Identity in Christ

Who do you say that I am?

This question seems to have had an incredible significance to Jesus 2000 years ago, and I believe it still has an incredible importance today. 

Jesus was called many names… Savior, Messiah, Son of the Living God… as well as a blasphemer, fraud, and demoniac.  Ever since the day Jesus preached his first sermon, people have argued over his identity, and I know plenty of people who still fight over this question.  However, I sometimes wonder if we are missing the point.  Jesus certainly wanted his disciples to know who he was, but his teaching quickly moves toward redirecting the disciples to understand who they were.  Even when the disciples clearly don’t have their Messiah figured out, Jesus tells them they are valued.  Peter, in all his imperfections, becomes Christ’s Rock and the foundation of the church. 

Today I hope you can take a little time to understand who you are.  God says that you are His beloved child, and you are a foundation for His Love.  Take heart, and know that you are not alone!

Blessings,

PB

Faith that Overcomes!

The two men pictured below are the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa.

They look pretty happy here, but both of these men have seen their share of pain.  The Dalai Lama has fought against oppression and for the freedom of his people.  Desmond Tutu was a spiritual leader for the South African Nation through Apartheid and in the years following.  Both of these men have seen heartbreaking pain and tragedy in their lives.  They have seen the sin that results when one race seeks to dominate others.  They also responded to the violence and division with peace and grace.  I honestly can’t imagine the strength it would take to continue to stand for peace while facing such hostility and destruction from another power.

Problems still remain for these men and their countries, but they clearly believe love can overpower hate.  Looking at their picture, one can also see they have a joy that hatred cannot touch.  This gives me hope when I see division in our world today.  God’s Love can overpower any evil! The Dali Lama and the Archbishop are from very different religions, but have come to value each other.  They have chosen to open their hearts to learn from each other.  In this week’s scripture passage, Jesus will show the power of an open heart by embracing a woman of a different culture.  Today, we don’t have to look far to find hate.  It is my hope and prayer that we could open our hearts to Love.

Blessings!

PB

Finding Faith

I love summer!  It is a wonderful season that I have always looked forward to.  Now, it is a little different in Las Vegas when it’s 110 degrees outside, but there is still a change of pace that I love.  At the church, I have been able to experience Vacation Bible School, mission opportunities, and my own vacation time.  It has also been a chance to share these experiences with my own 2 year old child.  This is not always easy.  Our little boy really seems to thrive on a routine, and traveling with him can be a little chaotic.  However, it is amazing (and perhaps a little scary) to think about all the trust he has in us.  We may be leading him to the top of a mountain or on some other crazy adventure, but through it all he has faith that we will always be with him.  He trusts us.  He trusts his grandparents and family, and it’s amazing to see that he also trusts the church.  He knows there are people here who care about him.  He may not understand everything that goes on in the world. (I don’t think anybody does), but he has faith that we will be here for each other!

This week we are looking at the story of Peter walking on the water.  This is a story of faith… How much was Peter willing to trust Jesus?  In our lives, I wonder if we believe that we are loved.  Do you believe that God will always stand beside you?  Do you believe that the church will believe in you even when you make mistakes?  Today I hope we can all find grace by believing in God’s divine love.  That is what brings life to the world!

Blessings!

Brian

Mexico!!!

I just had an amazing week with our youth group in Rosarito, Mexico.  Our youth teamed up with Amor Missions to build a house for a family in need.  The family had a two year old girl who had been very sick.  The doctors were saying this girl was unable to stay in their current home because of the black mold that was all over their house. 

The whole group and the family!

Our small group from CLC was able to build a new house for the family in just 3 days.  It wasn’t much by U.S. standards, but it offered a bit of hope to this family.  It was a powerful experience that pushed each one of us, and I believe we all walked away with a deeper sense of ourselves.  We discovered what Christ was doing in the people there, and we began to see God in so many new ways.  I love these trips, not just for the service we do, but also for the change and grace we receive from the people we meet.

Today it is my hope and prayer that you could look for Christ when you face moments of difficulty.  In moments when you feel overwhelmed, or like you are facing the impossible, I pray you could discover Christ working in your life!

Peace and Blessings!

Pastor Brian

We put the frame up on the first day!

Finishing up the Stucco on day 3.  In the background you can
see the home the family was living in at the time.

Sing for Joy!

It has been twenty years since I first joined my high school cross country team, and running has been a big part of my life ever since.  Early on I loved the simplicity of this sport.  I could just throw on a pair of shoes and hit the road, but today things aren’t that easy.  I have to wake up by 5am to beat the heat, and even then it can still be 90 degrees out there.  Next, I have to get our child up, change his clothes, wrestle him in the running stroller, give him an acceptable snack, fill his water bottle, and find him a book that he wants to take along.  Sometimes I feel like half the workout is just getting out the door!

However, I still love running, and I love sharing each of these mornings with my son.  He loves to point out all the rabbits, quail, and ducks along the trail.  He also loves to sing as he rolls along.  For the past few months, his favorite songs have been the ABC’s and Jesus Loves Me, and he doesn’t just softly mumble the words.  He shouts as loud as he can, “JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW…!”  Then he proclaims, “I love this song daddy…”  It’s pretty fun to be a part of!  It also makes me realize that I should spend more time sharing the joy that is on my heart.  What a wonder way to live!

I think every human being needs to believe they are loved.  I also think we need to take time every day to appreciate the love we experience.  It is my hope and prayer that each one of you may open your eyes to the love that is in your life, and may you feel free to share the joy that is on your heart!

Blessings!

Brian

Summer Fun

I’ve always loved summer.  As a kid, I thought this season was all about getting away from school, and that certainly was a big part of it!  However, I learned a lot over those vacations.  I had amazing parents and other people in my life who helped me gain a bigger picture of the world.  I went on trips, experienced Bible camps, and I explored new parts of the world around me.  The summer was a time of exploration and adventure, and I will always cherish those moments!

Today, summer is slightly different.  For one, I live in Las Vegas, and it is a lot harder to get outside and enjoy the world when it is 115 degrees out there!  I also have responsibilities at home and at work that simply cannot go away.  However, I still feel summer offers a new perspective.  There is Vacation Bible School at the church, my family and I went on a trip to see relatives in Minnesota, and I am looking forward to some amazing mission trips coming up.  Our lives may change, but I believe there are always opportunities to see the world anew…

In our scripture passage today Jesus says, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  I think it is easy to get caught in a world that is so busy we can’t take a break to see all the wonder around us.  Today, I think Jesus is calling us to let go of the anxiety and embrace a childlike enthusiasm for life.  It is my hope and prayer that we would be able to do just that!

Blessings!

Brian

A Relational God

Have you ever been lost? 

A few years ago, I was hiking up a mountain with some friends.  As we were getting closer to the top, we ran into some tricky conditions. The snow had obscured our trail, and some people in the group were ready to turn around.  The smart idea would have been to go back with the group, but I really wanted to keep going.  I usually have a rule that nobody should split up in the mountains.  It’s just a bad idea to leave other people.  However, I knew the top couldn’t be much more than a mile away… and I really wanted to go for it.  I told everyone I would be back in flash, and I set off, leaving everyone else behind.  I quickly scrambled over snow, ice, and scree to reach the top.  I remember feeling pretty proud of myself in that moment… However, in my effort to reach the top, I realized I hadn’t paid close enough attention to the route I took. There was no path, and it was impossible to follow my tracks back over the ice and scree.  Pretty soon I realized I was lost. 

Do you know that feeling?  At that moment I wasn’t worried that I would be stuck up in the mountains… I knew I could get down.  However, I became very concerned that I would be unable to find the group I left behind.  I knew I made a stupid mistake, and now I was paying for it! 

I wound up going back up to the top and trying to retrace my steps down.  This time things looked a little more familiar, but I still couldn’t find the group.  I was just starting to feel that pit in my stomach when I heard my wife call my name.  It was so good to hear a familiar voice and to know that I was not going to be alone. 

How do you feel today?  You don’t have to be on a mountain to feel lost.  You may be surrounded by other people, and you may have a busy schedule, but loneliness can still creep into your life.  This week we are taking a look at relationships.  I believe God shows up in the people around us.  We are not alone.  God is calling each of us into a deeper love, and I hope we can all experience His grace.

Blessings!

Brian