I must say that after doing research about the imagery of the 'Good Shepherd' and the 23rd Psalm, today was an absolute amazing day to share the Gospel. (If you want to know more, you can go to duncansvillelutheran.com and watch the sermon from our 'encounter' worship.) The love and care that Jesus the Good Shepherd has for his people is overwhelming to think about at best. What I have learned most of all is that sometimes there is no thinking about it all. It is truly a blessing to simply be held in the love of God through Christ Jesus without having to overly think about it.
In your life, I'm sure you (like I) have thought alot about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. You may have possibly thought about whether or not it is all real too--after all it is part of questioning our faith in order to grow in our faith. Don't be ashamed of your questioning or be concerned about things when you doubt or when things go awry you even become angry with God. Remember that God will always love you. God will always be part of your life. Finally, God will always wait for you if you run away.
I'm not going to tell you chapter and verse, but in the Gospels which consist of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, you will find the story of the Good Shepherd. Read about how much our Good Shepherd, Jesus cares for you!
Blessing to you in this new week!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Keeping the vision
When God reveals a vision for ministry, worldly standards and the human condition can often collide with what God has in store for God's people. As a leader, I often find myself in the position of communicating a vision with full knowlege that there will always be those who question every move we make. Clearly my love of God and the people I am called to serve remains my highest priority and focus, and because of that, I am called to push forward beyond the issues that arise that seek to deflate all that we are doing. It is also important for me to remember that as much as I am to live the vision, I should not get in the way of it.
In your life, God has a plan and vision for all that you are doing. Do you take the time to listen or to seek what God has in store for you? Are you willing to accept the vision and purpose that God has for you and be willing to move through all of the obstacles that seek to interfere with them?
My prayer for you is that you seek ways in which to listen to what God wants from you and that you will seek ways to effectively follow through with the vision. Keep your focus on the one who grants the vision and live the vision to see it through to completion. There you will find the blessing of the vision revealed.
In your life, God has a plan and vision for all that you are doing. Do you take the time to listen or to seek what God has in store for you? Are you willing to accept the vision and purpose that God has for you and be willing to move through all of the obstacles that seek to interfere with them?
My prayer for you is that you seek ways in which to listen to what God wants from you and that you will seek ways to effectively follow through with the vision. Keep your focus on the one who grants the vision and live the vision to see it through to completion. There you will find the blessing of the vision revealed.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Back in the groove
Thanks be to God, I have returned to the office filled with hope and somewhat rested, but most assuredly with a better frame of mind. Of course back in the office means catching up with things along with pushing ever closer for construction to begin in the new 'Family Life Center' slated for completion by Labor Day weekend. It is exciting to see all of the possibilities, yet marked with the reality that doing any type of construction today is time consuming and very costly. Renovations to a public facility are marked with all kinds of regulations to ensure quality, safety, and sometimes a little over the board guidelines that do not always make sense. What we continue to learn though is the consistent and not always consistent reality that 'it is what it is' and so we conform.
Conforming to the changes that come our way are not always to accept. We also need to be careful that conforming to circumstances beyond our control does not lead us down the pathway to complacency. Jesus conformed to the standards of this world by wrapping his God self in human flesh to dwell among us and yet he stayed true to the standards by which he was called to serve. It surely was not easy for Jesus to accept his fate, but to do so, meant that you and I would have the promise of eternal life.
Do not give up on your dreams even when you must conform to standards that need to be met to achieve them, but do not stop being what God has called you to be in this world. A child of God comes with expectations to do your very best. Sounds like the ministry that continually evolves at Evangelical. Improving our space conforming to worldly standards in order to continue sharing the story and living the Gospel. What a blessing the 'Family Life Center' will be for ministry to our children, youth and families. Thanks be to God!
Conforming to the changes that come our way are not always to accept. We also need to be careful that conforming to circumstances beyond our control does not lead us down the pathway to complacency. Jesus conformed to the standards of this world by wrapping his God self in human flesh to dwell among us and yet he stayed true to the standards by which he was called to serve. It surely was not easy for Jesus to accept his fate, but to do so, meant that you and I would have the promise of eternal life.
Do not give up on your dreams even when you must conform to standards that need to be met to achieve them, but do not stop being what God has called you to be in this world. A child of God comes with expectations to do your very best. Sounds like the ministry that continually evolves at Evangelical. Improving our space conforming to worldly standards in order to continue sharing the story and living the Gospel. What a blessing the 'Family Life Center' will be for ministry to our children, youth and families. Thanks be to God!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Vaca will soon be over!
With vacation soon coming to an end, I hope that I have taken the necessary steps to be fully prepared to return to the job I love.
I dare say going into vacation my need to get away was becoming pretty obvious. What I have learned best about myself and this thing called being a pastor, is that self care is often hard to plan for and even harder to see realized.
As much as I would have loved to escape for a few days, fiscal responsibility was a calling to dig in at home. Dig in we did. Except for a couple of outings, this past week has been marked by doing very little except 'veg' out.
I hope that each one of you can find the time to take some time to veg out in order to make your way back into the world fully rested and ready for the unknowns of tomorrow.
It's simple, I pray for you, please pray for me, find rest where we can and let's do what we are called to do as the little christs of the world!
I dare say going into vacation my need to get away was becoming pretty obvious. What I have learned best about myself and this thing called being a pastor, is that self care is often hard to plan for and even harder to see realized.
As much as I would have loved to escape for a few days, fiscal responsibility was a calling to dig in at home. Dig in we did. Except for a couple of outings, this past week has been marked by doing very little except 'veg' out.
I hope that each one of you can find the time to take some time to veg out in order to make your way back into the world fully rested and ready for the unknowns of tomorrow.
It's simple, I pray for you, please pray for me, find rest where we can and let's do what we are called to do as the little christs of the world!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Resurrection people
This week we celebrate a new reality. People who believe in the resurrection of our Lord gathered here and around the world to celebrate the new life that is promised through the life, death and ressurection of Jesus the Christ. Christianity crosses the lines of skin color, political party, financial status, etc. Just as other religions can claim the same, for you and me, we believe that one man came here so that we can have life and have it abundantly.
Abundance and resurrection go hand in hand.....live the life that is granted you.....live as a 'Resurrection People!'
Abundance and resurrection go hand in hand.....live the life that is granted you.....live as a 'Resurrection People!'
Friday, April 6, 2012
Many will be late for worship
Many will be late for Easter worship....simply stated, worship began on Thursday at 7 PM....worship continued this evening at 7 PM and on Sunday morning at 7 AM and 10 AM worship will conclude. Two-thirds of the story of salvation now complete with the final worship to see the fullness of the three days revealed.
The "Triduum" is the technical churchy word for The Three Days that begins our worship with the Thursday portion of the worship that commemorates the Last Supper held by Jesus with the Disciples during the Jewish Passover celebration held on the day before his death. Good Friday's portion of the worship commemorates the death of Jesus on the cross and his burial in the garden tomb. Finally, on Easter morning, we gather to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and the everlasting life that comes as God's gracious gift to us.
So when I say that some will be late for worship on Easter, it's true. Either way, the story is the same, the act of selfless love complete and the joy of salvation realized. May you all have a blessed and joy filled Easter.
Pr. Jaime
The "Triduum" is the technical churchy word for The Three Days that begins our worship with the Thursday portion of the worship that commemorates the Last Supper held by Jesus with the Disciples during the Jewish Passover celebration held on the day before his death. Good Friday's portion of the worship commemorates the death of Jesus on the cross and his burial in the garden tomb. Finally, on Easter morning, we gather to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and the everlasting life that comes as God's gracious gift to us.
So when I say that some will be late for worship on Easter, it's true. Either way, the story is the same, the act of selfless love complete and the joy of salvation realized. May you all have a blessed and joy filled Easter.
Pr. Jaime
Monday, April 2, 2012
What if Jesus had "Avoidance" issues?
Who do you know that is a flight risk? Is it you?
When I say flight risk, I mean the individual that avoids an issue either by not talking about it or by picking up and leaving altogether. For anyone that leans toward avoidance, they would rather jump in the car and drive, jump on a plane and travel, or do anything else than to sit down and really deal with the issues at hand. Sometimes this is learned behavior, sometimes the individual has figured it out on their own. Some people move from one city to the next, others, one neighborhood to the next. Some will stay in their own home and avoid the issues at hand by digging in.
No matter what form of avoidance you may prefer, the issues that are driving such avoidance will not go away until they are dealt with. No matter how far you run, the issues of your life will travel with you and haunt you until they are resolved.
What if Jesus chose the path of avoidance? The disciples certainly pushed for it! Avoidance for Jesus would have meant that he would have never faced the city walls of Jerusalem. Avoidance for Jesus would have meant that he never sat down at an uncomfortable dinner with his betrayer. Avoidance for Jesus would have meant that he would have slipped away from the garden before the soldiers would have come to arrest him. Avoidance for Jesus would have meant him calling upon his holy angels to protect him from the beatings and humiliation and the pain of his death.
Why are you practicing avoidance? Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I could have life and have it more abundantly. When we avoid dealing with issues, we choose to allow evil to have its way with us and then all that Jesus has done begins to fade away in our lives.
If you wish to practice avoidance, avoid the devil and all of his empty promises. Choose the path of acceptance of the things that come your way and choose to deal with them.
In the long run, all that Jesus chose not to avoid leads to the promise of new life. Imagine what can unfold for you if you choose to deal with all that life has dealt you--you may even call it a new life/living experience.
Peace and blessings this holiest of weeks
PJ
When I say flight risk, I mean the individual that avoids an issue either by not talking about it or by picking up and leaving altogether. For anyone that leans toward avoidance, they would rather jump in the car and drive, jump on a plane and travel, or do anything else than to sit down and really deal with the issues at hand. Sometimes this is learned behavior, sometimes the individual has figured it out on their own. Some people move from one city to the next, others, one neighborhood to the next. Some will stay in their own home and avoid the issues at hand by digging in.
No matter what form of avoidance you may prefer, the issues that are driving such avoidance will not go away until they are dealt with. No matter how far you run, the issues of your life will travel with you and haunt you until they are resolved.
What if Jesus chose the path of avoidance? The disciples certainly pushed for it! Avoidance for Jesus would have meant that he would have never faced the city walls of Jerusalem. Avoidance for Jesus would have meant that he never sat down at an uncomfortable dinner with his betrayer. Avoidance for Jesus would have meant that he would have slipped away from the garden before the soldiers would have come to arrest him. Avoidance for Jesus would have meant him calling upon his holy angels to protect him from the beatings and humiliation and the pain of his death.
Why are you practicing avoidance? Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I could have life and have it more abundantly. When we avoid dealing with issues, we choose to allow evil to have its way with us and then all that Jesus has done begins to fade away in our lives.
If you wish to practice avoidance, avoid the devil and all of his empty promises. Choose the path of acceptance of the things that come your way and choose to deal with them.
In the long run, all that Jesus chose not to avoid leads to the promise of new life. Imagine what can unfold for you if you choose to deal with all that life has dealt you--you may even call it a new life/living experience.
Peace and blessings this holiest of weeks
PJ
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