10-31-2018

 Good Morning All,

         1 Corinthians 13:8a; “Love never ends”

      “And they all lived happily ever after, the end.”  Boy that line always sends shivers down my spine.  It is one of the first things we talk about in the pre-marital counseling sessions I do.  I look into the eyes of these young ones, all starry eyed about getting married, and I almost feel guilty when I crush this statement, almost.  This statement, or at least the belief in this statement, causes troubles in all relationships, especially marriages.

     The problem with this line is that it leaves out the truth.  Think of a couple of the classics, like “Snow White” or “Cinderella”.  In both of these stories, the young ladies are in tough positions; they are struggling to get along.  They struggle against difficult situations and difficult odds.  Then along comes the man of their dreams, sweeps them off their feet, marries them and all of their problems and struggles are over.  It works for Disney but rarely in the real world.  In the real world, this is where the work begins.

    Relationships are work, it is that simple.  There are times when “happily ever after” applies but there are times when it doesn’t; then what?  The problem is that relationships don’t solve our problems or heal our wounds or fulfill our dreams because they are not intended to.  Sometimes, the opposite occurs.  When two flawed sinners are locked into a relationship together, sometimes it can get rough and then it takes work.

    True relationships, especially marriages, are work because they involve choices.  You have to choose intimacy over being selfish, you have to choose peace over “being right”, you have to choose respect over dominance and you have to choose love over control.  There are times of “happily ever after” but there are times when the struggle of two sinners struggling show up as well.

    True relationships do not make us happy; they are the result of true love; a love that never ends.  A love that we receive from God in Jesus.  A love that caused him to spread his arms for you and to hang on a cross for you.  True love is not the end of the relationship; it is only the beginning.  God has plans for our love but they generate from him and work only when our love conforms to his will.  The relationships are God’s gift to us, especially marriage.  Relationships bring us companionship, friendship and love but we receive these from God as part of the gift.  We need to use them and, ultimately, give them to those around us.

Father of all love, guide us by your Spirit.  Lead us to love as you have loved us.  Show us that to love is to give and not to take.  Lead us to battle for the relationships that you give to us.  Help us to overcome the demons which seek to destroy us.  Be with those who are especially struggling at this time.  Protect them by your mighty arm.  Defend them from the devil that they may live in the love and the marriages as you have given to them.  In the precious name of Jesus, our risen Savior, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

10-30-2018

Good Morning All,

       Matthew 6:34; ““Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

     Most of us tend to worry about tomorrow.  We worry about the grades we get in school.  We worry about how to pay for school, will we get a job after school, what about a spouse and a family; we worry a lot.  Then the worries really begin; now that we have a family that is depending on us.  Will my job be there tomorrow?  Will the farm give us enough to live on?  Will my children live long and happy lives?  All this worry can cause stress in our lives and even have physical effects on us.  So how do we deal with stress?

    One of the factors of stress in our lives is that we often add to it by overwhelming our self with extraneous commitments.  These extra pressures can really add to our worries and our fears.  So we need to really pay close attention to our commitments.  Are they really important and necessary or are they window dressings for the neighbors?  Do they build our relationship with God and our family or do they distract from them?

    The next part of our stress is our belief that our life can be divided into two parts.  We think we live in a secular world or that we live in a sacred world.  We think that we can separate our faith from our everyday life and it just doesn’t work.  This causes us to see that there are portions of our life that God is not a part of.  We think that there are areas where God either doesn’t care or, maybe, doesn’t need to know about.

    The real danger is that too often, when doing the calculations of our life; we leave God out of the formula.  Too often, we plan our future, looking for what we believe to be the best for us then worry when it doesn’t seem to go that way.  Yet God tells us, repeatedly, that he will care for us.  He “has plans to prosper us”, He “cares for you”, He “provides our daily bread” and many other verses tells us that we are his children and that he provides for our needs.  Often times, our worries begin where our “needs” end and our “wants” take over.  It is when we are content with what God provides that many of our worries end.

    So don’t be anxious about tomorrow.  God will provide for our needs.  The “wants” may have to wait but our needs will be met.  So don’t be anxious about tomorrow; trust God’s promise to you.  Trust in his amazing love to carry you through the trials of today.  Trust in his grace to give you those things which are needed today.  God has made this bold promise to you so don’t be anxious about tomorrow; live in God’s mercy today.

Father, all is in your hands.  Give me the strength to hold onto this truth.  Give me the wisdom to know that your love will never fail me.  Give me the power to follow where you lead.  Be with those who are especially anxious this day.  Give them peace that their hearts may find rest.  Guard them with your Spirit and bring them home.  In the precious name of Jesus, our risen Savior, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret 

10-29-2018

Good Morning All,

       2 Timothy 4:6; “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.”

      It was about fifteen years ago that the country singer Tim McGraw sang a song entitled “Live like You were Dying”.  The song was about a young man (I was in my early forties, with a lot of life before me) who suddenly found out he had cancer.  This event changed his outlook on life (all of a sudden goin’ fishin’ wasn’t such an imposition).  That is always one of those conversations that many find difficult.  How would you respond if you were told that you only had a short time to live, maybe six months or so?

     Many might be tempted to try the “Bucket List” but that would probably get old soon.  It would be tiring, expensive and it could take you away from your family and friends.  Some may just close themselves off and die quietly and lonely.  It is a difficult to try and calculate exactly what one would do.  My wife and I watched a movie where a mother of a young girl died of cancer.  She had written a series of letters to this young girl for different birthdays, Christmases and future big events.  The little girl looked forward to each letter as did the father.  So what would you do?

    The thing that Paul did was to sit down and write a very loving and personal letter to his young protégé Timothy.  In this letter, Paul encourages his young student to continue on in his faith.  He encourages him to remain strong and true no matter what comes at him.  He does this in a way that speaks of the love that Paul has for this young pastor.  So Paul’s last days are spent continuing to support this young man.  It is a noble thing that Paul did, but could you?

    I don’t know what I would do in this situation.  I would like to think I would write letters to my grandchildren offering encouragement.  I would like to think I would write my sons and express my pride and happiness in them.  I would like to think I would write my wife and thank her for her love through the years.  That is what I would like to think I would do but I might not be that strong.

    I do know that the most important thing to do is to reconcile where you need to, thank where you can, encourage as you have the opportunity and be sure that those around you know that you love them.  This is far more important than “things” or “stuff.”  This is a far better list than skydiving or sailing the horn of Africa.  What the knowledge of your impending death should do is point out that it is the relationships of our lives that matter here in this life.  What you should know is that you are dying, we all are.  So don’t miss a chance to love your family and your friends.  Live like you were dying; love like it you will live forever, for you will.

Father of all mercy, you give us life.  Even though we may die, we will live forever with you.  Help us to see that the greatest joys in this life are our family and friends.  Through the forgiveness of sins you make us your children.  By your grace, we have eternal life.  Strengthen us by your Spirit and make us confident of our eternal life.  In the precious name of Jesus, our risen Savior, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret