5-7-2022

 Good Morning All!

            1 Corinthians 15:58; “So then, my dear friends, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord's service is ever useless.”

    One of the cartoons in our local paper is called “Baby Blues.”  It has three children, a girl Zoe, a boy Hammie, and a baby girl Wren. They are young children. It is Hammie’s goal to annoy his sister at each and every turn of events. You can almost add an extra panel to the cartoon where one of the parents tells Hammie to “quit bothering your sister!”  I think the reason why many find this cartoon humorous is because it is pretty much true to life.

    If you are a parent, how many times have you told one or all of your children to “stop bugging your____!?”  There are times as a parent that you may feel that this stage of life will never get done. Maybe you have even gone to the level of placing masking tape down as a dividing line for squabbling siblings. Or maybe you use a timer or maybe you just take the object away until further notice. It can be very frustrating to deal with this day after day but eventually the children either outgrow it, live in a “truce mode” or learn to fight quietly.

    There are very few things in life as frustrating as trying to help someone with a problem or struggle when it seems like it never gets accomplished. You pray and pray, invite, and invite to church, you bribe, you cajole or use whatever means you have to get your child, spouse, parent, neighbor, or friend to come to church with you and it never works. You speak to your sister, daughter, niece, goddaughter, or good neighbor and she always ends up in relationships with men that end in disaster. Or maybe it is the male of the pair that you speak to. How many times do you help someone get a job only to have them quit or fired within two weeks? How many times do you loan money to someone, all the while they promise that “this is the last time,” only to do it over and over? How many times do you preach the Gospel message or try and live the love of Christ only to see nothing happen?

    In our verse, Paul knows we will be tempted to think our labor is in vain. A waste. Absolutely useless. So, Paul reminds us of the truth. Our labor for God is never in vain. Our work for God is never wasted. God promises that he will use our labor and sweat and tears for his purposes, to bring him glory. Even if we don’t see results, we can be assured that God is working. Most of the time we have no idea how God is using our efforts, but he is using them.

    So, keep praying and talking to the family member or friend who misses church or makes bad decisions or just can’t seem to figure it out. God is at work, and he works in his own time and in his own way. One thing we often miss is that while we are “working” on one person others are watching and they might be the ones who are most touched by our actions. God’s Word never returns empty; it always accomplishes it task. Nothing. In service to the Lord, is ever wasted.

Dearest Jesus, help me when I think my faith is wasted and your love is undervalued.  Help me to see that all things work according to your will. Give us the strength to continue in your service. In your precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

5-6-2022

 Good Morning All!

        Proverbs 28:25; “A greedy man stirs up strife; but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.”

    Did you ever hear that old Janis Joplin song, “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?”  It is one of those songs that only a few people probably remember. She sang about wanting what everyone else had but she didn’t have but “worked hard all her lifetime with no help from her friends.”  Maybe you heard Harry Chapin and “Cats in the Cradle” about a man who chased money and missed his son growing up. Or maybe you remember the movie “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”  Everyone was looking for some buried stolen money. A little bit of greed sure caused a lot of trouble.

    There is always greed in the world, many want something for nothing or at least they want something more than they have. The sad thing is that there are even people in the church who promise that you will make money and get rich if you are a Christian. They use verses like this one and promise an easy life to the believer. If, and usually when, this doesn’t happen; strife occurs. Faith does not promise an easy life what God offers us is a contented life.

    Many of us don’t feel that we are rich. Most of you would claim that you were barely getting by. Yet from most of the world’s view, you have wealth beyond imagination. What most of us lack is contentment with what God has given us.

    Most of us have seen, maybe experienced, the way greed can cause trouble. If you don’t believe me, just ask s family where the parents died without a will. Sometimes those family breaches never heal. So what does Scripture really tell us?  How do we understand this verse? First, what God promises us is not wealth but contentment, being satisfied with what you have. If we truly look, the greatest treasures have no monetary worth but are truly priceless.

    My wife and I look forward to the times when our children come over, share a meal, and spend time together. Even if it is an afternoon or just lunch, the heart is filled with joy that money cannot buy.  The key to our happiness is not necessarily success but contentment. Enjoy the blessing that God gives you. Don’t look at what others have or at what you don’t have; look at what God has given to you. Be content; that is his gift that will enrich you. That is how you are truly rich. It is not what we possess but what God has given to us. He has given us salvation, hope, comfort, and all of his love; this is how we are enriched.

Dearest Father, too often we look at the world and define riches by its measure. Help us to see that true wealth is found in your grace and in the many blessings which you have showered upon us. Help those who are struggling now to see the blessings in their life. In Jesus precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret    

 

5-5-2022

 Good Morning All!

    Ephesians 2:10; “God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do.”

   Sometimes, at our monthly “winkels” (pastor meetings) we talk about “hard conversations.”  You know those conversations that you have with members or people who come to you for help or advice. Sometimes, it is the conversation you have when someone is told that there is nothing the doctors can do any more. It might be them or a spouse or parent or child involved. That one is very hard. Yet you rely on what you have, God’s mercy found in the cross. We always look to the cross for God’s perfect example of his love for us. I don’t look forward to those conversations, but you can work through them. The conversation that I have the most trouble with is when someone, usually an elderly member, asks, “Why am I still here?”

    That one is hard. You can see and hear the sadness in their voice and in their eyes. They usually sigh and are tired. The ironic thing is that this statement is rarely, if ever, based in some fatalistic gloom. It is usually based in faith. They have usually been quite active and now see their roles as diminished even nonexistent. They sit in their room and wonder “what can I do anymore?”  Am I just a burden? And it isn’t always older people who can be overwhelmed by this feeling. It is easy to look around the world and wonder “what good am I?”

    This is the verse I like to use. I like to use it when I feel overwhelmed and passed by as well. God made us; he gave us a path and he placed good works in that path for us to do. You don’t have to solve the world’s problems or even do what you did a few years ago; you need to look to today. Maybe you used to lead the church choir but now you only sing with a grandchild; isn’t that just as important? Maybe you used to teach dozens and now only a couple; aren’t they just as important? God uses us according to his plan and his will. Don’t try to understand it; you will only get a headache or even some heartache.

    God has a plan and is guiding down that path and the opportunities might be different, even less in the world’s view, but it is part of God’s plan. So instead of reaching dozens or influencing hundreds; touch the life of one person today. It might be your spouse, your child, the neighbor, the young man who mows the lawn; whoever God places in your path today; touch them with God’s grace. Share God’s love with them. Enjoy God’s love for you. Take time to think about all that God has done for you today and what that means for tomorrow. As we reflect about what God has done, what he is doing and what he promises to do for tomorrow. God gives us the path and he gives us the tools and he gives us the opportunities to do those works which he lays out for us. Why are you still here? Because God still has wonders for you to experience.

Dearest Father, so often we feel overwhelmed by life; by our struggles with the way we feel our life proceeds. Give us the understanding to see and the patience to trust in your gracious will. Give your special love to those who are truly wondering why they are here. Give them that true peace and comfort which only you can give. In Jesus’ precious name we pray; amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

5-4-2022

Good Morning All!

    Psalm 122:1; “I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to the house of the Lord.”

    I really enjoy the two to three weeks around the equinoxes. Our church is orientated east and west. We have the altar on the east and a large stained-glass window on the upper west part. During the times of the year when the sun shines directly into this large stained-glass window it creates a thing of beauty. Behind the altar is the large cross and it hangs on a wall that is gold leaf. When the sun is most of the way set so it looks like it is touching the bottom of the window, the gold leaf looks like it is shimmering. It is really pretty.

    My wife and I have tried to photograph this, but we can never capture the true beauty of the shimmering gold behind the cross. The entire chancel area looks like it is glowing. There are many times when I will just sit and watch this happen. I usually take my computer to get something done or else copy some material on the copier, but I like to be there and watch. When it is at its best, I like to just sit and watch and enjoy the beauty of the sight and the quietness of the evening. You cannot photo this or video it; you have to be there and experience it.

    This is true of many things in life, you really have to be there to experience it. You might get a better view of a ballgame on TV, but you really do not experience the excitement and the atmosphere unless you are there. You cannot appreciate the majesty of the Grand Canyon unless you stand by it. You truly get the benefit of the worship life when you attend a worship service.

    You can listen or watch one on TV or listen on the radio or do the internet access thing but nothing beats being there. Nothing beats the sound of the organ or the sound of the people as they speak the responses to God’s Words. Nothing beats being there and looking at the minister standing in front of the altar and the cross as he announces God’s forgiveness. You can’t beat being there. When you listen to God’s Word read and preached to you; you can’t beat being there. When you share in the Lords Supper and receive the nourishment for your soul; you can’t beat being there. When you gather together in fellowship with your brother and sisters in Christ; you can’t beat being there. So this weekend try and use the time to go to the house of the Lord.  It is a spirit enhancing time. God uses it to speak to you; be sure and listen. It will make you glad that you went to the house of the Lord.

    Gracious Father, you call and gather your people to hear your wonderful words of forgiveness, hope, comfort, and salvation. As we gather together, you give us your peace. Gather all your people Father so that all may be blessed. We pray especially for those who have missed your call and experience the emptiness of this world. Send your Spirit to bring them home. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace

Pastore Bret

5-3-2022

 Good Morning All!

           John 1:16; “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”  

  There are some things about my wife that I don’t think I will ever understand. She doesn’t think that the proper way to spend an evening is to watch Perry Mason or a John Wayne western. She simply cannot see that the funniest movie made is “Blazing Saddles.”  I really can’t fathom her logic on either of these. She will only tolerate “James Bond” and she can take or leave “The Kingston Trio.”  How we ever connected I sometimes wonder but we do share one incredible, intense passion; we both love pizza!

    I think we could eat pizza almost every day. There are enough variations that we could probably manage it. I know I could. I even experiment when I cook pizza and even my failures (which are many!) I can eat and enjoy. The only thing better than pizza for supper is, if you can have some leftover, then you can savor the real breakfast of champions- cold pizza. I know how I am going to make my next pizza. I am going to start with a tomato sauce, then a layer of cheddar cheese. Next will be a layer of Canadian bacon, then a layer of Swiss cheese. Then a layer of pepperoni then a layer of pepperjack cheese. Next, I’ll use a layer of black olives, green olives, onions and pineapple.  I’ll follow that with a layer of gorgonzola cheese. Finally, I’ll put a layer of sausage and cover it with a layer of mozzarella cheese. It will be fantastic!

     You may not share my passion for pizza but there are things that you enjoy, and you love to layer it on. Perhaps it is a cup of coffee and your favorite dessert. Maybe it is the time you spend with family and friends. Maybe it is the comfort of your favorite quilt and a good book. Perhaps it is your favorite old TV show on. There are things that we enjoy ad we savor them as they are layered upon us.

    In our verse, we read where God’s mercy for us, shown to us through Jesus, layers his love upon us; we receive grace upon grace. God luxuriates us with this super helping of his love. We are able to wallow in the wonder of his mercy. Like staying in a warm bed on a cold winter morning, we are given the comfort and the consolation of God’s mercy.  The greatness of this is that it is always available to us. Whenever and wherever we have need, it is available to us and not just grace but grace upon grace. The gift of God’s love, so extravagantly given, that in some ways it would be embarrassing about how much we receive. Even when we don’t always feel it or see it, God’s love, his grace upon grace, is heaped upon us.

    The nature of God, the desire of God is shown to us through Jesus. Through Him we see God’s unparalleled desire to give to us his love in big heaping servings. We are full of his grace which is piled upon us grace upon grace.

Father of all mercies, you pour out upon us your tender love and mercy. We receive grace upon grace. Give us the strength to live in confidence of your truth. May we always receive comfort from your grace. Be with those who feel that are missing this grace. Use us to bring them your most wonderful gift. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

5-2-2022

  Good Morning All!

        Mark 6:31; “So he said to them, “Let’s go to a place where we can be alone to rest for a while.”

      Do you remember the old Calgon commercials? It always had this mother, her hair all frazzled, about 8-10 kids running around her yelling and screaming. She would look to the camera and say, “Calgon, take me away.”  There were variations on this theme; there was the “Calgon moment” for a while. There are actually many ads for some sort of “time out.”  There are the coffee ads where you see someone standing on a balcony looking out over a beautiful vista or mountain scene. Some ads even suggest a candy bar will solve the problem.

    The ad companies know us well. They know that most people today feel incredibly rushed and frazzled. Do you remember when computers were going to make our lives easier? I am still waiting. It seems like everything is in double speed and there is twice as much to do now. We “know” everything so much faster that we often don’t really have time to consider the ramifications of what we “know.”  So now we get the benefit of those who think they “know” telling us how to react to what they “know” we “know” now. No wonder we are lost.

     Most of us go through life with our head spinning and we can’t figure it out one bit. The really sad part is that this is exactly how the devil wants us to live. He wants us harried, frazzled, confused, and lost.  It is in this mayhem that the devil wants us to exist, not live, but exist. When you are here, you are always tired, often confused, feeling like you are always worn out. The devil loves this spot for you to try and ride along because you never will. You will only suffer from this ride.

    This is why God speaks to us in this verse. “Let’s go to a place where we can be alone and rest for a while.”  God is inviting you, actually he is begging you, to take a little time and rest. Take a little time and spend it reading his Word, really reading it. Listen to the words and to the hope that these words offer. Take time to pray; speak to God with an honest and true prayer. Speak your words of thanks, your words of fear, your words of questioning. God will use this time to give you peace, maybe not the answers you seek, but peace knowing that God is listening and is loving you today and tomorrow. God will use this time to slow you down and to see the world a little more clearly. Most of what the world thinks you have to “know” isn’t worth a hill of beans. Spend time with God, rest a little while enjoying hid Word to you.

Father of mercy, we need to take time and rest, yet we often fail to do so. We become frazzled and worn out and then are easy targets for the devil and his ways. Give us the wisdom to rest in your grace. Give us the courage to take time to rest in your Word and to hear your words of comfort and consolation. We need you every hour, bless Father with your love. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

5-1-2022

 Good Morning All!

    Mark 1:7;” Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish.”

         So, I guess I am not the world’s greatest traveler.  I don’t ride along really well. In fact, there are only about 7 or 8 people that I am comfortable riding with. Outside of them, I can ride but I don’t ride comfortably. I am usually tense on the ride. Given the choice, I will drive over riding. Riding makes me nervous. I can never sleep in a car or even rest. I have never been really good at being the passenger.

     Part of the problem is that I like to be in control. It isn’t about trust; it is about control. If a decision needs to be made, I at least want to be involved. That is why I like to drive; I like to decide if we go faster or slower. I like to decide if we bypass a town or go through it. I decide when it is time to stop. These all play a part in the process. I like to have some control.

     There are probably many of you like this. Maybe it isn’t about driving; it may be about how the house is maintained or how the home finances work. Perhaps you like to have some control at your place of work. It may be a small thing, but we like to have a little control in life. This is often why we often struggle with faith; we want control.

     When Jesus says, “come follow me!” it means he drives, and we ride. It doesn’t mean that we drive and listen to his direction; it means he drives. We listen to him and follow him but how do we do this? We do this by reading and hearing his Word and instruction. When Jesus says feed the hungry; that is what it means. When Jesus says give them something to drink; that is what it means. Too often we make it complicated. We try to have control and change what is written to mean what we want it to mean. We look to him, in faith, and then follow the path that he takes. We are to be humble, thankful, generous, and compassionate. We are to love others.

     Love them; not just don’t be mean to them but to love them. We are to reach out to them with God’s compassion. We are to follow Jesus and the example that he set. Following Jesus means taking the same path that he took. It means laying down your life. Now laying down your life doesn’t necessarily mean physically dying, it means placing your wants below the needs of your neighbor. It means that you don’t get to drive; it means that Jesus gets to drive. He picks the routes, he picks the speed, he picks the time to stop. These may be different for different people, but it is because Jesus is the driver, and we are the passengers; we follow.

Dear Lord Jesus, your invitation to follow you sounds so simple, yet we make it so complicated. We try to lead when we should follow, we try to speak when we should only listen. Give us the wisdom to listen and to follow. Guide us through the path that you have chosen that we may become the fishers of men. Guard us with your grace. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret