The Rush to Hallow Thank Mas

   In reading the gospels again, I am struck by how many times Jesus encourages us to see things differently than the world around us does. Reformation, transformation, renewal of our faith is all wrapped up in that seeing how to live in this world differently, so that we can be more like Christ.

   Martin Luther in 1519 had an idea about renewing the church by reconnecting us to the Bible as the source of life. His tacking 95 Thesis (complaints and fixes) about the church started the Reformation. We are protestants because of that. His major contribution  was translating the Latin, Greek and Hebrew scriptures into everyday German, so that his church participants could read it for themselves and live a life following the teachings of Jesus and learn it for themselves, and not be depended upon the priests teaching alone.

   All my efforts as the pastor of this church and all my efforts for my whole ministry of 38 years, was to help people hear from God directly by helping to make the scriptures clearer and more available to each individual. We end up slipping back into just what the priest says if we are not digging into the Bible for ourselves. It might not be a bad idea to look for and buy The Story  and read it for a fresh perspective.  The Story is a readers' Digest like version, where the most important parts of the Bible are left in, so you can read it with all the helpful components available. You might also want to get into a small group where you can ask questions and learn from others just like you, who may be further along the road than you are spiritually.

   We have many ways to nurture your knowing and connecting to God through the regular reading of the Bible. There are many daily Bibles to choose from, there are many online reading lists. There are many email programs you can sign up for and have a message and a devotional sent into your inbox, that you can read whenever during the day.

   We are losing a battle of faith by not having a clear impression in our own minds about what living with and like Jesus should be. Eighty percent of Christians say they do NOT read their Bibles on a regular basis.We are bombarded by political adds on issues that twist the truth. We see movies and watch television where the decisions that the characters make in the story are so off from a follower of Jesus would do that sometimes I am truly embarrassed to be watching them. It fuels my desire to spend more time with God in study.

   Speaking of reading the Bible, I had a conversation the other day about preaching and it stirred up an idea for me. You might like to know how I decide what to preach on and what shapes the sermons. It’s a journey for sure. I'm using a book by Thomas Bandy, called The Uncommon Lectionary, a book that highlights for pastors, the 52 most important stories about the Bible for those who don't know a whole lot. And 52 important stories followers of Jesus need to have in their system.

   My sermon preparation usually starts during the summer in trying to decide what the upcoming Sundays during the season of September to May are going to look like. If I can plan out a nine to ten month outline schedule, and I begin to collect articles or stories and illustrations that might come in handy when I get to that week's message. I make the list available for people, because I could always use some research assistants. If that's something you would like to do, let me know.

   I pick up the most important Sundays first, like Labor Day and World Wide Communion Sunday and All Saints Day and begin to prepare for them. The HallowThankMas rush (Halloween,Thanksgiving, Christmas) has a power and set of messages all it’s own.  So the message is based on how we can understand what God is doing to help us to feel God's love, God's grace, God's mercy, and how we can demonstrate those qualities in our own lives. St. Paul said, "Have this mind in you that was in Christ Jesus."  (Eph. 2: 5)

  We continually look to know God and share God’s love with one another. Blessings on your faith journey this month.

Pastor Jeff

I Just Want to Celebrate

   Allow me to share what a wonderful day this past Sunday was for us. We joined together in remembering that it's world wide communion Sunday. So we had a great variety of music, the Anthem came from South Africa, and the gathering for communion by standing around the outside wall of the sanctuary to make one big circle was very symbolic of our congregation's origins and the nature of the church of Jesus Christ in the whole world. As brothers and sisters of faith, we form one big circle. We sang the Lord's Prayer together in the circle holding hands and were reminded that this is God's will being done on earth as it is in heaven.

   Not only that, but we left the worship to go to an International Pot Luck Supper. Our diverse congregation brought food to share, from all over the world. Each dish was named for where it came from. It was an awesome feast. We sat down together and shared a heavenly banquet. Just like the kingdom of God is going to be. A chance for all of us to get to know one another and to share what God has done for us and with us. It was a fantastic moment, and I am so glad we had this chance to do so. I am extremely thankful for the chance to do this, and grateful for the many hands that made this work. Our fabulous kitchen crew made the gift of hospitality very obvious for this. THANK YOU all.

   The message that started this off, was the feeding of the five thousand by Jesus. It was fitting that there were twelve baskets full of leftovers, all coming from the lunch of a little boy, who was willing to share it. Put in Jesus hands, miracles are possible. The pot luck dinner had leftovers as well, just let us know that God does provide. Jesus also had a chance to encourage his disciples to get involved in this effort to feed others. We need to know we are going to be asked to share and work with Jesus on lots of challenges. This feeding the 5,000 was another sign that with God's help, all things are possible.

   The miracle is also a part of the work that Jesus does in spite of his own challenges. He was apart from the crowd to grieve the recent death of his cousin, John the Baptist. John was just beheaded by Herod, because Herod was angry at him for teaching the truth about his lifestyle choices and decisions. Jesus went out into the wilderness to pray and recover from this loss. His own disciples had just come back from a major missions trip into the surrounding villages and needed a break to recover from their work. It was supposed to be a time for rest for all of them.

   But Jesus was discovered to be nearby, so a huge crowd gathered around him. And he had compassion on them, and healed their sick, and taught them about the kingdom of God. He saw their loneliness, their pain, their uncertainty and helped them to see God in the middle of all of this. It's only natural that when the day ran out, it was time to get something to eat. Jesus wanted to help them with that problem too. The disciples are more like us, why don't you send the people away, so they can get their own meals and leave us alone for a while.

   No, Jesus said, you give them something to eat. The lesson is that we are in a world where people need help and Jesus is asking us to do something about it. And just when we think we don't have the tools or resources to respond, he challenges us to trust him. So look around and see people who need help, and offer to comfort, to listen, to heal, to provide for them, knowing that God will fill the need and you need not worry about how. Miracles are possible when we begin to do what Jesus asks of us.

   May you see miracles with Jesus encouraging you to do something for others.

Blessings on your journey of faith.

Pastor Jeff