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.

"Mom, Tell Me Your Story"!

Proverbs 31:25-31 ESV

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

As we celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, let me ask you the following questions.

Do you know your Mother’s story, do you know her history? Have you ever just sat down with your mother and asked her, “Mom, who are you?” “Tell me your story”.

My mother was born in Ireland in 1935, the eldest child of a larger family. At a young age my Nan (Grandmother) came down with Polio. The family moved to Great Britain so my Nan could receive the care that she greatly needed.  While crossing to England the hospital ship that my mother and her family was on, was circled by a German fighter aircraft. The German plane observed the fact that the ship was marked with a big red cross, identifying it as a hospital ship and a non-combatant the plane left the ship alone. My mother (Mary) and her family survived bombings and food shortages in war torn England. Mary often helped get the younger children into the family’s bomb shelter during air raids. She and her siblings wore gas mask pack to school, she remembers the planes flying over for D-Day and she can tell you what the sound of a German V-1 and V-2 rocket sound like. She can even tell the story about her parents considering shipping all the children to Australia for safety.

In later years (the early 1950’s) she met my Father who was an enlisted man in the Unites States Air Force, stationed in England during the Korean Conflict. With a son and husband she ventured to the United States aboard the USNS Upsur, as to begin a new life. For my mother, home sickness was horrible, as she tried to begin a new life in the United States. With the birth of 4 children and the death of another when she was a toddler, she understood the feeling of experiencing these things without the presence of her parents. My parents divorced when I was four and my mother eventually remarried, we all moved in together and awaited the birth of my baby sister. Yes, seven to eight people in a mobile home was at times tough, but my mother made it work until we moved into a larger home. I was raised by this strong Irish lady, who taught me to make my bed with crisp tight hospital corners. I was taught the values of right and wrong, and the value of hard work. A few years ago her husband who I called dad, passed away. She now lives in her apartment alone and confident, surrounded by the love of friends and my siblings. Even though I am far away, I embrace my mother’s story as well as embracing the fact that she played an important role in making me the man, husband and father, that I am today.

My prayer for you is that you sit down with your mother say, “Mom Tell Me Your Story”. Like the text says, and in this way you will know that strength and dignity are her clothing. Many women have done it but your mom surpasses them all!

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

Mary’s Boy

Pastor Tim. 

A Destroyed Barn With New Flowers

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

One of the buildings that was severely damaged was a beautiful old white wood and brick barn, on the outskirts of our town. The barn which was beautifully lit with Christmas lights during the Advent season, had been a beautiful part of that community for many generations. 

As I drove past the barn I saw what the winds of destruction could do to man-made structures, but what I also observed is that the rock foundation is as solid as the day it was built. Many in that community were saddened over the destruction of this beautiful barn, as it has been such an essential memory of that communities past.

As we journey together through this season of Lent, I share my observations by just staring at a blown down barn.

• When the winds came, many suffered some sort of damage, but when the winds subsided many came together and spoke the same language of helping their neighbors: The Bible tells us: Acts 2:1-47 ESV. When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ...

• ·         Even though the barn structure was blown down, its brick walls and foundation still stands strong: The bible tells us: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. Luke 6:46-48 ESV

• ·         Even though the barn structure was torn down, we see the new life of God in the form of beautiful purple flowers that have begun to sprout. Purple (actually a shade of violet) is the traditional color associated with Lent, which is the 40-day period of time that comes after Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. Purple is a color rich in symbolism. It is a deep, almost night-like color that focuses our attention on the fasting and repentance associated with the Lenten season. It is also a color of royalty, particularly the Roman emperors at the time of Christ. As an act of derision toward Our Lord, Pilate placed a purple robe on Jesus, whom he called “King of the Jews”. Turning this act of scorn on its end, however, the final Sunday of the liturgical year in November is the Solemnity of Christ the King, in which the true royalty of Christ is revealed. The fourth Sunday in Lent is called “Laetare Sunday”. “Laetare” is Latin for “rejoice”. It occurs after the midpoint of Lent and because of that the deep purple color of the vestments are lightened somewhat to “rose”. It is a time of celebration in that, though Lent is a time of sacrifice, the resurrection of the Lord following His death on the cross is getting closer.

• ·         Additionally, the Bible says this about flowers: And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Matthew 6: 28

Beloved, may things on this earth made by God remind us not only of His power, but His love for us. So instead of seeing a blown down old barn, let it remind you of these things.

1.      When we build our lives on a Godly foundation, even the strongest wind will not remove our foundations. Let us build our lives on God in trust, faith, and love.

2.      From destruction comes new life: This Lenten season, Christ the King will be beaten, mocked, and crucified. From this he will be resurrected, thus telling us that because of Jesus death no longer holds its sting over us.

3.      Finally, even in times of loss and destruction... do not worry. We have been made anew through our baptisms, and through our personal relationships with Jesus Christ we are made strong and we are made eternal.

As winds blow down structures, they can be rebuilt. Likewise through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are all rebuilt. As long as we are in relationship with Him, Satan can never blow us down or destroy us.

Do You Believe This?

John 11:26

And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

“Dad, do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and do you accept Him as your personal Savior?” These were the words that my brother spoke to my father as he lay in a hospital bed preparing to die. With a nod of his head and a whisper of yes on his lips, my father had sealed his eternity.

As I write this week’s blog, my wife is on her way back to our hometown to be with her mother who is very sick. My wife is helping her mother to prepare for what may be the twilight of her earthly days. The topic of death is a subject that each one of us will personally face in our finite day as inhabitants of earth.

Recently I have observed other people facing the death of their parents as well as other friends or loved ones. We that are in the midst of a loved one’s death are faced with many emotions of love and being separated from the people that we love.

The one emotion that believers in Jesus Christ can never feel is fear, fear in the unknown, or fear in saying goodbye to a loved one. When we believe in the Son of God and bring ourselves into relationship with Him, we have become sealed from death and the word “fear” is forever taken out of our spiritual dictionaries.

Thus, or job and call as believers is to help our loved ones and all those that we encounter in developing their own Christ relationship. When this relationship is established we need never fear, we never need say goodbye, but rather say “until we see each other again”.

Do you believe this? Yes, because the One who lived, died, and rose again said it!

This is the promise of God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Pastor Tim.

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda's!

Jeremiah 33:3

³ ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Recently I have heard some people lament about things that they have not done in their lives. They often speak about missed opportunities. Many of us, as we grow older often look back at our lives and sometimes wish we would have done things differently.

As I thought about this topic this morning, one of my favorite songs from Country Artist, Joe Diffie came to mind. In this song we see a man so preoccupied with his Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda’s that he missed his road exit to go to Sears.

Part of the Lyrics are:

Somewhere down that road not taken will forever live those dreams that were forsaken.
Just every now and then I think about what would have been, somewhere down that road not taken

How many of us have gone to class reunions and have run head first into the girl or guy we were too scared to ask out on a date? How many of us see that person who has become rich by taking opportunities that we did not? And, how often have we seen those that have been too full of doubt to leave the days of high school behind. Yes, often lives can be fill with regret, or what I call the:

 “Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda’s?

The text from the Book of Jeremiah is a verse that was speaking specifically to the Prophet Jeremiah. This verse is telling Jeremiah to seek out the Lord’s wisdom. We see that this verse tells Jeremiah of God’s promised answer to his question.

As we look back on our lives, how many of us have been guilty of not seeking out God’s wisdom in those areas in which fear and doubt drive our lives? For many of us that think about the past, we must understand that sometimes it is not the past that should take up the space in our brains. Rather we should seek out God’s wisdom as to affect the change to our futures.God is calling each of us just as Jeremiah. We must seek out God’s wisdom, God’s answer to the questions that we have about our present and our future.

In Joe Diffie’s song the man asks the following of himself: “What if I had asked you? And what if you'd said, "Yes"? There's no way I'll ever know, still I can't help but guess.

Ours is not a guessing game because we have been given a personal relationship with the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. The Trinity is available to us to be in relationship with, to ask questions of, and to be guided by the answers we are given.

Beloved, God is present and available and waiting for our questions, He is waiting for us to develop that personal relationship with Him. Instead of missing your exit to Sears, instead of lamenting on Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda, seek out God’s wisdom and answers instead of self-doubt, and self- sadness.

Don’t miss the exits to the Sears of your lives, give it to the everlasting love of God whose answer will drive you home every time.

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

Pastor Tim.

In God We Trust!

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:3-4  

As a Police Chaplain, I have placed these stickers on our patrol vehicles to show the world that whatever the situation is, the officer places his or her trust in God the Creator of all things. These stickers also ensure to all that see them that they may be comforted in the knowledge that the Officer has the ethics and morality of a follower of God.

In these days of unknown personal, local, and worldly events we as followers of the cross often find ourselves not knowing how to address certain situations. We even find certain situations impossible to comprehend. But, we must not think that the unknown is a new thing only for our generation. 

Scripture tells us in Psalm 56 that there were times when David did not know how to respond to his feelings, as well as the world around him. In verses one and two he complains about his enemies while seeking mercy for him and justice on those that stood against him. In Verses five through seven King David, when in times of trouble confided in God and found comfort is sharing his feelings and emotions with God the Father. 

Verses three and four told ancient Israel as well as us today: Beloved God's call today is to place all our trust in God and to praise him for the wonderful things that He continues to do for us. Let us be like King David and when in doubt, seek out God for safety as well as victory. 

We know that God has already given us the victory through His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May our daily motto and mantra continue to be "In God We Trust" or "In God I Trust". 

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

Trust Begins at the Foot of the Cross!

Proverbs 3:5 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

One must only watch the news, look at social media, or have a discussion with someone about the world around us, and we come away with so many doubts and questions. For anyone that studies the human condition, it would seem that the world is in a vast flux or spiraling down situation. 

Wherever one lives in this world, the world seems to be in an "unknown" and "confusing" condition. I, like most people find myself without the needed answers to the many questions that society is asking today.

When in doubt our confusion in reference to world events, I often think about our time of Pastoral Prayer on Sunday mornings. This is when we gather as the Body of Christ in unified prayer, bring our joys, concerns, hurts, troubles, and doubts before the foot of the cross. We always conclude with the Lords Prayer.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Often these day's we know not where to go, or where to go. Beloved, this is when we must place everything that we are, all that we are thinking and feeling, and give it to God. We know and trust that perfection does not exist in this world, but that the only true answer and perfection is God.

The Creator of the Universe, the Father of us all, wants to help us. We only need come before him in prayer, mediation, and a personal relationship. 

My prayer for you today is that when you are feeling lost and find yourselves at a loss for a decision, seek out the Father. He wants to know you, He desires a relationship with you, and He has the plan for your life and my life.

The world was is a bad way, and evil was ruling the day when God sent His Son to the Hill of the Skull to be Crucified. This was a decision that none of us would have been able to make, but God had  "The Master's Plan". This plan was to save us from ourselves, by  Jesus taking our sin and indecision upon himself.

We only need to go as far as the cross to understand that God is at work and is still in the salvation business, He has placed His beloved Son in charge of our world and He is at work this very second. 

We have been give the Holy Spirit as a guide and mentor as to help us find our way until Jesus returns for His Kingdom. 

Brothers and Sisters: Seek out the F,S&HS this very day and your mind will be set to a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Philippians 4:7

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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

Pastor Tim.