Magi/Epiphany Story

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December 30, 2009

Gmail to St. Pauls family,

            The Magi faithfully followed the God given star as a guide to experience the birth of God. Isn’t it interesting that they assumed the destination was in Jerusalem, the political and religious center of the region with a resplendent palace and temple? What a set back then to be steered to nearby Bethlehem and a shack! Ever had a “shack” time when your expectations and anticipations about a future spouse, career, about parenthood or the “golden years” led to a very disillusioning alternative? That’s a shack time and isn’t it amazing how God so often shows up there in the Bible. Could He be wanting to do the same in your “shack” time?

            The Magi/Epiphany story is a wonderful example for dealing with disappointment. Here are some guidelines:

1. The “palaces” of our anticipation are not always what they seem. Herod was a paranoid butcher and the Magi were instantly in peril for bringing up the subject of a newborn king.

 

1. Look for, expect God to be in the “shack”, the Magi fell down and worshipped the Child. The deepest encounters, the most life changing experiences happen in the “shack”; the palace and the temple tend only to enthrall and thrill.

 

1. Offer God your best in the shack; the Magi didn’t decide to hold back the gold for Herod; they honored the Child in the “shack” with it. Am I holding back my best for some hoped for “palace” experience? The Child grew up to teach, “You’ve been faithful over a little, I’ll set you over much.” Don’t think you don’t have a suitable gift. Our Lord of the “shack” sees our talents, love, energy and time as precious, precious gifts.

 

Uplink: Lord of the “shack” times, I’ll begin giving my best in 2010 in my relationships, my work and my church. May I meet you and be transformed by you in the “shack”.

                                                                        In Your Name, Amen

            We’ll enjoy our annual Epiphany celebrations this weekend. Don’t miss getting a “star” and character trait to guide you in 2010.

True Spirit of Christmas!

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December 23, 2009

            There must be a better way to celebrate the season than the current treadmill of exhaustive, expensive gift giving, card sending, party going and stomach stuffing. (I get tired just writing about it and I only do the last two; Jan has to handle the first two!)

            In their book Unplug the Christmas Machine, Jo Robinson and Jean Stacheli call attention to “The Christmas Pledge.” It offers a great alternative.

            “Believing in the true spirit of Christmas, I commit myself to:

• remember those people who truly need my gifts;
• express my love in more direct ways than gifts;
• examine my holiday activities in the light of my deepest values;
• be a peacemaker within my circle of family and friends;
• rededicate myself to spiritual growth.

 

Uplink: Holy Spirit, birth in me a richer-deeper more meaningful journey to Christmas. May I give and love in ways more precious than the usual bow wrapped gifts. May my soul be sated instead of my stomach in this season.   In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

P.S. People are very receptive to church invitations in this season. Tell your non attending friends about the Christmas Eve services (children 5:00 p.m., Candlelight Communion Service 7:30 p.m.) and also about the harpist carol medley in service on Sunday December 30 at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.

The Answer!

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December 9, 2009

            With the Christmas season approaching, now is a great time to share our faith. Remember, people around you are already asking the question to which we have the answer. People do feel the void that Christ has filled in our lives; consider the following article on a “60 Minutes” interview.

            Tom Brady, the quarterback of the New England Patriots, is not only one of the NFL’s best players. He is one of the NFL’S best stories.

            By age 28, he had already won three Super Bowls, an accomplishment that ranks him with some of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game. Brady’s loss to the Denver Broncos in the 2005 playoffs was his first in the playoff, compared with 10 playoff wins in the last 4 years.

            But with all Brady’s fame and career accomplishments, he told 60 Minutes, “Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something great out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, “Hey man, this is what it is. I reached my goal, my dream, my life! Me. I think,”God, it’s got to be more than this. I mean this isn’t what it’s all cracked up to be.”

            “What’s the answer?” asked interviewer Steve Kroft.

            “I wish I knew.” Brady replied. “I wish I knew.”

            Holy Spirit, prompt me to share the answer that is Christ with the folks in my life who are questioning life’s meaning. May I live in such a way that my lifestyle will validate my sharing.

                                                In Christ’s Name, Amen

P.S. Invite a not yet churched person in your life to worship this weekend. Tell them about the smoked and fried turkey dinner following the Saturday and 11:00 service and the breakfast burritos during the 9:00 service. Bring a covered dish and your appetite.

Doubting Thomas

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November 17, 2009

 

 

            I’ve always liked the disciple Thomas. I’m a seeing is believing kind of guy and the people Jesus blessed because they could believe without seeing always make me feel a little second class, you know. Thomas is sort of the patron saint for us doubters and his presence in the Jesus story affirms there’s a place for me, too.  I think honest doubting has value because it can lead to strong faith.  Commentator William Barclay admires him too.

 

            “Thomas absolutely refused to say that he believed what he did not believe…

            There is more ultimate faith in the man who insists on being sure than in the

            man who glibly repeats things which he has never thought out, and which he

does not really believe. It is a doubt like that which in the end arrives at certainty.”                                                                 

 

            I like it that Jesus didn’t rebuke Thomas for doubting His resurrection but ironically affirmed it by responding in similar language to that Thomas used to express the doubt (hands in his side, see the nail marks). God not only listens to my doubt, He’ll respond to it in a way that will build my faith.

 

            What are your doubts? Ever wonder about the virgin birth, or the resurrection? How can you be sure heaven is real? Am I really saved? Is Jesus really, really who the Bible claims? Try sharing it with God in prayer and with a trusted Christian friend. I believe you might be pleasantly surprised at the outcome. I don’t know who Dr. Hutton is but I love the quote attributed to him. “A man who gives up his Christianity only surrenders a life of faith troubled by doubt, for a life of doubt troubled by faith.”

 

Uplink: Lord Jesus, I’m glad my doubt isn’t a barrier to you but simply another door through which you come to meet me.

                                                                        Amen

Committing to God

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November 10, 2009

 

 

            Missionaries who return home for furlough after years on the field often report a similar reaction upon shopping again in America. Having lived amongst people with little food and even less choice about what food they will eat and having seen the joy and generosity of such people, they often break into tears when seeing the variety and abundance on grocery store shelves. These are not tears of joy but frustration, even shame, over the realization that our wealth results in far less joy than amongst our poverty stricken third world brothers and sisters.

 

            As we pray about committing to give for support of God’s work at St. Pauls in the next year, I pray we will experience the great spiritual paradox that is in giving we receive, that the act of sharing/giving/caring/investing reduces anxiety and can be an act of liberation in such trouble financial times. I pray the false sense of security we tend to develop in “boom” times will be replaced by a deeper trust in God’s provision that never wavers with the ups and downs of financial markets.

 

            We’ll be dedicating our commitments during the services this weekend. Come enjoy the picnic or brunch and look forward to a year of spiritual abundance.

 

Uplink: Lord Jesus, teach me to give my will to peace, joy, security and a deeper experience of life itself…

 

In your name, I pray, Amen

 

 

P.S. Don’t forget to reflect prayerfully on your giving for the next year, to pick up your commitment card in the foyer before worship so we can dedicate them during the service. We’ll enjoy a great meal after the Saturday and 11:00 a.m. Sunday service (fried or smoked turkey) and a burrito breakfast during the 9:00 a.m. Sunday service. Can’t wait to see everybody! The children will be singing in the Sunday services also!

Your Finances, How to Give

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November 3, 2009

 

 

            We’re all praying about our giving to support the ministries of St. Pauls in the next year.  We’ll dedicate that commitment on the weekend of November 14/15 and enjoy a picnic or brunch at each service. Here are some insights that Jan and I find helpful in evaluating our finances.

 

            All psychologists know, and lots of studies as well as surveys have established that, our sense of financial comfort (Do I have enough?) has more to do with comparisons than reality. For instance, when given the choice of making $100,000 and all other co-workers make $110,000 or making $75,000 and they make $60,000, people inevitably pick the lower salary for themselves! This also means that, with our wealth worth less, at least on paper, than it was last year, no one feels rich this year. This despite the reality that a middle class income in the United States is greater than 95% of the people on the globe and 99.9% of the people who ever lived. (New York Times magazine, June 9, 2002)

 

            The key to finding financial comfort will never be in the amount of wealth we accumulate. The key is to change our attitude toward our wealth. Rather than fearfully hoarding or frantically amassing, let’s take the approach Paul suggests in I Timothy 6:18 “that we are to….do good, be rich in good works, generous and ready to share, thus storing up the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that (we) may take  hold of the life that really is life.”

 

            The life that really is life “stresses giving versus getting, serving versus being served, dying to self versus ego inflation. What a joy to be in a church family filled with people trying to “give” their way to the abundant life.

 

Uplink: Holy Spirit, teach me to trust in God my provider enough that I can give more (money, time, love, talent, energy) and so discover a deeper dimension to life!

                                                                                    In Christ’s name, Amen

God’s Son!

 

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October 28, 2009

 

 

            You are so precious to God. Jesus said He knows the number of hairs on your head; the Psalmist says He counts every tear you shed; the prophet says your image is on the palm of His hand. Really getting this truth can dramatically change your life or another’s. Consider the following:

 

            Fred Craddock is a seminary professor and pastor. He tells the story of the time he      was vacationing in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Fred and his wife were seated at a table in a restaurant and an old man come up to them and asked, “Are you folks on vacation?” “Yes,” “and we’re having good time.” The old man said, “So what do you do for living?” Fred said, “I’m a preacher.” “Oh!” said the old man. “Let me tell you a preacher story.”

            He sat down by them. The old man said, “I was born an illegitimate child.  I never know who my father was. It was very, very hard on me growing up. The kids in school made fun of me.  Growing up, I didn’t have any friends at all. When I walked around our little town I always felt people were staring at me and looking at me and saying, ‘I wonder who’s the father of that boy.’ I spent a lot of time by myself. I didn’t have any friends. One day a pastor came to town. Everybody was talking about how good he was. I had never gone to church but I decided I’d go to church and hear this guy. So I went. And he was good. So I kept going back. But each time I went to church I’d come in late and I’d leave early so I wouldn’t have to talk to anybody. (sounds like a lot of you.) Then one Sunday I got so caught up listening that I forgot to leave early and the service ended and the people stood up and I couldn’t get out the door. Suddenly I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder. When I turned, that big tall pastor was standing there with his hand on my shoulder looking at me and he said, ‘What’s your name, son? Whose boy are you? Whose son are you:’ I just shook when I heard those words and I heard that question. But before I could say anything that pastor said this, ‘I know who you are. I know who your family is. You have a distinct family resemblance. You’re the son of God!” the man said, “You know, those words changed my life.”

            The old man got up and he left and a waitress came over a little bit later and said, “Do you know who you were talking to?” Fred said, no. She said, “That’s Ben Hooper. Two time governor of Tennessee.”

 

 

Uplink: Holy Spirit, did Jesus leave heaven out of love for me? Did He die for me? Do you reside in me as a proof of God’s love? Show me a sign this day or week to confirm this so I can be a sign for some other child of God. Amen.

Downscaling in your Life

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October 21, 2009

 

 

Gmail to St. Pauls family,

 

            While written 8 years ago by Rev. David Mains, the following is really relevant for today.

 

            The truth is for some, downscaling is both timely and necessary, because they are living beyond their means. They consistently spend more than they take in. So in their case, scaling down involves learning how to live within the confines of what they earn, and in time even setting aside some funds for unexpected expenses.

 

            But scaling down is more than that. It’s getting in the habit of saying, “I could buy it, but I won’t.” This is not easy for people who live in a society where “shop” is no longer primarily a noun but a verb. Early Americans used to go to a shop to buy what they needed. They gave the owner a request and he went to the back room to get the tool, the bolt of material, or whatever their necessities required.

 

            Our world changed when shop owners discovered the advantages of letting their patrons see everything that was available in the back room. When that happened, suddenly customers wanted more than the items on their lists. So over time, more and more merchandise from the back rooms was brought forward and put on display. Today

in North America, we can see practically all the goods from all the back rooms of the world. The array is truly mind-boggling. Just to go to look at it is a fun experience – (to shop (the verb). And the more we see when browsing, the harder it is for us to say no, to limit our purchases to items on a list of needs.

 

            Uplink: Lord you lived simply, indeed hand to mouth during your ministry years. Yet you modeled a life of joy, security, peace, purpose and love. Teach me the secret of great satisfaction through simplification.

 

                                                In Your Name, I pray.   Amen

 

 

P.S. Our renewal is this weekend, come for the first session Friday at 7:00.P.M. in the  sanctuary. (Events Saturday beginning at 9:00 a.m. will be in the Family Life Center). Prayerfully prepare, come ready to learn how to act naturally in the supernatural, how to recognize God’s voice, pray for healing and lots more! Bring a friend.

40 Days of Love

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October 14, 2009

 

 

Gmail to St. Pauls family,

 

            In our “40 Days of Love” emphasis we’re learning how to experience God’s love you can’t share what you don’t have and then to express it in a Christ like manner. Acceptance is a key component in this process. We’ve all been rejected; depending on how young we were and how beloved the rejecting person was, we still carry those scars in varying degrees

 

We end up compensating for this perceived lack by doing almost anything to avoid rejection. We dress in certain brands of clothes, drive the “right.” car or truck or motorcycle, style our hair or joint the right club; almost everything in our life is touched in some way by the yearning for acceptance.

 

How wonderful to realize that we are unconditionally accepted by Jesus. John 6:37 (NCV) “The Father gives me my people. Every one of them will come to me, and I will always accept them.”  The whole point of the cross was that we no longer have to “work” for God’s love. So much acceptance in life is conditional (good grades, good athlete, good behavior etc), it’s wonderful to realize all conditions were met for us by Christ.

 

Can we not do the same? “Accept one another just as Christ accepted you.”  Romans 15:7 (NIV) Remember acceptance is not the same as approval. Jesus accepted and loved the woman condemned to death by stoning without approving of her adultery. (“Go and sin no more.”) Who yearns for acceptance in your circle of friends, family and associates?  Here’s two ways to express it: (1) Look at them. I too often fail to focus on the person in front of me because of thinking or looking ahead to the next item on my agenda. Mark 10:21 says Jesus “looked” at the young entrepreneur who approached him and loved him. The word in Greek is an intensive form of the verb look and is better translated “gazed intently”. Be fully there so those with you feel accepted.  (2)  Listen.

The person speaking is the person being affirmed as the center of attention.  Get them started on a subject dear to them (work, kids, hobby, faith) and watch for a glowing joy as they share. (They’ll think you’re a brilliant conversationalist, by the way.)

 

Uplink: Holy Spirit, show me the person I can accept this week and bring the healing love of Christ to bear upon their heart.

                                                In Jesus Name,  Amen

Expressing Love

 

 

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October 7, 2009

 

 

            In our “40 Days of Love” messages we’re learning that words are a vital way of expressing love. We all understand the love kept inside (and never revealed by words, deeds) doesn’t really count; love felt inside is incomplete and can only become what it is designed to be when expressed for the benefit of its object (the person loved). Interestingly enough Jesus places even more significance on verbal expressions of love.

 

            He explains that our own spiritual condition is enhanced by loving words. In Mark 7:15 (The Living Bible) we read, “Your souls aren’t harmed by what you eat, but by what you think and say.” Not only does a negative word harm those targeted, it also spills back into and pollutes our own inner being. The impact apparently lingers until we “have to give account on judgment day for every careless word…spoken.” (Matthew 12:36)

 

            I hope that remembering the following acrostic will makes things a little easier for us all now and later.

 

            Think before you speak.

                        T – is it truthful?

                        H – helpful?

                        I – inspirational?

                        N – necessary? (or just empty talk)

                        K – kind?

 

“Don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs…” (Ephesians 4:29)

 

Uplink: Holy Spirit, reveal someone today to whom I can speak words of acceptance, affirmation and love; words you can use to bring healing and wholeness into another life.   In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

           

            Outreach: Begin praying now for our renewal weekend Friday evening October 23 – Sunday October 25. Pray God will work in your life and also work to renew and deepen the faith of us all.