Among the good feelings in life is the sense of accomplishment of a job completed. Sometimes it is a relief like when we complete our taxes. At other times, it’s a joy like we have found the perfect gift for someone whom we love. It is especially rich when we have had a goal and have brought it to realization. It must be something like what Olympic athletes feel when they stand on the podium to receive a gold medal and hear their national anthem played. St. Paul uses such a metaphor to describe his journey of faith, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8) To see the faith journey in such terms is inspiring. It echoes Jesus’ parable words, “Well done good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord.” What can be greater praise than “well done”? What child would not love to hear those words from a parent? To come to the end of our earthly life and hear “well done” from our heavenly Lord surely would make our trials and temptation trivial in comparison. I know that sometimes saying, “It is finished,” can be the word of pain ending. Perhaps it was so when Jesus said those words from the cross, but I think he also knew that he had achieved what he was sent to do and could find joy even in the midst of his pain. I believe in that moment that he heard the voice of the Heavenly Father say, “Well done, my Son, I am well pleased with you.”
08/25/2024
When I am making a major purchase, I always sit down and estimate what the cost will be. I am concerned that I will have enough to pay the bill. I did this with my most recent car purchase, but I have been known to do this with lesser purchases, as well. I confess that when I go to a restaurant, I always read the menu from the right to the left. I do not always choose the cheapest, but I do always consider the cost.
In Luke 14:28, Jesus said, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?” He goes on to describe how a king going to war must consider the cost of his smaller force against the enemy’s larger force. All this is to illustrate the cost of discipleship. The cost of discipleship may involve taking up his or her cross in order to be a follower of Jesus, who took up his own cross.
All of us as Christians should consider what the cost of following Jesus might mean. To follow Jesus will at least mean that what we want or what serves ourselves best can never be the first consideration. Sometimes following Jesus may mean sacrifices, big and small. It may be inconvenient, challenging, and even at times, dangerous.
It was so for Jesus and it may well be for us, also. Sure, there will be rewards, but there will be costs, as well. In our Christian behavior, great and small, we are well-served if we count the cost.
08/18/2024
While we use terms like factual and true as if they were synonyms, they can have different meanings. When we read something like Shakespeare’s plays, we know that they were fictional creations even if they are about actual historical figures. Other pieces of fiction may be totally imaginary. Sometimes, when we read a piece of fiction we may discover that it is true-to-life as we have experienced it. At other times, we may learn a new, true idea expressed in the fictional piece. We may find truth in a bit of writing which is not literally factual at all. A similar thing can happen with a movie or TV show. We know that “Happy Days” was just a good script with some talented actors, but we may learn some true things about family and friendship within the comedy. In the Harry Potter books and later, movies, we may learn about bravery, sacrifice, and courage among other values. These can be true insights even in an enjoyable fantasy. Even ancient fables like those of Aesop may startle us by their continued relevance. The story of the dog who laid in the manger on the hay to prevent the cows from eating because the hungry dog couldn’t eat hay reveals much to us about envy and jealousy. The mouse who was released by the lion and later chewed through the lion’s captive ropes can show us the benefit of gratitude. Even the made-up tale can speak truth to us if we are perceptive. The question is not “did it actually happen,” but “what is true in the story from which we can learn?”
08/11/2024
How do we know when events that happen in life are good things or bad things? When something comes at us “out of the blue”, catching us off-guard, can we view these happenings from an eternal perspective, as God sees them? His perspective is first of all based in His immense love for us, but in the end His goal is to “work ALL THINGS together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” Are we so bound to our humanity that we are short-sighted, blind-sided, devastated, unable to see beyond the “happening” to the long-term consequences, even if the cloud has a silver lining? When my grandmother was dying of terminal cancer, our family stayed near her hospital bed, not allowing her to be alone for the 5 weeks from her diagnosis to her passing. Out of our love for her, we did our best to put aside our impending grief and love her home to Heaven. Of course, we did not want to lose her from our earthly presence but there was something bigger happening behind the scenes as God worked even in this heart-breaking situation…Nurse Cathy, who gave most of the wonderful care to Grandma Dorothy while she was in Community Hospital Anderson, gave her heart to the Lord as a result of watching how things were handled by a very present family. She was not used to seeing love personified. She remains a dear family friend & faithful believer to this day, 30 years later. So, was Grandma’s death a bad thing or a good thing? Luke 15:7 says, “ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” What a glorious reminder! May we trust His heart in the hard times of life. He is up to something good and eternal…you can bet your life on it!!
08/04/2024
Every year towards the end of September, there is a notice in my desk calendar that it is time to order a calendar notebook for the new year. I confess that I need the reminder, because in September I am not thinking much about the new year. In fact, with over three months to go I am pretty oblivious about the new year. Without the reminder it would probably be February before I thought to order a new desk calendar book. Often we need reminders in other parts of our lives. I can remember things that I read many years ago but can easily forget to post the letter in my pocket. Part of the function of worship in church is to remind us of the things that are most important. In a world full of various, and often false opinions, it is significant to be reminded of the true and righteous things which we should hold on to. The hymns and songs we sing can call back ideas and themes we may have neglected. The scriptures may remind us of the great truths of the gospel. The prayers of God’s people may inspire our own fervent prayers. Even preaching at its best may reintroduce us to the great themes of the faith. The cross, the candles, the open Bible may prompt us to remember Jesus’ sacrifice, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the power of the Word of God. If we need reminders in order to function well in our everyday life, how much more may we need reminders in our life of faith? Dear Lord, remind us again of the central ideas of the gospel that we may be effective Christians in your world.
07/28/2024
It is often said that time seems to move faster as we grow older. It does seem to me that the statement is accurate. There are some objective measures of hos fast things move in our world. I have a collection of 33 ½ rpm vinyl records, multiple cassette tapes, cd’s by the score, just when more music is online with various services. I even have some 8-track tapes which were once the ”in” thing. There are also my movies cassette tapes, and DVDs, while now I do streaming on the TV through the internet. I still have an email account, but if I want to make contact with my daughters, I text to their phone numbers. Contact with the grandchildren is even more complicated. I don’t even know what media systems they prefer. Every new thing I think might work is one that they used to use before the new “in” thing. Fortunately, the phone still works for them. I do wonder at times if the pace of change might be too fast for human adjustment. During much of human history things did not change so quickly. Some people might never have left their small villages or experienced the larger world around them except in story. What have we gained and what have we lost in our fast-paced world? Is there still a place for being led by still waters? Can we find a place of quiet within when there is so much frantic activity around us? Can we still sing “Drop thy still dews of quietness ‘til all our strivings cease. Take from our souls the strain and stress, and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace…”?
07/21/2024
Many of us worry about climate change. Any strange weather prompts us to wonder if that is a sign of such. There are many differing opinions about potential causes & cures. As a society we haven’t come to a unified conclusion. While all this worries me, I am even more immediately concerned about the political climate of our country. Recent events have thrown this into bold relief. Here, too, there are many differing views with very little scientific or historical data to help us sort it out. Common sense would seem to indicate that the situation will not be helped by angry words, insults, & accusations. This is not the first time such extreme rhetoric has existed in America. Reading the newspaper accounts of the Lincoln – Douglas election shows an earlier example of attack speech & writing. Maybe it is just a longing for a gentler time, but it feels like there have been times when we assumed that people on differing sides of national issues generally had the best interest of America at heart even when we disagreed about what that “best” would be. Increasingly now, there is a questioning of everyone’s motives. People often cast their opponents in the role of villains rather than colleagues in the work of the country. I do not know the solutions to our present conflicts, but a first step might be to lower the volume & tone of our disagreements. To use an extreme example, it is not free speech to yell “fire” in a crowded theater when there is no fire. Perhaps we need to substitute responsible speech for the extremes of free speech.
07/14/2024
For the next several weeks, we will be looking at the first four chapters of the book of Ephesians. We will be taking it slow because there is so much packed in this small book. Some of the early manuscripts of the book do not contain the words, “in Ephesus”, so we are not certain of where it was sent. Perhaps it was a circular letter meant to be shared with Ephesus and other congregations. We know that Paul suggested that his letters be shared with other churches beyond the designated church. The circular form may explain why the letter is so packed with vital religious information.
Ephesus was a noted center in the Greco-Roman world. Paul’s visits there, as Acts records, indicate its significance. It was located in Asia across the Aegean Sea from Athens. The letter speaks often of Gentiles as the primary audience. The content does not seem to relate to the church in Ephesus alone but addresses the world-wide church.
The unity of the church is emphasized as part of the plan of God in Christ. There are hymns and doxologies scattered throughout the book along with practical advice about proper righteous living. There is very little of a personal nature in the text.
Paul’s special role in the church is clearly expressed, but so are the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to the members of the church. As might be expected, Christ’s role is highly exalted throughout the text. All this is brought to bear on the mission of the church to the whole world.
07/07/2024
I Corinthians 4:9 says, “…for we are made a spectacle unto the world and to angels and to men.” A sincere but somewhat uneducated pastor said to his congregation, “My spectacles help me see better and we as spectacles help the world see Jesus better when they look through us.” His point was a valid and meaningful one, but it had nothing to do with the passage in question. Here, spectacle means a “show” or perhaps “demonstration”. Looking foolish to the world, Paul and his companion were wise in Christ. It is possible to make a good point if our faith is sincere even when we misunderstand the scripture. While we should always strive for clear understanding, if our hearts are right, God might even use our mistakes for good purpose. We are not perfect and may make many mistakes, but we can acknowledge our insufficiency and depend on God’s strength and wisdom. The work of God’s kingdom is not just up to us. In the history of the faith, God has made use of many imperfect men and women. Our halting words and clumsy actions may still be used by God to accomplish divine purpose. The kingdom of God does not rest on our skill and talent but on the power of God. Jesus knew this. He knew that the source of the power to heal, to help, to teach and preach, to serve and enable came not from within ourselves, but from God. Someone has written, “The ‘Acts of the Apostles’ should have been called the ‘Acts of the Holy Spirit Through the Apostles’.” It was true then, and I am sure it is still true.
06/30/2024
Winter or summer, I like to have ice in my cold drinks. One of my sons-in-law doesn’t want ice in his cold drinks. This could just be a personal preference, but it seems strange to me since he grew up in Florida while I grew up in South Dakota. Given the heat index in Florida all year long and the winter cold index in South Dakota, it seems like it should be the other way around. How often what we expect doesn’t match what is real. Sometimes this is a problem in human relationships. We may have expectations of another person that they have no idea about. How often, even in married life, do we discover that there are expectations (often unspoken) which our spouse may not match. Just because we love someone does not mean that we always anticipate what they expect from us. Our differing experiences growing up and observing marital interaction can set us up for misunderstanding. A forgiving attitude can do much to smooth relationships. Even in the church, we may have expectations that no set of flawed human beings can ever quite match. Perhaps even in our relationship with God our expectations may be out of touch with God’s will and purposes. It can be painful when life does not live up to our expectations. TV, movies, and advertising may have so raised our expectation that reality may never be able to measure up to our fantasy. We are wise when we do not let our desire for perfection blind us to miss the good because of exaggerated expectations. We are blessed if we look at our life and say, like God at creation, “It is good!”
06/23/2024
I Corinthians 4:9 says, “…for we are made a spectacle unto the world and to angels and to men.” A sincere but somewhat uneducated pastor said to his congregation, “My spectacles help me see better and we as spectacles help the world see Jesus better when they look through us.” His point was a valid and meaningful one, but it had nothing to do with the passage in question. Here, spectacle means a “show” or perhaps “demonstration”. Looking foolish to the world, Paul and his companion were wise in Christ. It is possible to make a good point if our faith is sincere even when we misunderstand the scripture. While we should always strive for clear understanding, if our hearts are right, God might even use our mistakes for good purpose. We are not perfect and may make many mistakes, but we can acknowledge our insufficiency and depend on God’s strength and wisdom. The work of God’s kingdom is not just up to us. In the history of the faith, God has made use of many imperfect men and women. Our halting words and clumsy actions may still be used by God to accomplish divine purpose. The kingdom of God does not rest on our skill and talent but on the power of God. Jesus knew this. He knew that the source of the power to heal, to help, to teach and preach, to serve and enable came not from within ourselves, but from God. Someone has written, “The ‘Acts of the Apostles’ should have been called the ‘Acts of the Holy Spirit Through the Apostles’.” It was true then, and I am sure it is still true.
06/16/2024
The owner of our condo village brought in a pair of swans to discourage the Canada geese from living in the little lake on the property. (My apologies to Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, for calling our little pond a “lake”.) The swans did not prove to be a total solution. The swans, the geese, and the ducks regularly hold a convention in our yard. They are a beautiful sight swimming on the lake. I am happy to announce that the swan pair are the proud parents of five cute little cygnets (baby swans). The five still have their fluffy white down and short little necks. They are already able to swim and fend for themselves a little bit, but they will be closely watched by momma and daddy swans as they develop. We neighbors will be watching, too. The swans first clutch of eggs were destroyed perhaps by a fox, so it is delightful to see these hatchlings doing so well.
The instinct to reproduce was built in by the Creator. For swans and humans, the forming of a family group also seems to be placed there by the Creator. While we are different species, it is interesting to see those areas that we have in common. We are part of the animal kingdom. There is a story that St. Francis of Assisi once preached a sermon to the birds. When I watch the beautiful swan family glide smoothly across the lake, the St. Francis story seems less strange. Maybe the beauty of these magnificent creatures is a kind of offering of praise to the Creator of all living things.
06/09/2024
When I was young, moms & aunties always inspected your hands before meals. “Did you wash your hands with soap?” Sometimes they added, “Did you wash behind your ears?” I never quite saw the connection between my ears & hands. After all, I don’t have food in my ears, although there was that time with a really big slice of watermelon…
Clean hands is a theme in scriptures, as well - “…those who have clean hands & a pure heart…” Here the concern is not for cleanliness before meals, but for righteous actions. The hands focus on the action while the heart focuses on intention. To come into God’s presence, both right action & right intention are necessary. Often our wrong actions proceed from wrong thoughts & motivations. We are blessed when we hunger & thirst for righteousness. For God, thought & action are always in accord. God’s thoughts are pure & therefore, His actions are righteous. At times, we may struggle to have a pure heart, so our actions may be unholy. The more we see the world through the lens of God’s grace (His love & mercy) the more our actions will be more like the Holy One. I know this is a high standard for all of us to strive for, but our aim should always exceed our grasp.
So we pray, “Lord, help me see the world through Your eyes, help me to think about my actions so that my thoughts may be like Your thoughts, help me to act like You act. May my hands be in Your service & my heart be pure towards You and others. May I have clean hands & a pure heart, that I may always be in Your presence.
06/02/2024
May the living Christ be with you: before you to show the way; beside you to befriend you; behind you to encourage you; above you to watch over you; beneath you to cushion you, and within you to give you peace. – R. Clemmitt
This modern variation on a traditional Irish blessing adds a new circle of meaning. The presence of the living resurrected Christ with us impacts so many areas of our life that we may not always recognize. I have never thought of Christ beneath us to cushion us, but it immediately made sense to me. I have never used those words to describe it, but I have certainly experienced it. I am often amazed at the way a writer can capture what I have experienced that I do not yet have words to express. Sometimes I do not even recognize the experience until an author gives me words to speak it into my conscious mind. This can happen in a hymn or sermon or prayer, but it can also happen in the mundane experiences of life. We can hear it in the casual comment of a friend or naïve observation of a child. We may find it in a TV show or movie. It may be revealed in a novel or short story. A song or poem may capture that illusive thought that has been just outside our grasp or nearly on the tip of our tongue. It can happen in something observed or imagined. It can happen anytime or any place, even when we least expect it. How fortunate we are if our eyes and ears are open to that moment. Hidden Christ, may we see you in all those awesome moments when you reveal yourself in the ordinary bits of our life.
05/26/2024
I am anticipating being back with you in worship this next Sunday. I will have been comforted and strengthened by spending some extended time with family, but I have missed all of you. Few things in life give me more strength than worshipping with God’s people. Our prayers and praises lend us strength as together we offer our worship to God our Maker. Occasionally, I hear someone say, “I didn’t get much out of worship today.” I can understand that as I, at times, can feel the same, but I am reminded of the days of an offering box at the rear of the Sanctuary. A minister and his young son stopped by the box and the minister put in his offering. After the service, they opened the box where there was little beyond what the minister had put in. The young boy, with insightful naivety said, ‘Dad, if you had put more in, you would have gotten more out.” When I am disappointed in worship, it most often is the case that I have not brought my whole self to the worship. Others may have a different experience, but my attitude as I approach worship has a real effect on what I receive. I try to remind myself to have an open spirit, to give myself fully to worship, both to give and receive. At my best, worship is enlightening and rewarding, both for me and, I hope, for others. Especially when I am one of those leading in worship, it is of primary importance that I also worship. We always hope to be what we are asking of others. So, let us worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness to the glory of God.
05/19/2024
Earlier this year, I watched through protective glasses, the full eclipse of the Sun by the Moon. It was amazing to watch the process as the Moon blocked greater & greater portions of the Sun from our view, until it looked like sunset in the middle of the day; then finally, darkness with a distinct fall in temperature. I wondered at how this would have appeared to ancient people. Would they have prayed in fear as the Sun disappeared, and scant minutes later, rejoiced at the Sun’s reappearance? Even as a modern person, I found the experience startling & a bit spooky. It was a good experience with my older daughter & youngest grandchild beside me. I was sitting near an old friend who had also lost his wife. We talked a bit about loss & heaven & the desire he felt to go to be with his wife. We shared a bit of the loneliness of being in our situation. Also in the group was a young man whose grandfather, I learned, had been a Church of the Brethren minister. There was no Church of the Brethren congregation at all near where he grew up and he was interested in that part of his heritage. I was able to suggest some books he could read to learn more about the part of his background. In the midst of a cosmic event, there were three different personal events that were going on at the same time, each amazing, if not cosmic. How many other ordinary & accidental events were going on while the Moon passed before the Sun? What an amazing life, what an amazing universe, what an amazing God!
05/12/2024
While you are reading this column, I am likely sitting on the deck at my daughter’s home in Colorado, looking out at the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Psalm 121:1 reads: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD the Maker of heaven and earth.” (NIV) The King James Version reads, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” (KJV) The KJV reading could have been misread as help coming from the hills, but the second half clarifies that help comes from the Lord. The New International Version and other contemporary adaptations make for better, less confusing translation. Still, I find looking at the mountains fills me with a sense of awe that almost immediately reminds me of the greatness of the God who made heaven and earth. Creation reflects the glory of God to me. Recently, the spring blooming trees and flowers, and the greening of the earth call out the Creator to me. “In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass. He speaks to me everywhere.” I admit that the creation does not push everyone to acknowledge the Creator, but it does me. In the brilliant colors of the hummingbird breast to the glossy black of the winged crow, from the tiny shrew to the massive blue whale, I see the Creator’s hand. Brooks and trees, skies and seas sing out His name to me; the good God who has made all things well. Let us celebrate the earth which has been given us by God.
05/05/2024
Sometimes when we observe the problems of other people, we may be tempted to think that they are stuck at an earlier stage of their development. We say, “She is acting like a teenager,“ or “He is just a big baby.” It is much rarer for us to apply such thinking to ourselves. “Know thyself” seems a nearly impossible task for most. I have often wondered how many in our world are stuck with an underdeveloped view of God. Our earliest views of God may have been appropriate for our childish minds, but have we moved on to a more adult understanding of God? I know this seems to run counter to the view that we should be like little children if we wish to enter the kingdom of God. In that regard, I think there is a deep contrast between “child-like” and “child-ish.” Childish throws a tantrum at every obstacle while childlike trusts in the midst of difficulty. Childish disparages the rainy sunset; child-like is delighted at the sparkling sunrise. Childish moans “nobody loves me”; childlike sings, “I love everybody.” I know this is way too simplistic and these are limited and poor examples, but I think there is a difference. The greatness of God demands that we constantly grow toward His majesty. It is the difference between fear and awe. At our best, we stand in awe at the grand unfathomable majesty of God and bravely say, “God, show us your face, show us yourself as you truly are, that we might grow in your likeness.”
04/28/2024
A noted Christian magazine once carried a column called “How My Mind Has Changed.” Various Christian leaders and theologians were asked to write about how their understanding of the faith had changed over the years. The recurring column was viewed as something innovative in Christian journalism. It seems surprising to me now. At the time, I read each new installment with real excitement. It was fascinating to see how these great thinkers and leaders of the faith had adjusted their thinking in the light of a changing world. Now I think, “Of course, their minds have changed!” How could they not change as new understanding and experiences impinged on their lives? As I remember, each writer was careful to indicate that not everything had changed in their thinking, but some of the changes were far reaching for their own faith and for the faith at large. Other changes seemed more like fine tuning of beliefs or more minor, yet still significant, adjustments in their understanding. Is anyone truly able to keep their thinking unchanged? Even if one could do so, would that be a good or bad thing? Perhaps it is always difficult to choose between what should be changed and what should be left to stand as it is. At an age over the proverbial three score and ten, I can see on reflection how my mind has been changing over the whole of my life. Many things that I thought were important now seem on reflection to be more trivial. Other things now seem more vital than I realized at an earlier age. As I continue to age, I hope I will retain the ability to change and the wisdom to know what to change and what to hold fast.
04/21/2024
The New Testament notes that Jesus “went about doing good.” Such a simple statement, but what a profound result! The people I most admire are those who sow seeds of love and kindness. They are life’s encouragers. They are those who stand up for the right. They are those who grant mercy and forgiveness. They bless the path they walk and all who walk with them.
There are, of course, those who go about doing evil. They make the path dangerous and difficult for others. They are the destroyers who bring pain and suffering to others. They bring out the worst in those around them. Their evil deeds bring out evil in our world. They injure others but also injure themselves. They are the haters, the violent, the apathetic, the self-absorbed.
In the end, we choose what we will do and be in the world. How much better to build up than to tear down, to rescue rather than to persecute, to love rather than ignore, to serve rather than neglect, to light a candle rather than curse the darkness, to bless rather than curse, to praise rather than criticize.
We were placed in God’s world to do good, not evil. We were meant to be like Jesus, who went about doing good.