November 24, 2016 – 30 Days Until My Head Explodes, Or
Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

So, raise your hands, how many of you would rather find a good book or three and take a seat in a coffee shop somewhere and immerse yourself in reading for the next thirty days until Christmas is over? I know I would. I am really an introvert, though many of you might find that hard to believe. Of course, maybe you don’t find that hard to believe. Wait, let me ask my one friend. OK, so my one friend told me to get over myself and to go back to reading. No wonder I have no friends.

The Gospel writer Matthew packs in so much in this last bit of the Sermon on the Mount. There are gems in here like “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged”, and “Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?”, and “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you”, and “Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven”. Thomas Jefferson identified the Sermon on the Mount along with the Ten Commandments as the basis of the moral principles on which the USA should be founded. Ultimately, I think one of the most difficult commands of Jesus involves not judging others, especially the enticement to pass judgment upon our brothers and sisters based on one or two comments they make on social media. We must not look for the worst in people, but always look for the best in people – and this is the higher calling, and the most difficult calling, especially in 21st century America.

Following the presidential election of 2016, I have been reading a lot of comments posted by people — comments that include their fears, their anger, and their disgust – especially their disgust for strangers who did not vote, and strangers who voted for the “other” candidate. People are so afraid of the future they are taking their fears and anger out on each other – people they have never met – strangers who disagree with them politically, religiously, and socially. It is like a shooting gallery where everyone is the target, and everyone is the shooter. And, this is the kicker, these are people who are commenting on a social media site developed by leaders in the church.

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you”, and “Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven”. Even if you mention this scripture and teaching by Jesus to those who are most angry, they will come up with some comment like “Oh, so you think you are better than others”. I do not think I am better than other people, I think I am called to live a “better way” based on the teachings of Jesus. I know quoting scripture will not calm down the fears that people have right now, but at least the scripture can inform my reactions to their fears.

Pastor Dave

November 23, 2016 – 31 Days Until My Head Explodes, Or
Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20

It took me several moments looking at this ornament to figure out what it was – and then I needed to look at the picture explanation on the website where I found it – it is a harlequin reindeer. Whoever heard of such a thing? A harlequin reindeer. Where would someone ever get the idea of a harlequin reindeer? Oh well – nothing about a jolly fat man who runs a factory where elves make toys somewhere in the arctic called the North Pole and then delivers them from a sleigh driven by flying reindeer needs to make sense – so why not a sleigh driven by harlequin reindeer. Maybe if you have had too many shots of moon shine, then the harlequin reindeer might seem like a real possibility.

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit”

The word here translated debauchery is the Greek word that means “without any limits, with reckless abandonment”. It refers to escapism and the tendency to live without control. In this day and age, we do not have to look far to see people living their lives without control. Just turn on any of the “reality TV shows” and you can watch people who are out of control. And often, the catalyst to their behavior is alcohol or drugs. It is shameful – yet it is the reality of so many people in this country.

We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, not with alcohol or other forms of escapism, for that is G-d’s wish – it is the reason the Spirit comes to us in this life. There is no need to feel ashamed over the sense of our need for the Holy Spirit in our lives. We were not made to be self-sufficient, independent creatures. Just because you feel like you need something to help you, to strengthen you, to make you feel adequate to face life, like the Holy Spirit – well that does not mean you are “less than” or inadequate people. We all need the Holy Spirit. We all need some spirit to lead us, guide us, and direct us in our lives. But let it be the right kind of Spirit. Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Dave