Remember

A funny title for a late blog.  I did not forget to post this week.  I did not have a chance to do it sooner, and for that I apologize.  We are currently moving into a new house, and so my posts may be a little sporadic over the next few weeks, but I will do everything in my power to keep those Wednesday posts consistent.  

This has been a week of anniversaries for me.  My wife and I celebrated nine years together.  I often wonder what she did to get stuck with me.  It is also the third year anniversary of my installation at Our Father.  If anniversaries are anything, they are a time to remember.  On those days we remember the original event.  We celebrate it and give thanks for it.  This process then is one that allows us to relive those important and meaningful events in our lives.

The Scriptures often speak of remembering.  They tell us to remember the awesome deeds of our God.  How he has rescued his people.  How he has set them aside, and done for them, what would have been impossible if they had been on their own.  In remembering how he has worked in our lives, it allows us to be sure and certain of his presence in our lives and his care and concern for us as his people.  The Scriptures will often talk about the Exodus from Egypt in this kind of language.  God, stretched out his mighty hand and saved the children of Israel from slavery to Egypt.  As this event is remembered from generation to generation it allows those of us who were not physically present to be part of the event and to be included in that incredible number.

For us as Christians we also remember our baptism.  For in those waters our sins were washed away and God made us his own dear sons and daughters.  In baptism we are connected to the death and resurrection of Jesus and therefore have the hope and certainty of life everlasting.  

Remembering the important events in our lives can be a source of great joy and celebration.  Remembering how God has worked in our lives can be a source of joy and peace and hope and encouragement.  For it reminds us that no matter what we face, no matter what is going on, that he will continue to be a part of our lives.  Our God is always, always, always faithful.  And may he bless you this week and always in Jesus.

Pastor CJ

You are what you do.

If I were to ask you, what do you believe?  How would you answer?  Would you give me a list of facts?  Would you give me a list of theological statements?  Or would there even be a list at all?

As I look at myself, I find that I use to equate belief with knowledge.  You ask me what I believe and I would say, "I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.  And in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord..."  By the way I still do believe that.  And I do believe that being able to articulate one's faith is very important.  We need to know what we believe and why we believe.  It is important to be in God's word, and to understand how it all works together, and the teachings of the church and all that good stuff.  I don't want to take away from that at all.  However, I would like to suggest that perhaps we look at it from a different angle.  How does what I believe show in the way that I live my life?  

If I tell my wife that I love her (and I do) but my actions are not actions of love, how much value do my words have?  Not much.  If I believe that God hears and answers all my prayers (and I do) why is it hard to pray?  If I believe that God speaks to us through his word (and I do) why is it hard to find time to be in that word?  If I believe that God gives me all that I need to support my body and life (and I do) why does worry come so easily?  

I think you get the idea.  This is something that I find to be very interesting as I look at my own life and consider the way I approach these things in my own life.  What do you believe?  What is important in your life?  What is it that matters more than anything else, that matters the most?  And does your life show that?

When our lives don't match the things we value, there is God's grace that is full and fulfilling, that restores and stands up on our feet.  We are able to daily drown our own sinful selves, so that every day a new person would rise up to serve God in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness.

I find in this great comfort and joy.  It means that I can do the things like prayer, scripture reading, loving my wife, etc, I can do those things that I know I am supposed to do.  And I can do them not out of guilt.  "Oh I should do this, or I should do that."  But I can do them as a response to the awesome grace that God in Jesus has shown to me.  And I can do them, because I believe that they are important.  

God bless you this week and always.

Pastor CJ

Don't Wory, Be Happy

Now that tittle doesn't sound right. Did I really type that there? That doesn't sound like something I would sing. Although it is a catchy tune, and it is impressive that entire track is all vocals, the philosophy is one that we actually have to fight against. And the reason why this is the case is because "don't worry, be happy," doesn't help anyone. I don't know about you, but it is actually something that makes me feel worse because then I am not only feeling bad about the fact that I am worrying about something, but I am also feeling bad that I am not happy instead.

OK, that was a little goofy, but I did it to illustrate my point.

I am constantly taken aback by how easy it is for me in my own life to not trust God. Now I am not talking about the mindset that says, "I don't have to do anything anymore, because I am trusting that God will provide." But I am talking about a general kind of confidence in knowing that nothing that happens is outside of God's ability to handle. I am talking about knowing that he is able to bring good out of bad. Why is it that I find myself living in fear when I certainly know and believe that God will provide me with all that I need to support my body and life?

I am writing this, because having a God that we can trust in is truly an amazing thing. And though knowing that he will care for us does not mean that we will be happy all the time, it does men that we will know peace. It is a peace that surpasses all human understanding, and in that peace we can rest easy.

It makes sense if you think about it. If God can handle paying the price for our sins, through the death of Jesus; if God can handle and destroy the power of death, through the resurrection of Jesus, then he can certainly handle any problem that comes my way.

It is hard to do something like this in print. It is my prayer that these words bring comfort, hope and peace. They come out of my own experience and the peace and hope that comes as I learn to trust in God, even if things do not always happen according to the way that I had planned them.

May that peace keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now and always.

Pastor CJ

Christianity is Not a Religion

Last week, I had the privilege of enjoying some time away with my wonderful wife, but this week I am back. I was looking through a catalog and I found a T-shirt that has "Christianity is not a Religion" printed on the front of it.
I find this to be very interesting. Because I think it is also very accurate. Christianity is not a religion. It is about living and experiencing life. Life experienced in relationship with God and life experienced in relationship with one another.
Christianity is not just going to a church building once or twice a week, but it comes out in the ways that we live our lives. As Christians, who know the healing and forgiving power of our God, we are able to let that power flow through us into the world around us. This comes out in living lives that are marked with love and service. As we care for the people around us, as we serve them, as we proclaim God's word (both law and gospel) into their lives, we are experiencing life, and making know the One who is the way, the truth and the life.
It is easy to get bogged down in religiosity. It is easy to get caught up in actions and rites. But Christianity is so much more than that.
In the same way, worship is not just something that takes place during a small portion of the week, but worship is to be done with our lives. The prayers and praises that are offered up on Sunday morning, are continued throughout the rest of the week. In doing this we seek to glorify our God with our lives. We seek to make him known, so that people can know the joy, peace and hope that comes from living in relationship with him.
Christianity is not a religion, and may it never ever be.

God's blessings and peace in Jesus, be yours this week and always.

Pastor CJ