Memories of Chief John Hawk

John Hawk died on Monday. He was only 51.

He was promoted to glory, but he leaves grieving children and family and many friends. I was one of them, and I am very sad to hear of his passing. Don't get me wrong -- he was a believer and he knew where he was going. He is with the Lord. But the world is a little bit poorer without John Hawk in it. He was a good man.

He was the police chief of Roy, Washington, and had been for a number of years. He was a dedicated lawman, someone you could depend upon. He always tried to do the right thing, and he always had a heart for people. He was a policeman who cared deeply for his fellow men and women. His Christian training guided him in how he carried out his job.

I knew John as the Police Chief in Kake, Alaska. With the substance abuse problems of many of our residents in Kake, his job was a tough one. But he tried to do his best. We had a few adventures together during that time. There were times when he would arrest folks for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct, and, later, after they had sobered up a bit, I would go up to the village jail and see John and pray with the person in the cell. He always hoped the alcoholic could kick their habit, and sometimes they did. No doubt,it was a struggle to be the police chief a little village with pronounced substance addiction problems. But John was always seeking ways to help, and during his time in Kake some wonderful things were begun by the people.

When we formed the Healing Heart Council in Kake, a group of concerned citizens to promote healthy living and good choices in the village, John was there, helping to work for early warnings of problems and prevention of then before they festered into something worse. When Magistrate Mike Jackson and a group of us began Circle Peacemaking as a way of alternative dispute resolution, John gave it his blessing and did his best to support it. He wanted what was best for the people.

John was adopted into the great Tlingit nation, given a name that had belonged to legendary Tlingit Christian leader Daniel Paul. John cherished his adoption and his connection to the Native Alaskan people of Kake. He moved away for a better career opportunity in Roy, Washington, but I am sure that a part of his heart always stayed in Kake.

One night I will always remember was a night in the late nineties when a particularly violent storm hit the Alexander Archipelago on the Inside Passage of Alaska. It was one that boasted winds up to 136 miles per hour, sheering trees off at their trunks and tearing roofs off houses, yet it got no airplay in the lower 48, as was par for the course.

Still, this monstrous storm hit Kake with much sound and shock and fury, and the little cabin manse we were living in shook so much we thought it might be blown off its foundation. Siding was torn from the walls of the Kake Memorial church where I was the pastor. The wind was furious, and my wife and I, with two childrn under five, prayed to take away our fear.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door, in the hundred mile and hour winds. We opened in and shards of rain blew inside, seeming to cut our faces. There was John, the police chief, all wet in his rain gear. Some roofs had been ripped off people's homes, and he was opening the village gymnasium as a shelter. Since I was the Red Cross contact, I had some cots and blankets in the basement of the church. He wanted us to load them in his SUV so he could take them down to the gymnasium.

So we stumbled out into the wind. I weighed 290 and John was somewhere closer to 200, but both of us were big men, over six feet and pretty strong. Yet the wind was so hard to walk in, we had to bow down. Then, when I was taking a cot in my hands out of the church basement, a big gust actually picked me off the ground, like a kite, and carried me several feet in the air toward the raging ocean thirty yards away.

After that we both crawled with the cost to his SUV. My wife came out to help and she crawled, too. Later, as I carried blankets down in our van, the van actually moved across the road from the force of a titanic wind gust. What a night it was. But through it all John was the faithful policeman, putting his life on the line to serve the people. That was the kind of guy he was.

And he had great compassion for the ones beset by addictions to alcohol and drugs, even as he fought the scourge that addiction puts on our society. He always had a heart for kids. I will never forget how he reached out to kids at Halloween. I can remember a time, early in our time in Kake, when John and kathy had a great time giving out candy to all the village kids and youth at the police station. And he did many other things to reach out to the kids. Every year, John had remarkable programs for the young people in high school to realize how important life was and how we need to be careful with the lives and the friends God has given us.

Oh, John was not perfect, (as none of us are!), but he was a good man. And he will be missed. There are other stories I could tell -- of his starring in a church play we did called "The Death of a Church," (it was his idea), and of his breaking his leg while enforcing the law in a fight with an evil doer, and of other times of putting his life on the line for the good of the people of the village.

John had an innate sense of compassion and that made a world of difference. Earlier in his life he had served as an officer in the Salvation Army, and he knew his Bible, and we had some good discussions. But the fact that he cared about people in a deep way is what I will remember most about John Hawk.

I pray for his dear children and family. I pray for the many people who will remember him fondly. On this day I remember John Hawk with a tear in my eye and thankfulness in my heart. He was a blessing to us, and we will never forget him.

Eye Has Not Seen, Nor Ear Heard

Every great work in the Church begins with someone on their knees. Tap into the power of God through prayer. God is doing a new thing in our midst!

Dr. Dave Ullom points out to us that in I Chronicles 28:9 we read, “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you.” Do you ever long to hear God say, “I choose you,” to be assured that He has a plan for you. There are stories from the Bible that illustrate how God calls ordinary people out of their ordinary lives.

God chose Noah simply because He lived a righteous life. Genesis 6:8 tells us, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” God chose David simply because He saw His heart. Psalm 78:70 & 73 tells us, “He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens;… And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” God chose Mary because of her heart.

Luke 1:30 tells us, “But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.’” None of these people held lofty positions or had received worldly acclaim. They were “nobodies” to the world- nothing special- and yet God saw their character, their right choices, and their hearts. They were very special to God. And He said, “You’re the one."

In Mark 5:21-34, Jesus is walking with a crowd of people, all pressing in on Him, hungry for His attention, His healing, His words. Verse 24 tells us that the crowd “pressed around him.” I imagine people desperate for even a small piece of Him. Only one woman, however, pressed in such a way that it caused Him to stop and turn to her. Her touch was different from all the rest. She didn’t just touch Him with her hands, but with her heart of faith. He felt the difference as she was healed.

God wants those people whose hearts are desperate for Him. He wants to heal, strengthen, and equip you. He isn’t looking for the worthy, the intelligent, or the beautiful people. He is looking for the ordinary ones who are simply open to His invading presence in their lives. If He is calling you right now, don’t convince yourself that He isn’t. God sees you, just as you are, and He knows the ones He calls. He has a plan for you (Jer. 29:11).

Pray for 5 people for 5 months 5 minutes a day. We preached about it awhile back. If you have been doing it, keep it up. If you have not been doing it, please start. Think of five unchurched people and pray for them daily. 5 for 5 for 5! is a powerful plan. May each of us do it. In Jesus name!

I have been told by many people, in our church and out of our church, that God is moving in our county and this church will play a key role in what He is doing. “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV This not just about heaven. It is also about the near future in this church and community! In these last times, a new wave is coming! Let us catch that mighty wave of God!

There is Great Power in Our Words

There is a great power in words. The Bible tells us so. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit" (Proverbs 18:21)

According to the Scriptures, the tongue has a power. Notice it says here, "the power of the tongue". Its obvious that the power referred to here is not the physical power of the tongue as a muscle, but the power of the words it produces. I've never heard of the word "tongue" used in relation to God Himself. Its a word used of human speech. So we can see that the Word of God is saying that our speech is tremendously important, powerful and significant. So much so that our words are a matter of life and death.

Jesus declared, "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36). "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:37). These declarations of Jesus Christ should cause us to sit up and take notice, and consider very carefully what kind of words are coming out of our mouths and why.

Without a doubt, we must be careful what we say. Idle words, and negative thoughts and spoken phrases can do a great deal of damage in the spiritual realm, but positive words and phrases based on the Bible and its promises will bring good results. The choice is before us and the advice is clear: SPEAK LIFE! SPEAK WORDS IN LINE WITH THE ULTIMATE TRUTH -- THE WORD OF GOD!

The Power of Our Prayers

"Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests . . . Be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18

"God gives us the Spirit as our teacher in prayer, to tell us what is right and to temper our emotions. We should seek such aid of the Spirit." John Calvin

"Prayer is an art which only the Holy Spirit can teach us. He is the giver of all prayer." C.H. Spurgeon

"There is no man, nor church in the world, that can come to God in prayer, but by the assistance of the Holy Spirit." John Bunyan

James 5:16 tells us, ‘‘The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." There is power in our prayers!

Praise God that the Holy Spirit will help us in our prayers if we ask him for help. He will give us words, both of understanding and in the Spirit, if we ask Him to help us pray. Make sure you ask the Spirit to help you pray. Great men and women of the faith like Calvin and Spurgeon and Bunyan attest the Spirit's loving assistance.

It also seems from the writing in James that there are three key elements that should constitute our prayer lives: We should pray properly, purposefully and persistently. When all three elements are a part of our prayer lives, our prayers are powerful and effective.

The first element of ‘‘effective, fervent prayer” is that we are to pray properly. The foundational purpose for prayer is not to ask for things — although we are told to do that,and we should do that — but to align ourselves with God’s will. We need to remember that prayer is for people, not God. God doesn’t need our prayers, but we need to pray to God if for no other reason than to remember that we are not He. One way we do that is by aligning our prayers and our requests with God's Word -- which expresses much of His will for our lives and situations. Prayer declares the truth of God into our lives and into the world. Praying the Scriptures, just as praying in the Spirit, aligns us with God and declares God's truth into the world.

The second element of effective, fervent prayer is to pray purposefully. God has told us that we are to ask for what we want; we are to be specific. Being specific and verbal about our desires helps us to put out on the table both our needs and our wants. Some of our presumed needs are likely to be seen as wants when we verbalize them, and this helps us to, once again, put things into proper perspective. Asking for what we think want and need doesn’t mean that we are going to get it, but it does allow us to be honest with ourselves before God. And we can be sure He will give us everything we truly need for life and ministry.

Finally, if we are to have an effective, fervent prayer life, we have to pray persistently. The apostle Paul tells us to pray without ceasing, and Jesus used the example of the ‘‘importuning widow” who continually came before the judge to ask for what she wanted until the judge gave in to her request. This doesn’t mean that we are going to be able to wear God down or browbeat Him into giving us what we want. What it does mean is that by praying persistently we will continually seek to align ourselves with God’s will. We are moving in the right direction for we see the light of the lighthouse of God's love. We are allowing His bit in our mouth's to guide us.

Human nature, being what it is, often leads us to think that we are responsible for all the good things that happen to us. Taking time in prayer to thank God for what He has done and to pull ourselves into alignment with His will put life into proper perspective for us. And so our prayer should reflect this just as Jesus’ prayer did: ‘‘Not my will but Thy will be done.” Again, we often find His will for us revealed in the Scriptures. There are many wonderful promises that show us His will. When we see Jesus in the Bible we see the Father and we see His love and caring for all humanity, including us! Praise the Lord!

The Horror and Tragedy of the Massacre in Virginia

Another portion of our continuing national nightmare of gun violence has unfolded once again. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the 32 massacred at Virginia Tech University and to their friends, and to all who live and work at Virginia Tech. What a terrible thing happened in Virginia yesterday morning. It brings back horrible memories of otehr school shootings, such as Columbine, and the Amish school massacre.

Why would the young Asian student Cho turn on the others and mow them down as if life meant nothing? Investigators are still struggling with many questions, including this one. Certainly, guns enable people to kill many others in one fell swoop. I am the owner of a shotgun and a pistol, and I am a former member of the National Rifle Association, so I see the need for guns for sport in our society. But,when one realizes that we lead all the countries in the world in gun violence, one must admit that something has gone awry in our culture.

According to Reuters News Agency, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, a staunch U.S. political ally, cited the tough gun laws in his country as a solution. Australia banned almost all types of semi-automatic weapons after a mass shooting in Tasmania in 1996.

"We showed a national resolve that the gun culture that is such a negative in the United States would never become a negative in our country," said Howard, extending sympathies to the families of the victims at Virginia Tech university.

More than 30,000 people die from firearms in the United States every year and there are more guns in private hands than in any other country. By comparison, there were 163 gun deaths in the United Kingdom in 2003, according to the latest figures from the campaign group Gun Control Network.

Why did he do it? Newsweek magazine, in an article posted online today, states that psychologists can say a few things with certainly about who is more likely to commit the most serious of crimes. Over 90 percent of killers are male, and the same holds for mass murderers—“I can’t think of a single case where a woman has done this,” says Louis Schlesinger, a professor of forensic psychology at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.—partly because men tend to have more access to guns, which are usually the weapons of choice. The killers are usually somewhere between the ages of 25 and 35. They generally do not have previous histories of breaking the law in any serious way. And they are not, on the whole, psychopaths, although they are often identified in the media as such. “A psychopath is someone with little conscience, little interpersonal bonding, someone who’s smooth and manipulative," says Schlesinger. "That personality has nothing, zero, to do with mass murder."

Indeed, according to Newsweek, the personality type most often associated with mass murder is in some ways the opposite of a psychopath. He is far from cool-headed; instead, he is aggrieved, hurt, and above all paranoid. Some mass murderers may be trying to exercise power over a world that they feel has left them powerless. "These people often feel some great injustice has been done to them. They're angry and they want to take it out on the world," says Schlesinger. "Then they develop the idea that committing murder will be the solution to whatever their problem is, and they fixate on it. Eventually they come to feel that there's no other solution."

“Almost always [in school shootings], the perpetrator is a student who seeks revenge,” says Levin. In the most deadly college shooting in America before this week’s—a 1966 attack at the University of Texas that killed 16 and wounded 31—the perpetrator, Charles Whitman, had been a student and research assistant at UT. Some mass murderers, Jack Levin, a forensic psychologist at Northeastern University says, want to conduct "executions" of their classmates, as Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris did at Columbine High School. As for Cho and whatever had upset him, Levin says, "It was murder by proxy. I think he was trying to kill the college."

Hate is a horrible thing, authored by the father of lies. When hate is mixed with guns capable of firing at a rapid rate, it becomes a thing capable of causing a monstrous massacre. This is a very sad day for Virginia Tech, and all of America.

The Flag That Does Not Fly

This is the great Floral Flag. Between the fields where the flag is planted, there are 9+ miles of flower fields that go all the way to the ocean. The flowers are grown by seed companies. It's a beautiful place, close to Vandenberg AFB.! Check out the dimensions of the flag. The Floral Flag is 740 feet long and 390 feet wide and maintains the proper Flag dimensions, as described in Executive Order #10834. This Flag is 6.65 acres and is the first Floral Flag to be planted with 5 pointed Stars, comprised of White Larkspur. Each Star is 24 feet in diameter; each Stripe is 30 feet wide. This Flag is estimated to contain more than 400,000 Larkspur plants, with 4-5 flower stems each, for a total of more than 2 million flowers. Let us pray for our country, our leaders, our soldiers, and our diplomats. May a way to peace be found in Iraq so that our men and women can come home to their families.

Why God Sent Jesus: John 3:16

Hard Hearts Thicken and Sicken Our Society

Hard hearts are a big problem in our world. They keep people from loving God and from loving each other. Hard hearts make walls that prevent reconciliation with God and each other, and growth in God.

One of the great heroes of the Christian faith is Francis of Assisi, who was given the recognition of sainthood by the Roman Catholic Church. Certainly, Francis modeled humility and faithfulness in such as way as to inspire us to follow Christ more closely. He preached against hard heartedness, and called on people to reach out to each other in service and love. He lived a life of humble, faithful service to Christ.

Francis is perhaps most famous for his blessing of animals and for affirming the animals as a reminder of our affinity for God’s creatures and creation. He saw all of God's creation as an interconnected blessing. I think St. Francis is an example of someone who was not plagued with meanness of spirit and hardness of heart, but rather had an open and willing heart, as we are called to have for the Lord. May the hard hearts become soft, molded by the Spirit.

There is a wonderful prayer attributed to St. Francis, a prayer that keeps your heart from becoming hard. It goes like this:

“Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

WE ARE EASTER PEOPLE!

On that first Easter morning the disciples came to the tomb of Jesus and found it empty. They came expecting to find a body and instead they found emptiness. Now I have to tell you that I have preached many Easter sermons about the empty tomb. The empty tomb is a compelling image.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ has been called the greatest event in human history, because it changed everything. Of course, His birth and crucifixion were necessary precedents to the resurrection, and they are all interrelated in our salvation.

The three main events in the life of Jesus were when He became incarnate at his birth, when He went to Calvary to bear our sins, and when He arose from the dead on the first Easter morning.

The three are intricately inter-related. If Jesus had not become incarnate, He could not have borne the sins of man. If He had not given His life a ransom for the sinner, then there would have been no need for a resurrection from the dead.

The resurrection of Jesus provides for us a great source of gladness. There were no "what ifs" about his resurrection, for Peter said that "IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR DEATH TO HOLD HIM." It was planned in eternity past, that the Lord Jesus would not only die, but that he would not stay in the grave in defeat. Christ was destined to rise in victory and glory.

Our hearts are lifted above our present problems and pressures, when we realize get a glimpse of an empty tomb and a resurrected, ever living Savior.

We begin to catch a ray of hope in what we regard as hopeless situations, when we stop to think that Jesus lives, and because He lives we can face tomorrow.

We tend to lose our fears when we have our eyes upon the Lord of Life and the Conquerer of Death. We hear Him come from the grave and whisper to our souls the comforting, reassuring words : "Fear Not".

Life's difficulties do not look as large, when we remind ourselves that He lives. We have a present help in the time of trouble.

The fact that Jesus is alive is more real to me than the fact than I am living. How precious are these eternal, wonderful, spiritual things of God!

There are miracles that are sent our way daily by God. I believe we are constantly confronted by miracles, and the resurrection is the miracle of all miracles. Explain it away if you like, but we have been tremendously affected by the countless people over these last 2000 years who encountered the risen Christ in their lives.

What the resurrected Christ did was to empower his followers to continue his work, be bearers of his love, be healers in his name, and work for justice and peace in the world. Christians have been killed, persecuted, ridiculed, reviled and dismissed but still the Good News lives on and in 2000 years of trying all those governments and individuals who have attempted to eliminate Christianity from the face of the earth have failed. Praise God for Savior.

We are Easter People. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!

Yield Not to Temptations -- No Spiritual Bird Nests, Please!

Christians face temptation every day, and not everyone is prepared to overcome those temptations. At some point most people are faced with the desire to submit to sin, whether it is sex, gossip, drugs, alcohol, cheating, and more. Sometimes those temptations are minor, so they are pretty easy to overcome, but other times the desire seems too great. Remember, though, that temptation is not the sin, even Jesus was tempted. As the old saying goes, just let those birds fly over your head -- do not let them build a nest! We only sin when we give into the temptation. Here are some things you can do to help you avoid and overcome temptations:

1) Identify Temptations
Everyone is a little different, so it is important to know what temptations are difficult for you to overcome. Some people may find that gossip is more alluring than drugs or gambling or sex. When you know what tempts you the most you can be proactive about handling that temptation.

2) Pray About the Temptation
Most Christians know the temptations that are difficult to overcome. For instance, if you find gossip a great temptation then pray every night for the strength to overcome the gossip. Ask God to provide you with the strength to walk away from the gossip and to know what information is gossip and what is real information.

3) Avoid the Temptation
When we know what temptations are being the most difficult, we can prepare ourselves for those situations. In some cases we can even avoid the temptation itself. For instance, if premarital sex is a temptation, then you can avoid being in situations where you might find yourself giving into that desire.

4) Use Your Bible for Inspiration
The Bible is there to offer Christians advice and guidance, so why not use it? Scripture verses like 1 Corinthians 10:13, "You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptation" (CEV), can help inspire you in moments of temptation. Try to look up what the Bible says on your areas of temptation for inspiration and guidance.

5) Use Positive Language
What does positive language have to do with avoiding temptation? It actually has more to do with overcoming temptation. You need to believe God can help you overcome the desire to sin in order to actually overcome it. Avoid saying things like, "It's too hard," or "I'll never be able to do this." Remember, God can move mountains. Try changing how you approach the situation and say, "God can help me overcome this," or "It's not too hard for God."

6) Give Yourself Alternatives
In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible states that God can show you how to escape from your temptation. Allow yourself to see that escape. If you know your temptations, know how you can overcome. Give yourself alternatives. For instance, if you are tempted to lie to protect another person's feelings, try considering other ways to word the truth so it doesn't sound so harsh. If people around you are getting into drugs, try making new friends. Alternatives aren't always easy, but they can be the path God creates for you to avoid and overcome temptation.

7) God Still Loves You and Will Forgive You
While avoiding temptation makes life a lot easier, it can be discouraging when we do give into that sin. We all make mistakes. That is why God offers us forgiveness. While you should not sin knowing that you can be forgiven, you should know that God's grace is available. So remember 1 John 1:8-9, "If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away,"" (CEV)

We should not wallow in our own mire, sinning the same sin over and over again. (2 Peter 2:22) Sin separates us from God and from each other. It debilitates us and our witness for Him. God hates sin, but loves us, and so He offers forginvess through Jesus Christ.

We need to REPENT, turn away, and sin no more. Thank God for His forgivness and our ability to confess our sins to God. Rest in the fact that God will always be there ready to catch you when you fall, and to help you stay on the straight and narrow path.

There is Power in Your Words

We live in a put-down society where the cut down artists seem to reign supreme. Our culture is peppered with vitriolic, so-called humor in sitcoms and rap albums and even in our news programs. Our politics often majors in the art of character assassination, and we have made icons of such put-down hacks as Ann Coulter on the far right and Al Franken on the far left. Too many other pseudo-journalists have become multi-millionaires with their own versions of put-down political "commentary" that has very little to do with fairness or common decency. The list, if we wished to name aother names, could go on and on. Suffice it to say that caustic comments pervade American popular culture and the cruel commentary is rewarded by many.

American Idol, television's most popular show, is powered by the cutting remarks of Simon Cowell. And any contestant is fair game for the attacks of so-called comedians. Poor Sanjaya Malakar, only seventeen, has been ridiculed beyond any kind of politeness.

But what is all this put-down humor and lack of respect getting us as a people? Psychologists Cliff Notarius of Catholic University and Howard Markman of the University of Denver studied newlyweds over the first decade of marriage, they found a very subtle but telling difference at the beginning of the relationships. Among couples who would ultimately stay together, 5 out of every 100 comments made about each other were put-downs. Among couples who would later split, 10 of every 100 comments were insults. That gap magnified over the following decade, until couples heading downhill were flinging five times as many cruel and invalidating comments at each other as happy couples. "Hostile put downs act as cancerous cells that, if unchecked, erode the relationship over time," says Notarius, who with Markman co-authored the book, We Can Work It Out. "In the end, relentless unremitting negativity takes control and the couple can't get through a week without major blowups."

The old saying "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me" was meant to buck up kids who were told hurtful things. But the truth is that words can hurt. Words are very powerful things. The Bible tells us so.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit" (Proverbs 18:21)

There really is power in your words. According to the Scriptures, the tongue has a power. Notice it says here, "the power of the tongue". Its obvious that the power referred to here is not the physical power of the tongue as a muscle, but the power of the words it produces. So we can see that the Word of God is saying that our speech is tremendously important, powerful and significant. So much so that our words are a matter of life and death. Perhaps this is why Jesus declared, "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36). "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:37). These declarations of Jesus Christ should cause us to sit up and take notice, and consider very carefully what kind of words are coming out of our mouths and why.

Saying positive things, encouraging things are like apples of gold --- "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." - Proverbs 25:11. We need to say positive things, not negative things. We need to say things that are in line with the Word of God. Prayers and confessions based on the Word of God bring life. Put downs and cut downs bring death. CHOOSE LIFE!

St. Patrick's Great Faith in Christ

Saint Patrick was a tremendously effective Christian missionary. He traveled the length and breath of Ireland bringing Christianity in Patrick’ own words “to the ends of the Earth and beyond.” Everywhere that Patrick traveled he established churches, many of which are still standing, albeit in ruins, bear his name to this day.

St Patrick is recorded as having died on the 17th day of March and since that time it has traditionally been celebrated as his feast day. Born in Britain of a Romanized family, he was captured at age 16 by Irish raiders and carried into slavery in Ireland. He spent six years as a herdsman before escaping from his master and being reunited with his family in Britain. Called in a dream to bring Christianity to the Irish, he returned to Ireland and journeyed far and wide, baptizing chiefs and kings and converting whole clans. One popular story says that he explained the notion of the Holy Trinity using the shamrock, now the national flower of Ireland. He is also said to have rid Ireland of snakes.

Here is a famous poem attributed by some to St. Patrick himself. It captures his great Christian faith and commitment.

Lorica
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

St. Patrick (ca. 377)

Your Light is Needed for the Church to be Bright

Heb 10:25 states “Do not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Within the covenant community, our local church, we are to encourage one another in the matter of worship attendance, of "meeting together." Don't forget, the purpose of worship is not to make us feel good but to bring worship and praise to the God Who gives us the blood, the forgiveness, and the covenant that makes us God’s children. Back when Hebrews was written, just like today, there were those who neglected to faithfully attend worship. I want to encourage you to keep coming to church each week, and it would be good if you came every time the doors are open, if you possibly can. To get the most out of me as your pastor, you need to sit under my teaching on a regular basis. The power of the Word, and the Word proclaimed, is incremental. The Blessing is multiplied by regular attendance.

. At the same time, it is your responsibility to encourage those who are not here today.. Look around you! Is there a family member – a parent, a husband or wife, a brother or sister, a son or daughter – who is not here today? Is there a friend or another member of the covenant community of this church who is not here? Pray for them and Seek them out this coming week and encourage them to attend. "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another" (Hebrews 10:25). Let us encourage one another to faithfully attend our worship services.

In a certain mountain village in Europe several centuries ago, a nobleman wondered what legacy he should leave to his townspeople. At last he decided to build them a church.

No one saw the complete plans for the church until it was finished. When the people gathered, they marveled at its beauty and completeness, except that there were very small indows and no lamps. Then someone asked, "Where are the lamps? How will it be fully lighted?"

The nobleman said there were no windows because he wanted the people to bring their own light into the church. pointed to some brackets in the walls. Then he gave to each family a lamp which they were to bring with them each time they came to worship.

"Each time you are here the area where you are seated will be lighted," the nobleman said. "Each time you are not here, that area will be dark. This is to remind you that whenever you fail to come to church, some part of God's house will be dark."

Prayer: Believing and Receiving

Does God answer prayers? Will God provide for all of our needs? In my lifetime I have seen many answered prayers, in my life and in others. Glory be to God!

One of my inspirations in the English Christian George Mueller, Prussian born British evangelist and philantropsit. Mueller was a real man of faith who lived in the 19th century, and he certainly believed that God answered prayer! I received this little story in a recent email:

Believing is one thing. Receiving is another. George Mueller knew that. Did God REALLY come through for him? Let's take a look at some of his experiences, then you can draw your OWN conclusions!

During his lifetime, George Muller founded several orphanages, often supporting and running as many as three at any one time. But running three orphanages that provided homes for more than 2000 orphans isn't an easy task to accomplish when there aren't any regular funds! After serving dinner at one of his orphanages one evening, George realized that there was no food for the next day's breakfast and no money to buy any. This didn't shake him, however. When he retired for the night, he conveyed his needs to his Heavenly Father, and then he went to sleep. He knew God would provide on time. Early the next morning, a gentleman knocked on the door and offered a donation that supplied for all of their needs.

Another time when there was no breakfast for the children, George went for an early morning walk to talk it over with God. He was so caught up in discussing his needs with the One who can help that he didn't notice when he took a wrong turn. Soon he met an old acquaintance on the street. Though George never once hinted that he had financial needs, the friend offered him five pounds-enough money to provide adequate food for the orphanage for the next few days.

One day a lady offered George a small donation: 2 pennies. She was unaware that the orphanage was lacking a penny to buy bread. Later, when facing the dilemma of paying for milk, the money arrived just minutes before the milkman!

Here is George's own description of another time when there was no food for the children: "Our bread was hardly enough for the day. After dinner, when I returned thanks, I asked Him to give us our daily bread, meaning literally that He would send us bread for the evening. While I was praying there was a knock at the door of the room. After I had concluded a poor sister came in and brought us some of her dinner, and from another poor sister five shillings. In the afternoon she also brought us a large loaf. Thus the Lord not only gave us bread but also money."

On another occasion when he was praying about not having enough money, George reported: "The instant that I got up from my knees, a brother gave me one pound which had been taken out of the chapel box."

A coincidence? If it had only happened once, it might could be considered one; but this type of thing happened over and over again. George Mueller noticed that as the numbers of orphans he was taking care of increased, the Lord's provisions also increased. One kept pace with the other. God always answered George's prayers with just the right amount of food or money, never too much, never too little. And, no meal fed to the orphans was ever more than 30 minutes late. In fact, during his lifetime, George received 7½ million U.S. dollars in answer to his prayers!

There are some who would say that God's provisions are only reserved for some special kind of faith-filled religious people. Here is George Mueller's reply to this kind of remark: "Let not Satan deceive you in making you think you could not have the same faith, but that it is only for persons situated as I am. When I lose such a thing as a key, I ask the Lord to direct me to it, and I look for an answer to my prayer; when a person with whom I have an appointment does not come, I ask the Lord to be pleased to hasten him to me, and I look for an answer. Thus in all my temporal and spiritual concerns, I pray to the Lord and expect an answer to my requests; and may you do the same?"

Friend, no matter what the need is that you are facing, God WILL provide. Depending on God is an awesome adventure! No one who does so has ever been disappointed. George Muller could rightfully conclude: "Now the truth is whilst we have not had even as much as a single penny left, or so as to have the last bread on the table, and not as much money as was needed to buy another loaf, yet never have we had to sit down to a meal without our good Lord having provided nourishing food for us. I am bound to state this, and I do it with pleasure. If I had to choose this day again as to the way of living, the Lord giving me grace, I would not choose differently."

Do you trust in the faithfulness of God? Why not try doing so today?

John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." NIV

How to Get the Most Out of the Christian Life, Part One

If you are a Christian and are in fellowship with God, you will want to learn more about how to grow closer to Him. The Bible calls this growing "in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

There are several areas that are important for the growing Christian. Certainly prayer and daily bible reading are a key to growth. But so is being a part of a local church family and actually going to that church as often as you can. The Bible calls us to go to church: Heb 10:23-25 "23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. "

If you are a Christian you are not in the secret service. Your life should show it by belonging to a Bible-believing local church and supporting it with attendance, prayers, service and substance. If you are not doing that you are apt to fall into destructive situations. At the very least you are not being a good Christian witness in your life. Christians go to church. They lift each other up!

The proven experience of the past 2000 years shows us that gathering with other beleivers is extremely important to the Christian life. Those that say they do not need to go to church are deluded by the devil, because even if they feel they do not need church, the church (other people) needs them to be the church. We were born to be a blessing, not just to be blessed!

Attend Church Regularly! Find a Bible-believing church and support it with all your heart. When you received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you began a relationship not only with Him but also with all other Christians. Whatever it meant to you in the past, going to church can now become a rich and rewarding experience:

You will grow in understanding by hearing God's Word preached and taught. As your hear the Word, your faith grows (Romans 10:17) and as the Word seeps into you, God's leading increases. Selfishness will begin to fade away and caring and compassion will abound. You can ask questions and discuss Scripture with others. The Word changes you from the inside out. Others can pray for you and encourage you, and you can do the same for them.

You will learn to worship God, which means praising Him for all that He is and thanking Him for all that He has done for you. And the Spirit will give you gifts to build up others, and the Spirit will grow fruit in you that will enhance your life. He will teach you to walk in love!

As you worship, learn and serve with other Christians, you will find individuals with whom you can form lasting friendships (friendships that will last for all eternity!).

Remember -- your pastor cannot effectively be your pastor if you do not attend church and stay under his or her Holy Spirit guided teaching. Your pastor cannot effectively be your pastor if you do not participate in the life of the church. Your pastor cannot effectively be your pastor if you do talk to him or her and let him or her know waht to be praying for in your life. A shepherd must have sheep in the flock, together and not our by themselves under attack of the devil. So a pastor needs his parishioners in church on a weekly basis.

And do not let the devil's old trick of saying that everyone in church is a hypocrite keep you away from church. As a retired minister friend of mine is fond of saying, "I had a guy tell me he was not going to come to our church because of all the hypocrites there. I told him not to worry -- there is always room for one more!"

The biggest hypocrite is one who wants us to think he is trying to avoid others who he calls hypocrites but are just like he is.

According to the Webster's dictionary, A hypocrite is "a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives ."

So, going by the defintion, I would grant that it is true, the church does have its share of hypocrites. But I beleive the reality is it has a whole lot less than anywhere else. Overall, they are at least honest about their shortcomings and admit they are sinners, while others won’t. They are at least open and trying to reform. The only step one can make from their own hypocrisy is to admit, they like everyone else are not perfect and need the forgiveness the Christ offers. Then they can have the assurance of heaven instead of hell.

The fact is there are hypocrites in all walks of life not just in religion, and we all may be guilty of at least a bit of hypocrisy from time to time. But that is where repentance comes in, and that is why we need the forgiveness and grace of Jesus Christ. And you find that in abundance in the local church.

If you let a few hypocrites stop you from becoming a Christian and going to church, you may well end up spending all eternity with them. In hell. Not because of Jesus, but because of your own selfish pride and your own stubborn will. You must humble yourself and forgive others and seek God's love.

The Church never claimed to be perfect and if you find the perfect church you may not want to join it, because you may ruin it by your hypocrisy. At least be consistent and honest in assessing yourself as you do others. Remember, when you point a finger, three are pointing back at you!

Coming Out of the Pit

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3 NIV

This is a wonderful passage to encourage us to be persistent in calling on God for help when we’re in difficult circumstances. There are many possible slimy pits we may find ourselves in. The devil uses all different kinds of mud and mire to keep us in bondage to sin. If we are tired of being covered in filth and really want to get out of the pit, we need to start calling on God through prayer and truly turn away from the sin we’ve been practicing. Praying and repenting (changing, turning) go hand in hand for deliverance.

As we call on God in prayer for help, we need to remember to be patient yet persistent. We need not give up after one prayer. For whatever reason, sometimes there is a delay between the prayer request and the answer. Sometimes there are things we need to do in order to be in a position to receive help from God. If there is something holding you back, dragging you down, get rid of its weight. Then you will be lifted up.

We do know that God does things that will bring glory to his name and draw people to him. When he miraculously delivers a person from bondage to sin, he does it because he loves that person AND so that it will testify to the people around that person. Do not let other persons and their problems keep you from receiving the help you need and living the way you know (in your heart) is right and good. Do the right thing. Forgive others. Rise to a firm place in the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ. The devil keeps pulling you back into the same destructive situations, but God wants to lift you up. Choose God’s way.

God has prepared a firm place for us to stand, free of bondage to sin. As you pray and seek God for deliverance from whatever you struggle with, consider how you will glorify him as a result. Who will you tell? How will your living habits and choices change? What will you do differently that reflects the mercy and love he has shown you?

Addictions can lead to a slimy existence, a darkness in the soul. All addictions can be disabling, but experience shows some are more destructive than others -- certainly drug and alcohol abuse lead the way in being being harmful to many people and their families. If you are addicted to alcohol or drugs get away from them. Flee from the devil that is in them. How do you know if it is harmful? If it is affecting your relationship with God, with family, with church, with your job or school. Just take a sober look and be honest with yourself, and with God.

People with addictions often are like a man in a pit. It is so hard to crawl out. But it can be done, with honest self-evaluation and repentance. You have to stop blaming everyone else, stop making excuses, and take responsibility for yourself. If you need help, don't be so stubborn or prideful that you do not reach out to get help. If you have all the answers, why are you failing and falling deeper and deeper into the pit?

The answer is you do not have all the answers. You need God. You need others. You need help. It starts with humbling yourself and asking for help. The Bible cries out to us to humble ourselves before God. Then He will lift you up. But not until you HUMBLE YOURSELF!

James 4:10 "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

1 Peter 5:6-9 " Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

The devil wants you to be prideful and look only at others and their problems and not your own. "Prov 16:18 Pride goes before destruction,a haughty spirit before a fall." Pride was at the root of the original sin and is at the core of so much human destruction.

Humble yourself and ask God for help. Then seek help with others. Repent of your sins and sin no more, in Jesus Name!

I Love the Psalms

Psalms is a collection of collections. The psalms were written over many centuries, stretching from the days of Solomon's temple (about 950 BC) to after the Exile (about 350 BC.) Psalms are of five types: hymns of praise, laments, thanksgiving psalms, royal psalms, and wisdom psalms. Within the book, there are five "books"; there is a doxology ("Blessed be ... Amen and Amen") at the end of each book. More Psalms are attributed to David than anyone else. Teh gereat Reformed theologian John Calvin proclaimed that the Psalms reflected the human condition and our need for God, and that much could be gained by reading them.

A friend of mine named Sandy enjoys the promises of Psalm 91. The Bible in one of the churches I serve is opened to the pages of this magnificent hymn of praise and promise.

It is an emphatic proclamation of the strength and protection God gives to His followers. Worshippers (the faithful) will trust in God to protect them. He will protect them from attacks by demonic forces day and night (vv. 3-6); He will shield them as a mother hen guards her chicks. Many may succumb to evil forces, but not the faithful (v. 7). Those who trust in God will see evildoers punished (v. 8). God will ensure that no harm comes to those who live a godly life (v. 9). “His angels” (v. 11) will be his agents, guarding the faithful in whatever they do. The roads of Palestine were rocky so the metaphor in v. 12 is apt. Not only will the faithful be safe from accidents, but they will also take the offensive in defeating evil (v. 13). God speaks in vv. 14-16. Knowing God’s name includes realizing that he will help those in need. When they seek help, God will “answer them”. It is a Psalm that brings strength to those in need.

During the first Gulf War I was an adviser to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes in a small high school. The students wanted to reach out to the troops from our area, so they made laminated versions of Psalm 91 for troops in harms way. They were sent, with much prayer, to the troops in Kuwait and Iraq. Months later some of the troops returned to the high school and told how much the scriptures helped them in their times of trial.

Psalm 91 gave them strength. May it give you strength, too.

PSALM 91 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,my God, in whom I trust." 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers,and under his wings you will find refuge;his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night,nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side,ten thousand at your right hand,but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the LORD, who is my refuge — 10 then no harm will befall you,no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands,so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;I will be with him in trouble,I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." NIV

Missing Leo

Leo Price went to heaven last week. Though he had been sick for awhile, Leo’s passing was not expected. He went to be with the Lord on a winter Wednesday morning. The last time I saw him was on Saturday afternoon. As usual, he had a big smile on his face and an upraised thumb. Leo was a wonderful, jolly, friendly man, and their was always a hint of mischief in his compassionate eyes. He was over eighty, but always a kid inside. His body may have been failing him, but his will was of iron. Leo was certainly a fighter, but still a gentle man with a heart of gold, and he will sorely be missed.

Leo leaves the love of his life, Violet Jones Price, a woman of great dignity and grace, who cherished her love with Leo for many wonderful years. Theirs was a love to remember, full of smiles and laughter, of caring and compassion. She was a lover of dolls, the keeper of thousands of girlhood dreams as she collected priceless dolls from around the world. He was a lover of horses, who trained his show teams and cared for the beautiful animals with a special grace all his own.

Leo was a hero who served his country well, a decorated veteran of Korea, with five service medals for jobs well done. He loved his country and he served it honorably and well.
He married Vi in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1962, and the great romance of his life continues to this day. They are now temporarily separated by the veil between our life and the afterlife, but that great love continues. Vi, and all his friends, carry on in Leo’s stead, and their love for him has no end.

He had been a plumber by trade before his retirement to Titonka. He and his beloved Vi had worked side by side setting up and taking down mobile homes in California. It had been hard work but he had been oh so good at it. For 32 years, in and around the town of Garden Grove, California, they made that profession work well for them, before their move to their home between Titonka and Woden. Then they came to the center of the country and put down deep roots again, and Leo and Vi were loved by all who came to know them.

Leo was baptized a Christian as a United Methodist, but he came to love a little Presbyterian Church in Iowa after he joined it in 1996. It was a perfect place for Leo and Vi – they are warm, caring people, and his adopted church is known for its compassionate hospitality. Leo helped on many good projects and with the ongoing maintenance of the church. He and Vi were faithful members, coming Sunday after Sunday, praying and supporting all that the church was doing, be it soup suppers or Seder meals or plays or Mission fests, they were always here, always doing their part, as good, loyal Christians should do.

Leo loved the outdoors and cherished his acreage and gardening, and being outside. He loved his talks with friends at the local restaurants. Breakfast with friends was a daily ritual. He dearly loved his biscuits and gravy. And his love of card games and good fellowship is legendary. There are few better friends you could have than Leo Price. And what a smile he had. Won’t it be great when we see that big smile again when we all get to heaven?

We all have fond memories of Leo, and we celebrate the blessing of his life. We mourn, we grieve the loss of a dear church family member, a cherished friend. But in it all we are also here to proclaim the faith we have in Jesus Christ and how Jesus makes a difference in our lives here, and makes possible our life to come. Today we say see you later to Leo, because we are confident that he is even now in the arms and care of God, and that some glad morning, when this life is ovr for us, we will be reunited with Leo again.

Leo had the difficult month of Parkinsons near the end of his life. Then he had heart surgery. The recovery was a difficult thing, but Leo faced it with courage and good cheer. Still, that invasive disease of Parkinsons complicated everything.

But Leo gave it his best every day to try to recover for his dear love Vi, and his family and many, many friends. Leo never ever gave up, wishing to stay a little bit longer with his dear wife and family and friends and church. And his Vi fought with him, side by side, caring and sharing and loving him fully every step of the way in a most difficult of journeys. It was an amazing thing to see – their love for each other, and people’s love for them.

I have been a pastor, in one way or another, for over twenty-one years now. Leo is definitely one of my most unforgettable people, an amazing man of warmth and courage and strength. We wanted Leo to stay awhile longer, and we told the Lord that. But, in the end, God called Leo home to be with Him. As someone said, God must have needed someone to help out in heaven. He needed Leo there. We accept that – the family accepts that. But we sure are going to miss him here.

Worship -- Paying God the Respect God Deserves

Paying Respect. It is an ancient concept that never grows old. It is the best way to get ahead in life -- to be polite and respectful. And it is the key to the life of a child of God. Paying God the proper respect is what we should be doing every Sunday in worship.

In worship, we are told the story of God who is much bigger than all that. We are told of God who delivered his people through the Red Sea. We are told of God died and rose again. We are told of God who for four thousand years has preserved and cared for his beloved children. When we come to worship and when we experience his presence and we’re reminded of his mighty work, we feel trust. We’re safe within our Father’s care.

And we know that to be true — hasn’t God miraculously helped us in our lives and in the lives of our churches? Prasie God that God did not give up on us? This is our time to show respct and exercise trust. This trust that is inspired in worship helps us develop the attitude that Paul had in Philippians 3:13-14 “... this one thing I do. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” This trust enables us to stop languishing in the past or agonizing over the difficulties of the present and fix our eyes on the wonderful future that Christ has for us. Christianity is all about hope. Because of Christ, in Christ, through Christ, we ahve hope!

Worship is all about God. When we come to worship, it inspires within us a sense of belonging and a sense of trust. It also inspires a sense of awe. The names of God convey his majesty. Just look at Isiaah 43:3 "For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." The name translated with the all capitals LORD is the actual divine name of God. Great respect and power that went along with that divine name. In seminary I heard about the scribes who, when they wrote that very divine name, they would break the quill they had been using out of respect.

Our God is the Holy One of Israel. Holy means set apart for a special purpose. But when we talk of God’s holiness we mean mainly two things — the first is his absolute majesty — he is not a creature. He is not something subject to the dictates of a living being. He is completely above all things and as such He is stunning in majesty. The other part of holiness is that God stands apart from everything that is evil and bad. Every last bit. He cannot stand the slightest evil thought word or deed.

Both senses of Holiness are pictured in Isaiah’s story of his call to ministry — he tells us about it in Chapter 6:1-7. Do you get a sense of the awe, the sense of fear before something completely other? That’s the very feeling that worship inspires within us.

Belonging, Trust, Awe, Conviction, among many others. These reflect that God is both completely beyond us, and yet completely personal. He is both terrible in his splendor and tender in his loving care. These feelings don’t arise when we come to worship for our own entertainment. They only arise when we come expecting to encounter the living God. We can’t produce these emotions, but we can prepare ourselves to receive whatever God gives us in worship. But how can we do this? Well, we need to put our worship on a higher level.

Here are some concrete ways we can do that -- we will see a difference ...

If we lay aside for a time the day-to-day cares of our lives, and MAKE SURE we are in church every Sunday. If we are traveling, go to a church in the town where you are. And do not miss services at your home church when you are in town. God deserves your respect and attendance. Other members deserve your support and attendance. WORSHIP is not about you, it is about GOD and OTHERS and your service and respect for them.

If we endeavor for a time to stop the running freight train of our concerns — it’ll be there when you’re done with worship, don’t worry. Stop considering worship as an entertainment on par with a nice, well-articulated motivational speech or a great performance by the choir or soloist. What counts is worshipping God. Every thing else is a wonderful bonus blessing from a loving God. Laying your life in commitment before God is where it is at. Get that fact!

If we start realizing that our experience in worship depends much more upon our own attitudes going into worship than it does upon the quality of the speaker or the music or the audio visuals.
We must start coming for the express purpose of meeting with our maker, Holy One of Israel

If, before worship, we cry out in our hearts “Lord, speak to me today — give me your message.” If we pray for worship throughout the week. If we pray diligently for the pastor and the musicians and the choir, that they may be led by the Holy Spirit, that all things may glorify God, then we will see huge differences, through the mighty power of the Holy One in our lives.

Dogs are Well-liked Because They Wag Their Tails Far More Than They Wag Their Tongues!

"There's Nothing in the Decalogue That Says a Man Can't Love A Dog!" -- John Piper in The Innkeeper

Styrofoam Airplanes and Cardboard Boxes

Christmas 2006 has come and gone. For us it was a sweet day, beginning with the traditional prayer and thanksgiving, and then the opening of the gifts. I got a new shirt and some new jeans and a CD called "Three Wooden Crosses," which features country music songs of faith like the title song by Randy Travis and "Long Black Train" by Josh Turner. There have been a number of fine songs of faith and inspiration that have topped the country charts in recent years. And country is not necessarily what it used to be, as many of the songs seem like the music of pop and light rock that I was raised on in the sixties and seventies. I will enjoy this album of songs.

We had a pleasant day spent around the house, listening to music and watching some television as a family. We had a big noon meal of country ham and green beans and mashed potatoes. And later we watched Philadelphia defeat Dallas in holiday football. We topped it off by watching the movie "Cars." an animated Pixar/Disney tale of being lost and finding redemption. Even our cat and dog came close for a total family experience.

The only sour note of the day came when I was assigned the task of putting together a remote controlled plane for my son, one that been given him by a generous relative. The instructions were written FIRST in Chinese, then in English, which was my first warning. The necessary guidance they contained was written in lingusitically acrobatic sentences by an interpretion deficient writer, with such gems as "Place tail section place in so tape with paper transparent tape double to strong in place where you need."

Decoding the instructions was a bit of a struggle for me, but I boldly went where no plain thinking, linguistically impaired Midwestern American has any business going. Finally, after what seemed like several hours, the plane was ready to launch. We journeyed to an empty field outside of town, all of our family ready to become the second coming of the Wright Brothers, and prepared for a legendary lift off.

But it never came. There did not seem to be any power, no matter how many times I changed the AA batteries, no matter how many little prayers for guidance I prayed for something that was only significant to us. The Kitty Hawk success was not to be duplicated on this Christmas day. So we came home, styrofoam plane and plastic (disguised as aluminum) controller in hand, vowing to search the instructions for a clue as to the problem.

And, if I am lucky, I will help my boy fly that plane by next Christmas. If not, we will still be fine, for he has been blessed with many toys to play with this year and in the past.

As we drove home I was reminded of a Christmas when I received several nice toys, including a remote control tank and a bunch of toy soldiers. But that was the same Christmas my mother got a new washing machine, and the gift my sister and I were obsessed with was the big cardboard box it came in. Simple things and imagination are all a child really needs.

We could probably make a lot of money selling big cardboard boxes as children's toys -- just color the cardboard and come up with a fancy name. If you do it someday, send a big donation to your church, since I gave you the idea!

For now, at the end of the day, I go to rest tonight with a thankful heart for the abundant blessings of our God. I thank the Lord for my wife and children, for my friends and co-workers, for the churches that God has given me to serve. God is so good -- all the time!

I pray for those less fortunate, for those who are hurting, and sick. and hungry, and lonely, and broken hearted. May they find better days and better ways in the coming year. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Merry Christmas to You All! The Inspiring Nativity Movie Reminds Us That He is the Reason!

The Praise Song of Mary, Bearer of The Light

I have always been amazed by the story of Mary in Luke 1:26-55. That this young woman, most likely a teenaged girl, would be given such a sacred responsibility stretches my mind. It challenges my spirit. She is a role model for women, teenagers, and for any person (woman, man, youth, child) who wishes to serve God and to be a person of faith and faithfulness.

The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) makes my heart leap for joy everytime I read it. It is Mary’s song of praise for what God had done through her. Praise is a marvelous, empowering gift to the one who praises -- and it is pure worship for the God who is worthy of all such adoration and praise. And here Mary puts words to the blessing she was living.

God found favor in her, because of her humility and her purity of heart, and had Gabriel and her cousin Elizabeth announce that Mary was to be the Theotokis—the God bearer. What a shock that must have been to her! Mary reacted with real humanity --"How can this be? I am a virgin!" But after the angel told her the foundational truth -- "All things are possible with God", she made a great statement of faith -- "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."

Her soul overflowed with praise because the Mighty One had done a great thing in her. Mary’s song declares God to be majestic, holy, abundantly good, and rich in mercy and kindness. It is laced with faith in the Word, as Mary extols the greatness of the God who keeps His promises --"He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

And so it is that God will fulfill the Messianic prophecies in the One whose Heart beats in her womb. He will bring salvation to His people. For this beginning realization of the hope of the ages, Mary sings praises.

It seems that no matter what our circumstance in life, we each have something to sing about. Christmas Eve reminds us that God works miracles in ordinary lives to bless ordinary people. Because of Mary’s blessing, we too can experience the music of life. God gave us, through Mary, the greatest gift of all in the person of his Son, who died for our sins.

At Christmas we should rejoice in the birth --and life and death and resurrection and ascension -- of the King of King and the Lord of Lords,the Prince of Peace, who is Wonderful, and our Savior. Now that is something to sing about! God's great amazing love and the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!

The Gift of Marriage -- May It Light Your World

We rejoiced in the wedding of two wonderful people this past weekend in one of our churches, a young woman and young man of untold potential. It was our privilige to pronounce them husband and wife. It was such a glorious ceremony, with strirring music and heartfelt words. After the pronouncement of marriage there was an outburst of praise choruses and then a commissioning service with everyone lighting candles to the music of "Light Your World."

As the lights went off and the church was lit by the warm glow of over 200 candles, it was a sight I will never forget. The truth of the Scriptures was writ plain in the people: God is love, and those who abide in love, abide in God, and God abides in them. This was a day that God had made, and we rejoiced together in the couple's love and faith. God has great plans for them!

We asked God to bless them so that they may be strengthened for their life together. We praised God for their happiness, and we found in their love a reason to renew our own commitments to those whom are near and dear to each of us. They were called together by God for the purpose of their union. Praise God that He cares enough for us to do such a great thing.

The Gift of Marriage does not unite a man and a woman. Rather, it is the Church's recognition of a union that God has already begun to work in their lives. As long as the union remains within the reality of this world, it will be subject to sin, pain, and death. But, through marriage, the union enters at the same time into a new reality: that of God's Kingdom. In Christ, marriage is restored to its initial perfection and in the holy vows, this union is made open to the possibility of what God intended marriage to be from the beginning: an eternal life of joy in union with Him. Below is an essay I read at the wedding, that many have asked me to give them a copy. It crystalizes many of our thoughts about marriage.

The Gift of Marriage from the Presbyterian Church USA Book of Common Worship

Marriage is a gift of God in creation through which husband and wife may know the grace of God. It is gift that as man and woman grow together in love and trust,
they shall more and more be united with one another in heart, body and mind, as Christ is united with his bride, the Church.

Marriage is a way of life made holy by God, and blessed by the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ with those celebrating a wedding at Cana in Galilee. It was part of God’s great plan that He performed his first miracle there, turning water into wine for the wedding feast. Marriage is a sign of unity and loyalty which enriches society and strengthens community.

God created us male and female, and gave us marriage so that husband and wife may help and comfort each other, living faithfully together in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, throughout all of their days.

God gave us marriage for the full expression of the love between a man and a woman. In marriage a woman and a man belong to each other, and with affection and tenderness, they freely give of themselves to each other.

God gave us marriage for the well-being of human society, for the ordering of family life, and for the birth and nurture of children.

God gave us marriage as a holy mystery in which a man and a woman are joined together and become one, just as Christ is one with the church. In marriage, husband an wife are called to a new way of life, created, ordered and blessed by God. This way of life must not be entered into carelessly, or from selfish motives, but responsibly and prayerfully. We rejoice that marriage is given by God, blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, and sustained by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, let marriage be held in honor by all.

Dogs Pray, Too!

Praying for Serenity

I came across the Serenity Prayer tonight, as I was looking through some old files. Written by famed theologian and professor of Christian ethics Reinhold Niebuhr, it is a sermon in itself:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can;and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.

Neihbuhr is said to have written the prayer on July 1, 1943 for the Union Church of Heath, Massachusetts. It is still used in Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonaymous and other Twelve-step programs. The short version that most people are familiar with goes as follows:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

This little prayer touches on common universal human experiences of life—anxiety and acceptance in the face of inevitable tragic events—fear of change and difficulties in bringing about constructive changes in self and society—the struggle to achieve serenity, courage and wisdom in all that we do or happens to us. Niebuhr’s prayer pulled it all together in a few simple sentences, which everyone could understand and relate to. It was the kind of prayer that A.A. could easily adopt and apply to the life experiences of alcoholics.

I can also see how it can be applied to my own life. In the life of pastor I see many things that I can pray about, and I try to always do it. Many of them are other people's problems, but they become mine. too, as I try to serve God and His people. Some are situations that I have inherited, things in place long before I came to the place I live and serve. Sadly, many of the things I pray about I cannot change, but I can only hope for it, and so I put the situations into God's hands. I need to rest in that act, and not try to take the weight of all the hurts and pains and problems onto my very human shoulders.

“God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change.” There are so many things we cannot change in our lives. We waste vast amounts of physical, psychic and spiritual energy with useless regrets, failed fantasies, or embittered recollections. We cannot change many of the afflictions we are born with -- we may be blind, deaf or lame -- or afflictions brought on by accidents. And our skin color and ethnic background is something we cannot change either, no matter how hard we may try. Body types, physical beauty or lack thereof, and levels of intelligence are things that resist change big time. There are other things -- the list is too long for us to go into it fully. But you can get the general truth of it all.

And certain situations seem to be like mighty walls we cannot crack. We may have loved ones sick and dying, and sadly no amount of prayer or medicine seems to make the difference we wish for. There are some things about myself I cannot change or can only change within certain very well defined limits, new year’s resolutions or not.

I can’t change—you can’t change—the mistakes in human relationships made in the past year or years of our lives. We can make amends to a degree, say we’re sorry, ask for forgiveness, forgive others, and forgive ourselves (much harder to do). But we cannot change the fact that we have been (and will be) at times less loving and caring and compassionate than we should be in following Christ. That’s the human condition. There are few saints among us, and even the saints have their flaws. We can’t change the past. What we can change is our relationship to it and our attitudes and actions stemming from it. But we need to have the courage to change the things we can change -- and, with God's help, with prayer and patience, many things can change for the better.

And that brings us to the prayerful plea for wisdom to know the difference between what we cannot change and what we can change. May God grant that to us. It is the key to serenity.

Love One Another

Mustard Seed Moments -- Small Acts Grow Big

We have church on Sunday nights. Praise nights we call them. We read Scriptures and say prayers and sing choruses and hymns of praise and thanksgiving. One part that ministers to my heart is when members of the congregation give praise reports and testimonies, or share with us a favorite scripture or Bible passage, or talk about something that God seems to have been teaching them. Mutual respect and the Golden Rule hold sway. These are holy times together.

Last night a dear friend shared some things that were on her heart. She talked of a mighty oak of a man who is very sick, currently at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is ready to go home to be with God, but he will leave many family and friends who have been touched by his gentle, loving ways and numerous acts of kindness and concern. Things like giving a family a gift certificate to a seed catalog so that they might have a garden in the summer, or hugging a child in church and telling them that he saw in the paper that the child was doing well in school. As we love each other in small, but faithful ways, things happen for our mutual good and according to God's great plan. Small acts of kindness reap big dividends in our lives.

My friend's loving remarks reminded me how precious such moments are. Another friend, in seminary, called such moments "mustard seed moments" -- acts that start small but can grow big in the good that they do for all concerned. These kinds of exchanges occur every day, over and over again, in the lives of those who are committed to the Christian walk. We only need to awaken and see that they exist. To take notice, to smile, to see the sacred connections in the simplest of things. It isn't hard to do. It just requires you to get out of your own way, get out of your own mind and look around at the world outside of yourself. To embrace each moment and each person as if they are the child of God that they are --to really love our neighbors as ourselves.

When you take time each day to reflect on your day, you can see them in all their beauty. Did someone offer laughter, kindness, and support to you when you needed it today? Were you thankful? Did you get a surprise email or regular mail card from someone? Or did you send one to someone else? In the act of giving, you, too, are receiving. Were there moments that you offered kindness and compassion without expectations and without reward? Perhaps, your gesture or thought was a sacrifice so that another person could enjoy their day more fully. Take time to reflect and renew and be reminded of small acts of kindness in these kinds of every day Christian exchanges.

And, most importantly, be grateful for all that you are given and shown. Be grateful for the reminders of love and compassion that surround us each and every day. Look behind the veneer and bless those who suffer and need your prayers the most.

These, it seems to me, are mustard seeds of a sort. These may seem tiny, almost insignificant, but their goodness can be the starting point of something great. Some of the deep thinkers of the past have found significance in the apparently tiny. For William Blake it was the grain of sand in which he saw infinity. For Julian of Norwich it was the small thing in the palm of the hand, like a hazelnut, which was remarkable simply for its existence. From the small acorn grows the great tree. From the single kernel of corn grows a large stalk with numerous ears and thousands of kernels. God's miracle of small things reaping big benefits goes on and on.

Recently, my children and I discovered the modern day miracle of Google Earth, a website where you can see images of earth from satellites in outer space. It is truly amazing and gives you a remarkable perspective. As I looked at various images of places where I have lived, I could not help but hum the Bette Midler song "From a Distance." These photographs of the earth taken from space have an effect similar to the meditations of Blake and Julian. Once we had glimpsed the earth from that point of view our self-understanding changes. Once we had seen the earth as small, and ourselves as grains of sand, then our sense of stewardship and thankfulness became greater.

Consider the words of Jesus: "Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; Which indeed is one of the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches." (Matthew 13:31-32)

Jesus, in His parable of the mustard seed, teaches us about potential and great expectations. Jesus sees a mustard seed he not only seems something tiny, but He also sees its potential to unfold into something great. Thus he sees not only what is small but also what is not visible at all. He sees a detail of creation and perceives the full flourishing of new creation.

It is the ancient Biblical truth of the Now and the Not Yet. We live in the Now, but we are pulled into a new reality by the Not Yet. We are living as Christians on this earth, but we are already citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20-21) If we are followers of Jesus we both rejoice in the "as it is now' of things, and in the "what it might become' of things. For the kingdom of God is both.

So it is that the mustard seed moments are of great personal and spiritual significance. As we do, and as we receive, the small acts of kindness and love that are the Christian's calling card, we take part in the Spirit's continual teaching on renewal and of hope: and each small act of kindness becomes a new parable of the kingdom.

Happy Thanksgiving -- Give Thanks to God with a Grateful Heart! We are so blessed by our Lord!

Things You Can Learn from a Cat, Part II

No sooner had I posted my piece on Mister Kitty Cat Kit, than I recieved another list of things that you can learn from a cat by another cat loving parishioner. So, in the interest of equal time and equal good humor, here it is:

20 Rules to Live By: Things You Can Learn From a Cat

Our pets can teach us many things - if we're willing to listen. They teach us how to love unconditionally, how to look at each day as a new one, to embrace all the good things and why we need to cherish the simple things in life.Here are some basic lessons our pets endeavor to teach us:
1. Rest and relaxation are the keys to happiness, so relax any chance you get. And don't work too hard. Just sitting in a soft chair can be a very good thing.
2. There is always time for a cat nap. Sleep is God's restoration time for your body. Use it.
3. The family that sleeps together stays together. Don't be afraid to curl up really close behind your person's knees or in the crook of the neck and purr.
4. Nighttime is the time to party, and it's more fun if you can share it with your family. Howl, meow, play with their ankles, or leap across the bed to wake them up.
5. Spend time with the people you love, especially when they are working. Sit near the computer and purr, walk across the keyboard occasionally, or better still, knock things off the desk one at a time so your person doesn't get bored.
6. Show your favorite people that you love them. Sit on their lap, pet or rub a leg, or run your tail across their faces to get your message across.
7. Get excited and come running every time a special treat or food is available. Showing a little appreciation and enthusiasm will always get you treats.
8. Don't settle for bland, tasteless food; refuse it and you will be fed fancy and expensive food.
9. Stretch and yawn before you get up, no matter what time it is.
10. Enjoy the sun – lie down, roll around and just appreciate the warmth.
11. Purr when you are happy. Purring is just a feline way of praising the Lord.
12. Cleanliness is next to godliness, so keep yourself clean and pristine.
13. Appreciate a clean litter box. Whoever God brings to clean up our mess must be our friend!
14. Enjoy the solace of a view from a nice window.
15. Washing your face is good for the soul.
16. Be independent. God made you to be a unique and wonderful creature.
17. Don't always do what people want you to do. Please yourself once in awhile.
18. Keep cool. If you don't want to do something, no need to argue – just don't do it.
19. Don't be afraid to look at things from a different perspective occasionally. Sit high on a bookshelf or peek out from under a chair.
20. Expect to be pampered and treated like a prince or princess, and you will be. After all, you were created by the Living God, weren't you? That makes all of us very special creatures!

Thankful for Our Cat -- Mr. Kitty Cat Kit

We got a cat in early October from the humane society. He was 6 months old at the time. His official name is Eclipse, but we call him "Cat" and "Mister Kitty Cat Kit" and "Kitty, Kitty". He is fixed, but he does not like to talk about it. Ouida, the 8-year-old Alaskan dog, has grudgingly let him come into the house, as long as he stays out of her food bowl.

When I work at the computer, the cat is always in the chair behind me, or looking out the glass doors near my desk. He has become a pretty good companion. my ten year old daughter and eleven year old son both love him, because he dearly loves for anyone to pet him. He purrs very loudly, like he has speakers inside.

One of my parishioners sent me a funny little anonymous thought piece, called "THINGS YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT." Here it is:

*Make the world your playground.
*Whenever you miss the sandbox, cover it up. Dragging a sock over it helps.
*If you can't get your way, lay across the keyboard until you do.
*When you are hungry, meow loudly so they feed you just to shut you up.
*Always find a good patch of sun to nap in.
*Nap often.
*When in trouble, just purr and look cute.
*Life is hard, and then you nap.
*Curiosity never really killed anything except maybe a few hours.
*When in doubt, cop an attitude. Learn how to hiss and show your fangs, even to much larger adversaries. Bluffing often works!
*Variety is the spice of Life. One day, ignore people; the next day, annoy them.
*Climb your way to the top, that's why the curtains are there.
*Make your mark in the world, or at least spray in the corner.
*Always give generously; a bird or rodent left on the step or bed tells them, "I care."
*When you have something important to say, try to say it in the dead of night when you're SURE everyone's sleeping. There's no better way to get the attention you deserve.

Being Matthew 25 Christians

Well, the great election day of 2006 has come and gone. The Democrats had a landslide change in the Congress. And one of my dear Republican friends (I am an independent), was very sad yesterday. But I assured him that God is still on the throne. The sun will come up tomorrow!

What some of my good Christian friends need to realize is that there are many good Christians who are Democrats -- and many others how vote Democratic at times. Just look at American history -- one of our most ethical Presidents was Woodrow Wilson, a good Democrat and a good Presbyterian. And his secretary of state, William Jennings Bryan, was three times the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party, although he never won. Yet he was also the Vice-Moderator of the national Presbyterian Church. And the list can go on. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman and John Kennedy were all church-going Christians. Even Lyndon Baines Johnson, as earthy as he sometimes was, definitely espoused a belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Certainly, more was done for the poor and disenfranchised in his administration than in almost any other.

There is no question about Jimmy Carter's allegiance to Christ. Just look at the good deeds he has done after leaving office. And Bill Clinton, for all the notoriety of his greatly publicized sins, expressed remorse, repented, and is a regular church goer. Pastor Bill Hybels of Willow Creek and Pastor Tony Campolo, author of many wonderful books, both served a spiritual counselors to Clinton and attest to his asking God for forgiveness, as well asking forgiveness from his wife and child.

So we cannot be so judgmental as to think that God is only aligned with one political party, as some would have had us believe during the last few years. Abortion is murder of the unborn and biblically wrong, and gay marriage is decidedly unscriptural, but those are just two issues affecting our country. I hope we can make some progress in other areas, too. May God bless America with healing and hope.

If you want to see the heart of Christ for the poor and the outcasts, read Matthew 25, v. 31-46:"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." NIV

Pastors need to be true prophets and echo this command to help the weak and in need, so clearly stated by the Lord. The greatest work of the prophet was,and is, articulating moral truth. Future telling is a much smaller part of what God calls prophets to do. Just look closely at the prophetic books and you will see this fact.

Interestingly, last December, a debate on Matthew 25 broke out on the floor of the House of Representatives. In debating federal budget cuts in areas that he thought were unduly hurting the poor, U.S. Congressman Rep. Charles Rangel, NY, member of the Congressional Black Caucus, began to list the call of Matthew 25:35-40 to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. Rep. Jim Nussle, IA, chair of the House Budget Committee, (and recent loser of the Iowa governor's race), returned to the podium to claim that nowhere in Matthew 25 does it say that the government should help those in need, but rather that individuals alone should take responsibility for helping the least of these that Jesus refers to.

Sometimes we allow our political idealogy to frame how we see the Scriptures, instead of vice versa. In fact, it seems to me that Jesus is very clear about our responsibility to the poor and oppressed, whether it is on a collective or an individual basis, in Matthew 25, when he commands us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the prisoners. He also gives us the Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12 and speaks of love as the Christian's signature attribute in John 15. And there are many other scriptures in the gospels and the epistles, and even back in the Old Testament, that point to Christians working for support of the weak, community responsibility, and social justice.

Look back in the Old Testament, and you will see a set of specific guidelines (laws, not individual charity) for the NATION of Israel to follow in taking care of the those who do not have enough, - - -a command so specific that it instructs that farmers that the corners of fields are not to be reaped so that something will be left for the needy and the landless to eat (in Leviticus. 19:9-10).

But what is really striking in Matthew 25 is when Jesus says in Matthew 25, verse 41, that the king of heaven will say to those at his left hand, "You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire." Best not to be on the left hand side when your treatment of the poor comes before God.

I dearly love America, but sometimes we get the American frontier ideas of individualism, manifest destiny (i.e., empire), and unfettered capitalism mixed up with the Scriptures in such a way that our view gets skewed. But a close look at the Word sees connectionalism, cooperation, collectivism, shared responsibility and unfettered compassion are things the Word really emphasizes. With Christ, love and caring are paramount, and greed and selfishness are not good.

We need to be Matthew 25 Christians. Even before we started voting this week, Newsweek had a story called "A New Faith-Based Agenda". The latter is authored by Michael Gerson, a former Bush administration speechwriter, who wrote eloquently, "The goal is not only to stand for Christianity's moral teachings, but to emulate the manner of its Founder, who showed that kindness is not weakness, and had more tenderness for moral outcasts than for moral hypocrites."

Amen, Amen!