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.