Ruts and Roadblocks

I was driving on the highway today and so I decided to set the speed control so that I didn’t have to keep my foot on the gas pedal. I didn’t ask for this feature and I’m still not sure whether I like it or not, but my car has a speed control setting that slows down when other cars slow down. It is a nice feature when I am not paying as close an attention to the road as I should and keeps me a safe distance away. It has a drawback too. If I am on a two lane highway and I want to go at a certain speed for a long period of time, I just set the control. Too often, I am watching the traffic, but not the speedometer, since the speed is set. Problem is, if the car in front is going slower, my car gradually slows down to that speed and I often don’t realize it for miles. If I’m not in a hurry it is no big deal. If I am trying to make time, it becomes very frustrating to slow down without knowing it... especially since I could just pull out in the next lane and pass. We do way too many things out of habit (coasting), not out of service (to God). Our commitment slows down. Our Scripture reading and devotions slow down. Our faith slows down. We begin to follow that “vehicle” ahead of us instead of going around and doing what we were meant to do. That “vehicle” can be worldly desires, complacency, habit (even if they are not bad), others expectations, and the like. They are not always bad, in and of themselves, but they pull us away from doing that which is good. We are blindly following the crowd, but we are failing to focus on our destination as we should. Because we have convinced ourselves that we are heading the right direction, we fail to stay focused on God, His word, and His leading. As the old slang goes, we are stuck in the mud. If we follow that “vehicle” too long, we may not even notice that it has exited the highway and we are still following. We might need to see a roadblock before we realize we are on the wrong road. Don’t expect tomorrow to be like today. Be on your toes, alert for opportunities and aware of the Devils attacks. Surrender your worldly wants and pray that God’s Spirit would direct your way. Make sure you are staying tuned to God, His word, and how God might be calling you. Father, strengthen us in faith and help us to avoid getting caught in ruts and roadblocks. Help us to grow, stay fresh in our faith, and dependant on You. Amen

Heart Desire vs. Reality

On Memorial Day, we took a trip to Door County to check out the cherry blossoms, some unique stores, and just see the sites. We planned to use a good chunk of the day and were looking forward to just enjoying it. The beauty didn’t fail us. The flowering orchards, the quaint towns, the specialty stores, and seeing the bay and all the beauty. As we though it couldn’t get better, we hadn’t considered if it might get worse... which it did. We discovered that a few of us had allergic reactions to the cherry blossoms. All our best plans and desires didn’t look so amazing after congestion started setting in. Even though we left the area, the allergic reaction lasted for the rest of the day. Our plans seemed well thought out until a wrench got thrown into the mix. What our heart was desiring seemed to be much less valuable than the reality of the situation. I think that there are many with a romantic view of faith, figuring that everything will just fall into place, all struggles will cease, and we will live happily ever after. We don’t consider what God is calling us to do and that there may be suffering involved. God promises an amazing eternity if we walk by faith, but He doesn’t guarantee what day to day will look like. If we live in perfect harmony with the community, especially those that aren’t walking by faith, we have to ask ourselves if we are truly living out our faith. Has our faith become so private that those around us don’t understand how important and life changing it is or do we not realize how important it is and out of fear of rejection, choose to make our faith private? We have to ask ourselves where our hearts desires come from. After all, God says that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Are our spiritual conversations saved for church and Bible studies, or do we boldly live out that faith for the world to see? Sometimes, even our best plans must be changed. Even though we must always test to see if our desires are in line with God’s will, we must also know that God tells us that if we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts... not the selfish ones, but the ones that come from delighting in God. Reality can be harsh, but life would be very depressing if we didn’t have the desires that only God gives. Father, fill us with Your Holy Spirit and change our hearts to align with Your word so that our hearts might truly rejoice. Amen

O, That They All Could

One of our readings today, the Day of Pentecost - when the church celebrates the Holy Spirit being poured out in a new way in the church, showed the relationship between us and God. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was given to the prophets and those that spoke on God’s behalf. One of our Scripture readings today dealt with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the leaders of the God’s people while they were in the wilderness. The Holy Spirit was taken from Moses and split up between the 70 men. They met on the outskirts of the community and began to prophesy. Two of these men hadn’t gone out with the others and so were prophesy within the community. Someone told Joshua, who told Moses of the two men that were prophesying elsewhere. Joshua told Moses to quiet them, but I love his response. Are you so jealous for me that you would silence them? I wish that all people (were filled with the Holy Spirit) could prophesy. Today, we have leaders and members who want to be in control. Maybe it is the Pastor that feels people must follow his every desire. Maybe it is a big financial giver that feels their voice is more important than others. Maybe it is the person who has an agenda that they feel everyone else should follow. Moses isn’t concerned about himself or his recognition. When he sees the Holy Spirit poured out on so many, he realizes the benefits of more people teaching God’s word. Now imagine when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost what the possibilities were. The prophesying wasn’t outside the camp but proclaimed to large crowds that were in the city that week. Along with the gifts of the Holy Spirit were the fruit of the Spirit for all which was love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control. There were also given, as the Holy Spirit chose, the manifestation of the Spirit, the message of wisdom, the message of knowledge, faith, the gifts of healing, miraculous powers, distinguishing between spirits, different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. So what is holding us back from being the church God called us to be? O Holy Spirit, You have given these gifts so that Your church might grow in faith and obedience. Fill to overflowing. Amen

The Joy of Serving

We live in a time where so many people feel like the rest of the world owes them something. We have Lawsuits because we don’t like an outcome. Kids expect to get what they want when they want it. Workers who do basic labor somehow think that they have a right to share in the riches of the CEO and management. Many teens don’t even look for work, expecting to be taken care of. That is not the call God put on our hearts, and it is not the example that He set for us. Jesus’ own words claim that He didn’t come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. Think about that... Jesus came to serve. In contrast, there many who pray, mainly when they are in need, for God to help them. Help me get a job. Help me to score well on a test. Don’t let anyone find out what I did. Help my team to win. Does that seem to line up with the example Jesus left for us? Now, I’m not saying we can’t pray for those things, but it should not be our main focus. We hear about the gifts of the Spirit that include teaching, leading, serving, being generous, etc. These gifts are not given for the benefit of the one who receives it but rather puts a greater responsibility on the one who has the gift to use it in service to God. King David was a great king, but he knew where his power came from. He tended sheep, fought Goliath, played the harp for King Saul and wrote many Psalms (hymns) about who God is and how much we depend on Him. There are many others that illustrate the need for us to serve God. Even the great Prophets were called by God and were required to share what God spoke to them, even if they were killed for sharing that word. I would also like to share that serving the Lord isn’t a punishment or hard labor. It is an honor to be about God’s work. One of the Psalmist clearly describe the desire to serve God... “Better is one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than dwell in the tents of the wicked” (Psalm 84). We get lost fighting for our rights rather than living in service to God. The world might bring momentary joys, but in the end, it brings eternal condemnation. The joy of serving is not about personal gain, but rather a privilege to serve the Creator God. Father, You have gifted each person differently. Fill our hearts with a joy and satisfaction as we use those gifts to honor You. Amen

Is War Acceptable?

We are approaching Memorial Day Weekend in the USA. Many see it as a sign that the summer is officially beginning. Its meaning is much deeper and more personal. It is a day to remember those serving in the military that paid the ultimate price... they never came home. We have a number of holidays to remember the men and women that serve our nation through the military. Some feel that we shouldn’t go to war and may even go so far as to believe that fighting is wrong, after all one of the Ten Commandments says that we should not kill, right? Wrong! It says that we should not murder. What is the difference? Murder is a premeditated intent to harm another for personal gain. When a life is taken protecting ourselves or others, it is not murder. I will admit that there are some wars that are wrong... those that seek to destroy other nations so that they may grow larger and stronger. This would likely fall under murder and greed. There are wars against people because of hate. Again, this is not acceptable. There are other reasons that would be unacceptable too. A country has the right to go to war to protect its own citizens. If a country threatens another nation and has shown resolve to carry it out, that nation can go to war preemptively to defend itself. Romans even says that the ‘government doesn’t carry the sword for nothing’ meaning that it has the right to take life to maintain order. Our first allegiance must be to God... no other option comes close. Then I believe we serve our families, and then our nation (assuming the nation isn’t operating contrary to God). Very few countries can have order and peace if have no way to defend themselves. Some nations depend on others to defend them. Some are able to defend themselves. Without protection, eventually someone will overtake that nation. The nation (and those under its protection) that has a strong military, doesn’t desire to conquor the world, and continues to have the latest technology and equipment will likely enjoy the greatest peace. Those that serve in their military to protect that nation deserve great respect. This is why we honor those that died while serving. We owe them a debt of gratitude. Take time to remember the price of freedom. Father, thank You for the men and women that have served to protect us over the years. Watch over those that have lost loved ones. Amen

Spring Is Here... Almost

I grew up where the only change of season was rainy or dry season. You could set your clock by where the sun was... 6 am, noon, and 6 pm, with sun straight above for noon. Now Spring is coming, though I have still heard of snow, ice, and hard freezes. There are more leaves on the trees, the apple trees are almost ready to blossom, and yet the tall grass on the edge of the lawn is still brown and flat on the ground. That too will rise. I hear the frogs out at night now and unfortunately, the mosquitos are starting to come out too. It’s the blooms and the leaves that really get me excited. Still a little early for the garden with tomatoes and warmer weather plants. The earth seems to testify to power and glory of God. We read in Psalm 19, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Again we read in Psalm 97, “The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols — worship him, all you gods!” His creation declare His creative power. His creation declares the glory of His name. His creation is a witness to power of of God. We join with the Psalmist who wrote Psalm 25, “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God.” We often look at what we see around in light of what it does for us. We may not truly comprehend the beauty of the birds and flowers. We might not see how God provides for us in all His creation around us. We notice what helps and often ignore everything else. One person notices one part of creation while another sees something else, but if both of them look, they all point us to God, the Creator of heaven and earth. Romans 1 talks about how we are without excuse because God is revealed in all that He has given to us. Whether you see it in the Spring or Fall, lift your voice in praise and worship. Heavenly Father, to You we lift up our soul. In You we will trust all day long. May our hearts sing praises to You and about You. Amen

Graduates

I don’t know how many people reading this know of someone who graduates this year. I don’t know if you have had any influence on their lives... parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, and friends. The high school graduates have put in at least 12 years of their life studying to get to where they are now. They have learned many things, some of which will be beneficial and some things that may become obstacles they will need to overcome. College and tech school graduates are put in an even more important position where they must determine what they are doing. Some have a great faith, some a minimal faith, and some no faith at all. What is the future going to hold and where do we fit in? The most valuable thing that we can be doing is praying for those that are preparing to embark on a new adventure. Pray that God would give them great wisdom and insight into what the future will hold for them. Pray for the Spirit to surround them with good and Godly friends. Pray for churches that are in the area these students might end up so that they can find that church home that can be so invaluable. Even pray for those that may not be believers that God would draw them to Himself. Continue to pray for them. On top of that, encourage them. Make sure they know there are people that care for them so that when they are tempted or overwhelmed, they know that there are those praying for them. The closer your relationship, the more depth those encouragements might be. We are not talking about stalking, but a positive interaction. If you are family, be involved as you are able. We don’t want to send these folks out alone because we know that opens them up to being influenced by others. They need other friends, but colleges or going out into the workforce full time have its own challenges. It’s not too early to begin praying for the Juniors in high school and college. There are many decisions that will be made before they reach graduation. Both present and future graduates should be praised for their hard work, be challenged to weigh carefully what they will do, and be encouraged to make God a priority. Pray generically or specifically, but know they need to be anchored in healthy habits. Father, thank You for allowing so many graduates to complete their study. Prepare them for the future and guard their hearts. Amen

How Should We See God?

If I were to mention a political figure, a Hollywood personality, or sports icon, there would be differences of opinions. Why? We have different values and ways to process these people. They might stand for different priorities, they may not believe as we do or play on a rival team. We tend to judge people through our own personal belief system as to whether they are valuable to us or a traitor (in some cases). It seems like everything we come across either has value or gets in the way. I think we get so used to judging things through our eyes that we may put the same standard on God. We may not say it, but we seem to decide who we think God should be and what He should do for us rather than to rightly understand who God is and adjust our life to Him. We might put value on God if we think that He has something to offer... a way that He will make our life better or help us in our time of need. The real question is, how should we see God? Is He our friend to bring us comfort and support us? He is a friend of sinners, but that is directly connected to whether I recognize I am a sinner in need of His grace and healing. Is He there to help me when I get in a jam or am facing great obstacles in life? There is nothing in God’s word that points to Jesus as a Genie that is there to meet our every wish and command. Is He the One who will heal those that are sick and hurting? He is the great Physician, but unlike a doctor, we don’t make appointments, but rather meet Him in prayer. Nothing is impossible for Him to heal, but He determines what is best. Is He the One who gives me the answers I need to succeed in life? He does know everything and desires to give wisdom to all who call out to Him, but he isn’t our cheat sheet in life. God is God. He rules over all things. He created us and desires for us to walk with Him and grow in intimacy through faith. The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. That means recognizing that He is has authority over me and all things and that I have been called to serve Him, not be served. We pray with confidence knowing He can do all things, but acknowledge “not my will but Yours be done.” He is my hope, my life, my salvation, my Savior, my joy, and my all in all. Father, You are the King of Glory and we are sinners in need of rescue. Help us to know the true You and seek Your face. Amen

Do I Need Stuff

As Americans, we too often look at the stuff that other people have and feel like we won’t be complete unless we have what they have. For many Americans, we may not have an abundance of money, but we often have an abundance of stuff. I hear people say that one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure. That can be so true. I know that I have a problem with collecting too much stuff. It is all good, but it is too much. I feel guilty saying that when I know that so many around the world are struggling just to have food, or clothing, or a roof over their head. I ran across a little sign that was almost too true to be funny. It went like this - “The Three Stages of Life: 1. Wanting stuff. 2. Accumulating stuff. 3. Getting rid of stuff.” The infant growing into a child and sees stuff that they want... a toy car, a doll, ice cream, a favorite blanket, etc. They can whine, cry, and fuss in an effort to get what they want and don’t have. This desire moves to the acquire stage. They have a job or allowance and so they can start acting out on their desires. I’m thankful that there seems to be a generation or two that are moving away from an overabundance. There is, for many, a need to gather what they can even if they don’t always need it. Then as they start reaching their later years, they begin to realize that all this stuff they have will be a burden for their children to clean up or overwhelming to move to a smaller home. There is both pain and joy in down-sizing. We have to give up a part of our wants to find what we really need. What is missing in this conversation is that there is a fourth stage... no stuff. When we breath our last, we cannot take it with us. My most treasured stuff will go to someone else or worse yet, get thrown away. King Solomon referred to this concept as meaningless. When I really get down to it, there is only one thing that I truly need and that is Jesus. The stuff lasts for a moment, but what hear in God’s word, the time we spend with God in prayer, and the promise of eternity is just that... eternal. Sometimes we can have so much stuff that we can’t find what we need. May the “earthly stuff” we treasure never overshadow what is necessary. Is today the day that you need to focus on spiritual housekeeping? Father, take away my desire for the things of the world and replace them with a deep love and passion for You. Amen

God’s Not Done With You Yet!

I was recently thinking about Moses when God called him through the burning bush. God told Moses that He wanted him to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh (the king) to let God’s people go. Moses wasn’t too excited about this assignment and had a list of excuses. God said that He would give Moses help, but He didn’t remove the call or responsibility. I’ve noticed that Moses isn’t the only one with excuses. I hear people say that they are too young, too old, not knowledgeable enough, etc. We want to see the world changed... but through someone else. Someone had posted something on social media that caught my eye. It went like this, “I tried to throw in the towel. God threw it back and said, ‘Wipe your face. You’re almost there.’” Jonah was called to go and preach to the people in Nineveh, but he ran the other way. God didn’t give up on Jonah. The Apostle Paul (formerly Saul) was killing Christians and trying to destroy the Christian church. God gave Paul a second chance. Peter denied Jesus three times, but he was given another chance. I kind of liked the above phrase because it is a no nonsense approach. Don’t give up. God’s still got you. He still has a plan. I think too often we have been taught to be impatient. We eat fast food, microwave food, instant food, etc. We need to be more like farmers that grow food and wait for it to produce. When God puts a burden or a call on our hearts, he doesn’t expect us to try it for a few days and then give up. Our spiritual growth shouldn’t be an up and down relationship, but rather a slow and consistent growth. God doesn’t call us because He thinks we are perfect, but rather he makes us perfect for the job that He calls us to do. I believe there are way too many Christians that fail to accomplish what God has called them to do because they don’t find instant gratification. Discipling is not just handing someone a book or telling them what they need to do. It is, again, a slow and consistent growth. It doesn’t matter how big the job is that God is calling you to do. He just wants you to faithfully follow Him until He takes the call away from you. That may be an hour, week, year, or lifetime. We need to stop making excuses and start responding with, “Send me!” Father, help us to grow in faith each day so that we don’t give up or get frustrated when the answer isn’t instant. Help! Amen

Why Do We Go to Church?

I was reading a devotion today about a woman that went into a remote area where people didn’t know God. She worked for 5 years without any result. They just finished putting in a runway when a pregnant village woman was struggling. They flew her to a hospital and she came back healthy, and with a healthy child. The people were amazed and began asking questions and then started following the teachings that were presented. The good news is that they were being surrounded by God’s word. The possible bad news was they might have been doing it based on technology and not based on faith. I know that there was a group in Papua New Guinea known as the Cargo Cult that acted similarly. They saw the “riches” of the westerners and though if they duplicated their life, they too would have riches. When we put it that way, going to church doesn’t necessarily mean seeking God and His leading. Many Americans go to church for all the wrong reasons. They go there to please family members. They go because it can be good for business exposure and connections. They do it because they feel they have to. They do it in order to become a member or get confirmed. I know there are many other reasons people go that are less than admirable. A telltale sign that we might be there for the wrong reason is having no hunger for God as we go and leaving with the same attitude we came with, or worse. So, how do we avoid just going because...? I know we have talked about this before. Get enough sleep. Spend time with God in prayer before going to church asking for God to speak to you and direct your ways. Arrive in time to settle in the pew, find and mark the hymns and scripture readings, read through the hymns to understand the content, and spend time in prayer. It is great to catch up with how others are doing, but it is more important to be prepared for worship. Catch up after the service. Spend time in the word at home, be encouraged by reading from a devotional book, and put your faith into action. Will some people feel you are stand-offish and radical? Maybe, but did you come for them or for God? Bible studies are another great way to grow and be challenged and/or encouraged in faith. Father, open our eyes to see You. Direct us by through the Holy Spirit and put a song on our heart! Amen

You Didn’t See That?

I remember, while on the Fire Department, being at an accident site. The weather was quite foggy, and we were doing our best to keep the scene safe. Three deputies were on scene along with the fire department and all their equipment. The trucks were put in place to block out any cars that might come on the scene too quickly. There were firefighters running traffic control about a 1/4 mile from the accident site. In the stillness of the morning, we heard a car approaching the scene. One could hear the vehicle slowing down and the engine was winding down. As a car saw the traffic patrol with a “slow” sign held up, they decided they were in too much of a hurry and stepped on the gas to race through the scene. As we heard the engine revving up, I also saw three Deputies with their hand on their weapon, moving into the car's pathway, pointing for him to pull over. My guess is it wasn’t the conversation that driver wanted to have. When the Deputies released the driver, he sped away very dangerously, especially for the foggy conditions. I don’t know what he was charged with, but he decided to fight it in court and so those firefighters running traffic control when the driver approached were called in to testify. The firefighters wanted to take a picture of the sign. I suggested they take the actual sign as it was large and fluorescent pink. I’m not sure how the case was going, but when the court was informed that the driver had failed to stop for this obvious “Slow” sign, I heard that the judge said, “You didn’t see that?” I believe that was the beginning of the end for the case. Romans 1 states, “what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” On top of that we have God’s word that is available at church, on the radio, TV, internet, and in person. Sadly, when some stand in judgement before God, and they will, they might hear something similar to that above, “You didn’t see that?” Are we faithfully proclaiming? Are they listening? What will Jesus say to us? Father, give us faith to know that our only hope, when we stand before You in judgement, is that by faith our charges are dropped. Amen

Are There Different Paths to God?

I hear people in the world talk about that question so often. At the heart of many of the arguments is not being judgmental. How can I, as a Christian, say that a Buddhist, a Islamist, a New Ager, or a Mormon will not be saved. At the core, this seems very unfair, critical, and an elitist thing to say... but is it? Let me paint a picture for you. I had gone to the Dakotas for my daughters graduation. She was coming to Wisconsin with us. My wife and my daughter took one car and headed home, stopping at a few quilt shops to find the perfect fabric. I, on the other hand, took a more southern route with less stops along the way. We both ended up getting home. So, it seems that two routes can get to the same location. Hang on a second. What if one was using a faulty map or didn’t understand how to read the map. They may have started heading for Washington state, California, or Texas. When the route was absent the means of accurate directions, it is unlikely that anyone would be able to find their way home through several states. The different paths, that succeeded, still used the same accurate mapping. Let’s go back to the Christian’s claim that Jesus is the only way and that God’s word is the map or direction we need to be saved. One might be Lutheran or Catholic, orthodox or charismatic, traditional or contemporary, but if they are using the same source of direction... God’s word and what Jesus did for us... they will arrive at the same destination... heaven. If, however, we aren’t using the same map (Bible) we will not know God, or His will, or receive wisdom that only the Holy Spirit can give. Therefore, those “religions” that don’t recognize Jesus as God, as our Savior, and as the only way, will not see heaven. This is not my desire or judgement... this is God’s direction and plan. In John 1:12 we read, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”. Jesus also says in John 14, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The Bible is proven accurate through archeology and history. It doesn’t change to suit the world’s desires. That being true, God makes it very clear that there is only one way. Lord, help us to follow Your way revealed in the Bible and keep us from following the philosophies of the world. Amen

The Hard Topic

I feel like this topic has come up multiple times this last week and so I thought I should address it. That topic is death. We had a burial today and I know that feelings can be raw. I remember not that long ago one of my high school buddies past away. We were having a conversation about how to help those left behind. The first thing to note is that everyone handles grief differently. Some shut down. Some pour themselves into work or keep busy. Some need to be around people while others need to be alone. The first thing that I notice is that after a funeral, most people go back to their normal days. Unfortunately, the family is often unable to do that immediately. We shouldn’t force ourselves on anyone, but it is good to be available or check in from time to time to see how things are going. I think that most people get really uncomfortable talking about the death of one who is terminal. My experience is that most people that are dying don’t have a problem talking about death... after all that is their reality now. We can ask how they are doing?... if there are any things that they need to say or accomplish before dying?... and most importantly, if they have a living faith in Jesus? If there is ever a time to talk about faith, it is then. After the funeral, when everyone else goes back to normal, the family may feel isolated. It seems like everyone is walking on eggshells because they don’t know how to talk with that person. Then someone innocently starts talking about their father or mother and awkwardly apologize to the one who lost their father or mother. It gets uncomfortable because everyone is afraid of saying the wrong thing. Again, my experience has been that those that experienced the loss are ok with talking about that person. It keeps the memory alive and lets those grieving know that they meant something to us. It is ok for them to cry. Don’t go in with an agenda or a plan on what you are going to do or how you should act. Be real and in the moment. Be with the one grieving. If you happen to think of a memory of that person, maybe send a text and say, “I was just thinking about them and how they used to ...”. Invite them to join in activities so they can get back into life again. Don’t force. And pray. Father, there are so many people that have lost loved ones and are grieving. Help us to listen, support, and just be there for them. Amen

Self Absorbed

I was driving in town today and came across one of the few traffic lights we have in town. It wasn’t rush hour, but it was getting close. I was wanting to make a right turn at the intersection. When I got there, I noticed that a few cars, going from left to right, had entered the intersection before there was room on the opposite side. There they were, smack in the middle of the intersection. The light changed. We got a green light. It was about as useful as a ping pong ball at a golf tournament. The intersection was blocked. By the time the traffic started moving again, I think only one car had made it across. If the intersection wasn’t blocked, I would guess a dozen cars, at least, would have made been able to move on. Were they impatient? Selfish? Not paying attention? Unaware of the law? Had they been paying attention, everyone would have done better. I couldn’t help but think of Romans 12 where it says, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Believers really should stand out because of how we act... should act. Too often we are no different than the world. That’s a sad commentary. The Apostle Paul calls us to love from the heart, not just because we are told we should love others. As the Spirit of God moves within us, we will find ourselves moving away from that which is evil and worldly to follow Him who is true. The world tells us to look out for ourselves, but Paul tells us to be devoted to one another. And what I didn’t see today? “Honor one another above yourselves”. The more we walk with God, the greater our desire will be to serve and worship Him. He tells us to be “ joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”, but I will save that for another pondering. We are to share with those in need, not if it is convenient, not if we have extra to give, not to gain praise from others, but because God asked us to. It closes with practice hospitality... a lost gift. Take time to ponder its meaning. Father, here I am complaining about how someone else isn’t acting properly when I know I have failed enough times myself. Help! Amen

How Friendly Should We Be?

We have been going through Luther’s Catechism as the basis of a Bible Study. I think we might be going on about 5 years in the Catechism, looking at all the Bible Passages that Luther believed added clarity to the basic teachings of Jesus. We are just finishing up a section dealing with confession, forgiveness, and excommunication (removing someone from membership because of sinful actions). We looked at a section in 2 Corinthians chapter 2 where the Apostle Paul seemed to indicate that the church needed to deal with someone who had sinned. At some point, the Apostle Paul instructed them to forgive the man and welcome him back into fellowship, making sure they affirmed their love for the repentant sinner. Why was the Apostle Paul so insistent on assuring the man of their love? So that he wasn’t overwhelmed with guilt for his actions and leave the church or worse. It has been documented that many cults, in order to gain more members, look for people that are outcast, overwhelmed, and feeling alone. Their response is sometimes called ‘love bombing’. Everyone encourages this lost person and surrounds them with so much love and acceptance. Even though in many cases they know the group doesn’t stand for what they have been taught is right, the need to feel loved is a greater desire for them. The power of love is expressed by a mom after a child has admitted his/her failure. The mom doesn’t just say thank you for admitting that, but with a desire to see the child restored, wraps that child in her arms making sure that he/she knows that they are loved and have been restored. Love is a very powerful expression. Going back to removing someone from church, how convinced do you have to be of their repentance and how quickly should they be accepted back into full fellowship. Forgiveness bears immediate results, and the congregation should accept that forgiveness fully, the second repentance is expressed. Does everyone who attends worship each Sunday feel that same love and acceptance or do we remain in our own groups. If you don’t feel welcome, you usually don’t stick around very long. If someone leaves not knowing they are loved, we have failed our job. Father, You expressed Your love for us by sending Your Son to rescue us. Fill us with the same love for those You place in our lives. Amen

Unseen Danger

Today was both a good day and a little bit of a struggle. I had to see the dentist. It wasn’t just for a cleaning or even a filling. I had lost a chunk of tooth that now needs to have a crown put on it. There was some sign of decay around the filling that was left in the tooth, so the dentist drilled, and drilled, and drilled. Because of the “novocaine”, I didn’t feel any intense pain, but as the drilling got deeper, I could tell the nerve was really being taxed. The numbing shot was very isolated... just the one tooth he was working on. In the past, it seemed like much of my mouth went numb. When I left, after all the pushing, stretching, drilling, I thought I would be sore. That didn’t come until later in the day when the numbing agent was wearing off. Then there was a little aching, but more than that, there was exhaustion. It seems strange that something I couldn’t feel had such a debilitating effect on me. Then I started thinking about our spiritual walk. If I face something big and overwhelming, I know it is there and I can seek help to deal with it. If, however, the problems are more subtle and/or they happen when we are distracted with other things, we may not even consider the damage they could do. Note that a small glowing ember, or even a spark, can cause a forest fire. Whatever thought, action, or obstacle that is in our life, even if it seems small and insignificant, can grow over time and create much destruction. I recall a psalmist speaking of sin and say that when he remained silent, his bones wasted away within him. Even though the tooth didn’t cause much pain, it controlled how I felt later in the day. Even though we do things, or participate in things that don’t seem “really” bad, it has a way of tainting our heart and spirit. With the illustration earlier, a glowing ember is much easier to put out than a forest fire. Likewise, when we become aware of things in our lives that aren’t perfectly aligned with God, that is the time to take care of it. The longer we wait, the more likely it will eventually get out of control. This is why we need the fellowship of others and a sense of accountability, so that these things don’t creep up on us or fester in our hearts and minds. We are not to seek to belittle but to strengthen and equip other believers. Father God, if there is someone reading this pondering that is struggling, even if it is small, send someone to help them. Amen

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

I felt bad that today in worship I was partially responsible for distracting some parishioners during worship. I must admit that I was totally unaware of the problem that was there. During or after the message, I was totally unaware that a wasp had landed on my robe and was quite close to the arms of the robe. I was told that at times it would get lost in the folds of the robe. It wasn’t bothering me because I didn’t know about it. If it had bothered me, it could have been quite disruptive to worship. I was thankful that one of the ushers came up, when it was appropriate in the service, and swiped it off of me. I was clueless to the danger that might have been there. I was never allergic to bee stings, but I find that as I age, things change and so I don’t like to gamble on the outcome. That wasp caused two issues. It distracted some worshipers and it might have put me in a little danger. Sin has a way of doing the same thing. For many people, even believers, we can carry with us sin that is threatening to destroy us. All sin, great or small, condemns us without Christ. Our blindness to the sin not only is a danger to our souls but can cause others to fall. Addictions can distract families and communities from the real solution... Jesus Christ. Our spiritual blindness can also cause others to take their eyes off of Christ. Why? Because they are influenced or tempted by my sin and that distraction has a way of compromising our faith. That is why it is so important when we go before the Lord to confess our sins, to confess not only the sins that we are aware of, but also for the sins that we are unaware of. It is not a matter of trying to argue how God would judges us for sins we are not aware of. All sin condemns us therefore should be confessed to God. In our confession, we need to truly understand that we are lost condemned sinners and that Jesus is our only hope. That can’t be just words. It has to come from the heart. The flip side of that is that having repented and confessed that sin, we are not to dwell on it anymore nor does it have the power to destroy us. Just as we must be aware of the dangers of sin, we must all the more live our lives in the sure hope our risen Savior brings. Your sins have been removed. Father, Even though we sin often, Your forgiveness is greater still. Help us to walk in the knowledge of our Your promises. Amen

We Make It Too Hard

I remember being asked riddles as I was growing up that had a lot of details. I would try to keep track of how many of each item was talked about and was anticipating what the final question was going to be. In the end, it was such a basic question, but I had been so busy trying to figure out all the details that I often would miss the obvious answer. We seem to have a habit of doing that. Instead of working on the basics and doing that well, we begin to focus on things that are beyond our responsibility. An example might be when entertaining company, we are told that they will just eat some oatmeal for breakfast. We might offer more and they decline. In order to make ourselves feel like better hosts, we may try to make a big hot breakfast or a fancy brunch. The intent is good, but maybe they have allergies or are on a diet, or for what ever other reason cannot have what is made. We put in a lot of work that accomplishes very little. We see that in sharing our faith. I read a quote recently that said, “It is not our business to make the message acceptable, but to make it available. We are not to see that they like it, but that they get it.” We take responsibility for things that are not ours to do. We feel as if we have failed if they don’t respond in a positive way to what we have shared. The problem is, that is not our job. We are not to water down the gospel or try to make it easier to accept. Instead of being honest about unwise choices, we sometimes are tempted to soften God’s word so as not to offend the person. That’s not our job. The truth is that God has called us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with them, whether they choose to listen or not. Why are we so often more concerned with how someone feels about what we say and do than we care what God thinks? When Jesus returns to judge the earth, he is not looking for who had good intentions. He’s not looking for the person with the most friends or who gave the most financially. He is looking for the person who has a true faith in Jesus. This faith will dictate how we act. A strong faith would indicate someone who will not compromise easily on their faith. Are you willing to stand on what you believe no matter what? Are you sure? Father, I want to serve You with all my heart, but my sinful nature is always tugging at me. Help me to trust You always. Amen

Seeking Answers

Those of you that have read my ponderings or talked to me probably already know that I am not a big fan of Artificial Intelligence (AI). There are too many things that are being manipulated and it gets harder and harder each day to tell the truth. Those that aren’t paying attention will probably go through life believing a lot of things that are not true. Those that are paying attention will also be deceived, just not as often. I believe in so many ways that it will be our downfall (the world), but the cat has already been let out of the bag, so to speak. In spite of my great dislike, I have to admit that I was reminded that God is the God of all things, including AI. We were going to sing the praise song, “How Great Is My God”. I asked the musician if she could send me the words she wanted in the bulletin. After receiving it, she said by shrinking the letters or font, she could fit it all on one page. I looked at what I had and knew it was impossible. She started to read some of what she had and we realized the attachment I received was not what she sent. We made several attempts without success. I went over to their home to get a hard copy and then I would just type that in. Even as I was there, something else seemed to glitch on her computer. When we looked at her copy, it had added the chorus of the hymn, “How Great Thou Art”. We had been struggling to know how to end it and I believe that the Holy Spirit found the answer and caused it to be put into our lyrics. We didn’t do it. I see no other explanation. It ended up being an amazing and powerful close to the song. We tend to look at the world through what we can and can’t do. God sees no such limitation. I’m still not a big supporter of AI, but it was a wonderful reminder that all things come under His control. I need to re-look at what is going on in my life and try to weed out my human limitations and begin to see what God is doing or can do. I challenge you to do the same. We need to be more faithful in putting everything into God’s hands and letting Him lead the way. Our greatest desire should be to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. Yes, auto correct can change what we wanted to say, and AI can create things that only seem true, but God the Lord of all. Heavenly Father, I give You control of all that is in my span of control, both living and digital. Amen