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Archive for the ‘Formation’ Category

Stay Salty

Posted in Church, Community, Formation, Hope, Uncategorized on January 8, 2016| Leave a Comment »

SaltIn Matthew 5 we have one of the most profound sermons ever delivered to humanity. Jesus saw a teachable moment and he made the most of it. What has come to be known as the Sermon on the Mount is recorded here in this chapter. Jesus was the master teacher. His words changed the direction of humanity and they still have the same effect today.

In verse 13 of this chapter, Jesus used a common, household item to make a very concrete statement of our role as followers in The Way. He told his followers gathered on that hillside that they were the salt of the earth. Salt is something used in a number of ways. It gives flavor to what otherwise might be a bland dish. It can also be used as a preservative, helping to prevent things from spoiling.

In the first century, salt was viewed with a bit more significance than we might see it today. But the point of Jesus’ message was that we, as believers, should exist to bring taste to a tasteless world and the hope of preservation to a world void of hope. We are called to be salt.

But when salt loses it’s saltiness, it is of no value. For us to be effective in our service, we must not lose our saltiness. We must stay close to the only one who can bring taste to a tasteless world and hope to a hopeless existence.

Stay salty!

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What Will You Offer the King?

Posted in Formation, Motivational, Uncategorized on January 6, 2016| 1 Comment »

Adoration of the Magi - El Greco 1568

We are almost a week into 2016.  Today is January 6 – a day we might live through with the idea that it is a day just like any other.  But historically, the church has set this day aside as the day to remember the Epiphany or some call it the Theophany.  The mysterious reality of the revelation of Jesus as the son of God to the three magi that came bearing gifts.

The word Epiphany carries the idea of manifestation – God manifested wholly in a child.  Colossians 1:19 says, “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.”  We remember today that Jesus was and is fully God and fully man.  He came to earth as God in flesh.  He is called Immanuel which means “God with us.”  

The other aspect of this special day is the idea of the magi bearing gifts.  God came to earth and Gentile men, men who had nothing to do with Judaism, came to fall at the feet of this manifestation.  They came to pay tribute to the king.  Their journey was long and treacherous.  But they endured that trek in order to see the king.

I am reminded today that God’s love for me demands something of me.  Just as the magi came to Jesus bearing gifts, I too must fall before him offering something.  But I have nothing to offer worthy of the very son of God.

All I can do is humbly offer myself with no strings.

What will you offer the king today?

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The Best Year of Your Life

Posted in Formation, Hope, Uncategorized on January 4, 2016| Leave a Comment »

The beginning of another year – an arbitrary line drawn in time marking the end of one increment of measurement from another.  There is nothing really special about the day.  It is just another day – like the one before and the one after.

The significance comes not in the 24 hour period but in the idea that we are beginning another era.  We leave the past year with its joys and struggles and turn to a new year, hopefully a bit wiser.

This is a fresh start – a clean slate.  We can make this year the best year of our lives or it can be just another year stacked on the pile with all the others.  It is really our choice.  You may be saying, “Yes, but what about all the unforeseen circumstances that are going to come my way.  How can I be assured that this will be the best year yet?”

While it is true that life is going to happen over the next 365 days, it is just as true that God is in control of all of it and his strength will see us through those struggles that come our way.

The way to make 2016 the best year ever is to focus daily on your relationship with Jesus.  When your sights are set on Jesus and following him in The Way, all else is woven into the fabric of the year.  As we remain in him and draw ever closer to his heart, life takes on vibrant meaning and purpose.

So commit this day to remaining in Jesus and 365 days from now, you will look back and say, “I think that was the best year of my life so far!”

Be blessed today!

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The Light Has Come

Posted in Formation, Hope, Uncategorized on December 17, 2015| 1 Comment »

At this time of year, we often turn to the prophesies of Isaiah as we marvel at the way God has interacted with creation over the generations.  Isaiah foretold the coming of a messiah.  His words brought hope to a struggling people.  Those words were held as a constant reminder that God would redeem.  Isaiah was so sure of what God had given him to say that he often spoke in terms that it had already happened, even though it would be hundreds of years before it came about.

Isaiah 9 is one of those passages we turn to at Christmas.  In fact, I have been preaching this Advent season on the four descriptions Isaiah gave of the coming messiah in verse 6 – Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

This morning as I read back through the passage, another verse stood out to me.  Verse 2 says, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”  

Isaiah foretold of God sending a messiah – a savior and that his coming would be like a light shining in the darkness.  The world was in the dark – unaware and oblivious to God and God’s love.  When Jesus came, he brought light.  The light he brought revealed the path to the Father.  The illumination exposed but also offered direction.

We live in a dark world as well but Jesus still offers that same light.  His light exposes our faults but it also gives us direction in living a life that honors the Father and at the same time brings fulfillment to us.

Jesus has come.  We have been walking in darkness but we have seen a great light.  We are living in a land of deep darkness but THE LIGHT has dawned!  Thanks be to God that the light has come.

May your day and this Christmas season be filled with his light!

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Jesus Said “Yes!”

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope, Uncategorized on December 15, 2015| 2 Comments »

This past Sunday we talked in church about how important it is to place our trust in God.  But that trust has to be grounded in the fact that God is trustworthy.  I don’t know about you, but for me, I want to have the assurance that my faith and trust are placed in a God that is big enough to handle what life brings my way.

There are situations and struggles that come our way in life that are bigger than we can handle.  Knowing that our God is able to give us the strength to go over, around or straight through our struggles gives us the peace to truly make it through the day.

Isaiah prophesied that the coming messiah – Jesus – would be called the Wonderful Counselor.  He is that counselor because he understands all that we encounter having experienced it as well and he cares about what happens to us.  He would be called the Mighty God – big enough, strong enough and fully capable to handle any and all struggles we encounter.  Isaiah said he would be called Everlasting Father.  He is the Everlasting Father because he is consistent and timeless – his love is forever and the life he offers us is for real and full of meaning and purpose.

And he would be called the Prince of Peace because he would come – and in fact has come – to redeem the situation of our lives.  He has come to bridge the gap between us and God – a gap we created by choosing to go our own way.  By bringing us back into a solid relationship with God, Jesus offers us peace.

That is the story of Christmas.  God asked his son to give up the glory of heaven to become human and physically experience life on earth then to endure the weight of all sin and suffering so that we could be restored to the life God intended for us.  Christmas is the day we celebrate Jesus’ saying “Yes” to God’s request.

We are here today because he said “Yes.”

Be blessed today!

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The Prince of Peace

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope, Uncategorized on December 8, 2015| Leave a Comment »

If you read the headlines, watch the news or simply leave your home, you know we live in a world filled with anxiety and stress. This stress and worry can take it’s toll on us – physically, emotionally and relationally. If we let it, anxiety can rule our lives. We wrestle with fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of fear. But Jesus came to give us another option.

But understand that peace is not the absence of stress. Jesus’ coming – and our acceptance of him as savior does not remove stress from our lives. In fact, Jesus said, in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  Jesus does not offer to take away the struggle but he does gives us hope to be content and at peace even in the midst of the storm that is life. Jesus offers us a life of tranquility and peace even in the midst of all that swirls around us.

You may be sitting there thinking to yourself, “That makes no sense. If I am overwhelmed by anxiety – worrying about all the things that come at me each and every day – then how can Jesus make a difference? If he is not going to remove the causes of the stress then how can there be peace?”

Jesus came to restore a proper relationship with God. He became human to bridge the gap between God and mankind. His life and death brought the possibility of reconciliation to a broken relationship and a broken world. The level of peace in your life is directly correlated to your proximity to God. (You might want to Tweet that #PrinceofPeace) As long as there is distance between you and the Father, there will be no peace. Peace comes in trusting God with your life – in knowing God is in control and regardless of how hopeless things seem to appear, God only wants the best for you and your life. Julian of Norwich said, “Peace reigns where our Lord reigns.”

This kind of peace makes no human sense. The kind of peace that only Jesus – the Prince of Peace can bring. Paul refers to it as the peace that passes all understanding. He says in Philippians 4, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace that transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy when he said that the coming Messiah would be called the Prince of Peace.

The Prince of Peace has come and in so doing, he has made a way for us to be reconciled to the Father. He never promised to remove our stress and the things in life that bring anxiety. In fact, he let us know that the life of a believer would not be easy. But he has given us an opportunity to have a relationship with God and through that relationship we realize that this life is temporary. His peace is real for believers because we know that our future is secure. So even in the midst of stress, I can stand in peace knowing that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is my savior. He has endured more than I ever will. He understands whatever it is I am going through and he cares for me. There is peace in knowing that no matter how this battle goes, the war has already been won!

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Real Peace In the Midst of Struggle

Posted in Formation, Hope, Uncategorized on December 3, 2015| Leave a Comment »

In the wake of yesterday’s tragedy, thoughts are turned toward the turmoil in our world.  Emotions are flaring on issues of terrorism, gun control, the disintegration of the family and so on.  Society is reeling from overwhelming turmoil and global unrest.

And yet, we find ourselves in the middle of the season of peace.  What a stark contradiction.  We celebrate this season by remembering a baby born over 2000 years ago in a far away land – a baby prophesied to be the Prince of Peace.  On the surface, we may be prone to ask, “So where is the peace?”

But we must remember one important fact – God’s peace is not the absence of struggle but rather security and contentment in the midst of turmoil.  So the peace we celebrate this season is not some mythical dream of a illusive utopia where everyone gets along and all is well with the world.  No, the peace we celebrate is real and found in a relationship with the creator.  Julian of Norwich said, “Peace reigns where the Lord reigns.”

The level of peace you will experience in your life is directly correlated with your proximity to God.  If you desire more peace in your life today, spend this season finding your way back to the Father.

Be blessed today!

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So We Wait . . .

Posted in Formation, Hope, Uncategorized on December 1, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Hurry up and wait.  That is the description of the season in which we find ourselves.  We rush to the store to get in line and wait.  We rush out of the house to begin our day’s journey and we wait at lights and in traffic.  We put up Christmas decorations and wait.

If we are honest, no one enjoys waiting.  But this time of year, whether we realize it or not, we hurry to wait.  Advent has begun.  The season of expectancy and excitement of what is to come.  And inherent in the anticipation is waiting.

We look forward to Christmas day when we celebrate the reality that God became flesh and lived among us.  And in so doing, we strengthen the solidarity we enjoy with generations of believers who date back thousands of years.  We wait with excitement for his return.

So as we rush to put up the tree and make sure the decorations are just right, we do so knowing that we then must wait.  But in the waiting, God works.  When we create space within our schedules, our thoughts and our hearts, God can use that space to shape us.

So we wait . . .

And God continues live among us . . .

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Reasons To Be Thankful

Posted in Formation, Hope, Uncategorized on November 23, 2015| Leave a Comment »

This week we celebrate a national holiday.  We most likely will have some time away from work or school to gather with family and friends, watch way too much TV, eat way too much food and maybe even get some much needed rest in as well.  It is a great time filled with lots of wonderful things.

As we start this week off today, let me offer three thoughts to keep in mind as we move toward the holiday.  These thoughts come from Psalm 100 verses 4 and 5.  This is what it says:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

The three points that should bring us to gratitude in these verses describe God and God’s character.

  1.  God is good.  There is nothing in God that is not good.  God is perfect in every way – wholly other and holy.  We can rest in this fact and know that God, and only God, is worthy of our devotion and trust.
  2. God’s love never fails.  We can count on the fact that God’s love lasts forever.  In our world, the definition and understanding of love is very fluid.  We can say we love turkey and dressing and turn to the family member that made it and tell them we love them too.  But God’s love is different – it does not change and is not dependent on anything from us.
  3. God is faithful.  God’s consistency is time proven.  We can stake our lives on the fact that God does not change.  God loves us and has our best interests in mind and heart.  Even in the midst of what would seem impossible circumstances, God is in control – God is faithful.

So if you are having a little trouble finding anything for which to be thankful this year, just consider the fact that the good Father loves you and his faithfulness has been proven over and over again.

Be thankful!

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Be Thankful

Posted in Formation, Hope, Uncategorized on November 18, 2015| Leave a Comment »

We are a week away from a day we set aside to be thankful.  Our homes will be filled with the sounds and smells of the holiday.  Our hearts will turn toward those people and things we count as blessings and we will, in that moment be grateful.

How about we start early.  How about taking some time – just 3 minutes -right now to reflect on your top 3 blessings.  Ask yourself, “what 3 people or things would I miss the most if they were gone tomorrow?”

Then spend some time giving thanks to God for those blessings.

It is good to set a day aside to be thankful.  But why not be thankful every day.  When I take the time to think about how God has blessed me, I am reminded that there is something bigger than my problems going on here.  I am truly loved by a holy God who loves me and wants his best for me.

Be thankful today!

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