May God bless you deeply with gratitude this season. As each year comes, the seasons of our lives may vary and giving thanks one year may be very easy to do. In other years, giving thanks may feel quite challenging because of set-backs, concerns and loss.  Yet, we must give thanks. We must know that not all of life is pure joyous celebration or pure challenge and difficulty. Life is “full” and in  its fullness we can always find experiences across the spectrum from joy to loss. Amidst  whatever fullness of life you now experience in this present season of Thanksgiving, may God place upon your heart all those things for which you can give him thanks, and may you know that special joy to rest in the faithfulness of God to you.

By contrast, each year I also find the Lectionary readings as Advent begins to be a sober slap-in-the-face from all the joy I anticipate.  Themes of waiting, watching, readiness, and even woe and judgment form the start of Advent. Why? Why not simply press forward to the Christmas Joy which we know comes? Why? We need help focusing upon the realities of faith and not merely the happiness of the cultural tide.  A sober reality is the first coming of Jesus as a babe in the manger cannot be seriously embraced without the awareness of Jesus’ own teaching about his Second Coming as King, Lord, and Judge of all. For we in the Church, the Return of the King is true cause for joy indeed; yet, with his return we must take to heart that judgement follows for all who do not belong to Jesus’ Church as children of God. Advent season reminds us to draw near to God in anticipation, intercession, and repentance.  We do sincerely anticipate the joy of our Lord’s second coming, we intercede all the more for those in our live who do not know Jesus as Lord, and we repent of our waywardness and sin so we might have our own hearts and minds be “ready” for Him to appear again.

May you take to heart the exhortation of the Lord have a faith that is ready and alert.  From Mark 13,

Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake– for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

The skeptic reads the gospel stories of healing and resurrections with an eye toward illustration, metaphor and parable.  But the gospel writers don’t present the incidents in those ways, but instead write of them as eye-witness accounts and humbly portray themselves—Jesus’ core followers—as often not understanding what Jesus was doing and why he did something in a particular way. They continued to be as astounded as the ones receiving the miraculous touch from God.  I think that bespeaks of authenticity and not metaphor.

I’m mindful of the lessons from the gospel of Mark, chapters 5-7. (From the “daily office” lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer during the last two weeks.)  Jesus goes where the people are to meet them in their context; he addresses their needs then and there in the way they need to receive help; and he steadily continues to journey from town to town, despite whatever pressing need may exist in the minds of the people or in the minds of his disciples.  Quite easily he could stay put in one place and have folks come as a flock to him. It would be easy to settle and “set up shop,” as it were.  If the need is great and the demand for help steady, why move on?

The answer is that there are far more people to reach beyond the gates of any single town.  He offers a ministry model to emulate:  Go to those you wish to reach!  Be on the move, preach the good news of the kingdom that people can know God and commune daily with him, forgive sins, heal the sick, raise the dead… in doing so, we would reach the whole world with the love, grace, and salvation of God. That’s very hard to do if we Christians always stayed put and settled.  The church of Jesus is to be a church that goes to people rather than expecting them to come to us.

With that ministry model in mind, it is time for our parish to be on the move. Literally.  Beginning August 21, we will move our location AND time of meeting. Why? This change will help us focus more around our mission of reaching people with the message of Jesus Christ in the context of their normal lives.  I think this change will get us moving in ways we don’t yet even know, and I am confident we will experience the joy of making disciples the “Jesus way.”  After worship this Sunday, July 31, we will have a short gathering for a time of Q&A about where we will move and so on.

Until then, may God continue to richly bless you,

We will actually use the full Invitation tonight at Ash Wednesday service. Lent is an old English word meaning, “spring.” Makes sense, yes? Yet we stick with the lenten term because it has a different association for us:  intentionality of our spiritual lives. During “Lent,” we choose to focus our spiritual eyes upon God all the more. We ask the Lord to reveal to us those things he would change.  This is the prayer of examination– not merely self-examination, but God’s examination. So we “repent.” We “turn” (that is the meaning) to God and ask for him to renew and restore us spiritually in our devotion to him. By making time and by creating sacrificial reminders of our desire to be nearer to him, we encounter God very powerfully. He reveals that which he desires for us and we are strengthened in our faith.

There are many ways you may choose to take time to reflect, fast and pray, and observe Lent. One challenge you’ll have is priority:  make the time by removing something from your schedule.  More than ever, we schedule our lives to the fullest.  Just yesterday my son’s first T-ball game was set at 4:30 p.m. Yup, two teams of four to six-year-olds playing baseball right into the dinner hour.  It was fun, but lots of kids went home tied and cranky. We were late to a fellowship group potluck!  When I was a kid, games were not scheduled into the dinner hour. I was surprised at how many parents just shrugged their shoulders, because I found myself thinking, “I may not come to another game at this time.”

We are busy, often too busy.  Therefore, what may you consider *not* doing so you may have the literal time needed for the reflection time you would desire to have with God?  You may want to fast from an activity– like watching TV, or using Facebook, or reading mystery novels, or surfing the web for fewer hours– in order to make time for prayerful reading of scripture, service, or journaling.  You could fast from a certain foods or daily from a meal– that takes no time, per se, and you’ll be strongly reminded by your stomach of why you chose that fast. Your attention will go to God in dependence and prayer.

Here’s the point: you are “invited” to alter your daily routine to help you focus on the meaning of loving and following Jesus our Savior.  During Lent, we approach the reality of the Last Supper, Good Friday and Easter with sharpened focus and hearts full of thanks.  That’s what we do in Lent. We seek God, meet with God and know the love and mission of God triumphant.

Greetings!  Grace and Peace to you through Christ our Savior.

Sunday, March 6, is the last Sunday in the season of Epiphany. I wonder how you may have found yourself reflecting over the themes of the Light and Life of Christ at work in you and at work in the the Church?  Into a dark world our Savior Jesus was born, and into the shadows of our hearts Jesus reaches to shine His light and grant us life.  The offer? Life to those dying from the death and sting of sin.

Over the last 8 weeks, the Bible readings from both the Sunday lectionary and midweek “Daily Office” lectionary present to us a Savior who calls us to believe he is good, worthy of trust, able to cure our sin-disease, and he calls us to follow him if we truly want to know the God-shaped life our God would give us.

In what ways has God been nudging and wooing you into the light and deeper life in Christ?  Maybe another way to ask that question is this: for what do you yearn?  From a recent reading in Matthew’s gospel, I am still reflecting over this thought, “for where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”  Over the last 8-10 weeks I have sensed God wooing me to a greater heart for holiness and mission in deep and qualitative “heart-felt” ways. This verse speaks to me about the focus of my heart for God.

If we see God as good and trust His goodness to us, our yearnings for the “more” of life find a safe place in Him. Last Sunday I raised the issue of trusting God. But how do you put a handle doing that?  Practically speaking, you just cannot say, “I’ll trust God more. Sure, sounds good!” and then carry on with no pragmatic change to make that conviction of trust a reality. It’s like saying, “I’ll lower my blood pressure,” and make no change to your patterns of sleep, diet, exercise or medications. Instead, you do something.

Trust is earned, trust is learned. If God has “earned” our trust, then we can take steps to “learn” to trust him.  Here is a suggestion: take a few minutes each day over the next few days and reflect over those areas of life that cause you fear (this may come out in desire to control or predict something). Jot down what comes to mind: your family members’ well-being? Providing for others if you cannot? Relationship hurdles with others? Income and money? Fear of layoffs?

Next, one be one, write down or pray this, “God, I give you my concern over _________” (and you fill in the blank), “Show me how I can release this to you.” It will help to write it out, because I encourage you to write it often, even daily or a few times each week, for each area of concern. Keep doing it for a while.  By helping yourself admit your concern and desire to trust God to care for you, you also raise your awareness through prayer of how God will want to respond to your request.  You will have “ears to hear,” as Jesus says, when God speaks.

Write the responses you notice over time. Record how you have begun to think and feel differently.  Also, prayerfully read the Bible daily. I encourage you to use a reading plan that helps you stay engaged in reading to “hear” and “know” God. Pray before reading for the Lord to reveal to you what he wants you to learn and know about him, and how you may respond to him.  Let me know how this goes for you!

I know God is faithful to hear and answer these prayers. He is Good and He is Trustworthy, and he can grant you freedom to walk in the light of his life.

May God bless you with joy as you seek life through Jesus our Savior,

Mark+

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”  When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

Jesus waited until the two men had caught up with him.  We too, filled with hope, must seek Jesus rather than the “gift” easily put into our grasp. We must be convinced that Jesus can and will act for us out of loving compassion. HE is the real gift, and what he does for us flows from who he is and his love for us. He asked the two blind me, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” With their answer of, “Yes, Lord,” he gently touched them and they received the gift of sight, which is so much more, of course. With sight comes awareness, beauty, relationships, and capabilities they could have only imagined.

Hopes enable us to appreciate what we receive and to love the one from whom we receive.  What comes too quickly and easily can often not be appreciated fully. We can take the giver for granted and lose interest in, or waste, the gift.  The lesson from the two blind men is that they responded to Jesus in faith for who he was and belief in what he could do. Though blind, they pursued him and found him. Their time of “waiting for the one” who could help them was at hand.

I wonder what hopes and dreams you may hold? I wonder what you are waiting for God to do?  The Advent lesson reminds us to seek out Jesus foremost, even above the gift, favor, or desire we seek. I think this is why Jesus told the men to tell no one about the healing. People would too easily seek Jesus not because he is Lord, can heal them, and would renew their lives to harmony with God, but because they want a physical healing, or favor, or need fulfilled. They would lose sight of who “the giver” really is, because they would be consumed with their desire for the gift.

For those of us whose lives have seen less challenge this year, you may be able to easily list your thanks. For those of you under great challenge, you may feel more hard-pressed to come up with a thanksgiving list, but it is vital that you do! Over the centuries, people have always found that giving thanks to God lightens their heaviness, creates new perspectives, and reminds them of God’s blessing. Let me illustrate in a very common, simple way.  Three years ago I asked the men in a group I led to begin writing down daily at least two reasons they could be thankful. Our aim was to see how our perspective shifted over the next month. For those who did the exercise, it didn’t take a month. Within the first week, the “aha!” experiences began to shape their attitudes toward their loved ones, their work and toward God.  As they continued in the exercise of thanks, they began to feel greater convictions about changes God was making in them as they realized that depth of thanks leads to changes in priorities and behavior. I wonder for you what reasons of Thanksgiving you may list over this weekend?

For me, I’m thankful for my family and this “season of life” we have to enjoy the blessings of discovery and growth as Morgan has entered kindergarten. I’m thankful for our friends in the neighborhood, for the friends with whom my son can play daily, for a day of golf with my father last Friday (before it rained), for free (!) video chats with family out of state (Thanks, Skype), and for people in my parish who willingly partner with me in ministry– for the growth we all experience as God stirs up stuff to change and leads us forward into a new tomorrow. I’m thankful for a morning cup of coffee and the Daily Office of prayer and reading in God’s Word. I’m thankful for my good health and for challenges which I am still listening to God about rather than trying to figure out by myself. I am thankful that God loves me and continually draws my attention to Him. I am thankful for his Grace and Providence, for a country in which I may freely worship him– whose signers of the Constitution, half of whom were seminary graduates and ministers (yes! it is true!), were well aware that God has moved through them to establish a new country which would be to the great blessing of its people and to God’s praise. For the original Thanksgiving proclamation of of Nov. 1., 1777, go here: Constitutional Congress Proclamation of Thanksgiving

I hope that is enough to stir your thoughts for which you could thank God!

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:15-16

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” Hebrews 12: 28

Until next time, may God richly bless you with Thankful hearts,

Mark+

On Sunday, August 1, one was plainly before us:  are you humble enough to not merely allow, but to desire, that God would plant into you the seeds of identity that will in turn produce fruit of the Spirit?  (Galatians 5: 22-23) We come to know, experience and give to others things such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control because we allowed God to plant into our being His presence. It is God within us and us cooperating and desiring God to be at work to shape us into the likeness of Jesus. With each embrace of his prompting, the seed grows. With each humble, “Yes,” the way of life in God grows. With each act of devotion, we bear the fruit of the Spirit of God within us.

The Book of Common Prayer Lectionary reading for today from Acts 3:1-10 demonstrates this so well– nearly matter-of-fact.  Because Peter and John walk in the way of expectant faith and humble confidence in God’s power, they are able to pray simply for the healing of a crippled man! Peter even pulls him to his feet so the man may be fully aware that he was just healed.  The people are astonished that such a miracle happened. Peter and John seem more surprised that the people would not expect this of God! And so the passage ends with a formerly crippled man leaping and dancing and praising God through the Temple gate called, Beautiful.  Indeed, how beautiful are the feet of him who brings good news!

How expectant is your faith right now? How humbly do you trust in God’s power to do what only he can do, even to the amazement of those who already believe in him? Today, may God grant to you an increased measure of faith. May you know the wonder of the joy of faithfulness fulfilled!

Until next time, may God richly bless you,

I wonder what identifies you? Lots of things, I would guess. I am a husband and a father– big identity markers. I am called by God to be, and work, as a pastor and priest– more big identity markers. You have them, too. Yet, if we are Christians the Bible tells us that something more foundational exists as our identity from God’s point of view.  A recent sermon (July 18) is based upon Galatians 3: 26-29. It is a powerful statement of identity.  “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

With God, our identity as belonging to Christ erases any classification of identity that would separate us: gender, ethnicity (including religious background), citizenship and economic status.  All these are basic dividers in life. But “in Christ” we overcome them and our core identity as equally belonging to God in and through Jesus is established. We are equally heirs of God’s promise to Abraham that God shall be our God and make for himself a people belonging to him. We are heirs of his grace, love, mercy, and Kingdom.

So what does “in Christ” mean? Several times it means simply “by” or “with Christ.” But most often when Paul uses that term, “in Christ,” he means vital belonging– a spiritual fellowship with Christ through the Holy Spirit. This is more than simply believing something or being in proximity of someone. We are joined in Christ. If you are a parent who has watched your kids grow and leave home, you can relate emotionally to this idea of “in.” Many parents say how they feel like their lives changed when their family dispersed as kids moved “out” of the house. The kids will always be family members, obviously, but something qualitative changed when they got older and left. They were no longer “in” as they had been; meaning, something of intimate and vital belonging was lost. O, how blessed we are to never lose such belonging with God!

Until next time, may God richly bless you,

Mark+

When you have been invited into a way of life, didn’t that work because of the nature of relationship with someone? You formed a best friendship around mutual affection, interests, and time together– events and activities followed, but “program-going” didn’t determine the friendship. It is the other way around. When people marry and have children, they do so because they are living out the fullness of life– regardless of what jobs, events and activities they pursue. Instead the way of family life and relationship sets the context for all that flows into events or programs to enrich and support family life.

In the same way, Jesus invites us into His Church in order that we would live a way of life with God and each other. He sets the pattern as simple to follow and life-giving. The pattern is also often counter-cultural, and there is the rub. In our culture, “busy” has taken on iconic status. Somehow we have allowed our lives to be so filled that there is little room for another program.

In our next series, starting June 27, we will base our study from Galatians and consider seriously what St. Paul writes as the gospel and way of life which Jesus revealed to him and which the other apostles confirmed. I will write a weekly reflection at that time in case you are unable to be with us for worship. As usual, sermons will be posted online, too. It is my prayer and hope that as we seriously consider the simplicity and richness of this Way of Life, that we will begin to make changes in our church and schedules which flow from the Way as we understand it better.

Until next time,

May God abundantly bless you,

Mark+

Over the last few months I have noticed how popular different applications have become for “Facebook” users.  First, if you don’t have a Facebook account (or “FB” for short), don’t worry. You’ll survive! Your life has not been cut short or lacks meaning—I promise!  In fact, enjoy your free time. Nearly every FB user admits to the power Facebook use has to consume that time which used to be free time. However, since this medium is so popular as a way to stay connected to friends and colleagues, I have an account and use it several times during the week.  Something has caught my attention.  I have noticed that even among Christians the use of things that fall into the “idol” category has grown substantially.

Namely, online psychic readings, daily astrology predictions, and even electronic fortune cookies has surged on Facebook– on the pages of many Christ-followers, too.   What do the readings and predictions promise? To guide your life, of course. To intrigue you, lead you, warn you, help you and inform you! Do you know what I don’t see on the Facebook pages nearly as much? Bible readings– not just daily readings, but ANY readings. I am shocked by that contrast.

This trend of stepping into the realm of idols and false religion concerns me greatly, for any “foothold” in our lives which we give to spiritual forces contrary to the Lordship of Jesus Christ has power to assail us, deceive us, and lead us into false beliefs– or some sort of weird blend of trying to follow Jesus as well as keeping an eye on an astrology chart.  The clash of these two kingdoms robs Jesus’ followers of the peace he otherwise gives us.  This “open door” allows the spiritual enemy of Christ to set up shop in our hearts and minds. It is simply the kingdom of God’s light vs. the kingdom of darkness.  I’m concerned enough that I began a short teaching series with Kairos youth to talk about idolatry and how it appears to us in daily life.  Our kids are awesome! Not only did they listen and participate seriously in the study and discussions, but they have stripped the astrology readings and fortune cookies from their Facebook pages.

You may think, “I’m just curious… I think it is funny to see what my astrology reading says.”   Are you curious enough to see what the Bible says about idolatry? You don’t belong to pantheon of the Zodiac Roman/Greek/other gods. You belong to the only God that actually exists. You belong to the one who “purchased you” by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and brought you from darkness into God’s light.  Don’t turn back to stumble around in darkness.

To what does Jesus call every follower?   I could list dozens of verses for you from the Bible. But here are a few. Let me encourage you to keep your heat devoted to Christ and the Word of Life. Repent of your sin if you have been seeking other gods and turn fully back to Jesus.

“Those who love me will keep my word…  the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. “(John 14: 23)

Ephesians 4: 22-25, 27

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.  Therefore each of you must put off falsehood… and do not give the devil a foothold.

“I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other Gods before me.” (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5)

“Do not turn to idols (Lev 19: 4)

Walk in Truth and Grace,

Mark+