Monthly Archives: June 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 9:36 am on June 22, 2015
Tags: ,   

Love — Not Fear! — Rev. David J. Schreffler

June 22, 2015

“Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of G*d was coming, Jesus answered them, “The kingdom of G*d is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say “Lo, here it is!” or “There!” for behold, the kingdom of G*d is in the midst of you.” Luke 17:20-21

“Why is G*d landing in this enemy-occupied world in disguise and starting a sort of secret society to undermine the devil? Why is He not landing in force, invading it? Is it that He is not strong enough? Well, Christians think He is going to land in force: we do not know when. But we can guess why He is delaying. He wants to give us the chance of joining His side freely. I do not suppose you and I would have thought much of a Frenchman who waited till the Allies were marching into Germany and then announced he was on our side. G*d will invade. But I wonder whether people who ask G*d to interfere openly and directly in our world quite realize what it will be like when He does. When that happens, it is the end of the world. Now, today, this moment is our chance to choose the right side. G*d is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last forever.” Mere Christianity C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963) “For All The Saints” volume II (p. 121)

The Gospels are fascinating. Do you know why? Because, while three Gospels, the ones we call the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) say that Jesus will give no sign of the kingdom or of his divinity, the fourth, the Gospel of John, gives us many signs of G*d’s reign through Jesus Christ. And the gospel writer calls them signs (semion is the Greek word). The wedding at Cana is the “First Sign” — “Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee” John 2:11. So while there is no huge sign in the sky saying “Here he is”, G*d has landed into this world in the person of Jesus Christ, and Jesus, along with the Holy Spirit are the first of the landing forces — with an expectant invasion to come. But we have no idea when that invasion will come. And that is good, and that is bad. It is good because we do not want to live in fear of the last days. Even the prophets were divided as to whether this is something we should want to come, or something we should fear. But, the fear of the end days should lead us to faithful living each and every day. And the only way that this can be bad is this: “fear” is no way to live your life, nor is it the foundation of a relationship with G*d — G*d does not want a relationship based on fear: but on love.

What are some fears you can put aside today that will allow you to build and strengthen your relationship with G*d?

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on June 21, 2015
Tags: , , ,   

“Third Wheel Keep On Turning” — Rev. David J. Schreffler

June 21, 2015
Sunday

“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.” Mark 4:35-36

Did you ever feel like “the third wheel?” Did you ever hear the phrase “Two is company, three is a crowd?” I have often felt like the “odd man out” in many experiences in my life. I have lived for many years feeling like I just do not fit in, like I am tolerated but not really welcome, like I exist but I am really invisible. Why I have these feelings I cannot put clearly into words. But I cannot negate my feelings. It most likely hearkens back to the time in my life where I knew I existed, but I did not know how to get along with the rest of the world. Just ask my siblings about my childhood, and they will roll their eyes and say something like “he really was a handful”. And I would respond “they are being kind” although sometimes I might say they are invoking revisionist history. I was more than a handful because I didn’t know how to “get along”. I was in the “other boat” — witnessing all of the things that were going on, wanting desperately to be a part, but knowing I couldn’t truly understand — because I was one of the “others”.

Who were those people in the other boat or boats who were with Jesus when the disciples set sail that day? We have no idea, but we do know they benefited from being with Jesus — they also experienced the miracle — even though they had no idea who calmed the storm. So by being in proximity to Jesus, their lives were impacted — their lives were better. We have a lot of churches today — too many to count. All of these churches are filled with people who call themselves “witnesses” for Jesus. We have the words, the writings, the oral and written traditions that come from the Apostolic period of the church — those who had witnessed all that Jesus had said and done, and then passed it along to “others”. For that to be most effective, there had to have been more than just the twelve — and we know that along with the women, and the others, there were more than we can imagine.

Today we have people in the church who are the captains, we have the workers, and then we have the “others” — those who are in the boat but who don’t necessarily feel as if they belong. But we all belong. It doesn’t matter when we have come into the vineyard to work, we all receive the same reward — eternal life with G*d. It doesn’t matter which boat we are in — all of the boats are landing on the same heavenly beach — and all of the passengers along this ride with Christ will benefit from his love, mercy and grace.

Take time today to assess if there is someone in your church who may be feeling like the “odd person out” — and then do what you can to make them feel welcome, loved, and a part of the “boat” that is the church of Jesus.

Pastor Dave