The Candle of Love

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing…

This week we will light the fourth candle on the Advent wreath:  the candle of love.  People talk about love all the time.  It fills Bible verses, songs, movies, and almost anything else you can think of.  Sometimes it can seem almost too cliche to talk about.  Even amazing passages from the Bible can start to lose their power.  There are just too many examples of broken relationships, and families and friendships that have lost hope of any kind of reconciliation.  Love seems like a wonderful word, but what power does it really have?

There are moments in my house when the kids are refusing to brush their teeth, put their clothes on, or sit down in their car seats.  I can get pretty exasperated trying to get them to do anything, but they are perfectly happy right where they are.  Perhaps one day they will start to learn how to listen and prepare for the day better.  However, I may be able to learn from them too.  They can appreciate the love and joy right where they are at.  They don’t need too much at all… They can just enjoy the simple things.

Sometimes the greatest gifts that love can share are in the still small moments of life. We do not have to spend our lives chasing after something God has already shared.  The Bible teaches us that love surrounds us right here and right now.  My prayer for all of us is to embrace all the gifts we have.  May we receive the love God has for us with open hearts, and cherish each moment we are in!

Blessings!

Pastor Brian

Peace on the Advent Journey

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

-John 16:33

The season of Advent is a journey.  Long ago, Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem.  They were not able to take much with them when they set out, and they expected their journey to end with more taxes, more oppression, and more poverty.  However, they did bring several very important gifts with them:  Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.  

Today we still prepare our hearts in this season of Advent.  We may have more wealth and power than Mary and Joseph ever did, but it is also important to ask if we really have what matters?  This week we are taking a look at the spiritual gift of peace.  Jesus never promised to make our lives easy.  However, Jesus did promise to love us in the midst of the tribulations.  Jesus promised to always be present, and if we open ourselves to this love, then I believe we can bring real peace to this world.

Today I hope you can all find a little peace in your hearts, and I hope you can find some way to share this.  Don’t get caught up trying to move mountains or saving the entire planet.  Just ask if there is any way to bring a little peace to your life.

I was taking some time with my family last week, and honestly it was less than peaceful.  Our two year old was refusing to put pants on, and the screaming was getting out of control.  :)  We were setting up our Advent wreath, and it looked a little strange since the candles had sat out in the garage all summer and melted into some pretty weird shapes. (Oops!) However, we wound up just cherishing a few moments of love around the candles.  The boys wound up laughing and playing together, and I saw just a bit of God’s peace that day.  

God is working in this world.  I hope we can all open our hearts and see it!

Blessings!

Brian

Christ the King

This week has been a whirlwind.  My wife started a new job, my kindergartner started several new projects for school, and my two year old… well he was busy just being a two year old.  To top all of this off, the whole house was exposed to Covid-19 so we had to do all of this while quarantined in our house.  

I can obviously think of a lot of things to complain about, but we are in the midst of a sermon series at CLC all about being thankful.  There will always be challenges in this world… Jesus knew this, and he told his followers this would be the case.  However, Jesus also prayed that his people would come together to face the trials of the world alongside one another.

Today we live in a time of physical separation, but we are still a church.  We are still united through the body of Christ, and this weekend we are celebrating the glory of Christ the King.  This is also the last week of the church calendar year.  The cycle starts over next week as we begin the season of Advent.  

As I reflect on this past year, I am reminded of so many times when the trials got the better of us.  Instead of working together, we pushed each other apart.  However, this week we remember that Jesus is King.  God is in charge, and my hope is that we would all open our hearts to the love Christ offers.  Let’s look for ways to see the glory of Christ in the world around us.  Let us find hope in the world!

Blessings!

Brian

Living with Gratitude

 Are you living with a spirit of Thanksgiving?

 There is a lot going on in the world today… elections, corona virus, economic uncertainty… It is easy to get distracted by all of it.  In my family we have also been dealing with the fallout of the time change.  I know there must be somebody out there who looks forward to flipping the clocks an hour back or an hour forward, but I am not one of these people.  Even in the fall, when we should gain an extra hour, I feel like I still lose.  Instead of sleeping in, my kids just wake up an hour earlier! (It’s a cruel twist of fate to always lose an hour!) However, earlier this week, when I was trying to get my two year old to go back to sleep for a few more minutes, he looked right at me and said, “I love you daddy… Let’s go eat.” I guess it struck me in that moment that there will always be things I can complain about, but I should probably be thankful!

 This week, Community Lutheran is continuing a sermon series all about gratitude and thanksgiving.  We are asking what is on your heart.  Are you upset? Afraid of an uncertain future? Excited? Angry?  Emotions are a gift, and I believe it is good to embrace them and understand them.  However, I do not believe we should spend our lives being ruled by our emotions.  At the heart of everything is the all-powerful love of God.  This is a love that we can always embrace, and we can also share. 

 Blessings!

 

Pastor Brian

Reform in the Church

 Happy Reformation everyone!  This weekend we are celebrating the work of the Holy Spirit in the church.  Five Hundred years ago a German monk named Martin Luther opened his heart to the Spirit.  The church at that time did not sing together with hymns.  It did not preach in the language of the people.  Communion was not shared freely with the everyday person.  Luther trusted God, and he believed the church could be so much more. 

 Today it is easy to feel that the church is confined.  Personally, the corona virus has left me feeling like my hands are tied in so many different ways.  I want the church to be something more.  However, Reformation is a day where we remember that the church always goes through difficult times.  In the Bible, the people of Israel had times of victory, and they had many moments when everything fell apart.  Their temple was destroyed.  The people lost their homeland.  Everything seemed hopeless.  However, the story is one of hope.  The Holy Spirit continued to work, in spite of chaos all around.

 

 In the past year, the world has changed so much, but God is still in charge.  I have spoken to people who have become involved in our church in new ways.  I have seen the church reach an unprecedented number of people.   I have been able to share some incredible moments with my own family.  God is still here, but we will always need our hearts to be open to the Spirit’s work in these changing times. 

 Today I hope you will let your hearts be opened.  I hope you will experience what new life means.  God is working in you.  Let’s celebrate this good news.

 Peace,

 

Brian Ward

Stop... Listen... Look

 This week at Community Lutheran we are continuing our sermon series entitled KCLC Radio, and this week we are featuring the 1967 hit by Buffalo Springfield:  For What It's Worth.  Personally, I feel like this song is very recognizable, or at least the chorus is:

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down 

It is a pretty catchy tune, but the words are also filled with some very valuable lessons that show up in the Bible:  Stop… Listen… Look…  Jesus even tells us not to rush to conclusions.  Are there times in your life that you need to allow a little space for the Holy Spirit to move?

Jesus said to the disciples and us, “But when the Spirit of truth, comes,
it will guide you into all truth. It will not speak on its own; but will speak only what it
hears, and it will tell you what is yet to come. 

I know I find myself rushing from one thing to another every day.  No matter how early I wake up, there just doesn’t seem to be enough time for everything.  Every morning I try to start my day with a workout.   Next, I make breakfast and feed the kids.  Then I try to help get the kids dressed, brush their hair, and feed them their second breakfast.  After that, we have to change their outfits because they got dirty, search for their missing shoes, brush their teeth, and by this time they are hungry again.  Life can move pretty fast, and regardless of how your life may look, it is important to stop and breathe.  The Holy Spirit is working in our lives, but we do have to take a moment and experience it.

I am blessed in countless ways every day.  I can see amazing acts of kindness, love, and mercy, but I need to slow down a bit to really cherish it.

Today I hope you can all allow the Holy Spirit to move in your lives.  I hope you feel the presence of God, and I hope you can all share a bit of God’s love today!

Blessings!

 

Brian Ward

Believe in Love

 

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
 For I am the Lord your God,
-Isaiah 43

I have a lot of love for these verses from Isaiah 43.  Whenever I hear it, I am drawn back to my days as a summer camp counselor in the mountains of Colorado.  We used to sing a worship song that was based on this scripture, and even today it reminds me of the sweeping mountain views, the star filled nights, and all the wonderful relationships that were formed that summer.

Today, I am still drawn to these verses in times of suffering or when people have lost hope.  I believe in a God who came to this earth to love – not to condemn.  We have a God who promised never to abandon us in spite of the trials we may face or the road blocks we build for ourselves.  We are loved, and I believe that God is constantly trying to help us to understand this message.

When I was a camp counselor, I felt like there was something powerful binding all of us together.  We were all different, but we believed in each other.  The Holy Spirit’s work was real and available for every one of us.  Today, in a season of quarantine and national division, hope seems much further away.  However, I believe God’s Word still stands.  I believe God is still coming to this world with love and hope.  God has not chosen to abandon us.  So what if we started to open our eyes to the real presence of God. 

Today I hope we can let go of the evil that divides us from our neighbors.  Perhaps we can look inward and deal with our own hurts and pains to discover a deeper truth about ourselves.  I hope we can all find a way to hear God’s Word and be witnesses to hope.  Let’s stand for unity, grace, and forgiveness. 

 

Blessings,

 

 

Brian Ward

From Broken to Hopeful

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

-Matthew 6:25-27

Today we have fires in the west, hurricanes in the south, and the corona virus is raging all around us… This year seems to be full of things to worry about, and I have spent a lot of time speaking with people whose lives have been flipped upside down.  There are people who are sick and isolated.  Others have recently lost their jobs and homes because of the recession.  Parents are struggling to balance their work with child care.  Finally far too many people are searching for meaning in what seems like an endless void.  Life is not easy, and the pressure can be immense!

This week at Community Lutheran, we are taking time to find ways to relieve the anxious pressure of the world.  Instead of losing ourselves in the endless cycle of fear, God has come to give us hope. 

As we look at our world today, it is easy to find reasons to despair.  However, I believe God always works in moments of vulnerability.  A colleague of mine once reminded me not to fear the rock bottom moments of life.  Instead, he told me to think of these times as a gift.  These moments of vulnerability can open us to new perspectives and opportunities.

Today I hope we can all open our hearts to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.  I pray that God’s grace would bring meaning to our lives, and I pray that God’s love would lead us to a new path of hope.

Blessings!

 

Brian Ward

The Spiritual Fruit of Self-Control

 

 Earlier this week, I woke up in the middle of the night to hear my two year old son calling out.  He doesn’t have an extensive vocabulary, but I thought I could hear him saying, “Stuck! Stuck!” When I entered his room, I found him in a tangled up blanket with his head on his pillow, but his feet were falling off the bed. I put him in a more comfortable position, and he simply said, “Thank you Dada.” Then he immediately fell back to sleep.

 

This experience made me smile, because I was able to help in a real way.  My child was “stuck,” and I could make everything better.  I love the moments when I have the ability to change things or control my environment.  However, I realize there will be a day when it will not be as easy to fix my son’s problems.  As I look out at the world, I would love it if I could just fix the pain that I see.  However, it is not always that easy.

This week in worship we are looking at the spiritual gift of Self-Control.  There are so many problems that may seem overwhelming, but the Bible reminds us to start with our own hearts.  We do not always have the ability to control or help others, but we can control our own actions.  We are God’s children, and we can decide to let love into our hearts and share it with others. 

 

Blessings,

 

 

Pastor Brian

The Spiritual Gift of Goodness

God has called all of us good.  The church is supposed to be a light in the darkness, and we are called to share this light with the world.  However, some days it can be pretty hard to see the good in our lives. The news is filled with awful stories ranging from the corona virus to political divisions to acts of bigotry and hatred. Sometimes the Good News that brings hope to all people can seem rather hidden.  So where is God’s goodness?

God has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
-Micah 6:8 

Finding good in the world doesn’t have to be left up to those who believe in fairy tales. God is asking us to believe that the goodness of all creation is present all around us.  These words from Micah 6 were written after a foreign army stormed through Israel destroying much of the land. The nation was in an incredible state of turmoil, and there was every reason for the people to see hatred and division in the world around them.  However, the prophet was reminding people of the simple gifts they had to show love.

Today there are a number of reasons we can complain or dismiss the needs of others, but God is also leading us to a different path. This week, in spite of some of the bad news out there, I also got to see my two little boys playing and laughing together. The two year old loves to chase after his big brother. He runs wherever his brother runs and climbs whatever his brother climbs. Now, this never lasts too long. Either one boy gets annoyed or somebody gets hurt, but these two kids are also filled with love. They care for each other. We are all part of a family. None of us are perfect, but God is with us. There is good in the world, and I believe we all have a chance to see this every day.

In the Bible, God calls each of us good. Today I hope that you can all seek to discover the good in your lives. I hope you can all find a bit of love and a bit of hope wherever you are!

Blessings!

Brian

Patience and God's Blessings

Do you have the Spiritual Gift of Patience? 

I have heard it said that a person should never pray for patience, because God will give you the opportunity to use it.  :)

The truth is, whether we pray for patience or not, we all need it in our lives. We spend a lot of time waiting, and this can either drive us crazy or it can open us to God’s work. I hate waiting, and I really don’t know anyone who likes just standing around. However, there is a Bible verse that I would like to share that comes from the book of James:

 

See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the early and late rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another…

-James 5:7-9

  

In this analogy, the farmer knows he or she can’t rush things… We have some amazing technology in agriculture today, but there is still a need for faith. The farmer can plant, tend, and harvest the crops, but there has always been a certain element they cannot control. A crop will not grow overnight, and we cannot force the weather to obey us.

Today we have a ton of technology and power at our disposal. However, we still cannot force a virus to obey us. We cannot make other people obey us. We still need to live by faith each and every day. I think we really have to ask ourselves if we want to spend our time worrying about all the things we cannot control.

Personally, I also love how these verses from the book of James tell us not to grumble against one another. Waiting can easily turn into grumbling, frustration, and resentment toward others.

Today I hope we can take a little time to be present in the moment that we are in. Sure, there are lots of wonderful things to look forward to. I am excited to gather with others in person. I can’t wait for my kids to reach their next milestones as they grow up. (I really look forward to the day when I won’t have to wake up in the middle of the night!) However, the Bible tells us that each day is a blessing. Let’s not wish this day and the blessings we have right now away. Let’s live each day by faith trusting that God walks alongside us in our journey.

Blessings!

 

Pastor Brian

Let Joy into your Heart

What does joy mean to you?

A few weeks ago my family had an opportunity to drive up to Mount Charleston.  It was a hot day in the valley, and it was so refreshing to take the kids somewhere that wasn’t 110 degrees! 

 

We had a super fun trip playing in a little stream and wandering through the forest. One of the most memorable moments came soon after we arrived.  We got out of the car, and our one year old son just started saying, “Wow!” He doesn’t know very many words, but at that moment he just wanted to express the wonder and awe he felt in his heart!

As we grow older, I know there are times we push our feelings down.  Nothing surprises us.  We can find ourselves living through another hot day wishing we were somewhere else.  We complain. We get frustrated, and we do it all again tomorrow.  However, this week we are talking about joy.  Joy can break into our lives at any moment.  We don’t need to wait for Christmas, Easter, or whenever this pandemic ends.  Joy is present all around us if we open our hearts to God’s Grace. 

Today I hope you can feel the wonder and awe of the moment.  Sure, it is easy to find things to complain about.  That list is never ending… However, God promises that Joy is present.  Have you taken time to say thank you?  Perhaps you can step back and just say, “Wow!”

Blessings!

Brian

Where is love leading you?

Love is an amazing thing…

Love can give us hope in the darkest moments.  Love gives us joy that surpasses all understanding.  Love is also present in our tears.  When we lose someone we care about, love is there.  When our preschooler heads off to kindergarten, love is there… (Now if school is canceled because of Covid-19, I might become a little less sentimental about getting my preschooler out of the house. However, love does have incredible power! :)

Love allows us to experience empathy, and this is an incredible thing.  Empathy allows us to love our neighbor in real ways, but this is not always easy.  The same compassion that gives us joy also leads us into the hurts and sorrows of others. 

In the Gospel of John 11:35-36, the Bible says Jesus grieved with his followers when someone he loved died:

Jesus wept.

Then the people said, “See how he loved him!”

I have always felt that this was a powerful verse…  It shows how deeply Jesus loved his followers, and it shows how deeply He loves us. Christ’s love is not just some academic or theoretical thing.  Jesus loves us in a meaningful way.  There is no failure, fear, or disappointment that can separate us from God.

Today I hope you can all take a bit of time to trust the love God has given you.  May you recognize that you are loved just as you are.  May you also take time to let love break into your hearts.  Let’s stop the judgment and open our hearts to something much bigger!

Blessings!

Brian

Do not fear

Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.

-Jesus in Matthew 14:27

When was the last time you were afraid? Do you believe that Christ walks with you in the darkest valleys?

There have been times I have let fear get the best of me. In high school, I could worry about some pretty mild things:  Did I have enough friends? Could I run fast enough? Was I getting the best grades? These can be interesting questions, but some of these little things can consume us if we allow them to. If we aren’t careful some of these mild fears can destroy us. Rational fear is one thing. This kind of fear can push us into action. Irrational fear can leave us feeling sick, and it can pull us away from the people we need to move toward.  

In the Bible, we are told over and over again not to be afraid.  Jesus repeatedly warned his followers not to let fear rule their hearts, but over and over again the disciples succumbed to the powers of fear, anxiety, and desperation…

Over the last five years, my wife and I have noticed that it has become much easier to build friendships in our neighborhood.  Now this is not because we are trying harder.  In fact when we first arrived we would do everything we could to meet our neighbors, but everyone seemed so busy. In general, there seems to be a fear of people we don’t know.  However, since we had our two kids, we’ve somehow managed to meet everyone. The kids love meeting other children and adults, and the neighbors seem to love meeting us – even as crazy as we are… As far as time goes, we have actually been much busier, but we have found more time for what really matters. It certainly doesn’t make sense to fear each other.  I am so grateful for the other people in my neighborhood. I am thankful that my kids love getting to know the people around them.

Today I hope you can all think about the fear in your life.  I hope you can take the time to understand your fear.  Perhaps you need to use it rationally, but I hope you can also let go of the irrational and move forward into this beautiful world God has created!

Blessings!

Pastor Brian

Have Faith in Love

Yesterday Pastor Ben shared a poem in the 3pm online gathering time.  It was titled:

Anyway

It struck me how easy it is to find reasons not to give your very best. 

Other people could do a better job.

No one will pay attention to me.

People may not like me.

I may be rejected.

I may be hated.

I may fail.

I can always find reasons to give a subpar effort.  However, we are in a sermon series where we are taking a look at the miracles of Jesus.  Jesus went out of his way to stand up for justice.  Heal people in their time of need and rescue the oppressed.  Even when he was criticized for his work, he kept fighting for love.  When his friends left him, he chose to love them anyway. 

Today as I look at all the fear, animosity, and chaos in our society, I believe Jesus is calling us into action.  How is God calling you?  I serve as a pastor, but we all have a calling.  When I go home, I am also a husband and father, and I feel pretty ineffective at times! The kids are totally out of control when I’m watching, and I’m still scrambling to figure out what I need to do to celebrate my 10^th wedding anniversary.  (Our anniversary is on June 12^th. Is that coming up soon? :) 

Even though I am not perfect, my family needs the love I have to offer.  I want to be the person who will stop and be present fully with the people around me.  I want to cherish these moments.  I want to take time to celebrate and give thanks with love.  Today I hope you can all find every excuse to give the love you have!

Blessings!

Brian