I was raised up in the church. We went to church every Sunday as well as the special days (Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and others). I practiced my faith, did all the things I was “supposed” to do, including receiving absolution, communion and being confirmed. I grew up hearing the stories of our faith and knew them well including Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, the birth of Jesus, the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection. I pretty much knew most of the stuff I should know as a Christian and I believed in that God “out there”

Well, I had head knowledge of the stuff and a watered down belief in a supreme being way up in his heavens, but really had no heart knowledge of him. Until God caught my attention.

It was my senior year of high school. My aunt had a cerebral hemorrhage and was in a coma. While I had not attended church regularly, I found myself in a church on a Wednesday night praying for her. In the end, my aunt died and we went on with our lives as people do.

But then, while on a choir trip to Washington DC, I was standing in the National Cathedral taking in the great architecture. There was nobody around me; all the students were wandering around when I felt it. I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was a real, physical tap. I looked around, saw no one and realized something. God is real. God is alive. God wanted a relationship with me.

I would like to say that I completely got it from that point. I’d like to say I dropped to my knees and asked God into my life, was changed like Paul on the road to Damascus, or something equally earth shattering. But the truth is this one moment in my life was one of many on a faith journey I continue to take. It still took me years to get more of the heart knowledge, but this moment was pivotal in my faith journey. I knew God was real and loving, and wanted me!

So what is your story? When did you first hear from God? What are you experiencing right now that leads you closer to the Lord?

On Monday, April 15th a horrible event again happened. Two bombs caused death, destruction and chaos at the Boston Marathon. In the aftermath, many people rushed in to help, others dropped to their knees in prayer. And many continue to pray. And we should for Psalm 46:1-3 says:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

Brothers and Sisters, pray for those who were injured. Pray for those who mourn. Pray for those emergency workers. Pray for those who are investigating this act. Pray for our nation, and yes, pray for our enemies that their hearts be changed.

May God bless us all.

This video made me laugh my collar off (clergy’s version of “lmao”!). Yet in a way it is so real. So many of us want church to remain the same because we like it that way. Years ago, while seeking a church call, I read one church’s profile that essentially said “we are an aging congregation that likes our old hymns and worship style. We want a pastor who will not change it and find people like us to join.”

While not many churches are that honest, many have the same feelings. Growth is fine, as long as it is limited to “people like us”. Change is not allowed unless it meets with the expectations of every member, meaning change never happens.

But no matter what we want to happen, change happens. Look around you – everything changes. And I think that is the reason people want their church to “stay the same”. When all around us changes, we want that firm rock, that comfortable place. But it is an illusion. Every day we change – we grow older, we get glasses, we gain or loose weight, our children grow (far too fast) and the church changes along with it. The key is to be involved in the change, to make the change for Christ in an effort to grow His (no my or your) church.

So, how can you help to positively change His church? How can you help do a God (see Acts 5:27-41) thing to spread His church?

After far too many months of inactivity, I made it to the gym this morning.  We are committing to rescheduling our lives to take time for physical fitness.  And one Tuesday morning certainly does not mean I have achieved anything, but as the saying goes “the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”.

It is so easy to get out of doing something as important as exercising.  For me it was a family crisis.  Last May I was heading home from the gym when I got the call that my mom fell and needed surgery.  Life completely changed since that day and I’ve been unable (unwilling) to find time for exercise.

Life with God is the same way.  It is so easy to get out of a habit of devotional reading, prayer and just soaking in God’s presence.  It is easy to say “I will read scripture later, right now I have something important to do.”  But it is hard to start up again when all the “important” things overtake the important relationship we have with God.  After all, what is more important than our relationship with God?  If we let that fail, all of our other relationships will fail as well.

So, please pray that I continue my goals of physical and spiritual fitness.  Pray that I take the necessary time to go to the gym and work out, and that I take the necessary time to go to God and work out with Him as well.  For both those things will make me a better pastor, person, husband, father and friend.  And if you ask, I will pray for you that you make the time for the important things as well.

Peace,

Bill

He is risen Indeed!

This has been the Easter cry for over 2000 years and we shout it out again today.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the biggest thing to happen to humanity ever.  Not only because Jesus walked out of the tomb, but it shows us how God does not abandon us, ever.  Yes we face hard times.  Yes there are troubles.  Yes there are times when we think we are alone, but God is truly with us – even when we don’t recognize His presence.

Too often we try to do everything ourselves – we try to control the situation.  But truth be told, we cannot do this.  We are unable simply because we cannot control everything that happens.  Time and events that happen are not always within our control.  But God is the sovereign Lord of the Universe.  God is in control, even when things go wrong.  And if God is in control, and if God loves us, than ultimately God will carry us through.

This Easter season take some time to allow this story to enter your heart.  Take a moment and really think about this.  If God did not allow Jesus to remain in the grave – He will not allow you to be completely alone in your situation.  He is risen!  He is risen, indeed!

The great parade has ended.  Jesus has entered Jerusalem with the crowds shouting “hosanna”.  What a wonderful day it must have been for the disciples and the crowds.  Yet for Jesus, it was a day that would be overshadowed by the rest of the week.  For Jesus, betrayal was just a few days away.  But first he would celebrate Passover with his disciples in an upper room.  He would change the blessings of the bread and wine and he would wash his disciples feet. Holy week has begun.  How will you remember the events of this week?

We are just a few days away from Palm Sunday – when we celebrate Jesus entering Jerusalem in a great parade.  The people were shouting out great things to him, but in a few days, they shouted “crucify him”.

Often we live the same way.  We proclaim our belief in Jesus, yet act differently.  As we approach Palm Sunday, lets do so waving our palms and crying out “hosanna”, and when Monday comes, lets live like we mean it.