Today’s lectionary text is Luke 1:39-56

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” ⁴⁶ And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord ⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ⁴⁸ for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, ⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.  ⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. ⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. ⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. ⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. ⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful ⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” ⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. This is the word of the Lord

Take a moment and put yourself into Mary’s place.  Here is a young girl, probably 12-13 years old, who has a vision of an angel telling her she was going to bear not only a child, but the Son of God, who will save the world.  Okay – what is going through your head right now?

Mary responds to the angel “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Mary believed that God’s promise to send the messiah was going to come true.  Mary believed that God’s promises to redeem Israel was about to come true.  Mary believed God’s promises.  ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Why do we have trouble believing God’s promises today?  When we have this great record, the word of God to read and hear about God fulfilling His promises, why do we struggle to believe today? 

I don’t mean we do not believe in God or in Jesus as the Christ, I mean why do we struggle to hard to believe God’s promises?  God promised to be with us always.  God promised that even in tough situations, He would carry us through.  God promised to care for us, to provide for us.  But so often we give God lip service and then try to do everything our way, neglecting God.  We may have a brief prayer before a meeting, or a meal, or even bed time.  But do we give the time over to God?  Do we actually invite God to come into our meetings, or bible studies, or work places, or homes?  Do we say “God, we are your servants, may it be as You desire, or do we say a prayer, then “get onto business” forgetting that God is our business?

Mary’s example is one of great courage – saying yes to God meant she faced rejection, being outcast and even being stoned.  But she said yes, knowing that God’s promises were about to be fulfilled.  Are we willing to risk the same?

The Second Sunday of Advent is the Sunday of Peace.  My father’s favorite hymn was “Let There be Peace on Earth”.  I often have difficulty singing this hymn – missing dad and knowing that peace is often so elusive. 

What is peace anyway?  When we speak of peace biblically, it is not just the absence of conflict – but a holistic concept – the body, mind and spirit united together in God’s love. 

I often think about this idea – peace in the midsts of strife – especially as it is expressed in the life of Jesus.  He lived this peace knowing his earthly ministry ends with the cross.  Are we able to do the same?  Can we find peace even when the job is terrible, or the bills are mounting, or the kids are fighting?  Can we find this peace when someone is sick or dying?

Jesus proves this is possible.  And not only did he do it, but he offers that same peace to us.  Jesus said these words:  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  He said these words just before he was arrested and crucified.  

If Jesus is truly the Prince of Peace, and he gives us his peace, why then are we not peaceful?

As we continue this Advent journey, consider how you can accept the gift of Christ’s peace, even when things are going wrong.  And consider how you can pass along the gift of Christ’s peace – for perhaps that is the way to finding peace – passing it along to another.

Dona nobis pacem (Grant us peace)

Bill

  The First Sunday of Advent has passed.  And it was my hope to have this written for Sunday.  But I was not prepared.  I got busy.  There was the planning and shopping for the Thanksgiving dinner.  Then there was the baking of the pumpkin pies and the brining of the turkey.  And, of course, we had to clean the house.  A lot of preparations went into our Thanksgiving dinner, and it was much better because of the preparation.

But now we prepare for Christmas.  And that means a lot of shopping (both food and gifts), a lot of decorating (we are still deciding which train goes around the tree this year), a lot more cleaning and baking and cooking.  And of course there is my preparation for the Christmas Eve service, as well as the Advent services.  There is a lot to be done over the next few weeks.

But there is a lot to be done in my heart as well.  And this is the point of observing Advent.  It is not just four Sundays before Christmas.  It is not just a ritual of lighting four candles, or wearing my purple stole instead of my green stole.  Advent is about preparation.  And just as good preparations make for a good holiday meal, good preparations of my heart make for a better celebration of the coming of the One who God has sent. 

You may be asking “why do you need to prepare?”  I am a committed Christian.  I believe that Christ resides in my heart already.  I am a seminary trained, denominationally ordained, consecrated, called out servant of the Lord.   Why do I need to prepare?  Because I am human and I get too caught up in all the stuff that keeps me from Christ.  This time of year is hard for pastors.  We work hard for special meaningful services that impact both the regular attendees and those who might be visiting.  We have end of the year expectations.  We try to get more visits in during December.  We try to meet with more people in the community in need.  We try to work out all those end of year trials and tribulations that the business side of the church encounters.  And we try to be jolly and joyful with our families, even when the budget is out of whack, the days are long, we are tired, and the last thing we want to do is sing Frosty the Snowman one more time with our children. 

So how do we do this?  We observe Advent – taking this special, holy time to prepare our hearts, and to focus our thoughts on Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh who dwelt among us.  And that is why you should observe Advent as well, as the great reminder that this season is about Jesus Christ.

 May God bless you this Advent season,

Bill

Forgive my crankiness in this post.  This is one of those things that bugs me.  During October, before Halloween, many stores were already putting out Christmas decorations to sell.  One department store had even decorated their store with Christmas decorations.  And on October 21st, I saw my first Christmas/Holiday season commercial on television.  And one of the things I always say (parroted by my daughter) is “it’s not even Thanksgiving yet!  What about Thanksgiving?”  Then I wander off muttering to myself.

So I recently walked into a big box store and what did I see?  Cards and decorations for “TURKEY DAY”.  My friends, it is not turkey day.  It is not a day to celebrate the gifts of turkeys.  Think about it this way.  On Veterans Day we honor our veterans.  We do not cook them and serve them on a platter.  On Arbor Day, we remember the gift of trees.  We do not cut the tree down and decorate it in our homes (that day is coming all too soon).  So on Thanksgiving, we should do what the name says, we should give thanks.  And who do we thank?  We give thanks to God for all His wondrous gifts.  We give thanks to the Lord for He is good.  His love is never failing.

All crankiness aside, we do have a tendency to make Thanksgiving the gateway to Christmas.  We look at the ads in the paper for our shopping plans (previously on Black Friday, but now on Thanksgiving day itself).  We plan our decorating, and we overeat and watch football.  So, on this Thanksgiving day, I charge you with taking some time to give God thanks.  Take time to appreciate all those God has placed in your lives.  Take time in prayer, recognizing all that God has done for you.  Give thanks.  And then celebrate.

Oh, and of course, on Friday you can start to decorate for Christmas!

May God bless you abundantly this Thanksgiving, and may we all turn to Him in thanks.

I am a pretty typical American leader.  I believe that people should not have meetings unless there are reasons for the meetings.  I believe that an agenda should be created and followed.  I believe that goals should be set, monitored and met.  I create a worship order and try to stick with it every Sunday.  I was taught that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. And there is nothing wrong with that.

Except often we miss God in the formal structures and straight lines.  Today at a prayer breakfast, we were given a message about Moses.  In Chapter 3 of Exodus, we read:  Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.  There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.  So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”  The part that was brought up this morning (and I never caught before) was the last sentence.  When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look…

Moses could have kept going, but he not only noticed but took the time to go back and see this amazing burning bush.  How often do we just keep on going, trying to keep up our to-do lists, goals and agendas?  How often do we miss out on God’s great works because we are too busy being productive, goal-oriented people?

While hearing this, I immediately thought of my daughter.  One day she asked if we could go to the park to play.  And so to the park we went.  Now in my orderly mind this is simple.  Leave house, go down the street, make a right turn, follow that street to the end then make a left turn, follow that street to the park.  Enter park, play, have fun, go home.  Simple, isn’t it?  But to my five year old daughter, getting there is half the fun.  She stops and looks at flowers.  She stops and looks at rocks and stones.  She marvels at God’s creation.  She wants to stop at the neighbor’s wishing well and sit on the neighbor’s bench.  She sees something in the clouds.  She hears something that she likes.  She experiences God’s world in a way that we “big people” keep forgetting.  And so, after cajoling her to get moving, I stop.  And I look.  And I listen.  And I see God’s handiwork all around me, especially in the wonder and love of my daughter.

And so all of you hard working, goal oriented, task achieving type “a” personalities like me, take a lesson from my daughter.  Stop and look at a rock.  Then take a lesson from God’s word.  If you see something wondrous, go to it.  Who knows, maybe God will speak with you.

May God bless you abundantly,

Bill

Those words echo in my head while watching news about the shooting at the Naval Yard in Washington DC.  A law enforcement expert was interviewed and essentially said that these type shootings are a part of the “new normal”.

My heart goes out to those who were hurt and to their loved ones.  My heart breaks every time one of these incidents happens – and they seem to be happening more frequently. People get angry and upset and the “new normal” says to shoot.

Of course the national debate over new gun laws will occur – with the same predictable results.  Advocates of new laws will make their impassioned pleas while those against new laws will make their rebuttals.  But in the end, people have been hurt and killed.  Families will live without loved ones.  Lives will be irreparably harmed.  And we scratch our heads and say “what is going on in this world?”

We live in a world of amorality.  Nothing matters anymore.  Rules only count if we like them, we can live any way we want without concern for others and nobody is allowed to declare a specific truth.  This is the “new normal”.  And it is wrong.  God is the ultimate truth and he has spoken with some basic rules for us.

Mark 12:28-31

²⁸ And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

Love does not mean “anything goes”.  Love does not mean “who cares how you live your life as long as it doesn’t affect me.”  Love is about serving one another and caring for one another.  In these difficult days of the “new normal”, let us not forget what our Lord teaches us.  Let us instead live out our lives everyday with love guiding us.  And if someone is showing signs of anger, or their lives are going out of control, step in with love.  Maybe you are called to change the “new normal.”

May God bless us and keep us.

Do you remember?

Where were you 12 years ago today?  I was working in industrial sales, covering the office when I got a call “something is going on in New   York.”  I turned on the television to see the images that we all remember so well.  The unthinkable happened – a huge, well choreographed attack on the United States.  I, with most of the nation, was stunned as I watched the news.  As our service technicians called in, I told them to finish up and go home.

Later that afternoon the church called saying there would be a prayer service.  And so we all gathered together, confused, scared and angry.  And we took all of that to the Lord.  The following Sunday nearly every church in America was packed with worshippers, for when there is no where else to turn, we turn to God.

Today, 12 years later, we remember.  We remember the horrific images of the twin towers falling.  We remember the smoke blackened faces of the emergency workers as they valiantly strived to save lives.  We remember the sadness on the face of those seeking their loved ones in the buildings.  We remember the heroes of flight 93 as they sacrificed their lives stopping one of the planes.  We remember the American flag being lifted up, for no country, no group, or no person can keep this nation down.  And we remember to pray.  We remember to give God thanks for the blessings of this nation.

 “While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. ”

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

The busier I get, the less I care about others.  Think about that statement.  Is it true for you?  The busier you are, the less you care about others.  Well, how about this; the busier you are the less you care about God?  Think about it.  We have created a society that is always on the move, always busy, always doing something, and therefore always neglecting someone.

I had an interesting conversation on Christmas night with my brothers-in-law.  We were commenting on how the younger kids all had their phones out and were texting their friends.  They were probably bored with hearing the old men around the table complaining about kids on their phones!  But here is the point.  One asked this question:  It is Christmas dinner, how many of you have your phones on you?  We all did.  Then he asked the other question.  How many of you really need your phone on you right now?  I, as a pastor, was the only one who had a legitimate reason to be carrying a phone (in case of a pastoral emergency).  Not the auto mechanic, or the landscaper, or the handyman.  They carried their phones because that is what we do today.  No other reason but to have the phone and therefore, the emails, the internet and the texts.  Just in case.  Just so we can do.

But before those of you who do not have smart phones, or do not carry your phone everywhere get too comfortable, let me ask you this.  When was the last time you just stopped without feeling guilty about “not doing”?

God does not intend that for us.  In the creation story, God used six days to do His work and rested on the seventh.  When God gave the 10 Commandments to Moses, God specified we work six days and keep the Sabbath holy.  This was not an intention to inflict a rule onto us; rather it is a gift to keep us sane.  In the same way, Jesus modeled a way of life that included his work.  He preached to the larger groups, taught the small group, healed many, continued to spend much time in prayer, and he rested.  Even during “crisis” Jesus rested (Mark 35-39).  He knew that we need to balance all we do.

And, of course, this is hard.  There is so much to do.  We have unfinished business, bills to be paid, people to call or visit, family who demands and deserves our time, chores to be done, grass to be cut, dishes to be washed and a need for exercise and sleep.  But we also have a life to live, one that should be lived with our Lord, and this is a life that needs balance.

So what do we do?  How do we start?  How about permission?  You have permission to take some time off.  You have permission to take some time this Labor Day weekend and just enjoy the provisions of God.  You have permission to rest.  And that does not come from “THE PASTOR” the permission comes from the LORD.

May God bless you abundantly this Labor Day weekend.

Last Sunday we celebrated the Lord’s Supper.  As a pastor, facilitating the sacraments is one of the most important, meaningful things I do.  To stand at the font and baptize a person – to pour the water symbolizing dying to sin and rising with Christ is so powerful.  And to stand up and break the bread broken for us never fails to touch me.

Whatever you call it, Communion, the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist; and whatever your beliefs are about Christ’s presence, we can all share this.  Jesus gave us this special meal to celebrate with each other, and he is present with us in the breaking of the bread.  It is a very powerful, very connecting ritual of the church.

On Tuesday morning, during prayer time, I randomly opened the bible and landed at this passage: Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.  From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over (Matthew 26:14-16).  This event immediately comes before the Last Supper, the institution of the holy meal of Communion.

Now I have read this countless times.  I have preached it, I have studied it.  But the significance never really struck me until this week – Jesus celebrated this meal, this special event, this sacrament while he was being betrayed by one of the 12.  He gave his apostles, and us this means of grace knowing that one would betray, one would deny and 11 would abandon him in just a few short hours and then he would be executed.

Often we experience betrayals in our lives.  It might be a close friend, or a fellow leader, or even a spouse.  We might have someone walk away from us during a time of need.  We might even be in a life threatening situation when someone abandons us.  And that hurts.  But can we, like Jesus, give grace in the middle of the turmoil?  Can we offer ourselves as a blessing to others even when we are in crisis?

The next time you eat the bread and drink the cup, remember his sacrifice and pray that God would show you how you can be a blessing to others even in the middle of life’s difficulties.

I never went to Vacation Bible School as a child. I did not even really know about VBS until I was an adult and my girlfriend (and now beloved wife) volunteered at her church. Naturally I was “roped” into service.

VBS brings up different thoughts in me. I always wonder if it does any good. Are we reaching children for Christ or are we just entertaining kids for a week? The truth is many of the children who attend our program are churched – they attend worship at various churches in the community, and attend some of the other VBS programs as well. But this year, as a group leader, I got to see a different perspective. While many of the children are members of a congregation, many are not always involved in real, solid Christian formation. They may attend church and Sunday school, but are they actually being nurtured? Are they an important part of the community of faith?

Being a group leader I had the opportunity to get to know some of the children from our community (and our own congregation) in a different way. I could interact with closer than during the children’s sermon. I had a chance to speak with them about faith and life. And I will admit my ego was boosted a bit when the Apostle Paul (one of our faithful VBS volunteers) asked the group who told them about Jesus and one of the boys answered “my pastor”!

One of the best things about VBS is the children themselves. They invited their friends to attend and hear about Christ’s love. It was important for some of them to get their friends to come. Imagine if the adults did the same thing for every Sunday service. We might actually reach some of those unchurched in our neighborhoods after all.