Be Prepared

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? (2 Peter 3:8-12 NRSV)

Who can tell when the Lord will come and take us to himself?

As we enter Advent, the time of preparation for the coming of the Lord, are we prepared? During this season prior to Christmas, I am often asked if I am ready for Christmas. My answer is always: "Of course, I am. After all; if I cannot be ready to celebrate the birth of the Christ child who has already come, how can I expect to be ready for him to come again?" 

We do not know the day or the time when he will come again. We are told that he will come like a thief in the night, unexpectedly. No one; but, God knows when that day will be. Do not wait thinking that there is still time for you to get to know the Lord and to love him. Be prepared, not with silver or gold; but, with a living faith, a love that is alive for our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. 

Be prepared, may the warm light of his love shine in and through you. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Immediately They Followed

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

                       (Matt 4:19-22 NRSV)

Immediately, James and John followed Jesus. When called by Jesus to follow him, they immediately dropped everything and followed Jesus. They followed Jesus all the way to his cross. 

None of the disciples had any clue where their journey following Jesus would take them; but, they followed anyway. They left their old lives behind them. They left their occupations. They left their families to follow him. They were willing to give up everything and that was before they had any comprehension of what Jesus was planning to do for them and for all people. 

We do know what Jesus has done for us. Are we willing to immediately drop everything to follow in his footsteps knowing that it will bring us to the cross?

May God give us the strength and courage to follow Jesus wherever he would lead us; regardless, of anything that we might have to leave behind us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Crooked Ways Are Found Out

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
   but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

                                          (Prov 10:9 NIV)

I have spent a bit of time attempting to teach teen-age felons what it means to have integrity through cognitive behavior therapy. After I left the correctional facility and once again began serving in the church, I often thought how much easier it was to teach felons than Christians. 

Yes, that sounds horribly judgmental. But, it is the truth. Felons have been convicted. They have already been found guilty. You can present the case as to how badly they have damaged their and their loved one's lives without too much denial. But, way too often, Christians can be caught in the most obvious lies or other damaging words or deeds and still deny that they have been taking a crooked path. Christians are never as bad as the felons, or at least so many think. Sadly my experience has been that most of us who are not felons probably are not simply because we've never been caught. We are sinful human beings and it is really most helpful to one's life to repent; that is to acknowledge our sins and turn around to follow Christ on the straight and narrow path.

But, take my word for it. You can lie all you want. You can sneak around and do things that are most damaging to you, your loved ones, even your church. But, there are those whose eyes are wide open and they know the truth. You can deny it. But, you are only lying to yourself. Your attempts to stagger down the crooked path are found out. You cannot hide from God and you cannot hide from humankind forever. But, do not worry. You will most likely be allowed to go on deceiving yourself by thinking that no one knows. Christians, to a large degree, do not like confrontation and most will let you continue on the crooked path to your own demise.

I do not like confrontation. But, neither am I afraid of it. I do get tired of it, though. I get very tired of watching and listening to those who have no integrity. 

May God have mercy.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Word Will Lift You Up

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

(Col 3:16 NRSV)

We all have our bad days. I do not know of no anyone who has never experienced depression. The best way that I have found to get out of a slump is to immerse yourself in and to give thanks by singing songs of praise and thanksgiving for the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ. There will be those who would keep working at dragging you back down.  

Don't worry! Trust in God! Christ can and will lift you up! 

Have a blessed day!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Wisdom Listens to Gain Knowledge

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance—

Proverbs 1:1-5 NRSV

Over the years, I have learned something that can totally frustrate me. I can teach all that I want; but, unless the person that I am attempting to teach is listening; they will learn nothing. They will not grow in knowledge if they are busy thinking about and focusing on other things while they are being taught. If you are in worship or in a small group, listen to the word of God imparted through by those who are serving or speaking. If you are out in the world, take the time, to be still and listen to what others have to say.

It is the wise person who would be still and listen in order to gain knowledge. 

May God help us to have a greater knowledge of his will for us and for all people so that we might serve him and his children more fully.

God's Peace - Pr. J

By Word and Deed Glorify God

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (1 Col 3:17 NRSV)

Working in a youth correctional facility as a substance abuse counselor, I heard a lot of stories from the young men in group. One of the stories included a fight that started in a church. It happened that a few members of two different gangs went to worship the same morning with their mothers. One of the teens represented his gang by wearing their colors. That did not go over well with the other gang. It was not too long after leaving the sanctuary that he was attacked. 

Representing anything or anyone, other than the Lord, at Worship is just not right. That goes not only for the sanctuary; but, wherever we happen to be. The whole world is the Lord's. As Christians we represent our Lord. In everything that we say or do or no matter where we are, Christians represent the Lord. 

All honor and glory belong to the Lord not to what group or anyone or anything else we might belong to in this world. 

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Live Your Life In Jesus

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Col 2:6-7 NRSV)

What is the sense of receiving Jesus Christ and then not living in him? If you acknowledge and receive him as your savior; they why would you turn your back on the privilege of living in him? What could possible be worth more than being united with Jesus?

The world really has nothing better to offer than Jesus. But, in Jesus, we can live life in the world in a much more peaceful place.

If he's good enough for you want to be with after death takes you from this world; then he ought to be good enough to live with and in now. Live life in Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Thankful That I Get To Stay Home On Black Friday!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5 NRSV)

Today, I am very thankful for a couple of things.

1. I am thankful for the internet. I did my Black Friday Christmas shopping online early yesterday morning so I do not feel compelled to go out shopping today! I do not feel compelled to get run over in any store today just to get a deal on something no one I know actually needs. I am thankful that I will not be in any store today feeling frustrated because it is so crowded that I cannot push a cart down the aisle.

2. I am very thankful that I am a pastor and not a clerk in a store today. I would probably have a very difficult time being nice for an eight hour shift. So, I am thankful that I will not be tempted to lose my temper with complete strangers today. My husband works in a home improvement store. He works eight hours today. I am very thankful that I am not him today.

We each have our limitations and our gifts. I have a pretty good idea of what both of mine are. Therefore; I can use my gifts for the good; and avoid the problems that would come with me overstepping the bounds of my limitations.

Let us give thanks and praise to God for giving to each of us specific gifts to serve others. Let us pray for all of those clerks who have to deal with people who are pushing their limits.

May your Black Friday be stress free.

God's Peace - Pr. J

One Returns to the Great High Priest

As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” 

                                                                       (Luke 17:13-18 NRSV)

Ten were made clean. Ten with a most horrific disease; a disease that separated them from family and friends, begged Jesus to have mercy on them. He did. Jesus had mercy. They were made clean. The horrible sores and disfigurements just disappeared. But, only one turned back to give thanks to Jesus. Only one was truly grateful for the grace and mercy shown to him and went back to thank Jesus for healing him. Only one turned back to have the great high priest, who is Jesus the Christ, declare him well. We assume that the rest rushed off to abide by the law and show themselves to the priests in the temple so that the priests could declare them clean and they could go home. 

There is one high priest. There is one great healer. His name is Jesus. While we were yet outcasts from our heavenly home, he was wounded for our transgressions; upon him was the punishment that made us whole. By his bruises, we have been healed. How often do we go to him and fall upon our knees at his feet to give him thanks? It is thanksgiving. While we are kind of, sort of, giving thanks for the people around us; are we giving thanks for the one who has healed our sin sick souls? On this thanksgiving day and every day, let us remember to give thanks to the great high priest who has made us whole.

Surely he has borne our infirmities
   and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
   struck down by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
   crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,

   and by his bruises we are healed. 

                                             (Isaiah 53:4-5)

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Cross Is Foolisness To Those Who Are Perishing

"For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."  (1 Cor 1:18 NRSV)

For awhile; before I went to bed each night, I would listen to different sermons on YouTube. I gave that up awhile ago. I found that way too many YouTube (as well as television) preachers neglected to preach the message of the cross. Many preachers (not all) are not seen (or heard) for what they are: wolves in sheep's clothing.

They would preach about prosperity while they get rich on your offerings. Some preach a message of fear; of hell if you don't do everything exactly right. Others preach that the Good News is all about love and if you love enough that will be counted toward your good works and you will earn your way into heaven. After all; don't all good people go to heaven? They preach about doing good works so that we can manipulate God into getting what we want out of life; again, that is usually about prosperity, sometimes fame. They neglect to preach that the Good News is the Kingdom of God purchased for you by the blood of Christ shed for you on the cross.

The message of the cross is foolishness to false prophets and to those with itching ears who listen to them. You will not hear about suffering from these wolves in sheep's clothing. You will only hear about how God wants to give us everything we want in this world. He wants to bless us with riches (gold and silver) today! But, the truth is that God has already given us the greatest gift. He has given us forgiveness through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. He has made us His children through the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ. We have been made us heirs of His Eternal Kingdom! We have been saved by the power of the cross of Christ. That is the Good News. It's not about money. The Good News is not about personal fame or notoriety or personal power. And, the Good News is not about what we can do for God! It is about what God has already done for us!

Thanks be to God! It is finished! It was finished on the cross. There is no good work that we can add to the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for us that will save us from ourselves! Jesus did it all on the cross. But, this message about the cross of Christ will continue to be foolishness to those who look only to themselves. 

Consider the cross of Christ. Through Christ alone you have been saved. There is nothing more that you can do to earn your place in the Kingdom.

One more thing to consider. If you hear a sermon and never hear the name of Jesus in that sermon then it's probably time to find another preacher to listen to really quick.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Reason For Joy

O come, let us sing to the Lord;

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

(Psalm 95:1-2 NRSV)

In five weeks it will be Christmas Day. We will make a joyful noise on Christmas Eve as we gather for Candlelight services. Hopefully, that joy will be present on Christmas day in households around the world, as well. Many churches no longer have Christmas Day Worship. Families are too busy with secular things to worry about the celebrating the birth of Christ on that day.

There will, of course, be joyful noises as children open their presents on Christmas morning. But, there will also be children with no presents, no home, no food, with very little, if any reason to be joyful. There will also be those children who do not make joyful noises because they don't get the exact presents that they wanted. Oh, you got a used car for Christmas instead of a new one? That is rough!

Christmas is not about things. It is about the greatest gift that we could ever consider receiving. For unto us a Savior has been born, that through him we would be forgiven our sins. We would be washed clean and reconciled to God our Father, becoming heirs of the Kingdom of God. That should bring more joy to our hearts than anything else.

It should bring us joy not just on Christmas Eve; but, every day of our lives. Let their be joy in the world our Lord has come!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Keep Awake - Be Prepared!

"Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”  (Mark 13:35-37 NRSV)

Keep awake! No matter what day or hour it is, be prepared. When I was a child, I remember, certain people I knew use to make fun of people of a certain denomination because they would go out drinking and carousing on one evening and then go to confession the next day. They thought it quite strange that people should think that they can go and do things they knew full well they'd be repenting of the next day. The weird thing about it was that the same people who pointed fingers at those making confession actually were out carousing with them; but, they didn't go to confession. 

Doing things that we know we are going to repenting of probably is not a very good idea. It's just not a good idea to be thinking we can manipulate God. Jesus certainly died for our sins; but, does that make it right that we should continue to do those things we know we should not do with the understanding that we can be forgiven? Was Christ's sacrifice worth so little? 

Besides, how do you know that the hour will not come for you to stand before the throne of God while you are in the midst of purposely doing what you know you ought not be doing? 

Keep awake - be prepared! Do not let our Lord return and find you on a path that you should not be following.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Word Is Truth

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."  (John 17:17 NRSV)

So how exactly does the Word of God say we are to be sanctified? We are sanctified in the truth which is in the word of God. To know the truth means we must immerse ourselves in his word. We are to read it daily. We are to hear it often. We are to think on his words. 

Half asleep in the pew on Sunday morning is not exactly hearing anything, let alone the truth. Rise up and hear the word of God. Be filled with his truth, not your truth; but, God's truth. And, please don't be presenting your opinions as truth. There is really no such think as your truth or my truth. What we represent to be our truths are really only our opinions of the truth. Jesus is the only truth. He is "...the way, and the truth, and the life." (John 14:6)  Listen to him and follow in his way.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Word Lights Our Way

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105 NRSV)

The world can be pretty dark at times. There are definitely times in life when we cannot figure out which way we should go. The path is obscured. In times like this there is only one light that can show us the way out of the darkness. The word of God is the light that will show us the way in which to go.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Sin Leads To Death

Sin Leads to Death

There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. 
                                                (Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV)

I have always asked my confirmation classes what they think the worst sin is. Of course, the response is always murder. I then proceed to go through all ten of the commandments and teach them how breaking any one of the ten commandments can lead to the death, to the murder of, either or both, the body and the spirit. It usually opens at least one or two eyes to the fact that things like gossiping, bullying, lying, stealing, adultery, and even coveting can actually contribute to physical or spiritual death.  All sin, no matter what it is, drives a wedge between God and us; as well as between our neighbors and ourselves.

God detests all sin. One sin does not make us purer or worse than the next person. It is all detestable to God.  Keep busy, doing the work the Lord has called you to. Keep busy, loving your neighbor as yourself and you will have much less time to stir up trouble for anyone, including yourself. 

And... may the peace of the LORD be with you all...  Pr. J

His Steadfast Love

Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
    your salvation according to your promise.
⁴² Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me,
    for I trust in your word.
                                   (Psalm 119:41-42 NRSV)

It is always hurtful when we realize that someone we care about does not care in the least about us. It is in times like those that we remember the great love that our Lord has for us. His steadfast love shall sustain us. It keeps us from despair. 

It can be very tiring to be attacked by those we are called to serve. It is in times like those that we trust in his word and lean on his promises. There is nothing that humankind can do to us that the Lord does not know about. He will empower us to answer, with his word, those who would attack us. We do not have to trust in ourselves. The Lord is with us now and forever.

Rejoice, for our Lord loves us and has "....saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace." (2 Tim 1:8) Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Suffered Once For All

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. (1 Peter 3:18a NRSV)

He suffered in order to bring you to God. He did not suffer so that we could be rich here on earth. He did not suffer so that we could be famous or even a little popular. He did not suffer so we could have everything we ever desired. He suffered in or to bring us to God.

He suffered so that we who had no access to the Kingdom of God might have access. He suffered so that we might be reconciled to God and to one another by the blood that he shed on the cross for us.

He suffered that you might be forgiven your sins and be reconciled to God for all of eternity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Free To Serve

For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. (1 Peter 2:15-16 NRSV)

Just because we are free does not mean that we are free to do anything we want if it will harm others or ourselves. We belong to God. We are to care for all of his creation. We are to do what is right so that others may not use our actions to justify their own harmful actions or lifestyles. 

Over twenty years ago, I decided to quit drinking. It did me no good. My drinking also did not do anyone around me any good. The day I decided to quit was the day that I heard a loved one, who drank daily beginning at noon, say:  "Nothing wrong with a few drinks. Even Judy drinks." That floored me. I rarely drank. I do not believe that it is a sin to have an occasional drink or two. But, here was someone, that I loved, who used the few drinks that I did have every now and then as justification for them to live every day of their life inebriated. Bogus, for sure. But, I wasn't going to be someone else's excuse for destroying their lives. I quit. They, sadly, did not.

St. Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians:

 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. (1 Cor 6:12)

and

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other. (1 Cor 10:23-24)

If what you do, even though it is lawful, will harm others and you are aware that it will hurt others then, please, just stop. We are free. We are free to seek not only those things that will be to our own advantage; but, free to seek the advantage for others, as well. We are not to use that freedom as a pretext for evil; as a pretext to harm others or ourselves.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Lead The Way

"For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light."  (Col 1:9-12 NRSV) 

We pray for one another. But, what do we pray for? 

I know that I pray for a lot of people for a lot of things. Some of the things I'm asked to pray for sometimes seem a bit worldly to my senses. That does not stop me from praying for them. I include in all of my prayers that their ears, their hearts, and their minds might be opened so that they might know God's will for them. I pray that they will have a better understanding of the way in which God would have them go and that God would empower them to follow in that way.

I know of no greater gift that one could have than to be able to live the life that God intends for them; today and for all of eternity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Love One Another

"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (John 13:34-36)

Some of you may remember the Beatles song "All You Need Is Love." Love, love, love... Is that all we need? No, it is not. But, when we love one another, we will strive to make sure that all of our neighbors needs for daily life will be met. We will not let them go hungry, or without shelter, or without warmth, or any of the necessities to support physical life.

Jesus had just humbly knelt to wash the feet of his beloved disciples; Judas had just left to betray the one who loved him; when Jesus gave the command to love others even as he loved them. Love, in this sense, is not just a noun. It is a verb. We are to humble ourselves and to actively love and show care and concern for the people around us; even for people around the whole world as Jesus went forth and died for the world.

This is his commandment: that we are to love one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Happy Birthday U.S. Marine Corps!

Happy Birthday, U.S. Marine Corps!
Live life; but, please, stay out of trouble!

"What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live..." Eccl 3:9-12
Live life!  I can't even begin to count how many times I have told people to live life; enjoy life! I believe some think, "who is she kidding? She's a Christian and a pastor. What can she know about fun?"  My fun may not be like a lot of people's idea of fun; but, I do know about enjoying life; about enjoying the numberless gifts that God has given me.

My husband has retired twice now. He tried to keep working; but, found life can be pretty boring without work so he is still working. I will retire next summer; but, I have a feeling that I will also continue to work at something.

Howard's first career was as a United States Marine.  Recently, we have been spending the Marine Corps Birthday at our son, John's house, as he also served in the U.S.M.C.. The Marine Corps Birthday brings both joys and sorrows. The sorrows comes in remembering the past and so many lost friends as well as the loss of a lifestyle. The Marine Corps was and is truly a family to those who have served and to their families. The joys also comes in remembering all those people of the and all of the good times shared with them as well as opportunities from time to time to see them once again. I will always be thankful for the years spent as a part of the Marine Corps family.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.." Eccl 3:1

Happy Birthday, United States Marines! Life live; enjoy it to it's fullest!

God's Peace - Pr. J