From the Pastor

Once there was a man living the American Dream in ancient Palestine (Luke 12:16-21). He was so successful that he had to build bigger barns to hold all his goodies, yet he neglected to think of God when his untimely death occurred. The parable is called “The Rich Fool” because he was not rich toward God. His sin was not eating, drinking, and making merry; rather, his sin was that he prevented others from doing the same by hoarding his wealth.

(W. Robert McClelland)

May we be rich toward God in this life to make life more bearable for all, especially the most vulnerable as Jesus would say it.

Colossians tells us that our minds can be captivated by evil, corrupt ways of thinking. It also tells us of a vantage point from which to gauge the competing claims on our lives, and that vantage point is Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:6-8). May we not lose our focus upon Christ and become captivated by malice, greed, hatred, and prejudice. May we “set our minds on ‘things above.’”

(Colossians 3:1-3)

If you treat God as a divine spare tire, how much development of a relationship with God do you miss? The disciples wished to develop a life of prayer in order to develop a deeper awareness of their connection with God and others. Jesus gave them the Lord’s Prayer, (Luke 11:1-4). Jesus stresses the importance of asking, searching, and knocking (Luke 11:5-10). For what do we keep asking, searching, and knocking? God, I have yet to receive my Roll Royse! Jesus was not speaking of material things, rather he was talking about the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:11-13).

The Holy Spirit brings the teachings and influence of Christ to us personal and corporately as Christ’s Church. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit we pray “your kingdom come.” May we hear and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking God’s Word of love and compassion to us and the world. Until then, “Keep asking for a better world, keep seeking a better world, and keep knocking on the door for a better world (Gerald Darring).”

If someone shows compassion, is he/she not demonstrating the compassion of God? God’s Word, Jesus Christ, reveals God to be a God of compassion (Luke 10:25-37). If you do not have compassion for someone or a group of people, ask yourself why? Then, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in the way of Jesus Christ: The way of compassion

The Holy Spirit has sown the seed of God’s love and compassion in the hearts of our friends, neighbors, and yes, even our enemies; but, do we attempt to help them realize the seed of God’s love is in their hearts? The harvest is before us, and the opportunity to make a difference is before us (Luke 10:2). May we seize the opportunities God has given us and not grow weary in doing good.

lyWhy the concern about growing weary? Sharing the message of God’s love is perhaps more difficult in the everyday ordinary, situations of life in which we find ourselves than in the heroism of a single day. May we have the courage to faithfully and continually share God’s love, and not expect someone else to do it.