The Steak House vs the Waffle House

The Calling of Matthew

…10Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.…

In my life i have been blessed to eat and fancy high end restaurants and I occasionally dine at the more common Waffle House. Yes, the Waffle House has a reputation for people and diners from the lower end of the Socioeconomic spectrum.  But, as much as I love fine dining, I have never had a bad meal at a Waffle House. Additionally, I have had great times of fellowship and witness at the Waffle House. 

One of my favorite Jazz Artists is Gregory Porter and one of his songs is titled "Take it to the Alley". Gregory sings the fact that when Christ returns for His kingdom, you will find Him in the alley. Gregory sings the following: 

Take me to the alley

Take me to the afflicted ones

Take me to the lonely ones
That somehow lost their way

Let them hear me say
I am your friend
Come to my table
Rest here in my garden
You will have a pardon

In the Gospel of Matthew 9: 10-12, we see Jesus eating with what the rich and educated people believed to be the wrong kind of people, the poor, the unclean, those that they considered to be sinners. We read in this text that Jesus states: "It is not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick....

Beloved, where else should we as people of God be? Who should we welcome to God's Kingdom? Who should we tell about Jesus Christ? Have you ever been to the Waffle House in the middle of the night and eaten with those that are homeless, those that are spending time drinking coffee as to get out of the cold, because they have no home, no shelter? Have you spoken to those sitting in the Waffle House in the middle of the night, because they are stranded and looking to move farther down the road? 

Yes, where is the emergency room of Jesus Christ needed? In the restaurant of $50.00 -$100.00 steaks or in the all-night diner, with the coffee pot always on? Matthew is telling us that Christ is for all, and that we are His Gospel Paramedics that need to be available to calls and God's Body of Christ presence in the alley, the mission, the Waffle Houses, and the yes, the fine dining restaurants. 

Enjoy your fancy meals but go to the diner every so often. You will be glad that you did.  You will know that God exists there as well, and that He has called you for the lonely, the poor, the homeless, the addicted, and those that enjoy a good waffle and a cup of hot coffee.

This is the day that the Lord has made. Pastor Tim. 

Jogging in Bluejeans!

Ephesians 2:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The first time I saw the man jogging in bluejeans, and winter coat, I thought about how he was dressed for physical fitness activity. As I thought about it, I thought about writing about this observation. 

On the next day while driving into town I saw this man jogging again as he rounded the corner of Walmart. Again he was in blue jeans and what one would consider daily clothing. To me the Holy Spirit said, "Preacher this is a learning and a teaching moment!

You would think that this man would be in the latest running outfit, jacket, pants, and of course just the right running shoes. But I began to think that no matter how he is dressed, he is still reaping the rewards of physical fitness. 

Likewise, what does the follower of Christ need to be spiritually fit? Does a follower of Christ need a fancy bible, a fancy suit of clothes for worship, praise and relationship with God?

Beloved, what we must come to accept is that we go to Christ voluntarily and when we do, He takes us as we are. Our text tells us that we don't equip ourselves, rather it is God who equips us through the good works of His Son Jesus Christ. God's Word tells us that He has always been prepared to equip us for our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Just like the man running in bluejeans still gets the exercise, when we come to Christ, we reap the rewards no matter who we are, where we are, and how we are dressed.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim

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.