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

Dear Children of God,

“Mom!” the child whines at 5:30PM, “Can I have a cookie?!” Mom stops. She thinks. She answers. The answer depends on many things. Does she have a cookie? When is dinner? Has her child had a cookie or two already? Based on her child’s best interest, Mom says … No matter what she says, “Yes,” “No,” or “Wait,” her response is an answer. It may or may not be the one the child wants, but it’s an answer because, as we all know, “Mom knows best.”

When God’s children ask Him for something, it’s called prayer. James, as part of his extensive teaching on how we are to live our lives of faith, urges us to follow God’s frequent direction to us to pray. To come to Him with our needs and desires. James writes, “Is anyone among you suffering … cheerful … sick?”  Then pray, pray for others, call for others to pray for us – “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:13-16)

Like the proverbial mom considering her child’s late afternoon request, God hears our prayers and answers. However, the answer may not be as we desire. God might say, “Yes.” But, even when He says, “No”  (like He did to Paul when Paul asked to have a thorn removed from his life (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)) or “Wait, I’ve got something better waiting” (like when Paul had a desire to preach in Asia and Bithynia (Acts 16:6-10)), those are answers to our prayer. And as His children, obedient to the 1st Commandment, we trust God’s answer is what is best for us. After all, He has a plan for us to use the gifts He’s given us in the times and places and among the people He places us in.

So, let us go to Him in prayer in all things. And then, follow His direction, trusting He knows what’s best for us. It’s one way we show our love for God as He leads us through this life into eternal life.

                                                                                                In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                                Pastor Jim 

CREDIT: Alastair Rae

Dear Friends and Family,

The “pecking order” signifies who makes the decisions – those at the top of the pecking order – and who don’t have much influence – those at the bottom of the pecking order. Few, I’d guess, desire being at the bottom of the pecking order, for mostly obvious reasons.

Lest we think Jesus’ disciples are any different than most of us, they’re not. Just like us, they’re flawed human beings exhibiting many of the same characteristics we have. Including trying to be at the top of the pecking order. If you doubt this, look closely at the gospels – including Mark 9:33-37. Jesus most often teaches to correct flawed behaviors. Jesus has heard His disciples arguing among themselves. Rather than put a stop to the bickering, Jesus let them carry on until their journey ended. Then, like we might do when we get home from work or school, He asked a simple question, “So, what were you all talking about today?” He didn’t ask out of ignorance, but rather to begin teaching.

In response the deafening silence, caused by the disciples’ collective embarrassment, Jesus simply states, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) Like many of us, the disciples were trying to figure out who was at the top of the pecking order. Jesus responds by letting them know greatness in His kingdom, the kingdom of God, is reserved for those who humbly serve others, especially the least among them who are unable to repay the service they receive – like most children.

Children, the youngest among us, are not unimportant. But they, along with many others – the poor, sick, and disenfranchised – are not able to care for themselves and can rarely pay us back for our care toward them. As Jesus cares for us, serving us in ways we can’t serve ourselves – being the only payment for our sins … that we might live eternally – let us willing, humbly, serve others in the same way. Giving our lives to others that they too might live.

                                                                                                        In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                                        Pastor Jim

CREDIT: Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Whenever I enter uncharted territory – a new school, job, or community – it helps having someone come alongside me. For example, when I mo

ved to a new school in Arizona, I was terrified. Until I met Jeff – actually, he met me because he was assigned to be my “buddy.” We became great friends, sharing a lot together in our school days. Having a buddy was a comfort as I entered new territory.

Our Christian walk can also be daunting if we’re alone. There’s both subtle and not so subtle hostility toward Christian faith in the world. It was doubly so for Isaiah and the prophets, whom God called into “enemy territory” to proclaim unpopular truth to powerful people. But God never let Isaiah, the others, or us today, go it alone while navigating unfriendly, uncharted territory. 

Wherever we are, the “Suffering Servant” – the one who knows all God commands AND lives in total obedience to Him – accompanies us. Throughout Isaiah, the Suffering Servant, is identified by the way He lived. And this life points to one man, our Savior, Jesus Christ. As God, Jesus knows everything; and lived in perfect obedience to His Father’s will. As man, He willingly submitted to beatings, whippings, spitting, and, ultimately, even crucifixion. Throughout, despite the powers of the world allied against Him, Jesus was never alone – His Father was there by His side, “But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced … He who vindicates me is near.” (Isaiah 50:7-8)

Jesus took the sins of the world, including your sins and mine, upon Himself. Yet, despite this, He was vindicated by His Father. Therefore, you and I are also vindicated – cleansed of our sin and sin’s eternal consequences. As the Father stood by His Son; Jesus, the Suffering Servant stands by us as we “walk in darkness and (have) no light,” as we “trust in the name of the Lord god and rely on (Him).” (Isaiah 50:10) He is with us “always to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

                                                                                                        In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                                        Pastor Jim

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It’s been a long day, hard day. You’re on the way home. You dream of relaxation. As you slog your way through rush hour traffic, out of nowhere – SOME MANIAC CUTS YOU OFF! What comes out of your mouth next?

This brief illustration makes a point about Jesus’ teaching on things that “defile” – “causing us to be made dirty” for all to see – and, by extension, on things that show Christ’s grace to others while under pressure. 

The crowd confronting Jesus was concerned about food people ate and how eating “unclean food” would make them impure. Jesus countered saying, “There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” (Mark 7:15) Though food was the visual, Jesus was getting at a different point – what spiritual food do you eat?

There’s a saying, “You are what you eat.” If we eat from the “Bread of Life” on a regular basis, we become filled with the words and love of God through Jesus Christ. Over time, this regular filling of our hearts with God’s words of grace leads us to speak words of grace; even when some maniac cuts us off. We might even calmly respond with a prayer for them showing Christ’s love to a person in need. However, if we’re filling our hearts with the rage, depravity, and pride of the world, our hearts will overflow with things that show the evil within our hearts, evil that defiles.

God knows we live in the world – a place where the devil is constantly on the attack. But, as we “put on the whole armor of God” we can stand firm against him. However, when we fall, on account of Jesus, God will pick us up; forgiving us once again and strengthening us to keep alert and persevere while boldly proclaiming the good news to any and all in need. (Ephesians 6:10-20) Let’s fill up on God’s grace and let His armor protect us from evil.

                                                                                        In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim 

CREDIT: vijaymverna on FLICKR

Dear First Friends and Family,

I do enjoy a good, juicy tomato. Unfortunately, they can be hard to find sometimes. Too often, I see tomatoes that look delicious – red, smooth, vine still attached. I start to salivate. I cut a piece. I pop it in my mouth … YECCH! Dry and tasteless! Clearly picked too early and allowed to redden on the way to the store. Good thing I can usually grow my own! Then I know for sure the nice exterior points to the all-important tasty inside too – fully ripened, inside and out.

Jesus cautions us all about the need to fully ripen, inside and out as His disciples – a life in Christ is more than just looking good. The Pharisees often accosted Jesus for not following their 600+ man-made rules for life. These rules, while based on aspects of God’s word, weren’t God’s word. 

In and of themselves, there was nothing wrong with them. But the Pharisees used these man-made rules – such as washing your hands before eating and properly washing cooking and eating utensils – to show how good someone was. If you didn’t follow the cleaning rules, you were judged as an unforgiveable sinner, unworthy of God’s love. The reality – these Pharisees and their followers looked good on the outside, but were spiritually dry where it counted – in their hearts. 

Jesus condemns this kind of behavior, quoting Isaiah, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:6-7) 

Is it important to speak good with our lips? Yes! Is it good practice to wash hands before eating? Of course! But, in God’s eyes, these actions must not be born from outward attempts to impress our friends or those around us with actions to look good; they must come from a love of God and our neighbors welling up from our hearts. (Mark 12:28-31) Words and deeds overflowing from the heart show others our faith is fully ripened, inside and out as God desires.

                                              In Christ’s Love,

                                              Pastor Jim