We are still about 15 days out (depending on how you count!) from Easter Sunday morning. But, the scriptures for April 2nd have about as much excitement as you could want! Dry bones coming to life. Dead bodies because of sin. Spirit giving new life to the dead. Lazarus, a friend, dead, causing Jesus to weep, then raises his friend, dead for days, to life!

A whole lotta of shaking going on and not quite the Jerry Lee Lewis variety either. Still these events and images and message give us pause to think and reflect on the “hope that is within us.” It’s a bit early to be “dancing unto the Lord” on Easter, but these scriptures sure do get our attention. Add Holy Communion and Sunday worship doesn’t get much better….until….Revelation 7:15-17….read on!

Blessings on your Lenten walk toward Good Friday and Easter †

Pastor Barry

Worship can divide people. It shouldn’t. When Jesus, a Jewish itinerate Rabbi encounters a Samaritan woman with a difficult marital history, the conversation comes around to worship. And really who is to be worshipped.

The questions and answers are handed down to children, taught to all ages, and ultimately asked of all those capable of making informed decisions to do just that: choose how and where you will worship! We take into consideration geography, ethnicity, personality, language, and personal tastes. Jesus, however, keeps it fairly simple. Worship in Spirit and Truth.

I suspect that Spirit and Truth are found in tens of thousands of worshipping congregations. I have to decide on somewhere. I should always watch and listen for Spirit and Truth. A tall order but people do just that year in and year out. When you depart from worship has the Spirit been felt in Word, song, and fellowship? Has Truth found its way into your heart and mind? Do they go with you throughout the week as a result of worship? Each of us must respond.

Personally I am at home in United Methodist worship. But I can also feel at home to some degree in most churches. I enjoy the beauty of much in Catholic services. I can appreciate the simple acapella singing in Churches of Christ. I can get “in the spirit” in some Pentecostal services. And I know the calming of quiet meditative serenity of Friends meetings and others committed to services of prayer and meditation. I have found most of the above in our United Methodist churches at some point. So I will likely stay home!! However, I do draw the line at “snake handling” and believe this expression is a misinterpretation of Mark 16:17, 18. And I am not much for “running up and down the aisles” in a church either! Both seem to “stretch” the idea of Spirit AND Truth!

This Sunday we will hear of the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman and see what and Who is at stake in worship! Bring all of who you are to worship (but no snakes and no running in the aisles)!

Pastor Barry

Dr. Seuss was right to write a book about places you might go in your lifetime or for that matter the very next week! He phrases it as a declaration with an exclamation point! We as Church might ask it as a question: “Where are the places we will go?” You, as an individual, ask at many bends in the road journey of life, “where am I headed?”

The great book Pilgrims Progress (1684) is an allegory of the Christian traveling through life’s Swamps, Valleys, and Mountains. Wesley’s Journals are an impressive “spiritual adventure” as he describes his itinerate “outdoor” ministry of preaching in the villages and fields of 18th century England.

Our scriptures for the 2nd Sunday in Lent are about the forward movement of the call of Abraham, the need to be called to “new birth” at any age in John’s Gospel, and Paul’s plea in Romans to see where Jews and Gentiles together are headed! An exciting, life giving journey, full of unknown wilderness and new and old traveling companions is promised to all who step out in faith: “the just shall live by faith!”

Oh?? The places we will go? Look backward and see from where you have already come and who was there before you were! And open heart and hands for the next turn and bend in the road of life up ahead!

Thanks be to God~†

Pastor Barry

Sins can be compared to the irritation caused by a flea bite all the way to death from the bite of a rattlesnake. There is always some degree of pain, some worse than others. Lent, at the very least, is a reminder of the pain caused by Sin. As much as we want to “shout the Victory” all the time, the pain of sin can mute the shout….for a while…. In the quiet moments after the reminders of how rough it can be and how rough each of us can be on each other, we realize the cost to God to love and forgive: God’s total investment in US to the point of Death.

This is what Lent helps us to remember. Jesus’ ministry and His life’s journey is toward the Cross. That should stir something in us! It is a journey we should be taking since we are the Sinners, but we don’t have to go to the Cross. What we do take upon us is acts of gratitude and thanksgiving. And those often involve the faith and willingness to change. Thus, a Forty Day journey with potential to really grow in Christ, to grow in spiritual maturity. Forty Days to put the bites of fleas and rattlesnakes in their “proper place!”

There is a balm in Gilead after all! Sin sick souls need that!

Lenten Blessings!

Pastor Barry

Our last Sunday after Epiphany goes out in a blaze of glory! The Transfiguration of Jesus. And not only his three buds, Peter, James, and John get to witness this, but Moses and Elijah make “guest appearances.” This is so dazzling and marvelous to Peter that his reaction is to want to build “shelters” there on the mountain. In constructing “tents or tabernacles” like in the wilderness God’s presence in Glory went with them. Peter may want this Transfiguration to last a long, long time! He was on a “spiritual high!”

Most of us have had a mountain top experience both in the literal sense as well as the spiritual. I’ve been thrilled (and partly terrified) to be up on Pikes Peak and Mt Evans in the Rockies. Mt Palomar in Southern California. Mt Leconte in the Smokies. Some spiritual element was part of all of these experiences. Holy awe and reverent fear came upon me in varying degrees in all locations. Heaven and earth meet on the mountain tops. Faith IS experience not just inner thoughts, beliefs, and practices. But faith as trust is the “train” engine, not experience. If we depended primarily on experience, we might have jumped off the “church train” a long time ago. Pain, disappointment, and struggles can take their toll on our spiritual life. Faith as trust is good in the valleys as much as on the mountains!

This will be made even more real as we move from the glorious celebration of God’s Light during Epiphany into the shadows of Lent. A time of emphasis upon self-examination of sin and Darkness in our lives as Jesus moves toward the Cross. We walk with Him on that journey. Peter, James, and John do come down off that mountain of Transfiguration and walk through the valley of the shadow of death with their Lord toward Golgotha.

Such is our life of faith as well. Highs and lows. Sort of like everyone’s life isn’t it?! But, the difference is….we know Jesus is with us…..alive!
God bless us as we worship in all seasons and in all places!

God bless us all!

Pastor Barry

One could write a book on being a good neighbor! The Bible is the place to “unwrap” both the meaning of “good” and the meaning of “neighbor.” Our lives are meant to be about finding within the Word of God guidance to the Ultimate Good (GOD) and understanding who is “my neighbor.” A daily task for a lifetime!

Robert Frost, poet, once wrote, “Good fences make good neighbors.” There is a practical wisdom to that advice but being a good neighbor goes way beyond any notion of boundaries. We often look for examples both biblical and from human history to help us model or imitate or at least learn about matters of the good and of the neighbor.

It is fitting to look at the occasion of Feb 20 which is the anniversary of astronaut John Glenn’s epic space ride in Friendship 7 around our earth three times. He was one who set us a Christian example in his profession, citizenship, personal life as a Presbyterian elder, and as a neighbor to a Holocaust survivor Henri Landwirth. We will look to some others around us as well. Maybe we will hold our mirror up so we can look at a person who scripture says we should love just as we love the neighbor!

Once again the Bible speaks to that earthly combination of God-with-us, the neighbor, and ourself. If we overlook any of the three…..we have missed the whole point of learning from the Bible!

At our best, we are lifelong learners! Make this Sunday worship and Bible study one of your best days to “learn.” Take a personal life trip more exciting than a ride around the earth three times!

God bless and hope to see you in worship!

Pastor Barry

Well, we will have our work cut out for us this week! On first reading of these texts, there does not appear to be much “grace,” unmerited favor, nor hope for us! There is a heaping hand full of DEMANDS. (Maybe less so in Paul but read on!). And little room for excuses. The Israelites over hundreds of years experienced this and so has the church for over 2000 years. Yet….maybe…..surely….there is a way forward in 2017 and until the Lord draws all things to a close with a New Heaven and a New Earth.

I suspect if we sing Trust and Obey we will come close to finding a way. Or Amazing Grace! Or Love, Mercy, and Grace! I will leave it to our music directors to find more “demanding hymns.” They are there. I think…..

We will look at a Wesleyan perspective as best we can. That was always first Justification By Faith (not works) but without any neglect of Sanctification. Wesley called for holiness but always a social holiness.

We will also look at those fellow soul mates who set out to “live biblically” and either found a satisfying way of life or became insufferable judges and legalists! And you know how Paul felt about legalism!!

I’m getting ahead of myself! My suggestion: pray about these scriptures and step out in faith! We can do this. Together!

See you Sunday!

Pastor Barry

February has arrived. That blessed month after the “winter” of January. Of course, it’s not that easy. February can be both winter AND spring, cold and warm, light and dark.

We should not be surprised that “light and dark” are themes for living in both church and society. For instance, Feb 2 is the celebration of Candlemas. When Infant Jesus was presented in the Temple, Simeon took Him in arms and called Him a “light to lighten the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32). Churches have traditionally held processions holding candles in honor of Christ as the Light of the World. Echoing our more recent Groundhog Day rhyme, “If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight; But if it be dark with clouds and rain, Winter is gone, and will not come again.” Sounds like the groundhog got its tradition from Candlemas! If he sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter!

Light and dark, shadows. Themes today run throughout scripture. Light to find our way. Dark because we act darkly and willfully live in the dark. Jesus insisted His disciples would be the “light of the world” so that God’s glory would be seen in their service to others. Of course, the disciples discipleship is always compromised by their “dark side” living as we do in shadows at times. The end result is Jesus must be the ultimate Light of the World lifted up on a cross for all to see!

It’s a great, true story this living between Light and Dark! We best be about retelling that story whenever we get lost in life’s “shadows and fog.” A story that actually finally saves us from ourselves! Away from Darkness and into Light” may your February be filled with the Light of Christ!

Blessings!

Pastor Barry

I Kings 17:8-16, I Corinthians 1:18-31 and John 2:1-11. All three scriptures involve misunderstandings, discussion, a plan of action! Sounds like any called family meeting to get matters back in line! Elijah helps a mother and her son, they help him, and things go bad for a while. Jesus and his mother exchange words over timing! Paul firmly instructs the church family at Corinth in how to get along! Sounds contemporary doesn’t it?

Such interactions in the ancient Bible bring its helpfulness into our current homes and churches. It brings a message still relevant today. Who doesn’t need to see examples of families dealing with misunderstandings and learning to listen for ways to deal with “issues!” Lifelong learners. That’s what disciples are. Otherwise, we risk falling into the road that leads to power plays, authority trips, “I’m right, you’re wrong” attitudes!

Jesus has the last word after the earlier “dust up” with his mother: “Woman, behold your son; and to the disciple, Here is your mother.” John 19:26,27. Talk about what finally matters~~~!

Blessings upon your family, friends, your brothers and sisters in Christ †

Pastor Barry

In the comic book and in the movies, when BATMAN, the city crime fighter is needed, a spotlight image of a bat is sent into the night sky. Batman would respond. “One if by land, two if by sea” was the lantern signal that was to come from North Chapel in Boston to inform Paul Revere as he warned the patriots in Concord of the approaching British troops in 1775.

In our Matthew text we find Jesus first announcing the Kingdom of God only after he has heard that John the Baptist had been arrested. This gloomy, alarming event indicated the time was right to proclaim the work of God even in the darkness of fear, injustice, and spiritual captivity to the forces of violence and brutal power. The signal had been sent! Now is the time! Both Jesus and Paul take the next step of forming a community of brothers and sisters to strengthen one another to help point to the Kingdom of God and its transforming impact on both individuals and society. The “signal” had been seen and heard and the communal response followed soon after.

In most any life, whether individual, family, community, nation, times will appear (some threatening, some joyful) that signal the work of God in our midst. For some, it is simply changes in circumstances, behaviors, or thoughts. For others, it may be the dramatic moments brought on by crisis such as illness, death, or grave danger. These moments are “signals” to pay attention for God is very near and very intent on saving us from “all alarm or harm!” Faith is required for we are never strong enough to meet challenges with our own strength.

The journey of faith is not easy and safe but it is always momentous and engages us at the very center of our being! Just ask John the Baptist, Jesus, and Paul and the wildly diverse individuals and groups that have followed in the Way that leads to life abundant (John 10:10).

Look for the “signals” in your life, in our life together!

See you soon, see you Sunday!

Blessings †

Pastor Barry