It is difficult living in a foreign land when you want to communicate something important. There were times in India when I wanted to engage in conversation but could not because I only spoke English. Often, my frustration would be lived out in ever insistant actions that made me look like I was playing charades on a sugar rush. I would get frustrated at my own lack of language skills. I would even start to get mad at those who did not know my language. But mostly, I would remain quiet. I would find ways to exist that did not cause me to interact with others. I would allow the lack of common language to become a wall of isolation keeping me apart from the culture around me.
We are living this same experience today as the church becomes more isolated from society.
It seems as if the church and culture no longer speak the same language. Perceptions and past hurts build barriers isolating one from the other. Each makes assumptions about the other that squelch any desire to engage at a deep level. Failures on both sides to genuinely connect drain energy when we begin to try again. In many ways, we have been isolated from each other for so long it is easy to accept living apart as the norm.
This comes at a cost. When we no longer connect with each other the church becomes neurotically focused on the trivial and the community loses the gifts of the Body of Christ offering true grace, mercy and joy to the world. So how do we break through our seperation?
In India, I was motivated to try again when I became too lonely. I realized I needed the moments when there was connection. I discovered that it really was true there is more we share in common than the differences keeping us apart.
As we launch into a new program year, we are recieving clarity about the direction of our ministry in the days ahead. A significant part of our calling is focused on taking this exciting ministry out into the community. We cannot wait or expect the world to come to us. We must go to the world and enter into honest relationship. In doing this we will discover a lot of truth about ourselves, our faith and the amazing way God can make a way where none previously existed. It will begin when we as individuals reach out to others seeking genuine friendship. When we break through the barriers and really listen and care for others, we will find our address will have changed. We will no longer be in a foreign land, we shall be in the Kingdom of God.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Shower of Joy
Tomorrow we remember our Baptism. Before we start worship tomorrow, let me ask you. Do you remember you baptism? What do you remember about it? Who was there and where did it occur?
If you do not remember on your own, what do you know about it? What have you been told about it and who told you? If it is possible, call someone today who was there and find out what you can about the moment. I only found out last year the day I was Baptized. I enjoy knowing when my baptismal anniversary was so each year I have a day to remember it and give thanks.
To be counted as a baptized child of God means you are intitiated into a life of faith and as a part of the family of the church. This marking of baptismal water is an outward sign of a miracle occuring with in the life of the baptized and the Body of Christ.
God pours in to our lives grace to both clease our life from the power of sin and equip us to live as the redeemed and blessed children of God. It is a time of blessing and a sign of fulfilled hope.
As the baptized, we seal our connection to each other with vows of mutual support and fellowship.
Tomorrow we are celebrating Baptism in worship. We are inviting those who have not been baptized to hear the call of Baptism and receive this free gift of God's amazing grace. For those who have already been baptized, we are inviting you to come forward to remember your baptism as you feel the water and give thanks for this priceless gift.
Prepare your self for worship tomorrow by thinking and remembering your baptism. Come and be part of the family of faith as the holy water is stirred and showers of joy pour upon us all.
Come to waters and let us give thanks to the Lord.
If you do not remember on your own, what do you know about it? What have you been told about it and who told you? If it is possible, call someone today who was there and find out what you can about the moment. I only found out last year the day I was Baptized. I enjoy knowing when my baptismal anniversary was so each year I have a day to remember it and give thanks.
To be counted as a baptized child of God means you are intitiated into a life of faith and as a part of the family of the church. This marking of baptismal water is an outward sign of a miracle occuring with in the life of the baptized and the Body of Christ.
God pours in to our lives grace to both clease our life from the power of sin and equip us to live as the redeemed and blessed children of God. It is a time of blessing and a sign of fulfilled hope.
As the baptized, we seal our connection to each other with vows of mutual support and fellowship.
Tomorrow we are celebrating Baptism in worship. We are inviting those who have not been baptized to hear the call of Baptism and receive this free gift of God's amazing grace. For those who have already been baptized, we are inviting you to come forward to remember your baptism as you feel the water and give thanks for this priceless gift.
Prepare your self for worship tomorrow by thinking and remembering your baptism. Come and be part of the family of faith as the holy water is stirred and showers of joy pour upon us all.
Come to waters and let us give thanks to the Lord.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Money Questions
Today, Pastor Amy and I had a conversational sermon on money. Or more to the point, it was on the worry, stress and power money has in our lives. It is so hard to have a genuine conversation about money. Many assume if clergy are talking about it they are just trying to get more more money for the church. This is understandable since part of our responsibility is to help make sure the ministry we share is adequately funded.
But there is a desperate need for a honest faith based conversation about money. So much of our life is impacted by the underlying assumptions we have about ourselves, our future, our security and our worries as they get lived out in our financial lives. The passage for today from Matthew 6: 24-34 that we read in church speaks of our inability to serve God and wealth. It called us to not live with worry. It also suggested God will provide for our needs. But I have worries in my life. I am not always at peace when I think about the financial picture of my life or the church I love. So how can I find the peace and joy of this passage of scripture and set my mind and soul at ease on every aspect of my life, including my finances?
This coming week, I hope we can have a conversation about faith and money.
I will share what we considered this morning. John Wesley suggested a template for Christians to follow for their financial lives. He said, "Earn all you can, Save all you can and Give all you can". If you want to read his sermon on money, you can find it here:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/50/ (Be aware it is written in 18th century English)
The power in his message is the integrity of how our faith in Christ is demonstarted in both how we earn our money, how we save it and give it. Faithful discipleship can be reflected in how we earn our income. The telling question is does the way we earn our income bring us peace? Are we injuring our health, our spirit or our relationships with others? Does our work reflect the integrity of the faith we desire?
As we strive to save, are our purchases in balance not only with our income but also our life as stewards of God's intent for life? John Wesley challanges us to consider if what we buy reflects genuine Christian character. Are we honoring God with our purchases? Are we pleasing instead the desires of our eyes, stomach, whims? Are we trying to impress others or keep status instead of reflecting balance and holy perspective?
Giving is both the inevitable fruit of our faithful stewardship and the foundation. Wesley rightly assumed Christians would want to invest in the kingdom work of God. But even that is expected in balance to the rest of our lives and the immeasurable grace we receive from God.
Some have taken this threefold mantra of Earn all you can, Save all you can and Give all you can and put an equation to it. It is live on 80%, save 10% and give 10%. More on this tomorrow.
But there is a desperate need for a honest faith based conversation about money. So much of our life is impacted by the underlying assumptions we have about ourselves, our future, our security and our worries as they get lived out in our financial lives. The passage for today from Matthew 6: 24-34 that we read in church speaks of our inability to serve God and wealth. It called us to not live with worry. It also suggested God will provide for our needs. But I have worries in my life. I am not always at peace when I think about the financial picture of my life or the church I love. So how can I find the peace and joy of this passage of scripture and set my mind and soul at ease on every aspect of my life, including my finances?
This coming week, I hope we can have a conversation about faith and money.
I will share what we considered this morning. John Wesley suggested a template for Christians to follow for their financial lives. He said, "Earn all you can, Save all you can and Give all you can". If you want to read his sermon on money, you can find it here:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/50/ (Be aware it is written in 18th century English)
The power in his message is the integrity of how our faith in Christ is demonstarted in both how we earn our money, how we save it and give it. Faithful discipleship can be reflected in how we earn our income. The telling question is does the way we earn our income bring us peace? Are we injuring our health, our spirit or our relationships with others? Does our work reflect the integrity of the faith we desire?
As we strive to save, are our purchases in balance not only with our income but also our life as stewards of God's intent for life? John Wesley challanges us to consider if what we buy reflects genuine Christian character. Are we honoring God with our purchases? Are we pleasing instead the desires of our eyes, stomach, whims? Are we trying to impress others or keep status instead of reflecting balance and holy perspective?
Giving is both the inevitable fruit of our faithful stewardship and the foundation. Wesley rightly assumed Christians would want to invest in the kingdom work of God. But even that is expected in balance to the rest of our lives and the immeasurable grace we receive from God.
Some have taken this threefold mantra of Earn all you can, Save all you can and Give all you can and put an equation to it. It is live on 80%, save 10% and give 10%. More on this tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Our own worst enemy
Our confessions continue this week. We have taked about our questions on sin, heaven and hell, Jesus and prayer. This week we look in the mirror and face a truth that is difficult to admit.
Christians are the reason many chose not to be Christian. Some possible examples are:
Christians are the reason many chose not to be Christian. Some possible examples are:
- Our imperfections become reasons others use to say we are hypocrites.
- Our religious behavior may seem strange to others and quite frankly seem unrelated to what Jesus said and did.
- When Christians align with special interests or political parties and claim their stance is the only faithful one possible we weaken the cause of Christ.
- When Christians fail to act boldly in the face of injustice, with mercy to those who are vulnerable, with compassion those who hurt, or live with hope in the face of adversity we give others reason to doubt.
What must we confess about the behavior of Christians that get in the way of others accepting Christ?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Sin Thoughts
This past Sunday, I kidded about how Amy was better prepared to preach than me on Sin this coming week. Fact is, I have enough experience with the topic. I expect you do also.
Having said this, we may not be speaking about the same thing. Or at least the same manifestation of sin. Our sin thoughts often go to specific behavior. Early Methodist classes weekly asked each other this question, "What sins have you committed lately?' Their interest was not embarrassment and voyeuristic interest. They knew the power of sin was strong and was dangerous to take on alone. What people did was important, but the cause and impact was more important.
It is important to remember another question they asked that was related to the sin question. "How is it with your soul?" They understood we could keep listing our sins and unless we address the health of our soul, our relationship with God, we will be doomed to continute to list broken and sinfilled behavior.
What sins have you committed this week? How is it with your soul? Who have you told? Who has offered forgiveness to you?
Having said this, we may not be speaking about the same thing. Or at least the same manifestation of sin. Our sin thoughts often go to specific behavior. Early Methodist classes weekly asked each other this question, "What sins have you committed lately?' Their interest was not embarrassment and voyeuristic interest. They knew the power of sin was strong and was dangerous to take on alone. What people did was important, but the cause and impact was more important.
It is important to remember another question they asked that was related to the sin question. "How is it with your soul?" They understood we could keep listing our sins and unless we address the health of our soul, our relationship with God, we will be doomed to continute to list broken and sinfilled behavior.
What sins have you committed this week? How is it with your soul? Who have you told? Who has offered forgiveness to you?
Friday, January 28, 2011
Driving Down 1-75
Don't let the title fool you. I am not currently driving down the highway. But I was at 5;30 this am headed to the hospital. One of our members is having surgery today. As I entered the on ramp, it was evident many others were headed out on in the early morning. I assume most were headed to work. As I drove, I thought about the other drivers and wondered what their morning was like. Were they alert and already filled with thoughts of the day to come? Were they bleary eyed and driving on auto pilot as they retraced their daily route? Had this been a normal week for them or had out of the ordinary events impacted thier lives?
There was no way to tell the answer to those questions. As we all headed in the same direction, we were alone in the quiet caves we guided down the road. In the dark, we could think our own thoughts, listen to the radio or audio book and be oblivious to each other. As long as stayed in our lanes, we could all travel along, alone and unaware of the human theater of life ocurring in the cars around us.
I assumed not many, if any, of those anonymous traveling companions were thinking about heaven or hell. They may have used those words to describe specific events in the past week. But few probably were thinking they were, we were, we all are headed into a future where heaven and hell will be encountered. Some think about this as final destinations. Some as descriptions of the best and worst of life. Some think of heaven and hell as indications of the closeness or estrangement we have from God. Some are not so sure.
No matter our definition, heaven and hell are a part of our past and our future. Perhaps you feel like you are in one or the other right now. The question is, whatever you call heaven or hell...what are you doing right now to prepare for them? What are you doing to increase which you will experience? This morning one thing was certain. The quiet warm drive eventually would have to come to a stop. We would have to get out and enter a day filled with many unknowns. There may be moments of heaven or hell to come. May God make us ready and guide us through it all.
There was no way to tell the answer to those questions. As we all headed in the same direction, we were alone in the quiet caves we guided down the road. In the dark, we could think our own thoughts, listen to the radio or audio book and be oblivious to each other. As long as stayed in our lanes, we could all travel along, alone and unaware of the human theater of life ocurring in the cars around us.
I assumed not many, if any, of those anonymous traveling companions were thinking about heaven or hell. They may have used those words to describe specific events in the past week. But few probably were thinking they were, we were, we all are headed into a future where heaven and hell will be encountered. Some think about this as final destinations. Some as descriptions of the best and worst of life. Some think of heaven and hell as indications of the closeness or estrangement we have from God. Some are not so sure.
No matter our definition, heaven and hell are a part of our past and our future. Perhaps you feel like you are in one or the other right now. The question is, whatever you call heaven or hell...what are you doing right now to prepare for them? What are you doing to increase which you will experience? This morning one thing was certain. The quiet warm drive eventually would have to come to a stop. We would have to get out and enter a day filled with many unknowns. There may be moments of heaven or hell to come. May God make us ready and guide us through it all.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Heaven and Hell
Okay, so I missed yesterday in worship. Since the topic was prayer I assume enough were praying for Amy to preach instead of me. Great credit to Amy since I called her near 10 pm on a Saturday night to alert her I would not be able to preach because of the flu. No surprise that she did well. Thanks Amy!!!
Heaven and Hell is our topic for this week. I wonder how much people spend thinking about either anymore. I have rarely preached on these topics. The faith focus for me is on the relationship with Jesus Christ in the here and now. If we are in relationship with Christ in this life, then I do not worry about the next.
For many of us, hell has become the description of the worst of life. Hell is when human suffering is at its worst. But does it have an afterlife? Is there any sense of hell in a world to come that affects how you live your life today? Or was that ever the point? It would be great to hear your thoughts and questions on heaven and hell. I will get the rest of my strength back today and reflect more tomorrow.
Heaven and Hell is our topic for this week. I wonder how much people spend thinking about either anymore. I have rarely preached on these topics. The faith focus for me is on the relationship with Jesus Christ in the here and now. If we are in relationship with Christ in this life, then I do not worry about the next.
For many of us, hell has become the description of the worst of life. Hell is when human suffering is at its worst. But does it have an afterlife? Is there any sense of hell in a world to come that affects how you live your life today? Or was that ever the point? It would be great to hear your thoughts and questions on heaven and hell. I will get the rest of my strength back today and reflect more tomorrow.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Writing Day
Thursday is the day I try to write the sermon for the coming Sunday. I would love to say the sermon is finished by the end of the day, but this rarely happens. Some sermons just flow and others wrestle with my mind and soul up to and at times even as I preach it. Other events occur that demand my focus. Currently I am writting this blog while I am on a conference phone call with the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry executive team. Yes, I am paying attention.
When the sermon is not completed by Thursday evening, I spend time on Friday trying to get it into a final draft and then complete on Saturday am. All this is balanced around other demands of work, a day off on Friday and life. It is very much like how everyone else lives.
You have various demands which are important. It is hard on some days to focus on the tasks at hand. But let me ask, how do you prepare for Sunday worship?
I suggest like the preacher, each of us would have a more rich Sunday morning experience if they began by preparing before the Sunday morning alarm clock. Here are some suggestions for how you can prepare for Sunday worship....
When the sermon is not completed by Thursday evening, I spend time on Friday trying to get it into a final draft and then complete on Saturday am. All this is balanced around other demands of work, a day off on Friday and life. It is very much like how everyone else lives.
You have various demands which are important. It is hard on some days to focus on the tasks at hand. But let me ask, how do you prepare for Sunday worship?
I suggest like the preacher, each of us would have a more rich Sunday morning experience if they began by preparing before the Sunday morning alarm clock. Here are some suggestions for how you can prepare for Sunday worship....
- Begin on Thursday by praying for the worship leadership who will guide the coming service. I covet your prayer support as I try to shape the message God desires to be shared. Choir practice is on Thursday, the bulletins are printed on Thursday, perhaps a great day to ask all the congregation to lift all things worship to God.
- Let Friday be a day of prayer for your own heart to be made ready for the message of Christ to come to you in a powerful way on Sunday.
- Saturday make your specific plans to be in worship as fully present as possible. Perhaps even a great day to invite someone to come to worship with you either the next day or on Sunday to come soon.
- Sunday morning come with a heart to be open to be a welcoming soul to others, a soul ready to praise with all your heart, to hear with passion and pray as if it mattered. It does!
So today, I ask for your prayer support. I will write the sermon for this week. Let us together prepare for worship. All to the glory of God!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Good Questions
I was just getting ready for the second class on United Methodist History tonight and printed off the 22 questions Wesley wrote for use in the Holy Club meetings at Oxford. Each time I read them I am humbled and inspired all at the same time. The thought comes to me what an interesting sermon series it would be to do a sermon on each question. Here they are again for your blessing.
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give it time to speak to me every day?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give it time to speak to me every day?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?
Prayer is...
This Sunday the sermon title reflects the theme of the week, "Prayer is...". We often complete that phrase in relation to our latest experiences of prayer. For example.....Prayer is....
talking with God...
closing my eyes and saying words...
trying to tell God what to do...
giving God my wish list...
listening for God's voice...
sharing in an intimate moment with others...
something I do on my own...
a waste of my time....
the most precious moment of my day...
something I do in the morning, evening, rarely, when I need it, when there is nothing else.....
The completion of the phrase varies from person to person and expereince to experience. The complexity of prayer is often not helped by the small amount of time we spend in teaching and learning how to pray. I have never understood why believers spend so little time learning how to pray. It does not surprise me we have so many questions about it. We naturally have many questions about things we have never learned or deeply experienced.
What is prayer for you? What was the best (most helpful or meaningful) teaching you ever had about prayer? What remains your greatest struggle?
talking with God...
closing my eyes and saying words...
trying to tell God what to do...
giving God my wish list...
listening for God's voice...
sharing in an intimate moment with others...
something I do on my own...
a waste of my time....
the most precious moment of my day...
something I do in the morning, evening, rarely, when I need it, when there is nothing else.....
The completion of the phrase varies from person to person and expereince to experience. The complexity of prayer is often not helped by the small amount of time we spend in teaching and learning how to pray. I have never understood why believers spend so little time learning how to pray. It does not surprise me we have so many questions about it. We naturally have many questions about things we have never learned or deeply experienced.
What is prayer for you? What was the best (most helpful or meaningful) teaching you ever had about prayer? What remains your greatest struggle?
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday morning prayer
One of the more difficult aspects of prayer for me use to be offering the Pastoral prayer in church on Sunday morning. Part of my concern was getting out the right words but most of my concern was the audacity of thinking I could pray on behalf of a room full of people. Each had their own joys, concerns and need for prayer. I could pray for the part of our lives we have in common but how could I ever offer a prayer that would cover the needs of everyone in the room?
I finally surrendered that way of thinking about the Patoral Prayer. I believe that time is OUR prayer time. When I pray in those moments I intentionally focus on two thing....the common concerns we share and what is on my heart. I then trust that as I pray, others are entering into their own prayers. If any are in the congregation listening to my pryaer that is fine but not my expectation. I hope more that people are engaged in their own prayer and that the community of faith is strengthened as we share a moment when we are not alone as we come before God.
I finally surrendered that way of thinking about the Patoral Prayer. I believe that time is OUR prayer time. When I pray in those moments I intentionally focus on two thing....the common concerns we share and what is on my heart. I then trust that as I pray, others are entering into their own prayers. If any are in the congregation listening to my pryaer that is fine but not my expectation. I hope more that people are engaged in their own prayer and that the community of faith is strengthened as we share a moment when we are not alone as we come before God.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Prayer Questions
Today in church I spoke on questions we have about Jesus. If you did not hear the sermon, why not!!!! Anyway, you can catch it on this web site this week.
This week the topic is prayer. Prayer is one of the assumptions of our faith. We are supposed to do it. But if that is true, why don't we do it more?
Perhaps it is because we have never really been taught to pray. Maybe our past experiences with prayer have not been satisfying. Prayer at times may seem like talking to the wall. There are things we have prayed for and have not received. Perhaps we can not get our head around the idea that God is waiting to hear us. Doesn't God already know what we need and think? So why do we have to say it? Is God waiting for us to tell God what to do?
Once I get started the questions about prayer start rolling quickly. What about you? What is your experience with prayer? What struggles do you have praying? What do you wish you understood about prayer? Let me know. We will be talking about this all week and on Sunday also.
Feel free to raise questions you may have about Jesus. I doubt we exhausted that subject in one week! Looking forward to your comments.
This week the topic is prayer. Prayer is one of the assumptions of our faith. We are supposed to do it. But if that is true, why don't we do it more?
Perhaps it is because we have never really been taught to pray. Maybe our past experiences with prayer have not been satisfying. Prayer at times may seem like talking to the wall. There are things we have prayed for and have not received. Perhaps we can not get our head around the idea that God is waiting to hear us. Doesn't God already know what we need and think? So why do we have to say it? Is God waiting for us to tell God what to do?
Once I get started the questions about prayer start rolling quickly. What about you? What is your experience with prayer? What struggles do you have praying? What do you wish you understood about prayer? Let me know. We will be talking about this all week and on Sunday also.
Feel free to raise questions you may have about Jesus. I doubt we exhausted that subject in one week! Looking forward to your comments.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Thinking about Jesus
The questions we have about Jesus fall in several categories.
We wonder about the parts of his life we have no information on. What was he like as a child?
What kind of friend was he as an adolecent? Traditons tells us he began his ministry at the age of thirty. That was a mature adult in his day. What was he doing before he began ministry?
We wonder about the things we do know about him but do not understand. Much of what he said leaves us with more questions. In practical terms, how long must we really forgive, turn the other cheek, and pray for miracles? What did he mean when he said, "I am the way.....no one comes to the Father but by me'?
We wonder if what the Gospels say about him is really true? Did he really heal people? If so then, why not now? Could he really feed 5000 with so little or is this a metaphor? Did he know where the stumps were or could he walk on water? Did he reallly come to life after he died? Is resurrection real? Can I just believe he was a good man who did many things worth admiring and trying to do in my life?
Finally, how can I sort out what I think I know about Jesus as opposed to what others say about him? Can I really know him personally? What does that even mean? If my life is basically doing okay or if I am in great need, what difference does his life hold for me?
These are a few questions......which one of these do you wonder about? What others do you have about Jesus? Or what conclusions have you come to as you have struggled with your questions?
We wonder about the parts of his life we have no information on. What was he like as a child?
What kind of friend was he as an adolecent? Traditons tells us he began his ministry at the age of thirty. That was a mature adult in his day. What was he doing before he began ministry?
We wonder about the things we do know about him but do not understand. Much of what he said leaves us with more questions. In practical terms, how long must we really forgive, turn the other cheek, and pray for miracles? What did he mean when he said, "I am the way.....no one comes to the Father but by me'?
We wonder if what the Gospels say about him is really true? Did he really heal people? If so then, why not now? Could he really feed 5000 with so little or is this a metaphor? Did he know where the stumps were or could he walk on water? Did he reallly come to life after he died? Is resurrection real? Can I just believe he was a good man who did many things worth admiring and trying to do in my life?
Finally, how can I sort out what I think I know about Jesus as opposed to what others say about him? Can I really know him personally? What does that even mean? If my life is basically doing okay or if I am in great need, what difference does his life hold for me?
These are a few questions......which one of these do you wonder about? What others do you have about Jesus? Or what conclusions have you come to as you have struggled with your questions?
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Who is Jesus?
This Sunday begins a new sermon series on Confessions of a Everyday Christian. The premise of the series is that all of us have as many questions as we do answers about our faith. Some of our questions are on topics very basic to our faith. Over the next six weeks we will talk honestly about our questions. This will include questions about prayer, sin, heaven and hell, Christians who embarras us and the relationship between our faith and our money.
This Sunday we will focus on a basic question. Who is Jesus? What do people mean when they talk about a personal relationship with him? Am a still a Christian if I am not sure I accept what everyone else says about him? Is Jesus the only way, really?
The questions we have are important to acknowledge and share. Sometimes church can feel like a place where it is not right to admit we are not sure, struggle with or even disagree with what the accepted teaching seems to say. This series will take head on our doubts and questions. Hopefully it will also destroy the notion that having doubts and different thoughts is a bad thing.
I am asking for your help. If you have any questions, doubts or wonderings about Jesus, please let me know. Just respond to this blog and share with me what is on your mind. Then come and lets talk about them on Sunday. I look forward to your questions and thoughts.
This Sunday we will focus on a basic question. Who is Jesus? What do people mean when they talk about a personal relationship with him? Am a still a Christian if I am not sure I accept what everyone else says about him? Is Jesus the only way, really?
The questions we have are important to acknowledge and share. Sometimes church can feel like a place where it is not right to admit we are not sure, struggle with or even disagree with what the accepted teaching seems to say. This series will take head on our doubts and questions. Hopefully it will also destroy the notion that having doubts and different thoughts is a bad thing.
I am asking for your help. If you have any questions, doubts or wonderings about Jesus, please let me know. Just respond to this blog and share with me what is on your mind. Then come and lets talk about them on Sunday. I look forward to your questions and thoughts.
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