In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:1-5

The opening of John’s gospel takes us back to Genesis 1 as God began creating.  It also takes us forward, reminding us that the Light of the World is not overcome.

We live in a dark world today.  There are wars (and rumors of war), disease (yes Covid is still a big issue), division and more.  It is enough to want to hide in the sand and pay no attention to current events, however that is not our call.  We need to know what is happening so we can better minister to this broken world.

And the good news is that we do not do this alone, for the Light of the Word is with us and that Light will never be overcome.  As you enter into this new week, embrace that Light, be empowered by the Light and show your light as well.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

²³One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. ²⁴The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” ²⁵And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? ²⁶He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” ²⁷Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; ²⁸so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”Mark 2:23-28

What do you need for sabbath rest?  God knows that we need rest, and a sabbath day is not just a day off to do errands, laundry, food shopping and the lawn work.  A sabbath rest is a day to spend with God, family and friends. 

But Jesus makes it known that the sabbath serves us, not the opposite.  We should not put excessive rules on the sabbath, rather we should allow sabbath to be the gift it is.  Do you need to do a couple of things before your rest?  Do them then rest.  Do you need to eat?  Of course, cook, eat and then rest.  The important thing is to find that rest on a regular basis.

God knows that we need rest and that is why God created the sabbath.  We need to take advantage of this gift, finish our work and rest.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

⁸Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:8-10

Our society has become increasingly hostile.  It seems everything is based on “us vs. them” with no discussion in between.  There seems to be no attempt at understanding the other person’s point of view because it must be wrong.  This is not just a political thing, rather it goes across all of society, including the faith. 

Yet here is Paul, a man known to argue his point without mixing words, writing to the church about the basic commandment, love.  We are to love one another with servant love (from the Greek, Agape), the love that carried Jesus to the cross.

Could you imagine our nation if our politicians loved this way?  Could you imagine our business culture if executives loved this way?  Could you imagine our neighborhoods if everyone loved this way? 

As you begin a new week, try to find a way to express servant love to someone – especially if they disagree with you on some topic.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

Have you ever known somebody needed prayer, but did not know why?  Just pray for them; Did someone’s name come up in your mind for no reason?  Just pray for them.  Even if you do not know what is going on or why, there is a reason for you to pray.

One day I received a text from my wife saying “pray for me and the family I am about to visit”.  Not knowing anymore, I took the time to pray – and somehow the Holy Spirit took over.  I do not know what I said or thought, only that God invites us into God’s work.  Later on, I found out the seriousness of the situation and the prayers were much needed.

Prayer is very important and the more we pray, the more we do. If you do not know what words to say, if you do not know what to pray about, just remain in God’s presence and let the Spirit guide you. 

Peace,

Pastor Bill

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

After rebuking the people for turning from God, the Prophet Isaiah utters these words to the people of Israel.  They were words of comfort then; they are words of comfort now.  The God of the Universe has called you, has called me by name and that is incredible.

Think about names.  We all want people to remember our names.  As a “newbie” in a new ministry setting, I am trying to learn names and eventually I will (but please forgive me as this takes time).  But whether I remember your name or not, God does.  God knows you and God knows what you can become.

Isn’t that incredible?  The creator, sustainer and redeemer of the very universe knows you personally.  If you are feeling alone right now, know that God knows you by name.  If you are hurting, know that God knows you by name.  If you are in need, God knows you by name.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

The Start of Something New

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:13

It was a very busy day as we arrived at the church building.  We went to the office where I picked up everything I needed, then went to the sanctuary.  As we greeted folks, I reviewed the service and prepared myself.  It was my first day in the pulpit at the new ministry.

While the service flow was different and I was unsure of who did what, it felt comfortable.  I am, after all, a preacher and stepping into a pulpit is as normal for me as it is for a quarterback to line up behind the center or an actor stepping onto the stage. Between services was a reception and I will admit, I did not get everyone’s names (that will take some time).

But what I did get was an eagerness to move forward, to do something new.  This congregation wants to embrace whatever new God is calling us to do.  Change can be scary (trust me, I know, I’m in the middle of a huge transition) but God is always doing a new thing with us and with God we need not fear change. 

Trust in God, especially in transitional times and God will always provide.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mark 15:46

Humanity tends to live in Saturday.  We had a great celebration, but then a lot of bad stuff happened.  Right now, there is a war in Europe which has decimated a lot of people.  The war in Ukraine has added over 4 million people to the already horrific refugee crisis in the world.  We have been living with a global pandemic – one that keeps rearing its ugly head, and even if we do not care anymore, it is still there, still making people sick, still taking lives.  Our nation is politically polarized at a point I’ve never experienced before.  Where we could once disagree and even argue politics, now it is at a point where you either keep your mouth shut, or you run the risk of being insulted and attacked over your views. 

The violence in our nation is terrible.  We have more and more shootings, the Philadelphia murder rate seems to go up every year and people seem to much angrier over the smallest things.  There is little understanding, little compassion.  We live in Saturday.

But today is Sunday – today is the Day of Resurrection – a day that means far more than jellybeans and chocolate eggs.  If the resurrection is to mean something to us, then we need to move on from the emptiness of Saturday and look at the empty tomb.

⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” ⁸ Then they remembered his words. Luke 24:4-8

I lift up my eyes to the hills —from where will my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore. Psalm 121

The biggest movie on the planet right now is The Batman.  At the end of the weekend, it grossed just shy of 500 million dollars at the box office, and that would have been much higher except many theatres in China are closed due to Covid.

Most people that know me know I am a big Bat-Fan.  I grew up watching reruns of the Adam West tv show and read the comics as a kid.  Batman appeals to me because he is a human with no superpowers, rather he has honed himself mentally and physically to be Gotham’s protector.

There is only one problem.  In our world, filled with war, strife, racism, hunger, poverty and the rest, Batman is not going to provide help.  He is, after all, a literary creation.

So where do we turn for help?  The psalmist knows – we call to the Lord, the very Creator of all Creation. The Lord will provide us help – as long as we turn to the Lord.  God will be our protector and keep us from evil, provided we seek God instead of evil.  And when we truly turn to God, truly rely on the Lord, guess what happens?  God will use us to take care of those problems of the world.  Maybe you and I cannot end the war in Ukraine, but we can certainly relieve some of the suffering.  Perhaps we cannot end world hunger, but we can feed those around us. 

Take some time this Lenten season to truly reflect on God and remember from where your help comes.  Turn back to the Lord, seek the Lord and allow God to guide you.  Who knows, you might be called to minister to someone and become their superhero.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  Matthew 5:9

It is hard to look at pictures from Ukraine as the devastation is unimaginable.  I try to keep up with the news, but often it is hard.  There are already over 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine (adding to an already inconceivable refugee problem around the world) and there are innocent people being bombed as they flee their homes.

Will the peacemakers please stand up?

It is so hard to decide what to do.  Yes, we need to pray for peace, for safety for the Ukrainian people and changed hearts among leaders (especially Russian leaders).  We need to pray for the Russian people as well, as many are being suppressed in their opposition to the war.

However, prayer is not enough.  Yes, prayer is powerful and can change things.  Prayer is something we should all be doing.  We need action to accompany our prayers, and the action should be informed through our prayer. 

How can you be a peacemaker in your home, in your school, in your workplace, in your church for peace begins with each of us in our daily lives?  Pray about this, then put it into action.  And while you are at it, pray about how you can bring a little bit of peace to Ukraine. 

Peace,

Pastor Bill

¹If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, ²make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. ⁴Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. ⁵Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, ⁷but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, ⁸he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross. ⁹Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ¹²Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:1-13

It is always amazing to see what is in my YouTube feed.  Some make sense, such as cooking videos since I watch a few food channels.  Others, however, make me scratch my head.  I’ve been getting a lot of links about who is or is not a Christian.  Now these are not videos where someone states their faith, rather a specific evangelist who has taken it upon himself to declare who is “in” or “out” of the Kingdom of Heaven.  He looks at popular culture and then declares if a celebrity is saved or not.  Wow.

While I have a lot of personal thoughts about this, I turn to scripture.  Paul tells us to imitate Christ, and that includes having a little mercy, forgiveness and…humility.  It is not my (or anyone else’s) job to declare someone saved or unsaved – God alone knows the heart. 

As a pastor, I have done many funerals and never declared anyone damned – quite frankly that is not my role.  My role is to show God’s love through the reading and teaching of the scriptures as well as my example.  I preach hope not damnation. 
Afterall, Paul tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, not be so assured that we can go about damning others.

This Wednesday we begin the season of Lent, a season to slow down and consider our relationship with God.  I ask you all to take this season to do so – to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, and to grow more Christ-like.  Who knows, maybe by doing this, we all may show God’s love to someone who really needs to see it.

Peace,

Pastor Bill