May 27, 2024 — The Dollar Spot Devotions

Cheap Car Chargers

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.… Matthew 14:22-24

We have become so dependent upon our electronic devices that we always need to have a charger at hand, because we cannot survive if they happen to lose power. It is a fact that once a week, in my home, someone is looking for a phone charger that they have either lost or someone has borrowed. It is a constant search. The truth of the matter is that we have lost so many chargers that we will find the cheapest one to buy because we are always buying a new one. And so, I was thrilled to spy a cheap charger in the Dollar Spot section the other day. The real hidden truth that bugs me is the fact that the manufacturers of these devices keep changing them, in small annoying ways, requiring us to constantly be buying new chargers. In fact I have two baskets full of chargers that no longer have a device to go with them.

So, my children have often ask “What did people do in the “olden days” when they didn’t have the electronic devices we have to keep us entertained?” Well, we found other ways to entertain ourselves. We played board games, played card games, watched movies, and actually talked to one another. Did you know that there is now an “APP” you can put on your phone to remind you to talk or play with your kids every so often? That is a sad commentary on our lives, yes?

So, what did Jesus do to recharge his batteries, so to speak? He usually found a quiet place to pray. He went up the mountain, or in the garden and started texting with G-d – that is texting the old-fashioned way – through prayer.  Just like our devices always need recharging, well my friends, so do we. We need time to recharge our faith batteries by going to G-d in quiet, thoughtful and un-interrupted prayer. Try it sometime – no, better yet, try it often. 

Pastor Dave

May 28, 2024 — The Dollar Spot Devotions

A Fitness Belt – Where do I Keep My Stuff While I Run?

^“Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.”

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

Being a jogger myself, I have known the problem of trying to decide what to do with my phone, my keys, and other stuff while I am running. The problem has become even more of a concern since there has been the advent of so many devices that we can use while we run. Some people drive their cars to a track to run, or to an area that has more challenges like hills, etc. That means there is the need to have some kind of pouch or belt to keep your keys. The fitness belt that I spied in the Dollar Spot section of my favorite store is just one of those helpers. Some of these belts even have a spot to fit a water bottle, for the jogger who is going on the extra-long run.

The endurance that is necessary for the Christian journey is compared to a race. And in some places it is also tagged with a sense of real urgency. When Jesus says “Let the dead bury the dead, you go proclaim the kingdom of G-d” he is talking about that urgency. Not only are we to persevere, we are to run with all our might, and we are to do it now, without concern for any other priorities. And what are we to take for that journey? Nothing – not a belt, not an extra set of jogging shoes or clothes, nothing. 

There is a message here that is difficult for most Americans to hear, and that message is un-encumbrance. There is nothing that is to hinder us, to distract us, or to impede us. And we have a lot of things in this country that we have been told that we cannot do without – a lot of stuff that we are constantly told we need to survive. If we are to follow Jesus the way that G-d intends, then we have to shed a lot of stuff – and that makes most of us nervous.  But, in the end, what will become of that stuff? We won’t know because we will have met our ultimate demise and others will be dividing our stuff. So, instead of concerning ourselves with stuff, Jesus says concern yourselves with the kingdom of G-d. That, my friends, will take a lot of thought, prayer, and devotion – maybe even a lifetime of devotion….but this journey has a great reward at the end.Pastor Dave

May 26, 2024 – Holy Trinity

“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

There is a theological motif called the “Happy Exchange”. Now that sounds inviting doesn’t it – the “Happy Exchange”. It goes like this: G-d became human – through Jesus Christ, G-d came to be just like you and me – so that you and I could become just like Jesus. So, there is nothing we need to do to be worthy of G-d’s love, mercy and Grace – G-d makes us worthy because it pleases G-d to treat us as G-d’s children through the “Happy Exchange”. This is what makes John 3:16 so appropriate in its simplicity:

G-d so loved the world (first) that G-d gave the world G-d’s Son, Jesus Christ. G-d acted first. G-d did not ask our opinion first. G-d elected to act before we could try to figure it all out – before we could figure anything out about G-d – not that we have a clear understanding of this mysterious G-d we have.

Today we claim to know G-d as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet we have no right to say we understand fully the Doctrine of the Trinity. But understanding the Doctrine of Election is a little easier. G-d elects to act – G-d elects to choose us – and G-d does this all through elements like G-d’s Word, Wine, Bread and Water. When the Word is preached – when we pour Water on the heads of new initiates – when we partake in the Bread and Wine of communion – Election is in action. We are reminded each time that not only is G-d with us – but G-d has chosen us – G-d has chosen to love us beyond all measure. And when we finally realize how much G-d wants to be in relationship with us, then we can answer that call:

“Will You Go To Serve The Lord?”

“With the Help of the Lord – We Will – We Will”

Pastor Dave