Peace is difference in unity

I recently read a statement prepared by the ELCA on working for peace in the world. It does not advocate that you and I attend a peace march. But it does advocate that we pray for peace and do some constructive actions that make for peace. Like the prophets of the Old Testament and Jesus, we are asked to take a stand even if it is a disturbing one. We dare not be silent and say the war is good. While we support our nation’s service men and women, we keep asking, “Isn’t there a better way?” We are also asked to be a community of moral deliberation, which means we are to discuss controversial topics like the war in Iraq and not avoid them. We are to listen to all sides. We are asked to even try to understand terrorism and listen to its voices.

One phrase jumped off the page. “Peace is difference in unity.” We are asked to respect the uniqueness of each person’s ideas and convictions. To me this kind of respectful open discussion is what freedom of speech is all about. It is also what it means to be a community of “moral deliberation.” Now we may not create one statement that fits all people but we can discuss issues in mutual respect and learn from each other.

So whether it is the war in Iraq or school funding or the values of marriage, we need to be discussing them openly and praying for God’s wisdom about them. I would be glad to share these two social statements with anyone. But even more, let’s be a community open to discussing issues, even our differences. I think when we do that, we witness to the world what unity in diversity is all about.

Pastor Otto

Who do you trust ?

For February I would like us all to think about Who do you trust?
Whether it is our local physician or government official, whom do you have confidence in?
Jeremiah 17 5:0 sets it right. People and systems will eventually disappoint you but not God!
In our culture that is enamored with technology and materialism this is a great message for all of us. Dare to dream of new vison even if the budget is tight. Why? In God to we trust.

Will some of our vision and or ministries fail. There is a strong probability since humans are in control. But that does not mean the Church has failed to be the witness of Christ's presence in the world. The church only fails to do that when it puts its faith and hope and trust in the policies of people instead of the power of God.

Applying Bible Principles

We've all heard the expression, "Money talks." That's true. Money does talk. Oh, not in words or phrases that constitute a language, but money talks. Because it is valuable to us, how we use it communicates volumes to those about us. People tend to spend their money on things that are important to them. With the exception perhaps of taxes, all of us vote with the contents of our purses, wallets and checkbooks concerning what means the most to us.

In fact, we could even go so far as to say that a person who does not spend money on something which is supposedly very important in his or her life really does not place much value on that item or activity. Suppose for a moment that you think "little league" baseball for kids is very important. You talk about it wherever you go. You attend the games. You enroll your own children in the program. But when someone calls you to ask you to be a sponsor of a team, or when someone "passes the hat" at a game to pay for equipment, you refuse to participate.

Would you not agree that an impartial observer of such behavior would conclude correctly that little league baseball really does not mean much to you? Your lack of financial support would outweigh the other positive aspects of your attendance, enthusiasm and participation.

The same thing is true in the spiritual realm. It is one thing to talk about Christianity. It is yet another to demonstrate our faith by how we use the money which God has entrusted to us. And that is especially true in our support of the ministry of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. As someone said recently in one church just before the offering was received, "Lord, in spite of all we say and do, this is what we think of you."

Or as the Lord Jesus put it, "... let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to our Father in heaven". (Matthew 5;16)

Re-Gifting

As I sit here during the first days of January, I proudly wear my new sweater and reflect on how happy I was that I did not have to take any gift back for a larger size. Then I remember an article I read this week a from Martin Marty about "re-gifting."

"Re-gifting" is to give a gift, something one previously received as a gift." In a Christian context, we read 2 Corinthians 8:9. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
Jesus was willing to come to earth and be one of us so that we could be forgiven. He gave up the glories of heaven and endured the worst of earth so that we could be with Him in heaven.

The people Paul wrote about were very much like us; they were well off and had much to share. But why share? Paul gives us the reason: re-gifting! All of us know about church envelopes and also about giving to lots of charities. But why give? Paul makes it clear: if we are generous, loving and moved by the Christ mass spirit, we do not have to be this way, but we get to be. It is re-gifting to the max.

A real test to our gratefulness is to continue the Christ mass spirit into these months by continuing to look for ways to give our ourselves and our wealth in the name of the gift that keeps giving, Jesus the light of the world.

Moving off the map

When we take a trip I love to get maps of the area and scope out where we are headed. Over the years it has given me a sense of security that I am not lost. Once in a while we go into an area that I do not have a map for and that worries me. I am afraid that I will get lost. We never have but it is a worry. Peggy on the other hand sees these times as an adventure where we will learn new things. Which type are you?

At times my role as spirtual leader for Zion invites me to "move off the map." There are events and needs that I am not prepared for. No matter how many books or classes I take, I am placed in unfamiliar territory. It is not enough to have a well maintained building or a neatly organized worship or well trained staff. For an example, many of our young people are concerned that if the school administration does cut sports and the fine arts, what will they do. In conversation with others we would like to offer more youth porgramming to fill those needs but we have never done that before. Several times we have been asked to host "English as second language" classes, but as soon as they grow beyond ten people they have outgrown our classrooms.

Again and again I am reminded that change is happening quicker than before and the church is challenged to present the gospel in new ways. So I am inviting you to join me and our "dream team to a visioning process. We call it "moving off the map." In the next few months we will invite you to be a part of different small group experiences where you can share some dreams you have fo this community of faith. I know you are very busy, so am I. But we need to sit down and pray over and talk about the future of our congregation.

So beginning in January, watch the newsletter and web site for dates and times. For now, ask yourself what is God calling me to do? What is God calling Zion to provide?

From the Pastor

This month of December is a season with mixed blessings. We are all about decorating and preparing for one of the biggest holidays of the year while the Bible texts I read are all about the second coming of Christ. The temptation is to forget the latter and stick to the former. But I can't. Why not? Let me tell you.

I dream of a day when there will be no more funeral homes or grief centers. A time when we will drive by hospitals and medical centers and wonder what we will do with all the empty space. It will be a time where laughter and music will come from nursing homes. Churches will be filled with people dancing and shouting. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? Read over Revelation, Chapter 21, to see why this is such a great message for us.

Meanwhile, you and I will need to continue to care for this earth and look to help those we can until that day. So instead of being scared by the terror I see on the news or the frustration I feel at the slow progress of humanitarian efforts or wondering why we can not find a cure for cancer, let us keep looking up, waiting for that grand and glorious day. As One writer put it, "For the writer of the Book of Revelation witnessing, not dying was his goal. We are to live as people of hope."

Join me in worship of our kind on Wednesday evenings, December 6 and December 13, join me in our unique Advent worship based on the words : Waiting, Preparing, Reflecting.... We will begin at 7:00pm and be done at 7:30pm.

Pastor Otto

p.s. In case you don't have your Bible handy........

Revelation 21
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.[a] 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."
5 And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." 6 And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
8 "But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
9 Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
10 So he took me in the Spirit[b] to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. 12 The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13 There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.[c] 17 Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick[d] (according to the human standard used by the angel).
18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19 The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones:[e] the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.
22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil[f] will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Footnotes:
a. Revelation 21:3 Some manuscripts read God himself will be with them, their God.
b. Revelation 21:10 Or in spirit.
c. Revelation 21:16 Greek 12,000 stadia [2,220 kilometers].
d. Revelation 21:17 Greek 144 cubits [65 meters].
e. Revelation 21:19 The identification of some of these gemstones is uncertain.
f. Revelation 21:27 Or ceremonially unclean.

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

Hold the Chicken Soup: preaching Advent Hope As I get ready for the December I am always reminding people that the second coming of Christ is will be better than the first. Usually this is interpreted as my attempt at throwing cold water on Christmas. So In that vein I plan on sharing with the congregation during the Sundays of Advent that God offers us hope that is not based on optimism. What do I mean. I can not tell you the number of times I have been offered a copy of Chicken Soup for the soul. Jack Canfield has made lots of money while making people feel good but is this really hope? Whenever I read one of his books the stories may start out bad but always end up in victory. Does suffering always end up in triumph? Theologian Christian Beker says that some suffering test us and challenges us and have no apparent lesson or reason. We realize that our faith is in God even when we can not see any good. "Instead of encouragement,what the Scriptures do give us is the bold, contrary rhetoric of promise laid next to pain and sorrow. God promises to stand with us and in the final battle victory even when we struggle to make sense out of our life. This is real hope." What do you think?