Radical Grace Adventures!
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Be still...
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Love Unites
We are living in a very important and emotional time... This year's election was particularly heated, and throughout the campaign, there has been a lot of animosity and division. Today I see people who are celebrating, and I see people who are grieving. Our lives are filled with emotion, but the Bible teaches us to put our hope in God first.
"those who hope in the Lordwill renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint.”
-Isaiah 40:31
I was considering this while I was at my 9 year old's soccer practice. The kids were having a passionate discussion about who the next president should be, and they were cheering and booing each other for their beliefs. Now personally, I find it rather unlikely that these kids had a detailed understanding of each candidate's politics. However, they were still drawn into the emotion. They wanted clear lines to decide who was in and who was out. On the way home, my son was talking to me about the divisions. It bothers him that some of the kids, who he's become friends with, have drawn these lines. That kind of thing bothers me too. It hurts me to see so many wonderful people divide themselves from each other.
We are beginning a new sermon series this week entitled: God is in Charge and that's a Good Thing. We will be diving into the Bible to discover people who found unity instead of division. Even in divisive times, God's love can unite us. Every person's vote is important, but it is also important to remember that Christ asked all of us to be His hands and feet. It is my hope that we would all search for God's love instead of division. Today I pray that we as a church can continue to share hope and grace around the world.
Peace,
Pastor Brian
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Excitement is in the air!
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Surrounded by Blessings
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Generous Living
Last weekend I had the opportunity to watch my fourth grade son play in a soccer game. It is such a blast to see him learning new skills and meeting new friends. It was also fun, because my son happens to be on a really good team. (They are very good... as in they won 11-0...) Many of his teammates have been practicing together for years, and it certainly shows. My son is really just trying to catch up, but he still loves it. However, some of the other parents on our team happen to be super competitive. I saw parents on our team arguing over goals when we were already up by multiple points. Now, perhaps this just shows that I don't have the killer mentality to become a professional athlete. I just want the kids to have fun.
These Saturday morning soccer games are just one small example of people living with a scarcity mentality. There are so many times in our recreation, business, and politics that we feel the need to take all that we can. However, the Bible asks us to believe something different. In the Gospel of John chapter 10 Jesus tells us:
I came that you may have life and have it abundantly"
Jesus wants us to look at the world with a fresh perspective. He doesn't want us to obsess over how much we have. He doesn't want us to worry about whether or not we have more money or or a better car than somebody else. Jesus is concerned about living in the blessings we have. We have the opportunity to open our hearts and receive God's gifts. If we embrace the grace Christ offers, we also have opportunity to share God's Love with others.
I understand that a competitive spirit isn't all bad. It can drive people to new heights. However, I think it is important that we don't get so caught up that we forget that there is plenty of good in this world that we can share. Instead of focusing on all the gifts we did not receive, lets take a little time to count our blessings.
Today I hope you can all live in God's abundance. I hope you can live generously and share the blessings Christ offers.
Peace,
Pastor Brian
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Learning everyday
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
A welcoming place
What are your feelings of church?
Is a a place of comfort and vulnerability, or is it a place of rejection and judgment?
I can't tell you how many people I talk to who just can't bring themselves to church. "You don't want people like me there..." "I wouldn't fit in." "The place will get struck by lightning!" For so many of these individuals, church is a place of judgment. They see a group of people who want to look down on others or pretend that they are somehow better. It's amazing how this mentality crept into our world, because it is so different from the church that Jesus offered.
Jesus came to our world and welcomed everyone. He made fisherman, tax collectors, and religious leaders all feel like they belonged. The church was a place for everyone. More than that, each of these people had gifts that Jesus cared about. He wanted to send his followers into the world and share God's blessings. He believed we all have gifts to offer.
Personally, I am thankful the church has always welcomed me. Even when I was a child, I remember people greeting me with a smile, offering me a job, and encouraging me when I needed support. I think we all need places like this. I can't imagine raising my kids in a world where they couldn't be vulnerable. Sure, there are moments when we pretend we are something that we are not... but this isn't healthy. It's certainly not good to live our lives this way.
When Jesus invited us to have a seat at the table, he wasn't just welcoming the perfect people. He was welcoming us just as we are. Today I hope we can be a church that offers love to all people. I hope we can find ways to share the wonderful gifts that we have. I hope we can all choose to love and welcome the stranger.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian