Taxed

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 

                                                           (Luke 2:1,3-7 KJV)

It is that time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Unfortunately, it is also that time of year when it's time to start thinking about paying income taxes.  It can be a taxing time for many. It is not unheard of to receive a letter after paying your taxes that you need to send another check because the IRS has decided that you owe more taxes and unless  you have a lot of time to find all the paperwork you need and the money to pay for a tax lawyer you really are going to have to pay it whether you owe it or not or you could end up having even your home taken from you. I remember hearing something about an unfair tax on tea before this country was born. It ended up in a party known as the Boston Tea Party. 

Joseph and very pregnant Mary traveled to Bethlehem to be taxed. Caesar had declared that the whole world had to go to their hometowns to be taxed. That sounds like madness to me. But, God had another plan.  Jesus was born during that tax paying journey in Bethlehem as had been prophesied. God turned a bad thing into a good thing.

During this season and everyday let us rejoice for the good things that God has given us in confidence that no matter what happens God has a good plan 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)

Trust the Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Many Become One In Christ

Valaam Monastery, Russian Karelia

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

                                                                                (Gen 2:18, 21-24 KJV)

And the Lord God said "they shall be one flesh." 

God decided that the man he created needed a help meet; a partner, so he created woman from the man. The one man became two people. And the Lord God said that the man shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh.  

Thankfully most (but, not all) people in this country realize that man is not more equal than woman. Each has their gifts and abilities that they bring to the union. One is not more important than the other because they are partners and each uses their own gifts to make the union a fruitful one and not just fruitful for themselves; but, for others around them as well.

It is a great mystery how God created man and then woman making two out of one and then then brings them together to make one again. But, once one realizes the wisdom of this act of God living life becomes much easier.

On the sixth day of creation God said that "it is not good for the man to be alone." It is not good for any human being to live in isolation from the rest of the world. But for many reasons there are those who do not have a help meet in life. There are many challenges to living without a help meet. Especially for those who have no individual to live life wholly with them we hope and pray that the community of God is there to help and support them; to help our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

St. Paul compares the union between a man and a woman to the union of Christ and the church. It is a great mystery. But, we know that when we are baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ we are united with Christ. We become one with the whole church. As members of the body of Christ; as partners in the church, we support one another. We support the couples, the families, the single persons for we are all united in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Wherever He Goes; We Go

And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

                                                                                                                   (Mark 6:53-56)

They ran out into the desert to hear him. They ran to the other side of the lake. The people know a good thing when they hear it. They know that there is something super special about Jesus. They believe; they know that Jesus can heal them. Jesus can make them whole again. And, so they follow him. Wherever he goes they are right behind him; seeking him so that they may be made whole physically or spiritually. 

As soon as Jesus got out of the boat the people recognized him and went to him. How about you? Do you follow him? Do you recognize him? Maybe it's time to get to know Jesus a lot better and then follow wherever he will lead you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Turn Us!

Psalm 80:7-18 KJV 

Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.

Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.

The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.

She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.

Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?

The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.

Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;

And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.

It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.

Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.

So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.

+++

This country, this world, is in need of a lot of help. There is no president, no earthly ruler of any kind that can save us. We must turn back to God. Sadly, no matter how hard we try we cannot do that. Only God can change our hearts. We need him to turn us around. It is by his grace alone that we are saved. May he take away our hearts of stone and fill us with a new spirit. 

May we all be blessed with the same blessing that the Lord told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to bless the children of Israel. 

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:

The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

                                                                                      (Num 6:24-26)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Let Us Go To The House Of The Lord

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. (Psalm 122 KJV)

It was a troubling time in my life. It was the early 70's. We were home on vacation and I had decided to go to the house of worship that I had been baptized and confirmed in to pray. To my dismay the doors of this little country church were locked!  They hadn't been locked on previous visits. But, were now locked for fear of intruders and possible damage to the church when no one in authority was there to oversee the building.

I have served at a couple of congregations that locked the doors during hours even when someone was in the building; again, to my dismay. They insisted that the door stay locked even when I was in the building. The councils were afraid that whoever might be working in the church might be attacked. There were doorbells on these church doors so that whoever might be in the building might answer the door. I have not been able to surmise why these congregations thought that I or the secretary would not open the door to anyone ringing the bell. How can one tell through a closed door if the person on the other side is a terrorist or someone who is in serious need. I do not believe that any of the secretaries that I have served with would ever turn away someone in need.

Today, churches around the country have been closed because of an invisible enemy. Many will not even be able to go into the house of the Lord to celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday. 

Fear of what might happen is a dangerous thing. It is good to be cautious. But, caution and fear are not the same thing. For the time being the church on earth is restructuring what the house of the Lord is by turning to social media and live-streaming or taping and posting worship services. I cannot say that this is a bad thing. We will hear the Word of the Lord which is essential to living life in Christ. But, there will be something missing. That something will be the fellowship within the Body of Christ. That something will be communing with other believers. 

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Heb 10:24-25) 

For the sake of others; it is prudent for many congregations to go to social media even while we have to accept that many of our seniors as well as others may not have social media. They may not even have the internet. But, pastors cannot neglect the needs of others no matter who they are or where they are. During the Bubonic Plague, Martin Luther continued to serve the people in spite of risk to his own health and life. He would not leave Wittenburg in order to keep himself safe. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and those who served lepers with her put their own health and safety at risk. But, they did it because they were called to serve those in need. That need may require social distancing for a time to keep others safe. It may also require that we meet them face to face; hand to hand.

It saddens me to know that fear has closed church doors. Each decade manages to close the doors a little more than the decade before. Where will it all end?

An evangelical pastor was arrested in Florida this past week for unlawful assembly and a violation of health emergency rules as he led worship for his large congregation in spite of government guidelines against it. Yes, some of our constitutional rights have been curtailed for fear that the COVID19 outbreak might become worse than it is. 

There are people all around the world where it is illegal to even be a Christian. But, the Church grows even, maybe especially, in these places. Families and small groups gather together to worship in homes; albeit, illegally. They are arrested when found out. They are sometimes tried. They are sometimes imprisoned. They are sometimes put to death.

In times like this, let us thank God for social media and for the opportunity that pastors have of staying in contact with their parishioners. Let us thank God that we can tape or live stream the word of God so that others might hear and believe; so that others might step out of the darkness into the glorious light of Jesus the Christ.

Let us pray for the day to come soon when we can all say: "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." (Psalm 122 KJV)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Children Are A Joy

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

                                                                        (Luke 1:57-66 KJV)

So much excitement over the birth of John the Baptist! His father, Zacharias, praised the Lord at his circumcision.

Reading these verses this morning caused me to think about the joyless pregnancies we hear about today. What if Elizabeth or Mary had opted to terminate the pregnancies? Of course, Elizabeth would never have. She and Zacharias had for so long wanted a child. Mary, so young, was in a pretty inconvenient position when she became pregnant, though. But, the mothers of both John and Jesus loved their children and would have done them no harm; neither before or after birth.

Times were not easy in Zacharias' and Elizabeth's day nor are they for everyone today. But, the thought of having a child brought joy to them. If only it were so for those who find themselves with child today. 

I thank God for the birth of John and most especially for Jesus. I do not even want to consider what the world would be like today without their ministries and mission.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Politics and Wisdom

Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Romans 12:16b-18

Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?

Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?

Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.

For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

                                                         (Job 15:1-6 KJV; but, read all of Job 15)

Job's friend, Eliphaz, responds to Job. Eliphaz pretty much tells Job and that he is arrogant thinking that he, himself is wise enough to advise Job.

The story goes on with Job's friend accusing him, attacking him. It is pretty amazing that anyone would do this to an enemy, let alone a friend. But, is that not what we do? Is that not what humanity does? That is: man attacks man. Who is wise?

The wisdom of our news reporters amazes me. It just amazes me that instead of addressing issues they promote their own personal agendas and bias'. They create major news stories not out of actual news; but, from politicians anger and hatred for one another. Instead of informing voters of what a politician stands for, or what actually happened they give us their opinions as to what happened according to their own flavor of politics.

Politicians spend way too much time accusing their opponents, informing us all of what they think their opponents stand for. There is very little truth in any of it. Who can possibly figure out the truth with so much slander being slung? There is just way too much slander, way too many false accusations. By the time the media is done with these assumptions and accusations half of the county considers this slander as fact. 

This is the wisdom of the age: to fund-raise so politicians can tell lies to the public rather than raise funds to help the country feed it's people; rather than to help small businesses, teachers, children. Would it not be wiser to spend less money on slander and tearing down one's opponent and use the finances to help a world in need instead? Maybe the candidates should tithe the campaign funds they raised to the national treasury? (LOL that's not going to happen) Some politicians actually think that they are going to win the race simply because they have raised the most funds and the news will report that. In some cases this is true; but, not all. The scandal of it all is that we continue to contribute to this poor stewardship. We continue to support a system that allows candidates to run on a platform that they claim will help the country while they are slandering their opponents and using funds that could genuinely help the nation for their own agendas. 

There is so much time spent campaigning that I cannot help but wonder how they are doing the jobs that they were already elected to do. That doesn't sound that wise to me. It does not sound like good stewardship of taxpayers' money, either.

It would just be really nice if in our election processes, there would be less arrogance and less slander of one another and not just within the presidential campaign, all of them. The arrogance and slander doesn't actually tell us what they think it tells the people about their opponents. It tells us that much like Eliphaz they cannot be trusted.

I would just appreciate it if politicians would spend more time letting us know what their platforms are rather than spending so much time distorting (lying about) the platforms that their opponents are running on. That seems to me to be a much fairer way to run a campaign for the sake of the people; for the sake of the country.

Ok.. so I'm ranting this morning... Let there be some peace already!

God's Peace - Judy

Sacrificing Children

But as for you, come here,
    you children of a sorceress,
    you offspring of an adulterer and a whore.
Whom are you mocking?
    Against whom do you open your mouth wide
    and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
    the offspring of deceit—
 you that burn with lust among the oaks,
    under every green tree;
you that slaughter your children in the valleys,
    under the clefts of the rocks?
Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion;
    they, they, are your lot;
to them you have poured out a drink offering,
    you have brought a grain offering.
    Shall I be appeased for these things?
Upon a high and lofty mountain
    you have set your bed,
    and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
Behind the door and the doorpost
    you have set up your symbol;
for, in deserting me, you have uncovered your bed,
    you have gone up to it,
    you have made it wide;
and you have made a bargain for yourself with them,
    you have loved their bed,
    you have gazed on their nakedness.
You journeyed to Molech with oil,
    and multiplied your perfumes;
you sent your envoys far away,
    and sent down even to Sheol.
You grew weary from your many wanderings,
    but you did not say, “It is useless.”
You found your desire rekindled,
    and so you did not weaken.

Whom did you dread and fear
    so that you lied,
and did not remember me
    or give me a thought?
Have I not kept silent and closed my eyes,
    and so you do not fear me?

 I will concede your righteousness and your works,
    but they will not help you.
 When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!
    The wind will carry them off,
    a breath will take them away.
But whoever takes refuge in me shall possess the land
    and inherit my holy mountain

                    Isaiah 57:3-5, 7-13 (NRSV)

During Isaiah's time, children were sacrificed to false gods and idols for the benefit of the parent. Parents were willing to kill their children in order to live the lives they wanted to live. 

There are so many false gods; so many idols that parents worship today. How many lives of children have been taken to reap the imagined benefits of worshipping these idols today? It is a very sad thing that the leading cause of death today is abortion. It is not just sad. It is abhorrent!

Promiscuity is a common and acceptable thing today. But, with sleeping around in the hopes of some kind of pleasure or benefit there are many risks. However; whether in a committed relationship or not; pregnancy is only one of the consequences of sexual relationships. Unfortunately, today it appears that the natural consequence of having a sexual relationship is not all that acceptable to the parent(s). But, killing the child that is conceived so that one can go on living in a life style that is pleasing to the parent is.

Being a parent is not highly revered today. But, enjoying one's life to its fullest seems to be no matter who might die in the interim. So many women (especially young women) have been duped by the media and by health care professionals as well as others and have regretted their decisions after the fact. There are consequences that often come with abortions; physical, emotional, and mental consequences. The people of this country (and many churches that claim to profess Christ) really ought to quit lying to themselves by saying that killing children is acceptable. Our personal pleasures; our dreams; our personal goals are not more important than life itself! They are not more important than the life of a child.

So what or who is it that you worship? Do you worship the one true God who created you and redeemed you?  Do you worship yourself?

If you say that you are a Christian than please read the Holy Scriptures! There is only one God and we are not Him! May God have mercy upon our souls.

God's Peace – Pr. J

Less Is Often Best

...and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” (Matt 2:4-6 NRSV)

I come from the country and I love the country. I enjoy small towns where everyone knows everyone and where just about everyone cares for their neighbors.  There are also those who love the hubbub of busy city life. They enjoy the seemingly unending activities that can be found in the city. One is not better than the other. For me less is usually better. Less crowds, less noise, less traffic; less is better. 

Jesus came from what many would consider less.  He was born to a very young woman (a teen-ager) with no real social standing. He was born in a barn. He was born in Bethlehem, which at the time was nothing more than a small village. Out of the least of these places came the shepherd who would rule God's people. 

The least is often times the best of things to be. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Votes Are In

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Tim 2:1-2 NRSV)

The ballots have been cast and the results are in. Just about everyone who voted has a reason to be happy and they also probably have a reason to be not so happy. Happiness is not what elections are about. Electing leaders is what elections are about. The only thing then that is left for us to do is to pray then that our elected leaders will do what is best for the people; for the country as a whole.

Regardless; whether we appreciate the results or not, we do have some new leadership in our country. Let us pray and support our elected leaders. If we disagree with any of them or all of them, let us disagree peaceably, without false accusations or threats. Spreading gossip, lies, or making false accusations about our elected officials does not help the state of the union. Working together will.

May God grant that we should live in peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

By Faith; Not By Good Works

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. 

                                                                                     (Eph 2:8-9 NIV)

John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address said: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” Indeed, we should be wondering what we can do for others and not be asking what others can do for us. That is basic to Christian ethics. However; that being said, when we are sharing the Good News with others, what they can do for others has nothing to do with their salvation. What we do for others is important; but, it is not the Good News! The Good News is what Jesus has done for us so that we might inherit eternal life in our Father's presence; in the Kingdom of God.

Nobody is going to be saved by their good works. It is only by faith in the life-giving sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus the Christ, that we are saved. To be sure, good works will follow that faith. But, those good works are the fruit of our faith. It is not by our works that we are saved. 

If someone has fallen out of a boat into the great stormy sea will it do them any good for you to tell them to swim harder? Or, would it bring them more relief to throw out, on a rope, a life preserver so that they will not drown? 

Jesus is our life preserver. He and only he can save us from drowning in our sinful ways. The Good News is not about how much we do. The good news is what Jesus has done and continues to do for us. Jesus saves us from the stormy seas; stormy seas often of our own making.

May God grant you faith in Jesus Christ our Lord who has done all for you; even giving his life for you on the cross at Calvary. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Law Upon Law

Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them." (Luke 11:46 NIV)

We are in the midst of primary elections around the county. These elections include offices all the way from local community offices to Federal positions. To a certain degree we will be electing leaders to make important decisions for us based on a bit of fake news; a lot of bitter back-biting; nasty, nasty attacks on the opponents. Who can tell which law-makers are best for the positions? As they make decisions they will either instigate, legislate, or enforce new laws stacked upon the old laws supposedly for the sake of justice; for doing what is best for the people. Too often these decisions will be made based on what lobbyists want for themselves or their specific business or cause and not what is actually good for communities or the country as a whole. Egos and greed seem to rule the day.

Unfortunately, John Adams appears to have been perfectly correct when he stated, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." We have an outstanding constitution in this country. However, there are some who think that it should be done away with or at the least drastically changed. They consider it archaic. For an unrighteous nation who needs law upon law to live; maybe it is inadequate. So do we do away with the constitution or do we, as a nation, decide to attempt to live by the righteousness of Christ rather than trusting in these multitudes of laws that we have created to serve justice? For those who believe that Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for our sins the law has been put into our hearts and written upon our minds. St. Paul wrote to the Hebrews (10:15-16)  

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

   “This is the covenant I will make with them

   after that time, says the Lord.
   I will put my laws in their hearts,

   and I will write them on their minds.” 

If this would be true for the world, we would have no need for the cost of making law upon law in every corner of the world and the burden that comes about because of these countless laws.

Jesus condemned the teachers of the law, the Pharisees, for loading people down with laws that they could hardly keep. The law that God gave to Moses was not enough. They and we seem to have to add to the laws; to micro-manage society.

It is difficult to keep the law when there are so many that one cannot even know what they all are. I am not just talking about traffic or criminal laws. I am also considering all the laws, the red-tape that comes with daily living; red-tape that goes with building a new home; running a family business; even purchasing insurance. Yes, you have to have all your ducks in a row to even file a claim on insurance you may have been paying on for years. The average person is just trying to earn a living and to live life. But, the burdens that come with so much red-tape take up much of the time that we would otherwise have to live life.

There are way too many rules and regulations to follow. Who can know them all? Sadly, that is the price we pay for living in an unrighteous world. Justice will not happen by making more laws in a lawless world. Justice will only happen when the law and the love of God is written upon our hearts.

God's Peace – Pr. J

Blessed Is The Nation

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance."  (Psalm 33:12 NIV)

Family gatherings, cook-outs, parades, and fireworks are just a few of the ways that people around the U.S.A. will celebrate Independence Day today. We do, indeed, live in a great country; a country that was founded on principles like freedom and justice. There are so many people in so many countries who have no where near the freedom and the opportunities that the people of this nation have. We have been truly blessed by God. May God help all people to realize the gift that we have been given in having the opportunity to live here as we remember how much blood has been shed so that we might have the privilege to live in this land of the free.

But, as we celebrate on this Independence Day, we all ought to remember that those who believe in Jesus Christ belong to another nation as well. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10) 

Although many who live in the U.S.A. are also members of God's holy nation; all are not. Many residents of the holy nation also do not reside in the U.S.A.. There is an overlapping of sorts; but, the two are not one and the same. 

Even while we live in this world and in this country, we are residents of God's Kingdom as well. May God grant that as His holy nation we should at all times and in all places remember that we are blessed to be a part of this country and most certainly blessed to be heirs of the Kingdom of God. Let us live our lives as residents and representatives of that Kingdom which was purchased for us by the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

I Cannot Come

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.'"                                                                                                                   (Luke 14:15-23 NIV)

We all have excuses. Everyone, it seems, wants to be present at the great banquet table in the Kingdom of God after they enter through the gateway of death. But, not so many realize that the banquet table of the Kingdom is prepared just about every Sunday (sometimes more; sometimes less). This feast of Jesus Christ is for you. He invites you. The one who died for you and has prepared a place for you welcomes you. Yet, what is the response? Is it "I cannot come?" What better things do you have to do this Sunday?

The Kingdom of God is at hand. The table has been prepared for you. You have been invited. "Come, for everything is now ready."

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Shepherds Will Be Accountable

Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock.  Ezekiel 34:7-10 NIV

How many times have we heard that children have no respect for adults; that there are so few with any kind of work ethic in this country; or that we have too many "entitled" people living in this country?  We blame the high crime rates and the poverty in this country on anything and everyone else; but, ourselves. We blame it on the schools. We blame it on the government. We blame it on Madeline O'Hare or maybe even Darwin. The truth is none of these are to blame for the lack of faithfulness and consequently the lack of morals or ethics in this country. The church is. The shepherds need to stand up and take accountability for the false teachings that they have promulgated.

If this country is and was actually a Christian Nation then why have Christians stood back while all these things we claim to detest become so predominant? Who was teaching and preaching the way of the Lord and his promises to those who believe in him? Who was and is standing on the Word? I don't mean the word that's been twisted around to please the itching ears of the people for that is exactly what has led to the sheep being scattered and wandering about lost in the first place.

I remember even as a teen-ager wondering why pastors taught something contrary to the word of God. Yes, even discerning teen-agers can know when a pastor is being faithful to the Word and when he or she is telling stories to ensure his or her salary; his or her pension; his or home medical insurance; and, the list goes on. This is not a new thing. It has been going on for a very long time; even before the time of Ezekiel.

The Lord reminds us over and over again throughout scripture to beware of false shepherds who have left the sheep to become food for wild animals; to become prey to a world who would overrun and destroy them.

It is not the governments fault nor even Madeline O'Hare's fault if the shepherds stood back accepting another truth and preaching the same. It is no one's fault; but, our own if the shepherds would not stand up and on the Word of God. If you're upset because the cross or nativity scene or even the ten commandments cannot be displayed in public consider this:  As a Christian are they on display in your own yard; in your own home; even at your place of worship? Christians should not expect the world to conform to traditions, or ethics, or morals, or to walk in the way that Jesus would have us go, if we, ourselves, are not willing.

If you feel that Christians are losing ground in this country; if you feel the church is diminishing, ask yourself if you are going to be part of the problem or a part of the solution. Who do you think that the Lord is going to hold accountable for leading so many astray?

May God fill not just the shepherds; but, the sheep, as well, with the Holy Spirit so that we might be empowered to stand fast on the Word of God and proclaiming it faithfully to all of the world.

God's Peace - Pr. J

No Other Gods!

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me." Ex 20:2-3

The First Commandment as taught to our children from Luther's Small Catechism
"You shall have no other gods.

What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things."

I spent many, many, years as a wife of a U.S. Marine. They have a saying: "God, Country, Corps." That is the proper order. God always comes first. There can be no other gods. There can be no other priorities. When faithfulness to God comes first, faithfulness to our other obligations just falls into place, with the help of God. But, if we cannot be faithful to God, then we will not be faithful to anything or anyone else, either.

As a Marine Corps wife, I spent a lot of time raising two sons alone as my husband was deployed for far more than half of his career. I had no other family near. As bad as that might sound, it was a good thing. Through this time, I learned that there is one I can trust all of the time and that is God. Through this time, I learned that there was one who loved me like no other. God was there when no one else was. I wasn't always thrilled with the way He worked things out; but, I came to know and trust that no matter how He was working them out; they were being worked out for the good.

The best thing that we can do for our loved ones, for our country, for our world, is to fear, love and trust God above all things; to put Him first in our lives; and to follow in the way that He would have us go. His plan is perfect for us. Ours is not.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Submit To Authority For The Lord's Sake

Do not use your freedom to sin.

Do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil!

"Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the
supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves." 1 Peter 2:13-16 NIV

This weekend we are celebrating the holiday known as Veterans' Day, formerly known as Armistice Day. We celebrate as not just protests are breaking out across this country; but, riots. There is upheaval because not everyone is willing to accept the results of the process for elections that we have been using for a good many years. I have not always been happy with the results of presidential elections. In fact, I was near tears on a couple of occasions. One of the occasions was when a Republican that I did not care for took office. The other occasion was when a Democrat won. I was very shaken when Ronald Reagan won the election. I was so shaken that I had nightmares. One night, as I was tossing and turning, I came under conviction and I heard this message from the Lord, "Judy, you do not have to like him. But, you do need to respect him." I paid attention and with time I learned that the media had painted him in a really bad light and I had believed them. He was not who they said he was. He was not the anti-Christ and the world did not end.

We do have a democratic process in this country. For good or bad, we have a system and we, the people, have a right to vote. That right came at the expense of many good men and women who fought for our freedoms many long years ago. Our freedoms continue because many good men and women are willing to lay down their lives so that not just we; but, people around the world might live in a just society; free from tyrannical governments and free from the minority of tyrannical people who would trample on the freedoms; the rights, of others to get what they want and to get it now. These freedoms came at a price to others. Let us not take them for granted by abusing them.

We give thanks to God that every citizen of this country is granted certain freedoms and rights under the constitution. But; God, nor does the majority of the country, expect us to use our desire for personal freedom to do whatever we want or to trample on the rights of others. Let all God's people strive to do what is right and not use our freedom as an excuse to do what is wrong. We are not to use our freedom as a cover-up for evil rather we are to strive to do good. We are to strive to be reconciled to one another in Christ Jesus. It is God's will that by doing good the ignorant talk of foolish people will be silenced.

We may not always like everyone and everything; but, may God help this country to learn to love even as God loves us, to respect one another, and to realize that whether we like it or not, God is in charge. Jesus is the true King.

God's Peace - Pr. J