Don't Go There!

Don’t go there!

Ephesians 5:3English Standard Version (ESV)

³ But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

As of this morning’s news we see another public figure disgraced with accusations of sexual misconduct. Yes, the world is exploding with stories and claims of people who have sexually harassed others in the work place or in the public.

We have come to a place in society when we cannot allow our sons and daughters to walk the streets of their neighborhoods, to play, to trick or treat, to go door to door selling fundraising items. We have come to a place in our existence that our children, and adults have no place of guaranteed safety from violence and being the victims of sexual predators.

Beloved, the Bible is clear on this topic! If we look to the Ephesians chapter 5, verse 3 reading, we see that we are to live and act like the forgiving and loving God that created us. We are called to live our lives understanding the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross, and we are to live daily as people of the example.

Respect for others, begins at home, and respect for others begins with parents teaching their children more about Christ than what the world can provide. When the world forgoes its personal relationship with Christ and his church over worldly activities, we are showing our children that learning and living as God intends falls somewhere below any worldly activity.

In his commentary Theologian Matthew Henry States: “These verses contain a caution against all manner of uncleanness, with proper remedies and arguments proposed: some further cautions are added, and other duties recommended. Filthy lusts must be suppressed, in order to the supporting of holy love. Walk in love, and shun fornication and all uncleanness. (Henry 2017)

Beloved our call for today is to come back to the Word of God and the World of God through Jesus Christ. Our call is to only go out into the world as a person of Christ instead of a person unto the world. When in doubt of how to act in regards to your morality and your treatment of others, go to God, seek out his word. And when it comes to the lusts of the body outside of marriage,

“Don’t Go There!”

Works Cited

Henry, Matthew. 2017. Bible Study Tools. Accessed November 29, 2017. https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/ephesians/5.html.

No Answers, Only an Exit Strategy.

Revelation 21:4 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

When pastoring another church, our Church Adult Bible Study began to study the Story of Heaven by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee. The first chapter of this study begins with understanding our exit strategy.  As we enter this day, many of us are thinking about the year 2020 and the loss of life that has occurred in it. 

This year, many pastors such as myself are trying to bring comfort to horrific situations in which the reasoning for the events are unknown to us. My words in this blog are not trying to explain these situations in anyway, because I have no such explanation.

What I do bring this morning is the fact that whatever happens in this world, God has given each and everyone of us an exit strategy and His name is Jesus Christ. All of us will face death, whether it is in old age, disease, accident, or at the hands of violence.

Do you have an exit strategy? Have you made that commitment to Jesus Christ? Do you know him personally? Do you walk with Him and do you know heaven as your eternal home?

Today I ask that we all reach out in prayer for all those who have died this year, whatever the cause. Let us pray in the hope that they had an exit strategy that surrounded the saving grace of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Today I ask that if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, that you seek him out this very moment and secure your own exit strategy.

Prayer of Salvation

"Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey you, and to do your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

Beloved, I have no answers to why violence and sickness occurs, but I do have hope in the promise that whenever we die, those that know Christ have an exit strategy that no violence or sickness can ever take away from us.

In the sure and present hope of the Resurrection. Pastor Tim.

Look to the Light, Look to the Helpers!

John 9:1-41 ESV

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Unless we live in a hole somewhere, none of us have missed the horrific events of the Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting. Since this tragedy, many people, many pastors have been trying to cast some sort of sense on a senseless situation.

• We have had people asking, where was God?
• We have had people casting blame on the victims because of who they voted for, or even because of the world’s sinful nature.

In today’s text from the ninth chapter of John, we see the disciples doing the same thing in regards to the blind man. Did the blind man’s parents sin, or did the blind man have the guilt of sin upon him. Here we see Christ in the role of Rabbi which is Hebrew for Teacher, and Jesus the teacher uses the vision of the blind man as a teaching event.

Beloved, there is evil in the world and work and presence of God must be shown and was shown in the presence of those that helped, those that worked for good and not evil. God was present in the emergency responders, God was present in those that assisted the wounded and dying, and God was present in the people that used their bodies as shields to protect others.

How was God displayed at this tragedy? It was displayed in the acts of the people (The Body of Christ) that sacrificed their own well being for others, often strangers.  Beloved our job and our call on earth is to be Christ like and to shine his light in the darkest of places.

Even in the dark area of the shooting area, the light of Christ could be seen and the love of God could be witnessed in the actions of his people. Jesus died on the cross and sacrificed his life for ours, for the many, for all.

Yes, there is evil in the world and Christ has already achieved the victory over evil. As people of the victory, as carriers of the Light of Christ, our mission is to be witnesses of Christ’s love and sacrifice. Our light must shine, even in the darkest, evilest, and scariest places.

Evil happened, it was nobody’s fault except the shooters, but victory and presence did occur in the presence of those that gave their lives for others, and those that saved the lives of others. Try not to cast blame on this tragedy, and don’t even try to justify evil.  Be the shining light and example of Christ that has already claimed the victory over evil.

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world. Fred Rogers: Children’s Television Host and Presbyterian Minister.

In Christ

Pastor Tim.

The Faith Hunt

The Value of Wisdom

2 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, ² making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; ³ yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, ⁴ if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, ⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. ⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; ⁷ he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, ⁸ guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. ⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;
¹⁰ for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; ¹¹ discretion will watch over you,  understanding will guard you, ¹² delivering you from the way of evil,  from men of perverted speech, ¹³ who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, ¹⁴ who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, ¹⁵ men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. ¹⁶ So you will be delivered from the forbidden^[a] woman, from the adulteress^[b] with her smooth words, ¹⁷ who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; ¹⁸ for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed;^{[c] 19} none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. ²⁰ So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. ²¹ For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, ²² but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

This week at our church we begin the sermon series title “The Faith Hunt”, and we approach it from the perspective of Proverbs 2. Proverbs 2 is the perfect platform for us as many seek guidance from God on how to act in regards to football players kneeling, saber rattling between the United States and North Korea, and the worlds severe weather and geological events.

Beloved, just as we begin a new study as to learn about God’s direction for our lives, so go the words from Proverbs 2 that are here to teach those that are willing to be taught. Yes, how do we address the things of the world that are distressing us, how to we approach those life changing decisions that we need to make?

• ·         Wisdom and Knowledge are the key to our discernment.

Just as Solomon has taken God’s law as to live in faith and obedience, we are called to seek out God’s wisdom when making decisions, and making earthly choices. Seeking out God’s wisdom is crucial in navigating the issues and discussions on this earth.

James 1:19 tells us: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.

My friends as you go forward in this troublesome world love God, live for God and obey His words for your lives righteously.

See you at the sermon series and bible studies in October, as we all continue on the “Faith Hunt”.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

Take a Private Jet to Heaven?

You Can't Take a Private Jet to Heaven!

As a Minister of Word and Sacrament, I must be the first to admit that I like to be comfortable and I like my family to like nice things. As I sit in my home office on a hill in Northern Kentucky, I realize that I have it better than some ministers, and maybe not as well as other ministers.

¹⁹"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not Matthew 6:19-21

Beloved, what treasures do we seek on earth and what treasurers of the world do we think we can’t live without? The key thought and meaning of today’s text from Matthew 6: 19-21 is that the things that we cherish of this world cannot and will not insure our eternal salvation.  One of my jokes is that some preachers need Ten Million Dollar Private Jets and I am just looking for gas money to a neighboring town.  

Beloved, the only thing that can fly us to heaven is a life that is lived for Jesus Christ. The blood of Christ shed on the cross is the only thing that promises those who believe an eternity in heaven. As much as we would like, our jet planes, fast cars and huge bank accounts cannot ever pay our way into heaven.

Worldly-mindedness is a common and fatal symptom of hypocrisy, for by no sin can Satan have a surer and faster hold of the soul, under the cloak of a profession of religion. (Henry n.d.)

Beloved, Christ has paid for our tickets to heaven, while blessing many of us with lives of comfort and wonderful earthly possessions. The question that I will ask of all of us this morning is:

• Is your wealth growing your pockets or is it growing God’s Kingdom?
• Have you invested in the ministries of your church, have you helped when others were not financially able to do so?

 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Matthew 25:35

My friends, I ask that you stray away from the prosperity gospel preachers who tell you that God wants us all wealthy and living our best life now. Remember, God has already given us everything that we will ever need for an eternity, He gave us His Son’s life!

This is the day that The Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

Pastor Tim.

Works Cited

Henry, Matthew. n.d. biblehub.com. Accessed August 30, 2017. http://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/matthew/6.htm.

In Case of Emergency Break and See Your Pastor

Colossians 3:12 ESV

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

Often ministers or whatever your tradition calls them are the last to hear the good news. I often think that each family has on their wall a box that says “In case of emergency break glass and seek out your pastor”!

How many of us think that your pastor wants to hear your joys and celebrations as well as your hurts and sorrows? Sometimes shepherds of religious flocks can only see the joy of their congregants in social media posts and photos.

In his letter to the Colossians the Apostle Paul is writing them as an instructional guide as well as writing words of encouragement. Paul is telling the Colossians about what it means to be part of the Body of Christ, and what it means to be community.

When we become part of a faith community it is much more than a faith based group, it is actually becoming part of Christ’s body in which all are called to a change in lifestyle. Likewise your pastor is much more than someone to share confession with or seeking a conversion experience.

Beloved, your pastor wants to share with you all the situations of your life. As much as they are here for you when you are in pain, they are here to share God’s blessings and joy with you when your life is going well, and blessings are abundant.

My friends, God is present with us at all times in our lives. Romans 12: 14-16 tells us:

14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.

Being with people in all phases, situations, moods, and changes in their lives not only speaks to our witness as follows of Christ, it speaks to God’s forgiveness lived out in the lives of his created peoples.  Likewise, seek out your pastors, and priests in all the moments of your life. Let them not only see the sorrow and needs in your life, let them see the joy that living your life for God has brought to you and your family.

Understand that God is our joy and this joy has been revealed through His Son Jesus Christ.  Your pastor weeps when you weep, but also joys when you joy. Just don’t use your pastor by breaking the emergency biblical glass when all goes horribly wrong. Your shepherd is here for you to share the good news. They are here to share with you that God joys when you joy and wants to celebrate with you in happiness as well. 

The love of Christ and a good pastor are made for joyful and happy situations as well.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

The Message: Enjoy His Majesty!

The Message: Enjoy His Majesty! 

And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. Deuteronomy 4:19 ESV

As I sit at my desk this morning, we are one week from the total solar eclipse. as I write this morning, many people have reserved prime locations and obtained special glasses as to observe this event. Upon googling about the eclipse I was able to read several articles that asked if the eclipse was a sign of the end times, or if God was sending us a message through the eclipse event?

Many people have attempted to search scripture as to see if the eclipse has any significant information for us? This morning I approach this topic from two different points. 

The First Point: The bible does not send us secret messages, but rather speaks plainly and clearly.  

Mark 13:32 tells us plain enough that there is no way to determine God’s return, only God knows. 

"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  

Beloved, the Father wants us to truly understand that He is in charge and that we are to live every moment of our lives as if it was time for Christ to return. We were created by a plain speaking God that speaks for all to understand. I believe that this is why Christ spoke in parables, stories that even the common people could understand. God will not hide the return of Christ through an eclipse, when Christ returns there will be no hiding, no guessing, we will truly know.

So what can we glean from the upcoming solar eclipse? As I reviewed scripture this morning I came upon the text from Deuteronomy 4:19.

And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. 

The Second Point:

We are to view safely the wonder of God’s majesty and power to create and to make things beautiful for His people to observe as to see the true power of God.  During the eclipse let us take time away from earthly idols as to worship God and His ability to create miraculous events.

As this eclipse can only be seen in certain geographic areas we see in the text where it states: 

The Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.

God have given Jesus Christ for everyone, and he cannot be hidden, Jesus must be shared. So as you witness the solar eclipse and share your eclipse experience with others, remember that we are also to share the experience and relationship that Jesus Christ has placed on our lives and in our hearts.

So next Monday enjoy the eclipse with the correct glasses, and be in awe of God’s majesty while understanding that when Christ returns He will not hide behind an eclipse.  

And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:31

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim. 

Going Against the Grain In Jesus Name.

Going Against the Grain.

Luke 6:1-11English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

6 On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grain fields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. ² But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” ³ And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: ⁴ how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” ⁵ And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

A Man with a Withered Hand

⁶ On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. ⁷ And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. ⁸ But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. ⁹ And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” ¹⁰ And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored.¹¹ But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

As I write this I have reviewed an article on social media that has raised my blood pressure as well as my interest in responding to the post. In a recent post a colleague in ministry posted that spend time on Pastoral Care and tending to one’s flock are actually doing themselves as well as  the congregation a disservice.

To fully speak of the post, the pastor was stating that if a congregation wanted to grow over Two-Hundred people in membership, a pastor could not truly care for all and feel adequate about their pastoral care ministry.

In the text from Luke, we see people telling Jesus what he could not do because it was the Sabbath. Jesus in this text truly speaks to the fact of what “going against the grain” is about.  Jesus is telling us that caring for, healing, and feeding of others can never be against the Law of God, even if it is against the law of man.

Maybe this post against pastoral care has me angered because it was a class that I received an “A” on in seminary, or maybe it is because I pride my ministry on taking care of my flock. Whether it is home visits, hospital visits, work visits, or the occasional phone call. I have even been known to drop off ice cream after a church member has surgery, or going through a dark moment in their lives.

Mark 16:15 states: And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 

What the writer of this post neglects to state is that scripture states to go out and proclaim the good news, it does not state to go out and fill pews. Often pastors who condemn good pastoral care are often lacking in that area, so it is an area that they often proclaim has little or no value.

Beloved, we share the Gospel of Christ in which Jesus was all about Pastoral Care and tending to His Father’s sheep. The sheep that Jesus speaks about are not just within the walls of a congregation. When one is called to ministry we must realize that the world that God created is our flock, so we should always be prepared to care for more than two-hundred souls. 

If God calls pastors to love and care for others, He also calls all of His children to care for one another (not just pastors).

Never be afraid to go against the grain for God in the care of others. He Truly Loves That!

Pastor Tim.

The Good Stuff!

James 5:19-20 ESV

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Often as I drive, I listen to the Frank Sinatra station on my satellite radio. More and more it seems that you hear folks like Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, and Barry Manilow leaving the type of music that they are known for and returning to the standards. Yes, they are heading back to the Great American Songbook as to sing all the songs that our parents and grandparents, and even some of us today listen and sing along with today.

These rock and pop music artists also understand that musical standards are there for a reason, they are just good songs that many people know. Likewise our text from James speaks to those that have been living away from God, and what must be done to bring them back to the Standard of Faith. This Standard of faith resides within the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Just as some musical performers return to the Great American Songbook because it is good stuff, those that have been living away from Christ are returning to the good stuff of the Great Word of God. Just as people understand what the standards of good music are, those who have distanced themselves from God are returning to the Father because He is “The Good God.”

Matthew Henry States in his commentary on James 5: 19-20 “For six thousand years He has been multiplying pardons, and yet his free grace is not tired nor grown weary. Certainly Divine mercy is an ocean that is ever full and ever flowing. May the Lord give us a part in this abundant mercy, through the blood of Christ, and the sanctification of the Spirit”. (Henry n.d.)

My prayer for many this day is that if they have distanced themselves from the goodness and mercy of God, is that they are led back to what is good and true. The Great American Songbook is great for a lifetime, but the grace, mercy and love of God are for an eternity.

It is still and will always be “The Good Stuff.”

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

 [1] Henry, Matthew. n.d. BibleHub. Accessed July 17, 2017. http://biblehub.com/commentaries/james/5-19.htm.

Walking Through the Pain

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Recently while preparing for Vacation Bible School (VBS), I injured my back. As of this blog I have spent time on the couch with ice packs and heat packs. I have been prescribed muscle relaxers, and I am attempting to keep moving.

One of my observations is that during a back spasm it is best to keep moving as to endure once through the pain, because each attempt brings the pain of back spasms. As I was getting out of bed and a spasm occurred, I continued getting up and endured through the pain as to get up and walk. When this occurred the Holy Spirit came upon me said, “What a great way to preach God’s Word.”

Our text from John 16:33 tells us that at the end of each of Christ’s sermon to His disciples He said: “These things I have spoken to you.” With these words, Jesus was passing on to His beloved disciples that God would always be with them. The peace that they would find would not be with this world, but rather in the heaven eternal that Christ sacrificed His life for.

The conclusion of this text has Christ telling His disciples to be of good cheer, because He has overcame all the things that this world has done and will do to us.

Beloved, whether Physical, Emotional, or Spiritual pain, we are called to endure through the pain. We are told to be of good cheer when our physical bodies as well as this world cause us pain and strife. There is a better way, and a better place, and His name is Jesus Christ.  

He has gone to prepare heaven for us and we can truly tell those that try to hurt us, my God will never leave me, and the worlds deeds will be upon me for only a short while. My home is not here, I will strive through the pain with good cheer, because we only reside in this world once. 

Heaven is my home, heaven is our home and one day the pain will be gone forever, and heavenly peace will be our reward. Get up, walk and endure through your pain! God is with you and heaven is your home. This is the Promise of Christ, and these are the things that He has spoken to you.

Go in Peace and Serve the Lord.

Pastor Tim.

Hitting the Snooze Button

Colossians 3: 1-4

¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

This week my Son has been assigned to the early shift at work and this shift begins at 6:00 AM. Both he and I set our alarm clocks for 5:00 AM, as to make the coffee and get ready. Well this morning my cell phone alarm went off at 5:00 AM and instead of getting up, I hit the snooze button. When I did this I discovered that I really didn’t go back to sleep, instead I just lay in bed pretending to sleep.

At 5:30 AM, my son came into the room and said “time to go daddy-o”! I jumped up, drank my cup of coffee that my son had made, ran out the door and drove him to work. We will be doing this at least all week until his schedule changes or until his mother gets home from her trip =)

How many of us hit the snooze button in regards to our faith life and our witnessing to others about Christ. How many times has God placed us in a position to be the Body of Christ, and out of fear or indifference we hit the snooze button of turning away from God’s calling for our lives.

Sometimes we may say, God will give me another chance to serve him so it’s OK to snooze away from this calling or faith witness opportunity. The crux of the Apostle Paul’s text this morning is that we are called as to always make it our habit to concentrate on things of above.  

Instead of the earthly snooze button of inactivity, it is our calling and task to serve and get up when called for things from above. When we are baptized we die with Christ and are given new lives in Christ in which He appears in us and we must appear in Him and through Him to others.

I often preach about using our God given talents for ministry, and I often wonder how many of us are continually hitting the snooze button on our gifts for God and only responding to the alarm when it is for worldly needs?

Beloved, we have a reason and a need to always answer the alarm and His name is Jesus Christ. Our Lord is saying, get up my child your daddy-o is saying it’s time to go. 

My hope and prayer is that when Christ extends His call to you, you will not pretend to be asleep but instead arise and say “I am ready Lord”!

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim. 

God Gave Us A Voice!

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Often preachers such as myself mention that we as people of Christ are the Body of Christ, the physical attachments that are Christ’s tools and servants in this world. As I write this blog, I think of one’s mouth as being used as the physical Body of Christ.

As followers of the cross, what upsets us, what worries us, and what injustices do we see in our local communities and around the world? Daily I drive around our community and I witness those that are fighting poverty and addiction in our small community, I witness their loss of hope.

As a fellow citizen in our community I witness parents that want much better for their children, in regards to what our communities, states, and nation can offer.  I witness those that require a better wage as to take care of their families, as to pay their bills.

But most of all, I witness those that are unwilling to change, those that are happy with the status quo. I witness those that instead of sharing, state “I’ve got mine”! 

Just as the Father wants us to use our voices for Christ, the Father wants us to use our voices to speak out to injustices that exist, locally, nationally and in the world that we live in.

Romans 12:2, tells us not to be conformed to the world, but to be renewed and transformed. When injustice exists we are commanded not to settle with its presence, but to speak the truth in love, by seeking the Fathers’ discernment as to know His will.

Beloved, my prayer for you today is to use your God given voice as the Body of Christ, doing His will for the world that he calls us to ministry in. When God says Speak, let us speak out in strength, in faith, and in hope.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim. 

Hero or Corporate Line Response. Levite or Samaritan. Problem Solver or Problem Maker

Luke 21:15 ESV

For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.

Recently I have had the opportunities to point out injustices on a personal level as well as a community level. In regards to these, one must ask themselves, “What has happened to customer service”? Many times when dealing with issues that people have, we have two ways of responding to their pleas for assistance.

1.       The Hero Response: I (we) have heard your plea and we understand that your problem is causing you problems. Let us come up with some resolution together that can make us both better barriers of the situation, and of the service.

Hero

2.       The Corporate Line Response: Thank you, we really understand, but that’s the way it is, thank you for calling, you are on your own.

Corporate Response:

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary tells us that the Gospel of Luke 21:15 states:

Though spiritual judgments are the most common in gospel times, yet God makes use of temporal judgments also. Christ tells them what hard things they should suffer for his name's sake, and encourages them to bear up under their trials, and to go on in their work, notwithstanding the opposition they would meet with. God will stand by you, and own you, and assist you. This was remarkably fulfilled after the pouring out of the Spirit, by whom Christ gave his disciples wisdom and utterance. (Henry n.d.)

Yes, scripture tells us to bare up under adversity and that God is with us in times of adversity. This also means that we that call ourselves followers of the cross have the ability and the calling to be God’s representatives in regards to the Hero Response. We as the modern day disciples have a responsibility to come to the assistance of our brothers and sisters that walk on this earth with us.

Luke 10:25-37 tells us:

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Brothers and Sisters, when we respond to the cries of God’s people we can either be the Good Samaritan that utilizes the Hero Response and stops and helps, or we can be the Priest or the Levite and walk by giving the Corporate Line Response.

Which will you choose to be today, the hero or the corporate line? The choice is mine, the choice is yours, and how will God look upon our responses?

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

Footnotes:

Works Cited

Henry, Matthew. n.d. Bible Hub. Accessed May 16, 2017. http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/21-15.htm.