Radical Grace

 At Community Lutheran Church we are in the midst of a sermon series looking at our mission statement:

Every year we take time to examine God's call for our congregation. We are each blessed, and God is transforming us every day. This week we will discuss what it means to be a people of Radical Grace. I think the church has a reputation for demanding perfection. Many seem to believe there is no room for anyone who messes up or doesn't fit in. Jesus stood against that. Jesus came into the lives of people who didn't fit in. His disciples were not known to be the most influential or powerful. They were ordinary people. They made mistakes, but Christ walked alongside them. 

Today there are still a number of people who don't feel like they fit in. I have personally talked to a number of individuals in our church who almost gave up hope. They did not believe they would ever find a welcoming place. Some had been rejected at other churches. Others were told they did not fit in, and they could not use the gifts they were given to serve God. 

It is heartbreaking to think that so many incredible people could not find a home. We each have so many gifts, but unfortunately so many are led to believe that they don't matter. Today I hope we can all open our hearts to God's Grace. I hope we can let go of our burdens, and share more love into the world.

Blessings,

Pastor Brian

Share God's Love

A couple weeks ago, I had to opportunity to baptize my youngest child. Baptism is a special gift. It is a time to recognize that God has chosen us. Even when we can't fully comprehend this, we trust that God is working. 

I believe it is so important to live our lives with God's call on our hearts. There are going to be plenty of moments when we don't understand the greater plan. There will be times of suffering, and we will all face situations where we will feel like complete failures. I would never wish any bad event on another person. It feels terrible when we have to pass through the dark valleys in life. However, I also don't want my own children to live their lives in bubble wrap. I want them to be able to explore and make mistakes. I don't want them to face great pain or difficulty, but that is also part of what makes us human. I don't think it would be a good thing to simply slide through life without facing any kind of adversity. My personal prayer would be for each person not to lose hope. 

This world can feel pretty dark. It is possible to lose sight of the plan at any moment. However, even when we don't understand, God is present and walking with us. Today I am so thankful for this promise. As we celebrate Mother's Day weekend, I am also thankful for all the love that women have shown. Their love offers hope to the world. To me, it does not matter if you are a biological mother or not. We need all kinds of people sharing God's promise of hope in the world. Let's lift that up today!

Blessings,

Pastor Brian