Savior AND Lord

Sunday morning retuning:  Pastor Myron Daum took us to Luke 20 where we saw clearly the struggle of accepting Christ’s authority for those to whom He preached.  It is not easier for us.  What’s your next step as you think about confessing Christ as your authority? If you are not sure, maybe you will discover it here.

As Pastor Myron preached Sunday asking if we were willing to make Jesus our personal authority, I was struck by two words.  Savior and Lord.  Let’s be honest, the first one is much easier to swallow.  If we look honestly at ourselves, most people would admit at the very least that they need some help dealing with the mess they have made of their lives, but asking for someone to come in and run things is another matter.

I've been asking myself the last couple of days, "Am I willing to let Jesus be my authority?"  For those of us who say were following Jesus, this is such a crucial question to continue to ask ourselves. Why? Because it's so easy to drift.  The natural course of life pulls us to make decisions on our own, which leads us away from asking Jesus for His guidance.  I must remain diligent at acknowledging His authority.  

I have been thinking about it in terms of Jesus being my boss.  Of course, He is the most gracious boss ever, but He has a task for me to do.  He has a grand plan of redemption that is unfolding through my life and yours.  Am I willing to bring all of my energy and resources to bear on this singular ask that overshadows and informs all others?

As I was reflecting on this just this morning the Lord reminded me of Matthew 28:18-20. You know this to be the Great Commission, but the Lord reminded me that it starts with His acknowledging that “all authority on earth and in heaven has been given to [Him]”.  The task He has given carries with it the authority to accomplish it.

As we think about loving, growing and serving-our words for completing the Great Commission-let's remember under whose authority we are and by whose authority we labor.  As I watch the leaves fall from the trees even now I'm reminded that they fall, each one of them, by the authority of Jesus Christ. There is nothing that escapes His dominion.  He cares about, is in, and ultimately controls every detail, holding it all together as it says in Colossians 1. It is imperative that we keep this reality a constant in all of our actions, thoughts and words.  As I think about my life, I need to remember every day that He is in charge, so it would serve me well to ask Him what He wants me to do.  But what I do is not the only thing through which I must acknowledge His authority.  What I say is important as well.

Romans 10:9-10 reminds us that we must confess that “Jesus is Lord”.  And I believe this goes further than just saying those words, though it certainly includes that.  My speech must declare this singular truth consistently.  I am not in control, Jesus is.  Out of the mouth the heart speaks, Luke 6:45, so it really begins with my choosing to acknowledge Him as Lord in my heart.  Are you acknowledging Jesus as your authority?

Jesus, help me to acknowledge Your authority in my heart, my words, and my deeds.  It is not always easy, and sometimes I forget, but I want to.  Help me please.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

What Has You Tangled Up?

Sunday morning retuning:  Pastor Myron Daum reminded us of the need we have to worship Jesus with integrity.  What’s your next step as you think about integrating honoring Christ with your entire life? If you are not sure, maybe you will discover it here.

We got a new puppy a few weeks ago. She is adorable. That's not just my opinion, but the opinion of frankly every person who is laid eyes on her.  She came from the Animal Welfare League and was one of a litter of five strays that shared the name Eclipse at the shelter. She was Eclipse D, but her name has since become Luna.  She is bright and mysterious. Can't you see it?

It has been an interesting journey for us as a family incorporating this new member over the last several weeks. There are distinct challenges that come with having a puppy in the house. Many of you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Obedience training has been a fascinating journey with this little one, in a sense a microcosm of what we have done with the boys on a grand scale over the last 15 years.  Several things stand out to me. She has a mind of her own. She has little interest and obeying unless there is an immediate reward.  She wants to know her place in the pack. She's very affectionate. She sometimes has a great deal of trouble staying focused.  

At this point it occurs to me that she's exhibiting characteristics which can often be used to describe me. And my journey is not unique. I share these common maladies with my friends of the human race, as well as those of the canine world.these things are true not only of us, but of those we read about in Scripture.

I was reminded of this recently after relocating Luna’s stake in our backyard.  I apparently put it a little too close to a couple of obstacles which she summarily tangled herself around in short order.  I went out and helped her free herself.

One of the boys asked me why she couldn't figure out how to untangle herself, a question I was wondering myself.  I replied to him that she didn't have the perspective required to see the easy solution out of her problem.  He put it in his own words by saying she wasn't tall enough to see where to go. Reminds me of the verse, “My thoughts are not your thoughts nor are my ways your ways.”  God can see things much better than we can.

A short time later, I looked out the back window to again see that she had tangled herself around a small torchiere post.  I quickly came out and freed her, after making her pose for this picture of course. It was such a great illustration of the trouble we get ourselves into sometimes.

Now before you think of her tether in terms of sin exclusively, may I gently propose that we can tangle ourselves up in good things as well as bad ones? When can get bound up trying to be holy until we are just as trapped in legalism, having simply traded one tether for another.  So be careful as you answer the question of the day, “Why has you tangled up?”

If you are in Christ, know you are free.  Galatians 5:1 puts it very plainly.  “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  If you are feeling like little Luna, there is something you can do about it.  Trust Christ, the One who has purchased your freedom, as ask the Holy Spirit to help you walk in it to the glory of the Father.  What better way to have integrity in your worship/life than to walk in freedom!?!

Only minutes after the previous encounter  I looked out again to see that she had not only tangled herself around the same post, but had gone so far in her attempts to free herself that she pulled it out of the ground.  I did not include a picture of this, because I want you instead to imagine the freedom Christ has made available to you.  Christian, you can not set yourself free.  Trust Christ today and walk in that which He provides.

Jesus, thank You for setting us free by taking our sin on Yourself.  “This is amazing grace, this is unfailing love, that You would take my place, bearing my cross, laying down your life THAT I COULD BE SET FREE!  Jesus I sing for all that You’ve done….for me”.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Perspective: The Cross

Sunday morning retuning:  Pastor Paul Armitage challenged us Sunday to not let the rocks cry out in our place.  We did a good job responding to that immediately following his message, but I wonder if we've continued to be as successful in the days since? Jesus, help us live lives of worship.

I spent some time one day last week developing my upward gaze.  I took a photo to capture the moment and even tweeted about it.  That feed automatically goes to my Facebook account, and one of my friends there quickly commented, “We need to constantly work on this!”  Ah, the technology!  

As I thought and prayed, I pondered how true that is.  We need to constantly work on this.  Pastor Paul’s message Sunday reiterated this in my mind.  “The rescued always need to remember the Rescuer.”  Indeed, we need to. But do we? I think it requires some work on our part to maintain a perspective that ever keeps the Rescuer, and his unparalleled work, ever before our eyes.  It is this perspective that empowers our praise, encourages our souls, and keeps us humble before the One who is worthy of all our praise and adoration and affection.

As I sat there last week, listening and reading and praying, the Lord spoke some things to me about my life and the ministry we share.  I looked across the sanctuary and saw, as if for the first time, the cross in each of the six exterior windows of our sanctuary.  We must keep Jesus and HIs finished work on the cross ever before us in some way.  It must guide our praise, and inform our living.  As I thought and prayed, it occurred to me that we may be inclined to see the cross and everything behind it like this.  The cross is clear, but everything behind it is not, for whatever reason.  I think we may be prone to this kind of perspective, where we fix our eyes on Jesus [Hebrews 12:2], and everything else becomes unclear.  I do not think this is the perspective Jesus wants us to have.

Rather, I think Jesus wants us to see the cross clearly, always keeping it ever in our gaze, yet at the same time keeping in focus everything behind it.  How else can we serve our world effectively, starting with those closest to us and working out to the ends of the earth? How can we grow together to be more like him, if we do not keep an accurate picture of Him and His work ever before us?   How can we love Jesus through lives of worship, prayer and humble obedience if we can see the cross clearly but are disoriented to the world around us?  Simply, we can not.  And this will require some work.  But we can find solace in the fact that the Holy Spirit will help us.  He will illumine our hearts to the reality of Christ, while keeping us focused on the cross and its’ implications on our lives and the world in which we live.

So how is your perspective today?  Can you see the cross clearly? Can you see the world beyond across clearly? If either is out of focus, take some time right now to adjust your perspective.

Jesus, help us maintain a focus on your cross and the world around us.  This may not be easy, but we are determined to do it with Your help Holy Spirit.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Enter and Bless

Sunday morning retuning:  This retuning goes beyond Sunday morning.  Because the President of the C&MA was with us for several different sessions, I am expanding this retuning to the entire weekend.  From a Saturday night Q&A, through the message on Sunday morning and concluding with a powerful testimony making sense of his physical suffering, Rev. John Stumbo stimulated our souls and invigorated our faith, all the while calling us deeper.  I hope you were able to join us for one of those.  

When I consider a time like this weekend, rich in spiritual insight and teaching, I generally try to watch for nuggets of truth the Lord might use to make me more like Him.  That is actually what I called the note I made over the course of the weekend, “Stumbo nuggets”.  I was listening for what God would speak through our leader, my brother, to help me on my way. 

Enter and bless.  That is the one I want to refashion for you today.  In talking about how God worked through our sister church in Salem, Oregon while he pastored there, John shared that they cultivated and operated from this position, enter and bless.  They looked for opportunities to go into places with the intent of being a blessing,

Now that can take a million different forms, but it is truly a great way to think about how to live our your faith, and walk as Jesus walked.  It also connected with two other thoughts I will share but not elaborate on here.  You heard this one Sunday morning, “When God’s people get it right, the world wins.”  And akin to it, we need to find opportunities where “people of faith” (us) can partner with “people of goodwill” (them). As we continue to seek ways to serve our world, all of these are new phrases or twists on old ones that put our efforts in a slightly different light.  

So where in Scripture do we see this idea of enter and bless?  Clearly it is in play in Matthew 10:12.  Jesus was instructing His disciples how they should act as they went out to declare the news of the Kingdom.  Granted they were instructed at this point to go to “the lost sheep of Israel”, but later that commission would broaden.  The intent here was to look for a place that would welcome the blessing the disciple was bringing.  To use Stumbo’s words, as we look for a place to “get it right”, we need to look for a place that is ready to experience the blessing, a “win”.

So I simply want to ask you, do you enter with eyes wide open looking for the opportunity to bless and be a blessing?  Notice I did not mention where you are entering.  That was intentional because we need to be looking to bless everywhere we go.  It is a way of life, and it is not always profound.

A simple example.  After being escorted to a table for lunch yesterday I simply told the hostess, “Thank you.  This is my favorite table.”  You should have seen here light up.  It occurred to me in that moment that I need to be looking for places and ways that I can be a blessing.  Will you join me?

Jesus, help us to be a blessing everywhere we go.  Sometimes it will be a simple act of kindness, but other times maybe so much more.  The key, may the Spirit guide us.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy