Joy Lutheran Church Ocala, Florida

I’m reading the autobiographical Time to be in Earnest by P. D. James. She’s the author of the mystery novels featuring Commander Dalgleish of Scotland Yard. My life and hers have little in common. I’ve never written a best-seller or been elevated to the peerage. But there is this:

“It was King’s College Chapel which, during those years of early adolescence, provided me my most meaningful religious experience. . . . I can recall the solemnity, the grandeur and beauty of the building, the high soaring magnificence of the roof, the candle-lit gloom, the decorous procession of the boys of the choir, the order and the beauty of the traditional service.”

I have seen videos of services at King’s College. They would have moved me in the same way when I was in my teens, but would have left many of my peers cold. That worship would probably leave many contemporary Christians flat, but it would inspire me.

As a pastor, I constantly faced the challenge of people with different perspectives on worship. I lost one family because we had communion every Sunday and another because the choir used a tambourine in one anthem.

I don’t know how to resolve the differences among people in worship style preferences. I can only tell people that we are all trying to “worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 96:9a) and we must deal with each other in “humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

Worship the Lord, all you saints, as best you can.

Read Psalm 96 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

A woman once went for confession, admitting to badmouthing people. The confessor, a wise old man, listened lovingly, absolved her and gave her a strange penance.  He told her to go home, get a hen, come back, plucking the bird’s feathers as she walked along the path.

When she returned to him, he said, “Now go back home and, as you go, pick up every feather that you plucked on the way”. The woman said that would be impossible since the wind had almost certainly blown them away in the meantime.

The confessor told her, “You see, just as it is impossible to gather up the feathers once the wind has scattered them, it is likewise impossible to gather gossip and slander back up once they have come out of your mouth”.

I recently read this story from Wisdom Stories to Live By.  I thought about this story and how I have been guilty of gossiping in my life.  If we are honest, we probably all have at one time or another. I have worked hard on ridding myself of this transgression as it can produce horrible consequences just as the story above details.  Once the words come out, you can never get them back and the damage is done. Words can give life, and words can kill depending on their intention. 

In Ephesians 4:29 we read these words: Let no corrupting words come out of your mouth, but only such that is good for building up those who are in need, that it may benefit those who listen.

It behooves us to think before we speak and not say things that are harmful, not only because scripture tells us to do so, but because we know in our hearts it is wrong and wicked.  God loves us unconditionally and while we may not be able to love others in this same way, it is our choice how we treat others.  Be kind, think before you speak and treat others as you would want to be treated.  Wise words to live by.  This is how He wants us to live.

Patty

On social media (okay, Facebook) you might occasionally see a posting or “meme” with a seemingly hidden meaning that only a few people get. It is oftentimes captioned with “IYKYK” meaning “if you know, you know”. The word “know” also has some hidden, unexpected meanings in the Bible. For instance, referring to Joseph and Mary. King James Version says that Joseph did not “know” Mary, which meant they had not had sexual relations. In our Christian faith, knowing can be just as elusive and perplexing. Can we truly say “IYKYK” being off-putting to those who might not “get it”?

The very moment of coming to faith, whether it is like a lightning bolt or the waters of baptism, raises questions about when you know you’ve got it. Altar calls and “praying the sinner’s pray” don’t make it easy, in my opinion. When it’s all about the event, it oftentimes doesn’t take. But when we approach our walk with God as just that – embarking on a journey with The Almighty that may have moments of doubt – there is room for growth, for knowing that we will never in our mortal core, on this earthen core, know completely everything. We leave space and room for wonder.

Knowing is more about feeling when it comes to faith, and far less about intellect. This is where we lose a lot of people who are trying to figure it out in their head without surrendering their heart. There may never be an IYKYK moment. Instead, it comes when your heart knows. God’s unconditional love for us is not a matter of if, but when. When Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose again. When Holy Scripture was placed in our hands for our personal faith formation. When Christ comes again. When we will know, we will know – ya know?

Pastor Art

We’re a month after Christmas now.  The decorations have long been packed away.  All the sparkle of the Christmas lights has disappeared.  That warm glow of Christmas lights and candles in the living room is gone.  I miss that glow in the evening hours.  Not only the lights, but the glow of smiling faces has also left.  Family members have returned to their homes.  The young have gone back to school and jobs, along with their radiant spark of youth.  There may not be snow outside my window, but I still have the feeling that I am “in the deep winter.” 

Has the glow gone from your life too?  Does the routine of late January lack any luster?  How can we recapture the glow that brought such happiness during the Christmas holiday?

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he encourages him to “rekindle the fire.”  Had Timothy also lost the glow?  Paul reminds him to stir up the spiritual gifts, to remember the divine gift he received when Paul laid hands upon him. 

“⁶Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  2 Timothy 1:6-7

How about you and me?  God has showered us with so many spiritual gifts:  love, joy, peace.  Can we stir those gifts up in our hearts and bring a glow back to our faces?  Can we be the glow that brightens the day for someone?  

Judy

 Newborn babies, what’s not to love! Some have full pudgy cheeks and a glow about them. Some newborns are still a little scrunched up and look like they have a sunburn.  Some have lots of hair, some are bald. Most do not have their eyes open. Some are crying.  Most are sleeping, but one thing is for certain, they are beautiful, children of God and truly precious and the prettiest/most handsome baby you’ve ever seen. A smile comes across my face seeing babies. The smile is automatic whether it was seeing my own babies or even a baby in a commercial on TV. Something about that newborn, fresh-into-this-world aura that brings out the beauty in each and every baby. Hm?  Could it be God?

On one particular Sunday, from my viewpoint, I could clearly see a young family with their two children. We were mid-way through the service and singing a praise song, Only A Holy God. It is a beautiful song with the words up on a big screen.  That’s when I saw it. One of the young children was singing along, not missing a word, when she turned to her mother. There was a definite glow to her face as she sang each word. I was struck by that glow. Could it be God?

My “feeling” is what I experience when seeing newborns and what I saw viewing an eight-year-old, singing His praises…was God! He fills us. Psalm 139 reminds us that He knew us when we were formed in our mother’s womb. These almost angelic glowing faces present themselves as a witness to me of God’s unconditional love for each of us. Seek Him and you will find Him.

Jill

While out shopping the other day I saw these words written on a plaque.

If God showed us the whole journey, we’d never take the first step.

I thought it was interesting and made me think about life a bit. I tend to be an optimistic person by nature and feel that God will carry me through the difficulties in my life. I have not liked those times of trial, but I have made it through them and come out a stronger person, not through anything I did other than pray, but because of God’s promise as written by Moses to the Israelites as they were on the verge of entering the Promised Land. The Lord your God will be with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

My mother’s good friend Pearl comes to mind when I think about adversities in life. Pearl was a wonderful person with a beautiful family and a loving disposition. She faced the loss of both parents by the age of 14, the loss of a brother in high school, the loss of two husbands and a fiancé, the loss of another brother in a horrible accident, serious health problems and one child suffering from substance abuse issues. I wondered each time another devastating heartache occurred, how she herself could endure this despair and go on, maintaining a positive attitude. The answer was surely in the Christian life she lived and her commitment to faithfulness and trust in God’s promises.

God wants us to live out the vibrant life He envisioned for us far beyond our doubts and fears. By His unconditional love for us He encourages us to let go of our burdens, knowing He will carry them for us and walk beside us. We may not know what the future holds, but we can trust the Author with the story’s ending. Thanks be to God!

Patty

This blog is a recent repeat. The choir anthem at Joy this weekend is “Rain Down” by Jamie Cortez. I hope that you will enjoy a preview of the music and begin to meditate on what it means to you and your life. You can count on the God of Love. 

As I sat down to write this blog complaining to God about the lack of rain this year, it was pouring outside. Such a wonderful sound on the roof and splashing off the sidewalk! Thank you, Lord. 

Seriously, it has been a difficult year for water from the heavens. In Vermont, where I spent the summer months on Lake Champlain, the lake water has receded to dangerously low levels. The ecosystems suffer with extremes. The low water impacts not only on the human residents, but the fish, bugs and plants that call the lake their home. 

I have a small garden there with flowers, window boxes and a few vegetables. I had to water it every day to keep it going. All the plants and vegetables were still flourishing when I left last week, I worried about how they were going to get water. I thought about calling a friend to see if she would give them a spray.  

Then I read an article in the Vermont newspaper that the community water supplies are so low throughout the state that they had started rationing. So, I decided that the plants would have to survive without my help. And, don’t you know, the rain came to Vermont last week. Not enough to eliminate the issue, but a start. 

Here in Florida, the situation is similar. We wait for a good tropical storm to refill the amazing aquafers that supply extraordinary amounts of water to the people. So far, that big storm has yet to make landfall.  

What to do? What can I do about the rain or lack thereof? In times of trouble or distress, we hear people say, “I’ll pray” and others around them roll they eyes and say “Sure, that will help.” There are actions that we can take about many troublesome issues, bringing the rain is not one of them. I gave up my control of the weather years ago. 

So, I pray. I pray the words of Jamie Cortez’ beautiful song “Rain Down” and leave the rest to God. God’s love is constant and unconditional. Listen to the words of “Rain Down” and be comforted with its wisdom. 

Terri 

Waking up on a cold January morning, smelling bacon cooking and knowing it will be accompanied by scrambled eggs, rye toast, and a big pot of very strong black tea. It doesn’t take much to make me happy. Except that scenario reminds me of one of the Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis.

Screwtape is a senior tempter instructing his nephew Wormwood how to bring a young man to damnation. In one letter he advises Wormwood to consult with Glubose who has charge of tempting the man’s mother. His mother always wants the least thing to make her happy. “Please, all I want is a cup of tea weak but not too weak and the teeniest weeniest bit of really crisp toast.” The problem? She never gets exactly what she wants.  No one can do things properly to suit her. Poor unhappy lady.

People whose happiness depends on others doing what they want are the unhappiest people of all. Happiness can not depend on other people. What does happiness depend on? Jesus gave an answer. 

Happy are those who are humble; they will receive what God has promised! 
Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully!   Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them! 
Happy are the pure in heart; they will see God! 
Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children!  
(Matthew 5:5-9, Good News Bible)

The way to happiness isn’t in other people, it is in us as we follow Jesus.

Read Psalm 128:1 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

Some schools teach reading in kindergarten, something that would have given my old professor of early childhood education a seizure. I didn’t learn to read in kindergarten. We did things like coloring, stringing beads (a favorite activity of mine), having show and tell, singing songs, taking naps, and having a milk and cracker break. Did I learn anything? Well, I can still sing “Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel,” and I remember that plants follow the sun as they grow, a very helpful fact in tending my herb garden. On the whole, kindergarten was largely about how to function in school and, by extension, in life.

Something similar could be said of my early experience in Sunday School. They taught us lessons, I’m sure, but I don’t remember what they were about. I do remember the teacher, Miss Olson, and I can still sing “Jesus Loves Me.” What I remember most was that it was a good place to be even if we were packed in like sardines in the tiny kindergarten room.

At a time when children and teachers are plagued with standardized tests, it’s worth remembering that the most important things in life can’t be measured by filling in the circle in front of answer A, B, C, or D. I know that Jesus loves me, and I have experienced that love in the way others cared for me.

I’ve learned a lot since kindergarten, but nothing compares with the basics. If you believe with all your heart that Jesus loves you, your life is set on an unshakeable foundation.

Read Matthew 11:29 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

I am a huge football fan. This past weekend there were four NFL
playoff games. None of the four ended the way I hoped they would. All but
one of the games went “down to the wire”, thereby increasing the intensity
level. I commented that I was glad that I didn’t care too much about the
outcomes; none of them were “my” team. Still, it’s hard for me to watch a
game without choosing a side.

Sometimes the reason(s) for pulling for a certain team are kind of obscure.
You like the coach or the quarterback. You have fond memories or lived in
the city of one of the teams.

The game of football mirrors the game of life. Sometimes you win,
sometimes you lose. Your heart aches at those post-game interviews which
the players and coaches graciously endure (most of the time). Happy are
they who have wives and families to go home, that matter far more than
what just happened the last three hours.

Even Jesus did not win all the time. Scorned and derided by the very
same ones who claimed to be honoring God. His Father, no less! His Passion
and death on a cross. How is that “winning” (in the eyes and logic of the
world)? Christus en paradox. Only Christ can be both Lamb and Shepherd.
Only Christ can claim victory on the cross of crucifixion.

We can root for the underdog.
We can claim victory even though we must die.
We can embrace God’s unconditional love even though we feel
unlovable

Pastor Art.