“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

“It’s very tempting to run away and hide from situations that seem too tough for us. Trials are “nothing but joy”? Is James some kind of nut? When we come face to face with someone or something bigger than we are, we’re tempted to turn tail and run right now. We can consider those tough times joys only because God is always with us.”  (Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Edition.)

Bully Pulpit

Have you ever looked back upon your life and tried to list those times when you actually caught a break, had a lucky streak, or had things go your way for a number of years? I try to think back to those kinds of experiences, and when I do I seem to find more unlucky streaks, more hard breaks, and more hard times than I do years living on “easy street.” And I could ponder these events and think “How unfair my life has been.” But often I am able to appreciate those experiences for the teaching tools they have been.

I was just reading a story about singer Bruce Springsteen and his most recent tour set to begin in 2023. Now let me say up front that I am not much of a fan of Mr. Springsteen. But his tour has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, not the right ones. It appears that there is a new algorithm that Ticketmaster is using called “Dynamic Pricing”. This algorithm changes the price of the tickets in real time based upon demand. Some of his tickets in larger cities are selling for $5000 up to $18000 – and those prices are not by scalpers. With Bruce having a “Man of the people” reputation, many of his fans have been outpriced by this new pricing mechanism and are feeling as if he is bullying people into paying exorbitant prices. So much for staying connected to your roots and your fans.

Jesus never used a bully pulpit except with Pharisees and Saducees. He never used extortion to get people on his side – nor did he say anyone needed to follow a list of ridiculous rules to be right with G-d. And since he suffered and died for the sins of all humanity, perhaps a few bad days should not keep us feeling so glum. If we cannot get our “Springsteen Tour” tickets for 2023, maybe that is not all that troubling. There are bigger issues to set our minds on – and blessings to be grateful for – both good and bad.

Let us pray,

Sustaining God, when I run into situations that seem too big, too troubling, or too unfair for me, remind me that you are always with me – and that a few bad days cannot compare for the glory that is to come. Amen.

Pastor Dave

“Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” Acts 10:34-35

“Think of all the effort and energy wasted on trying to label and oppress those who are different. God doesn’t play this game. God simply loves. And, try as we might, that love can’t be confined to anything less than all creation. Whatever your skin color, gender, IQ, age, income, or past, you are invited to the heavenly banquet.” Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Edition.)

Welcoming the Welcome

Welcome to the welcoming table. Welcome to the welcoming house. Do you know the etymology of the word “Welcome?” Our modern word welcome comes from the Old English wilcuma: ‘a person whose coming is pleasing’. The first element was later changed to wel- ‘well’, influenced by Old French bien venu or Old Norse velkominn . The one who is welcome is literally “a wished-for guest.” When we welcome someone into our homes or into our churches, we are literally saying they are someone “we wished would come and is pleasing to us.”This is a profound gift to the visitors to our homes and the visitors to our churches. However, are we really set-up to be as “welcoming” as we should? When do people decide if they feel welcome in our homes and in our churches? In our homes I would say that welcome begins at the front door. How we are invited into a home makes a big first impression for the rest of the visit. For our churches that welcome begins in the parking lot. People will decide within five minutes of coming to the church, from how much difficulty they have in the parking lot, to finding the front door, to whether someone invites them to sit in a pew – all of these are factors as to whether they will feel welcome or not and if they will come back. If G-d shows no partiality to who is welcome in the kingdom, why should we continue with practices that welcome some people and dis-invites others?

Let us pray,

God of the clean, unclean, the welcome and unwelcome and all in between, help me to leave labels and barriers behind and see only fellow humans, brothers and sisters in Christ – and welcome them into our lives and our churches. Amen.

Pastor Dave