Pastor Brian’s Reflections on Uncivil and Misleading Facebook Post

“Your speech should always be gracious and sprinkled with insight so that you may know how to respond to every person” (Colossians 4:6)

I am purposefully not on Facebook, but while on vacation it was brought to my attention that this past Saturday, some very disparaging remarks were posted there by a disgruntled community parent about both our church and its recent Vacation Bible School (V.B.S.) program.  While I believe people certainly have a right to think and say what they feel, this post was so wildly inaccurate, uncivil, and unChristian that I felt led to offer a few reflections about it here.  

After being shown both the original post and its responses, let me first say how proud I was of the grace-filled way our church members and many friends responded online.  Despite the vitriol of the author’s words, you did not sink to his level in your responses but instead responded with grace.  Thank you - you truly reflected the character and dignity of Christ!

Next, to expand on some of the comments already made, let me remind us of the biblical focus of this year’s V.B.S. from Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (NRSV).  To further illustrate this theme, each day our children learned a different Bible story of courage, hope and/or endurance (from Genesis 40, Esther 3, Matthew 26 and Acts 3).  Yet, despite this biblical focus, the post’s author instead fixated on clothing that someone was wearing on stage during Friday’s closing worship -- clothing which, at least to him, resembled a rainbow.  He then jumped to the presumption and the accusation that this represented the promotion of an LGBTQI “agenda” by the V.B.S. program and our church itself.   

First, to reduce an entire weeks’ worth of Christian programming down to the colors of someone’s clothing is incredibly naïve, presumptuous and judgmental.  But then to assume that the perceived wearing or display of a rainbow presumes the advocacy of an “agenda” reveals a perspective informed more by modern, secular culture than by the Bible of Christian faith -- the rainbow is, after all, originally a biblical reminder of the promise and presence of God (Genesis 9:13).

And while we as Christians are called to speak truth, we are also called to speak it in love (Ephesians 4:15).  This means that what we say (or write, even on social media) should be shared with honor and respect even for those with whom we may disagree, just as scripture teaches:  “Your speech should always be gracious and sprinkled with insight so that you may know how to respond to every person (Colossians 4:6); “Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say.” (Ephesians 4:29).

At the same time, when reading/hearing the words of others, let me encourage us all not to be deceived or misled by inflamed and eccentric rhetoric.   Intentional or not, mean-spirited “scare tactics” like this one are commonly used today to spread misinformation and misunderstanding, beguiling often “innocent” readers/hearers into believing falsehoods and pressuring them to pass judgement without ever bothering to fact-check.  Instead, remember the caution of 1 John 4;1, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”  For this discernment, Jesus himself explained that we will “know them [meaning true Christians] by their fruit” (Matthew 7:15-19), and scripture teaches that the greatest “fruit” of all is the love shown towards our fellow humankind (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Finally, in response to incidents like this, the greatest need is for us all to PRAY…. 

--Pray for our author-friend, that he may truly  discover the truth about Gods love and grace which helps each of us to overcome our (often unconscious) fears of people who may seem different from us in any way.  

--Pray for ourselves, that we would not be misled either by the misinformed words of others OR by the selfish inclinations or self-righteous indignations of our own hearts (and that we would accept God’s forgiveness when we do!). 

--But we should also pray for others in our world, that the brokenness and divisions of our Christian witness would not be a stumbling block for them to be able to find the power and healing of Jesus Christ in and for their own lives.

As always, please remember that God loves you and I do, too (despite any differences of opinion that we might have!) 

Cruise Ship Christianity

"Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit...” (Acts 8:17

There once was a widowed woman who more than anything wanted to experience the enjoyment of just one, single cruise aboard a luxury cruise ship before she died. So, she saved up her hard-earned savings and finally bought a ticket for a trip on a famous cruise line.

The day arrived for her departure, so she got on board and the ship set sail. Once seaborne, however, the woman never left her cabin. She ate food that she had smuggled aboard, and entertained herself in the cabin with games she had brought. All of this she did thinking that because she’d spent all she had on the cruise ticket, she wouldn’t be able to afford the high cost of the ship's meals or entertainment. What the woman didn't understand was that the price of her cruise package already included all these things. Consequently, she was living like a miser when she could have been “living-it-up” like a queen.

All too often, we Christians are like this: living life in our OWN strength and power, all because we aren't aware that when we “purchased our ticket to heaven” by accepting Jesus, the Holy Spirit was already included “in the package.” The Spirit is imparted to each and every Christian in order to give us the strength and power and wisdom to actually help us to LIVE our Christian lives.

Sometimes we need special experiences to help us understand, acknowledge, or “actualize” His presence, but it’s not like he’s never been within all the time -- when we become a Christian, we automatically receive the Holy Spirit. The question then becomes NOT “Do we have the Holy Spirit?” but “Does the Holy Spirit have us?” That is: have you allowed the power and presence of God’s Spirit to have free reign and access in your life? Or are you just skimping along, trying to live your Christian life and faith in your own strength and ability (and most often failing)?

Well, this past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, the day we celebrate that part God’s Holy Trinity who we all too often hear little about, but who is absolutely indispensable to our spiritual life. He is, after all, that part of God’s being whose constant presence helps and empowers us to be God's people. So, my prayer is that each day, you’ll remember and celebrate His power and presence within you and within each of us! Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

Who Are We?

Recently, our church launched a new brand logo -- an outward symbol of something much deeper: our shared identity as a Christian community of faith. But what does that identity truly mean? What does it include? And how does it shape the way we live each day?

Join Pastor Brian from April 28–May 17 for a new worship series, Who We Are, as we explore these questions together. Through scripture and reflection, we’ll be reminded of who God calls us to be, and encouraged to live more fully into that calling as we move together into God’s future for us.

            April 28 - Remember… (Revelation 2:1-7                                                and 1 Peter 4:8-10)

            May 2 - Gratitude (1 Peter 4:8-10                                                            and 1 Chronicles 16:8-13)

            May 9 - Compassion (1 Peter 4:8-10                                                        and Luke 10:29-37)

            May 17 - Service (1 Peter 4:8-10                                                                and Matthew 25:31-40)

He Came Singing Love

“Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; There you will see him, just as he told you” (Mark 16:6-7).

Just as we read in Mark’s account of the resurrection, inherent in the message of Easter itself is the call to each of us to “go and tell” others that “[Jesus] is going ahead of us” and will meet us wherever we are and through whatever we experience in life, good or bad.  In the words of an anonymous Christian poet,...

“He came singing love. 

 He lived singing love. 

 He died singing love.

 He arose in silence. 

 If the song is to continue,

 WE must do the singing.”

You see, as glorious and joyful as our celebrations of Easter are, we’re not supposed to keep the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and life to ourselves.  Instead, we’re to share it with others through our words, our deeds, and our care. 

I invite you to join me this Easter season as we not only celebrate our risen Savior, but also as we share that good news with others: our friends, our relatives, our neighbors, workmates, and schoolmates.  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

24 Hours That Changed the World

If you knew you only had 24 hours of your life left, how would you spend them? In his final day, Jesus faced total betrayal, crushed trust, and a brutal end. Yet, those 24 hours flipped the script on history, sparking a movement that billions follow today. What was it about that one day that carried so much weight? Join us as we explore how Jesus’ final 24 hours didn't just change the world -- they can change my life and yours, as well!.

February 22 -- The Last Supper (Mark 14:22-25)

March 1 -- Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42)

March 8 -- Accusation and Denial (Mark 14:43-46, 61-62, 66-72)

March 15 -- Jesus, Barabbas and Pilate, Oh My! (Mark 15:1-15)

March 22 -- The Passion of Christ (Mark 15:16-21)

March 29 -- Crucifixion and Death (Mark 15:22-39)

April 5 (Easter) - The Resurrection (Mark 16:1-6)

 

Prayers for Minnesota

Please join me in praying for the people of Minnesota in the light of the recent tragic shootings there.  Regardless of the political views any of us may hold, violence in the name of law enforcement is a practice that must be employed very carefully, lest it become brutal oppression. 

Throughout history -- including in Jesus’ own day and time -- violence has been used by those in power as a suppression tactic to silence those who disagree.  As examples, one need only reflect on the military violence used by the British government to “suppress" the “radical” patriots during the American Revolution, or the enforcement of "Jim Crow" laws in the late 19th and early 20th century against black Americans, the violence used both by protestors and law enforcement during the American race riots of the 1960s, of the crackdown and killing of protestors by the Soviets in Czechoslovakia in 1968, or the brutal violence used by the Chinese government in Tiananmen Square in 1989 to suppress the Democracy movement there.

Yet, our American nation was built on the right of its people to protest what they feel is unlawful, unjust and/or immoral.  So, whether or not we agree with what is being protested, both violence used in protest and violence used simply to silence those protests is un-American and un-Christian.  At its core, our Christian faith is based on Jesus’ teachings and practices of non-violence (for example, read Matthew 5:9 and 38-48, Luke 22:47-53, and others), and non-violent protest movements such as those of Mahatmas Ghandi in India in the early 20^th-century and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in America in the 1960s are faithful examples of this.

Speaking against the oppression of the Nazis in Hitler’s 1930s Germany, pastor, author and anti-Nazi dissident Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote this now-famous challenge to people of Christian faith, “Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness and pride of power and with its plea for the weak Christians are doing too little to make these points clear rather than too much. Christendom adjusts itself far too easily to the worship of power. Christians should give more offense, shock the world far more, than they are doing now. Christians should take a stronger stand in favor of the weak rather than considering first the possible right of the strong.” (cited from https://brianmclaren.net/more-on-violence-from-bonhoeffer/)

I’m not asking you to agree with me about all (or any) of this -- unlike much of today’s world, you and I can choose to be civil and “agree to disagree,” if needed -- but I do hope and pray that you will join me in praying for peace in Minnesota and anywhere in our nation or world where violence is being used to either to protest or enforce any “law.”  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers for peace!

Where Faith and Science Meet

Are faith and science mutually exclusive?  Or do they complement one another? Do the latest scientific discoveries about our universe, life and medicine threaten religious faith? Or confirm it?  Has science moved humanity beyond its need for religious faith, as some have proposed?  Or is faith more important now than ever?  Join Pastor Brian for worship January 11-February 8 as we explore the relationship between science and Christian faith.

January 11 -- God and Galileo (Acts 17:24-28a)

An overview of the relationship between faith and science

January 18 -- God and the Big Bang (Psalm 19:1-6)

All about our amazing, miraculous universe

January 25 -- Adam and Apes (Colossians 1:15-17)

Thoughts on the origins of humanity

February 1 -- Body, Mind & Spirit (Luke 8:43-48)

The connections between faith and medical science

February 8  -- ‘New Science’ and the Future of Faith (Romans 1:19-20a)

The impact of science on faith and faith's future

Joy to the World!

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth into joyous song and sing praises.… Make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.” (Psalm 98:4 & 6)

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; 
Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, 

and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and heaven and nature sing. 

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ; 

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy 

repeat the sounding joy repeat, repeat the sounding joy. 

No more let sins & sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; 

He comes to make his blessings flow Far as the curse is found 

Far as the curse is found Far as, far as the curse is found 

He rules the world with truth & grace & makes the nations prove 

The glories of his righteousness, And wonders of his love, 

And wonders of his love, And wonders, wonders of his love.”

[–“Joy to the World,” by Isaac Watts, 1719] 

My hope and prayer is that the true joy of the Christ-child will be yours this Christmas, and that that joy will continue with you into the new year! Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

It's A Wonderful Life Christmas

We all long for a “wonderful life”-- one filled with meaningful work, a thriving marriage, strong family bonds, lasting friendships, and the assurance that we’ll be cared for now and in the days ahead.  But what does it truly take to live that kind of life? What spiritual attitudes and practices can help us experience it fully?

This holiday season, we’re diving into these questions through a worship series titled “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Each week, we’ll explore biblical truths inspired by the beloved Christmas film starring Jimmy Stewart, discovering how its timeless lessons can guide us toward a life that’s truly wonderful.

November 30 – It’s A Wonderful Life:  ENVISION IT (Luke 21:25-36)

December 7 --  It’s A Wonderful Life: BE THANKFUL FOR IT (Luke 1:46-55)

December 14 – It’s A Wonderful Life: PREPARE FOR IT (Luke 3:1-6)

December 21 – It’s A Wonderful Life: REJOICE IN IT (Zephaniah 3:14-20) (our Choir Christmas Cantata)

December 24 (5pm & 7pm) – It’s A Wonderful Life: TREASURE IT (Luke 2:1-20)

What I'm Thankful For

 “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

This past year I have had much to give God thanks for.  Here are just a few.  I am thankful...

...for a wife, Trish, who models the love of God by loving me just as I am, warts and all!

…for our daughter Jennifer, who makes Trish and I proud, not only because of what she does but more importantly because of who she is and the beautiful woman of Godshe’s become.

…for our son-in-law Zach, who we are proud to call “son” because of the good husband he is for our daughter, and the great father he is for both of our granddaughters.

…for our granddaughter Hayleigh who is so full of life, energy, excitement and curiosity about the world that she is discovering at age 5.

…for our granddaughter Hannah who is full of passion for life, compassion and love for others, and her ability to see joy in all around her at nearly age 11.

...for parents who raised me in church to love, understand, and eventually follow the ways of God.

...for a church family who loves, supports, and prays for both my family and myself daily.

...for all of my fellow staff members – Janet, Andy, Ali, Cindy R, Thomas, Carolyn, Cindy J, Dale, Julie, and Nina -- who, together with me, share in the cause and work of Christ through our church.

...for Sunday School, Bible study, and small group facilitators and leaders who live out their faith in the selfless way they teach and/or lead.

...for committee and ministry team chairpersons and members who give “above and beyond” to the work of Christ through their participation in and leadership of our church’s ministries.

...for the “behind-the-scenes” members of our Audio-Visual, Greeters, Security, Usher ministries, and our and Communion servers and preparers in the essential work that they do.

...for the members of our praise band, adult, and children’s choirs and our Agape Handbell choir members for the blessing and inspiration they share through their music.

…for all the staff of our church nursery who give tirelessly of themselves to make sure our children are safe and happy.

…for the staff and teachers of our Preschool, in keeping us in touch with the needs of the community that we are called to serve.

...for church members who roll up their sleeves and pitch in to be part of "the answer," rather than whining about what someone else is not doing to fix "the problem."

...for church members who are willing to make God a priority through their financial giving to His church.

...for fellow Christians who’re willing to step outside themselves by participating in serving and/or sharing in mission ministries both locally and overseas.

…most importantly, for God who gave his son for me to give me forgiveness and salvation when I didn’t deserve it, and for giving me life and hope in the midst of a hectic and mixed up world!

Of course, there’s many, many more, but have you “counted your blessings” lately?  When you do, I’m sure you’ll find that, like me, you have many things for which to “give thanks.”  This Thanksgiving holiday and for the entire month of November, I invite you to join me in striving to live out our thankfulness!  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

FOR WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL???

Giving Thanks for God's Saints

“To the church of God that is in... [Gwinnett County], to those who are sanctified in  Christ Jesus, called to be saints...” (1 Corinthians 1:2)

          “Rejoice in God’s saints, today and all days; 

a world without saints forgets how to praise.

           Their faith in acquiring the habit of prayer, their depth of adoring, 

           Lord, help us to share.

 

           Some march with events to turn them God’s way; 

            some need to withdraw, the better to pray.

            Some carry the gospel through fire and through flood; 

            our world is their parish; their purpose is God.

 

 Rejoice in those saints, unpraised and unknown, 

who bear someone’s cross or shoulder their own. 

They shame our complaining, our comforts, our cares; 

 what patience in caring, what courage, is theirs!

 

 Rejoice in God’s saints, today and all days, 

 a world without saints forgets how to praise.

            In loving, in living, they prove it is true: 

            the way of self-giving, Lord, leads us to you.”

                                           [--Fred Pratt Green, from the United Methodist Hymnal, #708]

November 1^st is “All Saints Day” on the church calendar -- a day for God’s people to celebrate and remember the lives of all God’s “saints”: those living now who call Jesus their Savior; and those who’ve gone on to be with the Lord this past year. 

I pray that you will join me this Sunday (November 2nd) as we celebrate the lives of all God’s “saints,” including a time to remember both those of our church membership and anyone else you want to name who has gone on to be with the Lord this past year.  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

To Name or Not to Name…

 “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29)

During our September 14th worship, I offered the following as part of my morning pastoral prayer (and this was also included as part of my weekly Pastor’s eNote to my congregation the Thursday following)…

 

“Gracious and loving God, our hearts are heavy with the pain and division we see in our world. We come to you, broken by the recent examples of both political violence in Utah, and violence once more in our schools in Colorado. We grieve for all who have been harmed, and are sorrowful for the hatred that infects our communities. We pray for all those affected: the victims, their families, and the first responders. Grant them your comfort and presence. Forgive us for our own complacency and for the times we have allowed anger and division to harden our hearts.  Inspire us to live out our baptismal vows, to renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, and to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. Give us the courage to be agents of healing, peacemakers, and bridge-builders in a hurting world. Show us how to act with wisdom and courage, to turn away from violence and toward reconciliation. Mold our grief into a resolve to create a society where all people are treated with dignity and love. We ask for your spirit of peace to move in our communities, softening the hearts of those motivated by hate and empowering us to work for a safer, more compassionate world. In the name of Jesus, our Savior and Prince of Peace, we pray. Amen.”

 

Since then, I’ve received questions from a few congregants about why this prayer did not explicitly include the name of Charlie Kirk.  There are essentially two reasons for this:

 

(#1) First, corporate prayers like a morning worship prayer are designed to unify and bring people together around things that we can share in common.  Mr. Kirk’s death was a senseless tragedy, and — as mentioned in my prayer, violence in the name of politics is never okay or appropriate because in America we all have the right to share our beliefs and opinions in an open society, regardless of our politics.  At the same time, it is a stretch to claim that Charlie Kirk was a unifying figure.  For every good, Christian thing he stood for, there were other things he espoused or advocated that were neither Christian nor biblical.  While you don’t have to agree with this, one of the best reflections I’ve read so far on this complexity is found in the September 22nd Facebook post of Pastor Brian Drinkwine of Clarity Church HERE .  So, while I condemn his brutal killing, since a pastoral prayer is designed to bring people together around things we can all agree on — things like the inappropriateness of using violence for political ends — and since the goal of my prayer was more than a focus on any one person, I did not feel it was appropriate to use Mr. Kirk’s name in the prayer.

 

(#2) But in addition to condemning political violence in any form, a second reason I did not mention Mr. Kirk’s name also has to do with the senseless gun shooting at Evergreen High School in Colorado the same week, which I also condemned in my prayer.  While the shooter’s motivations are still not fully understood, I felt it was important for my prayer to mention both events of violence from that week, and to highlight the inappropriateness of violence as a means of expressing ourselves, whether in the name of politics or just because we don’t like someone. Yet, I purposefully did not mention either the name of Charlie Kirk or the names of those shot in Colorado, for to do so would be to elevate one tragedy as worse or more important than the other.

 

And in light of the continued gun violence in a shooting today in a church in Grand Blanc Township, MI that’s killed at least one and injured nine others, I would argue that my original prayer is even more appropriate. 

 

I understand that some of you may not agree with my rationale here.  That’s okay.  You don’t have to agree with me about all things to allow me to be your Pastor.  But I hope you can understand and respect that I was following what I felt led to do by God’s Holy Spirit, just as I promise to respect your need to occasionally disagree with me, if needed.  But I hope that if we disagree, we can do so without the need to be disagreeable. In the words of the founder of Methodism John Wesley in one of his sermons on Christian unity, “though we may not all think alike, may we not all love alike?”  (From Wesley’s sermon “Catholic Spirit”).  My prayer — and my hope — for you, and for us all, is that we, indeed, can do this.

 

Always remember that God loves you and I do, too (regardless of our politics)! 

Cornerstones of Faith

What do our money, finances, and possessions have to do with our Christian faith and lives?  While the Bible describes many important characteristics and qualities of life and faith with God, one aspect that both it and Jesus himself talk about more than any other is the often-overlooked connection between our belongings and our spiritual lives.

Join me October 12-26 at Cornerstone United Methodist Church for a new short worship series "Cornerstones of Faith," exploring a few of these key connections between our possessions, our souls, and our life of faith as described in scripture.

             October 12:  STEWARDSHIP

            October 19: FIRST FRUITS

            October 26:  THANKS - GIVING

Disney Parks Faith: Christian Life Lessons from the Disney Parks

Many of us have cherished memories of Disney theme parks, filled with wonder and family fun. While the primary goal of these parks is entertainment, they also offer a rich tapestry of stories and experiences that resonate with the human spirit and can spark profound reflections about Christian faith and values.

Join Pastor Brian September 7 - October 5 for a unique new sermon series, "Disney Parks Faith," exploring the surprising connections between beloved and iconic Disney attractions and important Christian life lessons.  Together, we’ll uncover some of the unexpected ways that these seemingly secular spaces reveal biblical themes which can enrich our faith journeys.  And if you want, you can wear your favorite Disney attire to worship during this entire series!

            September 7:  “Por Favor Mantégase Alejado de las Puertas”

            September 14:  “All the Way In, Please!”

            September 21:  Lightening Lane Christianity

            September 28:  There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

            October 5:  It’s A Small World

 

15 Things God Won't Ask

“Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave” (Matthew 20:25-28)

At a recent Worship Committee meeting, I shared the following which are good reminders for us all! These are “15 Things God Won’t Ask” when we reach heaven:

1.    God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but will ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation.

2.    God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but will ask how many people you welcomed into your house.

3.    God won’t ask about the fancy clothes you had in your closet, but will ask how many of those clothes helped the needy.

4.    God won’t ask about your social status, but will ask what kind of class you displayed.

5.    God won’t ask how many material possessions you had, but will ask if they dictated your life.

6.    God won’t ask what your highest salary was, but will ask if you compromised your character to obtain that salary.

7.    God won’t ask how much overtime you worked, but will ask if you worked overtime for your family and loved ones.

8.    God won’t ask how many promotions you received, but will ask how you promoted others.

9.    God won’t ask what your job title was, but will ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

10. God won’t ask what you did to help yourself, but will ask what you did to help others.

11. God won’t ask how many friends you had, but will ask how many people to whom you were a true friend.

12. God won’t ask what you did to protect your rights, but will ask what you did to protect the rights of others.

13. God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived, but will ask you treated your neighbors.

14. God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but will ask about the content of your character.

15. God won’t ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but will ask how many times they didn’t.                                   [--Author Unknown]

To this list, I would add that God also won’t ask who we voted for in the most recent (or any) election, or whether we were Democrats, Republicans, or Independents.  He won’t ask whether we were conservative, liberal, evangelical, progressive, or centrist.  He won’t ask whether we were gay, straight, or where we stood on local and national policies, or  whether we preferred worshiping in “traditional” or “contemporary” ways.

Instead, God will simply want to know if we have Jesus in our hearts, and if -- while on earth -- we did our best to practice loving others the way Jesus did. That’s the standard by which we’ll be judged when we reach heaven. So, how will your life be remembered and celebrated when you reach the “pearly gates”? And what are you doing to make that a reality now / today?  Remember, God loves you and so do I!

America, The Beautiful

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…” (Psalm 33:12)

“O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved & mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies, For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties Above the enameled plain!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet, Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee.  Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale Of liberating strife
When once & twice, for man’s avail Men lavished precious life!

America! America! God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again Thy whiter jubilee!”

--Words by Katharine Lee Bates (written in 1895, published in 1913);

   Melody by Samuel Ward

Did you know that there are actually that many verses?  As we celebrate Independence Day this week, I invite you to let these words challenge and inspire you.  Remember that God loves you and I do, too!

Filled with the Spirit

“Do not get drunk with wine... but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)

Much is made in some Christian circles about living holy lives by abstaining from certain negative moral and ethical actions and behaviors.  This line of thinking argues, for example, that we are “good Christians” when we refrain from drinking alcohol, smoking, gambling, using our sexuality in certain inappropriate ways, etc.  But while it is certainly true that negative behaviors such as these can block the full power and presence of God at work in our lives, our Christianity does not consist simply of refraining from certain “don’ts.”

Instead, as the apostle Paul reminds us in the scripture above, the mark of a genuine Christian life is not the absence of negative moral behaviors, but the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.  After all, I’ve known many persons who live ethically “clean” lives, but who are legalistic, judgmental, and mean-spirited because they lack the active presence of the Holy Spirit in their life.  The great 19^th-century evangelist Dwight L. Moody explained it this way to an audience: “Tell me, how can I get the air out of the tumbler I have in my hand?” One man spoke up and said, “Suck it out with a pump.” Moody replied, “But that would create a vacuum and shatter it.” Finally, after many suggestions, he picked up a pitcher and quietly filled the glass with water. “There,” he said, “all the air is now removed.”  He then explained that victory for the child of God does not come by working hard to eliminate sinful habits, but rather by allowing the Holy Spirit to take full possession and fill them with His presence.

So, the next time you’re tempted to judge someone by their behaviors, remember that the true mark of faith is NOT the absence of sinful things in life, but the presence of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Read Galatians 5:22-23).  As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday this week (a day celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit in God’s church), remember that God loves you and I to, too!

Honoring Our Mothers

“‘Honor your father and mother’—this is the first commandment with a promise: ‘so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’”(Matthew 13:45-46)

The angel shook her head slowly and said, “Six pairs of hands... no way.” “It’s not the hands that are causing me problems,” said the Lord. “It’s the three pairs of eyes that mothers need to have.” “That’s on the standard model?” asked the angel.

The Lord nodded: “One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks ‘What are you kids doing in there?’ when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn’t but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when they goof up and still say ‘I understand and I love you’ without so much as uttering a word.” “Come to bed, Lord. You can finish tomorrow,” said the angel, touching God’s sleeve gently. “I can’t,” answered the Lord. “I’m so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she’s sick.... can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger... and can get a seven-year old to stand under a shower.”

The angel circled the model of a mother slowly. “It’s too soft,” she sighed. “But tough!” said the Lord. “You cannot imagine what this mother can do or endure.” “Can it think?” “Not only that, but it can reason and compromise,” said the Creator. Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. “There’s a leak,” she said. “It’s not a leak.... It’s a tear” said the Lord. “What’s it for?” “It’s for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride.” “You’re a genius!” said the angel. “Now you know why I want them honored!” replied the Lord.

This Sunday, May 11^th (2025) is Mother’s Day, and it’s a great time to thank God for the mothers of our lives – both those who gave us birth, and those are like mothers to us.  Whenever it is that you are reading this, please take time to thank God for your mother!  Remember, we honor God as we honor them!  And never forget that God loves you and I do, too!