Photo by Nathália Rosa on Unsplash 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I’m a list maker and “yellow sticky” aficionado. Office, house, wallet – I have yellow stickies everywhere. Often, there’s a “box” followed by whatever I need to do. It’s my tried-and-true method to track what needs to be done to completion. It’s how God wired me.

In a way, the Bible is the “divine yellow sticky” from God to help us stay focused on His “to-do” list. A good example – Hebrews 13. At first glance it looks disconnected – what do hospitality, adultery, greed, and following have to do with each other? A close look reveals it to be a “yellow sticky” for living out God’s word AND His reasons for living that specific way. For example, show strangers hospitality – they might be divine appointments. Keep the marriage bed pure – God judges the sexually immoral and adulterous. Don’t focus on material things – God will provide for your needs. Don’t be led astray by teachings inconsistent with God’s Word – His Word is constant throughout history.

This last one, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings,” (Hebrews 13:8-9) is especially important. People will say, “Oh, that was written a long time ago. It doesn’t apply today.” But God tells us the exact opposite; His Word is timeless. It applied in Moses’ day … in David’s day … in the apostles’ day … and applies in our day. We may know more about how things work, because that’s how God reveals His creation to us – through the gift of the thinking mind. But, in the end, God still commands us to live by His Word.

In the beginning God – not some accident – purposely created everything. As the Creator, He knows how it works and how to keep it working. Therefore, He authored, through people He selected, His Word, instructions to us. The Bible isn’t a list of optional suggestions. It’s the Divine Yellow Sticky – His “To Do List” for us to serve Him and His creation in accord with His will.

                                                                        In Christ’s Love,

                                                                        Pastor Jim

Dear Friends,

When our kids were young, they enjoyed bedtime stories. One that stood out was Dr.Seuss’ Hooper Humperdink? NOT HIM! - the story of a little boy nobody seemed to care for and a party everyone, except Hooper, was invited to. Ultimately, the host decided it wouldn’t be a party unless everyone, including Hooper, was invited! In the end, it was a fabulous party for everyone, including Hooper!

The world today is, unfortunately, a little like this children’s book - there’s an air of exclusion, even among those who think they aren’t exclusive. But there is a place where all are invited, the Kingdom of God. The people of Israel, before Jesus’ day and during it, didn’t think this was the case. God had chosen them! Therefore, they were the only ones invited to the eternal heavenly feast. 

God’s prophets foretold the much different invitation list God had in mind. God says, “The time is coming to gather all nations and tongues … And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations … to my holy mountain Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66:18, 20). God even declares some of these gentiles His priests and Levites, worthy to lead His people in worship! 

However, even though people from every nation and tongue receive God’s invitation to join His eternal Kingdom, Jesus says, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” (Luke 13:24) It is indeed a huge gathering. All are invited. But entry requires the invited to “know” the “master of the house” - Jesus Christ. “Knowing” means “being intertwined with, in full relationship with, one with.” Which means, placing faith in Christ alone. Any and all who believe in Jesus, “from east and west, and from north and south, (will come) and recline at table in the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 13:29) Nobody who believes, regardless of nation, tongue, race, ethnicity, social standing, or class will be excluded! God invites all to believe and have life in His eternal kingdom (John 3:16-17).

                                                                                    In God’s Grace,

                                                                                    Pastor Jim

CREDIT: The Sporting News 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I’m a bit of a sports fan. Often, my teams try to get better by adding players to the roster. However, sometimes they try “addition by subtraction.” When a player, regardless of how good they are, doesn’t fit in, the team gets better by subtracting them. By improving team chemistry, the team adds by subtraction.

Jesus has many nicknames, including “Prince of Peace.” It’s odd to hear Him say, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” (Luke 12:51) Then He describes whole families divided against each other - parents and kids, kids-in-law and parents-in-law. How can a “Prince of Peace” cause so much division? Well, it’s a little like “addition by subtraction.”

For many, peace is a lack of conflict. If you’re not fighting, you’re at peace. To many this often looks like living as one wants, satisfying their own needs and desires - and others letting them do so. “I’m not going to make waves. So long as nobody gets hurt, that’s fine.” Even followers of Jesus, Christians, don’t want to make waves so they let others do things counter to God’s word without lovingly calling them to repentance for their sin - all in the name of “peace” … a lack of conflict. 

Unfortunately, when “peace” between people exists in this way, peace between God and man doesn’t. Sin is conflict between us and God as we disobey His will for us. In calling for division, Jesus calls on us to call sin what it is - SIN! Even if it creates division in the world’s eyes. He desires people to know their sin and then repent of it to receive God’s forgiveness - the peace that surpasses all understanding, the peace that leads to eternal life in the kingdom of God. It's only by dividing people against their sinful nature and the world’s sin-filled ways - even if causes conflict this side of heaven - that true peace, unity in Christ, is possible. Peace by division.

                                                                                    In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                    Pastor Jim

Photo by Jonathan Forage on Unsplash 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

There’s an ad for an all-electric vehicle (EV) that points to the absurdity of today’s gross commercialism. Several people are “camping” having brought most of their homes along. They’ve plugged the comforts of home - TVs, phones, and heaters - into their “EV”. Then someone says, “We’re out of pesto.” So, a guy, after unplugging everything from the car, runs to the store. As he gets to town he asks, “Everybody comfy?” They yell, “NO!” because, without electricity, all they brought is now worthless.

Today’s world makes us think that if we have our stuff with us, we’ll be happy - until we run out of pesto or something. Bottomline, no amount of worldly goods will bring satisfaction. Whether it’s toiling after wisdom, wealth, or the material goods wealth buys, the writer of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher, says, “All is vanity and striving after the wind …” (Ecclesiastes 1:14)

“Vanity” means “worthless, valueless, pointless.” That isn’t to say “things” are bad. In fact, the Preacher mentions, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should … find enjoyment in his toil ...” (Ecclesiastes 2:24) But the problem arises in the failure to recognize where “all the stuff” comes from - and what it’s to be used for. All we toil after, including our minds, bodies, and abilities - “is from the hand of God.” (Ecclesiastes 2:24) It is God who gives us wisdom, knowledge, and joy - not us. Once we realize this, we see things’ true value.

These “things” are gifts from God, not to make us happy or content, but to help us show His love in the world by using them to serve others. Paul tells us, “If then you have been raised with Christ … set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are of the earth.” Clinging to Christ, we pursue the only thing that’s truly valuable - “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:4) - eternal life in His kingdom.

                                                                                    In Christ,

                                                                                    Pastor Jim

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Many have experienced “going under the knife” - removing something causing pain or worse. As a redhead, I’ve had several skin cancers cut from my face. Now they’re gone. However, if I want to keep them away, I need to change some of my behavior - like putting on sunscreen.

In God’s Word, we hear about divine surgery God does to His people. “Circumcision” wasn’t done to remove a harmful growth … rather God commanded it to mark His chosen people as His own. But, like surgery, the circumcision, a visible reminder of God’s grace, also led to action to remain God’s child. Being circumcised wasn’t an end … rather, it was the beginning of a lifelong commitment to living in thanks to God for His grace, as a child of God, by fearing, loving, and trusting Him in all things … over and above all things.

Paul tells us, “In (Christ) also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ.” (Colossians 2:11) Today, we’re still circumcised, however, it’s not a visible, physical circumcision. Rather, we’re spiritually circumcised in our baptisms. The deadly disease called “sin” is rendered helpless against us through faith in Christ. We are “dead in our sins” but through Jesus’ sacrifice we’re made alive again, “having forgiven us all our sins.” (Colossians 2:13)

This spiritual circumcision gives us more than faith in Jesus and forgiveness of sin. Like a surgeon removes deadly cancer, God performs divine surgery, through the Holy Spirit, to cleanse us from sin and its effects. Then, compelled by the Spirit, we begin to allow God’s Word to guide and direct us more completely in His will … while our desire to sin shrinks. Through this process, called “sanctification,” the Spirit gradually makes us more holy children of God. The cancer of sin is removed through divine surgery and new life takes hold allowing us to use our time, talent, and treasure - gifts from God - just as He intended.

                                                                                    In Christ,

                                                                                    Pastor Jim

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I have something very important to … SQUIRREL! Now, where was I? Oh yeah, something really important … which escapes my mind right now. SQUIRREL! Hey, we all get distracted. Whether it’s squirrels, shiny objects, or something else. We’re easily distracted from the important things we need to stay focused on by things that draw our attention in other directions.

People can even be distracted from someone as important as Jesus by “shiny things”! If you don’t believe it, look at Martha, Lazarus’ sister. Jesus was traveling through the land, focused on His return to Jerusalem when Martha invited Him to her house. However, despite the honor of Jesus’ presence, she became distracted by other things while Jesus sat down to teach. Her sister Mary was riveted to Jesus though. She sat at Jesus’ feet absorbing everything He said. Martha wasn’t happy with Mary’s focus complaining, “Jesus, shouldn’t my sister be helping me out!?” Jesus responded, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

While Martha was certainly doing a good thing, caring for Jesus; Mary was doing a better thing, paying attention to Jesus. There would be time after His teaching to take care of other things. But first things first, listen to Jesus - then, based on His word, act.

It’s an important lesson for all of us. I know I get distracted while trying to focus on Jesus in my devotions and prayers - bills to pay, people to talk to, things to do. These “shiny objects” vie for my attention as I try to spend time at Jesus’ feet each day. Thankfully the Holy Spirit draws me back to Jesus who’s waiting patiently for my return. He calms my anxiety, eases my troubles, enables me to regain my focus. That’s what I wanted to say - it’s important we spend time with Jesus to receive His guidance before facing the world’s distractions.

                                                                                                        In Christ’s Peace,

                                                                                                        Pastor Jim

Photo by Alysha Rosly on Unsplash 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Are you confident? If so, what are you confident in and why? Confidence is important, but what you’re confident in and why are also important. Confidence leads to the ability to get things done. Our God-given skills or knowledge makes us confident we can achieve things. Maybe you’ve studied hard for a test – you’re confident you’ll ace it. Maybe you’ve analyzed a problem from all the angles – you’re confident you’ll solve it. It’s good, in most cases, to be confident.

St. Paul was confident too. And for a long time, he thought his confidence in himself was a good thing. He was confident he was on the right side of God because of who he was and things he’d done – being born into the right family; followed the law; had the right jobs; and worked hard at doing what he thought was right (Philippians 3:4-6). And to his friends and co-workers, Paul probably looked to be in good shape. Unfortunately, his confidence was misplaced. Meeting Jesus, Paul realized he was wrong. While his abilities were, in fact, excellent gifts from God, they weren’t things that could save him from death or gain him eternal life. While God could use Paul’s many gifts to help others come to faith in Christ, as Paul now had, they couldn’t save him from his sins. Paul gave up his confidence in himself and placed all of it in Jesus. It is only through confident faith in Jesus, the power of His resurrection that Paul or anyone of us can have the gift of forgiveness and eternal life with God (Philippians 3:9-11).

God has indeed given all of us gifts – whether we’re good with our hands, minds, voices, or artistic abilities. Whether we’re patient, compassionate, or helpful. Our confidence in these can’t save us from sin, death, and the devil. But, placing our confidence in Christ alone, we use these gifts in faith to serve God in response to His love for us so all may come to faith in God and His promises.

                                                                                                        In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                                        Pastor Jim