Matt 6:19-21
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Like many of you, I have been watching the rising and falling of the stock market this week. I am not a person who particularly enjoys "playing the market" or anything like that. I don't know enough about how it works. Really, I don't want to take the time to learn, either. However, I do have my pension invested, with some experts keeping an eye on it... I know I probably lost thousands if not tens of thousands earlier this week. So much for retiring!
As I have listened to folks this week, speak with concern about what will happen to their retirement funds, I couldn't help but think of what Jesus said. I think it is important to plan wisely for retirement and all of that. In Jesus' day one planned for retirement by making sure one's children were well taken care of because the kids were the retirement fund. In our day, it doesn't work that way. Jesus doesn't forbid us laying away for retirement... what he does is discourage us from putting our trust in what we can save up... I don't know if he had any inkling of the stock market and its volatility, but he did understand about storing in a barn and the realities of having the barn burn down, or bugs get into what has been stored, making it useless. Those would be the equivalent of the barn burning down. So much for the future plans.
As I said, Jesus is not forbidding the planning and preparing for one's future. He is cautioning against putting one's trust in one's own preparations. When it is all said and done, we are called to put our trust in God. When the stock market dropped, I must admit a short panic on my part. A close friend of mine confided that in one day he lost $45,000 dollars of his retirement, meaning he has to work two extra years before he can retire. GULP!
My panic passed quickly, however. I began to remember that the same God who has watched out for me in the past, will continue to watch out for me in my future. I know I can trust God with all of it, not just to delete my past sin, but to provide for my rocky future. What a great God we have!
Remember, things can always go wrong with our human plans and preparations, but with God it "all works to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes." (Rom. 8: 28)
Grace and Peace
Pastor Bill
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Who is "the boss of you"?
I was out of town for a few weeks this summer. Spent the better part of a week in Joplin, Missouri. Then almost immediately, a week at middle school camp... A week of middle school kids with out resting up from a mission trip to Joplin is probably not my smartest move! Anyway, sorry I have been away from this for so long. I have been trying to get caught up on all the things I let go of during that two weeks. That is almost as difficult as the two weeks. As I settle back into the chores of ministry and life in general I find myself in a little bit of rebellion. People want things, family wants things... and yes, God wants things. Meanwhile, I begin to wonder, "hey, what about me? What about the things I want?"
This morning I was reading in the Psalms and I came upon a passage that caught me a little bit by surprise. Psalm 119:57-58 "Your are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise."
Sometimes it is easy for me to get caught up in my agenda... my list of things to do or accomplish. This is especially true when I am tired. It seems that at those moments I forget what my purpose is. I lose sight of just what it I was grabbed a hold by God to do. I forget as well who it is who has grabbed a hold of me. When I said yes to Jesus, He became my portion. He is my boss... my life. His demands on my time and energy supersede all other demands. When I am rested, well fed and "perky" it is somewhat easier to focus and be present on God's behalf to people who are hurting or just want some time. When I am running on empty I can get cranky and become self centered... "What about me?"
When Jesus was in the Garden, facing his own end, he was lonely, out of gas and must have felt a little bit (actually, a whole lot) of "but, what about me?". He phrased it, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will", Matt 26:39. Jesus, when faced with much more than I could ever endure responded to his discouragement, tiredness and all the rest by submitting to the will of His Father. "... not as I will, but as you will". Jesus gives up his "rights", his tiredness, his energy to the will of God. God the Father, gives to Jesus everything he needs to face the Father's will, to accomplish what is needed. God the Father is Jesus' portion and we are Jesus prize.
If God is my portion, can I do any less? Can God expect any less from me? The trials I face, the taxes on my energy and time, they are not nearly what Jesus faced for me. Can I give up my "rights" and give of myself to meet the needs of others" Ya... I can. It isn't always easy. It isn't always fun... but with God as my portion, it is always worth it.
God is always gracious to me... according to his promises. I can rest in that. I find my energies replenished in that. God gives to me what is needed to accomplish what He lays before me.
Grace and Joy in Jesus,
Pastor Bill
This morning I was reading in the Psalms and I came upon a passage that caught me a little bit by surprise. Psalm 119:57-58 "Your are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise."
Sometimes it is easy for me to get caught up in my agenda... my list of things to do or accomplish. This is especially true when I am tired. It seems that at those moments I forget what my purpose is. I lose sight of just what it I was grabbed a hold by God to do. I forget as well who it is who has grabbed a hold of me. When I said yes to Jesus, He became my portion. He is my boss... my life. His demands on my time and energy supersede all other demands. When I am rested, well fed and "perky" it is somewhat easier to focus and be present on God's behalf to people who are hurting or just want some time. When I am running on empty I can get cranky and become self centered... "What about me?"
When Jesus was in the Garden, facing his own end, he was lonely, out of gas and must have felt a little bit (actually, a whole lot) of "but, what about me?". He phrased it, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will", Matt 26:39. Jesus, when faced with much more than I could ever endure responded to his discouragement, tiredness and all the rest by submitting to the will of His Father. "... not as I will, but as you will". Jesus gives up his "rights", his tiredness, his energy to the will of God. God the Father, gives to Jesus everything he needs to face the Father's will, to accomplish what is needed. God the Father is Jesus' portion and we are Jesus prize.
If God is my portion, can I do any less? Can God expect any less from me? The trials I face, the taxes on my energy and time, they are not nearly what Jesus faced for me. Can I give up my "rights" and give of myself to meet the needs of others" Ya... I can. It isn't always easy. It isn't always fun... but with God as my portion, it is always worth it.
God is always gracious to me... according to his promises. I can rest in that. I find my energies replenished in that. God gives to me what is needed to accomplish what He lays before me.
Grace and Joy in Jesus,
Pastor Bill
Monday, June 27, 2011
Looking Behind The Curtain
I was thinking about "The Wizard of OZ" the other day.... the movie. I have read the book several times but the movie is one of the few where I actually like the movie better. Anyway, I thinking about the scene where Dorothy and her friends meet the Great and Might OZ. The booming voice, the authority, and special effects kept them from looking behind the curtain. When Toto goes and pulls the curtain back the companions are surprised to see that the Great OZ was only a short, small voiced man... a human like them, without special powers. He was using the tricks of special effects to keep them from seeing what was really behind the curtain.
If you look closely at the picture that is behind this blog, you may notice that it isn't a stock photo robbed off the internet. It is actually a picture I took back in about 2004 or so. I chose this picture as the back drop of the blog because it is a particularly nice picture... only problem is that all the words and stuff on the blog page keep it hidden. It disappoints me not because it is my picture, rather it disappoints me because all my busyness gets in the way of seeing the beauty of God's creation captured in that moment in July of 2004 in British Colombia Canada. It is a shame that you can't see what I saw.
Is it possible that we do that with God, sometimes? We have an amazing experience of a personal encounter with the Living God... and we clutter the view with busyness. The beautiful things God is doing in my life and in your life are like that picture... we need to shut-up sometimes, and just let people see the changes that are happening. Let the beauty that is your changed life speak. Instead we sometimes feel we have to defend God, or at least our ideas about God. The great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, once said that defending the Bible is like defending a lion. Just turn it loose and get out of the way... Our experience of God is like that. We don't have to defend it we just need to share it. God's love will shine through and others will see the beauty of what He is doing in our lives.
Grace and Joy in Jesus,
Pastor Bill
If you look closely at the picture that is behind this blog, you may notice that it isn't a stock photo robbed off the internet. It is actually a picture I took back in about 2004 or so. I chose this picture as the back drop of the blog because it is a particularly nice picture... only problem is that all the words and stuff on the blog page keep it hidden. It disappoints me not because it is my picture, rather it disappoints me because all my busyness gets in the way of seeing the beauty of God's creation captured in that moment in July of 2004 in British Colombia Canada. It is a shame that you can't see what I saw.
Is it possible that we do that with God, sometimes? We have an amazing experience of a personal encounter with the Living God... and we clutter the view with busyness. The beautiful things God is doing in my life and in your life are like that picture... we need to shut-up sometimes, and just let people see the changes that are happening. Let the beauty that is your changed life speak. Instead we sometimes feel we have to defend God, or at least our ideas about God. The great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, once said that defending the Bible is like defending a lion. Just turn it loose and get out of the way... Our experience of God is like that. We don't have to defend it we just need to share it. God's love will shine through and others will see the beauty of what He is doing in our lives.
Grace and Joy in Jesus,
Pastor Bill
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
What is an Ecumenical Church?
It has happened again! I actually had someone question why I would choose to pastor a church that is "ecumenical". By his question I could tell that in his mind "ecumenical" means... doesn't believe anything, or believes everything. Let say right up front that "ecumenical doesn't mean either of those. Another myth is that "ecumenical" means that we are a part of a movement trying to create a "new world order" that has only one recognized church... led by the anti-Christ. We are not that either. Let me explain...
According to the Merriam-Webster on line dictionary ecumenical is:"Late Latin oecumenicus, from Late Greek oikoumenikos, from Greek oikoumenē the inhabited world, from feminine of oikoumenos, present passive participle of oikein to inhabit, from oikos house or more "vicinity"...not clear? Essentially, "ecumenical" means world wide or more closely "universal". It is the Greek equivalent of "catholic" as it is used in the Apostles Creed, "I believe in the holy catholic church". That line was not intended to mean "Roman Catholic" church. The intention was for the believer to affirm one's belief in the Church Universal much as described by the church fathers and St. Augustine. The church exists where ever those who claim Jesus as Lord and wherever the fruit of Holy Spirit is made manifest. In other words... no one denomination can lay claim to being the only one true church. No particular congregation can lay claim to being the only true church. The church, according to scripture, is the "body of Christ".
Here at the Ecumenical Church of Pueblo West, we believe that God's intention is for God's people to join together in celebrating the oneness of Christ's body by choosing to recognize that God's people are not bound by denominational lines but by the work of the Holy Spirit. That work is being done in and through any who proclaim Jesus as Lord, regardless of denominational affiliation or lack there of. The "Church Universal" or Ecumenical is God's not man's. As such, I believe we are to look past each others "errors" and love one another in spite of those "errors".
Ephesians 4:3-6 says it this way..."3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
It seems to me that I could take that line about "one body, one Spirit,"etc., to mean my brand is the only one, or I could take it to mean that the whole body is one and not complete with out the other parts. I choose to believe that we need to be inclusive of others who differ from us so that our "body" is complete. As the Apostle Paul says... "not all are a hand, not all are a foot." There is a legitimate reason to include with out demanding agreement. As the verse above says, "make every effort to keep the unity...". Notice it says "unity" not "uniformity". The distinction being that "unity" means agreeing with out being the same and "uniformity" means everything is in lock step agreement. What this means for us here at Ecumenical Church of Pueblo West is that we celebrate all of God's goodness, grace and love with Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Independents, Republicans, Democrats... any and all who proclaim Jesus as Lord.
So, I will maintain my efforts to live at peace, "doing good to all, especially to those of the household of faith". (Gal. 6:10) Until Jesus comes back to sort it all out, I believe we have a primary responsibility to love one another... often in spite of ourselves!
Grace and Joy in Jesus
Pastor Bill
According to the Merriam-Webster on line dictionary ecumenical is:"Late Latin oecumenicus, from Late Greek oikoumenikos, from Greek oikoumenē the inhabited world, from feminine of oikoumenos, present passive participle of oikein to inhabit, from oikos house or more "vicinity"...not clear? Essentially, "ecumenical" means world wide or more closely "universal". It is the Greek equivalent of "catholic" as it is used in the Apostles Creed, "I believe in the holy catholic church". That line was not intended to mean "Roman Catholic" church. The intention was for the believer to affirm one's belief in the Church Universal much as described by the church fathers and St. Augustine. The church exists where ever those who claim Jesus as Lord and wherever the fruit of Holy Spirit is made manifest. In other words... no one denomination can lay claim to being the only one true church. No particular congregation can lay claim to being the only true church. The church, according to scripture, is the "body of Christ".
Here at the Ecumenical Church of Pueblo West, we believe that God's intention is for God's people to join together in celebrating the oneness of Christ's body by choosing to recognize that God's people are not bound by denominational lines but by the work of the Holy Spirit. That work is being done in and through any who proclaim Jesus as Lord, regardless of denominational affiliation or lack there of. The "Church Universal" or Ecumenical is God's not man's. As such, I believe we are to look past each others "errors" and love one another in spite of those "errors".
Ephesians 4:3-6 says it this way..."3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
It seems to me that I could take that line about "one body, one Spirit,"etc., to mean my brand is the only one, or I could take it to mean that the whole body is one and not complete with out the other parts. I choose to believe that we need to be inclusive of others who differ from us so that our "body" is complete. As the Apostle Paul says... "not all are a hand, not all are a foot." There is a legitimate reason to include with out demanding agreement. As the verse above says, "make every effort to keep the unity...". Notice it says "unity" not "uniformity". The distinction being that "unity" means agreeing with out being the same and "uniformity" means everything is in lock step agreement. What this means for us here at Ecumenical Church of Pueblo West is that we celebrate all of God's goodness, grace and love with Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Independents, Republicans, Democrats... any and all who proclaim Jesus as Lord.
So, I will maintain my efforts to live at peace, "doing good to all, especially to those of the household of faith". (Gal. 6:10) Until Jesus comes back to sort it all out, I believe we have a primary responsibility to love one another... often in spite of ourselves!
Grace and Joy in Jesus
Pastor Bill
Thursday, May 26, 2011
God's Extravegance...
Back in 1994, a couple in the church I was pastoring called up and said that they needed to visit with me... That always makes me nervous. I set up a time. I worried that maybe I had done something to hurt or offend them. I prayed and prayed... and worried some more.
The day of our meeting finally arrived. I took a big breath and sat down with them. Being a good pastor, I volunteered to open our time together in prayer. I remember praying something about "love" and "communication" and "forgiveness"... just in case.
Then they dropped the bomb shell.
They had paid some money down to go on a tour of Israel that was being led by my mentor. Because of an unexpected family schedule conflict, they would not be able to go on the trip... I felt bad for them but still didn't get what they might be upset with me about... I know, I can be sort of dense sometimes.
They wanted to give the trip to Israel to me. WOW! I was astounded. What an extravagant gift. I almost couldn't believe it. They were paying several thousand dollars for me to take their place on this trip. I still owe them a debt of gratitude for giving me that wonderful opportunity.
What is the most extravagant gift you have ever received? A new car? Jewelry? How about this...
"You see , at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare. But God demonstrates his won love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8
What an extravagant gift from God! While we had no reason to expect anything from God, He chose to give us the very thing we couldn't afford. Like the gift I received from that couple, this gift from God was not deserved. It was something I couldn't have paid for myself, no matter how much I wanted it. Yet, God wants us to have this great gift... so much that He was willing to give what it required for us to receive it.
I have always thought it a wonder that God gives this gift for the ungodly, while they (I) are (am) still ungodly. He doesn't expect us to somehow become deserving of it before we can receive it. "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Thank you, Lord for such extravagance. Thank you, for loving us so much. Help me, today, to live in such a way that I reflect your extravagance by extending that same love to all whom I meet.
Grace and Peace in Jesus,
Pastor Bill
The day of our meeting finally arrived. I took a big breath and sat down with them. Being a good pastor, I volunteered to open our time together in prayer. I remember praying something about "love" and "communication" and "forgiveness"... just in case.
Then they dropped the bomb shell.
They had paid some money down to go on a tour of Israel that was being led by my mentor. Because of an unexpected family schedule conflict, they would not be able to go on the trip... I felt bad for them but still didn't get what they might be upset with me about... I know, I can be sort of dense sometimes.
They wanted to give the trip to Israel to me. WOW! I was astounded. What an extravagant gift. I almost couldn't believe it. They were paying several thousand dollars for me to take their place on this trip. I still owe them a debt of gratitude for giving me that wonderful opportunity.
What is the most extravagant gift you have ever received? A new car? Jewelry? How about this...
"You see , at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare. But God demonstrates his won love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8
What an extravagant gift from God! While we had no reason to expect anything from God, He chose to give us the very thing we couldn't afford. Like the gift I received from that couple, this gift from God was not deserved. It was something I couldn't have paid for myself, no matter how much I wanted it. Yet, God wants us to have this great gift... so much that He was willing to give what it required for us to receive it.
I have always thought it a wonder that God gives this gift for the ungodly, while they (I) are (am) still ungodly. He doesn't expect us to somehow become deserving of it before we can receive it. "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Thank you, Lord for such extravagance. Thank you, for loving us so much. Help me, today, to live in such a way that I reflect your extravagance by extending that same love to all whom I meet.
Grace and Peace in Jesus,
Pastor Bill
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Lord is my shepherd...
Psalm 23 is one of the best known passages from the Bible... most any English speaking person on hearing "The Lord is my shepherd..." can say the next line..."I shall not want".
"The Lord is my shepherd..." I know this is true, yet, I still worry. "What if's..." can clog up my mind. I worry about my kids... I worry about my wife... I worry about my church... What if...
something happens...
to me?
to them?
to us?
What if... what if... what if... so many what if's!
"The Lord is my shepherd" doesn't mean "what if's" don't happen. It simply means that God is the God of "what if's", too!
In the Joseph stories found in the book of Genesis, Joseph doesn't fear the unknowns. He knows that the God he worships is the God of the unknowns. Nothing that will happen to him is beyond God... So, Joseph meets each new challenge knowing that he has to trust in God's wisdom and timing.
Would Joseph choose to be a slave or in prison? No! Was Joseph willing to see slavery or prison as the work of God in his life? Yes! As he said to his brothers on meeting them at the end of the story (Genesis 50:20) "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..."
May all your what if's turn out to be God's... "YES!"
Grace and Joy in Jesus,
Pastor Bill
"The Lord is my shepherd..." I know this is true, yet, I still worry. "What if's..." can clog up my mind. I worry about my kids... I worry about my wife... I worry about my church... What if...
something happens...
to me?
to them?
to us?
What if... what if... what if... so many what if's!
"The Lord is my shepherd" doesn't mean "what if's" don't happen. It simply means that God is the God of "what if's", too!
In the Joseph stories found in the book of Genesis, Joseph doesn't fear the unknowns. He knows that the God he worships is the God of the unknowns. Nothing that will happen to him is beyond God... So, Joseph meets each new challenge knowing that he has to trust in God's wisdom and timing.
Would Joseph choose to be a slave or in prison? No! Was Joseph willing to see slavery or prison as the work of God in his life? Yes! As he said to his brothers on meeting them at the end of the story (Genesis 50:20) "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..."
May all your what if's turn out to be God's... "YES!"
Grace and Joy in Jesus,
Pastor Bill
Friday, May 6, 2011
Sing unto the Lord a new song!
O sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Psalm 96:1-2
Listening to the radio the other day I heard a song I hadn't heard before... that isn't unusual, I suppose. This particular song was very effective at reaching into my heart and drawing me out... causing me to see Jesus in a way I hadn't thought of before. A new revelation... well not new to the world, just new to me. When I have my eyes opened to a new view it helps me see not only God in a new way, but I see myself in a new way. That is what some call the "ahah!" moment. I love those. When I have those moments, it produces a sense of wonder in me... a joy! That joy can also be called a "blessing" or a gift.
A gift... something unforeseen, unexpected, even un-asked for. We all love receiving gifts... almost as much as God loves giving them. It is God's intent that we experience great joy. Joy speaks to His character. That is why the Apostle Paul says that the "Kingdom of God is about Joy and Peace". Those are blessings God gives to us. What are the blessing we give to God?
"Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day. "
tell of his salvation from day to day. "
Yep! Tell others about the ways God has blessed you... tell of His salvation... tell of His greatness. In other words... Sing a new song!
Peace and Joy
Pastor Bill
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)