Oh, We Thought Your Were Somone Important.

First of all, this picture is not of me!

1 Peter 3:18 ESV

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Recently when entering a local restaurant, I happened to be wearing a nice shirt and tie, and dress slacks. As I approached the counter, I stated my business. The young lady who was nice as could be, stated to me: "Oh, when you entered we thought you were someone important!" 

Now I can truly understand what she meant, because maybe I was a bit over dressed for this type of restaurant and maybe the young girl thought I was some type of management.

• What does importance mean in our society, and what does it mean for us as people of Christ?

As we journey through this Advent season, we will see people encounter a poor Jewish couple, a man and his very pregnant wife. We will see King Herod (was he important), who had been told of the coming Messiah. Here we see Herod scared of this coming Messiah, but we will also see three wise men (were they important), come to visit, worship, and bring gifts to the coming Messiah.

Would this Messiah soon to come be born in lavish richness (was He important)? No, this messiah would not be wearing a suit and tie, let alone fancy robes. This Messiah would not be born in richness and splendor, instead he would be born in poor estate, in commonality.

Beloved, whatever we wear, wherever we work, and however much money we have in our pockets, the Messiah came for us all. Rich or Poor, Important or Non-Important. In the eyes of God the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, we are all equal in importance in the Kingdom of God.

My prayer for us all is that however the world sees us, God sees us the same.

• Loved.
• Valued.
• Forgiven. 

All because of a baby boy born in Bethlehem to common people, because of heavenly importance.

"Oh we thought he was someone important!"

He was, He is, and He will always be.
In His Humble Estate, and in His suffering, He will show His importance!

But for me. "I'm not important, I was just wearing my work clothes".

Speech that honors God.

From Proverbs 29:11

A fool vents all their feelings, but a wise man holds them back,

Daily, I send the law enforcement officers that I Chaplain, a daily devotional. Well, today's devotional was one that I believe fits us all.

How often do things get to us, and we want to vent, or blow our verbal stacks? For me, this is a moment by moment issue for me, and I often want to say the first thing that comes to my mind. Whether its social media, the news, or our daily conversations, many of us have lost the ability to hold in our feelings.

Just today, I saw a horrible post on what some people thought should be done to those that are trying to cross our borders. Besides being shocked, I begin to wonder if people that call themselves followers of Christ, actually know what it means to be a follower of Christ?

No, this is not some pastors diatribe against conservative or liberal speech, rather it is about holding the honor and blessing of the one who calls us to be His. We cannot say on Sunday, "love others as Christ calls us", and then say on Monday morning, "kill all the illegals trying to cross our border". The honorable thing would be to say, how can we work with them, or how can we turn them around, feed them, tend to their sick, love them, and work with the world and God in making their homelands a safer and more prosperous place to live.

The generation before ours knew the meaning of honor, loyalty, courage, and commitment, they knew what it meant to live in a way that brought honor to those responsible for them. God, and humanity. Have we in today's society thrown those principles away for the principles of entertainment, social media, and other selfish endeavors?

When we lose our tempers, when we respond without thinking, we take the honor away from God who we claim to profess. Whatever our profession, and whatever the conversation, our speech represents The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

Sometimes when we vent, even when feeling justified, we do a dishonor to the parents that raised us, the pastors that try to teach us, and the God that created us.

Praying for honor over anger.

Pastor Tim.

Just Stop It Already! You Are Driving Me Crazy!

Ephesians 4:1-6 ¹As a prisoner for the LORD, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵one LORD, one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Recently I have had the opportunity to witness both those that call themselves liberals and conservatives. Both groups to my embarrassment spew hatred and are unified in it. My take and opinion on these partisan discussions is:

  “STOP IT”!

I have never considered myself the one who has all the answers, if fact I would call myself a working (blue shirt, with a white collar) preacher. I have no dreams of teaching at the seminary or writing the latest or greatest theological primer for the world. I am the product of a working-class union family, that had the opportunity to achieve higher learning.

I have always professed that I am neither conservative or liberal, I am in the middle. All too often I’m in the middle of people that can’t get along, people that often profess to call themselves followers of Christ. Yes, like many people (hopefully most people), I, (we) have had enough of those (even preachers) that profess the world over who Christ calls us all to be .

Beloved, most of the world just wants to get along, work, and raise families in peace, and in the way that they believe. Yes, God wants us to be happy and prosperous, but also wants us to share these blessings with those that have not. Likewise, God wants us work and to share and provide for ourselves, instead of seeking handouts, and instead of seeking ways for others to provide for us.

Many of us want women respected and to have all the same opportunities as men. Many of us want women, men, and children to feel safe from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Many of us want those that have been victimized to feel safe in reporting their abusers. Many of us also agree that false accusations can and will harm the legitimacy of those who have truly been abused. 

Likewise, many of us who follow Christ, can agree on the basics of our faith, things that we all can agree on. We all want to go to heaven and each and everyone of us is doing what we feel is right as to achieve the goal of heaven.

When we spend more time in dispute instead of unity, when we find ourselves so polarized that neither side or group can function, we have truly failed to love others as Christ loves us! My prayer for us all today comes from the Ephesians text:

1.      live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

2.      Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

3.      Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

4.      There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were call by by God.

5.      One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Just Stop! 

Stop being prisoners of the world, prisoners of political party. Prisoners of I am right, and you are wrong, and our way or the highway. Instead become prisoners of the Lord. Be worthy, be humble, gentle, and patient. Unify in love and peace, through the Spirit of Hope in the name of 

One God, Father of all.

In unity, and in the name of Christ Jesus (who died for ALL).

Working on the "GETCHA" instead of the "GOTCHA"!

Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Lately, one only need watch the news, social media or have a current conversation and often the “GOTCHA” comes out. We even see this “GOTCHA” come out in the mouths and actions of those that are followers of the cross. Who is doing what, who is not as good as me, and who is not worthy of the Kingdom of God. We often need to build up ourselves by trying to “GOTCHA” others as to make ourselves feel better. The “GOTCHA” also occurs when we try to go after historical characters and whether their lives and works are truthfully and ethically valid?

During my first month as pastor, I have been focusing on The Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus. Paul’s helping them and us to answer the following question.

Who we are as God’s people, and how to represent ourselves as people of the Risen Savior?

Why are so many congregations with empty pews? Why do so many of today’s youth feel estranged from faith and God’s people? “THE GOTCHA”! The, "you are unworthy of my friendship and you are unworthy of our Savior!"

Beloved, instead of the “GOTCHA”, we need to focus on the “GETCHA” in the fact that the “GETCHA SOME” of Jesus is open to all, and all are worthy of the Kingdom of God.

My prayer for all of us today is to live as Paul taught the Ephesian church and preach love and worthiness, rather then hate and unworthiness.

Instead of the “GOTCHA” ... God’s people should concentrate on allowing all of God's people to "GETCHA" God!

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

Putting on God's Headphones.

John 14:1 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

So much has been going on in our lives recently. I have accepted a new call, we are downsizing our house in anticipation of a move. Additionally, our children are active and trying to make important decisions in their own lives.

How can one rest, how can one sleep? With headphones and YouTube for me =) recently I have not been sleeping well, and I have found that YouTube videos of rainstorms, snow storms, and wind, put me right to sleep (with headphones on of course).

Yes, for me I need the calming sounds of water, and wilderness for my mind to clear as to sleep. The only thing that might disturb my sleep is an occasional thunder clap through my headphones or our dog Tuffy trying to lick my feet ;)

Beloved, the world is busy and often chaotic and that is where our time with God is crucial. Time with God not only helps us find peace as to negotiate through this world as His people, but it also helps us to find the true rest that our bodies and spirits truly need.  

In the text from John 14:1, we see Jesus the Son of Man is facing issues that we cannot even begin to understand. The next day, he will be arrested, beaten, and crucified. But as Christ faced this, he went to the garden and:

Luke 22:39-46 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples.

Strengthened by His Father, Jesus was able to function and fulfill what His Father required of him.  Just as Jesus believed in His Father, we are called to believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as to find true rest.

Beloved as you find rest this day and this weekend, may you seek out Christ as to find comfort and strength to rest and regain your strength for the coming week and the coming future. (Also find a good set of headphones =)

In Christ

Pastor Tim.

Driving My Life Away

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. John 17:4 ESV

I am driving to work from our current location until we establish residence in our new community. In preparation for these drives, my wife has setup my car like the space shuttle, so I can safely work and think, and plan during my forty-minute daily commute. As I go hands free, and as I have full navigation and road side assistance capabilities, I have really been able to plan my day, return calls, and spend time with the Lord in thought as I travel.

This got me to thinking about how we all use our time, and how much of our time is used in anticipation and planning of God’s call for our lives? The text from John speaks to God’s completion of our creation, as well as His conception of what each one of our lives is to look like. This begs the question of how long we spend in time with God as to seek His will for us as we travel down the life that He created for us?

My prayer for all of us is to always pat attention on our driving as to not get to distracted, but to also take these times to spend with Him in thought and planning. He wants to know you; He really does.

Travel safely, but always travel with God on your mind and in your panning.

Pastor Tim.

The Magic Number Fifty-Five

Ecclesiastes 7:1 ESV

A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.

Well as of today, I have existed fifty-five years on this spinning globe. I must admit while many approach their birthdays with a sense of excitement, today’s birthday is one with a bit of anxiety. My father died when he was fifty-four, and for the longest time I have thought about my approaching this age.

Many things in my life are different from my father, in the fact that I don’t smoke, and I see a doctor as regularly as possible. Our similarities are in our love for coffee and food.  This Tuesday, I will celebrate my birthday wondering about dad, and what if he had lived longer then fifty-four. Today, I will think of the things that I have accomplished in my fifty-five years on this earth. I will even think of the mistakes that I have made, and how I have grown from them.

What does another birthday mean in the scope of one’s life? It means that I (we) have another day to serve the Lord, it means that I (we) can try to do better than I (we) did yesterday. Another birthday means that I (we) have an opportunity to love my (our) wives more, and to love my (our) children more.

Beloved each day on this earth is a new opportunity to share the new you that was made by Christ, and to know that He loves you for your faith in Him, and that He forgives you for your mistakes and missteps.

Maybe a birthday is just another year, but I like to think that it is another opportunity to do new things, to love more, and to work even harder for His kingdom. What have I contributed to the betterment of society, what challenges await me in the future? Only God has these answers. 

The Lord has blessed me with a longer life span then dad. “Thanks Be to God”.

Beloved, at the end of the day, in every moment of our lives, we only leave this world with our names and how we lived our lives. Enjoy your special days, make every day new, and when it is your time to be called home...make sure your name is well written in the Lambs Book of Life.

Here’s to another special day, and here is one day closer to fifty-six.

Happy Birthday to Me (Dad’s hair color and mine are now the same, at fifty-five). “Grey” =)

Pastor Tim.

Wherever You Go...There You Are!

Matthew 6:25-34 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,[a] or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?[b] 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God[c]and his[d] righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

The text from Matthew tells us that God has prepared and made a way for all creatures that inhabit this world that he created. Likewise we as humans are stewards of this earth and if God has provided for its creatures, he has surely provided for its stewards.

Beloved, worry is something that often overtakes us. We worry about our next meal, our next outfit, or the next place that we will lay our heads to rest. God has provided for this world and continues to do so, but we still seem to be a people of worry instead of a people faithful in the knowledge of God’s provision.

Does anxiety help God’s people? Will worry supply what God has already promised to supply us? The answer is no. Anxiety and worry place burdens on each and every one of us that God does not desire for our lives. Having faith in God’s provision for our needs is the only way that we can distance ourselves from worry as to focus on the work that God is revealing to us.

Instead of the what, why, and where, this text tells us that we must focus instead on the WHO... we must focus on God to provide the manna to us, just as he did for those fleeing Egypt with Moses. When we worry, when we are anxious, we show ourselves as helpless with nowhere to turn. For those that are followers of the cross, we have the proof and the promise that God provides not only for our earthly needs, but our eternal needs. When in the unknown, we have God to turn to in prayer, relationship, and provision.

Philippians 4:6, 7 tells us:  “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

As of this writing I have been extended a call to pastor a church in another community. Instead of worrying, I will place my faith in God.Instead of worrying,I go in the knowledge that wherever I go, there I am, and wherever I am, God is there!

Beloved, do not let worry and anxiety rule your life.Place your trust in the Father,the Son,and the Holy Spirit. He will provide just as he does for the birds of the air and the lilies in the field.

Thanks for letting me be part of this community over the past three and a half years.