Ascension & Pentecost.... Now What?

The last time we were together, it was Easter Sunday!  We were mourning the trial, judgement and crucifixion of Jesus Christ and Rejoicing at the miracle of his Resurrection and the promises of His return.  I feel we sort of left the story in a state of turmoil….  Yes, we know the end of the story and what comes next, but perhaps we could revisit those days after Easter again.

We’re sort of in that same place right now…  it’s near the end of May, Spring is Springing and there is new life and growth all around us.  School is almost out for the summer break and there will be different schedules and new adventures to go on over the next few months.  Probably even some grown spurts and new clothing and school supplies to be gathered as preparations are made for the next season.  It’s also graduation time – from Pre-school, kindergarten, elementary school, junior and High school, even college and beyond.  Graduation is also a time of beginnings and new life – a time of turmoil and transition – what’s next? how do I do this next thing? Where do we go from here?  Not only for the children, but the parents of those children – why is my baby growing so fast?  Are they ready for this next thing?  Who will take care of them?  Will they be safe in the world on their own?

Even at Gruene we’re in that same place of transition.  Pastor Karen has been appointed to the Conference office to work with new church plants and fostering growth and bringing new life to struggling congregations.  One of our ministerial candidates who has been running our food pantry has also received the call and has been appointed to a new church.  Our children and family ministry director has already moved on to a different position and our Youth leader will be moving back to Tennessee to finish her Master’s degree and also pursue a call in Ministry.   Gruene is getting a new Senior Pastor, and additional Associate pastor, a new Youth director and a new Children and Family ministries director.    That’s a LOT of change!  Pastor Brock and the admin staff will remain the same, but about 75-80% of our staff is changing.  Needless to say, it’s going to be an interesting summer at Gruene UMC!

This is where we find the Disciples…  they had an encounter with the Resurrected Jesus on the road to Emmaus, the same day that they found the empty tomb.  In the 40 days following the Easter resurrection, there were many similar encounters as Jesus continued to teach the disciples.  On the 40^th day, was the Ascension.   This year, it is on Thursday, May 25^th.  According to “Got Questions.org”:  

“Ascension Day is the celebration of Christ ascending into heaven after His death, burial and resurrection. Ascension Day is observed primarily in Catholic and Anglican churches, and it occurs on the Thursday 40 days after Easter. Ascension Day is also called the Feast of Ascension. 

“The story of Jesus’ Ascension is told in Luke 24:49, Mark 16:19 and Acts 1:3, 9. Putting these accounts together, we find that after His resurrection, Jesus appeared several times to His disciples and others. During this time, He spoke to them further about the kingdom of God and the coming of the Holy Spirit, for whom they were to wait (Acts 1:2-9). After 40 days of these appearances, He was taken up to heaven for the last time (Acts 1:9-11). As the disciples watched Him go, two angels appeared and declared to them that, just as He ascended, Jesus would return in glory.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/Ascension-Day.html)

Our reading today is from Acts 1:3–11:

3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.  4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”   9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

WOW!  I can’t even imagine!  Perhaps this is when the phrase, “Will miracles never cease?” came about.  Being a disciple or believer in this time must have been amazing!!  40+ days of death, resurrection, walking and talking with a person that you watched being crucified and died on a cross.  Then to watch him ascend – float up – into Heaven? And the angels…  smart alecs that they might have been… “Why are you still standing here with your mouths open?  Get to work!!  There’s much to be done!!!”

A short time later, 10 days to be exact, was the Pentecost.  This year it is on June 4^th.  Again from “Got Questions.org”:

“Pentecost Sunday is a commemoration and celebration of the receiving of the Holy Spirit by the early church. John the Baptist prophesied of the first Pentecost when Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11). Jesus confirmed this prophecy with the promise of the Holy Spirit to the disciples in John 14:26. He showed Himself to these men after His death on the cross and His resurrection, giving convincing proofs that He was alive. Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Father’s gift of the Holy Spirit, from whom they would receive power to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:3-8). After Jesus’ ascension to heaven, the men returned to Jerusalem and joined together in prayer in an upper room. On the Day of Pentecost, just as promised, the sound of a violent wind filled the house and tongues of fire came to rest on each of them and all were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were given the power of communication, which Peter used to begin the ministry for which Jesus had prepared him. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples did not stay in the room basking in God’s glory but burst out to tell the world. This was the beginning of the church as we know it.”  (https://www.gotquestions.org/Pentecost-Sunday.html)

Baptized by fire!!  We have often heard that expression during times of great turmoil, stress or transition, haven’t we?  The disciples had warning, they knew it was coming, but somehow I don’t think what they had in mind was what actually happened to them!  But is it ever?  Do we ever really know what’s next?  Is our expectation ever the reality?  I think the reality is often way more grander and miraculous than we could ever imagine.  We went to a wedding yesterday – another new beginning this spring.  This couple was a little different than most newlyweds in this season.  I say this with great love – the bride and groom are not “spring chickens”.  😊 They are both “of retirement age” and are entering this new season of their lives in a new marriage, a new household, lots of “new”.  And I bet a couple years ago they both thought they were done with “new”!  Ha! 

So what does this all mean for us?  I suppose it simply boils down to this:  There’s always  - ALWAYS – something new.  There will always be changes and new seasons and something different.  But one thing is ALLWAYS consistent and constant:  Gods Love and Steadfastness.  God will ALLWAYS be with us – through the turmoil and transition and stress and change.  God is WITH us in every little detail.  God’s spirit lives within us – right in our very hearts and souls.  Our challenge is to listen – to bow down, to humble our Selves and obey His will, not our own.  What is He going to show us today?  What is He going to teach us?  Do we need knocked down a peg?  Do we need lifted up?  Do we need to show Him off?  Do we need to teach our friends about His love?  Do we need to simply “show up”? 

Also at Gruene today was a baptism.  I’d like to share part of the liturgy with you now.  I will ask you a series of questions and you may simply respond “I do”.   

“Do you renounce the forces of wickedness, reject evil in this world and repent of sin?

“Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?

“Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord?

“According to the grace given you, will you remain faithful to Christ’s holy church and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world?

Let us Pray:  As we make these promises to you, O Christ, may we be filled with the power and presence of your Holy Spirit.  As we prepare to receive the Living Body and Blood of the New Covenant, may you take away everything that isn’t You and Fill us with your love and grace and mercy so that we may be your hands and feet in the world around us.  We ask you to help us, every day, to surrender our lives to you, to open our hearts and minds to your will and reflect your love outward to all we encounter.  In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…  Amen.

20170521 #ministrymessage

Easter Message

We’ve all experienced loss.  That gut punch of pain and breathlessness when we hear the news that someone we love has been taken from us.  But I can’t imagine the emotions and feelings that the disciples were experiencing…  Not only had they lost their teacher and friend, but they had witnessed the brutal and humiliating trial, beating and crucifixion of Jesus.  And the probable danger that they themselves were in – the crowds were thirst for blood.  Can we really blame Peter for denying Jesus to an angry mob?  I’m sure they spent Saturday in hiding, mourning and grieving their loss, but also in fear and confusion, the uncertainty of what now?  What’s next?  What do we do?

Then, because all of this stress and anxiety wasn’t enough upheaval, the women go to the tomb, and Jesus isn’t there!  The stone is rolled away and his body is gone.  If it were me, I doubt I would have been able to take anymore.  I would have dropped to my knees and just sat there, sobbing.

When we’re lost in pain, drowning in grief, or overwhelmed by illness, sorrow, even busyness and everyday drudgery and routines, we sometimes can’t see out.  We have on “blinders” – like the horses used to wear so they could only see what was in front of them.  And we are very near sighted – we can only see what’s right in front of our nose.  We can’t see beyond the next step, if we can even see that far.

This is where we find Mary, outside the tomb.  Reading from the Gospel of John 20:11-16:

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”  She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

In Mary’s distress, her eyes were probably downcast.  She was probably vaguely aware of someone else’s presence in the Garden, but perhaps she never even acknowledged him until he spoke.  Lost in her grief, she probably barely heard him.  But when he said her name, “Mary”…  That familiar voice, warm and comforting.  She immediately recognized him.  We’ve all experienced that – scanning the crowd for a loved one, and then finally SEEing them.  All the anxiety, the fear, the worry – it immediately melts away.  “Mary”

Paralleling the verses in John, we’re going over to Luke’s gospel now, to Chapter 24, Verses 13-32. This is a bit after Mary’s encounter with Jesus, and after she has gone back and told the remaining disciples that he is resurrected.  Luke 24:13-32:

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”  They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked.  “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Cleopas and the other disciple were also consumed with grief and confusion.  Perhaps the only thing they knew to do was to start walking.  As they walked along, they were joined by someone with a lot of questions.  It was Jesus, but they didn’t recognize him.  “Their faces were downcast”  Have you ever had a conversation with someone, especially while walking, without ever really looking at them? Maybe a clerk at the store, or a server at a restaurant?  They speak, you speak, but you never really LOOK at each other.  This is how I imagine the walk to Emmaus was going.  The disciples were distracted by their grief and couldn’t believe that someone was in the area and hadn’t heard the news and goings on of the last few days.

But Jesus was persistent – he walked right along with them, taking the time to review with them everything they already knew.  He started with Moses and covered all the Scriptures and prophecies. We find out later, “weren’t our hearts burning?” they asked each other.   When they were at the supper table and he said those familiar words, just like when Mary heard her name, suddenly they could SEE him, he was revealed to them.  But Jesus didn’t change – he had been with them the whole time.  But the weight was lifted from them, the blinders were removed, their hearts were opened and they could SEE.

Today we share the GOOD NEWS:  Christ has Risen!  He has Risen Indeed!!

As we share the bread and the cup, let our hearts be opened and let our ears hear and our eyes see! Jesus is Alive, Emmanuel, God with us!

#MinistryMessage

Heavenly Father,   As we participate in Holy Communion, open our hearts, remove all barriers so that you are revealed to us and we can know you and experience your presence with us in our every day lives.  Amen.

The eye is the lamp of the body. 01-15-2017

Happy New Year!  We hope 2017 has started well for all of you!  Over at Gruene, our sermon series is “Zoe Life”.  The Greek word Zoe means “derived, sustained by God” it is an “absolute fullness of life where we are created in His image with the capacity to know His eternal life.”  Our aim is to be Joyful, Healthy and Whole in our minds, bodies and souls.  Even as we look at each of the individual parts, we are to remember the oneness of Zoe – all the parts are connected and cannot be treated separately.

Today’s Scripture reading is from the book of Matthew, Chapter Six, verses 22-23:

“The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If then the light within you is darkness, how great is the darkness.”  The word of God, Thanks be to God.

At the age when Matthew was written, before the science and technology of today’s world, people believed that there was actual light emitted from the body through the eyes, that caused us to be able to see.  Healthy people could see well – their “lamps” worked properly.  Unhealthy people had broken lamps and could not see well.  There are many stories of blind people in the New Testament where they believed they were cursed or possessed in some way.  In Roman times, the body was separate from the mind and soul.  That’s why Romans were known for their immoral behavior, decadent eating and otherwise physically unhealthy lifestyle – the body didn’t matter – how they treated it was irrelevant to the salvation of their soul.  We know now - that’s not how it works. 

In Modern times, we know that you cannot separate the two.  There is a definitive connection between mind and body, body and soul.  We may be diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, but our outlook and emotional and spiritual health will give us the strength we need to fight the physical battle.  Or perhaps we’re feeling blue and have a case of the “blah’s”.  Going for a walk, getting some sunshine, visiting with friends – all of these things can cheer us up and make us feel better.  Isaac Newton’s Law of Inertia states, “An object in motion stays in motion.”  We’ve heard this paraphrased in TV ads, “A body in motion stays in motion.”   When I was a kid and didn’t feel well, my Mom usually wouldn’t let me stay in bed – I always had to get up and get moving.  Probably 9 out of 10 times, I’d feel better and be able to go to school and get on with my day.  Likewise, people who eat junk food or unhealthy diets – lots of fat and grease, or way too much bread and pasta, too much sugary sweets and drinks – they not only have physical symptoms, but can also have negative outlooks on life, be grumpy or depressed.  Some people have actual changes to their personality if they eat too much sugar or other damaging foods.  Science and medicine has proven that we cannot disconnect our mind and soul from our bodies.  We seek to find the balance of healthy and wholeness that works for each of us individually.  We are also all created differently, so what works for one does not necessarily work for another.

Even though there was originally literal meaning or intent of this passage – (“The eye is the lamp of the body. “) - darkness was attributed to actual, physical circumstances – it is also figuratively true.  How many of us know someone who is ill or unhealthy with a dark, dreary outlook on life?  How many of us know people with numerous burdens and stresses that makes them physically ill?  It’s been scientifically proven that stress is bad for our heart.  Being physically burdened can affect our psychological health.  But we also know people whose light is so bright that even a diagnosis of cancer cannot put it out.  Their faith is strong, their souls are steady – even though their bodies are being challenged and ravaged, they are filled with joy and peace.  They’re like the Energizer Bunny or Timex watch – they just keep going and going and going!  Luckily – we know what their secret is!  They are filled with the light of Christ and his love and mercy flow through them into every situation and circumstance.  It is possible to “recharge” our batteries, to be lifted up when we are down, to return to the light when darkness begins to creep in.

Another way to consider the verses from Matthew is to think about what we see with our eyes.  Do we study scripture and look for God throughout our day?  Do we seek out beauty and light?  Richard Rohr writes in his book Breathing Under Water, “Anything exposed to light will become light.”  Do we use our eyes to gain God’s perspective on the world around us?  Do we see others through Jesus’ eyes of mercy and compassion? 

Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.  This is your true and proper worship.”  If we seek light and goodness with our eyes; fill our minds with love and the words of scripture; share with others what we have learned and our experiences with our Savior; if we Intentionally invite God into every day, every action, every moment of our lives – This would be “True and Proper Worship.”

And God is so great, isn’t He?  He even sent his son to teach us how to recharge our batteries!  By reciting the Lords’ prayer, by remembering the words of institution and receiving Holy Communion, by sharing the bread and the cup, we are reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice for us – His great Love, given for all, sent by our Heavenly Father for the forgiveness of all our sins and the salvation of our eternal souls, no matter the condition of our worldly bodies. 

Let us Pray:  O Lord, fill our Bodies, Minds and Souls with your love and mercy.  Guide us to a Zoe life – a life filled with your light – that we may experience You in every way, and Know that you are always with us, guiding us with your Holy Spirit.

Gratitude is all about Attitude, 11-20-2016

Philippians 4:4-9   New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! ⁵ Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord [is near]. ⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I wanted to speak a bit about giving thanks, about gratitude.  In preparation for this message, I read some commentaries that really pick apart these verses from Philippians.  Everything I read can be summed up in one phrase, “Gratitude is a matter of Attitude”.    When I read this text in preparation, I realized that I have heard each of the verses before, but not necessarily all together.  We hear them as platitudes, stand-alone tidbits of advice and comfort.  But putting them all together really makes for a bigger, deeper message. 

We say “rejoice always, in all things.”  But sometimes that’s really hard to do – what if we are sad, what if something awful has just happened?  How do we rejoice in tragedy?  But yet that is what we are called to do.  But I don’t think that it means we are to laugh and joke in the face of misfortune or heartbreak.  When we rejoice, we remember that the Lord is with us, in all things.  The Greek word for rejoice is Kaírō (from the root Kar-, "leaning towards" and Káris, "grace") – literally, to experience God's grace, to be conscious of  His grace.  Lean into God, trust Emmanuel to be present at all times. 

We can also trust, and rejoice with our fellow believers, our friends and neighbors.  We are all in this together and we should be always ready to help each other.  Verse 5 says Let your gentleness be known to everyone, or Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.  Gentleness and consideration are forms of moderation.  When we are joyful in the Lord, we are raised above strictness towards others and we are prudent in our own affairs.  When we are harsh or strict towards others, we are prematurely judging them, and that privilege belongs solely to the Lord.  When we wallow in sadness and let ourselves be pulled down into negativity, we are harsh towards others and restless or troubled in our spirits.  Maintaining Joy in God is of great benefit to Christian living and we often need to be reminded to do so.  It is easy to be dragged down into the muck, but we need perseverance to rise above, to show compassion, kindness and grace to others around us – even those who test our patience.  By doing so, we show the love of Christ and God’s peace.  People around us can see that we are steady in our daily lives, even when we experience loss and hardship we have the assurance of God’s peace and mercy.

The next familiar verse is  “Do not worry about anything…”  The King James version uses the word “Careful” for “worry” and the NIV says “do not be anxious”.   There are two kinds of cares – those that are due diligence,  our responsibilities and obligations – and those that are anxieties or worries – fear and distrust, sin and folly, things that perplex and distract the mind.  By praying about everything (in all things, at all times), we keep our mind in a state of grace, of joyfulness.  Worries and Joy cannot occupy the same space – “Care and Prayer are as mutually opposed as Fire and Water.”  Say that again…. 

“In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  Supplication means to ask earnestly for something.  We should make our requests with confidence, with familiarity.  We know we don’t need to or shouldn’t hold anything back – God already knows our hearts.  We have been promised that even a groan will do when we have no words.  But we must begin – we must GO to the Lord in prayer.  We must reveal our hearts to him.  God is our protector, our confidante – our greatest ally.  We can trust his love and mercy, patience, grace and love beyond all of our understanding.  When we pray with Thanksgiving, we are putting our prayers into effect.  Thanksgiving proves results, recognizing outcomes to our prayers.    When we live with a spirit of gratefulness, with joy and thanksgiving, by giving praise in all things, we acknowledge and immerse ourselves in the Peace of God – the sense of being reconciled to God and having a part in his favor.  The hope of the “heavenly blessedness”, a greater good, can be fully expressed.  “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.”  This peace stands guard over our hearts and minds, it will keep us from sinking under troubles and keep us calm with inward contentment.

“⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned^[b] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

In the last two verses, I believe Paul is telling us to Do as Jesus says and also to Do as Jesus did.  All our privileges and salvation arise in the free Mercy of God; yet the enjoyment of them depends on our sincere and holy conduct.  In everything, when we perform daily tasks in our everyday lives, when we offer our prayers and concerns to God, when we work to benefit his Kingdom by serving others, we can be faithful in the knowledge that surrounding our own efforts is the ongoing workings of God.  God is with us – Emmanuel! 

As we enter this week of Thanksgiving which ends with the beginning of Advent, the season where we prepare for the coming of the Messiah, our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ…  as we undergo preparations for a meal, or travelling, welcoming family and friends…  May we always remember to Rejoice in the Lord Always, All Ways. 

Let us Pray, “Father in Heaven, Creator of all things, we humbly lay our cares at your feet, knowing that you will bear them for us, that you guard our hearts from all troubles and that you Bless us in all circumstances with your presence and Peace.  We believe that you are with us, that you will not forsake us, and that you sent your only son to be our Redeemer and Savior.  As we prepare our hearts with gladness to receive your gracious gifts, show us the way to reveal your presence to those around us. By the Spirit and your son Jesus, Amen”

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV New International Version)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9King James Version (KJV)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Gratitude is all about Attitude, 11-20-2016

Philippians 4:4-9   New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! ⁵ Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord [is near]. ⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I wanted to speak a bit about giving thanks, about gratitude.  In preparation for this message, I read some commentaries that really pick apart these verses from Philippians.  Everything I read can be summed up in one phrase, “Gratitude is a matter of Attitude”.    When I read this text in preparation, I realized that I have heard each of the verses before, but not necessarily all together.  We hear them as platitudes, stand-alone tidbits of advice and comfort.  But putting them all together really makes for a bigger, deeper message. 

We say “rejoice always, in all things.”  But sometimes that’s really hard to do – what if we are sad, what if something awful has just happened?  How do we rejoice in tragedy?  But yet that is what we are called to do.  But I don’t think that it means we are to laugh and joke in the face of misfortune or heartbreak.  When we rejoice, we remember that the Lord is with us, in all things.  The Greek word for rejoice is Kaírō (from the root Kar-, "leaning towards" and Káris, "grace") – literally, to experience God's grace, to be conscious of  His grace.  Lean into God, trust Emmanuel to be present at all times. 

We can also trust, and rejoice with our fellow believers, our friends and neighbors.  We are all in this together and we should be always ready to help each other.  Verse 5 says Let your gentleness be known to everyone, or Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.  Gentleness and consideration are forms of moderation.  When we are joyful in the Lord, we are raised above strictness towards others and we are prudent in our own affairs.  When we are harsh or strict towards others, we are prematurely judging them, and that privilege belongs solely to the Lord.  When we wallow in sadness and let ourselves be pulled down into negativity, we are harsh towards others and restless or troubled in our spirits.  Maintaining Joy in God is of great benefit to Christian living and we often need to be reminded to do so.  It is easy to be dragged down into the muck, but we need perseverance to rise above, to show compassion, kindness and grace to others around us – even those who test our patience.  By doing so, we show the love of Christ and God’s peace.  People around us can see that we are steady in our daily lives, even when we experience loss and hardship we have the assurance of God’s peace and mercy.

The next familiar verse is  “Do not worry about anything…”  The King James version uses the word “Careful” for “worry” and the NIV says “do not be anxious”.   There are two kinds of cares – those that are due diligence,  our responsibilities and obligations – and those that are anxieties or worries – fear and distrust, sin and folly, things that perplex and distract the mind.  By praying about everything (in all things, at all times), we keep our mind in a state of grace, of joyfulness.  Worries and Joy cannot occupy the same space – “Care and Prayer are as mutually opposed as Fire and Water.”  Say that again…. 

“In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  Supplication means to ask earnestly for something.  We should make our requests with confidence, with familiarity.  We know we don’t need to or shouldn’t hold anything back – God already knows our hearts.  We have been promised that even a groan will do when we have no words.  But we must begin – we must GO to the Lord in prayer.  We must reveal our hearts to him.  God is our protector, our confidante – our greatest ally.  We can trust his love and mercy, patience, grace and love beyond all of our understanding.  When we pray with Thanksgiving, we are putting our prayers into effect.  Thanksgiving proves results, recognizing outcomes to our prayers.    When we live with a spirit of gratefulness, with joy and thanksgiving, by giving praise in all things, we acknowledge and immerse ourselves in the Peace of God – the sense of being reconciled to God and having a part in his favor.  The hope of the “heavenly blessedness”, a greater good, can be fully expressed.  “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.”  This peace stands guard over our hearts and minds, it will keep us from sinking under troubles and keep us calm with inward contentment.

“⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned^[b] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

In the last two verses, I believe Paul is telling us to Do as Jesus says and also to Do as Jesus did.  All our privileges and salvation arise in the free Mercy of God; yet the enjoyment of them depends on our sincere and holy conduct.  In everything, when we perform daily tasks in our everyday lives, when we offer our prayers and concerns to God, when we work to benefit his Kingdom by serving others, we can be faithful in the knowledge that surrounding our own efforts is the ongoing workings of God.  God is with us – Emmanuel! 

As we enter this week of Thanksgiving which ends with the beginning of Advent, the season where we prepare for the coming of the Messiah, our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ…  as we undergo preparations for a meal, or travelling, welcoming family and friends…  May we always remember to Rejoice in the Lord Always, All Ways. 

Let us Pray, “Father in Heaven, Creator of all things, we humbly lay our cares at your feet, knowing that you will bear them for us, that you guard our hearts from all troubles and that you Bless us in all circumstances with your presence and Peace.  We believe that you are with us, that you will not forsake us, and that you sent your only son to be our Redeemer and Savior.  As we prepare our hearts with gladness to receive your gracious gifts, show us the way to reveal your presence to those around us. By the Spirit and your son Jesus, Amen”

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV New International Version)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9King James Version (KJV)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Love is all there is....

Love is all there is....

(Re-posting from a Facebook note so I can keep it for eternity.)

November 16, 2010 at 8:30am

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My friend posted this:

 Via the Dalai Lama: "According to my own experience, the highest level of inner calm comes from the development of love and compassion. The more concerned we are with the happiness of others, the more we increase our own well-being. Friendliness and warmth towards others allow us to relax and help us to dispel any sense of fear or insecurity so we can overcome whatever obstacles we face."

I readily admit that I don't know much of anything about the Dalai Lama, I am a Christian.  It is always very interesting to me when I come across other belief systems that mimic the message of Christ:  that we are to love God above all else and love our neighbors as ourselves.  If you do not like to be bullied, do not bully others.  If you don't like to be frowned at, wear a smile.  If you want to be trusted, then trust.  I esp like the part about relaxing - instead of spending all that time worrying and plotting and stressing over what someone else might be doing, why not spend it doing something sweet and loving and kind for them?  Instead of saying harsh words, why not say loving and supportive words? 

Another of my favorite sayings is "Actions speak louder than words."  You can walk right past your friend or lover, or you can pause and reach out to them - a pat on the shoulder or a quick kiss on the cheek.  There's a theory about the Love Bank - everytime you do something sweet and nice and loving, you make deposits.  Inevitably you will do something unkind, it's human nature.  Those are withdrawals.  But if you have 5000 in the bank, losing 5 or 10 is not very painful.  If you only have 5 or 10 in the bank, you must be very, very frugal!  So the idea is to make as many deposits as possible!  I went to exercise class yesterday morning with sink of dirty baking dishes waiting for me...  When I got home, the dirty side was empty and the clean shiny dishes were all stacked up on the drying side!  That's like triple bonus points!  ;)

And because something nice was done for me, getting the ironing done is moved up higher on the list - not 'cause I feel the need to iron :P, but because I know how much the ironing is appreciated.  A few years ago I was guilty of leaving every pair of shoes I wore around the house exactly where I took them off.  If I wore different shoes each day, there would be 6-7 pairs around the living room.  Now - I am still not perfect at putting my shoes away, but because I know that having shoes all over caused tensions, I learned to put them away much more often!  I was able to change my own behavior for the man that I love so much.  Love can do these things. 

I am rambling along about love because I believe that it must be the most important thing in any relationship.  You've heard - Love Conquers All - and some do not believe that.  But I do, if BOTH sides are willing to surrender to the all consuming power of love and live a life of self-sacrifice, kindness and reciprocity, then Love can conquer all! 

Spoil the ones you love with kindness and good deeds!  They will love you even more!  :)  ...and spoil strangers, too, it won't hurt anything and it will make you feel better!

Take the High Road

Oh my Goodness – is it October already?  And the third Sunday, nonetheless.  I love October – it’s a time of changing seasons, changing colors, pumpkins, cooler weather, clearer skies.  Isn’t it beautiful how the plants and trees know when it’s time to change colors?  They don’t have to make any decisions, they simply obey the rules of nature and when the weather is just as it should be, the leaves change color, then wither and fall off the trees.  The leaves surrender to the laws of nature.

Surrender – what a beautiful word…  At first when we hear it we think of someone waving a white flag and giving up in battle, perhaps being captured and taken prisoner.  But if we look at the true definition – “to cease resistance, to give control to someone else”; or in a religious sense - “To give up our own will and subject our thoughts, ideas, deeds, and will to the teachings of God”?    What does that mean?  What does it look like to Surrender to Jesus Christ?

Today’s Scripture is from Matthew 16:24-25: “24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Wow – there’s a lot to contemplate in those two verses!  Jesus is telling his prospects that if they want to be his students, his disciples, they must put down everything they know and go “all in”.  We’ve heard this notion a few times before in the old testament, way back in Genesis.  God tells Abram to leave his family and the place he is familiar with and go to a new place.  If he obeys, he is promised great reward.  A little later, Rebekah (the chosen wife of Isaac) also followed without hesitation.  And there’s also Moses, Aaron, the Israelites, later Daniel and many others who were “approached” by God and they were obedient and followed.  

Jesus says for anyone to follow him, they must “take up [their] cross”.  Jesus was not sugar-coating what he was asking of them…  In the first century, the cross meant certain and agonizing death.  Jesus was clearly asking his followers to ‘die’ to everything they knew in order to follow him.  Just as a seed on a plant essentially dies in order to sprout and grow, we must leave what we think we know behind and begin on a new journey, trusting that Jesus has paved the way.  When we take up the cross of following Jesus – we accept that the road will not be easy, that there will be sacrifices to make.  Jesus knows what’s coming and he wants to make sure that his disciples know it will be
downright difficult.  

In v25, He says:  “For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”  This sounds like a great conundrum or riddle – how confusing are these words, seemingly speaking in circles?  What if we think of this challenge as a fork in the road, a choice between the “low road” and the “high road”?  Let’s say the first part, “for whoever would save his life” is the low road and “whoever loses his life” is the high road.  The high road is the way of Christ and the low road is not.  If we choose the high road, we choose Christ-love.  If we choose the low road we choose Self-love.  If we choose the high road, we are choosing to Follow Jesus and his teachings, to Obey God and his laws and commands.  And if we choose the high road, we are choosing the more difficult way – there will be rocks and tree roots to stumble over.  We will lose our sense of self, we will get pruned and molded and shaped into the very image of Christ himself.  If we choose the low road, it might be easy, it might be difficult, but there are definitely no lasting rewards. There may be some instant gratification, but no sense of everlasting peace and salvation.  There is no Hope on the low road.

Some might say that it is selfish to choose the high road – to devote one’s life to the service of God and others and live in the great reward of the Kingdom of heaven.  But this is promised to us in 2nd Chronicles 31:21 – “In everything that [Hezekiah] undertook in the service of God’s temple and in Obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked Whole Heartedly.  And so he prospered.”  When Jesus says, “whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”, he is saying that if we devote ourselves to Jesus’ cause, to His purpose and benefit, we will be made new in the Spirit. When we choose Jesus, we choose Hope!

It is absolutely our choice whether to obey or not.  We have been given Free Will to choose the High Road.  However, we must take that first step, we must make a decision, choose a path.  Jesus’ own willingness to lay down his very life shows us that he believed that self-sacrifice is the true way to serve God and further his kingdom. Christ made the choice joyously.  He knew what was coming and he chose the high road.  He also had additional information; he knew the “rest of the story”.  God has shared that insight with us through Scripture.  As believers, we have the knowledge to make a well informed decision.  We LIVE when we make the choice for His sake.

So – what are some ways we can choose the high road in our day to day existence?  We can be witness to the Glory of God.  Like Hezekiah, in everything we do, we can Honor God and be obedient to his Word.  By acts of service with and for others, we are proclaiming the Good news of Jesus Christ!  First Corinthians 12 teaches us that we are all parts of one body, the body of Christ.  We were all baptized into the same Spirit.  God has created us, as parts of the same body, all having honor and all being equal.  No one part is better than another.  In Ephesians 4, Paul tells us that we are also called into one Hope and one Baptism, one God and Father of All.  Each of us is given our own portion of Grace.  We can explore our Spiritual gifts and lean into the promise of the calling.  We have been sent teachers, pastors and prophets to teach us the way, to equip us for works of service. We are to build up the body of Christ, to become united in Faith and grow into the full measure of Christ.

We have heard it said that Christians are to be the “hands and feet of Christ”.  Those exact words aren’t in Scripture.  It is believed to be a paraphrase of 1 Cor 12:12 and also from a poem by St. Teresa of Avila.  There are also different interpretations of the phrase.  The apparent understanding is that we are to BE the body of Christ, to do His work and carry on his Teachings and Ministry amongst the people of the world.  But in the world, we find that the values of Christianity are more and more at odds with the values of an increasingly secular society.  This metaphor is not just about doing ‘things’ but it is also about how we suffer as Christians.  The greatest work that the hands and feet of Christ did was to be pierced for our transgressions, that by suffering we might be made children of God.  Being the hands and feet of Christ means we are to be like Christ in the sense that all that we do must be done with a heart poured out for others. We must remember that we are not part of this world, but that we belong to Christ and suffer with him so that we may be glorified with him.

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
— St. Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

Today is “Be The Church” day at Gruene UMC.  We have had various groups of people out doing Acts of Service in the community.

We have official “be the church” days a few times a year.  In addition to that, we have many ongoing missions and projects that serve others on a daily basis.  We have Steve’s Pantry – primarily an emergency food resource, we have expanded services to include clothing for adults and children, laundry and shower facilities.  There’s also the backpack ministry – a resource that provides food for children who might be latch-key or low income and do not get proper nutrition other than the meals provided at school. It’s called “backpack” because we literally fill backpacks with food so the children can take it home and not be labelled as poor or needy – no one but the families and the counselors know.  

There are many ways we can “be” the Body of Christ, not just hands and feet.  Literally, getting outside and shoveling some dirt in the garden at the children’s home, climbing the ladder and painting at the senior care center, walking or running a 5k to raise funds for a favorite cause, making clean up buckets or health kits for UMCOR, loading water and supplies to go to disaster areas – all of these use our physical bodies and can be tiring and laborious.  But there are other ways, too.  We can write words of encouragement and love into note cards and share them with others.  We can be generous with smiles and “Please” and “Thank You” to those we interact with every day.  We can sit with our friends and share their celebrations and worries in conversation and prayer.  We can meditate in silent prayer for others and the world around us.  We can form small groups and share the Scriptures and study the word of God.  We can come to worship and sing and praise our Lord with our hymns and songs.  We can bring communion to those who are not able to attend regular church.  Perhaps we like to knit or crochet, or stitch and sew – we can make gifts for those we love; prayer shawls or fidget blankets for strangers; quilts for families that are finally purchasing their own home through Habitat for Humanity; and stuffed animals for children in scary situations.  We can give our time to write letters or cards to strangers, to bake cookies or treats for the children who will come to a church festival.  We can simply sit and play piano in a place where music reaches deep down to rekindle fond memories of days long past.

We actively express our loyalty and obedience to the Body of Christ through our service to others. We know that we are saved by Grace, not by our actions.  But it is because we are saved, because we have been shown Grace, in spite of our “Self”, that we seek to witness to the world, to share the love of God and Christ Jesus, to share the Gospel of Redemption and Resurrection – the GOOD NEWS – with everyone we encounter.

Let us Pray,
Heavenly Father, Please help us as we seek to put off our old self, to disavow the low road, to take up our cross and choose the high road and be transformed in the image of Jesus, in true righteousness and holiness.  Thanks be to God!
Amen