Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Visibile words

Advent is a fresh and powerful season to look at how words become visible. As we walk through the malls or stores what images stand out? Do any those images tell you of the birth of the Christ child? Then when you re in Church look around you and see if the images are different? Hopefully they are?

So how do we make the word of God visible to others? The easiest answer is ringing the bells for salvation army or donating to a charity. But could we be more creative? Stopping by to visit with a neighbor or old Friend, or inviting a person who just became single due to a death or divorce to dinner. Join the Advent Conspiracy. As a community we will ask our members to be "subversive" and not be caught up in the madness called Christmas. How about spending less on each other and giving more away to the people in need of fresh water or warm bed? How about reading one chapter of Luke each day in December. Do this as a family.

We all complain about his seasonal madness yet we buy into it! Why?
Thne let us all come to worship on Chrsitmas eve and through candles, hymns and communion let us see the word become flesh

Friday, September 3, 2010

Consider the cost
Luke 14 offers some troubling words."hate" my mother, my father, my sister! As I prepared the sermon on these texts I realized that there is a "cost" in following Christ. In an age of instant gratification and cynicism I am a person who looks for long term results and seeks to offer hope.
One of the greatest challenges is to be generous. In a time when I am told we are "running out" of most things and I need to hoard what I have. God tells me that he is a God of abundance and will provide what I need. Too often the idea of scarcity has been disguised in the church as "conservative budgeting" and "protecting what we have." This negative attitude is holding the church from becoming what God calls it to be, an oasis of hope.
Now I realize all of us have limitations due to our economic times and need to wise in using our resources to care of our families. But have we let the voices of the world tell us "You can't"?
God provides enough resources to accomplish the entire mission and ministry he call us to do. But do we trust in that promise? Then pick up your Bible and read 2 Corinthians 9.8
Generosity is a Christian value.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Easter always rises

The Sundays of Easter is our time to let people know that Christ is alive. How will they know?Through our changed lives. When you hear the stories of Peter and Paul you can see something changed them. But can others see that in us? Are we transformed or simply admiring Jesus? Can I get a witness? It is our duty and privilege to live as though we are Easter people not Good Friday people. We need to be good news people in a bad news world.

If you are like me and believe that the grip of the forces of evil and death are slowly slipping away, then was must declare with our lips and our lives that the old order of things is passing away. Because of Easter we know that God gets the last word. That we can climb out of the pit.; we will find hope emerging from despair; God's love will not be kept dead and buried. Why?
Because the stone was rolled away, the tomb was empty and our lives are changed. So let us remember that and remind others. That life is stronger than death and hope will defeat despair.