make it easier to sleep at night.  Some of the church’s largest donors were mafia kings and drug lords trying to appease their guilt and buy their redemption; neither worked.  This verse is not about money; it is about compassion.  The members of the church body looked around, saw needs and met them.  In our verse, apparently the needs were physical, food, clothing, shelter and the like; so many sold some things to provide the funds.  It doesn’t say they sold everything; it says they met the needs of the people among them.  Do we meet the needs of the people among us?
   I read the story a few days ago about the third grade boy who answered the question “What I want my teacher to know...” with the answer “that I don’t have anyone to play with.”  That is a needy person and money won’t really solve anything.  What this little boy needs is someone’s time.  Maybe this would be the best compassion to show.  You may be the parent or grandparent who ends up being talked into coaching the local t-ball or soccer club.  As hectic as that is, be sure to watch for the young ones who need your attention because it may be lacking at home.  Look around your church and your neighborhood; is there someone who always eats alone, sits alone and goes home to an empty house?  They may prefer that or they may be as lonely as it looks.  For us as Christians, the challenge of “there was not a needy person among them” is great.  Ask the Lord for guidance and courage to meet this need.  God be with you as you do.
Father, you give us all we need to support this body and life.  Give me the courage and the wisdom to aid my brothers and sisters and all those around me in need to come to their aid and comfort.  Bring us closer as a community that we may share your love and mercy with all.  In the precious name of Jesus, our risen Savior and King we pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret