Trusting God. Following Jesus.

Is God Still Active in the World?

2012-01-16T14:07:00.000-06:00

As I look ahead into the New Year, I am excited about the possibilities! Because I believe that God is active in the world, working through people to make the world a better place.

And that gives rise to a question. I believe your answer will be a big factor in how excited you are about the possibilities for the New Year: ‘Do you believe that God is still active in the world?’ Day in and day out, do you notice God being active in your life? Or does it seem more to you like God is hanging out in the background, passively watching and waiting…from a distance.

Well, if there’s one thing the Christmas story teaches, it’s that God is involved, actively involved, in the world through things great and small. God came down and took on human flesh in an event that changed the world, the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. God was active big-time in the lives of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wisemen. God interrupted their lives and worked through them to help make the world a better place.

So the question is, do you believe that God still does this…do you believe that God is still active in people’s lives…that God still interrupts lives and works through people to change the world? Do you believe that God still can (and will) do this in your life?

Maybe not? Try this and see! Look around for where God is working in your life and in the world around you. Ask God how you can help (or just follow your heart and help as you feel moved). And then watch for how God is actively working in your life, and in the lives of the people around you.

As we begin this New Year, I invite you to imagine one place where you can make a difference. And then I encourage you to respond faithfully by going and doing what God invites you to do. And then experience the joy of seeing that God is, indeed, active in your life…working through you to help change the world.

Blessings,

RevRoy+

Loving Christmas

2011-12-15T13:15:00.000-06:00

I love Christmas! The birth of Jesus. Special worship and music. Trees and wreaths. Lights and decorations. Carols and cookies. Classic movies. Excited children. Time with friends and family. Wonderful memories. Peace on Earth and goodwill to all. (Sigh) ….Christmas.

But then there’s the chaotic malls. Acres of no parking spots. Traffic jams. Crowds. Obligatory gifts. Big charge card bills. Depleted savings. All the rush, rush rush … spend, spend spend. And then the hassle of returning the gifts we don’t want. Every year! Whatever happened to the peaceful, white Christmas I’m dreaming of? Come to think of it … maybe it is just a dream.

Sadly, in our western culture, Christmas has become ‘The Holidays.’ Another ‘Hallmark’ holiday of consumerism and excess. And every year those of us who celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on this sacred day find ourselves competing with the chaos, and excess caused by consumerism. It seems as if the message of Christ’s birth has taken a back seat to all the ‘Holiday’ glitz and glitter.

So how do we, the Christian church, push back against all the spending and rushing around…all the madness that has become so much a part of Christmas?

Well, perhaps it’s time to reclaim the Story of the birth of Jesus Christ for ourselves by focusing on the things that truly matter rather than plunging into the madness of ‘the Holidays’ with everyone else. I’m not suggesting that we stop enjoying Christmas and having fun…just that we do it differently…and in a way that’s much more meaningful and fulfilling. We’re starting by joining the Advent Conspiracy. The Advent Conspiracy is based on four basic principles; ‘Worship Fully,’ ‘Spend Less,’ Give More,’ and ‘Love All.’

To ‘Worship Fully’ is to start and end with Jesus, to put down our burdens and lift up a joyous song to God. It’s about a season where love wins, peace reigns and our Savior is celebrated with every breath. It means taking time to worship Jesus to the fullest.

To ‘Spend Less’ does NOT mean going all Scrooge! Everyone likes giving and receiving presents! What I’m suggesting is choosing not to buy the obligatory (meaningless?) gifts…maybe even buying just one less gift…and spending more time looking forward to celebrating the birth of Christ instead.

To ‘Give More’ is not just another pitch for you to give more money to the church! I’m encouraging you to give more of yourself to others, including the people who really matter to you by giving them the gift of time…time with you! Time together helping stock shelves at a food pantry, reading a book to children, serving a meal or dropping off old clothing at a shelter… Spending time in meaningful ways with the people you love can’t be found at the mall...(baking cookies, sledding, ice-skating, chatting) and it’s way better than giving a gift their likely to return anyway.

To ‘Love All,’ is to take some of the money and time we saved by ‘spending less’ and use it to share the love of God with people who are often overlooked or forgotten. God came down to us in the person of Jesus Christ…and taught us the importance of caring for the sick, the hungry, the homeless, the overlooked and forgotten. And we can do this through our charitable work and our giving. God loves all. And by loving all, we move beyond just having faith to actually living our faith.

This Christmas, let's reclaim the Christmas we truly love by refocusing on God’s gift…the gift of Jesus Christ. And then let's live as though that still matters to us and to the world.

Loving Christmas,

Pastor Roy+

WOW! Am I Blessed!

2011-11-12T21:17:00.000-06:00

This month, we celebrate Thanksgiving…a time to count our blessings and give thanks to God for all that we have been blessed with. And as I look at my life, WOW! Am I blessed!

I have survived a heart attack! Jean is a breast cancer survivor! We have a nice house and two cars. Our children have good schools. When we want to eat something, we just open the fridge or head for the store or a restaurant. I have a wonderful call, health insurance, and a pension. I am blessed. And I am truly thankful.

But a life is not measured by the amount of stuff we accumulate or by our personal achievements! It’s not measured by the size of our paychecks, the houses we live in or the cars we drive!

But this is difficult to see in our American culture where we are constantly told that if we spend more, buy this, get this—then we will be happy. It can get to a point where it feels like being on a treadmill, making more and spending more, getting more stuff—that we need to work more to pay for. And it can result in more and more stress—and less and less happiness.

But Jesus shows us a better way. He teaches that it’s not about what we can GET that makes us happy. It’s about what we can GIVE that brings true happiness. Jesus describes his followers as generous people who clothe the naked, feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, and welcome the stranger. People who give their time, energy and even their money to help make the world a better place.

True thankfulness then, is realizing how much we have been blessed and asking, “What can I do to be a blessing to someone else? Who can I be a blessing to today?”

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to remember that all we have is gift from God. Food—gift. Roof—gift. Cloths—gift. Even life itself is a gift—from God. And God blesses us with these gifts for a reason---so that we can use our gifts (our lives) to be a blessing to others—sharing generously, working to help make the world a better place—the kind of place God created it to be.

May you come to see, with a thankful heart, that you are blessed. May you joyfully do what Jesus teaches, and be a blessing to others.

Thank you God, for your abundant gifts!

Pastor Roy+

Forgiving Others

2011-10-02T12:27:00.000-05:00

Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:13

Few sermons have evoked as much response as several I recently preached about forgiveness. Most of the comments are related to how difficult it can be to really forgive as God has forgiven us (especially forgiving our enemies). And that is so true. But in order for us to be healed from the brokenness of hurts caused by others, it is essential that we forgive. It’s really for our own good. Because until we forgive, unforgiveness acts like an acid that slowly eats away at our soul, and can have a negative effect on our health and our other relationships.

So how are we to forgive as God, in Christ, has forgiven us? Well, Christ-like forgiveness is not a feeling, it is an act of will. So make the decision to forgive, whether the other person deserves it or not. It doesn’t help you any to harbor ill-will toward someone…it actually causes you emotional pain and physical harm. And who needs that?

Like in the biblical story of Joseph and his brothers…make a decision to not let you or your relationship with the other person be defined by what that person has done to harm you. This doesn’t mean to forget about it, because that doesn’t really happen anyway. Just promise yourself to stop thinking about it, stop talking about it, and stop letting it define who you are in relation to this person and to others.

In a way, that’s what forgiveness is all about…the refusal to let past hurts and harms define our future for us. Note that Joseph never actually says, ‘I forgive you’ to his brothers…but he does make it clear that he is not going to let what occurred in the past define him or their relationship moving forward.

Accept the gift of God’s grace and forgiveness that is yours in and through Jesus Christ…and allow yourself to be changed by it. Whatever it is you might hold against others who have wounded you, it’s nothing compared to the sin God has forgiven in you.

Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

revroy+

Battling Weeds

2011-07-21T22:36:00.000-05:00

So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. Matthew 13:26

I truly enjoy working outside around the house in the summer. Tending the lawn and flower beds is therapeutic for me. And this summer, having moved into a ‘new’ home that was suffering from a number of years of neglect, I’m getting a lot of ‘yard-work therapy, ’ much of which seems to involve pulling and spraying weeds.

You see, I’m one of those guys who likes to have a weed-free yard. I’m so diligent about it that I have gotten into trouble sometimes by pulling ‘weeds’ that were really some of Jean’s flowers. (Seriously, until they actually flower…they look like weeds to me!)

So as l engage in battle with my (now partially) weed-infested lawn and flower beds, I am mindful that Jean has already planted some new flowers here and there, which I need to be careful not to uproot in my battle for a weed-free yard. I guess I feel sort of like the workers in Jesus parable of the weeds among the wheat. (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

Just like Jean has impressed on me to wait until a plant flowers (or at least ask her what it is) before assuming it’s a weed, the master in the parable tells his workers to let the wheat and weeds grow together until the harvest (when it is obvious which is which) and then they can be pulled and separated.

In the kingdom of God, God is the patient gardener, who does not want to risk losing one good plant in the battle against the evil weeds. And this is an especially good thing, because there are times in all of our lives where the weeds in our lives (materialism, self-centeredness, busy-ness, jealousy, anger, greed, hard-heartedness—and any thing we might trust in more than we trust in God) have a tendency to crowd out and hinder the growth of the seeds of faith God has planted in our hearts.

But, through the power of God’s Word and the Sacraments, God tends the garden. Because of what God has done for us (and continues to do for us through the power of the Holy Spirit), weeds do not overtake the wheat, and the sinner within each of us does not overtake the saint. God wins the battle over the weeds in our lives. God’s abundant love, made real for us in and through Jesus Christ, makes possible a bountiful harvest of righteousness.

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Matthew 13:41-43

Blessings, Pastor Roy+

Call Stories

2011-01-26T10:52:00.000-06:00

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4: 18-20

These call stories Matthew tells about Peter, his brother Andrew, and James and John remind me of the call stories that people who go to seminary later in life tell. Stories of how Jesus broke in to their lives—invited them to follow—and how their lives were totally changed as they dropped everything to follow him.

But not everyone does what these fishermen did, or what older seminarians do—not everyone just walks away from their work and their everyday lives to follow Jesus. And not everyone can. Not everyone can just pick up, leave everything behind and follow Jesus in such a dramatic fashion. And not everyone has to. Because following Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean leaving everything behind and going somewhere new. Some people are called to fish for people, others are called to fish for fish.

Because Jesus comes to us, just as he came to Peter, Andrew, James and John—in the midst of our ordinary routines of life. And he invites us, just as he invited them, into a new way of being—a new way of seeing the world—a new way of looking at other people. Maybe not necessarily to totally shake things up and turn your life upside down (although it could be…that’s between you and God to sort out). Maybe your call is to be a follower of Jesus right where you are…being his hands, feet and voice to those you come in contact with everyday…as he helps you to see things in a new way…a more kind, compassionate, non-judgmental way…a more loving way. The way Jesus sees things.

Jesus invites us to follow him and be HIS church…a community of people who embody him in the world. And, as the apostle Paul teaches, in order to BE the church that actually DOES embody Christ in the world, we are to be ‘united in the mind and purpose’ of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:10

And that is the mind and purpose that personifies the LOVE of God for us and for the world...that brings salvation by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ... that gives hope to others by placing their needs ahead of our own…that loves God and loves our neighbor…that trusts God above everything else, knowing that God will provide...and that sees the world through Jesus’ eyes.

Jesus invites us to follow him and find our identity in him…not in anyone or anything else. He invites us into a shared identity that unifies us in purpose and mission…the shared identity of ‘followers of Jesus.’

As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Matthew 4: 21-22

Trusting God. Following Jesus.
Pastor Roy+

Pink Hair and Perceptions

2010-07-30T17:34:00.000-05:00

I agreed to have my hair colored pink if Jean met her fund raising goal of over $2,000 for the Koman 3-Days for the Cure 60 mile walk for breast cancer research. She did. And, as I write this, I have pink hair. So, I’m thinking about how different it has been for me to be out and about around town this past week with pink hair. Well, it’s been interesting.

Of course, those of you who me and know why I have pink hair are in on the gag and know that I’m just being a good sport. And people who know me but don’t yet know the story typically make some friendly comment like, ‘nice hair’, and enjoy hearing the story.

But the reaction from people who don’t know me is what I have found to be most interesting. Many people, especially young people and women, have come up to me and said they really like my hair and want to know why I did it. But I have experienced many more people going out of their way to avoid eye contact or keep their distance while staring and whispering. Not wanting people to get the wrong impression of me (because I have been very self-conscious of my new ‘look’ ), I have approached some to explain my pink hair. Once they hear the story most people think it’s a fun way to be supportive of a good cause. But I was troubled when a person said that she was sorry for what she had been thinking about me, and another who said he thought I was a strange person from the university.

So I began to think about how we can be critical or judgmental of someone whose appearance is different from the socially accepted norm. And I have been thinking about how unfair it is to form an unfavorable opinion of someone based solely on their appearance. I’m still the same guy…it’s just that my hair is pink…and it’s kind of sad that it changes people’s view of who I am before they even give me a chance.

So this experience of having pink hair has provided a lesson about how we see people who look different than we do; how we can be uncomfortable with or critical of someone who dresses in ethnic clothing, speaks a different language, is from a different culture, has a different skin color, looks like they might be gay, or even those whose appearance indicates that they might be homeless, hungry and poor.

Having spent this past week with pink hair, I have seen first-hand that how people look really matters to us, especially if they look different than we do. But God doesn’t care about appearances. God cares about the person, each and every person. Jesus came and died and rose for everyone…even those whose appearance might make us uncomfortable. And God calls us, as followers of Jesus Christ, to care about people, even those who look different than we do…because they too, are members of the family of God.

And that’s why our doors at FLC are open to everyone. That’s why we share God’s love with the poor in partnership with Love INC through our Linen Closet Ministry, and why we will be feeding the hungry and homeless in partnership with the Feed em Soup meal program. Let us always welcome everyone, especially those who look different from us, as Jesus would…with open arms and a servant’s heart.
'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Matthew 25:40

Pastor Roy+

Gardening and Ministry

2010-05-20T13:12:00.000-05:00

What a wonderful spring we have had this year! Mild sunny days came earlier than usual…or so it seems to me…and with them came great planting weather. Jean and I have spent our weekends and days off preparing our flower and vegetable gardens for planting and, after we were sure it was time, planting. Hard work, but we love the results! We do the work of the preparing and planting…but we have little control over the results…that’s up to God. Oh sure, all summer we weed, cultivate and water…doing what we can do to help things along…but the growth comes from God.

There are some remarkable parallels between gardening and ministry. As the church, we (all of us, not just the pastors and staff) work hard to prepare hearts and minds and plant seeds of faith. And then we ‘weed, cultivate and water’ in order to help things along by creating a favorable environment for faith to grow. We do this for ourselves and others by listening to and learning from Jesus, praying, attending worship and receiving Holy Communion, and by giving generously of ourselves by sharing God’s love with others. But the actual growing in faith comes from God…through the work of the Holy Spirit.

This summer, our Gospel readings encourage us to pay attention to the hard work of growing in faith…the preparing, planting, weeding, cultivating and watering…that helps create good conditions for the Spirit of God to bring about the growth. Again, the growth comes from God, but we certainly have a role in ‘helping things along.’ So over the summer, we are offering a number of opportunities to help you help the Spirit grow faith in you, and to help you grow in service to others.

In keeping with the ‘gardening’ theme, we are sharing God’s love with others by growing produce to give away to the hungry in DeKalb in our ‘Giving Garden’ this summer. Please let us know if you would like to grow in faith by helping feed the hungry through this project.

In addition to encouraging you to grow in faith by continuing to faithfully worship this summer, we are also gathering outdoors around a campfire for ‘WOW! (Worship on Wednesdays)’ an informal gathering for song, prayer, scripture and conversation, at 6:30 PM on June 9, 23, July 14, 28, and August 11.

Some gatherings of small groups are also being planned to help people grow in faith and service by becoming better connected with others in the congregation and finding ways to serve in areas where they have an interest or talent.

And, of course, we invite all the children to come and grow in faith (and adults who would like to help them grow) as we set sail on High Seas Expedition Vacation Bible School the mornings of June 21-25.

And then there’s the mission trip to Guatemala coming up in January 2011 (I bring it up now because it will be good to know who’s coming before the end of summer), which I guarantee will be a ‘faith growing’ experience as we share God’s love with the poorest of the poor by working with the School of the Saints.

A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path… Other seeds fell on rocky ground… Other seeds fell among thorns… Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold... Matthew 13:3b, 4a, 7a, 8a

Growing in Faith. Sharing God’s Love.
Pastor Roy+

Sharing God's Love

2010-03-26T11:22:00.000-05:00

…these things are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.’ John 20:31

During Lent a number of years ago, at Wednesday evening worship, my pastor illustrated his sermons with images from Renaissance art, paintings which graphically depict Jesus’ suffering, humiliation and horrifying death.
During those Lenten services, I was deeply moved and came to appreciate the enormity of the sacrifice Jesus made for us—for the whole world—and for ME. I was overwhelmed thinking that anyone, let alone the Son of God, would make such a huge sacrifice for ME. I hadn’t done anything to deserve such a sacrifice. But God did it anyway. Jesus died for ME/us, so that I/we could be forgiven of my/our sins and given a fresh start in a new relationship with God.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16

Having had this experience, I really think it helps one gain perspective to take time to observe Lent and Holy Week. But not that many people seem to do so. Maybe it’s because Lent and Holy Week are seen as the time when we put away our ‘alleluias’ and get all serious and somber. I have to admit that it seems much more appealing to rush to Easter and bask in the joy of the resurrection, rather than paying so much attention to the cross.

But in order to get to Easter, Jesus had to first go to the cross. And in order to follow him, so do we. Because without the cross—as horrible as it is—there is no resurrection. Without the cross, there is no forgiveness of our sins. Without forgiveness of our sins, we cannot receive the gift of new life, eternal life, in the kingdom of God. Without the cross, there is no ‘saved by grace, through faith, in Jesus Christ.’ Without the cross there is no Easter.

The Good News is that because of what Jesus did for us, because he, the Son of God, willingly gave up his life on the cross, everyone who believes in him is forgiven and receives the gift of eternal life in the kingdom of God! WHAT A BLESSING it is to be loved by God! And what a blessing it is to share God's love by being be a blessing to others! For that is our purpose as followers of Jesus Christ—that’s why we are here—that is our mission—to be a blessing to others by sharing God’s love, everywhere, everyday.

As you are filled with thanksgiving and joy this Easter, I ask you to please consider the amazing and abundant ways in which God has blessed you, and pray about how you can be a blessing to others by sharing God’s love.

… As the Father has sent me, so I send you. John 20:21

Blessings,
Pastor Roy+

Look Up! Jesus is Coming!

2009-12-03T11:57:00.000-06:00

We spend a lot of time rushing around getting ready for Christmas. Shopping, wrapping, tree decorating, baking, cooking, going to parties and family gatherings, more shopping, more wrapping, more… . It’s exhausting just thinking about it. And it’s just as busy in the church!

A lot of extra planning and effort goes into getting ready for this very special time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—the baby born in a humble manger—God coming down to us, becoming human and living among us in the ordinary rhythm of life.

And as we rush around getting ready for this big event, it’s easy to focus only on Jesus’ birth, (the event that has already happened) but forget about his promised second coming, when he will return, the world as we know it will end, and he will establish his kingdom (the event that has not happened yet). And this 'already, but not yet,' in-between time is where we live, going about our daily lives, busy with all the things we busy ourselves with.

But in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus warns that at times just like these, when people are busy with the ordinary rhythm of life, when the world is busy with all its business, Jesus will come again. Interestingly, it was like this when Jesus came the first time: people were just going about their usual rhythm of life when he was born. God came down into the world that first Christmas. And only a few people even noticed.

But when he comes again, Jesus warns, it won’t be quiet and peaceful like the first time. There will be fire, lightning and fear. The world as we know it will come to an end. And he tells us that when we see these signs, we should LOOK UP. Because in the midst of everything in our world spinning out of control—the end of life as we know it—Jesus comes back down to us and creates a new and different world, a new and different life—for us.

But I don’t think his coming again is something reserved only for the end of time. Because I believe that Jesus comes down to us in the here and now, when we least expect it, when the rhythm of ordinary life is broken and life seems turned upside down by things like a diagnosis of cancer, the death of a spouse or child, a divorce, the loss of a longtime secure job, closing of a family business, foreclosure of a house or family farm, the economic recession, reduced retirement funds, concern with global warming, or even the anxiety created in the church about rostering pastors living in committed same gender relationships.

In times when the rhythm of our lives is broken, when our world is shaken and it feels like everything is coming apart, Jesus invites us to LOOK UP! Look up and see him coming down to us—right here, and right now—to walk with us, carry us in his arms, and give us new life—with him and in him.

As we busy ourselves making all our preparations for Christmas, please take time to consider the wonder of a God who loves us so much that he has come, continues to come and is coming again to make all things new.

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us. Isaiah 9:6a

Rejoicing with you,
Pastor Roy+

Filled with the Holy Spirit

2009-05-27T12:36:00.000-05:00

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Acts 2:1-6

The day of Pentecost is one of great excitement for the church because it is the day Jesus’ twelve apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit. And it is the day they begin to preach the gospel to all people, in their native languages. They proclaimed Christ crucified, risen and ascended into heaven—in order that people can be restored to a right relationship with God

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." Acts 2:38-39

The ‘Good News’ of Jesus Christ, the promise of the resurrection, is for everyone—and those who are, are ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ are charged to go and proclaim the Gospel, so that, all people come to believe, have their sins forgiven and are ‘filled with the Holy Spirit!’

When we are gathered, ‘all together in one place,’ at worship, we intentionally step into the presence of the living God and become ‘filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Gathered together in Christian fellowship, around God’s Word and Sacrament, we receive affirmation of our calling and receive the gifts of God’s amazing grace. We are nourished and strengthened in faith and, ‘filled with the Holy Spirit,’ we are then sent back out into the world to love as God loves—as changed people—as disciples of Jesus Christ.

To be ‘filled with the Holy Spirit,’ is transformational. God intends for it to change us—in ways that are apparent to others. When we truly encounter God—we can’t help but be changed.
But whether one actually does encounter God in worship, is up to each individual. We can be ‘filled with the Holy Spirit,’ or we can resist what God is trying to do in us.

Be open to the awe and wonder, the awesomeness, and the mystery of God truly present in Word and Sacrament, the preaching, the prayers and the music. Worship, not out of a sense of obligation, but out of eagerness for an encounter with the Divine. Expect to encounter God in worship and to be changed into a disciple of Jesus Christ. Then go out into the world and spread God’s love around—and invite others to come with you to experience the Divine in worship.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. …And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42, Acts 2:47b

Pastor Roy+

The Path to Easter is Through the Cross

2009-03-25T09:15:00.000-05:00

During this Lenten season, we have been taking the Journey of the Stones, following Jesus to the cross. It has been a reflective, penitent journey. Each week at our Wednesday evening worship service, we were given a stone which represented the weight of our sins.

Sometimes, we can get weighed down by our sins, and be left feeling undeserving and unloved. Sometimes we can forget that Jesus bore the weight of all our sins and took them to the cross so that we could be set free from sin and death and set free to serve God and one another!

So on Wednesday evenings this Lent, at the end of each service, we were invited to lay down the weight of our sins by placing our stones at the foot of the cross. It was very moving to see so many people come forward every week and lay their stones at the foot of the ‘old rugged cross,’ trusting that Jesus would take up the weight of their sin.

The weight of sin and death! Gone!
Through Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection! Gone!
Through the sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism. Gone!
Through confession and absolution! Gone!
Because of God’s great love made real for us in and through Jesus Christ and by what he did for us. Gone!
By grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Gone!

I invite you to complete the journey with us as we walk the stony path, following Jesus to the cross through Holy Week; Passion/Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Vigil of Easter. We will follow Jesus into Jerusalem, be with him in the upper room as he washes the disciples’ feet, witness his betrayal and arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, lament as he carries his cross to Golgotha, is crucified, dies, and is buried, and we will keep watch at his tomb, waiting for what he foretold—waiting for him to rise again on the third day.

I invite you to journey with us as we follow Jesus to the cross—and beyond! Because the path to salvation, the path to being made right with God, the path to victory over sin and death—is through the cross.

There are many paths that go around the cross. But none of those paths leads to salvation, because they are not the path Jesus walked. His path led to the cross. And he called us to follow him. And so we do. All the way to the cross—through the cross—and then beyond!

There is only one path to the glory of Easter—the path that leads through the cross.

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34b

On the journey with you,
Pastor Roy+
Trusting God. Following Jesus <><

Inbetween Christmas and Easter

2009-03-02T13:27:00.000-06:00

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." Mark 1:9-11

It’s cold and windy. Dark when I get up and dark when I come home. I’m tired of shoveling snow and slipping on ice. The thrill of Christmas is past and the bills have arrived. The winter doldrums have descended. I just want to hurry up and get to spring and Easter! Yup, going right from Christmas trees, presents, Santa and the baby Jesus, to dyed eggs, jelly beans, The Bunny and the risen Christ, would be so much easier (and more fun) that spending this time slogging through these dark cold months of January and February—this ‘in between’ time of the church calendar called ‘Epiphany.’

Sometimes I fear that because of the post-Christmas ‘let-down,’ we can treat Epiphany like that—as an ‘in between’ time of the church year that we have to go through to get from the wondrous birth of our Lord and Savior, to his glorious resurrection. My concern is that, in our winter doldrums, we just might miss the wondrous things God is saying to us, those wondrous things God wants us to know, as we read and study the scriptures during this time of Epiphany.

The season of Epiphany is so much more than the time that fills the gap between Christmas and Lent. This year the ‘bookends’ for Epiphany, as we read through the Gospel of Mark, are the Baptism of Jesus and the Transfiguration of the Lord. At both of these monumental events in the life of Jesus, ‘a voice’ comes from heaven proclaiming Jesus to be God’s Son, the Beloved.

I was taught in seminary that when a portion of the bible is ‘bracketed’ by God’s voice, one should pay particular attention to what the text within the ‘brackets’ is saying—because the message is likely to be rather significant. And in the Gospel of Mark, the text ‘between the brackets’ calls all people to come and see Jesus for themselves and to follow him. Jesus extends the invitation to come and meet him, learn from him, and follow him. And Jesus instructs his followers to ‘go and tell’ people about him, inviting them to come and see so they can meet him for themselves, learn from him, and receive his invitation to follow.

Jesus calls us to ‘fish for people’ by extending the invitation to come and meet him. To invite others is to follow Jesus. Because Jesus, ‘God’s son, the Beloved,’ wants to share the gift of salvation by grace, through faith, in Jesus Christ, with EVERYONE. And he left the inviting to us—until he returns.

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" Mark 9:2-7

Trusting God. Following Jesus. <><
Pastor Roy+

PRAISE GOD!!! A MIRACLE of Helping Make Ministry Happen!

2009-01-08T12:15:00.000-06:00

In December, First Lutheran found itself facing a projected $50,000 shortfall between giving and the expense of supporting the ministry and mission of the church. I wrote a note informing the people of the financial situation and asked them to prayerfully consider giving generously to reduce (or even erase) the projected shortfall. I shared my belief that giving is an act of worship and praise to our generous and loving God; that we give out of joy and thanksgiving for the many blessings we have received from God, trusting that God does and will provide for our daily needs, and; that we give in order to continue the work of ministry and mission in the world that Jesus has entrusted to us.

And I shared what our Bishop, Gary Wollersheim recently wrote about where we put our trust in the midst of an ‘economic crisis;’ “As Christians, we put our trust in God. We believe that God does and will provide for our daily needs. We recognize that compared to most of the world, even in an economic crisis, we are wealthy. And we are reminded of the words of Scripture: “to whom much is given, much shall be required”, so we respond to God’s graciousness with continued generosity.”

And then I prayed and waited to see what God would do.

And what happened is a miracle! It brought tears of joy to my eyes to see how God worked through his people to significantly reduce (and nearly erase) the projected shortfall before the end of the year! By their actions thepeople of First Lutheran have shown that they truly trust in God, even in these difficult economic times. They responded to God’s graciousness with generosity, and helped make ministry happen.

All praise and thanks to God for these wonderful, generous people!

Trusting God. Following Jesus. <><

Pastor Roy+

It All Starts with the Incarnation

2008-11-20T13:00:00.000-06:00

We have been celebrating our 150th year of ministry and mission for the past year, and it is very exciting that this month we celebrate the congregation’s actual birthday on December 25th.

I’m sure that it was no mere coincidence that our Swedish immigrant founders chose this particular day, the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to begin worshipping as a new faith community. Perhaps they chose the day of the incarnation because they wanted to impress on the worshipping assembly that the church is to be ‘incarnational’—all about being the body of Christ in here and now, all about being Jesus’ hands and feet in carrying on his mission and ministry in the world, all about being ‘little Christs,’ ambassadors of God, light in the darkness, bearers of the Good News of salvation by grace, through faith, in Jesus Christ—everyday, everywhere, and with everyone.

And as we look toward the birth of our Lord and Savior on Christmas Day, and the anniversary of the founding of this worshipping community, I also invite you to look forward to the re-birth and renewal of our congregation. As Lutherans, we are to be all about ‘new life’ in and through Jesus Christ—not just for individuals, but also for the entire congregation and the whole church. We are to be continuously reforming and renewing the church, always asking ourselves, ‘How does what we are doing and the way we are doing it help us live out the mission entrusted to us by Jesus Christ?’

Through the incarnation, God came down to us in and though the person of Jesus Christ. And Jesus left us with his mission to serve God and others in his name, baptizing, preaching and teaching the Gospel –not for our own benefit, but in order to help grow the kingdom of God in the here and now—and in the world to come. I call the church ‘incarnational’ because it is, in a way, a continuation of the incarnation—God’s choosing to work in the world through human beings.

The incarnation changed everything. The relationship between God and people will never be the same as it was before. A Savior is born. All of humanity can be restored to a right relationship with God, in and through Jesus Christ. And the ‘incarnational’ church continues to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit that changes it and it's role in the world. Walking humbly, loving mercy and doing justice in his name. Not resting on our laurels, but looking ahead to the next new thing God has planned for us to do in his name—even if the new thing may not look so much like the old thing. And it all starts with the incarnation.

Trusting God. Following Jesus <><

Pastor Roy+

Trusting God in Troubling Economic Times

2008-10-31T12:47:00.000-05:00

There's no denying that we are living in troubling economic times—and it doesn’t help ease our minds that day in, and day out, we receive news reports about the economic ‘crisis’ ('financial meltdown) and our government’s extreme measures undertaken to help fix it. It’s scary. And when we are scared, we tend to hang on to our money tighter.

But, many of us have lived through troubling economic times before—and we know that our economy does recover. And I know it’s because of the spirit, the resourcefulness, the hard work, and the character of the American people. So I remain hopeful because, having been through it before, these things always seem to work out over time—and we’re still standing when the dust clears.

It seems to me that how scared we get in the midst of an ‘economic crisis’ has a whole lot to do with where we put our trust. As Bishop Gary Wollersheim of the Northern Illinois Synod, ELCA, recently wrote, “where are we going to put our trust? Should we put our trust in the stock market? Should we put our trust in our elected officials? Should we put our trust in an economic system? No, as Christians, we put our trust in God. We believe that God does and will provide for our daily needs. We recognize that compared to most of the world, even in an economic crisis, we are wealthy. And we are reminded of the words of Scripture: “to whom much is given, much shall be required”, so we respond to God’s graciousness with continued generosity.”

When we get scared, it can be difficult to remember that Jesus is with us in the most difficult places—saying, ‘do not be afraid, for I am with you.’ In these times when economic fear runs rampant, it is our faith, grounded in our relationship with God and with God’s people, that frees us from fear and frees us to live lives of generosity in service to God and others.

When we get scared it can be difficult to remember that we give generously out of joy and thanksgiving for the many blessings we have received from God; that we give as an act of worship and praise to our generous and loving God; that we give to continue the work of ministry in the world that Jesus has entrusted to us, and; that we give to help make ministry happen.

Trusting God. Following Jesus. <><

Pastor Roy+

The Ministry of Reconciliation

2008-10-16T16:20:00.000-05:00

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 1Cor 15:17-20

So what is the ministry of reconciliation? What is the message of reconciliation God has entrusted to us? What is the appeal God is making through us?

It’s about Love. God’s immeasurable love for us—made real for us in Christ’s death on the cross—for no other purpose than for us to be reconciled to God and given a fresh start.

It’s about Love. The love we, as people reconciled to God in and through Jesus Christ, ought to have for one another so that, having been given a fresh start, we can function in unity as members of the Body of Christ—for no other purpose than to live out God's mission in the world—the mission of loving others as Christ has loved us, by showing them love and by telling them about the great love God has shown for them in and through Jesus Christ.

Because we have been reconciled to God in and through Jesus Christ, God has entrusted us, the Body of Christ, with the ministry of proclaiming, in word and deed, to all people, the Good News of reconciliation to God and to one another. But, in order to effectively live out this ministry, we must first be reconciled to one another within the Body of Christ so we fully appreciate one another’s gifts and work together as ambassadors of Christ despite our disagreements.

Our focus when we disagree about how to best live out our mission must be on Christ as the head of the body of which we are members. Each one of us being gifted differently for life together, as we build up the Body of Christ, by sharing the Good News of reconciliation to God in and through faith in Jesus Christ. It is only by God’s love that we are reconciled to God and become members of the Body of Christ. We can surely trust that God’s love will hold us, the church, together in the midst of our differences and disagreements, so that we can serve faithfully to build up the Body of Christ in the world.

The key question to ask when we are in conflict is: What effect does the way we are discussing/disagreeing and resolving our differences (or not) have on the Body of Christ and our ability to live out the mission entrusted to us?

My hope and prayer is that the people will be reconciled within the body and with God so that the work of ministry can be done and the church can grow in ministry and mission. As I have written before, it's about relationship (with God and with others within the body). Now if we could just forgive others as God, in and through Christ, has forgiven us ...

Trusting God. Following Jesus. <><

Pastor Roy+

Families and Faith Communities

2008-08-21T11:33:00.000-05:00

This has been a great summer! We spent a week in North Carolina at Jean’s family reunion. We also travelled ‘up north’ to my internship congregation in Oconto, Wisconsin to see Pastor Rick before he retired and visit with friends. And we spent a few days in northwestern Wisconsin visiting with our good friends from seminary.

Good times! But what made them good, was not so much the places we visited as much as it was the people we spent time with. Reconnecting with family and friends is a great joy and something I look forward to. Even though we may not get together as often as we would like, we’re always able to pick up where we left off. Especially the kids—they just take off and go with friends and cousins as if they hadn’t even been apart.

Good, strong relationships are like that. And I see a lot of those good, strong relationships here at First Lutheran. The strong community and joy of friendship was especially evident at the 150th anniversary dinner and worship service in July. It was wonderful to see so many people, gathered together in friendship: people who came back after many years and people who have never left; people from places far away and from places close by—all coming together to reconnect with friends at an event that was important to them.

The occasion was special, and the people made it even more so. And the thing we all have in common—the thing that gives us the relationship that bonds us together—is what made it extraordinary. That thing is--the faith we share in Jesus Christ.

Faith is a relationship thing. It requires trust, and trust requires a relationship between someone who trusts and someone who is trustworthy. Our faith then, is an expression of our trusting relationship with God, made real for us in and through Jesus Christ. But, it is not a relationship we have only on our own (although each one of us is invited into a personal relationship with Jesus). It is a relationship we share with others in community—a 'faith community.'

Every week, when we gather for worship, we have a family reunion. We gather together with family and dear friends around that which we hold in common, our relationship with Jesus. We sing together, pray together, hear God's word together, share the meal together. And we talk and laugh and cry together.

And no matter how much time has passed, no matter how far we may have wandered away, we are welcomed back and get to pick up right where we left off. With the people of faith who truly care about us, and with God, who loves us just as we are. Families, and faith communities, are like that.

Gathered in Christ… together,
Pastor Roy+

Blessing of the Animals

2008-08-07T16:30:00.000-05:00

On Saturday evening we moved our worship service outdoors and had a blessing of the animals. We had our best Saturday worship attendance ever--79 people (and 29 pets). It was a great service and we intend to make it an annual event on the first Saturday in August. Thinking about having Saturday worship outdoors on several more occasions during the summer too.
Hopefully it will attract more people and increase awareness of the service time and the casual atmosphere for this service. We have begun to promote the Saturday service as "No dress code. Bring the kids," with sandwich board signs out front and articles in the local newspaper and our newsletter. Hopefully an alternative to the 'high church' setting on Sunday will be attractive to people who have been avoiding coming on Sundays or who are not familiar with Lutheran worship and are just checking us out. The goal, of course, is to reach more people with the good news of salvation by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Things like blessing pets may seem a bit wacky to some -- but think it's being faithful to the mission of the church -- reaching out to more people with the life changing Word of God. And we had a lot of fun. Joy in worship! What a concept!

Trusting God. Following Jesus. <><
Pastor Roy+

Back From Vacation

2008-07-24T11:53:00.000-05:00

How wonderful it was to be away at the beach on the Outer Banks of NC! I took along some work to do, but never even got close to doing any. This was, in no small part, due to the unexpected blessing that there was no wireless internet access where we were staying. Although I was annoyed by this at first, to be prevented from working while away on vacation really was a blessing! I spent my time relaxing and playing in the sun with Jean and the kids and taking walks on the beach. It doesn't get much better than that!
During one of those walks, Jean's uncle (also a pastor) asked, 'what are your joys in ministry?' It didn't take much time to think of them--Inspiring worship, 'real' preaching, teaching adults and children about God's great love for them, having a supportive colleague in Pastor Marilyn, the wonderful way the people of the congregation supported us during Jean's cancer treatments, seeing Jean healthy again and playing piano/organ for worship and doing music with children.
It is a gift to be able to reflect on our joys and blessings rather than spend our time thinking about the problems that are constantly barking for our attention. I choose to focus on the things that are good about our ministry together. And with regard to those things that are not, I know that I am not alone--I am yolked with Jesus. He is in charge of his church. And he invites us to work together with him, promising to give us rest for our souls. It truly can't get any better than that!

Joyfully,
Pastor Roy+

Thinking about freedom while preparing for vacation

2008-07-08T14:06:00.000-05:00

I'm at church trying to get a few things done before leaving on a two week vacation with Jean and the kids. So I may not find time to blog while gone. We'll see.
Since we just celebrated Independence Day, this past week's services had the theme of freedom. As important and treasured as our freedom as a nation is, there is a greater and even more fundamental freedom--the freedom from sin and freedom to serve God and others that comes to us in and through Jesus Christ. Freedom to live life without the burden of having to do the right things to please God and earn your place in heaven. The freedom of knowing, and trusting that you are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. It's all about grace, God's love, made real for us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Now that's true freedom!

Trusting God. Following Jesus. <><

Relationships

2008-07-04T12:20:00.000-05:00

Jean and the kids have been gone all week, visiting her parents. With just the dog and me around the house is just so quiet! I really miss all the noise and commotion of my family.

So, since I have no one to talk to at home this week, I've been thinking how important close, loving relationships are in our lives. God created us in God's image. The image of a relational being. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are relationship names. To be created in God's image, then means that we are relational beings--created to be in relationship with other people, and with God.

Trusting God. Following Jesus. <><