In Whose Grace or At Whose Expense Do You Live?

I sat in a meeting today with a person who seemed to be more determined to make a point at my expense than to make an earnest contribution to the conversation of their own. As I drove away trying to make sense of such behavior, I thought, "God, how do You put up with all of us? I know that I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but do I do that same thing to You? Am I about making my 'points' at your expense?"

The more I thought about it, the more I kept coming back to Jesus' story about the Pharisee and the tax collector in the Temple, both bringing offerings of worship and resources. The Pharisee said, "'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, the tax collector went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:11b-14 NRSV)

God has given each of us gifts for our time and place, each in our own measure and capacity to utilize them, but the spirit in which the gifts are offered is the measure by which God perceives the heart of the believer. To beat another over the head with your gifts makes you a smaller person.

We may not be able to control how the Pharisee's among us behave, but we can certainly control whether or not we are the Pharisee. So, to quote another text, " . . . but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15b)

Lord, I may not always live your gifts in me well, but I pray your gifts in me well up to you in humble adoration always.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Don

Motorcycles in January

As I drove to the hospitals yesterday, I was amazed at the number of motorcycles on the road. It is the 6th of January and there are motorcycles everywhere! One little warm spell, one little surge of Spring come early, one little iota of optimism in the midst of Winter's delight, and all the stops are pulled out.

It was as if Julie Andrews was singing, "The world is alive . . . with the sound of Harley's . . ." and it made me smile. With the background music of straight pipes, blended with the sight and smell of an inordinate amount of leather, the roads became a friendlier place to be: people weren't in such a hurry, taking time to watch the geese flying from field to field; folks were actually waving, with all their fingers, even if they didn't know you; and, having trouble on the roadside became an occasion to stop and help a neighbor. It was almost surreal.

But, isn't that the effect a strong dose of Light can have in the midst of the gloom and darkness of our present age? Winter is tranformed to Spring, the chill of daily living is tranformed to a shared journey, and dark difficulties are tranformed to unusual opportunities.

Like a Spring day in the midst of Winter, Christ changes the perspective of those who choose to bask in his Presence. There may be storms which follow, and some may be heavy, but the Light of Christ is always with us and God's Holy Spirit will strengthen our souls for what tomorrow may bring.

Here's to motorcycle days in Winter!

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Don

The Twelfth Day of Christmas - Epiphany

From where I am, the amazing part of the Biblical story for this day (see Matthew 2) is not the star, nor the Wise Men - but the very notion that God chooses to reveal the Son in such incredible ways.

First, it is the shepherds who receive a heavenly concert on the night when Jesus is born and, now, a star leads Wise Men from the East to Bethlehem, where Jesus lay with his mother, Mary. From the very beginning, God makes it clear that Jesus' life and ministry will be intimately tied to the lives of those who are often marginalized by the 'established' religious community. Vagabond shepherds and 'outsider' Wise Men are the first to be invited to witness the coming of the Savior - and they rush to accept the gracious invitation, bearing the best of gifts in hand to worship the newborn King . . . while those on the 'inside' despise him, seek to discredit him, and watch for an opportunity to kill him.

Herod slaughters the innocents in an effort to kill Jesus, making the Savior a refugee before he becomes a Nazorean.

What is it that God so values in you and me that God is poured out into our world in the presence of Jesus that we might know life in the midst of such horrific scenes of death and destruction? Bottom line, I believe God sees the 'good' in each person, the good which has been there from the very beginning of time, and God is willing to put God's own life on the line that we not despise our own birthright by living in fear of that which cannot claim us.

Herod's come and go, but the love of God goes on and on and on. Let the good God has placed in you respond to the generous gift of life God has given us all in Jesus. Live the faith.

God has it right: institutional religion has no room for a Savior, but for those who are seeking Him out in unexpected places . . . well, Jesus said it best, "Knock and it shall be opened. Seek and you shall find. Ask and it shall be given unto you." Live the faith, for God has faith in you: the birth of Jesus is our proof, and you are invited to see Him.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Don

Sign for the Week:

Before 'On-Star'

there was 'The Star'.

Follow it to Jesus.

The Eleventh Day of Christmas

What must the three Wise Men have thought as they neared Bethlehem? A day's journey away, we pause outside the city and ponder what sort of Truth this is that God is revealing, what sort of Savior God is sending. A day's journey away, we pause with good cause, for in the city not far away is the One who will transform a people, a culture, a government, a world, a faith. Not far away is the One worthy of receiving the gold of the earthly riches, the frankincense of incredible pleasantness in the midst of our world's despair, and the myrrh reserved for the highest of royalty at their burial. Not far away is the One over which a star shines brightly . . . and now we are at the foot of His throne.

Come, worship the King, pondering all that God is yet to reveal in Him.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Don

The Tenth Day of Christmas

It is the day after the Iowa caucuses and the news outlets are busy spinning the outcomes to match their own agendas. It is an interesting process to watch, kind of like hauling manure on the farm: if your 'material' is just loose enough and you drive just fast enough, you are bound to get a bit of 'material' on just about everything along the path, covering all the bases, as it were. It seems that is just about what the spin masters are trying to do: cover all the bases, declare victory in whatever way they can, and move on to the states that 'really matter'.

On this tenth day of Christmas, on a day when tradition holds to 'ten lords a-leaping' and the ancient Church holds to the precious place of the Ten Commandments, I am wondering what music it is that makes us dance and what belief is it that takes our breath away.

Political pundits from every camp want to be the court musicians that entertain our every need, promising to play whatever it is every individual in the crowded court desires, regardless of how much time it takes. Consequently, the more they play, the less I want to listen to them.

On this tenth day of Christmas, I am not seeking promises for my vote, I am looking for the presence of God in faith lived well. I am looking for integrity in campaign behavior as well as resilience and consistency in personal achievements. I am looking for wise people on a journey pointing towards something bigger than themselves, capable of inviting others to see with their eyes what God is doing. I do not want to dance to their music. I live to leap to the music of the Lord in justice, peace and equity.

On this tenth day of Christmas, we are reminded by the Ten Commandments that just they are not an end in and of themselves, neither are we. Those who subscribe to that notion will die because of it. Rather, the Ten Commandments point to the greater Good, the One who authors the very sound of their words, the One whose in whose imagination the very wonders of worship of God, mutual respect, love of neighbor, and integrity of self are begun. Like those Ten Commandments, we - and the politicians among us - are invited to live into the vision God has for all creation: coming home together in Joy. That is what makes me dance. That is the Star which takes my breath away. I pray it does for you, as well.

God's strength be with you on the journey - Bethlehem is not far away.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Don

The Ninth Day of Christmas

In the ancient tradition of the Church, the ninth day of Christmas focuses on the nine fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In the words of the Apostle Paul, "There is no law against such things."

On this ninth day of Christmas, let us focus on the fruits of the Spirit which build community, strengthen the foundations of peace, create opportunities for justice, and restore equity for all people. Let us be bound in the Spirit in the ways of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

In so living, the birth of the Christ Child in our lives transforms everyday living for all.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Don

The Eighth Day of Christmas

The blind see Jesus for what He is,
The deaf hear Jesus as He is,
The mute talk with Jesus where He is,
The lame walk with Jesus like He is . . .
So, how about you?
As He is, He meets you as you are.
Welcome Him into your life today.