March 4, 2023 — “Give Willingly”

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.” Psalm 25:4-5, 10

To give willingly is a challenge to be confronted by all people, Christians and non-Christians alike. When we are moved by the Holy Spirit to give, then it becomes a priority. Jesus teaches us to be prepared to give of ourselves as he modeled for us through the Cross. As such, we consider how we can give of our time, talents, and resources freely. But waiting is not a discipline that comes easily either. Waiting is hard. In fact in our society, with same day delivery and rapid fire responses via email and texting, we find it even more excruciating to have to wait.

During this season of Lent, take some time to discern what it means to give willingly, and to wait patiently. In both cases, we seek G-d’s will – for it is only through the presence of the Holy Spirit that one, or both, are within our grasp.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, only with your help will I be able to “wait upon the Lord” with a patient spirit and a giving heart. Amen.

Pastor Dave

March 5, 2023 – Lent 2A

“Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:1-17

Many times, the parables and stories of Jesus resonate with us because we often can relate to a specific character in the story. It is not too difficult to decide who it is we may associate with in this story. I think we can all see ourselves in the character of Nicodemus – at least in one of two ways. Many Christians keep their faith hidden, keep people hidden in the dark, about their faith – afraid to share it. The other way that we can see ourselves in the person of Nicodemus is because we, like him, have so many questions. And the most common question is “How can these things be?”

When bad things happen to us, or when we are faced with horrible events witnessed throughout the world, I am afraid that too many people will lose faith in G-d or at least find themselves with more questions (like “How can G-d allow this to happen?”) than answers. Tragedies in this world do happen because of sin – some due to bad choices, others due to the brokenness of creation. G-d intended a perfect creation, but sin, disobedience and evil have corrupted creation. And so because of sin, disobedience and evil, G-d did something unthinkable. And it is announced in the Gospel of St. John 3:16-17: “God SO LOVED the world, that he gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”

In other words, G-d has acted, in love, before we could even think about a response. You see, what sustains our faith in the face of tragedies is the fact that G-d’s love for us is not conditional – it is unconditional. G-d’s love for us is perfect – this world is broken.

The events of this life will often leave us in the dark, like Nicodemus, asking G-d questions. We often lay awake at night, worrying, wondering, questioning, seeking answers. We can’t stop bad things from happening, although we can limit them with good choices. And we cannot stop bad things from happening in the dark. And though things may come after us in the dark – the physical darkness, and the darkness of this world – we are reminded today that Jesus is always present, always there, to welcome us, and to guide us through the dark and the light alike. Shouldn’t we then share the LOVE of G-d every day?

Pastor Dave

March 2, 2023 — “Start Something That Changes Your Story”

“In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord let King Jehoiakim of Judah fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods. Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. They were to be educated for three years, so that at the end of that time they could be stationed in the king’s court. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah. The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. Now God allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master.”

Daniel 1:1-9

There is a Genesis to everything – but the ultimate Genesis to, well, everything is G-d. It is G-d who created all things, it is G-d who spoke into existence all things. We too are people who are made up of beginnings. Our birth is our official beginning, yet our very existence goes back to the act of procreation. We all had our first word, our first step, our first tooth, our first day at school, our first date, car, job, etc. And each day is the first day of the rest of our lives. Everything we do each and every day begins with choices – like what is the first choice you make when to get up in the morning; hit the snooze button, shower, eat, go for a walk, or go to the gym. So many of the choices we make we don’t even think about – they are just done reflexively – like choosing to breathe.

The story of Daniel of course is a wonderful story filled with all kinds of intrigue and apocalyptic images. But Daniel had a monumental first – the day he first decided to live a life of faith. And it was that life of faith that allowed him to put G-d first in his life. And so when faced with adversity, he was the first and the only one of the men from Judah to choose to refuse the daily rations of his cohorts. Each first for him, and you and me, is the first step in changing and forming the story of our faith.

Lent is a time for us to do some choosing: what we might take on as a discipline and how we might accomplish it. Perhaps, though, instead of choosing what to give up or to change (remember we do not always have to think of food when considering Lenten disciplines) perhaps we might choose to first allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us this Lent. Perhaps this Lent we may choose to start something that becomes a first in the story of our lives, that changes the story of our faith journey.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, send your Holy Spirit to lead and to guide me throughout Lent. Keep me moving forward in my Lenten journey. Amen.

Pastor Dave

March 3, 2023 — “Following Begins With the First Step”

“But Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who gives speech to mortals? Who makes them mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak.” But he said, “O my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “What of your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can speak fluently; even now he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you his heart will be glad. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. He indeed shall speak for you to the people; he shall serve as a mouth for you, and you shall serve as God for him. Take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.” Exodus 4:10-17

Stewardship of time and resources includes deciding what G-d is asking you to do, where G-d is asking you to go, and who G-d is asking you to be with. Often you feel you need more details before you take the first step – but that can become a barrier to actually following. Instead of seeking more details, what we need to do is “have the faith” to follow. No matter where, what, who or how, one must take the first step to follow. Moses learned that – he was in no mood to follow where G-d was calling him. He felt inadequate, he felt unworthy, he felt unprepared, and he felt ill-equipped. But G-d did not take the excuses from Moses – he pursued Moses through all of his arguments. In fact, if he would have been allowed, I believe Moses’ first step would have been in retreat. But he finally decided that G-d was not giving up – and so he stepped forward to confront Pharaoh and to lead the people out of Egypt.

During the season of Lent, we need to discern where G-d is calling us into action. And when we feel the call, we need to take the first step. Being a follower is not simply reading the bible (though that is always necessary), or attending church services (which also is necessary) – being a follower requires our whole being: head, heart, hands and feet. The first man to walk on the moon could not have achieved this feat if he had not used his feet – to take that first step onto foreign soil. Every ministry that we embark upon in the church, and in our personal lives, requires someone taking the first step onto foreign soil – into unknown paths, perils and pursuits. This Lent, take the first step to do something…

Let us pray: Dear G-d, guide me into my first step to following you today and every day. Whether it is foreign soil or friendly paths, keep me moving forward in my faith. Amen.

Pastor Dave