Forgiveness and Sacrifice

It takes a lot of work to be in relationship with someone.  I know that is probably a tactless statement to make so close to Valentine’s Day, but I believe all relationships require sacrifice.  I also believe that this sacrificial love has an incredible amount of power.  When we give of ourselves, for the sake of another, I believe we become a part of something much bigger. 

It’s amazing to watch my own little boy grow up.  It’s exhausting to chase him around every day, but it is incredible to see him respond to our sacrifices with love.  I don’t really think he knows what he is doing, but he is drawn to love.  He shows us his trust and affection and that is working miracles in my life.  I would also argue that it is not just children who have the power to do this.  I think all relationships can bring a glimpse the Kingdom of God.     

This week we are talking about forgiveness.  Forgiveness can be incredibly hard, and sometimes it’s all too easy to walk away instead of making that sacrifice.  Do you believe that we are stronger as a church together?  Today, I hope we are all able to find a love that is worth making sacrifices for.

Blessings!

Brian  

The Love of a Savior

I am not a shepherd, and I don’t know a whole lot about sheep.  However, I heard a story about a shepherd who noticed that one of his lambs had gone missing.  The animal had been traveling through some pretty rough terrain, and any kind of search for it was going to be exhausting and unlikely to bear fruit.  Nevertheless, this shepherd went back, retracing his steps, calling out for the lost sheep.  As the night drew near, his search hastened… and eventually, he heard a faint cry.  The lamb was paralyzed.  Interestingly, there did not appear to be anything physically wrong with the creature.  Instead, it was fear that had caused the animal to seize up.  The shepherd put the lamb on his shoulders and joyfully made his way back to the rest of the flock.  At that point, the animal slowly started moving again… happily reunited with its flock.

I thought this was a beautiful story, and it reminded me of Christ’s Love for us.  Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd.  He knows each one of us by name, and He is calling out to us.  Today, I hope we can take a little time to reflect on God’s Love.  I pray that you will never be ruled by fear or despair...  Instead, may you always listen for the voice of the one who loves you, and may you know Christ will always carry you home.

Blessings!

Pastor Brian 

Bear with one another!

There are certain people in my life that I cannot imagine myself without.  These people shape me, challenge me, and sometime they annoy me… :) However, all of these individuals have made me the person I am today. 

Who are the people that shape you?  Perhaps friends… maybe your family…  However, the Bible says that we need ALL people.  This includes our enemies.  We are all different parts of one body.  Do you believe that?  In our world today, there are so many reasons why people choose to isolate themselves from other viewpoints.  We don’t need to talk to the stranger, and it can be easy to demonize our enemies. 

I am thankful to be a part of a church where people can put aside their differences and come together to worship. I believe we are striving toward something much bigger.  We are the body of Christ, and that is what really matters!  Today the scripture verse that we will be diving into comes from Colossians 3 verse 13:

Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

I hope we can take steps toward this today.  I hope we can ask who our enemies are, and I hope we can consider how God is calling us to reach out to them. 

God’s Peace and Grace be with you!

Brian 

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