11-7-2020

 Good Morning All, 

         Matthew 8:7; “And he (Jesus) said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

      You already know I am a movie addict.  One of my favorites is the movie “Jaws”.  This is a classic from the mid 1970’s and starred Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss.  I liked it because it has some good dialog in it.  This is one of those movies where you can say a line from it and a lot of people will recognize it.  The line when Brody (Scheider) sees the shark and says, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” is or at least was popular.

   There is a scene in the movie where the three leads are in the boat, drinking more than they should, and they start to compare scars.  One shows a scar from a moray eel and one shows a scar from a thresher shark one shows a scar from his appendectomy.  Quint (Shaw) shows a scar on his arm where he had a tattoo removed and that was a poignant moment in the movie. 

    We all have scars.  I have one on my left wrist where I put my hand through the window of a door.  I have one on my right leg where I landed on a fence post wrong.  I have a couple of little ones here and there.  You probably do as well.  Perhaps from a surgery or some accident or something in your life that left that mark on you.  The funny thing about a scar.  They do not seem to tan as dark so in the summertime they are more apparent.  They seem to be more sensitive to the touch.  I have been told that if you cut the skin of a scar that it takes longer for this to heal a second time.

    Many of us have scars that cannot be seen.  It might be from the pain of growing up in a house that provided little love and mostly anger.  It might be from the shattered relationship that you thought was good until one day it was not.  It might be from the cruel comments made or the repeated rejections that you experience.  We all have scars.  Scars that cause us to doubt our self-worth and our value.  Scars that cause us to think we are of no use to anyone.

    Yet Christ came to heal you.  He came to heal your scars.  He came to remove those scars which cause you to believe you are worthless.  You are the apple of God’s eye.  You have value far beyond your understanding.  God loves you.  He sent Jesus to die for you to remove those scars.  Those scars do not define who you are; they only show what you have experienced.  God’s grace for you defines you and it defines you as precious and valuable, loved and redeemed.  It defines you as one of his eternal children.

    The devil will try to convince you that scars remove any value you have but God loves you and removes any scars that matter and heals over the ones that do not.  He gives us life and gives us the hope for battling life’s struggles.  He comes to heal you.

Gracious Father, in you we have healing.  In you we have hope.  We thank you for sending Jesus to be our savior and to give us health and hope.  Be with those who are especially scarred at this time.  Give them the assurance of your love and the comfort of your mercy.  In the precious name of Jesus our Risen savior, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret    

11-6-2020

  Good Morning All, 

               2 Corinthians 12:9; “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

     A few years back I used to coach baseball.  One year when we were fortunate enough to make it to the state tourney, I got to watch one of the most incredible baseball games I have ever watched.  It was on the last day of a three-day tourney.  Being in the smaller town tourney meant pitching was a premium.  As I watched the game the pitcher started to rub his pitching elbow.  The coach did exactly what he needed to do and that was bring in a new pitcher.  His team was behind by 5 runs already and he was forced to do “the coach’s twirl.”  This is what a coach does when he needs a pitcher but does not have one left.  You stand on the pitching mound and look at every player on the field and sigh.

    The young man playing second base came in and volunteered to pitch.  Most of the players in the tourney were 15 and 16.  If he was 13, it occurred during the tourney.  His first practice pitch bounced before home plate, but he kept throwing.  He actually struck out two batters and got the other one to ground out.  Over the next three innings, his team scored enough to get back to within one run.  This young man’s pitching, although shaky at times, was good enough.   So, going into the last at bat, being down one run, his team came up.

    The first batter flied out but the second one got a hit and stole second.  The next batter hit a single and then stole second on the next pitch.  So, the home team had a runner on third and the winning runner on second and one out.  The next batter struck out.  Then guess who came to bat?  The young second baseman turned pitcher.  When he came to the plate to bat, he was grinning.  I was sitting next to a coach from one of the other teams.  He looked at me and we agreed that this young man was not old enough to know he was supposed to be scared to death.  He swung badly at the first two pitches but on the third one he got a real nice single to left that scored two runs for the victory.  It should have never happened, but it did.  It was amazing to watch.

   How many times have we been afraid to speak up for God?  How many times did we talk our self out of doing God’s will?  God tells us his grace is sufficient for us.  We need to be more like this young man.  His older teammates did not want to pitch because they were afraid.  He had no fear, so he succeeded.  God gives us no fear.  We need not fear anything because his grace is sufficient.  It will carry us through.  So, trust God’s Word and have no fear, by doing so we will souls for Christ.  By doing so, we can bring comfort and hope to a world that is in desperate need.  God’s grace is sufficient so boast in it.

Father, often I let fear slow me down.  I let fear stop me from doing your will.  I let fear hold me back; all because I do not trust your grace.  Teach me Lord that your grace is sufficient for me.  Make me bold for you.  Give me courage to be your light and beacon in a dark world. In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

11-5-2020

 Good Morning All, 

       Proverbs 12:18; “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

     As children we were all told the old adage “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.” Or maybe your version was “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never harm me.”  This tells us that we are not to worry about what someone says about us as simple words cannot harm us.  Well welcome to the 21^st century!

    I think most of us have been there at one time or another.  Our mouth took off long before our brain was engaged, and we made some offhand unfair or cruel comment about someone only to see them standing behind us.  I know I have, and I felt about two inches tall after I did it.  It is strange; you do not know whether to make a big deal about it being a joke or just try and ignore it and hope it goes away.  I can remember some of the times that I coached baseball.  I would watch in horror as some adult (?) would yell and scream at a 10-year-old for striking out or dropping the ball.  I remember the pain in that child’s eye.  Sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will kill your spirit.

    This is why I think one of God’s greatest gifts is the gift of the soothing comforter.  There are people who just seem to have a way of gently encouraging people.  They have a way of getting the person to smile, even under some harsh situations.  It can soothe a very hurt and savaged soul just to have kind words spoken to them, especially after words of hurt have been hurled.  And we seem to have more hurled at us each day.

     I read an article about how children today are being “cyber-bullied.”  They are tormented day and night by other kids on the internet through text messages or Instagram.  I listened to a story on the radio about a man whose fiancée was killed by her jealous ex-husband.  One twisted and sick lady began an attack on him on a gossip website.  She had four different avatars or identifications on the site.  She would act like she was carrying on a conversation between the four of them.  He had to leave town, his children were shunned, and the parents of his now dead girlfriend refused to speak to him.   It took three years to get it all straightened out.  Words can cause a lot of pain.  Yet the opposite is true as well.

    The right words at the right time can bring about comfort, or encouragement, or hope.  The right word can calm fear or engender a desire to strive and to try to do your best.  The right word will bring about healing.  So, as you go about today; do some healing.  Say something kind especially to those who need it like the waitress or the store clerk or the mailman or the young gal with two little ones who looks so frazzled.  Using God’s gift of healing, using the soothing and kind words that He gives us to bring about a smile and some peace.

Gracious Lord, enable us by your Spirit to speak the words of kindness and love that you give to us. Help us to make the world a little less painful for those who battle the pain of unkind words.  Give them your Spirit of comfort and use us to be their hope.  In the name of Jesus our risen Savior, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret     

11-4-2020

Good Morning All, 

          Psalm 146:3; “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.”

    So, who won??  Obviously, this is being written on Election night and the counting is still going on, so who won?  There appears to be some debate as it is relatively close and mail in ballots will matter, then the court challenges and when the dust settles, it looks like our country will remain divided politically.  So, who won?  Maybe we should look at this in a little different fashion.

    Who won?  Jesus won a long time ago, is still the King and will be forever.  Jesus sits at the right hand of God and reigns and will return to complete the task he started by eliminating death and bringing about the perfect creation where He will reign, here on earth for eternity.  No matter what the pundits say, Jesus is the winner, his victory reigns supreme.  Our question should never be about winning and losing; our question should be living out our life as a Christian.  Our victory does not depend on one party or another; our victory depends upon Jesus.  I would encourage you to read all of Psalm 146.  The psalmist speaks to the foolishness of placing your hope in man, any man.  In verse 4, the psalmist tells us that when man dies, so do his plans and promises.  This is never true of God.  God’s promises are eternal.  The Lord works justice, feeds the hungry, upholds the widows and the fatherless.  Yet how does God do this?  He does this through ordinary ways and means.

    God almost always uses ordinary methods to accomplish his will.  That is, you and that is me.  It is not enough for us to sit back and tell the world that God will deliver them if we refuse to let the Spirit use us to accomplish this.  When I preach at a funeral, I usually tell the people gathered that God is going to comfort this grieving family and He is going to use your arms, your shoulders and your ears to accomplish this.  God will feed the hungry, support the widow, the fatherless, bring about justice, end oppression and bring healing into the world.  Yet He uses His Church, the Body of believers to do this.  I have heard numerous people say, “things have to change!”  That change has to begin with you.  You and I may not be able to heal a nation, but we can begin with our family by striving to be better spouses, parents, and children.  We can begin in our community by being a more loving neighbor, willing to help our neighbor in need.  This we can do and this we must do.

    So, who won?  It does not have to matter to a Christian who is desiring to worship the true God, kneel humbly before Him in penitence, and seek to walk the servant’s path.  When we do this, our neighbor wins.  Our victory is in Christ, it is never in jeopardy.  The healing of our communities can occur when Christians live out their faith and seek the Lord’s truth.  Put not you faith in men; put your faith in Jesus.

Father, lead us to see that the future is in your hand.  Guide us by your Spirit to know of our salvation and to serve you in this world.  Defend those who are in danger or suffering at this time.  Move our hearts that we may be your arms, your hands, and your shoulders of comfort.  In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

11-3-2020

 Good Morning All, 

          Matthew 26:11; “For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.”

       “Limited time only!”  That phrase seems to make us sit up and pay attention.  If a movie or a band is playing for a limited time only, well we just have to figure out why this is so important.  Sometimes it is just an advertising gimmick, like the store that is continually going out of business.  Yet sometimes, it is a limited or even a once in a lifetime chance.  If you got a chance to visit the President of the United States, that may very well be a once in a lifetime event.  If you witness a celestial event, like Halley’s Comet, that might be a once in a lifetime event. 

    The woman in our story saw Jesus as a once in a lifetime.  This story occurred shortly before Jesus was crucified.  The woman came and poured expensive oil on Jesus’ feet.  Some of the disciples, especially Judas Iscariot, criticized her for “wasting” money and not giving the money to the poor.  Jesus stated that the woman has done a beautiful thing.  “The poor you will always have but I won’t be here long” was the gist of what Jesus told them.

    Initially, we might see this as a contradiction.  Earlier, Jesus told a rich young man to “sell all you have and give it to the poor.”  So now what does this mean?  First, we need to see it for what it is.  This woman is glorifying God with her offering.  What she is doing is bringing honor and worship to Jesus.  She is not trying to impress anyone; this is an honest and heartfelt expression of her faith.  This is the exact thing that we should do, have an honest and heartfelt expression of our faith.

    Most people are offended by this, supposed, slight to the poor.  All this statement really means is that as long as there is sin in the world; there will be the poor.  There will also be the orphaned, the widowed, the chronically sick, the emotionally distraught and so on.  As long as sin is in the world there will be troubles and struggles. Yet this does not mean we ignore them or look the other way or think “I can’t help them all, so I won’t help any.”  This can paralyze us.  What this passage is encouraging us to do is to have an honest and heartfelt expression of our faith.

    How do we do that?  Well if you see Jesus you can pour oil on his feet like the woman did.  Yet if we never have that once in a lifetime event, we can do this by living a life that shows our faith.  We can care for the poor, the orphaned, the widowed, and all those who struggle with the challenges of life.  We can pray; we can worship God in spirit and truth; we can be part of the active body of Christ.  The real issue here is not how do you do this (express your faith) but that you do this (express your faith).

Father in heaven, send your Spirit to guide me that I may express my faith in the manner that may bring glory to you.  Help me to focus on your grace that I may boldly confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord.  Help to live this truth in my life.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

11-2-2020

 Good Morning All, 

            1 Thessalonians 5: 18; “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

       Do you ever have one of “those days”?  You know; the kind of day that starts out bad and then seems to go downhill from there.  It might start with the electricity flickering enough to mess up the alarm clock, so you oversleep by a half of an hour.  Then you stub your toe or cut yourself shaving or you spill coffee on your work outfit and now you must change clothes.  You go to get in the car and it either will not start or has a flat tire or both.  Sometimes you have one of those days and it is a day like that which often makes it hard to give thanks in all circumstances.

     We have days like this.  It seems that things just begin to pile on top of each other.  While it happens, we can be really frustrated but a few days later; we will often snicker when we think about it.  It might take some time to get the proper perspective on the event, but we do.  Yet these little events should help us see that, most of the time, our lives go smoothly.

    Yet there are times when it is very difficult to give thanks.  We look at our lives and wonder how do we give thanks?  We may have health problems or finance problems or relational problems; all these can make it difficult to give thanks.  We look at the world around us, maybe our neighbor’s new car or listen to their tales of wonderful trips and then look at our lives and wonder what is there to give thanks for.  So why would we give thanks in all circumstances?

    The first thing we need to look at and remember is that our circumstances are beyond this earthly life.  Our circumstances involve our heavenly life; for our life has been changed, dramatically. When Jesus walked out of the tomb everything changed.  We no longer fear death or are we terrorized by the devil.  When Jesus walked out of the tomb; it became a new day, a new life, and a new existence. 

     So, our circumstances are to be viewed differently.  Our circumstances are now being God’s holy and redeemed children.  We are in this circumstance every day and this is why we should be thankful in all circumstances.  Every day, we are living in our new life, freed from sin and the power of the devil.  No matter what he tries to throw at you, it will never stick because you have been washed in the blood of Jesus.  We are cleansed, thoroughly washed.  We are new creatures in God.  We know that our circumstance will not change; we are in God’s care and nothing will ever change that.  Our hope, our future is secure.

    So, if your car does not start; well you are still living the life of a redeemed child of God.  If your alarm does not go off; the same is true.  But at a much deeper level, if your spouse leaves you; you are still a redeemed child of God and we can give thanks for this wonderful blessing.

Father of grace, we give you thanks for the mercy that you give to us through Jesus.  Help us to always give thanks to you.  Help us to see that all our problems truly do pale when we see your glory given to us because of Jesus.  Help those who do not experience this certainty and this comfort.  Guide them by your Spirit that they may know your peace.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

11-1-2020

 

Good Morning All, 

        John 20:30-31; “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;  but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

       So, do you ever wonder what the disciples did on Saturday?  It would have been the Sabbath and it would have been the Passover but what did they do?  Did they just sit and stare?  Did they plan for what was next?  Did they sit and remember and reminisce about the past three years?  What did they do?

    The answer: we do not know.  Scriptures does not tell us what the disciples did on Saturday.  Scriptures does that a lot to us.  We know very little about Jesus from after his birth until he begins his ministry when he is about thirty.  We only have one little snippet of his childhood.  Did he learn the trade of carpentry?  How much rabbinic training did he receive as a child?  Was he poor, rich, or what we would call middle-class?  We do not know.

    This is not the only place where Scriptures is silent.  We do not have a real good description of heaven or hell or what our glorified bodies will look like.  Even in the Old Testament there are places where Scriptures is silent.  For some, this is very disturbing.  When you point out what Scriptures actually says some get upset because it is different from what they have heard or were taught or want to believe.  So, we wonder, we may even ponder, but we do not know.

    Do not let what Scriptures does not tell you undermine what it does tell you.  The Bible was written for a very specific reason and that reason is to reveal to you the truth about Jesus and how he gives you salvation.  All the stories in the Bible direct us to this truth.  Jesus died to pay for your sins and was raised to give you the victory over death.  That is what we are told and that is the greatest news that you can ever hear. 

    Through His Word, God reveals to us what we need to find our comfort in Him, to find our hope in Him, to recognize that our security is tightly wound up in His unfailing love.  He reveals his truth to us.  He reveals what we need to know but it is not all the truth that is God.  “God’s ways are higher than our ways” we are told.  God reveals himself to us in the manner that we need.

    So, for the rest, we need to live in faith.  We know God’s love for us as he has revealed it.  We can thus trust that what is not revealed to us is based in his nature of love.  We do not know everything but everything we know tells us we are saved.  Trust in God’s promises; he will not let you down.

Father in heaven, you know all that there is.  Guide us by your Spirit to trust in you and your holy Word.  We know that your mercy has redeemed us and that your grace sustains us.  Lead us to be content in your loving arms.  Be with those who struggle with the demons of this life.  Send your Spirit of comfort to them and guide them to your Holy Scriptures that they may have peace.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret