From Hosanna to Crucify

During this time of the Church year, we gather in congregations all over the world and begin to take that amazing journey toward the cross and grave...  

Imagine being the people that wave palm branches and shout out “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”  We lay our palm branches down for our new king to walk on.  We prepare a path so Jesus can walk with pride to over throw the powers that be.  We imagine that it is a green carpet of glory and prestige.  But Jesus doesn’t seem to be thinking the same thing.  His response is shocking.  He doesn’t take advantage of his power as Lord.

He doesn’t fight the Pharisees or temple elite.  He doesn’t overthrow the government and bring back the feeling that we had when King David was in his heyday.  No.  Jesus Christ pokes and prods the authorities and they arrest Him.  Not only that, they beat him and punish him like a criminal.  People that were waving those branches of Lordship are now screaming “Crucify!” 

He is placed on the cross.  It looks so very painful.  His breathing is slowing.  I think I heard him say something.  Is he?  Is he dead?  This can’t be!  How can Jesus, the Son of God, die?  What will life be like without him?  Will he come back like he said?

Join us as we take this journey anew at Abiding Presence Lutheran Church.    

See you in the pew,

Pastor Steve

What are you preparing for

I have the letters WAYPF (What Are You Preparing For) on the white board above my desk to remind me that I constantly am in need of preparation.  Years ago I used this to create balance in my life.  I considered my life split into thirds.  Physical, Spiritual, and Intellectual.

I daily set aside time to exercise.  To be physically fit, knowing that I might need to muster up some energy to get through the day became a priority.  I found that building up my core muscles helped to center me and prepared for the plethora of activities during the day.

I daily set aside time to be with God.  I would spend time in scripture, letting the words fill me and interpret me.  I would take time to pray on the inspiration that God was speaking to me.  My emotions throughout the day seemed to be more even keel.  I was more attentive to the needs of my loved ones and my colleagues because I had been filled. 

I daily set aside time to exercise my brain.  I would play my guitar or piano for about 30 minutes.  Sometimes I would work on a mind puzzle, like Sudoku or crosswords.  Other times I found myself reading books that were not on my seminary textbook list.  I found myself lost in the world of Harry Potter or being spooked by Stephen King.  I was prepared for new ideas and was more open to them.

Over time, life happened.  I found the partner I longed for, we married, moved a bunch, had a couple of kids and now I am lucky if I can remember to brush my teeth before I leave the house in the morning.  Life is moving faster and I have been finding myself less prepared for the demands of life and what God has called me to be and do.

As we enter the season of lent, what are you preparing for?  Like me, are you only focused on what is right in front of your face?  Is it hard to look beyond a few days, nevertheless a week?  This Lent, let us consider what we are preparing for….the death and resurrection of Christ.

How do we prepare for this amazing act of faith?  Before, I was only thinking of bettering myself for me.  Now I am considering better myself for others.  Jesus’ physical actions should be my own.  Like Christ, I should be engrossed in learning more about the people and the world that I am surround by.  I should be responding to world through the eyes of Christ on the cross…with unconditional love and empathy.

WAYPF? Let us walk this penitential season of Lent with Christ on our hearts, minds and filling our souls with God’s abundant grace and mercy.  It’s a long trek to the cross…may God walk with you as you prepare to meet the risen Christ.

                                                                                      

Pastor Steve

By another road…

As we approach the end of Epiphany, have you been travelling safely on the same road, or have you taken another road?  Is this New Year just the same as last year, or have you been seeking a new direction for your life and your relationship with God?  Abiding Presence has intentionally been trying to encourage each of you to take another road; to find time to be with God each and every day.

As we continue our Walk to Jerusalem, over 1800 miles have been logged.  That means that people are taking time out of their day to spend it with God in conversation, prayer, and exercise.  We are closing in on our goal over 7400 miles.  But more important is that people are finding time to spend with God in conversation.  That is taking another road!

We have raised over $ 5000 for Water to Thrive, which is not only raising awareness to the plight of women traveling the terrains of Ethiopia to get clean water, but is also raising funds to build yet another well.  By taking this road we are making it possible for those women and young ones to receive education instead of scars from carrying water.  This is taking another road!

These are some examples of how we are trying to take another road.  Maybe you have an estranged relationship.  Maybe you have a co-worker that is grieving.  Maybe you have been missing from church, society, or from being honest with yourself about unhealthy habits.  Whatever the case, we invite you to take another road.  Reach out to that friend, hug that co-worker, challenge yourself to step out of the same old routine of dealing with life’s complexities and take another road.

Jesus came into this world as a baby, not the mighty champion that was envisioned.  He took another road.  Jesus called teenage rejects and ate with the unclean.  He took another road.  Jesus spoke out against the injustice of the day and taught about God’s love that engulfs the entire world and all that inhabit it. He took another road.  Jesus sacrificed all for the other, for you!  He took another road.

He is inviting us to join him

Travel safe

Pastor Steve

By another road

Happy New Year!

I love the start of a new year.  That magical time when we make new commitment to lose weight, read that book, or dare I say, even go to church more.  These promises we make to ourselves tend to fall on deaf ears by week two.  I struggle every year committing to commit.  It’s time I try something new.  It’s time I take a different road.

For this season of Epiphany, Abiding Presence will be taking another road.  The wise men took another road home to stray away from Herod and keep the location of the Christ child hidden from his eyes.  They intentionally took another road.  They knew that returning the same way would end with pain and great discomfort.

As you think about what lies ahead for you in this New Year, ask yourself, “What road am I taking?”  Are you taking the road that is easy and familiar?  Are you traveling the road of comfort, or are you willing to take another road and find comfort in the uncomfortable?  Can we respond like the wise men and travel away from those destructive forces in our lives. 

Maybe you drink or work too much. Maybe you have wanted to spend more time with your family. Maybe you are longing for some time to sit with God and nurture that relationship.  Take another road. Let us join the wise men and travel with confidence.  And whatever road you find yourself on, remember that there is One that is walking with us…on another road.

Pastor Steve

How do you respond to the birth of Christ?

Luke 2:1-20

How are we to respond to the birth of Christ?

It is wonderful that we go to church and witness the re-telling of the story. It is amazing to finally sing those familiar songs the department stores have been playing. It is great to get together with loved ones and surround a table with a feast of food, laughter and fellowship. But, is this how we are to respond to the birth of Christ?

I think of the shepherd’s response as they received the news from the angel of the Lord. They hear the Messiah has come in the form of a baby, an unexpected message. At first they were terrified. But, then, they leave, with haste, to see the newborn King. They leave their sheep, their livelihood, and begin their trek to the city of David. Overwhelmed with this Good News, they share it with anyone who will listen to what the angel of the Lord had said. Only after they witnessed to Mary and others, would they return to their sheep.

How are we to respond to the birth of Christ?

Let us respond like the shepherds…with reckless abandonment. Let us drop everything and run, with haste, to share this wonderful message of salvation with anyone who will hear it. Sure, this will happen at church and around your dinner table, but let us not forget those who aren’t here yet. 

May the light of Christ compel you to run at breakneck speed sharing this Good News with anyone who will listen. Your sheep will be there when you return.

Pastor Steve

The greatest story ever told

John 1:6-28 bits and pieces.

Have you ever heard the story about the kid who went into his backyard with a baseball bat and ball?  He would proclaim with pride, “I am the greatest hitter in the world.”  Then the ball would be tossed in the air and he would swing the bat with all his might and…strike one.  He again bellowed, “I am the greatest hitter in the world!” The ball would again be tossed up and with his tongue showing slightly through his teeth he would swing that bat…strike two.  “I am the GREATEST hitter in the world!”  This time he was sure he would hit that ball.  He tossed it up and gave his very best try to hit it…strike three.  As he stood there holding the ball and bat he proclaimed, “I am the greatest pitcher in the world.”

If you are like me, you probably have wanted to be the greatest at something.  Sports, art, music, writing, parenting and dare I say, even Christian.  In our lesson this week we have John the Baptist who did not want to be thought of as the greatest.  In fact he went to great lengths to make sure people knew he was not the greatest. 

John was a very popular fella in his day and people were coming to him from all over the countryside to listen to him.  He was so popular that some started believing that he was the Savior that had been promised or at least maybe he was a prophet like Elijah.  He assured the people that he was neither the Savior nor one of the prophets.  He was just a man who was there to tell them about the one who was coming that was the greatest. 

Most of us will probably never be the greatest, but we can, like John tell others about the One who is the Greatest.  Today you are invited to tell others about Jesus.  I can’t think of anything greater to do.e went so far as to make sure others knew that he was not the greatest.zx;clkc;lsdhljsdhf;ksjakjsd;kjhflas

Steve

You are part of the narrative!

Mark 1:1-8

In this gentle beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we meet one of the most amazing characters in this narrative.  John the Baptist burst on the scene with his acetic garments and bits of locust in his teeth, preparing us for what is to come.  He plays such an important role in the narrative.  Granted, he is imprisoned and beheaded soon after and his character disappears from the storyline before Jesus’ ministry takes off.

So often this is the case in scripture.  An important character is introduced to compel the narrative forward, spreading the gospel message, and then disappears as quickly as they were introduced.  Take for instance Simon of Cyrene being pulled from the crowd to carry the cross of Christ. His small part in the narrative moves us closer to the sacrifice of Christ and the salvation within. 

You and I are called to continue the act of carrying the narrative forward.  Our names may not appear in any fancy book, but our Christ like actions become new chapters in this Gospel message of salvation.  Where will the story take you this day?   

Blessings on your journey,

Pastor Steve