Time To Be Real

A few weeks ago President Obama took another oath of office for his second term. I find it amazing that President Obama stood in our nations capital, placed his hand on the former President Lincoln's Bible, and swore to fulfill his duties as President of the United States. All this on the same day that we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King. A black President being sworn into the highest office in our country, on a national holiday honoring another black man who cared and died for the civil rights of all people. Among the many festivities of the ceremony, Beyonce sang the national anthem. God has gifted her with such an incredible voice. As good as it was, rumors began to fly that she lip-synched the national anthem. On the news today, Beyonce confessed she did lip-synch, and then proceeded to sing the national anthem acappella. Beautifully done, once again. Besides it being a slow day in the news room, I wondered if this isn't a cry from the masses for the authentic. They want it real. Genuine and with raw talent. There is something about a live performance, with all the different pressures working against you, from the weather, to the orchestra, to the large crowds gathering close to hear. I remember shortly after I began a second job driving fork lift that one of my co-workers got in my face. All day long he bumped his fork lift into mine, he cut me off, raced around me, got in my way and in my face. I didn't say anything at the time, but wondered why he was doing it. The next week I asked him, "What's up with last week?" He replied, "Oh, I was just testing you to see if you got angry or not." Knowing I was a Christian and a Pastor, he wanted to know if I was real or a fake. He knew the difference. Jesus calls us to authenticity. It begins with an honest response to God, acknowledging our sin and our need of His forgiveness. At that moment, in complete humility, we find acceptance, love, grace and forgiveness. It is the moment we put our faith in Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us to be real and authentic, in our character, in how we influence others, in how we practice our faith, in our relationships and in what we ask for in prayer. In his sermon, Jesus compares the hypocrite with the authentic follower. The hypocrite puts on the show. The authentic Christian seeks to do that which is honoring to the Lord, whether or not others see him. James says (2.26) that faith without expression is no faith at all. We can talk about faith all we want, but if we are not living it, then somehow we have transitioned from the real to surreal. Prayer: Lord, help me to be real, beginning with my honesty with You, and help me to live the life You call me to, one that is godly and genuinely based upon my faith in You. May I not play the game of religion, but honestly seek to live out my faith everyday. Amen.

What Does Your Hope Rest On?

Hope. The feeling that what you desire can really occur. Hope is believing that even in the worst of circumstances, that it will somehow turn out OK. With the advent of another year comes a renewal of hope. There is so much we hope for, from better economy to a Congress working together, from world peace to better times. For better health and more success. All of these are good things to hope for. But our hope does not rest in any of these things. For the things we hope to happen may or may not happen. And if we do achieve them, there is no guarantee that we will keep them. What we need is a hope that is secure and able to withstand the fiercest of storms that life can bring. Our hope must run deeper than just a feeling or in the expectation and achievement of certain outcomes. It must rest in the One who is eternal, the One who Is Mighty, the One who is Sovereign, the One who can be our Source of true Hope. Our hope must rest securely in God. Psalm 71.5 "For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth." If the Lord is our hope, then He is our refuge- the One we can always turn to. When we feel inadequate, He is the One who becomes our confidence. When we need help, He is the One who shows up. When we seek purpose, we find it in Him. God is the light that chases away our darkness. His grace and mercy gives us hope. David said the Lord had been his hope, since his youth. He wrote this in his old age. Now when a king gets old, people get gittery. Change was in the air. How would the new king do? Would he be fair? kind? What changes might come? The Psalmist knew why he could put his hope in God. God is Sovereign. God is in control. He has dominion over all things. These are words seldom used today but often used in ancient times due to the rule of kings. A king was sovereign, or in control over his kingdom. David knew that God was Sovereign over all because He is the Creator of all things. God invites us to trust Him with our lives and allow Him to accomplish what He desires. For God has a purpose for each one of us. During 2013 we'll be looking at God's Sovereignty and why, when we put our hope in God, that we will never be disappointed. Have a Blessed New Year! Pastor Pete

Which List Do You See?

The Christmas Season has commenced like a well planned marathon, running down the days to shop, starting with Black Friday and winding down on Christmas Eve. Decorations are up, lights are on, Santa is at the mall, holiday music playing, and presents are appearing under the tree. All seems well as we prepare to celebrate once again the birth of Jesus. I wonder what Mary and Joseph would think of all the glitz, glamour and clamoring for presents at Christmas, for our Christmas celebration is far removed from what it was really like on the night of Christ's birth. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to register and pay taxes. The village was overflowing with people, so the only place to bed down was in a stable among animals. They did not have shopping malls to get baby clothes, nor 7-Eleven or grocery stores to get milk or food. Joseph and Mary could've thought about the house back in Nazareth, the warm bed, the fire in the hearth that warmed their home, the friends, relatives and especially moms that could come help when it was time for Mary to give birth. Perhaps the list of what they didn't have was much longer than the list of what they had. But isn't that how life is? When we focus on what we do not have, we get moody and edgy. The list of what we do not have somehow overshadows the beauty of what we do have. We miss loved ones who are absent and overlook the ones who are present. We get caught up in memories of Christmas past and sometimes do not enjoy what is right before us. The challenge is to enjoy what you have and leave the list of what you do not have with God. Mary and Joseph made due with what they had in less than ideal circumstances. It wasn't long before they began to have visitors. The Shepherds came first, then others who heard of the Shepherds story of an angelic chorus proclaiming the birth of Jesus. The visitors soon replaced the longing ache for family within their hearts. Joseph began to take on the responsibility of a family. It had been difficult for Mary to travel while pregnant. Now that she had given birth, she would need time to heal up. Having a baby to travel with would slow things down too. How would he pay for all that was needed along the way? These worries were soon replaced with amazement at God's wonderful provision. For wise men came and brought gifts for Jesus, which provided for them for some time. Here's the challenge: Enjoy the moments of each day along with each one you meet. If you find yourself in less than perfect or ideal circumstances, take a long look at what you do have and praise God for each item on that list. Praise chases out worries and fear, moodiness and agitation. Make this a season of praise, for our Lord has come and has brought us salvation. Prayer: Lord, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to bring me salvation. Help me to see Your many blessings and praise You for the things I have, for You are a God of wonder, and You delight to surprise us in ways we never thought possible, especially in less than perfect circumstances. In You I will rejoice. Amen. Have a Merry Christmas!

The Cattle On A Thousand Hills

Last Sunday I was quite surprised. Thank you all for your encouragement and gifts. Over the past several weeks, I felt like I was being hammered. Cars breaking down. Septic system not working. Laundry piling up. College bill due. Your words and gifts of encouragement were exactly what I needed. My thoughts went to the book of Philippians, where Paul mentions their gift to him. He wrote that their gifts were "a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God." On Monday morning, I shared with the guys in the warehouse about your generosity and encouragement. They were quite impressed. They were able to hear how God worked through you to encourage my family. It was a reminder to me that it is indeed the Lord God who works in you to will and to act according to His purpose. Thank you for being an instrument of encouragement. You were also an instrument of hope as I was reminded of Philippians 4.19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." We know that God is aware of our difficulties in life. We know that God owns the cattle on the thousand hills. But in the midst of our difficulties, it easy to wish that God would sell just a few of His cows. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, that the birds of the air do not sow or reap or store their food, yet God feeds them. It is a vivid reminder that God does take care of us and He blesses us in so many ways. My hope and trust in the Lord's promises were renewed because of you. Your gracious act resulted in praise to God and resulted in others hearing how good God really is. Gratitude is a form of praise. Not only are we grateful for you, but for how God works in our lives. As we near Thanksgiving, may your hearts be full of gratitude to God for He is a Mighty God full of great deeds. Blessings, Pastor Pete

Road Trip

Our family just returned from taking Bethany to college in Bellingham, WA. With a destination in mind we began our road trip, starting at home and arriving 18 hours later in Bellingham. Two days later we retraced our steps and headed home. Trips always have a destination in mind. I find each journey takes some twists and turns as we meet people, discover a new place to eat, or see something old or something new. At a gas station in Roseburg, OR the man who filled our gas tank was originally from Guerneville. At a California rest stop I met a man who lived in Humbolt county but graduated from Analy High School. Later in the day, at another rest stop, we ran into he and his wife again and greeted each other as friends. In the Gospel accounts of Jesus, we see that Jesus was always on the move. It was more than just going from point A to point B, the interesting moments were the things that he encountered along the way. Peruse through the Gospel of Matthew and we see Jesus going to the River Jordan, out into the wilderness for 40 days; to the region of Galilee, to his home town, to Jericho, Capernaum, up on the mountainside and back down again, he stepped into a boat numerous times, crossing the Sea of Galilee and often going to Jerusalem. These road trips were on foot. While I'm sure the destination was important, it was the encounters Jesus had along the way that made a huge difference to the people he met. While crossing the desert he entered a town in Samaria and began a conversation by asking for water. The woman's life was forever changed. While coming into the small town of Nain he saw a funeral possession of a widow's only son. He was deeply moved and raised her son back to life. In another city it was a little girl whose distraught parents sought out Jesus. Entering her room he raised her back to life. Along the way he healed the sick, challenged the religious leaders, taught the people as one who had authority. Along the way a woman reached out to touch him and was healed and a Roman Centurion soldier asked him to heal his servant. Upon his arrival on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus was met by a man who was filled with a legion of demons. His encounter with Jesus set him free. Jesus, knowing why he had come to earth, went to Jerusalem at the time of Passover. Jerusalem was his destination. Just as the prophet Zechariah had predicted hundred's of years earlier, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies by riding a donkey into Jerusalem. The people wanted to make him King. A week later he was nailed to the cross for our sins, so that through his death we might be forever set free from sin and have eternal life. Because Jesus went the distance, we can begin a journey with God. What happens along the way matters. Each of us are on life journeys, or road trips. We have chance encounters that change us as well as the people we meet. Sometimes we encounter tough circumstances along the way. It is especially at those times that we know that Jesus is on the trip with us, helping us, guiding us, encouraging us, upholding us. One thing is for sure: we will arrive at our Father's house in heaven according to His itinerary for us. One thing we can do is to enjoy the journey and seek to be a blessing. One way to enjoy the journey is to take time with Jesus. One way of being a blessing is to shower people with kindness. Perhaps it is letting another car into your spot or holding a door open for another family. Perhaps it is taking time to ask where someone is from and see where the conversation goes. We've been studying the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said that those who are truly his will be like light and salt in the world. Along the way, with Jesus beside us, may we impact people for the Lord Jesus. Blessings, Pastor Pete

A popular show on TV is called the "Fear Factor" where people do crazy stunts. They face their fears and attempt awesome feats. Have you ever noticed that fear has a way of paralyzing us? Whether we freeze in the headlights or we cease to follow God's lead, fear is the factor behind it. There is a man in the Old Testament named Benaiah who overcame his fears to become a man whom God trusted and utilized. Benaiah's name literally means "God made." As we trace the Scripture we see how God transformed him into a useful vessel. He was the son of a Chief Priest. In other words, a Pastor's kid. As a Levite, it was expected that he would follow in his Father's footsteps and become a Priest. God had something else in mind for young Benaiah. In 2 Samuel 23.20-21 we read of Benaiah's exploits. You might call them a challenge or adventure. Certainly these would be on the "Fear Factor" if faced today. Benaiah was a warrior. He faced 2 of Moab's best warriors and cut them down. Later, he met a huge Egyptian warrior who held a spear. Benaiah only had a club. During the match Benaiah took the Egyptians own sword away from him and killed him with it. While these victories are noteworthy, a sentence in v.20 states, "he also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion." Can you imagine the today's news interviewers asking Benaiah why he it. Interviewer: "Why did you do it?" Benaiah: Answering like many mountain climbers do, "Because it was there!" We'll never know the why behind this feat. Was it a challenge? Was it mere stupidity? Was he afraid of lions so he jumped in and faced his fears? We do not know. What we do know is that on a snowy day he jumped into a pit and killed a lion. All of these feats were used of God to transform Benaiah into a man of God useful for God's kingdom. There are several things we learn: 1st, that we may feel boxed in by who we are and our circumstances, yet God has a plan for us that will shatter the man-made walls and enable us to be whom God meant us to be. 2nd, that in order for there to be a victory, we must jump in and face our fears. Whether it is jumping off of a cliff into water or taking on a new job or sharing your faith in Jesus with your neighbor, there is no possibility of victory unless we jump in. 3rd, Benaiah put his entire life on the line when he jumped into that pit. He held nothing back. It was all or nothing. It was the lion or him. God can use us mightily for His kingdom when we withhold nothing back from Him. When we trust God with our lives, God builds us up into the kind of man or woman that He wants. There may be plenty of fear factors, but God is more than able to achieve the victory through us. Blessings, Pastor Pete

"If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point." - Martin Luther (1483-1546) Many Christians are steady, faithful, well versed in what the Bible says, and on the side lines of today's great moral issues. Perhaps it is because we are fearful of what others may think. Perhaps we do not want to be viewed as intolerant or prejudiced. Perhaps we've taken St. Patrick's quote too far, when he said, "preach Christ...if necessary use words." Many of our co-workers do not know we are Christians precisely because there is no difference between us and them. We may be nice looking, own nice clothes, have nice families and live in the nice part of our community. But do any of these things say anything about Jesus to them? The society's pressure has increased and either we stand up under it or we get caught up with the flow. The Bible says, "Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds." But how have we've gone with the flow? Where have we conformed and become sidelined when God wants us to be on the front lines? We have lots of moral issues of our day. Gay marriage is the hot topic. How many of us deceive ourselves when we say that "it doesn't matter to me because it doesn't affect me"? What about abortion? Illegal aliens? The misuse of tax money? Welfare for the truly needy? Education? Healthcare for the poor? The environment? Can we honestly say that "it doesn't affect me?" I believe the Bible does speak to the issues of our day, but too often we remain quiet, deep in thought or lost in the busyness of our lives. God calls us to be different. To not bend with the wind or to go with the flow of popular thought. God calls us to the front lines, to be His ambassadors. There is a world of people who need to hear the truth that God loves them and is calling them into relationship. If we are not willing, then who will? If we do not bring Jesus into the discussions of our day, who will? If we do not strive to be a godly influence, then who will? Should not our aim be that when people see and hear us, they see and hear Jesus. We may not be accepted, but we can be right in the middle of where the battle rages. Now that is where God wants us. So, where are you? Blessings, Pastor Pete