CREDIT: Vintage News Daily

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Artists amaze me! They see things many of us miss. Then, using their gifts, they bring imagination to reality. Sculptors, whose medium is solid rock, are a good example. Where you and I see a rock, they see something else. And then, one swing of a hammer on a chisel at a time, sculptors carve away excess, useless pieces of rock to reveal the object of their imagination.

We are individual works of art who make up God’s people, the kingdom of believers. If we forget this, God reminds us, “Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.” (Isaiah 51:1) Like the master sculptor chips away at a rock one swing at a time, even God began creating His nation one person at a time. He selected one person, Abraham, to build His nation of believers. Through him, along with Sarah, God created a nation of priests, a kingdom of believers. Using His people God chips away, one swing at a time, bringing His promises of forgiveness of sin and eternal life to all mankind.

Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith … we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) We are individual works of art sculpted by our Father into the Body of Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, He chips away our sinful pieces of flesh to reveal His intended creation. He handcrafts each of us; giving us unique gifts He longs to use to bring others into His kingdom. Paul encourages us saying, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.” (Romans 12:6) God has given each of us gifts – service, teaching, encouraging, leading, and so on. Let’s let God use us, like a hammer and chisel, to sculpt others into His people also. That they too might be joined to us - the Body of Christ.

                                                                                                        In God’s Peace,

                                                                                                                Pastor Jim

Photo by mana5280 on Unsplash

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A “foreigner” is defined as “a person not belonging to a particular place or group; a stranger or outsider.”  Most of us don’t think we’re “foreigners.” If we go overseas, then we might consider ourselves foreigners for a time.  But, when we return, we’re home again. – and no longer foreigners. Or are we?

Consider Isaiah’s words to us. He writes “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” (Isaiah 56:1-2) This is a Christian’s life.  How does a life lived like this square with the life the world around us often espouses?  For example, when we live by “keeping the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeping our hands from doing any evil” we live counter to our culture.  This makes us “strangers or outsiders” in the world – foreigners.

“Keeping the Sabbath and not profaning it” means more than attending worship on Sunday or Wednesday.  It involves truly trusting God and His provision. Keeping the Sabbath honors God by recognizing all we have comes from Him.  We earn a paycheck or good grades because He’s given us knowledge, skills, and abilities.  We use these gifts at work or school in accordance with His will.  When we understand He’s the source of all we have, we know and trust He provides us whatever we truly need.  This absolute trust in God and His provision frees us to refrain from evil – coveting, unhealthy desiring, and hoarding God’s provisions.  We’re freed by this trust to give our time, talent, and treasure to serve God and His creation.  We don’t worry that we’ll run short. We trust God will provide. 

So, it’s good to be a foreigner – one freed to trust God and do His will – to love Him with all our hearts, souls, and minds and to love our neighbors as He loves us.

                                                                                In God’s Peace,

                                                                               Pastor Jim

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When I can’t help myself, I call out to someone else. I race through my mental contact list to figure out who to call on – searching for a name. For example, when my refrigerator was acting up the other day, I knew Kevin had insight into appliances, so I called him. When I call someone to help me out, I need to know their name – so I can address my call in the right direction to get their attention – and that they can actually help me.

Things around the home often break down. When they do, we usually call an expert for help. However, spoiled milk caused by a broken refrigerator, while inconvenient, isn’t the end of the world. There is a situation that is the end of the world – Jesus’ return. When He returns, He will find a very broken world filled with broken people. Too often these people are trying to fix their own brokenness – unsuccessfully – which leads to the ultimate brokenness which is death and eternal separation from God. 

But there is one person we can call on to fix us, to save us from our sin and the brokenness and eternal death it causes. Paul tells us who to address our call to saying, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13) The problem for many is they don’t know the name of the one that can save them from their brokenness. How can they if they never hear about Him?

Our Father calls on us to spread the name of Jesus everywhere. That by hearing, through the power of the Holy Spirit, they might come to believe in Jesus. You and I are privileged to be the means God uses to communicate saving promises to a broken world. God sends us into the world to proclaim His good news so all can hear and come to believe. And God commends us saying, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:16) 

In the Love of Christ,

Pastor Jim

Photo by Ryan Beltz on Unsplash

Dear First Family and Friends,

“Nature abhors a vacuum.” Wherever an empty space exists, it’s natural for something to try filling it. “Boredom” is a vacuum of the mind. When we’re bored, we try to fill the boredom with something, anything! Billy Graham noted that Americans must be among the most bored people in the world. Unable to fill our own time, he noted Americans spend huge amounts of money to pay others to fill our time for us. Most often, after spending the money to fill the vacuum, we’re not satisfied. Then we search for something else to fill the vacuum.

God, through His prophet Isaiah, asks, “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? (Isaiah 55:2a)” Then He answers His own question, “Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant… (Isaiah 55:2b-3)” God knows we long to fill this hole in our lives. He knows we try to fill it with things which can’t possibly satisfy. He knows we’re trying to fill a “God-shaped hole” in our lives with things of a different shape. It may look like a good fit initially. However, over time, we come to find out – it doesn’t fit. Only God can fill this hole in our lives.

Using images of physical hunger and thirst, God encourages us to rely on Him to fill the vacuums in our lives. Quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger, not with material, earthly things – which simply wear out – leading to continued thirst and hunger. Instead, fill yourself with God’s Word and His promises. Let God transform your appetite, enabling you to finally be satisfied as you live out the life He has given you – doing the work He has called you to do with the gifts He has blessed you with to do them. Then, you will be eternally filled.

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Jim

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The dictionary defines “treasure” as “something of great worth or value ... a collection of precious things.” Most of us think of treasure as something like gold or diamonds … something worth a lot of money. But a “treasure” can also be something that’s determined to be priceless by a personal assessment … like a picture of a loved one or small token of appreciation given by a dear friend. Regardless of monetary value, a “treasure” is priceless to the one who holds it … and if lost, something one goes in search of.

God created us, from the very start, to be His treasure. Even after Adam and Eve fell into temptation and sinned, we have remained God’s treasure. Adam and Eve hid themselves in fear after realizing they disobeyed God. But God actively called out for them, searching for His treasure. And He didn’t stop searching. Over and over, His people ran and hid … sinning against Him. Yet, He continued calling out to His people through His prophets. As His people Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, God’s servant Moses reminds them, “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6)” 

Finally, at the right time, God proved His assessment of our value to Him when He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sin and eternal death. Jesus paid the price to save us, not with treasures of silver and gold, but by giving everything He had, His body and blood. He sacrificed His life to purchase His Father’s treasured possession, you and me, from sin and death. 

Though to some, we might not be much to look at, we are God’s treasure. And those who believe in Jesus receive the greatest treasure of all – not silver or gold – but eternal life in the kingdom of heaven. 

In the Love of Christ,

Pastor Jim

Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Have you ever struggled to get words out of your mouth? Sometimes you can’t remember the word for or name of something. Perhaps you’re making a presentation on a complex subject. Or maybe it’s just a tough situation where you’re trying to comfort someone. Whatever the case, the words in your head won’t come out of your mouth. Then, what comes out is a noise, a grunt, a groan. That hardly makes for good communication for most of us.

When it comes to prayer, we know God wants us to pray. But sometimes we’re not sure of the words to pray. Frankly, God doesn’t care about the words. He just wants us to trust Him by knowing He will hear our prayers and answer them in accord with His good and perfect will. Yet, often we aren’t sure what to say – which is understandable given who we’re speaking with … God!

If you happen to find yourself here, take comfort from Paul’s letter to the Romans. He writes, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)” Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, the Helper, to His people (John 16:7-13). In Baptism, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our souls, helping us in all things – especially our belief in Jesus and His promises to hear our prayers. 

In those moments when you’re feeling distraught and all you can do is say, “UGH … ARRGH … UGH!” These are groans. We’re stuck and don’t know where to go. But, “He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27)” Our groans are the words of the Holy Spirit making our needs known to God. And God … He completely understands. So, don’t worry about what to pray – keep groaning. The Holy Spirit will translate.

                                                                                        Your Brother in Christ,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim

Photo by Fas Khan on Unsplash

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

There’s something to being part of a family that can include certain privileges – benefits for simply being in the family. I read a story in Our Daily Bread, my go to devotional booklet, about a guy named John Jr. John and a friend took a tour of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. During the tour, the guide accidently led them into a restricted area where they were stopped for the violation. It just so happened that John Jr. was John F. Kennedy Jr. the son of the president for whom the aircraft carrier the USS John F. Kennedy was named. That changed everything! You see, if a U.S. Navy ship is named after someone, it’s considered that person’s ship. Therefore, as the son of the person for whom the ship was named, John Jr. had inherited that same ownership – he had unique privileges.

Paul comforts us in knowing that all who believe in Jesus also have some unique privileges. Jesus is the Son of God. He is the rightful heir to the kingdom of heaven and all that entails. In baptism, God adopts believers in Christ as His sons and daughters (Romans 8:15). As God’s adopted sons and daughters, we become brothers and sisters of our Lord, Jesus Christ. But not only that, Paul writes that as “children of God … then (we are also) heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ …” (Romans 8:16-17) What a privilege!

However, we’re also called to use that privilege by living according to His will as we love Him and our neighbors in need. Especially those who haven’t yet become fellow heirs. Using our privilege can mean sacrificing ourselves by going against the will of the world we live in. As we do, the Spirit living within us enables us to say and do God’s will, even when others despise us. Nevertheless, one day, as heirs, we’ll be glorified because of our brother Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection. We’ll inherit eternal life with our Father in the kingdom of heaven.

                                                                                        Your Brother in Christ,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim