God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:15-16
Don’t Pick Me, Please Don’t Pick Me
Remember when you were in class as a student and you knew that the teacher was going to call on you to answer a question that you KNEW you did not know the answer too? You would do everything that you could think of to become invisible. (avoiding eye contact, looking down at the floor, pretending to be asleep…or actually being asleep) You were not confident in your abilities, your skill or your intelligence. And somehow it seems as if the teacher knew these facts, and they would go out of their way to call on you.
Let me tell you how different this is in God’s kingdom. God knows that we are, sometimes, clueless so God sent us Jesus to make a way for us where there seemed to be no way before. We call that GRACE (G.R.A.C.E. God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.) Christ came and lived and died so that we could have life and have it more abundantly.
Be Bold – God has the Answers
Knowing about God’s gift, we can have the courage… the strength… the ability to approach the throne of Grace with BOLDNESS. To approach the throne with the boldness to know that we do not have to have the answers, because God has already answered all of the questions. We don’t have to hide or try to become invisible, because we have a God who loves us and wants us to be at that banquet table with heads lifted high, celebrating our freedom in Christ.
PT
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.
And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. – Mark 1:14-20
Bringing Hidden Talents into View
There was an animated show several year ago called “The Iron Giant,” In one scene the Giant robot and his human friend are running through the town trying to flee from those who are chasing them and they fall over a cliff, as they are heading to the ground below, the robot turns on jets and begins to fly. The shocked little boy says with wonder and amazement “You can fly? YOU CAN FLY!!!” Apparently, even though they had spent a lot of time together, he did not know that his robot friend had this ability.
Strengths and Gifts
We also spend a lot of time with one another and are not aware of some of the strengths and gifts that we each have. Did you know that Grace has a Walking Club, a supper club, 3 adult Bible study options, a quilting group, a weekly youth ministry meeting? Did you know that Grace supports the Crop walk, prayer shawl ministry, Joy of Discovery? There is so much potential here at Grace, and in some cases our strengths and gifts are our best kept secrets.
Jesus called the twelve from their nets and boats and said “I will make you fish for people.” As evangelist Christine Kane asked “Are we fishers of men, or are we keepers of the Aquarium?” Come out on REFORMATION SUNDAY, October 28, and learn about all of the mission and ministry opportunities that we have here at Grace. Find something that excites you, and you just might learn that we can fly.
PT
Advice from a Dog
Those of you who know me even marginally well, know that I love my boys. Luc is a 14 year old Bichon Frise, and Oscar is a 15 year old Maltese. For Christmas one year I received a new T-shirt from an animal rescue site called “Advice from a DOG”.
This advice includes the following:
Delight in the simple joys of a long walk
Unleash your talents
Hide your favorite snack
Make new friends
Learn new tricks, no matter your age
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them
Now, I might suggest that we “share our favorite snack” instead, but the others are pretty good advice! We can learn a lot from our four-legged friends as this poem by Amy Dean reminds us:
Each day comes to your dog new and fresh and full of promise; your dog is not bounded by days of the week, business meetings, deadlines, and commitments that prevent you from looking forward to the day.
Perhaps it’s time to start today to adopt more of your canine’s outlook on life. Each morning can be a new beginning – a time for joy and play, a time for fresh air and sunshine, a time for bounding around, a time of canine delight!
Advice from Martin Luther – Remember Your Baptism
As we start this new ministry together, may our animals inspire us to start each day anew. Martin Luther emphasized that it is important to begin each day by remembering our baptism. When we awaken, we are to make the sign of the cross and remember that God has claimed and sealed us in baptism. Each day we are given a new start, a new beginning. The old is washed away. We are made new each day in Christ.
Advice From God
With a little adaptation, our T-shirt advice could easily shift from “Advice from a DOG” to “Advice from GOD”.
In other words:
Trust in me with all your heart and soul and mind.
Delight in My creation while strengthening your physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Use the gifts and talents I have given you to benefit the common good.
Share your favorite snack and your cloak and your tunic.
Make room for everyone.
Welcome others as you have welcomed me.
Be creative for the sake of the Gospel because you all have the capacity for spiritual growth regardless of your chronological age.
Like the Father who ran to meet his prodigal son, run to greet those returning home.
Receive others with the grace with which I have received you.
So let’s together feel God’s unfailing presence, embrace the gift of each moment with joy and anticipation.
Peace and Joy,
Pastor Tim, Sharon, Luc, and Oscar
PT
Leading our Thoughts, Words, and Deeds
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” – Mark 8:31-33
Bumper Stickers – Good and Not So Good
I have seen bumper stickers on some cars that make me laugh, some that make me sad, some that just confuse me, and some that are just plain wrong.
- “My dog ate your stick family”
- “My kid beat up your honor student”
- “The man who dies with the most toys, wins”
- And my all-time favorite: “Jesus is my co-pilot”
Are You Sitting in the Right Seat?
Folks when Jesus was speaking with his disciples and asking him if people knew who he was they came up with many answers. And let me assure you that Co-Pilot was not one of them. Siblings in Christ, if Jesus is your co-pilot then you can be sure that you are sitting in the wrong seat. Jesus is NOT the one who we are training or the one who will take over from us down the road. Jesus is, or at least he should be, leading our thoughts, words and deeds.
So get up, and move over and let Jesus take the wheel.
Peace
PT
Offering Help and Hope
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. – James 2:14-17
I Have Faith
James is reminding the people that it is not enough to just say “I have faith.” Even thought Martin Luther, originally, thought that this book should not be a part of the bible, he later came to understand the power of this statement from James. As Lutherans we understand that we are Justified by Grace through Faith, and that our salvation… our Hope… our Redemption is NOT about the things that we do, but they are about what God has already done though Jesus.
Called to Step UP and Step Out
What James reminds us is that as those who know what Jesus did for us, it is not enough for us to simply be okay with that. Once we understand the tremendous power and sacrifice of the cross, then we should have no choice but to love one another as GOD loves us. That means that we are also called to step up, and step out in that faith and offer help and hope and a hand up to all who we meet.
September 9th was our “God’s Work, our Hands” day. We packaged more than 10,000 meals for those who are in need. That is putting a good work to our faith!
Count to Ten
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. – James 1:19-20 (NRSV)
Unrestrained Anger
Have you ever had that moment when someone or some thing made you so angry that you just wanted to strike out? Pastor Kelly Fryer in her book, “No Experience Necessary,” Shares this story:
At all of their family gatherings, Pastor Fryer’s mother tells this story about when Kelly was younger..
“I remember when she was about two and a half years old, She was outside on the sidewalk between our house and the neighbor’s with her new red tricycle. Suddenly, I heard a terrible noise. I ran to the back door and there she was. Her tricycle was all tangled up and, apparently, she was having trouble getting it to work right. So, instead of coming in and asking for help.. instead of patiently working at it until the problem was solved.. ..she was just KICKING THE DARN THING DOWN THE SIDEWALK!”
Mom Know Best
I remember that my mother used to teach us that we were to count to ten before we spoke back in anger. She said that this would give us a moment to think about what we were getting ready to say and decide whether we needed to say it or not. We live in a society where we have forgotten how to listen to one another, and even small differences of opinions turn into friendship ending or family dividing arguments.
Sometimes our anger and our tongue get the best of us, and we act or speak in ways that we later regret or wish that we could take back.
That is why this text from James is so important for us to read. Let us be mindful every day of the fact that God desires for us to learn to live in community, to learn to love one another as God loves us. So before you snap back at someone, or fire off that email or tweet. Pause and reread this passage from James, and let’s be DOERS of the Word, and not just hearers.
PT
God-Given Gifts
Okay, let’s pause from our day and think about this question for a minute.
If the world were to end today, what have we done with the gifts that God has given to us? What have we done with the gift of the church? Have we helped it grow, or are we doing our best to maintain the status quo?
What have we done with the gift of Jesus Christ? Have we helped to spread the good news of that gift, or are we trying to keep it to ourselves?
What have we done with the gift of our talents? Whatever your talent may be. Have we used it to further God’s Kingdom, or are we keeping it hidden away, out of sight and out of mind?
The Story of the Servants and the Talents
In the Gospel of Matthew 25:14-30 we read the story of the servants and the Talents, in this case the Talents were a measure of money. The lesson shows us that we are all given many gifts, and talents by God to be used to further the Kingdom, it also shows us that we do not all have the same abilities.
The talents in this text were given out in differing amounts. But each of us is expected to use the gifts that we are given, whatever that gift may be, to the best of our abilities. Sometimes it is when we are using our “talent”, that we will find that we are required to do more with it…”For to all those who have, more will be given…” So if you have ever used the expression… “I have done my part, now let others do theirs.” Bamp, wrong answer. God wants you to know that you have multiplied your gift, and now you can be entrusted with more.
Your Talent: Find it – Get Over it – Adjust
So if you have buried your talent (find it), or if you feel that someone else may be better at something than you are (get over it), or if you feel as if you need a break (adjust). The Kingdom of God is at hand, and we are all called to make sure that we are about the business of building up, and growing
God’s world.
As the hymn teaches us… Let us talents and tongues employ, reaching out with a shout of joy: Bread is broken, the wine is poured, Christ is spoken and seen and heard. Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again, pass the Word around: Loaves abound.-(ELW #674)
The Armor of God
Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. – Ephesians 6:10-20
A Great Start for Your Morning
I LOVE this text. When I visit with people who are going through a struggle with daily living, I always encourage them to read this passage from Ephesians the first thing in the morning, EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY. I tell them to start their morning off with this passage, because it will remind them that no matter what happens to them that day, that they will know that they are loved, cared for and PROTECTED with God’s Armor.
Use God’s Armor
When I was in college I coached a peewee football team at the local elementary school. Since I was the new guy, I was given all of the misfit kids that wanted to play, but really had no idea of what they were doing. The first day, one of my kids even put his helmet on backwards. I had to stop and explain what each piece of equipment was for, and why it was important.
The same holds true for the Gospel Armor, each piece is important and together they help to protect us from “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Now that we have increased our daily prayer lives with our 3:16 daily prayer, let’s add some extra protection for this ministry by wrapping it in God’s armor.
PRAY 40
Rich in Faith, Hope and Trust
When I visited Tanzania for the first time, I was struck by the severe poverty and lack of material resources. When I looked around all I could see is what they did not have. Yet, by the third day, everything changed. Instead of seeing what they lacked, all I could see was what they had. Suddenly, I saw how rich they were in faith, hope, and trust, and how poor I was in comparison.
When we visited a new Lutheran secondary school built by the diocese we learned that their bishop came up with the idea to build a residential school on the top of a beautiful mountain. However, before moving forward with the project, the bishop encouraged the entire community to pray about the project for one full year. Their corporate prayers would ask for God’s affirmation, direction, and support.
During that year, people would climb to the top of the mountain to pray in the spot of the future school. As they prayed, each person would dig out a rock from the mountainside and leave it on the ground. By the time, the year of prayer ended, the rocks needed for the foundation of the dormitory were already unearthed and ready for construction.
As we begin a new chapter in our ministry and mission here at Grace
… it seems fitting to use the witness of our Tanzanian brothers and sisters in Christ as our model. In order for our plans and goals to be fruitful, they must be built on the foundation of prayer and discernment of God’s will.
Therefore, I am inviting you to join your community of faith in forty days of intentional prayer. Beginning on Sunday August 19th, 2018, please set aside 3:16pm each day to pray for our mission here at Grace.
Pray that God will direct our path forward.
Pray that God will help us discern a vision.
Pray that God will give us the courage to move into new and uncharted territory.
Let us open ourselves to God’s voice and call.
Peace,
Pastor Tim
Rise Against Hunger – Sunday September 9th
God’s Work – Our Hands – Sunday September 9th
Volunteers are needed to pack 10,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger on Sunday September 9th after our worship service.
We need 65 + volunteers to pack those meals!
Lunch will be provided – beginning at 11:30 am
Meal packing – from 12 to 2 pm
Everyone can help – if you want to help we will find a task for you. Youth are invited to volunteer too!
We also need at least six strong folks able to unload 30-50 lb bags of rice and tubs of other grains. Arrive by 8:45-9:00 am if you can help with the unloading!