Patience

Every morning I wake up, go for a run, eat breakfast, shower, and get ready for work… It’s pretty straightforward, except that I also have to wrestle a one year old child the whole time.  I make breakfast, and he throws it on the floor.  I try to put him in an outfit, and he wants to do somersaults.  When it’s time to load him in the car, he wants to put yogurt in his hair and dance around the house.  This is my life… :)

In the grand scheme of things, I know I really don’t have much to complain about, but it is amazing how frustrated I can become.  I think we all want to be somewhere or do something else.  However, today we are reminded to have patience.  Patience is a wonderful gift, and I don’t think it means we have to spend our lives bored, waiting for something to happen.  Patience is the ability to notice the blessings that are right in front of us.  Patience is cherishing the time we have, instead of wishing for something else.  I wonder what the world would look like if we took time for this…

Peace!

Brian

A Spirit of Gentleness...

“Life is what happens when your busy making plans…”

 -Allen Saunders

I heard this quote last week, and it really struck me.  I spend countless hours planning every day.  However, the best moments often show up when I choose to just enjoy what I have.  Earlier this week, I went for a pretty big hike up to Bridge Mountain in Red Rock.  I was really focused on reaching the top, and I became pretty frustrated when it looked like we would have to turn around just a few feet from the summit.  The rock was just too icy… However, when I stopped to look around – I realized it didn’t matter if I reached the top or not. There was beauty all around me, and I was with a wonderful group of people!

The Bridge on Bridge Mountain

I think our world is filled with blessings, but we’re often too caught up in ourselves to notice.  I can choose to be irritated if my one year old child stops cooperating with me… or I can choose to laugh on the floor with him.  I have the opportunity to choose to embrace the gift that is in front of me. 

This week we are going to talk about living with a gentle spirit.  We are not supposed to live solely for ourselves.  We are to live a life of acceptance, grace, and peace.  If we can find the grace to laugh with God, I believe we will find hope in any situation…

Blessings!

Pastor Brian 

It's winter in Red Rock... 

Enjoy the moment...

Humility

So, about a week ago I had the absolute pleasure of spending an afternoon trying to fix a leaky toilet. Isn’t that how everyone wants to spend their free time?  :)  The fix itself should have been pretty easy.  I just needed to replace a couple bolts and a gasket. Simple! Issues arose however when I realized water had gotten into the carpeting.  After I spent a significant amount of time drying everything out, I discovered I bought the wrong kind of gasket, so I had to run back to the store.  Finally, I got everything back together only to realize the tank was still leaking… I had to start all over again! 

This was exercise in humility.  It should have been simple, but things got complicated. (It’s probably more accurate to say I made things complicated…)  Today, our scripture passage tells us of the value of humility.  This can be a difficult lesson.  Personally, I find it very hard to admit my own failures or weaknesses.  It’s much easier to brag about my strengths.  However, we are not a church of perfect people.  We are a church that embraces imperfect people just as they are.  That is the true power of our community! 

Blessings,

Pastor Brian 

Kindness

When I was growing up, there was an older woman who attended the same church that I did.  In the midst of all the people there, I remember her for her kindness.  There was something about her that made her approachable.  She had an incredibly warm smile, and I could just see the compassion in her eyes.  I remember her taking time to notice me as a young kid, and I remember that making a pretty big impression on me. 

Do you know anyone whose kindness stands out to you?  This week we are beginning a new series, and we are taking a deeper look at kindness.  When I look at our world today, there is so much that seems beyond my control.  However, I believe little acts of kindness can make a big difference in the lives of other people.  Today I hope you can share a simple act of love, because that is how we bring change to the world!

Blessings!

Brian

Christmas Imperfect

This is a busy time of year.  I have church services to prepare, people to see, and presents to buy.  All in all, I spend a lot of time trying to make Christmas perfect…  However, I was drawn to the Christmas story this week, not as a story of perfection, but as a story of people who found hope in imperfection…

Mary became pregnant before she was legally married.  In that day and age, this was a crime Mary could have been killed for, but she found hope instead.  Mary and Joseph were also ordered to go to Bethlehem to be registered for a tax to the emperor.  Soon after this, the young family had to flee to Egypt to escape a jealous and insane King who ruled over Israel.  This was a terribly imperfect time, but somehow hope showed up.

A young family trying to find hope in a crazy world...

As I look at the world today, I see so much pain in places like Syria.  Wars seem to go on without ceasing, and there doesn’t seem to be much hope for peace.  However, I am drawn back to that first Christmas story.  We are called to believe God is with us – even when things don’t go our way.  Today, it is my prayer that you find hope.  May you believe God loves you, and may you know that God goes with you wherever your journey takes you. 

Blessings!

PB

Christmas Joy!

There is something I love about this time of year.  I love the lights. I love the people, and I love the spirit that’s in the air.  I am also experiencing the joy of sharing this season with my own child.  My little boy is just 1 year old, but he is already sensing the excitement.  When we walk into our living room, he will rush over to the outlet try to plug in the Christmas Tree.  (I understand having a child rush to a power outlet may not be a good thing, but it’s fun to see the enthusiasm.) Seeing Christmas through his eyes has helped renew my excitement for the season.  It is wonderful seeing people share love and grace as we live out the Good News. 

Where are you at this season?  Are you living with a childlike faith... or are you living in a time of brokenness or loss?  It is my hope that you would believe in Love this season.  May you understand that you are not alone, and may you be a light in the darkness.

Blessings!

PB

Blessings!

How much time do you think you spend each day complaining?  Personally, I know I can devote way too much energy into grumbling about other people or events, and looking back, that’s not really how I want to spend my time.  Last week, we celebrated Thanksgiving.  My wife and I decided to take a quick trip up to see some of her family who live near Lake Tahoe.  It was an amazing trip, but it took a lot of work to make it happen.  We had to deal with a rambunctious little boy on the 8 hour drive to the lake.  We had to scrounge up all the snow gear for a 1 year old, and we had to convince our little guy to actually keep the gear on once he was outside.  All of that could have easily turned into something to complain about.  However when we saw the joy in our son’s eyes, it all became worth it.  It reminded me what a gift it is to live life with a childlike hope and faith. 

When you don't have a sled the lid of a trash can works great! 

I have so much to be grateful for.  Last week at Community Lutheran Church, we handed out Blessing Jars that were made by the youth group.  We each have opportunities to cherish our blessings every day.  If we’re not careful, it can become easy to spend all our time complaining about some pretty minor stuff.  However, you are blessed to be who you are!  I hope we can call take a little time each day to appreciate that!

Blessings!

PB