²¹“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ ²²But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. Matthew 5:21-22

Jesus is telling us something important here.  The commandment says “Thou shalt not murder” but He extends that to far more.  Jesus is saying we need to work things out with each other, to reconcile with each other, or perhaps to love each other.

This is where Jesus takes the law and applies it to our hearts.  It is so far much more than following a bunch of commandments and statutes, it is about our relationships with each other.

In this politically volatile season listen to the words of Jesus.  Watch your anger, work things out, reconcile and above all, love one another as He has loved us.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

One of the frequent questions to a pastor is this: “Does God still speak to us?”  I always respond “Yes, but are we listening?” 

Deep down you know the voice.  When you listen very carefully you can discern between your own wants and desires and what God wants.  Not to say our wants and desires are wrong, but we need to be very careful to wrap them up in God.  Yet when we listen carefully and prayerfully, we know the voice of the Shepherd.

What is the Lord calling you to do today?  What is He asking of you?  Listen carefully for you will know His voice.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20

Imagine how wonderful life would be if we did this.  Just take a moment and think about it, if everyone, instead of getting so upset about things, would stop, listen (truly listen), not think about how to respond while the other person is talking, and not get so angry about everything.

We live in trying times, especially as the election approaches.  It seems like so many people are not listening, rather just talking over each other and getting angry.  Then we have world situations with constant battles and truly horrifying news every day.  This, of course can make us quite angry.  But what comes of that anger?  Does our anger change anything, or just cause more issues with those around us?

How can we change these things?  We can pray and then be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, then pray some more, for that is the way of the Lord.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

School has started for most of our children, some have gone off to college for the first time, and many adults are in some form of continuing education.

Learning is important for us, whether it is formal education, learning new skills and information, or studying the word.  We can always learn more.  Solomon tells us that the beginning of knowledge is the fear of the Lord.  This is not “I am afraid of God” rather fear should really be interpreted as awe, as in we have great awe about God for God has created everything (including knowledge). 

Never be afraid of learning new things, or of others learning.  Education is so important that Solomon tells us fools despise wisdom and instruction.

As your kids starts the new school year, find an area you can investigate and study for it is good for you.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-41

If you really think about it, there is a lot of chaos going on all around us all the time.  There is always something happening that needs our attention (or at least we think so), there is always something that is a crisis for someone (but it does not mean it has to be a crisis for you).  There is always something to get worked up about, or something that must be done this very minute or the galaxy will implode.  Except it won’t. 

There are true crises and there are times when we can just rest in the storm. Jesus was tired and sleeping on the boat.  The storm arose and He handled it.  How often do we make a situation far more crisis-like and chaotic instead of just handling it (or better yet, turning to Jesus)? 

As you journey through this week, handle what needs handling and rest in the storm.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

PS:  I start my vacation on Monday August 12 so Monday Morning Meditation will be taking a brief hiatus – because I’m following the above words!

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3

Throughout the past week our church building was filled with children, youth and adults during our Kids Camp.  We taught bible stories, emphasized through story, games, science and art.  We did a service project to help families in need and we had a lot of fun.

The culmination of all of this was Sunday after worship.  During the week, the children would be asked questions about the messages.  When they got right answers, they would get a ticket to vote on which leader got dunked Sunday after worship.  I “won”. 

Throughout the week I acted in skits, then led a group through the stations.  I like to create “marching chants” for the group to bind us together.  I act a little silly (although I still do not to motions to songs, sorry).  On Sunday I sat on the front steps of the church as two youth doused me with not one but two buckets of water. 

Sometimes it is a good thing to just act a little silly and have some fun.  Sometimes we need to put the seriousness of life on the shelf.  The kids had fun, learned about and experienced God’s love and isn’t that the point?

May you find some fun and peace in this week.

Pastor Bill

 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane is powerful.  He knows what is about to happen, He knows it is the way of reconciliation yet the human Jesus does not want to do it. 

Often, we have things in life we must do yet do not want to do.  Very often they are hard, require major effort, and sometimes change us.  Yet we do not do them alone.  We can take them to God in prayer, and if God does not “take the cup from us” we do as God wants us to do. 

Usually there is something far better on the other side God is leading us towards.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

 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.

There is a lot happening around the world right now.  There is continued conflict in many nations.  There are too many shootings in our own country (and one is too many), and amidst a toxic political season, we have an assassination attempt. 

We need peace.

No matter what a person’s political viewpoint is, if one claims the mantle of Christ, one should strive for peace.

In this chaotic time, pray for peace.  Pray that the political temperature lowers and we can get back to reasonable discourse.  Pray that people inclined to do violence would, instead, hear God’s still voice.  Pray that we can peacefully disagree and still see the image of God in each other.

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

There have been times when I knew I needed to pray for someone, or about something, but did not have the words.  Maybe I did not know the situation (but knew someone needed prayer), sometimes I just don’t know what to ask for.  These are the times our prayer lives can grow, as well as our trust in God.  Don’t know what to pray for?  Just go to God in prayer.  As the Holy Spirit to intervene, to take over.  Sit in the silence and listen for God.  Take the time and allow whatever words come, for the Spirit will intercede, you will pray and the Father will hear.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23

It is perhaps the most well known verse of scripture.  Multiple religions recognize it as sacred, multiple peoples are comforted by this psalm.  And it makes sense, we seem to need “so much” yet God is giving us what we really need – peace.  He leads us to the still waters, the green fields, the places of rest.  As we begin the month of July, allow the Lord to guide you to those places of peace.  I know I need to do the same.

Peace,

Pastor Bill