Peace At Thanksgiving

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

It's early Thanksgiving Day morning here in Idaho. The house is quiet. The cat, who insisted on being fed at her normal 5:00 AM time, has found a warm spot to go back to sleep by the fireplace. Pam is still snoozing. Sadly she has to work today. That means cooking Thanksgiving dinner is on my plan of the day. Prayers are definitely in order and appreciated. Hopefully dinner will not be a bloody sacrifice or a burnt offering.

The stormy weather of yesterday has come and gone. The storms, like events that come and go in our lives, are a source of turbulence. Things are disrupted. Our routine is disturbed while we deal with the latest source of disruption. These disruptions happen at work, at home, with our immediate families, or with distant relatives. These disruptions can be like small waves, or they may even be large whitecap size wave problems upon the waters of our lives. On rare occasions they can even be as big as a tsunami. Significant events can bring things to an abrupt halt. But today - this morning, things are relatively calm.

It is in times like this morning, when the wind is calm and the waters are smooth that I can give thanks to the Lord for that which I have been so richly blessed. Good health, my family (by birth,marriage & extended), a job, a home, good friends, a wonderful place to worship. The list goes on. It is in times like this I can reflect back on when there were times of turbulence and be thankful for the calm. Changing jobs, divorce, struggles with my faith, struggles with relationships, the ordeal of my son Andy to just name a few. But these turbulent times are at a pause. There is a good deal of peace. And for that I am thankful. I am thankful that there is a perceivable peace in my life. And I am more thankful that I can let the peace of Christ rule in my heart. The Colossians 3:15 passage is one for us to reflect upon in our hearts today and everyday. We are called to do so because we know that we have a loving Father in heaven, a Holy Spirit that brings to us the faith to remain calm in the storm, and the Son of God our Savior Jesus Christ. We have the whole package for finding peace in the midst of a storm. And it is in times of calm, like this morning that I can remember to be thankful for the peace and tranquility that I have today. The world may seek to disrupt that calm in the future, but today it is peaceful. I can let tomorrow take care of itself. But today, I have the gentle reminder of Colossians 3:15 to keep my perspective focused on Christ and that peace that is found only in Christ.

Friends, my hope and prayer for you today is that your Thanksgiving Day is filled with all the love, joy, food, family, and fun that you so richly deserve. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

PRAYER: Lord and provider of all I give thanks to You. You have brought me through the storm. You have remained steadfast at my side, even when I did not see You there. Your light, my Savior Jesus Christ, is the beacon I can trust to navigate by. Help me today, and everyday to relish the peaceful times. And Father, help me to stay focused on Jesus in the midst of the storms that will come. All this I ask in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Spirit are one, Amen.

What Party Would Jesus Belong To? Part One

2 Thessalonians 3:6-9 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,  we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from  every believer who is idle and disruptive  and does not live according to the teaching  you received from us.  For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.  We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked  night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.  We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help,  but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 

This past week saw the culmination of our efforts every four years to tear apart the country we call the United States of America.  This past week is what every veteran lived, loved, and gave their all to defend.  Some gave a little, and some gave the last full measure of their lives to protect this freedom to chose our elected officials.  Veterans gave so that we could enjoy the benefit of months and months of nasty politics.  Truly decisive politics is the rule and not the exception for the almost forty or so years I have been voting. It seems civility has gone out the door with the emphasis being on what is wrong with the other party or other candidate. Lacking are the firm details of what they will do to better serve the country they live in. It is a sad state of affairs. This series of blog article will seek to explore where Christ is in the arena of politics. We will open up the scriptures and find what there is to learn in the Word for the basis of our political beliefs.  And along the way we may find what I know in my heart. Jesus is neither republican, nor democrat. He is not even a member of the Tea Party. Jesus belongs to the party of the Trinity. Jesus is a full member of the Triune God (Father, Son & Holy Spirit.)  They make up this party, no one else.  Contrary to popular belief, Satan is not at the same level as the Trinity. He is not the equal of Jesus in the good versus evil scale. Christ stands above and there is no being who works more diligently to to twist and deceive the minds of humans to change this perspective than Satan himself.  When we see deception in shifting our focus from what is God-pleasing and serving we find Satan at the heart of the deception.  When we lose focus on what is really important as believers we open our hearts to the deception that seeks to separate us from the Father. And that is what we need to guard against in our hearts and minds.  No one earthly party is perfect.  No one party can claim that they truly and fully represent Jesus.  All are sinful and fall from the pillar of perfection.

But what about our own beliefs? In parts two and three we will look at two core issues, charity and prosperity as they relate to the bible and our political system. And at the conclusion we may find we are more confused than when we started. But that is okay because the answer for each of us in found in prayer.  For it is through prayer that we find what is the will of God.  We do not find this answer in a campaign slogan or banner.  Prayer is where it is found.

PRAYER:  Lord of all creation, we thank You for the blessing of our nation. We thank you for the sacrifice of this who have served our nation. The loss, whether small or large in measure allows us to continue to enjoy the freedom to worship You O God. Help us as we move forward to embrace Your will in our lives and the workings of our country. Help us to reach out in love, as You have embraced us with Your love. These things we ask in the strong name of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Parking Spot

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.  His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,

My workday morning routine involves driving to a park & ride location to catch a bus. A arrive about 5:00 AM and place my backpack in the bus line and wait for the bus to arrive. It is a great time to reflect, pray, and read scriptures. It is a devotional time. And it also is a time to watch humanity in action. People are creatures of habit. Some people at the park & ride have to park in the same spot everyday. It can be entertaining to watch how people will take several minutes pulling into, backing out of turning their wheels and pulling back into a spot that is too narrow. All this takes place with empty and spacious parking slots ten feet away.  I suppose their favorite spot saves them a couple of steps in the daily commute. But is just seems to be such foolishness.

What about people and their spiritual lives? Are they similar to the person who goes through so much work to fit into a tiny parking spot? Do you, or someone you know try and try to earn grace through effort and actions? It is sad to watch the parking lot show, but even more so to see the attempts to earn grace.  People can get wrapped up in the 'have to do something' mentality and forget the obvious and simple truth. Grace is not earned. Grace as a gift given in love, at a terrible cost. It was paid for with the blood of Christ on the cross. There is nothing more to earn, nothing more to pay. You cannot earn what has already been given. Ephesians 2:13 lays it out.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.  His words on the cross,"It is finished" captured in John 19:30 tell us with chilling finality nothing more is needed. We are the recipients of the grace of God. You, me, no one can do anything else to earn this gift.

If you encounter someone trying to earn grace, much like the person trying to park in the narrow parking spot, take a moment and ask in love why they continue on that path? It can make all the difference in the lives here on earth, and in heaven.

PRAYER: Father, we foolishly try to earn what You have given freely. In spite of knowing what has been accomplished on the cross, we seek to do what we think is also needed. Have mercy on us. Help us to hold firm to Your gift of grace. Help us to see clearly through the deception that lies in our heart when we think we have to earn that prize. This we ask in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Whose sacrifice on the cross brought together what had been apart. Amen.