Grace for the Journey

In 2005, I led a backpacking trip in Colorado. During that trip, I would often remind the campers not to focus too much on the destination. Everybody wanted to make it to the top of the mountain. We all understandably wanted to complete the journey and return home victorious. However, I knew if we were not careful we would miss countless moments of beauty along the way. There were going to be unexpected vistas, sunrises, flowers, and conversations shared together that would all point to the presence of God. 

In our sermon series, Jesus is on a journey from the north of Israel down to Jerusalem. This week we are going to hear the story of Christ after he arrives in the city of Jericho. Things were really becoming exciting for the disciples at this point. There was energy moving through the crowd, and people could not wait for Jesus to get to Jerusalem. 

I think it is wonderful for people to be excited, but the crowds in the time of Jesus were missing the point. They were expecting their version of a fairy tale. They wanted to crush the Romans and live happily ever after. They were not expecting a cross. They were not looking for God's Grace on their journey.

It is interesting that Jesus never becomes overly exasperated with his followers. He simply reminds them of the blessings that were present along the way. In the city of Jericho, the crowd was pushing Jesus forward, but Christ stopped to listen to the voice of a blind man crying out for help. It can be easy to ignore the voice of the downtrodden. We like to listen to influential and powerful people, but Christ hears everyone's voice. He reminds us not to get so focused on our destination, that we lose sight of our neighbors. 

My time leading backpacking trips were incredible. There were a number of mountaintop moments that I wouldn't ever trade. However, there were also hail and lightning storms. There were sick kids. There was even a time when the kids forgot their tent, and we had to sleep outside in swarms of mosquitoes. Nothing ever turned out exactly like we planned it, but it was a joy to experience the unexpected. I think there is so much to the journey of life that we don't want to miss. God is near to you today. Are you taking it all in?

Blessings!

Brian Ward

Finding our way

Where is God's grace leading you? 

At the beginning of this month, I was able to celebrate the 7th birthday of my son. It was so amazing to see his energy and excitement. It was also the perfect day for a party. He was able to run around with his friends, eat birthday cake, and feel a lot of love from his community. Celebrating these milestones is a wonderful experience, and it makes me feel like we are all a part of something wonderful. I love taking these moments to pause and think about all the ways we can develop and improve as a people. I believe in celebrating the multitude of gifts we have and sharing them with each another. 

However, I can just as easily look at the world with distrust and fear. There are a number of very real concerns in our world, and we cannot just pretend these things don't exist. There is war in Ukraine and a threat of nuclear escalation. We are still in the midst of a pandemic, and there are a number of other mental and physical illnesses that are impacting us. 

Where are we being led? What is going to happen? Who are you turning to?

In our sermon series at Community Lutheran, we are on a journey with Jesus to Jerusalem. When Christ took a path that led him to the cross, he decided to live for what really mattered. He was not going to just share God's grace with his friends, he was going to share this gift with all people, even his enemies. Along his journey, there were moments of difficulty. Some of the people who followed Him didn't want to face the pain. However, Jesus told them that God's love would still provide. Those early followers saw a lot of danger and despair, and it certainly seemed like Christ's death was going to steal any hope they had of victory. Hope was fading, but there was a light in that darkness. Death was not the end.

Today, we are facing real trials on our journey of life, but God has promised to be there for us. There are going to be trials and difficulties, but I believe there is also hope. It is my prayer that we would all find a way to have faith in this season. There are blessings in the world around us. There is grace in the world around us. There is Good News that we need to share. Let us offer a bit of light to the world, and let us live with a bit of faith in God's Love.  

In Christ,

Brian 

Happy Spring!

We are entering into the season of Lent as a church. This season remembers the journey that Jesus took to the cross. Many people also view it as a somber time when followers are encouraged to give something up. Some of my friends are fasting from things like chocolate, alcohol, or social media. These individuals remember the suffering of Jesus, and they become a little more tuned in to Christ's work in their lives. 

However, Lent is so much more than giving something up. The word Lent actually means "Spring" in Latin. This is a season all about new life and new opportunities. Jesus taught that there needs to be a time of letting go. There needs to be a time when it is okay to say goodbye to all of the things we think we need. There is a season when we need to experience a kind of death. If we don't have a place where we can leave our ego and sense of entitlement behind, we can lose sight of the things that truly matter. 

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who lets go of their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

-Jesus in John 12:24

Jesus taught us about love, but He also taught us about vulnerability. If we don't take time to open our hearts to the new life being created, I think we are also going to miss out on the grace being shared everyday. Therefore, I do not believe Lent should only be about suffering and lament. This is a season to grow. This is a season to discover a new identity in Christ. So it doesn't matter if you are giving something up or enacting a new practice, this is a season of hope. You are becoming someone new, because you are loved. Let us enter into this season with vulnerability and grace. 

God is with you! Happy Spring!

Pastor Brian