Change, even positive change, can be a bit overwhelming!

Matthew 28: 18-20
"Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

It's a new beginning.  A new church.  A new opportunity to get down to basics and serve the Lord with heart, soul, mind and strength.  I'm talking about the fact that I am now a pastor in the North American Lutheran Church and within days will no longer be affiliated with the church of my youth, the ELCA.  This post is not to discuss the myriad reasons why this came about, simply to say that even though a change is good, hope filled, Spirit filled, Spirit led. . . it can still be a little overwhelming.  


You know how that is-- a new baby-- very good change!
A new job-- fantastic opportunity for growth and career.
A new home-- with new closets, cupboards, and curtains.
But it is change nonetheless. 
I've written before on this blog about how one can not expect change to happen in a vacuum.  Whenever there is one change, we can expect change in other realms of our lives.  Isaac Newton said it like this, "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. . ."  


So, I wait. . . and cling to the cross of Jesus who promised to be faithful to this task of disciple making, baptizing and good news preaching.  He also promised that he would NEVER leave us!  Therein  lies the best news of the day.  The Christ who lived and died, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, the Christ who will come again is the same yesterday, today and forever.  There's a constant we can rely on in the sea of change.  So I tell myself, "Shhh, be still, don't get overwhelmed by all the change, even though you're happy about it. . . just BE."  (It's hard for me to BE.  I know that and so I'm working on it!)  Just BE present, to the moment, to self, but ultimately to CHRIST!  


Whatever is changing in your life. . . just BE.
Whatever is moving in your being. . . just BE.
Whatever is adapting, transforming, whatever is being reworked, remodeled, or refined. . . just BE.  And know that Christ is with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.


Image credit: ideachampions.com

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. . .

We all have favorite hymns that touch our hearts. . . hymns from childhood or an important moment in our faith life. . . maybe even from a loved one's funeral or baptism.  They are songs that have the power to bring us to our knees or cause us to weep whether with grief, joy, hope, or repentance.  This one always gets me. . .

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

I think it's because I know how fragile faith, my faith, often is.  Seeing the pain and suffering all around puts me on the verge sometimes of disbelief, on the edge of hopelessness some days, and prone to leave the Lord I love.  But this song always brings me back to what Christ has done for me and all believers.  He has instilled in me a holy love, and most days (thankfully) a deep faith.  When a friend or parishioner is questioning their own faith, this song comes to mind because it is so honest in the way it portrays the faith journey.  We are all prone to wander, and prone to leave the God we love. . . its called original sin and we were born into it.  Though the waters of baptism keep original sin in check, we are still very fragile in our faith. . . yet we are reminded of what Christ has done for us:
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

The good news is that we are rescued, saved, pulled out of the waves that seek to sink our boats (Matthew 14) and given a second chance.  "He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned human being. He has purchased and freed me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death.  He has done all this in order that I may belong to him, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in eternal righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally."  (Luther, SC)


Our second chance, and third and fourth. . . consist of new life and life abundant.  


That doesn't mean that everything will go smoothly for us, that every loose end will be tied up and there will suddenly be absolute certainty in all aspects of life-- this is after all a life of faith and faith is required where uncertainty is the norm.  But we know that even though we wander that our Lord will come looking for us, the Great Shepherd of the sheep will not abandon us or leave us wandering too long.  And nothing. . . nothing. . . can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8)  Every fall, every failing, every uncertainty, every doubt is met with the holy presence of Christ.  We are clothed in flesh but we rely on our faith. . . and our faith allows Christ to meet us in our mortality, our failings, insecurities and uncertainties.  If we knew everything and could control everything then we wouldn't be in need of a Savior!  Our wandering has to do with our wanting and needing to control everything!  


Yes, we are prone to wander.
Yes, we are prone to leave the One we love, the One who loves us most of all!  
Sometimes I think we just need a reminder about how fragile are our human tendencies.  


Image credit: examiner.com

When Will Jesus Show Up?

Ever wonder, "When will Jesus show up?"  When you are in the midst of crisis, confusion, conflict, anxiety, or even a life and death situation. . . if you had the wherewithal to ask, would you ask, "Where are you Jesus?  When are you going to show up here?"

Matthew 14:
^22-23As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.
 ^24-26Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. "A ghost!" they said, crying out in terror.
 ²⁷But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be afraid."
 ²⁸Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water."
 ^29-30He said, "Come ahead."
   Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"
 ³¹Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, "Faint-heart, what got into you?"
 ^32-33The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, "This is it! You are God's Son for sure!"
 ^34-36On return, they beached the boat at Gennesaret. When the people got wind that he was back, they sent out word through the neighborhood and rounded up all the sick, who asked for permission to touch the edge of his coat. And whoever touched him was healed.


First of all, I'm struck by how Jesus is still trying to get away for awhile to pray.  He was diverted from that desire in the previous passage as the crowds followed him on foot and he met their myriad needs, ultimately feeding 5,000 men plus women and children.  He is still trying to find a moment's peace to recharge, to connect with his father, to regroup his thoughts and emotions.  He did find some time as Matthew tells us he spent most of the evening and night there on that mountain.  Meanwhile the disciples are out on the boat that Jesus sent them on. . . and a big storm blows in as storms are want to do!  Matthew talks about the "battering" that happens out there in the water.  You've been battered too, haven't you?  Battered by grief, frustration, loneliness, sadness, lack of control over the things that you'd love to be in control of!  


So where is Jesus?  Where is he in the middle of all of this battering of our boats?  When is he ever going to show up?  


It seems to me that Jesus never shows up too early. . . and he never, ever, ever shows up too late. . . his timing is impeccable!  He always shows up right on time, just exactly when we need him, and oftentimes in the very moment when we think that he has forgotten us and that he won't show up.  And then he says to us, "Courage."  Believe.  Trust me.  Have a little faith.  Don't be afraid.  It's me, the one who loves you.  I'm right here.  


We might say to ourselves after each encounter with Jesus, the same words he said to his followers, "Faint of heart, what has gotten into you?"  We know it after the fact, don't we?  It's knowing it when we need to know it that is the growing edge of our faith.  It's trusting that Jesus most certainly will be there when the battering, bruising, life-threatening incidents come.  And they will.  

Jesus reaches down to grab our hand to pull us out of all that seeks to destroy us.  He shows up right when we need him.  I'd say there is no better news for us to hear this day or any day!  Thanks be to God! Amen.


Image credit: Eugene Delacroix "Jesus Calms the Sea"

Ever lost anything important?

Of course you have!  It's nerve wracking, mind bending, aggravating, frustrating. . . and yet it usually isn't the end of the world is it?  Keys, money, a phone number, your wallet. . . even if you never find them again it isn't the end of the world.  Life will go on.  Things are replaceable.  It may take a little effort but all of these things can be replaced fairly simply.

"I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil. . ." (Martin Luther, SC, explanation to the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed)

I'm lost.  I've been lost.  I will be lost again I am quite sure.

But I'm also found.  God found me when I was about 22, fresh out of college, a useless biology degree in hand, not headed to med school which had been my plan for so long, track career over, working at a Chinese restaurant wearing a blue silk Chinese dress everyday to work, living at home- the last place a 22 year old wants to be (at least that was what I thought back then).  Lost.  Beaten.  Virtually hopeless.

But God found me again.  I'd like to say that I found God but I know that's not the truth of the matter.  I don't think I was looking for him.  The God of my childhood was a cold, sterile, boring, dry, lackluster figment of the imagination- and a very imaginative one at that.  I remember not being moved at all by any worship in my childhood though I attended every Sunday.  How sad is that?  I remember going to counseling with the pastor of my teen years and hearing, "I don't like you and I don't like your attitude."  Endearing, eh?  Is that how God sees me too?  Maybe God doesn't like me or my attitude?  What a shame.  Is it any wonder I was lost? I was not only lost I was thrust out into the realm of "dislike."

But then, God found me.  Different church, still Lutheran, different preacher, pure Gospel.  Pure milk for the 22 year old baby.  God grabbed ahold of me through a servant who is still my pastor today when I need one.  God used him to get me to seminary.  God uses us to bring others to faith, to bring the lost into the realm of being found.  We may never know it but it's true nevertheless and it doesn't matter if we ever find out that something we did or said led someone to Christ- we simply do our best to encourage that to happen.

So, some things don't matter in the big picture if they are lost--- but lost people matter.  They matter very much and God will never give up working to bring all lost and condemned sinners back into the fold of his mercy and grace.  Know someone who is lost?  Don't give up on them!  Keep in touch with them, keep an eye on them, keep telling them how much you love them and more importantly--- how much God loves them!  And maybe your prayers will be answered. . . I think it's God's will that those prayers will be answered! Amen.

I believe- Mystery Adventure Creed

To say, "I believe" is to put one's self out there for all to see, examine, even criticize.  We open ourselves up to the scrutiny of others when we define our position with a statement of faith or belief.  "I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth."  Do you believe?  Do you believe that God set the stars in the sky?  Do you believe that God created humanity from dust and breathed life into the first humans and continues to breathe life into humanity?  What do you believe?  In order to say it aloud you have to first think about it.  You have to whittle it down to the most core set of values/beliefs/fundamental truths and then boldly proclaim your creed.

Here's ours from last night. . . 10 young people ages 10 and under made their own credal statement as they studied the First Article of the Apostles' Creed. . .   see if you believe what they believe:

Our Mystery Adventure Creed

We believe that God is the almighty Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe that God made us, and everything else including all the animals, food, drinks, and materials so that we can create things.

We believe that our God loves us.

We believe that our God helps us through the day.

We believe that God listens to and answers our prayers.

We believe that God made grapes and wheat to feed us in his holy supper. 

This is most certainly true.

What do you say when someone asks you what you believe?  Do you believe it to the core of your being or is it simply a passing thought?  Nothing less will do when it comes to your faith. . . at some point you have to just say it!  I believe!