CREDIT: Pixabay.com

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In this hyper-busy world, things can get a little amped up this time of year with all the extra things that come with the Christmas season. Many of us over-do it in one way or another – and I don’t exempt myself from this observation! That’s one reason the practice of Advent can be a helpful thing to do. Advent allows us to take a minute to … slow down … refocus … get … some … peace.

Advent is a season of waiting for the coming of Christ and the peace He brings. This peace is a special kind of peace called “Shalom,” a Hebrew word that means “unity, complete contentedness, tranquility” with respect to God. It’s much more than an “absence of conflict.” It’s as Paul writes to the Philippians, “the peace that surpasses all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7)

When God created all things, peace was the norm. There was no conflict. Everything worked as God intended – think of a bicycle wheel that spins freely, quietly, and endlessly. Then, on that fateful day that Adam and Eve entered a conflict with God, sin, like dirt getting thrown into perfectly aligned bicycle wheel bearings, entered the world. Ever since, true peace has become illusive.

However, God still desires for that perfect peace to be the norm for all His creation. God, through His prophet Malachi, assures us of this, “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6) This is good news for all of us as God’s steadfast love for Jacob extends to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, received in baptism, we are able to repent of our sins. Then God ends the hostility we have with Him, forgiving our sins, restoring peace between us and Him.

We’re Advent people, waiting Jesus’s return. Waiting for Him to bring us into Shalom, true peace in His new creation, the kingdom of God. Let’s live … in … this … assurance of … peace.

                                                                                                        In God’s Peace,

                                                                                                        Pastor Jim

CREDIT: https://vectorportal.com/

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy New Year! I know we’re barely past Thanksgiving and Christmas is still a few weeks away. But the first Sunday in Advent is – the first Sunday in the church year. “Happy New Year!”

The new church year begins with Advent, a season of waiting for the coming of Christ and the hope He brings. For many, the focus of their waiting is Christmas. However, for Christians, we know Jesus has already been born. What are we waiting for? His return. As we wait, we hope. In His return, Jesus will deliver on the hopes Christians have had, and still have, since He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:6-11). We live in hope, knowing He’ll return to bring all who believe Him into His kingdom forever.

As we wait in hope, we live our lives in the world of today. And this time of year, many of us will get a glimpse of the thing we hope for – our reunion with all the saints from across all time on the day of Jesus’ return. The reunions with family and friends are being planned just like the reunion with the Thessalonians Paul speaks of, “What thanksgiving can we return to God for you … that we may see you face to face …” (1 Thessalonians 3:9-10)

Paul isn’t speaking only of an earthly reunion here. Though that is part of his “longing” … He’s looking forward to the final and eternal reunion too saying, “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all … that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

And so, we wait in hope trusting God’s promises, knowing Jesus – born over 2000 years ago – will return to save us. As we wait, let us help others to believe in Jesus too … that when He does return we’ll see Him and all our loved ones again – face-to-face. Happy New Year!

                                                                                                        In God’s Peace,

                                                                                                         Pastor Jim

CREDIT: Wesley Fryer on FLICKR

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The other day my wife and I hosted the church youth group for an afternoon of fellowship. We had a great time playing frisbee golf, roasting hot dogs and making S’mores on the firepit, and hanging out. The best part of the whole afternoon was that last part, hanging out. Why? Because God created us to be in relationship with one another … not to be a bunch of “lone rangers” stuck on our little islands.

At the center of our gathering was the firepit. Here we warmed up after our games, roasted our hot dogs and S’mores, and sat around sharing stories and fellowship. In the firepit was a cool image of God’s word, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). The collection of many logs and burning coals provided the warmth needed to warm us and cook our food. And when the coals began cooling off, a little stir reignited them. 

God calls on each of us to come together not just to share the latest news and have fun – though that’s part of it – but more importantly to encourage and exhort each other through our many gifts by lovingly helping each other through challenging situations we face during our journeys of faith. We also come together to help each other understand what God is calling us to do in His creation with these gifts as we worship Him, study His word, and pray together.

We aren’t created to stand alone in faith. God creates us to come together in a community of faith. Don’t let your brothers and sisters in Christ stand alone. Invite them into the circle of fellowship to join us in experiencing the warmth of God’s presence while He strengthens our faith through worship and life in the community of all believers as “the Day” draws near. 

                                                                                                        In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                                        Pastor Jim

CREDIT: Dejan Krsmanovic 0n FLICKR

Dear Children of God,

Rest, “true rest” that restores and refreshes, is a rare commodity these days. I often hear people come back from vacation saying, “Whew! Glad I’m back. I need a rest from my vacation!” Rest is illusive because it means “ceasing, stopping any stressful activity to regain strength and energy.” It’s hard to completely stop in our busy lives – even when we’re on vacation!

Many think King Solomon is “The Preacher” in the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes, a book on the many ways people pursue “rest” in the hopes of attaining what they think is great in the world. That “thing” varies, depending on a person’s focus – wisdom, pleasure, adulation from others, power and influence, or wealth. Despite having it all, King Solomon finds this kind of rest is “vanity” – of no value or significance. When one gets a little, too often they want more – the cycle of “un-rest” continues. On wealth he says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money … this also is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10) The Preacher’s search for rest continues fruitlessly for twelve chapters until he finally realizes, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) The man with almost everything the world can provide finds rest in the only place it truly exists – faith and trust in God and His promises.

The Preacher’s advice to us, after all he’s learned, “Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.” (Ecclesiastes 5:18) God has created each of us. He’s given us time, talent, and treasure – not to serve ourselves, but to serve Him and His creation. As we realize this, our toil turns from a “burden to escape,” into a “blessing to be enjoyed.” Let’s rest in God and His promises.

                                                                                                In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                                Pastor Jim 

CREDIT: Faithlife on Logos

Dear Saints and Sinners,

We’re coming up on the year’s scariest night! At least that’s what the marketeers tell us. Horror movies with psychotic chainsaw killers. Costumes to make us look like zombies. Haunted houses. Even our local carwash and peaceful cornfields become places of horror. It’s a scary time!

Fortunately, these scary things are not, for the most part, real. They’re part of a fantasy world designed to stimulate the weird desire many have to be scared. But there IS something truly scary, something real, something I don’t think many give thought to. But when they do, it can be a frightful thought – the hour of God’s judgment. It’s scary because people fear the unknown. What happens next? Where will I be? How will it feel? When will it come? The hour of God’s judgment is unknown to us, but God has tried to help us rejoice and be glad for that hour rather than be scared at its inevitability.

Many are scared because they lack understanding about what happens when they die. Death is after all certain. But it’s nothing to be afraid of. God has sent His messengers into His creation - to all nations and tribes and languages and people - to help alleviate our fears through the gospel (Revelation 14:6).

Paul reminds us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God …” (Romans 3:23) If that were the end of story, God’s judgment would be terrifying! But it’s not the end because “…(all) are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24) All who believe and trust in Jesus, His sacrificial shedding of His blood on the cross for the sins of all mankind, receive forgiveness of their sins – all of them – and eternal life. What happens next? Where will you be? How will it feel? The answers - a) eternal life, b) in heaven, c) unbelievably good, d) all of the above. Don’t fear, it’s answer d). It will happen in God’s perfect timing.

                                                                        Your Fellow Saint and Sinner,

                                                                        Pastor Jim

CREDIT: PxHere.com

Dear Children of God,

Rest, “true rest” that restores and refreshes, is a rare commodity these days. I often hear people come back from vacation saying, “Whew! Glad I’m back. I need a rest from my vacation!” Rest is illusive because it means “ceasing, stopping any stressful activity to regain strength and energy.” It’s hard to completely stop in our busy lives – even when we’re on vacation!

Many think King Solomon is “The Preacher” in the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes, a book on the many ways people pursue “rest” in the hopes of attaining what they think is great in the world. That “thing” varies, depending on a person’s focus – wisdom, pleasure, adulation from others, power and influence, or wealth. Despite having it all, King Solomon finds this kind of rest is “vanity” – of no value or significance. When one gets a little, too often they want more – the cycle of “un-rest” continues. On wealth he says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money … this also is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10) The Preacher’s search for rest continues fruitlessly for twelve chapters until he finally realizes, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) The man with almost everything the world can provide finds rest in the only place it truly exists – faith and trust in God and His promises.

The Preacher’s advice to us, after all he’s learned, “Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.” (Ecclesiastes 5:18) God has created each of us. He’s given us time, talent, and treasure – not to serve ourselves, but to serve Him and His creation. As we realize this, our toil turns from a “burden to escape,” into a “blessing to be enjoyed.” Let’s rest in God and His promises.

                                                                                                In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                                Pastor Jim 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I read a story of a troublesome monkey in India. The monkey discovered people had great treats in their homes, especially peanuts! Each day he raided their homes, taking choice treats with him. The people tried catching him without success. Then, a little girl – trying to sneak a treat herself – came upon an idea. She put a bunch of delicious peanuts in a jar with a skinny neck. The next day, they found a frustrated monkey – trapped. His fist clenching the peanuts he desired. But he couldn’t pull them out of the jar because his fist wouldn’t fit. Needless to say, the monkey made no more thieving forays into people’s houses … all because he couldn’t let go of the thing he desired the most.

A man came up to Jesus asking, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:18) The man, in his opinion anyway, had followed the law perfectly. Jesus responded to his claim, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” The man went away sad because “he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:21-22) Like the monkey, the man couldn’t let go of the one thing keeping him from receiving eternal life … his reliance on his own achievements and the things they brought him.

Jesus isn’t condemning wealth or possessions. These things are, like time and talent, gifts from God to be used. But what we use them for signals where our faith is. Do we – like the man, like the monkey – cling with all our strength to things of this world, including our achievements and good works to save us? Or do we release them, clenching our fists around the one thing that can save us … faith in Jesus Christ? In faith, do we respond to God’s love for us, freely releasing our gifts in service to others, while trusting God to continue providing us with all we need – including, sometimes, our favorite treats?

                                                                                    In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                    Pastor Jim