From the Pastor

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.

Like the Psalmist in the 42nd Psalm, we may struggle to feel the presence of God. We may feel that we are driven from God or that we have driven God from us. When Jesus met a man who undoubtedly felt that he had been driven from God and others, Jesus triumphed over that which had driven him away from God and others (Luke 8:26-39).

What drives us from God and others? It could be a painful addiction; a simple misunderstanding that became a complex misunderstanding; to such issues such as religion, language, economic standing, politics, nationality, and so forth. Christ shows us a better way than our learned patterns of destruction that drive us away from God and one another. Christ brings the joy of restoration and wholeness and enlists us in this divine endeavor of bringing healing and restoration to the world.