I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.

That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.  Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

Well, the game is over, the Eagles won the Superbowl, Jalen Hurts is the MVP of the game, and a parade will happen on Friday.  Congratulations to the team and the fans, it was a great season.

With all the turmoil going on in the world and the country, it is good to sometimes take a moment and enjoy something fun.  Watching my team dominate the Chiefs was fun!

Yet the Superbowl is not the only good thing we observed yesterday.  Our church participated in the Souperbowl of Sharing and we collected over 300 cans of soup for a local pantry.

This is the beauty of life – we can enjoy a football game and provide for the hungry at the same time.

This week, enjoy the victory (unless you are a Chiefs fan) and look for ways to help.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:2

Everywhere I turn people are nasty.  Comments on social media are nastier than ever.  People speak to each other with disrespect, and even hate.  Civil discourse is all but extinct.

Yet that is not how we, as followers of Christ, are to behave.  We can disagree with each other but we must do so with grace and mercy.  We can have differing opinions on politics, economics, education and even the church, as long as we do so with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

This week, strive to follow this passage.  If you disagree with someone, talk with them, one on one, without the baggage of nastiness.  Look at situations from all viewpoints.  Try to understand the other person.  Remember that they, too, are created in the image of God. 

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25

When we look at the news, when we hear of the devastation of the wild fires, or the hurricanes, or the continuing fighting going on in many countries, we get discouraged.  When we hear of violence and crime, we get disheartened. When we, or someone we know, is ill, and not getting better, we get down spirited.

But the author of Hebrews calls us to encourage one another, to provoke one another to love and good deeds.  Your good deeds may not end the war in Ukraine, they may not stop the wildfires, but they do incredible good.  Your act of kindness towards one person can be magnified – especially if we all do them.

Every time we do a good work, every time we encourage another, every time we show God’s love, we make a difference.

As you travel through this new week, make a difference.  Do something nice for another, spread some cheer, encourage someone who is hurting, and be the difference in the world.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

¹I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ²with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ^bone God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6

Today is Inauguration Day, when a new president is sworn in and the administration begins.  Today is also Martin Luther King, JR. Day, a day we set aside to remember the work of a man who turned the country around. 

There is still a struggle for freedom and justice in our nation and, while the hope is that our government will work towards “justice for all”, we also know that it begins with us.

Every day, each of us have the opportunity to serve our fellow humans.  We can treat others with grace and dignity, we can lend a helping hand, we can serve like Jesus served. 

Today, we have a chance to lead a life worthy of the calling to which we have been called.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:1-10

Since New Year’s Day, the lights have been going out and the neighborhood getting darker.  Some turned off the Christmas lights immediately, others through the past week (and, some still have them on). 

Over the weekend, we started to take down the decorations and the tree.  We removed all the ornaments and I was taking off the strings of lights when I found one last ornament – one that said Joy.

Joy.  It can be so elusive for many during the holiday season.  For some, it brings up the grief of loss, especially if it is one of the first Christmas seasons without a loved one.  For others, the ongoing crises in the world, the country, and even within our families and friends.  Health has been difficult for a lot of people I know, including a bout within our household before Christmas.  We were unable to do a lot of things we normally do, and that was sad.  We have some friends going through serious issues and know the season was not necessarily the “most wonderful time of the year.”

Yet there was that Joy ornament.  It spoke to me as I removed the lights, and took the tree outside.  While I am not feeling it right now, I know that ultimately joy awaits.  Isaiah reminds us that God will give us strength, God will uphold us.

If you are going through a joyless time, I am not going to tell you that a few scripture verses will fix it.  I will say, however, that God is still with you, God walks with you and you can turn to God.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

“Be still, and know that I am God! Psalm 46:10

The other night we had multiple appliances running and lately, our dryer is very loud.  We could not hear the television, and could barely hear each other.  When we paused the dryer, for a moment, everything was silent and it was wonderful.

This morning the snow is falling, there is very little traffic on our street and in the stillness, I am aware of God’s presence. 

Soon, the neighborhood will be filled with the sounds of the snowblowers, but for right now, it is quiet and peaceful.

It is in these moments we need to silence our thoughts and still our actions so we can be more receptive to God’s presence.

No matter where you are this morning, take some time in silence, reflect on God and find some peace.

Pastor Bill

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16

In yesterday’s sermon text (Luke 3:7-18), John the Baptist gives examples of how we should live:  repent, be generous and gracious, give to those in need, do not take advantage of others, etc.

The passage from Hebrews reinforces John’s teaching (as does much of scripture).  We are to continually give God praise and do good.  It is a simple way of life, a life of repentance, praise and care, summed up perfectly in loving God, loving our neighbors and loving ourselves.

As we quickly approach Christmas and a New Year, consider how you can continually offer a sacrifice of praise and do good to those around you.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” Isaiah 12:2-6

“I will trust and not be afraid.” Powerful words from the Prophet Isaiah and yet it is our call, to trust in God with all our hearts and not be afraid. 

During our adult formation class on angels, we’ve been talking about how God sends angels to minister to us, to help us, to guide us and to protect us.  Sometimes we do not even know an angel was present, yet God sent one in our time of need.

Bad things will happen in life, we live in a fallen world, yet have trust in God and then give God the glory when the good things happen.

As you travel through this second week of Advent, take some time, give God some glory, and with joy, draw water from the wells of salvation for God is good.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:15-17

We are called to be peacemakers, we are called to live in Christ’s peace, we are called to peace.  And yet it seems so difficult.  The world is in crisis, there are wars and rumors of wars, there are active battles all around the war (including places other than Ukraine and the Middle East), and there are deep divisions among Americans.  We even see a lack of peace within our churches, our work and our homes.  Quite simply, we seem to lack peace.

How can you be an agent of peace?  How can I be an agent of peace?  It can be so hard, yet we are called to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.  One of the things I am striving to do over this season of Thanksgiving and as we enter into Advent is to strive for peace.  The first place to do this is within my own heart, for if I am not at peace within, I cannot show peace to others.

I ask for your prayers for me in this, and I will pray for your peace as well.

May you all have a peaceful and grateful Thanksgiving.

Peace (and I mean it),

Pastor Bill