What are your "alternatives"?

This past few weeks, in the entry way to The Ecumenical Church, there have been some tables set up.  At those tables have been some very important people... no, not Senators or Congress persons.  These are people who actually view their jobs as important, and useful!  The folks who stand at those tables have been there to help you and I understand and participate in some of the mission of The Ecumenical Church.

You see, a church is only as effective as it's ability to reach beyond it's own doors and walls. A church that only thinks as works to serve itself is a self centered Church.  And, like self centered people, self centered Churches aren't of much use to God.  God want us, if we claim to be followers of Jesus, to move beyond thinking of ourselves and our personal agendas.  God wants us to come to Him so that we might be given His agenda.  That is very hard for most of us.  We are steeped in traditions of pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps and told that the way to succeed is by looking out for "number one".  This is only true is by "number one" we mean God!
 
These folks who sit at the tables in our Narthex... They are there to encourage and help us move beyond the usual Christmas time attitude of consumerism.  They are there to encourage and help us with "alternative giving".  This is something that we should remember throughout the year and not just at Christmas.  Alternative Giving is rather than buying all the toys and "stuff" that is advertized on TV, look at the idea of giving gifts that don't rust, fade or break.  Did you know that for a pretty minimal cost you can help a family in Latin America buy a cow, or a family in India a water buffalo?  Rabbits in Mexico can help a family start a business that will feed them for years to come and chickens for a family provides eggs to sell and eat.  When we begin to think outside of ourselves we begin to think like Jesus.  The Apostle Paul said it this way in Philippians;  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; ⁷ rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2: 3-11


As you go about your Christmas shopping... think "alternative".  In doing this you will be thinking about eternity. 

May you have the greatest Christmas of your life!
Peace and Joy in Jesus,
Pastor Bill

Amazing Grace, How Sweet The Sound...

One of the most recognized songs in the English language is "Amazing Grace".  It resonates in each of us because of our deep, personal, sense of need.  It isn't just cultural, it is human.  Part of the human condition is the condition of a basic understanding of our inability to measure up to a standard of right and wrong.  Every culture and every religion in the world has some means to remove guilt. Unfortunately, most involve some form of bodily mutilation and pain.  We have in us a deep sense of a debt that needs to be paid.  One of the things, some would say the biggest thing, about Christianity is that it is the only religion and culture that offers free grace as the means of removing guilt.  The price is there, but Jesus takes the pain and the penalty upon himself for us.  That is the scandal of grace... we can't deserve it, we can't earn it, we can't some how repay it.  It is a debt beyond our capabilities.
Because of songs like "Amazing Grace" most of us have an inkling of what that grace might mean for us... still all of us only scratch the surface of what that grace means.  Today I was thinking about grace and the extravagance of God's grace.  The idea that God not only offers it... He dumps it upon us in quantities that are unimaginable.  As Ephesians 1 says we have "the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished upon us with all wisdom and understanding."  God gives us grace beyond our understanding!  Truly Amazing Grace.
A question... Do I extend that grace to others?  It is all good and fine that God loves me so extravagantly, but do I extend that to others in the amount that I receive?  OUCH!!  I must confess that I love singing about God's Amazing Grace, but when it comes to changing the words of the song just a little, to singing about me giving grace... me forgiving others, even if I have the right to not forgive... OUCH!! again.  I have no right to hang onto the very things God so lavishly graces.  The grace that is so sweet a sound in my ears becomes a jackhammer to my soul if I hoard God's love with out sharing it.  The sweet sound that saved a wretch like me saves a wretch like you.  The grace that removes my sin, removes yours.  The grace that is the cure for my spiritual blindness is the same grace that will teach your heart to sing.  Let's not hoard the gift we have been given so freely.  Let's see if we can't out give God's generosity.  God wants to see each of us extending His offer of free, unlimited grace to everyone... especially to our enemies. 
Amazing Grace how sweet the the sound that saved a wretch like me,
I have been forgiven much so now I must forgive seven times seventy.
There is no sight as beautiful to see,
as the grace I though Jesus extend to thee.
Grace and Peace
Pastor Bill (enjoying the Northwest but missing you all in Pueblo West)

Rest is Best!

Watchman Nee wrote... "Whereas God worked six days and then enjoyed his sabbath rest, Adam began his life with the sabbath; for God works before He rests, while man must first enter into God's rest, and then alone can he work.  Moreover it was because God's work of creation was truly complete that  Adam's life could begin with rest.  And here is the Gospel: that God has gone one stage further and has completed also the work of redemption, and that we need do nothing whatever to merit it, but can enter by faith directly into the values of His finished work."

I find that to be an intriguing  thought... that Adam was created on the sixth day means that his actual first day was God's seventh or sabbath... Life for us begins with rest!  I can get so caught up in the anxiety and rush of life that I forget what is most important... entering God's rest, or as the Psalms and book of Hebrews puts it... "today if you hear His voice don't harden your hearts... enter His rest".  God created us for rest, not work.  God created us to be complete in everything He provides.  He provides the righteousness I need to enter heaven.  He provides all the material things I need until I get to heaven. 

That really is the message of the Gospel, isn't it?  "Come you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest."  is the way Jesus put it.  When he told the fishermen by the sea to "come follow me"... I think that it was a call to rest in Him.

I hope you find rest, today and tomorrow.
Joy in Jesus
Pastor Bill

Are you learning to speak?

I am reading a Dietrich Bonhoeffer book... Psalm: the Prayer Book of the Bible.  For those of you who may not know, Bonhoeffer was a German pastor martyred by Hitler in WWII.  He is a very powerful writer.  Anyway, I came upon the following and it really made me think:
"The child learns to speak because his father speaks to him.  He learns the speech of his father.  So we learn to speak to God because God has spoken to us and speaks to us.  By means of the speech of the Father in heaven his children learn to speak with him.  Repeating God's own words after him, we begin to pray to him.  We ought to speak to God and he wants to hear us, not in the false and confused speech of our heart, but in the clear and pure speech which God has spoken to us in Jesus Christ."

I was really taken by this idea.  We only know how to speak to God because God has first spoken to us.  It is in listening first to God that we begin to understand how to pray.  Prayer is something that we learn.  Sometimes, I feel woefully inadequate in prayer.  I don't know what to say or how to say it.  I think I must know how to pray naturally... but I didn't learn to talk naturally... I had to learn it from my parents and siblings.  Prayer is like that, we learn first from our Father, then from our brothers and sisters, who have learned more than we have. 
Matthew begins the "Lord's Prayer" with the question of the followers of Jesus:  "Lord, teach us to pray".  They were honest about the condition they found themselves in.  Can I be that honest?  Honest enough with myself, God and with you?  To ask, "Lord, teach me to pray.", is to ask to listen to the Father's word, and the patient instruction of Jesus, and my sisters and brothers in Christ.  Those who have made it a habit to listen to God.  Let's all learn to speak the language of prayer... the language of the Father, given to us by Jesus.
Grace and Joy in Jesus!
Pastor Bill

Pulling the "black mask from the face of trouble"

Faith pulls the black mask from the face of trouble, and discovers the angel beneath. Faith looks up at the cloud, and sees that 'Tis big with mercy and shall break In blessings on her head."
(from Spurgeon's Morning & Evening, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 1999, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

I recently came across this quote from the great preacher... Charles Spurgeon.  Spurgeon is considered by many to be the greatest English speaking preacher ever.
What a great thought though... "faith pulls the black mask from the face of trouble..."  When you think about it that is exactly what "faith" does.  It looks underneath and through the troubles, trials and tribulations we may encounter, to see the greater purpose that is there.  When we don't see beneath the surface we are prone to worry, fear, anger, and despair.  Faith looks to see the "angel beneath".   
Rom 8:28 says it quite well... " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,  who  have been called according to his purpose."
Faith believes that God is at work in our lives, even to using those trials and tribulations that confuse us, worry us and tempt us to despair.  That is why James says... "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
My prayer for us all is that God would give us the courage and faith that "pulls the black mask from the face of trouble..."
Pastor Bill

Where to Invest... a response to a question about the last post

Matt 25:1-11

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

9 "'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'

After my most recent post, a good friend asked me to comment on this passage from Matthew which seems to say the opposite of the passage used in the former post.  Man, I hate it when people think! (Just Kidding, Corey).   Actually, he raised a very good question…  “Hi Bill,
Can you comment on the parable of the 10 virgins and how you see it relating to preparations and readiness? It seems some Christians put all their eggs into "God is coming very soon"- and then they are not prepared for the long haul...but I may need help with that...thoughts?” August 10, 2011 3:52 PM

First, the parable Jesus used in the first posting is intended to remind us to be careful where we  put our trust.  Do we trust our future to God’s care, and love? Or, are we to scramble as though we “are to look out for number one”?  I pointed out that ultimately we humans are called by God to place our trust and hope in Him.  He has promised to care for us and see to our needs.  This frees me to focus on the “One” who can feed my soul and take me into eternity, and to be loving and caring to those whom I meet… and at times even be the one God uses to meet their need.

The parable of the 10 virgins, it seems to me, is more about spiritual preparedness.  Without having to go into the all the details of a 1^st Century Jewish wedding, I want to point out a few things.  The story is a part of a discussion Jesus is having.  In verse 42 Jesus says, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

The first parable is about spending ones time on worry, and distractions that are temporal… our time on earth.  The second is about spending time on what is eternal… our time in Heaven.  Do we invest our time in “getting ahead”?  Or, do we invest our time in knowing and growing in Christ.  The five foolish virgins were looking to make a killing on a short term investment.  Spiritually speaking, they had not spent the time to make sure they had enough oil (some would say that is symbolic of the Holy Spirit).  They were trying to turn it quick… where as the five wise virgins had invested in the long run.  They had made spiritual preparations by investing in a growing relationship with God. 

In applying this to myself, I can see where at times I have been “spiritually short sighted”.  I focus on me, and what I want, rather than on God and my neighbor.  I have to ask myself, at times, what am I investing in… temporary or eternity?

We have all met people who invest in the temporary spirituality… “Give me Jesus because He will make all my problems go away, but don’t ask anything of me.  I don’t have time for religion.”  When times are tough there is no depth to that kind of faith so it amounts to “no faith”.  The point of the parable is “at that time the Kingdom of Heaven” will be like… there will be those who are unprepared for Jesus’ coming because they invested in the gimme, gimme type faith rather than a faith built upon a growing relationship with Jesus.

What do you think?

Grace and Peace

Pastor Bill

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