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

A new journey...

It is back to school week in Clark County, and that means I now have a Fourth grader and a Kindergartener. I know it sounds cliche to talk about, "kids growing up too fast," but it is so true. Just a few years ago, I was in the midst of changing diapers and waking up at all hours of the night. (Yes... I know in a few weeks I will be starting all of this over again!) However, it is amazing to watch kids grow. They are taking in so much, and it is pretty incredible to watch these milestones take place. 

On Monday morning we got to school extra early to say goodbye to both of our kids. Years ago, when we dropped our oldest son off for the first time, it was right in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. We had to give him a hug at the gate and watch him walk up to the new school by himself. This time we were able to enter the school grounds and make sure our kindergartener was all lined up correctly. Immediately, he saw his friend who lives across the street. They started to play together, and when the teacher called, they lined up and went inside. As parents, all we could really do was watch. They teachers all seem amazing, but it is still strange to let go. For so many years we did everything for them. Now it is time for them to begin a new chapter. 

Before the end of the school day, we had neighbors who worked at the school texting us saying that our kids were doing fine. They were laughing and saying, "Hi!" to everybody. In the end, I have to realize it is important to let go...

Our sermon series at CLC is looking deeper at the Old Testament book of Ruth. This ancient text tells the story of two ordinary women who opened their hearts and trusted God. They never experienced any supernatural miracles, but they did follow the Spirit. When their lives took an unexpected turn, they learned to trust in God. Christ is still present in our world today, we just have to get out of the way and allow God to work.

Today I hope you can all let go of any baggage in life that is holding you back. I hope you can find new ways to let go and trust the Holy Spirit. Life may become difficult at times, but God is calling you to believe in something new and wonderful.

Blessings,

Pastor Brian

Surrounded in Love

I stopped for a moment this week to think about everything that Community Lutheran has been a part of this summer. We welcomed all kinds of kids into our building for Vacation Bible School. We had a wonderful mission trip with the youth in California, and we found a number of other ways to serve the people right here in our own community. It has been a busy season, and the summer is not over yet! 

I think it is wonderful to see all the ways the church can reach out to others, but it is also important to find time to rejuvenate. I returned from a vacation a week ago, and it was such an important part of my summer. I needed time to let go of my worries, experience a new environment, and surround myself with the love of family. This year, my wife and I packed up the kids and drove to Colorado. We met my parents and my brother for some time in Estes Park, and later we went to my in-laws home near Denver. The entire trip was amazing. 

My kids were able to spend a ton of time running around with their cousins. We climbed mountains, jumped in lakes, and we laughed a lot as we enjoyed each other's company. We immersed ourselves in God's creation and we challenged ourselves in new ways. One particular day, I woke the kids up at 4:30 in the morning to get into the park before 5am. That may seem a little extreme (and it probably was!), but we had a big hike planned and we wanted to be back before any afternoon thunderstorms. We were going to a lake called Sky Pond. It was so amazing to watch the sun come up as we past several alpine lakes. We climbed up waterfalls, and we slid on a few patches of snow that were still lingering in the cooler areas. It was so much fun to see a my son and my brothers kids experience such an amazing moment. Everyone was in awe, and we loved sharing this time with one another.

Today, I am back in the office, and part of me is still missing the mountains. However, we are still surrounded by all kinds of beautiful moments. There are still countless blessings that we can be thankful for. Yes, it is quite a bit warmer here in the desert, but we are still a part of a church that can still look for God's Grace and share love with one another. Today I hope you can all open your hearts to God's blessings. I hope you can experience God's love wherever you go!

Blessings,

Brian Ward

Living for the things that matter most

Earlier this week, I sat down with several people who were grieving the death of a loved one. Grief is never easy, and it often becomes even harder, because there are other issues that come up. There are services to plan, properties to deal with, and expectations to meet. It is easy to get lost in all the excruciating details, and we often lose sight of what matters most. 

I try to tell people to feel all their feelings. There is no shortcut to grief. We have to make time for all our emotions, otherwise they can spill out into all the other areas. 

Finding time to just to be still is important. We need to open our hearts to what really matters. Unfortunately, this doesn't always happen. Many of us spend way too much time dwelling on frustrating and ultimately insignificant details. We don't look at the deeper issues that may be causing us pain. If we took time to experience the real issues, then maybe we would be able to open ourselves to God's blessings.

We are in the midst of our KCLC sermon series. Last week we talked about honoring our "true colors." We are all blessed by God's love. The Bible says we are all created in the image of God. This is an incredible statement, but we do not always believe it. We allow little frustrating moments that define us. We are pulled away from the true message, and we are left chasing after all the wrong things. 

This week at CLC we are going even further. Not only does God love us just as we are, God wants to lift us up even higher. God believes in us, even when we are filled with doubt. Personally, I want to take time this week for what matters most. Sure, there are always things to complain about, but I don't want those things to define me. I want to stay focused on the love. I want to remain focused the grace and compassion that God shares. If we could all do this, I think our world will become a much better place.

Blessings!

Pastor Brian

Summer Fun

Last week I was with a group of youth from our church on a wonderful experience in southern California. This is a mission trip I have attended every year that I have lived in Las Vegas. It is a wonderful opportunity for our kids to serve others and build relationships with one another. 

We primarily served a nonprofit called Christian Outreach in Action. This organization feeds hundreds of people everyday, and it provides all kinds of supplies for people in need. We spent most of our time at two different locations. One location was a warehouse that stored all kinds of donations. Our team from CLC was there to organize the space so that a yard sale could take place. We moved couches, tables, chairs, and a little bit of everything else! It took a lot of work, but the people were very grateful. I was also super impressed with the youth. Hauling supplies back and forth on a hot day is not easy. Our second service location was at their food bank. We organized and handed out food to people who were struggling. This is always one of my favorite service projects. We had the opportunity to talk to people who were dealing with all kinds of difficulties, and we were able to get to know them as brothers and sisters in Christ. 

In the moments we were not serving, we went to Mission San Juan Capistrano, a Holocaust Museum, and we also took a lot of time at the beach. I think these trips are so important. We learned how valuable it is to serve, and we had a chance to bond as a community. There is something about getting away from "normal routine" and experiencing a new way of looking at the world. We are all children of God and we each have a place.

This week at CLC we are looking deep inside ourselves. Are we controlled by fear or anger? Are we stuck in a rut? Are we only looking out for ourselves? 

I think we all need moments to step back and realize that God is calling us to something so much more. We are called to love and serve others, and this doesn't have to be a burden. In fact, loving our neighbors can help us to a deeper understanding of our true nature. It can make us feel completely alive!

Today, we can all experience the joy of God's Love through service. We certainly don't have to be on a mission trip, God is already here. As we celebrate our freedoms on the 4th of July, I hope we are all able to open our hearts in new ways and share the blessings around us.

In Christ,

Brian Ward

It's time for VBS!

It has been a wonderful week at Community Lutheran Church. We are celebrating Vacation Bible School, and this year we are welcoming all kids to dive deep into God's Love!

Vacation Bible School is an experience for children and youth, but all ages are welcomed to participate. We come together everyday to learn about God's Love in fun and exciting ways. We explore Bible stories, play games, and learn all kinds of new things. Our theme this year was "SCUBA," and we have transformed our church building into an underwater adventure. 

I remember going to VBS when I was a child. I loved the energy and excitement everyone shared. When I was older, I volunteered to lead a group of kids. I had a blast seeing God's Grace in action. It was such a meaningful time for me. Today I still love watching kids experience God's love in new ways. 

Sometimes I forget that church should be filled with surprises. We don't need to return week after week to do the same thing. The Good News of Jesus Christ is supposed to be exciting and dynamic. The early followers of Jesus were in awe of God's work, and they couldn't wait to see what Jesus would do next.

Today I hope we can all be reminded of the power of God's Love. May we always know that God is actively moving and transforming our world. God's Word isn't just for people who lived two thousand years ago. God is changing lives today!

Blessings!

Pastor Brian

Trying to live with faith

Last weekend I had an opportunity to go out of town with my family. We had a blast camping  in Duck Creek, Utah. I love being surrounded by nature, and I love going to the mountains. There is a beauty that is hard to explain, and there is also a certain element of surprise that I really value. When I am at home, it is fairly easy to prepare for the day. I know what the weather will be, and I know exactly where I am going. However, when I travel to the mountains, I have to deal with a certain amount of unpredictability. 

I love an opportunity to go camping!

When we pulled into our campsite, the sunny sky suddenly became rather dark. A mixture of snow and sleet started falling down on us. The nights dropped down to about 38 degrees, and the neighbors, who we went camping with, had a child who became super sick. They had to rush him off the mountain to the nearest emergency room. I never want to see anyone sick, but there was also a sense that we had to put our faith in something greater. We can't control everything. There are times we need to let go and trust in God. We can try to make ourselves believe that we are always in control, but I do not believe that is true. In order to live life to the fullest, I believe we need faith...

In our sermon series at CLC, we are looking at the story of Joseph in the Bible. This man lived long before the time of Jesus, and he faced some incredible difficulties. He was sold into slavery, accused of false crimes, and thrown into prison. It is hard to keep the faith in these moments, but Joseph was able to believe. He trusted that God was in control even when the world looked like it was falling apart.

I wonder what would happen if we learned to trust a little bit more. I love to control every situation I'm in, but that's not always good for me. I love to go to the mountain to remind myself that there is something bigger. When I let go, there is an opportunity the experience the beauty of creation in a new way.

Today I hope each of you can take a step toward surrendering to God's Grace. Jesus came to this world to remind us that we are not alone. We can trust in God.

(Here are a few more pics from our trip...)

Exploring the ice cave

Our home for a couple of nights...

Enjoying Cascade Falls!

Nothing like grilling bacon over an open flame...

Blessings,

Pastor Brian