Let Us Kneel Before The Lord

Philippians 2:10

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.

For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. 

                                                                                   (Psalm 95:6-7a KJV)

We can worship all the superstars in this world that we want; but, in the end it will do us no good. In fact, it may well be our undoing. We can follow where they lead us; but, it will get us to no place good.

There is only one Good Shepherd and only he can lead us to the peace that is so desired and is found in his pastures; his kingdom.

We can worship whatever or whomever we desire in this world; but, in the end when Christ returns in full glory, every unbeliever will drop to their knees with every believer in awe of the presence of our Lord and King.

We are going to do it anyway so why wait until there is no choice but to kneel before our Lord? Let us bow down and worship and kneel before him now so that our Father's will is done on earth as it is in heaven, even today.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Building Up Of The Holy Temple

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

                                                                               (Eph 2:19-22 KJV)

We are one in Christ. By faith in his saving work on the cross, we who were not God's children are now God's children; brothers and sisters in Christ; fellow citizens of the Kingdom of God.

To each of us is given gifts to build the Church. The gifts are not necessarily brick and mortar. Rather, they are gifts of the Spirit and some could be referred to as talents. Some may be teachers. Some may be readers or singers. Some may sweep the floors or shovel snow. Others may be gifted with the gift of charity and occupied with feeding the hungry and reaching out to those in need. No matter what it is that each individual has been given the ability to do; all of these gifts are necessary to help build the church on earth and ultimately building up the true Church, the holy temple; the Body of Christ.

God gives us gifts to build up this holy temple; yet, for some reason many congregations seem to not be doing much to build up the Body of Christ. They remain in their little groups catering to themselves rather than going out into the world to share the good news. So intent on saving their buildings and their little circles the great commission is often forgotten. They will say: "we are too old" or "when I retire I will have time to serve the lord." Who knows what tomorrow will bring! 

Consider that each stone in the building is a person and their gifts. If some of the stones have been left out of a building, what will happen when a storm comes along? The wind and the rain and the snow will ravage that place and the people will have to spend even more time focusing on repairing a building rather than building up the Body of Christ. He is the cornerstone on which the holy temple is built. If he is not, then it is not the holy temple that is being built.

We are the habitation of God. Together, we are the holy temple. We are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. That holy temple needs every brick to be complete. Don't be found missing. Serve the Lord together according to each person's individual gifts.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Questions of Identity

Identity: Children of God through the
Blood of  Christ

'There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."  (Gal 3:28 KJV)

Although my most recent ancestors are to a large degree of Finnish ethnicity, I am pretty much a mutt. You see, my forefathers really did not racially discriminate when it came to choosing life-long partners. Most people that I know today are of mixed ethnic backgrounds.

When first applying for the ministry, I had to fill out some forms and of course the question of ethnicity was on the paperwork. I chose other and wrote in "Christian - Holy Nation." We are who we are and I am first and foremost a member of the Body of Christ, a member of a Holy Nation.

I have struggled with this gender identity question. I was born in a female body. I will die in a female body. I have thought about this alot. Yet, I have no clue what it means to feel like a woman in a female body. I also do not know what it feels like to be a man in a female body. I only know what it feels like to be me. That is not to discount those who feel otherwise about themselves. I have friends who consider themselves to be transgendered. They do not make an issue of it. They do not announce to everyone that they must be referred to by any specific pronouns. They just continue to live according to who they are and according to the gifts they have been given. They are who they are. We all are who we are. But, of primary importance is that we are children of God.

There have been times when I would have preferred to be a man. As a woman, I have been discriminated against on way more than a few occasions. A position I applied for once was closed and they hired no one at the time as I was the most qualified for the position. They really had not wanted to hire a woman for the position that was, at the time, a position that was traditionally for men. For a few years, I owned a business that did outdoor maintenance (parks, cemeteries, snow-plowing, etc.) I often received calls from men who wanted to talk to my husband about a contract although my husband had no part in the business.

I have received traits passed down from both males and females from my ancestry. We all have. Color of skin, ethnicity, gender; all parts of our genetic inheritance that help to determine who we are as individuals. But, in the end these individual traits within each of us cannot become the priority in the lives of the members of the Body of Christ. What is of primary importance is that Christ lives and dwells within us. We are one in him. As children of the heavenly Father; as members of the Body of Christ, we use whatever gifts we have been given to glorify God.

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
                                                                                           (Gal 3:26-29)

Who we are or think we are (that would be our egos) is not so important as knowing that we are children of God. Our identity lies in our baptisms into the family of God. Our identity lies in Christ. There is no blood that is thicker than the blood that was shed for us on the cross. Live life in Christ for in him and because of him we live and have our being. 

"And (God) hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."

                                                                                          (Acts 17:26:28)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Faith Alone In Christ Alone

"Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
                                                                                  (John 6:28-29 KJV)
The people who followed Jesus across the sea wanted to know what works they must do. Jesus response was to believe in him; to believe in the one that God had sent.

There is no work that we can do to save ourselves. We are not saved by the works of our own hands. We are saved by faith in the work of Christ on the cross for us. Because of our faith we are motivated and empowered by the Spirit of Christ to do good works. But, these good works do not save us. They are the fruit of our salvation. Salvation is a gift from God and not of our own doing.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast." 

                                                                                            (Eph 2:8-9)

Thanks be to God for the gift of life in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Beginning The Journey Again

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

                                (Lam 3:22-23 KJV)

Last week I was in the Keweenaw and had a few minutes so drove up to the beginning of US 41 as I usually do when I am in Copper Harbor. This sign reminds me how much life has changed over the ages. I am grateful that I have a vehicle to drive from Michigan to Florida. That was not so for those who traveled ages ago. To get where they wanted to go; they simply put one foot in front of the other and kept on going. They may have stumbled and fell a few times. But, then if they wanted to get where they were going, they would pick themselves up and kept on going. 

The beginning of US 41 is a reminder to me of the journey we as Christians make. It can seem long and it may be very hard at times. We may and most likely will stumble and fall at least a few times. But, God is with us. His compassion is great. He picks us up and we keep going, yearning for the goal at the end of the journey. 

I am reminded when I visit the "Beginning of US 41" that there is always the opportunity to begin again. When we falter on the journey, we can start again. We can put our past behind us as we have been forgiven through the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus and begin again. 

Each and every morning we can begin the journey anew because the Lord's mercy and compassion fail not.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Gifts For The Glory Of God

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"   

                                                                       (Eph 4:1-8,11-13)

We are all called to serve, according to the vocation that we have been called. If you wonder what that would be for you; how you can serve, then look at your gifts. What gifts has God given you so that you might serve and His children most fruitfully? Consider your talents closely and how they can be used to build up the body of Christ. Do not think so highly of yourself thinking that you can do it all because no one person has all of the gifts necessary. 

"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.." 

                                                                                      (Rom 12:4-7 KJV)

God gives to each of us gifts to support and build up on another; to build up the whole body of Christ. When they are used this way these gifts glorify God. We are all members of the one body in Christ. There is a purpose for the gifts that we have been given and it is not to glorify one member of that body; but, "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith..."

As members of the body of Christ, may all that we say and think and do glorify our Father in heaven.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Vespers

Holy Transfiguration Skete at Jacob's Falls

"Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties."

                                                           (Psalm 141:1-4 KJV)

"Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." I have missed the Evening Prayers. I was able to attend the Vespers Service at the Holy Transfiguration Skete, a Catholic Monastery of the Byzantine Rite, last night. It has been a few years since I was able to be there. I miss the reverence of the service; the quietness of the sanctuary. The sincere sounds of confession, petititions, the affirmation of God's promises, and the melodious sound of scripture being chanted.

Simply put: I have missed the liturgy and it was a relief to be there. I have attended Vespers whenever I have been able to since 1996 when I served as a Vicar to Keweenaw Lutheran Ministries, a church without walls. At that time the sanctuary was still in the monks' living room in a little cabin on the shore of Lake Superior. With the direction and help of God, much has been accomplished over the years.  

Over the years; wherever I have lived, I have attempted to either implement a Vespers Service at congregations that I served or to find a Lutheran Vespers Service that I could attend to no avail. I miss the solemnity of the service; the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

"As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." 

                                                                             (Psalm 55:16-17)

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Shepherd Is Near

He leadeth me beside the still waters

Psalm 23 KJV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Amen!

The Shepherd's Psalm is a favorite among many. Over the years it has become a prayer of affirmation for me. Praying it daily I am reminded that I am living in the presence of God and that, for me, is most comforting and reassuring. The very thought of being in God's presence brings me peace.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" because God is with me. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters." I know with this affirmation that He does it because He is present in my life. God does all of these things as affirmed in the Shepherd's Psalm because He is present in our lives. He is not a God far off. He is very near.  

We get to live in His presence today. We get to dwell in His presence, in His house, in His Kingdom for ever. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus who gave His life that we might live in His presence now and forever!

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

My Foot Slips

When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. 

                                                (Psalm 94:18 KJV)

My foot slipped and I fell off of a ladder a couple of weeks ago. An absolute miracle happened. I landed feet first and then on my knees. I did not get hurt. I did not even end up a little bit bruised. I was most fortunate! I was very surprised.

My feet slip often. But, more often than not my falls are not physical falls. I seem to be a whole lot more unsteady on my feet as each year passes. I am a whole lot more aware of the possibility of falling and at least attempt to be more careful. 

As each year passes it seems that I am also more aware of when I slip and fall spiritually. I am aware of sins that I would not have even realized were sins a decade ago. I try to prevent these falls when I realize they are about to or are happening. But, my efforts are not always successful. 

I know that we all fall. We are sinful human beings. I do not appreciate my own falls. I am quite taken aback that I could possibly foolish enough to fall again. But, I am assured by the Word that the Lord in His mercy will pick me up again and again. This knowledge that He will continue to pick us up is a most humbling experience for even when we are lost, He will pick us up and show us the way to go. 

I thank God for when I do fall, He is there to lift me back up. It is by His grace and mercy that we are saved from falls. We cannot save ourselves. Trust in the Lord for His mercy endures forever. 

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:10)

God's Peace - Pr. J

He Is With You In Suffering

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Rom 8:32 KJV)

Feeling a bit depressed? Maybe, a whole lot anxious or depressed. Do not give up. Turn to the Lord for help. Remember that you have a God who loves you so much that He was willing to give his only begotten Son to suffer and die for you. Think about it! If He loves you that much do you think that He would abandon you in your hour of need? 

He is with you always and He is for you. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom 8:28)

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:38-39)

Do not despair! Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Trust Him! In Him there is hope. There is peace in His love.

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Living In God's Presence

Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. (Psalm 42:8 KJV)

The Psalmist is going through some rough times; yet, he still seeks the love of the Lord. We all go through rough times. That is often the hand that we are dealt. Still, we hope in the Lord. We seek His presence and his lovingkindness. The world may make that love feel obscured; but, it is there even when we can't recognize it. All who trust in the Lord seek to better understand and know his love through prayer. 

Over the years I have found that I really like my alone time with God. When my grandchildren were young, I was pretty active with my grandchildren. But, there were times when they wanted me to go someplace when I really preferred the solitude rather than crowds. I would tell them "Gramma just can't go. I'm a hermit." Of course, I am not. I spend a lot of time alone with God. But, I am not a total recluse either. I have no problem being with people and in the community quite a bit. There are just a few things that are a bit too noisy for me. 

The noise; the busyness of towns and cities bring disruptions to my prayer life. Crowds crowd out my opportunity to just be with God. I have found that I relish my time out in the woods or on the water or even walking through cemeteries where I know that I will have the quiet to listen to and hear God speak. 

I retire early each evening and rise early every morning so that I can be assured that I will have the quiet time to commune with God in prayer. I need His presence. I need his lovingkindness and it is just too easy to lose track of that when in crowds. 

During the day when trouble seems to surround me I seek His loving presence and during the night his song is with me and I can know the joy and peace that only He can give.

In spite of the troubles that might assail us; the world and all of God's creation; all of God's people, are gifts to us. They are to be enjoyed. But, the greatest gift ever is the gift of eternal life in God's presence through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Lord. 

Let us sing songs of praise in thanksgiving to Him all the days of our lives.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Moses' Sin; Our Sin

And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.

So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.

                                  (Deuteronomy 34:4-5 KJV)

If the Lord prevented Moses from entering the promised land because of his sin; what about us? Moses was about as faithful as any man could possibly be. He gave up his place as royalty in Egypt. He faced off with Pharaoh under God's direction and power. He was as God's instrument to deliver God's people from slavery. If Moses was not good enough to enter the promised land what would make us think that we are? 

After all; Moses was chosen by God. God spoke directly to him. Moses saw His glory. Was he not favored? He was. He was God's chosen. But, Moses after all of the challenges he had faced for the children of God began to get a little bit of an ego and probably even began to feel sorry for himself having to be the one that everyone went to with every complaint. 

Well, the complaint that instigated Moses' sin was that they had no water. They were in the desert and they were thirsty. So according to God's direction Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation around the rock. Moses then spoke to the people: "...Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." (Numbers 20:10-12)

Moses had struck the rock as he was told to do. The Israelites had water to drink. So where is the sin? The sin was Moses' ego. Moses in doing God's will attributed the work of delivering the water to the people to himself and Aaron. He said, "must we?" And, he did it begrudgingly failing to give God the glory. 

Moses was not the only one not allowed to enter the promised land. Every man, except for two that had been delivered from Egypt, would die before they got to the promised land. God would have delivered them to the promised land almost immediately after leaving Egypt. But, when they were instructed to enter Canaan and the advance exploratory party returned with news of the strength of the Canaanites the people became afraid and did not trust the Lord enough to enter it. Of the people only Joshua and Caleb trusted the Lord enough to deliver the promised land to them. The Israelites had witnessed many miracles by God already. Yet, they did not trust Him. The sentence for this lack of trust by the Israelites was that they would wander in the desert for forty years. Anyone twenty years of age and up at the time would not enter the promised land themselves. Their children would. Joshua and Caleb would. But, they would not.

For these sins, many were not allowed entrance into the promised land. If Moses and the people of Israel who were so favored by God that they were delivered by God's own hand from slavery were not allowed entry into this promised land; what chance have we to enter His Kingdom? Are we so much better than they? Are our sins so much less?

But, thanks be to God we do have a deliverer! 

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

                                                                                          (John 3:14-17)  

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

                                                                                       (Eph 2:5-9 KJV) 

Cherish the gift of God. Put aside your ego and trust in His promises. Remember, that it is He who has created you. It is He who sustains you. It is He who has delivered you from the bondage and power of sin. It is He who has welcomed you into His Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

All glory belongs to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Preaching and Teaching

Sing with joy about what God
in Christ Jesus has done for you.

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

                                                   (Acts 28:30-31 KJV)

I have never been a huge fan of contemporary worship. I am not against it. I just lean more toward a liturgical style and hymns rather than praise music. That being said, yesterday I worshiped with Lakeside Covenant Fellowship Church, Baraga, MI, a small congregation that uses a contemporary style of worship and found it quite worshipful! I appreciated both the music and the sermon because the entire service focused on Jesus! Does it surprise you that I'm excited about that? Well, I am. I was fed with the Word and that always is relief because I have been in services where I want to scream out, "Please, say something about Jesus, already!" 

Much of the praise music I have heard in the past has tended to talk about what we do for God rather than what God has done for us. That was not what I heard yesterday. The praise music was all about what God has done and continues to do for us. 

The sermon was a unique and captivating blend of teaching and preaching.  I have heard a lot of preachers try to blend the two into a sermon; but, very few have managed it so that it kept my attention throughout the whole sermon.  But, Rachel's skills as an elementary school teacher (gifts of God endued by the Holy Spirit) were evident as she proclaimed the Lord Jesus Christ with heart-felt enthusiasm and love. 

I am in transition right now having recently retired from the ministry and taking full advantage of being able to worship with various congregations in the area  and to hear the preaching of the kingdom of God and the teaching of those things which concern the Lord, Jesus the Christ with all confidence and boldness. So, don't be too surprised if I show up to worship with you.

May God bless us and keep us all teaching and preaching what concerns the Kingdom of God and our Lord, Jesus the Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Tempted

 

"Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."

                                                                                       (Matt 4:8-11 KJV)

When Jesus was tempted by Satan; when Satan promised Jesus that he would give him all the kingdoms of the world if he would only worship him, Jesus said no. Yet, why is it that although we profess to worship the one true God we still often seek ownership of things of this world; not because we need them to live; but, because we seek the glory of them for ourselves?

We are tempted and often succumb to those temptations. There is nothing in this world that can compare to the glory of Jesus. So why is it then that when we are promised by false prophets and politicians that they will give us this or that we all to often listen and follow them?

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" 

                                                                                            (Matt 6:24-25)

Life is more than the material things we seek and cling to in this world. Money, diverse forms of property, godless gain, prestigious status; none of these things will bring you peace. You might think that money will buy you happiness; but, it does not bring you peace. Only the love of God can do that. All things in this world are temporary; but, the love of God in Christ Jesus is eternal. The Kingdom of God is eternal. The Kingdom of God is peace. Seek that which will bring you eternal peace; not, those things that will rot away. Seek first the Kingdom.

"Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 

                                                                                            (1 Tim 6:5-10)

There is only one God, worship Him alone! Trust in Him above all others!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Offended By The Truth

Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

                                                                          (Luke 7:22-26 KJV)

It seems people get offended at the slightest things these days and that includes the gospel when it is being shared. If worship isn't entertaining then many will just look for another church or stay home. If both the law and gospel are preached, people become offended. I've personally known a couple of pastors who were told by council members that they were not to be talking so much about the law. I know them personally and know that neither one of them preach only law. I also know the council members. They wanted only those things preached that will make everyone feel good about themselves in order to keep the membership and offerings up.

Yes, many who attend worship as a weekly (or monthly or annual) ritual are offended by Jesus. They are offended at the thought that they are sinners. They do not want to be reminded because they are good people, after all. Many do not want to hear that Jesus had to die because of their sins. He had to die to save us. 

Unlike Jesus, many who profess to be Christians are often like reeds shaken with every wind that blows and think so highly of themselves that they have to be treated delicately so that they are not offended.

The truth that we are all sinners and genuinely need the grace and mercy of God offends way too many. But, that should not stop the truth from being shared. 

St. Paul was definitely not a follower of Jesus who shook with every wind that blew. He was definitely not delicate! He did not stop proclaiming the good news that Jesus died for us not so that we might live like kings in this world; but, that we might live as heirs of the Kingdom of God. He was not slack in proclaiming Jesus as our Savior even as he faced the prospects of persecution, prison, and death because of the people that were offended by what he preached. 

We are all reminded even as he exhorted Timothy to:

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

                                                                                           (2 Tim 4:2-4)

May God open our ears and eyes and hearts so that we might never be offended to hear the truth in Christ Jesus. God help us to proclaim the gospel in both word and deed that all might be blessed.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Haman's Ego Was The Death Of Him

Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.

Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

                                                                                     (Esther 5:7-13 KJV)

Oh my... Haman has some serious ego issues. Invited to eat with the King Xerxes at Queen Esther's table, he is so excited, he's running about bragging how important he is. He does not even suspect that Queen Esther is very dear and related to the man at the gate, Mordecai, whom Haman desires to have destroyed. He does not suspect that he is walking into a trap. 

Deluded! Haman is quite delusional. His ego has gotten the better of him. He has been blinded by his own glory! Haman thinks he can manipulate people for his own purposes (personal and political) and get away with it. He will not. The tables are turning and Esther is playing the game. She will use his ego to save her people. Haman will end up on the gallows that he is preparing for Mordecai.

Ego will blind us to reality. Ego will be our destruction and possibly the destruction of the people around us. 

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

                                                                                              (Phil 2:3-8)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Lobbyists In The Church!

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:35-37 KJV)

On trial, Jesus told Pilate that his kingdom was not of this world. Jesus did not fight political battles. His message was about the Kingdom of God. 

A decade ago, I left my former denomination. A decade prior to that I had begun to speak openly regarding their mission priority being one of political lobbyists in this world rather than sharers of the Good News of the Kingdom in Christ Jesus. 

I am not against individuals speaking regarding their political beliefs, no matter what party they belongs to. In fact, I think they should speak up as individuals. But, they should speak with tolerance and as individuals and not as representatives of the church. 

I find it abhorrent that an entire denomination would decide via delegates what the politics of every member of the denomination should be. It causes division. It makes those who disagree with any new resolutions of the church on earth like they are being told their political belief system is wrong and that they are not a part of the church unless they agree with the resolutions and the actions of church lobbyist. It takes away from the true mission of the church. It will destroy the church on earth. It will destroy congregations and denominations.

Yes, indeed we are to speak up and defend the helpless. But, who the helpless actually are can be a matter of differing opinions even within the church. For example there are those who defend the woman's right to abort a child. They consider themselves to be defending the helpless woman. But, there are also many of us who choose to speak up and defend the helpless child who can now in some states be aborted at birth. 

My husband is a retired U.S. Marine. Many years ago, a member of my denomination; but, not of my congregation, confronted me over the U.S. Marine and the Tanker stickers we had in the back window of our 4-wheel drive pick-up as this Christian did not support the military in any way, shape, or form. He also wanted to know if my congregation approved of me using the salary they paid me to purchase and drive such a gas guzzler. The truth is that on my salary as a female pastor, I could not have afforded the truck. It was my husband who paid for the truck. Without that 4-wheel drive truck, I could also not visit some of the people I had to visit as their pastor, especially in the spring when some of the back roads I drove on had mud that was knee-deep. 

Over the years, I have been careful not to espouse my politics from the pulpit. That is not the place for it. Political lobbyists do not belong in the church. In fact, many church constitutions (agreements with the state) have some restrictions on it, which are often ignored.

I am retired and not leading any congregation now and do not have to worry about dividing a congregation over my political opinions. As a citizen of the Kingdom of God who lives in this world, I feel much more freedom to express my worldly opinions which I believe are based mostly on my faith. I have the right, as an individual, to speak up for what I believe is right. I do not believe that any congregation or denomination has a right to tell the whole flock what they must believe politically. Every member of the church on earth has the inalienable right to voice their opinions whether on politics or anything else. As Christians, we do not have the right to bully others into thinking like we do. We, as individuals can choose to protest. But, the church on earth; no Bishop, no pastor, should consider that they can tell us that we must.

Jesus spoke the truth. He called sin a sin; the disciples didn't get to vote on it. But, the Good News, at least for us, is that he willingly died to take upon himself those sins. His disciples didn't get to vote on that either. What he taught affected the world and although he was not political; what he taught does and will affect what we believe politically. He was not engaged in overthrowing Caesar or any of his cohorts. His Kingdom, he said, is not of this world. 

May God help us to live in peace with one another no matter what our political persuasion happens to be. May God help the church on earth as a whole to focus more on sharing the Good News of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ than on lobbying for special interests in the world.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Weary Wait Upon The Lord

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

                                                                                     (Isa 40:28-31 KJV)

I am waiting. I am waiting for the Lord to renew my strength. I can walk. I can still kayak. But, running is pretty limited! Recently retired; having grown faint and weary of having to spend so much time and effort with so many issues  that had nothing to do with proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus the Christ.

The church on earth must return to the main thing: proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To do otherwise only makes for faint and weary children of God. To do otherwise will cause the various congregations and denominations to fall. And, rightfully so if they will not trust the Lord.

After the Christ's crucifixion, the disciples hid out in an upper room. They waited in fear for the authorities to come after them. They continued to wait even after they saw the resurrected Lord. They waited to be endued with the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised would come. The Holy Spirit came and they were lifted up. Their strength was renewed and they were dispersed to spread the news that Jesus is truly the Messiah, the Savior of the world. They were empowered, even in the face of death, to spread the news that Jesus lives.

Most of us do not face death for sharing that Good News. I often wonder if  the reason that we are not more energetic in sharing that Good News might be  because we aren't really persecuted. After all, here in the United States, we are not in danger of dying for sharing the love of God in Christ Jesus. 

Consider the Christians around the world who are persecuted; who are imprisoned; who are put to death for their faith. Have they not been strengthened to confess Jesus as Lord in the face of their oppressors? 

What will it take for those who claim to be Christians to stand up with their brothers and sisters around the world and without fear enthusiastically tell others that Jesus died so that they might live; that they might be reconciled to our Father; our Creator, in heaven? 

I confess, I have grown weary. I long to see the day when Christians are empowered in this country to not just worship out of obligation on Sunday mornings; but, let the world around them know that Jesus is Lord every day of the week.

We live in a beautiful world. God has created it most magnificently. But; I confess, that on too many days I feel very weary of this world and particularly the lack of faith in the one true God that I witness around me. But, I also trust that "...they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." 

God's Peace - Pr. J